Halloween Inspired Makeup... You Decide

In the spirit of Halloween, I have decided to go outside of what I am familiar with on every day makeup. I have always wanted to try my hand at creative special effects makeup, and for a first timer, I would say I'm doing pretty darn good.

Here's a few things I have come up with...


This all started with wanting to learn how to make Sugar Skulls, which have seemed to be a very popular go to look for Halloween....

This was my first go at it and while I like it, it's not my favorite.

This one however, I am very, very proud of. I learned from my mistakes on the first look and thought this turned out almost flawless.. minus the design on my forehead. 

After some time thinking of what else I could do, I figured, why not go with something a little more gorey??

I ended up with a latex slit wrist..

And finally took my turn at creating burned flesh. 

Which one do you like best? Which one would you like to learn how to do?

They are all pretty simple..

Let me know your thoughts and I will make a post for them!!

Makeup Brushes: Why It's Important to Clean Them Regularly

My love for makeup brushes began about a year ago when I saw an amazing deal on groupon for a full set that came in it's own neat little case for storing them in. Up until then I used the little packs you can buy at any drug store with the spongy ends for my eye shadow and used my hands for my foundation and concealer. I used the brush that came with my Bare Minerals for my powder application as well as for applying my blush, but that was about it. Before I began using my brushes, I knew the importance of cleaning them, but I never really took the time to actually DO it.  My Bare Minerals all over color foundation brush took the most abuse from this behavior and boy do I regret it. I need a new one desperately, but most times I just can't bring myself to spend almost $30 on a single brush! I mean, for the same price I can go buy a high end foundation or a few other goodies.

So why is it so important to clean your brushes regularly? When you wash them (and wash them properly) you are not only washing away old makeup, you are ridding your brushes of dirt, oil, dead skin and bacteria. It's an awful thought, isn't it?

I went on a fun little shopping spree on ELF Cosmetic's website and found this little gem. It costs $4.50 and cleans really well. I was concerned that because of how cheap this cleaner is that it would leave my brushes feeling dry and would ruin the overall quality of my brushes. This is the only brush cleaner I have used, and I couldn't be happier. I don't see the need for spending high dollar amounts on brush shampoo, ever. It's $4.50 and is 4.1 fl oz. It is pretty concentrated and it lasts forever. 

Want to see what it looks like when you don't take care of your brushes?

I don't normally fill up my sink to wash them, but I wanted to show you the transformation of the water from beginning to end. I purposely didn't clean my brushes for quite some time so I could show y'all just how important it is. (My skin didn't care for this demonstration much at all.) 

I started by putting a little bit of the brush shampoo under running water to make a little bubble bath heaven for them. I figured I would let them soak a little while to help to break down the built up residue on some of them, mostly to break down the build up of my gel eyeliner on my angled brush.

Here we go...

After letting them set for about 10 minutes and swishing them around in the water, you can see the water went from crystal clear to this. How gross is that?!

After a few more minutes it went from a bright foundation color to a muddy, murky, smokey brown color. The idea of this was enough to make my skin crawl: this will be a one time only experiment. 

This is the end result of the water, and this is just from SOAKING them! I still haven't scrubbed or anything else. I will show you just how deeply into the brushes your makeup likes to hide.

I pulled back the bristles on my MAC Brush No. 191 square foundation brush and in the center, you can see how much foundation is just caked onto the inside of the brush. From there I just add a little drop of shampoo a little smaller than the size of a pea and massage it into the bristles.

Sometimes I repeat this process a few times or at least until I see the water run clear when I rinse it off. 

On the left side of the photo (or top, rather) I have the set of brushes that were just removed from soaking, lying on a clean and dry towel. I go through the next step of cleaning under running water in the sink, and then reshape the brushes, blot out any excess moisture and then lay flat to dry on another clean, dry towel on the right (or bottom). 

Look at it shine! 

Tada! Squeaky-Clean brushes! I let mine air dry overnight, just to be sure. I don't want to put them away in a dark place while they are still damp: they might grow moldy!

Have any questions? Let me know in the comments below!

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Mayonnaise Hair Mask... It really works!

I have always had very thick, bouncy soft curls and within the last couple years I have noticed things changing and I don't know how to deal with it. Maybe I'm just noticing the fact that my body is actually aging and the reality of not staying young forever is finally setting in. Is this normal? Do most women just a couple short years away from 30 go through this? Am I over exaggerating; is it all in my head? What I am going through is very real, but I have to admit a lot of it is probably from not taking care of myself over the years as  I should have; especially my hair. I have been coloring my hair since middle school, when my older sister was getting her foot in the door in the hair stylist world. I was someone she got to practice her skill on and I couldn't be more excited. I remember being in 7th grade and staying behind in one of the more known hair salons here in GA after hours and feeling extra special because well, what other 7th grader was able to receive that sort of treatment? I will hold that memory forever and cherish it. 

