Has beauty become an unrealistic expectation?

-Jill Raposo
Let me just start off by saying,  I love the Kardshians. They're stylish, beautiful, and entertaining. But have they taken the idea of beauty too far??

Kim has opened the doors for curvy girls to embrace their curves and for that I am thankful. That was all good and dandy until her butt kept growing and her waist kept shrinking to an unachievable state. Regardless of whether it's a result of hard work or surgery what I don't get is why it's gets taken even further and photoshopped. More and more celebrities have been found guilty of photoshopping their own selfies when there's no need for it!

Kylie Jenner has made her mark in the world for her now famous "plump lips". How she achieves them is the mystery everyone's has been dying to know. Some speculate that it's lip injections or fillers while she claims that it's just a result of overdrawn lip liner. As a result of this Kylie lip craze, girls have been overdrawing their lips, using lip plumping devices, and even getting injections to "keep up with the Kardashians".

I get it! This is why they are successful and how they make their money. But what I don't like is the fact that it makes being beautiful almost unachievable now a days. Beauty is now being defined by perfect bushy arched brows, long thick hair, high cheekbones, plump lips, a tiny waist, and a big ass. The influence these girls have had has spread like wildfire.

It never seemed to bother me until I've realized that it's affecting the makeup world tremendously! Makeup has now gone beyond just the makeup. The instagram girls I've been following for years have all morphed into Kardashian look a likes!  It started with the famous Kim K. contour which I love, but has slowly morphed into so much more, and photoshop to top it all off! In every instagram photo I look at they have super plump lips, high cheeks, and lashes for days. And these girls are posting selfies on a daily basis! It makes you think, are they getting ready all day just to take a picture and then spending a bunch of time afterwards to edit it?  I say this by no means to be a "hater" or out of jealousy BY ANY MEANS. I'm confident in who I am and have no interest in becoming anyone else. I simply bring the issue up to concentrate on the fact that real beauty has been taken over by artificial beauty.

It pains me when a client brings me an instagram photo of makeup. Although I love recreating a look I cannot give you high cheekbones, plump lips, and bushier brows without you looking totally overdone in person. People don't realize the these pictures have been severely altered and enhanced to look picture perfect. This is something that Nicole and I have stuggled with as artists for a long time. We are constantly trying to recreate these "instagram" looks and once we think we've got it we take a picture and it's not even close. Even with a great camera and lighting there's just no way to make it "picture perfect" without enhancements. That is one of the reasons why I don't post a lot of makeup looks on instagram. There's just no point! I will not succumb to photoshop and if you're looking at my work and another artist that does use photoshop you're just going to think they're better.

I just wish people would be themselves and be proud of it. It would make young girls grow up with less bullying, more realistic expectations, and less emphasis on the unimportant things in life. Life isn't about spending all day in the mirror and taking selfies all day. It's about enjoying the people and experiences around you. Life is short, so don't make it even shorter by cluttering it with unrealistic expectations.

Beauty comes from within, the outside is just a bonus ;)

Comment below with your opinion! Do celebrities influence your idea of beauty?

Jill's 10 Current Favorites

I had such amazing feed back on my blog post "10 things I couldn't live without" that I thought I'd update you all on some of my current favorites. So with that being said, here they are in no particular order.

1. Maybelline Brow Drama: Thank you from the bottom of my heart Maybelline! My brows are a constant struggle and this product is my saving grace. It thickens them and makes the hairs stay so perfectly in place. It's pretty much mascara for your brows. (find it at any drugstore) 
   
2. Sonia Kashuk Bronzer/Blush duo in the shade "glow". For $12 this product is amazing!! It gives you such a healthy and radiant glow. It's completely build able so if you want a subtle glow apply a little. If you want to look like a golden goddess keep applying! (find it at target)
   
3. MAC #287 Duo fiber brush: Seriously, where have you been all my life!! Best brush to conceal under eyes ever. (find it at any MAC store or www.maccosmetics.com)
   
4. LA Girl Pro Concealers: These are probably the 2nd best concealers I've ever used and they are less than $3! (MAC prolong wear is still my ultimate favorite) They are so creamy but dry so perfectly without creasing. Great for highlighting and contouring. (Find it at http://www.ikatehouse.com/la-girl-conceal.html for $2.49)
   
5. MAC #210 Precision brush: I've been struggling for so long trying not to make my gel liner too thick and I finally found my answer. This brush is sooo thin that you can't go wrong. (find it at any MAC store or www.maccosmetics.com)
   
