The 6 Best Red Lipsticks For The Holidays

A red lip is the perfect accessory for the holidays!

It's bright, it's fun and with one quick swipe can turn your look from boring to bold.

photo by Kelly Cappelli
Makeup by Corinna Cooke

A well defined brow paired with a kick-ass red lip is classic. 
It's also a quick and easy look to pull off. 
A red lip makes such a statement on it's own that you can scale back the rest of your makeup, keeping the eye and cheek simple and letting the lip do all the work for you.

My favorite red lip look for the holiday season is a rich, matte lip paired with glowing, luminous skin. 
Check out 6 of my favorite matte reds for the holidays:

The 6  Best Red Lips For The Holidays

Tatcha Kyoto Red is a geisha inspired red that is universally flattering - it looks great on everyone. And it packs a serious punch.

It's a matte lip with a silk finish.

Tatcha Kyoto Red

Lipstick Queen Velvet Rope Matte Lipstick in Black Tie.

Lipstick Queen Velvet Rope lipstick in Black Tie

This gorgeous, lightweight matte lipstick

Tom Ford Lip Color in Cherry Lush

Tom Ford Lip Color in Cherry Lush

Tom Ford believes the lip is the focus of the face and has the power to define your whole look. No wonder his lipsticks are so luscious!

Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Vesuvio

Nars Pure Matte Lips are super pigmented and very long wearing, which is ideal when you are going bold - you don't want to be wearing a lipstick formula that requires a lot of maintenance and upkeep.

MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo

MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo

Ruby Woo is a timeless, iconic red lipstick that will never go out of fashion. 

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Red Carpet Red

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Red Carpet Red

One of my all time favorite red lipsticks, Red Carpet Red hasn't been around very long, but will become another of the iconic red lips. It's wonderful.

How To Survive The Holidays ~ The Art Of Being A Great Conversationalist

The holidays can be a wonderful opportunity to connect or re-connect with family and friends, those who mean the most to you.

Sitting around a big table with your favorite people, sharing great food and wine can be one of the most wonderful experiences in the world.
It can also be a complete nightmare.
Maybe you are a guest at someone else's family event, maybe you are in an environment where you only know one or two others. Or maybe you have a mother in law from hell. 
The best way to navigate your way through this, or any other event, and come out smelling like roses, is to become a great conversationalist.

What to do:

Be expressive.

People who communicate in an animated and lively way are generally liked or received more than people who are considered moody or hard to read.

Make Eye Contact.

These days everyone seems to have their eyes cast downwards to their smartphones / tablets / other screens. If you pay attention to an average day of interaction with others you will be amazed at how many people you talk to who either don't make eye contact with you, or who look away multiple times while you are speaking to them. 
When someone makes eye contact and maintains it during a conversation, it is completely intoxicating. Those are the people who make the biggest impact on you, and who you remember.
And it is one of the traits of a great conversationalist.

Be A Great Listener.

People love to talk, especially about themselves. 
You will be perceived as a better conversationalist if you do more attentive listening than actual talking!

Don't Talk About Yourself.

Well, not all the time anyway. 
Having to sit through never ending conversations where someone is just talking about themselves is plain nauseating. Spice up the chatter with interesting things you have done, but don't spend all your time ME-ing.

Learn About The Interests of Others.

Do a little research on the people you will be with, find out what they are interested in, and learn a little bit about those things. Enough to ask a few leading questions about subjects the person or people in question feel passionate about.
The art of great conversation is not to talk at people, but to draw them into a conversation where they feel their input is desired, appreciated, enjoyed and respected.
Even if you will just be with your own family or people you know really well - use the opportunity to practice and become a better conversationalist.

Find Common Ground.

People instinctively like someone they have things in common with.
A great conversationalist seeks out the common ground they can find with others, and in doing so opens conversations that everyone enjoys participating in.

My friends at Proflowers.com created this info-graphic about the Science of Dinner Table Conversation

Please include attribution to ProFlowers.com with this graphic.

