FOTD: Is That MAC? Nope, I'm Wearing Mineral Makeup!

MAC has really outdone itself in the way people respond to anyone who wears eyeshadow. "Is that MAC?" I'm always asked. My response is normally yes.

But when I got asked that same question the day that I wore this look, I had to stop and think about it (because I actually thought I WAS sporting MAC) and after my millisecond brain fart, I proudly said "Nope, I'm wearing mineral makeup"! From there I got responses like "no way", "that's NOT MAC" and "what's mineral makeup?" but it's quite amazing how everyone associates any pop of color with MAC.

From doing this FOTD using all the products I got from J.Lynne Cosmetics, aside from the Gloss FX Natural Lip Glaze in Julianne, I found myself nodding my head yes in approval once the look was completed. Albeit, this is a more simple and toned down look compared to the more bolder FOTDs that I do, but I still appreciate the simplicity in the color choices sent and the overall look nonetheless. Not to mention that I completed this using the one eyeshadow, one eyeliner (that dualed as an eyeshadow), a blush, and a lipgloss! When you're in a rush, who could ask for anything easier?!

Here is exactly what I used for this look and where:

(all J.Lynne Cosmetics unless otherwise stated)

FACE
MAC Studio Finish Concealer NW35 (ring finger)
Buff'd Camel (188)
Buff'd Serecite Mineral Setting Powder (188)
Shy Blush (129)

BROWS
STILA Brow Set (266)

EYES
UDPP
Caramel Latte e/s (lid - 239)
Drama Queen e/l (outer lid, crease, outer crease - 239, 222, 219)
MAC Shroom e/s (highlight - 239)
Drama Queen e/l foiled w/ FIX+ (upper lashline & outer lower lashline - 208)
Covergirl Lash Blast

LIPS
Gloss FX Lip Glaze in Hilary






This was taken earlier in the day to show the natural but pretty Soft Silk Mineral Blush in Shy. You can barely tell that I even have blush on because it's so natural looking but you can tell that there is an ever so slight dapple of color to liven the cheeks. Definitely more enjoyable in person. I also didn't line my lower lashline to keep the look more day friendly.


This look is actually really easy to get. Here's the scoop!

Brushes You'll Need:

1. MAC 239
2. MAC 222 (or 224)
3. MAC 219
4. MAC 208
   

Eye Products You'll Need:

1. J.Lynne Caramel Latte e/s
2. J.Lynne Drama Queen e/l
3. Mixing Medium/MAC FIX+
4. Shroom e/s (or highlighter of your choice)
5. Mascara
   

How To Get The Eyes:

1. Dab an eyeshadow brush like the MAC 239 into the Caramel Latte e/s. Because you are dealing with mineral makeup, be sure to tap off the excess to avoid fallout. Place this color all over your lid and up towards the crease.
2. Using the same brush, dab it into Drama Queen e/l. Place this color on the other third of the eyelid.
   
3. Blend the meeting point of Drama Queen e/l and Caramel Latte e/s with the tip of the MAC 239 GENTLY!!
   
4. With a blending brush such as the MAC 222, blend the edges of the into the crease starting from the outer lid and working your way in. This normally tints the crease just right with the darker color on the outer lid, but if you need the crease to be a little darker, just tap the blending brush into Drama Queen e/l and darken the crease with color. Be sure to blend and eliminate any harsh lines.
5. To deepen the outer crease to create definition, use a pencil brush like the MAC 219 and pick up some Drama Queen e/l. Allow the brush to follow the natural curve of the outer eye by starting at the corner of the outer lid and drawing the brush into the crease.
6. With an angled brush, I used the MAC 208, dampen the brush with mixing medium. I just used MAC FIX+. Then pick up some Drama Queen e/l and line the upper lashline. For added boldness, line the outer lower lashline halfway in.
7. Highlight your brow bone at any time. I used MAC Shroom e/s with the MAC 239.
   
8. Curl eyelashes and add your favorite mascara!

If you're looking to try out some products from J.Lynne Cosmetics, use us as a referral and save 10% off your first purchase! For more details on how to receive the discount, please read the tail-end of this post. Thank you kindly if you do end up using us as a referral!

How's your makeup holding up through these summer days?

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

Do you have a favorite mineral company that you'd like to see FOTDs from? If so, email me your request! And please, don't forget to subscribe to our feed or have email updates sent directly to your inbox :)

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FOTD: If I Can't Play With Color, Then Let Me Look Fresh

As a continuation to Valentine's Day, Hubbo came up with the idea that we go to the zoo. So, to the zoo we went!

Whenever we go out anywhere, "getting ready" is my only opportunity to play with makeup. Once you have tykes, there's no such thing as "just playing makeup" unless you can incorporate it into the "getting ready" regimen or everyone is asleep.