6. MAC  Prep + Prime Natural Radiance: People have been asking me, "Do you airbrush yourself?" because my skin has been looking super flawless lately. Although it may be partially due to my amazing MAC prolong wear foundation I think I have this primer to thank as well. Instead of trying to explain it's amazingness here's a description from the MAC website.(find it at any MAC store or www.maccosmetics.com) A silky gel emulsion, rich in natural ingredients, that hydrates and primes to improve foundation or powder application, control oil and promote smooth texture. Vitamins E and C protect with antioxidants, while caffeine calms skin. Illuminating pearl powders reflect optic brightening. Now in two shades; Radiant yellow especially effective on deeper skin tones and Radiant Pink for fairer skin tones. The formula disappears upon application, resulting in a beautiful glow. (www.maccosmetics.com)
   
7. Dr Brandt Pores No More: If you have pores you'll love this stuff! After your done with foundation (or before) pat this on to the areas where you have large pores, then powder. WAHLAH! no more pores! (Find it at Ulta or Sephora)
   
8. Dose of Colors False lashes "Showstopper": My favorite lashes of life. That's all :) (find it at www.doseofcolors.com)
   
9. Lime Crime Velvetine Matte lipstick: I love how unique the colors are and they last forever on your lips. Some of my favorites are Suedeberry, Pink Velvet, Wicked and Utopia. (find it at www.limecrime.com or www.naimies.com)
   
10. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge: If you love the beauty blender this is an amazing dupe for it. I think I may even like it a little more due to its shape. It's about $5.99 at Ulta and worth every penny. (find it at Ulta, Khols, or Target)
    

MU Before & After Controversy

-Jill Raposo

I'm sure by now most of you have seen a ton of articles on "The transformative power of makeup". As most of you have seen the transformation can often times be dramatic and amazing. But what upsets me about this whole thing is the fact that people are often deemed "ugly" in their before's and "fake" in their afters.  As a makeup artist I have witnessed the power of makeup and how much it can change someone for the better, never the worst. It is amazing how someone who has been picked on for a birthmark, imperfection, acne, etc can take on a new confidence through makeup. I have had clients on the verge of tears saying "they've never FELT this beautiful". That is the key word, FELT. It's not always about looking beautiful, it's about feeling beautiful. 

Do you blame someone for wanted to cover something they don't like? Some might say it is to trick men into thinking you're beautiful but if you ask a real man they would know that beauty comes from the inside. Makeup can never make you pretty on the inside, and even a girl with a face full of makeup can be ugly. Beauty is what you portray not how you appear. Unfortunately we live in a superficial world consumed by reality TV and celebrities and think our standard should be to look like Kim Kardashian. It's impossible to have a face full of imperfections these day and walk out the door without feeling ugly. So when you see these "before" pictures of girls with imperfection and the "afters" of them looking flawless it's not because they're "fake" its because they want to feel beautiful and maybe fit in with the superficial standards of the world. 

Jill's Top 5 Beauty Gurus

-Jill

As most of you know I am a self taught artist. I haven't gone to any makeup schools or haven't been taught by any specific individual. I have however mastered my skills with the help of some beauty gurus. I have never stopped learning and still continue to watch videos from these amazing artists to stay current with trends and to keep getting better and better. So if you have a passion in makeup and don't know how to get better without spending tons of money on school here's some of my favorite gurus that can help you out.

1. Kandee Johnson: My ULTIMATE favorite beauty guru and reason why I started makeup. This girl has a heart of gold and is just purely awesome. 

   

   https://www.youtube.com/user/kandeejohnson
2. Jaclyn Hill: A former MAC employee and Boston native. She's a little crazy at times but totally skilled. 

   

   https://www.youtube.com/user/Jaclynhill1
3. Nicole Guerriero: I LOVE this girl. She's so talented, funny, and REAL. Sometimes YouTube gurus can come off really fake to get attention but she is so genuine and enjoyable to watch.

   

   https://www.youtube.com/user/nguerriero19/featured
4. Chrisspy: If you like extreme looks, this is your gal. She's amazing at winged liner, cut creases, and mega contour. 

   

   https://www.youtube.com/user/ChrisspyMakeup
5. Gossmakeupartist: This guy has great product reviews/advice and has great tips & tricks. I'm not crazy about his tutorials because they're usually on himself but he's on point with great product recommendations. 

