Pretty in a snap! Every week LA based make-up artist Brett Freedman shares his beauty insights and tricks for the glamour gal on the go! He is the owner/creator of VANITYMARK Cosmetics and his clients include everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Vanessa Hudgens.
Enjoy the videos and tips... and as always, Enjoy Pretty!
Style yourself younger with Brett’s special guest "Cher!"
Brett’s friend and fab actress/comedienne Nadya Ginsburg joins him doing her best Cher impression in this funny and informative Quick Tip on looking youthful.
Click below for the inside scoop (and the LOLs)!
Brett and "Cher" recommend:
1.FOUNDATION – Don’t go too alabaster.No matter what your natural skin tone is, mix in a bit of bronzer to your foundation for a nice lift of color.
2.LIPS – No browns or mauves allowed!Pick something juicy for your lips – like a watermelon or cherry gloss.Glosses aren’t heavy and really make your lips pop.
3.HAIR – As you get older, soften and lighten up your hair.If you’re chestnut brown, add some subtle dark and golden blond highlights.In Cher’s case, she wears a wig in the lightest shade of jet black!
4.HAIRDOS – You want touchable hair that you can run your fingers through, so stay away from helmet head styles!
5.PLASTIC SURGERY – Many women consider going under the knife as they get older, but remember to go easy!Your goal should be to look good for your age, not to look like you did in college.
With these tips, becoming an ageless beauty (just like Cher!) will be easy!
Video QuickTip for June 23rd, 2009
(06/23/2009 09:51 AM)
Calling all Boy Meets World fans!Topanga, aka Danielle Fishel (now hosting The Dish on The Style Network) meets with Brett to get the real dish on brow grooming.
Danielle has big, thick eyebrows that she loves, but she occasionally has the habit of overplucking.Brett gives her some expert tips to create the perfect shape that looks natural and is easy to maintain.
Click below for the inside scoop!
Q – What brow shape should you aim for when tweezing?
A - Eyebrows should have a nice swoop that gradually gets thinner towards the tail… don’t tweeze brows into a “sperm” shape!
- If you've overplucked, lightly fill in with a brow pencil to get the proper swoop shape until brows grow in. Use a brow pencil in a lighter shade than your natural brow so the pencil color doesn't compete with your real brows. Brett used Vanitymark's Ultra-Brow Pencil in Blondie on Danielle.
Q - Should you tweeze above the brow?
A - Brett says yes!If you have “cobwebbing” above your brows, tweeze those strays for a cleaner, tidier look.
Q – How bold should eyebrows be?
A – You want your arches to make an impact, but if the brow dips too low into the corner of the eye/top of the nose area, you can look stern.Simply take off the bottom 1-2 rows of hair in that corner to lift the brow…instant brow Botox!
Q- Where’s the best place to tweeze?
A – Believe it or not, airplane bathrooms!Quarters are tight in these bathrooms, which means your proximity to the mirror is perfect for up-close tweezing.Plus, the bad lighting shows every detail.Just don’t tweeze during turbulence!
Video QuickTip for June 16th, 2009
(06/16/2009 09:50 AM)
Looking for a way to add oomph to your eyes without heavy, dark liner this summer?Try silver liner!
Brett is joined by model Allee Sutton in Nashville to show you how to make your eyes pop with silver eyeliner and wow the crowd.
Click below for the inside scoop!
To keep your eye makeup summer-appropriate use silver liner to amp up your look instead of darker shades.
Stay close to the lash line when lining your eyes and line right into the tear duct area. Once you apply mascara, you’ll see the perfect hint of silver shining through!
Looks clean, modern and fresh - perfect for summer nights!
Want a way to make your lips summer-worthy, too?Brett’s fave this summer is peach-gold lip-gloss!Layer over your regular lipstick for glossy, summer-ized look.
Video QuickTip for June 9th, 2009
(06/09/2009 08:18 AM)
Summer is here - out with the turtlenecks, and in with the strapless shirts. What's a girl to do about back-ne?
In this week's Quick Tip, Brett suggests... dish detergent?!?
It may not be the most glamorous of subjects, but we all want to know how to conquer it, and Brett shares his favorite tool, cleanser and secret weapon (think sparkly clean dishes) to banish back-ne.
Click below for the inside scoop!
THE TOOL: Try a synthetic hair back brush. They tend to be cheaper and easier to find than their natural hair counterparts. Buy 2 or 3 because they don't last long, but they make up for it in softness! Wait until the end of your shower to wash your back. Let the brush absorb water and get nice n' soft while you suds up the rest of your body.
THE CLEANSER: Use a cleanser that isn't thick, creamy or in bar form on your back. These types are harder to rinse off than liquid cleansers and can clog pores. Neutrogena's liquid cleanser is a good bet.
THE SECRET WEAPON: And here's the kicker. The secret line of defense against back-ne is DISHWASHING DETERGENT!
Say what??
If you want to really kick back-ne to the curb, or if you have a big event coming up, dishwashing detergent will really do the trick. After cleansing with your liquid cleanser, put dishwashing detergent on the back brush and scrub every other day for about a week. It dries out your skin, and when your skin is dried out, there's less oil. And less oil means less back-ne.
And there you have it!
Video QuickTip for June 2nd, 2009
(06/02/2009 01:44 PM)
Do you love benetint? Well, have you tried posietint??
In today's Quick Tip, Erin Simpson from benefit visits with Brett to talk about posietint - the perfect poppy-pink summer cheek stain!
