[Review] Foundations and Powders and Blushes and more... Oh My!

I will be doing short reviews of a ton of products that I bought from Camera Ready Cosmetics. I'm pretty sure I've told you guys how awesome this store is, but if not, check out my shopping review here. I really have a ton so let's get started! WARNING - This post will be photo heavy, enjoy!

Review

Cinema Secrets Foundation Primer:
I just started using Cinema Secrets Foundation Primer and I LOVE it. I used it for my friends' wedding party and herself on her wedding day and it was absolutely perfect. Their makeup did not budge or fade. It's a great filler too, it fills up my small wrinkles and I really like that it's clear and dries clear. It leaves your skin silky soft. You don't need to use a ton of product to get the job
done - which is awesome, less money for me to spend! Foundation application afterward glides on easily and flawlessly.

Mehron No Sweat Primer:
I sweat A LOT. I mean, I can walk to the kitchen and I will start feeling beads of sweat pop up on my nose or forehead. I hate that I sweat so much, and this humidity we've been having does not help. Thank goodness I found the Mehron No Sweat Primer! It does what it says, it keeps my face from sweating off the makeup I just applied. It's so easy to use, just dampen your cotton ball a little bit and lightly apply the primer to sweat prone areas, like your forehead and/or nose and then let it dry before you apply your makeup. It does not leave your makeup streaky and it doesn't make your make up run. It dries quickly and doesn't smell at all. Overall, great product that I love and use every day. [Sorry for the horrible picture, it's not very easy taking pictures of products that are as clear as day...lol]

Quick Blending Sponge:
I know y'all have heard of the Beauty Blender, well this, my loves is a budget friendly blending sponge. When I first saw these funky shaped sponges at IMATS, I thought to myself "What in the world is that thing?!". I didn't even bother giving it a chance then, but oh how I wish I would have bought them sooner. The Quick Blending Sponge is amazing! They work soooooooooo much better then those throw away white wedges. It helps you apply your foundation flawlessly, easy to use and it's reusable! I don't think I've used my foundation brushes in a while after using the Quick Blending Sponges. Definitely try one out for yourself.

Graftobian Super Palettes:
I didn't always have to wear foundation, but as I age [nearing 30], I feel the need to cover up my age spots. I have been using my Graftobian Super Palette in warm and I love it. It's not cakey at all, which is my number one must have with foundations. It also covers really well without having to use a ton of product. It's a bit runnier than other foundations, but doesn't run after it's applied. You can easily mix different colors together to get the perfect match for your skin tone. These Super Plattes come in 3 different palettes; Warm, Cool and Neutral. Each palette has 18 different shades. I only purchased the Warm and Cool palettes.Worth the money? Absolutely! Check out the pictures and swatches below. [This portion is pretty photo heavy]

Ben Nye Pressed Powder Palette:
I don't think I'll ever go back to regular store brand powders after using my Ben Nye Pressed Powder Palette. I use my Mojave palette every day, the powders are amazing. The colors are fantastic and are just my colors [if you didn't know, I have a hard time finding the perfect shade]. It covers really well and does not give an orangey hue, unlike some of my store brand powders that I have used in the past. If you're a lighter toned beauty, fret not, because there is a Bella Palette that is filled with lighter shades for you. I don't use this palette, well because as y'all know I'm on the tanner side of the color scale. Ben Nye has become one of my favorite brands to use, truly a wonderful brand that produces amazing products. Definitely worth it. Check out the swatches and pictures below.

 RCMA Loose Powder:
When I don't have time in the morning to get all spiffy for work, I just throw on some RCMA Loose Powder [No Color] on over my foundation. I love it because I don't have to worry about matching my my powder color to my skin tone. Although the powder looks like a pure solid white, it's translucent. It gives my face that matte look and feel that I love and also covers pretty well. It does not change the color of my foundation at all, which is definitely a must have in a No Color powder. I love that I don't have to use a whole lot of product, a little really does go a long way.

Mehron Blush Palette:
Once I started wearing blush, I kind of got addicted to it - haha. No really, adding just a little amount really defines the face so much more. I use to not really wear blush, because I thought it was too bright, or it didn't look right. You just need to know how to wear it and what colors go best with your skin tone. That is why I chose to buy a Mehron Blush Palette, because I didn't know what colors would look good on me or not. So I bit the bullet and bought the 8 color palette. I'm so glad I did. The colors are so bold and beautiful, even if you have some color to your skin tone, the pigmentation on these blushes are a-freaken-mazing. It lasts pretty much all day, so you won't have fading blush while you're trying to look your best. Best of all, I don't have to use a lot of product to get the right color.

