Bridal Makeup Tips

Hi All!

Last weekend, I had the great privilege of being matron of honor at my sister-in-law's wedding.  It was such a beautiful wedding, and I had a fun day hanging with the girls and getting ready.  I did my own makeup but had my hair done.  With wedding season in full swing, I thought it would be a good time to share my tips on bridal makeup.  These tips work well for brides and bridesmaids but are also great for wedding guests or any special events where you know you'll be in lots of pictures and want to look your best!

Getting ready with my beautiful sister bride!

Get Your Skin In Top Shape
In the weeks leading up to your event, take extra measures to get your skin in tip-top shape.  I got a facial about a week before her wedding to take care of any blemishes/texture issues I was having.  A couple days before the wedding, I used a facial razor (I've posted about these before--I use the Tinkle razors) all over my face to get rid of any hair/peach fuzz.  This will provide a smooth canvas for your makeup to go on!  And it'll make your skin feel super soft.  I also got my eyebrows threaded a few days before the wedding.

Stay Away From SPF
Makeup or facial moisturizers with SPF in them will cause flashback/white cast in photography.  Stay away from these for a wedding or special event!

Double Check Your Foundation Color
As many brides or bridesmaids do, I got a spray tan a couple days before the wedding.  If you do this, make sure you double and triple check the color of the foundation you plan to use to make sure it matches your neck and chest.  Nobody needs that horrible line of demarcation!

Use Primer and Setting Spray... and Go Big or Go Home
I don't use primer on a daily basis but would never dream of skipping it for a special event.  Setting spray is also a crucial element to keep your makeup lasting through the night.  One thing to also keep in mind is that in photos, you will look like you're wearing less makeup than you actually are.  For that reason, you'll want to go a little heavier with everything than you think you should.  Also, unless you have lash extensions, definitely go for false lashes.  They will make a HUGE difference in pictures!  Lipstick is a bit tricky... you want it to last, but liquid lipsticks can sometimes be very drying and uncomfortable.  My best tip is to have a bridesmaid hold onto your lip color so you can touch up throughout the reception as needed.  I will say that I was a big fan of the YSL lip color I wore.  It stayed on pretty well but wasn’t drying, and it was very easy to touch up.

Don't Try Something New/Something That's Not You
Your wedding day is not the time to experiment or go with something bold if that's not you.  The best look for a bride is something that allows her to still look like herself.  Also remember that pictures of your wedding will be around forever, so you want something timeless and beautiful.

I hope these tips were helpful!  If you're curious about the products I wore, please see the list below.  Items are listed in the order I used them:

Primer: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base and Bobbi Brown Eye Cream (to prep under eye area)
Eyeshadow: Milani Eye Primer, MAC Eyeshadows: Blanc Type, Soft Brown, Mulch, Embark
Eyeliner: L'Oreal Gel Eyeliner in Black
Mascara: Essence Lash Princess
False Lashes: Eyelure/Vegas Nay Bronze
Foundation: Bobbi Brown Stick Foundation 4.5 Warm Natural
Corrector: Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach
Concealer: Bobbi Brown Full Cover Concealer in Beige and Natural Tan (mixed to create perfect shade)
Contour: Bobbi Brown Stick Foundation 9 Chestnut
Powder: Bobbi Brown Nude Finish Illuminating Setting Powder in Nude
Bronzer: Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer in Bali Brown
Blush: NARS Orgasm
Eyebrows: Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil in Medium Brown, Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Mahogany, NYX Control Freak Brow Gel
Setting Spray: Urban Decay Chill
Highlighter: The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer
Lips: Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil in Pink Mauve and YSL Tatouage Couture Liquid Matte Lip Stain in 25 Beige Secret

xoxo,

Lash Lift: A Perm for Eyelashes!?

Hi All,

Happy Sunday!  I'm coming at you today with a summary of my lash lift experience.  In case you haven't heard about this or don't know what it is, a lash lift is basically a perm for your eyelashes.  The spa I go to for facials started offering them in January at a special introductory rate, so I thought it would be a great time to try this out.

Top: Before lash lift
Bottom: After procedure

What Is the Appointment Like?
The appointment took about 40 mins, and I found it to be very relaxing.  For the record, most people find eyelash extension appointments to be very relaxing--so much so that they are able to fall asleep while the lashes are being applied.  If you caught  my post from 2016, you'll know that I did not have this experience because the glue stung my eyes and got into my sinuses, and it was actually very uncomfortable.  Back to the lash lift experience, I did fall asleep during the appointment.  My understanding is that it's similar to getting a perm on your head; she wrapped my eyelashes around a rod and painted on some type of perming solution.  It sounds scary, but the solution was very gentle.  I have extremely sensitive eyes and couldn't feel a thing.  Once she removed the rod, I looked in the mirror, and voila!  My eyelashes looked perfectly curled.

How Much Does It Cost?
This will vary depending on where you live.  Typically though, it is a bit expensive for what it is (of course this is all relative).  My spa charges $85, but I got it done for $65 when they had their introductory rate.

