Fabulous Over Forty – Where Beauty Is Ageless

The newest addition to the Giorgio Armani Beauty line of foundations is this Lasting Silk Compact Foundation with SPF 35, not to be confused with the Luminous Silk Powder that I recently spoke about.    I was anxious to see this when Nicole called to tell me it was in at Nordstrom.   She knows how oily I get in the summertime and thought this would be a perfect foundation.

Well, it is a beautiful foundation.  Of course it is, it’s Armani!  

First she applied a little foundation on an area with a dry sponge and it melded beautifully with my skin.  Then on another area she took a slightly damp sponge and smoothed it on, as it can be used either way.   Again, it is an incredibly flawless application.   I loved the feel and look.  I was thrilled!  However, my only difficulty is the shade colors available.   It’s like I’m right in between two shades.  The 4 is too dark yellow for me, the 3.5 is almost right, but not quite and the 3 is too pink.   I was so disappointed that I couldn’t find a shade to work on me because it would be perfect for me in the summer with my oily skin.  

If you like the ease of a powder foundation, but don’t like a heavy, powdery look, you may want to give this a try.   You’ll be amazed at the silky smooth look your skin has. 

Summer must-haves can include a variety of beauty products

• Sunscreen – check.
• Tinted moisturizer - check.
• Fresh fragrance – check.
• Self-tanner – check.
• Light pink nail polish – check.

Oh, I’m sure the list could go on and on.  But, one of the most fabulous products on my list is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Powder.

Cursed (or blessed) with oily skin in the summer, I do like to use a powder for quick touch ups to remove the oily shine.   Because of oily skin you want to use something lightweight that can absorb the oil without all the buildup some powders can create.   That’s exactly why I love this powder.  It’s lightweight, silky soft, and matte without being a cakey matte.   I keep one in my handbag and one in my desk drawer at all times.   My shade is #4.

It comes with a sponge applicator which is fine in a bind, but I personally like using a brush for an all over even application.  This powder is also buildable for varying degrees of coverage, too.

While perusing the isles of my local Nordstrom I came across the new Armani Summer 2010 line.   It’s an array of subtlety, vibrancy and allure.  

Let’s start with the middle palette shown above, which I call vibrancy.   It’s from the Eyes to Kill collection of eye shadows and the latest editions give you quite a range.   The palette #5 has a center of a dark royal blue shade the middle shade is a deep silver with a slight shimmer to it and the outer shade – well put those sunglasses on now!    It is a super-vibrant aqua shade.  If you think it looks bright in the photo above, you should see it in person!  It’s even more vibrant if you can imagine.   I have been trying to envision how I (or anyone other than someone in their teens or 20′s) would wear this palette.  But that’s OK – not every palette is for us!   What do you think?  Would you wear this?

The Eyes to Kill palette on the right is total opposite and very subtle. This palette is #6.  The inside shade is a bright peach, the middle shade a soft, pretty pink and the outer ring of color is a shimmery tan.  Now this palette is one I feel more comfortable with!   I can see a few different applications with this palette that I would use.  

On to what I call the look of  ’allure’.  On the left is the Mediterranean palette – a deep shade of bronzer on the top and a 4 eye shadow pan beneath.  I think it is very similar to last years’ Mediterranean palette.  The top color is a mossy green the second shade is a very interesting teal shade.   It looks pretty blue here, but it’s a bluish green with some brown in it.  The third color is a deep copper gold and the bottom shade is a soft pale green.  You could do many interesting things with this palette, but I know for me that the teal shade is one that I would personally use with caution.   Teal in all variations is everywhere this summer.   It appears to be “the color” of the moment.   It’s not a color I particularly love – probably because the owners of the building where I work can’t seem to get rid of the 1980 teal and mauve carpet and it’s everywhere!   I see teal all the time and maybe because of my skin tone and my other reasons, it’s not my favorite.   But the coppery gold and the mossy green and pale green shades are very pretty.  They could be worked into some beautiful combinations on the eye if you are like me and don’t care for teal.  OK, maybe I’d use the teal as an eyeliner.  Maybe.    

