Monday, April 14, 2014

Tis The Season To Be Tanner ☀


Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. This is the season us ladies tend to hit to hit the tanning beds most frequent in preparation for summer. Tanning Beds have got a lot of flack over the years and for good reason! We all are aware of the dangers of UV rays & skin cancer & blah blah blah.. So we'll just skip all that lecturing shit and jump right into what this post is really about. So, if you are looking for an alternative solution to the tanning bed, look no further. This is a rather long post so you might as well get a snack and a six pack.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Makeup Tutorial | Spring Copper Eye

Spring is here ladies and gentleman!!! YEEE!! So so exciting!! Even more exciting it's FINALLY baseball season :) :) haha anyway, here's a little spring tutorial using coppery shades. If you try this look you will be amazed as to how much more beautiful it looks in person than what is captured on camera. I literally go for this look almost every day now I love it that much. These tones will compliment almost any eye color, but especially bring out those green and baby blue eyes.



 1. After priming the lid, mix "Creme Brûlée" and "Peach Smoothie" (both by Makeup Geek) and apply generously to the crease with Sigma E40. Blend well.


2. Using Sigma E25 apply MAC "Brown Script" in the crease blending with transition shades. I find going in windshield wiper and circular motions work best with blending.
** If you are wondering how to perfectly blend out shadows so there are no harsh lines, applying a transition shade (in this case, Creme Brûlée & Peach Smoothie) helps your blending tremendously (MAC "Soft Brown" is my fav). It may seem like you cover up this layer with other shadows, but it makes such a difference in giving that "smoked out" look.

3. Next, take Tarte Amazonian Clay Smokey Shadow Stick in "Bronze" and apply to the lid.
Similar: Makeup Geek "Brown Sugar", Anastasia "Truffle" from Lavish Palette (or "Rum Cake" for lighter look), Too Faced "Haute Chocolate" from Chocolate Bar Palette ** Any brown shades with a copper undertone will work**

4. Go back in with the E25 and apply "Cocoa Bear" (Makeup Geek) and work into the crease just to make sure there aren't any harsh lines between the lid & crease ((this shade is almost identical to Brown Script, just slightly darker. I used this for added depth.))

Photo on the right reflects a more "true to color" photo than the other two. 
5. Next, spray MAC 242 with Fix+ and pick up "Coppering" by MAC. Add this to the outer lid, blending inward. I also stroked the brush into the crease to blend.

6. Add MAC "Gesso" to the brow bone to highlight, & MAC "Nylon" in Tear Duct.

7. Add a black winged liner (as always with me!), and tight line the upper waterline with a black liner (MAC Definedly Black), and the bottom with a nude liner (NARS Rue Bonaparte).

8. Then, smoke out the bottom lash line with "Brown Script" using any pencil brush. Make sure you take this the entire way over--inner corner to outer corner. Blend. Blend. Blend. Smoking out the lower lash line is really going to finish this look.

9. And finally, add mascara, and some falsies (MAC #7). I also used Milani Luminoso on the cheeks and Revlon Primrose + Stormy Pink on the lips.


Full Product List
Mary Kay Eye Primer
Dr. Brandt Pores No More
Makeup Geek- Creme Brûlée, Peach Smoothie, Cocoa Bear
MAC- Brown Script, Gesso, Nylon, Fix+
Maybelline Line Stiletto
KatVonD Tattoo Liner- Trooper
MAC- Definedly Black Prolongwear Liner
NARS- Larger Than Life Eyeliner- Rue Bonaparte


 Makeup Forever- HD Foundation- 126
MAC- Prep + Prime- Light Boost
NARS- Creamy Concealer- Custard
Maybelline- FitMe Foundation Stick- 330
NARS- Laguna
Milani- Baked Blush- Luminoso
Mary Kay- Mineral Foundation- Ivory 0.5
Benefit- They're Real!
Anastasia- Brow Wiz + Powder Duo- both Dark Brown
Revlon- Primrose + Stormy Pink



Have a good weekend beautifuls!

xoxo.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Jan-March 2014 Favorites

Hello loves!

Well, March flew by! I cannot believe it is APRIL!!!.. but that just means one day closer to the hot sun! These past few months I have bought more makeup than I needed. I mean seriously, I have enough samples to get me through an entire year, alone. That just means I have been testing, loving, hating, worshiping, and ditching a variety of products. Soooo, here's a list of my most LOVED products of 2014 (so far!)