How Long Will It Last?
Similar to eyelash extensions, the life of the perm will be different for everyone.  We all have different hair growth cycles.  Mine lasted a good eight weeks.  I had a preconceived notion that the curl would gradually relax as weeks went by, but that didn't happen.  Instead, it was similar to eyelash extension shedding where lashes naturally fall out and grow back.  The shedding for me happened around the eight week mark.  A curled lash would fall out and be replaced by one of my regular, natural straight lashes.  This continued for a few weeks until all my permed lashes fell out, and I was back to my regular, sad, boring straight lashes.

Who Should Get a Lash Lift?
If you have straight lashes or even lashes that naturally point downwards, this might be something you would enjoy.  If you already have beautiful, naturally curled eyelashes, then 1) I am jealous and 2) you don't need this--save your money!

Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed having the lash lift.  Usually if I'm leaving the house without any makeup, I will still curl my eyelashes because they naturally point straight forward, and curling them would help to give my eyes a lifted look.  The lashes looked great with mascara on them, but I found myself hardly ever reaching for it, as they looked so good bare.  My lashes are naturally dark, but if yours are light, you could consider getting a lash tint in addition to the lift.  Not having to use a curler at all was such a breath of fresh air.  It was especially nice for teaching Pure Barre at 6 AM and waking up with already curled lashes! 

Though I loved it having the lash lift, this is not something I will keep up with on a regular basis, as I just can't justify the cost for something that can be achieved with an eyelash curler.  It is something, though, that I might consider getting again in the future.  For example, it might be nice to have if I go on a long vacation at some point where I won't be wearing a lot of makeup. 

Anyway, that's it!  Please let me know if you have any questions.  I would love to hear about your lash lift experience as well!

xoxo,

Reference for Product Reviews

I often get asked for product recommendations.  When I do recommend something, the next question is usually about who recommended it to me or how I found it.  The answer is usually pretty simple--I heard about it on YouTube.  Often times, I will listen to product reviews from beauty bloggers.  If something peaks my interest, I'll immediately begin doing my own internet research to see what I can find out about it to make an informed decision before purchasing.  If you're a beauty product junkie like me, you learn to do this quickly.  Why?  Well because if you don't, your makeup collection gets out of control!  Well, friends, I have some good news.  I've recently heard about a site that makes researching products much easier.

The site is called reviews.com.  It is just what it sounds like--it's a site completely dedicated to reviews.  It reviews products by category, but it's not even just about products.  They also review insurance, health and fitness, job sites, and other services.  For the purposes of the content on my blog, we'll stick to some beauty product reviews today.  The categories that caught my eye included eye cream, BB cream, and dry shampoo.  I'll use the eye cream category as a reference, which can be accessed here: https://www.reviews.com/best-eye-cream/

This site has to be one of the most comprehensive review sites I've ever seen.  They've broken it into best eye creams for wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness, and they even included some runners up and finalists.  They explain why other products were disqualified and why they picked certain products for each issue.  They include summary tables, photos, pricing, and a link to purchase the products.  Another interesting feature is the "Contenders Out" heading.  When you click on that, it shows you all the eye creams that got disqualified based on a certain standard.  They eliminated 119 eye creams on the basis of parabens, fragrances, and mineral oils.

I hope you'll check this site out next time you're searching for the perfect product.  Typically when I used to research something, I'd have to visit multiple sites and read several reviews to decide if I wanted to buy it.  Reviews.com makes it so much easier and is a one stop shop with their comprehensive and detailed site.  I'm so impressed with their guides and will definitely be referencing them going forward.  You can access their site here: https://www.reviews.com/homepage_/

I hope this post was helpful!  I'd love to hear your experience and thoughts if you visit their site.

xoxo,

Travelling Back 10 Years: Makeup I Wore In High School

One of my senior pictures taken in 2005!  It was the summer between my junior and senior year.

I am currently subscribed to over 70 YouTubers, but with an increasingly busy daily schedule, I'm pretty selective about the videos I choose to watch.  I was immediately intrigued by one of Kathleen Light's videos titled "Makeup I Wore In High School."  I watched the video and thought it was such a fun idea.  It inspired me to think back to what I wore in high school and see if those products are still around today!

Foundation
I don't think I started wearing foundation until about junior year in high school.  I can't remember what all I tried, but I remember using Almay Clear Complexion Makeup when I was a senior.  I used to love this stuff.  It's still around today, although they have changed the packaging and added a pump.  Side note: I also remember loving Almay Truly Lasting Color in college.  In fact, I'm intrigued to try it again...

Concealer
Sticking with the Almay trend, I remember using and liking Almay Clear Complexion Concealer.  It's also still around today.  I used this on blemishes, and I don't remember if I used concealer under my eyes at that point.

Blush
More Almay!  I used a pink blush from them in white packaging.  It looks like it's not around today.  I was also a fan of the CoverGirl Cheekers Blush (not sure which color).  It is still available today, and they've updated the packaging.

Eyeshadow
The CoverGirl Eye Enhancers 4 Kit Shadows take me way back to when I was about 12 or 13 years old.  It was the first makeup product my mom ever bought me.  It's still around today, and they've also updated the packaging.  Sadly, I don't remember the exact name of the quad I had, but it had a couple pink shades and a couple brown shades.  It's funny to think back--I remember at first not even knowing that you could mix the shades or that there was any way to incorporate multiple shades into one look,  Every day, I'd pick a different one out of the quad to wear.

