It's a 10 miracle hair mask!

Hello beautiful people!! I know it's been a while since I posted anything and today I'm actually going to be talking about an amazing hair product!! For some time now I've been searching for something to help restore my hair and keep it looking shiny, as well as healthy between salon visits.  I like my hair long, but my hair is naturally very thin and straight.  I try to do my best to take good care of it, but have been dying it for years and there have been times where I didn't do my best maintaining it.  I always feel like my ends get very dry and damaged from bleaching or using heat tools.  One day while attending makeup school someone suggested I try It's a 10 miracle hair mask.  I made note of it and decided I would look into it at some point.  I happen to come across it at the pharmacy later that week and realized it was a little pricey for my liking, so kept walking.  Well long story short, I tried other things and didn't quite get the results I wanted.  I finally gave in and bought the mask at Target for about $29.99.  I followed the instructions which stated to use after shampooing and leaving in hair from anywhere between 1-15 mins depending on how damaged your hair is ( I left mine in for about 5 mins before rinsing).  This product claims to do 10 things:

1. De tangles
2. Restores moisture balance
3. Instantly restores elasticity
4. Softens
5. Smooths
6. Imparts luminous shine
7. Enhances natural body
8. Nourishes
9. De Frizzes
10. Improves color vibrancy

I did spray a little heat protectant in my hair before styling and then just used a round brush to blow dry.  My hair felt so nice when I was done, it didn't feel like there was any lingering residue but just soft and healthy looking.  I strongly recommend this product if you want to restore and give life back to your hair.  I always feel like my hair looks wonderful once I leave my hairdresser but once it's in my hand I can't seem to keep it up.  Now with this product I might just be able to keep it looking fab!! Let me know what you guys think and if you have tried this product...thanks!!!

Loreal Professional ProX Advanced Cleansing System

Hello beautiful people!! In today's post I will be talking about my new drugstore purchase from last week! 

The Pro X cleansing system is the same idea as the Clarisonic, however much cheaper, smaller and less powerful.  The Pro X is about $30 and I found it at my local CVS. This system in my opinion is a steal and even comes with an exfoliating cleanser.   I personally have not used the exfoliater it comes with and instead decided to use an Aveeno product, but that can be something you figure out for yourself.  The bristles are soft and the cleansing brush has two speeds that can be used, depending on what kind of pressure you are comfortable with. 

This system claims to, "cleanse skin 6x better and set your skin up for supersonic anti-aging moisturization."  Olay also claims that the, "Exfoliating cleanser is professionally designed to purify and renew skin's texture for refreshed, smooth skin."  I must say after just a couple uses my skin did feel softer, refreshed and more radiant.  I was so surprised to see how much dirt and makeup came off even after my normal face washing routine. 

So, for me I totally recommend this product and can see it's absolutely helping to keep my skin clearer and healthier.   I did look at reviews that other people had done on this product and even comparassions between Clarisonic and Pro X, it seems like it's 50/50 depending on the persons needs. 

Overall, I think the Pro X is a good place to start and you can always upgrade if your not satisfied and see if the Clarisonic is more your tempo.  The Clarisonic retails for about $119-$225 depending on which model you get.  Please let me know what you guys think and if you have any comments about either product!! Thanks!!

Different ways to apply foundation

Hello beautiful people!! In today's post i'm going to be talking about different ways to apply foundation besides using your fingers (which is fine if that's what your comfortable with).  First, I will list a few that I personally like to use and switch between depending on what look i'm trying to acheive.  Then, will also list a few that I don't use on myself however may work for you or clients I have!

• Stippling Brush: buff foundation into skin gently using circular motions (not great for dry skin because can cause micro-exfoliation and irriate skin) beautiful finish

• Flat Head Kabuki Brush:  same technique as stippling brush application, however this brush is denser giving a more full coverage finish and flawless look (again not a great option for dry skin) this is one of my favorite ways to apply foundation!
 

  

 

• Beauty Blender:  wet sponge and squeeze out excess water so that sponge is damp apply foundation by lightly pouncing and pressing into skin (better option for dry skin) also one of my favorite application tools, the finish is more dewy and also very flawless!

•  Damp Cosmetic Sponge:  a cheaper similar (but not as great) alternative to the beauty blender, using same technique (also great for dry skin because it does not disrupt the skin) great way to control coverage as you can take a full coverage foundation and make it look like a minimal coverage tinted moisterizer (overall great for any skin type)

 



 

 

Below are some other ways to apply foundation that I personally don't use as frequently but might work for you....

 

 

• Basic Foundation Brush: make sure to use downward strokes then pat along face to blend any streaks/brush marks for a clean, natural finish

 

 

• Powder Brush: this is a good way to get a more sheer, light coverage if you have really great skin (use downward strokes if you have a lot of facial hair so that the hair lays down flat and across forehead)

 

 

• Goat Hair Brush (small):  Expensive brushes, however great for large pores to push product in and briefly dimish the appearance of them (sorry couldn't find a good picture of one)

 

Some great websites to find these items are Mac, Coastal Scents, Sigma, BH Cosmetics, Sephora, Real Techniques and Amazon! Truthfully there are tons of sites so just explore and do your homework before purchasing, there are some really great brushes out there for cheap!  Don't forget to tell me what you think and what your experiences are with any of these products!

