beauty

Smashbox Gives Good Face

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:27:06 +0100

Last year, Smashbox was nice enough to send me a few products to try. Although I wanted to break open all of them and try them right away. I still had a bunch of similar skin products in use and I wanted to preserve my new goodies until I really needed them. I've finally tried all of the products and I must admit that I was unknowingly saving the best for last.

I've been using Smashbox products for over 12 years. Their Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner in Deep Black is still my favorite go to gel liner. When I first started wearing makeup on the daily, my focus was on my eyes. Smoky...cat eye...lashes. As long as my eyes were done, I would rely on my, then, youthful skin for my natural flush and dewy complexion. I would even skip lip color, so that I could kiss my boyfriend! Oh youth! Now as I enter my 30's (eek!), my skin is no longer as naturally radiant as it once was. I need the help of primers, foundations, contour powders, and blush! I will admit, I still have some good skin days where I don't need foundation and just do brows, eyes, cheeks, lips and go, but those days are surely numbered. At the heart of good skin care is work, diligence and the right products. As luck would have it, Smashbox sent me a bunch of products to help me give good face! With the help of these products, I can still achieve that naturally good skin look with a few simple products. I use them on my clients and they couldn't be happier, so everyone wins!

Photo Finish Foundation Primer

It's really no wonder that this product has gotten so many awards. It's wonderful! It is the answer to uneven skin. It's like magic. It smooths and fills in pores and fine lines. Foundation glides on after application and stays looking fresh all day. The brilliant people at Smashbox even make different types of this product to accommodate for your skin! The Photo Finish Light is 60% water based and works best for sensitive or oily skin. Photo Finish Hydrating is a cooling, moisturizing version for dry skin. There is even a Photo Finish for under eyes and dark spots. No matter what you need, Smashbox has you covered!

Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer, Adjust

I've previously spoken about the importance of color correctors to give you an even canvas. I had been using a couple all in one products (The Stila One Step Correct and Set and Correct Powder) which has saved me a lot of time for my TV work. The one concern I had about these products is that sometimes you want to isolate the different correctors to accommodate for an individual's skin needs...sometimes you NEED a specialized product. I found my answer with the Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer, Adjust. It has all the smoothing, oil reducing power of Photo Finish except it's green and also neutralizes redness. I use this on my clients with Rosacea and it's been amazing. I just put some on the red spots and blend outward with a sponge, finishing it off with some liquid foundation. The skin is silky, matte and evenly covered. I couldn't ask for a better green corrector, from color to texture to packaging!

O-Glow

O...M...G! So let's set the stage here, a female client walks in 8 minutes to air, she wants a full face, but there just isn't time. What do you do? Reach for the O-Glow! This stuff is seriously smart! It's intuitive makeup! It's a clear gel that gives you a customized flush once it hits your skin. It's perfect for all skin tones and glides on smoothly. I've even used it as a lip stain LOL. Line the eyes, mascara, powder and put a little gloss over your lips and we're camera ready in no time! (Smashbox also makes O-Plump and O-Gloss. I haven't tried them yet, but will be sure to soon)

Photo Op Under Eye Brightener

This stuff is an under eye concealer's best friend. Applied to your skin, it brightens anywhere you put it, but paired it a concealer, it acts as a brightener and highlighter, cutting down my need for extra products. For quickly covered under eye circles, I lay down some concealer, blend out then apply the Photo Op right over it. It gives that extra coverage while illuminating the under eyes. It makes you look bright and well rested. Great for bridal makeup!

The piece de resistance to this whole thing is the now DISCONTINUED Smashbox Step by Step Contour Kit.

This was seriously the best contour kit I have ever used. It's a set of 3 colors: Contour, Bronze and Highlight. It even comes with an angled brush and instructions on how to use the product. You have to use the darkest contour color with a light hand on light skin tones, but the combination of the 3 makes it the perfect kit. I even use it on eyes when I'm in a bind! It is the perfect texture for TV! Imagine my dismay when I decided to get one for myself and found out it was discontinued:-( Boo! Please come back!

