Priceless Products by Reanamation Studios

Hey Gang!

We are constantly asked, as makeup artists, what our favorite products are or what products we just can't live without. The list grows on and on over the years but our reader response has shown that you just love to read about it! Here are a few of the priceless products we just can't get enough of right now...

Trisha

Shadesticks

MAC shadesticks are my new favorite thing!! They are easy to use, portable and just overall fantastic. You can use them as a base for your eyeshadow or, if you are short on time, use them as an all over color for you eyes!!

I personally like to layer mine but I have used them alone for testing of quality and have always been satisfied! They don't crease or move all over on your eyelid like some crayon eyeshadows have been known to do.

It is not often that MAC will put out new colors of shadesticks, but luckily for me there are 4 new colors coming out in December!! You can expect a full review of them first thing in 2010!!

Veronica

Product: Mud Loose Powder

Over the years I have tried many different compact powders and loose powders and I've recently fallen in love with Mud's loose powder($21.00)!!It gives you that same flawless matte coverage that other companies like MAC do only with out the cakey look.The powder seems to work best for me when used with a light cream foundation.I use Mud’s cream foundation in color YG2($26.00). The one thing I've found about the Mud loose powder is that it doesn't come in very many shades.There are only 5(Buttercream, Desert, Shell, Suede, and Zero), but they are all able to be mixed to make your perfect shade!!I use half desert and half zero.I would recommend this product because it's light enough to wear in the day but has enough matte coverage for any other occasion!You can find this product at www.mudshop.com under face products.

Reana

NARS Lip Laquer! Random, right? I know. It just looked so glossy and pigmented at Nordstrom so I had to splurge and pick one up. I bought Sweet Charity, a light lavender color, and have worn it every single day since. That's saying something because I have a ton of makeup and hardly ever wear the same shade twice in one week! It is a great product and definitely going in my regulars box for daily application. It lasts long and doesn't kiss off as easily as other products. It comes in a variety of shades so I highly recommend checking it out next time you're at Sephora or Nordstrom!

Love,

Reanamation Studios

Hi I'm Veronica! by Veronica P.

Hi Everyone!!

My name is Veronica and I'm 20 years old. I am the newest makeup artist at Reanamation Studios, brought on team to help manage marketing and blogging. I am also the lead Special Effects artist, specializing in theatrical horror makeup AND beautiful airbrushing! I'm excited to be joining the Reanamation team! You can learn more about me and see photos of my work at www.reanamation.com. Make sure to type in the "www" or the website won't come up! We have added a new Special Effects page and gallery just for me and my work, so make sure to check it out and book your holiday beauty makeover or lessons soon! A little bit about me...

I was born and raised in San Diego. I'm currently in cosmetology school and the beauty industry is my biggest passion in life! Since I was a little girl I have always been fascinated with pictures of things that involved beauty. This is where my love for make-up started. I loved the way eyelashes and lips would look in a photo. Make-up can be used for many different styles and needs. I love doing make-up and being able to see all the enhancements that I've created. To me doing make-up is like going to a photo gallery and anything done with it is beautiful! I knew I wanted to do it all, make-up, hair color, cutting, everything so when I found Bay Vista I knew it was for me! They have an amazing make-up artistry program with a great instructor. I was a true MAC lover and still am but recently I have been getting more familiar with MUD. I want to learn and grow in this industry and that's why I am glad to join a team that works together showing they're love for make-up!! Thank you and I can't wait to see what's next!

Love,

Veronica

Brand Focus: Make Up For Ever by Trisha S.

Hey Girls!

I finally got a break from makeup school to check out a cool new brand! Here's the low-down on Make Up For Ever, available at your local Sephora.

As much as I love MAC Eyeshadows, there are a few colors that I just was not able to find in the permanent line up. So, being the impatient makeup junkie that I am, I decided to venture out and see what I could find to satisfy my color craving. That’s when I discovered Make Up For Ever. I had been eyeing the brand for some time at Sephora but hadn’t really looked too hard until one day…. That’s the day I fell in love!! Here is a review of a few of the colors I purchased along with swatches. I hope you like them too!

#168 is a shimmery green with some blue undertones to it. It is not quite aqua and you can see the blue more when you move it around. The shimmer is subtle, definitely not chunky glitter or anything like that.

#311 is a diamond shadow which means that it is more shiny than the shadows you find in the regular line. #311 is a dark burgundy color with shimmer. I actually did not find this color to be any more sparkly than #168 or any of the other shimmers I have. The texture is awesome though. Very soft!!

#79 is a very dark almost black purple. It is supposed to have shimmer to it but it is very subtle and you really have to look for it. This is one MUFE shadow that I do not like the texture of.

#75 is a matte hot pink. There really are no words to describe how much I love this color! It is the perfect shade of hot pink and the texture is surprisingly soft for a matte shadow.

#99 is a matte scarlet red. This red is not too orange and not too much of a blue red. It’s just a great shade of plain old red. Very soft in texture as well.

#92 is a matte vibrant purple. I love this color as well. It is a little on the blue side of the purple spectrum but it so bright and can be layered well with other shades of purple for the most awesome purple smoky eye ever!!!

#169 is iridescent anthracite (whatever that is). To me it is just the ideal color for layering with #92 for that dark smoke eye! It is a dark charcoal base with tons of sparkle in it!!

#171 is a sparkly acid green which is almost yellow green but with more green. It kinda reminds me of a ripe Granny Smith apple all polished up!! I find this color to be not as pigmented as some but with a few layers it’s beautiful!!

So next time your at Sephora, stop at the MUFE display and check it out for yourself!

WARNING: Some of these colors will STAIN your eyelids if you do not use a base!! Even with a base they can still leave a faint stain!!

MAC Holiday Sets Review by Reana S.

Hey Ladies!

The weather is cooling, the leaves are changing, and the holiday season has officially kicked off! Has anyone stopped by a local MAC store or counter to see the new holiday sets? I had the chance to preview these great sets ahead of time and have some thoughts to share with you! The holidays are all about gift GIVING (not getting, sorry ladies!) and these kits were designed with that intention, but we all know that gift giving can wear out the wallet if you don't plan and stick to a budget! As such, my review will involve a lot of price/value discussion. There are 4 collections of holiday sets to choose from, priced at a range to suit everyone on your list...

