Sleeping in Last Night's Makeup

Sleeping in your makeup? As in not washing it off? As in resting your head on the pillow with all that slop on your face? YES! Certainly used to be a beauty taboo, but the New York Times Style Magazine thinks otherwise. Lady Gaga sleeps in her full makeup seven nights a week!

According to Sandra Ballentine, author for Allure Magazine, Edie Sedgwick reportedly never removed her false eyelashes, she just kept adding more!

Dr. Amy Weshsler, a consulting dermatologist for Chanel, the ladies with acne-prone skin should never sleep in full makeup but if you are going to, opt for mineral based products like MAC Mineralize Blush. The mineral based products are less likely to clog your pores or cause flare ups. Some products are made to be slept in oddly enough. Bare Escentuals Pure Transformation Night Treatment is a light foundation but makes pores appear smaller and he skin "dewier by morning" and wont rub off on the pillow case!





Francois Nars created a worn down look for the Marc Jacobs Spring Runway show. He completed the look with clumped mascara. Other makeup artists say the left over makeup look is their favorite look! Tom Pecheux, Estee Laude's creative director, says he loves the smudged, messy makeup look. 




Another makeup artist, Dick Paige at Shiseido, says, "Bulletproof black eyeliners and blood red lipsticks leave a lovely dirt behind, and  and a good liner will stay put, but if your having fun, the durability of your makeup should be the last thing on your mind." Nicely put Paige!

Better Beauty Sleep!

Yes, its true, sleep really does improve your look and your mood! Unfortunately only one fourth of Americans get the recommended amount of beauty sleep according to allure.com. Here are some common mistakes ladies make in their sleep routines and ways to get yourself back on track!

1) Watching TV before bed- You may not think this is harmful to your sleep but scientists think differently. The fake light that comes off the screen tricks your brain into thinking it is not time to sleep yet! The same goes for blinking cell phone lights and leaving a light on while you doze off. If you like to unwind before bed, try listening to music instead. 

2) Checking the time- Constantly checking the time on your alarm clock or phone to see how much time you have left to sleep can up your anxiety and make it hard to fall asleep. Keep your alarm clock somewhere where you can't see the time if you find yourself constantly peeking!

3) Sleeping in a warm room- Sleeping in a room with a temperature above 68 degrees is not suggested and sends wrong signals to your brain that make it difficult to fall into a deep sleep. 

4) Drinking caffeine- According to WebMD.com , if you drink mass amounts of coffee, tea and Pepsi maybe its time to rethink your drinking habits! A lot of caffeine can result in difficulties falling asleep. Doctors recommend drinking non-caffeinated drinks in the 8 hours before its time to hit the hay.

5) Smoking- Smoking cigarettes will increase your brain activity while you sleep which results in a poor nights sleep. Experts suggest having your last cigarette 4 hours before your head hits the pillow. 

6) PJ's that are too tight- Jammies that are too tight are uncomfortable and make sleep difficult! According to allure.com, a study found that sleeping in tight, body-shaping articles of clothing interfere with circadian rhythms that might decrease melatonin levels and increase body temperature. Who knew? Invest in some chic satin pajamas and sleep well! 

Catch up on some Z's with these tips and you'll be good to go! xox

The Beauty of Facial Piercings

In todays generation, facial piercings are becoming a lot more acceptable, almost commonplace. 


Facial piercings began with ancient tribes as a rite of passage into the community. Women had their lips pierced before marriage to symbolize their status.  


Tribe members also pierced their cheeks and wore bars to connect the piercings! Nose piercings began about 4,000 years ago in the Middle East for pregnant women because it was thought to make childbirth easier. Crazy right?

A very common piercing now is the nose piercing. It is actually the most common piercing after the ear! 


A study was held by a group of sociology majors at Columbia University in 2001 that surveyed 100 New Yorkers looking for a job, 50 people with nostril/cartilage piercings and 50 people with eyebrow/tongue piercings. It was found that the 50 with nostril and cartilage piercings received jobs that those with eyebrow and tongue did not. 


"Many people with facial piercings are seen as 'rougher' or 'less educated' and these stereotypes are hurting many people looking for work," says professor F. Holloway from Columbia University. Hopefully this stereotype will fade with time.

Another interesting facial piercing is the eyebrow piercing. This is a surface piercing where the needle is inserted through the bottom of the eyebrow and exits through the top of the eyebrow. When piercing the eyebrow, the professional must be careful not to come to close to the supra-orbital nerve (directly above the eye). 

