Mac Pigments 4 Less

I have only just begun to experiment with pigments, but in learning about them the first thing I noticed is that they come in gargantuan sizes - I mean in life time, Costco™, super-sized amounts. Thusly, they are expensive. In order to sample many different colours and NOT be committed to life time amounts - I have ordered mine from an online store called 'TheBodyNeeds" at www.thebodyneeds2.com where the product comes (1/4 teaspoon) in little 3-5 gram screw top jars. These are the perfect size, and cost around 1.99 each so you can try as many as you like. I'm not sure I could use up even 1/4 teaspoon, it's more than you think, as the product goes a long way. If you find that you really love a certain color and are using more of it, then buy the original size. Here are my favorites so far:

• Naked

• Melon

• Blue Brown

Something else I have discovered...Lancome's Art Liner (the absolute best liquid eye liner - truly) retails for an astounding $38 at Sephora here in Canada, but you can pick this up, along with many other great bargains at another online store called www.beautyisrelative.com for $14. Now that is a bargain, not too much more than drugstore, oh so smooth to apply. It takes the 'tricky' out of liquid liner.

Mascara - Reviews

I normally don't post about Mascara either, see nails below, but for the love...I have two new mascaras, and I don't like either of them. I usually use Mac X, it is perfect in my opinion. The formula is smooth, not too wet, and it doesn't flake ever. A nice balance of natural color and volume. Not so much a lengthener.

The same cannot be said for the next mascaras, one flakes unbearably, and the other is too thin in consistency. The flaky Mascara is L'Oreal Double Extend. First prime, then go over the primed lashes with the black end of the tube. This mascara flakes over the day. Not good.

The next one is Rimmel Glam Eyes in Kohl Black 003. Also not good, it's a thin formula that leaves the lashes black, but wierdly skimpy. Both are disappointing. My policy with high end make up is to keep the packaging and receipt in a drawer until pronounced' wearable' by me. I didn't do that with these purchases b/c both of these mascaras are drug store - but at approx. $10 each - that's $20 down the drain, so lessoned learned. Keep the packaging/receipt for all purchases. Period.

Thanks for listening to this rant...hopefully I will have better luck next time. Two other great mascara labels that I have used up recently: Fresh and Victoria's Secret; both are excellent.

Make Up by Tiffanyd

I enjoy watching Tiffany's tutorials on make up application - she is easy to listen to (she does funny, cute bloopers etc.), and she provides really good information along with step by step how-tos. I've learned a ton watching these vids on YouTube, or you can see some of them on her blog (makeupbytiffanyd.blogspot.com).

Below I've included the links to two of her videos, one on a natural eye make-up look, and one on applying eye liner. They take about 10 min. There are close to 100 to choose from - any of the ones I have have seen are really good. Enjoy:-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8waWEHKFaRc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSc9r4tzWyk

Some favorite things...random order:-)

Counter stools - it's harder than you think to find the perfect counter stools. For one thing, great stools cost a lot more than you would think. I have been looking for 7 YEARS, and last week, I found them. Bernhardt Smithsonian swivel stools, wonderful quality and half price, PLUS, if you can believe this, I had a forgotten store credit of $250! The stools were meant for me, and happily the price was good too or in this economic environment I may have been forced to walk away.

I have also discovered two amazing skin/makeup products - that are too good not to share. The first is Olay Definity Color Recapture SPF15 Tinted Moisture. On a day when you only want sheer coverage, this is perfect. It goes on smoothly, isn't greasy, blends well, moisturizes lightly and is anti-aging and anti-wrinkle...ok I don't know how you prove that...but that's the promise:-) I wear light-medium. The fairest isn't really super fair, so the very light skinned are out of luck. It's really lovely, and boasts sanitary dispensing.

Next up is Victoria's Secret Very Voluptuous Extreme volume Mascara...my lashes are not curly or thick, but this mascara both thickens and, more amazingly, curls. I've used mascaras that say they curl, but they do not really curl...this one does.