Victoria Secret's Seasonal Makeup

Beauty Boo-Boo #2: Brow Neglect

"The eyes are the windows to our souls. The brows are the window treatments." Ah, nope, not exactly Wisdom of the Ancients, but poignant nonetheless. Brows truly are a central communication facial feature. Just think of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind. Boy did Miss Leigh convey a heck of a lot through that half-cocked eyebrow. Brows are the one feature women either tend to over emphasize or ignore completely. I suspect the former is due to women trying too hard to get them right and the latter is due to women too afraid to get them wrong.

Brow grooming is indeed a tricky enterprise. You could rely on someone at a salon to wax them (I recommend this at your own risk of peril) but only: 1.) when you have selected a truly talented pro and 2.) after you have allowed your brows to grow in for 3 weeks. This may be fine for your first attempt at ever shaping your brows but for general up-keep? Who wants nice brows for 3 days and furry ones while waiting for the next waxing appointment? Tweezing may be a a more practical and economical choice as this can be done daily ensuring your brows are consistently groomed. If you are a brow-grooming virgin and will be shaping from "scratch," either consult a professional to guide you or consider purchasing brow stencils. You can get these through a company called Anastasia, a Beverly Hills based company that only sells brow cosmetics. Her stencils come in 4 different shapes and will help you tweeze where you should and block where you shouldn't (available at Sephora).

I am now an official M.A.C. Pro Member. Yessir.

So it's finally here - my M.A.C. Pro card! Woo-hoo! I am so thrilled to get down there and buy some much needed tools before Saturday when I have a bridal party to gussy up. I think I may pick up some eyeshadow colors and concealers as well but that will depend on what fabulous colors I actually view in shop!

The Best Mascara EVER

And believe me I have tried them all. Alright, it may not be perfect for every living soul out there, but Benefit's Bad Gal Lash quickly became my favorite mascara for its lush application without clumping. I swear - No clumping. From the first time I open the tube till it is time to buy a new one (5 months later) the application is great. I will say that the newest tube isn't as juicy as the first 3 I bought which was a disappointment (I even exchanged it for a new one but still the same issue) but the application is still great. Each lash is defined and twice as long.

Benefit Cosmetics LLC

Makeup Mistake: Brushing off Good Brushes

It can be tempting to skimp on buying good quality brushes with an assumption that cheap ones should do just fine. It can be particularly tempting to skimp when you see the prices of professional brushes. Sticker shock is a common reaction by women I work with when I mention the price of individual professional makeup brushes. I may show her a pony hair powder brush that is $40 and she temporarily stops breathing. What's interesting is the lack of context many women fail to have comparing purchases. She may be willing to spend $30 on a bottle of foundation (which lasts 6 months) yet be reticent to purchase quality tools (which if taken care of can last 5 years or more). I tell my clients to think of buying good brushes like buying good shoes. They immediately get the point: good shoes are at least $40 but women don't flinch because they are very accustomed to shoe shopping. Its simply a matter of exposure.
So why are professional brushes better? The answer is: the application and the wear. Cheap brushes have a tendency to streak and drag color on in uneven ways. The synthetic bristles often do not hold the pigment and you will end up with more on the ground than on your skin. You will also notice that it is very common for cheap brushes to fray easily and shed. (Nothing is more annoying that trying to pick off little hairs all over your skin). The wear of good brushes, if taken care of properly, is also ten times better.
When you are ready to purchase brushes visit a retailer where you can actually feel and test the various types. Sephora is a terrific store to be able to test out brushes from many different lines. Sephora also has their own line of professional brushes that are actually very good quality. It is important to be able to feel the brush in your hand and try application. This is definitely where a professional sales person will come in handy. He or she should be able to tell you what type of hair the brush is and how it is assembled. The best brushes will have the hairs sewn into the handle not glued.
You may feel overwhelmed by how many brushes there are to choose from but you will likely only need 5 or 6 to complete your basic needs: A well rounded powder brush, an angled blush brush, concealer brush, an all-over eyeshadow brush for depositing base color all over the lid, a dome-shaped eyeshadow brush for blending color in the crease, and an eye smudge brush that can be used smudge eyeliner and to apply brow color. There are many others that I love that I would recommend, but these are the best basics for you to have.