FACE Atelier Cosmetics!

I have heard so much rave reviews on this cosmetics line FACE Atelier Cosmetics for a couple of years now and I must agree with the wonderful reviews! I was amazed with the great coverage and light feeling of their foundation. Unfortunately when I went to IMATS last year I missed out on buying their foundation line but just recently bought samples from their online store to try them out and will soon be a staple in my kit!

The wonderful thing about this cosmetic line is that if you cannot find you "perfect" shade, which is the main problem women find when trying to find a foundation, you can mix in "Zero minus" or "Zero plus" to help get that perfect shade! Which I think is a great idea because it can be such a hassle to get that perfect "barely there" foundation. I will be adding this line to my kit and specially using it with brides and also photo shoots because of the wonderful flawless coverage they have!!

Since I was still new to this line and wasn't sure what colors I should get I bought their sample sizes, which I want to add lasts pretty long and can use up to 3-4 faces with the sample sizes, on their online shop are $1.00 on each sample size.

Ultra Foundation: Sample is packaged in a 5ml jar, approximately three application.

I have since used these samples for a few shoots and on myself and have had great results, lightweight and great coverage!

To makeup artist and makeup lovers here is the link to the online shop to buy full sizes and sample sizes.

FACE Atelier Cosmetics

Not only do they have foundation they also have a full line of cosmetics that are a great addition to any makeup collection.

I also have their  Ultra Camouflage Duet in light and medium and I LOVE THEM!!! All in all this cosmetic line is a great attribute to makeup artists AND the everyday woman! Two thumbs up!!!

Thats a HAUTE LOOK!

I will admit I am an online shopper, to the point where my email is half filled with all the online shops I shop at sending me goodie coupons and upcoming sales. I like finding great deals and sharing them, I want to tell everyone about HauteLook the thing about this site is you have to be invited to get good deals and sign up for this site. One thing I like about this site is that you get WONDERFUL deals on everything. I have recently been buying makeup on here! You get products here for more then half of what you would get even when it is on sale. They also have an app for the Iphone. I bought LORAC, LIP FUSION & NXY ect. All were great deals and also the shipping and packaging for the products came in a timely manner.

They have many categories: Women, Beauty, Living, Kids & Men. It almost like a mall in your hands!

This was my first purchase which was LORAC Makeup and since then there has been so much more! :)

The Eyeshadows were only $7.

This is the top of the cream colors, its a two in one that was only $11

I am very happy with the products and surprised with the shipping and packaging and how fast a great they are.

Here's the link to the invite if you want to check it out and sign up.

Haute Look

Makeup Organizer Must Try

Dose your bathroom counter top or vanity get so cluttered it seems like more work trying to find your makeup  then actually putting it on? I am always looking for new ways to make my bathroom counter top organize and less cluttered. I have tried so many ways to de-clutter my growing makeup/cosmetic collection with so many different sized containers and brush holders that my counter top became cluttered with containers with makeup in them. But I recently found a convenient makeup organizer that helped! 

Keep in mind I have drawers full of cosmetics that surprises even me but I do keep my everyday cosmetics on my counter to be easily accessed. At first I was skeptical about buying this product but I have been using it for almost 2 weeks now and I'm glad I made the purchase. I got this product through QVC, this was my first purchase through them and the delivery was quick & packaging was neat.

The item I purchased is called: 

Tabletop Spinning Cosmetic Organizer by Lori Greiner - Makeup Organizer QVC

QVC Price: $27.50

FEATURED PRICE NOW: $24.96 

Shipping & Handling: $6.72

One thing I really like about this is that it spins and the space in it is deep enough to fit pallets, one side has space for a full bottle of hair products to fit in, the top can be filled with lipsticks, mascaras and brushes.  This is how I filled mine up:

One thing that I wasn't too happy with this is that I have A LOT of cosmetics and was able to fit my everyday makeup in here BUT I had to really put it together like a puzzle. Once I figured it out and put everything in their place I was happy, it became so functional.

I was also able to make space in other drawers to put the rest of my cosmetics to keep my counter nice and clean. My hubby still has one drawer out of six in the bathroom but its better then none! Hehe! 

This is a good product to have to make getting ready easy. I'm happy I don't have to open anymore containers or go through mini-drawers and my big drawers to look for what I need to use. I'm still in the search for more ways to organize my counter top and my makeup collection but as of right now I'm pleased with my counter top. 

I would love to know how others organize their bathrooms and makeup collections/cosmetics! Feel free to share!! 

