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Don’t Be Fooled

Not too long ago, I was in the market for a heat protectant product to guard my poor hair from the harassment I put it through on a daily basis. I was instantly drawn to the cute packaging of the Got2B line from Schwarzkopf. Their “Guardian Angel”  heat protection spray comes in three different versions, Heat Protect N’ Flatten, Heat Protect N’ Curl, and Heat Protect N’ Blow Out. Customers are under the impression that each version is designed specifically for the type of heat tool you plan on using

NOT SO!

Of course, I had to have all three bottles because I get really excited while “in the moment.” Luckily, my practical side stepped up and decided to check the ingredients to make sure I wasn’t wasting money on the same exact product.  Upon first glance, the ingredients appear different for each version. BUT if you look harder, you will realize that the ingredients are exactly the same,  just in a different order for each bottle. Not cool.

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SO, if you plan on buying Got2B’s Guardian Angel Heat Protectant, pick your favorite bottle, because the insides are exactly the same.

Using Makeup to Create the Illusion of a New Nose

Rhinoplasty is one of the top five most common plastic surgery procedures performed each year! The good news is makeup can be an effective way to slim your nose instead of choosing to go under the knife.

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What You’ll Need:

• Contour Powder/Cream

You can use a product made specifically for contouring, or try a foundation 2-3 shades darker than your skin tone. Matte brown eyeshadow can work just as well too!

-I recommend Makeup Forever’s Sculpting Kit and Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder. The contour shades are really unique and give off  a “shadow” color which is exactly what you want your contouring to look like,  shadows!

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• Highlight

I prefer a matte highlighter when contouring noses. A white/nude eyeshadow would work will, or try a foundation color 2-3 shades lighter than your skin tone.

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• Angled Brush

An angled brush is ideal for sculpting noses. Keep it small so that you have more control over where your product ends up.

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• Fluffy Blending Brush or Sponge

For blending your contouring. I like the Beauty Blender sponge to soften lines, but brushes work well too.

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How To: Slim a Wide Nose

Step 1- Apply your foundation. You can do your face now, or wait until the end. I would wait until the end so that you will be able to judge how your new contouring will look with your overall face.

Step 2- Dip your angled brush into your contour powder/cream/eyeshadow and draw a line down each side of your nose. Keep it light. It’s easier to build product than to take it away. (Check out the diagram above to get an idea about where to place your lines).

**Optional Contouring: Depending on Your Specific Nose**

If your nose is wide all the way up, carry your line to the bridge of the nose.

If your nose is wider at the bottom, draw a small line outward when you get to your nostrils.

If the tip is wide or bulbous (omg, I hate that word!! I had to use it though, sorry), draw a “down-facing arrow” once you reach the tip.

Step 3: Clean off your brush.

Step 4: Dip your brush in your highlight powder/cream/ eyeshadow and draw a slender stripe down the center of your nose. (See Diagram).

If the bottom or tip of your nose is wide, only take your highlight half-way down.

Step 5: Take a clean fluffy brush or makeup sponge and blend your lines (be careful not to blend them together though). Blend until you can’t see a “line” anymore; it should look natural. Obviously, my diagram is just for reference. Please don’t go outside looking like Jennifer Aniston in this picture haha.

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If you have followed the directions correctly, you should notice a subtle change in your nose! Let me know if it worked for you, or if you have any questions!!

Zap Your Zits With Makeup

We all get them, and for some reason it’s usually during life’s most inconvenient moments! Your wedding, prom, first date, important meeting… you know how it goes. Instead of freaking out and playing hooky, try these simple steps to cover up the monster and live your life!

1. If you have time, press an ice cube onto the offender for several minutes. Ice will help to make the swelling go down and will also reduce the redness. You can also rub a little Visine on it; Visine banishes the red in your eyes and does the same for pimples!

