Hidden Talent at the Mall Makeup Counter

Yesterday I went shopping at Macy's and was stopped 4 times as I walked through the beauty counters from sales girls trying to get me to sit down and get my makeup done. Initially I think, why would I want a make-over when I am clearly made-up, but understand they are just trying to make a sale. I stop to chat with the last girl to see what magic product she was promoting and noticed something that most makeup counter girls had in common: they were attractive, had nice skin and their makeup was tastefully done. To me, that's important. Just like I wouldn't get my hair done by someone who had fried dried out hair with horrible color. Depending on the cosmetic brand depended on the look each girl wore too, because I noticed Chanel, Shiseido and Dior girls wore more makeup, while Clinque and Lancome were done up lighter...just an observation.

Upon further discussion with the sales girl, I could see her makeup was artfully done and knew right away she knew what she was doing. I rarely ever let someone else do my makeup but sometimes it's fun to see what they would do different, so I sat down and let her do up my eyes in a 'night' look. She first asked me what the event was and what I would be wearing. Loved that. She wanted to create a look that was going to be right for me and the event and that is definitely important.

She then asked about any allergies I had or sensitivity to products I'd experienced and then proceeded to do my makeup once she had the go-ahead. She was professional, friendly and although I knew the ultimate goal was to sell me the products she used, she was still having fun doing my makeup and it was obvious she enjoyed doing it. She was done in 15 min and I was impressed with the new eye look she gave me that I asked for her card because there are times when I hire assistants to help me tackle large bookings, and she was clearly talented.

Granted not all sales girls in the makeup department are makeup artists, and I have seen (and heard) horror stories of such encounters, but there are some good ones out there if you pay attention. So next time you walk through the mall and browse the latest products, don't turn down an opportunity to get your makeup done because you just might walk away with a new look you'll love, and the products to re-create it, from someone genuinely talented.

Why Airbrush Makeup Can Kick Your Makeups Butt Any Day

Yahoo! SHINE asked me to write an article on my expertise, airbrush makeup, and it was published. So if you were ever curious about what makes airbrush makeup so great and the benefits of using it versus traditional cosmetics, here's your chance to learn more.

shine.yahoo.com/why-airbrush-makeup-can-kick-your-makeups-butt-any-day

Lip-a-licious

I've always felt that if you only had time to do one thing (makeup-wise), your lips had to be done. I feel naked without it and believe it just makes you look 'polished' even if no other makeup is worn. NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss has just come out (this month) and their new, innovative gloss is specially formulated to nourish and enhance lips. The cool part about their new lip gloss it's new bristle brush, which provides a perfect application to help define and shape lips because of its extra small size.

It's available in 9 gorgeous shades and stays in place all day because it's also a long-wear gloss. No goop or glop, it's shiny with vibrant colors that keep your lips smooth. That's extra incentive to use it in my book. You can get it at Sephora. 

If that wasn't enough, designer Kate Spade has teamed up with the brand Lipstick Queen, to create a new line of lipsticks called Supercalifragilipstick. Seriously. It's set to launch in September, and currently has 4 shades in its line. The ingredients include silk powders, shea butter and antioxidants to make lips soft and supple. The lipsticks will be sold at Kate Spade stores and at KateSpade.com.

So ladies, treat yourself to one of these little products that's sure to pack a lot of punch and garner some attention.

Are You a Clutter Queen?

When is the last time you cleaned out your makeup bag? Yeah, that's what I thought. Women tend to accumulate lots of makeup items, some we rarely use, but stash in our makeup bag anyway. What most women end up carrying is a ton of products in a messy bag.  An organized makeup bag really can make doing your makeup that much more efficient. So take 15-minutes to empty out the contents of your bag and separate it into 2 piles. One pile for your everyday makeup, and one pile for your rarely worn, or special event makeup.



My organized 4-tiered on wheels makeup case.



From these two piles, remove anything that is old, broken, leaking, empty (or almost) or that has chemically separated (or smells weird). Mascara has a shelf life of 3 months once it's opened, then it becomes dried out with all that in-and-out wand pumping, and is usually the reason why your mascara flakes. Foundation can last 2 years if not subjected to extreme heat conditions. cream or powder blush and eye shadows can last years, same with lip and eye pencils, lipsticks, compact powders and glosses. As long as your makeup has never melted and re-hardened, it should be good. Clean off any residue, gunk or grime with a wet paper towel from the makeup containers and the interior of your makeup bag. If it's beyond cleaning, treat yourself to a new one.

Makeup brushes that you carry in your bag should be cleaned at least once a month and never left loose in your bag. Keep them in a brush tube (Sephora has them) so the bristles stay clean and don't lose their shape. Also less chance of bacteria growth opportunities this way. Makeup sponges/wedges can be tossed once completely soiled so that you get the best application with your foundation. If your sponge looks funky, it probably is.

I would recommend to only carry with you the daily touch up essentials. Leave the rest at home in a drawer, makeup case or separate makeup bag (especially the special occasion makeup). There is no need to carry around every item you own, and it's a nice way to keep your makeup bag clean and clutter free. Since I wear airbrush I don't carry around much to touch-up, but my makeup case for work is always kept cleaned and organized. I'm a huge fan of Sephora for the beauty tools needed at affordable prices to organize your makeup.



My daily essentials - floss, gloss, eye & lip liner



When you do your makeup in the morning, toss those touch-up items you may need in your daily makeup bag, along with a few 'evening' makeup essentials you may need (like shadow, darker eye liner or lipstick) so you can easily transition from work to play if needed. Don't forget to keep a pair of tweezers (tip protected so they stay aligned), a sharpener (that catches/stores the shavings), travel pack of Q-tips, blotting sheets and a mirror in your case as well.

I once heard that people who kept a cluttered/messy car meant they had a messy life. A messy desk meant messy finances and a messy bedroom meant a messy love life. I can see the connection. Call it feng-shui or just a coincidence, but things tend to be less hectic when you're organized. Now maybe a messy makeup bag isn't so dramatic, but in my opinion, it could mean less finesse in how you look because you simply can't be bothered.