LEVELS OF BEAUTY

GLOWING Skin...And How To Get It (Pt. 2)

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

All right people...now that winter is officially here with its gloomy, overcast days, chill winds whistling through empty branches and shortened daylight hours, we probably need to use some type of product to add a little "spark" to our complexion! Hopefully you all read part 1 of this article; if not, click on this LINK to find out how to jumpstart the process. In this installment, I'll show you some of the products that I have used to help impart that coveted healthy glow...


L to R: MAC Gold Deposit, Black Radiance Illuminator, Milani Baked Powder Blush in Rose D'Oro

A powdered shimmer blush or illuminator, when brushed lightly over the high points of the face, will visibly brighten any look. The key to using these powdered products is to 1) choose a product with a SUBTLE amount of shimmer. Too much will look...well, too much. Key 2) is to be sure to use a light touch and strategic placement; applied over every inch of skin and too heavily will guarantee that you look like an 80's disco ball on legs--NOT the look that we want to achieve!

L to R: Wet 'N Wild Bronzer in Princess, MUFE Matte Bronzer, Rimmell Natural Bronzer

Bronzers are another great way to brighten up; they come in both matte and shimmer formulas and as powder, cream and liquid. This product is used to imitate the "bronzed" or "sunkissed" look that skin takes on after exposure to the sun. Again, use judiciously with a light hand. Be sure to choose one that mimics your natural tan; going too dark in shade or too cool in tone will just make you look dirty and odd.

L to R: MAC Cream Color Base in Shell, Inglot Face/Body Illuminator in #67, MAC Cream Color Base in Fabulush

Creamy products, such as Inglot's Face and Body Illuminator or MAC's Cream Color Base are another option. These can be a little tricky to work with, as you have to work quickly to blend before they set on the skin; also, they should be applied BEFORE setting powder is used as they are much harder to blend out on top of a powdered surface.

So tell me, my Lovelies: what's your favorite way to "get your glow on"? Until next time, blessings, hugs and peace!

PINK (Mani) WEDNESDAY: LOVE Pure Ice!!!

2012-01-25T17:48:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally admit it...I'm having a love affair... with Pure Ice nail polishes! Today's installment is entitled Love, a really beautiful creamy-textured lacquer.

In all seriousness, these very inexpensive polishes are amazingly pigmented and wear very well (at least they do for me). This applied smoothly with no streaking, which was a nice switch (cream textures always seem to be streaky). I'm wearing two coats in the photos; you can still see a little bit of a nail line, but I was all right with that. Do you like? (And check out the ring--gotta love that bling!) A classic color for when you're in the mood to be a little demure...pure, understated elegance! What's your favorite type of pink nail polish--bold and bright, midtoned, soft and sweet? Until next time, blessings, hugs and peace.

STICKS AND STONES...

2012-01-20T09:30:00.000-05:00

Hello my Lovely People: you all know the saying. "...may break my bones but names (or words) will never hurt me". *BULL CRAP*! Words that roll so trippingly off the tongue of one person can, in fact, deeply wound another.

As some of you may have guessed, I suffer from time to time with depressive episodes. Not the short 'n sweet, couple of days kind of depressive mood; I'm talking about the long, lingering, black-hole type of mood that lasts anywhere from a few weeks to a few months or longer.

Right now I'm fighting to recover from such a bout and though I've come a ways from where I've been for the last few months, I've still got a long way to go before I reclaim that "joie de vie" that I normally exude. During this reclamation process, I've discovered that words spoken to me, some of them over 40 years ago, still hold the power to hurt and destroy. It's amazing to me that some of these things that I haven't even consciously thought about for decades, that I thought were over and done with, are still holding sway over the way I view myself. My responses have ranged from absolute rage (not an emotion I'm comfortable with) to despair so deep that I've wanted to die to get away from the psychological pain; panic attacks and anxiety issues have been direct manifestations of my state of mind.

As "beauty junkies" and makeup artists, most think that our primary purpose is to "beat faces", which is, in fact, our job. I'd like to remind all of you that beauty, while some argue is only "skin deep", goes so much deeper. It's not only a physical state but an emotional and spiritual one. While "beating that face" we need to be lifting that spirit as well; all of us can use an encouraging word. Remember, thrown stones, both good and bad, can last a very long time before they erode. Until next time...blessings, hugs and peace!
__________________________
*crying favicon provided here: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2717

PINK (Mani) WEDNESDAY: Casting Call by Wet 'N Wild

2012-01-18T00:30:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! It's another PINK Wednesday and I've got a very affordable, very nice polish for you today. It's Casting Call by Wet 'N Wild. A mid-toned, victorian pink this polish was a nice surprise for me.

After purchase, I got this one home and the shade looked a bit more grayed and muted than it did in the store; I almost took it back as I wasn't sure if the color would suit. MAIS QU'EST QUE C'EST? This was perfect on me--a pink that I could wear with almost anything!

It glowed and made my hands look oh-so-elegant. (Sorry for the slight blur--hand cramp!) A cream texture, it applied somewhat streaky, but evened-out with a second coat and dried to a high shine. Staying power was great at five days with no chips or wear. I believe this one will get heavy rotation in my polish wardrobe. Is it me or do creme finish polishes seem to apply streaky? Until next time Lovelies, blessings, hugs and peace

PRODUCT REVIEW: Covergirl Blast Flipstick

2012-01-16T09:30:00.000-05:00

So Lovelies, have any of you tried the new Covergirl Blast Flipsticks yet? This new, double ended lipcolor is the latest in the "Blast" family. There are 13 shades in the line and I've purchased three of them: (from top to bottom) 815 Flashy (plum w/pink shimmer), 830 Tease (dark-ish orange toned red w/light golden-peachy shimmer), and 855 Minx (bronze w/light copper shimmer).

The idea behind these lipsticks is that both the creme and shimmer colors can be worn alone, the creme can used as a lipliner and filled in with the shimmer or the creme can be overlaid with the shimmer, creating an entirely new lip color. The idea is a good one: one lipstick product can create at least three different lip looks to take you from the boardroom to the club. The packaging is sleek and fits easily into a little evening clutch; the product longevity is fairly good. I found that for me, the product applied well--very creamy and smooth, but tended to dry out without first putting on a lip balm underneath. Another application of either clear gloss or untinted lip balm halfway into the day remoisturized the product. (I'm not used to having to reapply my lip product during the course of my activities.) The price is reasonable: $7.99 at Target and $9.79 at Walgreens; I have a few lip products that cost less and last through the entire day without reapplying. Would I purchase this product again? The jury is still out on that. What's your take on this?

Until next time, blessings, hugs and peace!

LET'S PLAY!!

2012-01-13T00:30:00.000-05:00

Good Morning my lovely readers! Since I haven't done a FOTD for quite awhile I decided to get out the most basic of colors (black and white) and play! I had no particular destination in mind, I just wanted to see what I could come up with.

This is a great way to get comfortable with colors that you may be a little hesitant to use and a way to unleash your creativity! Products used: Jordana Easyliner for Eyes in Black, NYX eye shadow in matte black, The Body Needs Mineral Eyeshadow in Silver Struck, E.L.F. creme liner in black, MAC blush in blunt and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit.

I admire makeup artists that can create abstract designs and do them so well that they actually look wearable! I'm afraid that I don't have that skill in abundance (at least not yet); this was my attempt to channel more of that type of creative energy...

So what do you all think of the outcome? I figured that a red lip would make the whole thing pop, so I used OCC's lip tar in NSFW (Not Safe For Work). Do you challenge yourself to work outside of your comfort zone? Leave your comments on your hit and/or misses! Until next time, blessings, hugs and peace...

FOR A BEAUTIFUL MAKEUP...: How To Get GLOWING Skin!

2012-01-11T00:30:00.000-05:00

Hey Lovelies! It's another Monday and I thought it would be a good idea to post another entry into the "For A Beautiful Makeup..." series. Today's article is all about how to get that "glowing" skin look.
Several months ago, I posted an article on how to "prepare the canvas" of the skin for a beautiful makeup. If you haven't read that three part-er , then click HERE, HERE, and HERE. Now, once you've got the nutritional side of this equation goin' on (which is where everything starts!), we can begin on "gettin' that "glow".

You might think that the "glow" in these pictures is created by strategic placement of light and the sleight-of-hand of cosmetics, and to a certain extent you would be right; it's obvious that I've got on makeup in both of these pics, but even when I'm without makeup, people have commented and/or complimented me on my glowing skin. One of the things that contributes to this is exfoliation, the process of removing the top layer of older, drier skin cells from the surface of the face, allowing younger, more hydrated cells to come forefront. There are many commercial cleansers on the market that contain anything and everything from ground apricot kernels to exploding mirobeads that you can use to help move those dead skin cells along. One of the least expensive ways of exfoliating your skin is to use a clean washcloth, dampen it with warm water, and in a circular, buffing motion gently move around the entire face. The key word in exfoliating is "gentle"--rubbing too vigorously can cause irritation and redness. DO NOT rub the over- or undereye area; the delicate skin is much too thin to respond well to this type of treatment! Once finished, apply the moisturizer of your choice to your DAMP skin and let soak in. Consistent treatment over the course of several weeks should see your skin glowing like the rising sun at dawn. Let me know what you think--until next time blessings, hugs and peace!

PRODUCT REVIEW: Maybelline 24HR Color Tattoo Creme Eyeshadow

2012-01-06T13:19:00.000-05:00

Hello my Lovelies and a happy day to you all! Today I will be reviewing a new product just released by Maybelline called the 24HR Color Tattoo. This is a creme eyeshadow product, similar to the MAC Paint Pot. There are ten shades in the collection; I have six of them: top row (L to R) 20 Painted Purple, 30 Pomegranate Punk and 05 Too Cool. Bottom row (L to R): 40 Tenacious Teal, 15 Audacious Asphalt, 15 Tough As Taupe.

I've been using them off and on for the past week and I have to say that I'm pretty impressed. They are very creamy, glide on well and are quite pigmented. All of the colors that I have, with the exception of Tough As Taupe, are shimmers. I even tried wearing a couple of them alone just as shadow colors and they stayed crease-proof quite well--rarely do I wear creme shadows because I have oily lids. They work wonderfully well as a base for other shadows and I think are quite comparable to MAC's Paint Pot. I found the Color Tattoo at both Walgreens ($6.99) and Target ($5.99) for .14 oz.; MAC's Paint Pots are priced at $16.50 (or is it now $17.50?) for .17 oz. Above is a picture of me wearing the 05 Too Cool (white shimmer) as a base topped with MUFE matte white shadow, MUFE matte turquoise shadow and Covergirl eyeshadow in After Midnight.

What do you think; have you tried them yet? Until next time Lovelies, blessings, hugs and peace!

ACCESSORIES: A Few of My Favorite Things!

2012-01-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Hello once again, my Lovelies! Hope you're all having a great Monday. Today's post is going to be about accessories--I have a YouTube subscriber by the name of Ginikkie that asked me about my jewelry accessories: where I get them, how to wear them and such. I was originally going to post a video in response to her query, but since I am currently having some issues with my vid-cam software (GGGRRRR!) I thought I would answer her questions here.
First, I just gotta say that I really LOVE my accessories--earrings, rings, scarves, bracelets, nail polish (yes, nail polish is an accessory!), necklaces and anything else that can be classified as such. Here are a couple of pics of some of my favorite jewelry accessories:

I absolutely LOVE this cuff bracelet/earring set! Looks so vintage-y (is that a word?) and so elegant. If I remember correctly, I got this from JC Penny about three years ago, and they weren't even sold together as a set! I got the bracelet first for less than $15, and then went back several weeks later and found the matching earrings for less than $10! The taupe-y color in an antiqued gold setting goes with just about everything....

Next, we have some random topaz-colored chandelier earrings (not sure from where, they were a gift) and several of my favorite rings. Chandelier earrings are probably my favorite style--I have a gagillion of them! Sorry the picture doesn't do justice to the rings: the big flower one I purchased from Burlington Coat Factory for about $8.00; the pearl ring and the two C.Z. rings I acquired from Sears for less than $8.00 a piece and the smoky colored ring was given to me by my daughter for Mother's Day last year--it's an Avon piece.

More cuff bracelets! (Yes, I LOVE my bracelets, too!) The silver one was found at Walmart, of all places--clearance for $5.00! The green, gold and plum necklace was a find at Burlington Coat Factory also (has a matching stretch bracelet that I didn't photograph), as well as the black sparkle bangle (I know, you can't see the sparkles on this one.)

As far as where to find such pieces, I can't really give you a definite place; as you can tell from my descriptions, I find my pieces all over the place. I even have a pair of antique gold filigree earrings that I found several years ago in a thrift store; they are real gold and very thin and delicate--cost on those was less than $5.00 (a steal!). You really just have to look and be sure that you know what kind of look you prefer. I like my jewelry to not "look cheap" even though price-wise I haven't spent much money on it. I like my look to be classic for the most part rather than trendy, as I will probably be wearing these pieces for at least several years to come. As for how to wear these pieces--yes, I will often wear a pair of chunky or "big" (statement wise) earrings with a large cuff bracelet or bangle and a ring, but if I have the bracelet on the left wrist, I will wear the ring on the right hand so as to balance the "weight" of all the pieces. I am almost never without a pair of earrings on at the very least; I feel "naked" if my earrings aren't in place. Then, I build from there. So how 'bout it Lovelies, how do you rock your jewelry? Until next time, blessings, hugs and peace!

PINK (Mani) WEDNESDAY: First Love by Pure Ice

2012-01-04T19:26:00.000-05:00

Good evening my Lovelies! I'm a little late in getting this post off, as I've been endeavoring to add some new things to my blog; unfortunately, one thing worked and one thing didn't work and I've spent the better part of the day trying to finesse the thing that didn't work--to no avail (darn it!)
Anyway, with it being Wednesday, it's time for me to do a "pink" manicure! Today we have Pure Ice's "First Love", a really lovely light, shimmery, pearlescent pink polish. Purchased at my local Walmart for around $2.00, I hurried home to immediately try it out. I have several other shades by Pure Ice and have been mightily pleased with all of them so far. This shade was no exception.

