Archive for December, 2009

The holidays are drawing to a close and I hope that all had a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year.

This year we attended some great holiday parties.  For one event, I wanted to create a different look, so I picked up the Arissa baked eye shadows in Twilight (a champagne pink), Outer Space (a midtone blue purple) and Black Hole from  CherryCulture.com @ 4.99/ea. (Sidebar: Cherry Culture is having a 20% Sale off until December 30th, 2009. Coupon Code is SALE20.) The Arissa baked shadows are awesome.  I suggest for a better color payoff of this product, use a sponge-tip applicator. I selected the Outer Space as the lid shadow and I love it because the color is not too shimmery yet not matte. (Don’t get me wrong, I still love my shimmers!)

If loving Cosmedicine Medi-Matte™ Oil Control Lotion SPF 20 is wrong, well, I don’t want to be right.

This product is my new HG e/s base.  The oil control lotion does not allow my eye shadow to crease at all!!  The texture is smooth yet semi-sticky, so powder and cream eye shadows  can easily adhere to the product very well and makes them more blendable, especially the cream shadows! Sephora sells it for $42, but I got a sample from one a recent purchases from Sephora, so always check out the samples section. *Awww yeah*

Face

• Napolean Perdis Foundation Stick #7
• Napolean China Doll Foundation #6
• MAC MSF Natural – Dark

Eyes

• Cosmedicine Medi-Matte™ Oil Control Lotion SPF 20 (Base)
• MAC ElectroSky (McQueen collection) (Base)
• Arissa Outer Space baked e/s
• NARS Stage Beauty duo -Copper side
• Too Faced Vixen e/s
• Urban Decay Blunt e/s
• Shu Uemura Painting Liner – Night Blue
• Barry M Kohl Pencil – Black
• Makeup For Ever Aqua Eyes mascara – Black

Lips

• Random L’Oreal lip gloss

Mix Maven

Find Your Signature Scent!

Take this quiz for insight into the perfect fragrance for you or a loved one

Picking a fragrance, especially if it’s for someone else, can be so overwhelming. There are so many to choose from that after 10 minutes in the store they all start to smell the same! Luckily, this quiz will help you narrow things down so you can find your (or someone else’s) signature scent. Happy sniffing! Take the quiz

Hey Glossies,

Recently, I went to the first holiday party of the season.  It was fun times with fabulous friends!!

I planned to do a smoky look with my newly-acquired NARS Night Breed, but I decided to use the L’Oreal HiP Duo in Electrified. Electrified duo =  plum-infused silverish-taupe and metallic plum.  I love this combo!!!

I also wore the FACE Atelier Diamond Pink lipstick.  I love pink lipstick because every woman, regardless of skin tone, can wear a shade of pink.   I like the Diamond Pink color because it is sheer yet buildable. The texture is great and when the color, finally faded, my lips were left soft and supple.

On my face, I wore

• MUFE HD Foundation 177
• Clinique Clinique Perfectly Real Liquid Foundation – 47
• Napolean Perdis Foundation Stick #7
• FACE atelier’s Ultra Loose Powder – Translucent
• MAC MSF Natural – Medium Deep

I really liked the FACE Atelier Loose Powder. A little goes a long way, so to my Women of Color, do not fear this product does not ash.  Since the MSF Natural products do not reduce shine, I suggest wearing the Loose Powder under the MAC MSF Natural.  The Loose Powder kept shine at bay for hours and I love that. My skin is not oily in general, but since the weather has turned cold, the heat goes up and the sweat can begin. lol

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Mix Maven

The holiday party season is upon us and well need ideas on how to get glammed up, especially  the coif.  I got a chance to speak to top hair stylists in the entertainment industry.  This post is part 1 of that series.

Mandrill Hardge is a celebrity stylist based in Atlanta, GA. Mr Hardge has a passion in hair styling and has been in the industry for over 15 years.  His formal education comes from Caldwell Technical College and advanced training at Dudley Beauty College.

I asked him about the turning point in his career that lead him into the entertainment industry.  He replied, “the turning point came when I simply realized that I have the skillset, professionalism, knowledge and training to serve an individual that is in the media spotlight, yet I do not treat any of my clients different based on social status. They are all goddesses in my life.”

Exciting Aspect of Job

My favorite aspect is service. I enjoy styling, I enjoy the transformation of hair, yet I enjoy simply serving my clientele diligently and with an open heart and mind. My most exciting aspect is when i blow even my own creative mind to transform a client from lovely to extraordinary!

Favorite Hair Products

Elucence Shampoo and Conditioner line, Salon Choice and Nairobi Relaxer lines, Clariol Color line, Chi Silk Infusion for shine and frizz control.

