Double Your Pleasure

Hi!! Here's a new product I have been trying and LOVING! I love foundations. I think foundations are one of the most important products in your makeup routine. I always love trying foundations. Sometimes my trials with foundations are good, sometimes they're bad. But when I find a good foundation, all those bad trials are worth it! I have used a few foundations that have just been, ehh...okay. But if you have a good foundation then it will make the rest of your makeup application steps a lot easier!

A good foundation will even out your skin tone, smooth out your skin's texture and really give your skin a flawless finish. There are different finishes foundations can give and I will get into that in a later blog. But today I want to write about a foundation that fits my wants and needs perfectly, and I have a feeling that my perfect foundation wants and needs will be the same as many of you all as well.

I like a really an even skin tone.(Who doesn't?)nI like for my skin to look really even and cover up my imperfections but I also like to show my freckles and look natural too. I also like foundations that have awesome staying power. I don't want to have to reapply foundation later in the day or if I have somewhere to go after work. I don't mind touching up my concealer and bronzer and powder. But I do not want to start all over and have to reapply my foundation.

My lovely friend Andrew told me that I should try this foundation and now I am hooked!!



Estée Lauder Double Wear Light foundation. This foundation has a 15+ wear-time and it feels so light!! This foundation controls oil but also doesn't smudge or melt off throughout the day. It gives me the perfect amount of coverage and sheerness. It's the best of both worlds!

I also love that this foundation has a great coverage but it doesn't clog the pores either! So this will even work for people who suffer with acne but don't want to deal with breakouts from heavy foundation either!

This foundation is $37 and a very little bit goes a long way!! Please run to your nearest Estée Lauder counter and ask for a sample! Trust me, you will be pleasantly surprised!

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Tattoos for Everyone!

So y'all know I love a good find. I get suggestions all the time and I SO appreciate it!! If I can remember what people suggest (if I don't write it down, I will forget it!) I will go give them a try for myself. I love hearing suggestions or trying to test out certain things y'all are looking for, I'm here to help ;-) so keep the suggestions and questions coming!

So when my best friend Laura told me that she had tried some bold eyeshadow colors and she loved them, I just had to try them! She is a mother of two and a teacher so she doesn't have tons of time to throw on makeup and she doesn't get to reapply often. So when she said she was pleased with the colors and the staying power of these shadows, I was thrilled to try them out!! I had always seen them at Target and drug stores but had been a little hesitant to try them.

What she told me about was Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24 hour Cream Gel Shadow. I had seen the ads and they always caught my eye at the store because the colors were beautiful!! But like I said, cream shadows make me a little leery. Cream shadows crease really bad and you look like a mess usually by the end of the day. So I always skipped right over them. But, when Laura suggested it, I knew I had to try them!

Left-Bad to the Bronze, Right-Pomegranate Punk


Left-Bold Gold, Middle-Painted Purple, Right-Tough as Taupe,



I went straight away to Target and picked up 2 colors, Bad to the Bronze & Pomegranate Punk. I wanted to get more, but they were on sale at that moment and those were the only two colors I wanted. All the others had been swooped up! This line has really bold blues, silvers, greens and turquoise as well. But I really wanted to focus on a few subtle colors. The pomegranate is this beautiful rusty maroon color. I love it!! It's beautiful to use on the lid and crease and it gives a dramatic punch but it's still subtle. The bronze color is this gorgeous chocolates brown and they both have a beautiful shimmer to them. Not a bad shimmer, not glitter-just a nice multifaceted quality to them.

WARNING!!! I have no makeup on and I seriously just smeared these cream gel colors on. So, these might look like mug shots, but I wanted to show you these amazing colors!! Plus, I seriously smeared them on with my finger, so the application is super easy!

Here is Pomegranate Punk-








I love Pomegranate Punk because it's this beautiful maroon color that is something different but it's still subtle. You can layer it up to a smoky eye or just sweep it on real quick to draw some attention to those peepers.

Here is Bad to the Bronze-





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This Bronze color is bright but still a good neutral. It's nothing too shocking but you can throw some major liner on top and make it dramatic or just throw it on by itself and the gold flecks to it will really bring out your eye color!

I feel like this wet, shimmery eye is going to be big through this summer & even stretch into fall. And this is exactly what these eye shadows give to your look. I like these shadows because you can swipe them on and smudge a little liner and go. So it's a really beautiful look, but it's also really easy to achieve.







I loved these two colors so much that the moment I started booking more photo shoots and weddings I went and bought more colors (it was the perfect excuse to buy more!!)

My next 3 colors are Bold Gold, Tough as Taupe & Painted Purple. I really love these too!! My suggestion would be that if it is super hot outside you might want to throw a little translucent loose powder on top or a shadow similar to the tattoo cream gel color just to ensure the longevity of the product on your eyes!

