Sunday Sneak Peek: It Cosmetics

You're seeing it here first Beauties! A special collection from It Cosmetics called Hello Beautiful that will be at one day only price tomorrow March 18th on QVC!

I love the girls over at It Cosmetics & they have put together an awesome kit. Let's start with their new Celebration Foundation (available in 5 shades.) I'm someone who exfoliates all the time- every now & then that means some flakiness. This powder is hydrating enough that I can still use it after overdoing it with retinol the night before & not look cakey. It's hydrating & antiaging- yes, please! And let's not forget about the brush. If you've never tried It Cosmetics' brushes, then you're missing out. Pure plush luxury- they're seriously a treat for your face. 80,000 hairs are packed into this one, named the Heavenly Luxe Buffing Airbrush, alone! That means you can build some serious coverage & your face is having a mini vacay while you're doing it.

 The Vitality Flush 4 in 1 Reviver Lip & Cheek Stain Stick in Je Ne Sais Quoi starts out as a clear hydrating balm that you can apply to your cheeks or lips for this 'I just came out of the cold' healthy pinky flush. It's the easiest pick me up when you're feeling pale.

Mascara is a must. It's definitely definitely one of my top 3 must have products I would need if I was stranded on a desert island. I'm sure a lighter & wine would be included in my survival trio, as well- but so would beauty products! It wakes your eyes up, opens them & lifts them. As a professional make-up artist one of my tricks is to at the end of application, hold the brush vertically & apply the tip of the wand to the outer lashes for a doe eyed look. Jamie, the brains behind It Cosmetics, created a brush specifically to do that! Genius.

Here's a close up of my peepers from my bathroom, so excuse the lighting. The lash primer features the most fabulous skinny brush & dark product. The tiny brush gets right to the base of the lashes with ease. Plus I don't know why all lash primers aren't dark- who wants white product on their lashes?!?

Here's a side shot featuring the Celebration Powder Foundation in Fair applied with my Heavenly Luxe Buffing Airbrush and the Tightline Full Lash Length Black Primer topped with the Hello Lashes Mascara.  This collection is a great way to discover some of this up & coming brand's best offerings at an amazing value- I say scoop it up!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Revlon Colorstay Mascara

I'm a big fan of Revlon's Colorstay family of products. Their eyeshadows rock, in fact I wish they'd launch more colors! Always in search of a mascara that doesn't end up making me look like like I'm on the football team, I picked up their new Colorstay Overtime Masacara.

Below I am sporting the mascara at the beginning of the day, which had a nice brush & smooth application.  I put more coats on the top lashes & less on the lower lashes.

Here's my mascara at the end of a busy day that involved yard work in muggy 90 degree weather, getting a massage (complete with my faced smushed into a face rest for an hour) & getting caught in a rain storm. I was pretty impressed it wasn't all over my face.

When I say, it stays on- it stays on. Here's a shot after cleansing my face twice in the shower & using my Almay Oil Free Make-Up Remover Pads & there's still mascara on my lashes! Thank goodness I had some Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil on hand or I would have been sleeping with it on!  This mascara doesn't list that it's waterproof on the package- but it pretty much is all things resistant! The only reason I'll continue my never ending quest in finding that perfect stay put mascara, is that I don't love mascaras that are so hard to get off it puts my actual lashes in jeopardy! If you use Lancome's BiFacil Remover- I'm sure you'll be good to go.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Your Best Friend Cosmetics

Coming off the high that was my adoration of the YBF Baby Lips kit, I wanted to fall just as much in love with their mascara duo. I admit, what drew me to it was its 007 like packaging. Ironically that's what ended up making it not work for me.

This kit included a bejeweled {swoon- super cute!} eyelash curler, as well as a mascara unit containing both a primer & mascara.  Don't be shocked, but even as a professional make-up artist I rarely use lash curlers. I worry about lash breakage.

You slide the unit apart in order to be able to use the products. Besides being a rather awkward, additional step in the morning {which who has time for?} the wand wasn't incredibly comfortable in my hand.  I like to apply a lot of layers of mascara & flip my wand every which way- the handle just didn't want to work with me.

