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

Holiday Gits : The Luxe List

Here are a couple of luxe gifts on my list that make my heart go pitter patter! I justify nice sunglasses the way I can justify a nice watch- it's something I wear almost every day. In fact, I can go even further in saying sunglasses are an anti-aging item, since they help prevent squinting!

So no I couldn't walk a mile in these Valentinos, but how gorgeous are they?!? Diamonds for your feet Girleens!

For the serious make-up lover, this professional kit from Make Up For Ever is swoon worthy. It's actually at steal of a deal at $330-including 28 products with a retail vale of $600.

This collection of three hardcover books is like art for your coffee table- at only $75 it's the most affordable Chanel item ever;)

Until Louboutin starts making more wedges & flats that I can actually walk in, I'll settle for gazing adoringly at his creations $150. Other 'food' for thought in terms of great gifts? Gourmet cheese & wine of the month clubs- it's a gift that keeps giving all year long!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Make-Up Must Have Monday: Make Up For Ever Black Tango

I first spotted Make Up For Ever's Black Tango Palette when I was in Italy a few weeks ago. They were sold out of it & I panicked that it wouldn't be available in the U.S.  Luckily it is. The palette includes 4 Aqua Cream shadows- which is are so creamy & delicious they easily apply as liners. Here I sport the emerald hue on my top lash line & the navy on my bottom lash line.

I was a bit apprehensive of the reddish hue- since I feel pinks & reds near the eye can make them appear bloodshot.  But the shade is a deep black plum that's very wearable.  I covered my entire lid with it while playing with Halloween looks. Make-Up For Ever is such a great brand in that they offer truly theatrical grade coverage & colors without the heavy feel. This shade reminds me a bit of my beloved go to nail color- OPI's Midnight In Moscow.  I used the white shade in the palette as a highlighter.

All of the shades sparkle like jewels on the skin.  Since the deeper shades are all blended with black- it's a great palette to step out of your comfort zone a bit from basic blacks & browns.

The compact itself is a work of art, like a Japanese paint box.  It states on the compact to close each pot tightly, which I make sure to do since I noticed the tester on display at Sephora had dried out a little.  The textures & intensity make this palette a must have. It's also a great value at $45, when individual Aqua Creams (though larger) retail for $23 each.  I say put it on your holiday wish list!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Take a Peek Inside My Beauty Bag

So tonight at the spa, Dr Noelle Sherber, Dr. Ariel Rad & yours truly will be talking in depth about what celebrities really do to stay looking so young & fabulous. While I will be explaining chemical peels, dishing make-up tips & tricks, as well as giving brow guidance -even I am excited to hear the break downs in terms of laser, injectables & other procedures Hollywood's elite turn to! As promised after showing you Dr. Sherber's make-up bag last week, here's a glimpse into mine(though it varies color wise.) I found it very interesting to see how different the contents are due to our skin types being at total opposite ends of the spectrum. Having oily skin that's prone to break outs, I try to touch my face the least amount possible throughout the day. That's why the majority of my products are lip related & hence the name of this blog!

From Bottom:
Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lip Gloss in Naked Plum:
An impulse buy while strolling through Saks, this isn't so much plum- rather a pretty shimmery pink. The color of my lips, but better & with more sparkle.

Paul & Joe Limited Edition Lip Gloss 002:
No longer available(don't beat me) this gloss adds almost a soft veil of pixie dust to the lips- gorgeous alone or for adding extra dimension.

Paul & Joe Eye Gloss N 01:
Though Paul & Joe Eye Glosses currently only come in duo options, they are my favorite pick- me- up to place a little candlelight on my lid. I always reach for it when freshening up to go out to dinner straight from work.

Make-Up For Ever Aqua Lip 2C:
A great neutral color that I fill my entire lip with in the AM. It packs some serious staying power.

Cle De Peau Beaute Touche de Rouge 129:
Though the price tag of this line is hard to swallow, this balm like lip product gives a sheer wash of color that feels like butter on the lips!

Mally Liquid Lip Color in Mally's Look:
This color is the perfect semi opaque nude to go with an intense smokey eye. Normally that takes several different products to create- Mally nails it with just one!