Eyeliner
It was almost always black pencil eyeliner once I got to the point of wearing it.  I used the CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus liner and remember liking it.  I think I also tried a couple others, although I can't remember which ones.

Mascara
Yet another CoverGirl product... does anybody remember their Fantastic Lash (I think that's what it was called) in the red tube??  OH MY GOD.  That stuff was amazing!  Why do companies get rid of good products??  Anyway, it had a traditional mascara wand type (not a rubber one), and I used and enjoyed all the varieties (they had a regular, a waterproof, and a curved brush).  SO GOOD.  I would still be using it today if it was available :(.  I also dabbled in some Maybelline mascaras.  I liked their Sky High Curves one (another great product that got discontinued).  I'm sure there were others, but those are the only ones that stick out to me today.

Lips
I was a lip balm girl in high school.  I think I also had some CoverGirl lip glosses, but for the most part, it was various types of lip balms.

Thoughts 10 Years Later
Looking back now, the only thing I wish I had done differently was fill in my eyebrows.  I actually remember getting my makeup done at the Bobbi Brown counter one time, and they filled in my brows.  I immediately went into the bathroom in Nordstrom and wiped it off.  I wish I could go back in time and talk some sense into my teenage self.  I also didn't use any bronzer, and I don't think I even knew what highlighter was.  Looking back at my makeup routine, it was simple, I used products I liked, and for the most part, it worked.

Thank you so much for reading and travelling down memory lane with me!  I would love to hear what you used and loved years back.

Hair Hack

By now, you've probably heard that coconut oil is a miracle beauty product (in addition to being useful in the kitchen!).  One of its many uses is as a leave-in conditioner for your hair,  I've done this before, and my favorite way to do it is to put a little bit on the ends of damp hair right before I blow dry it.  The key is to use A LITTLE BIT.  Well, last week I went a little overboard.  I ended up using way too much, and I brought it up to about my ear instead of just keeping it on the ends.  The result?  Stringy, greasy hair that looked like it hadn't been washed in a week.  I was so upset!  I typically only wash my hair twice a week, and with how much hair I have, washing it is a large undertaking.  I thought I'd have to wash it again, then I got an idea.  Fortunately, it worked.

All I did after blow drying my hair was use dry shampoo.  I put some on the roots as I normally do, and I sprayed it in the lengths of my hair as well.  It completely did the trick!  It absorbed all the greasiness, and my hair looked perfectly normal.  It's totally fine to put dry shampoo in the lengths of your hair--just make sure you rub it in really well so you don't see a white cast.  I found the best way to do this was to rub the hair in between my palms.  After doing this, I brushed it out to make sure it was evenly distributed.

So there you have it, a super random hair hack.  Hopefully you won't make the mistake I did of using too much oil, but if you do, give this a try!

Thank you for reading!

Jergens Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse

Up until about a month ago, I had never tried a sunless tanning mousse.  Most of the ones I hear about are pretty pricey, so I was delighted when I found out that Jergens came out with one called Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse (could the name be any longer?).  I purchased the Deep Bronze color.  I read several reviews prior to trying this product, and they all recommended to use a tanning mitt instead of bare hands.  The one I purchased was this one by St. Tropez.

How I Used It
I took a shower and exfoliated my whole body with my favorite scrub, Tree Hut's Shea Sugar Scrub.  I toweled off and did not apply any lotion prior to using the tanning mousse.  I thought this stuff was pretty easy to use, especially considering that I'd never used a tanning mousse.  I just used one to two pumps at a time on the mitt and applied it.  As you want to do with all tanning products, I was careful to apply it sparingly on my knees, elbows, knuckles, and feet.  The mousse has a bronze tint to it that works as a guide to help you see if you've missed any spots.

Drying Time and Scent
Jergens claims that this mousse dries in 60 seconds.  I think it takes more like a few minutes, which isn't too bad.  Just to be on the safe side, I waited about 10 minutes before dressing.  I wasn't going anywhere for the rest of the day, so I just put on some loose sweat pants and a t-shirt.  I would recommend wearing something loose-fitting--I can't imagine that putting skinny jeans on while this is still sticky would be very much fun.  Although it dries in minutes, it stays somewhat sticky for several hours.  It didn't bother me too much, but it's something to be aware of.  When I first applied it, I was surprised to find that it didn't have that smell that all self tanners have; it actually smelled pretty good.  Over the next few hours (and even the next day after I had showered), the self tanning smell reared its head.  It wasn't terrible though.

Results
I was very happy with the color I got from the mousse.  I could see results right away, and it continued to darken throughout the day.  The color lasted on me for close to a week, and it didn't get all weird and patchy when it faded.  I should mention that I did not put this on my face, and I don't think this is recommended for facial use.

Final Thoughts
I'm definitely a fan of this stuff.  It's reasonably priced, easy to find, easy to use, and the results are great.  Let me know if you give it a try!

New Discovered Use For Flat Foundation Brush

Chances are good that you have a flat foundation brush just like the Real Techniques Essential Foundation brush pictured above laying around somewhere in your house.  You might also be wondering what to use this brush for.  In my opinion, these have never been the greatest for applying foundation.  I like using them for undereye concealer.  As I was getting ready for an event a few minutes ago, I tried something new... and I can't wait to share it with you!

