What happens when you use cheap products?

 Beauty Tip, Black Opal, Black Opal Foundation Stick, brushes, Clinique, Cover Girl Queen Collection, Crown Brush, eye shadow, Eyeliner, FOTD, Lips, lipstick, M.A.C., MAC, Makeupchat, My favorites, playing with colors, product review, Queen Collection  1 Response »
Jan 202013
 

 I’m always experimenting with inexpensive products to see what alternatives I can recommend to my readers and clients.  I recently purchased four eyeshadows and two more foundation sticks from Black Opal.Black Opal Purchase Now if you’ve been following me or if you’ve ever had a conversation about makeup with me you already know how much I adore Black Opal Foundation Sticks.  They’re an absolute staple for my personal use as well as my professional kit.  HOWEVER, I was not pleased at all with their Oil Blocking Powder. Click here on my thoughts.  It was a risk when I decided to try these new eyeshadows.Black Opal EyeshadowsHere’s the look I created with these colors. Even though they’re pretty bold, I wanted a softer effect.  Now, it’s very important for me to point out that I did NOT use a primer or base before applying the Black Opal eyeshadows.  I wanted to see exactly how pigmented they were. I have to say I was very pleased with the results.  I didn’t have to build up the color a whole lot either.  Quite impressive for $5.LOTD 1-19-13 Close eye picI decided to try them out with some other inexpensive products such as Elf, NYX, and Cover Girl Queen Collection to complete my look. Below is everything I used.  Even my brushes were inexpensive.  They’re a combo of Coastal Scents and Crown Brush. :-) LOTD 1-19-13 makeupNow granted I did still incorporate some MAC, Clinique and NARS but overall my look was pretty cheap. LOTD 1-19-13 Looking to leftLOTD 1-19-13 Looking StraightSo to answer the question “What Happens when you use inexpensive products?” My answer after using these would be that you get great results.

I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to achieve a pretty makeup look.  This look validates my belief that technique and quality trump prices. ;-p
Do you only use expensive products or do you venture out and try drugstore brands?

FOTD for Zumba Party In Pink Performance at Houston Rockets Game

 24/7 Glide On Pencils, Bold colors, Bold Lip, Breast Cancer Awareness, Cover Girl Queen Collection, Dramatic Eyes, Ebony Bronze, Event Coverage, eye shadow, False Lashes, How to, Lips, Loreal voluminous Million Lashes, M.A.C. Vanilla Pigment, Makeup Application, primers, Queen Collection, Skindinavia, Urban Decay 15th Anniversary, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencils, Vanilla Pigment, Voluminous Million Lash, Wet-n-Wild, Zumba Party in Pink  3 Responses »
Oct 152012
 

I had the pleasure of performing during the Pre-Game show of the Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs game yesterday. The experience was incredible. I participated in this event earlier this year so i definitely didn’t want to miss it this time.  The goal of the performance is to raise awareness for Breast Cancer as well as show people you can live a healthy lifestyle by working out while still having fun.

Yay!!! Finally got a picture with both of my all time favorite Zumba instructors!! :-D On the left is Rashard of Zumba with Rashard and in the middle is Karen of Cha Cha Zumba who is a breast cancer survivor.  These two ladies have made a huge difference in my life.  They are truly incredible in what they do  and how they motivate and encourage their students.  I’ll always be grateful to have them as a part of my new healthier lifestyle.  Just to give you an idea of how Zumba has worked for me.  Check out the picture below of Rashard and I at the last Zumba Party in Pink Zumba Performance at the Rockets game earlier this year.

Unfortunately this is a blurry cell phone picture but you get the idea. Zumba is so much more than just having fun.  I’ve come a long way since January and the majority of it is because of Zumba and particularly Karen and Rashard. :-)

Below we’re waiting for practice to start. The excitement is building up.

