The Reconstructionista: products

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Wednesday, February 11, 2015

My January: Resolutions Met, Favorites, etc...

January has come and gone so quickly....

Resolutions Met So Far:

1) I passed my Esthetician Licensing Exams!!!! I'm just waiting for my License to come in Soon. That was the most stressful and gratifying experience all at the same time...

2) I've been taking better care of my skin through some of the skincare treatments down below, as well as trying out a few classes of yoga and still trying to drink more water...

3) Books, Reading and Relaxing......

January Favorites:

I promised myself to start off the year that I would definitely use more sunscreen... I use it everyday and yes I use it even on overcast days because even though the sun is not out the rays are still there...

Coola Mineral Sunscreen Unscented Matte Tint SPF 30:

*Organic Suncare

-Antioxidant infused mineral matte tint

-Line smoothing

-Fights Aging

*Organic Ingredients:

-Rosehip Oil

-Vitamin C

-Evening Primrose

-Flaxseed Oils = Omega 3 and Gamma Linoleic Acid - Improves elasticity and retains moisture

*phyto-protector Plankton Extract - Skin Rejuvenator

Loves:

-I love the texture... it feels like the texture of Benefit's Porefessional Primer

-There is no sunscreen fragrance to it

- It makes my makeup go on so smooth

- That it's really great to my skin

-I love that it comes in a pump

Misses:

- I wish it was a little more like a tinted moisturizer in that I wish it had more coverage

Coola Sport Unscented Sunscreen Spray:

*Certified Organic Sunscreen Spray

*70%+ certified organic inactives

-Ultrasheer

*Farm to Face Sourced

*Organic Ingredients:

-Cucumber

-Algae

-Strawberry Extracts

-Red Raspberry Seed Oil - Omega 3 and 6

Loves:

- It's not greasy

- Cooling to the skin

- Absorbs quickly

Misses:

- I feel like there is a lot of waste of product due to it being a spray

- They say to put it on 15 minutes before sun exposure... meaning that I put it on in the bathroom making sure that I put towels down on the floor because if I didn't.... Someone being me or my significant other would be a victim of the Darwin Awards

Neal's Yard Remedies Rehydrating Rose Daily Moisturizer:

-softens and replenishes

-for normal and dehydrated skin

-hydrating 'Hundred Petalled' rose extract and damask rose oil soften, smooth and help restore skin's natural radiance

-easily absorbed

-antioxidant rich

*95% Organic

Loves:

- I love the way this moisturizer feels

- Love the moisture it provides for my skin

- Helps with the radiance in my sometimes dull and dry skin

- My makeup works well with it

-The formula is beautiful

* If you don't like the scent of Roses or Rose Water... you may not enjoy this, but the fragrance doesn't last long*

Freeman Charcoal and Black Sugar Polishing Mask:

*Dual-Action Purifying Mask

*Double Detox

*Charcoal absorbs oil without drying out skin

*Black Sugar Exfoliates

Loves:

- The scent is yummy and unisex

-The warming sensation is awesome

- Makes my skin look and feel amazing

- It's a multitasking mask

Misses:

- I just wish that it went on like a full mask....

I like to look like I painted myself like Krippendorfs Tribe when I put a mask on

Tarte 12hr - Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15:

-oil free

-buildable coverage

-satin-matte finish

-improves skin clarity and texture

-vegan friendly

*Vitamin A - retains moisture and protects against free radical damage

*Vitamin E - natural preservative, anti-inflammatory, emollient and antioxidant

*Amazonian Clay- for long wear

Loves:

- Like the scent

-Love the coverage - it's buildable

- Love the packaging because it's a squeeze tube and it has a side window to show how much product is left.

- Highly Pigmented

Tarte Lights, Cameras, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara:

-Lengthening

-Curling

-Volumizing

-Conditioning

-Dermatologist and Clinically Tested

-Vegan

*infused with olive esters to protect and nourish lashes

Loves:

- Formula is awesome.... it's not too wet or too dry

- Lengthens and Thickens with every coat without clumping

- Love the way the packaging feels in my hands

Misses:

- The packaging only because it's not practical

Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder:

- 5 hour shine control

-Natural Minerals

Loves:

- I use this to set my foundation and concealer and it works so well

- Lives up to it's 5 hour shine control

- Doesn't just sit on top of my skin

Misses:

- The packaging it not my favorite.... I wish it had more durable packaging because when I travel my bag can sometimes take a beating and the plastic can crack

L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealers:

-multipurpose

-blend incredibly

Loves:

- I love these for contouring and highlighting

- Ultra Blendable

- Work well when I layer powder product on top to set them

- So easy to use

Misses:

- I just don't like this as concealer for me because when used in the undereye area it's very dry and creases

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette:

-Matte

-Neutral

-Silky Formulation

-Multitasker

*Shades:

