Update (with a side of makeup).

Sorry for the lack of posts peeps.  Here's why:  I volunteered to take over a colleague's class who had to have emergency surgery. So that means I'm now teaching 18 credits. Wow, one more class has made me crazier than a chicken with it's head cut off*.  The moral of the story? I no longer have time to post.  Things WILL pick up after April, I swear.  Don't give up on me.  I'll post when I can.


Now, the side of makeup.  I *lurv* the new Clinique Chubby Sticks.

I got the color "fuller fig," honestly though, I think all of them would be flattering.  Here's why I love this product:  it is a perfect mix of lip balm, lip gloss, and lipstick.  It is moisturizing, has a sheen, and a hint of color.  Very flattering and easy to use.  FYI: it also works great as a cream blush (I CANNOT be the first to discover this).  Seriously.  Go buy this now.



*In New Orleans on fat Tuesday there are "marching clubs" (comprised entirely of men) that go out in the morning asking neighbors for gumbo ingredients (okra, sausage, etc).  The key ingredient is a live chicken. The men then go to a yard/field, get drunk, and the game is to set the chicken loose.  Whoever catches the chicken wins and gets to cook the gumbo. How's that for tradition?

Makeup

It's been a while since I reviewed makeup.  Here are some of my picks for new makeup favorites in 2011. (drum roll please, lol)

Eyes:


1. Benefit Lemon Aid Eye Primer

I got a small pot of this as a sample and I really love it. Wear it as a primer for eye shadow or alone just to brighten the eye area.  I cannot stress what a miracle product makeup primer is.  I've noticed a few drugstore brands have started marketing primers and I'm intrigued.  Expect a review after I try them!

2. Bobbi Brown Smoldering Eye Palette

This is a versatile palette of eye makeup that can be used to create a ton of looks. The last color is a dark, shimmery purple color that can be applied wet or dry.  LOVE.

3. Maybelline Falsies Mascara

My friend D turned me on to this great mascara.  Truth be told, it took me a while to come around on it. It's a bit heavy so it's hard to keep your lashes curled with it. I've decided the best way to apply it is to not wiggle the wand.  (Many makeup artists tell you to wiggle the wand as you apply because it deposits more mascara at the base of your lashes- emphasizing the eye more.)  Once I changed my application method, I fell in love with this mascara.

Face:
4. Make Up For Ever 5 Camouflage Cream Palette  (No. 1)

Every concealer/corrector you could need in one palette. It even has a darker shade for sculpting, which I have no experience with,  but I'm now going to try. Make Up For Ever has 5 different palettes meant for different ethnicities.

Lips:
5. Laura Mercier Lip Glace

My brother and sister-in-law gave this to me as a gift, thanks guys!  I don't know the shade because I left it at school (boo!) but I will update this post as soon as  I can.  The color is very nice and subtle. I love the consistency of this gloss a lot.  Update: the color is Bare Beige!  Thanks G.

Miscellaneous:
6.  Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash

This is an effective exfoliator, yet it's gentle enough to use everyday.  I by it at Sephora so I can get the jumbo size with the pump.

7. Philosophy Microdelivery Peel

I was so impressed with the microdelivery exfoliating wash, I decided to try this.  I use it about once a week and it has really helped clear up my skin.  It is a little strange, you use it in two steps. First, apply what they call vitamin C crystals  and massage for three minutes.  Second, put the "activator" on top of the crystals.  At this step you look like you have a face mask on and the crystals get really warm.  After a minute, rinse off and you're done.

8. Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Mask

I'm trying to grow my hair long.  Every time I've tried, I gave up at about shoulder-length because that's when the split-ends show up. This time I've been using this mask and my hair is as healthy as it has ever been.
I use it about three times a week on the ends of my hair.  It smells great and makes my hair super soft.

(btw, these are products I've been using for months-- they are tried and true in my opinion)

There you go!  My favorite products right now. What about you?  Any products you love?  Leave a comment!

For you out there with long(ish) hair.

