The Daily Beauty Break

Hello beautiful people!!! Getting invitations to Holiday Parties yet? Well I am (I’m sooo popular..lol)….I thought what better way to help than to give you some quick tips to “Amp up your Holiday Beauty Routine”….I’ve already reviewed several items from Bobbi Brown’s New Copper Diamond Collection because it is the IDEAL Holiday makeup. Here are a few ways to “Amp it Up..”

1. Add shimmer…..I’m in love with Bobbi’s latest Limited Edition Shimmer Brick Compact ($40). These universally-appealing bronze/pearly/coppery shades are  perfect for everyone and easily provide “all-over glamour…(yes, I used your spelling Jayne..lol).

Taking a big fan brush, lightly dust the tops of your cheekbones, brow bone and even your decollete with this lovely powder….take it one step further and dust the tops of your shoulders (if you dare to bare) and the front of your shins…..It’s catches the evening light perfectly (and I use it for day on my eyes….)

Plus, checkout out the packaging! You can bet my best girlfriends will be receiving this little lovely as a present from moi for Xmas……(cosmetics ship beautifully….)

2. Amp up your day look to night by adding Metallic eye shadows($20) and go one shade deeper with Bobbi’s Limited Edition Glitter lip glosses $19)……

Take one of these gorgeous jewel-toned shadows and apply from the lash line to the crease…..if you have blue eyes try a deep chocolate mauve shade and brown-eyed beauties try a navy shade…I’ve been doing navy lately and you would be amazed at how it picks up the flicks of gold in your eyes and lights up your entire face!!!

3. Then top it off with the gloss (over your usual liner if you need the extra definition like moi) and you are good to go…..OH! And don’t worry about getting the goo everywhere….Bobbi really does listen to our beauty gripes….Glitter Lip Glosses are packaged now with this cool little acrylic flap inside the compact that protects the gloss (and your purse)….that way your compact (and your purse) stay goo-free…NICE!

So how do YOU “Amp Up YOUR Holiday Beauty Routine”?…..Do tell!!!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll…..

Hey girls. I am so in love right now, can I just say? …Care of makeup artist extraordinaire Bobbi Brown..just in time for the holidays are these little lovelies…..Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Glitter Lip Balms ($18). …Part of Bobbi’s new collection for the holidays called the Copper Diamond Collection.….Glitter Balms come in three shades: Crystal Diamond, Pink Crystal and Copper Diamond (the shade I tested….).

Love,love….the darling litte round compact contains a generous portion of the cushy, hydrating balm PLUS a mirror…perfect for your holiday hand bag. And the formula? Whoever said that the over 40 ( or 30) crowd can’t wear glitter has NOT tried these balms….the perfect amount of sheer color, shine and sparkle this balm is soooo in my bag!!!!

Leave it to Bobbi to do glitter for every age………

More reviews from Bobbi’s Copper Diamond Collection coming up soon….so stay tuned. xoxo

Be Beautiful…….

Hello beautiful people! Well, as some of you already know I was super thrilled and honored a few weeks ago to meet one of my makeup idols….CARMINDY, the master behind the make-up on TLC’s What Not To Wear.  Carmindy was able to  fulfill a dream I think most professional makeup artists possess…..she was asked by Sally Hansen to help them create a one-of-kind makeup line called Sally Hansen Natural Beauty….Inspired by CARMINDY……I was even more thrilled to learn that Carmindy honestly ONLY USES SALLY HANSEN NATURAL BEAUTY make-up on the show!!! Since they shoot What Not To Wear in HD, what you see is what you get (and made me even more positive that I MUST try out these amazing products)!!!

And wouldn’t you know it….last week I received my own box of “love” from Carmindy….and just have to share with you the standout products from the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty…inspired by CARMINDY line!

1. Luminizing Face Primer ($9.99). Well, you all know how I feel about primer….if you are going to take the time to put on foundation, put on primer first!! This shimmery, gel-based primer felt like silk going on….It made my foundation adhere seamlessly and then stay all day! I am super excited because I have yet to find a drugstore primer that I can recommend to my clients…Well, here it is Ya’ll!

2. Your Skin Makeup ($12.99) This foundation did a great job of giving  me the  medium to full coverage I need; I found this yellow-based (thank GOD) liquid to be super easy to work with and the results looked super natural…I recommend this foundation for experienced makeup girls or you  newbies to the cosmetic scene!

3.Fast Fix Concealer ($8.99) Thick enough to cover the nastiest of blemishes but creamy enough to use under your eyes….that is no easy feat from any product ( GO drugstore beauty…)!

