Product Review: Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder

Hey y'all: I'm back with another product review--this time it's to be Ben Nye's Neutral Set colorless face powder. Sorry, I have no pictures this time (my camera is a little under the weather at the moment)! Anyway, I'd been looking for a slightly less expensive colorless face powder to add to my kit. I've got the MUFE HD Powder, which I love, but at $30.00 or better a pop, it's a little pricey for this struggling MUA at the moment. I got to thinking about how much I love the Ben Nye Banana Powder, so I went back to the ALCONE website and looked for Ben Nye's translucent powders. The Neutral Set is completely colorless and great for all skin tones. It's economical ($8.00 for a 3 oz. shaker bottle that will last FOREVER), and just like the Banana Powder, a little goes a long way. Just fluff a little on to set your makeup and you're good to go all day! Don't get me wrong, I adore my MUFE HD and I will purchase again once I'm earning a little more, but in the mean time I can use the Neutral Set and get (almost) the same great outcome! Be sure to check it out...blessings, beauties!

M.O.M Is Right!

Hello beauties! OMG, I'm just so excited! Short story short, I've just begun experimenting with using M.O.M (milk of magnesia) as a mattifier/primer under my foundation. Well, let me tell y'all folks that M.O.M IS RIGHT!!! Check out my last post in which I included pics of my antiqued gold smokey eye look--I used MOM under my foundation then and I took those pics after a 12 hour day at work--my makeup looks as fresh as if I'd just put it on...I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! And what's even better is that I got my MOM from the dollar store for $1! The weather here has been in the 90's and fairly high humidity all week and usually my face is shining like a light bulb by the end of the day, but not that day--I'm so impressed that I just can't stand it! And it removes easily at night with my olive oil. All of you ladies and gents with oily skin should try this trick--it seems to work by itself or under makeup. Let me know what it does for ya! Blessings, beauties!

FOTD: Antiqued Gold Smokey Eye

Wow--it's been a while since I've done an EYE OF THE DAY! Today's look is brought to you by Milani--it's a smokey eye look using Blackground Paint Pot by MAC, Antique Gold eyeshadow by Milani and the Waikiki Strip Shimmer Strips Bronzer palette by Physician's Formula. Here are the instructions:

1. Cleanse, moisturize and prime the face as usual.
2. Apply foundation and/or concealer as needed.
3. Apply Blackground Paint Pot by MAC as your eye base with a synthetic brush and blend
across the lid and up to the crease.
4. Using a flat shade brush, apply Milani's Antique Gold eyeshadow close to the upper lash line
and blend up, feathering the color so that it "smokes out" (color is most dense at the lash
line and fades as it approaches the crease).
5. Using the peach strip in the Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Waikiki Strip palette
and an angled brush, apply under the brow for a highlight, blending down towards the
crease.
6. Using same angled brushed (wiped clean), apply NYX Black eyeshadow to both the upper
and lower lash lines, smudging to soften the look.
7. Apply mascara of choice and false lashes, if desired.
8. Apply cheek contour (optional), blush and/or bronzer. Groom and fill in brows if needed.
9. Apply lip liner and and a sheer formula lipstick or lip gloss and you're done!

On Going Gray...

Hello all you beauty junkies! As I contemplated writing this post, I couldn't really decide if this should go on my loc'd hair blog or on this blog, as the subject matter crosses between both. I decided to put it here in the end, because what I'm going to write about relates to beauty in a narrow sense, but to overall physical beauty in a general sense.

Now with that being said...I just finished reading a book called "Going Gray" by Anne Kreamer, c. 2007. It's a somewhat humorous look at one woman's journey into middle age "graydom"--the transformation from being a stalwart dye-haired fanatic to becoming a "gray"-ceful 50-ish woman comfortable in her own skin and unique beauty. The account is humorous because the author pokes fun at herself and her preconceived notions of beauty, sexiness, and self authenticity; it's also funny because of the sometimes slightly outlandish schemes that she launches to poll other people about how they view women with gray hair. For instance, with the blessings of her husband and the help of a few friends, she sets herself up with an online dating service, first with a picture of herself with dark hair and then with a picture of herself with gray hair to ascertain if men are more attracted to women with gray hair or colored hair. The poll results are rather different from what you would expect.

I've now reached that wonderful stage in life where I, too, am going gray. Actually, I've had gray hair since my mid thirties, it's just becoming a bit more prominent. Personally, I have no problem with my grays--they didn't make me feel any more or less old or sexy or beautiful (other things did that, but that's a topic for another post). In fact, my grays are really a shiny silver and I think they are beautiful! How do you all feel about "going gray"--would/will you do it? Or will you cover it up any way you can? Does your gray hair define you as a person? Does it make you feel less beautiful, less sexy, less like you? Why do you think our culture elevates youth so much and when did we become so intolerant of aging? When did it become all about the young? Don't get me wrong--I'm all for keeping healthy and looking good at any age, but this crazy quest that we as a nation are on for eternal youth with the botox injections, the face lifts, the tummy tucks, the liposuction, etc.--what's it all for? I'd love to hear your responses! Blessings, lovlies!