Here is Bold Gold-








Bold Gold is super subtle but if you want a bronzed, beachy look. Then this is the one! I would usually use this on the brow bone and in the inner crease of the eye. Doing both of those moves will really open your eyes up! But if you want something to draw attention to your eyes but you don't want too much color, this is a great option!

Here is Tough as Taupe-









Tough as Taupe is the one and only matte cream gel colors that I have from this line. It's a great starter for a smokey eye or if you want a light, day smokey look-this is your color! I like to use this as a base for a good sensual smokey eye! This taupe option is a good shadow to use for a simple smokey too. Just throw this on and bring it up to the crease and put a little under the lid and smudge, easy! Love it!!

Here is Painted Purple-








Painted Purple can be applied alone and have a little color pop or you can mix it with the taupe for a smokey, mix it with the bronze to punch up the purple, you can throw the gold with the purple (I love purple and golds together on the eyes!). This is a great color to use with other shadows because purple looks good on everyone and it looks good with most shadows. Very versatile violet!

Now like I said, this is me, with no other makeup on at 10:30 at night with eye shadow that I smeared on with my finger super quick. So, I feel like it does a pretty good job considering. I swipe the cream gel on my lids up to my crease and I do a little on the lower lid too. Super easy and great colors!!

I feel like these shiny, metallic looks will be so popular for the summer and fall as well. I would throw a little liner on the top lid right on the lash line and smudge it up and then throw a little mascara on and you're good to go! Make sure to put some lid primer on because creams are more prone to creasing and if you really have problem with creasing then throw some loose translucent powder or shadow on top!

Now go to the drug stores and try these babies out!! They're about $6 each and they will last you a very long time!!

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New Stuff!

So I am back and I know I always say I'm going to be consistent with blogging but now it's for real!!

Let me update you on some stuff. So I worked for a high end skin care line called La Mer. I was the brand ambassador at Nordstrom. So basically I promoted and represented this skin care line. I helped educate customers and fellow employees on the line. Well, I absolutely love La Mer but honestly, I had a hard time fitting in time to blog. I have slipped away from doing facials, which is something that I love and I really have been out of touch with doing makeup.

I truly believe that certain career paths will open your eyes and lead you where you really need to be, if you will just listen and watch. I went to college for fashion design, so I love fashion and designer brands and Nordstrom was the perfect fit for me! But, once I was surrounded by all these amazing, expensive, designer brands I realized I was not happy. These things didn't make me happy and it certainly wasn't the most important thing to me. I knew I needed to take a risk and do my own thing. I have always wanted my own place where I could do facials, makeup, education, girl's nights, whatever! So I knew now was the time!

There were a few other major signs that happened while I was trying to figure it all out and I just went for it! So here I am, not in a stable job, not having the cushion of a great hourly rate, but all the freedom and opportunities in the world!!

I just opened an office with my friend who is an AMAZING photographer! We work wonderfully together and she is so uplifting and positive and I am just so glad that we will be working together. We have an office now where I can do makeup, facials, makeup parties & lessons, we can shoot there, meet with our customers. Everything we wanted, including the best location!

I'm so excited about what is to come! It took a giant leap of faith and a huge risk but I'm so excited to see what is in my future. So this means more blogging!! A girls gotta get her name out there and build her business!!

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Bright bold lip

I wanted to write a quick blog on a new lipstick I just tried. It is such a pretty fruit punch pink. A lot of bold lipsticks tend to dry or completely melt off. Not this one! This lipstick was creamy, easy to apply and the color isn't drying. It is a beautiful pop of color without being really thick and looking like you have lips painted on your face. I've done that before, have you? You throw on a color and then you look in the mirror later and you're like, "Whoa!!! I look like a clown!!" Well this won't happen with this lipstick. It has the right amount of sheer but still has a great pop of color. Once again, it's not drying at all and it stays on!!



This is the color! It #42 by Chanel in their Rouge Allure Velvet Lipsticks. It is beautiful and I believe it will be one of the colors for summer!



It's $34 and I know that might be little high, but it will not disappoint! The color is amazing, the lipstick feels great and it stays on!

www.chanel.com


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Lipstick for All!

Well it's that time of the week again. Where my husband watches a stressful show that I can't handle giving all my attention to, so I blog. Tonight's show is The Walking Dead...yeesh! So here I am half-watching and half-blogging (really). So sorry for the typos. One of my(many) New Year's resolutions was to blog more. It definitely has not worked out so well but I'm trying! Like I said before I'm going to try and write shorter blogs more often and combine fashion, health and beauty all together. So...I'm working on it. So keep checking back!

