Acne at 25

Yup, you read it right.  I'm 25 years old, and I still have acne.  I know that I am not alone and that many other adults still suffer from it as well.  As I explained in my last post, I've been inundated with breakouts in the last couple months.  I finally decided to switch up my skin care routine (obviously, what I was doing before wasn't working for me).  I wanted to share what I've been using and doing to clear up my face.  It has been working for me, and though my skin still isn't perfectly clear, I've seen a drastic improvement in the last month.  I'd also like to preface this post by letting you know that this is just what has been working for me, and I can't guarantee that it will work for you.  We are all unique with our skin, and my needs aren't necessarily the same as yours (even if we have a similar skin type).  If you are completely unsure about what to use on your skin, please see your dermatologist!

So, without further ado, let's get into my new skin care routine!

The Products:

 The two most common active ingredients used for fighting acne are salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxixde.  In my research, I found that benzoyl peroxide is stronger but can leave behind more discoloration from blemishes.  Since I have dark skin, and post-blemish marks are a problem for me, I opted for a mostly salicylic acid routine (all of the products I mention are from the drugstore). 

I've been using Clean and Clear Daily Soothing Acne Cleanser.  Not all salicylic acid cleansers are created equally--they vary from about .5% to 2% in strength (at least the over the counter ones do--prescription products may be stronger).  I opted for this product because it's 2% but claims to be gentle on the skin.  I like that it's a foaming cleanser, and I started out by using it morning and night.  I have since cut back to only using it at night, and I use a gentle cleanser with no acne fighting ingredients from Aveeno in the mornings.

 

After cleansing my face, I use this toner by Equate (the Wal-Mart version of the Clean and Clear Essentials Deep Cleaning Toner for Sensitive Skin).  They have two variations--one with 2% and one with .5% salicylic acid.  This is the .5% for sensitive skin, and I got this one because with all the products I'm using, I didn't want to over-dry my skin.  I use it morning and night.

I let the toner dry, then apply my eye cream as usual.  The next step is moisturizer, and I've been using this one with .5% salicylic acid (the Target brand of the Clean and Clear Essentials Dual Action Moisturizer).

 The final step is one I only use at night to spot-treat blemishes after I give my moisturizer a few minutes to sink in.  It's the Clean and Clear Persa-Gel 10 Acne Medication. 

 Results and Final Thoughts:
I've only been using these products for one month, and my skin has definitely improved.  After about a week, my skin felt more dry, and I also noticed flaking.  I expected this to happen, as the salicylic acid helps skin cell turnover (the flaking comes from the ingredient working to slough off dead skin cells).  This makes it an effective acne treatment because you won't have as many dead skin cells clogging your pores.  However, you still need to exfoliate.  Twice/week, I swap out the Clean and Clear cleanser for a gentle exfoliant at night (I use the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Scrub).

If you already have drier skin, I would recommend only using all these products once/day.  You may also want to add something more moisturizing on top of the salicylic acid moisturizer.  Also, if you're going to be out in the sun, make sure you use sunscreen on your face.  I haven't been, but come summer, I'll be using a sunscreen over the moisturizer

The fact that I've also not been wearing makeup as often is worth mentioning.  I have basically stopped wearing liquid foundation (something I used to wear daily) except for special occasions or if I want my skin to look especially flawless.  Instead, I've been going with a naked face whenever I can to let my skin breathe (which is hard when you want to cover up your acne!).  When I still want some color on my face, I use a BB cream or a primer with light powder foundation over it (I recently re-discovered an old love, the Bare Minerals SPF 15 Foundation).  I like this product because it makes your skin look healthy and provides coverage--plus, it doesn't have all the heavy ingredients my liquid foundations have.  I plan on continuing with this routine and going light-handed with products on my face, and with any hope, I'll have clear skin one day!  To any of you out there going through the same thing, I hope this was helpful.  Thanks so much for reading!

xoxo,

CC

A Long Absence and A New Year

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for my long absence on this blog.  It was really not intentional; I just let things get in the way.  I think part of it was due to the unwelcome influx of acne that has taken over my forehead in the last couple months.  I've been too embarrassed to take pictures, and I have also been not wearing much makeup in an effort to let my skin breathe.  But I know that's just an excuse, and I shouldn't let that stop me from doing what I love.  I also realized that writing about my acne and what I've been doing to clear it up would make a good post--so stay tuned for that!

