Oscars Beauty 2010: Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah's Oscar beauty look was cerated by makeup artist D'Andre Michael.

"For Queen Latifah’s Oscar's look I decided to go with a plum smoky eye, soft mauve lip and bronzed skin. Queen Latifah's wardrobe was a beautiful, custom-designed lavender gown. I used a foundation brush to apply COVERGIRL Queen Collection Natural Hue Liquid Makeup in Warm Caramel and set it with COVERGIRL Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Pressed Powder in Brown Bronze 1.

"For Queen Latifah's eyes, I started by applying COVERGIRL Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Pressed Powder in Brown Bronze 1 to the brow bone. I do this to achieve a more natural look to the brow bone. Secondly, I used COVERGIRL Smoky ShadowBlast in Purple Plume on the entire lid from the lash line to the inner crease. I then used COVERGIRL Smoky ShadowBlast in Onyx Smoke in the inner crease to blend up on the brow bone. For depth and intensity, I used COVERGIRL Outlast Smoothwear All Day Eyeliner in Onyx on the inner bottom eyelid. To give lashes the oomph that most women crave, I applied COVERGIRL LashBlast Length Waterproof Mascara in Very Black.

"For Queen Latifah's lips, I wanted to compliment the plum eye by doing a beautiful mauve lip to balance out the various purple hues of the entire look. To start I used a base coat of MAC Lipstick in Midimauve and then lined her lips with Kevyn Aucoin Flesh Tone Lip Pencil in Deep. I recommend rubbing your lips together after lining lips to blend the line. I added luster and shine to Queen’s lips by applying a dab of COVERGIRL ShineBlast Lip Gloss in Aglow.

"To complete Queen’s look I used CARGO Blush in Siena on the apples of her cheekbones for a hint of color and glow. To complete the overall look I used COVERGIRL Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Bronzer in Brown Bronze for a soft and subtle glow on her upper cheekbones, forehead, nose, neck and collar bone."

The Face Masque That Makes You A Mouth Breather

Biologique Recherche's Masque Vivant is absolutely amazing, if you can get past the odor (it looks and smells like fermented soy sauce).

You're supposed to apply it and then let it do its thing for 10 to 20 minutes - which, in Daneen time, translates to a half hour. I always leave products on longer than instructed for optimum results, because I'm crazy like that. But the smell was so godawful that I could only bear 9.5 minutes before rushing to wash it off.

But let me tell you...once I removed the masque from my face, it was like there was new skin underneath. My complexion was radiant and my skin felt baby smooth. And I had this rosy glow - as if Kevyn Aucoin, himself, had expertly applied some rouge to my cheeks.

In closing, Biologique Recherche's Masque Vivant may smell like death. But it gave my drab visage new life. And for the results it delivers, I'll gladly breathe out of my mouth. Hopefully next time, I can make it to 10 minutes...maybe more!

Keeping Up With Khloe Kardashian: Exclusive Beauty Q&A

It's not easy keeping up with Khloe Kardashian. She films Keeping Up With The Kardashians in Los Angeles. She and her sister, Kourtney, filmed their upcoming reality show in Miami. Khloe recently traveled to Africa with other sister, Kim. And just this past weekend, she appeared with her family at an event in Atlantic City.

On Sunday, the fates smiled on me when our paths crossed in New York City. And thanks to her magician of a makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic, I scored an interview with this dashing diva. I hope you enjoy this exclusive Q&A with Khloe as much as we enjoyed filming it.




Products featured in these videos include:

Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup
Lancome Hypnose Mascara
MAC Lip Pencil in Spice
La Mer Moisturizing Lotion
Child Fragrance by Apothia Beauty
The Celestial Powder in Candlelight by Kevyn Aucoin

Click here for 10 things you don't know about Khloe Kardashian.

Many thanks to Khloe Kardashian and Mario Dedivanovic for generously sharing their time and tips. Mwah!

If you loved this Q&A, my interviews with Kim Kardashian and Mario Dedivanovic are must reads!

Manly Makeup

In the February issue of Elle Magazine, Jessica Alba blasts Zac Efron - saying, “He looks like a child with a lot of makeup.” Oh, snap! Apparently not everyone is smitten with High School Musical’s resident heartthrob.

This got me thinking about man makeup, also known as “complexion enhancers.” I’m all for men putting their best face forward, and I consider myself to be pretty open-minded. But at the risk of sounding like a fuddy duddy, I think the concept of men wearing makeup - on any day but October 31st - is just bizarre.

While most men who don makeup do so on the down low, have you noticed how some cosmetics-loving lads are all in your face about it? Take, for example, one Pete Wentz – who’s famous for dating Ashlee Simpson and wearing ‘guyliner.’ He even went so far as to create a how-to video - his favorite is MAC Eye Pencil in Ebony.

