I created my first YouTube Makeup Tutorial!!!

Hey Lovelies! I created my first makeup tutorial! I hope you enjoy watching it!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Gloomy and Gray

I absolutely hate fall/winter.  The best things about them are the holidays, sales, and birthdays that fall around this time of year.  The part that makes me dread fall/winter in the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia area) is the weather.  I do admit that it's not as bad as the weather farther north and the midwest, but it's still not as great as the warm sunny south.

The colder it gets, the harder it is to get up and start my day.  Add bad or gloomy weather and it's that much harder.

Today just happens to be one of those gloomy days in the DMV.  Dense fog and a high of only 59 degrees.  It took everything I had in me to get out of the bed this morning.

It's on days like these when I love makeup that much more.  Picking out and working with colors that are brighter than this gray and gloomy day served as a pick me up for my spirit.  The more I played, the better my outlook on the day became.  By the time I was ready to leave the house, playing in my makeup had served as the pick my up I needed to better dace my day.

Here's the look I decided on today...

So my Lovelies, what is a good pick me up for those gray and gloomy days for you?  Does the makeup colors you wear ever affect your attitude?  Let me knowwhat works for you on days like today.

Until then...

Everything Needs A Good Base... Including Eye Shadow Part II

In my Everything Needs A Good Base... Including Eye Shadow Part II blog entry, I touched on bases and different types of bases such as MAC Paint Pots, NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils, etc.  It's one thing to tell you how great they are and another thing to show you just what I am talking mean.  Now that my digital camera is back up and running after almost two weeks of being out of commission (thanks CC!), I wanted to show you just a few uses of bases.

One way a base can be used is alone as an eye shadow.  Most of them are described by the manufacturer as eye shadows.  MAC Cosmetics describes their paint pots as "A highly pigmented eye colour that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colourfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with M·A·C shadows and liners."  On the NYX website, Jumbo Eye Pencils are listed as "a simplified way to get the perfect eye-popping color combination".  They are very blendable and buildable so if you wanted to use them as an eye shadow alone, they all can easily be used as such.

But if you are looking to get more color payoff from your eye shadows, this is the way to go.

Have you ever bought an eye shadow color that looked beautiful in the pot but when you returned home and swatched the color on yourself, it didn't have the same color pay off you were expecting?  This is what happened to me when I first purchase Parfait Amour by MAC.  This color is listed on MAC's website as a "blue-violet with shimmer".  I couldn't resist the color when I saw it in the store.  I get it home, try it on my skin, but it did not show up on my skin the way I thought it would.  It was not the great color I had in mind.  But used over NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Purple and the color turns out amazing.

Another way bases can be used to lighten and darken the color of the eye shadow you put over it.

The picture above shows Parfait Amour alone and over different color bases.  In the middle on the left is the color alone.  In the middle row in the middle is the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Purple.  Next to that on the far right of the middle row is Parfait Amour over Purple.  At the left top to the far left is a popular NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in the color milk which is a white color.  Next to that on the right is Parfait Amour over white.  Notice how it is a lighter color from the Parfait Amour over Purple.  Next is the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean.  On the top row on the far right is Parfait Amour over the black.  Notice how much darker it makes that color.  On the bottom row on the far left is the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in a great color named Rust.  To the right of that is Parfait Amour over Rust.  See how it changes the color of the eye shadow?  The last two swatches are NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Lime and the Parfait Amour over Lime.  I wanted to show you how different the eye shadow will look over different color eye shadow base colors and how much the base will make the eye shadow more vibrant.

So my Lovelies, these are just a few of the ways bases can be used.  The possibilities are endless.  Play around with them.  Have fun with them.  If you find another way to use them that was not mentioned in this blog entry, please share!

 Until then...

MakeUp Inspiration: America's Next Top Model

Creative inspiration can be found anywhere.  In the day of "reality TV", I find myself watching certain television shows over others. An ongoing segment of this blog will feature television shoes that inspire me artistically.

Tonight is the Season 13 finale of America's Next Top Model.  Despite the critics comments regarding whether or not the shoe has run out of ideas, I still enjoy it.

