MAKEUP ARTIST KIT ESSENTIALS

Here's some key products that most professional Make-up Artists have in their makeup kit. But the funny thing is that most of these products work just as great in the real world as the do backstage. You might even have some of them in your makeup stash already. Feel free to send me an email with your makeup bag "essentials" and I'll create "Readers Fave Products" in another post.


Alcone Makeup Remover Cloths

Jao Hand SanitizerCollyre Bleu Eye DropsShu Uemura Eye Lash Curler
Japonesque Precision Lash Curler
Tweezerman Slant Tip Tweezers
Alcone's Non-Latex Sponges
Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner

Evian Mineral Water Spray

Rosebud Lip Salve
Embroylisse Lait Creme Concentrate
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder
MAC Brow Set Gel

Ardell DuraLash Individual LashesL'oreal Voluminious Mascara in "Carbon Black"

**NOTE - Most of the items listed can be found at Alcone Company, a professional beauty product supplier. www.alconeco.com

GET GLOWING GIRL!

Spring is finally here and summer will be upon us shortly so now is the time to get gorgeous glowing skin. Here are my picks of the most beautiful bronzer products out there for all skin tones and types in a range of prices from high to low. Go get yours now!

POWDER:
Givenchy - Prismissime Mat & Glow (A checkerboard array of colors to add a sunny glow to the face. Choose your texture—matte or pearly—to personalize your luminous look. Blend, shade, or apply in touches for a variety of sculpting, illuminating, and perfecting effects.) $53


CARGO – Bronzer (A powder bronzed that uses just the right amount of shimmer to create gorgeous, glowing skin. It comes in a variety of shades to cover just about everyone. This is one of my favorite products!) $25Physicians Formula - Baked Bronzer (A bronzing and shimmery face powder baked on Italian terracotta tiles that can be used wet or dry. Sparkling bronze pigments are marbleized into a matte powder to create a radiant sheen.) $11.95

**NOTE: This brand has a wide variety of bronzing products in a various formulations and they are affordable! Next time you’re in a chain drugstore or Wal-Mart check them out. You won’t be sorry!
CREAM:
NARS - The Multiple (The original all-in-one, cream-to-powder, multi-purpose makeup stick that highlights, sculpts and warms the skin.) *New Bronzer shades: Tuomota, Malaysia and Rapa Nui. Original Bronzer shades: Palm Beach, South Beach and St. Barts. $37


Josie Maran - Cream Bronzer (An ultra-light cream bronzer that gives you a natural bronzed glow. This innovative formula contains natural and organic ingredients and no fragrances or parabens.) $30
Maybelline – Dream Matte Mouse Bronzer (Air-whipped soft mousse bronzer that blends into the skin like a dream.) $5.99
LIQUID:
Fresh - High Noon Freshface Glow (A liquid bronzer that illuminates and plumps the skin while camouflaging small imperfections. It instantly revives the complexion, delivering a hint of sun-kissed radiance to variety of skin tones.) $36

Sugar Cosmetics - Tropic Tan Illuminating Liquid Bronzer (A waterproof liquid body bronzer that gives your skin a shimmery glow that won't budge—whether you're in the water or not. Perfect for the beach or pool!) (Original Price $35) $17.50
Organic Wear - Liquid Bronzer (Lightweight tinted moisturizer that hydrates and evens out skin tone with sheer, natural coverage) *Comes in 3 shades $10.95
SPRAY/MIST:
Guerlain - Terracotta Spray SPF 10 (An ultra-light mist bronzer that gives you a temporary sunny radiance.) *Comes in 2 shades (001Light & 002Medium) $59
Fusion Beauty - GlowFusion Micro-Nutrient Face & Body Natural Protein Tan (A revolutionary new self-tanning technology that delivers your perfect shade of sun-kissed skin via a clear, all natural, fast drying, and odor-free self-tanning mist.) * Comes in 2 shades (Light & Medium) $58
Sephora Brand Body - Self-Tanning Tinted Bronzing Mist (A tinted self-tanning mist for use on the entire body.) $12
GEL:
Clarins - Self Tanning Instant Gel (A lightweight and non-oily self-tanning gel that promotes a natural, golden tan for face and body without sun exposure.) $32

Boots No7 – Instant Sunshine Shimmer Gel (A pot of glimmering gold gel that set your skin aglow.) $11.99

