Try Me On... I'm Very You

When I get asked about make up, the question I get asked the most is "what's your favorite mascara"? Sephora has come up with a great way for you to discover for yourself what mascara you like best!

Sephora Favorites Lashstash Mascara Deluxe Sampler

For only $39 you get to sample some of the best mascaras out there! The set includes large sample sizes of :

- Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascara
-Tarte Lights Camera Lashes
- Sephora Atomic Volume Mascara
- Stila Multi Effect Mascara
- Benefit Bad Gal Mini
- Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash
- Too Faced Mini Lash Injection Pin Point
- Smashbox Bionic
- Lancome Cils Booster
- DuWop Lash Venom
- Korres Provitamin B5 and Rice Bran Mascara

The set is only available while supples last, so don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to sample all of these great mascaras!!!

<3
Amy

Modern Love

I have told you before about Jemma Kidd's JK line for Target, which is a great and affordable way to build a make up kit with quality products. I was recently lucky enough to be introduced to Jemma Kid Make Up School, the higher end Jemma Kidd line sold at Neiman Marcus and Space NK.

I am so privileged that I have access to so many amazing cosmetic lines, but I have to say the products I am using from Jemma Kidd Make Up School feel like they were made with my specific needs, taste, and aesthetic in mind.

The first stand out product is the STAIN, FLUSH & GLOSS LIP & CHEEK DUO.

I am a big fan of using lip and cheek stains to achieve a natural look that still pops on camera. Sometimes I will just dab a bit of lipstick in the center of the lip or on the cheeks with my fingers.

I used this lip stain for a cover shoot on Thursday. I did a dramatic smokey eye with dewey, highlighted natural skin and a stained lip. Everyone complimented me on how great the make up looked, and even straight men were telling me they love the "subtle lip". Now THAT'S a compliment!

I'm also really loving...

STARDUST CRÉME SHADOW

Unlike many creme shadows, it lasts without creasing and is highly pigmented for a great color payoff. You can build the color for added drama.

DEFINE STAY-PUT EYE LINER

Water and smudge proof (although I don't mind a smudged eye liner!), it applies effortlessly with a silky texture and comes in a great range of colors. I really love the purple one called "Peacock"!

FIRMING I-SILK LONG-LAST COLOUR

Absolutely amazing shimmery shades to achieve a perfect red carpet look! Very wearable and long lasting, and like a lot of Jemma's products, it has anti aging benefits!

I-RESCUE BIO-COMPLEX COVER from the "pro" line

This is a beautiful, creamy concealer that is also an eye "treatment". The shades brighten the eye area while working to diminish fine lines and puffiness. Available in 3 shades, light, medium, and dark... they are highly blendable and create a beautiful highlight.

Since I'm a big fan of using a concealer pencil as an eye liner to make the eyes look open and bright, I'm really looking forward to trying the I-PERFECTOR PREP & BRIGHTEN DUO

and as a fan of a glossy eyelid I can't wait to try LIP & EYE DEWY GLOSS

I told you these products were made for me!

A lot of the products are infused with jojoba oil, minerals, and/or vitamin E so they pamper your skin, and since Jemma Kidd is a make up educator, all of the products come with a little "make up lesson"!

Sometimes it seems like everything has been done before. That's why I appreciate innovative products that are changing the way we do make up. For me, right now, that includes Benefit, Beautyblender, Tarte, and now I'm adding Jemma Kidd to that list.

Check out the Jemma Kidd website for some really great "backstage tips", and register for their email newletter to hear about all of their great products and be sure to let me know what you think!

<3
Amy

Love Like A Sunset

Sometime around Mother's Day I got a very sweet package from Benefit Cosmetics. They sent a cute letter about their family beauty secrets and included their favorite products. Most of them were things I love and use regularly, but there were a couple sweet surprises!

Benefit's Erase Paste concealer really blew me away! I can't believe I haven't been using this!
I've never tried anything quite like it before. The consistency is thick and creamy (almost gel-like), but it blends in to the skin effortlessly! The gel-like consistency adds a healthy glow without shimmer. I'm obsessed!

