Glad I Waited

I got my first "glam bag" last month.  After being on the wait list for more than a month and a half, I was BEYOND excited to get my bag in the mail.  I was not impressed when I got my first Ipsy "glam bag".  When I signed up, I completed a profile of my likes, dislikes, what I use and don't use, etc...  My first bag had all the things I don't use and won't use.  Such a let down :(  I considered canceling then and there but I had waited so long to get off the wait list that I figured I'd see what the next month had in store.  THANK GOODNESS I didn't cancel!  Novembers bag was exactly the reason I signed up for this particular "beauty box"(bag really).

November Glam Bag from Ipsy (not pictured Nail Polish)

Bad lighting, I know.  Bear with me!  I'm not crazy about the color of the eyeshadow from BHcosmetics "Aphrodite" which is a metallic pink/red, however I'm excited to try their product because I've heard great reviews about them prior to receiving this months goods.  I was also excited to try out my Pixi bronzer but it broke into a powdery mess before I got a chance.  Not Cool!  There were two lipsticks in this bag which is pretty cool because I just started wearing lipstick so I'm excited to try these as well.  EM by Michelle Phan is to die for.  I got "nude" and it truly matches my lip color.  This stuff is moisturizing, glossy and amazing.  Love Love Love.  The other lip color I got is a fire engine red color from Be A...Bombshell called Hot Damn.  Love the name, love the color on.  I'm not a normal wearer or red lipsticks, but I will definitely make this my go to when I do venture out of my comfort zone.  It's a lip crayon - it doesn't bleed which is HUGE for such a bright color.  Whoever is behind this is a genius.  Also in this bag is a metallic silver eyeliner from Starlooks called Topaz.  Another product I don't normally mess with - I like my basic black liner, but this is so cool.  It literally glides on and is actually metallic.  Maybe I'll switch it up next time I go out for a night on the town :)  Last but certainly not least is a nail polish by Nailtini called Champagne.  I tried it on my two year old daughter because I wear gel polish and just got my nails done.  The color is very pretty and light.  It's a very light bronze/metallic color.  Sophie (the daughter) isn't around right now or I would take a picture of her most adorable hands to showcase the color.

All in all, I would say I got an amazing bag this month.  I cannot wait to try out some new looks with the products included.  I'll share a post when I do - be sure to check back!

xoxo
Kristin

They're Real! Mascara by Benefit

Hi everyone!  Sorry it's been so long since I last posted but for those of you who know me, you know why - I've had a LOT going on lately.  Good news (hopefully!) is that I'm back and ready to blog!  

Today I want to share a new mascara review.  My birthday was in October and since I carry an "Insider" card with Sephora, I was sent a voucher for a free gift from Benefit.  If you're not already an Insider - go become one.  You get great benefits - no pun intended ;)  The free gift was a trial size of They're Real! Mascara as well as Watt's Up Highlighter.  Ladies and gentlemen, I have a new favorite mascara!  This stuff lengthens, separates and makes me look like I'm wearing eyeliner even when I'm not.  The way the brush is designed makes it virtually impossible for the mascara to clump.  Since clumpy lashes are one of my pet peeves, it was a match made in heaven!

Seriously - go out and buy this.  NOW!

xoxo

Kristin

Found a New Foundation

I've been on the hunt for a new foundation recently because of how incredibly dry my skin is.  The cooler weather is doing a number on my skin and its barely cool!  I didn't want to spend a lot of money trying foundations so I decided to see what I could find at the drugstore first.  Cosmetic companies that distribute to drugstores do this amazing thing where they describe what type of skin the foundation is best for - THANK YOU!  I ended up buying Maybelline Fit Me Foundation.  OH. MY. GOSH!!!!  This product is aca-amazing ( yes, that was a pitch perfect reference).  If you have super dry, flaky skin, do yourself a favor and buy this product, you won't be sorry!  I'd love to hear some more suggestions of foundation for dry skin.  Thanks!

Sigma Giveaway!

wait for it, wait for it, Sigma is having a GIVEAWAY!!!!  I'm a little more than excited.  These are the BEST brushes I have ever used.  Head on over to Sigma's website and follow their blog so you can have a chance at winning.  Believe me, it's totally worth it!

