mari's musings

Why I Hate Being Without a Camera

This was a relatively great weekend. Considering the fact that Friday and most of Saturday I didn't leave my house that is. Saturday afternoon I walked down to the store and there was the Annual Harlem Book Fair going on. I had my headphones on and was totally in my own groove, and got two offers to do some singing for some folks. I also got the chance to pick up some cute earrings for Penny she's been wanting. She's been coveting a pair my godmother gave to me, and I told her I couldn't part with them so it was good that I found her her own set.

Then yesterday morning I got a text message from my girl Maia who {until last night} was in the cast of Rent on Broadway. Since yesterday was her last performance, she was having a gathering at a club in midtown. I told Eric about it, and we decided to go to the club and her last show. So we ended up having an incredible date. First we went to see the show {my first time, and it was phenomenal} and then we went to a Mexican place by his house, and he spoiled me there. What I enjoyed most was the conversation we had. I think we sat for well over an hour after we ate just having such a good discussion. He made me really think about myself, and I realized just how adored I am by him, and that felt warm and fuzzy. After two shots of Tequila {which were so expensive - $12 each! - that we decided to sip them instead} we walked over to Maia's party. We didn't stay long, but we really enjoyed ourselves.  And now Maia is off to do the new 9 to 5 Broadway show that's coming with Dolly Parton. God is so good!
Eric and I ended up walking home in the rain which was actually hilarious. At one point I walked topless for half a block and we hollered about that. I think I was inspired by this blog Malikha sent me to of these really tasteful topless photos in the city.  I didn't realize it is actually legal for women to go topless in NYC. We ended up at E's house playing with our iPhone's that are matching down to the wallpaper because we took pictures together and posted them there. And then we discussed all of our scars and the stories behind them. I feel like that's such an intimate conversation: to know the history of someone's skin. And then I tried desperately to keep him awake, but I failed. We drifted off to sleep and I woke up to the sound of my own snoring!
But through all of this I realized how much better it would be if I had pictures to prove I had done all that. Eric is so not a photo whore like I am. I didn't even realize he had his camera until he pulled it out to get a picture of us in front of Rent's marquis. I'm dying here without my camera equipment!

MAC & Me: The Sickness

So on the Fourth of July, our boy Ant over at the 125th store had to recreate a face from Vogue Magazine, and he chose my sister as his model. When I saw her face, I fell in love. Even though she is much darker than I am, I had to have this natural look. So I asked her to ask Ant what he used on her face. The only thing she sent me in the store to find was Cream Colour Base in Shell. I tried it on and fell in love. But then something else caught my eye. I saw the new Mineralize Eye Shadow {Duo} in Sea & Sky.  I saw it on one of the MAC artists, and knew I had to snatch it. Especially because it was just released yesterday, and they were already down to only two of the Polar Opposite. And then MAC got me again. Right next to the new shadows were the new Mineralize Blush. Now I typically only use the Blushcreme because of its creamy consistency and how easy it is to blend. But when I tried on Merrily, it made me happy! So there I was with Shell on my eyes, Merrily on my cheeks, and my lips felt so bare. Vanity's Child from the new Electro Flash Collection looked like the perfect complimentary shade for this natural look I had going. But of course it couldn't stop there. I had to mix it with BBQ Lip Pencil, and Wildly Lush Plushglass. 
So basically I walked in there for one itsy bitsy thing, and walked out with a completely new look. And I adore it!
Yes, I realize that it is a sickness that I have. But how can you cure it when it leaves you feeling pretty all over? I'm vowing to stay out of there for a good long time. These new collections are making me nutty! If you get the chance, you must go in there as soon as possible and look at the Electro Flash Collection. Like my previous favorites mentioned {Enchanting and M'Lady} they are collector's editions and will be discontinued once the last few are sold so go out and see if there's anything that catches your eye.

Staying Pretty: MAC Cosmetics Part IV

So this will be the final installment. And I'm sure you're thinking, "What more could there possibly be to discuss?" Well today I'm going to discuss all the of the extemporaneous items needed to aid you in looking pretty, and staying pretty. 

