5 Summer Make-Up Tips

The key to wearing make-up in the summer is to keep it LIGHT. It's best to do away with  the heavy liner, lipsticks, foundation. Opt for a primer, BB cream, or even CC Cream instead of foundation.  A bronzer in loose powder form should be your best friend.  It's great for enhancing that summer tan you've been working on! Do away with heavy lipsticks, which can give a wintery feel, and go for a tinted lip balm.  And most importantly, makes sure every product you use provides SPF protection. The key to a flawless summer look is foremost healthy skin! 

DIY: Ombre Nails

What you'll need:

Two color polishes and a topcoat. You can choose colors that compliment or go bold and pick two that clash. Experiment with different combinations and see what works.

A sponge, a plastic sheet and toothpicks.

Step 1: Using the lightest of the two colors, paint your nails and wait for it to dry completely.

Step 2: On a flat surface, paint a generous amount of the colors right next to each other on to the plastic. Make sure they're just about touching at the edges.

Step 3: Using a toothpick, swirl the two colors together in where they meet. The area where they mix will determine the length of the graduation. So if you want a long graduation, mix a bigger section of the colors, if you want less of a fade, just mix them together a tiny bit.

Step 4: Take your sponge and dab it directly down on to the polish a few times.

Step 5: Dab the sponge directly down on to your nail. Keep dabbing lightly and moving it very slightly up and down your nail.

(You can repeat this step as many times as you need to. Just make sure each layer is completely dry before sponging again otherwise you will start smudging the bottom layers and ruin the whole thing.)

Step 6: Add a topcoat. Or two or three! The sponging makes this mani very bumpy so you may need a couple of topcoats just to even out the surface.

Step 7: Clean up all the excess using a brush dipped in acetone or polish remover. I use a Q-tip dipped in remover for the big bits I can reach on my skin, then a small brush in pure acetone as I get closer to my nail and to make a crisp line near the cuticles.

All finished!

Battle of the Balms

To BB (cream) or not to BB that is the question… CC cream has emerged and made BB Cream lovers a tad bit confused.  The major difference is the proof in the cream.  While BB cream works as a multi-tasker with non-brightening primer, light foundation, moisturizer and sunscreen in one it doesn’t help with skin correctives.  CC cream contains a skin brightening primer, light foundation, moisturizer, sunscreen, anti-aging ingredients and sometimes collagen boosters.  Both creams give you coverage while keeping your skin’s health in mind.  Beauty Balm lovers can’t help but notice that BB creams tend to be a bit heavier compared to Color Corrective Creams which tend to be a tad lighter making them better for acne-prone skin and focuses on concealing existing issues.  The major difference between the two is that BB creams contain non brightening primers while CC creams do.  The pro’s say CC creams are better for the summer month’s because of their lighter consistency and flawless coverage. Give each a try and let the battle of the creams commence!

Get Scandal Ready

We’ve all been guilty of indulging in Scandal a time or two…maybe 3.  While watching season 2 we couldn’t help but notice Olivia’s perfectly pink pout.  To achieve her look try Stila Beauty Color Balm Lipstick in Isabelle or Make Up Forever Aqua Rouge 20 Pink.  Who knew being scandalous could look so good?

Get Glowing

If your bronzer isn’t giving you enough glow try giving your natural glow a little TLC.  We love Perricone MD’s Blue Plasma.  The “un-peel” resurfaces and unveils new skin by unclogging and purifying your skin cells all in one application.  It’s gentle enough to use daily with your own skin regimen and strong enough to help extract your skin cells to reveal beautiful healthy glowing skin! What more could a girl ask for?

Pierre Hardy for Nails

Pierre Hardy for Nars collections is now available for a limited time only at Nars.com.The limited collection which is inspired by the brand's shoe designs includes nail polish and blush in shades that are perfect for spring/summer.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks

Nothing says April more than a fabulous lip and cheek. Bobbi Brown has done it again with her new Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks. This multi-tasking cream color is convenient and chic! You can blend it on your cheeks for a beautiful day glow, or blot it on your lips for a soft pink finish. The best part about this must have beauty gear, is that one hundred percent of the proceeds from the limited edition Pretty Powerful Pot Rouge in Pretty Powerful Pink will support organizations that provide women and girls with education opportunities, job skills, and work experience. It’s one of the most beautiful ways to give back!

($25; bobbibrowncosmetics.com)

Coachella Fun!

In preparation for Coachella, Christina Brown of LoveBrownSugar.com, received the ultimate Coachella Inspired look! Using BOUNCE Deep Wave, BOUNCE Coil Curl, & PURE Curly, these three curl patterns gives Christina an effortless & unique curl pattern that will make her sure to stand out in the Coachella mix! Indiquenista & celebrity make up artist/stylist, Ashley Stewart, gave her a pop of color on the lips and accentuated her eyes! 

Christina's hair & make up is complete but she still needs the perfect Coachella outfit! Help her pick her look out. Click her picture for more details!

