Makeup Tips, Tricks, & Tales

Customer Service: Is It Important To You?

2014-01-06T20:02:00.000-05:00

This is something I witnessed in a major department store recently.

While at the counter in the fashion jewelry section, a customer was trying to turn the display stand. To be honest, the display stand was heavy and somewhat difficult to turn (I had tried one at another counter myself).

Now while trying to turn the display stand to get a look at items on the other side, it started tipping over causing jewelry items to spill onto the floor. As the customer was desperately trying to keep the display stand from falling to the floor, along comes a sales person who sees what's about to happen. Instead of going over to help the customer, the sales person looks at her and quipped "Seriously Miss ...Seriously"?

The customer looked at the sales person in total disbelief and said "Did you just say seriously to me"? The sales person replied "yes...seriously?" and then instructs the customer to leave the items as she will get them. The customer looks at her and says "I don't need your help, I will pick them up myself"! And pick them up she did.

Needless to say I was completely mortified by the response and lack of assistance by the store's employee (and I saw this unfold from beginning to end)! I can only hope that the customer reported the incident to the store's management. If it were me, I certainly would have to address this situation with them.

Why in the world is the level of customer service continuing to spiral downward? Have we stopped caring?

Let me know your thoughts on this incident. How would you manage a situation like this if it happened to you?

Stay Beautiful!

Holiday Gift Ideas

2013-12-23T21:23:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again! Christmas is a couple of days away leaving you of course with still enough time to add a few gift items under the tree for family, friends and of course yourself! :)

From a beauty standpoint there are some pretty terrific things out there. Below are a few of my personal favorites.

Tarte -The Tarte of Giving Collectors Set & Travel Bag

This beautiful travel bag in a rich purple with its perfectly stitched bows is sold exclusively by Sephora. With the price tag of US$59.00, it contains a multitude of Tarte goodies!
- 20 x .07 oz Limited-Edition Amazonian Clay Eye Shadows
- 8 x .059 oz Deluxe Maracuja Lipglosses
- 0.23 oz Deluxe Pure Maracuja Oil
- 0.08 oz Deluxe Maracuja C-Brighter™ Eye Treatment
- 0.05 oz Deluxe Limited-Edition Amazonian 12-Hour Clay Blush in Memorable
- 0.17 oz Deluxe Cheek Stain in Flush
- 0.16 oz Deluxe Lights, Camera, Lashes™ 4-In-1 Mascara
- Travel Makeup Bag

Laura Mercier Body & Bath Luxe Quartet

In scents such as Ambre Vanillé and Creme Brûlée, the body and bath sets by Laura Mercier make an exquisite gift to place underneath the tree. Priced at $80.00, this beautiful chocolate brown box contains:

- 6 oz. Body Scrub
- 6 oz. Soufflé Body Crème
- 6 oz. Honey Bath
- Mini Wooden Honey Dipper
- 4 oz. Candle (in a frosted glass tumbler)

Honey by Marc Jacobs

This is my favorite fragrance for the year 2013! It is an energetic, floral scent which does not overpower the user. With the top note consisting of pear and juicy mandarin; the mid note contains orange blossom, peach

nectar, apricot, and honeysuckle and the base note of honey (the highlight), golden vanilla, and smooth woods, this newest addition to the Marc Jacobs line of fragrances is definitely worth a whiff of your time.

The price for Honey by Marc Jacobs Eau de Parfum in the 1.7oz bottle is $70. However, you may also purchase it in rollerball format from Sephora for $22.

Finally, let's not forget those other small, yet still wonderful stocking stuffers that are greatly appreciated as well. I am talking about gift certificates and gift cards. Gift certificates may be purchased for a full or half day of services at the spa, hair salon or manicure and/or pedicure. You can also think about purchasing gift cards from Sephora, Ulta, M.A.C., Nordstroms, Macy's, Dillards, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's or Target. It would not be a bad idea to pair a gift certificate with a gift card.

Here's wishing you and your families a Merry Christmas and a healthy, joyous and prosperous New Year!

Stay beautiful!

The Makeup Show in NYC

2013-10-20T18:08:00.002-04:00

The Makeup Show - NY: This is my favorite trade show as its focus is directed toward those of us whom are professional or freelance makeup artists. The annual two-day event was held in New York City's Metropolitan Pavilion on May 5th and 6th. The days consist of educational seminars, panel discussions, hands-on workshops, product demonstrations, makeup competitions, pro discounts and networking. For me, this was also a great opportunity to catch up with people I have not seen in awhile.

The exhibitors that participated this year read like a "who's who" in the cosmetic industry. Exhibitors such as Smashbox, Nars, Make Up For Ever, MAC, The Powder Group, Tweezerman, Naked Cosmetics, Dermalogica, Mario Badescu, Hakuhodo, Crown Brush Company, Face Atelier, Eve Pearl, Stila, BDellium, Yaby Cosmetics, Frends, Alcone Company, Embryolisse USA, Mehron, Graftobian, Temptu, OCC (Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics), Crystal Wright Live, Inglot Cosmetics, Bite Beauty, Ellis Faas and Kevyn Aucoin Cosmetics. This was a just a small sampling of the exhibitors.

The body painting was spectacular! Seeing artists throughout the space working on their models. When the body painting artists have finished, the models will stroll around the event space so we attendees may see the beautiful work done by these exceptionally talented artists.

My two favorite purchases were the tee shirt from Crystal Wright Live and a cute storage case for my false eyelashes from the company Lady Moss.

