The Makeup Chick!

My name is Sonya & I am a beauty junkie!

2011-04-05T15:11:00.000-05:00

There! I said it & yes, it's true. Outside of making others beautiful, I sometimes go wayyyyy overboard when it comes to jazzifying myself. I LOVE mani/pedis, but hate to get my fingernails polished. Why? Because, I wash my hands a lot and by day 3, I'm chipping & reaching for the polish remover.

I just ran across some amazing nail art and naturally, I'm tempted to try it!

The young lady's name is Spifster Sutton and she's turning out amazing nail art in Chicago.

http://spifster.tumblr.com/ and for a menu of her services & operating schedule-http://www.styleseat.com/spifstersutton

Below is some of her amazing work.

AM.

GAGGGGGGING!!!!

I can't wait for her to get her hands on my hands and do work! Yes!

I'll be checking in, shortly, with MY nail art.. next week.. if I'm lucky!

Stay tuned..

Balling on a budget- The Fragrance Edition!

2011-02-16T09:08:00.000-06:00

There are few things I'll cut corners on; my makeup, my fragrance & my shoes are just a few of those things. I don't cut corners with my makeup, because.. well.... IT'S HOW I MAKE A LIVING and I wouldn't dare cheat my clients by beating their faces with drugstore foundation & powder.
I wouldn't cut corners with my fragrance, because I'm a child of the eighties and I remember the "Primo" fiasco! I was a Giorgio girl and there were all of these people walking around smelling like... PRIMO! Yuck! I've always had an issue with impostor fragrances and vowed I'd never be one of those chicks who perused the beauty supply's "fragrance oil department".
That is until a very dear friend of mine who happens to be a fellow fragrance snob (she lives for Frederic Malle's Carnal Flower) told me about this little fragrance shop in Huntington Village, NY. They custom blend whatever scents you want and they have fragrances that are IDENTICAL to some of our favorites.
Two of my favorite all-time favorite scents are Prada and Blonde by Versace. I went to their website back in 2007 and looked around; that's when I discovered they had their version of Blonde, called "Doll". I was soooooo freaking happy, because unfortunately for me, Blonde had been discontinued and was very difficult to find. I ordered 8 of their samples to try before I buy and "Doll" was spot on!
Still, my vanity got the best of me and I refused to order it. I'd visit the site and hover over the "add to cart" buttons, but never went through with it.

Thennnnnnn, last year, I ordered some more samples to see if maybe that first batch was a fluke and it really didn't smell like doll. I also ordered their version of Prada, called "Portia" and I ordered their version of Petit Cherie by Annick Goutal, called "Petit Chou". They're both fantastic!!! I still have the vials a year later and the scent is just a vibrant a full year later. I've had strangers stop me when shopping to ask what I'm wearing! That pushed me to just go ahead and purchase the scents from Scentsational.

Yesterday, I ordered Doll and Portia in the body wash and body oil. After they arrive, I'll be back with another post.
In the meantime, check 'em out and order some samples! I think you'd be pleasantly surprised.

Carmex Skin Care

2010-11-10T06:51:00.001-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carmex®. All opinions are 100% mine.

I recently received a shipment of Carmex® Healing Lotion and Carmex® Healing Cream and wanted to share my thoughts about them.

I love, love, love the creamy texture and I love how long the moisturizing properties last. I am a bit concerned about the scent, though. It smells faintly of Carmex lip balm and I'm simply not a fan of that smell. If this product came in a fragrance-free/uncented variety, I'd definitely add it to my on set makeup kits. I had a couple of other people try the cream and the consensus was the same; works very well on extremely dry skin, but the smell is off-putting.

The packaging is definitely easily recognizable, so I suggest you look for it in your local drug stores if you're in the market for skincare that actually works.

