Saturday, April 18, 2015

Weekly Tip, Beauty News & Blog News

Hey, I hope you're having a great weekend! This weekend I am cutting my toddlers hair, to say the least, I'm extremely nervous. He doesn't like to have others cut his hair so I do it myself but I haven't had any cosmetology training. I hope it works out. On Sunday I'm going to a family cookout so I doubt there will be a new post tomorrow. I'll be back on Monday, though! Have a good rest of the weekend and enjoy this weeks tip! 

Weekly Tip
Who doesn't live for a white smile? We all try to get the whitest teeth we possibly can but there comes a point in time when their just as white as they can be. Or maybe some of us don't whiten our teeth. But we all want them to look as white as possible, even if their not. So what to do? Have you ever heard of blue based lipstick making teeth look whiter? It's true! But not all lipsticks are blue based. No worries, though. That can be fixed with a sheer blue lipgloss. Just put on your favorite red lipstick (red works best) and add a thin layer of the blue gloss over it. Expect poeple to ask your "whitening" secret!

Friday, April 17, 2015

Treating Weak Nails: Cracking and Splitting

Hey, guys! So today I got an email asking if I know anything that will keep nails from splitting. I emailed the person back with my tips and I felt really good about personally helping someone. But then I thought to myself-shouldn't I help every one of my readers? So now I'm here sharing the same tips with everyone who needs help treating their nails. 


First, I would stop using any form of nail polish (hardening included). They contain harsh chemicals that will make your nails brittle later on. All they do is strip your nails of their natural oils, which just means your nails will be dry and cause complications. The only thing you want to apply to your nail bed is moisturizer/ oils! 

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Acne Update-April 2015

Hey, guys! I wanted to give everyone an update on my acne. When I do updates I like to talk about what products I have been using, including makeup and skincare, what I have been eating and some of my current habits. I'll also include a couple pictures of my skin. Don't be thrown off by the lighting! Some pictures are taken in my bathroom and others are in natural lighting.  


High-End Makeup Starter Kit


Hey, guys! So today's post is a High-end makeup starters kit. It doesn't matter if you're a teenager or mother, this kit will work for almost everyone. I tried to pick products that will work on all skin types. Dry, oily, light, dark. 
If there's a product that doesn't work for one skin type, then another will make up for it (dewy foundation, mattifying powder). I hope you find this post helpful! If you have any questions about a product listed below or a substitute(drugstore or highend), just ask! 


Primer
Create a perfect canvas for foundation application with this silky, lightweight blend of vitamins A & E, grape seed extract and green tea. Worn alone or under foundation, Smashbox's best-selling, oil-free primer helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores for flawless skin with a velvety-smooth finish.

Monday, April 13, 2015

My first tag- Liebster Award for bloggers

Ok, so there's a tag going around for a Liebster Award. I'm not really into tags but I thought I would give this one a go.  I don't know about you, but I must be living under a rock at the lowest point in bikini bottom. I haven't even heard a Liebster Award! Perhaps I'm not the only one? Thanks to the lovely Blossominblush, I was nominated to participate in this tag to be eligible to recieve the Liebster Award (i think). I'm comprehending that it's an award that goes around to help smaller blogs(under 200 following) grow and become known. It's also great to interact with other bloggers and make friends within the blogging hemisphere. 




Quick Review: Lorac Cosmetics Alter Ego Lipstick Collection

Hey, everyone! Today's post is a quick review of Lorac's Alter Ego Lipstick collection. It can be found at kohls for $35. There are 5 matte lipsticks included from the pernamnet Alter Ego lipstick line. Usually each individual lipstick costs $16 but in this set each lipstick is cut down to $7 each... Wow, what a steal! 

I decided to do a quick review since this is a late post. I planned on posting it early but the work of procrastination demolished that plan. I guess I just had other posts I wanted to write first. So, this one got kicked to the back of the bus, although it shouldn't have. This set isn't just a steal, the lipsticks shades are stunning and the formula is unique. Now let's get started! 


Saturday, April 11, 2015

Review & Swatches:Tarte Tartiest Clay Paint Liner

Hey, guys! I have been wanting to put up this review for a while but I decided to wait a couple months to see if this particular liner would dry out. Good news it didn't so we are off on a good start (let's hope it stays that way!). I ordered my Tarteist Clay Paint Liner on Sephora's website for $24. The amount of product icluded is .21 OZ. Tarte was also generous and included a decent angled liner brush for application. Now let's take a look at the product details Tarte Cosmetics shared! 



