Motives Mavens ELEMENT: "Chocolate Truffle" Smokey Eye Tutorial

Hello dolls and Happy Friday!! Firstly, I want to thank you all so much for your love and support of our Motives Mavens palettes launch. Your positive reception and feedback means the world to me and I simply couldn't have done it without you guys. I love love love you and am sending you all a bunch of hugs and kisses!!

NEWS: MAVENS PALETTES NOW AVAILABLE IN CANADA!!!

Today's look is Friday night inspired and is perfect for those of you who like to go out for Happy Hour after work. I'm using our Motives Mavens ELEMENT Palette and a bit of glitter to achieve this easy, day-to-night transformation makeup.

Read more for pix, tips & TUTORIAL!

Motives Mavens ELEMENT Palette: "Dusty Rose" Smokey Eye

Palette Photo by Marino Photography

Hello my darlings, Great news!! Our best-seller Motives Mavens ELEMENT Eyeshadow Palette is now back in stock and available for purchase!! To celebrate this, I've put together this Smokey, Romantic "Dusty Rose" date look and I can't wait for you to try it out for yourselves!!

Read more to get yours & to learn how it's done!

Runway to Real Way Makeup: "Effortless Chic" Lancome at Jason Wu F/W 2014

Image: StyleBistro

Hello beauties! NY Fashion Week has come and gone, but the Fall 2014 trends are just beginning to emerge. This past week, I've been glued to the runways, cataloguing stand-out designs and trying out new looks. As you all may know, I'm a loyal Jason Wu follower, so I was thoroughly excited for his strong Fall collection and eager-as-always to recreate his signature high-drama makeup. This season, however, Mr. Wu surprised us all as he set out on a brand new mission: Effortless Chic and Minimal Makeup. 

Perplexed? Don't be. Who needs the drama when you've got Adriana Lima and Jourdan Dunn?

Get Adriana's look below!

Motives Mavens Palettes & Contouring Tutorial

Hi beauties!! I'm back and I've got the most exciting news to share!! If you follow me on IG & FB, then you already know what's up, but in case you missed it, there's no more holding out and I'm spilling all the deets right here, right now. The Motives Mavens aka myself, Vegas Nay, Teni Panosian, Ely Marino, Ellarie and Makeup By Denise have launched our brand new makeup line at the Market America World Conference in Miami!!! This past week was absolutely monumental and we are thrilled to share our products, which were created with so much thought, passion and love. 

In this post, you'll find more pics from our events, as well as party pics, your fave celebs and my first product highlight & contouring tutorial. I'll be featuring more products and tutorials in the coming posts, so please post your requests and questions in the comments section below! Love you guys!

Read more for pics, products & tutorial!!!

Chinese New Year Nail Art & Makeup for Asian Eyes

Ni-hao my darlings!! Today is Chinese New Year and I want to wish good fortune, great health and lots of love and prosperity to everyone who is celebrating!! The Lunar New Year is a traditional holiday in many Asian countries, so to commemorate this joyous occasion, I've got a special post lined up just for you. Today's look is all about the Asian Eyes & Complexion with plenty of tips and tricks, using all Motives Cosmetics and some of my new favorite Asian cosmetic brands. As a festive bonus, I've created a fun, CNY-inspired hand-painted nail art featuring Chinese calligraphy, the yin yang and tons of glitter.

Read on for tips, tricks, TUTORIAL & Nail Art!!!

"Bohemian Fairy" Makeup for Valentine's Day

Hello my beauties!!! Hope you're all happy and healthy. Continuing with my Valentine's Day Countdown, today's look is romantic & bohemian, inspired by blooming flowers in anticipation of Spring. The last few weeks in NY have been absolutely frigid and I'm so eager and ready for the warmer days. Good thing, I've got a trip to Miami right around the corner, which I literally cannot wait for!!! This trip is going to be a memorable one and I'll be sharing more details soon :)) For now, here's a clue: today's Maven's Makeup look was created using the one and only Motives Cosmetics!! hint hint*

Read more for deets, tips & step-by-step!

