My First Makeup Tutorial

I am excited to present: my first makeup tutorial video! Clearly, my editing skills need work, and I am already saving up for a nice video camcorder with better picture. I recreate one of the many looks Christina Aguilera wore in the motion picture Burlesque.

What started out as a personal Youtube is now a place for me to express my creativity in all things beauty. Please visit my Youtube Channel for tutorials, products reviews and more!

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Winter 2011 Product Review

Happy December!

I am excited to share with you a plethora of beauty products that I recently got on my last (few) trip(s) to Sephora. I've recently started branching out and trying different brands. Most of my makeup career, I've relied heavily on MAC Cosmetics products, mostly because of my training there for 5 years and also because I get a SWEET discount with them. However, lately, I've felt a craving for more... variety. I mean, I can't call myself a good makeup artist if I mainly use one line of cosmetics! This recent urge has taken me on many trips to Sephora and several beauty counters, as well as poring through Youtube tutorials and online reviews. Every waking moment I have had the last few weeks has been spent educating myself on all the different brands and TRYING everything! I feel like I have a whole new world at my fingertips, but also, like I am doomed because of course all of this is COSTLY up the wazoo. Anyway, below are my new findings and what I thought of them.

Makeup For Ever HD Foundation-- $40

 I don't know where this foundation has been all my life, but I am AS excited about this as I was about NSync in high school. For the first time in my life, I am applying foundation on with my fingers. It glides on smoothly and gives beautiful coverage without feeling heavy. The color dries down true to what it looks like in the bottle, which is hard to find, as most foundations end up drying down darker than they look, or more yellow or pink. It looks gorgeous in photos as well as in person. Long-wearing and even a little sweat-proof. 

FRESH Magic Wands Mini Mascara Duo -- $10

I bought these in the checkout line at Sephora. Fresh's full size mascaras are a bit pricy, so I wanted to try them out before I committed. Supernova (the black one) looked beautiful at first, then slowly weighed my lashes down. It also doesn't dry fully..it feels like gel even hours after you apply it. Firebird (the blue one) however, is AMAZING. The wand can whip any flimsy lash hair into shape and LIFT your whole lashline. Dried down well and stayed on all day. 

Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Pure Gold -- $19

This is part of Tarantino's limited Gold Collection and is simply divine. The light reflects off the mineralized crystals in this golden dust and just heavenly. I applied some MAC Cream Color Base to my cheekbones and dusted it on with a flat-tipped blush brush. The result? ETHEREAL 

Makeup For Ever Waterproof Eyebrown Corrector-- $19

Once again, where on God's green earth has this been all my life? I have always been very disappointed with the quality of eyebrow-filling products in the market, until this. I've tried everything: eyebrow waxes (too greasy), eyebrow liners (to harsh), eyebrow gels (crusty and pointless), and eyeshadow-as-eyebrow-filler (not strong enough). I hate when people's eyebrows dissappear in photos because of the flash, or just look faded or even worse SHINY because of the product they put in them (mine included!). This silicone-based gel feels more like a cream and is applied with an angle brush. The color STAYS PUT (even through a workout at the gym), stays MATTE and stays SOLID. Washes off with soap and water. One tube will probably last you a lifetime, and no, I'm not joking. The only jest I have is that it only comes in 4 shades. I'm hoping they expand this line because it's honestly amazing.

Attention Blondies: This product also doubles as a lash darkener when applied with a clean mascara brush! And on graying sideburns and mustaches, so Grandpa and your Dad will be happy campers as well. 

FRESH Prime & Glow Duo-- $10

Freshface Primer and Freshface Glow

Once again, I was trying not to break the bank, so I bought the sample-sized version of these two products in the checkout line of Sephora. The Freshface Primer smells amazing (like roses!) and a tiny bit does go a long way. I'm not sure if it's worth the hefty price though ($36) , since there are so many other primers that are cheaper and can do the job just fine. The Freshface Glow  ($36) is a moisturizer with a red pearl glow. It's really gorgeous, but reminds me of MAC's Strobe Cream ($29), which is slightly cheaper. My thoughts? If you got the $$ go for it. If not, there are cheaper options.

Sephora Face Wipes (25)-- $8

What...an utter dissappointment. I jumped at the price-- 25 wipes for eight bucks!-- but gravely regretted it later. First of all, the wipes feel like they are SOAKED in Palm Olive. Secondly, it didn't remove jack sh*t. After using one wipe, I looked like Heath Ledger's The Joker. I still had to wash off the remainder of my makeup with my Philosophy Purity cleanser and warm water. I still stand strongly by MAC's wipes (45 for $18).



I think I have a problem...

A LUSH problem! Their holiday stuff is out. Here's what I got:

• Holiday Bath Time Favorites tin, which features 9 baby bath bombs: Butter Ball, Winter Bath, Sex Bomb, Avobath, Honey Bee, Big Blue, Cinders, Li'l Lush Pud, So White. Trust me, it's a better deal.

• Candy Cane Bubble Bar (left)
• Christmas Eve Bubble Bar (purple with the moon)
• Gingerbread House (cupcake lookin')
• *Not pictured: Rub Rub, a tub of ocean-scented body scrub. 

May I suggest Cinders bath bomb and a touch of Gingerbread House? It was honestly the most scrumptious bath I've ever taken. Not too sweet and just spicy enough. MMMmmmm I love the holidays!

Seein' Spots

Herrow!


Here's a silly video of me rocking my leopard look from last week. There are literally a million photos of my mug! The song is a Muse cover of that old jam "Feeling Good." Hope it makes you laugh, smile and feel inspired. Enjoy...

                    

Ok, Chantal is going to kill me for posting it, but I really don't care. The image on the right is a look from Makeup For Ever. I recreated it on my favorite guinea pig, my little sis. I also call this look "Pretty Cholla" ;)

Black & Gold

Hi peeps!

Anyone who knows me well knows that my favorite color combo is black and gold. Imagine my delight when I went on a mad spree at Sephora and found that the Chic Prints I've been wanting to try came in BLACK AND GOLD. They are easier to apply than they look. 

1) Rub the sticker-like nail print to warm it up, then peel off

2) Rub your nail with alcohol to remove all natural oils from your finger.

3) Apply Chic Print very carefully, then cut the excess with a scissor. 

* The directions said to file the excess off, but let me just tell you how unsuccessful that was. Like drugs, just don't do it.

*Today is Day 4 and they are still holding up. The ends got a little frayed but I just smoothed them down. I also found that applying clear top coat to the edges of your nail will keep the Chic Print on longer. Just don't apply it ALL over the Chic Print.

Why did I only do one nail on each hand, you ask? Well..if I had anywhere to go I would have done all 10 digits. Also, I didn't want to scare everyone at the office with my metallic geometric fierceness!

Interestingly, as I was writing this blog, a Sam Sparro song came up on my iTunes. It's called "Black & Gold." Coincidence? I think not... 

*Go to Youtube for the "real" video...it's pretty dope!

The White Queen

I had some fun over the weekend with an idea Chantal actually came up with. She found this photo below of the Anne Hathaway as the White Queen from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. I recreated the look and thought I'd share. This was super fun to do, I just wish my wig wasn't so haggard. Let me know if you have any suggestions on what I should try next! PS I hemmoraged a ton of money at Sephora's over the weekend and I have ZERO buyer's remorse...is that bad? I can't wait to share all my new product reviews with you!