How the dudes feel about the makeup.

McKennaRishmawyfunny makeup stories, guys wearing makeup, makeup humor, Natalie Portman makeup, natural makeup, natural makeup misconceptions, what do guys think is beautiful, what guys think of makeup, why guys hate makeup 3 Comments

Guys have a funny relationship with makeup.

And before I go further, I should state that I absolutely hate blog posts that make gross over-generalizations about the opposite sex. I mean it. It’s like, my very least favorite. Because no, nice guys don’t always finish last, and yes, there are actually some women out there who don’t obsess over chocolate and babies. And ladies, believe it or not, sometimes you are the dense one. And so, just let me say this: I write the following based only on my experiences with guys and their understanding of makeup. These conclusions are based solely on what I’ve learned during my short time in my own teensy slice of the universe, and if I were to meet someone who defied the following conclusions, I would fail to be surprised. So anyhow …

I’ve been a careful observer of how guys respond to makeup for years, and not necessarily for the sake of seeing what attracts the most positive attention. Some makeup features seem to go completely unnoticed, like bronzer. Other things, however, can garner every kind of strong opinion (as one guy I know feels like red lipstick makes you look like “a clown”, and another I know feels it makes a girl look all kinds of 1940s awesome). There’s one thing through this that I’ve found to be certain, though: it is difficult to find a makeup item that’s universally praised and appreciated by guys. In fact, it’s difficult to determine if makeup is universally praised or appreciated at all by the dudes. Shiny, healthy-looking hair is universally appreciated by malefolk. Skin that appears well cared for is, too. Makeup, however, seems to be different. It somehow doesn’t attract the same amount of attention from guys as something like glowing skin or pretty hair, and yet ironically, I’ve found that it attracts criticism much faster than the topics of skincare or hair. The opinions, overall, are fewer, but the ones that exist are quite deep-seated.

I’ve known too many guys who’ve felt that the application of makeup is equivocated with a desperate desire to change yourself. Coloring your hair is coloring your hair, but creating a different look for your face means you are having a crisis of insecurity and identity. It means you want to cover yourself up. It means you hate your features. And now, I’m beginning to feel that I’m exaggerating. Again, this hasn’t been the case for all guys I’ve known, but it’s honestly been the case for a great many. I can’t recall how many times I’ve heard the phrase, “I want a girl who doesn’t wear makeup”, or “I want a girl who doesn’t think she needs to cover herself up”, or “I want a girl who doesn’t spend so much time on herself”. Let me ask you this, gents: Do you even know when a girl is wearing makeup half the time? I mean, I have a feeling you may have something more like this in mind when you think of the word ‘makeup’. But tell me, when you think of the subject, do you ever think of this? Or this? Or this? No? All of the three aforementioned looks involve a great deal of makeup and an even greater deal of time and effort in order to make the look a natural one. It’s quite ironic, you see- most wouldn’t be able to keep their jaws from hitting the floor if they realized the amount of product application, blending, and highlighting it takes to produce a truly high-quality “natural” makeup look. Next time you suspect a girl of wearing no makeup simply because she looks “natural”, leave room for the possibility that she may, in fact, have put in a little bit of effort to look that “effortless”. There’s a science to it. Trust me. And the millions of other girls that are “natural” makeup scientists like me.

Now, I suppose we can all agree that there can come a point where one reaches “TOO MUCH MAKEUP!!!!!”. Where exactly that line is, however, is tough to pinpoint. If you knew just how much makeup Natalie Portman was wearing at, say, the 2012 Academy Awards, you would certainly scream TOO MUCH MAKEUP!!! However, because it doesn’t necessarily look like “too much makeup” from our point of view, we don’t slam her for it. My guess as to where the line between “too much” and “acceptable” is lies somewhere within the judgment of whether or not the makeup begins to obstruct or alter one’s natural features. But it’s even hard for everyone to agree when exactly ones comes to this point. It unfortunately seems to be a subjective case of “I know it when I see it”.

There are those gentlemen, however, that don’t abide makeup in any quantity at all. Long ago, I knew a guy that, upon accidentally coming into possession of my makeup, literally refused to give me my makeup back. There was no negotiating; it was his now and he did not want me to have it any longer. It was the strangest, most alarming thing- he just hated it when I wore makeup, almost as a rule. I realize that such an attitude is probably fairly uncommon among guys, but I have to say that my husband’s first comment on the subject of makeup put to ease any fears of male makeup hatred- “Hey, you know, if the barn looks good red, then why not paint it red?” Now there’s a cheerful spirit!

I guess that’s the one thing I’d want to pass on to any malefolk that are feeling extra suspicious of makeup- to perhaps see it not as a means of changing oneself, but rather a means of enhancing. We like the canvas, and now we just want to have fun with it. I like lining the inner rims of my eyes because of how it makes my eyes look. I like filling in my eyebrows a little bit because of how it frames my face. No, I don’t want to change my face or cover my face; I want to enhance and make the best use of my face. Of course there are always exceptions to this, but I’d say that for the most part, makeup really is just a means of having fun with another artistic media. Trust us, it’s safe in our hands.

However, it is not always safe in the hands of a dude when he’s curious about trying his own hand at a set of brushes.

And furthermore, it’s even less safe when you allow him to attempt his version of a “smokey eye” on you as his first go-round with said brushes.

He expressed a desire to line my lower lids with shadow, but I think his precision was a bit off. Maybe just a little bit? Oh well. If you can’t achieve a Keira Knightley-level smokey eye, at least you know you’ll end up with a female version of Heath Ledger’s Joker. I’m not sure if I’ve ever looked better. Matt, you’ve made me proud.

And I must say you don’t look too shabby, either.

I’m pretty sure he’s wearing MAC’s Ruby Woo, if you’re interested. xo, MR

November 2, 2013the Makeup stuff.

