Whats-in-my "Wedding Makeup Kit"

So as promised, I'm bringing you a "whats in my kit" blog!

I'm going to my college friend and close confidant Lindsay's wedding this weekend! It's been a LOOOOONG time coming and I am so very happy for her. She asked me to do her makeup for herself, her mother and one of her bridesmaid and I happily said YES!

So here is a look of what all I am taking with me to Merced.

 Let's start off with a few of my favorite brushes. I have mostly M.A.C brushes and Crown brushes in this kit. This case holds one full set of Crown Brushes in here, but I have managed to fit all my additonal brushes in here as well. I just can never decide on a few brushes. A girl has to have choices!

 This is part of the "eyes" category. We have Cover Girl Last Blast, L'Oreal Voluminous, and L'Oreal Extend Tubes Mascaras here all in black and waterproof. Then we have Duo which is eye lash glue and then 4 sets of eye lashes. Not to forget eye liner pencils, a Tinkle razor and eyelash curlers. Now that I think of it, I forgot to add my FAVORITE gel eyeliner, M.A.C Blacktrack. But never fear, I will go add it now. Behind all of this you see a clear plastic travel bag just for these items.

Next Up is the lip section. From the back is the clear plastic case which still has a few miscellaneous tubes of chapstick and lip glosses, most of which will never leave the bag this trip. In the paint tins, I have de-potted my lipsticks to  make it easier to grab in a rush. I think I'm going to do a blog on how to do this later. I got this empty plastic paint tin at Marshalls for $2!  There are also specific lipliners and lip glosses laid out, two from Rimmel and 2 from M.A.C. I picked out the Rimmel just for Lindsay, along with a matching lipliner, but again, I like options! 

 Here we have brush cleaner in the black squirt bottle, makeup sanitzier in the pink bottle, a packet of travel bottles to be filled up with water, witch hazel, M.A.C Fix+ and anything else I need, and makeup removing wipes.

 These things are essential. Q-tips, makeup spongers, baby oil, HUGE thing of bobby pins, disposable lip wands. The white tray I got at Michael's for $3 and I think it'll be perfect for mixing foundations!

Eyes! Blushes! Bronzers! Oh my! Here we have the 15 pallete from M.A.C filled with my own personally chosen colors. Along with two neutral pallets, one blush pallet, my Z-Pallet filled with bronzer, eye shadow, highligher, my 88 pallet (which I'm going to do a review on becaues I know all you ladies out there have this pallet or have had this pallet at some point. I'll tell you the good and the bad!) and then my Makeup Forever Flash Pallet.

All of this stuff will be going in my travel Zuca rolling makeup artist bag. I didn't take a picture of it because I am barely keeping my eyes open after doing 100 things today, but here is a what the manufacturer has on it's website (www.zuca.com)

It is described as :

"Quilted, rhinestone accented, and very chic, Mystic joins our quilted lineup with a bold fashion statement. Mystic's black fabric makes the rhinestones shimmer like stars."

It retails for $155.00 and you can order it online at www.zuca.com . They also have other bags as well that are awesome. I've already outgrown this bag, but I can't bear to part with it yet. It has light up wheels! And rhinestones, I just love it.

Anyway, that's a look into what's going with me. I'm sure last minute I will add more stuff just to be safe. As always, I bring a table, chair, cloth towels, and paper towels! Business cards too!

I'm so excited to be able to partake in the rehersal dinner and actual event. I know it's going to be a beautiful wedding and I'm more than grateful to be able to share in my friend's lifelong memory.

Have an amazing day!

XOXO,

Amelia St. John

My makeup routine the last week

Ever since trying this new Garnier BB Cream, I've been trying to give my skin a break from other kinds of makeup to get the full result from this stuff. I only use it once a day, because it is pigmented, I don't want it on my face while I am sleeping and wake up with it all over my pillows. But I'm digging it. It gives me minimal coverage when I head out to the barn, while still protecting me from the sun with SPF 15.

