Perscriptives Fall 2009 Collection

I have to say that the colors are gorgeous in the fall 2009 collection. I love shadows with a metallic sheen to them. The two pinks are my favorites. To date I have only ever purchased Perscriptives Calyx perfume and none of thier makeup but it looks like that will be changing soon! Especially with the 30% off Friends and Family sale. Remember to use code FRIEND09 when you do your shopping!

Today's Beauty on a Budget Buy - E.L.F.

This morning I got an awesome email from e.l.f. (Eyes Lips and Face) cosmetics offering two items I have looked at before but never purchased. For the low price of only $20 including shipping (yes, I said including shipping) they are offering The Beauty Encyclopedia makeup palette and the e.l.f. step-by-step instructional DVD. Normally these products would cost $51.95 including shipping. But today I bought mine for $20!!!

I know that in the beauty blog world there are some who only use high end, expensive department store brands. Well, I think cosmetics are a lot like wine. I love a good bottle of Burgundy but I also know that there are some great California wines that cost a fraction of one from France. So why limit yourself? The same thing applies with makeup. Use what you like and what you can afford. I love Avon lipsticks (did you know they are the #1 US retailer of lipstick?) but I also love MAC eye shadows. Just remember name brand recognition does not always mean a superior product.

Another thing that I do to save money on my drug store brands is check the Sunday fliers each week for sales. At least once a month CVS has a sale buy-one-get-one or buy-one-get-one-50% off on a liquid foundation I like to use. So when it goes on sale I get two to save money. You can do the same thing to try new products that you may normally not select and save money at the same time.

If you have wanted to give e.l.f. a try too but have been waiting for a great deal, now is the perfect opportunity. Save Now by using code:BTSABE.

Find your Bride Style + Subscriber Contest!

When you imagine your wedding day, how do visualize yourself? An artist can tell you what will look great on you and enhance your features. But choosing a wedding day look is not just about a professional opinion. It's more about understanding YOU and your vision. That's when the fun begins. A bride needs a look that flatters not only her features but more importantly, her personal style. Here is list of the most popular bridal looks. Which one are you?

Beach Bohemian Bride
Relaxed, Beachy, Romantic and Beautiful - She is a free spirit who looks as if she has been frolicking on a beach vacation the week before the wedding. Bohemian bride looks like she is not trying to hard, just naturally flawless, tan and glowing.

Recommended for: Daytime outdoor events

Makeup Ideas: Smooth, Fresh look. Flawless skin. Bronzey cheeks. Lots of individual eyelash extensions to make eyes stand out but look natural. Lips soft pink or soft nude with a gloss.

Hair Ideas: Beachy waves (Jessica Simpson style). Pull a few strands off your face and add
small flowers or orchids for a more bohemian look. Loose"effortless" updo is also an option. Waves are loose and not too coiffed. The idea here is "effortless" beauty. Very modern, fresh, relaxed and chill vibe.

Oscar Night Bride (aka Breakfast at Tiffany's Bride)

























Classy, Elegant, Glamorous and Sophisticated, the Oscar night bride loves the finer things in life. Her wedding will be a grand affair and she will look like an A List star walking the red carpet as she struts down the aisle, all eyes on her. She wants to stand out, play up her features and is not afraid of a little drama.

Recommended for:Evening affairs, both indoor and outdoor

Makeup Ideas: Eyes -Dramatic, Soft lips, False lashes. You've caught they eye of your groom, now all eyes are on you. Your eye makeup is dramatic, defined and can be smokey or done in cafe or plum in the crease. Dark brown liner and false lashes. Lips are soft so as not to distract from your eyes.
OR
Soft Eye makeup, more dramatic lips. Classic Movie Star Look of Yesteryear. Think Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe (Christina Aguilera channels this look today.) Eyes can be soft with a gold or champagne shimmer, classic retro inspired black liner and false strip lashes. Lips are stained in merlot, or a daring crimsonred. This look is not for the faint of heart.

Hair Ideas: Hair is more coiffed, sophisticated and structured. Bigger curls, hair can be teased at crown for more volume and worn half up, half down with some bling on your headpiece or a classy vintage brooch. Classic updos also work with this look.

Earth Mother Bride
Fresh, Very Natural, Earth Mother bride never wears makeup but knows she needs it to look good in pictures. You may be afraid of makeup and don't want to look fake. It's OK. Take a deep breath and we will take baby makeup steps. We promise not to cake it on!

Makeup Ideas: Eyes are soft and natural with soft neutrals for natural definition and a maybe a subtle hint of gold. Cheeks are Rosy or Peachy. You will look healthy, fresh, innocent and youthful.

Sex Kitten Bride
Lots of Lashes, Glossy lips - the Sex Kitten look is pretty, soft and girly – Think Brigitte Bardot.

