Back to School Intro: Beauty School No Drop Out(Grease Fan)

Hey Divas!

I decided it was time to make some more changes in my life and started school.  Instead of going for my Masters Degree, I decided to follow my passion.  Great decision for my career and life.  I dropped out of the IT world a while back due to conflicts with my true passion in life.  I have also been presented some opportunities as a makeup artist, but they wanted someone licensed.  All of these led me to Michigan College of Beauty for an Esthetics license.  Also I love great looking skin and showing people how to get and keep great looking skin.

So please join me on my journey from Makeup Artist to Makeup Artist/Licensed Esthetician.  I will be writing about my experience in beauty school for the next 5 months.  If you have any questions I will answer them also.

New Kit Products to start off 2015

Happy New Year Divas!

Revamping my kit and set up for 2015.  I ordered new products from TPG(The Powder Group) Store and renewed my membership. First time ordering from the TPG Store and I couldn't be happier.  Below are some products I picked up to up my kit game.

I love my MUFE brush holder so I decided to get the Monda Studio one also.  They look almost the same and are great for small spaces and repacking my brushes and kit.

Next I purchased the Three Custom Color Light and Medium Clarifier Pencils.  They are great multi-taskers for lining the lower inner rim of the eye for a natural look, reshaping lips and defining the brows among other uses. I have great things about these pencils from many makeup artist I admire.

Also picked up Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner.  I first tried it at IMATS Toronto a few years back and it worked great.  I have been using Parian Spirit but thought I would give it a try.

The last two items are items I have wanted for a while but never purchase.  I have heard great things about Alcone Make-Off wipes.  I was sent the wrong ones but after realizing this TPG rectified the error quickly. Great customer service and wonderful people!  I also wanted the Twissor for my kit and picked up one.  That was a big mistake.  I should have ordered 2-3.  This is a great little product.

I also received some products due to a special they were running.  They include Eve Pearl Dual Salmon Concealer which I have loved since I was a part of her team for IMATS Toronto a few years back.  I also received Shadow Shields, Jao Refresher/Sanitizer, and 3 Pencil Me In pencils in Amethyst, Black Velvet and Char-khol.  I can't wait to try these products!

Stay tuned for reviews....   

Monday Makeup Must Have: Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancers

Hey Divas!

I am always in search of the best foundations and concealers for my kit and myself.  If the skin is not flawless in the shoot then flawless eyes and lips will not matter.  I truly believe you have to master creating a great looking canvas first. With the right products, tools and artists this can be achieved. Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer is one of the must have gems for your kit and yourself.

I purchased four of the Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancers(KA SSX) a few years back on a whim when Sephora decided to stop carrying the line(I guess because many consumers didn't know this product truly is a gem).  I ordered SX 13 assuming it would be the best match for my skin.  It is close but a little too red when I am not tanned.  I also purchased a SX 14, SX 15 and a second SX13 for my kit.  They ran out of the lighter shades before I could purchase them all.  At 75% off you know I tried to get them all or at least more to mix and match.

left to right( SSX 3,5,13,14 and 15)

There are a total of sixteen shades, SX 1 - SX 16.  I purchased SX 3 and SX 5 directly from Kevyn Aucoin Beauty at The Makeup Show Chicago this past June.  It was one of my first stops.  I may purchase SX 1, SX9 and SX 16, so that I can have the lightest and darkest plus a more mid color.   

I have used these on various shoots and shows and the models love the way their skin looks and feels with this product.  They mix well with other products also and can be used as concealers, foundations or tinted moisturizers.  You need to use very little to have full coverage(less than a pea size).  A little goes a long way. 

Half my face done with SX5 and SX13 mixed

SX5 & SX13 mixed

No foundation on this side

I have combination oily skin and with proper skin care and after 7-8 hours of wearing as a foundation I have not been oily and still maintain a majority of the product on my skin. As long as these remain on the market I will continue to purchase Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancers for my freelance kit and my personal kit!

Check out www.KevynAucoin.com to find out more out this and other Kevyn Aucoin products.

If you have this product or have tried it please let me know what you think. :)

XOXO
BCB    

MAC Hey Sailor Haul and Review

MAC is one of the first brands that I love and continue to purchase.  The colors, the quality and the fact that they cater to all races, sexes and ages was something I loved from the start.  In the past fourteen plus years some things have changed not always good changes but I always can find something I love from MAC Collections.  The "Hey Sailor" collection is no exception.

MAC lipsticks especially the Amplified Crème are some of my favorites so I had to pick up Salute.  Salute is a creamy nude with a slight peachy tone.  This color is great for my freelance kit and for myself.  So I most likely will cut off the top portion, scoop out the bottom and put that in my professional lipstick palette.  I usually put the top back in the tube for personal use.

Salute

Red Racer and Sail La Vie, both satins are gorgeous colors and nice textures. I didn't purchase them since I mainly use OCC Lip Tars in my kit.  They are great purchases if you can still find them.  Red Racer was sold out at the store I work at 15 minutes after we opened.     



Next I purchased Nude On Board, Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder.  This bronzing powder is long wearing, provides sheer-low transparent coverage and a natural finish.  It wears well and depending on your complexion works great as a bronzer, highlight or as a press powder due to the natural finish.  Both colors are worth purchasing. Plus the collector in me loves the design of the compact.  I never B2M the compacts.  I always depot and refill them.

Nude On Board Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder

   
My final purchase was Barefoot eyeshadow, a veluxe pearl.  Besides Starflash and Mattes, Veluxe Pearls are some of my favorites by MAC.  I feel they have the best textures and the best payoff.  Barefoot is a gorgeous tarnished gold.  This is the one product that I didn't necessary have to have but I am a sucker for veluxe pearls. 

Barefoot

I know many people love to have the highlight powders when they come out, but I was not impressed by the one from this collection and although I love pigments, I did not purchase any since they are re-promotes that I already have and rarely use.  Overall, Hey Sailor is a decent collection.  It has something for everyone regardless if you are new to MAC, or have been purchasing MAC for years.