Saturday, November 26, 2011

How to Look Great Without Makeup

     I'm a huge fan of makeup. And if you're reading this blog, you obviously must be, too. But sometimes, we need a break. Either we're waiting for our skin to repair itself, or we just don't want to wear it. Plus, it feels amazing knowing that no matter what, you're face looks great.
     So I decided to do a post covering the very basics of making your skin look great. I'll try not to state the overly obvious, although some of it you guuys might already know. Either way, let's learn together!
    
Mattifying An Oily Face:
1-Try my favorite mattifying DIY face mask! I seriously use this twice a week and it really helps me with my oily skin. You just need an egg and some lemon juice! Take the egg whites from the egg and beat them until frothy. Then, squirt in as much lemon juice as you would like. This mask sucks up all the oil from the skin while also tightening your pores. I swear, one use of this makes you less oily for days. At least, it does for me.


2- Try a toner! A lot of people think they are pointless, and sometimes they can be, but in this case they are your friend. Get any alchohol-free toner (it doesn't have to be high end! I use my Neutrogena one and it works great) and apply it with a cotton pad in upward motions after you've washed your face. It really helps control oil.


3-Invest in blotting papers! These are a lifesaver throughout the day. Many people go to Sephora or MAC to purchase there, but I by far like the Clean & Clear ones much better. Not because it's cheaper, but because I feel they soak up more oil. Just throw these in your purse, and blot off extra oil when you feel you need to. It doesn't even remove your makeup.


Moisturizing Dry Skin:
1- Try an Avacado face mask! I've found that avocados are very hydrating to the skin. Mix half of any avacado with a little honey, put it on your face- away from the eye area- for about 10 minutes. After rinsing, you're skin should feel smooth and flake free.


2-When washing your face, keep the water lukewarm! As much as I love the feeling of hot water on my face, it is really drying. So just remember to turn down water heat.


3-Vitamin E is a lifesaver! I have combination to oily skin, but during the winter time (mostly late January through February) my skin gets pretty dry. When this happens, I poke open a Vitamin E pill, squeeze it out, and mix it with my daily face wash. It's a sneaky way to keep your skin mega-hydrated without causing it to get oily.


Acne:
1-OATMEAL AND HONEY. I just can't say this enough. This is my favorite home remedy for acne. You can either make a mixture of the both and wash your face with it, or concentrate it with more honey and use it as a spot treatment. It always works for me! A huge zit will go away in about 3 to 5 days with daily use, and a small one will probably go away over night if you let the spot treatment set. I love this!


2-Don't be lazy about washing your hands. I know this is obvious- but you should really wash your hands more than you need to. Especially before and while washing your face. I always wash my hands, then wash my face. Then wash my hands, then apply any acne medications. Then wash my hands, then apply moisturizer. So please, wash your hands.


3-Remember- adult acne can be treated the same as teen acne. No need to buy super fancy adult-acne treatments. Buying medications and washes at your drugstore that your teenage daughter might use will help you. Don't knock it 'till you try it!


Other Tips!!
-Need serious under eye circle help? Chill 2 spoons in ice cold water for 5-10 minutes, then apply over your eyes. This really helps!

-Chapped lips? Make a mixture of olive oil, honey, and sugar. Scrub your lips with this for a minute, then let it set for 5 minutes before washing off. Apply some lip balm, and you're ready to go.

-Mix 1 part lemon juice, 1 part apple cider vinegar, and 2 parts green tea. Mix this up and apply it to your skin like a toner. This will lighten your acne scaring or age spots in about 2 weeks.

-Don't use an eye cream? You should! Not only to prevent future wrinkles, puffy eyes, and dark circles, but it will moisturize your lids-- making them less oily. Which means your eyeshadows won't crease as much! That plus an eye primer? Everlasting eyeshadows.


     Well, I hope this helped some of you! It's very basic-- I'll probably do some more in-depth posts about these skin issues and more later. But yeah. Thanks for reading!:)

Friday, November 25, 2011

Just a Fall Friday Night

     I went out with friends earlier this evening, and I really liked the look I put together. I've been using it for the past week every time I go out. It's just a slightly smokey eye with a dark berry lip. (And I curled my hair which I thought was really fun!) Great for any chilly Fall night, or afternoon!


