Archive for the ‘Skin Care’ Category

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.

I know today is the dreaded tax day and some will have to send a check to our favorite uncle, Sam, but Origins has a sweet deal for you. Origins is offering a free cleanser with any online order for today only.  You can choose from Checks & Balances, Mint Wash, Never A Dull Moment,  Mega-Mushroom Face Cleanser or Pure Cream.  Also offers over $50 through receive free shipping!

Do not spend your refund check in one place!

Enjoy,

Mix Maven

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

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

I have been totally excited about the Sephora’s Friends and Family 20% off event starting November 6th to November 10th.  The online discount code is FF2008.

Well, I was checking my updated Blackberry Curve, (thanks Brit) and I was too happy to see an e-mail about Beauty.com’s Friends and Family 20% off Sale.   My only beef with this sale is that it excludes NARS. You need the link <— to get the 20% off.  The sale starts @ 12:01 AM, November 5th to 11:59 PM, November 7th. (No time zone was specified)  Remember that every purchase earns a 5% cash back.

Happy haulin’,

Mix Maven

When it comes to beauty finds, Canada is quite egalatarian.  You can find Clinique at Sears; Smashbox, Elizabeth Arden, and Cover FX at Shoppper’s Drug Mart (SDM), which is comparable to CVS or Walgreen’s.  These brands are found in major department stores here in the United States.

Last year, I was looking to purchase a kabuki brush.  Since we were in Canada, I decided to check out Shopper’s Drug Mart.  I was hoping to get a Quo brush, a SDM brand.

I read mostly positive reviews of their brushes on Specktra.net.  I walked over to the Quo brushes and I was not pleased with the selection.  There must have been a sale or something because many of the brushes were sold out.  I found a suitable brush called Cover FX after further search, which I never heard of before.  The bristles were soft and it came with a neat little pleather travel bag.   When we got back to the hotel, I checked the brand. In the U.S., Cover FX is sold at Sephora and Nordstrom.

If I saw this brush at either store, I would not have purchased it… would have purchased a MAC kabuki instead, which I was trying not to do at the time (and still not done.)  Regardless of that, I love my Cover FX kabuki. One of the few brushes that I use on a regular basis because I have other brushes that I can rotate.

Whenever you are in Canada, check out Shopper’s Drug Mart.  They tend to be pretty easy to find like drugstores here (you can always check SDM’s website.)  You may be surprised with SDM’s beauty finds.

Mix Maven

My home girl, Yummy411 , aka President of “The Pretty Committee”, called me out for being a Cherry Culture fanatic. I want to blame her because she exposed me to Specktra, where I learned about Cherry Culture. LOL!

One of my new favorite nail polish brands is LA Colors.  The bottles are shaped like OPI polishes at fraction of the cost ($2!!!) and less toxins. I found this product on my foray at the Cherry Culture website.  The LA Colors lacquer, Vibrant Violet,  was apart of my first purchase on Cherry Culture.  I was totally pleased with the brilliance of the color and purchased other colors from Cherry Culture. One of the Specktrettes (a Specktra.net member) discussed buying LA Colors products at her local dollar store.  I decided to head a Dollar Tree and I noticed that this store carried a few LA Colors products that I have seen on Cherry Culture’s website. (Unfortunately, no LA Colors nail polish…

Here is what I got:

LA Colors Shimmering Loose Eye Shadow – This product is similar to MAC pigments, which I love, but I find them to be somewhat chunkier than most pigments.  I am glad I only paid $1 and not the $3 listed on Cherry Culture.  The brush applicator is not favorable and I will find away to open the container (without too much fallout) to put in another container.  If you are starting out on the makeup scene, definitely check these loose shadows out, which is why I gave them to my cousin J to play with.  (Always remember to use a base when applying any type of eye shadow!)

LA Colors AutoLiner, Mascara and Liquid EyeLiner

I have not used these products yet, but I have heard rave reviews about the mascara and autoliner. These products range between $2.50 and $3.00 on Cherry Culture.  The liquid eyeliners are, somewhat, issued, because some may be opened and have a bit of dried liner liquid on the product (see photo) Hey, only $1!

My Cherry Culture Haul from the recent 20% off sale:

NYX Brushes

I like NYX brushes.  You know I still love my MAC brushes, (especially the black-bristled brushes).  As one of my friends says, “What’s better than money? More money!” I have the same feeling about brushes.  One cannot have enough makeup brushes. I have other NYX brushes and I use them alongside my MAC brushes.

I ordered: NYX Professional Blush Brush (I will use for foundation blending), NYX  Professional Eye Primer brush (similar to MAC 252) and a NYX Professional shading brush.

