BeyondBlushing...

Have you ever gotten a perm…..for your EYELASHES? Yes, I said “perm.” I know it sounds bizarre but let me tell you….it’s AWESOME! I personally am obsessed about keeping my eyelashes curled. I just think it looks good. Especially on those days that I really don’t have time to do my makeup or don’t want to—I will still always curl my lashes, apply a little bit of mascara and some lip gloss. Well getting my eyelashes permed were one of the best things I ever did. Instead of havening to curl my lashes multiple times a day to keep them where they belong they are already curled and remain curled. I still use my eyelash curler on some mornings when I use a little bit heavier of a mascara. So now I think I’m hooked! Here’s how the process went down. I went and saw my esthetician, Tracy and she had me lie down. She cleaned my lashes with one of her Dermalogica Products to make sure I didn’t have any makeup residue on my eyelashes. Next, she pulled out her teeny tiny eyelash perm curling rods an

I’m not kidding when I say I have been using MAC Cosmetics for half my life. We’re talking a good sixteen years! I fell in love “originally” with Studio Fix Foundation in C2 and N3 (I’ve always needed to mix the colors). Of course I really liked the foundation but I found myself wanting some of the vibrant colors that MAC had to offer. I swear the lipsticks had a hypnotic way about them that just lured me over to them. I had to pick them up, test them on my hand until I had at least a dozen stripes on my hand from testing out the colors and textures, and then choose a favorite that I just could not leave the store without. Then as I went to purchase my lipstick I couldn’t help but browse by the eyeshadows. How could I buy a lipstick and not an eyeshadow? Won’t the eyeshadow’s feel left out if I walk on by without even testing a few out to see if there were any I just couldn’t live without? Of course they would! And that’s how I slowly but surely became a MAC addict and started building

I have been using PREVAGE Anti-Aging night cream for the last two weeks. My skin looks younger. It felt smoother and firmer in just a few days. Impressive—for sure. What’s neat about this product is that it is proven to help your skin’s night time natural repair process with amazing ingredients like: Idebenone (a skin revitalizer) which is encapsulated and time-released in the night time moisturizer; Mega Complex-A (a vitamin based blend) like vitamin A, which smoothes lines and wrinkles, Lemon Peel extract—a brightner for age spots and discolored skin, and Vitamin E which restores our skin. This is all really cool right? But wait—the moisturizer comes in this futuristic jar that keeps the product sealed and fresh. There is no way that air can mix in with the product and also the innovative design keeps the product totally sterile. I really appreciate that being the germ-a-phob that I am. Go to any Elizabeth Arden counter to check out the PREVAGE collection. If you are like me and are

December 1st was World Aids Day. A day to bring awareness to the disease and what is being done to eradicate it. Although I am a few days late posting, I think it's great to bring awareness to AIDS all year long. This is exactly what MAC cosmetics does and why I have always been so proud to either work for them or refer their products to all my clients. They introduced their Viva Glam lipstick line thirteen years ago in an attempt to raise money and awareness to AIDS and HIV. This is what is posted on their website: "The M·A·C AIDS Fund, the heart and soul of M·A·C Cosmetics, was established in 1994 to support men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS globally. The M·A·C AIDS Fund is a pioneer in HIV/AIDS funding, providing financial support to organizations working with underserved regions and populations. As the largest corporate non-pharmaceutical donor in the arena, the Fund strives to raise awareness of four key issues in the fight against HIV/AIDS: prevention, the lin

It’s that time of year where we get together with our family and friends and celebrate our family traditions. I absolutely love the fall and winter time. I love to embrace the Holidays—giving thanks for all that I hold dear, celebrating the birth of Jesus, and finally closing the year out with a big bang (usually my “big bang” is a good card game and a few drinks!) Although Christmas time has a very spiritual meaning behind it in our family—we still enjoy the regular traditions of Santa Claus, holiday parties, and gift giving. It’s so much fun—especially those white elephant parties! That's why I would like to take the next couple of weeks to post on some fabulous gift ideas. First on my list is fragrances! Who doesn’t enjoy a nice bottle of perfume? Also, It’s an item that people don’t always like to splurge on for themselves but can really appreciate it as a gift. I’d like to spotlight on: Badgley Mischka Fleurs de Nuit by Elizabeth Arden. This is my night time…going out…all glam

I came home a couple of nights ago from doing a little Christmas shopping and to my surprise I had a birthday cake waiting to greet me with all the love a mom could ask for in the form of a baked with love birthday cake. Oh my heart just melted! It is so cute. The way Isabelle decorated the right side and Ethan's left side with the backwards 3 (didn't he notice that?!) I thought it was the most precious thing ever and it definitely is way better than the Sprinkles cupcakes that I got last year! Thanks Erica for doing this with the kids--I love it so much! What a thoughtful gesture! Today is my birthday and I am so excited. It's silly feeling all giddy like a kid--isn't it. But I can't help it--I get to be pampered by spending time with my friends and family and that's truly my favorite thing in life. You know relationships--they're the only thing eternal in our lives-- Good company and a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks and I am on cloud nine! Even though

