Wishing You

A very Merry Christmas to you & yours!

Julibox ~ A Great Last Minute Gift idea

Though Christmas is the same day every year, sometimes it still sneaks up on us! I don't know how, but I still have a lot to wrap. There are others (ahem Dad) who still have shopping to do.

For those of you out there in the same boat- rather than fight store lines- monthly gift subscriptions are a great bet. There are ones for beauty lovers like Birchbox & Glossybox, ones for dog lovers like Barkbox,  health nuts have NatureBox & for those cocktail lovers out there like myself- there's Julibox!

I've given a Julibox shipment as a gift a few times when I've visited friends out of town. It's a great treat prior to your arrival or as a thank you after your departure.

The packaging is very high end & it's such fun to open, that I gifted myself a 6 month subscription (that seems to be a theme for me this holiday season....that's such a great gift- I'll get one for me & one for you!) All the liquor is supplied that is needed for 2 signature cocktail recipes that very monthly & are seasonally inspired- usually you'll need to supply something like lemon, some type of fruit or sugar.

Fabulous little touches...

Recipe one which we'll sample on Christmas Eve involves some bubbles...

This one looks like a winner any night of the week or just to unwind from all of the holiday running around. Whereas some subscription boxes I've signed up for end up leaving me with things I don't use- I find myself stepping outside of the traditional vodka 'box' (couldn't help myself) that I tend to stick with. There's enough to make 2 servings of each cocktail. I think it's a great last minute gift that costs $40/single shipment or $36/shipment for a 6 or 12 month subscription. Cheers!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Files from The Brow Whisperer

The week before Christmas is always a blur for me! Everyone wants to come in & have their brows done. Who wouldn't want to get their glam on- especially when so many photos are taken this time of year.

A major streamlining of her brows opened up the entire eye area. Everything looks lifted. She'll be good to ring in the New Year, too!

Peace. Love. Brow Whisperer.

Stocking Stuffers

Stockings are a big deal in my family. But the price tags can add up, so here are a few of my favorites I've found this year:

I first spotted these hair ties on Movie Girl & actually had complemented her 'bracelet.' When she explained they were hair ties...

I went out & got some for myself from Anthropologie! I can't tell you how often I have hair ties or elastics on my wrist for work that look, well like hair ties. These look so lovely on the wrist. Three are for $24- so since I do 3 stockings for my mom & sisters I'd split up the pack.

I'm obsessed with NYX Lip Butters, I mean beyond. When my lips are chapped I used to turn only to by beloved Aquaphor. The fact that I reach for these now too is saying something! I bought these trios for my sisters' stockings at 40% off their normal $9.99 price tag. If you can't find the sets anymore locally, still head to Ulta where the singles are buy one, get one 50% off. 

Here's an option from Benefit with super cute packaging that breaks down to about $4.33 a gloss if divvied up.

 I stumbled upon this Perlier set by accident while watching (ahem being sucked into) a beauty segment on HSN. 

It's a collection of 9 hand creams in the box + 1 bonus anti-aging body balm at a special price if $19.95.

Now I know we all dip into the 99 cent bin sometimes for beauty items, especially for stockings & bulk gifts or favors- but most of the time you feel it in the actual quality of the product or worse the smell is gross. These hand creams are luxurious & much needed this time of year. I would wrap individually & fill an entire stocking for someone like a nurse or teacher or esthetician; ^) that's washing their hands all the time during these cold months.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Mally: Celebrate Your Beauty

It's the most wonderful time of year....because it's holiday beauty gift time;)

Bam! Taaaa daaa- this kit even makes a professional make-up artist like myself squeal with glee! The lipcolors, evercolor liners & shadows are paired color wise for easily breaking up the collection into 3 separate gifts.

High Shine Liquid Lipsticks in Mally Melon (L), Petal to the Metal(C) & Mauvelous (R.)

Evercolor Eyeliners in Shimmering Black (L), Royal Plum (C) & Expresso (R.)

The individual shadow compacts are adorbs!

Palettes Romantic Brown (T), Radiant Taupe (M), & Royal Plum (B.)

Here I am sporting the Radiant Taupe shadow palette, the Mally Melon Lipcolor & Mally Volumizing Mascara from the collection. I've waxed poetic about her mascara for years- 3 of those alone is worth the price of admission. I'm also wearing her highlighter & Dream Brow(yes in Taupe & yes it's super dreamy!) Friday the 13th can't be that bad, as that's when this Todays Special Value launches & it is amazing.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Beauty Blog Coalition Winter Giveaway!

The bloggers from the Beauty Blog Coalition are at it again and want to give you the opportunity to win a little money right before the holiday season!
All terms and conditions are listed in the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway is open from 10 December until 21 December, internationally to all those ages 18 and up. You may tweet using the Rafflecopter option once a day until the giveaway is over for extra entries. One winner will receive a $500 prepaid Visa gift card. Two more winners will receive a $200 prepaid Visa gift card. (Both are available as a one-time PayPal transfer if the winner so chooses.)
Please take time to visit the bloggers who made this giveaway happen and good luck!

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Files From The Brow Whisperer

Are you looking more Grinch than glam at the moment?

Make sure you're ready for the holidays!

Peace. Love. Brow Whisperer.

The Luxe List: Smashbox

When I bought this Master Class II Palette from Smashbox during Sephora's VIB November sale, my full intention was for it to live in my professional kit for bridal parties. Of course when it arrived I wanted to test it out personally!

 Kits are often a great way of experiencing a multitude of offerings from a particular line. That being said, in the past I've bought some palettes before that had a few shades I rarely used or worse found the pigments in some far less quality than single shadows in a line.

This palette doesn't disappoint in terms of quality & is jam packed with product. Four of their best selling cream liners, 28 shadows, 2 highlighting powders & 6 blushes!

