More info on all the products listed can be found on my essentials page.
There are some things in life that come our way that make us think "how did I ever live without this before?!!" Well in the world of makeup, beauty products can produce the same reaction. I have tried countless products through the years and have my tried and true from the beginning and some that I've recently found that have changed the way I apply my makeup and have paved the way for awesome makeup days. The creators of these products must have been having a great day when these products were invented! Here are 5 products that have caused me to shout out loud like the lady in the picture "That Is Genius!!" More info on all the products listed can be found on my essentials page. 1. Monistat Soothing Care as face primer: This product always gets me crazy reactions from people when I tell them about it. First off, yes, its a product that shares its name with a product that's intended to treat, a-hem, woman issues, but that's where the similarities end! This is intended to be used as barrier for sensitive areas of our skin-inner thighs, arms, etc- that are prone to chaffing. The main ingredient is dimethicone, a silicone agent intended to provide a smooth barrier that will deter moisture to gather in the areas where applied. All face primers include this ingredient, which is what gives primers their soft feeling and helps in keeping our foundation in place and control oil and sweat from penetrating through. Basically, its the same thing! Except face primers can start anywhere from $10-$30, when this will only cost you $5.99 and will last you a very long time- a little goes a long way! A favorite among the youtube beauty guru community, this is genius! 2. Real Techniques Brushes: Hands down, some of the best brushes I have ever used! Created by the dynamic sister duo Pixiwoo from youtube, these brushes have been revolutionary in the way I apply my makeup and the flawless application they give. These brushes provide a tool for every part of your face, from face to eyes, and are made with excellent handles and the softest bristles I've ever felt! They are super affordable- individual brushes range from $5.99-$9.99 and coordinating sets of 4 for $17. My favorites are the miracle complexion sponge and the . powder brush 3. Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation: My absolutely favorite drugstore foundation ever! (even though I've probably said it before with other foundations, but this time I really mean it!) This foundation's long wearing power is amazingly great that I've come to the end of a long day and my foundation has stayed put and still looks as fresh as when I first applied it. It gives great coverage, very buildable, but still gives you that "like skin" look without the appearance of over applied makeup. My favorite part of this foundation is how amazing it holds up in the summer heat and humidity. It works great alone, but pair this with a primer (like the one shown above) and this foundation will be your best friend on those hot summer days! 4. NYC Bronzer in Sunny: A good bronzer with all the right qualities are hard to come by, especially in the drugstore. Before I found this product, my search for the perfect drugstore bronzer felt like a never ending scavenger hunt. But oh, how things have changed since I found it! It's completely matte, finely milled and buttery soft to the touch, easily buildable, and does not leave an orange cast on the face like other bronzers can. What's great about this product is that you can also use it as an eyeshadow. I like to use it as a transition color in my crease when blending darker colors on the lids, or adding some depth to the eye when I don't want to wear a lot of eyeshadow. 5. Wet n Wild Eyeshadows: Holy cow, are these eyeshadows awesome!! I've used these shadows since high school and they are still a favorite of mine! Affordable prices ($0.99-$4.99), great pigmentation, buttery soft, and easy to apply. Comparable to high end brands, I've found many dupes for my more expensive eyeshadows and compare their quality as same or even better as its high end competitors. An absolute must try!! What are your groundbreaking, life changing beauty products? I'd love to know!
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Eyeshadows- a simple makeup product that can bring color and dimension to our eyes, or go terribly wrong and make us look like we just got out of a fight and lost! Eyeshadow is one product that is fun to experiment with in color and application, however the simple act of applying eyeshadow is a little more complex than you might think. We must consider eye shape and size, matte eyeshadow versus shimmery eyeshadow, how far up on the eye should you apply it, etc. And then there's the question- what kind of brush should I use? What about those spongey tip things that come with eyeshadows? Here are some tips to use next time you're stumped as to what shadows to use and where to put them: 1. Eyeshadow Finishes: Not only do eyeshadows come in different colors, they also come in different finishes. Think of them as you would when choosing paint for your walls. Do you want your walls to have a flat look, or do you want some shine to them? Eyeshadows come in 3 finishes- matte, shimmer, and frost/metallic.
2. What goes where: Once you know what eyeshadows you want to use, you know must know what shadow goes where on your eye. Here's a diagram explaining the anatomy of our eyelids: For the under brow, you can choose a neutral skin tone color or a champagne color eyeshadow from either the matte or shimmer category. For the crease, a matte shadow works best to create depth in the eye, making it appear deep set and bigger. For the lid, any type of eyeshadow can work, it all depends on what look you're going for. *You can also use eyeshadow as a soft liner instead of using something more dramatic as a pencil or gel liner. A matte shadow works best, most commonly black or dark brown. 3. The right tools for the job: Just as each eyeshadow finish works best on a certain location of the eye, certain brushes work best at applying shadow to the different areas of our eyelids. Shadows often come with sponge tip applicators intended to be used for application. I toss those away because they are only good at one thing- packing on color. They don't provide options for blending or for use in the crease. I would recommend these 4 simple brushes: All brushes can be found on my essentials page The flat shadow brush is used for applying shadow all over the lid. The pointed crease brush is used for the crease, using a windshield wiper motion (back and forth) to create depth in the socket of the eye. The blending brush is to blend away any harsh edges when applying different shadows to the face. Blending is the most important aspect of eyeshadow!! And lastly, the small tapered shadow brush is used for the highlight under the brows and also for a highlight in the inner tear duct. Here are some recommendations for great quality eyeshadows at affordable prices!
So grab a brush and get to blending!! Got any questions, comments, or post ideas? Let me know, I'd love to hear from you!
Need a skin "pick me up"? All you need is a lemon, some sugar and a little bit of elbow grease! Lemons are the natural remedies for opening pores to get that gunk out that's been hiding out all week and detoxifying your skin by killing unwanted bacteria. The sugar acts as the gritty substance that will help in the scrubbing process. You'll have shiny, glistening skin after just one scrub! Here's what to do:
Use this scrub can be done 1-2 times a week for healthy, clean skin!