I hope you guys enjoyed these reviews. I actually do have a ton more to review but thought ending this here would be a good spot. I didn't want a long and over run review post to get too long or boring. So, just keep a look out for my next post, which will have reviews on eye liners, mascaras and more. Thanks for reading loves and I hope everyone had a great weekend!

[Review] Cinema Secrets

I have been meaning to post a review of some of the new brands I've been using, but I have been pressed for time lately. Now that my friend's wedding is over I can tell you how much I am loving my new products. First, you guys definitely need to check out Camera Ready Cosmetics. Seriously, the best store I've come across. They have tons of high quality brands that Pro Makeup Artist use. I cannot stay away from the store, if I could, I would probably buy everything [haha].

Photo taken from Cinema Secrets "About Us" page of Maurice Stein

Although I have a ton to review about from my recent purchases at Camera Ready Cosmetics, I'm just going to start with the Cinema Secrets brand. Cinema Secrets was founded by Maurice Stein in 1984. He is most famous for his part as a makeup artist in Planet of the Apes [I know we've all seen this]. His work was astounding in the movie and touched many faces of the industry. Did you know that he was also the very FIRST makeup artist to be inducted in the California Cosmetology Association Hall of Fame and is included in the National Cosmetology Association Hall of Renown? Well if you didn't know, now you know. Really such an amazing and inspiring man that I would love to meet one day [a girl can dream right?].

Review 
 
I needed a foundation that does it all. I wanted one that covers really well, one that isn't super cakey or have the cakey look or feel, one that I also don't need to use a ton of product and one that will last a long time. I'm so glad I came across Cinema Secrets. They have an amazing line of products, but by far their foundation is amazing. Since I was the makeup artist for my friend's wedding, I needed a variety of foundation colors, so I purchased 2 of the Cinema Secrets Ultimate Foundation Kit [kit #3 and kit #8] from Camera Ready Cosmetics.

I actually use this EVERYDAY and even after the wedding, I still have a TON of products left over. This foundation did everything I wanted it to do. I didn't have to use a whole lot of product to get the job done. Colors were amazing, and easy to mix to get the perfect shade. It lasted all night through out my friends wedding and did not smear or run at all. I love the fact that you get a whole lot of bang for your buck. It didn't cost me an arm and a leg which is definitely a huge plus. So if you're looking for a great foundation, try Cinema Secrets Ultimate Foundation Kit. I'm sure one of these kits will have your shade in it, there's about 11 different color kits! It is truly amazing.

Now for the fun part. Swatches and photos from the wedding that I was honored to be the makeup artist in. I didn't want to bombard you with a ton of pictures,okay really I didn't have a whole lot of time. So I combined the swatches [please be advised that I have used some of the foundations before taking pictures].

Nancy - The beautiful bride

Phoenix - Bridesmaid

Lidta - Bridesmaid

Sara - Bridesmaid

I hope you guys enjoyed this review/blog post! Check out my dedicated Makeup website, Makeup by Sammie. It's still in the works. I'm still trying to find old pictures of makeup applications I've done to put up. But so far, what I have on there is the most recent.

[Photo Heavy] Camera Ready Cosmetics

I don't know if you guys know this, but I LOVE browsing the internet for makeup. I even do what I call an online "window" shop (LOL), which is where I find things I like, and add it to my cart. Then of course I'll go back and double check my cart, and see how much damage I've done. If I don't necessarily need it, I'll delete it. BUT boy that is the hard part, letting go is so hard to do!

I came across this website, Camera Ready Cosmetics, that I abso-freaken-lutely love. I swear it was fate that led me to Camera Ready because my friend was in need of a makeup artist for her wedding. The other great thing about it is that they are located in San Diego, a mere 20 minutes from me. So I jet down there after work one day and of course was totally in love with the cute little store. You can also purchase online, they ship WORLDWIDE. They have everything a makeup artist dreams of and this store is open to the public.

Ashlie, the cashier, was there helping me with such great customer service. I had my 3 boys with me and of course they were getting bored and antsy. But Ashlie was still so helpful through out my shopping trip. She recommended a few things that actually helped me save a few bucks,  which I really appreciated.