Nails Anyone?

Trying something new with my nails.  What do you think?  Essie "In The Cab-ana"
I'm really digging this right now.

What are some other colors I should try?  I have no problem trying new colors on my nails because come on, you can change it anytime you want.  I never understood why some people only get a certain color or a french manicure every time they get their nails done.  Live a little, ladies!

TotalBeauty Giveaway

Remember that post I did a few days ago about beauty boxes?  Head over to TotalBeauty's Facebook page and enter "The What A Girl Needs" Mystery Collection now!

Trying a New Look

I never know how to dress at the end of August, early September.  The weather is cooler in the morning when I leave the house for work at 6am and somewhat cool when I leave to go home at 4:30pm but still warm during the day.  I'm so confused!  The same goes for my makeup.  I get so excited for Fall colors and sweaters but I'm not ready for the beautiful Summer weather to be gone.  Today, I thought I'd give my makeup a "goodbye Summer, hello Fall" look.  First, here is a before picture....CRINGE...

And all made up

The flash was really bright on the camera so you can't really see how saturated the color actually is but here is a list of the products i used.  First I applied the green Smashbox Photo Finish because I love the texture of this stuff and it helps to reduce the redness in my skin.  For foundation, I have a mixture of Makeup Forever HD in 120 & 123.  I contoured with Revlon PhotoReady foundation in 009 Rich Ginger.  I used this under my cheekbones, under my jawline, around my hairline and down both sides of my nose.  To highlight and conceal, I used MAC Prep+Prime in Light Boost.  This was used down the center of my nose and fanned out onto the lower middle part of my forehead and fanned under my eyes.  MAC Studio Mist Blush in Misty Pink was then applied only to the apples of my cheeks with a foundation brush and bronzer under my cheekbones (over the Revlon used to contour).  This was then all blended together with the Sephora Buffing brush.  On my eyes, I first used a very light layer of MAC Prep+Prime Eye in Light all over my eyelid up to my brow bone.  Then it was onto my eyeshadow.  I wanted to color to be very saturated so I first used MAC Paints in Bare Canvas on my eyelid only.  Stila Eye shadow in Barefoot Contessa was applied over that on my eyelid to just above my crease.  I contemplated using a dark grey for the outer crease area but since emerald green is the color of the year, I decided on Stila eye shadow in Jade - used just at the outer corner swept halfway across my crease.  For eyeliner, I used MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder.  I used this on the inner part of my upper and lower lash lines.  I curled my eyelashes and used a couple coats of Maybelline The Falsies mascara in Blackest Black.  I filled my eyebrows in with Revlon Brow Fantasy in Brunette.  I only use the pencil part of this - the gel is too dark for my taste, so I set my brows with Ardell Brow Sculpting Gel which is clear.  Since my eyes were more geared towards Fall colors, I decided to keep my lips summery with a peachy color, MAC in See Sheer topped with a Paula Dorf Lipsicle gloss.  I have no idea what the gloss name is but I a pink-ish brown.

Hope you like it, let me know what you think!

Beauty Boxes

If you haven't heard of beauty boxes, please come out from under that rock you've been living under!  Right now, beauty boxes are huge.  They are subscriptions for between $10-$20/month that send you trial size makeup, skincare, hair care and nail polish, among other things.  Big name companies are sending these trials so we can see what we like and don't like and hopefully for them, purchase a full size product.  I came across a FANTABULOUS new website today called SheSaidBeauty.  Go there.  Now - no WAIT!  After you read this blog :)  What does this amazing website have to do with beauty boxes you ask?  They did a whole article about beauty boxes and have links to a number of them.  They also tell you which countries they are available in.  This is the link to that article.  The only beauty box I'm surprised they don't address is Ipsy.  This seems to be a favorite among people I've talked to.  I'm on the waitlist for Ipsy and Influenster.  They notify you when a subscription becomes available.  Fingers crossed that someone cancels their membership soon so I can move right in there!  Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes and which ones do you recommend?

Favorite of the Week

A few days ago, I put my foundation on just like every other morning.  Apparently I had a few extra minutes that morning because I decided to check my work in the mirror before leaving the house.  Bad idea.  I ended up being about half an hour late for work.  Once I got a good look at what my skin looked like, I had to wash it all off and start all over again.  It looked so caked on - I wish I had taken pictures!  My foundation looked like it was just sitting on top of my skin and was just CAKEY for lack of a better word.

