Exclusive: Doe Deere of Lime Crime

Lime Crime makeup is the realization of one girl’s bright idea to bring color into what she perceived to be a otherwise pallid world. In 2008, NYC-LA based makeup artist and style blogger Doe Deere created Lime Crime to provide a makeup experience that customers couldn’t get from any other brand. With bright unique colors, products and packaging, Doe Deere’s vision is clearly successful. VAINSTYLE was lucky enough to ask Lime Crime creator Doe Deere about her makeup line, personal style and future plans for Lime Crime. Check out the exclusive interview below!

How did you get your start in makeup?

Even though I was a tomboy all throughout high school, my interest in makeup began around the age of 8. I loved the idea of wearing eyeliner, applying my mom’s eyeshadow and gloss and was eager to do it at slumber parties and sleepovers. I rediscovered makeup when I was 18, when a friend of my mother’s made me beautiful for prom. I loved the feeling of being confident in my looks.

The idea to start my own makeup line came to me in 2008, when I realized the makeup I wanted to wear — bright, intensely pigmented — didn’t exist. And the rest is history!

Why unicorns on your makeup packaging?

I love fairy tales — anything supernatural piques my interest. Unicorns in particular appeal to me as symbols of strength, beauty, and individuality (uni = one). They also stand for kindness to others, especially other animals (Lime Crime is cruelty-free). Unicorns may have been a bit overused lately, but it doesn’t change my brand’s philosophy!

What is your favorite item from Lime Crime?

We just came out with the LIP NOIR micro-collection: 3 lipsticks, gray, wine-red and glossy black. Glamour 101, the red, is my perfect retro-red at the moment — when I go out, I can’t get enough of it!

Besides Lime Crime of course, what other brands of makeup do you use and love?

I’m not too picky and find myself looking for products more than brands. My favorite gel liner is Clinique, foundation by Makeup Forever, perfume by Anna Sui… Whatever works!

Where do you draw inspiration for new colors?

My background is in fashion and music, which tend to be seasonal, conceptual and cyclical. Like a designer or a musician would, I think in ‘collections’ or ‘albums’. A theme usually presents itself; I only need listen to my heart. Usually, I’m so inspired by something, it’s impossible NOT to make a collection out of it!

Can you explain the process in creating a lipstick or eye shadow?

There is the technical side to it and then there’s the creative. I like to start with the creative — get obsessed with the theme and pick colors/textures to represent it. Then it’s off to the lab — I have an incredible group of chemists who help me develop formulas and ensure that the shades perform the way they should. It takes anywhere from 3-6 months to develop a range of 10 shades, depending on how precise my vision is — sometimes it morphs as you go along!

Do you have plans to expand the Lime Crime line? Nail polish? Lip-gloss?

I am constantly working on new products but usually keep it under wraps until it’s time. (smile) We may or may not have a sparkly surprise for our fans this Holiday Season!

What new colors can we expect from up and coming Lime Crime lines?

Vivids. Muted. Neons. Darks. Pastels. When it comes to color, I don’t discriminate! But always intense and always immensely pigmented — true to the Lime Crime tradition.

What one celebrity do you think embodies what your brand stands for and why?

I like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Nikki Minaj. Someone with a bold, adventurous sense of style.

How would you explain your personal style?

Quirky, dreamy, inspired. Ever-evolving, eclectic. Individualist with just a hint of retro!

What is the one thing in your closet you paid too much for?

Oh man, let me tell you about my pony rug! Not technically clothing but it’s sitting in my closet nonetheless. I came across this vintage sheepskin area rug (in excellent condition), it had a pony design and I just had to have it. It was a hundred bucks — not a bank-breaker, but possibly the worst a hundred bucks I ever spent because the minute I got home I realized I had no place for it. Dang! Now I’m frantically racking my brain for someone to gift it to — it is an excellent rug…

What garment or accessory can you never have enough of?

If you look inside my closet, you will see 1 item stretched across the rack: dresses. I have dozens and dozens of dresses and don’t think I could have too many. Most are vintage, with some kind of a unique pattern. I just found one in a vintage shop that has a print of every animal under the sun: from zebra to giraffe! Accessories, I really love Bakelite bangles and vintage brooches. I have a collection of rings which rarely sees the light of day; I just don’t like how they feel on my hands.

Any plans to create a clothing line?

Believe it or not, that’s exactly what Lime Crime was originally — a DIY clothing line! I used to sew and sell clothes on eBay under that handle. When the time came to come up with a name for my makeup company, it was a perfect fit!

Who is your favorite clothing designer?

I’m a fan of Anna Sui, Betsey Johnson and vintage Biba. Definitely having a moment with the 1970s right now. (smile)

What event throughout your make up career stands out the most?

Definitely our SpaceNK Tour. We got to go to London and meet-and-greet fans in several stores, then come back to the US and do it all again on the East and West Coast. I enjoy giving makeovers — it’s like playing dress-up with new friends!

