Hey BBs!! Just wanted to give you guys a quick update on my life. I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been extremely busy with school (it being near the end of the semester and all), but I PROMISE to be back very shortly with some cool new blogs, tutorials, and reviews.
If you have any requests or suggestions for posts, leave them in the comment box, please!!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, readers!
A blog about beauty you can afford
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tag, you're it! My Makeup Story
New beauty tag floating around. Check it out and get to know me a little more!
Questions:
1. How old were you when you started wearing makeup? Well, I got to wear makeup for the first time when I was in preschool and performing in a ballet recital. Since I continued to do ballet for the next 11 years, I always looked forward to my mom doing my makeup (some eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick) before the big shows. However, I got my own real makeup in about 5th grade, but I was only allowed to wear it on weekends. Then, in middle school, it became every Friday. Once I hit 10th grade, I started to wear it every day.
2. How did you get into makeup? I was always into really girly things, but I probably got hooked on it from my ballet recitals. Wearing makeup made me feel so mature and sophisticated!
3. What are some of your favorite brands? Rimmel London, Revlon, Sephora, Clinique, e.l.f., mark., Urban Decay.
4. What does makeup mean to you? To me, makeup is an art form. I see my face (and body) as a canvas that I can constantly redecorate every day. How fun is that?!
5. If you could only wear 4 products on your face what would they be? Concealer, eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick.
6. What is your favorite thing about makeup? I like that you can be whomever you want to be when you wear it. You can be yourself in a really natural look and just highlight things you like about yourself, or you can be a whole other person and test out some crazy look you've never seen on yourself before.
7. What do you think about drugstore makeup vs high end makeup? 99% of the time, I feel that drugstore makeup is just as good if not better than high end makeup.
8. What is one tip of advice you can give to a beginner? Don't be afraid to try new looks. You don't have to wear them all day, but take the time to try out different looks and styles. You might be surprised to see that something you never thought would work on you could look perfectly fantastic on you.
9. What is one makeup trend you never understood? Thin, penciled in eyebrows. I really love my brows' natural shape and curve, so I don't really do too much to them. I think they frame my face naturally and make me look more graceful.
10. What do you think about the beauty community on YouTube? And in this case, blogger? I think they're both really good! You have great gurus in both mediums and I think they have a lot of great experience to share with readers. But never forget that this community is NOT the Gods of makeup. All we do is share secrets that work really well for us. Don't be afraid to think outside our boxes and find products and looks that work for you.
I, of course, tag all of you: my loyal readers. Answer in the comments section, please!
Questions:
1. How old were you when you started wearing makeup? Well, I got to wear makeup for the first time when I was in preschool and performing in a ballet recital. Since I continued to do ballet for the next 11 years, I always looked forward to my mom doing my makeup (some eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick) before the big shows. However, I got my own real makeup in about 5th grade, but I was only allowed to wear it on weekends. Then, in middle school, it became every Friday. Once I hit 10th grade, I started to wear it every day.
2. How did you get into makeup? I was always into really girly things, but I probably got hooked on it from my ballet recitals. Wearing makeup made me feel so mature and sophisticated!
3. What are some of your favorite brands? Rimmel London, Revlon, Sephora, Clinique, e.l.f., mark., Urban Decay.
4. What does makeup mean to you? To me, makeup is an art form. I see my face (and body) as a canvas that I can constantly redecorate every day. How fun is that?!
5. If you could only wear 4 products on your face what would they be? Concealer, eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick.
6. What is your favorite thing about makeup? I like that you can be whomever you want to be when you wear it. You can be yourself in a really natural look and just highlight things you like about yourself, or you can be a whole other person and test out some crazy look you've never seen on yourself before.
7. What do you think about drugstore makeup vs high end makeup? 99% of the time, I feel that drugstore makeup is just as good if not better than high end makeup.
8. What is one tip of advice you can give to a beginner? Don't be afraid to try new looks. You don't have to wear them all day, but take the time to try out different looks and styles. You might be surprised to see that something you never thought would work on you could look perfectly fantastic on you.
9. What is one makeup trend you never understood? Thin, penciled in eyebrows. I really love my brows' natural shape and curve, so I don't really do too much to them. I think they frame my face naturally and make me look more graceful.
10. What do you think about the beauty community on YouTube? And in this case, blogger? I think they're both really good! You have great gurus in both mediums and I think they have a lot of great experience to share with readers. But never forget that this community is NOT the Gods of makeup. All we do is share secrets that work really well for us. Don't be afraid to think outside our boxes and find products and looks that work for you.
I, of course, tag all of you: my loyal readers. Answer in the comments section, please!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Get the Look: Day-time Red Lips
When I think of classic, iconic makeup that NEVER goes out of style, I always think of the red lip. It's the epitome of sexy, feminine, strong, bold, and timeless all in one cute bundle. Many believe, though, that you can only rock a red lip at night or for a formal event because it's too sexy or too bold. But why should we as women think that way? I mean, shouldn't we embrace our femininity at all times?
Of course we should! Which is why you need not hide your red lipstick during the day, but rather learn how to wear it differently for a more office, school, or every-day appropriate look.
The trick, you see, is to use a coral lipstick instead of a true red. Coral, which was a huge hit this summer with blue eyeliner, is slightly more orange than red and therefore looks more neutral when worn. It's not just a summer trend, though! Because it has orange tones in it, I would argue it's very appropriate for fall and should be worn.
To keep your look more day-time appropriate and to draw as much attention to your red lips as possible. Keep the eyes mega neutral. For this look, I used a champagne shadow that had no shimmer or glitter in it all over the lid and no contour color. I did line my eyes and draw more attention to my ironic twist on the red lip, I added a small wing at the end, reminiscent of the 1950s pinups and starlets that made red lips popular.
The most important step of the whole process is to make any other colors on your face virtually disappear. You need to cover up any bags under your eyes, redness from acne, or general discoloration so that the most attention can be brought to your coral lips. I would recommend contouring your face, though, with a matte bronzer so that your face doesn't look flat and cartoony. You can also go in and add a highlighter if you have very dry skin.
Of course we should! Which is why you need not hide your red lipstick during the day, but rather learn how to wear it differently for a more office, school, or every-day appropriate look.
The trick, you see, is to use a coral lipstick instead of a true red. Coral, which was a huge hit this summer with blue eyeliner, is slightly more orange than red and therefore looks more neutral when worn. It's not just a summer trend, though! Because it has orange tones in it, I would argue it's very appropriate for fall and should be worn.
To keep your look more day-time appropriate and to draw as much attention to your red lips as possible. Keep the eyes mega neutral. For this look, I used a champagne shadow that had no shimmer or glitter in it all over the lid and no contour color. I did line my eyes and draw more attention to my ironic twist on the red lip, I added a small wing at the end, reminiscent of the 1950s pinups and starlets that made red lips popular.The most important step of the whole process is to make any other colors on your face virtually disappear. You need to cover up any bags under your eyes, redness from acne, or general discoloration so that the most attention can be brought to your coral lips. I would recommend contouring your face, though, with a matte bronzer so that your face doesn't look flat and cartoony. You can also go in and add a highlighter if you have very dry skin.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Tag, you're it! My Perfect Imperfections
Found this tag floating around Youtube the other day when a makeup guru I follow (DulceCandy87) posted her version of it. Basically, you name three physical traits about you that aren't necessarily perfect, but make you who you are and then three things you love about yourself. Sounds fun, right? Here's mine!
My Perfect Imperfections:
1) My under eye bags: No matter how much sleep I get or how much concealer I cake on, I can NOT seem to get rid of my under eye bags. I've tried everything: moisturizers, tea bags, cucumber, more sleep, more caffeine, less caffeine... EVERYTHING!! But no matter what, I always have little bags under my eyes. Sometimes they look really distracting and make smokey eyes look like black eyes, but now I've kind of just accepted that they're there and they probably always will be. Plus, I can look like a Vampire whenever I want (Lol.)!
2) My hair texture: I've discussed this before, but my hair texture is ridiculous. It can be smooth and silky one minute, and then frizzy and course the next. My hair is so ADD that I use dozens of different products to try to get it to just chill out. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The good part is that if I am having a bad hair day, I can just thrown my hair up in a bun and be done with it. It's not super long (reaches about the base of my neck now), so it's not high maintenance in the brushing field. Of course, some days are really fantastic for my hair: it's soft, smooth, and doesn't fall flat. It would just be great if those days could be planned out in advance. Hehe..