Then when I want to add coverage to it, I use M.A.C. Mineralize Skinfinish Powder in the shade of Light Plus. It gives additional coverage and a matte finish to my face. I do not recommend M.A.C to those of you who have extremely sensitive skin. I typically have very good skin when it comes to makeup. I rarely break out from products. However, with specific skin product from the M.A.C line, I notice I am more likely to have a break out. Once I even got a rash! I had bought a BRAND NEW foundation and I tried it once and it gave me a rash along my right cheekbone. And let me reiterate, that DOES NOT happen to me. So needless to say, I don't recommend their face and skin products the majority of the time. But this compact is a bit different. I've been using this kind for about a year now and I am happy with it. I can use it over any type of foundation (and BB Cream) and it gives me an all over matte finish with heavier coverage, which I Like. I use a sponge type applicator to apply it to my face. For a lighter coverage, I recommend a large powder makeup brush.

Back to what I was talking about, I use this powder to go over that BB Cream.Then I apply a tad of blush and some mascara and that's my new low-key makeup! Just enhancing my natural beauty that God gave me and all that....

Anyway, I got an exciting idea for this week. A "whats in my makeup kit" specifically "whats in my wedding makeup kit". I have a wedding this weekend and I'm going to take photos of what is going with me!

Hope you enjoyed this blog!!

XOXO,

Amelia St. John

The Verdict Is...

I LOVE this Self-Tanning Spray!

It's the  L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Pro Perfect Salon Airbrush Self Tanning Mist in Medium Natural Tan.

Now I've treid Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer. You know, the one you put on your legs as lotion and in just 3 days, you get a natural looking tan? I am a fan of that as well. But I needed a tan ASAP for a roof top pool party in Hollywood and I needed it fast. I don't know about you, but if I am ever feeling bloated or feeling fat, I always think a tan makes you look slimmer and sexier! "Tan fat looks better than white fat" is how the saying goes!

Needless to say, I needed this tan and I wasn't about to go to tanning bed or pay $40 for a spray tan at a fancy salon when I knew many of you would love a review on an affordable spray tan!

This one works. I promise. In less than an hour you get a nice glow started. I did two coats yesterday. One after my shower yesterday and another one right before I went to bed. Then I did another coat this morning around 10:30am. By 1pm, on the pooltop, I had a stellar tan going!

Hard to tell here, but we were definitely the sexiest people there. I may be biased though.

Anyway, it retails about $8.00 at your local drugstore.

It's so easy to use. You just spray it on yourself in a circular motion arms length away. There is no making mistakes. You can't use too much or too little. Unlike the lotions it doesn't streak or get cakey around the knees/ankles/elbows etc.

I can't recommend it enough! Really I can't. If you want a safe alternative to the sun, with quicker results, this is the product for you.

If you have any questions/comments/concerns, please subscribe to my channel and write me a note. Or drop me a line on facebook or twitter, instagram, and soon to be youtube!

Got some exciting reviews and tutorials planned for next week! Happy Memorial Weekend!

Stay Beautiful.

XOXO,

Amelia St. John

Today's To-Do List: Review Self-Tanning Mist

Ok guys, today is going to be an extremely busy day. No sleeping in for this girl! I'm up and at em' early to move my horse to a new barn that is closer to my new job. But that means loading up ALL my stuff (all you horsey people know how much that can accumulate quickly) and then loading up my pony and heading to the new place. Not to mention just hanging out while my girl gets acclimated to her new home.

But, never fear once I get home I will be reviewing a sunless self-tanning mist. It's L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Pro Perfect Salon Airbrush Self Tanning Mist in Medium Natural Tan.

I can't WAIT to try it out. I have a pool party to go to on Sunday and I can't go looking like Caspar the Friendly Ghost! My philosophy is, if you aren't super confident with your body but you want to socialize by the pool, just add a tan and you will instanly feel better about yourself. And it is the safest way to get a tan....no terrible UV rays causing skin cancer.

I know this isn't my usual review blog or my how-to but I PROMISE I will write a longer one with an extensive review later.

Let me know if you guys are intersted in this as much as I am. Who isn't interested in a safe tan?

XOXO,

Amelia St. John

How to apply fake eyelashes

 Here is a common question I get asked ALL the time.

"How do you apply fake eyelashes?"

Many of you might already be knowledgeable in this,  but there are some of you that aren't. So I'm here to give you some insight and tricks that I personally use to apply fake eyelashes.

First I recommend doing your eye makeup however you choose for the day/evening. Eyelashes can be worn any time. If you are doing dramatic lashes, like me in the picture below, I suggest saving those for special occasions. Below was New Years Eve 2011:

(As you can tell, these puppies were HUGE! These are the #26 from Makeup Forever. They were like angel wings for my eyes on NYE.)