A huge thank you to Smashbox for sending me these amazing products! Your innovation continues to make me an even bigger fan of yours, if that's even possible!

'Til next time Beauties and Studs!

Amanda

She...Bangs?!

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 02:50:12 +0100

Now that I have your attention...this entry is about HAIR, specifically, my experimentation with fringe. It all started like most good stories do, over drinks. I was out with my husband, enjoying my second Electric Lemonade, when I noticed one of the waitresses and her amazing full bangs. It was a full thick bang that slightly covered the eyebrows and even curled slightly to the right. I immediately asked my husband, "Think I could pull something like that off?" He said, "Oh yeah! But it's gotta be a full bang, not that wimpy side swept bang, which doesn't really count as bangs." Damn. He knew what he was talking about and now that I mentioned it, there would be no going back. His next question confirmed it, "So when are you going to do it?" And with that my newest beauty obsession was born. BANGS!

I began immediately researching different bang types from rockabilly bangs to that "wimpy side swept bang." I grabbed photos of bang styles I was "comfortable" with and obsessed over them. Where would they fall? How short would they be? I asked all the fringe-haired women in my chair if they liked their bangs. I began conversations with friends that started with, "I'm thinking about getting bangs. What do you think?" They all said, "Do it! Bangs are awesome! And if you don't like it, it's just hair. It grows back." That last part wasn't all that comforting and the risk of having to wait for my hair to grow out if I hated it scared me to pieces; this coming from a girl that had way too many lop-sided bowl haircuts that were way too short...eeek!! I only has one friend that said, "I get it. Getting bangs is a huge step for a girl." Finally some empathy!!

I really felt like I was taking a plunge. It wasn't about style or hair or even vanity. It was about a change. I was ready. I'm not sure if subliminally my looming 30th birthday was creating this need for a change, but it needed to happen. I called my friend and stylist, Jennifer, who by sheer happenstance had just moved back to Los Angeles and was doing house calls. Jennifer is not a "hairstylist," using that term wouldn't do her justice. She is a hair artist. I've seen her put crazy colors on 60 year old ladies and have it look classy, trendy and professional. She can achieve any look, cut and color imaginable. She cares about how your hair grows and how it takes certain products. Jennifer is a genius and if I was going to take the plunge with anyone, it was going to be with her. She came over on a gloomy Saturday morning and when she pulled up, I noticed something very different about her. She had bangs! And they looked fabulous on her! She put a black color glaze in my hair and we spent time joking, catching up and playing with makeup (naturally). She could sense my apprehension about the bangs and tried her best to put me at ease. She would say things like, "Just do it. It's a very dramatic change, but it's totally your style." At the end of my color process, I finally put my hands up and said, "I trust you girl, let's do it." My heart was beating out of my chest as she made those first cuts. My heart skipped a beat when she said, "We need to go shorter. We need to do Bettie Bangs." Shorter?!? As she made her final cuts, she flat ironed them and said, "Oh my god! They look awesome! Why didn't we do this sooner? I feel like you should've had these a long time ago." I walked over to the mirror and looked at myself. I was in shock, but I F*CKING LOVED THEM! As I sat back down for her to finish my cut, she quietly whispered with a smile, "I can't believe you let me give you Bettie Bangs."

I put my makeup on and couldn't believe how much my new look changed me. Not just physically, but mentally too. I felt confident. And now, for the first time in a long time, I feel whole. I'm no longer waiting for something. I'm no longer saying, "When I lose 15 pounds, I'll do this." or "When I turn 30..." I am living in the now, because I really like the person that's staring back in the mirror. I feel like who I am and the things I represent are now reflected in my ideal vision of myself. I found myself or rather, the version of me that I kept inside has come out. It's amazing! I feel like a new woman! The self assured, ready to take on the world, take no bullsh*t, independent woman, sexy glamour girl has arrived. For lack of a better term, I feel liberated. I finally see myself the way I want to be perceived. I'm comfortable in my own skin and it took me stepping outside my comfort zone to do so. For so long, I felt like I needed that push in the right direction, to find myself, to discover my inner-woman. Thanks to my new Bettie Bangs. I finally did. It's not just a new 'do, it's a new me and I love it! I'm ready to take on the world. I'm not holding back or waiting for things to change. I'm meeting life head on. I'm not afraid. I'm me, take it or leave it.