   

   https://www.youtube.com/user/gossmakeupartist

Brown smokey eye

Benefit's Push up liner Review

I am such a sucker for new products, especially products that claim to make you're life easier. When I heard about the new Benefit push up liner, I was psyched! I couldn't wait to go to Sephora and get my hands on it! I had seen it all over YouTube and thought it was a "must have" product that would probably be sold out everywhere because it was so great. Boy, was I wrong. 

Here's what Benefit claims it to be...
Benefit They’re Real! Push-Up Liner is the first foolproof and budge-proof gel liner in a pen. This eyeliner’s soft AccuFlex™ tip is custom-angled to draw an easy line. Its flat, wide guard gently pushes lashes aside to get close to lash line. A gorgeous way to open up eyes, this matte black gel formula won’t dry out, and its cutting-edge tip ensures a precise line every time. 

Sounds great right?! Wellllll.... It sucks. I was so disappointed!!! The applicator tip does not give you a "foolproof" wing liner and I actually found it more difficult than just using a liner brush. I also didn't like how dry it rubbed on. It didn't glide on at all and I had to keep twisting the tube to crank out more liner as I was going. Maybe mine was just a bad tube but I think if it were a bit more wet it would've worked better. If you've tried it out and love it or hate it, comment below!! 

If I could only own 10 products...

-Jill Raposo

Although I hope the day never comes that I would only own just 10 products. If I had to choose 10 products/tools here's what they would be. (no particular order)

1. MAC Fix Plus spray: I can honestly say that there's not one day that I go without using this product. If you're going to purchase just one product from MAC let this be it. I use this spray before and after I apply my makeup. I use it to wet my shadows so that they illuminate more and last longer and it's also great for a hot day at the beach to refreshen your skin. What it is, is an aqua-spritz of vitamin and minerals, infused with a calm-the-skin blend of green tea, chamomile, and cucumber, topped off with the fresh, natural, energizing scent of sufi.  It adds radiance and really makes your makeup look dewy and natural.  
   
2. MAC Mineralize skin finish natural: I've used numerous face powders in the past and absolutely none compare to this line. This powder provides the most natural, comfortable, and flawless finish on the skin and comes in a great variety of color tones. 
   
3. Sigma F80 brush: If you are going to buy 1 brush let it be this one. This brush is SOOO great for applying foundation and unlike any other. The bristles are so compact and soft that it creates the most beautiful airbrushed finish without any effort. Just dab it into your foundation and buff it around your skin and you won't be sorry! 
   
4. MAC #286 brush. I never knew how important it was to have a proper blending brush until I found this baby. This is by far my most favorite blending brush. The bristles on this brush are just the perfect length and softness for giving your shadow the most airbrushed effect. 
   
5. MAC Pro longwear concealer: Definitely the longest lasting concealer with the best coverage. I've been using this concealer for years and have never found a need to use any other. It doesn't crease under the eye and doesn't fade throughout the day. Its also great to add to a BB cream to get a little extra coverage for an all over face application.
   
6. Benefit "They're Real!" Mascara. I've tried them all! This is my super duper favorite! After my lash extensions made all my real lashes fall off this mascara really came through for me. Although I was left with hardly any lashes this at least made me look normal! On a regular bases this mascara does make it look like you have falsies on. 
   
7. Maybelline Eye studio get liner: After trying many high end brands of gel liner I always return to my Maybelline gel liner. This liner is so long lasting, smooth to apply, and super bold. It's also affordable! Gotta love great drug store products!
   
8. Lorac Pro Palette. If I had to do a job with just one palette this would be it. It has such a great variety of colors and I mostly love that there are an even amount of mattes and shimmers. There are natural tones and beautiful smokey tones all in one palette. 
   
9. MAC Paint Pot in the shade Painterly. I use this on mostly every single client and on myself before applying shadow. This creates such an even base for shadow to stick to and also enhances the shadow color. 
   
10. Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner. This has been my favorite liner for years now. Its so dramatic, smooth to apply and long lasting. 
    
