my first dollface RAVE!

for my first product rave i wanted it to be something so kick*ss. so amazing. so tried and true that i just had to shout from the rooftops... "THIS ROCKS!!" and that is exactly what i have for you dolls...

this gem is the eyeshadow jealous jordana from the shady lady range of the brand the balm. let me tell you the balm = THE BOMB! i have several of their eyeshadows and the pigmentation is ridiculous! they are so incredibly rich in color and depth. if you are like me and love a deep, dark eye you MUST give their eyeshadows a try (the balm products are sold at sephora if you're wondering).

you may be asking why jealous jordana? well, as a brown eyed doll i absolutely LOVE doing my eyes in varying shades of green because they make my eyes go BOING! i stumbled upon this color in sephora a couple of years ago, swatched it and was instantly in love. it is a rich emerald green with tiny flecks of blue... don't worry though... these flecks provide a subtle shimmer not urban decay glitterocity! i will be posting a look i did with jealous jordana soon and you can have a looksie.

a word to the wise though... when i say deep color i mean DEEP COLOR. this shade is not for the faint of heart or the heavy of hand. to understand what i mean take a look at the pic above... that product on my finger was from touching (touching not swiping) jealous jordana twice! it is an amazing color for the crease and outer corner or to deepen a neutral look. just remember to tap off the excess before applying to lids and use just a bit at a time and build up to your desired depth (and blend, blend, blend my sistas). or just wet a brush, swipe some j.j. and use it as an eyeliner.

i think jealous jordana might just be my favorite... don't tell my other eyeshadows! wouldn't want to make them jealous! : )

the dollface verdict:

so dollicious and worth it!

introductions and inspirations

hello dolls!

my name is ann a.k.a. anniedollface and this is not just another beauty blog... it's my beauty blog. i have to admit i LOVE many forms of creativity, but makeup is probably my favorite. i plan on allowing this blog to evolve with me and my readers. i will have reviews of products, dollface challenges, contests, dollfaces of the day and whatever else happens to tickle my fancy. i absolutely love reading other beauty blogs and thought i should give it a try... i do not think that i am perfect nor am i professional makeup artist... i just think makeup is fun and i love to play.

for my first ever blog post i thought i would give you some insight into me as a person and let you know some things that inspire me.

so without further adieu...

NEW YORK CITY!!!

i lived in new york for a year and fell in love with it. there is no other place like it on earth. it inspires me to no end. the hustle. the bustle. the noise, the smog, the attitudes! from the moment you step outside you are bombarded with colors and lights... you can have anything you want at anytime. the diversity and general acceptance of that diversity is almost palpable. i was born and bred in california, but new york is my home away from home and where i live in my heart. it's energy has inspired me in countless ways, not the least of which being to come back to california and finish my BA in psychology (which i just completed). nyc smacks you across your face everyday and will never apologize. (here i am smack dab in the middle of times square)

Lady Ga Ga

i love this woman. i listen to her music almost religiously and study her makeup looks like a picasso painting. the main thing i adore about her is she understands the business of celebrity like few others. she is a walking piece of art and can singlehandedly get her name in the paper just by choosing an outfit of the day. oh the power. she is fearless! also she has almost a cult of followers who mimic her style and imitate her dance moves and that can't be all bad. however, the main reason she inspires me is that she encourages people to be themselves and to not try to squeeze themselves into some construct or stereotype and for that i (and countless others) thank her.

MAC

oh mac how much do i love thee?? let me count the ways. i don't have to tell you that in the way of cosmetics mac is definitely a leader. from neutrals.... to smokey eyes... to crazy "balls out" looks there is most assuredly something at the mac counter to suit your fancy. i love that they are constantly debuting limited edition colors and products and encouraging the evolution of my palettes! mac inspires me to try new things and appreciate the variety of colors and textures. and it shouldn't go without saying that mac inspires me to not give up on my old eyeshadows... they might be hiding a fantastical look i just haven't discovered yet.

photography

i love pictures! i love conceptualizing, styling and the finish product. and i have the utmost respect for photographers like mario testino, annie leibovitz, herb ritts (r.i.p.) and david lachapelle (the photographer of this pic). i can't get enough of his pictures. although a small warning here... if you go searching for his pics be prepared for nudity! he has a clearly defined point of view. to me he is like a spoiled child and i love him for it. his use of color and visual imagery takes my breath away. the attention to detail and the fact that the entire frame is filled show me exactly how well thought out his photographs are. i appreciate that. his shots seem to come from a place of satire, sarcasm and sadistic whimsy. you are never quite sure what you are looking at. first, he pulls you in with the pretty colors and cool makeup... then you begin to see what's really going on in the picture and that's how he grabs you! he inspires me to keep things interesting and mysterious and leave people with just enough of a question mark that they feel compelled to take a second look...

that's kind of my hope for this blog really.

this was fun and eye opening... what inspires you?

put your best face forward...

annie