It's IMATS LA!!

It's that time of the year again for IMATS (International Makeup-Up Artist Trade Show)LA!

This year, our favorite brands such as Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Urban Decay, MAC and Bobbi Brown (loads more vendors and brands) will be available to showcase new products and tools, a fashion runway show, there will be a Make-up Museum, a student competition to make winning looks in the categories of Beauty (Alice in Wonderland is the theme) and Character (with the theme of Grimm’s Fairy Tales) and so much more!!

IMATS
Saturday, June 26 8:30 am-5 pm
Sunday, June 27 10 am-5 pm
Pasadena Convention Center
300 Green Street,
Pasadena, CA
Tickets $10-$60

Visit www.imatsshow.com for more info on speakers, vendors and special events!

Who's going? My east coast folks making a trip?? Let me know!!

Essence and Johnson & Johnson's What's Your Beauty Secret Event

Recently, I attended an Essence and Johnson & Johnson for WEEN event hosted by Mikki Taylor. Over a tasty brunch (with mimosas!) we got to hear expert answers and discussion on skincare and beauty for women of color. The panel of experts included Dr. Cheryll Burgess, Tia Dantzler, JoElle Lyons and Derrick Rutledge.

Some great tips I took away from the panel discussion:

• Don't spray your perfume on your neck; the alcohol in it can contribute to dryness and wrinkles.


• "Eliminate" regularly to help skin issues.


• Continue your skincare regimen down your neck, even on your hands.


• Use skincare with Vitamin C and Retinol A in its ingredients.


• Botox injections is a beauty treatment increasing in popularity amongst African American women.


• Everything natural and organic isn't good.


• Concealer and mascara are two products that will brighten your face, even on natural days.


• Keep skin supple and soft by applying Johnson & Johnson's baby oil right out of the shower.

More tips were shared as well as laughs! I'll be sure to share more in upcoming posts. At the end of the discussion, Johnson & Johnson donated $5,000 to WEEN to continue efforts empowering women!

Before we left, Toni and I got a picture with DC celebrity makeup artist and legend, Derrick Rutledge. Derrick has embarked on two new exciting ventures and we are excited to have gotten the news: 1. HE IS FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA'S MAKEUP ARTIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sooooo excited for Derrick and 2. He's currently working on his own makeup line. I asked him about some recent celebs that he's made up and the products he used to help make them sparkle on the red carpet..? The answer? He's been test driving his new products, so we'll have to wait and see! Did I say I was really excited?

Here's my look from the days events. Derrick told me he could see my makeup from the stage and it looked nice. ;) *ting!*

Have you ever attended a WEEN or Essence event? What's your favorite use of a Johnson and Johnson product?

*I attended the event thanks to Essence and Johnson and Johnson/B-Link!

Sephora's Spring Discount for Beauty Insiders!

Are you a Beauty Insider at Sephora (looking to the left)? Yeh? Great! Save 15% off 4/12-4/19! You know you'll be shopping anyways, so take an opportunity to save!

You can only get this deal if you are a Beauty Insider. You aren't a Beauty Insider (looking to the right)? No? Well what are you waiting for? Sign up here to get more amazing deals like this one in your inbox and when you shop Sephora!

More Birds and Berries eye shadow!

So I'm in love with this color, shoot me.

FACE:

MAC Studio Sculpt NC40

Milani Pressed powder

MAC Smooth Harmony beauty powder(LE) as a bronzer

MAC Cantaloupe blush

EYES:

Painterly paint pot to base

Birds and berries on the lids wet

Satin taupe in the crease

Dark brown on the outer corner

NW30 concealer as highlight

Revlon Colorstay liner in Teal on waterline and lower lid

Revlon Colorstay liquid liner pen in black on top lid

Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara

NW35 studio finish concealer under eyes, Clinique Stay Matte powder to set

MAC Strut brow pencil

Wow my allergies have been wearing out my eyes, making them dry and total loss of coverage on my nose do to the blowing.. ahh well! It's allergy season folks! Check my post here for some tips on how to wear makeup while surviving allergies!

Birds and Berries at work!

