MAC Pro Class II

Of course I get hired as a makeup artist because I'm great at what I do. But the most common reason I hear from my clients is that I'm down to earth (i.e. not your typical makeup snot that has 8lbs of makeup on and calls it her "5 minute face"). That's probably why I loved this particular MAC Pro's Master Class. It was named "Close-Up" and touted to teach the "no-makeup makeup" look. And of course, MAC Senior Artist Victor Cembellin didn't disappoint, focusing on what is currently going on in the industry. With High-Def ruling the television, and High-Res ruling the camera it has completely changed the way makeup artistry is done. Subtlety cannot be taught. I believe High-Def is changing the way us simple folk wear makeup too. How? Makeup trends tend to evolve from celebrities and most of the cameras pointed at them are.....ding ding ding! High Def/Res! That glow from within without that fake metallic sheen. Definition and structure around your eyes without a harsh line in sight. Lips that are healthy looking without that ring around your lip line. Soft diffusions of matte colors are what's in. That's why it's so up my alley and why I studied Victor so intently during this class. It's all about blending/pressing until the color looks as if it is IN the skin, like it's hardly there. He used a fantastic powder: MAC MineralizeSkinfinish/Natural as a bronzer. It doesn't have a sheen/glitter/shimmer to it which I despise in a bronzer (don't get me started!). Bronzer has a bad reputation because it's used wrong. I use it on almost everyone - and I'm not trying to give them a "tan." When you put on your foundation, you are making yourself all one tone. That's your goal. But it also makes your face appear flat. Bronzer gives dimension back to the face and (for some of us) adds much needed warmth. Victor also took that same product and used it in the eye contour area and smudged in the lower lash line to unify the look. So subtle! So darn pretty! If you need color suggestions, you know where to find me!
Victor's Catchphrase of the Evening: "Shrimp Cocktail"; referring to what happens when you over-apply mascara to the your lower lashes and they clump together in 5 sections. Hanging over your lower eyelid like "Shrimp Cocktail." Nasty and hilarious. Gotta love Victor! He literally changed the way I put eyeliner on everyday - that deserves it's own blog, so I'll save it for another day. Thanks Victor!

The Skincare I'm Lovin'

When it comes to skincare - I look for the most basic and gentle. Something that will get the job done while leaving no yuckies behind (can you tell I'm a mom?). Why? Because if my college biology classes taught me anything, it's that not a lot of what you slap on your epidermis is really going to matter (with the exception of SPF). Very few things penetrate your dermis, which is where wrinkles occur. But I'll save that lesson and some recommendations on stuff that does get to your dermis for another day. The Body Shop Aloe Skincare line is my all time favorite. This line just works. It says "for sensitive skin" all over it - but I would recommend it for almost anyone. The entire line is free of preservatives, dyes, soap and fragrance. Aloe is nature's healing agent and the oat extract in these products provide antioxidant protection while soothing stressed out skin. I recommend this to a lot of brides who's skin is going crazy due to stress. The line has cleansers, toner, moisturizers, body butter, serums, eye creams, masks.....and the list goes all the way to deodorant. The Aloe Cooling Body Gel is great to keep in the fridge for burns (boo-boo juice as my kids would call it) or for when you feel like your skin is stressed. I love it all - don't make me pick - but if you need recommendations let me know. Click here to see the skincare line for the face. Click here to see the body line. Need a sample? I can hook you up!