The concealer only comes in three shades, but they seem pretty universal.

I always like concealer to be slightly lighter than the foundation. It's a good way to play with lighting and camouflage imperfections. The orange undertones of #2 really provide an amazing highlight for the eyes!

I am already a big fan of Benefits Dandelion and Georgia face powders...

And now I've discovered a new one called CORALista!

Coral is the perfect shade for Summer! These powders are intended for all over use to brighten up the complexion, but I love to put a concentrated amount on the apples of the cheeks and use them as cheek colors. The shades are beyond gorgeous and they last all day!

Benefit is really on a roll right now! I absolutely could not live without having Benetint, Posietint, and the It Stick in my make up kit! They're even coming out with a new line of amazing fragrances, and I love, love, LOVE all of their packaging and cute make up bags! Yay!

*UPDATE* For 3 days only! Get 20% off all orders at benefitcosmetics.com. Enter MAKEUP20 at checkout. (I guess that means until May 29?)

<3

Amy

P.S. I've always wanted a Benefit Bathina shower cap but never managed to get my hands on one! I think they were discontinued. Sad! :(

Get The Sillies Out

I try hard not to totally geek out over my love of Yo Gabba Gabba on this blog but, I can't contain myself... I think I need this!

And, on a beauty related note... I just got the most amazing lip liner and eye liner pencils from Benefit.

The automatic lipliner pencils have two of the most beautiful nude shades I've ever seen and they have this great lip brush on the end for blending. The automatic eyeliner pencils are a dream too! I love the toasted hazelnut shade! Both glide on smoothly and are long wearing/waterproof. Available May 09!

May is going be a big month at the counters, so get ready!

<3

Amy

She Hangs Brightly

Benefit's It Stick is a great concealer, but I've found a new use for it!

Try using it as an eyeliner to line the inner lid.  It makes your eyes look big and bright without the retro look of a white eye liner.

<3

Amy

Born Bad

Benefit Cosmetics is coming out with a new shade of Bad Gal Lash mascara... PLUM!

I've tried it already, and it's AMAZING! PLUM is the new BLACK.

<3
Amy

Dream All Day

Amazing new product alert!

Benefit is coming out with a new pinker version of benetint called posietint!

I just got my hands on it and it's an amazing poppy-pink version of it's predecessor.  It's natural and sheer and lasts FOR HOURS on cheeks and lips!

Available in June!

<3

Amy

Whole lot of Pretty going on! (Part Four, the conclusion!)

Now on to cheek color... I am not a big fan of contouring unless absolutely necessary! Stripey cheeks = yuck! My theory on cheek color is that it should mimic your natural flush. I try to stick to the apples of the cheeks! I'm a big fan of cream blushes, as well as powder blushes... Here are just a few of my favorites...

Stila Convertible Color (you can use it on lips as well...)

M.A.C. BlushCreme

Lancôme Color Design Blush

Scott Barnes Chic Palette

(I know this was designed with contouring in mind... Let's just say I prefer to "layer" the colors... shhh!)

Chanel Silky Cheek Color

Nars Blush

I'm also really looking forward to trying...

mark. Be Scene Blush Crème Cheek Color

mark. Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint

and...
Scott Barnes Cream Color

And on to bronzer... Proceed with caution Ladies (and gents...)... Bronzer is not for everyone!

My favorite bronzer of all time (and possibly my most prized make up posession) is my Tom Ford for Estee Lauder bronzer.

It is beautiful beautiful BEAUTIFUL! Tom Ford is the man. My friend Rebecca and I were talking about Tom Ford just the other day and she said "How does one man have so much taste?" My answer.. "I just don't know!" It's pretty ridiculous. He is my hero.
As I've mentioned in a past blog, this collection was extremely limited and is no longer available. I see them pop up from time to time on eBay, but the price is not for the faint of heart.

