Polished: Best of MAKE UP FOR EVER Kit

As a fan of long-wear makeup, I was ecstatic to receive the Wild and Chic Best of MAKE UP FOR EVER Kit.

It includes:

• HD Microfinish Powder
• Aqua Cream in 13 Warm Beige (champagne shimmer)
• Travel Aqua Eyes in Mat Black 0L (black)
• Lab Shine in Star Collection - S4 (pearly pink beige)
• HD Microperfecting Primer
• Smoky Lash Extra Black Mascara

I usually spend about five minutes on my makeup every morning. Before leaving the house (yes, I'm one of those girls) I apply foundation, pressed powder, eyeliner, mascara, and lip stain - at minimum. I recently tested all of the products in this kit, minus the lipgloss. No offense to MAKE UP FOR EVER, but I'm not a gloss girl.
 

First, here is a photo of me with no makeup on. This is what I start with.

I first applied the HD Microperfecting Primer, which made my skin feel smooth and wasn't too heavy. I then applied my regular foundation. Next up was the Aqua Eyes eyeliner (inside upper lid, and on upper lid), which was precise but had smude-ability. I added Aqua Cream in 13 from the liner to my brow bone, and it gave the perfect amount of color and highlight. Then two coats of Smoky Lash Mascara, which I was probably the most curious about. My lashes are long, and hit my brow bone, so at the end of every day I have to make sure I haven't turned into a raccoon. Finally, I dusted the HD Microfinish Powder over my entire face.

This whole process took about 10 minutes. I was eager to see if my extra time in the morning would hold up by the end of the day. This is what I looked like at 8 a.m., post makeup application. 

I then walked eight blocks to work on a foggy and humid day, had a typical seven hour day at work, and walked home the eight blocks in the humidity. This was unintentionally the perfect day to test these products!

Here is a photo of what I looked like when I got home. 

Everything had held up really well! The eyeliner, Aqua Cream, and mascara looked as good as they had 10 hours earlier. My foundation had melted a little, mostly in the T-zone area, which was to be expected after a humid day.

Overall, I adore this product set, and it was absolutely worth doubling the amount of time I spend applying makeup in the morning. I would suggest this most to ladies who have a long day ahead of them, and no time for a mirror check. Trust me, all MAKE UP FOR EVER products will stay exactly where you applied them, and you will look fresh and lovely (not made-up and cakey).

The Wild and Chic Best of Make Up For Ever Kit ($55) is available exclusively at Sephora and Sephora.com.

-Alyssa

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Mary Kay Spoiled Me With a Miami Makeover

Last month, I traveled to Miami to report on Mercedes-Benz Swim Fashion Week as a correspondent for Mary Kay. I've been a Mary Kay fan for years, and was excited to get better acquainted with their products – particularly, their newest offerings.

One of the highlights of my trip was a makeover with celeb makeup artist, Ashunta Sheriff. Ashunta’s client list reads like a who's who of Hollywood (Rihanna, Ciara, Hillary Duff, Ashlee Simpson, Keri Hilson, Jennifer Hudson, Sharon Stone, Queen Latifah, P. Diddy and Alicia Keys) – so to be in her gifted hands was a major treat. Using products from Mary Kay, Ashunta gave me the J.Lo glow I've always wanted but never knew how to properly replicate.

Of all the products Ashunta used to create my Miami-inspired makeover, I fell hardest for Mary Kay's Lash Love Mascara. Lash Love promises to define and deliver 4 times the volume – and child, did it ever!

After Ashunta applied the mascara using her "uptown, downtown, cross town" technique (peep the video for a demonstration), my fringe looked fat and fabulous – without looking overdone. And I really love how deeply pigmented the color is; my natural lashes are black, but skimpy – so I need something ultra dark to make my peepers pop. Not to mention, Lash Love managed to stay put all day, despite the merciless Miami heat and humidity.

Lash Love Mascara costs a very affordable $15 – and is available at marykay.com.

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Urban Decay Summer 2011 Collection

A few weeks ago, Urban Decay sent me their Summer 2011 Collection to test and review. As a huge fan of Urban Decay (they're one of my all time favorite brands - I love their rock and roll vibe and I’m addicted to their 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils), I always have high expectations for new products. And this collection does not disappoint.

