The basics of selecting a "Flawless" Foundation!!!

Essence Magazine had a huge spread of all types of foundations to acheive that "Flawless" skin look! They are right there are so many options out now for women of color! We have come a long way from the days of just Fashion Fair(Shouts out to the homies)...but yet and still I receive so many calls, emails and tweets about how to match the right color for your skin tone. So I've decided to break it all down into a few simple steps into finding the perfect one for you!

1. Know Your Skin Type...The first 2 questions I always ask a new client is what their skin type is?, and what is their skin care regime? This is the basis of knowing what will look natural on YOU...Most fall in the category of oily, normal (which includes slight oiliness in the "t" zone) or dry.

2.Find your undertone...the best way to identify this is to look at your chest! This is normally a truer tone. Warm undertones fall under red, pink, and orange...Cool is yellow, gold, beige...Then there is Olive and Blue which are your very dark skin and extremely pale skin tones. Race is not biased here...across the board everyone has their own individual undertones.

3. Find the right formulation...powder, cream, liquid, and stick foundations even mousse can all look "natural"! It's all about application and choosing the right shade! Oily skin types tend to lean towards powders to counteract the oiliness that's already there. Normal can any formulation, and dryer skin types should lean more towards liquids and creams also to counteract. Oilies should stay away from foundations with shimmer or bronzer added to them, it will enhance the oily look and will break down much quicker. The same for dry skin and powder...powder foundations will settle into dry spots and enhance flakes and texture in the skin.

4 What look do you want?...matte, dewy, naturally powdered, a nice glow,or even just like skin! Are all looks that are achieved by different textures of foundations. The best way to tell is to look in a magazine or on TV, find out what you like about the persons make up? Does it look powdered with no shine? Does it look moist and dewy? This will help you to choose this ideal finish for your foundation.

5. Test the color...test the foundation color right at the jawline, where the neck and face meet. The right color will blend in like buttah! ;) You should not be able to see a distinct difference between the product and your skin. Also step back and look at it compared to your face, chest, and arms...it should work well with your whole self, and not just your face! It is normal for the face to be just a little darker than the neck and chest, so just be sure it all blends well

Last is finding a sheer or pressed powder to set your foundation with. The two go hand and hand! Setting your make up will help to keep it fresher, longer throughout the day...and it will also help with make up transferring onto clothes and what not. Not setting it makes a huge difference in all day wear! Plus you will need the powder to touch up oiliness in the t-zone...no need to put on foundation over and over again.

Feel free to ask questions at flawlessmakeupart@gmail.com...*kisses* ;-*

Break Ups to Make Ups...Or Just bad habits?

Break Ups Suck! Period! Most of us have experienced this in some shape, form or fashion. And I'm sure that men and women across the board would agree that they suck! Its already difficult enough to get to a place where love don't live here anymore! But its that grace period...that breezeway of time that makes you feel like you're "still in love with them", that I wanted to shed a lil light on! The late night phone calls (sometimes drunk ones), the passionate break up sex, the browsing through of old pictures and sentimental what nots...the "I want you back" phase. The topic of this blog is...Is it genuine? Or Just a bad habit? Because you do realize bad habits are hard to break?

There's nothing easy about sleeping alone when you're not used to it. There's no easy way to get used to not talking to the same person you talked to everyday. There won't be a replacement for the person that they were for you. These things will take time, and that amount of time will be different for each individual. When someone you love hurts you, it can sting to the core. Especially when it hurts enough to cause you to remove them from your life. It's only natural to want the comfort of that love back...to feel as if you can't live without it! Even if the love itself was abusive...physically, emotionally, or mentally. After all, the "love" became a part of your everyday routine. The first phone call when you get off work, dinner plans, friday nights and sunday dinners..who are you gona do those things with now?

When you have made a decision with YOUR best interest in mind...its often not an easy one to make. Most life altering decisions aren't. They're uncomfortable, they can be lonely and isolating, and simply hard as hell at times. But that inner voice will tell you what is real. As strong women we have to put our foot down from time to time! Women are nurturing, forgiving and loving creatures by nature. So when a woman is in love or should I say has love for someone its easy to forgive them when you want to see the best in them. Its Ok to forgive...as long as it is really deserved. All I'm saying is to make sure to ask yourself about what's real...you can't control other people, but you can definitely control yourself. Recognize the cycles in your life, and if something is not all the way for you, remove it! Life should be about progression and growth...not running around the same circles over and over again.



