The Bronzy Glow - Kristin Cavallari Inspired Makeup

I am my sister's private makeup guru.  We have found her foundation, basic eye shadow colors, blush, brushes, etc.  Most recently we have been working on application.  I told her is to find a celebrity with similar coloring, who's style and makeup she likes.  Then we replicated the look.

She picked Kristin Cavallari.  I didn't even know who she was - clearly my sister and I don't watch the same reality TV.  But google image search came up with these two pics:

Based on those pictures, we used what my sister already had to replicate Kristin's neutral bronzy look.  The colors we chose are below - all MAC because that's what she had. 

 

APPLICATION

The most important part of Kristin's look is skin.  Start with a tinted moisturizer or light-medium foundation to even out your skin tone.  We used NARS sheer glow and applied with fingers.  Then follow up with a bit of powder (I'm loving MAC Prep+Prime translucent powder at the moment) on a fluffy brush to set the foundation.  Fill in your brows with either shadow, brow powder, or a brow pencil (we used Fling brow pencil).

Use a fluffy blender brush (MAC 217) to apply all eye shadow, which gives a soft application. On the lids use a soft shimmery peachy pink shadow (mix of Jest and All that Glitters e/s).  Use a matte soft warm brown to define the crease (Soft Brown e/s) and also apply it to the outer two thirds of the bottom lash line.  Lastly, use a soft wash of light shimmery shadow (Refined MSF) on the brow bone.  We used a pencil brush to apply that same highlight to the inner eye (tear duct) area to open up the eyes.  Finish the eyes by blending a black gel eye liner (Blacktrack) into the lashes and on the waterline, and apply a black mascara to the lashes.

Use a fluffy brush (MAC 138) to apply bronzer (Golden) to the hollows of the cheeks and on the temple and forehead to contour the face.  Make sure to blend the bronzer into the hairline for a more natural look. Then apply a light dusting of a shimmery peach blush (Springsheen) on the apples of the cheeks for a bit of color and glow.  Lastly, highlight the face with the same light shimmery shade used to highlight the eyes (Refined MSF).

Finally, apply a glossy pinky nude lipstick (Hue) to the lips.

Unfortunately, my sister is camera shy, but the makeup turned out great.  She even got complements from her friends!  So if you're ever in a rut and/or looking for a new makeup look, turn to your favorite celebrities for inspiration.

Who is your makeup/style idol?

Loving the Neutral Look

Burberry recently released a GORGEOUS looking line of cosmetics. Great concept.  It's basically sheer colors for more natural fresh looks.  I love the makeup in the promo picture.

Natural makeup with that bit of smokey eye shadow for a bit of a modern edge.  I have not been able to play with this range yet, but check naturalNchicMakeup for some great swatches and reviews of the entire range.

I love looking at promo ads for inspiration.  Here are some of my other faves for the clean classic look.

 

Just keep in mind that a lot of the time, the makeup used in the adverts is not even the brand's own.  So resist the urge of running out and spending lots of money on 'new' or 'limited edition' colors, when you already have something similar at home.

NYX Catwalk Palette - Champagne and Caviar

I have been using this palette for a couple of weeks now, I and really like it.  It's the palette of 101 neutral eye looks.  I really appreciate that there are shimmery and matte colors.  There is also a nice mix of dark and light colors. 

I got this paltte for $7, which was a great deal.  The shadows are soft, pigmented and blend well. 

I recommend this one to anyone who loves neutrals and needs a good mix of work apporpriate colors.  This palette will be great for travelling and is is my go to when I just want something quick.

Jessica Simpson on the May 2010 Marie Claire Cover with NO MAKEUP!

I was not surprised that Jessica Simpson graced the cover of the May issue of Marie Claire  But I was surprised to that the photo had not been touched up in any way.  And...GASP...Jessica is not wearing ANY makeup.  ON THE COVER!

Confession:  I'm not really a Jessica Simpson Fan.  A girl should be celebrated for her brain, and not for the size of her boobs.  Unfortunately in Jessica's case, it's the opposite.

Having said that, it took a tremendous amount of guts for Jessica to appear makeup-less and not electronically augmented on the cover of Marie Claire.  She is promoting A Beautiful Me, an initiative encouraging young women to be comfortable in their own skin and love themselves for who they are.

