Happy New Year!

To my beautiful readers:

I don't think I'll get a chance to write another post before Jan 1st, so I just wanted to wish you all a very peaceful, joyful, and colourful New Year! I hope you've all had a chance to reflect on 2009, to observe your thoughts and behaviours, and to come to peace with the year that was.
As we welcome the New Year, remember to always be true to yourself, and trust your values. "There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do" (Freya Madeline Stark).

I hope you find happiness in all that you do.

See you in 2010!

- Anjali

Benefit BADgal Lash Mascara

Many of you know that I am absolutely addicted to MAC Zoom Lash mascara. For the past 3 years it has been the one and only mascara to ever enter my makeup drawer...until this month.
After my last Vasanti event, I found myself browsing the shelves of the SDM Beauty Boutique. I'm a sucker for packaging and so was drawn to the Benefit display (you all know the 70's-inspired pictures and designs...right?). I was doing a great job resisting the temptation of loading my basket with their entire product line when I noticed the BADgal Lash mascara:


Typically, when I am tempted to try a new mascara, my loyalty to Zoom Lash kicks in and I quickly decide put the new product down. This time around, however, I just couldn't shake the desire. So after pacing up and down the aisles a few times, I finally grabbed a tube and headed to the cash register. Before it knew what hit it, my makeup drawer was blessed with the presence of BADgal Lash.

Now I have to admit, the new mascara did sit in my drawer for a few days before I was ready to make the transition. But finally I did...and here are the results:

What I love:
- The enormous brush - fun to use, creates a very full lash line
- Deep tones make the eyes whiter - brown eyes really pop!
- Has a volumizing effect
- Packaging :)

Compared to Zoom Lash:
- Needs a few coats to match the intensity that I get with one coat of Zoom Lash
- While it's fun, the over-sized brush makes it hard to apply with precision...I am used to (and prefer) the slimmer wand of Zoom Lash
- I find Zoom Lash gives the appearance of a longer lash, while BADgal Lash creates a fuller lash (I like the longer look better)

Overall this is a great day-time mascara, however, retailing at approximately $26CAD, I am not sure that I would use it regularly. I'd still go to Zoom Lash for a more intense, night-time look.

For those who are interested, here is the rest of the look from that day:

We were having some family over for dinner so I kept it clean and simple - a purple Lise Watier eyeliner with my new mascara, pink blush and tinted lip balm.

What is your go-to mascara? Have you tried a new one lately?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

QOTD: What is the Ideal 'Makeup Artist Look'?

On Saturday, as I was getting ready for my last Vasanti event of the month, a thought came to mind: "What is the ideal Makeup Artist Look?"
At these events, while I provide makeup consultations and applications for various women, there is also an element of sales. I am expected to be an 'expert' on the Vasanti line and should be able to sell this product to my customers. Okay so product knowledge and a little personality will do the trick...but what about the look? Is there an underlying trust or confidence formed between a shopper and an artist based on the artist's appearance?

I've had a couple of days to reflect on this, and while it feels pretty shallow to say, I must admit, looks are important in this industry....Essentially, an artist's face is a reflection of the talent, services, and knowledge he/she can provide.

So what does an artist do? I've seen many with bright, funky makeup, and I am drawn to them because their artistic abilities are very apparent. But then I see artists carrying very neutral looks with perhaps a small pop of colour, like a bright lipstick or eyeliner... this clean look shows they know how to create a flawless, everyday look, yet still show some personality.

So when I get ready for my events, I wonder, what look would attract the most trust from my customers? I guess it depends on the kind of look you want to create...but I am curious:
In general, when you approach a makeup counter, what look do YOU prefer on a makeup artist? What will make you trust them, and what makes you turn the other way?

Drop a line - I'd love to hear your feedback on this one!

Vasanti Event, Toronto, Dec 12th

My second Vasanti event was on Saturday at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Etobicoke. I was there from 2-4pm and was available for FREE makeup consultations and applications. Here's the look I put together using (mostly) Vasanti products:


Face:
MAC Studio Fix - C40
Vasanti Blush - Andes
Eyes:
Primer - MAC Paint Pot - Soft Ochre
Base - Vasanti Eyeshadow - Parish
Crease - Vasanti Eyeshadow - Dublin
Outer Corner & Crease - Vasanti Eyeshadow - Brasov
Browbone - Vasanti Eyeshadow - White Gold
Liner - MAC Graph Black
Mascara - Vasanti Long Lash Mascara
Lips:
Lipstick - Aveda - Sheer Ivory Nut (remember my post about it?)
Lipgloss - Vasanti Lipshine - Bali

Some pics from the event:

Makeup Artist Monika Kozuch using Lise Watier product.