It’s easier than you think: Victoria Beckham’s smokey eye

McKennaRishmawybest shadows for smokey eye, easy smokey eye, MAC Kohl Power eye pencil Feline, smokey eye tutorial, Tarte SmolderEyes Amazonian clay eyepencial, Urban Decay eyeshadow, Urban Decay Perversion, Victoria Beckham, Victoria Beckham makeup, Victoria Beckham smokey eye, Victoria Beckham updo Leave a comment

So, Halloween, right? It was just a couple days ago. The idea of putting together a costume really overwhelms me mostly because I’m way too busy to think about something I’d really like to dress up as in the weeks leading up to that night. By the time I’ve got a party on my calendar, I’m ready to just give up entirely. I start to think I won’t dress up at all. And then … an idea enters into my head. And once it gets there, it sticks. It’s always last minute, but so far things have worked out quite well. I tend to just go with some kind of brunette pop culture or film character. I also typically land on something that will provide a great makeup opportunity. Two years ago, I was Natalie Portman’s character in the Black Swan (and no, I really can’t say I was the Black Swan … because that’s Mila Kunis). Last year I was Jackie Kennedy. And this year … well …

It was about an hour-and-a-half before the party, and I had absolutely no ideas. I sat and thought, biting my nails, and then I recalled reading a feature on InStyle’s website listing some fast (albeit hilarious) ideas for a last-minute Halloween costume. One of particular interest was Victoria Beckham with her little daughter Harper Beckham (and I laughed out loud at the fact that InStyle featured Harper as no more than a babydoll). I began to think Hmmmm, all I’d need is a HUGE pair of sunglasses, a doll, a dress befitting of Posh (which would likely be some minimalist, tailored sheath), and a pair of stacked heels. I had two out of four items, and the other two could easily be picked up with a quick trip to Target. And please … who says no to a quick trip to Target?

So, once I’d obtained my doll and giant shades, and once I’d pulled out my perfectly Posh dress and heels, I got down to the truly important stuff: imitating Victoria’s smokey eye and up-do, as pictured above. I wish I could’ve found some great extensions and gone for her long-haired look, but of course, I had no time and no desire to spend money on something I’d never use again (but don’t worry- I’ll definitely use the babydoll again). And so I landed on this look after some Googling, and you know I’ll never turn down an opportunity for a smokey eye.

Oh, but what a crisis! Once I had everything ready to go, I only had about fifteen minutes for hair and makeup! The hair took about ten minutes, as it was a routine of center-parting, teasing (the horror), and then pinning my hair back so that it looked somewhat sophisticated. There was barely any time for makeup, and yet the smokey eye needed to happen.

And here, ladies and gentlemen, is where I come to the part of this post that may be of some use to you: a brief how-to on a smokey eye. Yes, brief. And yes, it can be done. The smokey eye is kind of like the over-the-knee boot of makeup: most folks are pretty intimidated by the idea, but once you try it and make it work for you, you’re addicted. And it brings out some seriously unrepentant sass in your soul. And it doesn’t have to be a crazy-butt Snooki-type of smokey eye where you’ve got eyeshadow up to there. No, I believe a smokey eye can be tasteful, elegant, and yet badass all at the same time. We’re channeling Kate Moss here, not Kim Kardashian.

A year ago, I might’ve advised you to start with eyeshadow primer, but in this case there wasn’t even time for that so I won’t advise it. Additionally, a year ago I may also have advised you to just get started with piling on the powder shadows with your brushes, but such was not the case this time around so I won’t advise it either. No, this past Thursday eve the first thing I did was grab my new MAC Kohl Power eye pencil in Feline and just started drawing. I lined my upper lid in a thick, Crayola-esque line, grabbed a swab, and started smudging upward. Up, up, up, until I reached the crease, and then outward. And seriously, don’t be shy or light-handed with the stuff. Now is not the time. Fill in your whole lid up to the crease, and keep on smudging with that swab! Or even better, should you have a thick eyeshadow stick like the Tarte SmolderEyes Amazonian clay eyeliner one pictured above, use the sponge end of that to smudge the liner even more efficiently.

So anyhow, it all starts with the MAC liner, smudged, and then gets followed up with the SmolderEyes on top and you just keep smudging outward and upward. I chose to apply the SmolderEyes second because, I’ll admit, it isn’t the creamiest shadow stick in the world and so it doesn’t have very great drag to it (and you need some serious drag when you’re first applying your liner). The MAC pencil, on the other hand, is ridiculously creamy and just glides like a hockey player (and did you know that Feline is even blacker than Smolder?! What the WHAT). Both products, however, are extremely long-wearing and so I really didn’t have to worry about shadow primer after all. But, as a final topcoat, I took a medium shadow brush and dusted Urban Decay eyeshadow in Perversion on top for a final bang (and that’s a shade of deep, shimmery navy, by the way). I also made sure to line my lower rims, smudge well, and then line my upper and lower waterlines with the MAC pencil. Lining the waterlines, by the way, is a step not to be missed as it’s what truly makes you look like you belong at the Chateau Marmont on a Saturday night.

And lastly, just finish with tons of black mascara. I had neither the time nor the patience for applying false lashes that evening, and so I hastily applied a few coats of mascara and moved on to the contouring (which was very necessary for a Victoria imitation, but I won’t discuss it in this post). And voila, all within about seven minutes …

Not too bad, eh? Don’t be too worried about perfection when it comes to a smokey eye, either. You want it to look a bit haphazard, and any smokey eye that appears too neat just feels … I don’t know … too makeup-y? Neatness just doesn’t suit the spirit of the look, you know? When you’re wearing a red lip, you’re channeling the prim and pristine 1940s and 50s, and so an immaculate job is befitting. However, a smokey eye brings to mind images of the early nineties, which would include images of Kurt and Courtney, or Johnny and Kate. And anything that conjures memories of Kurt and Courtney needn’t be … neat.

So go ahead, give it a shot. It’s all about the smudge, or in Posh’s case, that complete inability to give a convincing smile. xo, MR

September 24, 2013the Hair stuff., the Makeup stuff., the Me stuff.

Let’s hear it for the Mara sisters!

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If I can say one thing, just ONE THING, about the Emmys this year, it’s this:

KATE MARA’S HAIR.

I’ve been so ridiculously busy and preoccupied lately that I’ve barely been able to lift an eyelid even for Fashion Month (seriously, I haven’t watched the Prada OR Jil Sander show yet and Milan Fashion Week is OVER … if you know me, you know that’s unheard of), but something like that seen above will always demand a moment of my attention. Kate Mara had her hair styled for this year’s Emmy Awards in a way that I’ve been obsessed with for about a half-year or so. I’ve tried it myself a couple times, and it works best with hair that has not been freshly washed, but perhaps blown out straight a couple days ago and now has accumulated some natural oils at the scalp. Add some gel that imparts shine, tuck behind the ears, and BOOM. HIGH FASHUNZ! Now, you can’t exactly flip your hair all over the place Herbal Essences-style, but if you just buckle down with it and go with the vibe, it’s great. I’m always so in love with Kate Mara’s hair color, too. I don’t really know what color it is, to be honest. It’s not quite red, but I wouldn’t exactly call her a brunette. Auburn? Autumnal? One should be so lucky to have their hair color named “autumnal”.