With that being said, I started getting highlights at a very young age. As my sister's career developed, she became my hair dresser and I continued throughout my teens getting my hair done in a salon. Of course, about the time that I was responsible for paying my own way, I discovered the wonderful world of DIY hair color in a box and managed to keep up the fresh color all on my own. I was warned of the damage box color can do to your hair, but being young, I ignored all of the warnings. At the age of 21 I decided I needed a change and discovered how exciting red hair was and fell in love instantly. I am 27 years old now and I haven't looked back. I have learned that with harsh chemicals comes a great deal of responsibility of protecting your hair from the effects. Something I never took seriously enough until now. My hair feels brittle and it breaks at times resulting in more 'fly away' strands. My hair is dry and is beginning to look a little lifeless making bad hair days more frequent. 

Through Pinterest there are countless posts about different DIY beauty hacks and some of them really do work. I have heard of using mayonnaise as a hair mask before, long before Pinterest ever existed but it brought the idea back into the limelight for me a few days ago. There are many different variations for this simple mask but even the simplest form of this, which is simply just mayonnaise, works great. The idea of slathering mayo on my head at first was enough to make me want to vomit, but if you get past the idea of it, it is really no big deal. I used mayo and added a little extra olive oil. I used about 4 good oversized scoops with about a tablespoon of the oil, but there is no real measurement for this remedy. It all depends on how long and thick your hair is, so use your best judgement. 

Best trick to help this go as smoothly as possible: Wet your hair first! It doesn't have to be soaking wet, but pretty damp. I skipped this step and with as coarse as my hair is, it took some work to get all of my hair coated evenly. If you don't like the feel of gooeyness on your hands, I would suggest using gloves. 

Here is a list of the different ingredient variations that can be used:

First and foremost. Mayonnaise. No explanation needed there...

For added benefit try adding a mixture of these items:

-Eggs: 

Eggs are good for strengthening the hair and hair follicles meaning that they are ideal for damaged hair.

 -Olive Oil: 

Extra virgin olive oil is best and is a great natural moisturizer. Be careful not to use too much though, you might have a hard time rinsing it out if you use a lot of it.

-Honey: 

Honey also is a great moisturizer, but be aware that it has a bleaching effect and can lighten the color of your hair. Only use as much as you think is necessary; you shouldn't need to add much.

-Avocado: 

Rich in vitamins such as E & B and nutrients. Avocado is another one of nature's great moisturizers. 

-Bananas: 

Rich in vitamins and oils, especially for improving hair elasticity, which helps with precent split ends and breakage. Also I learned after doing a little research, bananas can be a great natural way of helping with dandruff.

After you have figured out your mixture, make sure to dampen your hair pretty well and coat your hair as you would with regular conditioner. I would say add a little extra than you would typically as this is a mask and you want to make sure that your hair is good and saturated. Follow with putting on a shower cap to trap in the heat and let sit anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending on how damaged your hair is. 

I found that after about 10 minutes or so the oils from the mixture started to drip down my neck. I would recomend keeping a towel nearby or wrapping the outline of your hair line with some sort of cotton strip or something of the like. I have only done this once and the dripping was a little much to deal with since I wasn't aware that would happen, but I have to say, the next day I felt like the life was brought back to my curls a little bit. From what I have read it is best to do this treatment about once a month depending on the damage level of your hair. I have not used the other ingredients I have listed above, but they are on the agenda for next time and I will be sure to post my results.

September 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag Sneak Peek

It's that time again. The first of the month has come and all you Ipsy subscribers are gearing up for 5 days worth of sneak peeks at your potential bag. 

Sneak peek number 1:

All of us lucky ladies will be receiving one of the above products: Pacifica Waterproof Eye Pencil ($11) or Pacifica 7 Free Nail Polish ($9).

Personally, I am hoping for eyeliner but I will be happy either way.

Sneak Peak #2:

Hikari Cosmetics Lipstick - ($13)

Cailyn Cosmetics Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss Stick - ($19)

Maybelline Face Studio Master Glaze - ($9)

I'm extra excited about sneak peak number two. Why? They are claiming these products to be the full sized item in the glam bag this month. Now, let's just hope for either the Cailyn or Hikari :)

I will update *THIS* post as more spoilers come out, so please check back for more!

