Get The Look: Kat Von D!

Happy Fourth Of July, Ladies!

Kat Von D, reality star and tattoo artist extraordinaire looks fabulous here with her varying color eyeshadows and amped up neutral lip! I really like her creativity and unique style that she exudes, so I figured I would break down this beauty look for my readers.

Here is how to get this makeup look on a beauty budget:

• Start off with a good primer to reduce the look of pores and fine lines. This is also useful to help your makeup stay on longer. I like Monistat's Chafing Relief Gel as a facial base on a budget, but you can use whatever primer you like.
  
  
• Apply your foundation and/or concealer of choice. A great option for a long lasting drugstore foundation is Revlon's Colorstay Liquid or Milani's Compact Mineral Makeup. For dark circles, L'Oreal Air Wear Concealer offers lightweight coverage.
  
  
• For this look, the focus is on Kat's eyes and lips, so no blush or bronzer is necessary here.
• Fill in your brows with a pencil or brown shadow. Revlon's Brow Fantasy has a pencil on one end and a brow-controlling gel on the other, which is useful for taming unruly brows. This will frame the face nicely.
  
  
• In this look, Kat is wearing shades of blue shadows on one eye, and shades of bronzey brown on the other. You could recreate this if you wish, or tone it down by using the same color schemes on both eyes.
  
  
• A great option for her shades of blue shadows would be Milani's Runway Eyes Shadow Palette in "Beauty in Blues" which offers a gradient of six fashionable blue shades.
• For the brown side, you could use NYX's Ultra Pearl Mania loose shadow in "Walnut", which offers a rich, shimmering brown.
  
  
• Kat Von D uses a soft black smudged liner on both her eyes, and a liquid liner to create that winged cat-eye look. Almay's Liquid Eyeliner is easy to use with a small felt tip applicator, and lasts all day.
  
  
• NYX Doll Eye Mascara is now available in a Waterproof formula that lengthens and volumizes. I love this mascara and applied to your top and bottom lashes, it will easily help you recreate this look.
  
  
• And, to finish it all off, a soft, shiny lip color to smooth over your lips. For an opaque shade like Kat's try L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Toasted Almond. For a sheer shade, I love NYX's Tinted Lip Spa, perhaps in the color Hush.

What do you think of Kat Von D's makeup look? Have you tried her new makeup line yet? Let me know!

Magic Of Makeup: Cameron Diaz!

I am adding another new weekly installment to my blog! This one is called "Magic Of Makeup" and will feature a celebrity with and without makeup, leaving you to judge which you prefer! Also, these will include a little featurette of a mini makeup recreation as well.

My reason for adding this new topic is simple: Not only will this add for some interaction around the blog, but it will also add some joy to your week. Why, you ask? Because it is always nice to know that celebrities don't look amazing 24/7. Call it cynical, petty, or jealous behavior, but you know its true! Nothing puts a smile on your face more than knowing that gorgeous celebrity is oh, a little less than gorgeous in real life. So... without further ado...

This week's Magic Of Makeup Contestant is the lovely Cameron Diaz!

To get Cameron's lovely "With Makeup" Lip look, try a deep nude/rose shade, such as L'Oreal's Colour Riche Lipgloss in 'Rich Nude' or 'Rich Rose', which retail for about $7. each at drugstores nationwide!

Any thoughts on Cameron, or on my new topic, let me know!

Nikkel Microdermx Microdermabrasion Review!

I was recently given the opportunity to test out Microdermx, a medical-grade microdermabrasion product from Nikkel Holistic Skincare. Unlike many other at-home microdermabrasion products, Nikkel's Microdermx uses medical grade corundrum crystals with concentrated amounts of natural botanicals, nutrients, and active enzymes to exfoliate and pamper your skin. It is a completely safe, natural, and affordable alternative to microdermabrasion treatments at a doctor's office or salon.

Although I do not have a lot of experience with microdermabrasion products or treatments, I found this product very easy to use and very effective. Microdermx comes in two formulas, Step One and Step Two. Step One is the microdermabrasion corundum crystal formula, which has a light and pleasant lemony floral fragrance. Using this product, you can actually see your dead skin cells sloughing off, so you know it is working! I thought it was really cool how you can actually see the process as it is going on. After you are done, you just apply Step Two to replenish and moisturize your skin. I have been using it just as a regular facial lotion as well on my acne-prone skin, and it hasn't broken me out at all. In fact, I've already noticed slight benefits to my skin after using this system only once!