Lipstick that stays "pout"

I was very skeptical to try this out but I figured for the price why not? For the sake of beauty on a budget! :)
I bought L'oreal  Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour Compact in three colors: 

Left: "Crimson" # 310 Middle:"Beyonce's Red" #399 Right: "Mulberry" #510

I was surprised on how well these worked! I wore Crimson when I went out to a concert and was pleased that it lasted ALL night! It comes with the Lip color on one side and the other is a "Conditioning Topcoat", basically a chap stick with a light gloss! Which really brightens and adds a nice gloss to the lip color! Also has a nice light smell, a tropical kind of smell! 

Two easy steps to achieve a long last lip color:

Step one: Make sure your lips are "clean", no chap stick just a "naked" lip. Apply a thin layer of the Lip color and let dry for a minute or two. It tightens up a bit when it is dry, I lightly pat my lips to see if its fully dry or not. (You dont have to do this but what I do it after it is dry I add another THIN layer and let dry again.)

Step two: Apply "Conditioning Topcoat" to seal and add a light glass and moisture. This can be applied whenever you feel that you need more gloss or moisture! 

"This is Beyonce's Red"

These have became my new favorites! I like the packaging because the packaging itself becomes a handy mirror and is palm size. Fits perfect into your pocket, clutch, purse...a great size for a great product.  I suggest these lip colors for everyone!! I love the reds they have! 

L'oreal infallible - $11.99 (but its on sale right now for $8.99) CVS

Nail Polish of the Week: ESSIE

I took a trip to the CVS store the other day and found Essie nail polish being sold, so being an Essie fan, I couldn't pass it up! :) I am currently wearing "Essie: Chinchilly". It is a wonderful cement grayish with a hint of lavender. A nice cool color that isn't too dark and not too light. What I love about Essie Polish is that the colors are always a nice even coat and even the pastel colors are never too light or iridescent. The most coats I ever lay on are 2 coats of polish and each coat goes on evenly.

If you are into polish check out Essie and you will fall in love with the product in ANY color! heres what it looks like.

ESSIE: Chinchilly $ 7.99 @ CVS 

When I paint my nails I always use a base/nail thickener: Thickener by Nutra Nail" to keep my nails strong and protect the nail polish from staining my nails and also helps the polish adhere better. Then put whatever polish I am using and let it dry for about a minute or a few minutes then I use Insta-Dri anti-chip top coat by Sally Hansen. Which is a VERY wonderful product!! :)

Happy shopping!

Nutra Nail Thickener: $5.65 Amazon

Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat:$5.49  Walgreens

Essie Naip Polish: Amazon

LIGHTS! CAMERA! BAD MAKEUP..???

Have you ever done your makeup and looked in the mirror when your done and loved it? You get dressed and ready to start your day BUT  then you go outside and see your reflection and realize "OMG I have WAY too much makeup on?". You notice that it looks too dramatic? I know there have been a few times, I shocked myself in the car and realize: my eyeshadow is not blended or my foundation is too thick and heavy or everything is too much! Stumped on how that happened? The KEY in makeup application is LIGHTING! I want to share my answer for this problem that works best for me!!!

I am still in the process of figuring out what lighting is best for me and doing makeup for shoots you have to understand lighting a bit or try to. Where the light will be landing and where to highlight and contour. Even the simplest makeup can be thrown off if you have bad lighting. Most lights around us are Fluorescent Lights, which washes out the skin and also brings out blemishes out more think of dressing room lights...NOT flattering at all! Ideally you want to put makeup on with natural lighting, the problem is we all do not always have access to a window or lighting with natural lights. Best bet is to get coated light bulbs that will throw off light that is too soft and warm. But who really want to go through all that trouble?

My old makeup mirror.

I have been researching and looking for a Vanity where I can set up my little makeup corner and have great lighting. At this point in my life I do not have room for a vanity accompanied with all the accessories I want to go with it and nor do I have the $$$ to spend on the type I want. My conclusion to this problem is a lighted mirror! But this also can be a process because you have to take a lot to consideration when picking the right one. I had a ConAir round Mirror that had a light only on one spot of the mirror and I just didn't like it. When looking for a lighted mirror, even just looking into proper lighting for makeup application you need light evenly hitting your face at all angles so you wont have shadows hitting your face.

