Lulu The Face Company

Over the weekend I visited Lulu The Face Company in Litchfield, CT. In a gorgeous sunny space, mirror lined walls provided the backdrop for the displays of makeup. With 30 years in the beauty industry, owner Linda Temkin set out to create a makeup line that would be more like skin care. The 100% natural and 95% vegan line uses anti-aging peptides and botanicals, as well as pure minerals which have anti-inflammatory properties to calm the skin. Though in my opinion, it's the option to have products customized that really sets the line apart.

I had a lovely afternoon socializing, trying out some new makeup, and enjoying snacks which were provided by Mockingbird Kitchen & Bar, which I will have to add to my list of restaurants to visit next time I'm in the area.

I got to have my very own custom mixed CC cream after a quick conversation with Linda about my skincare concerns, all of which could easily be addressed. Mattifier for my oily skin, sunscreen so I could skip an extra step in the morning, and a couple drops of ylang ylang essential oil to help with acne.

In addition to custom foundation colors, custom lip colors can also be blended, and given any kind of finish desired, from glossy to matte, with or without cinnamon and peppermint as plumping agents.

For anyone who loves the idea of having customized makeup sent right to their door, Lulu is launching a quarterly subscription box. The Lulu Love List Box will retail for $135, with a value of $225-$275 and contain three full size items. After signing up for the box a questionnaire can be filled out online, or local customers can set up a time to meet with Linda in person to determine how they'd like their products to be customized. Only 25 of these subscription boxes will be available when they launch next month. If you'd like to try a product from Lulu The Face Company this month, use code INSIDERAPRIL for 25% off your purchase!

           

Thanks to Lulu The Face Company for inviting me to your insider event!

Evian Mineral Water Spray Review

When it comes to makeup, I love natural, clean looks. I also hate spending a ton of time and having a myriad of products, so when I was given the opportunity to try out Evian's facial spray, I jumped at it.

The natural mineral water spray is nothing but natural mineral water from the French Alps, sealed at the source to prevent contamination, and nitrogen. The canister creates a fine mist which can be used to hydrate skin, intensify makeup, set makeup, and revive it throughout the day.

One use of the spray is to intensify makeup, which is done by spraying the brush and then charging it with eyeshadow to create a more pigmented, less chalky look. I loved the initial look, but I must note that the spray did not prevent the eye shadows from shifting into the crease of my eyelids after a few hours.

The aspect of the spray that I was most invested in was the ability to set makeup. I really hate when my makeup transfers to my white collars and necklines of my sweaters, button downs, and blazers. It looks terrible and is a pain to remove, so for the true test, I put on my new white striped sweater. By the end of the day my collar was makeup free!

Because I have oily skin, I did not feel the spray worked especially well for reviving my makeup unless I first used a blotting paper or two, but I was not expecting the spray to eliminate the oil from my face. It is however, quite refreshing and I enjoyed using it throughout the day.

If Evian mineral water spray is something you'd like to try, this full size, 5 oz size retails for about $7. You can also enter a giveaway to win a spray - The Wilkes Group is giving away 20 full size sprays!

To see more of what Evian Facial Spray can do for your makeup routine, visit them on Facebook!

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This is a sponsored post. Evian Facial Spray was provided to me by the exclusive USA distributor, The Wilkes Group for the purpose of this post. All views and opinions are my own.

A little rusty/What's in my makeup bag

I've been seeing a lot of rust colored things lately and loving them. I don't have too much of the color in my wardrobe, and now I have even less because I lost one of these earrings today.

This shot is my absolute favorite. I even love how my split ends look, and I really need a hair cut.

This leopard beret has clearly become my favorite hat (apologies, white beret and sequin beret).

Don't be mislead by this bright sunshine and happy bokeh. It's bitterly cold out still. Um Phil, when you said early spring, exactly how early did you mean?

The Rundown

Top TJMaxx - Skirt Made by Me - Cardigan Down East Basics - Boots Chinese Laundry - Beret Avon - Necklace Etsy - Tights TJMaxx - Earrings Can't remember, and now they are gone.

I got a tag to spill my makeup bag, so here is what is inside. Nothing too crazy, since I'm a big fan of the five minute face. Nothing too expensive either. Almost all my makeup is from Avon.

1. mark Matte-Nificent Oil-Absorbing Powder
2. mark Kabuki Brush
3. mark Good Glowing Powder Blush in After Glo
mark Eye Shadow in Goia and Glitterati 
4. Blotting Sheets
5. mark Get in Line Liquid Waterproof Eyeliner in Painted Black
mark Glow Baby Glow Lip Gloss in Sizzle
6. All Over Shadow Brush
7. Origins Eye Shadow in Lotus Flower
8. Rimmel London Nail Polish in Steel Grey
9. mark Lipclick Full Color Lipstick in Cha Cha
10. Gap "Pieces of a Dream" fragrance roll-on, circa 1999 (What, it's still good!)
11. Avon Super Extend Mascara
12. mark Gloss Gorgeous Stay On Lip Stain in Lolli
13. Esthetic Plus Leopard Tweezer

I do have a few other eye and lip colors to play around with, but this is just my basic go-to stuff. I also have Urban Decay's Eye Shadow Primer Potion, which I 'll use when I'm doing more than just a quick swipe of eyeliner; and a ton of nail polish. 

Review of Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

"How to keep eyeshadow in place" is what I googled last week, after coming home from work and seeing that once again, all my eyeshadow had slid into the crease - and I decided I needed to find a solution.

Just prior to this, I stopped at one of those makeup kiosks in the mall and asked for a solution to this problem. The woman began to rave about her $16 concealer and how that if I dabbed it on and then put some powder, my eyeshadow wouldn't crease anymore. Well I got her concealer and all I ended up with was an even bigger glob of makeup in my creases.

My ever helpful web search, however, lead me to Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion, and after reading many favorable reviews, several from people with oily skin who were having my same problem - I decided I would give it a try.

At Urban Decay's site it retails for $17, and when I bought it, the shipping was free. I did attempt to find it cheaper on ebay, but it was actually more expensive. They also have a store locator on their site, so you could perhaps avoid shipping costs that way.

For my test of the primer potion, I dabbed it over my whole eyelid and up to my brow with the applicator, then I blended it a bit more with my finger. Next I applied my eyeliner and my three shades of blue eyeshadow (for my turquoise outfit, of course).

My first photo was taken at 11am and the second at 11pm. I did not touch up the eyeshadow at any point during the day.

As you can see, by the end of the day, my face did get so very oily and while there was some depletion of the eyeshadow, I did not end up with it all globed into the crease!
I would say that I am very pleased with the product, as it did just what I wanted it too. It is simple to apply and not too overly priced. I would definitely recommend it.

Makeup Routine

For years I didn't wear makeup; seeing it through the eyes of an outsider as a waste of time and money. The disconnect between makeup and I prompted me to study it, and I spent six months photographing anyone who would let me, put their makeup on.

My first photographs could be described as 'graphic and unsettling', but as the project progressed and I began actually scripting the makeup routines I found myself loving the high fashion, theatrical aspects of it.


Gradually I came to appreciate makeup and the large roll it plays in the fashion world. I now actually enjoy wearing and experimenting with it on my own. Most days I keep it pretty simple - some silver eyeshadow, mascara, blush, and lip gloss. And while I enjoyed my photographic documentation of my subject's MAC shopping sprees, I buy my makeup from Avon - their Mark line is trendy and cheap.