Pure PERFECTION

Thanks to the makeup class in NYC I took 2 weeks ago, I have learned about the BEST skin primer. Skin primer is something that you put on after moisturizer to help your makeup go on, stay put, and look good.

I have struggled with primers because some of them cause me to break out. So, when I heard about this recommended by a makeup professional, I had to try it.

Make Up For Ever has a primer called HD Microperfecting Primer ($32) at Sephora. It smooths your skin, makes your makeup last longer and you can instantly see a difference after you put it on. No joke. It even comes in different colors to correct skin tones( for redness, to add radiance, etc). I use the 0 Neutral shade.



They also have HD Invisibile Cover Foundation, however I have not yet used it. Stay tuned, it's on my list of makeup to try ;)

REMINDER: If you are not a fan of Martini's & Makeup on Facebook, join before tomorrow to have a chance in winning my favorite mascara- Fresh Supernova- a $25 value!

XOXO

Just GLOW

Awhile ago I blogged about the dangers of tanning beds. Having just come back from vacay in the U.S. Virgin Islands tanned...I naturally want to try to keep the tan as long as possible, while not stepping foot in a tanning bed. I'll admit it, the temptation is definitely there, especially since they have one at my gym.

However, one of my best friends recently saw another one of my best friends (I live 2 hours away) and said she keep her tan (since she went to the Dominican Republic earlier in the month) by using Jergens Natural Glow Firming Medium Tanning Lotion. I must say, I have used my fair share of self tanners and I have not had the best experience so I usually try to stay clear for anything other than Mystic Tan.

In desperate attempts I gave in and bought the Jergens Natural Glow lotion and figured I may as well try it. Well, I have been using it now for 5 days and I LOVE it. My tan has not faded since I used this lotion- it doesn't streak and doesn't look orange either. It has a bit of a tanning lotion smell, but it is very light.

If you need a good alternative for a tan, try using this lotion. PLUS- it is a firming lotion- which is always a plus ;) I use in the mornings and rub it in circular motions into my feet, legs, chest, arms and the part of my back I can reach.

It is about $8 at any drugstore, Target/Wal-Mart.



XOXO

Lashes Lashes Lashes

So I totally have an obsession with eyelashes/mascara...if you haven't noticed yet ;) But, a HUGE factor in having good eyelashes is curling them first. By curling them it gives them a flirty, catching look that mascara alone doesn't do. While mascara gives lashes thickness and length, an eyelash curler does exactly what it sounds like it does: curls your lashes.

Use an eyelash curler prior to putting on mascara- or else it will seriously clump and can cause your lashes to break! I know they may look like some sort of torture devise, but they are very easy to use. Just open, place over your lashes and pull together. I usually do it twice- once at the base of my lashes and once just on the tip of them.

The heated ones work two ways- either just like above, or you comb it through your lashes instead.

You can find eyelash curlers everywhere, but here are some favs:
shu uemura Eyelash Curler ($19) at Sephora

SEPHORA COLLECTION Professional Heated Lash Curler ($16)

Essence Of Beauty Instant Curl Heated Eyelash Curler ($5.99) at CVS



XOXO

Diane Von Furstenberg and Skinny Beach Sticks.....

Hello Lovelies!

Ok, so first off- Sorry it's been a week and a few days since my last Beauty Blog! I went to NYC for a make-up class and then went on vacay to the U.S. Virgin Islands (my heaven).

SO- I MUST share this fabulous news with you all...when I was in NYC last week I met DIANE VON FURSTENBERG at her boutique/studio in the Meatpacking District.

I seriously freaked- I met the FABULOUS DVF! And for the record, she was classy and very friendly, offering me a hug when she saw I had started to tear up due to being star-struck! My life is now complete....for now...until I become a famous makeup artist ;)

A few weeks before I left for the USVI, one of my coworkers sent me a link to Bliss World online- of course I clicked on it instantly because I am obsessed with Bliss products- and it was a product by Rodial called Skinny Beach Sticks. I read about the product to find that it would slim down your figure and prep your skin for the sun. I was sold. Anything that can make a woman slim and tan is a definite sell. Now, if it could offer you eternal youth too....well that would be fabulous.

So anyways, I decided to shell out the $60 for the Skinny Beach Sticks to see if they would help get me ready for beach days that were just around the corner. You dissolve the beach sticks in water and chug it- just like alka seltzer- one a day for two weeks prior to your trip. I must say they taste like rotten carrots, but they definitely worked as I came home tanner than I normally would AND I didn't burn! They even made me feel a bit slimmer too.