On my search I was lucky enough to stumble onto a treasure find that I'm completely happy with!!!!!! I was in Costco and was surprised to see a lighted mirror! Its is called "LED Lighted" Round/Oval Vanity Mirror" Making me extra happy was it was lighted around the sides of the mirror also it is a double mirror and both sides have lights! Its a nicely durable mirror. It has natural lighting, dual mirrors: a normal mirror and a magnified mirror on the other side. It was packaged neatly and protectively

"LED LIGHTED" Vanity Mirror/Costco

      

Happy with my find I suggest people to look and search for what works best for you. There are great lighted mirrors all around, I know Revlon has a great mirror that has different settings on the mirror itself.  Its a process on finding what works for you. I like this mirror because it was at a good price for me and it works amazingly. I am happy with the lighting I get from it, it doesn't give off an orange or yellowish lighting it gives me a true lighting. I also enjoy the look of it all together, its a bit heavy and sits nicely. I use it with the light on and off very handy. My tip for looking into a mirror like this is look around see what you are comfortable with and what your budget is. Lighted mirrors can range up to 19-100$. Its all on what you like. This works amazingly for me! I would really love to see what other people use and what kind of lighting you have. please share.

Beauty is skin deep!

Beauty on a Budget: Drug Store Goodies!

As I stroll around at the CVS store around my area, I always find myself getting sucked towards the beauty aisle instantly comb through all the affordable goodies they have. Its hard not to get pulled towards all the cosmetics that are lined up back to back and its also easy to get confused on which items to buy. As we all have gone through before we buy a certain lipstick or foundation and mascaras, just to name a few, and when we get home and try them we suddenly realize we bought what we paid for. Then there are times where we buy some cosmetics and say "WOW this was a great find and buy!". The current economy hasn't been too kind to our wallets and we cant splurge on cosmetics or all the little nicknack's we didn't mind spending more then 10$ on, so here is a quick beauty on a budget list that I'm happy about. 

Now I have many different items in my Makeup collection as well as in my Makeup Kit. I have drug store products to high end named brands and its all in what I think it a great pay off in pigments, color stay and finished look. I have had my hits and misses with affordable drug store makeup AND high end name brands. But when I find goodies that is worth the money I paid for then I become a buyer for life! These few items I bought and instantly became a fan of are worth going out and trying out. 

I am really happy with purchasing these items and will be going back to getting more!! A few are comparable and dupe's on some name brand cosmetics, which is always exciting! 

I bought...

Maybelline: Define-A-Line: $6.99

-Brownish Black on the top. (Dupe for MAC Stud) 

-Chestnut Brown on the bottom. (Dupe for MAC Strut)

Which may I add are dupes, well at least in my opinion, to MAC Eye Brow pencil's. Works just the same! This will be added to my kit most defiantly! 

Revlon ColorStay Lip Liners: $7.99

1.Rose 2. Mauve 3. Pink/Rose

  -Rose   -Mauve    -Pink/Rose

What I instantly loved about these lip liners are that they STAY! It didn't bleed and once its on your lips it will not budge! Goes on smoothly and easy to feather in to the middle of your lips. I did swatches of these lip liners and i have tried to wipe them off and it wont rub off easily! I had to bust out the makeup remover for these puppies!!! 

Revlon Lustrous Lipstick: $6.99

Top: Blushed 420  Pear Shade  Middle: Teak Rose 445  Creme Shade

Bottom: Champagne on Ice 205

*Champagne on Ice is very iridescent and you cant see very well in this picture but it is a Nude/frosty color. Great for any skin tone!

All a smooth payoff and stays put! The Creme Shade is a great kind of matte smooth look with a hint of shine velvet finish. The Pearl Shades are great iridescent with a hint of color finish. Champagne on Ice reminds me of Gel lipstick from MAC. Teak Rose reminds me of a lighter Impassioned from MAC and Blushed reminds me of Angel from MAC. Great Buys!!!

Revlon ColorStay: Liquid Eye Pen $8.99

This is my favorite! After one use of it I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT! It is like a felt tip pen and goes on nicely! The one thing that made be love it the most is, IT DOESNT SMUDGE! I have tried it ALL: Cream/Gel/Pencils Black liners and out of ALL of them this one does not smudge under the corners of my eyes! I find that is the biggest complaint I get from clients and friends that are Asian that after an hour or so their eye liner smudges under the corners of their eyes! This has fixed that problem for me! This is my #1 pick!! Out of all the goodies I got this is the one I will for sure stock up on!

These are just a few goodies I got from the drug store, my suggestion on finding great products for less is to pick and choose the ones you think you'll like to try and see how it works for you! And look for reviews on them. You will never know if it will work or not if you don't try. I'm happy I bought these goodies on impulse! Just find what works or you, everyone is different these are just my opinions and what I like that I hope will help out makeup lovers. Enjoy!