Enter Our Name That Shade Contest

Attention Makeup Mavens!

Whether you've visited Paris or travelled there in your dreams, your savoir-faire is needed. In Spring 2012 we'll be releasing an eye-catching deep green eye shadow enlivened by a kaleidoscope of gold and silver shimmer; inspired by the midnight reflection of the Eiffel Tower onto the Seine River. Sounds haute, right? The shadow is gorgeous and we need your help before it's launched!

Three Custom Color Specialists is now holding our first-ever contest to name this new shade! Entering is short and sweet -- simply take our short poll and vote on the name that you like the best. By participating, you'll also be entered for a chance to win the new shade, plus a slew of goodies from the Three Custom Color makeup arsenal. "Like" us on Facebook to enter and vote to let us know which name you'd like for our haute new shade!

Candy Land Comes to Life! Chad Collaborates Once Again with Artist Will Cotton

Cockaigne, A live performance conceived of, designed and directed by Will Cotton and curated by Stacy Engman for Performa 11 at Prince George Ballroom

I was very excited to once again work with dear friend Will Cotton www.willcotton.com, and collaborate on the makeup looks for this fabulous evening of art, music dance and festivity. I have created many makeup looks for his paintings and many are featured in his new book, Will Cotton: Paintings and Works on Paper.

Dancers from New York City Ballet were dressed in custom cotton candy creations and set against a back drop of Cotton Candy Clouds. The live-action piece was performed in two acts - ACT I: Whipped Cream Duet for Two Violins and ACT II: Cotton Candy.

For the piece, we created an ethereal makeup look with pops of bright pink (Lollipop Lip & Cheek Stain) on the cheeks, glistening silver-whites (Silver and White Shimmer Eye shadow mixed and applied with a wet brush all over the lid) and Pink Shimmer (Icing on the Cupcake Eye Shadow) as an accent paired with doe-eyed eyeliner (Aurora Crème Eye Definer). Lollipop was painted on the lips as a stain then a veil of Candy Cloud 9 Lip gloss (which tastes like Cotton Candy!) was layered over for a 3-D effect.

A signature Cotton Candy fragrance, “Whipped Cream” was created exclusively for the event by Pascal Gaurin for IFF.

Purchase our Sweetest Thing Collection here and take a look at a step-by-step tutorial to get the look here!

Get The Look: Daytime Drama

Jim DeMarco has teamed up with Three Custom Color Specialists to create The Daytime Drama Collection: the perfect go-to palette for the look of a star!
Here are Jim's tips on how to get the look:

STEP 1 - Create a flawless complexion with Three Custom Color Specialists Crème Concealer/Foundation using your fingers (my favorite tool!), a sponge or foundation brush.



STEP 2 - Apply Siren (a bronze crème) directly under the cheekbones and blend back to the ear to contour and define the cheek. Then, apply Siren on the eyelid as a base for other shadows or wear it alone as a quick pick-me-up to brighten the eyes!

STEP 3 – For a natural flush, blend Red Carpet Lip & Cheek Stain onto the apple of the cheeks. Make sure to blend back to where you contoured under the cheek! Then apply Red Carpet onto the lips for a longwearing reddish-mauve tint.



STEP 4 – Apply Back Lit Crème high on the cheekbones to highlight (pro makeup artist trick!) Also, apply it on the brow bone, inner corner of the eye, and slightly under the eye to brighten.



STEP 5 - Line the eyes with Close Up Crème Eye Definer, working along the lash line from the outer corner to the inner eye. Next, try winging out the line for some Old Hollywood Glamour. Or, for a modern, smokey effect, smudge the top and lower lash lines with Three Custom Color Specialists Contour Eye Shadow Brush.



STEP 6 - Complete your look with a swipe of Camera Ready Lip Gloss. Wear over Red Carpet Lip & Cheek Stain for added drama or alone for a perfect pout.

To finish the look, apply Three Custom Color Specialists Translucent Face Powder and define the brows with Three Custom Color Specialists Brow Powder and Clear Brow Gel.

