My Current Reading Material

Lately the library has been my best friend.  I have picked up a lot of books that have helped me in my quest on doing my best in makeup and life.

Bobbi Brown's book Living Beauty is geared more towards women 40 plus.  It gives great insight into beauty after your 30's.  It deals with more than just makeup.  It is about taking care of the body inside and out and  being comfortable in your skin at any age.

Makeup Makeovers: Weddings by Robert Jones is a fabulous book of how to look fabulous but still you on your wedding day.  This book has tips and looks for the entire bridal party.  This is an excellent book for the bride-to-be or bridal makeup artist.  The book contains full size photos and details on colors used(but not by brand).

The Ultimate Beauty Book by  Norton, Shapland, and Wadeson is just that.  It provides info on how to stay beauty inside and out.  This large book was written for young adults.  It discusses skin care, make-up, haircare, hairstyling, fitness, body toning, diet, health and vitality.  The book is broken down into three sections, skin care and make-up, haircare and styling, and exercise and diet.  Excellent book for everyone to read.    

The Makeup Artist Handbook by Gretchen Davis and Mindy Hall has a lot of great information that will assist an new makeup artist trying to break into the industry.  They discuss everthing from the color theory, lighting, the body to being on the Set and Set code, etc. 

Many of these books I am still researching and deciding which ones I will be adding to my personal library in the future as reference books.  I feel that if you really want to hone your craft you have to study and practice it as much as possible.  More reviews to come.  Check out your local library and you may find a great book that will you help you with grooming your brows, achieving the perfect lips or just improving your skin care routine. 

MAC Halloween Butterfly Look 2009

Hey Divas,

When I saw the video from MAC, I knew this was a look I had to do. I love it with or without the Carbon added. MAC has some nice face charts for Halloween that everyone should try regardless of the makeup you use or have. I didn't have all the colors used, but used what I had to recreate the look. I have a Kryolan Palette and this would have looked just as good using that instead. I never limit myself on what I can do with my makeup.

Products used:

Fresh Morning Cream Color Base

Wet and Wild White Eye Pencil

Juxt, Wild Wisteria, Graphic Garden,

Too Dolly, Romping, Expensive Pink,

Coppering, Girlie and Carbon Eye shadows

Gold Mode pigment

L'Oreal Telescopic Liquid Liner in Black

Current l/l

Hipster and Lavender Whip l/s

Date Night d/g

Check out the face charts on www.facebook.com under MAC Cosmetics. All the charts with products and instructions are listed and available for downloading.

Also check out my tutorial on this look at my YouTube page : www.youtube.com/user/TantalizingEyez3

More to come... just trying to decide what looks to try next from the face charts. If you have any suggestions please let me know. :)

Later Divas....

New Youtube Halloween Tutorial posted...

Hey Divas,

I just downloaded a new Halloween Tutorial on Youtube. It is simple but fun and cute. Below are pictures from the tutorial. Working on more Halloween Tutorials that I will post before the end of the month.....




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Check out the tutorial at: http://www.youtube.com/user/TantalizingEyez3

Products used:

Kroylan Aqua Color White

MAC Brushed Metal-X in Spiced Gold

MAC Pigments and Glitters: Entremauve Pigment, Reflects Bronze, Golddrift

L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Midnight Blue

Wet N Wild Blue Halloween lipstick from lash kit..

New Halloween Look and Tutorial

Hey Divas,

I posted a new video on Youtube featuring a Halloween/Mardi Gras mask tutorial I did. This was actually my 1st Halloween Tutorial but I lost the footage. :) I found it and finally posted it. It was fun. I love New Orleans... so I had to do a couple of Mardi Gras masks. I use to collect Mardi Gras mask. I think they are beautiful. The one I created was based off of one that I found through google. I hope you like. Check out the video at

http://www.youtube.com/user/TantalizingEyez3

Below are pictures of the look.

