Tokidoki Makeup Review & Tutorial

I've always loved the super kawaii clutter of Tokidoki Designs. Now they have a whole cosmetics line available at Sephora that I couldn't refuse. I really didn't expect much from makeup in packaging so cute it made me want to vomit rainbows and unicorns, but I was pleasantly surprised. My video shows what I love about the eyeshadows, brushes, mascara, lip stain and lip glosses. There are also swatches and an application tutorial. Tokidoki!!! SQUEE!!!

How to Spot Fake MAC Cosmetics on Ebay

My new video shows you what to look for when shopping for MAC Cosmetics on eBay. There are thousands of counterfeit M.A.C. Cosmetics in the world, and the internet makes it that much easier to dupe people into thinking it's the real thing. In my video, I cover brushes, eye shadow palettes, and the Hello Kitty collection. I've learned from my mistakes, and I now know that there's no better deal than buying MAC from real MAC counters, real MAC stores and the MAC website. They are extremely reasonably priced, and the US sells it for less than any other country in the world. This tutorial is meant for those of you who seek out those discontinued or limited edition products that are no longer available. A tip for brushes: JUST DON'T DO IT. The video explains why...

Ask Marissa..."I Hate My Big Nose!"

Jane Doe: I hate my nose. I think it is big and well just don't like it. Are there any make-up ideas that could draw attention away from my nose and mouth maybe to my eyes instead? 


Me: Shading (or contouring) should do the trick. Use a matte bronzer or brown eyeshadow. Use a fluffy tapered shadow brush like M.A.C. #224 ($29), and blend the powder on the each side of the bridge of your nose. Make sure you blend well, so it doesn't look like there's makeup there.

Marissa's Pick of the Week - M.A.C. Lip Pencils

I absolutely love M.A.C. Lip Pencils ($13)! They glide on smoothly, wear for a long time and have great coverage. I like wearing these more than lipstick because you get more precise results. I like to wear 2 lip pencils; one for the liner and one as the lipstick, then top it with a Lip Glass ($14.50) or Tinted Lip Conditioner ($14.50) Some of my favorite combinations are:

Bright Hot Pink-
Line: Cherry
Lip: Magenta
Gloss: Viva Glam Gaga lip Glass

Neutral Brown-
Line: Cork
Lip: Subculture
Gloss: Soothing Beige Tinted Lip Conditioner

Red-
Line: Brick
Lip: Cherry
Gloss: Viva Glam Cyndi Lip Glass

Nude-
Line: Stripdown
Lip: Oak
Gloss: C-Thru Lip Glass

Looking Greasy in the Club?

 In the 6 or so years I've maintained social networking profiles, I noticed a horrible epidemic plaguing a lot of young women:  pictures of them in night clubs were REALLY bad. Their heads were whiter than their bodies and their faces were greasy looking. Camera flash is not very generous to our features, but super generous to our flaws. All these pretty girls were looking deathly ill.

I didn't go to school for makeup artistry, so everything I know is basically through trial and error. Here are some things I've learned about flash photography:

DO contour appropriately

DO use a foundation and powder a couple shades darker than your skin tone, or cover your neck and shoulders with your normal foundation

DO use matte finish foundations, concealers and powders. This includes blush. Eye makeup isn't as important to be matte, but it does make a more beautiful picture.

DON'T use shimmery finishes on your face. This will make you look greasy and gross.
DON'T use foundations or concealers with pink undertones. This will make you look pale or ashy.

Here is the difference between a do and a don't:
DO

I used a matte finish foundation, concealer, powder and blush.

A light colored lip gloss with no shimmer and minimal glitter will accentuate you natural lip color.

On my eyes is just a black crayon that I blended upwards. I didn't use a highlighter.

When you contour correctly, there's no need to highlight.

DON'T

I used my normal radiant finish foundation with a satin finish concealer.

I used a shimmery loose powder followed by a sheer coral blush and shimmery highlighter on my cheekbones.

You can see that I look really greasy and my face is lighter than my neck. This makeup is beautiful in person, but doesn't translate well in flash photography. 

Here's what it looks like without flash:

Ask Marissa...Clinique Discontinued Clarifying Makeup!

