itsmilana's makeup

Hey ladies and gents, so as some of you may or may not know I do the makeup for photo shoots for a friend who is an aspiring fashion designer!
*check out her merchandise & designs at:
http://www.creative-fashionista.com
http://www.facebook.com/creativefashionista
http://www.twitter.com/CreatvFashnista
http://www.creativefashionista.etsy.com

Anyways, I thought I'd start posting some of my daily makeup designs plus some from the photo shoots I've done. Now these photos aren't the specific head shots (those are coming soon) but they give the general idea of some of my work as well.

Hope you like!

Creative Fashionista photo shoot for Miss California & Miss Teen California

"Fantasy Look"

"Golden"

"Pin-Up"

(sorry for the quality for the end pictures, I just figured out how to use my camera to its best ability thanks to the wonderful professional photographer Casey Withers: facebook.com/cwithersmedia)

Some Hits, Some Misses

Hey ladies & gents sorry I've been so M.I.A lately, 99 problems what can I say. So I recently did a Walgreens Haul & here are my reviews! Enjoy! (Oh & Happy Mama's Day to all of yours!)

Maybelline New York Lasting Drama Eyestudio Gel Eyeliner - #950 Blackest Black - REG $9.99 SALE $7.49

As you all already know, 99.9% of the things I buy are from a master list of items I have that I constantly add to according to recommendations from various makeup gurus I follow, online & magazine articles, etc. Unfortunately I don't keep track of exactly WHERE each recommended item comes from, because, well, because evidently I have a life, but IF I did, I would strongly rebuttal their recommendation for this product. It was my first gel liner & almost my last. The brush that comes with it, fugheetabouttitt! & using it as a primary waterline liner as most gel liners are primarily used for, double fugheetabouttitt! It easily comes off your waterline & the gel itself dries up in its original glass container as well. DO NOT RECOMMEND!

L'Oreal HiP High Intensity Pigments Color Truth Cream Eyeliner - Black - $12.99

Now, THIS gel liner is consistently used by one of my favorite makeup bloggers as her waterline go-to so I absolutely had to try it. Of course I held my breath due to my previous devastating gel liner experience (read above), but this one definitely impressed! Again use your own brush, even if you're just a beginner the brush it comes with is a bit too stiff and tends to hurt and not glide on too well. It stays on your waterline significantly longer than Maybelline's. Keep in mind though, you still need to re-touch the liner because it does throughout the day come off. So far, as my second gel liner experience I recommend this one over the previous one; however as far as my constant search to find a liner that will be long-lasting on my waterline this product receives a B+ in my book. Good for beginners to start out with too!

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation - $8.49

Oh my life, this foundation has been everywhereeeee! Every blog I follow, every article I read, EVERYWHERE! So of course, I added it to my list to try. I'm not a big fan of liquid foundations at all, I don't like feeling like my skin and pores are clogged up & so personally I prefer & use Bare Escentuals myself; but using it everyday could definitely get expensive. & so that is why I decided to try & find a drug store foundation that would be cheaper & that I could use on an every-other day basis. Fit Me? Indeed it did. Whether you want to use a stippling brush or a basic triangle makeup sponge it is very easy to blend! I wouldn't recommend it for very oily skin & it doesn't give extremely full coverage (I'm sure if you use more than I did it might) but it's just enough. I definitely recommend for beginners & anyone who wants a cheap, basic liquid foundation.

Maybelline Fit Me Pressed Powder - $8.49

This is the powder that goes with the liquid foundation, very basic & matches perfectly to set your foundation. Definitely get the powder if your going to get the liquid foundation :)

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush - $7.99

Oy another thing I kept hearing about! Well, my first mousse blush; and I gotta say, I'm not jumping for joy over it. It's extremely easy to use, again you can use a brush or just your finger. Just pat it on and gently blend it in. Eh, its ok. I prefer powder; unless another product could prove me otherwise. Recommend for beginners.

Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer - $12.99

So, I use Dermalogica for my skin routine & that's only because my father carries it in his salon & so I get it for free. However, it is expensive, and again I'm always looking for cheaper dupes. For now, I still have my Dermalogica exfoliator, cleanser & toner, the only thing I was missing was my moisturizer. I chose Aveeno out of my list a bit randomly & a bit out of strategy based upon its SPF 30! I always always always, everyday use sunscreen on my face to keep that skin wrinkle free & anti-aging! This bottle is great because one pump gives you the perfect amount for the day, and its not too thick so its fairly easy to blend so I definitely recommend!

