The Musings of a Working Mom

Just like every month past, January just seemed to fly right on by!  One of my resolutions for 2013 is not to buy any new makeup before using up what I already have in my stash.  Yeah that resolution only lasted about 2 weeks before I broke down and bought a couple of new items.  But in my defense, this resolution really applies to me not buying any more eye shadows/palettes.  I have more eye shadows than any one woman, who is not a professional makeup artist, should own.  I have just about all the colors I need and unless a new shadow/palette really "WOWS" me, I'll have to pass on that one.  But I did find a few items that did peak my curiosity not to mention that I had heard a lot of great things about  these products. The first product is the L'Oreal True Match liquid foundation.  I know that this foundation has been out on the market FOREVER and I had heard so many positive reviews on this drugstore foundation but I always passed on this bec...

Happy New Year!  And what a year it has been?  It's been a year since I started my blog and one of my first posts was a list of my 2011 favorites...and here we have come round full circle to my favorites list of 2012.   But first off I want to thank all of you for your continued support and for coming back to read my blog posts, commenting, and subscribing to my blog.  This blog has been my side project and my baby (outside of my real babies).  I have had so much fun writing for this blog and doing my "research" (i.e. having a great excuse to buy makeup and beauty products).  I have done quite of bit of "research" this year and have found a lot of great low-end and high-end products that have become my favorites for this past year.  This blog has also allowed me to try beauty products outside of my beloved MAC brand and I have found some amazing products at all price points.  It has taken me quite some time to compile my list but here are my fav...

Here are my favorite makeup brushes for FACE: FYI - I am not sponsored by Sigma brushes but I do have an affiliate link on my pages, which means if you click and purchase any brushes via my link, I will receive a commission from your purchase.  But I would not mention any products that I do not love to use and would not mislead you in order to make any money.  Having said that, I do love their brushes!  I have purchased both their Premium Professional kit as well as their Essential Kit, and a couple of their Sigmax precision face brushes (F82/F84).  These brushes, in my opinion, are comparable to MAC brushes but are a fraction of the prices of the MAC brushes. For face, I love using a couple of brushes and one "tool".  For liquid foundation, I love using my  Sigma Sigmax F84 Angled Kabuki Brush  and my Real Techniques Stippling Brush.  For powder and mineral foundations, I love using the Real Techniques Buffing brush, MAC 182 Kabuki brus...

Every makeup artist knows that you are only as good as the tools you use!  And of course we love the way our face looks after we get a makeover done at our favorite makeup counter.  We buy the products that were used during the makeover, come home and attempt to re-do the same look the MUA did on our face but why doesn't it look as flawless and blended as it did when you had it done by the MUA???  It's all in the tools - the brushes that is! That's right, using the right brushes will give you a flawless, blended and professional look - like you just had a professional makeover done.  But you don't need to spend a lot of money to get great professional brushes.  You can get great brushes ranging in price from both the "lower end" brands as well as high end makeup brands.   Here are my favorite makeup brushes for EYES: FYI - I am not sponsored by Sigma brushes but I do have an affiliate link on my pages, which means if...

Well it's that time of the month again - NO sillies...it's time for my favorites for this month!!  It's been a hot month and I've been trying to keep my makeup routine short and sweet, as well as light on my face.  I've also included non-makeup items too...I hope that you enjoy my favorites for the month of June! 1.  Sleek Rose Gold Blush - I love using this blush...it gives my cheeks that perfect rosey-glowy look.  It's not too over the top and yet not too light...it's been my perfect go-to summer blush color. 2.  Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and Mineral Foundation - I have been using this duo this month as my everyday foundation routine.  LM tinted moisturizer is by far the best tinted moisturizer that I have tried - this TM has more coverage than others and I like to apply it with a foundation brush like my Sigma F60 .  I then buff on my LM mineral foundation over the TM with either my MAC 182 Buffer Brush or Real ...

So there were quite a few things that I loved using this month on both myself and my kids, as well as a couple of food items.  I'll start out with the products for the kids - 2 of my kids suffer from eczema and all 3 have very dry skin in these winter months despite constant moisturizing but we have all loved using Shea Moisture Organic Raw Chamomile Argan Oil Baby Head-to-Toe Ointment.  We all love the smell - like cocoa butter - and I tease the kids that I'm going to eat their cheeks, arms and legs because they smell so yummy! Their skin stays really soft and moisturized after just one use...I try to reapply it every night and I keep one tube/tub on each level of my house at arms reach.  Now for the products for myself - I am re-loving my Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation. This foundation has been sitting in my makeup drawer for quite some time but recently saw the light of day and has now found a place on the counter with the rest of the...

I've said this before, as a busy mom, time is our enemy.  We barely have enough time to take a shower in the morning (or at some point in the day) let alone put on a face of makeup but let me tell you that taking an extra 5 minutes in the morning to put on your face will make all the difference in the world in how you make it through the day. There is nothing like looking in the mirror during the day and seeing your tired, blotchy, red face to remind you that you look a hot mess!!  But it doesn't have to be that way - Give me 5 minutes and I'll give you a more awake, fresh and brighter looking face - one that you'll like to see in the mirror over and over again. The first thing you need to do starts the night before - thoroughly cleanse your face (to get rid of all the daily accumulation) and then moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!!  I really like the Olay Regenerist line but use whatever facial moisturizer you...