Please leave me any comments or questions below and if you have a moment, I am in the process of moving this blog over to a new hosting site. Please take a moment to check it out here. I must warn, however, there are ads for the site I am using at the moment, but I will be getting rid of those soon. Like what you see/read? Subscribe!

Sneak Peek #3 and #4:

Avon Big and Daring Volume Mascara in Blackest Black  

Harvey Prince Hello Perfume 

Harvé Benard Precious Gold for Her 

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel and Miracle Gel Top Coat 

Nourish Organic Moisturizing Face Cream Cleanser

LeeAnni Eco 3-in-1 Revolution Light 

NYX Hot Singles Eyeshadow

Crown Brush Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush 

Be A Bombshell Smooth Criminal Powder

Whew! That's a mouth full! I am really excited for the possibility of frangrances this time around. In my opinion you can't have enough around! 

And FINALLY Sneak Peek #5..

All you lovely ipsy subscribers could possible get one of these awsome products:

Briogeo Don't Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask

Who it's for:  Those suffering from dry, damaged, breaking or lifeless hair, often caused by chemical or color treatments, heat tools, or climate changes.

What it does:  Delivers an optimal blend of transformative hair nutrients, such as b-vitamin complex, rosehip & avocado oils, collagen, and silk to restore and replenish damaged hair to a shiny, healthy & lustrous state

.

Mitchell and Peach Luxury Hand Cream

Hand cream that contains Vitamin E, shea butter and English honey to soften, nourish and protect the skin.

Caviar CC Cream

BWC Premium Aromatherapy Lotion

I believe all that's left is to see what the cute bag is going to look like! Can't wait!

August Glam Bag Review - Better Late than Never

August makes my second Ipsy bag and let me tell you, if this is any indication on the quality of products they usually give, I couldn't be happier with my subscription choice. I have used every single product this month and am hoping to get my hands on the full sizes soon.

Here's what was in my bag:

Coastal Scents Forever Blush

I don't really buy a lot of blushes because I can never decide which colors will work best for me. The colors in this sample, to my surprise are absolutely perfect for me. I try not to make my cheeks baby pink often, but I was informed of a little trick and it worked out perfect. The sample size that we received is pretty small so it is pretty impossible to apply with any type of applicator. I use the tip of my finger and apply the darker color in a line down my cheek bone first and then use a different finger and apply the pink shade directly on top of it. Buff it out with a blush brush and ta-da! A beautiful custom color blush. It goes on smoothly and lasts all day. I think I will definitely be looking into their full sized blushes as I am sure this will go quickly. 

The full sized product goes for $7.95 each and they have 18 different colors. 

Absolute Lip Balm

This was the only full sized product this month, and I'm just okay with this product. It feels great while it is on, but I've noticed it doesn't stay on very long. I prefer lip balm and chapstick most days to lipstick, so I was excited to get this, but it's just ok. You can buy it as a duo set with two different flavors for $5.99 

Lord and Berry Silk Kajal Eye Pencil

I have heard really great things about Lord and Berry products before, but had never tried them. Honestly, I've never even seen them at Ulta (which is where I buy pretty much all of my makeup products) before so I wasn't sure where to buy them short of shopping online, which I don't do often. The size of this sample was a pretty decent size. It looks to me to be a little less than half the size of the regular pencil. This stuff is my new favorite pencil eyeliner [for now]. This stuff glides on like butter! It is very black and stays on all day. My only problem is that it tends to bleed a little around the corners of my eyes a few hours after putting it on. I'm not sure if this is a sweat or summer humidity issue or the product itself, but either way, I plan on keeping this a part of my regular routine. 

The full sized product costs about $15.00

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

Any time Urban Decay is brought up, I get all warm and fuzzy on the inside. I absolutely love everything about their products, especially their mascara's. They are a little pricey and not very budget friendly, but totally worth every penny. When I heard about this sample I couldn't have been more excited. 

There are two parts to the full version of this product: A lash primer followed by the mascara. I can't tell you about the primer because, well,  we just aren't that lucky to receive both items in a $10 subscription. The mascara however is everything they claim it to be. Very black, doesn't clump and even without the primer, it makes those lashes bold and long. 5 stars in my book. 

The full sized product is $22.00

And last but not least..

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer

I have been on what seems like a forever search for a really good pore refiner with irritating results...until now. Unlike clear primers, this product has a very light tint which helps to even out skin tone and help blend  the imperfections of your face away almost completely.  The size I received is .25 fl oz, a quarter of the size of the full size. It is pretty expensive at $45 for a full oz, but completely worth it. This is on my wish list for sure. I have about half of it left and am now holding onto it for special occasions only. 

