THE BEST ANTI-WRINKLE CREAMS OF 2013

The search for more youthful skin is picking up speed this spring with the debut of technically advanced anti-wrinkle creams. The latest arrivals boast superstar ingredients, more sophisticated textures and spa-like results in a bottle. Here’s what to put into rotation right now to turn back the hands of time.

www.mikelcainbeauty.com

ANTI_AGING_MIKEL CAIN (2)

Top-Shelf Skin Repair
It’s one of the most powerful vinotherapy creams yet. Caudalie’s new Premier Cru The Cream features the house’s three star anti-aging ingredients—firming resveratrol-oleyl, brightening vniferine and protective grape-seed polyphenols—at their highest dosage to help lessen wrinkles and improve facial contours.

Caudalie Premier Cru The Cream, $155, caudalie.com

ANTI_AGING_MIKEL CAIN (3)

Global Phenomenon
Yes, every luxury cream seems to tout rare ingredients discovered in remote regions. All hype aside, Chanel’s new Sublimage Le Fluide Ultimate Skin Regeneration features vanilla planifolia from Madagascar in a potent, purified form to counteract fine lines and dullness. Zinc molecules help mattify skin, keeping it even-toned even in humid temps.

Chanel Sublimage Le Fluide, $310, chanel.com

ANTI_AGING_MIKEL CAIN (4)

Unexpected Hero
Because smooth, plump skin resists wrinkles, Chantecaille Bamboo and Hibiscus Exfoliating Cream is an essential in your anti-aging arsenal. Bamboo particles gently polish the complexion while hibiscus flower acids stimulate cell regeneration to keep skin firm and toned.

Chantecaille Bamboo and Hibiscus Exfoliating Cream, $85, chantecaille.com

ANTI_AGING_MIKEL CAIN (5)

Hard-Working Wonder
While the name speaks to your pores, La Prairie Cellular Emulsion Matte Pore Minimizer addresses five anti-aging concerns, including lines and wrinkles, discoloration, redness and irritation, hydration, as well as enlarged pores. If you’re looking for a multi-tasking moisturizer, this is it.

La Prairie Cellular Emulsion Matte Pore Minimizer, $225, shoplaprairie.com

ANTI_AGING_MIKEL CAIN (6)

DNA Discovery
A French favorite, NUXE Nuxellence is the result of years of research—it currently holds three patents for its ability to repair mitochondrial DNA decline that can weaken skin cells. After 28 days of use, an impressive 90 percent of study participants saw diminished wrinkles, to which we say: très bien.

NUXE Nuxellence Jeunesse, $75, nuxe.com

ANTI_AGING_MIKEL CAIN (7)

Spa Solution
The pros at Elizabeth Arden have turned their decades of hands-on experience with treating complexions into a new results-driven at-home skincare range. The Age Defense Multi-Peptide Moisturizer is like a fresh mist of oxygen, quickly boosting circulation and stimulating cellular renewal for a youthful, firmer look.

Elizabeth Arden Age Defense Multi-Peptide Moisturizer, reddoorspas.com

ANTI_AGING_MIKEL CAIN (8)

Hold The Grease
For those who want powerful youth benefits in a lightweight lotion, Restorsea Rejuvenating Day Lotion SPF 30 delivers sun protection along with the brand’s Vibransea complex (a natural enzyme from salmon that sloughs dead skin plus vitamin C and algae) to tone the skin with a non-greasy texture.

Restorsea Rejuvenating Day Lotion, $150, restorsea.com

MENS TOP 5 SHAVING KITS

BOBBI BROWN BRIGHTEN, SPARKLE & GLOW 2013 SPRING COLLECTION

Brightening Finishing Powder ($50): Yeah, this is expensive. And yeah, all those pastels look a little wacky, considering this isn’t an eye palette. But one swirl of a fluffy brush over the surface of this radiant powder, and your complexion will be transformed. You’ll go from tired, saggy, sallow, and blah to perky, bright, and luminous. Swear! It’s a miracle in a compact. Dust on a sheer veil after you’ve applied the rest of your makeup and watch your complexion light up. Also, the pressed powder is infused with a skin-brightening blend of Mulberry, Grape and Scutellaria extracts and Sodium Hyaluronate (which is like a moisture magnet) to keep skin fresh, glowy, and smooth.


