Reader Questions:

I am going to Vegas this weekend to cover the IECSC makeup, hair and nail show! So of course I will be bringing you gals back some photos and info on new companies! In the meantime here are some reader questions!

Q: Where did you get your black rose ring? (from the booze cruise post)
A: I usually get all my rings from either Forever21 or Wetseal, they have the cutest rings!

Q: What is the difference between the $10 IMATS ticket and the $35 one?
A: The $10 ticket is just for the Exhibit Floor, meaning you can go around and buy products from the booths (the people exhibiting), the $35 ticket includes the Exhibit Floor, lectures, classes and keynote speakers so you can learn more about various topics that you may want to learn more about such as airbrush makeup, mineral makeup, or special fx makeup.

Q: I swear this blog is becoming nessasarytwilightnews.com.... im just not a fan of twilight so im annoyed at the lack of makeup :(
A: You are more than welcome to read other makeup blogs or start your own. This is my own personal blog that is not solely about makeup but other random things that appeal to me and because I have been so busy lately with my job as well as other things going on, I haven't really played with makeup, hence I am blogging about other things to fill up the time until I do have more time to get back into it. Blogging about a cake or a fundraiser for a good cause isn't a big deal, so just relax. You can't please everybody!

Q: Do you have to be a MAC Pro member to buy an empty pan palette?
A: No, you do NOT have to be a mac pro member to buy the empty eyeshadow or blush palettes, or the refills that go into it. Simply walk into any freestanding MAC store and ask for them and they will sell it to you.

Q: How long does it take to apply your makeup?
A: It varies, if I do a quick look i've done before it can take 15 minutes, a natural look (like just mascara or eyeliner) takes less than 10 minutes, if I am doing a more intricate look with more colors or whatnot, or just experimenting it takes me much longer, like an hour!

Q: What's your favorite face primer?
A: Right now I am using two, MAC Skin + Base Primer which feels more like a primer and comes in a small black bottle, and then I am using the Korres Primer which I also like because it just feels like a moisturizer and glides on better then feels like a primer. I also love the lemon scent it has!

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Questions & Answers Session

I am planning to do a mega post to answer all of your awesome questions at once, you can ask ANYTHING you want and if I can answer it, then I will, to the best of my ability. It can be makeup/beauty/skincare related, like what are my top must have beauty essentials, fashion-related, or even personal questions like what my favorite ice cream is! I will then compile them all and answer them all at once in a post as I am sure there are many of you that probably have the same questions so I thought this would be a great way to reach out to you all and hopefully I can help answer anything that makes ya wonder!

So if you have a question (or more!), leave them here in the comments section! :)

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Reader Questions: MAC Primers

I have had a few reader questions on the MAC Prep + Prime collection, so I thought id make a post in case anyone was wondering the same thing, hopefully this clarifies a few things!

Q: Hey Vanessa, on the Mac Pro website it says the Mac Prep and Prime Refined Zone says its limited edition...

A: Before Colour Ready was release, it was rumored on almost every blog, every makeup site such as Specktra.net that they were ALL permanent; I on the other hand thought so too for the simple reason that MAC's Prep + Prime family I felt wasn't that huge to begin with (not including PRO items), so I thought these would be a great permanent addition, however talking to MAC Artist Mary-Ann earlier, she confirmed that indeed the MAC Prep + Prime Refined Zone Treatment is LIMITED EDITION, but that the powder AND Line Filler are part of the PERMANENT LINE. So I apologize for that incorrect information. At the same time I don't mind that it's LE, because I actually like the line filler A LOT better! :)

Q: How does the Refined Zone compare with MAC Matte? It sounds exactly the same to me. Your thoughts?

A: I personally have not tried MAC Matte, but I have played with it at the store and to be honest it reminds me of the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer- transparent, and that slippery, dimethicone feel. Members on makeup alley have complained they were still oily and "shiny" even when they used this under their makeup, and the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer didn't work for me either for that same reason, it made me look so shiny and oily at the end of the day. MAC's Skin Refined Zone Treatment to me, is more like a regular moisturizer, even the way it feels when you put it on. It doesn't feel like a primer, but DRIES like a primer in the sense that your skin literally feels smoother and more even. Because it's similar to that of a moisturizer, my guess is that it works better because it SINKS INTO your skin sealing your pores and evens out the skin, unlike primers where you have that "slippery feel" which can cause some people to look more oily or shiny.

Q: How is the MAC Skin Primer (the last one) at controlling oil?

A: The MAC Skin Primer is pretty good at controlling oil, I mean then again I have dry skin to begin with, so I can't really say how it would hold up with a person with oily skin, however I didn't notice any shine or that melty look I usually get with other primers where my makeup looked like it was melting or made me look oily, so for me this primer just works great because it still holds my makeup well all day!

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Reader Questions:

Q: How to get a MAC PRO card, etc...

A: Must provide proper documentation such as a makeup or cosmetology student, and the like, please go to the www.macpro.com website for more information and what is needed.

Q: Vanessa do you still have an online store or are you/will you be selling stuff?

A: I do not have an online store nor will I be selling much since it's a bit of a headache because people would say they want to buy and then they don't, and if something breaks during transit it's another headache because once it leaves my hands it's out of my control (and it is bubble wrapped and has fragile or handle with care on it), and people then want a refund and it's a bit unfair to me because I still have no money and no product. Now if I was a store and had more than one item of the same product, I would happily replace it; but because I would sell things simply because I don't use them anymore and to help those of you who don't have easy access to such items,(not to solely make a profit). I was losing more of my own money trying to service others. Also there were those that felt the need to complain about prices- if you don't wanna pay a certain price then simply look elsewhere simple as that. And lastly, because I don't have the time to do custom purchases or even ship any items.

Also, some of the items that were being sold that were MAC were items I personally bought BEFORE my pro discount, meaning yes I paid FULL price for them, and some of them were also items from my friend Erica who had a few things she hasn't used and wanted to sell- but of course with every success, there's someone that tries to take you down without knowing all the facts, but they didn't succeed. :) I have a few friends that probably do have a few things to sell but since none of them don't dwell online much, many of them don't know what paypal is and how it works, therefore I was selling some on their behalf and just giving them money out of my own pocket if anyone bought anything they were selling, but I believe they are making their own little blog so you can feel free to buy stuff from them in the near future.... :)

Q: I saw you were born and raised in Toronto, so how did you get to move to California, for instance was it difficult to apply for a visa and such?

A: My mom was born in Hawaii, and because I was born in Toronto, Canada; I have/had dual citizenship so I was both a Canadian and an American citizen and I am now free to move about the country! LOL. I came to California because my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy; and to help her through a difficult time, my family sent me to California first to attend school, and they followed 6 months later.

Q: Is your lips naturally pigmented? I kinda have the same skintone as yours, but my lips are mauve pigmented. So, most colors look diff on me unless I put lip base/concealer.

A: My natural lip color is a very pale light pink, but I still use a lip base at times such as MAC l/s in "Myth" or MAC Lip Erase to neutralize color to truly capture the effect and color of the lipstick or lipgloss I am wearing.

Natural Lip Color, no chapstick, nothing:


Q: I hear many claims that the Ly-Na Pearl Cream contains mercury in it, what are your thoughts on this?

A: Many people have asked me about this product containing mercury, and I personally have not found anything on the actual box or online to support that claim, other than just hearsay; nor have I personally have had a bad experience with it for me to think it does, considering I have really sensitive skin. Of course I do not condone the use of this product if it DOES indeed contain mercury, but until the proof is in the pudding I am still using it (luckily I don't use it often to begin with!)

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More reader questions...

