Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Please join us for our Grand Opening Event on May 22nd from 4-8 at our new studio! You can enter in a raffle to win free cosmetics, a free portrait session from Redwall Photo, and see works of art from Pollen, Ryan Alexander Events, Kio Kreations and Ethereal Confections!  Clients are invited to a client only event on May 21st from 4-8, if for some reason you are a client and didn’t receive an invite, let me know!  We hope to see you there! :)

I was in a grocery store and passed by this mascara…how could I NOT buy it with the dazzling gold tube staring at me??!  Of course this mascara junkie had to give it a try. Although, can I just tell you how much I HATE that they always use fake lashes in mascara ads??  They shouldn’t even be able to do that – its false advertising (no pun intended!).

As soon as I pulled the wand out of the tube, I stared at the brush in awe.  Gorgeous brush with just the right amount of product.

The first coat went on and I wasn’t insanely impressed but as soon as I put the second coat on I actually thought my lashes might look TOO long (that never happens).  Definitely gave me a lot of length and a bit of thickness with barely any clumping.  I put on a 3rd coat and I think that was a mistake – I don’t recommend it :)  At the end of the night, there was no smudging or flaking.  Great Mascara for the 9.00 price tag!!

I give it a B+.  I like my lashes thicker but if you are looking for length and want to save your pennies, this is the mascara for you!

I picked this shampoo and conditioner up at a pro haircare store because it was on sale and I love Tigi.  It’s called Tigi Catwalk Sleek Mystique.  I had no idea how good this would smell!   It doesn’t just smell good only in the shower either (like most products), I will all of a sudden get a whiff of my hair in the afternoon and wonder what smells so good..oh yeah – that’s MY hair!!  It smells a lot like a Victoria Secret perfume.  It also helps with my uncontrollable frizz and gives me smooth, silk locks.  Definitely a solid A from me!

Its not easy to find, you may be able to find it in pro salons or ask your hairstylist friend to pick one up for you but I did find it on Amazon.  These bottles are HUGE and will last you a long time!!

Click here to buy it on Amazon.com

I have to just deal with the fact that some people will opt for drug store cosmetics because they are either on a budget, prefer the convenience of picking up their makeup products while at the grocery store or drug store and sometimes, it’s a little bit of both.  I thought it might be helpful to give you a comparison of better vs best products so you can either upgrade your current drugstore makeup or at least buy the best drugstore products out there if you choose to go that route.  I realize not everyone is a makeup product snob like me :)

Foundation

Better is the L’Oreal True Match Line – it gives great coverage and the variety of colors can’t be beat.  $8.76 at Drugstore.com

Best

Makeup Forever HD Foundation, it has more pigment and will cover more than L’Oreal’s True Match with an extremely flawless finish.  $40 at Sephora.com

Eyeshadows

This one is a little bit of a reach but the drugstore brand with the most pigment is represented.

Better is NYX eyeshadows.  $5.99 at Amazon.com or Ulta

Best is Urban Decay Eyeshadow.  $17 at Sephora.com

Mascara

Better is CoverGirl’s Lash Blast Mascara (NOT the Fusion).  The brush lengthens and separates.  $7.79 at drugstore.com

Best is Buxom’s Lash available exclusively at Sephora (recent review is below) $18 – totally worth the extra $10!

Lipgloss

Better is Elf’s Lipgloss, at a $1 – you cannot go wrong.  I was pleasantly surprised by the glossiness and softness it gave my lips.  It’s in my kit if that gives you a clue at how much I love these!  Available at eyeslipsface.com

Best is Philosophy’s Lip Shine.  It does a better job at moisturizing and the scent/flavors cannot be beat.  $10 at Sephora

Lipsticks

Better is the Revlon ColorBurst Lipsticks.  The application is smooth, colors are intense and there are a variety of colors to choose from.  Available at most drugstores for $6.50-7.00

Best (or should I say WAY better) is Makeup Forevers Rouge Artist Intense Lipsticks.  These can’t be beat.  There are so many colors to choose from it will make your head spin.  Available at Sephora for $19 each

I have to fill all my ladies in on some makeup “don’ts”. I usually give a lot of product reviews and “do’s” but the time has come for a smackdown! Add them to your New Years Goals of what NOT to do next year.

These “don’ts” are no particular order. They are equally terrifying.

Do not ONLY line the bottom lid with a dark eyeliner for a daytime look. Especially if you aren’t going to line the top to balance it out or wear a dark shadow on the lid to balance the darkness on the bottom. If you only do a stark line on the bottom, this will pull your eyes DOWN if you don’t balance your makeup – you want to do the opposite and bring them UP.  Also, BLEND.

If you happen to wear dark eyeliner under the eye for a night time look (which is fabulous and appropriate), try to get as close as you can to where your bottom lashes start to grow (not STOP growing). It looks disconnected and undone if you leave a lot of space between. Color in your waterline and as close to the base of your lashes as you can. Even if the eyeliner doesn’t stay on the waterline for long, it at least colors in the base of the lashline. No zebra stripes please!  And again, balance the darkness between the upper lid with the lower lid.

Match your foundation to your skintone. Ask for help when you are in the cosmetic store or have a friend test some colors on you. Having a floating head because it doesn’t match your neck is NOT cute. And if you go heavy on the bronzer, remember that your neck needs some love too!

Either line your lips with the same shade as your lipstick or line your lips with a color that is close to your natural lip coloring. Let’s not reach for a lipliner 3 shades darker and leave a line around the lips. When doing lipliner, fill in the ENTIRE lip.

Over-plucked and under-plucked brows are not cute. Your eyebrows have more impact than you may think. A well groomed brow can lift your eyes, making you appear more awake and even younger. Brows that have never been groomed or are overgrown can make you look angry. If you over-plucked or don’t have much eyebrows at all, do NOT take a pencil and draw a straight line. It doesn’t look natural. Pencil them in using small strokes in emulate real hairs.

Pamela got it WRONG

Megan Fox got it right (LOVE her brows!)

Finally, more doesn’t always mean better.

Try to accentuate your natural beauty by using a few small tricks. You want to look like you are naturally gorgeous, lets not have people wonder what you would look like without a pound of makeup on….make them think that’s how you woke up ;)

Keep it Classy Ladies!  :)

Have a Happy New Year!