2011 Beauty hits and Misses Part 1, Cosmetics

Every year I end up looking at my graveyard of cosmetics and it got me to thinking that even I can be a sucker for good marketing, cute packages, and empty promises. I generally do my reaseach when purchasing something now a days but every now and then I will buy something spontaniously and yes, I am most time disappointed. But sometimes I am pleasantly surprised.

This years HITS

Illumasqua Foundation, High coverage, looks natural, great skin tone. I use this for photo shoots and evening make up

Sephora Cream lip Stain, l I usually stay clear of store brands, I know its generally really overpriced for the quality, but this was a pleasant surprise. It had great colour selection, and didn't dry my lips like other ultra matte' do.

L'oreal True Match Foundation, very affordable, medium coverage. wears beautifully, blends nice, and does match my skin.

Benefit Coralista Blush got this as a bonus and I love the colour. I am told is goes with every skin tone they are right.

MAC Matchmaker Foundation, AMAZING! Great medium coverage and it matches. No NC this or NW that. Just pick your level ( mine is 1) and it adjusts to your undertone.

OPI Crackle Nail polish ( Black) I ended up using this all the time. Love it over glitter nail polish or over clear.

Paula's Choice Skin Care LOVE this line. Its my new standard. Very easy and affordable. Addresses every skin care need. I have had the best skin ever from this line. Mail order only.

MiSS

MAC Zoom Lash, clumpy, dries out after a month

MAC Wonder Woman Opulash Mascara, didn't show up on my lashes, dried out fast.

MAC Superslick Liner, Pure show (gold) seperated and didn't show up on my pail skin, irritated my eyes.and made them water, weird because the black does not.

Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick 64, too sheer for me, lasted about 5 minutes, bled around my mouth,  even with a primer and liner.

Nars Sheer Matte foundation. even with a primer, I look like a dried up dusty old woman. For oily skin only

Make up Forever HD powder, AWFUL! I may as well use baby powder on  my skin. was not translucent at all.

Make Up Forever Primer, wasn't terrible, just expensive and didn't do much more then a moisturizer would before make up. nothing lasted longer or smoothed out any better.

Touche Eclat YSL. I know... almost blasphemous. But it really is just OK on me. I have seen it do wonders on other people. I am going to try the peach next time. I think my dark circles need more coverage. the search continues. MAC and L'oreal also make knock offs so I will try that too.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin moisturizer SPF15. This was supposed to be my new daytime moisture with SPF and AHA. It cannot be used near the eye, ( my bad) because it burns like crazy. So I ended up getting separate creams instead of the all in one. It's actually better. So much for time saving.

Sephora Kat Von D Eye shadow Love and Fury. It is OK, but I ended up using it twice and only for one of the shadows. the rest were too glittery.

MAC Penultimate Brow Marker. Dried out after two applications. was not smudge proof.

MAC Liquidlast liner. I love the colours, the texture is thick and hard to work with. I dilute it. It gets thicker over time so after a month it's nearly useless. It does last though...for days.

Marc Jacobs, Daisy. Bottle is cute, smells like ass on me.

Does make up expire?

I was watching the Tyra bank show today. I was so ticked off at the misinformation on one segment about women who don't throw out their make up. Yes we are all guilty of hanging onto stuff way too long. But she continued to quiz the audience about the shelf life of everything from lipstick, cleanser, to mascara.

I'm a make up artist. If I threw out my foundations every 3 months like she suggested I would be spending astronomical amounts replenishing my kit. RIDICULOUS! Yet again another show spreading propaganda so you buy more product. (sponser..Cover Girl, shocking!)

Here are the facts. If you treat your make up like I do, no cross contamination, leave the caps on, refrigerate liquids when not in use and use brushes and sponges. Your make up will last three times longer.

Liquid Foundation, 12 months ( most people will use it up sooner then that)

Cream foundation/Concealer, 2 years. Keep in cool dry place use clean applicators or scrap out what you need and apply.

Mascara, 3-4 months. It dries out and will have bacterial growth by that time. Don't pump air into the tube, Keep tightly closed.

Lipstick, Gloss 2-4 years or more depending on quality. I have some MAC lipsticks that I have had for 8 years they are fine. I remove my lipsticks and put them into pallets that cover. I scrape out what I need on a stick and apply with a brush. If you use the tube on your lips, it will expire faster and grow bacteria. ( I still have tubes I uses directly on my mouth but I go through them in less then a year)

Powders, eye shadows. 4 or more years. If you store them in a airtight, dark place out of moisture. They can last forever depending on their oil content.

Liner pencils. 4+ years. Keep the lid on. Keep them in a cool dry place. (they will melt or get crumbly)

Liquid Liner. 6 months, they dry out and will get bacterial growth.


Nail polish, 1 year. You will know it! (separate or thicken.)

Finally WASH you brushes!!! Every month or more. Soak them in a mild shampoo in your bathroom sink. Use fingers to work out any creamy product (with extra shampoo) Do a soaking. Rinse 2 times. Then shape the brushes with your fingers so they retain the shape. Air dry on a towel overnight. In between I dip my brushes in alcohol once a week to kill any bacteria.