The least expensive sets are the Lip Kits, priced at $22.50 each. One set, Heavenly Dish, contains three lip colors (two lipsticks and one gloss) in neutral tones and the other, Possessed by Pink! contains three pink tones. The packaging is cute and is priced perfectly for a $25 and under gift exchange but if I had the choice for myself, I'd rather pay $14 for a full lipstick that doesn't require a brush or unsanitary finger dunk application!

Next in price are the four eyeshadow palettes, each containing 6 shades and priced at $36. Devil May Dare is a warm, neutral palette, Mystic has cool colors, Smoke & Mirrors is a non-traditional smoky-eye palette, and Sorceress has some fun n' funky colors to play around with. These are great gifts for someone who needs more color variety or who is trying to build their collection. These palettes fit easily into a purse or makeup bag, for quick and easy makeup application on the go. The colors are very similar to the holiday collection from last year, but I know they are useful because I always pack my two palettes from last year when I am travelling! They are so well-packaged and so not prone to breaking.

MAC has added face kits this year, priced at $38 and containing three fun face products. The Hocus Focus colorful is great for lighter skin tones, while the Fabracadabra kit is better for warmer, darker skin tones that want to look sun-kissed bronzy. Both kits contain a product that can be used to contour, a blush, and a highlighter. Again, a great gift for someone who needs to bump up their beauty routine! I actually like both sets for myself, as they are once again really conveniently packaged and saves me the hassle of packing the three individual products into my purse, makeup bag, or travel makeup bag. This is one of my favorite sets this holiday season, so I highly recommend checking it out for yourself and a friend!

Next up are four bag sets, each priced at $36 also. Two sets contain lip products (a mini liner, mini Dazzleglass, and full sized lipstick), and two sets contain eye glam (a mini Zoomlash mascara, mini eyeliner brush, full-sized Fluidline, and full-sized pigment). Each set houses its products in a cute, tiny bag with a huge bow and button. I liked these sets but they aren't very big for the price. The value is good, however, as one MAC pigment is $20 and Fluidline is $14. Its a nice little gift if you know someone who really wants these items, but otherwise I personally feel your $36 could be spent on a bigger, more impressive gift. Just my opinion though!

Now we have some fabulous brush sets, priced at $49.50 and each containing 5 "key" brushes in a miniature size. These sets come in a very pretty, larger case that can be re-used as a pencil case, or clutch maybe! The quality of these brushes are better than the usual MAC special-edition brushes and so is the selection. The favorite seems to be the Wave of a Wand set, which contains a foundation, blush/powder, eyeshadow, eyeliner, and contour brush. This is a great gift for the $50 and under list and is definitely worth the money.

The most expensive and "exclusive" gift set is the Exclusives Mineralize Sets, each priced at $59.50. There are two, one pink and one bronze, and each contain a mini kabuki brush, mineralize eye shadow, mineralize blush, and mineralize skin finish. Both sets are absolutely beautiful and make a great gift for your favorite friend!

Last but certainly not least, MAC has released a special Viva Glam lip set for the holidays. The set contains two lipsticks and one gloss from the Viva Glam collection and is priced at $22.50. The best part of this set is that the entire purchase price, $22.50, goes to the MAC AIDS Fund. Nothing says holiday spirit like giving to such a worthy cause, and for us to buy this set is actually like giving two gifts. I highly recommend picking this up to benefit the MAC AIDS Fund and surprise a friend, all for less than $25!

That concludes our MAC Holiday set wrap-up, I hope you found this post to be helpful and informative in your holiday gift giving decisions! Good luck and happy shopping ladies!

Love,

Reana

Makeup Academy Finale! by Trisha S.

Hey Girls!

Well, I have some great news! I made it through Makeup Academy!! This class was so much fun and very educational! I am almost sad that it is over because I made some good friends. The one good thing about it being over is that I can finally sleep in on Saturdays!!

The first order of business when I arrived to our last day was the dreaded final exam!! 100 questions about everything we had learned over the 9 week period! Of course, I aced it. Next we waited for our models. Mine got stuck in traffic so while everyone else was already starting, I was waiting…. Finally she arrived and it was time to get down to business and put my skills to work! My model was very pale, redhead, freckles, and blue eyes. She is super gorgeous and very sweet on top of that! We had a lot of fun talking about life while I applied her concealer, foundation, powder, blush, and eyeshadow for the day/natural look.

Let me just say that natural is not my forte so it took me a while to get this down just right. I practiced on my neighbor and myself for three days before the shoot. After the natural look was applied, we took a lunch break and then drove over to the studio where the photos would be taken. We had about 10 minutes to retouch the face and apply lipstick and gloss before the shoot.

After the day shoot we had to go back and bump up the look for evening. I chose to apply only one eyeshadow over the existing shadow to make it easier on myself. I applied a different color lipstick, some pink gloss, pumped up the blush, and we were set!!

After the evening shoot we were presented with our certificates and had our class picture taken. It was so much fun! I had such a great time and learned so much. I already have my picture back from the photo shoot and they will be posted in our Gallery this weekend. Be sure to check out www.reanamation.com for the finished pictures!

Love,

Trisha

Product Focus: Primer by Reana S.

Hey Divas!

Have you ever wondered what the heck makeup primer actually is or does? Has anyone at Nordstrom ever tried to sell you an expensive primer without actually explaining its use? I neglected using primer for many years because of the price and a lack of understanding of its use. As I have developed as a makeup artist though, I have began to rely on primer for that perfect, flawless photo-finish. After using primer in my makeup artistry work, I have seen its amazing results and have decided to try it for myself. I have since tried the three most popular primers on the market, Korres Silicone Free Primer, MAC Prep + Prime Face Primer, and Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. Here is my review of each product...