Sinful Colors Nail Polish - Sale $.99

I gotta say, I was a bit regretful when I went to check-out at Walgreens as I realized they wereN'T CVS and I wouldN'T be getting my beauty club perks; until I came to my senses: A dollar for nail polishes? MAJOR SCORE! I got a bout 5 of them, why only 5? I have no idea I wish I would've gotten more! I think I was trying to make sure the quality was actually legit and this wasn't a total scam, haha. Well I put on one of them a little over a week ago and it has yet to chip! This made my momentary Walgreens over CVS slip up all worth while. Ladies go stock up!

BH Cosmetics 120 Color Palette - 1st Edition - Reg $29.95 Sale $22.46

Let's keep this short and sweet; I reviewed & did research on a million palettes sold on ebay, amazon, etc. Long story short, best affordable palette out there is this one. Buy it directly from the website, not only it will be safer but you will get it within a day. Truthfully I've only used a few colors from the palette so far, and so far, I'd give it an A-. You need to, well I need to keep in mind that it IS NOT MAC and so the colors are not as pigmented as you might wish. But all in all, the colors are great and make you want to eat them up! No? Maybe it's just me. Perfect for beginners & intermediates!


REVIEW COMING SOON FOR:

Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer - Fair to Medium Skin Tones - $7.99

**Byyyy the way, if you have heard or have been dying to try a specific drugstore/cheap makeup product for a while but are too scared to, feel free to let me know! I'll add it to my list & end up purchasing it sooner or later. Keep in mind, I don't go in order when it comes to my list its really more of an indulgence, random-based type of a selection so you never know I may buy your product on my next haul! At the very least I could do some research on the product your curious about to give you some hints :)

keep it busy ladies,
itsmilana

KnickKnacks

Hey ladies & gents - here are a few cool knick knacks I've found over some time that I've been wanting to share just for fun; & since I virtually-well no-not virtually because virtually according to Facebook I DO have friends...LITERALLY, I literally, have about one and a half friends to share them with-I shall share them on my blog! Ok well the majority of these are found on giftgenius.com in case anybody is interested; keep in mind, the prices range from a five dollar sub to a down payment on a car.
Enjoy!

WALL MOUNT FISH BOWL

I actually got this for my brother & his beta fish, randomly named "California Burrito" and it looks great on my moms wall! It comes with a stiff paper round cut out of a picture to put up behind it too so it looks a little more 3D. Only thing with this, according to miss Victoria herself, is the maintenance of a 2D bowl with a slightly smaller opening. Other than that though, looks cool & saves space! :) (Oh and California Burrito has no complaints to date as well)

EMILY ELIZABETH NECKLACE - $48

Uhm, I don't know if I'm weird for thinking this is so freakin' cool or what, but I love it & like everything else here-I want it!

BRASS KNUCKLES MUGS - $21

Pure awesome-ness. Geez how many times do you struggle with holding a cup even HALF full (or is it empty?) with one hand? I'd like to see the gadgets this entrepreneur has at home! Want 'em!

THE EX VOODOO KNIFE SET - $70

Genius. Enough said.

24K GOLD PLATED MACBOOK PRO WITH DIAMOND STUDDED LOGO - $1,500

To get a Gold Plated Mac or to go to Graduate School...that is the question. Ok, ok I'm exaggerating a BIT; but yes it's true, if, no no, WHEN I'm rolling in the dough, I'll get my mac gold plated. Oh wait...first I need a mac.

JAMES PIATT HANDBAG - $579

Haha this is just awesome; can ya imagine the looks you would get? And probably security breaches you would set off if you wore it to the airport =X

LEGO TAJ MAHAL - $300

So you might be thinking "Legos, really?"...well...yeah, I'm a nerd & I think its cool :)

RETRO MINI SPEAKERS - $20

Haha I'm sooo getting these! After I get an iPhone. (& you thought you have problems)

BOOKBOOK - $80

Sooooooooooooooooooooooo cool! Again, Nerd.

MACBOOK (PRO) SNOW WHITE SKIN

Its love. Pure & simple, one of the best things I've ever seen.

Actually the BOOKBOOK & the Snow White Skin are legitimate perspective purchases for me once I get my much dreamed about MAC & set fire to my Dell! :)

**Keep an eye out, I will be adding prices to my first makeup review post soon!**

Signing out,
itsmilana

23 years now - 99 problems still - NEW MAKEUP BLOG!