This shade reminded me of the inside of an abalone shell; there are hints of gold, green and lavender. This polish is very fluid and applied thinly and well--no brush marks or streakiness at all. The pictures really don't do the color justice, as the color is washed out. Two coats were used; three coats would have been absolutely no problem. The wear was excellent; no chipping for three days and VERY MINIMAL edge wear, even after five days. I think that this one is going into the favorites pile! So, what do you all think? Do you have a favorite pale pink polish? Until the next time, blessings, love and peace...

HAPPY NEW YEAR --GO GET IT!!!

2012-01-01T12:50:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to all of you! I have definitely missed you all so much and as I write this first post of 2012, I pray that all of you are well and happy. I feel compelled to write this blog to sort of explain where I've been for the past several months.

2011 was a year of major ups and downs for me: I lost my job of 13 years, I went to Chicago to take professional makeup artistry courses and attend the first-ever Makeup Show, moved to a new residence because of increasing problems with management at the old place, helped my daughter plan her wedding, designed, drafted and made her dress, and then...fell into a deep depression. I became fearful and anxious and for a time couldn't even leave my apartment to take out the trash, much less go to the store or to a job. My thoughts were a muddle and it was a major effort just to get out of bed in the mornings. I've had one previous episode of major clinical depression, but in retrospect I've probably suffered with varying degrees of depression since my teens. One of the worst aspects of this is that in some corner of my mind, I felt that I'd let you, my readers down and myself because I couldn't continue with my postings and my YouTube videos. I just COULDN'T DO IT--even the thought of writing or taping was beyond terrifying.

Today I can say that with the prayers of lots of people who love me and the help of a very good counselor, I am making progress towards getting back to "normal". This post is part of my "normal". Am I 100% back yet?--no, not quite, but I'm getting there. I'm still having anxiety issues and putting myself "out there" again is a real conscious ongoing decision but I have decided that 2012 is the year that I will strive to "GO GET IT"--I will aggressively promote my blog and my freelance makeup business, I will defeat this depressive state and I will live life to the fullest. May this new year fill you all with love, peace, joy and may you be blessed in all of your endeavors...and now: ON WITH THE NEW YEAR!!!

HELLO MY LOVELIES...I'M BACK!

2011-07-06T15:58:00.000-04:00

Hello my LOL Lovelies! I'm back from Chi-town and am endeavoring to get back on track with my postings. Thanks so much for hanging in there with me...Sorry, I won't have any pictures with today's little spiel, I just wanted to get something out to let you all know that you weren't forgotten.

My fling with Chicago was a blast from beginning to end and I will definitely be looking towards a future trip back to that amazing place. My makeup classes were fun-filled and information-packed; in all honesty, I wish I could have stayed for a couple of more! I even got to model for several of the classes (do you know how much fun it is to sit in "the chair" and have people pamper your face?!?) Meeting Sam Fine, Reggie Wells, Joanna Schlip and others at The Makeup Show Chicago was just icing on the cake. And I must give shouts out to SanTara of The Gorgeous Ingredient, Koren Zander of Enkore Makeup, and Jennifer James of Jennifer James Beauty; it was great to finally meet some of you and renew my acquaintance with others!

Now that I'm back on home turf, it's going back to business as usual: job hunting (YUCK!!), blogging, bill paying (double yuck!), product reviews, YouTube tutorials, etc. Added to this mix is my PUSH to begin branding/building myself and my freelance makeup business; I need to set up a website and online portfolio, choose a business name and design cards, stationary, etc. WHEW!! Lots of stuff to keep me busy...oh, and did I mention that my daughter is getting married in mid-September and that yours truly is designing/making the dress? AND, I still haven't even begun to figure out what I'm going to wear to the shindig...As I said,...business as usual LOL! Anyway, must run for now, next post I promise will come with pictures! Until next time...blessings, hugs and peace! (By the way, I am now taking bookings for makeup instruction and/or makeup application via Betterfly: if you get a chance, click on the link and check out my site. Better yet, if you're in the Louisville, KY area and need a makeup artist or know of someone that does, schedule an appointment! Thanks

In Retrospect-Chicago, My First Week!

2011-06-15T11:26:00.002-04:00

Good morning Lovely People! I've not been updating quite as regularly as I would like, but I've just been so busy here in Chicago! I LOVE THE CITY!!! Sorry, just had to get that out of the way--it's fast paced and filled with energy and culture is everywhere--I LOVE IT!

My first week here really was a bit hectic, just getting used to the city, finding my way around, learning to take the METRA (the Metropolitan Rail) from the suburb that I'm staying in to and from the city, etc. Now, a story about me and trains--I am absolutely PETRIFIED (as in phobic) of trains. No real logical reason, I just am and I was really concerned about having to ride the train to and from the city everyday. But I prayed and leapt off the cliff and so far have been able to keep the phobia pretty much in check--THANK GOD!!!

As for the reason that I'm here: makeup classes at the Makeup First School of Makeup Artistry. Jill Glaser is the founder/owner of the school and also one of the instructors. I am currently taking the basic makeup course and will be taking the basic media course, two of five core courses required for state certification and while I already knew some things about basic color theory and facial anatomy I am learning a lot of new things and learning a whole new way to view things with regard to makeup application. The classes are small and you are really able to get individual attention from the instructors which is critical for understanding the craft and improvement.

AND NOW FOR THE BONUS: I was able to attend the first ever Chicago Makeup Show!!! It was fabulous and crazy fun! Lots of keynote speakers, lots of seminars, lots of workshop classes and of course, lots of vendors! I had the privilege of meeting Sam Fine, Reggie Wells (Oprah's makeup artist), Maurice Stein (creator of Cinema Secrets professional makeup line), Joanna Schlip, Jon Hennessey and Jennifer James. I was also able to renew my acquaintance with Koren Zander, Michael DeVellis and James Vincent. AND of course I bought some amazing products...all in all not a bad first week! Pics to come (guess who left her USB cable at home?); will try to get to Staples to get another one this weekend. Gotta run Lovelies and get ready to get to class--until next time, blessings, hugs and peace!

MIA For Just a (Very) Little While...

2011-06-06T08:16:00.000-04:00

Good morning my Lovely Beauties! Just wanted to do a very quick post to let you all know that I'm not MIA for real--I was very much under the weather last week and by the time that I felt well enough to post again, I had to do a lightening-fast cleaning/packing job to get myself ready to head to Chicago! I arrived in Chi-town yesterday (feeling much better) and I will be attending The Makeup First School for the next four weeks. AND...if all goes according to my plans, I will also be attending The Makeup Show this weekend. So, I'm really excited...getting ready to head out for the day and see what I can see of the city before class, so I'll write a more proper post this evening. Thanks for hanging in with me my Lovelies and until next time, blessings, hugs and peace!

Pink (Mani) Wednesdays: China Glaze Naked

2011-06-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

Good morning my Lovelies! It's another PINK WEDNESDAY and for today it's China Glaze's Naked. A mid-range pink creme, this applied sooo smoothly! No streaks, no brush lines, no problems...

Naked--2 coats and top coat

Just wanted to show off my flower ring--ain't it purdy? :-)

This is a perfect shade of pink that I think anyone could wear--not too pale and not to wild and intense! You can still see a bit of my nail line, but that doesn't bother me. I picked this up at my local Sally's Beauty Supply during one of my recent nail polish hauls. Would you consider this an appropriate "work wear" mani color? Tell me your favorite China Glaze color--until next time Lovelies, blessings, hugs, and peace!

FOTD: Green and Red!

2011-05-31T06:00:00.001-04:00

Lovely people, how are you today? It's Tuesday, so it's another FOTD for you! I'm kinda all over the place with products for this look, a combo of green(s) with a red lip:

Products: Revlon Colorstay Foundations in 400 Caramel, 380 Rich Ginger and 370 Toast, Jane True To You loose powder in Colorless,Wet 'N Wild Kajal Eyeliner in Cool Green, Prestige Eyeliner in 78 Marble, Wet 'N Wild Creme Eyeliner in 886 Black, Coastal Scents e/s in S35 and S07, The BodyNeeds e/s in Atlantis and Snow White, Cover Girl e/s (Queen Collection) in Emerald, NYX e/s in Odessy, Sassy e/s in Brown, Black Radiance Blush in Plum Sorbet, MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Gold Deposit, Black Radiance Body Building Mascara in Black, Jordana Lipliner in Hot Pepper and OCC Liptar in NSFW. Whew--quite a list of products! The three shades of liquid foundation were used to highlight/contour the face (darker shade used around the perimeter of the face, lightest color used to highlight over and under the brow, mid-tone used to subtly illuminate central T-zone area). A little more work than usual, but I think the results are worth it--what's your opinion? Do you sometimes use special techniques when applying makeup such as contour/highlight? What's your favorite special technique? 'Till next time Lovelies, blessings, hugs and peace...

Understanding Skin Undertones

2011-05-27T06:00:00.001-04:00

Hi Lovelies! Today's beauty topic is on skin undertones--something that is vitally important to understand as it affects how you match foundations, powders, eye, cheek and lip colors so that your makeup always looks right on point. Basically, your undertone will fall within one of the following three categories: pink/red, yellow/yellow-green, or neutral (neither pink/red or yellow/yellow-green).

In order to have a perfectly matching foundation, you should match both the skin tone (i.e.: beige, ivory, caramel, mocha, etc.) and the skin's undertone (i.e.: pink/red, yellow, yellow-green (also called olive)). For example, if you need to use an ivory colored foundation on a client and your client's undertone is pink, but you use an ivory colored foundation with a yellow undertone the result will be flat and unnatural looking.

The Pixiwoo sisters, (Samantha and Nicola Chapman), have a wonderful tutorial on their YouTube channel that explains this concept. Here is another article that includes an explanation for how MAC cosmetics categorizes their foundations, concealers and powders according to skin undertones. Once you've mastered this concept, it will make choosing your colors so much easier! Until next time Lovelies, blessings, hugs and peace!

Product Review: Black Radiance Body Building Mascara

2011-05-26T10:01:00.001-04:00

Good morning my Lovelies! Hope everything is wonderful for you all. I've been up since about 4:30 am (don't know why, I just sat up in bed wide awake) and since it doesn't look like I'm going back to sleep for a while, I decided to go ahead and do this review.

I picked up this new mascara by Black Radiance last week at my local WalMart; my other mascara was getting old and dried and I was really short on funds. Saw this one for about $2.00 and since I've decided to give this brand another chance, I thought "Self, why not give this a try?"

Nice packaging, easy to access, standard size wand with dense bristles

My lashes, au naturel

My lashes (with lid open this time! ) Sorry

One coat. A little more volume, more separation. Do I see a little more length?


Two coats...definitely added some volume, particularly to the bottom.

My opinion on this product: not the greatest on the market (my favorite of the ones I've tried is still Colossal Volumn' Express by Maybelline) but not bad either for $2.00. I'll use it until I build my funds back up and can get something else. Until next time Lovelies, blessings, hugs and peace!

Mani-Wednesdays! My Nail Polish Collection Part 2

2011-05-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

Hello my Lovelies! Today we have another edition of Mani-Wednesdays! I'm so excited about this series since I am having a continuing and strong love affair with nail polish of all types. I said in my last post that I would show you some more of my polish collection, so here goes:

My collection of Orly brand nail polishes--not nearly as extensive as my collection of Sinful Colors, but I love them nevertheless. (And I'm sure that this will keep growing in size!) Colors from left to right include: fifty-four, moonlit madness, hook up, rage, goin' to the chapel, royal velvet, gilded coral, shimmering mauve, and dazzle. Out of this group, I've only used fifty-four, goin' to the chapel, gilded coral and dazzle so far. The dazzle looks absolutely GORGEOUS as a french maincure--I'll have to begin taking pics of my nails to post.

So how do you all decide what polishes to buy and when? Is there a method to this madness or do you just purchase on the fly? What are your favorite sources to purchase from? This is kinda like buying fabric for me; all of those gorgeous colors in one place makes it so hard to decide! (Oh, I guess you all don't know that I'm also an avid seamstress and I have an addiction to fabric...) Manicure photos in my next posting, I promise! Blessings, hugs and peace to all of you until next time...

Mani-Wednesdays: Who Likes PINK?

2011-05-25T05:00:00.002-04:00

Today is pink Wednesday and it's being brought to you courtesy of Pure Ice. The color is called "Watermelon Ice" and it's a beautiful sheer mid range pink with silver sparkles:

Isn't this just beautiful?

Two coats applied; formula is sheer and easy to apply. Three coats would have been better.


I tried to capture the sparkles here; this picture doesn't do it justice. (Yep, i cracked a nail.)

This shade really does remind me of ripe, juicy watermelon! Made my mouth water...do you like this shade? Do you have a favorite fruit inspired polish? Until next time Lovelies, blessings, hugs and peace!

FOTD: Neutrals Rule!

2011-05-24T16:12:00.002-04:00

Good afternoon fabulous Lovelies! Today I decided to do a FOTD (face of the day)--haven't done one of those in a while. Something easy and something everyone can do: the neutral eye. I did mine with a navy blue outer "v":

, Wet 'N Wild
Product list: Revlon Colorstay in 400 Caramel (combo/oily), Ben Nye Neutral Set, Coastal Scents eyeshadows M19, S35, M17, S36, Black Radiance Blush in Plum Sorbet, Black Radiance Mosaic Bronzer in Illuminating Shimmer, Black Radiance Body Building Mascara in Black and Wet 'N Wild Lipstick #510A. Nice look for work or an easy day; the darker outer corner gives a little drama without being over the top. It really has been a while since I've take pictures for an FOTD--my lighting situation is a little off and the colors are washed out. Oh well...hope you like the look anyway. I'll try to figure out the adjustments for the next time! Until then blessings, hugs and peace!