Usually when I receive an entire collection to review, I'll choose a few of the best products and feature them here. This collection, which is comprised of some familiar faces and some new makeup bag staples, has so many choice products that I'm going to review the whole she-bang.

Okay, time to break it down...

The Rollergirl Nail Kit includes six mini bottles of summer's IT shades: Fame (shimmery beige), Superfreak (gold glitter), Xanadu (Purple Glitter), Miss T (pearly fuchsia), Woodstock (hot pink) and Love Train (iridescent white). Something to note about these lilliputian lacquers is that each brush has 220 strands, just like a standard polish brush - so it delivers the same flawless finish as a bigger bottle. I painted a pedicure using Woodstock a two weeks ago and it's still holding on and looking hot.

Even if you own just about every Urban Decay product that exists - like me - here's a reason you should still add the Rollergirl Eyeshadow Palette to your shopping list: one of the shadow shades, Verve (pale champagne with oyster shimmer), is exclusive to this set. And don't let the name fool you. There's more to this kit than just eyeshadows. You also get a full-sized 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Whiskey (dark brown) and a mini Crush Lip Junkie Lipgloss (sheer bright hot pink with a vanilla mint flava).

Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizers are great for this time of year when a face of foundation is just too much. The formula is buildable and breathable for comfortable wear. And it' got SPF 20 to protect your baby face from the summer sun.

I've been wearing Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion for years and while I wouldn't change the formula for anything, the packaging left much to be desired. You could never seem to get all of the product out of the I Dream Of Genie-esque tube, and makeup addicts everywhere were pissed. Some of them even took to YouTube, demonstrating how to saw the shit open to extract every drop. Well, Urban Decay has responded in a BIG way. They've re-packaged the product in a squeezable tube - with 10% more product than before. If you wear eyeshadow, Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is a must. When used as a base, your eyeshadow will not move or crease for 24 hours. I kid you not. And what's more - the pigment of your shadow appears truer and more vibrant...not some washed out version of what you see in the shadow pan. It's available in 4 shades: Original (invisible), Eden (tawny matte finish), Greed (glimmering gold) and Sin (champagne shimmer). If you buy anything in this post, this should be it.

Urban Decay is not kidding when they describe Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara's formula as mermaid worthy. I wear Cannonball during my infant son's weekly swim lessons and it does not budge. Well, not until I remove it with Urban Decay's Meltdown Makeup Remover.

Even though I'm brown, I still like to up the ante in the summertime. What I love about Baked Face and Body Bronzers is that they are the antithesis of the flat, orangey bronzers that I loathe. The three shades deliver a gorgeous sunkissed glow that actually looks like it may have come from, well, the sun. I'm going to Miami in a few days and I couldn't decided which one should come with. In the end, I opted for Gilded (smoldering bronze shimmer). Besides being a gorgeous shade, I also figured that it could pull double duty as an eyeshadow. Genius consideration, right?

Lip Love Honey-Infused Lip Therapy gives lips a sheer/stained effect. The conditioning formula nourishes your pout, sans stickiness. Available in five shades (Stung, a sheer blackberry, is the prettiest IMO), the gloss smells and tastes like honey. Problem is I don't like honey - the smell or the taste of it. But if you don't have honey hangups, these are some gorgeous glosses to add to your collection.

Urban Decay is celebrating 15 years in the beauty biz with the Quinceanera Makeup Bag. This baby is already packed in suitcase for Miami. It's the perfect size for a product packrat like me. Roomy enough so that I can travel with enough stock, but not so cavernous that I'm tempted to fill it up with everything I own. LOVE!

Finally, there's the Urban Bride Kit. Urban Decay says, "If you're looking for something new to give your favorite bride, lavish her with this decadent gift-ready box of travel-sized products designed to keep her looking exquisite all day (and night, wink wink)." But, honestly, you don't need to be a bride-to-be to enjoy this set. I've been a Mrs. for 4 years and I'm crushing on this kit. It contains:
• Razor Sharp Ultra-Definition Finishing Powder to diffuse lines for a flawless airbrushed look.
• Urban Decay’s best-selling original formula Eyeshadow Primer Potion (full-sized) and Supercurl Curling Mascara to keep her eyes looking fresh.
• Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Midnight Cowboy to give bare and lightly colored lips a sensual, come-hither shine or electrify darker lipcolor with more texture.
• All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray to ensure her look stays put for 16 incredible hours.
• Marshmallow Sparkling Lickable Body Powder to keep the party going long after the guests have left.

