Gifts From NARS

for your makeup lover. or just for yourself.


i just checked out NARS for holiday gifts and they have some beautiful sets for very reasonable prices. i thought i would feature some of my faves for those who need Christmas ideas or are in need of some holiday makeup. i'll be doing a highlight on MAC's holiday collection as well in the very near future. happy shopping! oh,  ps. for those of you who have no idea what NARS is or where it came from, allow me to introduce you to Francois Nars. his makeup is absolutely beautiful to work with, blends wonderfully, stays on, bright pigments and he does a joyous job putting colours together. he's also got incredible names for his shades. . .  one of his most well-known and loved being the "Orgasm" collection. the blush i'm using right now is "Deep Throat". how fun!

Lip Gloss Collection, $40

Best of Lips Palette, $50

Modern Love Palette $55

Everlasting Love Palette, $75

Doucers de Paris, $55

Crazy Heart Lip Gloss Coffret, $50

images via NARS

do you use NARS cosmetics? do you have a favourite product/shade?

This Day Rocks!

HAPPINESS IN EXTREME LEVELS.


for those who don't know already, i FINALLY got a call from MAC for the third interview with the manager who has been helping me all along so needless to say, i think i'm hired! i got the call while waiting for the 'new-hire' papers from H&M as i've just been hired there as well! this is just one heck of a day. i've never been more pleased with The Universe than i am right now. i feel 100% about being on the right path and i haven't felt like this in so long. i'm going to take some time this weekend to sit down and really have a heart to heart with The Universe to show my gratitude and pretty much say "Ahh, you almost had me fooled!". . . but once again, it has come through at the last moment and i'm sure the right moment for the right reasons. this is what i get for being so impatient. i loose hope too fast and from this i will learn.


i'm also working on a couple different photo shoot ideas with one hopefully shot before Christmas. i'm going to start building my makeup portfolio and i also have a new blog in the works! it will be just about my work as an artist and an up-to-date portfolio as soon as i get one going. for the next little while i'm happy to say i'll be learning, researching, looking, studying, training and beaming at the beginning of this new adventure. thanks to all of you for your encouragement and support. your belief in me has truly had a hand in this all coming together. please let me know if i can repay you in any way :)


have a FABULOUS day!


love, the happiest girl on the planet. XO.

Fashion's Night Out

fashion-spration.

i stumbled across these photos on Models.com as i've been heavily researching key players in the fashion scene. and by key players i mean makeup artists. i absolutely love the hairstyles, makeup and wardrobes at this year's Fashion's Night Out Show. especially the makeup and hair of the 1920's style flapper girls - how wonderfully creative of the stylist, artist & hair guru. i love when interesting things are brought to life that are so appealing to the eye. and there's nothing like the human body to catch your attention. i also really like the way the photographers shot these photos. everything is fabulous, just frickin' fabulous!

photography by Betty Sze & Janelle Okwodu

all images via Models.com

Hello November

inside my week.


i slept in today because i got up early yesterday to go to my first spin class in months. if only bed wasn't so inviting. i haven't been a consistent spinner but i'm determined to become one after my class yesterday. it's difficult to walk down the stairs today, my calves feel like they've been beaten repeatedly with a meat tenderizer. the instructor of the class yesterday was half drill sergeant half motivational speaker and is exactly what i need in the morning - to be yelled at (in the kindest way possible) about how great i am, how great i'm going to be and how everything depends on my choice. he's fantastic at what he does and revs you up to the point where i had to stop myself a few times from shouting out "YEAH! I CAN DO THIS! C'MON LETS GO!!!" oh and he had superb spinning music which is a big, BIG part of spinning. i can't wait to go again.


on Monday i had the second interview for MAC which involved bringing a model (i brought Ish.) and going to town on her face. well, not really. that actually would have been much better instructions. there was about 9 of us in my group (4 groups at different times during the day, so roughly about 40 people). we were instructed to do a neutral smokey eye and a bold lip. they told us this about 5 mins prior to going in the room to get ready. i knew exactly what i was going to do to Ashley's face. they gave us 10 mins for the eyes, 10 mins for the face and 10 mins for the lips. long story short . . . i hope they were looking for how we work under pressure and not my best makeup application because there's no way i could have done my best smokey eye in 10 mins. sowwy MAC! they said we would get a call within the week if we passed. still holding my breath. 