The moral of all this, step outside your comfort zone. Push yourself to make changes, no matter how big or small. It could affect you in ways you can't even imagine!

Happy Discoveries Beauties and Studs!

XoXo Amanda

P.S. Styling!!!

Ok, so having said all of that bangs are a lot of work. You have to style them every single day. They are a commitment and are definitely NOT low maintenance. I am not a low maintenance chick, obviously LOL, so I was ok with adding another 15 minutes to my routine. I did, however, find an amazing time saver. A mini flat iron.

I got the leopard flat iron, pictured above, (super cute right?) for my birthday last year and they are a God-sent for styling my bangs! I found that my flat iron was too big and not curved enough to use on my bangs. The round brush made them too poofy, so I busted out my mini-flat and va va voom!! 4 passes with it, comb and hairspray and they are all set. <3

Makeup Design for Stoneface: A New Hat

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 23:12:35 +0100

Earlier this year, I was very honored to put on a new hat: Makeup Designer. I got a call from my friend, Brian, that really ignited my love for the stage. He said, "I'm producing a play called 'Stoneface: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton' and I need a makeup artist for the filmed portion." I nervously agreed; I hadn't done any real character makeup since college and they were for student films that never saw the light of day. Then another thing he said suddenly popped into my head, "French Stewart will be playing Buster Keaton." Whaaaaat!? French Stewart? 3rd Rock From the Sun, French Stewart? Love Stinks, French Stewart? And what's that? He's a lifelong fan of Buster Keaton? Oh and his wife wrote the play for him to star in? Whoa! The stakes in my head were immediately raised and truth be told, I was absolutely terrified. This was not only character makeup, it was also based on a period in early film history...on real people!! They used heavy pancake greasepaint, high contrast lighting and a very stylized look for each character. As a film major from CSULB, (woot woot!) I was familiar with the greats: Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle...and here I was given the task to make these people come to life with the use of makeup. I had a big decision to make, to use the what they used back in the day or to use modern products to make the look translate onto the stage in a much more fluid manner. I chose the latter. I felt that the use of modern lightweight products would be more forgiving onstage. I had to think about stage lighting and how it compared to early film lighting, how these characters would move, what medium would the filmed portion would be shot in. My mind was reeling and I spent every night practicing different bow lips, foundations, powders, photographing myself in black and white. I needed to feel confident in what I was doing, so that I could make this vision come to life. I read the script, I had done my research and readied my kit. It was now or never.

When I arrived at the first day's shoot, I found out I had the principle characters, plus their understudies and a handful of other actors. I think all in all it ended up being about 15 people that day. I set up in front of a mirror at Sacred Fools and waited for each person to arrive. I knew that once we got in the swing of things, it was going to be nonstop back to back to back..thank God for my live TV training to prepare me for this one.

It was wonderful to meet all these amazing actors, all with different stories about how much they love what they do and how committed they were to their craft. I asked them all for suggestions and they all left it on my hands. It was such an amazing experience and though we had one more shoot day, I was bummed to have it end. Having someone give you their face in such an open and trusting manner is one of my favorite things about being a makeup artist and this experience was even more so, because we had to make these characters come to life. This wasn't my everyday client, sitting in front of a green screen, three point lighting, talking about the latest celebrity scandal...this was an homage to an era and to Buster Keaton's legacy.

When French sat in my chair, I will admit that I was a little starstruck, but after about a minute of chatting and laughing, I saw his warm spirit, passion for his craft and admiration for Buster Keaton. When he walked back in a short time later for a touch up in full costume, he adjusted his porkpie hat in the mirror and I saw Buster Keaton come to life.