Microdermx contains no synthetic or chemical additives, such as parabens, minerals oil, or propylene glycol. It claims to even skin tone, diminish pores, fade wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars, and brown spots... and although that is a tall order, I find it believable because I think it is truly a spectacular product that I will certainly continue using. Even on my skin, which can be sensitive at times, this product did not irritate or cause any breakouts. I was impressed!

I have illustrated the process to show everyone how cool this product is! In the first photo, I applied a dab of Step One to the back of my hand. When doing your face, in order to be most effective, you are supposed to work in sections. Then, you are supposed to rub in the product (as shown in photo 2) until the lotion portion absorbs mainly and you can feel the grainy corundum crystals exfoliating. Keep rubbing the product until you see these "balled up" pills of dead skin cells mixed with the crystals. See photo 3. Gross, right?! But really awesome at the same time!

After you see the pills of skin balling up, wash the product off and apply Step Two to replenish. As with any microdermabrasion process, you are not supposed to apply your regular treatments or lotions as your skin is highly sensitive at this point. I found Step Two to be very healing and soothing on my skin, with no clogged pores or problems because of it.

Microdermx can be purchased off the Nikkel Holistic Skincare website at http://www.microdermx.com. The two step process can be purchased for $79, and since you only use a small dab each time, it's quite a deal!

Enjoy and stay beautiful :)

Shu Uemura Haul! (With Swatches)

Hey there gals! Hope you are all off to a great start this week.

I recently stopped by my local outlet center and took a gander and what they had in the Lancôme-Designer Fragrance & Cosmetic Outlet. I was super excited to see a bunch of Shu Uemura goodies, so I picked up some eye shadows (for the RIDICULOUSLY low price of $4 each) and a Shu Uemura Depsea Treatment Lip Balm for around $13.

Yay! Here are some photos so you can share in my joy :)

This is my first experience with Shu Uemura makeup, although I do cherish their coveted eyelash curler. I am pleased to report that the eyeshadows are EXCELLENT quality. They have awesome staying power even without a primer. I am in love with the bright yellow color (boringly named ME YELLOW 300). The shadows are super blend-able and feel great to the touch, very soft and almost creamy, although they are pressed powder. They are made in Japan, which is pretty cool.

The lip balm seems to be good quality as well, and I'm glad that it has SPF 15 so I can wear it out in the sun. The only thing I dislike about the lip balm is that the tube is solid white so you can't see how much you have left, and it is slightly hard to squeeze out. It has no real fragrance, which can be good, and there is a slight sweetness to the flavor. Also, there are minimal ingredients according to the package, which I like, and NO petroleum.

Next time I am in the area, I will definitely be heading back in hopes that these eyeshadows are still priced so low! I will be STOCKING UP. I might even venture into the Shu Uemura lipsticks. If you have one of these cosmetic outlets near you, I'd highly suggest checking them out. You never know what amazing bargains you can find!!!

Any Shu fans out there? Got any recommendations of Shu Uemura products for me to try out? Let me know!

Alice Cosmetics Giveaway! (6/29/08 - 7/05/08)

Congratulations to reader Michelle, winner of the Sterling Minerals Cosmetics Giveaway!

This week's giveaway is from another fabulous Mineral Makeup brand, Alice Cosmetics. The lovely Patty of Alice Cosmetics is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a $30 gift certificate to their online store, as well as a free Eye Shadow Guard, and the Mini Miracle Cloth pictured below.

The Eye Shadow Guard is a super-useful tool for applying eyeshadow, as it protects your face from any shadow fallout. Eye shadow fallout is when (generally this happens with pigments or loose shadows) you are applying your eye shadow and it "falls" all over your cheeks.

The Mini Miracle Cloth is a cloth to be used for cleansing, whether wet or dry. It is made up of millions of microfibers which emusify the oil in the skin and rinses it away along with your makeup. This means you can clean your face without soap!

If you are interested in participating in this giveaway, please leave me your Name and E-mail on this Form!

This giveaway is limited to U.S. participants only. All complete entries, via the form, are valid until the closing of the contest, at 12:00 AM on 7/06/2008. Multiple entries under the same name/e-mail do not increase your chance of winning. One winner will be selected at random at the date of the contest closing. If the winner, chosen at random, does not respond to my e-mail by one week after the contest closing, another winner will be chosen!

Shipping costs for the winner's order will also be reimbursed! How awesome is that?! For more information, take a look at my previous review of the brand, or start shopping at Alice Cosmetics' website. Good luck everyone!