Becca Glossy Lip Tint in Island Dream:
Soft & iridescent this shade is perfectly named. A little birdie told me it's soon to be discontinued- so scoop it up now if you're intrigued!

Lorac Couture Shine in Elite:
A surprise hit that came in a kit, this shade is a pinky nude that's semi opaque & full of high shine. Another great pairing for a strong eye.

Joey New York AntiOxidant Super E Lip Pencil:
Another tease, as this pencil is discontinued. This product was a best seller before the line went under. I bought as many as I could get my hands on, since it is the perfect nude lip pencil ever:(

Yves Saint Laurent Golden Gloss 19:
A die hard fan of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills & anything Bravo TV related, I had to have the same divinely smelling peach gloss Adrienne Maloof plumps her pucker with.

Guerlain Natural Shine 661:

I scooped this up after a spa day at The Breakers. This sheer pink tint is gorgeous on its own or as a building block.

Lorac 3D Liquid Lustre:
Another intense shimmering product that I use to add omphh to my eyes with a simple patting of my finger.

Paul & Joe Botting Papers:
I am never without my blotting papers! Gently pressed against my T zone, they are perfect for removing excess shine, while keeping my make-up intact.

Wow- no wonder my purse is so heavy! Full disclosure, I'm also never without a tube of Aquaphor. A lot of these products I've done posts about in the past- so try the search box for more info on a particular one.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Make Up For Ever

Let's face it: most lips products, no matter how much they promise to say put- just don't. Often brides ask how to boost staying power & I offer a layering process of stains, lipstick, setting powder ,etc... However gloss, by its very nature & texture glides off the mouth. Think of how often the average female chats, sips her Starbucks & nibbles- it's asking a lot for a product to hang on through oil & vinegar salad dressing! Make-Up For Ever's aqua creams are impressive in that department. So when I saw an ad campaign featuring their Aqua Lip pencil I knew I had to try it out! The color in the campaign looked nothing like the photo in person- so I would look at these liners in the store to make your selection.

I ended up picking #2c, a nice neutral pinky nude. I always go with liners that are your lip color with a little bit more oomph. This is due to my kindergarden teacher Mrs. Carson who always had a magenta clown like outline around her lips that scarred me, but I digress. Unless you sport a signature red lip, nude liners will always take care of you! I fill in the entire lip & top with whatever gloss I'm feeling that day. This liner doesn't dry out your lips the way most long wearing do. I thought it held up very well. But the true validation of this was running into my sister & her commenting on the shade. It had been 4 hours after application & I had just finished lunch. Sold.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Sweat Proof Summer Make-Up

What made the cut for my news segment on sweat proof summer make-up? I have such oily skin, finding products that really have staying power is actually a year long struggle for me. Any one of these items is a great choice if you know you'll be outside for several hours, but you still want to look polished. What to start with? I tend to cut down on the amount of products I use if I know I'll be out in the heat, since I don't want them sliding down my face! This great multi purpose product from Paul & Joe Beaute hydrates, primes the skin to hold onto your make-up and has an SPF 30+.
Mineral Make-up is a smart summer choice since it's a powder foundation & it helps cut down on shine. I love that it also offers a physical sunblock- so you can dust it over your eyes (an often neglected area for SPF), the tops of your ears, as well as into the hairline & onto your part. This is great for outdoor athletes- if you've ever burned the part in your hair(like moi), you'll never do it again! I love Being True Mineral Make-up since it's infused with Idebenone, the antioxidant with the highest proven EPA factor.

I tend not to be a fan of most of long wearing lip products since they tend to feel 'grainy' on my lips after a while. I know stains can be an intimidating product, but there are tons of new user friendly versions out in the market. The trick with stain is that you have to work quickly. My pick? The Balm's Stainiac is gel like in texture since it's more forgiving to work with, yet still has serious staying power on lips & cheeks. I use this on brides all the time, and it leaves a beautiful flush on the cheeks & the just eaten cherry popsicle hue on the lips. Stains tend to be vibrant, so you can tone them down with a nude gloss if you prefer.