The tee shirt (on the right) was a big favorite amongst my fellow makeup artists. Kudos to Crystal Wright Live for making it available for purchase at The Makeup Show! To learn more about Crystal Wright Live or to purchase the tee shirt ($22.00), click here. Tee shirts are also available for hair and nail artists.

The "Ribbon False Eye Lash Case" is cute, but also very functional. There's room for 3 sets of lashes, adhesive and tweezers or adhesive remover (depending upon the size). Thanks to Lady Moss for making them available to purchase at The Makeup Show.

The item is priced at $5.50 at Lady Moss. To purchase the case from Lady Moss, click here.

Monthly Favorite: Recently I purchased a natural and organic product called "White Tea Gel Fluid Cleanser" by Korres. It is a vegan friendly product formulated for all skin types. After using this facial cleanser for the very first time, it left my combination skin feeling soft and smooth. The t-zone and non oily areas of my skin looked and felt moisturized. It did a great job balancing these areas, without over stripping them. The product's scent is quite pleasant.

Unfortunately "White Tea Gel Fluid Cleanser" will no longer be carried in Sephora. However a couple of places where you can purchase this product are Amazon.com or Skinstore.com. The price will vary depending upon where you purchase the product (Amazon $18.98 and Skinstore $21.00).

On The Cheap (But Oh So Chic!): The "Ultra Last Lip Wear" lipsticks by N.Y.C. (New York Color) Cosmetics. They are supposed to last for up to six hours (I'm not able to confirm this yet). However this is not the reason why I am mentioning them. For the price of $1.99, you will get a lipstick that is quite moisturizing. After an hour, my lips were still soft without showing any signs of dryness. N.Y.C. "Ultra Last Lip Wear" lipsticks come in ten shades. They may be purchased in stores such as CVS, Walgreens, Target and K-Mart.

I Nailed It!: I was by the nail bar at Sephora a few days ago. Nails Inc. has a collection of polishes called "Leather Effects". The collection looked pretty interesting. So I decided to give it a go and polished the nails on my left hand. Once the polish dried to its matte finish, I rubbed my finger over each nail. I didn't really like the texture, so I put on a layer of Nails Inc. topcoat. Afterwards, it felt somewhat better, but I am not planning to purchase anything from this collection. The colors I tested out were "Noho Leather Effects", "Shoreditch Lane Leather Effects" and "Soho Mews Leather Effects". Should you decide to test it out, be sure to use Nails Inc.'s matte topcoat.

Monthly Treat (Because I'm Worth It!): When I attended The Makeup Show this year, I stopped by the Smashbox booth. I have been wanting to purchase their BB Cream, but never got around to buying it. Finally I said today's the day. Boy am I glad I waited! As this was a trade show, Smashbox gave us pros a lovely discount. This permitted me to purchase not one but two of their BB Creams. Thank you Smashbox!

Walking further into the space I found Nars Cosmetics. I stopped to check and see if my favorite Nars eyeshadow was available for purchase. Again I got lucky as it was on their display counter AND they had it in stock! The color to which I am referring it "Outremer". It is a rich royal blue. Thank you Nars Cosmetics!

Did You Hear About?: Scarves are one of my favorite accessories. I wear them all the time. Unfortunately it can become a bit boring wearing them the same way all the time. Here is a YouTube video entitled "25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes". To view the video, click here.

Every woman wants to find her perfect shade of red lipstick. For some this task can be somewhat frustrating. Well help is on the way! There is a wonderful article on The Beauty Department's website called "Best Red Lip Shades For Your Skin Tone". Click here to read it.

Scent-sational: "Loverdose" by Diesel. If you can find this fragrance...buy it! It's absolutely wonderful!

Stay beautiful!
Leza

Sam Fine's Latest Venture & Post Holiday Finds

2013-02-10T13:27:00.000-05:00

Did You Hear About?: Fashion Fair Cosmetics recent launching of the "Sam Fine Supreme Color Collection". This signature cosmetic collection is the latest venture from makeup artist extraordinaire Sam Fine. Along with his book "Fine Beauty" and DVD "Fine: The Basics of Beauty", this is the Fashion Fair creative makeup director's first ever cosmetics line. It consists of two eyeshadow quads ($38 ea.), eight lipstick shades ($22 ea.) and a nude golden shimmer lipgloss ($20). The "Sam Fine Supreme Color Collection" may be purchased at Macy's, Dillards, Lord & Taylor and online at Fashion Fair Cosmetics.

Below are a few images of the "Sam Fine Supreme Color Collection". The middle image shows the "Amalfi Coast" eyeshadow quad with the colors: Sand (shimmer), Forest Green (shimmer), Copper (shimmer) and Chocolate Brown (matte). Also in this image is "Moroccan Spice" one of the eight lipsticks from this collection. Last (but not least), is a nude golden shimmer lipgloss in "Canary Diamond". The third image is the eyeshadow quad in "Tunisian Nights" with Ice (iridescent), Cobalt Blue (shimmer), Violet (shimmer) and Black (matte). The eyeshadow applicators are engraved with Sam Fine on one side and Fashion Fair on the other. The applicator in the lipgloss is a synthetic brush.

Book: FINE Beauty

DVD: FINE: The Basics of Beauty

Here are two great additions for your makeup reference library by Sam Fine.

Monthly Favorite(s): Brrrrr.... it's been so cold! I been piling on hand lotion and facial moisturizer. For hands, my current go to product is Vaseline's Total Moisture: Clean Feeling Lotion. This is a non-greasy lotion that absorbs quickly into the skin and contains pure oat extract. Vaseline's Total Moisture comes in two other formulas: Aloe Fresh: Light Feeling Lotion and Cocoa Radiant: Rich Feeling Lotion. Look for Vaseline's Total Moisture products at CVS, Rite-Aid, Target and K-Mart.