     


















Face:
-"That Gal" Brightening Face Primer
-Neutrogena Brightening Under Eye Perfector
-Covergirl Natureluxe foundation
-Covergirl Loose Powder


Eyes:
-e.l.f. Beauty Clutch- the light brown brow powder
-Urban Decay Primer Potion
-Almay Eyeshadow Trio in 003 for Hazel Eyes
-NYX Pencil Liner in Black
-Maybelline Lots of Lashes Mascara


Lips:
-MAC's Up The Amp Lipstick
-e.l.f. Beauty Clutch- the purple lip gloss


     So after you've primed, applied foundation, powder, and done your eyebrows, apply primer potion all over your lids.
     Take a champagne color and apply it all over your lids, along the inner corners, and under your brow bone. 
     Take a shimmery brown color and pack it onto your outer V, and work it into your crease to give your eyes some dimension. 
     Take a black pencil liner and line your water line. Then curl your lashes and apply mascara.
     Put on any dark rep, berry, or purple lipstick. Then, take any gloss that matches your lip color and apply it to the center of your lips.


     There you go! Hope you liked this quick and easy look:)





Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Beautiful Thanksgiving Makeup Look!

     Hello beauties! So tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and since I always get together with a lot of friends and family and take tons of pictures, I want to look good! Plus, makeup is just so fun to play with:) So this is the look I've put together. It's very Fall like, with a variety of browns and golds. So yeah! I hope you all like it!



Makeup Used:
-Gold Sephora Cream Eyeshadow
-UD NAKED Palette: Half Baked, Naked, and Smog
-Almay Palette in 003 for Hazel Eyes- the champagne color
-Stila Forever Your Curl Mascara

     First, take your golden cream shadow/shadow base, and apply it all over your lid. Take any champagne color, and apply it to the inner corners and fan it into the inner third of your eye. 
     Taking a pure gold color, sweep it all over the rest of your lid. This is the main focus of your eye makeup, so make it pop!
     Taking a shimmery brown color, put this on the outer corner of your lid. Then, taking a fluffy brush, sweep it a little bit into your crease. 
     Wipe off the excess shadow on your fluffy brush, dip it into a skin-colored shadow, and clean up the edges.
     Take your champagne color again,and highlight under your brow.
     Taking the shimmery brown color again, sweep it onto your outer lower lash line. Then, curl your lashes and apply mascara.


     There you go! A beautiful Fall look, great for Thanksgiving or any other day! This look would look great with a pale pink lip and some bold brows. (I would have done my brows to make them more dramatic, but I didn't have my brow powder with me)
     Hope you liked it! Until next time...


xoxo,
Kelly

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Have Any Post Requests?

     Hi beauties!:) So, honestly, I have a whole bunch of posts that I'm still putting together and editing (well, not a whole bunch.. 5.. but that's still relatively a lot!) but I was wondering what you guys wanted to read about! Any reviews you want (of stuff I already have or items I could go out and buy), specific makeup looks (maybe for the holidays?) tips and tricks, question and answers? Whatever you guys want!
     I feel you guys need to be a part of this, too. After all, I write for you!<3 So if you have any ideas, please tell me!:) 
     So that's all:) There will be many more posts to come. (This upcoming one I'm sure you'll like!!)

Monday, November 21, 2011

e.l.f. Eyeshadows- Review and Swatches

It's time to review the e.l.f. eyeshadows!! This is my Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette, for approximatley $15. It comes with 144 eyeshadows. I've swatched four of the colors, just giving you an over-all view of what the pigmentation looks like. Let's get started, and I'll tell you how I feel about it along the way!

So here I've swatched four colors. A matte dark brown, a pure white, an aqua blue, and a shimmery black.

As you can see here, the swatch on my finger is a lot less pigmented than it appears to be in the pan. In the pan, it's a dark, cocoa brown. On my finger, it's a light honeypot color. I actually like the color on my ginger better but it's still not what I asked for.








This is the pure white color. With only one swipe, it's just as beautiful on my finger as in the pan. Fantastic pigmentation!









I was really disappointed with this swatch. In the pan, the color is a beautiful aqua blue. Very bright and pretty. I was really excited to swatch this! But the color payoff was horrible. On my finger, you can barley see it! (And to be honest, I used two swipes on that finger.) So this one was a no go.







This was my favorite of the swatches! I barley touched it, and it came out jet black. Absolutely love!!









So that's basically it! I swatched a crease color, a highlight, a fun color, and a smokey color. I thought that kind of summed up everything. for you guys:) So, my over all view on this palette?

