Low Maint Luciousness

For me, there is work cute...and there is weekend cute. Two tooooootally different things.


I am soooo NOTTTTT a morning person. I really think I could be one...IF I didn't have what's known to most people as a JOB. Therefore, my "morning" would start around 7 and I'd have nowhere to be until the mall opened at 10:00 or yoga started at 4:30. HOWEVER, my life revolves around hitting snooze a bunch of times, showering, sugar scrubbing, shaving, drying, off, lotioning, MINIMAL makeup application, throwing on some random outfit and leaving...all within about 30 minutes. I am an accountant and sorry, my laptop screen is not worthy of a one-hour makeup application. I've gotten my workday regime down to 5 minutes. Not saying I look near as cute as I could if I spent the hour, but I feel pretty good considering it only took me five mins! IF you are looking for a 5 minute work makeup regime, meet my army:

#1) Foundation or Pressed Powder. Fine one that works for you and rock it. Buy whatever tool it takes to make it look awesome. It will save you time and you'll be getting full use out of the product.

#2) SPARKLY EYE SHADOW PRIMER. If you are going all out and wearing eyeshadow to work (go girl!), pick a primer that is matte (e.g. Too Faced). If you're rollin' all casual/workish, wear an awesome sparklyish primer as your eyeshadow. This is what I do every day. It brightens your eyes and makes you look more alive! :) All good things! Plus it only takes like 15 seconds. Yay! I had two favorites until today when they became KICKED TO THE CURB: remember I told you about the Sephora samples??? My deluxe sample this time was Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin ($17). = TRUE LOVE!



It's like a really thin champagne color with a little bit of sparkle. I love the wand; it's almost like a lip gloss wand! I use the wand to put it all over the lid, then blend it (delicately) with my ring finger. Taaaa-daaa! I also do a thin line under my lower lashes and blend out a little bit with my ring finger (barely touching it). This second step is optional :) Another sparkly primer I dig is Chanel Ombre D'Eau Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow in Delta ($32). Pretty much the same thing but not as quite easy to use as the Urban Decay and I like the Urban Decay formula mucho better. This is a PERFECT summer look when you don't feel like dragging out the shadows. During Iowa summers, we need to waste NOT our precious outside time primpin' in the bathroom. Before we know it, we'll be scrapin' ice off our windshields again. Ugh!

#3) Mascara!!!!!!!! Get comfy with thick mascara and use LOTS OF IT. :) Big mascara = big eyes. I've discussed on the blog before but my current faves are MAC Plush Lash and Lancome Hypnose. :) I counted today and I do at least 30 strokes on each eye's top lashes and at least 15 on the bottom. My mascara takes me way longer than everything else combined.

#4) Blush! Find an awesome blush you can't live without and an awesome blush brush to be your new blush's BFF. See Thursday's blog for an orgasmic blush recommendation :) :) My fave blush brush is still Chanel's #7.

#5) Some type of fabulous lipstick or gloss (I do this in the car)! I had a "must-have" neutral recommendation in Thursdays's blog. BUT if you are wearing more of a pink blush, like my other favorite blush, NARS Mata Hari ($25), by all means please wear this awesomely awesome Lancome's Color Fever Gloss in Volcanic Pink ($25).

Agreed. It does look semi-hideous. But you will LOVE IT!!!! Let it be known this is the VERY FIRST makeup item my husband has every complimented me on. He's a typical guy so he just doesn't care/notice makeup (unless it involves disorganization in my makeup cabinet - then his OCD kicks in). He goes, "I really like that lipstick on you." Ha! I about DIED. So now I try to wear it as often as possible when we go out to see if he'll say it again. :) He never does :( Oh well! ha.

So, that's it! :) It took me much longer to write this blog post than to use my regime.

Is this helpful whatsoever? Ridiculously boring? Mega-lame? I hope not!

Until next time, "Just Hold On Loosely, but don't let go... If you cling too tight babe, you're gonna loose control. Your baby needs someone to believe in...And a whole lot of SPACE to breathe in..." (As performed by 38 Special)

MUCHO AMOUNTS OF LOVE! :)

xoxo,

~ann~

The Big O

Yah, the big O...I said it. This is a grown up blog. :)

I mentioned in a prior post that I'll forever mourn the discontinuance (waaaaahhh!) of my beloved Chanel Fantasia blush. R.I.P.!! In this pic, it's the pinkish peachish gorgeousness on the left...

But, alas...another day, another dollar, and seriously it's time to move on. I mean they discontinued it like three years ago. Eventually my stockpile from Ebay will run out. And I really need to save one just for brides b/c it's a great bride color. I've been crawling through the trenches (i.e. at makeup counters and online), desparately searching for something similar but a maybe little more pink, little less peach...or maybe the other way around...I don't know...

Anyway, I've mentioned being a big fan of Sephora's lists Best of Sephora 2008, Best of Sephora 2007, whatever year you wish. Just type in Best of Sephora 2008 (or whatever year you want) in the search box of Sephora.com and you'll find the lists! It's so interesting to click around, see their picks (obviously they know what they're talking about) and read the reviews.