Too many shades to swatch! Some of my favorites:
Anchor(L), Amethyst(M) & Rose (R)

Ultramarine(L), Serpent (M) & Peacock(R)
I find this palette coming home with me almost every weekend so I can play with it. It's a great value at $59 & a great holiday gift. Though I realize it is over $50 in terms of pricepoint, you really get a complete make-up wardrobe.  This would be an awesome starter palette for a teen or granddaughter. However, if you've gotten your VIB coupon recently in the mail- I say scoop it up for yourself!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

The Luxe List: QVC Beauty Christmas Advent Calendar

So my discovery of probably the most fun holiday beauty gift this year began when I got my Goddaughters advent calenders. My thought was that selfishly they would have to think of me once a day for 25 days- I like to be on their minds, since they live out of state;) Then I saw Benefit's Countdown to Love Calender & thought why not get their mom an advent treat, too! Unfortunately it was sold out everywhere I checked.

So imagine my delight when I spotted QVC's very own Beauty Christmas Advent Calender online. Yes, it's a bit pricey at regularly $96. However, it's at an event price now of $78.96 & this sucker is huge! It's substantial in size & makes a great impression straight out of the box.

It honestly took a lot of strength not to keep it for myself. It was so tempting to sneak a peek into the numbered doors, but I quickly wrapped it. I think it's just a fun way of transfering that holiday childhood delight to us adults. My Bestie promised she would text me a pic of her beauty treat everyday so I can live vicariously through her (hint hint Santa.)

I actually think this offering is even better than Benefit's in terms of gift giving, because it features so many different brands: Bliss, Fresh, Ole Henriksen, Philosphy, Dr. Perricone, Dr. Denise, Nick Chavez, Stila, Tarte, Mally, Julep- the list goes on & on! Great for sisters, besties, daughters- I wanted to give you as much time as possible in case you wanted to grab one for gifting & send it on its way. Can you believe December is going to be here in a few days!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

The Luxe List: Hourglass' Ambient Lighting Palette

 

When Oprah's talk show was on the air, it was known among insiders that her lighting budget was the most expensive in the industry. Every make-up artist knows the importance of bringing light to the face. When done properly- everything looks better! Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder has become a cult favorite since they launched last year.

 For holiday & all the good little girls this year, they introduced the swoon worthy Ambient Lighting Palette ($58) with their 2 best selling shades + a limited edition shade. You know you want to see the inside....

Tadaaa! The palette features 3 shades: (L) Dim Light, (M) Limited Edition Incandescent Light & (R) Radiant Light. As an oily skinned girl, I ran from any type of face with sheen in my 20's. But the key is all in where it's applied. As we get older, where drooping occurs due to losing volume- shadow results.  Bringing light to the area brightens & gives the illusion of lift.  I consider these powders, glow powders. They're incredibly soft- enough to use all over the face, which is why I don't want people to shy away from them that are afraid of traditional highlighters.

As you can see - even when finger swatched, the colors are all very sheer. Colors from- (L) Radiant Light, (M) Incandescent Light & (R) Dim Light.

I always highlight on the cheekbone & down the bridge of the nose- here I used Incandescent for those areas. I then built the Radiant Shade into a blush for my cheeks.  This is a gorgeous palette that really could suit all ages- the light reflective pigments really help diffuse any imperfections like hyperpigmentation. Because isn't this the season to be merry & bright?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.
* gifted for review

Files From The Brow Whisperer

Often clients who come to me with petite brows overdo it on filling them in. The stick powder of pencil on every hair the do have & it makes the brows look very 'blocky." It even accentuates the fact that they do not

This visit was this client's first to me & she said she was sensitive.  I used my hard Cirepil wax above & in between the brows.

I still was conservative in my shaping. I left a few hairs at the beginning of the brow, in hopes that we can grow in that area.

I then gave her a tutorial on brow powder, choosing a shade accenting her auburn hair. That way we  extended the tail of brow a bit to make them look more proportioned. I was able to give an arch & show her how to replicate the look at home. This photo is looking at her straight on, as you can see this helps open up the eye & give the illusion of the lift.

Peace. Love. Brow Whisperer.

Polish Pic{k}s

How I love a good gray! From the Essie Fall 2013 Collection I'm wearing  #847, Cashmere Bathrobe. My pinky features Face Stockholm Polish in #164, just to add a little metallic to the mix.

Peace. Love Polish.

Sugar Skull Halloween Make-up

Happy Halloween Beauties! As a professional make-up artist, I must admit Halloween is second only to Christmas in my heart. Sometimes it's even better since it's without as much stress;)

I know Sugarskull make-up has been popular to do this year- I decided to join the band wagon, as I've always loved the look. Since my skin is acne prone & rather sensitive, I stuck with make-up products I already had on hand versus theatrical make-up. It's really helpful to outline your plan of action with eyeliners. I did a white circle around my face with Prestige's white eyeliner, then went with Mally's Peacock Feathers liner to outline my eyes. I painted a thicker application of with my normal foundation, just 2 shades lighter in tone within the lines with a brush. I set it with a shimmery white eyeshadow. I then filled in the eye area with Tarte's Aqualillies Amazonian Clay Waterproof liner in Splash (limited edition summer 2013.)

With Make-Up For Ever's AquaEyes pencil liner in Matte Black I drew the spiderweb + cross on my forehead & drew in my nose.

I also drew the scars on my cheeks, then went in with Bobbie Brown's black gel liner for thinner slits across the mouth. I figured it would have more staying power as I would be having cocktails!

The final steps involved drawing my chin in with the Mally liner & then applying crystals. I curled my hair with the amazing Conair Infinity Rotating iron I posted about a while back & jammed some roses in my do. Voila! Happy Halloween Beauties! xxoo