Makeup Life Update.

I apologize for my blog absence, I did not mean to be gone for so long. I would like to blame the busy Holidays, because well that is the easiest excuse. But I know I also have been just comfortable with the products I had been using and wanting to save money. So I was not purchasing anything new, different or fun to try out. I have been focusing more on myself. I really love makeup and beauty products, it has really become a fun little hobby of mine. My makeup applications/weddings and events has kind of taken a bit of a backseat in my life as well. As I enjoy the experience and art of being a makeup artist, I still get nervous and insecure about my talent. Weddings are such an amazing thing to be a part of as a makeup artist, makes me proud to see my work in their professional photos. However, they can be such a stressful event. I have been apart of and witnessed so many wedding in the last 10 years, have realized how particular people can be. Everyone is happy and excited yet worried about time and money. Completely understandable, they want everything to be perfect, be just right and well be the happiest day of their lives. When you are a makeup artist or hairstylist it is especially stressful because any mistake or any thing you do that the person does not like means more time wasted. I know I begin to sweat if an eyelash decides not to stay glued, or if their skin is extra dry and pealing, or if I get mascara on the eyelid. Mini panic in my head! Haha I am a perfectionist and really am hard on myself sometimes. I realize most clients do not think about or understand my perspective. I do not expect them to, I am doing my job and need to be at my best. It is just tricky, so I find myself pulling back from what I once loved which is makeup artistry. Until I can figure out my own insecurities,  hopefully get back into some applications and events I will continue to post on this blog of randomness. 🙂 I appreciate anyone that has stayed with me and hope you enjoy things to come. I cannot guarantee crazy amounts of posts but when I want to share a product or technique I will!

Looking forward to a better year of beauty!

Real Techniques Brushes

Real Techniques Brushes

• Synthetic bristles are ultra plush and smoother than the hair you’ll find in other brushes.  Since taklon is synthetic, it’s 100% cruelty-free. The soft fibers help create a flawless, high-definition finish in any type of light – from sunlight to harsh indoor lighting.
• The color-coded system corresponds to the key steps of makeup application so you can create a flawless base, enhanced eyes and the perfect finish like a pro.
• Each brush head is hand-cut to the perfect shape, allowing for precise application from dense coverage to a soft, delicate finish.
• The collection is suitable for a wide range of products and every makeup need – from powders, creams, and liquids to mineral makeup, highlighter, and shimmer.
• Brush names on the handles make for easy reference when creating your favorite look.

These have become one of my favorite brush lines. They are extremely well made but at a great price! I love the style, color and softness the brushes have. I still use my Sigma brushes but the Real Techniques have been what I grab for when I apply my makeup in the morning before work. I am just really impressed with how well they blend. Cleaning them also seems to be a breeze, which is a task I normally do not look forward to. I know that Ulta carries the Real Techniques line, so keep an eye out for those Ulta coupons or special sales on these brushes! Every little bit helps! I have begun to collect all of the brushes I prefer for my collection. You can never have too many makeup brushes right? Well, too many GREAT brushes!

Duo Fiber

I just picked these up the other day for 30% off! I have been eyeing them for a month or so but was just waiting for an Ulta sale and my patience paid off! I haven’t had much use yet but so far they are really nice. I prefer the duo fiber for applying my blush so that brush has had the most use. I will update as I use them more!

Ulta Website:

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/category.jsp?categoryId=cat80010&brandId=xlsImp12500002

Makeup Brush Storage & Organization

How do you store your makeup brushes? Do you keep them in a drawer…makeup case…in a cup…with a cat…in a hat? 😉 We all have to store them somewhere. Maybe you only have a couple of brushes but maybe, just maybe (like me) you have 20 or more. I know I like to have a variety of shapes and sizes, each brush with it’s certain job. I also choose to have more brushes so when some are dirty I do not have to rely on cleaning all of them. I find my ways to work around a dirty brush! Haha Here are some fun ideas and ways to store and organize your own makeup brushes! Enjoy!

