And the Emmy goes to...

Hello my dear Vixens!
 I have neglected you in your times of need! I promise to be better but I am only human! Ha ha! Ok moving right along.... As you may or may not know, I have had the privilege of working the Emmy's for the past 3 years. This year my client's tripled from the previous! Whoo hoo! Work work work! Between the creative Emmys (yes that exsists), the pre Emmy parties, the Emmy's themselves and let's not forget the after parties it is important that your hair and makeup get you through these events! I mean who wants to walk the red carpet with smeared eyeliner and flat hair? The answer is no one! and I can bet your ass if that happens you won't be getting booked the next year either!  Working with the most prestigious people in the industry means having all the right materials to get the job done! Which is why I created a list of my Emmy award winning products that got me and my client's through the awards season this year.... and the first Emmy goes to....

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microfinish Powder, $30      
Everything is in HD these days! This means major changes and breakthroughs in makeup! Ever see someone walking the carpet that looks like a melting Picasso? Think Nicole Kidman a few years back. She wasn't equipped with HD makeup! This powder is super duper fine making it easy to slide into those pores... or should I say what pores? Yes it is that incredible. Use it as a last finishing touch to set in all makeup. It is ok for pretty much all skin tones but use very very sparingly to avoid looking white or cakey. A little (I mean teeny tiny) bit goes a LONG way which also means more bang for your buck! Amazing!
       The next Emmy goes to...


Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, $36 - $49
    Not to prime is a crime! This fills in pores, fine lines and unwanted nonsense. This makes the skin a smooth canvas to work on and also helps everything to stay on longer. Not much to say but use it! It helps!
 The next Emmy goes to...

Maybeline falsies mascara is my new lover! I am sickly obsessed with this mascara! I did not even need to apply one fake eyelash this year! Thank you Maybeline falsies I LOVE YOU! (Hey I said sickly obsessed). Best mascara I have ever used and it's only $7.50! LOVE!
Last but not least.... The Emmy goes to...

Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray, $11 - $29
Before I leave my client  I spray a mist of the setting spray. I can leave confident knowing that my clients will withstand the lights of the red carpet, the camera's and the late night cocktails or at least their makeup will. Don't be caught without it! Thanks so much! Check back in for the hair portion of the Emmy's! Coming soon.... xoxoxoxo

OBSESSION!

My beloved vixens!!!
    Just wanted to give a quick update on a few products I am obsessed with and not able to live without these days! Take some notes! You don't want to live with out them either!

1. Kiehl's photo age corrector deep action exfoliating cleanser. Holy Cow! This is the best exfoliant I have ever used in my life! No joke! Extremely gentle. I always have issues with exfoliants either being too harsh or too creamy leaving that gross unwanted film on my skin. Not this one ladies and gentleman it is pure perfection! When I first used it I used WAY too much (I am a product junkie what can I say?). It seems to be super concentrated which is great because if a little goes a long that means more bang for your buck and who doesn't love that? Although it is an exfoliant which is necessary for removing dead skin (yuck) it also lathers up which I love. Also can be used daily (which is rare). Last but not least it is clinically demonstrated to correct visible and invisible signs of UV damage. LOVE IT! You will too!

2. Aveda smooth infusion style prep smoother. Apply on towel dried hair before blow drying or not. Helps protect hair from heat damage, seal in moisture, kicks frizz in the ass and has a 12 hour humidity defense.... which means you don't have to look like a busted q tip after a night of dancing in the club. Not much to say except that it works and works amazing!

3. Beauty Blender.Yes this is the funny egg looking thing that works wonders for blending your face makeup. So to be honest with you I don't know how the hell this thing works so great but it does! (Kind of like a magic eraser LOVE them but how do they work? no one will ever know). Use the larger end for all over makeup, contouring, cream blushes etc. Use the smaller end for blending under the eyes and in smaller areas. Wet the 'egg' squeeze out excess water leaving the 'egg' damp. Stiple the makeup on and it's magic! Perfect face makeup every time. The only thing that worries me is bacteria so make sure you keep your beauty blender clean.

4. Kiehl's midnight recovery oil. Put this miracle worker aka oil on clean face before bed (a little goes a long way) and wake up to flawless skin. It literally is a midnight recovery oil no joke! Amazing product! "With skin hydrated, supple and soft, rest assured you can say goodnight to tired-looking skin". Wake up to perfection! Hey you don't have to tell me twice! Thanks to the girls at Kiehl's on Robertson in Beverly Hills you guys are rocking my world!!! Everyone should go check them out!