2. If it’s already been popped, apply some moisturizer to eliminate as much flakiness and dryness as possible.

3. Apply your full foundation. Covering up any pimples you may have is the last step.

4. Next, get out your concealer, and it should match your skin perfectly! I hear a lot of people recommending that your concealer be lighter than your skin. MAYBE for under eyes but not when covering up zits. If you use a lighter concealer, it will just bring unwanted attention to your monster.

5. Load up a concealer brush, the pointier ones will work best for this. Now, stipple the concealer onto your zit with the brush.

**Stippling means to dab the product on, rather than rubbing or stroking it over your zit. Pretend you’re doing morse code over your pimple! **

You want as much coverage as possible and stroking tends to rub off the product. No bueno.

5. Now that the product has been stippled on, blend the outer edges of the concealer into the rest of your foundation. DO NOT touch or blend the actual zit. If the concealer that’s layering your pimple looks cakey or thick, keep stippling it in, or dab the excess off with your finger.

6. Once the outer edges have been blended, set the area gently with powder. Loose powder is best but if you have to use a compact powder don’t rub it on. Take an eyeshadow brush, load it up with your powder and gently touch it to the newly concealed pimple.

Voila!

REMEMBER: Makeup can only cover up color, not texture. You will probably still see “the bump” but as long as it matches the rest of your face, it won’t be noticeable.

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Concealers I Recommend:

Makeup Forever Camouflage Creme Palettes.

Benefit’s Boi-ing Concealer

Amazing Cosmetics Concealer

Say No To The Monday Blues!

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The Holidays Are Over!! Yay!!

No offense if you’re a total fan, but I know I could do without all the excessive spending, little to no work, and added drama Regardless of how you feel about them, they are over for another year and now is the time to think about heading back to work/school/the grind tomorrow! Whether you’ve added a few extra pounds, partied too hard, or lost sleep over how your bank account is holding up after Christmas, try these tips to look well rested, and fresh for the new year.

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Get a Good Night’s Sleep!

First and foremost, a good night’s sleep will give you a clear head and make you look well-rested (without having to fake it!).  Experts recommend getting at least 8 hours. Your body, mind and soul and will be ready for whatever you throw at it tomorrow, if you get enough sleep tonight!

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Experiment with a Bright Color.

Bright colors are fun, playful and scream “confident!”  Try a purple eyeliner, or a wash of green eyeshadow over your eyelids. If you’re heading to the office, experiment with a colorful lipstick. I love glossy, watermelon colored lips!  Or try a hot pink like Alexis Bledel (above).

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Add A Little Glow.

Nothing screams “fresh-faced” like glowy skin! Look how gorgeous Hayden Pannettiere looks with a dewy complexion! To get the look: add a highlighter (my favorite is of course, NARS Multiple in Copacabana) to the tops of your cheekbones and done the bridge of your nose. If you don’t have a highlighter on hand, take a shimmery champagne eyeshadow or pigment, load up a fluffy brush with the color and lightly sweep along your cheekbones. Viola!

Take it one step further by rubbing your whole body down with a shimmery body lotion.

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Pamper your Peepers.

If you are tired or hungover, your eyes will give it away! Make sure to give your peepers a little extra TLC tonight, and your whole face will thank you in the morning. Take a chamomile tea bag, soak it in warm water for 2-3 minutes and place them over your eyes for 10 minutes. Cucumbers work just as well to reduce bags and puff!

99 Cents Only Stores = Unexpected Beauty Goldmine!

I was running errands today and decided to run into a 99 Cents Only store to pick up a few things for cheap. I got sucked in so deep and winded up buying way more than anticipated but I probably saved $50!! The beauty section is always hit or miss in these stores but today I left with six pairs of eyelashes for $4! If you are on a strict budget, don’t worry! 99 Cents Only Stores are an amazing resource to pick up some great beauty items for practically nothing!

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I Reccomend:

Eyelashes. If you can find them, I definitely recommend picking some up fast! At $4.99 a pop in the drugstore, these are amazing finds.

Anything  With a Name Brand. A lot of times, 99 Cents Only Stores get shipments of items that do not sell in the stores, or may have broken containers. I saw some Banana Boat self tanner (not the kind I use) in perfect condition! They also had a lot of L’Oreal.