A Mug

This one is kind of obvious but perfect for a small brush collection. Any cute or fun cup, mug or drinking glass will do! Place them brush tip up and set on your vanity or bathroom counter.

A Vase

You can find a vase that fits the size or shape you want at any local craft or home décor store. You can just place your brushes directly in the vase to keep them organized.

Vase Filler

Beads, marbles, jewels, sand etc…help your brushes to stand up, stay secure and separated. Sometimes makeup brushes can move around or fall deeper into their holder. These fillers can add some great color, texture and style to your décor!

Desk Organizer

I currently am using something similar to this! It’s a desk organizer that spins! Which I find so convenient and easy. Lots of little areas to keep makeup products and holes to organize your makeup brushes. If the pockets are too deep I just add a few beads/vase fillers to help lift the brushes. It’s nice to spin so you can see all of your collection, and find the brush you need.

Hope these ideas help you organize and store your makeup brush collection. Have fun with it! Let your creativity take over!

Ulta Haul

I love hauls! I enjoy seeing what products people use and what people want to try. I had a $3.50 coupon for Ulta, which is always a driven factor in my Ulta trips. Now, I love my Target when I need to get my regular drug store type items, but sometimes you need the more beauty specific items and the wonderful world of Ulta has it. Ulta can be a few dollars more expensive depending on the sale or item but I keep my eye out on all their sales and coupons. There were a few items I knew I needed replacing and I knew there were a few items that intrigued me, so I was on a mission. First stop…

Bare Minerals “Well Rested”

I just used up my last bit of this wonderful under eye brightening product. I have previously blogged about how much I enjoy this product. It is a great setting powder as well as brightening powder. With a slight, and when I say slight I mean it, shimmer, which creates a great reflective finish to your under eye area. Helps keep your liquid or cream concealer from creasing and camouflages any darkness. At $18.00 I still think it is worth the money, lasted me many months and a little goes a long way.

Also with purchasing the Well Rested I received a free gift of the Bare Minerals Instant Eye Repair Cream…never tried it. But excited to! Eye cream excites me, is that weird? haha

Next stop…face wash.

Neutrogena Foaming Cleanser

I am about to run out of my current foaming cleanser by Cetaphil and wanted to try something new. I like the Cetaphil and the Aveeno foaming cleanser both about the same, but wanted to get something with a little more makeup-removing power. I love the light feeling of foaming cleanser and thought I’d give this one a try!

REVIEW UPDATE!! 6/7/13

Sooo I have been using this cleanser for a few weeks now and I am not that impressed. I think I will keep using it for a little while longer and see if things improve but overall I wouldn’t repurchase. I feel like I have had more breakouts and redness. Nothing crazy but more so than with my previous cleanser. I also do not like that it takes a lot of water and scrubbing to get a good foam going, I love the feeling of foam cleansers and I feel like this is barely a foam.

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner

As I mentioned in my previous blog post I really liked Rimmel’s Kate Moss Lip Stick and wanted to try this particular lip liner. They had a great selection of colors, I stick with nude/pink shades. So I picked up #18 and will pair it with #14 Kate Lip Stick. I tested it a bit and it seems to apply nicely with a flat but pointed tip.

REVIEW UPDATE!! 6/7/13

The color is nice and I like the applicator shape. The twist up applicator makes it easy to apply and almost mistake proof. Lasting power is pretty good, nothing to brag about, average. Overall I would repurchase, maybe try a few other shades!

Batiste Dark & Deep Dry Shampoo

I have normal to oily hair, especially if I do not wash it everyday.  Well, I actually find that if I wash it everyday I am still left with oily roots, but dryer ends since I use a lot of heat on my hair. I like to give my hair a little break by not blowdrying or using flat/curl irons but it still takes it’s toll. I’m getting off subject…I needed something to soak up the oil and create some much needed volume for those days I do not wash my hair. I have tried a few other dry shampoos in the past none completely winning me over but they do the trick for much needed oily hair. I mostly didn’t like the gray/white cast of color the shampoo left. If you don’t work it in really well, it looks like I’m going gray much faster then anyone would want. No thank you! So I love the idea of a tinted dry shampoo. I tried a little after I purchased and I think it will be just what I need, but I will update further when I give it a few more uses!

