Happy New Year to any and everyone who has read my blog. I appreciate your views, even you rotten bastards that caused me to lose my Adsense account. I don't care that this blog doesn't make money, but it really ticks me off that the opportunity was ripped out of my hands in the course of a day. That's my mini rant for tonight, back to the happy.
Thank you all for your views and support; I cannot say that enough. I love to see at least one more view a day, whether it's from a friend clicking on my link or a search result. I like to think that I've given a little bit of useful information to all of you. I wouldn't share the information and tips if I hadn't found it useful when I learned them. Like I said in my introduction, I'm a big believer in paying it forward.
Lots of love and luck to everyone in the coming year- which at this point in time, is an hour and six minutes from now!
<3 M
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
FREAK
Hello! Time for a review of one of my Christmas presents/new products!
I started getting into perfume in the last two years. It's like the cherry on top of a great look. You don't see it, but the right perfume can ooze sexiness, sweetness, or whatever you want to convey. Up until now, my favorite scents have been Burberry Brit Sheer for day, Prada for night (I am still working with the sample- haven't had to buy it yet!), and Marc Jacobs Daisy for an anytime, anyplace scent (I get a sample every three months because Sephora likes to promote it like crazy. No complaints here!) Prada may get shelved soon because I have found a scent that has blown me away: Freak by Illamasqua. It is a unisex fragrance, meant to suit just about everyone. (Body chemistry varies and some people's won't work with certain scents, but you get the picture.)
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| Coolest bottle ever, too! |
This scent certainly lives up to its name. It is very unusual in the sense that it smells like a garden of every flower I've never had the pleasure of smelling before. It's not surprising- all of the notes contain fragrances of things I've never seen in my life, much less smelled:
Top notes: Black Davana, Opium Flower, and Belladonna
Heart Notes: Poison Hemlock, Datura, and Queen of the Night (It only blooms for one night each year!)
Base Notes: Frankincense, Oud, and Myrrh (Did Illamasqua hold up the Magi?!)
Yeah, it's an unusual combination, but when I sprayed it on...Okay, I have to be honest. The first time I sprayed it on, I didn't think I would like it. When I sprayed it on paper and when it was wet on my skin, it smelled like an old lady wearing men's cologne. Once it dried on my skin and it warmed up a little... it smelled fantastic, exotic, floral, woody, and oh, so sexy! I couldn't stop sniffing my wrists. It also lasted for a good while- six hours while I was awake and it was still going pretty strong when I was going to sleep.
This scent is great for night- it was made for a nighttime setting, according to Illamasqua. I fully agree; it's too heavy for the day in my opinion. Also, for application, I would suggest one spritz and gently pressing your wrists together. I normally wouldn't suggest rubbing wrists together with perfume (It does something weird to the scent.), but this is really strong. As long as the pressing is done gently, just enough to transfer some of the perfume, the fragrance shouldn't be affected.
This scent is now available on sephora.com- $90 for 2.5 oz. This may sound expensive, but this perfume will last a long, long time. I would also suggest trying to get a sample first if you are unsure about how this will smell. I will set up links to getting samples if I find any.
<3 M
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Would You Rather...: (Mostly) Beauty Edition
1. Would you rather walk around all day with you skirt tucked in your underwear or be seen wearing a really see through dress?
See-through dress because usually with dresses, I am covered by Spanx. Yeah, it's still embarrassing, but I think that's the lesser of two evils.
2. Would you rather go to a party and not realize until the end of the night that you have lipstick on your teeth or that your fake lashes are coming unglued?
Lashes all the way. I feel like it's a more forgivable makeup blunder because the glue can be bad and let's face it, false lashes are not the easiest things to wear. Lipstick on the other hand, it's easier to prevent bad things from happening. To almost completely eliminate those chances, use the finger trick. Stick your index finger in your mouth, close your lips around it, and slide it out. It will take off any lipstick on the inside of your lips.
3. Would you rather forget to put mascara on one eye or forget blush on one side of your face?
Blush. I use a very light hand with blush and my cheeks flush easily, so it's harder to tell.
4. Would you rather wear a contrasting lipstick/lipliner combo or frosty blue eyeshadow?
Ugh. I hate both, but if I "forgot " to put on primer, the blue eyshadow would fade away in less than an hour. ;)
5. Would you rather wear foundation that is two shades too light or go way overboard on bronzer?
Foundation. I wear the lightest shades anyway, and hardly ever wear bronzer.
6. Would you rather drink an entire bottle of ketchup or run into the guy who broke your heart on a bad hair day when your skin is freaking out?
Run into the guy because in order for that to happen, I'd have to be in Austria!
7. Would you rather be able to date any celeb you wanted or wake up with perfect red carpet-worthy hair?
The hair. I hate styling my hair because I'm really bad at it, so if I could just wake up with perfect hair, I'd be set.
8. Would you rather your armpits smell musky or like delicious lasagna?
Lasagna.
9. Would you rather give up your makeup or cell phone for one year?
Cell phone. I love playing with my makeup too much and besides, there's Facebook, IM, landlines, and other forms of communication.
10. Would you rather run into a cute guy you like with food all in your grill or no makeup at all?
No makeup because chances are, that's what will happen. I may love playing with makeup, but I hardly wear any on a daily basis.
See-through dress because usually with dresses, I am covered by Spanx. Yeah, it's still embarrassing, but I think that's the lesser of two evils.
2. Would you rather go to a party and not realize until the end of the night that you have lipstick on your teeth or that your fake lashes are coming unglued?
Lashes all the way. I feel like it's a more forgivable makeup blunder because the glue can be bad and let's face it, false lashes are not the easiest things to wear. Lipstick on the other hand, it's easier to prevent bad things from happening. To almost completely eliminate those chances, use the finger trick. Stick your index finger in your mouth, close your lips around it, and slide it out. It will take off any lipstick on the inside of your lips.
3. Would you rather forget to put mascara on one eye or forget blush on one side of your face?
Blush. I use a very light hand with blush and my cheeks flush easily, so it's harder to tell.
4. Would you rather wear a contrasting lipstick/lipliner combo or frosty blue eyeshadow?
Ugh. I hate both, but if I "forgot " to put on primer, the blue eyshadow would fade away in less than an hour. ;)
5. Would you rather wear foundation that is two shades too light or go way overboard on bronzer?
Foundation. I wear the lightest shades anyway, and hardly ever wear bronzer.
6. Would you rather drink an entire bottle of ketchup or run into the guy who broke your heart on a bad hair day when your skin is freaking out?
Run into the guy because in order for that to happen, I'd have to be in Austria!
7. Would you rather be able to date any celeb you wanted or wake up with perfect red carpet-worthy hair?
The hair. I hate styling my hair because I'm really bad at it, so if I could just wake up with perfect hair, I'd be set.
8. Would you rather your armpits smell musky or like delicious lasagna?
Lasagna.
9. Would you rather give up your makeup or cell phone for one year?
Cell phone. I love playing with my makeup too much and besides, there's Facebook, IM, landlines, and other forms of communication.
10. Would you rather run into a cute guy you like with food all in your grill or no makeup at all?
No makeup because chances are, that's what will happen. I may love playing with makeup, but I hardly wear any on a daily basis.
Anyone who wants to do this tag, go for it! On Facebook, please tag me so I can see your answers. If you do it on your own blog or are not my FB friend, link it. I would love to see other people's responses.
<3 M
Friday, December 23, 2011
From Tacky to Lovely
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| Bleh. What Was I thinking? (It looks even shinier in person.) |
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| Worst...gloss...ever. |
One of the biggest trends as displayed by the Youtube gurus is a bold lip with gold shimmer eye shadow in the middle and blended out. I've put eye shadow on top of lipstick before to make it matte and I will tell you all, it feels so uncomfortable. When I saw these videos popping up, I kept thinking, "I wouldn't be able to stand that. Why can't they use a...metallic gloss!" I couldn't believe the worst-looking gloss would make it easier to follow this cool trend.
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| How classic. (I'm wearing DuWop Private Red) Red lipstick is a classic makeup staple, but if worn too often, can get a little drab. Applying the gloss on top brings in more dimension to the lips and interest to the look as a whole. For the gloss or eye shadow, you can have as much or as little lip area covered. I like mine to be strong for about 1/3 of my lip area, blended for 1/3, and untouched for 1/3. Others just want a tiny portion of the center of their lips covered. It's all a matter of taste. |
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| Took me forever to catch the light so the gloss would show up. Again, more visible in person. |
So if you ever get a makeup product that doesn't work out like you expected, try to see if it can be used in another way. Can you layer it with another product? Can you use it on a different area of the face? (Pink eye shadow can make the best blush.) Play around with it- that's part of the fun with makeup!
<3 M
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Purse products
Different people have different opinions as to which makeup/skincare products are important enough to always have around, no matter what. This is my take with the reasons behind my choices.
