More About Mascara!

Okay, so the last post I told you all about some of the different Lancome mascara products... all of which I LOVE! However, these are department store products and can be a bit pricey. There are many drugstore options that will help give you beautiful, lengthy lashes for a much smaller price.

First, there is Maybelline's Lash Discovery with the "Mini Brush." This is a very unique product, but I always recommend it. Lash Discovery is actually made to apply mascara to your bottom lashes, which is why it has the mini brush, but I have found that it is a great product for applying mascara to your top lashes. The small brush gives you great control and makes it very easy to comb through your lashes without getting any mascara on your eye lids or brow bone. The brush has very fine bristles, so your lashes are very separated and mascara is evenly applied. This is a great tool for daytime makeup, a quick pick-me-up reapplication or a really natural look of bare eyes and mascara.

Second, I have used and LOVED L'Oreal's Telescopic Explosion Mascara. This mascara has a one-of-a-kind brush... kind of a rubber, spiney bulb! Again, the unique shape of the brush makes it very easy to really pull through your lashes, giving them great length and even application. My technique with this mascara is a bit different than with most.. I hold the wand away from my face at about "2 0'clock" as opposed to the "3 o'clock" position where we normally hold the handle. This will give you a good angle with the round shaped brush to apply the mascara to your beautiful lashes!

Third, I have tried Maybelline's Volum Express Mascara in an attempt to find a comprable substitute for Lancome's Hypnose Mascara. I liked the stoutness of this brush and handle... it was very easy to use, but I did not like the actual product on my lashes. It goes on very thick, as it's supposed to give your lashes a full, bushy look, but it did not separate them well (the brush is straight and flat) so I felt that it made them look clumpy and like too much product was caked on. I took a lash comber to my eyes after applying this product to pull off some of the excess and give my lashes more definition, and I was much more pleased with the results after this second step!

Maybelline also makes the Volum Express Mascara in a "Lift Up" version which I need to try. It seems to be very similar to their normal Volum Express Mascara but it has the arc-shaped brush. This is more similar to Lancome's Hypnose Mascara and will apply the heavy product for thick+full while lifting and separating to give you great show-stopping lashes like those we envy in the ads!

Have any of you tried Maybelline's Volum Express Lift Up Mascara or any others for that matter? Please enjoy the post and leave a comment telling us about your experience with these mascaras or any of your personal favs!!!

Lancome Mascara

Hello All!

I'm sorry for the time since my last post, but I'm back and ready to blog away!

When I interned for Lancome, I was spoiled with their most coveted product... mascara! For the past year I have been using 3 different Lancome mascaras that each provide a different look. First, the Oscillating mascara was my first experience with any of the oscillating products that came out last year, and the stuff is great. You have to apply it correctly, which means holding the button down while steadily brushing it through your lashes (don't wave the mascara back and forth over the lashes), let the vibrations do the work! The oscillating mascara really separates and lengthens the lashes. Don't be intimidated by the vibrating mascaras... you can't even feel it when you're holding the wand and the product really is great!

The second Lancome mascara that I fell in love with was their High Definicils in black. This is a great day time mascara because it really seperates your lashes in a delicate way. Also, I feel like this mascara gives me a great grip to strongly comb through the lashes, really lifting them up and helping to make my eyes look bigger and more open. The brush on the wand is rubber so it stays very clean with each use and really gives your lashes high definition... true to its name.

The third Lancome mascara I used is my favorite! It is the Hypnose mascara in true black. This brush is really big so it gives your lashes that thick, bushy look. I love to do my eye makeup for a night out and then put this stuff on as the finishing touch... it makes them so dark and full! The Kardashian sisters swear by this product and it certainly shows. Lancome has also come out with the Hypnose Drama. I have not tried it yet, but it is an even more intense Hypnose look and I'm liking the sound of that!

Since my time at Lancome, the brand has launched its Precious Cells Mascara. I have yet to try this mascara either but Julia Roberts looks beautiful wearing the product as the new spokesmodel!

I love Lancome's mascara and use their product as often as possible, but it is a department store product and therefore expensive. I truly believe that there are plenty of drug store brand mascaras that will give you lashes as beautiful as the products found at Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus. My next post is soon to follow with allll of my favorite mascaras that can be purchased for under $10 as well as some tips for application and sanitation.