Nail Time: Pure Ice Fast Lane

2011-05-23T06:00:00.001-04:00

Hey there my Lovelies! It's time for another polish review and today it's Pure Ice's Fast Lane:

This is a great "nude, go-with-anything" kind of color with a pearlized finish. I used to not like the Pure Ice polishes, but perhaps the formula has changed because they seem to wear really well now and application is a snap! (Or perhaps it was just "operator error"...) Two coats were used in the pictures. I picked this up at my local Walmart for $1.37--great price for those budget-conscious individuals like me that also love to indulge in all things girly! Have you tried the Pure Ice polishes? What are your favorite colors? Let me know what you think (don't be shy now, I LOVE hearing from you!) Until next time, blessings, hugs, and peace...

Sleek Makeup Haul!

2011-05-21T20:28:00.000-04:00

Hi my Lovelies! I know that I'm posting this late, but I've just been a really lazy girl today--and have loved every minute of it! But on to the good stuff--about three weeks ago I FINALLY received my Sleek makeup purchase! I was SO excited because I've been wanting to try out their products for a while now...

Aren't the colors GORGEOUS? On the left--top: Paraguaya palette, bottom: Original palette. On the right--top: Pan-Tao blush, bottom: Scandalous blush. Paraguaya and Pan-Tao were part of the limited Avoir La Peche collection and are the perfect colors for spring--peachy, corally with a soft taupe and a coco brown thrown in. The Original palette is great for alluring, mysterious or smokey eye looks, and Scandalous is a beautiful red blush that would look great on most any skintone.

At $10.00 for the eyeshadow palette and $6.50 for the blush, the price is perfect; all items are silky smooth, highly pigmented and a real pleasure to apply. Overall, I was really pleased with this purchase and I will definitely be ordering from them again. Have you tried Sleek makeup yet?

Until next time Lovelies, blessings, hugs and peace!

She'd Never Seen Real Nails So Long...!

2011-05-20T18:33:00.003-04:00

Hello my Lovelies--just have to put this out there and you all can comment on this. There are several young ladies at my church (grade school and pre-teen) that always come up to me; we exchange some talk, hugs, etc.--you get the drift. One of the girls made a comment about my manicure and then asked, "are those your real nails?" When I responded "yes" all of the girls were very surprised; in fact they began to really examine my nails, touching and testing the strength of them, turning my hands over to see if they could see the acrylic, etc. One girl even said that she'd never seen real nails so long!

My Natural Nails (NOT so long!)

After I got home,that statement kept going around and around in my head--she'd never seen real nails so long. How sad--how sad that there are a lot of young girls that don't know anything but acrylic or gel nails or Lee Press-On Nails, weave hair, Yaki or Remi hair. As much as I love my nail polishes, nail art, cosmetics, etc., I still also love and celebrate my natural attributes. I'm not afraid to go out in public with a bare face or wear my natural hair texture. We seem to be moving towards a generation of young women that may know nothing but artifice as far as beauty is concerned. As beauty "gurus" are we teaching anything about how to love our inherent beauty; are we encouraging our young women to be comfortable with their own unique set of features BEFORE making a conscious decision to use cosmetic enhancements? What's your take on this--talk to me; discussion is welcomed! Until next time Lovelies, blessings, hugs and peace...

For A Beautiful Makeup...Part 3 (Concealers and Foundation)

2011-05-19T05:00:00.005-04:00

Hello again my Lovelies! This is part 3 of my "For a Beautiful Makeup..." series. In part 2 I told you a little about primers and correctors and how to use them; in this installment I'll be talking about concealers and foundation.
Just a little disclaimer as before--you may not need to use all or any of these products; it is your choice as to what you use.

I decided to address the use of foundation first because sometimes, with the proper use and color of foundation, it may not be necessary to use a concealer. Foundations are used to even out the facial skin tone; it gives the "canvas" of the face an even coloring so that all other makeup that is applied on top will show true to color. It also helps to ensure that all other color products apply smoothly and evenly. Particularly for women of color, the skin tone is often not even, with the perimeter of the face oftentimes being darker than the more central areas. In this case, two or even three shades of foundation may be used to transition between these light and dark areas of the face, ultimately giving the illusion of a smooth and even skin tone. Not only do you have to match the foundation to your skin tone; you also have to match the skin's UNDERTONE, usually either yellow or red. Using a foundation with the incorrect undertone will result in a masked appearance. Porcelain-skinned beauties usually have a pink/red undertone, while those with more brown tones in their skin usually have a yellow or green/yellow undertone. Relatively few people have what is termed a neutral undertone or an equal mixture of yellow and red undertones. Only the minimum amount of foundation necessary to even out skin tone and cover minor flaws should be used. It should be well blended so that all that is seen is flawless skin.

Once foundation has been applied, use concealer if needed. Concealers are designed to hide minor skin imperfections such as dark under eye circles, minor scarring, blemishes, etc. To conceal any skin imperfection, use a concealer shade one to two shades lighter than your skin tone; the idea is that the lighter shade blended over the darker spot will even out to the normal skin tone. Apply the concealer AFTER foundation; you may find that you will need to use less product to cover the imperfection. Concealer is also sometimes used to highlight certain areas of the face such as the brow bone or the high plane of the cheekbone.

I hope that these posts are helpful to you; please drop me a comment or three about what you'd like to see here! Until next time, blessings to you all!

I'm Rockin' PINK Today...

2011-05-18T11:03:00.003-04:00

l-r: Sinful Colors Pink Forever, Orly Fifty-Four

Hey Lovelies! I honestly thought I'd scheduled a post to publish today, but...my bad! Nothing in the pipeline! So I got the bright idea to show you my fresh manicure using Orly's Fifty-Four and Sinful Color's Pink Forever. Now if you follow the nail blogs,
you know that there is a "pink Wednesdays" campaign going on commerating the movie "Mean Girls". (I've not seen the movie yet, but everyone seems to really enjoy it!) Anyway, I finally decided to get on the band wagon, especially since I have so many different shades of pink! Anyway, on to the pics:

These pictures don't really do the colors justice; Fifty-four is a clear base that contains very fine rose and gold shimmers--great for someone that may not be too sure about wearing more vibrant color. Subtle, shimmery color and finished looking nails. Pink Forever is more of a hot pink creme, great for those of us that just LOVE bright color! Both of these colors applied well, although the Orly formula seemed a little thick; two coats were used in the pictures. I currently have a thing for the french tip look--I've been rockin' some of the most awesome color combos...let me know what you think and tell me what your favorite pink polishes are. Until next time Lovelies...blessings, hugs and peace!

Hey Lovelies...Just A Giveaway Alert!

2011-05-16T14:44:00.000-04:00

Hello my Lovelies! This is a just a quick alert...check out CARINA at her Guilded Nails blog. She is hosting a giveaway in honor of gaining her 1500th follower! Click the highlighted link above for details...

Until next time, blessings, hugs and peace!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Natural Beauty IS NOT Synonymous With Makeup (or the lack thereof)!

2011-05-14T01:37:00.001-04:00

Hello again Beauty Junkies! Let me preface this post by saying that is is going to be somewhat of a rant. The other day I was floating around on the 'net perusing some new (to me) beauty blogs and came across THIS ONE. Marie, the author, has a rant entitled "Natural Beauty vs. Makeup (READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE) and it has struck me anew that there are still so many people (male and female) in this day and age
that equate natural beauty with physical attributes. Now, I'm not so naive as to believe that pleasing facial features, a nicely proportionate body, healthy hair (styled appropriately), correctly applied cosmetics, etc. don't create a beautiful physical appearance; nor do I deny that physical appearance is what draws us to one another (most of the time) in the first place. (C'mon, you can admit it--how many times have you gone up to a physically unattractive person and started a conversation?!?) Now, how many times have you regretted walking up to that gorgeous specimen of masculinity or femininity once he/she opened up their mouth and displayed that the beautiful package housed a rather ugly spirit?

Natural beauty has nothing whatsoever to do with the use of cosmetics; it has everything to do with the spirit. It shows through, regardless of what the physical attributes may be. Makeup can enhance a pretty face (or even a not so-pretty one); just know that it is not a substitute for natural beauty!

Tweezing Vs. Threading

2011-05-11T06:00:00.003-04:00

Howdy my Lovelies! How are you today? Hope it's a really good day for all. This is going to be a very quick posting on the Tweezing vs. Threading debate. I've been trying to teach myself how to thread off and on for the last month. I'm really liking the results, I'm just not very coordinated yet! This is used by many women to
extract unwanted hair from areas like the eyebrow, the upper lip, the chin/neck areas, etc. I say that I'm not very coordinated with this method because it take two hands to do. Basically, you use a piece of cotton thread held between your two hands to "pluck" out the unwanted hair. Here is a LINK to an excellent how-to video about threading by YouTuber Eily311. So far, I have used this method on my chin (yes, I DO have a few hairs in random places) and the results seem to last for almost two weeks before it has to be done again; when I tweeze I have to repeat the process on a weekly basis. Hopefully with practice I'll get a little more coordinated. Which method do you prefer and why? Until next time, blessings, hugs and peace!

Just Another Ramble...

2011-05-09T18:20:00.001-04:00

Hello my Lovelies! This has not been a very productive day for me...I'm not sure why. Just can't seem to get it in gear for whatever reason. The most productive thing that I've done so far has been to go out and mail a letter! Oh yeah...I've also played around with my blog layout and background and such...be sure to tell me what you think of it. I've been kinda feeling for a while that it was time for a change, SOOOOO..! I think I like it, but seems like it still needs something...

L'Oreal Colour Riche in Amber paired with Jordana Lip Pencil in Coffee Bean

As you all can see, I really am making an effort to post a little more often. It really does bother me to go such long periods without posting but sometimes I really feel uninspired and just don't know what to talk about. Anyway, I thought I would pose a question for all you beauty junkies out there: what one beauty product would you not be caught dead without? You know what I mean--that one product that you just have to have over any other product; the one product that you would use regardless of whether you are using anything else that day or not. Aside from my coconut oil (which I don't really consider a beauty product as much as I consider a part of my personal daily hygiene regimen), I suppose my one beauty product is lipstick. Today I'm wearing a shade from L'Oreal's Colour Riche collection called Amber; it's a sheer, dark-ish amber-beige color with a slight gold shimmer. The color works with just about any makeup look or the totally "au naturelle" look as well. It applies smoothly and can be layered over a lip pencil or another lipstick to deepen the color. Until next time Lovelies, blessings, hugs and peace!

For A Beautiful Makeup...Part 2 (Primers and Correctors)

2011-05-05T15:45:00.001-04:00

Hello my Lovelies! This article will be a continuation of my periodic "For a Beautiful Makeup..." series. Today, I want to continue on this theme with a few words about primers, correctors, concealers, and foundations: what they are and how they are used.

Hopefully by now, your canvas is in tip-top shape (you HAVE been following the steps outlined in my first
article in this series, right?!? If not, you can click HERE to find out what those steps are) and you are ready to begin applying your makeup. Now, bear in mind that you may not need to use all or any of these products; only you can determine what is needed for your particular skin-type and needs.

First up is the category of product known as a primer--you can equate a skin primer to a paint primer. The purpose of a primer is to prepare the surface to accept the next layer of product; in the case of a skin primer, this product is used to help fill in fine lines and uneven areas on the surface of the skin so that one's foundation will adhere evenly and smoothly. Some primers are formulated to help moisturize (seal in moisture) dry skin and some have added ingredients to help control excess oil production. I would say that 99.8% of us that wear foundation on a regular basis can definitely benefit from the use of a good skin primer--the other .2% of us either have absolutely PERFECT SKIN (and I say this in love--I HATE you!) or are babies and are so naturally cute that you don't need makeup anyway...

Moving on...next up we come to the correctors. These little miracles come in some unusual (to the uninitiated) shades: orange/salmon, yellow, green, lavender/lilac. This product is used to neutralize dark skin discolorations such as rosacea, port-wine or other birthmarks, inflammations, moles, etc. In order to use these properly, one must have a little knowledge of color theory. Discolorations that are red are corrected using green, blue discolorations are corrected using orange/salmon, purple is corrected using yellow and yellow is corrected by using lavender. If you get confused, use a basic artist's color wheel--colors opposite each other on the wheel will cancel or neutralize each other. Use correctors on heavily pigmented skin discolorations that need to be brought back to a neutral skin tone before concealing. Use correctors before applying your foundation. (Youtube beauty guru ENKORMAKEUP has a really good video explaining about the use of correctors--click on the link to view!)

Whew! I can see that this article is getting a little lengthy, so I will address the use of concealers and foundations in my next series continuation. Until next time, blessings!

Mani-Wednesdays!

2011-04-27T15:01:00.008-04:00

Hello my Lovlies! I am starting a new periodic series entitled Mani-Wednesdays because I want to showcase my newest beauty obsession--nails, nail polish and nail art! Now that I'm no longer working with fabric for 10+ hours a day I've been able to grow out my nails and have once again taken an interest in keeping my hands and nails looking their best. Mind you, it's not that I didn't take care of my nails/hands before; I just couldn't keep them looking as nice as I wanted them. Manicures never lasted more than a couple of days, my nails were so very dehydrated and weak (fabric absolutely SUCKS the moisture right out of your hands and nails) and generally speaking I just didn't showcase this particular physical feature.

Anyway, for the last two months I have rediscovered how pretty my hands and nails can look AND I've been on a nail polish buying spree--wow, it's amazing how quickly one can become so addicted to this stuff! My collection has grown exponentially; here are a couple of pics of my (small but growing) Sinful Colors polish collection:

(left to right): mama-san, glass pink, thimbleberry, sugar sugar, bermuda sunshine, pinky glitter, peony pink, under 18, courtney orange

(left to right): call you later, savannah blu (this is not the right label on this bottle, mislabeled at the company), let me go, snow me white, this is it, white diamond, all about you, nail junkie

I've got a lot of other polishes to show you all, but that will have to keep for another post. What is/are your favorite brand(s) of nail polishes? Until next time, be blessed and stay beautiful!

