Happy Birthday Mommy!

Just wanted to wish my mom a happy birthday!

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Finally got my Heirlooms Basic Brush Set and Palettes!

I know, I know, some of you were waiting for me to post, but I got sidetracked! The BF wanted to go eat dinner, then we ended up going to Wal-Mart and Borders, soOoooo now I am here uploading and trying to post at the same time! So bare with me...

Here are my pics! I bought the basic brush set and the cool and smokey eyes palette. Surprisingly there are quite a few colors you can pass up on if you are already a MAC addict and have some of the permanent eyeshadows as some of these colors are the same if not similar.

What I liked: Like I have mentioned before, I am a sucker for cute packaging, no joke. So naturally, I just love the cute clutch the brushes came in, I would never use it, but it's super cute! I may end up giving it to my sister, but keeping the brushes! The brushes are great as well, this is actually my first brush set from MAC as I end up buying the full sized ones, but I love these brushes because they make great travel brushes! I bought the BASIC BRUSH set which has a face powder brush, an angled eyeshadow brush, #239 brush which is like a fluffy eyeshadow brush great for applying pigments wet or dry, a lip brush, and #219 brush which is a pointed soft tip liner or crease brush. The eye palettes cases are absolutely gorgeous! I love the whole silver crown ornament theme they have going, and it's just super sexy! I love the HUGE mirrors it comes with! The colors also are beautiful! I haven't really played with them yet, so let me play with them and i'll post a more detailed review!

What I didn't like: I didn't like the hinges on the palettes that connect the mirror to it, they are very fragile and they don't hold up the mirror AT ALL, and that's on BOTH of my palettes, so you basically have to hold it open rather than just opening it and it just stays there.

I am actually looking forward to perhaps the finery bags and the curiositease collection, simply because I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the pigments! I love them more than the eyeshadows because they are more vibrant and last all day for me, so I am definitely shelling out for those!

The BASIC BRUSH SET:




The cute little cardboard box...


The palette itself:

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Reader Question: How to do makeup for film or TV?

Q: Hi! I have a question concerning on how to do my own makeup for a short film in which i will make an appearance for my work. I will be the main focus on this. Since I will be doing my own makeup I would like some tips and how to's on what exactly to do different for this occasion.

I have dark brown hair with honey highlites; an oval face; light olive skin; brown eyes. My skin has an oily inverted t-zone area and medium sized pores on my nose. I am going to be wearing a suit that is either navy blue or dark grey. I do wear makeup everyday but I know you need to do it differently for film. Any suggestions?

I currently have the Mac prep & prime already; studio fix powder, studio fix mist spray, studio fix liquid, Benefit's some kind a gorgeous foundation faker; Benefit's Georgia peach powder. These are my choices for foundations and powders. I am willing to buy something else if need be. I have heard about Smashbox cosmetics being good for Film but don't want to buy some if I don't have to already.

Any suggestions and how-tos would be greatly appreciated.

~Rose
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A: Hi Rose!

Thank you for your email as well as providing me with a lot of info, it helps a lot!

Makeup for TV needs a little more attention than your everyday makeup because if it's going to be in a studio, the studio lights can wash you out and make you look pale. Also, rule of thumb is to avoid red lipstick, lipgloss, and shimmers, as these are distracting and take away from your face. You want to make sure you use a really good concealer to cover any dark circles, blemishes, fine lines, etc as this appears more on camera and film than in person. If you have oily skin, or oily areas on your face, try using a mattifying cream that takes away the shine (try Lauren Hutton's Matte Moisturizer), or apply your foundation and dab translucent power all over or for touch ups to take away the shine (I like Laura Mercier's translucent brightening powder, Sephora), OR you can use a light bronzer to give you a bit of color, gently sweeping it across your forehead, cheeks, top of the nose ,and chin, whereever the sun hits you.

