5 Helpful Makeup Tips

Here are 5 helpful tips for a better makeup application...

1. This is by far the most important: BLEND GIRL,  BLEND!

There should be no harsh lines on your face, ANYWHERE!  Whether it's your eyeshadows, foundation, blush, powder, bronzer, etc there should be no lines anywhere.  Everything should blend and flow together so the naked eye can't tell where your makeup started or ended.  When in doubt: BLEND!!

2. Build your product, don't cake it. 

Makeup is meant to be a buildable product.  If you want your foundation coverage heavier,  apply a thin layer, then apply another thin layer, etc until you have reached your desired level of coverage.  For your eyeshadow, if you want it to appear more dramatic, build it.  Put some shadow on your brush, apply the color and if you want it more dramatic, then add some more color to your brush and apply, building the color.  Do not load a bunch of color on your brush then slap it down on your face/eyes/wherever as that is going to cause it to look caked on and no one wants to be a "cake face".

3. Put your foundation on the back of your hand.

Pour, pump or whatever you need to do to get the foundation on the back of your hand.  The warmth of your skin will warm up the product and make it more workable.  It will go on smoother and more even without being so thick and you should need less product. 

4. Do NOT pump your mascara, twirl it!

Pumping your mascara is going to dry it out because of the air your are pushing into the product and causing it to go on more flakey once applied to your lashes.  (You will end up with black specks on your face throughout the day, NOT cute)  Mascara only has a 3 month life from the time it's been opened so don't speed up the life of it by pumping.  If you are trying to better coat the wand, leave it in the tube and twirl it around to evenly coat it.

5. Skin care is just as important as your makeup.

Taking care of your skin is more important than the makeup itself.  You should wash your face twice a day, ALWAYS remove your makeup and moisturize and exfoliate.  It is NEVER ok to sleep with your make up on!  Don't forget the under eye cream at night, some sort of SPF on your face, heavy sunblock in the sun and covering your face with a towel (or 2) if you go tanning.  When you are 35 and want botox around your eyes, you will wish you had taken better care of your skin when you were younger! 

Hope that helps and thanks for reading, XOXO!

4th of July Nails

4th of July Nails!

Nothing shows patriotic spirit like red, blue and sparkles!

Here are the polishes used:
Don't mind my cat Blackie in the background :)

Products used L to R:

Nutra Nail Bullet Proof Strength Formula

China Glaze 634 Frost Bite

Milani One Coat Glitter 550 Twinkle

OPI Ali's Big Break

Milani One Coat Glitter 521 Red Sparkle

Nutra Nail High Gloss Top Coat



I put one coat of the Nutra Nail Bullet Proof Strength Polish Formula on each nail.  I then used the solid color polish and did 1-2 coats on each nail, 2 coats of the sparkle polishes topped with 1 coat of the Nutra Nail Highlight Gloss. and BAM! Nails are ready for the 4th!! 
*The Nutra Nail Highlight Gloss tends to take FOREVER to be fully dry.  However, I have noticed when I sit outside in the hot summer air with wet nails, it is drying MUCH faster, FYI. 

You can see how beautiful the Milani Twinkle is up close!  It has purple and blue sparkles in it which is perfect for topping off any purple or blue polish.  The Milani polishes are about $5 at CVS and sometimes you can catch them on sale or buy one, get one half price.

The Red Sparkle is just as beautiful, as it has red and gold glitter.  This color is perfect for Valentine's Day, 4th of July, Christmas or any occassion you feel like adding some bling to your look.

Hope this gave you some fun nail ideas, have a safe and Happy 4th of July, thanks for reading, XOXO!!

New Nightime Moisturizer

New Nighttime Moisturizer

I have been hearing so much about the Josie Maran Argan Oil and finally decided to try it-and I LOVE it!  Currently, before I go to bed after I wash my face, I apply the argan oil to a dry, clean face.  When I first saw how thick the oil was and the fact I was putting it on my already oily skin, I was very hesitant!  To apply, I used the dropper to put drops on my forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and under each eye.  I started at the bottom of my face and lightly rubbed it in going upwards.  (Always rub UP not down, as you do not want to pull your skin down)  I even rubbed some of the oil over my lips and I’ve noticed less dry skin from it.  It takes awhile for your skin to absorb all the oil since it is so thick.  In the morning, my face does not feel greasy at all and my makeup is lasting just as long as it was before I started using this product. 

Pure argan oil has a high concentration of vitamin E and essential fatty acids that helps with dry patches/rough patches and reduces the appearance of fine lines.  Over time, it can also help reduce the appearance of acne blemishes and reduce scarring.  Finally, it helps restore the skin’s elasticity. 
This can also be used for your skin, hair or nails/cuticles.  However for the price and the fact that it benefits the skin so much, I only use it for my face.  I have other products I use for my hair, skin and cuticles.  It is an option though. 