Also helping to protect my face from the cold air and biting winds is Earth Science's "Almond-Aloe Moisturizer". It's lightly scented light-weight facial moisturizer that can be used by all skin types. Priced at $8.99, you can purchase this and other Earth Science facial products at Whole Foods.

On The Cheap (But Oh So Chic!): I found a couple of post holiday sales in K-Mart. While there I purchased Halle Berry's "Reveal the Passion" perfume; gift sets of Faith Hill's "True" and "Soul 2 Soul". The scent of these fragrances are quite nice (actually better than I expected). They are long lasting. A tiny spritz on your pulse points and you're good to go! I love the facet cut top of "Reveal the Passion". When light passes through, it reflects beautifully (this can be seen in the second image).

Halle Berry's "Reveal The Passion"


Halle Berry's "Reveal The Passion"

"True" Body Lotion

Faith Hill's "True" Gift Set

"True" Perfume

"Soul 2 Soul" Gift Set

"Soul 2 Soul" Perfume

"Soul 2 Soul" Body Lotion

I Nailed It!: I found three brown colored nail lacquers that I actually like. Revlon's "Hot for Chocolate #903" (a deep dark brown), Maybelline's "Downtown Brown #725" (a duo chrome that is the nail lacquer equivalent to "Club" eyeshadow by M.A.C.) and Revlon Colorstay's "French Toast #210" (a soft gold-flecked shimmer).

In the pictures below (left and center) are Revlon's "Hot for Chocolate #903" and "French Toast #210". On the right is Maybelline's "Downtown Brown #725".

I hope you enjoyed my first posting of 2013. There's more to come. See you soon.

Stay beautiful!

A Change of Seasons

2012-06-17T17:28:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone!

Wow....I can not believe that summer ended a few weeks ago. I hope you had an enjoyable one and applied sunscreen regularly to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays. As for me during the warmer months, my skincare routine becomes very simple: cleanse, tone and apply a moisturizer containing a SPF. Next month not only will I transition into warmer clothing, but my skincare products are going to change as well.

Monthly Favorite: I have fallen madly in love with Revlon's Lip Butters and L'Oreal's Colour Riche Lip Balms. They became my favorite go to products this summer. The colors I'm using are Revlon's Peach Parfait (025), Pink Truffle (100) and L'Oreal's Plush Plum (219) and Nourishing Nude (818). Believe me when I say I've fallen madly in love with these products. I carry all four with me everyday! One day I'm heading into work wearing Nourishing Nude and when it's time to leave, Pink Truffle could be on my lips. Somehow I rotate wearing 3 or all four of the colors during the day. Both products go on smoothly, but must be reapplied throughout the day. Also, the L'Oreal Colour Riche Lip Balms have a slight but rather pleasant scent.

Revlon's Lip Butter - Peach Parfait (025)


Revlon's Lip Butter - Pink Truffle (100)

L'Oreal Lip Balm - Nourishing Nude (818)

L'Oreal's Lip Balm - Plush Plum (219)

I certainly hope that the Revlon Lip Butters and the L'Oreal Colour Riche Lip Balms will be around for a long, long time.

JulieG - Cupcakes & Castles

On The Cheap (But Oh So Chic!): Back in May, I mentioned two soft microshimmer pink nail lacquers. "Kim-Pletely In Love" (Nicole by OPI) and "Pink-A-Boo" (Essie's Resort Collection) both retailing at $8. Recently while in Rite-Aid, I found an even less expensive version of these items. The color is called "Cupcakes and Castles" and it's a part of the JulieG Nail Color line. Priced at $3.99, the JulieG Nail Color collection can be found at your local Rite-Aid and Jesse's Girl Cosmetics.

Essie -Bikini So Teeny

I Nailed It!: My favorite nail lacquer this summer was Essie's "Bikini So Teeny". This beautiful cornflower blue color was so popular, that eventually it became impossible to find a full size bottle of it. Other than being a part of their "Summer" mini color cube collection (which also includes Mojito Madness, Off The Shoulder and Fear or Desire), "Bikini So Teeny" was gone! The image you see here comes from the website of ommorphia beauty bar. Also check out other images here.

I did manage to find a couple nail lacquers that are similar in color, but slightly darker. Sinful Colors' "Morning Star" is from their "Girls In Pearls Sheer Shimmer Collection". "Morning Star" does have a soft shimmer, but it is quite lovely. Sinful Colors is priced at $1.99 . Also check Color Club's "Hydrangea Kiss" which is a bit darker and costs $2.99 . Find Sinful Colors and Color Club at your local Rite-Aid, Walgreens, CVS, Target and Wal-Mart.

Monthly Treat (Because I'm Worth It!): I just love the beautiful detail on this lipstick casing. It's from Yves Saint Laurent's Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick and Volupte Sheer Candy Glossy Balm Crystal Colours collection. The metal casing (yes metal) comes in goldtone (Rouge Volupte) and silvertone (Volupte Sheer). The color band underneath the YSL logo will be the color of the lipstick or glossy balm.

Priced at $34.00, the YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks come in 22 beautiful shades and have a SPF of 15. For those who prefer a soft wash of color, the Volupte Sheer Candy Glossy Balms are for you. They come in 10 gorgeous shades and are priced at $30. YSL's Rouge Volupte lipsticks and Volupte Sheer Candy Glossy Balms are definitely worth your taking a look. Check them out the next time you are in Sephora or online at Sephora.com.

