Smashbox Rocks

Recently doing make-up for a photo shoot at a local Kirkland Boutique, Chez Chic. I realized I was just not satisfied with the prime and prep products in my make-up kit. This began the journey...

This is for those of you who get sucked in by the cosmetic counters at the department stores. I can be talked into buying just about a beauty product there is...expensive habit. (Part of the reason I had to make Make-up it a job)
I have never subscribed to the idea that just one cosmetic line can do everything, I think they all have a unique strength, and one of my favorites is Smashbox. They have many fantastic products, but a few very important ones.

Although I have been a life-long MAC fan, I have not been impressed with their primers for eyes or face...so I went on the hunt for a better one. However I have to brag up a particular product from MAC... Strobe Cream is designed for us thirty-somethings...giving a little hint of glow without shimmer or shine.
I tried Nars...a little too light and just felt like more moisturizer.

Then onto Benefit...not impressed with the quality and it didn't last very long after I opened it.

Moving right along to Temptu...the makers of my favorite airbrush foundation, but again it didn't really prime my skin other than adding a little moisture to it.

I finally found The Promise Land at the Smashbox counter! Their Photo Finish Foundation Primer is a fabulous. It is just thick enough to even out my skin (after years of acne), but not so thick that it feels icky all day. You can apply any brand of foundation over the top of it, although I do prefer Smashbox foundation mixed with Studio Fix NC35 by MAC.

The price point for Smashbox is a little high at $36, however it lasts a long time and if you only need it once in a while they sell it in a travel size.

Final recommendations...Smashbox Foundation Primer, MAC Studio Fix mixed with a little Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation, contour with Smashbox Bronzer, and finish it off with Nars blush in Orgasm. Enjoy your springtime long lasting face make over!

Spring Break

To all the spring breakers who are getting ready to go somewhere sunny and beautiful and leave us here in rainy Seattle...

First of all "Wear sunscreen!" that is a given. To abolish a myth that is out there about tanning to get a base before going on vacation. Beware! A "base" tan from the tanning beds only gives you the equivalent protection of a SPF 4. That means you are wasting time, money, and most important your healthy skin cells for only a SPF 4 level of protection.

Instead, I recommend...
1.) Professional exfoliation or a fabulous sugar scrub a couple days before you leave

2.) Airbrush tan the day before you leave

3.) Aveeno SPF 30 in the aerosol spray can for easy and even application

4.) Glow on the Go sunless tanning extender to apply each night to help your sunless tan last through your entire vacation

5.) A yummy tropical smelling body butter to put on in the morning to keep your skin hydrated and glowing all day

Be safe and look fantastic this spring break.

Holiday Must Haves

Lashes - If you are planning on adding a little pizzazz to your make-up routine for holiday parties this year, add false eye lashes. You dont have to look like Tammy Faye or Cher. False lashes come in many sizes and shapes now and they are affrodable. Don't get 'sold' by the MAC counter or Sephora on $15 lashes. Buy them at Walgreens or Rite Aid in the yellow or pink packages by Ardell. These are the favorites used by make-up artists everyhwere...and if that isn't enough reason...Oprah herself loves yellow package #62. Although you cant get much better than "brown paper packages tied up with string..." here are a few of my favorite things for the holidays.



Lip Scrub - Sara Happ makes a fantastic sugar lip scrub that comes with an equally fantastic lip moisturizer. Not only are they darling for stocking stuffers and they come in cute little packaging, but they work really really well. Winter time is the dry lips season. How unattractive are dry, flaky lips when you are trying to apply lip stick and gloss. Gross. Use the lip scrub and lip slip right before bed to give your lips a chance to heal. Use the lip scrub right before you apply your make-up for a night out and your lips will stay kissable all night (plus it is much easier to apply your lip stick and gloss).















Sunless Tan - Of course what holiday dress would be complete without a little glow to the skin. It is winter and a crazy fake and bake look is not what we are after, however we also should not look like the Cullens. Airbrush tanning looks natural and the color can be completely customized. Chek out the video and more information at the website www.myflawlesstan.com


What is Airbrush Tanning...now you can see for yourself.