I purchased the sample size at Sephora and got .5 ounces for $14.  Also available is 1.4 ounces for $48 and 4 ounces for $96.  The thought of applying thick oil to my already extremely oily skin made me very nervous so I just went with the sample size despite the hype about this product.  A little bit does go a long way and this product does last but when it comes time to re-purchase, which I will be doing, I am getting the 1.4 ounce bottle. 

Thanks for reading, XOXO!

Mini Ulta Haul

Mini Ulta Haul

On Saturday, I made a trip to Ulta to pick up a few new NYX products.  If you don't know about NYX or what it is-you need to check it out!  They are considered a drug store brand makeup line found mainly at Ulta or online at nyxcosmetics.com. Over the past year or two, they have really taken off from your basic eyeshadows, lipsticks, lipliners/eyeliners and their most famous product: the NYX jumbo eye pencil.  The NYX jumbo eye pencils are compared to the MAC paintpots (as the whole line is very comparable to MAC except much more affordable) which are eyeshadow bases that help intensify your shadow color and make it stay on longer.  Now they have evolved to lip plumpers, lip creams, shine killer, pore filler, beauty blotters, foundations, concealers, bronzers, etc!  They also are coming out with more and more eyeshadow palettes.  So needless to say, over the past year or so, my makeup collection has gotten bigger with lots of NYX products and I love them.  Basically, if you don't have any NYX products, I suggest going to Ulta to try them.  (eyeshadows and lipsticks are like 3.99)  Enough about my love for NYX and on to what I got.  (I used my actual camera instead of my iPhone for pictures and it's an older camera because my good one got stolen on vacation and I haven't had a chance to replace it but after seeing the quality of these pictures, I will be getting a new one ASAP so bear with me through some of these photos!)

The beautiful orange bag!! (much brighter in person)

LEFT TO RIGHT: NYX High Definition Photo Concealer in Beige, NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Candyland, NYX Round Lipstick in Strawberry Milk, Bare Minerals Eye Shadow in Queen Tiffany, NYX Pore Filler, NYX Matte Bronzer in Deep Tan, and NYX Bronzer/Blush Combo in Ibiza

Up Close:

And Again:

Swatch of NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Candyland.  It's a beautiful Barbie pink color perfect for the summer that looks good on just about everyone

NYX Round Lipstick in Strawberry Mild which is another light Barbie pink color.  Strawberry Milk + Candyland look beautiful when they are paired together

The only non-NYX item I purchased was Bare Minerals in Queen Tiffany.  I have had this color since I was 19 because it is just a gorgeous, classic color and I just needed to pick up a new one.  These shadows are great because they can be applied dry or if you get your brush wet, the color intensifies.

Here is the packaging for the bronzer/blush duo and the matte bronzer.

The bronzer/blush duo is perfect to throw in your purse or bring with you when traveling because it is a 2-in-1.  There were three different ones to choose from and I chose this one because it had the darker bronzer and a beautiful pink blush that is unlike any other blush I have.  (I gave in and used the phone to re-do the images, the other ones were HORRIBLE)

Here is the Matte Bronzer in Deep Tan *Matte meaning there is no shimmer or sparkle in the product.  I already have oily skin so if I use a bronzer with shimmer, when I start to get oily, that will only intensify it!  Also, the matte bronzers, in my opinion, look more natural.

I used the bronzer Saturday night and I do like it, however it is a little chalky/dusty when I put my brush into it.  However, the color payoff is great and I did like it on

AND randomly, on my way home, I had to return something to JC Penney's and found this ADORABLE Hello Kitty tank top.  It was $10 but to my suprise, when I went to pay, it was only $7.50! (winning!)  At the JCP I went to, there were several left in case you are interested.  I thought this would be cute to run errands in or do a casual lunch in

I know I didn't talk much about the NYX Pore Filler but what it does is give your skin an overall smoothe and flawless base before putting your makeup on.  It is supposed to shrink your pores and minimize any flaws in your skin.  I used this as well Saturday night and it did give my makeup a more even surface to work on.  But I used it alone without using an oil-mattifier and I did get greasy pretty quick.  So I will try it again, on top of an oil mattifier and hopefully it shall work better next time :)

Thanks for reading, XOXO!

PS-If you are wondering what is on my nails in the reflection: Essie Orange, It's Obvious! (this is my favorite nail polish brand BY FAR) used with Nutra Nail base coat and top coat for the Shellac Manicure look

How I achieve the perfect tan!

How to achieve the perfect tan!

Exfoliate!!
This will get all the dead skin cells off your skin and even your skin out.  I either use a loofah and body wash or a body scrub of some sort.  Also, make sure that you have freshly shaved or waxed.

I found this body scrub at Ulta and the loofah is $1 at Wal-mart. 

Moisturize!!
Before I go out, I hydrate my skin with lotion.  Usually I like to use coco butter as it is thicker and will keep my skin hydrated longer.  The sun will better tan moisturized skin than dry skin. 

