As the bounderies between professional makeup lines and regular consumer makeup lines continue to blur, there are tons of options available for the beginning makeup wearer, but where do you start?? It seems like everyone is jumping into the makeup game, providing a vast array of colours, textures and tools to play with. Over the next few days, I’ll be giving my tips for very basic makeup, the-no-fuss, I’ve got 5 mins, but I want to look polished- look.
Makeup is all about experimentation, taking your time to figure out what you like and what works for you, looking at what other people use. YouTube and beauty blogs are a modern woman’s best friend. I spend countless hours roaming YouTube, learning new techniques, looking at product reviews and makeup tutorials. More importantly, makeup should be fun! 🙂 Ah mean, what’s the point if it makes you miserable?? It should never be stressful or agonizing. If you make a mistake…just wipe it off – and save that receipt. Many beauty retailers allow you make returns within a certain timeframe.
All Ages, All Races, All Sexes, courtesy of M.A.C. Cosmetics
….Forever!!!!!
Back in the day, I was attracted to M.A.C. for a number of reasons. For one, it was the first department store brand that I discovered that offered an always expansive colour scheme that really allowed me to think outside of the box and experiment. They also did not pigeon-hole consumers into thinking that they could only where a certain colour or a certain product. They were all-welcoming, which I absolutely loved! It did not matter who you were, male, female, black, white, Asian, Latina, young or older! Their mantra of All Ages, All Races, All Sexes is the theme for one of their newest collections, that is very neutral themed and very wearable by everyone. Here are some of what the M.A.C. artists had to say about theme and the collection. All Ages, All Races, All Sexes is available online and in stores now.
JOHN S. ON ALL AGES, ALL RACES, ALL SEXES
M∙A∙C is its own melting pot. It’s like riding the New York City subway: Walk into any store, at anytime, and you will experience All Ages, All Races, All Sexes. And maybe even a saxophone player on roller-skates – you never know!
FRED V. ON ALL AGES, ALL RACES, ALL SEXES
This credo lured me in immediately, given the fact that I’m a Latin, Spanish-speaking, black gay male! I feel that if there is a niche here for me, then there is a place at M∙A∙C for everyone.
GREGORY A. ON ALL AGES, ALL RACES, ALL SEXES
I love the all-encompassing “world clique” that we have created. M·A·C lays out a welcome mat to the world! Beauty is ageless, genderless, and has no ethnic boundaries. Our credo appeals to me on EVERY level, as I love beauty that comes in all packages.
FATIMA T. ON ALL AGES, ALL RACES, ALL SEXES
Our credo says, “Come one, come all. Everyone is welcome.” When you work in this business for any length of time it becomes apparent that regardless of skin colour, age or culture, we all want the same thing: to look and feel our best. I aim to make everyone I touch look and feel better.
LYNE D. ON ALL AGES, ALL RACES, ALL SEXES
This collection is really in line with what M∙A∙C does best: The art of makeup for everyone! All Ages, All Races, All Sexes is a celebration of skin tones: Everyone will be able to find the right neutrals for them, whether it is for their lips, eyes or even their eyebrows!
TIFFANY J.ON ALL AGES, ALL RACES, ALL SEXES
We’re all in this life together, trying to express ourselves the best way we know how. The greatest part about M∙A∙C is we all have a common thread – the love of makeup and the endless possibilities for who we are while playing with it!
KERI B. ON ALL AGES, ALL RACES, ALL SEXES
M∙A∙C is such a special community because we celebrate difference. Embracing All Ages, All Races, All Sexes allows us as a brand to break down the typical concept of beauty.
NADINE L. ON ALL AGES, ALL RACES, ALL SEXES
This credo changed the face of make up as I knew it! It was a maverick approach to makeup as art, and I was finally able to find a cosmetic line that did not exclude me. I could actually shop at the same cosmetic location as my mother, grandmother, little sister, big brother and girlfriends!
CAITLIN C. ON ALL AGES, ALL RACES, ALL SEXES
Whether it was at school, going out or going into certain stores, I remember sometimes feeling left out or just not cool enough. But when I joined the M∙A∙C family, I found where I belonged. M∙A∙C is all-inclusive fashion. No one gets left out of this club: no guest list, no bouncers, it doesn’t matter who you know. We are All Ages, All Races, All Sexes.
This is the last of the collections debuting on Dec 26. This one is not a colour collection like the previously ones and it focuses on tools to complete the neutral looks. It’s slated for a January 2010 release internationally.
“Dramatic, daring Lashes have been a chic and urbane part of the modern Artist’s persona since Edie and friends made it all happen Downtown, on block-print canvas or grainy 16-millimeter film. Multi-media, counter-culture, the ultimate cool. In The Studio is the epitome of the look updated, featuring new Studio Fix Lash in Black Fix or Studio Brown, with the latest thermoplastic synth-rubber moulded brush, designed to kill clump as it separates lashes. The perfect complement? Studio Fix Powder, a powder and foundation-in-one, combining complete coverage with ease of application, goes on dry with a matte, velvety texture. Silica keeps the matte flat and absorbs oil, and talc smooths it out. Go for the bold stroke, as they do In The Studio.”
Studio Fix Lash – Black Fix [Black], Studio Brown [Brown] $13.00USD Studio Fix Powder $26.00USD/$31.00CAD
This collection is available on Dec 26 at M.A.C. stores and counters in North America and online right now at maccosmetics.com
Yesterday The Powder Group presented their first TPG Pop-Up Shop at the new home for Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics! I had been waiting for OCC to open their doors and I have not made it to the Makeup Show, so I went there for a preview. There were a variety of brands available for sale at discounted prices including TPG makeup bags, Stila and of course OCC. James Vincent, who is a MAJOR (!), in the makeup world was there and also the founder of OCC, David Klasfeld. I took the opportunity to finally get my hands on the oh-so-popular Lip Tars. Can I say…..they are they most highly, crazily pigmented lip products eva!!!! They come in these cute tubes that look kinda small, but when I say a drop of the Lip Tar is too much–you know what I am talking about! They could literally last a lifetime. They may actually stain the skin, it’s like pure pigment in a tube, and the formula is 100% vegan. I picked up Uber, which is a cool, creamy, milk chocolate with some grey mixed in. I am always on the lookout for the perfect nude lip. The formula is fantastic, not sticky, super smooth, highly pigmented and there is a hint of peppermint. I wore Uber with some M.A.C. Clear Lipglass, and I liked it! I definitely have to go back and get Katricia (a sick purple!!!), Plum and the Clear Lip Tar. I also picked up one of the loose pigments in Auric. Lately I have been on the hunt for gold eyeshadows. I have bronzes, champagnes and taupes but surprisingly no true golds. Again Auric is light to medium gold – very pretty, very finely milled and densely pigmented. Love it! I will definitely have to work this into my Christmas looks!
I was really glad for this Pop-Up and I hope they continue it throughout the year. And I definitely need to make it to the Makeup Show!
For more information,
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
121 West 27th Street – Suite 1200
NY, NY 10001
212-675-2572 www.occmakeup.com
I was just browsing the latest catalog from Sephora and thought that these would make great gifts and stocking stuffers.
First off, makeup palettes and sets are a great way to build up your makeup collection, to try a wide variety of colours or to help those who have trouble knowing which colours they could combine, especially when it come to eye makeup. They also pretty inexpensive and won’t break your bank!
Here are the ever popular Stila Lipglazes. I have tried these and they are very convenient to travel with and smell really yummy!