4. Instant Definition Eye Shadow Pallete ($7.99) Consisting of a highlighter, mid-tone and contouring shadow, there is no end to the different looks you can get from this one pallete (they come in 8 color combos)….Use the highlighter for day and pump it up with the countor shadow for evening….These silky shadows have enough pigment to satisfy a makeup artist while managing to stay VERY user-friendly..(I’ll be using these puppies at my next wedding for sure…).

5. Natural Beauty Powder Blush ($10.99) Same as the shadows…enough pigment for moi, but not too much for makeup newbies….the shade I tested “Etheral” was super-light with just enough shimmer to give you a super-natural glow!

And last (but not least), I have to tell you about the lip gloss….

5. Natural Shine Lipgloss ($7.99) This yummy-tasting gloss is the perfect mix of balm and gloss….thick enough to stay awhile, but not a “hair magnet” like some others can be, I thought it had the perfect amount of color….it looks beautiful on it’s own or works great layered over lipstick for that extra “oouummph”!

The best part? Since Carmindy “shared the love” with moi…I am going to pay it forward and share it with you readers….I’ll be giving away my own “box of love” of Sally Hansen Natural Beauty…inspired by CARMINDY cosmetics…Stay tuned for my next post Ya’ll!!

Be Beautiful….

So have you seen Ellen Pompeo on the new October cover of Allure magazine? Totally beach-bunny beautiful!! SO this is always my favorite issue because it features “The Best of Beauty”…..editors top 182 beauty picks of the year!!!! These girls work hard.…..laying on the lotion and lathering the shampoos……My opinion? HEAVEN.

So I have been suffering AGAIN with some horrible breakouts and when I heard their review of the new PUR Mineral Foundation (it’s a 4-in-1…concealor, foundation, power and sunscreen($25) I had to try it!!! They said it had amazing coverage (which I SO need) and I needed something that I could just slick on and run out the door….

Seriously, this stuff ROCKS. One product and even the nastiest of zits vanish…..it is very matte so there’s no need to top it with powder (like some other mineral foundations..uh-hem..), it’s non-irritating AND has sunscreen for the walk to pick up the kids at school! I’ve found that it works AWESOME when applied with a bronzer brush..( one with pretty tight bristles for heavy coverage)..so no messy fingers.

AND I got proof. Yesterday picking up my daughter at school another mom told me I had gorgeous skin and “by the way, if this isn’t too wierd of a question, what kind of foundation do I use?”…..HELLO, sister. I talk shop in my sleep baby!

You can find at Ulta, Dillards and their website.

Be Beautiful……

Hello my beauties!!! Had MAJOR technical difficulties (they are redo-ing all the dsl on our street) so it’s good to be back. Had a few days to think up some post ideas and between grocery and drugstore runs this week, thought I would list my top 5 drugstore beauty finds!!!!

1. Neutrogena Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment (<$10). Well, it didn’t get top pick from Allure editors for no reason..this is the first 2% salicylic acne treatment that didn’t A. Burn like dickens and B. Create more redness and more flaking….love,love!

2.  Loreal Skin Genesis Pore Minimizing Face Cleanser (<$8). The fragrance in this stuff has a kick!!! I seem to taste it every time I wash my face so it’s a no,no for you sensitive girls….BUT it takes off makeup lickety-split...especially eye makeup, so it’s a no-brainer for moi….

3. Covergirl Line Exact Liquid Eyeliner ($7). My hero, makeup artist Pat McGrath came up with this little lovely and I finally picked one up. GREAT for newbies to liquid eyeliner because of it’s tiny size; it really helps to keep your hand steady (and the felt tip is easier than a brush). Loved the formula (lasted a long time)…just wish they would come out with more colors…..

4. Borghese Nail Laquer (<$9). This latest department store import kept the department store quality but changed the prices….it’s got a great brush and went on super smooth and remained chip-free my required week (plus it has no nasty ingredients!)….

5. St. Ives Swiss Minerals Body Lotion (<$5). I don’t why but the minerals in this stuff really appealed to me….and I’m glad I bought it because it is super moisturizing without being greasy and feels pretty luxurious for a pretty cheap price!!! ( I probably go through a gallon of body lotion a week…NOT my most favorite beauty ritual but necessary...)

So there you have it. My grocery store and drugstore beauty conquests this week….if you are in need try them out next trip out (and be sure to leave a comment and tell ME if you find something that makes your step a little bit prettier….)!

