She replied, “What do you mean?”

I repeated, "Brush your lips… After you brush your teeth, rinse the toothpaste off your toothbrush. You’ll have a wet, clean toothbrush and brush your lips. Keep your lips together when doing so. This takes off all that rough, dry, peely skin from your lips. Pat them dry and apply lip balm or vitamin E stick immediately. It really works!"

I tell this to all my clients.

There are several great lip balms on the market. Currently, I like:

• Dionis Peppermint Twist Goat Milk Lip Balm, 

• Dionis Goat Butter Lip Mask, or 

• Vitamin E stick that are found in most health food stores. 

Be certain the lip balm you select does NOT contain Petrolatum (which actually dries your lips out more!)

Avoid Vaseline/petroleum jelly, Chap Stick, or Blistex since they also contain petrolatum.

To keep your lips supple throughout your day, use Line Smoothing Lip Gloss (alone or on top of lip color).  It hydrates with Sunflower Seed Oil and Jojoba Esters. It also contains Brown Algae that stimulates collagen, to help reduce those little lip lines, and Golden Seaweed that minimizes DNA damage from UV lights.

Brush → Balm → Gloss = kissably smooth lips all day!

1. Talc can be drying to the skin. During the winter months your skin becomes drier and using talc can only make this dryness worse.
2. Sensitive skins can (and usually do) have adverse reactions to talc.
3. Talc can "scratch" the skin.
4. (And this is really big reason!): If talc is not processed properly, it may even contain some asbestos in it! 

• How can this happen?
• How can talc be tainted with asbestos?

According to consumersafety.org

1. Both talc and asbestos are forms of magnesium silicate, and as such they often occur together in natural deposits.
2. While there are procedures for removing asbestos from talc, this latest case shows that perhaps stricter controls are required.

Because of this and the other reasons listed above, you can (and I think should) avoid cosmetics and other consumer goods containing talc.

In a previous blog post I wrote about Bare Minerals and how their BarePRO® Performance Wear Pressed Powder Foundation and BarePro® Contour Face-Shaping Powder Trio contain talc. Why did they do this?

Possibly because talc is cheap!

I won’t use talc on my skin, so I can’t make products containing it either.

Remember that your skin is your body’s largest organ, so I strongly urge you to read your ingredient labels and avoid the talc! Your skin and body will thank you for it too!

Please comment below and share!

Green... It's a magic color! Yes it is… It’s a magic color. And I’m not talking about acid washed green or 80’s teal green. I am talking about a deep rich hunter green and your eyes!

I am soooo excited to introduce our new shade of Stay Put Gel Eyeliner! HUNTER!

It is a gorgeous rich hunter/forest green and it looks spectacular on any and every eye color! It REALLY does! It intensifies green eyes, brings out the gold and amber tones of brown and hazel eyes, and highlights blue eyes (SERIOUSLY!) How does it do this? Because Hunter is deep in color, it does all this with out over powering your natural eye color… In fact it actually enhances your natural eye color!

And, I would even dare to say that Hunter is “the new black” for eyeliner! Hunter has no shimmer, so it can be worn on the waterline of your eye if desired. So why not change it up this season and branch out from brown and black eyeliner and give Hunter a try!

How can mineral makeup contain talc?

I did not think this was possible?

When mineral makeup came onto the market, one of it’s major features was that was talc-free.

Yes talc IS a mineral. BUT...

• Talc can be drying to the skin.
• Sensitive skins can (and usually do) have adverse reactions to talc.
• Talc can “scratch” the skin.
• And If talc is not processed properly, it may even contain some asbestos in it!

All of these issues were suppose to go away if you used mineral makeup, because mineral makeup is made without talc.

But apparently the folks at bareminerals feel differently!

Now, I sincerely do not wish to sound snarky with what I am about to say, but IMHO, bareminerals, are, as much as I hate to say this... Hypocrites. There, I put it out there.

One would think with a brand being named “bareminerals” that they would be making talc-free mineral makeup! Well… Think again, because BarePRO® Performance Wear Pressed Powder Foundation and BAREPRO® Contour Face-Shaping Powder Trio contain (you guessed it) TALC!

I’m sorry... What?

