Precious & Makeup

Cocoa Truffles Look.

MAKEUPprecious — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:32:57 -0800

Face

Prep/Moisturize: Artistry Essentials Soothing Creme

Primer: Smashbox Photofinish Foundation Primer

Foundation: Artistry Absolute Oil Control Foundation in Hazelnut

Setting/Finishing Powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Dark (natural side)

Under Eyes + Bridge of Nose: Urban Decay Surreal Skin Creamy Concealer in Hallucination (to highlight)

Highlight: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Dark (shimmer side)

Cheeks: Smashbox Pink Blush (from a palette)

Eyes

Eyebrows: Sephora Nano Eyeliner in Coffee & Artistry Espresso Eyeshadow

Eyeshadow Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion & NYX Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk on the lid

Lid: Ulta Brand Eyeshadow in Sparks

Crease: MAC Eyeshadow in Embark

Outer Inner Crease: ARTISTRY Black Tie Eyeshadow

Highlight Color: Smashbox Eyeshadow in Pronto

Upper Lashline: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

Lower Lashline: Smashbox Eyeshadow in Pronto on the inner corner (& tearduct) & MAC Embark Eyeshadow on the outer lashline (also used NYX Dark Brown Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil as a base)

Lower Waterline: MAC Engraved Eyeliner & MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

False Eyelashes: Ardell Wispies

Lips

MAC Lipglass in Silly Girl

Mini Haul - Ulta & MAC

MAKEUPprecious — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:32:40 -0800

It's becoming more & more difficult to find eyeshadows, why? Because I have pretty much every shade! I tend to buy eyeshadows & when I go home, I found out that I have the same shade in several different brands. Shame I know! I wasn't in the mood for Urban Decay, Smashbox, or any other prestige brand at Ulta so, I headed to the Ulta Brand section. A few years ago, I bought some Ulta eyeshadows & they were pretty medicore in quality. I figured I'd give Ulta eyeshadows another try. I was testing out the eyeshadows & noticed how most of them were pigmented. They had an array of different colors & I even spotted a couple of matte formula eyeshadows. Ulta has stepped up their game! I've been wearing a lot of smokey neutrals this week so, I decided to pick up some neutral shades. I bought Milk Chocolate (light brown & matte), Sparks (red/brown shade with gold reflects), & Silk (light shimmery beige). I will be buying some more Ulta eyeshadows in the near future!

I went to MAC at the beginning of the week. I was a mission for a brown eyeshadow. I didn't have much time so, I just picked out Embark. When I got home, I thought the color was to dark for a look I wanted to create. I started to play around with the color & decided I love it! It's a matte deep brown that is perfect for a smokey neutal look & can even double as an eyebrow shade.

Plum Effect Look.

MAKEUPprecious — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:11:52 -0800

I've been so stuck on purples lately! What can I say? I love my purples!

Face

Prep/Moisturize: Artistry Essentials Soothing Creme

Primer: Smashbox Photofinish Foundation Primer

Foundation: Artistry Absolute Oil Control Foundation in Hazelnut

Setting/Finishing Powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Dark (natural side)

Under Eyes + Bridge of Nose: Urban Decay Surreal Skin Creamy Concealer in Hallucination (to highlight)

Highlight: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Dark (shimmer side)

Cheeks: Smashbox Pink Blush (from a palette)

Eyes

Eyebrows: Sephora Nano Eyeliner in Coffee & Artistry Espresso Eyeshadow

Eyeshadow Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion & NYX Eyeshadow Pencil in Black Bean on the lid

Lid: Pixi by Petra Deep Plum Eyeshadow (a palette)

Crease: Ben Nye Powder Rouge in Passion Purple

Outer Inner Crease: MAC Eyeshadow in Shadowy Lady

Highlight Color: Maybelline Champange Eyeshadow (from a quad)

Upper Lashline: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

Lower Lashline: MAC Eyeshadow in Engaging (light shimmery pink side) on the inner corner (& tearduct) & ARTISTRY Black Tie Eyeshadow on the outer lashline (also used NYX Black Bean Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil as a base)

Lower Waterline: MAC Engraved Eyeliner & MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

False Eyelashes: Ardell #105

Lips

ARTISTRY Lip Shine in Gifted

December Favorites.