Before I left that day, I was offered to do Makeup Design for the whole show. I was ecstatic! I had to design the look for each character and teach every actor and their understudy how to recreate the look themselves every night. I was really glad I had decided to use modern products, since everything would be readily available to the actors. I decided that as the main look, I wanted each character's foundation to be one shade lighter than their natural skin tone. I wanted everyone pale, but not pasty looking. I made face diagrams for each character and went through how recreate each look.

I explained that I wanted Young Buster's makeup to look clean and deliberate, while present day Buster's should look softer, a little bit worn and slightly smudged. I had to differentiate the Talmadge sisters: I gave one a bow lip, while the other had gypsy eyes and a drawn on mole. I gave Roscoe his signature rosy cheeks and focused on rough angry eyebrows and high cheekbones on Louis B. Mayer.

When I finally got a chance to see the show, I was blown away. With my best friend and husband by my side, we watched these characters come to life. We truly got to witness 'The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton.' I got to see these actors in their element and witness their talent right in front of me. I saw it a second time with my family a couple weeks later.

If you haven't seen Stoneface: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton, you should catch it during its final extension through August 26th at Sacred Fools Theatre

http://www.sacredfools.org/

I'm so thankful for this experience and so proud to be a part of something so wonderful. Thanks so much for the cast and crew and everyone at Sacred Fools.

High Definition Makeup with a Little Tarte on Top

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 00:35:17 +0100

I have to admit when I found out the Studio was going to be making the switch to HD, I was a little bit freaked out! I knew that it meant a couple things: 1) that my go to MAC Studio Fix Plus Foundation Powder was no longer going to work and 2) every line, wrinkle, smudge, was going to show on camera. One word came to mind: Aaaahhhhh!!!!! This prompted a search for the best in HD makeup, that would have enough coverage for both men and women. I needed products that I could build upon and layer without caking. I needed coverage without looking like a mask. Luckily, I didn't have to search very far. Here is the best of what I've found so far

Makeup For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation

OMG!!! This foundation is the absolute best I have ever used, both personally and professionally. It's lightweight and oil free and feels like you don't have anything on. I, myself, am a powder foundation girl, but my problem is that my nose is very sensitive to any product that goes on it. If the product is too heavy (be it moisturizers, powders or foundation), my pores open up and I get these little beads of oil on my nose...not cute! I end up wiping it away anyway, so I have no coverage on my nose...not ideal. I tried this product and I am hooked! My whole face stays matte for the first time ever! It provides medium to full coverage depending on how much you use. The best part though is that you can still see your skin through the makeup. It's like being very lightly "photoshopped." The packaging is great, it's a little pump that squirts out just a little bit of product at a time. It comes in 25 different shades, so you'll find the one that's right for you (I'm #160). If you don't find your exact shade, you can buy a couple tubes and mix yourself; This is ideal for someone who tends to hyperpigment. It's pricey at $42 a tube, but I will tell you, it's worth every penny.

I usually set it with Makeup Up For Ever's HD Microfinish Powder, which is so amazingly beautiful as well. It's 100% silica and also gives that slightly "photoshopped" finish. My comment about it is that it is so fine that you might not notice how much you actually have on the surface of your skin until you're photographed and the flash bounces off the product. Then you look like you got attacked with a powder puff. So use sparingly, a little is all you need:-)

MAC Mineralize Loose Foundation Powder

My heart broke a little when I found out that I could no longer use MAC's Studio Fix in the studio. It's so versatile and it really covers anything you need to. You could even apply it with a wet brush for more coverage. My primary concern with the Studio Fix was my male studio guests. Most guys don't want a face full of makeup, but if you're going on TV, you really should have it on. Applying liquid foundation on a man seems to be a little too much, even for some of my most seasoned tv guests. I needed to find a powder, so I turned to MAC once again. I tried their Mineralize Loose Powder Foundation and I was pleasantly surprised. It has medium coverage with a natural finish. You can apply it with a foundation brush and really lay the product into your skin for full coverage. It comes in nine shades, which I mix to get individual shades just right. I'm so glad I was able to find a new go to powder foundation with MAC.

