Product Review: Covergirl 24hour Mascara

Product on the chopping block: Covergirl LashBlast 24HOURMascara, Very Black

Those of you who read my recent "Product Rant" regarding mascara are probably one step ahead of where I was when I bought this item, "Jamie Lynn, you don't use waterproof mascara so WHY ON EARTH would you consider a 24HOUR formula?!" My friends, you'd be right.
   

Covergirl 24HOUR Mascara Right Eye - Eyes Open



Covergirl 24HOUR Mascara Right Eye - Eyes Closed

  



Covergirl 24HOUR Mascara Both - Eyes Open



Covergirl 24HOUR Mascara Both - Eye Closed



 The Verdict- Keeper or Toss Me?

TOSS ME! 

My distaste with this product is not unfounded, I will argue. While the formula is reminiscent of Covergirl LashBlast Volume (the original in the Orange Tube),the removal of said formula brought upon literal tears.

I do not use waterproof mascara because I strongly feel that rubbing the delicate eye region is something that should be avoided at all costs.  With the variety of makeup remover solutions, gels, creams and wipes out there, it just isn't necessary to rub back and forth with a cotton pad to remove a products. 

Apparently this was a memo never received by the creators of Lashblast 24HOUR formula.

Top Left: BioDerma Makeup Remover, MU Forever Senseyes Remover, MAC MU Wipes

It took me three, THREE, products to get this product off my lashes in it's entirety.  This makes it an immediate Toss Me! product in my book.  Check out how much products was left after using both the makeup wipes and soaking with Bioderma Remover for 30 seconds:

Now I'm a girl who can appreciate a product that sticks with you, but this one just sticks too much.  It is fair to consider my bias against a product like this, since I don't use waterproof mascaras, but in retrospect I wish I would have know that I was testing the kryptonite of mascaras I did it.

Final Verdict: TOSS ME! 

There is a distinct different between long wear and FOREVER wear. 
I like my makeup to come off at the end of the night, without having to rub my skin raw in the process.

Sorry, Covergirl, this one isn't a winner for me.

MAC Naturally Redhead MSF Comparison and Swatches

Left to Right: MSF Redhead, MSF By Candlelight

Top to Bottom: MSF By Candlelight, MSF Redhead

MAC Naturally Blonde MSF Comparisons and Swatches

Left to Right: MSF Porcelain Pink, MSF Blonde, MSF Petticoat Pink

Left to Right: MSF Porcelain Pink, MSF Blonde, MSF Petticoat Pink

MAC Naturally MSF Swatches + Subtle Breeze

From Left: Mineral Skin Finish Blonde, Mineral Skin Finish Redhead, Mineral Blush Subtle Breeze

MSF in Redhead

MSF in Blonde

Left to Right: Subtle Breeze, MSF Redhead, MSF Blonde




Tune in tomorrow for dupe comparisons of the Blonde and Redhead MSFs...

MAC Naturally Collection

Happiness is...

coming home to see this iconic black box on your doorstep.

Pictures and swatches to come...

The Importance of Skincare: Straight Out of the Shower

(Left to Right: Estee Lauder Day Wear, Miracle Skin Transformer Primer, Garnier Skin Renew Eye Roller)

Getting ready for the day always starts with a fresh shower, and skin care immediately following. I learned many years ago that one of the best times to apply your daily skincare is immediately following a shower, and here's why:

Warm water and steam released during your shower acts as a natural "pore opener".

Have you ever received a spa facial and had them put the steam machine on? Same concept.

Steam encourages your pores to relax and open, in perfect preparation for cleaning. Light exfoliation and cleansing allows you to remove any lodge "gunk" you may have gathered while partying like a rock star through the holidays.

Cleansing can always be done, steam or no steam, but you get a much deeper clean by utilizing the warmth already present in your shower.