MY BIG NEWS!!!

2011-03-22T19:21:00.008-04:00

Hey Lovlies! Once again, I've been a little lax in posting on the regular. However, I've got some BIG NEWS to tell y'all about--

I'VE JUST APPLIED TO THE MAKEUP FIRST SCHOOL IN CHICAGO!!!

YAY ME!! I've been thinking of this for quite a while because I've finally decided that I was going to "go for broke" and try to make my mark in makeup artistry. And, since I'm currently unemployed I decided that now was the time to begin pursuing this dream. Why has it taken me so long to make this decision? Well, I guess it's because I've always wanted/needed approval or the "blessing" of others to pursue whatever it was that I wanted and I've not really had any encouragement in the pursuit of this. I know...sounds stupid. After all, I'm a grown woman, capable of making my own decisions and pursuing whatever it is that my heart desires. However, don't we all (at least in that very back left corner of our hearts and/or minds) want at least one person to approve/agree/encourage us in our goals? Even if we speak to the contrary, I believe that we all seek approval on one level or another and when we don't have it, it can and does impact our ability to go after what we really want. Anyway at my age, I figure that if I don't go for it now, I may never do it...So wish me luck in my new endeavors and even if you don't--I'M GONNA DO IT (AND DO IT BIG) ANYWAY!! Love you all and blessings!

NEW FAVORITE PRODUCT!!!

2010-12-10T13:56:00.005-05:00

Hey Lovely People! Hope your day and week have gone well. I'm back today to tell you about a new favorite beauty product that I've discovered...

This is a picture of Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and I simply adore it! Now, as some of you may already know, coconut oil is simply fabulous for cooking, but did you know that it's also a great product for skincare? Yep, that's right--skincare! I'd been doing some reading on the benefits of using unrefined coconut oil on the hair (great pre-shampoo conditioner) and happened across the information that it was also beneficial as a skin moisturizer. It absorbs quickly and easily into the skin, helping to keep the skin soft without a greasy after feel. Coconut oil also helps to increase the antimicrobial fatty acids on the skin surface, thereby protecting against infections. I have gotten into the habit of adding a small dollop of coconut oil to my Suave Cocoa Butter and Shea Body Lotion and applying to my freshly washed, damp skin every day; the results have been fantastic. My skin looks and feels healthy and has a natural glow. And don't think that the coconut smell is heavy and overpowering (remember the so-called "coconut" hair oils that were popular in the mid to late '70's?!?); the fragrance is clean and light and complements the cocoa butter quite well. Of course, you can elect to use the coconut oil exclusively as an all over body butter; I choose to mix it with the lotion because I have excessively dry skin and with cold weather moving in, one just can't moisturize enough!

In case you were wondering, coconut oil is solid at room temperature, and melts into its liquid state upon contact with your body heat. I purchased mine at Rainbow Blossom, a local health food store, but you can pick it up almost anywhere organic products are sold. I've had my jar for at least three months and I'm just now getting past the half-way mark (daily use) so a little goes a long way. If you are going to purchase, make sure that you purchase unrefined and organic and 100% pure. Try it--your skin will thank you for it! Blessings

For A Beautiful Makeup, Let's Begin With The Bare Canvas...

2010-12-03T11:55:00.013-05:00

Hello lovlies! Today's post is about the canvas...
No, not a paint canvas but the canvas our makeup looks rest on...our skin. Makeup is not just about putting shadow, glitter, eyeliner, etc. on our faces--it's about creating a beautiful picture on the canvas of the skin. And think about it--have you ever seen a beautiful painting on a poorly prepped canvas?

It's the same with using makeup. Makeup is used to enhance any/all features of the canvas (your face). If the canvas itself is in poor condition, all the makeup in the world won't help. So, what to do? Here, in a nutshell, are the steps to creating a great canvas:

1. First of all, your skin is the body's largest organ. It filters out both internal and external toxins, it protects our internal organs from damage, it allows us to feel various sensations when stimulated, and it makes us look like the attractive beings that we are instead of a walking bag of bare bones. We concentrate our cosmetic skills (for the most part) on the skin of the face. In order to create/maintain a beautiful facial canvas, we must first feed it properly. Lots of fruit and veggies and lots of water, serve to hydrate and nourish the skin. The proper amounts of protein help the skin to manufacture collagen, a substance needed to help the skin maintain its firmness and youthful appearance. Eating a variety of foods, in moderation, and drinking plain water, (that's PLAIN WATER folks, not sodas, coffee, energy/sports drinks, etc.) will reward you with clear, healthy, smooth skin. This is what we are striving for even BEFORE we put the first swipe of foundation on the face!

2. Once we've done what we can to ensure that our face is getting what it needs from the inside, we begin working on it from the outside. Clean, well moisturized skin is a must if our canvas is going to be at its best. You don't need to be a mega product junkie or spend a lot of money to have beautifully clean skin. Personally, I cleanse my face with extra virgin olive oil (yes, the kind that you buy at the grocery). You do need to perhaps play around with a few products until you find one that works for you and your skin type: dry, normal or oily/combination. Whatever product you choose, it needs to be gentle, non-drying and clean rinsing so that no residue will remain to clog your pores. EVERYONE and I do mean everyone, even us oily girls, needs to moisturize after cleansing. If your skin is oily, just look for an oil-free moisturizer. The purpose of a facial moisturizer, (in fact, this goes for any moisturizer), is to lock in the moisture that is already present on the surface and/or in the topmost layer(s) of the skin, resulting in a more youthful, healthy appearance. Manipulate the skin GENTLY when cleansing; harsh treatment over a period of time will eventually cause the collagen in the skin to break down much more quickly, resulting in early wrinkling. Gentle exfoliation on a regular basis will help to remove patchy dry skin that can dull the complexion; remember GENTLE is the key word. I don't use a toner personally, but if you feel that you must, use one that has a very low percentage of alcohol, as alcohol is very drying to the skin.

3. WATER, WATER everywhere!! Yeah, I know...If you're like me, you don't like to drink water. But, Mom and Grandma were right, water is THE BEST thing for your body. Especially when it comes to skin care. Water from the inside helps to flush out all the gunk that can sometimes show on your face as pimples, blackheads and whiteheads (YUCK!) Water from the outside helps to cleanse away impurities, leaving our facial canvas glowing and fresh. So drink your daily quota and be rewarded with bright, beautiful, glowing skin!

Soft, Smooth Skin For Not A Lotta Dough!

2010-11-27T15:19:00.003-05:00

Hi beauties! Quick posting for you all-and I hope that all of you had a great Thanskgiving day. Truth be told, every day should be thanksgiving day, for it's another day that we've been granted, and another day is not promised...But I digress! That is another topic for another day....

Anyway, just wanted to give you a quick review of Suave's Cocoa Butter and Shea body lotion--this is some great stuff for not a lotta dough! Now usually, I do spend a little more money on body lotions/moisturizers because I have very dry skin and for me, most of the el cheapo stuff just doesn't do the trick. (In fact, I swear that all the oil glands that I'm blessed with ended up on my face...!) But, a couple of weeks ago, I was all out of my favorite body lotion and was a little short on cash, so I picked up a bottle of Suave's Cocoa Butter and Shea lotion and was VERY pleasantly surprised. It generously moisturized my skin and left it glowing and very soft. And the smell was yummy without being overpowering. I was very hyped with the results. And get this, my skin still felt fabulous the next day! Not bad for an el cheapo, huh? This is available just about anywhere: CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, Walmart, Krogers, etc. Why don't you check it out soon and let me know what you think! Blessings!

I'M BBBAAAAACCCCKKKKK!!!

2010-11-19T10:07:00.003-05:00

Hello lovlies--I'M BACK!! I've really missed you all and I'm really happy to be back in form. Just a quick synopsis of what's been happening: my day job as manager had pretty much consumed my life and I had no time to post, I've been battling with a heart issue for just about a year now and literally had no energy to write posts, and now my store is slated for permanent closure after the holidays, which while sad (the store has been operating for 34 years), actually de-stresses me. I will now be able (for a short time at least) to concentrate on getting my health and energy back, and I will possibly be able to pursue some other (makeup related) career interests and be able to start posting to this and my hair blog again! YEA!!!

Anyway, for today, I have a review of a product: St. Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter Body Wash. Y'all, this stuff is the BOMB for dry, itchy skin! Usually, I buy Suave or White Rain body washes (VERY, inexpensive--I can pick these up at the dollar store) since I'm not exactly rolling in the green stuff, but I have to tell you, these brands would leave my skin just a little drier than I would have preferred. But what'cha gonna do..right? Then one day my boo brought me the St. Ives (because I'd forgotten to pick up body wash) and I tried it and...VOILA! and WOW!! Soft, silky skin even BEFORE I moisturized. Instant love, let me tell ya! Sure, a little more expensive than what I was used to, but in my humble opinion, so worth it. the St. Ives brand is available everywhere: Walmart, Kroger, Target, Walgreens, CVS, etc. Try it out and let me know what'cha think! Blessings dudes and divas!

Product Review: Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder

2010-06-02T00:01:00.001-04:00

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!

2010-05-31T00:01:00.000-04:00

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

2010-05-29T00:01:00.001-04:00

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...

2010-05-28T16:00:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-04-02T00:01:00.004-04:00

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

2010-03-12T17:00:00.002-05:00

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...?

2010-03-10T00:01:00.001-05:00

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!

And Now For Some Spiritual Beauty!

2010-02-27T14:36:00.004-05:00

Hello Lovlies! This post is actually a link to a posting made by a (newfound) Facebook friend, who just happens to share my name! She's Janel Porter, aka soulwindow, aka sweet, merciful j, etc. This post addresses something that I struggle with everyday, sometimes I struggle with this minute by minute! Not sure if I've got this down pat just yet, but as my bio says, I'm still a work in progress! Blessings!

Product Review--Ben Nye Banana Visage Poudre

2010-02-14T17:00:00.001-05:00

Hello Lovlies! Today's post is going to be a review of Ben Nye's Banana Visage Poudre (that's Banana Face Powder for those of you that don't speak French!) I purchased this powder a couple of months ago from The International Fun-Shop online (http://www.stagemakeuponline.com/)and I have been using it interchangeably with the Makeup Forever HD Powder.
This powder is very light and silky in texture and has a very slight yellowish tint. A little goes a loooonnnnnnggggg way! Just a VERY light dusting along the T-zone and voila--a beautiful semi-matte finish! Shine break-through was controlled without touch-ups and my face maintained its natural, "just barely dewey" look all day long! I was impressed! The 3 ounce shaker bottle is just $7.00, so it's also very easy on the wallet. For all of you that prefer a natural, "un-made up" makeup look, you should put this face powder on your list of products to try.

Just Playing With--FALSE EYELASHES!!

2010-02-14T15:20:00.012-05:00

Howdy you all! Had a few minutes with nothing better to do...(yeah, I know--few and far between), so i decided to play around with a pair of the false eyelashes that I purchased back in October at The Artist Summit. These lashes are called "i ENVY" BY KISS and I got a bag of 12 pairs for $10.00. Now, I'm not the world's best at putting on lashes; in fact, I do much better at putting them on other people than putting them on myself. I decided, however, to begin remedying that situation by practicing with a pair of KEP15, Juicy Volume 04's. These are incredibly full lashes and give a doe-eyed effect without being too overly dramatic and over-the-top:

These were surprisingly easy to manipulate; I actually got them seated on my lashline almost perfectly the first time! Here are several of pics of the finished look:

I think that I will have to experiment more often with these lashes!

2010-02-12T12:27:00.001-05:00

NEW--SLIDESHOW OF VARIOUS MAKEUP LOOKS I'VE CREATED!

2010-02-12T12:14:00.003-05:00

HELLO ALL! thought i'd link this slideshow that i've created showing some makeuplooks that i've created on myself and others! gentle critique/comments/criticism is appreciated. have been working to up my makeup skills; after all, i am an aspiring makeup artist! thanks to lacey, gretchen and my daughter denise for agreeing to be makeup models for me. thanks for looking and blessings!

HELLO AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2010-01-12T19:30:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone and happy new year! I know, a little late--after all, we're 12 days into the year 2010! But, I count anything less than 30 days old new, so...there it is! I have missed you all so much, and I hope that you aren't too upset with the non-updates--in addition to the craziness of the holiday shopping season, I've had to deal with the discovery of a very irregular heartbeat, which has been contributing greatly to my excessive fatigue and general feeling of malaise. I'm so thankful that it was discovered and it's now being treated with medication, which seems to be helping. Hopefully, I can get myself back up to speed and contribute much more regularly to this blog. To those of you that have continued with me, even in my absence, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I did manage to pick up a few new products (to me) to play with and evaluate. The first one that I'll review is Mister Mat by Givenchy. This is a matifying foundation primer that does two things in one: it primes the skin for foundation by smoothing out uneven skin surfaces, filling in fine lines and generally "polishes" the skin so that your foundation goes on smoothly and evenly AND it helps to control excess oil and prevent "break through" shine. I LOVE this stuff--my makeup stays fresh looking all day without a touch-up and another make-up friend (fiend) of mine told me that my makeup looked FLAWLESS! You only need a very little bit of this gel--a small baby-pea sized amount will cover your entire face. All of which means that this .8 fl. oz tube will last you for a good little while. Mister Mat is available at Sephora for about $30.00; I would strongly recommend that all of you try this product--it's great! (disclaimer: the opinion(s) expressed in this review are my own and product is not gratis, nor is this a paid endorsement. i am not affiliated in any way with Sephora or Givenchy.)