Another great way to start a conversation is to bring a fabulous bouquet of flowers to the dinner (or in this case Thanksgiving).
Check out the gorgeous bouquets available at ProFlowers.com

And if you are the poor girl with the evil mother in law? Take a deep breath, square your shoulders, keep your chin parallel to the floor, and know you are not alone! You win by maintaining grace and dignity. Don't let the old bag get under your skin ;))

5 Essential Beauty Items For Winter ~ Beauty Tip Of The Week #35

My friends over at Glossier.com recently asked me about my essential beauty products for winter.
Like me, the girls at Glossier prefer to see a really gorgeous complexion rather than a face masked in makeup. 
So with winter's cold winds, ice and snow, the drying effects of central heating and the general havoc the season wrecks on your skin, here are my essential items for winter beauty.

image source Glossier.com

 

Oil Cleanser

Tatcha Camellia Cleansing Oil

Oil cleansers are amazing. They dissolve makeup, clean your skin and leave it with a silky soft finish. They are incredibly soothing to sensitive or irritated skin, luscious on dry skin, and even fabulous for oily skin, because oil lifts away oil.

Try Tatcha Camellia Cleansing Oil

Soothing Face Mist

Glossier Soothing Face Mist

After cleansing, or whenever your skin feels tight or dry try spritzing a little soothing face mist. You can even lightly spritz it over makeup that looks dehydrated to breathe some new life into it.

Face mists are wonderful to have with you when you travel and are a lovely pick me up for your skin.

Try Glossier's Soothing Face Mist, made with roses and aloe.

Eye Gels

Diaforce Gold and Diamond Hydrogels

When the skin around your eyes needs some extra lovin' try spending 10 to 15 minutes with a pair of eye gels. They soothe tired or dehydrated under-eyes, take away puffiness, diminish fine lines and wrinkles and make you look and feel revitalized.

Try Diaforce Gold and Diamond Hydrogels available online at Memebox.com

A Really Good Lip Balm

When the weather gets cold your lips get dried and chapped, which as best is unsightly and at worst is very painful, especially when they crack open. To stay ahead of lip chapping or to help it heal if its already happening your lips need a super sonic lip balm.

Try Charlotte Tilbury Lip Magic. It contains bee propolis and argan oil and also works as a fabulous lipstick base.

Add In A Hair Oil

Bumble And Bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oil

Your hair is also in need of some extra help in the winter months. Like your skin it gets dry, add in hats and scarves creating extra frizz and your formerly smooth hair starts to look totally frazzled.

A lightweight hair oil helps it stay nourished, healthy and shiny.

Try Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil. You can find it online at SpaceNK

Great Gift Ideas For The Traveler In Your Life

Great Gift Ideas For The Traveler 

Do you have an intrepid traveler on your gift list? 

Regardless of whether your person travels for pleasure or travels for work, here are  great gift ideas

Eagle Creek Packing System

Eagle Creek Packing Cubes

Packing and staying organized on the road is so much easier with the Eagle Creek packing system! Mix and match the different sized cubes, and make sure you throw in the little one, which is perfect for power adapters, iPhone cords, chargers etc. The folders are fantastic for shirts and pants and dresses - anything you want to keep smooth and flat. Check the system out here
Available online at The Container Store

See the video below:

Matching Luggage Tag And Passport Cover

French Goatskin Leather Luggage Tag and Passport Cover from graphicimage.com

Travel stylishly with matching French Goatskin Leather luggage tags and passport cover.

I found this company on Instagram of all places. I am obsessed with their gorgeous travel products. I wish I could get my hands on a set before my next trip! Pictured above are the luggage tag and passport cover in hydrangea.

Find them at www.graphicimage.com in their With Love From Kat collection.

A Leather Travel Journal

A leather travel journal demands that you make a diary of your trip, and keeps your memories forever. 

I journal every trip I take and put photos, museum tickets, restaurant business cards and all kinds of momentos in there. I love looking back through them.

This one is also from GraphicImage.com

A Personal Photo Printer

The Prynt Photo Printer

Just like Polaroids from the good old days, the Prynt printer gives you instant photos. just insert your smartphone and print them out.

Check out the video here on Amazon

RFID Blocking Wallet

RFID Blocking Wallet

Protect credit cards from radio frequency I.D scanning with either a protective sleeve that fits inside a wallet, or an RFID blocking wallet.

These are not just for travel, but are also good to use in your hometown too. Available online at The Container Store

An External Power Pack

Charge up cellphones and iPads on the road with an external power pack. Great for use on airplanes and in airports or anywhere on the road that you can't find a power point to plug in to.
Check out this one (shown above) available at The Container Store

Kindle Paperwhite 

There's no need to drag heavy, luggage stealing books around anymore when you travel. The Kindle Paperwhite is one of the best e-readers around, small and lightweight, it can hold 1000 books and can go weeks I between charges.

