The ever beautiful and recently slimmed down Jennifer Hudson recently got together with Sam Fine, celebrity makeup artist and creator of The Basics of Beauty, for a shoot showing off her gorgeous new look. Here, Sam shares with us his insider advice on how you can achieve this flawless and glowing face at home with just a few easy steps.

L To R: Jennifer Hudson and Sam Fine

Makeup Tutorial

Coverage: Every great look begins great coverage. Jennifer has beautiful skin, but like many women of color, she has varied tones. I use foundation to unify those varying tones. One of my favorites is the Queen Collection Natural Hue Compact Foundation because it’s cream- to- powder, so it dries down to a powdery finish and looks really natural.

Bronzer: Bronzer is always a must for all women to illuminate their complexion. It’s important to choose a bronzer that’s one shade darker than your natural skin tone and apply it to the outer perimeter of your face to warm the skin and create a halo of glow. After applying bronzer, you can go back and layer over blush to give the skin a pop of color. On Jennifer, I used CoverGirl Natural Hue Mineral Bronzer and Cargo’s matte blush in Laguna.

Eyes: To create Jennifer’s classic, natural eye, I used a brown shadow. Shu Uemura makes a great pressed eye shadow in an array of shades – in this case, their Matte Taupe with Golden Flakes Eyeshadow works perfectly. For this look, I didn’t use a ton of liner, and totally avoided lining underneath her eyes to keep them soft. We used tons of mascara to enhance her look – my favorite is LashBlast from CoverGirl. I always like to apply a coat of mascara, and then move on to something else to let the first coat dry. I’ll come back a few minutes later, curl the lashes, and then layer on a few more coats of mascara to really build the lashes. This makes them much more dramatic and makes the curl hold well. It’s like spraying your hair with a coat of hairspray before using a curling iron.

Lips: To complete her look, I gave Jennifer a beautiful nude lip. The key to a nude lip is to begin by lining the lips with liner that is one shade darker than your natural lip color. Don’t worry about matching the liner to your lipstick – if you match it to your lips, it will look great with any shade of lipstick. After lining the lips, feather the liner towards the center of the mouth to great a base for the lipstick. Next, apply your lipstick. On Jennifer, I chose IMAN Cosmetics’ Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick in Citron. I finished by slicking on a golden gloss add dimension and shine. CoverGIRL’s Shine Blast Lip Gloss is perfect!

For more in-depth how-tos plus more expert tips and tricks, check out The Basics of Beauty, available at amazon.com.

On Sunday, April 11th, 2010, CARGO International make-up artist Renée Ryan will be featured on QVC highlighting the very best CARGO products and sharing her famous “tips and tricks.” Here’s a sneak peak at just one of the products she’ll be featuring: CheekActivator.

Plumped-up, dewy cheeks are the perfect way to show off – or fake – a summer glow. CARGO’s CheekActivator is the ticket! It’s a cream blush that is designed to lift and sculpts cheeks while providing a natural rosy look. Featuring skin-energizing minerals and deep tissue hydration technology. With CARGO’s CheekActivator you can actually customize your color! The more you rub CheekActivator onto your skin, the more intense the shade becomes!

Renee’s exclusive tip: To achieve a beautiful, sculpted look, apply CheekActivator to the hollows of the cheeks and blend upward. Your face will be instantly contoured. Remember, with CARGO’s professional, hi-tech formula, a little goes a long way. A pea-sized amount will do!

Mark you calenders: Tune into QVC on Sunday, April 11 at 7:00 PM Eastern time to learn more about CARGO.

Oscars 2010: From glowing skin to smoky eyes and perfect pouts, stunning stars turned heads on March 7th at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood. Helping perfect those looks was Bruce Grayson, makeup department head for the Academy Awards. As the lead artist for the Academy Awards, Grayson works with Hollywood’s top talents and is an expert at creating an award-winning look – and now he’s sharing his star-worthy tips for getting celebrity gorgeous at home!

Bruce Grayson

Tip #1: Prep Your Skin

It’s important to prep your skin a few days before a big event. In addition to drinking lots of water and eating a healthy diet, the key to glowing skin is following a strict skincare regimen. For pre-event prep, try the Olay Professional Pro-X Intensive Firming Treatment ($62) – this two step kit combines a hydrating mask and tightening serum. Packed with an effective blend of anti-aging ingredients, it works to firm skin by helping restore its natural fullness, elasticity and tension. In just five days skin looks significantly younger and firmer!