These were taken right before our Pre-Game show performance.  We all work out at the same gym with Rashard! :-)

Below is a group picture with our shero Karen!  She has such a wonderful spirit that just draws people to her.  Karen is currently featured on a bilboard and posters for Susan G. Komen. Go Karen!!!

So happy to have had my friends and family come out to the game to support Breast Cancer Awareness as well as cheer me on during our performance! Shout out to my cousin Jackie for wearing her Pink shirt and bracelets!!! :-)

The Rockets Mascot Clutch was trying to shoot the ball in the goal without looking.  He didn’t quite make it in, but had some really close calls. Ha ha! 

My batteries died on my camera. :-( I took these pictures of Jeremy Lin with my cell. He’s a lot shorter than I thought. Ha ha!

Since I was performing on the basketball court, I wanted to go all out with the drama for my makeup. I wouldn’t claim this as an everyday look for me, but I enjoyed it.  I stuck with the Pink theme for October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I pretty much did everything pink except my foundation. :-)

I only got a couple of pictures before I left because I ran out of time.  I took these with my phone so of course the quality isn’t as good.  *I need to get a better phone ASAP*

In the above pics I was wearing my 1st Lip look which was Wet n Wild Don’t Blink Pink with MAC Lipgelee’ Preppy

Here I’m wearing my Lip Look #2 Wet n Wild Don’t Blink Pink with Stila Lip Enamel Luxe Gloss in Giggle

Note to self…make sure to take pics right after doing makeup…not at the end of the day. SMH.  It looked a lot better than this, but I left the house in a hurry and didn’t get to take pictures like I planned. :-( This picture was taken without a flash

Here’s what I used below to create this look:

Face

  1. Isomers HD Primer
  2. MAC Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder Loose (Before and After
  3. MAC Prolongwear Foundation NC45 (decided to give it another try)
  4. Cover Girl Queen Collection Stay Matte Powder in Golden
  5. Skindinavia No More Shine Setting Spray (Before and after)

Cheeks

  1. Highlight is a mixture of Nars Albatross blush, MAC Vanilla Pigment, and MAC Glitter in Reflects Pearl Glitter
  2. Cheek color is La Femme Blush in Fuchsia
  3. Contour is La Femme Blush in Purple Passion

Eyes

  1. Urban Decay Primer Potion
  2. NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk (on lid blended to brow)
  3. MAC Pigment in Milk on inner tear duct with MAC Fix+
  4. MAC Pigment in Fuchsia mid lid with MAC Fix+
  5. MAC Motif eyeshadow in inner crease
  6. Elf Cream Liner in Black on top lid
  7. Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencils in Rockstar in water line and on bottom line smudged through lower lashes
  8. Loreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara
  9. Ardell False Lashes #111 (I cut them to make them wisp at ends)

Lips

1st Lip Look

  1. Kiehls Lip Balm
  2. Wet n Wild Matte Lipstick in Don’t Blink Pink
  3. MAC Lipgelee’ in Preppy
2nd Lip Look
  1. Wet n Wild Matte Lipstick in Don’t Blink Pink
  2. Stila Lip Enamel Luxe Gloss in Giggle
3rd Lip Look
  1. Stila Lip Enamel Luxe Gloss in Giggle by itself.  I’ll review this product in another post.

 

This is the song that we used during our performance.  It was soooooo much fun. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4OwHk61EiA&noredirect=1

 

What’s in My Personal Make Up Bag

 Black Opal Foundation Stick, Blotting Sheets, blushes, Compact powder, Cover Girl Queen Collection, Crown Brush, Ebony Bronze, Everyday look inexpensive products, FOTD, Loreal voluminous Million Lashes, M.A.C., make-up, make-up brushes, make-up storage, My favorites, Nars, Nars Exhibit A, Nars Taj Mahal, oil control products, Prep and Prime Powder, Revlon, Shadestick, spooly, Vanilla Pigment  1 Response »
Aug 092012
 

I was inspired to do this post by my fellow make up artist Jessica Marie.  She tagged me on Instagram.  I figured I had too much to say to just do it there so I decided to make a post about it.

