The BEST Way to Remove Waterproof Mascara!

I used to absolutely HATE waterproof mascara. Only because it's so difficult to remove! Either I'd hurt my eyes trying to scrub it off with a remover pad or I'd burn my eyes trying to use baby shampoo (the "no more tears" kind, no less!) and there was still leftover gooky residue on my lashes! However, at that time I lived mostly an indoor-life. I have awful allergies and I burn beneath the sun. I also wasn't a very active person either.

Now, some of that has changed. Sunscreen has gotten much better (and very water and sweat resistant!) so I can be outside for more than 5 minutes before I burn. Before, I'd reapply every hour and still burn. Now, I reapply every hour or hour and a half and no burn or tan to speak of. Not that I tan. At all. I also lead a much more active lifestyle. So I sweat a lot. So I can't wear regular mascara. I also don't wear most other makeup - such as foundation - because I'd just sweat it off. So how does a (sweaty, he he) girl wear makeup with an actie lifestyle?

You switch to waterproof mascara, waterproof liner, and lipstain. After you do that, you have to figure out a trick to remove all that waterproof loveliness without 1)Hurting yourself 2)Causing permanent (gasp!) wrinkles and 3)Blinding yourself

So how does one do all that - and not, God forbid, go over budget? Easy, I say! And you probably have all the tools in your medicine cabinet! This is what you need:

• Petroleum Jelly - the cheaper the better! Generic is exactly the same as name brand, if you ask me. If you don't have petroleum jelly, Cold Cream or a cream-based makeup remover will do.
  
• Fingers or a Q-tip depending on your preferences.
  

I like to use my fingers - it's messier, but easier to coat all your lashes that way. I just dip my index finger in the petroleum jelly (a little goes a LONG way!) and rub index finger and thumb together. Sandwich lashes between index finger and thumb. Rub and roll lashes until you get them all coated. Do the same to the bottom ones if you used the waterproof mascara on them. After you get all the lashes nice and goopy, wait about 5 minutes. It depends on the mascara and how much you applied - I use waterproof CoverGirl LashBlast and I apply a lot - I only had to wait a couple minutes. Then use an extra soft washcloth (baby washclothes are nice and they're super cheap) or cotton pad dipped in warm water. Gently wipe the petroleum jelly away.

Viola! It works and it doesn't dry out your eye area AND it doesn't burn or hurt! It also conditions the lashes nicely. You may have to reapply if you didn't wait long enough the first time though - but it's no big deal since it's not painful or difficult or expensive to begin with.

So, what do you think about this tip? How do you remove waterproof mascara? Do you prefer remover or a different way? Share!

Clarisonic *UPDATE* #3

I've been using the Clarisonic religiously for nearly 3 weeks now. I'm still breaking out - not a lot, but I've gotten more cystic pimples in the last 3 weeks than I've gotten in 3 months. All of my acne is pretty much gone except for one pimple - a nice sized cystic pimple right by my right nostril. I'm really hoping that this is the last one.

The rest of my face looks great though. My pores look and feel smaller. My blackheads are starting to disappear. I don't feel so gross going out in public with hardly any makeup on. Now I can pretty much get by with tinted moisturizer, gel bronzer, waterproof liner and mascara, and maybe some lipstain - I fished out my Revlon lipstain called Just Bitten in Cherry Tart. I'm going to try it again and see if it works better this time around.

Anyway - I'm glad I bought the Clarisonic. My face feels much better even though I'm breaking out. I really believe that the acne will clear up (it's tapering off) and the exfoliation from the brush is really making my skin look fabulous.

I do think that I will have to switch to a more gentle cleanser in cooler weather though. My skin has been feeling dry ever since I started the regimen with the brush and I do have to moisturize after each use.

All in all, this was a great purchase. I do still think that the price is still a little high. But I'm still glad I bought it and I'm glad I was able to afford it. If you need help but can't afford the Clarisonic, I suggest the iSkin Pore Perfecting System. Sally's Beauty Supply sells them and they're only $24.99 (with your Sally's Card) or $29.99 without the card. It has great reviews and it has to be better than cleansing manually.

CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain Product Review

I bought the CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain because the summer is now here and lipsticks and glosses don't hold up in the high heat and humidity of Iowa. I'm also a mother of a 2-yr-old girl and it's a pain-in-the-you-know-what to reapply your lipstick or lipgloss every 5 minutes. I also really hate the feel of most lipsticks after it has been on my lips for awhile. It either gets really dry and makes my lips feel sandpapery or it feels goopy and gross and it smears all over the place.

I've tried MILLIONS of different lipstains over the years and I have yet to settle on liking one enough to keep buying it. The best ones I've tried had the marker-like felt tip applicators. They're the easiest to apply on the go and the likelihood of product dripping and staining something besides your lips is pretty low. So I decided that this one would be good to try. It's difficult to find lipstains in your local mega-mart store so I thought it was awesome that such a widely known (and widely sold!) brand such as CoverGirl had one out. Especially since I didn't really care for Revlon's version.

I purchased two different shades - Everbloom Kiss and Teasing Blush. I bought Everbloom Kiss because it looks like a pretty shade of pink - great for evening since it seems a little bright. The Teasing Blush was recommended on CoverGirl's website. It seemed like a nice, neutral muted pink - perfect for a more natural, everyday look.

