Fashion's Night Out 2012 - King of Prussia Mall, PA

Hey there, loves and happy Thursday evening! Tonight was Fashion's Night Out and I decided to head out to King of Prussia Mall to see what was going on. They had different sections set up throughout both sides of the mall, the Court and the Plaza, with photo booths, food samplings, wine & beer tastings, raffles, and more. Many stores participated in the event, offering discounts on purchases and free gifts and/or bags with qualifying purchase.

The night was phenomenal, in theory. It's a rough economy so why not host a free event with samples of local foods & drinks, raffles, and discounts and I get that. However, when I think of fashion's night out, I don't think of food; I think of clothes, bags, makeup, and hair ... all in the upcoming season's colors and looks. Why wasn't there a small runway in one of the main areas (Lord & Taylor's Court, Nordstrom's Court, or Bloomingdales' Court)? They had little photo areas set up without anyone really around for people to have their own picture taken and an area with random "models" candidly having their photos taken.

To me, it just seemed a little "thrown together". It felt like there wasn't a whole lot of planning into it. Fashion's Night Out should focus on the looks of Fall and Winter, showing us mall-goers how to piece together the looks of the seasons, encouraging us to take advantage of the sales in store. It felt as if it was a food & drink sampling event with some discounts in store to convince you to shop while you were there. Not really the point of a Fashion's Night Out. Essentially, unless you were planning on spending money, it wasn't really worth the drive out. Many stores offered discounts of 15% or free gifts and/or bags with a $100 purchase, not exactly a killer deal. Most stores have daily sales and/or coupons offering at least 15% off and free gifts become a lot less enticing when you have to spend $100.

Overall, I was really disappointed. King of Prussia Mall usually pulls out all the stops for their events. I mean simply decorating the mall for the holidays seems to have more effort put into it. I've attended Nordstrom's beauty events before and that store alone puts on a runway show of upcoming seasonal looks and lessons and then offers pre-made appointments at all the makeup counters to have your makeup done. You do have to purchase tickets for this event, generally $15, but that $15 essentially acts as a voucher towards a purchase from your makeover. That is a FAR better deal and superior as far as quality of the event.

Next time, KOP, take some tips from Nordtrom's events planners before you plan another Fashion's Night Out!

Above is the food sampling in the Court. Williams-Sonoma was raffling a KitchenAid hand mixer, but had a full sized stand mixer on display. Little misleading?!

*Fall Trend Alert 2012*

It has arrived. September is here and with it comes Halloween & Thanksgiving decorations in stores and all those fall colored clothes. I have spent hours upon hours diving into online articles and magazines, walking the stores and malls reviewing displays and the new fall stock. I have gathered together a synopsis of the upcoming Fall Trends for 2012. However, even my summary of the many words, upon sentences, upon paragraphs, upon pages I've read and the hours I've perused the displays, I still have lots to say. I will be writing multiple posts on the Fall Trends of 2012 so stay tuned!

Here's a little sneak peak because I just love you so much:

-Burgundy
-Silver/Argentum
-Red
-Black
-Black & Gold
-Jade
-Blue
-Boots
-Leather
-Black & White
-Purple & Gold
-Lips, Nails, and Eyes
-Looks for your age
-Buns

Vague, I know, but try & guess what means what and you'll soon see if you're right! Leave comments here or on my Facebook page with ideas & thoughts! I can't wait to hear from you!

"5 Makeup Myths Busted" by Good Housekeeping ... Not Quite!

Today just got away from me! It's already almost 10pm and I was planning on doing today's post this afternoon so my apologies for the delay! It was for good reason though because my husband got a new job today! So excited and so proud of him! Anyway, today I wanted to discuss something that I find extremely irritating, not to me, but for all of you. I worked in cosmetics and have many years of practice, training, and experience combined in makeup and skin care. That is why I am extremely irritated by articles I read and things I hear about makeup and skin care that just ARE NOT RIGHT! For example, I was perusing all my magazines gathering together my Fall 2012 Trend Alerts and my September Beauty Week ideas when I came across a copy of Good Housekeeping I got from a family member. In it were some interesting tips on budgets and some yummy sounding recipes - things a HOUSEKEEPING magazine would encompass. And in the following statement I mean no disrespect, but, STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW!

Flipping through the magazine I cam across a section of award winning, anti-aging products in the Good Housekeeping Anti-Aging 2012 Award Winners. At the end of this article was a little bubble of tidbits entitled "5 Makeup Myths Busted". Immediately I knew my blood pressure would be raised. Lo and behold, 4 out of 5 were stereotypical "myths" that were just WRONG!