MAKEUPprecious — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:11:26 -0800

1) MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo in Engaging - This was a CCO find & at first, I didn't like it. Since the CCO is almost an hour way from me & Cleveland just starting to get hit with snow, I decided to just keep this duo. I like to use the light pink side (comes out just shimmery) as a highlight on the browbone & tearduct area. I also use like to use it as a highlight the cheekbones. The gold side is best when used foiled (applied with a damp brush). I like to use it on my lid & too cut down on the shimmery-ness, I use a matte crease color (like a brown).

2) NAO Blush in Icon - My sister was sweet enough to give me this blush. I ran out of my NAO blushes a long while ago. NAO is no longer no more! I was a huge fan of their eyeshadow duos, lipglosses, mascara, & their blushes. The blushes are so pigmented, a little goes a long way! The color doesn't come off streaky & it blend beautifully.

3) MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack - I haven't used this in years, but decided to give it another try since the Wet n Wild cream eyeliner started to crumble on my waterline & get in my eyes. So creamy & pigmented, I don't know why I stopped using this! For more staying power, I like to use MAC Engraved eyeliner on my waterline & then, apply Blacktrack.

4) MAC #7 Eyelashes - I love this lashes! They remind of by Ardell. Just a little bigger/longer. The quality of these lashes are just slightly a step above Ardell. I still LOVE my Ardell's, but I like MAC's as well!

5) Smashbox Lip & Cheek Color in Speedracer - Using both as a lip & cheek color just seems unsanatry to me so, I just use it as a lip color! It comes out a nude color on my lips. So pretty! I like to pair it up with a clear gloss and/or MAC's High Tea lipstick.

6) MAC Glitter Eyeliner in Blitzed - Such a pretty gold w/glitter eyeliner! It looks great paired up with a dramatic black winged eyeliner, MAC #7's, Blacktrack + Engraved on the waterliner, & Blitzed on the lower lashline. The only problem with this that if you put to much, it will start to crack (which is not a good look).

7) ARTISTRY Lipstick in Neutrale - As you can see, it's a very well loved lipstick. I go through tubes like water! It's a pinky nude color which I'm a fan of. This color is a must for me!

8) MAC Lipstick in Bronze Shimmer - I found this lipstick buried in my kit a little while ago. It comes out more of a gold color, but regradless..I love it! I like to pair it with either MAC Pinkarat or Silly Girl lipglass.

9) MAC Lipstick in High Tea - This color is too frosty/light to be worn my lips alone so, I like to pair it with a darker lip color like ARTISTRY's Lip Colour in Style.

Purple Stunt Look.

MAKEUPprecious — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:18:59 -0800

Face

Prep/Moisturize: Artistry Essentials Soothing Creme

Primer: Smashbox Photofinish Foundation Primer

Foundation: Artistry Absolute Oil Control Foundation in Hazelnut

Setting/Finishing Powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Dark (natural side)

Under Eyes + Bridge of Nose: Urban Decay Surreal Skin Creamy Concealer in Hallucination (to highlight)

Highlight: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Dark (shimmer side)

Cheeks: NAO Blush in Icon

Eyes

Eyebrows: Mehron Eyeliner in Dark Brown & Artistry Espresso Eyeshadow

Eyeshadow Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion & NYX Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk on the lid

Lid: Pixi by Petra Dark Purple Eyeshadow (a palette)

Crease: Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Flash

Outer Inner Crease: MAC Eyeshadow in Shadowy Lady & Artistry Black Tie Eyeshadow

Highlight Color: Maybelline Champange Eyeshadow (from a quad)