The weather here in Southern California has been so crazy this year. Really extreme--it's hot; it's cold; it's windy; it's dry; is it about to rain? All these drastic changes in such a short amount of time is starting to cause havoc on my skin and hair! So I have had to kick up my consistency with my beauty regime. My biggest pet peeve is that I cannot stand having dry lips so I have practically lived with my MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner in my hand. I love the way it makes my lips feel so moisturized and soft and perfectly tinted. The conditioner is very emollient and the vanilla flavor and smell that it leaves is addicting. I need to have my lips in prime condition so that I can really jazz them up for this holiday season. You know...matte, dark, glossy, shiny, glittery...all the different choices for fun holiday lips! Also, on another note, I always prep my clients with a tinted lip conditioner and seriously-- everyone loves it! When it comes time to apply any formula

I love the fall and winter time! The mornings and nights are getting chilly here in Southern California and our sweaters are now coming out of hibernation and making their way towards the front of our drawers. I was watching my kids play outside a couple of evenings ago and I was just in awe at how beautiful their skin looked. My daughter who is pretty fair and my son who has more of an olive tone complexion get pretty tanned during the summer months. Well with their tans fading and their skin lightening to their beautiful shades I couldn’t help but notice how the cool air left the most pretty sheer pink tone to their cheeks. Of course I think my kids are absolutely stunning just like every mom out there feels about their children but It also reminded me of the blushes I have in my kit and all the different formulas and textures that blushes come in. So I've been inspired to share..... Of course my makeup case is full of every texture and formula of blush that MAC cosmetics has to

My sister Michele and I are total BFF's! I adore her! Not only are we really great friends but I'm sure she had something to do with my obsession with cosmetics....maybe it was the makeup applications she would give me when I was nine years old to look like her (which was a very glam punk rock look)! And of course I was walking around like I was hot stuff since I knew I was looking like my big sister--right down to the monkey boots, fishnet tights, plaid skirt, and random punk rock top. Those days were so much fun. Anyways, where I am going with all this is I am always very excited and privileged when my sister can come and work with me on a job. There are times where the wedding party is just too big for little 'ole me to handle all by myself. So a couple of weeks ago I had a large wedding party and Michelle was up to the challenge of coming and helping me out with the girls. I was pleasantly surprised to see a few things that Michele had brought with her that I didn't

So, what a crazy last couple weeks this has been. Many events have occurred that have left me in a serious tailspin. From being surrounded by fires, having my home become a safe haven for Grandma until she could go home, the kids out of school due to poor air quality….not to mention a Halloween party, carving pumpkins, Halloween makeup, Trick or Treating, the Harvest Festival, cheer-camp, two birthday dinners for some dear friends, some very special visitors and oh did I mention I also carry a full time job?! I’m exhausted all over again just writing down the list! So although the last couple of weeks have been trying I have also re-discovered a few beauty gems that I had not brought out for a while and I would love to share them with you! First, the week of the fires was horrible. It was hard to breathe without my chest aching and my hair, skin, and nails really did not respond well to the poor air quality. After my hands became so dry by the end of the week I broke out my Rosebud Sal

When it comes to makeup-- we want all the tricks and that's our treat! With Halloween on the horizon I thought it would be appropriate to treat you and share some of my favorite tricks of the trade! Today's trick has to do with the lips....and this might be useful as you make yourself up for all those frightful Halloween parties you will be attending. When you start applying your makeup apply a lip conditioner right away so by the time you get to your lips they will be soft and subtle when you go to apply your lipstick. As you prepare your lips it is wise to always use a primer. I love both Paula Dorf lip primer and Urban Decay Potion for the lips(i know it says "eyeshadow primer" but trust me...it's phenomenal as a lip primer!). Next, pencil you lips in with your lipliner and then go back and smudge the liner all over your lips so that you get a nice even application without the " lipliner defined" edge. Now you are ready to apply your first coat of

So, I promised you all a review on one of my new favorite foundations. Drum roll please....... MAC Cosmetics Face and Body Foundation ! I really have fallen head over heels for this foundation. It is a water based foundation that provides sheer coverage which you can layer for more coverage if you need it. I have been using this all summer long on all my clients and everyone has loved it! It doesn't matter what your skin type is--this foundation will work for you. As a makeup artist, I love that this product is so easy to mix for a custom shade. My own skin tone changes so much that I am constantly needing to change up my foundation. MAC Face and Body makes it so easy to blend two colors together and get a natural, soft, and pretty complexion. Once your foundation is on you can use a pressed powder to set everything and then just carry your blot powder in your bag to touch up on any shine you may get during the day. Now for the "body" part of Face and Body Foundation, yo

I simply love this time of year. I like the seasons change, the longer nights, the cool brisk mornings…..and especially the kick off of the holiday season. By kick off I mean foot ball and by foot ball I mean homecoming….and by homecoming I mean really fun makeup applications! Shortly after the homecoming blitz comes Halloween which is also a really fun time to be creative with my cosmetics. Now, whether we are talking homecoming dances or Halloween one main ingredient always comes to mind…GLITTER! I heart glitter. Truly. Ask anyone who knows me. I don’t reserve glitter for special occasions and Halloween. I literally wear it through out the year as the spirit moves me. Every since I ever started wearing makeup I have had some sort of glitter in my collection. Some days I put it on and I swear it just makes me feel happy all day long. Maybe I’m getting too old for that kind of glitter wearing behavior but I don’t care. I’m sure it keeps me young at heart. Some of my favorite glitter pr