Review: Annabelle Cosmetics Skinny Brow Liner

I have been using this wonderful little product on myself and on my clients for the last few years and I must say that I have been more than pleased with it.

Most of us are used to using pencil brows, and we all know the routine..  sharpen, apply, correct, sharpen... and it almost always still looks smudged.. ugh

Say goodbye to your frustrations!  Annabelle has the solution!

This gem of a product takes the frustration out of brow applications..  It is very fine, which allows for a precise application and make brow filling practically foolproof!  It is retractable and it includes a brow shaping comb as well. Some would prefer a spoolie instead, but in all honesty, it doesn't bother me at all.

The formula is matte, waterproof and hypo-allergenic... three words you want to hear when describing a brow pencil!

And the best part... it costs less than 10$ per pencil!

It is available in a number of colors:  Universal Light, Universal Medium, Universal Dark, Universal Ebony, Universal Taupe, Universal Auburn

I cannot tell you how many clients I have turned on to this product. 


Seriously.. two thumbs up!

Review: Maybelline The Nudes and The blushed Nudes palettes

I was walking down the cosmetics aisles of the pharmacy, as I usually do on my trips there, when something caught my eye in the Maybelline display.  Nude palettes! AFFORDABLE nude palettes! (They retail for almost 13$/palette + tax)

So I bought both ;)

With all the hype surrounding the Urban Decay Naked palettes that retail for a whopping 64$ + tax, it is no wonder that there are dupes popping up everywhere.  Other examples are the Coastal Scents Revealed palettes, and L'Oreal's Color Riche La Palette Nude or even Annabelle's Smokey Nudes Eyeshadow Pallette.


At first glance, the color options that these palettes offer are impressive.  You get 12 colors per palette, and each contain a combination of matte and satin shades.

The original palette has a combination of bronzy tones, ranging from champagnes to taupes to golds and browns/blacks

The blushed palette has an array of pinky tones ranging from a vanilla to rose golds to silver/greys and a sparkly plum

Application: 

As soon as you swatch the colors with your fingers, you understand that the color payoffs are quite sheer, especially the matte shades.  The more satiny shiny shades are more pigmented. 

Right away, I would recommend that these palettes be used with an eye primer and a dense eyeshadow brush (or even your fingers) to apply.

bronze palette swatches

blushed palette swatches

 

Final thoughts:

 

 

The colors are gorgeous, it is obvious that they gave the color choices a lot of thought. Most of the shades have a wonderful satiny finish that are easy to apply and easy to blend out. 

 

The variety available in the palettes makes it easy to go from day to night without the bulk of having to carry around a bunch of different pans and the user-friendly-ness of not having to break your head deciding which colors go well together. 

 

However, I do wish that the colors would be more pigmented.  Colors that are adequately pigmented not only facilitate application but also give the wearer the choice of degree of intensity they wish to have.

 

All in all, a good buy for the everyday woman looking for a variety of choices for an affordable price :)

 

 

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Why Is a Bridal Makeup Trial so Important?

You got engaged! You are over the moon and it is now time to plan your dream wedding!

You have the venue, the band, the dress... Now all that's left is the makeup. You find a makeup artist you like and her portfolio seems to match the vision you have for yourself on your special day.  You ask yourself if a trial is really necessary?  

The answer is a resounding YES!

But why?  Below is a list of answers to that question along with some helpful tips.  Enjoy!

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1.  Getting to know you.  The makeup artist is meeting you and your face for the first time.  The trial is the time for her to ask you the necessary questions about your skin type, allergies, likes and dislikes, etc.  There is generally no time on the wedding day to be having those discussions or for her to familiarize herself with your face.  This is also a time for her to get to know you as a person.  For the artist, this will help with the creation of the perfect look.

2.  Do you speak the same language? A person's makeup lingo is very different from a makeup artist's lingo.  Many times, I've had brides use adjectives such as "dramatic", "cat eye", "smokey eye", "light", "dark", "glam"... These words (and many others) can mean two completely different things to you vs your makeup artist.  It is during the trial that you will be able to determine if the words you gave the makeup artist really described the vision you had in your head.  Your makeup artist should be open to criticisms and tweaks you want to do to the makeup on the wedding day.  

3.  Will you like her? It is important to know whether or not you will get along with your vendors, especially your makeup artist.  More often than not, your makeup artist will be the first person you see on your big day and your relationship with her will set the tone for the rest of the day.  The time you spend with her at the trial will determine whether your personalities will gel nicely.

