March Madness: Come experience the wonder of SeneGence skincare and SenePlex!

For March Madness, I also have some specials that I would like to share! 

These specials will be in effect for the entire month of March AND April, so please, partake! 

If you see me in person, please mention that you saw my special in my newsletter or on my blog and I will be happy to honor it for my existing customers or if you are referred by a friend. 

(Forgive the spacing, I can't get Blogspot to cooperate with my cute lip print bullet points!

FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS DURING MARCH AND APRIL! 

COMPLIMENTARY OOOPS! COLOR REMOVER WITH ORDERS OVER $50!



ALL STARTER KITS (ONE COLOR, ONE GLOSS, AND A OOOPS!) ARE ON SPECIAL FOR $45! (Normal price is $55) 


ALL ORDERS DURING MARCH AND APRIL COME WITH A COMPLIMENTARY SAMPLE OF YOUR CHOICE OF SKIN CARE!

Mod Lipstick: Latest trend and en vogue

In keeping with the times of what is fresh, trendy, hip, and happening, SeneGence released the Prisms of Color collection on March 1.

When Violet Volt and T.E.A.M. Wicked were released, I didn't really bat an eyelash. I like Urban Decay and Kat Von D is one of my favorites. Too Faced released their Life's a Festival collection which is inspired by unicorns, and the style out there right now is that the more colorful and out there the colors are, the better. And the lip shades that are on the market in SeneGence's price point are what is in style right now. While it's not for everyone, it does seem that this is the style. Too Faced has released Mermaid Tears which is a mermaid sea-green with hints of purple sparkle that shade-shifts depending on your temperature. Urban Decay has Control, their vivid electric blue turquoise lipstick that is bound to turn heads. Kat Von D has Echo, a satin navy blue liquid lipstick. And yes. People are wearing them! I was at Specs a few weeks ago and the cashier checking me out was wearing royal blue lipstick....and she looked GOOD wearing it too!

So...kudos to SeneGence for coming up with colors in keeping with the other prestige cosmetics. I don't know how often I would want to wear a bright turquoise LipSense, but darn it, if I do, it's a relief to know it won't be smearing all over my teeth and face.

And as for these bright colors? Hey. Go big or go home. Do it right or don't do it at all.

Yesterday my new colors finally arrived, and since I have two readers who want to see me wearing each color before they will decide if they want them, I decided a full review of every color is in order. And honestly, I have to admit I'm curious as to what I will look like wearing matte turquoise. I've been brave and worn Violet Volt, Blackberry and T.E.A.M. Wicked, but turquoise lip color? Yup, I'm VERRRRRRRY curious.

So, in this post, I will review all five colors and swatch what each one looks like in comparison to the closest contenders. Over the last week, there has been a lot of rumors circulating about true swatches, whether or not pictures are photoshopped, what they really look like. Are these colors really dupes of Volt and Wicked? Is Mod Magenta really the current version of Neutral? Want to find out before you spend your money on a color that you don't like? Keep reading, and let's begin.

To start, whenever I swatch colors, I always start from lightest to dark. And in keeping with the matte fashion, I am wearing each color WITH Matte Gloss for consistency.

First, let's look at Pop Art Pink. My first reaction when I saw the release of this color was a

combination of reactions. Party Pink? Pink Ice? Mauve Ice on steroids? It reminds me of Bubble Yum meets Twirly Curls Barbie.


The reality: It is nothing like Party Pink or Pink Ice. In fact, in comparison to those colors, Pop Art Pink is definitely more on the lavender side. It's brighter than Goddess. The finish is more matte than Fleur De Lisa. 

These tubes are the closest contenders in appearance while in the tube. Left to right: Goddess, Mauve Ice, Pop Art Pink, Kelly's Krush (retired), Peace Pink (retired) and Violette. 

On the hand, they look different of course, but Pop Art Pink is still the brightest and the most matte. 