The Good

The applicator is perfect. You can easily whip this stuff on without having to concentrate too much - unlike stains with a rollerball type application. The colors available are also great - most companies who offer lipstains don't offer a wide variety of colors which is unfortunate. The lid is also unique - it has a lid WITHIN the lid to help keep it from drying out. It doesn't dry your lips out the way many lipstains do either. It's not too bad of a price compared to other brands out there.

The Bad

The color doesn't last long at all. Other lipstains I've tried you've pretty much had to scrub them off. This one just kind of...fades away. It also doesn't seem to dry very fast on lips. This morning when I went to wear it, I put it on after I'd done the rest of my makeup and I went to get dressed. It took probably 10-15 minutes. Then I went back to put a clear gloss on top. It smudged and smeared all over and I think it made it last an even shorter amount of time! It also fades pretty fast after eating as well. The whole point of a lipstain is the STAIN - the lasting power. This product just didn't hold up.

The Ugly

The colors are just...weird. If you go to CoverGirl's website and you look at the swatches they have available, the shades all look pretty and natural for the most part. Well, they don't look like that on your lips. The Everbloom Kiss looked VERY vibrant - practically hot pink. The Teasing Blush looked pretty much the same except darker and slightly more red. The colors are very dark and in your face. My sister purchased the Flirty Nude and it turned her lips a bright shade of Tangerine. These shades would all probably look decent on women with darker skin - not women who are practically albino (me). I've also tried to tone down the color - I always only use 1 coat and I tried blotting it when it was still damp. It helped a little but not a whole lot. I've also tried layering different glosses on top with okay results.

What I think...

If you absolutely have to try this product, wait until a local store has it on sale. Many stores in my area often have CoverGirl products for BOGO 50%. This isn't the worst lipstain I've ever tried, but it isn't the best either. Don't expect miracles from this product. I do recommend it to friends just because it's probably the best lipstain you can buy for the price. Also - you may want to look into return policies at the store you purchase it. Some stores will let you return the item, even if it's opened, if it doesn't work out for you. Keep that in mind! I recommend that you chose Everbloom Kiss or Sassy Mauve if you do decide to buy this product. They are the least bright and most natural of all the colors. Don't try the Coy Coral or Flirty Nude unless you're absolutely sure you'll like them - if you like tangerine colored lips then you'll be fine.

Tips

I don't recommend you buy or use lipstain if you have very dry lips. I used to have chapped lips all the time and lipstain + chapped/dry lips = ew. Lipstain automatically colors the dryer areas darker than the rest. Also, if you pick off the dry skin, the lipstain will make the new, smooth skin darker than the rest too - leaving little dark splotches all over your lips.

Everyone should exfoliate their lips before applying lipstain - you can use a soft bristled toothbrush dipped in Vaseline and gently work it over your lips to get rid of the flakies. You can even use a gentle scrub. If your lips are feeling a little dry, apply a rich eye cream lightly and let it completely soak in and dry up before you apply the stain.

P.S. I took photos of what the lipstains look like on my lips. Sorry about the quality! I just did it really quick with my cellphone.

Long-lasting Tinted Moisturizer for Acne-prone and oily skin

As we all know, summer really isn't the greatest time of year to wear a full face of makeup. You sweat and there's humidity (in Iowa, anyway!) and you end up with a gross, runny mess all over your face and running down your neck. So what does a girl have to do to get some coverage WITHOUT the mess?



There's tinted moisturizer! But tinted moisturizer is usually pretty sheer when it comes to coverage so it basically only helps even out the minor skin issues. And a lot of tinted moisturizers disappear after an hour or so. What do you do if you want more coverage? If you want something long lasting? Without the runny mess?

I couldn't find a product that would do any of that for me. And with my face being a mess right now (Why? Click here!), I need some extra coverage. Unfortunately, the weather here is hot, humid, and sweaty. I also lead an active lifestyle -I go on a walk everyday with my daughter and I go to the gym everyday, though I don't wear makeup to the gym. My family and I go on outings often - to the beach, to the park, grilling, etc. We're outside in the hot, icky, sweatiness a lot in the summer! So I need something that will cover yet also not turn into a gross mess AND last a while. So I made my own - and it helps with the acne (which I hope is only temporary - ugh!). The best part is that it actually works and it's super cheap to concoct!


Here's what you need:
1. Moisturizer. For acne, I used Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer with Salicylic Acid. If you don't need the acne help or can't find this moisturizer, try something mattifying. I like mark. Matte Chance moisturizer. Make sure that whatever moisturizer you use, it's fast absorbing, non-oily, and pretty thin. Don't try doing this with some ultra thick face butter stuff. It won't work right. If you NEED something ultra moisturizing, try Olay Complete All-day Moisture Lotion with SPF 15 or Olay Classic Care Beauty Fluid.

2. A long lasting foundation! Preferably one you have tested and know that it truly is long lasting. Now is not the time to be experimenting with foundation. If you're mixing any products together, you should always know that they work separately - if you don't like your concoction then you can still use the products because you like them and know they work. I used Avon's Perfectwear Extralasting Foundation in Ivory (I'm super pale). It's the foundation that I use all year but it's a little heavy for summer. It does last when I sweat but it's just too heavy and has too much coverage for this time of year.

Now, first you should make up a batch just big enough to cover your face so that you can test it and decide if you like it. You don't want to make up a huge amount and hate it. So here's what you do:

1. Wash your face extremely well with a deep cleanser. If you have a face brush such as the Clarisonic, good for you! That well definitely help with absorption. However, using a wash cloth is fine. You can also use a soft facial cleansing brush (they're cheap!) as well. There are also alternatives to the Clarisonic out there that are cheaper such as the iSkin Pore Perfecting System. Pat your face dry and we're ready to go!