SDM Cosmetician Christine.

Myself with SDM Cosmetician Corey Costello.

The ladies working at SDM 825 (Rathburn & The East Mall) are absolutely FAB! If you live in the area, stop by for expert advice on products and makeup application!

Here are the details for my next Vasanti Event:
Date - Saturday, December 19
Time - 1-4pm
Location - Shoppers Drug Mart @ 7700 Markham Rd (at Ninth Line), Markham ON

If you are in the area stop by for some tips and touchups! :)

See you there!

Behind the Scenes: Lusso Magazine Fashion Show

I need to begin by saying that Toronto Makeup Artist, Farah, is the nicest, sweetest person ever!! :)
I started reading her blog a few months ago (while I was considering writing a blog of my own) and now I am hooked! She is extremely knowledgeable, super talented, and very creative with her posts...check her out!

I was lucky enough to not only meet her in person, but also work with herself and Iris Lui on a Fashion Show last Thursday...here's how it all went down:
Farah and I originally connected through Twitter, and then moved on to email, where it was revealed that I live in Ajax. It just so happened that Farah was going to be the head makeup artist the next day at a fashion show for Lusso Magazine, and it was occurring at the BMW Dealership in Ajax (a fashion show in Ajax???? I know!!) . Sooooo she invited me to jump on board and help her out. I obviously did not turn down the awesome opportunity!

When I arrived at the dealership, I was a little taken aback by all the hot people (courtesy of Orange Model Management)...I wasn't sure what to expect which made me a tad nervous...but Farah's smiling welcome calmed all the nerves and made me feel very "at-home". Within minutes of arriving, I was setting up my station and working on my first model!

The look was a very clean eye with dark liner on the bottom, a clean face with only a bit of contour, and a nude lip. Here's my first model, Roxanne:


And my second model Ling (who, by the way, is probably the cutest person ever!):


Here is a shot of all the models after hair and makeup...don't they look fab??:

And here they are in action:

I am not sure if we'll get the professional shots, but if we do, I'll definitely share them with you! This was such a great experience! Being backstage was just like it is on TV - models half dressed with boobs and buttocks' everywhere, last-minute hairspray and pinups, 30-second makeup applications in the dark (the 2nd look was a dash of fuchsia eye shadow on the lids), panic and frenzy to get the models dressed and on the runway...it was everything I ever imagined the backstage of a fashion show to be.

When all the models were done, we took the opportunity to grab a drink and join the party!

This is me posing with the lastest edition of Lusso magazine in which Farah is a contributing artist (read about it here):

The 3 makeup artists:

All in all it was a great night! I had the opportunity to meet Farah and Iris, two amazing artists, and work on my first fashion show! A great way to close off the year :)

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Neutral Look with the 88 Palette

3 posts in one evening, I'm on a roll here! I just forgot to tag this on to my last post...
I wanted to show a neutral, day-time, work-appropriate look I created this week using my 88 palette:
It was quick and easy - I just used a neutral MAC paint pot to prime my lids, a peachy-gold colour on the base, and a darker brown on the crease. I used a blending brush to smooth out the lines...and added black liner in the waterline to add intensity. I finished up with mascara, and voila! My eyes were popping for the entire day :)

Because the eyes weren't too intense, I went with a deeper pink lip than what I would normally do, just to add some colour on a cold, miserable winter day.

Okay it's getting late, I have to sleep. Will. Blog. Later.

Goodnight!!!

My Weekend, Part 3: MAC Haul

I guess I should finish blogging about the last weekend before the upcoming weekend starts...lol.

