This weekend I was one of 8 bloggers to be invited to be a part of the South Coast Plaza Style 2011 event in Costa Mesa. I got to play with makeup and talk to other people who love makeup as much as I do!

MAC Posh Paradise

The event was kicked off Friday morning with the MAC Posh Paradise Exhibit. Models with exotic body paint posed in foliage surrounded by neon lights. MAC reps gave us a beauty demonstration using the new, gorgeous colors. I liked the technique called “the zipper” which was basically using a solid, dark color all over the lid and all the way up to the eyebrow – and putting a shimmery, lighter color in the middle. It’s called “the zipper” because it opens up the eye. Surprisingly wearable!

MAC Makeup

The lovely Amy Beth did my makeup using the new Matchmaster SPF 15 foundation, the Posh Paradise Hyperviolet paint pot (a rich purple) and a gold shimmer for the highlight. I really dig the foundation because it uses translucent pigments that give you great coverage while looking completely natural. After the show, I went to the MAC store and picked up the Nubile paint pot. It’s a nice, warm nude – perfect beneath almost any shadow or used alone to give you that “Yes boss – I’m awake!” look. The Genuine Treasure paint pot is also really pretty – a green/beige shimmer. I may have to pick that one up too.

Bare Escentuals Makeup

The next morning, I went to my post at Bare Escentuals to meet the friendly and talented staff, learn more about the new products and chat with customers about makeup trends.  The super sweet store manager, Traci, did my makeup. Since I was wearing a ’50s inspired polka dot dress, we decided to use the Drop Dead Gorgeous collection. Traci is definitely a pro and I received a lot of compliments on the look. (Side note: I was having a wardrobe malfunction, so I bought some cute bunny stud earrings from H&M to replace the buttons on my dress. It worked surprisingly well!)

Bare Escentuals - Traci and Me

The new Ready pressed eyeshadows are the new buzz around the store (and around the blogosphere). This is the first time Bare Escentuals has offered pressed mineral eyeshadow. The company did not want to offer it until they could come up with a process that allowed NO parabens, fillers or binders (that’s why they’re called “Ready” because they were finally ready to launch this type of shadow).

Ready pressed mineral eyeshadow

The new colors are SO highly pigmented and (in my opinion) easier to work with. I have never quite mastered the swirl, tap, buff application, but after hanging out with Traci, I realize it’s actually not that hard. The secret to avoiding fallout is to TAP, TAP, TAP – until no more pigment falls from your brush. The Ready eyeshadows come in a variety of colors; You can buy them in duos or quads. I love that they contain antioxidants, caffeine, marine extracts (from marine plants – not animals), borage oil and cucumber ingredients to smooth, firm and brighten the eye area.

The best part of the event for me was seeing Nadine from Nadine Jolie and meeting fellow beauty/style bloggers: Michelle and Christopher from Fashion Trends Daily, Stef & Tyna from We Heart This and Mary from The Recessionista. Beauty bloggers are awesome – such a friendly and fun bunch!

Jen