People will do what you let them do...just food for thought. Love Y'all! *Kisses* ;-*

Spring Pastels!!! Get you some!!! ;)

Spring is here!!!! Which means that its time for something new! ;) Out with the dark and sultry and in with the fresh and sexy!!! Yeah-ya!!! This Spring is all about pastels! And barely there make up!!! MAC has 2 new lines that reflect this trend! Too Fabulous, which I loooove! Full of wonderful new lip liners and the super moisturizing Creme Sheen Glosses! Plus new mineral blushes...Liberty Of London has great packaging...dat about it! *side eye* few new shadows and lipsticks...some beauty powders too. *shrug*

Pastels can look great on everyone! But it takes a little more work to make them pop on darker skin tones! But never fear! The "Brown Girl Specialist" is here!!!!

The main concept is to find warm, neutral browns to blend out the pastels so they blend for your skin tone! In each area of the face you can find this color that works just for you so that you don't have to be left out of this Spring's hottest trend!
For the eyes you want to find a brown shadow with a red base, more than likely a matte texture...one of my faves is Brown Script by MAC!!! Use this in the crease between you highlight and lid color with a blending brush...
For the cheeks I still love my Tarte Cheeck Stain in Sunkissed...or you can try a dab of cream blush in a deep red like NARS Turkish Red...start with these as a base and put your pastel powder blush over top. Other wise those light colors will just look ashy on darker skin tones
On the lips, liner is the key!!! But not like it used to be...Filling in the lips with a warm brown like Cushy Cremestick pencil by MAC...or go for it with the gloss of your choice, then blend it out with the Cushy or Classic Chestnut pencil for a natural look without the harsh lines! ;)

Every brown girls "neutral brown" will be a little different since we come in so many shades and tones...but as soon as you find it! You have they key to not only pastels but any color you never thought you could wear! Have fun! Practice! Kisses! ;-*

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A Romantic Look For Valentine's...

A Client just inspired me to give a few tips for a "Romantic" Valentine's Day look!! Here are a few suggestions...
Men tend to like a natural look...so for V Day, the key is to look effortlessly beautiful!
Skin: Cover mini imperfections with a sheer concealer...then blend it out with a mineral powder. Take a soft brush in small circles all over the face... I like MAC Cosmetics Moisture Cover and Mineralize Skin Finish
Eyes: Keep it supernatural...or dark and sultry! You can go sans eye make up, with perfectly groomed brows, and a little eye liner. Fill in the brows and pop them out by placing a dab of concealer(one shade lighter than your normal color) right under the brow to highlight. Use a liquid or cream liner on top and bottom to complete the look...you can even go for a cat eye for extra flare! ;) Or go completely opposite with a hot smokey eye! Dark browns are a little less intense with just as much sex appeal!!! Line with black liner on top and bottom, and you've got bedroom eyes! Try Galapagos By NARS..dark brown with gold sparkles! I die!
Check out this romantic look from one of our Joy:27 Boudoir Shoots Photography by www.eye27.com !!!!

Cheeks: A nice subtle cheeks is a must for the evening...something to bring that natural flush to the face. Stains and creams are great for this! Mineral Blushes give a great glow as well! Darker skin tones should start with a red tone cream and then balance it out with soft pinks or coral powder blush over top. Of course my fave is Tarte Cheek Stain in Sunkissed...MAC Lovething Mineral blush is awesome or go for NARS Orgasm blush for that after sex glow!!! ;)
Lips: Gloss those lips up!!! Men love that "wet" look...makes em' just wana kiss ya ;-*!!! MAC has some great new colors that I really love! Light that Fire LipGlass...and any MAC Dazzleglass overtop will give you the perfect kissable pout! I have also fallen in love with Tarte's lip glosses too! All natural! Feel and even taste great!!! ;)

Wishing everybody love on Valentine's Day...and even if ya don't have one, take these tips and get Flawless anyway! Just cuz ya love ya self!Kisses! ;-*

Social Networking...Don't get it twisted!!!

Social networking can be equally bad as it is good, wack as it is fun, and addictive as it is restrictive! I think we can all vouch for moments were social networking has gone terribly wrong. I have recently been taking notice to the "false sense of friendship" that it can give and the "boldness" it gives it users who would not normally have it in a face to face situation. So of course...I felt the need to blog about it. Purely my thoughts...

