My 5 minute "No Makeup" Makeup VIDEO TUTORIAL

Hey guys! Long time no speak :) In today's post and VIDEO tutorial I'm featuring my 5 minute makeup routine aka my "No Makeup" Makeup. Who has hours to spend on heavy dramatic makeup anyway? In this video, I have a clock countdown to show you that all you need is 5 minutes to get yourself ready to face the world. This routine was filmed in 1 take, no edits, so you know it's possible! The "no makeup" look is perfect for students, moms and busy women on the go and I hope you find it useful. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel and read below how you can get a FREE full size sample of Erborian CC Cream that I'm featuring in the video!

Read more for Tutorial, Products & FREE full size product

Beauty Basics: Defined Brows & Fall Style

Hello loves! Today's post is all about clean, simple beauty, focusing on the basics: groomed brows, fresh skin and casual, cozy separates. Truth be told, these types of looks are my go-to favorites and make me feel the most comfortable and beautiful. As a part of today's feature, I've prepared a step-by-step pictorial-tutorial of my current brow routine, as well as a fall-ready outfit of the day.

Read more for deets, pix & tutorial!

A GLOSSYBOX for mothers and daughters!

Salut mes amis! Meet my beautiful mom Irina -- she is making a guest appearance on this post and we are here today to report our thoughts and first impressions on two GLOSSYBOXes of the month: the LE Mother's Day box and April's subscription box! We are both wearing / using products from our respective boxes and are excited to share our findings and faves with all of you :))

Read more for details!

Flawlessly Dinair-Brushed!

Bonjour mes amis! The day has finally arrived and today's post is all about perfecting that complexion and achieving flawless skin with Airbrush Makeup. You may have noticed that in my last few posts, I've been wearing custom airbrush foundation from Dinair* (which I've been testing out for a week) and today I bring you my official review! Aren't you excited?! I sure am!!

Read more to discover why!

"No Makeup" Makeup made 4 CHILLIN'

Bonjour mes amis,

Question: How many of you prefer natural makeup over dramatic makeup? 

Confession: I DO... *

*For every day, that is :)))

Every day does not mean school, work or shopping--these are all responsibilities that we wish weren't a part of our daily lives--hence, we want to look our best when are trying to achieve, accomplish and earn so that we can do the things we really like to do. What I'm taking about is something we New Yorkers like to refer to as CHILLIN'... We go to school and work, we run errands and pay our bills, we hustle and bustle, so that we can ultimately just chill. One can chill in front of the TV with a glass of wine or on a beach with a stack of magazines and a piña colada or simply sober on a nature trail, so whatever tickles your fancy, you can chill anyway you like!! For my chill occasions, I like to be simple: "no makeup" makeup, natural hair, my sweats and my smile :))) Off I go!

Read more to see my makeup breakdown!

Eartha Woods

Hello Lazy Monday...

I'm feeling very earthy today and what better way to bring this feeling to life than with rich earth tone eyeshadows, natural disheveled hair, and funky-chunky wooden & leather jewelry. This is how Maryam Maquillage does it, "Eartha Woods" style ;)))

Read more if you like this look :)

A Natural Woman

Salut mes amis!

Today's post is inspired by and dedicated to one of my bestest besties, Christen Satchelle, check her out if you haven't met her already. Chrissy is an accomplished singer, songwriter and Broadway producer, who is now participating in the Avon Voices singing competition. In the link above, Chrissy is putting her spin on the Aretha Franklin classic (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman and she needs votes to win the darn thang. If you can spare 3 minutes, please register to vote for my bestie, she really is the BEST singer that this competition has to offer and deserves to win because she is incredibly talented. Listening to Chrissy sing gives me goosebumps every time and I can't wait for the world to feel what I feel--she is AMAZING!

Here's my natural woman and YES, she has insanely white teeth! :D

Read more to see my take on the "Natural Woman" look

Red-n-Naked

Salut mes amis!

Congratulate me, I'm officially on vacay!!! Though, I'm not on holiday, so I won't be leaving NYC... I'll be sticking around and writing my beauty, makeup and fashion posts like it's a full time job. Looking forward to that, because I'll actually have the time, so let the challenge begin :))

Today's post is titled Red-n-Naked because I'm incorporating my freshly painted fire red nails with a very subtle, barely there maquillage, appropriately using the one and only Urban Decay Naked Palette. Get yours today, it's a must-have for every makeup junkie out there!

READ ON for the review and quick tutorial :)

V-Day Pregame

Salut les filles :))

Happy Friday and Happy Bornday to GiGi!!! So many holidays and birthdays this month--it is an overwhelming and exciting time of the year :)) Let's see, what's in store today...? My poll has closed and the winner of the most feared makeup trend is ::drumroll::..... Red Eyeshadow, of course. I fear it too, but I'm looking forward to experimenting and exploring the bloody trend, (said in my best British accent ;) so be on the lookout for the Red Eye post coming up very soon. A lot of you have also been asking me to do a how-to on lashes, and since my Lashtite semi-permanent glue and remover (for individual lashes/extensions) have just arrived in my mailbox, I'll have that tutorial coming up asap. For now, you can go to my Lady Vengeance post, scroll down to the bottom and read about the application of strip lashes (non-permanent falsies). I'll also have a bridal makeup tutorial for all you brides-to-be, and I'll try to fulfill some earlier celebrity requests, so don't forget to check back!!