In a world where many women don't feel comfortable leaving the house without at least some minimal makeup, Jessica's cover should be an inspiraton to us all.  If Jessica can grace the cover of a major fashion magazine without makeup, every girl should feel comfortable leaving the house makeup-less!  

So if you're going to the market, or you're going to hang out with some friends, pass on the makeup.  Just slap on some sunscreen and go have fun.  You're beautiful just the way you are!

Makeup - Detective Kate Beckett - Castle

I love Castle.  And I especially love the makeup worn by the lead character, Detective Kate Beckett, played by Stana Katic.  According to the lead makeup artist, Debbie Zoller (who also worked on Mad Men), it's important that Katic looks like a New York cop.  The look has to be classy, simple, and effortless.  Mission accomplished!

According to Zoller, it's all about great skin, with help from both skin care and makeup.  Apparently they use a lot of La Mer products on set.  Yeah.  Right.  Clearly their skin care budget is much bigger than mine.  And who says that more expensive is necessarily better anyway?  As for Beckett's perfect neutral/tawny lip (see 2nd picture) - Zoller first applies Laura Mercier HydraTint SPF 15 lip balm in Bronze Tint ($20), and then tops it with Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in ''Honeysuckle'' ($22).  I'll definitely be copying the lips.  Definitely.

Whose makeup do you admire?  And PLEASE don't say Kim Kardashian - her makeup is copied more than Jennifer Anniston's hair on Friends - both over-rated in my opinion.

Head to Head: Brow Gels

I have been using Anastasia's brow gel for a while now.  I picked up a brow kit, and the brow gel was included.  I never considered brow gel before, but since I have somewhat unruly brows, it was love at first swipe.  Unfortunately, the Anastasia stuff is quite pricey, so I decided to try the Great Lash clear mascara from Mabelline.

At first, I was skeptical of the Great Lash, because it did not seem as thick as the Anastasia stuff.  It didn't leave my brows just a little crunchy either, like the Anastasia, which I thought meant that it wasn't working as well.  However, after a month of daily use I can tell you that I am a convert!  The Great Lash holds my brows in place all day (even when that day includes a nap), and still leaves them soft to the touch.  Wicked awesome.

However, I still like the Anastasia packaging better.

As you can see, the Anastasia brush (bottom) is much fuller than the Great Lash (top).  The full brush does a better job of combing through the brows with only a few sweeps.  Also, I am not a fan of the fact that the Great Lash wand is white and the packaging clear.  As you can see from the pic, the wand gets stained by my brow pencil fairy quickly, which transfers into the gel.  I am sure that the Anastasia gel also got stained, but I was thankful that I didn't have to look at it. 

However, the packaging is not enough to make me switch back to the Anastasia brow gel.  Especially when I consider the almost $15 price difference.

Haul: Happy Birthday to Me!

My birthday is tomorrow! So I decided to stop by the mall to pick up my sephora gift. I like it better than the lip glosses from last year - which I found sticky. You get a mini mascara, a shimmery white eye shadow, and a patinum green eye liner (which is gorgeous!).

The shadow swatch is on top and the liner is on the bottom.  The best description of the liner is 'warm platinum'. 

I'm also going to attempt 'mannequin hands' with Sephora by OPI's Nonfat Soy Half Caff. 

 

Here is a pic of it next to Tickle My Francey by OPI. I would say that Nonfat is a less grey nude than Francey, and I think it may also be more sheer.

I also got some really delicious smelling foaming soap from Fruits and Passion.  They had a deal where the soap and a big refill jug were both $24 - not bad.  I got grapefruit guava. Delish. 

New To Makeup Series: Makeup Brushes - Eye

Getting good makeup brushes made the biggest improvement to the quality of my makeup application.  In this post I review my favorite eye makeup brushes, and mention a few misses.  Although I like many of these brushes, I don't think it's necessary to buy all of these brushes at once.  One from each category is sufficient to get you started.   Also, it's best to buy brushes as you need them for specific techniques or looks.

For more of my thoughts on makeup brushes in general and an overview of my favorite face brushes check out the face brush post.  You don't need to buy the EXACT brushes I mention here - the shape is what's important.

In this picture, I have arranged the brushe in order of preference for each section, so if I had to buy only one brush from each section, then the one I listed first would be it.

