Favorite Things: July 2011

Hello Makeup Mavens!  

I thought I'd breeze through and share some of my favorite things for the month of July...   I've been practicing some form of restraint by not over indulging in makeup, and I must admit I've done pretty good, but of course I had to splurge on a few items....

Let's start with my e.l.f. products.  After reading about the benefits of a primer I decided to start cheap.  I figure there was no need to spend a lot of money on a primer until I saw the results of what a primer can do.   Well I purchashed the elf primer from Target for the great price of $3.00...  Now it was my intention to get a primer but I ended up with the Makeup Mist and Set (which is on the right side).  I used the mist and set as a primer and it worked wonders, I also used it after I had on a full face to set the makeup and it was sill awesome.   It gave my face a dewy appearance.

e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer and e.l.f. Makeup Mist and Set

But, it wasn't until I got my hands on the e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer did I realize just how awesome a face primer can be!  lol  This stuff is the bomb and I can't wait to get my hands on a primer that is a better quality.  What the primer does for me is to prepare the face for the foundation and powder.  It acts as a seal of sorts, it fills lines and it allows for an even distribution of foundation which results in a flawless finish,  but the piece da resistance for me is that I can go the entire day without touching up my face, there is no shine in the t-zone and my makeup looks freshly applied all day long... for me that's MAJOR especially since I have a super oily t-zone and I'm super shiny before lunch time...


I've been playing around with Ben Bye products. What a great line!   Over the years I have heard about Ben Nye but I never new where to purchase the products so I never gave it a second thought.   Then my coworker who is a professional makeup artist mentioned Ben Nye and went on to tell me that the line is sold at a theatrical makeup supply store that is around the corner from my house, I mean it is literally around the corner, I can walk to the place.   So I made my way to Kinetic Artistry and that began my face to face introduction with Ben Nye.

Ben Nye Matte Foundation SA-1 Au Lait

I've been on a mission for a new foundation.  I wanted something Matte and I thought I wanted a liquid but I was talked into a cream/cake foundation.  Now I don't know why I hadn't tried cakes before, I guess I assumed they would be hard to work with.  Well I was WRONG!   I love this cake foundation, it's easy to use and I find that I don't use nearly as much as I did when I was using liquid foundation, and for the price (I wanna say it was $9.00)  you can't beat it...  

Ben Nye Mojave Collection Luxury Powder in Olive Sand

 

 

 

Not only was I on the look out for a new foundation I was in search of a loose powder and low n' behold Ben Nye had quite the selection.  I chose this awsome powder all for the wonderful price of $11.00.  Can you say DEAL of the MONTH?!?!?!?   and it's a great powder ---  a little goes a very long way.  "It's a finely milled translucent powder favored for its slight yellow/peachy tint. The powder is perfect on darker skintones because it doesn't appear ashy or create a grey cast on the skin the way some traditional white translucent powders can."

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

Due to the fact that I have the oilest of oily eye lids I am constantly looking for  an above average primer.  I finally found one in Smashbox's Photo Finish Lid Primer, it was $20.00 well spent. "Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer creates the perfect canvas for eyeshadow application. Wear this universal shade under shadow to increase longevity, or create the perfect nude eye by applying over the lid for an even tone".

MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork and Soft Ochre

After playing around with concealer as an eye shadow base I decided it was time to stop playing games with the concealers and step up my game with a Paint Pot by MAC.  $17.00 worth of awesomeness tucked away in a tiny little package but it's worth every penny and a little really goes a long way. The Paint Pots are "a highly pigmented eye color that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colourfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with M·A·C shadows and liners."  (and any other product you choose to mix it with).

Ben Nye Pressed Colour Palette aka the Essential Eye Shadow Palette

I've been lusting after the Ben Nye Essential Eye Shadow palette for a month, and today I purchased it for $45.00.  This is a highly pigmented palette and the size of the shadows is huge I'd say they are much bigger than a silver dollar.  "Our sleek palettes combine versatility and convenience. This 8 color palette contains has a complete range of neutral shades for eyes and brows."  Now, I haven't used the palette yet, however if it's anything like the foundation and the loose powder I know I will be pleased!   This one palette has me in "Smokey Look" heaven...  and it's perfect for fall!  


So these are a few of my July favorite things...   just a few!  lol  

Pictorial Tutorial... Mean Green

Before you scroll through these pictures please keep in mind that I am by no means a professional makeup artist.  I am simply a chick who enjoys wearing makeup and who has mastered a few techniques that work for me.  

Now that I've gotten that out of the way I thought I'd share today's face of the day...

First and foremost I start with foundation and powder...  I'm currently using Ben Nye foundation and powder and I LOVE IT!   I also have concealer under the eye because a sista has some serious dark circles under her eyes (so not cute)...   Oh and I can't forget this:  I use a mist and set spray from ELF after my moisturizer and before my foundation (it's the best thing since slice bread!), it keeps the shine down and gives your skin a flawless appearance.