Product details 
What it is:
An innovative, waterproof cream eyeliner with a unique blending tip that is inspired by an artist’s palette. 

What it does:
Think outside the lines when you define eyes like a pro with tarte’s clay paint liner. Inspired by the ease of an artist’s palette, this one-of-a-kind, squeezable cream liner offers a seamless, no-budge application—simply squeeze, line, and define. The unique formula features fewer waxes, cushioned pigments, and a special development process that allows for the creamiest texture and smoothest application. The tube was created with an innovative artistic delivery system, a tapered tip, and a flat blending stage so you can simply pick up the ideal amount of product and blend for foolproof perfection. The sketcher-angled bamboo liner brush easily glides the plush, triple-black, formula along the contours of the eyelid. Featuring the same waterproof, 12-hour wear as tarte’s signature clay pot liners, this next-generation liner has cushion slide technology that lets you custom create your own signature lines without ever pulling or transferring. 

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens 
- Phthalates 

What else you need to know:
This product is ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested.


Consistency/ Application 
The consistency is hybrid of a gel and liquid liner. It has a slip to it but not in the way where it's easy to start a paint party on your eye lid. It's just enough to glide across the wrinkles on the lid without tugging from one reminder of our aging to the next( I'm talking about wrinkles, haha). The liner itself is not runny but it's not thick either. When I squeeze it through the tube It comes out it in a circular formation that spreads out easily into the bowl like tip (blending stage).

Longevity
This part is tricky. I think this liner can last a long time if you're not an eye rubber but if I rub my eyes hard enough it does have the tendency to smudge a little. However, if  your eye area is a "no passing" zone then you should be fine. On days when I don't rub my eyes it will last for up to 12 hours, which is when I remove my makeup. So maybe it could last longer but honestly most people don't wear their makeup longer than that. Be sure to have a makeup remover handy, this liner is water proof to an extent. It will stay on if water is splashed on the face, so don't worry when you're sweating up a storm while tanning at your local pool this summer. Now, if water is applied and the liner is rubbed it will smudge some but to remove it completely you'll need a makeup remover. 

Best used for...
Winged liner. It's really easy to get the crisp tip that we all desire since its uber creamy and thin. It is smudgeable but I don't see most people purchasing this liner for that purpose. But if you are one of those people, I think you'll be pleased by its capability to smudge. 

Opacity and Finish
Honestly, I wish it was a tad bit darker. It's dark black but it's not pitch black. Although, I can get the desired darkness I want when I layer the product. The finish is most certainly matte. Once it's dry there's no smudging unless it's rubbed vigorously. Depending on the thickness of the coat, it usually dries in a minute or less. If your eyes are hooded or deep set be sure to give it time to fully dry or the liner will transfer to your brow bone. After that you should be fine for the remainder of the day. 

Packaging 
I really like the idea of a liner in a squeeze tube. I think it will last a lot longer before it dries out. The cap also features a small plug that goes into the tube when it's sealed shut. I can't imagine any air getting in there easiy if it's left shut. What I do is squeeze the tube just enough to allow any air trapped out and I'll screw the lid on. When I do that I know no air will leak into the tube and no air is left in to dry out the product. Who knows maybe this liner will last me for a year! That would be the first. 

Overall
I think it's a nice liner. I might repurchase it if it doesn't dry out for a very long time. However, I don't see it as a necessary or must have product. Drugstore eyeliners are just as good and cost a portion of the price. But if you're interested anyways just know it is a good eyeliner that's easy to use. The best thing about it is the consistency. I sometimes have a hard time applying eyeliner to my eyes because of wrinkles but this liner just glides across them so effortlessly. If your eyes are the same maybe it would be better than a drugstore liner. I honestly just think it depends on the buyers needs. 

Pro's
Easy to apply
Dark Black
Pigmented
Long lasting
Smooth/creamy 
Waterproof
Easy to remove
Matte
Smudgeable 
Doesn't dry out as fast
Nice packaging

Cons
Price
Can wear off when rubbed

Photos & Swatches 









Have you tried the Tarte Tarteist Clay Paint Liner?
Do you want to try it?
Let me know in the comments below! 