Brushes
It is necessary when putting on makeup that you use the right tools. In the MAC store, for sanitary purposes, they will not touch your face with their hands, and ask that you do not touch the makeup with your hands. But I'll tell you a little secret...any good makeup artist will tell you that your hands work better at blending some things in. Using brushes makes sure that you don't come away looking like you just spent the afternoon painting faces at the carnival, and it really is good to put the products on with brushes, and then use your hand for blending purposes {after washing them of course}.
So I'm going to share with you some of my favorite MAC brushes to use. Yes, they're expensive, but it's worth it. Think about it. If you buy a brush at CVS for $5.99, you've got a brush that has $5.99 quality. That brush won't last you through the year, if even through the month if you put on makeup daily. While some of the MAC brushes may be pricey, I have never had to replace them and I have been wearing MAC for 12 years now.
The 188 Duo Fibre Brush has become my new favorite for putting on foundation. It does a really good job of applying it evenly, and lightly. I use it only for formula foundation. You should never mixed products on your brushes. If you use one brush for cremes, then you need another one for powder. It makes sense too. If you put powder on your creme brushes, it will just absorb it and make it clumpy on your face. If you can't remember which brush is which {which probably won't happen} just apply a piece of tape to the bottom of one to tell the difference.

For my powders, I use the 129 Powder/Blush Brush. I then use the  129 SH Powder/Blush Brush {the same thing with just a shorter handle} for my blush. The fact that one has a shorter handle lets me know which one to use for which because they are identical.

For concealer, I use the 191 Square Foundation Brush. It's smaller so you can pay more attention to detail and get in those curvy spots like under the eyes, around the lips and in the creases of your nose.

To add color to my brows I use the 208 Small Angled Brow Brush. It's perfect for mimicking the detail of the hairs in your brow.

When applying the Fluidline eyeline, I use the 209 Eyeliner Brush. It's perfect for paying attention to detail. It's small enough to use on your waterline without bothering your eye, and it's great for applying perfect curves.

I use the 212 Flat Definer Brush for my eyeshadow or pigments. Because of its flat shape, it's really good for packing on the product.

I use the 228 Shader Brush to make my smoky eyes or to just put a different color on the outer portion of my lower lid.

I use the 217 Blender Brush to blend my colors especially from the brow bone into the crease.

I use the 249 Large Shader Brush for my main color on my lower lids.

And finally, for the eyes, I use the 275 Medium Angled Shading Brush to bring it all together. 

For my lips, I use the 316 Lip Brush/Covered Brush. It's the only one I need for the job. 

Cleaners
Now it's very important to remember that because these brushes are so expensive, you should take proper care of them. Throughout my makeup sessions, I make sure that I use MAC's Brush Cleanser. It's not harsh or soapy, and it gets the job done quickly, but once every week or two, I also use shampoo on my brushes and then let them hang off a surface to dry so that the shape of the hairs won't change.

Fixers

After I'm finished putting all my makeup on, I use Fix + or Charged Water/Skin Hydrating Mist {the latter is not available on the website}. Both are good for fixing your makeup and ensuring that it won't end up on the collar of your business suit, but they're great alone also. Sometimes when I wear absolutely no makeup, I just spritz one of the two to feel refreshed, and I look it all day long {look at that picture on the top right of me to see me on one of those days}.

Removers
And at the end of the day when I'm done being cute, and getting ready for bed, I use the Wipes to take off a majority of the makeup, and then clean my face with Cremewash because it moisturizes so well.

I hope you have enjoyed what I've had to share. Of course I'm not a MAC artist with all the knowledge, but I have spent my fair share of time in their stores learning. I personally have not come across products I would recommend like I do theirs. I hope this encourages you to run out and do your part to keep yourself pretty!

