Year In Review

Happy New Year Everyone! 2013 sped by in the blink of an eye, and looking back it was filled with some really exciting and pivotal moments for me. In 2013:

I diligently worked on the house we bought in Santa Barbara while maintaining my life and apartment in LA. (No mere feat)... I worked part time on two, network sit-coms. I went back to Europe for a real, week off in August. I taught my cat, (temporarily) how to use a human toilet. (True story). Most of all, I worked full time in television and commercials, celebrated 5 years of marriage, and somehow, still managed to blog. In the spirit of reflection, here are some of my favorite blogging moments of the past year. Thank you for reading and have an amazing, new year!

Favorite vintage dresses included a real, St John knitwear piece.

Favorite dresses: Black Halo and Diane Von Furstenberg.

Vintage leather included a mini and a midi.

 Best denim was printed and waxed.

 Best investment shorts in soft leather worked seasonally throughout spring and fall.

 Fave skirts included below and above the knee.

 Favorite casual attire was polished off with tuxedo jackets in white and black.

Favorite layering pieces included swing coats and trenches.

 Babydolls came back in a big way, as did plaid.

And in my beauty roundups...

 ...We talked turkey on the most natural BB Creams.

 Played "guess which face is drugstore vs. department store" products.

 Taught smokey and pastel eyed, makeup techniques.

And most  truly, shared a little piece of myself.

I hope you all have a magnificent 2014!

With Love,

Noa B

Rouge Bunny Rouge

Hi Makeup Mavens,

Does the idea of ethereal, sparkling makeup enchant you? Are you bored with your routine and looking for new items to fill your beauty bags? Well look no further because I've got the inside skinny on the hottest line, arriving stateside from Moscow. It's been a cult hit throughout Eastern Europe and now the best keep secret has landed on our doorstep. Welcome to Rouge Bunny Rouge!

Amongst a variety of goodies I recently sampled including blushes, lip liners, shadows, and setting powders, I got to play with a new foundation and a variety of shimmers and lip products. It was love at first sight touch!

To create this morning's look below, I blended RBR's creamy, medium weight, Time Defying foundation in Wheat Creme throughout my face. This base contains karite butter and ceramides for a velvety finish that both hydrates and perfects. And when I say "it feels like butter", it really does. A little goes a long way and looks flawless.To this, I added two, sheer blushes for depth, (seen below) in Starina, (a soft apricot) and Gracilis, (a baby pink/mauve).

I set the foundation with a pressed finishing powder in Piano Forte which has a touch of apricot in the undertone and gives my yellow-based skin a healthy glow. I then proceeded with two base shadows and two shimmer powders to highlight my lids. It was eyeshadow 101, (one base, one crease) but the pigments are so beautifully milled that blending was almost automatic the moment my brush touched my skin.

I swept a neutral tone in Grey Go Away Lourie on my lid and ran Chestnut Napped Apalis, (a pale cocoa) in my crease, lower lashes and corners. To lift and highlight, I ran RGR's loose glitter pigments all over the eye area top to bottom in a shimmering mauve and gold. Don't be fooled by the name. These aren't your bulky, choppy, glitter pieces. These are finely milled, shimmers of light! I used Mink and Cashmere to brighten.

  

To finish, I added RGR's lipgloss in Fleur Parfait and some of my signature, black liner and mascara. But you too can look like a wood nymph with this artfully created line of of products. Check them out at Beauty Habit online. When you pull out a Rouge Bunny Rouge, rich lip gloss from your purse, you'll be the hippest girl in the touch up mirror!

With Love,

Noa B

Why I love Crossroads

Years ago I discovered Crossroads and the magic of re-sale clothing. At first I bought and traded a LOT but as time went on I learned to be more selective about my purchases. Re-sale is really about hunting for those few "special" brands or really unique items. (Not just the stuff you can buy anywhere and fill your closet with).

I didn't realize it until after the fact, but this whole ensemble, (minus the bag) was bought at Crossroads over a period of a year and half. The Kimono was a purchase made last spring. The dress was found last winter, and the wedge heels were snapped up this past June.

 

I'm a firm believer in shopping strategically. When it comes to re-sale I shoot for brands that I wouldn't normally buy at retail prices. This Black Halo dress still had the $360 tags attached when I snapped it up. The Jeffrey Campbell heels hadn't even been worn yet. Score!

 

 (The Kimono was just one of those items that screamed "Unique", so I didn't concern myself with branding).