Q: What brushes did you use for your most recent FOTD? -Katz

A: Hi Katz, I used:
- MAC #183 buffer brush to apply my mineral foundation
- An angled blush brush from Crown Brush to apply "Springsheen" over the MAC Blushcreme in "Uncommon". For the cream blush I simply dabbed a tiny dot on the apples of my cheeks with my finger, and blended it upwards towards my ear
- Applied "Flip" e/s and "Goldmine" with a sponge tip applicator for a more vivid look, and it also helps me control the color better as well as giving me more pigmented color as oppose to a brush
- Used MAC #226 (pointed tip blending brush) to cut my crease (contour) the brown eyeshadows to deepen my eyes (windshield wiper motion)
- Blended and highlighted with the Sonia Kushuk Blending Brush from Target
- For the Fluidline in "Blacktrack", I used Sonia Kushuk's Angled Eyeliner Brush (aka Bent Eyeliner Brush)
- For the lower lashline, I applied UD's "Zero" eyeliner and smudged it along the lashline with a Q-tip

Q: Do you consider a blending brush a necessity and why? I always used a regular eyeshadow brush to do all the different tasks. I do notice the shape of a blending brush being different from eyeshadow brushes. -Pham

A: I definitely consider it a necessity (at least for me), I can't imagine my life without one! Blending brushes are shaped differently than regular eyeshadow brushes which makes it easier to blend at all angles, even Asian eyes. Most of them are pointed and fluffy, and because of the fluffy bristles, gives a more natural blended look when blending colors without blending TOO much color as I have noticed when I try using a regular eyeshadow brush to blend. It just gives me a more softer look when blending harsh lines; at times when I am scrambling and can't find a blending brush I will use a regular flat eyeshadow brush and it ends up taking off some color so I find myself having to re-apply color and blending it again simply because the bristles on regular eyeshadow brushes are more compact and firm and take off more color then a loose blending brush.

Q: How did you lose weight? Did you work out everyday or go on a diet too? -Stephy

A: Hi Stephy! I work out everyday (at least I try to!) except the weekends because the gym is downstairs from my work so I usually go there during lunch also (which saves me money from buying lunch as well!), I do 15-20 minutes of Cardio on the Elliptical or the bike, I do about 15-20 minutes of abs which is anywhere from crunches, bicycle kicks, side to side, etc., I do 5 minutes on calves (calf machine), a few chest presses and arm presses, and lift 5-10lb. weights.

As far as my diet, I have been eating healthier, I have a bowl of cheerios with low fat milk, and a banana for breakfast, sometimes I will have half of a bagel, or an apple. In between meals, I have fruit like apples or bananas, or fresh cut veggies like carrot sticks, celery or broccoli or slices of cheese with water crackers. For lunch it various, I'll have a plain salad (no croutons, heavy dressing) just cucumbers and a light vinaigrette, sometimes I will have some baked Salmon, or grilled chicken, ham slices or soup. I don't have dinner that often, not on purpose, but just because when I get home I am usually busy taking a shower, blogging, etc so I either forget to have dinner or I am not hungry. I also don't eat after like 7:30pm (just my choice), but if I AM hungry I will have a bowl of cereal or more fruit. On the weekends, or even occasionally I will have the good stuff like chicken strips, pizza, etc, but it's about moderation. So I will have a slice or two of pizza, and then have a salad, or have a light lunch and a heavy dinner or vice versa.

Again, this is just what works for me, I know everyone has their own way that works for them, but I even FEEL slimmer in terms of my sides, belly fat, etc. and I feel more energized and healthier. Just trying to keep it up!

Q: I am really curious abut the MAC case. Would you mind doing a more indepth review.... like will it hold my 6 mac palettes? How heavy is it full/empty? -Whitney

A: Hi Whitney! It will hold all 6 possibly even more palettes (assuming they are stacked on top of each other), the well inside is big enough to hold about that many MAC palettes or even other stuff. For example I have my MAC palettes in there and I still manage to add a few brushes, some Q-tips, a mirror, etc in there. It's pretty heavy empty alone (which is a con to me), but it's pretty sturdy so I can't complain. Supposedly it's heat-resistant which means it's safe to leave in your car on a hot day. With my stuff it wasn't that much heavier than it was empty (at least it didn't feel that way), but it wasn't hard to lug around. It pretty much felt like it had the same weight with other makeup boxes I've had including the Sephora black case one with all my stuff in it. The good thing about THIS case is that it's not as bulky as normal makeup cases, it's slim, so it's easy to carry on your shoulder with the shoulder strap included and it's not bumping against your leg everytime you walk and fits in the tightest places like the floor on the backseat of your car. The two "boxes" on top swing out which makes it ideal to hold tiny things like eyeshadows, or smaller brushes, bottles, etc. so everything is nice and organized and not scattered.

Q: I love your hair color! What color is it? -Sara

A: Thanks Sara! I dyed it Revlon's Deep Burgundy awhile ago, CLICK HERE for a pic, but I think the color it is now is a mixture of the faded undertones of the deep burgundy along with my natural hair color because in person it's just a deep dark brown.

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Reader Questions!

So since i've been gone for forever and a day I had a lot of questions that have been piling up, so I thought id answer most of 'em! And thanks to all of you that greeted me a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year from the C-box! I hope your year is off to a great start!

Q: Hey Vanessa! I was wondering if Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes Collection lasted along time time, wouldn't budge, waterproof I would like to know. Oh and how did you like Twilight? I loved it! -Valerie

A: Hi Valerie! How are you? I have only tried a sample size of MUFE's Aqua Eyes eyeliners, and it stayed on, but for me it sorta smudged towards the middle of the day, I personally LOVE Urban Decay Eyeliners, they come in a wide variety of gorgeous colors and these babies are waterproof, and they don't smudge or budge on me at all! I watched Twilight, and I liked the movie but expected better; of course the eye candy in it such as the Cullen family was nice to watch, but the book was WAYYYY better than the movie, I am hoping that "New Moon" will be a lot better given that they have a bigger budget to work with....

Q: Hi Vanessa, I LOVE the outfit you wore to the airport, can you tell us what you are wearing? -Maggie

A: Thanks Maggie! The beige sweater is from Forever21 that I bought about a month or two ago for $22.80 I think, the belt is from WetSeal, long brown leggings from Forever21 for $6.80, and boots are Madden Girl Jaylyne Scrunch boot.

Q: Hi Vanessa, i was just wondering you know how u went to the IMATS expo this yr in vegas...well in 2009 is going to be in pasadena i think and i was just wondering if anybody can go as long as they purchase the tickets? -Karla

A: Anyone can attend by purchasing a ticket. This year's show is in June.

Q: Hi Vanessa, I have a quick question...when you contour your face and nose do you put foundation on before or after? -Melanie

A: Hi Melanie, I personally put on my foundation BEFORE contouring. I find it easier and more effective to contour after you apply your foundation and then just blend any harsh lines or shadows with a stippling brush or a loose powder brush.

Q: Hey Vanessa, do the eyeshadows from the FLIRT! Palette fit into Mac palettes? What are they sitting in? Is it a soft plastic or really hard? Thanks! -Danielle

A: Hi Danielle, I believe the Flirt! eyeshadows in the palette (that I got my sister, which she loves!) fits into the MAC palettes, just by eyeballing it, it looks like it WILL fit, I believe you can take the tray the shadows sits in apart and just depot it by either prying it out of the mold that holds it or melting the bottom till there's a hole then popping them out.