Me and My Former Self

So today I was going through all the regular spots I keep old documents in search of my agreement with Greg that we had made in family court when Maasai was 6 months old. Within minutes, it was clear it wasn't in any of the places I was looking, but I came across all of my old pictures from college, and all of my old journals.
My how I have grown! Just reading myself talk made me see how so many people could find me so annoying.  But I also found that I am still struggling with some of the same things, and realizing that the cycle has to stop. Back then I talked about the same person I am still dealing with 10 years later. What am I doing? I was clear then he wasn't the one for me, and I am still clear now. He does nothing for me emotionally or Spiritually, and the sex isn't even gratifying anymore. I think both of us are just going through the motions because he couldn't possibly still have the same feelings for me. I was young, and silly then, and easy to manipulate. I'm sure I've made that very clear like the other morning when he called me at 8 in the morning about absolutely nothing at all as if he's not an educator too, and didn't realize that I was on vacation. I don't go to sleep most days before 3. Why would you think I would be up at 8? And usually he does this thing where he calls me and says something like, "well I know you don't want to see me again." And then I play into the game and say, "of course I want to see you again." And we start the whole cycle of wanting one another, and then having a conversation about how I'm not happy with the situation, and then not seeing one another, and then making up. This time when he made the comment, there was dead silence. Part of that could be attributed to the fact that I hadn't fully woken up enough to get through a conversation, much less one with him. But it was also that I was more than physically tired. Tired of the back and forth; tired of the games; tired of a man in my life that holds no real purpose or future. If you had told my former self that he would have been the one to last the longest, I would have probably cried. He even outlasted the person I had a child with. How do I explain that? And then as I sit here writing this, another one of my knuckleheads calls. That's one thing that has apparently stayed the same: I still have bobos in my life. I don't know if you all remember this, but my ex boyfriend committed suicide almost a year ago. I found pages upon pages of the pain I was going through with him. At least I had sense enough to let him go before I ended up in a tragic situation like his last girlfriend did.
I still struggle with my Spirituality like I did then. I want my walk with God to be so much closer. I had a really good conversation with my girl Janue the other night about my purpose, and knowing that God will say "YES" to your greatness when you are living out Her purpose. We discussed different verses from the Bible that correspond with my name {...light and beauty to all that I do and all that I am}, and it was so inspiring to speak with someone whose walk with The Creator I have always admired. I want to get there. Her love for the spirit just resonates from within her at all times.
In other news, Maasai is enjoying herself immensely. She went to see the fireworks with my mom at the Berkeley Marina last night, and today she was at Coldstone with Paw Paw after seeing the Kit Kittredge movie. Her summers are more exciting than mine even!
Well I'm off to go dig up some more old memories. It's fun to reminisce about the person you once were. I wish I had a blog in college to go back to to relive more of the old memories!

Staying Pretty: MAC Cosmetics Part III

Since you're probably going to a barbecue somewhere, why not look pretty doing it?
Let's look at lips today. First and foremost, lips must be moisturized before you put anything on them by way of color.

Primer & Lip Care

If you're a simple gal, stick your finger in some Vaseline and get to slathering. If you want the MAC route, I always use  their Prep + Prime Lip. It's a quick fix moisturizer, and it's just like having some Chapstick. You can carry it around all day with you if you feel your lips getting dry. And while I haven't personally bought this, I tried it at the store, and loved it. The Prep +Prime Microfine Lip Refinisher works wonders if you have those pieces of dry skin on your lips that you always try to catch with your teeth. This is personal exfoliation for your lips. The tiny stones on one side scrub away all that nasty gunk. Lord knows there have been plenty of days when I put on some Lipglass, and by the end of that day it just looks like beads of color unceremoniously attached to my kissers. It was because I didn't bother to moisturize my lips. {Shhh...don't tell MAC I told you this, but Avon has a product that works wonders for lips also. I have no idea how to purchase the product because it's not on line, but the stuff is good.} I also use the Tinted Lip Conditioner Stick SPF 15. They have more colors available at the store than on the website. This is good for those really natural days with just a hint of blush and some eyeliner. It apparently pays to be a good friend of mine also because after we were in the MAC store last week, Penny had her eye on the Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 in Gentle Coral, and after dipping in my purse to get my own out, I told her not to buy it and I gave it to her. I'll probably have to buy my own again though because I really do love the color, especially in the summertime. 

Lipstick

Now onto color. I rarely wear lipstick. If I use it, it is always in tandem with MAC' Lipglass. But there are a couple of Lipstick colors I swear by. Paramount, X-S, and Film Noir were the first things I ever purchased from a MAC store freshman year in college after I saw my girl Nayozetta Vujwana rocking those dark colors. Trust me, you have to see them in person if dark is your thing. The color swatches on line do them no justice. That and Viva Glam VI {that is the actual color on the right} are the only colors I own. And you can feel good about spending $14 on a tube of any of the Viva Glam lipsticks because every red cent goes towards the fight against HIV/AIDS {they also ring a bell, and yell out "whoo hoo" when you purchase one, and that should bring a smile to your face}. It's also fun to go under the Looks page and look at the different Special Edition faces they've created for different artist. You never know, it could work on your face as well!

