Allure's Beauty Trends: Part 1

Wow, this post is way overdue! My apologies...life is loca 'roun these parts, but alas, beauty must go on. Welcome to Clumps of Mascara’s first installment of Allure’s Hottest Beauty Trends. Let’s start with Number 8!!!

8. Matte skin….

To keep foundation form looking caked on, choose a light liquid foundation and use a brush instead of a puff.

I have only had a few experiences (and bad ones at that) with face make-up so I tend not to wear it on a regular. But when I do, I prefer to have matte skin instead of a “glowy” look. When I think of matte skin, I automatically think of mineral make-up and or tinted moisturizers. They are perfect for degreasing your skin and giving you a nice matte look. Unfortunately, I don’t have any examples of me bustin’ the matte look because my face is goin’ through some thangs right now.

My skin is normally dry so this is easy for me to achieve. If your skin is relatively oily, try using blotting papers throughout the day. Follow this link to check out some of Sephora’s anti-shine products to achieve that beautiful matte skin.

Product Alert: While strolling through Target’s cosmetic lanes (a sport of mine) I spotted a product from Rimmel.

Haven’t tried it out and I don’t remember the pricing, but I think it’s worth of try for those of you interested in the matte skin. If you have it and like it, let me know!

Coming in at Number 7 is…..

7. Gold shadow.

Bright yellow gold- or slightly bronzed is great for night looks. When tempered with brown, it looks fantastic!

I used:
BASES: UDPP and Bamboom paint
LID: Amberlights
MIDDLE: Antique (applied with wet with Fix +)
Outer V and Crease: Twinks
Highlight: Vex
L’Oreal Telescopic
Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner
MAC Engraved Eyeliner

I applied this very lightly with not much intensity as I should have….not a big fan of gold eye shadow on my lids anymore but it was fun to revisit. Anyone have any FOTDs of gold shadows that they would like me to feature?

Stay tuned for the next 6 beauty trends.

Peace and chai tea!

UDPP has been holdin' out!

Yall see this?

Guess the product.

Now I know I'm a newbie and just learning some things but pleeeease tell me yall knew about this!

We all know Urban Decay's Primer Potion, right (did you guess right?)? It is one of my HG and most beloved products. Even if I use a Paint Pot, Paint, concealer or even a Shadestick, I still start with UDPP. We all know that it is also a bit pricey and the shape of the bottle is just.....beyond frustrating. The wand can only go straight down into the tube. Never mind the sides. However, my friend showed me how we can get more product by cutting the tube in half. Now when she told and SHOWED me this I was thinking, "Ehhh....okay, a bit more would be nice." A "bit" is an understatement. Chopping your UDPP in half will give you about 2-3 more months worth of product. Don't believe me? Lemme show you!

What you'll need:

UDPP (of course)
A pretty big knife
A not so big knife
Something to put UDPP in. I was going to use an depotted MAC pot but duhhh, it has holes so I settled for a random empty jar thingie. Sample pigment jars would be perfect though.


[STEP 1]
Start by cutting a knife straight through your UDPP. It may take some time. Make sure you use a cutting board. Forgot to take a pic of this. Sorrryyy..

[STEP 2]
Pull apart your UDPP and get angry at how Urban Decay has been ripping us off.

[STEP 3]
Scoop what you can OUT and place in your new jar. Hmmm, ice cream.

[STEP 4]
But ohhh chile, you ain't done yet. Start slicing the base of the packaging too.

[STEP 5]
Scoop like hell and place everything in your new jar.

Can you believe this? Look how much of the product was still stuck inside of there. This took me all of 5 minutes to do. I say we all start emailing Urban Decay and suggest they find some new packaging for UDPP because this here don't make no damn sense. What do you think?

Random post, I know. But in the midst of packing, I got into a depotting mode and then UDPP scooping mode and decided to share with my blog fam. Have a fab weekend, yall!

Peace and fists to Urban Decay!

[thanks Ms. Riss. Get back on the blog updating thang, sis b/c I miss you!]

'07 Beauty Reflections

...and since I'm one of those semi-vain people

who celebrate their birthday like it's a national holiday

TO ME!!!