Kate Spade's "Live Colorfully"

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of this iconic American Fashion house, Kate Spade releases their latest fragrance- Live Colorfully. The fragrance contains top notes of sparkling mandarin, pink water lily and star anise. Base notes include sheer amber, radiant musk and Tahitian vanilla and tiara flower, golden gardenia and coconut water resonate at the perfume’s middle tier. This fragrance is perfect for the upcoming warmer temperatures!

(katespade.com/fragrance)

Janelle Monae Covers Essence

Janelle Monae looks absolutely gorgeous (as always), on the May cover of Essence Magazine. In this issue, the Cover Girl talks, image, sex appeal, and artistry. After winning her first grammy earlier this year, she's busting out of the indie scene, and creating her own shine. Janelle is definitely one of our faves- we absolutely love her sound and unique sense of style. 

Dream Cream

True beauty starts with your skin, and harsh weather can be detrimental to your skin quality. This summer’s dry desert wind and brutalizing sun will be no match for your skin with Erno Laszlo Hydraphel Day Cream.  This rich preparation mimics your skin's natural moisture to protect and renew your skin without irritation. Nourishing plant oils and antioxidants combine with broad-spectrum UV protection, to deliver a smooth skin texture with along with the coveted healthy glow.

Hydraphel Day Cream SPF 15 Ultra Rich Protective Moisturizer, $85, www.ernolaszlo.com.

Indique x Wale Contest- Winners Revealed!

Thank You for all of the submissions for the Indique x Wale Hair + Tee Giveaway!

The winner for the @iloveindique twitter handle is: @poeticlovee!

The winner for the @iloveindique instagram handle is: @_Raquelbateman!

Congratulations ladies, you have both won TWO Tubes of Indique Hair & the Amazing Wale "Bad" T-shirt designed by Suetsai!

New Fragrance by Lanvin: "Me"

The highly anticipated April release of the new fragrance, Lanvin Me is finally upon us! Designer Alber Elbaz collaborated with perfumer Domitille Bertier, to create the new, unique fragrance that is said to accentuate strong will, intimacy and sensuality.  Lanvin Me has top notes that include soft florals, which are sweetened by the addition of ripened blueberries. The middle note has a slightly tough licorice kick. To ensure the scent lingerers on the skin, base notes include intense yet seductive tuberose. The fragrance is available as 30ml, 50ml and 80ml Eau de Parfum. This fragrance is a must have this spring!

http://www.lanvin.com/#/en/news

Beautiful Nails by Jin Soon Choi

This season is all about eye-catching color, and our nails are no exception. We love the newly released nail paint line Jin Soon, created by celebrity manicurist, Jin Soon Choi. She was inspired by a recreation of Monet's Garden at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, she saw last spring. The five glossy pigments-Blue Iris, Tea Rose, French Lilac, Poppy Blue, and Coral Peony- are thoughtfully named, beautifully packaged, and best or all, they practically never chip!

DIY Salon Quality Nails

You can save a few dollars, or nail salon visits, with Sally Henson's Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips. It's simple, quick, and the results are amazing! Take a look below:

1.Start off with clean nails free of oils and lotions. Wipe each nail with polish remover to make the appliques more adhesive.
2. Size each applique to your nail for the perfect fit.
3. Peel of the plastic film on both side of the nail polish applique.

4. Apply it to your finger nail starting at the cuticle, and press outward towards the end of the nail. 

Now you can add color or designs to your nails in an instant!

Beauty Advice

Want to make your small eyes look bigger? Stay away from dark eyeshadows. Start with a nude base, then apply shadow a shade or two darker than the base to your crease and use your finger to blend the color up toward your eyebrows.

Achieve Smoldering Runway Eyes

Try vamping up your smoky eye routine by giving it a smoldering effect which reads SEXY.  To achieve this look trace the outer rims with dark brown liner, then apply matching shadow on the lids. Blend it into a soft almond shape just past the crease. For more depth, try adding shimmery cream highlighter to the inner corners and the brow bone.  Finish it off with a nice pair of lashes and a super sleek ponytail!

Viola instant WOW factor!

False Lashes via Blogger @McKenzieRenae

We are obsess with lashes at Indique! Whether you achieve fab lashes through individuals, intense mascara, or strips, they all add that extra finished glam to a beat face. We are also obsess with bloggers as well, so check out ATL based beauty blogger Mckenzie Renae as she dishes out on her favorite false lashes. Read more here on her blog!

Photos courtesy of McKenzie Renae

Tom Ford Jardin Noir Café Rose Eau de Parfum

Everyone has been raving about Tom Ford's new fragrance Cafe Rose. Fragrantica.com describes it as "...an oriental floral fragrance for women and men. The new fragrance was launched in 2012. Top notes are saffron, black pepper and may rose; middle notes are turkish rose, bulgarian rose and coffee; base notes are incense, amber, sandalwood and patchouli". 

FAB friend of Indique, Azealia Banks, recently posted on her Instagram on how she makes all the boys go crazy!  

Now this luxurious scent comes with a hefty price (1.7 oz for $209), but huh sometimes a girl gotta splurge! 

Nicki Minaj's New MAC Lipstick Promo

Nicki Minaj took to twitter and posted new promo for her second MAC Viva Glam Lipstick. We are loving the summer feel she is giving! Stay tuned as we will keep you posted on when it hits stores.