( ashley post-MAC-makeover )

posts to come : 

Etsy Faves of the Moment

Coffee Table Books Galore

MAC : A Tartan Tale ( holiday collection! )

Simple Face Tips

smile pretty.
lately, i've been asked by a few girls on how to get flawless skin without breaking the bank. let me just say this, taking good care of your skin will cost you money, but it doesn't have to be hundreds to get the results you're looking for! i have fairly sensitive skin that is extremely prone to redness and breakouts. i burn easy, scar easy and will most likely wrinkle east, however, i do what i can to prevent. here are some simple tips to help maintain flawless skin and beat breakouts if you are a sufferer.


no 1. cheaper skin care lines
low-price point 
*Aveeno ( BEST for sensitive skin )
*Dove ( GOOD for sensitive skin / normal skin )


mid-price point
*NeoStrata ( BEST for anti-wrinkle, blemishes, mild-moderate acne )
*Khiels ( GREAT for anti-aging, acne )
*Clinique ( GREAT for sensitive skin, acne / pigmentation, and mens skin care )
*Aveda ( GOOD for all skin types )


high-price point
*Environ ( BEST for anti-aging, mild-severe acne, vitamin focused )
*La Prairie ( EXPENSIVE! BEST for anti-wrinkle )
*Estee Lauder (GREAT for all skin types, been around forever )


no. 2 vitamins & herbs
not all women want to be on "the pill" to prevent breakouts. although some pills like Ortho-Tricyclen do treat mild-moderate acne, you're still taking hormones which some would argue isn't necessarily a good thing. i try to take holistic roots to most problems and with that being said, here are some natural vitamins & herbs that help your body stay balanced hormonally so that you consistently have clear skin.


*Vitamin A ( acne killer, Acutane, is packed full of Vitamin A )
*Primrose ( i take this daily to prevent PMDD, it's a fatty acid that replaces the fatty acids you loose during your cycle, therefore keeping you as balanced as you can be )
*Hair, Skin & Nail Vitamin ( a vitamin mix including Vitamin B12 & Vitamin A )
*Vitamin C ( always good to take )


no. 3 a good cleanser
a good facial cleanser is extremely important! it is the first step of your face regime. here are some of my favourite cleansers . . .


*NeoStrata Oil-Free Gel Cleanser ( acne prone skin )
*Aveda Purifying Gel Cleanser ( acne prone skin, great for taking makeup off )
*Clinique Liquid Facial Soap ( all skin types )


no. 4 exfoliate 
you must exfoliate once a week. at least! do it in the shower if it's easiest to remember. you don't have to go all fancy with exfoliants . . . many will do the trick. the importance is that you are stripping off any bacteria, dead skins cells & excess oil that will block your pores.


*Laura Mercier Face Polish ( my favourite )


for more tips on beauty maintenance check out My Beauty Secrets post.


hope this helps you take the best care of YOU!

Beauty Inspiration

legends in looking good.

for those of you who don't know, i have an undeniable fascination with the 1940's, 50's and 60's. the woman below are some of the most recognizable faces in the history of film and i wanted to highlight how naturally beautiful they really were. i've said it before and i'm sure i'll say it again . . . these women radiate class. they carried themselves well, left plenty to the imagination and always maintained a simple, yet flawless face.

Grace Kelly

Bridget Bardot

Audrey Hepburn

Liz Taylor

Natalie Wood

Eartha Kitt

Mini Makeup Portfolio

juxt beauty.


guess what is just around the corner? HALLOWEEN! i will always love Halloween because it's a special time of year to get crazy with makeup. unfortunately, i don't have have a fancy makeup portfolio (yet) so i've decided to post some of my makeup moments on here. these are not professional photos and i wish i had some so everyone could see more detail. these are all i have to work with right now! if anyone is looking for help with Halloween makeup (i know some of you take this as seriously as i do!) in the Toronto area, then shoot me an email or a comment. i'm still debating about what i'll be for Halloween this year and will post some of my ideas shortly.

 last year's costume : Lady Gaga

 very fun makeup look!

i also did my friend Mallory's makeup (the fairy!) and helped Adam become a "B-Boy" by outlining his goatee ( click to enlarge )

my favourite model : Ashley aka Ish as Audrey Hepburn

me as Marilyn Monroe Halloween 2006

Ashley as a "Slutty Witch" ( i did both our makeup )

last year's Christmas party : Megan Fox inspired click here to see ( click to enlarge )

Ashley out on the town : a natural smokey-eye and nude lips

Christmas celebrations : wearing my plum lipstick that was inspired by Megan Fox

Valentine's Day look : creamy pale lips with bronze and browns on the eyes

Ashley's birthday : candy pink lips and light eyes to bring out the blue : hair also done by me

peachy-keen : light, irredecent eyes and pale lips, peach cheeks and lots of mascara

rocker : Ashley's smokey eye and my fuchsia lips

 my new year's eve look : dark eyes, defined brows and light lips

Ashley with light purple smokey eyes with a peachy-pink center! my favourite pale lips with rosy cheeks

for makeup inquiries please email me at fussyjussyblog@gmail.com

Summer splurging...

i'm not high maintenance, i just like nice things.


i wanted to share with you some of my favourite products i've acquired this summer. not that i define myself by designer brands but i'm not going to lie . . . it is nice once in a while :) and c'mon, i spent an entire month working at Bloomingdales . . .  it was bound to happen.

