Tis the Season .... to be Shopping ;-)

Hello my dears!  

I haven't been updating for the past couple weeks because it has been a crazy month filled with weddings, private makeup workshops, and bridal previews, not to mention lots of shopping.  I'll admit it - I'm one of those people who have awesome self control when it comes to money & I am a self-acclaimed savvy shopper ... - BUT - I tend to go crazy once in a blue moon (insert innocent face here).  In my defense, all the money that I'm saving has to go somewhere, right? (I'm sure my boyfriend would beg to differ .... ). 

Anyway, I've been on a crazy rampage lately buying new products for my makeup kit and organizational items to keep my kit streamlined.  I've been getting a lot of bookings lately that require me to do makeup for 7+ clients in a very tight amount of time, so being organized and having everything in its place is very important to stay on schedule & really, just for my sanity.  I'm excited to share some of the items I've purchased in the past 2 weeks with you guys: 


How adorable are these clear pouches with polka dots on them?! Anyone who knows me, knows that I am obsessed with patterns & especially polka dots - so it was a no-brainer for me when I saw these PERFECT zipped transparent pouches to organize my kit.  The best part? They were only $8 for all three! 

Can you say, organized much?  Ever since I got this little magical box, my makeup game has completely changed - I could not believe what a difference this made.  I was always scrambling to find these little essentials in my kit, so having them all in one organized & neat place has made a world of difference.  

Okay, okay ... not makeup-related but who can say no to candles, especially for the holidays?! I scored 4 candles from Bath & Body Works for $8.50 each, which originally retail for $22.50 each.  I told you I was a savvy shopper ;) 

A huge, huge haul from Naimes & Nigel's Emporium!  I stocked up on lashes, a brand new brush funnel & HD Powder from Make Up For Ever, Skindinavia's Setting Spray, some MAC essentials, a powder foundation palette from Graftobian for my male clients, some sponges, a Kryolan mattifying primer, and some skincare from Peter Thomas Roth.  A hefty dent in my wallet but well worth it!  
What have you guys purchased lately? Does the holiday season bring out the shopper in you? 

2014 Pantone Colors

via Pantone.com
Behold, the 2014 Pantone colors!  I'm sure we all enjoyed having Emerald Green as our 2013 Pantone color of the year, but it's time for us to be on the lookout for these beautiful 2014 colors.  Whether it's makeup or fashion, these colors will be sure to dominate every store, brand, and beauty item.  I can already picture myself rocking a Dazzling Blue-hued eyeliner, paired with a Cayenne-colored lipstick.  Hemlock is my nail polish color of choice.  

Color Ideas:

1. Dazzling Blue: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Pencil, "Abyss" - $19 


2. Cayenne: MAC Mineralize Lipstick, "Style Surge" - $22
Photo credits: NotSoFrivolous.com

3.  Hemlock: Essie, "Turqoise & Caicos" - $8
via TheDailyVarnish.com



How-to 411: Amazing Eyebrows

I never could figure out why my eye makeup always looked off -- that is, until I realized that while our eyes may be the window to the soul, eyebrows are the screws that hold that window together.

via Beautylish
 
Here is a simple 11-step tutorial to get you on your way to those beautifully groomed brows that we all lust after.  It looks like Kelley Baker (brow artist in Venice) products were used here, but here are the basics to get you started:
  • Brow Pencil and/or brow powder (to fill in your brows)
  • Spoolie (to brush out the powder/pencil to avoid harsh lines)
  • Angled Brush (if you decide to use powder)
  • Concealer Brush (to "clean up" your brows & shape them the way you like after applying powder/pencil)
  • Concealer (a little lighter than your skin tone, use this to clean up your brows/highlight them)
  • Blending Brush (to blend out the concealer)
  • Eyebrow Gel/Wax (to set your hairs and keep them tidy)
For those of you who would like some product recs:
  • I LOVE using MAC "Spiked" Retractable Brow Pencil
  • Whenever I feel adventurous and want to use powders, I just use the browns in my LORAC Pro Eyeshadow Palette - LOVE this product - I must do a review soon!
  • Concealer - I always stick with my trusty Sheer Cover Concealer in "Light"
  • Spoolies - can be purchased on Ebay, Amazon.. but honestly, I just usually take a couple from makeup counters/Sephora when I purchase my other beauty items
I can honestly say that these eyebrow tips will change your life - I know it sure did for me!

Photoshoot - Daytime Vixen vs. Nicki Minaj-inspired Look

I was so happy to work with Jade last week for a fun pop-up shoot!  *I apologize in advance - we did this pretty late at night so there was no natural lighting - the photos did turn out a bit funky because I took her "before" photo when the sun was still out, and the other photos were all taken after nightfall, with flash. 


We opted for a pretty, smokey yet subtle look for our first set of photos.  I really wanted to highlight her beautiful almond-shaped eyes and create a flawless complexion.
 
After a while, we decided to amp it up with a Nicki Minaj-inspired look!


 
Jade's flawless skin, almond shaped eyes and full, luscious lips made my job incredibly easy.  It was really fun to see how different colors showed up on her beautiful caramel-colored skin - I, for one, would never be able to pull off that beautiful Urban Decay lippie!