Vanity Jealousy

These vanities are perfect.

Some good inspiration to re-vamp your station!

Beauty Queen: Azealia Banks

Can we please just take a few seconds to admire a true beauty? This Harlem based female rapper is as real as it gets in both music and beauty.

There's an energy about her that is so bubbly and energetic, love it! She's the gorgeous dark skinned barbie doll I always wanted!

My only regret is not snatching up her MAC collab when I had the chance.

Beauty Giveaway!

In celebration of The Beauty Vault reaching 1000 views, I'm doing a little giveaway!

Here's what you'll get:

-A Clinique Travel 3 Step of your choice (dry or oily)

-China Glaze polish in Pelican Gray

-Clinique lipstick in Bamboo Pink

-Clinique mini Lash Doubling mascara

-Beyond the Zone Color Buzz (hair chalk) in Pop Pink

-A Clinique Breast Cancer Awareness Pin

The winner will be chosen at random on September 30th.

I will contact the winner by email and you will have 3 days to respond.

If the winner hasn't responded by October 3rd, a new winner will be selected.
Prize will be shipped to US residents only (sorry)!

Leave me your name and a valid email address to be entered! 

Beauty Inspiration: Runway

I spy new trends starting! Looks that are hot on the runway can always be tweaked for everyday wear. What's The latest in couture? 

Jewel Tones & Metallics

Prabal Gurung is sporting blue shadow.

Chanel's deep plum lip shades.

Stella McCartney does purpley-blue mascara.

Smoky metallics for Armani Prive.

Roberto Cavalli does both metallics and jewel tones.

I'm loving these trends because they are super wearable.

-Erin

Clinique Beauty Advisor

Well you guys and gals, I got the job!!
I am now a Clinique Beauty Advisor.
I'm super excited to get started in my new career!
I will keep you all posted on how it's going.

Introduction

Wow. I just realized that I haven't taken much time to introduce myself on this blog.
I'm Erin, I live in Minnesota, I'm 20 years old. I'm a licensed cosmetologist without a job.
I've always had a passion for the beauty industry and after high school I decided to take it a step further and enroll in the cosmetology program at the Aveda Institute Minneapolis.
I took class there from January 2011-January 2012. After that I was completely broke and moved back with my parents about 2 hours away from Minneapolis. I'm currently looking for a steady job while doing some freelance work on the side.
I do my family and friends hair, and I've been getting more and more interested in makeup.
I hope to keep you guys and gals updated as I continue my journey through the world of beauty.
If anybody has any questions about anything from cosmetology school, the industry in general, products I've used, Aveda, whatever... I'm totally willing to help you out!
-Erin

6/20

What a day today!
So first I went to the dentist with my mom, dropped her off at the doctor, and while I was waiting for her I got a call from the manager of a Clinique counter in my area for an interview!
I would love love love to be a representative for any makeup line- but how lucky would I be to get started with Clinique! I'm gonna need to be super prepared for this interview since my dream job is to be a makeup artist, which I will get to do some of at the counter. I'm sososososo excited for this and really hope I get the job! better get studying ;)
-Erin

Makeup

I have always been obsessed with beauty. I'd rather spend my money on nice makeup and hair products than go out for the night.

Lately I've been obsessed with one thing: makeup. More specifically MAC makeup.

I spend all my free time on the computer watching videos by MAC artists, fantasizing about my next purchase, oogling over the new trends I love.

I think it's finally time to take the leap and start building up a professional makeup kit. 

My first step will be to apply for the MAC pro discount- why don't I already have this?!

I've already completed cosmetology school and am licensed, so it should be easy enough.

Then I'm going to need to build my kit. I will need brushes, applicators, cleansers, eyelash curlers, cases, business cards, and of course, makeup. I need to remember to stick to basics for now, but I'm always so distracted by the avantgarde work on the runway. This is gonna get costly. I'll need different shades of foundations, concealers, powders, blushes, bronzers, shadows, liners, lipsticks, glosses- you name it.

I have the money in savings, but I'm going to need to start generating income if I spend my savings...

I'm lucky enough that my parents let me move back home. I feel like it's now or never.

I never want to get settled in to a job, I'm always seeking change.

I feel like working as a freelance artist will help me to do this in a healthy way.

Not to mention, a salon job has never been my first choice. I love having freedom.

I already have a gig lined up but I don't have a kit yet! I'm hoping since it's just my sister and her friends I will be working on, I won't have to worry too much about it- especially since I'm doing it for free :p

I have plenty of my own makeup already, I just need more!

The thing that scares me about this industry is not always having steady paying work.

I'll probably need to find another job to be able to make some money at first.

Any of you established makeup artists out there- I'd love to hear your stories for some inspiration.

Also any advice you can share is greatly appreciated.

-Erin