Jim DeMarco, Makeup Stylist
Emmy-Award Winning Makeup Stylist, Jim DeMarco has been transforming faces on TV, runway and print for the past ten years. From every major runway show from Marc Jacobs to DIOR, Jim’s worked with the world’s best supermodels including Gisele Bundchen, Adriana Lima, and Jessica Stam. For the past four years, he has served on the makeup team on ABC’s Daytime Drama, ONE LIFE TO LIVE (2009 Emmy Winner). Jim’s work has also been seen on the red carpet at the Golden Globes and Daytime Emmys. For more, visit www.jimdemarco.com

NYFW Spring 2012 Trend Report

Every season, we at Three Custom Color Specialists show you our favorite beauty trends from the runways of New York Fashion Week, their inspirations, and the products to get these looks now!

What was the biggest influence on the catwalks this season? HAIR! HAIR! HAIR! Designers went wild on the catwalks, showcasing models in big 80’s hair, or streaks of blue and green and even sopping wet hair! As a result, the makeup across the board remained polished, versatile and pretty, to balance out the statement ‘dos. These fresh, simple makeup looks are perfect for spring – no matter if your look is girly and soft, or tailored, structural and slick.

Here’s a rundown of our favorite beauty trends and tips on how to put these together now!

POLISHED WITH POP
Clean makeup look on the face anchored with bold, almost neon pops of pink or coral on the lips, and coordinating washes of color on the cheeks and eyes.

As seen on the runways at: Alice + Olivia, Karen Walker, Anna Sui

Get the look: We loved the flirty look at Anna Sui. This modern pinup girl was reminiscent of Rita Hayworth with a touch of 70’s Lauren Hutton thrown in! Try: Warm Peony as a wash of color on the eyelids, White Shimmer near the tear ducts, Pink Hyacinth Watercolours for Cheeks, and Bora Bora lipstick for that fabulous deep pink lip!
As an alternative, also try: Copacabana Lipstick (a cheery coral) or our Light Brights Lipsticks for a sheer pop of color!



ARCHITECTURAL
Edgier and more masculine ensembles, paired with pulled-back hair, coordinate best with contoured faces and sexy, sculpted cheekbones.

As seen on the runways at: Badgley Mishka, Prabal Gurung, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Herve Leger, and Donna Karan

Get the look: The models at Donna Karan pulled off the look of gorgeous gladiators. Try: Three Custom Color Specialists Brow Powders to define the brows and emphasize the eyes with Cool Nutmeg as a soft, powder eyeliner. Apply Bronze or Orange Creme to Powder Blush to define the cheekbones, as well as Face Powder #5 to sculpt. Recreate this deep, rich lip look with Cool Red Lip Pencil, Warm Burgundy Lipstick or Virtual Lipstick (from our Century in Red Lip Palette)


SUNSET SKIN
This look ruled the runways for Spring 2012. You can’t go wrong with luminous skin, enhanced with a touch of gold and pink, and a hint of shimmer on the cheekbones and the eyes!
As seen on: Proenza Schouler, Yigal Azrouel, Vera Wang, Tracey Reese, Carolina Herrera (and many, many more!)

Get the look: The models were natural and glowing at Carolina Herrera. Groom the eyebrows with Three Custom Color Specialists Clear Brow Gel, and apply Gilded Eye Shadow on the eyelids and Champagne near the tear ducts. Use our Pointed Eyeliner Brush to apply a thin line of Aurora Crème Eye Definer on the upper lash line for definition. Apply Afterglow Shimmer Crème on the cheeks and, on the lips, try either Whisper Sheer Lipstick or Petal Pink Lip Gloss.

South Africa: Inspiration, Vineyards, and Honey Badgers

Scott Catto, Managing Director, Three Custom Color Specialists, treats us to an inside look at the Co-Founders' recent trip to South Africa...

South Africa. I can’t tell you what’s more exhausting - the safari tours (we saw a real-live Honey Badger!) or the wine tastings!

Drinking wine at 10AM isn't exactly how we like to start our day but our guide didn't have to twist our arms too hard to get us to partake! Heck, how often do you get to the wine country in South Africa?

Each winery treats you to between 5 and 12 different tastings. After 3 wineries, then lunch (with, of course, another bottle of amazing local wine!) nap time comes around quickly. Yes, I know at wine tastings you are just supposed to taste and spit the rest out, but we didn't want to waste one drop. Plus, we weren’t driving!

All kidding aside, our trip and guide was fantastic. We hit beautiful vineyard after vineyard with delicious food and chocolate pairings. It was heavenly!

