Beauty Tools, Beginner, Education, Eyeshadow, Kevyn Aucoin, SALE, Smashbox

Santa Bunny: Beginner’s Bundle

Along with Fall (my birthday, Halloween, no more bathing suits), Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. Christmas the day is whatever to me; I love giving and getting presents, but all that cooking and cleaning can get out of here. The month leading up to Christmas is awesome though! People are nicer to each other, there are lights, and songs, and ornaments, and hot cocoa, and cookies! CHRISTMAS MOVIES! I’ve already watched “Christmas Vacation,” and “Love Actually.” I’ll hit “Scrooged” and “White Christmas” sometime soon. I’m emotionally gearing up for “Miracle on 34th Street,” and I’m saving “It’s a Wonderful Life” to watch with my mom. We like to cry together over that one. Stupid George Bailey gets me every time.

So, looking forward to Christmas, and inspired by a conversation I had with a friend, I’d like to help out with your shopping. Is my gift guide late to the party? Of course it is! Late to the party is my middle name. I actually like to BE late to parties. I wait just long enough for people to start wondering if I’m coming, and then BOOM there I am, drink in hand, making all your dreams come true.

This guide is for the budding makeup artist in your life, or for anyone who wants to improve their skills and get a little education.

“Making Faces” by Kevyn Aucoin

makingfacesbook

Amazon, $16.69

I wrote about my adoration for this book a couple months ago. I’ve had my copy for nearly 15 years, and I still break it out all the time. I learned a lot about makeup application from my mom, but where her knowledge ended, this book picked it up. It’s extremely comprehensive and easy to understand, with clear instructions and pictures. Kevyn doesn’t just show you how to do eyeshadow, he shows you how to build your entire face from your bone structure up. His two makeup books are the only two I own. Nothing else comes close. “Making Faces” is an excellent guide for anyone, beginner or more experienced.

Buy “Making Faces” HERE.

Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Lavish Luxe 10 piece Brush Set

Brush set

Target, $29.99

If you’re buying for a beginner, you probably want to get them brushes that are nice, but not too expensive. This Sonia Kashuk set fits the bill perfectly. Are they the most high quality, makeup artist level brushes in the world? No. But, they’re pretty nice. Every Sonia Kashuk brush I have has stood up to frequent use and cleanings without any problems. This set is a good place to start building a brush collection. It has everything a beginner should need, and some stuff they’ll probably have to figure out. That’s fun though! That’s learning! I bought a set of brushes in beauty school almost 10 years ago that had a weird shaped brush in it. I never could figure it out until just this year! Mystery solved! The new artist in your life will get a lot of use out of these brushes, and they’ll be glad to not have to use those weird sponge foam tipped applicator things. Do they even put those in makeup anymore? Am I showing my age? Wait. Does pantyhose still come in eggs? Does anybody wear pantyhose anymore?! The internet sure has changed everything!

It doesn’t look like this brush set is available online, but they have it in store. At Target’s site, you can search the stores close to you for specific products, so that makes things easy.

Find the Sonia Kashuk Lavish Luxe Brush Set HERE.

Smashbox Wondervision Mega Palette

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Ulta exclusive, $39.00

I JUST reviewed this palette last week, and it’s on sale now! How fortuitous! Last week, I talked about how I thought this palette would be fantastic for beginners, anyone who wants to expand their options without spending a lot of money, and anyone who struggles with palettes in general. I stand by all of that! With 30 shadows, 3 blushes and 1 bronzer, it’s got almost everything you’d need to start learning. The colors are wide ranging and beautifully coordinated with different finishes and consistencies. The palette even comes with clear, plastic instructional cards you place over the shadows to learn how to apply different eyeshadow looks. It was a great deal at $49, it’s a KILLER deal at $39. Plus, right now, with any $30 Smashbox purchase at Ulta, you get deluxe sample sizes of their fab Classic Primer and Photo Op Eye Brightening Mascara. Even better!

Buy the Smashbox Wondervision Mega Palette exclusively at Ulta HERE.

Throw in a couple of lipsticks or lip glosses. NYX and E.L.F. both have cheap, but good lip products. And right now there are tonnnnns of lipstick and gloss sets that are crazy cheap. Add in some brush cleanser because it’s never too early to learn to keep your tools clean and well maintained! You can get everything I’ve shown here for $85. So you can get a couple lippies and a cleanser and still keep it under $100. This will all make for a good start, and a happy makeup lover!

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Bargain Beauty, Links, SALE

Beauty.com Friends & Family Sale 2013

Beauty.com’s 20% off Friends & Family Sale starts today, 11/5, and goes until 11/16. They have a lot of the same brands Sephora does, so if you weren’t able to get in on Sephora’s F&F sale, you still have the opportunity to pick up some new products. I bought the Kevyn Aucoin powder. It was a little bit of a splurge, but it looks so beautiful, I need it on my cheeks.

The sale link was sent out via email, but mine didn’t show up. So, you can use Temptalia’s link HERE or The Muse’s link HERE.

And you KNOW I have purchase suggestions for you!!!

Beautyblender Makeup Sponge Applicator

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick

Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Powder

NARS Blush in Orgasm or Super Orgasm

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

You HAVE to use the sale link to access the sale, so be sure you click through to one of the other bloggers to get the 20% off. After you do that, you don’t need a code or anything.

Happy shopping!

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Bargain Beauty, Links, SALE, Sephora

Sephora Friends & Family Sale UPDATE

The Muse over at Musings of a Muse has all the info on the upcoming sale!

“Every VIB and Rouge members get 20% Off their purchase in store or online at Sephora.com. Cards are in the mail and should arrive by November 4th or some folks don’t get a card via mail but one via e-mail instead so keep checking your inboxes and regular mail boxes this week and next week for your code. They’ll be a code for yourself as well as one you can share with a friend but you must be with your friend for them to redeem it in store along with your VIB membership card. You’ll also be able to get your hands on the traditional Sephora tote bag that is free with your purchase while supplies last. The promo code is VIBTOPIA.”

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like regular Beauty Insider cardholders are going to get the 20% off coupon. That really eats balls, because I’m only $50 away from VIB status. This one is on me for not buying enough makeup, I guess. But, shit, man! My kid needs shoes! She has four feet, after all! I don’t know if you know this, but that’s double the amount of feet most kids have. Double! Double the school shoes, double the church shoes, double the summer sandals, double the sneakers!

It’s just a good thing she doesn’t eat that much.

Anyways! If you’re a VIB, congratulations! If you’re just a BI, like me, then kick rocks, I guess.

***YET ANOTHER UPDATE***

Sephora tweeted they’re doing something special for regular BI cardholders soon! I’ll keep an eye out, and post the information as soon as I see it.

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Floss Gloss, Nails, SALE

Floss Gloss FLASH SALE

Floss Gloss is having a 20% off flash sale until midnight tonight, 9/06. If you’re not a BIG IDIOT, you’ll get yourself some polish! They have all kinds of gorgeous, sexual colors…

Like this one:

floss gloss moon baby 2

Moon Baby

or this one:

floss gloss dinge 1

Dinge

How about this one?!

long nails

Fastlane

Maybe…THIS ONE?

flossglosspony2

Pony

Definitely this one!

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Con Limon

Like I said, the sale is only today, 9/06, until midnight.

Buy Floss Gloss HERE. Enter code: NASCAR for 20% off!

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