The bronzer that is shown reflected in the palette mirror is a great shade of bronze.   Not orange, and not muddy.  I love the Armani bronzers.

The lip shades are both deep and rich looking.  The top one is a coppery brown shade and the bottom one is a deep brown with some plum in it.  

Shown above on the left in the silver tube is the Eyes to Kill mascara that is waterproof.   So if you are a waterproof mascara user, I’m sure this is a wonderful version for you.   The lip glosses are deep in color, but very sheer, so they are more wearable than you may think upon initial look.

I’d love to hear what you think of the new Armani Summer Collection.   I think I will be saving my money for next season’s collection. 

Recently I showed a color palette for a Soft and Natural look.   It seemed to be a popular blend of makeup and I’ve been asked several times to do a drugstore version.    So I went to my local Ulta and did some bargain comparisons.    Here’s the great part – Ulta has most of these brands on sale this week at 40% off!

First up, the foundation in place of the Chanel one.   I like L’Oreal Ture Match.   It’s creamy, has nice texture and easy application.  Plus I like how it looks on the skin and it has several shades to choose from.

In place of the Dior Bronzing powder, I like this Physicians Formula Magic Mosaic.   This particular shade is Warm Beige.    I love the gradual shading of this palette and the colors will warm up the face beautifully.

Eye Shadow #25 from Giorgio Armani has been replaced by L’Oreal’s singular eye shadow in #405 Taffeta.   This is a taupe with rose shade that matches very closely to the Armani Beauty shade.

Don’t worry – I don’t mean to share the blue shadow with you!  No, it’s the color next to it.   Revlon’s eye shadow 010 Polished Bronze replaced the Giorgio Armani #27 taupe/light bronze shadow.

Using the left shade color on L’Oreal’s HIP #818 Saucy eye shadow duo, it matches the Giorgio Armani Bronze shadow #20.

The Maybelline single eye shadow in #30 Champagne Fizz is a dead ringer for Giorgio Armani eye shadow #2.

For lips, I love this Revlon Colorburst collection.   Shade # 025 Blush is a great match to the Giorgio Armani lipstick in #30.  

For the eye shadow gel liner, I suggest Sonia Kashuk gel eyeliner in the brown shade.   At this point, I couldn’t find a budget replacement for NARS Orgasm Illuminator, but I’ll keep on searching! 

Not all the textures on the eye shadows will be the same as the Giorgio Armani ones – some may have shimmer in the budget choices when they are matte in Armani and vice versa, but the colors are very similar to one another.

Many of you seemed to like the Soft and Natural look I pulled together last week, so this week I give you a “Perfectly Polished” look.  This look adds a little more color to the face than the look last week, but it still isn’t overpowering.

Let’s start with the face prep – Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint in Golden.   This tinted moisturizer is hands down the best one I have ever tried.   It’s lightweight with a slight shimmer and has all kinds of healthy-for-your-skin goodness.  

Groomed eyebrows are a must in my book, and my new favorite way to fine tune them is theDiorshow Brow Styler.   It’s a universal shade on one end and a spooly brush at the other to give you the best in brow filling. 

I love the Chanel Kaska Beige eye shadow palette.  With the four shades you’re able to create looks that take you from sublte to dramatic, depending on the shade combinations you use.   Check my post on the palette here.   

I then line my eyes in a Giorgio Armani Beauty Smooth Silk Eye Pencil.  This one is shade #12, a black/brown shade.  Have you ever tried one of the Armani eye pencils?  They are so incredibly creamy and silky, just like the name says.  

For a soft, subtle pop of color on the cheeks, I brush LancomeBlush Subtil in Sheer Amourose.   It’s a beautiful shade of rose that would flatter many skin tones.   It also blends beautifully. 