I wanted to do a quick blog on a lipstick I just found in my giant bag 'o lipsticks. I have a ton of lipsticks that I rarely use but I keep them for photo shoots, weddings, or if I'm feeling froggy and decide to dive into my bag of tricks and try out an old shade that I never use, so it kinda feels new in a way. Eh, it's the little things that excite you, ya know? So I did just that this week. I've been feeling a little down and decided it was time for a little change and excitement so I dug into my big bag of lipsticks and pulled one out that I obsessed over for a loooong time before I bought it. It's a beautiful nude/lilac/pink color. I loved it and would contemplate buying it over and over and never did. I finally got the darn thing and probably wore it 2 times and threw it in that bag where all my lipsticks go to die and a year later here I am bringing it back.




This is my bag of lipstick-it's ridiculous
I also found a fortune and a seashell...




I'm all about a good fortune so I'm going to keep it. The seashell and the fortune went right back into my lipstick bag...don't judge




Now I don't know what the safe time is to get rid of a lipstick but I don't care. I mean eye stuff yes, I rotate that regularly but lipsticks, I honestly don't use them enough to rotate. So I just do a regular clean out before every shoot and event and then this one just made the cut.




A peek inside my lipstick bag








I actually have more lipsticks that I have in each of my purses that are my every day colors. Yes, it's an addiction.




I grabbed this little beauty. I mean the packaging in adorable!!! Little jeweled top with a pink mirrored casing, is to die for! Threw it on and went to work. I'm telling you, it has been a hit ever since!! It truly is the most beautiful color and everyone can wear it. It has the perfect blend of nude, pink, purple (I know that sounds weird, but go with me it works!). This would look good on a fair skin tone to a beautiful, rich dark skin tone. It makes a statement without being too over the top and bold.








So-let's not talk about my appearance in these pictures. It's late, and my makeup has not been touched up since 9:00 this morning so don't focus on that. But-I wanted to show a picture of myself with this beautiful color on!




Here's a close up of the color.




Just pay attention to the lip color, not my crazy, cartoon eyes








Get online right now and go buy this lipstick!! It's on sale right now too. It's usually $20 it's on sale for $18. Get on www.toofaced.com right now and get it!! You will not regret it and I promise it's going to look good on you! You will get compliments immediately! This is a lipstick you can keep in your purse and throw it on no matter what you're wearing, you can throw it on and look so beautiful and put together.
Too Faced is a great line with tons of beautiful colors! Creamy lipsticks, beautiful soft eyeshadows, the palettes are awesome! Get online, check this brand out and get Centerfold! You will love it!
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New York fashion week makeup trends

New York Fashion week was a few weeks ago and let me tell you, I was LOVING all the updates on Instagram. Sometimes I get so annoyed with the way our world is and how everyone is so reliable on our phones and how out of touch we can be sometimes but-thanks to the same thing that bothers me, I also get up-to-date photos and trends from Instagram from places that I could only dream of going to!

So I always look to New York Fashion Week for the latest seasons trends in beauty and fashion. Here is what I'm noticing that is trending from some of my favorite designers!

Calvin Klein


This pretty much sums of the major trend of the upcoming season. Everything you see here is what I predict is going to be huge. Minimal. Easy hair, clean fresh complexion and simple lip. I still love a pop of lip color from time to time. I think that a pop of lip will always be in style but the major trend this spring/summer will be minimal, fresh and easy. You can achieve this look by really not going too crazy in the hair department. Don't use a brush. Haha just kidding...kind of. I mean honestly, it's just easy, care-free hair. Maybe wash it, throw a little shine serum and partially dry it and then sleep on it or throw it in a lose bun and let it air dry. For the makeup I would suggest a fantastic foundation and concealer with a nice translucent loose powder and a cream highlighter topped with a powder highlighter and fill in those brows! I would contour with a nice bronze blush and throw some sheer lip balm on and you're good to go! I will suggest products at the bottom of the post!


Ralph Lauren



Once again, another beautiful, fresh look with just an extra touch of cheek and lip color (which is definitely more my style). There is still a good amount of highlighting and contour still. This hair style is going to be HUGE this season. Chignons in all forms will be all the rage. This is your basic chignon which is classic but make your own take on this look as well. I think the possibilities are endless with this classic look!


Marc by Marc Jacobs


I do feel like scarves are going to be huge! I love different ways to add a beautiful, vintage scarf into your hairstyle. So play around with a nice, silk scarf. I think you'll like it! This makeup look is still quite minimal but there is an obvious pop of eye color. But as you can see, even that has minimal effort. The complexion is still really clean and fresh but all that's different here is a nice smudgey charcoal liner. Notice-I love a highlight, fresh look. I also love a dewy look. These are two different things. Dewy is almost a wet look. It's a super highlight/glow that almost looks shiny. These looks here are highlighted fresh looks. There are nice highlights on cheeks and down the middle of the nose but overall the look is somewhat matte minus the bone highlights.