    
    
    
    

Lash Extensions

I really didn't want to have to do this because a lot of my close friends offer lash extensions. But as a beauty blogger, I feel it's my obligation. First and foremost, this is just MY opinion. So I recently did lash extensions for the first time and here are my thoughts. Although they look GORGEOUS and its so great to wake up looking fabulous, I just could not get used to them! To me, they just weren't comfortable. They felt as if I used super glue mascara and were terribly hard and itchy. As they grew out I also didn't like how tangled they started to get in my other lashes and how messy they started to look. And mostly, it is nearly impossible to use eyeshadow without having it stick to the lash extensions. So after a fabulous smokey eye, I was left with powdery looking lashes that I was unable to clean. I tried a wet lash wand and cleaning them with a wipe but nothing fully cleaned them except a shower. So in conclusion I removed them and was left with kermit the frog looking eyes.  And if you're wondering how I removed them, I didn't just pull them off (ouch!). I used a lot of steam and baby oil to remove them as gently as possible but the result was inevitable. My fabulous natural lashes have now been compromised and it's going to be a lot of false lash strips for this girl, until they grow back! I do not blame my friend who did them in any way and don't believe they were done improperly, they just weren't for me. 

As a makeup artist, here are my words of wisdom...

• DO NOT do them immediately before your wedding for the first time. Try them at least 6 months in advance, that way if you don't like them you have time for you lashes to repair themselves.
• Be prepared for your lash extensions to have eye shadow stick to them, it's inevitable! (if anyone has any suggestions of how to avoid this please comment below).
• Lash strips are so much better! I'm a lash strip junkie and have been using them for years and I must say that although they are a pain to put on at least they don't damage your lashes. 

Ugh the things were do for beauty!! In the end, I'm not mad that I gave them a shot. I believe in trying everything once and at least now I can offer some lash extension advice to my clients. 

5 ways to get the most out of your makeup trial

-Jill Raposo

I've done a countless makeup trials at this point and I'd say about 90% of them go by without a hitch, but there's always a few people that just don't know what to expect and how to prepare. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. It's not everyday that you do a makeup trial, so we get it! For those who don't know what to expect or what you can do to maximize your trial, here's some great info :)

1. Clean face: 

Try your best to come to your makeup trial with a clean face. If you're coming from somewhere your artist can always use a makeup remover wipe to cleanse your skin but nothing is better than a good thorough cleansing in the sink. That way you aren't super oily and don't have any residue left over from prior makeup. If the skin isn't cleansed properly your makeup can often appear blotchy and greasy. It is also important to remove any waterproof mascara or liner completely. If there is left over mascara on your lashes, chances are you won't get the full effect of the mascara your artist is using. It can be very difficult for the artist to scrub at your eyes to get it off and the last thing we want before applying makeup is irritation to the skin.

2. Have an idea or color scheme in mind:
Although it is flattering when someone says "do whatever you think" it can be a bit overwhelming to the artist. If you have it narrowed down to at least a color scheme it can help big time. Example: grey smokey eye, natural pink tone, warm brown tones, etc.

3. Know your terms:
Cat eye: I can't tell you how many people have asked for a "cat eye" and then at the end have said "I don't like that little wing thing you made at the end of my eyes". That my friend, is indeed a cat eye.



Smokey eye: A very dramatic look! Many people ask for a smokey eye and then often say it's not as natural as they envisioned. There's nothing natural about a "traditional" smokey eye ladies. If you're looking for a natural look with a little bit of an impact you might want to say, slightly smokey.



Matte vs. Shimmer: A matte shadow is something with no shine or shimmer. This is important to know when choosing your look because by just telling your artist "grey" it could be one thing in your mind and another in the artists.


Shimmer


Matte


4. Bring a picture with a clear vision and be realistic:
We love pictures! Pictures can cut down the whole process of figuring out what you have in mind by far. Often times people bring pictures of celebrities they want to look like, but you can't see the makeup!! Example: Down below is a picture of Juliane Hough, gorgeous! right!? Anyways... I constantly get pictures like this where to me, it just looks like a nice set of lashes and a lip color. Even though that's all Juliana may need to look flawless due to her stunning eye color and skin, it may translate differently on a client.



It is much easier for the artist to have a picture with a clear vision, such as the one below.



5. Don't be afraid to speak your mind!
I myself had my makeup done for my wedding, didn't speak up to the artist then went home and washed it off. Please don't do that. We do not take ANY offense to any changes you'd like to make or if you don't like something. We want you to feel confident and more gorgeous than you ever imagined and we will work with you until we achieve that. However, you're makeup trial is a 1 hour appointment so the more preparation you do in advance the more you will get out of your appointment. 