Yahhh, sooooo...I was about to search Ebay (again) for more Fantasia when...

"That's when I saw her, ooo I saw her, she walked in through the out door out door..." (Prince)

Best of Sephora 2008 Winner for Cheeks:

Behold NARS Blush in Orgasm *<--click that link!* ($25). OMG!!!! Apparently, this blush has been the "cheeks winner" for FIVE straight years!!!! Who am I to say Sephora doesn't know their stuff? Of course they were RIGHT, of course I LOVE IT! Here's what the Sephora description says (other than "BUY ME!! BUY ME!!! SERIOUSLY!!!!"):

What else you need to know:
Designed to be worn alone or layered together for more depth, NARS Blush provides a healthy glow to flatter any skintone.
.
-Orgasm Blush:Winner of best of Sephora for the past 5 years! NARS Orgasm makes cheeks blush a perfect pinky-peach flush and subtly highlights with accents of golden shimmer. The perennially pleasing, universally flattering shade is again and again a makeup artist and beauty editor favorite.
.
It's awesome, I agree! I can't imagine who this blush wouldn't look great on...similar to my beloved Fantasia! I love you NARS! I have another blush of theirs that I adore, too.
.
Until next time, "She wore a RAAASSSSPBERRY BERET. The kind you find in a second hand store..." (Prince, obviously, again). :)
.
Much love,
~ann~
P.S. This blush goes awesomely with a couple products I mentioned in my first blog: Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip lip pencil in Rosewood 2C $17. Lightly line your lips then color them in with the pencil, too. You may not think you're a "lip liner type of gal", but trust me on this: you are! It just takes a little practice. Just start by lining lightly, then make it darker as you improve. Anyway, so after you color it in, cover it with Stila Plumping Lip Glaze in Melon Mint $24. Voila! God, I love these two products together! If you want to know what they look like, see pic in my first blog.

P.P.S. All of the above suggestions will work on EVERYONE. These are all gorgeous neutral colors that are great for summer or any season. :) Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!! For a quick summer look, use the blush, pencil and glaze with a bunch of mascara and HELLO, BEAUTY QUEEN!!!

Yo, Yves!

Warning: Emilene, do not read! :)


So here's the deal: Sephora doesn't know me. But I tell everyone how wonderful Sephora is ALL THE TIME. Why? Because they are. Freakin' geniuses.

When you buy stuff from Sephora, for some reason you get to pick 3 free samples of whatever. They have tons of options. Also, if you're a "member" you get to pick a "deluxe sample," which I think means a bigger version than a normal sample. Does this make sense? I usually just click whatever but this time I really thought about it, realizing the blog/helpful potential!

Alright. So one thing I must have selected for a sample was Yves Saint Laurent's "elle" fragrance. I put this baby on at 7:00 this a.m. and it's 10:53 p.m. and it's in my shopping cart and I'm ordering it as soon as I hit "Publish Post" on this blog. I HAD TO HAVE IT. I've been trying to be in a bad mood all day (bc of school) but I can't because I keep smelling this perfume and it makes me happier! :) Also, it has woodsy undertones which I didn't think was my gig UNTIL NOW. I want to marry this perfume.

Here is what the description says:

elle Yves Saint Laurent Yves Saint Laurent presents a new fragrance for women. Unpredictable and unique, Elle is the essence of femininity which embodies Yves Saint Laurent. It's a vibrantly feminine, audacious fragrance that blends dazzling floral and woody
notes, including peony, pink berries, and patchouli.

Notes:Cedrat, Peony, Lychee, Pink Berries, Freesia, Jasmine, Patchouli, Vetiver, Ambrette.

Style:Adventurous. Modern. Feminine.

***Sigh*** What is NOT TO LOVE, seriously!?!? OMG I cannot wait to get this awesome, awesome, awesome bottle of awesomeness. Yay! This is a fragrance that everyone would love, for sure :) so definitely order if your fragrance cabinet needs spruced :)

I also must have selected the fragrance sample for Versace. It is "okay" but I'm definitely not ordering it.

Until next time, "I know it's only rock 'n roll but I like it like it yes I do..." (The Stones)

Mucho love and xoxo,
~ann~

It's Arrived! It's Arrived!!

Hark! My box o' Sephora arrived today!

Unfortunately, I have to finish my two projects for my master's classes and can't scope the goods. ANNOYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, will post reviews SOON!

xoxo,
~ann~

Sunday Funday Shower Scoop

My poor husband. He's LITERALLY the greatest guy in the world but he's also counting down the days 'til we no longer share a shower (we're moving in September). :) His neat-freakness doesn't really go 'hand-in-hand' with the shower and bathtub walls being lined with random product. He tries to neatly stack them up, card-house style, labels forward! But of course I go all anti-establishment on him and grab the bottom body scrub and knock it all over again, then randomly line everything up again ...like as in, this happens every single day. If you've seen Sleeping with the Enemy, you know how we live: cans perfectly aligned, labels facing forward, etc. I just throw the shiz in the cabinet, shut the door and call it good. Oddly enough, next time I look in the cabinet, it's labels forward, organized by size, pure perfectness. *rolls eyes* :) This used to really make me mad until I realized that I'm pretty lucky to have a guy who actually likes to clean.