Product Review: Posner's Cover Stick Foundation

2009-10-27T20:32:00.005-04:00

Hello my lovlies! I'm finally back and life has slowed down for a HOT second and it's 8:34 pm and I'M STILL AWAKE! Since this such a momentous occasion, I thought I'd do a quick product review on a new (to me)product: Posner's Cover Stick Foundation. After having experimented with several stick foundations while at the Artist Summit in Chicago and discovering that maybe, just maybe I could wear a stick foundation without becoming an over-oily mess, I came back and found this product at my local Walgreens. Now, you have to understand that in my early days of experimenting with makeup, I did in fact use Posner products, namely their lip colors and sometimes their foundations, but I always found their foundations soooo very oily, so after the first few tries, I gave up and moved on to greener pastures. And, in the back of my mind, I figured that I really couldn't use a cream-type foundation because I just didn't need any more oil on my skin. But my, how times have changed...I've been way impressed with this stick foundation by Posner. I am using the one in medium deep and the color is just perfect! This stick is oil free, blends really well and imparts a natural "dewey" glow to the skin. It provides a medium coverage, but it can be sheered down with a quick spritz of MAC'S Fix+ or home-made mixing medium or charged water. I have been using a duo-fibre brush to buff the product onto my skin and I am really loving the look! It's not terribly expensive at $8.99 and my face is staying well throughout the day. For those of you looking for a little more coverage without feeling like you are wearing a mask, this might be the foundation stick for you!

Halloween Makeup Look--what Do You think?

2009-09-27T22:45:00.008-04:00

Hello Lovlies! Just wanted to pop in for a minute to share a couple of pics with you and ask for your opinion. I want to dress up as Cleopatra for Halloween and I did my first attempt at the "Cleopatra" look. My inspiration was from a pic of Tina Turner as Cleopatra in the book Face Forward by the late, great Kevyn Aucoin. Please give your brutally honest opinion(s) about my first recreation attempt:

(The inspiration picture)

don't be shy with the comments--I need the criticism in order to push my abilities a little higher! Blessings...

GOING TO THE ARTIST SUMMIT IN CHICAGO!!!

2009-09-16T08:46:00.004-04:00

Hello ladies (and Gents!)

Just a quick posting to day to let you all know that it's finally happening...I'm going to the Artit Summit in Chicago Oct. 10-12! I am SO SO SO excited (can ya tell)?!? It's an educational event for professional makeup artists at all levels--this will be my very first time attending an event of this type and I am very much looking forward to getting a lot of information and ideas and just generally bumping up my makeup technique game. I am really wanting to pursue makeup artistry at whatever level I can. The Powder Group (http://www.thepowdergroup.com) has organized this event and the list of seminars, hands-on classes, keynotes and forums is amazing. Some of the presenters include: Kevin James Bennett, Kathy Aragon, Eve Pearl, Danessa Myricks, James Vincent, Crystal Wright, and on and on. Some of the workshops/forums being given include: The Complete Bridal Workshop, Camera Ready makeup, The Foundations of Makeup, Lash Focus, Everyday HD and more! This promises to be a jammed packed three day event--and I haven't even begun about the vendor opportunities! NOW do you see why I'm so excited?!? If you have an interest, check out the detailed info posted at the link above. Hope to meetup with some of you all there! Blessings

Coastal Scents Haul Time!!

2009-09-04T20:17:00.001-04:00

hi everyone! just thought i'd also cross post this vid on my blog in case you don't follow me on youtube! hope you enjoy!

Here I Am Again For Just A Quick Minute...

2009-08-11T21:51:00.003-04:00

well folks--here i am again for just a quick minute. does life ever get a little saner? i know i promised that i'd do better at consistantly posting to this blog, but life just keeps getting in the way...and i just seem to be getting less able to handle it (at times). anyway, this won't be a long post, just a few pics of some looks that i've done in the very recent past--will try to post a couple of tutorials on them this weekend after i finish store inventory (yeahh--i will have the entire weekend off!!!)

give me your comments, criticisms: do you think my skills are improving? be honest with your answers--i am wanting to become a free-lance MUA so i really need some HONEST input! here's hoping to hear from you all...blessings

Produt Review Time: Retro-Chic Shampooing Potion!

2009-07-03T18:45:00.004-04:00

Here it is folks: my review of Retro-Chic's Shampooing Potion...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZr7Ph0OdE4

It can be found at these links:

http://www.beautychoice.com/
http://www.beautychoice.com/brands/retrochic-202-0-1.html
http://www.beautyhoice.com/products/Retro_Chic_Shampooing_Potion_12Oz-12362-0.html

Be blessed beauties!

2009-06-27T21:23:00.010-04:00

Hello Folks! See, I am trying to post more often on this blog! this is just going to be a quick posting, though, as I'm BEAT!!! Just thought I'd post a few pics of some looks that I've done this week--if you're following me on Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/janelporteraspiringmua) you know that I'm aspiring to become a real makeup artist. I'm working to expand my range of "looks" from the everyday to the fanciful and it's a lot of fun (and a lot of work)! No, I'm not in makeup or cosmetology school (too expensive for my pocket) and anyway, after some research, it seems that most agree that real life practice is the real teacher. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pics and please feel free to offer gentle constructive criticism-it's the only way that I'll get better! Blessings!

HAUL TIME--A SMALL ONE!

2009-06-22T20:22:00.004-04:00

Hey guys--how is everyone? It's haul time again for me and guess what I got? I decided to get 12 of the new "Hot Pots" eye shadows by Coastal Scents! They have a special going on right now--if you order 12 Hot Pots, they will throw in a FREE Coastal Scents magnetized eye shadow pallet; they are also offering free shipping on orders during the summer. Here's a picture of my customized pallet:

The colors are SOOO rich and pigmented, they go on very smoothly and they wear well. The pot size is 26mm (same as MAC) and a lot of the colors that Coastal Scents carries are dupes or near dupes for MAC eye shadows. At $4.95 each, I really don't think that you can go wrong! I will definitely be getting some more of these--in fact my next order is already waiting to be cyber-placed; just waiting for my paycheck to be deposited LOL! Turnaround is very quick and with the free shipping, what are you waiting for? Check them out at http://www.coastalscents.com. Also check out Encore's Youtube video where he compares the Hot Pots to MAC. Blessings, kiddos!

Quick Announcement!

2009-06-13T20:56:00.004-04:00

Hello lovlies! A very quick announcement for you. I've just become a "Beauty Star" with BeautyChoice.Com! I will be reviewing new/upcoming products for this company. Thought this would be appropriate for a beauty blog--LOL! They have even already sent out my first product to review--Retro-Chic Shampooing Potion. You all can be sure that I'll be posting my review just as soon as I've received and had a chance to try the product. I am sooo excited! Keep reading and watching you all--new stuff coming soon! Blessings!

Product Review: Maybelline Lash Stiletto

2009-05-31T22:10:00.003-04:00

Hey guys! I have finally finished all of my entry videos for the "Are You Fierce?" Makeup Contest and now I'm going to do a quick (and somewhat belated) review of Maybelline's newest mascara Lash Stiletto. Here's a pic of the product:

The packaging is really cute:

the container looks like a black stiletto heel with a touch of red (my favorite color!) The product itself does add length, although for me I still like Maybelline's Colossal Volum' Express the best. The wand was very comfortable to use and delivered mascara to even my tiniest lashes without clumping. Color was good and made my already long lashes look even dramatically longer although I really need more volume as opposed to more length and the price was quite in line at between $7-8 at Target. All in all, I'd rate this mascara at a seven out of ten--good job, Maybelline!

New Makeup Looks!

2009-05-29T22:29:00.016-04:00

Hi everyone: I've just spent the day (off from work) doing tutorial videos for a makeup contest that I've entered called "Are You Fierce?" It's being sponsored by seven makeup "gurus" on Youtube and it works like this: you have to be subscribed to each of the seven gurus' channels, and you are to post up to seven makeup looks (one per channel) to win some really great prizes. I just found out about this contest about three days ago, and just REALLY decided to enter today. sooooo.....guess who's been coming up with look after look after look? YEAH, you got it...ME! Entry deadline is 12 midnight May 31 and I still have three more looks to do--AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH! Wish I could stay home from work tomorrow and finish up (sigh). guess I'll be doing the other three on Sunday, and hope that I can get them all uploaded before midnight. Anyway, here are some pics of the looks I've done so far:

red/gold cut crease look with some cute rhinestones added.

taupe/gold/teal look using black cream eyeliner as base. sexy!!!

aqua blue/fuschia pink/lavendar funky, artsy look with rhinestones and a little freehand artwork! Quite outside my normal thing, but lots of fun to do! have to redo the tutorial through, it's just a little too long for youtube!

this look was inspired by the beautiful stargazer lily. soft pinks with a "gilded" defined crease (bronze shimmer shadow combined with a matte brown). freeform lily petals surround one eye.

If you are interested in finding out how these looks were created, go to my channel page on YouTube and check out the tutorials (http://www.youtube.com/janelporter). Gotta go wash the locs now, so be blessed and take care...janel

Janel Cuts the Crease (Finally!)

2009-05-26T22:41:00.001-04:00

Janel Cuts the Crease (Finally!)

2009-05-26T22:30:00.002-04:00

Hey guys! Just a quick stop by to upload this video I did on cutting the crease (LOL--like I'm a guru or something!) Anyway, I'm trying to master this technique and I think I'm finally starting to get it! Anyway, let me know what you think and hope you all enjoy...be blessed!

2009-05-21T18:10:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone! I know, I promised that I'd do a better job of updating my blog on the regular, but it's been really hard. I think that I've finally got a second supervisor, so that my management roster is filled--YEAHHH!!! She just started last week and it's going to be a whirlwind training session for her--hope she sticks it out and comes through for me so that I can finally get some type of normal life back! she has worked in fabric retail before, so at least the concept of what needs to be done isn't new to her, just the particular environment. Oh well, pray that it works out for me!

Anyway, I'm going to link a couple of vids that I've done recently: one on cutting the crease and one on a "drag" makeup look that I created for a contest. Hope you all enjoy, as this will be my entry on this blog. I hope to be doing a makeup product review soon on Maybelline's Lash Stiletto for you all--maybe this weekend since I'm starting to get my "two days a week" off again. Be blessed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZB_j8P3j88
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncYT8L344Cg

Rather Dramatic Makeup Look Using MUFE #92! (Pt. 1)

2009-03-16T19:38:00.001-04:00

Rather Dramatic Makeup Look Using MUFE #92! (Pt. 1)

2009-03-16T19:23:00.006-04:00

Hey all you lovlies! I know that it's been a long minute since I've posted--sorry 'bout that. Completely unintentional on my part. Anyway, I finally got to do a tutorial using the MUFE #92 shadow that I raved about in my last entry--I LOVE THIS COLOR!!! Rich, true purple and VERY highly pigmented. So pigmented, in fact, that when I took it off, my lids were left with a pinkish tint--definitely wear a primer with this stuff. BUT, the color wore on and on and on and...well, you get the point. I think my next splurge, as soon as I save up some pennies will be the MUFE in yellow (I can't remember the number right now). Oh yeah, I'm also so loving the blush that I got from Cargo cosmetics--color called "Rome"--a really, really pretty peachy, pink shade. Looks great with most complexions--not overpowering at all and it has just a little hint of a soft gold shimmer...LOVELY. I got both products at Sephora and they are a little pricey, at least for my pocket ($24.00 for the blush and $16.00 (if I remember correctly for the shadow)), but makes a nice present to oneself when you're out looking for something special to splurge on. Hope you enjoy the tutorial and I'm trying to get back in the groove of posting on the regular. Be blessed, Beauties!

Dramatic Makeup Look Using MUFE #92 (Pt. 2)

2009-03-16T19:23:00.001-04:00

Mini Mini Mini Haul From Sephora!

2008-12-31T13:40:00.008-05:00

Hey ladies and gents! Today is December 31, 2008, New Year's Eve and I'm off from work. So I decided to take a trip to the mall (I am definitely not a mall rat--I go to this particular mall maybe once every two years!) to scope out Sephora and maybe the MAC counter at Macy's. Anyway, I've been on a search for a PURPLE eyeshadow--not wine, not plum...PURPLE. Well, I visit the MAC counter and while they had some pretty PLUM, WINE and yes even LAVENDAR e/s it just wasn't quite what I was looking for. So I then decided to check out Sephora (I've never shopped there) and I found exactly what I was looking for--it's Make Up For Ever's #92! And let me tell ya--it's a definite PURPLE; I love it! I can't wait to do a look (or five) with this one!

I also needed a brown powder for contouring; the couple of browns that I had (eye shadows), really weren't quite right in color for the job. So I picked up this mat bronzer by MUFE in color #4--gorgeous! Just a tad darker than my skin tone but the finished look...oooh laa laa! and I tried out a coral blush by Cargo Cosmetics called "Rome" and paired with the contour--WOW! I actually liked my cheeks. That blush is on my list for the next trip. I know this may not seem like a haul to some of you guys, but for a total of $51 and some change, it's a haul for me, since I don't usually spend this much on makeup at one time! But, this is a little treat to myself and like the commercial says, "I'm worth it!" Be blessed, janel

Makeup Tutorial Using Aromaleigh Minerals Eye Makeup!

2008-12-28T17:02:00.001-05:00

My First Mineral Makeup Review: Sterling Mineral Foundation

2008-12-28T17:01:00.001-05:00

I Got My New Mineral Samples!!!!

2008-12-28T16:20:00.008-05:00

Howdy everyone! Hope the Christmas holiday went well for all of you and hope this posting finds you all well and ready to bring in the new year. Have we made our resolutions yet? Better yet, have we made resolutions that we have a better than 75% chance of making good on?!? Becuase you know that it's no good making resolutions unless you follow through on them and make a SOLID attempt to make good.