If this all seems overwhelming to you NO WORRIES! If you aren't prepared and have NO IDEA we will go through a series of questions and swatches with you until we find the perfect look :)

Summer bridal advice

-Jill Raposo

Finally! Summer is here! The prime time for weddings. Planning a wedding can often be so time consuming that you often forget the tiny details that could be crucial in looking your best. Here's a little list of some people you don't want to be...

BURNT BETTY: Lets face it, who doesn't want to be tan on their wedding day? Being tan is great but being sunburned...not so great. If you plan on tanning for the big day, DO NOT tan at least 4 days before the wedding. Bronzer is better than a burn so no worries if you haven't reached your ultimate tan-ness before the wedding. 

SWEATY SALLY: If you are a super sweater and your bridal glow is more of a bridal melt, no worries. I would highly recommend you skip the liquid foundation and go right for the Aqua airbrush. The aqua airbrush is a water based, matte finish airbrush that will allow your skin to breath and feel amazing while giving you total oil control. You may also want to pick up some oil blotting wipes. You can find them for $1 by ELF, at Target.

DEHYDRATED DEBBIE: With all that last minute wedding chaos you can often forget about what's important. Your health! If your skin is not getting the sufficient amount of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin dry, tight and flaky. What happens next is a brides worst nightmare, breakouts!! Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day to clean and hydrate your skin from the inside out. 

TESTY TAMMY: As tempting as if may be to try treatments that you've never tried before, your wedding week is not the time to do it. Avoid facial treatments, waxing, and spray tans the week of your wedding if you haven't tried them before. Instead of waxing opt for treading instead. Threading is great because it does the job of waxing without the harsh side effects (skin peeling, rash, burn).

With that being said leave the rest of the work to your makeup artist to make you look phenomenal ;)

Top 5 Drugstore Products

-Jillian Raposo

Here's a list of my top 5 favorite drug store products :) 

1. Maybelline Eyestudio Gel liner: Beats ANY other gel liner I've ever used! This stuff is so amazing for drawing out a nice cat eye and lasts all day. The formula doesn't dry out as fast as MAC or Makeup Forever's gel liner and it's super smooth.


2. Loreal True Match Lumi Foundation: Love the medium-full coverage of this foundation and the way it still give you a dewy glow. It's long lasting, the color variety is great, and it gives a very natural finish.


3. Covergirl "Outlast stay fabulous" 3 in 1 foundation: This foundation is a primer, foundation, & concealer! How can you go wrong? I absolutely love the coverage of this foundation. It's medium to full coverage and doesn't feel heavy at all. It actually reminds me a lot of the Makeup Forever HD foundation but maybe a little better. It's a lot less dewy than the Loreal True Match but it isn't super matte either. I tend to get oily quick so I prefer it for longer days or when the weather is warmer.


4. Maybelline Instant age rewind dark circle corrector: My current favorite concealer. Works amazing for under the eyes and covering up imperfections. It's not too dry or too wet, it's simply perfect. I also love the sponge applicator. It's perfect to keep in your purse for emergency touch ups.


5. Maybelline Vivids lipstick: These lipsticks are my ultimate favorite. They may be better than MAC lipsticks! The color payoff is on point and they last so long. My absolute favorite color has been Hot plum. Its like a hot pinky purple... so pretty and great for summer!

My life as a makeup artist

-Jillian Raposo

Often times when people ask me what I do for work and I state "I'm a makeup artist", one of two things happens. #1, They're intrigued and interested and think it's totally cool. Or, #2 they think it's not a "real" job and they sorta look at me like "come on, what do you really do?". Nothing irritates me more than people who think being a makeup artist is a hobby and not a job so here's a little insight into my life as a makeup artist.

My duties as owner of M.E:
-Check emails, phone messages, Facebook page for inquiries
-Respond to inquiries
-Schedule trials
-Create wedding day time lines
-Assign artists to jobs
-Keep track of product inventory and order what needs to be replenished
-Employee training and meetings
-Bank deposits
-Sanitizing brushes & products between clients
-Packing and unpacking of lighting, studio table, makeup, and artist chair between jobs.
-Monthly accounting for taxes
-Marketing material (Gift certificates, business cards, brochures, etc)
-Web site design & maintenance
-Advertising
-Driving to the makeup site
- LASTLY... Doing the makeup!!

Do you still think this is a hobby? To me this is the best job in the whole world and I thank God for it everyday. But it is a result of hard work, sleepless nights, and an undeniable passion for success. With that being said I absolutely consider it a job.

Now here's the best part of the job...

