Evening Look

I did this look some time ago, but totally want to put pictures up of it. Its a great evening look if you are going for something simple. I only used Loreal's HIP eye shadows and a no name tinted lip gloss. Let me know if you like it :-)

Ttfn, K

The Prep Step!

Ever wake up in the morning feeling good about putting on makeup, so you do your best when applying it, but by the end of the day you don't look nearly as good as when you started? Trust me, this happens all too often and although life's natural occurences tend to have a helping hand, there are preventative steps you can take to help reduce your makeup mayhem.

Prepping
Makeup is a foreign object to your skin's epidermis (top layer of skin) so you need to properly prepare your skin in order to get the best results. Prepping the skin can have many steps depending on skin type, style of makeup being applied and type of products being used, but here is a prepping guide for the most basic makeup application.

Step 1 - Cleanser
Your skin and the environment produces tons of its own dirt and residue and makeup really doesn't like things like that to interfere with its "wearability." Before doing anything with your skin, use a cleanser to rid it of dirts and oils. This will allow your makeup to go on smoothly without the interference of dirt and leftover makeup.

Step 2 - Exfoliator
When it comes to the steps of a basic makeup application, exfoliating the skin is often overlooked. Now don't get me wrong, every time you put on makeup, you don't need to exfoliate (unless extremely necessary) but it will help to remove dry, flaky skin which foundation most certainly doesn't like. Remember, foundation hates dry skin.

After your cleansing and exfoliating, you are 1/2 way done! Next step? Tone-- and I don't mean singing :-)

Step 3 - Toner
I think toner is often misconstrued to be a harsh chemical that dries the skin out. And although certain toners are capable of making the skin drier (depending on skin type, skin sensitivities etc.) toner is a great product to use when your skin is really oily. Toner helps to minimize your pores and remove oils so foundation can go on evenly and smoothly as well as last all day. I mentioned foundation doesn't like dry skin and your skin does produce its own oils, but your skin's oils don't absorb the foundation, therefore making it harder to keep on and force's you to reapply over and over again. Using toner balances out the skin's Ph levels in order to lessen oils and helps when moving on to our next step. If you did have to exfoliate the skin first, be careful with the type and amount of toner you use. The skin can be very sensitive and you don't want to experience burning or redness.

Step 4 - Moisturizer
Soooo you've cleansed, exfoliated and toned and your just about ready to pass out (giggles). Don't worry you are almost done! Up next, probably one of the easiest is to apply --moisturizer. You want to hydrate your skin and apply a layer of product that will really absorb the foundation. Simply cover the skin, going over extra dry areas twice, to give your skin the moisture it needs.

The Forgotten Step--Lip Balm
People normally stop at the skin forgetting the skin on the lips is very important as well when it comes to long lasting makeup. You don't want to apply your favorite lip stick and your lips are dry and cracked--it most certainly will show! To avoid that, apply lip balm to your lips before starting on the rest of your face. The time between applying the lip balm and actually applying lipstick should be more than enough time to allow the lip balm to soak into the skin and give your lips a fresh and hydrating look.

Now don't get me wrong, this prepping method can change drastically. Some people may need to add additional steps, others may need to take out. Get to know your skin and find out what works best for you.

Stay pretty,
K

Like the Ocean... :-)

Heeeey!

Sooooo, sometimes I want to wear drastic makeup for absolutely no reason... It helps me express my inner feelings lol

Either way-- I was off to a baby shower and wanted to look faboo!

Sorry the lighting isn't the greatest, but trust me-- I looked fly!

I also added more pics and listed the products I used below! :-)

Ttfn,
K



Products
Eyes: MAC's Painterly cream color base; Glamour Doll loose pigment in Blueberry Lush; Urban Decay shadow in Adore; Urban Decay shadow in Flipside
Brow highlight: Stila's shadow in Kitten
Eyeliner: MAC's Black Tracks (top); Urban Decay's glitter liner in Distortion (bottom); Stila's convertible color eyeliner in Onyx (bottom)
Lashes: Elite strip lashes

Cheeks: Graftobian's cream blush in Raspberry Wine
Lips: MAC's lip gloss (clear)

My Recent Makeup Venture

Lookie! I am finally posting pics of the different looks I've been creating-- I'm so excited! I am really going to post as often as I can.

This pic is one of my most recent looks.... My gorgeous make up models are sporting "opposites"... On the left: bright eyes, nude lip; On the right: light eyes, bright lip.

I listed all the products I used below. Got a specific look you want to see? Let me know!

Products
Model on the left
Face: MAC face and body foundation N9; MAC's bronze pressed powder
Eyes: Senna eye shadows in Peacock, Artique and Sea Lilly
Eye liner: MAC's cake liner in black; Makeup Forever eyeliner in black (bottom)
Brow highlight: Stila's shadow in Kitten
Lashes: Strip lashes (Revlon-medium)
Cheeks: Graftobian cream blush in Autumn Breeze
Bronzer: Stila (bronze)
Lip: Smashbox's reflection gloss for high shine
Finish: MAC's finishing Mist

Model on the right
Face: MAC face and body foundation N9 mixed with Smashbox concealer in medium; MAC's bronze pressed powder
Eyes: MAC's Painterly cream color base; MAC shadows in medium brown and blanc type
Eye liner: MAC's Black tracks liner in black; Makeup Forever eyeliner in black (bottom)
Brow highlight: Stila's shadow in Kitten
Lashes: Elite Individual (short and medium)
Cheeks: Graftobian cream blush in Raspberry wine
Bronzer: Stila (bronze)
Lip: MAC's Ruby Woo lip stick mixed with Inglot's plum lipstick; Smashbox's reflection gloss for high shine
Finish: MAC's finishing mist

RIP "Ban This" Lipgloss

RIP MAC's "Ban This" 10/14/2010

I've really been stuck on buying lip colors and had to do a post in remembrance of my MAC lipgloss in "Ban This." I lost it a few weeks ago and my life has not been the same (sighs). I will get a replacement soon, but I will never forget the true happiness I felt when I first purchased this gloss during NYC's Fashion Night Out.

Until next time,
Ttfn
K