Power to the Petal

Happy May Day!! May is my favorite month and not just because it's the one I was born in but really because everything comes to life! Gone is the crappy weather and in rush the new flowers and vibrant colors of Spring. Are you ready for all this delicious change? I am cause I've got the new Sugar Petal Tinted Lip Treatment from Fresh and it's a beauty!

Fresh Sugar Petal Tinted Lip Treatment

Ordinarily, I would never go for something this shade as I like nude, deep lip tones rather than something soft and feminine. However, whilst perusing around Sephora a few weeks back, I noticed this new shade had been added to their already impressive lineup. There was no way that this mauvey pink could look good on me. I already own almost every shade as these truly are universally flattering but at some point, there has to be one that just doen't work, right? Wrong! Its a warm but subtle pink - not really bright or striking but still gives that great balance of tint and treatment that Fresh is known for.

Pretty Petal Pink

All of the Sugar Tinted Lip Treatments have SPF 15 along with a blend of various oils like jojoba, oli, and avocado. They really do contain sugar which is a natural humectant that stops moisture from leaving the lips. I love them ALL - I just can't get enough! A quick swipe puts a spring in my step which is quite appropriate, given the season.

Make Up For Ever + Pantone Color of the Year = LOVE

I have huge - scratch that - MASSIVE love and respect for Make Up For Ever ever since I was first introduced to the brand over a year ago. What started as an idyll fascination has developed into an active, working relationship based on learning and developing skills that no other make up brand has taken the time to teach. How does that old saying go - something about teaching a man to fish instead of just giving him one and sending him on his merry way? Well, though different programs like one-on-one Make Up School and weekly Make Up Mastery Courses, MUFE has put education first, ensuring a loyal customer base that includes make up artists and beauty enthusiasts alike.

Last night at the "With Flying Colors" Event at the Robertson Blvd boutique in L.A., the focus was obviously on color and how to incorporate it into your makeup repertoire. What a great excuse to play with my favorite shades including, by some celestial coincidence, Pantone's Color of the Year: Emerald. I could not have planned this better as it was an ideal pairing of the new Technicolor Palette and Aqua Shadow 8E to create a look that is 100% me!

Eyes by Make Up For Ever
Products used: Technicolor Palette and Aqua Shadow in 8E

The lovely duo: Technicolor Palette and Aqua Shadow in 8E

 What is so unique about the palette is that it combines neutrals with brights, ensuring experimentation and wearability. To achieve this look, almost every color was used, starting with the white in the inner corner, all over the lid (white under a color makes it POP) and to highlight the brow bone. Then the lighter champagne color was swept all over the lid and the darker brown concentrated in the crease. A touch of the black added depth when placed in the outer corner. (For an everyday smokey eye, I could have stopped here but where's the fun in that?!) Next came the color in the form of that light green. With color this bright, it is very important to place the color by patting it on the eye, not swiping or blending. You'll be much more color payoff and won't diffuse the color all over the place. The green is placed in the middle of the lid, where it will have the most impact. The yellow is added to the inner corner and blended in towards the green so that it comes off golden. The blue was added on the outer lash line before adding the green Aqua Shadow pencil in a diagonal shape towards the middle of the eye. This sounds like a lot but the whole thing took less than 5 min including mascara (blue makes eyeballs look whiter!) and brows (Aqua Brow is da bomb!!) The result is totally wearable, emerald green smokey eye that begs to be taken out for a night on the town.

Color is EVERYWHERE this spring so don't be afraid to play and have fun! I, for one, can't wait to try some other looks even though this combo might be a hard one to top.

Review: Make Up For Ever

I'll admit that I have been wanting to try this brand for a while but let's face it, walking into Sephora one gets a little distracted. Thank goodness I live in LA where there is a freestanding boutique in Beverly Hills that gives the brand the home base it deserves. Last week, I took a class and learned soooo much from their incredible team that I literally drove right home to make this video.

Basically, their HD makeup looks phenomenal on camera and I cannot tell you how light it feels. It's really something you have to experience for yourself. I am hooked and cannot wait for my next pro class!! Here are the products I picked up:

HD Microperfecting Primer in 4,
HD Invisible Cover Foundation in 153,
& HD Concealer in 340

Eyeshadows: 131 (mauve), 4 (black), and 28 (brown)

 Ready for a Close-up?

I am looking forward to exploring more of Make Up For Ever as a brand. Their dedication to new technology really stands out and makes sense for this ever changing industry. Hope to have some more goodies to review soon!

Ta Ta For Now,
the mixx chic

Let's Get Naked!

The New One

The Classic

Urban Decay's

Naked (right)

vs.

Naked 2

Much like the palettes themselves, the wordplay possibilities are endless so forgive me for indulging a bit with my title. I am VERY excited to finally be reviewing these beautiful palettes in their entirety. I have been playing with the colors a lot as of late and hopefully this post and subsequent video will help express just how wonderful I think they are.

Urban Decay Naked2 Palette

Naked2 is the cooler, sultrier sister to the first palette with twelve pigmented eye shadows and a fabulous, cruelty-free, dual ended brush. There are 5 palette exclusive shades and one duplicate from the first palette, Half Baked, which is OK by me because I love it! The palette also comes with a sample of Lip Junkie in, what else, "Naked."

 Swatches 

Starting from left, here are the shades included with palette exclusive shades in italics and matte shades in parentheses: Foxy (m), Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease (m), Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, and Blackout (m).

Urban Decay Naked Palette

The original Naked palette is a bit warmer in tone and comes with a sample of Primer Potion. Don't be deceived by its age, as this palette still packs a powerful punch. Similarities are bound to be drawn and I think that whether or not you by one or the other is entirely up to you. I enjoy them both and believe that the versatility is equally great in each.

Swatches

Starting from left, here are the shades included with palette exclusive shades in italics and matte shades in parentheses: Virgin, Sin, Naked (m), Side Car, Buck (m), Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal.

Overall, I love both of these palettes and think everyone should consider adding at least one to their makeup repertoire. Again, the choice is ultimately up to you but be sure to check out the video review below!

Review: Shop MAC/Cook MAC 2012

Hello my darlings!! I'm very excited because MAC's Spring collection has come out strong with a powerful pop of color. I was immediately in love with everything but I also wanted something new - something I didn't have...

My picks from the FABULOUS new MAC collections: Cook MAC (left) and Shop MAC (right)!!

Kissable Lipcolour (l) and Tendertone Lip Balm (r)

From Cook MAC: Tendertone Lip Balm  in "Hush, Hush"

From Shop MAC: Kissable Lipcolour  in "Scan-delicious"

"Hush, Hush" (l) and "Scan-delicious" (r)

From the Shop MAC collection there is the Kissable Lipcolour which I show in "Scan-delicious". It's a lipstick/lip gloss hybrid and is super pigmented. I'm not entirely sure about the "kissable" part but my lips are loving how this feels ;-)

Then, from the Cook MAC Collection, there is the Tendertone Lip Balm - a lip balm/lip gloss hybrid in "Hush, Hush". It has SPF 12 and tastes like Lip Smackers!! I love it for everyday because it's the perfect, gloss nude with added sun protection.

In all, I'm loving these new limited edition lip products. They are great additions to any MAC collection but if I were you, I'd get them before they're gone!! There are several more shades to choose from so be sure to check out a store near you.

till next time,
The Mixx Chic