Packaging: 4 out of 5
Quality: 4 out of 5
Price: 5 out of 5
Overall: 4.5 out of 5
Would I buy again: Definitely!! Most colors are very pigmented!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

What I Got for My Birthday: Beauty!!:)


     Hello everyone!:) So this past Friday was my birthday!:) And when all of my wonderful family and friends asked me what I wanted, I obviously asked for makeup! And that's definitely what I got!:) They were all so sweet and I'm so thankful for getting to have all of these wonderful people in my life. I in no way mean to brag. I understand this really is a lot, but keep in mind it is from a lot of people. I got all of these gifts, plus 3 sephora gift cards, and some clothing (just if you were wondering!:P) But I just decided to share because this is a beauty blog! And if you want to see the other things I got, please leave a comment down below and I'd love to share what else I got!! And if you want any reviews, I'd be happy to do as many as you request!!:D Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy!


Everything I got:)


                                                  
So I got these two lotions! They smell really good, but I haven't tried them yet so I'm not sure if I'll like them or not. But I got Secret Charm by Victorias Secret and Sweet Pea by Bath and Body Works. Can't wait to use them!!


Nail polish time! And I got A LOT. SO I have 5 mini nail polishes from LA colors, 1 mini nail polish from Sephora by OPI, 1 NYC glitter nail polish, a Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat, and a Nabi CRACK Nail Polish. (PS right now I'm wearing the purple Nabi crackle over my gray OPI polish I've already owned!) So I swatched all of these on my nails, and absolutely all of the colors are BEAUTIFUL! Around Christmas time I think I'm going to use the LA Colors green color and use the red crackle coat over that. So yeah! If you want more of a specific post on any of these, don't be shy!

Now these two are Sephora brand creme eyeshadows in a brown and a gold. I love these!! They don't crease at all! I've been using these as eyeshadow bases and they're great!:)

Perfume time!!:) I got the PINK fresh and clean body mist, and a Daisy by Marc Jacobs rollerball. I'm in love!! I was never into perfumes. I always tried to be, but I never remembered to put any on in the morning. But all weekend I've been using the rollerball on my wrists. It smells soooo good!! I had heard it was amazing, but I had never smelled it. Omigosh, it's great. So is the PINK!



Now this is one of my favorite products!! It's the Sephora LASHDASH! I'm not going to talk about it because I'm probably going to do a review on it:)

This is the Sephora Advanced Lash Booster Mascara! I didn't think I would like this at all because I hated the wand, but it's actually REALLY good. I love layering this over my One by One Mascara:)

My friend got me two lipglosses- the Beauty Rush lipgloss in Candy Baby (which I already had but I was running out of!) and the Bath and Body Works lipgloss in Fruit Punch. I love the Fruit Punch one! It smells AMAZING!!! And the color payoff rocks.


Now these are some of the eyeshadows that I got! The palette has a bunch of fun colors, but it doesn't have a label so i don't know the brand:( But it doesn't matter anyway. It's pigmentation isn't all that good. STill, it's a great thing to throw in a purse! And the Bare Minerals eyeshadow is in GLEE, which is a brown-ish red color. Really pretty for Fall!!



These two are from the Benefit Finding Mr. Bright Kit. My friend got it for mee, saying she didn't need these two. And I love them! I already have high beam (but hey, more the merrier!) but I needed a face primer. This is so good! It brightens my face, and my makeup stayed on SOOOO WELL. I can't wait to get the full size!

AHHH I am SO excited for this product!:) Technically I got this by myself, but I got it with the money my parents gave me. This is MAC's Up The Amp lipstick. It appears pink-y here, but it's actually a really, really purple berry color. Yet, it's very wearable! I got this because it's great for Fall and Winter. I'm going to do a huge review on this later! Swatches and everything!


My friend got me all of these e.l.f. palettes- and I thank her so much for it!! There's waaay too much to say about these, but I'm going to make it short today:) The pigmentation on the eyeshadows are AMAZING. That huge colorful palette was like $15, and the pigmentation is GREAT for that price. i love it! The palette on the upper right has some blushes and a bronzer. They have great pigmentation, but the colors  aren't very good. Although, it has a brow powder that I've been using!! So yeah. REALLY good products. Tell me if you want in depth reviews and swatches!

Well that's all!! I hope you enjoyed seeing all the pretty things I got:) Please tell me if you want any reviews! I would review all of them, but I wouldn't want to waste anytime if you guys don't want to see them. So yeah. Thanks! Love you all!!