I have to admit that I go through phases with my make up so things do change but I also have staples that I never take out.  My actual makeup bags change as well depending on what purse I’m carrying at the time. LOL! :-)

So what is all of this stuff?  I’ll explain below.

2 Nars Blushes: Exhibit A for cheeks and Albatross for my cheek highlight

Yes, there are 3 face powders in my everyday makeup bag. LOL! They all serve different purposes though.

MAC Prep and Prime Skin helps to keep my makeup on longer, reduces oiliness and the appearance of my pores.  I use this powder before and after  I apply my makeup.

Cover Girl Queen Collection Matte Powder in Golden as my overall face powder. I preferred the previous formula over this new one because it provided more coverage but it’s still a nice powder and I prefer the finish on my oily skin more than MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural.

Cover Girl Queen Collection Bronzer in Ebony Bronze is what I use to contour my face.

Black Opal Foundation Stick in Heavenly Honey I can’t tell you enough how much I love these foundation sticks.  Normally I use two this one, and Truly Topaz, which is my skin tone.  However, the cap on my Truly Topaz doesn’t stay on well so I took it out of my bag. I use Heavenly Honey as a highlighting concealer. (under my brows and under my eyes to my cheeks).

Lancome Oscillating Mascara Primer: The absolute BEST primer I’ve ever used…also the most expensive. :-(  It makes ANY mascara work well.

Loreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara my favorite drug store mascara

NYX Blotting Sheets because I really believe I’m the oiliest person on Earth. I use these about 2-3x daily.  On a good note, they work really well and I can go back to being matte with just two sheets. :-)

MAC Shadestick in Gentle Lentil R.I.P. to the shadesticks. They’ve been discontinued and it’s such a pity.  They were the most convenient way for me to do my eyes. :-(

3 Eyeliners

MAC Pearlglide in Designer Purple (one of my all time favorite eyeliners). I sometimes use this all over my lid because it’a a beautiful glittery purple.  Other times I’ll use it under my bottom lash line for a pop of color or to make a smokey eye.

NYX Black Eye Pencil just depends on the day.  I don’t wear eyeliner in my waterline all of the time, sometimes I’ll want to so it’s in there.  Every now and then I’ll use it to line the top of my lash line.

Elf Waterproof Eyeliner Pen I use this to line the top of my lash line when I want to use a liquid black.

Naked Pigment Sample My all-time favorite brow highlight.  I usually keep a Vanilla Pigment Sample in my bag as well but I ran out.  I’ll sometimes use Vanilla as my brow highlight or transition color above my crease.  More often I use it as my cheek highlight.  I have NARS Albatross in my bag now because I ran out of Vanilla.

Clinique Pencil Sharpener

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Balm Stain  I alternate between this orange one and the pink one. These surprised me because they have a good amount of pigment to be a stain.  I’ll do a full review in a later post.

Elf Lipstain in First Date.  Going to have to get another one soon. These Elf lipstains are nice because they don’t dry out or crumble on your lips like a lot of other stains I’ve tried.

2 Lipsticks

MAC Ruby Woo my favorite red lipstick

MAC Vegas Volt a great coral color.

2 Lipliners 

MAC Beet which is a pinkish red. I love this color I blend it various colors from nudes, corals, oranges, pinks, and reds. Sometimes I wear it alone or I’ll just dab some gloss in the middle of my lips.

Cabernet Sorry I don’t have a brand name.  It came with my makeup kit I received when I took Ebony Mac’s makeup class last summer.  It looks very similar to MAC Burgundy Lip Pencil or Clinique’s Bon Bon.

MAC Lipglass in Wonder Woman (limited edition that I regret not buying 2 of) It’s a gorgeous red with shimmer.