Sparkle Eyeshadow ($28): This new limited-edition gilded shade is in addition to the lineup of seven other shimmery, shiny shades.

#01 Silver Moon
#03 Ballet Pink
#04 Mica
#20 Cement
#22 Black Chocolate
#23 Gold Star Venus

High Shimmer Lip Gloss ($24): This is one of my favorite formulas of lip gloss, because the shimmer really does brighten up your whole complexion, without going anywhere near the realm of tacky. Available in 17  Shades.

Bare Sparkle
Beach
Bellini
Black Ruby
Bronzed Heather
Canary
Citrus
Electric Violet
Firefly
Hot
Midnight Violet
Naked Plum
Pastel
Pink Tulle
Pink Sequin
Uber Suede
Plum Gold

Extra Soothing Balm ($58): A great first step toward getting a glowing complexion.

Sheer Color Cheek Tint ($26): Sheer Pink and Sheer Berry. I have raved about the Sheer Pink shade of this product for about three years, and then they stopped making it. I’m still squeezing bits out of my old push-up stick, savoring the last morsels. And now it’s back! Honestly, my favorite cream blush ever. It’s so dewy and glides on cheeks so smoothly…it’s a dream.

Retouching Powder Collection ($36): This multipurpose powder does pretty much anything you need it to. It can stand in as a blush or bronzer. It can be used for midday or after-work touch-ups to refresh your makeup. It can be mixed with moisturizer to make your skin look extra dewy (in a good way). It also minimizes redness, soothes and calms skin, brightens, evens tone and discolorations, minimizes the appearance of fine lines, and gives you an overall airbrushed look. In Yellow, Rose, Peach, White, and Brown.

White: Brightens and illuminates alabaster to light skin
Pink: Counteracts sallow undertones in alabaster to medium skin tones
Yellow: Tones down redness in extra light to medium skin tones
Peach: Warms up light skin tones. Evens out tanned and medium to dark skin tones
Rose: Gives light to deep skin tones in a healthy flush of color
Brown: Warms up dark and rich skin tones

Brow Pencil ($22): I am officially a broken record: brows can make you look totally polished and pulled-together, or like a hot mess. If you only have 30 seconds for makeup in the morning, perfect your skin and define and groom your brows! Pencil is the quickest, easiest way to fill in sparse spots, and you’ll be amazed at how fully it pulls your whole look together. The new shade Brunette will be a savior for you darker-haired ladies.

Tinted Eye Brightener ($30): Dark circles? Forget about ‘em! This magic wand will whisk them away in one swipe. This is the product you ladies battling dark circles (myself included) have been dreaming of! For an extra punch, layer it over Bobbi’s Corrector to look well-rested, healthy, and utterly luminous. Available in 10 shades (listed from lightest to darkest): Porcelain Bisque, Light Bisque, Bisque, Medium to Dark Bisque, Dark Bisque, Porcelain Peach (pictured), Light to Medium Peach, Peach, Dark Peach, and Deep Peach.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

NO MORE EYESHADOW CREASING!

