Original Barbie

I remember my first Barbie. What a doll! Big hair, loads of eyeliner, perfectly pursed ruby lips, legs that didn’t end, itty bitty waist with and stacked. Barbie was the babe, the Barberella, the “Brick House” of dolls. And those heels! Barbie was strutting the stiletto before Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin became lust list fodder for shoe freaks. Little girls like me were completely facinated. Believe me, I aspired to all of Barbie’s physical attributes. I guess that’s why I’m a makeup artist. What I missed in leg length, I made up for in eyeliner. And now Barbie joins the auspicious ranks of other 50 something Phenoms.

Today Barbie is a fashion and beauty icon. Her resume is nothing short of amazing. How many jobs has this chick had? Doctor, teacher, astronaut, rapper, fashion editor, African American presidential candidate and palaeontologist are a few of her more ambitious gigs. Alll those career hops, does Barbie have adult ADHD? Hmmmm…..The good news for girls collecting Barbie — each career means a new outfit. Girls can live vicariously through Barbie’s never-ending wardrobe.

MAC Does Barbie

For women like me who still silently hunger for that out-of-proportion shape (although rumor has it that Barbie has gained in the waistline), a closet busting at the seams, and a boyfriend who looks good and never says a disparaging word, there is the beauty alternative. We can just look fake! Yea! I love artrifice. MAC did thier Barbie in Spring 2007 and you can still find pieces of the collection on eBay.

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It’s all about the eyes folks.  I’m almost obsessed with keeping my dark circles disguised and aging well-traveled skin luminescent.  So yesterday I got to play with some makeup  from Smashbox at the REIGN event (Valley Fair Nordstrom) and tried out a product that was on my gotta-get-it list.  It’s called Photo Op.  This awesome under eye brightener is a multi-tasker, and you know my love of double-duty products right?  Apply Photo Op prior to concealer and the result is an amazing wake-up call for tired eyes.

So, Why do I love Photo Op?  Hmmm, let me count the ways…

1.  No color choices — one-fits-all.  Perfect for a makeup artist with too much stuff already.

2.  It’s lightweight and sheer.

3.  It adds moisture and good-for-your-skin yumminess like peptides, vitamin E, marine collagen and red wine extract. (Like At the Copacabana  Frederick said, who’d a thunk something that makes you dark and puffy– red wine– would actually do the opposite on the skin??? Sorry for the insider reference there)  So it’s anti-aging too!

4.  It multi-tasks by also taking on highlighting other areas of the skin.  They didn’t have to tell me twice — I had that stuff on every high point on my face — cheekbones, brow bones, down the center of my nose and at the outer corner of my eyes.

Smashbox Photo Op

Photo shoots often start at the crack of dawn when even models and celebs don’t look their best and dark circles loom. That’s why we created this innovative under eye brightener that immediately wakens and brightens skin while adding moisture to prepare for concealer application. Contains lots of skin-boosting ingredients too, like vitamin E, red wine extract, peptides and marine collagen, to help disguise and repair fine lines and wrinkles. PHOTO OP can be used on any area of the face to highlight and add radiance. Winner of Self Magazine Healthy Beauty Award for Best Highlighter.

Before concealer, apply PHOTO OP UNDER EYE BRIGHTENER under eyes and blend out using fingers. For a lifted and youthful appearance, highlight the inner corners of the eye and orbital bone. You can even fake a plump pout by dabbing PHOTO OP on the top of the cupid’s bow.

 

$18.

If you have a chance to check out the lovely ladies at the Smashbox counter in Nordstrom Valley Fair , you won’t be disappointed.  Big props to Amanda who invited me and has great PR skills!  The Smashbox REIGN event is going on today too!

I love Photo Op. It gets a definitely deserves 5 out of 5 blings.

I was completely working on another topic for my blog today and the product junkie in me just had to go to Sephora.com.  OMG!  Look at this beautiful brown face!  I am so000 excited about Fall ‘09 makeup I could just die.  Look at the beautiful  makeup here from Sephora Brand.

Candy Colors -- photo courtesy of Sephora.com

I’m not so sure this is a look I personally would rock — love the lashes, the lip, the brows, the cheeks– I don’t personally wear that much eyeshadow, but it certainly looks gorgeous.  I’m sure that a young flawless faced beauty like the one pictured would certainly wear it well.

Here’s how to get the look:

Candy Colors Eyes

Eyes:

Cover the entire eye with Sephora Brand Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in City Fog 02. Then add Sephora Brand Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Baby Blue 36 to the inner third of lid and Sephora Brand Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Fairy Princess 30 to the outer third. Follow with Sephora Brand Doe Eyed Eye Liner in Black and Sephora Brand False Eyelashes in Full.

Candy Colors Lips

 

Lips:

 

A pale pink perfectly complements the multicolored eyeshadows. First start with Sephora Brand Maniac Mat Long-Wearing Matte Lipstick in Mat 01, then add Sephora Brand Fresh Gloss to the middle of the bottom lip for a touch of candy-coated shine and minty flavor.

Candy Colors Cheek

 

Cheeks

 

A natural blush and highlighter like Sephora Brand Blush Me Twice in Hot Pink/Bronze balances out colorful lids and a pale lip.

If you need step-by-step instruction, take at this behind-the-scenes video from the Sephora Pro Artists.

All pictures and instuctions from Sephora.com.

I give this look 4 blings–

I’m in love with Smashbox.  If you have read my blog for a minute, you would know that.  I’m so excited about the Fall 2009 collection which not only includes a fabulous new color collection — “REIGN”, but a plethora of new primers.  And we all know that Smashbox is the KING of primers.

Be the Queen!

Smashbox REIGN Collection

Scandal. Indulgence. Desire. Decadence reigns in this provocative collection inspired by the English Tudors. Adorn yourself with lust-worthy shadows, metallic liners, and luxurious lip colors fit for a royal.

Exclusive Nordstrom Valley Fair REIGN event August 14th and 15th, as seen in IN STYLE magazine. Schedule your makeover or participate in the master class.  An added bonus is  a GIFT WITH PURCHASE! Spaces for the makeovers and classes are filling up fast so CALL to book NOW and mention facebook!!! (408)248-2180 ext. 1419

If just you cannot make this fabulous REIGN event, check out this Smashbox video that shows you how-to acheive the the REIGN look. 

I am attending the event, so check back and I will give you the complete run down of my makeover and the products that made me the QUEEN!

I love a discount. More importantly, I love a discount on makeup. And when Lancôme offers a discount, that’s a good thing. So through August 8 you can take advantage of the Friends and Family discount of 20%.  I have a few favorites from Lancôme that would make perfect choices for utilizing your friends and family discount.

The Best Eye Makeup Remover Ever!

Lancôme Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover

Fall 2009 — Declaring Indigo 

Lancôme Fall Color 2009 -- Declaring Indigo

Lancome Indigo Ink Gel Eyeliner

Lancome Le Vernis Indigo Paris

Print the ad below to take advantage of the Lancome Friends and Family discount.

Lancome Friends and Family

How beautiful is Chanel Iman?