Oh friends, do I have a treat for you today! This girl…seriously, YOU WILL LOVE! I’m a natural networker, so when I realized my old boarding school (yes…I went to boarding school) buddy, Darden, was married to a for real professional make-up artist who once upon a million years ago I actually met…I totally set out to meet her again. First I looked up her shop, Luxe Beauty Boutique, in Raleigh, and then facebook friended her to see if she might be willing to guest post on Life for Dessert. And when she said she would, and then Darden told me she’s also an artist/chef/multitasking DIY’er like myself…well, don’t you know I just had to call her?!
Fiquet and I were friends I think in about the first 5 seconds on the phone…which is good, because for that first convo we talked for an hour and a half. I called her this week to ask a “quick” question…and bam…another hour. She’s awesome. I just love awesome people! And she has some seriously amazing tips for how to look your best in the make-up department. She’s real and so is her advice about make-up. I’m so excited to try out these tricks and products. And because Fiquet (how cool is her name?! pronounced Fee-kay,) owns this fab-o shop Luxe, and has access to amazing products, she’s going to offer Life for Dessert readers 15% off of THE ENTIRE SITE through November 15th with the checkout code DESSERT. Hang in to the very end of this post too…she’s got a super awesome giveaway for you! Crud…now I’m giving away too much already…without further ado…I introduce you to my friend, Fiquet:
“I am a professional Makeup Artist & Beauty Boutique owner… but like you, life sometimes stands in my way. Sure we would all love “a team” of experts getting us ready each morning just like all of the celebrities that we read about in magazines but really, come on! Most of us are lucky to find five minutes to slap on a little makeup & run a brush through our hair on our way out of the door.
Over the past nine years, I have built a cosmetic business that is centered around the reality of women’s lives. When working with clients, I keep things simple. No five step eye shadow here!
Sure, there are times when an hour long makeup application and professional blow out are totally appropriate (i.e. anniversary dinner, high school reunion)but truth be told you can up your game on a daily basis with just a few simple items:
Tinted Moisturizer. Its a girls best friend. Look for formulas that offer some sun protection…talk about multi-tasking! Makeup, sunscreen and moisturizer in one! I particularly love Dennis Gross Skincare’s All in One Tinted Moisturizer. It dries to a matte finish and doesn’t need to be set with powder.
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| available at Luxe Beauty Boutique |
Waterproof Eyeliner: I have a thing for eyeliner. It was the first piece of makeup that I started experimenting with as a teenager & I just can’t shake it. When I am in a super hurry, I just line the upper rim of my lashes with a really pigmented, waterproof liner. This gives definition without looking too “done”. Its great for those days when you just want to look like you happen to be stunning but are way to cool to care. The trick is to apply it along the inside of the upper eyelid but not too close to the pink. “wet line” of the eye. Basically, you are pushing it into your lash line to fill the gaps between your lashes. It is the quickest way to fake really full lashes and who doesn’t want that?
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| available at Target |
Brow Powder: Full brows take years off of your appearance. Fill skimpy brows with brow powder using a stiff angled brush. Start at the arch, moving towards the end of brow in short little strokes. Lightly apply whatever powder is left on the brush along the rest of the brow. Do yourself a favor and find a great brow stylist. You wouldn’t walk in to some random place to have your haircut so don’t do it with your brows!
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| available at Luxe Beauty Boutique |
Lip & Cheek Stain: Several brands make these stains but I am totally in love with BECCA cosmetics’ Beach Tint. Its a long wearing lip & cheek stain that you can apply with your fingers. Just shake it up (it has some silicone in it so it can separate a bit) and apply the tiniest amount on to cheeks & lips. Its quick and really natural looking.
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available at Luxe Beauty Boutique  And last, as cliche as it may sound… Great Skin. This my friends, is the ultimate secret weapon. Makeup only looks as good as the skin it is on. If you don’t spend money on anything else, invest in the best skincare you can afford.If you are on a budget (who isn’t these days?) save on cleanser- there are plenty of decent ones at drugstores but invest in treatment items like creams & serums. I have problem skin. Seriously , my skin is from hell. Its super sensitive, dry and prone to breakouts all at the same time. Oh! And I’m in my mid thirties so there’s that whole fine lines and wrinkles business. Lucky me, huh? I am neurotic about my skin. I mean, over the top, crazy town, neurotic. I have tried everything under the sun and have stumbled upon the Holy Grail of skincare. Nia 24 Rapid Exfoliating Serum & Skin Strengthening Complex have saved my skin. My previously blotchy, bumpy skin is smooth & even these days. Hallelujah! “  |
Fiquet Bailey Swain
liveloveluxe.com
Yay Fiquet! I thought I wasn’t a total doof in the make-up department, but I have to be honest and say…the only one of those tips I knew was the one about where to put the eyeliner. I’m totally going to have to get some of this stuff and get to work on my face!
And some more awesomeness, Fiquet is giving away that Holy Grail of skincare that she mentioned…the Nia24 Rapid Exfoliating Complex and Skin Strengthening Complex (a $160 value.) There are several ways to enter to win. You’ll receive one entry for each action you take (and like always…leave a separate comment detailing each thing you do.) The contest will end at midnight on Tuesday November 1st. I’ll announce the winner on Wednesday the 3rd to give you a couple of days to tell your friends and to make sure you all have a chance to enter!
Mandatory Entry: Like Luxe Beauty Boutique on Facebook
Additional Entries:
- Follow the Luxe Beauty Boutique blog
- Like Life for Dessert on Facebook
- Subscribe to receive the Life for Dessert Feed
- Follow Life for Dessert via Google Friend Connect
If you loved Fiquet as much from your first meeting now as I did…check her out also on her blog Farmhouse to Home… where she chronicles her adventures into updating and making an amazing old Farmhouse that she and Darden bought into their home! She’s a sucker for a great renovation and DIY project like myself….I’m sure you’ll enjoy her adventures there too!
I liked Luxe Beauty on Facebook
And i finally figured out the google friend connect thing for LFD!
Thank you, Fiquet! As my skin ages, I am learning that you get what you pay for when it comes to cosmetics. I have fallen in love with fantastic eyeshadows and primers and eyeliners and lipgloss from boutiques and salons. In my mid-thirties, my skin has given me a reprieve from the acne of my teens and twenties, but now it’s very confused: do i have oily skin? dry? and wrinkles! and pimples, still?!? i have stuck with my $7 drugstore cleanser for years, afraid to try anything new because it’s all so overwhelming and afraid I will freak my skin out with something new. Thanks for the advice! It’s nice to have someone in the know do the leg work!
Love finding new and great makeup tips!! Thanks so much! Liked on FB!
Liked LFD on FB!
Subscribed for feed 🙂
follower!
I liked Luxe on FB!
awesome! i officially ‘like’ luxe now : )
YAY! I have heard awesome things about NIA- I hope, hope, hope I win. Just Liked her Facebook page!
liked them on FB.
but mostly came by to say HIIIIIIIII and I miss you already, sweet girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!