-Venus (off white demi matte)

-Foxy (cream bisque matte)

-Walk of Shame (light nude matte)

-Naked 2 (taupe matte)

-Faint (warm, dusty brown matte)

-Crave (deep brown/black matte)

Loves:

-This is my ultimate Holy Grail palette

-I use it to fill in my brows

- Can do a quick and easy pinup look, smokey eye, or just a wash of color

-Silky application

-Easiest matte shadows for me to blend

-Love the packaging for travel

Misses:

-My packaging is peeling from constantly carrying it with me

Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Naked:

-multitasker

-bronzer

-highlighter

-blush

Loves:

- Multitasking palette so that I don't have to keep a ton of single package products

- the bronzer, highlighter and blush work so well for my skin coloring

- I always pack this because it pairs well with the Naked Basics palette

-I can use these also as eyeshadows

-Great packaging

Tokyomilk/Dark- Tainted Love # 62

-Dark Vanilla Bean

-Orchid

-White Tea

-Sandalwood

This is my signature scent... I love it in the Fall especially.... My go to... I fell in love with this fragrance when I got a trial package of Tokyomilk products.... The Lip Elixers are Awesome and I really LOVE the hand creams...

So last year I started the Buzzfeed Rory Gilmore Book Challenge :

The best part of doing this book challenge is the Adventure of finding the books themselves...

I've been going to all sorts of thrift stores and finding some Awesome deals....

These are my January Purchases:

Favorite Book of January:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

#226 on the Rory Gilmore Book List

- This book was a quick and amazing read... I loved how each of the characters are so relatable and the sincerity and honesty.... There was also an incredible soundtrack to the book... that if you wanted to you could make a playlist and hear what he's listening to and what he loves about each song...

"And in that moment I swear we were infinite."

I've never seen the film so I didn't have any expectations on how the characters should be or looked... and I don't know if I want to see it....

Heather

Sunday, July 6, 2014

What's in my Tackle Box!!!!

Some people would say that an artist is only as good as the tools he/she uses.... an artists kit is like a world in and of it's self..... they are built.....created even....

I thought I'd let people get a peek inside of mine....

I've had this tackle box since I was 9 years old (my Uncle Donzer gave me this ). I used this all through out my art school years.... I've pretty much carried this around for a long time.... I treat it like my own personal treasure chest..... It holds a lot of the tools I use to draw in my sketchbooks, sketchpads, making my screens and print blocks.....

Graphite Sticks: I love these better than regular pencils because you get a gesture a lot quicker...and being able to shade a lot faster..... and you don't have to sharpen them.... you just change the angle that you're holding it....

Charcoal Sticks: Charcoal is not my favorite to use.... it has a chalky texture that makes me prefer graphite, but it's a cheaper alternative to using graphite and instead of using mineral spirits to blend and "paint" with... You can use a chamois cloth to blend or you can use water....

Tortillon: Paper blenders that you can use with charcoal, graphite and pastels to create subtle tones.

Blending Stumps: These are a lot more sturdy than totillon blenders..... I like using these more with graphite because I can put more pressure on them.....

Erasers: I have so many types..... typical pink erasers that you can use to erase, add highlights etc.... kneaded erasers... you can mold these in to whatever shape you need for highlighting... I prefer this with graphite.....Plastic erasers... I use these mostly for clean up or correction as I go.... Gum Erasers... I use these at the very end of drawings to clean up all of the residue that I don't want....

Sharpeners: I go through a lot of these.... because I lose them more often than not.....The large one has 2 types of sharpeners: wide and narrow..... the bullet shaped one is the one I generally carry around in my bag because it doesn't take up much space..... and the smallest one is a classic sharpener that you can get with any starter set.... I only use this one at home because there is no container to catch the shavings....

Prismacolor Color Pencils: These are soft core pencils that I use for sketching..... These are light and muted colors that I can layer and correct without letting me use an eraser.... I have perfectionist issues so when I don't allow myself to have an eraser.... I can just correct with layering darker colors as I go...

Fine Point Sharpie Pens: I use these for outlining or if I want to practice with pen and ink drawing....

Rapidograph Pens: These are what I use for technical drawings, pen and ink renderings and more... they come with different size tips.... these are super expensive... but you can get different color inks to put in the reservoir.... but they are high maintenance.... you have to make sure you clean them or the ink will dry and clog the tips.....

Pigma Micron Pens: these are versatile pens.... use them for illustration, hand lettering, and more.... they come in colors and plain black packs.... with different size tips.... these are a cheaper alternative to the rapidograph pens....

Pastel Pencils: These I use if I want to add color to a monochromatic drawing....

Charcoal Pencils: These come in different grades from the softest to the hardest.... I prefer these to the sticks because I don't actually have to touch the charcoal itself..... if I'm going to work in charcoal I prefer these....