Anyway, I actually take two showers per day, every day (unless I have the flu/think I'm dying). So you can imagine I take it pretty seriously. I also take post-shower lotioning up even more seriously.

THEREFORE, I will share some of my body faves. Comments section is obviously open to suggestion.

I have been a Victoria's Secret lotion fan (the crazy, obsessive kind) for YEARS. Since junior high or high school, seriously. I still love the VS scents but I discovered the H20+ line at Von Maur a couple years ago. Yummo. There's not as big of a selection (especially at Von Maur) and there are no 7/$35 deals. Hah! But these are for sure the best lotions and body scrubs I've ever used. The lotion formula is just wayyyyyyyyy better and they smell sooooo good!

My everyday faves are Raspberry Guava Moisture Boosting Body Balm ($11.50) and the Rasberry Guava Body Buffer ($14)


Look what it says about the body buffer for gods sakes:

"Natural apricot seeds, jojoba beads and pumice help remove impurities and dead surface cells. Extracts of kiwi, apricot, orange, and lemon peel help nourish and soften skin. Provitamin B and Allantoin add additional hydration and nourishing protection." = Love!!
.
My all-time fave was the holiday line Sugar Plum Body Butter (no longer around = sadness) and Sugar Plum Triple Butter Sugar Scrub (was $25, apparently is now $10!) It smells soooo yummy!
In scoping out this H20+ website, I cannot believe it! They have all different kinds of products: tons of face product lines including anti-aging, sun protection, sensitive skin, etc. Of course like of body products and even shampoo and conditioner! Von Maur definitely doesn't carry all of this stuff! Von Maur has a few different scents and the website has a ton, if you're not a raspberry kind of gal.

Okay, I better go shop this site some more... 'Til next time..."S'why I'm easy ..... easy like Sunday mornin', It's why I'm easy ..... easy like Sunday mornin'." *Sigh* Love you, Sundays.

Much love.

xoxo,
~ann~

"Hey baby, whatcha wearin'?"

The lovely Emilene mentioned that not only are there product whores, but fragrance whores as well. :) I love it! I've actually been meaning to put a little blog out about "Every Woman Should Have At Least One ___" and make a list. ..."bottle of Chanel" perfume would make the list, I assure you.

Granted, everyone has different personalities and that's why there's like 50,000 perfumes in the world. I'm a flowery, girly, dramatic type, so my fragrances rock it like that. I really don't think I'm that bad of a fragrance whore but I just keep perfumes forever. Not sure why! Maybe because I get detained at the makeup counter before I get to fragrances??

Here's what's in my fragrance cabinet (in order of favorites):

#1 Vera Wang Truly Pink. = True Love.

#1 Givency Very Irresistible. I adore this and have worn it on the weekends forever. More of my going out perfume. (Sorry about the pic - it had a run-in with a bottle of clear nail polish on the flight back from the Dominican). Definitely ties with Vera.

#1 Chanel Chance. LOVE IT. Usually wear it to work and also out. Also ties for first with Vera and Givency.

#2 True Religion. Quadruple love the jeans, quadruple love the perfume. What can I say? Definitely a going out (while wearing true religions and cowgirl boots) type of perfume. Wear it to work occasionally.

#4 Ralph Lauren Romance. Never get tired of it, though it might be out like a light. I have a HUMONGO bottle that has lasted like 2 years. Obviously, I don't buy into the "throw it away" after a certain amount of time rule. :) Usually I rock this baby at work.

#5 Escada "Whatever the Beach Fragrance was for Summer 2007" Love it. I want to be on vacation 24/7 and take this perfume w/ me.

#5 Lacoste Touch of Pink - ties with Escada. Great every day scent. Yummy! It reminds me of Spring :) Kurt's mom bought me this one :)

#6 (get this) Clinique Happy. Talk about old school! Everyone compliments me on it, so I consider it an "oldie but goodie, oldie but goodie."

#7 Beautiful Sheer. I love this but I took it to Paris for an audit, and so did my friend Tracy. Whenever I wear it, I feel like I'm working on the 13th floor in a conference room in a building in Paris. Then I REALLLLLY start wanting Pain au Chocolate (fresh break with choco chips baked in it).

#7 Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely. A gift from Kurt's mom. I love it and it's lovely lovely lovely! But I haven't take it out of the box yet so it has to be #7 :(


#8 rocks it but it's totally not a "perfume". It's the perfume-ish stuff from Victoria's Secret Love Story. This used to be my signature lotion before I discovered the H20 body lotion at Von Maur. I still love Love Story, though!