I usually set this product with MAC's Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder (Pressed). It gives me that little extra matte that I need in the studio and also softens the face. I love that it's pressed into a compact so that I can run in into the studio for touch ups.

Tarte Cheek Stain

This is not an HD product, but I got to see firsthand how it looks on camera and I must admit, I am impressed! It's a gel cheek stain. It provides a natural dewy flush of color to your skin. I put it on my lips too LOL, I initially had my reservations about this product looking wet or sticky in HD, but I was excited to find that it looks dewy in a kind of doll like innocent way. It's perfect for summer, when you don't want to have a whole lot of product on your skin. A little dab on your cheeks, a little blending with your fingers and you have a sexy summer flush of color. The initial stickiness evaporates away, as it's water based. So you're left with a beautiful sheer stain that really lasts. This is so helpful in the studio because you don't have to re-apply! Another way to use it would be to actually lay it in your cheeks before applying your liquid/creme foundation. You get this kind of contoured look and the texture of it helps keep any product you lay on top in place. My blush usually streaks by the end of the day, so reinforcing cheeks with a little of the Tarte Cheek Stain really helps. I do that and also dab a little right on the apples of my cheeks just as I'm finishing. It's literally a little sweet treat right at the end. Did I mention it's scented! It has this lovely sweet lemony smell. Doll Face even smells like strawberries and cream! My personal favorite is True Love, it's this watermelon shade. I am so in love with Tarte! I can't wait to try more!

Check out the pic below to see the Makeup For Ever Foundation in #160, HD Microfinish Powder and Tarte Cheek Stain in True Love in action

And as always, thanks for reading Beauties and Studs!

xoxo

Amanda

I'm Back with Get This Look, Product Lists and Reviews!

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:30:42 +0100

Hello Beauties and Studs!

I have been gone for a while, completely lost in the Land of Live TV, but I'm getting back in the swing of this whole blogging thing. I wanted to start this off with a bang!

Today I'm starting off with posting a look and listing all the products I used to achieve the look with complete product reviews for some of the products below.

Enjoy!

And as always, thank you for reading!

Amanda

Get This Look!

Products Used

-Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream
-Benefit's Hello Flawless Powder Foundation
-Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Evidence, 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion
-MAC Blush's Desert Rose and Coppertone with In the Abstract Highlighter Powder
-Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment

Reviews

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream

This is a 5 in 1 product that produces makeup ready skin. the amount of coverage you can achieve with this product depends solely on how you use it. Having said that, I should probably give you guys a little bit of Camera Ready Skin 101.

We've all seen it, makeup that looks like a mask, no skin shows through the caked on foundation and all you want to do is take your finger and drag it through the glop of product. While this is an aesthetic, especially in the Drag scene, it's not what I would call "camera ready," in fact, taking a photo with this stuff on your face looks chalky, like the makeup is sitting on top of your skin. This, by the way, is a freaking nightmare for HDTV cameras. When you think camera ready skin, these are the words that should come to mind: healthy, glowing, natural, even, balanced, radiant. What produces skin like this? A good layer of lightweight products on the skin to moisturize and prime it for your foundation. I'm usually looking at the following products: moisturizer, eye cream, primer, concealer, foundation, set the foundation with a powder...then apply the eyeshadow, blush, etc.

Smashbox's Camera Ready BB Cream, cuts my time in half by providing a tinted moisturizer with SPF 35 that also primes the skin for makeup, controls oil, and creates an even clean canvas for foundation. Since it's only one product that does so much, you start off with a very thin layer of product that works as an anchor for the rest of your makeup. The beauty of this product is that, if you want light coverage, wear it alone. For medium coverage, you can apply it and then dust yourself with your favorite compact powder or translucent and be on our way. If you want full coverage, you can use it under your favorite foundation. The best part is you end up using less of your foundation than you normally would because the BB cream already created a nice even canvas. My current favorite combo is, the BB Cream lightly brushed with a powder foundation (ie. Benefit's Hello Flawless) to more to set the BB cream, instead of covering it. My natural skin still shows through. I don't look or feel like I'm wearing a pound and a half of product and the rest of my makeup is in place. I love this stuff. I recommend it to anyone who wants that look of camera ready skin without being weighed down by so much foundation. And this product also diminishes fine lines and wrinkles over time! This is product is this HDTV makeup artist's dream and it can be your key to looking truly camera ready with one simple and easy to use product.

