TheMakeupGirl

Last Night A D.J. (errr a flat iron) Saved My Life!

Okay...you all know that I am obsessed with new and exciting ways to keep my hair flat yet in good condition (I know an oxymoron...as we all know heat + hair = death to hair)  Well I am pretty confident that I have found one that will give you the equation of heat + steam + hair = FABULOUS!

I was poking around various hair forums and had heard a whole lot about the Maxi Glide Flat Iron...every "long hair care forum" said that this iron was the BEST one they had ever used.  Then I saw it on HSN complete with demonstrations taking FRIZZED OUT hair to smooth and shiny in seconds.  That was IT I had to try it.  Guess what.... it sold out in minutes - I was BESIDE myself!!  Then I googled it and found it over at StyleBell...yaaay!  I had it in my hot little hands in 2 days.

Now on to the good stuff...how did it work.  The main complaint on all the forums about this iron was that the ceramic pins that are meant to detangle your hair actually pulled it out - yikes!  The reason I went ahead and got it is that the newer version has interchangeable plates.  There is one with the detangling ceramic pin plate but it also comes with a smooth plate too.  The plate with the pins works quite well is you are using small sections of hair and working slowly but if you have no patience or tend to work quickly with your hair, don't do it!  Use the smooth plate instead.  The iron has a temperature control and the best feature of all STEAM!!!!!!  When I tell you that my hair was SHINY and smooth...that is an understatement. I was in AWE I was staring at myself so hard!  I would suggest watching the enclosed DVD for tips and just play around with it.

Now one thing...the iron is bigger than what you are probably used to BUT once you get the hang of it you will love it.  It has grooves on the outside so you can flip and curl your hair as well.  The steam feature should only be used near the ends of your hair - we don't want any burned scalps now!

At the moment they are sold out on HSN but you can scoot on over to Stylebell and they have several packages to choose from.  You can even get the same sold out HSN package that has both the Maxi and Mini glide irons for under $130 (not bad right??)

Style Pretty!!

Beauty Duty: May 13, 2008...

A Touch of Blusher can't decide which new eye palette to get...

All About the Pretty believes in pretty karma.

KRiSTOPHER is wanting, wearing, hating playsuits.

Makeup Moxie reviews the new Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Brush bronzing gel.

Product Girl is giving away 4 goodie bags from the upcoming Sex and the City movie!

SugarShock Beauty finds that everything's coming up roses in the fragrance world.

Read Pretty!!

Smell This: L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani...

I know I am  late on this one...but WOW.  I am in love with L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani is absolutely delicious...it has all of the things that I love in a fragrance.  A little bit of green for freshness, teensy bit of floral and some musk just for fun.  The packaging is fun and flirty and I LOVE that they have a solid perfume (I am SO into solid fragrance).

Nordies has a great little set they were promoting for Mother's Day (they still have it) that is $75 and you get a Set includes Eau de Parfum Spray (3.4 oz.), All Over Me Body Lotion (2.5 oz.) and an on-the-go Rollerball (6 ml). 

Smell Pretty!!

Watch This: Sex and The City - Only 16 More Days!!

Are you as excited as I am for Sex and the City???  I am so ready for shoes, clothes, gossip and cocktails!!!

In honor of the girls - watch the trailer and get in the mood.  The movie is out May 30th.

Watch Pretty!!

Don't Forget: The Makeup Show 2008...

Hey chicas...don't forget about The Makeup Show this Sunday and Monday (May 18-19) in New York City.  If you remember, Michael DeVellis (the Director of the Powder Group) - has guaranteed that TMG readers can attend with no issues whatsoever.

Click here to see the post you can print out and take with you for admittance with your entrance fee.  Josi and I will be in the house, so If you are planning to attend - email me so we can meet up with you!!

Stay Pretty!

Steal This: Madonna's Hard Candy Cover Look...

Love her or hate her...Madonna certainly is a trendsetter.  Even at her age (she will turn 50 this August), she looks stunning.  Even more incredibly, she has always had the ability to take a current trend and run with it or resuurect one from the past and have women everywhere running out to duplicate the look (Hello...the Bad Girl video in 1993 had everyone running out to buy Spice lip pencil and Lucid lipstick from MAC and tweezing off all their eyebrows - me included!)

