Beauty from the inside

This time of year is the beginning of a very busy season for another hobby/ activity I love. Even more than makeup! I'm talking Drum Corps. Drum Corps is music's Major League. Students from all around the world ages14-22 pay a lot of money to march with their favorite Corps each year. My tuition when I first joined Drum Corps in 1998 was $475. That very same Corps today costs $2600!!

Tron Makeup look ~ Gem

Hey all! So this is what happens when you ask your husband who is a gamer geek what kind of Halloween makeup look he would like to see.

You get Gem From Tron!

(Image above is altered)

This is a super easy Halloween look for Gem from Tron.

First I started off with a face moisturizer, mattefying primer, and Urban Decay's eyeshadow primer potion all over the face. For the skin color I applied the lightest color liquid foundation I have which is an ivory color, then pat on a matte white eyeshadow to set it and give my face the palest look possible without having to use white Halloween face paint.

I moved onto using Duo lash glue and a flat brush to conceal my eyebrows. (Most of the time people use glue sticks but I couldn't find one at my house.) I let it dry and concealed with liquid foundation and matte white eyeshadow. I then took an Anastasia eyebrow guide and made new eyebrows a bit higher and less of an arch then mine with MAC's Furiously Fabulous eyeshadow.

I lined and filled in my eyes with Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero (black) and set it with Urban Decay's Blackout (matte black) eyeshadow from their 15th anniversary pallet. I used MAC's Superslick liquid liner in Fabulously feline (gloss black) to really define the black liner around my eyes. For a highlighter under the eyebrows I used NYX Jumbo Pencil in Cottage Cheese and set it with ELF's mineral eyeshadow in Angelic (silvery white.) I put on some fake eyelashes from Ardel's Halloween line and played up the blackest black mascara I could find by layering it on my eyelashes.

I contoured my face, cheek bones, and nose with ACE (a gun metal grey) from Urban Decay's 15th anniversary pallet. I then highlighted down my nose, chin forehead, and cheeks with Pink Opal Pigment by MAC.

For my lips I used Fabby lipstick (pale pink with gold shimmer) by MAC and put Jane Iredale PureGloss in soft peach. I dabbed a little bit of the Pink opal Pigment on the top and bottom of my lips to try and make them look fuller. ( I said try, not actually achieve haha)

 

Now with a little bit of the right lighting ( LED mini flashlight) I was set! This is a super easy look to do with a little smoke and highlights I hope you all enjoy the look.

<3's from your America Cutie Beauty ~ Jamie

Lady Sylvana ~ WoW

Lady Sylvana

For all you WOW lovers out there. I am working on creature looks. If you would like to see me recreate a character let me know I will will try. This is my second attempt on the Lady Sylvana look from World of Warcraft. I used acrylic paints this time and it was MUCH harder than the regular makeup. But here are a couple of pictures. I hope to perfect it one more time and with less blue skin and with regular make up. The regular makeup look turned out Sooo much better.

If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them.

I hope you like the look and appreciate all the input you can give.

Your American Cutie, Jamie

MAC Acrylic Face and Body Paints

MAC Acrylic Face and Body Paint
$20.00 us 0.6 fl oz.

Colors: Process Magenta, Genuine Orange, Primary Yellow, Landscape Green, Hi-Def Cyan, Marine Ultra, Rich Purple, Black Black, Pure White.


Scary Acrylic Paint.... It's that what you put on model cars? I thought to myself. Do I need to use acetone to scrape this stuff off my skin?... Ha ha

These paints are AMAZING! I have never used Acrylic Paints, or even the cake makeup MAC puts out, and they do have quite a few different types of body paints, but these Acrylic Paints are everything I wanted and more. I have used Wet' n Wild face and body paint here and what I have concluded about Wet' n Wild's face and body paint is that it spreads easily with no mixing medium while using a sponge or brush. It's inexpensive and easy to get your hands on during Halloween time. The product was easy to get to an opaque finish but it was hard to get it to spread evenly without looking blotchy. The paint ultimately moves and doesn't set without a powder, and it gets all over the place... clothes, teeth, where you didn't want it... ha ha For a inexpensive Halloween look these will do just fine, but I am looking at the bigger picture.