L'Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfecter- It's been about a year since I started incorporating these into my skincare routine and have become obsessed. I first use the Serum Concentrate, followed by the Day & Night Cream. My skin has never felt so healthy, soft, and acne free! They are a bit pricey, but the results are totally worth it, and they last about 3 months (they smell good too!!) If you are looking for new skin care products, I highly recommend these. I literally cannot express just how amazing these products are.




Josie Maran Argan Oil- It acts as a moisturizer, has healing agents, gives skin a dewey glow, and is believed to help treat acne. Josie's Aragan Oil can also be used to treat split ends & can be used on the nails (which I have yet to try). One might think, "Wait, why would a gal with oily skin use an oil product?" The answer is crazy, but it actually balances sebum production (the overproduction of sebum glands is what causes oily skin). That means if you have dry skin, it will increase the sebum production.... it actually works BEST with dry skin. How it works on all skin types is just mind blowing to me. 





Tarte Eye Cream- I have dark under eye circles so I am constantly looking for ways to diminish and reduce them. They ain't cute! This had great reviews online so I thought what the hey why not! I can honestly say using at night, and in the morning, I am starting to see a reduction.. slowly, but surely! Yayy!! A+++ product!



Kat Von D Tattoo Liner- If you've followed my previous blog posts, you know a winged liner is my go to. To get that perfect "wing" this is what I use. I've never seen a liquid liner with such a precise point. It makes this process so very EASY, not to mention it lasts ALL day. No joke.. all flippin day. Go ahead, run a marathon.. I swear it won't smudge a hair. The only downfall is it tends to dry out. I'm not sure if it's the design of the pen or what. When it starts drying out I just run it under water for a second or two, replace the cap, shake it up, and it's back to normal. It's kind of a pain in the ass, but not a deal breaker. It's a must have for you liquid liner lovers.




Anastasia Lash Genius- I received this as a sample not really having any expectations and it honestly sat in my drawer for 2 weeks before I picked it up. This mascara is a clear, waterproof top coat. It basically seals your mascara to prevent it from flaking off. By noon I almost almost always have mascara dots on my face and they are sooooo hard to remove without messing up the rest of my makeup. Ever since I have been using this, my mascara does not fall.. not even a little bit. It is extra important to apply to the lower lashes as well. It's become so worthy I've added it to my "Stay Flawless" Routine ---> HERE. P.S.-- don't be turned off by its waterproof nature. ANYTHING waterproof will come off like butter with a makeup remover.


LUSH Fairly Traded Honey- Having dry, damaged hair, I am constantly in search of products to keep my locks luscious and healthy (especially because I don't get my hair cut professionally). I was rather skeptical buying this, but I have a problem controlling my impulses. The smell is so so, I've gotten used to it, and the texture is kind of thick. It takes me, at least, 2 shampoos before a lather is worked up. I HATED that about it at first, but still continued to use it. I am now half way through my first XXoz size bottle and OH MY GOSH. My hair has never felt or looked so healthy and smooth. I just can't even explain. I will honestly never buy another shampoo again.


Dr.Brandt Pores No More- This is very closely resembles Benefit POREfessional and basically does the same thing. I received this sample (are you seeing a pattern?) & have been using it frequently. The texture is almost like a mousse, but still has the silicone feel like Benefit's. A little bit goes a long way with this product. It's a tough call which one I like better, but I think this is an awesome alternative. It literally erases the appearance of pores (I think so even more than POREfessionall) and also leaves skin very soft.






Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette- This is actually a recent purchase of mine, but I have not been able to put it down since it arrived at my door. It truly does smell of chocolate...pure bliss. The colors have a nice pay off and the combination of matte/shimmery shades is perfect. I HIGHLY recommend this palette to a beginner or one looking for overall neutral shades.







Bellami Hair Extensions- Last, but certainly not least! I couldn't leave this post without mentioning the beautiful, luxurious Bellami's. ((Review HERE)). Because they are double drawn (pretty much 2 layers of hair) they are full of SO much volume top to bottom. Their customer service is top notch, and they have a variety of colours to choose from. Each set is hand made and composed of uniquely colored strands guaranteed to match your current hair color.... and they are highly affordable! HERE

** I'm wearing Bambina 160g 20" in Chocolate Brown**




xoxo.