Great makeup starts with what? Share your thoughts here!

What makes great makeup? Is it perfect skin, flawless eyes, a strong lip, the best palette of eyeshadows or a combination of all? What's your secret for making the perfect face? Spill the beans and share your ideas and thoughts on creating the perfect face!

Don't be shy..... ;-) We all have our own little secrets and tricks that work so let's share them with each other!

REVIEW - Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara

• Product: 5 out of 5
• Packaging: 5 out of 5
• Quality: 4 out of 5
• Overall: 4 out of 5
• Would I buy again? Maybe
  
• Price: $19.50
  

Where to Buy:

• Estee Lauder
  

They describe it as:

"Indulge your lashes in a full fantasy of jewel tones and big, bold, weightless volume."

THE COLORS

• Jewels for your eyes: Sapphire. Amethyst. Emerald. Amber. Garnet.
• Surprise your look with a pop of vibrant color.

Use Sumptuous Color to make your own eye color pop:

• Green or Hazel eyes: 04 Amethyst or 05 Garnet
• Brown eyes: 07 Amber
• Blue eyes: 06 Emerald
• All eyes: 03 Sapphire for a dramatic look

THE FORMULA

• Bold Volume™ formula has ultra light, lash-thickening fibers.
• Vibrant color.
• Lifts, plumps and colors even sparse lashes.

THE BRUSH

• Exclusive BrushComber™ thickens like a brush. Defines like a comb.

Advantages:

• The colors are vibrant
  
• The brush is head is great
• Long wearing
  

Disadvantages:

• VERY Expensive @ $19.50
  

Overall Opinion:

While I love to wear bright colored mascara, I'm on the fence with this one, which is why I rated it a 4 in Overall. $19.50 is a lot to pay for a mascara, especially after meeting Supershock and Astonishing Lengths in Avon! I think I've been spoiled with paying $3 and $4 for mascara. I love my Diorshow Mascara and thought that $24 bucks was a steep price to pay for mascara until I tried it. If you've ever tried Diorshow, you may concur that $24 is worth the price for that gem b/c that mascara is freakin AH-MAZE-ING!!! Ok I digress...

My man loves the sumptuous mascara on me, as do I, but when your man really likes a certain look on you well then... you kinda feel extra sexy when you've got it on, ya know? Yeah, you know what I'm talkin about!

We picked this mascara up in the Emerald color and with my brown eyes, it is pretty rockin on me if I do say so myself. :-) Purple eye treatment with green eyelashes anyone? Yes, please! Foiled silver with a pop of green eyelashes? I say YES! You can do a lot with this mascara and playing with the colors. You can also get colored mascaras in other brands that are a little bit cheaper but you don't get the vibrancy that Estee Lauder provides. Urban Decay's Big Fatty Colored Mascara sells for $17, however, it is in a tube half the size of the Estee Lauder and mine dried up on me within 4 months time. Shu Uemura sells mascara in blue and green only at $23 a tube but I've not tried their brand.

So all in all, I have to say while I do like it, I'm not sure if I will purchase it again b/c after meeting Avon and using those mascaras and saving money, I'm not sure if $19.50 is worth it. Perhaps after a longer test drive I'll change my mind b/c that Amethyst keeps looking at me funny and I think it wants me to buy it... rather, it may need me to buy it.... so we'll see. If I rationalize it this way, with the money I've saved buying Avon products, I can buy the Estee Lauder mascara! Hahahaha!! Yeah, that's it. I'm sticking with that.

REVIEW - I-Mark Eyeshadows (Available through Avon)

mark I-Mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow

• Product: 4 out of 5
• Packaging: 5 out of 5
• Quality: 4 out of 5
• Overall: 4 out of 5
• Would I buy again? YES
  
• Price: $4.50
  

Where to Buy:

• Avon
• eBay
  

They describe it as:

“Mix and match classic shades of this long-wearing powder along with five new shades previously only available as limited editions to create your own customized color palette.”

Advantages:

• Great price/very affordable
  
• Nice variety of colors to choose from (30 shades!)
  