Oil blotting sheets: They are great for the middle of the day or early evening because most people get a bit shiny by that time. Just press on the slick parts of the face (so you don't disturb your makeup) and you're good to go. I prefer this over powder because powder can cake if reapplied too much.
Black eyeliner pencil with a smudger on the end (or pack a cotton swab or angled brush with it): It's great for darkening eye makeup if you're attending an evening event after work or school and don't have time to go home before said event. Just apply on the upper lash line and smudge with a small angled brush or cotton swab. It can also be applied and blended on the outer corner in a pinch.
White eyeliner pencil: Perfect highlighter if you ask me. If you are feeling tired, this can make you look more awake when applied in key places. Swipe it lightly on the brow bone, inner corner of the eye, and cupid's bow then blend away into your skin. It will make you look more awake than you feel.
Lip balm (either no tint or one that looks like your natural lip color): Dry lips happen and it's best to have lip balm handy. If you want to add a little polish to a no-makeup look or full-face of makeup, use a tinted lip balm that looks like your perfect lip color whether it matches your natural lip color or is a little more pink/red tinted. It will even out your lip color but look completely natural, all while moisturizing your lips. How can you lose with that?
Spot-treat acne gel: Pimples come up when you least expect them and this can zap them before they can fully form.
(Optional) Stick concealer: Cover up the pimple mentioned for the spot-treatment if it turns red and you either have a meeting or are very self-conscious about the spot. (No shame in that! I always have it handy for swing dances.) No need for a brush, just use clean fingers to apply and blend. The warmth of your fingers will help the concealer melt into the skin easier for more natural coverage.
Moisturizer with SPF of at least 30 (Just fill a travel bottle to keep in your purse.) : It's pretty self-explanatory as to why I would suggest keeping this handy. The sunscreen is the main reason for this item to be in your purse, but I prefer carrying moisturizer because it doesn't have as strong of a smell and isn't as greasy. This is because the sunscreen is diluted in the moisturizer; a moisturizer with an SPF of 30 is about like straight SPF 15, hence I suggest SPF 30 as a minimum. Quick tip about putting sunscreen or moisturizer over makeup: rub a tiny amount in your hands and pat the product on your face so your makeup isn't disturbed, but you still get the protection.
That's it. This collection takes up very little space and has you armed for just about any touch-up you may need at any time. This is also very basic. If you have a signature look, toss in the product that makes it happen, like red lipstick or a specific mascara. Would you add anything to this mix? If so, what would it be?
Please leave comments. I would love your feedback.
<3 M
Oil blotting sheets: They are great for the middle of the day or early evening because most people get a bit shiny by that time. Just press on the slick parts of the face (so you don't disturb your makeup) and you're good to go. I prefer this over powder because powder can cake if reapplied too much.
Black eyeliner pencil with a smudger on the end (or pack a cotton swab or angled brush with it): It's great for darkening eye makeup if you're attending an evening event after work or school and don't have time to go home before said event. Just apply on the upper lash line and smudge with a small angled brush or cotton swab. It can also be applied and blended on the outer corner in a pinch.
White eyeliner pencil: Perfect highlighter if you ask me. If you are feeling tired, this can make you look more awake when applied in key places. Swipe it lightly on the brow bone, inner corner of the eye, and cupid's bow then blend away into your skin. It will make you look more awake than you feel.
Lip balm (either no tint or one that looks like your natural lip color): Dry lips happen and it's best to have lip balm handy. If you want to add a little polish to a no-makeup look or full-face of makeup, use a tinted lip balm that looks like your perfect lip color whether it matches your natural lip color or is a little more pink/red tinted. It will even out your lip color but look completely natural, all while moisturizing your lips. How can you lose with that?
Spot-treat acne gel: Pimples come up when you least expect them and this can zap them before they can fully form.
(Optional) Stick concealer: Cover up the pimple mentioned for the spot-treatment if it turns red and you either have a meeting or are very self-conscious about the spot. (No shame in that! I always have it handy for swing dances.) No need for a brush, just use clean fingers to apply and blend. The warmth of your fingers will help the concealer melt into the skin easier for more natural coverage.
Moisturizer with SPF of at least 30 (Just fill a travel bottle to keep in your purse.) : It's pretty self-explanatory as to why I would suggest keeping this handy. The sunscreen is the main reason for this item to be in your purse, but I prefer carrying moisturizer because it doesn't have as strong of a smell and isn't as greasy. This is because the sunscreen is diluted in the moisturizer; a moisturizer with an SPF of 30 is about like straight SPF 15, hence I suggest SPF 30 as a minimum. Quick tip about putting sunscreen or moisturizer over makeup: rub a tiny amount in your hands and pat the product on your face so your makeup isn't disturbed, but you still get the protection.
That's it. This collection takes up very little space and has you armed for just about any touch-up you may need at any time. This is also very basic. If you have a signature look, toss in the product that makes it happen, like red lipstick or a specific mascara. Would you add anything to this mix? If so, what would it be?
Please leave comments. I would love your feedback.
<3 M
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Is This Normal?
This happens to all of us at one time or another: You try out a new product, something bad happens to your skin or hair, you blame it on the product because it's the only new thing in your routine, and decide never pick it up again. Logical, right? If something makes you break out, you don't use it again, right? Well.... Sometimes that's what's supposed to happen at first and sometimes human error plays a part. Here are some scenarios that you may run into and whether or not you should keep using the product or chuck it out the nearest window.
NOTE: I am not a dermatologist and will never claim to be. Most of these tips are based on experience and articles I have read.
Mild breakout after using a new facial skincare product: Don't stop yet.
A lot of the time, when you switch to a new cleanser, you skin will go a little crazy. This occurs mostly because you are either applying a chemical your skin isn't used to or a higher concentration of the more abrasive ingredients (like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or glycolic acid). Your skin will break out at first, but as it gets used to the ingredients or concentrations, it will go back to normal. It will take about 2 weeks to a month before your skin is back to normal. If however, the breakouts still occur after that amount of time, toss the cleanser.
Heavy breakout after using a new facial skincare product: Probably chuck
Unless it is a heavy-duty prescription or you went out on the sunniest day without applying sunscreen after washing your face, get rid of the product! Chances are, you are allergic to something in it. If the cleanser or acne cream is a prescription, it has a really high concentration of benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid and will irritate your skin like crazy before it shows skin's improvement. If you are really uncomfortable with the reaction, call your dermatologist. The final causes for heavy breakouts are silly mistakes brought on by rushing or carelessness (and I have done both!): 1. Not thoroughly rinsing your face and 2. Not using sunscreen after your skincare. If you don't fully rinse your face, some of the chemicals will remain on your skin and keep working, irritating it. If you use a lot of salicylic acid products, it is important to stay out of the sun or put on sunscreen because the salicylic acid dissolves some of your skin and makes skin more vulnerable to the damaging rays and it takes a big toll on your face.
Breakout after using a new makeup product: Try one more time
I can probably guess when any of you tried out your newest makeup item: either a party, concert, or highly social/stressful event when you wanted to look your best and in the morning, you see pimples that are in places that never have blemishes. Sound familiar? I certainly know this situation well. Is it the fault of the product not getting along with your skin? Maybe, maybe not. The way to be at least halfway sure, pay attention to where the pimples are and think about happened the night before. If they are in places where you touched your face or sweated up a storm, then it might not be the makeup. In high-stress and social situations, we all tend to sweat and touch our faces more, layering what came in contact with our hands on top of our makeup, promoting breakouts. To make sure it wasn't just a bad night, try the makeup again (after your skin has cleared up) on a more or less normal day. If you break out again, sorry. It's probably the makeup. If nothing happens, congratulations. It more than likely wasn't.
Sticky skin after using a new lotion: Don't stop yet.
Some lotions are rather rich and when used in excess, makes skin sticky. It's because the skin cannot absorb any more product, so the moisturizers just sit on it. Simple solution: use less. If the stickiness diminishes, great on two levels: 1. Your skin no longer feels weird and 2. You're using less product so your bottle of the stuff will last longer! If no matter how little you use and the lotion doesn't soak in, find a new one to use. No one wants to be a human-shaped piece of fly paper.
Itchy or burning skin after using a new lotion: Chuck it!
This is assuming that you don't have an open cut or something of that nature. You're allergic to something in the lotion. Period.
Weird scent after spraying perfume (or cologne for guys): Don't stop yet.
This one is tricky because perfume can be so fickle. Be sure that your pulse points don't have other scents on them because they can affect the perfume's scent in a bad way. Make sure you use unscented soap when you want to wear perfume. If you still have a weird scent, wait a few minutes. Sometimes the perfume just needs to dry and warm up before its true scent comes out. (For me, it takes 5-10 minutes.) If the weird odor persists, you may want to give the perfume to a friend whose body chemistry is different than yours and doesn't experience the same problem with the scent. A precaution for the next time you're perfume/cologne shopping: spritz the perfume on your wrist in the store, walk around for a little while- if you're in a mall, shop for about an hour- and smell your wrist and determine whether the scent is "you."
