Personal Make Up Kit Essentials Part 2

Welcome back for the second and final video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOuEobG3nVE) on what I suggest to have in your basic personal make up kit.  Hopefully these have been helpful to some of you.
The battery operated trimmer is called a Lumina and I use that in place of tweezers a lot of the time.  I'm not fond of tweezing and I know some of you probably aren't either.  The only "down" side to using the trimmer instead is the fact that the hair does grow back a little quicker but that doesn't bother me.  You can get the Lumina at Walmart and some drug stores or you can order it here:http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/finishing_touch_trimmer.html.  This site is pretty expensive and you have to pay a hefty shipping charge so I don't recommend getting it there.  I only paid $7.99 for mine in the store.
The next item I suggest is a good face primer to go on under your foundation or even to wear alone to mattify the skin to keep down shine and it will also fill in any large pores, fine lines and the like.  I have tried Hard Candy's primer called Sheer Envy (sold at Walmart for $8).  I'm not particularly fond of it because I have a lot to fill in...ahem.  But if you have particularly good skin you could use it.  I've also tried Smashbox's primer called Photo Finish.  It's quite a bit more expensive but very much like the one from Hard Candy.   I currently use Loreal's Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base and LOVE IT.  Controls shine for me all day, keeps my make up in place a lot longer than just on it's own and it fills in the fine lines and my large pores.  It's $10.99 at Walmart.  (I did a review on this in a past blog)  The Motives brand primer (Invisi-Line) I talk about in the video is somewhat like the Hard Candy and Smashbox primers but a little thicker.  I would recommend this for someone who doesn't need the mattifying feature (you have dry skin) because it's a good primer but doesn't control shine.  I'm going to do a review on the products I've tried by Motives so far.  I have four.
The next thing I recommend is an eye primer.  And that is a primer to keep your eyeshadows from creasing, fading and causes them to go on more vibrantly.  The one I showed you in the video is Urban Decay's Primer Potion in the color Eden which is just a flesh color and is matte.  They have a shimmery pink color one called Sin.  They are $18 for a small and $23 for the large at www.sephora.com.  It's a decent primer, I prefer Mac's paint pots as a primer however.  They come in many colors and do a better job of covering the lid and giving your shadows a place to stick to. They are $16.50 at the Mac store and website ( http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/154/1573/Paint-Pot/index.tmpl) There are also some less expensive alternatives.  Palladio (sold at Ulta and online) sells a decent primer and it's $7.99 at http://search.ulta.com/search?p=Q&srid=S1-5&lbc=ulta&ts=custom&w=*&uid=214136460&method=and&af=brand:palladio&isort=date&view=grid&srt=12.  NYX brand (also sold at Ulta and online and some drugstores like Walgreens) has one but I don't recommend that one.  A primer is a great addition to your kit even if you don't want to wear eye shadows really.  You can put on a wash of your primer and one shadow on the lid and be done with it for a neutral day time look.
This is something that helps keep your make up on your face longer and can be used to apply your shadows wet.  It's a make up setting spray.  The two I mentioned in the video are Make Up Forever Mist and Fix that can be purchased at Sephora (http://www.sephora.com/search/search_results.jhtml?command=text&attr1=mist+and+fix&attr2=&/com/sephora/search/endeca/ui/EndecaSearchFormHandler.search=search&_D:/com/sephora/search/endeca/ui/EndecaSearchFormHandler.search=+&maxRecords=18&recordOffset=0&seeAllCategory=false&searchString=mist+and+fix&x=0&y=0&_DARGS=/includes/searchFinder.jhtml).  The large bottle is $27 and the trial size is $7.  The second one was Mac's Fix Plus spray which is $19 on the Mac website as well as the store.  I like them both the same.  I also use those to apply eye shadows wet sometimes.  It helps keep your shadows in place better than just using water.  Do bear in mind that these sprays have a tendency to give a "sheen" to the skin and can cause a bit of a "plastic" effect in photos so if you are having portraits done I don't recommend using a setting spray.
