Aidens Thoughts

Okay ! Its been a while , I know i feel as if i say this every time I make a new post . But honestly its hard for me to find time these days with travel and all the projects god has placed in my life . Im not complaining though !  As I wait for my brushes to dry it gave me a moment to sit down and talk to you guys about something that has been on my heart for quite some time now . And as my last post was very personal I figured we would follow suit and really talk about REAL topics . As some of you may know im 23 years old . I know It feels like im way older ( sometimes i feel as if i have lived a million lifetimes ). but none the less I am young in this game and am learning alot as time goes by. when I started doing makeup and posting looks I was VERY afraid . Because I was constantly seeing such amazing work online and it made me feel as if I would never get there . But I did not allow anothers talent stop me from growing mine . I networked and made friends I learned from some of the most talented people in the industry . I was always kind and generous with the little I had . Looking back even through the bad times im happy that I gave the people I have met along the way all that I had because in return I made some lifelong friends ( and filtered out some of the bad ones ). One thing that I want you guys to understand here on social media in general is that you will RARELY see 100% of the truth . Almost everything you see is smoke and mirrors . from the photoshop to the personalities . And im not passing judgment as its entertainment and people will always want to be entertained . But one thing ive always had a hard time swallowing is how the villians prosper and the good guys come last as far as social media goes . You cant be the good guy on social media . people want drama , they want gossip . and its sad . Ive come to terms though . I will not change who I am to please others . I wont be the villian , I wont undercut people , or stab anyone in the back . Because to me the bigger picture is my spirit and how im viewed for whats inside . there have been so many chances where I could have climbed the "social ladder" But in turn would hurt someone else . And each time ive said no . because its not worth it . never will be . You cant go around hurting others , because in turn you will ultimately hurt yourself . Remember that good things come to those who wait & work . remain humble and thank god for each time you are blessed with even an inch . I didnt really know where i was going with this post . I just want you to know that you will prosper for being the good guy . In so many more ways then just financial gain or popularity . You will find your self and love who you are . and that is more valuable then any number or like count on your social media pages .



yours always ,


Aiden .

The Terrors Of Love .

Okay Guys !  


Its been forever since Ive come on here and made a post . Somehow I have  managed to ditch everything except IG . I just honestly dont have time in my personal life to come on here to blog or do youtube videos . In a perfect world I would be able to manage both , but for right now please do not expect anything on a schedule because I cannot promise you that . I did however want to come on here to talk to you guys a little bit about something more personal in my life . 

for the last few years I have been single . VERY single. LOL and I've always played it off as if I was content with that . Which in a way I am . I like being able to build and prosper without the assistance of another man. Not saying that it wouldn't be nice to have someone but my aim is bigger then aspiring to be great for a man . I dont know how to say this without getting TOO personal . & I value my privacy too much to be too exposed haha . But anyways , I was seeing this guy in NY . . . we had went to school together in the past . one thing led to another and we began casually "hooking" up . he is everything I like in a man . from the way he looks down to how he thinks about things . he's strong. probably one of the strongest people i know . theres just one thing ...... hes DL . for those of you who dont know what that means . its " down low" = Not open about sexuality . which makes his demeanor very secret and private . which for me was fine at the time . I was excited about the thrill. getting to know him was my main goal . the rest would come eventually ( or so i thought ) so I jumped into it without thinking about what it would do to my emotions . We saw each other  as often as schedules allowed , I was busy making a dream work and he was busy providing for his family ( he is not married guys ) LOL.  the problem with giving him my body was that my spirit was drifting towards his and as much as his body accepted mines . his heart and mind were not on the same page . I could feel it . Needless to say I didn't care , or at least thats what I would tell myself . the sex was amazing . he engaged all the right parts , Physically . But mentally and spiritually I was EMPTY . we would never talk about the future , because there wasn't one . And here I was , In love and I didn't didn't even know where it came from . I loved a man , hoping that maybe I was good enough , Or that I could change how he felt about me . When the truth was , That I turned a casual "hookup" into a secret love affair that only one player was playing , and losing . since then I have "moved along" never speaking a word to him about it . I mean how would I sound telling a guy that I casually "Hooked Up" with that I loved him ? How could I tell a man , that I barely spoke to , That I prayed for him along with the rest of my loved ones, or that I worried about his safety whenever I would see him going out on IG . 
How do you let go ? Seeing that there is no chance of us ever being anything , how do you distance your self  from a force , that in another world and time would be something magical? These are the questions that I ask myself when im alone . the questions that he will never hear . or the proclamation that he will never read . 


and you know why? Because , even though I have just bared something so personal with you , I refuse to let this haunt me for another day. I refuse to sit here and be weakened by another man . ESP , one that doesnt feel the same way or even know that I ache for him late in the evenings . We have to remember ourselves and cherish the light that we carry . So many times ill read comments from you guys saying such beautiful things . and Ill think " im just as human as you ". wishing I could write you some of my deepest thoughts, But out of fear Never saying anything but "Thank you" . But I just want you to know , That in life you will be dissapointed , Often. You just have to pick back up and live . Even if the next day seems impossible . 


and with this I leave you with love , 

Hoping that you will see how hard I feel and love , And that it will inspire you to love endlessly . but better , love when love is given . 