I admit that my comfort zone as a makeup artist is more everyday, wedding, photography look, but ANTM inspires me to push past my comfort zone to a whole other place.  A place of artistic outrageousness and creative abandonment.  Where the only thing standing in the way of me a pure genius is my own mind and comfort level and how far I want to go.

I also watch the show to challenge myself to recreate a look I see on the show.  Then, to take the look one step farther, what would I add and take away from the look to make it uniquely my own?

Here are a few of the looks that have stood out to me over the years...

 

So my Lovelies, let me know what you think.  What shows inspire you to push the creativity envelope?

And be sure to check back for more television inspiration!

A Forgotten Beauty Essential

Go to any makeup section or counter and there are tons of products for your choosing.  Foundations?  Check!  Blush?  Sure!  Eye shadow?  Of course!  But one essential facial area is often forgotten all together.  If this area is not forgotten, there only seems to be a few items at best that are available.  But this facial area is essential in the beauty world.  What facial area you ask?   The eye brows of course!

Eye brows are an essential area in the beauty world because they help to frame the eyes and give the face character.  The “in” chore in the beauty world is to have one’s eye brows waxed or threaded.  Some of us even sit in front of a mirror and pluck our own eye brows.  A few brave souls will use an eye brow shaver from the nearest beauty supply store and shave their own eye brows.

Once your eye brows are perfectly shaped, now what?  Most people where not born with thick lush perfectly shaped eye brows after grooming, so help is needed to make them the perfect frame for that gorgeous new eye shadow color you are excited to try.  After you use an eye brow brush to brush your eye brows in the direction you would like for them to be, there are 3 products that come to mind to help you polish off your look.

The first is an eye brow pencil.  This is probably the most popular tool that women use to fill in imperfections in their brows.  They are sold at most drug stores and beauty supply stores as well as department store beauty counters. When applying an eye brow pencil to your brows, be sure to use a light hand and apply the pencil in short precise strokes.  It is very easy to apply the color too heavily which will in turn give your brows a heavy, weighted down look instead of the light even look you are trying to achieve.  A tip if you don’t find just the right brow color you’re looking for or if the store does not have eye brow pencils, you can substitute lip pencils or eye liner pencils in the same shade.  You will still be able to achieve the desired look.

If you find that eye brow pencils give your brows too harsh of a look, another product is the eye brow powder.  Using an eye shadow brush and eye shadow powder to fill in the areas in your eye brows where hair is sparse.  If you would like to shape your eye brows in a different shape then your eye brows grow naturally, this is a good product to use to experiment.  Be sure to tap the brush on the side of the powder’s container edge so that the right amount of powder is on the brush.

Maybe you are one of the lucky few who after your eye brows have been groomed, are the exact shape and consistency that you would like them to be, the only product you may need is eye brow gel.  This is a clear gel that is brushed onto eye brows to help set them the way you want them to be.  Eye brow gel is a little harder to find than the other two products mentioned, but some drug stores and beauty supply stores do carry it.  Can’t find any clear eye brow gel?  Clear mascara works just as well.

One thing to remember when picking a color to compliment your eye brows, remember to pick a color a few shades lighter than your natural hair color or eye brow color if you are in the red, brown, black hair color family.  This will help to soften your face.  Only if you are in the blonde to light brown hair color family should you look for an eye brow color that’s a few shades darker.  Never should you use black on your eye brows.  It is too harsh of a color.

Some ladies forget about their eye brows during their daily beauty regimen, but just a few seconds of attention to the brows can help anyone achieve that put together look.

Looking Forward To The Weekend...

The weekend is FINALLY upon us!

I've been looking forward to this weekend more than usual because I'm going to take the time to go to a few of the stores I've been meaning to go to and sample a few of their beauty lines that are on my list to try. (And YES, I really do keep a written list!)

Target - Target is one of my favorite places to shop for household items so it is always on my list of places to go.  This time, I'm going to pick up a few products from 2 makeup lines.  The first one is Sonia Kashuk.  I've heard quite a few wonderful things about her brushes.  I'm looking for 2 in particular - a slanted eye liner brush (for applying cream/gel eye liner) and some type of eye shadow brush.  It doesn't even matter what kind/shape of eye shadow brush because I believe one can never have too many of them. I may even pick up a Sonia Kashuk brush set as opposed to single brushes.  

