How To Pack Your Makeup Kit

As most of you know I am a traveling makeup artist, so I decided to film how & what I pack every time I have clients.

I posted the video on YouTube so be sure to watch & subscribe 👍🏻

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This checklist is an easy guide you can use while packing your kit just to ensure you never forget anything. I like to open it up on my phone or iPad and go over everything while I pack.

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This is the train case I use from Burman Industries and I bought mine at Naimies Beauty Center in LA for about $50 with my Pro Discount, I also think it was on sale. I couldn’t find it on the Naimies website but I found it on the BI website…HERE

Here are some less expensive options: Option 1 & Option 2

Here are a few staples that I always have in my kit:

Elcie- MICRO SILQUE FOUNDATION
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Scandinavia Bridal Setting Spray
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MAC Mineralize Charged Water
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JAPONESQUE Velvet Touch Blush
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Pur Minerals Disappearing Ink Concealer
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Swirl & Sparkle x fortheloveofmakeupbaby Brush Cleanser
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Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder
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theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer
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Girlactik Face Glow in “Natural”  Use code: Greta15 for 15% off
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Too Faced Primed and Powerless Primer
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Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette
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Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish 24Hr Shadow Primer
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Frankie Rose Eye Pencil
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Tartelette in Bloom Clay Palette
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Vera Mona Color Switch Solo
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Shadow Shields
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Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara
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Disposable Mascara Applicator Wand
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Alcohol Prep Pads

 


I hope you guys enjoyed this post & my video!!!!

XOXO,

Greta

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Mother’s Day Giveaway!

One of the most special holidays is just around the corner, Mother’s Day. 

Every mother deserves to be spoiled and feel good about themselves, not only on Mother’s Day, but EVERY DAY! I’ve decided to put together a few of my favorite beauty products and gift it to one special mother. I truly wish I could gift every single mother something special because they all deserve it!

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You get:

John Frieda Frizz Ease- Heat Activated Spray

Mally Beauty- Eyeshadow Palette

Sebastian Stylbird- Multi Benefit Hairspray

Beauty Blender- Blotterazzi

Burt’s Bees- Lip Shimmer

Rimmel London- “Oh My Gloss” Lip Gloss

Burt’s Bees- Lip Shine

Modish Polish- Nail Polish

Julie Hewitt- Cheek & Lip Shine

Mally Beauty- Brush

To enter this giveaway please make sure you meet/complete all of the following:

  • Must be a resident of the United States
  • Must be subscribed to my blog via email
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If you are on a mobile device this icon is at the bottom of this blog post. If you are visiting from your desktop then it is to the right of you, in the sidebar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you enter your email and click “Follow” you will receive a confirmation email. You MUST confirm the subscription to be eligible for the giveaway.

  • In the comment section below this post, tell me something special about the mother you are entering this giveaway for (i.e. My mother is an honorary veteran, my girlfriend is a mother who beat breast cancer, I am a mom of two who works 12 hour shifts every day etc).
  • You can only comment ONE time. If you make more than one comment you will be disqualified.

 

The winner will be chosen at random & announced Saturday, May 7th via email and in the comments section below!

Good Luck

&

Happy Early Mother’s Day!

XOXO,

Greta

 

April BOXYCHARM

When I first heard about BOXYCHARM I thought, oh great another subscription box that sends you samples. Then I found out you pay only $21/month and you get 5 full-sized beauty products. Mind blowing, right?! I have been a subscriber to Birchbox (hated it), Ipsy (didn’t like it), and Glossybox (no complaints). Currently, I am only subscribed to Boxycharm since it’s the only box that sends you full-sized items; you basically get triple for what you pay per month (each box is worth over $100).

Let’s unbox:

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Each box comes with a card that includes all product info + prices.
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Pur-lisse- Daily Lip Nourisher

First up, we have this Pur-lisse lip nourisher that can help moisturize your dry lips. It’s not like a cream or a balm but rather an oil, so a little bit goes a long way. I like to use this after scrubbing my lips in the shower or on top of a thick balm. Oils are usually meant to lock in moisture and if I feel like my lips are really really dry and I want to hydrate them overnight, I apply a thick balm and lock it in with this oily nourisher.

