Get dipped with LashDip

The science behind makeup/cosmetics has advanced over the years, especially with lash applications and enhancements.  In the past and currently, mascara has been the go to product to make lashes thicker, longer, and curlier.   There have even been advancements in the type of mascara wand to deliver specific results as well as formulas promising lash growth, thickening, etc.  There are also serums and treatments such as Latisse and RevitaLash that promise the world when it comes to beautiful lashes. And let’s not forget lash enhancements in the form of strip lashes, individual lashes and lash extensions.  Now it gets better.  Introducing LashDip, an innovative lash application/mascara replacement poised to revolutionize how we do mascara.  This semi-permanent application, done exclusively in spas and salons across the United States and Canada,  will allow you to wake up and go with beautiful, thick, dark, glossy lashes without the time it takes to actually put on mascara or fake lashes, and without the smudging, flaking, clumping that oftentimes comes with applying traditional mascara.  Here are a few more facts about LashDip

• waterproof, allowing you to participate in activities such as exercising, dancing, and even swimming
•  can be used with lash treatments such as Latisse as well as lash extensions
• lasts four to six weeks
• safe for contact wearers as well as those with sensitive eyes

LashDip can cost $200-$300 for an initial application and must be applied by a certified salon professional or a licensed aesthetician.  www.lashdip.com

Some of my favorite drug store brands

Its not always about the high end products that we read about in magazines.  I am completely of the belief that you get exactly what you pay for in product and service, however, there are some drug store brands that are actually good and worthy enough to make their way into our cosmetic bags, makeup kits and our hearts (ok that was corny but you get the point).  And let’s be real here, sometimes our higher end favorites are just not in our budget this week.  Here is a non exhaustive list of some of my personal and professionl favs, most of which are under $5.

-Wet n Wild Mega Liner (liquid liner) in 861 (black).  Its black, shiny, dries quickly, and doesn’t smear.
-Wet n Wild Glassy Gloss Lip Get in 311 (clear).  Similar to Macs Lip Glass, this clear gloss is super shiny.  It is a little thick which I dont like personally, but it’s perfect when i need high shine for photo shoots, etc.
-Wet n wild Mega Glo Illuminating Powder in 346 (strike a pose rose).  I use this as a blush on most clients.  Makes for a soft illuminator on deeper skinned clients.  There is a possibility that it will look gray on very dark skinned clients so be mindful of that.
-Wet n wild Mega Glo Iluminating Powder in 348 (starlight bronze).  Perfect bronzer for brown girls.  This is my absolute favorite bronzer in the world.  It leaves such a beautiful golden bronze glow, just like i’ve been on an island somewhere.  Delicious!!!!
-Beautique eye liner/lip liner pencils (sally beauty supply).  These pencils are creamy and apply very smoothly.  I use these for my brows and lips.  For me personally, these are the best pencils i have used and I havent found anything that compares to the quality.
-Ardel lashes.  These come in various styles/lengths/densities.  I use these for myself personally and in bulk for my kit.  I buy the ones that have the clear band with the bulbs attached as opposed to the black band for a more natural look/flair.
-Ardel lash adhesive.  Waterproof, odorless and dries clear.
-Ardel brow shapers.  These cold wax strips are perfect for in between visits to your brow stylist or if you do your own brows.  They come with 21 strips for above and below the brow.  No need to measure, just apply and carefully remove.
-Aveeno skincare.  I love the entire Positively Radiant line.  Made with natural soy, these products cleanse my skin, leaving it clear and radiant.  I also love their oatmeal soap.  This soothes my skin, leaving it super soft.
-Milani nail polish.  These nail polishes come in such beautiful colors.  I will be honest, i dont know if these chip or not simply because i wear acrylics so I never have that issue.

toodles :0)

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Im loving Clinique’s newest addition -  Clinique Bottom Lash Masara.  This small wonder,  which comes in a very tiny tube with an even tinier wand, is specifically designed to coat and define even the tiniest bottom lashes.   Remove with warm water.  $10.  sephora and sephora.com