Q: Hey Vanessa, do you know if Magnetique from the Little Darlings pink set is available to purchase by itself? I love that color, but I don't want to purchase the whole set just for that one. -Stephanie

A: Hi Steph! You can definitely buy a full-size, I have seen them at CCO's (Cosmetics Company Outlet) which sell discontinued as well as older makeup products, or older collections. They also have it available online at Stars Makeup Haven, CLICK HERE.

Q: Hello Vanessa, I was wondering how you could make eyeshadow on your lower lashline stay on longer because you cant really put primer there right? -Selena

A: Hi Selena, you can try using an eyeliner sealer, or an eyeshadow transformer which turns your eyeshadows into workable and pigmented eyeliners without damaging them. You can try La Femme's Eyeliner Sealer or Cinema Secrets Eyeliner Sealer.

Q: Hi Vanessa! Happy Holidays! I was just wondering what brand are your two crease brushes. thank you & take care! -Liza

A: Hi Liza! Thank you, I hope you enjoyed your holiday too! I have a few crease brushes but the ones I use frequently are Sonia Kushuk's Blending Brush (she also has a crease brush, shown in my next post!), and one I got from Coastal Scents.

Q: Hey Vanessa, I was just wonderin if you ever used Per-fekt perfecting gel. I got a little sample, and it seems to be good, but was just wondering if u had any more experience on it. It would be a thing to review, I think, but it's expensive, like $54. -Leilani

A: Hi Leilani, I have not had a chance to use Per-fekt perfecting gel, I hope I can get my hands on a sample or can try it soon and let you know!

Q: Hey Vanessa im looking for a new mascara & wondered if you recommend any of the MAC mascaras? -Kristee

A: Hi Kristee, I personally don't like any of the MAC mascaras, at least they haven't released one yet that has made me go gaga, and I like the drugstore brands a lot better especially since they are more affordable and mascara is tossed out after 3 months. My favorites are L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara (either one works great), their Voluminous mascara, and Covergirl's Eyelights Mascara for Brown eyes.

Q: Hello I was just wondering how many times do you use the gatsby mega scrub a day ? -Nasri

A: I actually hardly use it, I probably use it like once a week or once every 2 weeks. Right now I am using Oil of Olay's pore minimizing scrub and MAC's Cremewash.

Q: Hi, do you have any suggestions where I can get a nice matte peach lipstick? I tried the ramblin rose from mac and its too frosty for me.! -Cadence

A: Hi Cadence! I love your name btw! I suggest MAC's lipstick in "Cherish" or "Underplay". MAC PRO has a lipstick called "Peachstock" which is also pretty. For a more affordable lipstick, NYX has gorgeous shade of peach called "Pumpkin Pie".

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Shespace Swatches the Autumn 2008 Collection & Reader Questions!

I finally did swatches from my She Space haul last month. These are just SOME swatches from the Autumn 2008 collection that can still be found on her site.

Aren't they pretty? No base was used for these swatches.


Here are some recent reader questions:

Q: Are the little darlings lipglass/lustreglass sets sticky?
A: Yes they are sticky, they are exactly the same as their full-sized, permanent siblings- the only difference is that they are smaller (hence little darlings), but they are the same in terms of pigmentation, consistency, smell, taste, and texture. ALL MAC lipglosses are sticky to me, but I like it because they stay on a little longer than normal lipglosses I own; even though my hair disagrees with me when it finds itself stuck on my lips!

Q: Do the soft sparkle pencils have long staying power?
A: Unfortunately they don't, they smudge and wash away easily, but they have great pigmentation and color. I personally love Urban Decay's 24/7 Eyeglide Pencils, they do not smudge, they stay on and they are waterproof!

Q: What's the actual difference beetween lipglass, lustreglass, dazzleglass etc? to me they all look the same.......
A: The lipglasses have a sponge-tipped applicator, they have a lot of shine, and can be work alone or on top of lipstick/lipliner, the lustreglasses have a tiny brush wand and they are a lot more shiny and have a "glass look" almost metallic in some colors, the dazzleglasses are in a longer tube and have actual tiny flecks of glitter to give a more obvious shine and sparkle.

Q: What are the differences between MAC eyeshadow finishes? (Such as frost, satin, veluxe, etc.)
A: Enkore has a GREAT video on this!


From Specktra, they are described as:
SATIN - Pure color in Satin style finish, provides soft subtle non frost light refractive sheen.

FROST - irridescent shine that adds a highlight quality to any color.

LUSTRE - smoothly pearlized; intensely frosted with a deluxe ultra fine "conditioned" finish.

VELVET - Soft look finish, plush velvety look & feel.

VELUXE - superfine texture. Pigment rich & very luxe. Supple to apply, silky smooth matte finish.

VELUXE PEARL - Vibrant velvety soft with a metallic shimmer veluxe formula overlaid with high-shine pearl.

Q: What ingredients are in the Acmedica Acne Night Powder?
A: I accidentally threw the packaging away, but sites say it contains Sulfur and Vitamin C derivatives to help prevent acne.

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Reader Questions:

This week has been insanely busy. I am preparing my company to go to NY for a show (luckily we are on rotation so I am not going this year), so it's been busy at work trying to get everything finalized; so sorry there was no post today...it might be like that this week until I am caught up with everything. Sleep has also been lacking from my life, I run on 3 or 4 hours of sleep a night which of course isn't good, even though my body is used to it. I want to start getting back into the habit of going to bed around 10 or at least 11 at night, but it's hard! It feels like there aren't enough hours in the day for me and lately it's been taking a toll. I haven't had time to do anything other than eat, take a shower, blog, work, and repeat the process. LOL

Anyway I received a lot of reader questions from recent posts so here they are!

Q: What brand is that dazzle dust? (The post with the UK palette)
A: It's by a makeup brand called Collection 2000. I have tried searching online for more information about this brand, but hardly to any avail. They do have other products such as nailpolishes, and eyeshadows, and these are sold in the UK in Super Drugs stores (equivalent to a Duane Reade, Walgreens, CVS, etc). Seems like a product that is very hard to find for those of you such as myself who reside OUTSIDE the UK.

Q: Where is that palette from?
A: Again I did not buy this palette, it was given to me by a friend, therefore I do not know where she particularly bought it, but based on my UK friends, it is available at Super Drugs.

Q: Does Ly-Na Pearl Cream whiten your skin?
A: I personally have not noticed it whiten my skin, it also does not have hydroquinone which is a lightening agent, so I do not know if it factually lightens the skin. The ingredients in Ly-Na are: stearic acid, cetanol, lanolin, glyceryl, monostereate, isopropyl, myristate, sulfur, perfume, ion exchange, potassium hydroxide, and pearl powder.

Q: Where can I get Ly-Na in Malaysia?
A: Ly-Na is even hard to find in the US, so I don't know where exactly in Malaysia you can find it, I have suggested Asian markets or beauty stores in my Ly-Na post so you can call around and see if there is any place near you that sell it.

Q: What are the basic steps in your makeup routine?
A: In order:

1. Cleanse my face
2. Apply moisturizer, let it dry, then apply face primer
3. I then apply my eyeshadow base, and eye makeup, mascara, and eyeliner (sometimes I will put foundation BEFORE my eye makeup)
4. Apply my mineral foundation using MAC 180 brush
5. Eyebrows
6. Contour my cheeks with either "Emote" blush (MAC) or "Sculpt" powder (MAC PRO)
7. Apply Blush on the apples of my cheeks (highlighter optional)
8. Lipstick/Lipgloss/Chapstick


Q: I love your haircolor do you get it colored or do you color it yourself?
A: I get my hair colored from my friend who is a licensed cosmetologist, he is fabulous with cut and color! I usually do a dark chocolate brown since I look weird with hair color lighter than that shade, so I tend to stay in the medium to dark brown range.