You do not need to have your eyes checked. What you just read is correct. If you look at the ingredient listing the first ingredient is TALC!

Wait. But...

The whole reason why mineral makeup became so popular was because it’s (suppose to be) TALC-FREE! And, with a brand name like “bareminerals”, it is veeeeeerrrryyy misleading to be selling powder foundation and contour powder that contains TALC! How dare they!

Shame on you bareminerals!

And then to make matters worse, just below their ingredient listing, bareminerals tries to justify the fact that they put talc is in their product! They have a blurb called, “The Truth About Talc”...

And let me tell you, what they say is far from the truth! As I wrote previously,

• Talc can be drying to the skin
• Sensitive skins can (and usually do) have adverse reactions to talc
• Talc can “scratch” the skin
• If talc is not processed properly, it may even contain some asbestos in it…

Yet bareminerals chooses not to mention THAT! Look at these screen shots from bareminerals.com

As a makeup artist and founder of Mommy Makeup, this infuriates me!

The bottom line is... Mineral makeup should never contain talc. If it does, then it is not truly “mineral makeup”.

So buyers beware!

ALWAYS read the ingredient listing before purchasing any product labeled “mineral” and be certain it does NOT contain talc.

I always say, “People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing”. So if the brand does not list the product's ingredients on their website, then, (IMHO) don’t buy it because you don’t know what’s in it.

OK. Rant over. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. And remember, READ the ingredient listing on YOUR makeup!

Have a Beauty-ful day,

Debra

Is there Teflon® in my makeup?

PTFE is trademarked as Teflon®, and although it was originally developed for cookware, it has been found in some anti-aging products and cosmetics. This occured because PTFEs provides a smooth, sleek finish.

The concern is that PTFEs and other fluorinated compounds have been associated with delayed menstruation, later breast development and cancer.

Like the saying goes, "People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing". Shouldn’t this apply to beauty brands too?

What do you think?

Are you wondering "Why do I need bronzer in the summer? I already have a tan." Well, here’s why...

As much as we may enjoy a tan look, tanning really is not good for your skin. We have all heard about the sun’s damaging rays and skin cancer warnings. Bronzer gives you a tan look without the sun damage.

It is important to WEAR SUNSCREEN. But even if you do get a bit of a tan on your face while outside gardening or riding your bike or hanging out at the beach, you probably did not tan evenly. In this case, bronzer is great for evening out your tan.

Bronzer is also great to extend a tan’s look as the tan begins to fade.

Our Mineral Multi-Master Bronzing Powder is:

• Oil-free
• Talc-free
• Fragrance-free
• Gluten-free
• Paraben-free
• No PTFE and PFASs
• Great for sensitive skins!

And since it’s PRESSED there’s no loose powder mess!

Enjoy your sunny summer days... We will be shoveling snow before you know it.

During the summer months, most of us wear less makeup.

BUT we want the makeup we DO wear to last and not melt away at the first sign of a hot, sunny day...

So, here are some easy, breezy step-by-step tips to avoid a summer makeup meltdown.

1. Apply a lightweight moisturizer with an SPF of 30 on your face and a good eye cream under your eyes. Do not apply eye cream on your lids.
   
   
2. Using a synthetic concealer brush, apply a long-wearing concealer under eyes and on face where needed. Do not apply on eyelids.
   
   
3. Dust or buff the appropriate shade of Mineral Dual Powder (MDP) all over your face and under eyes (MDP helps set concealer under eyes... a great way to avoid a concealer meltdown).
   
   
4. Select your favorite shade of Any Wear Creme and Stay Put Gel Eyeliner from the Everlasting Eye Set and gently glide Any Wear Creme across your eyelid (using the Creme Definer Brush) and then make little dashes to apply Stay Put Gel Eyeliner along your lash line (Using a Pointed Eyeliner Brush). The water-proof, smudge-proof finish of these products really hold up in hot summer weather.
   
   
5. Apply your favorite mascara and then apply Lash Shield Waterproofing Top Coat for Mascara & Brows over it. Lash Shield Waterproofing Top Coat for Mascara & Brows makes any mascara waterproof!
   