Tip #2: Get Glowing

Fabulous makeup starts with a flawless canvas (aka your skin!). To get blemish-free skin, opt for a foundation that delivers the perfect level of pigment, such as the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($59). Using the Giorgio Armani Foundation Brush ($51), apply with short quick strokes and paint your way to complexion perfection.

Tip #3: Get Smoky (Eyes That Is!)

Get sultry, gorgeous eyes by creating a smoky look. First, you want to combat any dark undereye circles with the Olay Regenerist Anti Aging Eye Roller ($22.99). Gently glide the pen under your eyes and voila – puffiness disappears in just 30 seconds and there is an obvious reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. Next, use the CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast ($7.49), a double-ended stick, available in six luxurious shades. Sweep the rounded end of the shadow all over the lid and use the angled end along the lash line and crease for bold definition.

Tip #4: Perk Up Your Cheeks

Add dimension to the face and cheeks with soft blush in a pink or peach shade. If you prefer some shimmer, go with Nars Orgasm ($26). If you prefer no shimmer, try Cargo Catalina ($26). To apply, simply dust the apples of your cheeks with a big, fluffy brush, blending outward toward the hairline.

Tip #5: Create Kissable Lips

To get the perfect pout, it’s important to prep the lips with a conditioner. Not only will this hydrate the lips, but it will allow the color to stay longer. Start with Karite Lip Balm ($8.50), an all natural shea butter formula that moisturizes and protects. Next, apply a red lipstick, such as YSL Rouge Volupte in Red Temptation ($34) or a coral shade, like Mac Lipstick in Vegas Volt ($14). To define the lips further, apply a liner, such as Nars Lipliner Pencil in Jungle Red ($20). Set the color in place with a high shine gloss – try Mac Clear Lip Glass ($14) or Nars Lip Gloss in Triple X ($24).

Terri Seymour at the Elton John Annual Oscar Party 2010: Makeup by Celebrity Makeup Artist Melissa Walsh.

“This is how I did Terri Seymour’s makeup this afternoon for Elton John’s annual Oscar party for his his Aids Foundation – if you aren’t going to the actual Academy Awards ceremony this is the place to be!”-Melissa Walsh

Base: Smooth Hourglass Cosmetics Fluid Veil evenly over the whole face blending out from the middle and downwards.

Under eyes: Dot a little Smashbox Photo-Op Eye Brightener under the eyes to brighten.

Powder: Dust Youngblood Hi Definition Hydrating Mineral Perfecting Powder lightly all over for an airbrushed look.

Blush: Swirl Cargo Blusher in Catalina on the apples of the cheeks and highlight at the top of the cheekbones with One Hot Minute by Benefit to give a fresh faced glow.

Eyes: Start with Mineral Essence Northern Lights eyeshadow in Starlite Express all over the lid up to the crease, define the crease with Mineral Essence in Mocha. Line the eyes with the black cream liner from the L’Heure de Nuit compact by Guerlain and then add sparkle by using the shimmery black from the same compact on top of the liner and at the outer edges. Line under the lower lashes with Laura Mercier’s eyeliner pencil in Black Gold and add a highlight in the inner corner of the eyes with the light gold shadow from the Dior 5 Couleurs Designer palette in Amber Design. A couple of coats of The Ultimate Mascara by Becca in black completes the eyes.

Lips: Highlight the cupids bow with Guerlain Cupidon lipliner and then line with the nude liner by Hourglass in Bare and fill in with Youngblood Lipgloss in Devotion.

Terri’s dress is by Marchesa.

Visit Melissa Walsh’s website for more makeup tips.

At this year’s Emmy Awards, Vanessa Williams went for all-out glamour. She chose a dress with lots of color and her hair was down, long and loose, for the first time in three years. To balance out the look, legendary makeup artist Sam Fine focused on a flawless skin with a pop of color in the cheeks and lips.

“It all starts with great skin,” says Fine. “It’s a long night, with long hours and we don’t get to go with them. Foundation and powder are so important.” 

To get Vanessa’s great face, Sam started with cream foundation. “Cream foundation will last throughout the night,” states Sam. Next, he used bronzer to contour the face, drawing attention to each feature.

Vanessa’s dress made Fine to do a little shopping. “Because Vanessa’s dress choice was such a strong color, this forced me to re-address the neutrals I had in my kit,” admits Fine. “I wanted to go for a little more color in the cheek, as well as the lip, so I needed to find the perfect coral-pink shade, because true pink can be hard to wear.”

