The Cosmetics Company Outlet at Tanger Outlets at National Harbor

This past weekend I visited the CCO at the new  Tanger Outlets in the DMV (DC, Maryland  and VA) area.  Honestly, the CCO was the only reason I wanted to go to the outlets. No more planning trips to Arundel or Leesburg to get to a CCO! I now have one in my back yard!

Lights, makeup, cosmetics, liners, lipsticks, testers, discounts, assortment, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Cliniquie, perfumes, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger......

Ummmm, it was there, but very little of it, like almost NOTHING. I was told they get shipments once a month... blink, blink, stare...

SIGH. I guess after a year or so the inventory will pick up and it will be a store we can enjoy. I'm hopeful.

Summer Skin Guide, Love Palettes? Check this out!

Summer Skin Guide Series

This guide to summer skin can take you from hot mess to success from start to finish

This is a TotalBeauty.com Body article You totally planned to start that detox diet, fitness regimen, and skin care routine overhaul months before an important event (whether it's a wedding, reunion, first day on the job, or accidental-on-purpose ex sighting), but your best intentions fell by the wayside. The fact remains: The big day is looming, and your skin is nowhere near picture-perfect. Whether you have two months or two days, these tips will get your skin on track for your best showing ever. See skin tips

Take the Palette Challenge

This should help you close the zipper of your overstuffed makeup bag: 1 Palette, 2 Special Occasion Looks

This is a TotalBeauty.com Makeup article Special occasions usually call for at least a two-hour block of time to get ready, not to mention an arsenal of products at your command. When you want glam lips, smoky eyes, and a flawless face, the makeup bag becomes more like a makeup duffel. Does it have to be that way? We challenged two staff members to create special occasion looks with just one palette and a few other makeup essentials. Read on to see their results. See makeup palettes

Depotting Solutions by Ren of Makeup by Ren Ren

Sunday, I took the time to depot (getting my makeup ready for palettes) and collecting MAC empties for the Back2Mac recycling program.  I had a huge Z Palette that would be able to fit everything until I got some proper organization.

When I put everything in the palette, my shadows were sliding around and wasn't as secure.  My first experience with the Z palette, my Make Up For Ever pan shadows were cemented in that palette. No worries at all.  This time was different.  Luckily, I was browsing my YouTube subscriptions and saw that Ren had just posted a video solving the problem!

Check out her latest vid for the solution!

Depotting Shadows into a Z-Palette & Making them Stick!

How to Choose a Concealer

Tips on how to choose a concealer!
1. Decide the coverage you need:
Need a 'wake me up'?
Dark circles?


2. Decide the look you are going for:
Even skin tone under eyes?
Highlighted look a la Kim K?

For just enough coverage and even skin tone under the eyes, choose a concealer close to your skin tone or one to two shades lighter.  Too bright? Add a bit of your foundation to mellow the color a bit.
Product recommendations: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, CoverGirl Queen Collection Concealer, MAC Select Cover Up Concealer or MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer if you have dry skin type or mature skin.

For dark circles and need a bit more coverage, follow steps above for even skin tone under the eyes but use a fuller coverage concealer and/or add a corrector!  If needed, on top of your foundation add corrector then concealer.  People have different preferences on how and what order to apply concealer and corrector.  Just use it! LOL
Product recommendations: Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer, MAC Studio Finish Concealer, Bobbi Brown (peach) Corrector, Victoria Secret Pro Concealer Palette (it includes a peach and green for various correction issues)

For a highlighted look, use a concealer or foundation two shades lighter than your skin tone (and corrector if needed).  Apply concealer under the eye from bottom lash line to tops of the cheek bones. BLEND well!! Make a seamless finish between concealer and foundation

To make your concealer last:  Look for long wear formulas like MAC's Pro Longwear  concealer.  Be sure to set your concealer with a translucent powder!