The next two items are just very basic things you can pick up at Walmart or even a dollar store.  A non-latex make up sponge which usually comes in packs of 3+ and are disposable.  You'll want to use it maybe 3 times and then throw it away as they are VERY difficult to clean and bacteria can build up in the center of the sponge.  The next is a basic powder applicator that usually comes with pressed powder but you can buy them seperately.  They are great for patting your powder into your foundation as opposed to dusting it on and having it sit on top looking, well, powdery.  ;0)
Everyone needs something to define their eyebrows with.  Even if you have nice thick brows you will need to redefine them after applying foundation or tinted moisturizer or powder etc.  They tend to get "lost" and a bit covered during that process.  Brows frame the eyes and are VERY important to a nice polished look.  So even if you aren't going to wear much else, throwing on some mascara, lip tint of some sort, a little blush and defining your brows can really rev up your look with very little effort.  Powders look the most natural as pencils can tend to look "shiny" because of the wax in them.  However, if you have very sparse or patchy brows you will need to use a pencil first and a powder over top to set it and take the shine away.  I use NYC's Browser powder which comes with a wax to hold your brows in place if they are unruly and a small brush for putting it on.  I prefer a thinner angled brush so I use a different one but you may like the brush it comes with.  Very inexpensive at Walmart. I can't seem to find the price on the site but it runs between $3 and $5.  A brow pencil is also very inexpensive and can be purchased just about anywhere in the cosmetics department.  I am currently using one by Ardell that I bought at Sally's Beauty Supply for $3.99 here: http://www.sallybeauty.com/Brow-Pencil/ARDELL04,default,pd.html?cgid=Cosm&cm_vc=SEARCH
Next let's add some ever important mascara to our kit.  Each person has a certain type of mascara that they like.  Whether it be lengthening, thickening, curling and so on.  I have thin, short, straight lashes so I need one that does all three.  So...I use two.  Sorry, it's the way it is.  HA HA.  I use Loreal Panoramic Curl and Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black.  I also use Make Up Forever's Smokey Lash that can be purchased at www.sephora.com for $22.  A bit pricey but well worth the money!  My philosophy is the darker the mascara the better.  It really helps to bring definition and attention to the eyes.
Let's get into the brushes.  For the face I recommend some sort of foundation brush because it helps to get a more flawless application than the fingers and ensures an even coverage.  You can use a host of different things all the way from the traditional flat, taklon bristle brush to a stippling brush like I show you in the video.  A sponge, a blush brush, airbrushing, you name it.  BUT for the basic make up kit I recommend either the flat foundation brush or the stippling brush to get a good even and quick coverage.  You can get these in many many places but to save you time and money I will give you two brands that are very inexpensive and easy to find.  Eco Tools makes great brushes and you can get them at Target, CVS and Walgreens for sure and possibly Walmart.  Also Studio Tools are good brushes and can be found the same places.  One more is Sonia Kashuk that can be purchased at Target.  All great options and a lot less expensive than say Mac brushes.  However, I've not seen a stippling brush in any of those brands, thus the reason I bought mine at Mac.  You can however order a good and less expensive one from www.crownbrush.com.  Great brushes that lots of make up artists use.  If the eye shadow applicators work for you and you feel more comfortable, by all means use them.  