-My clients!!!! I have to say that I have had nothing but the most amazing clients. Working in retail for 10 years often makes you wonder if there are any decent people in this world lol, but I have to say that all changed when I started makeup. I've made so many great friends out of my clients and they have helped me get to where I am today. The word of mouth has spread like wildfire over the past few years and I'm so grateful. So if you're a past client and reading this THANK YOU & A BIG HUG! 

-Wedding vendors: Photographers, hair dressers, florists, linen rentals, wedding planners, modeling agencies, etc. I've met the most amazing people who are so talented and inspiring. They've helped me tremendously with referrals and I absolutely love working with them. (Nelly Arruda in particular, big THANK YOU!). 

-The industry in itself: I love everything about the makeup world! In most industries when people are competing against each other it can often be very catty. But for some reason makeup isn't that way (not with me anyway) I've met so many incredibly wonderful artist that are always willing to share knowledge and lend a hand at the drop of a dime. Maybe it's because we all genuinely love our job and we're just happy people, lol?! 

-The make up!: Believe me when I tell you I could buy, try, and do makeup all day everyday. New products are like a drug I can't get enough of and the feeling of making someone feel beautiful is unlike any other. Totally euphoric! 

-The pay: What people often don't realize about being a makeup artist, is that we have the ability to make a whole lota money in very little time (while having fun!). 

So to wrap it all up lets just say that being a makeup artist is freaking awesome! I love my job and everyone that is a part of it. XOXO! 

Don't you want to do makeup now, lol!?

PS: If you're interested in how I became a makeup artist comment below!

Gold glitter eyes

In this tutorial learn how to create a gold glittery eye using a pop of color underneath.

Products used:

- NYX "Love in the Rio" 3 color shadow palette
- MAC Gold Glitter (available online only)
- MAC Brown Script eyeshadow
- Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue
- Maybelline Eyestudio gel liner
- Sephora Nano purple liner (#20 wild spirit)
- Rimmel Scandalous mascara
- Loreal True Match Lumi (Shade W1-2)
- Physicians Formula Mineral glow pearl blush (Natural Pearl)
- Physicians Formula Mineral glow pearl highlight (Beige Pearl)
- Brows powder by Anastasia
- Revlon Colorburst lipstick (carnation)
- NYX lipbutter lipgloss

Champagne & purple smokey eye

Products Used:
Urban Decay Primer Potion
MAC Chilled on ice Paint Pot
Lorac Pro Palette: Colors used were champagne, deep purple, & black)
MAC eye shadow: Soft brown & Saddle
Maybelline eye studio black gel liner

MAC #195 Concealer brush (Used to apply primer, cream shadow, & highlight)
MAC #239 Shadow brush (Used to apply champagne shadow)
MAC #286 Blending brush (Used to blend out crease colors)
MAC #219 Pencil brush (Used to apply crease color)
MAC #212 Flat definer brush (Used to smudge out get liner and for bottom liner)
Sigma E05 Precision brush (Used for gel liner)
Sigma E40 Large blending brush (Used for soft brown shadow)

To purchase sigma brushes please visit my affiliate page: http://www.sigmabeauty.com/?Click=230740

Enter Code "Missyou10" for 10% off!!! 

PS: Sigma brushes are just as good as MAC and much cheaper. You can also find "sigma" versions of all the MAC brushes used on their site ;)


Hope you all enjoyed this video! Feel free to comment below any future video suggestions & don't forget to subscribe! 

Nicole's brow tutorial

There's been an abundance of requests for Nicole's "famous" brows. Here's a quick tutorial showing you how she achieves her beautiful brows. 

Disclaimer per Nicole: This was filmed prior to any makeup so please be kind :) 

Products used:
*Anastasia of Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencil (Brunette) www.anastasia.net
*Eye Tees
*MAC Pro Longwear concealer (NW30)
*MAC Concealer brush

Natural contour & highlight

Products used:

Anastasia Contour palette
available @ www.anastasia.com

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish (Deep)
available @ www.maccosmetics.com

Blush: Physicians Formula Mineral glow pearls (Rose)

Eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 liner (Brown)

Mascara: Rimmel Scandal eyes

Gloss: NARS (Orgasm)

Setting Spray: MAC Fix +

Nicole's everyday makeup routine

Here's a quick video on Nicole's everyday makeup routine. Nicole likes to use a mixture of foundation and BB creams to create a subtle but flawless bare skin finish. By mixing the two you get the benefits of the Beauty Balms along with the coverage of the foundation.




