My Mascara!

Posted on July 14, 2012 by LaTasha Benn

I asked some of my followers what their favorite mascara was and here’s what they told me:

Maybelline New York FALSIES – “it does what it says it will”

Estée Lauder TURBO LASH – “I’ve been using faithfully for the last 3 years”

Lancôme HYPNOSE DRAMA – “my lashes are full and extended without clumping and it’s hypoallergenic.”

Maybelline MEGA PLUSH – “makes my lashes fuller and voluptuous”

Covergirl LASH BLAST – “I used to use two mascaras…this is one that gives me volume and length”

Now, I personally love Maybelline mascara (I’ve been rolling with the pink & green since I started wearing makeup); however, for the past couple of months I’ve been using Covergirl’s Lash Blast and MAKEUP FOR EVER’s Smokey Lash, and I really like both. I’ve been using the Smokey Lash more when I go out for a more dramatic look and the Lash Blast on a daily basis when I’m out and about. I will say though, applying about 3 – 4 coats of the Lash Blast gives me the same look as the Smokey Lash.

Recently, I tried 2 new mascaras one by L’Oreal and the other by Maybelline – L’Oreal’s False Fiber Lashes and Maybelline’s Mega Plush. After reading negative reviews on-line about the False Fiber and positive reviews about the Mega Plush, I was extremely surprised by the results. I actually liked the False Fiber way better than the Mega Plush. It made my lashes super thick and long after only a couple of coats. The Mega Plush…not so much. My lashes actually looked thinner. It’s funny because one of my classmates uses Mega Plush and it makes her already thick and long lashes even more so. I guess the saying “for each it’s own” speaks true here because even though the False Fiber was disliked by many and only received 2 stars on the website, I still love it and I will definitely continue to use it. So, always remember these simple things when deciding on a product….
- Don’t believe the hype.
- What works for one doesn’t work for all.
- Try before you buy (ask for samples or keep your receipt and packaging so you can easily return).

If you haven’t found the perfect mascara for YOU, hopefully these tips will help.

Thanks for reading! Carry on….

Love your beauty!

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Face Friday 5/11/12

Posted on May 13, 2012 by LaTasha Benn

This week’s face Friday I did my everyday foundation using Cargo FX with blue and gold shadows from my Nars eyeshadow palette.

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BB Cream vs Tinted Moisturizer

Posted on April 12, 2012 by LaTasha Benn

Okay so the question that I shamelessly asked my teacher last week was… “what is this BB cream, I keep hearing about?” (as an esthetician / mua I should know these things right…).  “A new substitute for foundation that makes your skin feel so super smooth” is the answer I was given..hmmm.  So, I decided to find out for myself, and to my surprise during my very next visit to Sephora (my favorite store), guess what little free gift I received?…. You guessed it! My very own BB cream. The brand I got is by Boscia, which by the way has an awesome skin care line.  After trying my BB cream once I wondered, “well what’s the difference between this and my Smashbox Tinted Moisturizer that I love so much”? Hmmmmm…  So, my inquisitive self did some research on some of the ingredients in both products and used them alone on alternating days.  I concluded that although they seem similar, they are very different.  The biggest difference to me is that the BB cream has better coverage, while the tinted moisturizer adds a hint of color, but does not cover marks.  I’m assuming others will ditch their tinted moisturizer and begin using BB cream once they’ve tried it.  But I, on the other hand, will not ditch my tinted moisturizer even though I’m loving the BB cream.  I’ll continue to use them both for different reasons – BB cream on days when I’m out and about, but don’t want to wear foundation, and the tinted moisturizer while working out or under my foundation.

Here is what I found:

Boscia BB Cream
- provides a natural coverage
- good at covering pigmentation, blemishes, and acne
- no sign of clogged pores
- ingredients provide healing properties that soften and soothe skin
- anti-wrinkle and skin lightening properties
- 1 color that matches all skin tones
- works great alone or over primer
- great substitute for foundation (even has a shimmer effect to it)
- UVA / UVB protection (SPF 27)

Smashbox Tinted Moisturizer
- moisturizes skin after cleansing
- does not really cover marks or blemishes, so I still use a concealer on top of it, but if you don’t have a lot of marks on your face, this works great alone.
- comes in 5 shades, so you have to get one that’s closest to your skin tone (I use LIGHT).
- oil-free, but that does not mean it won’t clog your pores. So far I haven’t had any issues with it yet.
- UVA / UVB protection (SPF 15)