I can't get the shading, blending etc I like with those so I use brushes on my eyes.  Some things you just can't do with those applicators such as getting a precise line under the eye or getting a good blend between colors etc.  You can get all the brushes I mention in the video by the same brands I named above for foundation brushes.  The fluffy blending brush to help blend between colors as well as lay down a wash of color over the entire lid.  A soft dome brush to place a darker color in the crease and outer corner of the eye but in a fairly large area.  A pencil brush to get in the small areas like darkening the outer V of your eye and running shadows underneath the eye, a flat eyeshadow brush for patting color on the moving lid.  A small smudger brush to do detail work.  A crease brush to go right into the crease of your eye to help contour and define.  A lip brush if you prefer putting on lipstick with a brush to help get a more precise shape.  Especially for dark and red colors.  The large eyeshadow brush is one of my favorites because I can use it for both patting color on the moving lid and blending larger areas of color.  A blush brush that is soft and fluffy yet compact.  An angled blush brush for contouring the face.  You can also use your stippling brush or your contour brush to apply your highlight to your cheeks etc if you want to do that.  A powder brush if you prefer to put powder on with that.  I prefer to pat powder on.
A good matte bronzer is essential for both bronzing and contouring the face and even the eyes.  Jemma Kidd makes a great one called Show Glow Bronzing Powder in Expose and it's sold at Target and costs between $18 and $22.  There's also a good one by NYC you can get at Walmart and drugstores etc called Sun 2 Sun bronzing powder.  It costs between $3 and $5 depending on where you get it.
A highlight powder helps to bring out your features and highlight things that may otherwise kind of "disappear".  It can give the illusion of having better cheekbones, fuller lips, a slimmer straighter nose etc.  I use Mac's Mineralized Skin Finish in  Soft and Gentle.  It costs $28 at Mac but there are MANY MANY others available that aren't as pricey.  (I got mine for Christmas ;0))  Here's what it looks like in the pan:http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/159/782/Mineralize-Skinfinish/index.tmpl.  You just want something with a nice shimmer that goes with your skin tone.
Blush is another thing that is great to have in your kit.  It puts color back into your face once you've created a blank canvas with foundation or powder etc and can also help the structure of your face appear "different".  A cream blush is best for those of you with especially dry skin.  You can get a mousse blush by Maybelline in their Dream Mousse collections at any drugstore.  NYC carries a good one in a stick form called a Blushable Creme Stick.  They come in several different colors and the formula is very nice.  Mac also makes cream blushes as does many many other cosmetics companies.  Powder blushes are a better choice for us oily skinned ladies.  For a low end brand I really like Loreal's powder blushes.  A high end brand that is great is, again, Mac.  I also love Chanel and Make Up Forever.  A "middle of the road" brand would be the Laura Gellar I showed you in the video.  Her's are "baked" blushes.
As far as eyeshadow's go it's really a preference as far as what you like and don't like.  Some people really like a lot of color like purples and blues and greens etc.  Others like to stick with the more neutral family.  Either way you go with it it's still a good idea to have one or two "base" colors that you can use with anything and to give you a nice blank canvas on your eye to work with.  You want to make sure you cancel out any redness and cover any veins etc that may be on your eyelids.  It also helps to blend your other shadows easier.  Choose a matte color that is close to your skin tone.  The one I show you in the video is Vintage Lace by Revlon and can be purchased at any drugstore/Walmart/Target etc.  I paid $3.99 for mine.  I use this as an all over wash before applying any other shadows but after my primer.
