How I got my Mac Pro Card

I did a recent haul and am currently having a giveaway here on my blog in which some recent products I purchased from MAC using my new Pro Discount Card. I got a few comments already on the haul video on my YouTube, thus I decided I would answer the age old question:

How did you Apply and Get Approved for the MAC Pro Card???

Honestly I did a bit of research on the internet, mostly looking on YouTube videos about how the every day person could attempt to apply for the Pro Discount card.

Now, if you don't already know, I do claim to be a Freelance Make Up Artist (although my website is sadly needing a huge update with pictures from shoots I have done work for).  My Facebook page for my Make up is where I do tend to post recent pictures from various shoots and make overs I have done here in the local German area. I have been very fortunate enough to have met and befriended a few local photographers that have given me enough exposure (and clients) to where I am hoping to continue to work and grow as an artist. As well as expand my portfolio to showcase all the different aspects of my work. 

My Make Up Facebook Page

The most informative video I found about the actual items you would need to apply as a freelance Artist came from fellow YouTube Laura AKA Laura62484. 

I'm including her video so you can see it yourself!

Considering I have an official website, and I was approved for a Model Mayhem Account (this is a network for Photographers, Models, MUA, Hairstylists, Clothing Designers, Retouchers, ETC). I decided to attempt to apply for various MUA discount cards. 

I actually applied and was accepted by OCC Pro card on Feb 23, 2011 (which is free, that is a discount of 20%. I have yet to sign up for any others as I need to actually look at their websites and just haven't gotten around to doing it yet.

I don't know what really made me decide to attempt to get the MAC card, I think it was more because I know alot of friends and clients prefer that brand. And there are a few products that I have in my personal collection and also in my Professional Kit that are from MAC (that I actually do like using). So I figured what the heck, the only spending I'm really willing to do. I figured with the savings on the products (as the MUA discount is 40% off of products) I would be saving the amount that I spent on the actual application (fee is $35). 

The application online is simple enough, it the other paperwork (especially if you have no formal training like myself) that you need to actually work on yourself. Mind you, when I had thought about applying for the MAC Pro Card I had asked one of the photographers I have worked with regularly if he would write me a letter of recommendation for the card.  Sadly this was taking quite long, thus after watching Laura's video I decided to check out the wonderful world of VistaPrint.Com and come up with a few things!

Business Card

Considering when I was first starting off I was using some really ghetto computer printed card. Just so that I had something to hand to a person, if they were interested in make up. Or when I first started working with photographers. I KNEW I NEEDED to upgrade, thus I decided at the time I should do it!

I personally designed my business card, at the website of Vistaprint.Com they have all different types of templates. Thus I did borrow some of the template, but then made it my own with adding the picture on it. Yes, that is me....rocking my Barbie Girl Make Up from Halloween tutorial I did last year! I figured might as well put my face on the card, so that even if I had my card passed amongst others. If they were to see me in the post office on base or at the commissionary (the grocery store on base) they would know who I am. 

Composition Card

Again another design by me and this is on an Oversized Postcard

Ideally what a composition card is a mock of of some of the various work you have done as an Artist. Yes, the center picture is the largest of costume make up (and yes it's my mister...at the time that I did this. I was the most proud of how he had come out. Still am actually). And yes, you will see me in the corner again as well (though it's because I didn't really have too many other pictures at the time to choose from). I more than likely when funds are more available and when I have used up more of these cards (whether as postcards or comp cards for MUA discount cards). I will redo my comp card and keep more editioral, fashion, costume looks together and have the more bridal, natural and more basic on another. 

It was including these two different pieces of identification that allowed me to get approved for the MAC Pro discount card. I must say it did take quite some time for me to find out I was approved. I had all my business cards and Comp cards in by the middle of March, thus I'm thinking I sent out my application early April. 

Funny how things work out, as my credit card (that I had submitted with my application) was charged the intial fee on May 30, 2011. Though I would not receive my official email welcoming me to the Pro Discount Card Membership until June 6,2011 (how do you like them apples?).

The hard copy of the card was mailed to my address in the states on June 29, 2011 and received about 5 days later.

**IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Considering I am living internationally at the time that I applied for the card (and the MAC site would not take an APO address to it's address file). I had to use my permanent address which is my parents address! 

I have made a few purchases already to MAC using my discount, though it sucks not to be able to use the discount and get free shipping (but I guess there is always a little give and take). 