It's on the 2nd but I observe it from at least New Year's Eve 'til around January 7th. I know, I know....who do I think I am? I'm big on birthdays and believe that if ain't nobody else gonna make a big deal about it, I damn sure will! So have yourself a slice of my vegan cake. I, promise, it's good. And I hope you aren't not one of those "OMG, I can't have a piece of cake because it has like too many calories in it" people because that's just annoying. Eat it! HA!

I still haven't made it Tampa/Orlando/Miami. My lazy A. I leave tomorrow. Fo real this time. And like my blog sistas Vanessa, Karen and Yummy, I have decided to reflect on this year of beauty.

As most of you know....I am a newbie to the make-up world. Hence the title of my blog. I didn't get heavy into make-up until about June 2007. 90% of my products are 6 months old. Brushes included. I am a PROUD newbie. I don't feel bad for for just figuring out what tightlining is or for having no clue how to put on fale lashes. I'm learning each and everday. My top 10 newbie lessons of 2007 would beeeeee....

• Work on your own pace. And stop comparing your skills to someone else's. We all had to start somewhere.
  
• Great cosmetics can be found anywhere....and for cheap (Walgreens Buy 1, Get 1 Free, okayyyyy!!!).
  
• Feeling like you HAVE to wear make-up everyday is, well...a problem.
  
• Don't fix what ain't broke (leave my brows alone!). And my skin. No foundation is fine.
  
• Celebrate being a beautiful Black woman by wearing something other than Burgundy lipstick.
  
• Ask ask ask ask ask questions...and not just at counters/stores. Sometimes they are just trying to sell you a product. Get the truth from make-up gurus (Specktra).
• Love myself make-up less and naked (TMI, I know but I had to say it).
  
• Don't feel bad for being addicted to make-up. It's a fun and creative hobby.
• Prevent impulse buying by researching and checking out swatches.
  
• Create a portfolio for fun. Because even if I loose interest in make-up, at least I'll have something to show for it.

I'm sure most of you know these things already but they are definitely most 10 most important lessons. 2008 will bring such greatness for me. I can feel it. The same way I felt it for '07.

My biggest anticipation for '08? Not grad school, home owning or locin' up my hair but the Fafi Collection!!!

Don't give me that cyber-look. You know you waitin' on it too. Peace my loves and Happppppy New Yeeeeear!!!

[pics courtesy of maxrev.de & leehansen.com]

A Big Post!

Christmas is over and I almost dropped a tear. I love this time of year and this was one of my favorite Christmases. I may have spent $70 on gifts for 6 family members. I didn't go broke for the first time ever and I am extremely happy about that.

I haven't really played much in my Christmas haul. Except messin' around with the Prep-N-Prime mascara. [NOTE: I have belongings in 3 different locations---my Mom's house in North Florida, a storage room in Central Florida and a room in Los Angeles] I have to be careful because along the way, things get lost. So I can't really enjoy my haul until my items are packed away and are sitting at a DEFINITE location. Have I mentioned that I've moved a total of 9 times since 2003? Yikes! That's about 8 different beds. I stay moving.

Anywayyyy, I played with greens the other day.

I used:
UPDD
Bamboom Paint
Swimming
Humid
Carbon
Vanilla pigment

I try and keep it really simple. I'm getting lazy in eye make-up. I never want to spend more than 10 minutes on it. And the fewer products I can use, the better. My lazy ass. So sad.

Here at Clumps I am always trying to share my learnings and attempted perfections with yall. My newest one is using MAC's Fluidlines. I've been using the 266 brush forever. And I've always liked it. But the smoothness of my lines on my lower lash line have been somewhat jagged. So I did some experimenting.

266 vs 209 (SE)
The angled brush versus the fine point brush.
The 209 wins!! I get a much smoother line when I use this brush...it takes a bit longer to apply but it is easier to go over mistakes because of the brush's fine point.

A vast improvement for me. So I'm thinkin' if you're like me and are having madd issues with applying the Fluidline, check the brush that you are using. And keep practicin' because this is one of those things that takes hella practice to get perfect.

And lastly I went to the Bobbi Brown counter to check out those pretty Shimmer Brick Compacts but ended up getting caught up in skincare products. Uh oh! My skin is just now returning from Pimple-Ville USA. I think it's safe to say that it was MAC face products that turned my normally good skin south. Could've been the Prep-N-Prime or Green Cleanser or StudioFix or Mineralized Skinfinish. I don't know but since I've discontined using them, my skin has improved. I'll take pics to prove.