Everything you need to know about brushes! I share my must have essentials and what every girl needs in her makeup kit to achieve beautiful makeup application, all without breaking the bank! Okay, so the top cartoon is meant to be a joke, but we've all seen that one person with eyebrows that leave us thinking "what the- I mean, is that on purpose or...?" I can not stress this enough- eyebrows are important!! I always say that our eyebrows are the focal point of our faces. It's one of the first things I notice on a person, especially if they have nice full eyebrows (but then I'm just coveting!). I know we are not all blessed with perfectly arched, perfectly full eyebrows- and for those who are, count your blessings! However, that does not mean we are to throw our hands up in the air in defeat. We all have eyebrows, so its not like we don't have something to work with. The problem is that many don't know what to do with their eyebrows, and that's where my "surprised eyebrow friend" from the cartoon above comes in. But once you know the blueprint in finding the right shape for your face and how to groom them, your eyebrow problems will be a thing of the past! 1. Know your face shape: Eyebrows are not a "one size fits all" feature. Eyebrow styles suit some faces better than others depending on that person's shape and structure of their face. Here's a helpful chart to explain this (for reference, I fall in the round category): 2. Find your recommended eyebrow style according to your face shape: So now that you've figured out your face shape, here are some recommendations for each one: Oval: Soft, angled shape. Long: A horizontal line eyebrow would work to stop the face from appearing too elongated, creating the illusion of a "shorter" face. This can help if you have a prominent chin, making it appear to be shorter. Round: A high arch brow would make the face appear longer, causing the eye to look vertical (up and down). Rounded eyebrows only make the face look rounder. Square: This face shape often consists of a strong jawline. To balance out the face, a curved brow with a sharp angle would be a good fit. Heart: To soften the face, a low, rounded brow would make the forehead appear less prominent and balance out the appearance of a pointy chin. Diamond: This face shape is the most angled with a wide section around eyes and temples. To soften the angles, a rounded brow will balance the sharp lines on the face. 3. Find your angles: With brows, there are 3 things you need to know: 1. Where your brow should start 2. Locating the highest point of the brow, and 3. Where the brow should end. Here is a diagram with a description of each area: 4. Get the right tools for the job: So know that you know your face shape and recommended eyebrow shape, you need the tools to start grooming those lovely brows! The two tools I highly recommend are a spoolie and a stiff angled liner brush. A spoolie is a long handle brush with a spiral brush on the end, resembling a mascara wand. This is to comb through the eyebrows- always up and over- before applying any color product to the brows. The stiff angled liner works in applying powder and cream products to the brows. Sometimes these brushes are available as a duo brush. Here's an example of what it looks like: For adding color to the brows, pencil, powder, or cream products designed for the brows are all great options, it just comes down to preference and how much filling in you need. For example, I use both a pencil and powder to fill in my brows. The pencil is used to stencil the shape of the brow I want and the powder is used to fill in the actual brow. Important tip: use the spoolie after each pencil, powder, or cream product application to blend in the product. This controls how much product you add because with brows, its easy to get heavy handed! Another tip to remember is that you want to stay in the same color family as you hair, but go a shade or two lighter than you hair. The only exception is for those with blond hair- in this case, you wan to go a shade or two darker. So there you have it, a little crash course on the science of eyebrows! Hope this post is helpful in achieving the brows of your dreams!
Sometimes a trip to your nearby drugstore or makeup retail store can be quite overwhelming. You know what you want (or at least you think you do) but then again you're not sure if it's what you need. I understand, I've been there. Rows and rows of colorful displays, each fighting over your attention can bring anyone to say "Forget it! This makeup thing is too hard!" But let me reassure you that with a little know how you'll know what different products are made for and if it's suitable for your makeup needs. In this post, we'll focus on face powders, the different types available, and what their intended purpose is and if it's right for you. 1. Translucent powder: This powder is used for setting any cream of liquid foundation on the face. Since it is translucent, it will not alter the color of your foundation. It is very finely milled in order to provide an even, thin coating on the face. It's name doesn't just refer to it's color, but also the appearance it gives to your skin-translucent- as in it blends seamlessly on your face, avoiding the dreaded "cake face". Here's the one I use (and it holds a great reputation, its been around for more than 50 years!) 2. Powder Foundation: This powder provides extra coverage as a liquid foundation would. These powders are great for those who don't like to wear liquid products on their face but still want a medium to full coverage application. This is also a "2 in 1" for those who have oily skin because the powder provides coverage as well as helping to mattify the skin from excess oil. Here's one that I use and absolutely love: 3. Blotting Powder: Now this one may be new to some and be confusing to others. Blotting powder is meant for touch ups throughout the day for those who have oily skin. The main ingredients are dimethicone and silica. These 2 components work to create a smooth appearance on the face (primers also include dimethicone) as well mattify the shine that oil leaves on the face. This is not meant to be used as an all over face powder to set makeup, but as a touch on top of existing makeup. Here are two examples, one drugstore and one high end: 4. Compact Powder: This is the most versatile powder in the group. These powders come in shade ranges just as foundations do and can be used alone for light coverage, on top of foundation for extra coverage, or as touch up powder throughout the day. Here's two I would recommend: 5. Loose powder: This is the same type of powder as the compact powder just in a loose form. This is applied with a powder brush all over the face. Loose powder comes in translucent and an assortment of shade ranges depending on the brand. Here's one I would recommend: Hope this post was helpful and comes in handy next time you're shopping for a new face powder. Which powders would you recommend? I'd love to know to try them out!
1. Pour a small amount of alcohol into eyeshadow pan: A dropper is useful here since you get more control with the product and avoid pouring the whole bottle in the pan. 3- 5 drops will do, but may depend on size of eyeshadow. 2. Smooth out eyeshadow: Now you want to bring the product together like a paste, smoothing it out with either your finger, a small makeup spatula, or even a quarter wrapped in tissue paper works just as well. Make sure the shadow is packed tightly together to ensure it bonds correctly. 3. Let eyeshadow dry: Once you've smoothed the shadow in place, let it dry for at least 1-2 hours to ensure the alcohol has dried..You can check by running your finger over the product. And voila! Your precious eyeshadow is like new again!