#9 Finally! It's a random Sparkling Peach perfume from Bath & Body. I love still but WAYYY over did the peachness when I bought it last Spring. That was during a workout kick and so it reminds me running on the treadmill. Ugh! Maybe I'll wear it today :)

I like perfume bottles, so here are all the girls, from L-R, in order they are listed above. :) Ignore the kid-friendly refrigerator in the background. :)



Feel free to share your own perfume loves. This is an area I could use some more info :)

Until next time, "Perfect song on the radio, Sing along 'cause it's one we know, It's a smile, it's a kiss... It's a sip of wine, it's summertime... Sweet summertime..." (Kenny Chesney, Summertime)

Much love!

xoxo,
~ann~

Facials + Skin Care

Ugh...it is with deep regret I admit I was always scared to get a facial until January 2009. Not only am I a product whore...but a spa whore as well. I would get salt scrubbed, deep tissued and pedicured all day long...but no el facialo for moi.

In Jan., I went to Five Star Salon & Spa with Heather, Queen de Spa Whores, and had a "Be Fabulous" day. Yeah, wasn't cheap (oops!). But it was effin' FREEZING OUT, we were on vaca and it was pure heaven. :) OMG the facial part of "Be Fabulous" was like the greatest 70 minutes of my life. I will forever love facials.

So. what's the point? I have super sensitive skin so I'm allergic to lots of facial cleaners, toners, etc. I have forever had to use the Estee Lauder super sensitive line called "Verite," and even then, I could only use the Calming Fluid, not the Moisturizer. I'm 31, okay. Sista needs some moisture! So my regimen was always the Calming Fluid and Purpose Soap by Johnsn & Johnson (per my dermatologist). Ew! Again, 31 (a.k.a. need a better face wash than something that costs $3.49). Last year I couldn't take it anymore so I switched Laura Mercier. I was kind of allergic to it but it def better than the Fluid + orange bar soap.

Five Star uses (for facials) and sells Sanitas products. They are all natural and el awesomeo!!!!! For once, I went there not intending to buy a bunch of product! I was convinced this "natural" stuff was a sham and Laura M. was where it was at... But my plan was bogus. My facial chica wrote a Sanitas skin care routine for me during the facial. I have stuck to it and my skin is rockin'. I'm for real - why would I lie? I can assure you 5 Star won't be sending me any endorsement checks. :) Oh and on the "day of" your facial, I think the starter kits are only $30. I did buy the start kit along with some other products she suggested.


I use (2X per day) Oatmeal Face Wash. Spray face with Moisture Mist. Pea-sized amount of Topic C with the 2-3 drops of Vitamin-Rich Serum. Mix together and apply like moisturizer. I sometimes use the Hydrating Toner. Then, 2-3X per week, I use Hydrating Mask for 10 mins. The End.

The Sanitas website has guidance on what you should use if you select your skin type.

It's great! Highly recommend! :) :) My skin has never looked better and I'm the queen of skin drama.

Any other suggestions are HIGHLY appreciated on skin care stuff...because of my sensitive skin, I haven't been able to try a lot of products. :( Waaaah!

Mucho love, y'all! Have a great Saturday & Sunday!

Until next time, "Everybody's working for the weekend. Everybody wants a little romance. Everybody's goin' off the deep end. Everybody needs a second chance. You want a piece of my heart? You better start from start. You wanna be in the show? Come on baby lets go!"

xoxo,

~ann~

Must NOT Have List 1

Before I continue to rave on & on & on about stuff…and you start getting totally bored thinking, "OMG Ann just LOVES everything under the sun," let me assure you this is sooo not the case (although I can see how it may seem like that at times). I’m just going to be upfront about the things I despise... Please remember I love more things than I hate :) and these, as always, are just my humble opinions:

Must Not Have #1: Mary Kay, Avon, etc
In general, I don’t like beauty products sold in any type of bootleg/catalogish/secret clubish manner. I’ll buy online from Sephora all day long but not from Avon or MK. It’s possible I will change my mind about this in retirement and become a Mary Kay rep with a Pink Cadillac, rollin’ down the street…hmmm...yes, yes, I will...do I have to wear it, too?



When I was in junior high, my awesome dad used to let me order from Avon books that his neighbor would drop off to his house. I remembered this last night as I was trying to figure out what contributed to my high maintenance-ness. My dad rocked it, so he just kind of bought the stuff without questioning it. With Avon, you can get a huge paper lunch sack FULL of makeup for like $16. In general, this is not a good plan, unless you are in junior high or well into retirement.

