Essence eye liner pen

For quite some time I have struggled.  I have not found the perfect eye liner pen, gel liner, or liquid eye liner that meets my expectations.  I need my liner to stay put, dry fast, and it needs to be easily removed.  I do not wear eye liner daily, so those days I decide not to wear eye liner I don't want yesterdays remains showing up.  A good waterproof and long lasting liner is great don't get me wrong, but there have been times I have scrubbed liner off only to be defeated.  When I wake up the next morning, the shadows of the pervious days liner is there and I am left to some how incorporate it into my look for the day, rocking a smokey eye while at my local market picking veggies is not exactly the price I want to pay for a water proof long lasting liner!!  I wanted a liner that would suit my needs. As I do with mascaras, I tested out a bunch to find one that was suitable for me.  My previous post was from the cosmetic line Essence.  I was pretty happy with their mascara so why not give their eye liner pen a try right?  Well I did, and before I go into detail about my experience with this product here is the description straight from the Essence website.  "The eye liner with original Japanese ink ensures an absolutely accurate line. Ideal for on the go, available in black".  This description clearly states that it is great for on the go, basically if you don't have time to whip out your gel liner and angle brush but still want to rock a winged liner this will do the trick!  I love the packaging because the cap snaps on and you won't have to worry about what shenanigans your liner is doing inside your makeup bag.  When you first apply the liner its pretty glossy and for a few seconds you wonder if you mistakenly purchased high gloss liner but rest assured, you did not.  It takes 10 to 15 seconds for the liner to dry and for the gloss to disappear. The liner has a felt tip and it's pretty flexible.  I felt like I had total control over my liner and it actually covered pretty close to my upper lash line which is usually a challenge for me.  I love the way this liner glides across my lid and with a little pressure and the right tilt, you can get an automatic thick line, or a thin line.  The only thing I disliked about this liner was that you had to sometimes go over the same spot twice just to enhance the black.  This and mascara alone will give you a pretty easy and polished look that can be achieved in less then two minutes.  I love the fact that this liner is not water proof and it is very easy to remove.  But don't be fooled just because it's easy to remove doesn't mean that it wont stay put for a full day as well.  I would recommend it for everyday use but for events such as weddings or even new years I wouldn't, only because it is not water proof.  Ringing in New Year's with your liner running down your cheeks  or standing at the alter having your husband to be stare deeply into your raccoon eyes is a big no no lol!!
Below is a picture of the Essence eye liner pen (extra long lasting)
And some liner lines on my arm just to show the thickness of the liner.  I also did a very quick flirty winged liner which was easy to achieve, I have to add in that this eye liner pen is also smudge proof.  If you have oily lids and always find that your liner won't last the full day, as if it ditches you around lunch and says, "Yup, okay my work here is done" then try using an eye primer before applying liner.  That will help keep the oil at surface and prevent your liner from wearing out.

Can be found at Shoppers Drug Mart if you are in Canada and its $3

Makeup on a Budget

So not all of us can spend tons of money on makeup although I would really like to lol. Even though I am a makeup artist I have a variety of higher end brands in my kit as well as a variety of budget friendly brands. Why? Because there are some products no matter what the price, you just can't do without. I decided to use all budget friendly makeup products today to show that you can have a full and flawless makeup look while on a budget. These are all products that I actually use on a weekly basis. Products that I read reviews on, decided to give them a try and ended up adding them to my kit because they are that good! I have never had a client to date that has actually asked me what brand I am using they trust my judgment and are always happy with the outcome. When buying a new makeup item its so important for me to read reviews and opinions about the product before I purchase it. Once it arrives I test it out on myself a few times before I even consider ordering it for my kit. Below is a photo of me wearing all of the products that are listed below. If you have a favorite drug store product that you can't live without let me knowz I would love to hear about it. 1.Hard Candy Glow All The Way $8 Applied to neck, bridge of nose, cupids bow and cheek bones 2.Maybelline Pore Eraser. $5. Applied to face before foundation 3.Hard Candy GlossAholic $5 Applied on top of lipstick 4.Wet n Wild mega last Lipstick. $3 5.BH Glamour Blush Palette on sale $11.95 Regular price $16.95 6.BH 10 colour concealer on sale $11.95 regular price $16.95 7.ELF HD Cream foundation $6 8.NYX slim eye/brow pencil in white $3.50 applied to waterline 9.Essence Lash Mania False Lash Mascara $4 10.ELF HD Powder $6 applied all over my face

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Hard Candy glow all the way review

So I have been putting off trying a luminizer for quite some time, I was fine with my own natural glow (just kidding). But I have seen illuminators gone wrong, borderline light bulb kinda wrong lol.  So I was a little iffy.  On one of my weekly trips to Walmart I oddly found myself in the makeup aisle, what a surprise lol.  I have seen Hardy Candy's Glow all the way before and have read their product description that it is infused with 24 karat gold which is quite appealing.  So I decided why not, I selected glow all the way in doll face, the other shades are glamazon bronze, tropical tan and super tanner.  To be honest I chose doll face because of the pretty pink packaging. I do have tropical tan as a sample size and its so pretty especially when I have a tan.  I was so excited to get home and try this luminizer out, I applied a swatch on my arm just so I can see what the product looks like and test out the texture and see what application technique worked best. I found that dabbing the product with your fingers was best and gently working it in opposed to using a brush or applying it with your finger tips as you would your moisturizer because it tends to streak. Later that day  I was getting ready to go out so I used the luminizer on my face and instantly fell in love, I felt so girly and pretty, I applied it to my cheek bones after my full makeup application and couldn't stop looking in the mirror I just loved the glow and shimmer of my cheek bones.   I also used it on a client this past weekend and it was just the finishing touch, it was just a huge wow factor.  I convinced my sister to buy glow all the way, so I can't wait to hear what she thinks, usually anything I recommend to her she is happy with.  I do have to let you know that this product caused two blemishes, but that was also in part because I ran out of my face wash.  Just make sure to take your makeup off before bed and give your face a quick cleanse, also moisturize moisturize moisturize and you shouldn't have any issues, the glow all the way is lightweight and not oily.  Below is a picture of me with no makeup on but with Hard Candy Glow All The Way, applied to the bridge of my nose and cheek bones. The other pictures are of my arm swatches.