Yours , 

Aiden . 

Lets Talk ! Highlighters !!!

Hey Guys !

Im back with another one of my favorite things, HIGHLIGHTERS !
Like most people I know , Having a radiant glow is a sign of good health and happiness.
Ever look at someone with the most beautiful glow from within and think "MAN they must be happy" LOL (I'm so dramatic) But seriously, Highlighters are something I cannot be without. Over the past couple of months I've accumulated more then I need , But who's counting ? Haha ! A little disclaimer: I will be posting some highlighters that are no longer available due to them being limited edition ! Im sorry ! Most of the great things are :( Lets hope this holiday season brings us a lot of amazing highlighters, lipsticks. and gift sets ! Another thing I wanted to mention is that I tend to stick to powder Highlights , because of how I personally do my makeup incorporating a liquid highlight would be pointless, BUT there is one liquid highlighter that I ADORE and will be talking about in this post :) I tend to highlight the high points of my face such as the top of my cheeks , the bridge of my nose , cupids bow and a tad on the center of my forehead . Below I will talk about my top 4 Highlights & the Liquid Highlighter ( Ill be sharing my secret to how I use it ) ;)

Highlighters with NO flash

Highlighters with flash 

From LEFT To RIGHT

1. Bobbi Brown  Limited Edition Holiday Highlighter In "Bronze Glow"


Ive only had this highlighter for a few days and I already see myself going back into Sephora to get backups ! Pictured above you can see that this highlighter is slightly darker then all of the others , I would describe this highlight as a true bronze gold with warm undertones. As you know I am of a darker complexion so this Highlight is absolutely BEAUTIFUL . And I like it because it doesn't look "too much" when applied. The formula is very smooth and looks amazing when used with a damp beauty blender to apply .


2. Dior Shimmer Powder In "Amber Diamond"

 Im not sure if this highlighter has been discontinued or not (I've had this one since last year) But I did see something similar which is limited edition HERE. I ADORE this highlighter , It has 5 different shades in the compact and when you swipe your brush along all the shades it leaves you with this beautiful warm golden highlight with hues of amber, and vanilla. One of my faves  I had another one which I gifted to my good friend PatrickStarrr  while in NYC last year, because he absolutely adored how it looked on him .


3. MAC Cosmetics Extra Dimension Skin Finish In "Double Definition" (Limited Edition)

This shade was overlooked by me in the beginning . I didn't really care for the bronze side of this one (there is a light side and a dark side on this product ). One day I took this one out and used just the light side and was HOOKED ! This product is almost at pan now which sends me into a slight depression . Its very similar to the ever so popular "Whisper Of Gilt" Highlight. Its on the golden side which is always a plus for me , and it only takes a little product to highlight your entire face! Ive owned this product since the beginning of last year so its def held up !


4. Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfecter in "Opal"

 Last but certainly not least is this bad girl! PIGMENTATION AT ITS FINEST !!! Ive never ever used another highlighter or powder for the matter , that has been this pigmented !! one swipe and you have your entire face ! This shade would be described as a bronzy highlight with both pink and gold undertones , Its STUNNING . I normally stay clear away from pinks , because of my yellow undertones I like to emphasize them, and pink makes me look weird LOL . This highlighter is a bit pricey as far as highlighters go but I can absolutely see why. A little product goes a LONG way !



Below I will be talking to you guys about the Gerard Cosmetics Liquid Illuminator!
as stated before I don't tend to use these types of products due to them not being useful in my foundation routine , BUT I adore using this mixed into my foundations to add a little boost to the yellow undertones and it adds a beautiful sheen to the formulas of my foundations! I ESP like to use this with my Black Opal foundations used mainly on my deeper skin toned clients . I went to a class in NYC and was taught to mix an illuminator into your foundation to add that glow to the skin . DEF one of my favorite techniques as far as foundation goes .

