Mark Makeup: product reviews, sneak peaks, coupon codes, freebies, & more!

Time to say au revoir to mark's dry oil mists! If you love them then now is your LAST CHANCE to get them before they are gone forever. The dry oil mists are currently heavily discounted (originally $10.00, now only $3.99).

Here's the dry oil mist product description: Help moisturize and soften skin with this nongreasy, lightweight sheer body oil that absorbs quickly and leaves skin with a subtle glow. 3.3 fl. oz.

I love seeing the face charts makeup artists create for the beauty looks at fashion shows--they're just so pretty, I could almost frame them as artwork to hang in my room (hey, now that I think about it that's a pretty good idea!). Mark's own celebrity makeup artist Mai Quynh (she's worked with celebs like Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus) has created three face charts using the makeup products from mark's new Costa Rica Collection.

While I'm usually not one to wear super bright eyeshadows or bold lip colors like the makeup in the Costa Rica collection--it looks ridiculous on me--I think the beauty looks Mai came up with do look really pretty. I'll most likely just admire them on paper rather than try them myself, but I wanted to share the looks with you in case y'all are more daring than I am.

This look using the Beach Babe palette is the only one I would wear since it's pretty neutral.


Here's what you'll need to get this look:



Here are the other two Costa Rica face charts. In my opinion bright, colorful eyeshadow shades look best when paired with brown eyes and are especially amazing on girls with darker skin.

Receive FREE SHIPPING on your $5 mark cosmetics order -- enter MDW2009 at checkout!

As much talking as I do about mark, it's funny that I've never really mentioned mark's brushes. I suppose makeup shades, fragrances & fashion are way more fun to discuss than beauty tools but the brushes are actually the mark products that get the absolute most use from me every day!

Actually, last weekend I realized just how important brushes are for good makeup application. I was visiting my sister and forgot my makeup bag so she said I could borrow hers. Seemed like a good idea until I realized that she had NO makeup brushes. Okay she had one powder brush (that shed a ton) so it was hardly worth using. I was definitely lost without my brushes :(

The following are the brushes that I use daily:

1. blending brush
Ideal for working color into the crease or for blending shades together, thanks to long, slightly fanned natural hair. Personally I feel like this brush isn't as good quality as the other brushes. I still use it though cause it does seem to work well for blending, but something about it is just off...

2. concealer brush
Stiff, synthetic bristles are just right for depositing and blending medium to heavy concealers.

3. foundation brush
A larger brush, featuring dense, natural hair, which distributes and blends foundation to create an even finish. I don't know how I ever lived without it. Seriously! I used to just apply my liquid foundation with my fingers (ick).

4. blush + bronzer brush
A medium-fluffy head of natural hair allows for a controlled dusting of color across the cheeks or face. This is great for blush (I use the powder brush for bronzer... I prefer to have an even dusting of bronzer rather than concentrated color).

5. eyeliner brush
Short, dense, slightly angled natural hair makes for a perfectly precise eyeliner application. I use this to line the bottom of my eyes with powder eyeshadow (mark's tiki i-mark to be exact)

6. eye shadow brush
Ideal for applying a sweep of shadow, or for shading the inner or outer corners of the eye, thanks to specially contoured natural hair. I use this to shadow my crease.

7. powder brush
A large, fluffy head of natural hair allows for smooth dusting of powder over the face. Pretty much my do everything brush. I use this to apply bronzer, mattifying powder, and just to smooth out and blend my makeup after I apply everything. I also use this to put bronzer on my neck and chest so it matches my face.

Brush prices range from $6-$8 and are available at www.cassie4mark.com

Iced watermelon and pink guava combine for a fresh and fruity tropical (re)treat. Indulge in this ripe, ravishing fragrance inspired by Costa Rica. Juicy iced watermelon and pink guava provide a succulent introduction while notes of Costa Rican orchid and warm sand accord create the ultimate adventure.

My Review: I look forward to mark's Instant Vacation summer fragrance every year, and Costa Rica is by far my favorite yet. This light melon scent is a MUST-HAVE if you're a fan of fruity fragrances! I would describe the scent as more of a cantaloupe melon than watermelon, it doesn't smell super sweet like i'd expect from watermelon. But, and there is a big BUT, the fragrance fades way too fast. For a $16 fragrance I suppose this is to be expected, but mark's other fragrances have lasted longer than this one. But I did a little research and found the tip below to make your fragrance last cause you'll definitely want this one to!

tip: Fragrances evaporate much more quickly on dry skin (since they are alcohol-based) so make sure your skin is moisturized before applying your fragrance. Use an unscented body lotion that won't clash with your fragrance like mark's new Free For All Fragrance-Free Body Lotion. Happy spritzing!