I was fortunate that my cousin Aanchal was able to get an extra ticket to the MAC sale last Sunday...so the day after my birthday night (luckily I wasn't hungover), we headed to Markham Fairgrounds, where the Estee Lauder/Clinique/MAC sale takes place. Three times a year, hundreds of women line up for hours (okay maybe not that long, but it sure feels like it when you're standing in line!) to get their hands on lip glasses, eye shadows, blushes, bronzers, perfumes etc. at heavily discounted prices. Of course most of the product is limited edition or discontinued, so you likely cannot purchase it again, but that doesn't stop the makeup artists and addicts from dropping some large coin on beauty products!

This was my 3rd MAC sale, and it just so happened that I spent the most $$ this time around. Ooooopsies...


Now it doesn't look like a lot...but that's because this is only half of it. I am choosing not to show the other stuff because it's full of gift sets that I'd rather show after I give out :)
I really tried to shop efficiently this time around. I am proud to say that I resisted the temptation to buy eyeshadows and clear/sheer glosses - they are typically what I am drawn and I already have too many to keep track of - I definitely do not need to add to that collection!
So I am happy to have picked up:
- 2 blushes
- 2 paint pots
- 1 nail polish
- 1 eyeshadow duo
- 1 eyeshad0w
- 8 coloured lip products
- 2 liquid highliters
...and a bunch of applicators and other supplies that I'll need for my artistry.

There is always a free gift at the end of the sale. Typically it's a mini set that would include a small brush, lip gloss, mascara or shadow...but this time it was a single Aveda listpick in Sheer Ivory Nut:

I was a little disappointed to see that the gift was just a lipstick rather than a set of products...but as soon as I opened it I was pleased to find that it is a perfect neutral nude colour. Lately I've been diggin' the nude lip with sheer lipgloss, so I was excited to try it out. As you can see, I've already worn this and I am very happy with it! I'll be writing about it soon (unfortunately I didn't have time to take pictures this morning).

And lastly, there is always a $5 gift you can purchase before leaving - proceeds go to cancer research. This time the gift was 2 bottles of MAC Finishing Mist, Fix+Rose:

I've always wanted to try this so I didn't hesitate to buy the two bottles for only $5 (considering they were selling mini bottles for $3 each inside the sale...I thought that was a deal at the time and picked up 3...oooops again).

So there you have it - another weekend, another dent in the wallet. I'm cracking down on myself now - I really do not need anymore makeup, so I am going to try really hard to say no and walk away when temptation hits. Let's see how it goes.

Upcoming posts:
- I still have to show off my new boots
- Lusso Magazine Fashion Show with Farah
- Next Vasanti Event
- Product Reviews!!!!
- Holiday Looks

My Weekend, Part 2: My First Vasanti Event

I've referenced "my first Vasanti" event in the last 2 posts...now I am finally writing about it :)
After completing my makeup artistry course with Kavita Suri, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to join the Vasanti team...so of course I jumped on it! Being on this team, I represent Vasanti Cosmetics at various Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall events across the GTA.

My first event took place last Saturday (Dec 5th) at the Clayhill SDM in Mississauga. The beauty department hosted a Christmas Gala where attendees paid a $10 entry and received a free makeup consultation. There was music, food, free basket and prize giveaways AND $5 redeemable towards any cosmetics purchase. All proceeds from this event went to the Look Good Feel Better Foundation, an amazing organization focused on helping women cope with cancer.

The event was a great success. I was there from 12-5pm with back-to-back appointments for makeup consultations for women of all ages and backgrounds. Here, I am working with Kavita Suri (left) in the Vasanti area:

And here I am working on Sarah - a woman of Indian decent looking for a fresh application that would wow her guests at a party she was hosting that night:

Unfortunately, with the back-to-back appointments, it was hard for me to take many photos, so I wasn't able to capture her final look. But I did manage to get one of Kim, another client who was on her way to a Christmas party that night. She wanted a smokey, but neutral look and was nice enough to let me take her photo afterward (and agreed to letting me post it online, of course!):

It was so much fun being able to take everything I have learned up to this point and really show people how to apply makeup to get the look they want. I am looking forward to my next event, which is tomorrow - Saturday, December 12th. I'll be at the Shoppers Drug Mart at 600 The East Mall (East Mall & Rathburn) from 2pm to 4pm. I if you are in the area, drop by to say 'hi' and take advantage of the free consultation!