• Shadows come in a palette pan so you can customize
• The shadow pan is big so you get a lot of product
  

Disadvantages:

• Expensive to buy mark. brand palettes as they only fit 4 shadows
  
• You have to find what base works best for you as these shadows definitely need one
  
• Takes a minute to get used to working with the product
• Can't swatch colors in person
  

Overall Opinion:

These eyeshadows are a great deal and a really good product. It took me a minute to get used to working with these when I first started b/c I found the texture really powdery, however they're a great product overall and the color payoff is great. See my Look of the Day here with the quad of shadows I purchased if you haven't already. I'm going to see what shades I don't already have or that aren't similar to what I've got and buy 'em up. The hard part with buying makeup through Avon is that you can't swatch the colors but the good part (as always!) is that you can return or exchange anything if it doesn't work so I have nothing to lose!

These shadows also save you a step without having to depot your eyeshadows and put them in a palette to customize your own. Now, you can approach this in a few different ways b/c they do arrive nicely packaged in palette pan:

You can buy the mark brand called "mark Snap To It Mezzo Custom Color Palette" where you can put the mark shadows or blushes in them so they are universal in that respect. They only come in small (fits 2 shadows) or large (fits 4 shadows). The small is $4 and the large is $6. For the money, you mine as well get the large and call it a day, right? I mean, for only two bucks more why wouldn't you buy the large? BUT... that is so expensive considering, for double the price, you can get a MAC palette that holds 15 shadows and they'd all be in one palette as opposed to buying two mark mezzo palettes for $12 that only hold 8 shadows and you have to carry around 2 cases. No bueno! The mezzo cases are well built but have a bit of heft to them as well. Read: weight. Heavy-ish. Meh. I need to cut corners where I can b/c you don't want to be lugging around extra poundage when you're running around with all your other stuff. If you don't plan on buying more than 2 or 4 shadows or blushes, I say get the mezzo case but if you do plan on investing in this brand, seek the other options I list below!

The mezzo cases look like this, Large on the top and the Small is pictured below that. (in the picture, they have a mark blush and two shadows in the Large case, but you get the idea.):

 

Another option is to get the large Z Palette size but those are a tad costly as well at $20 but they're very big and deep and hold a good amount of shadows. Here's the Z Palette:

One final option I can recommend (and prefer!) is getting a MAC palette (they retail for ONLY $12!) and taking out the divider, go to Michael's or any craft store and buy some self adhesive square magnets that you can stick to the back of your shadows and then you'll be good to go!

Here are the four I-mark Eyeshadows I got in the large mezzo case:

And the swatches, from Top to Bottom: Rebel (similar to MAC's White Frost or a toned down version of Urban Decay's Polyester Bride), Luvstruck, Saucy, Corset (similar to MAC's Print)

I heart mark.!

Who's your fave Makeup Artist?

Who are the makeup artists you look up to? Are you a makeup artist? If so, who inspired you to get into makeup and why? Who do you think is the best in the biz?

Share your thoughts on the people that help make you creative and spark that love of makeup inside you!

Tip of the Day - Makeup for Darker Skin Tones

I have learned that using deeper and brighter pigments is best and really helps bring out the person's features better. I try to avoid bronzer and iridescent powder that has any silver hues in it because it will not blend well into the skin and it can make the skin look ashy. Another trick I've learned is using MAC's Arena eyeshadow as a highlighter instead of Shroom or Mylar, which will look too white on darker skin tones.


For someone who is older, it's best to use more creamy, dewy foundations. Be sure to go light handed on the loose powder when setting. See my previous post (Conquering Deep Lines On The Face) about filling in lines and wrinkles and follow the steps on stippling the foundation in. When skin looks dewy and glows, it makes a person look younger and also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles!

REVIEW - Avon Dual Ended Eye Liner

Dual Ended Eye Liner

• Product: 5 out of 5
• Packaging: 4 out of 5
• Quality: 5 out of 5
• Overall: 5 out of 5
• Would I buy again? YES
  
• Price: $3.99 but it varies and you can get them on sale (but at that price who cares!)
  