MAC's Studio Fix Plus Foundation vs. Benefit's Hello Flawless

Makeup artists around the world will agree that as a powder foundation, MAC's Studio Fix Plus Foundation is the go to product. It's a foundation and powder that provides matte full coverage in one step. You can even wet your brush/sponge to provide even more coverage for uneven, textured skin. This is why young girls experimenting with makeup will run to their local MAC counters, buy a compact and just layer it on. That being said, a young girl should never start with a full coverage product that is formulated for studio use! Which brings me back to my point, Studio Fix is full coverage...period. You can feel it on your skin and looks cakey and almost too matte for HDTV. It's not really buildable, as it's meant to last 8 hours under hot lights. If you do want/need full coverage, Studio Fix Plus Foundation is the product for you. I use it everyday on my clients (standard def, not HD) and especially during big events like red carpet and weddings. It comes in over 30 shades and is very decently priced at under $30 for 0.52 oz

I love Studio Fix Plus Foundation, but I just didn't want anything that heavy duty for myself. I don't have the kind of skin that requires full coverage every single day. I used Bare Minerals for over 2 years, but found that on days where my skin needed a little more love, it failed to provide the coverage I need. When I went in search of a new powder foundation, I wanted the option of full coverage like Studio Fix, but I wanted it to be lighter in texture. I wanted something that would give me medium coverage when paired with a tinted moisturizer. My search was over when I found, Benefit's Hello Flawless. It's lighter, which means you literally feel like you have nothing on, it's got a more natural finish, it's buildable and it's more HDTV friendly than Studio Fix. If you want lighter coverage, use the included brush to apply. For full coverage, use the sponge. I've had mine for about six months and I'm about halfway done with the product. It is more expensive that Studio Fix, which is a bummer. It's $34 bucks for 0.25 oz., so you get less than half of what you would get with Studio Fix, but it's definitely worth it if you're looking for a lighter product. It's my current personal favorite and I would even recommend it to young girls starting out, if they a little more coverage than what mineral powders like Bare Minerals would provide.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion

I love this eye pencil. I love it more than some of the other eye pencils I've used. In fact, I'll probably only buy this pencil from now on. It goes on smooth and creamy and is smudgeable, for under a minute, until it sets. When it sets, it becomes waterproof and doesn't move. It stays on the waterline, except for in the outer corners where my eye tends to water a lot. It comes in tons of different colors, but my favorite is Perversion. It is the blackest black matte eye pencil on the market today.

The photo below has a swatch of Perversion (Left) and Zero (Right). Zero is the regular black pencil and is not as solid of a black as Perversion. To me, it has the same darkness and texture of a gel liner in a pencil, where as Zero comes on like a pencil and looks like a pencil

Urban Decay Reformulated Eyeshadows

I have been using Urban Decay Eyeshadows since I was 18 years old. They had the boldest, richest, most highly pigmented colors I had ever seen. Each color was easily blendable and went smoothly onto the skin. My one complaint was that the glitter was too chunky on some shades and it would fall off and end up all over the place. They recently reformulated the shadows with something they call their "Pigment Infusion System" that basically anchors the pigment into the shadow itself. The result is an even smoother, richer colored shadow that blends effortlessl and the glitter it less chunky and actually stays in place! I was a fan before, but now I'm a superfan! These are a must have for any makeup junkie. When I was 18, I was addicted to a shimmery dark navy blue shade called Goddess. It's been discontinued, but Urban Decay suggested Evidence as a shade I might like. And thanks to my lovely friend, Bea, who gave it to me as a present, I have a new favorite. The color itself is a satiny rich blue.