All-New Kindle Paperwhite, 6" High-Resolution Display (300 ppi) with Built-in Light, Wi-Fi - Includes Special Offers

Available at Amazon.

Thick, Fluffy Socks

Unless you are flying first class, or on some routes business class, amenity pouches are now a thing of the past. As such, so are the complimentary fluffy socks. Airplane cabins get cold so warm socks are wonderful on a long haul flight.

Noise Cancelling Headphones

Whether you are tuning out the sounds of snoring passengers, loud talkers, screaming babies or just the airplane buzz, noise cancelling headphones are a must on long flights.

Try the Bose Quiet Comfort 25 

Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones  -  Apple devices, Black - Wired

A Pashmina

Airplanes get cold, and airline blankets can be a little sketchy - who knows how clean they really are? A Pashmina is very lightweight but super warm. It packs down to nothing, so is great to travel with. It also doubles up as a scarf and you can wear it instead of a coat in cold weather. Win win win.

Just make sure you are buying real pashmina and not a nylon blend scarf.

Travel Sized Candles

Arriving late and tired to find your hotel room smells like industrial cleaner or the previous occupant's secret cigarettes is awful, and changing rooms isn't always an available option. Other times you just want to personalize your space, and mini scented candles can make all the difference in the world.
Try this limited edition Jo Malone Travel Candle Set available at Nordstrom

8 Foods You Should Never Eat Before You Fly

Are you traveling over the holidays? (or ever?)
Making good or informed choices about what you eat pre-flight can make all the difference in the world to how you feel both during the flight and after it. 
And with the inevitable oversold holiday flights, bad weather delays, long lines in airports full of angry and tired passengers, you need every advantage that you can give yourself to not just survive the ordeal, but keep your zen, avoid "jet bloat", not be the stinky passenger, and arrive feeling good.

Check out this list of 8 foods that you should never eat before you fly:

Fried or Fast Foods

Airports are full of fast food joints and restaurants offering low quality and fried foods. Although you may already be wary of hitting up McDonalds pre-flight you also need to avoid the fried foods on the menu at the better restaurants in the airport.

Your body already has a hard time digesting food at 35,000 feet, add to that the trouble the body has processing saturated fats and you've got yourself the perfect recipe for heartburn and upset stomach. Eating saturated fat can constrict blood flow and raise your risk of DVT.

Fast foods and fried foods are generally high in sodium too, causing swelling in the hands, feet, ankles and lower legs. 

Cruciferous Vegetables

image via livestrong.com

After takeoff the air pressure in the cabin decreases, causing the cabin air to expand by around 30%. This can cause swallowed air and gases in the stomach and small intestine to expand, leading to an uncomfortable, bloated feeling. Minimize the effect of this by avoiding broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and other cruciferous vegetables.

Legumes

image via naturessunshine.com.au

Beans are well know for being another major gas and bloating culprit. Many types of beans and other legumes naturally contain indigestible complex sugars that can lead to onboard bloating.

Do yourself and everyone else on the plane a favor, and avoid eating legumes before you fly!

Sugar Free Gum And Candy

Sugar free products contain artificial sweeteners, and unfortunately the human body is not designed to process synthetic sugars very well. They can cause gas and bloating, and can even have a laxative effect - not what you want on a full flight with only a couple of bathrooms! Check the warning label on the packet before you buy, or just play safe and avoid artificial sweeteners before and during your flight.

Garlic

Garlic contains compounds that are absorbed both into your bloodstream and your lungs, so even if you brush your teeth you are exhaling garlic and it is seeping out through your pores. If you have ever sat next to a garlic-y passenger you will know how nauseating it is to smell it all flight long. Don't be that person...

Alcohol

image via smartertravel.com

Alcohol is dehydrating anyway, but combine it with the low humidity in a pressurized cabin and you can become even more dehydrated, which can make you feel miserable and give you headaches for days.

Do yourself a favor and skip alcohol pre-flight as well as during your flight.

Carbonated Drinks

Carbonated drinks like soda and beer are major contributors to bloating. Picture the bubbles as tiny balloons that will end up in your stomach, and then rapidly expand when the air pressure changes. Not comfortable!