Be sure to grab Lime Crime’s new Lip Noir collection online at www.limecrimemakeup.com on September 1st! To keep up with Doe Deere make sure to follow her blog.

-Amanda Rose

How to Apply Eye Makeup in 8 Steps

When evening calls for a glamorous look, you want to focus on making your eyes amazing. Here's how to apply eye makeup in only 8 steps.

1. Prep your eyes with concealer  can be used to cover up under-eye circles or just the bluish discoloration just under your inner eye. To cover dark under eye circles, apply three dots of concealer under each eye. Start at the inner corner where skin tends to be darkest, then under the pupil and the third on the outer edge. Pat, never rub with your ring finger (this finger tends to have the softest pad) until it disappears.
2. Apply eye base to your lid Eye base is the secret to keeping your shadow in place for hours. Without properly priming your lid first, your eyeshadow will likely end up a greasy line in your crease.
3. Follow with eyeliner Dark eyeshadow work great as eyeliners. Wet a slanted brush, then dip in a dark eyeshadow. Line eyes as close to the upper lashes as possible from the inner corner to the outer corner. Follow with liner on bottom eyes, but only line from the middle of the eye out. Smudge the bottom line with a Q-tip or your finger. You don't want a prominent line. For a smokey eye, use a brush to pat in a dark eyeshadow along the upper lid and below the lid. You don't want a stark line, instead you want to blend it so it's "smudge-y."
4. Apply eyeshadow. It's great to use a three-toned shadow and build from lids to brow (see How to apply eyeshadow). Allowing them to blend into each other like a rainbow is gorgeous, according to celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal. Start with a light color that almost matches your lid. Sweep the color across the lid and up to your brow bone. Follow with a medium color across your lid only. Build on this with a darker color in the crease. Blend the colors well.
5. Brighten your eyes with a highlighter This step involves only the inside part of the eye. Putting a bit of your lightest eyeshadow in the inner corner of your eye will brighten it significantly (this is the makeup artist's secret and I use this trick all the time). I usually dab a finger into my lightest eyeshadow and then I press it into the inner corner of my eye where the upper lid meets the bottom lid. This totally makes eyes "pop."
6. Highlight your brow Take the same light eyeshadow and dab it on your brow bone, concentrating on your mid-brow outward. Blend with your finger. 
7. Curl lashes An eyelash curler will make even long lashes look more gorgeous. For added effect, you can heat the curler under a blow dryer for a couple seconds. Test curler before applying to lashes because you could burn yourself.
8. Apply mascara Place the wand of your mascara brush at the bottom of lashes and wiggle back and forth. Follow with another few sweeps of the wand. Apply to bottom lashes as well.

Cosmetic History with (Mineral) Makeup

Down through the ages, cosmetic history reveals various substances depending on what part of the world they were used in. Some of these substances such as white lead were unhealthy and even lethal. Some makeup was made from minerals believed to have healing properties. Some people today still believe in using make up that has natural mineral ingredients.

Cosmetic history takes us as far back as 3100 to 2907 B.C., there is proof of naturally based and other makeup used in Egypt. The Egyptian women used to apply eye makeup that was green in color. This could have had Malachite in it because it is green in color and is caused from copper getting weathered. Also, kohl was used to make lashes darker (like mascara) and other accents. Antimony was the source to make kohl and it is found naturally in crystalline form. Makeup was very much a ritual for Egyptian women since they believed that one’s beauty brought them closer to the Gods. Eye makeup was also used for to keep demons away and also as a fly repellent. The stones or minerals that were used are mesdemt, malachite sometimes referred to as malakite, lead sulfide, antimony, copper, manganese, jasper, and ground up lapis lazuli for use as a medicine for the eyes.

Romans like to use makeup too. To lighten or whiten the face, chalk was used. Rouge was also added to the cheeks and kohl was used to make the eyelashes and eyelids darker. This cosmetic history was from 254-184 B.C. During this time, the Plautus reportedly wrote, “A woman without paint is like food without salt.” Also the teeth were cleaned using pumice and they did have their version of depilatories.

Some of the minerals and natural ingredients used by the Romans were things like ceruse, soot, red ochre, saffron, and chalk.

In the Greco-Roman era, the women used a combination of chalk and white lead. White lead wound up causing even certain deformities. On the other hand the Persians liked to apply henna to their faces and their hair to color them. They were superstitious in that they thought by using henna it called up the earth’s majesty. Nice cosmetic history so far?

As an example of a mineral that was not healthy, let’s look at arsenic. Arsenic was used during the Renaissance in Italy in makeup. Signora Toffana invented Aqua Toffana, which was a face powder containing the mineral arsenic. Her clients were actually told to only wear the powder when the husbands were around. It needs to be pointed out that Signora Toffana was put to death after the death of about 600 of these husbands not to mention what wearing arsenic did to the women. Not so nice cosmetic history here! Other minerals were used in makeup though during the Renaissance including lead, antimony, and sulfide.