 

 

 





 

Amazing face primer from Mac!

Hello beautiful people!!  Well as some of you guys may know (if you saw my pic I posted on FB and IG yesterday)  I recently went to Mac and bought some new goodies! I did buy quite a few things, but wanted to talk about the product that stood out the most and made a huge difference in my makeup routine.  The name of the product is Mac Prep + Prime Natural Radiance which is a primer you use before you apply foundation and even right over your moisturizer.  This amazing product feels silky and delicate when smoothed evenly all over face.  It contains an abundance of natural ingredients made to hydrate the skin while prepping it for foundation or powder.  It also helps to control breakthrough oil that appears on your face as day progresses, yet keeps it smooth, protected and calm for a natural radiant look.  This product is a little pricy at $40 however contains 50ML of product and comes with a pump.  Mac does state that this product is suitable for all skins, but especially effectove on deeper skin tones.  I will say for me, by the end of the day my makeup still looked fresh and dewy without looking oily and blotchy.  Let me know if you guys have tried this, will try it, and/or your experience with it!! Hope this helps!

NYC Bronzer (contour and highlight)

Hello Beautiful people!!  So since my last post was a more expensive product I decided I would do a drugstore product today!  I wanted to talk about the NYC bronzer that I use for light natural contouring for my day to day look.  The best part about this product is that it's only $2.99 and can be found at CVS!!  The color I use is called Sunny and I usually apply it in thin layers right under my cheekbones, under chin along jaw line, my temples, a small amount on top of my forehead and along the sids of my nose.  The reason I apply in layers is so I can blend as I go for a more natural look and so I can work up to the desired darkness I want.  When doing contour you want to make sure whatever you are using is matte finish, which means no shimmer or glitter. 

Contouring your face gives you the appearance of a slimmer more sculpted face with focus on making the shape of the face look oval.  The "contoured" areas will create a shadow causing those areas of the face to look receded and then once you highlight the areas I briefly mentioned in my last post with a highlighter those areas will "pop."  Just in case you are not familiar with which areas to highlight I will mention it here.  The following areas I list you want to highlight with a light color product to accentuate.  The type of product you can use to highlight can be a lighter foundation (about 2 shades lighter) or concealer, yellowish/white powder or cream based product.  The areas to highlight include cheeckbones, brow bone, bridge of nose leading to start of forehead, above top lip, center of chin, under eyes, and outside bottom half of face.  Below I will post a picture to better help the contour/highlight application. 

I will mention that if I want to do a more dramatic and bolder contour application I will use Mac blush in Harmony or Mac pro sculpting cream in Cooper Beech and the highlight is Accentuate.  Other contour products I own and sometimes use are Makeup Forever sculpting kit and Tarte's Park ave Princess, (which is a waterproof bronzer), and last but not least the Coastal Scents Contour/Blush palette.  Let me know if your interested in any of these products I just mentioned and I could let you know their prices and where to find them...hope this stuff was helpful!

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish

Hello beautiful people!!  I wanted to talk to you guys about a recent purchase i've made and how much I love it!!  I bought a mineralize skin finish from Mac in the color soft and gentle.  When I opened the compact I first noticed how beautiful the color was to highlight areas of the face.  It had a metallic lustre and when swatched on my skin felt like smooth velvet.  This product gave me an instant natural frosty glow when applied to the cheekbones, browbone and gave me a subtle pop on the eyelid, which would work well for a natural look.  This product in my opinion really delievers and just makes you look like you are naturally radiating when worn correctly.  This product can be bought at any Mac store or online for $30.  Let me know if you guys have tried this and what you think!!  **below is a picture with this product as a highlight on my cheekbones!!



Favorite drugstore gel & liquid liners

Hey beautiful people!!! Today I want to talk about my favorite drugstore gel & liquid liners that I use for my winged liner look!   I had tried a few different ones before I narrowed it to 4 that I constantly see myself re-purchasing.  There are 2 liquids and 2 gels that I will be sharing with you guys in this post.  I'll start with liquid liners first since those are the front runners for me.

Revlon has a line called "color stay," which in my opinon has good quality products that really last FOREVER.  Revlon Color Stay liquid liner is one of the first liquid liners I purchased once I stepped away from traditional pencils.  There color stay liquid liner is really long wearing and the application brush has a fine tip which is great for precise application.  I usually go to CVS to get my liners and this one runs about $7.50.  The second liquid liner I LOVE is believe it or not N.Y.C Liquid Liner for an awesome price of roughly $3.70.  This liner is wonderful and has a jet black finish, however it has a soft bristle brush applicator that is a litter harder to control if your just starting out with liquid liner.  This is the current liner i'm using day to day and really have grown fond of it.  Now, onto the gel liners that are contained in a small glass pot and come with their own seperate brush applicator.