Korres Silicone-Free Face Primer

$28 for 1.1 oz, available only at Sephora

This is a very popular formula because it does not contain any silicone, parabens, or sulfates. I personally find the product to be a bit expensive, but just had to try it after reading the great reviews. I use a MAC 190 brush to apply the primer all over my face, after moisturizing and before applying any makeup. The results of this product are bittersweet. I sadly did not notice any difference in the way my makeup looks and lasts on my face. I do see an overall smoother application, but not the flawless, photo-finish look that I have seen with other primers. I did, however, notice a difference in the quality and condition of my skin. This primer seems to have helped lessen breakouts, most likely because it does not contain silicone (which clogs pores) and because it provides a barrier/protective layer between my skin and makeup. This means that my makeup won't get absorbed into my skin and my pores won't get clogged. So, eh...its a cool product I guess. I'm neither impressed nor depressed!

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

$36 for 1 oz. available at Sephora and some department stores

This product is always popular in beauty magazines and for photo shoots. Many makeup artists swear by it, and the secret being out has led many consumers to purchase the product as well. I got a free sample at Sephora and was later given a full-size by a Smashbox brand representative. First and foremost, the product is very heavy and sticky. It contains a generous amount of silicone, which gives the appearance of flawless, camera-ready skin but can also clog pores. I will admit that I really didn't like the way that this product felt on my face, but absolutely loved the photo-finish that it gave me. Problem being, I had plenty of little blemishes on my face before the end of the day. My skin is usually blemish-free so this was NOT a good experience for me. My overall conclusion of the product is that its good but expensive. It does what it promises but leaves you with a nasty consequence. I would recommend using this product once in a great while, when you know you will be under heavy lighting or taking pictures. It is probably more economic to just snag a free sample at Sephora (the ladies there will give you one if you ask nicely!) whenever you are anticipating an occasion, or schedule a makeup application with Reanamation Studios who keeps the product handy!

MAC Prep + Prime Skin

$25 for 1 oz. available at MAC stores and counters

This primer is a good happy-medium in the sense that it does not have an overwhelming amount of silicone but does have enough to do the job of providing you with a smooth, even surface to apply your makeup. I call this product "colorless foundation" because it smoothes over your blemishes, fills in lines, and fills empty pores as well as a foundation does, without the hassle or cost of color-matching through the seasons. This product does contain silicone so there is some possibility of pore-clogging, though I have not had any bad experiences with blemishes. This primer costs the least of the three, and is eligible for the Back 2 MAC Recycling program, where you can collect 6 empty products and trade them in for a free specified MAC product (see our previous post!).

Bottom Line?

I highly recommend primer and love using it every single day now. It is great to use the MAC primer with some simple MSFN powder and just be DONE for the day! I recommend using the Korres primer if you have problem skin and the MAC primer if your skin is usually worry-free. The Smashbox Primer is nice if you're into it, but I recommend getting a sample to try first. I hope you enjoyed this review! Until next time...

Love,

Reana

Makeup Academy Weeks 7 & 8 by Trisha S.

Hey Girls!

With the end of makeup academy rapidly approaching, things have been hectic! Not only with makeup life, but with personal life as well. Weeks 7 and 8 were short weeks for me because of the preparations for the final exam and photo shoot. In Week 7 we talked about eyebrows and mascara. Let’s look at eyebrows first.

When measuring your eyebrow, you are going to use two things, your nose and your eye. Your eyebrow should start evenly with the bridge of your nose. Your arch should be even with the outside of your pupil closest to your temple. Lastly, the eyebrow should end diagonally with the end of your nose and end of your eye. You can use a pencil or makeup brush to help you align the eyebrow.

There are two types of cosmetics that are made to help you fill in the shape of your brow: Pencils and powders. Pencils are preferred for the correction techniques of the eyebrow. Make sure the pencil point is sharp and start by drawing little “hairs” in the direction of the natural growth of the hair. Powders are used to fill in empty space in the brow but are not recommended for corrections.

Now, onto mascara. The purpose of mascara is to give color to the lashes and make them appear fuller. You can also use mascara to help blend artificial lashes to natural lashes. The most common type of mascara is the wand type. There is also a cake type and a crème. The cake type is activated with water but is not waterproof. The technique for this type of mascara is a little hard and a specific brush is needed.

In Week 8 we briefly touched on evening makeup. There are several things to consider when doing evening makeup. What is the event for, what are you wearing, and what type of lighting the event is in. These factors all play a role in what type of makeup to apply. Most people do not wear glitter everyday, unless you’re me and don’t care!! But in evening makeup, glitters and iridescent colors are most acceptable. After we talked about evening makeup, it was the end of our last class!! We had a model call to choose our models for the photo shoot and then reviewed everything we had learned for the big test that we would have the next week.

Stay tuned to hear all about the photo shoot!

Love,

Trisha

New MAC Mascara! by Reana S.

Hey Divas!

Are any of you girls fans of MAC mascara? Well I definitely am! I have tried tons and tons of mascaras, from both the drug stores and department stores, and always end up back at MAC! I love every single mascara MAC makes, some more than others, but they are all good quality formulas, last a long time, and are moderately priced.

MAC recently released their newest mascara, Zoom Fast Black Lash. This new mascara is the same formula and brush as MAC's tried and true Zoom Lash; the only difference is the color of the formula. The new Zoom Fast Black Lash is very highly pigmented black, making your lashes darker and sexier. I of course scooped up the new mascara the minute it came out and have been using it for about two weeks now.

Zoom Lash is my favorite mascara so I had pretty high expectations, but the new Zoom Fast did not impress me. I did notice a slight difference in color, but my lashes are naturally black so the difference was not outstanding. I still love the Zoom Lash formula so the new mascara is still a great mascara, but I'm not a die hard fan sorry!

Bottom line? The new Zoom Fast Black Lash is a great formula, has an excellent brush, and overall is a great mascara but I didn't need to rush to try the new formula to find this out. It is a great mascara for you to buy and try next time you need a new mascara and I highly recommend it, even though for me personally it didn't excite.

How do you like this new addition to the MAC Mascara family?? Let us know!

Love,

Reana

Product Focus: Cream Eyeshadow by Trisha S.

