Friday, February 27, 2009

MAC Cosmetics DOUBLEDAZZLE COLLECTION (YAY!)



I love me some dazzleglasses. I wished MAC had made them permanent but they did not. I only got to buy 3 and I use them ONLY for special occasions because they are like my ideal gloss...so i have to savour them, you know what I mean? SO HERE, FINALLY...they are releasing all of 18 of them....including 6 new shades...Thanks to Christine from http://www.temptalia.com for the pictures and product information.


MAC Cosmetics | Double Dazzle Launch Date: April 30th, 2009 (North America), May 2009 (International).
All you need is Love… Lips and Lashes! Summer simplified for the modern makeup minimalist. Double Dazzle will daze the closest competition with colour-changing, light-reflecting pearl-shine lips; paired with a new formula for the ultimate in voluptuous lashes, et voilĂ ! Lips lead: seven new Dazzleglass shades bring the scintillating selection up to 18! The flotilla-of-lights formula imparts the pearl combination with mega-glisten shine, creamy comfort and the subtle sensation of vanilla. Lashes follow: multiplied, volumized, utterly glorified by our newest eye innovation…This sly new small-and-mighty brush has been developed to capture and emphasize each and every lash. Lips, Lashes, Lovers…Look out!

Dazzleglass ($18.00 U.S. / $21.50 CDN)

* Sugarrimmed Milky pale pink with red, teal and white pearl
* Goldyrocks Sheer soft yellow with pink and gold pearl
* Moth to Flame Sheer neutral beige with violet pearl
* Smile Light coral with pink and gold pearl
* Steppin’ Out Clean yellow pink with red pearl
* Utterly Posh Mid-tone orange with pink and gold pearl
* Love Alert Raspberry red with red pearl
* Date Night Deep plum with blue and gold pearl
* Funtablulous Purple with violet pearl
* Extra Amps Sheer bright blue pink with blue and pink pearl
* Like Venus Clean light bubble gum pink with red pearl
* Stop! Look! Sheer violet mauve with blue and pink pearl
* Money Honey Mid-tone rosy mauve with red pearl
* Rags to Riches Plumm y pink with teal and red pearl
* Baby Sparks Pale pink with violet pearl
* Bare Necessity Caramel apricot with red and gold pearl
* Girl’s Delight Sheer mid-tone tan with gold pearl
* Get Rich Quick Warm yellow brown

Dazzle Lash ($12.00 U.S. / $14.00 CDN)

* Star Brunette Brown
* Black Dazzle Black

Available: April 30th, 2009 (North America), May 2009 (International).

See more product images…




CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Monday, February 16, 2009

My Recreation for makeupgeek's weekly challenge

So Marlena from makeupgeek.com always has a weekly challenge, where she finds really creative looks and encourages her readers to give it a try, so this week was no different and here is my take on her weekly challenge for this week....The original pic is below and then my recreation! What do u think??








Elle Magazine's A-Z Guide to Skin (August '08)

I was delighted to see this and thought I'd share :

A - Antioxidants - The pac-men of skin care, antioxidants-such as vitamins C & E, beta-carotene, and those within green tea and grape seed- gobble up the free radicals produced by factors like sun exposure (that is the excess of it, in my opinion), pollution, stress and cigarette smoke, neutralizing their skin-weakening powers. As part of a healthy diet, antioxidants reinforce tissue from the inside and as a key step in a daily skincare regimen.

B - Body Brush- An age-old cellulite buster, a dry, natural bristle body brush raises blood flow to the epidermis, revs up lymphatic drainage, and exfoliates dead cells.

C- Collagen - Along with elastin and hyaluronic acid, collagen provides the mesh framework that keeps skin plump, lifted and wrinkle-free. A strong fibrous protein, collagen is a multitasking antiager. You can help your body generate more of the good stuff by using topicals like retinol and vitamin c.
Sugar breaks down Collagen too so ease up off the sugars as much as possible! (My 2 Cents)

D- DHA- The active ingredient in self-tanners, DHA (dihydroxyacetone) reacts with the uppermost layer of dead skin cells, turning them brown. Results last about a week-less, if you exfoliate.
No more tanning beds ladies!!

E- Essential Oils - Plant derived oils, such as sandalwood and rose, can create the aroma behind your beloved eau de parfum and offer countless remedies: de-stress instantly in a lavender-infused bath; dab on tea tree oil, a natural antiseptic, to banish breakouts.

F- Fat - It may be loathsome when you're trying to squeeze into your skinny jeans, but facially speaking,fat is a major ally in turning back the clock. When injected, the springy cells plump the complexion, pushing out wrinkles and lighting sagging skin. (ok then!)