Also on the subject of eyeshadows, a lot of people like to just use a one color "wash" and throw on their mascara and be done.  Cream eyeshadows are good for that and come in a plethora of colors and finishes.  You can get matte, shimmer, satin finish which is nice.  Always remember this rule on your entire face:if you apply something wet or creamy ALWAYS top it off with a powder to set it and keep it in place.  A cream shadow is great but if you don't set it it will slide right off your eye within the hour.  So you can use a powder in the same color family or if you want to layer colors you can do that very easily.  Like using a black cream shadow and topping it off with a green powder or blue or silver etc to give a different effect.  Quick and pretty!  The one I am showing you is the NYX brand sold at Ulta and some CVS stores.  They are $5.99 and have a TON of pretty colors, they're called Jumbo Eye Pencils.  The one here is called Rust:http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/index.php?pf=JEP.
A GREAT investment that actually ends up saving you money as well as time is an eyeshadow palette of some sort. The one I am showing you in the video is by ELF (eyes, lips, face) and was $5 at Target at Christmas time.  You can order them on their site here:http://www.eyeslipsface.com/elf/eyes/eyeshadow/beauty_encyclopedia_basic_eye_edition.  Just be aware that you may run across a few of them that tend to be a bit more "chalky" and need to be worked with more to get them to go on and stay where you put them.  Another great place to get palettes that are inexpensive but good quality is http://www.coastalscents.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm.  They have tons of different kinds, color schemes, ones you can put together yourself etc.  They also have great brushes, face products etc and are super inexpensive.  LOVE IT!  What you want for a basic kit for every day is something that has a good array of neutral colors, some mattes, some satin finishes and maybe even a shimmer or two.  Remember to keep those satins and shimmers contained on the moving lid ladies! We don't want sparkle to the brow.  ;0)
And don't forget a good matte black eyeshadow for setting eyeliner, smoking out a look for evening, defining the lash line and crease for different looks and much more.  I use Carbon from Mac but NYX sells one just called Black that is just as good and a quarter of the cost.  (again, I got it for Christmas.  WOO HOO!)
A nice basic black and a basic brown eyeliner are essential to your kit.  They work wonders at defining the lash line or amping up a daytime look for the evening, for smudging them out etc.  I find that Loreal makes very nice retractable soft and smudge-able (in a good way) eyeliners called Pencil Perfect and the Lineur Intense pencils.  That way they aren't dry, hard pencils and you can't get the color to transfer to your eye without doing a science project to do so.  And again, remember your wet/dry rule!  I really enjoy gel liners but they are more difficult to work with if you're not used to it.
And finally, let's finish off the look with a nice nude lipstick in your shade.  If you are fairly light skinned you'll want to stick with one in the shade family that I show you in the video.  It's called Birthday Suit by NYX and is a great color for any look really.  You just want to find something that is 1 to 2 shades darker than your natural lip color and in the same color family as your natural lip color.  I also recommend a cream formula as opposed to a matte or a shimmer/shine/sparkle.  That way it's not dry and you can add a gloss if you want to add some shine.
Sorry about the end of the video being so abrupt..ahem.  I might have mentioned it's been very difficult for me to get anything filmed lately due to the work being done on one of our bathrooms among other things.  Hopefully the bathroom will be done this week and I can get back to my regularly scheduled filming!  If you have any questions, concerns, need help finding a color or brand or anything at all please don't hesitate to ask.  I have a special "from my heart" video coming up next that I really want all of your input on.  God bless you all and thanks for stopping by!