DiorShow 360

Dior does it again by adding another mascara to its already fabulous family of mascaras.  Introducing DiorShow 360, a revolutionary new masacara designed to mimic a makeup artist’s mascara application for perfect lash styling. Unlike the Lancome Oscillating Vibrating Infinite Mascara which uses a left to right motion mimicking the “wiggle” motion used to pull the product from root to tip, DiorShow 360 has a double helix brush that rotates 360 degrees in either direction, ensuring complete application to every single lash. $36.  sephora.com

fringe benefits

longer.  thicker.  fuller.  these are words to describe every woman’s ideal lashes.  let’s face it, full long dark lashes are alluring and make the eyes pop.  some of us  are blessed to have amazing fringe benefits.  some of us, on the other hand,  have lashes that are just short of invisible…fine, short, and/or thin. mascara commercials boast of giving you amazing lashes but what many fail to realize is that even in most of these commercials, the models are wearing false lashes.  then there is the option of wearing false lashes, whether they are full strips, individuals or lash extensions. however if you are not skilled in lash application and/or unwilling to go get individual lashes or lash extensions, you may think there is no hope.  well think again.  lash enhancers have become the go to product for those who want to grow their lashes naturally.  lash enhancers come in different formulations such as mascaras, primers, gels and serums which condition, repair and grow lashes. in addition to Latisse and RevitaLash, there are a number of brands that can help you get those fringe benefits you so desire which i have listed below.

Peter Thomas Roth  Lashes To Die For $125 (concentrated serum),  a nighttime treatment which contains vitamins A, C, and E to help lashes grow twice as long

Dior DiorShow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum $28 (primer), a mascara primer that preps your lashes by volumizing and lengthening your lashes before mascara application and what’s even better is that it conditions and promotes lash growth

Givenchy Mister Lash Booster $30 (treatment gel), an amazing 3 in 1 product that is a primer, treatment, and transparent mascara that with the help of unique bristles, massage product into the lashes

Tarte MultiplEYE Lash Enhancer $65 (natural treatment), formulated without parabens, GMO’s or petrochemicals, this natural lash enhancer increases the length of lashes by 152% and contains vitamin c which is a powerful antioxidant booster

Sephora Collection Advance Lash Booster $17 (treatment mascara) which improves length, volume, thickness and strength

lash up

just thought i would share four of my favorite mascara’s before i went to bed (in no particular order) :0)

1. maybelline great lash – this drug store favorite packaged in its infamous pink and green tube is tried and true with it’s medium sized brush that allows you to get every single hair.  no clumps and great for sensitive eyes, i like it in very black
2. bare minerals buxom lash – i was pleasantly suprised by this mascara with its wand that has tiny little bristles that deliver intense color and staying power.  it is super black and shiny, doesnt flake, magnifies lashes and contains antioxidants to condition lashes.  in addition to all of that goodness, it is formulated without dyes, parabens or sulfates
3. givenchy phenomen’eyes – instead of a traditional wand, this mascara comes with a spherical ball with tiny bristles that grab every single hair and coats the tips of lashes to perfection regardless of eyeshape
4. lorac special effects – i like this mascara because 1) it is double ended with a  primer which is formulated with dl-panthenol and plant extracts to revitalize and condition lashes and the other side has a carbon black lenghthening and defining mascara and 2) because the wands are smaller and grabs every single lash – great for people like me who have very fine lashes (until i put on my mac #44 lashes woot woot!)

thanks and good night :0)

protect yourself

so working at a company that is the “leading expertise in beauty” i see many things during the day.  i see ladies come in all the time with their dirty fingers rubbing in shadows and blushes, people with growths on their lips slathering on lip gloss with the wand that comes in the tube as well as applying lipstick directly from the tube without consideration and ladies trying on a myriad of mascaras ,again, with the wand that comes in the tube.  with that said, cleanliness and sanitization is major a concern.  i just want to share with you a few tips on how to protect yourself and others when you visit stores that have an open sell environment…

mascara:  use the disposable mascara wands that have been provided (use a different wand for each eye.  double dipping is a no no)

lip gloss:  if you are trying on stick gloss (you know the ones that you screw off the top and the wand is attached) use the disposable lip wands that are provided and again no double dipping).  if you are trying on a lip color that comes in a pot, first wipe off the top layer of uncertainty with tissue then take a lip wand to dip into the pot and apply the color.  if you using a lip gloss that comes in a tube, squeeze out a little of the product onto a tissue, then spray some alcohol on the tip of the tube and rewipe the tip, throw the tissue away and then use a disposable lip wand to apply the color.

lip sticks:  take a tissue to wipe off the layer of uncertainty then alcohol the lipstick and then wipe again

eye shadows:  use a tissue to wipe off the layer of uncertainty then take a disposable eye shadow applicator to apply your eyeshadow. and again do not double dip.

also when you go into these stores for makeovers, the artist should be sanitizing their hands, using brush cleaner for their brushes before they touch the product and your face, wiping off layers of uncertainty, wiping off the mouths of foundation bottles with alcohol so on and so forth.  and (gasp) if they ever blow on their brushes, product or you, run for the nearest exit because that is so gross!!!!!

i hope this tidbit of information helps to raise your level of awareness about issues of cleanliness.

