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Tip: Exfoliating Lips

Exfoliating is a must if you wanna rock the bold lips for fall. Prepping is key!

AT-HOME:
Apply Vaseline for about 5 min or less, use a soft clean toothbrush and lightly scrub the lips. Reapply Vaseline/Aquaphor before bed.

TO-GO:
Grab a few packets of regular sugar (not raw, not artificial) and a few packets of honey. Mix the two and scrub the lips. Apply Vaseline/Aquaphor/a good lip balm.

Rusty Hand

It's been awhile. My skin has been alot better, but now my application is rusty. Go figure!

I used one of NYX's Runway Palettes in "Champagne & Caviar." For $9, it's not that bad. Sure the colors are a bit too soft but it's workable with extra care. Great for travel, but make sure you protect it well since it can crumble easily. I just like it cause I can do several looks within one palette = always nice.

Ikea Hack

So Ikea is great for budget buys, but buying mass produced furniture can get kinda boring. In my search for a much needed makeup chair, the bf picked this up for me and I spruced it up with some black paint and a stencil.

BEFORE:



AFTER:



Not bad! Now my back doesn't have to give out every time I do a makeover for someone, just in time for my friends' arrival to Houston in a couple of weeks!

Photo Story

So Steph was tagged and I tagged myself. =P

* Open first photo folder
* Scroll down to the 10th photo
* Post that photo and story on blog
* Tag five {or more} friends to do the same



Taken on a weekend getaway to Chicago where the bf and I went to the Signature Room for cocktails and a 360 view of Chicago at night. The Signature Room is on top of the John Hancock building right on the Magnificent Mile. We didn't plan on it, just walked around on a Sat night, saw it, and went for it. It's a scene where the elevator ride itself had to have its own "bouncer," only letting in the right number of people at a time, creating a line just for the elevators. Upon getting out the elevator was yet another line. It was so dark and exactly what you would imagine a cigar-smoking, cognac drinking kind of place to be (of course, no one smoked there now). We did a run-through and picked one of several rooms to visit. That wait was longer than the wait to get there. At last, it was our turn and luck has it that we were offered a spot for two right by the ceiling to floor windows. You can't see much in that photo but it's a photo we waited much too long to take! Oh yeah, as we sat gazing out the windows, we overheard a guy proposed to his gf. Yes, overheard because we were so close. Kinda awkward spot to propose but I guess she said yes!

Travel Makeup

You would think that a makeup junkie would carry a substantial travel makeup kit big enough to makeover the whole hotel but I'd like to think I am quite humble when it comes to traveling with makeup, that is, if vanity can be humbling. Hmmm.....

This is my usual travel bag - compact zebra, awesome cause it's easy to find in my luggage and I won't forget it upon checkout.




And this is all I use on a trip:

• face moisturizer / spf
  
• eye cream w/ spf
• cream foundation w/ spf
• cream concealer in 2 shades
  
• blush & bronzer duo
  
• mineralize skinfinish pressed powder
  
• one quad of eyeshadow
• black kohl eyeliner
• black liquid eyeliner
• eyelash curler
• black mascara
• tweezers
• lipstick, gloss, and lipbalm (always in my bag or pocket)
• makeup wipes
• hair styling gel
• hair elastics, minis and regs
• solid perfume
  

The reason why I bring cream foundation is b/c it's super versatile. That's why pro artists love creams. If I wanted a sheer tinted moisturizer, I would mix my face lotion with some cream foundation, instead of bringing a separate tinted moisturizer bottle. Sometimes I only use the concealer and powder combo (contour and cover and then finish off with powder). Palette forms of anything is awesome for travel. The quad of eyeshadow is perfect because I can do simple daytime neutrals like below and smokey for evenings as well. I also never carry liquid perfumes anymore, solids are the way to go.


And the following brushes:

• kabuki
• bronzing
• blush
• foundation
• (2) shaders
• crease
• blending
  

Fast, easy, simple.




That is my version of traveling with makeup. I'm curious to see yours too so post it up!

MAC loves Ben Nye too.

This just goes to prove that brands don't just stick to their own brands. You'll be surprised at how many will not use their own stuff even in promotional campaigns. And here goes a perfect example:

This is behind-the-scenes at MAC's Colour Craft Collection campaign.





Don't recognize that palette? It's Ben Nye Lumiere Grand palette found here for about $60. This baby is fantastic, amazing color payoff and it comes with alot of product. Also very easy to blend. Ben Nye's products are mostly for stage/theater makeup so it's a bit heavy for everyday use, but when you want a punch of color, this palette does the job.

Check out MAC's own Facebook page for more photos: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/album.php?aid=278402&id=16126780553

I know alot of bloggers and youtubers out there praise MAC so much but I believe so many brands out there beats MAC to the finish line. I do own MAC makeup, but MAC is just one of the many brands I like to divulge in. So keep your mind open when it comes to brands!

Want some makeup?

I have acquired quite a few MAC pigments and even have some duplicates of some colors I didn't know I have already. I need to get rid of them somehow...

Would any of you be interested in sample sizes of MAC pigments? How should I do this? I don't feel like eBay, and I'm more than happy to mail off some packets. Plus, my 4 readers won't warrant an official giveaway. Hahaha!

* Please know that I am super clean when it comes to makeup. I always scoop out with a sanitized spoon onto a palette and never double-dip. Yes it matters very much that I do so. Pretty OCD when it comes to this kind of stuff, even stored in an air-tight container. Yup....

So please comment and let me know what you're interested in. Thanks!