To Prime or Not Prime - Is That The Question?

I got the best email today from MAC. Each line has their own version of a face primer. I have so far resisted buying one (although I have tried samples) because it just seems like an extra step that didn't really do anything for my face. I didn't notice a huge difference in how my makeup looked after using a primer.

MAC is really great about giving tips from their artists so that you do your own "runway" look quickly and easily. Their newest set of tips is all about how many ways you can use their face primer Prep + Prime. I might actually buy this product to try it out after reading all these great tips! Take a look:

Prime Future is prepping the way for plush, radiant skin, and beautiful makeup application! Prime your routine with these tips from our Online Artists:

Lisa T: Prep + Prime Skin Smoother works best to lighten deeper lines and texture when massaged with your fingertips. It works as a youth balm, erasing fine lines and texture to create the smoothest possible foundation application.

Tia: To achieve a natural looking glow, mix Prep + Prime Moisture Infusion with Sun Rush Lustre Drops and apply to the skin as a primer under your foundation using the 130 Brush.

Maura: Add a dab of Prep + Prime Skin Smoother to any Cremeblend Blush! Buff on the apples of cheeks with the 109 Brush for a diffused air brushed flush!

Dianna: As the weather warms up, lighten up your foundation routine! Try mixing a drop of Prep + Prime Moisture Infusion into your foundation to sheer it down. Apply using a Pro Performance Sponge dampened with Fix+.

Ivan: Turn your favourite concealer into a foundation. Mix a few pumps of Prep + Prime Moisture Infusion with Select Cover Up Concealer or Pro Longwear Concealer for a fuller coverage foundation with a skin-like, smooth finish.

Amy: I was addicted at the very first application. I love to add a drop of Prep + Prime Moisture Infusion before my moisturizer morning and night. It's amazing over the neck area as well.

Review of Too Faced's Better Than False Lashes Mascara

Come check out my full review and demo of this great new product!

Come Check out My Hub Pages

So, I've found that for longer, more in-depth articles that Hub Pages is really a better platform. Come check out my newest articles on Hub Pages. So far I have the following topics posted:

1. How to find cheap designer jeans
2. Great drug store beauty finds
3. How to get the best price online
4. How to update your shoe wardrobe for spring 2012

You'll get some great ideas! Go check it out!

Too Faced Cosmetics Lands at Haute Look

Too Faced Cosmetics is one of those brands that I kind of forget about. But, they do have some really great, original items like their leopard bronzers, lip injection lip plumper, and lip injection mascara.

Leopard Love Bronzer Palette $15 (Reg. $30)

Galaxy Glam Baked Eye Shadow $3 (Reg. $19.50)

Today on Haute Look you can shop a great selection of Too Faced Cosmetics for up to 80% off.

Sephora VIB Event

Sephora is running one of their annual sale events for their VIB's. Right now you can get 15% off your entire purchase. Yes, a sale on makeup! That's almost unheard of unless the products are no longer going to be carried by the line or the store. At any rate, you must be a VIB to take advantage of the code CHICWEEK. Hurry on over as this event will only last until April 1st. You'd be a fool to miss it! (Hee, hee, see what I did there?)

Beauty.com Freebie!

Right now when you spend $10 at Beauty.com you get a free FULL-SIZE (yes, you saw that right, full-size) Deborah Lippman nailpolish in the color "Dream a Little Dream of Me" which is a great pearly pink. This deal won't last long!

Argan Oil

Well, today is the day! That is, if you ever wanted to try Argan Oil, today is the day to do it. Haute Look has Amir Argan Oil products on sale today. You can get great combo packages for both your hair and skin so you can see what Argan Oil can do for your whole body! Get it before it's gone!

Benefit "Twofer"!

Benefit has a new value set just for the summer. It's called "Double the Powder". What you get is a full size of Thrrrob! (an all over face powder in a pinky, sheer tint) and a full size of Hoola (an all over face bronzer) for $34. Normally each one is $28. This is a limited edition and will only be available as long as supplies last.

Too Faced Introduces Innovative New Mascara

Too Faced has created a new product called Better Than False Nylon Extension System. It's a mascara with additional benefits.

According to Sephora's website here's what it does:

The look of false lashes has never been easier or more affordable with this do-it-yourself system that's an alternative to messy false lashes and expensive lash extensions. The activating mascara base and top coat is designed specifically to melt and seal the Flexistretch nylon fibers into long, thick, dramatic lashes without the risk, mess, or commitment of other false lash alternatives. Unlike traditional fiber mascaras, Better Than False Lashes allows you to dial up the lengthening fibers so you easily get better, longer, thicker, more dramatic lashes instantly. 

It's already received a 5 star rating on Sephora and this is something I'm definitely adding to my makeup bag! This item is only being sold on-line right now but, will be in stores in late April.

The Hunger Games - Appearing on Nails Near You

Elecrify

Riveting

Smoke and Ashes

So, The Hunger Games is the new Twilight right? The movie hasn't even come out yet and already the merchandising spree has begun. China Glaze has jumped on the teeny-bopper band wagon and created a whole new nail color collection around the cinematic juggernaut. As much as I hate to admit it, the colors are pretty awesome. And I might secretly have to buy one or two of them. But I refuse to refer to them as The Hunger Games colors! So there!