Reanamation Studios is starting two new post series: Product Focus and Brand Focus. Our Brand Focus posts will talk about a specific brand and put it in the spotlight for the entire post. What do we like or dislike about this brand? What are the price points? What products MUST you have and what can you probably skip? Product Focus will take a particular product, usually one that is a bit unordinary, and talk about our experience with it from different angles including brands, consistencies, colors, textures, and ease of use. You have already read Reana's Rock & Republic Brand Focus and now it is time for our very first Product Focus, a review of Cream Eyeshadow by our very own Trisha! Hope you enjoy, and feel free to e-mail us through our website to suggest a brand or product for our review.

Cream eyeshadows… if you’re like me, you either love ‘em, or you don’t!! I have long been a cream eyeshadow skeptic so I decided to put a few popular brands to the test.

Too Faced: This line of cream Shadows is called Lockdown, and I must say... it’s true! These creams are smooth and easy to work with. They stayed with me for HOURS and no creasing! I was amazed! I like to use these as a base and then use some eyeshadow over them to get the wild looks I adore!

Dramarama: Dark Brown. Chocolate brown with a coppery gold shimmer

Bondage: Light Brown. Gold with gold shimmer

Bedroom Eyes: Medium Brown. Tan with gold shimmer

Prisoner of Love: Pink. Medium pink with shimmer

Jail Bait: Light Pink. Very pale pink with shimmer

I’m Guilty: Aqua Blue. Beautiful shade of aqua with silvery shimmer

I would love to see some more colors in this line because as of now, there are only six and three of them are brown shades and two of the six are pink.

Urban Decay: These cream shadows are also amazing! I love the wide range of colors that are available and the staying power that I got from them. There are twelve colors to choose from so I am sure there is one just for you!! I only swatched seven of them because my hand was running out of room and the lady at the store was watching me like a hawk!! LOL!!

Sphynx: Light pink with iridescent and silver glitter

Moonshine: Pale silver, almost white, with silver glitter

Asphalt: Black with tons of shine. Silver and iridescent glitter in his made it my favorite almost instantly!

Radium: Metallic blue with lots of shine

Midnight Rodeo: Pinkish gold with lots of silver glitter

Grass: Super shiny, metallic grass green. I love greens and this one is awesome!

Delinquent: Purple with tons of shine! This is a metallic shadow and the purple is kinda on the dark side but not real dark.

The colors are super pigmented and since there is such a wide variety, you don’t need to use eyeshadow with them. I found it helped me if I put a little foundation or powder on my eyelids before applying them. This helped with the creasing which I only got if I wore them for 10 or more hours.

Benefit: I have heard so many good things about these “Creaseless Cream Shadows” that I HAD to run out and get some. I found them to be super soft and very easy to work with. That was as far as my WOW went. There are 16 shades to choose from but most of them are fairly similar. Pinks, corals, and golds, with a few dark colors thrown in.

I loved “Skinny Jeans” so much that it almost broke my heart to return it. It was a soft grey with gold, red, and green glitter in it! It made the perfect base for a sultry smoky eye which is one of my favorite looks.

I tried three times to make this stuff work for me and failed each time. At the end of the day... creases. Now I don’t like to be negative about products but here’s the fact. If it says creaseless in the name, then I expect it to be creaseless! I tried setting it with powder, tried using a primer, and tried putting it over foundation or powder. Each time I was disappointed.

Hopefully these tips help you in your decision to use, buy, and try cream eyeshadow. I had fun testing all of the products and hope you stay in touch with me at trisha.reanamation@gmail.com. I would love to hear of any success stories and how you made it work for you!!

Love,

Trisha

Updates! by Reanamation Studios

Hey Beauty Buffs!

Has anyone noticed that we've been out of touch lately? Sorry about that! We have been very busy updating our precious website,

www.reanamation.com

for the Fall 2009 season. Make sure to check out the site for all kinds of new photos of our work, both professional and fun. We will resume blogging this week, sharing with you news and updates about the new MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash mascara, Dazzleglass Cremes, DSquared launch, Holiday launch, and Trisha's final weeks in Makeup Academy. Be sure to visit us often so you don't miss a beat!

Love,

Reanamation Studios

Style Black Review by Trisha S.

Hey Ladies!!

We have been waiting for MAC's newest collection, Style Black, all summer and today it finally hit stores! Several members of the Reanamation Team have been saving up their recycling to trade for the amazing eyeshadows and lipsticks from this collection, and you know we were first in line to pick up the other great products too! I woke up at 7 this morning to be sure to get to the mall by opening and be first in line to play with and purchase Style Black. Here is what I found...

Mineralize Eyeshadows $19.50

Young Punk is a black base with purple-pink pearl

Gilt by Association is a black base with goldish olive pearl

Cinderfella is a black base with silver pearl.

Blue Flame is a black base with blue pearl.

I loved all of these!! I would definitely suggest a brush like the 242 or 252 to apply them wet. Instead of mixing medium, you can mix 1 tbsp. Glycerin to 3 tbsp. of water. Glycerin can be found at your local pharmacy and costs about $3 for 6 oz. I used the mixture to apply Blue Flame and then applied Cinderfella all over it dry to really get some shine!! Stay tuned to www.reanamation.com to see the pictures of my finished look!

Greasepaint Stick $17.50

Black is actually a purple-black with purple shimmer in it. I loved this product so much. It may be the replacement to Shadestick, not sure yet. It goes on easily and can be smudged for a smoky effect or used as a liner but very carefully, as it is a thick product. It is easily layered with eyeshadows too, and is best used underneath all of these new beautiful shadows!! This is such a great product that I actually bought two, definitely my favorite product of the entire launch!!

Cream Colour Base $16.50

Black is a solid black that is not quite glossy but slightly shiny.

Bat Black is a burgundy color that is a little shinier than Black.

Cream Colour Base can be used on eyes, lips, or cheeks. Not all colors are approved for all areas of the face so be sure to check. Both of these products serve as excellent bases for the new eyeshadows as well, but are more difficult for consumers to work with.

Lipstick $14.00

Black Knight is a Cremesheen finish black that is also a little glossy. It does bleed so be sure to use a liner on your lips and set with powder. This is a good time to schedule a consultation with one of us so we can show you exactly how to pull of the black lip look. Trust me, its not as simple as just applying it straight out of the tube!