2. Put a small amount of foundation in the palm of your hand - about HALF the amount you would normally use to cover your face.

3. Then put the same amount of moisturizer on your palm. Be careful in the amounts of moisturizer vs. foundation. If you add too much foundation, you'll have too much coverage and you won't really have a tinted moisturizer - you'll have a moisturizing foundation. If you add too much moisturizer, your foundation will be too sheer and probably won't cover much. I use equal amounts and it works fine for me. If you want a little more coverage, add a few drops of foundation. If it's a little heavy for you, add a touch of moisturizer.

4. Mix the moisturizer and foundation in your palm with your finger until you can't distinguish the difference between the two.

5. Use your fingers to gently spread the tinted moisturizer across your skin. If you have the right color, it will sink in and be virtually undetectable. Blend well. If you have areas that need extra coverage (under eye circles, scars, acne) just pat on a bit of the tint on the area until it sinks in to your skin.

6. You might want to use a powder over top to get rid of any shine and to help set it. My favorite to use is a translucent mineral powder because it's finer and has less pigment than traditional translucent powder. If you use a powder with pigment, you're counteracting what you just did with the whole tinted moisturizer.

After you've created your tint, you can mix up a small batch of it in a small container. I wouldn't make up more than a couple week's worth as it can go bad and separate if you make too much and don't use it up in time. I don't know the exact time frame in which the product will go bad as it all depends on which brands and products you use. You should be fine for at least a couple weeks though. It's best to store the mixture in an opaque container so that light can't get through and break the product up. You should also store the mixture away from light and humidity so that bacteria don't grow in it. A lot of women find that storing cosmetics in the fridge helps.

I hope you enjoyed this article! Feel free to post any suggestions and let me know how this recipe worked for you! Did you like it? Not so much? Or did you come up with your own recipe?

Another Clarisonic Update!

Ok, I have been using the thing for nearly a week now. The acne has gotten a lot worse - I have a couple near my nose, a painful one in the painful area between my nose and my top lip, and a cystic pimple on my chin - which is also very painful and very annoying.

Ugh! I know, I know...I have heard that it gets worse before it gets better with this device. I've been using it religiously - twice a day, every day, for 2 minutes each time. I also use a heavy-duty cleanser for acne prone skin.

I'm just praying that this doesn't continue much longer! I have read reviews of this product where the women couldn't get rid of their acne after using for an entire month - after which, they returned the product because they figured it wouldn't get any better (and because of the 30 day return policy).

I just really (REALLY) hope it gets better....I'll let you know if there are any updates!

Clarisonic *UPDATE*

I've been using my Clarisonic since Tuesday. What kind of changes can I report?

The first thing I noticed is that my face felt cleaner and softer than I ever remember it being.

Now, my face is incredibly soft, my pores look a little smaller, my acne has faded, and my scars (only had a few minor acne scars) have pretty much disappeared. And that's only in 3 1/2 days!

I have gotten a few small pimples, but that's a good thing! Why? Because it means that the cleansing is drawing the impurities out of my skin. The pimples themselves are pretty minor and small and since I'm still using the brush, they go away pretty fast.

I can also definitely tell that my facial treatments, moisturizers, and serums are being absorbed better. Before, it felt kind of like they were just sitting on the surface of my skin - when I touched my face, I could feel a layer of "filmy stuff". Now, they absorb fast and there's no film leftover! I use Avon's Anew Rejuvenate Flash Facial Concentrate in the am and after that absorbs, I use Avon Clearskin Immediate Response Spot Treatment with salicylic acid (2%) on pimples. If I have to wear makeup that day, I will later apply mark.'s Matte Chance Mattifying Lotion and Avon Magix as a primer and then my usual makeup. I usually try not to wear makeup much in the summer (which is why I bought this brush!) because I HATE the way it feels on your skin when you sweat - not only that, but it looks like crap. So I bought this brush hoping that it would help my skin so that I don't feel the need to wear foundation. I will still definitely wear mascara, eyeshadow, lipgloss, lipstick...it's foundation that really bothers me. In the evening, after using the brush, I apply Avon's Anew Clinical Derma-Full x3 with Hyaluronic Acid - I apply it on areas with fine lines (around the crow's feet area and around the mouth - I don't really have wrinkles yet but I want to prevent them as much as possible) and on areas that are prone to wrinkles and creases (forehead, "paretheses" around the nose and mouth). After that absorbs, I apply Avon Anew Alternative Clearly C vitamin C serum with 10% vitamin C - I use a super tiny amount. It does help with acne a lot as long as you don't apply too much. Depending on how bad my breakout is, I might apply the spot treatment again right before bed.

So far, I can tell that the brush is really working! My face seems clearer and my skin feels so much better. If you can afford this brush, I strongly recommend it! And like I said in my previous post - try QVC. Sometimes, they have the easy pay option so you don't have to pay the full price at once. It changes sometimes too - so if you go on their website and they don't have it for the Clarisonic, keep checking back because they may start offering it again!

Super deal at ULTA!

I's sure you've heard of ULTA - the amazing cosmetics super store? They also carry many other items besides cosmetics AND they offer salon services in their stores!