But back to Benefit... They make two really great bronzers.... Dallas

and Hoola

Dallas is a bronzer/blush combo, and Hoola is a matte bronzer.  Both are fantastic and I highly recommend them!

Now for the lips...
Let's talk about lip liner... I'm not a fan. I use it when I have to, but again, this is somewhere to tread lightly...  Overdrawn lips with obvious liner can be a real bummer!

M.A.C. and Stila both make excellent lip liners. I'm sure other lines do, as well...

Lips Lips Lips...
I love it all... lipstick, gloss, stains... love it... Here are a few of my faves...

Chanel...
My Chanel Lipsticks

and Glossimers

are also among my prized make up posessions.  The colors are so beautiful and the textures are so rich!

The formula of Nars Lipsticks is absolutely magical.

A lot of my music clients love these because when they are performing, it doesn't get "gummy".

My Nars lip palette is also among my favorite things in my kit.

Scott Barnes Lip Slick is an amazing product.

The colors are beautiful. Scott Barnes is a make up genius.  He brought the nude glossy lip back into fashion with the looks he did on Jennifer Lopez, and now you can have that look as well.

M.A.C. Lipstick

M.A.C. Lipglass

M.A.C. Plushglass

M.A.C. Lipgelee

They are all amazing. A lot of thought and attention has gone into the formulas. They have great texture, pigment, and even taste!

And let's not forget my favorite lip plumper, City Lips!


Finish off your look with DuWop Revolotion.


It evens out your skin tone and gives it a nice shimmer. It smells great too!

Another great body make up suggestion is Body Bling by Scott Barnes.

This, too, is something he created whilst working for Miss J Lo.  She always looked amazing when he was working with her and now he's sharing his formulas with us!

I hope you've enjoyed my product suggestions! I look forward to hearing what you think, and what your favorite products are!

In the coming weeks I will be highlighting my favorite brushes, and giving you a peek inside my make up kit!

<3

Amy

The Pretty Continues... (Part Two)

Now... on to concealers...

My number on favorite would have to be Cle de Peau concealer.

The concealer is amazing and wonderful but VERY expensive. One concealer will set you back almost $70. So again, probably not something for the beginning make up artist.

Another one of my go-to concealers is the Kanebo concealer pen.

This seems like a light-weight liquid concealer, but the coverage is mind blowing! These concealers run about $30 each.

The one problem with both of these products is, since they are an Asian company, the colors are limited and do not work for darker skin tones.

You really can not go wrong with M.A.C. Studio Finish concealer.

The M.A.C. concealer has a super creamy consistency and they cover the entire color spectrum. Cost is $14.50 per pot. (and the packaging is part of their recycling program, back to mac)

Again, there is a lot to be said for the mark. speedway do everything make up.

The coverage is great and build-able, depending on your needs. It goes on creamy and sets as a powder. I'm floored by this product. The most surprising part is that it costs $8. This is a great way to build a kit!

As for powder... I'm a fan of loose powders. I don't like to suffocate the skin in inches of pressed powder. The good ol' stand by is Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder.

It never gets cakey, it's just pretty much perfect...

T. LeClerc Loose Powder is amazing!

It is very light and comes in many different shades (banana, apricot, etc...).

Great for the color theory enthusiast!

I also love Benefit's Bluff Dust.

The thin veil of yellow powder is great for neutralizing redness and evening out your complexion.

Benefit's Georgia is great for warming up your complexion and bringing a healthy glow to your face.

I use this one on myself too!

Benefit's Dandelion has a similar effect! It's a beautiful pink that creates a nice healthy glow!

Benefit recently packaged some of their most popular powders/bronzers together and call it Powder Pop!...

It's a great idea, but unfortunately it is missing my fave, Georgia! :(

Another AMAZING powder is the Chanel Shine Control Powder.

Not only is it light and illuminating, it has SPF! I love it!

Wow, you guys! I had no idea how much I liked powder until JUST NOW! Weird!

To be continued...

<3

Amy