Sorry to anyone who loves Avon or MK :) If you love it, love on, girl! :) But in general, there are A LOT better things out there (but not mineral makeup or Dior Show - see below)


Must Not Have #2: "Mineral Makeup"
In general, I DO NOT LIKE Bare Escentuals or any copycat brands/minerally types of makeup stuffs. Ew! If you must use mineral, I would use the Bare Escentuals brand. *sigh* My hate sort of stems from having this brand applied for my wedding and I HATED it. So much for my idea of being pampered that day! I just don’t like (whatsoever) all that loosey goosey powdery stuff (using OR wearing it). It’s super messy and the pressed normal stuff is just better (times 1,000), IMO. Also, I prefer liquid foundation (applying AND the look of it) wayyyy over ten million little circles of caked on powderiness. Ew. Therefore, I’m keeping it real and boycotting all loose powder products (this “blanket statement” excludes Laura Mercier Gold Digger ($32), which rocks it to the max). Now, I do love the one lipstick and gloss I have from Bare Escentuals but the love ends there!
...as in: no love for ANYTHING else! I will post no links b/c I don't want you to be tempted to order the "Starter Kit" that everyone buys and no one uses. Not that I would know... *whistles*


Must Not Have #3: Dior Dior Show Mascara
One of my life’s MAJJJJORRRRR disappointments. We’re talking wretched. I was SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited for that stuff I couldn’t stand it. I mean, anything from Dior should far exceed expectations. It got awesome reviews on the Sephora Best of 2007 and 2008 lists.

Everyone else jocks it hardcore but me…and I’m a mascara FREAK. It’s too clumpy for me and I love clumps. But these clumps don’t smooth out (wtf?). Plus it seems to flake off, which I’ve never had a mascara do this. AND to top it all off, it washes off in chunks. Yikes. Yeah…I NEVER use it. TONS of ppl love it though, so I encourage you to give it a whirl if you have $ to throw away…$24, specifically. Is it possible I had a bad batch? Yeah. Am I traumatized for life because of this huge letdown? Possibly.

Until next time, "I love you for your pink Cadillac, Crushed velvet seats, Riding in the back, Oozing down the street, Waving to the girls, Feeling out of sight, Spending all my money on a Saturday night..."

xoxo!
~ann~

Dorky Talk + Sephora + Sweet Deal

Any accountant knows there are several inventory methods in accounting. There is First In, First Out (FIFO), Last In, First Out (LIFO), etc. I operate on the LIFO method with makeup. I always use the most recent stuff I bought (unless I sort of hate it, then I regress). This means you'll often hear me talk about products I recently bought but I do still have lots of awesome past products that I still use and will share scoop about because they rule. I'm almost out of Spring 2009 MAC Trip stories so yay for you :)

The good news is I have ordered a few new goodies from Sephora. Obviously, I had to take advantage of the $50 free shipping! HA! Click the names to review them, for sure! One is the Benefit PosieTint ($28) suggested by a blog reader! Yay!


Another is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17).


So I'm going to take this opportunity to tell one of my el favorito makeup stories like EVER... Alright, so we've all dated a cute jacka$$ or two in our lifetime. My friend, who shall remain nameless (LOL) once dated this ADORABLE farmboy from Des Moines area. He was cute, had a hot tractor and stuff, and somehow had a Southern accent although he grew up in rural Central Iowa. Weird. Also, I dated his cute friend, who was of equal jacka$$ness but without the tractor...although he did train horses and wear a cowboy hat and have the same accent...ANYWAY...!!! SOOO she had literally just started liking makeup and had gone to a MAC store in DSM shortly before dating said farmboy/jacka$$. Come to find out his mom was a MAC REPRESENTATIVE and loved her!! So the mom gave her a whole freakin' TRAINCASE FULL OF MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have no idea how many shadows, blushes, lipsticks, etc etc etc were in that damn thing! Needless to say, the relationship didn't work out but we've done many, many, many a hot makeover with that case o' tricks!!!!! This is why I loved MAC in the first place.

I'd like to tell you there is more of a point to this story...but there is really not! Only that sometimes yes, you do date idiots but it's totally worth the hassle if a) he's cute and b) his mom gives you a train case full of rockin' makeup! The End.

Sooooo, I anxiously await my Sephora purchases! My MAC stories are over for the week so I will find something else bueno to blog about... :) :) :) Oh, I know.

Until next time, chicas, you gotta "let your soulshine, it's better than sunshine, it's better than moonshine. it's damn sure better than rain..." (Soulshine, Allman Brothers Band)