NEWS FLASH...I'LL BE AT THIS EVENT!

HELLO FELLOW MAKEUP JUNKIES! This post won't be a review of any product, nor will it be a tutorial on a particular makeup look. This is just a quick posting to let you know that little ole "moi" will be at the "Making Dreams Come True" prom event on Saturday, April 10th here in Louisville as a makeup artist! I am SOOO excited--this will be my first MUA event. Now, before anyone starts thinking "BIG BUCKS", let me say that this is an event sponsored by the Mary Alyce Foundation to help provide (free of charge) prom dresses, accessories, hair and makeup styling to girls that would otherwise not be able to afford these things for their senior prom. A great community event (I think) and a great way for me to get some much needed experience--I am DEFINITELY looking forward to this event. I've been making lists upon lists upon lists hoping that I won't forget to pack something important in my kit. My daughter will be acting as my assistant; I hope to be able to get some good pics that I can share with you all. Wish me luck! Be blessed, everyone!

Product Review: Embryolisse

Hello fellow beauty junkies. Just a quick review today of a new-to-me product called Embryolisse. I was introduced to this product while I attended The Artist Summit in Chicago last October; just about every makeup artist that I took a class with recommended this product as THE moisturizer to include in a pro kit. I finally decided to order a tube from the Alcone Company to try for myself. All I can say is "WOW!" I love this moisturizer: a VERY small amount is more than enough to cover your entire face, it's non-greasy, it absorbs into the skin quickly, it's odorless...I could go on and on. My face feels silky smooth after application. I especially love the fact that within seconds of application it's been absorbed completely, thereby letting me move on to the makeup application quickly. From Alcone's website:

"Immediately provides skin with essential nourishing components to replenish lipids and rapidly repair it. Its formula, which has been used for decades, remains extremely simple and effective. The nourishing ingredients can be absorbed by the skin to restore its barrier function and smooth away imperfections caused by cutaneous dryness.

The 24-Hour Miracle Cream cleans, moisturizes, and reduces irritation."

This rich cream seems to work well on any complexion type, although it may be just a tad too rich for us oily girls during the warmer months; I'll have to let you know once the weather around here gets a little warmer. At $25.00 for a 2.6 oz. tube, it was a little pricey for this struggling MUA, but since you only use a half-pea-size amount, the tube should last for quite a while. Shipping was quick; I think this product has definitely earned a spot in my professional kit!

What Is the Difference...?

Hello fellow beauty junkies! How is ya today? Today I was working at my store and a customer was talking with me as I cut her fabric. She was noticing and complimenting my eye makeup and asking me what I'd used. I told her the colors and the brands that I was wearing and then she asked me what type of finishes the shadows were. When I replied "matte" and "satin", she gave me a kind of blank look and then asked me, "what is a satin finish eyeshadow?" Now, this girl had on beautiful eye work herself, so her question was a little bit of a jolt to me. I'm thinking "your eyes are made up beautifully, so why don't you know what I mean by a 'satin finish' shadow?"

I guess we are all guilty of assuming that everyone knows what we know, at least once in a while. And after I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that I assume that anyone reading this blog would just know the differences between eyeshadow finishes, blushes vs. bronzers, lipsticks vs. lip glosses, etc. As I pondered a while longer, I decided that I would start a new series of posts that would attempt to explain the differences between similar, but different products in the makeup world. And the first entry into this "what is the difference" category is about...you guessed it...eyeshadows!

A MATTE finish shadow has a finish that is...well, matte. There is no shine, glimmer, gleam or sparkle. Light is not reflected, it is completely absorbed. A SATIN finish shadow has a very subtle gleam. The texture is akin to subtle shading in a painting--the shading gives depth and dimension to the painting, but it doesn't scream "CONTRAST HERE!" An eyeshadow with a FROST finish will reflect A LOT of light. Frost eyeshadows are great...in small doses. Frosted eyeshadow from the lashline to the brow can look harsh, particularly in photographs, so if you are going to use frost finish eyeshadows, use with discretion. If you have very oily skin, keep frost use to a minimum, as this particular finish can make your skin appear even more oily; if you have very dry skin be sure to moisturize and use a primer to help frosted eye products disperse evenly over the skin. GLITTER finishes are the BIG KAHUNA attention getters! There's certainly nothing subtle about the sparkle that they impart! Glitter adds drama and high shine to anything. A word of caution: if you are going to be using glitter around your eye, make sure that you are using a cosmetic grade glitter and not a craft glitter. Also, be very careful when applying--loose glitter in the eye can cause scratched corneas, eye infections and sometimes worse. Be sure to pack your glitter on over a very sticky base and/or use a sealer over it to be sure that the glitter stays on your eye and not in it!

That's it in a nutshell, Lovlies. Hope this helps to demystify eyeshadow finishes. Blessings to you!