Makeup Ideas: Eyes can be smokey or dramatic, lashes are a must, lips a pale glossy pink and skin flawless and smooth.

Hair Ideas: Hair is is loose big and flowy with lots of volume and body. Clip in hair extensions are a great option to and length, volume or subtle highlights to her hair. Sex Kitten bride wants to look like a Victoria's Secret model. She is sexy and sensual in a classy way and in touch with her feminine and girly side.

SPECIAL CONTEST Getting Married? Which Bride are you? Or Do you have a different vision entirely? Married? Were you one of these types? Let us know! Become a subscriber and post a comment below. One randomly selected follower will get a special NYX double ended eye pencil! Contest ends September 15th, 2009.

Eyeshadow Application Tips

Eyeshadow is the most important part of your eye makeup, because it can help to re-contour the eyes and add emphasis to them. How you apply your eye shadow will make a huge difference in your appearance. The following eye shadow application tips can help any set of eyes to look gorgeous.

First Things First

The first thing to know when learning about eye shadow application is that you should use brushes to apply the makeup, as opposed to eye shadow applicators. Brushes are a good idea because they help you achieve a specific look when applying the eye shadow – it’s best to steer clear of foam applicators. So when you buy your eye shadows, if the applicator that comes with it is foam, the best thing to do is just toss it and use a brush.

For hygiene reasons, it is also not a good idea to share your eye makeup tools with others. Sharing tools can spread eye infections, even if you didn’t know you had one.

A final safety tip before we move on to eye makeup application: if you ever get eye shadow in your eye, you should gently flush it with lukewarm water.

Eyebrow Shape

One of the best things you can do when it comes to applying eye makeup is to shape your eyebrows. It will make a difference in how the eye shadow looks when you put it on your eyes. This doesn’t mean you have to pluck them, but lightly brushing the brows into shape will help your eye shadow to stand out.

In mentioning the eyebrows, it is important to note that you should never cover your brow bone with deep color – unless you have the guidance of a professional makeup artist for a special occasion. The last thing you want is an overly dramatic look with too much eye shadow. Apply the eye shadow up to the brow bone, but don’t apply shadow on the bone unless it’s a neutral color or a highlighter.

Applying the Color

Color placement is another important detail when it comes to applying eye makeup. Light colored shadows are best for covering the entire eyelid; from lash line to the brow. For the lower eyelid, it’s best to go with a medium shade. The darkest shades should go on the outer corner of the eyes, from the lash line to the crease. For night time wear, you can intensify the darker shades for a more dramatic look.

When deciding which colors to use, it’s best to opt for the lighter pastel colors for daytime and the darker, more adventurous colors for night. It’s not the best idea to wear darker colors during the day, because they won’t look natural and they’ll drown out your overall look.

Blue eye shadow is no longer taboo. Matching the color of your eye with a shadow actually brings out the color. Play up your blue eyes with a shade of blue shadow. But blue shadow isn’t only for light-eyed beauties. Use your eye’s complimentary color to accentuate your hue and draw attention to your eyes. For instance, the complimentary color for blue eyes is orange, and brown eyes contrast with a blue eye shadow. The difference in color can make a subtle but noticeable impact.

When you want to apply light shades such as blue, beige, light green and light gray, first draw a thin line with the help of liquid eyeliner or eye shadow pencil. Draw the line over the upper lash line, because usually the light shades make your eyes look smaller in size.

Techniques and More

When applying eyeshadow, blending is the most effective technique to try. To blend your eye shadow, use three different colors: the highligter, which is usually a very light neutral color like taupe, a darker color for the crease and a main color for the lid. Once you’ve picked out your colors, you’ll want them to blend together well. To do this, you’ll need to apply the light highlight color first, and then progressively add the darker shades. This means first applying the highlighter, then the lid color and then the crease color. Make sure to apply the shadows gently – it’s easier to add more makeup than to remove it.

There are many tips you can use to effectively apply eye makeup. Other eyeshadow makeup application tips include:

• Set your eye shadow with a great primer base. Primers set eye shadow makeup and help it stay for hours. I like a cream primer base like the one from Scandalous Cosmetics, Lumiere or even a shade stick like NYX's Milk works great.
  

• Use eye pencils to help bring out the colors of the shadows you use. Eye pencils are great for adding some drama to your eyes at night, and they can help make small eyes appear larger.

• When applying your eye shadow, make sure you keep the other makeup colors on your face in mind. It is a good idea to coordinate these colors so they work well together.

• Remember that practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the better you will get at applying eye shadow.

• Eye shadow’s chief purpose is to enhance the eye’s shape. Keep in mind that there are two main reasons for applying eye shadow: to add simple definition to your eye or to make a strong impact. This depends on your choice of color.