Extra dry or greasy hair after using a new product: Don't stop yet.
Just like the lotion, the amount being used might be the problem. Also, it might be how you style your hair. If you put products in while your hair is too wet or dry, it won't work correctly, if at all. If hair is too wet, the product all but dissipates. If hair is too dry, the product won't distribute evenly and will clump on your hair. If you dry your hair too quickly after applying the hair product, it won't set properly, causing hair to become completely unmanageable.
The best way to use most hair products is to use a dime to nickel size of it on damp hair, about three-quarters of the way dry, and combing it through to make sure the hair is evenly coated/saturated/whatever the product does. Then wait a few minutes for the product to soak in, depending on the thickness of the product: Mousses and spray liquids- 2 minutes at least, serums- 5 minutes, creams- 7 to 10 minutes. If you still end up with problematic hair, try again with tweaks like less or more product, more time to soak in, etc. If there's still no progress, you should start looking for a new treatment- if too greasy, go more towards the liquid and mousse end, if too dry, try serums and creams.
If I missed a scenario or was vague/confusing in any of these, just leave a comment here or on Facebook if you're a FB friend. Hope you found these helpful in some way.
<3 M
NOTE: I am not a dermatologist and will never claim to be. Most of these tips are based on experience and articles I have read.
Mild breakout after using a new facial skincare product: Don't stop yet.
A lot of the time, when you switch to a new cleanser, you skin will go a little crazy. This occurs mostly because you are either applying a chemical your skin isn't used to or a higher concentration of the more abrasive ingredients (like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or glycolic acid). Your skin will break out at first, but as it gets used to the ingredients or concentrations, it will go back to normal. It will take about 2 weeks to a month before your skin is back to normal. If however, the breakouts still occur after that amount of time, toss the cleanser.
Heavy breakout after using a new facial skincare product: Probably chuck
Unless it is a heavy-duty prescription or you went out on the sunniest day without applying sunscreen after washing your face, get rid of the product! Chances are, you are allergic to something in it. If the cleanser or acne cream is a prescription, it has a really high concentration of benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid and will irritate your skin like crazy before it shows skin's improvement. If you are really uncomfortable with the reaction, call your dermatologist. The final causes for heavy breakouts are silly mistakes brought on by rushing or carelessness (and I have done both!): 1. Not thoroughly rinsing your face and 2. Not using sunscreen after your skincare. If you don't fully rinse your face, some of the chemicals will remain on your skin and keep working, irritating it. If you use a lot of salicylic acid products, it is important to stay out of the sun or put on sunscreen because the salicylic acid dissolves some of your skin and makes skin more vulnerable to the damaging rays and it takes a big toll on your face.
Breakout after using a new makeup product: Try one more time
I can probably guess when any of you tried out your newest makeup item: either a party, concert, or highly social/stressful event when you wanted to look your best and in the morning, you see pimples that are in places that never have blemishes. Sound familiar? I certainly know this situation well. Is it the fault of the product not getting along with your skin? Maybe, maybe not. The way to be at least halfway sure, pay attention to where the pimples are and think about happened the night before. If they are in places where you touched your face or sweated up a storm, then it might not be the makeup. In high-stress and social situations, we all tend to sweat and touch our faces more, layering what came in contact with our hands on top of our makeup, promoting breakouts. To make sure it wasn't just a bad night, try the makeup again (after your skin has cleared up) on a more or less normal day. If you break out again, sorry. It's probably the makeup. If nothing happens, congratulations. It more than likely wasn't.
Sticky skin after using a new lotion: Don't stop yet.
Some lotions are rather rich and when used in excess, makes skin sticky. It's because the skin cannot absorb any more product, so the moisturizers just sit on it. Simple solution: use less. If the stickiness diminishes, great on two levels: 1. Your skin no longer feels weird and 2. You're using less product so your bottle of the stuff will last longer! If no matter how little you use and the lotion doesn't soak in, find a new one to use. No one wants to be a human-shaped piece of fly paper.
Itchy or burning skin after using a new lotion: Chuck it!
This is assuming that you don't have an open cut or something of that nature. You're allergic to something in the lotion. Period.
Weird scent after spraying perfume (or cologne for guys): Don't stop yet.
This one is tricky because perfume can be so fickle. Be sure that your pulse points don't have other scents on them because they can affect the perfume's scent in a bad way. Make sure you use unscented soap when you want to wear perfume. If you still have a weird scent, wait a few minutes. Sometimes the perfume just needs to dry and warm up before its true scent comes out. (For me, it takes 5-10 minutes.) If the weird odor persists, you may want to give the perfume to a friend whose body chemistry is different than yours and doesn't experience the same problem with the scent. A precaution for the next time you're perfume/cologne shopping: spritz the perfume on your wrist in the store, walk around for a little while- if you're in a mall, shop for about an hour- and smell your wrist and determine whether the scent is "you."
Extra dry or greasy hair after using a new product: Don't stop yet.
Just like the lotion, the amount being used might be the problem. Also, it might be how you style your hair. If you put products in while your hair is too wet or dry, it won't work correctly, if at all. If hair is too wet, the product all but dissipates. If hair is too dry, the product won't distribute evenly and will clump on your hair. If you dry your hair too quickly after applying the hair product, it won't set properly, causing hair to become completely unmanageable.
The best way to use most hair products is to use a dime to nickel size of it on damp hair, about three-quarters of the way dry, and combing it through to make sure the hair is evenly coated/saturated/whatever the product does. Then wait a few minutes for the product to soak in, depending on the thickness of the product: Mousses and spray liquids- 2 minutes at least, serums- 5 minutes, creams- 7 to 10 minutes. If you still end up with problematic hair, try again with tweaks like less or more product, more time to soak in, etc. If there's still no progress, you should start looking for a new treatment- if too greasy, go more towards the liquid and mousse end, if too dry, try serums and creams.
If I missed a scenario or was vague/confusing in any of these, just leave a comment here or on Facebook if you're a FB friend. Hope you found these helpful in some way.
<3 M
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Inner Beauty: My Note to "You"
This blog is dedicated to help people feel their most beautiful through makeup and skincare and whatnot, but I haven't talked any about inner beauty, which is more important than either of those things. Today, I got to look back on a photo of myself and when I first took the photo, I thought that I looked like a damn mess- My hair was dry and frizzy, up in its usual ponytail, and I had no makeup on. Hell, my brows were also a mess! Today, I looked at that photo again and said to myself, "I have never been more beautiful than I was on that day." Here is that vaguely-described shot:
Today, I saw a link posted by a Facebook friend and the title brought tears to my eyes because I knew exactly what it was about. Elizabeth Frank on My Centre Life had found the note that I had placed in a random book in Centre's library on April 25, 2010 after sending in my final draft of my sociology seminar paper. I had looked back on the process of writing the damn thing, from the beginning of June 2009 until that day. I had gotten so stressed at so many times that year. Sometimes I took it out on my friends, sometimes I kept it inside, and sometimes I would drag myself into Parsons to have a heart-to-heart with the counselor. I had forgotten to step back from my work every now and again to just breathe or do something else. I mean, I'd procrastinated at times and watched funny videos, but when I went to my work, it was non-stop and it would make me miserable. Hindsight's 20/20, right? Well, I wanted to make it so one person someday wouldn't have to wait for hindsight and that day was September 28 of this year. Here is the post about Elizabeth finding the note. I'm glad to know that she intends to pay it forward.
This blogpost is quite different from anything that I have posted before and probably ever will post, but I felt like it had to be written. To anyone who comes across this, whether you are at Centre yourself or halfway around the world, do something nice for someone and be beautiful.
<3 M
Friday, September 23, 2011
Quick Note
I just wanted to give a little shout-out to everyone who has read this blog and who will ever read this blog. At this point in time, I have gotten over 500 views. (Not bad for the re-started version- the original Beauty Centre had over 2,000 before I deleted it and started up again.) For this, I thank you.
Vielen Dank!
Vă mulţumesc foarte mult!
Велике спасибі!
Raibh míle maith agat!
Thank you so much!
Merci beaucoup!
Большое спасибо!Vielen Dank!
Vă mulţumesc foarte mult!
Велике спасибі!
Raibh míle maith agat!
I appreciate every single view, whether you are one of my former classmates or someone who did an internet search for products, and hope that you continue reading my posts. Also, if you have any comments, questions, or anything of that nature, please post a comment. I would love to hear from you!
Thank you all again!
-M
Save or Splurge: Skin
Here's the next installment of Save or Splurge. It was going to be the last, but I am also going to extend this theme to brushes and skincare. Be on the lookout in the future
Primer: SPLURGE
Primer: SPLURGE
I have only found one okay primer in the drugstore range (Rimmel's Fix and Perfect), but it didn't work as well as the ones from Sephora and MAC that I had. How could I tell? My skin oiled up about two hours faster with the Rimmel than with my tried-and-true Smashbox Photo Finish. Revlon has a primer out that I did not like at all. It made my skin itch and it flaked. Main point is, my higher-end primers kept my oily skin in check with fewer touch-ups than drugstore.