TGIF and Be Beautiful Ya’ll……….

Good Day my beauties…..Well, not only did I have to do the annual foundation switch for fall but I had to do the same with my bronzer…. Just in time for Cargo’s New PlantLove Baked Illuminator in Wind ($28). This cool product is multi-use…it’s a blush, bronzer and highlighter in one! It has some pink in it so it blends better with my paler skin than my summer shade.

Tip: Want the JLO glow?…Using a medium brush apply bronzer in a “horseshoe” shape, blending directly INTO the hairline all along the entire forehead….continue outside the temples and onto the tops and sides of the cheekbones.(and don’t forget to apply blush to the apples of your cheeks to complete the glow) Then, if you want to get real fancy apply under the jawline, to your collarbone and decollete!

Warning, PlantLove Baked Illuminator has some SERIOUS pigment in it  (a little goes a ways) so use a big, fluffy brush to apply and slowly build the color….it’s way easier to add than to take away my friend!

All of Cargo PlantLove products meet the rigorous standards demanded by ECOCERT™, an international certification that guarantees products are eco-friendly through all aspects of product and production, dramatically reducing its environmental footprint. Their compacts are made from CORN and are biodegradable, all the formulas are 100% natural and are produced in a carbon-neutral facility. Now, that’s some “Good For You Beauty” right ‘chere girls!

Bronze Beautifully Y’all…and do comment if you have any application questions!!!!!

Ahh…the elusive “Smoky-Eye”…you hear about it constantly…..my clients clamour for it….women ask me how to do it…ALL the time. For some reason there is this huge mystique behind it…when in reality, the smoky-eye was one of the first eye makeup techniques that I really became confindent in….It is a great way for beginners to learn basic makeup application and works on ALL eye shapes.

My number one rule/trick (I hate rules…in anything) to achieving a perfect smoky eye is graduation of color….as you see in this picture it’s about starting dark around the lash line and blending the color from dark to light all the way up to the browbone…once you get that down , there are limitless ways to customize your look. The key is to blend, blend, blend my beauties…..once you get that down, you can do anything (when it comes to makeup that is…)!

But here’s a basic tutorial:

1. Line both the top and bottom lashes with liner….and be sure to extend to meet at the outer corner of the eye……..get as close to your lashline as you can…..work the liner into the lashline…this will define your eyes and give them that POP! we are all after.

2. Go over your liner with the darkest shadow in your kit…for newbies, I prefer eyeshadow palletes that contain graduated colors that blend together easily….like this one, Cargo’s Essential Eye Shadow Pallete ($32).

Apply the darkest shade up to the bottom of the crease of your eye….or another way to put it, about 1/3 of the total distance from the lash line to brow (crease or not..smoky eye works on all ethnicities…). I like to use a medium-size shadow brush…but if you are new, don’t be afraid to use sponge-tip applicators!

3. Next I like to apply my highlighter (or lightest shadow) to the top 1/3 of the lid…. blending all the way into the brow and following the entire length of the brow as well…( a little dot at the inner corners of eyes will open up sleepy eyes, too).

4. Take your medium shade and apply to the middle or crease of the eye…..and blend, blend,blend…here’s where the “art” to makeup comes in…you want to blend so that there is no visible line between your dark shadow and highlighter…….again, it’s this graduation of color that gives the eye the “smoky” look and separates the women from the girls…(not, really!) LOL!

5. Finally, give a good coat (or three) of your favorite mascara…work it into the lashes as best you can and POW! You’ve got a beautiful, smoky eye in no time flat!

Once you get this down there are SO many ways that you can change it up….dark, intense shadows for night give you a more dramatic look and you can use light, shimmering tones with this application for day. You can line inside the inner rims of the eye for extra WOW! or you can go without liner for an even softer look…I just love this “dark to light” eyeshadow application because like I said, it is a great way for newbies to learn to blend….(and way easier than trying to contour the eye crease and blend that)….And not only does this makeup look great on EVERY eye but it is particularly flattering on “hooded” eyes or if you are having a “puffy” eye day. Remember the basic rule of shading in art….dark colors will recede on the face and pull those areas “back” (as in minimize puffiness) and light shadows protrude (bring forward and “lift” your brow bone) giving eyes a visual “lift”. NICE……

The possibilities really are endless……and why I love makeup so darn much. Makeup really can be as fun as you want it to be…….and can be changed as much as your mood does (which for me is A LOT..I’m a Gemini)…and probably one of MY favorite things about makeup is that it can be washed off!!! So change it up ladies!!! Don’t get stuck in a boring routine and for god sakes…Don’t be afraid to try something new!!!