Hair Accessories. The store I went to had SO many combs, brushes, bobby pins, rubber bands, clips etc. This is a great place to stock up on hair items, and you could potentially save tons of money! I’ve gotten an economy pack of combs before and the quality was great. The brushes look a little sketchy so take a good look at them before you decide to buy. This time, I bought 100 black bobby pins (see pic above!).

Sunscreen. I saw soo many bottles of sunscreen it was insane. Banana Boat and Coppertone in Sport, Waterproof and spray! I was excited to see the spray kind because I use it on set to make skin shiny, and it’s usually over $8! Since it’s winter, they were way overstocked on sun protection.

Random Items. I bought a small bottle of glycerine (I use it to simulate sweat and tears) in CVS it’s a few bucks awhile back, and just bought a big one today  for of course, 99 cents. There were also random items that could save you a few dollars here and there such as loofahs, nail polish remover, brand name toothpastes, Chapstick, Q-Tips, cotton balls and hydrogen peroxide.

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I Would Stay Away From:

Shampoo and Body Wash. Not that it would be bad to use, just not ideal. I think all the shampoos and body washes were the 99 Cents Only Store brand and I cannot imagine them being the best quality.

Skincare. Unless it’s a recognizable brand name, I would stay away from the generic skincare that line the shelves of the store. I took a look at an “Aloe Vera” moisturizer which looked good, but discovered there was no aloe vera in the ingredient’s list! Only mineral oil and a bunch of other chemicals. No bueno.

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My Eyelash Purchase:

These eyelashes came in packs of two, so I was able to get two pairs for 99 cents! They look pretty cool; definitely for more dramatic looks since they are on the long side. I can also use them to layer over other eyelash strips too since they are pretty sparse.

These pairs came individually so I spent $2 on both. I like these more because they are a lot shorter and more natural looking. They look almost identical to the lashes I buy a lot from CVS.  I would have gotten more pairs but I literally picked up every pair they had. You’ll have to look hard to find them since they seem to be a hot ticket item!

Snow Bunnies are Sexy!

I’m in Colorado for the week and I am being a typical California girl in the snow, freaked out and way under dressed lol! Although it’s a bit daunting, I’ve picked up on some great tips, so this post is dedicated to the ladies who are struggling to look cute on the slopes this Winter.

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Wear Sunscreen-

Just because it’s cold outside, doesn’t mean you can skip the sunscreen. In fact, snow reflects 80% of the suns rays so you actually need it more! Choose a waterproof sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin and eliminate the risk of looking like a lobster later on in the cabin.

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Go Waterproof-

Every time I go snowboarding I wind up soaking wet, probably because I spend half the time on my butt post fall lol! Obviously, when snow melts it becomes water, so it’s common sense to choose waterproof makeup before hitting the slopes to reduce the risk of your mascara running and you eyeliner rubbing off. L’Oreal Voluminous mascara has a really good waterproof version. Smashbox’s Jet Set eyeliner is a great waterproof formula and MUFE’s Aqua Eyes eyeliner does not budge!

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Skip the Blush-

When it’s cold outside, your skin will naturally start to flush. When you’ve been snowboarding or skiing, not only are you exposed to the cold for long periods of time but you’re exercising too! Chances are you will have perfect “just-been-skiing” cheeks naturally!

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Less is More-

Don’t over do the makeup!! Snowboarding and skiing are essentially EXERCISE, so it’s really just more of a hassle to get dolled up. If you are one of those girls that won’t go out of the house without makeup, or if you have a sexy snow date you need to look hot for, keeping the makeup light can still look super pretty! Opt for a shimmery champagne colored shadow to apply to your whole eyelid. Apply your waterproof eyeliner on the upper eyelid and top it off with several layers of waterproof mascara. If you usually wear bottom eyeliner, keep it lighter than usual because it will most likely start to run, making you look like a raccoon. Remember to skip the blush and apply a lip stain to your lips to reduce the need for constant touch ups!!

