Throwing Side Eye Shade

Why not? Put a little more shadowy effort into your look! And we’re not just talking smokey eyes. There’s tons of ways to make the upper -mid part of your fabulous face pop with a splash of color - with or without your own personal make-up artist. If you’re not seasoned with eye shadow application, start slow.

Before you go purchasing the Laura Mercier and Nars shadows and messing up a pricier product, start off with Sephora’s amazing Color Play 5-in-1. Last year, Sephora released a similar collection but this year they’ve improved it twofold! There are more edgy colors and a nifty little removable compact that allows you to pop out the colors that you’ve been using and drop them in your purse without the burden of the sizable collection.

In addition to 50 (yes, half a century worth) of eye lid color pallets, there are also lip glosses and blushes to experiment with. We highly recommend this product to help you ease into trying new colors and new facial looks.

Spring Fling! Part II

It’s Moca, and I’m back my lovely ladies! On my last piece I was doling out the information on seasonal make-up makeovers. Well I wouldn’t dare dish out what I wouldn’t take. So here are some notes on a few of my adventures while shopping for the perfect spring make-up finds:

I ventured to a luxurious spa called Rescue in Philadelphia and received an hour long $150 make-up lesson for free because of a special I found in Lucky. The deal was that you only had to spend $50 in make-up and trust me, once you see how fabulous you look, you will spend more than that. Mac and Sephora will also do it for free or for a minimal purchase price, so make sure you ask.

Getting a makeover is not only enjoyable but it will help you get over being afraid of trying new colors and introduce you to new make-up trends and application techniques that you can use everyday. Ask for samples to try new products and new shades if you are unsure of items before purchase. Most stores give freely.

Make-up artists are going for innovation in makeup design. I learned to try lipstick for blush, eye shadow trios for bronzers or eyeliner, and perhaps a tinted moisturizer with a thin brush for your concealer. Also learn to mix colors because no color straight out of the tube, especially foundation, will be a perfect match. Practice, practice, practice so that you are comfortable with what works for you. Buy what you need and also pick something you thought you would never try. I splurged on a nice smoky eye shadow by Dianne Brill in the color Stormy Rainbow Lace (with packaging that is simply darling) as well as lipwear from Chantecaille. A plus: the lipsticks from this line can be used for blush.

I also couldn’t resist Mac’s new Sugarsweet spring collection of color, inspired by the saccharine drenched desserts that tempt us all year long. I grabbed a tube a Sweet Thing, it’s the perfect pink when worn with the tricoulour lipglass over it for added luscious shine. My pick for gloss was the shade Tasty. The Hello Kitty collection at Mac also offers glosses at high impact shine. Enough shine for you to spring into gear all day and night. Mac also has a great line called Mineralize and it’s plenty of shimmer for those of us who like to make an impression. I fell in love with the Minearalize blush in shade Love Thing and the eye shadow duo in shade Earthy Riches. These duo sets are perfect if you need a little help as to what colors work together. With these, it’s all done for you.

So take a chance, explore new shades and go shopping. You deserve a new you!

Wishing you Pop, Shimmer and Shine,

Moca

Spring Fling! Getting Your Glam Ready for Warmer Days!

It’s MOCA again and it’s time to get ready for a refreshed look for the new season. Let’s start by doing some spring cleaning and giving you some basic rules to follow:

1. Throw out all make-up over a year or more old!

2. Relieve your make-up drawer and make-up bag from broken cosmetics or make-up you will never wear.

3. Treat yourself to new brushes. It makes a huge difference when you have the appropriate brushes for different parts of the face. Keep them clean so bacteria does not seep in.

4. Make sure your cosmetic case is one you are not embarrassed to pull out of your purse. Treat yourself to a new one even. I suggest a cute case from Tory Burch or Kate Spade and for the cost conscious, Mac has a good one for under $20 bucks.

5. Include some color in your life by embracing the pinky-peachy, rosy and juicy colors of the season for day and add a little smoky and shimmer for night. Nude lips are definitely in for spring while playing up the eyes.

6. Treat yourself to a make-over: you can get a lot of free expert advice out there. Flip through magazines for a look that you feel you may want to adapt and take the photo with you to a department store make-up counter. Breakout of old habits. So if you have been wearing the same gloss or lipstick with the same eye shadow for the past 10 years, it’s time for a change honey.

And just so you know I take my own advice to heart… Stay tuned for my adventures in make-over land.

Wishing You Pop, Shimmer & Shine,

MOCA

Curl Away This Season!

So we’re officially into the new season of spring which means a personal invitation to change is a must! The Martini Pink consensus this morning was definitely feeling curl, body and presence on top the old dome for the coming months. So our girl Hillary quickly pulled out an oldy but good - she will be revisiting Kinky-Curly Original Curling Custard. Kinky-Curly is a line of products special to women of color and women with naturally curly hair. It helps to maintain a curl pattern even in the most humid of weather. Hillary swears by it and we love her warmer month curls so we dug up a great quick You Tube how-to on Kinky Curly application. Curl Away Ladies!