MAC Paint Pots:

I recently started using MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot for the first time.  This product is part of their permanent collection, and I’ve heard people talk about it for years, but I’ve always been drawn Painterly Paint Pot over this one for a creamy nude color.  A couple of months ago I decided to switch things up and give this shade a try! MAC Paint Pots are cream eyeshadows that can be worn alone or used as a primer/base under other eyeshadows. They have a highly pigmented colour that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colourfast and creates a seamless coverage without weight or any caking. Mac pots blend smoothly over the lids and can be mixed with other shadows and liners.
If you have any problems with (Creasing) from other primers or you do not use anything underneath your shadow, I definitely would suggest giving Mac Pots a try, they absolutely work  and will keep your eyeshadow in place all day. Also depending upon color of the mac pot you choose  your eyeshadow color will really pop! (I prefer a lighter color for versatility) MAC Pots are usually my go-to  for primers, especially for high performance and long lasting on a shoot.
 I love the consistency, they keep the powder eyeshadows bright, and they don’t ever crease on me!  I prefer something like a Paint Pot over a primer like Urban Decay’s Primer Potion because a paint pot acts as a foundation for the eyelid and covers up any veining, redness and any other discoloration in the skin while leaving a smooth and perfect canvas to begin applying other products on.
Soft Ochre is a light nude cream with yellow undertones.  It has no sheen or shimmer to it.  Soft Ochre is a little lighter and more yellow than Painterly Paint Pot, which is more of a beige/pink nude.  In general I would say if you wear yellow/warm foundations, Soft Ochre would suit you best.  If you wear pink/cool foundations, Painterly may be better. If you happen to be neutral, you really could lean either way.
Soft Ochre applies on the skin like a super creamy concealer.  It can be blended sheerly, or layered for full coverage.  This color would make a great “nude” primer for people with light to medium complexions.  On deeper complexions, it would work great for lightening and brightening the eye area to apply lighter shadows.
Soft Ochre applies on the skin like a super creamy concealer.  It also can be blended sheerly, or layered for full coverage.  This color would make a great “nude” primer for people with light to medium complexions.  On deeper complexions, it would also work great for lightening and brightening the eye area to apply lighter shadows. Most importantly and i can never stress this enough and all great MUA know that great tools are the key to a flawless makeup application.
I have used every brush in the world it seems from craft stores to every department store brand on the planet and my team and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the brushes from the adesign brush collection, they are created for professional makeup artists and can turn the everyday diva into an artist in seconds with there specially crafted hand cut designs which can also be used wet/dry, you definitely want to check them out! And let me know what you think?
Be sure to check back later this week as I will be doing a full overview on Primers, what i have found to be the best as for performance, consistency and price point. I actually have many in my kit and believe every product can serve a purpose, as for “Eliminating Creases” I definitely choose the Mac paint pots for those long days of shooting.

OBSESSED??? A CONCEALER THAT COVERS IT ALL

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS
 
The sleep-deprived, internet fanatic that I am, I’ve tried my fair share of concealers and it’s been trial and error on my dark circles throughout the years. Someone once described OCC Skin: Conceal as “Photoshop in a jar,” so I had to try it. The wonder product does not disappoint. I can be completely discolored in spots with irritation around my nostrils, and this cover-up leaves me with the most even-toned face I’ve ever had.
Intended as a multi-purpose skin product, this line fits perfectly with my OCC Airbrush Foundation since all of their skin products have the same shade range. I’ve been using their skin products for quite some time, so this made it a lot easier to find out what color I needed. I personally use two different shades as I need a slightly deeper, warmer toned concealer under my eyes. Just like their industry-loved Lip Tar, a little product goes a long way—so your face is light, clean and crease-free without caking on the layers. Thanks to this pot of gold, I go from worn out and fatigued to fresh-faced and ready to face the day.
 
CONCEAL 
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS 
 – More than just a concealer, OCC SKIN:CONCEAL may be the only product you’ll ever need for complexion perfection! Tested behind-the-scenes by the artists at OCC for over two years prior to its release, it’s passed the pro’s test for ease of use, coverage and endurance. Formulated from the finest vegan ingredients available, OCC SKIN: CONCEAL also nourishes and hydrates the skin with Cocoa Extract, Aloe Leaf Extract and Vitamin E for coverage that feels as good as it looks! Perfect for any medium from Digital Photography and Hi-Definition TV to everyday use and wear!
 