Mattene Lipstick $14.50

Midnight Media is an almost black lip color that is not completely opaque. It does have a red tint to it but it pretty much just looks black on the lips.

Night Violet is a wine colored shadeof purple. It goes on a little more opaque than Midnight Media. These dark colors also look best with a lip liner.

Glimmerglass $18.00

Blackware is a sheer black gloss. It is a bit on the grey side and has no shimmer but is shiny.

Bling Black is a sheer black that has goldish olive glitter.

Blackfire is a sheer black that has purple and pink glitter in it. It also has a purple-y tint to it.

I was excited by the pictures of these, but was disappointed upon seeing and using them in person. They were a bit sheer for my taste, but can look prettier when layered over another lip product. I usually don't have time for all of that, so I skipped out on these. You can probably skip these too and still survive.

Nail Lacquer $12.00

Nocturnelle is a cream finish, glossy black. It’s not really anything special, just black, glossy polish. It is part of the permanent line as well.

Seriously Hip is black with goldish olive glitter. It is a perfect match to Bling Black Glimmerglass.

Baby Goth Girl is a black with purple and pink glitter. It is a perfect match to Blackfire Glimmerglass.

The nail polishes, while pretty, are nothing spectacular. MAC’s formula is not the best and at $12 a piece, I can find something similar and less expensive.

Overall: I am so glad that I not only saved up for this collection, but also dragged myself out of bed at 7 a.m. to be at the mall at 10 a.m. (I made it at 9:40). I have never been a fan of mineralize shadows but recently discovered them and how pretty they can be if you know the technique. I love the ones that came out here!! This is an awesome collection and a great way to kick of the Fall and Winter seasons. I highly encourage you to check this collection out this weekend and get a haul of your own!!

Love,

Trisha

In High Def Review by Reana S.

Hey Girls!

As television and technology are changing, the demands of makeup and on makeup artists increase. While high definition television and film are a pleasure to watch, it can be a PAIN to prepare for! To help makeup artists with their plight, MAC has released the In High Def collection of products that are excellent for high definition film and photography. Makeup artists can take this opportunity to take advantage of the products and excellent education MAC has to offer on the subject of makeup for high definition. While most consumers, on the other hand, will not have to wear the makeup for high definition photography or film, YOU can use these products on days or nights where and when you are going out and know the cameras will be out! And the pictures WILL end up on Facebook the next day!! Reanamation Studios is proud to offer one-on-one sessions on how to use these products for everyday use so please contact us at reanamation@gmail.com to schedule your consultation!

Although this collection received negative reviews by MAC fans, I must say that as a makeup artist and longtime MAC collector, I really really liked this collection. I bought every single item in the collection that I didn't already have and love each one either for use in my kit, collection, or personal stash!! With that, here is my product run down...

The In High Def collection offers the old-school cult favorite Face and Body foundation in a variety of colors to suit any and every skin tone. The foundation can be used on the face with the 188 Brush or on the body with the 187 Brush, both featured in the collection. F&B Foundation can be (and for High Def, should be) set with Mineralize Skin Finish Natural, which is also featured in this collection in a variety of shades.

My favorite part of this collection is definitely the new lipstick, which is featured in 4 limited edition shades. Fair skinned women can use Close to Real, a very light creamy shade. Medium skinned women can use High Def lipstick, which is a beautiful nude pink shade. Darker skinned women can use Sharp Focus, which I have been using nonstop since the day I purchased it. Anyone and everyone can use Resolutely Red, which is the absolute best shade of red I have seen in a long time. It is important to choose the shade of lip color that is right for YOU in this collection, rather than what shade you think is pretty. This is a great collection and is very customizable to make YOU look beautiful, so spend time with your local MAC artist or the Reanamation Team to make it happen!

Love,

Reana

MAC Upstarts Review by Reanamation Studios

Hey Ladies!!

MAC often releases packaged sets containing travel or trial-sized products for buyers to try. MAC's latest release of Upstarts comes in three varieties, one for skin care, one for eye makeup, and the last one for face makeup. These cute packages are a convenient and economical way to try new products without having to buy the full size, and are excellent to travel with. I love and use my Upstarts kit from last year every single time I travel, and am always thrilled to have my beloved Cleanse Off Oil with me wherever life takes me! Here is what Reanamation Studios had to say about each of the three sets...

Upstarts: Well Prepared, $47

This set is a great starter kit for someone who is trying to figure out what skin type they have and what the bare essentials are when it comes to preparing the skin for flawless makeup application. When it comes to applying makeup, it doesn’t matter how well you do it if your skin looks awful; to put it simply makeup does not and cannot conceal EVERYTHING! The MAC Prep + Prime products are a great way to properly prepare an amazing canvas, and you can refer to Reana's earlier post on the subject for more details on each product. This set, however, contains the basics of prepping the skin for makeup application and removing makeup after the day is done.

Prep & Prime Skin

- Prep + Prime Skin is an incredible product; this primer is so fluid and it also intensely moisturizes your skin. Not only does this make your skin glow but also provides a great canvas to start applying your makeup to. Prep + Prime Skin is extremely soothing and evens out any blotchiness on your skin. Of course everyone’s skin is different and will behave differently, however, it is very important to give the product a chance because it may be the one product to use, making your skin look flawless. This product comes in a full-size here and makes the set a great deal.

Prep & Prime Translucent Powder

- The Translucent Powder is a great product to use in order to set your makeup, making it long-lasting and flawless looking. Aside from that, this amazing product also reduces the size of pores and any imperfections that you may have. A great thing about this powder is that because it is in fact translucent, you never have to change shades through the seasons when your skin goes from light to dark. I have heard that the best way to wear this product is just on top of freshly moisturized skin, giving you an incredibly healthy look. This product also comes in a full-size here, further making the set an even greater deal!!