Carmex Healing Lotion, Pt. 2

2010-11-01T20:54:00.000-05:00

This is the follow up to what I started a couple of weeks ago.
While I do love the cream's moisturizing properties, I'm not in love with the scent. It smells like Carmex lip balm and that smell is just not very pleasant for me. I think there should be an unscented/fragrance-free option for those of us who are sensitive to smells.
There was a second person who also used the lotion and that person has wicked dry skin. They've been using the lotion for the last 2 weeks and they've definitely noticed a change in their skin's texture. They say that the lotion's moisturizing benefits last longer than typical lotion and they don't see the ashiness/flaking that would normally show up about an hour later if they were using their regular lotion.
All in all, the lotion and the cream are great for people with moderate to very dry skin. I just really wish they'd work on an unscented version.

Carmex Healing Lotion

2010-10-21T20:19:00.000-05:00

I just got a shipment of Carmex Healing Lotion and I'll spend a few days trying it out before I give a review.
So far, I like it.. at night when I'm getting ready for bed. The smell is a faint Carmex lip balm smell and that's a bit bothersome when I'm trying to rock my sexiest perfume!
I also have a couple of others trying out the lotion and the cream. One has extremely dry skin and the other lives in an apartment where the water is HARD.
Check back in a couple of days for a full report!

Fall & The Fading Tan...

2010-10-05T14:22:00.000-05:00

Yeah, yeah.. I know I made it sound way more dramatic than it actually it, but this is a serious matter for me!

I get very, very golden in the summertime and wouldn't have it any other way. I live for sunshine!

I start to get a little misty whenever I look in the mirror and I see that I've lost a little more color!

A couple of years ago (after moving to Chicago from L.A.), I started experimenting with different self-tanners and moisturizers to extend that lovely golden glow for a few more months.

Below is a list of my favorites; I hope they work just as well for you guys.

Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze self-tanning gel

Jergen's Natural Glow moisturizer

Brides & why I love them...

2010-09-18T09:12:00.001-05:00

A lot of my sisters (and brothers) in paint have told me that they don't see how could love doing brides/weddings as much as I do. I love it so much, that for the last year weddings have been my focus. I haven't done any print work or any production work.
Back to the "why": I love the look on a woman's face who either doesn't wear makeup on a regular basis or who has never worn makeup. Not so much as a flavored lip gloss.. after her makeup & hair is finished and she turns around to see herself. I've had some cry and then apologize and then show amazement, because the makeup stayed in place. I've had brides who can't stop looking in the mirror. I've been actively pursuing wedding work since 2006 and I can honestly say that I've had ONE bad bridal experience. I don't like misunderstandings when it comes to my career, because my reputation is ALL I have in this industry. That was truly a horrible experience and like I said, it was the ONLY one. *knock on wood*
My specialty has always been flawless & chic, but natural looking makeup. I will always give my brides what they want and it will always have my signature .. Flawless & Chic.

Shampoo love...

2010-09-13T13:26:00.001-05:00

Okay.. I'm a shampoo snob and totally NOT a drugstore shampoo kinda girl. If I need clarifying, I will use Johnson's Baby shampoo and that's about it. Otherwise, I'm using Kerastase or CHI or Rene Furterer for my hair. Yep.. like I said; I'm a shampoo snob!
Last week I got highlights and decided to grab some shampoo/conditioner on the way home. Naturally, I was going to need something that wouldn't dry out my beautimous new highlights; something that would coddle & protect them. I'd been hearing great things about Everpure by L'Oreal (love the part about them being VEGAN) and decided to give them a try.
Being the great hair client that I am, I waited the required WEEK before shampooing my hair (though I was dying to shampoo by the 3rd day! Ugh). Currently, my hair is still in a wet bun, full of conditioner, so I won't know the real effects until my hair dries later today. I can tell you guys that I LOVE the smell of the conditioner and I love how smoothly my hair combed out! Yay! I didn't even have to take an aspirin beforehand!

shampoo

conditioner

Back to the smell: my mommy was the queen of perfumes and she always wore the best fragrances. She used to mix several scents to get a custom scent and I loved that! I was just in the shower and opened the conditioner and was instantly taken back to age 10. Yay! It's a hard smell to describe. I can only say that it smells GREAT.. not too floral-y, not too perfume-y, not fruity at all! There is a hint of mint and I actually like that. I used the Moisture line for shampoo and the Smooth line for conditioner. If I can find the rest of the line, I may give it a try, as well.