I used this brush for contouring.  For contour powder, I used NYX's Highlight and Contour Palette.  I dipped the Essential Foundation Brush into one of the contour powders and softly applied the contour line in circular motions.  I went into the hollows of my cheeks and on my forehead and jawline.  I even (and I have never done this in my entire life, but I thought hey, why not try it) contoured the sides of my nose.  I was blown away by how well this brush worked!  It applied the most perfect contour lines.  They weren't too sharp, nor were they too soft.  I did go over the lines with a fluffy powder brush and gently buff them out, but they didn't even look like they needed it.  This brush worked better than any other brush I've tried for contouring!  I think it would also work well to buff in a cream contour product.

If you try this out, and I hope you do, please let me know what you think!

Training Your Hair/Changing Your Part

Moving your part is a fun way to change around your look.  After 15+ years of parting my hair to the left, I decided it was time to change it up.  I'm not sure what exactly inspired me to do it, but I thought I'd try parting my hair down the middle to see how it looked on me.  Training my hair to part down the center has taken a lot of patience, but three months later, I think my hair has finally gotten the hang of it.  If you are looking for some tips on training your hair to part either on a different side or down the center, here are a few words of wisdom that may help you out.

Part It Right After You Shower
After you wash your hair and take it down from the towel, comb through it and immediately part it where you want it.  This will help your hair to dry in the right position.  You can use a rat tail comb to get an even part.  More often than not, I just use my pinky finger.

Direct The Heat From Your Blow Dryer
This is very important and is something I was doing wrong initially.  When you're trying to train your hair for a new part, DO NOT flip your head over to blow dry it!  Doing so makes it harder to get it to part back in the right spot and creates lots of flyaways at the front of your part.  Instead, point the nozzle of the dryer down and direct the heat downward from the front of the part.  Use your fingers to help smooth the hair down as you dry it.

Use Product To Tame Flyaways
I tried using hairspray, serum, and a few other products, but Big Sexy Hair's Big Boost styling cream is my favorite.  It provides light hold but is not shiny or heavy.  I found that the hairs at the front of my part wanted to go in every direction because it wasn't used to parting down the middle.  This stuff really helped to keep it under control.  Clear brow gel also works and is a great on-the-go solution since it's easy to keep in your purse.

Sleep With Bobby Pins
I got this very helpful tip from my hairdresser.  I would also keep them in my hair at home during the day or in the car (and I'd take them out before getting out of the car).  Not only does this help to direct the hair, but it also helps to keep the flyaways at bay.

Be Patient!
Successfully re-training your hair is not something that will happen overnight.  As I mentioned earlier, it took my hair about three months to learn the center part.  It requires extra maintenance, and you will also have more volume on one side than the other for a while.  But these little annoyances will all go away eventually, and it's worth it in the end.  I am loving my new center part and think I'll keep it for a long time.

I hope this was helpful, and please share your tips with me if you've changed your part!

No Foundation Pump? No Problem!

If you're like me, it drives you crazy when foundation doesn't come with a pump.  If it's packaged in a squeeze tube, that's fine, but the old glass bottle sans pump packaging is nothing short of annoying.  Fortunately, I've come across a couple solutions to these foundation dispensing problems.


Beautymp.com
This company, which can be found beautymp.com, sells pumps for many different foundations.  They usually have a 20% off coupon code on the top of their site.  I purchased the pump for Maybelline's Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation (which is a great drugstore foundation).  This is what the foundation looks like with the pump on it:

 The pump comes with a cap.  The quality is decent, and you can control how much product it dispenses by the amount of pressure you put on it.  It is not a perfect fit on the foundation, and you can tell in the last picture how it creates a bit of a mess on the side of the bottle.  Fortunately, though, it didn't make a mess inside my drawer.  The full price on this pump is $6.99.


MAC Foundation Pump
I wanted to compare Beautymp's pump to MAC's.  The MAC foundation pump is more easily accessible, as it can be found at MAC counters, MAC stores, and various sites online.  While it is made specifically for MAC foundations, I found in doing research that it also fits several other brands of foundation.  Here is what the Maybelline foundation looks like with the MAC pump on it:

This pump comes with a cap and also twists to lock.  Like the Beautymp pump, it has good control and allows you to pump out as much as you want.  It is also not a perfect fit on the bottle, but it's an improvement over the Beautymp one.  It covers more of the screw portion of the bottle and creates less of a mess.  I also like how it's black--this gives it a more sleek look (I know, this is a petty detail).  This pump retails for $10, and you can usually get free shipping when you order online.


Overall Thoughts
If you pay full price for the Beautymp pump, it ends up being around the same price as MAC's with shipping.  I have read many reviews on Beautymp's products, and it appears that some pumps fit the foundations they are meant to work with better than others.  Maybe they just missed the mark a bit on Maybelline Fit Me.  I do think their site is innovative, and it's a very cool concept.  They are definitely on my wavelength when it comes to the importance of foundation pumps.