Anyway, I got my new mineral makeup samples from Aromaleigh cosmetics and Sterling Minerals right before Christmas--YYYAAAAYYYY! I was really excited 1) because I want to find out what all the hype is about mineral cosmetics and 2) I really wasn't expecting to get them before Christmas since I placed the order so late. So this was like an unexpected treat for me and I'll post some pics of the samples right now:

The pic on top shows the mineral shadows that I got from Aromaleigh Cosmetics; from left to right top row: Bluespark, LondonDungeon, Boiling Point. Bottom row: Mutiny and Velvet Goldmine. The colors are rich and vibrant and just simply gorgeous! The pic on the bottom shows the mineral foundation and mineral veil I received from Sterling Minerals; foundation color is called "Emily" and the mineral veil is in "Translucent". The texture is soft as a whisper and coverage is almost effortless. Above is a cross-post of the look and review that I did this morning using some of these products. Check out these products and let me know what you think! Be blessed, hugs and peace...janel

Generic Rambling Vol. 2

2008-12-15T19:41:00.003-05:00

Hello, my fellow beauty bloggers! I hope that all of you are well on your way to finishing your Christmas shopping and preparations--I'm certainly not. Well, you just can't do it all when you are putting in 60+ hours a week at work, so I shall just have to hope there are a few things left after Christmas and do my gifting then. Anyway, this is just sorta a rambling kind of post, as I've not had the energy to do much in the way of beauty for the last several weeks. Sorry guys, but I have just been zapped mentally and physically. If you all could see the bags under my eyes...! LOL (Concealer has become my new BFF...)

Anyway, only a week and a half before the big day, and then I fully expect to be on vacation until the Monday following Christmas--at last, some time for me! I just can't wait. And it just so happens that I'm awaiting two different cosmetic orders to come in, so I should have some new stuff to play with!!! WHEEEEE!!! Don't you just love to get new makeup? I've have not yet had the opportunity to try out any of the mineral makeups, so that is what I've ordered from Aromaleigh (http://www.aromaleigh.com) and Sterling Minerals (http://www.sterlingminerals.com). Several eyeshadows, a couple of blushes, foundation and mineral finishing veil. We shall see, we shall see. I'm excited. Do any of you have a favorite mineral makeup brand that you'd be willing to tell about? By the way, I did a google search on mineral cosmetics for women of color and got several hits. I plan on ordering samples from some of these companies also in the near future: specifically Ada Cosmtics, Monave Cosmetics and Milan Minerals, to name a few. Should be a fun time; I will definitely have swatches and experimental looks for you all soon! Again, Merry Christmas and be blessed!

Earth Toned MakeupLook-Part 2

2008-11-20T22:37:00.006-05:00

Hello Lovlies! I know that I haven't had any "real" entries here for a minute--please forgive me. But I promise that I'll get some time back to start up again in the near future. In the meantime, I thought I'd post this tutorial here that I've also got posted on YouTube--hope you all like it! Additional information on the look is in the sidebar. Be blessed and happy Thanksgiving! P. S.: sorry for the jacked up still shot icon. I've been trying to get it changed on YouTube, but so far my edit isn't taking. Isn't it just like YT to auto-choose the shot of the transition to be the icon for this video?!?

Earth Toned Makeup Look-Part 1

2008-11-20T22:37:00.003-05:00

Essence Beauty Look (Viewer Request) Pt. 1

2008-10-07T23:06:00.001-04:00

Essence Beauty Look (Viewer Request) Pt. 2

2008-10-07T23:05:00.001-04:00

Response to Viewer Comment (Definition of Beauty)

2008-09-21T20:41:00.001-04:00

(Scented) Bath Time!!

2008-09-14T19:40:00.004-04:00

Hi all! Hope your Sunday has gone well. It's been really windy here for most of the day--and when I say windy, I really mean windy! As in cars-pushed-off-the-road, trees-and-power-lines-downed, etc. I had to be out in that stuff, y'all...Let me tell you, it was no fun to drive in, and the only reason that I was out in it was because I had to turn in my keys to the store. I'm being transferred to another store starting tomorrow. I would have left them at the store last night, but I had to close, and no one else was around to come lock up for me, so...

Anyway, after getting back in from that wild ride, I decided that I needed to take a nice, relaxing bath--which I don't get to do very often. Soak in a tub, I mean, not bathe!!! I actually took about an hour-long bath last night and it was really nice--put on pandora.com, tuned it to my favorite R & B sounds, filled the tub, grabbed a romance novel and soaked until I was a true prune! It was so relaxing that I decided to repeat the procedure today, but this time I remembered to add some essential oil to the warm water. This time around, I remembered to add a few drops of YLANG YLANG, which I'd purchased from Mountain Rose Herbs several months ago. The scent is floral with a hint of spice--it was WONDERFUL for my purposes. So relaxing--so much so that I actually fell asleep and woke up in rather cool water. According the their website information, a couple of the properties attributed to ylang ylang include being a calmative and sedative. Works for me! A couple of my other favorite essential oil scents include jasmine, lavendar and of course, rose. Anyhoo, when you get a chance, check out the Mountain Rose Herbs website--they give a lot of information about the use of essential oils in everyday products and purchasing from them is a snap. Service is very timely and I've not been disappointed with them yet. Make your next bath time really something special and add a little essential oil to the tub--you definitely won't regret it! Be blessed cuties, hugs and peace...janel

MAC Pigment Review-Electric Coral

2008-09-13T19:29:00.003-04:00

Hello all you cuties! Quick post to tell you about my experiences with MAC's Electric Coral pigment. I got this sample from The Body Needs a couple of weeks ago, and I mentioned in a previous post that I would do a look using this particular pigment. Well, I've finally gotten around to playing with it and boy, am I impressed! The color really is a deep, deep coral in the pot and it stays vibrant once applied to my skin. And the wear...my oh my! It just doesn't move; I wore it for at least 10 hours yesterday and it was still going strong. I love it! A finely milled powdered pigment that stays true and wears wonderfully...MAC really hit it with this one. Here are some pics of the look that I did:

Products used: MAC Oil Control Lotion, Rimmel of London Fix and Perfect Primer, Maybelline Cover Stick in Deep Beige, Maybelline Pure Makeup in Caramel #2, Cover Girl Professional Loose Powder in #125 Translucent Tawny, MAC Electric Coral pigment, Physician's Formula eyeshadow in Auberguine (discontinued), NYX eyeshadow in Purple and Apricot Moose, Milani eyeshadow in Sun Goddess and Rich Chocolate (as a brow color), L'Oreal's HIP cream eyeliner in 905 black, Maybelline Colossal Volumn Express in Classic Black, Black Radiance Sheer Blush in Soft Honey, Wet 'N Wild Mega Colors in Blackberry and Maxi lipstick in Gold Rush. (Seems like a lot of products to create this one rather simple look!!) Oh, I forgot to say that I used an Azizia 2 combo pencil stick in Sunset (the peachy side) as my shadow base. What say you, fellow beauty mavens--do you like the look? Gimme some feedback--please!!!

Cheryl at The Body Needs sells her samples for $1.59 each; each sample contains 1/4 teaspoon of product, enough for a number of applications. Service is very fast and I even got an extra free sample of a glitter dust. when you get a chance, check it out...be blessed! janel

A Beauty Entry With a Philosophical Bent

2008-09-11T19:43:00.003-04:00

Hello fellow beauty-nistas! (Hey, did I just coin a new word?!?) Hope you all are having a great day, and if it hasn't been soo great, I hope it will improve soon. I've been preparing all week to move to another store location--not that I've done a bad job managing my current store; far from it. I was asked to take on another store because one of our other managers is retiring due to medical reasons. An assistant manager in our district is being promoted to manager and is taking my store, I am being moved to a larger, higher volume store (a step up for me and a plus) and the manager of the store that I am moving to is being relocated to the store that has the retiring manager. I will be about 10-15 minutes away from my new store (a god-send with the price of gas these days), which is another plus for me. While in some respects this is definitely a step up for me, I am still feeling something missing in the midst of this--as much as I love working with my customers and yes, even though some of the admin stuff is a huge hassle right now because of all of the corporate changes that we've undergone in such a very short time, I still feel a part of me that is empty--unfulfilled.

I characterize myself as basically a creative, "artsy" personality. I love the arts in general: music, theatre, fine art, literature, dance--you name it, I'm there. On a very personal level, I absolutely love the needle arts: knitting, sewing, quilting, crocheting. I don't cross-stitch or tat, but I can certainly appreciate the art. And I love teaching these skills/honing these arts in/to others. My being seems to be most happy and "in sync" when I am able to do these types of things, even if I'm not making money hand-over-fist. Does anyone here really subscribe and follow the philosophy of "do what you love and the money will follow"? Does anyone reading this really, really, REALLY do this? If so, how do you do it? How does it really work? Does the money really follow? Not that I'm SOOO into money that I think it's everything, but let's face it--we all live in a world in which it takes a minimum amount of money to survive at some type of basic level. I feel that within the artistic side of me lies my vocation, and I don't feel as if I'm honoring that with what I'm doing. From time to time I really feel the conflict and this conflict, in part I'm sure fuels my bouts of depression. About ten years ago, I had the physical stamina to work a "regular" paying job during the day and pursue my heart's vocation at night with my own part-time custom sewing business and for all the lost sleep completing customer projects at the last minute, I really felt like I was doing what I was meant to do. At this stage, I really don't feel as if I have that same physican stamina--I really need to concentrate on either continuing to work for a corporation that is involved in the home sewing market, or I need to make a complete break and go on my own--sans benefits--and hope that I can build a base quickly. I have no savings to fall back on and no one that could/would bankroll this venture as a stop gap. Which again, contributes to the depressive moods. What's your take on all this? Who here has lived this and conquered? Clue me in! I truly believe that if one is doing one's "right task" then the beauty generated internally from feeling as if you are in your "right place" radiates from you and produces the outer beauty. Think about it...be blessed, hugs, and peace...janel

I've Found a Great Base!

2008-09-09T19:27:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! Just a really quick posting, as I'm supposed to be on my way out the door to work. A couple of days ago I stopped in my local "Dollar Tree" store to pick up a couple of very uninteresting necessities and as I was on my way to the check-out I stopped in the makeup aisle. You know, the aisle with the closeout and "kiddie" type makeup stuff...Well I spotted some shadow sticks by Physician's formula called "ColorEyes". Now, with the name Physician's formula, I figured that the sticks would be pretty good, as I've used other makeup products by that company, so I decided to purchase two of the sticks since I'm on a quest for a good eye shadow base. Let me tell ya--so far I have nothing but praise for this product! The color selection was very limited (the only color available was "Taupe"--a slightly shimmery slightly-pinky brown which matches my skin tone almost exactly)and I've been using it daily since my purchase. My shadows are staying like crazy and I've even been able to use some of the colors that I have that have been "problem colors" for me--you know the ones--colors that either fade an hour after you put them on or just plain don't show up on your skin.. I just swipe the stick over each eyelid, blend lightly with my fingers and then apply my eye shadow as usual. the colors are not fading, flaking, or migrating on my lid, even in the hot, humid weather of central Kentucky! I'm thinking that this was the best $2.00 purchase that I've ever made; in fact, I'm going to go back and see if I can snag another couple of these sticks--you all know that when you shop at the dollar store, you'd better get it when you see it 'cause it may not be there again! Have a great day you all, be blessed, hugs and peace...janel

New Look For Levels of Beauty!

2008-09-07T13:38:00.005-04:00

Hello all you beautiful ones! See--I told ya that changes were comin' on! How do you like the new background? I think it's very pretty--soft, but interesting. Wish I knew enough about the code to change it either a pink or peach-y color but...OH WELL. Guess I can play with the coding as time permits and see what I can come up with. I will tell you all right now that I'm not very proficient in HTML or XMLS (is that right?)!! Although, as I've stated before, I used to be a computer geek in a former life. And to those of you whose pages I had listed in the sidebar, if I am now missing yours, rest assured that I will re-add your site before too long. When I changed the background code, I lost some of the site URL's and I have to add them back in manually. I may not get it all done today, but it will get done! LOL Comment and let me know what you think of the new look--you can send me an email at either jp6275@insightbb.com or janel@levelsofbeauty.com. I will post again soon--be blessed, hugs and peace...janel

Forgot To Tell You All...

2008-09-05T11:49:00.009-04:00

I FINALLY got my order in from The Body Needs! Actually, I've had them for about a week or so--they were really on it as far as delivery goes; I, however, have been a little lax in getting around to playing with the MAC pigment samples that were sent! I promise, promise, promise that I will do a look with some of the pigments this weekend and post about it!! I'm really excited about the colors that I got, especially the Electric Coral (I'm a red, bright coral, yellow, orange kinda gal)--I LOVE THAT HOT CORAL COLOR! Here's hoping that the color is as brilliant on my lids as it is in the jar. Other colors that I ordered samples of are: RushMetal, Basic Red, Deep Purple, Fuchsia and Dark Soul. I love them all. I am currently wearing the Deep Purple with L'Oreal Hip's Showy (the teal frost side)--really nice color combo in my opinion. Pics below:

I used Showy on the lid for this look, the Deep Purple pigment by MAC in the outer crease and the "V", and Milani's Sun Goddess on the inner eye half of the crease. Milani's light lavendar color from the Wild Violets quad is used for the highlight and completes the look. L'Oreal's Hip cream liner in 905 Black is used to tightline the eye on both upper and lower lashlines, Milani's Deep Chocolate e/s is used as my brow fill in, Maybelline's Colossal Volumn' Express is used on the lashes. I thought it was a nice look; the pigment seemed to glide on with little effort and the color is rich and deep. I am truly impressed! I even got an extra sample as cheryl's way of saying "thank you for ordering"--it's Crystalled Yellow Glitter Brilliants and it's really, really, really yellow! I haven't a clue what to use it for, but it's really neat! Any ideas, anyone? Clue me in please--I'm anxious to try it out. Guess that's it for now, beauty mavens. I'll be posting again really soon so stay tuned! Be blessed, hugs and peace...janel

Depression Hurts

2008-08-31T22:05:00.003-04:00

Hello fellow Beauties...this is going to be a short post because I just don't have the energy right now for a longer one. Please bear with me--this post won't be about a new (to me, anyway) beauty product or a FOTD, although I know that I promised to do one soon.

