Current Favorite Drug Store Products

With a new 3 month baby boy, getting to a high end makeup store is completely out of the question. I barely have a chance to online shop, never mind go to an actual store. I do however completely take advantage of my Walmart and Target adventures by indulging in the makeup section. I've been so shocked at how amazing my recent drug store purchases have been. They're actually so much better than my high end products! I don't usually use many drug store products on my clients, but with these I can't resist.



REVLON ULTRA HD MATTE LIPCOLOR: Favorite lipgloss hands down!!! The texture is so soft and luxurious that you will throw away all your sticky lipgloss's. I love that it's matte, but not dry, and the packaging is beautiful. The only color I've bought so far is called Seduction. It's the perfect pinky rose color and is perfect for everyday or even a wedding. So far every bride has been loving it!

MILANI PRIME PERFECTION PRIMER: Add radiance and a healthy-looking glow to your complexion while softening the look of fine lines, large pores and flaws. Prime Perfection Hydrating + Pore-Minimizing Face Primer blends invisibly and maintains the skin’s moisture balance, resulting in an illuminating and flawless finish. (www.milani.com) I love that this primer is hydrating! It feels so moist and cool when applied to the skin. Every time I use it on a client, they say "wow, that feels so good". 

MILANI 2 IN 1 FOUNDATION: Combat under eye circles, redness and other skin imperfections with this full coverage, water-resistant foundation plus concealer in one. A no mess, no drip pump dispenses just the right amount of fluid needed to achieve a flawless look and works around the clock to keep skin looking naturally perfect! (www.milani.com). If you love FULL coverage foundation, you will love this one. I'm pretty sure it can cover anything. Although I don't have many imperfections to cover I always tend to go for full coverage foundations because they give a perfect, flawless finish. When applied with a damp beauty blender, this foundation looks beyond perfect. I love that I can skip the concealer when i'm in a rush and that it has a pump dispense to help speed up the process. It also lasts just as long as my high end foundations throughout the day.

MAYBELLINE BROW DEFINE AND FILL DUO: Nicole called me earlier in the week to tell me about this products and I COULD NOT WAIT to go buy it! I literally stopped at Walgreens an hour after she told me because I couldn't wait to try it. Although my brows have come a long way, I've struggled with achieving full brows FOREVER! I've been using Anastasia for years and want to cry when the pencil runs out without warning because it usually takes 2 weeks for a new one to come in. Anyways, this product has changed my makeup game substantially! It makes shaping my brows SOO much faster and they look so much more natural. I don't even think I can explain how good it is. Unlike my Anastasia pencil, this one has a powder thingy on the end (don't know what to call it, sorry) that smudges out the pencil and makes it look so natural. I personally think it lasts longer than the Anastasia pencil and looks a lot more natural, so BYE BYE ANASTASIA! 

How to achieve the perfect everyday makeup look on a budget

A lot of people have been telling me that I have such beautiful skin and that I have a beautiful pregnancy glow. I'd like to say it's just natural and my skin is simply just beautiful but that's definitely not the case, lol! What most people don't know is that since I've been pregnant my skin hates me! and there's a few steps that take place to achieve that "prego glow". It's been a while since I've done a posts so I figure I'd share my radiant glowing skin routine. The best part is that it's mostly drug store!!  So here are my current drug store favorites that will give you a flawless everyday look!

1. Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream: During the summer I cringe at the thought of using foundation. I have a lot of hyper pigmentation which forces me to use something with great coverage. For so long, I have been a prisoner of MAC studio fix foundation until I found this baby. I haven't tried too many BB creams so I was worried that it wouldn't give me enough coverage, but to my surprise it was perfect! I purchased 2 shades, Medium & Medium Deep. I wasn't sure which would match so I thought it was safe to buy both. The Medium Deep gives me a great warm color tone while matching my skin and I've been using the Medium to highlight under my eyes. I love that it's light weight and gives the illusion of the "no makeup" makeup look. For the best application cover imperfections first, if you have any. If you don't, booyyy are you lucky! I like to use MAC pro longwear concealer in shade NC30. Next apply your BB cream with a damp beauty blender by pressing it into the skin, NOT RUBBING! (Side note: Real Techniques makes a great Beauty Blender knock off, it's orange and can be found at Target) Rubbing will only give you streaky and uneven coverage. For more coverage, apply more layers. I then top it off with the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in my T zone and bronze it up with the Milani Bronzers listed below. Definitely the perfect and natural everyday look. 
2. Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder: I use shade 001 Creamy Natural. Its a bit light for me know that I have more of a summer tan so I'd probably buy a shade or 2 darker if you're my skin tone. I love to use this in my T zone to set my foundation and control shine. Great with a damp beauty blender or brush. For the best application pat it on the skin rather than spreading. 
3. Milani Bronzer XL All Over Glow #3 Radiant Tan: Not only do I love the fact that this bronzer is HUGE in size but it's simply amazing. I'm a huge fan of MAC bronzers but since finding this gem I haven't touched them since. At first glance it looks as if it has a bit of glitter in it but the application is mostly matte, which I love. 
4. Milani Baked Powder Blush, #06 Bellissimo Bronze: I love all Milani baked products but this is such a beautiful bronzing powder. I love to use it on top of a matte bronzer just to give a bit of that sun kissed glow.  (Great on top of the XL bronzer)
5. Mayelline Lash Sensational: This is the first drug store mascara that has been amazing from beginning to end, and the first that I've repurchased. Give volume, length, and doesn't smudge. What more could you ask for?
6. MAC Mineralize Skin finish, Soft & Gentle. This has been my favorite highlighting powder for years now. I use it on the highest points of my cheeks, down the bridge of my nose, and the top of my lip with a large fluffy shadow brush or my fingers for the perfect glow. 