Anyways, if I reapply to renew my discount card from MAC next year...I have yet to decide for now. I feel that having two MUA Discount cards to two different brands is pretty good. Especially considering I have no formal education when it comes to make up application!!!

Sharing is Caring: August 2011

It has been a bit since I have done one of these on my blog....and since the summer is coming to a close (with this upcoming weekend being the last in August). Hard to believe that Fall now is just around the corner. Though at the same time it's exciting just because Halloween will be here, followed by my birthday, anniversary with my mister, and then the holiday season!!!!

Thus it's time for a little GIVEAWAY!!!!

Up for Grabs

MAC's Jealousy Wakes Eyeshadow from Bloggers' Obessession Collection 

ELF Essential Hypershine Lipgloss in Flirt

Yup, I have decided to spoil someone (preferably a loyal blog reader) with some lovely make up goodies. If you read my blog you already know I purchased and swatched MAC's Jealousy Wakes. Well what I hadn't mentioned was the I had gotten a second one, because I have always thought that "Sharing is Caring".

So let's get to the rules of how to win these lovely prizes!!!

• Must be a subscriber to this blog
• Must be 18 yrs and up or have parent permission (as I will need an address to ship the prize to)
• Must comment to this blog entry, telling me of a time you did something nice for someone else (be as specific as you want).  CAN ONLY ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY ONCE WITH A COMMENT*

This giveaway runs from Tuesday, August 23rd

This giveaway ends Monday, September 5th

so exactly two weeks!!!!

This giveaway is OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!!

Winner will be announced on Tuesday, September 6th on my blog

*Additional ways to earn and extra chance for this giveaway (so an additional entry).

1. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet the following statement to me

        "Has @SoCalGrlNGerman says Sharing is Caring.  And I'm all about SHARING!!!"

     2. If you have a blog, do a short blog entry about a time you shared or cared for someone else ( I like to read what you have done). Plus at the end of the blog, talk about this blog giveaway and link it to the post. Once you have blogged about it, send me the link and I will make sure to check it out!!! 

               You can tweet me the link or email me the link at: Socalswthrt1107@yahoo.com

Thus you have a total of 2 additional chances to enter. Giving you an overall total of 3 entries to win (if you so chose to). 

Please keep in mind, I'm doing this giveaway because I enjoy sharing good products with others who appreciate it as much as I do. I have purchased these items with my OWN money. So I do hope there aren't any hard feelings once the winner is announced!!! 

Hope everyone enjoys this little giveaway!!! And rememember

SHARING IS CARING!!!

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Mac's Bloggers' Obsession: Jealousy Wakes

Now, if you have been following me for a bit (especially if you watch my YouTube videos) you know I have for the most part not purchased much from MAC Cosmetics. I don't mind Back to Mac products, plus I have picked up a Mineralize SkinFinish as my touch up powder.

However with the release of the Bloggers' Obesession Limited Edition Collection, I decided to take the plunge and pick up one item from its release. **Mind you, the main reason I really wanted anything from this collection is because of who helped designed something for it.**

If you are anyway into the online (YouTube) beauty community you know who Temptalia is (Christine Mielke) . She is my personal (and I don't doubt many) go to beauty guru for swatches, first impressions, reviews for any major release of products within a beauty brand. She personally is my idol when it comes to beauty blogging, as she is through, straight to the point and very easy to read/understand. 

Mac Cosmetics approached her (as well as several other beauty bloggers) to come up with their own unique (and I would say signature) product. Considering Christine is reown for her swatches, I personally thought it was pretty awesome that she decided to do an eyeshadow.

Jealousy Wakes

According to the MAC website " JEALOUSY WAKES, A SEETHING EMERALD GREEN WITH TEAL AND GOLD PEARL, IS INSPIRED BY THE SPARK OF ENVY IGNITED AND FUELED BY FEAR – TRANSLATED INTO A VELVETY SMOOTH BLEND OF RICH EMERALD KISSED BY THE SPARKLE OF TEAL FINISHED FLASH OF GOLD" 

Not Necessarily the greatest up close picture

But you can see the lovely golden reflects spread out throughout the shadow.

I personally do not have any shadows within my MAC collection SIMILAR to Jealousy Wakes. I do think Christine did a perfect job of creating a unique and beautiful shadow. 

