Make-Up Must Haves

Everyday Make-Up Must Haves

Above are my fave make-up products I use for everyday wear. When I go out, I will add more make-up, but for daily wear, I like to keep it simple and neutral. 

I'm a big fan of both inexpensive drug store brands and higher end brands - it depends on the product! My daily make-up routine consists of covering my face, eyes, and lips.

FACE: I love to try different foundations and BB Creams, but right now this is what I currently use. 
-To prep my face, I always wash my face before applying make-up with one of my many cleansers. 
-MOISTURIZE. MOISTURIZE. MOISTURIZE. My grandmother always tells me the key to being wrinkle-free is a little moisturizer everyday. I don't believe it matters what kind you use, as long as you are using one. I use St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen and Elastin. I really like this moisturizer because it is really cheap, has a smooth texture, and it gets the job done. Apply this to your face and neck. 
-After, I prime my face using M.A.C. Prep & Prime. I use this on my face, lids, and lips. Many people don't use primers, but they really help in filling in small lines and pores, to create an even 'canvas' of your face. It makes your makeup a little more flawless to have that base. 
-I apply M.A.C. Mineralize Foundation with SPF to even out and cover my skin. Since this foundation is a "build-able," meaning you can apply as little or as much as you want, sponges or wedges work best for application. I will usually apply a more subtle amount for everyday wear, and more for when I go out at night or for special occasions. 
-I then add Mary Kay concealer for under my eyes and blemishes only. Mary Kay offers many colors, and this color is a lighter shade than my foundation, so when I do my evening makeup, I also double it for a highlighter!

CHEEKS: I have a couple different shades of blushes I use, depending on the season.
-For this fall/winter season, I am wearing M.A.C. Pro LongWear Blush in the shade "Stay Pretty." This is a light pink shade that I swipe across the apples of my cheek, along my cheekbone to my hairline. A contour brush really helps for this look. I use an elf brush because it is cheap, but nice quality. The blush shade is a very subtle color and gives me a nice glow. 

EYES: I always wear eyeliner along my top lashes.
-First, I will swipe the lighter cream shade of eyeshadow across both of my eyes, and then add the light brown shade to my lids. For everyday wear, I usually do not use the darker shadows, because it is too dramatic. 
-I use Maybelline EyeStudio Gel Eyeliner. I LOVE gel. It glides on so smoothly, allowing me to create that perfect line so easily. It also dries so quickly, and is set for the rest of my day. It is all I use along my top lash line. I start in the center and work my way outward. I like to "wing" my ends a small bit for everyday wear. I will then go back to the center and make my way inward to the corner of my eye. This technique allows me to get a perfectly even line across.
-After, I will apply one to two coats of Loreal False Fiber Lashes to finish off my eyes. I am a mascara junkie and will sometimes wear other brands, but I use this brand the most. I also apply mascara to my bottom lashes, by holding the brush upright and softly moving it from left to right.  

LIPS: I don't always have a lip color on my lips. Sometimes, I just use a Chapstick, but it depends on the day and occasion. I do however have a crazy obsession with lipsticks and will try any color and any brand. 
-For my everyday look, I will usually just swipe on a gloss like my M.A.C. Pro LongWear Lip Glass shown above. I am not a fan of "sticky," so I tend to shy away from cheap lip glosses.The long wearing M.A.C. products are great for completing my look for my day-to-day make-up.

Hope this helped you find new products to check out! 
Tell me some of your fave products for me to check out! 

Beauty on a Budget

Ipsy Bag for November 2013

Join me on ipsy and subscribe to the Glam Bag! You get 4-5 products every month delivered to your door, for just $10, for my location, the shipping is included and Michelle Phan curates the bags! 

After two months of being on the wait list, it is an understatement to say I was excited to finally receive that big pink envelope in the mail. It's Ipsy time! I reviewed many subscription boxes and fell in love with the concept of Ipsy and decided to see what the hype was all about. Ipsy (formerly My Glam Bag) is a monthly subscription service where you receive a cute makeup bag full of 4-5 deluxe, and often full-sized products. They also provide exclusive offers from the brands featured in that month so you can buy more if you like it. It's a really good way to try out new products and brands that you might not otherwise be able to, much less even heard of before! 

November's theme was "Glam it Up" and contains six great full sized products that I love! From Ipsy: "As invites to holiday events and parties start pouring in, we are excited to say that your November Glam Bag will be filled with some go-to products to help get you glam." 

The Products:
Be A Bombshell | Lip Crayon in Shameless - Full Size $14
"A glossy lip crayon with a smooth texture that is perfect for travel and touch-ups on the go."

I really love lip products, so I was really excited to try this one out. It is a beautiful raspberry pink shade and has a tint of sparkle. I really loved this color on me. When I used it alone, it is a glossy color for a little bit and then the glossiness began to fade. I swiped on a nude lipgloss over it and the color was so pretty. It wears like a chapstick, so I was glad it wasn't sticky. Great for the upcoming holidays and parties! Love this product. I will be buying more. 

BH Cosmetics | Galaxy Chic Baked Eyeshadow in Neptune - Full Size (18 Shadow Palette) $14.95

"This Galaxy Chic Baked Eyeshadow Sample will take you from Plain Jane to an infinite trendsetter, inspired by the moons and planets of the universe, eyeshadow shades range from hot sun-orange to cool earth-blue and colors of the Milky Way. Be as chic as a sparkling star!" 