Anyway....after asking the arists about finding a light foundation coverage item, one of the ladies used their tinted moisturizer and eye concealer on me.




Def not feeling the under the eye action. Even though I look "brighter". And why in the hell are my pores so large? But the coverage is nice and light and easy to put on. So I purchased it. I'll do a review on that later as well.

I've said enough loves...off to Orlando/Tampa/Miami to visit friends/fam. So I won't be updating too often. If I miss it, have a happy New Year's!!!

Peace and Fafi!

Eyelashes Edition & FOTD

Greetings!

And welcome to the Eyelashes for Newbies Edition of Clumps of Mascara. Today I will highlight some of the things that I’ve learned while playing around with mascara. Please keep in mind that a lot of these tidbits may be things you may have already known. Which if that is the case, good for you! This post will simply only assist other newbies stumbling over the hassles of mascara and eyelashes. I’ve got pictures coming up as well as a FOTD, so stay tuned!

Oh yeah...and just to warn you, I'm having some photo re-sizing issues

goin' on in this post.....please excuse the mess. Trying some new things out!

Ahhh, I’ve always been attracted to the idea of having long long loooong lashes. Only I didn’t quite get that gene. So, I, like many other women have been trying to achieve the look of having long beautiful lashes for many years now. I’m no newbie to mascara itself, but I am a newbie to different concepts/methods.

Now I’m not gonna go on a rant about what mascara is the best. I don’t think there is one, personally. And I’ve tried a lot. Not a lot A LOT, but enough to never really be satisfied. And people swear by DiorShow but it’ll be a cold day in hell before I spend that much money on a mascara. But that’s just me. I only own four right now.

-L’Oreal Luminous
-L’Oreal Telescopic
-MAC Plush Lash
-MAC Fibre Rich

……I’m a big fan of L’Oreal mascaras. And I’ve recently figured out how to get MAC’s Fibre Rich to work for me. Which brings me to my first learned lesson.


(1) It’s okay to use different mascaras at the same time. In the FOTD you will see today, I used Telescopic for my first coat and then Fibre Rich for my next two. I’ve achieved the look that I wanted….which would not have been possible had I used each of them solo.

(2) Tilt your head up when you apply mascara. I’m probably the only person in America who didn’t know this, but I’ve found that tilting my head significantly makes a big difference in my overall application.

(3) Open your mouth when applying mascara. I don’t know….it helps. Can’t explain that phenomenon but it does help.

(4) Using an eyelash curler AFTER applying mascara….not so much a good idea. I’ve heard it works for some people but it rips out my poor lashes. Not a good look.

(5) Brush your eyelashes. I don’t know where I got this from, but I do it religiously now. I use a regular mascara wand (preferably a disposable one) and brush my Vaseline coated eyelashes every night before bed. Why the Vaseline? To add a little moisture. I don’t use a ton….globs of Vaseline floatin’ in the iris ain’t coo. Just enough to where my lashes are slightly moisturized. And then I use the mascara wand and brush up as if I’m applying mascara. Brushing stimulates hair follicles and promote hair growth!


And so there are my 5 tidbits..and now for some pictures!


Here are my funky eyelashes with no mascara.

They start to look a little better with one coat.

And theeeeeen, here we go with 3 coats! Clumps and all….I mean really….where else will you find a blog that showcases MISTAKES? I'm a mess. If you haven't already noticed.

Okay, here’s my FOTD
I used:

FACE
Homemade Honey cleanser
Jojoba Oil
Prep N Prime with foundation brush
Mineralized Skinfinish in Deep Dark (my new BFF)

EYES
UPDD
Bamboom Paint
Woodwinked with Fix+ (with 242SE)
Handwritten on crease/outer V (with Sonia Kashuk blending brush)

LIPS
MAC's Bare Truth lipstick
Some frosty NYC lip color

You see the mistakes? YIKES!

Time to have some fun.....

SILLY.....

GLAM

SERIOUS.....

Peace and Christmas music! Check out my Christmas music playlist.

-"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Luther Vandross
-"O' Holy Night" Celine Dion
-"Jingle Bells" Frank Sinatra
-"The Christmas Song" Nat King Cole
-"This Christmas" Donny Hathaway
-"Joy to the World" Whitney Houston
-"All I Want For Christmas is You" Mariah Carey
-"Silent Night" The Temptations