3) My weight: Let me put it this way: I'm no skinny minnie. I have very real, very noticeable curves. I know I'm not fat, believe me. But I also know that I'm not a size zero which sometimes is a hard reality to deal with when you're shopping for the latest trends with friends that are half your size (or smaller). I'm definitely not jealous -- I know I fill out evening gowns and daisy dukes better than some -- but I can also definitely acknowledge the fact that my size is not society's "ideal" one. While I do work out quite often and eat healthily, I'm all too aware that certain parts of me are just not going to change because of my genes and body type. I think I'm okay with that, though, because I still love my body and it will always be my temple.
Three Things I Love About Myself:
1) My skin: I'm UBER fortunate to have skin that rarely breaks out, is not acne prone, is not sensitive, and has a really natural glow 95% of the time. I know that a lot of people struggle with their skin and hypothetically, I should have too, because my parents had problematic skin as teenagers and young adults. Maybe it's because I drink a lot of water, or maybe it's because I wash my face multiple times a day, but my skin is really, really good.
2) My eyelashes: Apparently, I have really thick and long natural lashes. My friend Courtney told me this last year as she was applying my makeup once. I didn't believe her at first, but then she handed me a mirror and made me look really closely. Even without mascara on, my lashes looked the same if not fuller and longer than her falsies. While I'm still a mascara fiend and almost always have it on, there have been days when I've rushed out the door without it and never noticed I didn't have any on until I go to take it off at night.
3) My dimple: You may not have noticed it in some of my posts, but I do have a small dimple on my left cheek, just to the side of the curve of my mouth. I really love this dimple because I feel that it makes my smile look more natural, more playful. You can always tell when I'm truly happy because that dimple shows up. I like that it looks youthful and adds some mischief to my appearance.
So there you have it. My three perfect imperfections and three things I like about myself. What would your list have on it? Post it in the comments, please! And feel free to tag me in any new tags you have!
My Perfect Imperfections:
1) My under eye bags: No matter how much sleep I get or how much concealer I cake on, I can NOT seem to get rid of my under eye bags. I've tried everything: moisturizers, tea bags, cucumber, more sleep, more caffeine, less caffeine... EVERYTHING!! But no matter what, I always have little bags under my eyes. Sometimes they look really distracting and make smokey eyes look like black eyes, but now I've kind of just accepted that they're there and they probably always will be. Plus, I can look like a Vampire whenever I want (Lol.)!
2) My hair texture: I've discussed this before, but my hair texture is ridiculous. It can be smooth and silky one minute, and then frizzy and course the next. My hair is so ADD that I use dozens of different products to try to get it to just chill out. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The good part is that if I am having a bad hair day, I can just thrown my hair up in a bun and be done with it. It's not super long (reaches about the base of my neck now), so it's not high maintenance in the brushing field. Of course, some days are really fantastic for my hair: it's soft, smooth, and doesn't fall flat. It would just be great if those days could be planned out in advance. Hehe..
3) My weight: Let me put it this way: I'm no skinny minnie. I have very real, very noticeable curves. I know I'm not fat, believe me. But I also know that I'm not a size zero which sometimes is a hard reality to deal with when you're shopping for the latest trends with friends that are half your size (or smaller). I'm definitely not jealous -- I know I fill out evening gowns and daisy dukes better than some -- but I can also definitely acknowledge the fact that my size is not society's "ideal" one. While I do work out quite often and eat healthily, I'm all too aware that certain parts of me are just not going to change because of my genes and body type. I think I'm okay with that, though, because I still love my body and it will always be my temple.
Three Things I Love About Myself:
1) My skin: I'm UBER fortunate to have skin that rarely breaks out, is not acne prone, is not sensitive, and has a really natural glow 95% of the time. I know that a lot of people struggle with their skin and hypothetically, I should have too, because my parents had problematic skin as teenagers and young adults. Maybe it's because I drink a lot of water, or maybe it's because I wash my face multiple times a day, but my skin is really, really good.
2) My eyelashes: Apparently, I have really thick and long natural lashes. My friend Courtney told me this last year as she was applying my makeup once. I didn't believe her at first, but then she handed me a mirror and made me look really closely. Even without mascara on, my lashes looked the same if not fuller and longer than her falsies. While I'm still a mascara fiend and almost always have it on, there have been days when I've rushed out the door without it and never noticed I didn't have any on until I go to take it off at night.
3) My dimple: You may not have noticed it in some of my posts, but I do have a small dimple on my left cheek, just to the side of the curve of my mouth. I really love this dimple because I feel that it makes my smile look more natural, more playful. You can always tell when I'm truly happy because that dimple shows up. I like that it looks youthful and adds some mischief to my appearance.
So there you have it. My three perfect imperfections and three things I like about myself. What would your list have on it? Post it in the comments, please! And feel free to tag me in any new tags you have!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Review: Wet n' Wild Lipstick
Always the bargain hunter, I recently stumbled upon Wet n' Wild's makeup display in my local Publix while I was shopping for groceries with a friend. At first I didn't notice it, honestly. The display was pretty nondescript with no flashy signs and no pictures of their cover models. However, my eyes were caught as I was browsing price tags.
Covergirl: $12.99. Revlon: $14.99. L'Oreal: $9.99.
Wet n' Wild: $0.99?!?! What???
So I, the beauty brain and bargain hunter I am, moved in for a closer look. About a week earlier, I had picked up two of the brand's single eyeshadows (which I still have to review. Sorry!). This time, though, I was on the hunt for something I often avoid: lipstick.
Wet n' Wild didn't disappoint my wallet. Each lipstick was only $0.99 and the store had about 15 colors in stock. So I picked up three..
My three new Wet n' Wild lipsticks. From L to R: Fuchsia with Blue Pearl (521A), Nouveau Pink (511B), and Pink Ice (528A). $0.99 each.
I quickly realized that each lipstick was very glossy or even metallic-y: not really my thing. However, by simply blotting at your lips immediately after applying, you can totally change the appearance of these lipsticks and make them look like an expensive, high fashion product.
Pink Ice: A lovely neutral lipstick that looks a bit too frosty when applied, but can be blotted down to a gorgeous, peachy color. I especially loved wearing this with blue eyeliner and a neutral gloss to channel the hottest look from this summer. However, I also think it would look great with a smokey eye for a night-time look.
From frosted and glossy to totally matte..
Nouveau Pink: Okay, I know it looks like the name of this one is spelled awkwardly, but that's really how it's spelled on the packaging. Anyway, I really like this pink lipstick a lot. It's very feminine and instantly makes any neutral look a lot less neutral. I think it would be a great choice for holiday parties this year as it can be worn with a neutral eye or a smokey eye and would in fact look great with purple eyeshadow. This lipstick is not very glossy or metallic-y, but I would still recommend blotting it to reduce smudging later on.
Glossy to matte..
Fuchsia with Blue Pearl: Definitely the funkiest lipstick I've ever tried! I bought this on a whim and because it always seems like purple lips are popular in the winter. I, however, am a little too afraid to rock a violet lip, so I went with the pinkiest purple I could find! This is a very bold color and probably should only be worn at night with neutral or gray eyes. I would recommend blotting it or else it looks a bit clownish, but over all, it's a really cool color. Check it out! For the ridiculously low price, you might as well try the trendiest look for winter.
Glossy to matte...
Covergirl: $12.99. Revlon: $14.99. L'Oreal: $9.99.
Wet n' Wild: $0.99?!?! What???
So I, the beauty brain and bargain hunter I am, moved in for a closer look. About a week earlier, I had picked up two of the brand's single eyeshadows (which I still have to review. Sorry!). This time, though, I was on the hunt for something I often avoid: lipstick.
Wet n' Wild didn't disappoint my wallet. Each lipstick was only $0.99 and the store had about 15 colors in stock. So I picked up three..
My three new Wet n' Wild lipsticks. From L to R: Fuchsia with Blue Pearl (521A), Nouveau Pink (511B), and Pink Ice (528A). $0.99 each.
Pink Ice: A lovely neutral lipstick that looks a bit too frosty when applied, but can be blotted down to a gorgeous, peachy color. I especially loved wearing this with blue eyeliner and a neutral gloss to channel the hottest look from this summer. However, I also think it would look great with a smokey eye for a night-time look.
From frosted and glossy to totally matte..
Nouveau Pink: Okay, I know it looks like the name of this one is spelled awkwardly, but that's really how it's spelled on the packaging. Anyway, I really like this pink lipstick a lot. It's very feminine and instantly makes any neutral look a lot less neutral. I think it would be a great choice for holiday parties this year as it can be worn with a neutral eye or a smokey eye and would in fact look great with purple eyeshadow. This lipstick is not very glossy or metallic-y, but I would still recommend blotting it to reduce smudging later on.
