Graduation/ Commencement Ceremony Tips/Tutorial

Ah Graduation!  This event can and is (for me) one of my top ten life events.  An event that is momentous and one works so hard towards it for it to pass by like a blur. 

I decided to post on graduation ceremonies and give tips and tricks.  This is just so my blogreaties can plan ahead and soak up every last second of the experience so you can create great memories.

These tips are for all graduates, of both high school and college.  You can choose to accept them but I encourage everyone to be yourself, be creative but still abide by all rules that can be associated with it.  (But at least try to push it).

I would recommend your look for the day to be clean and classic.  Automatic thoughts that came to my head on graduation was just go crazy,  this is my day!  Now I think back and wish that I didn't dye my hair bright red!   (Man what was I thinking)  BUT i also regret that I didn't dress up just a little for my college graduation.  My photos are reminders of my regrets.  "Ewwe Red Hair" for high school and "awe,  you look tired" for college.

In regards to makeup,  for this occasion, it should only be used to enhance your natural beauty.  This is not prom so your makeup should not copy that.  Though you should work on your techniques for making your makeup last.  Look into long lasting formulas and a foundation that has a SPF.  You will be in the sun and your makeup should hold up for photos after.

My Suggestion - Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation: Primer, concealer and foundation in one.  The coverage is fantastic and the finish is flawless, plus it has an spf of 20. 

Keep application light and even if the makeup makeup melts a bit it will give a flawless natural look for the photos at the end.

For hair -  also keep it simple and classic.  I put rollers in for cute face framing curls.  Stay away from up-dos. You want to keep the top of your head flat and minimal on product to put your cap on and stay in place for ceremony.  Since the cap is so close you will get major hat hair.

Your graduation cap or motor board as scholars want to say is standard regardless of color. The pointed end should go in front. Bobbi Pins should be helpful for both guys and girls to pin that sucker to the head. This is the fun part. If the ceremony permits, your motor boards is sometimes the only place you can decorate. Be creative, but really make it your own so your family can identify you from the sea of students that are dressed exactly like you.

If you do not want ruin your cap or want to regret your design, electrical, painters and or duct tape should do the trick. These types of tape are sticky yet removable with minimal residue.

Here are my BIG tips for you.

• Tip #1 - Know and the follow the Rules. -  This is for you and for your friends and family.  All ceremonies have rules and they all have the consequence of to either not participate or be ask to leave. Read the commencement website if they have one and/or call the hotline provided on the information you get regarding the ceremony.  Read the rules on decorating your cap and things like that.  Also I don't know what else will be the fastest way to piss off family members if they get to the front  of the line and find out that the balloons they brought are not permitted and they have to bring it BACK to the car. 
• Rules to ask about:
• what guests are allowed to bring to the venue (i.e. strollers, balloons, coolers etc.)
• what you can or cannot wear and/or put to decorate your cap & gown.
• What time to tell your guest to show up.  ( you don't want to be embarrassed that YOUR family are the disruptive late ones)
• Tip #2  Wear Sunscreen -  Must must must!!!  Your guests may be undercover but you the graduates will not.  You can even get sunburned on a cloudy day.  Sometimes they have photographers there to take a pic when you receive the diploma and you do not wan to look like a sunburned frat boy.  (yes,  that happened to me :(
• Tip #3 Wear Comfortable SHOES!!! -  Your gowns are based on height if you need to wear heels because of your gown then you need to get ANOTHER gown.  Think about it,  you will be standing in line for sometimes up to 2 hours prior to walking out and it won't be on smooth pavement.  Your procession may have you walking on gravel and/or uneven flooring.  Your Louboutins will kill your feet and any hopes to have happy memories.

This post might sound like a bunch of orders but these are merely suggestions based on my own experiences.  I want my blogreaties to enjoy and cherish the experience of graduation.  You guys worked so hard and devoted so many years for this moment to walk across the stage and receive your diploma.  (secret info: no one actually receives their diploma during the ceremony.  It will either be picked up after or sent to you,  check with your school)

Congratulations, Graduates!  Have Fun -  I would love to read comments on your experiences.  Also tell me if you agree with my suggestions.

Back from RuPual's DragCon

 

RuPaul's DragCon, the first drag convention in HerStory!

What did she say it is a mash up of Comic-Con, Beauty-Con and Hello Kitty- Con all together in, (honestly) a surprisingly pleasant experience.  Yea I know.  Blogreaties if you know anything about me,  you will know that I tend not to do things the normal way.  I always like to do something that is a bit unique.  So a drag convention,  why not go in drag?  A drag king!