   
6. Dash and then blend out your favorite color of Triple Sticks Lipstick & Cream Blush on your cheeks
   
   
7. Apply the same Triple Sticks Lipstick & Cream Blush that you used on your cheeks to your lips. Or for super long wearing lip color, consider a Stay Put Matte Lip Cream, which provides maximum waterproof wearability in the summer heat.

Stay cool, have fun in the sun and don't meltdown this season :-)

But no matter what the season is, here are 6 skincare standards to live by.

Being a makeup artist and having worked in the cosmetic industry for 20+ years; I am constantly given skincare samples by brands in the hopes that I will suggest them to my clients. The products listed below I have used myself and on my clients. These are my humble opinions and I was not compensated in any way for expressing them.

1. It is super important to use a good eye cream and NOT a gel under your eyes.

Creams give the eye area more hydration and do not feel gummy on this delicate skin. A few eye creams that I find effective are Acure Radically Rejuvenating Eye Cream, Yeouth Retinol Eye Cream, and Maelove Eye Enhancer.

2. Exfoliating is key to healthy skin.

A gentle exfoliant is best. A good one is Acure Brightening Facial Scrub.
After cleansing, your face should still be damp. Use about the size of a nickel, and gently roll the product around your face. Spend more time around your nose and center of the face. Do not scrub hard... I always say, "you scrub a floor but not your face!”

3. Wear sunscreen every day!!

My dermatologist told me an SPF of 30 is best to wear on a daily basis. The saying about "an ounce of prevention..." is true!

4. Drink water - Hydrating the skin starts from within.

5. Wash your face before going to sleep no matter what.

6. Read ingredient labels and become aware of WHERE your skincare products are made.

Do not use products that say "Made in China" or "Made in PRC".

I call this The Tissue Trick!

Here’s what you need...

• Your favorite lip color
• A facial tissue
• Some loose face powder
• A Powder brush

Wikipedia states "In the animal rights movement, cruelty-free is a label for products or activities that do not harm or kill animals anywhere in the world."

And so you would think that in this day and age that most cosmetic brands are cruelty-free… Well, think again... Many brands are cruelty-free in the USA but not around the world!!

At Mommy Makeup, we can assure you that our products are certified cruelty-free with PETA, in the US and globally! In fact, we are part of PETA’s Beauty without Bunnies program!!

In China, imported cosmetic brands are still required to test on animals. Therefore if a brand sells their products in China, then they are paying to have those products tested on animals in China, even though the brand may not test on animals for products they sell in the US market.

L’Oréal, does not test on animals in the United States, but does animal testing in China by law, in order for their products to be sold there.

Recently, there was a huge backlash when Nars Cosmetics, which claimed to be a cruelty-free company, decided to sell their makeup in the Chinese market... Sooooo, this meant the company would need to do animal testing of their products. For more about the Nars backlash read here.

For a more compressive list of companies that are not globally cruelty-free, please see https://www.peta.org/living/personal-care-fashion/beauty-brands-that-you-thought-were-cruelty-free-but-arent/

Remember, all Mommy Makeup products are:

• Paraben-free
• Talc-free
• PETA certified cruelty-free
• Made in the USA

What do YOU think about this?

I wondered, "Why do I do this so often? Why do I constantly compare applying makeup to something else?"

It's because I realized that when it comes to our faces, women often get verklempt, discombobulated, and confused. Here is a perfect example...

My mother (may she rest in peace) was an interior designer and a successful one at that. She was a bright and beautiful college educated woman. As part of her being, as well as her job, she had an impeccable sense of style, color and design. She would design floor plans, coordinate fabrics with pillows, tablecloths with wallpaper, you name it she could make any home look stellar! Yet when it came to her face she was (and I say this lovingly) A MESS! Oh she put on her makeup everyday... and it was not about her application but rather what she chose to wear with what.

I will never forget her coming to meet me at work one day perfectly dress in a navy suit with accents of sage and navy in her scarf. Her jewelry was exquisite and tasteful. But on her face wearing fuchsia blush and brown lipstick. I said to her, "Ma, would you ever put a fuchsia pillow on a brown sofa?" "Well, it's not likely", she replied. "Then WHY are you wearing fuchsia blush with brown lipstick?" I asked. "Oh", my mom replied. See what I mean...

