Tuesday, April 29, 2014

April Favorites!


I know I have said it a million times but I really can't believe that April is ending.  This year is flying by so fast it is incredible!  This will be October Favorites before we know it... Crazy!  Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video, I had a pretty good assortment of favorites this month!

Products mentioned:

Clarisonic Luxe Brush Head http://bit.ly/1fu3BRV
Organix Thick and Full Biotin and Collagen Weightless Oil Spray http://tgt.biz/1mWSbWO
Nugg Revitalizing Face Mask http://tgt.biz/1hO6pbp
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in All Fired Up http://bit.ly/1rC2QWW
Orly Bonder Rubberized Base Coat http://bit.ly/1hO74tj
Westinghouse Wax Free Fragrance Disk in White Tea Mint: http://tgt.biz/1nDcWt9 (I also have Sugared Petal)
Seattle's Best Toasted Hazelnut K-Cups http://tgt.biz/1rKKYLo

Go watch Mad Men and Game of Thrones, and play 2048!

There will be a new blog post very soon!  Keep your eyes peeled!  (As creepy as that expression really is...)

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Everyday Foundation Routine


I recorded my everyday foundation routine!  I do have fair skin and I try to keep my everyday look subtle and natural, but I still enjoy applying makeup.  This is the routine that I have been doing for a while now to achieve my everyday look.  I hope you enjoy!

Products mentioned:
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 http://bit.ly/1iav2iT
Ulta Super Blender Sponge http://bit.ly/1tEjpW6
NYX Dark Circle Concealer in Fair http://bit.ly/1mFMij3
Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Foxy http://bit.ly/QG65Rr
Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave Princess http://bit.ly/PuOYBg
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed http://bit.ly/QG6nrK
MAC Studio Fix Powder foundation in NC20 http://bit.ly/1lGJfaG
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder http://bit.ly/1hlwDlh
Brushes www.sigmabeauty.com

Saturday, April 19, 2014

How to Clean Makeup Brushes


I think that I have finally found the method that works the best for me and I wanted to share it!  I use Johnson's Baby ShampooDr. Bronner's Magic Soap, a weird little soap dish thing, and the Sigma Dry'n Shape.  I have been using the Dry'n Shape for quite a while now and I really love it.  I actually can't remember the days of waiting for my brushes to dry.  There is never a question of them still being damp hours later, and it helps to prevent them from losing their shape.  I know it seems like a frivolous and unnecessary item, but trust me, it is worth it!

The little nubby soap dish is a WAY cheaper dupe for the Sigma Spa Glove.  The nubs are bigger and not as intricate, but they get the job done and I find that it actually works pretty well to work the gunk out of the brush hairs.

In the video I take you step by step and show you how my method works!  I hope you enjoy!   

Thursday, April 10, 2014

My Most Used Eye Makeup Brushes


I have several makeup brushes that I love, and my eye brushes are definitely used more than any of my face brushes.  I always like to have different brushes that I can use for different things, and I am all about using what works for you.  You can use any brush anywhere, they do not have a set purpose.  I am going to go over the brushes that I use on my entire eye area, from the eyebrow to the dark circle zone.


Starting from the top, the eyebrows.  I think that I have a pretty good natural shape to my brows, but some of the hairs grow in very bright blonde, which makes them appear to be sparse.  I like to fill in my brows just to help define my face.  I think that defined brows really help to finish a look.  First I use the angled brush shown in the middle.  It came from a Sonia Kashuk brush set that I received as a gift YEARS ago, so I am sorry to say that I don't know where to find it anymore.  The handles are made to look like coral, which explains the weird porous look.  I like this brush because it has stayed in great condition, and the shape is perfect for my brows.  I'm sorry that it is kind of difficult to see, but it is a simple angled brush.  After I fill them in, I like to set my brows with clear mascara.  That's where these other two come in.  Depending on the day, I will either use the spoolie brush (also by Sonia Kashuk) or the brow brush (from Sephora).  The spoolie is easy to use and gets the job done, but if I want my brows to be a little more precise or if I just want to put in more effort, I use the brow brush on the left.  The bristles are pretty tough, which gives you nice control.


Moving on to eyeshadow brushes, these two are simple, but definitely get the job done.  The one on the left is a Sigma E55 shading brush.  This one is great because it is flat, so you can pat color all over your lid or in a more precise area.  It is also nice because you can use each side for a different color shadow.  It picks up product nicely, and it is more gentle to just pat the shadow on.  The brush on the right is also from the corally Sonia Kashuk collection, and I use it to apply color to the crease.  I will probably upgrade this one at some point because I am finding it to be a bit rough on the skin.  However, the shape and density is perfect for the crease.  It is a slight dome shape so it fits nicely in that area and distributes color well.  