Of course after my shopping trip, I look through all of my awesome new makeup, I find that I forgot a few things. Boo me! But, I am so grateful that I can purchase online from Camera Ready Cosmetics and have my items shipped to me in about 2 days. Seriously, shipping is super fast and everything was packaged nicely to insure that nothing breaks. If you're ever in need of some high quality makeup that you don't normally see in stores like Sephora or Ulta, then you need to check out Camera Ready Cosmetics. I'll have reviews up of the products I bought when I'm all done with this wedding, so keep a look out for that! Check out my haul below.

Cinema Secrets - Warm Foundation Palette. LOVE this palette. I've been using it on myself since I got it.

Cinema Secrets - Lip Palette in Barely There (top) and Can Buy Me Love (bottom).

 Purely Cosmetics Translucent Finishing Powder.

 Model in a Bottle - Matte Finishing Spray.

 Ben Nye - Matte Final Seal.

 Cinema Secrets - Eye Primer.

 Mehron - Blush Palette. LOVE this palette.

 Ben Nye - Media Pro Poudre Palette in Mojave.

 Camera Ready - Quick Blending Sponge. The cost efficient alternative to the Beauty Blender, LOVE this pink squishy sponge!

 Camera Ready - Gel Eye Liner in Black Out.

Ben Nye and Graftobian - Refill Powder pans (lighter shades that I totally forgot the names of).

Must.. Find... A... Makeup Organizer!

I use to have one of those makeup caboodles, not a fancy one, just one from Target. I loved it. It kept all of my makeup in one place, even though I needed a bigger one, it still did it's job. I traveled with it on year and the airline SHATTERED it. I was really bummed about it and have not found a replacement yet. Where to look? If anyone has any recommendations, I'd love to hear it!

Here's what I'm looking for:

1.) Mobile -  I want something that's mobile, preferably on wheels (I would also like to have a good quality one).
2.) Needs to be big so that I can have BOTH my makeup and nail polishes.
3.) I also need a stationary one that I can keep at home for my overflow of products.

[Review] MuD - MakeUp Designory

I recently went to IMATS in LA, it's been probably about a month now. I know, I know, I should have posted reviews a lot sooner than I am now... hey better late than never right? I am so glad I went to IMATS because it's just a HUGE makeup show with vendors displaying their products, artists showing off their talents and Pros doing seminars and classes. I love online shopping, but when it comes to makeup it's kind of hard to gauge what colors really look like in person. So at IMATS I was able to test products, just like going to Sephora or the makeup counter at the mall, but imagine it 10x's bigger than any makeup counter or store.

One of the booths I stopped by at was MuD, aka MakeUp Designory. I've seen their products at the beauty schools I've toured but never actually tried them out. I figure, if their products are used at the beauty schools, then the quality must be fantastic. Here's a quick 411 on MuD: They are a school that provides quality education with a passion. MuD conducts numerous tests on their line of products to ensure that their brand is up to par for the cosmetic industry. They promise quality, long-lasting wearbility and flawless application. Read on for my review!

Review

I love finding products that are high in quality and at a reasonable price. Which is great for me because that means that I don't have to use a ton of product for a certain look. The palette I got comes a good sized mirror, 6 slots for eye shadows and 2 slots for blush. I love that the palette is so versatile, sleek and slim, it's kind of sexy [is that strange that I jsut called a palette sexy? lol]. I have never actually owned a palette that I can change out the colors, so I am super happy about that. Colors are easy to pop in and easy to pop out and in my palette I have almost everything I need. It's compact so it fits perfectly in my purse without being in the way.

I did have a chance to do some swatches for you guys to see. I chose 6 random-ish eye shadow colors which are; Dulce De Leche, Firebrick, Espresso, Voodoo, Smoked Sapphire and Onyx. I wanted colors that I know I would wear a lot and then a few colors that I wear just to go out and of course a random bright color [Firebrick]. As for the blush colors I chose the Soft Peach and Russet. I love the blush colors, they are in the same family of orange-ish. I can use Soft Peach for work and then go a little bit darker with Russet for night life, or I just mix the two and get an in between color. I also got a Lip Glaze in Bare, a neutral lip color because I haven't ventured into the world of bright lip colors yet.

I am super happy with my purchase with MuD Cosmetics. The quality of their products are amazing and they last all day long. I did have a small snafu though. When I purchased my products at IMATS, I really should have double checked my colors because I was accidentally given 2 wrong colors. So I contacted them through FaceBook and had a reply in seriously 5 minutes. Customer service is really great, they sent me my original colors right away and without any extra charges. Great products and fantastic customer service, I seriously couldn't be happier.