Q: Suggestions to do a "Marie Antoinette" costume?
A: Pick a light powder, almost white, blend on your face and neck, apply a brown mascara, keep the eyes simple, and create thicker squared eyebrows using a light or medium brown powder, top off with a nice deep plum/raspberry or deep rose lipcolor. MAC "Romancin'" lipstick from "Adoring Carmine" is perfect!

Q: Ly-Na Pearl Cream contains mercury?
A: I have not found any reports that had this, a reader said it was discontinued, but FDA regulations here in the US will not allow a product to be sold with such a chemical without being approved. Therefore I found no evidence personally to withstand that claim, as there is also no mention of it on the box or ingredients.

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Reader Questions!

Q: Are you Stephie's biological sister?

A: Haha, no we are not biological sisters, I am actually the oldest in my family and have two younger sisters, one that just turned 11, and one who is turning 18 in February. Stephie is awesome and she's my "play sister" like all my other blogger sisters! She is also originally from around where I live now and we ALL have just grown close and formed a tight little community; it's nice to have my "sisters" online since most of my friends in real-life are guys! Hi Stephie!

Q: What is your favorite mascara?

A: I really like L'Oreal's Telescopic mascara, it does what I need it to do and doesn't clump on me, I also like how it's cheap!

Q: What is your favorite nude lippie?

A: I like MAC's "Fleshpot" or NYX's "Circe". For a more pinkish nude lippie, I like the LE "California Dreamin'" lipstick I got from MAC, NYX's "Strawberry Milk" is nice too!

Q: What mineral foundation are you using right now?

A: Purely Cosmetics Skin Smoothing Foundation in "Olive Beige"- a perfect match!

Q: What lotion do you recommend for sensitive skin?

A: I love Nivea lotion, it moisturizes, keeps me moisturized and doesn't feel overly greasy.

Q: What moisturizer do you recommend for sensitive skin?

A: I like Aveeno, very gentle on the skin, I think they even have one specifically FOR sensitive skin, during the winter I dab a drop or two of the Nivea cream (the one in the tin) on my face for extra moisture. Right now I am using Merlot moisturizer from Walgreens.

Q: What happened to your online store?

A: I no longer have my online store because it was basically going haywire in terms of selling the same ONE product to different people and it was causing more of a headache than making my life easier. I also haven't had any time and I don't even have anything to sell at the moment. I know many of you international readers enjoyed getting drugstore brands from here that you don't have over there, but we'll see... I just don't know yet...

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Reader Questions:

Q: What are the ingredients in the Mehron palette?

A:


Q: How did you create the 'star' in your politically pretty FOTD?

A: I used the tape method in which I placed little pieces of tape in the shape of a star to create a nice even borderline, and just colored the inside of the 'star' with the MUFE white; then I carefully removed the tape to reveal my "dancing star". :)

Q: Where is the Ohayo store in the Puente Hills mall?

A: It's downstairs across from Ross and next to See's Candies.

Q: Is it easy to remove the Mehron paint?

A: You can wash it off like you normally would when you wash your face, however the darker colors stain, but before you panic, any eye makeup remover will take it completely off! :)

Q: How much paint did you use on the politically pretty FOTD?

A: I actually didn't use a lot because with the Mehron palettes- a little goes a long way. When you wet it a little there's already enough color on it so you don't need so much when applying it to your face, the more wet the paint is, the more pigmented it is. You can let it dry and re-apply if necessary.

Q: What makeup products do you use everyday?

A: I use MAC's Fluidline in "Blacktrack", L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara, Purely Cosmetics Mineral Foundation in "Olive Beige", and Anastasia's Brow Products.

Q: Where do you usually shop?

A: I shop at random places sometimes, like the little mom and pop shops near where I live which sell nice clothes for cheap, I shop at Wetseal, Forever21, I also like Victoria's Secret, Rampage, and Arden B. For shoes I like DSW, Shiekhshoes.com, Delia's.

Q: You look so tiny, but you are tall in pictures, how tall are you?

A: I am 5'6" and I avoid wearing heels so I don't feel like a giant and because I can't walk in them if my life depended on it. My sis is pretty tall too, she is almost my height and she is only 17, my other sis on the other hand is super tiny!

Q: How much money do you spend on makeup? Or how can you afford things during this economic crisis...

A: My mom always said asking people how much they make or how much they spent on something isn't polite, but I know it's natural to wonder when it comes to beauty! So I don't mind this question at all. First of all, I work in advertising- that industry alone is a booming and steady business because everyone is always looking for ways to advertise their business, and many of them do online. I make pretty decent money considering that I am single (as in I don't have a family to take care of), however I DO have bills like everyone else (car payment, insurance, rent, utilities, etc) and of course that is priority and I allot enough to cover those things, I also put money aside for savings and 401K, I have awesome credit and know how to budget and manage money because both my mom and my grandma BOTH have worked at banks and know the value of money and so by default I was taught how to be good with money. And growing up, I realize how good credit gets you places and the value of a dollar, especially since I have been on my own since I was 18 years old and had to fend for myself.

But why work so hard just to have it go to bills, bills, bills??? So a girl has got to treat herself sometimes, and hence I have "play money" that I can use to buy whatever. Also, I don't buy designer things, like purses, clothes, or even makeup, so my money can stretch a bit more. (The Dior tinted moisturizer I bought from a giftcard). I buy my clothes at affordable places like Forever21 or other little clothing shops because fashion is always in and out before you know it, so for me it's ridiculous to spend so much on ONE thing. I don't buy designer bags because I put so much stuff in my purse and I always throw my bag around, and I don't take good care of my purses, lol. As for makeup, I haven't really bought much lately in comparison to how much I USED to spend on it. I don't go crazy over the MAC collections if you've noticed because to me, they are starting to look all the same, some are even re-promotes. Lately, I've been trying to make use of the things I already have.

Even though my BF does occasionally spoil me with things, usually NON-beauty related stuff, like things he knows I could use (he was the one that bought me my Nikon D40x digital SLR camera); he does it on his own accord, I don't ask him to buy me anything and he doesn't do it often. He's the type of that guy that likes to share his "wealth" with friends and family by treating them out or buying them things. Also, companies send me samples or complimentary products to test out and write a review on my site. So not everything is from my pocket.

Another thing too is that I do product reviews also on things I already have had for months, not just recent things I bought- I just haven't gotten around to writing about it so like 5 product reviews at one time may seem like I just bought everything at once, but I didn't. :)

Q: How do you get your skin so clear?

A: Lately my face has been crazy, one minute it's super dry and the next it feels like a slip and slide. It has its moments and I get zits too. I don't get blackheads, but I like prevention, which is why I am careful when it comes to certain things I put on my face. My skincare routine is pretty basic- I wash my face at night only using the oil cleaning method in which I clean my face with an oil cleanser which removes makeup and moisturizes at the same time. You gotta fight oil (Sebum) with oil. And since I have dry skin, the oil doesn't give me a dry tight feeling like most cleansers do. After I use Pure Luxe's Calamine Soap Bar to calm any redness as well as to rinse off any oil residue. In the morning I just use a makeup wipe to freshen up, and I exfoliate with a scrub three times a week. (Any scrub will do)

I realize that the simpler your routine is, the better your skin will be. When you are using like 5 different products at one time, it may do more harm then good. Also washing your face constantly will make matters worse because you are over-cleaning your pores allowing more bacteria to enter and you also can make your skin more raw and dry. Oil blotting tissues, masks, and oil absorbing powders are also good at controlling oil and preventing or healing pimples.

Q: You always have cute nails, where do you them done?

A: I get them done at a place called "Fashion Nails" on Reseda and Nordhoff (it's upstairs), prices vary.