Set your perfectly polished face with RevlonPhotoReady powder in Translucent.   This goes with me everywhere.   No buildup, no color changing formula and no settling in creases. 

For lips the new Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle shade is what I used here.  Chanel just released the new Rouge Coco formula last month and they are a big hit.   They are very creamy and long wearing without the drying affect that many other long wearing formulas have.   I own several shades. but for my skin tone this is a great every day shade.   

If you like to add a little gloss, try this Jouer Lipgloss in color Sunset, a shimmering pink gold shade.   This creamy gloss can be worn alone or over any lipstick.  The shimmer is not too much, but a nice touch.  

If you’re going to take this look to the night time, why not add a little shimmer with Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick for Body.  Take a big fluffy brush like this Bobbi Brown brush and put over your decollete, arms, legs – anywhere you want a soft, sexy shimmer.   The key in application is a big fluffy brush – otherwise it will apply with a small streak instead of an all-over glow.

Today I want to share with you a soft, natural and pretty makeup look.    I’ve taken makeup from my own collection and put together a look that I like to use when putting together a polished, professional look that is also feminine.

I first apply Chanel Teint Innocence foundation all over my face.   I love the texture of this foundation – it just looks like your skin only better.   It’s a perfect weight and texture, lasts a long time and hides imperfections without looking cakey.  Perfection.

I didn’t feature a concealer, but most days I use Jouer Age-Repairing Brightener under my eyes as it hides the dark circles and is a treatment, so it works wonderfully for the delicate under eye area.     

To highlight my cheeks or anywhere I want to get “the glow”, I use Nars Orgasm Illuminator.  It is a beautiful shade of that pink/coral/shimmer that looks wonderfully on most any skin tone.   Dab a bit on your fingertips and rub or press into the skin. 

I dust on my cheeks, temple and jawline this Dior Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Sculpting Powder.  My shade is 40 Golden Caramel.  I like the versatility of this as you can sweep your brush all along all the colors or use them individually.  It leaves a soft warm glow without looking too bronzy. 

This may look like an awful lot of eye shadows, but when the Giorgio Armani Beauty makeup artist used this combination on me I fell instantly in love with the look.   Because I have larger eyes, some makeup artists tend to over do it with eye shadows on me.  This was a beautiful, soft look that could go from day to night – so soft and pretty.   On the left the shadows are Armani Maestro shades in #2 (top left) and # 25 (bottom left).  Blend these two together to get the perfect base shade for all over application.  #2 is a soft shimmer golden/nude.  #25 is a tan/nude/with a slight pink in matte.   #20 (bottom right) use all over the lower eye lid.  This shade is a light shimmer bronze.   Then in the crease  use #27 (top right) a lightly shimmer khaki/taupe shade.  Blend well.

You can line your eyes with a purple pencil eyeliner or try this Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Plum Black.   If you prefer a pencil try the Armani Smooth Silk Eye Pencil in #5 Eggplant.   They are soft and creamy and super-easy to apply. 

Top with your favorite mascara.  I go between so many that I like that I didn’t list one here, but any Lancome, CoverGirl LashBlast or Armani Eyes To Kill works wonderfully.

Now, if you want to be daring, try Armani Rouge d’Armani Lipstick in a red shade like #401.   But, for daytime, I’ve shown here Armani Sheer Lipstick in #30 -a rosy pink that is soft and natural.   The Sheer line is very light in color as the name states, but very moisturizing.   Even though you may have to apply several times a day I find it worth it. 

If you want to top it with a gloss, I like this Hourglass Prodigy lip gloss in Hypnotic.   I love this new gloss and it’s unique packaging.   This shade is more pink than what it looks like on the package.  It’s moisturizing and has a nice slight shimmer.

This look will take you from the boardroom to dinner or a night out with the girls. 

Let me know if you enjoy it when I put together color collections like these – I have many more to share!

*All products were purchased by me with the exception of the Hourglass Prodigy.