Lipliners

Lip Pencils are good {I'm sure most of us MAC girls have Chestnut, and use it with everything}, but definitely branch out and look at other colors. Some that are used often are Cork, Plum and Spice for natural lips. 

I personally am not a fan of the lip pencils. I feel like they can give too harsh of a definition, but if that's the look I'm going for, I will use them. My lips are a pretty nice size {or as men would call them, luscious} so I tend to go for really natural lips so they don't become overwhelming. So because of this, I use the Cremestick Liner. It is self sharpening, and it is extremely long lasting. Sometimes, if I haven't touched up my other lip products, I come home with a fine definition around the outer portion of my lips because that Cremestick is still there.

Lipglass

Absolutely my fave MAC product. Of course my favorite Tinted Lipglass has been discontinued. It was green and it looked like pure honey when you put it on. Even my "honey do" mentioned it when he saw me in it one day. If you put it over color, it neutralized it and made colors more pinky. But alas...Spring Bean will have to do in the meantime, but it in no way compares to my old product, Squirt. There are some other colors I love as well.  Nymphette, Lovechild, and Viva Glam V are my usual go to colors. I also use Russian Red {rarely though} for a pure red look. It bleeds a lot so you have to put powder on top of it to make it stay put.
 The Plushglass is a cool product also, but don't be fooled by its moniker or the fact that it claims to plump your lips. It actually just makes them tingle a bit with what they say is a "cool-warm, vanilla buzz", but you won't be walking around with a beefed up pout. It might give you that impression for a few minutes, but after that, it's gone.

Lustreglass gives you a serious high-definition shine as long as you keep touching it up. I only have one color, and I only use it when I'm feeling particularly naughty. It's definitely for the vamp in you, but probably not for everyday use. 

I enjoy MAC's Lipgele´e also, but it doesn't give off a lot of color. It gives you more than the tinted moisturizers, and it's definitely shinier, but again, it works well with a natural look. 

Whatever you choose to do with your lips, keep them well-maintained. There's nothing worse than kissing someone with scratchy lips. And they surround your smile, so everyone is looking at them.