As listed on their site (click the link below picture), here is the list of promises for this product:

• minimizes the appearance of pores by diffusing light
• blurs imperfections & lines
• erases shine & mattifies skin
• absorbs oil, reduces shine and helps regulate sebum production
• antibacterial action for a healthy skin
• acts as a shield to prevent make-up from clogging pores

This bag gets five stars in my book. Interested in signing up? You can find information here.

August 2014 Ipsy Bag Spoiler!

          I don't know of many women on Ipsy that actually choose to be surprised with the contents of their glam bag and I can understand why. Last month was my first experience with the world of Ipsy and I couldn't do enough digging to try and find out what items were being issued before they told us. I think I was a little obsessed with the idea to be honest. Every month starting on the 1st, unless it falls in a weekend, there are sneak peaks given to all of us ipsters through social media and I think every last one of us stalks their pages to find out what's coming. I was able to find a pre sneak peak of what goodies are coming to us next month... Ready for it?

There aren't enough words to describe how excited I am about this! Rarely do I get the chance to go pay the prices that come with name brands like this, so I am in for a real treat! 

We will all receive one of the following two products:

24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil

Or..

 Perversion Mascara

          I had a tube of their mascara once that I swear to you had to be the best mascara I ever used. It went on smoothly, didn't clump or run or smear and had the blackest of black colors I've ever seen a mascara have. Granted I believe both of these products will be trial sizes, I am totally okay with that. 

Only 2 more days until the real sneak peaks begin. I will be sure to share what I find out!

What is ipsy?

Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription that is only $10 a month. You get 4-5 samples sized products varying from moisturizers to lip sticks to facial cleansers and more. With this service you get to try products you might never have known about, and either love them or hate them but the bags are always worth more than the $10 being put into it. The way I see it, if you love just 1 product out of the 4-5 you receive, you have paid for the value of your bag right there. Personally, I loved every item in my last bag and am sure I won't be disappointed in the future. 

Interested in singing up?

Click here!

E.L.F. Eyeshadow - Shimmery Pink and Brown

        ***Please note: the quality of these pictures aren't very great. If you click on them to make them bigger, they will be very pixelated.***

        I didn't realize just how much work a blog would actually be, but I am enjoying it none the less. If only I could do makeup for a living I'd be in good shape! I am still figuring out this new computer so a lot of these pictures are still not the best quality, but I am trying really hard for you guys. 

           As i've mentioned before, ELF cosmetics has become one of my favorite product lines ever. All of their products are super affordable and they are just as good as any of the others out there. There are products here and there that are sort of a miss, but for what they are priced at, it's not a huge hit on the pocket. Here is a step-by-step guide with pictures on how to create the look below...

          Putting my face online for the general public to see without makeup is a terrifying decision. There are so many mean people out on the internet, but I had to come to terms with it. If I am going to have a makeup blog, successful or not, there is absolutely zero chance of doing it right without before and after shots. None. So, I welcome  any negative comments that may come along the way. I am who I am, I am comfortable with who I am and if you don't like the real unmade up me, then perhaps this isn't the place for you to be. 

Moving along..

First and foremost, hydration underneath your makeup is key and is best to try and let it sink in a good 20 minutes or so before going through your whole routine. If you can't, well that's understandable. We all have our rushing days however I have noticed that if you don't let us soak into your skin first, the foundation will kind of cake up. So if you can, let it sit and do it's job. 

The difference a little foundation can make! I use maybe two pumps of this particular foundation:  L'oreal Invisalift Foundation it is very concentrated and a little goes a long way. I usually use my fingers which I know is a huge no-no in the world of makeup, but I feel that brushes can sometimes leave foundation looking and feeling a little too thick. The best applicators to use for liquid foundation would be either a Beauty Blender or a Stippling Brush but if you use your fingers, make sure to wash your hands! It will get all over everything!

Almay Wakeup Powder Foundation is a discontinued product that I went searching for online. This was my favorite powder a few years ago and I am so glad I found it. The foundation I use is a little too light for my skin tone and I don't really like the look of liquid alone, so I always go over with a little bit darker loose powder. Not everyone should do this, but I have a lot of things I need to cover up so I apply this and blend, blend, blend so it doesn't look too heavy. 

End result...

Voila! My skin matches and I magically got darker eyebrows! I skipped the step when I put my eyebrows on because I've been doing the same thing since I was about 15 years old. All the rage right now are these super groomed eyebrows that literally everyone is walking around with. Literally everyone (to me) is walking around with the exact same shape and style of eyebrow and while they look nice, it's just not for me. Maybelline Ultra Brow Powder it comes with a little tiny brush and goes on perfectly. This little guy lasts literally forever. I've been using the same powder for the last 2 years, I think? I know all makeup products have expiration dates but I swear i'm only halfway through it. 