The application was very even and smooth. Three coats in one direction gave perfect coverage. The color to me was pretty accurate of what I expected. It's a bubble gum pink color leaning more on the lavender side. The finish dries down very matte and the color applies evenly with no streaking or patching. It's not a color that I would find myself wearing because I lean more towards darker colors, but overall this is a pretty color and perfect for fans of brighter pinks and candy-toned colors. 

Mod Magenta was probably the color I was THE most excited about being that it is just up my alley. It's dark. It's rose-colored with a kick. Light colors don't traditionally look good on me, and I don't know that I can wear purple, navy and turquoise on a regular basis to work, so I ordered an extra one of this one to commission for myself. Before I got it, I envisioned a combination of Neutral meets Roseberry. 

Reality? I was wrong again. This one leaves Neutral in the dust. I don't think I have been THIS excited about a lip color in the entire time I've been a distributor, but this one, I'm keeping just for myself. 

I lined it up next to Kiss For A Cause, Fuscia (retired), Neutral (retired), Plumeria, Strawberry Shortcake and Razzberry. 

On my hand, definitely darker than the hotter pinks (Kiss For A Cause, Fuscia, Razzberry) and the pink-toned reds (Strawberry Shortcake and Plumeria). I love my Neutral, but Mod Magenta is so rich in pigment that Neutral in comparison looks, well, brown. I did not see that coming!

Edited: After this blog was published, I had a request to stripe it next to B. Ruby so here is an extra picture.

The application was very smooth and it is a beautiful ruby-colored reddish pink with no purple tones
to it or shimmer. It dried very smooth and very matte. I didn't realize until this morning that the close-up of my lips shows a little streaking, so when I use this color the next time, I will possibly touch it up after the third coat dries with a little extra on the top lips, but it is a beautiful jewel color and I am so excited to be adding a color that I really love to my collection. It reminds me of ripe raspberries in summer. 


Lilac Lacquer, despite all the excitement I read on line about it, quite frankly just looks like a lighter version of Violet Volt. I've worn Violet Volt. I got great compliments on it since I matched my outfit and makeup to it although it really did give me the appearance of eating a grape Popsicle. So my initial thought? Violet Volt, but lighter. Lavender? Smooth? Okay.

The reality: My expectation was dead-on accurate. If you like purples but Violet Volt is too intense of a purple shade, this is probably more up your alley. If you have Violet Volt and like a lighter one, this might be a good add for you. But if Violet Volt delivers all the purple goodness that you love and you don't want one lighter, this might be a tad of a waste. I didn't try layering Icicle over it, but I suspect that Violet Volt could be lightened with a coat of Icicle or a layer of Snow in between coats one and two. In other words, if Violet Volt is grape Kool Aid, Lilac Lacquer is a field of lavender. 

I did compare Lilac Lacquer to the other similar purples and also included Amethyst and Silver Violet ShadowSense for grins.

In the below pictures, I am wearing Lilac Lacquer in the one with the headband and Violet Volt in the picture where I am fully made up. 

Application-wise, Lilac Lacquer is not the easiest. I could tell in the hand swatch that it was going to be a problem when I didn't get even coverage (see how Violet Volt streaks as well?) but it was even more so problematic on the lips. I did a full three coats with Lilac Lacquer and while it was fine on my lower lip, it was patchy and had some bald spots on my upper lip. I have no doubt I will wear this color again since I felt a little more comfortable wearing this than Violet Volt (although Violet Volt WAS fun), so what I will do next time is either apply four coats or touch up the bald spots on my upper lip after the second coat before applying a final four coat. A little extra drying time would have likely helped the patchiness as well. But it's a beautiful purple for the purple girls out there. Lavender without being pink or frosty. Purple without looking like you ate a grape slush and have stained lips. Very classy, matte finish and the perfect accent to a purple eye. I noticed that it definitely made my eyes look greener, which I tend to notice happens when I wear purple makeup. 

