Simple Smokey Eye Look

If you haven't got the hang of intricate makeup but still want something dramatic, this simple smokey eye makeup look is one to try! Prime you lid with liquid foundation or concealer and create a base with soft black eye liner. Line lower and upper lash lines as well as inside rim. Use a small blending brush to soften the edges then apply light base (silver in this case) all over your lid. Now using a round brush in our crease add a dark color (black in this case) all along your brow bone. It helps if you open your eyes so it make a track for the brush as you move it. Drag it towards your lash line and mid way of your eyelid. Finish them by blending well and add mascara. 

Beauty Spring Cleaning

A blog on what to clean, throw away and add to your collection this Spring.

Would you go months with out cleaning your house?, eat foods that have been sitting in your fridge that are past their expiration date? I hope your answer is no! So why is it that many of us don't show our makeup the same respect? If you haven't been washing your brushes on a regular basis and many of your favorite products are looking more and more like a science project then check out this guide to brushing the dust off your makeup collection and starting fresh this spring.

THROW AWAY

• Liners, lipsticks and glosses have a self life of about 12-18 months if they are past that time frame you need to ditch them. You should also throw them away if the texture starts to change as that is a sign that it is going bad and bacteria is in effect. 
• Change your mascara every 3 months like you change your underwear every day! Don't try to push its lasting power because bacteria can cause redness, irritation, and pink eye. A sure fire way that I know when to buy a new mascara is when I take the wand out and it doesn't make that fresh pop sound from the suction.
• Replace your foundation (if liquid) after 6-8 months to keep bacteria from growing in the wet environment and ditch it real fast if it starts to smell not so fresh like it used to. 
• Blush, shadow and any other dry products should be thrown away every 12 months.

Just like you throw away a bad batch of eggs or expired milk so you don't get sick you need to make sure you are protecting your face from bacteria that is harmful. Make sure your checking and cleaning out your products at the right time. 

WASH IT

When you are using makeup brushes you should be cleaning them at least once a week especially the ones used for foundation, blush and other powders. These brushes come into contact with more moisture factors then others like lotion, foundation, and liquid makeups which makes them a massive breeding ground for harmful bacteria that can cause breakouts. When washing your brushes you should use a makeup cleanser, face wash, or a mild shampoo. Gently massage them with warm water and then rinse them before laying them down flat to dry. Make sure that all the pigment is gone from the brushes before rinsing. Always dry your brushes laying down so you don't ruin the shape of the brush.  Many times for smaller brushes you can use a makeup removing wipe and brush your makeup brush back and forth until the pigment is gone.

ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION

• Luminous pink powder or bronzer to add a glow to dull winter skin that is just starting to get its summer glow back.
• A nude or light colored lip gloss or stick that will make your lips pop with out over doing it. spring and summer is all about natural effortless beauty. 
• After being in the sun for a while you may want to consider checking into a new foundation color that will match your new pigment until winter. It is always good to buy one shade higher than your shade in winter.
• Highlighter is a great add to any women's collection for any season since it helps to make your eyes pop and stand out with any makeup look. You apply it under your eye brows and in a "C" shape  following your cheek bone from the outer corner of your eye. 

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St. Patrick's Day "Sultry Green Smokey Eye"

St. Patrick's is all about wearing green, so why not have festive makeup?

When many people think green makeup it seems clownish but it doesn't have to. In fact green is a great accent color for people with brown eyes. I have put together a green smokey eye that is really easy and doesn't go over the top. So when you find your self going out to the bar on St. Patty's day or any other time you can wear green eye shadow and still look fierce in 8 simple steps.

Final Product

Lets Get Started!!!

Step 1:

Apply eye shadow primer to your eye lids. This will help hold the eye shadow on and make the color more vibrant and long lasting.

Step 2: 

Apply base color (gold or yellow) all over lids from inner corners to outer.

Step 3:

Choose a light green color and blend it into the creases of your eyelids and down to your lash line creating a small wing to your eyes.

Step 4:

Use a dark green color on your lid starting mid way and then drag it out towards the wind you already created with the light green using it as a guide. 

Step 5:

Apply black eyeliner to the top and inner bottom lash lines. (You don't want to use a liquid eye liner for this look since that creates a strong dramatic line, you want to use a pencil for a smudged smokey eye look.)

Step 6:

Fill in your eyebrows, locking in the powder with clear mascara. You will also apply your mascara.