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Reader Questions

Q: Where can I get those palettes you got from the show?
A: Unfortunately they are not available for retail sale, as I mentioned on my posts, Modern Basic is a WHOLESALE/PRIVATE LABEL ONLY company, meaning they only sell in bulk for business owners who want to use their own logo on their products. At the convention shows, Modern Basic sells their items individually- so the only opportunity to buy them at retail value and not bulk is at the convention shows.

Q: Does any other company sell Modern Basic items?
A: Not that I know of, I tried to search for them myself in other places and couldn't find anything close to some of their items (other than the Coastal Scents palettes). Their products are mainly their own which is probably the reason why since they aren't really distributors, but a private label company.

Q: I love the picture you took from SF! Which camera did you use?

A: I actually only used my digital pocket camera- the Canon SD750!


Q: Why do you use mostly MAC products? Are they better?
A: I use MAC mainly because I get a discount, so essentially it's cost-effective and cheaper for me to get MAC products than other products that are a lot more, but occasionally I will buy other brands and splurge, although I stay true to also the drugstore brands like L'Oreal, Revlon, Milani, etc. when it comes to certain things like mascara or eyeshadows.

Q: Do you know what brand that steamer is from the show?
A: Unfortunately I don't, I didn't really look, I just took a pic of the BF getting a super quick facial!

Q: Hi Vanessa, you have really nice lips, how do you get them so soft and supple?
A: Thanks! I use vaseline on my lips to keep them moist and then using some sugar and a toothbrush I brush the sugar granules on my lips with the toothbrush to exfoliate and get rid of all the dead skin cells on my lips; I then just reapply vaseline or chapstick.

Q: Will you be selling more palettes? They sell out so quickly and I wanna get my hands on a few!
A: I am in the process of trying to get more, I just don't wanna buy a whole bunch and no one buys any and then I am stuck with it, so I am thinking the best way is to see what y'all want (take the poll on the right), then I will ask those who want it to paypal me first, then once I receive them I will ship it out to you all....

Q: Hi Vanessa, I love your blog, I check it daily! Can you tell us a little bit about your modeling days? Any tips as far as getting started? I want to start, just for fun though ,and I'd love some advice from you. I really like the pictures you've done, especially the one of your profile on the site. Its so adorable! Thanks.
A: Thank you, well it was fun in the sense that I got to travel and get my makeup and hair done, and it was nice meeting new people. (How I got into it can be found on my personal website that is still up, www.msvanessagarcia.com). It just wasn't really for me, I didn't want it enough to make it into something bigger- the drive just wasn't there. And I know many people who think it's easy and all you do is pose and smile, but if you can't handle pressure easily it can definitely take a toll. I would go from audition to audition (casting calls), go-see's, etc. and it was very tiring and disconcerting when you spent all day at a call- and you don't get the gig, especially if it was one you really wanted. And yes, even though it goes with the territory, it can still be frustrating, and casting agents and directors do NOT sugarcoat. They will tell you if you are fat, have buck teeth, or whatever, that for some, they DO walk out crying from that room full of strangers that gave you only 5 minutes to showcase your 'talent'.

I remember waiting to be called when I was with the EAM Casting agency, and I got more and more anxious as many showed up for the SAME gig you are fighting so hard to get. The mind starts to play games and you find yourself unconsciously comparing yourself. "She is pretty, she has nice legs, pretty eyes..." and so forth. I took acting workshops and theater in highschool and first year of college which helped me a bit as I have a bout of stage fright, which helped me relax when it came time to do a shoot with people I don't know.

Also, depending on what type of modeling you do, there are restrictions as to what you can and cannot do, for example if you are a hair model, you cannot just cut your hair on a whim without consulting with your agent first. I had a personal trainer who I worked with 3 days out of the week, I did Yoga and gymnastics (not required but as I did it as a child and did it for fun). Hence why you will notice I was A LOT skinnier back then and now I am "thicker". LOL, and that's why I got a chubby face now but I love it because I am a lot happier and comfortable in my skin.

For anyone that is interested in modeling I HIGHLY suggest you do your research before you do anything. If you are working with a photographer, or meeting anyone from online, do your research on them. Don't EVER meet up with someone you don't know. See if they have a website, a portfolio of their work, Google their name and see if anyone else has worked with them or if anyone recommends them. Model mayhem is a great place to network. Break the ice by meeting them in a public place with a lot of people, don't ever go with them anywhere else if they insist on it, see if they have any creative ideas. If it seems like they just want you to take your clothes off, then forget that fool! LOL. You should never do anything you don't feel comfortable with. If you are under 18, bring a parent with you as they have to sign a consent form anyway, if you are 18+, bring a friend with you to any shoot. Many photographers I have worked with NEVER had a problem with this, if anything, they insisted I bring someone. If a photographer isn't ok with you bringing anyone, there's a problem. If you have a jealous boyfriend, don't bring him. It slows down the shoot, makes you and the photographer feel like crap, and it wastes everyone's time.

You DO NOT have to pay incredibly high amounts of dollars to get some decent headshots. The way I look at it, they should pay you, not you paying out of your pocket to achieve your dream. So, find a decent photographer, like your friend, and have them take some decent shots, you can either create your own ZED or Comp cards online (the cards you give to casting agents and directors that have your picture(s) and your stats), or simply bring a picture to an agency and go from there. Unfortunately many agencies want gals that are 5'7" and above (I am 5'6"), and who are like a tiny 90 lbs! So even I don't make the cut for some gigs thanks to that one inch! LOL. But there are some that fib on the info on their comp cards (hardly anyone notices) just to get more gigs. Just don't take things personal when people try to put you down, it just makes you stronger. :)

Example of a comp card:


Q: I love your belt and dress that you wore at the show where did you get them from?

A: Thanks, I got the dress at Target believe it or not (www.target.com), and the belt I bought from H&M when I went to NY last year....since it was kinda cold in SF I wore the dress over a pair of black skinny jeans which is hard to tell from the pic...

Q: How can I match my foundation to my face?

A: I will be doing a tutorial on this soon, I basically swipe the various foundation shades I am testing on the jawline of my face, seeing which one blends with my skintone so that it "disappears", I then look in different kinds of light to see, such as tungsten (often bathroom lights), natural light like daylight, and then I take a picture with flash to see if it gives any white-ish cast. If it passes all those tiny tests it's usually a perfect match. But like I mentioned before, I go a few shades darker than my skintone to match my neck and arms since they are darker than my face.

Q: What are your steps to applying foundation?

A: 1. Moisturizer (very important to avoid having blotchiness or un-even patches of makeup on your face)
2. Primer (creates a smooth canvas as well as helping your foundation stay on longer)
3. Conceal (conceal any dark circles, scars, discoloration, etc)
4. Apply your foundation, if you use mineral, I do the tap, swirl, buff method for a nice even airbrushed finish, for liquid, you can use a sponge (like the beauty blender sponge) and just dab it lightly all over your face.

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Reader Questions Answered!

Q: Hey Vanessa, I was just wondering, did you go to college? and if so, what did you major in or what degree did you get?

A: Yes I did graduate from college, I graduated with an AA Degree in Science. I took all AP (advanced placement) classes in high school, maintained good grades, and took a class at Santa Monica college for extra college credit. I was then nominated to intern for the National Youth Forum on medicine in Washington D.C. (I wanted to be a pediatrician), after being in the pre-med program for 2 years, taking biology, micro-biology, AND chemistry (on top of general ed courses) I decided that it wasn't for me, I was burnt out, so I turned around and changed my major to Business Administration, and joined a co-ed business fraternity (yes boys AND girls!) called Alpha Kappa Psi, I was part of the Mu Phi chapter. :)

Q: Do you know the brand of the polka dot bags you got from the show?