 

I wanted to take advantage of my short hair and try a johnny depp-esk look.  So my makeup friend Annette and I dragged up and shipped off to the Los Angeles Convention Center.  Try walking the streets of LA being 5',1" at 8am in the morning and being in drag.  I looked like a drunk Filipino man.

Why a man AngelPacific?  Well there was no way I was going to compete with men whose job is to look like a drop dead gorgeous female.  No woman could even compete.

 

I was clearly there just for the makeup.  All the makeup tables had decent discounts that I am very proud the I sort of retrained myself.  It had  all my favorites.  NYX Cosmetics, Kryolan, and BH Cosmetics.  Plus some of my favorite stores like Naimie's and Nigels Beauty Emporium.

 

I found a new store that I immediately placed another order online as soon as I got home.  Lady Moss Beauty.  Check it out. LadyMoss.com  They carry  brands like Nyx, LA Girl and Jordana.  Also its the nice stuff not the old products like some other websites.

 

AngelPacific, what about the drag queens?  Um yea there were some.  A lot.  that was where all the lines were for.  That's why I was able to make my way to all the makeup tables.

 

 

RuPaul's Drag Con would be my third or fourth "makeup trip"  and I have to say that this was the least pretentious, most polite, relaxing experience I have had.  Everyone there was so nice.  The message of the con was RESPECT and I think everyone honored it.  Was it because the pretty girls who get the attention at Gen Beauty and such couldn't compete with queens with attitude.  But all the girls were so friendly.  Even though there were so many crowds and lines,  no one was rude or pushy.

I had to go.  Who can say they went to the first one?  Over 13 thousand can and I was one of them.  The second one I know will be bigger and probably more expensive.  they will have to expand.  But they already have the dates for next years,  anyone want to go with me?

 

 

Got to GO: RuPaul's DragCon 2015

 

DRAG QUEENS!!! AWESOME!!!

Ok so I went to IMATS and GenBeauty. But now the mecha of makeup that can only be appreciated by the ones that we always secretly attain to be,  DRAG QUEENS.

RuPaul's DragCon,

Yes Please.

OMG I love the makeup, the wigs, the costumes, the ATTITUDE!!  I want to let my blogreaties know that I intend to attend and you know I Betta WORK!  I will keep you posted.

Makeup Haul from across the pond (UK)

Makeup enthusiast, lovers and artists already know the up and coming products from the United states, be it high end or drugstore.  But what about venturing out  and buying makeup products from another country?

I bought makeup from two websites that cater towards makeup lovers from the United Kingdom. Life & Looks and Makeup Revolution.

I tried to get a variety of items but if I am spending my own money I might as well get stuff that I want to get.  Which can be pretty much summed up to, eyeshadow palettes and foundations.

This post is just a haul.  I will try to post reviews on the products and my experiences with these websites at a later time

Products From Life & Looks

GOSH

X-Ceptional Wear Foundation (16 Golden)

Light and smooth to apply. Gives a natural coverage and feels very even and flexible without drying out or leaving the skin feeling ”encapsulated”.

USD -$10.11

GBP - £7.10

Leichner

Camera Clear Tinted Foundation (Blend of Beige)

World famous Leichner Foundation is a professional foundation used by Photographic studios, television, theater and professional make-up artists worldwide. It provides the perfect base for applying cosmetics.

USD -$5.68

GBP - £4.00

Rimmel

Provocalips (Kiss Fatal & Kiss Me You Fool)

and Apocalips (Celestrial & Stellar)

I know you are probably asking,  "But AngelPacific, you can get that in the US?"  Yes but you also know when these products came out all the popular colors were already picked through.  This was my chance to get the colors i wanted.  the prices were a lot more but at least I got the colors i wanted.  I should have just waited a little longer.

Products From Makeup Revolution

Ultra 32 Shade Eyeshadow Palette FLAWLESS MATTE	USD -$11.80 GBP - £8.00
Salvation Palette Colour Chaos	USD -$8.85 GBP - £6.00
Full Pure Black Heart Eyeshadow Collection	USD -$7.37 GBP - £5.00

Atomic Lipstick (Make It Right) & Lip Power (Its My Life)

USD -$1.47 -  USD -$4.42

GBP - £1.00 - GBP - £3.00

The ONE Foundation (in Shade 5)

USD -$5.68

GBP - £4.00

So if you are like me and marches to the beat of a different drum, I encourage to get out of you comfort zone and take a chance with products from another country.  These products are not readily available so I think I have a secret weapon  or it make me feel a bit more special that I have something that no one else has.

Lime Crime WTF Please Boycott.

 

Lime Crime WTF

 

Ok Makeup Blogreaties heres the scoop.  This will be brief but very important.