I was so impressed with All Nighter that I bought Deslick (their other makeup setting spray that also addresses oil overload) yesterday at Sephora.

So there you have it. Which products are going on your wish list?

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Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes Mascara

As a big fan of Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara, I am positively giddy to learn that there's a new member of the Lancôme mascara family. It's called Hypnôse Doll Lashes and its mission is to deliver doll-like lashes, instantly.

This eye-opening new mascara, which was seven years in the making, delivers this doll-lash effect in two ways. First, the cone shaped, triple patented I-conic brush provides an extremely smooth application and defines even the hard-to-reach corner and lower lashes. The bristles offer ultimate separation, making it easy to layer without any clumping. The glide-on formula is enriched with nylon powders that meticulously sculpt and curl each lash for a voluminous, jet-black finish. A combination of hard and soft waxes volumize and curl while shaping polymers lengthen. The result is an instant wide-eye look.

Three of the glamorous faces of Lancôme - Daria Werbowy, Elettra Wiedemann and Arlenis Sosa - will launch the Hypnôse Doll Lashes campaign. Hypnôse Doll Lashes is now available exclusively at Dillard's and Dillards.com and will roll-out nationally in September.

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Urban Decay Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara

A few weeks ago, I signed my son, Westley, up for swimming lessons at the local YMCA - and this morning was his first class. Since I'm a new mom and busier than ever, I decided to multitask and test a new beauty product while we got our swim on.

Urban Decay Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara's light gel formula has been rigorously field-tested in the ocean as well as the sweat-drenched gym. The exclusive Japanese formula refuses to budge. A special microcrystalline wax works with the dense, fuzzy brush to increase seductive length and volume, without ever flaking off and compromising your lashes' natural feathery texture. Mermaids can now sing their siren songs with abandon, and high maintenance types can cry all they want.

I quickly swiped on a coat before heading out the door and prayed that the product delivered on its promises. And while Westley and I were splashing around and dunking our heads under the water, I kept hoping that I wasn't having a Tammy Faye moment. But as my mom used to say about school, "It's not a fashion show." Thanks Mom, for always putting things into perspective.

Anyway, when I returned to the locker room and found a mirror, I was pleasantly surprised. My mascara looked freshly applied with no smears or smudges. And even as I vigorously dried my face with my towel, my mascara didn't budge.



This is me, post-swim. My natural lashes are so stumpy, they don't usually show up in photos.

If you're looking for a volumizing formula, this isn't it. But if you want a mascara that adds good length and delivers natural-looking, you-but-better results, this is a great choice. But if you buy it, you'd be wise to invest in a good makeup remover. Coincidentally, Urban Decay's Melt Down Makeup Remover is also new.

Both are available at urbandecay.com and Sephora.

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Makeup Mondays With Mario: Mascara Made Easy

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.

Hi Mario!

I'm confused and I need your help. It seems that there are so many conflicting "rules" about how to apply mascara and I don't know which ones to follow. Some say to hold the wand vertically while others say horizontally. I've been told to bend the wand - what good does that do? And some tips say let your mascara dry between coats, while other tips say not to let the coat dry before applying more. 

If anyone knows the best way to apply mascara, I know it's you. So please help, Mario!

You rock,

Reena

Hey Reena,

I don't blame you for feeling confused! Applying mascara should be one of the most simple steps in your makeup routine. I'm not sure that there is technically a "best way" to apply mascara as it really depends on your lashes and how you prefer them to look and feel. When I apply mascara, I hold the wand horizontally and apply it first to the root of the lash up to the tip.  If I want a darker and fuller lash, I usually wiggle the brush from side to side to really coat the lashes with mascara. 

I prefer to apply a second or third coat while the lashes are still wet because it allows for easier blending and separating. The same goes for the bottom lashes as well. I recommend you find your own way to apply mascara that feels most comfortable to you and gives you the result you want.  In other words, you make your own rules to follow!

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,

Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

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