You can order them online at: http://www.blissworld.com/product/rodial+skinny+beach+sticks+.do?search=basic&keyword=skinny+beach+sticks&sortby=all&asc=false&page=1

And just in case you are thinking of going to the USVI- this picture should help your decision ;)



XOXO

NYC Bound

Ladies, I will be heading up to NYC tomorrow for an all day Eye Make-Up class on Tuesday! Wish me luck! I'll then be going on vacation until April 20- STAY TUNED, I promise I will beauty blog as soon as I get back!!!

In the meantime, take this tip:
On Friday afternoon I went to get a pedicure. During the winter I usually paint my toes myself, but since I'm going to the beach soon I had to get my toes done...and BAD.

The last time I had painted my nails, the polish I used stained my nails red. At the salon I was talking with my girlfriend (we were getting them done at the same time) and the lady doing my pedicure told me that it's because I didn't use a base coat before I painted them. Apparently, you are ALWAYS supposed to use a base coat on your nails and a top coat, because it protects the nail from the polish staining it and it comes off easier. Now why didn't I know this before?

If you paint your nails a lot and have this problem, try using a base and top coat!

XOXO

"What's a good facial scrub for summer breakouts and a good bronzer to brighten me up without the shine?" -Martini's & Makeup Facebook Fan: Tiffany

Tiffany:

A great scrub for summer breakouts is a scrub by Peter Thomas Roth: Botanical Buffing Beads ($36) at Sephora. It exfoliates your face to get rid of dead skin cells, helps to unclog pores and helps to ward off whiteheads and blackheads. Summer can certainly bring some mean whiteheads- YUCK!

When looking for a facial scrub, be careful because some can be very harsh on your skin. Make sure Jojoba Oil is a main ingredient in the product because it makes it noncomedogenic. This means, it won't block your pores- which will diminish the risk of getting pimples. Sometimes scrubs can contain acids which can burn if you have a breakout.

Another thing that can help with summer breakouts is Tea Tree Oil (around $5-10) and you can find it at drugstores, Target/Walmart. It smells a little funky, but it if you have a really bad blemish, apply it to the problem area with a q-tip before you go to bed at night. It will help to kill the infection and it will go down by the morning. It's worth the funky smell!

For a bronzer- I use the Mineralize Skinfinish ($28) by MAC. Sometimes bronzers can be really tough to find since they can make you look complteley fake...and orange. MAC's mineralize skinfinish brightens your face without it looking fake. When applying bronzer- apply it to where the sun would naturally hit your face- your cheeks and your nose. Lightly sweep a little color along your forehead and along your temples also.

I used to use a loose bronzing powder by Revlon that was FANTASTIC- seriously, I used it all throughout college, but it got discontinued....Man, I hate when that happens!

XOXO

"With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept." -One Tree Hill

I don't know about you ladies, but this week has been going by really slow AND I've been ridiculously tired. I'm getting sleep at night, but I just wake up exhausted. I'd like to think it's because I've been working really hard at the gym this week...but sadly I think the real reason is all the pollin thats starting to come around is starting to trigger my sinuses.

A nice thing to do at night is to put a cold compress on your eyes- it helps them to relax and the next morning you wake up with bright eyes! It also helps dark circles and puffy eyes for when you are really tired or if you just watched Steel Magnolias and balled your eyes out.

You can find them anywhere- Sephora, CVS, Target, ULTA- and they are around $10-20. Put in the freezer for a few hours. Once it's nice and cold, place on your eyes (after applying your nightly moisturizer!) and relax. If it's too cold, layer with a wash cloth until it gets a little warmer.



XOXO

"My makeup wasn't smeared, I wasn't disheveled, I behaved politely, and I never finished off a bottle, so how could I be alcoholic?" -Betty Ford

So your going out for a night on the town with your girlfriends or on a date. Do you know what you are doing with your eye makeup? If you do, that is great; if you don't, read on for a few easy tips for night time eye makeup!

1. Wear a darker eye shadow than you normally wear for day time. For example, if you normally wear a light gold, wear a darker gold on the lid of your eye and apply the lighter eye shadow to the crease of your eye lid to your brow line. If you buy eye shadow in palettes, they usually come with a lighter and darker shadow that are matched to be blended well together. Finally, apply the lighter shadow to the inner corner of your eye (near tear duct) like Beyonce- check a few blogs down.