So it comes as no surprise that she would have a memorable cover this time around.  For the newest trend setting album cover for her latest release Hard Candy, she called on called on Gina Brooke, the Artistic Director of Shu Uemura, to create her eye-catching sexy look.  Brooke says, “It’s all about the eyes and we were both inspired by images taken in the sixties by photographer Sam Haskins (Cowboy Kate, Five Girls, and November Girls). I wanted to put a modern-day twist on these beautiful photographs of beautiful women from the sixties”

Here’s how Gina designed the look using Shu Uemura products:

STEP 1: Prepare the face
Begin with prepping the eyes with the Moisture Eye Zone Mask ($43). This will calm puffiness and prep the eye area.  Then apply Phyto Black Lift Firming Anti-Wrinkle Cream ($125) on the whole face – it’s an super rich moisturizer that also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Lastly, apply Face Architect Smoothing Fluid Foundation ($42) Formulated with almost 40% Depsea Water, creating a refreshing watery sensation. Available in 17 shades to compliment individual skin tones.

STEP 2: Prime the eyelids
Using a Kolinsky Brush 11, apply Pressed Eye Shadow in M Beige 800 ($20) above the eyelids.  Then, use Cover Crayon in 9YR Light ($24) in the inner corner and water line of the eyes to make them appear larger.  Using the Drawing Pencil in Black ($19), begin at the inner corners extending the line out all the way to the end of the eyebrow.

STEP 3: Prep the lashes
Use the Eyelash Curler ($19) before applying Basic Black Mascara ($27.50) beginning at the base and rolling the brush through the tips of lashes.  Apply Soft Cross Lashes ($20) to draw attention and enhance the shape of the eye.

STEP 4: Finish off with the lips
Since the focus is on the eyes, use Rouge Unlimited Crystal Shines in PK 301S ($23) layered with Gloss Unlimited in BG 930N ($22) for a soft, natural look.

For more info and a detailed how-to visit this link.

Stay Pretty!!

Smashbox: Maintain Your Focus...

I am REALLY big on tinted moisturizers of any kind because I don't wear foundation...BUT I like the look that it gives just not the way it feels.  The latest one I am obsessed with is Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer.  This is a lightweight feeling product that gives fairly good coverage (I used it under my eyes with really good results) and powdered on top and it looks FANTASTIC.  The formula contains a citrus/honey combination, as well as vitamins C and E to offer protection against free radicals and anti-aging peptides to improve elasticity.

It feels a bit tingly when you apply (I am guessing from the citrus-honey combo) it absorbs oil quite well and to top it all off...UVA/UVB SPF 15 added to guard against future sun damage.  Comes in 5 shades (I am medium), you only need a small amount (like the size of a dime) to cover your entire face.  TMG tip:  to get more coverage, use this OVER the Photo Finish primer (one of my all time favorite primers), then powder on top and you will get a more foundation like finish.

Sheer Focus retails for $30 at Sephora and Ulta stores nationwide and on the Smashbox website.

Stay Pretty!!

Cheeks: Susan Posnick's Color Me...

Mineral color fever has officially swept the nation (if not the world) and companies are finding new and exciting ways to package the product and new ways for us to wear it.  One such company is Susan Posnick Cosmetics.  Susan was a celebrity makeup artist who developed her own line of mineral cosmetics.

Susan's blush, ColorMe which is best described as a pop of color for your cheeks is fun to apply and the color lasts FOREVER!  Great for travel and it even has a little mirror on the top of the cap for on the go application.

You can also use COLORME on your lips - just top it off with clear conditioner or gloss for a pretty and natural look...how is that for easy??  Today I am wearing Peony which looks a lot like NARS Orgasm but there are 6 other shades to choose from, you can definitely find one that will work for your skin tone.

Color Me retails for $32 and can be purchased on the Susan Posnick website.

Blush Pretty!!