**I just got my hopes and dreams crushed. I've been using this eyebrow powder for the last 10-12 years and found out it is discontinued?! I hate it when they do that... **

  

NYX Eyeshadow base in the skin tone color is my little secret to covering blemishes. After I have my face on, I use a little brush and dab it into place, cover it with a little bit of whatever powder foundation I am using at the time and it hides them perfectly. You should try it! This jar is $7.00 and lasts forever. It works great for it's intended purpose but I get a little extra out of it with this trick.

Almay seems to be my go to right now in terms of facial makeup. Almay Wakeup Highlighter/Concealer is a really good concealer in my opinion. It covers really well, blends beautifully and the end result is very natural.

I know it looks crazy, but this is a good technique. I dab a little bit of the concealer under my eye (and over my foundation) and make a triangle down to the corners of my nose and over the inside of my cheeks. Not only are you covering up those under eye circles, but you are brightening that whole area in the process. I use Bare Minerals Concealer brush to apply and blend it all together. 

Look at the difference between the two sides of my face:

Huge difference. The far edges of it aren't quite blended 100% in this picture, but it doesn't take much to buff it out. I feel like using the concealer in this way lifts that whole section of the face. 

Next up? Bronzer! I never used bronzer until recently, thanks to Ipsy. I received POP Bronzer (sunkissed) in my July 2014 Glam Bag and I have to say I am in love with this product. Typically you don't want want to use a bronzer with any shimmer to it for contouring, but this is what I have and it works great. I use it sparingly and it just warms up the whole face. Although the process of contouring looks crazy!

It looks like war paint. I use a little bit (although I used to wrong brush here so it is a bit of a wide area) under my cheek bones, around the top edges of my forehead and around my temples. I used some of the sides of my nose here, but I ended up blending it out really well because I didn't like the way it looked. 

After blending it all together. It doesn't change the look of everything where it is super noticeable, however it makes a difference in the definition of your face. I do believe it is hard to tell with the quality of these photos, however.  I will say this: I am new to the world of contouring so I haven't gotten the technique fine tuned yet. I notice now after looking at the picture that the edges around my nose are a little dark and unblended. I fixed this later on. Also, when contouring around the nose area, you should pull the darker shade straight down over your nostrils so you don't widen the look of the tip of your nose. Which I clearly did not do correctly. 

NYX Baked Blush in the color Lady Like. It has such a pretty finish and highlights your face really well. According to the product description it can be used wet or dry and it runs about $7.00 

I have never used it wet so I don't know what that is like, but I will definitely try it out and be sure to post my results. I try not to bring the blush all the way down to the apples of my cheeks because I have really puffy cheeks at times. If you have puffy cheeks and bring it all the way down, when you aren't smiling that extra color will appear as though it is pulling your face down, and that's no good. The middle picture shows how far I bring the color down my face and the bottom picture shows me bringing it up to my temple. When I get closer to the temple area, I cannot stress enough how much blending is necessary. The last thing you want is bright pink temples. :)

My go to eye primer. It lasts forever and doesn't crease.  Best part? It's $3.00

LF 144 piece Bright eyeshadow palette

I use the 3rd color down on the far right column for my brow bone highlight.

Because I have smaller eyes and eyelids I always apply my crease color before my lid color so it doesn't cover any of the pigment on my lids.

 ELF Mineral Eyeshadow in Sweet 

This is the color I will be using for my lid. Loose powders are tricky to apply, at least to me. A good primer and maybe a good mixing medium (or water which works really well, believe it or not with some products) are important when applying these so you don't end up with a crazy mess.  

and the above pink for the outer, right side of my lid.

Pat the crease color on with an eyeshadow brush, but don't put it on as far as you want it to go; use a blending brush to take it out as far as you would like and soften the color in the process.

Left side is unblended, right side blended. You can always add more; it's really hard to take away once it's been applied. If you want a more dramatic look, just soften the edges instead of blending the whole area.

I did not use any medium with the mineral shadow. It goes on super thick when your are first applying it, but it thins out a lot if you apply it dry. I only wanted a hint of color with a shimmery effect, so this is why I applied it without.

End result, after applying the darker pink on the outer edges of my eye. A very natural, light look. 

I did not get any pictures of the darker pink as it was a very, very last minute decision. 

Loreal Gel Eyeliner Pot  goes on like butter.

And to finish it off with Maybelline BIG EYES falsies waterproof mascara. As I've mentioned before, I hate this mascara, but it's what I have at the moment and I can't just throw away makeup. It's like makeup abuse or something.. just wrong. :)