When to REALLY throw out your makeup

General Rules: If it has a bad smell toss it! 

                         If it's liquid and separating then it's best to discard it.

                         If it's completely shattered the trash bin is its new home.

Soft New Years makeup tutorial for young teens

One of my New Years resolutions is posting more makeup tutorials. But I am a blogger and right now their are many girls frantically looking for the perfect New Years makeuplook.  So I decided my resolution starts now. I decided to start with a softer makeup looked that is targeted for younger teens or for the girls who are shy when it comes to makeup. It's really easy recreate and you don't even need the same products I used. Just pick similar shades that you already have and you should be good to go!

Hope you enjoy this look and find it helpful! Have a wonderful and blessed New Year! 

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For the eye look you will need the following products.

• I used the Lorac Mega Pro palette but all you need are the following shades: cranberry, shimmery vanilla, and a dusty rose to copy this look
• White base (optional) 
• Urban Decay eye primer
• L'Oreal voluminous mascara
• Black eyeshadow for lining the eyes
• And of course some makeup brushes (shader, blending, precision/pencil, crease, lining) 

For the face I used

• Loreal True Match foundation
• E.l.f cosmetics Hd concealer in brightening
• Physicians Formula face powder
• Nars Orgasm blush
• Benefit's Hula for Light contouring

On the lips

• Chapstick 
• Too Faced Melted lipstick in Berry

Now let's get started!

1. First, make sure you have a clean face. It should be washed, moisturized and prepped with any primers.
2. After applying Urban Decays primer potion, take a a fluffy brush and lightly blend a cranberry shade into the crease. Be sure not to go too high above the crease. It's better to get it all over the lid rather than covering your brow none with the cranberry shade. 
3. Pick up crease brush and precisely apply the same cranberry shade in the crease. Start from the outer v and work your way into the inner v. But try to keep most of the cranberry shade on the outer v area. 
4. After you're finished with step 3, take a fluffy blending brush and blend out any harsh lines.
5. Next, apply a white base to the lid of the eye for enhanced pigment for the vanilla eyeshadow.
6. Take a flat shadow brush and dab the shimmery vanilla shade all over the lid. You can also use your fingers or a sponge applicator for this step. 
7. Again, go back in with your fluffy blending brush and blend any harsh lines from the vanilla shade. Sometimes it's needed to redo step 3 to enhance the cranberry shade and that's ok. But don't forget that you might need to be blend once again.
8. Now, take a pencil brush and apply a rosy shade on the outer v to lightly smoke things out. Blend with a fluffy brush if needed.
9. For lining the eyes use an angled eyeliner brush and a black eyeshadow. This will keep the look soft and avoid the harshness a tradional eyeliner can create. 
10. Apply mascara to the top and bottom lashes. 
11. If desired, apply the same vanilla shade on the brow bone to enhance the shape of your brows.
12. Then finish up with your foundation, concealer, powder, bronzer, blush and lipstick. (I did it in that order)

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I really like this look because you can change it up to a more bold look or tame it down. You can add definition under the eyes, falsies, winged eyeliner, or even add deeper Berry shades. The possibilities are endless with this look. I decided to keep the look soft becuase it was done on a 14 year old but when I wear this look I definitely vamp it up! 

What are you doing for the holidays?

Are you going to rock this look?

Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading! 

E.l.f Cosmetics- The Good and The Bad

Hello!

E.l.f is one of those brands that people love, even if they have enough money to pay for Dior. The prices are so affordable but the quality is there in most of the products. When I think of e.l.f, drugstore doesn't even cross my mind. I simply just see them as e.l.f. But like most brands e.l.f does have hits or misses. So today I'm going to share my my opinion on e.l.f's makeup line. 

To keep this from being such a long post, I will be dividing this into four seperate posts. 

1. Studio line(this post)

2. Essential line

3. Mineral line

4. Thoughts on the brand itself and their tools. 

Once I am done with every post, I will be sure to update this page with the links to each line. 

Hits/Misses

Studio line

 

Primer: There are many different primers in the studio line. However, I have found that they all work the same. The formula goes on smoothly and makes my skin feel soft but I haven't noticed a difference in the wear time of my foundation. I recommend saving your money and buying a different primer. 