So I use these Beauty Analogies to help women understand that your face is NOT some foreign territory they need to conquer or be intimidated by, but rather something to embrace, enjoy and have fun with!

Without further ado here are my top 8 Beauty Analogies (in no particular order)

1. "Your lip line is like your panty line... No one should see your panty line and no one should see your lip line. Blend your lip liner into your lip color".
2. Too much blush does not look like you spent 3 weeks in Aruba, it just looks like too much blush! Blush should look like you just became embarrassed... that's why it's called "blush".
3. "Makeup is your friend... If you are having a bad hair day, you can wear a hat on your head. If you are having a bad hand day, you can put on a pair of gloves. But you cannot wear a bag over your face if you are having a bad face day (and we all have them at some time or another) and on those days this is why makeup is your friend ;-)"
4. Your eyebrows are important! They frame and compliment your eyes! Just like the right picture frame compliments a great work of art!"
5. Too much bronzer can sometimes look like you dipped your face in dirt! Bronzer should give a sunkissed look to the face. Apply bronzer wear the sun mostly hits your face... your t-zone area and the center of your face just next to your nose.
6. Just because it is called eyeliner doesn't mean you should draw a line. Dash your eyeliner on and connect the dashes to form a line.
7. Wearing too light a concealer is like wearing a black bra under a white blouse... the black bra will always "bleed" through. Therefore use a concealer that is with in your own depth of skin tone.
8. "Makeup is the accessory of the face." Just like jewelry, shoes and handbags. Most women coordinate their accessories... They wear a gold necklace and gold earrings, black shoes and a black handbag. Coordinate your makeup too! Example - Try to avoid wearing purple eyeliner, orange blush and pink lipstick. Instead try plum eyeliner with a rose blush and a pinkish lipstick. The shades do not have to match exactly, just coordinate, like your shoes and handbag do ;-)

Most importantly, when you look in the mirror you have to feel good about what you see. Your reflection is the world's perception.

Do you have any "Beauty Analogies" ? Please share in the comments!

This has been said before but it is worth saying again...

It is important to get a new mascara about every 3 months!

Even if you think your mascara is still moist enough, or there is still plenty of product in the tube, at around the 3 month mark you should toss your mascara and buy a replacement. Here's why...

One of the main reasons we all have eyelashes is to help protect our eyes from bacteria that exists in the air and environment. This bacteria can build up on the lashes. Then when applying mascara, the bacteria gets on the mascara comb and then that comb goes back into the mascara tube. After 3 months, enough bacteria can build up in the mascara tube that you may run the risk of getting an eye infection. And if you get an eye infection you will most likely have to replace ALL your eye makeup (shadows, liners, shadow base, mascara... ALL of it)!!

Therefore, it is not only hygienic, it is also more cost effective to buy a fresh mascara about every 3 months.

More tips to reduce the risk of eye infection

1. Never "pump" the mascara wand. It just pushes more air (and more bacteria) into the mascara tube.
2. NEVER add water your mascara (or to any of your makeup containers for that matter). The water will alter the formulation and that may cause more bacteria to grow.
3. Always be certain your mascara tube is closed tightly.
4. Do not go to sleep with your eye makeup on.

BB creams (and CC creams for that matter) have been all the rage for a while now. And being that Mommy Makeup is the Best Beauty for Busy Women we have received several inquiries asking why we do not have our own BB cream. The answer is quite simple...

"I'm just not that into you"

I find most BB and CCs to be “jack of all trades and a masters of none”... There I said it. I addressed the pink elephant in the room. I really don't see why there is all this buzz about BB (and CC) creams. IMHO, here's why I feel this way... Generally BB creams claim to be a hybrid of moisturizer, foundation, concealer and sunscreen. At first glance that sounds pretty good! It sounds like a great multi-tasking product.

BUT...