The trick to applying eye shadow knowing “when to say when.” It’s difficult, when applying neutral shades, to gauge how much shadow you need to apply. Additionally, it will look much brighter in outdoor light versus how it appears on your eye when using indoor lighting or a makeup mirror. Keep in mind that when it comes to applying eye shadow, less is more. Even when using bold colors or dark shades it is better to give the hint of color rather than to look like you’re ready for Halloween.

This Just In! Zoya Polishes for the Fall

THIS WEEKS RAVE REVIEW
I am so very happy with my new three Zoya nail polishes. They came in the mail last week and I have now had time to try them all and I am just thrilled. In case you are not familiar with the Zoya brand let me give you some details. Zoya Nail Polish is the brainchild of Zoya Reyzis who, as a pregnant aesthetician and salon owner in 1984, realized the need for a healthier and more durable solution. Zoya Nail Polishes are free of toxic Toluene, Camphor, Formaldehyde and DBP. Zoya Polishes are made in the USA. Poured in fine Italian Glass with Spanish Brushes. Today Zoya Nail Polish is available at the finest salons and spa's worldwide and frequently receives top ratings in fashion, health, and pregnancy magazines world wide. You can also buy it online at www.artofbeauty.com.

New Moon

So this is not totally makeup related except that I want to get a jump start on creating looks inspired by the New Moon movie coming out November 20, 2009. The trailer mostly shows Bella and super hot Jacob but if you look close you will see other characters too. I love the look that Dakota Fanning is wearing as Jane, the evil minion of the Volturi. I think that may be the first one that I put together. Take a look at the trailer and tell me what you think!

The Twilight Saga: New Moon 'Meet Jacob Black' Preview in HD

Inexpensive Professional Blush Palette

Today I thought I would talk a little bit about my favorite inexpensive professional blush palette. About 6 months ago I took stock of my growing makeup collection and figured out what I was missing. BLUSH! I had 2 colors - 1 Pink and 1 Peach blush.

I had a million eyeshadows and only 2 cheek colors. How boring was that?! So I immediately started to start looking for new blushes to try. Since I am an avid YouTube subscriber, especially to the beauty blogs, I started by watching a video on blush application. I learned about several different ways to apply blush but more importantly I fell in love with the Coastal Scents blush palette I was seeing used.

I immediately bought one. If you want one you can pick one up cheap on ebay here from me because I liked them so much I decided to put them in my store for the same price that I paid for it, $16.95. It is just such an awesome product that I think everyone should have it!

The colors are so pretty and flattering to every face no matter what you skin tone or color. I am very fair and I thought that I would not be able to use all of them at first. I was so wrong. I have used every color now and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them all. There are 4 matte blushes (1st one on the bottom row and the last 3 on the bottom row). The rest of these have a beautiful sheen of shimmer. The color that I really love the most is the 4th on in on the second row. The case measures 9" long 4" deep (23 cm x 10cm) and is matte black. It is very similar to a MAC palette and just as durable and convenient.

So instead of paying from $5-$10 per blush as a drugstore you get 10 amazing colors in one handy palette for only $16.95. It is a great savings and it is the palette I grab first most days.

Stay tuned for more reviews and product saving tips.

MAC Trip

Popped into my local MAC store this afternoon to pick up some Fix+ and find out why I have not been getting mailings for events and upcoming collections. I guess everyone is trying to save money these days on their advertising. The exciting news is that while I was there, I got to swatch the new Makeup Artists' Collection and there are some hits and some misses.

HITS!
The five eyeliners are in new super kewl colors. It seems that MAC may have been taking notice of Urban Decays amazing pencils because Artistic License is a dead ringer for the Urban Decay Glide on Eye Pencil in Electric. (Remember the UD is on sale this week if you use the 30% off code in my earlier post!)

Colour Matters is my favorite of all these pencils. I have never owned a pencil this bright and this chartreuse. It is amazing. If you can only buy one pencil from the collection I think this is the most unique one and I would even say buy two because it will be a favorite.

Full of Fuchsia is the hot pink pencil. I am going to have to try this one on someone who has olive toned skin. I think that reds and pink eye pencils really look great on people with more yellow undertones in their skin and also on people who have brown eyes.

Obviously Orange is just what the name says...orange. I am going to try this one with it's complimentary color, blue and come up with some looks. I will post pics once I have them together.

Graphblack is the last pencil and you probably have a million black liners if you are like me. But seriously, who isn't looking for a really good black eyeliner that is soft enough for your waterline too? Well look no more. Just go for it and buy all five of these pencils!

MISSES!
The lipstick collection. There was not one shade that I saw that made me think that it was totally new or unique or that I "had to have it." I was underwhelmed with the generic use of color.

NOT ON SALE YET!
So you know this collection is not on sale to the public yet. It launches in the US on August 20th. I have an appointment next Friday to go back and play with all the products and pick up the items I selected today, so more news will follow once I have the products home. I will take my camera to the store next week to get pics for the blog so look for those soon.