(Miss)

Concealer: The maximum coverage concealer has a medium coverage. I think it blends out smoothly and lasts a decent amount of time if you set it with a powder. I would recommend it to people with minor imperfections. The correcting concealers are actually really good. The brightening shade really brightens under my eyes and helps hide dark circles. The green shade is ok. I sometimes like to mix it with my primer to help cancel out redness. 

(Hit)

Foundation: The foundation formula is lovely. It looks beautiful on my dry skin and lasts for 6 hours with medium coverage. Unfortunately, the color selection isn't very big. The lightest shade is too dark for me and I believe there's not very many dark shades either. But it's a total hit if you can find the right shade!

(Hit)

Powder: The only powders that I have tried from the studio line are the loose HD powders and the compact translucent powder. I really like both of them. They both help set my foundation and keep oil from breaking through in my t-zone. I also love the yellow HD powder under my eyes. It really brightens things up! I totally recommend the powders!

(Hit)

Highlighters- The baked highlighters are ok. I think the shades are beautiful but I also find them to be a little chunky. These would be best to purchase during a 50% off sale. The Twistable highlights are good and bad. I really enjoy the Twistable feature and the concept but sometimes when I apply the highlighter, I notice a line from the initial spot where I put it before blending it out. I suggest using a sponge to apply this highlighter. Other than that I recommend it. 

(Hit and miss)

Bronzers- I haven't personally tried many of their bronzers. The cream blush and bronzer duo is very nice. The shades blend out smoothly and I can create a very natural look using the creme bronzer. I definitely recommend it.

(Hit)

Blush- Ah, the blush. Are they a dupe for Nars? I personally don't think so. The single blushes that I have tried are very dry and unpigmented. They might be good for people who like to build up color but I think you can find better blushes. However, the blush palettes are amazing! The pigmentation is very opaque and they're insanely smooth. I definitely recommend trying the blush palettes.

(Hit and miss)

Setting spray- A lot of people say the setting sprays are holy grail products. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong but everytime I use them my makeup looks even more cake-y and doesn't last any longer than usual. And don't get me started on the nozzle of the bottle. It's just that bad. 

(Miss)

Eyeshadow primer- If you're just going to the store for a couple hours than I think the primer is good enough. One the other hand, if you need something to last ALL DAY, then skip on their primer. After a few hours my eyeshadows always crease when I wear this primer. But for a buck, I can't really say it's not worth the money. Maybe if you have dry eyes you can wear it all day Long but oily eyes will look like a hot mess. 

(Miss)

Eyeshadow- Overall, I really like e.l.f's eyeshadows. The palettes, pigments, singles and baked shadows are hit and miss but most of them are pretty good. I'm actually picky when it comes to eyeshadow. I prefer using high end palettes but I have found cases where I actually prefer some e.l.f shadows over high end. Don't get me wrong though, e.l.f does have a lot of misses with their eyeshadows. Typically, their matts are chalky and dry but they have mastered their shimmer formula. 

(Hit)

Eyeliner- Pass on the gel and pencil eyeliners. The gels smear around on the eyes and the pencils eventually fade away, apply difficulty and are not pigmented enough. The liquid liners are my favorite liners though. 7 out of 7 days, I will be using the liquid liner from their studio line to get ready. I'm not sure what the name is but it's the kind that you dip into the container and it's shaped like unique triangle?. 

(Hit and miss)

Mascara- Lets make this short. Just skip on the mascara. It's not even worth $3. 

(Miss)

Eye lashes- I love e.l.f but I can't stand their eyelashes. They never keep their shape and they're so hard to apply. Don't waist your dollar on them.

(Miss)

Brow products- The only brow product that I have fried from them is the brow kit. I think it's great! The gel and powder are perfect for filling in and defining your eyebrows. I use them for a more natural look , though. If you expecting a very defined look, then stick with the Anastasia Dip Brow. 

(Hit)

Lipstick-  I love the matte lipsticks. They're creamy, pigmented and long-lasting. Their regular lipsticks are ok. I think they could be more pigmented but they are soft and creamy. I also love there lip glosses. They're not sticky but rather pigmented, buttery and moisturizing. 

(Hit)

Please, keep in mind that I'm not shaming any of their products. I really love e.l.f but I haven't found a brand that doesn't have one bad product. Also, just because some of their products don't work for me, doesn't mean they won't work for you! 

Thank you for reading, TaylorPie. 

Empties-makeup, hair, skincare and nails

 Hello, today I will be showing you all of my empty products. The purpose of this post is to let you know how the products worked. I will give a mini review and some information about everything posted. Continue reading to see what I liked and didn't like.