DON'T SHARE YOUR MAKE UP!!! Unless you take cross contamination precautions. Herpes people! 80% of the human population have Oral Herpes otherwise know as cold sores. (and yes oral herpes can turn into genital herpes if you get it/have an outbreak and kiss etc your partner) and Pink Eye are the most common infections/virus's you could get with sharing or using expired/ unsanitized make up and brushes.

My top ten beauty picks for every budget

As beauty junkie I love to know what is in my friends make up bag. I'm going to give you guys an idea of my top ten beauty essentials I can't live without. High price range and low price range.

1. My FHI flat iron. $250 I wash my hair like once a week. (yuk to some, but I have my hair trained to not get oily, I also save $ on shampoo and conditioner I go through 2 bottles a year, I style my hair one or twice a week, gives me more time to sleep, my colour never fades as well) As this is not possible without my trusty iron. The cheaper option is the Babyliss Tormaline iron which you can find at most consummer beauty supplies for less the $100

2. Dermologica, skin resurfacing cleanser.$48 It's an exfoliating cleanser I use one or two pumps. It's non irritating and a treat. Lasts me 4 months. The other FAVE, and I can't live without these is Life Brand cleansing cloths. $12 Quick make up removal for cheap!!

3. Kerastase Bain Mirror $30 and Chroma Reflect Masque $50 Luxury!!!! It makes my hair soft and super shiny and I said worth it as a bottle lasts me 6 months. At drugstore level I'm a fan of Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine $4-6 Smells great and again leave my hair soft and shiny. It can be heavy for most people though.

4. Dermologica Instense Moisture Balance. $75 Again depending on how much I use, it's great in the day under make up, or at night. My first love and Still my summer ritual is Oil of Olay Daily SPF 15. $12 I use the lotion, the cream is too heavy.

5. Bare Essentuals spf 15 mineral foundation. $30 It's the best of the minerals I have used, It's all in one and the more you use the better coverage. It lasts forever. Looks super natural and it's great in the summer. L'oreal Bare Naturale $15 is the best drugstore I have used. the texture is kinda lumpy, but it gives great coverage and spf.

6. Neutrugena ultimate sport block, SPF 70. $18 Yes 70! I don't take chances with the sun. And based on the compliments I get on my skin it's well worth it. I am 35 and have zero wrinkles. I prefer the spray, it's nice even coverage for the hard to reach spots. The other is No Ad Babies SPF 50. It's a lotion, fragrance free and hypo allergenic, waterproof. It's 8 bucks for 16ozs

7. Make Up Forever, black matte eyeshadow. $21 This is the smooooothest shadow I have ever used. Is heavily pigmented, stays put and a pan lasts forever. I use it every day. It's my eyebrow powder, liner and for nights out my smoky eye pal. Plus the pan is double the size of MAC. Then there is MAC, carbon eyeshadow $17 another basic black. It's good but I find that it falls apart when you get to the end, it's a waste and annoying.

8. Lancome, Hypnose Mascara.$28 Love!!! Simple basic mascara. thickening, lengthening and no clumping. Only pet peeve is that it dries out quickly. :( Maybelline Volume Express $8 is my absolute fave drugstore find and it's always on sale.

9. MAC powder blush. I have several depending on my application that day. It lasts all day, and blush for me is a must. If I don't wear it I look like the walking dead. I hate to say that I don't use anything else but Mac in this area, it costs $21, but it will last you for years. Well worth it if you get a nice neutral shade.

10. Best for last. The one thing in the world I cannot live without is RED lipstick. Not for the faint of heart. I do wear several colours as well, but Red is a classic that every women should have. I have about 10 tubes in different colours and finishes. My faves, Christian Dior Rouge Dior, Celebrity Red $28 (neutral red) I prefer long lasting lipsticks and this one's texture is like silk. Second would be MAC Ruby Woo matte.$16.50 (orange red) bright, long lasting but the texture is drying so I use this more in the evening. The there's MAC RED. (blue red) I semi matte that is also nicer wearing and dramatic. Drugstore is a hard one. I find there are very few true reds out there. The can be too sheer, or cheap (bleed, dry out lips) The one I like the most is Rimmel, Red Hott. $ 7 (orange red) It's a satin finish, nice and creamy, stays put with a liner.

the start

Hello fellow beauty queens!

I decide to use share my years of salon expertise, advice, tips and tricks to the masses. I have been a message board junkie for years now. Answering questions anonymously to folks who have had hair and make up troubles, blunders, horrors and even successes. In the salon, I'm known for my frank and honest approach to the beauty industry, hairstyling, colouring and make-up. I offer advice on a variety of subjects to everyday fashionista's to beauty Pros. This will be a great place to share your thoughts and comments as well. I love finding out about new stuff! So please ask away. I also plan on doing some product reviews, popularity polls, trend alerts, and money saving beauty idea's.

Some topics I hope to cover in the upcoming weeks. ( get your questions ready!)

Haircolour at home, what you can do, and should leave to the pros

Common haircolour blunders you can avoid.

How do I become a hairdresser?

How do I find a job in the Beauty Industry?

How do I work in film? TV? Editorial (print)?

How do I find a good stylist?

Professional vs Drugstore products...the facts.

The essentials you need to invest in, and the stuff you can cheap out on.

Can a bad hair cut be fixed? What can I do to avoid THE HORROR


Here are just a few topics, please feel free to message so I can add more.

:)