Splurge: Smashbox Photo Finish and MAC Prep + Prime
Save: Rimmel Fix and Perfect, Hard Candy Sheer Envy
Foundation: Depends, but I prefer Splurges
I love my high-end foundations, but like mascaras, makeup companies are cracking down to making better formulas. I still find that they are not as pigmented as more expensive foundations, so I have to layer more makeup from the drugstore lines. The higher-end products can cover my face with about two pumps of product and the colors are very forgiving, unlike many drugstore foundations that you have to match or else you look pale or orange.
Splurge: Any Chanel (depending on your skin type), Makeup Forever HD
Save: L'Oreal True Match, Maybelline Fit Me
Tinted Moisturizers: Splurge
Tinted moisturizers are my favorite branch of foundations because I don't need a heavy mask of makeup. Higher end tinted moisturizers tend to last longer and have enough coverage to even out the skin. Most of the cheaper products just disappear on the skin and make no difference on the skin whatsoever. They do smooth out the skin, they just don't even out the skintone as well as the higher-end.
Splurge: Laura Mercier, Josie Maran
Save: Hard Candy, Neutrogena
Splurge: Laura Mercier, Josie Maran
Save: Hard Candy, Neutrogena
Powder Bronzer: Save
This is one product that I do not use much because I don't look natural with any tan on my face, but I still try products because I like to look sunkissed sometimes. Sometimes. From the products that I have tried, I have not seen a difference between expensive or cheap powder bronzers. Some are shimmery, some are matte, some are loose powder, some are pressed. If I see no difference, I will always suggest the cheaper.
Splurge: BeneFit Hoola and One Hot Minute (FAVORITE!!), NARS Laguna
Save: Any bronzer in the Physician's Formula line, Sally Hansen...Carmindy, Neutrogena
This is one product that I do not use much because I don't look natural with any tan on my face, but I still try products because I like to look sunkissed sometimes. Sometimes. From the products that I have tried, I have not seen a difference between expensive or cheap powder bronzers. Some are shimmery, some are matte, some are loose powder, some are pressed. If I see no difference, I will always suggest the cheaper.
Splurge: BeneFit Hoola and One Hot Minute (FAVORITE!!), NARS Laguna
Save: Any bronzer in the Physician's Formula line, Sally Hansen...Carmindy, Neutrogena
Cream Bronzer: Either
This type of bronzer is different from its powder counterpart. It blends more into the skin and looks a lot more natural because of that. The colors can come out stronger because of this, though, so some people stick with powders. From what I've tried from samples of high-end and drugstore, each of their cream bronzers have distinctions but neither is better. It's just a matter of taste. If you want a satin/matte finish, go for high-end. If you want shimmer and glitter, go drugstore.
Splurge: Chanel Soleil de Tan, NARS
Save: Maybelline Mousse
Powder Blush: Either
Again, this is personal preference as far as what you want out of a blush. If you want a matte finish, high-end will provide. If you want glitter/shimmer, drugstore brands do well. Both can be very pigmented and drugstore formulations have improved so they blend without blending away.
Splurge: Tarte, NARS
Save: Sally Hansen...Carmindy, Cover Girl
Cream Blush: Splurge
In high school, I only knew of one cream blush and loved it- I wore it to both junior and senior prom. It was Maybelline's mousse blush. After I found out about higher-end cream blushes, I don't know how I could have liked Maybelline as much as I did. They blended better, looked more natural and I didn't have to use a ton to get color. I don't know if Maybelline has improved the formula, but I really don't want to go back.
Splurge: Urban Decay, NARS
Save: Maybelline, Revlon
This type of bronzer is different from its powder counterpart. It blends more into the skin and looks a lot more natural because of that. The colors can come out stronger because of this, though, so some people stick with powders. From what I've tried from samples of high-end and drugstore, each of their cream bronzers have distinctions but neither is better. It's just a matter of taste. If you want a satin/matte finish, go for high-end. If you want shimmer and glitter, go drugstore.
Splurge: Chanel Soleil de Tan, NARS
Save: Maybelline Mousse
Powder Blush: Either
Again, this is personal preference as far as what you want out of a blush. If you want a matte finish, high-end will provide. If you want glitter/shimmer, drugstore brands do well. Both can be very pigmented and drugstore formulations have improved so they blend without blending away.
Splurge: Tarte, NARS
Save: Sally Hansen...Carmindy, Cover Girl
Cream Blush: Splurge
In high school, I only knew of one cream blush and loved it- I wore it to both junior and senior prom. It was Maybelline's mousse blush. After I found out about higher-end cream blushes, I don't know how I could have liked Maybelline as much as I did. They blended better, looked more natural and I didn't have to use a ton to get color. I don't know if Maybelline has improved the formula, but I really don't want to go back.
Splurge: Urban Decay, NARS
Save: Maybelline, Revlon
Cheek Stain: Either
What this boils down to is the formula that you want, since they all provide a nice flush of color. If you want a water-based or stick-gel, go high-end. If you want a gel or stick-cream, go drugstore. There are pros and cons for both. The high-end formulas tend to put out less color per application, but it makes layering color easy and it's hard to overdo the color. Drugstore brands put out more color, so it's easy to use too much. As long as you get used to the formulations, they will do what they should.
Splurge: BeneTint line, Tarte, Sephora line
What this boils down to is the formula that you want, since they all provide a nice flush of color. If you want a water-based or stick-gel, go high-end. If you want a gel or stick-cream, go drugstore. There are pros and cons for both. The high-end formulas tend to put out less color per application, but it makes layering color easy and it's hard to overdo the color. Drugstore brands put out more color, so it's easy to use too much. As long as you get used to the formulations, they will do what they should.
Splurge: BeneTint line, Tarte, Sephora line
Save: Pixi, Jemma Kidd, Hard Candy
Powder: Splurge
You'd think that powder would be one of the makeup items that would be so easy to manufacture, drugstore brands would be just as good as high-end, but that is not the case. In my experience, most drugstore powders have caked and went on patchy on my skin. I was satisfied with drugstore powders in high school, but after finding some really nice powders at Sephora, I haven't been able to go back...except for costume makeup. Airspun is a drugstore powder that works really well for costume makeup because it has a nice smooth, almost opaque finish. Very good for stage makeup and drag queen looks. Other drugstore powders are too opaque for me and cake up easily. Some of the Sephora brands make really fine, translucent powders that don't mattify the skin too much.
Splurge: Urban Decay De-Slick, Makeup Forever HD Powder, Laura Mercier Powder
Save: Airspun Translucent Unscented
Setting Spray: Splurge by default
Setting sprays are becoming more popular because they extend the life of your made-up face, feel refreshing, and make your face less chalky and more glowy. For now, only high-end brands have made sprays. Urban Decay has a line for all different types of skin, MAC has had its Fix Plus for years, and Kat von D has just come out with one. I can say that Urban Decay's De-Slick spray works well. It adds maybe an hour to my makeup and feels awesome. It also works to break down a foundation that is too heavy so it has a more suitable coverage. Mac's Fix Plus works well with more normal skin, not so well with me. I've not tried Kat von D's. I'm waiting to get a sample to try.
Recommendations: Urban Decay, MAC
Setting Spray: Splurge by default
Setting sprays are becoming more popular because they extend the life of your made-up face, feel refreshing, and make your face less chalky and more glowy. For now, only high-end brands have made sprays. Urban Decay has a line for all different types of skin, MAC has had its Fix Plus for years, and Kat von D has just come out with one. I can say that Urban Decay's De-Slick spray works well. It adds maybe an hour to my makeup and feels awesome. It also works to break down a foundation that is too heavy so it has a more suitable coverage. Mac's Fix Plus works well with more normal skin, not so well with me. I've not tried Kat von D's. I'm waiting to get a sample to try.
Recommendations: Urban Decay, MAC
Monday, September 12, 2011
Save or Splurge: Lips
Lipstick: Either
Like mascara, lipsticks have come a long way in the drugstore. They aren't as heavy and quite pigmented. They still have a limited amount of finishes, unlike high-end. High-end lipsticks outdo drugstore with the variety of finishes by far, especially matte and shimmer finishes because drugstore matte lipsticks dry out lips and drugstore shimmers contain chunky glitter. If you want a satin or gloss finish, there are several cheaper options.
Splurge: NARS (Matte and satin), Makeup Forever (All finishes), Kat Von D (Matte and Satin), YSL Rouge Volupte (Satin or gloss and my FAVORITE!)