For lip piercings, there are many different areas that can be pierced and it normally takes about 1 to 3 months to heal. The Monroe piercings is a labret stud worn on the upper lip that got its name from Marilyn Monroe's famous mole. Medusa piercings go through the middle of the upper lip perpendicular to the tissue. Labret piercings are pierced with a labret and can pierced in the center of the lip or can be placed off-center. 




It is important to take good care of all piercings with the proper cleaning tools to avoid infections and make sure to get all piercings done by a professional and keep it classy! xox

DIY Facial Masks That Will Leave You With Salon Results!

Sick and tired of trips to the salon every time you need a facial? I've found some great face masks that can be made using common household ingredients and will get you that glowing healthy skin!

The Breakout Mask
This particular mask is great for treating breakouts and exfoliating the skin. It was featured on BeautyBets.com and only requires two simple ingredients! 



- 1 tablespoon pure orange juice
- 1 tablespoon baking soda


The baking soda does wonders at exfoliating the skin and the orange juice will brighten your complexion. Mix ingredients together and apply the mixture to your face and neck area for about 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water and moisturize.  





Cucumber and Avocado Mask 
This mask will really help with dry skin. You will need cucumbers, avocados, 1 egg white, powdered milk and a blender. 


-1/2 chopped cucumber
-1 egg white
-1/2 chopped avocado
 -2 teaspoons powdered milk


Mix all of the ingredients in a blender until you get a pasty consistency. Apply this mask to your face and neck area in a circular motion, let dry for 30 minutes and then wash off with warm water.




Enjoy your glowing skin! xox

Classy Cat Eyes

The Cat Eye- simple, sexy and clean. What makes this look so alluring? I'd have to say the striking resemblance to one of the most seductive animals in the world. Who wouldn't want a pair of gorgeous cat eyes? This is a great night time look that can be worn over and over again that requires little effort. 

It can be traced all the way back to the days of the elegant Miss. Bardot and charming Audrey Hepburn. These ladies are some of celebrities who made this look iconic.

There are multiple ways to achieve this look. I like to use gel liner in a pot like this one from MAC and a tiny eye brush like this one from MAC also. Dip the brush in the gel and hold the eye at the outside corner taunt. Not in the market for the more expensive makeup products? Don't fret, drug stores carry gel liner too that will get you similar results. Try Maybelline New York Gel Eyeliner, it even comes with a brush!

Gently glide the brush along the upper lash line getting as close to the lashes as possible. Wing out the line farther for a more extreme look! Try some of these looks below...

xox

Lady in Red

Not every woman thinks she can pull off the elegant red lips look, but I have faith in every one out there! It is a timeless look that will never fade and if done correctly, it can be pulled off with ease ;) Countless celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Audrina Partridge, Lauren Conrad and Marilyn Monroe have glamorized this look .There are a few essential steps in perfecting the red lips look. While a lighter complexion works best with red lips because it will make the lips "pop," that doesn't mean Chanel Red lips can't be adopted by any woman.

Try these few essential steps for perfecting this look. 


*Keep the rest of the face simple (no crazy eyeshadow girls!) Maybe even skip the eyeliner and just opt for some mascara on top and bottom lids to open up the eyes. 


*LIGHTLY dust your face with some powder and your cheeks with blush. 


*Ashunta Sheriff from Harper's Bazaar suggest lining the lips first because the lipstick "tends to bleed." 


*Now on to picking the perfect color! For ladies with a more pink complexion, plum shades are always a safe choice. Girls with a more yellow tone should try "warmer reds with a brown base." A color that is suitable for all complexions is M.A.C. Lipstick in Blaze

Another tip I learned from about.com is to not wear red nail polish if your going with the red lips but I personally don't think these two looks clash (as long as you keep the nails short and classy). I also learned that a lot of artists are starting to blend lipstick colors instead of using one shade. If one shade is too bright or two dark for you, don't fret!; just keep blending with other colors until you get that perfect shade. 

Goodluck Lipstick Ladies

xox

Blogging about Brows

Hey Ladies! Ever wonder how you can get flawless brows like Kim Kardashian? 

Eyebrows have the capability to enhance a face if they are done correctly. I researched some brow how-to's and stumbled upon a book by Carmindy titled, Crazy Busy Beautiful: Beauty Secrets for Getting Gorgeous Fast!. The book has some great beauty tips for getting ready fast and still looking gorgeous. Here are a few tips I picked up from Carmindy...




Step 1: Before you start plucking away, make sure to brush brows with a spooly (mascara style brush) or eyebrow brush. Brush the eyebrows upwards and trim any long hairs with a small eyebrow scissor. 


Step 2: Next, Carmindy suggests on using a white eyeliner pencil to draw the desired shape of your brow as a guideline. Make sure you choose a brow shape that fits your face! Using the white pencil makes it easier to see your outline. Carefully tweeze around your guideline. 