Well, today I received an email from them (yay mailing lists!) and they are having a super awesome deal! Spend just $25 (before tax and shipping, of course!) and get a gift bag full of 25 (yes, 25!) FREE samples - a $75 value! You can also get FREE shipping if you spend $25 or more (you'll see the offer in your shopping bag after you've added $25 in items).

A good thing to spend that $25 on right now is sunblock. I purchased the ULTA Dry Touch Faces Sunblock in SPF 80 and ULTA Oil-Free Continuous Spray Sunblock SPF 70 - the best part is that they were both BUY 2, GET 2 FREE so I bought 2 of each and got 2 of each free! So hop on the beauty band-wagon and go on ULTA.com to get your deals! Click on the ULTA logo up above!

Interested in making your own makeup?

I recently came across a very interesting website. It's called Do It Yourself Cosmetics and they carry all of the basic items you would need to make your own lipglosses, lipsticks, mineral foundations, eyeshadows, etc. They even have cool containers to put the finished product in - such as Dial-up Lip Pens for lipgloss (you know, those pens that click when you twist the bottom to dispense the gloss?) and traditional wand containers. The site is really worth looking at if you're interested in making your own products. Take a look - just click on the logo above!

Basic Lipstick/Lipgloss Recipe

Everyone has a few lipsticks lying around that they never wear. Either the color is weird, the texture is weird, or there's just something about it that you don't like.

Fortunately, that problem can be fixed! Grab up your yucky lipsticks ladies and let's make some new stuff!






For a basic recipe, you'll need:

• Your unusable lipstick(s)
• Vaseline petroleum jelly (or some similar, non-perishable goo for you ladies that won't use petroleum based products.)
• A small pot - such as an empty Carmex pot or a small screw top container
• A small microwavable container that you don't really care about - it could become stained

If you don't like the color of the lipstick you have, you'll want to find another lipstick that will change the color of it. If color is just too intense for you, then don't worry about it. If you don't have another lipstick laying around whose color will work with your icky one, stop by the dollar store, K-mart, or Wal-Mart and buy a cheapie one that will work.

If you're trying to make the color work, you need to figure out what other lipstick to add to it that will make it work. Say your red lipstick is too orange and you'd like a more pinkish or blueish based color. You could mix it with a plum or a pink lipstick. Or say your lipstick is way too dark. Use another lipstick IN THE SAME COLOR FAMILY that is much lighter - that way it will lighten up the color.

After you've got all your stuff together, decide on how pigmented you want your lipstick/gloss. If you want it to be bright and opaque, you'll need more lipstick than petroleum jelly. If you REALLY want it to be lipstick-esque, you may not want to add petrol. jelly at all. The more petroleum jelly you add, the sheerer the color will be. Also, be careful not to make so much that it won't all fit in your container.

After you've decided on that, add the lipstick and petrol. jelly to your microwave container. Microwave for 30 secs and then look at the mixture. You may have to stir it a little (I used a butter knife). If it's still fairly solid, microwave for 15 secs and stir again. Keep microwaving at 15 sec intervals until it melts and stirs together well. The colors must be evenly dispersed throughout the petroleum jelly so that they apply to your lips evenly. If you didn't use petroleum jelly, the colors must mix well with each other or the application will be streaky. While the mixture is still liquid-y, scrape it into your container. Place container in fridge until mixture firms up. Apply with your finger or with a lip brush. TaaDaa!

My New Clarisonic Face Brush!

I am SO excited! Never in my life have I splurged like this. To me, buying a name brand product (Neutrogena, Pantene, Biore, etc) over a store brand product is a splurge. The only time in my life when I bought more expensive salon products was when I managed a salon for about a year. If it hadn't been for the somewhat decent paycheck and the dicount, I probably wouldn't have bought it. And it was still a big deal!

But anyway, I bought the Clarisonic brush online from Face, Etc. and I just received it today! First of all, I bought it from them because they offered FREE and fast shipping. I was tempted to buy it from Amazon, but the only free shipping they offer is the super saver shipping which takes forever! Face, Etc. sent my Clarisonic via FedEx ground and requested that it be signed for - which is nice because I don't like having my (expensive) packages left on my doorstep for potential theives! I ordered it last thursday (5/14) and it came today (5/19) which is pretty fast. If I'd ordered it one or two days earlier, it probably would have come on Friday!

So, the brush comes with a docking cradle, a sensitive brush head, instructions, and 3 samples of different cleansers. Face, Etc. also sent SEVERAL samples of various products along with the brush - the amount of samples were quite surprising!

As for the brush - it's amazing. Anyone who can afford one should buy one. I know that QVC was selling the brush and offering the easy pay option - they divide the cost of the brush into 4 or 5 montly payments which helps make the brush more affordable.

The Clarisonic uses sonic technology (like the Phillips SonicCare Toothbrush) to remove makeup, dirt, and dead skin from your pores which helps your other products (such as moisturizer, acne treatments, and anti-aging treatments) absorb better. It's proven that it removes 6 times more makeup than traditional superficial cleansing. And it's true! I have hormonal acne breakouts every month - some worse than others. I had a bad one this month and I had to wear a lot of makeup to cover it. My goal is to not have to wear such heavy makeup - I want to be able to wear none or at the very least, a tinted moisturizer with powder. I decided to put the clarisonic to the test. First, I "removed" my makeup how I usually do: Wetting my face and scrubing my skin with my cleanser. I rinsed my face. Then, I used the Clarisonic (without cleanser, just a damb brush head) and went over my face with it for the recommended times. Makeup was still coming off! I could see it on the brush head and it was turning the water on my face tan colored! Amazing.

