The Life of A Ladybug

The 5 Minute Face

I am a huge fan of What Not to Wear and an even huger fan of Carmindy (if that's possible), the WNTW make-up artist.  What I love about Carmindy is that she never talks the women into following the trends or gives them overly complicated looks that they couldn't possibly recreate at home.  Carmindy, instead, takes only a few products and, in 5 minutes, shows the client how to look vibrant, fresh, and pretty, while still looking like herself and not like a caked-on, hardened, wax figure-like version of the woman she used to be.

When I heard that Carmindy had written a book detailing her "5 Minute Face" technique, I knew I would have to get it.  It arrived yesterday.  What I like is that the book is a really quick read.  Carmindy breaks down the individual steps she uses to achieve the 5 Minute Face.  The process is simple and accessible to any woman.  Carmindy even offers suggestions in the back of the book for what products you can use to achieve the 5 Minute Face - she suggests products at both the higher and lower end of the price spectrum.  She also suggests products for different hair colors and skin tones.

Today, I used her 5 Minute Face technique when applying my own make-up and I am pleased with the result.  I feel that our philosophies mesh closely - I really identify with artists like Carmindy and Bobbi Brown, those artists that teach women to value their own unique beauty without trying desperately to become someone else.

To achieve my 5 Minute Face for today, here are the steps and products that I used:

1. Using a sponge that I spritzed with Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Moisture Mist, I applied MAC Studio Mist Foundation in Dark.  I sprayed the foundation on the back of my hand and then dipped the sponde into it.  I applied the foundation lightly, going across my skin with little crescent-shaped swipes.
2. Using my ring finger, I applied MAC Studio Fix Concealer Palette in Dark - the lightest shade (which I believe is NC35) - to my under eye area.  I then applied the medium shade (NC45) to any redness and blemishes.  I made sure to tap lightly with my finger to blend the concealer.
3. Using a large powder brush, I brushed MAC Blot Powder in Dark down my nose, across my cheeks, the tip of my chin and my eyelids.  Apply only the sheerest amount and Carmindy suggests that you only apply the powder to the areas I mentioned - don't sweep the powder across your entire face - it doesn't look as modern.
4. I used Sephora Eyes Pencil in Flesh as a highlight under my brows and on my tear duct.  I blended gently with my ring finger.
5. I applied Black Radiance Velvet & Glow in the golden shade (cream highlighter) to my cheekbones and blended with my finger.
6. Using a blush brush, I applied KLS blush in Coral Reef to the apples of my cheeks and blended up toward my hairline.
7. I smudged MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy into my upper lash lines and followed with two coats of DiorShow mascara on my top lashes.
8. After applying Chap Stick, I slicked on KLS Sheer Lipstick in Peony and topped it with DuWop Elixrstix in Serenity.

All done!  It truly did take five minutes and I feel freshly pretty and not overly made up. 

If what you like is for your make-up to make you look like "you only better" or if you're not sure what make-up would look best on you or how to apply it to play up your already beautiful features, this is the book for you!

I vant to drink your blood!

Okay, I don't want to, but Lestat does.  Don't tell me you don't know who Lestat is ... he of Interview With The Vampire fame, among others.  Have I ever shared how much I love Anne Rice's books?  Is there anything sexier than a vampire?  Seriously.  Okay, not a literal vampire - not some freak show who's roaming around after dark really thinking that they're some sort of apparition or immortal.  More like a literary vampire.  All the best vampire books are about sensuality and eroticism more than anything else, don't you think?

I've always had a thing about vampires ... books and movies.  And the sexiest of them all is Lestat.  Lestat de Lioncourt ... who was played so well by Stuart Townsend ... and so badly by Tom Cruise.  I mean, for real ... does Tom Cruise look anything like a 6', French, bisexual vampire to you?  Okay, maybe the bisexual part, but the rest of it?  No, indeed.  There is nothing smolderingly sexy about Cruise.  But that Stuart Townsend ... now that was a Lestat to occupy your dreams.  Granted, Queen of the Damned was an awful movie (Aaliyah notwithstanding ... pretty girl, bad actress), but Stuart was the high point.  I hope TPTB consider making more Lestat movies, starring Mr. Townsend.  He and Charlize Theron make an impossibly good-looking couple - much better than Brad and Angelina, if you ask me.

Where was I?  Oh, yes.  Fictional vampires ... yum.