Cleanse Off Oil

- The Cleanse Off Oil and is definitely a product I recommend to use daily! I use this product every single day to remove my makeup; it also picks up any excess oil left from lotions, moisturizers or makeup previously used. After using this, your skin truly feels naked and refreshed; because Cleanse Off removes all excess oils it allows your skin to breath easier so you pores do not get clogged from the oil and silicone that is in most of your makeup.

Fix +

- The Fix + spray is a classic product that most MAC artists swear by. It contains glycerin, which helps makeup adhere to the skin, as well as other moisturizing ingredients that keep skin hydrated. Fix + has many other various uses that can be explored and experimented with. We personally like to spray a layer over toner and underneath moisturizer to help seal in moisture throughout the day, or spray our shadow brushes with it before using a mineralize shadow, to get the most out of the color.

Upstarts: Lined & Lashed, $27

Zoomlash Mascara

Zoomlash mascara is a lengthening mascara that is excellent when worn alone or layered coat after coat for a more dramatic effect. This is Reana's personal favorite mascara and she highly recommends it to anyone and everyone! This product comes in a full-size package.

Prep & Prime Lash

Prep & Prime Lash is a lash primer, previously reviewed in Reana's Prep & Prime Review. It is a great product for preparing the lashes and can also be layered for a more dramatic effect. We at first weren't sure about this product, but was pressured (in a good way) by a very trusted MAC artist to just buy it. Upon purchasing the product, this has become a staple in both our kits and personal collections and we are going through it tube after tube!! This product is full-size.

Pro Eye Makeup Remover

This mini eye makeup remover is wonderful for removing that stubborn black eyeliner and coat-after-coat mascara. If you have ever woken up with raccoon eyes from last night, this product is a must-have. The formula is gentle enough for the eye area but tough enough to remove anything and everything that should not naturally be in your eye area. This miniature size is a great way to try the product, or pack in your travel bag for a vacation.

Nightsky Soft Sparkle Pencil

This pencil is a sultry way to wake up any makeup look with drama and definition. The Soft Sparkle formula is easily manipulated and can be smudged or winged out for various looks. There is a slight shimmer finish to this black pencil, making it the perfect accessory for your evening cocktail dress. This is a stay-put formula that will remove easily with the above eye makeup remover.

--We haven't tried enough of the products in the Upstarts: Flawless package to ethically give you a detailed review. I encourage you to visit your local MAC store or counter and work with an artist to try each product and make sure they are right for you. This set is a good value but only if you love the Mineralize foundation, which we personally do not have experience with. The only way to find out is to try it, so head out there ladies! We hope you enjoyed this review of this year's Upstarts collection and will highly consider picking up one or all of these convenient, value-priced sets

Love,

Reanamation Studios

Flirt with Fall Review by Trisha S.

Hey Girls!

Academy Award-nominated Hollywood makeup artist, Christina Smith, and MAC have teamed up in this launch of lashes for you to “Flirt with Fall” in. Even though the collection contains 6 lash sets, only two of them are new. The other 4 are permanent fixtures of the MAC line. If you adore false lashes, then this collection is right up your alley.

• #43 Lash - Natural length. Wispy bundles that give even flirty fringe. Blend of black and brown hair. (Permanent)
• #44 Lash - Unique combination of separate bundles at inner corner and dramatic winged outer corner. Blend of black and brown hair. (Permanent)
• #45 Lash Half lash - Long separate bundles look both wispy and dramatic. Blend of black and brown hair. (Limited Edition)
• #46 Lash - Full and short. Blend of black and brown hair. (Permanent in MAC Stores)
• #47 Lash - Extra long side swept hairs combine with fullness at the base to give an edgy look. Blend of black and brown hair. (Limited Edition)
• #48 Lash - Slightly more dramatic length. Wispy bundles give flirty fringe. Blend of black and brown hair. (Permanent in MAC Stores)

If you are new to MAC’s lashes, this collection is an awesome way for you to get to know the products. The 4 existing lash sets are some of the best sellers that MAC has to offer. They are easy to use and can last for 8-10 “wears” if taken care of properly. The retail price is $13.00 per set, making it well worth your investment. If you need help applying false lashes, refer to my previous post on this topic and remember that practice makes perfect!!!

Love,

Trisha

Fall/Winter Trends 09 by Reana S.

Hello Everyone!

I'm sad to admit, but Summer is coming to a quick halt and Fall is now in full swing. Though the disappearance of sunny days and hot nights leaves me a bit depressed, the addition of several new makeup looks and launches brightens my day back up! Today I am going to share the trends for the upcoming season with you as well as review the MAC collection for the season. As a professional makeup artist, I have access to the latest tips and tricks for the seasons directly from the celebrity and catwalk artists themselves. Here's the run down of what is HOT and NOT for Fall and Winter...

Face/Skin:

Sculpture is key this season. Increased concentration is placed on the shaping and various angles of the face, rather than an overall easy glow or shimmer. Lines are created with highlighting and contouring the face, which you can learn more about in a consultation with one of our artists. 

IN: Sculpting powder, Shaping powder, Angled contour brush, Matte blush/highlight/contour colors in tones slightly darker or lighter than your own skin tone

OUT: Bronzing powder, Shimmery highlight, Bright blush

The Eighties:

Say What?! Yes you heard it right, 80's style and makeup is apparently making a splash comeback for this Fall and Winter. Can't say that I'll be rockin this trend, but just in case you are planning to, here are some things to get prepared for...

-- Ultra lined, ultra bright, standout, LOUD LIPS!

-- Winged-out eyeliner. This is easiest to do with gel eyeliner and an excellent brush, in my opinion. I have never tried this trend on myself but I do know that practice makes perfect. Set some time aside to experiment with different products and techniques, not forgetting to keep the eye makeup remover handy!

-- Contoured cheekbones

-- Funky, bright blush

-- Brightly colored, standout eyeshadow specifically electric blues

The Lady is  a Vamp

Big for Fall and Winter is the traditional smoky eye paired with daringly dark burgundy and even black lipstick. Several lines have already released their dark lip colors for Fall, and many have included an actual black lipstick in their release. The traditional smoky eye is achieved with a few different shades of grey eyeshadow plus a matte black shadow to add depth, texture, and definition. Using a soft black pencil liner that smudges will give a softer, more sultry and smokier edge to the usual hard black line. To prepare, stock up on:

-- A light, medium, and dark grey shadow from the brand of your choice

-- A shimmery grey shadow

-- A matte black shadow

-- Blackest black mascara

-- Dark lipstick

-- Black eyeliner 

-- A tool to smudge black eyeliner

Also in trend and on point for this season is...