I also picked up one of my favorite low-cost eye shadow brands, Wild & Crazy.  This time I got “Favorite Pink” which is a dupe of MAC’s Da Bling eye shadow.  The texture is great and is blendable.  For the most part, I have enjoyed the Wild & Crazy eye shadows that I have, except for a matte.

I decided to try NYX’s nail polish in Barbie Pink. The pink is vivid and pretty. I cannot wait for my next manicure appointment. (which is very soon)

I also wanted to try the LA Colors metallic palettes. The palette is called “Serenade” a series of pink shades.  The shadows are pigmented, but the palette is smaller than I thought it was going to be.  I swatched a few of the shadows on my hand, so I think they will be fine.  For the $4 price, I am pleased, though, chances are I will not stock up on the other LA Colors metallic palettes.

Overall, I am pleased with my haulage. MAC has some good stuff coming out almost every month of 2008, so I am definitely bracing for that.  Happy Haulin’ to you!!

Mix Maven

FYI, I am not a photograher…. ok

One of my favorite online cosmetics retailers is having a sale from June 10 – June 20, 2008, Cherry Culture. Customers purchasing $50 or more will receive 20% off by using Coupon Code: SUM20. Remember that shipping is always free for orders $40 or more. Have fun hauling!!

~Mix Maven~

I do not mind cool weather, I just do not like cold weather. I swear that this winter has been the coldest on record. (probably not) I am totally looking forward to Spring.  Spring time is pedicure season, which means SANDALS & PEEP TOE PUMPS!!!

Christian Louboutin always keeps his shoes interesting. I am curious who was the inspiration for this shoe: a silver lace-up slingback. I do not think I would wear this shoe, but I am sure there are plenty of ladies out there that would.

I love green in most shades. These Nine West special occasion slingback in a medium green satin is adorable. The heel is 4.5 inches, therefore you must have beaucoup de confidence! I know Joyful Radiance will love this shoe.

Nine West also has a delightful leather kitten-heeled slingback in mid-tone green. I would pair this shoe with a classic sheath dress.

I want to give an honorable mention to Marc by Marc Jacobs Purple suede peep-toe pumps with silver stones. My friend, Renita, loves purple and would want these shoes badly. I love the classic yet chic look.

I love the shimmer and shine of it all. My favorite of the season:

Stuart Weitzman Luxury Evening Sandal. I have a couple weddings to attend this summer and you might see me rocking these captivating sandals. I do not think these shoes are made for walking, so you may not see me wearing them on the dance floor.

Are you all looking forward to Spring?

Check out Paolo Nutini’s song “New Shoes”

Mix Maven

As many of you know that Mix Maven loves her MAC products, especially the new paint pots and the mineralized skinfinishes. (This product is a must have!!!)

The uber-trendy brand has been rolling out new limited editions faster than young Hollywood go to rehab.

Specktra and my homegirl Yummy411 turned me on to NYX Cosmetics. A cheaper, yet quality cosmetic brand. I was impressed with a photo of fellow Specktrette’s haul. She got tons of the NYX Ultra Pearl Mania, which is similar to MAC pigments (loose color powder), among other NYX lip products.

I hightailed myself to CherryCulture.com to check out the prices. (Sidebar: After I purchased online, I realized that I can purchase NYX Cosmetics at my local Ulta store.) I was impressed by the prices and I bought a couple of pearl mania loose powders in purple and black. I was totally impressed with the pigmentation.

I also purchased a couple of the eye brushes. The brushes range from $4.99 to $18.99 a fraction of top high-end brands. I was too pleased with the quality and softness of the bristles. If you cannot or do not want to spend tons of dough buying MAC or NARS beauty tools, get NYX brushes, including a professional line, you will not be disappointed.

The next item purchased was the NYX (Felt) Pen Eye Liner. If I can use this pen liner, anyone can. The line looks quite impressive, so if you know how to do a well-done eye line, you will want to have multiple pens. The pens are available in 3 colors, Jet Black (I have), Dark Brown (On order) and Extreme Black. If you love the Amy Winehouse winged eye liner, use NYX (Felt) Pen Eye Liner to achieve this look.

Overall, NYX Cosmetics is a great brand. I am not saying that you should walk away from MAC, NARS, Urban Decay or other related, but know that if you have limited funds, NYX Cosmetics is a great and quality alternative. Check out a few swatches of NYX eye shadow on Yummy411.

Enjoy Maroon 5’s ‘Won’t Go Home Without You’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6voJ1sgY_0]

Mix Maven