2. Apply eyeliner to your upper lash line. I use gel eyeliner- it lasts longer and doesn't smudge like pencil eyeliner can. I use Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ($21.00) and you apply it with an eyeliner brush (you can get one anywhere). Start at the outer corner of your eye and draw a small line to the inner corner of your eye. If you want a thicker line, re-trace the line with a little more eye liner.

3. With a black pencil eye liner, line the inner part of your bottom lash line. I know it seems weird, but it looks good.

4. Curl your eyelashes with a eyelash curler. You can find them at Sephora, ULTA or CVS.

4. MASCARA: the most important part of makeup. Apply two to three coats of volumizing mascara (Fresh Supernova, $25 is the BEST!)

Voila! You are now ready for a night on the town!

XOXO

"Quirky is sexy, like scars or chipped teeth. I also like tattoos - they're rebellious." -Jennifer Aniston

So let's face it...we've all been rebellious at some point in time. Personally, my rebellious-ness (is that a word?) resulted in a tongue piercing when I was a freshman in college (gross, I know- I took it out after like 6 months) and a tattoo on my foot. Its small, but it will still be there the rest of my life.

It's not that I am unhappy now- 5 years later- that I have come to the realization it will never go away, but I am totally ok with it because I actually really like it. It's a small hot pink hibiscus flower on my right foot that can be hidden by a flip-flop strap.

While I still love my tat, I have caught some of my older coworkers staring at it when I've worn a skirt/dress. At times I wish there was some way to hide it- say for job interviews, professional meetings, etc- and there is actually a product you can use to cover your tattoo or bad scars if you need to.

It's called Dermablend Leg & Body Cover Foundation ($26). You can find it at Macys, ULTA or online at: http://www.dermablend.com/foundations/foundations-severe-flaws/leg-body-cover.htm. It also works on scars, stretch marks and bruises.

Speaking of tattoos:
Kat Von D is living proof that even though a female has a ton of tattoos, she can still totally rock them AND be a glamour girl ;)



XOXO

FREE mascara, anyone??

Ladies, I am trying to get the word out more about my blog and I need your help! If you are on Facebook (EVERYONE is on Facebook these days), please become a fan of Martini's & Makeup and tell all your girlfriends too!

http://www.facebook.com/jorgeqva#!/pages/Washington-DC/Martinis-Makeup/270978262087?ref=ts

For the month of April I am having a contest where one Facebook Fan will win my FAVORITE mascara (Fresh Supernova- a $25 value!) at the end of the month! Stay tuned- more details will follow!

And please, comment and ask beauty questions- I want to know what you are thinking!

Thank you for reading!!! :)

XOXO

"Why didn't you just carry them and wear sneakers like everyone else?" -Steve to Miranda, Sex and the City

"Miranda : I had to walk all the way from the subway in these heels. My feet are killing me.
Steve : Why didn't you just carry them and wear sneakers like everyone else?
Miranda : Stop. You can take me out of Manhattan but you can't take me out of my shoes."

Every morning when I drive to work I pass by a metro station, so I see a lot of people walking from the surrounding areas to catch a train into the city. In the midst of all the people, there is one common thing in women....sneakers and skirts.

NEWSFLASH: This combo will NEVER, EVER look cute together! Case in point below:



I understand wanting to wear comfortable shoes to make it to the metro and then walk the 8 blocks to your office building without being late, but there are TONS of cute, comfortable flats or walking shoes you can wear that will not make you a Fashion "Don't."

Start with a few simple tips:
1. NO WHITE CROSSTRAINERS
2. If you are wearing a skirt or a dress, for the sake of you looking good, wear flats!
3. NO WHITE CROSSTRAINERS
Get the point?

I know what your thinking, you don't care because your comfortable on your walk to/from work. Think again- I seriously CRINGE when I see this combo- espically when the woman is wearing white tube socks with them. HELLO, Jane Fonda called- she wants her look back.

If you MUST wear a sneaker since it offers more support, try a dark fashion sneaker (think Puma styles- yes, I know the picture above is a Puma sneaker, but it is bright white- a big no no) instead of wearing an all out sneaker. Wear with a pair of short athletic socks so they do not show over the shoe. Consider wearing more pants since the shoe will not be as noticable.

You can never go wrong with a cute flat or sandal for warmer weather. Since flats are so in right now, they have them everywhere! Just be sure to try them on, because flats can pinch your pinky toes. DSW Shoe Warehouse has some really cute ones and occasionally you can find a cute comfortable shoe at Aerosoles (that doesn't look like your Grandma) which will work for your daily walking commute.

XOXO