Where to Buy:

• Avon
• eBay
  

They describe it as:

“Complementary colors that make your point...precisely. Use darker shade to define…and lighter shade to highlight. ”

Advantages:

• 2-in1 eyeliner
  
• Coordinated colors
• Staying power
  

Disadvantages:

• Packaging is very long
• Not a lot of color options/varieties
  

Overall Opinion:

I really like these a lot and for the price, omg you can't go wrong!! They go on smooth and are easy to blend and smoke out. The only downside is that they don't offer a lot of color variety. They come in Black/Blue, Black/Brown, Black/Silver, Black/Turquoise, Black/White, Blue/Turquoise. They're really missing a huge opportunity by not including a gold, purple or green dual pencil in my opinion! They last all day too and stood up to some serious elements and weather - I wore the Blue/Turquoise in the rain, in Boston, in a storm and it stayed PUT. Not a smudge, not a budge, not a crack or a crease. AMAZING!

We all have a black pencil in our makeup arsenal and probably have at lease 1 or 2 of the other colors (a white or blue perhaps) so it would behoove you to buy all of them. I got the Black/Silver and the Blue/Turquoise shades. The Blue is this really rich dark gorgeous blue that I absolutely love and do not have an eyeliner in that color. The Turquoise is just beautiful too and it's got this lovely, ever so slight sheen to it that is so pretty. I think they're the only 2 needed of the whole lot really. It's a fun look to do a highlighter against the eyeliner, especially if you do it under the eye only... it's a pretty rockin look! Check these out and give 'em a try, especially at only $3.99 they're such a bargain!


Blue/Turquoise - top two
Black/Silver - bottom two

Quick pic of a look I did using the Blue/Turquoise for eyeliner while I was on vacay in Boston. Keep in mind that I finished putting my makeup on around 10am and this pic was taken around 8pm and after wearing it all day in the rain, humidity and being sick with the flu :-( (shout out to the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation too! That foundation is AMAZING.).

xo

MAC Foundations 101

From Studio Tech to Select Cover-up and Airbrush Foundation shades, MAC has a foundation for almost anyone. But sometimes it can be a challenge to figure out which foundations work best in certain situations. Which foundations provide the best coverage or give you the sheer look you're looking for? Here's my 2 cents and a quick little breakdown of the MAC foundations I've worked with and am familiar with.

Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 is fantastic for oilier skin. It literally feels like you have no foundation on at all! Take care not to over apply as the coverage is medium to full. It also looks great in photos on top of Strobe Cream. Dab some Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle or Porcelain Pink on the nose and on top of cheeks for a beautiful, luminous, youthful glow!

Studio Tech works great and is ideal for people in very hot and dry climates b/c it keeps the face mattified AND hydrated. My favorite application technique is to apply moisturizer first, primer, then, using a sponge or a powder puff, PRESS a little Mineralized Skinfinish (like Gold Deposit) on cheeks, bridge of nose, upper lip and chin. PRESS the powder glow on and let it set before feathering Studio Tech on over with the Tech sponge. It still has a "matte" appearance since the sparkle is underneath, but there is a luscious glow going on! Try it!

Mineralize Skinfinish is incredibly universal b/c you can use it so many different ways - you can wear it alone as a sheer wash all over the face or to even out the skin and tone down shininess and control oiliness, used over foundation to "set" the face and provide fuller coverage, as a highlighter under the browbone/arch, throughout the day to touch-up and use darker shades for light contouring!

Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation is incredible and such a big bang for your buck! A little bit of this product goes a long way so one tube is sure to last you quite a long time. Like Studio Tech, this is a hydrating foundation with medium to full buildable coverage. It's also water resistant and the texture is so satiny smooth. Get to your nearest MAC counter and get your hands on a sample of this product if you haven't already! If you want to sheer this foundation down, try mixing it with a pea size amount of your moisturizer. Want an airbrushed look? Use a duo fiber brush like MAC's 187 and stipple the makeup onto your face -- DO NOT SWIRL THE BRUSH!!

Stay Gorgeous!

xo

Tip of the Day - Removing Makeup Stains

We all have the mishaps and accidents - some more than others (black shadow on the light beige carpet anyone!?). Hahaha! Here are some tried and true tested techniques that help get those pesky little and not so little makeup stains out. Depending on your makeup stain or mishap, try one of these tips below. No matter how big or small, one of these is bound to work for you!

• I have found that milky cleansers can remove almost anything without staining the fabric.
• Ivory soap ( liquid or Bar) has "never" failed on almost anything (see point #1 above).
• Never use tissue on a garment - it is paper and paper is made with glue, which will affect the threading and the finish so the garment's surface will change. If you use an Ivory soap bar you can literally nick the mark and cover it with soap. If the garment is white, even better! Nobody will ever know!
• Makeup wipes work nicely - hold it on the stain for a minute or so to break it up then dab, dab, dab.
  