I've missed blogging, and if you're still with me despite my absence, I appreciate it!  We are about to that time of year where we all make New Years resolutions, and one of mine is to keep up with this blog.  There are always excuses to keep you from doing what you love, and being "too busy" or "too tired" are among them.  The key is to not let those excuses get in the way, as I have done with this blog.  I'm realizing that I have to make time for what I love... I need this creative outlet.  It's also easy to tell yourself that you'll just do it tomorrow or next week or next year.  I am out of excuses!  The future is guaranteed to nobody--all we have is this very moment that is right now.  So, right now, I am writing and also making a promise to all of you and to myself to try harder to keep up with my writing.  Thank you all so much for your love and support!!

Much love to all,

CC

Amazing Eyeshadow Palette Under $5

I don't know why on earth it took me so long to spend all of $5 on the Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Palette in Comfort Zone.  Maybe it's because I have too much eyeshadow as it is, but when I finally tried this palette, I was blown away.  I can totally see what all the hype is about. 

This is what you get for $5:

 

 The eight shades that come in the palette are all stunning.  They allow you to create a more natural, everyday look but also give you the option to do a more intense smokey eye.  The colors are labeled "browbone," "eyelid," "crease," and "definer."  If you're a beginner or just have no idea what to do, use those labels as a guide.  The four colors on the left can be used for a more natural look, and the right side can be your dramatic shades.  While the labels can be helpful, don't feel obligated to use the colors just for those purposes.  You could really do ANYTHING with these colors.  I just love how the possibilities are endless, and this palette really allows you to access your creative side. 

Ok, now let's talk about the quality of these shadows.  Considering how this costs $5 for eight eyeshadows, you might just walk right by it at the drugstore and assume it's no good.  Wrong!!  Even though I've heard a lot of people talk about this, I was seriously blown away when I swatched these.  They are SO soft and so pigmented.  A little bit goes a long way with these.  If I didn't know what I was swatching, I'd think it was high-end eyeshadow.  Here's what the colors look like swatched:

 

I used the colors on the left of the palette (on the top of my hand here) for an easy, running errands on the weekend look last Saturday.  Here's what I got:

 

I achieved a very natural look.  If I wanted it to kick it up just slightly, I could have used more of that dark "definer" shade in my outer corner.  Here, I only used a tiny bit.  I focused more on the lid and the crease.  I also used the nice taupe crease color on an angled eyeliner brush on my lower lash line as my eyeliner (I used an eyeliner pencil on my top lashline).

So basically, the point of this post is to let everyone know about this amazing find!  I think everyone should own this product.  It's that good.  This is my first Wet n Wild product, but I would like to try some of their blushes, lipsticks, and bronzers eventually.  Oh and obviously, I'd be interested in trying some of their other eyeshadows. 

Stay tuned for part 2 of this post where I show you how you can use the colors on the right for a smokey look!  And as always, thanks so much for taking a few minutes out of your day to read this.

xoxo,

CC

Beauty Product Samples

October has been an exciting month as far as beauty product samples go.  I would like to thank my Aunt Lynn for signing me up for the QVC Beauty 8-Piece Test Tube and my friend Julie for encouraging me to sign up for Birchbox.  I'll discuss both subscriptions in more detail below.

QVC Beauty Test Tube

The Beauty Test Tube from QVC includes high-end samples for $29.96.  They have new packages every season, and you can sign up for auto delivery.  If you want to check it out on QVC's website, click here.  Mine looked like this:

 

The products shown above include:

• 0.85-fl oz Alterna Bamboo Dry Oil Mist
• 0.16-fl oz Bliss Triple Oxygen Energizing Mask
• 0.07-fl oz philosophy miracle worker retinoid eye repair
• 0.5-fl oz Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer
• 0.34-fl oz Peter Thomas Roth Oilless Oil
• 4-fl oz WEN by Chaz Dean Pomegranate Finishing Treatment Creme

It also came with a NewBeauty Magazine (not pictured) along with a catalog that describes each product and provides instructions on how to use them.