Maybelline New York has a long lasting gel liner called "eyestudio" which goes on really smooth and creamy, claiming to last 24 hours.  This one runs about $10.00 at CVS and the amount you ge tin the pot will last you forever!  Last, but not least is is L'Oreal Infalliable Lacquer liner also at $10.00.  This formula is also very smooth and creamy with stay put formula with the same 24 hour lasting claim.  Gel liners will smudge and move a little more than a liquid, so keep that in mind, however gels are a bit easier to work with in my opinion.

I have tried to use some liquid liners that are more of a pen, which I tend to hate because the tip either dries out on me or the liquid comes out in an uncontrollable amount.  For getting that perfect clean line while doing a winged out look I do have some tricks.  I either use a pointed cotton swab, which you can find at either Sally's or Target or use a small concelor brush with foundation to sweep along bottom of liner to give a sharp precise edge.

If you guys have any questions, comments, or recommendations for other liners you may use and love please share it with me!! Below are pictures of the products so you guys can start shopping ASAP ;o) 

 

 

Jordana Lip Liners

Hello beautiful people!!!  Today I will be talking LIPS...as some of you may know I LOVE to play with lipstick colors and to try new looks.  Most of the time when using a lipstick I will pair it with a complementing lipliner just because I love the clean shape it gives my lips and it helps to keep the lipstick neatly in the borders of my lips.  Well...one day I learned about a company named Jordana (found at Walgreens) that sells retractable lip liners for an amazing price of $1.99.  I saw really great reviews and figured I would surely give them a whirl even though I wasn't totally convinced.  So, the night before an event I decided to stop by Walgreens and pick some up.  I got home and opened up the colors I bought to give them a try and to my surprise they were actually really good quality!  They had a really wonderful sillky smooth formula which glided on the lips like a dream.  All the colors I bought seemed highly pigmented and then once dry appeared to be semi-matte finish.  The other pro to owning these lip liners is the staying power, which will last for most of the day!  There are more colors I have not purchased yet, however I do plan to do so my next trip to Walgreens.  The colors I currently own are:  Plush Plum, Silver Lilac, Tawny, & Baby Berry.  Below there is a picture of what the liners look like and another of a look I did using one of the colors...enjoy!! Please comment if you've tried these and how your experience was with them!!

 

 

In this photo my lips are lined with the color Baby Berry... lipstick is a mixture of Mac Viva Glam 2 and Revlon Color Stay (ultimate suede) in 025 Socialite!

 

Physcians Formula Shimmer Strips Blush

 

 

 

Hello beautiful people!! Today i'm going to talk about the physicians formula shimmer strips blush because it is my daily go to blush and even the blush I grab for special occassions.  I get compliments on this blush all the time and people always question what I have on my cheeks.  This blush is so great because it already has the shimmer in it to highlight the cheekbones and give you some demension along with its rosy color. The color I use is called Rosy Glow and consists of 5 different colors starting with a deep pink to a soft shimmery white.  I tend to sweep the brush in all 5 colors and blend over apples of my check up in a diagonal motion along check bone.  This product can be found at your local drugstore (I go to CVS) where it costs about $11.99, which is better than spending tons of money on higher end blushes/highlighters if that's not in your budget.  The extra bonus you can get with this product is using it for a splash of color on your eye lids/brow bone for a quick easy look.  Below I have included a picture of the product and a picture of myself with the product on my cheeks and even on my eyes so you can get an idea of what it looks like!  Let me know what you think and how you feel about this product if you've already experimented with it! thanks!!

 

 

*****Sorry guys to bring such sad news but I do believe that they stopped selling this product in stores, if someone finds it please let me know.   However, you can still find this product on amazon.com and drugstore.com.  I'm sure there are other places online you can find it and even cheaper!! Sorry guys didn't know it was not in stores when I posted this :(

 

 

 

 

 

Anastasia Brow Wiz

So since high school i've managed to have the thinnest most non-arched eyebrows :(  I am in love with thick and defined shaped brows and would do just about anything to achieve them.  With that said, my long and grueling search began for the the holy grail.  My journey started at the basic places such as, CVS, Walgreens, Wal-mart and so on.  I found products that worked and I was pleased with but I knew that I wasn't truly satisfied.  Then one day I came across Anastasia's products at Sephora, which the manager told me was an excellent line known specifically for brows.  He insisted it had a great stay put formula that was long lasting and natural looking.  I must say at first I was on the fence considering it was $20 for one, but decided to bite the bullet and make the purchase.  The next day I gave the ol' brow wiz a try and to my surprise I was HOOKED.  This product was so good it lasted through an 8.5 hr day of work and a serious workout session at the gym.  I currently use this product everyday and swear by it for my brides.  The most common colors I use are medium ash and brunette.  So....the next time your looking at your thin, sad looking eyebrows in the mirror, think of this post and RUN to buy the Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil you will NOT be disappointed.

BEFORE

AFTER

Hey guys!!

Hello beautiful people....welcome to my blog and my very first post!! Before I actually dive into my first post I just want to say that I am open to any suggestions, questions, and critiques you may have.  I'm doing this blog for you guys so please comment and participate along the way to better guide me in my future posts.