After I was done using the brush, I looked at my face in the mirror. My acne spots were lighter in color - not quite as red as they were before. My face felt really smooth, almost buttery soft - like a baby's bottom lol. My huge pores on and around my nose looked less visible and my blackheads looked better! Wow. Then I applied my moisturizer with salicylic acid. Since I cleaned my face with that brush I haven't felt oily at all - and my face usually gets oily fast after I clean it. In fact, it still feels really clean and it's 6 hours later!

So far, I'm really impressed with this brush. It's very gentle on the skin and it almost relaxes you. It does feel a little weird when you clean your nose area with it though. I am hoping that when I go to the zoo with my family this summer (June 24th) I won't have to wear much makeup. I hate when you have to wear a ton of makeup and it's hot outside and you're sweating and you just know that your face probably looks awful...but it's either look splotchy and weird with sweaty, runny makeup OR look like a leper with dark circles, acne, wrinkles, and sun spots! Decisions, decisions!

Anyway, I will keep posting updates on my journey with the Clarisonic.

Oh, also - if you have any questions about the Clarisonic or anything like that, make sure to post them! I'd love to answer them for you!

If you can't afford the Clarisonic or you just don't want to spend that kind of money, there is another electric facial brush available. It's called the iSkin Pore Perfecting System and it's sold at Sally's Beauty Supply and you can purchase it online or in stores. From what I've heard, it's not as good as the Clarisonic but it's better than plain, old manual cleansing! Compare it to toothbrushes - a Clarisonic is like the expensive Phillips SonicCare toothbrush. Manual cleansing is like a plain, old fashioned toothbrush. And the iSkin is like the Oral-B CrossAction or Crest Spin Brush elecric toothbrushes. I haven't personally used this brush, but it has a lot of good reviews...and hey, it's only $30. Plus, it's gotta be better than the traditional way!

Kat Von D: Luxe look for less!

Kat Von D is one of the most interesting, talented, and gorgeous women on TV - in my opinion anyway. She's an amazing artist with a great personality and she doesn't give a crap about what people think of her. She doesn't take crap from anyone - who doesn't love that? - and she looks hot doing it. Now, not all of her fashion and makeup choices are ones I like but hey, at least she's not afraid to be herself and try something new! I'd rather look like an idiot by looking like myself than look like an unoriginal copycat by trying to look like someone else!

That being said, I came across this photo of Kat on the Sephora website. I love the look, but the makeup (which is Kat's own brand) is a little pricey. Also, if you want this look, you have no choice but to make it your own and change a few color shades. Why? Because red lipstick is a difficult thing to pull off. You have to base it on your skin tone. Do you look best in cool colors (such as blues, greens, purples, jewel tones) or do you look best in warm colors (oranges, corals, reddish-browns, reds, yellows). A cool-toned person will look best in a blue based red lipstick - such as a cherry red like Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick in Love That Red or CoverGirl Continuous Color Lipstick in Really Red.
Someone with a warm skin tone should wear a red lipstick that is orange based. Try Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fire & Ice or L'Oreal Color Riche Lipcolour in British Red.

You'll also need a foundation that matches your skintone perfectly. Try Almay Smartshade makeup. You'll need to make your skin look as flawless as possible so you'll need a concealer that matches your foundation and a concealer that is a shade LIGHTER than your foundation - for any undereye circles.

The eye makeup can be easily recreated using an eye pallette that contains a black or very dark brown shade, a medium brown shade, and a shimmery champagne or pale yellow shade. Try CoverGirl Queen Collection Eyeshadow Quads in Lionqueen. Or, if you want to make the look your own, try CoverGirl Eye Enhancers 4-kit Shadows in Drama Eyes. You may want a liquid liner as well for this look. It will look more natural if you use a wet black shadow instead. Just dampen your eyeliner brush and dip it in the shadow - preferrably on the edge of the shadow if you're using a pressed powder shadow. If a pressed powder shadow becomes wet or damp and then dries, it can be difficult to use it later. Just draw it on with the brush as you would regular liquid liner.

You can also recreate the eyebrow with a matte finish eyeshadow color that is slightly lighter than your hair color. Just use an angled eyeliner brush to lightly fill in your brows and set with a brow gel or clear mascara. It's better to use a brow powder than a brow pencil because it looks more natural.

Blush...well, I suggest going for a very neutral shade of brownish peach blush such as CoverGirl TruCheeks Blush in TruCheeks 2. Don't apply the colors to the apples of your cheeks, apply it to the HOLLOWS of your cheeks. To find the hollows, just suck your cheeks in like you're trying to make a fish face. The indented area right beneath your cheekbone is the hollow of your cheek. By applying your blush here, it makes your face look more contoured and less round. This trick is great for women with rounder faces or women who think their cheeks are too plump.

That's it! Granted, you probably won't look exactly like Kat, but I'm sure you'll look great! Just remember: Whenever you're using someone's look for inspiration, always make it your own. Try drifferent colors that complement your coloring better. And keep in mind that this particular look requires that a lot of makeup is used - usually it's not recommended that someone pair a bold eye with a bold lip. Don't feel like you did something wrong if you try this look out and it doesn't look the greatest. Instead, tone down the eye makeup or try a lipgloss on the lips instead. Remember that this look is best for a concert or for going out - not for everyday wear. However, if you do it right, it can translate into an everyday look. For that, I would suggest not doing the brows unless you have very, very sparse brows. Just groom them up a little. I would suggest toning down the eye makeup a lot - try lighter colors and don't wing out the liner quite as far. You can do the red lip, just go for a more sheer version. Try a sheer red gloss instead. If you're not a gloss person, try a lipstain or wear a lipstick that isn't quite as bright - maybe a more muted, velvety red instead.