So I could go on and on but I figure quality over quantity wins in the world of beauty. These are my to die for products at the moment that I will never go without! What are your favorite products? Email me at Kristinamakeup@gmail.com

Blending in

Hey Vanity vixens!
  So I realize this blog is LONG overdue. My sincerest apologizies! However, this does not change the fact that this blog is extremely important! My subject today is Blending! So as you know I do not believe there are many rules in makeup.... however this is an exception! If you want to wear bright blue eyeshadow and foil pink lipstick.. although not my taste hey work it out! I'm not mad at ya! Bright blue eyeshadow can be done but the key is blending. Nothing looks worse than un blended eyeshadow regardless of the color. So here are some key points in helping those jagged edges blend in for a more flawless you! These steps will change your life so pay attention.

 1. Get a great brush! This will change your life for the better! Something not too big and not too small. Something flexible (not too stiff) but not too soft... I usually look for rounded fluffy types. Sorry I can't be more specific but experimenting is the key. Different strokes (literally) for different folks. My suggestion is to take a brush that appeals to you and hold it up to your eye...if it seems to fit into the crease of your eye and feels comfortable while holding it then chances are you may have found your winner! Check out www.Sephora.com to try your faves! What are your faves?

2. Don't overload too fast! Too much eyeshadow too soon is too much! Start off with a small amount and build your way up...Remember this! It is easier to add on then to remove. I personally am a huge advocate of wearing tons of eyeshadow and owning it but it has to be done right! Start off with small amounts and if you want it darker then add more! Nothing is harder than having way too much eyeshadow all over the place and then attempting to blend it into something beautiful. Chances are you are gonna end up with unblended eyeshadow (which is never ok ) and a dark ring of excess eyeshadow lying underneath your eyes (which cancels out all the work you did with your concealer). So remember start small and build up.....It always pays off in the end! Trust me!!!

 3. Fingers!!! Yes I said it! It is absolutely ok to use your fingers at the end if it means flawless blended eyeshadow! I am telling you it works miracles! So you are looking at your makeup (I do this often) and everything is pretty much ok but something is missing or doesn't look right...this is where your fingers kick in. Don't be shy! Use your finger and rub that shadow! You will thank me later! Something about the heat of your finger with your eye really works miracles every time!

Ok so I hope this helps... scratch that! I know this helps! Blend away and be beautiful! Any questions or concerns? Email me at Kristinamakeup.com and stay tuned! xoxo   Kristina



     
  

Beauty on a budget!

Hey vixens!
  In this day and age let's face it we don't all have the luxury to spend $25.00 on a mascara and the reality of it is you don't have to! I want to share with you my top 5 favorite drug store beauty finds. Looking and feeling your best doesn't mean draining your bank account! So here it is.... My top five in no particular order.....
#1 Equate facial cleansing towelettes-I live on these things! They are the best makeup remover towelettes I have ever used! I buy them in bulk so I never have to go without. Infused with chamomile, vitamin E and triple tea complex they leave your skin silky smooth. Works great for those late nights when you don't have the energy to wash your face (I know i'm bad).  Found at your local Wal mart.
Price-$5.97 for 120 wipes. Compare to Ponds clean sweep $6.79 for a 30 pack.

#2 Loreal true match liquid foundation- I use this foundation quite often actually. I love the consistency. Gives great coverage without being cakey. Offered in a variety of super blendable shades so you can customize your color without draining your bank account and you don't need to pay a pro to do it for you. Found at most local drug or grocery stores.
Price-varies from $7.00 to $12.00 depending on location. Compare to Lancome photogenic Lumessence $42.00 that is almost 4xs the amount!