You have to try the new Goody Spin Pins.



Here's a quick tutorial:
update: damn you flash fail on google reader! AGAIN, click the title of this post to see the video :(

My hair's not quite long enough to look as good in the 'messy' up do, but I did manage to pull off a pretty good french twist with these things. I highly recommend them.

Me and my first world problems...

Since I've moved from high desert to New Orleans, my hair has gone from this:



To this:



I have to tell you, the learning curve for trying to figure out curly hair is hella steep. I won't go into how much I've spent on 'miracle' products to help tame this frizz that is my hair. Now, I've done my research via the googler and only purchased products that supposedly work. I don't know if my hair is unique, or what, but they just haven't done the job--maybe it's the skills of the person using them.

I was in Sephora* the other day, doing some retail therapy, and one product I haven't tried caught my eye:


Woah, this stuff is amazing. It worked! Now I have (almost) frizz-free, shiny, defined curls. My students even commented on it. If you have curly hair you have to try this. I have to warn you, you only need the tiniest amount. The first time I used it, I used WAY too much and I was a grease ball the rest of the day. The plus side to that is the bottle will last forever.

*Have I told you how DANGEROUS it is that I live by a Sephora now? it is.

Bobbi Brown Color Strips Collection Review

From Bobbibrown.com :
"A complete spring eye, lip and cheek wardrobe - designed by Bobbi. Palette has one bright eye shadow plus four coordinating shades that make it wearable. For lips and cheeks, there are three shades of Pot Rouge. Imagine the possibilities."

I got Bobbi Brown color strips in Orchid (no longer available, but they do still have the other two color choices, bonfire and aquamarine, which are both gorgeous). This is my first experience with Bobbi Brown and let me say I'm seriously impressed.  The colors are all super flattering and I love that she has multitasking products.  The pot rouge is great for lips and cheeks.  I've never been a fan of cream blush, but this one is subtle and you don't look like a clown when wearing it.  I love the two shimmery eye shadows the best.  They're also subtle so you don't look like a glittery teenager.  Because I'm a packaging nerd, I will comment on the packaging:  It is a super smart design.  Both strips of color have a clear plastic covering attached that lays flat on them when they are not in use.  This way, the colors can't mix together when the compact is closed.   I've had problems with eye shadows mixing in the past, so I really appreciate this feature.  At the back of the palette is a mirror that is actually usable so it will be great for travel.  I find most compact mirrors pretty useless. All in all, this is a rave review!

Update:  one of the blogs I go to is having a color strips giveaway, not very many people have entered so far so the odds are pretty good!  Head over to BeautySnob to enter.

natural smokey eye tutorial

I've had a few of requests for a smokey eye tutorial. I've resisted because I don't want to be one of those narcissistic bloggers that post pictures of themselves all the time. But then I was like, whatevs, give the people what they want!  I call this a "natural smokey eye" because it's not as dramatic as it could be....P-town doesn't have a lot of functions that require a dramatic smokey eye :)

1. Prep: Use a light moisturizer or primer around the whole eye area.  Then do the foundation/concealer thing.
 

2. Next, fill in the brows (Bobbi Brown says this is the most important step everybody skips!) and highlight the inner corner of the the eye and the brow bone.  For this step I use the revlon brow enhancer. I love this product.  I also use it to highlight my cheek bones and the middle of my cupid's bow. Sorry, this one's kind of a crap picture.

 

3.  Because this is a "natural" smokey eye,  my next step is to apply eyeliner.  Applying eyeshadow after softens the eyeliner.  If you want a more dramatic look, apply eyeliner last.  I have lined the whole upper lid and lined the inner rim of my lower lid (I learned this week that that's called water-lining). I used an angled eyeliner brush and the eyeliner is stila smudge-pot in black. For those of you who are new to water-lining, it is easier if you use a straight brush.