Skyline downright just freaks me out. I will concede that part of this is that I am soon to be 43 and turquoise is what I put on my eyes, not on my lips. The color is gorgeous, no doubt, I just don't know that I want to wear it on my lips unless I am going clubbing or dressing up like a Studio 54 wannabe from the late 1970s. But....that aside, let's give it a try.

The reality: Definitely NOT as shocking or crazy as I expected. It dried down to more of a dark blue turquoise, not the bright shocking Caribbean ocean blue turquoise I expected. I think with some great blended shadows, maybe some glitter, some dark turquoise liner, and bronzer and this could be a fantastic color for going out at night. I think this would also be an amazing color to layer with, and since you can use LipSense for face makeup, you could really create some amazing face art with it. 

I lined it up next to Granite ShadowSense, Ocean EyeSense, T.E.A.M. Wicked, Denim ShadowSense and Light Sapphire ShadowSense which is a retired eye color. 

And to show the comparisons? Skyline is definitely a richer blue than T.E.A.M. Wicked and has more green in it than Ocean EyeSense. There is no glitter or shimmer; it is a completely matte finish. 

And the application ease was perfect. It applied very smooth, no streaking, no bald patches. The formula is very good. 

And lastly, Midnight Muse....my initial perception of this color was a matte version of T.E.A.M. Wicked minus the aqua sparkles. Too similar in shade to Blackberry. I'm not scared to try it on, especially since I rather like Wicked, but.....okay, let's see.

The reality: Definitely not Blackberry. Definitely not T.E.A.M. Wicked. T.E.A.M. Wicked is more shimmery, glittery. This is matte navy blue. Smooth, blended blueberry puree. No purple, no eggplant, no black. Perfectly smooth application with no streaking, patching or unevenness. If you wanted a dark blue color, this is your color. 

I lined it up next to the blues and blacks of the 
SeneGence collection including Onyx ShadowSense and Blackberry. If you have longed for a blue lip color that resembles Denim ShadowSense, your wish has been granted. 

The application was very smooth. Three coats was a perfect application. It's a very striking color but I personally like it better than Blackberry because it has more depth to it without looking like you colored in your lips with a black Sharpie marker. I could see this looking totally bad ASS with a smoky eye and navy blue eyeliner and high-volume mascara. Ready to rock it out at a concert or an elegant night out with a dark blue dress? This is your color. 

So there you have it. There are the five colors of the Prism of Colors Collection. Cool, happening and different from anything right now that is carried by SeneGence. I currently have all five colors in stock and they are ready to be shipped out immediately. I am having a special in March with free shipping, so for $25, YOUR FAVORITE COLOR of this collection can be yours and in your hand in short order. 

Make it a wonderful day and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Choosing the right foundation: where to begin?

If you are one of those women who has perfectly blemish-free skin and doesn't need to wear any base makeup to even out her complexion, I envy you...not only because I'm jealous, but because I know how that feels. When I was younger in my twenties, I used finishing powder only, and then moved occasionally into wearing Bare Minerals mineral foundation (remember, tap, tap, swirl, swirl?) and then graduated about five years ago into BB creams and color correcting age serums. 

Unfortunately, to quote Miss Truvy, time marches on and eventually you realize it's marching across your face. Even though I do daily upkeep on my face with skin care and night treatments and wear sunscreen during the day and make sure I'm wearing a hat at the pool and beach, the reality is that I didn't always do that and sun damage is irreversible. All you can do is minimize the appearance by improving your skin's moisture content, increasing elasticity and diminishing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes. I see a dermatologist once a year who drains any clogged oil pores that I have that won't drain on their own, I put cold skin masks on after a day in the sun to help reduce redness, and I use a slew of treatments during the week (not all at once) that each have their own purpose in my daily upkeep. I try not to fall asleep with makeup on, and I do my best to stay out of the sun. 

