Big bag of goodies!!

 One of my friends,Jenny Hutt (also a makeup client) gave me the opportunity to go through a giant duffle bag of NYX products last week. Wow is all I can say! What a fun 3 days I had going through each and every product and color. We discovered the line together at a book launch for How to look expensive by Andrea Pomerantz Lustig about 2 years ago. We fell in love right away. Jenny and I started to incorporate NYX's products into our makeup routine right away. Foundation, blushes, bronzer and lip colors.

When I told a couple of my makeup artist friends about NYX - and how great the line was - they were hooked as well. We all have become obsessed and love their foundations, lip glosses and cream blushes. 

When Jenny handed me the bag to play with and go through, to find her colors and colors for her daughter and niece, it was my pleasure! Added bonus I got to check out the new spring 2014 line!!!

 The Butter lipsticks are incredible! The texture is exactly what you would think: melt on your lips perfection with the perfect pop of color. Smooth and vibrant color minus the grease. Perfect for someone who is looking for the idea of a gloss without the tackiness of a gloss. Insert Linda Silver joke: like butta!!!

NYX matte lipstick has been my go to for my clients that want that Hollywood glam lip with out the hefty prices tag. Each color amazing. Light nude mattes to rich reds and plums. The texture of the matte lipstick is creamy with a fully matte dry down. The staying power is truly unreal. Brides have told me days after their wedding that they never reapplied their lipstick! 

 The baked shadows are so much fun!! Sheer color with just the right amount of shimmer. The baked shadows can be used wet or dry! Wet for high pigment color and dry for that sheer tint of shadow. You can't go wrong with any of the huge array of colors. I love the blues, grays and the golden browns and bronzes.

NYX  new invincible foundation  is a full coverage matte foundation, great for the oiliest of skin. Great range of colors for every skin tone. Oil free, very light and airy on skin. great for someone who doesn't like the feeling of makeup but needs/wants the fullest of coverage.

NYX tinted moisturizer is one of the sheerest tinted moisturizers I have used. An amazing product for someone that is looking for a dewy, hydrating glow. Definitely the type of product you can use as an everyday go to makeup. Very light coverage with just a touch of color.

NYX mascaras are amazing! Lush Lashes is a full collection of 7 different types of fragrance free mascara. All are jet black and not clumpy at all. The brushes are full to thin depending on your preference. You choose the type depending on your lashes needs and your lashes wants!  

NYX now offers color mascara! Blue, purple and brown! Match up your eye color to enhance your eye color with theses great tinted mascaras. 

• I was once told by a makeup artist a long time ago that, " There is no, NO or Can't in makeup". I listened to that advice and give that advice to all of my clients. Makeup is to enhance and make you feel great. Makeup is always an added bonus even if it is a swipe of a blush or gloss. Makeup should be fun and playful and NYX definitely is FUN!

Are yours real? I mean your lashes...

To enhance or not to enhance that is the question. 

 We all love fake lashes and extensions but sometimes you just need to give your lashes a rest and go back to a simple life and just wear mascara. It is so hard to keep up,yea yea with the Kardashians and with all the adds on TV, raving that this product will make your lashes look like they are a mile long  or that product that will plump your lashes like Brandi Glanville's  _ i_ s (you fill in the blank). We see the models and we know better. They are usually wearing extensions, strips or some added individuals and of course the occasional photo shopped lashes! All of these adds make you run to the drugstore and scoop up any lash building product you can find. You get home and are instantly thrilled or completely disappointed. It all depends on if you bought the right mascara for your lash type.

 I am here to set the record straight. It does work, mascara does work! Mascara has amazing powers! All by its lonesome, you just have to find the perfect one for your lashes. As a makeup artist, I see around 20-25 sets of eyes per week. The straight lashes, the white lashes, the barely there and the long fine lashes, oh and the pre-curled lashes. If I missed your lash type I apologize, and promise you will find one that you love listed below. The mascaras I am listing as must haves will literally cover them all. 

 What you want to do is find a jet black, thick but not goopy mascara with a great wand. Waterproof is all about preference. Waterproofing the lashes is a definite YES for weddings and other events (Vegas pool party) or if you are a teary eyed gal. I personally like a non waterproof for everyday. 

 My personal favorite is Bad Gal from Benefit it is great for someone that wants to lengthen, thicken,separate and make the lashes intense. It is a matte black formula which helps make it look more like you are wearing false lashes. I have blonde medium length semi full lashes and this mascara definitely takes me up to the look of a set of falsies without the fuss. I will post a before and after pic. I use this mascara on a daily basis.

Another Benefit fan fave of mine and lots of my clients is, They're Real great for the girl with a shorter thicker lash line and or someone with a straighter lash. This mascara will help lengthen the lash and intensify the thickness without clumping and making the lashes heavy looking. The brush is designed to get right to the root of the lash. This mascara also helps curl the lash as well. This formula is glossy as it goes on and can be layered over Bad Gal. The two together can still maintain their silky formula even when layered.

My other favorite thing about these two mascaras is this! They come in a mini size and I literally have them everywhere. http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/theyre-real-mascara-deluxe-mini

http://www.sephora.com/badgal-lash-mascara-P49014?skuId=713941 

 My favorite for my makeup kit is Smashbox full exposure. I use this for most of my clients for so many reasons. Lengthening fibers mixed with a volumizing formula. The brush is great too. It thickens and lengthens the lash while separating. The mascara can layer without clumping or flaking! It is jet black and not goopy at all. 

check out my mascara free lashes and my Bad Gal lashes

No Mascara

With Benefit Bad Gal

Enjoy giving your lashes a rest and trying out these mascaras. xo