• SHOUT wipes are fantastic!!
• A bit of MAC Brush Cleanser on a sponge has helped me in a pinch as well!

Do you have any helpful makeup stain remover tips to add to the list?

REVIEW - Avon PRO 3-in-1 Lip Wand [PIC HEAVY]

PRO 3-in-1 Lip Wand

• Product: 2 out of 5
• Packaging: 1 out of 5
• Quality: 2 out of 5
• Overall: 2 out of 5
• Would I buy again? NO
  
• Price: $9.50 but it varies and you can get them on sale for Buy 1 Get 1 FREE, Buy 1 Get 1 50% OFF or some other sale where you buy any 3 products on the page for $9.99 (or something like that), etc.
  

Where to Buy:

• Avon
• eBay
  

They describe it as:

“Full lip service. Perfect lip sync. Pre-coordinated shades for easy & beautiful lips! First define with lip liner. Then add luscious color with lipstick. Finish with glossy shine with lip gloss. ”

Advantages:

• Lipgloss, lipstick and lipliner all in one packaged tube
  
• Coordinated colors
  

Disadvantages:

• Packaging is too big/long to fit nicely in side zip in purse or wallet
  
• Not a lot of product
• Lipstick breaks easily

Overall Opinion:

I really wanted to like these! Even in my gut I wasn't sure but I had to try them. The overall consensus with most people it seems is that in theory this sounded like the perfect marriage of a product for any woman, but in execution it was so waah, waah, waaaahhh. The lipsticks are so tiny, I was shocked at how small they were. They look like sample sizes. And as for the lipgloss well, the picture is a bit deceiving as there's not quite that much product in there. The lipliner needs to be sharpened after every use b/c it's so creamy and emollient that it just runs right off and you're sharpening that thing over and over. It kinda sucks to be honest.

The packaging is very long with the tube measuring in at 6 1/4 inches. That's just a big 'ol pain in the you know what if you ask me. Where do you put something that long and big in your purse!? What if you have a small purse? What if you're out for the night and have one of those tiny elegant handbags? I digress.... moving on.

I bought Berry, Delicate Rose, Nude, Red, Solar Rose and Vamp. The other issues I then ran into was that the lipsticks were lacking in pigment and came off so sheer that there really was no point of putting on the lipgloss b/c the lipglosses were identical to the lipsticks in both color and texture that it was like putting lipgloss over lipgloss. I was quite frustrated.

I also read on the forums that people's lipsticks were breaking off at the base when they went to put them on. This hasn't happened to me (yet) and could be because of their small size but Avon of course, will replace any product at no charge to you so at least there's that.

It's not all clouds and rain here folks.... while I returned most of them, there are two shades of the lot that stood out for me and did work out in the end and I kept: Red and Vamp (go figure!) Red is more of a pinky red (don't be fooled by the picture making it look more on the orangey side) and Vamp is a purpley/pink. I really do like them and will use them up, however, I will not purchase these 3-in-1 lippies again. So sad, too bad. :-( I will also mention that the Nude and Delicate Rose shades worked on my girlfriend and look utterly fabulous on her. She also has naturally pigmented pink lips, so if that sounds like you, give those shades a try. Er, maybe.

Red (Top to Bottom): lipgloss, lipstick, lipliner:

This is the lipgloss. Not a whole lot of product in that tiny area there....

This is the lipstick. It measures about 1 whole inch when you get it new. This is just under that. Yeah, severely lacking!

The lipliner measures about 1 1/2 inches brand new and this is just over one inch. (thanks, babe, for being a lovely hand model.)

Here is the size comparison next to (from L to R): MAC Dazzleglass, NYX lipstick, MAC lipstick They're massive right!?


***FYI -- I have only used the one shown in the picture twice. The lipgloss doesn't come filled to the brim as shown in the picture.


Judge for yourselves and let me know if you have ever tried these b/c I'd love to know your thoughts!

xo

Tip of the Day - Natural Eyes, Naturally You

Lighty blend a neutral shade of matte powder eyeshadow, whichever most closely matches your eyebrows, in the crease and into the lashline. This will enhance your natural beauty and keep your look simple and naturally YOU while only using a little makeup!