Target hits the....uh...target

I seriously have never gotten so many "Hey - Have you tried this yet?" emails! Bravo to Target marketing! If you live under a rock, let me fill you in. There are 3 new "masstige" (industry lingo for prestige en mass) lines at Target: Pixi, NP Set and JK Jemma Kidd. Little bit of background on each: Pixi is by Swedish makeup artist Petra Strand. This line is taken directly from the UK - same line, same prices, same stuff. (Side note: Her sister, Sara ventured out on her own and formed Pop Beauty, which is available at Sephora; it's not my favorite). NP Set is from Aussie makeup artist Napoleon Perdis. He has a separate prestige line, previously sold at Sephora, currently available at Ulta. Sephora gave him the boot not too long ago, because of his dealings with other stores (Sephora likes to have "exclusivity" - don't get me started). Makeup artist Jemma Kidd created JK Jemma Kidd. Her separate prestige line "Jemma Kidd Makeup School" is available at very select Neiman Marcus'. Each of these new lines has their own niche. Right off the bat, you'll see that JK is for the fashion forward (read: younger). A lot of glitter - not my cup of English tea, but I've heard from other makeup snobs that it's good quality. NP Set looks almost exactly like Perdis's prestige - but after testing a few, the pigment is lacking in comparison. The beef I have with JK and NP Set is the price point. The price is really not that far off from their prestige lines (in some instances as little as $4 diff), yet it is not the same product. I'm a "get what you pay for" kind of girl, but I feel a bit jipped here. JK's eyeshadows are $18 a pop. Really? I can get my tried and true, pigment-rich MAC for $14 in a trillion colors.


That said, I think Pixi really stands out. It is on the pricey side for Target, but not for what you are getting - which is the original formulas. It's innovative, the colors are classy, and the compacts are slim and adorable. This line reminds me of Stila - high quality whimsy stuff.


SO - what have I tried? Pixi's Lip Blush ($18) is like a marker/stain. I've had bad experiences with this type of marker apparatus in the past - but this one is fab. Don't be scared Shell. This would make a great base for your gloss/balm - as it does not fade easily. I love the color Happiness (3rd in the pic). Youth (1st in the pic) looks like it would be a good choice too. Pixi's Eye Beauty Kit ($28) - Where do I begin? Not since Dior have I seen a line put together so many (13!!) pretty color palettes. There are 8 shadows in each kit and they are completely and utterly beautifully coordinated. Mod (pictured) is what I picked up. The texture, pigment and variety are heaven. I cannot wait to grab Miracle Velveteen, as it is all matte colors and they are oh-so-pretty. You could seriously close your eyes, spin around a few times and just pick one (my daughter's gonna love trying that) and you'd hit a winner. Also, check out their Natural Mineral Kits. Everything you need (eye, cheek and lip) in a cute compact - with great colors. Note to Target: PLEASE keep your shelves stocked and clean!


Here's a link to the stuff. Target actually got smart and put everything online: www.target.com Pixi has a cute & simple site that has great pictures: www.pixibeauty.com

Sad, Sad News

The image to the left represents exactly how I felt when I tried Carmindy's line "Sally Hansen Natural Beauty inspired by Carmindy." I went into this with a bias - I really wanted to like it. Truly I did. Here's my reviews on the 3 products I tried. First up: Truly Translucent Loose Powder in Neutralizer. I love yellow-ish loose powder because it dulls the redness in everyone's face. The packaging was adorable with a built-in powder puff in the top, but not very realistic when you actually put it to use. I took a peek at the powder - large particles of SHIMMER?????? Why in the h-e-*-# would you put shimmer in a loose powder? Am I 12 years old? No, uh-uh. You lost me. The powder itself was grainy and chalky. NEXT! Second product: Color Comfort Lip Color in Perfect Pink. The colors in this line are stunning - I had a hard time choosing. The texture however is in one word: yucky. It settled into the folds of my lip, which I've never had happen before. The taste was great - if you like cardboard. And it wore for about 15 minutes. Horrible. 3rd product: Sheerest Cream Blush in Beaming. This was the "best" out of the 3 things I tried. It was okay. If you like cream blushes - check Carmindy's out and keep your receipt just in case. I have a love-hate relationship with cream blush. Some of them make me break out and I don't think they are worth it unless you are looking for an ultra-sheer & glowy look. You also have to remember to put them on BEFORE any powder product or they will gunk up on your cheek. My apologies to those of you wanting a good review on Carmindy's stuff. I wanted to like it too! We can always hope that she will just come out with her own (department store!) line and dump Sally Hansen. Need alternatives to this stuff? Contact me!