Favorite Hair Tools

Tyche blowdry system (Cannot do without!!) , Chi Ceramic Iron and Gold ‘n Hot Ceramic Barrel Irons

Common Hair Mistakes

The most common mistake made is the lack of consultation before the color process. A proper consultation will lay the foundation of knowledge for both the Colorist as well as the client.

The worse thing that can be done is to go beyond the regular time of service. Meaning, do not go beyond the regular time for relaxer service or even a regular treatment. Doing so may cause breakage.

Favorite Trend for the Season

The best Trend right now is the deep frontal swoop. Just the way it comes from the furthest area of the crown forward is sexy yet mysterious.

Future Goals

My goal is to be the premiere hairstylist to a celebrity clientele as well as those that simply want to have extraordinary hair. I am a faith based hairstylist, yet I strive to live by the words of the great Martin Luther King Jr., “If a man desires to be great, he must first learn to serve.”

Advice for Aspiring Artists

My advice to aspiring stylist is to simply remain true to ones self. Know your craft and forever educate yourself to new techniques and products.

Mandrill Hardge was a pleasure to interview and I am looking forward to seeing more of his work in all his upcoming projects.

Happy Holidays,

Mix Maven

The winner of the Just In Time for the Holidays / Kissable Couture Set Giveaway is…… Judith M!!! Congrats on your win.

The winner of the Perricone MD Advanced Eye Area Therapy Holiday Giveaway is …… Uneautre!! Congrats on your win.

Thank you to all the many contestants for both of the giveaways.  Please know that in 2010, Pumps and Gloss will be hosting more and bigger giveaways!!!

Mix Maven

Lord and Taylor Friends and Family will begin December 10 – December 15, 2009.  25%  off almost everything and 10% off on cosmetics and fragrances. Online Preview starts today!!!

Here is the in-store coupon for the Lord and Taylor stores—->Lord and Taylor Family and Friends Coupon Holiday 2009

*Exclusions apply.

Happy Haulin’

Mix Maven

Tarte Cosmetics is having the Tarte Cosmetics’ Friends and Family Sale (40% off) from December 7 – 13, 2009.  The coupon code: FFDEC.  I have my eye on the Eye Couture. Day-to-Night Eyeshadow Palette.

Also Stila Cosmetics is on sale on HauteLook until Wednesday, December 9, 2009 in the late morning.

Happy Haulin’,

Mix Maven

19 Amazing Eyeliners for Less than $10

It’s true! You can get gorgeous liner for way cheap

Before you shell out a bunch of cash on makeup for those holiday parties, check out this roundup of the best eyeliners under $10. There are tons of shades and types, from pencils to liquids, so there’s no reason you can’t get the look you want for cheap. See eyeliners

I am always on the hunt for a good primer.  I have used quite a few..liked some and did not like others. So I was curious to try Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion.  The lotion has a light creamy texture and little goes a long way.

I tried this product over several days. Initially, I used the Shielding Lotion > Moisturizer > foundation. The product worked okay as in “I am not sure what this primer is doing, but it does not look like much difference from the ones that I do not like.”  But when I used Moisturizer > Shielding Lotion>Foundation, my foundation still looked fresh after 6 hours.  When I use certain corrective primers like Makeup For Ever, my skin tingles a bit.  When I used the Shielding Lotion before the corrective color primer, the tingling feeling diminished a lot. I was quite pleased with that. Overall, I think the Shielding Lotion is worth the purchase.

FOTD:

Face

• Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion
• Makeup For Ever HD Foundation – 177

Eye

• MAC Matte Gel
• MAC Moss Scape P/P
• L’Oreal Hip Cream Crayon – (Green)
• Dior Tropical Light Palette – Green and Taupe shades
• NARS Night Porter
• Shu Uemura Painting Liner – Black
• Urban Decay Zero e/l
• Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes Mascara – Black

Perricone MD has partnered with Pumps and Gloss for another wonderful holiday giveaway, Perricone MD Advanced Eye Area Therapy.  The Advanced Eye Area Therapy “reduces fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles with Alpha Lipoic Acid and DMAE. This product is formulated with DMAE and Alpha Lipoic Acid to help prevent and correct the early signs of aging that appear around the delicate eye area, making us look older than we really are. It minimizes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and puffiness, while diminishing dark circles and discoloration with Vitamin C Ester. Paraben-free.” The eye therapy is valued at $95.

So enter your name, e-mail and a brief comment about other eye treatments you have used in the past in the festive green widget below. You have until December 10, 2009 3:00 AM PST to enter. Open to residents in the United States.

Please note: 1 entry per e-mail.