Glossy to matte..
Fuchsia with Blue Pearl: Definitely the funkiest lipstick I've ever tried! I bought this on a whim and because it always seems like purple lips are popular in the winter. I, however, am a little too afraid to rock a violet lip, so I went with the pinkiest purple I could find! This is a very bold color and probably should only be worn at night with neutral or gray eyes. I would recommend blotting it or else it looks a bit clownish, but over all, it's a really cool color. Check it out! For the ridiculously low price, you might as well try the trendiest look for winter.
Glossy to matte...
My only complaint about these lipsticks is that the packaging is really quite poor. It looks and is cheaply made, so don't expect this to be a gorgeous product at first glance. However, if that's how Wet n' Wild is keeping prices down, then I'm all for it!
Over all, I think these lipsticks are really quite a steal. The colors are as pigmented and as different as MAC and definitely as trendy. But, like all things trendy, they won't (and shouldn't) last forever, so why spend $13.00 on a lipstick that could be very much out of style in a few months? Instead, get one of these Wet n' Wild lipsticks and don't feel guilty.
Swatches! From L to R: Nouveau Pink, Pink Ice, and Fucshia with Blue Pearl.
Over all, I think these lipsticks are really quite a steal. The colors are as pigmented and as different as MAC and definitely as trendy. But, like all things trendy, they won't (and shouldn't) last forever, so why spend $13.00 on a lipstick that could be very much out of style in a few months? Instead, get one of these Wet n' Wild lipsticks and don't feel guilty.
Swatches! From L to R: Nouveau Pink, Pink Ice, and Fucshia with Blue Pearl.Friday, November 12, 2010
Get the Look: Hot Pink Lips
For the most part, I tend to rock a neutral look during the day. Recently, however, I've been a fan of neutral eyes with a bright lip. In order to attain this look, you'll need a peachy or champagne-colored eyeshadow, tight lined eyes, and a really bright, highly pigmented lipstick.
As you saw a few days ago, I recently acquired a Fuchsia glitter gloss from Sephora, and honestly, I'm in love with it. Hot pink lips look flawless on all skin tones because they are not a commonly occurring color that looks feminine and flirty on everyone. This look was inspired by the gloss and centered around it!
Eyes: For this look, I wanted all of the attention to focus on my lips, so I did a very neutral -- almost naked -- eye. I used two shimmery neutral shades: one in peach and one in champagne.
I used the champagne tone in the bottom left corner and the peach tone in the center of the palette.
Apply the champagne all over the lid and the peach to the very center. Next, tight line your upper lid with black liner. You can then leave the bottom lid alone, tight line it in black, or tight line it in a bright purple to make the whites of your eyes pop.
Lips: Apply a hot pink or "Barbie" pink lipstick to your lips, taking care to highlight the cupids bow.
Blot your lips to remove any glossiness or metallic tones from the lipstick itself. Once your lips are sufficiently matte, apply your hot pink, glitzy lipgloss.
By applying the lipgloss on top of mattified lipstick, your gloss is going to stay on longer and your lip color will last much better.
And there you have it: a gorgeous bold lip look that takes less than 5 minutes to accomplish. Enjoy!
As you saw a few days ago, I recently acquired a Fuchsia glitter gloss from Sephora, and honestly, I'm in love with it. Hot pink lips look flawless on all skin tones because they are not a commonly occurring color that looks feminine and flirty on everyone. This look was inspired by the gloss and centered around it!
Eyes: For this look, I wanted all of the attention to focus on my lips, so I did a very neutral -- almost naked -- eye. I used two shimmery neutral shades: one in peach and one in champagne.
I used the champagne tone in the bottom left corner and the peach tone in the center of the palette.Apply the champagne all over the lid and the peach to the very center. Next, tight line your upper lid with black liner. You can then leave the bottom lid alone, tight line it in black, or tight line it in a bright purple to make the whites of your eyes pop.
Lips: Apply a hot pink or "Barbie" pink lipstick to your lips, taking care to highlight the cupids bow.
Blot your lips to remove any glossiness or metallic tones from the lipstick itself. Once your lips are sufficiently matte, apply your hot pink, glitzy lipgloss.
By applying the lipgloss on top of mattified lipstick, your gloss is going to stay on longer and your lip color will last much better.And there you have it: a gorgeous bold lip look that takes less than 5 minutes to accomplish. Enjoy!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Look What Arrived Today!
A Sephora haul! Yay!!
Most of the time, I can't afford to buy too, too much at Sephora because the prices are a tad bit expensive, but every year the store does what they call their Friends and Family Sale where you can 20% your entire purchase.
That's right. 20%! That's a heck of a lot off their products, especially when you're already shopping the sales and bargain items.
I've always wanted one of Sephora's Beauty in a Box sets simply because I love kits since they give you a great variety of products that work well together and suggestions on how to use it. This year, Sephora created four Beauty in a Box sets that would make great Halloween looks: a Vegas Showgirl, a Peacock, a Vampire, and a Devil. While I thought the vampire and devil kits looked great (especially the devil one, which had a black lipgloss I've been dieing to try!), I opted to go with the Vegas Showgirl and Peacock kits because I felt I would get more use out of them.
Anywho, the day after Halloween, these sets went from $26 all the way down to $10! What a deal! So, naturally, when I couldn't decide between either of them, I grabbed up both. After all, each was valued at over $50 and that's a GREAT deal for higher-end cosmetics. Plus, with the Family and Friends discount, the boxes were only $8 a piece. SWEET!!!
So, today, my Sephora box arrived. I was so excited to open it! And Sephora never lets you down with presentation. Even though I didn't order gift wrap, the kits were wrapped in the iconic red tissue paper and displayed like the crown jewels. Inside each kit, the items themselves were also wrapped in the red tissue (which I conveniently ripped to shreds in my excited state. Hehe..). Needless to say, I was impressed to find that the kits had full sized products in them, and not the little 'deluxe samples'/one time use products I thought would be in there. Both look uber fun, so here are my first impressions.
Vegas Showgirl: So far, I'm LOVING the lipgloss (it's the only thing I've really tried on). It's a gorgeous hot pink and full of glitter: totally glam. I find that it does stain your lips, which I'm a fan of since I hate reapplying makeup just shortly after i first apply it. The formula is smooth and silky -- not heavy at all -- and the doe-foot applicator feels more luxurious than most. Though I have not really used them yet, the shadows look gorgeous and are highly pigmented. The eyeliner is quite pretty, too, even though I just swatched it on my wrist. I have not sprayed the glitter yet, but I'm excited to! The only thing I wasn't an immediate fan of was the false lashes. Online, I couldn't tell that they had strands of glitter mixed into them. While I don't hate it, I think it kind of makes the lashes look tacky and I don't know if I'll really get to wear them very much. However, the over all kit looks fabu and I can't wait to really use the products!
Peacock: The lashes in this kit are to DIE for! So adorable!! I really love that you can apply as many or as little as you want to make the look yours. The eyeshadow combination is lovely... the dark green shadow is my favorite so far. These don't seem very pigmented, though, so I would recommend using a heavier hand with them. Again, the liner I swatched on my wrist looked beautiful, so that'll be exciting to use. The lipgloss -- although quite sheer -- smells deliciously sweet, so it should be pleasant to use. I also did not test the glitter spray in this kit.
Tomorrow, I should have at least one look tested, so I will let you know how it goes. The kits also come with little flaps in the front that provide instructions for a night look and day look for each kit.
Vegas Showgirl comes with a Colorful 9 Eyeshadow Palette in Forest Fantasy, Nano Eyeliner in Wild Spirit, Ultra Shine Lipgloss in Fuchsia, Silver Glitter Spray, and False Lashes. Above is the instruction flap!
The instructions on the Peacock kit tell you how to use the Colorful Eyeshadow Palette in Schizo, Super Shimmer Lipgloss Sugar Coat, Nano Eyeliner in Ladoon, Gold Glitter Spray, and False Eyelashes that come with it.Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Get the Look: Pretty in Pink (and Purple!)
Berry tones are always popular in the fall and winter when it comes to makeup looks. It warms up the face (which could lose its natural tan) and helps your skin radiate with warmth.
Please excuse my messy hair and gym clothes. I was on my way to Tai-chi class but wanted to make sure I got a picture of my makeup before I worked out. :)
Eyes: For this look, I chose to feature purple eyeshadow, but you could really do a pink or warm maroon as well. After priming the lid, I took Wet n' Wild's eyeshadow in Kitten ($0.99 at Walgreens. What a steal!!) and applied it with a stiff, flat brush all over the lid. I really like this shadow because it has a gold shimmer running through it that, when the light hits it just right, makes it look like you actually applied two eyeshadows: a purple as a base and a gold on top. After packing on the eyeshadow to reduce fall-out, take a fluffy dome brush and blend out the edges into your crease. You can add a highlight on your brow bones and in the inner corner of your eyes with a silver eyeshadow if you want. Apply concealer AFTER your eyeshadow in case of fall-out from the purple shadow that would make any under-eye circles look darker and more apparent.