LOVE, Studded & Smokey: Makeup & Nail Art

Hi dolls!! It's Mani-Monday and I'm BACK with another hand-painted nail art created by moi for my special Valentine's Day countdown. I'm not usually the one to brag about my own designs, but this one has got to be my all-time favorite personal creation and I'm really proud of it. Plus, it's the perfect message for today's Martin Luther King commemoration: Spread LOVE, not hate!!!

Read more for MORE :)

"Pretty in Pink" in Naked 3

Hello my beauties!! Yesterday was my Lucky 13 year anniversary with Mr. Maquillage and today we're officially less than a month away from Valentine's Day. This season, I'm following last year's schedule and counting down to February 14th with V-Day looks, nails, hair styles and many more romantic and date-appropriate fashions and features. To jump start the series, I've put together a soft "Pretty in Pink" look using the coveted Naked 3 palette from Urban Decay and some of my favorite new products from Motives Cosmetics and HB Beauty Bar. 

Read more for tips, pics & deets!

"Wintry Exotic" Arabic Makeup Tutorial

Hi beauties!! The winter holidays are over, but the season is only beginning to unfold. Today, I'm inspired by Arabic makeup and I'm re-interpreting it using cool, frosty shadows and luscious cruelty-free mink lashes to fit the winter theme. Arabic makeup is truly one of my all-time favorite styles for any occasion -- it's always graphic, bold, edgy and so exotic!! My version of this look is using neutral pigments and shadows from Motives Cosmetics, as well as incorporating pieces from new jewelry lines and my new fave lashes.

P. S. Maryam Maquillage is THREE YEARS OLD!!! Happy Birthday Bloggy <3

Read more for deets, tips & tutorial!

"Russian Opulence" Makeup & LANCOME Giveaway!!!

Bonjour mes belles!! First and foremost, I want to congratulate all the winners of my three previous giveaways: Allee K. (winner of BK Unique Hair giveaway); Cecilia C., Catalina O. & Francette C. (winners of Missha giveaway) and Diana C. & Jennay G. (winners of Belletto Studio giveaway) -- enjoy your prizes girls!!!

Today's dramatic ensemble is inspired by my favorite winter theme "Russian Opulence" and is in turn introducing my next giveaway prize: Lancome "Joyeuses Fetes" Holiday Collection (used to create this makeup look). The Russian theme is very near and dear to my heart and what better way to celebrate it than with an awesome International Giveaway for you guys. Read more for details & giveaway raffle at the end of the post!!!

Good Luck!

Beyonce "Fire & Ice" Transformation Makeup

Hello my beauties & Happy New Year!! I'm back with my first post of 2014 and this pretty one's self-explanatory. I aimed for something fun, different and costume-y, so I went ahead and re-created Beyonce's features and makeup worn to her recent album release party using my fave brands like Makeup Geek, Motives Cosmetics and Too Faced. I also experimented with some hair extensions to change up my look and try something radically different. It's been a while since my last avant garde look or transformational makeup, so I decided to ring in the new year by bringing back one of my most beloved challenges: celeb transformation makeup. This look was created for a costume party and mainly just for fun, simply because it's a new year and I'm going for it!!! Wishing you guys all the best in 2014!!

Read more for details & tutorial :)

"Disco-Ball" Glitter Makeup for NYE!!!

Hello my beautiful flowers!!! (<-- new name I thought of that is so much nicer than followers lol)...

Today's glittery look was created for NYE and my inspiration for the occasion was none other than a literal disco ball. New Year's Eve is one of those special days where More is More, so I decided to go all out with this one. I'm rocking BIG Hair, BIG Earrings, and BIG Sparkly, Gold-n-Glowing Eyes a la Diana Ross in her prime -- for this day, I say, it's only appropriate :) 

I'm wearing my fave eye products from Motives Cosmetics, as well as Belletto Studio airbrush foundation (check out my current GIVEAWAY to win yours), plus a few goodies from great hair and jewelry companies!

Read more for Deets, Tips & Pix!