This post is about depression...Not the type of topic that one would normally associate with a beauty blog. This entry is a way of venting for me. I do have periodic episodes of depression--not the short term "blues" kind of thing, but serious depression--the type of episodes that seem to drag on forever. Sometimes they are relatively mild, just an "out of sorts" feeling or a vague unease with myself. Other times the episodes are more long lasting and more serious; I begin to feel overwhelmed with major feelings of disconnection, inadequacy, low self-esteem. I am either unable to sleep or the sleep that I do obtain isn't restful; my mental responses are dulled and my physical responses are slowed and my energy levels are depleted. My world turns gray and the deeper the depression runs the darker my world becomes. At my worst point, the negative voices in my head are the only ones that I can hear, screaming and screeching unintelligible things making me feel completely and totally worthless. The constant mental pain is unbearable and exhausting and the feeling of complete isolation during these severe episodes has induced me to contemplate/attempt suicide. NOT a pretty picture.

Trying to juggle an increasingly stressful job situation, maintain a somewhat civil relationship with my separated husband because my children still live with him, and trying to get a handle on some sudden health concerns have all conspired to send me down the "depressive episode" path again. Being a Christian, I know it's not the thing to admit to something like this as one is supposed to "let go and let God", but when I'm in this mode I can't even feel His presence and to my logical mind, letting go in this instance is akin to losing all control. I know that (somewhere) I have the strength and the faith to get through this, but it sure is hard while in the midst. Pray for me to have the strength to hold on, pray for my spiritual shield to be strengthened and pray that in time, God will allow me to see the beauty and the good to come from going through. Be blessed, hugs and peace...janel

Changes, They Are A Comin'...

2008-08-28T22:00:00.003-04:00

Hello Everyone! Another quickie type of post to let you all know that I have a 'FOR REAL' website now and it points to this blog! The URL is http://www.levelsofbeauty.com and the new name of my blog is "Levels Of Beauty". I figured that the name would be appropriate because as I believe I said in an earlier blog posting I'm about more than just a pretty face! Makeup and enhancing all of our God given natural beauty is all well and good; HOWEVER, all of the most expensive and beautifully applied makeup in the world will not do much for you if your attitude, both spiritually and mentally aren't beautiful as well. Personally, I think that perfecting outer beauty is the easiest of the three--let's face it, even if you are starting off with a really rough canvas to paint, with the skillful maneuvering of a few brushes, some moisturizer, and some appropriately shaded cosmetic products, almost everyone can look beautifully glamourous. This is not necessarily the case with the development of spiritual and mental beauty. Developing beauty on these two levels involves getting to know you deepest self and working and really focusing on developing the best parts of yourself for yourself. Often, gaining this kind of self-knowledge is a slow and sometimes painful process and it comes in fits and starts; learning to come to an understanding (and yes, an appreciation)of one's good, bad and downright ugly components takes a long time. But, as you become more and more accepting of yourself and learn to love and embrace yourself (even your imperfections), your spiritual self grows as well as your mental self. When this happens, your God-given beauty shines through, with or without makeup and then, in my opinion, you are walking in the WAY of true beauty.

Anyway, as the title of the post says, changes, they are a comin'--first a new name, then a new game (couldn't resist the rhyme! I hope to be giving my blog a new look over the next several days or weeks and you can also expect the scope of this blog to expand to include discussion about anything beautiful: art, literature, theatre, dance, etc. You are, of course, more than welcome to make comments and send me feedback or if you'd like, guest on my blog! Talk with me about submitting an article or review--if I feel it's warranted, I'll post it here! Just drop me a line at janel@levelsofbeauty.com and let me know. Now, it's off to bed, because I can barely keep my eyes open and I have yet another long day tomorrow! I'll post again really soon and let me know what you think about the changes and the new direction! Be blessed, hugs and peace! janel

Hey Guys...

2008-08-22T22:49:00.003-04:00

just a quick post...My NYX (http://www.nyxcosmetics.com) order arrived today--YEAHHHH! This was such a nice thing to come home to, especially after being told that I couldn't have this day off (I am usually off on Fridays) because I'd had off Sunday (my other regular day off from work) and had taken two vacation days (Monday and Tuesday of this week) to recover (partially) from inventory madness. Well, I didn't stay at work the entire day...I kinda said "f$%@#* this" and left. I'd already scheduled my staff as if I was going to be off today anyway, since that was my original intention. Sooo...to get home and find this little box was just soooo wonderful! Once again I am amazed at the promptness of delivery and the shadows and pencils are great! The jumbo eye pencils are so creamy and go on so smoothly with very little pressure and the shadows at luscious. I think the cherry e/s is going to really pop with either the yogurt or cottage cheese eye pencils as a base--will have to play around with it tomorrow. Maybe I can get up a little earlier tomorrow and do a quick tute before I go in to work? We'll see...I just can't wait to play with this stuff! Now, if I can just get in the pigments that I ordered from The Body Needs (http://www.thebodyneeds.com)...I'll have even more stuff to play with (sigh!) I just LOVE makeup--wish I had money for more because more is never enough,....er..right? Be blessed, hugs, and peace...janel

The Promised FOTD Using the Black Radiance Cosmetics...

2008-08-19T16:40:00.008-04:00

that I bought yesterday! The colors are pretty; HOWEVER, I am not very impressed with the payoff or the staying power of these shadows. IT COULD BE ME, but I found the colors much more pigmented in the case than on my skin, which is really unfortunate because the colors are really good ones for me. They just don't "pop" on my skintone. I will keep trying to work with them, since I have them and let's face it, I would really, really like to wear them if at all possible since I've already spent the money!!! I will also try using a different base under the shadows to see if that will help the color to "pop out" more. The sheer blush in Soft Honey is a definite keeper in my opinion; the color is very soft, sheer and natural--just right for a really casual made-up look.

On to other beauty news: I sent off another order to NYX cosmetics last night; should get them either the end of this week or the first of next week--YAYYY! So far, I have loved every one of the eye shadows that I've order from them and here's what the new order was for: Jumbo eye Pencils in milk, strawberry milk, cottage cheese, and yogurt and Single Eye Shadows in cream cheese, purple, and cherry. I've been told by some of y'all that the jumbo pencils work great as e/s bases--we shall see. I've been looking for a true purple eye shadow and a really red eye shadow. I have Red Head by NYX, but it's not really a true red, at least when I put it on. So, the search continues. I think I'll try some of their lippies next time--I saw some beautiful colors on the website that I've just gotta try!!! I also ordered some MAC pigments from The Body Needs (http://www.thebodyneeds.com, sample sizes at $1.59 each) in the following colors: rushmetal, fuchsia, deep purple, electric coral, basic red and dark soul. I've not used pigments before, so this should be a lot of fun to experiment with--I'm excited!!

The glycerin/water home-made mixing medium is working out great!!! I've been using it every day before putting on my eye shadows for the day and WOW!! Let me tell ya--the wear is just fantastic! Absolutely no creasing or flaking of any of my eye shadows--it just doesn't move! And with me having been running 12-14 and even 15 hour days for the last several weeks during inventory, I can truly say that the eye makeup was lasting wayyy longer than yours truly! If it hadn't been for the fact that after about 10 hours nothing is going to stop the oilies, my makeup would have been perfect! Koren of Enkore Makeup, thanks so much for the recipe for this stuff--it's DA BOMB!!! Oh yeah--forgot to let you all know that I did indeed grab another Runway Eyes Fashion Shadows Palette by Milani a couple of weeks ago. This time the Glamorous Gems Collection with the greens and the golds. I haven't done a look with this yet, but I'll get to it within a week of so. For now, I guess I need to stop and get some food in my system. How do you makeup mavens do this--surely you have sponsors that kick samples to you? Or do you all really go broke trying out all the new stuff? Let a sista know, okay--I'm having a blast doing reviews but dang--i can't keep buyin' this stuff all the time (much as I would love to) and still feed my face and take care of other necessary stuff, right? Be blessed, hugs and peace...janel

Well, I Survived...

2008-08-18T21:05:00.008-04:00

Hey everyone! Well, I survived inventory madness at the store but I am definitely not over it. For some reason this year my energy was just totally zapped by the process. I feel like something that the cat dragged in and then left...just not my finest moment. I have to admit though, I did stay as beautiful as possible during the whole thing, despite the major lack of sleep and the major, major stress factor--full makeup everyday, jewelry, earrings, the whole nine yards. I felt like sh**, but I looked great doing it! (What a great TV ad clip--can't you just see it?!?) Hence the dry spell with the entries.

I go in tomorrow to get several tests done at the hospital--mammogram, bone density testing and an MRI of my thyroid. This exhaustion just doesn't seem to want to go away, even with massive amounts of sleep, which I have actually had for the last couple of days, since inventory is over. Don't know why I feel so lethargic. We'll see how it goes and what's found, if anything. I did go out for a short while today and I picked up a couple of cosmetics, both by Black Radiance. A "sheer blush" by Black Radiance in "Soft Honey"--a darkish brown-y, peach-y color and an eyeshadow quad by Black Radiance called "Deep Tapestry"--colors are (my color descriptions, since they aren't described individually) a kinda raisin-y brownish-red, a dull gold, an aubergine and a taupe-y, gray-ish kinda thing (really hard to describe that one, but very pretty!) I'll try to get off a YouTube tutorial and an FOTD with them before I go for the tests tomorrow. For now, here are some swatches:

Pic on left is of the blush, second pic is of the shadows in the quad. These were not very expensive; they were $3.47 each at my Wal-Mart. Not beauty related, I also picked up a couple of CD's that were marked down at Target, Lionel Ritchie and John Legend. Now, tell me you just don't feel beautiful while listening to these two modern day crooners!!! LOL Anyway, I'm off to check the NYX and MAC websites before the next bout of sleep claims me! Be blessed, hugs and peace...janel

Workplace Rant: What a Manager Ain't...

2008-08-15T21:23:00.001-04:00

GUESS WHAT?!?...

2008-08-06T21:50:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody! Guess What?!? I won first place in my first ever makeup contest entry! Remember the "drugstore makeup look" contest that I told you all about a couple of entries ago--the one set up by Barstowmama on Youtube? Well, I entered two looks, one in the formal makeup look category and one in the casual makeup look category and I got first place in the casual makeup look category...I am SOOOO PSYCHED!!! I NEVER win anything...this is just too awesome, especially since there were so many really good entries. I don't know what the prize is yet, but I'll be sure to let you all know as soon as I do! If you haven't checked out the video of my casual makeup look using drugstore only brand cosmetics, here's a link to the YouTube video:
I still just can't believe it! I've had it in my head lately to do a fantasy type makeup look. Bmorelikebree, Vintage Goddess on the Nappurality natural hair forum, says that maybe I should issue a fantasy makeup look challenge on the NP beauty board. I'm seriously thinking about it--I think it would be kinda fun. Would any of you all enter? Mind you, this would just be a challenge, not an actual contest, as I don't have the funds to get prizes. I'd just like to see what folks came up with. Anyway, this is food for thought, and I might even try doing a fantasy look for my next entry on this blog--my off day is Friday the 8th (I hope!) Guess I'd better run and get myself in bed; another long pre-inventory day tomorrow--be blessed y'all, hugs and peace! janel

Hey Peoples--Quick Post

2008-08-02T06:26:00.003-04:00

Hello peoples! Just a quickie posting before I go play at work--putting up a tutorial using colors from my new Wales palette just like I said I would! Tell me what you think, okay? The colors are really pretty and they seem to wear well. Goes on very smoothly and just about all of them in the palette look great on my darker skin! Hope y'all enjoy the tute! Gotto run, will post more later...be blessed, hugs and peace! janel

GUESS WHAT?!!?...

2008-07-30T21:36:00.015-04:00

I FINALLY GOT MY WALES 72 E/S PALETTE TODAY!!! WOO HOOO!!! I'm so excited I can't stand it...darn, why did I have to get it the day that I had to work an open to close shift?!? I really want to play in it NOW!! BUT (unfortunately) I have to be back up and at 'em by 6:00 in the morning--inventory waits for no man, or woman or makeup session...sigh! I've taken a couple of quick pics to post here of the palette--the colors are soooo pretty...hope they wear well:

I just had to swatch a couple of the colors, even though I can't do any playing tonight:
From left to right: E352 (a light turquoise with a hint of shimmer), E308 (dark orange/tangerine with shimmer), E332 (a deep hot pink matte color) and E284 (dark teal, more green than blue with shimmer). Beautiful! I can't wait to play (guess what I'll be doing on Friday after I go in for a few hours of inventory work?!?)

Gotta run and try to get some sleep, but before I go, here's a FOTD , a recreate of the gold, red and black look that I did a tutorial on a couple of weeks ago:

sorry for the shine--it's been another 14+ hour day; just 1.5 more weeks to go! Anyway, y'all be blessed, hugs and peace and I'll report in on the Wales palette again soon! janel

Just Thinkin'...

2008-07-26T19:58:00.012-04:00

Hey y'all! Just thought I'd post another entry for kicks and giggles (and also to play some catch-up!) It's been another L-O-N-G day at my store, but at least I got a little accomplished in terms of my inventory prepwork. That made me feel a little better, even thought I'm now dog-tired and I WILL be going in tomorrow to do more prepwork (I normally don't work on Sundays--that's what assistants and supervisors are for LOL!) Anyway, thought I'd give you another look this week, kinda similar to the "Barbie" but using silver and purple/plum. First, let me post a couple of pics of the look--I wore it to work today, so excuse the somewhat shiny face...