Then there’s Jared Leto. What in the hell happened to Jared Leto?!?! I realize that a lot of people go through a goth phase…but, typically, it’s when you’re 16, not 36. Right? It’s a shame because he’s such a naturally handsome guy – and what’s worse is that he’s terrible at applying his makeup. You would think that a guy - who is rarely seen without liner - would get some lessons or pick up a Kevyn Aucoin book. Or, better yet, watch the Pete Wentz video. Ugh. I want my Jordan Catalano back.

I did some research, and was shocked to learn that these guys aren’t simply slipping into Sephora to stock up on beauty necessities - though the chain does offer a few. Oh no. Male Species, Studio 5ive, and KenMen are just a few of the Internet purveyors of male-specific cosmetics (get a load of this bronzer’s suggestive name).

And if you think that this is merely a trend among eccentric Hollywood types, guess again. In 2006, $4.8 million was spent on male grooming products in the U.S., a 7 percent increase over the year before and a 42 percent increase from 2001, according to a London-based marketing and research company. Behold the power of makeup...it's irresistable to both girls and boys.

How do you feel about men wearing makeup? Talk amongst yourselves.

First Class

Fern Mallis is the SVP of IMG Fashion and the brains behind New York fashion week. She launched Mercedes-Benz fashion weeks in Los Angeles and Miami, and oversees runway shows from Milan to Mumbai. I still hold a bit of a grudge against Ms. Mallis for her part in voting Jeffrey Sebelia the winner of Project Runway’s third season, but have to admit…the woman does have impeccable taste.

The November issue of Marie Claire gives us a glimpse into this world-traveler’s carry-on bag.

Lash Lust: Kevyn Aucoin The Mascara in Black
“The Japanese volumizing technology in the formula is genius.”

Unzipped: Sephora Makeup Bag
“I love all of the zippered compartments that fit my hundreds of beauty samples.”

Skin So Soft: Wexler MMPI Skin Regenerating Serum
“I use it before takeoff, and my skin feels smooth and dewy.”

Air Kiss: Flirt! Squeeze Me Super Shiny Lipgloss
“It’s moisturizing without being sticky, and its natural color doesn’t scream.”

Winter Glow: Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder
“Bobbi knows a good natural tan.”

Lip Locked: MAC Frost Lipstick in Gilty Kiss
“This light-catching lipstick is my staple for photo shoots.”

Golden Eye: Smashbox Eye Shadow Quad in Ambient
“These metallic shades best compliment my coloring.”

Fresh Faced: Dr. Jessica Wu Gentle Foaming Cleanser
“This cleans my face after all that stale plane air but doesn’t strip natural oils.”

Making Faces

If you’re a beauty junkie like me, you realize that the tools are only half of the equation. You can buy the best makeup and brushes, but if you lack the technique, you might as well be finger painting with Wet ‘n’ Wild. When it comes to technique, no one comes near the technical prowess of the late, great Kevyn Aucoin. He wasn’t merely a make-up artist; he was a makeup maestro...a magician.

Before his untimely death in 2002, Aucoin wrote three books – The Art of Makeup in 1996, Making Faces in 1997, and Face Forward in 2000. These books may be oldies, but they are most certainly goodies – as good technique never goes out of style.

If you have never heard of Kevyn Aucoin, I have some advice for you - get thee to the nearest bookstore and buy these books. They contain unbeatable tips on the basics of makeup application. Aucoin shows readers how to use these fundamentals in interesting and unconventional ways, with step-by-step directions for dozens of different looks. The biggest treat is the gallery of jaw-dropping celebrity makeovers; transformations include Lisa Marie Presley as Marilyn Monroe, Isabella Rossellini as Barbara Streisand, Tina Turner as Cleopatra, Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis, Gina Gershon as Sophia Loren, and Calista Flockhart as Audrey Hepburn.

This looks like Veronica Lake – who, coincidentally, is the muse for many of the Fall ’07 beauty trends. Can you guess the celebrity behind the makeup?

PS - Kevyn Aucoin also has a line of makeup and brushes. Check them out at kevynaucoin.com.

Miracle Worker

I love makeup. It can work wonders. But it can't work miracles. Behold the power of Photoshop. Let's face it...Ms. Spears has been looking pretty to' up for some time now. And although I'll admit that she had some bad-ass makeup artists and photogs working on her September 2007 Allure cover shoot, even the love child of Kevyn Aucoin and Pat McGrath couldn't perform this kind of transformation.

Hopefully Britney will tack the Allure pictures up on her fridge and use them as motivation to put down the Cheetos, pick up her babies (and not drop them), and climb out of her downward shame spiral.