Carlos Miele


Here is the exact way to do a pop of lip with these season's makeup look. There still isn't a huge impact on the cheeks in this look but you have the wow-factor with the lips. So once again, minimal is the key. Keep the statement down to one but still, keep the effort easy. So if you do a pop of the eye then do the Marc Jacobs look but make sure to not be so precise and clean, smudge that line up to make it look effortless and easy. If you want a pop of lip do a nice matte pop of color like this one here. If you want a pop on the cheeks like the Ralph Lauren or the Phillip Lim (coming up) look then throw a nice soft pink on the cheeks. But only do one!! So choose wisely haha. Once again, hair is simple. Nice and straight, no mess, low effort.

Tommy Hilfiger



This is a beautiful look! So clean and fresh. This really sums of Tommy Hilfiger, American Classic Beauty. This once again is a nicer foundation, concealer and powder. Highlight those cheeks and nose and fill in the brows!! Lip balm and the lips and nice, straight hair. So easy and beautiful!!!

Diane von Furstenberg



I'm not even going to explain this anymore. Fresh, clean, my point exactly.

3.1 Phillip Lim

Theses nails are from the Phillip Lim runway and I love them!!! It's Essie Chinchilly & Brooch the Subject. It's classic but simple just like the rest of these looks we've seen so far!


Here's the makeup look from Phillip Lim



These are the cheeks I'm talking about!!! A nice pop of a soft pink with a nice simple eye and lip. Beautiful, beautiful.

Victoria Beckham


I know this seems weird but, I think this hairstyle is going to be very popular. I don't know if you will go for it, but I think this will be a big look. Once again this hairstyle is simple and effortless. The makeup look is beautiful and fresh with a light contour and highlight on the cheeks. I really love this.

Altuzarra




I'm not going to get into this makeup look because I basically would be repeating myself. But here is a great take on the chignon. I love this look. How to achieve this-
Pull hair in a low ponytail and put a glossing mist over hair to smooth strays.

Loop the tail about 3 inches below the base of the ponytail and wrap ends back around in a bow shape.

Smooth down strays with hairspray.

So here are some affordable items to achieve these looks-

Foundation-
I love CoverGirl Clean Foundation. $6.00



Concealer-
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer is always my affordable go-to. $5.50


Powder-
I LOVE a good 'ol classic. Airspun Loose Powder. $6.00



Highlighters-



Cream stick highlighter I use Nars Multiple in Maldives. It's beautiful and I place in on the top of my cheekbones and right down the middle of my nose and around the top of my brows. Yes, it's a little pricier ($39.00) but you will use it all the time!!! Plus, it lasts a loooong time!!

Next-I top off my cream highlighter with a loose highlight powder.



This is by MAC. It's a loose highlighter and it's sooo beautiful!! It really gives you this amazing fresh look. It's a must have and just use a tiny bit right where you applied the cream highlighter. $25.00

Cheek color-



My go-to soft pink is Bobbi Brown Pale Pink $25.00 I love a good deal but for me, cheaper blushes don't show up as well. This will be the perfect color for you to have a nice fresh pop on the cheeks and you will not be disappointed!!
I put this on the apples of my cheeks and brush upward and I stop at the point of my eyes. Going that high up really gives more of an illusion of these amazing cheekbones.

Contour-



MAC Matte Blush in Blunt. $21.00 do a "3" on both sides of your face starting below your cheekbone and go on sides of forehead and on jaw line. It will really contour your cheeks and emphasize your cheekbones.

Eyes-



Sonia Kashuk eyeliner pencil $6.00 go around the entire eye and then get a q tip and smudge the liner. I do top and bottom lids and do small lines at a time and slowly add more to desired look. If you really want staying power and more dramatic effect use a similar color eyeshadow and apply with a stiff, straight brush on top of smudged areas. I usually go with a dark charcoal gray, a dark gold or a black liner.

Brows-


NYC Browser Brow Kit. I love this stuff!! It has one side with your powder brow color and the other side is a wax to keep your brows in place $6.00

Mascara-



CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume $6.00 I just love this stuff!!! I can't find one that comes close!

For a pop of lip-
A lot of colors can work here are a few of my suggestions
MAC Impassioned $15.00 this is the perfect pop of pink. I love it!!!



Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey $7.00 this is a perfect pop of color but it's just right. Not too red, not too pink.



CoverGirl Lip Perfection in Hot $6.00 the perfect pop of red



Now go get some bed-head and try out these upcoming makeup trends!!

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