• An opaque but adjustable coverage, best applied with our #003 Concealer Brush
• Available in 12 multi-ethnic, internationally calibrated skin-tone shades.
• Paraben-Free and also free of Silicone, Petroleum and Fragrance

CELEBRITY PORTFOLIO

Check out some of our latest Portfolios and some Never before released shots and behind the scenes footage. Much more Coming Soon!

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

QUICK TIPS FOR STRAIGHTENING OUT THOSE CURLS

Straight hair looks elegant and alluring. Small wonder the sleek look is so popular. You have the choice of various techniques to straighten your hair. Blow-drying while pulling your hair over a round or paddle brush will work. Using a flat iron or applying a semi-permanent hair straightener also leads to straight hair. While experimenting with hairstyles, women braid, pin up, colour and curl their hair. Sooner or later, most women also discover the sleek look. Models all over the world embrace sleek hairstyles. On and off the catwalks between Los Angeles and Cannes, sleek hair intrigues and gets attention. Go ahead and try on the sleek style! You will be surprised how this look actually lends itself to so many variations. The right choice of straightening method depends entirely on your style and how long you want your hair to remain straight. Keep reading to find the right straightening method for your hair and style. Hair Straightening: Blow-Drying over a Round/Paddle Brush The classic hair straightening method involves pulling your hair over a round or paddle brush while blow-drying it. Most women have these tools at hand. In this method, strands of the towel-dry hair are rolled over a brush, briefly treated to a stream of blow-dryer air and then pulled straight through the brush. A round brush works best for short hair while a paddle brush is more suitable for long hair. Straightening your hair is easier after applying a straightening lotion or spray. Some of straightening products also contain heat protectant to save your hair from being damaged and dry out during blow-drying. Straightening your hair by pulling it over a round or paddle brush while blow-drying it is very simple and the effect lasts one day. However, women with naturally curly hair at best create wavy hair with this method. Hair Straightening: Using a Flat Iron

Using a flat iron is a more effective hair straightening method. We recommend the method for women with naturally curly hair and for women who are not satisfied with the blow dryer-and-brush straightening. Don’t forget to work heat protectant through your towel-dry hair (preferentially by combing your hair with a wide-toothed comb) before you use the flat iron. Now you are ready to pull strands of your hair through the flat iron in a swift, continuous motion. Flat irons with ceramic or other coatings work best because they warm the hair evenly and gently. This method keeps hair straight for up to two days. Briefly straighten re-appearing waves after the first night. With practice your hair straightening skills will grow. Be sure to give you hair a conditioning treatment for dry and damaged hair once a week to prevent lasting hair damage. Semi-Permanent Hair Straightening: Using a Blow-Dry Straightening Kit

You can create the sleek look even if your hair is curly, frizzy or very unruly. Simply apply a straightening blow-dry kit to achieve sleek hair. The hair is straightened in two steps. In the first step, straightening serum containing keratin, silk and wheat proteins is applied to the hair, which is then combed straight. After 20 minutes, use lukewarm water to rinse out the straightening serum. The serum not only straightens hair but also makes it supple and smooth. After the serum treatment, apply a sealer for ten minutes while combing your hair straight a couple of times. The sealer ensures that your hair stays sleek and straight. Applying the straightening kit keeps hair straight through up to ten shampoos. After shampooing, you may like to use your blow dryer to freshen up the sleek look. In an instant, your already visibly straighter hair will be as straight and supple as you want it to be.

MENS TOP TIPS, TRENDS & PRODUCTS 2013

Men's 2013 Hair Tips, Trends.& Products.Before choosing the best hair products for men you should be very careful and know which ones will work for you. The first hair product to choose should be your shampoo, which should match with your hair type. Note that the best hair products for men have the difference of premature baldness and healthy hair.

When you decide to get your mens grooming tips going on you should know pliable ones are best because they are cheaper than others in the long run. For many years the best hair product for men has been Grooming Compound; a great selection as you can put it on in the mornings and it will still be looking great in the evening when you go out.