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Blinc- Black Lash Primer

When I first applied this product on my lashes I thought it was just a mascara, but then I read that it was a lengthening and volumizing primer instead. But to be honest, you can totally use it as mascara. It kept my lashes curled all day, there was no fallout, and it is super black which I love. All you really need is a thin coat because it can get clumpy really quickly.

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Anderson Lilley- Beach Butter Hand Cream

I am loving this buttery hand cream with subtle fragrant notes of musk & jasmine. It is kind of thick but penetrates into the skin fairly quickly, it smells AMAZING, and I love the simple chic packaging.

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yourMinerals- Eye Shadow

This loose eyeshadow is such a unique color and I love the lightweight and finely milled texture that makes it really easy to work with. I personally prefer using a glitter glue with loose pigments and shadows, just to ensure they stay on and I don’t have any fallout. I also like to apply the product with my fingers and press it onto my lids. The pressing technique keeps from having any clumps of shadow and it applies a more pigmented & even layer of product.

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Ofra Cosmetics- Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick

I have heard so much about these liquid lipsticks, so I was pretty excited to get this in the box. The formula is a cream, not a liquid, and it dries to a matte finish. This color in particular has micro specks of glitter that give a subtle sparkle. Note that if you apply more than 2 coats the lipstick will become very drying on the lips and extremely sticky, so stick to 1-2 thin coats. That should be easy since the lipstick is very pigmented and lasts a long time with no transfer.


That is it for my April Boxycharm unboxing 💁🏼

I truly LOVE this subscription box and I cannot wait to share my May goodies with you next month!

Join Boxycharm Now 🙂

If you are already a subscriber comment below with your thoughts of all the goodies from this month 👍🏻

XOXO,

Greta

Elcie – The Glow Enhancer

Who is Elcie, and what is the glow enhancer?

Elcie is a cosmetic brand created by renowned makeup artist, Lilit Caradanian. The name El-cie derives from her name and last name; “el” –L for Lilit and “cie” –C for Caradanian. Clever right? The brand launched their first makeup product, The Micro Silque Foundation, which I am currently writing a review on, a few months ago and it truly lives up to the hype. Personally knowing Lilit I know that everything she puts her hard work into is always a success, so there was no doubt that her newly launched Glow Enhancer would be the same.

The Glow Enhancer is a dry face oil that provides hydration and a supple glow to the skin. It can be mixed in with your foundation or used to prep the skin prior to applying foundation. It can also be used on its own, no makeup required, to give your skin that I just came back from St. Tropez glow. Who doesn’t want that? Do you want to hear the best part. It is for both dry & oily skin! Brace yourselves oily-skin ladies, because you heard me correctly. The Jojoba oil inside the Glow Enhancer is intended to keep your sebums from overproducing oil, so you don’t get oily throughout the day AND you get a glow…JACKPOT!

All you really need is about 2-3 drops of this oil in your foundation or on your skin, remember a little goes a long way.

The oil contains little particles of gold to truly give your skin a gorgeous glow.


You can purchase & get extra information about this amazing product on the Elcie website. Be sure to pick up a foundation as well, you won’t regret it.

🌟Glow Away 🌟

XOXO,

Greta

Dewy Skin w/ Any Foundation

Imagine you could achieve beautifully glowing skin with any foundation you have. Would you believe me if I told you all you needed was 1 product to transform your foundation?

About a few months ago I was invited to a Nude Skincare beauty event in LA and in my goodie bag came their Rescue Oil. One of the makeup artists I met there, Tasha Brown, told me she loved mixing this oil in with her foundations to give her clients a beautiful glow. I put her technique to use and I couldn’t be more thankful. Coming from someone who has dry skin this trick looks absolutely amazing, and it feels amazing too.

