New Facebook Page and Giveaway (yes, already)!!!

Hey Dollface,

I am excited to say that I have brought my Make-up and Beauty (inside and out) blogging expertise to Facebook. Yep!!! I have created a facebook page to try and reach more of you guys, so go to Facebook and fan me at: Enhanced Beauty Makeup by Lydia

Coming very soon I will be posted a riddle for those who have become a fan of the page to respond and I will send the fan with the correct answer a LORAC Mini Mocktail set of six glosses valued at $67!!!
Much, Much Love!!

The Best Drugstore Alternatives to Pricey Cosmetics by Kaboodle.com

Okay my beauties,

I am well aware that we all cannot afford some of the more pricey beauty brands out there, especially my little teenage beauties. Right? Well that us why I am known as Lyd the Discount Diva!! So that is why I am bringing to you some of the best drugstore alternatives that I try or I hear about out here in the beauty product world!! Enjoy and shop well! See below:

High-quality cosmetics don’t have to come from a department store. These days you can find some of the best makeup at your local drugstore. However, quality can be hit-or-miss so the secret is to know which items are worth purchasing. Here are a few low-priced finds that are as good as their high-end counterparts.


Magical Mascara

We were amazed with the results when we first tried L’Oreal’s Double Extend mascara ($11 at Target). The two-sided tube contains both mascara and primer, which dramatically enhances both the length and volume of lashes. Our tip: Apply primer, wait a few seconds, and follow with mascara before the primer dries. Complete one eye before starting the other.

Superb Skincare

Department store skincare can run into the hundreds of dollars for a simple moisturizer! However, studies have shown that pricy products are often not worth the cost. For basic cleaning and moisturizing, you can’t do better than Cetaphil cleanser and Olay Complete moisturizer ($12 and $9 from drugstore.com). Cetaphil is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skins and Olay is oil-free and contains SPF to help prevent wrinkles from sun exposure. Fun fact: The majority of visible signs of aging are a result of environmental, not genetic, factors, so make sure you wear always sunscreen! That's not to say you can't have a sun-kissed glow the natural and safe way. Check out the best skin protectors and bronzers!

Fabulous Foundation

We first tried L’Oreal True Match foundation ($9 from WalMart) based on burlesque star Dita Von Teese’s recommendation on Twitter. It turned out we loved the light, buildable coverage too. And, with 24 different shades in three undertones (cool, warm, and neutral), you’re sure to find a perfect match for your skin. Our tip: Apply foundation with your fingertips and then follow by buffing your skin with a powder brush for a flawless finish.

Thanks for visiting,

Enhanced Beauty Makeup by Lydia

Essence Readers Choice Awards from 2007

So I was looking through some old magazines and found that Essence magazine had done a couple of pages spread on beauty products that readers told them they could not live without!! The magazine spread was called " The Essence Readers Choice Beauty Awards" and it was in the April 2007 issue. Well I kept that magazine spread because I love to either clip out or keep good articles I find in magazines that highlights great beauty products like make-up or skincare buys. Or even how to accomplish a look that was in the magazine.

So anyways I just wanted to revisit some of the items in that spread, because it was some good stuff that was affordable and I just have to share!! Thanks Essence, one day I will have to re-subscribe!

so in April 2007 Essence Readers chose the following:

Concealer:

winner: Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit ($35, Bobbi Brown Makeup counters nationwide). "...both a base and a setting powder,...covers dark spots, under-eye circles and blemishes."

runner up was Black Radiance Concealer Stick ($2, drugstores). So inexpensive I gotta check it out!

Foundation:

winner: M.A.C Studio Fix Foundation ($25, M.A.C stores nationwide)."...smooth texture, powder finish and diverse color selection."

runner up was Prescriptives Custom Blend Foundation ($62, Saks Fifth Avenue).

Powder:

winner: Black Opal Oil Absorbing Pressed Powder ($9, drugstores). "...surefire shine solution." Since I have oily skin I gravitate to anything that says oil and absorbing, especially in the summer!!

Blush:

winner: Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick ($38, Saks Fifth Avenue). "...cleverly combines complementary blush tones with a hint of shimmer for an instant glow..."

runner up was Iman Blushing Powder Duo ($10, Walgreens)

Eyeshadow:

winner: L'Oreal HIP Shocking Pigments ($15 DRUGSTORES). "...bold, beautiful shades pop on darker skin tone." Okay definitely still one of my favorite eye-shadows, like I would love to collect them all!!!

runner up was Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow ($6, drugstores)

Eyeliner:

winner: Wet 'N Wild Eyeliner Pencil in Charcoal ($1, drugstores). "...beauty bag staple." I own this and wear it almost everyday and it does last. BTW I know you all have heard of the brand, extremely affordable!!

Mascara:

winner: Maybelline Great Lash Mascara ($6, drugstores)."...long, lush lashes, time after time." Well no surprise here, why? Because Maybelline has is always a leader in quality mascaras!!

runner up was Cover Girl Lash Exact Mascara ( $7, drugstores).

Gloss:

winner: M.A.C Lipglass ($14, M.A.C stores nationwide) "... shine factor, especially in Oh Baby, and earthy brown shimmer." That is too weird, no surprises here and still going strong. Every brown girl must wear M.A.C Oh Baby, what are the odds!!!

runner up was Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Lipgloss ($7, victoriassecret.com)

Lipstick:

winner: Clinique Colour Surge Lipstick in Pure Posh ($14, Macy's) "...offers the look of a lipstick but glides on like a gloss." Wow!! That sound exciting, I don't wear lipstick but I may have to check out this one!!

runner up was MK Signature Creme Lipstick in Downtown Brown ($13, marykay.com)

Finally I want to mention some of the Readers Favorite Skincare products:

Cleanser:

winner: Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Cleanser ( $9, drugstores). " ...gentle exfoliating beads in this facial cleanser."