#3 Equate absolutely beaming daily moisturizer-This moisturizer is lightweight yet adds great moisture to the skin. With total soy complex and natural light diffusers it adds a slight glow to liven up dull skin. I love it and find it works great on almost every skin type. Found at your local wal mart.
Price-varies from $5.50 to $9.00 depending on location. Compare to Aveeno positively radiant $15.54. Also compare to Clarins brightening hydrating daily lotion $59.00

#4 Loreal Double extend mascara in carbon black- I have never applied this mascara on anyone who has not wanted to buy it and with such a great price point why not? With my second favorite mascara being Diorshow and a price point of over double the cost of Loreal double extend I say stick to the Loreal. You will never need falsies again! This unique double application works wonders on lashes. The white has nylon fibers to naturally add length and volume to lashes while the conditioners keep your lashes from feeling dry and brittle the next day. Found at most drug stores. (Carbon black is the blackest of blacks and is limited to certain locations however any black will do). Price-varies from $6.97 to $10.00. Compare to Lancome cills booster xl $22.00 (just the primer) and lancome difinicills high def mascara $24.50 

#5 H.I.P. eyeshadow duos- These eye shadows are incredible! True high pigment color so what you see is what you get! Shadows glide on smooth and stay all day. Not only are these colors incredible but the packaging is a plus. Every shadow is a duo and comes with a mirror and complimentary sponge applicator in every container. Collect them all! Be bold and have fun! Found in most drug stores. Price- varies from $7.97 to $9.99 Compare to MAC eye shadows $14.50 and you only get one shade.

Looking like a million bucks doesn't mean spending it! With the money you are saving you can look great and still have money for the clubs! Looking this good who needs to pay for drinks?  Let someone else pick up the tab tonight! No one has to know your secrets... well except for maybe me and everyone else reading this blog. Ha! Hope this helps my vixens! Check back later for more budget beauty finds! What are your favorite beauty budget finds? Email me at Kristinamakeup@gmail.com and be featured on my blog. Thanks! xoxoxo

Vegan beauties and eco enthusiasts!

Hey Vixens!
 In this day and age we see a lot more people turning vegan and eco friendly.Being an animal lover and eco friendly enthusiast myself I would love to highlight a few of my favorite vegan/eco beauty products and also offer some additional resources so we can keep a good thing going.
Aveda (www.Aveda.com). Aveda has been a pioneer in vegan products. Aveda has been making botanical based beauty products since 1978! From hair care, to skin care to makeup they have really nailed it all. A company based on promoting wellness is a company I support! Please check out their products. Need advice on these products? Email me for suggestions.
Pureology hair care (www.pureology.com). This shampoo and conditioner (along with Aveda) has saved my life! They have a wide range of high quality products so no matter what your hair type they have a solution! My favorite is the hydrate system. It moisturizes hair without weighing it down and is great for color treated hair.
Manic Panic-(www.manicpanic.com) Yes these creative and edgy hair colors are 100% vegan and cruelty free. This is for the punk and vegan enthusiast alike! So color your hair hot pink and feel guilt free at the same time. Also the colors are true which I love! Considering the fact I have had my hair every color of the rainbow this product is definitely a favorite for alternative hair color.
Tip: When using a blue, green or purple bleach your hair to the lightest blonde possible for the truest and brightest color.
Urban Decay vegan pallette-(www.urbandecay.com) Although not all of their products are vegan they do have some vegan products complete with a "Vegan looks" section on their site which I love. The pigment in their eyeshadows are great. The colors are true and most of the colors (with and exception of a few glittery ones) glide on excellent! These are great shadows to create a smokey eye or to add a hint of color to liven up your every day routine so check em out and remember to have fun with it!
I could be here all day listing my favorite eco/vegan products but lets face it no one wants to spend an hour reading this as much as I don't want to spend an hour writing it so here are some more websites to check out.
Alternate resources:  
www.alternativeoutfitters.com Great resource for everything vegan. www.organicbeautynow.com Good for organic skin care.www.tartecosmetics.com Love their makeup!
I want to say thank you to everyone supporting the cause! We all have to live in this world together so it is important to take care of it and eachother! I hope this helps and thanks soooooo very much for the support. Questions, comments or additional resources? Please leave a comment! xoxo Kristina

I forgot to add that Mac also has a great recycling program. Save your empty containers and score some free loot! check it out at www.maccosmetics.com. Ok that's all. Thanks! xoxo

Eye popping!