A: I looked and did not see any brand on the bag, it seems like one of those bags you can find at Amuse (the accessory store)...

Q: Hi Nessa, what are Italian Badger brushes? How is it different than other brushes? Do you use them?

A: Any brushes (not just makeup brushes, but also shaving brushes) that have the word "badger" in it, means that its hair is made out of an animal, obviously of a badger species. Wikipedia describes it as: "Badger is the common name for any animal of three subfamilies, which belong to the family Mustelidae: the same mammal family as the ferrets, the weasels, the otters, and several other types of carnivore."

Many say that badger hair is softer than sable hair, I can vouch for this as they ARE a lot softer than sable (horse) hair. I had one sable hair brush (I didn't know it was sable at the time) and it smelled bad even when I first got it, it shed, and the smell worsened when I washed it. I personally look for SYNTHETIC brushes (man-made brushes) just because the thought of animal hair on my face as well as animal cruelty irks me out, but I notice that most brushes are made out of animal hair, I am not too keen on telling which one is which sometimes, so I know I have a few animal brushes...but as much as possible I prefer synthetic brushes even if they don't perform as well as some of the animal brushes.

Q: How do you take such amazing photos?!!

A: I have a link on "How to take a good makeup photo" on the labels to the right since I get this question a lot. The cameras I use again are a Nikon D40x (digital SLR) and a Canon SD750. I use photoshop to crop and sharpen my photos.

Q: I notice you use both painterly and soft ochre paint pots. The painterly has more of a pinkish undertone while the s.o. is more yellowish. I was wondering which do you use for what? Like what shadows work best with painterly and which for soft ochre. Do they yield different results?

A: I personally don't notice different results among the two, I just tend to use Soft Ochre when I do neutral looks (such as browns, taupes) or when I do some colored looks such as greens, golds, corals since it's more of a neutral/yellow tone that blends easily with my skin. I used Painterly a lot (still do) because it was the only neutral, matte PP I had before Soft Ochre came out, and I still use it for colors such as pinks, purples, (in case I don't have "Fresco Rose" handy) even the other colors I mentioned above, it really just depends on whatever I reach for first, but they both go nicely with any color...

Q: Did you ever go to school to learn makeup?

A: I never went to school for makeup, after college I pretty much went to work in the Search/Advertising industry. Although I DO want to go to school for it (I am just trying to figure out time to go as well as the money part since it's so expensive!), but I pretty much learned everything I know from researching, trial and error (see what works for you and what doesn't), and a lot of practicing! I think the best way to learn is just doing things on yourself, researching and reading a lot on techniques and beauty tips and tricks, trying different products and tools, and patience! Usually people get so discouraged if the look isn't what they envisioned, but with time and practice you'll get things down in no time! Remember everyone has different needs, different skin types, etc, so what worked for someone else, may not work for you.

Q: Are your sisters into makeup since their big sis is like a makeup guru?

A: Haha im not a makeup guru by any means, I just love makeup so I am more makeup-obsessed! But surprisingly my sisters were NEVER into makeup (they don't need it, I think they are naturally pretty!), but also because they are still young (17 and 10 years old), but every time they visit and rummage through my stash they nab a few things for themselves! The 17 year old is very much into makeup now, but not a whole lot, but she is definitely experimenting with different techniques and products that suit her needs and of course calls me for a second opinion, luckily she can get away with just mascara and some lipgloss! The 10 year old is actually into clothes, so she has years to go before she even thinks about makeup, but don't be fooled, she loves expensive stuff! LOL. My mom on the other hand doesn't wear makeup either, but she does like getting any leftovers I have, but she likes my hair recommendations!

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About these convention shows....

Many of you have asked about these shows as well as dates, again it is NOT open to the general public. I believe IMATS is more open to the aspiring industry professionals, however IECSC, CosmoProf, Face and Body are for PROFESSIONALS who are already in this industry as this is designed for those who possibly own salons or spas, beauty shops, or those who are buyers, import/export, etc. in which the exhibitors as well as the attendees can benefit from each other. Exhibitors present at the show are seeking high volume transactions. As for SHOW DATES, you can google and find out when some show dates are next year or this year and WHERE. I DO NOT know the show dates for all locations or for any that occurs next year, but they DO happen once a year, and there are different shows so you can google "makeup shows in ________ (insert your location here)" and see what comes up. Most trade-shows are done in big cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, and London.

The site proceeds to say: ONLY members of the professional beauty industry are allowed to attend the show. He/she must provide proper identification to be allowed on the show floor or in the classrooms (same last names from driver’s license are fine).

The following WILL BE REQUIRED for entrance. All attendees will be asked to present a photo I.D. along with one of the following credentials:

* Business Card
* Salon or Spa business license
* Cosmetology license
* Sally’s Professional Card (red)
* Distributor Store Card
* Cosmetology School Time Sheet or report card
* Cosmetology school ID card

If you are unsure if you can attend, please check out the website of the show you are trying to attend (for example IMATS or IECSC) and call the number and ask a representative to see whether any documentation you have is sufficient enough. I have credentials as I own my own business (nessasarymakeup.com) and do plan on distributing perhaps some products and do outside projects outside of blogging, and hence I have the proper documentation to attend these shows, so it really varies. I don't know any more info than that, so it's best you call them if you have any other questions. :)

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Reader Question: Outfit and Makeup I wore at IMATS

Q: Hi Vanessa, I was wondering if you had a full pic of your outfit you wore at IMATS and your makeup look? Thanks!

A: Howdy! I got this dress (pic below) at Wal-Mart believe it or not for a nice $14.88 (I love bargain shopping), and the belt I got from Old Navy last year for $16 (which oddly enough costs more than the dress!).

My makeup: I did this look before (except on this recent one I added MAC e/s in "Shadowy Lady" to give it a more smokey look), you can find the tutorial by CLICKING HERE, I used MAC e/s "Beautiful Iris" all over the lid, "MAC e/s in "Nocturnelle" on the outer-V and contour, and "Shadowy Lady" on the outer-V. Falsies are Ardell "Babies", Blush I believe was MAC "Dollymix" mixed with "Flirt & Tease", lips was MAC l/s in "Melrose Mood", topped with "Babysparks" dazzleglass....of course by the time I took that pic with Pursebuzz, everything melted since I was running around and it was ridiculously hot that day! :(

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Reader Questions:

I haven't done this bit in a long time, but I have had a lot of reader questions (and 80 emails in my inbox!) that I am still trying to find time to answer! So here are a few questions I received recently, I'll be adding more as I come across them.

I have a focus group tonight for Anastasia Beverly Hills(the infamous eyebrow company) so I won't have time tonight, but I will get around to all your emails this week. :)

Q: How are the NYX Lip Pencils? Are these lipsticks moisturizing? How do they feel on lips? How are the staying powder of these things? Do they feel like lipstick on? Do they bleed?

A: The NYX lip pencils are not really moisturizing as much as their sister, the NYX Round Lipsticks. Again these are pencils, so it's in the middle for me, not overly drying, but I need to add some chapstick as a base or gloss to not give me a "tight" feeling. They feel fine on the lips, sorta creamy, again after awhile they may give a tight or dry feeling, but the colors are phenomenal. They didn't really bleed for me, but they do feel like you have lipstick on, and there's not much staying power on these babies.

Q: Which is better MAC's "Swimming" eyeshadow or Milani's "Garden Mist"?

A: I like MAC's "Swimming" better, I think it's more pigmented and a better color than "Garden Mist", but I love Milani's other colors!

