As promised...

Hello Beauties!

As promised from my earlier post, here is my mini Make Up For Ever haul after the Master Class I took on February 22^nd at the Make Up For Ever Academy.

Mat Velvet Foundation in #25:  This foundation was color matched to my lighter skin tone and the consistency is a little thicker than my current foundation, giving light to medium coverage.  Because I usually purchase foundation that is “luminating”, the matte finish is something I need to get used to, but I like it.

HD Blush in color #410:  The new HD blush is a cream and goes on beautifully, just place two or three dots (at the most) on the cheek and blend, blend, blend (in other words, use a light hand when applying).  Here is a striped swatch and also blended.

Aqua Brow in #35:  I’ve only been filing in my brow for about one year now but I’ve only used a combination of powder and brow pencil in brown.  I purchased the Aqua Brow at the suggestion of the lead teacher but I was a little skeptical because #35 is a taupe color but I thought he is the lead teacher so he must know what he is talking about and I was right and so glad that I listened.  That color matched my skin tone perfectly.  Who knew!

Silver Palette: This palette is used for mixing everything from foundation to concealer and everything in between.  

Aqua Cream Liner in Black:  This gel liner applied nice and smooth and also lasted all day without fading or smudging.  In other words, it’s a keeper.

Camouflage Palette:  I was very impressed with is palette because used not only for concealing, but for highlighting as well.  The great part is you take the colors you need to mix and match to your skin tone whether you are concealing and/or highlighting.

Embryolisse:  I have not yet used this moisturizer but I’ve read nothing but good things about it.  It is supposed to be the perfect base under the primer so when the foundation is applied, it looks flawless.

Mix & Fix:  This is an alcohol free setting spray.

MUFE is a makeup line founded by an artist, made for artists.  It is a high quality line and I look forward to exploring the brand a little more.

Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to read.  If you have any questions or comments, please email me at noemiguz@gmail.com. 

‘Til next time,

Memi

Best Saturday in a LONG TIME!!

Hello Beauties!

I have to share with you the greatest experience I had this past Saturday.  I took a Master Class at the Make Up For Ever Academy.  BEST DAY EVER (aside from my son’s birth)!

The day started with an editorial demonstration by the super talented senior teacher Juan-Carlos Salazar.  He transformed the beautiful model from a beautiful flawless face that can be used every day to a fashion model ready for an editorial photo shoot in a matter of minutes.  He used his highlighting technique with some creativity for the look added at the end.   I was in awe watching him work.  I just wish I was the model sitting in that chair while he worked his magic on me.

After the presentation, we were told that we would be partnering up and working on each other using the Make Up For Ever products…someone pinch me! Everything was at our fingertips: foundation, concealer, the new HD blush, eye shadow, lip products and more. Luckily, I had my brushes with me because that experience was so much fun.

At the end of the day, we were allowed to go to the MUFE Pro store and do some shopping…HEAVEN!!  I will show you what I purchased in a separate post (I have't taken anything out of the boxes yet).

So, now what?  The Academy offer several packages ranging from a one week course to a seven week course, to a six month course that cover a whole range of topics from beauty to body painting.  I will hopefully be going back for the one week course for beauty that the Academy offers.  I wish I could take the seven week course but since I have a full time job, that’s not possible so I will have to take what I can get.  Funny, Make Up For Ever was a brand that, for some reason, I was a bit intimidated by, but now that I took the master class, it’s a mystery no more.  It is now my latest obsession.  Hear that noise?  It’s my wallet saying UH OH.

It was a fantastic day and a great learning experience.  Thank you Juan-Carlos for your tips, tricks and the invaluable information I have learned, you have gained a fan and my respect.  Thank you Make Up For Ever Academy for the great day. I had a lot of fun and met some great, talented people. I hope to be back soon.

That's me, third one in from the right.

Thank you for reading.

‘Til next time,
Memi

Nighttime Skincare Routine

Hello Beauties!

We all have a routine in one form or another such as getting home and taking your shoes off, putting your keys down in a specific area and then changing into comfortable clothes. There are routines that are good practice such as when you get in the car and check the mirrors, adjust the seat and put the seatbelt on. Having a nighttime skin care routine is also good practice for every age and every skin type. I have super dry skin so all the products I use are specifically for moisturizing and anti aging. It is said that our skin is our biggest organ so why not take care of it as best you can.