 In fact, no one with arthritis would be able to maneuver this device at all. The actual mascara & primer formulas were fine, but there were no angels singing.  There was nothing to write home about.  What it boils down to with make-up & every thing else important in life is that yes, pretty on the outside is usually a plus- but it's what's on the inside that counts.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Must Have Make-Up Monday

Usually after a long day at work giving my clients facials, I look like I am trying out for a football team! All the steam during the exfoliation portion of the facial puts my mascara through the ringer. That being said I tend to loathe waterproof versions. Their formulas don't allow me to build the product like I like to, plus it's a bugger to get off. The last thing I want to lose are my actual lashes when removing my mascara!

Enter Anastasia of Beverly Hill's Lash Genius- it's like a raincoat for your mascara! Use whatever mascara brand you adore & finish with a clear coat of this sealant. While I wouldn't submerge myself in a tank of water- Lash Genius really helps seal in the mascara without being super brittle, crunchy or difficult to remove afterwards. In fact, it helps separate your lashes a bit if you're prone to clumping. Its arrival is perfect timing as we head into warmer, humid months & the summer wedding season. It is, I must say genius!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M
*product gifted for review

Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes Mascara

Is it wrong that I love going through people's make-up bags? With consent of course! I also love looking at products in friends' bathrooms, but I promise I really won't do it at your house unless I ask! You never know, hidden in your coworker's purse might be the answer to all of your prayers, when it comes to the perfect product you've been waiting for all your life. Alright, I might be being overly dramatic here, but it could be your next favorite thing! This was the case when I recently dug through our Diva of Dermatology's make-up bag at our last injectable event & discovered Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes Mascara.

I tend to be frugal when it comes to mascara since I pitch them after 2 1/2 months. Luckily I buy my Mally Mascara in bulk (yes I buy it in 6 packs.) Even luckier? I actually had a sample of this Lancome Mascara from a recent Lancome Gift with Purchase! Yes, it's true I have no account of my make-up stash- it's that out of control. Skeptical of it being all that, I must say the brush is divine. Mascara is a deeply personal make-up product & for me the brush can play as much a factor in my selection, as the actual formula. The amazing amount of bristles prevents clumping of any kind- hallelujah! The tapering at the end of the brush allows for precise application in the lash corners. The result? Feathery, lovely lashes- not at all creepy(which is what comes to mind when I think of doll's lashes.) Minimal smudging or flaking- two thumbs up my friends!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Theatre of the Nameless

You girls know I feel naked without my cat eye. Ever forget your watch or your cell phone at home & you feel lost without it? That's sort of the feeling. I turn to my little black cake liner from Illamasqua every morning to finish my peepers. I've read articles about the line that say it's for 'after hours' wear- for those a little more on the wild side. I say bring it. Theater of the Nameless is their latest collection.

The collection includes their Intense Lipgloss in Facade(top) & Belladonna(bottom). The lipglosses remind me a bit of the Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics' Lip Tars in their opaqueness- they are incredibly intense pigment wise, but feel light as air & super silky on the lips. Belladonna is a gorgeous pink that would brighten any complexion. Facade I could see intimidating most. A trick I use flesh colored glosses for is to tone down other lip shades. Professional Make-Up Artists often use concealer to soften shades or in steps to create the perfect nude lip, Facade would be perfect for this.

Theatre of the Nameless also includes their New Masquara in Raven & Precision Ink in Havoc. I'm quite picky about my mascaras{I know- shocker!} The brush on the New Masquara is fluffy & fabulous catching all of your lashes- lifting them up, as well as opening the eye.

