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!!!!!!!!

Lipstick and Laundry

Does your significant other have a favorite shirt? Maybe a favorite pair of shorts or pants,what about a favorite tank, favorite pair of work shorts, favorite work shirt and favorite socks? Mixed with your most favorite lipstick ever... What does that make? That makes a load of laundry put in the wash then in the dryer, a day of searching for your lipstick only to pull the clothes out of the dryer and finally discover your missing lipstick.  The heartbreak of losing your favorite lipstick is enough, but having to tell your husband that his favorite shorts are lipstick stained!  Oh and before I told him, I googled what to do in this situation, I scrubbed dish soap on his shorts, I poured a can of coke in the load of laundry, washed the load twice, prayed a little,  only let positive and hopeful thoughts run through my mind and opened the lid of the washer (yes I have a top load washer lol) only to find that my mega last lipstick really does live up to its name.  So I finally confessed to my husband about his shorts, he handled the news like a champ.  What I didn't confess to him was that his other favorite articles of clothing are also ruined.  I know by this weekend he will be looking for his tank or his blue work shirt and I will have to act as if I have no idea where they are!  Meanwhile they are sitting in a garbage bag outside.  Oh and Will (husband), if for some reason if you are reading this which would be odd because I don't think you even know I have a blog but if for some reason you are reading this, SURPRISE lol sorry!!! Won't happen again, promise, will buy you a twix and KFC to make it up to you k love u xoxo.  OK now that that's out of the way let's talk for a minute about my favorite lipsticks! Wet n Wild mega last lipsticks!!!!!!!  I am in love with these, they come in an assortment of shades for all skin tones, and all makeup looks.  They are matte but can be layered with gloss, I wear them mostly with gloss unless I am in a matte kind of mood.  They literally last all day, at most if I am out for 8 or 9 hours I usually only have to apply once, only because I like my lip colour to be very bold.  They don't make your lips dry as some lipsticks tend to do.  The fact I can easily find them at Walmart for less then three dollars is awesome!!  Every time I am at Walmart I pick up at least two because I am obsessed with stocking up on them in case they are discontinued.  I have nothing bad to say about these lipsticks, they even give you a pretty good amount as well, they are also easy to apply.  If your looking for a new lipstick don't pass these up, wet n wild is known to have great products and they didn't disappoint with their mega last lipsticks.

Shades from left to right are

Mocha-licios,just peachy,stoplight red, dollhouse pink,don't blink pink, cherry picking,carrot gold

Your so vain...

My Vanity/Makeup Table is the only area in my house that is my own. I spend at least an hour everyday at my makeup table, sometimes even longer if I am using my paints.   Usually when I am down stairs doing makeup one of my kids will come down to sit and talk with me which I really love because the conversations are usually pretty funny, kids really do say the most random things.  When doing a DIY vanity table IKEA, the dollar store and second hand/antique shops can be your best friend.  The dollar store in my area just recently started selling lipstick organizers, they are pretty durable and just as good as the lipstick organizer I purchased at solutions.  Pinterest is a great source for ideas as well as Instagram if you hashtag vanity table or makeup table.  Its so important to have your own area especially if you are a professional makeup artist or an inspiring one its our office, its where we create and where we can just sit to brain storm ideas.
Some of the things on my table are, my story book boxes which I found at winners, I use them to store accessories such as bracelets and necklaces.  My brush holders are actually candle holders, I just love how they have words scrolled around them.  Candle holders even funky mugs are great for storing your brushes while having easy access to them.  Another thing that is a must for your makeup area is a magnified stand alone mirror.  Once again you can pick one up at your local dollar store and personalize it with gems or even design tape.  Trust me the magnified mirrors are great when applying false lashes shadows or for tweezing your brows. 
My favorite non related items that I have in my makeup space are the three my little ponies.  My sister bought the for my birthday because they are suppose to symbolize my oldest daughter, my sister and myself.  For the longest time I kept them in their package till I could find the perfect spot for them.
I hope my vanity/makeup table can inspire some of you, and just remember you don't have to spend a lot of money to achieve a beautiful area, just some paint, garage sale items and your skills as a bargain hunter will help you create a gorgeous vanity that is unique and suitable for you!!!!!

Brushes, important makeup tools!!!!

So where to start with makeup brushes, well lets start with those blush brushes and those eye shadow dabber things that usually come with your palettes, or blushes.  Get rid of em, toss em, I have never been able to apply a flawless look with those.  The key to a great makeup application is not only the products that you are using but also the tools. Good brushes help you apply and have control over the product and allows you to have an accurate placement, and assist you in achieving  that desired look.  My favorite blush brush is the real techniques.  I wasn't a fan of real techniques brushes after the first time I deep cleaned them because some had started to shed during the process.  So I asked other makeup artists for their opinions and they did not have the same issue. I figure mine were just defected ones so I replaced them and now they are as good as gold :) I love my real techniques blush, powder and foundation brushes, they are my go to brushes and the most reliable ones I have.  For powders I prefer natural hair brushes because they pick up pigments so much better then synthetic brushes.  When working  with concealer or liquid foundation I prefer to use synthetic brushes.  My favorite and I mean favorite eye brushes are make up forever natural ones!  The way they pick up shadow, how blendable, strong and dense those brushes are made, provides me with full control over shadow placement! For lip brushes I am not to picky, as long as they are thin, flat, and dense that is all that matters.

