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!

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!

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!

Fall Beauty Forecast... Dark Lips!

Hello everyone!

My blog has officially been up and running for two weeks now, so I decided it's time to start talking about makeup, and what better way to start than the beauty forecast!

As most of you have probably seen by now, "punk couture" is taking over. In fashion, it's all about black, grey, zippers, studs, leather and straps, SO it's no surprise that the big-beauty-DO this season is a dark lip. Now, I realize that this sounds a little scary and most will not dare at the risk of looking like Morticia Addams; however, I encourage you to try. You don't have to wear black lipstick- try purples, deep reds, maroons, blue, etc. Chanel has introduced their Noir Obscurs collection which entails 3 shades of a beautiful, dark eggplant, maroon, and brown. M.A.C. has gone even further and is experimenting with dark shades that will give you a matte, cream, or metallic finish! (Please note that M.A.C. is theatrical makeup and has much more color pigment so it will apply a rich coat that is true to color- USE WITH CAUTION). Lancome makes a great black gloss called Phia Black that goes on more sheer. The list goes on... you will be able to find a dark hue on every shelf.

I played around with Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry, and I loved it! (they also make another great shade called Va Va Violet) For a glossy finish, I used Bobbi Brown's lip brush with Lancome's Juicy Tube in Icon of Stage.

Remember that this look can be intense so experiment before wearing out. Also, I suggest that you keep your hair sleek and minimal when sporting dark lips

Tips for applying:

1. Dark colors are going to be less forgiving when applying so make sure your hands are steady

2. Put a tiny bit of your face concealer on your finger tip and dab around the edge of your lips to fill in creases so that the color goes on smooth

3. If you're scared to apply lipstick directly- dab the color in the center of top and bottom lips then use the ball of your middle finger to spread the color over the entire lip

4. For a glossy finish (or just a gloss alone) use the wand applicator OR use a lip brush to apply evenly

Welcome to "Makeup As Muse"

Hello and welcome to my new blog! My name is Hannah, I am 21 years old, and I have always wanted to start my own makeup line. I have started this blog to stay connected to the ever-changing cosmetic world as well as all of the people out there who love makeup as much as me! I will spill some great secrets and share my thoughts about new products, collections and trends. Please feel free to comment and enjoy!