Q: What are your favorite eyeliners and drugstore brands?

A: I like Revlon Colorstay Eyeliners, MAC Fluidlines, and Indelible Gel Eyeliners. In drugstore brands, I like L'Oreal, their Telescopic mascara is awesome!

Q: What shade are you in Everyday Minerals?

A: I believe I am a mix of light medium olive and a little bit of light tan...it's been awhile since I used their foundations!

Q: You take great pictures! What camera do you use?

A: I use two cameras, a Nikon D40x Digital SLR camera, 35mm lens with UV Filter and a pocket digital camera, a Canon SD750.

Q: What are your favorite nude lipsticks?

A: I like MAC's "Myth" and "Fleshpot" lipsticks (Fleshpot from the Heatherette collection) and NYX's Round Lipstick in "Circe". I also do it the "ghetto" way and sometimes apply some MAC lip erase in "dim" and some gloss!

Q: What MAC brushes do you have?

A: MAC #180 buffer brush I use to apply my mineral foundation, #217 blending brush, #239 eye shading brush for pigments or eyeshadows (wet or dry), #138 tapered rose bud tip looking brush I use for contouring cheekbones, #136 blush brush to apply my blush, and #109 contouring brush, and #187 stippling brush for light application of MSF's, blush, or foundation.

Q: What concealers do you recommend to hide under eye circles?

A: Lately I have been using MUFE (Makeup Forever) Full Cover Concealer #8, then applying MAC's StudioFinish Concealer in NC30 to cover up my dark circles. I will do a review on the MUFE concealer soon! For drugstore brands, Physician's Formula Concealer Duo is awesome!

Q: Which will make a better base for eyeshadows, Loreal de-crease, MAC paint pots or MAC paints?

A: I like the MAC Paint Pots personally just because they are a bit thicker and hold better for me as well as neutralizing my entire lid. The L'Oreal De-Crease works like a charm too (just like UDPP) but doesn't really neutralize my lid the way I like but I DO use both interchangeably every now and then, I like to switch things around and use one on one day and the other on the next. I also have MAC Paints (I love "Chiaroscuro"!) and it too works like a charm!

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Reader Questions...

This weekend was fun, went to my friend's house-warming party (sporting the "Rainbow Look" using the Ben Nye Palette"), the pic above is with my good friend Zari (would you believe she is half Filipino?!), she is one hot mama and as you can see I was very colorful that day! LOL. But if you know me personally, you know it suits my personality. :)

I also got my bunny a new home to give her more room to play!

I had some more reader questions and thought id list them in case any of you are wondering the same thing...

Q: Where can I find the Monistat primer? Would it be in the facial aisle?

A: First of all, let's dissect what Monistat ORIGINALLY is for, it's for the treatment of yeast infections, and this particular chafing gel that we use as a primer, is to treat chafing around the bikini area. So it would NOT be in the facial aisle, but rather in the same aisle as tampons, condoms, and the like....and again just because it's originally for chafing around that particular area, the key ingredient is "dimethicone" which is the same ingredient in common makeup primers such as Smashbox Photo Finishing Primer.

Q: I don't think i've seen you post about any urban decay products... have you tried many things from this line? it's one of my faves!

A: Pretty much the only thing I have mentioned about Urban Decay of course is their Primer Potion (primer for the lids to enhance vibrancy and wear of eyeshadows), and their AWESOME UD Palette!. I love Urban Decay, but since I have a discount for MAC, I usually end up buying more MAC items!

Q: Why did you stop modeling?

A: It just wasn't my thing, as much as I appreciate all sorts of art and expression whether it be modeling or photography, I found a lot more joy into being behind the camera rather than in front. I LOVE photography and I love capturing things rather than me being the subject. There's also a lot of cons (strictly in my opinion) that go along with the territory as well, especially when you are under contract or signed with an agency, there are certain things you can and can't do and you have to be willing to work with other people's schedules and of course, harsh criticism, both from in and out of the industry. I still occasionally help out some of my friends who are photographers and help them build their portfolios.


Q: How big will your bunny get?

A: I researched it online as well as talked to a few bunny moms and I believe my baby bunny is a dwarf bunny just because I saw pictures of other dwarf bunnies and their ears and everything look so similar! This means that she won't really get any bigger than she already is which is a good thing! But she is learning so much everyday in terms of learning how to "fend" for herself and eat and drink on her own, as oppose to the BF or I having to feed her and make her go to the bathroom. Now she is doing it on her own without our help!

Q: When will you be selling pigment samples again?

A: I will be selling them very soon, right now Erica and I are currently packing everything and preparing our stock. I will be having an online store where I will occasionally be selling certain items, so you can definitely purchase samples through there.

Q: Where did you get your label maker and how much was it?

A: The label maker I used to label my MAC palettes I bought from Target. I believe it was about $12-19.


Q: I want to try mineral makeup but I don't know which ones are good to try, I don't want to break out, which ones do you suggest?

A: If you are an avid reader of my blog, you all know I love Silk Naturals mineral foundation! I get "buttery gold" and it allows you to customize your own shade by mixing the white powder with the dark powder. Visit their site for more information.

A lot of people also like Everyday Minerals but I personally didn't like their foundation on me merely because there was no shade match for me AND I found it to be sorta oily and blotchy on my skin at the end of the day. Buff'd Cosmetics also has awesome mineral products as well, and I love MMBB.com, I have tried their foundation and I love it as well if you don't like mixing your foundation. Lisa is great and she will take good care of you!

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Reader Question: How do you organize your mineral makeup samples?

I am having fun spending quality time with my bunny, I found out yesterday that it's actually a GIRL, sooooo that means I am changing the name (thank goodness! LOL), I haven't decided what to name it yet, im on the fence whether to name it a normal "human" name, or a cute pet name...so if you have any ideas on the name, let me know!

Q: Vanessa, how do you organize your mineral makeup samples? I have tons of them and want to know what's the best way to store and organize them...thanks!
_______________________________________________________________________________

A: I store all my mineral makeup samples, jars and baggies, upside down in a large sterilite plastic drawer. I store them upside down so that I can see the color of each one quickly and easily, this includes MAC Pigments. I don't worry too much about the product overflowing through the sifter stored upside down because luckily there's always enough product and not overflowing, and besides it's easy to sift it back in the jar...

I use a plastic tray I bought from Wal-Mart, I think it was meant to store pens or kitchen items, but I love it for brushes, pens, etc. You can use a BIGGER tray if you wish, I just store the pigments I use frequently in this tray so it's easy to find, and the trays are pretty deep.



I then organize all of them...






Placed them face down so I can see the colors...

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Which color lippie to match with your eye makeup?

I get this question a lot so thanks to reader Melissa for bringing it to my attention again since many of you probably have asked yourself the same question. I honestly have been so busy to even catch up with my posts but I DO remember your questions, I just hardly have time to get around to each and every one of them. I tell you, regardless of the fact that San Fran was just "right there" from Los Angeles, it's exhausting traveling; coming home late at night (my flight arrived at 10 PM) and still having to unpack all my makeup, clothes, and toiletries; it's really hard to catch up and get back in the groove of your normal routine. Mind you, I STILL had to be in the office today and answer all the emails and voicemails I missed from some of my clients while I was away. NOT FUN. I feel like I haven't had a moment to just relax and recuperate from working 10+ hours each day in San Fran. So please be understanding if I don't answer your questions right away, I am trying to answer all of them quickly! Erica is in training so those who have sent emails, she will be replying back to you shortly! :)

Sooooo, how to know which lippie to match with your eye makeup?