 My first empty product is Maybelline's Super Stay 24 Hr. concealer. You can buy is concealer for $8 at most drugstores. Here are the claims of this concealer.

 

SuperStay 24 Hour Concealer provides natural-looking coverage that lasts all day

Conceals imperfections, flaws, undereye darkness and circles✔️❌

24-hour wear, No Transfer❌

Oil-Free, non-comedogenic, dermatologist tested, ophthalmologist tested, fragrance-free✔️

  This concealer is ok at concealing under eye circles. When I apply the concealer it looks nice but after a while it will crease and look unnatural. So I don't really use it under my eyes anymore. When it comes to covering imperfections, I think the coverage is medium. Which is good if I'm wearing a full coverage foundation but I expect more from my concealers. I also think this concealer can be hard to blend. It's easy to look cake-y if you apply too much. When blending, I prefer my concealer brush over my finger for a more natural look. One thing that I love about this concealer is, it doesn't break me out. Which is so good for my acne prone skin. Overall, I recommend this concealer for people who need only light coverage. 

  Will I repurchase? No, I think I will continue on my concealer journey. I feel like I can find a better concealer with higher coverage, while still not breaking me out. 

  What is TaylorPie's rating? 3.5 out of 5 stars

 My next empty is Johnson's baby oil. I use this for extra moisture and other various reasons(this weeks tip). You can buy it for just under $4 at any drugstore. Here are the claims of the baby oil. 

• Locks in up to ten times more moisture on wet skin than an ordinary lotion can on dry skin✔️
• Use to soothe and relieve dry, rough patches✔️
• Leaves skin glowing and baby soft✔️
• Clinically proven mild✔️

Johnson's baby oil provides better moisture than any lotion I use. You really can't out do this product in the moisture department. It's perfect for using on my elbows and feet. All of my rough patches will soften and eventually disappear.  The smell is amazing, it leaves you smelling like a clean baby. I recommend this to anyone who has dry skin. Baby oil is also great for other things. I will post a tip this week for another use of baby oil. Trust me, it will change your life. 

Will I repurchase? Yes!

What is TaylorPies rating? 5 out of 5 stars!

My next empty is Head & Shoulders dry scalp care shampoo. During the colder months my scalp gets dry and flaky. Head & shoulders always takes care of that problem. You can buy it at most drugstores and it costs $7 for 23.7 FL oz. Here are the claims of this shampoo.

• Improves scalp health in 2 weeks. ✔️
• Dual-action formula with almond oil helps relieve dry scalp and itch, while providing extra conditioners for your hair. ✔️
•  Gentle and pH balanced for everyday use, even for color or chemically treated hair.  Dandruff shampoo that keeps hair clean, beautiful and 100% flake free✔️
• 7 Benefits:  Fights dry scalp✔️,calms itchy scalp✔️, relieves irritation✔️,  reduces redness✔️,great scent✔️, controls flaky scalp✔️ and leaves hair looking beautiful✔️.

 All of the claims are true. After each wash my scalp is not dry,  itchy, irritated, red, flaky and my hair always looks beautiful. My scalp inproved before the 2 week period. After the first wash I saw a difference in my scalp. I mainly bought this shampoo for dandruff and I'm so happy I'm flake free now. I don't have to worry about flakes falling on my shirt anymore. This shampoo gets a huge thumbs up! I do recommend this shampoo! 

Will I repurchase? Yes!

What is TaylorPie's rating? 5 out of 5 stars

 My next hair product is Aussie aussome volume shampoo. This shampoo sells for $3 at most drugstores. Here are the claims.

• For a "Flat" to "Fantastic" 'Do that Speaks Volumes✔️Aussome Volume, with essence of White Ginger, easily gives you a right proper "oomph."

• Lift Up Your Locks for a Full Look that won't Fall Flat❌The Aussome Volume collection gives your hair a boost and helps you hold the looks you want.

 I have a hard time keeping volume in my hair. So I bought this shampoo hoping it would help. After washing my hair looked like it had volume but a couple hours later my hair would fall flat. I also noticed my hair was a little dry when I used this shampoo. Needless to say, I probably won't buy it again. I don't recommend this shampoo but I do recommend their deep conditioner. It leaves hair shiny and soft! 

Will I repurchase? Not this specific shampoo from Aussie.