Do I have some news for you! I just found a company that offers a line of brushes that are comparable to the coveted Sigma Brushes that are sought after everyone in the makeup community. They're called Beauty Junkees and can be found on Amazon. All their brushes are priced at $11.97, which is less than any brush that Sigma offers! I've tried their dupes for the Beauty Blender and I can honestly say I was impressed! I'm looking forward to trying out some of their brushes, especially their flat top kabuki, which is their most popular brush. Their products come with high ratings and great customer reviews. And another perk is that they are offered as Amazon Prime products, which means free 2 day shipping! If you are not a Prime member, you should be, it's absolutely worth the yearly cost! I order tons of makeup accessories from them, as well as household and baby items, and it really pays for itself! Here are the links to the brushes:
We've all been there- makeup is done and then the unwanted happens- our mascara smudges, eyeliner is crooked, foundation isn't blended in, etc. Noooo!! I've been there many times, feeling like the only option is to wipe everything off and start all over again! But before you reach for those makeup wipes, here are some easy and useful tips to prevent many of these oops! moments and how to prevent them from happening the next time you're getting ready. 1. Too much foundation: Sometimes we get too heavy handed when applying our foundation and the only way we think to fix it is to remove it and start all over again. If this happens to you, grab a piece of tissue and separate the two layers. Grab one layer of the tissue and dab it on your face. The tissue will absorb the extra oil and foundation on the face without shifting your makeup. Do this again with the other piece of tissue. Repeat this until you are happy with the results. 2. Unblended Foundation: Grab your sponge that you applied your foundation with and gently dab on the area to smooth out existing foundation. Do not add any additional makeup because that will shift your makeup and cause uneven color spots to appear on your face. If you didn't use a sponge to apply foundation, grab a clean one, wet it and squeeze out excess water, and do the same thing. This is why I recommend having beauty sponges in your makeup kit. They come in handy in many situations!! Set with a very light application of setting powder if needed. Here are some suggestions: 3. Mascara or eyeliner smudges on eyelid: The first thing to remember here is to wait! Let the product dry because if you try to wipe it off when it's still wet, you will just create a bigger smudge and it becomes harder to remove. Once the it dries, go in with a q-tip (I recommend using pointed and flat edged beauty Qtips) If needed, apply a small amount of makeup remover on the tip to help with the clean up. Then touch up makeup as needed. 4. Lipstick Feathers on Lips: Oh, the dreaded old lady makeup no-no- when your lipstick goes beyond your lips and gathers around the lines of your lips! One way to avoid this is to use a lipliner to secure your lipstick in place. It creates a barrier for your lip product to stay put. However, even with some lipliners this till happens depending on the formula of the liner and how your lips react to lip products. An extra step that will help to secure your lipstick even further is to apply powder on the outline of your lips and around your mouth, then apply your lipliner and lipstick. 5. Lipstick on teeth: There's nothing more embarrassing than to be caught with something in your teeth, lipstick included! One simple tip is to put you finger in your mouth and pull it out while touching the inner part of your lips, kinda like you're licking frosting off your finger. This will remove the lipstick in the most inner part of your lips that tends to grab onto your teeth. Do this each time you reapply your lip products. Do you have your own quick fix tips that you swear by? I'd love to hear them!
Trying to get the perfect foundation match is probably one of the most hardest things I hear from women-and from personal experience- to accomplish when it comes to makeup. We hear the words "warm", "light", "cool", "beige", etc and it leaves us going, huh? So to clear up the fog on color matching your foundation, here are some terms and their definitions that will help you find your perfect color. 1. Undertones: What this means is the underlying color that you have, or the pigment that comes across on your skin. A person has either a pink or yellow undertone and falls into the warm, cool or neutral color category. Pink: Pink means exactly that, pink. This applies to the very fair skinned up to those of deeper tones who burn easily, bringing out the reddish pink hue pigment in their skin. Such colors in this category have the words "ivory","fair", and "beige" in their color name. One tell tale sign is that the veins on your body will show through in a blue toned hue. Yellow: This undertone is for those who do not burn easily and whose skin turns golden in the sun. A person in this color range will have greenish hued veins. Words such as "golden", "sand", "tan", and "beige" are found in this color selection. Many people in the yellow category can also fall in the "neutral" family of foundations, which means that they have some redness in the face. Pink (R) vs Yellow (L) Undertones Warm: This applies to those with yellow undertones, from medium to olive complexions. Words like "honey", "medium", and "deep" are found in the color selection. Cool: Neutral or pink based undertones fit in the "cool" category. Very fair to women of color with a reddish undertone are in this group. Neutral: This is when you fall right in the middle of the pink and yellow color range. Although I have a yellow undertone, I fall in this category because my shade is usually right after the last pink shade and the first or second yellow shade in any given foundation brand. I don't turn red in the sun, but I do have redness around my nose and chin, which the yellow neutralizes, hence the name "neutral". Common color shades will include "medium" and "neutral" in their names. For example, I wear medium beige in my Cover Girl 3 in 1 Outlast Foundation (see my essential page for more product info). So next time you find yourself staring at the foundation section with that "deer in the headlights" look, remember these useful tips to help you find a color that will help you achieve that perfect color match. One last tip: our faces are not one color, they are multi dimensional. So when in doubt, just grab 2 colors and mix them to create your own custom color!
Here's the latest video on my Youtube channel: Easy Smokey Eye. Enjoy! I just filmed a video tutorial on this easy smokey eye look. Video will be up soon! I thought I'd post some pics with a product list and where each was used. On the eyes I used shadows from the Naked 2 Palette This look is super easy and and takes no time at all. Stay tuned for the video upload!