Here's how I apply my concealer (and foundation).
Take it from my sis (but don't highlight your brows as she does please! lol)

CoverGirl Queen Collection new embassador, Paula Patton

At an incredible dinner at The Source, an Asian fusion restaurant by the prestigious chef Wolfgang Puck in downtown DC, Cover Girl announced to a bunch of savvy bloggeristas and media divas that Paula Patton was the newest Cover Girl Queen Collection ambassador... and get this, gave us the opportunity to chat with her!

She glowed and beamed with pride!  She told us how she was ecstatic to represent the brand, one that offers cosmetics for women of color.

She shared that her routine has shortened because of her little bundle of joy, but getting back into glam mode she uses her Cover Girl to polish her look.  Her makeup artist, Fiona Styles, dished via twitter (@fionastiles) that she uses Cover Girl Queen Collection Mineral Bronzer for her fabulous glow.  You all know how much I rave about that bronzer, right?

She was also very excited to talk to us about the new products that Cover Girl will be launching early next year: Natural Hue Matte Pressed Powder to keep oilies at bay, Vivid Impact Eyeliner-- metallic, jewel toned goodness and LashFanatic Mascara for incredible lashes.

Me and Paula.. yes she's as pretty, bright and bubbly as you think! ;)

I have a few of the new products to test, so of course I'll let you all know how that goes!

Sephora $25 E-Gift Certificate Winner: Jo Jo!

The winner of my Sephora $25 E-Gift Certificate is :

Jo Jo

of Jo Jo's Beauty Guide!

Thanks for participating!

 Here's the winning set she created with the gorg shoes and purse from my Polyvore set!  I love it!



Yummy Fall Obsession by jmolinaro featuring a metal clutch

Paul joe pullover sweater
€259 - jades24.com

Lanvin fitted skirt
£530 - brownsfashion.com

Nicholas Kirkwood high heels
$819 - mytheresa.com

ASOS metal clutch
$31 - asos.com

Proenza Schouler engraved jewelry
$525 - thecorner.com

By Malene Birger belt
huset-shop.com

Mascara
lancome-usa.com

Shu Uemura False Eyelashes Smokey Layers
£13 - liberty.co.uk

BCBGMAXAZRIA Eau de Parfum No Color 1.7 oz
$75 - nordstrom.com

Le Metier De Beaute Fall/Winter Mini Nail Lacquer

$10 - bergdorfgoodman.com

MAC Blogger's Obsession Hocus Pocus eyeshadow and Evolution Revolution lipglass FOTD

Remember I told you about Hocus Pocus eyeshadow when I saw it at Lianne's Blogaversary party? Well, I got my hands on that baby and did an fotd... wait, I did one better-- I did a video! It's not a tutorial of my fotd, but you get to see me wearing it in action!







The deets!

FACE
MAC Prolong Wear foundation
MAC Studio Careblend powder in Gold Go Lightly
MAC Studion finish concealer NW30 (under eye highlight and brow highlight)
Bobbi Brown pale yellow loose powder to set the concealer

EYES
Ben Nye Turquoise lumiere cream color as base
Hocus Pocus eyeshadow on lid
Tete a Tint and Saddle shadows in the crease
Carbon on outer v
Random light shadow for inner corner
Revlon black liquid liner to line top lid
UD Zero on waterline
LA Splash green glitter liner on bottom lid
MAC #8 Lash

CHEEKS
Ruby Kisses All Over Glow (Rose Glow?) as highlight
MAC Get Away Bronze blush

LIPS
MAC Peachstock lipstick
MAC Evolution Revolution lipglass


Now watch my new vid! (Comment, rate, share, subscribe!)

Natural Hair and Makeup Feature on La Petite Sirène à Londres...

Yours truly has been featured on La Petite Sirene a Londres!
Check out my interview with Aurelie about hair and makeup!
Thanks so much Aurelie!

The Makeup Show 2011! Part 2

So, what did I get?