What is TaylorPie's rating? 2 out of 5 stars.

 My first skincare product for this post is Clean&Clear essentials deep cleaning toner for sensitive skin. Clean&Clear did repackage this bottle so it looks different now. I'm not sure what the price is but you can find it at most drugstores. Here is the claim.

• CLEAN & CLEAR^®ESSENTIALS Deep Cleaning Toner for Sensitive Skin contains salicylic acid acne-fighting medication that treats and helps prevent pimples.✔️

 Usually, I don't use a toner that has alcohol but I made an exception for this one. I'm so glad that I did! This toner has helped my acne so much. Now that I have ran out my face is breaking out again(sad face). When using it, make sure you don't have a popped pimple because it will sting. Other than that though, the toner is sentive towards skin. I apply the toner twice a day all over my face with a cotton ball. If you have dry skin, I would recommend using it once a day or use a really good moisturizer. I do recommend this toner to anyone who has acne.  

Will I repurchase? Yes!

What is TaylorPie's rating? 5 out of 5 stars.

  My next skincare product is Natures Cure Acne Treatment Vanishing Cream plus the kit it comes in. This cream comes in a package with acne treating pills from Walmarts website for $8.97. Here are the claims of the product.

  Nature's Cure: 2 Part Acne Treatment for Females has tow parts. The first part, Internal Homeopathic Acne Medicine: Acne can be caused by internal imbalances due to diet, stress or hormonal changes, especially during monthly cycles. Nature's Cure tablets are a blend ofall-natural ingredients, which stimulate your body's natural defenses to correct these imbalances and to help stop acne where it can start. They do not increase sun-sensitivity and have no side effects. The second part is the Topical Acne Medication - Vanishing Cream: To clear existing blemishes, Nature's Cure has a colorless, unscented, greaseless, 5% Benzoyl Peroxide cream. Nature's Cure Vanishing Cream also contains aloe vera concentrate and allantoin to moisturize and soothe the skin.

Acne tablets and vanishing cream

Dermatologist tested

Safe and effective✔️

I love this kit! The pills help my acne so much and the cream is pretty good. Of course, I can't tell you if the medicine help my internal imbalances but my acne did look a lot better. My acne is caused from hormones, so if you have hormonal acne you might like this kit. It has great reviews and the price tag isn't bad. The cream is pretty good but I'm not sure if it really did anything extra. I don't really mind though, because either way my 

acne is helped. I also want to say that it didn't cause dryness, so that's a plus. I do recommend this product but it won't completely cure acne for everyone. So don't automatically expect a miracle cure for your acne.

Will I repurchase? Yes

What is TaylorPie's rating? 4out of 5 stars

My next product is e.l.f cosmetics Nourishing Cuticle Pen. You can buy this on e.l.f's website, eyeslipsface.com. Here is the description of the product.

 Relieves dry nails and flakey cuticles in a convenient pen design. The Nourishing Cuticle Pen moisturizes cuticles effectively✔️ and the quick dry formula✔️ allows for a no mess application✔️.Fortified with Vitamins E, A, C, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Aloe, this fast-acting complex deeply hydrates✔️, nourishes ✔️and seals in moisture✔️. The key ingredients Avocado and Almond Oils help to condition nails and cuticles for improved appearance. The result is softer✔️, easy to manage cuticles ✔️and healthy hydrated nails✔️.

 Anytime I have hard cuticles, I whip out this pen and easily apply the oils. It makes my skin softer, shiny,

 and healthy looking.  It lives up to all of the claims and I am so pleased with it. The best part is, I got this for free with one of e.l.f's coupons. What a steal! I recommend it to anyone with damaged cuticles. The only downside is the pen seems to get dirty and fray out. However, I still manage to use it. 

Will I repurchase? Yes!

What is TaylorPies Rating? 4 out of 5 stars.

 My last product is Nailene Perfect tips. I love using this when I do my nails. It makes the whole application process easier. All you have to do is firmly apply the strip on your nail, then paint and rip it off. It's so simple and convenient. I get a perfect tip everytime I do my nails. You can find this at most drugstores and it doesn't cost much. 

Will I repurchase? Yes!

What is TaylorPie's rating? 5 put of 5 stars.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Please keep in mind that these products do work for some people, just not me. Also, don't forget to vote in this weeks poll located at the bottom of my website.  Thank you, TaylorPie.