• Do they REALLY moisturize. Well, sort of... not really. If your skin is really dry you are still going to need to use a richer moisturizer in addition to a BB cream.
• Then are BB creams really foundations? Well, again... sort of. But if you want fuller coverage you will need to supplement a BB cream with a concealer or another foundation... (Sigh).
• Well then, do BB creams make a good concealer? NO! Flat out, NO! I have tried BB cream after BB cream and I have yet to find one that conceals and feels comfortable under my eyes or really covers any pimples. OK, OK...
• Then BB creams have good sun protection? YES! Yes they do. BUT so do moisturizers that contain sunscreen and so do foundations that contain sunscreen.

AAAAAND, you STILL have to set a BB cream with powder.

In my own experience (on myself and on my clients) I have found that unless you set a BB cream with some kind of powder it does not last. Soooooo with all that said, to me, it seems that a BB cream becomes another added product that just eats up your time (applying it) and money but doesn't have any real pay off!

So I say, don't waste your hard earned money on BB creams. How do you feel about them?

Do you vote to BB or not to BB? That is the question! I would love to hear your opinions :-) Please comment below...

When it come to the phrase, "Coverage", I want you to think of pantyhose and tights 😄

Here is our guide to selecting your best lip color!

1. Shower or steam your face to open up your pores.
2. In a small bowl or dish take some baking soda and add some warm water to create a "paste" It should be a little liquid like yet thick (kind of like the texture of porridge).
3. Spread the baking soda paste all over your face but AVOID YOUR EYE AREA.
4. Wait and let the paste dry on your face. When the paste starts to get cracky it is done. NOTE: If you have very sensitive skin the paste may sting a little but it is the baking soda working.
5. Wet your fingertips with warm water and GENTLY roll the baking soda paste around your face the way you would an exfoliating scrub. Again be GENTLE and again AVOID YOUR EYE AREA.
6. Rinse your face really well with warm water.

VOILA! You have completed a FABULOUS at home facial. The baking soda paste draws out all the little baby blackheads that are so difficult to remove and when you roll the paste around your face it exfoliates too! I love how clear and how much smaller my pores look after I do this!

What are some of your favorite facial products to use? Share some of your favs!

Years ago, in what I sweetly refer to as BC (Before Children) I worked for a well known beauty brand at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. Just down the street, on East 57th St, there was and still is J. Sisters, known for being the pioneers of the Brazilian Bikini Waxing in the United States.

And in those BC years, every 4-5 weeks I would schedule my appointment and 20-30 minutes later, after warm wax and fabric strip after strip, my bikini line was completely bare and silky smooth (sorry if this is TMI).

Although I lived on the Upper West Side of New York City (UWS) I always booked my appointment an hour before I was to begin work so J. Sisters was geographically desirable. And in those days of Bergdorfs and Brazilians, I was a makeup artist who was first engaged, and then a newlywed and then part of a young married couple... And a Brazilian at J. Sisters was about $40.

Fast forward, several years I am now still a makeup artist but now I am also a wife, a mom of 2 incredible girls, and a business owner. I do not work anywhere near East 57th St, making J. Sisters a hassle and a half to get to. And today the same Brazilian waxing at J. Sisters runs $75. Yet I still longed for the bareness and smoothness of those BC days (without the commute and the expensive price tag) .

Sooooooooo, this summer I made it my mission to find a more convenient and less expensive substitute... And I believe I did!

My Quest

During my quest, I went through a slew of depilatories/hair removers and I chose this route for several reasons:

1. It is practically pain free! As much as I love the results from waxing, the pulling and ripping of strip after strip was getting tired, painful and old for me.
2. I can do this in the convenience of my own home, in my own bathroom.
3. I can do this at any time of day (especially after my girls are asleep).
4. I do not have to wait for a full regrowth in order to achieve the super smooth results that I like.
5. The whole process from start to finish takes about 10 minutes.

Below are the results from my “research” (Please keep in mind that this is my own personal experience and your own may differ slightly...) I am using a “Smoothness Factor” or SF rating of 1-5 with 5 being the best.

