Hey Glossies,

I decided to post swatches of the Posh Paradise paint pots that I have (6 of 8). I do not have Idyllic (looks similar to Artifact p/p) and Imaginary (reminds me of Blackground p/p).  I  want to stress (again) how awesome these paint pots are!!

Posh Paradise Paint Pots - Nubile ,Treasure Hunt, Genuine Treasure

Posh Paradise Paint Pots - Hyperviolet, Half-Wild, Pure Creation

Hope this helps, Tams!

Mix Maven

Hey Glossies,

I had a great weekend. The Wolverines and the Lions won, so I am feeling good.

I have been, totally, enamored with the Posh Paradise Collection because of the new paint pots!! I love MAC paints pots.  They are one of the few cream shadows that do not dry out over time. I have other creamy shadows that dry out within a year (NOT cool!!)

So, I started off with Treasure Hunt, Hyperviolet and Half-Wild.  When the shipment arrived, I was as giddy as a school girl fawning over a young Leonardo DiCaprio.  After seeing the paint pots in-store, I also got Pure Creation, Nubile and Genuine Treasure (Lawd, this color is PRETTY!!)

Maybe it is just me, I feel that these paint pots are longer lasting and creaseless than the original paint pots.   I, definitely, would use them as eye shadow.  I know a lot of people use them as eye shadows, but I never felt comfortable wearing them  with my oily eyelids, BUT now, I do!!

Here is the look that I created for Ladies’ Day Out!!

Face

• Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Primer Skin Transformer
• Face Atelier Foundation #11

Eyes

• Cosmedicine Oil control lotion
• MAC Pure Creation Paint Pot
• NARS Bateau Ivre e/s
• MAC Infallible e/s
• Revlon Bronzed Copper e/s
• Shu Uemura Paint Liner – Navy(M)
• MAC Black Russian Pearlglide e/l
• Dior Diorshow Extase mascara

Cheek

• NARS Desire blush
• MAC Porcelain Pink MSF

Lips

• Chanel Scintillantes lip gloss – 146

Mix Maven

Hey Glossies,

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

I hope you had a great weekend and that the new week started off on a great note!

The beauty destination for today, I do not need a ticket or passport to enter this wonderful place…..my Stash.

I haven’t played with the Naked pigments since I got them in the summer.  I am glad that MAC has expanded the Naked pigment to include darker shades:  Nude Dark and Nude Deep Dark. I decided to play around with Dark, tan with a hint of beige.  Dark is similar to the Lithe pigment ( From the Fabulous Felines collection, LE), but Lithe has a significant amount of shimmer.

I was feeling extra naughty and sassy, so I decided to add red lip to the look.

FOTD Details

Face

• Primer
• MAC Select Cover-Up – NC50
• NARS Sheer Glow Foundation – Cadiz and New Orleans
• Clinique Blended Face Powder – Transparency 5

Eyes

• Cosmedicine Oil control lotion
• MAC Indianwood P/P
• MAC Naked Dark pigment
• MAC Go e/s
• Laura Gellar Baked e/l – Dutch Chocolate
• Revlon Bronzed Copper e/s
• Dior Lash Primer
• CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume mascara
• Shu Uemura Paint Liner – Black (M)
• MAC False Lashes mascara

Cheek

• MAC Gleeful Blush

Lips

• MAC  Chestnut Creme l/l
• NYX Sunrise l/g

My Swoon Look

Mr. Maven and I do not have any specific Valentine’s day traditions, but we do have favorite artistic works that we enjoy sharing with each other.

Mr. Maven loves Anita Baker and Sade.  Before we we started dating, we had been friends for a few years before taking the plunge.  He re-introduced “It’s Been You” to me and I think the song really fits our experience well.

It’s Been You – Anita Baker

I like to refer to myself as a former poet.  My poetry was scathing and bitter.  I know that will be shocking as I am such a wonderful person, paragon of perfection even. Ok, that  might be bit much! LOL

One of my favorite poems is “Perfumed Moments with My Man” by Dee Dee McNeil from the anthology, “A Rock Against The Wind” edited by Lindsay Patterson.  I found this book when I was in college and I had to add it to my library.  A definite must-have for poetry lovers who love love and passion.

An excerpt -

• Dip me.
• Flip me.
• Dew me.
• with the nectar that you spray.
• Taste my bouquet.
• Pollinate my day.
• Inhale me.
• De-rail me.
• Ride me like a train.
• Remember when I came
• time and time again?
• Quick as a hummingbird,
• Rowdy as a hawk.
• Dancing like the Jabber-Walk!

Dee Dee McNeil

Do you have any love traditions?

Mix Maven

McNeil, Dee Dee. “Perfumed Moments with My Man.” A Rock against the Wind: African-American Poems and Letters of Love and Passion. By Lindsay Patterson. New York: Berkley Pub. Group, 1996. 100-104. Print.

Hey Glossies,

Hope the weekend was full of fun and joy!