I'm really excited to try these products, especially the Philosophy eye cream and the Bliss face mask.  All these products are high-end, so this subscription is an affordable way to try multiple high-end products before you take a gamble and shell out a bunch of money for the full-sized ones without knowing whether or not you even like them.  The samples are a pretty good size as well--I don't even think the Wen cream is sample-sized--it's huge!

Birchbox

Birchbox is another subscription service that sends high-end samples.  This one is $10/month (you can join on a month-to-month basis or for a year at a discount).  Click here for more info or to sign up.  You'll fill out a questionnaire to personalize your subscription, and not all Birchboxes are the same.  Here was mine for October:

 

Similar to the QVC pamphlet, this subscription includes a card that describes the products and how to use them.  The products I received were:

A ChapStick Hydration Lock lip balm was not listed on this card but was included in my box (and a $1 off coupon!).  I was pleasantly surprised to find no foil packaged samples, as some of the YouTube beauty gurus have mentioned the presence of foil packages in their boxes.  They are all pretty decent-sized samples.  I'm most excited about the lip and cheek stain from the Balm (I've heard so much about that brand), the microdermabrasion treatment by Dr. Brandt, and the nail polish from Ruffian (great color for fall!).  I doubt I'll get much use out of the half-up thing.  Overall, I'm satisfied with my box.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them below.  Let me know if you try either of these subscriptions (or any others!).

xoxo,

CC

Natural Eye Makeup Remover: Coconut Oil

Recently, I revisited something from which I took a long hiatus: waterproof mascara.  I used to wear waterproof mascara every day.  My lashes are naturally long but very straight, and I found that waterproof mascara did better than normal mascara at holding my curl and making my lashes look amazing all day.  Along with rediscovering my mascara love, I also rediscovered how difficult it is to remove, which is pretty much why I stopped wearing it for so long in the first place.  I did some research and found an interesting solution: coconut oil.

I found my coconut oil at King Soopers for a little under $8.  There were two varieties--extra virgin and regular.  I don't know if one is better than the other, but I opted for the regular one, which was also $2 cheaper. 

 It was more expensive than my eye makeup remover for normal mascara-- Equate Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover (Walmart version of the Neutrogena kind), but I figured it would last forever and that if it didn't work, I could use it for cooking.

One thing you'll notice about this oil is that it's solid at room temperature.  I expected it to have a strong coconut scent, but it really didn't smell like anything.  When I first opened it, it was completely solid with absolutely no liquid in sight.  The directions on the back of the jar say to run the jar under warm water to liquify the product if you're using it for hair or body care.  I didn't run it under water but noticed that the second time I opened the jar (which was right before I used it to remove my eye makeup), a tiny bit of the product on top had melted and turned to liquid. 

I removed my contact lenses prior to attempting to remove my waterproof mascara with this stuff.  I then dipped both of my ring fingers into the product (the more liquidy part, although if yours is solid, the warmth of your fingers should melt it).  I closed my eyes and used my ring fingers to gently rub my eyes in circular motions (the skin around your eyes is very delicate--be careful not to rub too hard!).  Within about 10 seconds, the oil started to break down my eye makeup, and there was soon a large ring of black residue around my eyes.  It was working!  I did open my eyes to check this out, and I didn't experience any stinging or irritation (and I do have sensitive eyes).  I then kept gently rubbing until I felt like most of the eye makeup was removed, then I wiped off the residue with my makeup removing towelettes (I use the Neutrogena Makeup Removing Towelettes). For regular mascara, this is all it should take to completely remove it.  I was testing it with waterproof mascara and noticed that most but not all of my mascara had been removed.  I dipped back into the oil and repeated the process again, and my makeup was completely gone!  I followed up by using the clean part of the makeup wipe to remove my face makeup then by washing my face and doing the rest of the steps in my nighttime skincare routine. 