Paula Begoun has just announced her "Best of 2008" special report listing the best products launched in 2008 and mark has made the list! Mark's For Goodness Face moisturizer was featured in the category "Moisturizers with sunscreen". Here's what Paula had to say:



Avon Mark for Goodness Face Antioxidant Skin Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 ($15 for 1.7 ounces)

Best of the Year Because: Another well-formulated daytime moisturizer with sunscreen! The actives include avobenzone in a lightweight moisturizing base that is best for normal to oily skin. The air-tight jar packaging helps keep the many antioxidants and plant extracts stable during use. This also contains a cell-communicating ingredient.

For Goodness Face is also oil-free, non-comedogenic, and fragrance-free so it's great for all skin types--this won't leave you shiny or irritated. Try it today at www.cassie4mark.com!

Rock your love of everything chic, edgy and gorgeous with this revved-up rose fragrance. Rose absolute spiked with pink pepper embraces your wild side while sheer pink musk and a hint of vanilla play up what's pretty.


Get gorgeous with new pro gloss and pro glimmer shades, and our new mark. rebel rose eye shadow quad.

I'm not a fan of rose scents so I'm not really looking forward to this new mark fragrance.... I'll have to smell it before I rule it out for good but I'm guessing it won't be for me.

That being said, I'm pretty excited for the Rebel Rose makeup collection! Looks like I could make a gorgeous smokey eye look with the new eyeshadow quad, although I definitely won't putting the pink shade anywhere near my eyes... Pink eyeshadow with my coloring is a bad idea. yeah...

So when I do get pink eyeshadows in sets, rather than wasting them here's a tip: apply on cheeks as blush! You could also dab some on over clear lip gloss or colored gloss to get a new custom color.



Here's a look by makeup artist Jamie Greenberg using the new mark rebel rose palette on Katrina Bowden (receptionist on 30 Rock) at the SAG awards!

Isn't the cover of mark's 2009 magalog 4 super cute? I love how they posed Lauren Conrad with the mark models.... something we haven't seen before.

Anyway the cover isn't the best part of this magalog.... drumrolll please.... it's the new creamy concealer stick -- Good Riddance hook up concealer!



I'm so excited for this new product, can't you tell! I've been a mark representative for 2 years now and I've been asking for a product like this since they day I "met mark". I've always said if I could only use ONE hook up's worth of makeup for the rest of my life give me concealer and mascara and I think I'd be okay...

Mark says Cover skin imperfections or under-eye circles with this creamy, oil-free concealer stick that glides gently over the skin. 0.087 oz. net wt.
price: $6.00

Other new hook ups coming soon in magalog 4:

Get Bright hook up face highlighter: Brighten up under eyes, emphasize cheekbones or accent brow bones with this pearly liquid highlighter.

Sparkletubes hook up lipgloss: Achieve a megawatt lip look using this high-shine, sparkly gloss with just a hint of color.

Shine tubes hook up lipgloss: Add serious shine to any matte lip color - or bare lips - with this crystal-clear gloss.

*MAGALOG 4 STARTS TUESDAY 3/31*

Last night I washed my face using my mark That's Deep Purifying Gel Cleanser* + the new Berry Grand Super Exfoliating Beads I must say my skin feels baby soft! I've been using the St. Ives Apricot Scrub for years so mark's Berry Grand exfoliator definitely felt gentle yet effective on my skin, but for those of you who find St. Ives too harsh I would recommend using mark's Go With The Grain Light Exfoliating Beads instead.

My only gripe about this new product is that it was more work than a premixed scrub would be.. But what can I say I'm a sucker for cute packaging and the way these exfoliating beads snap onto the top of the mark cleanser bottles is convenient for keeping it all together on my shower rack and just plain innovative!

Product Descriptions:

Berry Grand Super Exfoliating Beads: Antioxident rich cranberry and pomegranate seeds combine with apricot seed and rice powder to give you a gorgeous glow.

Go With the Grain Light Exfoliating Beads: Vitamin rich adzuki beads and rice bran blend with corn cob for gentle exfoliation.

Both are only $9 and available now!

Mark also has 2 new mask products: Calm Yourself Hydrating Mask and Shine Fighter Oil Control Mask. They are $7 each. Reviews coming soon!

*Just a side note... If you have acne-prone skin I would definitely advise you to use mark's That's Deep Purifying Gel Cleanser... It has never cause me to break out and never leaves my skin tight after cleansing, plus I love the slight cooling effect! I've heard that the Calming Effect Comforting Milk Cleanser has caused break-outs for some girls, although others seem to love it. Go figure! But I have never tried it for that reason, so just keep that in mind when choosing your cleanser.

Don't forget to enter the coupon code MARKFS35 to get FREE SHIPPING on your $35 mark order!