My brushes

Smashbox face and body brush that I’m no longer happy with because of the extensive shedding. :-( For the 1st yr I had it, it was my favorite face brush. Prime example of how an expensive brush doesn’t always mean it’s a better brush. I still have my CVS Essence of Beauty brushes from 2003 and they work fine.

Crown Brush Angle Brush I use this for contouring my face.  I love the fact that it’s pink.  I got it from Hautelook during one of the Crown Brush sales.

 Sonia Kashuk Pointed Foundation Brush used to blend concealer under my eyes

Coastal Scents Pink Flat Shader Brush primarily used to carve out my brow with concealer or apply naked as my brow highlight.  I also use it to apply lid colors.

 

Beauty Tip #14: Always Use Good Lighting For Makeup Application

 Black Opal Foundation Stick, blush, Bold colors, Bold Lip, Bronzer, Brow set, Cargo Laguna, Cover Girl, Cover Girl Queen Collection, Ebony Bronze, Inexpensive Products, M.A.C., MAC, Make up mirror, playing with colors, Queen Collection, Viva Glam  1 Response »
Apr 102012
 

Have you ever walked out of the house thinking your makeup was flawless and got outside only to find out  it definitely was not?   Yeah, this happened to me on Easter Sunday. My first thought was OMG!! This isn’t how I thought it looked?

At first glance, it didn’t seem bad at all.

Both pictures above are with the flash

This was taken without a flash.  After taking a closer look, I could see it wasn’t blended as well as I thought, my lines weren’t straight, and my lashes weren’t close enough to my lash line. :-(

I totally didn’t notice these mistakes while I was sitting at my table.

 Without Flash

I’d planned to do an upbeat post on my colorful FOTD for Easter but had a rude awakening once I got in the car.:-(  The worse part was that I was running late and didn’t have any of the products I used with me to fix it.  I had to just suck it up.  I’ll take it as a learning experience.

 So remember this post I did on my awesome new makeup mirror?

*The picture came from Ulta.com website*

Well the bulbs went out and I’m no longer able to get the great effects while putting on my makeup. I went to Ulta, where I originally purchased it, to buy replacement bulbs but unfortunately there are no replacement bulbs for this mirror, so I’d have to just buy another one.  That seemed like such a waste.  Nothing is wrong with the mirror itself, just the lighting.  For a while, I was sure this wasn’t that big of a deal.  Boy was I wrong.

Anyway, since I took the pictures, I’ll go ahead and tell you what I used. LOL! :-)

Face

  1. MAC Prolongwear Foundation in NC45
  2. MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Medium Dark on forehead, middle of nose, under eyes, and on cheeks.
  3. Cover Girl Queen Collection Natural Hue Mineral Powder in Brown Bronze 1 all over
  4. Cargo Blush in Laguna on cheeks
  5. Cover Girl Queen Collection Bronzing Powder in Ebony Bronze as cheek contour
  6. Elf Blush in Candid Coral as Cheek, Nose, and Forehead highlight.

Eyes

  1. Urban Decay Primer Potion
  2. NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
  3. Coastal Scents 42 Matte Palette
  4. MAC Fluidline Waveline
  5. MAC Venomous Villains Mineralized Eyeshadow in She Who Dares
  6. Ardell False Lashes #110
  7. Lancome Definicil Mascara
  8. Black Opal Foundation Stick in Heavenly Honey to carve out brow and under eye concealer
  9. MAC Brow Set in Girl/Boy

Lips

  1. MAC Viva Glam Nicki Lipstick
  2. MAC Viva Glam Cyndi Lipglass

I toggled back and forth with the title of this post.  At first it was titled Easter FOTD Failure, but I figured that was too negative for Easter.  I decided to use my mistake as a learning experience and as a helpful beauty tip.  Maybe it’ll prevent you from doing the same thing. Lesson of the day: ALWAYS HAVE GOOD LIGHTING WHEN DOING MAKEUP!!!