The products used in this video are the following:

~L'oreal paris Magic skin beautifier B.B. cream in deep

~Rimmel BB cream in light

~L'oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup in W6 sun beige

~Maybelline NY instant age rewind eraser dark spot treatment/correcter in shade #220 light pale (or Dark circle treatment/concealer)

Behind the Scenes

Hair Care

 -Jillian Raposo

I often get so caught up in makeup that I neglect to pay any mind to caring for my hair. My hair regime usually consists of drug store shampoo and conditioner and blowdrying my hair upside down with no products. I'll usually finish it off with the straightening or curling iron to tame the frizz or else it's totally unruly. The biggest problem I've been having is mega buildup from using cheap products. I've been washing my hair about everyday and within hours it's limp, greasy, and just not cute. I decided it was time for a change and made an appointment with my go to girl Nadia Silva, owner of Luxx Beauty Bar, in Dartmouth. I knew she'd cut & color a masterpiece, and that she did. Every time I leave the salon my hair is completely unlike my own. It's shiny, voluminous, and full of life.

I ended up going from all black to a more brown tone with lighter ends. Going lighter for me usually means more frizz, so with my new look I decided to get all the products Nadia used. I purchased the Moraccan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner, the oil and the Moraccan oil round brush. Can I just say, FIN-AH-LLY! my hair has been saved and I can now make it fabulous all on my own. I've now made a conscious effort to sit down give my self a great blow dry and I'm loving the results. I don't even have to use the irons anymore. 

I'm so in love with these products and thought it was only right to spread the love. I will never go back to my cheap shampoo buying ways and will definitely splurge on quality products. Unfortunately these products are not available at your local stores but you can however take a trip over to Luxx Beauty Bar and pick them up :) If you're in need of more than just a little shampoo & conditioner you can also make an appointment with Nadia or Bethany for a variety of services. 


Luxx Beauty Bar
13 Russels Mills Rd, Dartmouth MA 02748
(774) 206-1558
https://www.facebook.com/luxxbeautybar

Get the look!

Someone had asked me for some shadow info on a recent look I did so I thought I'd share it with you girls. I also thought that this may be a great blog idea for future posts. 

Highlight & Contour

-Jillian Raposo


If you're the type that just slaps on your foundation and calls it a day, boy are you missing out. By applying one shade of foundation and nothing more, all you are doing is creating a dimensionless face. Remember in art class how you used darker shading to push an area away and lighter shading to pull an area towards you? That's exactly what can take your face to a whole new level of fabulous. 

By adding "contour" and "highlight" to your face, you can accentuate your best features and manipulate your worst features. It may appear intimidating at first but I promise after a few tries you will become addicted!! Not to mention, you will have many people asking if you've lost weight. Contouring can definitely make your face appear much slimmer and slim down features that you may not be too fond of. If you have a large forehead you'll want to apply a darker shade in areas which you wish to be made smaller and if you have a large nose you'll want to apply a darker shade to the sides to give a more slender appearance. Highlighting can also make your face appear more youthful, well rested, and fresh. Makeup magic is often the reason why celebrities are constantly being accused of having plastic surgery when if fact, it's just a result of a great makeup artist.

So by now you're probably saying "yes!" I want to slim, trim, glow, & chisel!" "Where do I start?" The world of contouring and highlighting products can be sooo overwhelming! There are so many brands & product lines to choose from! So let me help you, and give you the inside scoop on my faves. 

The Anastasia contour kit has to be my ultimate favorite palette. This kit contains everything you'd need to set, contour & highlight. The colors are so pigmented and there's a great variation for every skin tone.  Each pod is also replaceable if you run out of your favorite shades. For $40 it's a steal! If you were to buy a setting powder, a contour shade, and a highlight powder you'd be well into the $100 range. I also love that Anastasia provides a step by step guide for using the kit with each palette. 

www.anastasia.net

If you'd like to buy separate products here are my recommendations and favorites:

Contour:

• Hoola Bronzer by Benefit Cosmetics (Sephora)
• MAC RiRi Bronzing powder

Hightlight: 

• Becca Shimmering skin perfecter in shade "Opal" (Sephora)
• MAC Mineralize skin finish in shade "Soft & Gentle"
• Benefit Girl meets pearl & Watts up (Sephora)

Setting powder: 

• Ben Nye Luxury Powder in shade "Banana"
• MAC Mineralize Skin finish Natural