FLAT SHADER BRUSHES
Flat shader brushes are used to apply color to the lid.  A good shader brush will hold a lot of shadow and apply that shadow evenly across the lid. The MAC 239 is hands down the best shader brush I have ever used.  It is great at packing on color to the eye lid, because it not only holds a good amount of shadow at one time, it also is just the right size to fit the lid with precision.  For more precise color application, I really like the MAC 228.  It is a teeny shader that is great at applying color to just a portion of the lid, or to the bottom lashes.  For loose pigments, I find a brush with some synthetic bristles cuts down on the amount of fallout.  So for loose pigments, I really like the MAC 242.  I also like the 242 for cream shadows and even concealer.  The MAC 252 is a larger sibling of the 242.  I find it too big for anything, and don't use it very much.

BLENDING BRUSHES
Blending brushes are used to blend edges of the shadow, and to blend between colors.  The MAC 217 is the best blending brush I own.  In fact, if I had to choose only one eye brush, I would choose the 217.  It is just stiff enough to be effective, but still fluffy enough to be a great blender.  Because it's slightly flat and slightly tapered, it is also quite good at applying color to the entire lid.  I also use the 217 to sweep a mid-tone color into the crease.  For blending the highlight shaow to the crease color, there is nothing better than the MAC 227.  This dense brush looks really big and clumsy, but it is a champion blender.  It is also good at sweeping color onto the lid, or onto the whole eye area.  And as a bonus, the 227 is big enough to be used to apply highlight to the cheekbone.  The MAC 226 is a great brush for more detailed crease work. Its fine tip allows for a more defined crease color application and for application of color more precisely into the outer corner.  Finally, when it comes to blending eye shadow, the MAC 224 is absolute rubbish.  The 224 too big, too flat on top, and too soft.  Stick to blending out concealer with this one.

EYE LINER/BROW BRUSHES
My favorite brush for gel eyeliner application is the Sonia Kashuk bent eye liner brush.  It is just the right thickness and the angle allows easier application of the liner.  For a more precise or finer line, I like the MAC 210.  The MAC 209 is also a good liner brush, but gives a thicker line.  For brows, I like the MAC 208.  It is smaller and stiffer than the MAC 266.  I also use both the 208 and the 266 to apply shadow over my gel liner to set it, and to make it more blended and less severe.

SPECIALTY EYE BRUSHES
There are several brushes that I use reglarly that do not fit into any of the above categories.  My favorite of these specialty brushes is the MAC 205.  The 205 is intended to apply mascara, but I use it to declump my mascara once it's applied.  The bristles are short, stiff and fine, so they work themselves between lashes perfectly, separating them and rmoving any clumps.  I also often reach for the MAC 219 pencil brush, using it to apply shadow to the lower lashes, into the inner corner, to just the arch of my brow, and to the outer corner.  In short, this brush offers the utmost precision, wherever it is needed.  The MAC 214 s great at smoking out eye liner, applying shadow over gel eye liner, an applying shadow to the lower lahes.  Finally, I often reach for my spoolie brush for combing out my brows or lashes.  The one I have is from Anastasia of Beverly Hills - I got it in a brow kit.  However, for the longest time I used a mascra wand that I washed after the mascara was done, and it worked just as well.

That's it for brushes.  Don't forget to clean your brushes regularly - check out my brush cleaning tutorial.  Which are your favorites?  Which do you regret buying?

New To Makeup Series: Makeup Brushes - Face

I love makeup brushes, and I have a lot of them.  Good makeup brushes made a HUGE difference to the quality of my makeup application.  I do rcommend that you invest in good makeup brushes, they are worth the extra price tag.  And if you take care of them, they will last you a long time.  Check out my brush cleaning tutorial. 

I recommend that you buy makeup brushes one at a time, instead of all at once.  Choose brushes based on what you need.  For example, summer is on its way and you got a bronzer, and now you need a good brush to apply it.  Don't just buy brushes because someone else loves them, or because they're limited edition, or because you're at the makeup counter, and the makeup artist told you they love that brush.  My best brush purchases were researched ahead of time and/or planned way in advance.

The following is a review of face brushes I recommend.  For each category, the order of the brushes is my order of preference.  I have all of these brushes, and have used them all for at least 1 year - which is the last time I bought a makeup brush.  For several reasons, most of the brushes I use daily are MAC brushes.  MAC brushes are good quality (you get what you paid for), MAC stands behind their products (I have exchanged a faulty brush once), and there are MAC counters everywhere.  Also, I learned a lot about makeup application from youtube gurus and fellow bloggers, and they all use MAC brushes.  I found that having the same brushes made it easier to replicate the looks. 