And now that I’ve mentioned a thing or two about big sister, I’m going to take a moment to drool over little sister, too.

For a good year or so, I was really, really unconvinced by Rooney’s whole aesthetic. I haven’t seen Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and I don’t really ever plan to, but I think I just couldn’t buy Rooney’s look because it seemed so heavily influenced by the film. I would see how Rooney used to look and dress prior to Tattoo, and I couldn’t help but feel like she simply wanted to remain in character beyond the camera (though perhaps in a toned-down, more glamorous way). The vampy lips and dark brows, the pale skin and stark expressions, and the raven-hued hair always styled with a sleek edge- is this really Rooney that we’re seeing, or are these just remnants of Lisbeth Salander?

And then I got to thinking, how often am I inspired by a character, whether it’s in a movie, a book, or a magazine (because let’s face it- we really can only understand celebrities as characters and not true people, unless we are to know them personally) when it comes to my own hair or makeup? How often do I draw upon the look of another for my own, whether by adaptation or straight-up replication (because we’ve all copied that outfit we saw on Pinterest down to the very nail color she was wearing)? How often have I studied what they did for their makeup, only to tweak it and adjust it until it suited my preferences, but still started with what someone else did first nonetheless? How often have I actually had someone else in mind when deciding what eyeshadow to put on my own eyes?

I sometimes feel we obsess over the idea of “being ourselves”, and I’m not always certain that we really know how to do this or what it even means. My own tastes in beauty and fashion are a collective puzzle, made whole by the tastes and preferences and creations of thousands of others. I mean, that’s what inspiration boards are, right? You take the ideas and looks that others love and put them all together to determine what it is that you love. It takes the manner of thousands to develop the manner of one. My point is, I think I’ve made peace with the possibility that Rooney Mara’s current personal tastes in beauty may have indeed been heavily influenced by her film character. She may totally be channeling a glammed-up Lisbeth Salander with that matte skin and eerie shade of plum, but so long as it looks awesome and she’s down with it, who cares if it wasn’t Rooney’s completely original idea? And so lately I’ve felt free to fall head over heels for Rooney’s entire moda. I love it! I wish I could pull it off every day! But for now, I’ll save it for an October Friday night or two. Or three or four. xo, MR

September 8, 2013the Makeup stuff., the Me stuff., the Friends stuff.

When Snow White got married. Or, my bride Ali!

McKennaRishmawyBareMinerals, berry lip stain, best finishing powder, best lipstain, best Southern California wedding photographer, best wedding makeup, Bethany Carlson Photography, Central Valley wedding photography, Christensen wedding, classic wedding makeup, Disney princess makeup, downton abbey wedding dress, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood Light, Laura Licata, Laura Mercier lip and cheek stain in Mulberry, long-lasting foundation, MakeUpForEver HD Foundation, McKenna Rishmawy, McKenna Rishmawy makeup artist, Orange County makeup artist, Orange County wedding hair stylist, San Francisco wedding photography, wedding foundation, wedding makeup, wedding makeup for fair skin, wedding makeup with dark lip Leave a comment

Oh, where to begin? I have been looking forward to this wedding for a long, long time. Mike and Ali have been dating for as long as I’ve known each of them (since they were seniors in high school), and my husband and I have spent so much time around them both as individuals and as a couple that when their wedding weekend was finally upon us, it just felt like some kind of surreal. And I’d had a feeling that Ali would be giving me the honor of doing her makeup for her wedding day, but having me as her bridesmaid? Too much. Too much joy. Ali is all at once lively and calm, silly and subdued. She’s at first glance an introvert, but you then come to realize that she’s an adorable rabbit waiting to pop out of the magician’s hat. Ali is wise, thoughtful, mature, and unwavering in her convictions. She’s a gem, and I’ve barely seen her since the wedding day and it’s killing me! Just a few more days, Ali!

Now, back to business. What’s great about doing a friend’s makeup for their wedding is the fact that you’ll probably get to do multiple trial-runs on them, editing and choosing different things as you go along. Ali and I got to do exactly this, as I did her makeup for her engagement shoot (which I blabbed about here), for fun several times, and for two of her bridal showers. Now, I’d given Ali a smokey eye for her engagement shots and I’d say it turned out pretty well. It was sultry, exciting, but not quite … I don’t know … Ali? If you know her, you get it. It was ridiculously fun at the time, but as the months passed I was still uncertain as to what I was going to do for the big day, and I knew it wouldn’t be a smokey eye. So for her first bridal shower, I decided to have a little fun and go with a hot pink lip. It was a hit. I absolutely loved it. It worked with her fair skin and dark hair, and it took the drama down a necessary notch while still having impact. And then the wedding inspiration came: a berry lip. I dreamed of something along the lines of Snow White, and the vision began to come together.

I began collecting the tools necessary for my vision, and l once again lucked out by owning a foundation shade that matched my bride perfectly (MakeUpForEver HD Foundation, uh-gain). I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve built such a kit that I don’t have too much of a need for new product. However, I chose to invest in Hourglass’ Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood Light, mostly because I wanted a great finishing powder that A) wasn’t loose (like MakeUpForEver’s HD Finish Powder) and B) didn’t leave any possible ghostly white traces (like MakeUpForEver’s HD Finish Powder). Hourglass did the trick perfectly.

There I am at work! We’re just about ready to walk down the aisle, so I’m just doing touch-ups here. For myself, I had my hair blown out by the fabulous Dani of Salon reBelle in Orange, and I went with a deep side-part just to add some drama and show off the lovely highlights that Justin of Salon 9 had given me some time ago. I chose a smokey eye for myself, which I tend to favor when it’s time to dress up. I wasn’t completely happy with the combination of shades I chose … a bit too grey for my taste, which is oddly my least favorite shade on my own eyes … but it was fun anyhow. Any time I *need* false eyelashes is a fun time.