Friday, April 10, 2015

Is collecting makeup good or bad & why don't people understand-rant

Why do people think collecting makeup is a bad thing? Today I was talking to my boyfriend about making another online order because I want a new Summer Lorac palette, he said it's pointless. I guess he thinks I have enough makeup and it's not something I should collect. I just don't understand how poeple can't get it in their head how makeup is a great collective choice. For me it makes me feel happy, girly, young and sophisticated. I love sitting in my makeup room and browsing through my makeup. I feel like the hour I get ready in the morning is my happy time and my makeup makes me feel like a grown and beautiful woman.

But I guess it's not the same as shoes, purses, jewelry or clothes. No, too much makeup is considered childish and odd. I mean who has 15 concealers and 30 blushes. A woman like that must be full of insecurities and problems. The truth is, it's artistic and beautiful. Creating a beautiful canvas and chiseling out your facial structure isn't considered art in the average persons eyes. Cut creases and graphic liner isn't art, it's just odd makeup. Even if we're not "artistic" with our makeup, that doesn't mean we don't deserve the right to collect it just because we only love it. Makeup is thrilling. It's like Christmas when a new haul is waiting on the door step. I don't wear it because I think it makes me pretty, I wear it because the makeup is pretty. Scratch that, it's breath taking!

Men say we do it to impress them or to hide our true selves. I say we wear stunning makeup because that's how we express our ourselves and show who we really are. Our beauty starts from within and we let it blossom through the art of makeup. 

Anyway, today my boyfriend said when I buy makeup it doesn't make him happy. Well you know what, it makes me happy and I'm going to continue doing it. It's my expression, my get away, and it's a part of me that's not going away. You're going to have to burry me with my favorite lipstick when I die. I'm just that committed. 

March 2015 All Stars & Favorites

Hello, sorry it's been such a long time since I published  a monthly All Star favorites post. I don't know why but I just wasn't feeling it each month. I couldn't get excited when writing this and that just results in mindless writing. After I thought about, a lot, I decided to switch it up and add a few things to spice up my monthly All Star post. Now I include a All Star  makeup product( like before), most exciting new beauty release, all star beauty brand, all star post of the month, favorite Instagram account,mfavorite beauty Youtuber, and favorite blog. I thought it would be nice to include other beauty blogs/vlogs for more support in the beauty world. I have always been a firm believer in supporting other people and I thought this was just the way to do so.  Now let's get started! 


All Star Makeup Product 


My All Star product of the month is Physicians Formula Shimmer Strip in Natural Nude. The price is around $12 at the drugstore. It can be used for multiple things, highlighting (my favorite), bronzing, blush, and eyeshadow. I haven't used it for bronzing since its shimmery but I'm sure it would look beautiful if worn correctly. As a highlighter, it's simply beyond gorgeous. It's smooth and pigmented. It's catches the light exactly how I want it to. The consistency is so finely milled and doesn't make my skin look horrid around my textured areas. 
Now on to the eyes, it's a life saver for days I want to have a natural look( or you can go all out, too). There's plenty of highlight shades for the brow bone, crease shades, dark colors for extra depth. Unfortunately, this kit doesn't include any matte shades but I still love it. I know everyone loves matte shades but sometimes we just want to shimmer like a disco ball... Atleast on the eyes and check bones that is. 



Most Exciting Beauty Release

The most exciting beauty release for me would have to be the new Too Faced palettes called Sugar Pop and Natural Matte. Sugar Pop has extremely pretty spring shades and the matte palette includes all matte shades (duh!), so of course I was excited about that. They both sell for $36 each. Which one are you going to buy?




All Star Beauty Brand 


My most loved brand would probably be Physicians Formula. I absolutely love their affordable products. They can be pricey for drugstore, but their ingredients are high quality. Plus, all of their products are actually good for our skin. Not to mention most of the stuff they sell is great makeup, especially their bronzers! But what really made me adore the company is the generosity and love they show to their loyal customers. I have noticed they have great customer service and they host a lot of giveaways. I know it can be hard to win giveaways but when they do it they include 500 or 1000 winners every time. How generous! 



