Archive for the ‘Makeup’ Category
The Makeup Show 2012
Hey Glossies,
Please get out the calendars because The Makeup Show season is nigh!! Last year, TMS added Chicago and Berlin to beauty convention’s lineup. This year, Orlando, FL has been added! I am happy to see The Makeup Show expanding.
I have been to The Makeup Show – Los Angeles, NYC and Chicago and I have enjoyed the education, inspiration and community that the shows provide. I have learned so much and have met fellow beauty aficionados/artists, bloggers that I would not, otherwise, meet. The education and inspiration sessions are top notch. The shows not only teach the artistry side, but also teach the business side of the beauty industry and these training sessions are facilitated by top industry professionals. This is must-attend for artists who want to take their skills to a higher level.
The Makeup Show LA
Saturday, March 17, 2012 & Sunday March 18, 2012
California Market Center
The Makeup Show NYC
Sunday, May 13, 2012 & Monday, May 14, 2012
Metropolitan Pavilion
The Makeup Show Chicago
Sunday, June 17, 2012 & Monday, June 18, 2012
Venue One
The Makeup Show Europe (Berlin, Germany)
Saturday, September 22, 2012 and Sunday, September 23, 2012
STATION-BERLIN
New Show!
The Makeup Show Orlando
Sunday, November 4, 2012 and Monday, November 5, 2012
The Peabody Hotel
For more information, go to http://www.themakeupshow.com/. Click on the show you want to attend for ticket and vendor information.
I am looking forward to meeting some more great people at the shows this year and discovering new beauty products.
See you there,
Mix Maven
Jennifer James Beauty School
Jennifer James, the instructor, reminds me of the affable high school teacher that everyone loves. The teacher who is not a pushover, but knows how to impart information and have fun. The teacher who will probably have a movie made about her life. The students realize that they are being taught by one of the great ones. Ms. James is also like the favorite aunt you want to hang with, not only because she is cool, but because she has valuable life lessons to share.
I had the honor and privilege of observing one of her classes, “Fashion Make-Up for Runway & Print.” At the beginning of the class, she had the students explore their vision of beauty and storytelling in print work. The exercise allowed the students to focus on the finer details of photographic works.
The class included contouring, highlighting, lip application and brow boot camp. Each student brought in his/her own model. A couple of them are working print models. Ms. James was engaged with each student making sure that he or she was on the right track. Posing questions that challenged how the students view the application process as well as recommending tools and products to use.
I find that even the makeup artists who practice their skills everyday found the class to be challenging, yet fulfilling. I could definitely see several “A-ha” moments from each pupil and even the models took an interest in the application process. The students also shared their tricks of the trade with each other. One tip that I found very useful was, pressing down the tip of a lip pencil. The flattened tip allows for a more precise lip line.
Below is a slideshow from the class, including students’ work:
I, highly, suggest taking one of her classes, if she comes to your area. She also does Skype classes, so there will is no excuse not to take a class.
Ms. James has updated her class offerings, so please check them out and enroll today!
Mix Maven
Prom – Makeup Ideas
Hey Glossies,
Initially, when I embarked on the idea of doing my lil’ cousin’s makeup for prom, J’s aunt (my cousin) and I had a nice conversation about which colors to use. My cousin had purchased some MAC products as a starter kit for college. *What a wonderful aunty* One of the colors J received was MAC Expensive Pink. J really liked the idea of the Expensive Pink, which is a great color really, but it did not work well with her dress because of the gold undertones. In the picture, below, we tried Springsheen blush, which melts my heart every time I see it.
Her dress was a magenta pink, so I decided that Nouba 51 would be the best shade of pink rather than expensive pink, which, in my opinion, is just a fancy peach. She was tepid about wearing any kind of smoky look. But with her mom’s help (my cousin), we got her to understand the purpose of “smoking it out.” LOL
I used the Laura Geller Baked Cake Eyeliner Duo – Blueberry/ Dutch Chocolate <– Blueberry side (as a shadow) in the crease and outer v. I also used LA Girl Mark My Eyes e/l, TheBalm Mischievous Marissa (luxurious champagne gold) as the highlight (blended out to match her skintone), Covergirl LashBlast Volume mascara and NYX Barbie Pink l/g.
J is a huge fan of the pink!! *I mean HUGE!!*
So the Nouba 51 was a huge hit!! She was totally ecstatic about the Prom look we created. It is a soft, yet sassy look.
Mix Maven
Dolla Dolla Bill Y’all
Who remembers the The Wu-Tang Clan’s song, C.R.E.A.M (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)?
In the FOTD, I tried the Cinema Secrets Hollywood Lights (loose e/s) in Dolla Bill. This brand is popular among professional makeup artists who work in the theatre and/or movie/tv production . The Hollywood Lights are similar to MAC pigments and Reflects Glitters (both of which I love!) I prefer foiling the (non-glitter) Hollywood Lights as the color payoff is more intense. The cost is 7.50/USD and be easily found on the web.
All MAC Products unless stated.
Face
- NC 50 Studio Sculpt Foundation
- NW 43 Studio Sculpt Foundation
- Natural MSF in Dark
Eyes
- Matte Gel
- Pharoah P/P
- Electro Sky P/P
- Purely Cosmetics Cream To Powder Bronzed Brown
- Smut e/s
- Signed, Sealed e/s
- Cinema Secrets Dolla Bill loose e/s
- Era e/s (highlight)
- Stila Smudge Pot – Black
- Black Russian Pearlglide e/l
- Milani Black e/l
- NYX Teal e/l
- Napoleon Perdis mascara
Cheek
- Warmed MSF
- Stark Naked Blush
Lips
- Sweet Tooth T/T
- NYX Mauve l/l
- Hello Kitty Cute-ster
- Cremesheen Glass Boy Bait