Budgeting my time in the bathroom is always challenging when it comes to seizing the play-with-makeup opportunity. And I'm sure I'm not alone on this one ladies! Considering that Hubbo was dressed and the kids were ready to go only added more pressure to the gig.

So, out jumps the "if-I-can't-play-with-color-then-let-me-look-fresh" look. It's quick and easy and in the long run, you score time reserves for when you do need those extra ticks on the clock when your beau is rushing you out the door.

Because oily eyelids are still a problem throughout the day, I use Urban Decay Primer Potion. Sure, its somewhat of a waste of product since you're not wearing any eyeshadow, but consider it another quick fix for freshness. And since UDPP is slightly cream tinted, it lightens up the dark shadows around the eyes. You don't need much like when using eyeshadow, but just enough to deposit into the crease to prevent oil and anywhere else you want to lighten any dark shadows around your eye.

I dusted some Shroom e/s under the eyebrows just to highlight since UDPP knocks the shadows on my lids down a notch. These two things alone make my eyes match the rest of my face encouraging the overall natural appearance.

Assuming that your foundation of choice is already on, finish off the eyes with some curling, mascara, and a nice darkened waterline. Add life to the cheeks with some blush, contour if you like, smack on a pair of rosy lips and you'll be wishing life was grand to wake up like this!

(all MAC unless stated otherwise)

FACE
MAC Studio Finish Concealer NW35 (finger)
MAC Studio Touch-Up Stick Concealer NW30 (finger)
Buff'd Custom Formula Two (182)
Plum Foolery Blush (129)
Shadester/Lightsweep Sculpt & Shape Powder (129)

BROWS
STILA Brow Set (266)

EYES
UDPP
Shroom e/s (highlight - 239)
Covergirl Perfect Point Plus (waterline)
Covergirl Lash Blast

LIPS
Bare Slimshine
NYX Rose Sparkle Lipgloss

Bare naked folks! You can even slightly see where I highlighted with Shroom e/s.





The Hubbo and I


Big Tyke and I - He's not mad, he just doesn't understand what I'm doing, lol. "Pictures AGAIN!", he's thinking. And I wish my skin looked like his skin ALL day long!!


And who could forget Baby Tyke. Lucky for us he slept the ENTIRE zoo trip! *wipes forehead*

Do you ever have those days where you just leave the color off your eyes? What is your "so fresh and so clean (clean)" secrets?

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

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FOTD: Sketchin' Cash Flow With Sushi Flower

Here I am in my Valentine's Day face. We had fried rice at our favorite place that just makes bomb-dig on the fried rice, took the tykes to the arcade after, then landed ourselves at Wal-Mart for more diapers. Now, that is a well spent Valentine's Day folks, hah!

So of the Fafi paint pots, Cash Flow was hands down the next one I had roll around in like the silly mad makeup girl that I am. The overall paint pot reminds me of Uppity fluidline from the holidays; same vibrancy except less creamier in consistency but entirely more workable than those dang-nabit Metal-X eyeshadows.

I honestly don't know what I was trying to achieve here, but decided to scratch the drawing board with some new ideas. Sushi Flower looked like it was getting lonely, so breaking it out to play like a good makeup mother, I decided to highlight the area above my crease with it. Who would have ever thunk, right? (Yes, I know that's not how you spell it, hah). It really would have dampened my day if I was looking for the true color of Sushi Flower on my lid, but instead I got the color that I did. But the color it turned out to be in using it above the crease worked out beautifully.

I have also noticed that since I've been given the go-ahead to wear contacts again (ya!), the Graphblack Technakohl liner that I use for my waterline (inner rim of the lower lashline) seems to be working much better. The markings of this liner is remarkably intense black and with as intense as it is in a single swipe, before I would always have to scribble in onto my waterline. But for some reason, my contacts are keeping the waterline area dry enough for it to achieve it's potential color without force.

Are you a waterline scribbler? Or does the thought of putting anything on it make you shiver?

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

(all MAC unless stated otherwise)

FACE
MAC Studio Finish Concealer NW35 (finger)
MAC Studio Touch-Up Stick Concealer NW30 (finger)
Buff'd Custom Formula Two (182)
Plum Foolery Blush (129 - apples)
Sunbasque Blush (129)
Shadester/Lightsweep Sculpt & Shape Powder (129)

BROWS
STILA Brow Set (266)

EYES
UDPP
Cash Flow p/p with moisturizer (lid - 242)
Sketch e/s (lid, outer lower lashline - 239, 219)
Sushi Flower e/s (above crease - 217)
Goldmine e/s (crease, inner lower lashline - 222, 219)
Frisco e/s (highlight - 217)
Shimmersand s/s (base for lowerlashline)
Blacktrack f/l (upper lashline - 208)
Graphblack Technakohl (waterline)
L'Oreal Double Extend Base & Telescopic Mascara

LIPS
Bare Slimshine

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FOTD/Haul: The MAC Makeover

Initially a makeup artist from the Bay Area was supposed to be doing makeovers at my local MAC but had another project at hand. So the MA that I had was lovely lady that I have all the time, Summer. She's the Assistant Manager of the store and such a sweetheart.