Choose Winter Body Bliss Over Blues

Hey Ladies, Moca here with some tried and true regimens to chase away the winter blues…When the days are short and cold keeping your skin hydrated and silky smooth is an important daily task.

Try one, two, or blend a few of my suggestions below for ultimate results:

Using a non-drying soap for your skin since the cold weather is hard on the epidermis is crucial. Cetaphil soap can be found in most drug stores and this dermatologist recommended product is great for nourishing, moisturizing and cleaning the skin.

Try using L’Occitane’s bath oil in the shower or bath after cleansing for ultra soft skin. The aroma alone will take you to the spas of Paris.

Carol’s Daughter’s Almond Cookie Shower Oil is a great find for bathing and skin softening with a yummy smell to boot.

Follow your bath or shower by applying Molton Brown lotion in Inspiring Wild Indigo scent to retain the moisture and add a delicious smell.

During your bath, soak away the stress with Aveda Personal Blends Aqua Therapy Formula bath salts to soothe the muscles and take in the moisture. The best part is in picking your scent, the Aveda store will custom blend soak salts to match your personality IQ.

Try Bigelow Lemon Lime lotion for skin softening and a yummy citrus scent.

Treat yourself to Elemis Super Soak or Skin Nourishing Bath. I was introduced to this product at a spa on a cruise in the Western Caribbean and it will really calm and relax you during the cold season while restoring skin moisture.

Try a moisturizer with a SPF in tact. Winter sun rays can still cause damage to the skin. Dermalogica and Bliss are great brands to pick up. For evenings L’Occitane Very Precious Cream is a great way to lock in moisture for face and neck overnight.

Try a hand cream to keep cold hands from being dry and rough. My fav is L’Occitane hand crème mixed with shea butter.

This should keep your silky smooth skin in tip top shape! Also, remember when the days get shorter, evening cocktail time is earlier! Enjoy time with your friends, stay warm and stay smooth! Spring is coming soon.

Peace, Love and Silky,

Moca

Stroke of Genuis

This is a quick beauty tip to take with you. There are few things more sexy than batting eyelashes. But to really make an impression, a girl has got to keep those things maintained. So whether your wearing falsies or just looking to extend your real lashes, try Victoria Secret’s Beauty Rush Mascara. And let me tell you why.

Shortly after the holidays, I was on one of my markdown mall runs when I found myself in dire need of new mascara. Now, I usually call on Prescriptives or Bobbi Brown for my lash extender but the goal is to be a bit more financially modest for ‘09, right? So as I’m racking up 50% off PJ’s, I see a huge bin of mascara and I have the internal debate. Should I try, should I not? But there was something interesting to me about the packaging. It’s more like a lip gloss tube than a mascara tube. And at two (2) for $12.00, that makes economic sense!

So when I get home, to my surprise I was quite enamored by the mascara. It totally lengthed and spread the lashes. Thumbs up to V.S. on this one. Oh, fyi: it comes in black, plum, brown and navy if you need some variety in your life.

The Eyes Have It: Concealer Consumption

During holiday season there’s a ton of holiday partying to do. So what happens? We are faced with the dilemma of ever so perfectly hiding the “not getting enough sleep” under eye darkness after accepting every invitation we could squeeze into our schedules. Camouflaging the result of too much bubbly the night before is critical to staying fab. And if you are being honest with yourself you will admit to seeing those dark circles a little more often then you used to. I recently noticed that even when I do get enough sleep the darkness under the eyes is still there! So one Saturday morn I told myself it was time to introduce a little under eye concealer into my life. So off I went to Sephora, MAC and Blue Mercury hoping to turn the dark clouds under my eyes to sunshine!

First stop was Sephora where I experimented with Stila’s Perfecting Concealer in shade K. The color was a perfect match to my skin color, but after a few minutes with it on, I could tell it felt a little dry and you don’t want that ashy look on your face of all places.

My next stop at MAC I was pleasantly introduced to Studio Finish Concealer (in NW45). The color match wasn’t as perfect as the Stila, but it felt delightfully creamy and it also works great on the brow bone to hide the desperate need of an eyebrow wax.

My third stop was at Blue Mercury where I tried Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Concealer in chestnut and was happy to discover it had a hydrating component to it that was soothing to the eye area and the color seemed to blend nicely with my skin tone so that was the one I purchased and it is working pretty well so far.

Here are some additional tips when it comes to concealer consumption.

-Try multiple shades and brands to make sure you get the right match for your complexion.

-Use a small flat brush or your ring finger to apply concealer and dab some on either side of your nose for extra brightening.

-Plenty of rest and water are still the number one remedy for tired eyes… but it’s great to know there are products out there to help us along a bit.

-Also, to minimize bags under the eyes try refrigerated cucumber slices over closed eyelids for a few moments in the morning. They still do the trick every time!

So celebrate the holidays confident that you are looking and feeling your best.

Peace, Love and Festive,

MOCA

To Gloss Be the Glory!!