1. The Powder Group Pro Clear Soft Packs- I had already revamped my kit organizing items into clear bags that I had picked up from WalMart for $5 each. It changed my life, so I couldn't resist getting TPG's set with different sizes-- 5 different bags for $30. The WalMart cosmetic clear bags have tougher plastic, but are only one size fits all =/

2. Japonesque 35 Well Lip Palette- I have palettes of other kinds, but I didn't have one for lipsticks... I see my kit looking better already! Yes!

3. Blot Out Offensive Shine and Oil Control Cream- I wasn't as satisfied with MAC's matte gel, so I wanted something comparable to that. Each year at The Makeup Show, I see this product so I figured this year would be the year I tried it. I needed a clear cream or gel that I could use with or without makeup. This product is white, but rubs down to a clear, matte finish. I can't wait to put it to the test.

4. Eve Pearl's Duo Salmon Concealer & Treatment (in Tan)- Another one of those "bought out of curiosity" items. I've heard about it, I'm a believer and subscriber to the theory of what the product is and just felt like darn.. it's about time. Plus, Eve Pearl herself was basically helping me with my purchase! I hope it lives up to what I want it to be. I have so many concealers! Will this stand out from the rest?

5. Extra Small Cotton Swabs- I couldn't find a link for these, but they are ultra skinny and small cotton swabs... I use my cotton swabs a lot, so I figured some in a different size would be cool and probably useful. For less than $2 a pack, they couldn't hurt, right?

6. Bdellium Brushes!- Touting themselves as the professional, antibacterial cosmetic brush I had to check them out especially since my girl Faces by Azia JS featured them on her blog. I told the owners that I was checking them out because Azia recommended them and they knew and spoke of her fondly. Yay bloggers! So excited to see this brand as Crown was too crowded, Cozette wasn't at the station so I could ask questions before purchasing, some other companies just didn't strike my fancy, but Bdellium pulled me in with their assortment of duo fibre brushes as well as the awesome little travel size brushes that I'm in love with.

7. Z Palette- I bought a small one from IMATS and this rocked my socks! Like I said before, I knew about the palette, but life is different once you have it in your possession and use it! It will make you want to depot and press all loose cosmetics to be able to store them in your Z palette. You'd think clear lids/bags was revolutionary, but hey... they make life sooooooooo much easier! Save time and the guessing by being able to see what you need! Save room by not having spacers in your palettes and the pan will fit no matter the size! Ahhh... I'd like to save a sentence or two for when I do a formal review.

I hope I get to use and review all of these items soon!

Check out more pictures below!!

Silver Lips, Me, Yannize and Shana Janelle

Me and Mona of Make Me Blushhhh

MAC Pro.. the sales people were nice and actually selling products! Go MAC!
Someone said to have even gotten Candy Yum Yum while at the show???
I thought they were selling pro products only.... hmmm should have gotten some blushes!

The scene of Danessa Myricks Ruby Kisses competition hosted by herself along with Elessa and Attiyaa.

Some personalities we get used to seeing on You Tube as the girl next door or the friend on your comp, but off the comp Attiyaa is just as gorgeous yall!

Gorgeous Bethany Townes was part of the competition!!
And guess who the winner was???
Yes!!! Bethany!!

Me and the homie @OhMyTy of Gorgeous in Gray. She's wearing her CoverGirl Lip Perfection lipstick in Spellbound!

Me, Eve Pearl and my homie Kenya (Brown Girlz Rock)

The entire Smashbox crew stopped what they were doing at their station to take a pic for me! Every year Lori is at The Makeup Show being the fabulous person that she is. I love her!

Billy B spoke and we listened! He also gave big shout outs to Erin Scandalous Beauty! Loves it!

Ahh my homie AJ Crimson. Like, I love him! I told him I miss him on Twitter and want to see him with his both showcasing his foundations! We're waiting AJ!! I didn't get any insider scoop on the status of that, hmph!