I prepped my eye lid with Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer...  followed by MACS Paint Pot in Soft Ochre..   Now, I know that's alot of prepping and priming but I have very oily lids and I like to take extra precautions in preventing creasing...  As you can see I place the Paint Pot all over the lid up to the brow bone and I used my Sonia Kashuk Blending Brush to place the Paint Pot evenly over the entire lid.  Immediately after priming the eye I did my brows and I added a highlight color...

 

Using the NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk I covered and blended the jumbo pencil into my lower lid using a Mac 252 large shading brush.   Note:  when using the NYX pencils make sure you don't use too much, it tends to do something to the eyeshadow.  I can't explain it, but it makes it appear cakey...  I blended the pencil  up to my crease.   

Next I went in with my Sonia Kashuk shading brush and I placed a medium green color on the outer lid,  I stayed below the crease...

I flipped the brush over and I placed a lime green in the outer corner of the lid and I met the medium green color eventually blending the 2 colors in the middle.  NOTE:  when I placed the shadows on my lid I packed them on...  I tend to be on the heavy handed side, which works for me because I like my colors to pop so I use a lot of shadow.  However I recommend starting out light and building the color to your desired effect.  

 

 

 

Next I went in with my Sonia Kashuk Crease Brush and I blended in a darker green in the crease area and slightly above the crease...  NOTE:  I only placed the darker green to the middle of my crease, I stopped where the lime green and the medium green met.  I packed it on lightly, just enough to allow the shadows to blend together.

This is how your eyes should look once you have added the color to the crease.

 

 

 

 

Then I went in with a Sigma Pencil brush and I applied a brownish green to the crease line.  This is the how your eye should look once you have added your color to the crease...  I also took the pencil brush and drew a line from the outer crease to the lower lid which created an outer "V" shape...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now for the fun part!  I used a flesh tone color from Ben Nye and using windshield wiper motions I blended the look together...  I payed special attention to the middle eye area...

Ugggggh...  everything got all screwy with the picutres and the descrpitions...  SORRY!  any who, once everything was blended I added my eyeliner...  I tend to use the shadows that I'm working with for eyeliner...  I place the eyeliner on the lower lash line using a flat angled brush...  Here is the final result:

I promise to do better with my descriptions...  I see why people make videos, you can talk as you go... 

Makeup by Teal... Storage by The Container Store

I'm becoming a beauty and MAKEUP junkie... and like any junkie I over indulge.  I see things I like and I want to try and I don't hesitate in making my purchase...  Storing all of my beauty treasures was becoming a true challenge so I headed to Mr Google to see what my options were...  I started my search with Ikea and I soon realized that I needed something more durable than Ikea...  So I started to think that Marshalls may have something that could work for me, as I'm about to head out to begin my search for storage solutions something told me to slow my roll and try Mr Google one more time....  

I remembered that my favorite local makeup artist, coworker, and friend uses a plastic fishing tackle box that she got from Costco to store her makeup ...  The tackle box reminded me of something that The Container Store would have...  So I headed to The Container Stores website and low and behold they were advertising their annual "happy organized Home Sale"....   so you know what that meant, right?   I put on my shoes and I headed to The Container Store and this my dear makeup mavens is the result of my makeup storage shopping adventure:

3-Drawer Storage Chest on Sale for $17.99 the top of the storage chest houses my makeup brushes ---  which provides easy access!

Le Brushes!   along with other misc. items such as my sponges, tweezers, scissors and a few other items...

The top drawer houses my palettes as well as my foundations and powders, and false eyelashes...

Drawer 2 houses my concealers, primers, bases, and some of my smaller shadow palettes as well as my individual eye shadows....  and I can't forget my jumbo pencils.

 

The 3rd and final drawer houses my misc shadows that I use on rare occasions as well as bronzers and overflow makeup brushes.

So this is it!   As long as I maintain some sort of control this should hold me for some time.  The entire system cost $30.00 and it was $30.00 well spent...  I also purchased the inserts at The Container Store  they came in bundles of 4 for the smaller ones and 3 inserts for the longer inserts.  The inserts ranged in price from $1.99 to $7.99 per bundle....  Not bad huh?  

If you are looking to store your cosmetics or anything else I would check out The Container Store....  they have an excellent sale going on until Labor Day...  and if you don't have a Container Store in your neck of the woods you can always order online...  and if you order online before August 21, 2011 you can receive 10% off by using the following code:  click10offer.

Happy Storing!

 

Vision Boards...

"A vision board is a tool used to help clarify, concentrate and maintain focus on a specific life goal. Literally, a vision board is any sort of board on which you display images that represent whatever you want to be, do or have in your life.

What is the point? Simply put, we humans tend to be a very busy species and constantly bombarded by distractions. Making use of vision boards serves several purposes, some of which include helping you to:  Identify your vision and give it clarity, Reinforce your daily affirmation, Keep your attention on your intentions."

As long as I can remember, my mother has had a “VISION BOARD”….  She had one before they became popular…  After a few years of hearing her fuss at my inability to maintain my focus I decided to create a vision board to keep myself on track…  And of course with technology taking over every morsel of our being I finally came across a digital vision board…

If you have a vision…  If you have a thought…  If you need to be inspired…  If you simply want a place to store your ‘”favorite things”…  why not create a vision board? 

http://pinterest.com/