Gerard Cosmetics Liquid Illuminator 

Okay Guys ! There you have it ! My Current Fave Highlighters ! Im so happy I'm able to talk to you guys more in depth on here . Its my favorite thing at the moment , I LOVE sharing photos with you guys on Instagram but this is where I'm able to fill you guys in on all  of my secret products and all that good stuff ! let me know what you guys want to see next ! This is OUR blog . So don't ever feel like we cant interact ! Leave me comments below and don't forget to follow the blog so that you can be updated when I make new post !
Love you guys !


Aidensempire

My Favorite Nude Lipsticks !

Hey Guys! 

Im back to you guys with a long awaited "Favorite Nudes" post!
If you follow me on IG you know that I'm OBSESSED With Nudes!
I feel like there is a million nudes out there , and I'm almost positive that there will be a shade to compliment you ! For me , Nudes are a flesh tone shade that mimic the appearance of your natural lip color. As you know , not everyones lips are the same shade , or undertone . Thats why I LOVE nudes though, because I'm able to achieve any kind of flesh "like" shade :) 

Below Im going to post swatches of some of my all time favorite "Nude" Lipsticks , From High end to Drugstore. Im always on the hunt though for my next "must have" Nude,  so leave me a comment and let me know which nudes your obsessed with! (Not the X-rated Celeb Leaked Photos Either  ! LOL ) 


Im going to keep it simple with telling you guys about my TOP 6 , 
I will post a swatched arm with regular light and with flash. 
Along those, I will post where you can order them if interested as I didn't post any Limited Edition Lippies :)

With Flash 

without flash

From LEFT to RIGHT 


1. MAC Cosmetics "Myth" Lipstick , This one is one of my ALL TIME Faves , 
Its described as a light brown color , with a presence of coral. I don't feel like this has much brown honestly. But there is enough to where this lipstick doesn't come off completely coral. I adore this lipstick because when paired with a MAC liner such as "Stripdown" Or "Hover" It makes for a beautiful ombre nude shade that doesn't wash me out. This lipstick Is Classified as a "Satin" Finish. Which I love because its not too drying but has great pigmentation. 


2.Rimmel London "Kate" Collection in "14". I ADORE this lipstick , From the finish to the color , I would describe this as a warm brown nude , and normally pair it with a liner such as "Hover" from MAC . I would Classify this lipstick as a "Lustre" In which it applies smooth and shiny . LOVE ! 


3. MAC Cosmetics "Velvet Teddy" I was pleasantly surprised with this one! 
I recently Received a generous package from Gerard Cosmetics & I was THRILLED because I had been eyeing the lipstick in collaboration with "Jaclyn Hill" In the shade "1995" Which was quickly becoming popular on social media but when I received it i was bummed because the pink undertones in the lipstick and the fact that it was matte didn't work well with my skin tone  ( none the less this shade is absolutely gorgeous and I have went on to use it in my freelance Kit ).I went to MAC and found this beauty ! not only is "Velvet Teddy" Matte , But this lipstick has the perfect amount of brown along with pink to suit my warmer complexion. Its also not matte to the point where your lips feel dry. This one is a MUST have for anyone with warmer skin tones :)


4. Mac Cosmetics "Cherish" This Lipstick is actually pretty similar to "Velvet Teddy". The few differences are the fact that this lipstick is of a "Satin" Finish. I also notice more pink undertones in this lipstick which I LOVE because its not too much to where it would look awkward on my lips but i would still be able to achieve something more on the "pinky nude" side :)


5. Coloured Raine Cosmetics "Socialite" Lipstick & Gloss Pot ( Gloss Pot not pictured in arm swatch )  Okay , Let me just say that I wear this shade SO MUCH. I normally won't go for a lipstick this far on the pink side , But I do a few things to achieve my absolute perfect nude shade ! This lipstick would be described as a light pink lipstick with a slight beige undertone. As you probably know I tend to stay clear from light pinks as the can tend to wash someone of my skin tone completely out . I Found that using a brown lip liner like "Hover, Oak, or stripdown all from MAC) BEFORE applying this lipstick completely transforms this entire lipstick . It becomes the perfect nude , having some pink undertones along with flesh and brown undertones . UNTIL recently I would wear this alone. Then this company released the gloss pots ! OMG OBSESSED is an understatement ! I adore these gloss pots , they are extremely creamy and pigmented ! and what I love is that they can be very sheer and also very opaque ! I pair this nude lip with the gloss pot in "Socialite" as it looks amazing along side its sister lipstick ! :)


Ill go ahead and post the gloss pot swatch in the shade "socialite" for you guys below ! 

