Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil

Tonight I am talking about the Anastasia brow pencil. I usually use a MAC brow pencil but decided to try something new to add to my kit. Anastasia products have been respected in the industry so I picked there basic eyebrow pencil, called the Perfect brow pencil in Ash Blonde. Let me tell you how pleasantly suprised I was at the quality of this product! It differs so much from a regular brow pencil in that it is like a soft crayon in pencil form. Many people find problems in brow pencils whether they are filling in, darkening, or drawing a brow. Problems are usually caused with regular pencils being dry, making it harder to apply with less consistent color. If you experience this problem you should definately give this product a try! It went on so smoothly for me, stayed consistent in color and blended well with my brows. They offer 6 colors; Ash Blonde, Blonde, Strawburn, Medium Ash, Brunette, and Ultimate Brown. You will have no problem finding a good match for your coloring. I also wanted to mention that Anastasia has a full line of products including the Brow Enhancing Serum. This is a liquid gel that you apply to sparse hair and it regenerates and increases brow growth. Most brow serums currently on the market offer this same result in 3-6 month time span while this is 4-6 weeks. I am going to try this out and let everyone know how it works. Although, it is going to be very hard for me not to wax my eyebrows for 6 weeks, eeek scary, but I will give it a try. I will take a before and 6 week later photo so we can all see if this is really worth the $36 for a small tube. So stay tuned for more of the Brow growth serum and go and get yourself an Anastasia brow pencil. Questions and comments are welcomed :)

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer

Hello again. I have missed a few blogs but plan to do a couple to catch up. Tonight I am going to talk about a staple in my work kit, I rarely do a clients Makeup without using this- The Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer. This primer comes in a tube with a sponge applicator and is very similar to a liquid concealer. I use the original eyeshadow primer which is a "sheer nude" color. I apply this from the lashline to the brow line and gently blend it with my ring finger, or you could use a soft sponge. This gives a sheer, matte coverage to your eyelids before applying shadows. This product can be used on many different skin types and works wonderfully for people with fair skin that have visible veins on there eyelids. I have tried many different eyeshadow primers and this is by far THE BEST! First it neutralizes your skin color then provides a great base for your shadows. After applying it just apply your shadows as usual and you will be pleasantly surprised! Your eyeshadow will stick to the primer making them brighter and more vibrant, it does not crease and your shadow can last 24 hours as it has for me! If you love to play with eyeshadow colors this is the product for you. I have worked with clients and used this product and they have called me the next day to say there eyeshadow was still on and looked great. It is also great for people who live in a humid climate or during the summer as our skin has more oil, our Makeup tends to run or not last as long. If you try this product, you will never have that problem again. Urban Decay just recently released another eyeshadow primer, it is exactly the same as this except it is lightly colored. This one is called Sin, and has a shimmery champagne effect. If you try that one it is best used as your primer and base eyeshadow, as it works as both. Just apply your color after and leave the primer as your base color. Ok, well hope everyone gets a chance to try this great product. Again, questions and comments are welcomed..

Kevyn Aucoin

So today I thought I would write a little about Kevyn Aucoin, former celebrity Makeup Artist. Although he is deceased, his work lives on in books and the Kevyn Aucoin Makeup line. I admire his work and have learned so much of what I do from his super informative books. I literally grew up looking at the pictures and transformations in his books in complete awe. His books inspired me to become a Makeup Artist even as a young girl. To this day, years after his death, his work is still used as a sort of prototype for todays Artists. If you are interested in Makeup, whether it be to improve your own look or to expand your skills as an Artist pick up a copy of one of his books. He published three books during his life; The Art Of Makeup, Making Faces and Face Forward. A fourth book published after his death, called Kevyn Aucoin: A Beautiful Life, this book has some Makeup tips but focuses on his life and works. I always suggest that people purchase Making Faces, which for me has been my "refer to" book for tips and inspiration. This book covers the basics from A-Z for beginners to advanced Artists. In this book he not only gives everyday tips but uses celebritites and transforms them to look like different people. Some of the celebrities featured in this book include; Winona Ryder, Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, Demi Moore and Courtney Love to name a few. You will be amazed at how Makeup application can transform or just bring forward your beauty. Lastly, I would like to say to pay close attention to how Kevyn Aucoin shares how each cosmetic or tool can have many uses in very non conventional ways. Some of the tricks that I use I will share when I finish my post on tips and tricks. Thank you and of course questions and comments are welcomed :)

NARS Orgasm Illuminator

Ok, so for my first blog I am going to talk about and give my review of a new product from NARS. This cosmetic line is second to MAC in my favorite products used on myself and clients. NARS just released a skin Illuminator called "Orgasm." I highly recommend this product for all skin types and skin tones as it is universal in color. This shimmery liquid gives a glowing, fresh, dewy look to your skin. It is very lightweight and can be used many different ways. You can use this product alone if you do not wear foundation, it can be applied before foundation, or you can mix a little with your liquid foundation. I prefer to mix the products in order to get the full effect, while wearing it under your foundation can diffuse the effect. You can apply it all over your face, neck or chest to give a clean, illuminating effect. Using illuminators and face highlighters are great products to use when you will be photographed. Cameras can make our skin appear dull and this illuminator can reverse this making your skin in photos look bright and healthy. Another tip I like to use is to dab and blend a small amount of the NARS Illuminator on your brow bone, underneath your brow line. This helps to define your brow and brighten your eyes. You can purchase this NARS product at Sephora. Questions and comments are welcomed : )