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So, I tell my clients that makeup rules don’t exist because makeup is what you want it to be. I do my makeup probably entirely different than you do. So, when I give suggestions - it doesn’t mean that it’s set in stone and you must do it in such a way. Here are a few tips that will help your makeup look crisp all day!

1. Use an eyeshadow base. No, I don’t mean a light colored eyeshadow before your regular shadow. I mean a cream-type base that will hold your eyeshadow on all day. My favorite all time eyeshadow base is Soft Ochre Paint Pot by MAC, any paint pot will do though. You need to remember to keep your base a matte finish unless you wish to use a shimmer on your lid. I typically do the Soft Ochre all over, and then if I wish to add a shimmery/colored base to the lid, I do so JUST on the lid, not above it. If you use only a shimmer base, like Bare Study paint pot, your matte eye shadows in your crease will no longer be matte. Some other popular bases are Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP, Marsadie did a review here!)

2. Which brings me to my next tip. Matte textures ONLY in your crease!!! I worked for MAC for probably 4-5 months before really understanding basic makeup & color theory. If you use a shimmer shadow from your lid all the way to your brown bone, you’re going to lose a LOT of dimension to your eyes. Use a matte shadow in the crease ALWAYS! If this was one thing I had to put as “Rule #1″, this would be it. The shadow doesn’t have to be brown - there are plenty of mattes that are colored. MAC came out with a collection called Matte Squared this last summer that had 16 new matte shadows to add to the already amazing eyeshadow collection. These are the best shadows I’ve ever worked with! My favorite is an eyeshadow called Handwritten. It’s a dark chocolate warm brown. I use it every single day. My other favorites include Clarity, Fig 1., and Typographic. Makeup Forever also has some great matte shadows.

3. Always use liner & mascara. Typically, this is all many women use - which is okay! However, an eyeshadow application can be the best of the best, but without mascara and/or liner, it looks completely unfinished. The trend lately is liner in a cat-eye shape (see my tutorial here) on the upper lid. Some people don’t like liner on the top and like I’ve told others, it’s about personal preference. I typically use liquid liner or fluidline, but pencil works as well. If you’re a pro at pencil liner, more power to you because I can’t do it! My favorite watersill liner is Graphblack Technakohl liner from MAC. It’s waterproof & smudge-proof!

4. Moisturize DAILY! Whether you have dry, oily, combo, or sensitive skin, finding a moisturizer right for your is extremely important. I have such oily skin I fill an entire blot film usually 3-4x daily (I know right, EW!). But, I still moisturize every single day because it keeps my skin looking and feeling amazing. Great makeup starts with great skin, great skin starts with moisturizer!

5. Great skin also starts with exfoliators. Microfine Refinisher is the best exfoliator that I’ve ever used in my entire life. I used to LOVE the Apricot Scrub by St Ives, but Microfine is the absolute BEST! The exfoliating beads are so small that they don’t tear your face apart or hurt when you’re rubbing your face. I exfoliate about 2-3x a week. If you have dry, flaky skin you may need to do it more often.

6. Use a primer for ALL areas of your makeup! Face, Lash, & Lip Primers are essential to perfect makeup. MAC’s Prep+Prime line is amazing. Smashbox also has a great primer as well. It’s important to prime your skin for the makeup you’re about to apply so (1) it lasts longer and (2) it looks great all day long. P+P Lash is absolute LOVE. I honestly hadn’t tried it until about two weeks ago and WOW was I missing out! I have uber long, curly lashes… and P+P Lash extends them to a length I didn’t think was possible! This is a great product for all lash-types. Lip primer is important too because it fills in the texture in your lip - which everybody has - so that your lipstick or lipgloss looks smooth and silky.

7. Wash, wash, wash!!! You work so hard having that perfect looking skin through moisturizers, primers, and exfoliants, so why in the world are you sleeping with your makeup?!?! Cleanse your face before going to bed. Take that makeup off! Coming from someone who hates to wash her face, please trust me when I tell you how important it is! If you’re lazy like I am, use MAC Wipes! They’re soap and alcohol free and contain many ingredients that help moisturize as well as clean your face. A sugar derivative breaks down the makeup instead of soap or alcohol, so you don’t have to rinse after you use a wipe! I literally keep my wipes on my night stand with a small trashcan underneath and remove my makeup laying in bed at the end of the day.