Please enjoy reading the blog and share your thoughts and comments!

In with the NEW

Hello hello...

Step one in my beauty regimen has always been a light layer of bronzing gelee. For the past 3 years I have been a daily user of Benefit's "Talk to the Tan," which I have shared with you all on blog posts past. I ran out of the product recently, but when I went to Sephora to get some more, I was told that they have DISCONTINUED IT!! I started searching for a similar product and luckily have found something that I love! It's Guerlain's Terracotta Bronzing Brush. I am really particular about what I put on my face and there were specific characteristics about this product that make it such a great substitute...

The medium is a light gel that doesn't clog your pores or feel "heavy" on your face

There is NO glitter in the product

It comes off with face wash (not a layering self-tanner)

Also, it is packaged in a tube with a brush on the end- you can directly apply the bronzer without worrying about stained fingers!

It dries immediately, so it's great for the beauties who like to dust a powder, blush, etc. on top. You can order it online or buy it in Sephora. Try this stuff out and please let me know what you think! Happy Bronzing ;)

The Makeup Master

Happy Friday Everyone!

3 years ago I started working in a little boutique in Atlanta, Ga called "BethAnn's." It is an image boutique that carries everything from wild accessories to classic staple pieces...jewelry, handbags, belts, wraps and the list goes on. I had always been a fan of the boutique and BethAnn (think Meryl Streep meets fairy godmother), but became determined to work there because she also started her own makeup line.

The line is called "BethAnn" and although I am partial to the stuff- it is seriously some of the best product I have ever put on my face. Whenever I am using her bronzing powder regularly, I have found that it not only gives me great, natural color but also repairs blemishes! Once you know a little bit about the sage herself, you know why her products are so incredible. BethAnn was a model in the 1970's as well as an image consultant. She established her own line of cosmetics in 1980 and has been a makeup artist with her product since.

If you're from the Atlanta area I am sure you have heard of her name and talent...she has worked with many-a-face. Her style is very real and natural, and she applies her talent with the belief that wearing makeup is about personality. For her appointments, she insists that one come wearing a white blouse and a clean face. She likes to spend time talking and getting to know her clientele (usually with a glass of wine too ;) and then she will start the application. It is the perfect way to spend an afternoon in spa ambiance for glamorous results. I personally believe that because of her method and talent, BethAnn's clients always leave her studio with a fresh face of makeup high lighting their natural beauty and glow of personality.

Her makeup studio is a separate room inside of her boutique and all of her product can be found here too! You can check out her website for pictures of the store and inventory (www.bethannstyle.com), follow her blog for styling advice and makeup tips (www.bethannstyle.blogspot.com), or search for her page on FaceBook. I am currently back at the store, working for the summer and our next big project is a YouTube channel where we can post tutorial videos and interviews with the guru! If you are living in Atlanta, please come check out her store (47 Irby Ave. Atlanta, Ga 30305)... I promise you will be intrigued!


She did Hyatt's, my youngest sister, makeup for her prom. What a beaute!

Keeping Clean

One of the most important things to know about makeup is that you have to keep clean brushes. These are the tools that carry product from the container to our face, so whatever is on them, is going on your face. It is much harder to maintain a healthy, clean complexion if you are applying makeup to your face with a dirty brush. Also, the actual product will not go on as well if it's being applied from a dirty brush (old product makes brush hair clump, colored makeup does not go on true to shade when sitting with old product, etc..). Think about using a paint brush over and over again, without washing it, on a blank canvas! You get the point... There are so many different tips for cleaning brushes and there are tons of different products available. I have just recently tried Bobbi Brown's Brush Cleaning Spray, but was not a huge fan. It did in fact remove old product, but the formula was kind of greasy and it was expensive. The guru does have another "conditioning brush cleaner," which I have not tried... have any of you? Trish McEvoy makes a GREAT product called "Brush Bath" which works the exact same way as shampoo. Lather the product in the hairs, rinse it under luke warm (NOT HOT!!!!) water until it runs clear, and then lay them out to dry. Most of the designer products available for brush cleaning are great at removing product as well as maintaining the health of the actual hairs BUT most of these are expensive.