If you're interested in my higher end makeup routing comment below!! 

How to be the most beautiful person in the room

I've always been the type of person that people come to for advice, encouragement, or help. Why? I'm not too sure, but I guess I'm doing something right. Haha! What saddens me is how many of my us have become victims to bullies and such ugly negativity. This world has become so ugly in so many ways so if I can give an ounce of encouragement to someone in need, I'm game! If you've felt down, been bullied, or just don't feel like the best version of yourself than this is for you my dear.  :)

It's sad to say but I think we can all admit that we've been bullied at some point in our lives. It may not have been directly, but indirect bullying can be just as cruel. Unfortunately for some twisted reason people would rather see someone fall than to pick someone up. We as humans are programmed to want to help ourselves and it's often very hard to want to help others. For some people it's hard to tell how much selfishness they contain but for others it's as bright as the day is long. Those are what we call "bitches". It's hard for me to wrap my head around how some people can be so cruel. Why!!! Why would you rather live your life having people not like you, fear you, and cower from you? It's such a sad sad waste of life! If only everyone woke up in the morning with the intentions of putting a smile on another's face and easing the worries of a fellow friend, life would be good let me tell ya. Your amount of friends would be endless and the smiles would be so contagious that your jaw would hurt. I know a perfect world is an unrealistic expectation but if we could all make a conscious to be a little nicer to each other, our un-perfect world would be much more tolerable. 

Spreading seeds of positivity will not only make you feel good, but could also be life changing for someone else. Think of how great a girl with acne might feel to hear someone say "I love your outfit!", or how a girl at the gym might feel to hear " I noticed you've been working hard, you look great!". That simple acknowledgement might give someone such an amazing burst of confidence that they've been lacking for years. To know that someone is looking beyond their insecurities would make them feel so good.

We've become creatures that are lost in technology and buried in a sexually overexposed illusion of what life should be. Life shouldn't be about posting your status on Facebook 10 times a day and getting the best instagram pic. To be honest with you, no one really cares! So don't waste your time! In the moments you spend doing useless things like that you could be calling a friend to see how their day was or chatting with the lady across the street. Social media is sooo tempting and nearly impossible to stay away from, I know! I force myself to do it for the sake of my job. Because lets face it, if I wasn't on Facebook and instagram I'd have no job! We just need to try to make a conscious effort to call instead of text and have face to face contact with people instead of all this B.S. At the end of the day it's all an illusion. You'll rarely see a girl post an ugly picture of herself, or see someone say they've gained weight on Facebook. It's only what they want you to see and hear. The worst part about it is that it makes sensitive people feel really depressed. When you're feeling insecure about your weight and your constantly seeing nearly perfect bodies it's depressing! When you're broke and you see someone buying a fancy car, it's depressing! And when your single and you see someones status that they're getting married, it's depressing! Now if you took yourself outside of that internet bubble and walked around in the real world you would see that there are a lot of "normal" people just like you! You'll look around and see an overweight woman that may be insecure, you'll see a homeless man begging for money, and a hard working single mother trying to provide for her child. It won't all be peaches and cream like what people portray that their lives are on social media. 

I've always felt like an old soul and wish that I was born 100 years ago when people had real life conversations and the only fun thing to do was dance. I fear for what the future will hold when people are becoming lazier and lazier when it comes to having personal relationships. We all need to look out for each other whether we like it our not. We live on a mysterious planet that floats in the atmosphere for god's sake! Who knows what tomorrow brings, what if all this technology is taken away? Will that be the point where we realize that we all need each other, when it's too late? 

I hope that whether you are the bitch or a victim of a bitch that you go into work tomorrow and give someone a nice compliment and try to put a smile on someone else's face. When you go to the nail salon spark up a conversation with the person next to you and before you know it you'll have whole salon engaging in conversation. It's awesome, trust met. I know this from experience. I LOVE to give out a random compliment to a stranger, the look on their face is priceless!! It's pretty much the look of shock like, "did that girl really just notice me and ON TOP OF THAT SAY SOMETHING NICE!".  My last visit to the nail salon was a blast! I networked with a woman that worked for a skin care company who was sitting next to me, just by telling her I liked her choice of nail polish. Before I knew it, I learned that the lady 2 chairs down was going to Hawaii and the woman at the ends daughter was getting married (I gave her my card) in October. This simple compliment of a nail color choice had all of us ladies in full conversation. That $30 was worth way more than just the gel manicure. I left there with pretty nails, a potential client and a skin care friend :)


We all get in a rut with ourselves some times so if you're feeling down and you know that you can't help yourself feel better, at least try to put a smile on someone else's face. When you see someone smile, it's going to make you smile.  Karma will bless you in return at some point I promise. No matter what size you are, how much acne you have, or what imperfection makes you insecure, I promise if you do this, you will be the most beautiful person in the room. 