Here’s what you do…

Step 1

DSC06887.jpgWhat you want to do is pick a foundation that isn’t already dewy. For example the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk is already a luminous foundation so adding more oil to it will just make it slide right off. You want something oil-free, matte, or with a satin finish. You can also use this technique with heavy cream foundations to sheer it out.

Step 2

blog.jpgOnce you have your foundation, I’m using my Frankie Rose Matte Perfection Foundation which I absolutely LOVE because it gives me full coverage and a flawless finish, you pump some out on the back of your hand or on an acrylic plate. Then, you add a few drops off the Rescue Oil. You add the oil according to the amount of coverage your foundation already has and how much you want to sheer it out. Keep in mind that the more oil you add the more it will sheer out the foundation. This Frankie Rose foundation is a full coverage foundation and to give me sheer coverage I add 3-4 drops of oil, to give me just a glow I add 1-2. This obviously varies with different formulas & foundations.

Step 3

blogg.jpgI then take my Royal & Langnickel Foundation Brush and mix the two together.

Step 4

DSC06936.jpgFinally, you apply! As you can see in this picture we turned a matte foundation into a gorgeous dewy one.


 

I have tried this technique with a few of my other foundations and it’s magical; I love the effect and it photographs beautifully. I would recommend this technique for anyone with normal to dry skin, NOT oily. Anyone with oily skin should stick to a matte foundation for opulent coverage and longevity. If you have a severe case of combination skin, meaning you are very oily in the t-zone and very dry everywhere else, then you can use this only on the dry areas for hydration. I would also recommend using two different types of primers, mattifying for your t-zone and hydrating for the dry areas.

I’m sure you can also try this method with different types of oils, however I find that most facial oils are a little too heavy (i.e. Coconut Oil, Argan Oil). This oil is lightweight, beneficial for your skin, it doesn’t make your makeup slide off, it hydrates your skin, and it looks beautiful. I truly couldn’t ask for more in a beauty oil. I have a bunch of other oils from Nude Skincare that I use for my nighttime regime and I love it, their ingredients are pure and truly nourishing.

If you happen to try this technique leave me a comment down below & let me know how you like it.

P.S. Here is a video of me using this technique.

XOXO,

Greta

Sephora Must-Haves + 15% OFF!

OMG, Sephora is having another sale!!!!! This happens once or twice a year and it is the only time you can spend like a celebrity and nobody can say anything about it, not even your husband haha.

Given that I am a certified beauty addict, my Sephora must-haves list is pretty long but oh so necessary! I went over my “Purchases” & my makeup collection and picked out my ride-or-die beauty products. I will talk a little bit about each product and why you need it in your life. You can thank me later 🙂

Lets begin:

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Giorgio Armani- Luminous Silk Foundation This is the best foundation EVER created for all normal-dry skin girls. I have gone through BOTTLES of this. Yes, it’s expensive but please please please trust me when I say it is worth every penny and if it was 3x the price I would still purchase it. Oh, and the shades are super tricky so I would suggest swatching it before purchasing.
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Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Powder is a ride-or-die and looks like perfection paired with the foundation. Nothing compares to this duo.
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Anastasia Beverly Hills- Brow Powder  This is one of the best brow powders on the market and it’s practically all I use on a my brows. I am in the shade “Taupe.”
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Benefit- Gimmi Brow Since we are on the topic of brows, this baby is perfect for anyone with sparse eyebrows. I use this on days I don’t want to do my brows but still want them to look slightly fuller & tamed. I even use them on days where I do define my brows, so it’s definitely a versatile product.
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First Aid Beauty- Face Cleanser I have tried MANY cleansers in my life and I always go back to this one. It has been my favorite face cleanser for years and I don’t think I will ever replace it. It takes off all my makeup, doesn’t break me out, and it doesn’t dry me out. I am stocking up on this during the sale ✔️
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Kat Von D- Shade + Light Contour Palette This palette is perfect for all my fair skin girls and even some of my medium skin girls (olive undertones avoid this). The yellow shade is so amazing I always use it after I set my under eyes & the first two bronzer shades are just gorgeous…not too ashy not too muddy, just right!
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Benefit- Rollerlash I have gone through so many tubes of the mascara, I absolutely love it because it doesn’t transfer onto my skin, it doesn’t crumble, and it lasts all day long! My lashes aren’t every long but when I curl it and apply a few coats of this baby they look BOMB.com
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Josie Maran- Pure Argan MILK Hydrating Treatment I used to apply this all over my skin almost every night and it worked magic on my dry/dull skin. I would wake up to baby soft glowing skin. I finished my second bottle and branched out to try something else but this is definitely worth a try. P.S. I will have my new skincare routine up soon.
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Hourglass Gel Eye Liner is the best eyeliner I have ever used. My good friend Rob (@facesbyrob) introduced it to me and I’ve been hooked ever since. It glides on, doesn’t smudge, and it is pitch black. You won’t ever use another eyeliner again, guaranteed!
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Bobbi Brown- Highlighting Powder  If you are looking for a gorgeous pink highlight then look no further. If there is one highlight I cherish in my collection it’s “Pink Glow” from Bobbi Brown. I literally LOVE this highlight. Just please do me a favor and purchase this. Thank you 🙂
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Hourglass- Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder I use this strobe powder when I want my skin to have a gorgeous healthy glow. Sometimes I even use it under my eyes over my setting powder to brighten up and give a nice subtle sheen. I have the shade “Brilliant,” it’s perfect for light to light/medium skin tones.
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L’Occitane- Hand Cream This product is one of the best hand creams on the market. It is moisturizing and it seeps into the skin fairly quickly while leaving your hands soft, NOT greasy. I can’t say I use this every night, because I always forget to apply hand cream, but when my hands get dry this is my go-to.
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Stila- Eyes Are The Window Palette Those of you who follow me on Insta know I always use this palette. It is the perfect collection of matte shadows and the texture of these are amazing.
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Tarte-  Tartelette 2 In Bloom Since we are on the topic of eyeshadow palettes this has to be on my must-haves list. It is the newest palette from the Tartelette collection and it is everythingggggg. The colors are so pigmented, so creamy, and just perfection. The original Tartelette Palette is just as amazing.
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Anastasia Beverly Hills- Liquid Lipstick I recently tried ABH liquid lipsticks and I think they are one of the best formulas I have tried. They are very creamy, pigmented, and not drying AT ALL! They also last a very long time. “Pure Hollywood” is a good first shade to purchase, it is a gorgeous nude.
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Urban Decay- Naked Concealer This is another great concealer that I love. It is a full coverage concealer that feels very lightweight under the eyes. The applicator on this is very convenient as well.
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Vera Mona- Color Switch I almost forgot to mention this product because they just launched in Sephora but I purchased from their website maybe 3 or 4 years ago. I still have it and I still use it every single day. If you don’t know what this is it is basically a dry sponge that allows you to switch eyeshadow colors using only one brush. Meaning you can dip into a dark brown shadow with your brush, then twirl your brush on the sponge and you basically have a shadow-free brush again.

That is it for my list beauties I hope it was helpful & you added some of my suggestions into your cart 💁🏼

Anyone who is a VIB Rouge member will have access to the sale beginning tomorrow, April 7th, and first-access ends April 13th. If you lost your 15% off ticket then you can use the Promo Code “ROUGENOTE” at checkout.

I would also like to note that you can get 4% cash back with any Sephora purchases you make through Ebates. It is the easiest way to earn back money for being an online shopper. You simply go on Ebates, click on the Sephora store and press “Shop Now.” It redirects you straight to the Sephora website and once you complete your purchase you automatically get 4% cash back from that amount. No hassle. No bull****. I promise you it’s legit, I use it every time I shop on Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, you name it.

Happy Shopping!

XOXO,

Greta