Now I take pretty good care of my skin - I wash it every morning and moisturize right after and I wash every night (okay, most nights) to take my makeup off and I use a night serum.  My skin for the most part is in pretty good condition.  One thing I don't do is exfoliate.  Well that all changed when I saw the makeup on my skin the other day.  I have really dry, sensitive skin that is really red most of the time.  After researching exfoliators for dry, sensitive skin online, I decided to try Aveeno Positively Ageless Resurfacing Scrub.  It has vitamin C which is said to be great for skin because it is the key to the production of collagen - which is a protein that aids in the growth of cells and blood vessels and gives skin its firmnss and strength (source:  WebMD).

I tried it this morning and I loved it.  It's not a super abrasive scrub - which is good for my type of skin and it smells pretty good too!  When I put my moisturizer on this morning, it went on so much smoother and actually felt like it got absorbed into my skin.  My foundation even looked better than it had a few days before.  I wouldn't say it's 100% right now, but after just one use - it's definitely better!  Do you exfoliate?  Which one do you use?

Open Letter

Hey everyone! The Curvy Fashionista had the most amazing post today that I just had to share. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Check out the blog here

My Mascara Review

I know at this day and age, us ladies are supposed to be happy and comfortable in our own skin, but Come On! Who is actually 100% happy with themselves all the time? I can't think of anyone. One thing I'm not totally happy with are my eyelashes. They are thin, not too long and straight...and I cannot for the life of me get them to curl. Suffice it to say, I'm always on the lookout for a new mascara. I feel like I've tried them all. My two absolute favorites are Volum' Express The Falsies Flared in Blackest Black by Maybelline (I was NOT born with it) and False Lashes in Extreme Black by MAC . On a side note, these are MY reviews. What does or doesn't work for me may be completely different than you. Right now, I'm using False Lashes by MAC. It seems to be the mascara I always go back to when I've tried something that doesn't work. The pigmentation is beyond great and is a true black...some mascaras have a grayish tint to their black mascaras. The wand has a tapered brush so you don't hit your eyelid as you go close to your nose and it's packaged in a really cool tube. I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but I do love the way this one looks.

Again, these are my thoughts and what works and doesn't work for me. I tried Eyeko London Mascara Wardrobe - based on all their rave reviews. I was underwhelmed. It almost seemed like it was too heavy for my lashes and weighed them down more than normal. I also tried Origins GinZing Brightening Mascara ...again, underwhelmed. This one I had the biggest issue with. Not only did it weigh my lashes down, but it didn't look like I was wearing mascara after the first layer was on. Maybe I'm spoiled because I'm used to MAC and Maybelline needing only one layer but Origins just didn't do it for me. I could very well be in the minority on this because this is another one that got great reviews, but I just wasn't crazy about it.

What are some of your favorites? I'd love to hear from you all!

Cleaning Makeup Brushes

I get asked a lot "what is the best way to clean your makeup brushes and how often should I do it?" There are so many answers to the question of "How", but "How often" is pretty easy. You should ideally clean your brushes once a week - unless you're a professional and then you should clean them after each use. Once a week is kind of pushing it though because honestly, who has that kind of free time? So if you can do at least once a month you should be ok. I always have used Origins Brush Cleaner - it's a great product and really gets my brushes clean. The only downside is the price - which really isn't even bad. $13.50 for the 3.4 oz bottle. Well with health insurance and daycare to pay for, I started looking for a cheaper alternative. After trying some DIY brush cleaners, I stumbled on a blog called Carolina Charm. SUCH a great blog. She has the simplest cleaner EVER and it might be my favorite. This doesn't leave any residue on the brushes and they are just as clean as if I used a "real" brush cleaner, storebought. It involves Johnson's Baby Shampoo and water. That's it! Works amazing and smells oh so good. Even better, I already had the shampoo from my kids so it literally cost me nothing! Here is a link to the article. Enjoy and thanks for reading!