My Sassy Lips need an agent.
Mix Maven
Valentine’s Day FOTD
Happy Valentine’s Day to all the lovers in the world.
Mr. Maven and I chilled out today. We hung out with friends and met some cool folks. We have decided to take out the Parents for Valentine’s Day because we love them very much and they have been quite helpful to us.
I love the Threesome mineralized trio eye shadows. The medium pink is gorgeous and pigmented. It is nothing like its recent ancestors.. so smooth.
So I decided to try the Studio Sculpted Foundation. I really like this foundation. The coverage is medium and build-able, similar to Studio Tech, but WOW oh WOW does it feel very light. At times during the day, I forgot I was wearing foundation. *Love it*
I am so in love with Blonde MSF. Initially, I decided to bypass the Blonde Brunette Redhead collection. The collection looked quite dupable and I did not want to waste money on MAC colors that I already have. So when I strolled into Macy’s, I had no intention of purchasing anything from the collection. I swatched on my hand and it was smooth. (I guess you can say that SMOOTH is the word of the day). The color was brilliant and definitely would work as an eye shadow. I am glad I bought the Blonde MSF. *Thanks Mama Maven for the Macy’s Gift Card*
All MAC Products unless stated.
Face
- NC 50 Studio Sculpt Foundation
- NW 43 Studio Sculpt Foundation
- Natural MSF in Dark
Eyes
- Matte Gel
- Benefit Lemon aid (More about this one later)
- Hip L’Oreal Crayon Unmistakable
- Purely Cosmetics Cream To Powder Bronzed Brown
- Outspoken Trio m/es
- Plum Dressing e/s
- Satellite Dreams e/s
- HiP Flare Duo (Tan Gold side)
- Phone Me side of Duo Pencil
- Urban Decay Zero 24/7 Eye Pencil
- Urban Decay Lust 24/7 Eye Pencil
- Napoleon Perdis mascara
Cheek
- Hello Kitty Tippy Blush
- Blonde MSF
Lips
- Hello Kitty Popster lip conditioner
- NYX Salsa l/g
- Hello Kitty Big Bow l/s
- Neo-Sci Fi Naked Space l/g


Belly Dance FOTD
I can be easily wooed by “free stuff” as in gift with purchase. NARS Cosmetics had a promotion right before Christmas, if customer spent $60, said customer would receive one of four NARS eyeshadow duos. Since, I was eying some blushes, I decided to pick up a few and a nail polish (the best nail polish I have ever worn). My “free” gift was Belly Dance duo (a metallic green and an aubergine matte). As many of you know, I love, love, love the green. Definitely a good purchase.
All MAC Products unless stated.
Face
- NC 50 Studio Tech Foundation
- NW 43 Studio Tech Foundation
- Natural MSF in Dark
Eyes
- Matte Gel
- Benefit Lemon aid (More about this one later)
- NARS Belly Dance Duo
- Purely Cosmetics Cream To Powder Deep Purple*
- Outspoken Trio m/es (<— very pretty purples)
- HiP Sculpted Metallic Duo (Dark side)
- Revlon Make A Sheen – Espress’o Yourself (<— 50% off at CVS)
- Barry M Liner – Black
- Napoleon Perdis mascara
Cheek
- Barbie Fab Blush
- Petticoat MSF
Lips
- NYX Salsa l/g
- To Swoon For l/s