Click below for the inside scoop!
Looks can be deceiving! Both Brett and Erin agree -- posietint looks super bright (even a little like Pepto Bismol!) in the bottle, but the color is subtle, sheer and flattering on all skin tones once you put it on.
Brett recommends dotting it on each cheek in a circular pattern and then blotting up and back with your finger for the perfect light flush of pink. Everyone he tries it on falls in love and he's betting you will, too!
In other news, Erin dishes out the latest scoop from benefit. So what's next for the fun and flirty cosmetics line? A new line of lipglosses! benefit will be adding some new gorgeous colors to the fan favorites and introducing a new custom applicator that gives the perfect amount of color every time!
Video QuickTip for May 26th, 2009
(05/26/2009 12:21 PM)
Get some sleep!!
In this busy world, it can be hard to tune out and get some zzzs at night. Since beauty rest is important, Brett shares his top tips for getting a good night's sleep.
Click below for the inside scoop!
EARS - Try earplugs! The complete silence is relaxing, but don't try this if you need to wake up to an alarm in the morning! Try to buy earplugs in a bright color so if you happen to lose one in the middle of the night, it will be easy to find.
EYES - Try an eye mask! It's important to block out light, and the slight pressure it puts on lids will calm the eyes. The habit of putting an eye mask on every night before bed really helps to put the body in sleep mode. Look for eye masks at Bath & Body Works; they sell really soft and inexpensive versions.
MIND - Forgetting the worries of the day and turning off your brain for bed is the hardest part. If you wake up in the middle of the night, try not to get anxious. Instead of worrying about sleep lost, try distracting your mind. Think of a favorite movie and try to recall each scene, beginning with the opening credits. Bet you won't get very far! Brett's fave for this trick is Grease 2!
Now go on and get your beauty rest!
Video QuickTip for May 19th, 2009
(05/19/2009 09:00 AM)
Inspired by the LA summer weather, Brett gives us his first fragrance Quick Tip!
The summer is here, and everything should be light and breezy. But what do we do if our favorite fragrance is warm or heavy??
Just click below for the inside scoop!
For Brett, who loves vanilla, finding a summer scent can be quite the dilemma.
His solution: Mix your fave warm scent with a light, citrus-y fragrance to amp it up and give it a fab summer vibe! Just dab a little bit of your go-to winter scent on as a base and spritz a light, summery scent on top.
Here are some fresh and sunny fragrances he recommends to layer with your best winter scents:
* Calyx Sheer Exhilaration - Just relaunched! This one has a lemon-y fresh scent with a hint of flowers that screams summer. * Demeter - An inexpensive line with fun scents such as Pomegranate and Pineapple that are easy to mix and match. * Fresh - The Sugar scent is unique blend of orange and white lily - sweet and light and a perfect complement to your fave warm scent.
Now you'll never smell like November in June again!!
Video QuickTip for May 12th, 2009
(05/12/2009 11:56 AM)
Special guest celebrity makeup artist Steven Sollitto is back with Brett for a new Quick Tip - and this time, they're talking about a summertime necessity : MATTIFIERS!
Just click on the clip below for the inside scoop!
Both Steve and Brett agree - mattifiers are easy-to-use products that really work. A necessity for every makeup maven's tool kit, mattifiers take away shine and are perfect for summertime!
Be sure to use a mattifier before your next "red carpet" event - extra shine tends to show up in photographs. Steve likes Peter Thomas Roth Max Anti Shine Mattifying Gel.
How do you wear a mattifier?
- Put a tiny amount of mattifer in the palm of your hand and spread evenly over your whole face as a foundation prep, and then touch up the T-zone area after you apply make-up.
- OR Use mattifier as an alternative to foundation for an au naturel, polished look.
Video QuickTip for May 5th, 2009
(05/05/2009 03:32 AM)
Traveling never felt so good!
Brett shares his favorite TSA-friendly drugstore pick for locking in serious moisture - Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream.
Just click below for the inside scoop!
Beauty products come in all price points and sizes, but Brett's hands-down favorite hand cream can be found at the drugsotre AND can make it through security with you.
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, in a handy 2.0 oz tube, has a high concentration of glycerin to lock in moisture and give you a satin-y, not greasy, feel.
Brett especially loves the fragrance-free option, and even recommends using this intense hand cream on feet and elbows!
Video QuickTip for Apr 28th, 2009
(04/28/2009 04:51 AM)
Want your brows to look their best and most tailored between brow shaping? Brett visit's LA's hottest MedSpa, Kalologie, to chat with one of their lead estheticians on highlighting your arches for optimum crispness and "pop."
Just click below for the inside scoop and a close up demonstration!
* Take a champagne highlighter with a tight brush and brush right up under the brow into your arch. This makes your eyebrows look a little more tailored and cleaner while highlighting the eye.
* Make sure to choose a champagne shade. Too white or too silvery will give an unnatural look. Stick with warm shades. If you're uncertain, line the shades up next to each other and you'll be able to spot the difference.
Video QuickTip for Apr 21th, 2009
(04/21/2009 11:25 AM)
Returning favorite Frieda Lay lends her beautiful face (and lids) to this very insightful Quick-Tip. Want to know how to keep your powder eyeshadow stay-put through the steamy summer months? Brett suggests a product you might already have in your makeup bag: mattifying lotion!
Just click below for the inside scoop and Brett's suggestions.