If you plan to order the MAC pump for a non-MAC foundation, it's a good idea to do a little research beforehand to see if you can find any information about whether or not it is a good fit for your particular product.  If it fits, even if it's not perfect, I think this is a good way to go.  It's also worth mentioning that NARS sells a foundation pump for $6, and this is an option that may be worth exploring as well.

I hope this gave you some good ideas to improve your foundation's packaging.  While both of these options worked for me, I prefer MAC's pump for my Maybelline foundation.  Thank you for reading!  Please let me know if you try either of these and let me know how they work for you.

Your Best Lashes For Less

If you want stronger, longer lashes, there are plenty of expensive serums on the market that promise to do great things.  I've heard success stories, and I'm sure they really do work.  I've also heard that castor oil is a more natural (and a much more affordable) option that may not yield the same results but could help condition and stimulate hair growth.  I figured I'd have nothing to lose by giving it a shot.

Disclaimer: I am already lucky enough to have naturally long, thick, and dark lashes.

Products
All you need is a bottle of 100% pure castor oil and a q-tip or a spoolie.  I purchased this oil from drugstore.com.

What To Do
It's really simple.  Before bedtime, all you do is dip a q-tip or clean spoolie into the oil and wiggle it through your lashes as you would a mascara.  This is a thick, viscous oil, and I try to scrape off any excess oil so I don't get too much.  One dip is enough for both lashes.  I've found it's even enough for both brows, too.  If castor oil can stimulate hair growth, why not get your brows too?

Results
I started on December 30 and took the after picture 48 days later on February 15.  I used the oil most nights with a few exceptions due to laziness or being out of town.  In total, I would estimate that between the before and after pictures, I used the oil 35 times.

Before

After approximately 35 applications

You may or may not be able to see a difference in the pictures.  I don't as much see a difference as I feel a difference.  My lashes overall feel softer and stronger.  The biggest change I've noticed is in curling them--they hold a curl much longer and better than they did before.  I haven't noticed a difference in length--if they are longer, it's not by much.  But as I mentioned earlier, I didn't need any help in the length department anyway.  My brows seem a little bit more full than they were before, although I'm hoping that with continued use, I will see more of a difference.

Final Thoughts
I can definitely tell that it's working on my lashes--this is no placebo, folks!!  I think it's working on my brows too, but I need more time.  I will continue to use castor oil on both my lashes and brows .  How long will I keep this up?  As of now, I think forever!

If you've been wanting to try Latisse, Nulash, or any number of other lash serums out there but don't want to pay the price, give this a try first.  You might be pleasantly surprised.  If you do try it, please let me know what you think!

Brush Washing 101

Washing your makeup brushes is essential for keeping them in good condition.  Not only that, but when used over and over (especially with wet products like liquid foundation), brushes become breeding grounds for bacteria.  Washing them regularly helps to kill the bacteria and keep your skin clear.  Brush washing is really pretty easy and doesn't have to be expensive.  Taking just a few minutes to clean them every 10 to 14 days is all you need to do.


What To Use
A long time ago, a sales associate at Ulta sold me this brush cleaner by Bare Minerals.  This was before I really knew anything about makeup in general, and I had no idea that spending $14 on this little bottle of specialized brush cleaner was unnecessary and that I could have just used my regular shampoo.  My point here is that you don't need to get sucked in by a uni-tasking, specialized product like brush cleaner.  You can use any shampoo you have on your brushes.  If you use expensive shampoo, go to the store and buy something inexpensive for your brushes.  Several makeup gurus recommend using baby shampoo because it's cheap and gentle.

More recently, I switched over to a solid soap for brush cleaning.  I (again) got sucked in by a pricey product, the Beauty Blender Solid Cleanser.  Originally, I bought this just to clean my beauty blender.  Then, everyone on YouTube started talking about how much they loved using it to clean all their brushes.  I tried it and had to agree--it worked better than liquid shampoo did.  This tiny bar of soap costs $16, and I found myself going through them quickly.  I did some research to find a cheaper alternative.  I decided to try Dr. Bronner's Castile Bar Soap.  Drugstore.com sells the soap for $4.29, which is the cheapest price online I've seen for it.  I actually picked mine up at my local grocery store for a dollar less.   It comes in several varieties, and I chose the tea tree oil one. I also went to Target and bought a container so I would have something to put the soap in (I found it for about $1 in the travel toiletry section).  The Dr. Bronner's soap/Target container cost me less than $5.  The Dr. Bronner's soap bar is 5 oz compared to the 1 oz Beauty Blender soap.  In total, the drugstore alternative costs 1/16th as much as the high end option, and it works just as well!  This is further proof that you don't need an expensive brush cleaner.

Technique
Grab your brushes, a towel, and your soap or shampoo, then head to your sink.  You can use any sink in your house--I prefer my kitchen sink.  I'll list steps based on how I clean my brushes with the Dr. Bronner's solid soap.  If you have shampoo, can use the same technique.  The only difference is that you'll squirt some of the shampoo onto your hand and swirl the brushes in it.  Once you're at the sink, here's what you do:

1.  Wet the brush bristles and bar of soap with warm water.  I prefer to hold the bar in my left hand and the brush in my right (dominant) hand.  IMPORTANT: make sure the bristles are facing downwards.  If they are facing upwards, water will get into the brush ferrule and loosen the glue, eventually ruining the brush.