My goal for my makeover was to check out a couple of different bases for eyeshadow: Cream Color Base and Shadesticks and to ask about contouring, more specifically, my nose. Lately my eyes have been changing on me and don't seem as oily as before. Not necessarily dry, but definitely less oily (could it be the new skin care regimen?). I'm actually in the process of testing a variety of MAC base combinations to see what's a go and no go for my new lids. I'll be posting my trials as I go along.

Since Summer was busy helping some people when I got there, I had more than enough time to go through and play with EVERYTHING, lol. And believe it or not, I didn't buy anything from Sculpt and Shape. The powders are about the size of MSFs and were very soft and silky when I applied it to my hand. But oddly, I just wasn't motivated to buy it. I may change my mind later, but if I do, I will definitely go for the Shadester/Lightsweep duo. On another note, the 139 is DAMN SOOOOFT!!!

Anyhow, on with it!

BEFORE MAKEOVER
Only Select/Sheer Pressed Powder and Eyebrows done



AFTER MAKEOVER

FACE
Select Sheer/Pressed Powder NC45 (182 w/FIX+ - @ home)
Sincere Blush (129)
Studio Stick Foundation NC43 (188)

BROWS
STILA Brow Set (266 - @ home)

EYES
Pearl CCB (252 - right eye)
Shimmersand s/s (blend w/ 252 - left eye)
Daisychain e/s (lid, highlight - 252)
Ochre Style e/s (crease - 222)
A Little Folie e/s (outer lid - 222)
Soft Brown e/s (above crease - 224)
Boot Black Liquid Eye Liner (upper lashline - 266)
Embark e/s (lower lashline - 219)
Zoomlash Mascara

LIPS
Caramellow c/l
Full on Lust l/g

Summer contoured my nose using a warm brown colored eyeshadow (Saddle e/s) and a not so dense dome-like brush such as the 224 . Starting around the inner ducts of the eye, she dusted the shadow right along the top-sides of the bridge right down over the nostrils in a sweeping motion to deposit color and circular motion to blend. Using the same brush, she swept Brule e/s on the bridge of my nose to highlight. Contouring your nose along the top of the bridge will really give you that defined 80's chiseled look. After seeing the results, it was a bit too sharp for my comfort so I had her just go over my nose with foundation to tone it down. In case you were wondering why the pictures don't display a sharp looking nose, hah.

This method is just as effective as the contouring videos you see using an angled face brush like MAC's 169 and contouring along the base/side of the bridge. A combination of both methods would work also it just depends on the look you're going for.

I ended up picking up A Little Folie and Daisychain to complete my Originals collection (not planned), as well as Hepcat and Sushi Flower. I really wanted Passionate, but they were out of the pallet form. I also picked up a Shadestick and Cream Color Base just to do more trial and error with them. And a while back, I got a sample of MAC's Lip Conditioner and after using it, I knew I had to pick myself up some. Works great for me.

We're going to be undressing our Christmas tree today and taking down the decorations outside to get ready for New Years. If there's one place to be at during New Years, it's definitely Hawai'i. All I have to say is that fireworks are legal here - enough said! Hah.

Anything you folks are doing to prepare for the New Year? Cleaning, cooking,...?

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

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My Work: Winterball 2007

Yesterday was my sister-in-law's Winterball in Waikiki - ok first, how cool is that?! I wish my highschool formals were in Hawai'i! I hardly ever do hair/makeup on anyone because I don't have many friends/family here to experiment with. So when I'm asked to do hair and/or makeup, I get super excited, hah. It really makes me feel honored, you know.

This year, I did both her hair and makeup and then did the makeup of one of her girlfriends. I'm kind of glad the makeovers were at a minimum because for her prom last year, I did hair AND makeup for 3 girls and that took me about 6 hours altogether and I worked right up to second the limo got there! I didn't mind it at all because it's what I love doing, but there is definite pressure when you're running against the clock hoping that nothing goes wrong. Anyhow, click here to see the pictures of the girls from last year.

