Magazine Feature!

I'm excited to announce that I will be submitting a Valentines tutorial next week for an online magazine! I want to keep it hush hush until its done (leave you hanging) about what exactly I'm going to be doing but I will let you know that I will be having two guests in my video. It should be out mid February and trust me... this blog will be the first to get the link. 

Airbrushing Gone Wrong!

Over winter break I received my airbrush system and have been in love with it since. I use it most days on myself and have mastered the art of natural blush and full, even coverage on myself, my sister and my mother.

Now that I am back at school I have been using it on most of my friends. I discovered that I am not very good at guessing what color people are. I purchased several different shades of deep completion dinair makeup with the intention of using it on a few specific friends but my guesses were all wrong. I consistently guessed too dark for which foundation they should be. Then come to find out... I can't really even tell until they look in the mirror that I so drastically changed their entire skin color! I need help on this one. I think I am going to sign up for this airbrush seminar a makeup artist friend of mine suggested. There won't be any jobs if I keep messing up my colors.

Moral of this post... practice on anyone that will let you because you don't want to toot your horn too soon.

Airport Makeup: The Bare Essentials

As I write this I am on the bus to Milwaukee to fly back to Washington, DC for school (a week early I might add). We all know that airlines are insanely picky about their "under 3 oz." rule so I put together what I consider the essentials when flying. It is very natural and clean and uses minimal products that covers pimples and redness, provides a natural soft contour, and a glowing highlight.

1. Step 1: apply REVLON ColorStay Mineral Mousse foundation in Light Medium/Medium with fingers. This product covers nicely and has 20 SPF giving it a natural soft powder-esk finish. To conceal darkness or redness dab a second layer on problem area. This way you do not have to bring a concealer. 
2. Step 2: contour with MAC Beauty Powder in Her Own Devices. Using a Sigma F84 Angled Top Kabuki apply to the hollows of the cheeks and around the hairline. I like this product because it is light and with build-able color. Unlike using a contour color such as Blunt by MAC, the Beauty Powder can double as a blush.
3. Step 3: highlight with with MAC Special Reserve Highlight Powder  in Chez Chez Lame to the apples of the cheeks and under the eyebrow. 
4. Finish with your favorite gloss and mascara and your done!

Walgreens Stock Up!

Walgreens (and I'm assuming most other drug stores as well) is having their end of year cosmetic sale to get rid of the discontinued products. Although we are bidding a fond farewell to some favorites such as L'Oreal's HIP Kohl liners and #800 "In the Buff" lipstick, we are making space for new goodies to come. To moral of this post is to STOCK UP! Look for products with the orange price tag to indicate those products that will be discontinued. Here is my top 5 items to pick up before they disappear.

1. L'Oreal Paris Bare Natural Gentile Lip Conditioner in #810 Soft Honey: This product is a nude colored low shine gloss with a very soft feel. it is not sticky in the slightest and it certainly leaves the lips looking healthy and hydrated. Its a steal at $2.50
2. REVLON ColorStay Mineral Mousse foundation in Light Medium/Medium: This formula gives a soft matte finish. It also has a surprisingly significant amount of coverage. I have been breaking out pretty badly around my chin and it covers redness well. It almost leaves a silicone feel when you first apply it but it disappears within a few minutes. 
3. L'Oreal Endless Lipstick in #800 In the Buff: I like this color because it is a wonderful neutral brown nude with a matte finish. I'm not totally in love with the sent of this product, as it is very sweet and synthetic smelling. 
4. L'Oreal Endless Platinum Lipstick in #445 Crystalized Coral: Not only does this shimmery peachy coral have staying power, it also is neutral enough to complement bright eye makeup. I wore it out on New Years Eve with Urban Decay teal eye liner and it was a perfect fit under a shimmery peach LORAC Lip Polish.
5. Sally Hansen Diamond 12 Hr. Lip Treatment in Marquise: Marquise is a a bright pink gloss in the tube but applies more of a sparkly "your pink lips but better" color. It does not last the 12 hours that it claims (more like 3 hours) however it is a beautiful gloss. Beautiful color and beautiful price tag $1.44

I also picked up Crest 3D White Strips which were on sale $20, another steal. Overall Check out your local drug store and pick up the discontinued cosmetics. 

New Years Resolution

Yay 2011! 2010 was great but I'm very happy and looking forward to whats to come this year. I only have 2 resolutions this year and hopefully they are something you can put on your list as well.

1. Wash my face every night. My skin has been a mess lately and I'm sure the fact that half the time (Ok I'll be honest, more like 75% these days) I fall asleep with my makeup on. This year I am going to make a point to always wash my face. In fact, Let me do that as soon as I publish this post!
2. Read the labels on food better. Especially at restaurants I have been making generalizations about foods I assume are vegan. That is going to change this year. From now on I will be sure to ask the wait staff and read every label to ensure I am continuing to live a vegan lifestyle. 

I wish everyone a happy new year and perfect skin!