So what do you think of this look? Do you like the products I chose for recreating the look? And what do you think about Kat herself? Remember - you don't have to register to post!

A New Use for Perfume Strips in Magazines

We all know what they are: little annoying strips that stink up your nice magazine. Sometimes they smell good and sometimes they're awful. But now there's a new use for them!

First, rip out all the ones that you like the smell of. Don't rip out the whole page, just the strip.

Now, you can put a strip in your purse, lingerie drawer, sock drawer, gym bag, gym locker, etc., to make it smell good! Just don't put more than 1 strip in each place unless they have the same perfume on them otherwise it will be more likely to stink than smell good.

You can also use the strips as bookmarks - it will scent the pages of your book and possibly help you relax (depending on the scent) while reading!

You can slide a perfume strip inside your pillow case so you can smell it while you're sleeping - especially if it's a relaxing scent.

In a more obvious fashion, you can use one in a pinch if you don't have any perfume or body spray on hand or if you don't have time to take a shower before going somewhere.

So what do you think? Will you use any of these ideas or do those strips just annoy you? Tell me what you think!

Update on Sea Salt Texturizing Spray Recipe!

I figured that when I woke up this morning, my hair would be super dry because I'd fallen asleep with it in my hair.

Lo and behold, my hair was super soft and shiny. It was even more manageable than usual - it was so much easier to style. I think the conditioner in the spray really helped! So, it's really a Leave-in Conditioner/Sea Salt Texturizing Spray! Sweet!

MOOM All-Natural Hair Removal System - Review!

After having my bimonthly eyebrow wax done, I began to wonder....why couldn't I just do this myself and save the $30 a month? I was a little nervous - I've never really been able to inflict pain upon myself (except once in college when I was drunk and I pierced my own nose...but that's another story!). But eyebrow waxing doesn't really hurt that much. It's actually better than ripping off a band-aid. So I did some research on the products available and this is what I found.

If you're new to the whole at home waxing dealie-bob, then your best bet is to buy something small - preferably a trial sized or travel sized version. You don't want to be out $20 or more because you don't like the product or you can't wax yourself!

After a few hours of research, I decided on the MOOM waxing system. For one thing, it's all-natural. It contains NO WAX! It's made purely from organic sugar ingredients. Cool, right? And you don't have to heat the stuff to make it work either. The linen strips are reusable AND washable - since it's made from sugar, the "wax" washes right off. So that's a little less trash to throw in a landfill and a little less petroleum to be made and used. The MOOM travel kit is perfect if you're just going to wax your eyebrows, upper lip, and/or chin area. It comes with a 1.6 fl oz jar of wax (which will last awhile), 2 wooden spreading sticks which are small enough that they apply the product pretty precisely, and 6 good-sized linen strips which are reusable.

Before starting, make sure your skin is dry and well hydrated. Don't wax areas that are extremely sensitive or have open sores or rashes. You'll also want to have a damp washcloth on hand to remove any wax that's leftover or is placed wrong.

Now, using this product is a little tricky at first. It's pretty thick and goopy. Read the directions but don't follow them perfectly. For example, my directions suggested to wax the upper lip that you apply an amount about the size of a pea. That was way too much! The thinner the layer of wax you apply, the better! So use as little as possible.

The trick is to spread on a thin layer, hold the area taut, place on the linen strip, rub with finger 3 times briskly, and rip off strip AGAINST the hair growth - so if hair grows down, rip the strip upwards - and do it in a fast motion.

Once you get the hang of it, it really works! And what's weird is that it hurts much less that hair removal with regular wax. I think it's because the MOOM doesn't adhere to the skin as much as regular wax so when you rip the strip off, it only rips hairs out and not the top layer of skin like wax does.

I highly recommend that you try this product. It is messy and goopy but it's no worse than regular wax! It's much better actually. This product only cost $9.95. If you buy it at Beauty Bridge you will also get FREE shipping in the USA. No promo required, it's their policy. It only took about a week for shipping as it's shipped via USPS which isn't bad. If you have any questions about this product, let me know!

(P.S. - Before you do this, you should have your brows professionally shaped. If your brows haven't been groomed in a while, then you should have them reshaped. In the very least, use an eyeliner to draw on the outline of the brow you want and wax all the hairs outside the line)

How To Get Bella Swan's look in Twilight...on a budget!

Ok. So the point of this post is to get Bella's natural look with products that you can find pretty much anywhere and products that don't cost a ton. I don't know about you, but I can't really afford MAC makeup right now...and even if I could, I'm too cheap! If I can find something similar at Wal-mart, I'm going to buy it at Wal-mart!
So here's what she wore in the movie:

Face: SK-II Air Touch Foundation. The starter kit (which you have to have) retails for around $165. The refills retail for $90. She also wore MAC Blot Powder in Light which retails for $21.

Eyes: Eyes were prepped with SmashBox Photo Finish Lid Primer which retails for $20. Three neutral shades of MAC eyeshadows were used: Blanc Type (creamy beige, matte finish), Flute (which isn't even available! Try Girlie, a rosy-pink with subtle shimmer and a satin finish), and Wedge (soft muted beige taupe, matte finish). Each retails for $14.50 for 0.05 oz.