Random Musings

Is it okay for me to miss Maasai already and she hasn't even been gone a full 48 hours? She's in Cali with the 'rents and loving it. I called her yesterday, and my father told me she was out back in the hot tub. Hmph. He didn't have a hot tub when I was a child! She went to the dentist yesterday, and she may have to have a root canal because they seem some slight nerve damage in one of her teeth. I was dreading that. Hopefully she'll come back with a new smile at the end of the summer.
If you're a Republican stop reading here. I may offend someone. Has anyone seen this picture or t-shirt? Maybe I'm wrong, but this thing makes me giddy all over. I think it's hilarious how low Republican popularity is right now. Bush can't even get people to wave back at him! I'm hoping that will translate into a big win for my man Barack. I'm ready to put my armor on and seriously get in this fight come November. If I have to stand on a corner with some poom poom shorts campaigning, I will {I probably wouldn't have to wear the shorts, but that could be a great excuse}. And have you seen the polls looking at the likability of the potential first ladies? Michelle Obama has totally knocked that other chick out the box. Cindy McCain looks like a Stepford wife to me. I thought it was totally crass of her to try and use Michelle's statement about recently being proud of her country against her. If she hasn't been disgusted with her nation lately, she isn't paying attention, but I guess most Republicans aren't.
Speaking of our nation, this Fourth of July means more to me than any other before. The fact that we currently have an African American man as the front runner in a presidential election restores my faith. Even though there have been so many recent sitings of "Obama Hateration" with the monkey on the shirt, and the assassination of Obama and Hillary as "art", and the discussion as Obama as a Muslim {as if that were a bad thing}, I believe there are many more people in this country looking at the prospect of hope, and believing we can accomplish great things with Obama as president. Personally, I don't mind the racist antics. I would rather it be in my face than behind my back. I want to  know who is thinking about lynching me before they do it unexpectedly. So today as I sit on some random person's rooftop in Brooklyn watching fireworks, I might actually get emotional and think this is more than just any other day to get some good barbecue.
So yesterday was my first real day of vacation being that I had no one to tend to buy myself, and it was long, and tiring. I had to go to get a property release for my belongings in my car, so I rented a Zipcar for the morning. I didn't realize it was going to take me so long {that and I stopped at family court} so I then had to rush back uptown to drop the car off. But that defeated the purpose because I still hadn't taken the property out of my car. So I rented another Zipcar to then drive to Brooklyn with Keisha to get my belongings, only to find out that the letter they send you about having to retrieve your belongings within 10 days or your car will be auctioned is a hoax. You have months to pay off your debt. Anyhow, I rushed back to get the car back on time, only to be standing in the middle of a parking lot with two carts, and 3 boxes of stuff from my car that I couldn't get home without a car. So I got a third car for the day, got all my stuff into the lobby of my apartment, and then was told the elevator was broken. I refused to carry all that stuff up five flights of stairs, so I left it behind the stairwell until midnight when the elevator was working again, and then dragged all the stuff upstairs. Oh, and did I mention I had cramps from hell? Some vacation!
I mentioned earlier that Maasai is in California. I'll finish this post with funny {and inspiring} story. My father has stopped coming to New York to pick up Maasai and fly with her. It's just easier to put her on a plane by herself, and she loves the sense of autonomy she gets by going alone. So I called my father after her plane had arrived to ask about the trip, and he told me there was some problem where Maasai had to be moved to another seat. I asked why. He said she told him she was sitting next to a man with one tooth whom had helped her take off her jacket, but then wouldn't leave her alone throughout the flight. He kept asking her if she wanted something, and she finally said to him, "I want you to leave me alone!" She said he kept touching her arm, and she didn't like that {you go girl} so she got up and told the stewardess. The stewardess then told the man he had to leave her alone as well, but he wouldn't stop. And this is where it gets funny. As Maasai is telling this story to Daddy, she told him, "I was going to hit him Paw Paw...but I can't tell you where I was going to hit him." And my ignorant father said to her, "You were gonna 'nutty' him, huh?" And Maasai with all seriousness replied, "Yes, Paw Paw." While some might find it scary that some random man could have harmed my child, I am elated by the fact I raised her to stick up for herself, and call on someone when in need of help. That girl is fierce!

Be a Superhero...Save the World with Me!

Why I Love my Daddy with his Old Fine Ass

Daddy is 73, but doesn't look a day over 55, and according to Azure, doesn't sound a day over thirty. For days I have been telling Azure that she needed to hear Daddy on the phone. She couldn't understand just how ignorant he was unless she experienced it firsthand. If I had the ability to give you some audio with this story, Lord knows I would. I have to retell this story verbatim as my father tells it. If you're offended by the "n word" stop reading now. Yes Daddy's crazy, but he's no fool. You don't get to be a Fellow at MIT with nothing in your head!
So my father had an uncle whom was very religious. He said that God spoke to him. He told his family that God had called him to walk the waterfalls in Rochester, New York. But he didn't end there, he called the media, too. So to much fanfare, he decided to prove his account. And while most of Rochester, complete with cameras and reporters watched, according to my daddy, "he put on his tuxedo and a top hat, and that nigga took two steps and drowned!"
Every time he tells that story, I holler.

Staying Pretty: MAC Cosmetics Part II

So I spoke previously about all the great facial products you could use, and now I'm moving onto the eyes. For me, the eyes is what really brings it all together. I can do a really simple lip look, but dazzle with the eyes, and it really makes that much more of a difference. My favorite MAC products to buy are eye products, and it's so much fun to play around with the different colors.

