Make-Up Monday: I'm Lovin' Votre Vu - French/American Cosmetics

Image taken with my Olympus PEN E-PL3 cameraFor the past few weeks, I've had the opportunity to play around with all kinds of goodies from Votre Vu: botanically infused, French handcrafted cosmetics. 

Currently, I'm loving everything about these products. They appeal my marketing sense with the catchy names such as eyebrow color called "Arch de Triumphe," and their "Eiffel Power" lengthening mascara. I'm also loving the colors; I've been rocking an Aubergine eye liner that really stays put and doesn't smudge, and a FAB "Love Me Deux" tinted moisturizer that adds hydration with a little coverage and concealer IN THE TIP OF the TUBE. Hello GENIUS!

Taken with my Olympus PEN E-PL3 camera

I was wondering how these products missed my radar, but after a little research I realized that here in the US it's available only online or through local Votre Vu representative. I highly reccommend searching them out!

Happy Shopping!

Make-Up Bag MUSTS: May 2012

Summer is almost here and it's time to change up your beauty products for the warmer months. Here are three new (at least to me!) products I've recently discovered that are currently rocking my world.

#1: Redken Powder Grip: The lovely stylist at Detour Salon used this on my hair recently and I fell head over heels in LOVE. We all know that hair looks and styles better with a little grime in it.. but if you have fine, blonde hair, day old hair looks... well.. day old gross. This power gives a little volume and grip to the hair with a matte powder - so it can't look greasy even if it tried. I use it right on the top of my head for a little volume and oomph. 

#2: YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis a Levres Glossy/Stain: This is literally a lip gloss/stain hybrid. Its super long lasting and even after the gloss is gone, my lips stay a subtle reddish/pinkish hue. I got color #10, but I recommend hitting Sephora to try them on.

#3: Jillian Dempsey Avon Eye Shadow: This product is pure genius. I'm pretty good with make-up, but putting the shadows in a case that shows you exactly where to apply is pretty fool-proof. Plus? I love having the colors that I know all go together to make a perfect eye. And it's nice that they all come together - so you are not buying a whole pot of eye-shadow for one little spot on your eye. This shadow set is currently on sale for $5, so I say buy it NOW.

Happy Shopping!

*disclosure: Avon sent me a complimentary sampling of some of their products, including the Jillian Dempsey eye shadow. Opinions are my own. Other products were purchased.

Sephora: Wow Me. Please. I beg you.

I feel like over the past few weeks I've expired. I was feeling good, feeling like I looked decent, then something went seriously wrong. It was like I had an expiration date; I woke up one morning 10 lbs heavier, 10x wrinklier and with 10 inch roots. I've been going back and taking stock on what was different and wanting to blame something other than my newly renewed love for all things bacon, but instead decided that I just needed new face make-up. Any excuse for a trip to Sephora.

I love Sephora. For awhile I tossed around the idea of a "SephoraWhora" blog dedicated to all things make-up and products, but nixed the idea for fear that the only thing I would have left to talk about on this blog would be my kids. In my head, Sephora is this wonderful garden of eden, where one can always have full lips, rosy cheeks and perfect skin. And they also have a pretty amazing return policy.

Unbeknownst to me and my overflowing make-up drawer until recently, you can return that lipstick that you bought that you wore twice before realizing it make you look like more like a $2 hooker than a Victoria Secret model. Which was great because I had purchased a rather pricey foundation just a few weeks ago. After seeing a few pictures which made me look like I had my own personal oil spill spreading across my forehead, I realized this particular product just wasn't the one for me. At the counter, the sales person happily exchanged it for me and pointed me in the direction of someone who could help me chose one with a little bit more of the matte finish I needed.

But could they really help me?

Recently I've come to the realization that Sephora isn't doing enough to train their sales consultants properly. They have this wonderful magical store filled with color, sparkles and the hope of ageless, timeless beauty. And they have me, 30-something-year-old mom trying to stop their child from drawing on the walls with lipstick samples, the glimmer in my eye of lost youth and the desperate NEED to try and feel cool and hip. One would think they'd look at me and see a walking commission check. That the ability to up-sell me rests completely in the uttering of phrases such as "hottest at the moment" or "can't keep this in stock."

