Product Rave: Myrabelle Mascara Shield

I bought the Myrabelle Mascara Shield last year at IMATS and can’t believe that I’ve waited until now to try it. I had a client recently who booked me for her makeup for her engagement photos and I packed this into my kit to take with me. This tool is amazing. It’s easy to use and really does help to keep mascara from ruining the eye shadows that I had just laid down on her eyes. It lifts the lashes so that I can get right to the root of the lashes to apply the mascara; it’s also great for tight-lining the eyes as well.

This is by far the best $8 or so dollars that I have spent on my kit.

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Long-wearing Makeup: How to make it last and last


Long wearing makeup is about light layers that are expertly applied and the right products for your skin type.  Both will play a factor in how you makeup will wear throughout the day. For me, every makeup application begins with skin that is well hydrated and cared. This will help with the longevity of the makeup. I like to advise my clients to gently exfoliate their face and lips the night before because it helps with the way your makeup is applied. Also note, that if your moisturizer is oil-free, your foundation should be too. Science 101 told us that oil and water don’t mix. So when you apply an oil-based moisturizer and a water-based foundation, the oil in the moisturizer will break-down the foundation.

Regardless if I’m doing a smoky eye or a more natural look, I begin with the eyes. This allows time for the moisturizer and primer to sink into the skin and set. It also allows me to see what the skin’s doing before I apply foundation. Some shadows can be crumbly and if it falls into the foundation, it can be quite difficult to remove and you end up disrupting the foundation.  Be sure to use waterproof liners and mascaras so that if you cry, there won’t be any smudging.

Using a primer or modifier is a must. It acts as a barrier between your skin and your makeup and also gives you a smooth surface to apply your makeup to. It also helps to extend the wear of your foundation. I reach for a mattifyer for oilier skins because I find that they have more oil-absorbing properties then primers do.

For foundation, I tend to reach for the products that are long-wearing and/or silicone-based. Nine times out of ten, I reach for a silicone-based foundation because it’s long wearing, water-resistant.  It feels like nothing when it’s applied on the skin and looks natural. Start with a thin application and build-up coverage only in the areas that need it. Cream blushes are great for extending the wear of your powder blushes. I like to layer a similar colour of cream blush under powder blush for added longevity. That way, when your powder blush starts to fade, you’ll still have a bit of a flush on your cheeks. The key here is cream to cream and powder to powder.  Follow these tips and your make-up should last and last!

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Kit Tested: MUFE Mist & Fix Makeup Fixing Mist


MUFE Mist & Fix is the newest addition to my kit and I have to say that I’m really impressed. I love that this spray is alcohol free as some sprays that I have tried do sting a bit once it makes contact with the skin. This spray works especially well under hot and humid conditions; and is also a perfect finish to a bridal makeup application. You can find MUFE Mist & Fix at Sephora stores and MUFE counters. It sells for $31 cdn for 4.22 fl oz and $9 cdn for0.84 fl. oz.
Have you tried this fixing spray? Leave me a comment and let me know what you thought of it.

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Kit Tested: Boots No7 Cleansing Cloths


I picked up a pack of these cleaning wipes after reading a post about them on The Makeup Loft. Now I have to say that I’m not a fan of makeup removing wipes because I find that they leave a residue on the skin. I was surprised that these don’t leave a residue and that they worked perfectly on a shoot that I did on Saturday where I needed to quickly change a look on a model.

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Kit Tested: Face Atelier Transforming Gel

I absolutely love this stuff! This clear gel transforms any eye shadow, loose or pressed, into a liner. It can also be used as a mixing medium with loose shadows for vibrant colour payoff. In the FOTD from yesterday, I used it on Vikki to get the loose purple pigment at adhere better and to get a more vibrant colour.

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Kit Tested: Embroylisse Lait-Creme Concentre

Embroylisse Lait-Creme Concentre is one of the best things that I could have found for my it. Why? Because it is a multi-purpose product. I use it on clients that have super dry skin and who have sensitive skin. I love that the creme absorbs quickly and that it can also double as a primer. This creme is a bit expensive at about $25 but it is well worth it for the results that I get.

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Kit Tested: Face Atelier Foundations

I first tried the Face Atelier foundation range when I attended the Toronto Makeup Show last November. I was really impressed with the ease of application and the lovely natural look it gives to the skin. What separates this foundation from others that I have tried is that the foundation contains silicone so there’s no need for a separate primer. It’s a light-weight foundation and is really pigmented so a little bit goes a long way. I used Face Atelier foundation in #8 in the photo to the left. Not sure what colour foundation you need? Face Atelier makes it simple by selling samples of their products for $1. Click here to find stores that carry this brand. Have you tried Face Atelier before? If so what is your take on it?

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Express Beauty Tips: Makeup Removers

Baby wipes make for great cleansing cloths for those of you who wear little to no makeup. I like them because they do not leave a residue like other makeup removing cloths can. I always have a pack on hand in my kit. These are also excellent for prepping the eyes before you apply your eye shadows. The best ones to get are those that are unscented and/or for sensitive skin.

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Eye Primers: UDPP vs. Too Faced Shadow Insurance

So today’s post is about two of the eye shadow primers that I use both professionally and personally. First up UDPP.

UDPP was the first eye shadow primer that I had ever used. It was recommended to be my one of the cast members at Sephora a little over a year ago. I have super oily eye lids and nothing else seemed to work to keep this from happening. This primer glides on easily with the doe-foot applicator and it blends easily with your fingers. The one thing that I don’t like about this primer is the bottle. Although it is cute, it;s just not functional and I don’t like having to cut it open to get all of the product out.

Like the UDPP, The Too Faced Shadow Insurance works to help prevent creasing and keep the eye shadow truer, longer. The consistency of this primer is a bit thinner than the UDPP and I find that this one works better for normal to slightly dry eye lids. For oilier lids, you need to prep the eye with powder first before applying the primer. I use this primer for my kit because it’s packaging is more sanitary.

Overall: Both of these primers are excellent at helping to prevent creasing and helping to keep your shadows more vibrant. These primers can be found at Sephora for $22 and $24 respectively.

Happy Friday!

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Kit Tested: Mary Kay Yellow Concealer

This is the best concealer that I have ever used to help conceal redness on my clients with ivory and beige skin tones. The best part is that a little bit goes a long way. I used this concealer on Vikki pictured in the previous post as she was having some skin issues that day that needed to be taken care of.The great thing about this concealer is that it’s relatively inexpensive at $12.50; which goes to show you that you don’t always have to spend a lot to get great results!

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