4.  Go out and enjoy.   Do your trial on a day when you have an event to go to.  One where your hair will be done and you're dressed to impress. This will give you a better visual of the makeup and how it actually looks when you're all done up.  If you do your makeup trial in sweats with your hair in a messy bun, the makeup will stand out and you may be taken aback by the intensity of it in comparison to how "regular" the rest of you looks.

5.  More is less.  It is important to remember that whatever look you are aiming to achieve, the makeup artist will be applying with the camera in mind.  What does that mean?  Let me explain...  Anytime you have a professional photographer and/or a videographer in the mix, the makeup artist knows that the makeup has to automatically be at least 40% more intense than usual.  The camera, the natural light, the flash... all of those will wash out the applied makeup in the pictures.  This means that the makeup artist will need to: a) use more makeup than usual, b) use brighter/darker tones than usual and c) intensify the products applied... more than you are used to.  The right amount of makeup will make you look flawless and natural in the photos with all the right parts of your face highlighted.

6.  Take it for a test run.  Testing out the makeup is as important as the makeup application itself.  You want to know that the makeup will last all day and all night.  Getting dressed up and going out after your trial serves a double purpose.  Will the makeup stay intact? Will your skin get oily?  Will you have any reactions to the products? Are you comfortable with the false lashes? Are you comfortable in your own skin with the makeup on? Was it too dark? Too light?  Was it perfect and everything you hoped it would be? By the end of the night, you will have enough information to give your makeup artist good feedback for her to work with on the wedding day.

7.  The details.  The trial is generally a good time to finalize (as much as possible) the details for the wedding day. A lot can be lost in translation when

communicating by phone or by text.  Take advantage of the face-to-face and discuss the pricing, the wedding day schedule and any other important details.

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I hope this is helpful to all you future brides out there 😊

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Am I a warm or a cool tone?

Makeup tip of the day: WARM VS COOL Foundation

Many of us have heard these terms when it comes to makeup, but when we're standing in front of a plethora of foundations, who has the time to think about it and figure it out? 

Here's a little trick: Don't look at the skin on your face. More often then not, our face has a different coloring than our body. 

Cools have have more red, pink-y, blue-y hues in their skin while Warms are more yellow, orange-y, peach-y. A neutral tone is an equal blend of the two tones.

Pull up your sleeves and take a look at the veins visible on inside of your forearms. Are you doing it? Good.

If your veins looks more blue, you've got cool undertones.

If your veins look more green, you've got warm undertones

Another cool trick is to think back to the type of jewelry you wear. Do you look best in silvers or golds? Generally, silvers are more flattering on cool tones, and golds look more radiant on warms.

So what does this all mean? ** You want to always match the tones in your body upward into your face to neutralize and blend.

So, for example, if your face has mostly cool undertones, but you have determined that the rest of you is a warm, then you will be choosing more golden-shade foundations, in order to neutralize the cool tones in your face. ** Always remember to blend down into the neck and decollete!

WHEN IN DOUBT and all of this is too confusing, stick to neutrals. 

Et voila! 

The importance of cleansing your face before bed. JUST DO IT!

How many times have I heard someone say ``I was too tired/too lazy to wash my face before bed``... ``I shower in the mornings anayway``... ``I wasn`t wearing any makeup that needed washing off``...

Hearing someone tell me they don`t cleanse their face before bed is like nails on a chalkboard to me... cringe-worthy.

Anna Pursglove recently wrote an article for Dailymail UKrelating how she bravely decided to challenge herself to not cleanse her face before bed for one month.  After one month, her skin specialist announced that her skin had aged by a DECADE!!

So what happens to our skin while we sleep?
Skin regenerates itself while we sleep; dry skin sheds, creates collagen & elastin, elimintes toxins... And as we get older (inevitably every day), our skin needs all the help it can get!

Makeup and external pollutants create a barrier on the skin during the course of the day, and not washing off all the `guk` on a repeated long term basis can cause more damage than we may have thought:

• prevents the production of collagen and elastin (the stuff that makes your skin tight and youthful) therefore causing saggy and wrinkly skin
• prevents old skin shedding to make new for the new younger skin
• cloggs pores, therefore creating larger pores and acne
• irritants get locked in and can cause allergic reactions and redness
• uncleaned eyes can cause infections and lash dandruff 

Do I need to continue??

It is hard to offer a suggestion of cleansers, because every skin need is different, but I can tell you that my cleansing routine includes Ponds cold cream with a hot face towel followed by a quick wash with african black soap. 