Essentials for a personal make up kit-Part 1

Hello Everyone,
  Long time no video/blog!  If you've read my other recent blog posts you understand what's been happening.  To recap, I had my son whom has Autism home for over two weeks on Christmas break, then over another week due to snow, then I went to Florida to see my Sister and kids and we've had people remodeling a bathroom.  Whew...a lot has been going on.  BUT I'm back and am hoping to be able to blog and record videos for you on a much regular basis now.  The bathroom is still under construction but they should be done the end of next week.  WA HOO!  I'll even give you a picture or two when it's all done.
  Today's video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0PaUDxAzc) is only 7 of the things I have picked out to show you that you will need for a basic everyday make up kit for yourself.  I'll give you some options on brands you can use of each different thing, both high end and drug store.  It's always nice to have options isn't it?
  First up we have moisturizer.  This is key to getting a good flawless foundation/tinted moisturizer look.  Even if you have oily skin, and I do, you need to use moisturizer.  It helps balance the skin and keep you from getting any patchy dry spots etc.  It also helps keep the skin looking younger.  We'll put it this way-dry = prune.  ;0)  I am currently using Alba Aloe and Green Tea oil free Moisturizer and loving it!  The post before this one has more information on that.
  Next I recommend either a foundation or a tinted moisturizer.  If you've got particularily good skin with very little to no hyper pigmentation, blemishes, large pores, discoloration, different color than your neck etc then you really only need a tinted moisturizer to even out the skin tone.  I am not so fortunate as to have skin like that so I use a medium to full coverage foundation.  If you need help figuring out what type you might need just leave me a comment below or on the video and I'll help you the best I can.  Hard Candy (sold at Walmart) sells a nice tinted moisturizer that my teenage Daughter uses.  It works nicely and evens out her skin.  I know Clinique and Dior also sell very good tinted moisturizers as well.  LOTS of companies do, those are just the two I'm familiar with.  As far as foundation goes, I use Loreal True Match liquid and really love it. Good coverage, doesn't break my face out and works well with my primer to stay in place all day.  Again, if you need help in picking the right foundation just let me know.
  If you've got oily skin or combination skin that gets oily in certain places you will need a powder to set your make up with so you aren't shiny.  I am currently using Graftobian Face Powder in Skin Tone Light.  You can order this online at www.graftobian.com and it's quite inexpensive at $4.49 for a half ounce bottle that is a LOT of powder.  A little goes a long way.  You can buy it here, it's not sold in stores in the US: https://www.graftobianmakeup.com/commerce/product.jsp?prodId=589&catId=2103.  There are MANY different types of powder and I recommend using a loose one as opposed to pressed.  It sets better and isn't as noticeable.  It's also easier to correct if you over do it.
  Then I recommend two kinds of concealer or 1 thicker concealer that you can thin down for under the eyes. One in a "pot" type container that is thick in consistency is best for blemishes and other hard to cover areas on the face and neck.  The thinner, usually in a tube or bottle, is best for under eye concealing as it doesn't have the same tendency to cake and crease under there.  You can thin the thicker one with some eye cream to use one for both things.
  A good pair of eye lash curlers are essential in opening up the eyes and making the lashes appear longer and even fuller.  I'm using the Sephora brand at the moment but Revlon makes a nice one.  Just be sure it doesn't have "open sides" on the top part of the clamp otherwise it could pull your corner lashes out and pinch your skin.  OUCH.
  Tweezers are a must, even if we don't like to admit it.  We all have unwanted hairs in places they don't belong.  Plus we need to keep our eyebrows neatly groomed and get rid of the strays.  (in video two I go over another option for hair removal other than pulling it out)
  A brow brush/lash comb duo is a great tool to have to keep your brows looking neat and your lashes separated and clump free.  You can get these at any drug store, usually a couple of dollars.
  And finally a sharpener that has a large hole as well as a smaller one to fit all your pencils whether it be eyeliner, lip liner or even cream shadow pencils.
  Video two is recorded and will be uploaded tomorrow.  I hope these are helpful to you and if you have questions/concerns etc please leave me a comment and I'll help you any way I can.  Thanks for stopping by today!

The stuff

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening, (whenever you happen to pop in)
  If you read my last post you know I was having a hard time being able to blog or film videos because the children were home for Christmas.  You'll never guess what happened this week.....FOUR DAYS IN A ROW OF SNOW DAYS IN NORTH CAROLINA!!!!!!  Really?  They went back to school for one week and in that week construction was started on one of our bathrooms.  It had to be gutted so imagine the noise.  So no filming for sure.  Then this week, when we have a break from construction due to some minor set backs, the kids are home all week long.  Prayerfully one of these days I will be able to get back to filming.  So for now I have resolved myself to simply blogging all the many things I want to show you.  We'll start with this one:

My new favorite moisturizer of all time!  I have very oily, acne prone skin.  And the older I get the worse it seems to get.  (You'd think it would get better...go fig)  I've tried several different moisurizers, even oil free ones, and they all have made my face break out.  Until this little beauty!  AND, the best part, it actually does what it should do.  Imagine that!  My skin is feeling softer and healthier every day.  It doesn't interfere with my make up application/wear and it smells fantastic.  (in my opinion anyway).  It's a bit pricey for a drugstore moisturizer but it's definitely worth it in my book.  I paid $17.99 at Target.  It is also organic, %100 vegetarian and not tested on animals.  (here's the website if you'd like to check into it further: www.albabotanica.com) LOVE IT!

