"How" Series

My last blog got me thinking about how we apply makeup and skin and hair care products. I think a lot of the time we're so focused on what prodcuts we're buying, that we overlook how to use them. I'm not suggesting the "what" doesn't matter; it does. There are products out there that don't work for everyone and there are some that just aren't good quality. However, at times I think we're too quick to judge a product and say it isn't good before really giving it a chance, so I'm going to make a "how series" where I describe different ways of apply different products. Obviously, I haven't tried every way possible to apply products, but I'll go over what I've done and what works and what doesn't work. If you have any tips or tricks for appling makeup, etc, respond in the comments--I would love to know what you guys do!

Thanks!!

Fast and Easy Tip 2: Hot Water

I'm sure we've all seen those Biore nose stips that are suppose to take care of blackheads and gunk in our noses....well I've been using them for years and while they do remove dirt and oil deep in the pores of my nose, and I can see a difference when I haven't used on for a while, I've always had little blackheads on my nose. Nothing has been able to get rid of them--even the nose strips. That is, until I tried using hot water on my nose first and then the strip--all I can say is "wow." I can't believe in all these years I never thought to do this. It made a huge difference and blackheads are almost completly gone! If you're having the same problem I was, give this a shot. Just don't use water water so hot that you burn yourself.

Thanks!

Road Trip Makeup

Been traveling the past couple days, and while I don't need makeup on to sleep in the car, we did get out to eat a few times and I wanted a little something on--and I had to do something with my hair because my hair was very flat each night after a days worth of driving.

For makeup I didn't bother with concealer. I have a few pimples on my face right now that I would prefer to cover up, but it wasn't worth messing with concealer and then reapplying it. I did dust on some of my MAC MSFN in Light, then put on Painterly pp, black waterproof eyeliner on top, and waterproof mascara on top. I wouldn't recommend the mascara. Even though it was waterproof, it smudged after I fell asleep the first day, so the second day I didn't bother with it. And then on my lips I just used MAC tinted lip conditioner--the light pink one (I'm sorry, I can't remember what the color is called at the moment).

For my hair I pulled up my bangs, gathered them together and twisted them just a tad at the ends, then I laid them down on my head, and used two bobbypins to secure them in place. Allthatglitters21 on youtube can do this with just one bobbypin (she has a recent hair tutorial with, I believe, the word "bangs" in the title of it), but I haven't figured it out yet. But I like the little poof this creates in the middle of my hair because the sides of my hair were flat, so this balanced everything out.

I'm going to try to update my blog as often as I can, but I am on vacation, so not promising anything!

Cheers!

Project Eye Complete!

I'm happy to report I am done with my eyeshadow project is done! It was fun at times because it forced me to think outside the box and use colors in new ways, but at the same time it was annoying if I was in a hurry and just wanted to rely on one of my basic eye looks. I didn't wear eye makeup every day the past month, but I think I did good. It was nice seeing what eyeshadows I tended to reach for and which ones I used rarely or not at all.

I think this project would be worth trying, and not only with eyeshadows, lip and cheek products as well. If a month sounds like too long, try a week. If you have tons of lip products, make it a goal to wear a different one each day. Or take an eyeshadow quad and try to come up with as many differnt looks with it as you can in a week. I'm going to try to do this when I go on vacation for a couple weeks. I'm going to see how few products I can live with.

Alright. Just wanted to update. Tell me what you think are some ideas you can do with makeup.

Thanks!

June 12 and 13 Eye Looks

June 12:

1. MAC Painterly pp
2. MAC eyeshadow in Carbon on lid
3. MAC eyeshadow in Scene over Carbon and into crease
4. Revlon eyeshadow matte Peach Sorbet on brow bone and inner corner
5. Revlon black eyeliner pen on top lashine

The verdict: I thought it would be too dark when I first started, but it turned out good. I liked it. I don't think I would go to school with it on, but it was nice for going out with friends.

June 13:

1. MAC Painterly pp
2. The pink from MAC mineralize duo Pink Split on inner 1/2 of lid and crease
3. The purple from MAC mineralize duo Earthly Riches on outter 1/2 of lid and crease
4. Mix the two lightest colors from Smashbox eyeshadow quad in Bright Eyed and use as highlight
5. Dark brown shadow as eyeliner on top lashline

The verdict: Bright and fun. I liked this.

Friday May 11 Eyes

1. MAC Coral Crepe pp on lid
2. MAC Bare Study pp from lid to brows
3. Mix the two lightest colors in Smashbox eyeshadow quad Bright Eyed and place on lids and crease
4. Black eyeliner on upper waterline

I was a in a hurry this morning (surprise, surprise) and this was a really easy and fast look. It was a bit more bare than I'm used to, but it worked. Adding the eyeliner just on my waterline helped. I chose to put it on my waterline rahter than top lashline like I usually do because it's pretty much fool proof. It's easy to mess up a line on your lid, but placing eyeliner on your waterline is fast and easy, and not messy once you get the hang of it.

Thanks!

Today's Look

1. MAC Painterly pp
2. MAC eyeshadow Honesty on inner 1/2 of lid and crease
3. MAC eyeshadow Amberlights on outer 1/2 of lid and crease
4. MAC eyeshadow Mulch in crease and outter corner
5. MAC eyeshadow Grain to blend edges and bring under brow
6. Revlon black eyeliner pen with dark brown shadow to smudge it out

I'm not sure how much I like Honesty and Amberlights together...but it worked. I wasn't crazy about it though.

Thanks!