Beauty and the Drink

CoverFX Eye Prep & MAC Pro Longwear ConcealerWhen my last under-eye cream ran out, I decided to look for a new one.  Hey, if its not perfect why not try something else, right? So I wandered aimlessly through Sephora, testing out all the lovely creams.  A lot of them seemed to have the same approach for diminishing under-eye circles. Thing is my circles are hereditary, so there's basically no cream out there that will completely get rid of these things. But when I came across CoverFX's Eye Prep Anti-age Smoothing Primer, I thought wait a minute - maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way - maybe I should wear something that camouflages instead of trying to treat my problem! I mean I wear concealer all day, everyday so why not! Plus maybe an awesome primer will keep my concealer color true and from creasing in all the wrong places.  And taaaaaa - daaaaaa!!!!! A light went off. This is it - the product I've been looking for!

I'm so happy I found this primer!! It's lightweight, hydrating and crease resistant.  All my fine lines and wrinkles are significantly less visible. And this primer bonds to my concealer like no other! (Think UD Primer Potion for the under-eyes!) YAY! Good find! 

Around the time I found CoverFX Eye Prep, twitter was all abuzz about the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. Heard lots of positive feedback so I had to give it a try.  I was previously using the NW20 Studio Sculpt but it was creasing and had a cakey feel to it after it dried.  I was down to try something new and thank gawd I did - Pro Longwear is super awesome! 

Currently I use NW20 & NW25; I have to mix the two.  While I LOVE how easy this product goes on (so lightweight!) and the coverage is amazing, there's been a couple issues: 1) For some reason the NW20 Pro Longwear Concealer is lighter than the NW20 Studio Sculpt, so I had to buy an additional darker shade (NW25) to create the perfect color - making me spend a little more $$ than I wanted. 2) I've also noticed that the pump shoots out a little too much product. I've spoken to a MAC rep about this and she said that's why they went with the pump, because it pumps out various amounts - perfect for all sorts of uses.  Ummmm yea, so it hasn't worked out for me that well as I have wasted a LOT of product along the way.  I pretty much wash about half the pumped product down the drain each time - yikes! I kinda wish this guy was in a tube or a tube with a wand. *sending my makeup wish to the MAC Cosmetics pros* But the end result is AMAZING, such great coverage, so I'll keep using this concealer until an improvement comes along.

Overall, I am happy with my new dark circle regimen.  And although I have a couple issues with the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, its not show-stopping and I'm sure many others will never encounter the same issues. So if you're looking to switch things up give these products a try.  You will love the end result!

Images from Sephora.com & MAC Cosmetics.

"Before" is the top row / "After" is the bottom row

Well, here it is. Sorry it's taken me so long, but I'm one of those gals that takes her time with pricy products - gotta make sure the baby works! Plus, my skin takes about 3 to 4 weeks to adjust to a new foundation so I really wanted to spend some quality time with the TEMPTU AIRbrush Makeup System. Anyway, here's what I thought ...

The good...

• Right out of the box the instructions were extremely easy to follow. It was super simple to assemble.
• At first glance, TEMPTU seemed delicate and flimsy. But I've tugged and pulled - at times thought I broke it - but it's still intact and good as new. It's very durable.
• The system allows you to really customize your coverage. Not only can you adjust from Less to More on the Air Pressure Dial, but the AIRbrush Trigger gives you even more control (the more you pull back on the Trigger, the more coverage you'll get).   TIP: If you're wondering how heavy coverage should be, spray it on your hand first, get a feel for where you have the AIRbrush Trigger pulled to.  Then once you find the right amount, move it to your face. Also, the easiest way to avoid blotchiness is to "feel" where the air touches your face.  If you remember the pattern and how many times you go over an area, things will look a lot more even.
• The pods last a really long time.  I've been using the same one everyday for 1.5 months and I still haven't run out. Note: I have the dial down to Less.
• The shade finder on Sephora's site for TEMPTU is one of the most helpful ones I've come across. I learned that I had pink undertones and later on could easily pick darker shades for the summer time.
• TEMPTU goes on lightning fast! No more messy fingers and sponges. Foundation stays in the pods, not on the counter tops. TIP: Laura Merciers Oil-free Primer works perfectly with TEMPTU.
• Coverage is AMAZING.  Life changing really. People do notice and give me a second take. My loving boyfriend says it takes about 10 years off - isn't he sweet!  CHECK OUT the before and after photos.
• TEMPTU looks perfect in any light - I never feel like I have to hide from daylight.  You'll also notice that my freckles and age spots seem to be less noticeable.  And PS oiliness is a thing of the past!
• It's totally sweatproof. When I go to the gym and wipe my face, makeup doesn't come off on my towel.  This also means that it doesn't come off on my clothing which is another bonus! YAY!
• This stuff stays on allllllll day without any touch-ups.  At the end of a long day it still looks great.

The not so good...