Step 7:

Apply concealer under your eyes and smooth out, then apply your foundation. After applying foundation use a highlighter in a C motion on your cheek bone this will help your eyes pop.

Step 8:

Apply blush and highlighting blush to your check bones.

I like to apply Bare Minerals "Warmth" blush and then go over it with "true" to give it a pink golden tone.

FINISHED PRODUCT!

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Great Cheap Buys: My June Favorites

This summer has been one of the best I have seen for some great affordable make up that hits on the seasons hottest looks. Beauty doesn't have to be name brand and expensive. I was shopping around ULTA the other day and snagged some great buys. 

Many people have no idea that ULTA has an ULTA professionals section in the store with all kinds of make up products and are just as good as the expensive name brands(not just ULTA brand look for ULTA Professionals way different quality). This season there are a lot of make up sets being sold by beauty stores and these are great for the average woman that wants to expand her collection. 

Here are my June Favorites!

-Sephora's new "Colorista Custom Makeup Palette" comes with 40 eye shadows, 5 cream liners, 15 lipstick/lip glosses, 4 blushes, and 2 bronzers. This contains colors to create nude natural looks all the way to colorful fierce runway looks for a night out. This comes with a removable compact that you can pop the makeup into to take it on the go. (Value $155)

-Sephora sponsored Beauty in a Box featuring Too Faced "Endless Summer" composition. This is limited edition and also contains a how to guide for looks. The box contains shadow insurance, "Lovey Dovey" shadow quad, sun bunny bronzer, glamor gloss, lashgasm mascara(black), and tanning bed in a tube. This is everything you need all summer from shadows to self tanning lotion your sure to have a complete summer look. (Value $120)

-Smashbox Cosmetics "Softbox Eye Palette" contains everything you need to create a soft natural eye look. This palette features 9 shadows, 2 creamy liners, eyelid primer, and a double ended brush. Also contains a look book and how to create three separate looks day to night. This is easy to cary and you can go from a day to night look with ease. (Value $181) Definite summer must have.

-Revlon's Illuminate palettes are amazing! They come in sets of four cream colors that all compliment each other. These are great for summer since they are easy to apply and you can create effortless look with just your fingertips! 

ULTA Professional's line is great for getting cheap but effective beauty products. These are four of my favorite.

ULTA Professional's "Divine Lashes Lash Growth Serum" is a great alternate to spending a lot of money on Latisse or other lash products to help create healthy growing lashes. You apply at night after washing your face to your upper lash line to promote healthy long lashes. 


ULTA Professional's "Eye Primer" works great if not better than most high name brand primers. It comes in a nice container that allows you to use a brush to apply. It also dries very fast and holds eye shadow all day long. Most primers run $18- $30 dollars and this one is $12. Can't beat a deal like that.


ULTA Professional's "Pro Hydro Primer" Is one I can compare to Smashbox's "Photo Finish Primer" and it works just the same except adds hydration to your skin for people with dry skin this is perfect before powder foundation for an easy smooth finish. Summers tend to dry us out so this is a perfect primer for your foundation at an unbelievable price.


ULTA Professional's "Professional Secret Weapon Concealer" is perfect for under your eyes to brighten your summer look. You can use it even without foundation to make your eyes pop, hide dark circles and cover and blemishes.

Urban Decay has some great summer must haves and here are my June Favorites:

Urban Decay's "Naked Palette" has 12 gorgeous neutral eye shadows that range from light tans to dark grey/blues with an array glitter, shimmer and matte colors to choose from. This also includes a shadow brush and potion eye primer. You can go from office neutrals all the way to night out sultry smokiness. 

Urban Decay's "24/7 Cream Eye Liners" are perfect for achieving this years hottest runway make up trends colorful eyes. Many designers are using colorful popping colors for eye liners and you can look just like the models. There are easy to apply and color last all day and night. There is also a pack for $38 featuring all colors of 24/7 liner.

Urban Decay's "Urbanglow" is a great cream face highlighter. This allows you to accent your facial assets you want others eyes to go toward. Great for cheek and brow bones. There are four shades of Urbanglow and each can be used on any skin tone. Go check them out!

Urban Decay's " Lip-Primer Potion" is perfect this season because bright lip colors are in. It is hard for lip glosses and sticks to stay on. This applied before those will help brighten as well as keep your color on longer.