Although I think the brushes mentioned below are good quality, and recommend them to you, I realize that they are quite expensive.  There are cheaper alternatives out there that are similar in shape and performance.  I recommend the Sonia Kashuk line of brushes - good quality at much more affordable prices.  If you are vegan and want synthetic alternatives, check out Lumiere Cosmetics. 

Regarding Sigma brushes:
I know that Sigma Makeup makes a whole series MAC 'dupes'. I have not tried these brushes, and I have heard mixed reviews, so I am reluctant to recommend Sigma brushes to you.

A note about MAC brush numbering:
MAC brushes are numbered, which I found really confusing when I started.  I have not found much pattern in the numbering system, other than face brushes are numbered in the 100s, eye brushes are 200s, and lip brushes are 300s.

ALL OVER BRUSHES

If you are a mineral makeup wearer like me, then a kabuki (such as the MAC 182) is a must.  It is the best way I found to apply minerals.  It's also great for blending out blush when I go overboard with application.  The only other all over face brush that I use regularly is the MAC 134, which is BRILLIANT for applying bronzer or loose powder.

BLUSH BRUSHES

The MAC 168 is a dense and super soft brush, and is great for applying blush, especially if the blush is very sheer.  I must warn you that if the blush is very pigmented, the 168 is likely to cause a clown effect.  It is also a great brush for contouring.  If I was to live with only one blush brush, I would choose the 168.  If I want a lighter dusting of blush, I reach for the MAC 129.  It's bigger, fluffier, and blends the blush more as it applies.  Also in the blush lineup is the MAC 109.  This brush is almost like a mini kabuki, dense and flat.  It gives a more precise application, but blending is more work.  It also sheds more than all of my other brushes combined.  The 109 only made the list because so many people love it that you will be tempted to buy it.  I would skip this one in lieu of the 168.

STIPPLNG BRUSHES (A.K.A. SKUNK BRUSHES, A.K.A. DUO FIBRE BRUSH)

A good skunk brush is a great tool for applying highlighter and pigmented blush.  They're great for cream blushes and foundation as well.  These brushes are great because they cover a large area with a   MAC makes two skunk brushes, the MAC 187 and the MAC 188.  The 187 is larger than the 188.  If you plan to use your skunk brush for foundation as well as blush, then the 187 is the way to go.  However, if you want more precision and plan to use it for applying blush and highlighter, then go with the 188.

CONCEALER BRUSHES

I primarily use concealer for under-eye circles.  I mostly use the MAC 224 (intended as an eye blender brush) as an under-eye concealer brush.  I dab the concealer onto my skin with my ring finger and then blend with the 224.  For the occasional blemish, I like the MAC 195.  Unlike most concealer brushes I've tried, it has a sharper tip (not just wide and oval), so it's more precise.

FOUNDATION BRUSHES

I am not a frequent liquid/cream foundation wearer.  When I do wear liquid foundation, I like to apply it with my fingers or with a damp sponge.  However, I have successfully applied foundation with the MAC 187 and MAC 109 - both are decent.

Check out the scoop on eye brushes in the next post in this series. 

What are your favorite brushes? 

Cleaning Brushes with MAC Brush Cleanser

I can't start a brush cleaning tutorial without mentioning the anatomy of the makeup brush.  The bristles are glued into the metal ferrule, which is then attached to the handle.  It is important not to get any cleaning products or water into the ferrule as that may disturb the glue. 

I clean my brushes everytime I use them with MAC Brush Cleanser.  I also deep clean my brushes with soap and water every couple of weeks (depending on use).

I will show you how I clean my brushes with MAC Brush Cleanser in this tutorial.

STEP 1

STEP 2 

STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 5

STEP 6

STEP 7

 
Note:

Brush cleanser may damage some surfaces so be sure to protect your furniture.

Many companies make these types of brush cleansers.  I have not tried them, so I can't recommend them.

I know that there are people out there who put their brush cleanser into a spray bottle and spray the cleanser directly onto the brush.  I don't do this because I do not want to risk getting any cleanser into the ferrule, where it can disturb the glue. The few dollars I would save with the spray bottle method is not worth the potential damage to my expensive brushes.