Next, I'll post a pic of the products that I used--all drugstore stuff by Covergirl, Wet 'N Wild, Milani, and Maybelline:

Creating this look was easy and fairly quick: after priming the face with my oil-free moisturizer tinted with my foundation, I put on a little Rimmel of London's primer on my eyelids, then a touch of concealer, then set it all with powder. The plum shade of the Aziza jumbo pencil was used as an eyeshadow base up to the crease in the lid. Then on went the Plantina by CG, keeping it under the crease. In the crease two colors--CG's Forever Fig from the inner corner half-way across and then Milani's Deep Desire from the half-way mark to the outer corner forming the V. The lightest pink in the Milani Runway Eyes Fashionista Pinks palette was used as the highlight under the brow. L'Oreal's HIP cream eyeliner in 905 Black and Maybelline's Colossal Volum's Express were used to line the upper/lower lashline and define the lashes. Cheeks were kissed with Wet 'N Wild's Silk Finish Blush in Pealescent Pink and the lips were lined with a Jordana medium brown pencil and filled in with two colors--Sugar Plum Fairy Mega Color by Wet 'N Wild and Amethyst by Savvy. All in all, it took just under 10 minutes and that was WITH interruptions, as my husband (separated) always seems to call me when I'm in the middle of getting ready for work. Anyway, hopefully you find this look pretty; I know if you purchase these products for duplication, the look will be CHEAP! I think the most expensive product used was the Runway Eyes palette at $6.99. And did I mention that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the COLOSSAL VOLUM' EXPRESS mascara? I'm getting these HUGE, PHAT lashes with just one coat--and absolutely DROP DEAD GORGEOUS lashes with a second! I think that this mascara deserves a picture of its own (LOL):

This stuff is DA BOMB! Drop me a comment or three and let me know what you think. Be blessed, hugs and peace...janel

All Right, Y'all! The "Barbie" Makeup Video...

2008-07-25T14:17:00.007-04:00

Hello everybody! Guess now you're sayin' "geez, first she wasn't posting forever and now she's posting, like, 50 times a day!" LOL You all know how it is--it's either feast of famine! Anyhoo, here's the video/tutorial on the "barbie" makeup look that I posted about last night using Milani's Runway Eyes Fashionista Pinks palette and Rimmel of London's Smokey Noir palette. Cheeks are Wet 'N Wild in Heather Silk, lips are by Wet 'N Wild Mega Colors in #902B--
Sugar Plum Fairy. Also used Hip Creme Eyeliner in 905 black, NYC's Eyeliner Duet in Black/Endless Love, Maybelline's The Colossal Volum' Express mascara and for the video.....TA DA!!! I decided to add false lashes and used Lash Grip eyelash adhesive! Hope you enjoy...

Hello Beauty Lovers (and other Stuff!)

2008-07-24T21:12:00.011-04:00

Hey everybody! How's it going? This has been a week from hell for me, for the most part, as far as work is concerned. Just couldn't seem to get anything accomplished--I did finally get my fall/winter fabrics out, although I don't think I've got it set according to the merchandising plan (at least not all the way). But heck, I needed to get the store turned from spring/summer to fall/winter and I did that, whether it's right or not. I also needed to begin prepping the store for inventory on August 14th by going through each bolt of fabric and checking the SKU number for valid weight factors--it takes every bit of three weeks to get through the entire store (and I have a small store); anyway, did I get any of that done?!? OF COURSE NOT--because I was much too busy being a sales associate because several of my sales associates (long timers) decided to be dumb this week--not knowing what was on sale, not assisting at the cashier's station when needed, not knowing how to demo sewing machines, not knowing our product inventory, etc. I just don't understand what they don't understand about the MANAGER having other things to do besides be a sales associate--like ordering product, making out schedules, monitoring payroll, getting the fall/winter setup completed, PREPPING THE STORE FOR INVENTORY, etc. Am I just expecting too much from my associates? They aren't trained to do some of the things that I do, but they are trained (supposedly) to offer assistance/advice to customers with all the authority that their years of sewing experience gives them. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM!!!??? I recorded a short rant last night and uploaded it to YouTube; it's shown here if you wish to listen. It didn't solve any problems for me, but I felt better for getting some of the aggravation off my chest...

Anyway, on to my beauty finds! After leaving work early today (actually, I did leave early, but I was still working--I went to another store to pick up a mis-delivered special order that I'd been looking for for over a week. This will make my customer very happy!) After picking up that order, I stopped at Walgreens on the way home to pick up some eyelash adhesive so that I can do another look for Barstowmama's video drugstore makeup challenge contest. While in the store, I took a gander at the makeup wall (I couldn't resist!) and finally decided to purchase one of the Runway Eyes Eye Shadow Palettes by Milani (I've been eyeing them for a while--sorry for the pun!). I picked up the Fashionista Pinks palette because I've been looking for a vibrant pink to add to my collection. A couple of weeks ago I told you all about the NYX Shocking Pink e/s that I purchased; I love the color in the pot, but it sorta washes out on my skin. So now I'm on a search for a base that will enhance the color. Anyway, back to Milani. This compact has six bar shadows--five in varying shades of pink and one in a frosty white for highlighting. Here's a shot of the compact:

I love the colors--the pinks range in shading from a peachy-pink to a deep victorian rose, with a fushia and a shade that reminds me of a cranberry, just a little more pinky. The colors seem to work pretty well on me also, I just wish that the strips were a little wider-- it's a little ackward getting the color on a full size flat shadow brush. Here are a couple of pics of me wearing a "barbie" look (pink and black--my daughter dubbed this look, not me!):

So, tell me what y'all think, hmmmm? I think with my next payday, I'll splurge and get another one of the Runway Eyes palettes--maybe the blue one? I also got three new Wet 'N Wild Mega Colors lipcolors that I just love!!! #902B (Plum Fairy), #910 C (Vivacious), and #906C (Chocolate Fondue). Here are swatches of these (left to right):

I'm wearing the Plum Fairy in the pics--pretty kewl, huh? The shadow compact: $6.99, the lipsticks: $1.99 each. Not bad... Another thing that I got was a quad by Rimmel of London called Smokey Noir--as the name implies the colors are smokey: a platinum silver, a medium gray, a dark gray, and a light silver. Now, what I really wanted was a medium gray shadow (hard to find for some reason) and I wanted a single, but this was all I could find. Here are swatches (top l/r: medium gray/platinum, bottom: light silver/dark gray):

I will probably try to do a look/YouTube tutorial with these tomorrow--maybe a gray and pink look? What color lip would you do? Something to dream about.

I can't wait for my Wales palette--one week closer to delivery!!! YEAH!!! You all have a good one and I'll talk with/at 'cha later. Be blessed, hugs and peace...janel

Re: The Drugstore Makeup Challenge!

2008-07-20T21:48:00.001-04:00

Re: the Drugstore Makeup Challenge: Part Deux

2008-07-20T21:46:00.001-04:00

I Know, I Know...WHERE HAVE I BEEN?!?

2008-07-20T21:23:00.003-04:00

Hey people! I know, I know, it's been a minute since I've posted anything. It's been a zoo every since I 've been back from North Carolina. I just spoke with my mom; she's doing better. Not ready to run any races by any means, but she sounds better and seems to be moving a little better. Man, those internal bruises take SOOOOOO long to work their way out--like forever! So far, all of the testing has come back negative and she's due to go see a neurologist this week for another test. She really wants to know if she "blacked out" or what exactly happened; I'm afraid that if testing doesn't show anything conclusive, she'll be very fearful and hesitant about driving again. And that would just really hurt me, since I've never seen my mother afraid of anything. I hope she doesn't shut down...

Anyway, I do have a little to tell you beauty-wise. I ordered a Wales 72 color eyeshadow palette off of Ebay last week! I'm so excited--I should have it in my hot little hands in a couple of weeks. Ms. Bree (VintageGoddess on Nappurality) talked about this palette in one of her makeup videos and I was very much intrigued. Goldenchild789 also talks about the Wales palette in several of her videos, and the colors looked soooo yummy...so I took the plunge! Will give you my opinion about it once I get it in hand.

Also, I have entered my first video makeup look contest! Barstowmama, of Youtube fame, has issued a challenge to do a makeup look--either casual, sporty or formal, using only drugstore makeup. You know the kind of makeup--the "cheap" stuff, such as Wet 'n Wild, or Jane--that kind of stuff. Actually, a lot of the "cheap" stuff is pretty good. I've got a lot of e/s from Maybelline, Milani, Cover Girl and I've even got some Wet 'n Wild lipcolors! Anyway, the object of the contest is to show that you can create really neat looks using the not-so-expensive makeup. Not that I have anything against MAC, Stila, NARS, etc. It's just that I can't afford those brands (most, if not all, of the time) and most of my makeup shopping is done on a tight budget that just doesn't allow for a lot of spending at those upscale makeup counters. Anyway, I created a look using Maybelline, Milani, Black Radiance and Physician's Formula cosmetics and I do believe it came out pretty well. I'll include a link to the YouTube video here and y'all let me know what you think.

Also, if you've been keeping up with my YouTube tutorial videos, you will know that I've been on a mission to find a mascara that will make my long, but somewhat sparse eyelashes more lush and full. Well, I think that I may have found THE ONE! It's by Maybelline and it's called the Colossal Volumn' Express. So far, I LOVE IT!! It really gives me some PHAT lashes (how sexy is that?!?)

Anyway, I guess I'd better get off of here for the time being; I have a very early wake-up call. It's now that time of year at which I begin to prep the store for inventory. Three weeks of going in before the (butt) crack of dawn and reading/comparing a bunch of SKU numbers to the approved SKU listing to determine what fabrics have valid weight factors...WOW, WHAT FUN! Just what I always wanted to do--work continuous 14-16 hour days for the next three weeks. Sigh, I need a vacation...y'all pray for me. Be blessed, hugs and peace...janel

I'm In A Contemplative Mood...

2008-07-06T15:32:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone--I'm in a somewhat contemplative mood today. Several things have occurred that have me feeling a little unsettled. First, last night my mother called me from North Carolina and let it be known that she'd been in an automobile accident--on July 1st. Thanks be to God that she didn't suffer any serious injury, but the car was totalled and she was the only one involved in the accident. I couldn't get over the fact that neither she nor my stepfather, whom I dearly love, called me before last night. I guess it's probably because they didn't want me to overreact, like I'm probably doing right now. So, of course I was talking to her on the telephone and crying my eyes out and trying very hard not to let her know that I was really that upset, because it would make her upset and she really doesn't need to be upset right now. She said that she was checked out at the hospital and they didn't find anything wrong but gave her a prescription for pain (because she would be sore for a few days) and then they released her. So as of right now, she's home--a little sore but doing all right.

As she was telling me what happened as best as she could recollect, my memories of my dad's suicide were triggered and I felt again all the things I felt when I found out that he was dead. Disbelief, hurt, anger--in general a huge amount of distress and anxiety. I understand the why of his suicide, and since it's been such a while ago, I truly thought that I'd reconciled myself to what had happened and my feelings of being left alone. Obviously, I thought wrong, because once I got off the telephone, I totally lost it, thinking about finally losing my mom, whether by accident or natural causes. My mother and I are very close, as were my father and I. His death left me feeling ripped apart for a long time and even now sometimes when things remind me of him (like at Christmas time--that was his absolute favorite time of the year) I can get really depressed. I still really miss him. I remember when I went back to work after his funeral and I saw some rabbits cashing each other in the field behind the apartment complex that I lived in at the time--OMG! I got to work and I boo-hoo'd for the better part of the day (he loved to go hunting and loved wildlife and taught me a great appreciation for animals of all kinds). Sometimes now when I see rabbits or squirrels playing in the grass I'm transported back to my father and it just really hits me again that he's gone. My mind started going along these same kinds of tracks after speaking to my mother. Now I know intellectually that at some point I will lose her because no one lives forever but there's still a small part of me that just can't begin to imagine my life without her. She's my best friend. Inside, I'm still shaking just thinking about how she drove across the road, hit a tree and went down into a ravine. And the really bad part for me is that she says that she really doesn't know what happened--she didn't black out, she didn't hit anything in the road to make her lose control of the car--she just went off the road. I've got a friend that going to lend me some money so that I can fly to North Carolina tomorrow for a few day to see for myself that she's all right. You'd have to know my mom, but sometimes she doesn't let on that she's hurting more than what's she's told you.

The other thing that happened today is that I have to do an employee review. The review itself wasn't going to be a walk in the park, because I had to review my senior supervisor (senior in that she's been with the company for over 20 years) and her review was not the best. She's a nice person, but she is not, in my opinion, supervisory material. I've had to put her on a 90 day track to dismissal from her supervisory post, although she could be retained as a sales associate. Of course, downgrading her to a sales associate would have an impact on her wages, because she would no longer earn the differential that she gets now for being part of the store management team. In addition to that, I had to let her know that she can no longer keep her full time status, because the company is only allowing two full time positions per store: manager and assistant manager. All others working will be classified as part time. She will be losing her medical benefits unless she opts to pay for them herself. I was hoping that the company would allow those that had full time benefits to keep them and just tell us that no one else would be eligible unless they were being hired in/transitioning to the manager or assistant manager position, but alas this was not the case. I really hated to be the one to tell her. So, all in all this has not been one of my cheerier days...

A friend of mine has loaned me the money to go to North Carolina tomorrow to be with my mom and step dad. I'm so grateful that they loaned me the money, no questions asked (except for "how much do you need?") but I'm also feeling really upset that have to ask because I don't have enough of my own money to swing this myself. My salary is a joke, especially with the price of gas and everything else now. I have NO SAVINGS, nothing to fall back on and it's getting to the point where I have to seriously consider what/how I'm going to eat and put gas in my car to get to work. It almost doesn't pay me to work--I'm not getting much out of it except for more headaches trying to figure out how I'm going to live on the pittance that I make. But, that is another rant entirely. Guess I'll close this for now before I go off in another direction. I promise, the next entry will be beauty related and a lot happier in tone! Be blessed, hugs and peace! janel

Makeup Tutorial: Green and Gold Eyes--The Results

2008-07-01T21:28:00.003-04:00