Think of how awesome it would be if everyone was doing the exact same thing. 

#spreadpositivity 

-Jill 

Why are you so expensive?!

(This goes for myself and my team)

Every now and again there is always that message in the inbox that makes me cringe. It's the message that says, "Hello! You're work is AMAZING! I've followed you for a while now and would love to have you do the makeup for my weddings. The only thing is your pricing is too expensive!! Can we negotiate the pricing? If not, I'll have to find someone else."

Where do I begin.... 

First off. Yes, my work is amazing. Why? For the following reasons:

• Myself and my team are beyond passionate about what we do and spend countless hours and money on our education to stay current with trends. 
• Our kits are fully stocked with the top name brands such as MAC, Makeup Forever, Bobbi Brown, etc.
• I don't just show up to your house with a caboodle. I bring over a $1000 studio into your home and make you feel like a complete celebrity. I come equipped with a lighted vanity table, stand alone lighting, a makeup artist chair, and a high quality camera (to make sure your makeup looks great on camera).
• I'm more than just a makeup artist to my clients. I am your friend and therapist on your wedding day. I don't just apply the makeup and call it a day. I make sure I keep a smile on your face and your worries at ease the entire time you are getting your glam on :) 

My responsibilities for your wedding...

• Constant email & phone correspondence
• Creating wedding timelines
• Restocking my kit 
• Brush cleaning & sanitizing in between clients
• Packing and unpacking before & after 
• Travel to and from site
• Lastly, the makeup application

Unless you'd like me to limit you to 1 email, do 1 of your eyes instead of both, and not clean my brushes I do not see the need for a negotiation. I will ALWAYS allow my work to speak for itself and hold my worth. This is not a hobby it is a job and how I contribute to my family. I understand that weddings can be super expensive and it's in our nature to try to cut costs where we can but please don't let it be on your FACE! Your face is what is going to be the first thing (besides the dress) that people see when you walk down that aisle and for the rest of the day. It will be in EVERY picture and will be the memory in your future. 

I got married 6 years ago before I did makeup professionally and had a horrible experience!!! The makeup artist I had was probably $35 and used the worst products. My makeup came out horrible and I had to wash it off as soon as I got home. I had one of my bridesmaids do the best she could in the short time we had left. Til' this day I will not enlarge any of my pictures because of how unhappy I was. 

I'm not writing this to say you should book me. I'm writing to bring awareness to the fact that you're not just paying for a makeup application. You are paying for an entire experience. So when you are shopping for your makeup artist keep in mind that we are not all created equally therefore we should not all have the same pricing. We have specific pricing for a reason and I am a firm believer that you always get what you pay for. 

You decide...

Should I get airbrush or regular foundation?

I get this question more than any other so I thought I'd address what the actual difference is between the two. Before I do so, let me just say that all airbrush is not created equally!!! There are many "brands" of airbrush and they differ greatly between each other. I have experimented with 4 different types of airbrush until I found the absolute best. If you're curious what they are and why I did/didn't like them read the list below. If not, scroll to the bottom to find out why you should choose airbrush.



Luminess: The most common TV infomercial airbrush system. In a nutshell it is HORRIBLE!!! It looks like a mask when applied and if you touch or scratch your face it comes off and is completely un-blendable. The more you blend, the more it comes off.

Dinair: Similar to Luminess but a tiny bit less horrible. Slightly more blendable.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics OCC: So wet!!! Seems like it never dries and feels very heavy. Also not very blendable with other products.

Temptu: The most amazing airbrush on the planet!!! Feels like skin, looks like skin, blend able, and lasts forever! Very light with super duper coverage. Gives mature skin a moisturized glow and is great for covering acne and discoloration without pounds of makeup. It also comes in a matte formula for those with oily skin.


What is it? (Wikipedia) Airbrush makeup has become more popular with the advent of high-definition video and television (HD). Traditional powder or liquid based make-up can settle and appear in pores and wrinkles and be visible on HD film. As the makeup is sprayed on, it connects with the skin as millions of droplets of formula. The formula can create an even, sheer, natural appearance to the skin that, if applied properly for a natural look, can appear natural and non-heavy like traditional makeup. Airbrush makeup wears longer than traditional powder or liquid foundation, able to stay put upwards of 12–24 hours. Application wise, the technique is more sanitary than traditional makeup application due the artist never having to touch the skin. It's also faster, if done by a trained artist.

Why should I choose airbrush? If you want to look like a doll or photoshopped in real life than airbrush is the way to go. If feels extremely light and will literally last until the next day. It is applied through an airbrush gun/compressor which also feels very relaxing when applied. In comparison to regular foundation it feels lighter, covers better, and lasts longer.

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 ;)