Beauty Trends Seen at New York Fashion Week F/W 2011

  I love fashion week.  Beyond the excitement of seeing the future of fashion, I am eagerly studying the faces of the models as they work the runway.  I am looking for a glimpse of the future of beauty. And for fall/winter 2011, there are looks that can be worn by women of all ages and all tastes.  In the upcoming days i will break down the key looks seen on the runways and help you adapt  them to your look and skill level. The key will be step by step instructions and product recommendations to give you the confidence you need to recreate your favorite looks at home.

PART ONE - Complexion

   The above picture of a model from the Edun show is a great example of the luminous and glowing skin that dominated the catwalk. The key points to remember are sheer coverage and minimal powder for a clean and natural look.
     1) A solid skincare routine is the basis for any makeup look whether it has a natural or more a dramatic design.  So start with your regular skincare routine and pay extra attention to any dry areas requiring additional moisture.   Indoor heating and cold outdoor temperatures deplete moisture from our skin this time of year so hydrating your skin well will allow you to perfect your complexion with ease. Exfoliating will also help to smooth skin and keep it flake free.  A great one to try is Aveda's Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant.  It is a salicylic acid based product that you apply with a cotton pad just like a toner. It isn't a mechanical scrub that you rub on the face, and therefore is a great gentle option for all skin types.
    2)  Apply a sheer, lightweight foundation or tinted moisturizer to the entire face starting at the center and blending outward.  Most of us need more coverage in those areas so by starting at the center you get the most coverage where you need it and the least where you don't - which is towards the outer edges of the face.  I recommend using your fingers, or a foundation brush to apply the product to your skin. I find sponges soak up too much of the lighter weight foundations which wastes product and effects the application. Both Aveda, and Bobbi Brown make beautiful light textured foundations that have the added bonus of SPF so you are not only perfecting your complexion but protecting it from the sun as well.
   3) Now take a step back and look at yourself in the mirror.  Do you see any areas that need a bit of extra coverage? Dark circles? Blemishes or redness? If you need it then lightly apply a concealer to those areas and blend well.  If you are satisfied with the coverage from foundation only you can skip this step.

  
    4) To finish off the first stage of your look you only need a light dusting of powder that focuses on the t-zone area. The texture of the product you choose is up to you - loose or pressed powder will do fine - but make sure you use the proper tool. A fluffy brush will give the most diffused and natural finish and is a better choice over the powder puffs that come with most finishing products. Try  MAC Skinfinish which is a mineral based powder with some light reflectivity that sets your makeup without a dry or flat finish, or the loose powder from Smashbox which almost disappears into the skin yet keeps makeup fresh all day.

Now that you have perfected your complexion and have that luminous glow....its time to add some colour and focus on playing up your individual features. This is where the fun begins because you can be as creative or as classic as you like.

NEXT UP:  Focus on EYES....graphic shapes with neutral tones infused with shimmer