• The “N’s and a V”... and by that I mean Nads, Nair, Neet and Veet. All were bought at my local drugstore and ranged in price from $6.99- $12.99. All of them did the job but I found that I needed to let the cream/lotion/stuff stay on my thighs a bit longer (5 minutes as opposed to 3 like the bottle/tube says) to really get ALL the hair off. All the “N’s and a V” worked on my bikini and “Brazilian” area too and did not sting that sensitive skin down there. And all the “N’s and a V” did not smell too bad either. I am giving all the products in this group a SF rating of 3 1/2.
• Bikini Zone Creme Hair Remover, 4 Minute Formula - Basically a smaller tube (only 2 oz.) with a higher price tag and the same results as the “N’s and a V” group. Because of the higher price for less product, Bikini Zone gets a SF rating of 3.
• Sally Hansen Extra Strength Spray-On Shower-Off Hair Remover - I found this product to be messier than the regular lotions or cream hair removers. It dripped a lot and was difficult to apply in the back since the can did not spray when in an upside down position. I also had to spray the product into my hand and then apply on the bikini and Brazilian areas, making the process even more messy. Because of the messiness Sally Hansen Spray gets an SF rating of 2.
• Avon SKIN SO SOFT Fresh & Smooth Moisturizing Hair Removal Cream- I ordered this online at Avon.com and it arrived within 3 days time. The tube is 4.2 oz. and I purchased it ON SALE for $3.99 (usual price $8.00). Out of all the depilatories I tried this is by far the BEST and is now my go to hair remover from now on! The directions say to leave on for 2 1/2 minutes and then test to see if the hair removes easily... And much to my surprise after only 2 1/2 minutes it did! The hair wiped right off ! This product has a very pleasant smell and removed all the hair where I wanted it to and left my skin super bare and smooth! Hands down this product gets an SF rating of 5!!
• Avon also makes SKIN SO SOFT Fresh & Smooth Sensitive Skin Bikini Line Hair Removal Cream which is a 2.5 oz. tube for $6.00. I found no difference between this product and the Avon SKIN SO SOFT Fresh & Smooth Moisturizing Hair Removal Cream so I am sticking with this one.

I will be using Avon SKIN SO SOFT Fresh & Smooth Moisturizing Hair Removal Cream religiously through the fall... Now I have no excuse not to wear a shorter skirt and boots this season! And even though I have moved on from those days of J.Sisters, Bergdorfs and Brazilians, I can STILL be super smooth (maybe even smoother) than I was in those BC days ;-)

What do YOU think?

I get manicures at the nail salon and to no avail, my nails break. Sigh…

Since I touch people's faces during makeup applications, I would like my nails to look nice. Not super long with eclectic designs, just a nice and neat. My dear friend, Erin, introduced me to the Kiss Everlasting French Nail Kit!

There are 28 nails in the box. I find this is good for about 2 manicures. Various sizes are included to fit different size nails. They have tabs to make gluing them on your nails super easy. Aaaaannnddd the best part is you do not have to wait for your nails to dry!

It reminded me that even in this age of "GIRL POWER"; with the feminist movement constantly evolving, even with the US Women's Soccer Team winning the World Cup that this is still a concern of many teenage girls.

Let's face it, society has taught us to "judge" each other on how we look. There... I said it. It's "out there" and its true. Now what do we do about it?

In my mind I find myself grappling with HOW do we teach/mold/inspire teen and tween girls to walk the fine line of developing and building self-esteem without becoming obsessed about their appearance? How do we teach them that their own strength as a person is beautiful... That being compassionate is beautiful... That simply being happy with who you are and comfortable in your own skin is beautiful.

There is a saying when you look good, you feel good. Sometimes this is true and some times not. I think it is important that we find a balance in this message for our daughters.

What do you think?

Misty Mocha - A matte cool mocha beige. And just like that favorite latte, it’s a soft, warm and inviting color that can be worn on eyes, cheeks and lips. And just like the rest of our Any Wear Creme, Misty Mocha is waterproof, smudge-proof, oil-free, and paraben-free.

Forget about beige looking washed out and boring! Try Mommy Makeup’s Misty Mocha and look lovely while you wait on that coffee line for your favorite latte!

We have never tested on animals, but now we're certified with PETA. Yeah!

There is simply no justification for animal testing.

1) Not Cleansing Your Face Before Bed

I know. Your tired and just want to flop into bed. That walk to the bathroom just to wash your face seems so annoying. You just want to go to sleep. But cleanse your face before you do! Keep some makeup wipes on your nightstand. This way if you are too exhausted to get to the sink and wash your face, at least you can wipe off your makeup before passing out.