Friendship is something that I take extremely seriously! It is not a word that I use lightly either. It takes years to get to really "know" people!!! A year at the absolute minimum! And don't get me wrong,social networking online is great for networking and easy introductions! However, being one who is in the public eye...I find that social networking has blurred the lines of what real friendship is. Just because we may chit chat on facebook or have a few back and forth tweets on twitter doesn't make us "close". Especially when it comes to business! It seems that people feel just because we are "facebook friends" that you shouldn't present yourself at your professional best! Resumes, formal letters, and meetings still hold weight! Its also not an excuse to address someone without some formality. So no, I will not "pass your info along" to anyone that I have built a professional rappor with, when I haven't even met you and shook your hand in person! How do I even know that you are really what you represent online? The computer allows people to create personas, of how they want to be seen verses what and who the really are. Which brings me to my next point...

People say and do things online they know they have absolutely no nerve to say in person!!! Guys trying to hit on you over instant messages, rude comments on your photos or statuses, tacky emails, and the list goes on... Trust and believe that I am every bit of me in person as I am online! People never cease to amaze me at the things they say online, and not sure if it is just my experience but it is becoming increasingly worse!! Especially knowing a lot of the people that I share these social networking sites with in real life. I often wonder why they never express the same things when I see them in passing? Yet they hit you up as if it were so easy for them to do! Language sounding so confident...whether negative or positive. Some people even pretend not to know each other in public...but are "friends" online. The computer screen is so easy to hide behind!

I will wrap it up by saying this...Be careful about reacting emotionally to quickly online! Think about your words carefully! Language is often and easily misinterpreted through these forms of communication. Relationships (personal and professional) are damaged sometimes beyond repair over these issues, so I just say be careful!!! As they say...don't write checks that your ass can't cash! And in this case...don't be someone online that you can't produce in person!!! That's all I have to say about that!!! *in my Forrest Gump voice*

The New Pu@$! Factor...men and cheating

I've been trying to write this post for the last few years! lol! I think its something that all women need to hear and understand...if nothing else to know what role you are playing in the situation. This blog is about "New Pu$$y"!!! You may not like the word, and yes I could say it differently, but I'ma keep it real! It is what it is!!!
LADIES!!! We have all experienced infidelity in some way, shape, form, or fashion...Either you were the one cheated on, with,or the one who knew about it all! Women are constantly advising each other about how to deal with a "cheating ass man"...and to be quite honest! Most women are completely in la la land when it comes to why mean cheat! As I have said before, and will continue to scream to the mountain tops is MEN ARE SIMPLE!!! And so is there thought process...
Men crave variety! Just because they love your look doesn't mean that they don't find something beautiful in the next one (whether you do or not)! I've been told that a man can find something attractive in just about any woman...could be her eyes or her lips, her thighs, her long hair, a number of things. So that brings me to the meat of this sandwich!
Men don't cheat because the next chick is prettier than you!!!! Or even because she has a better body, smarter, more money, or any of that! So you can stop pondering over what the next chick has on you? And you can stop talking about how ugly and fat the girl is that he cheated with...Its not about that! The answer is simple! New Pu$$y! Its not about what she looks like (remember I just said that men can find something "fuckable aka attractive" in just about any woman!) And if that woman makes it convenient, he is often more than willing to take advantage of the opportunity. The balance of convenience and opportunity is where the cracks are to fall through. When it comes to sex, men want what's easy! They don't want to jump through hoops to bust a nut! Cause that is exactly what it is.
Men have an ability to seperate sex and emotion that majority of women don't have! (I think I've said before that women equate sex with emotion). They can very well do whatever in the street,come home, kiss their wife, crawl in the bed, and not think twice about it...because to them the love they have for their woman is "real", and the sex a just a physical interaction.
Its not an excuse for men to cheat, its making women aware of the way men think!!! Think of it as Pu$$y Power! Once you are equipped with the info, then you know how to handle men better! Men and women are socialized completely different since birth! We are taught to save ourselves for the prince in shining armour and they are taught to play the field as much as possible until they get good and ready to settle down. So it makes since that having that variety can be a hard habit to break. But you can't control others, all u can control is yourself! Knowing is half the battle(*in my GI Joe voice* lol) ..I will stop here! I could go on all day...but I would looooove to hear your comments!!! :)
Check out one of my fave songs by Electrik Red!!! They know all about Pu$$y power! POW!