Another men’s grooming tip is that you should get your hair cut at least once every four to six weeks so that you look the finest. How do modern men currently style their hair? What products are right for which one of the haircuts? What are the options for balding hair? Here we present the hair styling rules, which all men should know Men who visit the hair salon just once a year are rare these days. Nowadays, maintaining stylish hair is part of the daily routine just like keeping the body hair neat. You can successfully attend to your care routine if you use the following tips. Hair we go!

The Do’s and Don’ts of Men’s Hair:

Men used to restrict themselves to shampooing and blow-drying their hair. Today, men draw on almost unlimited resources. Whether your hair is short or long, whatever appeals to you goes. You can decide whether you want to wear an accurate form-cut like Jake Gyllenhaal or rather sport the tousled out-of-bed look of Johnny Depp. Also in fashion are the more feminine haircuts with longer fringes and fringed covering hair. You will be wearing your hair style in your work place as well. Dreadlocks, an Iroquois or punk haircut or hair styles with tribal or other motifs shaved into the hair are a matter of taste or no taste, whatever the case may be.

Hair Styling for Men: (Helpful Tools)

Aside from a hair dryer and comb, a man’s hair styling tools should also include a hair brush. Invest in a brush with natural bristles or a massage brush with rounded bristles, rubber or wood bristles. A flat iron may be useful for men as well. Be sure to buy a flat iron of good quality so that you won’t heat damage your hair and scalp. By the way, wildly growing eyebrow hairs should be plucked out using tweezers. You should regularly disinfect these tweezers with alcohol. A very small dab of wax or gel will keep the hair close to the skin.

Men need the proper products:

Short hair is best styled using gel. Gel gives short hair styles sufficient hold. Using the right amount of gel is very important. Porcupine quills and the concrete look are out of style right now

Wax or pomade is the right choice if you like your hair to fall softly. The products should also have a pleasant fragrance, Gel is not suitable for longer hair because it makes long hair rigid and hard to style.

Hair wax or styling crème helps to create a natural hair style. You should use hair spray with some caution after you have applied gel or wax to your hair. While the hair spray will provide hold, it can also make your hair appear bedraggled.

Balding Hair What to Do?

What are your options when your hair falls out? Many men have to deal with balding hair. Hair growth promoting treatments and hair transplants are possible solutions. However, the simple and cool way to deal with the loss of hair is a razor-short haircut or a bald head. Consult with your hair stylist before making your decision and don’t hesitate to ask your closest friends for feedback.

Stylish Facial Hair:

The opinions on beards are split. As a general rule, you should only grow a beard if you have enough facial hair. Meagre beards tend to look unattractive. Beards like the hair on the head are subject to trends. Three-day beards can be sexy but this is not (no longer) true for a thick bushy moustache. On the other hand, chin beards and full beards keep growing in popularity. You should not forget to take care of your facial hair. It needs to be washed at least every second day. Not all hair grows at the same speed and you should therefore trim your dry beard as needed. Wild scraggly beards are not in style at all. Special beard trimmers and electrical beard trimmers can be helpful tools for the care of your beard. The same tools are also useful to trim sideburns. Bushy mutton chops look good on only very few men. Most men look better with properly trimmed sideburns, which match the hair style and beard.

Unwanted Body Hair:

Body hair is useful but not pretty. Visible nose and ear hair can quickly result in a scruffy appearance. It is easy enough to remove them. Nose and ear hair trimmers pluck the unwanted hair out but this is a painful process. Special nose hair trimmers with rounded ends also take care of the problem. Special trimmers only cut the hair near the roots; they don’t completely remove the hair. This way, the important protective functions of the hair remain intact. Under no circumstances should you use depilatory creams in your nose and ears. These creams work well on legs, chest and back hair. In the nose and ears however they will irritate the sensitive mucous membranes.