MAC Style Black Collection (”All Black Collection”) for Fall 2009

MAC Style Black Collection

U.S. Launch Date: September 24th, 2009
International Launch Date: October 2009

Still a month and a half away, MAC’s Style Black Collection continues to create buzz. Slated for September 24th, the collection features a mixture of black shades as well as black-inspired shades (e.g. the mineralize eyeshadows). Are you excited for this upcoming launch? Post a comment below and tell us what you want to try. Being a semi-reformed punk rock girl I myself want to try it all!

From “Back to Black” beehive and eyeliner to Steven “80s” Sprouse-in-the-House kohl and fringe to Gareth Pugh London New Goth, Black is simply beyond. Lips, nails, eyes there’s no more dramatic way to declare your desire, separate your sensibility, celebrate your magnetism. They WILL surrender to a Blackfire Glimmerglass, Rapidblack Penultimate Eyeliner, a slash of Greasepaint Stick, and the hot scratch of Baby Goth Girl Nail Lacquer. Style Black is a way of life, a shadowy and mysterious figure of fantasy, even for just one dark and dangerous night.

Lipstick ($14.00 U.S. / $16.50 CDN)

• Black Knight Creamy true black (Cremesheen) (Limited Edition)

Mattene ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)

• Midnight Media Dense matte black (Limited Edition)
• Night Violet Deep purple grape (Repromote) (Limited Edition)

Glimmerglass ($18.00 U.S. / $21.50 CDN)

• Bling Black Sheer black with gold pearl (Limited Edition)
• Blackfire Sheer black with pink purple pearl (Limited Edition)
• Blackware Creamy true black (Limited Edition)

Mineralize Eye Shadows ($19.00 U.S. / $23.50 CDN)

• Cinderfella Black with silver pearl (Limited Edition)
• Young Punk Black with pink purple pearl (Limited Edition)
• Gilt by Association Black with gold bronze pearl (Limited Edition)
• Blue Flame Black with blue pearl (Limited Edition)

Get more details…

Grease Paintstick ($17.50 U.S. / $21.00 CDN)

• Black Intense black (Limited Edition)

Penultimate Liner ($16.50 U.S. / $20.00 CDN)

• Rapidblack True black (Permanent)

Eye Kohl ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)

• Smolder Intense Black (Permanent)

Cream Colour Base ($16.50 U.S. / $20.00 CDN)

• Black Creamy True black (Limited Edition)
• Bat Black Burgundy black with pink pearl (Permanent at PRO)

Nail Lacquer ($12.00 U.S. / $14.00 CDN)

• Nocturnelle True black (Cream) (Permanent)
• Seriously Hip Black with gold particle pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)
• Baby Goth Girl Black with pink and purple pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)

Brushes

• #214 Short Shader Brush Short, rounded, double-chiselled brush with soft, natural bristles. Can be used with shadow to line and smudge around the lash line and very effective for densely shading lids. (Permanent) ($23.00 U.S. / $27.50 CDN)

Volcanic Ash Exfoliator ($19.50 U.S. / 23.50 CDN)

For all skin types. Volcanic ash (in the form of mineral-rich clay), sugar crystals and natural enzymes combine to exfoliate and remove excess oils from the skin. 3.4oz (Limited Edition)

Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask ($19.50 U.S> / $23.50 CDN)

VATM contains natural volcanic ash to cleanse and treat the skin. The mineral-rich ash works with oat kernel flour to help absorb excess oil from the skin’s surface. A combo of natural oils (lavendar, sunflower, safflower seed and evening primrose) help lubricate the skin, leaving it feeling soft and moisturized. It helps to even out the skin’s texture and leaves the skin feeling smooth and perfected for makeup application. The unique formula glides effortlessly onto the skin, allowing ample playtime. The mask heats up on the skin when used with water and removes impurities from the surface, leaving skin looking radiant and fresh. Use 1-3 times a week. Derm-tested, non-acnegenic and for all skins. 3.4oz (Limited Edition)

URBAN DECAY FRIENDS AND FAMILY SALE!

It is my favorite time again. That is right! The Urban Decay Friends and Family Event. You can SAVE 30% OFF everything from throught August 10thAugust 20th. Just enter "FNFF1" at the checkout where it says "Redeem Coupon." I am going to use mine on ordering some palettes that I have been wanting for a while but just not able to scrape together the extra $28 to $39 dollars. With 30% off I can finally afford them! Also, stock up on Primer Potion if that is what you use for an eyeshadow base. Let me know what you save $$ on when you go shopping & I will post what I saved once I have finished placing my order.


Shop at www.urbandecay.com and SAVE 30% off Aug 10-20th, 2009.
Use Code: FNFF1