In yesterday's post, I offered a list of 12 essential brushes to have in your makeup kit that will help you achieve any look that will fit anyone's budget. I shared that you don't have to break the bank to get great brushes in achieving a beautiful makeup application. So here are my recommendations for must have brushes, many doing two jobs in one, with detailed use description for each one. These are the brushes I use in my makeup videos. This might be the one brush that has changed it all for me! It is extremely soft, superbly crafted, has dense bristles that don't lose its shape, and is multi purpose. As its description states, its meant to be used with powders. You can use it to apply powder all over the face or to dust off any extra that you may have put on. What I love it for is to give a good "buffing" to my face as a final touch. I use this after applying powder, bronzer, blush and highlighter to continually blend in every product, creating a seamless canvas on my face. This brush is so soft you'll get addicted to using it! I use this brush as both a blush brush and for its intended stippling purpose. This brush is a dual fiber brush, meaning it is made with two types of bristles, each in a different length. This is to create a blurred or airbrushed effect. When used with blush, it lightly applies the product, making it easier to diffuse and build on the color, creating a natural flush on the face. As a stippling brush, it can be used to buff in cream products, such as foundation, cream blush and highlighter. Crown Brush C441 Pro Blending Crease This is a must have in achieving a beautifully, blended eye. It's soft bristles are easy on the eye lids and its dense bristles help in grabbing the product. In a back and forth, windshield wiper motion, place this brush in the crease to blend in eyeshadows. E.l.f. Essential Eyeshadow Brush This brush is great for packing on color on the eyelid. It's dense bristles make it great for precise application. This brush packs a punch because its like getting 2 brushes in one, and with its low price, you could afford to get more than one! I love to use it as a fluffy eye blending brush when applying a neutral transition color on my eyelid after my eye primer. You could also use this with powder to set any under eye or spot concealer on the face. It gives a precise application when working with small areas. This brush also performs as two brushes- a foundation or powder buffing brush and as a contour brush, which is my preferred use for it. It's dense bristles are great for precise application and its softness allows for ease of use and application of product. Crown Brush C413 Brow Duo Brows are so important because they give structure and character to our faces. A spoolie, or eyebrow brush, is a great tool for grooming the eyebrows. Remember to brush in the direction of the hair (up and over) and not down. Some spoolies come with a stiff taklon bristle end like the one shown for applying powder or gel color to the brows. Filling in any sparse areas with these types of products will make a big difference. Beauty Sponges Although this may be a personal preference, I really prefer to use beauty sponges instead of brushes to apply foundation. Their shape and texture allows for a soft, airbrush application. However, not all sponges are alike. Depending on the material and quality of product, application results will vary. My top 3 picks are: Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, Graftobian GalmourGrip, and any generic brand of latex free beauty wedges. The trick is to soak each one completely in water, squeeze out the access, then use a bouncing motion when applying foundation. This is what creates that airbrush like look on the face. You can find a more detailed description of my favorite one on my essentials page. Crown Brush Metal Eyelash Definer Not only do well groomed brows make a difference in the face, but well separated lashes do too. This comb will help you avoid falling culprit of the "spider lashes"- thick, clumped together lashes caused by too much mascara and not enough separating. This is often a tool I see missing, if not absolutely clueless about, in a makeup kit. Crown Brush IB113 Taklon Angle Liner  This brush can be used with gel, pencil, and even eyeshadow to create a defined line on the eyelid. With gel liner, you dip the brush in the product and apply. With pencil liner, you can use the brush to buff out the pencil to create a softer line. When applying eyeshadow with this brush, it creates a soft and subtle line on the lid for those days you want to go lighter on the eye. Quick tip: to darken and hold any pencil or gel liner in place, apply a matte shadow in the same color as eyeliner and your liner will stay in place all day- a great way to make any eyeliner waterproof! My hopes for this post was to show how it's possible to own great brushes at great prices to get the most out of your makeup. Although this list may be a bit long, each brush is very beneficial in an everyday makeup routine and will quickly become must haves you can't live without!
Makeup is not only about the product itself, but the application process, the tools you are using and the techniques that go with it. With every masterpiece, there was a person and materials behind it. Even if the artist had the best materials available, but did not have the accurate tools needed to perform the job, the artist would not be capable of creating his or her masterpiece. This is the way it goes in the makeup world- you could have the best, most expensive "materials" (makeup) but if you don't have the right tools to apply them (brushes, sponges, etc) then all the prestige of those materials goes to waste. I've done many comparisons between high end and drugstore makeup and what distinguishes them is the way the product is applied. And even then you don't need to spend tons of money on brushes. Here are my top picks of must have brushes in your tool kit, all available for under $10. First things first- don't get stuck on name brands!!: The complaint I hear the most from women is that they feel discouraged because they feel pressured to buy well known name brand brushes in order to get a decent makeup application. This is not true! This is why I write these posts because I want to remove these common myths of makeup! Let's all say it together, "Just because it's name brand doesn't mean it's the best!!" There are many companies that make great brushes with excellent craftsmanship, durability and incredible texture at affordable prices. Some tried and true and trusted brands I highly recommend are Real Techniques, E.L.F. Studio Line brushes, and Crown Brushes, with price ranges from $3-15 a piece. Not to say that these more expensive brushes are not good, because they are, I'm just saying that there are many alternatives and even dupes for high end brushes that can be found at a much more affordable price. Top essential brushes for every tool kit: 1. powder brush 2. blush brush 3. eye blending brush 4. flat eyeshadow brush 5. fluffy eye blending brush 6. small face tapered brush 7. spoolie and angled bristle brush duo for eyebrows 8. beauty sponges 9. stiff angled eyeliner brush 10. tapered eye blending brush 11. eyelash comb 12. stippling brush This may seem a bit overwhelming, but trust me, 12 brushes is nothing compared to what many makeup artist use on a daily basis, me included! These brushes can help you achieve any look and provide you with the adequate tools to achieve a beautiful makeup application. Stay tuned for the next post where I personally share what specific brush I use and how to use it to create a professional makeup application. Do you have any brushes you'd like to add to the list? Let me know!
As a mom of two young children, baby wipes are an essential part of my home- there's a case in each bathroom, in every bedroom, boxes of them stacked in the downstairs closet- you name it, they're there! Not only are they great for poop (hehe!) but for food messes, snot attacks when your toddler politely sneezes in your face, and for smearing off whatever that stain is on your shirt (how'd that get there?) But for years before my children were born, I would pick up a large box of them at my nearby Costco. "But you don't have kids!?" friends would tell me. Yes, but what I was using them for was one of my top beauty secrets that I've shared with many through the years- they are great at removing makeup!! I've tried many brands but I constantly returned to the Costco Kirkland brand wipes for their unscented, non-sticky , no residue amazingness! They are super durable, unlike other brands that with one wipe tear in half or disintegrate before your eyes! I simply apply my eye makeup remover to them, start with my eye makeup, then use the rest around the face. You can also apply cold cream to your face and use the moisture of the baby wipe to remove face makeup. So the next time you're at the store buying makeup remover wipes, walk to the baby section and give baby wipes a try. Trust me, you'll find many more uses for them than just removing makeup! And they're also great as face wash cloths- just lightly wet the wipes, apply a pump of your face wash to the wipe, and scrub away! Do you have an unlikely secret beauty product? I"d love to hear them!