THE MAKEUP SHOW – A PERSONAL ACCOUNT

After being sleep deprived most of the week I finally crashed. I missed almost all of day one of The Makeup Show. It started at 9am and I got there at 3:30pm. I ran into friend and mentor Michael DeVellis, the Creator of The Makeup Show, The Powder Group and On Makeup Magazine. He looked cool, calm and collected despite this being one of the biggest shows to date with 75 vendors and over a thousand attendees. I was really sorry and mad that I missed his “Marketing You” presentation with Crystal Wright. I made a quick circuit of the vendors to see what companies were there and what they had. I saw another Makeup Industry friend David Klasfeld, the creative genius behind the brand Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. His booth was busy as usual and he was almost completely sold out of his latest and wildly popular product "Lip Tars". He was kind enough to give me a set (I will be posting pics and reviewing them later). I also brought a new air brush machine. It's smaller and mercifully lighter than the one I currently use. After a loop around the Main floor I went upstairs to The Level to hear Gordon Espinet of M.A.C. give a presentation on Makeup Trends for Fall/Winter 2009. It was great hearing from someone who worked with the Designers to create the looks for the Runway Shows. When the presentation ended I went back downstairs to do some makeup shopping. I wait all year for this chance to see the latest products and get extra "show special" discount pricing. Unfortunately this show is restricted to professionals working in the Beauty Industry and press, not the consumer. I did some serious damage with my credit card! LOL. I also ran into some more Makeup Artist friends I hadn't seen since last year's Show. Dragged my makeup haul home and then get ready for the secret after party tonight.

Part II
I got to Fontana’s around 9:30pm and saw some of The Powder Group/Makeup Show team. I met one of my favorite beauty bloggers, Felicia Walker Benson of ThisThatBeauty.com and we chatted most of the night. It’s great networking with people who share your same passion. Felicia’s also turned me on to a powerful tool…”Red Sinner” lipstick by Poppy King, the Lipstick Queen. I never liked red lipstick for myself but I got to see first-hand the magical power of that product on a beautiful brown girl like me. Let me just say that men will spend lots of money to buy you drinks and chat you up when you wear it. LOL! After that I decided it was getting late and headed in cab to my home in Brooklyn. A fun, eventful day and I’m looking forward to more fabulousness tomorrow!

RECESSIONISTA BEAUTY

You love looking beautiful but in this challenging economic climate it’s not smart to spend lavishly if you can’t afford it. What’s a girl to do? Find budget friendly versions of your normal beauty products. Here’s a list of some discount beauty items I’ve found that help you save a few dollars while still looking and feeling pampered. Feel free to send me examples of any cosmetic “downsizing” you’ve incorporated into your beauty routine.


HIGH: Kiehl’s Intensive Treatment and Moisturizer for Dry or Callused Areas (3.4 oz) $22.50
LOW: Sally Hansen Miracle Cure for Severely Dry Hands (3.5 oz.) $8.99


HIGH: Sephora Brand Vanilla Cupcake Body Collection Bubble Bath (10 fl. oz.) $16
LOW: Dial Soy & Almond Milk Moisturizing Body Wash (18 fl. oz.) $6.49


HIGH: Lancôme Nutrix Royal Body Intensive Restoring Lipid-Enriched Lotion (6.9 fl. oz.) $29
LOW: Vaseline Intensive Rescue Clinical Therapy Skin Protectant Body Lotion (6.8 fl.oz.) $7.49


HIGH: NARS Body Glow (4 fl. oz.) $59
LOW: Sephora Brand - Divine Oil (4.2 fl. oz) $18


HIGH: Clinique Clarifying Lotion (6.7 fl. oz.) $11.50
LOW: Dickinson's Witch Hazel-Daily Facial Toner (16 fl. oz.) $4.29


HIGH: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer - Original (colorless) (1 oz.) $36
LOW: Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-Gel (1.5 oz.) $7.99


HIGH: Lancôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover (4.2 fl. oz.)$26
LOW: Neutrogena Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover (5.5 fl. oz) $7.99


HIGH: Lancôme Définicils High Definition Mascara in “Deep Black” $24
LOW: L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in “Carbon Black” $7.50


HIGH: M.A.C. Eye Shadows $14.50 and Pigments $19.50
LOW: NYX Eye Shadows $5 and Chrome Eye Shadows $5


HIGH: Bobbi Brown Lip Color (0.12 oz) $22.00
LOW: Wet 'n' Wild MegaColors Lipstick (0.13 oz.) $1.99


HIGH: M.A.C. Tinted Lip Glass $14.00
LOW: Milani Crystal Gloss for Lips $3.49