Just Go Away!

As a make up artist (and avid make up wearer myself), I go through BOAT LOADS of make up remover wipes. There are a few that I love (MAC wipes and Stila Eye Makeup Dissolver are both pretty good) and a few I don't like. I won't name names, but I find that the ones I don't care for tend to sting a bit, and/or don't do a great job of removing eye make up.

But I have now found the wipe to end all wipes! mark. has just released mark. Make It Go Away Makeup Removing Wipes.

Virtually scent free, the wipes are gentle to the skin, yet strong enough to remove stubborn eye make up. They leave your skin feeling refreshed and clean, not oily or sticky. I've found the perfect make up wipe! Now I just need a U Haul truck to back into my driveway and deliver huge cases of them because I'll be using them A LOT!

<3
Amy

Build It Up

Building a make up kit can be a pretty daunting (and expensive) task, but it is getting easier and easier. There are some great lines now that are readily available, really cost effective, and REALLY CUTE!

I've told you about mark. before, but let me refresh your memory. Their make up is always reasonably priced, and ALWAYS on trend.


I'm a big fan of the line, especially their cream blush and concealers. They also have a really great palette system that's so helpful to the professional artist, and the price is right to get a wide range of colors for your kits. You can also sign up to be a mark. rep which is a great way for freelancers to make money in their downtime! It's all about the hustle!

Next up is the Jemma Kidd collection at Target.

The line has a wide range of color with everything from lipgloss, to liquid eye liner, and even body make up!

As you can see, the packaging is really cute and I think it's important that the products in your kit look nice!

Lastly, Napoleon Perdis now has a line at Target called NP Set.

Again, the packaging is very streamlined, and he offers a wide range of color and products. I feel like they must be targeting professional make up artists, because they even offer this very versitile 5 color concealer palette.


I'm in to it! I'm also completely jealous that these lines weren't available to me when I was building my kit!

<3
Amy

Work Hard, Play Hard

Sorry for my brief absence. I've been a busy little bee. I promise to make it up to you... Let's get down to business...

First of all, how great are my nails right now?


Ok, now that I've gotten that out of the way...

The Grammy announcements were yesterday and I am so happy that two of my favorite clients, Lily Allen

(photo by Patrick Fraser, make up by me!)

and Corinne Bailey Rae

(photo by Patrick Fraser, make up by me!)

were nominated for Grammy Awards!

Along with the Grammy nominations comes all the big parties.

I was so lucky to be invited to the official Grammy nomination party sponsored by People magazine and mark. cosmetics.

Not only does mark. make great make up, they throw an amazing party...

It was hosted by Fergie


With performances by Natasha Bedingfield


Ne-Yo

and Fall Out Boy

I saw some fun celebs like Emmy Rossum

The Pussycat Dolls

and Lauren Conrad and Lo from my favorite show "The Hills"... (Lauren is "the face" of mark.)

Party-goers got to get their make up done (including Carmit from PCD)

And there was a fun bar filled with mark. "hook ups" (I saw The Pussycat Dolls LOADING up on them!)

The best part of the night was watching Perez Hilton and The Pussycat Dolls dancing around to Fall Out Boy's "This Ain't A Scene, It's an Arms Race"...

Crazy crazy crazy fun night!

<3 

Amy 

P.S. for everybody asking me about Lily Allen's blue nail varnish, it is "myrtille" by Sephora.

Beauty mark.

If you've been reading my blog lately, you know how much I am loving mark. cosmetics. Last night I was surfing around the net and I came upon a site for mark. reps called markgirl.com.

I was pleased to find some really great instructional videos on the site!  They demonstrate some simple, easy to follow techniques for creating flawless skin, smokey eyes, a liquid eyeliner look, and a red lip.

Usually when I see a make up demonstration I get kind of bored, and my mind wanders. I was so interested in these videos that I literally spent half an hour watching them.

Click here to do a little Holiday shopping, and get free shipping on mark. products.

<3
Amy

Everyday Should Be A Holiday!

The Holidays are officially in full swing, and every holiday party dress needs a dramatic piece like a chunky cocktail ring!  NYLON is obsessed, and so am I!  

I've been wearing this cute cocktail ring by mark., (they do more than just great make up!) and I get a ton of compliments on it!  

They've got some other cute rings that I'm totally dying for too....  Check them out!

mark All Wrapped Up ring

mark Bejeweled Ring

mark Classic Cocktail Ring

So cute, so affordable!  Love love love!

<3

Amy

I'm Flipping Out!

You know how I've expressed my love for mark. on this blog.  I really love it, you guys.  

I am in no way paid to talk about any product at all, I'm not part of any blog networks, and I don't even have advertisers on this blog (although I would be open to the right ones). Everything I tell you guys is my honest to God opinion.  

Mark. is super fresh, young, fashion forward, and affordable!  The packaging is totally cutie-pie (and I'm a major sucker for packaging).  When I posted about mark. before, I even got an email from a major "high end" beauty insider telling me she felt the same way!  

Well, I have gotten my hands on the mark. flip for it compact, and I've got your sneak peek at the Spring '08 version!!!!

It has two eye colors, a cheek color, and FOUR lip colors.  TO-DIE-FOR!  

It reminds me of a younger version of one of my all time favorite brands, Stila, but the compacts are only $18.  

They've also recently launched the little block box

with shimmer cubes for eyes

and shimmer bars for cheeks

I love the customizable aspect, and you know I love me some shimmer!  Pretty pretty colors!

Another great thing I've learned about mark. is that they have a really great palette system!  


This is perfect for all of my budding make up artist readers!  The individual palettes range from $4-$8 and then you can fill them with your favorite eye ($4) 

and cheek ($6) shades.  

Which, by the way, I am totes impressed with their colors, pigment, and texture.  They also have lip glosses for the palettes

but I haven't tried them yet. 

I honestly really appreciate what mark is doing.  I would have killed to have this stuff available to me when I was building a kit!  I hope you will take advantage of it.  

Also, I get emails all the time from recent beauty school graduates asking me what they can do for extra money while they build their clientele (without working at a counter).  You can sell mark.!  If this had been available to me when I was starting out, I would have totally been a full blown mark representative, no doubt.  

There are some links on their site, meetmark.com that will tell you how to get started and I would LOVE to hear about your experiences selling the products, if you so choose!

<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