2013 is off and running and it’s dragging me along for the ride!!! I feel like I am CrAzY busy with everything on my plate. I have been given crazy amounts of responsibility (church calling, assistant director for the school play, activities leader), winter sports are starting for the boys, I am working more (yay just did a movie and learned some AWESOME skills!!!) and I just had two weeks back to back where I spoke for a large group and taught about 50 women the following week…..whew! Allow me some spirituality here…I had a thought today that God was not trying to tell me to clear my plate but He was trying to teach me how to deal with all of it on there with grace and beauty. With a smile for everyone I come in contact with and a listening ear. To learn more about servant leadership and how that’s the only way. As I was rushing through a quick face and feeling inCREDIBLE guilt for not doing another tutorial I had a thought. Why can’t I just do a look quickly, take a pic and post it and just list the products. Obviously I’ll do a tutorial if people ask for it but it most cases you ladies can do it just by hearing what I used. You ladies are SMART!!! =D To go along with my post title, here is the first look:
Sure there’s a filter since I posted in on Instagram BUT the lighting was awful (yellow, yellow, yellow, grumble, grumble) and I had only a few minutes before needing to be in my youngest son’s class to help out =). Here’s what I used:
Face:
Loreal True Match Foundation in W3
Xango Mineralized Powder in Medium
Urban Decay Bronzer in Toasted
Ben Nye blusher in Victorian Rose
Eyes:
NO primer (look at me go right??? LOL)
Coastal Scents 8 Color Contour Palette (the dark brown in crease & nude on brow bone & lid)
Dark brown shadow from CS 88 Palette on brows
Maybelline mascara (no lashes)
Lips:
Laura Mercier Sugar Violet Lip Stain (applied lightly with a lip brush)
Whilst FINALLY having the time to sit down and read through my latest (HA! try November’s issue!!!) of Allure, I saw some pretty fascinating things. First of all, I LOVE Lauren Conrad and to see her be so natural sans her typical winged liner made my heart flutter. I have really been pulling for her to pull that tired trick out every now and then but not every outing, every appearance, every photo shoot. Right??? Anyhoo, that was the first reason for me to pick up the mag but the VeRy close second was the story right there on the bottom left hand side. Makeup artists revealing their tricks. Now what makeup enthuze wouldn’t want to read THAT??? After I had read the article (and loved it) I started flipping through pages and came upon this little trend going on. Makeup tattoos! They are said to be SUPER user friendly. Even for the shakiest of hands. Stick em on, wet the back, peel it away and voila! You’re trending ; D. A few of my favs are below (beware, before you fall in love with the REAL 24-Carat gold bracelet, not only is it temporary but will run you $120!!!). What do you think of this trend and how would YOU wear it?
I haven’t done a smokey eye in FOREVER it feels like so I decided NO MORE! Today would be the day to bust one out and rock it for…..the PTA? LOL I basically live at the boys’ school helping out so hopefully the kids/teachers liked it ; D. I decided to go with blues since that would make my brown eyes pop but feel free to sub in any colors that you love! Enjoy and happy holidays =).
Soooooo ever since I started wearing false lashes I can’t seem to not add them to my every look. If I don’t, it doesn’t matter how big of a bow I wear, I feel like a man ha! Lashes, when done well, are feminine and beautiful and add that touvh of drama we all crave every now and then. I have always thought that the extensions were way too expensive and a touch too new to be done well every time. I have seen them be stunning but I have also seem them be an absolute MESS!!! Too feathery, too many, too few, crooked etc. To have to redo them constantly is also a discredit to them. For me, I am happy to buy my Demi Whispies from Sally’s for $4 a month. I love that it takes me less time to throw them on than to do my mascara. That all being said I do wish that I had been born with gloriously long lashes. How nice it would be to go swimming or take a shower not having to worry about damaging my lashes. I was SO excited then to hear from my good friend Nicole about a fantASTIC lash serum she had been using. Take it away Nicole:
“I was in getting a pedicure one day and this girl next to me had the most amazing lashes. I complemented her on them and I expected her to say she had extensions in but instead she said she used this product “Nutraluxe lash md”. She had tried latise and a few others but likes this one the best. So I went home and jumped on amazon and ordered it right away. When I received it I read, do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. Great, I was pregnant then and I would be breastfeeding…. so it sat in my drawer for a year. It had a two year expiration on it and longer if never opened so I waited. I just finished nursing my baby back in the beginning of June. That day I busted this product out. It took about 4 weeks to see much difference, but then every month it keeps getting better it will reach its optimal results in another few weeks it said around 4 months. I have loved this product!Before I go to bed at night I take one swipe across my eyelid like a liquid eyeliner and that is it.I read so many reviews before I started it and a few mentioned it made their eyes more sensitive or red around the skin in the morning, but I have not noticed anything. I make sure I do not rub my eyes at night though.It has turned my almost non-existent lashes into full beautiful lashes. The lashes are much thicker, a little darker and way longer and curlier.I was about to get extensions too but they are pricey and you have to keep redoing them so I gave these a shot first. Your falsies look great, I can not get them on me without looking like a clown and I can never feel like they are secure enough. Here are some pictures of my miraculous before and after!”