Once the shower is over, your pores are open and squeaky clean! Perfect starting point for complete moisture delivery. Slather on your favorite daily moisturizer and eye cream; then watch the show. Your clean, open pores will suck up the moisture taking it deep into the layers of your skin. Using this method is a perfect way to deliver moisture deeper than just the top layer.

I always apply my creams straight out of the shower, giving it some time to sink in while I brush my hair and wrap it in a towel. Flash forward 5-10 minutes and I will blot off any remaining moisture on the skin, and start my primer and foundation routine.

If there is one tip I could provide to anyone and everyone I speak to about makeup, it's the importance of skincare. Starting a routine early makes it much easier to keep it consistent. Try working skincare into your daily schedule; it'll make you much more likely to keep it up long term.

Anastasia All Eye Want Palette: Thoughts?

I brought this gorgeous lady home from Sephora just before the Holidays.  Without a doubt, these neutrals have been run through the ringer with Holiday Parties, family get togethers, and quick and easy looks for exhausted "morning afters". 

Anastasia All Eye Want Palette - Sephora.com $32.00

Have any of you given this lovely palette a try?  FOTD and Review to come!

Randomness: Sushi Cake!

Walking down the street I passed this delectable joy.  "Yum Sushi!  Wait a second...."


Totally did a double take when I saw this in the window of a bakery.  Actually thought to myself, "Why on earth would a bakery have su....OH!!  It's a cake!"  Yes friends, I catch on quick. 

Before and Afters Say It All...

I was recently invited to take part in a beautiful wedding at Jack London Square, Oakland, California. 

A big wedding means lots of faces to make glam, so lets get to it!

Bridesmaid: Before

Bridesmaid: After

 Best WO{Man}: Before

Best WO{Man}: After

Before: Mother of the Bride

After: Mother of the Bride 

I feel so strongly that makeup is too often use to cover-up, conceal and mask everything that is unique and beautiful about the individual in each of us.

Makeup doesn't have to be piled on by the gallons.  It doesn't have to be done according to some magazine, and each person has total control to define how much, and what kind, they want to wear.  That's why it truly is a craft of artistry. 

 There is no "one way" to achieve any particular goal-the "creative process" is endless. 

The Wild World of Pigments: 101 Ways to Customize with Pigments

The magic of pigments really is what you can do when you ADD them to other products that you know and love.  It's something that most other eyeshadows can't do.  They mix, they match, and they play nice with a variety of substances and textures.

Add your pigment to the following products to create a one-of-a-kind item thatis completely customizable.

Lotion:
Adding pigment to body lotion gives a healthy glow to your skin.  Great to use
on your legs and arms in the warm summer months, or smooth over your neck and
shoulders to show off your collarbone.


TIP: Shimmery products can actually mask imperfections such as veins, blemishes
or discolorations.  The shimmer creates an airbrushed effect by reflecting light
and giving an overall softer appearance.


Nail Polish:
Pigments can be added to any clear or colored nail polish to create a unique,
personalized, look.  Add a pinch directly to the bottle and shake until
completely mixed.

Add pigment to your clear top coat to seal in a little shine, or mix with a
colored polish for a little something extra .

Lip gloss:
Mix a dash of pigment in a clear or colored lip gloss to change it up, or add to
Vaseline for a moisturizing lip treatment which is anything but boring.

Hair Products:
For an updated take on the 80’s glitter hair, put a scoop of pigment into your
pump hairspray and shake before spritzing.  This look is more subtle than
glitter and the hairspray ensures that it won’t end up all over the place.

You can also mix pigment into your hair gel or pomade.  Place the pigment in the
palm of your hand and rub it together with your styling product of choice before
running through your hair.

Body Highlight:
Mix a little pigment into a spray bottle filled with water, or your favorite
scented spray.  Shake well and spritz for a subtle glow.

Pigments can also be used as a dry highlight when brushed over areas like your
collarbone, chest and shoulders with a big fluffy brush.

The Wild World of Pigments: Highlighting 101

Highlighting uses the concepts of light and dark to emphasize specific parts of
your face.  By applying a light or shimmery color, you visually “pop” that area
forward, making it appear more prominent.