 Once you have applied your eye makeup how you like it, apply eyeliner and then mascara.

"Why would I apply mascara when I am wearing fakes you might ask?"  Well, it combines your real eyelashes with the fake ones to give a more "natural look". If your eye lashes are traditionally stick straight but your fake lashes are curled, it might look weird if someone was looking at you and your eyelashes were going every which way! It just creates a more seamless look.



Before you do your mascara, curl your lashes with an eyelash curler. If you don't know how to do that, I will do another blog later on how to curl your eyelashes. (PS, if you really want that, be sure to let me know!) After curling, then apply mascara.

Next I recommend purchasing the Lash Application kit from Sephora as seen below. There is one particular tool in it that helps me IMMENSELY. It's the long wooden stick with a pointy end and a slanted end. The pointy end is what I use to apply the glue to the lash and the slanted end presses the lashes into the lash line.

(In the kit, you see to the far left the long wooden stick. Also included from left to right are : tweezers, eyelash curler, half-length lashes, eye lash scissors to trim to desired length, and two types of glue)

When you are ready for lashes, remove them from the box one at a time and dab a small amount of lash glue to any surface (I like the back of my hand). Then get the pointed end in the glue and then spread over the lash line of the lashes.

I like this glue because it is dark in color and when it dries, it most likely blends with eyeliner. The "white tone" dries clear so don't worry if you are using this one. Most makeup artists prefer Duo to any other brand out there. It really keeps the eyelashes on longer than any glue out there. It's better than the ones that come with lashes and it's better than the Sephora brand as well. 

Dun. Dun. Dun........

HERE IS THE TRICK! WAIT APPROXIMATELY 20-40 SECONDS FOR THE GLUE TO GET A LITTLE "TACKY" AND THEN APPLY AS CLOSE TO LASH LINE AS POSSIBLE.

I like to apply my lashes from the outside to the inside. Meaning as close to the lash line as I can, while tilting my chin up and looking downward, I apply the lashes to the line and use the slanted edge of the stick from Sephora to press the lashes firmly on, making sure there is no noticeable separation.

Repeat with the other eye. 

If you have applied eyeliner to your top lid, you can do what is called "backtracking" next. You take your eye liner and go back over the line, on top of the strip to create an even liner. You don't want to see the where the false lashes meet the lid.

Then you can add more mascara if you choose.

If your bottom lashes are stuck with the glue, just gently pull the skin apart so as to release the bottom lashes from the grasps of the falsies.



(Me with M.A.C lashes # 34. Retails $14.00/pair. These are my favorite lashes from M.A.C.)

Now to remove them, just gently peel them off your eye from the outside in. If you wish to use them again, take the glue off and put them back in their box for next time.

That's it! With each time you put them on, I promise you, you will get better. For the longest time, as a PROFESSIONAL makeup artist, I didn't feel comfortable putting them on myself! But with practice, I now wear them on a regular basis. A minimum of 2x a week. I used to wear them nightly when I worked as a hostess. In addition, the more you wear them, the less you will feel uncomfortable in them.

That's all for today Class. I hope you learned something.  Even if you didn't, hope you got a refresher course in False Lash Application 101.

I hope you all feel as beautiful on the outside today as I know you are on the inside!

XOXO,

Amelia St. John

Review: Simple Makeup Remover Wipes

As promised, I am bringing another review to you guys. Today's review will be on Simple Makeup Remover Wipes.

As stated on their website:

"Our handy Kind To Eyes Eye Make Up Remover Pads are a perfect blend of cleansing goodness to help to gently remove even waterproof mascara. Our pads won't sting or irritate your eyes. Perfect for even sensitive skin.
simple goodnessOur special blend of Simple cleansing goodness containing Pro-Vitamin B5 helps to gently cleanse and remove even waterproof mascara.

NO ALCOHOL, NO OIL
NON DRYING and NON GREASY
NO PERFUME, NO COLOUR
NO UNNECESSARY INGREDIENTS so it won't upset your skin
Dermatologically Tested and Approved"

What I have found in using these wipes is that they are very rough. When I am wiping my face at the end of the day trying to get the remainder of my makeup off, I don't want to feel like I am wiping a brillo pad on my face. And in my humble opinion, this is what I felt Simple Makeup Remover Wipes felt like. Not to mention that using them on my eyes was just painful..