Another product line I will look into purchasing is the ELF makeup brand.  This is a new line at Target.  Because it has recently become available there, I'm not sure if it will be a permanent item or just a holiday find.  That will be interesting to see.  I thought I would go to Target and see about possibly purchasing a few items as opposed to ordering online and paying shipping.

Dollar Tree - Words can not begin to express how much I LOVE that store!  What makes it so great is that everything is $1.  I was skeptical about buying makeup from there until one day I needed a makeup fix but my funds were a little low.  I decided to venture over to that section just to peek.  And what truly phenominal treat did I find?  L'Oreal's HIP brand blush!  I will sing the eternal praises of this blush in another blog entry, but finding this blush for only $1 changed my thinking of what types of bargains can be found at a Dollar Tree Store.  So for my weekend excursion, I have no spcecific products in mind, but I'm just excited at the thought of going on a treasure hunt.

Big Lots - I've only been to this store maybe three times, but I've always found something I was looking for at a very decent pice.  I also do not have a particular idea in mind of what I'm looking for, but after finding such great deals there in the past, I figured it was worth a try.

Walgreens - Some drug stores have a product line exclusive to them.  Jordana is the cosmetics like for Walgreens. I've heard some pretty good reviews for the line and decided to check them out.  With most items under $2, it's hard pass them up.

Walmart - Hard Candy Cosmetics has been sold for years.  At one time, it could only be purchased at higher end department stores.  Now, they are being sold at Walmart Stores.  I have heard some great reviews about some products and some not so great reviews about other products.  I'm an eye shadow lover as well as lip gloss so I'll be sure to give those a good once over while I'm there.

Rite-Aid - I have to admite that I have not played around with bronzer.  Every time I consider it, I see the $10+ price ta for a good bronzer and get intimidated.   Enter NYC Cosmetics Bronzer.  I have heard only wonderful things about this bronzer.  And get this...  The price is only $3!!!!  

Well, I'm off to go prepare for my full beauty day tomorrow.   I'm excited about coming back and sharing my treasures with you!

Happy 100th Birthday to L'Oreal!!!!

Join me in saying a very Happy 100th Birthday to L'Oreal!!!

In 1907, Eugène Schueller, a French chemist began selling his hair dye to hairdressers in Paris.  In 1909, he registered his company the Société Française de Teintures Inoffensives pour Cheveux which translates to mean "French Society for Inoffensive Hair Dyes".  This company would eventually become known as L'Oreal.

I have to admit that I was never really a big fan of L'Oreal.  That is until they brought out the High Intensity Pigment (H.I.P.) line and since I discovered that line, I've been sold!

I haven't had much luck with their eye shadows although I know other people who have.  But their pigments and cream shadow eye liners are really great.

My favorite by far, however, is their blush.  I plan to do a blog entry very soon on my love for their blushes and where I've been able to find them for a lower price than I would have ever imagined.  Keep checking back for that entry.

Here's to 100 years passed for L'Oreal and hopefully 100 more years!

Everything Needs A Good Base... Including Eye Shadow

An eye shadow base can make all the difference when it comes to how pigmented your eye shadow appears on your lid.  A cream base added under shadows helps the color stand out more.

There are quite a products that can be used as eye shadow bases on the market today.  I will touch on just a few of them.

MAC Paint Pots are a fan favorite.  They are available in a mostly neutral colors with different finishes and a few colors as well.  My favorite is delft.  MAC describes it as deep teal with gold pearl frost.  I describe it as beautiful!  Application recommendation is to use a brush such as MAC's 242 brush or Essence of Beauty's Synthetic Concealer brush to apply the product.  You can also use it to smooth the product over your lid or just use your ring finger.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil is also an excellent choice.  They come in an array of colors.  If you are looking for that one color for your make up collection, I suggest the color Milk.  It's a matte white shade that really makes eye shadow colors stand out when applied over this base.  Application recommendation is to use the pencil to apply the color on your lid and then use your ring finger to spread the product evenly over your lid.

ELF Duo Eye Cream Shadow is another great choice that comes in an array of colors.  What adds to the appeal of these is that they're only $1 on the Eye Lips Face (ELF) website.  I have yet to try these, but they have received rave reviews from users that love these as an eye shadow base as opposed to an eye shadow alone.  Application recommendation is to use a brush such as MAC's 242 brush or Essence of Beauty's Synthetic Concealer brush to apply the product.  You can also use it to smooth the product over your lid or just use your ring finger.

