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!