Swatches

**The order that these swatches are as follows: Dry (no base), Dry (on Urban Decay primer Potion), Wet (On Urban Decay primer potion). I used my finger to swatch the product on my skin (which is my inner wrist). Please 

keep in mind I'm in between a MAC NC25 to NC 30.

Without Flash 

With Flash

I'm personally quite happy to have this color in my collection, as of course it's one I do not have. But also to an extent it's in HOMAGE to the wonderful Christine (aka temptalia). 

If you haven't picked up anything from the Bloggers' Obessession Collection, I would at least take a gander at the website (since they are only available online..which is sad..but whatever works).

Keep an eye out for a special blog post about Bloggers!!!

It's all about MAC...Lipsticks....

So after much thought I decided it was time to slowly go through my large personal make up collection and start posting most swatches ...plus it kinda gives me an idea of what all I have. If you are a make up junkie about half the time you gravitate towards certain colors or formulas. Thus really digging through and swatching your collection can help organize, realize and recatergorize!!! ha ha 

Considering I don't have to many actual MAC lipsticks, I figured I would start off first with them. As when I truely first got into make up, my first major make up purchase (which was really a gift) was for MAC.

FROST

No FLASH

                                 Pictured left to right: Rambling Rose, Creme de la Femme, Angel



Rambling Rose Lipstick

    Peachy Melon with gold reflects. This color is a great early spring and summer. I actually got this lipstick from a friend that I use to work with (she was cleaning out her lipsticks and this was one she didn't care for anymore). It was my go to color since she gave it to me which was March...I just paired it off with a pinky lipgloss when I was paler. Now that it is summer it's perfect to wear on it's own.

 Flash

 NO Flash

Me wearing Rambling Rose

Creme De La Femme Lipstick

   Soft Pinky/muave with gold shimmer. Another lipstick I picked up again based off of EmilyNoel83's suggestion (yup she is my go to girl for lipstick suggestions). It's a nice pink that I think can go good with any skintone. Even at the point of my tan right now, I can still pull it off. It gives me nice healthy looking lips!!!

Flash

NO Flash

Wearing Creme De La Femme

Angel Lipstick

   Baby pink with shimmer. This lipstick was actually my first Back to MAC product via mail. I chose this color based off of EmilyNoel83's love for the color. Although it's a pinky color, I love how it soft so to add just a bit of femininity to a look. However, I prefer to wear this when I'm paler...as I feel with me being so middle ground tan...it washes me out a bit.  

Flash

NO Flash

Wearing Angel

Frost Lipsticks with FLASH

Final thoughts with Frosts: Most of the lipsticks will be pretty packed with glitter...which can dry out your lips. Plus leave a glittery residue all over your lips, even after wiping throughly with a make up wipe. I like the colors I currently have, though I am thinking I'm going to try to stay away from these type from now on.

LUSTRE

NO Flash
Left to right: Plumful and Sheer Plum

Plumful Lipstick

   Soft plummy/berry color. This was the 1st darker color in my collection of MAC lipsticks, I wanted to try something different (exact words to the sales girl in Nordstorm..as I was exchanging something a friend had given me because I didn't like the color). This lipstick was my first babystep into trying wine colored lipsticks, and considering I have black hair now. I think this color looks fabulous anytime (I don't believe lipstick is only day time or night time appropriate. I wear what I want...when I want!).

Flash

NO Flash

Wearing Plumful

Sheer Plum Lipstick

  Medium brown with a slight berry undertone. Do not be fooled by the name of this lipstick!!! This was another lipstick that my friend from work had given me (stating it was too dark for her skin tone). I don't really know how I feel about this color, true it brings out the brown in my eyes. But I just don't know if I like it or not (all pale skintones stay away from this color!!!).

Flash

NO Flash

Wearing Sheer Plum

Lustre Lipsticks with FLASH

Final Thoughts on Lustre Lipsticks: I like this formulation well enough, you can really build up the color and intensity of a color by reapplying. As the first coat or two is slightly sheer, thus you can change the look of your lips. I'm thinking I want to get another lipstick or two of this type in some different colors and continue to layer and see the difference.

VIVA GLAMS 

NO FLASH
Left to Right: Lady Gaga 2, Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga Viva Glam Lipstick * Lustre

   Baby Pink with hint of purple. This was the color of the season in spring 2010, considering I was going through my huge pink faze. I had to have this color in my collection (and I have found a European Brand Dupe for this exact color. It's my Astor...and I have it in my kit). I only used half of this color in 2010...and I will randomly pull it out now. However I do prefer to rock it when I'm lighter...verses being tanned as I am now. 