Be Beautiful Y’all…and please email me if you have any questions!

I am so excited ya’ll….I recently scored a  broadcast gig doing makeup for the lovely Jessica Sherbert…anchor of Bank of America’s (formerly known as Countrywide) broadcast division. Jessica does a weekly show that airs to the companies thousands of sales employees….she updates them on all the latest in the home mortgage world..and most important of all, stays real ( and beautiful, of course) while she does it. She has THE perfect makeup face…..strong features and huge eyes for way fun eye makeup looks ( I need to do her makeup for a night out)…..a dream job for moi!

I’ve named her look for this weeks show “Peachy Keen” (yes, Jess I am probably going to have to name each new look…) Some of the standout products that we used for this week’s shoot were:

LORAC’s Miss Davenporte pallete ($38)…Sorry ya’ll don’t think it is available anymore as a set…but I am pretty sure that each shade is part of their regular collection and can be bought separately……but the peach shimmer just made her hazel eyes sing, don’tcha think?

Then I used my Handy-Dandy NARS blush/bronzer Duo in Orgasm/Laguna ($37) to contour her features and make her cheeks POP! It never fails to amaze me how handy this little duo comes in for me on the job….I use these shades on EVERYONE…from super-pale to ethnic beauty, these colors are universally flattering!

What was even better this shoot was that Jess introduced me to her makeup bag (and this girl knows her makeup, let me tell ya!)…..and from her stash I got to try her Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($40). This foundation melted seamlessly into Jessica’s skin and covered her (I think darling) freckles beautifully…all while looking super natural. MUFE’s HD line is formulated specifically to stand up to bright studio lights and we both think it does a great job making the camera (and Jessica) happy!

To finish off the whole look and make her makeup stay we used Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder ($30). I admit, I was pretty set on my MAC Set Powder…but MUFE’s formula won me over to their side…….SUPER-finely milled…So fine, in fact, that both Jessica and I were sneezing it out a few hours later….(hey, sometimes you have to suffer for beauty, nuff said!)….the HD Microfinish Powder did a great job setting her makeup and softening any imperfections…..without giving her that cakey, powdery finish we all know powder can do sometimes.

Result…perfect, flawless looking skin that took to the camera extremely well….Man, I could not imagine the pressure to be “in front of the camera” and Jessica manages to do it beautifully……stay tuned to see what color combinations we come up with next show!!!

Be Beautiful Y’all……

Uggghh…SO I got my weekly Ulta catalog in the mail, along with my coupon for my FREE nail polish and $3.50 off…..all excited to get this AWESOME deal from Stila….a $90 value for only $40 bucks!!!! I needed mascara anyways…and well Lip Glazes are always in need…the colors are extremely wearable for EVERYONE , so I needed it (well need is a relative term) for a bunch of photo shoots I have coming up next week.

….So I searched a bit to no avail, until I finally asked the checker and she said they won’t be out until NEXT week. DOH!

Don’t ya’ just HATE that.…….

Be Beautiful (and check your dates) Ya’ll…

So it’s probably not surprising that I (literally) cut my baby teeth while my mom watched The Young & The Restless...now 33 years later (yikes) here I am…Tivo-ing the action in “Genoa city” everyday.  Probably not a surprise that  “Y&R” is about powerful, rich and  beautiful families  that run rivaling cosmetic companies!!!

I have to say I get daily beauty inspiration watching The Young and The Restless…their on-set makeup artists must have so much fun!!!! What I really love about soaps is that (for the most part) the actors are not afraid to GLAM IT UP!!! These women wear some color, let me tell you……and needless to say I am always on the lookout for fast, easy and inexpensive ways to add to my beauty repertoire!

So (of course) I had to try the new Covergirl Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Shadows($6) when I saw them hit the drugstores.  When experimenting with your makeup I highly recommend trying drugstore products…..Covergirl has really upped their game since they hired one of my favorite celebrity makeup artists, Molly Stern to lead the way for them….

I have been having so much fun with these shadows y’all! They have just the right amount of pigment and smooth on perfectly without tugging at your lids or depositing un-even color. Pick one up next time you are at your everything store…..I recommend the blues for you blond more fair-haired beauties and the purples for you dark beauties…But don’t forget…there are NO RULES in beauty….so HAVE FUN!!!!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll!

PS. Don’t forget to say Hi and enter my YBF Skincare give away girls!!!!