My Men’s Products Picks:

Aveda has always positioned itself as a company which strives to create products that are botanically based and manufactured through environmentally friendly processes. Of course, As a Stylist myself i can appreciate when a company makes products that are as free of unnecessary chemicals as possible, but I’m equally concerned with performance. The Aveda Men Pure-formance line of products remain one of my FAVs!

SHAMPOO & CONDITION:

The three products I tested in this category were Pure-formance Shampoo, Pure-formance Conditioner, and Pure-formance Exfoliating Shampoo. Of all of the products, the shampoo stood out as my personal favorite.

Aveda Pure-formance Shampoo:

The shampoo has a very rich texture and did a fine job of cleaning my hair and scalp with no noticeable drying or itching. Many shampoos leave my scalp feeling oily, but this product rinsed away completely. My hair and scalp felt clean and refreshed. The scent was a bit strong and lingered longer than most other products, but that’s a minor complaint. This really is a great product.

Aveda Pure-formance Exfoliating Shampoo:

I must admit, I can be a bit harsh in my reviews of exfoliating products — I’m very particular — and I found this product to be mostly useless. As a shampoo it performed quite well, but the walnut shells and jojoba beads used to give the product its scrubbing ability were just too large and sparse to be effective. For exfoliating the scalp, I strongly prefer Menscience Microfine Face Scrub or HeadBlade Head Shed, which have small, dense scrubbing agents and are far more effective.

Aveda Pure-formance Conditioner:

Overall, I liked this product. It gave my hair a bit more shine and manageability and left my scalp feeling soothed and moisturized. In the bottle, the product has a pleasant smell, but once on the hair it developed a bit of a medicinal odor — a fairly common complaint I’ve heard with Aveda conditioners. The smell was not bad, but I did not find it as pleasant as the shampoo’s fragrance.

My Styling Picks:

The Aveda Men Pure-formance line offers some truly outstanding styling options. I’ve found each to be exceptionally good, but they do have the same strong fragrance as the rest of the line and may not appeal to everyone.

Aveda Pure-formance Grooming Clay:

This is my new favorite styling product! It offers exceptional pliable hold with a natural shine. It’s great for adding texture to the hair for today’s casual “lived in” styles. A small amount can also add a bit of thickness to fine hair as well.

Aveda Pure-formance Pomade:

This pomade adds strong, pliable hold and high shine and is perfect for controlling short to medium length hair. I have used a small bit of this product to add shine and separation to longer styles as well. Unlike most pomades, this one is water-based, so it rinses clean.

Aveda Pure-formance Grooming Cream:

For medium to longer hair, this product is great for providing a soft, natural looking control. The product is not sticky and lends itself well to the types of styles which invite you to run your fingers through the hair. I’ve found this product is most effective on hair that is already dry or just slightly damp.

Aveda Pure-formance Liquid Pomade:

For light to medium pliable control and high shine, this product can’t be beat. For long shags, it is great for taking out volume and giving a more lean appearance to the style. For guys with curly hair, this product is simply fantastic. It provides exceptional shine and helps add definition and separation to curly hair. I haven’t found anything quite like it on the market.

Redken for Men Maneuver Working Wax /Best for: Smooth Control and Natural Shine:

This product is my hands-down winner for versatile styling. The product gives you clean, pliable hold and leaves a smooth, natural finish. Not too shiny, not too flat. It’s perfect for messy, textured styles as well as smooth, professional looks. This one’s always on my bathroom counter.

American Crew Tea Tree Defining Paste /Best for: Separation and Texture:

This product is similar to Redken for Men Maneuver, but with a bit more of a matte finish. It provides a pliable hold and gives the hair structure and support for a thicker appearance. This is a great product for more casual, textured styles and, used sparingly, can thicken up fine hair.

Goldwell for Men Shaping Agent Best for: Fine Hair or Light Control:

This is a very light product that provides a bit of control without being too sticky. It gives a natural shine and is excellent for smoothing down fly-aways. For guys who think their hair looks better the day after a shampoo, this product is perfect. Goldwell for Men Shaping Agent is also a good option for guys with fine hair as it will not cause the hair to separate and expose scalp.