Lips: I'm loving lipstains at the moment because the require minimal upkeep throughout the day and give your lips a gorgeous color for quite some time. For this look, I used Revlon's Just Bitten in Passion ($8.99 at CVS, but was on sale for buy one, get one 50% off), which gave my lips a delightful, berry-pink color. Make sure you apply a good lipbalm on top of the stain, though, because stains can dry out your lips: a major no-no for the winter. Revlon's lipstains come with a great balm on one end and the stain marker on the other.
Face: I would recommend a peach-tone blush for this look because any blush that's more pink or rosy will make your face look to red in the winter cold. A peach blush will still add a warm pink tone to your face, but won't look too over-done.
And there you have it: a pretty, girly look that is 100% perfect for everyday wear this winter. Enjoy!
Please excuse my messy hair and gym clothes. I was on my way to Tai-chi class but wanted to make sure I got a picture of my makeup before I worked out. :)
Eyes: For this look, I chose to feature purple eyeshadow, but you could really do a pink or warm maroon as well. After priming the lid, I took Wet n' Wild's eyeshadow in Kitten ($0.99 at Walgreens. What a steal!!) and applied it with a stiff, flat brush all over the lid. I really like this shadow because it has a gold shimmer running through it that, when the light hits it just right, makes it look like you actually applied two eyeshadows: a purple as a base and a gold on top. After packing on the eyeshadow to reduce fall-out, take a fluffy dome brush and blend out the edges into your crease. You can add a highlight on your brow bones and in the inner corner of your eyes with a silver eyeshadow if you want. Apply concealer AFTER your eyeshadow in case of fall-out from the purple shadow that would make any under-eye circles look darker and more apparent.
Lips: I'm loving lipstains at the moment because the require minimal upkeep throughout the day and give your lips a gorgeous color for quite some time. For this look, I used Revlon's Just Bitten in Passion ($8.99 at CVS, but was on sale for buy one, get one 50% off), which gave my lips a delightful, berry-pink color. Make sure you apply a good lipbalm on top of the stain, though, because stains can dry out your lips: a major no-no for the winter. Revlon's lipstains come with a great balm on one end and the stain marker on the other.
Face: I would recommend a peach-tone blush for this look because any blush that's more pink or rosy will make your face look to red in the winter cold. A peach blush will still add a warm pink tone to your face, but won't look too over-done.And there you have it: a pretty, girly look that is 100% perfect for everyday wear this winter. Enjoy!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Get to know Simone!
1. Do you have any pets?
I have a dalmatian named Xena, but she lives at home with my family. She's the cutest thing EVER!
2. Name 3 things that are physically close to you.
My Scentbug, a pink OPI nail polish, and my blackberry (Ohmygod.. I'm so in love with this phone!).
3. What's the weather like right now?
Sunny and cool (about 67 degrees).
4. Do you drive? If so have you crashed?
I do drive, but thank God, I've never crashed.
5. What time did you wake up this morning?
10:15.
6. When was the last time you showered?
Last night, before I went to bed.
7. What was the last movie you saw?
Social Network! I LOVED it!!
8. What does your last text message say?
"Mkay I need to stop by my room to pick up a calculator and I'll be right over =)"
9. What's your ringtone?
Haha. I have a few ringtones. For general phone calls, it's "Kids" by MGMT. For my boyfriend, it's "Love Story" by Taylor Swift (dorky, I know). For my mom, it's "The Circle of Life" from Lion King. For my dad, it's "Hello" by the Doors. And then for my brother, it's "All The Small Things" by Blink 182.
10. Have you ever been to a different country?
I'm super fortunate because my family really likes to travel and I've been able to go to many countries.
11. Do you like sushi?
No, I LOVE it =)
12. Where do you buy your groceries?
Publix, Super Walmart, or Super Target. I also really like going to farmers' markets for produce.
13. Have you ever taken medication to help you fall asleep faster?
No.
14. How many siblings do you have?
I have one awesome younger brother.
15. Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop?
I have a fabulous Macbook Pro that I'm thoroughly in love with.
16. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
20. Yay!!
17. Do you wear contacts or glasses?
Neither.
18. Do you color your hair?
Oh yes! Lol.
19. Tell me something you are planning to do today.
Go to dinner with two of my besties. We met first semester of freshman year in an anthropology class and have been together ever since!
20. When was the last time you cried?
I'm not sure. But that's a good thing, right?
21. What is your perfect pizza topping?
Veggies! Especially mushrooms and onions. Don't forget the extra cheese, too!
22. Which do you prefer-hamburgers or cheeseburgers?
Neither, really. Although my dad does make a mean burger. But that's really the only hamburger I'll eat. I kind of avoid red meat.
23. Have you ever had an all-nighter?
Oh yes. Those are my favorite! Haha.. Just kidding. Sort of.
24. What is your eye color?
Dark brown.
25. Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke?
YES! And Coke is much better. I'm a huge fan of Cherry Coke Zero.
Post your answers to this survey in your comment!
I have a dalmatian named Xena, but she lives at home with my family. She's the cutest thing EVER!
2. Name 3 things that are physically close to you.
My Scentbug, a pink OPI nail polish, and my blackberry (Ohmygod.. I'm so in love with this phone!).
3. What's the weather like right now?
Sunny and cool (about 67 degrees).
4. Do you drive? If so have you crashed?
I do drive, but thank God, I've never crashed.
5. What time did you wake up this morning?
10:15.
6. When was the last time you showered?
Last night, before I went to bed.
7. What was the last movie you saw?
Social Network! I LOVED it!!
8. What does your last text message say?
"Mkay I need to stop by my room to pick up a calculator and I'll be right over =)"
9. What's your ringtone?
Haha. I have a few ringtones. For general phone calls, it's "Kids" by MGMT. For my boyfriend, it's "Love Story" by Taylor Swift (dorky, I know). For my mom, it's "The Circle of Life" from Lion King. For my dad, it's "Hello" by the Doors. And then for my brother, it's "All The Small Things" by Blink 182.
10. Have you ever been to a different country?
I'm super fortunate because my family really likes to travel and I've been able to go to many countries.
11. Do you like sushi?
No, I LOVE it =)
12. Where do you buy your groceries?
Publix, Super Walmart, or Super Target. I also really like going to farmers' markets for produce.
13. Have you ever taken medication to help you fall asleep faster?
No.
14. How many siblings do you have?
I have one awesome younger brother.
15. Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop?
I have a fabulous Macbook Pro that I'm thoroughly in love with.
16. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
20. Yay!!
17. Do you wear contacts or glasses?
Neither.
18. Do you color your hair?
Oh yes! Lol.
19. Tell me something you are planning to do today.
Go to dinner with two of my besties. We met first semester of freshman year in an anthropology class and have been together ever since!
20. When was the last time you cried?
I'm not sure. But that's a good thing, right?
21. What is your perfect pizza topping?
Veggies! Especially mushrooms and onions. Don't forget the extra cheese, too!
22. Which do you prefer-hamburgers or cheeseburgers?
Neither, really. Although my dad does make a mean burger. But that's really the only hamburger I'll eat. I kind of avoid red meat.
23. Have you ever had an all-nighter?
Oh yes. Those are my favorite! Haha.. Just kidding. Sort of.
24. What is your eye color?
Dark brown.
25. Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke?
YES! And Coke is much better. I'm a huge fan of Cherry Coke Zero.
Post your answers to this survey in your comment!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Allow Me to Clarify: You're Beautiful Just The Way You Are!!
Recently, I've noticed a disturbing trend. Some of the most popular makeup gurus on Youtube are making videos that say makeup makes them beautiful. That they feel pretty when they have a full face of makeup on.
Well, I'm here to tell you that that's simply not true. Each and every one of us is beautiful in our own way without makeup on. To prove my point and to prove that I'm not afraid to be seen without my makeup, here I am!
See? That wasn't so bad!
My point is, is that we as a culture have made makeup something completely different from what it historically set out to be. The ancient Egyptians used to makeup to 1) protect their eyes from the strong sun and 2) to highlight what was already beautiful about them. Native tribes around the world used (and continue to use to this day) body paint when heading into war or to mark important days in their lives. Not one of the originating cultures of cosmetics ever thought that makeup was the only thing that made them beautiful.