I have been a very good girl as far as my wallet is concerned. Ok, well not that good, but I have not purchased as much collection makeup as I have in the past.  When the MAC Peacocky collection was released, I was intrigued (as usual) because of my love for Veluxe Pearl and Starflash textured eye shadows.   So, I had to check out the new Mega Metal shadows. (And, Boy, they are mega and metallic!)  In-store, after talking myself out of purchasing Dalliance and Odalisque, I did purchase Unflappable, which reminds me of a deeper Moth Brown e/s (from the Barbie Collection).  So, I felt like a total winner. I may or may not have poplocked and shimmied as I went out to the parking lot.

A few days later, after seeing a  Sex-pectations swatch online (even though I saw it in the store, and, obviously, did not want to purchase it), I decided I needed to have it. Even had a great blog title for the FOTD post. But when I received it, it reminded me of the cranberry/burgundy in NARS Kuala Lumpur duo. I went to the local Nordies to exchange the shade for another shade of the Mega Metal, Dalliance was calling me and still calling my name, but I got Paparaz-she instead.  I do not own many orange shadows because I am not a huge fan of the color, but this shade is pretty and metallic in a big way. lol

FOTD Details -

Face

• CoverFX Nourishing Foundation Primer
• MAC Select Cover-Up – NC50
• NARS Foundation
• Clinique Blended Face Powder – Transparency 5

Eyes

• Cosmedicine Oil control lotion
• MAC Paint Pot – Indianwood
• MAC Paparazz-she e/s
• MAC Coppering
• Laura Gellar Baked e/l – Dutch Chocolate
• MAC Flip e/s
• Shu Uemura Paint Liner – Brown (M)
• CoverGirl Exact Eyelights mascara – Black Pearl

Cheek

• Revlon ColorStay Mineral Finishing Powder – Sunkiss

Lips

• NYX Dark Brown l/l
• NARS Sex Machine Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
• Urban Decay Sparkler Pen Lip Gloss in Rocket

Mix Maven

Hey Glossies,

Here is a quick FOTD post!

FOTD

Face

• MAC Select Cover-up – NC50
• MAC Studio Sculpt concealer – NC45
• Iman Foundation Stick – Clay 5 and Earth 2
• MAC MSF Natural – Dark
• CARGO Blu-Ray Pressed Powder – Dark

Eyes

• Cosmedicine Oil-Control Lotion
• MAC Greengreast greasepaint stick
• Purely Cosmetics Cream-to-Powder – Bronze
• MAC Golden Olive pigment
• Wild and Crazy You Rock e/s
• MAC Sassy Grass e/s
• CoverGirl LashBlastLuxe mascara
• Maybelline EyeStudio Liner – Blackest Black
• MAC Black Russian pearlglider
• Lorac Style Star trio (Gold e/s)

Cheek

• NARS Lovejoy blush

Lips

• MAC Love Venus d/g

Hey Glossies,

I hope you all have been having a great summer.  I am having a great summer and getting my energy up.

A few weeks ago,  I received my first ever Chanel quad, while the heavens did not opened and there no were choirs of angels singing in the background, my heart was filled with glee. The Chanel Enigma quad (19),  from the fall 2010 collection, is comprised of ( top – pinkish peach, a brown gray {smoky taupe}) and (bottom – gray plum and violet purple) – All with small flecks of glitter. (Not in a glitterbox kinda way!) The colors are great for fall and will allow the creation of a soft  daytime  smoky eye that can be intensified into night time smoky.

Chanel Engima Quad (Fall 2010 Collection)

The pinkish peach shadow is a bit sheer while the other shades are a tad deeper, but definitely buildable. Do not let the colors fool you, this quad is by no means drab.  The hint of glitter morphs each shadow into magical eye candy adding luxury and glamour. I definitely like this quad!!

Face

• Laura Mercier Primer
• Iman Foundation stick – clay 5
• Estee Lauder – Double Wear – Truffle
• Face Atelier translucent powder
• MAC Iridescent Powder Loose – Golden Bronze
• MAC  MSF – Dark and Medium Deep

Eyes

• Cosmedicine Oil Control Lotion
• Dirty Greasepaint Stick
• Purely Cosmetic Cream to Powder – Bronze
• Chanel Quad – Enigma
• MAC Naked Deep Dark pigment
• Tarte EmphasEYES™ Waterproof Clay Shadow / Liner – Black
• Chanel Inimitable mascara

Cheeks

• NARS Multiple Tint – Cadaqués

Lips

• MAC Double Dare Creemsheen Glass
• NYX Current lip liner

Mix Maven

Hey Glossies,

I think most of us are looking forward to Spring (especially the colors – the yellows, corals, pinks, purples and even browns [tans]).