Blush: Visiora compact powder in PC 103 which retails for around $33.

Lips: Smashbox lip and lid primer which retails for $24 and Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick in Good-to-go which retails for $18.

So...all together the whole look would cost you $304.50 - that doesn't include tax or the refill for the foundation. Plus, you won't even have the exact look because the MAC eyeshadow in Flute isn't available anymore. So here's what you do instead:

Face: Find a foundation that matches your skintone perfectly. For a natural look, like Bella's, you need something that isn't too matte, isn't too shimmery, and isn't too dewey. Try Almay Nearly Naked Liquid Foundation (for normal skin), Almay TLC Truly Lasting Color Makeup (for oiliness and long lasting), or Almay Pure Blends makeup. I'm not biased towards Almay, I'm just using them as an example. Plus, they have one of the best shade selections available. Set with a loose powder in TRANSLUCENT, not in the same shade as your makeup (such as Ivory, Nude, Buff, or Mahogany). By setting with translucent, you avoid that "made-up" look. Translucent powder looks much more natural and you don't have to switch it out to match your foundation shade. You can also use mineral foundation for this look, but be careful which brands you choose. Many brands tend to make you look washed out and dull your complexion. The idea is to look glowy and natural.

For a good way to make your foundation look natural, apply it with a dampened wedge sponge. I always run mine under cold water (to add some glow) until it's full of water and squeeze it out. Then I wrap a dry washcloth around it and squeeze it out again. Dot foundation on your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. One little dab for each area. Blend together using the sponge. Blend outward and down on to your neck - watch for the dreaded jaw-line of demarcation! Blend, blend, blend. Then, dust on loose powder with a large fluffy brush, not a puff. A puff will apply too much powder and make you look too matte.

Blush: Try mark. Good Glowing Custom Pick Powder Blush in Afterglo. It's very natural and will look good on just about everyone. It's similar to NARS blush in Orgasm. Just dust it very lightly on your cheeks - not on the apples, like many women do. Place the blush in the hollows of your cheeks (you can see the hollows when you suck your cheeks in, like a fish). It looks less blush-like this way. Look at the picture above. Bella does NOT have blush on the apples of her cheeks, but there is a darkening underneath her cheekbones.

Lips: You can prime them with a little foundation or concealer with powder patted on top if you want. To match Bella's lipstick, try either Avon's Pro To Go Lipstick in Pink Passion or TiGi's Bed Head Joystick Lipstick in Indulge - in color charts, it looks brown but it's really a pretty pinky-plum color.

Eyes: For long-lasting color, prime with L'Oreal Decrease Eyeshadow Base. Use Maybelline Expert Wear Eye Shadow Trios in Almond Truffles 10. The shades in this match almost exactly to the MAC ones. They won't be as highly pigmented though. First, dust on the lightest shade from lash line to brow bone. Don't dust on a lot of color past the crease, there should only be a tiny amount. Wing the shadow out past the corner of your eye like you're creating cat-eyes. Then dust on the medium shade all over the lid and into the crease but NOT past the crease. Wing this shade out as well. Blend very well. Blend the last darkest shade onto your lid. The darkest part of your eyes should be at the outter corners. Blend this shade out slightly past the corners as well. Smudge with your fingers if you have to. If the color looks a little dark to you, blend on some of the medium shade. Make sure to blend all of the colors so that it is unnoticeable that you used 3 shades. Then curl your lashes and add a couple coats of a natural looking mascara (i.e. - nothing too thick or with primers or lengthening fibers - the key is to look flawlessly natural!). Try L'Oreal Bare Naturale mascara in either Black or Black Brown - don't go with anything called Blackest Black, Royale Blue, or Navy. Those colors are either too dark or too unnatural.

And there you go! A similar look for a fraction of the cost. I estimate this look to cost roughly $65 to $70 depending on where you buy the makeup and assuming you have the necessary brushes and tools...and also assuming that you don't own any of these items. The most important items are the lipstick and the eyeshadows. You probably already have a decent foundation, powder, blush, and mascara. It isn't essential that you have these EXACT items, they are used as examples only. If you already have a great natural looking mascara, use it instead! Just remember to stay as close as possible to the shades for the lipstick, blush, and eyeshadows - otherwise you'll probably end up looking totally unlike this look.

Just remember that Bella always keeps things simple and natural. Don't over do things. Don't be tempted to darken the lipstick or throw on a little liner...because that's not natural and not Bella. Less is more!

Product Reviews

I've done SEVERAL product reviews on a website called Viewpoints. Many (but not all) are beauty product related, so I've decided to add a link to them here. So here they are:

Avon Anew Rejuvenate Flash Facial Revitalizing Concentrate
Avon Clearskin Immediate Response Acne Cleanser
The Miche Bag (not beauty related, I know, but still cool!)
Pantene Smoothing Frizz Defense Creme
Mary-Kate and Ashley Shimmer Plus Allover Color
mark. Kiss Dry Goodbye Lip Smoother
L'Oreal Decrease Eyeshadow Base
Mary Kay Eye Primer
Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanning Daily Moisturizer
Conair Infinity Hair Designer Stick

Create Your Own Sea Salt Texturizing Spray!