I was happy with how well this worked.  Even though you may have to repeat the process an extra time for waterproof mascara, it's still faster than it would be with an eye makeup remover.  I felt like it also moisturized the area around my eyes, and it definitely made my lashes look super healthy and conditioned.  I loved the fact that it was so gentle on my eyes--in fact, it's the only eye makeup remover I've ever tried that doesn't sting them at all.  Another benefit is that it's a natural product, and you can use it for different things.  Though I've only used it for removing makeup, I've read that you can use it in your hair as a leave-in conditioner, as a shaving cream, or even as a cheek highlight.  You could probably also use it to moisturize your lips and dry cuticles.

All in all, I give this natural makeup remover two thumbs up!  I think I'll continue to use it on a daily basis, even when I'm wearing non-waterproof mascara.  If you try this, let me know how it goes!

Five Minute Face

If you only have five minutes to get your face on, you may not have time for your full routine.  You can still make yourself look presentable and naturally beautiful with just a few products.  Select multi-tasking products when possible to save yourself time.  If you want to see my quick and easy natural makeup look, keep reading!

 1.  When time is of the essence, BB cream packs a big punch.  Even though my skin is on the drier side, the Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream provides enough moisture that I can use it as a 2-in-1 moisturizer + foundation (it also provides SPF and can act as a primer... so I guess it's really more like a 4-in-1 product).  It gives nice, natural coverage, and I normally just use my fingers to apply it.  If you have oily skin, go for the oil free version.  BB creams are so big now that many companies make them.  If you have any major imperfections that the BB cream won't cover, add concealer where you need it.

2.  Brows are next.  If you're lucky enough to have naturally full eyebrows, you could probably skip this step.  For me, filling them in is essential.  I think full brows make any face appear more put-together (just compare the picture above with the one below to see what a difference it can make!).  I use Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in the color Mahogany with an angled brush from this Essential Tools Kit from Walmart.  This brush deposits just the right amount of shadow and has a spoolie on the other side to blend the color.  I also like using the spoolie before I fill my brows in to comb through and tame them.

3.  Wearing mascara with no shadow or liner makes your eyes look so bright and awake.  I first curl them with my Sephora Eyelash Curler, then I add three thick coats of mascara (I used Mary Kay Lash Love, sold by Mary Kay reps) on my top lashes and just a little bit on my bottom lashes.  Especially if you're not wearing any other eye makeup, don't skimp on the mascara!  Go ahead and build it up like it's nobody's business.


4.  Apply a little bit of blush on the apples of your cheeks for a nice, healthy glow.  Here I used Bobbi Brown Blush in the color Desert Pink, but any soft pink blush would do.  If you have time for blush or bronzer but not both, always pick blush.  Use a big, fluffy brush for a natural flush.  I like the Real Techniques Blush Brush.

5.  Lips are last.  I tend to go for more neutral colors with this natural makeup look, and here I'm using MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup.

And that's it!  I didn't use cream blush in this look, but that's a great multi-tasking product that is quick and can work as both a blush and a lipstick.  If you have another minute or so and want to crank it up a notch, dip your finger into any light, shimmery eyeshadow and rub it underneath your brow bone and on top of your cheekbones for a nice highlight.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and feel free to leave your quick makeup tips down below!

How To Apply False Lashes

Who doesn't love false lashes?  They can amp up any look and can draw attention to your eyes.  False lashes also come in many different styles with varying lengths and thicknesses for endless possibilities. Because there are so many options available, choosing the right lash for you can be a daunting and overwhelming task.  Keep in mind that we all have different eye shapes, and not all types of lashes look good on all shapes.  If you browse through the false lash section at Walmart, you'll find some lashes that are longer at the outer corners and shorter on the inner corner (my favorite), lashes that are longer in the middle and shorter on both ends, and some with the same length throughout (best for girls with round, Katy Perry-like eyes).  If you've never used false lashes and don't know where to start, I would recommend getting one of each kind and trying them all to see which one you like best.  My favorite brands are Ardell and Salon Perfect (a cheaper Walmart version).

