My goal for this week is to find the perfect red lipstick…again.

I want something that is a red brick color. So I know after work this week I’ll be hitting Sephora and Bloomy’s to try and find that perfect red I want it for the weekend festivities.

Another thanks is necessary! I’ve been so busy adjusting to work…waking up at 7am every day & working 9 hours. Whew! That leaves the weekend for partying! Which I did a lot of last night It was my birthday celebration & so many came out to support my birthday. June 2,d 1988 … GEMINI BABY!

Thanks to…

Kelcie Fire Glass, Nyne, Kevin, Zanele, Terri, Don, Talisa, Brittany, Cameron, Mia, Lou, Ivory, Ivory’s boo thing, Shaun, Heather, Courtney, Ashley, Laron, Antwan and a few new friends I met too! I had a blast with you all!!

Enjoy some pics – of course we beat our faces, making this post super applicable to my website

I’ve had a couple people come to me and say they miss my posts, which makes me sad. I’m trying to post, but know it has slowed down a little bit. I have so much going on and I just want to fill you guys in on why my posts aren’t coming as regularly.

I graduate from college on May 9th and until then, my school work is my number one priority – of course makeup is my passion and I have continued to work on it throughout my academic career, but with finals approaching I have several group projects, several research papers and tests that I have to prepare for – so posting on my website kind of gets pushed back… My posts will become more regular when I get to NYC and settle in.

Speaking of NYC – I have to focus and pack up my entire apartment  – along with selling my furniture, figuring out what to do with the stuff I don’t want to bring (if anyone wants to buy two amazing brown suede sofas let me know! – I just can’t haul them the 9 1/2 hour drive to NYC). There is a lot of planning that has to go on and I have about 3 weeks to get it all together. Whew, which me luck…

I also have some great business in the works – I do not want to speak on it yet, but I have been trying to get some great stuff moving so that I can hit the pavement running when I get to NYC – I already have so many people to thank for looking out for me!

I don’t want to bore you too much with details. By the end of the weekend I’ll have some nice candid pictures from a video shoot I’ll be working on for Broadway Miller – it’s a two day event (Thursday and Friday).

Before I leave I plan to have another independent makeup shoot with Lauren Cowart and hopefully do some makeup for graduation photos she will be doing. Check out her work here!

In the meantime, please hold tight! I am posting as much as I can and promise to report on things that are “report worthy” – a lot of photos I’ve been seeing just don’t look interesting enoug hfor me to post them.

That’s all for now.. if you read this far, thank you!

Lauren Cowart is doing photos for soon to be graduates. Her packages are April 18th-28th – check her flyer for details.Check out her website here for her great photography skills, if you don’t already know.

Contact Lauren at laurencowartphoto@gmail.com and if you want makeup, then contact me!

I’m also doing special makeup packages for graduates. Each face is $30 & I use MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Makeup which is specially made of photographs, as well as their silicone finishing powder that seals your face for a flawless photo finish.

Email me at anna.miya.88@gmail.com to set up times for makeup application for graduation photos.

Often times people (especially younger people) forget how important it is to take care of their skin.
Flawless makeup application starts with flawless (or nearly flawless) skin.
What you put into your body plays a huge role in the appearance of your skin so please pay attention. Below I have listed the top foods that I keep coming across that REALLY help your skin. Despite great looking skin in your late teens or early twenties, THIS is the time to start taking care of your skin so you don’t regret it later – AND … taking care of your skin can be yummy! So eat up!

Salmon – low in calories and saturated fat but high in OMEGA-3 ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS – this keeps your skin plump, firm & glowing. Never mind the fact salmon is high in vitamin B-12, protein, vitamin B6, magnesium …the list goes on







Broccoli – Broccoli is full of vitamin C, vitamin B, vitamin E, vitamin A, and beta-carotene which helps your skin & is even said to help with eczema. It’s full of amino acids to help clear your skin and removes free radicals from your skin. A detoxifer you can eat! I LOVE to lightly steam my broccoli & put a little smart balance and pepper on it.



Avocados – the oils in avocados are said to help produce collagen in the skin – the stuff that keeps your skin firm and smooth – so get avocado in your sushi or eat it in a sandwich. OR… Make GUAC!





Almonds – Almonds help your skin so much! They help PREVENT wrinkles, black heads, pimples and dry skin. Almond oil is great – but so is ingesting almonds so you don’t lose a bit of the nutrients.







Water – of course! You guys know the benefits of water – it really can change your skin & makes you feel better on top of that.







DON’T SKIP – taking off your makeup at night (I’ll make a post about great cleansing clothes I’ve found)
DON’T FORGET - to clean your makeup brushes
DON’T FORGET - to change your pillow case often
DON’T SKIP – moisturizer (use a heavier one at night)

This is a little bit of a rant, but it’ll make sense when I’m done…

Do you ever feel like if you were famous & did the same things you did now, they’d be regarded in much higher standing. I know if I did famous people’s makeup, people would rant & rave about the makeup I did even more (not to toot my own horn but hey…I like what I do…)

Another scenario: I swear I have some of the prettiest friends, but no one is obsessed with them on the same level they are obsessed with celebrity’s looks (many who are uglier than my friends)… it’s like once you get celebrity status you’re somehow way hotter. Do people not realize how much time & effort goes into looking picture perfect like celebrities do every day? Just look at the beauty in people, inside and out, without factoring their level of celebrity or lack thereof. I promise you’ll notice more people.