Wednesday, November 16, 2011

The Smokey Diaries- Barley There

     Hello beauties! I hope you had fun reading my last smokey eye post! Even if you didn't, I'm sure you guys will love this one. I know I do! It's really easy to do, and a great everyday look! Let's get started!


Makeup:
-Urban Decay's Primer Potion
-Almay's Eye Trio in 003 for Hazel Eyes
-Great Lash Clear Mascara


     Before you start your look, use an eye primer. Then, go in with a light pink color, and lightly apply to your lids. This pink is super unnoticeable, so you won't look crazily pink.
     Taking a fluffy brush, take a shimmery brown color- I chose a little lighter shade of brown- and go in small circular motions on your outer corners, then drive it a little bit into the crease. This adds the smokey factor, but still keeps the look very light and wearable.
     Highlight under your browbone and your inner tear ducts with a shimmery champagne color.
     Use either a brown or clear mascara- I used clear because I didn't have a brown- and apply as many coats as you want.


    And there you go!! It's a super light and girly look that's prefect for everyday:) Hope you like it!



Saturday, November 12, 2011

Pretty in Pink

     Hello beauties! Today I was feeling very girly:) So, I decided to do a pink makeup look! It has a bunch of subtle pink pops. It's cute, but very wearble! Don't worry, it doesn't look crazy! Let's just get started:)


Eyes:
-Urban Decay's Primer Potion
-Almay's Eye Shadow Palette in 003 for Hazel Eyes
-Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara


Lips:
-Revlon's Colorstay Lipstick in Candy Pink
-Victoria's Secret Lipgloss in Candy Baby


Cheeks:
-Benefit's Posie Tint Lip and Cheek Stain
-Benefit's High Beam Liquid Highlighter


     After you've applyed your primer, take a very subtle light pink shimmery color all over your lid. Then, take a brown matte shadow and sweep it along your crease, to give your look some dimention (obviously). Lastly, take a shimmery champagne color and use that as your highlight. (I've really been in love with shimmery highlights lately, because they hide my stray brows!(: )
     Then, curl your lashes and apply a lengthening mascara.
     Then, take any pink lipstick you have, and apply it. I'm in LOVE with this color- it was in my October favorites- and I wear it almost everyday. Then, apply a pink lipgloss!
     Cheek time! Take any pink blush -I used my bright pink liquid cheek stain- and swirl it on the apples of you cheeks and blend it up. Then, taking any powder or liquid highlighter, highlight your cheekbones and down the bridge of your nose!


     And there you go! A very pink look that makes your face glow. Hope you guys have as much fun with this look as I did!




I look so young here!

Friday, November 11, 2011

The Smokey Diaries- Super Dramatic

      Hi beauties! So my friend was talking about how she wanted to do a  really dramatic smokey eye for a party,  but she thought it would be too complicated and take too long. I simply told her, it's really easy! It just takes some practice!
     She inspired me to start this series. I'm just going to show you a few different smokey eyes-- from super dark and dramatic, to light and wearable. I really hope you guys found this helpful! And if not, I at least hope it was fun to look at:)

Makeup:
-Urban Decay's Primer Potion
-Urban Decay's NAKED palette- virgin, naked, sidecar, darkhorse, and creep
-MAC's Silver Ring
-Maybelline's One by One mascara
-NYX Eyeliner Pencil in 901 Black

     So, first off you're going to want to start off with a primer. Of course to keep it on all night, but you realllly want it for a smokey eye to make the colors appear more dramatic.
     Now, we're going to use a light shimmery silver color- I used sidecar by UD- and apply it to your inner corners, going a little in to about the first fourth of your eyelid.
     Then, taking a matte silver color -- I used MAC's silver ring-- and apply it to the second fourth of your eye. This will kind of calm down the bright silver you just put on in your inner corners and will be a great transition for your other colors.
     Then, taking a darker, shimmer color-- I used UD's darkhorse- apply this to the third fourth of your eye. Be very generous with this color, don't be afraid!
     Lastly, take a very dark shimmery color-- I used UD's creep-- and go along your outer V. Be very generous with the color. Then, take a little more on a blending blush, and just swirl it around the outer part of your eye. It is a smokey eye, after all!!
     Then, taking a nude color-- I used NAKED by UD-- use a blending brush to blend above all of your colors, so it's a smoother transition to your highlight.
     Obviously- time to highlight under your browbone! Use any color you like! I just used virgin. 
     Now, using a Neutrogena makeup removing wipe, wipe off some of the outter corner makeup, making a very harsh line. This makes it look so much more dramatic. Using the eyeliner, draw along the harsh line, and a little in. Then take it and line your waterline!
     Curl lashes and apply a thickening mascara- and you're done! I hope you had as much fun with this look as I did! Love you all!


xoxo
Kelly
     
  

Pin Up to Rocker Chick: Makeup and Hair!