Pros:
Cheap - for like $5 you get 30 wipes
Smell is very clean
They are from the UK, so that in itself is kinda cool. They are the number one leading makeup remover over there. I guess over there they have tougher skin!
I definitely didn't feel greasy or oily after using them

Cons:
It felt rough on my face
Packaging is kinda ugly and not pretty. I like to buy prettily packaged things.
Left makeup on my face because I didn't want my face to be bright red after.
I only will use these as a last resort

Anyway, this seems like a negative review and I guess it is. These just are not my cup of tea.

If you want an alternative, I suggest Walmart or Target generic brand for a cheaper but effective remover wipes.  Additionally, one should use a cotton ball and specifically made eye makeup remover so as to protect your eyes. I do recommend the remover from M.A.C as seen below. As a former M.A.C Makeup Artist/Employee, I have used this countless times and it just wipes away the makeup.

Hope this helps you guys out! Have a beautiful day and don't forget to shine on with those beautiful faces! Remember to subscribe to my page and PLEASE feel free to request any reviews on products or topics you would like my opinion on!

XOXO,

Amelia St. John

PS I do not get paid for my opinions good or bad. So when I recommend something, it's usually because I have bought and paid for it out of my own pocket!

Drugstore BB Cream and L'Oreal Drugstore Foundation Review

Ok, I'm back! It's been a while but I'm back and going to start doing some product reviews for anyone out there interested in my makeup life and my tips and tricks.

Today my blog is mainly going to be about this new BB Cream that has hit the drugstores lately. For all of you who have NO IDEA what I am talking about, its the latest craze in makeup-meets-skincare. BB Creams are simply a mash up of several products you’re probably already applying. Based on a formula developed in 1968 by German derm Dr. Christine Schrammek-Drusio to soothe, protect and lightly camouflage patients’ skin after cosmetic work, BB creams are multi-taskers that combine skincare ingredients with moisturizer, primer, foundation and SPF. Also referred to as beauty balms or blemish balms, they became wildly popular in Korea when a famous Korean actress credited one for her flawless complexion.

So I decided to try one. I'm all for saving time, especially when my new routine requires a 5:30am wakeup and my makeup gets applied in women's restroom located at my barn. Crappy lighting meets crappy attitude = I'll try anything to help myself out.

So I decided to try the drugstore BB Cream. It's called Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream. It has SPF 15 in it and comes in two shades: light/medium and medium/dark. I am using it on my face so I went with the lighter shade because my face is much lighter than my chest and arms.

I'm digging it. It finds my skin tone and matches it. It then moisturizes and protects my face from the sun. I'm not sure if it "renews" my skin, but I've only used it a few days. It works in place of a primer or moisturizer.

I try to tell this when anyone asks me : MOISTURIZER OR PRIMER. NOT BOTH. Otherwise you are just adding an extra to your face.

Now, I use high quality prodcuts on my clients. Products such as Makeup For Ever HD Foundation, Embryolisse moisturizer, M.A.C products, the list goes on and on. But it's expensive to buy those products in multiple shades so I only like to use them on paying clients. On myself however, I usually use cheaper products. So when it comes to foundation, I'm always trying to find a good one. Now my recommendation for most people is to go with the Makeup For Ever product listed prior. Because if you are just buying for yourself, spend the money and go with a great product. But if you are hard up in these times, check out this foundation.

It is smoothly applicated, goes on fairly light and covered my skin well. I used a sponge to apply it but I prefer brushes or fingers. Don't ask me why I used a sponge today.  I don't have amazing skin, I have red spots and blotchiness. So I like a heavier foundation. I like full-coverage. I'd rather think people know I am wearing makeup than see my actual skin. I don't want to SCARE people.

To review L'Oreal Infallible 18 Hour Foundation

Pros:

-Not Cakey

-Easily Matches Skin Tone

-Medium Coverage

-Smoothly goes on skin

Cons:

-I don't have any other than I like a full coverage makeup and this is medium. But you can always add another layer. I just didn't.

This retails about $12.00 I think. This was recommended by Lisa Eldridge, who is a celebrity makeup artist for Kate Winslet and also represents the L'Oreal Makeup Line. She is AMAZING. You can go watch her videos at http://lisaeldridge.com/. Do yourself a favor and do it SOON!!

Let me know any comments or if you have any products you are dying to try. I'll do a review for anything!

XOXO,

Amelia St. John