5 minute beauty smackdown

hey ladies.  i know we are super busy with our hectic schedules and all but that is absolutely no reason to allow ourselves to look a hot friggity mess.  you might be saying “who the %$#! are you?  you dont know anything about me”.  maybe not but i do know you look a hot friggity mess and like me (hectic schedule included) you need to master the art of the beauty smackdown in 5 minutes or less.  let’s get gorgeous!!!!!

the following is my personal method for achieving that flawless face “natural” face sans eyeshadow.  let’s go!!!!!

let’s start with complexion (im assuming that you know you should be cleansing, toning, treating, and moisturing (i am amazed at the amout of women i encounter who either dont wash their face or use body soap and body lotion on their face and wonder why their skin looks a hot friggity mess.  what’s really going on?  you should – oops- im ranting again).  you need a good concealer for any areas of hyperpigmentation like post acne scarring as well as undereye circles.  creamy formulations that come in a tube or pot are best for under the eye area as that area is very delicate and you want to minimize any tugging and pulling.  two of my favorite concealers are makeup forever full cover concealer and laura mercier concealer pots.  makeup forever also has concealer palettes (five colors, one of which is a corrective concealer).  you can apply these products with a concealer brush, your finger or latex/foam applicator (use stippling  (bouncing)  action),  for anywhere on the face except undereye.  for under the eye use a concealer brush or or even a contour/blending brush (use whipping action) for a beautiful air brush affect.

after you have finished with your concealer, apply your foundation primer.  think of when you paint a wall.  you always have to prime it first.  this prevents the paint from absorbing into the wall, prepares a nice even canvas for paint application and helps the paint to stay on longer.  same concept for your face – fills in fine lines, wrinkles, pores, creates a nice even canvas for your foundation and helps your foundation to stay on longer.  smashbox and makeup forever has fantabulous primers so be sure to check out their lineup. 

next apply your favorite foundation formulation. please make sure it is your correct shade and please blend, blend, blend.  currently im using Make Up Forever HD foundation which is a liquid.  i never believed in liquid because i am so oily – no greasy –  so i have only used powder (mac studio fix baby) but  im so totally loving this foundation.  it is oil-free, medium to full coverage with a natural finish that is invisible to the naked eye and high definition cameras.  apply with sephora professinale #55 airbrush for flawless application.  yummy.

well groomed eyebrows, which add shape and symmetry to your face, are an absolute must.  either have them shaped professionally or use an at home solution like ardell cold wax strips (found at cvs and sally beauty supply).  now if you are like me, you need to draw or fill them in.  i personally feel that brow powder like lorac brow powder is perfection.  this palette, which is available in 4 shade kits, comes with two shades of brow powder, clear wax and a brow brush.  use the clear wax to fill in sparse areas and then use the brow powder over the wax.  perfection.  for those of you who prefer a brow pencil, lorac brow pencil and beautique eyeliner (yes, for my brows) (sally beauty supply) are my top picks.

next apply your favorite mascara.  my top 5 picks for mascara are as follows:  maybelline great lash and wet n wild mega wink (both of which can be found at cvs) dior show, givency phenom eye, bare escentuals buxom lash.  mascara is great to use because, depending on the formulation, it will lengthen, curl and volumize.  You get that panoramic view around your eyes that will make your eyes pop. currently i use none of these because im all about wearing my faux lashes baby!!!!!

lips – many choices.  crusty is not one of them.  some of my favorite nudes are bare beige by laura mercier and chelsea girls by nars.  no scratch that.  smashbox just came out with the most wicked nude gloss ever.  my heart races as i talk about it.  anywho – these look great on any skintone.  you can wear them alone or use a brown liner to fill in most of the lip and layer one of these glosses on top.  totally gorge.  yesssss!!!!

if you so choose finish off with a nice blush which adds shape and dimension to the face.  now calm down.  i know what you are thinking.  one of my dear friends starts convulsing violently and foaming at the mouth when i mention blush (ok not really).  she just spews much hatred.  she says it reminds her of a clown.  i understand.  i have seen many women in my daily goings-ons who i thought were circus clown but then realized they had an unfortunate encounter with blush.  the key is to build and blend and it doesnt take much. 

ok.  let’s review:  concealer, primer, brows, foundation, mascara (or lashes), lips, blush.  gorgeous!  you rock!