Convinced??? I know I am enough to buy it and try it out! I am so excited to show you the results along the way!
Here is the link to where you too can find this great product.
Stepping a little out of our comfort zone can be scary but it can also prove to be wonderful! This look is a little outside of the box for me as an actual wearable look. It is meant to be just that, a look. Not something to be done everyday but more like a new outfit or a hair-do change. Look to the runways to find bold brows and daring looks and you may see a brow like this one. I liken it unto the look Tyra refers to as “ugly pretty”. With that in mind…enjoy!
Jennifer Connelly has had these amazing brows her whole life/career. Who remembers her from Labyrinth or the Rocketeer?
This is a TERRIBLE picture!!! Her head seems very bulbous from the screen shot someone took of her but I can’t find her rocking these brows from the same show anywhere else.
It’s been long awaited but it’s FINALLY here!!! I will be teaching my next makeup class now that we are all settled in our new home. This class will be Beauty 101 at my home from 11:30-1. If you live in the Utah area message me here for my address. After reading a lot of your emails I have put together mini topics of interest including (but not limited to) picking foundation colors & brands, basic contouring, color theory (shadows, blush & lips), brows and a starter kit. As usual it is $10 per person which includes a goody bag, treats & a lucky lady will leave with our door prize. I have limited seating & would like to give as much personal attention as I can so first come first served kind of deal =). Next class will be all about brushes! What brushes to use, how to care for them & where you can get them for the best deal. Message me here or at dollcosmetics@gmail.com to reserve your spot today. All classes need to be paid for in advance by at least three days so I can go and get all of our fun stuff. See you all soon!
ps if I get enough ladies telling me the time doesn’t work it can be tweaked but not by much. I find this time of day is perfect =).
Susie recently wrote in to tell me that her SWEET sister gave her a gift card to Sephora….LUCKY!!! =D She wrote to ask what she should keep her eyes out for, what should she get? WELL let me thiiiink LOL. I have received quite a few emails like this one so I will give you a list of my MUST haves regardless of price and depending on how much you want to spend or how much your gift card is for, you can pick and choose =).
First and foremost of you do not have the Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP) you are SORELY missing out and need to rectify that situation like NOW! It is the best primer I have used, thus far, that keep my shadow looking vibrant all day long with NO creasing or fading.
Next I have to give a HUGE shout out to Makeup Forever’s HD Foundation cuz this stuff is where it’s AT!!!!! It’s like silk, it’s build-able, lightweight and lasts till the cows come home. It’s a little pricey but when you are in the market for a staple like foundation, TRUST me you will NOT be disappointed!!!
This bronzer from Urban Decay is wonderful. I love the natural color and the matte finish. When contouring you don’t want as much shimmer or else the sun will hit it and take away whatever shadow you were trying to create. You don’t want to use a straight brown when going for a more natural look so this one is perfect. I get my baked bronzer in “Toasted”.
The skin underneath our eyes is very delicate and very different from the rest of our face. I think we all have made the mistake of putting too much product under there (especially powder) and seeing our skin turn to reptile mode! Not a pretty look and no one really does it on purpose…I hope ; ). I use this miracle powder that is very fine, pinkish in hue to eliminate dark coloring and very good for your skin. In all, Benefit has a good track record for producing products that are heavy metal free, they do not test on animals and are phasing out all products that aren’t gluten free.