So now that you will all start cleansing before bed, please take the extra 5 seconds to moisturize as well to help keep your face hydrated and healthy.  Your future self will thank you for it. :)

Review: Sonia Kashuk Perlescence Long Wear Creme Shadow

While shopping at Target yesterday, I came across the Sonia Kashuk line of products.  I have been reading some good reviews about her stuff so I decided to give them a try.

I ended up purchasing the pearlescence long wear creme shadow in "Diamond-01" (an ivory-white color) and "Moonstone-03" (a bronzy-gold color)

swatches of diamond (above) and moonstone (below)

Once I got home, I decided to try the products right away.  I applied the colors on my lids - without prepping or priming - and went about my business.

My thoughts?

GREAT little product.  The packaging is sleek and appealing and very very easy to use. Application is simple with the sponge-tip wand, and the product gives you enough time to play around with it if you wish to blend it out, but once it sets, it's bulletproof!  The shadows stayed on my lids even after my shower, all the way to the next morning; after a night of sleeping with my face in the pillow.

For anyone looking for a good on-the-go product to give you a boost, this little gem is a definite must-have in anyone's makeup kit.  And the best part? It's affordable at just 8.99$ per tube.  (Canadian Targets have 30% off makeup products now)

Comes in 4 colors: Diamond, Moonstone, Quartz, Tiger's eye

For the full line of products, visit SoniaKashuk.com 

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Natural vs Synthetic

When choosing or using your makeup brushes, it is important to consider the material it is made of. 

The material of the brush will determine the quantity and the quality of application.

Synthetic brushes are generally made of nylon, acrylic, taclon or plastic fibers and are best suited for cream of liquid products such as concealers,liquid or cream foundations, lipsticks or gel eyeliners. The synthetic fibers do not absorb the product and allow a smooth application and finish.

Natural brushes are made of natural animal hair such as pony, squirrel, sable or goat and work best with powder products such as blushes, bronzers, face powders or eyeshadows. They are more textured and porous than synthetic bristles therefore picking up powder well for a greater concentration of color during application.

** If you have allergies to animals, it is probably best to stick to synthetic brushes in order to avoid reactions on the skin. A good line of synthetic brushes are the Real Techniques brushes by Pixiwoo.

Teny Xoxo

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I've got Marsala on the brain!

So Pantone declared that the color of the year for 2015 is Marsala.  For many of you those words are gibberish.  Don't worry, I wasn't sure what all this meant at the beginning too.. (queue Michael Jackson's "You are not alone" here)

Allow me to help you understand.

To start, let's talk about Pantone.  Who are they and why do THEY decide what color is color of the year?
According to the website, the "Pantone Color Institue provides color trend forecasting, color insights and customized color consulting.  They help companies make the most informed decisions about color for their brands or products to gain a competetive edge.  "

So now that that's cleared up, the next question would be.. What is Marsala?  Honestly, the best thing I can do is quote the words directly from the website. Seriously, read on and I'm sure you'll agree with me.

"Marsala is a naturally robust and earthy wine red...Marsala enriches our mind, body and soul, excluding confidence and stability...Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots emanante a sophosticated, natural earthiness..."

FANCY RIGHT?! The marketing department has nailed it!  I want to meditate, eat, drink and go for a long hike all at the same time!

And I don't think I am the only one that is under the Marsala spell... It made its official debut on the runway for the Spring 2015 showcases and it is everywhere now!  Beauty, interior design, graphic design...

That being said, lets talk about the MAKEUP.  (finally right?)

Mostly every makeup company has been bitten by the Marsala bug.  It's a gorgeous versatile shade reminiscent of the 90's makeup trends.  As a makeup artist, I am signed up to many many (many) makeup-related newsletters and let me tell you... Marsala is coming up ALOT.  For those of you interested, here are some products that have been inspired by the color of the year!

• MAC lipstick in "Sin"
• Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss in "Nomad"
• Kevyn Aucoin expert lip color is "Bloodroses" or "Dantrice"
• Stila Foil Finish eyeshadow in "Metallic Merlot"
• L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche lipcolor in "Divine Wine"
• Rimmel Stay Glossy Lip gloss in "All Night Long"
• Makeup Forever artist shadow in "Morello Cherry"
• Bobby Brown blush in "Berry"
• Nars blush in "Almeria" or "Seduction"
• Sephora + Pantone Universe - Eyeshadow palette, Matte lip cream, Shimmering cheek trio, Liquid liner, mascara and brow highlighter..

And the list goes on and on and on...    Get the picture?

I am definitely looking forward to jumping on the Marsala bandwagon.  And you all can be sure that it will be coming up in many of my makeup looks this year!