Gel liners

2010-09-13T11:30:00.000-05:00

Up until recently- I simply was not a fan of gel liners; I resisted and avoided them like the plague! About a month ago, I had a trial with a bride who is a crier, so I knew that I'd need something heavy duty for her tears. I NEVER use anything on my clients that I have not tried myself, so I bit the bullet and bought the Sonia Kashuk gel liner. I applied it before a night out with a girlfriend and there was zero fading! The pigments are lovely and stayed true the entire night and well into morning (yeah, yeah.. I know; BAD makeup artist!!). The first color I purchased was a standard black. I've loved them so much, that I went to Target this past Saturday and purchased Indigo and Cocoa. I'm soooooooooooooooooo in love with the Indigo! The price can't be beat, either: $8.99!! Gotta love a bargain, right? If you're a fan of the liquid liner look, but don't trust yourself with liquid liner- this is the best thing for you. Just apply with an angled eyeliner brush.

My highlights...

2010-09-07T15:48:00.001-05:00

This past Saturday, I had an appointment to get highlights @ the Goran Coban Salon in Lakeview.
I was a bit nervous, because I'd been trying to find someone to color my hair and hadn't been having much luck. This left me to color my own hair and the ... uh.. results have been rather interesting. Most times, even comical.
About a week ago, I found Bri (sounds like BREE) and set up an appointment with her. Saturday morning at 10:30, I walked in and was shown to her station. We went over what I wanted and I showed her two images of hair color(s) that I liked. Goran came over and took a look at my hair and they came up with the perfect formula for my hair.
The images below were taken on Sunday after a day of running around the city, being attacked by the wind AND cooking for Labor Day.

I love the results and I'll definitely be going back to Bri for all my color needs. She even gave me a fantastic blow out! My hair is super curly (as you guys have heard me say before) and she got my hair straight with very little effort! Amazing! She used a leave in conditioner prior to the blow out and I was a bit skeptical, because serums and creams before a blow out usually mean I'm going to end up looking like Sammy Davis, Jr. in just a couple of days, if not sooner. The product is called Macadamia Oil Nourishing Leave-in Cream and it's a miracle elixir. Absolutely, it is. If you're looking for a stylist, you should definitely check out Bri! Everyone in the salon was really nice and I didn't get that feeling. You know the one; you walk into a new salon and the stylists and the clients are a bit cold.. standoff-ish. I didn't get that here and that's one of the reasons I will definitely be going back.

Eyelash extensions, pt 2

2010-08-25T22:56:00.000-05:00

This is a follow up to last week's lash extension adventure. Katie did an amazing job on my 'feather lashe' application, but I'm more of a drag queen lash kinda girl, so I went back to Katie for the "mascara lashe".
I'm even happier with this style.
If you're getting married and want a super natural looking lash or if you're like me and just want to roll out of bed looking extra GORGE... Katie is your girl!

Lash Extensions at Roque Salon's Lashe Spot!

2010-08-18T09:36:00.000-05:00

Me: false eyelash wearer since forever! My typical day always includes an application of luscious lashes; if I don't have my lashes on, I must be ill!
I went to Roque Salon yesterday & Katie did a fantastic job on my lashes! Surprisingly, everyone in the salon made the visit worth it. The receptionist is a doll and when my dorkiness took over and I was standing at the wrong door trying to figure out the code needed to enter, he told me that he would come out to get me.
Melinda is the owner and instead of that vibe that you normally get from a shop owner in the Gold Coast, she radiated warmth and confidence.
The lash service that I received is called the "Feather Lash". This process covers about 70% of your lashes and is great for the natural woman who wants a fresh look. I'm more of a drag queen (don't judge!), so I'm going to go back in a few days to get the Mascara Look, which covers your lashes 100% for a fuller look.
Definitely check out their website and set up an appointment. It's worth it!

Anti-aging products

2010-08-08T16:31:00.000-05:00

I absolutely LOVE my Neutrogena Ageless Restoratives® Total Skin Renewal device!
My skin feels like butter after I use it and it looks amazing. Makeup glides on and it's not as splotchy as when I just use cleanser and water. It's definitely worth checking out and if you're balling on a budget and can't afford the Clairsonic, this is the way to go.

