Neiman Marcus – THE BEAUTY EVENT Online now, in stores starting February 25. Take home an überchic denim bag, plus glamorous goodies* for all ages, with your cosmetics or fragrance purchase of $100 or more.

Goodies include:
• Clé de Peau Beauté Le Coton
• Le Métier de Beauté Vierge Anti-Aging Complex Tinted, Treatment Fluid Moisturizer, 2 mL
• Chantecaille Stress Repair Concentrate Eye Cream, .10 oz.
• Sisley-Paris Sisleya Global Anti-Age Cream, 4 mL
• Atelier Cologne Absolue, Orange Sanguine, 1.7 mL
• Van Cleef & Arpels Oriens Eau de Parfum, 2 mL or .06 oz.
• Glowelle Beauty Beauty Drink Mix Packet
• NM Exclusive Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum, 1.2 mL
• Dior Beauty Invitation for a L’Or de Vie offer
• La Mer Invitation for The Regenerating Serum gift

In stores February 25-March 7. Available online through March 8. Online offer expires 3/09/10 at 8:00 AM CT.

Happy Haulin’

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 have been eying Too Faced Beauty Mark for awhile. The duo is part “Black Foil” and “Gilded Rose”.  The “rose” side is a soft neutral color that could work well for day and night and is  similar to MAC’s Expensive Pink.  The color payoff is less gold on me than Expensive Pink.*I just love it*

Too Faced Beauty Mark Duo

I do not recall all the products that I used
other than Too Faced Beauty Mark.

So I have decided that, once and for all, I am giving the Pink e/s a rest (as in acquiring more).  For some reason, most brands, Too Faced and Nouba are the exceptions,  have healthy fall out.  Is there an ingredient in the color that does not agree with my skin…probably.

Anyhoo, if you are a WOC and like Pink e/s, I find the best bases for them are:

1. Benefit Pre-nup creaseless eye shadow – A metallic rose
2. MAC Nice Vice (from the Fafi collection) – A reddish purple.  (Hard to find, so check your local CCOs)
3. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil Hot Pink
4. HiP L’Oreal Color Rich Cream Crayon in Unmistakable (A deep pink)

Stay Pretty,

Mix Maven

I have been totally obsessed with obtaining Pink eye shadow (e/s) for the last few months.  In the past, I have poo-pooed the thought of any WOC (women of color) using pink eye shadow on the lid because I felt like it did not work.

You are probably thinking “when did this change of heart occur with Pink e/s?” The Heatherette for MAC! The Heatherette Trio 2 included a light pink, a grape purple and midtone pink.  I got the Trio #1 instead because I love any shade of teal. But then, I noticed many Heatherette Trio #2 WOC FOTDs on Specktra.

During the early part of the summer, I realized  that I needed to have the Heatherette trio #2 in my collection.  I searched high and low for the Trio, but I could not find it, so I was on the hunt for mid-tone pinks.

To date I have:

• Urban Decay Hot Pants – Smooth and wonderful.
• MAC Sunset B – The right shade, lustre-like (which is not good), but definitely works with some paint pots and NYX jumbo eye pencils
• NYX Dolly Pink - too much fall out, seems to work well with NYX jumbo eye pencils
• Pink Too Faced Shadows – Wonderful and smooth, the color payoff is strong.  Definite must haves! Check out Swatch Gallery for images.
• Nouba single e/s 51 - Bright Pink shadow is a must have. The texture is smooth and the color payoff is strong as well.  (Sidebar: I have a few of the Nouba products, an Italian cosmetics brand, and I really like the stuff I have.  The price is comparable to MAC, but I have found a website that offers discount prices on the brand)
• Bourjois Shimmering Shine Eye Shadow in Rose Electron - I have only swatched it on my hand and the liquid eye shadow is quite brilliant and I cannot wait to wear it
• Korres Pink e/s – Looks like a soft silvery pink on me.
• Pop Eye Cakes in Bright Pink – The texture and color payoff are fine, but I think with a good eye shadow base, the pinks will sing.

(All products are MAC unless stated)

Face

• MSF Dark
• NYX Concealer in Nutmeg

Eyes

• Matte Gel
• L’Oreal De-Crease Base
• Nice Vice Paint Pot
• L’Oreal Cream Rich Crayon Adventurous
• Nouba Single e/s  51 (Bright Pink) on lid
• Korres Pink e/s (inner corner)
• Nouba Single e/s 24 (Midnight Charcoal) in crease
• Black Ore Solar Bits (in crease)
• Tan side from the L’Oreal Hip Duo Adventurous (highlighter)
• L’Oreal Naturale Mascara in Black
• Too Faced Foiled Liner – Black Beauty

Cheeks

Warmed MSF

Lips

• Sweet Tooth T/T
• Cyber l/s
• NYX Narcissus l/s

You still have time to support the Total Beauty – Total Cure Breast Cancer Awareness campaign.

Hey MAC Lovers,

Did you get any or all of the DressCamp collection? To be honest, I am totally surprised at how quickly this collection sold out. I did get a chance to order the Face Palette because I am totally in love with the design of the packaging.

Since the collection will be in a couple of American stores (I believe 1 store in San Francisco and 1 store in NY Soho), will you order from the stores or pray that MAC online will restock as soon as possible? I read that some items have been seen on eBay for double and triple the original price.

Well, if you were fortunate enough to get something from DressCamp, have fun!

Mix Maven