Once you get the hang of it, applying false lashes is easy, but it is hard in the beginning, so don't get frustrated!  Practice makes perfect.  Also, it is a good idea to practice when you're not in a hurry and don't have anywhere to go.  You don't want to be trying this out for the first time right before a big date or special event!

Now that you have your lashes, you will also need a pair of tweezers (any cheap kind is fine), lash glue, mascara, and some sort of black eyeliner.  Glue comes in two variations: one that dries clear and one that dries dark.  I prefer the dark.  Some come in squeeze tubes, but I like the Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive because it has a brush that allows you to easily paint the glue onto the lash band.  The lashes pictured here are the Salon Perfect Perfectly Natural 53s, found at Walmart.  I love these because they're one of the most natural looking ones I've seen, and they don't make you look like you're wearing falsies--they just make you look like you have naturally amazing lashes.   If you want a slightly more glamorous lash, go with the Ardell 120 Demis.  I used these on my wedding day.

Prep:  Apply your liner (I used L'Oreal Carbon Black Telescopic Liquid Liner) and one coat of black mascara (Maybelline The Falsies).  The liner is absolutely necessary--it helps to hide the lash band.  The mascara helps to blend your real lashes with the false ones.  You can also do mascara after your false lashes.

*I would like to apologize in advance for the quality of some of these pictures.  I did the best with what I have.  I need a setup with better lighting and an HD camera.

Step 1:
Gently remove one lash from its packaging, and grab it in the middle with your tweezers.

Step 2:
Apply a thin layer of the lash glue to the band only (try not to get it on the actual lashes) with the most product going on both ends of the lashes.  They shouldn't detach from your skin throughout the day, but if they do, they would lift at one of the ends.  This glue is black but looks blue in my weird lighting!  Clearly, I need a better setup.

Step 3:
Wait 45 seconds before applying the lash to your eye in order to let the glue get a bit tacky.  If you try to put it on too soon, it'll just fall off.

Step 4:
Ok, the tricky part begins.  What you want to do here is bring the lash up to your eye with the tweezers and line the outer edge of the lash with the outermost part of your eye.  Don't worry about the inner part--if the falsies don't cover your whole lashline, just make sure they line up with the outer part.  Now, lay the lash down right on top of your lash line in the center of your eye.  Try to get the lash as far down as you possibly can!  Having the lash band too far up is a dead giveaway that you're wearing falsies. 

Step 5:
Now that you've got the lash attached to the center part of your eye, grab the outer part of the lash with your tweezers and do the same thing--get it down as close as you can to your lashline, and once the glue is in tact with your skin in the right place, keep a little pressure on it for a few seconds to make sure it really adheres, then release the tweezers.

Step 6:
Grab the inner corner of your lash and do the same thing as you did in step 5.

Step 7:
If the lash isn't exactly where you want it, you have a little time to fix it.  Once they're in the right place, press down on the band to make sure every part of it is in tact with skin.

Step 8:
Blink onto your finger to help the lashes dry in a nice, upward position.

Step 9:
The glue will take a few minutes to dry, so leave the lashes alone for a few minutes as you finish up your makeup.  When you're done, look to see if any glue is visible.  If so, go over the band with your eyeliner to hide it.  You can use any eyeliner, but liquid liner seems to work best for this step, even if you used a different kind to prep.  You can also add more mascara if it looks like your real lashes aren't completely blended with the false ones or if you just want a little extra oomph.

And... you're done!

Lashes are easy to remove.  Usually, you can just lift up on the outer corner and peel them right off.  If that freaks you out, or if you're having a hard time, put some eye makeup remover on a Q-tip and gently run it along the lash band.  It should come right off.  You can use one pair of falsies multiple times, so don't throw them away when you're done.  Just try to peel as much of the glue off as possible, and store them in the original container.