Black History Month Inspired Make Up (FOTD)

 Cargo Laguna, Clinique, coastal scents, Cover Girl Queen Collection, Dramatic Eyes, FOTD, Laguna Blush, Loreal voluminous Million Lashes, M.A.C., M.A.C. prep and prime powder, Matte Eyeshadows, NYX, Orange Lips, Ruby Kisses, Smokey Eye  4 Responses »
Feb 292012
 

Today is the last day of Black History Month so I decided to go all out with my make up and do a dramatic FOTD(Face of The Day) with colors that are usually associated with the continent of Africa and also Black History.  Here’s my Black, Red, Green, and Yellow look.

All but one of the shadows I used came from the Coastal Scents 42 Matte Palette that I love.  For my brow highlight, I used one of My Favorite 13 MAC Eyeshadows in Arena.

Other products I used for my eye look were:  MAC Girl/Boy Brow set, MAC Paint Pot in Moss, NYX Jumbo pencil in Milk, MAC Superfine Liquid liner in On the Hunt, MAC Graphblack eye liner, NYC False Lashes and Loreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara.

Above and below are pictures without the flash to give you a more realistic idea of what this FOTD really looks like.

For my face I used: Black Opal Foundation Stick in Truly Topaz (as a concealer for certain spots).  MAC Mineralize Loose Powder Foundation in Dark, Ruby Kisses All Over Glow Bronzing Cream in #01 as my cheek highlight, MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Comfort (limited edition) as bronzer, Cargo Laguna Blush on apples of my cheeks, and Cover Girl Queen Collection Bronzing Powder in Ebony Bronze as my cheek contour.

I have to admit, I’m loving this lip combo.  I acutally didn’t even use a red lipstick.  I used MAC Morange, which is a bold orange.  I paired it with Clinique Lip Liner in Tawny Tulip, and MAC Lipglass in Wonderwoman (limited edition)

.

If you look in the middle of my lips, you can still see a hint of orange.

What look are you wearing today?

My Favorite 13 M.A.C. Eyeshadows Pt. 4 Eye Look

 Black Opal Foundation Stick, coastal scents, Cover Girl Queen Collection, eye shadow, FOTD, M.A.C., M.A.C. Graphblack, M.A.C. Vanilla Pigment, Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss, Uncategorized, Vanilla Pigment  2 Responses »
Feb 032012
 

It’s been fun showing you all some of the ways I use my favorite M.A.C. eyeshadows.  I listed in part 1 of this series that my #1 Favorite eyeshadow by M.A.C. is Expensive Pink.  I’ll show you why below.

Expensive Pink is a beautiful coral color that can make a statement on its own.  Using this shadow is one of the quickest and easiest ways to do a look. :-)

Of course it definitely blends well with tons of colors.  I’ll show you how I took Expensive Pink from a natural look and made it stand out a bit more.  Not really dramatic but enough to add a little extra to the look with 2 of my other favorite M.A.C. eyeshadows.

Above, I added Mylar as my brow highlight.

Here I added Sketch to my crease for more drama.

Other products used:

  1. M.A.C. Superslick Liquid Liner in On the Hunt
  2. M.A.C. Graphblack in my waterline
  3. Clinique High Impact Mascara and Lancome Definicil Mascara
  4. Andrea Mod False Lashes
  5. Black Opal Foundation Stick in Heavenly Honey as concealer to highlight under my eyes, cheek and nose highlight.
  6. M.A.C. Pigment in Vanilla as cheek highlight
  7. Black Opal Foundation Stick in Truly Topaz as spot concealer on my face.
  8. Cover Girl Queen Collection Natural Hue Mineral Powder in Brown Bronze 1 all over face.
  9. Coastal Scents Sun Art Bronzer in Dark on cheeks
  10. Cover Girl Queen Collection Bronzing Powder in Ebony Bronze as cheek contour
  11. Revlon Color Stay Mineral glaze in Endless Lilac
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