Look of the Day - Green & White with Feather Eyelashes

I had so much fun doing this look, especially after coming off having a really bad flu. I tell ya, it was time for some makeup therapy for the soul. Ha!

Me and the man went and had a lovely dinner tonight and then he took me shopping for some new shoes, a new outfit, tons of new accessories (mostly earrings and bracelets) and the new Estee Lauder Sumptuous Color Mascara. Woo hoooo!!! We swatched them all and the Emerald and Sapphire were the most vibrant colors of the bunch, so we picked up the Emerald. I will be trying it ASAP, as in tomorrow! It's really pretty and I can't wait! I'm so lucky and adore my guy. xXx

Face:

• Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation
  
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Foundation
  
• Makeup Forever Concealer Palette #1
• Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder
• MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty
  
• MAC Cream Color Base in Pearl (as highlighter on cheeks)
  

Eyes:

• NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (base all over lid & up to brow)
  
• MAC White Pigment (lid/under brow)
• MAC Femme Noir (outer corner and blended into crease)
  
• MAC Humid (blended lightly into Femme Noir in "V" area only)
• MAC Sprout (blended above Femme Noir)
• MAC Shroom (under arch and inner corner highlight only)
• MAC Eye Kohl Eyeliner in Smolder (upper and lower waterlines)
• NYX Glitter Liner in Green (under eye only)
  
• MAC Brun for brows
• #161 MUFE eyelashes
  

Lips:

• MAC Blankety Lipstick
• MAC Lusterglass in Love Nectar

REVIEW - Avon Big Color Eye Pencils

Big Color Eye Pencil

• Product: 3.5 out of 5
• Packaging: 5 out of 5
• Quality: 3.5 out of 5
• Overall: 3.5 out of 5
• Would I buy again? Unsure
  
• Price: $6.00 but it varies and you can get them on sale for Buy 1 Get 1 FREE, Buy 1 Get 1 50% OFF or some other sale where you buy any 3 products on the page for $9.99 (or something like that)
  

Where to Buy:

• Avon
• eBay
  

They describe it as:

“Shadow and liner in one. Glide-on color lasts for hours. Waterproof.”

Advantages:

• Multi-purpose product, I found 3 ways instead of just the 2 listed
  
• Easily blendable
  

Disadvantages:

• Doesn't last for hours if worn alone
  
• Does tend to crease
  

Overall Opinion:

I really like these pencils b/c you can use them as a base, as an eyeshadow or as an eyeliner. You MUST use a good eye primer under these babies if you're going to use it as an eyeshadow all by itself b/c the formula is very emollient based and will crease on you quite badly. These won't last as long as I'd like them to even with a good base so I'm still on the fence with these.

They blend really well and I find they're used best when blended with other eyeshadows or as a base. If you do use it an eyeliner be sure to set it with the same color eyeshadow powder on top b/c they'll smudge and run right off your face. I bought them up in every shade and my favorite colors are Eggplant, Blue Smoke and Night Glisten. What I do like about them is that they're easy to travel with - I just toss 'em in my kit and go. If these weren't so "high maintenance" and I didn't have to do so much to work with them, it'd be a yes all the way but even at this price I'm not sure it's worth it....

REVIEW - Avon Calling!

I'm starting a new series of reviews on Avon products. I have been test driving all sorts of their products over the last month and a half or so and like drug store brands, you don't have to spend gobs of money on the higher end/expensive brands to find good quality makeup. While not everything is a hit out of the park, there is a lot of great stuff to be found in Avon. Like I keep telling my fabulous rep, "This ain't your mother's Avon anymore!"

The first review is all about the Avon Mascaras so let's get started!

AVON ASTONISHING LENGTHS Mascara

• Product: 5 out of 5
• Packaging: 5 out of 5
• Quality: 4 out of 5
• Overall: 5 out of 5
• Would I buy again? YES and in bulk!
  
• Price: $7.50 but it varies and usually goes for as low as $2.99 or Buy 1 Get 1 FREE (I've never paid full price for an Avon mascara.)
  