The Precision Ink glides on quite effortlessly & boosts some serious staying power. Sorry for the lazy eye shot, but I had to take one for team because it shows the rich mahogany shade with a hint of plum. Auburns & redheads run, do not walk to get this liner. It was made for you! I'm smitten with line in general- it makes me feel a little naughty. I often hop over to their website just to get my creative juices flowing. Whenever I'm working with a client who says I can't do make-up well or I'm not good at it, I always remind them that make-up should be fun. It's a means of self expression. Besides they're very few mistakes in life that can be rectified with a simple swipe of cleanser! I say be bold.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

*Items gifted for review

Fabulous Finds Friday

It's no secret that I think Miss Mally Roncol is about the cutest thing out there. When I met her{seriously it was like meeting my idol she's so talented} she was just as warm & bubbly as she is on TV. My go to mascara for the last three years is Mally's Volumizing Mascara- it. is. da. bomb. Plain & simple- you can just keep layering & layering the product until you have Bambi lashes. When Mally puts together a Today's Special Value kit & my beloved mascara is in it- that's all the justification I need to scoop it up! This puppy is already ordered & on it's way to me! Since fall wedding season is upon, I'm eager to try her new long wearing lunches from her Face Defender collection. I will report back to you Beauties- have a great weekend!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Make-Up Must Have Monday

You beauties often ask what mascaras I use on my peepers & often it is a 'sandwich' of products. Currently I start with the first 'slice' of bread being L'Oreal's Voluminous Mascara, then comes the 'meat'- which is always my beloved Mally Volumizing Mascara, topped with the last 'slice' of bread which at the moment is Revlon's Grow Luscious Mascara.

I do this for a few reasons, first because my skin is so oily{& I loathe waterproof mascaras} that I find certain mascaras transfer less. Those end being the last step in the sandwich. Certain mascaras & their brushes separate & coat each individual lash better- those end up being the first slice in the sandwich. The meat, well Mally's mascara just multiplies the appearance of lashes like none other I've found.
When clients ask me what I recommend mascara wise, I always hesitate because mascara is such a personal preference. The brush is often just as important as the actual product! A staple for most make-up artists is Maybelline's Great Lash, but you will never find that in my kit. I call that brush the 'frozen yogurt swirl' brush & it just doesn't separate lashes enough for me. There is a new concept entering the market though, that just may be on to something. MAC's new Haute & Naughty Lash basically offers 2 different brush experiences in one. By pulling the pink brush out, you have a very good brush at separating & defining your lashes without delivering a lot of product.

You then can add some extra oomph to the outer lashes by pulling the purple sparkly brush which offers considerably more product. One could also use the pink for daytime looks & the purple for night. Definitely an interesting idea, that works very well. I will be curious as to whether all that brush interchanging will dry out the mascara quicker, but as of now- it gets two thumbs up.

Peace. Love. Lashes. M

Maybelline Falsies Mascara

Oh Girls, I really try to be nice when it comes to beauty products- I do! Very rarely will I talk poorly about make-up, since I feel that in someway all my make-up products are my children. However I've seen some positive reviews of this product & yours truly has a different take on it- so of course I needed to share. First off I have long lashes(thanks Latisse!), but oily skin so it's a struggle for me to find a mascara that doesn't end up with me looking like a football player. I tend to loathe waterproof versions however- you can't build the product & end up rubbing your poor lashes out to get it off. I don't know what I was expecting with Maybelline's Falsies Mascara, but let's just say the name gave me "false" hope. The brush was interesting, rather flat & the wand flexes a bit when applying. It went on well, that wasn't the issue, though it still smeared slightly like most do on me. What I had the problem with was getting it off! I tried everything- standard remover, milky cleansers, even resorting to Lancome's BiFacil dual phased eye make-up remover, but to no avail. It didn't create tubes the way Blinc mascara does- but I just couldn't get it off! It drove me crazy for 3 days straight. Have any of my beauties tried it & if so - what's your take on it?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

A Look Inside

My desperate attempts to find a substitute for my beloved discontinued CoverGirl Multiplying Mascara continue. There it is at the bottom- I am scraping every last drop out of the tube... This is not even all of the mascaras I've tried recently in my quest. *Sigh* I am pulling a serious Goldilocks tantrum here girls! Nothing is making me 100% happy. I am not a fan of waterproof mascaras, but everything is still smudging on my oily skin(yes even with all my make-up artist tricks). Help a gal out & tell me what your favorite is, before I end up in the poor house!

Peace. Love. Mascara. M