Rock on & xoxo,
~ann~

OOPS!!! & Brows

Note to self and readers: Never leave your receipts out after a major makeup binge! *Smiles Sweeeeeeeeetly* But, uhhhh...seriously...WTF was I thinking!?!? hah!
.
I got the receipt out of MAAAAJJJOOOORR lockdown to "quickly" check if the artist's name from the other day was on it. I've made it a habit of always emailing the stores post-makeover and to give props to chicas who hook me up with some sweet shades, tools and tips. I do this because I know most retail stores base raises and promotions on customer feedback and unfortunately it's usually the crazy/b**chy customers that call or write in.
.
Anyway, I apparently FORGOT to re-bury it in the backyard under a two-ton pile of bricks because the husb found it! Yikes! :) Good thing he loves me so much :) He did take the opportunity to remind I'll be working until I'm 110. Oh well, at least I'll have product. :)
.
So, I forgot to mention something awesome I bought at MAC! I'm notorious for skipping the VERY IMPORTANT makeup step: BROWS. It's just not my bag, baby. I don't like doing anything with my brows (meaning product)...yet I agree it rocks when makeover chicas fix mine all cute (this means they need product). I have tried brow pencils = hate. Then Laura Mercier Brow Definer ($20) with Laura Mercier Brow Definer Brush ($25). It = okay. I generally like stuff in pots and I reallllllly like brushes so it seemed like a good fit on purchase day. Then I figured out this stuff is actually still a lot of work, so I skip it 97% of the time and later remember I forgot it. Damn.

Anyhow, the MAC chica hooked me up with this stuff and so far, I'm in love.

MAC Brow Set ($13.50). It is seriously so easy and so fast to use. It looks just like a masacara brush so you just brush it on your eyebrows. How easy is this? I can't mess it up like a pencil and it's not a pain in the @$$ like the Laura stuff. And it looks freakin' bueno. Now that I've said this, you can scroll down and tell my brows are totally rockin' in the pic from the other day...no? Brow set, baby!

This brings me to a very important point: please do as I suggest :) not as I do :) Just because I admitted to skipping the brows doesn't mean you should do this, too. Defining the brows makes your eyes look wayyy bigger and wayyy happier! Noooooooo longer pluck your brows to thin lil' lines of nothingness (let your brow girl do ALL of it - no plucky plucky in between!) and definitely don't forget to define them (esp. if anyone is going to take pics of ya and post them on Facebook). And seriously this stuff is $13.50. What a deal. :) :) :)

If you live in the QC, please see Emily at Exotic Escape Day Spa in Northpark because seriously she's the best brow shaper ever! :)

Love you gals!! Until next time, "blame it on the rain..."

xoxo
~ann~

Must Haves

Have you been living your life without a "shu uemura"!?!? If so, stop now, please just stop. Why torture yourself any longer? Don't you want to be happy? :) :) :)

Buy one immediately from Sephora ($19).

I regularly read Sephora's "Best of Sephora" annual lists. That's where I found this baby and thought "Eh, what the heck..." I needed a new lash curler at the time, and had, until that point, been making the common mistake of thinking all lash curlers are created equal. Not the case, hello. I've tried two since then just for kicks but have since sworn off ALL OTHERS in the future.

It makes the perfect curl for all lashes I've ever curled and makes all the difference. Why not just love it and not leave it? That's what I'm gonna do: love it!

Assuming (and hoping) you already have another browser open on your internet with the shu uemura in your Sephora shopping bag, please note Sephora offers free shipping on purchases over $50. Also, all purchases apparently have free returns although I've never returned anything - ha!

That being said, my first thought definitely take advantage of the free shipping and spring for a Stila quad set ($40) (not necessarily the one pictured below - they have several options) ~ Also, note that while a color may look hideous in the case, it might be awesome on - see pic on the front of the case. I'm seriously about to order this thing based on that pic :) These quad sets are designed to easily achieve the smokey eye look. This is great for dressing up in the summer, going to weddings, parties and whatnot.
Okay, so I am a big fan of quads...PERIOD. The two-toned look is sooooo over. You really need at least 3 colors, preferably 4. In buying a quad, you save tons-o-cash (individual Stilas are $18), keep your makeup bag lookin' neat and tidy, AND lo and behold, they have already matched the colors up for you! Stilas quads are sweet because they have a little super short/to-the-point instructional layover over the shadows. Like it says "Liner" over the darkest color and "Lid" over the lid color. And obviously the case shows a picture, which is always a plus!

I adore Stila shadows for their awesome blending capabilities! You want to avoid harsh crease color lines against the base color. Use a soft brush to blend the colors where they meet. Then, if you want, use the darkest color as an upper lid liner (first dip your liner brush in water and lightly blot the sides on a cloth (i.e. you don't want it soaked and dripping water everywhere), then run around the edge of the darkest shadow). Line your top lid with it carefully. I hate when I mess up this part! It's an easy technique once you get used to it, really. I would then use the crease color very lightly on under your lower lashes (using a dry brush). [I personally believe dark lower lid lining is a thing of the past. It took me a long time to break myself of this bad, evil habit! I'll let you know when it comes back in (possibly this Fall). lol.]

Don't forget to use an eye shadow primer. My current fave is Laura Mercier but if you want to pick up a cheap one to get you by, by all means do so. It's mucho better than rollin' without. Tonight I am ordering the Too Faced Shadow Insurance from Sephora ($17) to try with my MAC acquisitions. I read a review about it on my fave beauty blog (see blog list) and also the reviews on Sephora are really good. I'll try and post my own review soon :) Thank you so much for visiting :)

Until next time, keep on rockin' in the free world...

xoxo,
~ann~

April 2009 MAC Trip!

