Cute Makeup Tips

Don't you just hate it when your favourite lipstick is almost done and you're left scraping at the bottom with your lip brush (or for some their fingers). Truth be told, I've actually never finished a tube of lipstick but I'm sure many of you have. 

Many makeup artists I know use lip palettes or chop up their lipsticks and squish into a palette to save space in their kit. I on the other hand am a packaging fiend. I love to keep lipsticks in their original tube especially if it has lovely packaging. I'm weird that way.

I thought it was about time to lighten my load and chop up some lipsticks! The Japonesque Lipstick Palette Kit ($18 USD) is more for personal use as it can only hold 8 lipsticks and the actual square itself is pretty small. It's a great way to get some extra mileage out of your favourite lipsticks that are nearly done or for creating custom shades that you can carry with you at all times. 

I found this kit pretty useful. The lipsticks that went under the chopping block are from lipsticks I rarely reach for but that might still come in handy on a job. The kit comes with a little silicone bowl and a spatula for digging out product and mixing. Once you have chopped up your lipstick (width should be about the same distance from the tip of your finger to the cuticle) into the bowl, place in the microwave for 1 minute. I found lipsticks that weren't sheer, took an additional 30 seconds to melt but microwave settings vary. I suggest keeping your palette near the microwave so you can pour it into the palette right away. I found the lipsticks would cool pretty quickly leaving some product in the bowl. For easy pouring, the silicone material of the bowl allows you to squeeze it into a spout. 

At around the 4th or 5th lipstick the bowl can get a tad hot so hold with a small cloth. You can skip melting the lipsticks if you prefer just smushing it in the palette but it looks a lot neater when melted. I tried both and definitely prefer the look of the melted lipsticks. With just a few easy steps, you've created your custom palette! The palette also comes with a mirror and lip brush so you can apply your lipstick anywhere. Keep in mind, lip palettes can get a little icky - lint, hair, and other disgusting random particles so be sure to clean it frequently. I usually spray with a sanitizing spray and scrape with my spatula. You can use one from Beauty So Clean or just plain old rubbing alcohol.

If you're one of those women who carry at least 5 different lipsticks in your purse, you might want to check out this palette. No more digging at the bottom of your purse for a lipstick!

Have you tried this lip palette? Love it? Hate it? Want it?

IMATS Toronto is on the lips of every makeup professional and beauty lover right now. It is the one place to try new products from a myriad of brands and it's full of great deals to help take some of the sting out of (re)stocking your kit. I thought it would be fitting to feature some new favourite kit essentials I received over the summertime.

OCC Lip Tar in Memento ($12.50 USD): Makeup Junkie has featured these highly pigmented lip glosses before and gave these lovelies rave reviews! You can be sure OCC will be at IMATS Toronto this weekend so stop by and see their new shades and new vegan brushes. I received Memento back in the summer and it has become a bridal favourite. 

Memento is a beautiful pink with plum undertones and was created by celebrity makeup artist, Victoria Stiles. The full colour and long-lasting finish make this an essential for an all day event like a wedding. When you first apply it, the texture is like a creamy gloss but then dries to almost a stain. It's not as drying as a matte lipstick but after a while it can dry out lips and enhance fine lines. It looks fabulous with a shimmery or clear gloss over top and takes away that dry feeling. If you don't want a shiny finish, dab a non-glossy lip balm onto the lips. Oh, and I can't stress enough that a LITTLE, literally a tiny dab, goes a long way! 

This is a makeup artist kit essential for the above reasons and because you can mix and customize the shades to your needs. The small, squeeze tube packaging doesn't take up a lot of space and is easy to transport. To read a full review, click here.

Japonesque Precision Lash Curler ($12 USD): Besides good skincare, having the right tools is at the top of my beauty essential list. With the exception of lashes that are naturally curly, I can't believe how many women out there DON'T use an eyelash curler. 

I carry 2 lash curlers in my kit - my trusted Shu Uemura for the whole eye and a smaller one from Japonesque. I used to have a precision lash curler from Sephora but the pad was always falling out. Thanks to the non-slip silicone pad from Japonesque I don't have that problem anymore! I love using a smaller one to accentuate certain areas of the lash like on the outer for a flirty effect or in the center to make the eyes pop. All your lash needs is one single squeeze to get lift and curl. Small curlers are also handy for getting at the harder to reach lashes. The curler is made out of a durable plastic that is light-weight and doesn't bog down your kit.

Japonesque Pro Set Bag ($29.95 USD): I received this bag back in September just in time for TIFF. I ended up using the bag but only for transporting my brushes. I didn't do many touch-ups on set so I didn't really get to test out it's full potential. 

This set bag has so many great qualities. Here is what I loved about the bag: 

What I didn't love: 

All in all, the bag is wonderful if you need to transport your items for a smaller job or to use in addition with your bigger makeup kit. 

What are your kit or makeup bag essentials? Have you tried any of these products? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Want 'em? 

All products can be purchased at www.lecosmetique.com.