Where to Buy:

• Avon
• eBay
  

They describe it as:

“Lengthens lashes up to 65% for an incredible look of long, sweeping lashes. Resists clumping and leaves lashes separated and defined. ASTONISHING LENGTHS Mascara is hypo-allergenic, ophthalmologist-tested, fiber-free and suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.”

Advantages:

• Does exactly what it promises to do
  
• You don't need to use a ton of product to get the desired effect (one coat is enough)
  

Disadvantages:

• The formula is very wet
  
• Brush head is a little too thin for my liking
  

Overall Opinion:

I LOVE this mascara! You do have to be careful and wait a little longer for the formula to set and dry b/c it is a very "wet" formula. Also, you may find that you have to comb through your lashes b/c you may get too much product on them when you first start to use it, but once you get the hang of it, you'll fall in love b/c it makes your eyelashes so incredibly long! That's the only reason I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars for quality - the formula is not perfect. If you do find that there's too much on the wand, just swipe it across a tissue before applying.

The lengthening formula in this mascara is like gang busters, I couldn't believe it!! I literally yelled to the man to come into the makeup studio to see b/c I couldn't believe it and had to show him. So I usually do one coat of this, followed by one coat of the Super Shock Mascara and the effect is amazing. The black is a very true, blackest black and that's a bonus for me as well. I haven't tried any of the other colors but I have used this on my lighter haired/skinned clients and it looks great and not too "dolly" or weird on them, so I'd say go for it. I never knew I was a size queen until I met this mascara but I do like a fuller head to my mascara wand and this one is a bit lacking in that department but maybe that's how it's supposed to be for the formula?

The price can NOT be beat. I mean, with every new Campaign, there's a different sale and a different deal going on, but my Avon rep can always go back 2 Campaigns so if it was cheaper 2 books ago, she can get me that price. AND all Avon products have a money back guarantee, no questions asked so if you buy something and don't like it, you can return it for a full refund or credit toward something else. It's a no brainer!

AVON Super SHOCK Mascara

• Product: 5 out of 5
• Packaging: 5 out of 5
• Quality: 5 out of 5
• Overall: 5 out of 5
• Would I buy again? yes and in bulk!
  
• Price: $8.50 but it varies and usually goes for as low as $3.99 or Buy 1 Get 1 FREE (I've never paid full price for an Avon mascara.)

Where to Buy:

• Avon
• eBay
  

They describe it as:

“Unique microfibers instantly expand and plump lashes to larger-than-life proportions...for head-turning drama in a flash. Up to 12x more volume...in a single step. Maximum amount of mascara in just one dip. Molded teal plastic fine combs separate lashes for a precise, bolder-than-ever look.”

Advantages:

• Does exactly what it promises to do
  
• You don't need to use a ton of product to get the desired effect
• No smudging or clumping!
  

Disadvantages:

• None
  

Overall Opinion:

Another great mascara from Avon! This mascara is pretty much the twin or close sister to Cover Girl's Lash Blast Mascara right down to the rubber wand except that the wand and stick in this tube is much more malleable and allows you to move it around more easily and get into those inner and outer corner lashes like a dream. You can wear it alone or pair it up with another mascara (I like pairing it with the lengthening mascara). Either way, the formula won't clump or flake on you. Yay! Great stuff. I usually get this at a great discount and for super cheap. Always check with your Avon rep on what the lowest price is b/c I have yet to pay full price for this baby!


AVON Wash-OFF Waterproof Mascara

• Product: 5 out of 5
• Packaging: 5 out of 5
• Quality: 5 out of 5
• Overall: 5 out of 5
• Would I buy again? YES
  
• Price: $6.50 but it varies and usually goes for as low as $3.99 or Buy 1 Get 1 FREE (I've never paid full price for an Avon mascara.)

Where to Buy:

• Avon
• eBay
  

They describe it as:

“Streak-free mascara that will weather the weepiest of movies. Washes away with soap and water.”

Advantages:

• Does exactly what it promises to do and then some!
  
• Probably Avon's #1 favorite and highest rated mascara (whether they know it or not!)
• Doesn't flake or smear
  

Disadvantages:

• None
  

Overall Opinion:

Another great mascara from Avon! Geesh, I'm starting to sound redundant. This is an especially great mascara to use on brides or for photo shoots that will involve the model being in any type of wet, moist or humid conditions and for you ladies who live in humid climates or if you're attending a wedding and tend to get a little teary eyed yourself! Give it a whirl, you've got nothing to lose....