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Face Friday 4/6/12

Posted on April 6, 2012 by LaTasha Benn

Happy Good Friday! I hope you are enjoying this sacred day, whether at work or chillaxin at home. This week’s Face Friday is a simple Spring look. I used all MAC and Mary Kay eyeshadows! It’s a blend of orange, pink, and blue tones (sorry I forgot to look at the colors’ names before I left the house). You can’t really tell but I used a blue wet & wild eye liner to line the top of my lid. I’m also wearing Sephora’s pin-up pink lip gloss. And as always my brows are done with Urban Decay’s eyebrow powders.

love your beauty!

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Introducing Face Fridays!

Posted on April 3, 2012 by LaTasha Benn

A MUA friend of mine (J. st. jaimes) introduced me to what she calls “Face Fridays”, so every Friday I will do something different with my makeup, something I don’t typically do, and post a picture. Hopefully this will be inspiration for, not only myself, but to you as well, to enhance and add some sunshine to your natural beauty!

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love your beauty!

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Goodbye Cargo, Helloooo CoverFX

Posted on March 5, 2012 by LaTasha Benn

I recently switched my foundation to CoverFX.  Now you all know I’ve been a huge fan of Cargo, and don’t get me wrong, I still kinda am; However since my face started breaking out like crazy at the start of the new (as soon as I turned 30), I needed to find something that provided more coverage and CoverFX won that battle!  After trying several other lines that either didn’t match my skin correctly or didn’t provide the kind of finish I wanted, I decided on CoverFX.  And actually, when I walked into Sephora that day it wasn’t even to buy anything for me.  I was with a friend helping her buy some products, and when the sales associate recommend a CoverFX powder for her, I thought, “Hm let me try this foundation”… And DING DING DING DING!!! M80 matched me perfectly!  I love that it’s a cream foundation and works as a concealer as well.  It’s also recommended and is great for acne prone and sensitive skin types because it’s non-comedogenic (won’t clog your pores) and has SPF 30 in it.  It has the natural finish that I like and goes great with a light powder to set it.  And speaking of powder, the one that I selected to use for now is laura mercier NO. 6.  It matches my skin perfectly just like my old friend Cargo.  And, I’m sure Cargo and I will cross paths again, but I just needed to venture out and find something that was readily available when I needed it; because another thing about Cargo was that once Sephora stopped carrying it, it was always so hard to find.  The majority of the time JCPenney was out of stock (in only my shade..go fig) and I would have to travel out of my way just to go to the JCP location with the Sephora in it.  But all is well now and I’ll keep you posted on my new foundation.

CoverFX Total Coverage Cream can be found in select Sephora locations (I know for sure Oak Brook has it and Orland does not); the price is $42.

Peace. Lyb

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Lyb’s Last Minute Gift Ideas (allunder $100)

Posted on December 16, 2011 by LaTasha Benn

Is it just me or has this year gone by super duper fast! And now, as I’m still getting over my food coma from Thanksgiving, Christmas is right around the corner! So, if you’re anything like me – A last minute shopper, not looking to spend too much money on gifts, but would really like to get a little something for everyone – then hopefully this will help. Here are a few quick, cute, and cost effective gift ideas for the ladies in your inner circle.  Merry Christmas folks!

  • One of the things I love about buying makeup during the holidays is all the cute, little palettes! MAC has a Snowglobe eye shadow palette for $38.00 and Urban Decay has one for $39.00. Both are super adorable!
  • If you’re going with the eye shadow palette, why not pair it with a Sonia Kashuk brush set. Target has several looks and brush sizes to choose from, ranging from $11.99 – $14.99. (And BTW – these brushes are awesome!).
  • You can never ever go wrong with something that smells good and feels great! My favorite body gift sets are from Nasabb(Gift sets range from $18.95 – $65.95 and carry a mix of all natural body oils, shea butter, and black soaps); Korres(At Sephora, you’ll find their gift set for $55.00. It has everything from Lip Butter to Body Cream); LUSH (Perfect the very last minute shoppers. These sets come already wrapped! Ranging from $29.95 – $99.95); and Carol’s Daughter (I absolutely love their Almond Butter scent and they have a spa set for $67.00).