Hi my lovelies!
I really wanted to use my Birds and Berries eye shadow from MAC's Liberty of London collection-- I lovvvvee the packaging! I wasn't able to use this gorgeous shadow to it's potential because of course, I was at work. Boo!

EYES
Soft Ochre paint pot to base
Birds and berries shadow on my lids
LaLaLa eye shadow in the crease
A dark brown, almost black in the outer corner
Revlon ColorStay liquid pen liner on lid and inner corner
Revlon ColorStay liner in Teal on waterline and lower lash
Fascinating eye kohl on inner corner
Lash Stiletto Voluptuous mascara

LIPS
Frankly Fresh lipglass on the lips

BLUSH
Canteloupe powder blush pro
*I wanted to use my Prim and Proper blush from the collection, but it's such a natural flush that it doesn't stand up to my bronzer. Canteloupe gave better pay off for a pinch of peach cheek with my bronzer =( Disappointed!

We Need Your Vote, Tags, and Do I Smell a Give-a-way?!

Our friend Amina of Coup de Coeur has made it to the top 5 contestants of Bobbi Brown's Pretty Powerful Contest!!! (Find details of the contest here!) I literally screamed with excitement when I found out! Amina needs us to vote from now until March 26th to get her in the top 3. Please vote in the widget below. It's that simple... and if you do feel so inclined, please continue to vote until voting ends March 26th.
Let's vote by the numbers and support our blog sista!

Pretty Powerful Sponsored by Bobbi Brown

Aww, I wish you the best Amina!!


TAGS!!
I'm so honored to have been tagged by some of my favorite blogger pals. I know I'm pretty late on a few, but you all were definitely not forgotten. Here goes!
I received from AllmEyene a KREATIV BLOGGER AWARD and from Pink Ginger a BEAUTIFUL BLOGGER AWARD. Thank you beauties!

For these awards I'm to share 7 Facts about me:
(for long time readers, count how many of these you already know, hahaha!)

1. I'm a lefty like President Obama.
2. I want to own a Rita's Italian Ice and Build a Bear franchises one day.
3. Wanting to be a makeup artist came after I started Yummy411.
4. I've had this blog for a little over 3 years now.
5. I'm more like my dad than my mom.
6. Wicker Park and The Color Purple are my favorite movies.
7. I wanted a daughter, but am blessed 1000x over with a son!
I tag: Silverlips, Nihrida, Steph's Closet, The Hungry Asian, Makeup Babble, Shawnta, Nikki and Jen

From MochaMishMash and Josie of DIY Beauty Remedies I received the I LOVE YOUR BLOG award!

Thanks beauties!

I tag: Pumps and Gloss, Milan Rouge, Artiastry, Katrina, Black Beauty Central, Azia, Mona, Whiplashes, Clumps of Mascara, JillianDanica, Celly, MakeupbyRenRen.... this post will never end if I continue to tag! I have so many blogs that I love .. check "the blogs i follow list"!

OMG I reached 500 followers! This blog isn't about numbers or anything, but I think it's awesome that you guys have supported me... SO! Since I'm celebrating the followers on my blog, I want to do a give away for my followers.. yes you have to be a follower of this blog. More details to come.. SOON!

Spring Style Revamp

Spring Style Revamp

Learn how to get the fresh new hairstyles, makeup and fashion looks that are hot for spring

It couldn't be easier to update your look this season -- just add these three new hair, makeup and accessories to your bag of style tricks. See style updates

Happy St. Patrick's Day

My last name is Irish (but like for most African Americans that's just a slave owner's last name)
My grandmother's birthday is March 17th.
I drink socially.

Doesn't quite give me reason to fully feel a connection to St. Patrick's Day. (St. Patrick introduced Christianity to the Irish.. how does that translate to drinking and feasting??)

I love the color green and if that's a reason to get a drink then so be it! Alas, I didn't. I did get my latest mani in green though, using my latest green obsession: OPI's Jade is the New Black. Hehe, I wanted a Blackberry Bling manicure, too! (Yes, the polish has given the manicure style a whole new name.)

(no flash)

(flash)

Polishes used: N.Y.C. Starry Silver Glitter, NYX Blue Ave. and OPI's Jade is the New Black

Blue Ave. is a gorgeous acqua/purple iridescent flakey glitter in a jelly base. Boo, my jelly is way too thick!