Here’s a round up of the vineyards we toured:

• Dieu Donne Guest Farm http://www.dieudonne.co.za/
• Tokara http://www.tokara.co.za/
• La Petite Ferme http://www.lapetiteferme.co
• Lanzerac http://www.lanzerac.co.za/

Lanzerac was particularly memorable. This vineyard has won numerous international awards and most notably produced the world’s first Pinotage. After a tasting, they also treated us to a special Honey Liquor that only 2 people at the estate know how to make. (after some online searching, we’ve found a link for you if you want to have a tasting of your own - http://sawine2europe.webnode.com/products/lourensford-honey-liqueur/)

So, what did we take away from our trip? Color inspiration of course! Be on the lookout for our South African Vineyard-inspired shades launching this fall on www.threecustom.com

In the meantime, try our new favorite drink: The Honey Badger Cocktail! Oh, and as they say, please drink responsibly.

The Honey Badger Cocktail
- Juice of one Lemon
- Sprig of Lavender
- Honey Liquor
- Vodka
- Soda

Looking for a South African safari of your own? For a seamless and unforgettable South African travel experience contact our friend Mia. Her vast experience and incredible patience earn her a gold star in our book! http://mia-schoeman.africansafaritravelexpert.com/

Cheers and Safe Travels!

Scott

The CAUS Beauty/Cosmetics Forecast Launches!

The Color Association of the United States (CAUS) recently launched its first-ever Beauty/Cosmetics Forecast for Spring 2013 (that’s right, 2013!) which reports the major trends and influences for the color palettes of the season.

Chad Hayduk, Co-Founder of Three Custom Color Specialists, served on the committee to develop the forecast with other notable industry leaders from the color, beauty, and fragrance world.

To celebrate, CAUS held a launch party at the colorful Glassbaby shop in NYC and Three Custom Color Specialists makeup artist Marisa Fazzina and Julianne Carlucci were there to enjoy the fun!

Check out these fun pics from the event! For more about the report and the CAUS mission - check out www.colorassociation.com

Lavender cupcakes and cocktails by Hpnotiq!

Face charts by Three Custom Color Specialists and an array of color inspiration from the forecast

A closer look at the color inspirations and beautiful Glassbaby candleholders.

Top Bridal Beauty Picks from the Color Studio!

Julianne Carlucci, Makeup Artist for Three Custom Color Specialists

As a makeup artist, Julianne specializes in Bridal Makeup Artistry and serves clients in New York City and Long Island. She has a talent for personalizing the perfect makeup shades to create a style that best suits each bride on her wedding day!

Curious about her Bridal Must-Haves this season? Here are the products by Three Custom Color Specialists that Julianne can’t live without:














Crème Concealer Foundation- Talk about a multi-tasker! I love this product as a spot Concealer (it’s concentrated and can cover any blemish!) or sheered out with moisturizer to create a smooth, flawless canvas. I also use this product as an eye lid primer before applying eye shadow for extra staying power. The Concealer Palette gives me all ten shades so I can really customize the perfect shade for brides of all skin tones.

Opaline Crème Eye Definer- This liner stays put throughout the entire wedding day; from morning pictures to evening toasts. It is also great for those emotional, teary eyed brides because it is water resistant. Whereas liquid liner is very defined and sometimes too harsh, I use this crème liner for softer definition on the upper eye lid. And, when smudged a bit, you can really see the opalescent sheen which gives the eye a pretty gleam.

Santorini- Packed with color, this rich raspberry shade flatters almost every skin tone and it’s one of my favorite shades in the Three Custom Color collection! This season, many brides are loving a bold lip while keeping the rest of the face natural, but polished.The vibrant color looks beautiful in pictures, and is long-wearing and moisturizing (very important for brides!).







Caramel Rose Lip and Cheek Stain- This earthy rose shade is universal and adds a dewy, fresh and natural flush on every bride. I love it! The pigmented and balmy stain really locks into the skin and stays on all day and it can be worn sheer or built up on for a dramatic look. My best way of applying it: Using your fingers or sponge, apply it to the apples of the cheeks in a circular motion making sure to apply it evenly from apples of cheeks toward your hairline.

To book an appointment with Julianne call (212) 730-8828 or visit http://www.makeupbyjulianne.com/