The Balm Bronzer/Luminizer Kit is Da Bomb!

 Thanks to Obsessed Canada (a cool site offering makeup, hair and skin care products to Canada w/ free shipping) I got to try out the new Luminizer/Bronzer set by The Balm called Manizer Duo Kit.

I love myself a good luminizer and bronzer so I was very pumped to try this out!  First off I gotta say I love the packaging...very cute!  The duo showcases a sort of Betty/Veronica vixen duo on the compacts - Blonde for the Luminizer and Brunette for the Bronzer.  I also liked that the compacts are rather slim...I hate bulky compacts that take up too much room in my already over flowing makeup bag.

The luminizer is really beautiful and goes on smooth w/ just the right hint of glow not too much glitter.  As well it's a nice champagne colour which I prefer more than a stark white highlighter b/c it just blends into the skin more easily and looks more natural.  As well it's a great colour to use as a highlight on the inner corner of the eyes and right under the brow bone.

The bronzer like the luminizer goes on very smooth and is a nice golden colour...not too orange like some bronzers.  Plus like the luminizer it can be used as an eye shadow.  My only suggestion or complaint w/ the bronzer was I wish it was matte and didn't have the shimmer.  That way it could be used in conjunction w/ the luminizer as a contour combo kit.

But other than that it's a really cute kit and def. worth a look for your personal makeup bag or professional makeup kit!

Blur Pro Panelist Classes

Very important announcement for Aspiring Makeup Artists in Toronto or the GTA!!!  For those of you not in the know...or possibly living under a rock (in which case you really need these classes) I'm very excited to announce I've been chosen along w/ several other AMAZING and INSPIRING artists to be on a pro panel class at Blur Makeup Room for makeup artists looking for advice on how to "make it in the biz"!

Anyone, who has been following this blog for awhile knows that I love to help out other artists and give advice and support to anyone who contacts me...in fact it was a big reason I started the blog in the first place!  I'm a big believer in giving back to other up and coming artists and sharing my knowledge and experiences in order to help others maybe avoid or learn from some of the mistakes I've made while trying to make a career for myself.  

On several occasions I've actually gone back to my old makeup school to give talks about my career and how I've built my strong and ever growing business these past few years!  And it's not to say I'm not a believer in going to makeup school or taking a makeup program (although any artist will tell you that you learn a TON more once you're out of school) but I do know it's super important as an artist to not just stop there and to continue our growth and that means continually investing in ourselves and taking new classes and workshops...which I've actually talked a lot about in the past!

Also, and this is nothing against makeup schools but the one area I find them SERIOUSLY lacking in is the "What Next?" portion...sure they give you the basics and teach you some great techniques about makeup but where I feel they really fail is on the "What to do after graduation?" portion...no one tells you the next steps to take to make it as an artist once you graduate.  I also think this is why there is such a high failure rate after students finish makeup school...I'd say 90-95% of the girls I went to school are not doing makeup now...or didn't even attempt to start a career once school finished b/c in all honesty they just didn't know how to get started!

That's where these classes at Blur Makeup Room come in!  Basically, there are two sessions - one for the "new(er) artist" that wants to learn how to better themselves and their business and turn their "hobby" into a profitable career!  This is the panel I'll be sitting on along w/ two other working freelance artists in the city - Jem Lopez and Nicole Richards.   This pro panel is being held on Monday, March 3 from 9 am - 4 pm!  

We're going to touch upon topics like Branding, Advertising, Social Media, Portfolio Building, Resumes and Rates!  Really great way for any artists to come out and learn and ask questions about anything in the biz they've been too afraid to ask before!  It's a full day w/ a ton of information being given and in my opinion will probably be the most useful and educational class you will take all year!  Plus you can have a choice you can choose the whole day or just the morning or just the afternoon portion...so if you feel you have a grasp on one area but need help somewhere else maybe just take one portion of the class!

Like I've said before you can never stop learning and yes, classes aren't cheap but it's true what they say - You need to spend money to make money!  If the newbies out there only knew how much money I spent in the beginning and how much money I continue to spend every year investing in my career and craft lol! 

