Review. Mary Kay with Erin (Turner) Pittinaro.

True Beauties.
Erin Turner Pittinaro with mother & consultant Connie Turner
(I know. They're not sisters. Uncanny.)

.Mary Kay.

What: Beauty & Pampering Event

Where: 1255 University Avenue, 14607 
(new locale soon)

Who: Consultant Erin Turner Pittinaro

How: Beauty Stations 
(skin ware, skincare, satin hands, lips & cheeks, shadow, mascara)

Why: To learn, laugh, & looks.

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.Yes.

Was it fun?

Are the products good. Amazing?

Consultants friendly & genuine & professional & knowledgeable?

Would you recommend?

Are you buying Mary Kay products?

Do you want to buy products you already have in other brands?

Did you learn a ton?

.No.

Was it gimmicky?

Was it high-pressure sales?

Did you feel awkward?

* * * 

Make-up enthusiasts, skin care connoisseurs, beauty babes, I don't care your age: Mary Kay is la creme.

Customer Profile.
Fun to fill-out ... & even the pens are cute.

 * * * 

And attending an event, guest of Mrs. Erin Turner Pittinaro, herself? Gorgeous & grand. With centrally located offices directly across from Pomodoro's on University, Mary Kay (MK) headquarters is simple to spot & friendly to find. Much like their premiere products & kind consultants. The make-up is luxe; skincare, sensual; & tips/technique, genius. If you've never tried but have always wanted or have always heard but never wanted--if you love an expensive look & a healthy wallet--this post and these products are for you. Yes. You.

Make me up. Make me me. MK products.
From Top Left Clockwise: 4 Lines of Lashes (mascaras); 3 Steps to Lash Perfection;
Luxe Brushes for Blush & Beyond; Color, Color, Color (lipsticks!)

Make-up. The station set-up of this event truly allowed guests (my Momsly & me along with several other women) the flexibility to try the full spectrum of product while receiving individually directed consultation. Imagine high-end department store make-up counter ... but more personal, more product, & hands-on. Perhaps the most helpful portion of the evening's event was just that: make-up application. While consultants at individual stations (skin ware, skincare, satin hands, shadow, lips & cheeks, mascara) guided, suggested, explained, & demonstrated, it was each guest's responsibility to apply. In other words: free 1:1 make-up tutorial from professionals. Yes! I know. Step down from that dept. store stool (where, let's be real, passers-by may or may not gawk). Go to one of these events. Hands-on learn. (See Tips below for just some suggestions.)

The consultants presented a plethora of diverse products, & it's impossible to do justice to all. I will list each one we sampled, & discuss some favs. For the whole shabang? Guess you'll have to contact Mrs. Pittinaro & find out!

* * * 

list.

skin ware. 1. 2 Lines: Miracle Set (anti-aging) & Botanical (sensitive skin) 2. Miracle Set Line: cleanser, moisturizer, day solution, night solution 3. 3 Foundations: matte-wear, luminous-wear, tinted moisturizer. 4. Lip & Eye Care: satin lips set, age-fighting eye cream 5. Make-Up Remover: oil proof & doesn't tug or smear

favorites. Momsly: day solution (even on her neck!) Me: day solution (it's a winner, esp w SPF 35!); luminous-wear foundation (not heavy in the least, softest finish ever, love); make-up remover (best I've ever used. Like magic. Will be purchasing, possibly 4 life.)

Thank you Mrs. Erica Kane (née Czop), future sales director (& stunning beauty, new mom!, all-around athlete, make-you-feel-at-home, beauty professional). Her undivided attention while custom matching foundations from 2 different lines to 3 different guests' skin while listening to stories (...Momsly & me get a bit carried away...) & answering questions... She does it all, & she does it right.

skincare. 1. 2 Sunscreens: one at 30 & one at 50 SPF 2. Lip Protection: protector with broad spectrum 15 SPF 3. Moisturizer: Age-fighting with broad spectrum SPF 30

favorites. Momsly & Me: Moisturizer with SPF 30. Always looking for a delicate lotion with double-duty, defense doting SPF. Found it!

MK Suncare.
From Left Clockwise: Lip Protector with SPF 15; Sunscreens
with SPFs 30 & 50; Rich & Creamy, Smooth & Light SPF 50

satin hands. 1. Fragrance Free Softener: like a jelly & super creamy 2. Peach Hand Scrub: (also available in Fragrance Free) gentle enough for hands but also works on feet 3. Peach Hand Cream: (also available in Fragrance Free) instant & lasting moisturizer

favorites. Me: Fragrance Free Softener. Super luxurious. Leaves hands supple & soft. Nourishes cuticles. Fun to glob on. FYI: I'm a lotion junkie and, since using the entire treatment around 7pm, I haven't reapplied lotion once! (...It's now 2:30AM...) Cue Oprah voice here.

shadow. 1. Eye primer: sets shadow, whether cream or mineral 2. 2 Shadow Lines: Cream & Mineral 3. Eyeliner: pencil (available in liquid) 4. Brushes: cream & mineral lines

favorites. Momsly: mixing mineral shadows, particularly the lime. (Suggested by Erin, & it looked stunning against my mom's olive skin & brown eyes.) Me: cream in apricot twist & iced cocoa, 2 metallics I'd never try all my own, but what a refreshing twist on neutrals! (Again, suggested by Erin. This lady's a pro.)