Happy Shopping!

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Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark!

Posted on November 17, 2011 by LaTasha Benn

Me wearing Covergirl's EMBRACE #335

I swear if I hear one more woman tell me that she can’t do a dark lipstick because she’s too dark or too light… I’m gonna… Uhm… Well I’ll figure that out later.  But anyway, there is no argument that every woman can’t wear every shade of lipstick.  I mean, I’m pretty sure that’s the reason why there are so many shades and brands out there!  So, this season try a darker lip color, just for fun! Trust me, once you find a color that works with your skin tone, you’ll love it!

Here are some quick DOs and DON’Ts for wearing dark lipstick:

DO: Let your lips stand out! When wearing a darker lipstick keep your eyes and cheeks simple. A natural eye with a couple of layers of mascara and a bare cheek will allow your lips to do all the talking! Maybe even wear your hair back and off your face.

DO: Find a shade that’s right for YOU! What looks good on one may not look good on you. Play around with different colors and make sure your shade is a good match for your skin tone.  If you have darker skin, go darker with a plum, burgundy, or deep red (Try shades like Covergirl’s Cocoa Bean, Maybelline’s ColorSensation in Plum Perfect, or MAC’s Hang-up or Riveting Rose). If you have lighter skin, still look for plums, reds, and burgundy’s, but make sure that they do not make your skin look extra pale or washed out.  I have fairly light skin, and I like to wear a deep red or fushia color lipstick.

DO: Go with a matte lip color. Leave your gloss and shimmer at home! No need for the extra glitz with all that glam. You don’t want to over do it.  A dark and beautiful lip color will speak for itself!

DO: Try a lipstick that is long lasting and glides on easily. You want your lipstick to last all night and if you do need to reapply, you should be able to do it with ease.  Try L’Oreal’s Infallible or Estee Lauder. These add extra moisture to your lips.

And now for the Don’ts…. The most common, yet hilarious, dark lipstick no no’s:

DON’T go for the goth look! Black is cool, don’t get me wrong, but tis “is not” the season for a black lip.

DON’T use a liner that is darker than the lipstick. Stick to a liner that very closely matches the lipstick color. For instance, I’ve seen woman wear dark red lipstick with a black liner… ???? UHM! That’s a big NO!

DON’T let lipstick take over your teeth. How attractive is that to walk around looking like you just been chewing on paint chips. Absolutely not a good look!

DON’T be stingy with the lip color. Apply the shade on your ENTIRE lip! Not just the middle and not just the bottom lip. And, yes, I’ve seen woman do this and I’m not sure what the concept is with that one.

DON’T let your lipstick runaway. Lipstick belongs on your LIPS. Use a Q-tip or Kleenex to wipe off any extra color outside the lines.

DON’T apply your lip color over dry or chapped lips. With a dark lipstick it will show.  Use a lip primer (I recommend Urban Decay’s Lip Primer Potion, which can be purchased from Sephora for about $20 or simply use Chapstick or Shea Butter) before applying.  **QUICK TIP – Gently rub a soft tooth brush over your lips to remove any dry skin.**

Thanks for reading! Smooches!

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My New Winter Moisturizer (LUSH Vanishing Cream)!

Posted on November 1, 2011 by LaTasha Benn

I recently changed my face cleansing routine for the colder climates. Like most, my skin gets extra dry around this time of the year, so I need a better moisturizer than what I typically use during the summer.  Now, I’m always switching my products around and I know you are probably thinking, “If this girl does not find a product and stick to it…!”.  Ha! Well I won’t, I can’t, I mean it just doesn’t make sense. My skin changes throughout the year and what works one month, may not the next. So, this Fall/Winter season I will be using LUSH Vanishing Cream.  Love it, love it, love it!

Moisturizes the heck out of my skin, without making it look oily and yet is still very light! It’s formulated for acne-prone skin and made with rose, lavender, and witch hazel….Awwww! Now doesn’t that just sound refreshing!? I highly recommend this product if you’re looking for a good moisturizer for the winter.  The only thing it’s missing is SPF, but I’ll just stay my butt out the sun because this is a product I will definitely keep in rotation!

$39.95 at LUSHusa.com

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My Winter Make-up Application

Posted on October 16, 2011 by LaTasha Benn

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