Flash

NO Flash

Wearing Lady Gaga

Viva Glam Lady Gaga 2 Lipstick *Amplified

  Perfect Nude lip color. This is the color of the current 2011 season for Viva Glam colors. Everyone kept saying how it was a perfect blend of two different (and popular) nude lipsticks. I got this lipstick because I wanted to try out the nude lip, and while it looks great on me when I'm pale. It looks HORRID now...this lipstick I foreseen being used rarely in my collection. 

Flash

NO Flash

Wearing Lady Gaga 2

Flash

Final Thoughts on Viva Glam Lipsticks: The formula for these lipsticks differ slighly, as they are different types within the MAC brand. I believe it really is important to have a Viva Glam lipstick in a MAC collection (as the total profit from the sale of a Viva Glam lipstick goes to cancer research). I like Lady Gaga is is more than likely why I purchased her Viva Glam Lipsticks. I do want to try other Viva Glam colors and see how they look. Plus I know my money (that I'm willing to spend at MAC) goes to a good cause.

AMPLIFIED

Show Orchid Lipstick

  bright fuschia pink with a duo chrome of purpley/green. I have blogged about this lipstick already (and it's drug store dupe..that is also in my collection). This has been my new favorite lipstick to rock this summer, as its bright, pretty and can make a simple make up look pulled together. I think every female should have a bright/statement color as Show Orchid is. I got this color in my most recently Back to MAC mailing because of VintageorTacky (she is my second favorite lip product go to girl).

NO Flash

Wearing Show Orchid

Final Thoughts on Amplified Lipsticks: The color payoff to this type of formula is nice, it's easy to apply and keeps your lips moisturized. To make the color darker or pop, just build with layers of the product. 

MATTE

NO Flash
Left to Right: Wild 'Bout You and Russian Red

Wild 'Bout You Lipstick

   Deep Rich Berry/fuchsia. This is another lipstick color I got from my friend and I totally DIG it! Especially having dark hair and dark eyes, it really gives that sex kitten (semi gothy) spin. Plus it's something totally different if you wanted to do a Modern day Pin Up, bringing it to the 2011 era (ha ha). 

 

Flash

NO Flash

Wearing Wild 'Bout  You

Russian Red Lipstick

  True Blue toned Red color. This is the infamous red lipstick to have if you like MAC, because it is one of two matte reds (the other being Ruby Woo) offered in the line. True there are several drug store dupes to Russian Red, but whenever I think of Pin Up (or Kat Von D). I automatically think of Russian Red!! Plus I always feel ubber sexy when I'm wearing it!!!

Flash

NO Flash

Wearing Russian Red

Flash


Final Thoughts of Matte Lipsticks: I actually really enjoy mattes, I think I need to put a few more into my collection. The one thing about matte lipsticks is you need to make sure that your lips are moisturized first before putting it on (as it will show flakey lips). I like to use a sugar lip scrub once a week to help with this issue (but especially if I plan on wearing one of these colors).

Random Discontinued Products

SlimShine Lipstick

NO Flash
Color: Kissable

This lipstick I received from my friend (yes she did hook me up with alot of MAC make up at the time...she is amazing!!!). The texture of this lip product is interesting because it reminds me of a liquidy lipstick...as if you mixed lipstick and lipgloss together and put it into a tube. The color itself is a soft bubble gum pink and the actual pigmentation reminds me of a gloss. 

Flash

NO Flash

Wearing Kissable

Final Thoughts on this product: I can see why this lipstick didn't really last long...however it's something different to have. Though I would've never paid money for the product. Thank Goodness for good friends!

                               Flash                                                    NO Flash
Pictured: Top Row: Rambling Rose, Creme De La Femme, Angel
                Bottom Row: Viva Glam Lady Gaga 2, Viva Glam Lady Gaga



          NO Flash                                                                      Flash
Pictured Top Row: Show Orchid
               Middle Row: Wild 'Bout You, Russian Red
               Bottom Row: Plumful , Sheer Plum

My Collection

                             
   NO Flash                                                                             Flash

Final Thoughts:

I don't think you need to have a MAC lipstick collection, I think that one MAC lipstick is good to have. Just so you can compare what you have already to what most people within the beauty refer to in their make up talk.