BEAUTY: DIY LIPSTICK PALETTE

Hey everyone! Today, I wanted to share a little something I learned. 

During a photo shoot last year,  I noticed my make-up artist, Mayela Vazquez using a makeup palette with lots of colors for my lips. At first, I didn't know what to think. It looked like a painter's palette and a bit MESSY...Hmmm. I knew she did AWESOME work, so I wondered in silence where she got this palette from. 

When she was finished applying my lip color - I looked in the mirror & WOW! They looked fabulous & smooth! Perfection!  I somehow knew this palette (& her skills) had something to do with this. I asked her where she got the palette from...& this is what I learned from her.

After she told me, I decided to DIY this. So, if you want smooth, neat, long-lasting color..... keep reading.

• Buy an empty make-up palette.  I bought the 35 well-pro lipstick palette from The Tanning Store.  It has 35 deep compartments, 14 large & 21 medium. This particular palette also includes a white center divider attached with a long hinge. The brand is by MITSUYOSHI. 
• Purchase several of your favorite lipstick shades. I haven't filled up the palette yet, but I plan to. Right now I have about (12) of my favorite shades. From brands like Nars, Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry, Bobbi Brown, MAC, Givenchy & more. 
• Once you purchase all the lip color,  add one color at a time by slicing the lipstick into rounds. It's easier this way, trust me. Maybe cut 2-3 rounds at a time into the palette compartment of your choice. The reason for starting off with 2-3 slices of lipstick color is because it is easier to mash the lipstick into the compartment with fewer rounds.  You can use any flat or rounded object to mash the lip color.  This part can get messy if you rush it. So, be patient & make sure your mashing object isn't too large.. 
• Continue down the lipstick & cut 2-3 more slices off.  Repeat the mashing into the palette. Once a lip color is done, feel free to move onto the next lipstick shade. 
• Once you have all your colors in the palette - it should look somewhat like mine - you can start testing it out on your lips. 
• For trying the shades -  I recommend using a lip brush like the Sephora Pro Lip Brush #81 or the Make Up Forever #302 Precision brush.  Folks, using a brush to add color to your lips makes a HUGE difference!!  For one, the lipstick appears to look neater & your lips look more defined. Also, the color seeps into the lines in your lips & that allows the color to remain on your lips longer!!  Trust me, once you try this -  you will not turn back. 
• A benefit of using a make-up palette for lipstick color is that it allows you to mix & match colors.  I've found that having all my shades available to me (at the same time) makes it easier to blend the perfect color for my lips!
• Another item I added to my palette was lip gloss. I love Tickled Pink by Lancome it adds the perfect finishing touch to my lipstick!

-post & images by jen ramos

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beauty: How-to-fake it with bronzer

Hope you all are enjoying your Summer! Hi, Monica here from Beauty Parler. You don't need a lecture from a beauty blogger about the dangers of suntanning. By now most of you know that the best way to fake a tan is using a bronzer. However, finding the right bronzer might mean buying a few to find the right shade and finish. Here are a few staples of mine that are just the right shade of brown without looking too muddy or red. A few are meant for more shimmer while others are great as a contour powder.

Which bronzers are your favourites?

MAC Cosmetics Bronzing Powder //  MAKE UP FOREVER Pro Sculpting Duo // Physicians Formula Bronze Booster // Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer

-post by monica darosa  

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BEAUTY: SUMMER FOUNDATIONS

Hi Everyone! Monica here from beauty parler.  Hope you're all embracing the nicer weather. Although the weather has it's dips in temperature this time of year the hot sticky Summer days are coming! Which means sweaty makeup which can look caked on. Well, that's a definite no and can all be avoided by switching out your foundation to a more Summer friendly one.

On hot sweaty days, the last thing I want to do is wear any makeup. But on days that I head out to work or attend beauty events, I like to wear a little makeup. Makes me feel more polished and put together. Anyone else feel like that too? Here are three of my Summer must-have foundations.

1/NARS All-Day Luminous Weightless Foundation | 2/MAC Face & Body Foundation | 3/Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch Foundation

In general, all three of these are similar in texture. Light-weight, watery, and build-able coverage. With formulas so watery those with drier skin types will find that they'll need to apply a good moisturized base or can emphasis dry patches. These formulas work wonderfully for those with oily to combination skin types. The NARS All-Day Luminous Weightless Foundation and the Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch Foundation are a semi-matte to matte finish. Whereas, MAC Face & Body Foundation has a dewier finish and those with drier skin types will like this foundation better than the other two.
In terms of application because these are so watery they are best applied with your fingers or foundation brush. I'd suggest not using a beauty sponge as it would just absorb too much product.

I hope I helped you start your Summer makeup routine. Share your favourite Summer makeup?


-post by monica

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BEAUTY: BEAUTY & THE BROWS

 Hi! Monica, here from beautyparler.  Jen, is away enjoying her bundle of joy today! So happy for her & her husband! As a mom to an 18 month old, I know how tiring and exciting those first weeks are.

So, March is here already which means Spring is near. One beauty trend that will continue this Spring is the full brow. In all honesty, regardless of trendy or not I've always been a fan of a fuller brow. Now, not all of us are born with full brows. So, sometimes we just have to FAKE it.  Growing up as a teen in the 90's meant that two brow trends came into effect. For the first part of the 90's full sculpted brows and by the mid to late 90's a thinner brow was in.  My mom warned me, "once you start tweezing those brows they'll never grow back the same or ever".  Mom knows best! Thankfully, I listened.

Weather you use a brow pencil, cream or powder there are countless brow products to choose from and fake it if necessary.  A new release is Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Drama, an easy to use mascara for brows. A great method for those that don't want to fully commit to a full sculpted brow. Looking to fill in sparse brows, a pencil is another easy method. An old favorite of mine, MAC Cosmetics Brow Pencil, is a no nonsense pencil that defines and allows for a more precise brow. For shading in brows, Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings is a great kit for beginners.

Although, brow powders can be a tad time consuming you can achieve a more natural looking brow. The newest brow product in my kit, Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade is a water-proof cream formula that basically does the job of all three products listed above but in one product. Sculpt, define, shade, and fill-in brows using the dip brow. This product is for those not afraid of a more intense brow. Lastly, Wink Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancer is for those that over tweezed. Increase and thicken hair with usage of Wink.

What do you think of fuller more natural eyebrows?

-post by monica darosa

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Hello Beautiful

see you on my desk in a few days! The All-in-one '24 inch' iMac desktop, it has a huge screen with a small keyboard & barely-there cables. Does anyone have this one? How do you like yours?

Via Apple

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