And I will now list them below as stated by Good Housekeeping. I will then explain why they need to stick to HOUSEKEEPING!

1. You do not have to use a primer.

Okay, ladies, sure you don't have to do anything, but what is it? Pay your taxes and die. However, if you'd like your makeup to stay put through at least your lunch hour, look how it was intended to look, and reduce waste of product, just wear the goddamn primer! How long does it take to smooth an extra layer over your skin? I mean really. Primer creates a barrier so your skin doesn't drink your makeup causing clogged pores and messy makeup. It allows your makeup to glide on effortlessly; therefore, saving time and product. It makes colors look true and your face look flawless. And it keeps all your makeup put. Sure, you could skip the primer, but might as well just forgo the makeup all together since in a few hours without primer it'll look like you did anyway.

2. A foundation brush is not a necessity.

This one really gets me. No any makeup brush is not a necessity. You have fingers and sponge applicators so obviously there is options. However, your fingers are skin, skin has natural oils. Oil breaks down the composition of makeup. Oil on your face causes breakouts. Fingers obviously can work, but they equal some major downsides.

Sponges. What is a sponge's main ability? Absorption. You use a sponge to apply foundation. As you apply it to your face, the sponge is absorbing makeup. Therefore, you are left with an uneven distribution on your skin. Beyond the obvious downfalls to your look, you are also wasting makeup. Sponges hold the makeup and are often stored in cosmetic bags or in bathroom closets: dark, warm places. HELLO ... BACTERIA! Ew. Now reuse that sponge tomorrow? No. A new sponge everyday? Just go buy a foundation brush and clean it regularly with baby shampoo, face wash for sensitive skin, or a brush cleaner.

3. Base does not need to go all over.

To an extent this is true. If you have a few problem areas that need true coverage you can use a thicker product to conceal your little flaws. However, if you dabbed makeup on your under-eye circles, on pimples, and a red spot or two only, you'd look like a "connect-the-dots". You can use a tinted moisturizer, or a BB cream, or a light-coverage foundation overall after concealing the problem areas. You don't need to mask a nice, even face, but you do need to blend if you're going to wear makeup.

4. Powder, or mineral makeup, is okay.

This is the one I agree with. In fact, when it says that there's an "official green light" for powder makeup, I was kind of surprised. I was unaware that there was a "no-no" on powder. Powders can set and finish your look, absorb oil, or suffice for your actual makeup. Mineral makeup can be great too as another option. 1 for 4, Good Housekeeping.

5. "There's no need to fuss about your undereye concealer shade."

What the *expletive* are you talking about, Good Housekeeping? So if I'm through & through snow white, Irish complected I can just pick up my good Italian, olive-skinned friend's concealer and just throw that on? HELL NO! They do mention you don't want raccoon eyes by going too light or too dark, which is true, but shade does matter. If you're concealing under-eye circles, bruises, anything bluish gray, peach/pink will counteract that. However, if you're concealing redness whether it be facial redness or a blemish, yellows and greens would counteract that. Before you even consider the correct shade, you need to decide what you're concealing and find the right undertones: cool or warm, pinks or yellows.

I appreciate the effort, Good Housekeeping, and your magazine has many helpful insights. Leave the makeup to the experts, please, for all of our eyes and our mirrors!

Magazine Articles, Blog Posts Galore ... Recommending Products You'd Need Millions to Score?!

Okay, so does it bother anyone else when you read real people magazines and articles and online posts about makeup, hair, pretty much anything beauty and they recommend products WAY out of our budget? I just got an e-mail today from a website that discusses everything beauty and fashion. They e-mail you articles and I got one today with basically your go-to products for specific events that a clutch is more practical over a big purse for. The tips were super interesting and helpful. They recommended specific products you'd need for certain events like petal heel inserts for a night out and mini mascaras for wedding tears and even the ideal style clutch for each event. I found the article both informative and helpful.

What I didn't like though was for each event they suggested a clutch-ful of products for, they included a picture and recommended products below. Some of the items just baffled me. For example, the mascara duo they recommend for a wedding was $24 and for the night out clubbing, all-over shimmer for $22. I get it some of you may have the budget to run out and grab those things for events that will cost you money already (you've heard of the whole "buying you and your guest's dinner plates as your gift amount minimum and price of drinks while you're out? Not cheap!) or you may even have these items at home, but what about the rest of us?