          

I am a huge fan of baked eyeshadows, and am really eager to try this out. I usually wear neutral shades, so I haven't had a chance to try this one out yet. I swatched the shadow on my skin, and it is a really pretty color. The pigmentation seems great!

Starlooks | Gem Eye Pencil in Topaz - Full Size $14

"The Starlooks Gem Eye Pencils provide a magnificent metallic finish and are so versatile, soft, and creamy that they can be used as a liner or eyeshadow base! Each highly-pigmented, unique pencil has a gorgeous, micro-glitter finish."

When I saw that the color was Topaz, I thought it was going to be a blue shade. It is actually a metallic silver. I blended this eye pencil along my brow line as a highlighter. It wasn't overly metallic, and looked great with neutral eyeshadows. 

Pixi Beauty | Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched - Full Size $18 includes Kabuki brush

"This bronzing powder gives your complexion the warmth and luminosity of naturally sun kissed skin. Hydrating, silky-smooth & long-wearing, it also protects against free radicals. Contains Vitamin E to protect the skin and mica, which provides dense natural pigment."

The bronzer I normally use just ran out, so this product came at the right time. I am currently using this in the "C-shape." This is close to my hair line, crossing my temples, and dropping near the end of my earlobe. It is the perfect shade on my skin to give that "sun-kissed" shade. It doesn't look unnatural or too summer-y. Great product. 

Nailtini | Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer in Champagne - Full Size $13

"Glamour is an attitude as much as a look, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't look the part…all the way down to your fingertips! Just in time for the year's most glamourous season, nailtini is serving ipsters gorgeous nails in two shimmering shades - icy golden Champagne and molten pewter Caviar Cocktail. The perfect finishing touch to glam it up head to toe!"

This nail polish looks like it would be a copper colored shade, but actually comes off in the color describing it name - Champagne. It is a great nude color with the perfect amount of shimmer for a fun holiday party. I cannot wait to paint my nails! Cheers to beauty, and apply responsibly. 

EM Michelle Phan | Lash Gallery Mascara in Dramatic Volume - Full Size $20

"Inspired by the girl who wants to rock out with her lashes. Amp it up and create instant lash drama with a single coat. Uniquely-designed spoon brush "cups" and quickly builds lashes with rich color and volume."

I have semi-long eyelashes and really love to experiment with different mascaras. I usually only use black since brown doesn't show up on me well. This mascara has been great so far. I really like how think the brush is and how fast the mascara sets. I cannot use this on my bottom lashes because it tends to smear underneath. I am impressed with Michelle Phan's makeup line, but I don't know if I would pay $20 for this mascara. 

It is so fun to be surprised with the products the bag contains! I cannot wait to see what my December Glam Bag holds!!!

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Stress-Free Season

While we all picture the holiday season as a time full of fun and festivities, we all have those moments that we find ourselves getting stressed out. Whether it be from school finals, holiday finances, work, or doubled up traffic, stress can turn into a big Grinch! Follow these tips to ensure a Scrooge-free season. 

1. Say no to credit cards.

Sliding the plastic card through a magnetic scanner can give off a feeling of power and wealth. It seems as though the employees can lure you right in with the mention of a discount. You can buy whatever you want with a 40% savings? Wrong. This season, stick to cash or debit so you aren't left paying a huge bill with added interest at the end of the next month. 

2. Get a Head Start.

Start searching for gifts early. Make a list of who you need to buy for and establish a budget you're going to spend this season. To break it down further, determine what portion of that budget can be spent on each person. Sometimes stores will have special deals in earlier months. If you don't mind the craziness of Black Friday, shop then! Better yet, shop online to beat the bumper to bumper traffic, packed parking lots, and overly long lines. Hint: Mint.com Personal Finance app lets users track their spending and create holiday budgets!

3. Give Back.

Volunteer for the Salvation Army and ring the bell for donations. Pick an angel off the tree in the mall and purchase gifts for someone in need. Make a holiday meal and deliver it to a food shelter, a personal friend in need or a church member. Send holiday letters to our troops! Whatever the tradition, start one this year, giving yourself something to look forward to every holiday. 

4. Don't Worry.

Don't over analyze if you didn't buy someone the right gift or if it is good enough. Everyone hates hearing, "But it's the thought that counts," but it's true. Your gift is enough. Hint: You can't go wrong with a gift card or wine! If you are throwing any holiday parties this season, don't worry about it being better than Sally Sue's. The season is about being with friends and family. Hint: Check Pinterest for fun and creative ideas!

5. You can't spell "MERRY" without "ME."

Give yourself a break from decking the halls. Whether you schedule a stress-reducing aromatherapy massage, catch a Rom-com, soak in a candle lit bubble bath, or a nice paraffin wax manicure, a little "me" time can go a long way. Hint: Bath and Body Works has fabulous scented bubble bath! 

6. Work it out.

We all know that exercise can do wonders to our stress levels. Try a holiday fun run, hot yoga, or a simple stair master to stay in good spirits! Don't over-eat at holiday parties to prevent feeling bloated and tired. A healthy lifestyle is always stress-free!

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