Plumper Lips

Okay, I've had a few odd looks over the years ever since I started pulling lipliner out of my purse. I mean my grandmother used to be the only other person who wore it, so it's understandable. HOWEVER- I love the stuff, & no matter what people say, I'm going to wear it til the end. I think it could totally be confusing if you don't exactly know where to apply it or why it's even necessary. The whole idea is that it's not just like any other beauty product, it's there to enhance! So obviously, you can survive without it.

This picture to the right is exactly where I apply mine, it doesn't have to be a clean line, you're going to blend it anyway. I've stated before I usually re-purchase Rimmel's Lipliner in Addiction. I try & stick with something natural, like a rose, but slightly darker than my own lipcolor. That one works well for me but just hold them up in the drugstore and see for yourself. I also love Mac Lipliners, but since I use mine everyday, I go through them a lot much quicker! :(

Anywho, once you have the line down, take your middle finger and blend it away! Not completely away, but enough so you can't see the line a

nymore, your lip just looks darker on the outside. We've all seen our share of DARK lipliner... but this technique is literally just to make them look their best! So don't be weary.

Lastly, I swipe on any sort of lipgloss that I'm in the mood for. Today was Amber in Bare Escentuals, I love their Buxom line. But pick your favorite and do yo thang! Or if you're just not in the mood for gloss, put on some lipbalm or chapstick, it still does the job. Let me know how it goes!

Subtle, Sexy Glow!

I never leave home without applying some sort of SPF Moisturizer, EVER. So you can only imagine how transparent I am during this lovely winter season. Sometimes, I think everyone could agree, pale is just blah. Not to mention, it's exhausting trying to find a perfect match foundation & concealer. SO, my swear-by product for adding a beautiful, natural glow is CLARINS Liquid Bronze, available at Sephora or Belk. I apply this twice daily for about 2 or 3 days. Now keep in mind, I like to cheat the system. Sometimes before bed, I apply about 2 or 3 layers so when I wake up, I'm golden! Don't forget to wash your hands!!! But definitely use it depending on how comfortable you are with it! I love it! It makes me feel happier just knowing you CAN be tan overnight, in the healthiest way possible. I'm not an extremely high-maintance person regarding beauty products, I can dabble in just about anything, HOWEVER- I've tried Jergens & it's just not for me. Clarins is a worthy investment- ! It has a teeny-tiny smell, but it's nothing compared to the "usual sunless-tanner stank."

If you really can't afford the SLIGHTLY pricy Clarins opt for extra bronzer. Keep in mind that too much bronzer can give the face a nice, dirt look- so,

the key is application. Only put bronzer in the spots where the sun hits.

I found this little chart online that provides a decent visual. A couple sweeps in each area should do the job. I also suggest matte brown eyeshadows with a copper twist. I love Cork from Mac, it's like a multi-purpose eyeshadow. I suggest covering the lid and crease area with that color & adding a copper shimmer, like Copperring from MAC in the crease (something along these lines.) I like to stick to a neutral, peachy lip-color like Amber from Bare Escentuals and a bronzy brown liner like Teddy from MAC. Also, this is an awesome youtube tutorial for showing you the step-by step process! Enjoy and try it out!

60's Bombshell!

In the past few days, I've been dying to wear some sort of 60's sex-kitten make-up look. I love the idea of big hair, smoky eyes and a pink/nude lip! I've decided to sort of map out how I'm going to wear it and what make-up I'm going to use!

1) Moisturize (Olay Regenerist), Primer (Dr. Brant Pores No More), Foundation (Olay & Maybelline Ageless Foundation), Concealer( Kat Von D's Tattoo Concealer). Use whatever you feel comfortable with & make sure it's suitable for your skin texture & tone.

2) After you have a solid base & even skin tone, you want to have a super defined brow. Use some sort of angled brush & brown powder (depending on your hair color) to shape your arch, fill in your brow, & exaggerate it's shape.You can see on almost all 60"s icons, their brows are darker & stand out more. I recieved a sample of Anastastia brow powder in Brunette & I love it! I also use Cork eyeshadow from Mac.

3) For this look, you really need very delicate, shimmery eyeshadows. I would start with a white/champagne shimmery eyeshadow all over the lid. In the crease line, you want to pick a medium color, this could range anywhere from mauve to rose to pewter. Don't forget to blend.d You can see in the top picture most of her lid is super dark, but you want to be able to control it as opposed to just layering a lot of color on! Put the darkest color right above your upper lashes and just brush upwards, don't use A LOT of shadow at first, you can always add more. Then put a dark line of shadow under your lower lashes & smudge, so it gives a nice smokey look.