Feel free to leave any comments or questions below.  Thanks for reading, and good luck!

Touching Up/Purse Makeup

Recently, my amazing mom called me from her hotel room asking me how she could touch up to go out for dinner.  She already had makeup on and didn't want to wash her face and start over.  Then she gave me the great idea to do a post on this.  (Thanks, Mom!)

For as much as I love makeup, I'm pretty low maintenance when it comes to touching up throughout the day.  This is what I typically carry in my purse:

Mirror/Face Powder:
The round, purple thing is a foldable brush/mirror.  It was about $1 at Ulta.  I don't carry a powder compact because I found that when I did carry one, I never used it.  But this is probably because I have dry skin.  If you are oily, you will probably want to carry face powder with you to keep your oiliness at bay (and most come with a mirror).  You can use the little puff that comes with most compacts, but I think you get better results if you use a kabuki brush.  Ones like the Real Techniques Kabuki Brush are small and can be carried in your purse.  Perhaps even more important than powder if you are oily are oil blotting sheets.  I used to always have these on hand when I had oilier skin in high school (you can find them at the drugstore for just a couple bucks or so).  These are good because instead of piling on more product, they just remove the excess oil from your skin without disturbing your makeup. 

Lips/Cheeks:
I always carry some kind of lip balm/chapstick with me.  This one is by Nivea from the drugstore.  I also like this Cover Girl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in the color Blush Twist because it's somewhat moisturizing and super easy to apply on the go--you really don't even need a mirror.  It's a nice "your lips but better" color.  It was actually the lipstick I wore on my wedding day! (Thanks to my cousin for holding onto it :)).  Cream blush is also a great thing to keep in your purse because you can use it as a blush and a lip color, eliminating the need for you to carry a separate lipstick if you don't want to.  In my opinion, blush is an important thing to touch up if it has faded.  It's amazing how just a little color on your cheeks can make you look so fresh.  If you're at home, you can touch up with a powder blush if you want.  Cream blush is great on the go though because you can apply it with your fingers. 

Eyebrows:
I have naturally very sparse brows and will not leave the house without filling them in first.  But in case I need to touch up during the day, I keep my Maybelline Eye Studio Master Shape Brow Pencil in Deep Brown with me.  Filling in your eyebrows can make a HUGE difference!! You don't have to wear as much makeup if you fill in your brows (unless you want to), as nice, full brows make your face look more put-together.  If you want to see a post on this, comment below.

Q-Tips:
Yes.  Q-tips.  If your eyeliner smudges throughout the day, or if your eyeshadow has creased, cleaning it up with a q-tip will work much better than trying to pile more product on top of the mess.

Eyeliner:
I would recommend a retractable one that doesn't require sharpening to keep in your purse if you want to touch up liner throughout the day.  This one is the Ulta Automatic Eyeliner in Black/Brown.  While this stuff has good staying power, I don't like it as much as the Maybelline Eye Studio Master Drama Eyeliner, which also has great staying power but glides on much more smooth than the Ulta one.  In my opinion, it's just a better quality product.

Concealer:
I don't carry concealer with me, but this would be a good thing to touch up on for a night out if you're at home where all your makeup is.

In General...
You do want to be somewhat careful about not piling on cream products over powder if you already have powder on (like with cream blush or concealer), as this can cause the product to collect in certain spots and appear patchy.  If you're freshening up with face powder, you don't have to use it all over.  You can just use it on your oily areas.  If you are applying cream over powder, try and use the cream product sparingly.  After all, the idea of freshening up is to look fresh, not like you're wearing 80 layers of makeup!  These are my recommendations for touch-ups and purse products.  What are yours?

Changing Makeup with the Season: Fall

As we transition into fall, I find my tastes changing with everything from perfume to lipstick... and everything in between!  I don't know what it is, and I'm sure some of you can relate, but something about the colder weather makes me opt for warmer fragrances and richer colors.  Of course, there's no written rule about this.  If you want to rock the same colors all year long, go for it!  This is just what I love for fall.