YSL's Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick and Volupte Sheer Candy Glossy Balm Crystal Colour....To me they are statement of elegance!

Did You Hear About?: Are you still pretty upset about a relationship that recently ended and have to face the ex in the next day or two? Then check out this YouTube video entitled "Meeting The Ex - Chat/Make-up Therapy" from makeup artist extraordinaire Lisa Eldridge. Ms. Eldridge shares tips on how to look your absolute best when having to meet the ex. While there, check out her other films on makeup and skincare.You can also view her films, subscriber to her newsletters or get the complete list of products she uses during her makeup applications at www.lisaeldridge.com

Trick or Treat: We always have such a great time during Halloween! I'm planning to check out the parade again this year. I'll try to post as many pictures as I can while there.

Also there are some really terrific Halloween makeup films on YouTube. I will provide links to a few of my personal favorites.

Lastly, since Autumn is officially in full swing, I have found a few beautiful lip colors and nail lacquers for this season. I will share them here in a about week.

For next month: I am going to do a bit of research on Beauty Balms. Admittedly, I was under the impression they were just tinted moisturizers, but they claim to do so much more. My question is do they really work? I plan to try out a couple (based on my skin tone, type and condition) and will post my findings next month.

Until then....Stay Beautiful!

A New Look

2012-06-17T14:42:00.000-04:00

I've decided to shake things up on my blog a bit. Instead of randomly talking about a couple of beauty products, the format will look slightly different. It will now feature the sub-topics Monthly Favorite, On The Cheap (But Oh So Chic!), I Nailed It!, Monthly Treat (Because I'm Worth It!) and Did You Hear About? Not to worry, this is still a beauty blog, I'm just giving it a bit more structure.

Monthly Favorite: The talk here will be about a product I'm using or even one that I've rediscovered.

On The Cheap (But Oh So Chic!): I love finding alternatives for high end products and I'll share them here.

I Nailed It!: Lacquer, Varnish or Polish...I love it! I will share colors I'm wearing, products that I use regularly and items I've just heard and/or read about in this section.

Monthly Treat (Because I'm Worth It!): I love the romantic comedy "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days" starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. Matthew's character Benjamin (Ben) Barry says"Frost yourselves". Now while "frost" is being used as a metaphor for diamonds, nonetheless Ben is saying treat yourself because you're worth it. And that's exactly what I will be doing and sharing each month.

Did You Hear About?: Here you will find links to interesting beauty articles, blogs and videos.

I hope you will find the new format enjoyable as well as informative. In the meantime...

Stay beautiful!

Closing The (Generation) Gap

2012-06-03T22:59:00.002-04:00

Recently while getting ready to go out with her friends, my niece Dana said "Auntie, may I have the pink lipgloss?" The lipgloss she was referring to was the new tube of NYC's Fashion Avenue Fuchsia #579. It's a very pretty fuchsia pink that I had planned to pair with CoverGirl's Lip Perfection lipstick in Spellbound #325 (from Pat McGrath's Runway Shades Collection) and NYX's lipliner pencil in Mahogany #809. Oh well, best laid plans as they say.

Being the loving aunt that I am, of course I gave it to her. Why? Well we share a love of makeup, which I feel absolutely wonderful. Sure there is a generation gap, but ours has been narrowed by a little tube lipgloss!

By the way, I went out the next day and purchased myself another tube.


NYC Fashion Avenue Fuchsia #579


NYX Lip Liner in Mahogany #809


CoverGirl's Lip Perfection in Spellbound #325

Until next time...

Stay beautiful!

Finding That Great Alternative

2012-05-28T17:06:00.001-04:00

I came across an article the other day on Total Beauty (www.totalbeauty.com) entitled "11 Bright Makeup Colors That Work On Everyone". Of course after reading it, I wanted to check out some of the suggestions the article mentioned. Then to make things a bit more interesting, I decided to challenge myself and see if I could find less expensive duplicates of the products I liked.

One of the article's universal color suggestions was L'Oreal Paris' Lip Infallible Lipgloss in Sangria. After combing the beauty aisles in the local drugstore chain, I found Rimmel's Moisture Renew Cream Lipgloss in Berry Bliss to be a good dupe of Sangria (I also consider this my greatest find for the month). Rimmel's Moisture Renew Cream Lipgloss has a SPF of 15 and does not leave your lips feeling sticky. These lipglosses come in 14 beautiful shades and retail for under $8 at drugstore chains. Or check them out at Ulta (www.ulta.com) where they are currently priced under $6. To me Berry Bliss is such a pretty color that I prefer to wear sans lipstick or lip liner.

Another suggestion from the article was M.A.C's Mocha satin finish lip color. It's peachy yellow brown coloring inspired me to locate its less expensive cousin. I checked out Revlon's Super Moisturizing Lipstick in Fleshtone #230 and found it to be a pretty good dupe for M.A.C.'s Mocha. When applying it, Fleshtone is so smooth it seems to glide across the lips. Buildable color without leaving your lips feeling sticky. Not only was I was happy to see that it complimented my skintone very well, the selling price of $6.99 also made my day! Check out Fleshtone #230 and other Revlon lipstick colors at your local drugstore chain or Ulta.
Right now I am pairing Fleshtone with NYX lip liner in Mahogany #890 and Wet-n-Wild's clear lipgloss in Reflection #311.

Although not part of the article, I wanted to mention it. On the nail lacquer front, Nicole by OPI has Kim-Pletely In Love. I learned about this particular shade of color on 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic's blog (www.15minutebeauty.com). Again, I found a lovely dupe. Check out Essie's Pink-A-Boo from their Resort Collection. Bear in mind, the opacity of both isn't great as they require 3 to 4 coats. However both have a beautiful soft shimmer to them. Oh well, what's one extra coat? To see Kim-Pletely In Love on 15 Minute Beauty's blog click here. To see Essie's Pink-A-Boo, go to www.vampyvarnish.com (type pink-a-boo in the search box).