I figured I would start my blog off right by posting several makeup do's and do's and must have's and can live withouts. However, I just cannot WAIT to blog about my lovely (but LONG) MAC experience so here it goes:

A few girls from work and I decided to venture up to Chicago on Good Friday to visit the M.A.C. store at Oakbrook Mall. While I have always liked MAC and own a few shadows and brushes of theirs, I mostly have stuff that I can get in the Quad Cities (i.e. not MAC). Unfortunately, we don't have a MAC or a Sephora so yes, we are deprived majora. Hence, me being cut loose at a makeup counter I can't find back home is just never good news... Yikes!

*The stuff in this pic looks so tiny but that's because I had to stand on a chair to get it all in the pic. Everything is normal sized :) The MAC pallette is kind of humongous (prob about the size of a very large greeting card) but it's very flat so it will fit into most handbags, if necessary*

I take every opportunity to get information and suggestions from the makeup chicas working there. I figure they know a heck of a lot more than I do about choosing colors and what goes together! I take note of all brushes they use and ALL products (this includes eyeshadow base, highlighter blushes, etc). Even if you can't buy it all, at least know what they used and have them write it down for you. I ask questions about every technique they used. You'll find the artists are overjoyed to explain this stuff to customers. In most cases, they are under-used for the vast amounts of knowledge they have gained in their training programs. USE 'EM. Tell 'em you have no clue what you're doing. They can't help you unless you let them help you - similar to psychologists. :)

One of the key things to note is that not all shadows go with all blushes go with all lipsticks/glosses. I know this sounds totally obvious. But seriously, most people buy just new shadows and stick with the same blush. Or a new lipstick but stick with the same everything else. It's highly important to see the bigger picture, even on a day-to-day basis.

That being said, I have been in an un-cute funk so I was overjoyed for a full Spring/Summer makeover on Friday. I was needing a new look somethin' severe. I just went ahead and immediately told this to my fabulous artist chica. I ended up buying sooo much stuff! The good thing about MAC is that it's really not that expensive! My Chanel stuff (dearly love it) is more than twice as much for each item. For example, MAC mascara is $12, Chanel Inimitable is $30!! I love Inimitable but I have a couple of issues with it that will be covered in a later blog.

BACK TO MAC:

Eyes
MAC is an AWESOME place to buy eyeshadow. You can buy MAC shadows individually or for suprisingly cheap, you can buy a little quad case with four slots in it, and refill eyeshadows for it (they clip in with magnets). I told her I would love some help designing a quad of color, then everything to go with it (meaning blush, lipstick, etc). She ended up enticing me into buying the fifteen-color pallette. By cheap, I mean the case cost $12 and each shadow was $11. Chanel, by comparison is $28.50 for a shadow. Last time I checked, Lancome was $16.50. Granted this was not the most reasonable decision to make (especially considering my shadow drawers at home), but seriously, I love the darn thing. It's going to be great at weddings so I don't have to take a whole train case of shadows with me! I let her pick the entire pallette, saying she knew what colors I should wear more than I did. She picked an array of "must have" colors for me and organized them in the pallette by highlighter, lid color and crease colors.

This chica taught me some awesome new shadow techniques and of course I had to buy the #222 brush ($28)!! This brush works great as a highlighter brush for the crease and the crazy thing is that you should use it with your eye OPEN and it shadows your natural crease.

Well, hello, goldmine. Chica showed me MAC Fluidline ($15). I am A HUGE FAN of Laura Mercier's tight line technique with their eye liner (to be blogged about at a later date) so I was SHOCKED when I found another liner that is just as good, if not better! You definitely need the #210 brush ($17.50) or something exactly like it, though, to get the look right.

I decided LOOONNNNGGG AGO I would not stray from Lancome Hypnose mascara EVER again. I have tried EVERYTHING else and always go back to the Hypnose. I use it on all my brides and on myself every day. I decided to give the MAC a whirl, though, because it's way reasonable and I'm always in the market for something bigger & better to add to my mascara army. I got Plush Lash ($12). Yummmmmy! It's SUPER thicking and I love the brush. The formula reminds me a lot of Hypnose (this is a good thing) but the brush seems to help separate the lashes more than *gasp* Hypnose (this is a really good thing). I took the advice of the makeup chica and also bought Dazzle Lash to put the finishing touches on the tips. What an awesome idea. It seriously works. For $12 bucks, eh who cares. If I'm only working on the lash tips with Dazzle Lash, this will last forever. Seriously.

I will admit I made a mistake in not buying the MAC shadow primer. Primer is VERY IMPORTANT but I've loved the Laura Mercier primer I've used for the last year or so. Unfortunately, not all product brands mix well and Laura primer works better with Laura or Chanel shadows. Buying a MAC primer is high on my list of "to-do's." After all, I just bought a 15-shadow pallette. I'll be using it for awhile and want it to rock to it's maximum potential.