Well there's no real rule to this that I know of anyway, other than if you do heavy eyes (like a smokey look) then pair it with pale pink or neutral lips, or if you do light eye makeup, be daring and go with a bold lip, such as a bold bright or crimson red, or hot pink lips. You want only ONE FOCAL POINT of your face that people will most likely look at first, and NOT 10 FOCAL POINTS. So pick either your eyes or lips to be bold, but not both at the same time.

For me, I honestly mix and match and do whichever color I am feeling that day. I will honestly match colors that normally wouldn't go together (like green and pink or orange and red) just because I like experimenting with colors. But here is a list of what I normally come up with:

Blue Makeup: Blue is a hard color to pull off for some, so it's best to stick with a very pale pink to balance it out, a neutral lip will wash you out and make you look a bit weird, so you want some color on your lips, but not too much or too little. If a pale pink lip still looks a bit washed out, then add your favorite lipliner to add a little more color.

Gold Makeup: I like pairing gold eyes with a neutral, gold, taupe, or brown lip. This really brings out the brown undertones in gold to make your eyes the focal point.

Purple Eye Makeup: I like pairing it with either a purple-toned lipstick (like MAC's lipstick in "Up the Amp", or a light or medium pink (like MAC Slimshine in "Intimidate", MAC lipstick in "Scanty").

Example Photos of lippies paired with various eye makeup:







Green Eye Makeup: Neutral lip (like MAC Fleshpot or NYX Round Lipstick in Circe), medium pink lips (like MAC Slimshine Lipstick in Intimidate), or even go crazy with it and do a bolder pink lip (like MAC's Up the Amp lipstick or Show Orchid).

NYX Lipgloss in "Beige" (really pink but they named it "beige")


MAC's "Show Orchid"


Nude Lippie with green (MAC lipstick in "Masque" LE, and MAC Lipglass in "Underage")


Coral/Orange Eye Makeup: I usually like doing a taupe/brown or a toasted orange lip. (like Avon's "Nude Pink" lipstick which is like an orangey pink) paired with a sheer coral or orange lipgloss (like MAC's "Sockhop" or AVON's "Nude Peach").

AVON's "Nude Pink" and "Coral Cashmere" lipstick with AVON lipgloss in "Nude Peach".


Neutral Eyes with Bold Lips: Easy light makeup application on the eyes makes way for bold colored lips that anyone can pull off if done correctly. As you can see here, the first thing people would see are the lips because they are so bright and bold, but the eyes are subtle, and not overpowering the lips. The result? A well-balance face that doesn't look overdone!

NYC Lipstick in "Retro Red" and Avon's Lip Radiance Lipgloss in "Rich Red"






Pale or Bold Pink Eyes: Can be paired with a neutral lip, pale pink, or even bold pink!

MAC Lipstick in "Show Orchid" with Lancome's "Seashell" Lipgloss


(forgot the color of this one)


Brown/Natural Colored Makeup: I like rich browns and taupes, even a neutral lip.


Smokey or Dramatic Eye Makeup: Neutral or Pale Pink lips, anything more will be too much....


Hope that helped some of you!

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Reader Questions

I think I am done with traveling for awhile...I am a bit exhausted, but I am just glad to be home. We flew back in last night and I still have yet to unpack and do laundry.

We ate at Jollibee! Gotta love their chicken!


I have had a few reader questions while I was gone and I thought id make a post about them so I don't sound like a broken record (as people often ask me the same questions), and also for you ANONYMOUS readers who leave comments, PLEASE, PLEASE leave your email or somewhere where I can contact you because I don't know where to reply to since many of you have been leaving questions on older posts....THANKS!

Q:Your teeth are so white! What do you use?

A: I use Crest WhiteStrips, which I lovvvvve! They are better than the Aquafresh Trays in my opinion. I use them twice a week, 30 minutes each time.

Q: Do you know the expiration of mac shadesticks? I mean if its already 1 year,is it harder to apply or just the same?? Thanks

A: I don't really know the expiration of MAC Shadesticks, I know they last longer than most things especially because they have a cap to it and prevents any bacteria from really lingering onto it. As long as you constantly cap it and rub a few layers off before each use, they will last until you are just done with it and of course shouldn't be hard in texture to apply. I notice that when I use my shadesticks I rub a few layers on the top of my WARM hand which makes it a lot softer and easier to use.

Q: Hi Vanessa, have you ever done any reviews on the Loreal HIP due eyeshadows?

A: I haven't done a formal review, but I have tried them and they are okay, I just don't own any because I pretty much have all those colors already in other brands...but they are pigmented.


Q: Hi Vanessa! Love your site! Where do you get your Milani shadows??? I cannot find them anywhere near where I live...I did not hear good things about Best Beauty online.

A: It's hard for me to really say where I got it from to people who don't live in states that don't have a Target or a CVS simply because that's where I get all my Milani products from (both NEW AND OLD)as they are easily available here. The Target by my house sells both the old single Milani eyeshadows as well as the new wet/dry ones. Kmart also has them but the one by me only sells the new products and NOT the old ones. I have bought things from www.bestbeautyonline.com and I received all my items, although it took forever to be shipped.

Q: Vanessa, where do you generally put your depotted NYX single eye shadows? I really want to depot them, but need some ideas for where to put them in after I depoted them. Thanks!

A: I don't depot any of my NYX Single Eyeshadows, I keep them in the same pot (as they are square shaped), the NYX TRIO eyeshadows however you can depot, and you can find a tutorial of it I did awhile ago, by CLICKING HERE (INCLUDES PICTURES).

Q: Can you show us a look for senior prom please? =)

A: Haha, I never went to prom, so what kind of a look did you have in mind? Knowing me I would match my dress, so let me know what sorta look you are going for and I can see what I come up with! :)

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Reader Questions

Here are some questions some of you have asked:

Q: Did you really use Monistat Chafing Gel as a primer?

A: YES! I know it sounds weird and you're like WTH, but don't let the name fool you, it's the INGREDIENT that's the primer, which is dimethicone, and if you currently have another primer, look at the ingredients and you will see dimethicone or other forms of ingredients that end in "cone". CLICK HERE for my review on the Monistat Chafing Gel and the comparison against my other personal fav, Camellia Rose's Skin Soothing Primer.

I have heard of Monistat being used as a primer LOOOOONNNNG time ago when I first got into mineral makeup, I just haven't used it because at the time I had TONS of primers to use up, Sephora Makeup Base, Laura Geller Spackle, etc. and when I ran out of my favorite (her store was closed due to so many orders), I had to settle for the Monistat one, and I love it because it works, and is the same consistency as Smashbox Photo Finish.

Q: Where did you get the Humectress Leave-In Spray from Nexxus?

A: I bought it at Wal-Mart for about $10.

Q: What are some alternatives to MAC?

A: I personally love NYX Cosmetics, available on CherryCulture.com, many of you ask what my favorites are and I like them all personally. For the NYX Round Lipsticks, I love "Rea, Pandora, Circe, B52, Thalia", for the Black Label Lipstick I like "Dusty Rose" for the eyeshadows.. I like "Deep Purple, Golden Orange, Blondie, Rust, Burgundy Pearl, Slate", pretty much all of them are great colors! For the Mega Lipglosses: "Barbie Pink, Beige, Golden Pink"

Q: Are you selling MAC Pigments?

A: I am still NOT selling MAC Pigments at the moment, I hope to soon but I have just been so busy and have not bought any jars for it. I also just hate dealing with those that say they want it and I never hear from them, etc.

Q: Where can I get Mario Badescu samples?

A: You get the samples with any purchase of a full-sized item on www.mariobadescu.com. I purchased his Buffering Lotion, hence I got the drawstring baggie full of samples.

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