Jane Doe: Clinique stopped carrying the foundation I use, what do you like as a medium coverage foundation for oily skins? I've been looking around and nothing has jumped out at me yet. I am almost out, so I am going to need to get some soon.


Me: Which foundation did you use? Have you tried their Acne Solutions foundation ($24.50)? It's pretty amazing. I also like Teint Idol Freshwear ($32) by Lancome. I know you don't have a MAC near you, but if you ever make it Louisville, try Studio Fix Liquid foundation ($26). Studio fix controls oil throughout the day and has buildable coverage.


Jane Doe: I can't remember the name of it. It was their last acne one that was in tube. It always separated if it sat for too long. I am sure that's why they got rid of it.


Me: It was either Continuous Coverage Makeup or Clarifying Makeup.

Jane Doe: Clarifying. You are on it!


Me: Some people use their brains for money. I use mine for beauty. It's way less shallow. LOL.
You would love the new Acne Solutions one then. Its not thick. It's actually kind of creamy. It has a natural finish so you don't look all dry and cakey. Plus it controls oil and keeps skin clear with salicylic acid.

Jane Doe: Cool. i will have to check it out. Thanks for the advice!

Me: Clinique gives foundation samples now too. :D

Ask Marissa...Facial Hair

Jane Doe: When I use foundation, which I have to.. When I apply it under my nose and above the mouth I am left with a darkened area where it sticks to the other wise invisible small hair there all women have it I think, but when I apply foundation it suddenly becomes noticeable and looks like..well like I have the start of a mustache =( How can I prevent the foundation from sticking to the hair and still cover that area of skin up?


Me: The best suggestion I have is hair removal. Either wax or get one of those mini facial hair groomers, such as the Conair 2-in-1 Fine Line Trimmer (drugstores, $8.99). I use the hair groomer b/c wax irritates my skin, and it's expensive to keep up. The hair groomers are very gentle and won't leave bumps. I even use this on the little fuzzies around my eyes so makeup goes on smoother.
If you don't want to do hair removal, stick to powder foundations. They are less likely to give that shadow. My favorite one is Clinique Perfectly Real Compact Powder Foundation ($24).

Ask Marissa...Eye Primer for Red Eyelids

Jane Doe: I'm looking for a good eye primer but can't decide which one to go for. I want something that neutralizes the skin on my eyes (I have a lot of redness) but also gives my shadows mega staying power. 


Me: I have 3 favorite eye primers; M.A.C. Paint Pot in "Soft Ochre" ($16.50), Lancome's Ombre Perfecteur Pen ($23), and Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($18). All have yellow undertones to neutralize redness, and the staying power of shadows are amazing!

 
 

Hot Topic Makeup Haul (with videos)

Yes. Yes. I know. I know. Hot Topic is just another corporation that exploits a subversive culture, and flourishes off the allowance of adolescent posers.

Whatever.

Remember the Kitschkween (that's me for those of you who don't know) motto: "Like what you like and don't be sorry for it."

A person shouldn't have to prove their authenticity to anyone. If they like Britney Spears AND Siouxsie and the Banshees, leave them alone. If they have torn clothing with safety pins all over the place AND like to wear Nike shoes, leave them the hell alone. We are all trapped in a world where if a subculture is discovered by a greedy corporate monster, they will find a way to make it mainstream. So please. If you shop at Hot Topic because you don't know where else to find awesome clothes and accessories or discover music you can't hear on the radio, then don't be ashamed. You can just quote the above highlighted statement when someone busts on you for being a poser.

Moving right along...

Here are parts 1 and 2 of my review:





Since you can't really get a full sense of the swatches, here are some pictures:

Lip/Eye Pencils

Eye Crayons

Integrity. Love. Unity. - Why I Am a Kerli Fan

Deep in the woods of Estonia, a little Moonchild was born. Her free spirit, big heart and artistic soul could hardly confine this whimsical creature to such a tiny place in the world. Keeping her integrity, her passion for self expression made her into the surreal beauty known as Kerli.
Jay (hair guy for Pomps n' Gloss) was who first told me about Kerli. Knowing my love for gothic-lolita style he said
 "You have to check her out on myspace. You would just DIE!!!"
And I did. I swear I couldn't stop squealing. Then something magical happened. I pressed PLAY on the music box thingy, and it was all over. Not only was she the closest thing to my perfect doll, but her music was awesome too! I was hooked- a Kerli fan for life.
As I did a little more Kerli Googling, I found that I was drawn to her makeup (which she does herself). It was so clean, yet fantasy like. Everything she wore (which she mostly makes) and sung (which she writes all of) was an inspiration to me.