Step 3: Now to fill your brows in. For this step, it is important to pick the right color pencil. If you are blonde, use a pencil to match your darkest hairs to add definition. If you are brunette, choose a color one shade lighter than your hair color to give a softer look. For redheads, use a sable color.

Step 4: After you fill in your brows, give them a little extra definition and shine with brow gel. A small dab of Vaseline will also work. If you want the fuller look like Kim, brush the inner corner of your brows straight up before applying the gel.

*It is also recommended to pluck after hot showers when the skin on the face is less sensitive and to pull skin taut to make plucking the hairs easier and painless

My go-to pair of tweezers is the Slant Tweezer by Tweezerman. These tweezers are great because they are very precise, grabbing the hair right at the root and never pinch your skin! A great investment to get your brows in tip-top shape. xox

The World of Makeup Brushes

One of the most essential tools a makeup artist needs is her makeup brush!. Makeup brushes come in all different shapes in sizes necessary for perfecting any look. You (One is too formal) may think there is no need for purchasing many different brushes, but I beg to differ. The quality of the brush matters (brush is singular and needs a singular verb. A brush matters. Brushes matter.) too, so ladies invest in excellent brushes and I guarantee you will see a difference :)

Here are some Brush World Basics...

- First, the foundation brushes are used to apply liquid, cream or mineral foundation. By using a brush instead of your fingers, the foundation will be applied smoother, therefore giving your skin a more natural look. When applying mineral foundation with a brush like this, it is important top pat off any excess foundation before applying the brush to your face. 

- The concealer brushes are great for under eye bags or hiding blemishes such as freckles and those nasty zits! When applying under eye concealer, make sure to choose a color one shade lighter than your natural skin tone to make the eye area brighter. Makeup artist Bobbi Brown suggests choosing a color for those dreaded under eye bags that is "yellow-toned" to make the eye area pop!

- The powder all over brush is good for bronzer and blush simply because the brush will effortlessly reach all areas of the face.

- Lastly, the powder brush, (t-zone brush), is good for covering up those oily parts of the skin prone to breakouts. According to www.bellasugar.com, "The T-Zone is oilier than the rest of your face because it has a higher percentage of oil glands. These areas tend to break out more often and have a higher tendency toward blackheads, whiteheads, irritation, sunburn, and redness".

Now that you've got the basics down, I thought I'd share with you some ideas on how to store your beloved brushes. 

Idea #1: Use old glass vases (available at craft stores) to create a vintage and elegant look.

Idea #2: Fill some glass vases with different color decorative gems or stones (available at craft stores) to achieve this fun and organized look. 

Idea #3: Same look as #2 just separate your eye brushes and face brushes by applying cute stickers to the glass vases for a more organized look!

xox

Everyone Can Look Gorgeous NAKED

Hey makeup artists! What's better then a makeup palette that has tons of gorgeous and totally wearable colors? I just recently fell in love with a fairly new product from Urban Decay called the NAKED Palette. It is really a breakthrough in the world of eye shadow palettes! The velvet case is long and sleek with gold lettering on the front and handy mirror inside. This palette comes with 12 stunning eye shadows. Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Darkhouse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal. 


Also, I can honestly say, I use every single one of these colors and completely agree with Urban Decay when they say you can, “Experiment with office-appropriate neutrals, summertime bronzy looks, or sultry smokiness." They are all wearable and can be used on a daily basis. My palette also came with an eye shadow brush and Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. The shadow brush is cruelty free therefore named the “Good Karma Eyeshadow Brush." (Fun Fact.) The primer potion is awesome, just dab some on before applying any eyeshadow to the lid and crease area and it will stay on all night with no running or smudges! I purchased my NAKED Palette at a Sephora for $50.00 and even though it was pricey, it was definitely a rewarding purchase and turned out to be one of my favorite makeup products.

 Since the first NAKED Palette was so successful, Urban introduced a NAKED Palette 2! I have not purchased this palette yet but have been drooling over it for a while now. (A girl can dream can’t she?) 



This new palette comes with 12 eyeshadows, one color from the original NAKED (thank God!) and some brand new colors; Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted and Blackout. The fun and flirty names of the shadows make the palette even more desirable! This new case is made of tin, which is easier to clean according to a review from Urban Decay. The review also stated that even though the colors in NAKED 2 look similar to the original NAKED, the shimmer intensity is quite different with all the shades and have an overall different look to them. This palette is also being sold for $50.00 and can be found at makeup stores all over. But hurry!; my guess is this product will be selling out sooner than you can blink your freshly done eyelids! xox

Roses and Red, Violets are Blue, Check out These Fun Nail Looks Just for You!