Walmart $8.00

Make Up For Ever Mist and Fix

Make Up For Ever is a brand that was discovered by Dany Sanz. The history and philosophy of the company can be found at www.makeupforever.com as well as a complete list of their products.  I have been a fan of Make Up For Ever since attending school.  I was intrigued by their mist and fix which is a product claiming to set your makeup application and give it the longevity  to last for the complete day.   The description of the mist and fix product directly from the MUFE website states,  "This light and comfortable mist seals the makeup and keeps it in place by coating the skin with a weightless and invisible film. The mist provides a continuous protection for the makeup and skin against external attacks (pollution, temperature variations...) by creating a colorless and imperceptible shield made from active hydrating ingredients.". I decided to pick up mist and fix to give it a try.  I have used it on myself a couple of times when going to events and noticed that it did prolong my makeup application but wanted someone else's perspective. I had the opportunity to do a bridal trial for such a naturally beautiful girl this past weekend, minimal makeup is needed for her but because it will be her wedding primers, foundation, powders etc were used. After I completed her makeup, I was packing up and getting ready to leave, she let me know that she was going to keep the makeup on the rest of the day.  So I took that as a great opportunity to take out my mist and fix and start spraying.  Its very important to give some distance when using mist and fix, it is not to be directly sprayed on the face but as the title says MIST..  She let me know she would be spending the rest of the day in her new hot tub which btw I was extremely jealous about since the rest of my day would be spent running errands. I couldn't wait to see if she noticed a difference when I used mist and fix and if her makeup actually stayed considering she would be outside in a hot tub in very humid weather with the sun shining down on her.  Her review of mist and fix is below.

Me (Nalonie), "Hey, did you find the mist and fix which is the stuff I sprayed on your face, helped keep the makeup on longer?"

Nat's response, "Ya for sure, I was in the tub like all afternoon and night lol, and the stuff didn't budge.  It was exactly the same when I went to bed at 12, we were in the tub from 2:30 until like 930, no lie, I even fell asleep on my couch and my makeup didn't budge.  It was amazing stuff it held up to sweat really well.  I had to be dead set in the sun for a few hours before it started feeling weird  but if I dabbed it with tissue it was back to normal and I still glowed."

Personally I would say that Make Up For Ever mist and fix lives up to its name and what it is set out to do.  Professionally its essential for your clients especially for bridal applications. Although mist and fix has a lot of pros about it the only con I can think of is that it does leave your face feeling wet for a little while after but that goes away within minutes.

Here is the beautiful Nat right after her bridal trial and again enjoying her hot tub while wearing mist and fix. 

#makeup #makeupforever 

Make me some lips.?

Everyone always compliments me on my lips.  I love my natural lips but I am obsessed with making my lips bold and glossy!!!  Below is a quick pictorial on how I manufacture gorgeous lips lol!!!!

1.  What my natural lips look like
2. I apply my favorite lip balm which is eos
3. I take my favorite concealer in this case I am using BH cosmetic's concealer palette (If you haven't already tried their concealer palette its a must)
4. I then apply foundation around my mouth (elf studio HD foundation) with a beauty blender, but of course you can use a foundation brush.  I just prefer the finished look a beauty blender provides.
5  I fold my lips so that I can apply powder, for this tutorial I am using make up forever velvet finish powder.
6. I take my lip liner and line along my lips, I love the definition lip liner gives me, but liner is not a necessity. I am using makeup forever aqua lip liner in 8c.
7. I apply my lip colour (wet n wild stop light red)
8. This is my favorite step, I take my hard candy glow all the way and apply it to the center of my chin and just below my nose so those areas are highlighted.  I love the affect the glow all the way gives to certain areas of your face when applied, just dabbing the product with your finger will blend it into you skin and give you that glow.

Gloss is totally optional but for this pictorial I used hard candy glossaholic

#makeup #beauty #lipstick#makeupartist

•••I did not use any filters for the pictures below, I was using my cell camera which adjusts to the slightest bit of light•••

Coconut oil!!!!!

Coconut oil is not just used for cooking these days, besides the extensive health benefits, and random uses such as keeping your shower squeaky clean or polishing your cars interior leather.  Coconut oil is great to use for beauty solutions as well.  Such as, makeup remover, lip moisturizer, you can use it when shaving your legs, it can be used as a highlighter when applied to your cheek bones, it can be used as a cuticle treatment, as hair gel, as a deep conditioner and the list just goes on and on.  All natural coconut oil is very inexpensive.  I personally use coco oil as a moisturizer for my body, I apply it to the soles of my feet, I use it in my hair especially when I braid my hair and want to get rid of fly aways.  I also use it as a makeup remover and it does the job!  I will continue to use coconut oil daily as it has to many benefits to just pass up.  I have never had a break out or reaction when using coconut oil which is good because my skin is very sensitive and I have allergies.  Its such a great beauty tool to have!!!!!!!!