( Michael Kors watch, 'rose gold' )

( Ray Ban aviators, 'silver' )

( Laura Mercier face polish, use in AM 3 times/wk )

( Rachel Roy wedges, 'makena' )

( Lush Honey Trap, lip balm *THE BEST* )

( Tory Burch flip flop, 'lipstick pink spring' )

( Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess, shimmer body lotion )

( Shiseido lipstick, BE109 *best nude lip* )

i hope everyone is having a fun, relaxing summer! enjoy it while it lasts . . . XO.

Yeah! Films Company kicks Toronto rioters in butt...

Holy Moly Poly.

Wow, what a whirlwind. From the moment we decided to pack up and head back to the "true great North" it has been insane pulling it all together in a timely manner. I started a brand new job in cosmetics which I am having so much fun with so between all the training, packing, selling, organizing, closing, and digesting, it has left me little time to focus on my blog. Although I won't be documenting my journey through Los Angeles anymore, I'm excited to embark on my next adventure. My plan when arriving in Canada is to still continue to pursue singing and acting but also start a career in makeup. I've been doing makeup for my friends and family members since I was in elementary school so I think it will be a fun way to make money while still keeping my dreams afloat.

In other news, my brother's good friend Miguel Barbosa (founder of Yeah! Films Company) managed to capture and regurgitate a brilliant montage of the riots and protesters wreaking havoc on the streets of Toronto during the G20 Summit. It's incredibly sad and disgusting that mankind see's a World Peace gathering as a good opportunity to display how angry they are with themselves and the world. It's a prime example of how many human beings would behave if there were ever to be a national emergency... like complete and utter animals. Tell me folks, really, what differentiates us from an average pack of wild dogs? The minute some asshole realizes there's a small moment in time they think the can get away with hitting police cars with sticks (they look like pathetic caveman) or even setting one on fire, anything human about them disappears - they turn into rabid dogs looking to bite anything just for the sake of infecting.

As a whole, I truly wonder how far along the evolution path we really are. This shit needs to change. On the up side - Miguel's vid has been picked up by tons of Canadian news sources and has a acquired almost 37,000 hits on YouTube. Check it out for yourself here.

Way to go Miguel!

M·A·C Cosmetics: Rockin' Summer Beauty

Go nuts with colour!

Summer has arrived and with the fun-in-the-sun attitude comes along tons of fun makeup looks! I am a huge MAC Cosmetics fan and I've decided to highlight a few of their summer collections... that I am in LOVE with. This year, it's obvious everyone is going wild with the 80s look and feel (with a modern spin of course), everything is studded, bedazzled, leathered, ripped, washed, faded, tight, and almost gives a little punch to your senses when you look at it. Well, with makeup its all about bright colors and lots of glow. Most people tend to get into a comfort zone when it comes to applying makeup - same colours, same routine, same look - well throw that idea out the car window while driving really fast because it's time to brighten things up. 

Embrace the colours and freedoms of this year's fashions and let your wild side out. It will feel good... I promise. If you've got a party to attend or just a night on the town, take full advantage of going the extra mile on your face. It's like painting a beautiful picture that you get to show everyone... all night! Here are some invigorating colour palettes to keep your eye on and some of my personal favs...

( spring 2010 collection : check it out here )

( lipstick: made to order $14; eye pencil: NC15 NW20 $14.50 )

( paint pot: coral crepe $16.50 )

( blush: instant chic $18.50 )

( collection : prep for color, check it out here )

( lipgloss: prep for color $14 *hot fuchsia, so fun!* )

( collection : art supplies, check it out here )

( pro longwear lipstain marker: dirty red coral $16; greaspaint stick $17.50 )

MAC always rocks the boat but this season is just brilliant. I suggest 

you run to your closest store to check it out in person. Enjoy exploring all the different sides of your personality. The whole point to makeup is to be creative and use your imagination - so get to work!