Another example. I just love when magazines take gorgeous, runway outfits and show us how to shop in our malls and get a $5,000 runway look for $500 (if you're lucky), but even $1,000 beats the hell out of a $5,000 head to toe look. But come on! People who have a random $500-$1,000 laying around to go recreate that have-to-have look are the only ones interested in fashion? No. And I get it they show you a picture of the runway look and the "discount" look so you can hit discount stores, consignment shops, and thrift stores to try to piece it together yourself. But why the hell is it so hard to give us a third look in the magazine? I know, you'd be shrinking two looks where stores are named and I'm sure are paid advertisement, but you'd be helping the rest of us. Tell us how we can get something similar to that look cheaper. Recommend pieces that we'd probably already have in our wardrobe: a black tank for example would be like $150 in the runway look and $48.50 from some store ... don't most of us own a black tank? Or could find one at Target for like $10 ... or Walmart for $5! Please, we're not stupid and you'd get more loyal readers and subscriptions if you recommended things we could actually consider. A third look wouldn't kill the magazines. I know I'd be much more likely to buy regularly or subscribe if these magazines offered more than "10 Dirty Things Your Man Wish You'd Do" ... please I can find that elsewhere ... like talking to my man! Give us more out of your magazines than ads after ads and articles that make us drool over things we'll never afford!

That's why I just love First magazine. I know this sort of seems like a plug for them, but I mean it. It's not so much fashion as it is health, wellness, beauty, home-life tips that actually affect everyday people ... and things you can afford! I have my guilty-pleasure magazines as much as the next girl, but something that can actually be useful in my life? Yes, please!

I'd love to hear my readers' thoughts on this article. I know many of you love your magazines and maybe you have or haven't thought of this, but I'd love to hear if I'm the only one that feels this way. Like thanks for recommending what people with great careers can afford, but what about students, minimum wage workers, people on fixed incomes? We count too!

Here's the link to the article on "Evening Purse Essentials" from beautyriot.com.
And, I've provided this link before, but in case anyone is interested again: First for women Magazine

Pretty Little Liars? More like "Pretty Little Makeup Addicts" ... ;)

which is just fine by me! I've recently been watching old seasons of television shows on Netflix at home and just got into Pretty Little Liars from ABC Family. I was afraid it was going to be kind of stupid and young for me, but it's actually really a great show. It's got drama and makes your heart race and makes you really root for relationships ... oh and it makes you super jealous of their makeup looks! If you're looking for a new show to watch, I'd definitely give them a try!

Anyway, back to the point of this blog post: Pretty Little Liars makeup looks. I was searching online about their makeup looks and found a link with an interview from the head makeup artist of the show, Cindy Miguens. She basically describes the personality of the characters and the makeup looks that go with them. It was interesting to hear, well read, about what went into the thought process of creating the girls' looks and how they executed them.

I'll include the link to that article from Beautyhigh.com, but this post is about my 2 favorites, look-wise anyway. Hanna and Aria are so very different. Hanna is pop-bubblegum while Aria is dark-mysterious, but I just love both of their looks, from head to toe. Hanna always has a smokey eye and super luscious lips, which I adore. Aria has the dark, sexy look going, with the deep brunette hair, generally fairly simple, but dark eye makeup, and a subtle, yet noticeable lip. Hanna always wears super magazine-cover friendly outfits, while Aria looks like she goes estate and/or thrift shopping to piece together a killer (no pun intended), chic, old-yet-new look. I love both of their looks completely and think each of the girls' characters fit the looks they are given.

Hanna:
In the picture below, found in a Google Image Search, is Hanna at her prime. A little less girly than typical in the show, she still has her nails done, hair flawlessly messy-chic, and her ever-seductive smokey eyes and soft, sexy lip. And of course, in a gorgeous dress and heels.

 

Aria:

In the pictures below, also found in a Google Image Search, is Aria, in all her many style-forms. She rocks an edgy, almost punk look in a super stylish way. She also wears clothes you would find in the special brand-name sections of department stores, and then below, in the pink dress, she rocks a Betsey Johnson dress and the necklace, Betsey Johnson too! Punk princess, edgy glam, and so much more could be used to describe her ever-changing style ... which I just love!  And her hair and makeup? Stylish, classic, and perfect from day-to-night, school-to-going out and pretty easy to recreate. 

*New Product Alert* from e.l.f. cosmetics

I just wanted to make a quick little announcement for all my beauty lovers out there, especially those that love killer beauty deals. Many of my fellow makeup addicts know about e.l.f. cosmetics and their amazing deals and I know anyone who has followed my blog at all has certainly heard of them. Anyway e.l.f. cosmetics shared a picture today through Instagram on Facebook of a new product they 're releasing soon: 

e.l.f. cosmetics Pressed Mineral Eye Shadow!  I am so so so excited for these. They come in ADORABLE packaging and remind me of MAC's shadows' package. Here's hoping they're highly pigmented, gorgeous colors!

