This time of year has so many advantages. Aside from looking forward to changing weather and colors, we can also look forward to the holidays. In the makeup world, it is also the time of year that MAC promotes their holiday brush sets. Each year as it gets close to the holidays, MAC will advertise their fabulous brushes that are second to none. If you’re looking to finally invest in some great makeup brushes, then you should wait until these sets come out because you can buy five medium-sized brushes for $50, as opposed to one single brush for like $35-$45. The holiday collection is a great deal if you’re looking to obtain some quality brushes.

Nonetheless, I would never recommend that a person just go and buy brushes that you don’t know how to use. However, there are 8 primary brushes that everyone should have in their possession when you first start investing in quality brushes. Here are my top 8 makeup brushes that I think every woman should have in their makeup bag:

1) I’m going to start with the order that I do my makeup. The very first brush you need if you wear foundation is a foundation brush. The foundation brush is flat and synthetic. That’s important because you shouldn’t use a natural-haired brush to apply foundation. Some do, but I prefer synthetic brushes for my foundation.  Synthetic brushes are easier to clean liquids and creams.

2) The next brush is your concealer brush. Its a smaller version of the foundation brush. It’s necessary because it’s perfect for applying concealer in very small concentrated areas on the face.  Because it is used to apply liquids and creams, it also needs to be synthetic.

3) I’m actually going to group the blush brush and contour brush together even though they do two different things. Keep in mind that they are used to go in the cheek area so they are somewhat similar. The blush brush is a smaller version of the powder brush, which will be discussed a little later. However, it is a smaller round brush, whereas the contour brush is slanted and hits your jawbone just right. You will need both of these brushes eventually. Still, start with the blush brush before you run and get your contour brush.

4) The eye liner brush is small and narrow and sometimes angled. Whether you’re shooting for a smokey-eye or you or a winged-eye, the right eyeliner brush can help you accomplish that.

5) There are two eye shadow brushes that every girl needs to give a polished eye shadow look. The first is the flat small eye shadow brush. The most popular one is MAC’s #239 brush that is your basic eye shadow brush. The second is the crease, or blending brush, that allows you to blend your shadow or apply directly in the crease for a more flawless look!

6) The lipstick brush is so much better for your lips than jut applying lipstick directly to your lips. When you use a lipstick brush, the lipstick goes on so much more smoothly than the regular way. Invest in a lipstick brush and use it liberally and see the difference.

7) A Kabuki brush is a short fluffy brush used to fluff or powder your face. Just that simple. It actually does the same as the powder brush, but it’s better to carry in your purse than a regular powder brush.

8) Finally, the powder brush is the final brush that you should use on your face. It gets all excess powder or makeup off of your face. It sets your makeup when you’re finally finished applying. It’s the icing on the cake for makeup application. It’s usually a long, fat, fluffy natural-haired brush.

I hope this comprehensive list helps you when you decide to finally go purchase new makeup brushes. Good luck to you and catch The Ponch Line. If you agree or disagree, feel free to comment below.

Since the onset of Fall, I realized that it was time for me to get my lipstick game ready for the new season.  This past weekend I had the pleasure of doing something I love to do: shopping for lipstick at my two favorite drug stores. Yes, my name is Ponch and I shop at CVS & Walgreen’s for lipstick deals.  Please don’t judge me!

Even though I sell my own brand of lipstick for a living, I wear all kinds because I consider myself a true lover of makeup. Therefore, I will try anything from Maybelline to M.A.C.  I truly believe that when you love makeup the way that I do, you will try it all.  When it comes to buying lipstick, I love to try all the brands because they all offer different variations of the same thing.

Lipstick isn’t like foundation where you have to know your skin type and color complexion.  When shopping for lipstick, all you really need to look for are color and cost.  Since it’s just lipstick, I don’t think it’s necessary to go to MAC and purchase a $15 tube of lipstick when I can find it’s color equivalent for $7.99 at CVS or Walgreen’s and sometimes get two for the price of one when they have buy 1 get 1 for 1/2 price deals! Then, I can get two lipsticks for the same cost that the typical MAC shopper would pay for one.  Once I use my EXTRA BUCKS from CVS and my beauty coupons, I usually get them for less than that! That’s what I call winning!  I would like to share my great Fall lipstick finds all for less than $10 at Walgreen’s this past weekend.