Famous Cuffs in Kirkland

To all my Real Housewives Fans out there...

I recently went to a Trunk Show at a local boutique in Kirkland, Seduce. It is on Lake Street across from Lake Street Tailor. Darling shop and fabulous clothes...launching their newest line of Cuff Bracelets by Lynne Curtin of The Real Housewives of Orange County.

In all honesty I was excited to meet a "real" Real Housewife...What I didn't expect was how well made the cuffs are. They are made of hard leather and some metal, beautiful detail work has been put into the structure. I am not a very trendy gal nor have I ever been able to pull off the "hip...urban" thing, but even I could wear these and feel comfortable.

True to form, I bought one. I couldn't resist the hype!

All in all, I thought the event was fantastic, and we need more of this sort of thing in Kirkland. Next time something like this is scheduled all my blog followers will be the first to know.

To see the cuffs in more detail visit Lynne Curtin's website at http://www.lynnecurtin.com/

Wedding Networking

This is sort of a business entry, but I like to discuss my plans in hopes of getting feedback and maybe helping someone else out there working on the same sort of thing.

I have recently looked into a couple different wedding industry network groups, and found that while they are a blast...I am not very good at putting my contacts to practical use. The newest of these groups is determined to teach us (members) how to make better use of our time at these events, novel idea. If they can pull that off I will be their biggest fan.

This year during the "off" wedding season I am determined to better connect with my fellow wedding industry professionals and make practical use of those contacts. What I have learned so far... ***Contacts are useless if you don't use them, and all the twittering, blogging, website updates, and facebook announcements are doing me no good unless I have an audience (the right audience). Along with posts about current events in Seattle and on the Eastside having to do with beauty...I plan to track the success of these suggestions given to me and my opinion on them in general.

Blogging is the first suggestion that was given to me. Done!

Next is Wedding Wire and The Knot. Sounds like these are free places to announce your business and list your services for potential clients. I like the free part the best, now I will try it out and see if I can get any results.

Constant Contact will be my next goal. I plan to contact my "contacts" every so often to let them know of certain events going on in the area or just to ask how things are going for them.

Reviews, reviews online can be extremely helful to clients who are seeking your services and I plan to be much better at asking for these reviews from clients and collegues.

Teens Tan for Twenty

My Flawless Tan & Make-up is launching a new program to get our youth out of the tanning beds. After reading a disturbing article in the Seattle Times about Tanning Beds being as dangerous as other carcinogens like smoking and arsenic, I decided I must find a way to educate our teenagers (mostly girls) on other options. First I must make it affordable and second I must make it fun. I have an agreement that is signed with the parent stating they will stay out of the tanning beds during the school year. Each person who signs up gets a organic lip gloss form Amour and at the end of the program in July 2010 a name is drawn for a $300 gift certificate to Nordstroms. The tans are $20 each or they can elect to tan unlimited for $50/ month. I am excited to help save our young generation from the tanning beds and show them there are beautiful, easy, and natural looking options to have a tan. Check out more as this program develops at www.myflawlesstan.com

My first blog. I will start by introducing myself. I own and operate a shop in Kirkland, My Flawless Tan and Make-up. I love anything local, and go out of my way to keep my dollars in our community or state. That is why I thought it would be a great oppertunity to share all of my favorite spots on the Eastside. I have lived in Seatttle for 11 years and in Kirkland for 5 years. I was a member of the Seattle Seahawk Cheerleading Squad the Seagals for four amazzing years...cheering on our beloved team go to the Superbowl. I have learned a lot about beauty and health tricks through that experiance and I cant wait to share everything.
What I intend to talk about on this blog. My passion is anything relating to skin care, beauty, fashion, and basically anything fabulous on the Eastside of Lake Washington. After living in Seattle for many years I was moved out to suburbia with my husband, and fell in love instantly with the beauty of the Eastside. I intend to share my beauty finds...and the fun little insider tricks as I learn them. This will be a great place to find information on my favorite shops, great deals, and fabulous places to spend your time and money on the Eastside. Looking forward to sharing my view of the 'beauty' Washington has to offer.