Review: MAC Brush Cleanser

A fellow tomboy is going to a wedding this weekend, and called me for a makeup consult.  I brought over some brushes and makeup to pick out some colors and teach her how to apply a total 'look'.  She pulled out her pithy makeup assortment and her single face brush.  I was appalled!  No, not because she only had one face brush.  It was the sad state of the brush that made me cringe.  You see, for the last one and a half years that this tomboy owned that brush (and used it every day to apply her mineral makeup), she NEVER washed it!  It was tattered and gross looking.  The bristles were frayed and uneven.  I would have taken a picture for you, but I didn't want to offend and upset my tomboy friend.  So instead, I decided to review MAC Brush Cleanser.

I resisted buying this brush cleanser for a long time.  But as time went on, and my MAC brush collection grew, I broke down and got it.  And now I can't live without it.

I have heard people complain about this brush cleanser, because it is too expensive and it is drying on the brushes.  My last bottle of brush cleanser cost me about $15, and lasted me several months of DAILY use.  I consider that a pretty good deal for ensuring that my brushes are well maintained.

I have also not experienced problems with the cleanser being drying.  I do condition my brushes (with hair conditioner) when I deep clean them. All of my brushes are as good as the day I bought them, despite the fact that some of them are over 5 years old.

I spot clean my brushes everytime I use them - and a brush cleanser is the way to do it.  I will post a tutorial on cleaning your brushes in the next couple of days, so keep an eye out for it.

New To Makeup Series: Basic Tools

When it comes to beauty tools, the number one rule is: "Quality, not quantity".  I do believe that you get what you paid for. So you're better off getting one or two good brushes, than a whole brush set that may not be good quality.  I feature MAC brushes here because I am most familiar with them - it is what I use daily.  I know that Sigma Makeup makes a whole series MAC 'dupes'.  I have not tried these brushes, and I have heard mixed reviews, so I am reluctant to recommend Sigma brushes to you.

To get you started, there are only a few tools that are key to getting the basic face.

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The most economical beauty tool is the humble Q-tip, which can be used to smudge eye liner, apply shadow, blend shadow, and remove any mistakes (such as blobs of mascara).  I always have q-tips on hand when I'm applying makeup, especially since I have deep set eyes and my mascara often transfers from my top lashes to my lid. 

A pencil sharpener will keep your eye liners and lip liners sharp and precise.  Invest in a good quality makeup pencil sharpner, as they are designed to waste as little product as possible while sharpening.  A cheap sharpener will chew through your pencils quickly, and you will be throwing your money out with the shavings.

Curling your lashes before you apply mascara will open up your eyes dramatically.  My favorite eyelash curler is the legendary one from Shu Uemura.  This curler is great because it magically grabs every lash at the same time - even those little ones at the inner corner.

As a mineral makeup wearer, I can not imagine my life without a good kabuki.  The MAC 182 is so far the best kabuki I have tried.  Check out my kabuki review.  The kabuki is also great at blending blush, especially when you've overdone it.

The best eye makeup brush I have ever met is the MAC 217.  This brush does it all.  It applies shadow well, and blends like a dream.  You can use it to apply your cream shadow, or better yet, use it to blend the edges of the shadow.  You can even use it to apply and blend your concealer.  This brush does it all.

Most makeup artists will tell you that your eyebrows frame your face. As such, it is important that they are well shaped, but not over plucked.  Check out my mini review of my favorite tweezers by Anastasia.  Stay tuned for some tips on shaping your brows in an upcoming post.

And of course, the most important makeup tool you already own are your hands.  Make sure your hands are clean before you start applying makeup.   Your hands are great for cream products, because their heat gently warms the product, allowing it to apply smoother and blend easier.  Use your hands to apply and blend foundation perfectly.  I also almost always apply cream shadow, cream blush and concealer with my fingers. 

These are the basic tools to get you started.  I will talk about other brushes I use often in the next installment of this series.

I Have to Finish......Before I Try......

Do you sometimes see a review of a product and then are DYING to try it, even if you already have something similar?  Lately I've been trying to be really thoughtful of what I buy when I'm makeup shopping.  I don't want to have stuff sitting around unused.  Here is my list of things I have to use up and things I want to try:

I am currently using Mac Bronzer in Golden.  I like it - it's very sheer and the color very natural on my beige undertoned skin.  But when that's done, I'm getting NARS Laguna Bronzer because I have seen so many rave reviews and I really like the formula of NARS blushes.