Nails:
I tend to enjoy less bright and more deep, neutral, or taupe-colored polishes.  I got this one last fall, and it's one of my favorites.  It's from the OPI German Collection in the shade My Very First Knockwurst.

Eyes:
I love darker eyeshadows and smokey eyes this time of year.  These shadows are gorgeous and look beautiful on any skin color.  I enjoy wearing different combinations of them or even wearing them alone. Colors are:
Top left- NYX Single Eyeshadow in Charcoal Brown
Top right- Bare Minerals Glimmer Eyeshadw in Queen Tiffany
Bottom right- Urban Decay Shadow in Toasted from the Naked Palette
Bottom left- in Hustle from the Naked Palette

Blush:

Bright pinks and corals are great in the summer.  In the fall and winter, I like deeper colors. 

Top- Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks in Blushed Rose.  This is an awesome cream brush that you can also use as a lipstick!

Bottom- Bobbi Brown Blush in Desert Pink.  This is a great neutral pink.

Lips:

My favorite part!  The way I see it, you have a couple options.  You can either go neutral or bold.  (Rule of thumb: pick dark eyes or dark lips, but not both!  Go with neutral eyeshadow if you do a dark lip and vice versa).  One of my favorite things to do for fall is to throw my hair in a big bun and pair it with heavy black eyeliner and mascara (but no eyeshadow), a bold lip (Revlon Lip Butter in Lollipop--shown below):

Bright Favs: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipcolor in Love That Pink (left) and Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in Lollipop (right)

Neutral Fav: MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup.  This is a gorgeous pinky nude that looks great with a dark smokey eye!

And finally... Body Mist and Perfume:
 I love warm, sweet-smelling body sprays like Bath & Body Works Fragrance Mist in Warm Vanilla Sugar and Victoria's Secret PINK Body Mist in Warm & Cozy.  These scents are almost like comfort food for your senses when you're depressed about the cold weather.  Yummm.

My favorite perfume for this time of year is Dior's Miss Dior.  O. M. G. This perfume smells so sophisticated, and every time I put it on, I imagine myself in Paris.

So those are my fall favorites!  What are yours?

Everyday Face Makeup

When done correctly, face makeup can make your skin look even and flawless while highlighting your best features.  The goal here is not to make you look like you have makeup on--it is to make your skin appear naturally beautiful.  You never want to look like you've caked on a bunch of foundation.  You do want to look like you just have really beautiful skin.  This is my go-to face makeup routine.  Yours may not be exactly the same as mine; you should make appropriate product substitutions to fit your skin's needs.  I have normal to dry skin, so I tend to go for products that make my skin appear glowy versus matte.  You may not even need foundation if you're lucky enough to have naturally flawless skin.  And if you're in a hurry, you can skip some of the steps and only do what your skin really needs.

*I applied moisturizer and eye cream as well as my eye makeup first.

1. Dot your foundation all over your face with your fingers, then use a Beauty Blender (if you're not familiar with the Beauty Blender, go buy one immediately! You use it damp, and it gives the perfect natural-looking finish) to pat the product into your skin (don't rub if you use the Beauty Blender).  You can also use a foundation brush like the Sigma F80 to buff the product into your skin with circular motions.  My favorite everyday foundation is the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup.

2.  Dot a pink-toned concealer under your eyes and blend it in with the tip of the Beauty Blender (again, patting instead of rubbing).  I like the Bobbi Brown Corrector.  You want to use a pinker concealer under your eyes instead of a yellow concealer to counteract dark circles.

3. Use a large brush like the Sigma F50 to apply bronzer for a sun-kissed glow.  Bronzer should go underneath your cheekbones, on your temples, and on your jawline.  You can also blend it down your neck if your face looks more tan than your neck.  The bronzer I used here is the Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder.

4.  Use a fluffy blush brush like the Real Techniques Blush Brush to apply your blush.  Smile to find the apples of your cheeks, and use the brush to buff the blush into your skin.  The blush I used is the ELF Studio Blush in Passion Pink (looks super bright in the pan but sheers out and is beautiful on all skin tones).  Your bronzer and blush should blend into one another--there shouldn't be an obvious line of demarkation between the two.

