Angelina Jolie wearing a gorgeous red lipstick at the Oscars

I haven’t received any makeup breakdowns, nor have I been able to find information online–but I’m pretty sure the sublime red lipstick Angelina Jolie wore to the Oscars was MAC Russian Red:

MAC Russian Red

If you’re ooh-ing and aah-ing over a crimson lipstick with orange tones, when in doubt: it’s always Russian Red.

My beauty blogging buddy Anne Fritz emailed me recently asking for my New Year’s beauty resolutions, which went live today on my new favorite beauty tips site StyleUnited.com. Check mine out below, and click on the photo to see what resolutions my friends like Aly Walansky and Polly Blitzer have made!

What are your beauty resolutions for 2012?

K. writes:

Hi Nadine! I’ve been an avid reader of your blog for a while now, and I think it’s great! I have a question about haircare. I have relatively fine to medium hair that falls somewhere between the categories of straight and wavy and goes about 2 inches past my shoulders. I’m a student, and between rushing to class in the morning and staying up late to write papers, I really don’t have much time to blowdry, style, straighten my hair, etc. Is there any haircut or hair product I can use that will allow my hair to dry naturally and not poof up into a frizzy, half wavy mess? I feel like I’ve tried everything!

Thanks, and I love your blog!

Hi K.!
Thanks so much for your email! I have a few different recommendations for you, depending on how much money you’re willing to spend:

1) Use the right products
I cannot rave enough about Living Proof No Frizz, which is a still-new line that helps to smooth and defrizz hair strands without weighing them down. Their star product is the Straight Making Cream (perfect for wavy hair), but they’ve also just released a shampoo, conditioner and leave-in treatment. Use their products to wash and condition, apply gobs and gobs of the Straight Making Cream, and then scrunch a large handful of your hair a few times. It sounds like your hair is very similar to mine, so scrunching the hair will make it dry wavily with some nice texture, not straight and messily.

Now, here’s the key: dry your bangs and the hair right around your face with a blowdryer and round brush. You only need to spend literally 30 seconds doing it (after the 30 seconds spent applying product), but by smoothing the hair surrounding your face, it will make everything look neater and more polished. Hell, the rest of your hair could air-dry into a poodle-fro, and it would still look at least halfway decent! (But we do not traffic in poodle-fros here, trust.)

If you can’t afford the Living Proof products (hey, I remember what it’s like to be a student!), get thee to a CVS and buy a leave-in conditioner and bottle of mousse. Apply the leave-in to the bottom half of your head after blowdrying, then scrunch some mousse into the roots and finger-comb through strands. Hands off…and your hair will air-dry pretty darn well.

2) Get a Brazilian Blowout
Check out my recent posts here and here about the True Brazilian I recently had, which–no joke–changed my life. (Okay, in regard to my hair, at least. It’s not, like, doing my laundry and treating me to candlelit dinners or anything.) I know you’re a student: it costs around $250 – $350, depending on where in the country you are and what salon you go to…but I truly believe that if you’ve been struggling with your hair and can afford it, it’s worth every penny.

I hope that helps!

E writes:

Hi Nadine- love your blog and all your advice!! I have a question I don’t know if you have answered before…but my eye makeup seems to disappear. Like there is it all pretty and nice and I swear 10 minutes later it’s gone! Faded into my eyes? Fallen off my face? UGH! I cant get eye shadow or liner to stay on…any advice on what to use as a base on my eyes before the makeup to make it last? Do you recommend a type of eyeliner that seems to stay on as well? Thanks greatly!

Hey E.!  Thanks for your email.  Believe me, I can relate to the Case of the Disappearing Eyeshadow!  Even those who aren’t cursed with oily skin sometimes fall prey to Slick Lid Syndrome.  Luckily, a few simple tricks will help your shadow (and liner!) stay put.  Here’s my routine:

- Apply a makeup primer to eyes, patting gently with your 4th finger to avoid pulling the delicate skin.  I like OC Eight Mattifying Gel, but any primer will do.  (A great option is Skindinavia, which makes a slew of oil- and paraben-free Makeup Finish mists to hold shadow in place.  Try Skindinavia No More Shine Makeup Finish.)

- Use a makeup brush, not your fingers.  The oils on your fingers will transmit to your lids, speeding up the fading process.  High-quality brushes are fine and dandy, but even cheapie brushes from the drugstore, Target or Sephora will aid in smooth, longer-lasting makeup application.

- After you apply eyeliner, double back over it with an eyeliner brush dipped in translucent powder, or in a shadow the same color as the eyeliner.  (This trick also works on eyeliner on the “waterline” inside lower lids.)

- Finish with a light dusting of translucent powder over shadow (my standby is Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Mineral Veil), topped off with another spray of Skindinavia Makeup Finish.

- Finally, if you’re out and about, keep some blotting papers handy.  Clean and Clear makes fabulous, cheap versions–or, in a pinch, run to the ladies’ room and use a toilet seat cover!  Sounds gross, but it works like a dream to banish oil.

Good luck!

E. writes:

Hi Nadine,
I am a big fan and I had a few questions I was hoping you could answer. I have oily skin and especially hair naturally. I was wondering if you had any suggestions of shampoos that might help with this so my hair wont look so oily. Also I have tried hair powder and it does not seem to make a difference, I usually just part my hair down the middle and sprinkle some on, is there a different way that may be better? I am also a bare escentuals user, what is the difference between the originally bare escentuals and the new matte foundation? Thank you so much for your time. I love your blog and your youtube videos have really helped me with doing my makeup since it is not something i am good at..at all, lol.  Thank you again.

Hi E! My best friend has oily, limp hair, so I’ve had to learn some tricks over the years on her behalf! (She always gets angry at my recommendation to avoid shampooing hair everyday—and I don’t blame her! Those with thin hair or oil-prone scalps obviously find it harder to go a day between washes.) As for you, I’d recommend a clarifying shampoo to help remove oil and residue from your strands and scalp: I love Neutrogena Clean Shampoo, which smells nice and isn’t expensive.

Now onto your second question: When you’re using hair powder, sprinkle some powder in your hands and then fluff it through your strands, massaging it in at the roots. Use a prodigious amount of powder – one tiny sprinkle at your hair part isn’t going to cut it! I like Finley and The All-Nighter hair powders. A little hair spray (L’Oreal Elnett is a great option) on roots as your head is flipped over will add volume and also help sop up oil.

And as far as Bare Escentuals (let’s just go ahead and officially make it Bare Escentuals week on my blog!), the main difference between the original and the Matte is that the Matte doesn’t contain bismuth oxychloride, which is what gives the original its sheen. Coincidentally, some women have sensitivities to bismuth oxy., so any that fall in that camp will be thrilled with the new Matte. If the original bareMinerals is gentle, the Matte is extra gentle!  Enter my giveaway and check it out yourself!

Thanks for reading! Hugs!