And I think that's the state of mind we have to get back to. We should view makeup as something that accentuates are natural beauty, something that makes our best qualities stand out. Never should you feel like you're hiding behind a mask of makeup because you aren't pretty.
Makeup is an art. It can be used to transform a person into someone else. But don't force yourself into believing that your original identity isn't good enough. If at any time you look in the mirror and can't see yourself beneath the makeup you're wearing, take it all off and start over. Because somehow, somewhere, you lost yourself and forgot that you don't need something artificial in order to be attractive.
So the next time you go to apply your makeup, stop for a second and really look at yourself without your makeup on. Take in how gorgeous you are without a full face of makeup on. Don't let makeup hide areas you're insecure about, but rather use to show off features you're proud of. Because no matter how much makeup you apply, true beauty radiates from within and you're only as pretty as you feel inside!
Well, I'm here to tell you that that's simply not true. Each and every one of us is beautiful in our own way without makeup on. To prove my point and to prove that I'm not afraid to be seen without my makeup, here I am!
See? That wasn't so bad!
My point is, is that we as a culture have made makeup something completely different from what it historically set out to be. The ancient Egyptians used to makeup to 1) protect their eyes from the strong sun and 2) to highlight what was already beautiful about them. Native tribes around the world used (and continue to use to this day) body paint when heading into war or to mark important days in their lives. Not one of the originating cultures of cosmetics ever thought that makeup was the only thing that made them beautiful.
And I think that's the state of mind we have to get back to. We should view makeup as something that accentuates are natural beauty, something that makes our best qualities stand out. Never should you feel like you're hiding behind a mask of makeup because you aren't pretty.
Makeup is an art. It can be used to transform a person into someone else. But don't force yourself into believing that your original identity isn't good enough. If at any time you look in the mirror and can't see yourself beneath the makeup you're wearing, take it all off and start over. Because somehow, somewhere, you lost yourself and forgot that you don't need something artificial in order to be attractive.
So the next time you go to apply your makeup, stop for a second and really look at yourself without your makeup on. Take in how gorgeous you are without a full face of makeup on. Don't let makeup hide areas you're insecure about, but rather use to show off features you're proud of. Because no matter how much makeup you apply, true beauty radiates from within and you're only as pretty as you feel inside!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Review: Sally Hanson French Manicure Kit
I realize I do a TON of nail polish reviews on this blog, but since I'm trying to grow out my nails and keep getting bored with whatever color I have on, I'm always changing polishes, and therefore need a growing collection (at least that's how I justify it. Hehe...).
Recently, I thought I'd take a break from the dark fall colors I had picked up and try a classic French manicure for a sophisticated, pretty look. But I can't afford to go to a salon every week right now, so I decided to do it myself. Normally, I'm terrible at doing my own French manicures because my hands are just not steady enough to control an awkwardly sized brush and draw a thin straight line at the end of each nail. I was prepared for the worst, ugliest French manicure ever.
However, Sally Hansen's French Manicure Kit is a fantastic product that makes French manicures WAY simpler than they ever were before. Each kit comes with two pens: a white 'tip' pen and a sheer color brush pen. There are a few different colors or shades available for he sheer pen, but I like pink, girly French manicures, so I chose to buy the set in Le Bon Bon (3471).
On sale for $6.29 at Walgreens
The kit is pretty self explanatory. First, you draw the white edges onto your nail with the white marker...
It dries pretty quickly, but I've found that I get better results if I let it sit for 5 minutes or so before applying the sheer coat. Once I'm sure it's fully dry, I apply the sheer pink polish to the whole nail. I'd recommend two coats, but let the first one dry before going back over each nail...
To be honest, the polish does come out a bit streaky -- probably because the brush isn't exactly high quality -- and it can chip really easily. I don't think this is an ideal replacement for an actual manicure at a salon that looks clean and neat for days on end. But because this process is so easy and takes very little time (and money), I really would recommend it for quick fixes in between salon sessions or as a classy manicure for a semi-important function. Here's what my final manicure looked like...
On camera and from about a foot away, it actually looks pretty good. I think for its functionality, this kit is really worth owning because it's perfect for a quick fix or temporary elegant look.
Recently, I thought I'd take a break from the dark fall colors I had picked up and try a classic French manicure for a sophisticated, pretty look. But I can't afford to go to a salon every week right now, so I decided to do it myself. Normally, I'm terrible at doing my own French manicures because my hands are just not steady enough to control an awkwardly sized brush and draw a thin straight line at the end of each nail. I was prepared for the worst, ugliest French manicure ever.
However, Sally Hansen's French Manicure Kit is a fantastic product that makes French manicures WAY simpler than they ever were before. Each kit comes with two pens: a white 'tip' pen and a sheer color brush pen. There are a few different colors or shades available for he sheer pen, but I like pink, girly French manicures, so I chose to buy the set in Le Bon Bon (3471).
On sale for $6.29 at WalgreensThe kit is pretty self explanatory. First, you draw the white edges onto your nail with the white marker...
It dries pretty quickly, but I've found that I get better results if I let it sit for 5 minutes or so before applying the sheer coat. Once I'm sure it's fully dry, I apply the sheer pink polish to the whole nail. I'd recommend two coats, but let the first one dry before going back over each nail...
To be honest, the polish does come out a bit streaky -- probably because the brush isn't exactly high quality -- and it can chip really easily. I don't think this is an ideal replacement for an actual manicure at a salon that looks clean and neat for days on end. But because this process is so easy and takes very little time (and money), I really would recommend it for quick fixes in between salon sessions or as a classy manicure for a semi-important function. Here's what my final manicure looked like...
On camera and from about a foot away, it actually looks pretty good. I think for its functionality, this kit is really worth owning because it's perfect for a quick fix or temporary elegant look.Thursday, November 4, 2010
Lipstick is for people, not animals!
I really am a huge animal lover. I've been a proud dalmatian owner my entire life, am thrilled to watch animal documentaries (like Whale Wars, which I think is incredibly cool if not a bit scary), and want to be reincarnated as a dolphin.
Sadly, animals are often not treated with the respect and care they deserve. Even in today's modern, forward-thinking society, there are STILL cosmetic companies that torture animals by testing new products on them. This is a terrible practice that should definitely be banned (a la Legally Blond II) because animals do not react to most cosmetics the same way humans would. The ingredients that wouldn't hurt a human could cause a test subject puppy to develop infections, irritation, sickness, or even worse things. How sad is that?! And it's not like these animals are lining up voluntarily to have makeup applied to them. Oh, no! Cosmetics are forced upon these animals and because their natural instinct is to resist, this leads to pain and injury to the animals.
Think about it: you're a little, innocent rabbit and when some big researcher comes and sticks an eyeliner pencil right next to your eye, you're going to jerk your head away, right? Because that thing is scary and your natural instinct is to get the heck away! But no matter how much you squirm, that researcher is still going to test the eyeliner on you and that could lead to a pretty severe injury on your part.
I'm sorry to get so graphic on you, Beauty Brains, but I really don't think people understand the terrible conditions test animals are kept in and forced to live in. If you have any sympathy in your heart for helpless animals that have cosmetic products tested on them daily, you'll join me in supporting PETA's Caring Consumer Project which aims to eventually eliminate all animal testing.
You'll be happy to know that there ARE companies out there that do not test their products on animals. Thankfully, PETA publishes an annual list of these fantastic companies and it can be found here (as well, of course, as a list of companies that have continued to test products on animals).
Some stand-out cosmetic companies that are on PETA's No Testing list that also truly produce some of the best makeup and beauty items on the market are:
Almay
Bare Escentuals
Bath & Body Works
Bobbi Brown
The Body Shop
Bonne Bell
Bumble and Bumble
Burt's Bees
Caswell-Masey
Clarins of Paris
Clinique
Conair
Crabtree & Evelyn
Dermalogica
Dr. Bronner's
DuWop
Eco Tools
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Essie Cosmetics
Estee Lauder
got2b
Hard Candy
Hello Kitty
Josie Maran Cosmetics
Juice Beauty
Kiss My Face
La Mer
Liz Claiborne Cosmetics
L'Occitane
LUSH
MAC Cosmetics
Mary Kay
Merle Norman
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
OPI
Origins Natural Resources
Orly International
Palmers
Paul Mitchell
Physician's Formula
Perscriptives
Queen Helene
Revlon
Skyn Iceland
Smashbox Cosmetics
Stila Cosmetics
Too Faced Cosmetics
Urban Decay
Victoria's Secret
Wet n' wild
Yes to Carrots
There are many more companies listed on PETA's website and perhaps, even more out there that are not currently on the list. I strongly urge you to look at this list and the one of companies that are still testing products on animals so that you can make the right choices when it comes to buying items that make you feel pretty.