5.  Optional:  Use a light, iridescent highlighting powder on the tops of your cheekbones and down your nose to give you a candle-lit glow.  Here, I used the Lorac Perfectly Lit Luminizing Powder in Spotlight with a Bare Minearls Tapered Blush Brush (any small, fluffy brush will work).

6.  Take a soft kabuki brush with no product on it (like the Real Techniques Kabuki Brush) and go over your face in circular motions.  This is an important step that will blend everything together (again, you don't want obvious lines).  If you have oily skin or are concerned about the staying power of your makeup, you can put some setting powder on the brush for this step.  I usually skip powder because I have dry skin.

The end result is even, natural-looking skin!  (Yes, this was the same day.  I just changed my outfit).  If you have any face makeup tips, leave them below!

Help: I Don't Like What I Just Bought!

I'm sure we've all had the experience of buying something, trying it out, and realizing we're not crazy about it.  You then feel guilty that you spent money on it.  If you can't return it, what do you do?  You could always give it to a friend whom you think might get more use out of it than you, or you could think outside the box and try to find a way to make it work for you. 

Problem:
Your foundation shade is off.

Solution:
 If you don't already have one, buy another shade to mix it with (it's ok if it's not the same product).  Mixing a shade that's too light with a shade that's too dark will combine to form a color that's right for you.  You can also mix foundations with different textures and coverage levels.  For example, you could combine a dewy finish with a matte finish foundation so it's neither too dry nor too glowy.  Combine them in 50/50 ratios, or use slightly more of one foundation than the other--whatever you need to make it right for you!

Problem:
Your foundation or under-eye concealer is too thick or dry.

Solution:
Dilute the foundation with moisturizer and the concealer with eye cream.  If your skin looks cakey or feels dry, this can help.

Problem:
Your bronzer is too light, too dark, or just too... something

Solution:
Use it with a dome-shaped brush as a crease shade for your eyes.  You'll be surprised at how well this works.

Problem:
Your blush is too light or frosty.

Solution:
Use it as a highlight on top of your cheekbones.

Problem:
Your mascara just doesn't do enough for you,

Solution:
Go back to a mascara you do like for your upper lashes, and use the bad mascara on your lower lashes since they don't need as much definition (that way, you don't waste the product)

Problem:
Your lipstick or eyeshadow shade just isn't right

Solution:
Layer it with another.  There are endless possibilities here!

Have fun!

Bright Eyeliner--Make It Wearable!

You see a bright, beautiful cobalt blue eyeliner staring you in the face in the eye makeup aisle at Ulta.  You have absolutely no idea when you'd wear it, as you're into natural-looking makeup.  But it's... so... pretty.  So what do you do?  You buy it and let it sit in your makeup drawer... unused... and unloved.  Keep reading if you want to learn how to make that gorgeous gem wearable!

In my opinion, a color pop is the best way to wear these.  A color pop is when you use neutral shadows and your standard black or brown liner on top but give the look a "pop" by using a bright colored eyeliner on your lower lashline.  This look is fun and can make the color of your irises really stand out.

Here I'm using Ulta's Automatic Eyeliner in Cobalt.  This product is ok... it stays on throughout the day pretty well but isn't very soft.  I actually like the NYX Slide On Eye Pencil a lot better--it's incredibly soft and glides on with no effort, and it stays put all day.  Nonetheless, the Ulta pencil was what I had and works fine.  You can try this with any color.  I also really like to use purple and green.

Apply the liner to your bottom lashline (don't worry about making it too perfect), then blend it out with a q-tip or a pencil brush like the Sigma E30 Pencil Brush.  You want it to look well-blended and not too precise.  Here's the result up close...

It's fun but doesn't scream OMG SHE'S WEARING BLUE EYELINER.  And from far away, you can't even tell that you've got a bright color on, so that makes it wearable...

I hope you enjoyed this post.  Try it out and send me a picture!