I am about 1/2 way through my Too Faced Shadow Insurance.  It works well, but it's starting to separate. When I use it a bit of oily goo comes out before the product.  When it's done, I am buying Urban Decay Primer Potion, which apparently does not grab the shadow and does not separate.

Sadly, I have 1 and 1/2 of MAC's Brow Pencil in Lingering to get through (I got a backup at the CCO).  I like the formula of the pencil, but the color has too much reddish brown in it, so it doesn't blend perfectly with my brows.  It's just an OK color match.  I need something that is a cooler brown, and from what I've seen when I swatched it at my local counter, Shu Uemura's Seal Brown Brow Pencil fits the bill.

I love CoverGirl Lash Blast mascara so much I am currently on my 5th tube.  But for some reason, I can't fully commit.  Next mascara I want to try (due to some positive reviews, of course) is Rimmel's Sexy Curves.

What are you trying to finish before you switch?  What is on your wish list when you do? 

New to Makeup Series: Basic Face - Products to Get You Started

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This is a great day to day look that I often use to get me out the door quickly - my take on the five minute face.  It will not make you feel like you've overdone it - just accentuate your features in a few easy steps.  And the best part is that you can apply almost everything with your hands - only one brush required!

~ Start with a well moisturized face.  I really like Bioderma Sensibio Light (my review).  Apply lip balm.

~ To even out your skin tone, I recommed a mineral makeup.  It's easy to apply, feels light and looks natural.  To apply swirl a kabuki into the product (more on kabuki brushes I like), shake off any excess and buff into the skin in circular motions.  As a starter, I rcommend MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.  It has a light to medium coverage, comes in a nice compact (as opposed to loose powder) and it's easy to get matched to the right color by the sales associate.  I also like Everyday Minerals, but it's tricky to find your shade.  I do not recommend Bare Essentuals because it contains the irritant bismuth oxychloride, which made my face itch like it was on fire!

~ Fill in any gaps in your brows with an eyebrow pencil.  Maybelline Define-A-Brow works well and is cost effective.

~ Apply a thin layer of cream eye shadow to your lids up to the crease with your finger and blend edges with q tip or clean finger befor it sets.  A neutral golden tone works well for me.  My favorite is MAC groundwork paint pot.  Benefit also has some great creaseless cream shadows.

~ Add a light highlight to the inner corner of the eye, top of your cheek bone, and under your brow.  I love Benefit Eye Bright or Benefit High Beam.  Just dab onto the skin and blend with your fingers.

~ Line the eyes as close to the top lashes as possible with a brown eye liner pencil.  Don't be afraid to be messy.  Then smudge out with a q-tip.  Only line the bottom lashes 1/2 way for a natural look.  I love Prestige Waterproof Liners - creamy, easy to blend, last all day and CHEAP (can be found at most drug stores and Ulta).

~ Finish eyes with mascara.  Make sure you start application at the base of the lashes.  I love Maybelline Lash Blast in Black.

~ Dab some cream blush on the apples of your cheeks and up towards your temple and blend up towards the temple.  Start with a little bit and add if you need to.  Dab some cream blush on your lips for some color.  I love Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge in Powder Pink for a natural flush.

~ Finish with some gloss or more lip balm to moisturize lips - Burt's Bees is my fave.

And VOILA! You're done!

Let me know how this worked for you.  What are your favorite neutal colors?  What's your everyday quick makeup look?  How long does it take you to do your makeup in the morning?

Stay tuned for the next installment - makeup tools.

New to Makeup Series: Get a Little Help from Your Friends

You decide one day that you want a more polished look.  Or you get invited to a formal gala.  Now what???  The best way to get started is to get a litte help.