8 . Lastly, but more importantly, please use brushes! Sponges are the spawn of the devil! They’re disgusting. They’re bacteria-ridden. They do a horrible job and blending. Get a brush! I know it’s usually a huge lump sum to buy your brushes that are needed at a makeover. However, if you choose to go with MAC brushes (because those are the ones I’m educated on, and LOVE) be rest assured because the bucks that you’re investing will last you 10-15 years. They’re handmade, too! Brush are the most important tool you can use for your makeup. Ditch those sponges & quit using your fingers because you’re going through at least three times more product doing so! I talked a lot about my favorite MAC brushes in a previous post here.

What are your tips? Do you have anything to add? Disagree with anything? Share your thoughts!

Traveling with makeup has become quite an issue in the United States, since the majority of it is liquid. So, here are a few of my tips when traveling with makeup.

• First of all, DON’T check your makeup bag. Put it in your carry-on. My boyfriend works for Frontier, and I’ve heard horror stories about the way the majority of those people handle bags/luggage. Just don’t do it.
• Pack tissue/cotton balls in your palettes, powders, and other shatter-able items. Then tape the lid shut so it’s packed tightly.
• Use <3oz travel bottles for your shampoos, conditioners,  foundations (though the majority of foundations come in a bottle already less than 3 oz’s), etc. You can find travel bottles this size at basically any store now, but I know for a fact that Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and even MAC carries travel bottles.
• Be sure to pack these liquid items in little plastic baggies!

Along with packing and arranging your makeup so it’s safe for the plane/car/boat/whatever ride, it is also essential that you also take as many products that you need. What is essential, you ask?

• Liquids: Moisturizers, primers, foundations
• Eye shadows: If you’re the type of person to coordinate your look with your clothes (which in my book IS okay), try to plan the type of look you’d want to accomplish when you pack your outfits. This way you can arrange enough eye shadows in your palettes. If you’re a one-look kind of girl that’s okay too, just be sure to take your essentials!
• Lipsticks/Lipglosses: I like to bring my favorite nude lip, a bright color, and a red for every travel occasion. You never know what event, party, or club you’ll be attending so it’s important to be prepared.
• Brushes/Tools: Don’t take your tweezers or cosmetic scissors - or you’ll more than likely be held up at security. Just skip it. Bring the brushes that you absolutely NEED to do your makeup. I would suggest finding a makeup bag/brush belt so your brushes are safe in travel and don’t get bent and shaped differently. Brushes are an investment, as I’ve said before, so take care of them!

If you have any other tips about traveling with makeup, please post them!

Everyone always comments on how great my cat eye looks - and I’m very critical of myself, which is why Perfect is quoted.
So, I wanted to do a small tutorial on how I do my cat eyes. If you have other convenient ways of doing this, please share!
To start, you’ll need the following:
1. #266 angled brush - MAC
2. Boot Black liquid liner - MAC
3. Soft Ochre Paint Pot - MAC
4. Rich Flesh eye shadow - MAC - This is Limited, so something like Cork or Espresso will do as well
5. Modest Tone eye shadow - MAC - This is Limited, so something like Blanc Type or Ricepaper will do as well
6. Clear Brow Set - MAC
7. Plushlash Mascara - MAC
8. Smoulder Eye Kohl eye pencil - MAC
***Please note: You do NOT have to use these exact same products/shades. This is just what I use!

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So, by now we all know that I work for MAC Cosmetics. Actually, I am now a certified makeup artist! This last Monday I had my application certification, which is basically a full demo including liquid liner and lashes. There’s a huge checklist you have to get little check marks next to and if you do well, you’re certified. Basically… to grow in the company, you have to prove that you’re an asset (as in any company, right?) and I think certifications are a way for employees to prove themselves since it’s a fast-pace job. ANYWAYS! I wanted to blog about MY Must-Haves from MAC. I’ll accompany all products with links as well!

First, if I were deserted on a desert item and could only have ONE cosmetics item in my pocket… it would be Plushlash Mascara. This mascara is heaven-sent!!! I used to use Bad Gal Lash from Benefit every single day for nearly three years. It was around $20 per tube. I also used to enjoy Diorshow, which is upwards of $30 per tube. Plushlash is $11 and ten times better! The patent brush is key. It’s four sided… two sides have no bristles whatsoever, the other two do. The two sides that do have bristles are actually different from one another. On one side, the bristles are shorter and more intertwined - this is your lengthening side. I can use this side and this side only for my entire application for dramatic LONG lashes. The other side has longer bristles and they’re more seperated. This is your thickening/building side. I absolutely love the formulation of this mascara because it’s thin. It’s buildable, it doesn’t flake or smudge… and it’s great for sensitive eyes. It’s perfection in a mascara tube!