Save: Maybelline Color Sensational (Satin and gloss), Revlon Superlustrous (satin)
Lip stain: Either, especially if there is a lip balm attached
Lip stains are tricky because not everyone is aware about how they work. A lot of good lip stains have been given bad names because people trash them on websites like Makeup Alley because they do this, that, and the other. The biggest complaints about lip stains are: they are drying, they fall into every fine line around the mouth, and they don't have enough color. Thing is, those are commonalities in all lip stains and there are ways to combat those pesky tendencies. For the drying problem, get a lip stain that comes with a balm or use an oil-based lip balm with the stain you already have. For the fine line issue, put a bit of petroleum jelly around the perimeter of your mouth to block the stain, then take off the jelly after the stain dries. (This also works for hair coloring.) The last issue listed is one that annoys me. It's a stain, not a lipstick. Adverts for lip stains typically say "sheer" color, so a light flush is all you will get. If you want a ton of color, get a lipstick.
Splurge: Duwop, Smashbox, Tarte Lipsurgence, BeneTint, Stila Crushes
Save: Revlon Just Bitten, Maybelline
Lipgloss: Save
Lipglosses are comparable to mascaras as far as improvements on the cheaper end. Drugstore brands used to be either too thin or too sticky with very little color payoff that wore away after an hour. Now, they have glosses comparable to the legendary MAC as far as color and staying power. Also, they have a wider variety of glosses than ever. Some with glitter, some with just a hint of color, and some that are almost like liquid lipstick! Just take your pick!
Splurge: Chanel Glossamer (Little bit of everything), Urban Decay Lip Junkie (hint of color), BeneFit gloss (Little glitter), Smashbox (Some liquid lipstick, some glitter), NARS (Most like liquid lipstick, some are sheer)
Save: Revlon Super Lustrous (sheer color), all Hard Candy lipgloss lines (They are all different and cover all types listed), L'Oreal Infallible (Colorful and some glitter), Rimmel 6-hour gloss (Glitter and color)
Lipliner: Splurge
Lip liners are a special occasion makeup essential because they help lipstick hold on to your lips and prevent feathering around the lips. Higher-end brands win for one big reason: they don't dry out lips. A lot of them act like a stiffer lipstick, which feels weird at first, but I got used to it quickly, as I'm sure many others have. Drugstore lip liners, at least most of the ones I've used, feel really heavy and drying. Only one drugstore lipliner has felt as good as a higher end to me.
Splurge: Makeup Forever Aqualiner, Urban Decay 24/7, MAC
Save: Prestige lipliner
Tinted Lip Balm: Save!
Tinted lip balms are my favorite lip color formula because I have super-dry lips, so I'm almost always wearing lip balm anyway! Why not add a bit of color? I have only used drugstore tinted lip balms because I tried them first and loved them. The colors were bold enough to be seen but sheer enough to not look gaudy and the moisture they provided my lips was great. Plus, both may be drugstore companies, but both are against parabens and pride themselves for providing natural and organic products. If some of you out there love your high-end tinted lip balm, cool, but consider trying these because you might like them just as much but they won't hurt your wallet as badly.
Save: Burt's Bees Shimmer Sticks, Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm, Say Yes! To Carrots Tinted Lip Balm
If you have any questions about this post or about any products/brands I didn't mention, please leave a comment or Facebook post. :)
-M
If you have any questions about this post or about any products/brands I didn't mention, please leave a comment or Facebook post. :)
-M
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Save or Splurge: Eyes
One question that I wondered before experimenting with makeup was if higher end makeup was worth it. Why would drugstore makeup brands do so well if they were total crap? Through my few years of playing around with makeup and watching beauty Youtubers, I have my opinions on those matters. You may have different experiences and opinions, but here are my reasons to consider.
Pencil Eyeliner: Save
I used to think only expensive liners could glide easily on the eye, but makeup companies are making great strides in eyeliner. Most companies have gone with the cream pencil trend, which is brilliant and are making most expensive liners history for me. Maybelline is the newest to jump on the bandwagon and I've gotten to try the pencil. It's like butter for the eyes, but I haven't tested how long it lasts, so I will give more on that later. Two years ago, no cream pencils were in stores and all drugstore liners dragged like crazy so high-end was the option for me. If you want to use expensive liners, cool, but know that there are cheaper options now.
Splurge: Makeup Forever Aqualiners, Urban Decay 24/7 Liners
Save: Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy liners, L'Oreal HIP, Milani
Liquid Eyeliner: Save
Liquid eyeliner for me has been save, save, save. I've only used high-end liquids when they were recommended to me because of their longevity. It's nice, but the cheaper ones have lasted long enough for me. The only difference that really affects the buyer is whether the liner comes with a brush or sponge-tip. My preference is sponge tips for more control and ease of getting a thin line, but that's just me. I'll put what applicators come with my recommendations.
Splurge: Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid, Makeup Forever Aqualiner Liquid (both sponge)
Save: L'Oreal Lineur Intense (sponge), Maybelline Ultra Liner (brush)
Cream Eyeliner: Either
Depending on how thick you want cream eyeliner, this can go either way. If you want more of a gel-cream for a lighter feel, go with high-end, if you want a thicker, more opaque cream, go for drugstore. Gels glide a lot easier across the eye and can be more subtle than creams, but they can layer easily. Creams can drag at times, but the color payoff is amazing- you don't need a second layer.
Splurge: MAC Fluidline, Clinique Gel Liner, Bobbi Brown Gel Liner
Mid-range (special for just this category): Femme Couture Gel Liner
Save: L'Oreal HIP Cream Eyeliner, Maybelline Cream Liner
Powder Eye Shadow: Splurge
Dont' get me wrong, there are plenty of lovely drugstore eye shadows, but they tend to not cooperate with my brushes- natural and synthetic bristles. Plus, most drugstore shadows tend to be shimmery and some have chunky glitter. To get a good eye look, you need matte and shimmer shadows, which high-end stores provide and then some. Most higher-end shadows have better color payoff and less fall-out.
Splurge: Makeup Forever, Lorac Ooh-La-Lace Palette, NARS matte shadows, YSL Palettes, Hourglass duos
Save: Maybelline Color Explosion, Revlon satin, Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy trios
Cream Eye Shadow: Splurge
This boils down to one factor: drugstore brands have not come out with a cream shadow that doesn't crease. Don't get me wrong- I love creasing, but most of the time I want my cream shadow to act as a base/primer for my powder shadows.
Splurge: BeneFit Cream Shadow/Liners, Makeup Forever Aqua Creams
Save: Hard Candy Eye-Def
Mascara: SAVE!!
Drugstore mascara gets a bad rap from being so awful in the past, but there are so many drugstore brands that do just as well as high-end mascaras, if not OUTdo them. Formulas have improved greatly, and this is judging from when I watched my mom use her Maybelline Great Lash and complain about clumping. That iconic tube has not changed, but the formula has evolved. All other drugstore makeups want to develop like the mascaras.
Splurge: BeneFit BadGAL, Makeup Forever Smokey Lash
Save: L'Oreal Voluminous (original), Maybelline Lash Discovery, Cover Girl Lashblast Fusion
I have broken this topic into three posts: Eyes, skin, and lips. I will add the other posts sometime next week. If you have any questions about this post or about any products/brands I didn't mention, please leave a comment or Facebook post. :)
Stay beautiful, no matter what your budget is!
-M
Pencil Eyeliner: Save
I used to think only expensive liners could glide easily on the eye, but makeup companies are making great strides in eyeliner. Most companies have gone with the cream pencil trend, which is brilliant and are making most expensive liners history for me. Maybelline is the newest to jump on the bandwagon and I've gotten to try the pencil. It's like butter for the eyes, but I haven't tested how long it lasts, so I will give more on that later. Two years ago, no cream pencils were in stores and all drugstore liners dragged like crazy so high-end was the option for me. If you want to use expensive liners, cool, but know that there are cheaper options now.
Splurge: Makeup Forever Aqualiners, Urban Decay 24/7 Liners
Save: Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy liners, L'Oreal HIP, Milani
Liquid Eyeliner: Save
Liquid eyeliner for me has been save, save, save. I've only used high-end liquids when they were recommended to me because of their longevity. It's nice, but the cheaper ones have lasted long enough for me. The only difference that really affects the buyer is whether the liner comes with a brush or sponge-tip. My preference is sponge tips for more control and ease of getting a thin line, but that's just me. I'll put what applicators come with my recommendations.
Splurge: Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid, Makeup Forever Aqualiner Liquid (both sponge)
Save: L'Oreal Lineur Intense (sponge), Maybelline Ultra Liner (brush)
Cream Eyeliner: Either
Depending on how thick you want cream eyeliner, this can go either way. If you want more of a gel-cream for a lighter feel, go with high-end, if you want a thicker, more opaque cream, go for drugstore. Gels glide a lot easier across the eye and can be more subtle than creams, but they can layer easily. Creams can drag at times, but the color payoff is amazing- you don't need a second layer.
