mosaic makeup!

i will always have a soft spot for mosaic makeup.

pictured is: givenchy prismissme in 31 skin fusion, 3 shades of nyc cosmetics color wheel mosaic eye powder, and the brush company tickled pink kabuki brush.

i love mosaic makeup because it is:
a. esthetically pleasing (seeing complementing shades grouped together makes me smile)

b. versatile. you can either mix the colors (like with your kabuki brush!) or wear them individually (making them great for travel).

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ultimate green guide.

eco-friendly beauty is coming out of the woodwork for april aka "earth month". mlm has your guide for where you can get your green on.



brushes and tools: ecotools makes a full line of makeup brushes with bamboo handles and cruelty-free bristles. they also have wide array of shower accessories (loofahs and sponges) made from natural materials. green bonus? their prices are very wallet friendly. $2.99-7.99 per brush.

hair: tela beauty organics by philip pelusi, is a salon-quality line that follows the certified organic fold. this line is just being released, i believe next week. i got a little preview of the shampoo and conditioner and i have been using them for about a week. i'm quite pleased, my hair has been drying naturally and still looking styled. $50 a piece at barney's (in stores and online) and at the tela design studio in the meatpacking district (which, from what i hear, is a heavenly place to visit. the salon, not the meatpacking district.).



skincare: pangea organics challenges the notion that organic skincare isn't hip. they offer sophisticated scents like egyptian fennel with rosemary & mint cream. their earth-friendly packaging is sleek, chic, and the outer part can be planted in the earth to grow into an organic plant such as sweet basil or amaranth (i love this idea. i wish all my packaging turned into plants). prices range, but the aforementioned cream is $31.

burt's bees has a devoted following to natural products. they started out making beeswax products, but they now offer a large and commendable facial care line in simple, earth friendly packaging. their anti-aging serum is $25.

body care: chillessence makes safer, natural soaps, body washes, and lotions. the mediterranean-inspired fragrance of many of their products sounds like the perfect summer accent. $12.99-$25.99 per product.



makeup/color: afterglow cosmetics is a mineral makeup line with high pigment colors. all of their makeup is certified organic. i've used their loose bronzer; it brings the glow. prices vary by product but bronzer is $18.

now that you have the 411, go green, beauties!

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mlm faux-cation 2008! (billy b brush set)

let me just say, its a good thing i'm still in my living room and not on some actual vacation, because i forgot to "pack" my billy b essential collection brush set along with my makeup bags two posts ago. this a full, professional brush set that conveniently rolls up inside a black canvas to fit in my fist. it would absolutely be coming with me, if i was going somewhere.



i love the little angles you can get with brushes 10-12. however, the lip brush may take home the prize, it is retractable, soft, and overall fabulous.

if you aren't yet acquainted with billy b, he is a celebrity makeup artist who has made up everyone from beyonce to sandra bullock. his work graces marie claire covers as well as missy eliot videos. he is also a seasoned presenter at "the makeup show". and now he has his own brush line, which is to die for.

entire set $159, however billy b brushes are also available individually, ranging from $18-$37.50. all at billybbeauty.com

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mac heirlooms collection review.

MAC cosmetics' holiday brush sets, this year called heirlooms, are one of the best values of the year. i have used the holiday brushes as a way to build my brush collection for last few years. the brushes are travel-sized, but not only do you get four or five well-made brushes, each year they also release a new carrying case that comes with the brushes.


heirlooms includes three different sets:
• basic brushes (5 brushes)
• face brushes (4 brushes)
• eye brushes (5 brushes)


the basic brushes are available either in the collection's signature clutch bag (shown above), or in a scintillating python print canister. the other two collections are only available in the clutch - making a total of four different brush set offerings. MAC makes beautiful eye brushes, however, my favorite MAC eye brush (#266!) is part of the basic brush set and not the eye set. keep that in mind when making your decisions!


heirlooms is currently available online or at your local MAC counter.

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