02.25.2014
How to get full eyebrows

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Back in the day, before my quarter life crisis, I was a BIG America’s Next Top Model fan—I mean like, who wasn’t?  But for some super weird reason, one episode stands out in my mind more than any other.  In the particular scene, Tyra Banks informs one of the contestants about the importance of filling in her sparse brows.  Tyra even confesses that her own makeup artist chastises her whenever she goes out and has her picture taken without her “eyebrows on.”  Oddly enough, that phrase has stuck with me since and now, I never leave the house without my “eyebrows on.”

That’s why, with the announcement of Michelle Rodriguez and Cara Delevingne‘s relationship, I decided to emulate the supermodel’s signature brows and put on my own for #beautynewbie.

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BEFORE

So to create the look, I used BENEFIT GIMME BROW in MEDIUM DEEP.  I applied the wand to my brows with short and light strokes, paying special attention to naturally sparser areas and focusing on the front areas to give it a more natural look.  I also extended the fill past my natural line to create a bolder feel.  Finally, I swept over each brow with a brow brush to ensure that the gel was spread evenly without clumps.

Now if only I could look as cute with crossed-eyes….

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Have a trend you’d like to see me try?  Tweet me @han_cran, #beautynewbie, with your suggestion!

Hannah Cranston, Assistant Editor

02.17.2014
Hannah tries vampy nails

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After trying purple lipstick and cat eyeliner, I was feeling a little vampy.  Maybe my quarter life crisis is bringing out a darker side in me?  Who knows.  What I do know is that I wanted to explore this edgier side of my adult self a little more.

After seeing images from New York Fashion Week (they must’ve lost my invite in the mail?), I knew exactly what trend I wanted to try next.  From Rebecca Taylor to Charlotte Ronson, from Tess Giberson to Rebecca Minkoff, vamp nails were a dark and sexy standout from the pièce de résistance of the clothes.

nails at NYFW

Now while DIY nail art of any kind is a legitimate fear of mine, I decided to suck it up and attempt the vamp French manicure, seen above at Rebecca Minkoff.

Once I picked out my colors, OPI “Lost on Lombard” and NYC “Black Lace Crème,” panic sunk in as to how I was ever going to create this look and avoid my nails looking like a kindergarten art project.  Then, I found this nifty (yes, I said nifty) trick on Pinterest using hole reinforcement labels and went for it.

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I painted two coats of the OPI color and then waited for them to dry (fully!) before placing the reinforcement labels on to make the perfect French tip.  I then applied one coat of the black tip color, pealed off the labels, and covered the whole look with OPI topcoat.

I absolutely love how this twist on the classic French manicure turned out—it’s dark, edgy, and totally different from your everyday mani.

Have a beauty trend you’d like to see me try?  Tweet me @han_cran, #beautynewbie, with your suggestion!

Hannah Cranston, Assistant Editor

 

02.11.2014
Hannah Tries out a cat eye

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With this week’s release of Lauren Conrad’s adorable, and beyond enviable, engagement photos, I couldn’t help but be inspired to try one of LC’s (yes, she will always be LC to me no matter how far she’s journeyed from Laguna Beach) signature looks—the cat eye.

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Now while Lauren may have borrowed her inspiration from the original cat eye queen herself, Cleopatra, I sought my muses from the Spring 2014 runway.  From Anna Sui to Dolce & Gabbana to Salvatore Ferragamo, the runway was covered with models winging it out.  So as Spring approaches (hopefully sooner rather than later, am I right east coast?), I decided it was time to grab my eyeliner and try it out myself.

cat eye NYFW

I opted for Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen and followed THIS YOUTUBE TUTORIAL from LC herself and her makeup artist, AMY NADINE.

The ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen was easy to use and the color didn’t smear across my eyelid like with other liquid liners.  I followed Lauren’s guidance for a more conservative winged eye, but based on the results, I might just knock it up a notch the next time I’m feeling…well, catty.

Meow.

Have a beauty trend you’d like to see me try?  Tweet me @han_cran, #beautynewbie, with your suggestion!

Hannah Cranston, Assistant Editor

01.22.2014
Hannah Talks Bone Structure and being a beauty newbie

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As I mentioned in my first post, I’m at a point in my life where I need to develop my “adult” identity—dare I say, I’m having a quarter life crisis.  I am exploring all of the things that I believe my grown-up persona should encompass: how I will pursue my career aspirations, what my political beliefs are, and if I’m the kind of person who can pull off a chic crop top or not (Jamie’s note: she CAN. I’ve seen her do yoga)  I know that the way that you present yourself to the world is crucial, but as a newbie to the beauty scene (you mean, there is more to a beauty regimen than eyeliner and mascara?), I have not quite figured out what that look will consist of yet.  Am I a bold cat-eye kind of girl?  Can I rock a hot pink lip a la Jessica Biel?  Or, am I more of natural, Urban Decay Naked Palette, kinda lady?  The jury is still out.

But, I invite you to join me on my Beauty Newbie journey, as I try out the latest tricks and trends (with some much needed guidance from the beauty expert herself, Jamie), discovering and developing my big girl self.

First up, contouring and highlighting—a simple but essential beauty trick.  After catching a glimpse of Lena Dunham on the cover of Vogue’s February Issue, I couldn’t help but notice her gorgeous bone structure.

lena dunham VOGUE

Now while I believe that every woman is beautiful, I think we all know she didn’t, in the words of Beyoncé, “wake up like dis.”  To create a contoured and highlighted look like Lena, I followed this guide from Pinterest that provides a step-by-step on the process:

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I only used two products to create this look: Josie Maran Argan Creamy Concealer Crayon in Medium 1 for the contours, and Benefit High Beam as a natural highlighter for my skin tone.  I recommend using a contouring color that is one shade darker than your natural skin tone and a highlighter that is close to your skin color, with just a bit of sparkle.  Because both of these products are in cream and liquid form, I just used my fingers to blend the colors into my skin to give it a super natural, ***Flawless look. 

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So far, I am digging what this quarter life identity crisis is doing for my “bone structure” and this is definitely one trick that I plan to keep in my beauty arsenal.

Have a beauty trend that you’d like to see me try out?  Tweet me @han_cran, #beautynewbie, with your suggestion!

– Hannah Cranston, Assistant Editor