I've shared my story regarding Vitiligo and now I’m going to share with you my favorite products for my night time skin care routine in the order of application.

Wipes (pre-cleanse)
I always start by taking off my makeup with wipes. My favorite ones are the Ole Henriksen Truth To Go Vitamin C Wipes. When I first purchased these wipes, I was a little put off by the citrus scent they have, but I thought I might as well give them a shot and use them before I go looking for new ones to try. Let me tell you that I got over the scent quick after I used them a few times. They remove all the makeup, including mascara but don’t leave my skin feeling dry. They come in a handy soft-pack pouch that snaps shut to keep the wipes from drying out and can be thrown in a gym or overnight bag for cleansing on the go. I’ve repurchased them three times now. Love these wipes!
Cost: $15 for 30 wipes at Sephora and the Ole Henriksen website

Facial Cleanser 
I next use the boscia Tsubaki Cleansing Oil-Gel. This is a preservative free (no icky stuff – yay!) oil-gel cleanser that leaves my dry skin feeling clean, hydrated and soft. It has a nice scent and I love the gel consistency. The best part of this cleanser is that it doesn't irritate my eyes (A+ for that alone).
Cost: $28 at Sephora and the boscia website

Exfoliation
After I wash my face, I use the First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads to give my face a gentle exfoliation. These pads exfoliate (but are not rough on the skin), tone and brighten. They are alcohol free and are safe for sensitive skin. I've already repurchased these pads twice.
Cost: $30 for 60 pads at Sephora and the FAB website

Eye Cream 
I apply next the Tarte Maracuja Oil Eye Treatment. I have to say that the skin around my eyes feel hydrated and the under eye dark circles I had are practically all gone. I’ve also noticed less fine lines and wrinkles. I also like that this eye treatment is rich in vitamin C and is preservative and cruelty free.
Cost: $38 at Sephora and the Tarte website

Serum
After I apply the eye treatment, I pat First Aid Beauty Dual Repair Power Serum on my face. The First Aid Beauty line was recommended to me by an associate at Sephora when I was looking for a skin care line that is anti aging, chemical and paraben free and didn’t leave a huge hole in my wallet. I like this serum because it leaves a silky, non greasy feel to my skin. FAB claims this serum is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by 41% in just six weeks. All I know that my fine lines and wrinkles are less noticeable but what I don’t know if it’s the serum or a combination of the products in my nighttime routine. Don’t care – it works.
Cost: $48 at Sephora and the FAB website

Oil 
I've jumped on the facial oil bandwagon so after I apply my serum, I use the Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil on my face. My dry skin thanks me every day! I got a sample of the Josie Maran Argon Oil at Sephora but it felt heavy on my skin and I didn’t like it (this was before she came out with the “light” formula). I then went back to Sephora to purchase the Tarte oil (even without asking for a sample first) and I’m so glad I did. It gives me the extra layer of hydration my skin needs without it feeling heavy on my skin. This oil is rich in vitamin C and is also preservative and cruelty free. I highly recommend.
Cost: $46 at Sephora and the Tarte website

Moisturizer
I pat on the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer on my face after the serum. I love it because it’s a lightweight formula so it doesn’t feel heavy on my face and my skin drinks it right in. It has all the good stuff I do want in a moisturizer such as meadowfoam seed oil, avocado oil and shea butter. The moisturizer is paraben, chemical, and colorant free just like all of the FAB products.
Cost: $24 at Sephora and the FAB website

Body Moisturizer
I've been using Cetaphil for years now, since it was recommended to me by a Dermatologist. This is a product that I will be a staple in my routine because it instantly soothes dry, chapped skin. It makes my skin feel soft, moisturized and protected. It’s my Holy Grail body moisturizer.
Cost: $12-$15 at the drug store

Anyone notice a trend here? All of these products do not contain any harsh chemicals, are paraben free and safe for sensitive skin. I've spent a lot of money searching for products that work for me and as I got older, certain things became more important to me such as products that are chemical and paraben free. It’s a big plus that the products are super moisturizing and anti aging. I finally have my nighttime routine down pat with the products I love. I may try out new products here and there but they must also be chemical and paraben free. I will update you if I decide to switch out a product.
Oh, one thing I want to address and that is the cost of the products. Yes, they are a bit pricey but I don’t mind it so much if the products do as they claim they do. Besides, there are often 20% or 30% off sales if you are subscribed to their websites and that’s when I will make my purchase.