What to do--point the bristles downward

What not to do--point the bristles upward under running water

2.  Swirl the bristles directly into the bar of soap.
3.  Swirl the soapy bristles into the palm of your non-dominant hand under warm, running water until you have rinsed out all the soap.
4.  Depending on how dirty the brush is, you may need to repeat this procedure a couple times until it looks clean and the water runs clear.
5.  Lay it down on the towel to dry.  It needs to lay flat until it's completely dry to avoid getting water into the ferrule as mentioned above.
6.  Repeat procedure on all brushes.
7.  Rinse the soap bar so there is no makeup residue on it before it goes back in its case.

Some brushes dry faster than others.  I've noticed that some of mine take a full 24 hours, so plan accordingly.  I hope this post was helpful and saves you from overpaying for brush cleaner.  Happy brush cleaning!

Three Ways I Use Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is something I've had sitting in my medicine cabinet for half a year, but I only started using it regularly about a month ago.  It was one of those products I bought because I had heard it was good for acne then proceeded to forget about it.  I kept seeing the words "tea tree oil" pop up in beauty blogs and on my Pinterest feed.  I think the universe was trying to tell me to start using it, so I did just that!  The one I've been using is by the brand NOW Essential Oils.  I purchased it here for $6.49.  Tea tree oil can be found at health stores, grocery stores, online, and probably other places.  It doesn't matter where you get it or what brand it is as long as it's 100% pure tea tree oil.  There are many uses for this product, which has anti-bacterial, soothing, and healing properties.  It's very potent, and a little drop goes a long way.  You can scour the internet for more information and uses, but here are the three ways I've put it to use.

 As a Toner
I recently posted a skincare routine which featured two toners.  You can find that post here: http://idreamofmakeup.blogspot.com/2015/10/updated-skin-care-routine.html.  I still use these toners, but I've incorporated a homemade concoction into my routine.  Yes, that's three toners.  Yes, that is excessive.  Basically, the only reason I'm still using the two mentioned in my previous post are because I don't want them to go to waste.  But I was dying to try a homemade toner recipe, so I went ahead and made one.  Once I'm out of my other two, I will probably exclusively use this one.

Here's what you need to make your toner:
*An empty bottle or container of some sort (Mine is 6 oz, and I found it in the travel toiletry section of Target.)
*Tea tree oil
*Witch hazel
*Apple cider vinegar (Make sure it's the raw unfiltered kind.  I used this one by Bragg and found it at Target.)

Step 1: Fill up the bottle halfway with witch hazel
Step 2: Add 20 drops of tea tree oil (less if your container is smaller than 6 oz and more if it's bigger)
Step 3: Add a splash of ACV (I did a little less than a quarter of the bottle)
Step 4: Fill the rest of the bottle up with either water or witch hazel (I used water)
Step 5: The tea tree oil will separate and form a layer at the top, so shake it up before each use
Step 6: Pour some onto a cotton pad and apply all over your face once or twice daily

It should look something like this (but the bottle will be full):

ACV has many health benefits and makes your skin look more youthful and glowy.  Combined with the antibacterial elements of the tea tree oil, this toner is gold.  It's all natural, and it's affordable.  It's very soothing, and because it does not contain alcohol like most toners, it's not at all irritating.  I do have to warn you about the smell.  ACV and tea tree oil both have strong scents, and combined, well...it's not the best smelling toner you'll encounter.  It will fade quickly after you apply it on your face though.  I'm really enjoying this toner, and I think my breakouts have decreased somewhat since I've started using it.  It also does give my skin a glowy, healthy appearance, which I'm all about.

As a Spot Treatment for Blemishes
Because tea tree oil is so potent, you never want to use it straight on your skin without first diluting it.  To use as a spot treatment, all I do is wet a q-tip with warm water, then I pour one drop of tea tree oil on it.  One drop is all you need, and the warm water will work to dilute it.  About 20 seconds after I do this, I can feel the tea tree oil going to work.  It feels very soothing, and it speeds up the healing process of the blemish a lot.  It won't be gone by the next morning, but it will look a lot better!  I use this spot treatment right after I wash my face and before I apply my moisturizer twice daily until the spot is gone.

To Heal Canker Sores
Yes, you read that correctly.  This is a weird one that my dentist told me about.  I follow the same procedure as the spot treatment above.  Before applying it, you'll want to dry the sore out a little bit so the tea tree oil will stick.  I use the dry end of my q-tip to dry the sore out before applying the tea tree oil.  I notice an immediate stinging feeling that quickly turns to a soothing feeling.  While it doesn't numb the canker sores as well as Kank-A, Anbesol, or other numbing agents, it does provide a little relief .  I like to use this in conjunction with Kank-A because the Kank-A numbs sores, but the tea tree oil actually helps to heal them.  I had a couple monster ones last month that were extremely painful.  Using tea tree oil on them a couple times a day expedited the healing process, so I was only in agonizing pain for a few days instead of a week as would normally be the case.  Tea tree oil doesn't taste very good, but the taste doesn't last long.

I hope this post was helpful and that it inspires you to explore the wonderful benefits that tea tree oil has to offer!

Weird Mascara Tip

Hello All!