4) Afterwards, pick some sort of black liner to line the upper lid. I usually opt for a liquid liner of some sort, I've used Maybelline in the past, but I hear Bobbi Brown has a really good liner pot, which would require some sort of brush application. But this part is solely up to you! You can make it like Eva Mendez's on the right, wing it out & then fill it in; or, you can go for a more subtle approach and just make a thinner, winged line. Also, line the bottom water-line with a line of black liner. I usually stick with a black pencil, like Rimmel Exaggerate, or a Sephora liner.

5) Curl your lashes & add LOTS of Mascara, you want to be able to bat your lashes!

6) Use an all-over bronzer like Bare Escentuals Warmth to warm up your face. Then apply a pinky-peach blush,

like Nars Orgasm, on the apples of the cheek.

7) Lines the lips with something similiar to Addiction from Rimmel, blend it in & add a rosey-peach lipstick, like Viva La Glam for Mac.

8) If you want to add an extra touch- dust highlighter in the shape of a C around your eyebrow and on top of you cheek bone! Don't forget the bridge of the nose.

Basic Skin Care..

I've been researching the easiest ways to get flawless skin! I'm going to try my best to summarize the info I've found most frequently among different websites.

1) EVERYONE, literally everyone, says to drink

about 10 classes of water A DAY. Like most people, this one for me is a serious problem. Unfortunately, my mom got me hooked to diet coke when I was around 9. I mean, I have withdrawals it's so terrible. Now, I can't seem to find a direct answer, but I'm pretty positive Diet Coke will not affect your skin. But research shows that WATER is

the key to glowing skin. I think it's best to carry around a water jug! Helps the environment & yourself!

2) Next, FIND A GOOD CLEANSER. It's also necessary to find out which skin type you have. After that, you can purchase the best face wash for your own. I made a short list of cleansers for each type.

If you have OILY skin=Clinque Wash-Away Gel Cleanser

If you have DRY skin= Cetaphil Cleanser, just look for any label that says moisturizing, or cream cleanser, I hear Cold Cream is super effective.

If you have ACNE=I like Peter Thomas Roth! But if your looking for something on a budget, try Clearasil Ultra! I always used it as a teenieboppa.

If you have AGING skin= Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream!

If you have SENSITIVE skin= Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin

It's also super-important to wash your face in the morning! Unless you wash your pillow case everyday your continuously sleeping on bacteria that's collected over time. It also wakes you up and stars your day!

3) GOTTA MOISTURIZE. I stressed this earlier but the key to smooth looking skin is hydration. Your skin needs moisture because you're constantly losing it throughout the day. While this can truly only be fixed with water, you need to use it regardless, to improve the texture of your skin. This is why most moisturizers contain water, the moisture, & an oil-based substance, that recreates our natural barrier. So again, pick one for your skin type and use it morning & night. I really want to stress the importance of sunscreen. Your absolute best bet is to find a lotion with ATLEAST SPF 15. Eucerin & Olay both make everyday moisturizers that I love!

4) TAKE OFF YOUR MAKE-UP EVERY NIGHT. This should seem self-explanitory but often enough people forget. Try your best to make it a habit! Clogs yo pore's.

5)Lastly, try & get in 45 mins of exercise atleast 4 times a week & Eat a proper, nutritious diet

!(This is also my worst problem!!) Think about it, your body, nails, hair & skin reflect your health. Unhealthy food= Dull Skin, Overweight. Been there done that. There are ways to make veggie's taste better! Try Tony's Seasoning, Salt&Peppa, Olive Oil, etc.!

Okay so here it is; give it a try. Just remember no one ever gets immediate results, give it a few weeks! Atleast 3 or 4, & also exfoliate once a week to get rid of any dead skin! Try St. Ives!

Deciding To YouTube!

In the next week or so, I'm going to start posting youtube videos! I'm super excited because I've been heavily influenced by a number of "vloggers" I think you say? Basically make-up gurus who post video blogs/tutorials/how-to's on youtube. Why me, you ask? It's easy! Because I have a passion for make-up and I think I have the ability to point people in the right direction.

One of my favorite youtubers is KandeeJohnson! I absolutely love her, she's super optimistic, easy to follow, and knows her shizazz. So, I'm kind of hoping to do something similar to her! Let me know if you have any questions about specific how-to's, I can easily make a tutorial for you. I think I'm going to begin with something more simple like "The Flawless Face," or a "Basic Smoky-Eye." So any suggestions, feel free to post!