Airplane Provided Water, Ice, Coffee Or Tea

image via smartertravel.com

It's important to stay hydrated while you fly, but you are better off bringing your own bottled water than grabbing a drink from the beverage cart. Tests done by the EPA showed that one out of every seven planes had tank water that did not meet federal standards, and contained bacteria like E.coli.

Although beverage carts might give you "bottled" water from a large bottle, that bottle may have been refilled using the tank water.

Coffee and tea are often made from the same tank water, which is usually not heated to a high enough temperature to kill germs.

Story source Smartertravel.com

The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 Giveaway

Are you a Hunger Games fan?

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a screening of the final film in this 4 film series, The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2.
The movie opens this Friday, November 20th 2015.

I'm not going to give any spoilers about the movie other than to say to every makeup devotee who goes to see this film, look at Jennifer Lawrence's skin. It is flawless and perfect.

I have been given the opportunity to host a giveaway for this movie on my blog.

Corinna B's World will be giving away two Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 limited edition gift sets to celebrate the opening of this movie.

Each set contains a movie poster, a limited edition mockingjay pin, t-shirt, and tattoo made for the film, as well as a Hunger Games DVD. (The DVD will not be Mockingjay Part 2, but one of the earlier films.)

Entering this giveaway is super easy and you can enter multiple ways, multiple times.

Here is all you have to do:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Giveaway is run by Rafflecopter. You must use the Rafflecopter entry above to be entered to win!

option one

Leave a comment on this blogpost. Include your Instagram name, and then head over to my Instagram and like the Hunger Games Mockingjay 2 picture. Find me on Instagram @Corinnamakeup

option two

Go to my Facebook page (Facebook.com Corinna B) like the page, and like the post. This will give you two entries.
Share the post and you will get more entries for each time you share it. Share it with friends every day if you want!

option three

Go to my Instagram, follow me and like the Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 Giveaway picture. This will give you two entries. Repost the picture and tag friends for more entries.
Find me on Instagram @Corinnamakeup

Simple isn't it?

The giveaway will run until November 25th.
Winners will be notified by email.

Good luck and go see The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 this weekend!

Memebox Black Friday Deals!

I am obsessed with Korean skin care.

Korean skin care and cosmetics are world renowned for their unprecedented quality. South Korea is at the very forefront of cutting edge technology in skin care products, and their research and development. 
What this means to you and me is that we get the most technologically advanced, most high performance products from Korea.
You and I can't necessarily pop in to one of the many, many skin care emporiums lining the streets of Seoul, but we can order them online from Palo Alto based Memebox.

Memebox is the leading Korean beauty retailer, carrying curated boxes & individual items

Through Memebox Korean skin care is entirely affordable, much more so than even the most mediocre skin care sold in department stores. So you get to save money while you get extreme quality, look younger and have firmer, clearer skin. Win win win!

Korean girls are makeup obsessed too, so through Memebox you can order the fabulous makeup products that they use, either buying pieces individually or through their fun pre-made boxes.

I have a big order ready to place for myself, but I'm waiting for Black Friday to place it because they have amazing deals happening with discounts up to 80% off!

For the first time this year Memebox is offering Vault boxes in their Black Friday sale. Vault boxes are larger than the regular boxes (they contain 16 items) and contain some of the most popular products. There will be two types of vault boxes, each massively discounted at 60% off.
One will have makeup and skin care and a retail value of $363, but will be on sale for $149!!

The other is the K-beauty makeup box, valued at $195 and will be on sale for just $79!

Other Black Friday specials include 

* A year of masks bundle that has 100 of their best and most popular masks at 70% off. You pay only $79 for a $302 value.

* There will be four days of doorbusters with new batches of products released every 12 hours, including plenty of their best sellers. These will be at 80% discount while stocks last.

* Masks will be buy one get one free during the Black Friday promotions.

Get the Korean beauty secrets everyone's raving about at Memebox.com

If you have shopped with Memebox before you will know that supplies run out fast, so you will need to get in quickly.

For more info on buying and using Korean skin care products check out my post from May 2015, West Face East.
This will explain the order you use products in, and also some of the product categories that aren't well known in America yet, such as emulsions, ampoules and essences.

Check out the Memebox website Here