Bloglovin'!

2010-08-08T14:28:00.000-05:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin

C. Bentley Novelty Handbags... to die for!! Pt. 2

2010-08-01T12:33:00.000-05:00

Ladies, I know I've said this before, but you really need to head over to Candy's site and get one of her delicious bags!

C. Bentley Novelty Handbags will give you fever!

Talented Beauty..

2010-07-26T19:12:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago, I went to the African Caribbean Festival of Life and, as usual, had a ball.
The first day that I was there, I ran into this beautiful sister named Fanta. I can't explain it, but there was something so awesome about her. I watched her with her children and realized that was IT... She was so happy & peaceful, because her babies were happy & peaceful.
Her skin was glowing and her locks were beautiful. I asked her if I could take a picture of her and she happily obliged. After a couple of frames, her little princess decided that she wanted in, as well.
I went back to the festival the next day and walked by her booth; that's when I noticed that she was applying mendhi to a young lady's foot. I looked at my cousin and said to her that I love a sister that gets her hustle on.
In addition to the mendhi tattoos, she's also a Reiki practitioner, jewelry designer & artist. You should definitely check her out.

Fanta Celah
KMT Healthfood Store & Medical Center
233 E. 75th St.
Chicago, IL 60645

Spa-hhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

2010-07-24T18:39:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love a day a the spa?!

If you're need of some TLC, you should definitely check out Veola's Day Spa & Wellness Center. For pricing, please visit their website.

They offer body treatments, facial treatments, waxing, tub treatments, nail care and hair care.

They even offer Reiki!

For the moms-to-be, they have 30 & 60 min pregnancy massages.

For ladies like me, who have a little unwanted dimpling, they have Endermologie treatments and Seaweed baths for cellulite reduction!! Yay.

The prices are reasonable and you'll leave feeling like a 'new' you. For those of you who don't know what to get that special woman in your life, how about starting with a gift certificate to Veola's Day Spa!

Boutique Time!

2010-07-23T17:21:00.000-05:00

Today, I was hanging out in the Beverly area and came across a cute little t-shirt boutique called Solo Access In addition to the tees, they also have jewelry and handbags at reasonable rates! If you're in the area, you definitely want to check them out. The owner's name is Inza and according the the cute little sales clerk, Inza hand picks all the store's items. It's a cozy little spot that you should definitely check out if you're looking for unique graphic tees.
They are located at 9505 S. Wood (off 95th St).

My set up

2010-07-22T12:56:00.000-05:00

I've had a few people ask me about my kit set up.. honestly, there really is no magic formula and I'm so scattered sometimes, that I'm a bad example to follow. Just know that I am a sanitizing fiend. I'm obsessed with 99% alcohol and I disinfect EVERYthing!! Even my brushes (that I shampoo & condition once a week) get spritzed with alcohol before every use.

The images are of the work space in my home studio, so I tend to get a little lax with organization.

Hmmm.. let's see: strip lashes that I love! The container behind the lashes contain airbrush blush & highlighters by OCC. There is also the HD powder by Make Up For Ever and a few other items, like hand sanitizer and 99% alcohol. She-laq by Benefit is also a must have in my kit. Cheapie eyelash curler by E.L.F. They're $1!!! I buy them by the bunches and give them as gifts to my bridal clients.

My beloved airbrush doohickey Silverjet by Iwata and those wonderful AND VEGAN Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics foundations. They're water-based and the finish is to die for!!!

Another view of my palettes. These babies are so easy to carry!

My life (and back) saving palettes by Yaby - The Best of Both Worlds (small white one) and Coastal Scents lip & blush palettes

The chair! I LOVE this chair! It was a gift and I cherish it for so many reasons.

One of these days, I'll let you peek into my bag after it's packed for an assignment.