Makeup doesn't have to be superficial. You can make the choice to shop ethically and feel gorgeous both inside and out.
This post is in honor of my gorgeous puppy, Xena.
She means the world to me and I can't imagine some sick researcher ever wanting to hurt a precious being like her. (Old picture! Notice my brown hair. Lol. Clearly, my love for Xena has not changed!!)
I LOVE YOU, XENA! And I pledge to stop supporting cosmetic companies that hurt innocent animals like her. Can you, reader, do the same? (All photos are my mom's!!)
Sadly, animals are often not treated with the respect and care they deserve. Even in today's modern, forward-thinking society, there are STILL cosmetic companies that torture animals by testing new products on them. This is a terrible practice that should definitely be banned (a la Legally Blond II) because animals do not react to most cosmetics the same way humans would. The ingredients that wouldn't hurt a human could cause a test subject puppy to develop infections, irritation, sickness, or even worse things. How sad is that?! And it's not like these animals are lining up voluntarily to have makeup applied to them. Oh, no! Cosmetics are forced upon these animals and because their natural instinct is to resist, this leads to pain and injury to the animals.
Think about it: you're a little, innocent rabbit and when some big researcher comes and sticks an eyeliner pencil right next to your eye, you're going to jerk your head away, right? Because that thing is scary and your natural instinct is to get the heck away! But no matter how much you squirm, that researcher is still going to test the eyeliner on you and that could lead to a pretty severe injury on your part.
I'm sorry to get so graphic on you, Beauty Brains, but I really don't think people understand the terrible conditions test animals are kept in and forced to live in. If you have any sympathy in your heart for helpless animals that have cosmetic products tested on them daily, you'll join me in supporting PETA's Caring Consumer Project which aims to eventually eliminate all animal testing.
You'll be happy to know that there ARE companies out there that do not test their products on animals. Thankfully, PETA publishes an annual list of these fantastic companies and it can be found here (as well, of course, as a list of companies that have continued to test products on animals).
Some stand-out cosmetic companies that are on PETA's No Testing list that also truly produce some of the best makeup and beauty items on the market are:
Almay
Bare Escentuals
Bath & Body Works
Bobbi Brown
The Body Shop
Bonne Bell
Bumble and Bumble
Burt's Bees
Caswell-Masey
Clarins of Paris
Clinique
Conair
Crabtree & Evelyn
Dermalogica
Dr. Bronner's
DuWop
Eco Tools
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Essie Cosmetics
Estee Lauder
got2b
Hard Candy
Hello Kitty
Josie Maran Cosmetics
Juice Beauty
Kiss My Face
La Mer
Liz Claiborne Cosmetics
L'Occitane
LUSH
MAC Cosmetics
Mary Kay
Merle Norman
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
OPI
Origins Natural Resources
Orly International
Palmers
Paul Mitchell
Physician's Formula
Perscriptives
Queen Helene
Revlon
Skyn Iceland
Smashbox Cosmetics
Stila Cosmetics
Too Faced Cosmetics
Urban Decay
Victoria's Secret
Wet n' wild
Yes to Carrots
There are many more companies listed on PETA's website and perhaps, even more out there that are not currently on the list. I strongly urge you to look at this list and the one of companies that are still testing products on animals so that you can make the right choices when it comes to buying items that make you feel pretty.
Makeup doesn't have to be superficial. You can make the choice to shop ethically and feel gorgeous both inside and out.
This post is in honor of my gorgeous puppy, Xena.
She means the world to me and I can't imagine some sick researcher ever wanting to hurt a precious being like her. (Old picture! Notice my brown hair. Lol. Clearly, my love for Xena has not changed!!)
I LOVE YOU, XENA! And I pledge to stop supporting cosmetic companies that hurt innocent animals like her. Can you, reader, do the same? (All photos are my mom's!!)Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Tag, you're it! My Go-to Products
Note: I realize that a lot of these products are more expensive than what I normally feature on this blog. Because these are items that I constantly use on a day-to-day basis, I think it's okay to splurge on them because you get more bang for your buck. Still, I encourage you to leave some of your more reasonably priced go-to products in the comment section!
Primer: L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base ($12.95)
Foundation: Revlon PhotoReady Makeup in 004 Nude ($11.95)
Concealer: Clinique All About Eyes Concealer ($15.50)
Setting Powder: Clinique Blended Face Powder ($19.00)
Blush: Rimmel London Lasting Finish Blendable Powder Blush in Peach ($4.37)
Contour/bronzer: Napoleon Perdis Mosaic Bronzer (No longer listed online, but I think I paid $6.00 for it at Sephora)
Mascara: Rimmel London's Sexy Curves Waterproof Mascara ($7.50)
Eye Shadow: mark.'s I-Mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Nomadic and Tiki ($5.00 each).
Eye Liner: Sonia Kashuk's Dramatically Defining Long Wear Gel Liner ($8.99)
Lip stick: Rimmel London Lasting Finish Intense Wear Lipstick in In Vogue ($5.00)
Lip Gloss: mark.'s Juice Gem in Juicy Pomegranate ($6.50)
Primer: L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base ($12.95)
Foundation: Revlon PhotoReady Makeup in 004 Nude ($11.95)
Concealer: Clinique All About Eyes Concealer ($15.50)
Setting Powder: Clinique Blended Face Powder ($19.00)
Blush: Rimmel London Lasting Finish Blendable Powder Blush in Peach ($4.37)
Contour/bronzer: Napoleon Perdis Mosaic Bronzer (No longer listed online, but I think I paid $6.00 for it at Sephora)
Mascara: Rimmel London's Sexy Curves Waterproof Mascara ($7.50)
Eye Shadow: mark.'s I-Mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Nomadic and Tiki ($5.00 each).
Eye Liner: Sonia Kashuk's Dramatically Defining Long Wear Gel Liner ($8.99)
Lip stick: Rimmel London Lasting Finish Intense Wear Lipstick in In Vogue ($5.00)
Lip Gloss: mark.'s Juice Gem in Juicy Pomegranate ($6.50)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
What's in my Shower?
A really popular Tag video is "What's in My Purse". While I think it's fun to watch and I would consider making my own post like that (would you guys want one?), I think it'd be much more fun and slightly more appropriate to this blog for me to make a "What's in my Shower" post since, after all, I'm sticking to beauty-related blogs here.
So let's get started! For this post, I'm going to focus solely on hair care products: shampoo and conditioner. And here is my collection...
Back row (L to R): Tresemme Color Protection Shampoo and Conditioner, John Frieda Sheer Blonde Lustrous Touch Shampoo and Condtioner, Herbal Essences Hydralicious Self-Targeting Conditioner, Dove Damage Therapy Frizz Control Shampoo
Front Row (L to R): Aveda Shampure Shampoo and Conditioner, Lush Daddy-O Shampoo
Let me first say that I have wavy to curly hair that is pretty thin (though I have a lot of it on my head). My hair is naturally a very dark brown but I've been coloring it on and off since I was in about 6th grade. Recently, though, I've made the commitment and have gone 100% blonde (which I adore! Future blog post perhaps?) and have a honey-gold blonde color with lots of highlights mixed in. I don't use hot tools very much. In fact, I hardly touch my blowdryer and very rarely flatiron my hair. The only hot tool I really use is a curling iron because I love big, smooth curls, a la Marilyn Monroe, my idol. Most of the time, I'm really a wash-and-go kind of girl when it comes to my hair. I normally just throw my hair in a ponytail or bun, pin my bangs back, and walk out the door.
So let's get started! For this post, I'm going to focus solely on hair care products: shampoo and conditioner. And here is my collection...
Back row (L to R): Tresemme Color Protection Shampoo and Conditioner, John Frieda Sheer Blonde Lustrous Touch Shampoo and Condtioner, Herbal Essences Hydralicious Self-Targeting Conditioner, Dove Damage Therapy Frizz Control ShampooFront Row (L to R): Aveda Shampure Shampoo and Conditioner, Lush Daddy-O Shampoo
Let me first say that I have wavy to curly hair that is pretty thin (though I have a lot of it on my head). My hair is naturally a very dark brown but I've been coloring it on and off since I was in about 6th grade. Recently, though, I've made the commitment and have gone 100% blonde (which I adore! Future blog post perhaps?) and have a honey-gold blonde color with lots of highlights mixed in. I don't use hot tools very much. In fact, I hardly touch my blowdryer and very rarely flatiron my hair. The only hot tool I really use is a curling iron because I love big, smooth curls, a la Marilyn Monroe, my idol. Most of the time, I'm really a wash-and-go kind of girl when it comes to my hair. I normally just throw my hair in a ponytail or bun, pin my bangs back, and walk out the door.