These are the brushes that I use for liner or for more precise placement of color.  I am all about using eyeshadow as eyeliner and for smudging eyeliner pencil.  These brushes are perfect for that.  Starting on the left, this is a Sigma E30 pencil brush, which I use when I want to apply shadow in a very specific way, like to define the outer corner or the lash line.  I had just washed it, so it is a little fluffier than usual, but it typically has a slightly pointed shape that makes it perfect for small areas.  The next one is also from the coral Sonia Kashuk collection, but it is SO GOOD for smudging pencil liner.  It is rounded on the top but it is flat like a paddle brush, which gives it a good shape for smudging.  It is not too dense, so you don't lose too much product.  The next brush shown here is a wonderful multi-purpose brush.  It is a Sigma E20 short shader brush, and it is so great for cleaning up the lower lash line or for applying a highlight below the brow bone.  I also use this for concealer occasionally, because its size makes it perfect for small areas.  Finally, the brush on the far right is by far one of my favorites.  It came in a MAC brush set years ago, it is a MAC 212 flat definer brush.  I love it because it is super thin and precise, but it is flat, which makes it super easy to press eyeshadow into the upper and lower lash line.  I like to keep my liner pretty close to the lashes, and this really helps to achieve that.  It is wonderful quality, and no matter how much I use it, it always keeps its flat and defined shape.


Last but not least, these are my blending brushes.  The one on the left is a Sigma E40 tapered blending brush.  This brush is great for blending lines, but I usually use it to set my undereye concealer.  It is fluffy and not too dense, so it is great for lightly dusting fine powder under my eyes or across my brow bone.  The one on the right is also from the long lost coral Sonia Kashuk collection, and is essentially a larger and flatter version of the brush I use for my crease.  It is great for blending out eyeshadow.

I hope this post was helpful if any of you are looking for new eye area brushes.  I did not mention a brush for undereye concealer, because I definitely have a love/hate relationship with concealer and I have found that my fingers work the best for making sure it blends in.  Otherwise, I would recommend all of these brushes and I use them on a daily basis.  As I said, I do not believe that each brush should have a set use, and you should always find what works best for you.  







Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Recent Haul!


I recently took advantage of the Ulta 20% off members only sale.  I did try to hold back a little bit but I did pick up a few things.  I also have a couple of items from other stores included as well.  I hope you enjoy the video! (I thought the thumbnail was too funny to change... we will see if I keep it)

Links to products mentioned:
Clarisonic Luxe Facial Brush head: http://tinyurl.com/l5abchg
Ulta Super Blender Sponge: http://tinyurl.com/mhoycks
NYX Dark Circle Concealer: http://tinyurl.com/k5xvq73
Revlon Colorstay Foundation: http://tinyurl.com/nqkp5ur
NARS Sheerglow Foundation: http://tinyurl.com/ma9xzbm
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream: http://tinyurl.com/kk8kjar
Herbal Essences Naked Cleansing Conditioner: http://tinyurl.com/mrg3hzl

Another new blog post will be up shortly so keep an eye out!  :)

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Cutting and Donating Almost 12 Inches of Hair!


Holy cow I cut nearly 12 inches of hair.  This is HUGE for me.  I have always had long hair and have not had it this short in probably 15 years.  I have been wanting a change and I just decided to go for it.  My hair went to around my rib cage and now it is right around my collar bone.  It is super weird... I feel like I need to go somewhere that teaches you how to live with shorter hair.  EVERYTHING I do is different now.  I really did not think that it would be so different, but 12 inches of hair is a lot, so it is definitely a learning process...

That being said, I am very happy so far with my new hair.  It is so much lighter and healthier, and although I have not experimented much, it really will open up a new door in terms of hairstyles.  My hair really wouldn't hold a curl and wasn't very voluminous before, but I know that it will be much easier to style now.

I am going to be donating this hair to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program.  I will admit that this was a pretty fast decision, and I tend to get overwhelmed with too many options, but I do know that Locks of Love has faced some controversy for selling some of their donated hair, so I decided to go with Pantene.  It is a brand name that I trust, and they give the hair to women with cancer.  This is definitely a cause that I would like to support.  When a woman is already sick and facing such serious struggles, she should at least be able to feel beautiful.  Every woman is beautiful no matter what, but sometimes being able to doll yourself up and have fun really makes a difference.  

As soon as I saw that the minimum donation length was only 8 inches, I knew that I had to participate.  I was originally only planning on cutting off about 9 inches, but I decided to just go for it and I am actually happy that I did.  I may not have been willing to cut so much if I hadn't known about the Beautiful Lengths program, but I am so happy that I did.  

If you have been thinking about cutting a significant amount of hair, JUST DO IT!  It will grow back at some point, and if you don't do it, then you may always wonder about it.  Make sure to look at pictures and talk to a stylist you trust.  Your hair would be a wonderful gift to a woman with cancer.

If you are considering this program, here is the link that I found: Pantene Beautiful Lengths

I also posted a video about this if you want to see my hair a little more.