Splurge: MAC Fluidline, Clinique Gel Liner, Bobbi Brown Gel Liner
Mid-range (special for just this category): Femme Couture Gel Liner
Save: L'Oreal HIP Cream Eyeliner, Maybelline Cream Liner
Powder Eye Shadow: Splurge
Dont' get me wrong, there are plenty of lovely drugstore eye shadows, but they tend to not cooperate with my brushes- natural and synthetic bristles. Plus, most drugstore shadows tend to be shimmery and some have chunky glitter. To get a good eye look, you need matte and shimmer shadows, which high-end stores provide and then some. Most higher-end shadows have better color payoff and less fall-out.
Splurge: Makeup Forever, Lorac Ooh-La-Lace Palette, NARS matte shadows, YSL Palettes, Hourglass duos
Save: Maybelline Color Explosion, Revlon satin, Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy trios
Cream Eye Shadow: Splurge
This boils down to one factor: drugstore brands have not come out with a cream shadow that doesn't crease. Don't get me wrong- I love creasing, but most of the time I want my cream shadow to act as a base/primer for my powder shadows.
Splurge: BeneFit Cream Shadow/Liners, Makeup Forever Aqua Creams
Save: Hard Candy Eye-Def
Mascara: SAVE!!
Drugstore mascara gets a bad rap from being so awful in the past, but there are so many drugstore brands that do just as well as high-end mascaras, if not OUTdo them. Formulas have improved greatly, and this is judging from when I watched my mom use her Maybelline Great Lash and complain about clumping. That iconic tube has not changed, but the formula has evolved. All other drugstore makeups want to develop like the mascaras.
Splurge: BeneFit BadGAL, Makeup Forever Smokey Lash
Save: L'Oreal Voluminous (original), Maybelline Lash Discovery, Cover Girl Lashblast Fusion
I have broken this topic into three posts: Eyes, skin, and lips. I will add the other posts sometime next week. If you have any questions about this post or about any products/brands I didn't mention, please leave a comment or Facebook post. :)
Stay beautiful, no matter what your budget is!
-M
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Would You Rather Tag
I'm not a Youtuber, but MissChievous had a good tag going and I had to do it!
1.) Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, and lipglosses or lose all of your palettes and eyeshadows?
My mascaras and eyeliners because I use more drugstore brands in them, so they are easier to replace than my eyeshadows.
2.) Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?
If it could be donated, chop it off. If it had to be thrown away and I could get it trimmed, no haircuts.
3.) Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?
Pink because it can be appropriate at any season. Coral is more of a summer color.
4.) If you had $1000 to spend, Would you rather buy clothes or makeup?
Clothes. Especially professional clothes and tailoring costs.
5.) Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner, or eyeliner as lipstick?
Eyeliner as lipstick because I've done it before and there are pink, red, and orange eyeliners out there.
6.) Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?
SEPHORA!!!!
7.) Would you rather only use one eyeshadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life?
I'll use my Red Taboo for the rest of my life! I need variety in my eyeshadows!
8.) Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?
Winter clothes in summer because I can still peel the layers off to my t-shirt and jeans.
9.) Would you rather wear dark nails or bright nails all year round?
I'm not a big nail fan, but dark nails. I have a pretty Illamasqua color that looks like Uma Thurman's nail polish from "Pulp Fiction."
10.) Would you rather give up your favorite lip product or your favorite eye product?
(Very tough question) I guess my favorite eye product because I have many eyeliners that work very well, but Red Taboo is the perfect red lipstick for me!
11.) Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a pony tail or a messy bun?
I've done both for quite a while, but I'll say bun because it keeps my hair off my neck.
12.) Would your rather never being able to paint your nails again or never use lipgloss?
Nails. I don't paint them much anyway.
13.) Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all? or sharpie them in everyday?
If I had to shave them, I would fill them in every day. I love having eye brows!
14.) Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish?
Nail polish. One last time, I don't paint my nails that much.
Feel free to do this yourselves and if you do, let me know so I can see your post whether it's on Blogger, Facebook, or other sharing site.
-M
1.) Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, and lipglosses or lose all of your palettes and eyeshadows?
My mascaras and eyeliners because I use more drugstore brands in them, so they are easier to replace than my eyeshadows.
2.) Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?
If it could be donated, chop it off. If it had to be thrown away and I could get it trimmed, no haircuts.
3.) Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?
Pink because it can be appropriate at any season. Coral is more of a summer color.
4.) If you had $1000 to spend, Would you rather buy clothes or makeup?
Clothes. Especially professional clothes and tailoring costs.
5.) Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner, or eyeliner as lipstick?
Eyeliner as lipstick because I've done it before and there are pink, red, and orange eyeliners out there.
6.) Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?
SEPHORA!!!!
7.) Would you rather only use one eyeshadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life?
I'll use my Red Taboo for the rest of my life! I need variety in my eyeshadows!
8.) Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?
Winter clothes in summer because I can still peel the layers off to my t-shirt and jeans.
9.) Would you rather wear dark nails or bright nails all year round?
I'm not a big nail fan, but dark nails. I have a pretty Illamasqua color that looks like Uma Thurman's nail polish from "Pulp Fiction."
10.) Would you rather give up your favorite lip product or your favorite eye product?
(Very tough question) I guess my favorite eye product because I have many eyeliners that work very well, but Red Taboo is the perfect red lipstick for me!
11.) Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a pony tail or a messy bun?
I've done both for quite a while, but I'll say bun because it keeps my hair off my neck.
12.) Would your rather never being able to paint your nails again or never use lipgloss?
Nails. I don't paint them much anyway.
13.) Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all? or sharpie them in everyday?
If I had to shave them, I would fill them in every day. I love having eye brows!
14.) Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish?
Nail polish. One last time, I don't paint my nails that much.
Feel free to do this yourselves and if you do, let me know so I can see your post whether it's on Blogger, Facebook, or other sharing site.
-M
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Skincare Review: Organix Ever Clear Teatree Willowbark (for Oily Skin)
Skincare is essential to beauty. The better your skin looks, the less makeup you'll need. I love trying new skincare products, especially organic and natural products for drugstore prices. If I can find something as good as high end for a lower price, I'm a happy person.
I love the company Organix- I've used their shampoos and conditioners and I switch back and forth between them and the L'Oreal Everstrong haircare products. When I found out that they came out with skincare systems, I wanted to try them. At the time, I was using a couple of higher-end products and was searching for cheaper alternatives. I hoped that I had found replacements in the Organix Teatree and Willowbark line (for oily skin), so I bought the trial system- a small amount of the cleanser, toner, and treatment lotion. On the Organix website, it boasts: "This 3 step system that is naturally better than Proactiv® contains antimicrobial tea tree oil to provide relief along with a natural salicylic acid derived from willow bark to penetrate and reduce the size, swelling, and redness of acne, while patented EverMat™ complex is clinically proven to remarkably reduce skin shine, pore size and sebum flow."
So, does this system do what it claims? Well, I cannot say anything about Proactiv except that I hate the commercials, but the system works really well with my skin. The cleanser (used with my Clarisonic) cleansed my skin really well. Every time I stepped out of the shower, my skin felt super-soft and not too dry. The toner felt very refreshing and didn't strip my skin of its oils as some tend to do. The anti-acne treatment lotion was my favorite part of the system. I used it more for pore refining because I don't get a lot of pimples, but my pores tend to be on the big side and this lotion is recommended for the treatment of pimples and clogged pores. After using the system for over a month (plus moisturizing with my Clinique Moisturesurge), my skin looks better than ever!
Final thoughts on the system: It is amazing! I will continue using the cleanser and lotion, but I will go back to my high-end toner because even though the Organix one was lovely, I still like my old toner better. Plus, toner lasts forever with me, so I don't mind spending a bit more for it.
If you have oily skin and want to try something more natural and organic, I would definitely recommend this system. If you have any specific questions about it, leave a question.
Hope my fellow oily skinned people found this useful. If you want to check out this system or the Ever Radiant and Ever Ageless lines, click here.
-M
I love the company Organix- I've used their shampoos and conditioners and I switch back and forth between them and the L'Oreal Everstrong haircare products. When I found out that they came out with skincare systems, I wanted to try them. At the time, I was using a couple of higher-end products and was searching for cheaper alternatives. I hoped that I had found replacements in the Organix Teatree and Willowbark line (for oily skin), so I bought the trial system- a small amount of the cleanser, toner, and treatment lotion. On the Organix website, it boasts: "This 3 step system that is naturally better than Proactiv® contains antimicrobial tea tree oil to provide relief along with a natural salicylic acid derived from willow bark to penetrate and reduce the size, swelling, and redness of acne, while patented EverMat™ complex is clinically proven to remarkably reduce skin shine, pore size and sebum flow."