Another staple of mine is the Prep + Prime SPF 50 Face Protect. Yes, you heard me right… SPF of FIFTY! This means… I can stay outside in the sun for up to 50 times longer than I otherwise would be able to without getting sun damage (important: this does not mean sun burnt… sun damage can happen MUCH quicker). I believe this is one of the highest SPF in a skincare/makeup lines over the counter. ROCK ON! I also love that it actually makes my foundation stay on much longer. I am a grease PIT. Two hours after application, I can fill an entire Blot Film (we’ll get to this later!). Thirdly, one of my favorite features, is that it’s got iridescent particles in it that help even out my blotchy skin. If you’re red in the center of your face (which is very typical) this is the product for you. It will even out the redness and make your foundation look that much more flawless.

Blot Film, Blot Film, Blot Film. I typically have to blot three times throughout the day - let me tell you how annoying this is! BUT… if I didn’t have a pack of these in my purse/makeup bag - I would be a Debbie Downer! At pennies per sheet, these films aren’t powdery so they will not leave residue on your polished skin. They soak up oil instantly (PS: If you’re dry, DO NOT USE THESE! You need those oils!), and most importantly they do NOT wipe/rub off makeup. So whether you spend 2 hours getting ready every morning like I do (be nice, it’s a requirement to look perfect!) or 10 minutes, do you really want to use a film that will just soak up the makeup and take it off? NO!

#187 Brush. If you could only get ONE MAC brush for your face ever… pick up the #187. It’s a stippling/buffer brush. The white hairs are synthetic - picking up just enough product to distribute on your skin; while the black bristles are natural fibers that buff in your product, making you look polished and clean. I recommend using this brush for any foundations that you wish to sheer out like Studio Fix Fluid (my staple foundation, wonderful matte finish!) or a medium coverage that you want to be even more sheer. The baby #188 is a smaller version that I love to use for my creme blushes and well as Mineralize Skin Finishes (which are very popular).

Keeping on the brush category, some of my favorite Eye Brushes are the #224 for blending/crease (a lot of people LOVE the 217, but if you have a lot of lid space like I do, the #224 may be better for you), #242 & 252 for your lid to pack on color, #239 for highlighting, #269 for liquid liner, #208 for brows, & #212 for lining the bottom. There are so many more that I love (and that I have) but these are my faves. For other Face Brushes I use the #191 for my moisturizer or my light coverage foundations because it’s synthetic so it will deposit nearly 100% of the product on your face. I also use the #168 for my blush (except creme blush), contour, and highlighting. It’s angled and extremely soft so it’s utter perfection!

Of course, I couldn’t live without my eye staples. Paint Pots provide a wonderful oil-free base (if you’re oily like me, you’ll need this) that have an 8-10 hour wear and help eye shadows stand out even more than they already do. Boot Black Liquid Liner gives me my signature cat-eye every single day, but because of my watery eyes I also use Point Black Liquid Last Liner on the inner and outter corners of my eyes to prevent it from smudging/rubbing off. It’s obvious that I love our eye shadows - I mean who doesn’t?!

Some of my musts in the shadow category are: Blanc Type & Rice Paper for highlighting (one matte, one shimmer); Carbon, Handwritten, & Rich Flesh (Limited Edition from “N” Collection) for my crease; and some of my favorite lid colors (though this changes every launch haha) are Juxt, Swish, Fig 1, Parrot (Limited Edition), Gorgeous Gold, Bright Fuchsia Pigment (Pro color, sadly I can hardly ever wear it) & Electra.

It’s a little disgusting how much of a MAC whore snot I am. I have maybe less than 10 items in my three traincases of makeup that aren’t MAC. 1% of the time, it’s because I’m required to wear MAC and only MAC while working - and I’m full time - so it’s pointless to buy anything else. But, the other 99% of the time it’s because I just like the quality of MAC better. I’m not a snot in the sense of, “Oh, well that’s Maybelline, I refuse.” Because the 10 or less items I DO have and use are drugstore and I love them… I’m more of just a “I gotta have MAC!” kind of snot! I don’t think I’m a better artist or person because of the label… however I do have to say I feel like I am a better person inside because of the company, it’s standards, and it’s drive to reach, help, and educate those infected and affected by HIV and Aids… HELLO VIVA GLAM! Hello Miss Fergie Ferggg!

Maybe in the near future I’ll take updated photos of my collection and post them. The majority of you will either be disgusted at my “consumerism” (or hoarding, I’d call it haha!) or want to raid my house and steal it all.

Well. Did we learn something? Please feel free to ask questions! However, please see your local MAC counter for the “I’m an NC20, will Electric Eel look good on me?!” because I have no idea, there’s no way to tell besides trying it on!