To highlight Vanessa’s gorgeous eyes, Fine says the look wasn’t about color, but really carving the eyes. “I never match the gown and there was a lot of color elsewhere so I needed to balance it out with a neutral eye,” Fine says. “I used a gorgeous brown shade of eye shadow with a really great shimmer of pearl near the inner corner of the eyes. Then I lined the inside with a beige liner to bring life to the eye. Of course, a false lash, because you can’t hit the red carpet without one, then top it off with a few coats of mascara on the top and bottom lid.”

Products Sam Used:

- Cream Foundation (Sam loves Bobbi Brown’s Foundation Stick – an essential for great skin)
- Bronzer (Try a matte when creating this look, stay away from shimmer)
- Coral Blush (Knars in Exhibit A or Cargo in Laguna are among Sam’s favorites)
- Eye shadow (Use a trio with brown, shimmering pearl and vanilla to create this carved out eye)
- Mascara (Waterproof lasts longer and will come in handy during an emotional acceptance speech)
- Lipstick in a pink/coral (Sam went searching for the perfect shade with the right consistency and found it in Dolce & Gabana’s new line. The shade he chose was Goddess – make it your splurge purchase!)

Vanessa Williams Interview With Marta Walsh

Image via www.bellasugar.com

Whitney Port Goes Green: Fashion Designer and Star of The City Joins the PlantLove Movement Trendsetter and Hollywood starlet is CARGO’s newest celebrity designer.

Whitney Port, star of MTV’s The City, is quickly becoming the style icon of her generation. Model, stylist and clothing designer, Whitney Port is now taking her design career beyond a role at Diane von Furstenberg, to the world of beauty.

New York Post’s Page Six Magazine recently dubbed Ms. Port “The New Carrie Bradshaw” because of her extraordinary style and glamour. Always on the cutting edge, Ms. Port has now partnered with CARGO PlantLove, the trailblazing prestige beauty brand leading the eco-movement, to design her perfect shade of lipstick. Whitney Port joins the ranks of fellow celebrity lipstick designers Courteney Cox, Evangeline Lilly, Angie Harmon and Denise Richards, to name a few. Each one of these women has partnered with CARGO because of the importance they place on protecting our planet and helping others. Importantly, CARGO will be donating two dollars from the sale of every lipstick to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the world’s premier pediatric cancer research center.

This fall, Ms. Port’s very own signature shade of hot pink, eco-friendly 100% Natural PlantLove lipstick, “Eve Pinky,” will debut. The PlantLove line is the only prestige make-up brand to be designated ECOCERT, a global designation signifying that all product, process and packaging meet the strictest standards for natural, organic and environmentally friendly content. ECOCERT designated products dramatically reduce their environmental footprint.

The lipstick itself is 100% Natural, made from an infusion of Organic Cocoa Seed Butter, Organic Sunflower Seed Oil and Vitamin E. These ingredients help moisturize lips, fight free radicals and reduce the appearance of fine lines. The lipstick is housed in a tube made of Polylactic Acid (PLA), a polymer made entirely from corn, a renewable and abundant resource. What’s more, PLA production emits less greenhouse gas than traditional plastics.

Hana Zalzal, president and founder of CARGO Cosmetics, explains, “CARGO believes that small actions taken by large groups can make a real impact. The PlantLove brand is more than a line of make-up: It represents a movement towards beauty without compromise.” Ms. Zalzal goes on to say, “Whitney Port brings a fresh face to the PlantLove movement that will inspire women around the world. We couldn’t be more pleased to work with such a brilliant, young role model.”

PlantLove Lipstick in Eve Pinky by Whitney Port retails for $20 and will be available mid-August 2009, at Sephora stores and Sephora.com.

For additional information about PlantLove and CARGO Cosmetics, visit www.cargocosmetics.com .

Talking Makeup is excited to announce the winner of CARGO blu_ray High Definition Lip Gloss in Halifax Giveaway!

The winner is chyld from Canada. Congrats!

Watch Marta’s video blog for today presenting the CARGO blu_ray High Definition Lip Gloss in Halifax Giveaway! Value: $24.

Instructions:
1. You must be a subscriber of Talking Makeup’s You Tube Channel. CLICK HERE to subscribe!
2. Leave a comment.
3. US and Canada shipping address only!

CARGO blu_ray High Definition Lip Gloss in Halifax giveaway ends: Friday 4/24//2009.