1st Halloween Tutorial Pictures ... inspired by ANTM Mr. Jay Manuel

Hey Divas, I finally posted my 1st Halloween video. While on twitter, I received a twitpic that inspired me to do a tutorial on this look. ANTM Mr. Jay Manuel posted the picture from this week's show. I loved it so much, I did a tutorial that same night. So here are a few pics from the tutorial and you can watch the edited tutorial on http://www.youtube.com/user/TantalizingEyez3

I also have a link to the twitpic for anyone who wants to check out the original done on Mr. Jay by Cirque. You may want to try it out yourself. I used what I had so the colors are a bit different but I tried to stay color to the colors used by Cirque. I had a red suit and hat, but since it was late and I could not find my hat... I didn't do full dress. Enjoy!!!

Orginial Picture of Mr. Jay Manuel(Click on Picture to see at Twitpic and in larger size.)

Twitpic:

More Pics/Swatches from MAC Style Black Collection

Young Punk applied wet w/Bat Black over Greasepaint stick

Young Punk dry w/Bat Black over Greasepaint stick

Young Punk dry w/Greasepaint stick

Young Punk w/Bat Black

Young Punk no base

MAC Style Black Collection... Black is where it is at....

Hey Divas. It has been a minute, but....

I went to MAC with some B2M empties for Style Black!!!



I love the collection. I am a big fan of mineral products so I knew I would get something. They are some of my favorites. My first MES was Noble by MAC which I still have and love. I B2M for Young Punk e/s which is black with pink and purple. When applied dry it appears a smokey purple color. When applied wet it appears a more shimmery purple/pink. I don't really have a problem with flaking of MES.

I also purchased the Bat Black cream colour base which is a black burgundy color and great as an eyeshadow base or on the lips. If you don't want to invest in a dark color lipstick or gloss this works great with colors like current lip liner and date night dazzleglass. With all three colors you get great sultry purple lips. I love multipurpose products. :)

I also purchased the greasepaint stick in black. It is in the same container as a shadestick but dries faster than a shadestick. It is creamy like a shadestick and the color has a hint of violet to it. I definitely will make sure I close it tight so it does not dry out. I may have to get a backup if MAC does not make it permanent. Baby Goth Girl nail polish is a gorgeous black with pink/purple undertone. Pair it with a pink polish like HK Something About Pink and you see the pink undertone more. Last but not least, I picked up Blackfire glimmer glass. Blackfire was the best one to get IMO. I have MAC black lip mix so really did not need more black lipstick, even though they are nice.

I would love to get more from this collection but MAC has so many fabulous collections coming out between now and February. I am ready saving up my B2M empties for some of the N Collection lippies that are rumored to be coming back. January 2010 is sure to be a great month for hauling at MAC. :)

FOTD

My FOTD is a neutral look I created with my MAC Intriguing Scarlet: Warm Eyes Palette. Please excuse the brows....

Eyes:
Penny Shadestick
Well Spiced - Frosted warm peachy brown
Sweet Joy - Frosted creamy pale gold
UD 24/7 liner in Zero
VS Blackest Black MascaraFace:
Golden Bronze Iridescent Powder
Love Rock Mineralize Blush
Hand-Finish Mineralize Blush(highlight)
Blonde on Blonde l/s
Bonus Beat l/g
(MAC unless otherwise noted)


I will try to do more of these especially when I have less time to do tutorials on youtube....

Victoria Secret Makeup line review and haul

Hey Divas!

Last month I received some coupons and angel rewards from Victoria's Secret. For those that don't know... Angel rewards are gift cards you received after you spend so much money using your VS Angel Card. Well I had 2 that I had to use by September 1 or they expired. So I decided to check out the new improved makeup line that they came out with in August.

First I have to say I love the new packaging. New packaging has a clear window in the lid so you cans see the colors. Also they have been reformulated and are more pigmented than the previously line. Instead of 4 uneven squares and rectangles(like previous line), they now have 4 even stripes of colors. Also it no longer has a mirror due to the new lid style. The single eyeshadows are reformulated and more pigmented also. Cost is still about the same.

They also came out with a pro line of makeup that includes a Camouflage FX Concealer Palette and a Lasting FX eyeshadow primer. I plan to try both and do a review.