AVON SuperCurlacious Mascara

• Product: 2 out of 5
• Packaging: 4 out of 5
• Quality: 2 out of 5
• Overall: 2 out of 5
• Would I buy again? NO
  
• Price: $7.50 but it varies and usually goes for as low as $4.99 or Buy 1 Get 1 FREE
  

Where to Buy:

• Avon
• eBay
  

They describe it as:

“Avon’s newest beauty innovation! Get lashes up to 200% curvier* for up to 12 hours. Exclusive curl-fix formula sets and holds the curve and doubles the volume for a big, thick curl that stays the day. Unique super curvy power-molded brush hugs your lash line and grabs every lash for a gravity-defying curve! Lashes lift off for a big, bold curl that won’t clump, flake or smudge.”

Advantages:

• The price is right
  
• Doesn't smear
  

Disadvantages:

• The formula was weak
• Felt dry
• Really didn't curl my lashes
  

Overall Opinion:

Of all the mascaras I have tried, this one is by far the weakest and falls so short of all the rest. I found the formula to be a tad dry and really had to work the wand in the tube to get the product on it. While this is a curling mascara, it didn't do much in the way of curling my lashes. I purposely did not use my lashcurler to see how this mascara would do and not only did it not give me much curl, it virtually took away any of the natural length to my lashes as well giving them a short appearance. It was horrible! There was really nothing great about this mascara and as you have read from the other reviews, I faired much better with those mascaras.

Have you tried any Avon mascaras? Got any faves to share?

Stay gorgeous and try some Avon! It'll save ya a few bucks.... ;-)

xo

Contest Winers ANNOUNCED!!!

I want to thank the three lovely ladies who participated in my contest. This was really so much fun to do and I hope they all enter into the next contest and any other future contests to come!

You ALL did such a great job it was really hard to choose 1st and 2nd prize winners but alas, it had to be done so without further ado.....

FIRST PLACE PRIZE GOES TO Queen Mari! Her blending is fantastic and I love what she did utilizing only a small number of products for the look. The look is fierce and she is workin it out. Meow, honey!! Check out more pics of her entry here.

SECOND PLACE PRIZE GOES TO Blush Baby! I love her artistic spin on the look with purple glitter, rhinestones and a purple feather! She uses all her own mineral products and her look is so fun! Doesn't she look like she'd be a blast to hang out with!? Haha! Check out more pics of her entry here.




Honorable mention goes out to Candace! Thank you all again for participating. Please PM me your mailing addresses so I can get your prizes out to you.

Stay Gorgeous,

xo

Tip of the Day - Primer Alternative

Try using MAC's Liquidlast Liner as an eyeshadow base - it stays on forever and guarantees no creasing!

Tip of the Day - Soft Lips

Going for a soft stained look but need to use a liner to define the lips? Try using the back end of the lip liner. The rounded end can really help buff out any harsh lines and pull the color inwards sometimes better than a lip brush can. Give it a try!

LOTD - the Balm Shady Lady Smokey Gray

So I'm cleaning and organizing my makeup and restocking my kit and I find an eyeshadow palette that I had bought online a few months ago from Sephora and totally lost in all my stuff! forgot that I had!! Can you imagine? Brand new, never swatched, touched or anything. I couldn't believe it. It was like Christmas morning in my house, I swear. It got lost underneath a whole bunch of other stuff and of course, I had to use it right away. Voila! A simple smokey eye using only a few colors from the Balm's Shady LadyPalette.

Does anyone have this palette? I love the colors in it and the names are totally fun. It was a limited edition palette so I'm not sure if it's available anymore but I definitely recommend it if you can still get it. You can use the eyeshadows dry or wet and some of them double as eyeshadow/eyeliners, so it makes this palette very versatile! Check out the sexy packaging, eep!

