Coming Soon – The 100 Hour Film Race!

September 25th, 2011

I’ll be competing in the upcoming The 100 Hour Film Race this weekend (also known as the Film Racing Grand Prix).

It’s an international competition that challenges filmmakers everywhere to create short films (5 minutes and 30 seconds max.) in 100 hours.  The 2011 competition is scheduled to kick off at 8PM ET on Thursday, September 29th.  Filmmakers are e-mailed a theme, prop, and action and have until 11:59PM ET on Monday, October 3rd to write, shoot, edit, and upload an original short film.

Stayed tuned for an update and posting of the final film!

Step-By-Step Contour Kit – Smashbox

September 25th, 2011

I picked up this product after reading about it in a magazine.  I know that there are many people out there who are interested in contour and highlighting, but it remains a complete mystery.  This little kit is perfect for clearing up any questions about what areas to focus on and which colours to use.  First off, the packaging it great.  You get 3 pans of colour (dark for contour, tan for bronzing, and ivory for highlight) in a sleek compact, complete with a mirror and a travel sized angle brush perfect for contouring.  Included in the kit is a great little diagram that clearly labels where you need to use any of the three colours in the kit.  I love this product because it is compact, easy to store and contains three very versatile colours.  The brush is a Smashbox quality brush and great for travel, however I found myself using one of my full size contouring brushes when I used the kit.

Satin Luster Face Palette – Fresh

September 25th, 2011

This is a beautiful product strictly for use as an illuminator/highlighter.  Contained in a lovely slim compact with mirror, are 3 large pans of creamy, shimmer shades (no glitter here), that can be used to highlight any area of the face: China Pearl (a shimmery silvery white), Peach Butterfly (a golden luster), and Winter Rose (a light pink shimmer).  The kit doesn’t come with a brush or applicator, but I found that the product goes on really nicely just using your fingers and blending.  For more precision, you can always use a small bush.  You should be able to use at least one of these on any type of skin tone, so this is another great all-in-one product to have in your kit.

Balance N Brighten Foundation – Laura Geller Makeup

August 17th, 2011
A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to visit the Laura Geller Makeup Studio in New York City. It’s this lovely confection of a boutique tucked away on the Upper East Side on Lexington Ave. I  was actually there to pick up some products for a friend but of course could not resist purchasing a few goodies for myself.  The first of which was Balance N Brighten, a signature product in the company’s line. It’s a mineral powder foundation – paraben free – in a compact and, when swirled over your skin creates a beautiful glow with an even finish. You don’t even have to use a lot of the product! I have some redness in my skin and after the in-store Beauty Specialist gave me a demonstration, my skin looked great! I used this product the entire time I was in New York and it wore well in the summer heat. It’s a great alternative to liquid foundation and provides decent coverage without looking caked on or unnatural. The compact is available for purchase with or without a retractable brush, and comes in Fair, Medium, and Tan shades.

Sugar Lip Treatment – Fresh

July 10th, 2011

This product never ceases to amaze and is a staple for me! I have the original and have tried every colour that has been released. I’ve got one in my kit, my makeup table and one in each purse that I use.
The product itself is a treatment for lips and really goes on like a balm. The difference is in the feel of the product on your lips. Packed with moisture and not sticky or waxy, this balm is a treat for your lips and instantly replenishes moisture making them feel lush and pampered, plus it contains SPF 15. The regular treatment is colourless however, the good people at Fresh have also created this product in sheer tints. Sugar Rose, gives your lips a gorgeous wash of natural looking rose, Sugar plum, a lovely translucent rich plum and the latest, Sugar Honey will leave your lips with a beautiful warm glow.
If you had to make one great investment for your lips that will last for every season, this is the product to do it with.

Erase Paste – Benefit Cosmetics

July 10th, 2011

I have long been a fan of the Benefit Products.

Recently I was discussing concealers with a close friend.  She was interested in finding a good under eye concealer (after trying many) and asked for my opinion.  Like most, I have a collection of some for myself and ones that I use in my kit.  The one product that I keep coming back to is Benefit Erase Paste.  Packaged in a pot, the creamy texture acts like a concealer and brighter in one.  The pigment is very concentrated so you really only have to use the tiniest bit for coverage.  I usually use my fingers to gently pat the colour near the inner corners of my eyes and the use a combination of concealer brush and fingers for the under eye area.  The heat from your fingertips really helps this product blend and melt into your skin to create a natural finish.  I think that some people may get nervous about how thick the product is but trust me, you just need a small amount and one pot will last you a long time.

My one complaint about the product is that it only comes in 3 shades: 01 fair, 02 medium, and 03 deep.  I’m fair and found that the 02 shade suited my skin tone better than 01.  My suggestion would be to test the product at the store before purchasing to make sure you get the best colour for you.