Upper Lashline: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

Lower Lashline: MAC Eyeshadow in Engaging (light shimmery pink side) on the inner corner (& tearduct) & Pixi by Petra Dark Purple Eyeshadow on the outer lashline

Lower Waterline: MAC Engraved Eyeliner & MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

False Eyelashes: MAC #7 lashes

Lips

Smashbox Double Exposure Lip & Cheek Color in Speedracer & MAC Lipstick in High Tea

The Lash Stash: My Current Favorite Lashes

MAKEUPprecious — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:18:49 -0800

Who doesn't know I love false eyelashes?! I don't see how you can't, they add a certain flair & overall more finished look (as well as grooming your brows!) to any makeup look. False eyelashes can range from $.99 to $15+, it's one of the most inexpensive way to kick up your look. As a make-up artist, I go through lashes like water so, spending $15+ per pair (not unless it's for a shoot/special occasion) is not always feasible. This is why my all time favorite lash brand Ardell. They range in price from $3-$5 (halloween lashes can be $5+) which is very inexpensive, but the quality is outstanding. You can find them at most drugstores or beauty supply stores (like Sally's). If cleaned/taken care of well, my Ardell lashes can last me up to 2-3 weeks (if used everyday). I tend to toss them out after 2-3 weeks to avoid an bacteria infection on the eye. I get a lot of use out these lashes! So, you're wondering what are some of my favorite lashes? Here they are:
Wispies, #117, #105, Demi Wispies, #120 Demi (lost the container so, I had to put them in the #112 container) & #102 Demi.

The Wispies & #105 give a fuller lash look. I really love the Wispies because they really do mimic a natural full lashes (if we were all born with them!), but with add length. They may look slightly scary, but these aren't as a extreme on your eyes once you put them on.

The Demi Wispies, #102 Demi, #117, & Demi #120 give more of an natural lash look. The #117 gives any look more length. The Demi Wispies & Demi #120 are my favorites to use on bridal clients because they aren't too long, but add a slight fullness to the look. The #102 Demi are the perfect lashes if you have small eyes.

Brown In Smokes Look.

MAKEUPprecious — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:15:42 -0800

Face

Prep/Moisturize: Artistry Essentials Soothing Creme

Foundation: Artistry Absolute Oil Control Foundation in Hazelnut

Setting/Finishing Powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Dark (natural side)

Under Eyes + Bridge of Nose: Urban Decay Surreal Skin Creamy Concealer in Hallucination (to highlight)

Highlight: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Dark (shimmer side)

Cheeks: ARTISTRY Blush in Red Earth

Eyes

Eyebrows: Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown & Artistry Espresso Eyeshadow

Eyeshadow Primer: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in French Toast as a base on the lid, NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Dark Brown on the crease, & NYX Eyeshadw Pencil in Milk on the browbone

Lid: MAC Pigment in Sunpepper (foiled)

Crease: MAC Eyeshadow in Unsquare

Outer Inner Crease: Artistry Black Tie Eyeshadow & NYX Black Eyeshadow

Highlight Color: MAC Pigment in Provence (foiled)

Upper Lashline: Black Radiance Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Lower Lashline: Beauty Treats Shimmery Light Beige Eyeshadow (from a palette) on the inner corner (& tearduct) & ARTISTRY Black Tie Eyeshadow on the outer lashline

Lower Waterline: NYX Dark Brown Eyeliner & NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Dark Brown

False Eyelashes: Ardell Wispies

Lips

Revlon Creme Lipstick in Nude Velvet & MAC Lipglass in Silly Girl

Product Review: ARTISTRY Absolute Oil-Control Foundations

MAKEUPprecious — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:14:45 -0800