My "pop" accent for this outfit was my lipstick choice. Brights like this one require very little else makeup-wise. I opted for an all-over NARS palette, with the new matte lip crayon in "YU", Nars bronzer and blush in the new "Adult Content" palette, and a NARS eye palette in "Ride up to the Moon".

Kimono Top: Moon B, Wedges: Jeffrey Campbell, Dress: Black Halo, Purse: Paul and Joe Sister, (Paris)

Where will you find your next "can't live without it" item?

With Love,

Noa B

Makeup Giveaway: Fall Eyes!

Hi Lovely Ladies, It's almost Labor day and time to freshen up the old makeup bag with a few, choice items here at Sunset and 5th! This week's giveaway?

The "Ultimate" in eyes, from Becca Cosmetics. Read on for a chance to win a $100 in new, fall colors!

I confess, I've been a HUGE fan of this innovative, luxury line of Aussie products for years, (about 10 to be exact). And I love their smouldering yet soft approach to eyes and skin. This fall is all about chocolates and browns, ox-bloods and suede, and I'm delighted to be able to bring you a few goodies that will keep you on top of the trend reports. Read on for your chance to win!

For a head-start to fall, nab these must-have's!

 Two, gorgeous shadows for highlighting and shading, a combined $48.00 value!

 My favorite, eye makeup brush, #10, a $33.00 value!

And a highlighting, portable, shimmer powder, a $20.00 value!

And now for the rules:

Official entry rules:

1: You must become a follower of Sunsetand5th via Google friend connect, (found on the upper, right hand corner of my blog).

2: Once you have, (or if you already are) comment back here about your favorite makeup tips for eyes, or tell me why you'd love to try this luxurious line.

3: For an additional entry, visit my website at www.noabolozky.com and let me know what your favorite look is.

4: For another entry, check out Becca's website here and tell me the product you'd most like to try.

Entries are open for US and Canada submissions.

Deadline is Labor Day, 9/3/2012, 11PM PCT.
 

With Love,

Noa B

YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat: Review

As a makeup artist, I try to always test new, innovative, (or simply pretty) products as they come across my path. A few months I ran out of my key, favorite product, my Becca Pressed Powder. Unfortunately, (and given it's popularity) my color was back-ordered indefinitely... Which is when I tried and fell head over heels in love with YSL's loose/pressed complexion powder.

 

Hot on that trail, I decided to have a go at their new foundation, Le Teint Touche Eclat, a follow up to the cult-classic, Touche Eclat concealer pen. (Seen below)...

 

Now I'm not a big foundation gal. (If you read this blog you know I'm all about the primers, highlighters, BB Creams and tints). But I do LOVE having a variety of bases in my professional kit. And every now and then there's one I would deign to wear myself for that extra bit of nighttime polish!

I've got my current faves: from the delicate and sheer Becca Luminous Skin, to the full-matte finish of Makeup Forever's HD, the airbrush delicacy of TEMPTU, as well as M Misha, Dr Jart BB Creams, Koh Gen Do water-based makeup, RCMA palettes, and the like. Let's just see how YSL lives up...

First thing's first: When testing a foundation that's not water based, use a combination of fingertips and brushes. For this particular formula, I opted for a "buffing brush".

Apply finger tap size "dots" of foundation evenly throughout the face, focusing on the T-Zone, the bridge of the nose and the chin. Gently buff the base into place using a large, fluffy brush with semi-spiked tufts of hair. The circular motion with a buff brush will allow the makeup to blend evenly over pores without looking caked on, ensuring an even finish and no streaking.

Once more or less on, move the brush in a circular  motion to blend away excess product.

And Voila! A virtually airbrushed finish. Set immediately with setting powder. My new favorite of choice? YSL of course!

The perfect mixture of loose/pressed form and finish.

Because I was testing a formula that was one shade lighter than my own skin tone, I added an overall sweep of bronzer across my face to deepen the tone. In the event that you end up with a foundation that's a bit lighter than your current undertone, this is always a good way to bring it back to life. Just make sure to opt for a truly brown bronzer as opposed to a reddish color, (which can leave you looking a bit "orangey").

 Yup, I'm loving this new base. I may even have to buy a few for the old kit and caboodle!

 Foundation: Touche Eclat BR 30, Bronzer/Blush: NARS Casino/Orgasm, Gloss: Jouer Monsoon

And you can too! Discover your shade at YSL here and receive 10% off when you register to join the site!

With Love,

Noa B