Hey ladies (& gents?)! Well as you can see I started blogging random thoughts-of-the-day on and off for two years now, & have finally decided to add some makeup stuff on here! I've come to love makeup (eye makeup mostly for now) & with the inspiration of some awesome makeup gurus + youtube videos I've self taught & still am teaching myself on all aspects of it. I wish I could take pictures of some of my work but my camera, for lack of a better word, and like all other technology I own, (seriously: camera, phone, laptop) sucks. So for now, I've decided to start doing some basic reviews. I collect recommendations from magazines, blogs, & various makeup gurus on the best CHEAP/DRUGSTORE AVAILABLE makeup out there; and self indulge everytime I step into a CVS..or drive past one..or am in the neighborhood of one.... =X

So here are the main items I use or have used in the past that you can easily get from a drugstore.

First off; upon my purchase of almost $70 worth of makeup at CVS the other day I remembered about the ExtraCare Beauty Club! Ladies-SIGN UP for it! It's FREE and offers 10% off your beauty purchase the day you sign up! Thereafter you receive "$5 Extra Bucks every time you spend $50 on beauty purchases" and "$3 ExtraBucks on your birthday."



.:EYES:.

Loreal HiP Shadow Duos - REG $7.99 SALE: $5.99

I have several of these and I really do love them unlike many makeup gurus. They're highly pigmented (of course not EXACTLY like MAC-but that's why its CHEAPER!) and they have a lot of fun colors and come in matte, metallic & crystal I believe. I definitely recommend, especially for beginners :)

NYX Eyeshadow Triple Shadows

I have two of these palettes and again, the colors are pretty pigmented. These have a bit looser powder than the HiP colors but again, are great to work with. Recommend for everyone!

Covergirl Perfect Point Plus Eye Pencil - Black - REG $6.49 SALE $4.87

This is one of the first eyeliners I've ever used actually. It's a perfect starting point if you've always used a basic eyeliner pencil and want to transition to liquid, because it provides for a slightly creamy texture that lets you get used to gliding on the liner. An additional benefit is the "eraser" tip on the opposite end that allows you to correct any mistakes; although, it gets dirty pretty quickly so don't fully rely on it. Good for only beginners.

ALMAY Intense i-Color Liquid Liner - Brown/Topaz - REG $7.99 SALE $5.99

I haven't used this one much, only because I'm not big on brown eyeliners & it was a gift; but also, I'm not a big fan of it. It's an eyeliner that's very frustrating because you have to go over certain parts more than once & in the end you're left with a messy and not very brown looking line. Not a fav of mine at all.

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen - Black - REG $8.99 SALE $6.74

In the beginning I LOVED this eyeliner. It's a marker-type tip that glides on with a fairly rich black liquid liner (not like other pens that are really like markers and look transluscent). It's downfall: DRYS OUT QUICK! Recommend to people who want to transition into using a liquid eye liner just to TRY -- if you end up liking this type of liquid liner try STILA's similar one from SEPHORA (its the same but doesn't dry out quickly & has a shiny finish).

Hard Candy Walk the Line Liquid Eyeliner - Turquoise

I bought this liner because I wanted to try out the Hard Candy line & was looking for a fun colored liner at the same time. The packaging to this entire brand (found at WalMart btw) looks really cool and modern, but this liner was a NO-GO for me. It's way too watery to maintain color. You have to keep going over specific spots to get one solid line (similar to the Almay one), and even then it doesn't look bold or even. DO NOT recommend.

MAYBELLINE New York Line Stiletto - Black - REG $7.49 SALE $5.62

On my search for the perfect liquid eyeliner I decided to try the heavily advertised (enter sexy voice) STILETTO one. Very similar to my frustrations with the Hard Candy liner including the annoying tip. It's a plastic tip that's too long & unstable to have control over. DO NOT recommend.

L'OREAL Extra-Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner - Noir - REG $8.99 SALE $6.74

This eyeliner is a liquid PENCIL; its very creamy and very dark. It's been compared to MAC's Smolder eyeliner if you're a fan of that one. It's perfect for smudging and I wouldn't use it for tightlining or waterlining because its too liquid for that. Recommend for intermediate.

MAYBELLINE New York Great Lash BIG Mascara - Very Black - REG $5.49 SALE $4.12

EVERY-ONE AND THEIR MOM HAS THIS MASCARA. & I was one of the last people on earth who only just recently tried it! I like it. I'm not in love with it, but I like it. For volume, it gets most of the job done, very much worth its cheap price. If your looking for an everyday volumizing mascara this is the way to go.

Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion - REG $9.99 SALE $7.49

Uhhh. I had big expectations for this one, why, I don't know exactly, but I did. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment. This mascara didn't volumize at all. I literally had to go over my lashes a couple dozen times to get the job done and even then it was just O.K. In conclusion: rubber mascara heads don't get the volumizing job done - stick to the basic bristles; the more, the fuller, the better. DO NOT recommend this item for volume.