Extreme Close-up-ing.
I get it. Pay less attention to the (distorted)
contours & more to that LUMINOUS SKIN!
face: Miracle Set treatment, lip & eye care, luminous foundation
eyes: Primer, 2 cream shadows (no crease!!!), mineral
highlighter, brown (yes!) liner
lashes: 1 twirl of lengthening mascara (black) from the tube
cheeks: cream to powder blush (just a few dabs)
lips: bronzed (crazy, I know!) & copper star (like),
& beach bronze gloss

lips & cheeks. 1. Creme Lipstick: rich color 2. NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss: moisturizing 3. Blush: cream (available in mineral)

favorites. Momsly: lip gloss gal to the core. Doesn't stick or adulterate lips or lipstick when layered together. Me: layering multiple sticks & dusting of gloss. Never gloppy, never sticky. Longevity. Even at mid-night, around the 3rd Dawson's Creek episode (...roommate...) lips felt moisturized & color, true. If you love lips, you'll love this. Trust.

mascara.  1. Lash & Brow Building Serum: fuller lashes & brows within 30 days 2. Primer: makes a dramatic difference 3. 4 Lines: last love, ultimate, lengthening, waterproof (black & brown)

favorites. Momsly: Feel in-love with Lash Love Brown. In less than 5 minutes. Me: Lengthening in black. One swipe of the wand & it covered all lashes, up & down, lengthening all the way. Interesting Fact: Wands for each line are the same. It's the formula that's different!

* * *  

Tutorial. These ladies know their stuff. They're professionals in terms of running a self-employed business & consultants in terms of keeping on-trend with make-up hues & techniques. I'm the girl who spent one entire winter break between graduate school semesters to watch YouTube channels of make-up artists apply & contour, divide & conquer. I know a thing or 2. (Or like to think I do. Regardless.) These women know more. I learned a lot and will share what I know. But for the full effect, you just have to go! Real talk.

tips & technique.

shadow. Eyes with Erin: coloring, highlighter

tips. lime green with brown eyes. Brown eye liner with blue eyes for day & blue for night. (Color wheel thing.) I'm a black kohl fanatic, but I positively loved this brown & am super excited to try a blue. Which is absolutely on-trend, but also quite classic. Momsly popped in the lime. So much it becomes a neutral & an accent.

Favorite & Most Unlikely Favorite.
Left: MK make-up remover. Best. Ever. Tried. Bar. None.
Right: Lipstick in Bronzed. Use brush or Q-tip & apply as a stain!

technique. use ring finger to apply shadow, cream or mineral. It's the weakest finger & therefore most gentle on the delicate eye!

lips & cheeks. Layering with Christina Mirklinger: lipstick, gloss

tips. try colors you wouldn't normally! Chris listened to what both Momsly and I gravitate toward, and then switched it up. With the proper application, we both ended up with appropriately fabulous pouts. Sheer genius. 

technique. especially when experimenting, apply with lip brush. We used Q-tips &, in a pinch, these also work. Applicator allows for more even, less dense layer of color, almost like a stain. Less is more & layers come together. You'll be surprised by how your look can change while still looking like you.

* * *  

Red Jacket Promotion.
Erin now has 5 ladies she leads & 3 active team members
Left to Right: Erin Pittinaro, new Red Jacket Member; Kate Hanson, Director
(& so professional, so warm); Eric (Czop) Kane, future sales director

The sell. First, there is no pressure. Momsly and I weren't even asked to purchase any products! Yes, the evening does provide information on becoming a consultant should you be interested, as well as share with you the sales/goals celebrations accomplished by the consultants. But truly, to my discerning eye, this was more of a community-building ambiance than any hard-sell tactic. (Oh yeah, and it was fun & I learned a lot & I tried new products & there was free pizza...) In fact, during the very brief video portions at the evening's end, I quite enjoyed learning about founder Mary Kay Ash. She seems fascinating! I'd love to research where she's ranked among women entrepreneurs and CEOs along with how she's influenced and empowered women in business. Likewise, Mary Kay supports causes such as domestic violence and cancer societies. Faith first, Family second, Career third: this is Mary Kay's philosophy, & this is how Mary Kay has changed beauty & business. 

Mary Kay even has a blog. (Eeeeeee!) So visit their website, check out the articles, & schedule an appointment with your independent Beauty Consultant. ...Don't have one yet? Well Mrs. Erin Turner Pittnaro--fresh, young, helpful, & savvy--is ready to help.

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Starry Nites.
Down the street from Mary Kay.
You can't see Momsly's gorgeous eyes & lips,
but you sure can tell that skin is smooth & flawless!!!

Overall. I love this make-up! Look at the soft, luminous, simplicity of that face!? I've never felt that light & accomplished, demure & sexy with make-up before. Never. And it's not because a professional applied it. No! It's because a professional showed me what products to use & introduced me to new colors to try; the application: that was all me. How reassuring. How empowering. Who wouldn't want to try this out!? The cutest part is that between how fresh-faced I looked & how sassy & sophisticated Momsly looked, the Consultants kept joking about how we'd have to go out for a glass of wine or some coffee after. (It was about 8pm when we ended.) Enter Starry Night's Cafe. Kid you not. While Momsly perused the flow-chart chalk-board mini-menu (love), I dipped into the restroom. And ppl stared. In a good way. As though the luminous glow of my skin, like moon-light on my face, pulled their watery eyes toward mine. It was palpable. It was the MK.

* * * 

Contact Consultant Mrs. Erin (Turner) Pittinaro
(And she's 8 mo pregnant. Looks phenomenal.)

585.705.0144
erinturner@marykay.com
www.marykay.com/erinturner

                                                                                                                                       Try
                                                                                                                                          Mary Kay.
                                                                                                                                     And Let me Know

                                                                                                                                          How it Goes.
                                                                                                                                         xo.