I am here today to bring you a mascara tip.  It's going to sound a bit strange, but hey, it works.

If you caught my fall favorites post from last week, you know I've been liking the Pumped Up Colossal Volume mascara by Maybelline (mine is the waterproof kind).  Well, a couple weeks ago when I was applying it, it seemed to have gone awry.  The formula felt drier, and it wasn't going on my lashes as smoothly as it had been.  The bristles on the wand were even sticking together as I pulled it out of the tube.  I was worried it had reached the end of its useful life, but it seemed way too soon for that--I had only been using it for about a month.  Later that day, I remembered a tip that Tati (glamlifeguru) from YouTube had mentioned.

The trick is to warm up your mascara for about a minute before applying it.  Now here comes the weird part--the method she recommended was to put it inside your bra.  The idea is to use the heat from your body to warm up the mascara, which then allows it to apply more smoothly.  Rather than using the bra method, I tried just holding it in my palms and warming it up that way.  I noticed an immediate difference once I pulled the wand out after warming it up--the bristles weren't sticking together!  Once I started putting it on my lashes, I was pleased to discover that it applied easily and smoothly.  The formula was back to its good old self!

If you're having trouble with your mascara (and if it's less than three months old), give this a try before chucking it in the garbage.  I don't know how Tati figured this one out, but she is a genius.  I never would have thought to do this had it not been for her advice.  This trick is especially useful with the colder temperatures during this time of year.  I noticed the difference in my mascara at pretty much the same time that the weather started changing.

I hope this helps you get a little more mileage out of your mascara.  Thank you for reading!

Whiten Your Teeth For Less!

Who doesn't want whiter teeth??  Well, unless you're Ross in the Friends episode where he leaves the paste on for a day too long :).  All jokes aside, having a beautiful smile complemented by nice, white teeth can be as much (if not more) of a game changer as any makeup product.  I had never paid that much attention to teeth whitening until about a month before my wedding two years ago when one day, I suddenly realized "Oh crap!  I need to whiten my teeth!"  I bought some Crest Whitestrips (which are not cheap!) and used them almost daily right up to my wedding day.  Sadly, I didn't notice much of a difference, and I really wish I had known about the product I use now before I got married.

That product is Plus White Premier 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel.  There are a couple options in this line.  You can either buy a kit that includes the gel, a post-whitening rinse (although now it looks like it comes with a pre-whitening rinse), and a double-sided tray, or you can just buy the gel itself.  I have seen this brand at Wal-Mart and on drugstore.com.  The kit runs about $8 to $10, and the gel itself is around $5 or $6.  The first time I bought this, I bought the kit.  The tray it comes with is pretty worthless and doesn't really stay in place well, so I bought a couple basic mouthguards at Wal-Mart and followed the instructions to make my own trays (one for the top and one for the bottom) that fit my mouth perfectly.  They only cost about $0.97 each and work really well.

As far as using the product itself, you first floss and brush your teeth, then you squeeze a thin layer of gel onto the trays and leave them in for 5-20 minutes.  The instructions say to do this twice a day for up to two weeks when you're first starting out with this system, and that is exactly what I did.  If you have the kit, you then follow up with the rinse after you remove the trays (at least I did--it has changed to a pre-whitening rinse since I last had the kit).  Unfortunately, I don't really have any before and after pictures to show (I forgot to take them when I started using this over a year ago), but I saw a huge difference after about a week.  I left mine in for about 15 minutes each time.  After the two weeks are over, you use the product once or twice a week to touch up.  I do twice a week for 15 minutes, and I find that to be sufficient to maintain the results from the first two weeks.

After having used this product for over year, I definitely recommend buying the gel alone if it's available.  The rinse didn't seem to make any difference.  I can't speak to the effectiveness of the new pre-whitening rinse, but I can tell you that the results without using any rinse are very good. You will also most likely need to buy your own trays anyway, so it's not worth buying the kit for the tray.  It is worth noting that as with any whitening product, this can make your teeth more sensitive.  Mine feel a little sensitive the day after I whiten, but it doesn't bother me.  If you are concerned about this, you might want to try the gel made for sensitive teeth.  I also want to mention that if you get a lot of canker sores like I do, be very careful when using this product while you have one.  If the gel comes into contact with a canker sore or any other sort of trauma in your mouth, it HURTS!  I definitely recommend using Kanka, Orajel, or any other type of numbing product before using the whitening gel if you have a sore.  Another tip I have is to run the trays under water and use your toothbrush to make sure you get all the gel off after you use them.

Overall thoughts?  I love this stuff!  It's easily accessible, it's cheap, and most importantly, it works!  I would highly recommend it.  I hope this was helpful, and let me know if you try it out!

Save Money On Razors!

Razors are essential, and we buy them constantly.  But let's face it--they can be pretty pricey for what they are.  In the past, I have always purchased whichever Schick or Gillette razor handle/cartridge refill packages were sold at Costco.  I figured it was the cheapest way to go to get good razors.  Recently when I ran out of razor cartridges, I was about to repurchase when I realized just how expensive these things are.  I'm pretty sure these packages at Costco used to come with 12 cartridges (the Schick Intuition package still does for around $29), but now the two Gillette Venus options only come with eight and sell for $33 and $35!  You can see what I'm talking about on Costco's website: http://www.costco.com/shavers.html.  With the Gillette packages at Costco, you end up paying about $4.25 per cartridge, and even with the cheaper Schick package, you pay around $2.42 per cartridge (I realize that my math is slightly off here because they all include the handle, but because they all include it, these numbers still offer a relatively good basis for comparison).

