All is a glow...

Something I love is a good highlighter. 

It's a great way to make you feel refreshed, awake and very pretty.
You want to look glowy not sweaty with a soft shimmer not glitter!

I've been playing around with lots of different types of highlighters and I've rounded up my favorites just in time for the warmer seasons. 

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector

$41

($19 for a travel size)

*photo c/o beccacosmetics.com

This stuff... 

While assisting the fabulously talented Gucci Westman, I learned quickly that she loved to use this highlighter for the face and the body. And with good reason... 

This is such a beautiful product. The sheen is subtle, but catches the light beautifully. Pop it onto your cheekbones for that instant glow. They offer 5 different shades, from white opal, to golden to blush toned. So whatever your skin tone, you can find the perfect compliment! 

Josie Maran Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer
$26

*photo c/o josiemarancosmetics.com

Another great liquid highlighter!
This is more gold toned so it will work on many skin colors. It has a soft glow without being overpowering. Another perk to this, is Josie Maran's products are all cruelty free, and chemical free. Can't beat that!


Mary Lou-Manizer
$24

*Photo c/o Kohls.com

Want a quick powder highlight? Try this one from The Balm Cosmetics. I do love this illuminator. It has a little more punch to it, but blends out beautifully. I love to pop this one on my cheekbones, and inner corners of my eyes. It's a great option to keep in your makeup bag for a quick pick me up, and the packaging is so cute!

RMS Living Luminizer
$38

*photo c/o RMSbeauty.com

Here is a gorgeous cream highlight.
This little pot of product will go a long way. The beauty of the RMS living luminizer is how subtle it is. It literally just looks like your skin is naturally catching the light! Which is exactly what you want! Another perk of the cream is that it is great for portability.


There you have it, my favorite illuminators. Give 'em a try and let me know what you think in the comments!

MAC Masterclass Brush Review

Hey all,

Thank you for your patience-- this month has been insane work wise, so I've neglected a weekend or two of blogging... 

But to get back on track I thought it'd be fun to share my new purchase and review with you! 

Here it is... 

This is not a scam! lol 

I have had my eyes on the original brushes by Artis for some time. I kept going back and forth about purchasing them because A) I truly thought they were a weird fad B) I didn't want to re-learn how to use brushes...  C) I just wasn't sure if it would be worth the price tag. 

But alas, here's what happened...

I wandered into the MAC store to pick up an item or two and saw the brush out on display. I asked the sales associate if I could try it out. She gave me a bit of concealer and I dipped the brush in and started buffing it into the skin.

Holy moly. The bristles are SO soft! 

They feel amazing against the skin and it really does give a nice finish to the foundation/concealer. I couldn't believe how much I actually liked this brush! And I couldn't believe I was going to purchase it without an artist discount (it's one of their special products that doesn't apply for pro discount= lame). But I really liked the way it felt on my skin, so I purchased the largest one they had for myself to try it out for a while. 

They have 3 sizes, a small liner brush, a small shadow/concealer brush and the larger foundation brush. The Artis Brushes have a wider range of sizes, including much larger ones and different shaped smaller ones. 

While I do think the smaller ones are a "fad" and won't really get much traction, I do think the larger ones are quite nice! 

Part of the reason I like it so much is because I can use it for a lot of different things. Moisturizer, foundation, concealer, cream blush, highlighter, you name it! I can buff it on! The size is quite nice (it's probably a size 4 or 6 in Artis), it can work for full face stuff, but it can also fit under my eyes and around my nose for extra coverage/concealing. 

It gives a seamless finish, almost like airbrush. No brush strokes or fingerprints to worry about. 

It's got a sturdy handle that's comfortable and easy to use. 

I don't think I'll be purchasing the smaller detail brushes for eyes/liner, etc. But I am really enjoying this larger face brush and might purchase one or two for my kit! 

If you've tried them, let me know what you think! 

Brow Up Keep

Recently I've been hearing from a lot of talent and clients about how hard it is to keep up with their brows.

So I figured it'd be a good idea to share some easy ways to keep up with your brow growth with some tricks and tips-- as well as laying out your options :) 

Something to keep in mind... DON'T FOLLOW THE TRENDS! That's how the women of the 90's ended up with pencil thin brows (some of which never grow back!). The best thing to do with your brows is to go with what nature gave you. Appreciate what you have-- Learn to love what you have and how to make it look great! 

So be sure that when you're at your brow appointment or plucking at home, that you look at your natural growth and arch. Follow that lead and you'll be safe :) 

Your options... 

1. Plucking. 

Obviously we all know about plucking your brows. Some of you may know it too well if you grew up in the 90s, plucking away the majority of those babes!
Some great tips for plucking at home... 

*Pluck right after you shower: Your pores open up and your everything softens, so plucking is less painful! 

*Try to pluck strays every week: Once you have them shaped the way you like, the best way to keep up with your brow growth is to make it a regular habit. So many clients I know wait until it's unbearable and angrily pluck quickly-- which may cause over plucking. If you just pluck a stray here and there, you won't lose that shape you worked so hard to perfect and you won't have any accidents. Plus, it takes 2 minutes. 

2 MINUTES! 

Why not save the time? 

2. Waxing.

Another age old tradition of hair removal, waxing is readily available! While this is not my favorite method, many people still prefer it as the results last a little longer.
What to keep in mind... 
*Find the right person: Do your research! Find someone who has a good reputation and who's work you love! I've heard too many stories about going to a random shop/salon to wax their brows and having chunks removed, destroying their beautiful brows. These babies frame your face and you want the best of the best!

*Tell them what you want: Be sure to communicate exactly what you want. You need to be sure that you and your brow expert are on the same page.

*At home kits: There are some easy at home kits you can buy for waxing-- while this is not something I'd suggest, there is one kit I don't mind recommending...

Sally Hansen Wax Strip Kit

$5.99 at Ulta

I've personally used this kit for brows and upper lip and it's super easy! It's great if you're in a pinch and need a quick clean up. Just warm the strips between your hands, pull apart, apply and pull! I wouldn't suggest this as a regular form of removal.

3. Threading.

A favorite amongst many! Threading is a form of hair removal that involves, well, thread (duh). It's a form of hair removal that started in Asia many many years ago! It removes hair a little more precisely than waxing as there is more control. It's also much gentler on the skin than waxing or plucking as it doesn't pull at the skin. It's quick and efficient.

Of course... 
*Be clear: As stated above, communicate what you want! Do you want to shape more? Want to thin them out? By how much??
While this form of removal is more precise than waxing, you want to make sure you and your expert are on the same page.

*Don't use a brow razor: You may have to stagger your threading appointments due to budget/time. So in the meantime, you may have to clean up random strays/outgrowth that appears between appointments. Be sure to only do so with tweezers rather than those little razors. Using these can lead to ingrown hairs-- which are not fun!

So there you have it!
I hope this was helpful to you on your brow journey! I cannot stress to you as a makeup artist how important the brows are in your makeup routine :) So take care of them!