"Holiday-ify" Your Make Up Fast

I FINALLY was able to film today and a few people on Facebook seemed "excited" about a Holiday party look so...here it is! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqKseavX8qo

Christmas/New Years Party Look

Those of you who see me on a fairly regular basis know that I tend to wear a full face of make up pretty much every day.  I've been doing so since I was a teenager and is just what I like to do.  So this may look "normal" for me but I know a lot of people don't do that.  Here is a small list of things you can do to "amp" up your make up for a party/event:


1. Be sure your eyebrows are filled in nicely to frame the face and eyes. (go about %20 darker than normal if you're anticipating being in photos)

2. Powder those oily spots but don't over powder.  You don't want to look powdery, just less shiny. Also, if you don't want to wear actual foundation you don't have to but I suggest covering any blemishes/discoloration with either a concealer of the same color as your skin and powder or using a tinted moisturizer which is a lot lighter than a full foundation and will give you enough coverage if your skin is mostly good.

3. Lashes and Lash line. If you're "upping" your make up you want to be sure your lashes and lash line don't disappear.  Use a darker color eyeliner right on the lash line.  Curl those lashes! False lashes really say "PARTY" and are fairly inexpensive.

4. Lips-it doesn't have to be bright red lipstick for it to say "Christmas" but be sure to put at least a little color there.  Even if it's just a colored lip balm. Nothing at all on the lips makes you look pale and like you're not feeling well.

5. All over glow-a nice light dusting of something shimmery or even something with superfine glitter in it looks pretty but if you're anticipating pictures be sure to concentrate anything shimmery/glitter to natural highlight areas such as the top of the cheek bones, brow bone and inner corner of the eyes.  Never shimmer up your oily zones.  Just makes it worse.  BE SURE TO ADD BLUSH to the apples of your cheekers so you don't look washed out.

6. Make up setting spray if you'll be out for a long time.  (over 4 hours) or for dancing etc.

7. Jewelery is always a nice addition even if you're not super dressed up.  You can dress up any outfit with a few nice pieces of jewelery like earrings and a bracelet or necklace.

 Please excuse the crazy hair today....

I know, I know...I said the eyeshadow was black in the tutorial but it's actually BLUE.  Epic fail..

Christmas Gift Ideas for the Gift Challenged

Hi Everyone!  I've been seeing so many things lately that I would LOVE to have but will not buy for myself because....IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!  Time to buy for others.  And I'm guessing a lot of you are the same way.  So...if you have that woman/girl on your list who needs/wants/can't live without some new cosmetics here are a few ideas from "the peanut gallery".  AKA, me.

Sephora gift card- if you aren't sure what to get OR one of the hottest things going, gift wise, at Sephora right now is the Tarte Cosmetics The Jewelery Box.  It's 99% cosmetics but comes with a lovely necklace for your gift recipient to wear.  It's an amazing value, the cosmetics in the palette are of great quality, all of Tarte's products are formulated without

- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Phthalates 

 and just the eye shadows alone would cost you WAY more than the whole palette.  They are all full size!  A grand total of $52.  Awesome!  Here's the link to the page at sephora.com where they give you the lowdown on it-http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml;jsessionid=NS01RTV0SATD4CV0KQNQX0Q?id=P275305&categoryId=C7010

An Ulta gift card-
(http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/category.jsp;jsessionid=923FFC26344206947C846EDF85B97C65.p-a2-app2?categoryId=cat120341)

Ulta has a plethora of all things beauty including high end brands such as Urban Decay, Tarte Cosmetics, Two Faced Cosmetics, Smashbox and many more.  They also carry drug store brands such as Loreal, NYX, Palladio, Revlon and more.  They carry tons of hair styling tools and products, they have a salon and the list goes on and on.  Perfect gift!

Mac gift certificates-
 http://www.maccosmetics.com/giftcards/about_giftcards.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT792

OR they have an entire line out for Christmas right now called A Tartan Tale.  You can check that out here: http://www.maccosmetics.com/whats_new/4038/index.tmpl  The packaging is all super cute and functional and the products are the usual high quality you expect from Mac Cosmetics.

Gift certificates- for manicures, pedicures, deep conditioning treatments for the hair, any other services the girl in mind may use such as waxing, Brazillian Blow Out (hair), massages, spa visits, hair color/cut, facial treatments or, if you live close to me, a gift certificate for a makeover and 1 lesson on either eye make up suitable for their eye shape, color and age or foundation routine suitable for their skin type,color and age.  $20.  I also have a photographer who will take 1 pose of the woman/girl after her makeover and lesson and give the person 1 8x10 photo.  The package, makeover/lesson and photo, is $35.  If purchasing the makeover/lesson only I will need 7 days advance notice and for both we need 10 days advance to book the photographer.  (she's a busy woman!  ;0))

Another idea for a woman/girl who enjoys curling her hair would be this new(er) item on the market:

This is called a "curling wand".  It's clipless and creates beautiful curls of lots of different sizes depending on the way you wrap the hair around it.  This one in particular is a Remington TStudio Ceramic Pearl Professional Curl Wand.  (the name could be a wee bit longer eh? HA HA)  This one I found at www.target.com for $24.95.  You can get much more expensive ones at places like www.beautychoice.com.

There are so many things out there that are "new" and exciting and "must have" items that if I tried to list them all here...well, it just wouldn't be possible.  These are just a few things to get you started.  Ladies, show these to your family members to give them ideas (they may be clueless as to what to get you and would be relieved to have links and a photo or two of what to get).  Family members, run out and buy them all for me!  JUST KIDDING.  I hope this helps.  If you need anymore ideas please let me know.  God bless you all and have a very Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!