Bases
I will start with the bases. These are the things you can use under your eye make up to make it stay all day. Don't you just hate when you get home, and realize that your face looks nothing like what it did at 7 a.m. this morning? This is why bases are necessary. They make everything stay put.
Sometimes simple concealer can work miracles. If your concealer is just a tad lighter than your skin color, you can always use it as a highlighter right under your brow. Also, depending on the shades of my eyeshadow, I use Shadestick. Depending on your skin tone, you can find something fairly neutral that just makes your eyeshadow stick to the eyelid a little more, or you can use dazzling colors like Sea Me if you're using blue shades. I use Shimmersand under any color eyeshadow and it makes it pop more. It's like using chalk in scrapbooking: if you put the chalk over another brighter color, it gives it a less translucent effect. Think of this when you put eyeshadow on. Sometimes you put it on, and it looks barely there. If that's the look you're going for, then fine. If you don't want to come home at 6 p.m. and look like all you did was sprinkle yourself with glitter, use some Shadestick, or concealer. The downside of the Shadestick is that it dries out easily. So every time you use it, you have to make sure the cap is on really tight, otherwise -the next time you use it- it will feel like you're rubbing charcoal across your eyelid. It's extremely concentrated and thicker than other products, so it's almost like using crayon on your face.
I also use Paint Pot. It comes in so many luxurious colors, but my favorite is Rubenesque just because it acts as a great base, but you can also use it as a beautiful highlighter for under the brow because it has a natural, yet iridescent quality to it. I use this on my eyes no matter what color I'm putting on top. Even if I'm dealing with funky blues or purples, I use my Paint Pot first. And do you see how rich and creamy it is {look to the right}. That's just how it feels on your eyelid. Just the feel of it makes me giddy, but I'm just silly that way.

Eyebrows
These babies should not be forgotten. You actually don't have to get them arched if you have the right tools. I once went into the store on 125th St. before my girl Delali's party, and the manager at the time, Jennifer, damn near cussed me out for not getting my eyebrows arched, but once she was done, you couldn't even tell. If you are in desperate need of some threading, you can cover the hairier areas that should have been plucked off of your eyelids with a great highlighting eyeshadow. If your eyebrows are already plucked {or you simply like the Chewbacka look} and you just want to tame them, then Brow Set works wonders. It is basically like when you put a dab of Vaseline on your eyebrows just to make all the strays stay in their place. You know us women of color have that hair that doesn't necessarily stay where you put it, so this allows your brows to stay straight all day long. They have it in varying colors to match your hair's color, or clear if you have a hard color to match {and ladies...eyebrows should match the hair on your head. There is nothing wrong with dying your hair a nice shade of magenta...just make sure that you sit for an hour while dying your eyebrows as well. How many times have you wanted to scream at Madonna for having those harsh black eyebrows with a blond mane?}
Now I don't have pencil thin eyebrows. It probably goes back to my mother harping all those years growing up about how she missed the eyebrows she had plucked to oblivion leaving nothing but a few scraggly strays. But don't worry, penciling in your eyebrows after you've plucked them so much they won't grow back doesn't have to leave you with those hideous Esmerelda-drawn-in-like-a-numbered-picture brows. Use Eye Brows. I once saw the current manager at MAC apply this to a woman's face whom had plucked off all her eyebrows only to trade them in for some look alike tattoos on her forehead, and he made them look like there was actually hair there with this product. This pencil requires no sharpening because you can just twist it and it sharpens itself, and the point is so thin that you can mimic the look of hair. Voila! Instant eyebrows!

Eyelashes
Yes, even these need a little more attention. We don't usually want the look of spider eyes, and aren't all the new mascara products suggesting that they can promise that you won't get that? I'll give you a little secret...shhhh...it has nothing to do with the product. It has to do with the way you put the mascara on!
First and foremost, I use Prep + Prime Lash. Yes, even eyelashes need a primer. Please believe me on this one. I once went to the MAC store in Berkeley and asked the guy to give me a new look for my eyes. He pulled out his mascara, and got so close to my face that I could smell his breath {thank God for the Tic Tacs he was sucking on}, and he actually told me that I didn't need mascara because my eyelashes were so lusciously long already. He didn't even realize that I had on a full coat of Prep + Prime, and Pro Longlash! And I had put on the Pro Longlash that morning and this was high afternoon!
Here's the trick. First and foremost, actually bend your mascara wand so that the brush part is at a 45 degree angle. It allows you to put on the mascara evenly. If you don't trust that you can do it yourself, ask a MAC artist to do it for you when you buy the mascara. They all swear by this. And because of MAC's lovely policy, if you accidentally break it, you can easily return it. Second, you must start from the base of your lashes and move slowly all the way to the tips. Quit all that rubbing your eyelashes ten times tomfoolery. That's what gives you the spider eyes. It's just that the mascara is clumping on top of itself. if you go through two times slowly, it will truly look like your own lashes.