 

4. Next, is eyeshadow.  I use two complimentary colors (Bare Escentuals wearable plum in light and dark), one lighter and one darker. I'm using plum because I have green eyes and purple brings out the green. For blue eyes, shades of brown work best.  For brown or hazel eyes, the world is your oyster!!  OK, so apply the lighter shade over the whole upper lid, meeting at the highlighted brow bone.  I also sweep some under my bottom lash line, this looks good and also sets your eyeliner to keep it from smudging.

 

5. Now apply the darker shade along the crease of your eyelid and along the upper lash-line.  The two should meet at the outer corner of your eye. I also use an angled eyeliner brush to sweep some of the darker color along the outer part of the lower lash line. Again, for a dramatic look you can be much more heavy-handed in this whole step.

6. Last is the lashes.  Curl your upper lashes and apply mascara to both the upper and lower lashes. If you want to go over the top sexy, get some falsies.  I won't go into how to apply them here, that's a whole other tutorial :)

Compare this to the first photo....whoa!

bobbi brown

I'm kind of in love with Bobbi Brown's new collection...has anyone out there tried it?

The Body Image Project

This looks like a great program:



via the Body Image Project

Laura Mercier

So I shared my love of Sephora with my cousin (I would tell you her nickname, but she'd probably kill me since she reads my blog). I feel slightly guilty since now she probably has spent more money on make-up than she has her entire life.  She, in turn, shared her love of this kit:

Awesome.  I have acne-prone skin and this stuff is amazing.  It's all oil-free and it has a compact with two concealers,  one for under-eye and one for redness, both are some of the best I've used.

Now she and I have ruined you all :)

(On a side note:  My sister-in-law was over last night and I talked her ear off about make-up.  Sorry G,  I don't get a lot of 'girl-time'  if you can't tell!)

Sephora Friends and Family sale!

I know a few of you shop at Sephora.  What kind of friend would I be if I didn't tell you about this?

Shop and use promotion code FF2009 to save 20% on your entire purchase.

more makeup

So my most-viewed posts are the makeup reviews.  Here are some more of my favorite products:


As a habitual non-sleeper, I have dark circles under my eyes.  My go-to under eye concealer is Benefit Erase-Paste:

This pot will last you forever, literally.

My favorite mascara is Lash Blast by covergirl.  This mascara is all-encompassing (i.e. lengthening and thickening), will not flake, and is cheap to boot!  I love it

Awesome nail polish!

I just tried Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Polish ($3). This stuff holds up to its name (even though it is annoyingly redundant and misspelled). I used it in 'petal-pusher', a nice soft pink, right before I walked to school and it dried in less than 60 seconds. My problem with fast-drying nail polish I've tried before is the application; I always end up with streaks and uneven color. The genius of the Insta-Dri is the brush. It is large, flat, and has a contoured tip--one swipe coats an entire nail. Sally Hansen must have some smarty engineers working for them, seriously.

When I'm short on time, this will definitely be my go-to lacquer. Of course, if I have time, my all-time favorite nail polish is OPI's 'I'm not really a waitress', as long as we're on the subject :)

In a couple of days I'll update this post and tell you all about the durability.

*update:  It lasted 3 days without a chip, that's really good for me because I'm really hard on my nails (chalkboard, chalk, etc.).

I am an addict.

One thing some of you might not know about me....I am a make-up junkie.

Of course, maybe I'm more transparent than I think :)

Anyway, this post is silly since most of my readers are males who don't wear make-up (hello family!), but nevertheless, I like experimenting with make-up.  Rarely though do I find products that I love.  In the past months, I have found two such products.

The first is Stila Smudge-Pot eyeliner in black

It is, by far, the best eyeliner I have ever used. It is easy to use and will not budge.  It seems expensive, but this 'pot' will last easily a year or more.

The second product is Lip Glass lip gloss by MAC. 

This is the best lip gloss I have used in years.  Before you role your eyes, I am an authority:  I have over 10 different lip glosses in just one drawer of my school desk alone.  Seriously.  (Don't get me started on my purse.)

Anyway, it is more about the consistency than the color. Those who know lip gloss know what I'm talking about.