Highlighting can also be used to create optical illusions and transform the
visual appearance of your face.

For example, using a highlight color on the inner corner/tear duct area of your
eye will create the illusion of wider, more awake, eyes.



To create a more angular appearance, use a highlight color to visually bring the
tops of your cheek bones and brow bone forward, this creates a more chiseled
appearance.

Using a highlight in the center of your bottom lip gives a similar effect to
using a high shine gloss.  When the light bounces off the highlight area, it
produces the optical illusion that your lip is more full and plump.

Similarly, sweeping a subtle highlight on your cupid’s bow (the recessed area
above your top lip) will visually bring your top lip forward, creating a more
voluptuous appearance.

Highlighting can also be used to give the illusion of a “sun-kissed glow”.  To
do this, use a highlight color on the parts of your face which the sun would
naturally hit.

These include: Center of Forehead, Center of Nose, High Point of Chin

TIP: In a technique called contouring, light and dark colors are used in
strategic places on the face to create the visual illusion of depth and
dimension.

By placing a darker color in sunken features, such as the hollows of your
cheeks, and emphasizing more prominent features with highlights, you are
controlling the use of light and dark to mimic the effect a shadow would have on
your face.

Cheek bones pop forward with the highlight, hollows of your cheeks seem more
recessed and the end result is a more dramatic, chiseled appearance.

Pigments are awesome for eye shadows and highlights, but the REAL genius of pigments is how much you can create by adding it to other things.  One-of-a-kind products that you personalize are just another blog post a way....stay tuned!

The Wild World of Pigments: The Duct Tape of the Makeup World

What is a Pigment?
Pigments are highly concentrated loose color powders, which contain ingredients to help them adhere to the skin and are resistant to creasing and caking.  They can be used to create subtle washes of color, or more intense effects depending on how they are applied.

I like to call pigments the “duct tape of the makeup world”

- they have nearly 101 uses!

My two favorite multi-use pigments are as follows:

MAC Pink Opal Pigment: a pink/purple opalescent duochrome

MAC Vanilla Pigment: soft ivory with a golden sheen

Personally, I think that pigments are a little overwhelming if you don't know what to do with them.

"Powder - wha?"  

I thought I would share some of my suggestions on how to utilize your pigments in unexpected ways, all over the body.

Let’s get started...

Eye Shadow: Wet or Dry

Pigments are special because they can be used both wet and dry.

For a soft, subtle, wash of color:
Using a fluffy makeup brush, dip the tip into the jar and pick up some pigment.
Swirl it in the top of the lid to get the pigment really coated onto the
bristles.  Then simply swipe across your eyelid or brow bone for a light wash of
color.

For a strong, more metallic look:
Choose a more stiff, flat brush, and dampen it with water.  Pick up a little
pigment on the end of the brush and again use the lid to pack the pigment into
the bristles.  Then PAT, don’t swipe, the pigment onto your eyelid.

TIP:
Patting your eye shadow will deposit more concentrated color, whereas swiping
back and forth blends out the color for a lighter application.



Pigments can be used alone as eye shadows, but are also awesome to use as highlighters.  Tune in tomorrow for an in depth breakdown of how, and where, to use your pigment to highlight the face!

Extensions for your Wedding Yay or Nay?

What do you think - is it a do or a don't?

Megean and Cameron (take 2)

I know I already posted some pictures of this wonderful couple, but I pulled a couple more from the photographer. Enjoy!

Photographer: Martin Beebee Photography www.martinbeebee.com

Paris Makeup Haul

If you follow me on twitter, you probably know that I've spent the past three weeks in Paris, France - the city of lights. During my time there I was bound and determine to track down some brands that were harder to get in the states. While my husband was patient through the first three makeup stops, by the fifth, he waited outside *oops*.