Eyeshadow
This is truly my favorite part of doing my face. I mentioned before that I do this before putting on foundation. I have shadows in every shade, but let me just mention a few of my favorite "go to" colors just to humor myself.
Now mentioning this will probably just make you mad. My favorite of all time is actually a discontinued item because it's part of a limited collection. It is Engaging from the Mineralize collection. If you look hard enough, you may find it on Ebay. My principal saw it on me, and declared she had to have it, so I had to get it for her in an auction. It comes with both silver with a hint of pink, and gold. It's wonderful with the two colors together.
My other favorite is also from Mineralize and called Mi'Lady. Good luck finding that one. It was sold out at the MAC store before its actual release date. Everyone had bought it up at the launching party. I actually had no money at the party to buy it, but the manager knew me, and held the last one for me to buy on the release date. After that, the store got no more! That purple and red make me happier than a kid in a candy store! MAC rarely if ever comes out with a red eyeshadow, so the next time they do, if that's your thing, rush out and get it. It will probably be a discontinued item and sold out in a day like Mi'Lady was.
Also, if you're a definite MAC fan, and you love blue shadows, you need to rush out and get Parrot. MAC actually discontinued it, and rereleased it for all us fans whom pined over not having it for years. I don't know if they are keeping it in their regular color choices, but it is part of a rare cache so definitely cop that if you can.
Another trick when buying MAC eyeshadows, get the quad compact, or the 15 pack compact, and purchase the little eyeshadow decals as opposed to the individual eyeshadows. The decals go for $10.50 while the individual ones go for $14. While the decal looks smaller, it is actually the same amount of eyeshadow and you're paying less. You can also arrange them in your compact by color groups if you slightly obsessive compulsive like I am.
When you apply eyeshadow, make sure you use an appropriate brush {that discussion will come in a later installment} and pack it on as opposed to brushing it across the eyelid. This makes the color more concentrated, and makes it pop more.

Eyeliner
Eyeliner is coming back in a huge way in the fashion world. There are all kinds of funky things you can do with it now that is all the rage. Do you see this enchanting picture on the left? That cat eye is phenomenal, and the eyeliner really sets it off!
I just knew when I looked at the picture what they used to do that too. It's so simple to paint on perfect eyeliner with Fluidline and the right brush. And while I use Blacktrack primarily, you can use so many other colors as well. You can use white liner {like the picture on the left} to brighten the eyes up, or liners that match your make up to bring the whole look together. Turquoise liner with a fuschia lipstick can give you that perfect '80s look. I also love using eyeliner right around the tear ducts. If you use a lighter color right there {eyeshadow works too} you can really brighten they eyes up also.
My other favorite liner to use is Liquidlast Liner in Aqualine. When they say it lasts, it truly does. Water and soap alone will not ever get this off! I have worn this liner in Inkspill for days in a row because I didn't have anything to get it off with. It will only come off with an oil based product. MAC's Gently Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover will do the trick because it is oil and water mixed, but some baby oil will do it also.

Just a note with the liner, if you're going to use it on your water line {that section underneath your eye} make sure it has "Kohl" in the name. This is the only liner you should use there. It doesn't bother your eye like other liners, and it won't run.

And here's a little extra something for you. Pigment! Let me tell you. I love Ruthie at 125th just for putting me onto this. I also love her because she gave me several free containers to just try out, and since a little goes a long way, I haven't had to buy any yet! Pack this sucker on over some eyeshadow, and it does some funky things. What I really love about it is that you can match your eyes with your lips by adding just a little to a tissue and mixing it with your favorite lipglass and applying that to your lips. You've instantaneously got a matching face! Do not just put this on your lips and then apply the lipglass. It will stay in your lipglass forever {as I have now learned with my Greenbean}. 

Here's a little lesson about putting your eyes together. Always put a light highlighter in a silver or gold right under the brow. The color should not go all the way to your brow unless you're using naturals. Put your darkest color in the crease, or on the outer part of your lower lid for a smoldered look. Put the darkest color on the inner eye to provide a contoured face or for a really goth look. Use a really light color right in the center of your lower lid just to open up your eyes. And whatever you do, experiment. I hate it when people say, "Oh I just don't look good with that color, but you can do all that." Hush your face! We can all do it! Look at my sister Anoa with those lovely bright colors. If you go into any MAC store in the nation, you will find artists of every hue rocking every color...now lips...that's another story. If you have a preference for more natural shades, that's fine. But there are still so many to choose from.