2) Not Wearing Sunscreen

I know it can be a hassle But make sure you are protected! From the sun that is. Take the extra couple of minutes and apply your sunscreen! Or use a moisturizer or foundation that has an SPF already in it. It will them be one less place you need to apply a separate sunscreen to.

3) Using Products That Contain Talc

Talc is a 4 letter word. So, avoid it! It is drying to the skin and can settle into fine lines and pores making them appear more obvious. Mineral Dual Powder is Talc-free, so it is not drying and great for sensitive skins. It's also oil-free and paraben-free. It has a soft focus finish too, so it won't settle into your skin. If anything the soft focus finish makes skin appear smoother.

4) Using Old Mascara

This is a big no-no! Bacteria builds up in the mascara tube and after 3-6 months there is enough germy stuff in there that may cause an eye infection. Therefore, Every 3-6 months ditch your mascara and start using a fresh tube.

5) Not Washing Your Makeup Brushes

Remnants of pigments and powder build up in your makeup brushes and these can lead to a big germ fest which may them lead to your face breaking out. Sooooo, it prevent this from happening it is best to wash your own makeup brushes once a week. If that is too often for your lifestyle or you do not use your makeup brushes daily, then once every 2 weeks or 2 times a month. But that is the minimum. Use baby shampoo or anti-bacterial hand soap and running water. And be certain to dry your brushes flat (horizontal) on a towel.

What are YOUR Beauty Boo-Boos?

Leave comments!

Yes, my older daughter is 12.

I attended a PTA meeting at her school last night and there was a speaker. One of many topics she discussed were teens and their self image. The speaker quoted several studies and surveys proving that some of the biggest issues for teen girls is their appearance, how they look and they feel pressure to look "perfect".

Being that my daughter is 12 she is not yet obsessed about her appearance, but I see some of her friends borderline becoming so...

Now, being in the cosmetics industry, I found myself sitting there and listening to this speaker and starting to feel almost uncomfortable in my own skin. And what constantly kept going through my mind was HOW do I help my daughter feel and look good (more importantly feel) without becoming too obsessed about her appearance?

The speaker said that coaches found that many girls, who were into sports in their tweens, became less interested in their junior and senior years of high school because these girls became concerned of how they looked playing sports and being sweaty! Really? It reminded me that even in this age of "GIRL POWER"; with the feminist movement constantly evolving, even with the US Women's Soccer Team winning the World Cup, that this is still a concern of many teenage girls.

Let's face it, society has taught us to "judge" each other on how we look.

There... I said it. It's "out there" and its true. Now what do we do about it?

In my mind I find myself grappling with HOW do we teach/mold/inspire teen and tween girls to walk the fine line of developing and building self-esteem without becoming obsessed about their appearance? How do we teach them that their own strength as a person is beautiful... That being compassionate is beautiful... That simply being happy with who you are and comfortable in your own skin is beautiful.

There is a saying when you look good, you feel good. Sometimes this is true and some times not. I think it is important that we find a balance in this message for our daughters.

What do you think? Please comment!

Line Smoothing Lip Gloss!

This multi-functional gloss is long lasting, smoothes the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and leaves your lips feeling soft, full and supple. Line Smoothing Lip Gloss also helps protect against photo-aging and is paraben-free.

Line Smoothing Lip Gloss has a Cushiony Texture and a Glossy Finish

• Glides on more easily without tugging the skin (especially when using our NEW Creme Definer Brush!)
• Has new packaging (the jar is a little smaller, but so is the price!)
• Does NOT dry out in the jar
• Is Oil-free and paraben-free
• Comes in 8 new wearable shades

Combine Any Wear Creme with our Stay Put Gel Eyeliner and you have the Everlasting Eye!

Stay Put Gel Eyeliner has a lasting formula that stays in place all day and into the night.

Since both Any Wear Creme and Stay Put Gel Eyeliner dry to a waterproof, smudge-proof, budge-proof and tear-proof finish, you can maintain a fresh, bright look without re-applying. Can you say, "Touch up no more!" Yes, you can since they are no longer needed (and now the shoemakers kids have shoes too ;-)

Watch our videos and learn how to achieve Everlasting Eyes...