Hard Candy Ginormous Lash Volumizing Mascara - Stash (Gold)

Volume? No. Cool Color? Sort of. I think this mascara in a different color from what I got (gold) would be more efficient. The gold is a bit transluscent so if you're looking for a slight shine here and there then its a good buy for you. I was looking for more pop of color. I do however wear this on my bottom lashes for effect sometimes. Recommend? Only if you have the extra cash on hand probably.


.:LIPS:.

MAYBELLINE New York Color Sensational Lip Stain - REG $7.49 SALE $5.62

So if you don't know or have never tried a lip stain it's essentially a marker for your lips. It's meant to add a color to your lips without showing that you have something on your lips-no shine, no gloss-literally just think of taking Crayola to your lips. I tried it, I really like the idea, but at least this brand - SUCKS! In less than 2 minutes it turns out flaky, patchy & looks dried out. Embarrassing is what it is really. DON'T recommend under any circumstances!

HiP Shine Struck Liquid LipColor - Tainted

As I mentioned before I am a big fan of the HiP eyeshadow duos so I wanted to try the liquid lip color. If you're looking for color but aren't a big fan of lipsticks I would definitely recommend. Its more creamy than glossy so use only a little bit if you decide to purchase! It's a bit too messy for me; but if you want intense color with a shiny finish try it out.

Revlon ColorStay Soft & Smooth - #370 Coral

This is one of the items (like most of these are) that was recommended as a cheap, best buy from a few sources. I'm NOT a fan at all. It's a creamy, soft type of lipstick but provides an almost flaky, patchy color. Could be the color that I chose, but since first impressions are as important with makeup as with people, I won't be trying another color of it. FAIL.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss - #070 Glossy Rose - REG $7.99 SALE $5.99

Glossy. Not too sticky. Nice color with nice shine. Yup, that's pretty much it.

Milani 3D Glitzy Gloss - Starshine - REG $6.99 SALE $5.24

Wow this has been advertised everywhere & a lot of makeup gurus love this brand and its new 3D glizty line-so of course, I tried it. And you know something? I like it. It's a bit sticky, but the Starshine color has just a tint of pink with glitter that make your lips seem coincidently luscious.

Nivea A Kiss of Shine Glossy Lip Care - Natural - $3.99

I like the color this gives my lips. It's very subtle. It makes your lips look hydrated, moisturized with just a tint of a neutral color..& it nourishes your lips in the process!

Carmex Moisture Plus - Clear - $2.99

Let's face it people, carmex is carmex. But, if you're a fan of the original tube; i'd recommend this one instead. It doesn't have that gel like substance-so it's mess free & feels just like a smooth chapstick & makes your lips feel smooth.

Bonne Bell Lip Smacker Lip Gloss - 705 Vanilla - REG $2.29 SALE 1.72

Good for everyday, on-the-go, nice-smelling, regular moisture. It's Lip Smacker people, there aren't much expectations there.


.:OTHER:.

Essence of Beauty Dome Eye Shadow Brush - REG $5.49 SALE $4.12

I just wanted to try an eyeshadow brush from a drugstore and I don't hate it. Good for beginners.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover - $7.99

So, when I started wearing makeup I used Johnson's Baby Oil to remove my eye makeup as a cheaper alternative. However, after using this recommendation I now realize what I've been missing out on! After a while the baby oil began to get on my nerves, because it would take like five cotton balls an eye to get all of my makeup off! And even then, it made my cotton ball fray & left that oily residue on my eyes & face that I ended up having to wipe off after all that. So now, I LOVE this Neutrogena product! It's OIL-FREE, gets the job done with ONE cotton ball (or pad) per eye and leaves your skin/eyes feeling clean & clear! (which btw, clean and clear has a similar oil free makeup remover to this neutrogena one that serves as a good substitute).

REVIEWS COMING SOON:

Maybelline New York Lasting Drama Eyestudio Gel Eyeliner - #950 Blackest Black - REG $9.99 SALE $7.49



Hope this helped any and everyone who cared enough to read it! haha. Like I said I collect recommendations from all kinds of sources so I have a huge Excel spreadsheet that I add to almost on a daily basis on products I want to try! My goal is to find cheap makeup alternatives on the days we can't afford to splurge in Sephora & MAC brands ! If any of you have read about and been meaning to try some drugstore product and would like to add it to my list just let me know!


muahh,
itsmilana.