Brush Cleaning
I am sure for the average makeup user brush cleaning is not an everyday concern, but bacteria can build up on your brushes between each use so it is very important to keep them sanitized.
An easy way to sanitize your brushes is to purchase alcohol from your local pharmacy, buy yourself a spray bottle easily found at the dollar store.  After each use just spray your brushes with alcohol and wipe them down, they will be  prepared for the next time you need them.

Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning takes a little more time and effort but its essential to the longevity of your makeup brushes.If you have dish soap, a towel and water you are all set to deep clean your brushes.  Dab a dash of soap in the palm of your hand, grab your brush and swoosh around, rinse and repeat till the water coming off your brush runs clear.  Shape your brush and then place flat on a towel to dry, the ideal drying position would be to have your brush slightly tilted with the handle lower then the bristle end.  One thing to avoid is standing your brushes directly up while drying, the water can run down to the handle of the brush and the water can manifest and cause the glue that holds the bristles together to loosen.

I hope this post was some what helpful and improved your makeup brush knowledge, if you have any questions just comment below :)

Budget friendly yet great makeup brushes
- Real Techniques
- Soho
- Eco Tools
- Elf Studio Pro Brushes
Higher End Makeup Brushes that are great! 
- Sigma
- Make up For Ever
- Mac Cosmetics Brushes

Stop it! Your making me brush

Tomorrow on the blog, makeup brush reviews,how to deep clean your makeup brushes, and how to keep them clean between each use. 

#makeup #mualife #beautyblogger #beauty

To top coat or not to top coat..

OK, I'm obsessed with nail polish! I change my polish colour at least twice a week, I cant stand when my polish chips!!!!! Over the years I have discovered some great tips for nail care,  use baby wipes when taking off your polish remover, it works so well and takes it off so easily,  never and I mean never think it is OK to take clothes out of the washer to put in the dryer five minutes after you think your nails are dry..your nails will end up looking like Edwards scissors hands painted them!  Always expect your baby to wake up from their nap as soon as you sit down to do your nails, and if your always on the go please do yourself a favor and buy the quick dry polish, they really do dry faster then reg polish!!! But but but, here is a very huge tip I just discovered, you don't always need a top coat!!!!!  I stumbled upon this great tip when I ran out of my usual top coat, my nails dried super fast and you could not even tell there was no top coat they were just as shiny.  My nail polish lasted four days with no chips!!!!!! I was so happy, during those four days I cleaned my house daily, cleaned my car, face painted, and did a whole bunch of other things and no chips!!! :):):). I recently purchased rimmel 60 second quick dry polish in blue me away, they have a good variety of colors for any season to! Its pretty glossy when two coats are applied, it does take over 60 seconds to dry but no more then three minutes.  If your time is limited and you are looking for a salon quality manicure then look no more. Rimmels, 60 second polish will do the trick.  Just say no to top coats, and take care of those cuticles.

Maybelline Pore Eraser Review

Soooooo.... I was at Walmart to buy my son a helmet for bike riding, and like any one else who shops at Walmart I instantly got distracted, and by distracted I mean the makeup section was on my mind and it's the first place I head to the second my foot steps on Walmart property lol.  I browsed each aisle, and found what I was looking for.  The Maybelline pore eraser, which I have been wanting to try for quite some time.  The product  states that the pore erasers insta-blur technology instantly smooths any pores away.
I decided that I would use it as a primer, but you can also wear it alone.  The second I applied the pore eraser to my face it was a familiar feeling , Smashbox photo finish primer feels almost identical to the pore eraser.  It instantly made my skin feel like silk!  It did feel somewhat oily as well which had me a little concerned about my foundation and powder setting properly, but my doubt's were easily put to rest when I applied both.  My skin looked flawless, my makeup stayed on all day and my skin still felt very smooth.  Would I use the pore eraser alone? Yes! Especially on my makeup free days, the pore eraser is easily to apply and as I stated earlier it gives your skin a very rich texture. For less then five dollars you can't go wrong. Its been 48 hours since I have used pore eraser and I have not broken out, which is a huge bonus when trying new products!!!!!  It is fragrance free as well which I really love.  On a scale of 5 and 5 being the best, I would give the pore eraser a four.  I didn't give it a five only because I  was not 100 percent happy with the way my oil free foundation felt when applied over top of the Maybelline pore eraser.  I do love the packaging and its a great size that won't over power your makeup bag/purse.