Everything seems more beautiful in Paris, even the makeup, so it was near on impossible to ONLY come home with items I knew I couldn't get in my own back yard. Here is a glimpse of my Paris makeup haul:

The first brand on my list was Bourjois. Many moons ago, this brand was sold at Sephora stores...alas, no longer. However, this brand ABOUNDS in European countries. I found that Bourjois, Nivea and L'Oreal were the three most popular brands found everywhere from Sephora to Markets, all across Paris.

Recently the review regarding their blushes and glosses had peaked my curiosity. Even PixiWoo (one of my all-time fav youtubers) has been raving about their bronzer and face powders of late.

I ended up picking up quite a stash of their blushes. They are baked, similar to the Milani baked blushes, which give them a dome effect. And to the naked eye, these babies shimmer like no other (I don't find that in application they are as glittery as they look in the pan).

How cute is this packaging? They recently did a special packaging series with artist depictions of the famous sights in Paris. Not only was it a makeup haul done while in Paris, but it truly is Paris inspired makeup!

From left to Right: 16 Rose Coup, 32 Ambre D'or, 95 Rose De Jaspe, 34 Rose D'or, 48 Cendre De Rose Brune

I also stumbled upon an entire Hello Kitty makeup line. It was nothing like the line sold in Sephora, but, true to Hello Kitty form it included lots of glitter and girly/bright colors. I picked up two of their blushes. The coral colored one reminded me of MAC's peaches with a little more sparkle.

Flash Review: I used the blushes almost exclusively during my three week stay in Paris. I actually enjoyed the sparkle that the Bourjois provided, it saved me a step adding my favorite highlighter, By Candlelight, on top. It's funny actually, the one matte color I bought (Cendre de Rose Brune) is the only one I haven't played with yet. It's just not inspiring next to all that sparkle!

I've only used the peach Hello Kitty blush and was surprised to find a beautiful coral color under all that in-your-face orange you see in the pan. Surprise, surprise.

Fashion Flash: Paris

Check out this girl's dress!

I tried to stealthly take pictures of her, stalker style, while in Paris last week. It was just too perfectly cute to not share.

What do you think: over the top or perfectly cute?

Makeup Brands: Have you ever heard of Black UP?

As nerdy as it is, I'm always so fascinated by the different makeup brands found around the world For example, when I went to China I was shocked to find that Nivea was the top provider of chapstick - they didn't even have my beloved Carmex in stores! *the horror*

While in Paris I saw a brand I had never heard of: Black Up.

I first ran across it in a Printemps, a HUGE department store in the Opera district, and later found this stand alone shop somewhere during my wanderings.

Has anyone ever heard of this brand? Spill the beans, I'm dying to know!

Bridal Makeup: Megean and Cameron

What do you do when you've spent 9 months planning a beautiful, March, outdoor ceremony only to have rain and snow show up as a guest?

Make.It.Work.

Megean was the type of bride that makes me love my job: unfailingly positive with a great sense of humor. Rain/Snow/Sleet or Hail - NOTHING was going to damper this girl's spirit.

Before

After
Megean wanted to go soft and natural for her ceremony and pump up the pink for her reception, so this is what we came up with.

It sure makes my job easy with the bride is as stunningly beautiful as this one.

For this look:

MAC Rubenesque paint pot
MAC Vanilla Pigment (inner lid)
MAC Pink Opal Pigment (outer lid)
Swiss Chocolate/Cork/Espresso eye shadows
Clinique Gel Liner in Black
Oh and Lashes - oh yes, LOTS of lashes. (Miss Adoro 213s)

Megean, easily, had one of my favorite weddings to date. Seamlessly moving the ceremony inside due to the inclimate weather, the decor was playful, with fuchsia and black, without being overwhelmingly girly or garish.

So, to match the glitz and glam of the reception, we changed up the look a little once the formal pictures were done. Add a little glitter here, a dash of pink there, and this Mrs. was ready to dance all night long!

(picture from the makeup trial)

Additional pictures can be seen at MartinBee Photography.