Plus a class like this will actually save and make you money in the long run b/c it will teach you where to spend your money, what shoots to accept or turn down, how to build a proper rate and business plan for yourself...I'm not just saying this b/c I'm on the panel (and I know I have a shitload of information and experience on these subjects ;) ) but wow this would have been SO USEFUL to me 7 years ago!!!

The second panel is happening on Mon, March 24 9 am - 4 pm.  It's for a more intermediate artist who already has a grasp on their career but is looking to take it to the next level and overcome challenges and obstacles standing in their way...newer artists would also benefit from this panel too of course.  I'm really thinking of taking this one as people on the panel are amazing and have a broad range of knowledge throughout the industry.

So really what are you waiting for...sign up!  Your career will thank you!

LUSH Valentine's Day Treats

The wonderfully generous people over at LUSH Cosmetics sent me another wonderful package full of goodies to test just in time for Valentine's Day!  Now I know not everyone is a big fan of V-day being that it's a "fake" and "commercialized" holiday and all that stuff but that doesn't mean whether you're single or taken you can't still enjoy a little luscious treat for your skin.

Personally, even when I've been single over V-day...which has been most years to be perfectly honest the holiday hasn't really gotten me down...but that's just me...it's just one day so who really cares when it comes down to it.

With that said that doesn't mean if you are a little down you can't pick yourself up w/ some really nice smelling, skin friendly body treats.  I know nothing quite picks me up or de-stresses me like a nice, relaxing bubble bath.

Also, boys listen up...don't want to get your girl flowers for V-day b/c they are overpriced and die anyway...well she's probably expecting something so why not get her some bath products...all girls LOVE bath products...it's in our DNA or something lol!

So here's  a little low down on the cool products I got sent to me this time!

First off I think I'll start w/ my FAV of the bunch!

Tender is the Night Massage Bar - This product is so cool.  It's a lotion for your skin that comes in a bar and it melts upon contact w/ skin!  It leaves your skin feeling very silky and soft and I LOVE the bar concept.  It's great for travel as you don't have to worry about spills or accidents - plus don't have to worry about it in your carry on if you were going on a plane!  Also, could be fun to rub down and massage w/ another person too ;) .  I really like the vanilla, jasmine and ylang ylang smell too.  Not overpowering but definitely has staying power.  Very relaxing right before bed after a nice hot bath!

Speaking of baths...next up Love Locket!  This is a giant bath bomb from LUSH.  In the past I've commented that I like the bath bombs but don't necessarily love the cost per use ratio.  While I would still consider this a "treat item" rather than a regular purchase item.  I did appreciate the size of this bath bomb.  It can definitely be broken up into at least 3 baths.  It turns your bath water a pretty pink colour and the outer layer is speckled w/ little hearts that will float into the pink water as it dissolves.  It's got a jasmine and vanilla fragrance too so it's a nice compliment to the lotion...although I found the fragrance to be a lot less strong w/ this product so if you're someone who doesn't like a ton of fragrance but only a hint this might be a good option.

Also for bath time Neon Love Soap.  If you like bar soaps this is a nice option.  It's pink w/ a white heart in the middle to celebrate Valentine's Day.  Doesn't leave a residue on the skin and overall I feel it's holding up pretty well in the shower.  I hate when you buy a bar of soap and it seems to dissolve in a week!  This one is made of passion fruit juice and has essentials oils like cinnamon, rosewood and bergamot....so a little more citrusy and spicy then the other two products which are more floral in fragrance.

Last but not least Prince Charming Shower Gel. I'll be honest I'm more of a shower gel girl then bar soap girl so I probably like this a bit better than the Neon Love Soap.  But I also think I like it b/c it has a bit of a sweet, candy like fragrance to it and I really love sweet smelling things...I think this probably has to do w/ the marshmallow root, almond oil and vanilla pod infusion.  I really like this product although I don't notice the fragrance staying w/ me (which is too bad) as long as the Rose Jam shower gel I reviewed at Christmas...still gotta say that is definitely a fav!

So doesn't matter if you're single or taken treat yourself...or someone you know to some Valentine's Day Bath Products!