I AM AN AMATUER MAKE-UP ARTIST!

Hello Divas!

How was your Memorial Day weekend?  Mine was fabulous! I spent time with my family and friends and it was just lovely!

As a matter of fact, a good friend of mine, Jackie, was the keynote speaker for the 31st Annual Christian Women's Retreat and she asked me to do her make-up.  Of course I said yes because in my mind I am a celebrity make-up artist! LOL!  Jackie also has a fabulous blog entitled, after the alter call, that discusse the issues Christians face "after the alter call."  It is a great read!

Well here are the results!

She was very pleased with the results!  I went for a professional crisp look but with a little pizazz.  I really love her eyes!  I think they are the best I have ever done.

Of course I used mostly Lancome products. Why? Because they are just darn good! Specifically, I used:

Face

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Foundation in Suede 2(w)
Nars Blush in Lovejoy
Lancome Tropiques Mineral Bamboo Bronzer on top of Nars Blush and all over face.
Benefit Cosmetics Lust Duster in Nugget as a highlighter.

Eyes

Lancome Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eyeshadow: the color "Makeover," (a intense metallic pink) all over lid, "Drape" on the brow bone.  I used Lancome Tropiques Mineral Bamboo Bronzer in the crease of her lid. I also lined her bottom lashes with Lancome "Makeover" eyeshadow and used Lancome Kajal eye pencil in Gold Blaze in the inner corner of her eyes.  Of course I finished her eyes with Lancome Defencils Mascara. Classic.

Lips

Mac lip glass in Spite
Milani Easyliner in Dark Coffee

So what do you guys think?


Toodles!

Fun Fridays! CVS Sales and More!

Hello Divas!

I hope your week has been fantastic!  It is cold again in Atlanta, in the 20s!! Whoo!

Well it is Fun Fridays and time to talk about things that are fun....like shopping! LOL!

My favorite drugstore, CVS, is having some great sales on Make-Up.  All Rimmel Cosmetics are buy one get one 50% off.  Select Loreal Products are $5 with a CVS card.  Revlon has a sale on its Photo Ready Foundation.  This foundation is all the rage and I can't wait to try it out! It is only $12 with a CVS card. 

Although I have tons of makeup, I feel like I need new make-up.  You have to keep it new and fresh!  Currently I am having a pink obsession and I want the perfect pink lip gloss or lip stick.  Pink just makes me think of Spring and Sundresses! I am going to check out the colors below this weekend.

Lancome Bronze Heat.  A bronzy-pink color. Love it!

Mac Cosmetics Viva Glam GaGa. A true pink! Love the packaging!

Chanel's Rouge Coco Lipstick in Mademoiselle.  A dark luxurious pink!

I am trying all 3 and will get one or maybe two. We will see. Which one you think would look best on me?  I have an idea, but I will try them first!

Toodles!

Q&A Thursdays! Pretty Peach and Bright Red Lipstick

Hello Divas!

I hope your world is just fabulous!

Today is Q&A Thursdays! One of my fav Luxetips! readers, Chamele, had a very good question regarding the best peach or bright red lipstick for skin with warm undertones. Here it is:

Question: Please help me find a pretty peach and bright red for my skin tone that won't make me look too 80's or clownish. Most pretty reds and bright peaches appear to be made for people with cool undertones, and I have warm undertones, thus I generally stick to darker colors.

Answer: Chamele during Fashion Week I discovered a bright red lipstick that looks fantastic on skin with warm undertones. Maybelline's Color Sensational Lip Color in Red Revival looks phenomenal on darker skin tones. I love it! It is the perfect red. Not too bright and not too dark. To create the perfect red color, I line my lips with my MAC lip pencil in Chesnut and then apply Red Revival over it. I then blend my lips together and the red is just smoking hot! I love it! Maybelline's Color Sensational Lip Color comes in 48 wonderful shades and they retail for $7.50. You can purchase it at CVS!

As far as a pretty preach lip color, I am current IN LOVE with Lancome's Color Fever Gloss in Hotness. It is actually a bronzy peach but it is my current go to lip gloss. The color is crazy insane! It looks fantastic on darker skin tones. I actually use it alone without lip liner. This gloss is super moisturizing and has tons of shine! Chamele you will absolutely love this color! It retails for $25 and you can purchase it from any department store.

Toodles!

MAC Cosmetics Backstage at Georges Chakra and Alice + Olivia

Hello Divas!

Due to computer issues, this post is a day late but the "Beach Chic" look created by MAC Make-up Artist, Gregory Arlt, was well worth the wait.

Artlt wanted to create a look that was "straight from the beach to the red carpet." As a result, he created beautiful glowing bronze Goddesses to compliment Georges Chakra's gorgeous gowns. He used warm tones like golds, peaches, and bronzes.

The MAC products used were:

Cheeks: Sun Basque Blush

Face: Motif eyeshadow as a highlighter underneath the eye.