The poor and or country folk of the Regency era used all sorts of berries, vegetables, herbs, flowers and other natural ingredients for makeup purposes. High society, though, wanted pale skin to signify their wealth. They did not want even to look suntanned therefore they used parasols and bonnets to protect their skin.

Cosmetic history during the Victorian era, only actresses and prostitutes used makeup. They did use natural ingredients to make facial treatments though. If they needed to add some rosiness to their cheeks, they would use red beet juice for one thing. The Victorian women also used zinc oxide to make their skin pale looking.

After the Victorian period to the early part of the 1900s, many makeup innovations were made. In 1920, makeup went into mass marketing. In the mid 1900s, makeup became quite popular some of it was quite heavy though. A lot of synthetically based makeup was on the market and not all was found to be safe. There is even the controversy of the safety of mineral oil used in cosmetics.

Hair dye containing the natural coal tar was widely used. Today it has been unsafe and some link it to cancer.

Mineral-based makeup now is popular. Women have found the minerals to be beneficial to their complexion in many cases. There are foundation, blushes, eye shadows, lipglosses and even lipsticks with mineral bases. There are even sunscreens that have recently been put on the market that have a mineral base.

Some of the minerals used today are such things as Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and Sodium in various forms, Silica, Iron Oxides, and Bismuth Oxychloride. Thankfully today the mineral-based makeup not only is safe for use but gentle even to sensitive skin. We are past the days of using white lead and arsenic to make up our faces. Thank goodness for these advancements in cosmetic history.

http://www.limecrimemakeup.com/categories/lip-noir/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Lipnoir+launch&utm_content=Lipnoir+launch+CID_9b15a1cc31d48b53e64580cff807dd2e&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=LipNoir+Banner

Adele: ‘My weight has never been an issue, I’ve never hung out with the sort of horrible people who make it an issue’

September 5, 2011 in Celebrity Quotes by Versus

23 year-old Adele opened up tp Vogue Magazine about body image – here’s a part of the interview that might interest you:

While many young singers are obsessed with staying slim there is one star that makes no apology for her fuller figure. And in a revealing interview singing sensation Adele says she is happy just the way she is and her voluptuous shape has never been an issue.

Speaking to Vogue the 23-year-old who also posed for a series of stunning portraits said: ‘I enjoy being me; I always have done. I’ve seen people where it rules their lives, you know, who want to be thinner or have bigger boobs, and how it wears them down. And I just don’t want that in my life.’

And it seems the people she surrounds herself with ensure she maintains a positive self-image.

She explained: ‘It’s just never been an issue – at least, I’ve never hung out with the sort of horrible people who make it an issue. I have insecurities of course, but I don’t hang out with anyone who points them out to me.’

Adele, who was forced to cancel the first two dates of her U.K. tour yesterday because of a severe cold and chest infection, has also revealed why you won’t see her as the face of a brand anytime soon, no matter how high the offer is.

She told the magazine: ‘I don’t want to see me plastered everywhere,’ before adding, ‘If they offered me £10million, I’d be like f*** off. Besides if I was going to be the face of anything it should be the face of full-fat coke.’

See 2 shots from the magazine next!

Giving away Sigma's FLARE Palette

Giving away Sigma's FLARE Palette

Want to win one?

I posted a review on the Sigma's FLARE palette yesterday. As a Sigma affiliate, I get an opportunity to giveaway the same product to my readers.  So here's the deal.

Get a chance to WIN Sigma's FLARE Palette

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• Just join my blog through G.F.C (Google Friend Connect) Publicly.

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Get a chance to WIN Sigma's FLARE Palette @sarahassansblog http://bit.ly/nf3xjY #giveaway

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Adele set to perform at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards!

BRITISH SONGSTRESS ADELE TO MAKE HER VMA DEBUT PERFORMANCE AT THE “2011 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS” HIP-HOP AND R&B SUPERSTARS LIL WAYNE AND CHRIS BROWN RETURN TO THE VMA STAGE
MTV announces the first line-up of artists who will perform LIVE at the “2011 MTV Video Music Awards.”  British singer-songwriter and chart-topper Adele, whose quadruple platinum hit single “Rolling in the Deep” received an incredible seven nominations, will make her VMA performance debut at this year’s show. With an impressive year under his belt and three nominations in his pocket, including “Best Hip Hop,” superstar music mogul Lil Wayne is aiming to take the VMA crown once he hits the stage to perform. After his memorable debut at the 2007 VMAs, Chris Brown, who has multiple VMA nods, is ready to up his game and unleash another huge performance. The “2011 MTV Video Music Awards” will air live from Nokia Theater L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 9PM (Live ET/Tape delayed PT.) MTV will announce additional performers and presenters on a later date.