[Review] Eyes, Eyes and more!

I've been lagging on a new review post, I know I know, I'm fired. Kidding! But I do apologize for taking way too long to do another post. I have had this annoying cough for over a week and a half, and then my entire family got sick, it's just been a  pain in the butt if you ask me. Anyway! Onto some reviews. Last time I left off at my awesome Mehron Blush palette, so moving forward. Check it out below, but I warn you, this will be another photo heavy post, with short reviews.

Review

Cinema Secrets Eye Primer:

Let's start off with an eye lid primer. I LOVE Cinema Secrets Eye Primer. It's really amazing and I wouldn't say that if it isn't. I've used primers before where I've had to use a "wet" eye shadow application, but with this eye primer, no more wet applications for me! That's how awesome it is, it doesn't require a wet application to pick up the pigments from my eye shadows! I love it, I love it, I love it! Texture wise, I was iffy about it, because it is really runny, but you don't need a ton of product. Just a tiny dab [see picture] and you can cover BOTH EYES with just that much. It spreads easily and goes on super sheer. Seriously a must have in your makeup bag.

Camera Ready Cosmetics Gel Eyeliner:

I've always used a pencil eyeliner or liquid eyeliner, and I still do on occasion. Then I started using Gel Eyeliners and seriously, I hardly go back to using pencil or liquid. The Camera Ready Cosmetics Gel Eye Liner is superb. It glides on easy, color is on point and it lasts all day long. I used this Gel eyeliner to do makeup for my friends wedding and it did not budge all night. Texture is perfect and it doesn't flake at all. Definitely worth a try if you're into Gel eyeliners or if you're just beginning.

Kryolan Cake Eyeliner:

Besides being in infatuated with Gel Eyeliners, cake eyeliners are on a whole different level. It's a mix between powder and liquid because it comes in the form of a powder but glides on super easy like a liquid eyeliner. My most favorite cake eyeliner is made by Kryolan. This stuff is amazing! You might get fooled if you've never used a Cake eyeliner before because you will need a sealer. I mean you can use water, but this works so much better with a good sealer [I use Cinema Secrets Eyeliner Sealer]. If you love liquid eyeliner, then you'll definitely love the Kryolan Cake Eyeliner. All you need is your eyeliner brush and a sealer and it goes on smoothly. It doesn't flake or fade, and lasts all day. This is definitely something to have in your makeup kit.

 Camera Ready Indelible Lash Waterproof Mascara:

I'm a mascara whore. Why - because I love that it just opens up the eyes and makes your eyes pop that much more. Not all mascaras are made equal, some are good and some are horrible. That is why I want to tell you how much I really like the Camera Ready Indelible Lash. It's a waterproof mascara that does what it says, water resistant. It doesn't smudge or flake and lasts all day long. It's not very thick so you will need a few swipes, but I don't have an issue with that. I for one do not need a few swipes, I'm actually good with 1 or 2, depending on the look I'm going for. I bought this for more than one reason, 1. I needed a waterproof mascara and 2. I really like the design of the tube. It's totally different, almost like a squeezable type but you can't really squeeze it. Yes, I am different, I bought a beauty product because of the design - lol. This mascara gets two thumbs up from me.

Model in a Bottle:

No, it's not a genie that comes out and grants you any beauty wish you want. Although that would be awesome. It's actually a matte finishing spray. I love this Model in a Bottle Matte Finishing Spray. It has a nice and clean scent that's not too overwhelming. It dries within seconds of use, isn't sticky and sets your makeup perfectly. It also does not clog your pores and doesn't interfere with your SPF. You really can't go wrong with a finishing spray. You get about 300 sprays with this cute little bottle and it's definitely worth the buy. Also, if you have sensitive skin, don't fret, they do have this in a sensitive skin formula. Yay!

Beauty Blender Cleanser:

Not an ordinary brush cleaner, but a Beauty Blender Cleanser. It's a gel, almost like dish soap, but I want to say it's a tiny bit thicker. I love this cleanser. It seriously makes the beauty blending sponges spotless and look brand new like you've never used it before. You don't need a ton of product to clean your beauty blender, just a small drop and you're good to go. I've cleaned about 6 beauty blenders with this, and barely made a dent in the product. It has a nice mild Lavender scent. I haven't tried this on my makeup brushes yet but I will keep you guys updated on that. Super awesome cleanser to have and I recommend this to anyone who has a beauty blender [or generic beauty blender].

Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner:

Lastly, I have the Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner. I LOVE this bright blue toned brush cleaner. It's great for on site use because it cleans and sanitizes the brushes and dries quickly. It's safe to use on synthetic or natural hairs and will leave your brushes with a nice vanilla scent. Sadly, I only purchased the smaller sized bottle because I wanted to test it out and now I know I MUST have it. This time I will splurge and get the big bottle. As if you couldn't tell, but you must have this brush cleaner too!

That's it for today beauties! I purchased everything at Camera Ready Cosmetics. You guys should definitely check out Camera Ready, they have EVERYTHING! It's like being a kid in a candy store, well for me it is. Thanks for reading loves, hope y'all enjoyed!

[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!