G- Grapes - (my fave fruit) - Grapes are the main source of the antiaging powerhouse reservatrol. When taken internally, this ingredient triggers health effects similar to a low-calorie diet and is believed to help prevent diseases including cancer and diabetes, as well as ward off weight gain and increase endurance. Found, within the skin of the fruit, reservatrol offers several complexion benefits when applied topically-amped-up collagen production, protection from UV damage, and defense against loss of elasticity.

H -Humectant - By drawing water from the air and skin's surface, humectants keep the underlying cells bouncy and moist. Hyaluronic acid is one of the most widely used; others include glycerin, urea and panthenol. (Honey is also an excellent humectant)

I - Ice - Sure, it soothes a twisted ankle but ice - or a chilled cloth or straight- from-the-fridge mask-is also the best way to calm overstressed skin and depuff undereye bags. Cool compresses constrict capillaries, forcing blood, redness and inflammation away from the skin's surface.

J - Juice- Grapefruits, Oranges, lemons and limes make more tan thirst-slaking, vitamin packed beverages. Fruit acids, part of the alpha-hydroxy family, have also proven to be brilliant exfoliants (citric and malic acids are two popular varieties). Unlike scrubs, which physically slough off dead tissue, fruit acids break apart the bonds holding together old cells in surface-dulling clumps. This action also encourages the formation of new cells, which not only makes the complexion radiant and fresh, but also evens tones and minimizes hyperpigmentation.

K - Vitamin K - Found in dark leafy greens such as spinach and kale, vitamin K helps build strong bones. Applied topically, it repairs broken vessels, zapping dark circles and accelerating bruise healing.

L- Line Fillers- From Restylane to CosmoDerm to Zyderm, fillers (made respectively of hylauronic acid, lab-produced human collagen, and bovine collagen) are injected under skin to erase lines and restore fullness. Needle-phobes should opt for creams and cosmetics that mimic the look with optical light diffusers.

M - Minerals - Big news in makeup, mineral formulas consist of natural substances like zinc oxide, ultramarine, and titanium dioxide. Since the particles don't penetrate the skin, they offer coverage with a low risk of irritation.

N - Niacin- A derivative of vitamin B3, niacin helps the digestive system convert to energy and assists nerve function. But skin-care gurus love it because niacin breaks down into nicotinic acid, which stimulates the release of leption, a hormone that's been shown to reduce hyperpigmentation. Applied twice a day, a niacin-enriched product could fade brown spots and other discoloration over time, and since it's gentle, niacin is well suited for delicate faces.

O - Oil - When it comes to creating the perfect skin cream, water and oil truly do mix. It's the ratio of these two ingredients that makes some textures feel thick and others slip on light and airy. But not all oils are created equal. Occlusive versions such as mineral oil lay on the skin's surface to create a protective barrier, while lighter formulas like jojoba seep into skin's cracks and crevices.

P - pH Balance- Harsh cleansers and sugary snacks are just a few of the factors that can upset skin's normal pH (4.0 to 5.5), causing flaking. To hit the reset button, forgo intense acid peels, chomp green veggies, and rehydrate with lotion.

Q - Quick Fix - Makeup artists know how to wake up lackluster skin in minutes without a drop of foundation. Apply a moisturizing mask (or just a rich cream) with a gentle, three-minute facial massage. The process relaxes muscles, accelerates microcirculation, and plumps lines to create a smoother surface and a temporary-but convincing-glow.

R - Retinoids - These chemical compounds are derived from vitamin A and assist in regulating cell growth. Available over the counter (Retin-A is the prescription version), retinoids are often used to reduce appearance of lines since they're so effective at getting skin cells to rebuild collagen and elastin. This rapid turnover can sometimes trigger sensitivity, however, so most docs suggest starting with retinoids every other night until skin adjusts to the new ingredient.

S - Sleep - Most studies recomment seven to eight hours of shut-eye per night for optimal health and beauty benefits. This is a time for full-body regeneration and skin repair, so derms often tell patients to apply treatments such as retinoids and pigmentation-reducers before going to bed, giving ingredients like glucosamine, which treats spots and lines, the ideal conditions under which to work their magic.

T - Tea - Whether brewed as soothing beverages or added to a daily skin cream, these antioxidant superstars (the most potent include green and white teas, along with Argentinian yerba maté) also contain large amounts of polyphenol, a known antiager. These types of tea have been scientifically proven to defend against the formation of certain cancers when sipped faily, and there's evidence that they fight free radicals, minimize UV effects and repair damaged cells when applied to the skin.

U - UV Blockers - The best lotions provide full-spectrum coverage by shielding against harmful (my addition) UVA and UVB rays. Look for labels listing avobenzone, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Remember however that Vitamin D is necessary for healthy living so we should try to get it in moderate amounts each day....15 minutes is good enough. (my 2 cents)

V - Vitamins - Just as a rainbow-color diet supercharges your energy level, your skin requires a full range of vitamins to keep up its glow. When mixed into your favourite treatment, vitamins play a major role in important skin functions such as speeding up healing, minimizing hyperpigmentation and boosting collagen.

