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So, I promised that I would deliver a post about what I brought home from the Heatherette launch. Since it’s been out over a week now, I figure this is the perfect time to post. I absolutely adore this collection! It’s fun, it’s loud, and it’s actually very consumer friendly. Like Fafi, you can wear it bold or you can wear it in a more neutral way. This is important for many people because the regular neutral browns get boring, but in some cases - like work - you don’t want to have to wear neon green eyeshadow. Click the link below to see what I got!

Anyone need any wholesale fashion jewelry? I went out and bought a huge new haul of fashion jewelry for work this week. If only I had known about this website!

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A lot of girls like to carry some essentials in their makeup bags for touch-ups throughout the day. I, personally, usually don’t touch up anything besides my skin & lips but I figured I would give a touch-up essential guide for those who may not know what is needed and what is not.

Many times, I see girls with a huge makeup bag loaded with things that they really don’t need to carry around. If you’re using all of the right bases for your makeup, you shouldn’t have to touch up your foundation, mascara, or eyeshadow. In fact, please don’t. Thrice-applied foundation isn’t attractive and neither is seven coats of mascara. However, powder touch-ups are perfectly acceptable and often encouraged.

Here are a few items you’ll need for touch-ups during the day:

• If you’re oily, blot films & blot powder. You more than likely won’t need to add any coverage, just a powder to soak up any excess oil
• The lip liner, lip stick, & lip gloss that you’ve chosen for your look that day. I often keep my staples in my bag, and usually all of my lip liners.
• If you MUST touch up your mascara, use one that has fibres in it like Fibre Rich mascara from MAC. The fibres will just grab onto what you’ve already got instead of clumping and making a huge mess. It’s the best touch up mascara I’ve ever used.
• Your black signature liner & some q-tips. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but black liner on the waterline runs. No matter what kind you use. Waterproof ones are best for staying power… but in all reality, it’s not “natural” for there to be liner there, so it’s only realistic that it’d smudge. Just be sure to glance at yourself a few times turning the day to wipe away smudges and prevent raccoon eyes.
• A compact mirror. Find yourself a cute one and splurge. When you pull it out you’ll feel dainty and cute!
• A travel size brush for your powder. Remember sponges are the devil!
• A travel bottle of your signature scent. Careful, not too strong!

Unless you’re traveling, there’s really no need for eye shadows, blushes, or other items to be in your bag day to day. In fact, this is how things shatter. Too much product in a bag and not enough room.

Do you touch-up your makeup on a day to day basis?

This is my all time favorite look to do. The classic neutral eye is an important skill to have. You can do it so many different ways, but having your skill down pat is key.

For this look, I only use two colors. That’s it! The majority of my makeups are so intricate and complicated (meaning 3+ colors) that it’s a breath of fresh air to do something simple, yet so elegant.

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In the post I wrote about Oprah’s 1st Annual Makeup Awards, I noted how disappointed I was about MAC not being on the list, whatsoever, especially for the “Do-Gooder Award”. So, a wonderful friend & loyal reader Faith suggested I do my own makeup awards! So, here I am.

Please note, these awards are based on personal opinion. I’ve used 99% of MAC’s products, and know which are best for which people - usually. I am human, I do make mistakes. Keep in mind, no matter what I write on the subject, that makeup is trial and error. There is no way to determine whether something is right for you until you try it!