All Star Post Of The Month 

My most loved post of the month was the Too Faced Cocoa Contour Review. In the review I talked about my thoughts on the palette and shared some swatches of each shade. I hate to spoil the review but I gotta say I love it! Every time I whip it out I want to go to my kitchen and stir up some hot cocoa! A few extra calories won't hurt when I can chisel out my cheek bones to look slimmer! 



Favorite Instagram Account 


The reason why I chose Instagram over other social media networks is because its based on pictures and that's where I get the most inspiration. I also feel like you can see more of someone's personality through pictures on Instgram rather than words on Twitter. That being said, my favorite Instagram account this month is Ssssamanthaa. She's a gorgeous makeup artist from Canada with a great personality. She also has a YouTube channel along with a couple of other girls but they don't post that often so their not my favorite YouTube channel. Anyway, her pictures are on point and flow in the inspiration like a tsunami wave. Click here to check out her Instagram page! 



Favorite Beauty Youtuber 

I figured since this is the first time I'm posting the new version of "Monthly All Stars" I'll talk about my all time favorite beauty youtuber. Now I'm not choosing her because she has a huge following or anything like that. I'm choosing her because she's funny, sweet, beautiful, talented and she cares about her fans. Her name is Jaclyn Hill and I'm sure you've heard of her by now. She's the girl that started the "Yaaasss" and "amazeballs" trend.  Her videos are really helpful if you need some makeup ideas for any time of the year. Her incredible talent has given her the opportunity to work with brands such as Gerard Cosmetics, Sigma, and Morphe. If you don't know who she is, you're missing out. Click here to view her YouTube account. 



Favorite Blog 
Everyone knows of Temptalia. It's one of the biggest beauty sites ran by a girl named Christine. She reviews almost every product out there. She doesn't really do tutorials or beauty topics but the reviews are great. So if I'm every interested in a foundation or anything like that I'll check her review first. Their always detailed and on point. Sometimes I just don't want to spend $30+ on a foundation that won't work on my dry skin, so that where I go! Click here to check out her blog! 

What was your All Star product of the month?
Have any favorite blogs/vlogs?
Let me know in the comments below! 




Wednesday, April 8, 2015

10 Tips- How to deal with skin texture when wearing makeup

If you clicked on this post there's obviously a problem with the texture of your skin. For me, it's acne. I have spent so many years dealing with rough texture that's as apparent as an 800 pound cow in a room with you. Thankfully, for you, I now have some tips that should help with your problem. I actually still have that problem sometimes, but when I follow these guidelines my makeup looks a hundred times better...Most of the time. 

I can't guarantee flawless skin. Raised bumbs will always be raised. Dry skin will always be flaky. Scars will always look like scars. Hair will always look like hair (unless you shave it!). However, we can make them look a lot better.



Watch what you use to wash your face
A lot of people have said this and I didn't listen. I figured since I have acne shouldn't I go to war with it? How would something "gentle" help the constant battle I was fighting everyday? Well the truth is you need to be gentle. Rough cleansers can be really harsh on your skin and cause a lot of bad texture. My current favorite cleanser is Cetaphil's sensitive skin face wash. It's only $6 at Walmart and boy does it help the texture of my skin.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
I know, you've heard this a million plus times but, honey, it's true. I have always moisturized my skin after cleansing but I just didn't notice much of a difference. One day, I decided to double the amount of moisturizer I used and bam, my flakey skin was a lot smoother. Also keep in mind what kind of moisturizer you're using. If your skin is super dry, then use a heavier lotion and vice versa. 

Setting spray for peach fuzz
I have a ton of peach fuzz. Embarrassing enough, I have been called out on it by family, ugh the embarrassment. So now I use a setting pray to lay down those stubborn hairs. Depending on how much hair you have it might work for you too. What I do is spray my primed face a couple times and use my CLEAN hands to smooth the hairs down. Works like a charm. 

Warm damp rag for Exfoliating  
Lets rewind back to flaky skin! I have horrible large flaky acne. If I do not take this step in my routine my makeup will look disastrous. If you have flaky skin, you know what I mean. It's just terrible. So now, I get a clean soft wash cloth and damp the corner of it with warm water. I then rub my face with it in gentle circular motions. Don't be too rough on your skin. If it's bleeding chill out with the rubbing, you're doing it too hard. Also be sure not to do it on white heads. You do not want that sucker to pop and spread yucky pus all over your face. Keep it nicely clean and gentle!  After you're done Moisturize again!