I get a lot of emails concerning ARTISTRY/ARTISTRY Essentials Cosmetics especially, their foundations. I'm a huge fan of their foundations & it's the only foundations I'll use on my clients (not unless they want me to use their brand of foundations which happens sometimes). ARTISTRY/ARTISTRY Essentials offers 6 different types of foundations that range from powder, mineral, tinted moisturiser, aging/dry skin, minimal coverage, & my favorite, oil-control. Absolute Oil-Control foundation helps reduce shine & minimizes the appearance of pores and other imperfection. It's also enriched with Vitamin E & acerola cherry compand as well as SPF 15. This foundation is light weight & gives a nice matte finish which I really love. It's last throughout the day & doesn't rub off as easily as some foundations. I like to set it with either NYC Translucent Powder, MAC MSF's, or using ARTISTRY Essentials Mineral Foundations with a powder brush. ARTISTRY Absolute Oil-Control Foundations comes in 17 different shades & retails for $24. It's a small price to pay for foundation that keeps oil & shine at bay.

MAC Cosmetics Mischief Maker: Frisky Business Bright 5 Mini Lip/Lustreglass Set + Brush Holder Idea

MAKEUPprecious — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:16:04 -0800

I wasn't expecting to get anything from this collection when I was at my local MAC counter in North Olmsted (if you're in the Cleveland area, I recommend going there. Great MUA's that are so helpful & polite), I was originally going to buy some MAC lashes, a MSF, eyeshadows, or a paintpot. When I saw the Mischief Maker sets, I knew I had to get at least one set! I opted out of the pigments sets because I really didn't want any at the moment, what I was really interested in was the Lip/Lustureglass sets. I really needed some new lipglosses in my personal collection (& not for my kit for once) so, I wanted to for sure get one of these sets. I haven't used an lipglass or lustreglass by MAC in a couple years (when the FAFI collection came out). Back then, I thought the lipglasses were too sticky for my taste & never touched a lipglass since...a couple days ago! One swatch of the lipglass at the MAC counter & I fell in love. It wasn't too sticky like I originally remembered it was. They still do have some 'stick' to them, but not to the point I don't want to wear them (some sticky-ness is good because they last longer on your lips) So, I bought the Frisky Business Bright Set. To me, this set isn't really 'bright' except for one color. The set comes with 3 lipglasses & 2 lustreglasses minis (mini lipglass compared to a full size pictured). The colors that are included are Totally It (a sheer bright pink w/pink shimmer), Beaute (coral type shade w/pearl), Wonderstruck (a pinky-coral shade), Silly Girl (a peachy shade w/multi-colored shimmer), & Pinkarat (a soft pink w/gold shimmer). My favorite is Totally It because I don't have a hot pink lipgloss like that. When I saw it, I didn't care what set it came in, all I knew was that I wanted that color! The set retails for $29.50 which is an amazing deal for 5 mini lip/lustreglasses.

Since I liked the packaging so much & didn't want to throw it out, I decided to make them into brush holders! For the bottom half of the box (the pink part), I just punched some holes with a pair of scissors.

My Everyday/Fall Back Look.

MAKEUPprecious — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:12:18 -0800

Everyone has an everyday/fall back/'I don't have enough time to do the makeup look I planned on doing today' look(s). I'm in love with dark berry/wine lips (lips look darker in person) so, I paired it up with black winged liner with lashes for my updated everyday look.

Face

Prep/Moisturize: Artistry Essentials Soothing Creme

Foundation: Artistry Absolute Oil Control Foundation in Hazelnut

Setting/Finishing Powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Dark (natural side)

Under Eyes + Bridge of Nose: ARTISTRY concealer in Medium (to highlight)

Highlight: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Dark (shimmer side)

Cheeks: MAC Blush in Slave To Love & Bronze Blush from a palette (no name)

Eyes

Eyebrows: NYX Dark Brown Eyeliner & Artistry Espresso Eyeshadow

Upper Lashline: Black Radiance Liquid Eyeliner in Black

False Eyelashes: Ardell #105

Lips

ARTISTRY Couture Lip Colour & ARTISTRY Gifted Lip Shine