MuD Voodoo and Onyx with Eye Kandy Jelly Bean and Sour Grape

Would I recommend MuD Cosmetics to my fellow beauty junkies? Of course! You guys should definitely check out their cosmetics line and if you're looking to go to a makeup school, they could be the one for you! I just wish they were a little bit closer to me so I could take part in their makeup artist program [one of my dreams!]. Don't forget to check out their Facebook Page and Twitter page for updates. Hope you guys enjoyed this review!

[Video Tutorial] How to Mix Eye Kandy Glitters

So you all know how much I LOVE glitter and shimmer. Anyway, I started doing this new trick that I learned from Eye Kandy, mixing glitter colors to create new and different looks. Thanks to IMATS LA I now mix my glitters. It must have slipped my mind because for some reason it had never crossed my mind to mix Eye Kandy Glitter colors together [duh!]. I love the out comes and I can get super creative in anyway I want. In this video tutorial I just did a more natural neutral look that I can wear every day. Check out the video below. Let me know what you guys think and also, throw me some color ideas and I'll come up with a video for you!

[Review] Generation Klean Hair Mascara Gray Disappear

Are you tired of waiting for your hair appointment to quickly approach because your gray hairs are showing? Well, now you don't have to cringe at the unbearable site of gray hairs! Generation Klean has created a product, called Gray Disappear, that will cover gray hairs in between your hair appointments. Don't know what Generation Klean is? Check out my Intro Blog Post here to get the 411 about the company.

Review

I personally do not have gray hairs, don't ask me how that is possible, with all of the stress I go through I'm surprised I'm not gray all over [lol]. Fortunately, my husband, Sean,  has abundant of gray hairs, but it's also unfortunate for him because he HATES it. Lucky for him, I decided to test out Generation Klean's Hair Mascara Gray Disappear on him.

Sean is a newbie to product reviews so he had a few questions that I thought was cute. Here's a few things he asked:
             " Is this going to hurt?"
             " How long is this going to take, because I want to watch the 
               Home Run Derby" [lol.. typical guy ]
             " Does it stink, if it does, how long will the smell last?"

Funny right? Well to answer his questions, no it doesn't hurt. It's mascara, it's just like putting on mascara on your eyelashes. It didn't take very long at all, a few swipes and we were done. I loved that I didn't have to use a ton of product to get great coverage. Best part of it all, it doesn't have a weird scent, actually it didn't smell at all. We used the Onyx [Black] Hair Mascara, so it can get a little messy if you are trying to cover up a lot of hair, which Sean did have a lot to cover up. It washes off your fingers very easily, so no need to stress about stains on your fingers.

What I loved most about Generation Klean's Hair Mascara Gray Disappear is that it's Paraben-free. I love that Jasmine and JD took so much time and put a lot of heart into a product that has less toxic ingredients and is safe for beauty lovers. It's super easy to use and can be done in a matter of minutes, depending on your hair length or what you're trying to cover. It covers grays amazingly well, as you can see in the picture above, and looks natural. I asked Sean what it felt like to have in his hair, he said it kind of feels like mousse. So that's great to know that Generation Klean's Hair Mascara isn't sticky or feels funky. Since Sean has never been to the hair salon, the Hair Mascara Gray Disappear is great for our last minute date nights or if he's simply going out with the boys. It comes off easily, no need for extra product to remove the Hair Mascara, just shampoo and water in the shower and you're done. Easy to put on and easy to take off, what more could you ask for?

Does Sean love the product? Yes he does! I'm so glad that I was able to experiment on his hair [since he has so many gray hairs... sorry hunny lol]. Another awesome way you can use Generation Klean's Hair Mascara Gray Disappear is to add temporary highlights! I haven't done this yet, but now that I have time to I will definitely put in some reds and blondes in my hair just for fun. Those pictures will come later, so be on the look out for an update. Don't forget to 'like' Generation Klean on their Facebook Fan Page and/or follow them on Twitter for tips, advice and updates on upcoming new products that are Klean. 

[Intro] Generation Klean

 Do you know what ingredients are in some of the beauty products you're using? Does anyone ever look? I usually do and always look for mostly clean, natural, paraben free products [this list could go on, but I'll stop it there]. It's definitely a must to know what you're putting on your body, let a lone your skin or face. I love that new companies are taking drastic measures in creating products that are good and safe for us to use. We don't have to be afraid of increasing the risks and the dangers of getting cancer related health problems with companies like Generation Klean.