Day 2 of No-Chip Adventure

2010-07-22T12:24:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm on Day 2 and I'm still loving them! I can't believe I got the green, but I'm happy that I did. I had to break out the Nikon to take better pictures, because that cell phone image did NOTHING for the nails or the color!
I tend to fly by the seat of my pants and this is one of those times I'm super glad I did.
I can't say this enough.. YOU HAVE TO GO PAY VERNADINE A VISIT@ the No Chip Manicure Boutique located at 4442 North Western Ave. between Sunnyside & Montrose (located next to Gymnastics)
They work by appointment only, which I love. That means no cattle call walk-ins!! It's a boutique salon, so there will never be 50-leven folks in the place at a time.
Everyone there was nice.. genuinely NICE. No forced smiles or awkward conversation.
I love happy people, so this was my kind of place.
I will be going back and the next time, I'll take pictures! Yay!

No-chip Manicure update

2010-07-21T16:33:00.000-05:00

*swoons*
So far, I'm loving my "money green"nails. *don't judge!!
I'll report back in a couple of days.
I made my way over the the No Chip Manicure Boutique earlier this afternoon and got there in time for my 1p appointment. The owner, Vernadine, told me that my nail tech (Maria) would be with me in about 20 mins. She was finishing up a manicure. Okay.. I'm overheating, because of the weather and I'm a little vexed, because.. I have an appointment. I posted a status on Facebook and by the time I hit "send", it was my turn.
Turns out, my nail tech was running behind, because she was in training for the no-chip process.
I must say that she did an excellent job; better than most vets! The owner was right there, watching & making sure no mistakes were made and that she was following all of the steps required.
If you want a great no chip experience, you should definitely give them a shout.

No-chip Manicures

2010-07-21T08:21:00.000-05:00

<< THIS is why I don't regularly wear nail polish!

As a makeup artist, I simply refuse to spend too much "real" time painting my nails, because it's a ginormous waste of my time. I wash my hands so much that the polish begins to chip by the end of the first day.
This is my second No-Chip mani in Chicago. The first was at Hush Salon and I'll be heading to the No Chip Manicure Salon in Logan Square.
I'll be doing a review of both places in a few days, as well as a review of a no chip mishap that my out of town guest had at what used to be named New York Nails in the West Loop area.

MY $10 (or less) obsessions

2010-07-20T19:58:00.000-05:00

I'm balling on a budget, so I'm always looking for great beauty bargains that I can pass along to clients, friends & of course, readers.

Maybelline Volum' Express Colossal in Glam Black- $6 - Target
Boots No.7 Blush Tint Cream in Blossom and Rosebud- $ 10- Target
Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain in Lust, Forbidden and Flame- $8- Target
Sonia Kashuk 100ct Blotting papers- $7- Target
Pampers Thick Care baby wipes (216 ct)- $6 (these are great for taking off makeup after a night of partying & you're too beat to wash your face. NEVER GO TO BED IN YOUR MAKEUP, LADIES!)

HIP Color Truth Cream eyeliners

2010-07-20T19:29:00.000-05:00

One word: FABULOUS! I love the texture and I love they're so blendable. They're definitely worth a try and the price is right- $11.99 (most times, you can catch a HIP sale, usually a BOGO sale. Gotta love that!)
My fave colors are Black (of course), Eggplant and Midnight Blue.

The best lip balm.. EVAH!!!!!

2010-07-20T19:21:00.000-05:00

Awhile back, I received a lip balm as a freebie. It looked simple enough: milky white in color with an amazing minty-vanilla smell. I put it on my lips a couple of days later, because they were feeling extra crusty from the cold February wind. In a matter of minutes, my lips felt like S-I-L-K. Seriously, they did. I searched high and low for the maker of this miraculous balm. The print on the side of the package was soooo tiny and I'm as blind as a bat, that it took me a couple of weeks before I finally got the right combo of words.

Leigh is doing some amazing things over there at Least Likely 2 Breed !!!

I also tracked down her seller's page on Etsy and fell in LOVVVVVVVVVE!!

I'm about to order these babies in bulk, because my clients are loving them just as much as I am and it's a simple way that I can thank them. *as soon as she's up to it. She's hiatus for now*

I'm still working on a label design that stands out, but once it's complete, I will be an ordering fool!

Please stop by her site to check out some of her other offerings. I love her cheeky sense of humor and I'm sure you will, too. If you've ever found your lips dry & peeling just a couple of hours after applying a lip balm, you will adore this one. Did I mention the ingredients?