MAC's products include the Chromacakes, Grease Sticks, Paint Pots, Air Brush Paints, and Acrylic Paints. (If there is more that I have missed I am sorry.) They all have their own unique properties. I do not own these so I am going off my sampling of the products and info the MAC consultant gave me in the Pro store, not based on actual work application.

I first tried out the Chromacake. Chromacake needs to be mixed with a mixing medium to get them to spread evenly and well frankly budge at all. They yield great pigmentation payoff with a little bit of product and you can sheer it out or make it opaque with more layers. The benefits I see with the Chromacakes is that you get a lot of product and are able to control the opaqueness. The down side is that they are very dry after setting. You do not have to set with powder to get them to stay but the more layers you apply the more chance of it cracking or flaking.

So let's move on to the Paint pots. Very versatile from all over color to eyeliner these are a solid creamy texture and are pigmented. I still would use a mixing medium to get this to spread evenly not to mention that there is very little in the pot comparatively to the Chromacakes. The Paint Pots are much better for doing intricate detailed work. They seem like they would flake after a couple hours of wear but would have a good life span before that happened. The Paint pots also should be set with a powder for longer wear and stay.

Next the Grease Sticks. The Grease Sticks are just that greasy... They spread very well and give great coverage without needing a mixing medium. Unfortunately they keep moving. Ha ha They move well with the way the skin naturally moves, and it moves onto the clothing, and spreads and ...it's just a mess I could imagine after a couple hours of wear. Super creamy in texture and easy to use. I think these would be hard to set for long wear time and stay power.

Now the scary Acrylic Paints. These come in Jars and are in a liquid state instead of a solid like the others mentioned above. I found these to be easy to use, very spreadable, and move with the skin. That last one is the best part. This stuff will not crack, no need to set, and once dried it will not move, rub off, or disappear. When sampling I did notice that it had one level of coverage. Full coverage! I can see with some stippling with a sponge or light handed brush stroke this could have more dimensions than one, full coverage.









I feel that all options have their own niche to work within. I hope to play more with the Acrylics which really fascinated me and really spawned this review.

Happy painting!
American Cutie Beauty, Jamie

Valentine's Day Lace

It's almost Valentine's Day and many are inspired by the conversation hearts, chocolate, flowers, love. I have seen this technique done before and have this awesome pattern on a dress so I decided to make it happen.



This look is inspired by all the lacy lingerie that is tossed on the floor on Valentine's Day. I love this look. It took me a long time to create but well worth the outcome. It is a shame all I did was take it off after I took pictures.


Valentines Lace overall time 2-1/2 hours

Eyes
Urban Decay ~ Primer Potion, original - All over lid
MAC ~ Chilled on Ice, Pinky beige w/ gold micro glitter - All over lid
MAC ~ Prized, Pale Peach - All over lid
MAC ~ Quite Spoiled, Mauve w/ pink pearl - Inner lid
Urban Decay ~ Last Call, Shimmery berry w/ pink pearl - Outer lid
MAC ~ Palace Pedigreed, Deep Berry w/ pink pearl - Crease
MAC ~ Russian Blue, Dark blue based Grey - Crease
L’Oreal ~ HIP Chrome Eyeliner, bright silver chrome - Inner water line
MAC ~ Pink Opal, White pigment with iridescent shimmery - Highlight/ inner under eye liner/ water line
Urban Decay ~ Zero, Black - Top water line / outer bottom water line
MAC ~ Smoky Heir Superslick Liquid Eyeliner, purple w/ a silvery blue pearl - Top eye liner
Benefit ~ Bad Gal Lash, Black - Mascara
Urban Decay ~ Smog, dirty shimmery brassy brown - Eye Brows
Anistasia ~ Clear Brow Gel, clear - eyebrows
Wet'n Wild ~ Rhinestone studded false eyelashes, black w/ rhinestones - eye lashes

Cheeks
Clinique ~ Smoldering plum, shimmery plum w/ pink pearl - checks
Urban Decay ~ Moonshine, iridescent opal - highlight on cheek bone and nose
MAC ~ Rose Olé, shimmery dusty rose - highlight on cheek bone and nose