Lips- Love Nectar, which Arlt called the "American Express of Lip Glosses..Never Leave Home Without It!"

Eyes- All That Glitters on lids and Dip Down Chocolate Brown Eyeliner to line the eyes.

The result is simply gorgeous! This was one of my absolute favorite looks for Spring 2010.


MAC also did the make-up for the HOT design house Alice + Olivia. The look created by Lead MAC Make-up Artist, Nadine Luke, was inspired by the movie Pretty in Pink! Pretty in Pink is one of my favorite movies of all time! The look was Rock & Roll with a soft edge. Nadine used soft washes of color including lilacs, pinks, and mauves.

The MAC Products used were:

Face - Mineralized Foundation and So Sweet So Easy on Cheeks

Eyes- Rosy Outlook, Turkey, and Jessie in the inner corner of the eye

Lips - Angel lipstick and English Accents and Underage Lip Glosses.

The look is soft and pretty! Love!

I also had the opportunity to speak with the Lead Fekkai hair stylist, Andre Rodman. The hairstyle he created was classic Alice + Oliva...funky and fun! He created a "Rocker Sheek" look that included waves waves waves! He created this look curling the hair with a double barreled curling iron in a figure eight pattern. He used Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse before curling and finished with Fekkai Coiff Magnifique Ultra-Light Finishing Creme. The look is soft but sexy!

Beautiful Alice & Olivia multi-pink colored dress!


Toodles!

THISDAY ARISE AFRICAN COLLECITVE AND JUAN CARLOS OBANDO FASHION SHOWS: MAC COSMETICS

Hello Divas!

Remember no matter what you are going through, you can always turn it around!

So far Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week has been simply fantastic! MAC Cosmetics is definitely setting the tone for Spring make-up. The face for spring includes healthy looking skin with natural warm colors.

At the Thisday Arise African Collective Show, the lead MAC Makeup Artist, Fatima, created a simple but classic look. Her inspiration for the look was the fiery orange red color used in the Jewel Collection. Specifically she used a strong red lip with sheer lightweight foundation, black smudged gel eyeliner, and no mascara. Here is the look:

The MAC Products used were:

Lips - Mix of Pure lip Pigment and Park Side lipstick

Face- Face and Body Foundation

Eyes- Fluid Gel Eyeliner. No Mascara just curled lashes.

At the Juan Carlos Obando Show MAC Lead Make-up Artist, Fulvia Fanolfi created a look that was reminiscent of "Old Westerns", which was Obando's inspiration when he created the Spring 2010 Collection. Fulvia used colors that included the colors of the desert. As a result, she used browns, bronzes, and taupes to create a dusky look.

The MAC Products used were:

Face - A blend of MAC NC45 and NC55 on the cheeks, Bronzer, and the color Taupe for countouring.

Eyes - Brown Breeze eyeshadow was used on the eyes.

Lips - Brown Breeze eyeshadow was used on the lips as well.

Here is the look:



As Fulvia stated, "the look is very monochromatic and cinematographic as if the model had been exposed to the sun for a month."

Stay tuned for more Spring Beauty Trends!

PREEN MAC COSMETICS AND CHARLOTTE RONSON

Hello Divas!

I hope you are having an awesome day! It is rainy and coooold in NYC! But that does not stop Mercedez-Benz New York Fashion Week!

Today I had the opportunity to cover make-up and hair for the Preen Fashion Show. Preen is a British label that was launched in 1996. The clothes are edgy, punk rockish, and futuristic. Keeping this in mind, the lead MAC Make-up Artist, James Kaliardos, created a look that was slightly futuristic with a masculine/feminine vibe. As Mr. Kaliardos stated, "the girls look masculine but are still super beautiful and feminine. The look was very light but futuristic. The MAC artist started with healthy looking skin.

Mr. Kaliardos

He then applied the following:

MAC Moisture Care Concealer. This product was applied only where needed. Full coverage foundation was not used.
MAC Pro Cheek Color in Sculpt was used to contour the cheeks and on the eye lids.
Lashes were curled only without Mascara.
MAC Pro Pigment in Platinum was used in the inner corner of the eye.
MAC lip conditioner was used on the lips.
MAC White Eye Pencil, Fascination, was used in the center of the lips as a highlighter.

Here is the look: simplistic, light, and futuristic.


The hair was done by Bumble and Bumble stylists. The look was boyish/girlie, which was a more short cut styled with Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. The stylists used a hair dryer and their hands to style this look. There is also a slight pouff in the front for a sleek but manageable look.

I also went to the Charlotte Ronson show. Charlotte Ronson is a young hip line that is all the rage with young starlets! Nikki Hilton and Keri Hilson are huge fans! They were in the front row! The clothes were very rock and roll yet feminine and ultra modern. Here are a few pics!

My favorite outfit. Black sleek swimsuit with a hood! Hot!