• The pods were difficult to pull off for the first week or so - totally making my fingers hurt. Ouch!!! But I asked a Sephora cast member about this and she said it was totally normal with new pods and with time it would become easier. She was right, now it's a piece of cake.
• Traveling with the TEMPTU is a bit hard. There isn't a travel case so I've been wrapping it up and packing it carefully.  So far so good, but I'm not sure how long I can keep doing this.
• If you are between shades, it becomes difficult because you can't blend foundation shades with the pod system.  TIP: To help with shade issues and any dewiness that arises, I've been using Laura Mercier's Loose Setting Powder lightly on top (after TEMPTU has set for a minute or so) - a sprinkle of Beige for dewiness or a bit more to darken it up and Transparent for when I want to make it a tad lighter. It seems to do the trick.
• Applying the blush has still been an issue for me. There has only been a time or two where I have gotten it juuuust right, but I guess I'll keep practicing.  TIP: You can still wear your normal blush over TEMPTU - just remember to let the foundation set for a minute or so.  I've been wearing NARS Orgasm when I don't have time to fiddle with this blush.

My recommendation:
TEMPTU is definitely not for the occasional makeup wearing gal. It's a serious beauty tool that requires patience and dedication. It took me about 1 to 2 weeks to finally get it right, to where it wasn't blotchy, but after all the trial and error I'm extremely happy with the result.  I think its great for the makeup loving gal who wants to take things up a notch.

If the price seems too high, maybe this could be an investment for you and your besties to take on.  You know, to use for special occasions.  Maybe after trying it for a bit you may find that its worth the price tag.

Still not sure if TEMPTU is right for you?
Go to any participating Sephora store and have a cast member spray it on you.  They will show you how to use the tool, even share special tips and techniques. You'll also be able to test for allergies and find the perfect foundation match. 

I was skeptical at first, but when I noticed all my co-workers walking around the office with amazing skin, I knew the Clarisonic Brushes were working. Seriously, their skin looks bright, clear and refreshed - baby soft! And I'm Jealous. So I plan on buying the next model up - the Clarisonic Plus Skin Care System & Spot Therapy Kit. This brush comes with 2 more speeds than the original Clarisonic Brush and a special spot therapy brush head for the body. Now my face won't be the only one getting all the attention; my arms, décolleté and legs will get some love too!

Image from Sephora.com

Ever since I started wearing foundation, I've wanted it to look even, natural and of course - airbrushed! At first, I thought I had to wear the right foundation to achieve the look and I slathered on tons of liquid foundation. But after all the applications - still no flawless skin. Grrrrrrr.

Then came my "ah-ha!" moment - I realized application must be the key! So after hearing a lot of hype about the 187 Duo Fibre Brush from MAC Cosmetics, I had to give the stippling brush a try. But man were they expensive!

ADORING CARMINE: 4 FACE BRUSHES by MAC - $49.50 (I got this one)

Professional Platinum Stippling Brush #44 by SEPHORA - $35.00

I just got back from a long, very long week in Las Vegas. I was in such a rush that I forgot to pack these 5 essential items. Boy oh boy, did I pay for it!! Let's hope you learn from my mistake and remember them!

2)Aveda Brilliant Humctant Pomade: This is perfect for my hair in dry climates like Vegas. When I don't have it with me, my hair is a dull, frizzy, lifeless mess. Ugh.

3)Rowenta Ultra Handheld Steambrush: This garment steamer is pretty easy to use when you are on vacation. It gets all those hard to reach places and is great with delicate fabrics too. Since I'm extremely careful with all my clothing, trusting them to another iron is very difficult - thank you Rowenta for solving this issue!

4)Nivea Skin Firming Moisturizer: This firms, tightens and moisturizes all in one. My skin drinks it up by the gallon in Vegas. However, I just moved from Vegas (mid-June) to Northern California and the water has made my skin so soft - I thought my skin was invincible! I guess that's why I forgot it.

5)WATER! WATER! WATER!: I stepped off the plane and got hit with a giant blow dryer. It was 109 degrees while I was there and it got hotter by the day. If there's one thing I've learned from living in Vegas, it's to have a bottle of water with you at all times. Aquafina is my favorite!!

Images from Sephora, Aveda, Target, Nivea and Aquafina.

A friend of mine, who is beginning her professional career, is looking to achieve a more sophisticated look with her makeup. She has done her shopping and has all the right products/tools, but she just needs to learn how to apply them. So I scoured the web for easy, step by step beauty tip and technique videos. These are the ones I liked best, but if you come across more please add them to comments!

• I love TLC's Carmindy. She has always managed to make everyone look so beautiful and natural looking. Here is a great how-to video from Sephora Backstage Click Here. Plus she uses Benefit products in the video - love them!
• Total Beauty Television Click on the Makeup tab for cool videos
• Sephora How-To Videos
• Sephora Smokey Eyes Video
• Smashbox's Get the Look Smashbox is great about making kits with exclusive beauty tip DVDs. So it's no surprise that I went to their website for help. They didn't have a video for their looks on the site, but the step by step instructions in this gallery makes it easy. Plus they list all the products used to obtain the look.

Oh yes and before I forget, Allure magazine is another great source - they even have pull-out cheat sheets!

Tip: Remember, if you see something you like - replicate it! Set aside time to practice and experiment with the different looks. That's how I started doing makeup. I would see an advertisement or runway show with a look that I loved and try to copy it. If it didn't suit me, oh well, makeup remover is an amazing thing!