 

And when all else fails, and I don't have time to put on any color, I'll give you another trick. Just take some Clear Lipglass and put it on your lids. I kid you not! Yes, it will feel sticky until you get used to it, but that with some mineralize foundation and a natural lip will give your face an angelic, and subtle glow all day! You can actually do a really natural face with color as well. Here I have on the red from Mi'Lady, and you can't even tell.

Staying Pretty: MAC Cosmetics Part I

Reading Stephanie's post made me want to post this one. I am a MAC girl. I won't put anything else on my face...ever. If I didn't purchase it at the store on 125th Street, it is not on my body. I swear by their stuff, and they know me so well in that store that they call out my name when I walk in. Even the security guard comes up to me and asks me how my daughter is doing.
Last weekend, I attended a private class. I got some really good tips on some newer products, and I fell in love with the new Cool Heat collection, so I'm going to share with you my absolute go-to tips when I want certain looks. I believe that looking pretty makes you feel pretty, and vice versa. Some days I like to do this naturally, and some days I like a face that's beat!
Face
I have never been a foundation girl, but once I realized how much it brings my look altogether, I dove right in on purchasing several different kinds for several different occasions. It is important though, before you apply foundation, to apply moisture to your face or a primer. So I use Studio Moisture Cream,  and  Studio Moisture Fix SPF 15. I tend to have oily skin, but even if you have oily skin, moisturizer is a must! I also use Prep + Prime Skin before applying anything to my face.
Now technically, I do my eyes before I put on foundation. The reason for this is because eyeshadow made from a powder will probably drop somewhere on your face that you don't want it. If you've already applied your foundation, it will get stuck in that too. So I do the eyes first, and then use a bit of moisturizer to wipe off any excess.
After doing that, I apply my foundation. As mentioned before, I have several different kinds for different events. I use Select Tint SPF 15 on days when I want it to look like I have nothing on. It's basically just a moisturizer with a hint of tint. It's really watery so don't expect this to look like anything if that's what you're going for. For regular days, I use  Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15. For days when I want a really nice moisturizing glow, I use the Select SPF 15 Moistureblend.  Because it's so dewy, it has to be set with a powder, so I use the Mineralize Skinfinish. This is also good to use alone when you just want a nice glow. If, and only if, I am planning on being onstage, or taking pictures that require heavy makeup, I use the  Studio Stick SPF 15. It provides medium + coverage, and it stays all day. It will also smear on clothing, so watch out!

Now if I want a look of radiance, I use Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze {the only one for brown skin}. When those "strobe" products came out, I wanted to try them, but Antoinne at the 125th St. store told me that wasn't made for our skin because it has purple undertones. So he suggested this instead and it works miracles if you want to brighten yourself up. A little goes a long way, and you can use it all over your body as well as the nose/cheek/forehead/chin areas to highlight yourself.

Before or after putting on my foundation, I use concealer under my eyes, and around the lip area. Some of us have discoloration in those areas so it's good to put this on just to hit up the problem areas. You can also use it on moles, or tattoos you might want covered {you may need a little more for this}. I use Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer.

I'm also a big blush girl. On low-key days, I put a little blush on, some eyeliner, and lipgloss, and I feel all made up. I use Blushcreme in Posey, Cheery, or Ladyblush. I like how smoothly the creme goes on, and the colors are perfect for all seasons, but especially spring and summer. {But shhh don't tell MAC, but I also use a stain by Vincent Longo. It can be used on the lips also, and it's so subtle it looks like your own skin. I have been using this for five years now, and I am always in love with the way it sets in your skin, and the different colors. Try my favorites if you choose to stop by Sephora and pick some up: Angel's Touch, Cupid's Breath, and Baby Boo. In winter months, you can go with Apollonia. Don't tell anyone I sent you though.}

I hope some of this helps someone. There's got to be some underlying reason why I have all of these products in my house. If I can't help out some other folks with my knowledge, it will all die with me, and sometimes, we just don't have the time to be bothered with sitting at the makeup counter asking questions, and we don't feel like being bombarded with attendants trying to load stuff off on us that probably won't work once we get home. In the upcoming days, I will follow up with eyes, lips, etc. In the meantime, go out there and get yourself pretty. Even if that just means splashing water on your face, just do it!