Starry Silver glitter 105A is a semi-dense, small, silver glitter with a bluish and multi-colored small hexagon glitter.

On my thumbs I put 2 coats of Starry Silver Glitter and I fished out as many flakes from the NYX as I possibly could, concentrating the flakes on my tips.

BLACKBERRY PHOTOS!
(I promise I'll use cuticle oil next time!)

My favorite nude dupe!

My first nude lippy love was with MAC's lip lacquer in Love In. I use it on all of my brides. It is a dreaded discontinued item :( Oddly enough, it has lasted for a veerryy long time.

I found a dupe for it: Nars' Striptease! LOVE!

Love In is a bit more golden and opaque on the first swipe. Check the swatches:
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

My default blue liners

My pop of color to dress up my neutral eye is usually a liner, particularly blue. Here are a few liners that have a been part of my makeup bag rotation:

(L-r)
Teal Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner
MAC Auto de bleu
MAC Peacock glitter liner
Maybelline Sapphire Unstoppable liner (?)
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Sephora Precison Sponge

I love!
Don't have the pink egg to compare it to, but I'm sure it's just as fab.
Sephora.com, $12
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Fuchsia Lips and Tips (Revlon Colorburst Lipstick)

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Fuchsia-- looks pretty red right?
It really is Fuchsia. The color is pigmented. Hot pink, almost florescent. Love the packing with the classy, quilt print and the Revlon imprinted on the actual lipstick. Grade A from me! For my first time wearing the lipstick, it made quite an impression on me and those who saw me lol!

So three amigos went out for my #1 favorite Pisces' (by birth order, my sister Toni... the other being my younger sister, Jess) birthday. At the last hour of the night, we got her to go out for a cocktail at Old Ebbit Grill.

Now days, I've been sticking to a black color scheme. My eyes are usually dressed in neutrals. This night, I figured since my nails are hanging tough (totally need a fill like yesterday), I could play them up by using the same color on my lips- bright and catchy Fuschia.
Look at that shine without a gloss (paired with MAC's Beet lipliner).
Grrr! I'm gonna get you with my over due acrylics!

Happy bday Toni!! Man oh man were my Key Lime martinis off the chain! I haven't had one that good in a while. It's been a few moons since I was at the Martini Lounge on H Street where I made it my favorite drink!

Pretty in Pink Glitter Polish

Ack my nails! This isn't a Ruffian-inspired manicure, though it could be... How about Sally Hansens Flamingo to match at the bottom of the purple? When my nails get old and are ready for a fill, I get a bit adventurous. This time I painted over my Color Club's Power play (try Essie Perky Purple or Sinful's Dream On) with Love My Nails polish in Pretty in Pink on my tips. The glitter flashes pink, coral, orange and gold. I love the dazzle! A bit of rhinestone dimension without the rhinestones! (Hmm, I need a chunky black glitter in a clear gel base!) I'll try being adventurous with a fresh coat of polish and fill in!

The Love My Nais polish was a score from WalMart, less than $2.

Do you have any favorite layering combos? Do share!

Makeup and Asian Beauty!

Asian Celebrities Show Off Gorgeous Makeup Looks (Learn How to Get 'Em)

From Sandra Oh to Lucy Liu, these celebrities know how to play up their Asian beauty

One thing all Asian women do have in common? The ability to look absolutely stunning. These stars show off their radiant skin, pouty lips, flirty lashes and smoldering eyes, and here we'll give you the scoop on the makeup techniques they use. See looks

Curls with Loc Loops

I was gifted some Lock Loops * and other goodies from Muthasfynest after she cut off her locs....(Don't gasp. I've accepted that some people just need a change after being with a style for so long). My sister maintains my locs, so she felt at liberty to try the Loc Loops on herself first. Gorgeous curls right! Look at how she colors her locs.. she dyes them every 3 months or so! I need to be more daring.

My turn!
All rolled up!

The next day I wasn't completely dry so I wore them tightly coiled. Now I see how people get their hair this way! LOL!

All dry and plucked out:

*Site linked as a reference. I don't know where she ordered hers from.

Now that I've tried my first style, I'm ready for more. What are some other DIY styles that you love?