Matrix Men EnerGel Flexible Styling Gel /Best for: High Shine That Dries Stiff.

Admittedly, I’m not a fan of gel. I think hair should be moveable and touchable. For those who simply must have all-day firm control, a fixative gel is a good option. This Matrix Men product gives high hold and shine but contains ingredients that allow the hair to bend and not flake when touched (a problem with cheaper gels).

Men-U Grooming Wax:

Sometimes good things come in small packages. This super concentrated formula (it comes in a 2.5 ounce bottle perfect for travel) requires only a very small amount to achieve big looks. This product gives a good, versatile hold without being stiff and is suitable for blow drying. I was a bit skeptical at Men-U’s claim that you can get up to 80 applications from one bottle, but for a shorter style only one or two pumps is all you need.

© 2013 Mikel Cain all rights Reserved.

MY MAC MUST HAVES….

Image

MAC Cosmetics started out as a Toronto-based company (woohoo Canada!) back in 1984- today MAC is probably one of the most well known and respected cosmetic companies in the world. There are several things that makes MAC Cosmetics my absolute #1 favorite brand- first off, almost all of their products are of superior, professional quality while still remaining at a *fairly* reasonable price (compared to other ‘professional’ and ‘high-end’ brand names); second, I love the MAC Viva Glam campaign to raise money to help further AIDS research and last but certainly not least, their MAC Pro division of the brand provides excellent products and discounts for professionals. I’m not a huge fan of the fact MAC comes out with SO MANY collections- I would much rather have 4-5 seasonal collections per year than 2-3 a month (well, my wallet would prefer it)

MAC Must Have's

(My MAC Must Haves)

MAC Eyeshadow in Jest – This eyeshadow is beautiful all over the lid- it is quite similar to Stila Kitten and it goes on very smoothly. Brightens the whole eye and gives you a more rested look.

MAC Eyeshadow in Sable – My favorite crease color; it blends beautifully with lighter eyeshadows (like Jest) to give dimension, or you can use it all over for a tinted smokey eye.

MAC Eyehsadow in Blanc Type – The only MAC eyeshadow I’ve hit pan on so far- this is an ultra pigmented creamy white eyeshadow that I use daily for highlighting my browbone and shaping the outer corner.

MAC Eyeshadow in Carbon – I use carbon daily as an eyeliner or to set other eyeliners…a staple shade for everyone!

MAC Cream Color Base in Pearl – This highlighter is the perfect shade for light to medium skintones and allows you to put the glow exactly where you want it- cheekbones are best friends with this CCB.

MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in Light Medium – A long-time favorite setting powder…looks invisible, feels weightless and sets makeup beautifully. Some people like to use this product as a foundation as well.

MAC Lipstick in Creme d’Nude – My #1 favorite lipstick- the perfect nude lip in a tube. Just enough pink to make you look alive, but opaque enough to get that sexy, nude pout.

MAC Blush in Fleur Power – Whenever I look at the blushes at MAC, I always reach for this one first…I guess that is a good sign that it is my favorite! I just think its a gorgeous pink with a touch of coral and looks fabulous on every cheek I’ve ever seen it on.

MAC Lipglass in Underage – If you prefer nude lips by gloss, this will be your BFF. Enough opacity to cover lips but still glossy (and sticky- I love it because it makes the gloss long lasting, but some steer clear of it for this reason)

MAC Face & Body Foundation in C2 – A foundation unlike any others I’ve tried…water based and sheer, this foundation will give a completely natural look (no makeup detectable by eye!) with a gorgeous dewy finish.

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20 – My newest favorite…I can’t live without this concealer now! It covers dark circles beautifully but the icing on the cake is that it lasts all day, doesn’t crease and you don’t need to set it with powder. Amazing.