Christian Siriano for VS Makeup LE Collection

Christian Siriano collaborated with Victoria's Secret and came up with a great collection. The packaging and pigmentation is fabulous. The silky eye shadows are very pigmented and go on smooth not chalky. I picked up three of the five colors, Royalty(Matte Dk. Burgundy), Oasis(Turquoise like color with gold tone), and Sahara(Cream color with peachy tint). The other colors were just as gorgeous, but I have too many pinks and the other one I can pick up anytime(part of regular collection).

The Kajal Eye liner glides on smooth and is a beautiful black-brown color. It is very creamy and worth buying. I may go back for this. The bronzer/highlighter trio is nice and has lots of shimmer. Also the All-over Bronzing powder brush was not as soft as I prefer. The Petite Makeup bag is very fashionable and reminds me so much of C. Siriano's style. If you don't have a cute makeup bag for more fancy events then pick this one up.

Overall great collection. I would suggest checking it out before it is gone.....

http://www.victoriassecret.com

Current Reading Material

Sometimes we think we know so much that we forget to update or review our skills and knowledge. So I decided to pick up a few books from the library for review and skills update.

Books I am currently reading..........

The library is a good source especially if you don't want to invest in the books or just want to check them out before possibly buying. You can also get the books through interlibrary loans if your library does not have the books like my library. The two computer books are the ones from my local library. Good reading material... definitely check these books out.

Update and Illamasqua

Hey all my Divas... I am currently reorganizing things and also started a series on Youtube for natural-work/interview/b2school looks. More to come. I plan to do some looks for Halloween starting September 1st or October 1st. Lately I have been trying to clear my computer of large files so I can process my videos faster.

I am not the type to jump on makeup brands as soon as they come out, but Illamasqua looks like a nice brand. I have 2-4 items I plan to check out when it reaches my Sephora store. I think the pure pigment in Fervent and the shadow in Vapour will be nice and different. I have nothing like these two in my makeup collection already. Lipstick in Underworld and intense gloss in Fierce sound too good to pass up also but no lippies yet. I have similar colors but can use backups. Packaging looks beautiful.

Images from Sephora.com

Foundation looks nice but I am on a no-buy. I would order online but I am trying not to buy the same colors in different brands. Again I plan to not buy any lipsticks or glosses until I use all the ones on my vanity. I started with 24 glosses and 20 lipsticks. I am down to 18 glosses and 16 lipsticks. So no lippies. :(

Lately I have begun reading more books on makeup, etc. to prepare for a change in careers. Life gives you lemons so make lemonade. lol) Makeup has been a passion of mine for a long time so why not do more with it. Many people careers began as hobbies, etc. I have done photography in the past also and continue to love it also. We shall see what the future holds......

The Body Shop Products Review

The Body Shop has excellent products and great prices. I have been using their products for at least 9-10 years and will continue to use them. I decided to test and tryout a line that I have been using one product, Seaweed Toner, from it for a while now. The Seaweed line from The Body Shop is excellent for sensitive, and combination/oily skin.

On a daily basis I use the purifying facial cleanser, the clarifying toner and the mattifying day moisturizer. Once a week I use the pore cleansing facial exfoliator and the ionic clay mask.
These products do not dry my skin and keep it clean, smooth and moisturized. The cleanser is more like a cleansing milk but a bit thicker. The toner is great for removing excess oils and dirt. The moisturizer does assist with the face appearing more matte without being dry. My skin always feels refreshed after using the Seaweed line of products.

The two products that really make my skin feel renewed are the pore cleansing facial exfoliator and the ionic clay mask. The exfoliator helps remove dead skin while the mask draws the toxins to the skin surface to be rinsed away. These products do not burn, but the mask gives a slight tingle as it drys. After using these products for over 60 days, my skin continues to be smooth, moisturized and refreshed.

The organically grown cotton rounds are also excellent for applying toner, makeup removal, or applying The Body Shop Camomile Eye makeup remover. They do not leave cotton on your eyes and face and hold their shape, etc.

Also The Body Shop has a Love Your Body club and card. Cost is $10, you received 10% off your purchases and you receive points that can be used for free products. You also get a gift when you come in to purchase during your birthday month. Everyone loves something nice for their birthday. So check http://www.thebodyshop.com/ for more information and updates for the card, club products and prices.