I'll keep my readers posted once I find them in stores and see how they work! Fingers crossed.

Picture from e.l.f. cosmetics on Facebook through Instagram. Follow them on Instagram at OfficialElfCosmetics!

School's Starting ... Flawless Face For Under $20.00!

Well August is officially coming to an end signaling cooler weather and of course, back to school! Whether you're starting a new chapter in your life and heading off to high school or college for the first time, going back to school after years of working and you've finally figured out your calling, or simply heading back for another just another year, why not look your absolute best? Especially if you can do so for under $20.00 for a flawless face!

I am going to show you how to create an even, flawless, face using a handful of drug store and dollar store cosmetics to keep you face, from primer to powder to blush and bronzer under $20. I know most girls have their go-to mascara and eye look and have more lip glosses than they could count. However, the most common problem I've come across is ladies of all ages not knowing how to create that billboard-worthy, flaw-free face. And as my readers know well, I have had and will have plenty of posts on different eye looks and lip looks and I will happily take questions in my comments or on my Facebook page if you'd like to know tips on a full-face or a particular eye and/or lip look ... especially how to do it inexpensively. For now, a picture-perfect face:

1. NYC New York Color Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer (Shade 684 - only comes in 1 shade) $3.99
2. Hard Candy Glamoflauge heavy duty concealer (medium - found at Walmart) $6.00
3. NYC Smooth Skin Liquid Makeup with Vitamins A & E (my shade is #679 Soft Beige) $2.99
4. NYC Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder (#741A Translucent) $2.99
5. L.A. Colors Pressed Powder (BPP320 Nude - found at Dollar Trees & Family Dollars) $1.00
6. L.A. Colors expressions Bronzer w/ Brush (in Bronze Glow- Dollar Tree) $1.00
7. L.A. Colors expressions Blush w/ Applicator (in Berry Plum-Dollar Tree) $1.00
________________________________________________________________________________

For a grand total of: $18.97!

 

 

- Begin by applying the primer to your face. Make sure your face is clean and moisturized, but let any moisturizer absorb fully before applying anything else. If you don't, as the moisturizer absorbs, it'll pull anything else on your face in with it, causing your makeup to disappear and clog your pores.

 

 

- Next apply the Hard Candy concealer to any areas you'd like extra coverage on. For me, I cover redness, under-eye circles, and any blemishes. This concealer is not kidding when they say "heavy duty" so a little does a lot! Keep that in mind.

 

- Then apply the foundation to your entire face to give a blended, even coverage and look. Use a stippling application technique to apply to makeup, not spread/paint it on. Stippling in this sense, by definition, means to apply paint, powder, etc. to something with many light dabs. Essentially, apply the foundation by quickly dabbing the makeup on your face repeatedly until achieving desired coverage.

 

- Using a powder brush, apply the loose powder by dabbing it on over your foundation to set your makeup. The one I recommended above is translucent, meaning it has no color, so it does NOT add any coverage or color; it merely sets liquid makeup.

 

- *This step is NOT necessary; I just prefer it.* I take a powder brush and apply a pressed powder in a matching shade, like L.A. Colors Pressed Powder, in nude for me, to give the entire face a finished look. It helps set the liquid makeup with the loose powder while absorbing any oil and/or sweat. It also gives a last layer or barrier of coverage and color which I always appreciate.

 

- This step is optional as well, but I recommend it. Here is where you apply the bronzer. Many people are afraid of bronzer or feel it always looks fake or orange. The key is finding a natural shade and applying it accurately. Take a bronzer or powder brush and apply it in the shape of a "3". Begin in the center of your forehead, wrap around the outer corner of your eye and come in over your cheek bone, back out and around your mouth and finish in the center of your chin. Repeat on the opposite side. Run the brush down your nose and lightly brush over your forehead and chin again. Essentially, you want it look like the bronzer is where the sunlight would hit your face naturally for a sun-kissed look.

 

- Apply your blush now. I recommend L.A. Colors in "Berry Plum" for the perfect fall shade. It's also what I have on in the pictures below. Feel free to use another color if you'd like, but for the upcoming season and clothing colors, it'll be a great color for just about everyone. Apply the blush in an upward motion from the apples of your cheeks outward to your hairline. Bring the color up around your eye, essentially the temple area, for a contoured, professional look.

 

... and voilà! You are camera ready ... and certainly hallway ready! Strut your stuff knowing your face will be the envy of the class! Lots of love and remember any questions about this or any other looks are more than welcomed! Comment below or visit me on Facebook, my loves!

 

Full face (ignore eyes & lips for above post)