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat
*DISCLAIMER*
I have YET to purchase this product but let me redeem myself by telling you why it’s on the list. This too is a pricey product ($40 for .1 oz) but VERY worth it especially if you are a makeup artist. I have shadowed and trained with some AMAZING artists and have read about all the rest HA! I kid you not, every single ONE of them owns this product and swears by it. While on a job I used it from another kit and was astonished at it’s magical powers of giving an instant eye lift and “eight hours of sleep” to models that had some darkness under their eyes. It was also great to contour with….yeah, it’s my next purchase (insert sheepish grin).
Don’t you love watching old movies where the girls bite their lips and pinch their cheeks for color? LOL I think it’s so funny and yet so cute to see what they went through to get that natural flush in their cheeks. Well we don’t have to resort to such painful measures. We have some great products on the market and this is one I love. This is a water resistant, gel based cheek stain that just GLOWS!!! I love using this on brides and for commercial work since it is so natural and yet build-able to give you a romantic flush. I also LOVE that this product is formulated without all of the harsh chemicals you find in most cosmetics today. Isn’t that awesome??? Paraben FREE…..HOORAY!!!!!
For those of you that have been here at the blog for a while or for those that have browsed through the archives will remember this. I said casually in a video that I highly recommended everyone going out and getting “Naked”. BOY was I mortified as I received a ton of emails pointing out what I had said and having a giggle about it =). After the natural blush in my cheeks wore down I think I corrected that statement in the next video LOL. I love the EYESHADOW “Naked” from Urban Decay and I’ll tell you why. Those that have learned and put into use facts about contouring know that subtle things can make a HUGE difference! This color, for me, is a light skin toned brown that enhances me crease, temple area and sides of my nose with natural ease. It gives just enough color to make a difference and if you don’t believe me do one side only and look in the mirror. RIGHT?!?!? Yup, it’s wonderful. I also use this color a TON when doing a smokey eye. I bounce back and forth between this and the bronzer to warm up said smokey eye. Few people know that you need to use a color in betwEEN the dark on your lid/crease and your brow bone color. A color that is natural, soft, and can “marry” the other two extreme colors together. I have found Naked to be a great shadow color to use for this. Go out and get “Naked” everyone…..you know what I mean!
On the same topic ; ), I think all girls need a good nude lipstick. One that doesn’t match your skin or foundation like Myth (MAC) but one that will have just enough color to not fade your lips away and make you look washed out. This has just enough sheen and brown to it that wearing it with your fav smokey eye will be irreSIStible!!! I love to use this in the center of my lower lip when doing a bold color in lue of Myth if I feel Myth is too much of a contrast.
Well there’s the list ladies! Those are the things that I would first look into and purchase from Sephora. From a MUA standpoint though I must share what I secretly long for….are you ready?
The Makeup Forever Flash Color Palette. (In Kronk’s voice) “Iiit’s beeaaauuuuutiful.” And BOY is it!!!! This bad boy would be so fun, amazing and versatile to use. It could be used for lips, cheeks, eyes EvErYtHiNg!!!!! Jenni wanty!!!!! What are your go to’s at Sephora? Want to add to the list? Write a comment below!
I was so excited to open my inbox to see THIS exciting ad!!! I do so love Urban Decay and NOT just for the primer, although that alone would have me coming back over and over again! Their palettes are to die for and they have amazing single shadows and bronzers. I’m excited to see that they have a pretty good looking foundation line that I must check out at my local Sephora. Okay, do YOU want to get in on this action? Just head over to their site and add anything you want to your wish list. Then cross your fingers, wish upon your favorite star and YOU could walk away with your whole list!!!!! Just to get your creative juices flowing I made my very own wish list public. Check it out and get to wishin!!!
Oh my WORD I was so excited to do this post!!! I had seen some of these tutorials on YouTube and knew I just HAD to do this with Kev. I learned a lot of things while shooting this video. One of the biggest things is that I love my cute hubby. He watches so many of my videos with me so I can show him what I’m doing or ask advice. I now know he pays NO attention at all but does it to be sweet. How do I know this? You have to watch the video! I put out so much stuff for him to use and he passed over almost ALL of it LOL!!! Another thing I learned is that I am really uptight about my makeup = D. I see myself cringing so often! I’m excited for the next tutorial with Kev but we need YOUR help! The next look will be a picture chosen by YOU. Kev and I will choose a picture sent in by one reader and he must try to copy it. It could be off the wall, beautiful, funny, WhAtEvEr!!! I’m so excited to share this with you!!! =D