The Month of Giving Aways #3: Belletto Studio Airbrush!!

Hello my beauties!! Hope everyone is having an amazing holiday season :)) As the third giveaway of my "Month of Giving Aways" series, I'm presenting one of my favorite Airbrush Systems: Belletto Studio HD Skin Secrets Starter Kit ($400 value). This system is so easy to use that even a newbie can pick it up in no time, and the result is absolutely perfect, flawless, "professional"- looking skin!! There will be TWO WINNERS, so make sure to tag your bestie and share the good news :))

Read more for details & GIVEAWAY raffle!!!

Missha "Fatal Aura" Holiday Makeup & GIVEAWAY!!!

Salut mes belles!! Christmas is almost here and today's SPECIAL serves one of my favorite classic party makeups: a sultry navy smokey eye paired with burgundy lips and edgy accessories for a killer look that's made for a femme fatale! Appropriately, I'm using Missha's Fatal Aura Collection & GIVING AWAY 3 SETS to 3 lucky winners!!! 

Read more for tips, pix & GIVEAWAY deets!!!

NAKED 3 Tutorial: "Rosy Smokey"

Well hello my beauties!! The NAKED 3 Palette is officially here and is back in stock today on Urban Decay's website. Here's my first look using the Naked 3 and below is the tutorial :))

Enjoy!!

NEWS: LIVE FEED & GIVEAWAY!!!

Salut mes belles!!! I'm celebrating the month of giving and I've got a lot of great news to share today!!! 

First and foremost, make sure to mark your calendars  -- I'll be hosting a FREE LIVE VIDEO TUTORIAL aka LIVE STREAM, tomorrow, December 17th at 9 PM EST / 6 PM PST on MeetOn.com. Anyone with an internet connection can join in for free and watch me recreate one of my popular Motives Cosmetics Holiday Party Looks. The best part of it all: we can interact and I can answer any of your questions LIVE & in person!!!

Read below to enter into my first International GIVEAWAY of the season!!!

"Glam Green Glitter" Holiday Makeup

Salut mes belles!! Christmas is right around the corner, so today's look is once again reflective of the holiday spirit using green as the quintessential color of Xmas. If you know me and have been following my blog for a while, then you know that green in not typical in my color palette and I only embrace it on special occasions. Today is that day and I'm wearing green proudly, thanks to Motives Cosmetics whose green glitter is the prettiest I've ever laid my eyes on! For this popular look, I'm mixing up a couple of styles, particularly "East meets West" rocking a celeb-inspired fringe and some gorgeous exotic hand-made earrings from my fave Eastern jewelry line Innaya Couture.

Read more for deets, tips & more pix!

"Wine Down" Holiday Makeup

Salut mes belles & Happy Weekend!! Today's makeup look is another holiday installment and this one's a classic. I'm utilizing my favorite warm tone color scheme -- wine, burgundy & pink -- and I'm adding ornate jewels, glitter and cascading mermaid curls to give this look a festive Christmassy feel. The holiday season is the time to "Wine Down" with loves ones, so why not do it in style? Don't miss the incredible deals and coupons featured in this post!! Read below for deets :))

Read more for tips, pics & steals!!

"Blue Eyed Brights" Holiday Makeup

Hello my beauties!! Hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving and those who are still celebrating Hanukkah -- I wish you a joyous one!! The look I'm presenting today is festive and glittery, focusing on loads of sparkle and big, bright, blue eyes. I'm even wearing blue circle lenses for the occasion (my first time in contacts) and I'm using all Motives Cosmetics to create this fun, vibrant, unique look. If you have blue eyes, I urge you to try this one -- after all, it was made especially for you :))

Read on for products, tips & Tutorial!

Holiday Makeup & Nails: Sparkly from head to toe!

Salut mes belles! The easiest way to transform any makeup or nails look into a festive one is to add sparkle in the form of glitter, shimmers, rhinestones or jewels. Hence, today on the agenda, I'm adding a dose of holiday sparkle to some of my favorite go-to looks and transforming them for a celebratory occasion. 

Read more for deets & recs!