The retail price of Essie nail color is $8. Find Pink-A-Boo and other Essie nail products your local drugstore chain, beauty supply store, Sephora or Ulta.

Until next time...stay beautiful!

2012 Makeup Artist Trade Shows - East Coast

2012-04-22T05:27:00.001-04:00

For east coast makeup artists, the months of April and May are very exciting. In April, IMATS (International Makeup Artists Trade Show) comes to New York City. The Makeup Show also held in New York City (its home base), takes place in May.

For its second consecutive year, IMATS rolled into New York City. During the weekend of April 14th and 15th, subscribers were able to meet YouTube sensations such as JulieG, Nikkie Tutorials, JeanFrancoisCD, Tatiana Ward (aka BeatFaceHoney) and Lauren (aka Queen of Blending) to name a few. Also in attendance were keynote speakers J. Roy Helland (Iron Lady); Kabuki (Sex and the City) and Bernadette Mazur (Men In Black III).

Although I wasn't able to go this year, I did attended IMATS NY in 2011. My favorite part (besides the shopping), was the SFX Museum. It was amazing! Even a beauty artist like myself really appreciates the work done by special effects artists.

The Makeup Show NY 2012, now in its sixth year, will be held at the Metropolitan Pavilion May 13th & 14th. While IMATS attendees are a mixed group of professionals and non professionals, The Makeup Show is a pro only event. Personally, this is one of my favorite NY events!

For information on The Makeup Show, please visit their website www.themakeupshow.com

More Bang For My Buck!

2011-08-21T22:47:00.000-04:00

I've noticed this year whenever I shop at Sephora, I try to leave with what I feel is a bargain.

Recently for the mere price of $36, I purchased "LORAC's Close Up: Real Life to Red Carpet Eye Tutorial".
This collection contains four full sized products, a double-ended brush and an eye tutorial booklet.

Although I am a makeup artist, I certainly wasn't about to let the word "tutorial" stop me from adding this to my shopping basket. :)

Take a gander at what was in the box.

Remember, these are FULL SIZE products.

* Behind The Scenes Eye Primer

* Starry-Eyed Baked Eyeshadow Trio in Movie Star

* Front of The Line Pro Eyeliner in Black

* Special Effects Mascara in Black

* Double-Ended Eyeshadow Brush (for blending and smudging).

* An eye tutorial booklet (for those wanting to learn how to go from Real Life (day) to Red Carpet (night)).

P.S. The eye tutorial booklet's instructions are removable and will cling to your mirror.

Another great find was Sephora's "Set for Summer" collection which I picked up a few weeks ago. The "Set for Summer" collection comes in a clear, orange trimmed Sephora cosmetic bag and contains nine full and travel sized products.

Below is a list of what's inside the collection.

* Sephora Eyeshadow in Choco Express #19
* Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Pop
* Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights in Dusk
* Too Faced Mini Peach Leopard Brightening & Perfecting Bronzer
* Sephora by OPI Nail Color in I'm Wired
* Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment (sheer berry rose in pink case)
* Guerlain L'Or Radiance Concentrate with Pure Gold Make-Up Base
* Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes! Mascara in Black
* Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Make-Up Setting Spray

The eyeshadow by Sephora and the Smashbox lip gloss are full sizes, the remaining items are mini / travel sized products.

Although summer is almost over, I must say this is my favorite collection from Sephora. The price tag of $39 made it even better!

The beauty consultant at the register informed me that I was entitled to a beauty perk based on the number of beauty insider points I'd accumulated. So, as I had over 500 points, I chose the

"Josie Maran Beauty Insider 500 Point Kit". 

Josie Maran Cosmetics is an earth-friendly beauty line This kit is great for argan oil lovers or for those like myself, whom are curious of its benefits and versatility.

Here's what's inside:

* Argan Cleansing Oil
*Argan Hair Oil Serum
* GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara (GOGO: Get One, Give One)
* Argan Natural Volume Lip Gloss in Precious
* 100% Pure Argan Oil Organic Moisturizer

N.B.: Regarding Natural Volume, to plump the lips, there is a naturally occurring tripeptide.

Until the blog, continue to enjoy the summer and...

Stay beautiful!

Lip Jao Lip Balm

2011-07-23T15:45:00.009-04:00

Keeping lips moisturized during the summer (and winter) months can be quite challenging. What has surely become a favorite in my beauty bag this summer is Lip Jao Lip Balm!

Pleasantly scented, Lip Jao contains 34% shea butter and has a SPF of 15. It goes on smoothly and lasts considerably longer than most other lip balms I've tried. Lip Jao does contain parabens, but it's also petro-chemical free. So, if you're a bit of a lip balm junkie or just want silky smooth lips, then try Lip Jao Lip Balm.

To purchase this product, here's the link to Jao Ltd.

Stay beautiful!

Working Vacation

2011-07-18T19:59:00.000-04:00

On a recent day off, I did the makeup for a photoshoot. I met and worked with a phenomenal photographer by the name of Al Rodriguez (www.alrodriguezphotography.com); Leilani C. Namour, an outstanding jewelry designer (devauebodyjewelry.com); Dee Desalu, an exceptional hair stylist (www.deedesalu.com) and a very talented model named Amanda David.

Once I receive the images (and permission) from the photographer, I will post them.

Stay beautiful!