MAC Colour Craft Collection, Look and Haul

If you love mineral makeup then this is the collection for you. Colour Craft collection contains 6 new blushes, eye shadow quads and marbleized glosses. It contains 5 new lipsticks and 1 re-promote from Hello Kitty. It contains 5 new MSF and 1 re-promote MSF. 3 MSF are in trio format. It also contains 3 brushes. 1 new brush the 131, the 226 which is a re-promote from BBR collection, and the 109 which is permanent. I love this collection. It has a variety of goodies for everyone.


131 188 187 in photos

131 Brush looks like a 116 combined with a 187. It is a Duo fibre powder brush that is excellent for blush, highlight, contour, and even foundation. So far I like it better than the 187 and 188 due to flat, tapered shape. I already have 109 and 226 brushes, both I love also and feel are must have brushes. I may go back for another 226 though....

All the Mineralize Skin Finishes(MSF) are gorgeous and can be used for all over the face, eyeshadow, blush, highlighter, and contour. I picked up Sunny By Nature(SBN) a neutral bronze color with pink pearl veining because it was the closest to being matte out of the six. The color is gorgeous also and goes on so smooth. SBN should work on all complexions depending on how it is applied. I also picked up Triple Fusion which favors Redhead MSF when all 3 colors of pink, bronze and gold are combined. I love the three colors of Triple Fusion which can be used separate or swirled together. All the other MSF are great to have if you don't have something like it already.

The mineralize blushes of this collection apply sheer and smooth like silk. I picked up Hand-finish which is a pretty sheer pink with natural gold veining. It has a pinky-coral look when applied to my cheecks. The other colors are just as gorgeous but I picked up blushes from the Grand Duos collections also. They are great as blush, highlight or eyeshadows.

The eyeshadow quads are a lovely pinwheel design and great for travel. I picked up Girlish Romp which has a pastel pink and purple, and goldish peach and white colors. Great summer colors for when you want a nice look to your eyes without bold colors. If it was in my budget I would have picked up all the shadows especially Natural Flare and Fashion Patch.

I picked up Colour Crafted lipstick thru b2m program as I planned. The color is a very pretty frosted pink. Colour Crafted reminds me a lot of the Classy Pink lipstick from MAC holiday collection 2005. Classy Pink was one of my favorites and I have been looking for a dupe since I ran out of it.

The marblized lipglosses are pigmented and gorgeous. Online pictures do not do them justice. I had planned to get Miss Marble or Eclectic Edge but ended up buying Pretty Patterrn. Pretty Pattern is more than just a warm dirty beige. The mixture consist of a nude brown, beige, taupe, dark brown, and hints of pink-purple glitter.

Overall a great collection. If money wasn't a question, I definitely would have purchased all the eyeshadows, 1-2 more MSF and blushes and another 226 brush.

NARS Turquoise-Gold-Brown/Bronze

I decided to play in my NARS eyeshadows today. They are not being used as much as they should. NARS eyeshadows are very pigmented and come in nice packaging. Last color I picked up from Sephora was Tropics, a very beautiful Matte Turquoise with silver glitter. It is not too glittery to me. I usually tap off my brush and get a more matte or satin look. Below are pictures of a look I created and also the products I used. I hope you like. :)












FACE:

• MAC Full Coverage Foundation NC45
• NYC Translucent Powder #742A
• MAC Love Rock Mineral Blush
• MAC Charged Water/Fix+ to set makeup

EYES:

• Urban Decay Primer Potion(UDPP)
• Inner corner NARS Kilimanjaro I
• Lid NARS Tropics
• Outer corner and Crease NARS Galapagos
• Highlight color MAC Provence pigment
• Upper lash liner UD Oil Slick
• Lower lash liner MAC Mint & Olive
• waterline UD Yeyo
• MAC Stud eyebrow pencil

LIPS:

• MAC Viva Glam V lipstick
• MAC 3D glass in 3D
• UD Wicked 24/7 liner