Today's post will launch the countdown to V-Day... and I'll start it off short and sweet. Valentine's Day makeup can be as dramatic or natural as you like, but the key is keeping it romantic and feminine. This look will be perfect for the daytime, just to commemorate the holiday while you're at the office or perhaps on your day off with your significant other. Hope you enjoy!!



bisous,

Maryam Maquillage

P. S. It's V-Day for Egypt!!!

Natural is beautiful: the "No makeup" Makeup

I'm sure many of you are not as thrilled about the idea of plastering your faces with products as I tend to be, and firmly hold to the notion that less is more, and more is vulgar. You may be surprised to learn that I happen to subscribe to the same belief. Less is, in fact, more, especially when it comes to every day makeup. I absolutely do not support young girls wearing a heavy mask of foundation, nor do I believe in makeup being used as a veil. On the contrary, I think makeup is meant to highlight and bring attention to one's naturally beautiful and unique features. Of course, it took me a while to come to this realization, as I most certainly have used makeup as a hiding tool and wish I hadn't started 'using' as early as I did. So I admit it, I have abused makeup and was an addict for a long time.

My relationship with makeup began at the tender age of 13, when I got my first taste of pubescent zits. I shiver at the thought of those oil-based powders and concealers, which only made my skin more and more acne-prone (Thank God for Proactiv!) It quickly grew into a passion for transformation when I started experimenting with styles, ranging from gothic to gangsta' to schoolgirl, inspired by Fairuza Balk (The Craft), Left Eye, Buffy and others. Oh how I wanted to be Buffy... at times I even thought I was the fourth member of the TLC... anyway, I regressed. By the time I was in high school, I was the go-to girl for make-up--I experimented on all of my friends and take full credit for planting the seed of their current obsessions. I even taught my friends how to "shop" for make-up... but that's a story for another entry.

Back to being natural. Bottom line--I should not have been shopping or experimenting or plastering my face like it was a dry wall... I was fresh faced and should have probably kept it fresh, at least until 16. Why don't we ever listen to our mothers and years later wish we did? On a positive note, makeup technology and formulas have come a looong way since my high school days and I secretly can't wait to experiment on my little sister when she's of age. If she starts at 13 like I did, I'm OK with her using light eyeliner and perhaps some lipgloss, as well as grooming her brows. At 15, she can pile on the mascara and start using mineral foundation. After 16, it's all game on special occasions and by 18, she's free to choose.

It is important, however, to remember that people get used to seeing you in makeup and it's good and necessary to remind those around you, as well as yourself, that you are beautiful underneath it all. So, my thought for the day is to change it up, go natural, go bare, go free and be free :)

Bisous,


Maryam Maquillage

ABOUT THE LOOK:

So, although this is a natural look, I am wearing some makeup. I skipped my typical foundation primer and went with a mattifying moisturizer with SPF 15 from Proactiv. I find that with this product, skin doesn't really need much else as far as moisturizing, priming and protecting. It's a great all-in-one, non-comedogenic (does not clog pores) hydrating lotion that also primes and preps your face for the day. I used my favorite Bare Minerals matte mineral foundation just over my T-zone and a little under the eyes and mixed it with warmth (Bare Minerals' bronzing powder).

On my eyes, I'm wearing just 1 coat of mascara on both top and bottom lashes and the slightest amount of pale pink eyeshadow that I dotted on with my finger just to the center of my lid.

My lips are lined and filled in slightly with Mauve lipliner by Jordana.

This look took me about 2 minutes to complete, and the effect is natural but awake (hence the pj's). Oh yeah, I also brushed my eyebrows with a spoolie and applied some hair wax to keep the brows in place. I have to do that because my eyebrow hairs are very coarse. You can obviously skip this step.

EXAMPLES OF NATURAL MAKEUP:

The focus is on glowing youthful skin and the models' natural gorgeous features--cheekbones, lips, and eyes.

MOI--SANS MAQUILLAGE (ZERO MAKEUP)

Super Ellen in this one

'Eastern block', as my girl Jo would say. "Khan!"

I ate so much, my head exploded...

TIPS AND TRICKS: 

☺ Proactiv Oil Free Moisture with SPF 15. Forego their other stuff, but this one's a keeper. Go to your local mall, find a proactiv kiosk, and purchase it this way, otherwise you'll need a contract for the entire system.

☺ Natural does not mean makeup-less. If you love makeup like I do, keep it simple on those au natural days. A little mascara and concealer (just on the problem areas) go a long way. 

☺ Choosing a good bronzer can really transform you from looking like you're barely there to healthy and well-rested. I prefer a matte bronzer, like Benefit's Hoola, but also like mixing in Bare Minerals' Warmth with my every-day foundation for a subtle glow.

☺