When I first became a distributor for SeneGence, I still had a lot of non-SeneGence makeup (and still do). I have been using our MakeSense foundation about half and half but have really been trying to use up my old foundation which is it CC+ full coverage serum. It is great but over the last month I have noticed that it's starting to have a not-so-fresh smell, and it's not blending into my nose as well as it used to. Yup, time to chuck it and start over. All makeup has an expiration date and my beloved CC+ has hit the date on the milk carton. 

SeneGence offers three full-face makeup products, although technically one could be considered just part of our skin care line. Really, ALL of our foundation is considered skin care since it contains SenePlex, our anti-aging complex which works to increase collagen content in your skin, diminish wrinkles and lines and contains blockers that are similar to sunscreen with an SPF of 15. Please note that there is no sunscreen in our foundation, but the protection that it offers is similar to foundation. 

Three choices:

1) Color-Correcting Tinted Moisturizer (CCTM) is available in Light and Medium. This is exactly what it sounds like; it is a moisturizer that you can use on your skin that has some makeup in it so you ARE getting some coverage and evening out, but it is not a full-on makeup and is more moisturizing than MakeSense or AAA (see below). I have used this a lot in the summers when I want some coverage but it's really hot out and especially in the winters when I'm going to be outside and the wind is blowing. It helps a lot with protecting my skin against windburn. You can also use it under your foundation as a moisturizer and primer. There is a Dark color in the works but right now all that is available is Light and Medium. My recommendation is that if you want this but feel like Medium is too light is either to use this under your foundation or mix it with your foundation if MakeSense is too light or doesn't have enough moisture. Retail price: $45.

2) Regular MakeSense is a traditional foundation but fortified with skin care and SenePlex. It is a partial coverage (not full coverage) and is oil-free. Retail price: $50. This formula is not available in every shade; there are some like Adobe and Coffee and Truffle that are not available in MakeSense. 

3) Advanced Anti-Aging is the top of the line foundation which is our regular MakeSense but heightened with more SenePlex and also has oil added to it. However, the oil that is added to it is not a great amount. My skin has the consistency of an oil slick and AAA is my choice of foundations because the oil thickens the foundation and provides a more full-coverage foundation and more moisturization plus additional protection from the sun. Most women experience a surge of dryness in their skin as they get older (it's part of life) and we need extra moisturizer to help our face maintain its smoothness and elasticity. Every color manufactured by SeneGence comes in the AAA formula from Porcelain to Truffle. Retail price: $60. 

One is not better than the other. Each formula has their place and everyone's skin and makeup preferences is different. Once you have thought about what you are looking for in a makeup, make your decision. For me, I like a medium to full coverage that will even out my complexion and give me a smooth even canvas to start with when I put my makeup on. Skin care during the day while I wear it and sun protection is a HUGE perk. So for me, AAA is my choice. 

Next decision: What color is best for you? 

Fortunately, MakeSense and AAA MakeSense are not full coverage so they can be used by women who have varying skin tones. I can generally wear about six of our shades with no problem; it is just a matter of narrowing down the shade that is the most flattering to my skin tone. If you aren't a foundation wearer, I normally would suggest to start with color that is close to your skin tone and try it on your hand to see if the effect is what you are looking for. Again, that goes back to what you are looking for in a makeup. Are you looking for something the same color as your skin? Lighter? Darker? There are no wrong answers. The other starting point is to start with a foundation that you are currently using and are comfortable with and go from there. 

You can see that I started by putting CC+ Light on a white plate and striping the foundations that I am comfortable using next to it. Then I did the same thing with my hand. They look quite different on a white porcelain plate and my tan hand, but then again, that's the point. 

I narrowed the colors down to Suede and Almond, both AAA. Both are my testers which is why Almond is partially used; I have tested this color on many people and have used it a few times myself. The first time I used it, I wasn't a fan, but I blame application on my part. I used a foundation sponge because that is all I had with me and I usually use a brush. This picture was also taken in stark fluorescent lighting and I was wearing Berry which made my face look, well, PALE. 