L'Oreal High Intensity Pigment Color Truth Cream Eyeliner is an excellent choice if you're looking for a very bold eye shadow base.  All of the colors are very highly pigmented so a little will go a long way in helping you achieve the look you desire.  Application recommendation is to use a brush such as MAC's 242 brush or Essence of Beauty's Synthetic Concealer brush to apply the product.  You can also use it to smooth the product over your lid or just use your ring finger.

If you have an eye shadow that does not have the color payoff you were hoping for, it is good to try a base under the shadow.  You may be surprised at how wonderfully adding a base under the shadow will breathe new life into an otherwise dull shadow.

I hope I have helped you with some ideas for your next eye shadow look. 

I welcome any and all comments, questions, and pics!  Let me know how it works out for you.

Why Be Confined To Labels

For years, I confined myself to labels.  Not brand labels, but product use labels.  I would see a product and only allow myself the use of that product by the label written on the packaging.  If the packaging listed it as eye shadow, that's all I used it for.  If the product said eye liner, that's what I used it for.

It wasn't until years later that I questioned why was I limiting myself.  As I began to learn more about makeup and it's application, my creativity began to flowed.  Makeup does not have to be confined to the shackles we place on them.

First, let me say that there are some products and colors that are not recommended for certain uses because it can be irritating to a certain area of the skin.

But even these restrictions, when followed, do not have to totally restrict your creativity.  Why can't a fierce neutral brown eye shadow be used as a blush color?  Can't find a certain lip liner color, but you've found it in an eye liner?  What's stopping you from using it on your lips?  Have an eye shadow color that you would love as an eye liner?  Wet your eyeliner brush with a mixing medium and line away!

From now on, I challenge you to view cosmetic product usage labels as a suggestion and allow yourself the freedom to let your creativity flow!

NYX ON SALE!!!

For those of you looking for a sale on makeup that is already at a great price normally, NYX periodically has phenomenal sales on their discontinued merchandise.

One of the items on sale this time is their NYX Lips lipsticks.  You can purchase a 60 piece set of different lip sticks (no duplicates) for $48.00 which equals out to $0.80 a tube.  The normal price was $4 a tube which is a savings of over 80%.  What a great deal!

Click here to check out even more deals!

The NYX Make Up Line

You may have seen (and possibly passed up) the NYX (pronounced niks) makeup line at your local beauty supply store or Ulta store.  For the price, how good could it be, right?  WRONG!

NYX makes great makeup that rivals the big names for a fraction of the cost.

Over time, I will sample as many of their products as possible to give you my opinion of the product, swatch the product so you're able to see the true colors as well as show you how I use the product to give you ideas that inspire you when you try it for yourself.

If you are nervous about trying NYX, a good eye shadow to try first is one of their trios consisting of colors Rust / Copper / Bronze.

These are good neutral colors to start off.  They can be worn together by themselves, together adding a bright color for a pop of color, or breaking the colors up and adding them to a look with other colors.  The possibilities are endless!

The color pay off with this trio is wonderful.  You only need a very little bit.  These colors are very buildable and blendable.  Whenever I want a great neutral look for a quick application because my time is limited, this is the first palette I tend to reach for.

Here is a swatch on my hand.  The top is the color over Urban Decay Primer Potion.  The bottom is the color over my bare hand.

WELCOME TO THE OFFICAL LAUNCH OF LASHES TO LIPS!!!!

 I am so excited that you have decided to join me on this journey we will take together through the world of beauty (with random detours of fashion thrown in from time to time).

I believe that quality make up is not tied to one brand or price range.  I will do my best to bring you reviews on several new products from various product lines as well as bring your attention back to some tried and true products you may have forgotten about.

I will also do my best to bring you news of the latest sales.

My goal is to do everything I can to help you look and feel your best through makeup.

Feel free to email me about anything.  If you want my opinion on an item or if you want me to research something, just let me know.  I welcome any and all communication we can share!

I'm here for you and excited about this ride we're going to take together!

Keisha
keisha@lashestolipsmua.com