Okay I’m done…KIND OF. Here’s an example. Look below – these are two different looks that Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquière used in his spring 2010 line and his fall 2010 line. One is neon shadow with warrior like black… I don’t know how to describe it – but I don’t like it.. I think there’s a much better way to achieve this style. The fall 2010 had pastel eyebrows – weird…but you know runway makeup is not always about being pretty.

My point is – if I did this makeup & took photos of it, people would think I was the WORST makeup artist ever – do you agree? But if I was a famous makeup artist & it was a runway show all the sudden the makeup would be great – it’s just so frustrating. Do you guys see my point?

OKAY so my friend Vanetta gave me this great idea to hold workshops for makeup! I’ve gotten many emails asking me questions on how to do makeup & with everyone’s crazy schedules sometimes it’s hard to schedule appointments for everyone.

So I’m going to start workshops with a small fee & people bring their makeup & brushes, I bring mine & we experiment and I’ll teach you all some tips that I’ve learned. That way you can take the lessons with you. Depending on the response I get will dictate when the first workshop is. I’ll also make a group on Facebook as well.

Leave me comments – should I do it at my apartment? Or somewhere else.. what are good times for everyone to do this? Let me know!

UPDATE: The first workshop will be Saturday February 13th at 6pm at my apartment. Check out my Facebook for the Event or e-mail me at anna.miya.88@gmail.com to RSVP & for details!

This thank you is long overdue. But thank you to EVERYONE who comes across my website, on purpose or you just happened to stumble upon it while surfing the web. I appreciate the feedback I am getting & the many emails being sent my way. I promise to always respond, even though it may take a couple days!!

In 2010 I’m looking forward to a lot – graduating from UNC, I’m searching for a makeup counter job to work at & of course working on my blog. I’m going to start introducing “Your Face Here” posts & would love photos of your own makeup work to post on my blog & I’ll definitly be having tutorials. I have a few photo shoots, fashion shows & weddings set up as well. Of course, you will ALL know about my work… but most of all …

In the words of Jay-Z

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU, YOU’RE FAR TOO KIND

Here are a few pictures of looks I fell in love with! Check them out…

Zewidi with some killer MAC lipstick & dazzleglass!

Heavy brow, heavy eyelashes, nude lip = my favorite

Jean-Paul Gaultier’s Spring 2010 Show

The skin & lips just work together

Gold on the eyes lips and cheeks!!

Haley Bennett with Classic Red Lips

I don’t know if this pic is retouched, but her makeup looks FLAWLESS!

Fendi 2010 Spring Show – bronzy & clean

I am not a huge fan of the newest Covergirl lashblastlength mascara.

To the left, Drew Barrymore, Covergirl’s newest spokeswomen, is supposedly wearing the mascara  uh, yeah RIGHT! Those are falsies. Anyway….

I got this a few weeks ago & thought I’d give it some time, but it’s no where near as good as the Covergirl Lashblast Volume Blasting mascara. To be nice I’ll say that the mascara does give lashes length & I guess that’s all it promises in it’s name, but I like mascara that does a little more and grabs on a little stronger – this formula seems very light and weak. It’s great if all you want is length & very subtle long lashes though.

I’m on the pursuit of the perfect lipgloss today….

MAC?

Dior?

Yves Saint Laurent?

Smashbox?

MAKE UP FOR EVER?

Sephora?

Bobbi Brown?

NARS?

Clinique?

Chanel?

Urban Decay?

Forget about happiness, lipgloss is where it’s at! haha. But really, I’m on my way to the mall right now & will probably spend a good hour searching & I’ll be sure to post pictures of the lipglosses I tried & let you know if I found my perfect no lipgloss (other than C-THRU) … wish me luck!!

Remember about a week ago I made a post complaining about the new NARS lipstick in Scarlet Empress? Well, I wrote NARS (a straight forward) letter and got this back… Take a look.

Dear Client,

Thank you for contacting NARS Cosmetics.

We have reformulated a majority of our lipsticks which includes the NARS
Scarlett Empress shade. Unfortunately, the testers provided at Sephora were
provided to the stores before the formulation was updated.

The new formulation offers advanced emollients for moisturizing and
anit-aging benefits. Clients will also find the color lasts longer than the
previous formula. Unfortunately, the manufacturer could not obtain the same
pigment ingredient used in the previous formulation for Scarlett Empress.
Therefore, you will find the shade to be altered in pigment.

We apologize if you feel inconvenienced by this modification, but invite you
to try our newly formulated lipsticks in the future.

If we can assist you further please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards,

Alex
Customer Desires Representative
NARS Cosmetics

Well, that answers my question, but I’m not happy with it – I LOVE the color the tester was, now they won’t be making it anymore!

PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA

Kelcie Glass and I are having a VINTAGE VS. CONTEMPORARY clothing sale 9/26/09 at Laurel Ridge Apartments from 11-4! Check my Facebook Page (Anna Miya) or Kelcie’s (Kelcie Glass) for more details on the event…

Aldo, Michael Kors, Citizens, Sevens, Polo, Urban Outfitters, Dolce Vita, H&M, Guess, Wet Seal, Forever 21, Steve Madden, American Apparel all available and in GREAT condition!!

Well, maybe not back, but just “in business”



I got my business cards thanks to Courtney today… her company is CLUXURY (her website is being revamped at the moment but still has interesting info). Shout out to her!

I’m excited about these..my title is Makeup Consultant (that includes everything from doing makeup to answering questions & taking people shopping for different makeup because it can be an intimidating task).If you need any services be sure to email or text me. Pricing varies what is requested.

Eh, I guess my number is out there for the world to see… hmm I dunno how I feel about that but wanted to show the card in all it’s glory. The back is black and says “Extraodinary services for extraordinary people”