I have a pile of WWDs stacked up to my knees. I can’t quite find the time to go through them all but yesterday, I stopped dead in my work-tracks when I noticed the cover of Monday’s issue.

The makeup! I die! It was calling my name!

It was an image from Dior’s resort 2011 collection and the eye, which may be hard to really tell in the photo, was deeee-vine! A gray winged cat eye just below a pink liner that started at the corner of the eye by the nose.

I had Sharon drop whatever she was doing so we could recreate the look.

There’s something about her that’s so 60s to me! I always tell her she looks like she stepped off the set of Mad Men (counting the days until it’s back on air). Here we are in the “makeup lounge,” a.k.a. my closet.

Here’s how to get the look:

1. Using Lashionista Modelista’s liquid liner portion, line the top lid. This should be very thin.

2. To get the wing shape in a soft gray, create another line using the same product, right above the first line, but not touching it.

3. Smudge it out with a short bristled brush. As you smudge, it tones the shade from black to gray. The more you smudge, the lighter the shade becomes.

4. With a small eye liner brush, swipe Cheek Implants in Six Inch Heels (a soft pink hue) right above the gray smudged cat eye, like a stripe that extends from the tip of the wing to the corner of the eye by the nose.

5. Curl the lashes and use two coats of mascara for an extra thick lash

6. Using Luxury Squared’s highlighter, add a touch of shimmer under the brow to enhance the brow bone.

7. Add a nude lip. The nude is key because you want the eyes to stand out – a dark shade would be too much at once. I used Luvah in Mama’s Boy.

The final creation:

We recently did a cute segment for Better TV in the Purple Lab apartment (a.k.a. my home/office/warehouse). They shot here once before and I have to say, it’s always fun to have a film crew come over!

The producer, Marianne, is heaven to work with and – I love this about her! – she writes vampire young adult novels (check her out). This was one of her last shoots for the network before she left to write full time (we’ll miss you, Marianne).

The premise of the shoot: Mother’s Day. We had three moms, each a different age group, and I gave them make overs (I have been taking makeup artist lessons).

One quick thing – I wore these super cute harem shorts (right to the knee). Bad idea. Now that I see the pix, well, it looks like I’m wearing Pampers. (Not showing you!)

Anyway, mom in her 30s, was Deena, a friend of a friend. The problem with moms in their 30s? They need quick beauty tips because they’re busy with small kids.

The solution: double duty products save time (and $$$); neutral colors are a must because you don’t have to spend too much time applying, blending out each shade, especially with kids running all over the place.

This was the look I gave her.

All I needed: Four products.

1. Silk Sheets foundation to even her skin tone

2. Cheek Implants cream blush in the shade Backstage Pass. The trick is to use it as a full on eye shadow, the whole lid from the lash line to the crease. It brightens the whole face.

3. Lashionista Modelista, just the mascara. One coat on the top lashes.

4. Huge Lips Skinny Hips in Goji Berry Smoothie (the soft berry shade is out at the end of the month)

Five minutes. Done!

Now on to mom in her 40s (my friend Sally, who I hadn’t seen in far too long). In your 40s, you have a little more time. Your kids are likely in school. You have your days back! So you can play with your makeup.

Don’t be afraid to bring on the glamour with a serious smokey eye – it’s not just for 20somethings. It’s fun to flirt with new looks as you hit your forties, especially when you work with products that have sophisticated formulas but a playfulness to make you feel young and fun.

For Sally, it was all about subtle shine on the lips and rosy cheeks. Here’s her before and after:

Here’s what I used:

1. Cheek Implants in Six Inch Heels. You will feel like a super model while enhancing cheekbones with a pale shade of pink.

2. Lashionista Modelista in After Dark: Just smudge liner with a small angled brush to create a soft yet smokey cat eye. The diamond dust is subtle, giving the eye just the right amount of shine.

3. Luvah in Mama’s Boy. Made to bring out your inner vixen, it’s infused with aphrodisiacs and natural libido stimulants to remind you to feel sensual and beautiful.

For Mom in 60s, we actually played Joan Hirsch, none other than Sharon’s mother! She’s a doll and looks 20 years younger than her age. The issue moms have in their sixties? They want to look younger without going under the knife (well, some don’t mind the knife, not naming names).

The solution? Use beauty products that have anti-aging benefits so you are treating skin all day and definitely do NOT be afraid of color. A pop of color will brighten your whole face and give you a youthful appeal. Lastly, love that highlighter.

Highlighter should be your best friend, especially as you age. It’s the best way to add soft shimmer and draw attention to your best features. Chic tip: A dab in the corner of the eyes by the nose will draw the light away from crow’s feet.

Meet Sharon’s maker – before and after:

Here’s what I used:

1. Silk Sheets foundation equipped with anti aging benefits, thanks to silk, algae, seaweed, juniper, almond seed extract, and more!

