For the Love of Lashes!

This week I had the opportunity to work at the trade show Esthetique Spa International held at the Palais des Congrès with Jem Beauty Supply.  We were super busy doing demonstrations for two fabulous products which I will share with you this week; one of which is Red Cherry Lashes, Have you ever heard of them before? Well be sure to remember that name because it's a definite must have when it comes to falsies.

Picture from Colored Faces

You won't find these bad boys in store, in fact you'll have to order them online but they're worth every penny. These 100% natural human hair lashes can be compared to brands like MAC and are six times less in price. MAC lashes retail at $18+ whereas you can get a pair of Red Cherry's starting at $2.99 on sites like Jem Beauty Supply.  Keep in mind that right now there are shipping costs, which is $12.95, but I was informed that it will be free within a month. If you're in a hurry, buy a few lashes and you've already saved a tone of money.

Fundamentals to Foundation

At times, trying to find the right foundation can be a daunting task. With so many choices nowadays how do you really know what is the best thing for you?? To help narrow down your search, I'll share with you a few tips I've learned along the way.

It all begins with understanding your skin.  This will enable you to pick the right formula and avoid a cakey mask or foundation running down your face.  For instance, if you have oily skin, choose a foundation that says it is oil-free or oil control formula.  The same applies for dry skin too; there are formulas that are hydrating or "moisture rich" that will help rejuvenate your skin.  By understanding you skin needs, you have a better chance of achieving that flawless finish.

Next, it's all about coverage. The end result we want to achieve is a flawless face, but some skin will need a little more tlc than others.  For those lovely faces that have no breakouts or blemishes and have been blessed with no bags under their eyes, opt for a tinted moisturizer to help balance out the depth of your skin. That being said, let's discuss what are some of the options available!

Photo from Oprah.com

The Low Down Dirty Truth...

Makeup has the reputation of beautifying women and boosting confidence too but there is a very ugly side to it and their tools.  Prepare yourself for some hard hitting facts and solutions to minimize your risks of bacteria invading your face.

First off, a few questions!  How often do you clean you makeup brushes or tools like eyelash curler?  Do you share any of these tools?  Where do you store them and how often do you use them?  Do you share your makeup? How long have you owned your mascara, eyeshadow, lipstick  or gloss etc?  I am asking you these questions just to get you thinking and hopefully change a few bad habits.  No passing judgements over here!!! I too am guilty of some of these sins...

Would You Jump in a Pond with a Full Face of Makeup On?

Well that's exactly what one of my bride's did on her WEDDING DAY!!  Seriously, I can't make this stuff up.  Check out her testimonial about her awesome day!

Andra Syvanen's Testimonial

"This past summer was a busy one for me: in addition to finishing off my thesis, I was also planning a wedding. Although we had a vision of a casual backyard affair, I was still interested in getting "gussied up" for the occasion. I mean, how often does a girl get married anyway?!

I was referred to Janet by a good friend who had worked with her on a few photo shoots. My friend is already incredibly photogenic, but when I saw how stunning Janet had made her look in the photos, I had a really good feeling about getting in touch with her.

Janet was very receptive and super friendly in all email correspondence. She seemed enthusiastic, and I got a really positive vibe from her right off the bat. She responded very well to my concerns and ideas and was so accommodating at every level. She even agreed to drive the 2 hours out to the wedding location so that my makeup could be done conveniently on location.

When she arrived with her lovely mom (they make a great team!) she was all smiles. Despite the craziness that was going on all around us, she made me feel cool, calm, and collected as she worked her magic. She also seemed excited, which was great!

As people came in the room to check up on the progress of my makeup and I saw their smiles and nods of approval, I had total confidence that Janet was doing an awesome job - this hunch would be confirmed when I finally got to take a look. It was amazing. She was able to take the vision that I had so inelegantly tried to explain and recreated it perfectly. 

When it came time to turn her attention to my mom, I was a little apprehensive: my mother can be a bit of a tough customer but I really wanted her to feel beautiful and confident. All my concerns melted away as I listened to the laughs coming out of the room. Janet and her mom put my mom right at ease, and she ended up leaving the room absolutely glowing.  We both got so many compliments on our makeup - that it looked really natural and professional and that it fit the occasion perfectly.

Now, as anyone who has ever gotten married can tell you, things will happen on your wedding day that you do not plan. Case in point, the spontaneous series of jumps into our pond taken by several members of the wedding party, myself and my husband included (I changed out of my wedding dress before taking the plunge, for all of you who are cringing right now). While my wedding hair was ruined, I emerged from the pond with completely intact makeup, which in my mind is further attestation of just how amazing Janet's work is. She truly made the day a special one, and I thank her for her professionalism and kindness throughout the whole process!"

Model in a Bottle is a MUST HAVE!

So you've spent some serious time getting dolled up for tonight's big event only to have your make up fade away into the dark as you dance the night away... We've all been there; trust me when I say it's happened to me one too many times!! However, do not fret my pet, there is a solution. Are you ready for it?! Well it's simple - Model in a Bottle, a make up setting spray with a matte finish that holds your work in place all day long.

On the Right Track!

Initially I started writing a post about cleaning your makeup and brushes (I promise that will be my next post).  As I was looking for facts, I came across one of my binders that I tend to scribble in.  Let's just say this binder is a combination of ideas, plans, lists, randomness and sometimes my thoughts; which actually starts off with what I am afraid of but then (being the nerd that I am) I set goals to counteract them.

I was really surprised with this one list because I've managed to accomplish quite a few things off of it.. But what really makes me proud is that it was written on March 30th, the day I lost my 9 to 5 job.  I've said it before, it was a really scary moment in my life because I've ALWAYS had a job.  I think I felt every emotion possible in the span of 24 hours but I am glad that I went through what I did and even happier to document my determination.  So in true Janet fashion, I decided to share some of the things I wrote which will also give me the opportunity to thank some really incredible people =).

Lauren's New Beginning =)

A quick recap to make sure everyone is on the same page; in May I collaborated with Isabella of Ella Photography to launch a contest to celebrate hitting 100 fans on my facebook page.  I was really happy with the response in terms of entries but boy was it ever hard to select a winner.  At the end of the day, with the help of Isabella, we were able to narrow it down to two winners!  So get ready to read one of the winning stories and get a sneak peak of some behind the scenes action; meet Lauren Scott and her awesome pup Vito.

Lauren and Vito  Photo by Isabella of Ella Photography