New Gift Sets at Ulta

I love a good value set. Especially when it's one of my favorite brands like Stila. Ulta has an exclusive set called "Ladies Who Lunch". I'm a lady and I lunch (probably far too often!) so this seems like the set for me. And it also has awesome, every day neutrals at a great price. It even includes Stila's best selling eyeshadow color Kitten and a Stila eyeshadow brush. Plus, when you spend $25 on Stila products at Ulta you also get a deluxe sample of Stila's Beauty Balm. Talk about a VALUE!

Bare Escentuals – Sale On!

Wow!!! I just took a look at the Bare Escentuals sale and I have to say...it's GOOD! However, things are moving fast with a couple of super deals already sold out. Sale is only on for 13 hours so hurry over now. Here are some of the great things still available:

Luminous Glow Color Collection II $24 (Reg. $84.50)

Fashion Face Pretty Wild $10 (Reg. $34)

Illuminating Mineral Veil $10 (Reg. $15)

Beauty.com Freebie

Now when you spend $10 or more at Beauty.com you can get a free Deluxe Sample of Brighter By Nature High Potency brightening peel with fruit acids(it’s a 20 count jar which is almost a month’s worth!). Run over before they’re gone. Offer expires March 29^th.

Tarte Mascara for $6.50

ULTA is having a full month of Beauty Steals which are great products that they’ve marked down by a ton. Today’s steal is Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Action, Lashes Mascara for $10 (Reg. $19). PLUS you can use ULTA’s coupon for $3.50 off of $10 with code 77739 making this $6.50!!! Go get it before it’s gone!

If you buy at least $60 at ULTA use code 80531 for $10 off of your order.

Benefit Speed Makeup

Now, this isn’t a sale but, I thought you would enjoy this video that Benefit made showing their 5 minute face. I don’t use all of these products but, I actually do use this system to do my makeup for the day. The products that Benefit uses in the video is their Hello Flawless Oxygen Foundation, Erase Paste Concealer, Instant Brow Pencil, They’re Real Mascara, and Coralisa all over color. Here’s the video so you can see for yourself.

I actually use a similar routine but have found my own products that seem to work for my skin tone and texture. I don’t use foundation at all. Instead I use Benefit’s Boi-ing concealer and then dust on some MAC translucent powder. For my brow’s I use MAC brow powder. I use mascara but I use Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Action. I also use a version of Benefit’s Coralisa powder. However, I use the Dandelion. Finally I add in one more essential product – LIPGLOSS.

This is great video to show how quickly makeup can be done and it can be done to enhance natural features rather than hide or overpower them.

Friends and Family Welcome at Urban Decay

Roller Girl Palette $13.00

Urban Decay is throwing its semi-annual Friends and Family sale. Right now get 20% off of everything (yes they even mean sale items and value kits). Use code FFSPRING12 at checkout. The sale items will go super fast so hurry on over!

New Color Collection at MAC

It's rare that I like whatever current color collection that MAC is pushing out every other week. It's usually one or two real-world colors and the rest are off-beat colors that are more suited to a fashion runway or being used as a teeny, tiny accent color. And, at MAC prices, buying a whole pot of color you either can't use or use very little isn't super cost effective.

I feel entirely different about their current collection called Chenman. It's lots pinks and blues that are very appropriate for everyday use. The pieces I particularly like are the blue nail polish (a great color for the Spring and Summer seasons), the Supersweet Mineralize eye shadow, and the Beauty Powder.

Freebie at Sephora

Sephora runs weekly specials and freebie for all of their Facebook fans. This week its a freebie (which is the best kind of offer!). Well, let's rephrase...it's a freebie with purchase. You can get a full size Hello Kitty rollerball fragrance with a $25 online purchase. Just use code: HELLOFRI. Hello Friday indeed!

Try Bare Escentuals for Free!

Bare Escentuals is one of those foundations that I just can't wrap my head around. It's a powder but, it does so much more than a regular powder. Most powders seem to sit on my skin and look cakey or too white. Bare Escentuals just seems to cover my blemishes while lending a slight glow to my face (when I use both the foundation and finishing powder). However, I know that trying something new can be a financial investment especially when it comes to makeup. Head over to Sephora online now and get something you like. When you do you can enter a code for a free Bare Escentuals foundation in the color you choose, a kabuki brush to apply it with and a free Bare Escentuals face primer. That's not a bad deal. For matte foundation enter code: BEMATTE3. For the original foundation enter code: BEBARE3.

Your Brows are Going to Benefit!

Benefit Cosmetics always comes up with great add-on makeup (by add-on I mean super great items that aren't basics like foundation, eyeshadow, lipstick). I don't prefer their basic cosmetic lines but, I do love their items like Hula Bronzer, Boi-ing Concealer, and Dandelion Face Brightening powder. I could go without these items but, they add a great natural quality to my makeup. At any rate, they've done it again with their new shade of High Brow pencil in Glow. I'm always looking for the perfect way to highlight my brows (when done correctly it makes my eyes seem brighter and less squinty) and this is an easy and smudge proof way to do it. Plus, at $20 and the idea of a little goes a long way this is an item that won't break the bank either. This item is definitely going into my must-have makeup bag.