Alexa Persico Cosmetics makes it personal

I'm always excited to find makeup in the mail. I ordered Liquid Blush in Pink Me Up, Lip Velour in Naked, and Hide and Seek Concealer in Light Ivory Beige. As excited as I was to get my new products, I was in awe when I saw the paper insert personally written to me by Alexa Persico herself. Who does that?! I had to share quickly...

This stuff can only be bought online right now but you should definitely go to the website at www.alexapersicocosmetics.com and order. Her products are amazing and the service is clearly top notch!

My Brides

I have loved working with each and every one of my brides. They have all brought something special and unique to the table. One thing they all have had in common so far is that they're scared of makeup. They don't want to wear much of anything. I have tried countless times to tell these ladies that a VERY light hand won't show up on camera, but I have to do what they want. Please ladies - I beg of you...on your wedding day, wear some makeup! This is supposed to be the one day that you look out of this world amaze-balls! I promise, no one will think you look like a clown - they'll think you never looked more beautiful. Yes, you will still look like yourself - just the best possible version of yourself! Most brides get their hair done in a way that isn't an everyday look, why do you want your makeup to look like every other day? So I'll say it one more time. Makeup ladies, makeup!

2014 Trends to "Fall" for

The heatwave is over, the mornings and nights are cooler...it's seems like Fall is just around the corner. This post might be premature since it's only August but I do love me some Fall! Especially the makeup looks. Right now cat eyes, emphasis on the lower lash line, bold lips and barely there makeup with a strong brow are in. For the cat eye, make sure the rest of your eyes are minimal. This is such a bold look you don't want it to compete with anything else going on with your eyes. A great liner is the Tarte MultiplEYE Lash Enhancing Liquid Liner:

Emphasis on the lower lash is probably my favorite new look. We've seen it before but it seems more relevant now. Not sure why. For this look, again, keep the rest of your face minimal so your eyes really pop. I like using MAC eye shadow in Folie (reds and coppers are also big for eyes right now)

Bold lips. This is a hard one. Not everyone can pull this off - not because it doesn't look good but because it takes a very confident person to make this work. I like Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Icon. Again, everything else should be minimal. For me, dewy skin is a must for this look:

And lastly, barely there makeup with a strong brow. Speaks for itself, doesn't it? My favorite eyebrow filler inner right now is Eyeko Brow Gel. Love love love. It has been known to help with new growth of your eyebrows - YAY!

I can't wait to try all these looks. How about you? Which ones are your favorites?

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Hey Guys! For anyone actually reading my blog, please don't forget to follow me at Bloglovin as well! Please and thank you. xoxoxo Kristin

Favorite of the Day

Hello there my fellow makeup lovers! I have loved Kiehl's products as long as I can remember "liking" makeup. The moisturizers are AH-MA-ZING. When I first started wearing moisturizer as a teen, I used Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15 and I used that for years. I loved everything about it. Then I became a makeup artist and decided that I wanted to try new things. I fell in love with MAC Studio Moisture Cream and used that for about a year. I recently stumbled into a Kiehl's store in the Mall at Millenia in Florida while on vacation and found this little gem.

This stuff is PHENOMINAL and I'm not sure I'll ever change again! I liked the feeling of La MER creme de La Mer but it was waaayyyyy out of my price range. This product from Kiehl's feels the same at a fraction of the price and I'm in love. I have dry, uneven texture skin and this just glides on and creates the perfect base for my makeup without feeling heavy or greasy. For these reasons and more, Kiehl's Rosa Arctica is my favorite of the day.

Addicted

Hi, my name is Kristin and I'm a makeup addict. Is there a 12 step program for people like me? I could spend hours and hours pursuing magazines for new looks; eyes from one picture, lips from another, etc... Hours of my life have been spent in MAC stores, at the Bobbi Brown, Stila, Chanel and countless other cosmetics counters in every department store near me. I live for makeup, I sometimes even dream about it. That's why I was so beyond excited when I "fell" into doing makeup professionally. I started out with proms for family members and their friends and slowly worked my way into weddings (another thing I'm obsessed with) and eventually video. I hope everyone that stumbles upon my little blog can learn, ask questions, and laugh with me, my family (who will undoubtedly make it into lots of my posts) and just have fun reading about what I love and whats going on in my life.