2. Luvah in Rich Jerk: Use a bright lip color so lips pop. The double plumping ingredient, “Complex OO,” provides long-term lip enhancing benefits while Vitamin B3 provides immediate plumping, erasing fine lines.

3. Luxury Squared, which is equipped with both an under eye color corrective concealer AND highligher. Both offer skin care ingredients like silk, Vitamin E, carrot oil, antioxidants, algae. And the highlighter’s got my favorite additive – diamond dust!

Happy early Mother’s Day!

Will share the clip when it’s live.

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

I recently wrote about the Women in Need charity event. But what I didn’t share is the high drama look I gave my eyes, thanks to Lashionista Modelista (clearly, an addictive product for me!).

It’s super easy and here’s how to do it yourself:

When you do something like this, something that draws all the attention to your eyes, keep the rest of your look soft and neutral.

Let one thing stand out on your face at a time – sort of like an outfit with one star accessory.

I did this look with Huge Lips Skinny Hips in No Panty Lines (a.k.a. clear) so that there was a little moist shine but no color to distract from the eyes.

It was a hit!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

First of all, I am horrified at long it’s been since I have blogged. Let’s just say that I’ve been in the midst of serious insanity.

We’re finally bringing back Love Your Thighs and Lychee Martini, two chic shades of Huge Lips Skinny Hips. Love Your Thighs is exotic coral and Lychee Martini, super sheer peach. And… Limo to Lobby (perfect pink) and Goji Berry Smoothie are on their way, too.

I’ll be debuting them on HSN. along with Pearlesque Show, our new silicone-free primer with a touch of crushed pearls and honey, in April. Click here to see when!

Oh! We’re also doing Lashionista Modelista in a new color – midnight blue! A really rich navy called Modern Classic. The blue is so sophisticated and it really makes the whites of your eyes pop.

This is what it looks like on my skin.

There are going to be three – yes three! – new products for July. The details are still hush-hush but I can tell you that one is an exfoliator (the best skin treatment before your makeup and it has amethysts!) and the other two are for the eyes (a primer and cream shadow but both with a twist – you’ll see).

There have been a billion passes as names – all of the ones I originally wanted are trademarked but it’s amazing how hitting a road block forces you to a better place.

Lab samples have been flying around the office. Been on a dozen new desk sides, thanks to Sharon, our killer PR princepesa. Figuring out things to do before HSN to promote our shows (look out for a contest on Closet Couture!). Planning a big look book photo shoot at the apartment office.

We’re shooting 20 different looks on ten friends and bloggers with photographer Ana Schechter. She is a genius with the camera. We’ll video behind the scenes action for fun!

I look so harried at the moment. I am so crazed that, get this, I had a ticket to go to Florida for Passover to see my family and Todd and I completely forgot about the flight. Literally just blanked. We thought we were going on Thursday but our ticket was for Wednesday and it took two days of nonstop airport stalking and double lay overs to get there!

But I’m coming back to life… and will have loads to share!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Did you see A Single Man, the Tom Ford film?

If not, RUN! Do not walk to the theater! It must been viewed on the silver screen. A breathtakingly stunning emotional story of a gay man in the 60s whose partner dies in a car crash, every moment is art directed to graphic perfection. And Julianne Moore’s makeup. No words! Beyond!

I sat down with Lashionista Modelista, Purple Lab’s peptide-packed liquid liner and tubing mascara duo, to recreate the look. Keep in mind – I really can’t pull it off the way Julianne can and the rest of me is not styled in a 60s vibe, but the eye makeup speaks for itself.

Here’s how to do it.

Tom, give me Moore!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Start at the Hearst building – midtown and way, way west. Then head all the way east for a meeting at Meredith’s HQ. Back to hearst Then down and a little east for Conde Nast. Over to Meredith again before American Media. Oh yeah, Time Life Building was in there at some point. One more Conde Nast stop.

This is a close up of what we leave behind with each editor.

The security at all the buildings knew us by name today! Every time you go in, you give your ID, they call up and you get a pass to get in to the inner sanctuary. These are the remnants of the last 28 hours.

OMG! Exhausted but I shan’t complain. It’s a luxury problem!

Today was another glam day of desk sides and it was madness (good madness, mind you). Todd was the driver again (sans cap but with cute smile). There was picnic lunch between appointments in the back seat of his car and only minor spillage.

Besides, it’s great architectural sight seeing. The lobby of the Hearst tower is gorgeous.

We also tried something new. I really love showing how the liquid liner of Lashionista Modelista can be so much more than a liquid liner. By dabbing it – in not even necessarily a nice and neat way – on the lid and smudging with a small bristled brush, you can move the product around the lid, bring out the beautiful shimmer of the diamond dust and turn it into a steel gray eye shadow.

I showed this on Sharon in Marie Claire. I think she loved it. Well, I hope she loved it. Sharon had big glamour cat eyes all day, which made her happy. It worked with the Pucci style printed dress. She has such a 60s look to me.