The Nudes & Browns

Loreal -$9.99

Nude Ballet

Caramel Solo

Plum Adagio

Loreal Colour Rich Collection-$8.99 (But I got mine for $6.99 on sale 🙂

Julianne’s Nude

Jennifer’s Nude

Eva’s Nude

Burgurndy’s & Reds

Milani-$5.99

Black Cherry

Bronze Beauty

Zoe’s Red (Loreal)

Funny thing happened to me on my way to 40; I grew up. I learned so many things about myself and about life in general.  If I had learned these things 20 years ago, I might have saved myself some major blunders.  At 40, I think I am just starting to understand the meaning of life.  I try to tell my daughters, but they think I don’t know anything.  Hence, the reason I wrote number eight.  Since they won’t listen, maybe some young person who didn’t have a mom or dad to tell them these things will.  Here goes….

1. Go to school and apply yourself.  You’re the one who benefits.  English is important because it teaches you how to communicate properly.  Math is important because the world revolves around currency, statistics, and numbers.  History is important because it teaches us about the past, present, and hopes of our future.  Science is critical to the evolution of life and the elements that inhabit our lives.  With all the social media outlets in the world, it would do young people some good to really apply themselves in school so that they can benefit from all the world has to offer.  Don’t get on Facebook or Twitter and show us how stupid you are.  Instead, get on and shine with all the amazing things you learned from your education. Apply yourself. 
2. Vote as soon as you turn 18.  This is important and not just on a national level.  Know what is happening in your state and your community.  Change only happens in the world when we collectively get involved and try to promote it.  Social changes can only happen when we get mad enough to spark the changes necessary in our communities.  You must believe that your vote counts. Look at your surroundings and determine what needs to change. Now go change it. 
3. Travel at every opportunity as it presents itself.  I have never gone to NYC.  However, I have had a few opportunities to go.  I should actually kick myself because once all I had to pay was for a $145 plane ticket.  I’m still kicking myself.  My friends went and had the time of their lives, but I tried to be the responsible one and missed an opportunity to live.  Nowadays when opportunity calls and offers, I’m packing! 
4. Start what you finish. You will regret the times that you should have just kept at it.  There are rewards to everything you start and finish.  Starting is the easy part, but finishing is hard.  In the end, the victor always gets the spoils.  
5. Find a friend, be a friend.  In order to have a friend you must first be one.  You won’t realize how important it is until you’re going through something and you can’t go to your mom, dad, or siblings for whatever reason.  That one friendship from the friend who will be there no matter what is priceless.  Similarly, they will have your back, but there’s only one catch.  You must have theirs, too.  Have at least one platonic friend in your life who knows you and who accepts you, flaws and all.  Be that friend to them, as well.  
6. Don’t marry between the ages of 18-25.  Don’t be in a hurry to get married or leave home.  Live your life and enjoy being single.  You will have plenty of time to marry, but don’t rush.  Marriage is a lifetime commitment that many are not equipped to deal with  at 30 or 40, much less between 18-25. Marriage requires maturity and maturity happens over time. Don’t make your life harder by rushing to the altar too soon.  Be patient and live your life.  Your husband or wife will thank you for it later.  Don’t marry until you’re ready to be a husband or a wife. Marriage is serious and sacred union that requires two whole adults.  
7. Feed your dreams.  Life is short and then we die.  When we don’t follow our dreams, we lose a little bit of ourselves each day.  Getting married is beautiful, having children is a blessing, but living out a dream is surreal.  Live your life with no regrets.  Start that business, write that book, or go on an African Safari.  Whatever your hearts desire, just do it.  You only live once.
8. Listen to your elders.  They usually speak from experience. We’ve all done it probably.  Mom or dad gave us some great advice, but we didn’t listen because we thought they didn’t know anything.  Consequently, they turned out to be right.  My grandmother only had an eighth grade education, but she was the wisest person I know.  She never traveled outside of our great state of Texas, she only read the newspaper and the Bible, but all of her advice was practical based on life experience.  Listen when older, wiser individuals speak. They speak from experience.  Experience is the best teacher.
9. Be careful to whom you give your heart.  There are a lot of predators in the world.  Even though we all want and seek love, we aren’t all equipped or prepared to give it.  Many of us are broken.  When a broken person shows you who they are, believe them the first time. Don’t try to make them love you and don’t try to convince them that you’re lovable.  Just turn and walk away.  Don’t try to build a relationship with someone who hasn’t proven that they deserve your heart.  You will end up disappointed every time.  Build only with people who have proven that they are ready to receive your gift of love.  That is shown in spoken word and deed.
10. Have your children when you can enjoy them and support every minute of their growth.  I got pregnant young and I spent most of my youth working to raise my children and provide for them.  I missed a lot of tender moments trying to survive.  If I could do it all over again, I would never have missed a single event.  I would have been there at every basketball game, cheerleading event, or school event.  I missed a lot and my babies were disappointed more times than not.  Don’t have children before you’re ready to be a parent.  I’m still trying to play catch up.  Don’t be like me.  Be wiser.  Plan to marry, then procreate.  Then, make sure you’re there to enjoy every single moment.  