When shopping for groceries, what is the one thing we always do? We look for the product with the longest expiration date to make it last, or in the case we forget its in the pantry or fridge (which is me, all the time!) we have a chance of using it when we do finally get around to it. The funny thing is that when it comes to makeup or personal care products, we don't apply the same thinking. All products must break down and lose their active properties which promoted us to buy them in the first place. Just like we wouldn't eat something that is a year, month, or even a week old, we should practice this thinking with makeup. Without proper care and cleanliness, that makeup you put on your face day in and day out can be harboring bacteria and may be the answer to those unexpected breakouts or other skin problems. 1. Mascara: This one might be familiar to you- the 3 month rule is pretty much common knowledge, but if you're one of the few who didn't know, well now you do! Once a mascara is open, it takes about 3 months for the formula to start breaking down and begin to dry up. This is due to air being pumped into the container when the wand is being pushed in and out. A great tip to extend the length of your mascara is to not pump the wand to extract the product, but to wiggle the wand around the inside of the tube to get the mascara out. Another reason to throw it out is if it becomes contaminated or "dirty" if your eye comes into contact with something in the air that causes irritation, or the dreaded "P" word happens- pink eye! If this occurs and you've been continually using the same mascara after contact, throw it out! 2. Foundation, Concealer: These products can vary in their 12-18 month expiration dates because of formulations and care of the product. I have many foundations that I rotate in my weekly use depending on weather conditions, finish, and color, so I may have the same foundations in use for over the 12 month mark and are still useable. What can alter this is how the foundation is packaged. I find that when they come in pump form, less air and chance of bacteria entering the bottle is likely to occur, extending the life of the foundation. When it comes in a compact cream form that when opened to use is exposed, theres more chance of bacteria build up or of drying out. What's important when using compact form foundations is to use a clean sponge with each application, or with concealer, using clean fingers and brushes!! Many of them come with their own sponge, which is great, but I recommend washing the sponge every 2-3 uses, especially if you are experiencing a change of skin or breakouts, if not you're just spreading harmful irritants on your skin with each application. 3. Eyeliners: Just like with very product, cleanliness is key. We all know we shouldn't share makeup, but if you do, or in the case of makeup artists who work on multiple clients, make sure you sanitize after each use. One product that is great for this is from Beauty So Clean. They sell sanitizing mists and wipes for product cleaning. As with mascara, if you get an irritation or infection in the eye, throw out any eyeliner product you have used to prevent further infection. 4. Lip Products: This one can be a bit tricky, especially for those who love lip products and can't bear with parting with their favorite lipstick (like me!). The innocent act of freshening up our lips after eating or drinking can cause bacteria and food particles to live inside a lipgloss tube or on the surface of a lipstick, quickly turning our beloved lip glosses into bacteria breeding grounds. To take extra precaution, make sure your lips are clean of any foreign objects such a food residue and clean the top of the lipstick or the tip of the lipgloss applicator before and after every use. 5. Powder products (face powder, blush, eyeshadows, etc.): This is the one product I always thought couldn't go bad, but its important to remember that the ingredients in powder products will eventually break down and contamination with outside bacteria is still possible, especially when using the applicators that come with many of these products. Eyeshadows kinda give a tell tale sign that they may not be at its fullest potential by change of texture and color, but this may not always happen. Discernment is key in this area. If something looks weird, or if the texture has changed, don't hesitate. As the saying goes- when in doubt, throw it out! Hope this post was helpful! Cleanliness is so important in makeup application and can be the answer to skin irritation and infection. So, what products do you need to get rid? Just think, getting rid of products just means you have to buy new ones, sounds good to me!
First video is now live and in color! My easy, everyday makeup look, check it out! I found this tag going around YouTube and always thought I'd be fun to do. It's a lighthearted approach to the famous "7 deadly sins"- greed, wrath, gluttony, sloth, pride, lust, and envy. So let's get started! 1. Greed- What is the most expensive beauty item you own?: Well, this one wasn't too hard for me since 99% of my makeup is drugstore! However I have been known to splurge every once in awhile, so my most expensive beauty item would be my Naked 2 palette. It retails for $52 and was a birthday gift to myself when I turned the big 3-0. 2. Wrath- What products do you have a love/hate relationship with? For this one I chose cream bronzer/contour products. It's either I'm having a good day with the product and it comes out looking great, or my face just looks like a muddy mess! 3. Gluttony- What products do you most own in abundance? Or what product is your most "delicious"? This question is so fun and weird at the same time because when we hear the word gluttony we automatically think of food. However I see the tie between overindulgence and makeup because we love to consume products to add to our collection. So for my overindulgent product, it would have to be lipsticks and neutral shadows. The thing with lipsticks is that I tend to love one color and then buy that version in 5 different brands. Like how many shades of the same pink do you need? Well for me, at least 7! The neutral shadows seem to just creep into my makeup collection, increasing in number with every Ulta and Target trip I make. I must have about 4 large palettes of the same colors but I just can't seem to get enough of them! As for my most "delicious" product, I would have to give that title to my MAC Candy Yum-Yum lipstick. This bright, neon pink lipstick just makes me happy when I see it. Granted I don't wear it very much, but when it came out I had to have it! 4. Sloth-What product do you neglect the most out of laziness? This one would have to be face masks. There are months where I have been consistent in making my DIY masks and loving the results I get, but most of the time life's busyness gets in the way- which in my case is in the form of a 4 year old and a 6 month old- and going the extra step in pampering my skin goes to the wayside. Just thinking about it makes me feel lazy.... 5. Pride- What beauty product gives you the most confidence? Geez, this was a hard one! I'm torn between two, so since this is my post, I'll include both! I would have to say my brow products and mascara give me the most confidence. I think my face looks dramatically different once I put my eyebrows on- eyebrows are everything to the face, giving it shape and character. The second one would be mascara because just like eyebrows, I don't have very much eyelashes. Mascara really opens up the eyes and makes you look more awake. 6. Lust- What beauty products do you badly want to own? Yeah, well, this isn't a question you ask a person who loves makeup as much as I do, because then I would say everything! But if I had to choose, I would say I'd really like to own all of the Urban Decay Naked products. especially the Naked 1 and Naked 3 palettes. I love the formulation of the Urban Decay eyeshadows and their neutral shades are great! I guess this would feed my gluttony with the neutral eyeshadows, wouldn't it?! 7. Envy-What items that you have seen owned by others would you want to have? This one was way too easy for me! I have a friend that is a MAC Pro makeup artist and her collection of brushes and access to products is amazing, so I would love to have all her goodies in my collection! "Lipsticks and blushes and brushes, oh my..." Hope you found this post as much fun to read as it was for me to write! What are your 7 makeup deadly sins?
