I am re-publishing this post today, both because I am feeling lazy, and because I just went over this technique with a friend this morning.  Actually, the REAL reason is to “ick” out Tracy because this picture looks like I am jabbing out my eye with a liner brush!  Enjoy.

Earlier this year, I mentioned one of my favorite eyeliner techniques using a flat eyeliner brush with a gel or liquid liner to create a very thin or tight line on your lashline.   The “tightline” is a fabulous technique for individuals who want to naturally enhance their lashes.

I use Laura Mercier’s flat liner brush with Bleu Marine and it stays on great and looks fabulous. If you have thin or sparse lashes this is an awesome way to define your eyes and make your lashes look thicker!

“with my Laura Mercier’s Flat Liner Brush I dot Bleu Marine eye liner above and below the lashes, to thicken my lash line and add some Oomph!  I think it turned out pretty cool, imho!  The brush in this position probably makes you cringe, and you need to be careful with it.  This liner technique just needs a steady hand and some practice.”

An excellent video to help demonstrate how to apply the tight eyeliner or “tightliner” technique in detail is found at:  http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=487834.

Kate from Megsmakeup.com mentioned that a thin eyeliner, like Tarte’s emphasEYES (that comes in chocolate, plum, green or black) is another way to create the tightline look.

No matter which eyeliner you choose, the tightliner technique is something you must try!

The “We Heart This“ web site is offering a Limited Edition Spring 2009 Palette from Laura Mercier as their first beauty giveaway!

This gorgeous fresh and very springy First Blush Face Palette will be given to one lucky recipient!!!   The LM limited edition palette includes:

• Two gorgeous cheek colours to give cheeks a flushed glow: Blushing Peach and Blushing Pink.
• 3 natural, yet perfectly feminine lip colors: Flushed, Natural, and Naked Lip Glaze.
• 3 neutral and pretty eye shadows: Granite, Tawny Apricot, and Buff.

Get over there before Thursday, February 26th and enter!

This episode starts with not just a product, but the great little boutique that introduced me to it.

I had the pleasure of visiting Milwaukee with my husband for a few days and we stayed in the historic Third Ward District. On our last day in town we wandered down the street from an incredible pub we’d eaten at the night before (seriously, Milwaukee has great food) and happened across Blush.

Blush is a beauty boutique with an open, welcoming atmosphere. It is well lit and airy, with thoughtfully placed decorative touches and plenty of shelves and tables packed with products just begging to be explored. They have a few major anchor lines, most notably Laura Mercier, and several other lines that are slightly less known but clearly well chosen. A Laura Mercier event was starting the day we were scheduled to leave town, of course, and an artist was teaching the staff how to apply LM’s holiday looks, but everyone was still very kind and attentive. I was assisted by a lovely and helpful woman, and I asked if she was the store’s owner. She informed me with a justified glow of pride that it is her daughter’s store and she just “helps out”. It really is a family affair, with mom Jodi supporting her daughters, Sarah (owner) and Nikki (Skin care specialist). I am dying for the chance to return and try out their brow bar! If you find yourself in Milwaukee, stop in to say hi, see what they have to show you, and tell them Mythbuster Beauty sent ya! Since I can buy the major lines here at home, I asked Jodi to show me the best kept secret in their store. She didn’t disappoint, and this is what I found:

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I idolize Ginger Rogers.  So this year I am attempting a Starlet look for Halloween.  I think I still need to kick it up a notch and possibly run to the store for some false eyelashes and a feather boa! 

Classic Starlet Features:  Precisely defined eye brows, flawless skin, dark matte lipstick, black mascara with dark top eyeliner, and beautiful cheekbones.  Its all about Glamour!