Lime Crime is known for their ultra bright and highly pigmented products in particular their lip products.  the CEO Doe Deere,  has been deemed public enemy #1.

 

Just a few of the "Lime Crimes"

• Stating will give all proceeds to an animal shelter but won't give the name
• Bullied fans in lawsuits after receiving bad reviews
• Shuts down contests without explanation
• sabotaging fellow makeup brands

I know right -  this is the kind of stuff you watch on a scripted drama.  But here is the latest. SC Magazine wrote this headline Malware on Lime Crime website, payment cards compromised -  No word from Doe Deere.

 

Is this makeup that amazing that we would risk losing our own hard earned money?  Personally no.  I have one velvetine lip product and that took two months to get ( Now I know why)  There are now comparable dupes out there with more reputable backgrounds.  But don't worry - I got it from Urban Outfitters,  which they stopped carrying the brand.

 

So makeup lovers are uniting to BOYCOTT Lime Crime products.  WE need to show Doe Deere that our love for makeup is more then "surface level" and that we are sick and tired of being treated like crap.

 

A petition is circulating to NOT allow Lime Crime to be apart of IMATS New York.  When I went to IMATS 2014 in LA the lime crime line was around the building.  I am not so sure if IMATS will look so good if they do allow Lime Crime to participate.

 

Click Here for petition.

 

Also my fellow blogger Makeup Lover Maria_Monster wrote a very good peice about the subject http://likealady619.blogspot.com/2015/03/lime-crime-controversy.html

 

Remember the time when all makeup lovers had to worry about was if the products were tested on animals?  Stay Informed my blogreaties.

 
 
 

New from Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

 

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara $24 USD

 

I took advantage of the first to try VIB Rogue exclusive of Benefit Roller Lash Mascara.  Not much to say but look at the pictures.  The formula is not as wet as the "They're Real" mascara.  But the length it gives is so out there which is good.  It does last and even after rubbing my eyes I do not experience any fall out or racoon eyes, another plus!!

 

But personally I am more into volume I need it, I want it and this just didn't deliver in that.  I still want to put on falsies.  But I think this will be great for my friend Annette she already has beautiful full lashes but they don't curl and who doesn't want atleast longer lashes.

 

From the Benefit Cosmetics website

It’s a roller for lashes! The eye-opening Hook ‘n’ Roll™ brush grabs, separates, lifts and curls…while the instant curve-setting formula holds for 12 hours.



 

 

I would pick up the full size  but I would still pair it up with my favorite drugstore volumizing mascara.  But this is available at Sephora and Ulta yet as of today not on the Benefit Cosmetics website until the 27th.

NEW From L'Oreal Paris - Infallible Smokissime

Loreal has bee stepping up their game.  I am so glad that they were early in releasing their new products ahead of the normal Spring 2015 release dates. 

I have been all over trying to find all the new products.  But as usual I am not special so I experience all the same things my bloreaties do.  The products are either not available, already picked through of ALL the popular colors and or the price tag is a bit more steep in price than you hoped for. :(

TAGLINE - Foam tip applicator for easy application.  Instantly blends color, no smudging needed.  Up to 14 hours of smoky perfection.

Taken from Loreal Website

Smoky perfection is now easily achievable in just one step. The new powder eyeliner pen features a revolutionary foam tip applicator to instantly blend color, creating a defined smoky eye with no smudging needed.

The gel-like powder formula housed in the product cap glides on easily, for a smoky finish that lasts up to 14 hours.

 

 

A.  The tip is a sponge that makes the smokey effect.

B.  The product is in the cap.  So everytime it hit the cap (hear that click) it replenishes the tip.

C.   Once applied to skin it will do all the work for you. 

 

Honesly if you look at the pictures it's not INTENSE enough for me.  I want straight black!  I put these pics to show what difference eyelashesand brows make. 

 

Fo those that just quite don't get the hang of the smokey eye,  these are perfect.  It is a much cheaper alternative to the Tarina Tarantino magic hour smudge pens that can go for a whopping 20 bucks each.  But these loreal ones last much longer like they claimed.  I recommend to atleast one in your aresenal for a quick look.

  

Well maybe next year

 

No one wins the palette -  Thumbs up to my pal Annette who followed the rules but she was a previous follower and did not qualify for the prize.

 

But 2015 I will see where this goes -  With the purchase of a new home the budget for buying all the new makeup products is a bit limited.  But the love for makeup hasn't changed.  I will still buy makeup and try to write about it.

 

But bare with me my blogreaties.  I will love suggestions from you on what to do next.  So i will be hopeful for 2015 and hope to get more followers.

 

Angel Pacific!