I really like NARS metallic shadows, definitely worth the money.
Mix Maven
The Makeup Show ~ 2009
The Makeup Show is a must-attend for all industry professionals and students. The Los Angeles show will be held from March 15-16, 2009, 9:30am-5:30pm, Daily. (Sunday and Monday)
THE MAKEUP SHOW L.A.
CALIFORNIA MARKET CENTER
110 EAST NINTH STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA
Advance Tickets
1-Day: $35
2-Day: $50
At The Door Tickets
1-Day: $50
2-Day: $80
Some brands that will be featured at the event are Lancôme, P&G Beauty, Smashbox, Mario Badescu Skin Care and Kissable Couture, Shu Uemura, Billy B Beauty, Embryolisse, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Pencil Me In, Make Up For Ever, Senna Cosmetics, M.A.C. Cosmetics, Three Custom Color, Linda Mason Elements, and Alison Raffaele Cosmetics.
The keynote speaker will be Billy B, Makeup Artist Extraordinaire. He will be speaking on A Career in Makeup.
The show will also include workshops, seminars, individual hands-on workshops, business forums (touching upon beauty techniques and applications, skin tones and makeup products, tools of the trade and the business of the beauty industry), and product demonstrations.
The Makeup Show LA is proud to announce it’s palette of beauty authorities from today’s top celebrity makeup artists:
Billy B, Ve Neill, Scott Barnes, Napoleon Perdis, Maurice Stein, Ronnie Specter, Marvin Westmore, Crystal Wright, Joe Blasco, Robin Siegel, Elke Von Freudenberg, Sharon Gault, Eve Pearl, James Vincent, Orlando Santiago, Michael DeVellis, Jon Hennessey, AJ Crimson, Kevin James Bennett, Johnny Lavoy, Patty and Farah Bunch.
For more information about the Makeup Show LA 2009, check out the General FAQs and Travel Info.
I will be attending this event, so I do hope to see you there.
Mix Maven
Cherry Culture Valentine’s Sale

Discount Code VD20
Cherry Culture is having a 20% off (on any order) sale for Valentine’s. The sale is going on now until January 31, 2009. So stock up on your fave beauty brands, including NYX Cosmetics, LA Colors, Kleancolor.
Happy Haulin,
Mix Maven
Smashbox : Beauty Blowout Sale

Smashbox is having a Beauty Blowout Sale in the Curtain Call section. Discounts range from 25-50% off. Free shipping and samples with every order.
Happy Haulin,
Mix Maven
La Femme Chiquita
Seymone, make-up artist extraordinaire, told me about La Femme products a few months back. At the time, I was looking to purchase some blushes. She told me the quality and prices were good. La Femme is a discount cosmetic brand that is quite popular among Professional MUs. Seymone pointed me to MakeupMania.com.
I ordered a few e/s pans ($3), a couple blush pans ($3) and some sparkle dusts, which are similar to MAC pigments and Ben Nye’s Lumiere Luxe Powders. The sparkle dust’s color payoff sans base is intense. A jar (no sifter) contains 4.5g.
Ordering from MakeupMania.com was a delight. There was a slight problem with the order and when I called to make changes, the customer service rep answered on the first ring. She quickly made the changes and the remaining order was shipped.
Here are swatches of La Femme’s Sparkle Dust I found on YouTube, which contributed to my purchase.
All MAC Products unless stated.
Face
- NC 50 Studio Tech Foundation
- Natural MSF in Dark
Eyes
- Matte Gel
- Benefit Lemon aid
- Greenstroke p/p
- LaFemme Khaki pressed e/s
- Purely Cosmetics Cream To Powder Bronzed Brown
- Embark e/s
- Neo-sci Fi Magnetic Fields e/s
- Eyeko Honey e/s (from the Makeout Girl Manga Book)
- Soba e/s
- Milani Color Brilliance Eye Pencil – Black
- Napoleon Perdis mascara
Cheek
- Warmed MSF
Lips
- NYX Tea Rose l/g
- Pink Manish l/g

