FRIENDS

Do you have a friend or acquaintance who always looks polished and put together?  Do you wish you could get the look that they seem to effortlessly achieve every morning?  Then I encourage you to ask that person for help.  It can be intimidating to approach someone out of the blue and ask them for advice.  However, I can assure you that there is absolutely no better compliment than being told that you look so goood that someone else wants to look like you!  I am sure your friend would love to go to the makeup counter with you, and may even recommend a good makeup artist that they know at one of their favorite counters.  And if they're just an acqanintance?  Then this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

MARY KAY

As I've previously mentioned, I my first makeup routine was care of a Mary Kay party, and it was a positive experience.  However, this may not always be the case.  Ask around for a good consultant in your area.   It may seem strange to seek out a Mary Kay party, but you can always bring a friend.  And don't feel pressured into buying a bunch of stuff you don't want or need.  You can also order online, though you miss out on the personalized makeup lesson.

On the whole I think the strength of Mary Kay makeup is neutral, wearable, everyday makeup.  They also have new looks put together by their makeup artists in each catalog, which are also available on their website.  They give you the colors they used in each look, as well as application instructons.  Check out their all in one compact, which is great for traveling and keeps all your colors in one place.  I also enjoyed their medium coverage foundation, which feels light on your face and gives you an even complexion.  However, beware of their bath and body products, which are very perfumey.

May Kay is quite a controversial makeup line in some circles.  Its poor reputation is mostly rooted in questionable business practices that have resulted in unhappy ex-consultants.  My experience with Mary Kay has been positive.  I really enjoyed the makeup I have tried, and the guidance I got from my consultant was great.

MAKEUP COUNTERS

Most department store makeup counters have someone on hand that will be more than happy to paint your face.  And most will do just that.  Unfortunately, you will walk away looking like a clown.  I have had many such experiences.  In fact, just after Christmas I went to my local Clinique counter looking for a new foundation.  The sales lady gave me a sample of foundation and then showed me their limited edition holiday collection.  The collection was an absolutely lovely assortment of pink, plum, and purple hues.  The blush in that collections was absolutely fantastc - a very finely milled pinky plum that went on like a dream.  I was so impressed by that darn blush that I allowed myself to be talked into a makeup look using those colors.  My sister found me ten minutes later, looking so clownish that she had to walk away so that she wouldn't burst out laughing right in front of that poor sales lady.  There was a noticeable gap between my lashes and my cream liner.  My eye shadow was completely unblended.  My blush was applied too heavily.  I had on BRIGHT pink lipstick (the shade was actually called EXTREME PINK), and the highlight under my brows was WHITE.  If this was my first makeup experience, I would have left that store in tears of frustration and disappointment.  All the colors suited me well.  Yes, that includes Extreme Pink Lipstick.  The problem was that they did NOT all belong on my face TOGETHER!

Here are some tips on how to avoid a similar experience.

- Ask the person if they are a trained makeup artist.

- Ask around or search the web for recommendations of makeup artists in your area.  Check out makeup forums, such as Specktra.net, and don't be afraid to post questions.

- Take a look at the artist's makeup.  Look for makeup that is well blended (think GRADIENT of color, and not STRIPES), paying special attention to eyes and cheeks.  And don't worry, just because the artist is wearing really bright colors does not mean that she will apply those colors to your face, unless that is what you are after.

- When you find someone you like, make an appointment.  Avoiding peak mall hours will ensure that the artist has plenty of time to devote to you an is not constantly distracted by other customers.  Book the appointment during the day, so you can look at yourself in daylight.

- Tell the person that it's your first time getting your makeup done, and give them some guidance as to the type of makeup you are after (more polished, neutral, day-to-evening, formal event, bold lip, etc.) and ask for tips and techniques while they apply the makeup.

- If there is something you do not like, tell them.  For example, if the lipstic is too bright, ask for a more neutral one.  Alternatively, if the lipstick is so neutral it completely mutes down the color of your lips, ask for something with more color.  Too pink?  Too brown?  Too red?  Let the artist know.

- Once your makeup is done, go outside and look at your face in daylight.  How does that foundation look?  Foundation should even out your skin tone, but it should still look like skin.  It should feel light on your face.  There should be no color variation between your face, neck, and decollete.

- Keep in mind when booking your appointment that you will be expected to either pay for the appointment or purchase products.  For example, there is a $50 fee for a MAC makeup appointment, or you need to buy at least $50 worth of product.  Keep in mind that the artist just spent a significant amount of time with you when they could have been selling products to other customers. 