 The second thing I would like to "show" you is this:

 This is Wet n Wild's oil free eye make up remover liquid.  I have a bit of trouble with things burning my eyes and making them feel "cloudy" when it comes to removers.  And the ones I've found that don't cause those things...don't actually work.  Especially not for long wear/waterproof products.  This does both, doesn't burn my eyes or give me that "looking through a glass of milk" feeling AND it removes all my eye make up.  Even my waterproof liners, mascaras etc.  It has an "ok" smell to it. Not good or bad in my opinion. And you don't need to use a ton.  One of the key features to this item, to me anyway, is that it only cost $1.99 at Walgreens!  You gotta love a product that works, doesn't cause any issues AND is inexpensive.  This is a keeper for me for sure.  

I have one more item to show you but I haven't actually used it yet so I can't give any feedback.  I will definitely blog about this next though:

Claim on back of box:

"This ingenious instant matte will remove shine-inducing excess oil and give an instant matte finish without drying.  Use under or over make up to leave skin looking clearer, toned and refreshed."

 The directions say to shake the bottle and apply using clean finger tips and a single drop at a time.  Apply where "needed", avoiding the immediate eye area.  

 I will be using this today and will give you some feedback in my next blog.  Boots is a drugstore in the UK and a cosmetics company.  I bought this at Target whom carries some of the make up line and now some of the skin care line.  It all looked interesting and like something I might try out in the future and none of it was expensive.  This cost $5.99.  Granted it is a small bottle but if it works like they say it does you shouldn't need much.  I'll let you know.  

  I will be leaving tomorrow morning to drive to Florida to see my Sister and the babies.  (I CAN'T WAIT!) I'll be gone for 9 days but I will be trying to blog as much as I can while I'm there.  Maybe I'll even take you on an "excursion" or two!  Stay tuned.  Thanks everyone for dropping by and reading my blog.  If you have any questions/comments/requests please leave me a comment.
Blessings,

Nicole

The Christmas "Vacation"

Hello Everyone,  I thought I should write a quick post explaining the lack of videos and blogging lately.  You see, I have children.  Two of them and they are awesome.  I love them both very much and wouldn't trade them for the world and all the money there in.  As the title of my post suggests, I don't really count this break from school a "vacation" for any of us really.  With all the shopping, preparing, wrapping gifts, cleaning, cooking, baking, visiting and every other "ing" I can think of it's hardly a "vacation" from anything except quiet.  Don't get me wrong, I am very far from any type of Scrooge.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas!  Always have and always will.  Christmas was always a huge deal in our house growing up and I am the same way with my own kids and Husband.  We go all out with decorating and baking and gifting etc.  But that doesn't remove the fact that it is in fact a lot of extra "doing".

And then there's the wee little fact that the children are home for over two weeks from school.  Day in and day out....all day....7 days a week.....ahem, anyway, as I mentioned before I love them very much and I love having them in the house and will surely miss her deeply when our Daughter goes away to college in the not so distant future.  As some of you know we also have a Son with severe Autism.  If you know anything of the disability you will put two and two together and know that this is NOT a vacation for him.  Routine and structure and predictability are what he thrives on and Christmas "vacation" is anything but that.  It starts with weeks of "parties" and shortened classes and new people in the classroom and school plays and much more that just drive him up a wall.  He really really doesn't handle all that hullabaloo very well.  Then, once that's done, there suddenly is no school to go to for a very long time and our Son is incapable of speaking or understanding much of what is said to him.  So as you have guessed at this point, this is a very stressful time for him.  Which in turn makes it a very stressful time for all of us.

But while it's difficult and stressful and sometimes feels hopeless, God has certainly used this trial of Autism to move and work in my whole family in a great and fantastic way.  And Antuan has come a very long long way from the things he wasn't able to do/understand etc over the years and we know that's the Lord.
So my original purpose in this blog was to tell you why I haven't recorded any tutorials/reviews or written a blog in so long.  Now my main purpose in writing this is to tell you that no matter what is hanging around your neck and making you feel like you can't pick up your foot to move one more step, the Lord can and will and is using that situation to heal you and bring you closer to Him and create you to be what He wants you to be in Him.  And that is what really matters.
God bless you all.  Happy New Year and see you in a day or two in a new video!