Here is a video of the show submitted by makeup artist extraordinaire, Victoria Stiles.


Okay Divas. I am running off to the next show. More New York Fashion Week Hotness to come!

Toodles!

MAC Cosmetics Friends & Family 25% off June 16-18, 2009

Starting today, June 16 until June 18, you can get 25% off your online purchase of MAC Cosmetics. To get the code..

Use: SAVE25 to get your discount! :)

What will you be getting?
Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

Milani Easyliner Lip Liner in Dark Coffee

Hello Divas!

I hope you are having a Fantabulous day! It is overcast in Atlanta..but I still feel awesome! Last week I lost my MAC Chesnut Lip pencil. If you have been reading this blog, you know it is my absolute fav lip liner and it is the only lip liner I use. So you can imagine my devastation when I could not find it. Unfortunately, it was fairly new so I have been a bit reluctant to go purchase a new one. They are $15.00 a pop! Well while in Target last night, I decided to find a good dupe of my beloved MAC lip pencil to get me through the week ........until I get to the MAC counter. Well I have found the PERFECT dupe! Milani Easyliner Lip Liner in Dark Coffee looks exactly like my MAC Chesnut lip liner. It is the same dark brown color with just a hint of burgandy. And as an added plus, the lip liner is very creamy. It glides on like a dream. In addition, the pencil comes with a retractable tip! Imagine that! Of course the best thing about this lip liner is that it is only.....$3.49!! You can purchase it online here or at any Target or CVS. At this price, it may permanently replace my MAC lip pencil...mmmmm.

Toodles!

MAC cosmetics- 25% off Friends and Family until Jan 8

2009 is here and why not celebrate with new makeup?

MAC Cosmetics is helping you out by letting you save 25% of your MAC purchase by using the code: MACFF9



I remember my first MAC product was a gift- I received a very pretty pink color that is similar to the current color, Da Bling.

MAC has so many great products, including their VIVA GLAM VI collection featuring Fergie. To get her fabulous look, you can check out MAC's website with the face and the products that were used to see the Fergie MAC look.

To start shopping now..
Go to: MAC Cosmetics @ www.maccosmetics.com

Hautelanta Fashion Week: Makeup Trends!

Hello Divas!

I hope your weekend was fabulous! I had an extremely busy weekend. I attended Hautelanta Fashion Week, cared for a teething baby girl, and worked. Whew! But lets get back to beauty! Here are a few makeup trends that Atlantans believe are hot for spring 09!

1. Smokey eyes using vibrant colors. I was granted backstage access during Hautelanta Fashion Week and I was able to capture up close the beautiful make-up for the shows. The MAC lead make up artist, Nicole Corbette, stated that the Glamourous decade of the 80s was her inspiration in creating the looks for the Maria Harper and Essence shows. Specifically 80s meet Hollywood. How fabulous! She created this look with smokey eyes using browns, blues, grays, and purples with a cute peach or nude lip. Check out the photos.


2. Peach lips, cheeks, and soft smokey eyes. I loove this look! So fresh and pretty. This look definitely puts me in the mood for spring! This look was used in the Vivian Compton show!

I have LOTS more from Hautelanta Fashion Week! So stay tuned...

Toodles!

I Heart Make-Up Bags

Hello Divas!

I am glad today is Friday. How about you? What a week! Well I was cleaning and organizing my beauty closet...which is actually all the space underneath my bathroom sink, (lol!) and I realized that I had a stash of make up bags. Now if you are a make up junkie like me, you know that carrying a make up bag is ESSENTIAL. I have make up bags in different sizes, textures, and colors. Basically, I have a make up bag to suit every occassion and fancy!
Right now I am rocking my small and compact leather Helena Rubinstein make-up bag I received as a gift with purchase in 2000! Obviously well made and just too fab! I use this make up bag when I do not want my make up bag to take up too much space in my purse. I also have a red suede Chanel make up bag I received as a gift when purchasing my Chanel No. 5 perfume collection. I just love the texture and the bright red color is so fashionable. I carry this make-up bag when I am rocking my hobo shoulder bag. I also received this too fabulous make up bag/clutch from Mac when purchasing a set of make up brushes. I actually pair this clutch with a cool short summer frock when going out on the town. Too cute! And ladies in tribute to the make-up bag, I have included several bags in different price ranges and styles for your viewing pleasure.

Toodles!

1. Soho Leopard Dome Purse Kit. This bag is only 6.99. This make-up bag features a removable furry button, so you can keep this in your purse as a make up bag or add the button and use as a small purse! You can purchase this bag here.


2. Sonia Kashuk Double-Zip Foldover Make-up Bag. Only 9.99 at Target! I just love the colors. Purchase it here or at Target.


3. Jemma Kidd Must Have Cosmetic Bag. Check out this HOT pink make-up bag! It retails for $30.00. You can purchase this bag at Neiman Marcus or online here.