REVIEW UPDATE!! 6/7/13

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this dry shampoo! It has taken over my life. 😉 I can actually wear “second day” hair. Usually I accept defeat and end up pulling my hair up before the second day is done. No more I say! I loooooove the dark shade color, blends into my hair color with ease. I have learned not to rub the product in my hair with my fingers unless I want brown dye in my nails and on my hands. (It does washes off fine) But I just use a comb instead to avoid that. Works like a charm.

Juicy Couture Perfume

I have become obsessed with finding new fragrances. I currently wear Burberry Brit and have been wearing it since high school, so it is my main scent. Then I discovered Lush, oh Lush how I love thee. That is a whole another topic which I have blogged about many Lush products before, but Lush Lust is my FAVORITE. Such a wonderful floral scent, I get so many compliments on it and my husband loves it. So anyways I have been trying out different popular fragrances recently, whenever I go passed the fragrance areas in store I spray a couple on the little scent strips and go on my way. I test them out and see how I feel about them later in the day or after a few days. There’s been a few that intrigued me like Marc Jacobs Daisy, and Lady Gaga perfume but nothing that made me want to go out and buy a $50 + perfume. Today I tested Juicy Couture roll on and wore it around Ulta, I kept getting whiffs of it and wanting to smell my arm. So I went back to the tester and dabbled a little more…I was hooked. I really liked it! I think it is a fresh, light but sexy scent. I think my husband will agree once he smells it. I then debated on purchasing the roll-on or if I should go for the gold and just get the regular spray bottle, I caved. I like the convenience of the roll-on but I feel like I prefer spraying of the scent the beginning of the day and letting the fragrance warm up. Plus it is a reminiscent routine I enjoy, spraying my selected fragrance for the day. So I am excited to wear my new perfume and hope it becomes a new favorite.

REVIEW UPDATE!! 6/7/13

BEST PURFUME EVER! That is all. 🙂

And since I was a baller and purchased a perfume, Ulta was giving away a free tote with purchase! Yay! I doubt the tote was actually worth $40 but hey! It’s free! I chose a bright peach colored one. It will be a perfect companion for my future cruise my husband and I planned this summer! 🙂

New Adventures

Hello makeup loving peoples! =)

I am on a makeup trial and error adventure! I have recently discovered e.l.f makeup. (As you can see in the reviews below) I will admit the price is what initially caught my eye, but I was even more pleasantly surprised by the selection and packaging, both broad and stylish. I completely felt like a kid in a candy store. I am trying a few different produts outside of the e.l.f makeup as well. I do not get paid in anyway by e.l.f for the, I guess you could say, advertisements and recommendations I have been giving. I am just an eager freelance makeup artist on a budget.

I will say that recently I feel like I have been broadening my knowledge and supply of makeup. I am eager to learn different technics I have not currently been practicing and eager to find good products for good deals. Makeup has been a great outlet for my creative nature. I love to see the many looks you can acheive starting with one swipe of a makeup brush. I have tried expensive “name brand” makeup, natural/organic makeup and of course the more common “drugstore” makeup brands. All in which serve their purpose in many ways. But I always seem to come back to certain makeup brands I am comfortable with. It is hard for me to step out of my comfort zone, but I am determind to go on this new adventure of trial and error.

More product/makeup reviews, photoshoots and weddings are to come! So I hope you enjoy my journey, my work and my adventure.

Trish

Wedding Day

There’s something about a persons wedding day that becomes almost magical. It’s every girls dream to look and feel amazing on this day. Which is why I enjoy providing this confidence through my makeup applications.