Feb 282013
 

I tried something a little different this weekend for my makeup.  I’ve heard several makeup artists combining more than one lash to create dramatic effects but I’d never done it.  I figured I’d give it a try.

FOTD Double Lash Look full faceFOTD Double lashes looking down and rt

FOTD Left side with double lashesI used Ardell #120 Lashes, which are currently my favorite lashes.  If in Texas, you can get them from H.E.B. I’ve seen prices range from $2.35-2.60.  I also see them at Kroger’s grocery store for $2.67.

FOTD 2-23-13 left side viewHere’s what I used to create this look below:

Face

  1. Maybeline BB Cream in Dark
  2. Loreal Magic Perfection Base
  3. MAC Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder (Before and after makeup)
  4. Black Opal Foundation Stick in Rich Carmel (certain spots)
  5. Cover Girl Queen Collection Lasting Matte Pressed Powder in Golden
  6. MAC Vanilla Pigment as cheek highlight
  7. NARS Exhibit A Blush on Cheek Bones
  8. Cover Girl Queen Collection Bronzer in Ebony Bronze as Cheek Contour
  9. Skindinavia No More Shine Finishing Spray

Eyes

  1. Urban Decay Primer Potion
  2. Black Opal Foundation Stick in Kalahari Sand (used to carve out brow and under eye highlight)
  3. MAC Naked Pigment mixed with white from Coastal Scents 42 Matte Palette as brow highlight
  4. Orange shadow from Coastal Scents 42 Matte Palette in the crease
  5. MAC Grease Paint Stick in Purple on the lid as a base blended to crease
  6. Clinique eyeshadow in Royal Rush on inner lid
  7. Dark Purple shadow from Coastal Scents 42 Matte Palette on outer lid
  8. Elf Cream liner in Black as top liner
  9. Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes pencil 20L on lower lash line
  10. Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Perversion in Waterline.
  11. Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black
  12. Ardell #120 Lashes 2 pair on each eye

Lips

  • Make Up Forever Aqua lip pencil in #11C
  • Wet n Wild Matte Lipstick in Don’t Blink Pink in the center
  •  

    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?

    Nov 222012
     

    This was the look I wore on the 2nd day of The Makeup Show Orlando.  I purchased several Magnolia Makeup products on the 1st day.  I was soooo excited that I couldn’t wait til I got home to try them.  Shero, which is a beautiful light teal kept catching my eye.  I just had to make it my main focus. This is what I created with it.

    Here’s what I used to create this look.

    Face

    MAC Prep and Prime Transparent Loose Powder

    MAC ProLongwear in NC 45

    Cover Girl Queen Collection Natural Hue Powder in Golden

    Nars Blush in Alabatross (Cheek Highlight)

    MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Comfort (Cheek color)

    Nars Blush in Exibit A (Cheek Color)

    Cover Girl Queen Collection Bronzer in Ebony Bronze (Cheek Contour)

    Eyes

    Black Opal Foundation Stick in Heavenly Honey (Under Brow)

    MAC Pigment in Naked (Brow Highlight)

    Coastal Scents 42 Matte Pallete eyeshadow Orange (in Crease)

    Magnolia Makeup Loose Eyeshadow in Shero (Lid)

    Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil in Perversion (Upper Lash Line)

    Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil in Retrograde (Lower Lash line under lashes)

    Ardell lashes #118

    Lips

    Stila Lipgloss in Giggle

    I think it’s very important to note that I took these pictures after MIDNIGHT on my cell phone. This means my makeup held up really well.  The extreme pigment in Magnolia Makeup is phenomenal. I’m soooo amazed and impressed at the fact that not only did my eye look not crease, the Shero is still very bold and vibrant.  If I didn’t know better, I would’ve guess it was freshly applied.

     

     

    Sep 102012
     

    I didn’t get a chance to participate in the Houston FNO (Fashion Night Out)festivities last Thursday due to me having to work at the MAC Counter. I did want to at least share my FOTD (Face Of The Day) that I wore.

    Face:

    Isomers HD Primer

    MAC Studio Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 in Dark

    MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation in C7

    MAC Prep and Prime Transparent Compact Powder

    Cheeks:

    MAC Vanilla Pigment for cheek highlight

    MAC Style blush on cheeks

    MAC Blunt Blush as cheek contour

    Lips:

    MAC Viva Glam Nicki lipstick and lipgloss

    Eyes:

    MAC Mineralized Eyeshadows Smutty Green and Blue Flame on lid and bottom lash line

    MAC Texture in Crease

    MAC Naked Pigment as Brow Highlight

    MAC Superslick Liquid Eye Liner in On the Hunt

    MAC Prolongwear Concealer in NW35 to carve out brows and under eyes

    Lashes:

    Ardell #118

    Loreal Voluminous Million Mascara

    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.

     

    Mar 302012
     

    I haven’t done a Face Of The Day in a while.  Here’s what I wore yesterday. I’ve really grown to love corals.

     Eyes

    1. MAC Constructivist Paint Pot
    2. MAC Naked Pigment
    3. MAC Expensive Pink
    4. MAC Motif
    5. MAC Sketch
    6. MAC Beauty Marked
    7. MAC Blooz Eye Kohl Pencil in the waterline
    8. Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Liner in Perversion
    9. Ardell #305 Lashes
    10. Loreal Volumnious False Lashes
    11. MAC Brow Set in Girl/Boy

    Face

    1. MAC Prolongwear Foudation NC45
    2. MAC Prep and Prime Recharge under eye and blended to cheeks
    3. MAC Select Moisture Cover Conceler NC45 in spots
    4. Cover Girl Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Brown Bronze 1
    5. MAC MSF Comfort (limited edition) Cheeks blended up to temple
    6. MAC Vanilla Pigment as Cheek Highlight
    7. Cargo Blush in Laguna on Cheeks
    8. MAC Blush in Razin as Cheek Contour

    Lips

    1. Sally Hansen Daytime Lip Treatment
    2. MAC Viva Glam Nicki
    3. MAC  Lychee Luxe Lipglass

    I’m really liking this lip combo.