It seems that MAC is preparing us for said season. MAC Spring Colour Forecast collection was not really on my radar until a few days prior to the official date, well except for the ombre blushes. I saw the excited tweets and status messages, so I had to go check out the other items. One of the items that I did not want was the Colour #3 quad. The swatches on Specktra were underwhelming and I decided to opt out….until I saw it in person at Nordstrom. The colors are probably dupable, but I really feel in a strong like with Bruised Plum e/s.  (Yes, it is  Veluxe Pearl!!)

My other Nordstrom purchase was the Viva Glam VII – Lady Gaga.  The color is described as a light blue pink. I like this color and I think it can be women of color (WOC) friendly.  I used a mauve-colored liner to reduce the coolness of the shade.  I think this lippie is a “should-have!”

Face

• MAC Select Cover-up – NC50
• NARS Macao Sheer Matte Foundation
• Prescriptives Custom Blend Foundation (Base #5)
• MAC MSF Natural – Dark
• Prescriptives Custom Blend Powder (Base #5)

Eyes

• Cosmedicine Medi-Matte™ Oil Control Lotion SPF 20
• MAC Paint Pot – Artifact
• MAC Colour #3 Quad (Bruised Plum, Black Tulip, and Jungle Moon)
• MAC Colour #4 Quad (Manila Paper)
• Shu Uemura Paint Liner – Night Blue
• Lizzie Pour Moi duo mascara – Black
• Urban Decay 24/7 eye liner – Zero

Lips

• NYX lip liner – Mauve
• MAC Viva Glam VII – Lady GaGa

Mix Maven

Hey Glossies,

I finally tried NARS foundation and I purchased MAC’s Love Lace e/s.  More on the foundation later.

I do not own any color that is similar to Love Lace…the color reminds me of denim (a combination of navy blue and grey). I totally love the color and the texture.  Veluxe Pearl is my favorite MAC texture and can do no wrong. Initially, I applied Love Lace with no primer and I was pleased with color payoff.  (As long as I have used MAC, I have never sampled the e/s without a primer.)

On to the foundation. I went into a popular chain store to get matched to NARS.  The MA was pleasant.  She did not  the unthinkable, she did not remove the foundation to match my skin to the appropriate shading. I gasped and took the samples and left the store.  I thought, “Who the heck matches foundation without removing foundation? What if the customer/client is wearing the wrong shade to begin with?” Sidear: I am always telling my friends that they have to be active participants in the matching process because some MAs will not do the right thing.  I went to another chain store and tested and received samples of NARS Sheer Glow Foundation and I tried Macao, New Orleans and Benares.  The latter shades are too dark for most of my face, but New Orleans [Who Dat! ] and Benares work well on the lower part of my face. Macao works well on the rest of my face.

I like the fact that NARS really understands the intricate shading of WOC, even in the descriptions. Macao is listed as Medium-dark 4-Medium-dark with deep yellow undertone, New Orleans is Medium-dark 5-Medium-dark with yellow undertone and Benares is Dark 2 – Dark with golden undertone.

I am very pleased with NARS Sheer Glow foundation, which is neither sheer nor glowy.  The coverage is good, medium buildable. Definitely feels light against skin.  When I looked at my face, I forget that I was wearing foundation…it does look quite natural.  I love it!!

Face

• MAC Select Cover-up – NC50
• NARS Macao Sheer Glow Foundation
• Prescriptives Custom Blend Foundation (Base #5)
• Clinique Blended Face powder Transparency #5
• Prescriptives Custom Blend Powder (Base #5)

Eyes

• Cosmedicine Medi-Matte™ Oil Control Lotion SPF 20
• Stila Smudge Pot – Gray
• Purely Cosmetics CTP – Slate Blue
• MAC Love Lace e/s
• L’Oreal HiP Duo – Platinum (Side:Black with flecks of silver glitter)
• Smashbox Eyelights – (Peach side)
• Shu Uemura Paint Liner – Black
• Makeup For Ever Aqua Eyes mascara
• Barry M Kohl Pencil – Black

Lips

• MAC Tender Tone – Sweet Tooth
• Revlon Matte – Cocoa Craving

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

I am really enamored with Young Punk m/es to the point that I compare everything to it.  So I noticed that the Black Violet side of NARS Brousse has tiny flecks of pinkish/purple glitter.  I thought, “Wow, this color looks like it could be Young Punk’s distant relative.”

I really got frustrated with this duo until I decided to use the Black Violet side all over the eye and used the Sable (brownish-taupe side) underneath the highlight color.

FYI, the lip color is really not that red.

Face

• Clinique Perfectly Real Liquid Foundation – 46 (N)
• Clinique Blended Face Powder – Transparency 5

Eye

• MAC Matte Gel
• MAC Groundwork P/P
• Purely Cosmetics CTP in Bronzed Brown
• NARS Brousse (both sides)
• TheBalm ShadyLady Mischievous Marissa e/s
• L’Oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner – Black
• Tarte lights, camera, lashes! mascara – Black

Cheeks

• NARS Torrid blush

Lips

• Stila Lip Glaze – Fruit cake

Mix Maven