Hey Vixens!
The question for today is What colors should I wear on my eyes to make them stand out? Your answer is here! Ok let's start with this.... everyone LOVES a smokey eye me being its #1 fan! Maybe you adore a smokey eye but don't wear a lot of makeup so the thought of blacking out your eyes is terrifying (which is understood). Well you don't have to worry because a modern day smokey eye has changed tremendously! More and more you see a smokey eye using different colors like silvers, purples, pinks etc. Any color out there will work! This is a great breakthrough and will help even the most timid to be able to ease into a sexy sultry eye. Now the key to finding what color works best for you. Grab a mirror and some light (natural light preferred but not necessary). Look at the color right around your pupil. Mine happens to be yellow gold so yellows or golds tend to make my eyes really stand out. Does this means I have to put yellow eyeshadow all over just to make my eyes stand out? No! I try to incorporate a little gold into my eyeshadow. Maybe a gold on the lid and some browns in the crease (Video coming soon). Or try using a liner or a bit of shadow right below your lower lash lines. This little hint of color has amazing effects on the eyes! I personally keep my shadows fun but always use black eyeliner. If you are affraid of black eyeliner there are TONs of options these days for eyeliners. Check your favorite makeup line for a variety of fun colors (www.Urbandecay.com www.Makeupforever.com www.Sephora.com). Do you have super dark eyes? Try mixing up your look by replacing your black eyeliner with a purple or blue. Purples or blues work great with brown or dark eyes. Just using a hint of the color will really make a difference! Here are a few of my favorite options for the following eye colors. However you should have fun and find what works best for you!
Blue eyes- golds, plums, black, pinks.
Green or hazel eyes- purples, black, silvers, browns.
Brown or black eyes- dark blues, purples, plums.
Now just remember there are no rules in makeup! Don't be affraid to be sultry! Line those eyes and knock em dead! xoxoxox

Longer lasting lip color!!!

Hey Vixens!!!
 Want longer lasting lip color? There are a few options we have here. I see every day on the market about 24 hour lip colors, Long lasting lip color etc. Do they work? For the most part yes they do! However... in my opinion... I usually never truly like the color (For some reason they never seem the same) they seem to always (in my experience) give a grey hue. Anyway beyond all of that they make your lips like the Sahara Desert!! I don't know about you but I hate dry lips!!! So here I am with your solution.... My favorite method to use for longer lasting lip color is so simple it's ridiculous! Let me tell you this... I hardly ever use lipstick! Am I against it? No! Lipstick is great for so many purposes just not for long lasting options. Unless of course you never eat or talk or use your mouth in general (sounds dirty but you know what you I mean). So here is my #1 favorite tip... (It is incredible how easy it is). My alternative to lipstick is lip liner and chapstick. So easy! I know but it works miracles! Line your lips with your favorite lip liner (My favorite lip liners are from NYX and prestige and usually never cost over $2.00 a lip liner making them a must have! I usually buy them at least 10 at a time). Application... Line your lips with your favorite lip color, After lining your lips smudge the color inward keeping the palest part of the lip in the middle (See previous blog on poutier lips). Apply chapstick to add moisture and Voila! Long lasting lip color! I personally live by this rule on a daily basis. I never have to re apply! Tip: Have a hot date? Try a flavored chapstick and really impress your date! Won't rub off and doesn't feel cakey to your date. Works like a charm every time! Gloss lover? Just apply to the middle of your lips... It adds a super hot shine while adding the pouty lips effect. Also if only added to the middle of the lips it lessens your chances of lip color wearing off or smudging.
My 2nd option Lip stains. This is my theory on lip stains. They are fantastic for the "no makeup" people out there. Lip stains are like the tinted moisturizers of the lip world (See previous face of base blog). Lip stains are ideal for people who wear very minimal amounts of makeup but want a hint of color to their lips. These options are great! However, they also seem to dry out the lips and you never really know what the color will look like (In my experience the brighter the color the better the stain looks). These really do work but I do suggest bringing a chapstick or lip gloss a long since they do have a drying effect on the lips. (Check out Mac lip stain and Cover girl outlast lip stain).
Tip: Have a hot date? Plan on making out? (Hey it happens). Apply Lip stain, Then apply lip liner and chapstick. Results are... Look smoking hot on your date, then after a hot make out session the lip liner and chap stick wear out (trust me he/she wont realize you are wearing anything) you will be left with the hottest naturally flushed look to your lips!!! You will thank me for this! and your boy/girl will think you just look hot (naturally of course). Now spread the love and smooch away!!!! Thanks! Hope this helps!!!! xoxo!