For the month of June I decided to do an entire month only using the Luminess Air system I received for review at the Makeup Show in May. Last year I tried their spray tan system and I have to say I was really excited to get to try their makeup system. The first thing that everyone would ask if I mentioned airbrushing on Twitter or in general was: 1. Isn’t it hard? 2. Don’t you look like you spray painted your makeup on?

No and no.

After consistently using this system for 30 days straight, I’m hooked. Seriously.

I watched their short video demonstration on how to operate the system, I was already pretty familiar because of the spray tan system but I wanted to make sure I got my technique down. You drop a few drops of makeup in the well of the airbrush, pull back the trigger and spray a light mist over your face. It tickles at first when you try it but you get over that fairly quickly. I sprayed 2 to 3 coats over my face letting each layer dry for about 30 seconds in between. I found the finish to be pretty flawless. You can make the coverage as heavy or as thin as you like (I’ll also do a separate post about another brand of makeup I tried in the system).

The starter kit comes with primer, highlighter, bronzer, blush and several shades of foundation to choose from. I wasn’t a fan of the primer since I use a primer and a good moisturizer already, so I didn’t need the extra layer. I really like the bronzer and added drops of it to the foundation before applying for a nice all around glow or airbrushed my cheekbones to give them a bit more wow factor. I wish the blush shade I had was a bit deeper, I felt like it disappeared a bit under my skin so I’d use a cream blush on the apples of my cheeks before I applied the foundation.

Here’s what I love about airbrush foundation:

• It’s light. Perfect when you want coverage even on a hot and humid day.
• The makeup doesn’t transfer. Sometimes with bottle foundation I find that I still have to blot with tissues to make sure there isn’t excess makeup getting on a white shirt or someone else. I did not have that problem at all.
• The makeup lasts. I would spray on the foundation and do a light dusting of translucent powder afterwards and it would really hold up all day long.
• The finish is flawless. It really does give your skin a smooth, even, perfectly applied layer of foundation. I got several compliments on how great my skin looked in June and really I owe it to Luminess Air. This applies better than liquid foundation.

The system I received for review is the iLuminess that retails for $229, but they have a few different versions outlined here on their website. This version comes with a compact airbrush system and a sleek silver carrying case. I’ve used the case and traveled with it so it does make it very handy. If you can’t afford this system, the larger version is $169.95. If you wear makeup on a daily basis, this is definitely something to consider investing in, I loved it for the ease and quickness of application. Cleaning it is a breeze and I even had to call Customer Service with an issue and they were delightfully helpful to me.

My next step with the system will be to buy eye shadow, I definitely want to try that out and see what I can do with my eye makeup. Feel free to ask me more questions in the comments, I’ll answer it all. I truly, truly enjoyed this system. It’s definitely worth the investment in my eyes.

My good friends at Bare Escentuals {@bareescentuals on Twitter} sent over the bareMinerals Jewel Collection for me to review. Interested in adding a bit of pizazz to your holiday beauty routine? Then watch my video review AND I’m giving you a chance to win a prize that is perfect for the holidays. The cool thing I totally forgot to mention in the video is that all of the bareMinerals holiday collections come with a ticket inside that give you a chance to win a year’s worth of foundation – how cool is that? The winning code will be announced on their site on December 25th. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed…it’s been a lucky year for me.

Products used in the review:

• bareMinerals MATTE SPF 15 Foundation
• bareMinerals Mineral Veil – Tinted
• bareMinerals Jewel Collection

Once you watch the video you can leave a comment on the YouTube page, on this page or tweet your answer to @theaofa on Twitter. Good luck, you have until November 26 (contest open to US residents only).

Remember my beauty loot from the Makeup Show?

Today I want to talk about two items that came from the same place.

One of the things that I loved that makeup artist Sam Fine told me in that podcast I did a while ago was that you have to have great brushes in order to really work with any makeup. Brushes really do make a big difference in your beauty routine. You all already know how much I love brushes because I swooned over and got the Sephora Prestige Makeup Brush Set for Christmas, but I’m always looking at different brushes to add to my arsenal. At the Makeup Show I almost died when I saw the long table of brushes for sale at Crown Brush.

There was every brush imaginable and I picked up four. Two foundation brushes (I wanted to try different sizes and shapes), a huge fluffy powder brush and another eye shadow brush and all of them were from the Backstage Series which is about their midpriced series. Did I mention the prices are wonderful? That huge fluffy powder brush was $8.50. Uh huh…and that kind of brush I would easily drop $20-$30 for depending on the store I bought it in. Ah-Mazing.

The other amazing thing I picked up from their booth that I’ve been asked about a lot is that amazingly large eye shadow palette. 88 shades for $19. I have had so much fun playing with a different eye look every single morning. I emailed the folks at Crown Brush to ask where the palette can be purchased online, although they don’t have it listed you can call in and order it from them and two other palettes! They offer:

• 88C – 88 color eyeshadow $19.95

• 78C – 78 color eyeshadow and blush $19.95

• 88sh – 88 color eyeshadow shimmer $29.95 (I want to buy this one next)

One fantastic company with two fabulous finds. Do not buy makeup brushes from anywhere else. You will not be disappointed in the quality or the price.

dwj

Sephora 18k Gold Eyelash Curler

I’ve been a beauty junkie for a long, long time now and ever since Kevyn Aucoin sang the praises of it I was faithfully curling my eyelashes. Until a few years ago, when I just got lazy. Recently my sister was singing the praises of the Shu Uemera gold eyelash curler and I had to ask myself, why did you stop curling your lashes? I couldn’t remember, but once I picked up the Sephora 18k Gold Eyelash Curler I remembered why I used to do it so faithfully in the first place.

Eyelash curlers really do help separate and curl your lashes which then opens up your eyes. They also make applying your mascara easier since any lashes that were hanging low or drooping will be swooped up in the curler. And you can pinch your eyelid – if you’re doing it wrong -but really it looks scarier than it is.

Now that I’ve just said that, I realize, perhaps I need to demonstrate how to curl your lashes? If you want me to, say yes in the comments section and I’ll work on that when I get back to town.

dwj

After an exhausting week at work and knowing that another crazy week is coming I’m sooo going to enjoy my weekend. Plus, I have tickets tonight to see The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s Holiday show, Baby It’s Gay Outside! with two very silly girlfriends. How much more fabulous can a Friday be?

Today’s fabulousness is a gift idea that I think I really want for myself and I’m trying to convince my husband to scrap our $50 gift maximum and splurge on his lovely wife.

The Sephora Brand Prestige Brush Set is the ultimate brush set for a makeup junkie such as myself. A few years ago my sister Anne gave me the Sephora Brand Slim Essentials Brush Set when I first began my love affair with makeup. I’ve added to the collection and kept my brushes up nicely, but a girl always wants to upgrade.

The set includes: a powder brush, a blush brush, a foundation brush, a fan brush, a retractable lip brush, a large eyeshadow brush, a small eyeshadow brush, a concealer brush, a dome smudge brush, a flat eyeliner brush, a contour brush, and an angled brow brush all with pearlized cream handles with silver accents. To top it all off, you get this set in a lovely case and all for $99. You can tell I’m in love with this can’t you?

To me, this is truly something fabulous for your Friday.

Have a great weekend and I’ll be back with more gifts and more promotional codes for your holiday shopping pleasure! Have a great Friday everybody!
dwj