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My top 5 go-to makeup products

So today, I thought to myself,  Why not talk about some of the products I actually have in my kit and actually use on myself and my clients. Simple right?  One would think... It actually took alot of focus to figure this one out... lol.

                                             

1.  Kryolan Dermacolor Camouflage mini-palette:  

This is a professional product that was created to correct and conceal skin disfigurements, discolorations and tattoos.  It is especially dense and pigmented (it has to be to live up to its claims right?)  and can withstand water, heat and physical strain.  It's no wonder that it's one of  my go to product to cover dark circles, blemishes and hyperpigmentation.  

2. L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara: 

A staple in my (and most) makeup artist's kit.  Now I know that every woman has her favorite mascara, and will swear by it to the grave - and that's fine.  I am not saying that this is better than all the 100000 mascaras out there, but it is definitely one of my faves!  It goes on smooth, with very little clumping, adds just the right amount of volume without giving you the "spider eyes", and has the most intense black-color payoff you can need in a black mascara.   

3.  L.A Girl Cosmetics Gel Glide Eyeliner:

This gel eyeliner pencil is a game-changer for me.  L.A. Girl has managed to successfully put the wonderfulness of a gel liner (which we all know I love) into and easy-to-use pencil!  Waterproof, long-lasting and pigmented as all heck.  I even carry this little gem in my own personal makeup case for day-to-day use :).   I love this product so much that I even ordered multiples in case my clients wanted have one for themselves ;)

4.  Bare Minerals SPF broad spectrum mineral foundation: 

To be fair, this product is not in my professional kit, but it is in my personal one! Great coverage, long-lasting, and such a light wear! This foundation is definitely one of my go-to products!  The website says that the product is formulated without parabens, binders, fillers or synthetic chemicals and clinically proven to promote clearer, healthier-looking skin. Sooo, win win!

5. An angle brush:  

OK OK I know this technically isn't a product, it's a tool.. so sue me!  But it is definitely a go-to for me!  It's so versatile!  It can be used to apply product, smudge product, to blend product, wet creamy and dry, on eyes, brows and lips!  See what I mean? Totally worth mentioning!

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Why makeup?

Why makeup? 

Because as far back as I can remember, it is what has always caught my eye. 

Because while watching news broadcasts, award shows, makeover shows, red carpets, commercials, tv shows, my main focus would be on the makeup.  Did I like it?  If I did i would try to figure out how to recreate it.  If i didn't, I would try to determine why and I would visualize what I would do differently to make it better.  

Because while driving past movie sets around the city, my goal would not be to catch a glimpse of a passing celebrity, but to figure out which one was the makeup trailer and whether or not they would let me in to watch them work. 

Because there was a point many many years ago where I thought wanted to be a fashion designer, but i would spend more time on what went on the model's faces rather than focusing on the clothes...

Because when I look at someone's face, I can immediately see the possibilities of what I could do if i got my hands on them...

Because I am in constant awe of the makeup I see in magazines, on models and celebrities...

Because I wish I could be as good as some of the makeup artists out there.

Because it is the only thing that makes me want to work harder to be better at it.

 

So why makeup? 

Because of all those reasons and a thousand more. ❤️

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My 3c's. Makeup as easy as 1-2-3!

Most of my clients are women with a hectic schedule; trying to juggle work and kids, and a social life.  They tell me that don't really have the time to do their makeup every day before leaving the house.

Those statements are usually followed by: I have dark circles, I look tired all the time, and I am not happy with how my skin looks... How can you help?

The truth of the matter is, doing your makeup - that statement - doesn't have to be as scary or as time-consuming as you might think!  It's actually very simple.  Day to day makeup doesn't always have to include eyeliner, foundation, lipstick or eyeshadow...

All you need is 3 easy steps to create a more awake and fresh-face and I promise it won't take more that 5 minutes.  I call these my 3 c's.

** before you start, It is important to always start with a clean and moisturised face **

Step 1: Conceal

Cover the dark circles under the eyes, and any blemishes or discolourations on the face.  This step will give you a more even complexion.  You can also use a bit of the same concealer under and just above the brow bone to give they brow a more "lifted" appearance.

Step 2: Curl

Curl your lashes!  This is an important step for *most* ladies, as curling the lashes can work WONDERS to help open and brighten the eye.

Step 3: Coat

The purpose of mascara - the whole reason it was created - is to define the lashes to help enhance the eyes.  The simple act of applying mascara will hold the curl and darken the lash line to help make your eyes pop.

Give the 3c's a try and you'll see that makeup isn't as scary and as time-consuming as you  may have thought!

** For a more enhanced look, add some blush or some bronzer before you go!

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