Keep your makeup simple but looking fresh, since you are wearing either navy blue or dark grey, neutral colors will even complement your outfit (and because you have honey highlights it will definitely bring out your face), earthy tones such as taupes or browns, or you can just use a light grey or medium gray eyeshadow on your outer V (outer corner of your lid) to make your eyes "pop" and just use a light taupe or bone color on your lid, then use a shimmery light color like MAC's eyeshadow in "Shroom" or "Ricepaper" to highlight your browbone. The matte eyeshadows from MAC are also great for your look, copperplate is an awesome neutral color. The trick is to just contour your eye, w/o overdoing it, line the bottom of your eyes with a soft dark brown or a gray to make your eyes stand out. Black might be TOO much and overpowering. I assume you are gorgeous anyway so you don't even need a lot of makeup!

Since you have light olive skin, a peach or brownish peach blush would look awesome on you! Also, keep your lips a nice soft color, like a light soft pink, medium pink, or a rose color. Neutral lipsticks don't work as this will make you look pale because it doesn't really show up on camera, so you want some color on your face, but not too much. Just add a bit more translucent powder or a powder you already have to those areas where you are oily to avoid shine.

Hope that helps!

Vanessa

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MAC Collection: Metal X- Released November 21st

Here are some preview images of the MAC Collection, Metal-X which is being released November 21st, they are CREAM eyeshadows and as you can see they are gorgeous colors! These images are also from Risser that were posted on the Specktra Blog, I personally am not a fan of cream eyeshadows as they tend to slide off of me, but I have high expectations about this collection, I am hoping they are like the paint pots in the sense that the staying power is awesome!

These 9 shades are ALL LIMITED EDITION.


I am eyeing: pure ore, goldspice, virgin silver, fusion gold, metalblu, and 6th sin.



WITHOUT FLASH:





WITH FLASH:





This photo is from cathystyle98, who I believe is on Specktra.

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Video (Tutorial Request)- How to naturally shade in your eyebrows

I rarely do video tutorials because I hate hearing and seeing myself actually talk and move haha, and I can only imagine how YOU gals would feel! LOL, but I thought it would be easier to show this request via video rather than pictures.

This was a request by reader Christina who currently uses a mineral eyeshadow to shade in her eyebrows and wants to know other ways she can shade in her eyebrows using a pencil or another easier way rather than toting a mineral eyeshadow around which can get a bit messy. Sephora #206 is a good pencil if you gals use pencils on your eyebrows, but I LOVE the NYC eyebrow kit which comes with wax to help your eyebrow hairs stay in place, as well as being cheap! At only $3 a pop!

Please forgive me for I say "um" a lot in the video because I was really nervous! Also my nose is still a bit swollen (still bruised inside), don't ask why, lol.

I also forgot to add at the end, that if you happen to shade in your eyebrows TOO dark, take your brush that has a little foundation on it (I use leftover foundation on the brush from when I applied it to my face), and just gently brush it over your eyebrows to "soften" and lighten the color a bit. :)

Hope you gals enjoy, if you wish that I never make another video, that makes 2 of us! LOL.

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Product Review: Philosophy Primer On a Clear Day

Packaging: 5 out of 5
Price: 5 out 5
Product Itself: 5 out 5!

I first saw this on Sephora.com, and the only thing that really made me buy it at first was the price, $15! Can't beat that for a really good makeup primer!

I loved the packaging, it's in a tiny tube perfect for travel! And I love the simplicity of the package.

I tested it out this morning when I was getting ready for work and it smells nice AND it seriously went on so smoothly, just like putting on moisturizer. The best part? My mineral foundation went on so evenly and smoothly, no patches, no un-even colored areas, nothing! And it left my skin baby smooth and my foundation lasted over 8 hours looking the same as when I applied it!

So you gals on a budget and can't afford $30+ for a primer, definitely try this one out!

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Get a MERMAID LOOK for Halloween!

Youtube's AMY B, has an awesome video tutorial for an awesome mermaid look just in time for Halloween, check it out!