- You don't have to buy EVERYTHING the artist recommends.  It is perfectly acceptable to ask them to write down the names of the products you are not buying after your appointment so that you may go back and purchase them later.  If there is something you didn't like, don't get it.  And keep in mind that the drug store has lots of very good quality mascaras and plenty of brown eye shadow and liners, all for a lot less money.  However, foundation and concealer are very hard to match by yourself, and the drug store has thousands of lipstick shades that don't have testers. So prepare to be able to say NO THANK YOU to products you don't like or aren't sure about.

- Counters I recommend: MAC, NARS, Bobbi Brown, Chanel, Estee Lauder and Laura Mercier.

I would love to hear how it goes, so keep me posted on your progress.  And come back for the next installment of this series, where I will recommend a handful of products that are a good starting point for an everyday look.

Best of luck!

New to Makeup Series: How I Got Started

All my life I have been surrounded by women who do not wear any makeup.  I have had many questions about makeup from the tomboys in my life.  The first one being, where do I start?  I didn't start wearing makeup until I was in grad school, so I know where these women are coming from.  Not only is the vast selection of makeup intimidating, a girl who never wore makeup is not going to feel comfortable with a full face of bold colors. 

I learned my first regular makeup 'look' at a Mary Kay party.  The consultant is a good friend, and an excellent makeup artist.  She picked out the right shade of foundation for me, and the colors she chose for the rest of my face were very neutral and did a wonderful job of accentuating my best features.  I ended up spending quite a bit of cash on makeup that day, and walked away with the medium color foundation and a 'look compact' of three eye shadows, a blush, a lipstick, and two stubby little makeup brushes.  Add mascara and I was good to go.  10 minutes in the morning to a brand new, more polished me.  And the best part?  I got so many complements on how I looked good, even though most people couldn't figure out what I had done differently!  WOW!  I loved those products, and used them regularly for about a year before I started to branch out into other brands and colors.

I realize now that I was one of the lucky ones.  I have since heard countless accounts of 'professional' makeovers which made somebody look like a clown.  If you have seen the movie The Truth About Cats and Dogs, you know what I'm talking about.  As such, I will be doing this series as an intro to makeup.  So if you're a tomboy like me, or someone who wants a more polished look, or you have a special date or event, stay tuned.  And feel free to ask questions!

Makeup Forever Cream Liner Update

I really wanted to love this liner. Really. I had heard such good things about it. And there are things about it that I like. It has a slight powdery consistency, which makes it go on softer than my MAC fluid line. However, the thing dried out really badly...and I made sure it was closed tight every time I used it. I was so paranoid about it drying out that I even closed it after each time I dipped the brush in it while I was applying it. So there is no reason why it should be as dry as it is.

Now...to be fair...the thing is not a hockey puck or anything...it's just shrinking away from the edges of the container. However, that is unacceptable. My MAC fluidline, in contrast, is perfectly moist still. And since I paid more for the MUFE cream liner, I expect it to last better than it has.

So although the liner stays on extremely well, and I like the texture/consistency...the drying out issue is reason enough for me not to purchase it again.

Drool...................

Photos: Sephora

Guerlain Meteorites (loose $51; pressed $65)

When I think of Guerlain I think of classy ladies in beautifully tailored suits. I think of old school charm and etiquette. I think girly...but grown up.

I have had my eye on the loose meteorites for quite a while now. When I test them, they seem to just give glow and good lighting, as opposed to that disco ball effect I get with the luminizers I've tried so far. I love everything about the Guerlain meteorites, except the price. That, and I have heard over and over how pain in the butt the packaging is.

Now Guerlain has come out with pressed meteorites. WOW! These avoid the messiness of the old school loose meteorites. Despite the heftier price tag I will most likely be buying these in the near future.

I have to say though, when I finally graduate and get a big girl job, and a big girl dwelling, I want one of those old school vanities. And I think then I will be getting the loose meteorites. It's just too beautiful to pass up - especially on a vanity!

MAC Blacktrack Fluidline

photo: MAC

I finally got a pot of this much raved gel liner. I'm excited to try it! I do love the MUFE liner so far though. Sometime in the near future I'll do a head to head of the two. Just gimme time to play with Blacktrack!

NARS Releases New Blush

Photo: NARS

NARS makes the nicest blush. That is a fact. The colors are so natural (even if they don't look it in the container), and it applies smoothly for beautiful results. The new blush, DOLCE VITA, is described as a 'dusty rose'. I love the color, I love that it's a matte blush, and I want it...despite the $25 price tag!