So, does this system do what it claims? Well, I cannot say anything about Proactiv except that I hate the commercials, but the system works really well with my skin. The cleanser (used with my Clarisonic) cleansed my skin really well. Every time I stepped out of the shower, my skin felt super-soft and not too dry. The toner felt very refreshing and didn't strip my skin of its oils as some tend to do. The anti-acne treatment lotion was my favorite part of the system. I used it more for pore refining because I don't get a lot of pimples, but my pores tend to be on the big side and this lotion is recommended for the treatment of pimples and clogged pores. After using the system for over a month (plus moisturizing with my Clinique Moisturesurge), my skin looks better than ever!
Final thoughts on the system: It is amazing! I will continue using the cleanser and lotion, but I will go back to my high-end toner because even though the Organix one was lovely, I still like my old toner better. Plus, toner lasts forever with me, so I don't mind spending a bit more for it.
If you have oily skin and want to try something more natural and organic, I would definitely recommend this system. If you have any specific questions about it, leave a question.
Hope my fellow oily skinned people found this useful. If you want to check out this system or the Ever Radiant and Ever Ageless lines, click here.
-M
Another Blast From the Past: Makeup Sponge Trick
Today, there was something I had to do before going to the grocery store because I wasn't careful: get rid of the white deodorant marks from my shirt. This is one of those techniques I've been doing since high school because it works quickly and effectively.
Quick story about how I learned this trick: When I picked up my issue of Seventeen (At some point in my high school career, I don't remember the year), they were raving about these special sponges to get rid of deodorant marks. It intrigued me until I saw the product and the price. It was a packet with two round makeup sponges for $15! I'm not even kidding. I laughed so hard at the article. At least it let me know that you can use a makeup sponge to get rid of those white streaks.
Now for the actual (very simple) technique. Hold the streaked fabric taut and use little pushes to move the sponge down the deodorant marks. Keep doing this until all the white is gone. That's it! It's simple, but it works wonders for clothes!
-M
Quick story about how I learned this trick: When I picked up my issue of Seventeen (At some point in my high school career, I don't remember the year), they were raving about these special sponges to get rid of deodorant marks. It intrigued me until I saw the product and the price. It was a packet with two round makeup sponges for $15! I'm not even kidding. I laughed so hard at the article. At least it let me know that you can use a makeup sponge to get rid of those white streaks.
Now for the actual (very simple) technique. Hold the streaked fabric taut and use little pushes to move the sponge down the deodorant marks. Keep doing this until all the white is gone. That's it! It's simple, but it works wonders for clothes!
-M
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Quick Tip From the Past: Lip Gloss
One thing that I learned from a fellow makeup enthusiast a long time before I got into makeup was how to make lip gloss last longer.
A lot of the time, when we "run out of lip gloss," we've really only used the half that the wand can reach. The rest is stuck to the sides. So how do you get that stuff off the sides and on your lips? It's really simple: hot water. Just fill a cup or glass with hot water and use a clothespin to hold the lip gloss bottle in the water, stopping right before where the bottle and the cap meet. Leave the gloss for five to ten minutes, when the gloss has melted from the top, then take it out and let it cool before using it again. This will add a good month or more to your gloss, depending on how much you use it.
I hope many of you out there in cyberspace find this useful.
-M
A lot of the time, when we "run out of lip gloss," we've really only used the half that the wand can reach. The rest is stuck to the sides. So how do you get that stuff off the sides and on your lips? It's really simple: hot water. Just fill a cup or glass with hot water and use a clothespin to hold the lip gloss bottle in the water, stopping right before where the bottle and the cap meet. Leave the gloss for five to ten minutes, when the gloss has melted from the top, then take it out and let it cool before using it again. This will add a good month or more to your gloss, depending on how much you use it.
I hope many of you out there in cyberspace find this useful.
-M
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Product(s) I'm Loving: Real Techniques Brushes (and NOT because she mentioned me on her Real Looks Blog)
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| Real Techniques Travel Essentials |
When working with makeup, it is essential to have good brushes, whether they are expensive like MAC or cheap like EcoTools. I have brushes in every price range and have favorites and those I don't reach for unless the rest are dirty. I hardly ever invest in a full set of any brand, but that changed with Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman. This is the first brush range where I got every single brush. (Not all at once, of course!) Here are a few overarching reasons why I love these brushes:
- They are 100% synthetic, so they are easy to clean and cruelty-free!
- All of the larger brushes have flat bottoms, so they can stand up on your table and their bristles don't roll in spilled makeup
- All of the multi-brush sets come in this pack that folds into a stand, holding all your brushes up, even those without flat bottoms
- They are all so soffffffft!
- They are all labeled for those who are new to makeup, even though you don't have to use the brushes as labeled.
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| Core Collection |
The only downside I have found in these brushes goes along with a reason I like them- the synthetic bristles are easy to clean, but they take forever to dry! That's the downside of any synthetic brush, but if that's the only flaw I could find, these brushes are doing well. Don't think I haven't tried to find something wrong just because I admire Sam Chapman.
Here are all of the brushes/brush sets:
- Blush Brush
- Core Collection
- Detailer Brush for concealer, but I love it as a lip brush
- Pointed foundation brush
- Buffing Brush (My favorite foundation brush!)
- Contour brush
- Slanted Foundation Brush
- Kabuki Brush (It's a fold-out, modeled after the Sephora one.)
- Lash/Brow Groomer
- Shading Brush for the eyes
- Travel Essentials
- Essential Foundation Brush
- Multi-Task Brush (Perfect for blush and/or powder if you need to limit the number of brushes you can carry.)
- Domed Shadow brush
- Starter Kit (for eyes)
- Base Shadow Brush
- Deluxe Crease Brush (I use it for concealer.)
- Accent Brush
- Eyeliner Brush (I don't like this one as much because I prefer an angled brush for eyeliner.)
- Brow Brush (I use it for eyeliner.)
- Stippling Brush (The most popular of the brushes. I had to try three times to get it!)
- Powder Brush
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| Starter Kit |
My Favorite Brushes:
- Buffing Brush- I love my foundation to be sheer and this brush does that job so well.
- Crease Brush (Used as a concealer brush)- It blends concealer a lot better than other brushes on me.
- Detail Brush (Used as a lip brush)- Small so I can outline and fill in my lips easily.
- Multitask Brush- It's fluffy enough to apply a sheer layer of powder, but dense enough to apply blush.
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| Stippling Brush |
If you have any questions about these brushes, don't hesitate to leave a comment and ask me!
-M
Note: This is not a sponsored blogpost. I wanted to rave about these products because I love working with them. I wish I was paid to promote them! Photos are screenshots from Ulta.com.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Gel Moisturizers: Original vs. Cheaper vs. Natural
Let me preface this note:
I have the worst combination skin that needs special care so I take care of the oil slicks through my T-zone without irritating my cheeks and temples, which are dry and a bit sensitive. When I was buying my first Chanel foundation (I wanted to treat myself that day.), the lady who was applying the foundation on me noticed that my temples were dry and flaking a bit. She asked what moisturizer I used and I answered with Clinique's Dramatically Different Gel. She pointed out it wasn't doing the full job for me and that Clinique had a moisturizer that was a step up in moisture, but soaked in just as quickly as Dramatically Different. She went to the Clinique counter and came back with a 0.5 oz sample (Yes, that big of a sample.) of Moisture Surge. My first application was like a tall drink of water to my face, but it didn't leave a sticky layer like most moisturizers do on my skin. It only took a tiny bit of product to cover my face and neck as well, so that sample jar lasted about two and a half months.
I used Clinique for a few months and found out that Garnier was making a similar product called Moisture Rescue. Since I will use a cheaper product that is as good or better than an expensive product, I had to try it. The results of my find will be posted later in this post.
A little while later, I decided to go paraben-free in my products when I could and my beloved Clinique had methylparaben, which is not awful, but still a paraben. I searched high and low for another gel moisturizer and found Korres Pomegranate cream-gel moisturizer
So, which gel moisturizer works best? Well, that depends on you. The results posted below are what happened for me, so the results for you may be different, but if you have a really oily T-zone and really dry cheeks, these results will probably be the same for you.
Let's start with Garnier's Moisture Rescue. It comes in a 1.7 oz. jars for $5-$10 depending on where you live. While I can use a tiny pat of moisturizer from the expensive bands, I have to pile it on with this stuff. If you have normal skin to oily all over, this might be for you.
The Korres is a nice, natural option. It comes in 1.25 oz. jars for $32. It is creamier than the other two moisturizers and takes a tiny dab to cover everything. I loved the way it applied and thought I had found my replacement moisturizer...until thirty minutes later when I still felt a sticky layer of moisture on my face. It was too much for my skin for a day lotion, but it has made for a lovely night cream.
Clinique Moisture Surge is the best of the three I have used so far. It comes in two amounts: 1.7 oz. for $34 or 2.5 oz. for $46.50 It is light enough that it doesn't make my skin feel icky, but potent enough to fully moisturize my skin. This and the Korres moisturizer last for months and months!