Water-Soluble Graphite Sticks and Pencils: I love these for sketching because you can use a brush and water to blend.... creating a monochromatic water color....

Graphite Pencils in H and B: graphite pencils come in grades from you harder H pencils that you can use for technical drawing, line work and detailing to the softer B pencils that you can use for layering, shading and blending.... I have both.... although I prefer the B pencils

Basic Carving tools: I use these when I create my wood blocks... using them for the detailing.... I need some with the awesome ergonomic handles, but these are good if you're just starting out.... and yes they are super sharp....

Gouges: I use these when I carve my wood blocks... I can take out huge chunks at a time when I use these with a hammer.... I have beautiful scars on my hands from a good slip with these.....these are very sharp....

Linocut tools: These are simple lino cut multi tip tools..... I use these on my lino blocks or moo blocks to carve out....

Ebony Pencils: I use these to get the blackest black and I use these for layouts..... most awesome pencils ever.... I go through these a lot....

Watercolors: This palette was my favorite investment.....you can tell that it's well-loved..... I use these in my sketchbooks and when I do large multimedia drawings...... these with Arches Watercolor papers are Amazeballs.....

Prismacolor Soft Core Pencils and Verithin Pencils: I love Prismacolor color pencils..... these are an investment...... the pigment quality is amazing and the textures that you can get from both of these are ideal for drawings.... these are super versatile.... invest in the blenders and it's another way to "paint"...

Watercolor Pencils: these are not my favorite watercolor pencils, but these are great if you're just starting out these are pretty awesome..... you get all of the familiarity of color pencils, but add water and you can do some awesome line and wash drawings...

Building a kit is not cheap.... I've built mine over time... and these are the tools I keep I like to have around at all times...... Each tool holds different possibilities and endless ones at that....

I do have other kits, but this is my main one....

My Tips for Building a Kit:

1) Start with the basics: Graphite and Charcoal products, Erasers, Blenders, Chamois....

2) As you build your skills.... add on to your kit...: work your way up to different tools....

3) Go back to what you know from childhood..... Endless Possibilities......

Heather

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Building a Pro Kit.....on a Budget...

Makeup Artistry, like any artform, requires special tools and products......

Building a pro-kit is not cheap, but it can be done on a budget.....

I've built one before when I first started doing makeup on clients last year, but now I'm starting over and it's that time again....

Tips:

*Research every product....Not all brushes are equal, not all brands are going to give you the same desired effect( Bridal, Special Events, HD, etc.), Sanitation products for all products are important and skincare that suits a lot of different skin types. It's crucial for you to be knowledgeable and make educated decisions vs. "This looks cool, I'll get it!" (Sometimes this works out, but you waste a lot of money when it doesn't)

*Value Sets: These help you to get a lot of products at once, help you try many types of products and who doesn't love a good value..... Most companies have these types of sets....You can find them at Ulta, Sephora, and the Brand Sites themselves....

*Palettes vs. Singles: Palettes are my favorite way to get more bang for my buck.... Palettes are better for travel because the packaging allows for better storage... Singles take up so much space, they are more likely to break when traveling vs. most palettes...

Examples: *Urban Decay Naked Palettes: Basic (has many of the matte colors you will need), 1,2,and 3 are perfect because they are versatile.

*BH Cosmetics has great deals on eyeshadow palettes, blush palettes, and even foundation palettes

*Coastal Scents, like BH Cosmetics, has similar products that are affordable and the pigment payoff is awesome.

*BOGO deals: I've gotten great deals on my brushes this way.... Nice brushes can be expensive, but BOGO deals really help me out when building my kit....

Example: Real Techniques Brushes come in singles or you can buy the starter sets.... Ulta is really great about having BOGO's that include the sets so you can save up to $20 or more...

* You can also get great makeup products this way: Ulta, CVS, Walgreens.

*Utilize local beauty stores: I get the best deals on lashes for my kit this way. Unlike the bigger stores like Sally's, CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid the selection for lashes can be somewhat limited. I recently shopped at a local store and got great deals on 100% human hair lashes, both strips and individuals. They also tend to keep specialty lashes like the Kiss Lash Dress( seen in the pic) on hand.

*Check the Clearance: Beauty stores always have a clearance section. Certain styles of lashes go out of season (Halloween) or Collections get discontinued or Makeup gets Repackaged. I recently went to Sally's and found the Cirque de Soleil Collection on sale for less than $2 and I know they are extreme, but to have on hand for conceptual makeups they are awesome.

*Outlet Stores: TJ Maxx is one of those stores that I tend to have decent luck finding tools. I've found so many great brands of brushes, beauty blenders there and sometimes you'll find eyeshadow palettes from brands like E.L.F. that are great for practice.