Here’s a shot of mi’lady I took once I was completely finished with her makeup. I had to have my dear friend Laura (who was responsible for hair, by the way) help me apply Ali’s eyelashes because by that point my hands were so shaky from caffeine and small finger movements. But nonetheless, everything turned out exactly the way I’d hoped. Oh, and speaking of things being exactly what I’d hoped for: Ali snapped up my out-of-this-world talented friend Bethany for her own wedding photography. I’ve raved about Bethany in my post on Ali’s engagement shoot, but also in this post here when she envisioned an old-world romantic desert wedding using my husband and I as models. I really can’t explain how ethereal Bethany’s photography is to me. Everything she sees is romance. There’s a special character to her eye that I just can’t describe, and so I just have to let her work explain for itself. Below, the perfect kind of shot I was hoping for once Laura and I were finished with Ali’s hair and makeup. This particular shot is nothing special, and yet, it totally is.

Things just kept getting better once Ali put on her dress. And oh, THAT DRESS. Ali had tried on a number of dresses, and while they all looked stunning on her, this one both looked stunning and perfectly captured her personality. Again, if you know Ali, you just get it (not to get all insider on my readers, but some things are just difficult to explain without knowing a person). This dress was something out of Downton Abbey, it was! And it doesn’t hurt that Ali has always reminded me somewhat of Michelle Dockery.

I remember how I kept constantly saying, “YOU LOOK LIKE SNOW WHITE” allllllllll day long. But I meant it! If there were ever an illustrated bridal interpretation done of that princess, this is what it would look like. I just couldn’t get over it.

I happily reapplied Laura Mercier’s Lip Stain in Mulberry on top of Stila’s Lip Stain in Cherry Crush frequently throughout the day. The former can be a tad drying, so Ali’s sister offered up some of her own gloss later in the day for the reception, which worked out nicely. For Ali’s cheeks, I only stuck with some contouring (no blush, technically) by using MAC’s blush in Buff. I absolutely love that shade for contouring on fair-to-medium skin, as using bronzer for contouring just doesn’t work on everyone.

Isn’t she something straight out of a fairy tale?! I kept waiting for bluebirds and chipmunks to start following her and carrying her train!

And at last, the beautiful couple. I couldn’t have imagined a more glorious bride for this day. And this day in it’s entirety was, in fact, wonderful. I got to play bridesmaid duty for an incredible friend, one of my own bridesmaids did the magnificent photography work, and my husband performed the wedding ceremony! I was in heaven. But that’s what weddings are, aren’t they: the slightest, sheerest picture of a heaven that we’ve yet to see. Love you so much, Michael and Alison! xo, MR

All of the photography featured in this post (save for the fourth picture) is credited to Bethany Carlson Photography. For more of Bethany’s beautiful work, you can visit her website at www.bethanycarlson.com.

September 4, 2013the Makeup stuff., the Skin stuff.

Face paint. But so much better.

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I’ve never been a big fan of liquid foundation. Perhaps that’s because it’s always come with this stigma of being “face paint”, as in, if you wear it on a somewhat-regular-to-regular basis, that means you wear a lot of makeup and you “paint” your face. You know, a painted lady? And I’ve always been scared of wearing too much makeup. Maybe I’ve felt that “a light dusting of powder” seemed more modest as compared to a “light smear of foundation”. I don’t know. Thought vomit.

But I suppose this idea of foundation used to be pretty justifiable. I mean, I remember looking at the drugstore formulas back in the early 2000’s and thinking Wow … Can I ever wear this stuff without looking like I dipped my face in wet terracotta? And then just let it dry and have myself buried with thousands of ancient Chinese soldiers with the rest of the terracotta folk?! No ma’am, I’m not trying to look like Lucy Ricardo when she tries to make a literal bust of herself (see season 2, episode 15 “Lucy Becomes a Sculptress”). And then of course, there’s always been the issue of shade range when it comes to foundation. OHHHHH the shade range. Not only have makeup companies needed to seriously step-up their git-along when it comes to shade range for darker skin tones (because no, not every so-called “Eastern” woman can be covered by one shade, usually called something awkward like “clay” … I mean for real?), but I feel like just within the past five years have manufacturers begun considering things like “neutral”, “cool”, and “warm” tones in foundation shades. Yes, because “eggshell”, “orange”, and “orange 2.0” just doesn’t quite cover it.

Now, I shouldn’t talk too much smack because it does take work and some Jaeger-level technology to develop a truly excellent color range for something like foundation, and so this post is more meant to praise than criticize. I think the work has finally paid off! Hail Science.

So, as you regular readers know, I’m a big believer in BareMinerals. And I continue to use it (in it’s original powder formula), but there’s something about a powder formula that, with as mineral-y and sheer as they can make ’em now, I believe detracts from a skin’s glow. Now, I am all about glowing skin. I like the dewy, fresh, translucent, just-washed look, and I feel today about matte skin the way I felt about foundation at all a decade ago – It’s just too much. It doesn’t sit well with my psyche, which is a problem, because many women prefer a matte finish and I need to be able to willingly accommodate that desire. And what’s more, matte skin, lips, and nails are huge for this coming fall season, and so of course, being the sucker that I am, you know I’ll be wanting to play along. Heck, I’m already armed with Urban Decay’s Surreal Skin Mineral Makeup in a shine-free, perfectly matched shade.

So autumn trends aside, I decided to start looking out for a regular-use foundation line that provided light-to-medium coverage with a natural, non-mattifying finish. And I wanted a high-quality one with plenty of shades to choose from. I’d heard wonders about the new Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Foundation. I literally squealed when I swiped a bit of it on my wrist because it felt like silk. Oh, they easily could rename the stuff “Silky Baby’s Butt Makeup by Giorgio Armani”. But priced at sixty-five bucks, I just couldn’t stomach it. How about their Luminous Silk Foundation? It gets rave reviews, but it still costs sixty. Chanel’s well-reputed Perfection Lumiere? Still over fifty. So what other lines are there? Hmmm …

I then thought of Lancome’s Teint Idole line that debuted perhaps a couple years ago, with Julia Roberts as the spokesmodel. I also thought of the eight-dollar reward I had for Ulta, and my curiosity was piqued. I headed over to Ulta and plopped myself down in the makeup artists’s chair in the Lancome section. Not only was the Teint Idole priced at forty-five, but the shade range was overwhelming. It’s divided into four “intensities”: Ivoire, Buff, Bisque, and Suede. These intensity levels are then broken down into different shades and tones, so every complex variation of skin color is covered. However, I realized that the Teint Idole was a full-coverage, mattifying foundation that gave off no shine. Not what I was looking for.