Now for the icing on the cake...
Kerli started the movement of The Moonchildren. A Moonchild is "one who belongs to a community of integrity, love and unity." She is very spiritual and grounded. She is crafty and resourceful. She is original and generous.
If you know nothing about this amazing artist, you can learn more about her on her Moonchild Academy website where my makeup tutorial was featured. She offers free downloads of her music and you can see all her videos (all the concepts are hers) on youtube. She makes music videos, craft tutorials and video logs.
I hope you all fall in love with her like I did. She really is amazing. There is something for everyone to like about Kerli.

Kerli Inspired Gothic Lolita Makeup Tutorial from Marissa Rhoades on Vimeo.

Buy a lipstick for World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day. I know not everyone has time to volunteer, but it only takes a couple minutes to buy a lipstick. One MAC Viva Glam lipstick ($14.50) can really make a difference. 100% of every Viva Glam Sale goes to the M.A.C. AIDS Fund. Here are just some of the things 1 lipstick can contribute to men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS:

ONE Viva Glam Lipstick=
8 home cooked meals
1 b-day or x-mas party pack for a child who lost a parent to HIV/AIDS.
 A year's worth of school supplies for a child affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa
3 boxes of a weeks supply of fruits and veggies in Canada
2 meals for 2 children at an orphanage affected by HIV?AIDS in South Africa
1 weekly grocery shop (4 bags of food) for 2 people affected by HIV/AIDS

to see more info, visit www.macaidsfund.org

Beyonce Inspired B.B. Homemaker Makeup Tutorial

Here's my latest makeup tutorial based on one of Beyonce's looks in her "Why Don't You Love Me?" video. I have it on YouTube, but they disabled my audio due to licencing issues, so I had to replace the soundtrack with one of their pre-authorized songs. The Vimeo version has the original soundtrack; a tribute to Miss Eta James.


Beyonce Inspired B.B. Homemaker Tutorial from Marissa Rhoades on Vimeo.

Marissa's Pick of the Week - Lip Stain!

On my venture to buy makeup for my Drug Store Beauty Queen Tutorial, I found a precious gem. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstain in Cherry Pop (Target.com, $6.49). I've tried department store stains like Benefit's Bene-Tint ($28), but I like this one better for 2 reasons; convenience and price point. To me it looks just like the product that costs $21 more, except instead of having a messy loose liquid, it's all contained in a little pen. The coverage is buildable, so you can keep coloring until your lips are as dark as you want it. It stays on all day. I've even slept with it on and my lips were still red the next morning. Color Sensational Lipstains are perfect for someone who doesn't like to reapply lipstick or gloss though out the day and wants a natural looking lip. I like to wear it with a moisturizing lip balm on top. Even Chapstick would work. Love it!
Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstain Demo:

Marissa's Pick of the Week - The Perfect Red!

So, a few days ago I made the mistake of walking by a Sephora. I swear that store pulls me in like a magnet. I left with a list a mile high of everything I wanted, but what stuck out to me the most was Make Up For Ever's new Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick called "Moulin Rouge." ($19)
I remember the whole magical experience exactly how it happened. I walked into Sephora and headed straight for the Make Up For Ever counter (naturally). I was excited to see that they finally came out with some new stuff. As my eyes wandered up to the new lipsticks, the perfectly shaded red was the first I snatched. I swiped it on the back of my hand, then gushed over that little stick of color as if I just gave birth to it. Not too orange. Not too pink. Just red.
I know everyone has a different perfect red, but I am positive "Moulin Rouge" will be red red red on most of you who try it. So if you "can-can-can," stop by a Sephora store to try it or buy it.

Beauty Junkies CAN Travel Light!