-- Red lips

-- Blended eyeshadow (look for a good blending brush)

-- Earth and chocolate tones

-- Warm, spicy lips

And now, a review of MAC's Fall/Winter 09 Trend Collection...

MAC's newest collection, Trend F/W '09, is a dark, vampy collection that will leave you wanting to grab the latest black coats and stiletto boots to be ready, upfront, and fashion forward for the season. This collection quickly reminds us that the fun, bright, cheery weather and colors of Summer are in the past and we now have to prepare for the darker, sexier, and more sultry weather and colors of Fall and Winter. 

The collection has one rollerball perfume, Asphalt Flower, which smells amazing and is a great gift or personal item for $20. It is small and convenient for travel or purse reapplication. The collection also has one eyeshadow palette, Tone: Grey, that contains the 4 colors needed for this year's smoky eye, featuring a pearlescent blue highlight unique to 2009. I recommend this palette for anyone who needs grays for their collection and/or to prepare for this season's trends. The colors are all beautiful, perfectly textured for easy application, highly pigmented, conveniently packaged for Winter travel, and a value at $36 instead of $48+ for each individual shadow. Seasoned makeup artists and/or collectors can probably skip this palette.

The real highlight of this collection, in my humble opinion, is the lip colors. This collection features three lipglasses, New Berry in a dark berry shade, Runway Fave in a very light mocha creme + shimmer shade, and So This Season in a vampy purple shade. No matter what your skin tone, you can find a lip color to meet your needs for the upcoming season. I absolutely love the lipsticks from this collection too, and have successfully purchased each one. My favorite so far is Faultlessly F/W which is a very very dark purple/violet color. Hipster is another dark shade, but this time with a pretty deep, burgundy wine shade. Red Full Stop is nothing like its name and instead boasts a sheer coral finish, and Our Pick is about as nude as nude can get! Each shade of lipstick or lipglass can be worn alone or, unlike most other MAC launches, with its corresponding partner. This collection makes it very easy to be Fashion Forward for Fall, and I highly recommend you stopping by your local MAC to check it out! 

Stay tuned this week for a ridiculous amount of information, including eyebrow basics, tips on High Def makeup, new makeup looks, and of course, launch reviews!! Until next time...

Love,

Reana

Updates! by Reanamation Studios

Hello Divas!

Whew! We are getting to a time where once again, MAC has outdone us. MAC currently has several different launches going on simultaneously, making it very hard for us to keep up with our blog AND budget! But, we love love love MAC and will try to keep up to date as best as possible. If you see something online or in store and have a question or comment, of course e-mail us at reanamation@gmail.com

You will find these launches at your local MAC Store or Counter:

-- In High Def

-- Trend Fall/Winter '09

-- Flirt with Fall

-- Nail Trend F/W '09

-- Makeup Art Cosmetics as seen by Richard Phillips

-- Makeup Art Cosmetics as seen by Maria Kalman

-- Makeup Art Cosmetics as seen by Marilyn Minter

Online and in some stores, you will find:

-- Upstarts (3 collections of eye, face, and skin products conveniently packaged together)

After Thursday, add these to the launch list:

-- Style Black

-- Dazzleglass Cremes

-- Zoom Fast Black Lash

All of these launches are still going on and products from each are still available online, in stores, and in counters. I highly recommend the Makeup Art Cosmetics line and this has been one of my favorite launches this year, but if you haven't stocked up from this collection yet, you might want to use caution...Makeup Art has a lot of bright colors, glitters, and pigments that were perfect for the hot summer heat. If you look at the trend for Fall/Winter 09, however, you will see that colors are cooling down to vampy, dark and almost gothic kinds of looks. 80's dress and music style are also on board for Fall/Winter 09 trend though, so keep a few of your bright colors around if you feel like being on point for the trend. 

If you are like me and stick to classic, tried and true looks regardless of the season, use this opportunity in MAC history to stock up on a variety of interesting and different products. There are several great products out right now and we will do our best to keep you informed on what to grab and what to HAVE for now, for the upcoming season, and forever!! 

Keep us informed too! What have you been buying? What must you have? What can you live without?

Love,

Reanamation Studios

Makeup Academy Week #6 by Trisha S.

Week 6 of Makeup Academy was All About Lips!!

This week was fun and little tough too!! Lips are a very important part of the face and this class was almost as intense as the eye class! As always, we began with the purpose of lip color, which is to enhance or correct the shape or color of the lip.

In order to know what kind of lips you have you need to know the part of the lip. The dip in the middle of your upper lip is called the bow. The highest point on each side is called the peak.

There are three common lip shapes:

1/3 Lip: This is the standard lip shape and considered the most attractive. From the bow to the peak takes up 1/3 of the lip and from the peak to the corner is 2/3.

1/2 Lip: This lip shape is considered glamorous and attractive. From the bow to the peak takes up ½ of the upper lip and from the peak to the corner is the other ½

2/3 Lip: This lip shape is most commonly used on singers and theatrical performers. From the bow to the peak takes up 2/3 of the lip and from the peak to the corner takes up 1/3 of the lip.

To help your lipstick stay on you longer, apply foundation to the lips first. Line your lips with lip liner and then fill in your lips with that same liner pencil. Apply your lipstick next, and then use a burhs to press some translucent powder onto your lips to set the cream. Apply some gloss if desired, and you're done!!

There are many corrective techniques to make the lip appear smaller or larger, depending on the look you are going for. For more information on these techniques, schedule a makeup consultation with us! You can e-mail me at trisha.reanmation@gmail.com to ask any questions too :)

We have a very exciting weekend ahead of us, in more ways than one, so be sure to visit us often to keep up! Until next week...

Love,

Trisha

Take THAT Recession! by Shakinah B.

