If you follow me on Twitter, you know I was recently in the Bay for over a week for work and business (and some leisure ). While I was up there, I had more time than usual, so I decided to do something I’d thought about for a while, and that is to find the “happening” beauty spots in the San Francisco Bay.

Well. I tell ya. I was initially a little disappointed, particularly with San Francisco. Being the hip, “West Coast New York” that it is, I was expected to find my hip, funky little ‘off the beaten path’ stores. Instead, I was surprised to find mostly the same large beauty chains that one can find in most cities. I’m sure the hip little stores do exist and I’ll try finding them again on future trips. What I did find in visiting the big stores, however, was that these stores often carry brands and products that other stores in the chain might not. Here then is what I found on my first SF Bay beauty excursion; Continue reading →

Technorati Tags: 100% pure, bath and body works, Beauty Travelogue, benefit, benefit cosmetics, jo malone, keihls, kryolan, Mac, mac cosmetics, makeup, peets coffee, sephora, Shoppin', shu uemura, victoria's secret

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Benefit Cosmetics PosieTint

In a previous MakeupMonday I mentioned using lip/cheekstains as a means of lightening up one’s makeup routine. In that article I mentioned perennial favorites, Benefit Benetint and Becca Cosmetics Beach Tint. Many readers, however, have cried out for more. Here then are some of my favorite tints…

1) Tarte Cheekstain – It’s pretty crazy that I didn’t mention this one right off the bat, but I guess I was trying not to seem too biased. This product absolutely never leaves my kit and I have a shade that I use on myself as well (yes, they have shades for every skin-tone of Divas! ). They add subtle sheen, a sheer yet buildable amount of color and dry to a natural finish on the skin. AND they have no parabens, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, etc. Continue reading →

Technorati Tags: benefit cosmetics, LORAC, lorac cosmetics, stila cosmetics, tarte cosmetics

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Tarte Double Ended Lipgloss in Rhett and Scarlett

5) Cargo Cosmetics – Lipgloss
This would be higher on the list save for the fact that Cargo changed the configuration and color selection of this item. They used to be lipgloss duos and they were the BEST ever. Now I see they are quads and they didn’t keep any of the same color names. I’m still going to recommend it, however, for a couple of reasons. First of all, the actual formulation of Cargo’s lipgloss was always fantastic; smooth and creamy and full coverage without being sticky or gloopy. Secondly, the amount of product was quite generous. Dunno if it’s still as generous now that it’s a quad, however, the tin is larger and deeper than most tubes AND you can scoop every last bit out. Not sure what the new colors are like but when you’re in Sephora, Cargo is always worth checking out. Continue reading →

Technorati Tags: Cargo, korres, nars, smashbox, Tarte

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Nars' Orgasm Illuminator

With Spring being well underway, you may be noticing a change in the cosmetics landscape. Actually, cosmetics companies have already started introducing their Summer collections, so now is the time of year to rethink and recharge your beauty routine. By recharge & rethink, I do not mean run out and buy a zillion more new products and totally change how you do your makeup (unless you want to ). Instead, it’s about changing applications and textures, and going for a more easy approach. I call this time of year the “Lighten Up, Brighten Up” time of year.

1) Foundation – If you’re a foundation wearer, changing formulation can be the simplest way to lighten up your routine. Try going with a tinted moisturizer instead of a full bodied foundation. With the changes in makeup technology over the last few years, you can get a surprising amount of coverage in a lighter-weight formulation. Ones to try; Josie Maran (light coverage) and Korres (a bit more coverage)

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Technorati Tags: benefit cosmetics, josie maran, korres, Makeup Monday, nars cosmetics, smiths rosebud salve, stila cosmetics, urban decay

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I recently had a lesson with an advanced student. She’s been a makeup artist for several years in the retail segment – working with “real women” doing makeovers, etc. – as well as being heavily involved with the business side of many makeup/cosmetics lines (being a corporate trainer, lunching lines, helping to develop product, writing ad copy, etc.). As such, she is involved with the Beauty Biz, but in a very different capacity than a media makeup artist like myself. Her primary concerns for the lesson were to learn some new techniques and incorporate some of the current trends into her retail business.

As anyone who has worked retail can attest, working with Jane Q. Public can be tricky. On the one hand the average woman wants to look current, and on the other she doesn’t want to change out of her comfort zone too much. Now clearly, I’m not talking about the hardcore makeup diva that buys all the new products, makes You Tube videos and Flickr albums of all her new looks, and spends more time in Sephora than I do. I’m talking about the average woman who just wants to look good – not too plain, but not clown like. Here are my tips for keeping your look current, or if you’re a makeup artist, nudging your client a lil’ bit out of her comfort zone. Continue reading →

Technorati Tags: makeup, trends

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