About CARGO blu_ray High Definition Lip Gloss: A lip gloss created specifically for high-definition filming.

What it does:
CARGO blu_ray High Definition Gloss provides a high-shine and plumping effect that makes lips look full and smooth -for picture-perfect results. The technology-driven formula has a plumping and line-filling effect for instantly fuller and smoother lips with long-term results. It delivers high shine without the shimmer-making it perfect for photography. The formula improves elasticity of the lips and provides the ultimate in hydration and comfort while the cap features Timestrip technology to show you when your gloss needs to be replaced.

Timestrip is a strip that remembers when a product was first opened and alerts you when it is no longer wise to use it. Simply insert the Timestrip into the cap and it is immediately activated. As the months go by the Timestrip window gradually turns red and, when the entire window is red, it is time to replace your gloss.

Mother’s Day is approaching so we wanted to give you few beauty gift ideas for that very special Mom.

CARGO PlantLove Lipstick designed by celebrity moms, such as: Denise Richards, Kim Raver, and Angie Harmon and named after their children. Once mom opens her biodegradable PLA (corn based plastic) packaged tube of lipstick she can plant the outer packaging to create her very own garden of flowers. Additionally, $2.00 from each tube sold also goes to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Price: $20, at Sephora and Sephora.com. Price: $20.

June Jacobs Better Love Naturel: This Mother’s Day, love is in the air and you can actually smell it. June Jacobs is proud to to unveil her new captivating new fragrance, a musky floral that is pure and untouched by preservatives. This fragrance is especially close to June’s heart as she and her daughter, Rochelle, worked on this formula together. Available at: www.junejacobs.com . Price: $90.

theBalm Sexy Mama is a virtually invisible powder, with revolutionary, tiny oil absorbing spheres to remove shine, leaving her with a soft, silky matte finish. Available at Sephora and Sephora.com. Price: $18.

Annick Goutal Les Soliflores Limited Edition Collection a collection of floral fragrances that represents the five favorite florals of both Camille Goutal and her mother Annick. The collection includes fragrances in the following florals: La Violette, Le Jasmine, Neroli (Orange Blossom), Le Chèvrefeuille (Honeysuckle), Le Muguet (Lily of the Valley). Available at Saks Fifth Avenue. Price: $400.

Philosophy Breakfast In Bed a sweet scented shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath in: Cafe au Lait, Fresh Cream, and Belgian Waffles. Available at: www.sephora.com . Price: $30.

Go Zero Biolage Mother’s Day Gift Sets-Biolage has joined the Conservation Fund’s Go Zero campaign in its effort to combat global warming with 100% recyclable gift sets, and BIOLAGE is also making a donation to the charity for each gift set sold. Each set contains a shampoo and conditioner and a limited edition body balm. Available at hair salons nationwide. To locate a Biolage salon, please log onto www.biolage.com or call 1.800.MATRIX. Price: $26.00 for each set.

Molton Brown relaxing yuan zhi bath & shower and relaxing yuan zhi sleep mist: Yuan zhi, a wild South China plant, is used traditionally to balance energy (Chi) and soothe the spirit. This richly moisturizing bath formula and sleep mist combats stress and promotes peaceful sleep. Available at: www.moltonbrown.com . Price: $28 for Bath Gel. $44 for Sleep Mist.

Darphin Facial Kits: No need for mom to hop a flight to Paris to indulge in a Darphin signature spa experience. Introducing the first ever Darphin Spa Facial Kits, perfect for giving your mom a little bit of luxury with no appointment needed. The Calming Cocoon and instant Firming Kits are perfect for the mom who wants to relax. Available at: www.darphin.com . Price: $120-$135.

Earth Day is just around the corner (April 22nd), now you can too help celebrate with CARGO PlantLove Lipstick. The new celebrity PlantLove shades have been created by celebrity mothers, Kim Raver, Angie Harmon, and Denise Richards-all of which care about their children as much as they care about our earth and joined forces with CARGO to help make the world more beautiful and earth friendly place.

Lola by Denise Richards, CARGO PlantLove Lipstick.

CARGO PlantLove is a revolutionary lipstick containing a lipstick tube made entirely out of corn, a renewable and abundant resource. The outer carton is also made of flower paper embedded with real flower seeds, which are plantable, so they allow you to give more green back to earth. $2 from each tube sold is donated to St. Jude’s Pediatrics Research Hospital.

Grace by Angie Harmon-CARGO PlantLove Lipstick.

Price: $20, available at Sephora and sephora.com