My Weekend, Part 1: Intro to Photoshoot and Bday Goodies

Okay this week is shaping up to be busier than I thought...but it's all good - busy is better than boring, right? I am FINALLY getting around to writing about (most of) my wonderful weekend!

Thursday Night Photoshoot:
So I met Ken Yan in 2006 while we were enrolled in the HRM graduate program at Seneca College. I quickly found that Ken has an amazing talent in photography. You can join his Facebook FanPage and visit his website to see what I am talking about. We recently decided to collaborate on a shoot - I would do the makeup, and he the photography. The magic finally happend on Thursday night - we did a mini photoshoot in my house with two models - my cousin Aanchal and a family friend, Shruti. The pics are not ready for you to see yet, but I will have them shortly and will share the final products with you. I am super excited about this and cant wait to reveal the end product!!! Just hold tight, they'll be out soon :)

Birthday Fun:
You may also know that Friday was my birthday (yay)! I love birthdays - it's a special day when you and everyone around you can truly celebrate your existence. This year, I felt really good about turning 25. I have accomplished a lot in the past year and I am really excited to move forward in my journey!
I wanted to show you how awesome my friends and family are. I know it's not about the gifts (I would be totally okay *I think* if I didn't get any gifts at all)...but the people close to me really showed me how well they know me by presenting me with wonderful, thoughtful gifts. Here are some that you might be interested in:

1) A fabulous bright multi-colour bag from Coach's Poppy line (my sister really knows that I am drawn to bright, bold colours):

2) Along the same lines, a cute Coach wristlet in Ruby Red and the nail polishes that came with the Coach bag above (I am in desperate need of a nail polish application, I'll definitely be checking these out!):

3) In Makeup Artist Land, there is no such thing as too much eyeshadow...so I was very pleased to receive the Cargo Hands of Hope eye shadow palette - you better believe I'll be writing about this soon!:

4) Good to know that the people around me really are reading my blog :) My boss got me a trio of hand butters from Fruits and Passion (which are working like a charm) and I also got the BUTTER Duo to Go from Korres in Jasmine (smells so good!):

5) I am always looking for new techniques and methods of makeup application, so Jemma Kidd's book, Make-Up MasterClass was perfect!:

6) And just for fun, I will show you a fun cocktail ring I got from my cousin - she paired it with an amazing new jewellery box that I love!!:

I am very excited about these (and all the other) gifts I received. Not only because they are totally free goodies, but because they came from people that mean the world to me, and I am touched at the thoughtfulness behind each and every one of them! Thank you to all of you :)

My Birthday Look:
I celebrated my birthday on the Saturday night at a Toronto lounge called Samovar. I worked my first Vasanti event that same day (will write about that soon) and as a result, was running late...so I didn't get a chance to take pre-party pics. I had my cousin, Aanchal do my makeup. We were going for a really intense, dark, smokey eye with nude lips...




















I was also excited to wear what I call my huge-flower-necklace. The moment I saw it in The Bay I fell in love with it. For $30 (plus a 30% discount) I just had to buy it!

The night was a huge hit - good food, great company, tons of fun! Yayyyy for 25th birthdays, dark smokey makeup, huge flower necklaces, and double-fisting martinis!!!

Until next time...

- Anjali
xoxoxo

Yes, I'm still alive!

Oh boy, I've been a bad blogger. The chaos of the holiday season got the best of me last week, leaving me with no time to write. I'm relieved to say, however, that the rest of December will be less busy for me, so I'll have the opportunity to make up for lost posts.
Tonight will be short - I just wanted to let you all know that I am still alive and have plenty to blog about! Here's a taste of what I've been up to and will be writing about this week:

- Professional photo shoot with photographer Ken Yan - pictures to be posted soon!!!
- My 25th birthday was on Friday!!!! - I have the BEST friends and family :) Tons of new products to review!!!!
- My first Vasanti event at Shoppers Drug Mart in Mississauga
- Birthday party Saturday night :)
- MAC sale Sunday morning - I feel completely ashamed at my lack of self-control. How many birthday presents can you buy for yourself???
- New Boots from Browns

So as you can see, I've been pretty busy...but this week I'll have all the time to share my experiences, gifts, and purchases with you all! Hope everyone is doing fabulously well - stay tuned!!!

xoxoxo
- Anjali