Lancome’s Teint Miracle, however, worked some sheer magic on my skin. My skin felt soft and hydrated with just enough coverage to give a dewy, evening-out effect. As so many good foundation reviews will say, I didn’t feel like I was wearing “makeup”. It took a very small amount of the product to reach a satisfactory level of coverage, too. And as for the price, well, the price wasn’t wrong, in that it still felt like an investment but not something shameful and unnecessary. I can’t hang with the Maestro when he’s asking for all my mo-nay!

I will note though that my Lancome shade is the tiniest bit lighter than my current skin tone (thanks to the summer sun), and so I’m putting off using it for the next month or so. I’m currently mixing my Boscia B.B. cream with Weleda’s ultra-moisturizing Skin Food for an incredibly rich, sheer bit of coverage that my skin just drinks up. I mix a dab of each product on my hand (even parts) and rub it evenly on my face for a delicious glow that makes me look awake and refreshed.

So this is what I have for now, and while foundation may not be a primary concern of yours in this God-awful September humidity that we’re experiencing in Orange County, it’s something to keep on your radar nonetheless. Fall is coming (and, did I mention Fashion Month has commenced?!), and we’re well on our way to an abundance of dark, cozy nights with plenty of opportunities for mysterious, not-too-perfect smokey eyes, oxblood lips, and evened-out, flawless skin. Let’s get this heat over with. xo, MR

August 7, 2013the Hair stuff., the Makeup stuff., the Me stuff.

My Retro Beauty Influences (and surprise … they’re all from movies).

McKennaRishmawy60s makeup, Alfred Hitchcock actresses, Audrey Hepburn beauty, Audrey Hepburn Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn makeup, Breakfast at Tiffany's, How to Murder Your Wife, ice blonde, Italian movie stars, Kim Novak, Kim Novak Vertigo, movie beauty influences, Old Hollywood beauty, retro beauty, retro makeup, Vertigo, Virna Lisi Leave a comment

Determining who my classic beauty inspirations are proved to be more difficult that I’d expected. When I say “classic”, I’m talking about figures from the Golden Age of Hollywood (late ’30s-early ’40s) through perhaps the 1960s. And let’s also be clear about another thing: I’m strictly referring to beauty influences here, not style influences. If I’m talking style, it’s an entirely different story and it’s much, much longer. Those who’ve influenced my taste in beauty are much fewer when it comes to years gone by.

I’ve previously posted on more current beauty inspirations (which include Diane Kruger, Olivia Palermo, Keira Knightley, etc.), and figuring that out was easy for me. I just ask myself questions like Whose hair do I most envy when I read InStyle? Who do I most try to emulate when it comes to eye makeup? Who shows up most on my Pinterest beauty board? And because I’m a magazine junkie, I tend to be most influenced by celebrities and models rather than the classic movie stars when it comes to beauty. Additionally, beauty was different in decades past. I’ll be honest- Veronica Lake-type beauty really sends me, but … deep breaths … Kate Moss-type beauty sends me even further. I’ll be choosing the smoked-out eye and textured hair over the red lip and glossy retro waves forever, and that’s the way it is. Now, again, do I looooooove the retro look? Yes. But is it the defining, foundational influence over my personal taste? No. Ideally, my hair would always be second-day hair, with just a bit of grit to it. Additionally, in this same fantasy, I would always have second-day makeup. You know those smudges of eyeliner left on your lids the morning after you lazily go to bed without washing it off? That right there. That’s the best.

So now that we’re clear about that, let me tell about a couple reigning queens of Old Hollywood that have influenced my preferences in hair and makeup. And yes, these are, in fact, all characters from films rather than singular actresses/models/dancers/whatever. Alright then. Spit spot!

The movie Vertigo has influenced in more significant ways than one, but because this is not a cinema blog, I shall refrain from carrying on about the inexplicably HUGE impact that this film’s story/soundtrack/wardrobe/cinematography has had on my imagination and person in general. Instead, I shall praise the stark, cold, clean beauty of Kim Novak’s character named Madeleine as one of my own influences. The ice-blonde hair, combined with bold eyebrows and soft peach cheeks (almost as if she’s been pulled out of some freezing cold water or something?) set the aesthetic tone for a sad and dark-minded woman. There’s nothing gaudy about Kim Novak’s look here, and it worked with the character’s costuming too, which consisted of clean lines and solid, muted colors. The minimalist, immaculate beauty of Madeleine’s character effectively conveyed a disturbing sense of mystery to me as a child, including the fact that her hair is always pulled back in a perfect, neat coil.

Kim’s beauty in Vertigo has influenced me in the sense that I have an eternal appreciation for the clean and neat. Yes, I do like myself a bit of grunge, but as those who know me will tell you, I tend to have a heart for simplicity over, well, whatever you’d call “not simple” in beauty. Moreover, I think Madeleine inspired in me a love for “dark” beauty. Though her hair is unmistakably blonde, Madeleine’s character is nothing but quiet sophistication. Alfred Hitchcock taught me that, through characters like Madeleine and the way you style them, you can portray mood through beauty. And lastly, it’s this character that has had me committing to myself that if I ever do go blonde, it will in this shade. No lie. It’s either full ice blonde or nothing.

Yes, THIS scene from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, not that scene, was the one that immediately had me seeing stars. If I could look like this every day, ear plugs and all, I would. Audrey Hepburn’s character Holly Golightly is pure McKenna perfection during these moments when she answers the door to meet the film’s leading man. Her haircut, the highlights near the crown of her head, her glowy, pink cheeks, her lush lashes, and her full, pink lips are something I’d shoot for any day. There really isn’t much depth to my explanation beyond this, other than me saying that it’s in this look that we see my appreciation for the less-than-perfect, in contrast to Kim Novak’s flawlessness above. I tend to feel that the opening scene of Breakfast demonstrates what we like to see as perfection, and ironically, that look actually isn’t my favorite. It’s iconic, yes, but is it the style I have in mind when I get ready to go wander in the early morning? Nope. This look is.