While paying $35 for razors doesn't break the bank in the grand scheme of things, I thought I'd see if I could find a better value.  I always love finding good deals on things.  And really, who doesn't love to save money?  My first thought was to buy some disposable razors in bulk.  I am a fan of the Schick Quattro Disposable Razors and the Gillette Venus Disposable Razors, so tried to find them in bulk online.  I was unable to find them in large quantities, and the prices I found were still at or around $2 per razor.  There still had to be a better way.

I had heard of Dollar Shave Club but didn't know if it was only for men.  It appears to be geared towards men, and all of their razors have a more masculine design.  Their website says their 4X Razor also works for women.  You get a free handle and four cartridges per month for $6 per month--not bad!  This works out to $1.50 per cartridge.  Honestly, I don't see how any of their options wouldn't work for women, but I still wanted to see if I could find a more feminine-looking alternative.

After a little more searching, I found shavemob.com, which sells razors for men and women.  They have three options for women: a three, four, or six blade razor, all which can be found here: http://shavemob.com/razors-for-women.html.  I decided to go with the four blade option.  You then have three options after you choose your razor--a two month supply (four cartridges), a six month supply (12 cartridges), or a year supply (24 cartridges).  They all include one handle.  I opted for the year supply for $29.99 for the biggest savings, which works out to be $1.25 per cartridge (and a handle).  Shavemob.com is not on Ebates, but I did find a promo code for 15% off on http://www.retailmenot.com/view/shavemob.com, which saved me another $4.50.  Shavemob.com also offers free shipping on all orders, so I ended up paying a whopping $1.06 per cartridge!  I would also like to note the speed of their shipping--I received my package in just a few days.

I've been using the razor for a little while now and have been quite pleased.  The only gripe I have is that it doesn't pivot as much as the Gillette or Schick ones do, but that's just a minor flaw.  The blades are sharp and work just as well as any other razor I've used.  The cartridges came housed in a plastic case (I had six cases of four in my shipment).

The Purist razor from shavemob.com

The Purist four blade cartridges

I'm very pleased with this company and the product, and I would highly recommend them to anybody.  I can't speak to the quality of the men's razors, but the women's razors are great and get the job done.  The choice is yours: $4 per cartridge or $1?  I hope this was helpful, and if you have any money saving tips on razors (or anything!), please feel free to share.

Tuesday OOTD, FOTD, and Super Easy Winged Liner!

OOTD and FOTD

I have the luxury of being able to wear whatever I want to work.  Sometimes, I get stuck in a rut and just wear my workout clothes.  But sometimes, it's nice to glam up a bit (and by glam up, I mean wear jeans) and look nice.  I'm really not trying to impress anyone, but I do notice that when I look better, I feel better, and this often leads to a good day.  Here's what I wore to work today:

Outfit:

-Top: Express

-Jeans: Express

-Boots: White Mountain brand from DSW

(And of course, Augie's head snuck into the picture)

Eyes:

-Lorac Primer

-Makeup Geek Eyeshadows in Cinderella (lid), Creme Brule (blending color above crease), Mocha (outer portion of lid and crease), Shimma Shimma (inner corner)

-Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Corrupt (liner on top)

-Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Mocha (liner on bottom)

-L'Oreal Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara

-Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes Mascara

-Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Mohogany (brows)

Face:

-Clinique Super Primer 

-Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach (under eyes)

-Neutrogena Skin Clearing Concealer in Medium (on blemishes on forehead because my acne decided to join the party today.  This covers it up well!)

-Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Warm Natural (to cover redness around nose)

-Bare Minerals Original Foundation in Medium Tan 

-Physician's Formula Happy Booster Bronzer

-Bobbi Brown Blush in Sand Pink

-Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze

Lips:

-Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Pink Pop

Easy Peasy Winged Eyeliner

Going over any kind of black liner (liquid, gel, or pencil) with an angled brush and black eyeshadow helps to soften the look and smooth out any bumps.  I recently purchased the Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in the color Corrupt, which is a SUPER black black.  It's by far the most smooth and pigmented black shadow I've ever seen.

I decided to put this to the test and see if it could perform as a good eyeliner on its own.  And sure enough, it did. 

This was the quickest and most fool proof way I've ever found to do winged liner.  I just swept an angled brush (my faithful Sedona Lace Small Angled Brush E561) through the eyeshadow, drew it on, and voila.  It looks soft, yet due to the awesome pigmentation of the shadow, it still looks defined.  If you have a hard time with your winged eyeliner, definitely give this technique a try.  You can use any black or brown eyeshadow, but I would HIGHLY recommend the Makeup Geek shadows--obviously by the sheer number of shadows I used in this look, you can tell I love them.  They're cheaper than MAC's shadows but just as good (in fact, I think they're even more pigmented).  

Thank you for reading.  Hope you're all having a great week!!

CC

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!