My previous post Five Things You May Be Doing Wrong was such a hit that I decided to do a part two, this time concentrating on makeup faux pas. A Faux Pas is defined as "a socially awkward or tactless act, especially one that violates accepted social norms, standard customs, or rules of etiquette" (Wikipedia). I've always supported a free spirited, creative perspective on makeup, however makeup is supposed to work in our favor to enhance the beauty that already is there, not to make people stop and stare and wonder "why is she doing that to herself?!" Here are 5 more makeup "no-no's" to add to the list: 1. Un-naturally drawn eyebrows: In the previous post, I pointed out how too dark or overly drawn eyebrows can age you and close in the face. This time I'm talking about eyebrows that are drawn in a way that gives a permanent surprised look (you know what I'm talking about, we've seen them before!) The natural brow hair is completely removed and then some kind of geometric shape is drawn in its place. Maybe its a cultural thing, I don't know, but it isn't a social norm, and quite honestly, cause others to feel "socially awkward". 2. Cleopatra Eyeliner: Now this too could be a cultural thing, but I've lately seen it go to the extreme of ridiculous. I love a great cat eye with a crisp flick at the end, but when the flick keeps going, and going, and going, where it stops short of touching the hairline, even Cleopatra herself would turn in her grave! Keep it short and simple ladies! (unless its Halloween, then carry on). 3. Overdrawn Lips: Now I know this one might be stepping on some toes, but I'm still including it in the list. I understand that outlining the lips SLIGHTLY over the natural lip can create the illusion of plumper lips-I have used this technique when I've done makeup on others- but thats not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about when the lips are overdrawn so much that the lipliner is coming into contact with the side of the cheeks and the top of the chin! And why is it that a dark liner is used with a lighter color on the inside? Is that supposed to help the lips look bigger? Because it doesn't- it just makes them look silly, just plain silly. 4. Spider Lashes: This one just boggles my mind because it can be remedied with a 2 simple acts- replace your mascara and stop at 2 coats! The more mascara you place on your eyelashes does not mean more voluminous or longer lashes- it just means that the product is going to start clumping together that you'll look like you're walking around with two furry insects on your eyes! Use a lash comb to separate the eyelashes between coats. If needed, 3 coats can be used but remember to work fast and separate the lashes. 5. Unblended Eyeshadow: Oh, dear, this one is a personal pet peeve of mine. I mean, why would they sell blending brushes if they weren't needed for eyeshadow, right? This is when you see all the colors a person used on their eyelids in order, stacked one on top of the other, like the colors on a rainbow. When I see this I get the sudden urge to take out a brush from my makeup bag and blend it myself! I am continually surprised to see this being committed- I mean, is there someone out there promoting this as okay?! Insert face palm here ---> Do you have any makeup faux pas to add to the list? Or have you been guilty of committing some of these ( I know I have!) I'd love to hear them!
Most of us have seen movies where people have gotten stranded on an island and how much they wished they had just a couple of their belongings from back home, like in Castaway with Tom Hanks, or the popular t.v show Lost. Well sometimes I think, if I knew I was going to be stranded somewhere (hopefully not on a deserted island or somewhere indefinitely, you know what I mean!) and I could only have 5 beauty products, what would they be? What products are truly essential in my routine that I feel are must haves in case of an unlikely event occurring? I really had to rack my brain for this one, so here's what I came up with: 1. Sunscreen: For obvious reasons, especially for the sake of the title of this post! In most emergency situations, you're likely to be exposed to the elements, most likely the sun. With sunscreen , I at least have some protection from the harmful effects of the suns rays. 2. Chapstick: Just like the sunscreen, I want to be protected from the outside and having chapped lips is one of the worst feelings ever! Add in the fact that there might not be much water around, a lip moisturizer will definitely be a must! 3. My Anti-Frizz Hair Serum: Now although this isn't technically a "beauty" item, it is beauty related. I naturally have frizzy curly hair so add in moisture, humidity, and heat, that's a recipe fro disaster! There's nothing more uncomfortable than a crazy mane of hair, especially when you look like Mufasa from the Lion King! 4. Face Moisturizer: Just like chapped lips, dry skin is the worst feeling. Plus, you can double its use by using it as a body lotion if needed. 5. Mascara: Looking down at the list, it appears as if this item is the only true makeup listed. If I were to be stranded somewhere, the comfort of my skin and hair would be more important than having makeup on. But mascara is one of those products that can bring an added "oomph" to our face. Darkening our lashes even with a bare face can make you look more awake. What would you bring along? Would you pick comfort or glam? It's always fun to hear what others have to say!