My Starlet Look:  Laura Mercier’s Bleu Marine Eye liner applied with a flat eyeliner brush, L’Oreal’s Telescopic Mascara in Black, Cargo’s blu-ray Pressed Powder (all over face and on eyelids), ECO Nvey Lipstick in Dark Ruby,  Anastasia’s All About Brows Kit, Sugar’s Blush and Bronzer duo (used extra bronzer in hollows of cheeks to emphasize cheekbones). (more…)

I just received a great comment from Liv about Urban Decay’s 24/7 glide-on pencils and my favorite color: 

I love these pencils too!  I also have zero and bourbon.  Bourbon makes an awesome smoky eye when done with gold and dark brown shadow, blends like a dream with out making a mess like my stila kajal pencil does. My boyfriend loved it and he rarely coments on my makeup.  I also bought 1999 but I returned it because it barely showed up.  It looked like yesterdays eyeshadow.  I’m curious about the other purples though.

Other purples?  Oh yeah.  I have a few suggestions for you.

1. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencils in Rockstar or Lust.  I love to layer these with Yeyo (metallic white), or Gunmetal. ($16)
2. Urban Decay’s Liquid Liner in CRASH (purple with silver glitter)

Urban Decay is offering a new gift with purchase.  From now until July 30th 2008, place any order over $25 and receive a free Glitter Eye Gel (valued at $18).  Add the Glitter Eye Gel to your cart and then use the coupon code HEAVY at checkout. (thanks for the reminder Bionic Beauty)!

1. Make Up Forever’s Aqua Eyes:  In Purple and Black Purple ($16)
2. Laura Mercier’s limited edition Liquid Liner in Bordeaux (burgundy with burgundy brilliance, $22)
3. Laura Mercier’s Eye Liner in Bleu Marine, deep blue. ($20)  Okay, okay, I know this isn’t technically “purple,” just trust me with a flat eyeliner brush this liner is gorgeous with any eye color.
4. Pencil Me In! Eyeliners in Amethyst, Boysenberry, or Purple Passion.  Mo still needs to give these liners the thumbs up, but what a gorgeous color selection and for only $6.99!   Read on.

“Pencil me in” is offering a special retail introductory promotion.  Buy 2, Get 1 Free.  Buy 4, get 2 free, and so on.  To take advantage of the promotional offer log onto:  www.pencilmeincosmetics.com and choose the pencil colors that you would like to purchase then proceed to the shopping cart page.  The cost for each pencil is only $6.99.  On the shopping cart page you will see in purple a link for this promotion.  Click on it.  The user name and password for this section is the same word:  Internet.  Choose your free pencils and proceed to check out. 

It was like they knew we needed a purple fix or something!  Please feel free to comment on some of your favorite other purples.

While visiting the Laura Mercier counter, I was able to sample their new mineral makeup powder.  I have tried several different mineral makeup foundations and have been usually unsatisfied with their performance.  These issues include:   mineral powders don’t blend in well, colors that aren’t true to my skin tone, and the mineral powders seem to make my skin appear too matte and accentuate my fine lines.   After using Laura Mercier’s mineral powder spf 15 foundation, I was pleasantly surprised.  This formula blends into your skin beautifully and acheives a very natural, soft glow finish.  To combat my mineral makeup foundation issues, Laura Mercier created a mineral formula that contains:

The exclusive combination of Pure Pearl Powder, minerals and amino acids promote healthy skin and help fight the aging process. Mineral Powder SPF 15 gives you the flexibility to build coverage or add just a touch of luminosity.

Benefits:

• Composed completely of natural elements
• Water-resistant
• Oil-free
• SPF 15  

If you are looking for a fabulous mineral makeup foundation, I would suggest a visit to your local Nordstrom’s or Sephora for a demonstration of their product.  This Laura Mercier mineral foundation is expensive ($35), but really is a beautiful formulation and should last a long time.  As always, for best results, I recommend applying mineral makeup foundations sparingly with a high quality kabuki brush.   And while you are at the Laura Mericer counter, sample their liquid or mineral foundation primer and eye liners.  Simply classic, sophisticated makeup.  I big heart Laura Mercier!