Alright, so maybe I really do love some 1960s in my look every once in a while. Like, really really really do. And nothing says 1960s and nothing says Italian quite like Virna Lisi. Not a thing, not no one. During her How to Murder Your Wife days, Virna seemed to embody THEE look of the decade: voluminous, sassy hair (clearly a job for foam rollers), awesomely thick, black, cake eyeliner, mattified skin, relatively untouched lips, and some seriously bold eyebrows. I’d like to think that today’s models like Cara Delevingne wouldn’t have a foundation to stand on if it weren’t for beauty like Virna’s first laying the groundwork and providing inspiration. It’s the aesthetic of Virna, and Brigitte, and Marilyn that seems to have had the most influence on beauty these days if you ask me. This kind of hair kicked off an evolution that’s landed us with Victoria’s Secret hair. This kind of makeup has served as a model for countless designers and stylists today, such as Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton. A cat-eye is an everyday staple these days for every girl-about-town. In short, the 1960s Italian look is everywhere. And I love it.

There really are countless other retro influences of mine when it comes to the whole realm of style, but because I’m focusing in on beauty here, I’d say that about sums it up. It’s hard to distinguish little pieces of a picture that’s so complicated, but this is my best. I don’t follow Audrey to a tee, but there are traces of her. I don’t mimic Natalie Wood in The Great Race exactly, but you can find bits of her. But that’s the point- to be inspired, but to still be you. xo, MR

July 28, 2013the Makeup stuff., the Me stuff., the Review stuff.

Target and Kittens- Is there anything better?!

McKennaRishmawybest cheap makeup brushes, best drugstore eyeshadow palette, best drugstore eyeshadows, best drugstore lip color, best drugstore makeup, best drugstore mascara, best L'Oreal products, best Maybelline products, best Revlon products, CoverGirl LashBlast, kitten pictures, kittens, L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow, makeup brushes, Maybelline Color Tattoo eyedshadow, which makeup brushes to use Leave a comment

One of my most favorite things about my amatuer-ish makeup “expertise” is that I get asked lots of questions. I love taking questions about anything, such as inquiries about which products I use to remove makeup (got that one last Sunday from a friend!), or a recommendation on a great, natural lipstick (got that one last Tuesday from a family member!), what my experience is with makeup setting spray (got that one on Friday from a coworker!), or what half of the makeup products in existence are even for in the first place (got that one last weekend from a dude friend!). It’s a joy knowing that folks can count on me for some help, but it’s also fun seeing others grow in their own knowledge of beauty products. As someone with a background in education, I really enjoy, well, educating people. A couple days ago I accompanied one of my dearest friends to the MAC counter where she proceeded to choose four awesome eyeshadows for herself, including some super-fun contrast colors (and she hasn’t owned much product before this). I’ve done her makeup a few times over the past year, and by having it done for her, she’s told me that it’s helped her understand the importance of certain products (like eyeshadow primer and highlighter) and that it’s helped her see how she’s capable of doing her own makeup quite well, too! Sometimes you just need someone to tell you that you can do it on your own, or show you how to do it just once, or insist that you don’t have to follow “the rules” of makeup as closely as you may think.

One of the questions that I’m asked frequently concerns drugstore makeup. I believe I may have posted on a similar topic already, but another go-round can’t hurt! Many folks want to know what items they can save on at a drugstore, or at least which particular drugstore items are good finds that are hidden beneath the rest of the not-so-quality makeup. I always like to say that face makeup and blush should definitely be held to higher standards, and skincare and haircare should be as well (and these should be held to the most natural standards possible, too). But there are a couple goodies that I’ve recommended to everyone that you can purchase for ten bucks or less at your local Rite-Aid, Target, etc. A couple of these picks are just different neutral eyeshadows, but you’d be surprised how many times I’ve been asked for recommendations on a universally-flattering eyeshadow that can be worn easily. So here, a compilation of my favorite finds as shown at a local Target:

Maybelline’s line of Color Tattoo eyeshadows consist of an extremely pigmented and long-lasting cream-to-powder color that gives great shimmer. I’d honestly compare the quality of this line to Chanel’s Illusion D’Ombre, though with not as multidimensional shades. “Bad to the Bronze”, as seen here, is particularly well-known for being a great choice for any skin color and any eye color. This very shade been praised in Allure magazine, and what’s great about cream shadows in general is that they’re so easy to use. You don’t even need a brush- just use your fingers to swipe this stuff on to your lids and up to the brow bone.

Revlon’s Colorstay quad palettes are the best budget-friendly answer to the eye palette question. The one shown in “Addictive” is, like the Maybelline shade, a good, foolproof choice for anyone. Revlon recently gave their eye palettes a makeover so they used to look a little different (and they had different names, as this one was previously named “Coffee Bean Quad”), but they seemed to upgrade the range of shades offered, as well. Revlon’s Customeyes palettes are also great if you’re searching for a more avant-garde selection, and their PhotoReady shadow and primer palettes are equally creative in color range. The PhotoReady palette in “Pop Art” has always looked fun to me for a more dramatic look.

Some of the more frustrating experiences I’ve had with makeup artists or counter employees is their insistence that if you purchase one product, you simply have to buy this other product that will make the first one much more effective. For instance, if you purchase a new face powder, you simply must buy the setting powder to apply for a proper finish! Gah! One thing at a time! Unless you’ve specifically stated that you’re out to complete your whole kit from top to bottom, don’t worry about nabbing everything suggested to you. Buy items as you realize that you need them. However, sometimes such advice from experts is, in fact, merited. Case and point: proper makeup brushes. Please, please, PLEASE do not believe that a single eyeshadow brush will help you achieve any desired look you have in mind. There are, in fact, different brushes for very different purposes. I won’t go into detail here on which ones do which things (though I’ll just say that for eyes, you should probably own at least three different brush types if you want to be really effective with your shadows). Now, I always try to encourage folks to stick with higher-quality brushes as they’re denser, softer, and tend to last far longer, but the Sonia Kashuk line at Target has a surprisingly strong line of cosmetic tools to choose from. Her brushes (especially those that are black and labeled as “professional”) are very precise and efficient in application. I’ve even purchased some of her application sponges (See the blue precision sponge? A great BeautyBlender knock-off!) with great results. So my point is, if you don’t have the time to mosey on over the the nearest Sephora, head to Target instead and snag a couple of these brushes. They’re affordable without skimping on effectiveness.