Egg whites, honey, yogurt, olive oil- ingredients found in almost every kitchen that many would never think of combining as a recipe for beautiful skin. It sounds more like an ingredient list for some sort of cake instead of a face mask. I first stumbled upon the idea of using face masks when I found a story about one of the most famous first ladies in our history- Martha Washington. Apparently, she maintained a youthful glow and great skin as she aged by using her very own face mask recipe of egg whites, honey, and apple cider vinegar. Intrigued, I tried it and instantly saw a difference in the brightness and firmness in my skin. Many foods contain powerful enzymes and proteins that can dramatically turn back the clock on our faces. Here are some "super foods" that you may want to try: 1. Egg Whites: This super food is great for tightening the skin. Those with oily skin will love egg whites as they help shrink large pores which will reduce the amount of sebum (oil) the face produces. Egg whites contain an enzyme that works against bacteria gathering in the pores, causing break outs. The potassium found in eggs provide hydration and its magnesium content helps for a radiant glow. Disclaimer: there is some controversy over using egg products on our faces because of possible contamination. As always, consider your type of skin sensitivity and tolerance to different ingredients. If used, I would recommend using organic eggs to endure the best possible product outcome. 2. Lemon: Not only does it make good lemonade, the acid in lemons provides a bounty of benefits on the skin. It works in fighting off acne by killing the cells that encourage the growth of bacteria in our pores. Just as lemon is used by many as a hair lightener in the summer, it also has the same effect on the skin, helping with discoloration and age spots as we get older. 3. Avocado: Heres another great one, just hold the chips! This super food is packed with essential fatty acids which hydrates and moisturizes the skin, allowing our skin to glow. 4. Yogurt: As the live cultures in yogurt work to fend off bacteria to grow inside of it, it also works for bacteria on the skin. Just like lemon, yogurt is a powerful ingredient to use to fight acne causing bacteria, as well as providing hydration to dry skin. So next time you're snacking on some yogurt, save a spoonful for your face! 5. Honey: Not only is this sweet to eat, but it has sweet properties for your skin! Honey is considered an anti-irritant, which means its a great choice for sensitive skin. Honey is found in many natural baby products because the skin on a baby is at its most sensitive state. The best form to use honey is raw and unheated. When kept in its natural state, it retains its antibacterial properties and the antioxidants work at their fullest potential in promoting hydration, softness, and elasticity in the skin. Here are some quick recipes for specific skin problems: Lift & Tighten: 2 Tbsp plain yogurt with 1 Tbsp lemon juice- leave on skin for 20-30 minutes then rinse. For Dry Skin: 2 Tbsp Honey with 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar- leave on skin for 20 minutes then rinse with warm water. So let's get cooking! Would you try any of these natural remedies? Or do you have your own tried and true DIY mask? Let me know, I'd love to hear from you!
Part of the journey in learning how to wear makeup is knowing what a product is intended to do and knowing how much is too much. Makeup is meant to be fun and creative, experimenting with colors and techniques. But there so many makeup no-no's that can actually work against us instead of in our favor. The one thing you don't want your makeup to do is to make you look older- not like the cool, mature older we all wanted to be when we were 16-but OLD and not flattering. Here are the most common mistakes that can drastically age your face- and yes, I've been guilty of many of these! 1. Too much blush- Blush is supposed to bring out the natural flush we have in our face that gives us a healthy glow. But when its placed on the front of the cheeks in a bright pink color, you either lean on the side of scary mannequin doll or resemble one of the ladies from the nearby senior assisted living facility. It's just not pretty! Be sure to choose a color not too vibrant which will look too fake, no matter how much blending you do, and place the product near the back of the cheekbones, making your cheekbones look higher and your face slimmer. 2. Dark eyeshadow and dark lipstick- Ladies, unless were going to a Halloween party as Elvira, this is just a big no! I often see this in the younger crowd, girls that think this will make them look older to attract attention from guys. Well, ladies let me tell you- you will get attention, but not the good kind! Both a heavy eye and a dark lip close in the face, causing you to look tired and overdone. If you want to go darker and heavier in the eye, then balance your look with a nude lip or lip gloss to keep the focus on the eyes. Or if a bold lip is what you want, then stick to neutral colors for your eyeshadow. 3. Heavily Lined Eyes- I like to call this one the skunk or the "I look like I just got out of a fight" look. A thick line on the top eyelid and heavy drawn liner inside the eye on the waterline will make your eyes look smaller and your face look tired. Most of the time I see this done in a way that looks like a black circle was drawn around the eye, making the eyes look like black targets. If you want to do the dark eyeliner on both the top and bottom eye, keep the top liner thinner and buff out, or smoke out, the bottom liner with some dark eyeshadow. For an even softer look, try using brown instead of black. 4. Dark Outlined Lips- This one hits home because I'm guilty of doing this in high school. If you're gonna outline your lips in a dark color, make sure your lip color matches the color of the lip liner. Not only is this aging, but it's borderline clown makeup. 5. Heavily Drawn or Overly Tweezed Eyebrows- I'm one who wasn't blessed with a full and shapely set of brows, so brow products have become one of my must have products because without them, well, I just wouldn't have much eyebrows! If the eyes are said to be the windows to the soul, then the eyebrows are the window frames, and if those frames are not looking right, nobody will be looking at your pretty eyes because they'll be staring at your eyebrows!! Brows that are too dark for your skin tone will be unflattering and if drawn too thick, you'll end up looking like Oscar the Grouch. Work with your natural shape and pick a color that is actually a shade lighter than your hair color, or if you have blond hair, pick an eyebrow color a shade darker than your hair. Our brows tend to thin out as we age so over tweezing them will only sped up the aging process! Work with your natural brow shape and think in terms of grooming your brows, not giving them a full on haircut. Keep an eye out for a future post on tips and tricks on how to achieve a young, fresh look, no matter what your age is. As always , leave your comments, questions, and ideas in the comment section, I'd love to hear from you!
"Okay, I admit, I shouldn't have done it, but it just called out to me!!" Oh, how I've said this after picking up yet another lipstick that I don't really need but picked up anyways. I mean, I'm eventually gonna use it, so it's not like I'm hoarding, right?! There are some items in my makeup collection that I enjoy so much that I feel the need to have a back up (and maybe a back up for that one!) because well, you never know when you might need it. Here are some of the items I keep in multiples in my vanity, my makeup box, my car, my daughter's diaper bag..... 1. Lip moisturizer: This is the one product I am never without! After having my daughter, my lips now have the tendency to get dry all the time and I can't stand the feeling of dry, parched lips! I'll just casually pick one up each time I go to Target or Ulta even though I really don't need one, well, not necessarily (here's my favorite). But hey, ask my husband how many times I've come to his rescue with chapstick? You're welcome honey :) 2. Eyebrow pencils: This one totally makes sense to me, especially since I'm not blessed with a full set of eyebrows, just some sparse hairs that seem to be connected, hanging on for dear life! (But thats another post). I'm always on the lookout for the latest, greatest eyebrow pencil that will make my brows look their best, so naturally I have to test out more than one right? Right. So I keep one with me pretty much wherever I go. Hey, my eyebrows could be wiped off in the middle of a hot day, may need a touch up while I'm on a date with my hubby, or by a sticky infant's hand who likes to touch my face whenever given the opportunity- you have to be prepared for all possible scenarios! 3. Lipsticks: Okay this one I admit I may slightly, possibly, kind of have an obsession with. Lipsticks are my favorite makeup product and when I see a pretty color staring back at me, I feel like I'm staring into the eyes of a poor puppy who needs a home and I feel compelled to take it with me. At any given time, I have at least 6 lipsticks in my makeup bag, not counting the ones in my everyday rotation in my makeup box or in my vanity. Lipsticks are to me as baseball cards are to a collector-we see the value of each one and want to build our collection (however my used lipsticks won't ever be worth a couple of thousand dollars, though I have spent a good amount...) What are your favorite items to have on hand? I'd love to hear your feedback!