I enjoy going up and down the make-up aisles at drugstores, especially when there is a sale. Believe it or not, everything a person needs to build a decent everyday-wear collection can be found at CVS, Rite Aid, or Wal-Mart. With the competition for your beauty buck, drugstores are now permitting returns on cosmetics if you are dissatisfied with your purchase and the sales are REAL sales- often times there’s BOGO (buy one, get one) action. This comes in very handy, especially with face powers and foundations. It is easy to stock up and save at the same time. Here are my top five drugstore favorites:

1. L’Oreal HIP Products: I refer to this as M.A.C for drugstore diva; it is of the highest frugal quality. The lipsticks and glosses have excellent wearing time and don’t dry out lips. Eye color comes in duo sets or pigments which are rich in color and fun. Every HIP product that I used worked well with othersJ For an autumn day lip, try heroic (deep mauve with light gold shimmer) and night “Extrovert” (deep brick red with a satin finish)
2. Maybelline Fabu-Lash Mascara: I have tried high end mascaras and nothing comes close. Long live Blackest Black!
3. Store brand Witch Hazel: the cheapest, most effective toner, it naturally removes pore- clogging impurities for $4 per 12 oz. bottle
4. Revlon lipstick- I am in love with the shade “Black Cherry” (deep burgundy with a shine finish). The shades and finishes are beautiful and the formula is non-drying
5. Vitamin E oil- use it at night to help keep the skin radiant and rejuvenated

While I love my department and artistry brand cosmetics, I will stock up on a drugstore sale in a heartbeat! I encourage you to check out the cosmetics department next time you are at your local drug store or Target/Wal-Mart and let us know what you find!

Love,

Shakinah

Rock & Republic Review by Reana S.

Hello Readers!

Last week I had the pleasure of checking out a newcomer to the cosmetic counters, Rock & Republic. I was particularly interested in the makeup because Rock & Republic is a clothing brand rather than a beauty brand. I checked out the brand at my local Nordstrom and had mixed feelings. 

The line is small and carries a modest amount of products in a reasonable variety of colors. The line does carry beauty basics such as primer, basic brushes, eyeshadow, blush, and lipgloss, but only carries one mascara and does not have any lipstick. All products were highly pigmented, some almost too much so! The packaging of the products is over-the-top, making me wonder if the $28 I'm paying for one eyeshadow is for the packaging or the actual product. The counter was very clean and the product display was excellent, including a tv with video feed from past R&R fashion shows.

I tried several of the products: eyeliner, blush, eyeshadow, and highlight. All of the products were of good quality for both consumer and artistry use. The eyeshadows are very soft and pigmented, with a smooth, buttery texture that MAC can only dream of! But...at $28 a pop I'm the one who has to dream about owning more than just a few. The R&R blush was enticing, but upon application was very very highly pigmented, making me feel that the products might be difficult for most consumers to easily use. The price of the products is very high in my opinion, but may or may not be worth it to you depending on your relationship with makeup. My review in a nutshell?

Size of Collection: Medium

Variety of Colors: Average

Price: Costly

Quality: Excellent

Value (Cost to Quality Ratio): Average

Packaging: Wasteful, and impractical for artists

Consumer Use: Average; good products but some may be hard to use

Artist Use: Average; high quality products but also highly priced, impractically packaged, and small selection compared to MAC, Make Up For Ever, or NARS

My Haul: Small! Mental (shimmery blue) Gel Eyeliner ($24) and Adrenaline (the perfect rust color I have been looking for all summer!) eyeshadow ($28).

Overall: This is a unique line that you may find amazing or negligible, depending on what is important to you in your makeup (price, packaging, quality, value, artistry, or consumer use). I think it is worth picking up a few items for your collection if you are an artist or connoisseur, or splurging on a full makeover of products if you don't spend too much time or money on makeup. Either way, this brand does have something to offer for everyone and I highly recommend checking it out! Let us know what you think; reanamation@gmail.com

Love,

Reana

Makeup Academy Week 5 Review by Trisha S.

Last week was Week 5 of Makeup Academy, meaning we are officially half-way through! I can't believe our course is almost over, but I am so excited to be half-way towards becoming a professionally certified makeup artist! This week was more of a technical week for us. We discussed eyelashes and how to apply both band and individual false lashes. Many women are fascinated by the look and appeal of false lashes, but are intimidated by their application procedure. That is why I am here to help! Applying false lashes is actually a simple procedure but it does take practice. Here are the basics; review them, buy some false lashes at your local drugstore (save the $11 MAC pairs until you become an expert!), and practice practice practice! To apply your false lashes, 

You will need:

Lashes

Lash adhesive

Toothpick

Tweezers or orange stick

Scissors 

When you look at the lashes in the case, that’s how they go on you face! Very easy to remember and cute to say! Most lashes are shorter on the inner corners and get longer on the outer corner just like your natural lashes. So if you put them on backwards, well, you might look funny!   

When looking down into the case you will see a tiny strip that the hairs are attached to. That is the actual band. That is also where the adhesive goes. You want to take the lashes out of case and press them to your eye first to measure. Some people have longer eyes than others! Trim off any overhang before applying. Also, never assume that both eyes are the same length. You will want to measure each lash separately. The best way I have found to apply the adhesive is to squeeze a small amount of glue into a palette or some other surface, dip a toothpick into the adhesive and then apply a thin layer to the band.  

Now you are going to take that band and starting at one corner or the other, place it on the eyelid. It makes it easier also if you are at a vanity or table with a mirror on it so that you have to look slightly down to see what you are doing. You want the band to be as close to your natural lash line as possible without actually being on the lashes. Once you get one corner attached, move across the eye, pressing the band down until you get to the other corner.  

Now that you have them attached, open your eye and look at your lash line. If there is any space between the band and your natural lashes, take the tweezers or orange stick and push the band down toward your lash line.  

That’s it! You have now applied your band lashes and you look gorgeous!

Individual lashes are a bit more complicated but I found them easier to wear personally because the band lashes feel like little shelves on my eyelids. If you would like to know more about either type of lash, email me at trisha.renamation@gmail.com. 

See you next week!!

Love,

Trisha