My Makeup Must Haves

As a professional makeup artist I have a lot of different kinds of makeup that I buy to review and/or use for a particular gig. Therefore, I have an abundance of foundations, concealers, blushes, mascaras, etc. As with any beauty enthusiast, although I'm not biased, I do have my favorites. Here is a list of my favorite makeup brands and/or products...

1. MAC Mineralize Foundation in NC45- I love the flawless finish I get after I apply this very rich, creamy foundation.It's very light weight with medium coverage. I apply it with the round sponge that came with it. Some times I use a buffer brush I ordered from Coastal Scents to make sure that the application is even.

2. MAC Brow Pencil in Stud- this pencil is my everything. My eyebrows are already very thick, but there are spots that need to be filled. This pencil is perfect for filling, adding color, density and shape. Another plus is there is no sharpening required. I would highly recommend this pencil for brows...bad brows are a pet peeve of mine, but that's another post in itself.

3. Urban Decay's Naked Palette-I love the 12 neutral shades with a mix of mattes and shimmers to give you just the right look for any occasion. I tend to wear a natural smokey eye with a bold lip and this is always my go-to palette.The packaging is very nice also, that's always a plus. I would recommend this palette to anyone who likes a soft, subtle look with a hint of color. It's not too much and it's not too little.

4. Hard Candy Baked Bronzer in Tropics- It's a matte finish with a hint of bronze it gives my skin a natural looking glow. Goes great with an everyday natural look. (Just a FYI...this brand can only be purchased at Wal-Mart)

5. Milani Liquif Eye in Black and Brown- These liners are very easy to apply due to the smoothness of it. It gives the look of liquid liner once applied and they are true to color. Great for long wear!!

6. Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in Berry Beautiful- this color is very bold and vibrant. I have several colors from this collection and I love them all...Berry Beautiful is my favorite for the moment.

Hope you all enjoyed my list of favorite things. Next, I'll be doing a review on Essie Nail Polishes. 

The products listed in this blog were all purchased by me. I'm in no way affiliated with any of the above mentioned brands or companies. This is all based on my personal opinion. 

BEAT THE HEAT!!

Beating the heat and humidity can be tough espeically when it comes to ensuring your makeup lasts throughout the day. Here are a few tips to help maintain your "Pretty Face" during the summer months:

1. Cleanse your face daily using a mild facial cleanser. It is important to exfoliate at least once a week to remove dry, dull skin. I personally use St. Ives Apricot Scrub, I'm in love with it.  For people with normal to oily skin I recommend you use a pore refiner or reducer to help reduce excess oils in the t-zone area. The pore refiner/reducer can be found at your local drug store for under $10. The pore refiner/reducer helps give you a more smooth, refined complexion. For people with dry skin, I recommend cleansing with Aveeno's Moisturizer Bar, which can be found at your local drug store for under $5. For all skin types moisturizing is very important, it helps proctect your face from the harsh elements. For the summer, I use a light weight moisturizer with SPF 15 to help protect my face from the elements as well as to prevent sunburn.

2. Wearing heavy makeup in the heat and humidity can be very uncomfortable. I would avoid wearing cream and liquid foundations because the outdoor heat and high body temperatures can cause your makeup to melt. If you prefer wearing cream and liquid foundations, I would apply it very lightly. Another option is to wear a pressed powder. This provides a more lightweight feel with medium coverage. Also, try using a pencil concealer instead of the regular cream or stick. This might not provide you with as much coverage as a liquid or cream, but it will ensure that your makeup lasts throughout the day. I always finish up my look with Fix Plus aka Fix + by MAC.

**A FRIENDLY SKINCARE TIP** Bacteria and heat go hand in hand...try to avoid touching your face with your hands because your hands harbor soooo much bacteria. Also, keep your cell phone screen and surface clean. I'm constantly wiping my screen because after I use my phone it has makeup residue and natural oils from my face. Keeping your face clean can help prevent problem breakouts.

***DISCLAIMER*** I am not affliated nor am I being compensated by any company, product or brand mentioned in this blog. This is my personal opinion, facts I have gathered from my knowledge and research as a makeup artist. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at myprettyfacemua@gmail.com***

Peacocky...MAC Cosmetics Spring Collection

Hello Beauties...

The Peacocky collection is here!!! It is definitely a must have for myself...it's very dramatic and edgy. The colors are so vibrant and bold. This collection includes Mega Metal Shadows which come in 15 different shades and Kissable Lipcolours which come in 12 shades. I haven't decided which  eyeshadow shades I'm going to purchase but I will say that I do have my eye on Top of the Posh, Mating Call, Odalisque and Spectacle of Yourself. These shadows are very creaming and are great for blending and an added extra are the crease resistance (def. a plus).

Here are swatches of the shades I mentioned above:

Top of the Posh

Mating Call

Odalisque

Spectacle of Yourself

The kissable lipcolours are amazing. The shade choices are out of this world. These glosses glide on smoothly with a rich, highly pigmented finish. I have my eye on a few of these  also, but I absolutely, positively MUST HAVE Peacocky. Here are swatches of the lip colors that are on my "must have" list.

Peacocky

Enchantee

Love Peck

Vanity Fair



I'm all for bold, vibrant, bright, edgy, highly pigemented colors. This collection definitely gives me all of that and more. If you are into neutral colors, don't be discouraged. There are several in this collection as well. If you enjoyed these colors then feel free to check out the whole collection here The Peacocky Collection. Thanks for visiting my blog, please subscribe. Smooches!!!