Best Mascara Combo -- EVER

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Make Up For Ever Aqua Smokey lash + Tarte "lights, camera, lashes" mascara =Awesomeness

I have been meaning to share this piece of information for a while as I strongly believe that it will settle the hearts of many mascara junkies out there. If you're like me you realize the power of big, thick lashes. Lashes - a seemingly unremarkable facial feature,are the only facial hair that you want to make as thick and dark as possible. And you do because they create such a brilliant effect on your eyes. Bigger, thicker lashes means sexier, more seductive eyes. I have yet to hear somebody pass up on a bit of mascara-- " No thanks, I think I have too much lash". If that were the case then there wouldn't be a market for clear mascara (clear mascara is especially popular in Brazil where the the woman look like goddesses and only need a bit of gloss and hold to their lashes)

Anyways I've tried many mascaras (and by many I mean almost all the ones they sell in Sephora) and in my experience I have found that mascaras will only satisfy only one lash need or another but never all of them. Or there could be an "all-in-one" mascara which will give lashes just enough definition but not to extraordinary measures (reminds me of all-in-one shampoo and conditioner where it leaves your hair in kind of a mediocre state). I have given up on finding that ONE perfect mascara and have taken up layering. Layering is used in all aspects of makeup application (foundation, eyeshadow, eyeliner, lipsticks) to bring depth and intensity, so why not your mascara as well.

On a daily basis I use Make Up For Ever Aqua Smokey Lash and Tarte "Lights, Camera, Lashes". The Makeup Forever helps my poker straight lashes keep its curl without drying them out (waterproof mascaras that are too drying can cause your lashes to become brittle and fall out). The Tarte mascara adds a bit of length and tons of volume. As a bonus I find that the Tarte mascara makes my lashes look fanned out rather than dark little spikes. When I'm going out and don't feel like using fake lashes I just add a coat of Diorshow for extra, extra volume.

Some days I try

I don't really wear blue eyeshadow anymore. I suppose it's because it brings back haunting memories of my vivid blue eyes I used to wear in junior high -- you know, the unblended solid colors of powder purple, blue, or white that everybody used to spackle on their lids. I decided to take the initiative to overcome that fear and voila! A blended out snow queen effect.

[Urban Decay Uzi (silver) on the inner corners
Urban Decay Kiddie Pool (medium blue - shimmery) on the rest of the lid
Black eyeshadow in the crease to give the eyes definition and shape]

My Hero

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I have recently discovered Dr. Brandt's Vaccuum Cleaner -- a blackhead and oil extractor in a mask form!
It has:

• glycolic and salicylic acid to help exfoliate and unclog clogged pores
• silicone dioxide to extract dirt and excess sebum
• eijitsu rose to help tighten pores.

On top of that it is paraben, sulfate and fragrance free so it is less likely to irritate even sensitive skin.

I used this mask every other day for about two weeks and it has saved my skin from the unsightly molehill formations that were spreading all over my forehead and chin. My breakouts, due to the change in weather, formed in little colorless clusters. Occasionally one would get infected and become a giant zit. The pinnacle of this nightmare zit attack was when I found bumps on my cheeks -- my cheeks NEVER breakout! I knew what it was: CONGESTION. I had to resist every urge to use the strongest salicylic or gylcolic acid I could find to burn those little suckers off; because I also knew that the congestion was partly due to the fact that my supple summer skin was drying out with the winter weather. Good thing Dr. Brandt's Vaccuum Cleaner works or else I was seriously considering spending $250 on a Clarisonic.

....now if I could take care of those inevitable breakouts around the chin......

Victoria's Secret :)

I do it just about every year. I watch the Victoria's Secret fashion show and then I obsessively try to pick apart their look. I'm sure there are thousands of people out there that are on the same boat trying to figure out how, HOW to achieve the Victoria Secret Model look. This year I was so ambitious that I went to work right after the show ended at 12am. And guess what, I think I got it!!

After watching numerous videos on smokey eyes and wavy hair, I still have never been able to replicate the flirty kind of sexy that the Angels have. The reason is because it's not just about the sultry eye make up or the luscious waves. The Victoria's Secret model look is based on everything. This tricky look involves a play between all features. For example, a smokey eye and a sleek chignon looks fierce; but the same smokey eye and wavy hair looks sultry -- see they play off each other.

Although the makeup is modified every year I have noticed that a few key factors stay consistent and play a significant role in the looks:


Complexion:
The Angels' complexions are not only flawless but they always shine and shimmer like they are radiating sunlight.



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Hair:
Victoria's secret hair is always full, lush and long as can be. Note that it's always parted in the middle ( a style that is most flattering on symmetrical faces)



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Brows:
Probably the most overlooked feature. The Angels always have perfect brows to frame their sultry eye makeup. Not doing your brows is like buying an expensive painting and not framing it.

Lips:
The lips are shiny with a vinyl effect. I know I have 70 glosses but I'm having trouble finding a gloss that is shiny enough and has enough color.


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I will post some how to's later on!

Barbie-licious

The Barbie trio by Stila are the best lipglosses that I have ever gotten. How can anybody deny them when their names are "joy", "happiness" and "tickled pink" -- classic red, shocking pink, and nude baby pink. Despite their disguise in a gloss delivery system, these enamels go on like a liquid lipstick with full color. On top of that the shades are shockingly at par with what Barbie would wear. They gave me the biggest urge to go blonde for one hot minute.

Oh and the new enamel lipglosses that Stila just released have a botanical in it that literally causes your body to release seratonin. I don't know how much I believe that but it sure sound cooooolll!!




























"Tickled Pink"

It's amazing how much a lipcolor can brighten everything up

Reminisce

Sometimes I feel the need to take out all my makeup and look at everything. Its kind of exhilirating to rediscover some products and it is important to make sure that there is nothing I have forgotten about. Some people might think that this is a redundant and wasteful task but I would like to think that it is very much like cleaning out your closet -- only I'm not really throwing anything away. I am, however, creating new ways to use old colors, or there is perhaps a product that I did not know how to use in the past but have finally learned how to.

Recently I just looked at all my lip items. Lipstick/glosses are my weakness and are extra special to me b/c that's where I started: 5 years old and I was treated to being able to choose anything in Toys R Us. Of all possible dolls and gadgets, I chose a lipgloss pallete that consisted of lipglosses shaped as a strawberry, banana and pineapple.

I just counted, I have about 70 lipglosses and 30 lipsticks :) And like a photo album just about every one brings back memories.



Neutrals

My faithful reds plus a few fun colors
















Lipglosses that I take everywhere b/c they match everything