So when it's time to figure new products and formulations for Mommy Makeup, I have to admit, the first thing that comes to mind is how can I simplify my beauty routine... I figure, if I need it, most other women do too... I always say, "Necessity is the mother of invention and it's the mother of Mommy Makeup too"! And with this in mind, I am very excited to share how to achieve the Everlasting Eye with Mommy Makeup's NEW formulation of Any Wear Creme.

Any Wear Creme is a fabulous muti-tasking cream to powder product that can be worn as eyeshadow, blush/face highlighter, AND lipcolor! It goes on creamy and when it dries it is water-proof and smudge-proof! Our new formulation:

• Glides on more easily without tugging the skin (especially when using our NEW Creme Definer Brush!)
• Has new packaging (the jar is a little smaller, but so is the price!)
• Does NOT dry out in the jar
• Is oil-free and paraben-free
• Comes in 8 new wearable shades

Combine Any Wear Creme with our Stay Put Gel Eyeliner and you have the Everlasting Eye!

Stay Put Gel Eyeliner has a lasting formula that stays in place all day and into the night.

Since both Any Wear Creme and Stay Put Gel Eyeliner dry to a waterproof, smudge-proof, budge-proof and tear-proof finish, you can maintain a fresh, bright look without re-applying. Can you say, "Touch up no more!" Yes, you can since they are no longer needed (and now the shoemaker's kids have shoes too ;-)

It is only natural for us parents to want our kids to think we are COOL, to be their "ROCK STAR". And at Halloween time many parents think by loading up their kids bags with candy they will become that "ROCK STAR" (and maybe they will) BUT I am here to tell you that it is not candy that rocks my girls' world... They think mom is a "ROCK STAR" because I FACE PAINT. And at Halloween time THIS is THHHHHEEEE "ROCK STAR" skill to have.

So if you want to be the coolest parent on the planet this Halloween, keep reading! I will now divulge my Face Painting tips and secrets!!

Being that I am a makeup artist, I am always approached by my kids school communities to do face painting this time of year for Fall Fest, School Carnival, Book Fair etc.

Making Face Painting FUN and EASY

And just like with makeup, the right product is KEY to making Face Painting FUN and EASY!

The first time I was asked to do Face Painting was about 6 years ago. At the time, my older daughter, Daisy, was in Kindergarten. Word got out at school that there was a new K parent who was a makeup artist and I recruited to do face painting at the school's Fall Fest. I did not organize the face painting, I just showed up and went to work. The "face painting" product supplied was a heavy, greasy, very pigmented colored makeup that they sell in the drugstore for Halloween. It smeared and smudged easily. I was able to work with it but I saw many parent volunteers become frustrated with it.

The following year for Fall Fest I spearheaded Face Painting (big surprise, right?). I did some research on products because I did not want volunteers to feel frustrated and intimidated the way they had the year prior. Rather than going with a Halloween makeup type product, I discover actual PAINT for the face. It's called Snazaroo Face Paint and it is FANTASTIC! It is allergy tested, washable paint for the face that dries in 5 seconds! Since it dries quickly, you can paint color over color with out smudges and smears. There are different palettes and each contains a booklet with simple step by step instructions (just like Mommy Makeup's Pretty-N-Polished Kit and Out-The-Door Collection's do ;-) )

I always say regarding Mommy Makeup, "It's so easy, if you can read you can do your makeup and get professional results!" Well I will say the same about Snazaroo Face Paint, " If you can read, you can face paint and get professional results"!

This year, my daughters' school just had their Fall "Rock-The-Block" festival this past weekend and, of course, I spearheaded the Face Painting for it too. And Snazaroo Face paint was my go to product for it. Here is a picture of Daisy, who I painted up to be a gorgeous Lioness... Daisy's incredible mane of hair helps too ;-)

So if you want your kids to think you are the COOLEST parent and ROCK their world this Halloween, get yourself a Snazaroo Face Painting Palettes and go to town! Happy Painting and Happy Halloween!!

What shade should we come out with next?