Weekend Haul

2011-01-17T22:47:00.000-05:00

I did a bit of shopping this weekend. My first stop was the East Village Thrift Shop (186 2nd Avenue, NY NY 10003). I purchased two lovely vintage inspired necklaces and a Liz Claiborne handbag. Then, I headed up toward 34th Street and went into Daffy's. Nothing really piqued my interest (which is unusual since I love shopping at Daffy's). So I left.

Once outside, I decided to head over to Sephora. I wanted to see if the full size of Urban Decay's newest member to the Primer Potion family, "Greed" had arrived. It did.


Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed

The reason I'm so excited about this particular version is its versatility. It can be used as an eyeshadow base, worn alone as a lid color (or use a bit in the corners of your eyes to make them pop) or as a brow highlight. UDPP's "Greed" is a gold metallic shimmer and its texture is quite smooth. Depending upon how much you use will determine how quickly it dries.

I look forward using UDPP's "Greed" in future projects. Something tells me it's going to become a staple in my kit.


Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Ore

Another product I picked up was Illamasqua's pure pigment entitled "Ore". It's sooo beautiful! "Ore" is from the "Art of Darkness" collection. Sort of reminds me of MAC's "Vintage Gold" (from the "Overrich" collection). While I love the design of Illamasqua's containers, I do have trouble opening them. Honestly though, that's not going to stop me from buying more. Hmmm maybe some more nail lacquer. :)

Clinique's Perfectly Real Foundation

Being the new year and all, I was in the mood to add another foundation to my personal makeup kit. Something that I could wear everyday and look as if I wasn't wearing foundation at all. I stopped by the Clinique display to check out their "Perfectly Real" foundation.

The first thing I liked about this foundation was, not every shade for darker skin tones was red-based. I swatched a few strips across my jawline and found my color match to be Shade 46 (N). Second, it's oil-free (and fragrance free). Since I have combination skin, this is a HUGE plus. Finally, you don't a lot to apply to your face and neck. Yes sir...this looks like a keeper!

Not all of my faves are high end. Before calling it a night, I stopped by Duane Reade and picked up two lipsticks from CoverGirl's Queen Collection in "Nude Attitude" and "Javalicious"; a lipgloss entitled "Captivating Red" by Latina and two Dream Mousse Bronzers (#10 and #20) from Maybelline.

I also picked up two nail polishes from Revlon. From their new Top Speed series, I chose the color "#430 Chili"; and from their new Scented Parfume series, I chose "#300 Cotton Candy". The Scented Parfume series is interesting. When you first open the bottle (to apply the color), it smells like regular nail polish. However once it dries, it does have a nice scent. What I'm going to do is see if the scent remains after a top coat is applied.

Beauty products from Sephora and Duane Reade

Well that's my weekend haul. I have a photo test shoot coming up soon. So in one of my upcoming blogs, I will show you how I prepare for photo shoots.

Until next time....stay beautiful!

2010 Make Up For Ever Pro Social Events and Collections

2010-12-27T22:59:00.122-05:00

Make Up For Ever (8 East 12th St., NY, NY)

I had a great time at the pro social events hosted by Make Up For Ever at their New York flagship store on August 25th and December 16th of this year. It was great reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Getting to chat with my dear sweet friend Michael DeVellis (VP of Pro Artist Relations at MUFE and founder of The Powder Group) and receiving a great big hug from James Vincent (Makeup Artist and The Powder Group's Director of Artistry). Also, it was a real treat to meet makeup artist Orlando Santiago. With my shopping list in hand, I proceeded to start swatching eyeshadows, blushes, foundations, etc... from one end of the store to the other.

The August pro social introduced the makeup artist community to MUFE's newly launched Rouge Artist Intense lipstick. Prior to its release, I'm sure you saw this ad in any one of the major beauty and fashion magazines. Also, if you live and/or work in New York City, you saw the ad on public transportation and atop the yellow taxis. I must admit this has become one of my favorite beauty ads. Congratulations to all at Make Up For Ever!

While at the pro social, I was able to check out the color selections available for Rouge Artist Intense and how it would feel once it was applied. In finishes of matte, satin and pearl, Rouge Artist Intense lipsticks are pigmented, creamy and go on with the smoothest application ever! I purchased one for myself (#41)* and two as gifts for friends at the office. They LOVED product! As one friend said "it was so smooth it felt like butter!" She then followed with "I want more colors!"

*N.B: I chose #41 as it's one of my favorite tunes by the Dave Matthews Band. Give #41 a listen here.

December's event was to Rock For Ever. I love the packaging for this collection. They're black metal tins with raised black, silver and gold studs. You can either keep the product in it or use the tin to store something else. The model's Smoky Rock makeup and hair look fabulous! To learn how to achieve this look click here.

Below are images from the entire Rock For Ever collection.

Rock For Ever Star Powder and Aqua Eyes

Rock For Ever Aqua Eyes

Rock For Ever Star and Diamond Powders

Rock For Ever Eye Shadow Palette


Rock For Ever Best of Make Up For Ever

I hope you were able to attend one or both of these events at Make Up For Ever. They're such great networking tools. Here's hoping they will continue these types of events in 2011.

Make Up For Ever has been quite busy not just developing new products, but stores too. I know in late September they opened up a really awesome boutique and studio in NYC at Sephora's store in SoHo. I I plan on stopping by there this week. They've also opened two other boutique/studios at Sephora Venetian in Las Vegas, NV and Sephora South Coast Plaza, in Costa Mesa, CA. So I'm very excited to see what's they have in store for us next year.