So this is what I was working with: my sister-in-law, Melissa, only wears concealer, mascara, and sometimes a bit of liner on a regular basis while her friend Keala wears no makeup at all. Melissa's dress was this gorgeous deep navy blue l so I thought a grayish smokey look with a hint of deep blue would go nicely especially since she's not much into bold colorful looks like yours truly. Keala's dress was a really nice earthy brown with gold so I immediately thought something more natural looking would suit her especially since she doesn't wear makeup in the first place. Both girls are really simple and touching up things like the lips requires a bit too much work so I decided to just omit that step. And I'm glad that I had "The Originals" at my disposal because I ended up using 4 out of the 7 I bought.

I forgot to take pictures of the girls' eyes at an angle like I usually do in my FOTDs. Here are the pictures and what I used.

Hope you folks are having one heck of a weekend and enjoying yourselves :))))

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

(all MAC unless stated otherwise)

MELISSA
FACE
Studio Finish Concealer NW35 (194SE)
Select Sheer/Pressed Powder NC45 (182 w/FIX+)
Plum Foolery Blush (129)

EYES
UDPP
Alum e/s (lid - 239)
Deep Truth e/s (crease - 217)
Charred e/s (outer V/crease - 222)
Carbon e/s (outer V - 222, lower lashline - 208 w/FIX+, 219)
Cream of Family Silver MES e/s (highlight - 239)
Graphblack Technakohl (upper lashline & waterline)
Maybelline Intense XXL

Here is a picture of her hair. Just a curling iron and hairspray :)

KEALA
FACE
Covergirl Pressed Powder

EYES
UDPP
Ochre Style e/s (lid - 239)
Clue e/s (crease - 217)
Sketch e/s (outer V/crease - 222, lower lashline - 219)
Cream of Engaging MES e/s (highlight - 239)
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

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FOTD: Another stab at Engaging

Well, I'm trying Engaging again. Seems a little too "safe" for me in my colorful learning quest. But in sight of this look, one of my next purchases is going to include Photogravure Technakohl and Dipdown Fluidline. I think it would have suited this look a little bit better just to make my eyes appear bolder but not as bold as with black.

Overall, this look makes me feel a bit mediocre about my skills. It's also probably due to the fact that I've just spent the past half hour looking at the work of other talented artists which inspires me yet makes me feel farther away than where I'd like to be in this learning process, lol.

Anyhow, enough self-critiquing (is that a word??). On to the goods list :)))

(all MAC unless stated otherwise)

FACE
Select Sheer/Pressed Powder NC45 (182)
Sunbasque Blush (129)

BROWS
STILA Brow Set w/ FIX+ (266)

EYES
UDPP
Rubenesque p/p (lid - 242)
Expensive Pink e/s (239 - lid; inner lower lashline - 208)
Bronze of Engaging MES (above crease - 239, middle lower lashline - 266)
Pink of Engaging MES (highlight - 239)
Sketch e/s (outer V, crease - 222, outer lower lashline - 266)
L'Oreal Voluminous

LIPS
Maybelline Superstay Gloss in Nude

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FOTD: Naturally Engaging

Hope everyone had a good and "full"-filling Thanksgiving. I know I did. My son turned 1-month and we celebrated with a huge Thanksgiving feast! From turkey to mashed potatoes to spinach dip to beans w/bacon to crab, I was filled to the max. Only thing is now I'm fighting a cold that decided to hit me on Turkey Day - this, I'm not so thankful for because then I got my month old son sick :(

Anyhow, this is for my gal @ Yummy411 :) Here's my stab at Engaging.

The pink in this combination reminds me of Gleam e/s - eck, gag me. It's an extremely sheer (almost invisible) shade of pink and acts more as a shimmer overlay than anything. Highlighter, perhaps? I'm not much of an all eye shimmer gal, but more of a lid shimmer gal. So I don't think I'll be using this half of Engaging as much.

Love to hear your feedback and/or suggestions or requests.

(all MAC unless stated otherwise)

FACE
Studio Finish Concealer in NW35 (242)
Select Sheer/Pressed Powder NC45 (182)
Peachtwist Blush (129)

BROWS
Bonnie Bell Liner in Espresso
STILA Brow Set w/ FIX+ (266)

EYES
UDPP
Fusion Gold c/e/s (inner lid - 242)
Indianwood p/p (outer lid - 242)
Pink of Engaging MES (inner lid - 239)
Goldmine e/s (middle lid - 239, inner lower lashline w/MM - 266)
Bronze of Engaging MES (outer lid - 239, middle lower lashline w/MM - 266)
Soft Brown e/s (above crease - 239, 217)
Sketch e/s (outer V, crease - 222, outer lower lashline w/MM - 266)
Shroom e/s (highlight - 217)
Blacktrack f/l (liner - 208)
Graphblack Technakohl (waterline)
L'Oreal base with Plushblack Plushlash

LIPS
Maybelline Superstay Gloss in Nude

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