Lips
Burt's Bees ~ Pomegranate lip Balm, opaque red - moisturizer
MAC ~ Nightmoth, Deep berry plum - lip liner and fill
MAC ~ Violetta, Bright magenta - full lips
MAC ~ Hothouse, Bright Magenta w/ pink and silver glitter - full lips
MAC ~ Pink Opal, White pigment with iridescent shimmery - center of lips

Face
Dermalogica ~ Multi Vitamin Toner - face
Go-Theriputicals ~ 15% Vitamin C - face
Kate Somerville ~ Dermal Energizing treatment - face
Murad ~ Essential-C eye cream SPF 15 - Around eyes
Dermalogica ~ Sheer Tint Moisturizer, Light - face
Cover FX Skin Prep ~ Nourishing foundation primer & anti-aging serum - face
MAC ~ Studio Sculpt SPF 15 foundation, NC20 - face
Cover FX ~ Cream Foundation, C30 - blemishes
MAC ~ Mineralized Skinfinish Natural, Light Medium - face
Cover FX ~ Powder foundation, B25 - contouring
My Dress ~ Lace design from a dress - pattern
MAC ~ Russian Blue, Dark blue based Grey - lace pattern

I hope you liked this look.

Love and Lace, your American Cutie
Jamie

Urbanglow Cream Highlight

Urbanglow Cream Highlight in Moonshine

$24.00 .17 fl oz.

Colors: Brown Sugar ~ Warm taupey brown, Sin ~ Shimmering champagne, Wicked ~ radiant pinky shimmer, Moonshine ~ Iridescent shimmer.

Highlight, highlight, highlight... super pretty when done correctly. Right on top of the cheek bones, down the center of the nose, a touch on the cupids bow, and chin. Urban Decay's new cream highlighters are super easy to use from it's cute packaging to it's formulae.

The packaging is super cute and feels heavy. It's defiantly not cheap feeling. It doesn't come with an applicator but your better off with your finger or a make up sponge. They are creamy in consistency and are sheer in color. I bought Moonshine and it's an iridescent pearl color that matches better with lighter skin tones. It is very blend-able and works fabulously with MAC Pigment Pink Opal. It's not greasy nor does it dry out the skin. It doesn't have a scent that I can smell. The formulae isn't thin, hard or chunky. It has a thick creamy consistency which helps it to stay where you put it. It has great pigment and stays put all day. It does disappear a little bit over time but wear is pretty much all day.
I love Urbanglow Cream Highlight. The colors are universal for all skintones and types.

Packaging:5/6, Value:6/9, Formulae:20/24

Overall: 82%

Hope you have a highlighted day!

Your American Cutie Jamie

MAC Cham Pale Collection

This collection couldn't have come at a better time.

MAC Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
$28.00 net wt .35 oz

I have been looking for a powder highlighter to add to my collection and viola! MAC introduces Special Reserve Highlighting Powder in Chez Chez Lamé and Rose Olé.

Lamé is a type of fabric woven or knit with thin ribbons of metallic yarn.

Both colors remind me of Lamé fabric. From the manufacturing shape of it to the shiny, velvety, shimmery texture. Chez Chez Lamé is a super shimmery gold tone. Rose Olé is a super shimmery rose based darker gold. Both have a velvety texture and go on easily and evenly. I have found that Chez Chez Lamé is good for cooler toned skin and Rose Olé is good for warmer skin tones, but both work on all skin tones to highlight the high planes of the face.





Chez Chez Lamé/ Rose Olé

I LOVE both colors, but am partial to Rose Olé which isn't sold out yet. Go to www.maccosmetics.com to buy.

Chilled on Ice Paint Pot
$16.50 net wt .17 oz



Chilled on Ice is a pinky beige with gold micro glitter. It is super smooth and a little goes a long way. This is a great base for shimmery eye shadows and on it's own it is an eye brightener. It doesn't do well as an eye shadow on it's own if you have oily lids.


Hope you have a shimmery highlighted day

Jamie