Please give a warm toast to Martini Pink’s newest contributor - Moca! She is an expert when it comes to beauty needs and will be delivering all the info you need about maintaining and enhancing a beautiful you.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when you realize the one thing you cannot live without. Mine is undoubtedly… lip gloss. I keep lip gloss everywhere; not just in my purse or my home cosmetic drawer but also in my car, in my desk drawer at work, in coat pockets and one in the kitchen drawer so I will never have to experience being without the thing that makes me so happy. I reapply often, all day to be exact, and can get it perfectly right without a mirror. I’m a Gloss Goddess. PBP (Point Blank Period).

Gloss enables you to always feel pretty and ready for what the world has to offer. But finding the right gloss takes a lot of practice and a lot of visits to virtually every cosmetic counter you can find. Listen ladies… You must break out of your comfort zones and try new shades, mix shades, mix brands and be not afraid to pay the high ticket price; because it is worth it.

This winter season there are more options that one can wish for. You can’t just go for any gloss and you must never accept a gooey or sticky consistency. So here’s your lip service breakdown.

My fav gloss of the season is the new Hourglass Extreme Sheen line which has shades for every complexion with just the right amount of color and shine with a yummy smell as well - my pick is Primal or Ignite.

Nars Lip Gloss continues to deliver the creamy, semi-sheer quality product they are known for. I tried Rose Gitane and love it! Both of these are non-drying and allow for ultimate luscious shine; I layer them both together for my nighttime look.

For around the house, I am a fan of L’Occitane’s Honey Miel and Lemon Citron Lip Gloss with limited color but high and glistening shine will add moisture, smells delightful and keeps me kissable.

To keep lips hydrated all day try Einstein’s Lip Therapy- apply before bedtime to ensure healthy lips that are ready to shine.

Peace, Love and Gloss,

Moca

*Email Moca your beauty questions, comments and concerns to Moca@MartiniPink.com

Lose Arm Jiggle Instantly with FLABuLESS!

Arm Flab. I know, I hate the sound of it too. But it’s a fact, for too many of us. It’s gone as far as to hinder attire choices for fear of revealing that unattractive jiggle. Well, Maryland based entrepreneur, mother, and wife Lee Ann Stevenson came up with a plan to enforce the extra floating fat and she executed it. It’s called… what else? FLABuLESS.

New to the market, FLABuLESS is a compression sleeve under garment worn to “magically” remove anywhere from one (1) to one and a third (1 1/3) inches of arm jiggle. Basically it helps to instantly tone your triceps and biceps. “When I got married in 2005, I was picking out the bridesmaid’s dresses and all my bridesmaids were talking about their figure flaws, as women do, but what kept coming up were arms,” says Lee Ann. So she decided to do something about it.

As a self-made entrepreneur, (Lee Ann and her husband own a construction business in Maryland), she went to work on her next venture. “It’s not about what your degree is in, but what your experience is in,” Lee Ann remarked about her passion for fashion despite having a law degree. “I’ve always put myself around people who I could learn from as opposed to those would just take from me. That’s how I do things, so that’s the same mentality I put with this.”

Before and after with FLABuLESS sleeve under shirt (pictured above). “We researched creating this product for about a year before we manufactured it,” Lee Ann reveals, “And there were an overwhelming number of women of various ages and every size that felt that their arms could be improved.” Arms are a peculiar area. If you stood with your arms glued to sides like a Buckingham Palace Guard, maybe it wouldn’t be such a problem. But for most fashionable ladies, that’s not an option. “We had to lighten the fabric so it really felt like a second skin. Women don’t need compression at the wrist they need it at the bicep and tricep so it was a lot of work. We had to do a lot of samples to make sure the 2x was really a 2x and a medium was really a medium. At the beginning of this year we had our final prototype and we were able to launch in October.”

FLABuLESS’ second skin arm sleeves are now available online at FLABuLESSu.com (just click here) in different colors (black and nude), longer and shorter arm lengths (Pleine Sleeve and De Quart Sleeve) and sizes from small to 4X (so everyone is included) at a very reasonable $27.95 to $31.95. Lee Ann noted, when purchasing this product, make sure to get your real size, which is determined by your blouse size. Enjoy, less of the flab ladies!

Lil Alis Speaks: When Borrowing Doesn’t Pay Off…

Welcome to another edition of Lil Alis Speaks. This time the highly cultured expert takes on money loaning…

Dear Lil Alis, I’ve always been self-sufficient since I can remember and I’ve always worked hard and people realize this. But I have a very close friend who is the exact opposite and now she is no longer being supported by her affluent parents. So she’s always asking me for money which she never pays back. How can I tell her I don’t want to loan her any money anymore without ruining the friendship?

– Money over BFF’s in Silver Springs, Maryland

Dear About to be Broke BFF,

This one is easy. Don’t you know we’re in a recession??? Have you not been listening to Suze Orman? Times are hard. No one should afford another the liberty of having the bill footed for him or her on a regular basis for absolutely no good reason (unless you’re married :). So to you, I say emphatically: Help her find a damn job! You aren’t doing either of you any favors by enabling her behavior. And if you have to charge the economic hard times card, do it. Any true friend can understand that.

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