Leave those train cases at home! With a few of tips, we Beauty Junkies won't have to sacrifice any part of our makeup regimen when we travel. I remember the days when airlines allowed each person 3 pieces of luggage and 2 carry-ons. Now, we're restricted to 1 suitcase under 50 lbs. Anything over 50 lbs. costs extra. With all our skin care and makeup that won't even fit on our vanities, how do we choose what to bring? I hope this short video will help. Happy Travels!

Marissa's Pick of the Week - Brush Savers

I love, love, love The Brush Guard! ($5.50 per pack) They help to expand the life of your cosmetic brushes by preserving its shape and allowing upside down dry time (!) after washing.
Caring for your makeup brushes the right way can save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. The most important thing to know is how to wash them. Use baby shampoo, antibacterial dish soap, or makeup brush cleanser to thoroughly cleanse each bristle until water runs clear. Never leave your brushes to dry standing upright. This can cause water to drip back into the ferrule (look at the diagram below), loosening the glue that holds the hairs together. The result? Your $50 powder brush starts balding. Until I discovered these money savers via Michelle Phan, I laid my brushes flat to dry.

To use, slip the appropriately sized Brush Guard over your cleansed brush extending the tube about 1/2" over the bristles. Place the brush upside down in a cup over night. When your brush is dry, slip the tube off (upwards, not down the handle) and your brush is good as new!

If you can't purchase brush guards right away, you can do wonders with rubber bands! :)

Yay! Contest!

I will be hosting 2 drawings for 2 awesome prizes!

Contest #1 Youtube! 
Subscribe to my YouTube channel, KitschkweenDIY, and once I reach 100 subscribers, I will randomly pick a winner using Raffle King. The winner will receive 3 mini Lancome Juicy Tubes (about a $20 value) in "Simmer," "Dreamsicle," and "Magic Spell." After this iconic lip gloss launched 10 years ago (stumping the sales of every other lip gloss on the market) almost all other cosmetic lines had to release a similar product to keep up with the trend. After 10 years and some tough competition, Juicy Tubes are still a best selling brand.

Contest #2 Blog Comments:
Comment on any of my blog posts here (not on Facebook), and I will draw a name after 100 comments. The winner will receive A full size Arbonne NutriMin C RE9 RElease Deep Pore Cleansing Masque ($31) This vitamin packed mask sucks all the yuck out of your pores while it tones and firms your skin.

I need a lot of participation for this contest to work, so please tell your friends about it. The more entries I get, the sooner I pick a winner!

Good Luck!

Ganguro Girl

Ganguro girls in Japan are often perceived as trashy. So I thought, "This is perfect for me!" Stay tuned after the credits for a short Japanese lesson. ^_^ 

I hope you enjoy this tutorial!

Ganguro Makeup Tutorial from Marissa Rhoades on Vimeo.

A shorter youtube version is also available here:

Bahirah's Pick of the Week- Milk Pencil

The NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in "Milk" ($4) Has become a staple in my makeup wardrobe since I first saw it used in a video makeup tutorial. It is the perfect brow bone highlighter, giving a natural matte finish. If you are lucky, you can find a Milk pencil at your local beauty supply store for a cheaper price. If you do, get a bunch at a time. They are always sold out at the store I go to. You can of course get them on the NYX Cosmetics Website. $4 is still a steal for this professional quality must have.

Marissa's Pick of the Week - "Aqua Net for Your Face"

Fix + by M.A.C. Cosmetics ($18) is a must have in every makeup artist box! I also recommend this product for the Party Girl or someone with a 14 hour or more work day. You can use it alone to re-freshen your skin, or on top of makeup to set everything in place. With ingredients like green tea, chamomile, and cucumber, even sensitive skin would enjoy this thirst quenching cocktail. I have used Fix + on every client I freelanced for. Such events include weddings, parties, and funerals. When I followed up with my clients they all said their makeup stayed in place until they washed it off. I did makeup for a party at 11 AM, and they said their makeup was still fresh at 2 AM. As strong of a sealer as it is, it feels just like water. It's not sticky or heavy, so you won't even realize you sprayed it on after it dries. It's like glue for your face, or as a friend of a friend said, "It's like Aqua Net for your face!"