Monday, August 30, 2010

Going the Distance

Who doesn't want their dime to stretch?  Here's a quick way to keep your foundation bottle fuller for longer.  Let me first preface keeping the bottle fuller by the form of application.  This will only work if you apply foundation with a makeup sponge.


Take your makeup sponge and work in a pea-size dab of aloe vera or your moisturizer to the application part of the sponge.  I've also heard this being done with simply adding water to the sponge, but I prefer something that will hydrate your skin instead.  That way, it's a Win-Win!  


Once you've worked in the pea size of your choice, go ahead and apply your foundation as usual. I guarantee you'll have a few more applications per bottle once you start doing this.  The point is that part of the sponge that would usually soak up some of your foundation will already be full of a moisturizing substance.  Keeps the foundation on the outer part of the sponge and more will get onto your skin.


Let me know how it works out for you, or if you have a different alternative to aloe or moisturizer.


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Sunday, August 29, 2010

Even Skin Tone

Some people look at their flaws as assets.  And Kudos to them for that!  But for those of us who are trying to be more perfect and would rather cover those flaws up, check out these tricks from professional makeup artists.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Lashes Trick

Need a little lash drama?  Whether for Halloween, wedding, special event or just a night out, try the Fake Lash trend.  If you're a beginner, they've got full strips that go across your entire upper lash.  If you've been on the Fake Lash train for a while, maybe it's time to upgrade to the individual kind (really groupings of 3 lashes per).  


Which ever route you take, here's my quick advise.  It's taken me years to master the application of lashes and it wasn't until I realized that the thin line of lash glue you need on the edge needs to sit for a minute or two before you apply to your lash line.  The glue should become tacky before you place it on your lid so that it stays - if it's too wet yet, it'll pop right off or slip out of place.  


Personally, I believe application of lashes should come before your shadow.  That way, they're sticking right to your skin and don't have the layer of shadow or liner between to chance the lashes from prematurely popping off.  


You also need to be careful to get the lashes tucked firmly against your natural lashes.  This ensures they are more real looking.  And that's really what cosmetics are about... Enhancing your natural beauty!  Not making you look fake!  


Once the lashes are in place, apply liner and shadow as you normally would and even go full force with the mascara if your eyes still need a little oomph!  

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Coffee Stains No More!

In the process of packing up my house and office, I've been doing a lot of cleaning lately.  Some of the toughest stains I've ever met have been those in my well used Coffee and Tea mugs.  A quick solution to ridding your mugs of that nasty brown ring of forgotten coffee?  


Just a little acid will do!


Citrus Acid, that is.  Whether you've got OJ in your fridge or some lemons in your fruit bowl.  All you need is a little of the juice, simply covering the inside walls of your mug with the juice.  I have put it on a cloth or towel in the past, but to be honest, swishing the pure juice in the mug and letting it sit is the best removal tactic.  Not to mention saving your arm muscles.


A few minutes of sitting will be just enough and then just a simple wash and your mugs are good as new!


And, if your teeth ever start shading in the crevices because of your coffee or tea addiction, try Crest White Strips and Crest 3D whitening  toothpaste.  I swear by them!! Pearly whites will they produce.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Color in the middle, None on the edges

If you haven't picked on it already, let me forewarn you that I am an experimenter of beauty products.  I give products multiple chances to succeed, usually, before I completely give up on them.  


I had been sold on the Cover Girl Lip Stains.  I have the Wild Berry Wink and it tastes like lovely when I lick my lips.  For some reason, I often give bonus points for lip products that have a nice taste or other products that make me smell so good that I can skip the day's perfume.


So all was going well with our relationship until today.  We hit a bump.  If I were to be at home and have my full arsenal of products, I probably wouldn't be writing this.  But alas, I am on the road and therefore did not have the Big Apple Red lipstick that would normally accompany the red Cover Girl Lip Stain.  So, as Jason Derulo would say, it was ridin' solo.  


Venti mistake!  Although I packed the lip stain into my day bag and hauled it everywhere with me, the re-applications were virtually ineffective.  By the time I arrived at my hotel, the center middle portion of my lips had stayed stained while the outer corners were almost back to my natural color except where the stain had gotten trapped in my lip wrinkles, unintentionally doing this to my lips.  Disastrous!   


But I've learned a valuable lesson.  Some things are just better paired up and shouldn't be left by their lonesome.