Well it's time to go check the kit and do inventory. I've to make room for next year's purchases. ;-)

As I slowly raise one hand, preparing to wave goodbye to 2010, I will also prepare to raise the other and warmly greet 2011. My wish for all of you consists of four simple things:

Eat... Pray... Love...

and

2010 Holiday Reflections

2010-12-26T03:59:00.019-05:00

In my 2009 Holiday Reflections post, I spoke about the unexpected snowstorm that descended upon us just before Christmas. Guess what? they're predicting anywhere from 11 - 16 inches for December 26th. Well at least this time I know it's coming.

Although I was rather late, I had fun doing last minute shopping. I was standing in line at the UGG Australia store (corner of Madison Avenue and 58th Street), waiting to get in to buy boots for my niece. It wasn't nearly as bad as I'd expected. The line moved rather quickly (maybe I waited 5 - 7 minutes). However once I got inside, the store was packed. Thank goodness I was able to get a sales associate very quickly (she was finishing up with another customer). I gave her the style and color of the boots I wanted and told her I would be waiting on line. That's right another line. Longer than the one outside (it circled half of the store). Thank goodness they keep the line moving. Again, I think I waited less than 10 minutes before I reached the cashier. All in all my experience at UGG Australia was quite good. Next stop...Macy's!

It took me awhile to get to Macy's (traffic and all), but it was worth it. The store was jam packed with people doing their last bit of shopping. I made my way over to the Estee Lauder counter. I'd been admiring EL's "Glamour Is Golden" collection for a couple of weeks and decided to purchase it. the "Glamour Is Golden" collection contains 18 Pure Color eyeshadows (large compact); 3 EL Signature Silky Powder Blushes and Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer (small compact); 4 Pure Color Long Lasting Lipsticks; 3 Artist's Eye Pencils; Pure Color Gloss (double-ended); Gentle Eye Makeup Remover (for all skin types); a makeup brush set (face powder, blush, eyeshadow and lip brushes); mirror (4x6); cosmetic case and cosmetic bag. The total value of this collection is US$340.

As it's a PWP (purchase with purchase), the price of the collection is US$55.00 with the purchase of any Estee Lauder fragrance. I hadn't quite decided which scent I would purchase. I'd narrowed it down to "Azuree" and "Aliage". The sales associate sprayed Azuree on one of my wrists and Aliage on the other. After walking around Macy's for a bit, I took a whiff of each wrist and decided on Aliage. I chose Aliage because it's lighter with just the right touch of citrus to balance it out.

Before leaving Macy's I stopped by the MAC counter. I purchased the Smolder Eye Kohl pencil (for my personal use) and the Smokey Thrillseekers Pigments/Glitter Kit (again for me), which comes in a lovely tartan tin. The product's write up says "Everything you need for that dark-side finish. The Pigments: Jigs & Jive, Naked, Blue Brown and Dark Soul light up with the flash of Reflects Blackened Red Glitter. Even though the containers are smaller, they were filled to the top. These pigments will last me a long time.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-30T17:51:00.000-04:00

Hi All:

Halloween Weekend here. People in costumes and parties everywhere. Tomorrow New York Village's 38th Annual Parade will take place from 7 - 10pm. The parade will run along 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) from Spring Street to 15th Street (new end point due to city cutbacks). What a fun way to end the weekend!

Some friends and I were doing makeup at a club last night. It was a very nice evening. I got to try out my new Wolfe Face Art and FX Hydrocolor Makeup palette called "Essentials". The 12 color palette comes in cake form that is easily activated with VERY LITTLE water and applied with either a brush or sponge. The colors are vibrant. When you're ready to remove your Halloween makeup, just wash off "Essentials" with soap and water. For more information visit www.wolfefxmakeup.com

Wishing you a safe

Get NAKED...It's Fabulous!

2010-08-21T19:51:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone:

I am back with another product review. Get to your nearest Sephora and check out Urban Decay's newest palette entitled "NAKED"! It's fabulous!

As a makeup artist, I'm loving this palette because:

The eyeshadow's pigment is excellent.
It's a great starter palette for for those learning to apply makeup (it's easier to conceal eye makeup mishaps with these neutral shades).
The 12 matte, soft shimmer and glitter (minimal) textures are great for the over 30, flirty and fabulous.
The shadows have pink or yellow undertones, rounded out by the near black and steel colours.
Numerous fabulous and seductive smokey eyes can be created.
For the cheeks, the matte shades Naked or Buck can be used as a contour, while Sin (one of the shimmer shades) works well as a highlighter.
The palette also includes their popular products:

a double-ended version of 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero and Whiskey
a travel size bottle of Urban Decay's Primer Potion.

What else can I say, except go and...

GET

Product Review: Olay Daily Facials Express

2010-07-09T21:45:00.000-04:00

My go to product for this summer, Olay Daily Facials Express. These lightly scented wet cleansing cloths are so refreshing. Providing a quick removal of oil, dirt and makeup (from eyes, face and neck), these alcohol-free textured cleansing cloths also remove waterproof mascara!

Here's my favorite way of using them. On a day when temperatures are 90 degrees plus (just so unbearably hot), I'll grab a plastic sandwich bag, pop in a couple of the cloths and then place it in refrigerator for 10 minutes. Ten minutes later, after wiping my face and neck with the cool cloth, I feel so energized. Because the cloths contain Olay moisture and Vitamin E, my skin is left feeling soft and smooth, with no signs of dryness. The fragrance is light, not overpowering.

Olay Daily Facials Express is available for All Skin Types or Sensitive Skin (fragrance-free). Each pack contains 30 alcohol free, textured cloths.