Nothing like showing it in person. To see how it’s done, click here.

Meanwhile, poor Todd, driving all day, sitting in the car, turning his front seat into the office (with no internet). Every time he dropped us off, he’d open the trunk and tell random cops he was a delivery guy in order to prevent driving in circles.

Guess who drove in circles?

End of the day, we’re beat down. This is us, though, the second we’re back. And Sharon is sitting here as I type, booking more desk sides (there are six more this week and a few in early April).

I’m about to bolt. There’s an event tonight for the CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) and Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN, is speaking. CANNOT miss that!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Yesterday was a nonstop meeting marathon with beauty editors. Eight of them to be exact. They’re called desk sides (Last week, I wrote about how Sharon made this happen here). It’s when you bring your products to the editors at their desks, which makes their lives a lot easier.

This is Sharon getting our presentations ready.

Looks are everything with these things. You have about 10 to 20 minutes, 30 if you’re lucky, to make a good impression.

Our day was a little insane – up and down, east and west, we were all over the city, schlepping these boxes. It was rainy and icky. And because we cannot afford a driver and it would have been hell to hail cabs with our arms full, Todd drove us.

We sat in the back of his truck and everything. While he didn’t wear a little cap, he was certainly the hottest driver in town! I have to tip him!

I got to see a lot of editors I “grew up” in the industry with – it’s kind of crazy to see the girls I was once an assistant along side and where we are now. My freind Gwen, from US Magazine, actually inspired a future shade of Lashionista Modelista that, if I can do well, I’ll call “Made for Gwen.”

She loved everything. Yay! I don’t want to give her secret shade away but know this – she’s got fair skin and auburn hair. It works really well with that type!

The celebrity weekly magazines are all about celeb names. If you can say you have a good following, it’s vital. Luckily, we just received the loveliest thank you note from one Cindy Crawford.

She wrote “Love the blush!” So Sharon’s cute line was “supermodel stamp of approval” and then I say “for modelesque cheek bones.”

Some editors, however, are very poker-faced about the whole thing. You have to remember – they see, I don’t know, 100 brands a week, minimum! They show no emotion, like front row perennials at a fashion show.

So you leave wondering if they liked it, if you’ll get in. It’s almost like sorority rush or taking a test you studied so hard for and leaving totally unsure of whether you passed or failed.

Today, we’re going to try a new approach to show Lashionista Modelista – I’m coming armed with a little angled brush and doing Sharon’s eyes on the spot so they see the billion ways to use it.

Ready to take on the magazine world.

Wish us luck!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

We have officially started a series of how-to videos. And this is our guide to the smokiest, sexiest, Tom Ford-worthy smoldering eye. Smokey, hot and haute, it will get you noticed where ever you go! Sexy, dramatic makeup at its best.

All you need is one product… Purple Lab’s Lashionista Modelista, a peptide protein-packed, conditioning liquid eye liner (with felt tip applicator) and tubing mascara in the shade After Dark (with diamond dust).

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

The spring runway – and even many fall runways – were stalked by glamazons sporting a fresh-faced, natural, no-makeup-makeup look. Have you noticed? So we put Ashley, one of our multi-tasking mavens, to the test and create the look herself.

Meet Ash:

She is an all-natural kind of girl to begin with (not to mention the most amazing singer ever – full on jazz vocals a la Norah Jones).

Armed with Silk Sheets luxe foundation infused with silk, Luxury Squared under-eye concealer and highlighter, collagen-packed Cheek Implants in Backstage Pass (ripe, delicious peach with golden undertones), Lashionista Modelista and Huge Lips Skinny Hips in Worship Kate, she turned herself into an exact replica of what Stella McCartney’s models looked like on the catwalk. (Love Stella, BTW.)

Here’s how to get that youthful, clean, natural look.

More how-tos to come! And do let us know what you want to see us create!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

You know we have a new liquid liner/mascara duo called Lashionista Modelista. Both are full of growth-enhancing peptides and conditioner. And the shade After Dark has diamond dust in the liner (Modelista). You know I love a good diamond (I’m an Aries, after all).

We were insired by Bridget Bardot and did some playing on Friday to create the ultimate smokey eye look.

While After Dark is more black than bling, I wanted to bring out the sparkle of the diamonds and create a steel gray look worthy of Studio 54. Halston, not required.

Here’s the step by step:

1. Draw a line along the line of the top lash from the inside corder to the outside corner

2. Build the line so that it gets thicker and thicker as you move away from the inner corner of the eye, almost shading in the entire lid, winging it out VERY slightly at the edge (it’s not about a major cat eye but it’s nice to get an almond shape)

3. Don’t panic if it looks VERY black – it will but it won’t stay that way after the next step

4. While the liquid liner is still wet, begin to smudge it with a short-bristled brush

5. As you smudge, you will see the black will fade and the diamond dust will emerge more and more 

6. Blend evenly so that the color is dispersed equally across the lid

Hot, isn’t it?

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix