Archive for November, 2009

Shu Uemura is having a special holiday 20% off sale going NOW until December 1, 2009.  Free shipping on orders $50 and more.  The discount code is WISH09 and can be used online and in any of the 3 boutiques.

My favorites are the Painting Liners in Black and Brown.  If you have not tried the products, now is a good time to check them out.

Happy Haulin’,

Mix Maven

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Beauty Recipes that Reduce Stress — and Make Great Gifts

Need to relax or have a gift recipient who does? Make it easier with these homemade beauty products

We’re loving these simple beauty recipes for several reasons. One, they’re so easy to make, all they use are ingredients you already have in your kitchen, no pricey trip to the store necessary. Two, they’re all specifically tailored to relax and de-stress you — and who couldn’t use that this time of year? Three, there are quite a few that you could package up and give as gifts, it’s an inexpensive but thoughtful present your friends and family are sure to love! See recipes

Macy’s Friends and Family Sale  will begin December 2 – December 7, 2009.  25% off most items.  10% off small electrics, personal care electrics, technology, furniture, mattresses and area rugs.  Typical exclusions i.e. cosmetics and fragrances.

The online coupon code for Macy’s Friends and Family sale is MACYSFF.

Here is the in-store coupon  for all MACY’s stores—-> MACYS Friends and Family Store Coupon December 2009

*Exclusions apply.

Happy Haulin’

Mix Maven

Hello Glossies,

Happy 15 year anniversary to NARS Cosmetics!! Thank you, Mr. Francois Nars for creating such a luxe beauty brand.

There are two NARS books that I want…must have!! *Looking around at Santa* lol

I want the NARS 15 x 15 Project. This book is a collection of 15 celebrities commemorating 15 years of NARS Cosmetics.  The colors are vibrant, makeup edgy, yet flawless, and the best thing is that profits from the sale of the books equally goes to the charities selected by the 15 celebs.  Definitely worth the price. My fave picture is the one with Marc Jacobs. I love  that he is  wearing the Dovima nail polish, which I have and love!!  He is also looks fab in the rouge lipstick and his eyelashes melts my heart. LOL

I must confess that I do not own a lot of beauty books.  (I love collecting interior design books!!) So when I saw, Makeup Your Mind on QVC, I knew that this book had to be apart of my collection.  The book “is a comprehensive compilation of Before and After photographs, each containing instructional acetate overlays, covering almost every face type, complexion, eye color, and facial feature.” I just love the overlay idea!!

Need more NARS reading material, run to the closest newsstand or bookstore on November 24, 2009 and check out the fantastic article in the upcoming December 2009 issue of Allure Magazine celebrating the man, the myth, the legend, Francois Nars and his 15 years of rocking the world of cosmetics.

Mix Maven

I know many of us were sad about the shuttering of the Prescriptives brand in early 2010.  Many of us were wondering how we were going to live without custom blend foundation that we are fond of.  Well, I sure was excited when I got word that customers can get their custom blend foundations online in January 2010.  If you want to try the custom blend, I suggest going to a counter and getting your own recipe. I plan on doing that ASAP.  I know my homegirl, SH, is relieved because she didn’t know what to d because she has very sensitive skin.  So run to the Prescriptives to get the your recipe…soon!!

Just in time for the Holidays, Pumps and Gloss is having another giveaway.  Since this item was quite popular, I am giving away the Kissable Couture Smooches gift set of 5 mini glosses AGAIN. I love Kissable Couture lip glosses. The colors are pigmented and even the nude shades leave lips looking shimmery (not glittery) and sophisticated.

Kissable Couture Smooches

So enter your name and e-mail in the pretty green widget below. You have until December 3, 2009 3:00 AM PST to enter. Open to residents in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Please note: 1 entry per e-mail.

Mix Maven

While hovering around the Target clearance (Target endcaps tend to have many clearance items), I found the Soap and Glory cosmetics bags marked down from $24.99 to $6. and change.  Ok, I will say that one tassel is missing, but does it really matter. I don’t think so.

Head on over to Target, there might be some left.

Just some little ditties that I am jamming to today!!

The Noisettes – Never Forget You

The Noisettes – Cover of The Killers “When You Were Young”

Keep it Glossy,

Mix Maven

Hey Glossies,

NARS and I are becoming BBFs (Best Beauty Friends).  I have been very pleased with the products, especially the mid-tone and darker eye shadows and the nail polishes. So I decided to pick up NARS Balthazar e/s duo.  From the first time I swatched it, I know that we were going to get on well.  In the post, “NARS Attacks”, I talked about how I would probably not purchase NARS again, but the possibility of changing my mind is always there.  Well, I am really enjoying NARS. :p I think that Balthazar would be flattering on all skin-tones.

I got a chance to see the NARS premiere show on QVC (<—my new must-see TV) and, of course, I was impressed with products that I have still have not tried (fo shame!)  i.e. the multiple sticks and e/l stylos. So I mozied on over to  Sephora to see swatch the stylos.  I am impressed with them. I left the Sephora and ran a few more errands the liners on my hand did not budge!

NARS Stylo - Blue Bayou and Nuits Blanches

FOTD

Face

• Clinique Supermoisture Makeup – Amber
• MAC MSF Natural – Dark

Eye

• MAC Matte Gel
• MAC Constructivist P/P
• Purely Cosmetics CTP in Copper and Bronzed Brown
• NARS Balthazar (both sides)
• MAC Mystery e/s
• LORAC Superstar Trio (gold)
• Shu Uemura Painting Liner  – Black
• L’Oreal Telescopic Explosion mascara

Lips

• Urban Decay Wicked l/l
• MAC Pink Manish l/g

Mix Maven

No, not the Swedish pop group who had hit songs like “The Sign” and “All That She Wants.” I am speaking of makeup artist extraordinaire, Toni Acey.

She is a sought-after celebrity make-up artist, based in Atlanta,  who did not imagine that she could even work as makeup artist.  Toni worked in corporate America for many years, as well as working as a model.  Toni found that the MAs either  were not qualified to do make-up for Women of Color (WOC), specifically African-American women.  So she took matters in her own hands and came to the shoots already made-up.   By doing so, industry professionals as well as close friends and family took notice and encouraged her she to get into the business.  Ms. Acey does not have formal training in make-up artistry, but she worked as a freelancer for MAC Cosmetics where she learned a lot through the MAC training programs.  She has continued to hone her craft and teaches airbrushing classes.  Ms. Acey is also well-known for  her signature “Wearable Art” body painting and “Celebrity “Knock-Off Makeovers.

Eight years ago, Toni was one of the first makeup artist to use airbrushing for glamour makeup.  Most artists in the entertainment industry used airbrushing, primarily, for special effects. Her go-to brands for airbrushing are Temptu and Air Makeup.  Toni enjoys the creativity of airbrushing because she can create one-of-a-kind foundations,  lipsticks,  and even blushes to fit her clients’ needs. She has many clients including  LisaRaye, Kenya Moore, Meagan Good, Karen Clarke-Sheard and Sheree from The Real Housewives of Atlanta.  They have all been very pleased with her work and seek her out time and time again.

We talked about beauty trends for the winter/holiday season.  Toni definitely loves to see all women wearing red lipstick, a throwback to old Hollywood glamour. She does recommend that golden tone women wear tomato reds, fair/light skinned women  can wear pretty much any shade of red, but they should stay from bordeaux, unless they are going for a goth look.  For darker skinned women, she loves loves bordeaux.  Red lip color, she believes, can work for  a daytime look, but it should be sheer.  Her must-have lip product is MAC Money Honey dazzleglass.

For the eyes, she loves Urban Decay eye liners and MAC pigments to create a bold, shimmery look for all the holiday parties we will be attending this season.  She loves Urban Decay eye liners because they can be easily smudged and set to wear as shadows.  For the cheeks, Toni raved about NARS blushes and as a fan myself, I definitely think they are must-haves for all beauty aficionados.

She had words of wisdom for all up-and-coming make-up artists ” Be the best that you can be. Be serious about your craft, treat it as a business, (continue) to learn about the craft by staying ahead of the trends.  Make sure to have  a website!”

I asked her about her future goals, she wants to do a follow-up to her book, Make-up FAQs,  to continue with her foundation, “Lipstick Theory” to assist  women’s charities, produce training DVDs and  create her own makeup and skincare line

She was a delight to interview and I will be looking out for all of her upcoming endeavors.  I do wish her all the success, she has a great spirit.

So check out her book and website, definitely will provide inspiration.

Mix Maven

Who is ready for the Holidays?? Well many retailers are and the great thing is that we do not have to wait for Black Friday to take advantage of these sales.

Urban Decay, one of my favorite beauty brands, is having its winter Family and Friends sale. Code FNFW1 to get 30% off your ENTIRE order – now 11/9 -  11/20 2009 on your favorite Urban Decay items.  I recommend the eye shadows, eye liners and mascaras.  Urban Decay always has new products, give them a try!! Great products.

Hautelook has Shu Uemura beauty products on sale for 39 hours starting 11 AM EST today.

I am sure there will be more sales to come and I will keep you posted.

Happy Haulin’,

Mix Maven