Great skin isn't something you get overnight- granted, some women are born with naturally clear, smooth skin, but the majority have to work at it. Products such as wrinkle cream, hydrating lotion, and serums are constantly advertised promising fountain of youth results. Theses products definitely have their place and purpose (hey, I'm using a skin care system with creams and serums- your thirties creep up on you and you're constanlty reaching for more eye cream!) But all these things are just scratching the surface- we need to realize that what we put inside our bodies is what really makes the difference. To put it plainly, what goes in, must come out. Eat Your Fruits & Veggies Remember how our parents would always say "eat your vegetables, they will help you grow big and strong"? Well, theres a reason we should have listened to them. Good food works with the body's natural defense in getting rid of toxins and taking in the good stuff that creates good skin and overall health. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not here telling you to go on a diet, but from personal experience I have seen the benefits of incorporating healthier food in your diet. I began juicing about 2 years ago as a way to balance out my body and lose some weight in the process and guess what happened- my skin was the best it ever was! The antioxidants in the fruits & veggies I was drinking were allowing my skin to be rid of all the toxins it had built up over the years. Since then, I still incorporate juicing as part of my everyday diet. Drink Water- and Lots of it!! The human body is made up of almost 75% water- so naturally the body needs lots of water to stay in balance. Water allows our organs to function at its best and works as a filtration system, allowing our bodies to release the bad stuff and retain the good stuff. You can hydrate you skin with a great moisturizer, but that only goes skin deep. If your body is dehydrated, thats as far as your moisturizer will go. So drink up! Don't Worry, Be Happy! Stress and depression is one of the leading causes for many ailments and diseases- it causes our bodies to become unbalanced, creating friction with the good stuff in our bodies and allowing the bad stuff to take over. Choosing to be happy is something that is easier said then done-especially when you look at the mirror and not like what you see. As a mother and a woman who has dealt with body issues all my life, I have struggled to find a balance between caring for myself and becoming obsessed with wanting to look like an image in a magazine or in a movie. As a Christian, I believe that I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14) in the image of God. He has created me exactly how He wants me to be and I am to take care of the body He has given me- physically, mentally, and spiritually- through the lenses of His Word. My body will change, my face will age, but my soul, what's really deep inside, matters and will live forever. So yeah, my body has changed, but I have gained 2 beautiful children in the process, and yeah, I have way more wrinkles around my eyes than I did last year, but that just means that I've had many laughs with my loved ones and that causes me to smile and praise my God for all these blessings. When it comes down to it, this is why I decided to start this website- to bring my love for makeup to others because of the passion and talents God has given me, giving Him all the glory and hopefully pointing others to Him. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (Proverbs 31:30) I'd love to hear your feedback! your comments, questions, and any ideas for future posts are greatly appreciated!
I 'm starting a series of posts of the most common application questions I have received through the years called Back to Basics 101. I think what gets lost in the world of beauty websites and video tutorials is the simple step by step guide to everyday makeup application- foundation, blush, lipstick, etc. In this post, I will be focusing on bronzer. Bronzer is one of the most misunderstood and poorly used products, and also one of the most overlooked. When done correctly, adding warmth to the face can create a healthy glow and dimension to our faces when achieving a great makeup look. I often get asked "how do you look so naturally tanned and get that defined look?" Well, its bronzer. To be honest, I've also committed so many of the same mistakes in learning the proper way to apply bronzer and to contour that I've been guilty of the "dirty face"- what happens when you wear too much bronzer and you look like you've been pulled through a pile of dirt! This post will offer some tips on the proper way to apply bronzer in order to achieved a contoured look that will raise your makeup application skills to the next level. For reference, I've included the picture seen on the left to help in each step and links to recommended products. 1. Matte is where it's at: When choosing a bronzer for contouring, always look for a matte bronzer without any glitter or shimmer in it. The purpose of the bronzer is to define and "pull back" those features on the face you want to slim down or make smaller (the cheekbones, frame of face, nose, etc). Any shimmer will only bring attention to the face and will have the opposite effect that a bronzer is supposed to do. 2. Brown is the new orange: For the longest time, bronzing powders and creams have been made with an orange tone, leaving your skin with an unnatural color, making you look like a stand in role as an oompa loompa in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory! When the sun warms up our skin, it creates a reddish undertone. What you want to find is a bronzer that has this same undertone to get the most natural look possible. Check out my essentials page to find the bronzer I use and love. 3. Avoid a heavy hand: To ensure a natural, flawless application, take your time to build up the product. Work one area at a time to avoid getting bronzer all over your face, which will defeat the purpose of contouring. Adding product in small amounts allows you to have more control over product placement and allows you to have a cushion for mistakes- its always easier to add more product than to remove it. 4. Blend, blend, blend- then blend some more: You want the bronzer to melt into your existing foundation or powder thats already on your face to create a seamless look. Blending will create an even, airbrushed look, creating the illusion of that great tan you would get after a vacation on a tropical island (which I'm still waiting for, but that's a different story). 5. Get the right tools for the job: For contouring , an angled or a small densely packed brush works great. I love using the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for this area (see additional recommendations on my essentials page) A larger brush can be used if you're looking to just warm up your skin instead of defining through contouring, such as kabuki brush , which is a short bristle, tightly dense brush. I hope you find these tips useful in helping you achieve a beautiful bronzed, sun kissed look. Please leave your thoughts, questions, or comments on what products you'd like to see featured in this Back to Basic Series. Videos covering these topics will be coming soon, so look out for links to my youtube channel in future posts.
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When I'm not spending way too much time getting ready or drooling over the newest beauty product, I'm a stay at home mom of a rambunctious 4 year old boy, a sweet baby girl we lovingly call "sissy", and a wife to my high school sweetheart. Archives
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