Exfoliator:

winner: L'Oreal Pure Zone Pore Unclogging Scrub Cleansers ($6.49, drugstore). "...smooths out your skin without over drying it."

Moisturizer:

winner: Mary Kay TimeWise Age-Fighting Moisturizer ($22, marykay.com). "... It moisturizes your face without leaving it greasy."

A light summer look with purple eyes

Hello Summer Babes,





So I have been having alot of fun in and out of the sun this month in MD/DC. But I wanted to write to my blog lovies about staying cute when you are out and about on a hot summer day.

Whether it is a picnic, barbecue or trip to the mall, we all want to have our enhanced natural beauty shine through not sweat off, right?? Check out the summer look I put on my Enhanced Beauty Makeup, EBM Model below.



Well first I suggest using a light oil free primer or moisturizer on your face as a base. Second, I suggest using a brush and a powder as a light foundation if neccessary. You don't want to feel cakey and tied down to alot of foundation especially liquid foundation on a hot day. If you need more coverage than powder offers, try using a cream and then brush it on and the powder on top. If youhave to use liquid, go light on the application and then brush the powder on top.



Next waterproof mascara is your best bet!! I love a light natural eyeshadow, if any, on a summer day. But if you do want color, like my model in the picture above with the purple, make sure you apply an eyelid primer as well and concentrated eye pencils tend to stay on longer than eyeshadows. And please use a eyeshadow brush, see my blog posts on must-have brush type for your personal kits, because using your finger will add oil to your face and you dont want that.



For your lips use a liner and then gloss or just lip balm with sunscreen to protect your lips from the harmful rays of the sun.

One Love,

Your Lydia

My latest MAC purchases

Hello Babilicious Fans,

I am back!! I have been away from my blog for a whole month, my birthday passed and everything!! But I have been busy with school and student teaching, fun, fun right?? Well I want to talk about my trip to the MAC counter to buy some new things for myself and my makeup pro kit. As you all know, I am in the process of building up my kit and I desire to have nice variety of make-up in my kit from Josie Maran organic make-up to LORAC and hopefully very soon some Make-Up-Forever!

First, I needed something for oily to combination skin to use as a moisturizing base for myself as well as clients, so I bought MAC's Oil Control Lotion.

Second, I bought the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder in Deep Dark because I thought it was a nice versatile color that I could blend with a lot of skin tones.

Third, I bought a very expensive brush for my collection, the MAC #187, because the sales guy (who was gorgeous with his blue eye makeup) told me it was a must have!
Fourth, I bought MAC's brush cleaner, gotta protect my investment and sanitation comes first in the makeup business!

Fifth, I bought MAC's Paints in Bamboomto use as a base color for holding eyshadow on my clients all day or night long!!

Sixth and final, I bought MAC's Fix+ Skin Refreshener, I was told it sets makeup and keeps it in place, so hopefully that is true!!

So I am broke now!!

Love and Peace,
Lyd

Spring/Summer 2010 Make-up Trends

Hello All my Dollfaces,

So spring is here and summer is coming soon. It's time to start thinking about what make-up you will wear now and in the coming months, beauty trends from the runway are already hitting the stores. The make-up trends are feminine, romantic, and ultra pretty. I am excited to say we are seeing flawless skin with light waterproof foundation and super-long lashes.

Foundation:

So since flawless complexion skin is a major trend for this spring and summer. How do we accomplish this? Well to achieving flawless skin through make-up, even if your skin has imperfections, is to make your skin look untouched. Hydrate your skin, so a great moisturizer is the first step.

Cheeks:

Second, the popular trend is blush!!! With blush use ones that are sheer and contain a bit of shimmer. For blush try pink, pink, pink and even peach! Low on the bronzers and rich colored powders this 2010 season. But, pastel colors are going to be a hit. Try a soft rose, peach, light coral, or light plum.

Eyes:

As I mentioned before, the big trend in eyes are extra, extra long lashes. With or without adding false lashes! Try using a lengthening mascara that can create lashes that are dark, long and luscious lashes. No, I said no to black liquid liner, try going for a dark brown, dark blue, violet, or bluish gray. Eyeshadow, eyeshadow, eyeshadow!! Go light for a little glam or none at all. Go for a nude, soft coral, gold, or bronze with some light shimmer.

Lips:

Lips should be very light and natural. Nudes and light pastels are BIG this spring! Try pairing a bare lip with some sheer balm over any color. Lighten up on the super shiny gloss this year and instead try a lipstick/gloss combo or a nude cream gloss. Nude pinks and beiges are the top colors, with just a little bit of shine added. Say NO!!!!! to sparkly or glittery colors.

Keep in mind that keeping things soft and light this season is the key. make-up should have a natural dewy look that is fresh and not over done. Makeup is suppose to just enhanced your already natural beauty, not take over your face and be too fussy, so less is always more!!

Luv, Lydia

Natural Day Look

Hello All,

So this was a natural judges interview look that I created for the 2010 Miss Teen DC International Pageant by using tinted moisturizer, two natural shades of eyeshadow, the darker on the eye lid and lighter as a highlighter under the brows. In addition, I used a dark eyeliner and clear lip gloss.

Lydia