I have few regrets, but I plan to have even less before I die.  I think I have finally learned the key to happiness.  At 40, I’m finally living.  It took a long time, but I’m so grateful I got here.  Now it’s your turn to go out and give life a fair shot!

Here’s the Introduction to my upcoming eBook, “Confidence Is More Than a Word, It’s an Attitude”

When I was about ten years old, I made myself up in my aunt’s makeup and went to school. At the time, I was living with my aunt. She left for work an hour earlier than my cousin and I would leave for school. She had no idea that I used to play in her makeup. On this particular day, I had decided that I wanted to take my show on the road and look like all the adults at school because I have always thought I was grown. I presumed that if I did this, then I would look better than the rest of my classmates. At least, that was my assumption! I think I surprised everyone, even myself!

Fashion Fair was the brand and I know I must have used as much foundation as I could on my face. I did not care because in my mind I was fabulous! I will never forget the reaction on the boys’ faces when I walked in the room with all of my makeup and my head held high. John Washington sat in front of me and said, “You look like a monkey!” I still did not care! What did he know anyway? He was just a boy!

Mrs. Stone, my fifth grade teacher, walked up to me and told me to go wash my face. Even then, I thought everyone else had the problem and not me. Regardless of what anyone thought of me that day, I still had my own perception. It was my own personal view of myself that enabled me to walk into that classroom looking totally ridiculous and still feel good about myself.

Today I can tell you that I am still that same girl that will do the most outrageous things and not care what other people think. A few years ago, I had to take a personality test on a previous job to find out what my talents were. It came as no surprise to me that my number one personality trait was my ability to “woo” the crowd, which stands for “winning over others”. That is how my moniker “SashaWoo” was derived. My coworker told me that when I walked in with my makeup and full diva regalia I was no longer Ponchitta Lilly; I was SashaWoo! She was right! Makeup and hair are an immediate confidence boost for me and then I come alive! Hence, the reason I know I was born to sell makeup. I have learned the one thing about me that sets me apart from everyone else. It has nothing to do with my Fashion Fair makeup. That one thing is CONFIDENCE!

These days they call it SWAG, but whatever you call it, recognize the importance of what it is. Then you need to recognize what it can do for you and your image, your career, and your personal life. Whether you need to spruce up your personal or professional life, more self-confidence will help accomplish that.

Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce’ did not become overnight successes due to raw talent alone. They had help! What helps them is their self-confidence. It takes self-confidence to walk into a room full of people that are totally opposite your own personality wearing only a feather or pink hair. After all, that is not the kind of stuff that normal people do every day, right? However, that one thing sets these three entertainers apart. They have learned how to woo the crowd by walking into a room and being noticed. Not everyone has that talent and this is why I am writing this book.

Many people may think that I sell makeup, but I disagree. What I sell is confidence and makeup is a byproduct of my sales. I can tell you that if you can learn how to be self-confident and self-assured, then everything else will be easy.

I have met thousands of women that came to me not wanting my makeup, but a bottle of confidence! That is what I sell them before I sell them one tube of lipstick or foundation. Makeup will not do one single thing for your image if you cannot own who you already are! We are all beautiful and unique in our own special way! No amount of makeup can hide your inner insecurities until you have learned to master the art of being happy with whom you are before you apply any makeup! The purpose of makeup is to enhance one’s own natural beauty. It was not created to mask your own individuality!

When I wrote Confidence Is More than a Word, It’s an Attitude, I was thinking of every woman that looked at another woman and thought I want to be like her! I want to tell that woman, no you want to be a better version of you because who you are is already a first edition bestseller! You just have not learned how to market your masterpiece! I am going to tell you how to do that with class, charm, and charisma. If you want to be
the “It” person that people call or come to, then you have to learn what it means to be confident and get yourself in front of the crowd.

I hardly had to learn how to be confident to woo the crowd. However, I did have to learn how to harness those skills to make them beneficial professionally. When I did, I saw heaven’s gates open! I noticed how people responded to me because of my confidence. I noticed that my self-confidence in interviews, meetings, and new adventures always led to new and better opportunities for me.

If you are reading this book, then maybe you need some more reassuring in this area. I am here to tell you that what you are about to read works. If you apply these simple suggestions to your own personal and professional life, then you will certainly see how your circles will begin to grow and your personal and professional life will benefit. People will want to know who you are and remember your name.

I truly believe that there is an inner “woo” in each of us. All you have to do is learn the right tools to awaken the dragon! Once you do, watch how positively people respond to you! Woo the crowd and win their hearts….

Xoxo,

Ponchitta SashaWoo

Confidence Is More Than a Word, It’s an Attitude will be released in the Fall!