If you don't know about Generation Klean, then you need to jump on this knowledge train. Generation Klean was created by Jasmine and JD because they wanted healthier and cleaner products without the mess of numerous toxic ingredients like Parabens, Sulfate and Glycol. They wanted to help people save money and prolong hair coloring treatments that you get from a salon. Can you really achieve outer beauty without the concerns of toxic ingredients? YES, with Generation Klean products, you will have that peace of mind in knowing that their products are Klean and are also loved by dermatologists and skincare professionals. Check out the video below from the show The Doctors about their latest product, Gray Disappear.

Gray Disappear is a hair mascara that covers gray hairs, and also adds highlights to the hair temporarily. It contains Vitamin E and other natural waxes that help keep the gray away, while enhancing your outer beauty.This product isn't just for women, yes you read that right. Men can use it too! Especially in their beards, mustaches or gotee's that are showing a little gray. This will also boost their confidence because they will instantly look younger with all the gray hairs covered. I love that Generation Klean caters to both sexes, rather than just for women. It comes in 4 shades; Black, Brown, Red and Blonde.

Generation Klean is definitely worth a peak. I mean what more could you ask for from a company that really cares about what you're putting on your body? Check out their Facebook Fan Page for updates and tips. Don't forget to check out their website at Generation Klean dot com, as they are bringing in new innovative products to the beauty industry. Definitely keep an eye out for my review!

IMATS Los Angeles

Do any of you know what IMATS is? Let me tell you, it is one of the most amazing trade shows ever. IMATS aka International Makeup Artist Trade Show, is a huge gathering of vendors, makeup artists, and enthusiasts [like me]. The line to get in was seriously so massive that it wrapped around the building.

My husband tagged along with me, he's so sweet to join me in my adventures. This was our convo as we pulled up:

Him: "OMG babe, all of these people are here for makeup?". 
Me: Yes, they sure are babe! =)
Him: "I'm in the wrong business, I need to get on this beauty train asap". 

He's too funny! Anyway, at the main show, vendors proudly displayed their best products from the industry and most of them were at a discounted rate from 20%-40% off retail. There were also amazing artists showing off their talents, a few classes and seminars.  I really wished that I could have stayed the whole day, but parental duties call, so I had to come home earlier than anticipated.

I feel so short standing next to the beautiful Claudia =)

I also has the opportunity to finally meet a great friend of mine, Claudia from I Like To Talk A lot. She and I have been blogging together for Beauty Collection for quite some time and have finally met face to face. We were only missing our other friend, Kit from Frances Is A Beauty. Don't worry Kit, one day, we'll all unite!

The fantastic and gorgeous Jamie. I feel even shorter because she had to squat! LOL

If it weren't for Eye Kandy, I probably wouldn't have been able to make it up to Los Angeles for the show. I LOVE their products, and had the pleasure to finally meet Jamie from Eye Kandy. I LOVE her, she has such a huge heart! She was sick but was still there through out the whole weekend representing her brand! I hope you finally got some rest after the show Jamie! Thank you for everything. Don't forget to check out Eye Kandy's Facebook Fan page for updates loves!
 
There was also a FX hall with all of the amazing FX creations done by artists. They were all so life like it was scary, but amazing at the same time.

I know I'm fired for not taking more pictures, but check out what I have below. I have a few but not nearly enough. Maybe next time I'll remember to take more pictures, but the show was really just so awesome that I was too busy starring and not remembering to take pictures - oops my bad. I did get some new products, so be on the look out for those reviews.

Crowds of people

Another crowd at Crown

Airbrushing done over at Make-Up Designory

Batman, Tinman and idk who the 3rd person is lol

Exorcist anyone? So realistic!

[Quick Fix Tip] Glitters

 I don't know if I can ever get use to waking up in the morning and getting ready for work. My time being a stay-at-mom has ended after a long 4 years. Don't get me wrong, I love my job and my boss is awesome - but I think my body still needs time to get use to it? That or I'm low on iron [lol].

Anyway, lately I haven't been wanting to wake up to put on my makeup. So what do I do? I use my Eye Kandy Spinkles Glitters over my eye liner to give my eyes more pizazz. I abso-freaken-lutely love Eye Kandy's Sprinkles Glitters. They are easy to use, it doesn't flake and seriously lasts all day long. There are tons of colors to choose from and they are all so vivid and beautiful.

What look did I do today? Well since I have dark brown eyes, I decided to stick in the brown family and used Ginger Snap. Just saying Ginger Snap makes me want a cookie really bad [haha], no but seriously, I want a cookie! Check out my picture below and let me know what you think!

You can check out all of Eye Kandy's products on their website. Don't forget to check out their Facebook Fan page for updates, tips/advice and of course giveaways/contests.