With all that being said, I still live in the south and the climate just terrorizes my hair. All of the humidity makes me hair frizz like crazy or go completely flat. Constant changes between hot and cold? Yeah, bad news bears for my hair as well! So, I wind up trying a whole lot of different hair care products to make my hair more cooperative and easy to style. That's how I amassed this huge collection. :-)
Tresemme Color Protection Shampoo and Conditioner is available at pretty much any drugstore along with the rest of the company's line ($4.49 each at Walgreens for the 32 fl oz bottles) and is pretty reliable for a drugstore product. It's not my number one pick, but it smells pleasant -- kind of sweet, but still unisex -- and I think it does a pretty good job at protecting my hair color and keeping it fresh. My stylist says it's okay, but if you want volume it's just going to pull your hair down straight, killing any volume or curl.
Next up is John Frieda Collection's Sheer Blonde: Lustrous Touch Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner (that's a mouthful!). This combo has been a recent favorite of mine and I think it's really working on my hair. I've noticed that I haven't been shedding as much and my hair is not breaking in half when I try to brush it. At the same time, it feels soft and sleek which is fantastic. The scent is also fabulous: sunflowers and amber. John Frieda's color sensitive shampoos and conditioners sell at Walmart for $5.87 each.
Moving on, we have Herbal Essences' Hydralicious Self-Targeting Conditioner. What this claims to do is balance your hair's moisture so that certain parts don't look more oily than others. I use it pretty rarely because my stylist told me Herbal Essences is extremely drying and not a good choice for people who color their hair like me. Still, I tend to use it when my hair feels extremely gross (like, after an intense workout or a long day out in the sun) and I think it works alright. It smells like sweet aloe to me and costs $3.22 at CVS.
Dove is by far one of my favorite companies and has been since I was about 7. I always loved that they encouraged women to love their own bodies and take care of themselves. So, when my hair started to freak out this summer and get all frizzy and nasty, I picked up their Damage Therapy Frizz Control Shampoo at Walgreens for $4.49. To me, the formula smells like warm sugar cookies (yummy!) and definitely does the trick. I prefer to use it on days when it's been humid, rainy, or muggy outside because that's when my hair frizzes out and turns ugly.
Over the past several weeks, I heard nothing but fabulous reviews about Aveda's Shampure Shampoo and Conditioner. Since I go to an Aveda salon, I picked up a bottle of each the last time I went for $9.50 a pop (a bit pricey, but I figured I'd make an exception for such a fantastic product). Aveda markets these products as being the latest and greatest in hair care as they contain morikue protein (basically, damaged hair is lacking protein. If you add protein to it, damaged hair will start to regain it's natural, healthy state) and other natural ingredients. The smell is a deliciously herbal citrus and definitely appropriate for anyone! However, I'm not too crazy about the shampoo. In my humble opinion, it just dries my hair out every time I use it and my hair seems brittle and sticky the next day. I'm not sure if that's supposed to happen and will eventually stop when my hair is no longer as damaged, but I don't like it! I've honestly been avoiding the shampoo and using the conditioner sparingly as well. I'll have to have a chat with the manager of my salon the next time I'm there and see why it's not quite working.
Lastly, in my shower, I have the superb Daddy-O from Lush Cosmetics. This itty-bitty bottle was $8.95 and the full 16.9 fl oz bottle is a scary $27.95. I know.. it's ridiculous! But to be quite honest, the baby-sized bottle is lasting me quite well. For those of you who aren't in the know, Lush Cosmetics is a fabulous company that creates all-natural bath and cosmetic products. Daddy-O in particular is vegan, which means it contains absolutely NO animal by-products and is not tested on animals. Anyway, this is a violet shampoo made for blondes or people with white or gray hair. The purple tone of the shampoo (and yes, it IS purple. And not just a light purple. No, this is a so-purple-it's-almost-black kind of purple) helps brighten blonde or light hair by pulling out any impurities. It smells floral, but natural. I would highly recommend it because I DO see results with it. However, because of the price, I use it as a once-a-week treatment and use it Sundays or Mondays in place of any other shampoo. Do not be surprised when it doesn't get very foamy. It's made with very little sulfate, the ingredient in most shampoos and soaps that creates foam.
The reason I have so many different hair products in my shower, by the way, is because I like to keep things fresh with my hair. In other words, I sort of believe that if I'm constantly using the same shampoo and conditioner, my hair won't react the way it's supposed to to it, so changing it up keeps my hair from "getting used to" any particular formula. Another helpful hint? Don't wash your hair every day! While it sounds a little gross, it is really, really, REALLY bad to shampoo every day because it strips your hair of its natural oils which it needs to stay damage-free.
What's your favorite shampoo or conditioner? Post below and let me know!
Tresemme Color Protection Shampoo and Conditioner is available at pretty much any drugstore along with the rest of the company's line ($4.49 each at Walgreens for the 32 fl oz bottles) and is pretty reliable for a drugstore product. It's not my number one pick, but it smells pleasant -- kind of sweet, but still unisex -- and I think it does a pretty good job at protecting my hair color and keeping it fresh. My stylist says it's okay, but if you want volume it's just going to pull your hair down straight, killing any volume or curl.
Next up is John Frieda Collection's Sheer Blonde: Lustrous Touch Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner (that's a mouthful!). This combo has been a recent favorite of mine and I think it's really working on my hair. I've noticed that I haven't been shedding as much and my hair is not breaking in half when I try to brush it. At the same time, it feels soft and sleek which is fantastic. The scent is also fabulous: sunflowers and amber. John Frieda's color sensitive shampoos and conditioners sell at Walmart for $5.87 each.
Moving on, we have Herbal Essences' Hydralicious Self-Targeting Conditioner. What this claims to do is balance your hair's moisture so that certain parts don't look more oily than others. I use it pretty rarely because my stylist told me Herbal Essences is extremely drying and not a good choice for people who color their hair like me. Still, I tend to use it when my hair feels extremely gross (like, after an intense workout or a long day out in the sun) and I think it works alright. It smells like sweet aloe to me and costs $3.22 at CVS.
Dove is by far one of my favorite companies and has been since I was about 7. I always loved that they encouraged women to love their own bodies and take care of themselves. So, when my hair started to freak out this summer and get all frizzy and nasty, I picked up their Damage Therapy Frizz Control Shampoo at Walgreens for $4.49. To me, the formula smells like warm sugar cookies (yummy!) and definitely does the trick. I prefer to use it on days when it's been humid, rainy, or muggy outside because that's when my hair frizzes out and turns ugly.
Over the past several weeks, I heard nothing but fabulous reviews about Aveda's Shampure Shampoo and Conditioner. Since I go to an Aveda salon, I picked up a bottle of each the last time I went for $9.50 a pop (a bit pricey, but I figured I'd make an exception for such a fantastic product). Aveda markets these products as being the latest and greatest in hair care as they contain morikue protein (basically, damaged hair is lacking protein. If you add protein to it, damaged hair will start to regain it's natural, healthy state) and other natural ingredients. The smell is a deliciously herbal citrus and definitely appropriate for anyone! However, I'm not too crazy about the shampoo. In my humble opinion, it just dries my hair out every time I use it and my hair seems brittle and sticky the next day. I'm not sure if that's supposed to happen and will eventually stop when my hair is no longer as damaged, but I don't like it! I've honestly been avoiding the shampoo and using the conditioner sparingly as well. I'll have to have a chat with the manager of my salon the next time I'm there and see why it's not quite working.
Lastly, in my shower, I have the superb Daddy-O from Lush Cosmetics. This itty-bitty bottle was $8.95 and the full 16.9 fl oz bottle is a scary $27.95. I know.. it's ridiculous! But to be quite honest, the baby-sized bottle is lasting me quite well. For those of you who aren't in the know, Lush Cosmetics is a fabulous company that creates all-natural bath and cosmetic products. Daddy-O in particular is vegan, which means it contains absolutely NO animal by-products and is not tested on animals. Anyway, this is a violet shampoo made for blondes or people with white or gray hair. The purple tone of the shampoo (and yes, it IS purple. And not just a light purple. No, this is a so-purple-it's-almost-black kind of purple) helps brighten blonde or light hair by pulling out any impurities. It smells floral, but natural. I would highly recommend it because I DO see results with it. However, because of the price, I use it as a once-a-week treatment and use it Sundays or Mondays in place of any other shampoo. Do not be surprised when it doesn't get very foamy. It's made with very little sulfate, the ingredient in most shampoos and soaps that creates foam.The reason I have so many different hair products in my shower, by the way, is because I like to keep things fresh with my hair. In other words, I sort of believe that if I'm constantly using the same shampoo and conditioner, my hair won't react the way it's supposed to to it, so changing it up keeps my hair from "getting used to" any particular formula. Another helpful hint? Don't wash your hair every day! While it sounds a little gross, it is really, really, REALLY bad to shampoo every day because it strips your hair of its natural oils which it needs to stay damage-free.