Then I applied both on my face half and half. I actually started on the Suede side with the regular MakeSense and then realized it wasn't full coverage enough so I applied AAA over it. 

Then I applied Suede over the Almond so I had a full Suede face. 

And then washed my face and started over with Almond. 

The winner? Almond. 

My observations:

1) Although the Suede is very, very close to the skin tone of my face, it's darker than my neck color which is resulting in a line on my jaw. When I wear makeup, it's obvious that I am wearing it since I prefer colorful eye colors and bright lip shades, but when it comes to my base foundation, I don't want it to look like I am wearing anything. Foundation should accentuate your natural color, not stand out stark on your face like clown-makeup would. 
2) The Suede almost gives my skin an artificial tan. It's not unattractive, but I like to wear blush and bronzers, which would not be necessary with this color.
3) The Almond gives my skin a peaches and cream look and evens out the shadows and blemishes in a consistent way. It also blended into my nose well and covered the redness around my nose that is perpetually there plus covered my glasses marks on the sides of my nose. 
4) Overall, I just liked my face better with Almond than Suede. It's going to be a better blank canvas for my makeup application.

So there you go! That's how I do it! If you are able to go through this process, that's what I would recommend, but if you are in a store or at a location where this full process is not feasible, bring your existing foundation with you and stripe it on your hand next to the ones that are close. Once you find the one that you think is the best match, rub a little on your jaw next to your neckline to see how close it is from the tester bottle at the store. You might also try dotting a bit on your forehead and nose to see if it's close. Since foundation testers are not used around eyes or lips, you're probably safe just dotting a little bit from the tester, although I'd clean the bottle outside before squeezing some out first. And make sure to wash your hands afterwards or use a foundation sponge so you don't get any on your hands. 

I will admit that I don't have a lot of experience with a vast number of foundations. When I was in high school, I dabbled with Cover Girl. Then I wore Bare Minerals mineral foundation for about ten years, switched to Too Faced Cocoa Powder Foundation and then Born This Way Foundation, and I have used the it CC+ serum for the last year alternating with various shades and formulas of the SeneGence foundation line from the CCTM to the AAA. Overall, I really like our foundation. It blends smoothly, feels light on the skin, has a velvety texture (which is what I loved about the Cocoa Powder Foundation from Too Faced), and blends well with bronzers and blushes. When I have used it for events where I am going to be outside, it doesn't melt off my face like others I have tried. I do use a brush to apply it since that is the most even way for me to get it on my face. I have tried sponges but I don't have a light enough hand to do that, and I don't care for using my fingers to do it for the same reason. What appeals to me about MakeSense and the AAA formula is the anti-aging qualities, the blocker that is similar to sunscreen and the fact that it is good for your skin. 

I'd love to help you with a good foundation match if you are ready to switch to SeneGence. All I need is a good close-up, the foundation that you are currently using if you are using it, your skin type and a little information on what you do and don't like about what you are currently using, what you want in a foundation, etcetera. If it's not the right shade or you're not satisfied with the product, I will be happy to honor a refund or an exchange for a year after purchase. 

Have a great day and thanks for reading along!

EyeCream and EyeLuminator: Which is best?

As we age gracefully or ungracefully, one area that is a prime problem area for men and women alike is the eye area. The skin under the eyes and around the eyes is the most fragile and delicate on the face and is 10% of the thickness of the skin on the rest of the body. Wrinkles develop on the skin when there's a decline in the production of connective tissue protein collagen. Combine the two and you have dark circle, circles, dry skin under the eyes, crow's feet, laugh lines, whatever you want to call it...but it's a issue that most people fight as they age. 

As I have alluded to in so many blogs, skin care and anti-aging is umm....kind of a hobby of mine, even before I became a distributor for SeneGence. And really good quality skin care is not cheap. The price point for anti-aging skin care can be really pricey whether you get it from the drugstore or get a treatment from your dermatologist. 