Primers that are made to deal with texture
This is an obvious tip. Apply a primer that deals with texture.  I find that a lot of primers that deal with large pores work for this problem. I really enjoy the Benefit Porefessional primer. It Smoothes my skin and leaves a flawless base for foundation, 

Beauty blender
A beauty Blender isn't a hyped up product that's a lie. When I say it makes your foundation apply flawlessly I'm not lying. It blends everything out and makes the texture of your skin smooth. If you're using a brush all you're doing is micro-Exfoliating your skin,which causes dry patches to flake up. Using a Beauty Blender prevents that from happening and keep in mind it can be used for multiple things. Such as powder, blush and concealer. It's a diamond in a pile of rocks. 

Dewy foundations
Matte foundations are beautiful on good skin. Unfortunately, they can highlight rough texture on people with unfortunate skin. Opt for a dewy foundation instead. The finish is much more natural and smooth. It won't highlight dry spots or rough texture as severely if applied correctly.

Smooth highlighters
Highlighters are a huge thing in the beauty world right now. But if you're skin is troublesome, highlighters can highlight that roughness instead of your supermodel cheekbones. When picking a highlighter make sure the texture of the highlighter itself is smooth. A chunky highlighter plus textured skin equals even more texture on the skin. 

Finely milled powders
This is the same as the highlighter issue. Always use a super finely milled powder on your face. I think translucent powders work the best over texture, especially under the eyes!


Patting motions for powder application
This tip is for powdered foundation, blush, bronzer, etc. Instead of swirling a brush around on top of textured skin, use patting motions. You're less likely to increase the appearance of bad skin. But if you can, use a Beauty Blender. It's still the best option out there.

Do you have bad texture? 
Do you struggle with your makeup because of bad texture?
Let me know your story in the comments below!

















Monday, April 6, 2015

Looking for a drugstore moisturizer with SPF? Why you should wear SPF!



During the colder months I stay in my apartment like a hibernating bear. Because of that, I tend to skip on my SPF. I guess I don't really need it, right? Wrong! Some people can get away without wearing SPF but if your skin is troublesome like mine (acne), then SPF is a must have. Now that it is spring,  the climate is warming up and we'll be spending more time outside in the warm cozy sun. If there was a time of the year to start wearing SPF, it would be now. 

But why is SPF so important for our skin? If you're on my side of the situation it's because of acne/scars. For years I have been working on brightening my skin to help reduce the appearance of acne scars. When I think of a day in the sun demolishing my hard work I seriously want to vomit. Let me make this clear... If you have acne scars and you're skipping on SPF, your scars will darken from the Suns harmful rays. However, let's not forget that just because you don't have acne doesn't mean you don't need SPF. SPF prevents skin cancer, wrinkles, sun spots and more. 

Now hold up! I don't want to apply greasy sunscreen to my face! No problem. Moisturizers with high SPF are part the key. My favorite porduct is Cera Ve AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30. It's affordable($12-14) and effective.  Every year my scars darken around this time but since I bought this product I haven't noticed that happening. So yes, it does work. 

The moisturizer comes in a 3 FL OZ bottle that features a pump. If used as a sunscreen, it's needs to be applied every couple hours. It's also non-comedogenic and non-irritating. Not a only does it protect your fragile skin from the sun but it also repairs and restores your skins natural protective barrier. This specific moisturizer is intended for normal to dry skin but I don't see why someone with oiler skin couldn't use it. 

The consistency of the product is very similar to some sunscreens. It's quite thick and white. When applied to the face heavily it leaves behind a white cast but once blended in it disappears. I do wear this under my makeup and it doesn't mess with the performance of my foundation. 

Now I don't recommend this moisturizer by itself for a day on the beach. If you can't stand sunscreen on your face then this should be ok if you wear a large protective hat along with it. Maybe even a BB cream with extra SPF would be a nice companion product with it. I mainly use it for running around town or a day at the park. 

By the way, I do have dry acne prone skin and this moisturizer moisturizes very well. It makes my skin appear a lot healthier. I also want to say I do not break out from this product (thank goodness)! 

Do you wear SPF?
What else do you do to protect your skin?
Let me know in the comments below!