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Product Review (CherryCulture.com)- NYX Concealer Jar

Here is my insider's pick for NYX Concealer Jar!

I am such a sucker when it comes to buying concealer because I am willing to try any concealer to cover up my dark circles and any other blemishes that occasionally pop up. I have bought tons of concealer from drugstores to even high-end brands, and have had mixed results in the sense that some were okay and did the job, but none that really outlasted in terms of performance and giving me a fresh-awakened look to last all day—until now.

I tried the NYX Concealer in a Jar and let me tell you how amazing this miracle in a bottle is! First of all, the packaging. It is so cute! It's a tiny round jar, but don't let the size fool you! It has A LOT of concealer in side to last you a very long time, and what I love is how tiny it is to even keep in your purse for any touch ups. Second, it's very creamy and glides on easily. I use a concealer brush, scrape some of the concealer in the jar, and DAB it from the inner corner of my eye to the outer to cover up my dark circles, and then DAB with my finger or a wedge-sponge to blend together. You don't want to wipe the concealer from side to side because that just takes off some of the concealer and you will end up using more giving you a cakey look, and instead whatever you are trying to conceal is much more noticeable and prominent. You just want to use a little bit and dab it across, a little goes a long way with this concealer!

I have tried concealers that were TOO water-based and ended up sliding off under my eyes, making me look even more tired, worst of all, when you are trying to conceal a red pimple and it fades off so that everything shows! I even had concealers that were super thick that once I put my foundation over it, you can see that it settled in the lines and was very cakey. I also hated those concealers that claim to be waterproof and last all day, but wouldn't even make it to lunch time! But with this NYX Concealer jar that is NEVER a problem and what I truly enjoyed was that it lasted all day with me. I was also hunting for a concealer that gave me the same look as the moment I put it on, 'till the time I came home after a long day at work; and this definitely does it. For you gals on a budget looking for a good dupe of MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Concealer.

Here is a pic of Sugabum from ABB (Asianbeautyblog), who took a pic of the concealer and compared it to a higher-end (and way more expensive)concealer, Makeup Forever, just proves that drugstore brands can be just as good, if not better, than expensive brands!

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PREVIEW: MAC Holiday Collections, Curiousitease and Finery

Here is a preview of the sub sets of MAC's never-ending holiday collection featuring Curiousitease and Finery...stop drooling ladies! ;)




CURIOUSITEASE

5 cool and 5 warm lipglass and lustreglass (separate)
5 cool and 5 warm pigments and glitter (separate)
5 plushglass
5 soft sparkle pencils


Warm Pigment Set: Lily White, Dazzleray, Copper Sparkle and Sunpepper Pigments; and Reflects Gold Glitter.

Cool Pigment Set:Helium, Softwash Grey, Naval Blue and Forest Green Pigments; and Reflects Blue Glitter.

FINERY



Each set is made out of a color theme:

3 PLUM LIPS
3 CORAL LIPS
3 TAN LIPS
3 PINK LIPS

VIVAGLAM PALETTE

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Reader Question- MAC Holiday Eye Palettes

Q: Hi Vanessa,
I think i like the cool and smokey eye palettes the most too. Anyhow, do you think after you get them on Thursday you can do a tutorial on the eyeshadows. Maybe something showing how you could use the colors together or anything so I can convince myself to buy them. THANKS! we love you~
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A: Hi Kiki love! haha you are so funny, I love you gals too (all the readers that take the time to read this)! I honestly love hearing from all of you when I am at work, you gals have such awesome personalities and it's such a pleasure to read all your emails. :)

Yes of course I will do a tutorial featuring the new MAC holiday eye palettes, I will do my best to try to do them ASAP! I know how much it helps to have looks and swatches before you commit to buying something, so i'll whip one up!

*Also, I now have Violet pigment available for sampling! For all you ladies who have bought stuff from me, please do a look and take pics! I would love to post it here on the site! Stay gorgeous y'all!

Love,

Nessa

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