PSA: If you are over 35 and spent a significant amount of time out in the sun, I strongly recommend that you have an annual check-up with a dermatologist. I have one who I see every year. He checks me from head to toe to make sure I don't have any funky moles or freckles changing color. 

No anti-aging creams are going to reverse time or work instantly; however, one thing that I personally have noticed to be true with skin care offered by SeneGence is that you do see results fairly quickly. So if you are quick on the draw with wanting to see results, our skin care line won't disappoint. 

And our eye creams are no disappointment. 

Anti-aging eye creams can range in price point from $20 Neutrogena creams at the drugstore to $90 at Nordstrom's to $195 on Amazon depending on what you are looking for and how much you are willing to spend. Ours? $50 for EyeCream and $55 for EyeLuminator, and a little goes a long way. 

Today at a client's request, I did an experiment. I've been using both the EyeCream and the EyeLuminator for over a year, and I usually use them 2-3 times a week. I admit, I'm not diligent about using EyeCream every night and usually I forget to put on the EyeLuminator in the morning. I remember it after I have my full face on since I keep all my skin care together. (Note: start keeping EyeLuminator in makeup area, Erica!)

So what are these items? 

Our EyeCream is made with soybean oil, kukui seed oil and Vitamin A. Its purpose: to protect the skin around the eye area and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is $50.

Our EyeLuminator is the EyeCream blended with Pearlizer Advanced Anti-Aging Foundation. It is $55. 

Both pots are the same size. Both creams are a firm pressed texture that doesn't move in the container or spill. The EyeCream has a lavender tint to it and the EyeLuminator looks like a firm concealer. I put on both with my ring finger. They blend very easily into moisturized skin without streaking.

So let's begin. For a starting picture, I have this. A picture of me wearing Caramel Apple yesterday on a clean face with no makeup. You can see all of my dark areas and blemishes on my face as I couldn't even find concealer in my car makeup bag to dot some cover-up on my chin. I did wash my face that morning in the shower, but I estimate that I haven't used EyeCream for at least a week. 

To experiment today, I washed my face with Normal to Oily Cleanser and treated it with Climate Control and Normal to Oily Day Moisturizer. I then applied EyeCream to the area under my eyes. Here is a close-up. 

To test how quickly you can see results, I set the timer for ONE HOUR and took another picture. Believe me, I haven't photoshopped these pictures. If I had, I would certainly have made my eyebrows look better. These pictures were taken in the same spot in my living room using the same phone with a flash on. 

What is different? 

• The skin is moisturized and has absorbed the emollients in the cream. You can see the shine on my before picture where the light reflects off the shiny areas. 
• The dark shadows are slightly reduced, especially in the bottom curve of the circle. 
• I have two laugh lines in the before picture that are very prominent right where my lower lash line begins that are diminished in appearance in the after picture. 
• The crepey appearance at the inner corner of my eyes right below my waterline is more prominent in the before picture. 

And that was just an hour. 

Later this evening, I put on EyeLuminator which is another treatment of the same cream, but since EyeLuminator is blended with Pearlizer, it acted as a concealer as well as a treatment. 

With EyeLuminator only, no makeup, on left!

And after blending in a little foundation on the right! 

Is it necessary to have both of these? No. The Eye Cream can be used alone under makeup, but if you are like me and could use a little help evening out your skin tone and appearance under your eyes and want more help during the day than at night, EyeLuminator may be your friend. Nighttime skin care is important because this is when your skin is at rest, but the beauty of EyeLuminator is that it has makeup AND skin care in it so it is treating your skin while you are looking your best...skin care combined with makeup. Great stuff. A little goes a long way. 

If you are interested in purchasing these products or hearing about how to use them together with the Dark Circle Eye Treatment, concealers or MakeSense, please feel free to contact me!