Face:

• Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation
  
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Foundation
  
• Makeup Forever Concealer Palette #1
  
• mark. Good Glowing Blush in Hush Baby (as highlighter on cheeks)
  
• NYX Blush in Pinky (high on cheekbone blended down)
  
• Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder

Eyes:

• MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (base)
  
• Jealous Jordana (crease/lid/liner)
• Jet-Setting Jennifer (inner crease/highlight)
• Luscious Lani (inner corner only as highlight)
  
• MAC Eye Kohl Eyeliner in Smolder (upper and lower waterlines)
  
• Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara

Lips:

• MAC Spice Lipliner
• NARS Lip Lacquer in Hellfire - I found this at Naimie's in their 70% off bin and only paid like $7 for it! They normally sell for $24. This was such a bargain. My only complaint is that it does tend to sit on your teeth so the best thing to do is (and I know this is gross but it works!) wrap your pointer finger in tissue then put it in the center of your mouth, close, pull your finger out slowly and the tissue should catch any excess gloss. You're good to go!
  

Purple Fall Trend CONTEST Still Ongoing!

We are one week into the contest and so far we have one fantastic entry from the gorgeous BlushBaby. She's got feathers and rhinestones and all sorts of awesome goin on! You have until September 14th to get your entries in so get out your makeup brushes, glitter, stencils and purples and show your fierce self.

I'm officially on vacation, so my posts will be sporadic (except for what I may already have scheduled) but I look forward to seeing your entries when I get back!

Have a gorgeous Tuesday and thanks for stopping by!

xo

Vacation time = Boston Baby!

I'm heading back East to see the fam, including my little nieces who I miss so, so, so, so much, for an entire week! Eep! I can't wait to hang out and spend some time just catching up, laughing, and gorging on yummy Atlantic shellfish, barbecuing, hitting Nantucket Island, shopping in Hyannis and Falmouth and of course dining in the North End (and hitting Mike's Pastry!) and everything in between!

Boston is full of history and is such a beautiful city. Contrary to popular belief, it's actually a really small city. The culture there is amazing and the food is fantastic. Of course, I'm biased but if you ever get a chance to get out there, it's incredible and there is TONS to do.

The beautiful Boston skyline:



One of my favorite areas of the city: Back Bay



Nantucket Island:





The North End is the Italian section of the city and being Italian myself, an area I'm very familiar with (Mamma Maria's is one of my favorite restaurants!):






You can visit Paul Revere's house in the North End. How cool is that!??



This is our" late vacation" and it couldn't be coming at a better time. :-) Stay tuned as I have some blogs scheduled over the next few days and don't forget about the Purple Contest!

See you all when I get back.

Stay Gorgeous,

xo

LOTD - I-mark!

I have been trying a bunch of different products from Avon b/c the makeup is very affordable and as a makeup artist, I like to have a nice variety of products in my kit and save myself some money at the same time if I can, too!!

I got a quad of eyeshadows from the mark. line and so far I am really liking them! The color payoff is really nice, but the pigmentation only comes through if you have a nice creamy base on your eye like a MAC paint pot. I found that using Too Faced Shadow Insurance or the UD Primer Potion didn't let these shadows' true color potential quite come through.

I've been rocking out a ton of other Avon products including lipsticks, eyeliners, mascaras (which are the BOMB, btw!!) and a whole bunch more. I'll be sharing more on those later. On to the products list!

Face:

• Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation
  
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Foundation
  
• Makeup Forever Concealer Palette #1
  
• mark. Good Glowing Blush in Hush Baby (as highlighter on cheeks)
  
• Bare Escentuals blush in Sorbet (on apples of cheeks)
• NYX Blush in Natural (high on cheekbone blended down)
  
• Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder

Eyes:

• MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (base)
  
• I-mark eyeshadow in Rebel (inner corner)
• I-mark eyeshadow in Luvstruck (entire lid)
• I-mark eyeshadow in Corset (blended in outer V and inner crease)
• I-mark eyeshadow in Saucy (blended under lower lashes from corner to corner)
  
• MAC Vanilla (highlight under brow and blended down to tear duct)
• MAC Eye Kohl Eyeliner in Smolder (upper and lower waterlines)
  
• MAC Blacktrack Fluidline (along lashline and winged out)
• NYX Glitter Mascara in Lavender (on top of Saucy under lower lashes only)
  
• Avon Astonishing Lengths Mascara in Black (applied first, 1 coat)
• Avon Super Shock Mascara in Black (applied 2nd, 1 coat)

Lips:

• Estee Lauder lipliner in Pink
• Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Pink Wink

Stay Gorgeous!

xo