Protect!!
Before I even get out in the sun, I put any sun block on that is needed.  For my face, I love Clinique SPF 40 Oil Free.  It does not leave my face greasy at all and it really protects my face from burning.  I don't typically put sunblock on my body. (Shame on me) And don't forget a good chapstick for your lips.  I use Nivea A Kiss of Shimmer (pictured top) because it protects my lips but also gives them a pretty pearly finish. 

Optional:
When I get into the sun, I use good old fashioned baby oil to tan with.  I have found that it works the best.  Any of the Banana Boat or Hawaiian Tropic products work well too-anything oil based.  Some come with an SPF built into them and others don't.  My all time favorite one is Hawaiin Tropic Amplifier with carrot oil but can not find it any of the drug stores anymore.  The carrot oil attracts the sun and amplifies your tan so be careful!! 
I recently picked up Austrailian Gold Continuous spray with instant bronzer (pictured top) but can honestly say I am not a fan. It has SPF 15 (which is good to protect the skin) but I feel like with the bronzers in it, the tan I am getting is from the bronzers and not the sun. The bronzers in it make the product a little drying.  I personally would not get any sort of tanning oil with bronzers for that reason and because after the shower, you can put bronzers on. 

After Sun Care!!
I love my Banana Boat After Sun with aloe.  It keeps my skin moisturized, the aloe helps with any sun burn, and the Vitamin E helps extend my tan.  After being in the sun for any length of time, it is important to moisturize.  The sun is so drying on your skin along with chlorine, lake water or salt water that you need to keep your skin hydrated.  Sometimes I add in Loreal Sublime and mix it with the Banana Boat lotion to give me a golden bronze look.  And like I say in EVERY blog: DRINK TONS OF WATER!!

And now all you need is a cute pool bag, towel and a magazine!

**All these products can be found at Wal-Mart, Ulta, Target or your local drug store (CVS or Wal-greens) 

Thanks for reading, XOXO!

Sugar Lips

Sugar Lips

For my birthday, Sephora gave me a complimentary birthday gift: Fresh Sugar Mini Lip Duo with SPF 15.  I have heard about this lip treatment but it wasn't high on my list of products to get so I was pretty excited to get this.  In a nutshell, this lip treatment will nourish and protect your lips from damaging wrinkle-causing radicals and the sun's UV rays while plumping your lips. Itis formulated with oils, antioxidant rich vitamins, wax and real sugar.  It does NOT contain Parabens, Sulfates, Dyes, etc. 

This is what the packaging looks like:

This is what the they look like: (.08 ounces)
Sugar is on the right and Sugar Rose Tinted is on the left

Here is the actual product: (I accidentally flipped them, so now Sugar is on the left and Sugar Rose Tinted is on the right)

AND finally, a swatch of Sugar Rose Tinted....

As you can see, it's a very natural and sheer wash of color compared to what the color looks like in the tube.  Both of them smell like a lemon icing on a cake so it's very refreshing and pleasant.  And this stuff goes on like butter!  It is so soft and smooth on my lips.  There is no waxy feeling and it is much thinner than regular chapstick.  I have really enjoyed these samples even though I didn't really notice the plumping too much but it did keep my lips hydrated for a long period of time and kept them soft. 

These can be found at Sephora for $22.50 for 0.15 ounces in 6 different colors.

Would I purchase one for that price?  Yes, however I would use it sparingly at night before bed and in the AM before I leave.  I would NOT apply this freely all day long as you will go through it VERY fast because it literally goes on like butter! 

Thanks for reading, XOXO!!

How I Store My Makeup Brushes!

How I store my makeup brushes…

So now you have all these make up brushes, how do you store them?  This is how I store mine.  (I did NOT come up with the idea; I simply use it and am sharing with you)  

*Everything came from Michael’s

*Vase (they have all different styles and sizes so you can choose accordingly to what fits your brush collection size)

*Vase Filler (2 bags) plus 1 bag of the decorative vase filler beads

=> Under $20! 

*Other stores like TJ Max, Marshalls, Wal-Mart, Target, etc. have different vases/jars that would work too.  You can also decorate them with pretty ribbon, bows, or whatever your creative mind can come up with! 

I put my dirty brushes in a pencil holder found in the office supplies section at K-Mart (or wherever you shop). 

Other Ideas:

~Makeup bag

            *But don’t store your brushes with your makeup!  Have a separate bag for your brushes. 

~Brush roll-folding bag with slots for each brush

~Brush Cup Holder from sigmabeauty.com

            *These are pricey as you get two cups (no brushes) for $20.  When unsnapped, there are two cups for your brushes and when they are snapped together like this, they are perfect for traveling!

~3 drawer storage-Face Drawer, Eyes Drawer, Random Drawer

~Any sort of office/desk organizer

~Be creative!  Think dividers/separators/organizers/slots

TIPS:

Keep makeup brushes separate to avoid germs and bacteria getting in the bristles (ew)

Keep them in a room temperature environment

Don’t store them in your bathroom.  The heat and moisture from your showers can cause rusting on the brush handles over time if moisture gets in it. 

Thanks for reading, XOXO!