6. MAC Cosmetics "Blankety" This has been my current obsession as of late ! 
I adore this shade so much ! I would describe this shade as a brown/pink/muave shade ! LOL I don't know how to explain this shade but its gorgeous and makes my lips look so juicy and perfect :) I also like how this lipstick doesn't need a lip liner per say . Its not too pigmented where it calls for a structured lip . It looks very effortless and thats what I love most about this shade ! 



Okay Guys ! These were just some of my favorite nudes ! I could go on and on , but I won't keep you guys for too long ! I apologize for taking forever to get this post out , some of you may know that Ive been moving around a lot lately due to work related things :) I will be getting you guys a Fave Highlighter Post ! 
its becoming an obsession guys :( LOL . 
Hope you enjoyed this post though ! I had a little trouble taking the pictures but I'm sure with time and practice we will be good to go ! Im so happy you guys show interest in this new way for me to talk to you guys about my favorite things ! 

Love you guys ! 

until next time :) 

Aidensempire 

Get To Know Me :)

Hey Guys ! 

Okay , So I know you guys have been waiting on the blog. Here it is ! I'm not going to promise you guys anything solid with how often I am going to come to you guys with new post , because of some projects that I'm working on and things of that nature. I did however want to give you guys a little background of who I am and what it is that I want to do with my time here on IG,  and with my career as an artist . Lets start with things that you probably know. My name is Aiden Reynoso , I am a 22 Year old Makeup artist and also a Beauty Blogger on Instagram  ( That's the simplest I'm going to break it down because I feel like I do more then that and that,  the term "Beauty Blogger" Is so loosely used . 

for those of you who are new to me here is My IG Page :)

I started doing makeup when I was about 17 years old , For me it was something I found interesting . I loved the way it made me feel. It was fun , I could be whoever I wanted to be ( looking back I laugh because I've come a long way from the days when I only used foundation " haha . At the time I was living in Florida , I went to the local MAC store in my area and started asking questions. Little did I know that would be where I met someone very influential to my growth as an artist, And her name was Valerie ( also known as ValerieVixenArt On IG ) I ended up working at that counter helping out (for free) as a freelance artist. I was too young to even be hired, but the manager there saw that I had a strong curiosity for the brand and makeup in general so he let me pick up hours to learn and help customers when it was really busy. Valerie would always encourage me in my craft for the short amount of time I was there,  Telling me that I could so anything I put my mind and heart too . It was people like her that shaped me into the artist and person that I am today . 

Shortly After, I ended up leaving Florida to head back up north to NY with my family . I ended up putting Makeup to the side for a few months to go off to trade school and pursue my degree in homeland security (at the time that was something I enjoyed doing and I didn't know how profitable makeup could become) I graduated from school and I got myself a job doing dispatch services at a mall .

 I got bored REALLY quickly LOL , I ended up leaving that JOB and going to a cosmetology school in my area. That school was mainly focused on hair (If I would have known what I knew now I would have never went to cosmetology school ) I did that for about 4 months before I decided that I hated hair and that, This was something I did not want to do .

I created my instagram page in 2012 , Using this app purely for selfies and all that jazz, I didn't even know that there was a makeup community. I ended up getting more and more into makeup , Practicing looks on myself . I remember only having one eye shadow pallet and 3 eye brushes from the drug store ( HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED HAHAH :) . I still practiced because I knew deep down that makeup was something that I really loved . Im going to post a picture of my looks early on and my looks as of today . ( THE GROWTH IS CRAZY ) I cringe looking at my old makeup haha .( I would BLUR the hell out of my pictures . 

Mid 2012 

October 6th, 2014 

At first I would only post my makeup looks on my Facebook page which had only friends and family. As i started to see that Instagram could be a platform to show my looks I started posting on IG . I knew from the very beginning that my "look" would get attention (both good and bad ) At first I was scared of what people would say about me. I was not used to having strangers have opinions about me and what I was doing . But as I grew as an artist,  the Love outweighed the bad , And until this day I feel that way . There are so many amazing people out in this world for me to worry about the bad . I remember talking to my mother , asking her if I should stop posting and she said "Aiden, People are going to find something bad to say about you even if you didn't wear makeup , Do what makes YOU happy . Don't let anyone steal your joy." And that's what I did . I continued to post looks , Try new products and meet amazing people . I look back and am so grateful to those people who gave me a shot . 

This Post has gotten WAY too long LOL , I guess i just want you guys to know that everyone has a story . YOU cannot judge a book by its cover , and you must always live your life with LOVE . For Love conquers all :) 

Im going to try to get some makeup related post up as soon as I can find the time I promise ! 

leave me a comment below & let me know what you guys want to see ! love hearing from you guys ! 

Yours Always, 

AidensEmpire