• Best Foundation: Studio Fix Fluid & Studio Tech Foundations
  • Studio Fix Fluid is a matte finish foundation in a full coverage formulation. When used with the right brush ($187!), it can be sheered down into sweet perfection. Studio Tech foundation is a water-based tri-hybrid formulation with a medium coverage and is pure bliss on the skin.
• Smartest Mascara: Plushlash
  • Plushlash has a patent brush that is four sided. Each side is different and helps control length and volume. The thinner formulation allows for multiple layers without clumping or flaking.
• Most Practical Player: Fix+ Spray
  • Fix+ is a skin refresher that helps restore your pH balance in your skin mid-day when it’s off key. It also has humectants in it that pulls moisture from the air into your skin for added hydration. The spring water helps fuse each layer of product you apply to your skin into one layer for staying power throughout the day - think about it, moisturizer, primer, foundation, powder, blush, bronzer, contours… up to 10 layers of makeup into one!
• Best New Eye Accessory: Paint Pots
  • Paint pots have ingredients in them to help mattify the eyelid to prevent creasing. The 8-10 hour hold it has on your eyeshadow is an added bonus as well!
• Chicest Shimmer: Reflects Glitters
  • This PRO product is the ultimate shimmer source! For Heatherette, that is released at all locations today, Reflects Gold glitter is probably the one of my favorites. The Reflects Glitters look white/clear until the light hits them and they reflect a color. There are many different colors in this line, check them out on www.macpro.com.
• Sheerest, Creamiest Lipstick: Lustre formulation, in colors of Viva Glam V, Midimauve, Plumful & Sweetie
  • Lustre lipsticks are the sheerest of the bunch (aside from Slimshines). They allow a sheerer color pay off with a medium lasting power. I usually pair them with a lip pencil underneath for added wear time.
• Most Interesting Texture: Creamwash cleanser
  • This souffle-like textured cleanser is heaven on your skin. It lathers & glides right onto your skin washing away any unwanted substances.
• Best Problem Solver: Moisturelush Eye Cream
  • I’ve always told my clients, “This is a brush, not a magic wand! It’s makeup, not plastic surgery”… but Moisturelush Eye Cream is SERIOUSLY a magic wand! It reflects the light letting the discoloration bounce off the skin instead of being soaked up by the light, thus being more noticible. It also has Oryzonal in it that helps firm and lift the skin and reduce fine lines.
• Do-Gooder Award: EVERY SINGLE VIVA GLAM PRODUCT!!!
  • One hundred percent of the selling price is donated to the MAC Aids Fund. We’ve raised over $100 Million!
• Most Shocking Color (That’s Actually Fun to Wear!): Immodest Mattene (LE), or Russian Red matte lipstick.
• Easiest to Apply: Studio Fix Powder + Foundation
  • This Foundation + Powder combonation is the “fast and easy” solution to foundation. It’s a full coverage and doesn’t really look great on mature or very textured skin… but it’s a really great product to touch up with as well.
• Most Comprehensive Mineral Makeup Line: Mineralize Satinfinish, Skinfinish Natural, and Loose.
  • MACs mineral line all have 77 different minerals in them that nourish and feed your skin with all nutrients that are needed to keep your skin looking so fresh and so clean!

So, there you have it. The MAC-up Awards! There’s my version of Oprah’s awards, with an all-MAC twist!

The day I got my hair colored pink, I came straight home and did my makeup. I normally don’t do a full face on my days off. But because I felt fierce as all hell, I had to! This look features pinks & purples!

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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!

On a day to day basis, I typically am wearing my favorite MAC fragrance combo. I am a very smell-oriented person, some would say my olfactory system is on constant overdrive. The way a person smells is usually what I first notice about them. I can detect a foul breath or someone’s nasty fart a mile away - unfortunately! However, I LOVE when a man walks across my path and is unmistakably delicious smelling.

My all-time favorite fragrance to wear on a day or time I’m not working (if fragrances are worn at work, they must be MAC), is usually Ralph Lauren Romance. This was the first “real” perfume I had ever worn, and Greg picked it out for me. I wear this perfume when I’m going out on dates, when we’re going to the movies, etc. I feel like the majority of girls my age wear much more “trendy” perfumes like Juicy (YUCK!) or Dior, so it’s nice to wear something I love instead of what’s trendy.

For an every day-type of smell, I reach for my Victoria’s Secret Love Spell stash. I’ve got the perfume, the body spray, the shampoo & conditioner, all types of lotions, and the bubble bath in this flavor. I LOVE THIS SMELL! As a general rule, it is best to layer your fragrance when you want the best staying power (much like cosmetics). For best results, start with a bubble bath/shower gel. Lather on the lotion & body butters after your shower and spray yourself with a body mist - be sure to do this UNDER your clothes for optimal staying power. Finish yourself with some FIERCE makeup and a dab of perfume behind the ears, knees, and elbows. You will surely put your lover in a trance with these layering-techniques, no matter what scent you choose. If you like Love Spell, you’ll more than likely also like Pure Seduction.

Lastly, Elizabeth Arden Green Tea. For my first Christmas holiday with Greg, his mom got me this perfume and ever since, I’ve loved it. You know that subconsciously men typically love the same things on their girlfriends/wives that their mother has or at least something similar. Kathy, Greg’s mom, used to wear this when she was younger to keep her feeling “flirty”. Greg get’s a special surprise when I wear this scent because, while I do love it, Romance & Love Spell trump it. It has a very clean, euphoric smell to it - which I love. I learned today that Elizabeth Arden was the first person to open up a cosmetic line in 1910 on New York’s 5th avenue - an extremely popular shopping district. I love going back to the grass roots sometimes, and this scent is perfect for such a thing.

Because I go out of my way to smell good, most days, I love the fact that when my man picks me up and comes in my house the first thing I can smell is his Giorgio Armani cologne. For that brief millisecond, my brain has a slight triumphant orgasm - if you will - and whatever I’m doing is halted by the fact that he smells so damn tasty! My favorite part about this cologne is that not only does it catch my attention, but if he mistakenly sprays too many spritzes - which lets face it, he’s clumsy with his cologne - it isn’t completely overpowering to the point where I can’t enjoy it, like some colognes can get. This is Greg’s “jump my bones” smell. *drools*!

