BB and Lip and Cheek Stain from Birch Box Tutorial Review

So these BB (or Beauty Balm) are all the rage, eh?  Lets see...
I just received one in the Birch Box that came this month.  I LOVE this Birch Box, it's like a monthly box of goodness.  They totally hit the mark with this.  If you are not familiar with Birch Box, you should check it out.  There is a low monthly subscription fee and you get a box of different deluxe size samples each month.  The presentation is faaaaantastic! Even the shipping Box is pink.
Anyhoo, a couple of the goodies inside were Dr Jart Water Fuse Beauty Balm Multi-Action Skincare + Make up SPF 25 and Staniac hint of tint for cheeks and lips in Beauty Queen.  So, I tried them out.

Of course, start with a clean dry face! They tout this product to be a moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum, which hides imperfections.  So, you should not have to use your regular moisturizer.  Hmmmm, sounds to good to be true.

I used my fingers, you can also use a foundation brush or sponge.  start by your nose, cheek area and blend out to your jaw line.  Pay close attention to blending out the jaw line area.

Next comes the Staniac, Staaaaaaaainiac oh noooo and she's dancing like sh........ Sorry, Whenever I hear Staniac, I think Maniac and that song from Flash Dance pops in my head.  Annnnnnd, back to makeup.

This stuff can go on lips or cheeks.  Be warned, if you use your fingers to blend on your cheeks, they will be "stained" as well. SO move swiftly and wash quickly! I might know this from first hand experience.  Although the applicator is great for lip application, it's not so handy for the cheeks.  If you use a sponge, it will waste a lot of product.  I just used my fingers and they were only stained for a little.

Blend with your fingers in a circular motion and out towards/along your cheekbone, but concentrate on your apple.

For your lips, apply directly to your lips, follow your lip line like you would with a liner and then fill in the center.

I of course had to add a smidge of eyebrow color with MAC eyebrow pencil in Taupe I could only find it online at Nordstrom and Macys...I hope they are not discontinuing it!  I LOVE it and use it on my self and have it in my kit.

So there it is. My 40 year old face with the BB cream, Staniac and eyebrows.  That's it!  Not too shabby, eh?

The BB cream by Dr Jart did not impress me, it is just OK.  But I am a lover of the mineral makeup for my everyday makeup.  If you are a liquid girl, this may be a great option if you are looking to shave off  a couple of steps from your routine and save a few minutes.  The Staniac is fun and gives you a nice natural pink glow on your cheeks and with it being a 2 in 1, that definitely speeds things up.  I did this whole look in about 3 minutes.

MAY ALL OF YOUR DAYS BE BEAUTIFUL!!

XOXO

Lisa Strawther

Owner/Makeup Artist Making Up Las Vegas

Make Up Forever Foundation Review

 MakeUp Forever: Mat Velvet + Matifying Foundation

I've finally found my holy grail foundation with the Make Up Forever: Mat Velvet + Matifying Foundation!   I have tried so many different foundations from  Becca to MAC and everything in between and still haven'tfound anything that compares to this.   I have super oily and acne-prone skin. I have found that this foundation looks very good on my skin type.    

Mat Velvet + Matifying Foundation

First things first, when applying any kind of makeup be sure to start with a freshly washed and moisturized face (very important!) I shake the foundation bottle up (with the cap on, of course :) to make sure that all of the ingredients are properly  mixed first.  I then put a smalldrop on the back of my hand and I used my index, middle and ring fingers to blend the foundation on my face.  The foundation goes on very sheer but you will see the coverage building slowly.  When applied with my fingers, I am able to achieve a natural daytime look.

This foundation is amazing!  You can easily wear it during the daytime or build it up  for a nice, flawless night time look. When I want more coverage, I use a  foundation brush(which is always Brush #190 by MAC),  to apply the foundation.  One of the things I love most about this foundation is that although it is liquid, the foundation never looks heavy on my skin.  Additionally, they have such an array of colors from the lightest porcelain shades to the deepest mahogany!

Brush #190 by MAC

Regardless of the application method, my foundation stays in place and remains matte throughout the day.  This product is transfer-resistant, water-resistantand oil-free so I'm able to wear it year round with no problem (Which is great for the Vegas heat!). I like to finish my look off with MUFE HD Microfinish Powder for an airbrushed, matte, radiant finish. If you've been looking for the perfect foundation for your oily skin, look no further!

MUFE HD Microfinish Powder

Have a fabulous day!



YourBeauty Fanatic,

Ijeoma
MakingUp Las Vegas



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Blend, blend, blend! Blending your makeup

Every woman wonders, at one point or another, whether she is applying her make-up correctly.  I have heard this from my Las Vegas clients for years, even from women who have been wearing make-up for a long time.  It can be very frustrating, even to the point that you don’t want to wear make-up at all.  And, well, we cannot have that! 

The first thing I tell every client is to make sure you BLEND.  Blending makes all the difference in the world.  Whether it is eye shadow, blush or foundation, blending is a must!!

So, let’s start with your foundation (as you should)!  You can use a foundation brush or a make-up sponge.  I find that my clients tend to have an easier time with a sponge. Your fingers are a great tool too.  But use whatever you are most comfortable with.  When using traditional liquid foundation, start by spreading the foundation under your eyes, around your nose and out toward your cheekbone, down the bridge of your nose, around your mouth and the center of your forehead.  Next-BLEND with your sponge.  You don’t want to see any distinct lines; the foundation should blend flawlessly into your skin.  Pay close attention to your jaw area.  If after all the blending you still can “see” your foundation, you should consult with a professional and make sure you are wearing the correct shade for your skin.

Now, let’s move on to blush.  Using your blush brush start at the “apple” of your cheek and sweep upward (like a “swoosh” from that popular sneaker line). I dust the apples repeatedly until I get the depth of color I want.  Next, wipe the blush brush on a clean dry wash cloth to get rid of any color left and then use it to go over the cheek area several times to blend your blush.  Again, no distinct lines.

The last blending opportunity is with your eye shadow.  Apply your lid color, crease color and highlight color.  Then use your largest eye shadow brush and go back and forth over your crease color.  Wipe the brush on a clean, dry wash cloth and then blend back and forth over the entire area for a perfectly blended eye.

Brushes make a big difference.  Make sure you are using the right makeup tools for the job!  We will, of course, cover this in another blog.

It will take just a bit of practice, but that, ladies is how you get the perfect blend! 

Have a fabulous day,

Your favorite Las Vegas Makeup Artist, Lisa Strawther

xo