There are several great ways to clean your brushes at home that will give you the same results for much less. Baby shampoo is a great alternative because it is gentle and not abrasive. Dawn dish washing soap is also a great cleaner because it is a disinfectant and will not only remove all product but also harmful bacterias and germs. Fellow cosmetic junkie, Michelle Phan, suggests using a combination of Dawn soap and E.V. olive oil to clean the brushes. (Dawn cleans+disinfects hair while the e.v.o.o. conditions the hair leaving them soft). I have tried this method, and it is now my cleaner of choice! Also, make sure that when you are using your brushes, do not grab them by the hair... this will transfer any oils, dirt, bacteria, germs, etc. from your fingers->brushes->face!

**The most important thing to note when cleaning your brushes is that you allow them to dry upside down, with the hair of the brush pointing downward. It is so important to dry your brushes upside down because if the water runs back into the brush handle it will loosen the glue holding the bristles in place and also cause a wooden handle to swell over time. The best way to do this is by using "The Brush Guard." It's an expandable tube that slides down the handle of your makeup brush, over the bristles, holding them in their original form while they dry. Once you apply The Brush Guard to each of your brushes, you can put them in a glass, upside down, to dry and gravity will make the moisture run from the brushes into the glass, leaving you with clean, good-as-new tools!

Hello Hello Again

Hello! Summer is finally here, and it's so HOTTTT! With all of the heat and sunshine- PLEASE remember to keep your face clean, moisturized (use something lighter for the summer to avoid clogging your pores with heavy product and sweat) and PROTECTED!! Either choose a moisturizer with SPF protection or apply a separate facial sunscreen on top of your moisturizer. My mom did some research and has found an incredible sunscreen product called All Terrain AquaSport Sunscreen, which you can order online. It has SPF 30 and is very water+sweat resistant!

Just recently, I took a trip to the beach and unfortunately got a little toooo much sun. My face naturally has freckles, but I noticed that after a week in the Caribbean sun, they darkened. So, I have just started using Clinique's Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Correcter. THIS PRODUCT IS AWESOME! It's a serum, and I apply to my cheeks both morning and night after I wash my face. After only 3 days of use, I have noticed a remarkable difference in my skin. All of my freckles have started to lighten and my "sun spot" is starting to disappear. The product is supposed to be used over a 12-week regimen, so I'll be sure to keep you all posted on the progress!

I am certainly hooked on Clinique's new spot reducing product, but my best advice is to protect your skin from harmful rays and avoid burning, sunspots, and wrinkles all together!

Look, I'm Blushing!

Hello Lovelies! I hope everyone is enjoying the warm spring weather and a post spring break TAN!! I think that blush is one of the most important components of face makeup, so I decided that I should share a little info about the process...

First, when choosing a blush, a good rule of thumb is to pick a tone that matches the color of your cheeks after you exercise. This will be natural and give your face a nice pop of color. Swirl a clean blush brush in the compact and tap the handle against your wrist to shake off excess product. Smile, and start applying the color to the apples of your cheeks, then suck in your cheeks (make a fish face) and make brush strokes, spreading the blush up the cheek bone towards your temples. Go back over the blush line, making small, quick strokes downward to blend the product and avoid that 80's cheek-stripe look. Make sure that the brightest spot of color is on the apples of your cheeks.

After applying my blush color, I use a second brush with Lancome's blush in Miel Glace, which is a light, high-lighting color with a slight shimmer. I apply just one little swipe to each temple. This will help to brighten up your face! Also, if I am at the beach and have a lot of natural color on my face- I will only dust some of the high lighter color on my cheeks and temples to really enhance the natural glow.

Make sure that any liquid products you are using (moisturizer, self-tanner, foundation, etc.) are dry before you apply your blush, or any other powder medium, to prevent streaking or uneven application!

Happy Blushing and Enjoy!

A PERSONAL FAV

Spring Break is just around the corner and I've been trying to get in shape for it! But trying to squeeze in a good workout anywhere my schedule will allow doesn't always leave me with enough time to go home and shower/change before running errands, heading to a class, etc...