THE Same Fine. This is as close as I got to him. This is his first year being at the show. There was a crazy line of people waiting to talk to him and buy his DVD, but I've hugged him before and have his signed DVD. I'm good. :) Remind me to tell yall about that experience one day...

Darby Girl and Francine of Revealing Beaute'

Lauren/Queen of Blending in her tutu and hair garden piece repping for OCC

Tysh and me! Every year she wows me with her makeup and brows... this year was the same without fail! Dont forget the gorgeous hair!

Yup her eye makeup looked as airbrushed as it does in the pic... talented!

Deshawn Hatcher and me! I love her blog! She has infinite wisdom to share about this industry!

Ro of Creatively Yours and me!

Erica of Glamorous Gleam, NY's fashionista was in the building! lol (I have no idea what I was looking at, but a great pic of us nonetheless)

Me and Mr. CoCoMoreno! I met him at IMATs, but seeing him at this event, it rung a bell that I saw him at TMS last year also.. so sweet, so nice and a beautiful spirit. Wish I could have talked to him more, but he was helping a customer!

Me and the homie Yana of (I will be ) My Own Judge.
So good to see her again!

THE Reggie Wells was in the building. The golden hands of Oprah's beauty for over 20 years. He spoke to the masses and had a booth of his own selling product!

Kenya, co founder of CoverFX and Melissa of CoverFX, and Darby Girl Toni!
So awesome to meet one of the founders of such an innovative brand!!!

Glamcor was in the building. Guess who got the last classic lighting kit? HeHe.... how gorg is she in this awesome dress? We wanted it, but settled for the name of the ATL boutique, SOLE.

Erin Scandalous Beauty and Meagan Shea (Beauty editor now on Afrobella)

Elessa from Pursebuzz... she's been around in the blogosphere/interwebs for a while now. She remembered me :) and she totally get the AWARD FOR SWEETEST ONLINE PERSONALITY. I could tell she was exhausted from the excitement of the day, but she kept a smile on her face and chatted with us for a few and tooks pics.. she's awesome... as we already knew, but it's great to confirm that IRL.

Me, Ren of Makeup by RenRen and Darby Girl Toni
Out of all my blogworld friends, Ren is one of the OG's and this was our first time meeting! She's as gorgeous and down to earth as you'd expect! I never circled back to say goodbye, but I hope this won't be our last meeting!

Toni, Mils from Dominican Enigma and me. I love this foxxy fly mama! We ran into each other looking for Ren at Graphtobian! LOL!

I stopped these ladies to compliment them on their makeup.. the colors were so bold and bright, I loved it. Well, I'm so glad I did!!! These are the owners of the newest makeup line sensation to hit the net...Magnolia Makeup! With a weird obsession for New Orleans (maybe we'll talk about that later) I just had to get a pic and hopefully I'll be ordering soon!

Yeh this is all I saw of Make Up For Ever, oh yeh, I saw the line and kept walking. I braved the line last year. I wasn't in the mood this year. I had too much to accomplish in so little time. Notice I don't have a pic of Inglot or Crown (the craziest booths in the entire place)!

Me and Ms. Butterfli/Danyelle Ducket MUA ;) Don't you love her hair too!

Divaaaaaa! --yes you have to sing it! (Lisa) of YouTube has the fiercest brows, eva! Pictures do them no justice! We met here, but I can't wait to check out her vids!

Tammy of Portrait of a Lady!! My blogger homie and winner of my Makeup Show tix giveaway from last year. She won tickets again this year! Lucky girl. So good to see her IRL!

Nerissa of Noire Tropical and DarbyGirl! So good seeing her again! If you need to stay focused --on a schedule or what have you, this is the person to hang with! As soon as we got there, she gave us the 411 on what was what and what was coming up next! Can't wait to hang out with her again!

Beautiful bloggers that I look forward to seeing whenever I'm in NY, Miss Irene of MissWhoEverYouAre and Adina of Krasey Beauty!

Whew! More to come! Let me at least go to bed and catch my breath! =p