What products do you use in your nighttime routine?

Thank you for taking the time for reading what I have to say.
‘Til next time,
Memi

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Something about me

Hello beauties!

I’m going a little off track because I want to talk about something that I have been putting off.  I have a skin condition called Vitiligo and this post is all about me and what I’ve gone through.

The Mayo Clinic definition of Vitiligo is:

 Vitiligo (vit-ih-LI-go) is a condition in which your skin loses melanin, the pigment that determines the color of your skin, hair and eyes. Vitiligo occurs when the cells that produce melanin die or no longer form melanin, causing slowly enlarging white patches of irregular shapes to appear on your skin. Vitiligo affects all races, but may be more noticeable in people with darker skin. Vitiligo usually starts as small areas of pigment loss that spread with time. 

What this means is that I have two skin tones and my appearance is very different from most everyone else.

I was diagnosed with Vitiligo when I was five years old and the doctors started me on a treatment regimen with UV lights to try to stop the progression, but it didn’t work.  There are all kinds of treatments and so called cures out there but there is no cure. 

It hasn’t been easy living with this condition because I look different and when a person looks different people tend to judge and make fun so school was not easy for me.  I used to get teased and picked on because I looked different from all the other girls.  I cried…a lot.  All I ever wanted as a young girl was to fit in. Every morning I would wake up thinking that would be the day that I will be accepted and no one is going to care what my skin looked like and it did happen but not until High School. 

So by now you are probably asking how is this makeup or beauty related?”  I’m getting to that.

In high school I only wore black eyeliner and as I got older, I wanted to experiment with makeup to see if I could even out my skin tone to make it one color so I would walk the makeup aisle in the drug store and have no clue what to do with any of that stuff so I would leave the store.  It wasn’t until I went to Macy’s and got color matched at Clinique that a whole new world was opened to me and as the saying goes, the rest is history.   I’ve tried a lot of different brands including Clinique and Prescriptive, looking for that full coverage foundation that would cover up my skin.  It wasn’t until I tried Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer that I began to understand that I didn’t have to cover up my skin to make myself look good for other people to accept me.  It took up too much time, too much money and I just rather not.

What I’m trying to say here is that no matter what anyone says, you are beautiful just the way you are.   Believe it or not, layers and layers of heavy, full coverage makeup aren’t necessary.  Let your beautiful skin breathe and shine through.

I didn’t learn that until later in life.  I was using makeup as a mask to try and look how I wanted everyone else to see me by using full coverage makeup that felt heavy on my skin, but even though I really didn’t like how that felt, I used it for years, even in the hot summer months.  It took me a long time to realize that I can’t change the colors of my skin and even though I’m not crazy about having two skin tones, I can live with it.  I either embrace it or continue with the losing battle.  So now on weekends, I go out with a BB cream or no makeup at all, not even mascara.  For work, I still use foundation but not heavy feeling makeup, its either a BB cream, tinted moisturizer, or a medium coverage.

My skin is very dry so I need moisture wherever I can get it including in my foundation.  I use is the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain or the L’Oreal True Match Lumi in n1-2 and because I’ve lost pigment in 80% of my body, I’m color matched to my lighter skin tone, not the darker one.  Yes, the color is too light for some parts of my face but I’ve learned to pick my battles.  I’ve also learned to accept the Vitiligo because it’s not going away, it part of who I am.  I love make up and I don’t use it to hide anymore.  You can too.

Don’t get me wrong, I have my days where I can’t stand looking in the mirror but it doesn’t last long.

I’m hoping to make this a place where I can share my experiences in finding the right products with you, taking into consideration my dry, two skin toned skin. J

Thank you for taking the time to read what I have to say.

Update: If you have been recently diagnosed with Vitiligo, check out these websites: mayoclinic.org; webmd.com; aad.org (American Academy of Dermatology

‘Til next time,

Memi

2013 FAVORITES

Hello Beauties!