Spring Looks

As much as I absolutely love winter weather, I'm already tired of it..I'm so incredibly ready for the Spring that I've been googling make-up looks that I, personally, will sport come April. It's true, the times are always changing, it's hard to keep up with fashion or style, but I chose looks that are pretty time-less. No matter what season, a natural, dewy face never gets old! Ever. So I've decided to stick with an "ordinary" look with lots of bronzer, highlighter, & peachy accents.You can see in this picture, the model has a pretty sheen that highlights her cheekbone which was achieved through a peachy-pink blush. Your best bet for re-creating that look is Stila's Blush/Highlighter Combo in Peachy Keen. It's one of my absolute favorites. I also, really enjoy Benefit's HighBeam Highlighter. It's liquid and you can you spot it on top of your make-up & blend it in. Maybelline has super cheap blushes that would be just as pretty.

For a night-time look, I've decided

to stick with the basics. I often sport a heavy smoky-eye, whether it be navy, green, purple,etc. with a pretty neutral lip-color, but it's spring, time for a cha

nge! I think absolutely every skin-tone & eye color can stand out with browns & golds.

This picture to the right, is exactly the look I'll be going for!

Very natural lips, a rose blush, goldy eyeshadow with a dark brown crease color & brown eyeliner. I love Mac Eyeshadows in Woodwinked & Tempting, as well as their brown eyeliner in Teddy.

So, please try them out!

Get excited, there's nothing sexier than a bronzy, organic face!

Also for hair, I was thinking about "going back in time" & emulating my childhood hair. The natural, SLIGHT wave, I had when I was 8- as well as my natural hair color, (think Victoria's Secret swimsuit magazine). Don't get my wrong, I totally had to sleep in sponge rollers with underwear on my head, but for the most part, it wasn't always stick straight..I found a video that totally helps bridge the gap between my hair & Gisele's..it's a HUGE gap, but it's slowly getting more realistic, check it out..!

Must-Have Products!

Rarely do I EVER buy a product twice, so I HAVE to blog about the break-through products that I always re-purchase!

1) Bare Escentuals Bronzer in Warmth...necessity

2) Laura Mercier Camouflage Concealer Pot in #1, I love it, but mainly for the setting powder underneath!

3) Eucerin Healing Ointment! Complete steal, as well as an all-over product for any sort of use, I love it for chapped lips..thanksrach!

4)Olay Everyday Moisturizer with SPF 15, if I get wrinkles, it'll be from laughing my ass off..

5) Rimmel Lipliner in Addiction, best drug-store buy, all-around. I use it, everyday, always.

6) Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Conditioner, I might have THE WORST knots of all-time. Next time, I'll have to document to prove it. This is the best deep conditioner for getting out horrible, matted, rat's-nest tangles..

7) Johnson & Johnson Clean & Clear Advantage for Spot Treatment, cheapest, best acne cure for small, overnight pimples. I've used this since I was 16!

So far, these are my absolute must-haves! Never traveling without them!

My Video Project

This year, in Art Class, I was required to make a video project; of course, I incorporated make-up..But I wanted to hit on a touchy subject. We've literally been conditioned in society to feel bad about ourselves because of all the media attention on beauty, weight,style, etc. It's always hit-home because I myself, feel like I"ve been directly influenced by the amount of magazines I made my mom purchase as a kid. I never felt quite up to par because of the beautifulllll celebrities and models in the gorgeous advertisements; it's nearly impossible to compete with them. So I made my video about the negative aspects of media, we only feel confident when we're "made-up", which is totally true. However, I embrace make-up as a tool for women to succeed. Again, like I've mentioned earlier in my blog, I've seen first-hand what make-up can do for those who don't always feel adequate! So here is my video & remember, it's about the way we feel in our natural skin, it has nothing to do with all the people featured in the spotlight, so spend a few minutes in front of the mirror & try not to self-sabotage! Pick out your ultimate best beauty accessories, whether it be your lips, eyes or killer bone structure and praise yourself for it!

My Make-up Application!

Okay, over the years, I think I've learned this make-up application process suits ME best (feel free to try something different):

1) You MUST begin with a clean face.. I personally use PeterThomasRoth Acne SkinCare Regimen (sephora), I think I'm on week 6, it's good so far!! Here are tips to fabulous skin!

2) MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE- I promise you, attempting to put foundation on dry skin is nearly impossible, it doesn't feel good either! Whether you have oily skin, dry skin, or combo find a moisturizer that works for you. My mom has always sworn by Olay! But check these out.

3) Prime- this specific application step has recently been introduced to me. Right now, I'm using Laura Mercier foundation primer, it's not oil-free, sadly :(.. But it seems to work well!

4) Foundation- I'm currently using Lancome's 13 Teint Idole Ultra- stays for 13-hours! Or just about.. You really have to test, test, test in order to find the one most suitable for your skin. Everyone SWEARS by Bare Escentuals, but it's just not my kind of coverage. I've always been into liquid! But if you don't like the feel, definitely try out mineral or powder foundation, even tinted moisturizer! If you don't know what color you are, try this website out!

5) CONCEALER: my heaven. Seriously. In the span of my life, I may or may not have tried over 100 different concealers, different brands, different colors, etc. When I stopped being a regular sunbather, I SHOCKINGLY realized I'm the lightest color in every brand & sometime's even those can be too dark. So: Pick Your Coverage, find your color, and TRY until it works. I promise you, concealer is a must-have ladies! Right now I'm using Laura Mercier Concealer Pot, I love it! But when it gets to dark, I always start layering Clarins Self-Tanner for the face!(

6) Powder- I always use a loose powder to lightly set the make-up, Clinque's formula has some incredible staying power! I gently tap my powder brush and dust over my face and twice in my oily spots!

7) Bronzer- I know I said Bare Escentuals isn't pour moi, but just the foundation! I SWEAR BY WARMTH. It gives a nice- peachy glow, dab it twice with a smaller brush and use it for contouring the cheeks as well...takes pounds of the face..

8) Blush- I love blush! Most make-up artists agree that Nars Orgasm flatters almost 100% of women, but I don't wear mine sadly :/.. I like to stick with pretty peaches with less shimmer and more matte, at least during the winter. So, I'm currently wearing Two-Faced Blush in Peachy!

9) Curl+Masc.= I used to hate curling my lashes, but I realized it makes a HUGE difference. Mascara's vary in everything from color to consistency, so try em' out and pick the one that makes you happy. If I could, I would buy endless amounts of DiorShow Iconic Mascara, but for $27 dollars a pop, it's just unrealistic :( Maybelline has always worked for me. So start there!

10) Always end with lip-liner, usually Rimmel in Addiction. The KEY to lipliner is outlining the lip & blending it in! It's necessary unless you want to look like a southern stereotype! End with a nice lipbalm, or clear gloss. I love my Mac Lip Conditioner!

This is my everyday face. believe it or not, & everyday I have fun putting it on. So try these out, be sure to match the colors to your own skintone & let me know how it looks! I skimp out on eyeshadow & eyeliner because I'm on-the-go and want to look more natural! Remember, these steps are for enhancing your beautiful features!

Google For Inspiration

In my spare time, which I'm fortunate enough to have A LOT of, I constantly google! I look for anything and everything that inspires me, whether it be on Sephora, Martha Stewart, Anthropologie, etc. there's always something! I've recently been introduced to Tarina Tarantino, who might actually have some of the cutest packaging, BESIDES TWO FACED, of course! This is a picture I found off the website that I thought I must immediately print-out & post on my mirror. While some people aren't huge fans of pink, I have to be completely honest, it's nice to be super-girly every once in awhile.

Bonjour!

Hey Hey Ladies!

Welcome to my one and only. This site, I hope, will inspire and encourage you to see make-up in a completely different way. I along with most others, agree that make-up is here to enhance your natural beauty! Whether or not you think you have it, it's obvious to those who love and appreciate make-up. I'll be completely honest, my make-up application might be my favorite part of the day! Sometime's I redo my make-up multiple times a day, just because it's fun for me..While some could and might consider this slightly sad, I've come to completely accept this about myself! I would say I'm somewhat of an artist, so anything colorful or patterned has always intrigued me. For those of you who see make-up as a ginormous hassle, pleasssssse give it a second chance! I've seen first hand what a solid foundation and concealer can do for someone's confidence (including my own.) For those of you who are also fascinated by anything beauty related, I hope you can appreciate this blog! Feel free to comment and leave tips at anytime! Just remember in the words of Kevyn Aucoin, "I see beauty everywhere I go, in every face I see, in every single soul." So in conclusion good character=beautiful person. Let's get started!