Another reason why Olay Daily Facials Express is my go
to product, you can take them anywhere! The package fits
right into your handbag.

Olay Daily Facials Express...find them in the beauty section of

your local drugstore, Target, Wal-Mart or KMart.

Tool Essentials: Makeup Brushes Part 1

2010-06-13T04:32:00.000-04:00

Greetings:

I decided to put together a series entitled "Tool Essentials". Parts one and two of this series will focus on makeup brushes. We'll discuss the parts of the brush. What are the names of some of the different brushes? Which ones are good starters? How are they used? How to clean them? What to use to clean them? How often should they be cleaned? Where do you purchase your brushes?

There are three parts to a brush: hair (natural, bristle or synthetic); ferrule (metal piece) and the handle. Sometimes a new brush will be very stiff. Manufacturers will add what's known as "sizing". This process helps the brush maintain its shape until it's used for the first time. To remove the sizing, dampen your fingertips and gently rub the substance off.

Q. Which ones are good starters?

The Basics:

Large or Medium Face Powder, Dome or Angle Blush, Fluff (Blender) Shadow, Medium Shadow, Small Shadow, Oval Shadow, Pointed or Angle Liner, Oval Camouflage, Pointed Camouflage and Lip Brush

Q. How are they used?

Face Powder Brush: Apply loose or pressed powders when setting or touching up makeup.

Dome or Angle Blush Brush: Apply and blend blush to on the cheek bones.

Foundation Brush (optional): If you prefer not to use a sponge or your fingers to apply liquid or cream foundation, this is a great alternative.

Fluff (Blender) Shadow: Blends your eyeshadows together eliminating demarcation. Used properly, you shouldn't be able to tell where one eyeshadow ends and another begins.

Small Shadow: The shorter hairs help control placement of product when an eyeshadow is too powdery.

Medium Shadow: Apply eyeshadow on lid or from lid to crease (just beneath the brow bone).

Oval Shadow: Wide and more round than the Medium Shadow brush. Apply eyeshadow over entire eyelid more quickly.

Fine Point Eyeliner: Use to create ultra thin or thick lines. Cat eye anyone?

Angle Liner: Also great for lining eyes. Excellent tool for brows too.

Oval Camouflage: Use this brush to apply your concealer.

Small or Flat-edge Camouflage (optional): Helps place the concealer in smaller areas.

Lip Brush (optional): Use when applying lipstick and lip glosses. Also helps to soften lip liner reducing the look of a hard line. The lip brush listed as optional because quite a number of people either use the applicator that comes with their lip gloss or use the lipstick directly.

Below are examples of the brushes mentioned above. These brushes are from the well-respected Crown Brush Company. Although I've given you a basic list of brushes and their intended use, please know that nothing is set in stone! If you want to use an oval shadow brush to contour or a crease brush to blend out lip liner, then by all means do it and....

Have Fun!

Next topic: Tool Essentials - Makeup Brushes Part Two: Caring for your brushes

2009 Holiday Reflections

2010-01-06T11:46:00.004-05:00

The holidays have come and gone. We're in our sixth day of a new year and a new decade. I hope
everyone's getting back into the swing of things.

For me, holiday shopping was pretty interesting in December 2009 to say the least. I dropped in on a few places like Sephora, K-Mart, Make Up For Ever, Aeropostale, Barnes & Nobles, Borders Bookstore, Macy's, Best Buy, JC Penney, Target, etc... Retailwise, there were some pretty sweet deals for the consumer.

For my niece Dana, I purchased the majority of her gifts from Aeropostale. Why? 50 - 70% off that's why!
The line in the store was soooo long, it was almost like a maze. No complaints from me. The money I saved was a-maze-ing! :)

I also stopped by K-Mart. Good thing I did. Not only did I picked up some cute gloves for us, but bought a pair of weather boots for myself. On the way to K-Mart, the snow had started to fall and was
accumulating rather quickly. This was a no-brainer. Time to stop shopping and head home.

While on the train, I called my car service (just in case there was a long wait). By the time the train pulled into my station, six inches of beautiful soft snow had fallen. I went into the ticket office, quickly changed from my sneakers to the weather boots I purchased from K-Mart and waited for my car.

The driver arrived, getting me home safe and sound. When I exited the car, my feet sank almost eight inches deep in snow. I grabbed my packages and went inside the house. Before closing the door, I looked outside. My neighborhood was so beautiful. It was covered in a blanket of snow. Although in the morning we would be greeted with several hours of shoveling, right outside my door was beauty...simplified.

I had an awesome 2009 holiday season. I hope you did too!

Much love,
Leza

Upcoming topic: The Tool Essentials Series - Part 1: Makeup Brushes

Welcome to Makeup Tips, Tricks & Tales

2010-01-03T15:27:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year!

YAY! The blog is up....finally. In this web log, I'm going share with you tips and tricks I've picked up along my journey as a makeup artist, but with a couple of different twists.

The focus will be on beauty issues experienced by women over 30. Dark circles, nasolabial folds, heavy eyelids - how to minimize their appearance. If you're in a black or brown eyeliner rut, I will discuss alternative colors you can use. Foundation formulas (liquid, cream, cream to powder, powder, stick or HD (high-definition) - how to choose the best one for you. Your skin and why it's very important that you take excellent care of it. The list of topics goes on...

Regarding the title Makeup Tips, Tricks & Tales, the humorous bits happen too. I will share some funny moments that occurred while working or out shopping for products.

If there's anything you'd like to discuss, please feel free to drop me a line at Leza1121@gmail.com.

Here's wishing you a safe, healthy and prosperous 2010.

Much love,
Leza