Hey makeup artists! Today is the day of love, chocolate and flowers, the long awaited and highly anticipated, Valentines Day! And this means us ladies must be looking our best. So whether you're complaining you’re single or in love with your hunny, try these fun looks. I have researched tons of  cute and easy nail designs that will be perfect for impressing that special someone ;)

The French Manicure V-Day Look

These two looks are my favorite because they are classy and absolutely adorable! You can achieve this look by applying a base clear coat first then a straight line in either red or white on the tip of the nail. Sometimes it is easier to place a small piece of tape below the tip of the nail and paint over it to get a perfect straight line. These cute small hearts can be applied with Konad Stamping Art Polish along with the Konad Stamping Nail Art Set. I am a big fan of the Konad products because when applied to the nail correctly, the stamp is crisp and the polish is nice and thick! 

These are super sweet looks to try too! You can achieve these looks by applying a base coat and then a solid color (red, white or pink). Then use a nail art pen like Sally Hansen's Nail Art Pen. This product is great because it’s precise and comes in seven different colors. Use one color art pen first to make the hearts or the "XOX"s then let dry. Next, use a different color nail art pen to finish off the look and voila!

These last looks are adorable to try as well. For the first look, it is important to shape the nail with a nail file to a slight point. Then use Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen and make two dots towards the tip of the nail. Then simply drag the two dots (while polish is still wet) together at the point of the nail. Finish with a clear coat when dry.

For the second look, paint the whole nail with a solid color, let dry. Then have fun with applying different designs! My personal favorites are Kiss Nail Artist Flat Nail Stickers. These stickers are easy to apply and there's no mess involved!

Don't forget a clear finishing top coat for all looks and wait at least 15 minutes for dying! I like OPI Top Coat.

*And here’s another quick tip! In case of an accidental smudge, quickly and lightly lick the smudge to smooth out the polish on the nail and no one will ever notice :)  (Who knew!)

Have fun with these looks ladies and have a great Valentines Day! xox

The Smokey Eye - A Technique Any Girl Can Master!

The Smokey Eye is definitely one of my preferred night looks when it comes to eye makeup. It’s great for a night out on the town when done correctly. It works with any eye color, shape and skin tone. There are tons of fabulous tutorials out there that how you how to perfect the Smokey Eye and I have searched high and low for the perfect one. I came across a fantastic YouTube Video tutorial that explains step-by-step how to get the look for cheap!

Click Here to Watch the Tutorial!

I really like the way this makeup artist used drugstore supplies (minus the MAC lipstick) and made the look seem like it was done professionally. Remember always go light on the lips if  you are going heavy on the eyes to avoid looking like a drag queen! xox

Oompa Loompa or Oahu? A Girls Guide to Self-Tanning

Sick of orange streaky self-tanning lotions? Afraid of the dangerous consequences from tanning beds? During these frigid winter months it's hard to find a tanning solution that you can trust to give you a natural-looking glow. I have tried many at home tanning lotions that were nothing more than blotchy disappointments. I’ve also found a few trustworthy products.

It is important to remember that before applying any self-tanning lotion, you must first exfoliate the skin. I’ve found that a body scrub with exfoliating beads works best. After exfoliating, apply regular lotion to the skin, focusing on extra dry areas like knees and elbows.

My first splendid pick is Sun Dark Instant Self-Tanning Lotion. This is my top choice because it gives you a natural look for your body and face. The company claims that it will take you from pale to tan in three hours. Don’t hold your breath. I had the best results when I applied the lotion at night just before bed. I was very happy with the color the lotion left on my skin; not a hint of that phony tan orange. The tan lasted me about three days. You can purchase this product at beauty supply stores as well as online at Amazon, ULTA and Ebay. Prices range from $14.00 to $36.00 depending on the size of the bottle.

Buy SUN Dark Instant Self-Tanning Here!

I’m also a huge fan of Fake Bake 
Self-Tanning Lotion. Love the name and the texture of the lotion.

It’s very thick and the fool-proof package even comes with plastic gloves for easy application. This product can also be purchased at beauty supply stores and online for about $25.00.

Buy Fake Bake Self-Tanning Lotion Here!

My last favorite is Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer, which comes in all different tones for different skin types and it also “firms” the skin. This product will give you a gradual tan when used over time and has a very natural look. You can find this moisturizer at drugstores or online for about $6.00.

Buy Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer Here!

Remember ladies, there’s nothing worse then an orangey, streaky faux tan, so make sure to exfoliate and really massage these lotions into the skin for a look that glows! xox