Diva Style

Five Easy Steps To MEGA Star Makeup

When we think about diva style, we envision bold, 'larger than life', sometimes outrageous, style.

Originally, those with the title of diva were very talented opera singers. These days, if you have the 'diva' tag you are likely a big personality that doesn't mind attenton.  You are possibly even a bit of a prima donna...but still loveable (wink).

The makeup, as is with the hair, and the wardrobe, expresses a playful, bold, confident  approach to beauty, fashion, and life, in general. Does this profile describe  you? Get ready to release your inner diva!

Here is a "Step by Step" to just one of a million possible ways, to release your inner diva... ( and have some fun).

Diva style can be outrageous...but it doesn't have to be.  Beyonce  is a great example of 'larger than life' jet set,  glamourous style.

"If I weren't performing, I'd be a beauty editor or a therapist. I love creativity, but I also love to help others. My mother was a hairstylist, and they listen to everyone's problems - like a beauty therapist!"

Beyonce

*If you're not sure what a stylish diva in action looks like, check out   Beyonce-The Beyonce Experience: Live DVD for a more than perfect example.)

STEP 1 - Choose Your Palette

With Beyoncé as a perfect muse for diva style, I will borrow a palette from one of her many great looks....Dramatic eye, sculpted face using a palette of violet, lavender and mauvey pinks for eyes, a mix of earthy and bright on her complexion, and lips a glossy purple pink.  On her gorgeous skin tone, these colors are beautiful.

This little illustration shows makeup NOT blended for the purpose of easy identification of both color and placement.

STEP 2 - Start With Your Skin

As always, with every style from minimalist to diva style, the look of flawless skin is the objective...and then step it up with shimmers and bronzers.

1. Begin with foundation...an excellent match and as sheer a foundation as your complexion can afford. If your skin needs a little help consider a primer under the foundation to solve texture issues and/ or a camouflage for birthmarks, discoloration. Generally, green camouflage for red skin tones and yellow for purple tones.

Try Smashbox Photo Finish Primer and Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation

2. Cover blemishes and under eye circles.

3. In addition to minimizing shine or pursuing a matte overall finish, use loose translucent powder and large quality powder brush to set foundation. Disperse a light dusting without excess depositing in creases or looking to dry and "cakey".

Brought to you by illuminizer makeup at Beso.com

STEP 3 - Add Color (diva style... )

NARS The Multiple at Beso.com

1. Blush/ Bronzer can create more facial definition as well as introduce color, SO begin with natural shades that resemble your skin tone and then move to more vivid tones of color. The deeper tone sits under your cheekbone, the natural along your cheek bone and the bright pop of color at the apple of your cheek ( when you smile the round area that moves out).

TRY NARS award winning powder blush...the colors are gorgeous; Oasis (sparkling pink champagne), Desire (bright pink) OR if you prefer cream blush, consider Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge (Blushed Rose and Pale Pink).

*Both companies make excellent products-a little pricey BUT the performance and color are worth it. (save on your mascara and pick up Maybelline's Great Lash in blackest black).

2. Then consider highlighting key areas of your face with shimmer to increase the drama and sculpted-ness of your face. All of these elements together, well blended, will produce that 'JLo Glow' appeal. Places? your brown bone, the top of your cheek bone etc

TRY NARS The Multiple (multi purpose stick for face, eyes, lips). My favorite is Antibes.

STEP 4 - Creating Dramatic Eyes  for diva style...

Diva style doesn't mean looking excessive.  Dramatically beautiful results come down to making good color choices and doing a skillful  application ( which includes thorough blending  every step of the way).  The look above has a dramatic look with deep shades and a hint of smokey  but not fully 'smoked out' ( black lined inner rim, super smudged lining around the eyes).

On translucent powder dusted eyelids (for dry base and staying power):

1. Light shade from upper lid eyelash line, blended into brow bone. Take deep shade and apply from eyelash line to blending into crease area.

TRY NARS Violetta Eyeshadow Duo (violet and lavender ) 

2. Line top lash line with dark eyeliner; ex. Black, Dark Violet or Gray

TRY NARS Black Moon, Manon, and/or London

3. Use a small, firm yet soft bristled eye makeup brush to blend/ smudge the eyeliner to soften the harshness of the line for that "smoky" finish.

TRY NARS Makeup Brush, Smudge.

4. Accent or shimmer? Its all in the placement; accent brow bone, place at inner corner of eyes, and/ or layer over top other eye shadow (where you want a highlight).

5. Be sure to use a good eyelash curler to make the eyes as large and wide open as possible (and avoid any lash catastrophes like pulling them out).

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler at Beso.com

TRY Shu Uemura's pro favorite eyelash curler or inexpensive option, Tweezerman Eyelash Curler.

6. Apply heavy coats of black mascara, to upper lashes working from the base, jiggling the wand through the tips (working them, placing them with the wand while wet). Holding the wand vertically, coat the lower lashes, without losing the look of naturally tapering lashes. Remove clumps and sweep away flakes

TRY NARS 'Larger Than Life Mascara' ( or Maybelling Great Lash Black). If you don't want the hassle of false eyelashes but want more drama than most mascara can bring, TRY Paula Dorf Perfect Lash Eyelash Conditioner and Thickener(*apply before mascara).

STEP 5- Lips:

Lip makeup is very important to diva style.  Playful shimmer and/ or velvet matte in exuberant colors.
1. Start with a lip primer to moisten and protect the lips.

TRY Philosophy Big Mouth Semi Matte Lip Primer.

2. Line and fill lips for ultra definition with lip pencil in a shade in the same color family as your fill.

Try NARS regular lip pencils and or NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, large crayon- like pencil lipsticks, all in gorgeous shades. Then top it off with their luxuriousNARS Lip Gloss.

Last word on diva style....

Here are a few quotes:

So if diva means giving your best, then yes, I guess I am a diva.

Patti LaBelle

It's a shame to call somebody a 'diva' simply because they work harder than everybody else.

Jennifer Lopez

The word diva to me means doing something supernatural with something natural.

Patti LuPone

I've always taken risks, and never worried what the world might really think of me.

Cher

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