What's your favorite shampoo or conditioner? Post below and let me know!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Happy (Belated) Halloween! My Makeup Look for Halloween
To celebrate Halloween (and kick off homecoming) this year, my boyfriend and I attended Ludacris's FREE concert at our university with thousands of other students. We had a blast getting into the school spirit, but because it was on Halloween, we decided to attend in our costumes. My lovely boyfriend and I were Musketeers. Here is my costume and makeup design with instructions for anyone who might want to recreate it for another holiday or costume party. Enjoy!
Eyes: For this look, I basically did the same eyeshadow I did for the Rocky Horror makeup tutorial, but instead of black shadow in the center, I used purple. This made the eye softer and more feminine, which complimented the flirty black dress. I lined both my upper and lower waterlines to make the eyes more sultry and then added a volumizing mascara. I didn't wing my eyeliner out, but you can to make the eyes more dramatic.
Face: Definitely do concealer after you do your eyeshadow because it'll keep fallout bits from collecting and making your undereyes look dark and heavy. I used a dark bronzer (again) to contour the face and a rosy blush to give my cheeks a natural flush.
Lips: I chose to do my lips in a pinky-berry color to make it look more flirty and natural. You could do a red lip for an evening look, but since the concert festivities started in the afternoon, I wanted my makeup to be appropriate for day time. Once again, I used the same techniques from the Rocky Horror tutorial.
Hair: I separated my bangs out and then French braided my hair to keep it nice with my hat on. After finishing the braid, I straightened my bangs and tucked them behind my ears, securing longer strands with a small bobby pin. Lots of hairspray was used to prevent fly-aways!!
Eyes: For this look, I basically did the same eyeshadow I did for the Rocky Horror makeup tutorial, but instead of black shadow in the center, I used purple. This made the eye softer and more feminine, which complimented the flirty black dress. I lined both my upper and lower waterlines to make the eyes more sultry and then added a volumizing mascara. I didn't wing my eyeliner out, but you can to make the eyes more dramatic.
Face: Definitely do concealer after you do your eyeshadow because it'll keep fallout bits from collecting and making your undereyes look dark and heavy. I used a dark bronzer (again) to contour the face and a rosy blush to give my cheeks a natural flush.
Lips: I chose to do my lips in a pinky-berry color to make it look more flirty and natural. You could do a red lip for an evening look, but since the concert festivities started in the afternoon, I wanted my makeup to be appropriate for day time. Once again, I used the same techniques from the Rocky Horror tutorial.
Hair: I separated my bangs out and then French braided my hair to keep it nice with my hat on. After finishing the braid, I straightened my bangs and tucked them behind my ears, securing longer strands with a small bobby pin. Lots of hairspray was used to prevent fly-aways!!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Happy Halloween! My makeup for Rocky Horror night
My university does a free showing of Rocky Horror every year at midnight, the Friday before Halloween. I normally don't dress like a particular character, but just go for outrageously sexy-gaudy makeup. Here's what I wore and here's how to do it! Happy Halloween!!
The look!
Eyes: I started off with an eyeshadow primer to make sure the smokey eye wouldn't shift allover my face throughout the night. Then using this eyeshadow palette, I did a smokey eye..
I first took the taupe color in the upper left corner on a soft dome brush and dusted it all over my lids and about halfway up onto my brow bones. Then, I took the grayish-taupe color on the top right on a stiff, flat brush and packed it into the inner and outer corner of both eyes. Lastly, I took the black shadow in the bottom right corner on the same stiff brush and tapped it onto the center of my lid. This was a pretty dark eye, so to lighten it up a bit, I lined my lower lash line with a white pencil and also took the liner up into the inner corner of my eye...
The white lining I did on the inner corner of my eyes I covered with the silver eyeshadow in the bottom left corner to make my eyes glitter. Next, I lined my eyes with a black gel liner. To get the winged out effect, you need to hold a straight edge against the outer corner of your eye at the angle you want the wing to go (I would recommend tape. It doesn't hurt and it frees up your hand to hold your lid steady). Because I felt the eyes still looked a little too matte for the occasion, I added a thin, metallic blue line in liquid eyeliner between my lashes and the top of the black gel line. It instantly made my eyes pop! Lastly, I curled my lashes and applied a great volumizing mascara (if you want more volume or thicker lashes, apply fake lashes as well)..
Face: Apply concealer AFTER you do your eyes because you will most likely get fallout from the dark shadows that could potentially mess up your concealer if you do that first. Contour your face with a darker bronzer to create a more dramatic look..
I've hit tin pan on this one, but I love it! I'll definitely use the whole thing up.
The look!Eyes: I started off with an eyeshadow primer to make sure the smokey eye wouldn't shift allover my face throughout the night. Then using this eyeshadow palette, I did a smokey eye..
I first took the taupe color in the upper left corner on a soft dome brush and dusted it all over my lids and about halfway up onto my brow bones. Then, I took the grayish-taupe color on the top right on a stiff, flat brush and packed it into the inner and outer corner of both eyes. Lastly, I took the black shadow in the bottom right corner on the same stiff brush and tapped it onto the center of my lid. This was a pretty dark eye, so to lighten it up a bit, I lined my lower lash line with a white pencil and also took the liner up into the inner corner of my eye...
The white lining I did on the inner corner of my eyes I covered with the silver eyeshadow in the bottom left corner to make my eyes glitter. Next, I lined my eyes with a black gel liner. To get the winged out effect, you need to hold a straight edge against the outer corner of your eye at the angle you want the wing to go (I would recommend tape. It doesn't hurt and it frees up your hand to hold your lid steady). Because I felt the eyes still looked a little too matte for the occasion, I added a thin, metallic blue line in liquid eyeliner between my lashes and the top of the black gel line. It instantly made my eyes pop! Lastly, I curled my lashes and applied a great volumizing mascara (if you want more volume or thicker lashes, apply fake lashes as well)..
Face: Apply concealer AFTER you do your eyes because you will most likely get fallout from the dark shadows that could potentially mess up your concealer if you do that first. Contour your face with a darker bronzer to create a more dramatic look..
I've hit tin pan on this one, but I love it! I'll definitely use the whole thing up.You can add blush if you'd like. I'd recommend a pink or red so it doesn't look too natural.
Lips: Everyone knows Rocky Horror is famous for the Lips that introduce the movie through the song "Science Fiction Double Feature"! For this look, I did a very dramatic red lip by applying a red lipstain and letting it dry...
Then, apply a true red lipstick. Avoid corals, because they'll look 'off' on top of the stain. Deeper shades like wine should also be avoided because they'll drag down the whole look and seem a bit heavy. So, apply your red lipstick, and then blot away excess. Reapply a light coat if you'd like to make it more shiny. Leave it alone if you want it to be matte.
If you're like me, you probably struggle with making your lips look PERFECT each time you do them. Since red lipstick will definitely stand out if it's not all even, take a light-colored concealer and a small brush and line just outside of your lips, and blend outward. This will highlight your cupids bow, hide any mistakes or discoloration, and make your lips look almost too perfect.
And there you have it: a perfect Rocky Horror look for all of my gorgeous Beauty Brains. Happy Halloween!
Lips: Everyone knows Rocky Horror is famous for the Lips that introduce the movie through the song "Science Fiction Double Feature"! For this look, I did a very dramatic red lip by applying a red lipstain and letting it dry...
Then, apply a true red lipstick. Avoid corals, because they'll look 'off' on top of the stain. Deeper shades like wine should also be avoided because they'll drag down the whole look and seem a bit heavy. So, apply your red lipstick, and then blot away excess. Reapply a light coat if you'd like to make it more shiny. Leave it alone if you want it to be matte.
If you're like me, you probably struggle with making your lips look PERFECT each time you do them. Since red lipstick will definitely stand out if it's not all even, take a light-colored concealer and a small brush and line just outside of your lips, and blend outward. This will highlight your cupids bow, hide any mistakes or discoloration, and make your lips look almost too perfect.
And there you have it: a perfect Rocky Horror look for all of my gorgeous Beauty Brains. Happy Halloween!
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