I would like to share with you my 2013 makeup favorites, Holy Grail products.  It didn't really take long on deciding which products I was going to mention because I use them almost on a daily basis.  Although I’m always looking for knew things to try out (drugstore or high end), these are the products that I continually go back to. I will do a separate post on a few of these items so I can show you swatches and go into more detail so you can see why I love them and why I will repurchase.

Face

Face Primers: Mally Perfect Prep Primer, Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer

Foundations: L’Oreal True Match Lumi in n1-2, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain (not pictured)

Powder: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Medium

Concealer: Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light

Eye Primer: Urban Decay Anti Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Bronzer

Sephora’s Los Cabos, NARS’ Laguna (use mostly for contour), and Benefit’s Hoola 

Blush

NARS Orgasm, Milani’s Luminoso, Tarte’s Dollface, MAC’s Melba, Elf’s Blushing Rose, Benefit’s Coralista and Too Faced Sweetheart in Candy Glow.  I have more blushes in my collection but these are the blushes that I kept going back to.  Can you tell that I love blushes?

Eyes

MAC’s Soft Brown, Samoa Silk and Urban Decay’s Naked Basics Palette, Bare Minerals Smoke & Define Double-Ended Kohl and Liquid Eyeliner.  

No matter what shadow palette I’m using, or what look I’m going for, these products are a staple. 

The BM double ended eyeliner is the best I've used in a long time. On one end is Smoke Deep Brown which is a beautiful brown that goes on smooth and stays put hours after I applied it on my lower lash line. On the other end is Define Black which is a felt tip liquid eyeliner. I love this liquid eyeliner because the felt tip is short which gives me better control and makes the cat eye easy.  

Highlight
Laura Mercier in #01, MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

MAC’s MSF in Soft in Gentle is special to me because it is my very first highlighter.

Eyebrows

Brow Bar To Go by Whitening Lightening, MAC pencil in Lingering, Anastasia Brow Gel in Clear and I have to mention MAC brush #208 to apply the brow powder.

Setting Sprays

MAC Fix + and Urban Decay Chill Makeup Setting Spray

My makeup is not complete until I apply either one of these.

Lips

Neutrogena Moisture Smooth Color Sticks in Sweet Watermelon, Soft Raspberry and Plum Perfect.   I love them so much I want more.  These lip balms go on so smooth like butter and are super moisturizing.

Mally Lipstick in Blossom.

MAC  Angel paired with NARS Turkish Delight.

MAC Blankety paired with MAC Fluste Rose.

MAC lip pencil in Boldly Bare.  This lip pencil is an exact match to my natural lip color and helps the lipstick or gloss I am wearing stay in place with no feathering.

Yep, that's my shadow you see there. 

Honorable mention (not pictured) in lip products go to:  Maybelline’s Make Me Pink, Revlon’s Primrose, Rimmel’s Airy Fairy and Rimmel’s #101.  I started wearing these lip colors toward the end of the year so I thought they should be mentioned because they are the prettiest neutrals.  I will definitely do a separate post on these beautiful lip colors.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

‘Til next time,

Memi

Sonia Kashuk Eyeliner Brushes

Hello Beauties!

Have you been looking for the perfect eyeliner brush like I was?  Look no more!  I  have found THE brush!  It is the Sonia Kashuk (slanted) Synthetic Eyeliner Brush.  I love everything about it, from the unique shape, to the stiffness of the bristles; it makes putting gel liner on so easy, creating the perfect line everytime.  If you love the look of the cat eye like I do, this brush leaves a nice crisp, clean line.

 

Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Eyeliner Brush

 

 

I used the SK slanted synthetic eyeliner brush for this cat eye look.

The Sonia Kashuk line is sold at Target Stores and this particular brush costs $9.19.  Good deal considering the price of some liners out there and, in my opinion, this brush works just as good, if not better, than some of those high end brushes.

I also have the Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner Brush ($5.99).  This brush is part of Sonia Kashuk's core brush line.  The best part of this brush is that since it's bent, it makes placement super easy because it's easier to see where you are lining.

 

Sonia Kashuk bent eyeliner brush

So, are they worth the price?  Heck yeah!
Do I recommend?  Highly
Would I purchase again?  Yep

'Til next time,
Memi