    Hi beauties! So, today i was having fun fooling around with my makeup, and I re-discovered my favorite red lipstain. It really inspired me to do a mini-pin up look! I personally love it. I wore it out today and got a lot of compliments:) Don't worry- it's VERY wearable! Hope you all like it:) I'll tell you what I used and attach a few pictures! Tell me what you think!
     PS- I've also put in a couple different hairstyles. Two are more pin up, and one is more rocker:)


My favorite hair for this look!




Face:
-L'oreal Magic Perfecting Base
-Covergirl Natureluxe Foundation
-Makeup Forever Concealer Pallette in N1
-Covergirl Loose Powder


Eyes:
-Urban Decay's Primer Potion
-Urban Decay's NAKED Palette- Vigrin, Naked, sin, and sidecar
-NYX Eyeliner Pencil in 901 Black
-Maybelline's One By One 
-Maybelline's Great Lash Clear Mascara


Lips:
-Revlon's Just Bitten Lipstain in Frenzy
-A red, shimmery lipgloss (not sure what brand, it rubbed off:( )


My winged liner:)
The finished look!


Edgy, rocker, and super easy!


Try loose, flirty hair!




Saturday, November 5, 2011

October Favorites!

     Hello beauties! It's that time of the month again! Favorites Time!! So I don't really have that much, but I have been using these items sooo much. They're all new (except for one thing) so it was fun experimenting with all of them! So, let's just get started.

  So, face wise, I've just been in love with one product, which is the Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. I had my eye on this one for a while, and I  finally decided to get it. I love it!!It covers my acne scars without any concealer, and my face looks so bright with it on. It gives great sun protection, and it's very light! 5 stars!

     Now for my favorite part-- eyes! So here my favorites are the Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara, L'oreal Paris HIP gel eyeliner and L'oreal HIP eyeshadow duo in brazen. These products are amazing!! The Lots of Lashes mascara really lengthens my lashes, and I always wear this when I'm going to be wearing a very natural face. It makes my lashes look long and natural, and definatly not clumpy.
     The gel eyeliner? Omigosh. I want to marry this stuff. I never really wore eyeliner, (because eyeliner hates me) but I decided i wanted to get a gel liner and try it out for my upper lash line. And? It's amazing!! It comes with a little slanted brush (which is actually pretty good!! I'm going to keep using it until I can go to MAC to buy a good one). The line is so precise, with such a beautiful deep black color. I always wing it out, and it looks so cute! Plus, it lasts all day! Wee!!
     And the eyeshadow duo is AMAZING. I'm really liking this HIP line by L'oreal. The colors are SO pigmented- especially for drugstore. I love it! I bought it originally for the pink so I could use it for my Barbie look, but I've been using it ever since, too! I use the brown on my outer-V and sometimes if I'm feeling colorful, I'll take a little bit of the pink for a wash of color all over my lids. Such great pigmentation, I would buy this again and again!

     Now for lips! I have the Revlon Colorstay lipstick in Candy Pink, and a mint lipgloss I got 5 years ago from Claire's... Heehee...
     The lipstick is amazing!! It looks really pink, but once you put it on your lips, it's very wearable. I wanted this for my Barbie look, and I was kind of disappointed because it wasn't that super bright. (I ended up layering two lipsticks for the perfect costume pink color) But, I started wearing it everyday. I grew to love it super quickly. It's natural looking, but if you put on an extra layer or two, it's a pretty bright pink lip color. Absolutely love, and I'm wearing it right now!
     Now for the mint lipgloss!:) It's so old that the label rubbed off. I bought it years ago before I was into makeup, just because I really liked lipgloss and the smell of mint. (My friend had just gotten a mint lipbalm, and I was very jealous!) So, I bought this for like $3. I just discovered it a couple weeks ago when I was looking through my drawers, and I decided to try it out. It's amazing!! It's just a clear gloss, but it smells and tastes like mint. I wear it almost everyday on the center of my lips to give it some dimension. My Revlon pink lipstick and this? Perfect combo!


     So, yeah! Those were my October favorites! Comment and tell me if you like any of these products, or what your own favorites are! :)

XOXO
Kelly