Bottom line: Clinique's Moisture Surge is my holy grail moisturizer- the moisturizer I will reach for more often than not (especially for day)- Korres is my night cream and moisturizer I will use in any and all hotels (dry air city!), and I have since swapped my Garnier Moisturizer away.
I hope at least some of you found this helpful and that you find your holy-grail moisturizer!
-M
I have the worst combination skin that needs special care so I take care of the oil slicks through my T-zone without irritating my cheeks and temples, which are dry and a bit sensitive. When I was buying my first Chanel foundation (I wanted to treat myself that day.), the lady who was applying the foundation on me noticed that my temples were dry and flaking a bit. She asked what moisturizer I used and I answered with Clinique's Dramatically Different Gel. She pointed out it wasn't doing the full job for me and that Clinique had a moisturizer that was a step up in moisture, but soaked in just as quickly as Dramatically Different. She went to the Clinique counter and came back with a 0.5 oz sample (Yes, that big of a sample.) of Moisture Surge. My first application was like a tall drink of water to my face, but it didn't leave a sticky layer like most moisturizers do on my skin. It only took a tiny bit of product to cover my face and neck as well, so that sample jar lasted about two and a half months.
I used Clinique for a few months and found out that Garnier was making a similar product called Moisture Rescue. Since I will use a cheaper product that is as good or better than an expensive product, I had to try it. The results of my find will be posted later in this post.
A little while later, I decided to go paraben-free in my products when I could and my beloved Clinique had methylparaben, which is not awful, but still a paraben. I searched high and low for another gel moisturizer and found Korres Pomegranate cream-gel moisturizer
So, which gel moisturizer works best? Well, that depends on you. The results posted below are what happened for me, so the results for you may be different, but if you have a really oily T-zone and really dry cheeks, these results will probably be the same for you.
Let's start with Garnier's Moisture Rescue. It comes in a 1.7 oz. jars for $5-$10 depending on where you live. While I can use a tiny pat of moisturizer from the expensive bands, I have to pile it on with this stuff. If you have normal skin to oily all over, this might be for you.
The Korres is a nice, natural option. It comes in 1.25 oz. jars for $32. It is creamier than the other two moisturizers and takes a tiny dab to cover everything. I loved the way it applied and thought I had found my replacement moisturizer...until thirty minutes later when I still felt a sticky layer of moisture on my face. It was too much for my skin for a day lotion, but it has made for a lovely night cream.
Clinique Moisture Surge is the best of the three I have used so far. It comes in two amounts: 1.7 oz. for $34 or 2.5 oz. for $46.50 It is light enough that it doesn't make my skin feel icky, but potent enough to fully moisturize my skin. This and the Korres moisturizer last for months and months!
Bottom line: Clinique's Moisture Surge is my holy grail moisturizer- the moisturizer I will reach for more often than not (especially for day)- Korres is my night cream and moisturizer I will use in any and all hotels (dry air city!), and I have since swapped my Garnier Moisturizer away.
I hope at least some of you found this helpful and that you find your holy-grail moisturizer!
-M
Friday, July 15, 2011
Quick Fixes for Day-Of Disasters
It happens to all of us- there's a big event on the day when everything that could go wrong with your face happens. It is frustrating, but most things can be fixed if tackled first thing in the morning or right before makeup application. I'll present a few scenarios and their quick fixes. Note: these solutions are only temporary, perfect for day-of problems. Some of them are not recommended for long-term use.
Let's take it from the top:
Tired eyes: So, the night before a big party, dance, or event is always the night where you cannot get any sleep at all because of excitement, stress, or a cruel universe. Red eyes, dark circles, and puffiness can really bring down anyone. To counter the puffiness under the eyes, use a cream with caffeine in it or use two freshly used and cooled teabags. If you go the tea route, use green or white teabags to prevent staining your skin. For red eyes, there are so many eye drops on the market that target redness. My personal choice is Rhoto V Arctic. It wakes your eyes up because it's so cold-feeling and it makes your eyes look snow white! (It is not meant for everyday use, though. Only special occasions!) Dark circles can be taken care of by using a color corrector (Mentioned in a previous post.) and concealer. If you treat the puff in the morning and the rest right before makeup, no one will know about you staying up until 4 watching infomercials. ;)
Dry, flaky skin: Along with losing sleep, the air in your room seems to get extra dry in your room (very true of hotels) and it sucks all the moisture out of you. If your skin is just tight, use a moisturizer to replenish your skin. If you are also flaking, gently exfoliate with a little sugar (it's really gentle) and moisturize.
Acne: This one is tricky because there are so many forms, each of which need to be treated differently. If you have a whitehead that is ready to pop, wet a washcloth with warm water (hotter side of warm, really) and hold it gently on the blemish. If you're lucky, the head will soften and press out easily upon removal of the cloth. After clearing the gunk out, wash your face as normal and add a little spot treatment to the pimple's remains. If it is a weekend and you aren't going out until the evening for the event, you can take an extra step. Thirty minutes after the spot-treating, you can apply an antibiotic ointmet and an bandage to help the skin heal. If it's a whitehead that hasn't come to a head, do everything in the previous section minus the washcloth and extraction. If you have blackheads, use a pore strip before washing your face to really clear the pores and splash a little cold water or run an ice cube over the area.
Chapped lips: This is my biggest problem because my lips are notoriously dry. If I ever forget my lipbalm, my lips are screwed, especially if I want to wear a dramatic lip color that picks up any patchiness on my lips. If you wake up with this problem, run some moisturizer over your mouth and slather on lip balm. If you have flakes, use one that can exfoliate as well. Carmex is my night time treatment because it has just enough salicylic acid to take care of the flakes without drying my lips. Any lip balm is great for moisture, especially if it has cocoa or shea butter. Petroleum jelly works as well for taking care of dryness. When you get to you lips in your makeup routine, be sure to use a thin layer of lip balm as a layer of moisture before your lip product. Usually, I encourage trying different textures for lipstick, but one type that should not be used if your lips are chapped is matte lipstick. It is very drying and would just make you feel miserable. If you like the matte look, use a satin finish lipstick because it is very close to matte, but not as drying.
I hope that you all find these tips helpful to know but don't go through these problems before every special occasion!
-M
Let's take it from the top:
Tired eyes: So, the night before a big party, dance, or event is always the night where you cannot get any sleep at all because of excitement, stress, or a cruel universe. Red eyes, dark circles, and puffiness can really bring down anyone. To counter the puffiness under the eyes, use a cream with caffeine in it or use two freshly used and cooled teabags. If you go the tea route, use green or white teabags to prevent staining your skin. For red eyes, there are so many eye drops on the market that target redness. My personal choice is Rhoto V Arctic. It wakes your eyes up because it's so cold-feeling and it makes your eyes look snow white! (It is not meant for everyday use, though. Only special occasions!) Dark circles can be taken care of by using a color corrector (Mentioned in a previous post.) and concealer. If you treat the puff in the morning and the rest right before makeup, no one will know about you staying up until 4 watching infomercials. ;)
Dry, flaky skin: Along with losing sleep, the air in your room seems to get extra dry in your room (very true of hotels) and it sucks all the moisture out of you. If your skin is just tight, use a moisturizer to replenish your skin. If you are also flaking, gently exfoliate with a little sugar (it's really gentle) and moisturize.
Acne: This one is tricky because there are so many forms, each of which need to be treated differently. If you have a whitehead that is ready to pop, wet a washcloth with warm water (hotter side of warm, really) and hold it gently on the blemish. If you're lucky, the head will soften and press out easily upon removal of the cloth. After clearing the gunk out, wash your face as normal and add a little spot treatment to the pimple's remains. If it is a weekend and you aren't going out until the evening for the event, you can take an extra step. Thirty minutes after the spot-treating, you can apply an antibiotic ointmet and an bandage to help the skin heal. If it's a whitehead that hasn't come to a head, do everything in the previous section minus the washcloth and extraction. If you have blackheads, use a pore strip before washing your face to really clear the pores and splash a little cold water or run an ice cube over the area.
Chapped lips: This is my biggest problem because my lips are notoriously dry. If I ever forget my lipbalm, my lips are screwed, especially if I want to wear a dramatic lip color that picks up any patchiness on my lips. If you wake up with this problem, run some moisturizer over your mouth and slather on lip balm. If you have flakes, use one that can exfoliate as well. Carmex is my night time treatment because it has just enough salicylic acid to take care of the flakes without drying my lips. Any lip balm is great for moisture, especially if it has cocoa or shea butter. Petroleum jelly works as well for taking care of dryness. When you get to you lips in your makeup routine, be sure to use a thin layer of lip balm as a layer of moisture before your lip product. Usually, I encourage trying different textures for lipstick, but one type that should not be used if your lips are chapped is matte lipstick. It is very drying and would just make you feel miserable. If you like the matte look, use a satin finish lipstick because it is very close to matte, but not as drying.
I hope that you all find these tips helpful to know but don't go through these problems before every special occasion!
-M
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