Having said that, LANCOME'S EAU FRAICHE DOUCEUR has recently jumped to the top of my "beauty-favorites" list. This stuff is incredible! It's a cleansing water that comes in a pump (so no leaking) and it smells INCREDIBLE. I pump the product onto a cotton ball and wipe my face/neck/chest area, throw on a clean t-shirt and I am good to go (I promise I shower when I do go home :)). It is super fresh and light so it does not leave you feeling sticky or oily like many "cleansing products" do. Also, this product is great if you live in an urban or hot environment where you're often exposed to pore-clogging elements (I'm even going to bring mine to the beach!) It is easy to carry and can be used throughout the day.

*Always remember to apply your moisturizer + SPF after you clean your face.

Give this stuff and try and let me know what you think!

A Quick Question?

Hello Pretties!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week and trying to stay warm AND pretty in the cold! I had a couple of questions about different products and wanted to know if anyone had tried them... I was in Nordstrom's over the weekend, perusing the cosmetic counters and noticed Chanel's liquid eyeshadows! At first glance, I thought they were nail polish colors but, indeed, they were not. Have any of you seen/tested this peculiar little product?

Admittedly she's a guilty pleasure, but I really am DYING to sniff out Kim Kardashian's new perfume?!?! I'm intrigued to see what the vixen has put together and regardless of their outrageous tv personalities- ALL three sisters are trend setters in the world of cosmetics. Also, I'm personally in the market for a new scent- any suggestions? I have been wearing Narciso Rodriguez for her but I'm up for something new! I don't care too much for anything powdery or toooo floral. I like more of a musk/cologne -esque scent.

Finally, I just recently saw Neutrogena's commercial with Gabrielle Union for a new product. It's a spot reducing skin cream. I have a freckle spot on my cheek that I've had for a while and I'm anxious to see if this would help it fade... Have any of you tested this product?

I'll be out with a good "how-to" post soon but just wanted to put out some beauty food for thought! PLEASE comment with feedback/suggestions and as always... ENJOY!

Tired Eyes... NO More

Hello Everyone! So, it has been one of those weeks for me where my teachers have PILED on the work... tests, quizzes, papers, etc. and after 4 nights of late studying, I've started wearing the evidence. Luckily, I have some easy makeup tricks to help hide those dark-droopy-I really need to be sleeping right now- eyes!

First, when doing your morning beauty routine, wash your face with some type of exfoliating/ invigorating wash (Many drug store brands, like Clean&Clear make great morning washes). You should not exfoliate your face daily, but once or twice a week will help rid your face of dry, dead skin and expose a fresh layer. Wash your face with warm water and then finish with a splash of cold water, helping to close up your pores and wake you up!
Second, MOISTURIZE! Be sure and use a great moisturizer with SPF, and when applying around the eyes, DO NOT RUB (this pulls on your skin+lids making them sag even more). Instead, use your 3rd and 4th fingers, together, to PAT moisturizer ALL around the eye area. Next, choose an under eye concealer that is right for you. I use Lancome's Maquicomplet in Camee (this product should be 1-2 tones lighter than your face foundation color). Give the area a good swipe of the concealer, and use your concealer brush (looks like a flat paint brush) to spread the product out over the area. I go under my eye, across my brow bone, and in my inner eye (next to the the bridge of my nose) by turning the brush on its side and using the tip. Then, I use Lancome's Maquicomplet in Correcteur to give the inside and outside creases of my eye a tiny dot. Using your concealer brush again (preferably a smaller one if you have it) and gently spread this product in the creases. Next, I use Bobbi Brown's Eye Blender Brush along with her eye shadow in "Bone" and apply the light high lighter color ALLLL over. I go under the eye, eye lid, brow bone and creases. This color is great because it high lights the eye area without using a shimmer (I don't really like to wear sparkly eye color to school or in the morning). Finally, I curl my lashes with Revlon's eyelash curler (available at the drug store). Curling your lashes gives them a lift and makes your eyes look bigger, wider and more awake! BE CAREFUL WHEN DOING THIS STEP and do it VERY slowly so that you don't pinch your lid. I give the curler a good squeeze and count to ten for each eye. It's important to do this step BEFORE you apply mascara because if you have dry product on your lashes and then curl them, THEY WILL BREAK!! After I have curled my lashes, I use Lancome's Definicils mascara in Deep Black. This mascara, in particular, is good for the morning because it wears well all day without chipping and separates the lashes making them look longer.
The greatest cure for dark circles and tired eyes is certainly sleep, hydration and nutritious foods, but these tricks are great for those days when coffee is the only thing keeping you awake!
**This process is a great prep for any normal eye makeup routine and is a great pick-me-up for those who travel often!