I think I’ve talked about these puppies before, but here’s an innovative lip product from a drugstore that you can count on: Revlon’s Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain. Quite the mouthful, huh? These are Revlon’s answer to Clinique’s Chubby Sticks, a product meant to provide sheer color and lasting hydration. Ever since Gucci Westman assumed position as the global artistic director of Revlon, the colors offered by the brand in everything from eyeshadow to nail color have seemed to take a high-end turn. This Just Bitten Kissable shade in “Darling” is a perfect example. It’s not a typical bubblegum pink- it’s got hints of lavender in it. It’s about as close to purple as my lips will ever get, but it’s a fun choice for something a little more unexpected.

You’ve heard me talk about these before, but proper doctrine need not be preached in limited quantities. CoverGirl’s LashBlast line makes the best budget-friendly mascaras. Period. Take special note of the blue, green, and orange tubes. I’ve used all of these for years. I’ve used others in between such as Maybelline, Dior, L’Oreal, and Stila, but none manage to compare to CoverGirl’s. I understand that people tend to want different things when it comes to mascara (because how Maybelline’s Great Lash still manages to sell well, I’ll never know), but if you’re looking for a buildable, slightly tacky formula with a brush that can be easily controlled, these are perfect. The only one I really haven’t liked is the “24 Hour” kind, in the black tube. Too messy, goopy, and not enough build. But as for the rest, knock yourself out.

First things first: sorry for the dirty nail. I literally covered myself in clay yesterday and have yet to scrape off every bit of it (but whether it was at the spa or for an art project, you’ll never know). Second things second: L’Oreal’s Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow line is the boooooommmmmmmmmb. That sounds like it says “is the boom”. Well, it’s the boom and it’s the bomb. This line is your best choice for a dramatic, “going out” look for under ten dollars. These have incredible color payoff comparable to Urban Decay’s shadows, but if you don’t like shine be sure to stay away as these will draw some serious attention to your peepers. This shade in “Bottomless Java” might be one of my favorite shadows of all time, and I taut it as my absolute favorite drugstore find beyond all the aforementioned. This whole line is completely reliable, though. I posted a video from IntoTheGloss a while ago that showcased my hero Emily Weiss using the “Eternal Black” shade for a super-smokey glam-rock look. So before running over to MAC for one of their pigments, check these out first. They may have what you’re looking for.

Welp, there you have it. If you’ve read, I know that the next time you’re at Target, it’s highly likely that you’ll be picking up one (or all) of these. But I hope you’ve found this helpful, as we’re often overwhelmed by the choices given to us by makeup manufacturers (and that’s actually part of their strategy). So fear not! Play it safe and play it beautiful with one of these Old Faithfuls. And here, to make your day even more special, two pictures of a kitten with my makeup brushes:

Now go die happy. xo, MR

July 26, 2013the Friends stuff., the Makeup stuff., the Me stuff.

Thank God it’s Friday! NOW PUT ON THE EYESHADOW.

McKennaRishmawybest gold eyeshadow, best red lipstick, editorial makeup, Loverboy, MAC Gorgeous Gold, MAC Russian Red, makeup for date night, most flattering eyeshadow for all skin types, most universally flattering red lipstick, party makeup, weekends Leave a comment

It’s official: I have become one of those “working for the weekend” types. I landed myself a job that consists of a solid eight hours a day, five days a week. I start my day early in the morning and by 4:30 in the afternoon, I’m bushed. Each day feels like an accomplishment, but let me tell you: Monday seems awfully far from Friday, and Friday seems SO CLOSE to Monday. I’m not sure how that happens, but regardless of the fatigue, the regular schedule is all turning out to be great for me. I’m eating regularly and all day long, and I get panicky if I don’t wear comfortable shoes or have enough water. I can’t help but respond to these messages that my body is sending me, and so as a consequence I’ve ended up building healthier habits, little by little. I can even take a nap now and it doesn’t have to be two hours long!

However, another consequence of having such a job is MAY-JER weekend anticipation. Like, I am literally playing this in my head over and over come Thursday afternoon. I officially get the point of happy hour. I officially get “TGIF”. I officially feel bad for all the times I sort of rolled my eyes at the folks who would enthusiastically update their statuses as they awaited their Friday night sushi or tapas or whatever. So, what’s more exciting than actually making some concrete plans for a Friday night so I can do nothing but clinch my keyboard in anticipation at my desk all day (and stay on task, of course)?!

But naturally, the real pleasure of “going out” for me is not the actual “going out”. It’s the “getting ready” part that hits my sweet spot. Give me an hour or two to just zen out with my makeup brushes and trust me- I’ll be a happy camper that evening whether I end up at the Chateau Marmont or if I decide to just hang out in a dumpster with some Cheetos as I wave a flashlight around my head. That’s some hoodrat clubbin’.

So what kind of makeup do you wear for a night out? Well, during my ~~two~~ nights out in Vegas ~~in which I stepped out of my room to escape the Circus Circus nightmare that I’d paid for~~, I’ve typically noticed the unfortunate combination of too-much-bronzer and too-much-eyeliner and too-much-lipgloss. Rule of thumb: You get one of those, okay? YOU. GET. ONE. Unless it’s opening night of Hairpsray AND YOU’RE THE STAR … you get one. Unless you’re walking the runways at Paris Fashion Week and you’ve got the pancake face of Karl Lagerfeld HIMSELF to compete with … you get one. But sometimes … sometimes … there’s a case in which you maybe get two. For your consideration, a you-pick-two look brought to you by yours truly:

Now, I’d been wanting to put golden eyeshadow on Laura’s eyes for months but I’d just never had the chance to snatch those little blue eyeballs! I used MAC’s Gorgeous Gold on Laura’s lids to bring out major contrast in her eyecolor, and that’s MAC’s Russian Red on her lips. The lip color has got to be one of the most universally flattering shades of red, and what’s unique about gold is that it also works with eyecolor and skintone of all shades. This particular shade from MAC does different things on different eyes, and I can’t recommend it enough. I didn’t do a thing to Laura’s cheeks, and I only evened out her skin with a light wash of foundation and a good dusting of powder- I didn’t want her skin to be too shiny. I love that the look is a little more of a Disney Princess look, and yet it still has the potential to be somewhat editorial. It is in this case that I would submit that you can do both statement eyeshadow and statement lips. It doesn’t happen often, folks.