Blush
I do have a lot of blushes. So I opted to only buy one MAC blush, Mineralize Due in Moon River ($22.50). This is the one she used in my Springy pink makeover and I loved it. It was a combo blush/highlighter. I also bought the blush brush #109 ($32) she used. To be honest, blush is an application weakness of mine but only on myself. It's weird I have a ton of blush brushes by Chanel, Laura and Lancome but love none of them. I used the brush today and was a lil' heavy handed with it as it's always weird to get used to a new blush brush.

Face
I told her I was obsessed with my NARS pressed powder but she took one look at it on my face and wasn't convinced (FYI - this is not a good sign and I later agreed). She put the Face & Body Foundation (like a tinted moisturizer) on me and I was SOLD! I have always wanted tinted moisturizer FOREVER but I'm allergic to Chanel and although I ADORE Laura's tinted moisturizer, I am BETWEEN colors. Yeah, it sucks. So I go between Chanel pressed powder and NARS pressed powder. I freakin' love the stuff so I'm praying I'm not allergic. Yesterday I had TWO people ask me what kind of foundation I was wearing. Isn't that random!? No one has ever asked me that question before (also not a good sign).

DEFINITELY need the #188 brush. I thought my Lancome and Chanel foundation brushes were the greatest things ever but now I love my #188 ($34). It works SOOOO good and makes the application SOOOO easy.

Lips
I bought the lipstuffs she used on me during the Springy pink makeover. Viva Glam VI ($14) which is a versatile pinkish/twigish color, Lip Pencil in Dervish ($13) and two awesome glosses.

Bottom line is I'M PSYCHED about my new goods. :) I've been able to experiement with them on Saturday and Sunday I'm still lovin' 'em. Today I gave myself a makeover similar to what I'm planning to use on a bride for a May 30th wedding. I thought of her as soon as I saw the colors. I took some pics for the blog and to send to the blushing bride (well a 7 year old took the bottom one):


I'm wearing all the MAC eyestuffs I mentioned. Shadow colors are: Naked Lunch (highlighter under the brow and blended into the middle after the base color application, Expensive Pink (base color - very summery!) and Corduroy highlighted in the crease and very slightly under the bottom lashes. Top eyeliner is FluidLine in Blacktrack. I used both mascaras I bought at MAC.

Foundation is MAC's Face & Body Foundation ($32).

Blush is Lancome's discontinued color Fantasia. This is my all-time favorite cheek color EVERRR. It matches LOTS of looks. It's kind of that pinky/peachy/sparkly/matte look that will never again be replicated (R.I.P.). Luckily, I found a few strays on ebay after the big announcement of it's discontinuance.

Lip color is Make Up For Ever's Aqua Lip in Rosewood 2C ($17) and Stila Plumping Lip Glaze in Melon Mint ($24). I love this combo. A Sephora girl picked it out for me a couple of months ago and I still love it! Yet another example of something I could not have picked out by myself :)

Mucho thank you if you made it this for in the super-long MAC blog! Not all blogs will be this long or detailed...I PROMISE! :)

Love y'all!

xoxo,
Ann

My Scoop

Hear ye, hear ye! Announcing my NEW blog!! I'm sooooo excited! "Um...why...?" you may ask. Beeeeecause buying and trying makeup products is one of my FAVORITE hobbies...second only to TALKING about them. The only reason talking comes first is because it doesn't hit the credit card bill at the end of the month. :)

NOW! About me - I'm a 31 y/o accountant from Iowa. Lame, I know. My dream job is to be a makeup artist but quitting my current gig to do wedding makeup is what's known as career suicide around these parts. I have learned everything I know from magazines, having makeovers and talking to the makeover artists. I also read about makeup and trends online. The only time I "practice" makeup per se, is when I do my friends' wedding parties and/or event makeups. I did my first wedding makeup around five years ago. I LOVED IT. Not only is it super fun and great to make my friends all beautiful...but it gives me an excuse to over-buy and under-use all the products in my collection. :)

My makeup obsession began at an early age when my Grandma used to buy me Estee Lauder and Clinque cosmetics for junior high. Sweet!!! It's become REALLY bad over the past ten or so years after I graduated college and could afford to follow makeup trends and buy the tools. It's official: I'm a total product whore.

I have TONS of favorites. In general, I gravitate around the Chanel, Laura Mercier, Lancome, Stila and M.A.C. lines. I do live in the Quad Cities, so while we (thank god) have decent makeup counters at Von Maur (it's sort of like a Nordstrom's) we don't have everything. AND...as much as it severely agonizes me to not have a Sephora, it's definitely good for my wristlet.

You won't normally find information on my blog about crazy expensive stuff (e.g. $250 eye cream). My blog is going to be for normal people who can actually afford to buy and use this stuff on themselves. I'll try to post links and prices for all products.

So, hopefully you will all enjoy this blog and definitely feel free to e-mail me questions at any time!

XOXO,
Ann ;)