Tuesday Tip: Prime Your Armani Foundation

I've always been a huge fan of Smashbox Photo Finish Primer and will continue using it with my Make Up For Ever foundation when I do makeup for events. On myself I've always used Armani foundation...well, not always, just since I worked there in 2006. If you've read my blog for more than a minute you know one of my favorite brands is Giorgio Armani. The reason I don't use their foundation when I do event makeup is because it can shift and isn't waterproof. Make Up For Ever is hard to beat when it comes to longwear.

Well, on my last trip to Dallas I stopped by Neiman Marcus to purchase Luminous Silk Foundation in #4 (my winter color which is the time of the year I embrace my Snow White complex). They were having a special where I could get my foundation, a new blender brush and the foundation primer (Fluid Master Primer) along with a couple of samples for $125 (it was a $190 value). I know that is a lot of money for makeup, but it was a steal for Armani since their foundation alone runs around $60. I indulged knowing that sets and good deals like that are hard to come by at the Armani counter.

Can I just say I am SO pleased with my purchase! The way to wear Luminous Silk Foundation is with Fluid Master Primer! My makeup is sitting better on my face and lasting longer. So, I realize not all of you wear Armani makeup, but for those of you who do start using their primer if you don't already. If you click on the Neiman Marcus link you can go to the exact set I purchased. And for the rest of you, find a primer that works for you...Smashbox, Laura Mercier, MAC and many other lines offer them. They can do everything from change your skin coloring to balance your skin from oily to normal or simply make your makeup last longer....all of those sound good to me!

Tuesday Tip: Lovely Lips

Lip color is such a fun and easy thing to change up depending on the day and your mood. I find when I do makeup that a lot of people don't wear lipstick and stick to a neutral gloss or chapstick...there is no need to be afraid of lipstick or adding color to your lips! Here are a few things to know about when it comes to making your lips look lovely...

If you have small lips use a neutral or lighter color and gloss, if you do a dark color your lips will appear smaller. Don't feel like you can never wear a dark color, now you just know the effect it will have on your lips.

Lipsticks come in many different textures....a lot of people steer clear of lipstick because they assume it is heavy and something people wore twenty years ago. You can find sheer lipsticks, shine, shimmer, or matte...my point, there is one out there for you!

If you want to stick with gloss at least pick one with some color to change things up.

To make your lip color, whether lipstick or gloss last longer use a lip liner first, line and fill in your lips. Choose a neutral lip liner that will match your lips so you can use it with all lipsticks you use.

My favorite lines to purchase lip products from are MAC (tons of color and texture options), Bobbi Brown (lots of great neutrals and everyday colors), Giorgio Armani (classic colors and I love their sheer and shine lipsticks), Smashbox (awesome glosses). One of my latest cheap finds is 99 cent lip gloss from Sally Beauty Supply. The glosses are mini and found right by the counter.

Tuesday Tip: Spring into Spring!

The temperatures were in the 80's today in Tulsa and for some reason I was still dressed for fall...I needed a quick way to brighten my look, so what did I go with ?! Blush of course, it's my life saver for everything (if you haven't noticed yet) and also a cute coral for my nails. I went with one of my favorite Essie colors, Cute as a Button...because it is as cute as a button, and that is just what I needed today!!



With these warmer temperatures it's important to integrate bright colors into not only your wardrobe, but also your look. Here are a few ways (other than colorful nails)to brighten your look:


Bright pink or coral lip gloss on top of your fall or winter red lipstick. When I worked at Armani my manager and I had a lip combo we loved...the number 21 shine lipstick with a shimmery pink gloss on top (number 7). For a similar result try Smashbox lip gloss in Boundlesss or Nonstop.


Brighten a smokey eye by using a pale pink as a base color instead of a taupe and/or add plum to your crease color. I love Make Up For Ever shadows, try #88 or #97 for a soft pink, for a plum try #121 or #142.


Last, if you don't wear blush start wearing it and if you already do put more on. My NEW favorite color is Blossom by Linda Mason Elements...this line was created by the fabulous artist Linda Mason and not only am I obsessed with the packaging (how could I not be?!) but I'm also obsessed with the color and the fact that it's pigmented. Look for a blog post about my visit to her studio/gallery in NYC.

Tuesday Tip: Polished with Primer

Do you wish your foundation lasted longer or looked smoother on your skin? Are you using a primer? If not, now is the time! Primers can help control oil, make your makeup last longer, and make your pores and fine lines less visible. The primer I use in my makeup kit on clients is Smashbox Photo Finish. I use the original clear formula. Basically it glides on the skin so that the skin appears smoother and helps foundation last. Smashbox now has many different formulas so that you can have oil control, cancel redness or add a glow.

A couple other ones to check out are Laura Mercier (once again many options to match your needs) and MAC (also lots of different types).

Some people use primers everyday, other people use them when their makeup needs to look extra polished for an event...just know that primers are something worth checking out!

Tuesday Tip: Fall Into Fall

I'm all about the current season we are in...cooler temperatures, leaves changing colors...and all things pumpkin! I literally go crazy over anything pumkin. Pumpkin candles, colors, pie, bread, cookies, I could go on and on! So, with all of the pumpkin around me I've realized this is the perfect time to integrate golds and red browns into your eye shadows. Now is the perfect time to play up brown shadows and make them glow with gold. Here are a few of my favorite fall eye shadow colors...

Urban Decay's Roach- the perfect red brown, its pigmented, so it gives lots of color!

Smashbox Ambient- a true gold, it shimmers and sparkles! Use on your lid to add a glow, or use under your eyes to brighten and blend eyeliner.

MAC's Amber Lights- The perfect orange brown, this will make blue eyes stand out!