So what will I do tomorrow night as far as makeup’s concerned? I haven’t the faintest. But I can assure that I’ll be thinking about allllllllll day long tomorrow as I sit at my desk. xo, MR

July 13, 2013the Fashion stuff., the Hair stuff., the Magazine stuff., the Makeup stuff.

I’m over summer. Or, in which I discuss Fall 2013 beauty trends far too prematurely.

McKennaRishmawybest Fall 2013 beauty, bold eyebrows, bold lips, braided hairstyles, Cara Delevingne, Cara Delevingne eyebrows, Chloe Fall 2013, Fall 2013 beauty, Fall 2013 beauty trends, Fall 2013 lip color, fishtail braid tutorial, fishtail braids, Jason Wu Fall 2013, Kate Mara hair, Kate Mara House of Cards, Lindsay Lohan as Liz Taylor, Lindsay Lohan jokes, Liz and Dick, Liz Taylor beauty, Marc Jacobs Fall 2013, minimalist makeup, no mascara, no mascara trend, oxblood lips, red lip, sleek bun, sleek hair, Viktor & Rolf Fall 2013, wet look, wet look hair, Zoe Barnes, Zoe Barnes hair Leave a comment

January and July are the months where I get antsy. I start getting that mid-to-late season itch for something new, as in new trends, new ideas, and new fashion. And of course, the magazine industry doesn’t exactly help me out with this struggle.

As you may know, magazines roll out their issues about one month prior to their actual, designated months (Get it? Because everything is early in fashion.). So, right now it’s mid-July, which means that just about all of the August issues are out. Okay, so no big deal right? Well, here’s the problem with the August issues- they’re one big tease. All they seem to be is a preview for September (the official kick-off for the fall season in fashion). And when you have an entire month of nothing but fall previews to deal with, you begin to find yourself looking for … oh, I don’t know … fur vests in the middle of summer?

Yeah, it’s pathetic. I’ll admit that I’ve been looking for a felt fedora hat for over a week now (not much unlike Rosie’s Rag and Bone one seen here). I’ve even got a modest Fall 2013 shopping list going, complete with a white fisherman’s sweater. Try hunting one of those down in July. But regardless of how early I begin looking for signs of the coming season and how hopeless it may be until mid-August, I have to admit that it is really fun.

So what can we all look forward to as far as beauty trends for Fall 2013? We’ve got color blocking, heeled loafers, and tons of grey to look forward to in our wardrobes, but how about our faces? Here are just a couple things I dare you to try when the winds change:

1. Put some serious color on your lips. Any color, so long as it’s bold.

Of course, I don’t tend to favor pink during the autumn seasons simply because it doesn’t feel right against all my black, grey, and muted tones (though I am kind of done with cliche rules like that), but a deep oxblood or a fire engine red like the above look shown at Marc Jacobs will certainly do the trick. And texture doesn’t matter- glossy, matte, satin, stained, whatever. It’s all about color saturation in this case, so there’s no real formula so long as it’s committed to its hue.

2. Braid your hair. ANY way you want.

Fishtail braids, Heidi-style plaits across the crown, one long braid down the back, you name it. If there’s a single braid of the smallest size to be found in your hair, it’s a winner this coming season. And let it be known that I am a braid IDIOT that can hardly get her own hair into a classic three-section braid without feeling like she needs to Animorph into an octopus. While I still can’t seem to get my hair into a satisfactory braid that makes me happy, I did find this tutorial on the fishtail style to be extremely helpful, and I’m convinced that I could probably get the job done on someone else’s hair at this point, if not on my own. My favorite styles were the ones seen like the shot featured above from Viktor & Rolf.

3. But if you’re not going for a braid, go for something extra sleek and extra modern.

I tend to feel most confident in my hair when it’s down with loose body and light waves thanks to ten minutes with a curling rod … but next season, I’m planning to change that. A couple weeks ago, just as I was getting ready to head out the door to commune with some friends, I was fussing over the very flat-against-my-head state that my hair was in. I’d blown it out straight days prior, leaving me with no volume and quite a bit of oil on the scalp. I then decided to go for what will be one of Fall 2013’s bigger beauty trends: I took out my rattail comb and created a deep, severe side part, and I then brushed all of my hair back and set it with shine-imparting, light-hold gel for a sleek, almost wet look. I then tied my hair into a low ponytail and ran a flat iron over the length of it, just for good measure. I was left with a style that felt more face-flattering and fashion-forward than my typical soft waves.

Anything of this nature, whether employing the use of a side-part with a bun or ponytail or just slicking the hair back with relatively no part, was huge during February’s Fashion Week. I particularly love Liu Wen’s style shown above for Jason Wu. My most current inspiration for this look, however, has been coming from Kate Mara’s character on House of Cards, Zoe, though Kate wears this look quite well herself on the red carpet.

4. Try going without mascara(!) and let your brows do the talking. And let them do all the talking.

I know, I know. We’re AMERICANS! We’re OBSESSED with mascara! So fine. Let’s get over it. Makeup on the runways last February exhibited two kinds of extremes: a full focus on the eyes with heavy eyeliner and loud color, or a completely opposite approach that left the eyes completely bare. And when the makeup artists left the eyelids nekkid, they seemed to compensate for it in either the lip department orrrrrrr ………. the BROW department. The bold eyebrow is back with a vengeance these days thanks to models like Cara Delevingne, and I’ve gotta tell ya, I couldn’t be happier. I love this bold, minimalist look seen as a whole package in the image above from the Chloe show, combining both bare lashes and fashion-forward eyebrows.

Now, I myself have never plucked, tweezed, threaded, or waxed my eyebrows until this year. I am not kidding. But the whole brow craze just got me so excited about grooming my own that I started dabbling in a little shaping here and there (not without anxiously contemplating for about five minutes over which exact three brow-hairs to pluck). I started filling in little gaps with pencil a couple years ago, and my hand has just gotten heavier and heavier as models like Cara have grown more and more popular.

And then, about two weeks ago, this happened. Camilla Belle came out of hiding with two spectacularly perfect caterpillars on her face, and I FELL IN LOVE. Say no more! I’m hooked on the bold brow, and I’m ready to let the Liz Taylor in me shine! No no, not that Liz Taylor. THAT Liz Taylor. There we go. That’s more like it. NO! I said NOT THAT LIZ TAYLOR! Or THAT one! OR THAT ONE!

THAT ONE! Thank you! Gosh! xo, MR

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Category Archives: the Makeup stuff.