Enjoy and please feel free to comment and share your fav beauty secrets!

SPRING into PINK!

Hi everyone! Welcome to all of the new members and thanks for the feedback... I hope you're all enjoying the posts and experimenting with the tans ;)

So, on the color front, the fashion forecast for Spring 2010 is HOT pink, orange, and fun foamy shades of blue and green! With such a vibrant palette for our closets, it would only be fair to give our makeup bags a color punch too!! For the lips, I have started rocking MAKE UP FOR EVER'S Lipstick in shade 203 (the second stripe on the arm below) which is an AWESOME hot pink. I originally bought it to wear with an outfit over the holidays but the color seems to be popping up everywhere now! Good purchase??.... I think so! Any fun pink shades will be great with your spring wardrobe and a pretty way to welcome warmer weather. Light ballerina shades (try NARS lipstick in "Cruising")will work great throughout the day (or even night time with soft eye makeup) and I also like a more purple-magenta esque color as well (this looks awesome with a "going out" face and will REALLY make your teeth look white). When I started experimenting with these colors, I discovered that when I used just a regular "pinkish" lip stick and blended it with some of my darker shades- the results were fabulous!! Use the top of your hand or the underside of your forearm and you can either apply the lipstick directly on or use a lip brush.... you will create your own little palette of COLORFUL SPRING PINKS! This is also a great way to be a Recessionista and find new colors with your old stuff! Please look back to my post about dark lipstick for some fool-proof lipstick application tips.

These are some different shades of pink that I came up with!!

FAKE-A-TAN

It's always this time every year that my skin gets so pale, I can literally see my veins...I am a ghost! However, tanning beds and sunbathing are TERRIBLE for your skin, so I thought that I would share some great secrets on how to fake that tan and sport a healthy glow for the winter.


First and foremost, remember that although most of us do look better with some color, it is still the middle of January and over-the-top unseasonable color is worse than looking like a ghost so DON'T OVER DO IT!
Before I start my makeup routine, I wash my face and moisturize + SPF (this is EXTRA important this time of year as the cold weather and wind will chap your skin)! I give my skin a minute to absorb the cream and then I apply benefit's Talk to the Tan cream. I squeeze a dime size dollop on my finger tips and rub this all over my face like a lotion. This product is so awesome because it is super light, easy to apply evenly and does not shimmer; however, it will stain your finger tips so be sure to wash your hands with warm, soapy water right after you apply it! I use this product year round so depending on how much natural color I have, I will spread some on my neck and chest as well. This product is so amazing because it gives you great color but does not stain your skin or leave lines and finger marks like other self tanning products. After I have applied this base I use a large, soft bronzer brush and dust Bobbi Brown's Bronzing Powder (Medium 2) across my T-Zone (forehead + nose) and lightly on my cheeks. When you are applying bronzing powder, think of the places on your face where the sun most naturally tans... this will help you achieve the best color without looking like a cake-face! Afterwards, I always take a tissue and lightly wipe down my jaw line to get rid of any lines and blend the color from my face to neck. This is a great 2-step process for the winter because you can do as much or as little as you want depending on your natural tones. Talk to someone at the makeup counter when buying bronzing products and make sure that you are using the correct color- you don't want to look orange or too dark!


**Sun is the most damaging element for your skin and the quickest way to a wrinkley face. Always moisturize with SPF protection, no matter what time of year it is... a year without sunscreen is the same as a week of tanning at the beach! It is always better to fake your tan than burn your skin.

There are soooo many awesome self-tanning products out there, experiment with them and let me know your fav suntan secrets!

WELCOME BACK!

Hello everyone and welcome back to Makeup As Muse! I'm sorry that it has been so long since my last blog post, but in honor of a new year, I'm starting afresh and want to invite all of you back! Let the beauty blogging begin....