I just came up with a recipe for a Sea Salt Texturizing Hair Spray - similar to Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray and Aquage Sea Salt Texturizing Hair Spray. How did I come up with it? I did lots of research online and combined several ingredients that sounded good. I tested it on my own hair and tweaked the recipe until it worked! Why did I decide to do this? Because I love beachy, texturizing sprays (especially the smell, yum!) but I can't find my Aquage Sea Salt Texturizing Spray anymore (sells out all the time!) and I can't afford the Bumble and Bumble one. I don't like the Sunsilk and Garnier ones - plus, this one only cost me $4 - and I have tons of ingredients leftover to make several more bottles. So, basically, I get like 10 bottles for $4! What a steal. So, here's what you need: A CLEAN spray bottle - bonus points if you can find one around your place. Otherwise you can find them super cheap at dollar stores, grocery stores, and mega marts. Make sure it holds at least 8 fl. oz. - 10 fl. oz. is better, you need the extra room for shaking. 8 fl. oz. of water - try distilled or filtered if your tap water isn't the best on hair Sea Salt - I used the more finely ground stuff because it mixes easier and faster with the water. It cost me $2.19 for a large canister of it. Use 1 tsp for each 8 fl oz of water. Coconut scented conditioner - It doesn't have to be expensive conditioner - I used Suave brand for $1 at the dollar store. I mostly added this for the "beachy" scent BUT it helps counteract the drying that the salt will cause. I used 1/2 a tsp - use more if you have extra dry hair. A dab of hair gel (unscented, preferrably - otherwise it will interfere with the coconut scent of the conditioner) Don't use gels that are too thick or goopy - they won't mix as well. Usually the cheaper brands (Dap, anyone?) are more runny and mix better. Use a higher hold gel for more hold. OPTIONAL ADD-INS: Essential oils: If you have dry or coarse hair, this is a good add-in. They will help condition your hair and add some shine. Choose whatever scent you want - ylang ylang works great for sensitive skin and problem scalps. Rosemary is great to help deepen the color of brunette's hair and chamomile brightens blonds. Use 3-5 drops. Tea Tree Oil: Great for sensitive and oily scalps. If you have oilier hair, this is the best oil to add for you since it won't make your hair oilier or weigh it down. Use 3-5 drops. More sea salt: You can add a little more if you have oilier/thicker hair. The more salt you use, the more it will dry out your hair. BUT the more you use, the "beachier" your hair will look and the more hold there will be. If the recipe doesn't have enough salt for you, add 1/4 tsp at a time until you reach the desired level. Make sure to record your changes so you know how much to add when you want to make more! Lemon or lime juice: This will add a slight citrus-y scent as well as some extra hold. If you don't want to lighten your hair, don't use this! By adding this and going out in the sun, you could lighten your hair. Add a Tbsp at a time and be careful - too much and it will be sticky! Hairspray: If you tried the spray and it STILL doesn't have enough hold for you, try adding some of your favorite non-aerosol hairspray to the mix. To keep the "beachy" look, you should use an invisible hold spray. If you don't care about that, use whatever spray you want. Just remember that the whole point of this spray is to cause a beachy, messy, undone sort of vibe. If you don't want that, maybe this isn't for you. Rubbing alcohol: Several online recipes suggest adding this. If you add lemon juice, you will need to add about 1 tsp to preserve freshness. If you have oilier hair, adding this is fine (even without the lemon juice) it will help the other ingredients dry faster and it will help with hold. Just don't add too much or else you'll smell like rubbing alcohol! You can also try vodka (if you're over 21). The scent isn't as overpowering and you can use a little more of it. Then, all you do is add all your ingredients to the spray bottle and shake it until it mixes together. Any oils added will never fully combine well with the water so you'll have to shake it a little before each use. If your hair gel and/or conditioner don't combine you can try warming the mixture in the microwave (remove any metal pieces and don't use until cool!) to see if that helps - if it doesn't, you may have used too thick of a conditioner/gel. For me (and a few friends) this worked great. We all had our own add-ins (listed above) so it was personalized to our hair types. I have jaw length, straight, thick hair and it gave my hair a nice, textured, beachy look with a medium hold and a nice scent. So, if it doesn't work how you want the first time, I suggest playing around with it. If you want more texture, add a little salt. If you want more hold, add more gel. If it dries out your hair, add some essential oils (or even some jojoba oil) or more conditioner. A friend of mine has super dry hair, so she added the salt, tea tree oil, and just a tiny bit of strong hold gel to her leave-in conditioner creme and she loved it. It gave her nice texture and didn't dry her hair out. Also - make sure you use Sea salt because it's better for your hair than table salt. It's not as drying and it has needed minerals. Styling Tips, Tricks, and Ideas When I used this product on my hair, I sprayed it on when the hair was damp. I blow dried with a diffuser until hair was fully dry. Then I lightly misted again with the spray and mussed it a bit to add more texture. It looked great! When you add the product and then blowdry, it adds TONS of volume. When you mist the product on dry hair, you add more texture with a firmer hold. If you're just looking mainly for volume, I would mist this on damp hair, flip head upside down, and blowdry. If you want the whole "beachy" hair look, mist on damp hair, scrunch, and let air-dry or blowdry with a diffuser. You can even wind dry strands around a large barrel curling iron to add more waves - just don't use the clamp on the iron! I just wanted to share this because Summer's just around the corner and I think it's a great, wallet-friendly idea. I'm so excited about this that I HAD to share it with someone! What do you think? Have anymore ideas for add-ins? Let me know how this idea works for you!