Any time I'm teaching a make-up lesson, I send the client home with a fine angled liner brush. Just wetting the brush with water can turn any eyeshadow you have into a eyeliner. I honestly think once you get the hang of it, that it's easier to line with a brush then a eye pencil(& it tugs less on that delicate skin.) A sealer liquid, like this one from Make-Up For Ever, turns any shadow or cake liner into a waterproof version - love it! Make-Up For Ever also gets an honorable mention for their new Aqua Creams, a cream pigment that comes in over 15 shades for eyes( lips & cheeks too) that when applied just won't budge!

Tired of looking look a football player when it comes to mascara? Lash tinting (& brow tinting) at the spa is incredibly popular during the summer. If you're going on vacation and will be getting in & out of the pool a lot, this might be perfect for you. A vegetable dye safe for the eyes is applied to the lashes for about 10 minutes & voila deep black lashes are revealed. It's painless (even relaxing!) and is perfect for those with fair hair.

Lastly, blotting papers are a must have in my purse at all times. Sweating is inevitable during the summer, since it's our body's natural cooling mechanism. Instead of caking on more powders throughout the day & clogging my pores, I just blot my t zone. So there you have it my beauties, these are my picks for staying gorgeous in the sweltering heat. What are your favorite long wearing products?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

The Makeup Show

We all have an idea of what heaven looks like. Mine usually involves endless amounts of beauty products at my disposal, calorie free italian food & unlimited cocktails. Today I'm in heaven at The Make-Up Show in NYC! Loads of professional make-up artists such as myself convene to learn the latest runway way looks, take master classes & get re inspired. Tons of make-up lines will be featured...Make-Up For Ever, Kevyn Aucoin, Smashbox, MAC as well as smaller "indie" lines such as Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. I promise I will take tons of pictures & report back to you the latest & greatest finds!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

The Glammies!

Happy New Year's Eve my beauties! Are my gorgeous girleens getting gussied up for this evening's festivities? What are your go to products for glamming it up? Welcome to the 1st annual Glammies, my glamour awards featuring products that I couldn't live without this year! I try a LOT of beauty products, I just can't stop myself! This year's top honors go to:

Urban Decay's 24/7 liners(above). At last count I had over a dozen of these lip & eyeliners known for their amazing staying power. Perfect for lining the inner rim or waterline of your eye, which I feel is a must in creating the perfect smokey eye.

J'adore Illamasqua's cake liner- it's rich & decadent. I get the most fabulous jet black cat eye ever from this line from the U.K. that recently made its debut stateside. I am tapping my foot impatiently waiting for the launch of new colors, as I have all 3.

Being True Mineral Foundation (above) for it's natural gorgeous coverage, SPF 17 & anti-aging anitoxidants that are infused with the minerals. My go to for each & every day!

Being True Blush in Apricot- this imparts the most perfect peachy glow, while the esthetician in me loves that it's mineral makeup & good for my skin!

I recently discovered this finishing powder due to its rave reviews across the board from fellow make-up artists. It glides on, reduces the appearance of your pores, fine line & wrinkles- all while leaving your skin touchably soft!

Don't let the bright yellow of the Correcteur shade fool you. This Lancome concealer is perfect for neutralizing the redness resulting from pimples or broken capillaries, while having the sheerest of texture. I always have a few tubes on hand.

After recently trying several shadow primers(stay tuned for my review), I am sold on Trish McEvoys. It leaves the lid smooth while offering enough coverage to use it without shadow. On my days off I throw this & mascara on...it makes such a difference.

This undereye concealer from Clinique packs a lot of coverage in a tiny tube. Even the most stubborn undereye circles are no match! Added bonus? It moisturizes while helping with puffiness. Woo hoo!

This lip lacquer from Paul & Joe is our latest obsession at the spa. It brightens the face instantly with a super glossy, yet sheer wash of color. It is delicious & a best seller.

The Matte side of this highlighting pencil is heaven. Use it on the brow bone to wake up your eyes or on the lid as a shadow base. I heart this pencil so! Tell me gals...what is your most favorite product? What deserves a Glammie in your book? Comment & be entered to win a mini brow kit from Anastasia that includes a mini of my beloved Camilla Highlighting Pencil. Have fun tonight Gorgeous Girls!

Peace. Love. Glammies. M