The other cologne that I LOVE him to wear is his Michael Jordan cologne. This is the very first cologne that I ever smelled on him and boy was I in love. When he left for college, I sprayed my entire room with his almost-empty bottle and stole it from him and put it away so when I missed him I could spray again. I have dried roses in some boxes downstairs that smell like this cologne (mixed with that lovely smell of dust, yuck!). This scent is his playful scent. If we’re going out with some friends or for a casual dinner, he’ll more than likely wear this cologne.

What are your favorite scents? Perfumes? Do you layer? What scents do you like on your man? Is perfume/cologne important in your daily routine?

Okay, I’ve made it an entire month without abandoning you guys! I promise this week was slow only because I’ve been super busy outside of work. I plan to have things at my normal pace again this week!

Good news! There will be a contest celebrating my one month accomplishment - because lets face it, I get bored of things easily and I love doing this. Please keep reading for contest rules and note: rules may change at any time - though I’ll give a heads up if they do!

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MAC Cosmetics & Heatherette have collaborated to release a cosmetic launch this spring. Because this collection is so near and dear to my heart - as a MAC Artist and someone who appreciates funky style - I thought it’d be appropriate to share some of my favorite pieces from the cat walk. The Heatherette collection will be released March 27, 2008 at all MAC locations. From double sided pencils - with glitter pencils on one half - to 3D glitters, what inspires the dynamic duo is “glitter, sequins, and dreams.” Please visit their MySpace account and friend them if you share an interest!

What is there not to love about these pieces? The first dress screams runway to me. I love its flare, the color, and the multitude of textures. The second is such a classic prep look. This amuses me because prep is the last thing that comes to mind when I hear Heatherette, so I really like that the duo took a risk with this season’s line. Thirdly, I LOVE this beachy look in the third ensemble.

White is a common theme in their line for this spring - as well as a ton of color, as usual - but I love seeing such a pretty ivory color against these model’s VERY tanned skin. This first outfit is beautiful to me. Secondly, I can’t help but think suspenders are completely IN right now. I think they’re my new favorite accessory and I’m totally on the hunt for a pair! Finally, this black “bubble dress” as I like to call them is absolutely in style right now. I love the pop of color in the cobalt blue top that is underneath the dress. The gold jewelry finishes it off perfectly.

Heatherette is probably one of the fastest growing design teams in the country. If you haven’t had the opportunity to view more of their work, please do your research! And please, for the love of god, don’t pass up the BRIGHT PINK packaged makeup accompanied by silver disco designs on March 27th. I think this is one of the biggest launches of the year - if not THE biggest - for MAC and I am SO getting every.single.thing in the collection and you better be ready for a review+pictures of my haulage!!

It has been a stressful few days. Today, however, was very productive. In the last two days I’ve had off I got tires, paid [most of] my bills, filed Greg’s taxes, went to the MAC Store to replenish/buy new lip pencils, went to the chiropractor (HELLO STRAIGHT SPINE!!! Thank you insurance for realizing the necessity), and more. Next week I’ll tackle getting a new Drivers License (#3 in two years, SHAME!) and getting an oil change.

What experience do you guys have with addiction? Whether it be drugs, alcohol, smoking, food, internet, or something else. I’ve been surrounded by addiction my entire life in more ways than one. I’m overweight, always have been, and can admit an addiction to food along with many other things. My mother has battled many of fights with numerous drug and alcohol addictions (and turns up to lose each battle). I just figured I’d see what you guys have been exposed to in your lives.

I want to be an addictions therapist after I’m done rocking the MAC world. But I struggle to empathize/sympathize with basically anyone lately for reasons that I’ve faced in the family. When your own mother asks you to piss for her random UA drug test, shit really hits the fan. Yeah, don’t ask.

I’m struggling also right now not being able to live with Greg. We lived together our last year of college and were basically blissful. Engagement is obviously around the corner and right now I live with my father and he lives with his mother. We’re planning on buying his mom’s town home when they buy a house, but four months ago that date was March 1. Well… it’s the 5th and they haven’t even looked yet! I’m buggin’ and stressing not living together and being next to him each night. So many options, yet none of them seem perfect.

What are you guys stressing about this week? For once, there are a few stresses in my life besides work. I guess that’s a good thing, it gives you the ability to check yourself before you wreck yourself, eh?! But hey, this time last year I was basically pissing myself with stress trying to graduate college. Oh how life was so much simpler then; and I didn’t even know it!

PS: Anyone else obsessed with Twitter?! I sure am!

I promise I’ll have some posts with substance soon.