This particular salesperson showed me the matte finish make-up I was inquiring about, tested the color on my cheek and was about to just send me on my way when I posed the question: "What's the hottest thing I need to have right now?" To which, I get in response a look look of confusion as the sales clerk desperately looked around the store while asking "Well, what do you need?"

NEED?! I don't NEED anything from this place! Sephora is about want and possibility. NEED is the Target cosmetics section for plastic hair bands and eye make-up remover. When I walk into a store and I ask them to tell me what to buy that will trick me into thinking that I look 10 years younger, they should sit me down, hand me a mimosa and put on a freaking Broadway-esque performance of products.

Had this situation only happened once, I would blame on the sales person having an off-day. But this happens almost every time, in any store I go to. Which is why tomorrow I have to go back and again return the foundation that this time ended up being about two-shades too light for my skin tone. 

Sigh. 

Make-Up, Make-Up, Make-Up: NuboNau

Last week a few of us blogger types were invited by the lovely ladies of NubuNau for a professional make-up tutorial celebration the launch of their new line, nvey eco. Now, being that there are few things in life that make me happier than getting my make-up done (well, okay...that may be a slight exaggeration), I jumped at the chance. The bonus? This cool little store is is up the street from me in the Carlsbad Forum Shops - a little mall that I just so happen to be Foursquare mayor of. Yeah, those are some bragging rights.

NuboNau (pronounced new-bo-now) is an adorable all natural make-up and skin care boutique that only carries organic and natural beauty products. While I'm at the Forum Shops a few times a week, I've actually only been in this little store a few times. I blame the kids and the store's make-up and white counter tops for this...because if I had ever spent real time in this store before I would probably have a lot less money. It's one of those places that just smells relaxing. Maybe it's because I was out on a weekday without a shrieking 2 year old, but I walked in and immediately felt less tense. Hazel Walker, the owner, is the sweetest and we were soon chatting away about all the goodies she has in her store. 

While the store has always carried organic make-up by Dr. Hauschka and La Bella Donna, they are really excited to be carrying this new line, nvey eco, because unlike the other organic make-ups, this collection offers a variety of bright and fashionable pigments like one would find at a department store counter. One-by-one we all got the chance to address our make-up concerns with Sarah Chenot and get her tips to address them.

My concern, or desire, is to look even-toned and together without looking or feeling like I'm wearing tons of make-up. For me, she recommended a light-weight foundation with a quick powder. While "even-toned" to me says you can not see one freckle or spot on my face, Sarah disagreed. She believes that while you don't want that to be the first or only thing people see, you want to be able to see these things or else you look too fake. You want your skin to look smooth and clear with highlights and definition; this is what a woman is supposed to look like. She suggested dotting on concealer before I apply my foundation to even things out, but not to try and erase parts of my face. And while she used a foundation brush during application, she did note that one can cut about 5 minutes off of their make-up routine by using their {clean} fingers. 

If you are thinking about moving to natural cosmetics or even if you are just in the area, you should stop by this great store. The ladies in there are all super helpful and can offer a million suggestions for your skincare routine. Happy Shoppping!

Coral me happy

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend 20 minutes, sans kids, at the Laura Mercier counter. I was just passing by when the lip color of one of the make-up artists working at the counter caught my eye and literally made me stop and turn back. It was this wonderful bright spring time shade and I HAD TO HAVE IT.

Of course, I'm good with just walking away with one item... especially since it's SPRING and time for color and sun and little change up to the old make-up routine. I have to say that make-up wise, I'm normally nutural girl. Raised in a time where blue eyeshadow was reserved for the likes of Donna Mills, it was ponded into my head that bright color was tacky and its best to stick with muted shades. And while I'm a product WHORE, I don't really stray too far from browns, bronzes and pinks. But this coral color really grabbed me. And when she paired it with a coral blush, all I could think was that I look like my grandma's make-up drawer... but I didn't... I looked.. fresh! And when she paired it with a turquoise/black eyeliner, I felt so spring time chic!

I've been wearing these colors now for a few weeks, and while I CAN NOT find the lipgloss "BonBon" the woman encouraged me to pair with the lipstick in stock apparently anywhere in Southern CA., I've been pairing it with a basic golden lipgloss. It takes the SHOCK of color out of it - leaving it more glistening.

If you are looking for an update to your look for the spring/summer, I highly recommend hitting up the Laura Mercier counter.