I also love the new packaging. It's a pop out piece that allows you to insert it into one of their new custom palettes. And it's got their slogan, "Beauty with an Edge" on the lid.

Pretty In Pink with Benefit Posietint

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:16:35 +0100

Posietint by Benefit

Basically, this is a creamy hot pink colored tint in a nail polish bottle. It is creamier than Bene Tint and is quite easy to blend. Having said that, remember that this is a stain, so once you lay it down, you must blend it right away. I spread it on my fingers and blended it onto my cheeks in a circular motion. When I read up on this product, I found that most people were using it as a lip stain, as the bright pink color seemed to be to bright for most cheeks. On the lips, gives a bitten look and it pairs nicely with a lip gloss overlay. I decided to try it on my cheeks. It is very pink! If you don't like that babydoll, almost adolescent flush look, this may be too much for you; especially if you are lighter skinned. I'm tan so it actually matches my natural flush. What I like most about this product is that it's very summer friendly in that once it sets, it's not going anywhere. I always recommend creme or cheek stains in the summer because you avoid the streaky, spotty mess that occurs when sweat or oils from your face meet powder blush. This is definitely worth a try, but be mindful of the color! The texture is great and blends really easily onto the skin, but the color is not for everyone.

Here it is on the apples of my cheeks, it looks pretty natural and I didn't use a lot

MAC Venomous Villains Collection

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 03:07:05 +0100

So if you are a Disney Freak like I am, you will LOVE this collection, The only thing that stopped me from getting it all is that I have a whole lot of makeup. What is great about this collection is that if you want a certain look using a certain palette of colors, you will achieve it by purchasing the products within each villain. And the packaging is just too cute! The villains and product types are as follows:

The Evil Queen from Snow White: Her collection includes eyeshadows, lipsticks/lipglasses, blush and beauty powder in a palette that consists of dark plums, pinks and reds.

Malificent from Sleeping Beauty: Her collection includes mineralize eyeshadows, lipsticks/lipglasses, beauty powder, and nail polishes in a palette that consists of blues, greens, rose, dark reds and a bright vibrant purple.

Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmations: Her collection is based on a classic old Hollywood look and includes eyeshadows, lipsticks/lipglasses, blush and beauty powder in a palette that consists of neutrals, reds, blacks and pinks

Dr Facilier from The Princess and the Frog: His collection is based on New Orleans and includes MAC pigments, loose powders and a lipglass in a palette that consists of bright pinks, purples and golds with an emphasis on beautifully matte skin and neutral lips.

I bought two products and I love them both!!!

Cruella De Vil Lipstick in Heartless

This lipstick is a matte cherry red. The packaging is cute and it really captures that beautiful iconic fashionista that is Cruella De Vil. You see those red lips coming and you know to expect trouble. If you are a fan of red lips, this is a must buy for you. It is bright and not for the timid. I love it!!

Dr. Facilier Magically Cool Liquid Powder in Truth and Light

This loose powder is amazing! It feels like water and instantly cools; It works as a great setting powder. It is translucent gold with very light shimmer that catches the light, making your skin look young and luminous. I have worn it alone and it keeps me cool and matte. It is awesome and feels quite similar to a cooling powder that released by Clinique years ago. LOVE love love!!!

Josie Maran Lip Stains

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:15:23 +0100

Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain

This lip stain is so beautifully bold and vibrant! The application of the color is amazing and the felt tip applicator is soft and non drying. I have read other reviews that claim that their applicator dried out. This is a common complaint with felt tip marker products. It absorbs like sponge on the inside, but the actual tip's fibers are so tight that if damaged or exposed to too much air, none of the product comes through. so make sure not to jam the tip or leave it uncapped too long. As a product, this lip stain has very typical "lip stain behavior," in that it does feel a little dry on the lips, but has great staying power. What sets this apart from other lip stains is that it is highly pigmented. A little bit goes a long way and adding a little lip balm on top solves your drying problem. It comes in a lot of colors, so you will definitely find one for you. I'm not sold on using it as a cheek stain. It's not quite creamy enough to blend and perhaps too pigmented for that, but it is worth a try. Special thanks to the beautiful Bea for providing the photo above. She is wearing the Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip Stain in Flamenco

The Best Eyelash Curler Ever!