W - Water - Up to 6- percent of your body is made of water, so it's no surprise, H2O plays a major role within the skin. When cells are adequately hydrated, they're able to ward off signs of aging, such as wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and inflammation, thereby promoting a dewy glow and clear complexion. To amp up your skin's moisture level, slather on a hydrating cream while skin is damn and load up on essential-fatty-acid-rich foods containing omega-3 and linoleic acid to help maintain tissue's water content from the inside.

X - X-Factor - Your friend's miracle cream is your oil spill? Your sister loves retinoids, but you can't tolerate them? Call it the complexion X- factor: variations in tone, pore size, texture, and sensitivity that mean no product is one size fits all. The best face-saver for you is the one designed for your skin type.

Y - Yogurt- Low levels of lactic and alpha hydroxy acids make plain yogurt an ideal DIY exfoliant (leave on for 5 minutes then rinse) even for those with sensitive skin, while its probiotic content beats bad bacteria effectively on the skin's surface just as it does within the body.

Z - Zinc- Dandruff-fighters have relied on zinc-based shampoos for decades, but the mineral's many skin-care uses-as an anti-inflammatory that clears up eczema regulates oil production, and kills off pore-clogging bacteria-are a relatively recent discovery.

So there you have it....a guide to beautiful skin from A-Z!
My 2 cents: Coconut oil is an excellent skin care product too, it has calmed many an irritated spot on my face for me. :)

Milani Nail Polish in Sunflash


With flash


In natural light




Hey Hey Hey!!!So i was looking for a really nice yummy orange nail polish and came across this.

In the store, it looked orange in the bottle but when the light hit it, it showed up this lovely pink sparkle..so i had to get it! It reminds me of spring, and tropical islands and it's just bright and pretty! :)

Doesn't it look a lot more orange in the daylight? :) It's so pretty! :) It's not the bright neon orange I wanted...although I did get that too...hopefully will post a pic of that next week or so when I change my polish.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

A Look For All Skin Tones!!!!

Whatta gwaan ppl? :)

Bustin' out some of the real jamaican patois for you guys...:)

Okay, so being an avid youtuber, I realized that, most of the prominent makeup gurus are light skinned and of the ones that are dark skinned, in my humble opinion, aren't as good at the looks as the light skinned ones...so all in all, there are just not enough GREAT ones for the darker skinned gals. I mean let's face it, MAC ricepaper eyeshadow could potentially be too 'white' looking on someone with a NW45 complexion.

So i decided that I'm gonna do a look that will suit all skin tones.
I have done makeup on a lot of dark skinned ladies and so I have a pretty good idea of what can work on them as well as lighter skinned.

This was inspired by the Natasha Bedingfield "Soulmate" video...i love it...in it she has a beautiful shimmery smokey brown look going on with nude lips...so that's where we're goin today...ENJOY!!

Oh...and I saw this pic of Kim Kardashian and the video can be used to create that too,
check the pic out here:

http://kimkardashian.celebuzz.com/2009/02/bfm_enlarged/enlarged-my-house-with-caroline-and-khl.php

It can also be used to recreate the look that kelly clarkson used in her new video for " My Life Would Suck WIthout You".




All products used were:
FACE -
Nixie Cream Foundation in Olive 1 (for reference i'm NC43/44
MAC select sheer pressed powder in NC40
REVLON bronzer

EYES
MAC melon pigment
MAC Coco beach pigment
Avon blackest black eyeliner
L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara

LIPS
Milani glossy tubes in summer fling

Monday, February 2, 2009

Hello World


That title brought to mind a song from "Model Behaviour". Anyone remember that movie with Justin Timberlake on Disney?...it went something like,

'Hello world, this is me....life should be...fun for everyone'

Now, that prompted me to search for it, and now I'm hearing the entire song for the very first time...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfaBZvvL_7M

Well, I'm 23 years old, I was born and live in the beautiful island of Jamaica, and I love to talk and type...so i thought hey, why not blog! I have lots of opinions on things and hopefully some people will be interested! :)
I have lots of passions/loves: GOD, music (I'm a singer/musician), beauty (I'm a makeup artist), television, and motivating people.
I love life and so my motto is JUST LIVE YOUR LIFE...thanks T.I. lol.
I'm married to my answered prayer, he's so wonderful! I thank God with each thought of him.
My family and friends mean a whole heck of a lot to me!
I love to laugh and have a good time!

SO, I hope you'll subscribe to this little place where i will attempt to make life 'fun for everyone'!

Oh and yes...that's really me in that pic...my friend Ryan Lue-Clarke took this picture at a private beach here in Jamaica. BIG UP YUHSELF RYE!
Check him out - ryansphotography.com

ALRIGHT...so stay tuned!

Bless!