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:29:52 +0100

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Say goodbye to pinched lids and missed uncurled lashes! This is the best eyelash curler on the market and is beloved among celebs, makeup artists and makeup lovers alike. It is ergonomically balanced and has wider arms than most curlers; this allows for the curler to align perfectly with your eye's natural shape. So it grabs more lash and curls evenly throughout. The silicone pad is dome shaped, which gives you a nice curl instead of an angled crimp. Even the most curl resistant lashes will bend to the will of this amazing product. There is also a mini version for those of you with lashes in the liner corners that this curler might miss. The one downside is that soon it will no longer be available in US stores. Shu Uemura products don't sell as well in the U.S, soon they will only be available online @ shuuemura.com and ship from Canada. But no matter where you get it, this is a must have. Once you try it, you will never use another curler again!

Benefit Heavy Hitters

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:03:01 +0100

Benefit makes some pretty awesome stuff! After my not-so-positive experience with their brow product Brow-Zing, I thought I should give them some credit by reviewing some of my favorite items.

Some Kind-A Gorgeous

This product is awesome! But what is it? It is advertised as a foundation faker. WTF is that? Essentially, it is a cream to powder foundation, BUT the coverage is very light. It is designed to blend imperfections and even out the skin. It is oil-free and silky to the touch. It originally came in one shade, as it is so light that it almost acts like a cream to powder translucent base. However, it is tinted, so it now comes in four shades to better match individual skin tones. This product is ideal for anyone who doesn't need very much coverage. It provides a little more coverage than a mineral foundation and lasts longer. If you don't generally like the feel of a heavy foundation, but need some light/medium coverage, this product is for you. My only recommendation for using his product is to use a foundation brush. It comes with a little sponge but it gets pretty grimy, as with all cream products. So invest in a foundation brush and some sponges and you'll be good to go.

Play Sticks

If Some Kind-A Gorgeous isn't quite enough coverage for you, Benefit's Play Sticks should do just the trick. This product is a three-in-one; It is a concealer and foundation and also dries to a powder finish! And...get this...it has chamomile and green tea extracts to help promote healthy skin...wow! It is light-weight, but provides excellent coverage. I was most impressed with how easy it is to use this product. In my experience, stick/crayon foundations tend to come on a tad chalky and need to be emulsified with a nice moisturizer to blend onto the skin. Benefit Play Sticks are so creamy! They are blendable and smell great! I apply this directly to the face in lines and dots then blend it with a moist triangle sponge for a natural look. I bought it recently as a gift for my mom and she loves it! It's great for all skin types and is a wonderful all in one product!

She Laq

This product truly is magical! It is a liquid laminate that seals makeup directly onto the face. It prevents smudges and smears and keeps your makeup in place. It comes with four brushes for precise application. BUT...here is the thing...it works best on pencils and mascara. Benefit says you can use it on top of anything, but I disagree. It is a liquid laminate, like a nail polish topcoat, for example. If you've ever gotten polish on your skin, you know that it will flake off after some movement. Putting this product on any powders (blush, eyeshadow, bronzer) is like putting a nail topcoat on your face. When it dries, it will laminate the makeup on the face in whatever position it dried in. So if you blink or smile, it may flake off or stick to itself and dull/muddle the color. I also wouldn't use it on lips, as lips need moisture. For best results, use it on top of your eyeliner, brow pencil, and mascara. The effect will amaze you! You liner will not budge and you will have brows for days. Cry all you want, your mascara will not run! A little bit goes a long way with this product, use a light hand when applying! If you put too much it will flake off, like a nail polish topcoat. But it is a great value and will last forever. My recommendation is to always wash the product out of your brushes and make sure the lid is on tight after each use.

You will surely Benefit from trying these products:-)