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Control Your Hair-

Long, flowy hair looks amazing on the slopes, until you’ve finished one run, and now its a wet, tangly mess! Do yourself a favor and get rid of the hair. Tie it up in a high ponytail with a sexy bow, or go for a sportier look with two side braids. For the easiest, most low maintenance  look, put on a cute hat and be done with it!

Viva Las Vegas

My sister finally turned 21, and of course we are in VEGAS to celebrate!! Packing for this exciting weekend made me think about some key beauty items to bring when heading out to the city of sin.

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1. Glitter/Shimmer/Sparkle

The Strip is FILLED with bright lights, flashy signs and neon colors. It’s an unwritten rule that you must sparkle if you want to get noticed here!! Break out your glittery, shimmery products and let yourself shine.

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Some Ideas to Incorporate Shimmer in Your Vegas Makeup:

-Add a subtle glitter liner on your upper or lower lashline to make your eyes stand out.

-Highlight your the tops of your cheekbones so when they catch the lights you will glow. An added bonus is that it will give the illusion of awesome bone structure! My favorites are Smashbox’s Artificial Light and NARS Multiple in Copacabana.

-Pick a bright, pearly color and apply it to the inner corners of your eyes (near the tear ducts). It will give you a pop of color and fun without being too over the top.

-Make your body glisten with a sparkly body powder or lotion. I love Scott Barnes Body Bling, and Urban Decay’s body powder (it’s also flavored!!)

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2.  Blotting Sheets

It can get HOT in those crowded clubs and bars, and the last thing you’ll want to be doing is powdering, adding layers of makeup to your face. I love blotting sheets to take away the shine while leaving your skin natural and not cakey. They are also small enough to throw in your clutch.

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3.  Makeup Remover Wipes

Chances are you won’t be going to bed until the wee hours of the morning, and I guarantee that you will not be up for washing your face before you pass out. As you make a bee-line for the pillow, simply grab a makeup remover and wipe away your makeup. It’s so easy and your skin will thank you in the morning.

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4.  Budge-Proof Makeup

Making sure your makeup stays on all night is very important in the city that doesn’t sleep! Don’t skimp out on the primers, they help to extend the life your makeup application for hours! Eyeshadow primer can be your best friend. I hate when I look in the mirror half-way through the night and my eyeshadow is nowhere to be seen except when I close my eyes and it’s all balled up in the crease!! I definitely notice a huge difference when I prime my eyelid before apply eyeshadow. My favorites are Urban Decays Primer Potion and MAC’s paints.

Gel liners stay on much longer than pencils, especially waterproof formulas. Smashbox’s Jet Set liners and MAC’s fluidlines will not budge, even if you wind up dance all night long.

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5.  Antioxidant Moisturizer

Unfortunately, with Vegas comes lots and lots of second hand smoke. Pack a moisturizer loaded with antioxidants to protect your skin from this harmful smoke that can cause premature wrinkles. Origins “A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturizer” is perfect.

Banish Dry, Flaky Lips Fast!

As it’s getting colder in some areas of the world (certainly not in LA!) lips are beginning to get more and more chapped. The colder climates cause skin to lose moisture, and our bodies to become dehydrated leaving our lips dry, cracked and peeling. Not only are chapped lips uncomfortable, they don’t look very cute either!

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Follow these simple steps to help keep your pucker smooth and moisturized!

1. Grab a bowl of hot water and a washcloth. Dip your washcloth in the water and gently lay over your lips for 30 seconds or until the washcloth becomes cool. Repeat 2 times, and then use your washcloth as an exfoliator, by gently massaging your lips with it. As you massage, the dry flakes will start to lift and come off. Keep doing this until you feel like you lips are smooth.

2. Rub in a creamy lip balm like Aquaphor, or try Petroleum Jelly. Let this soak all the way into your lips. This will deeply moisturize. (PS. Aquaphor is amazing!!)

3. Once your lip balm is absorbed, apply a regular chapstick. Chapsticks are a little bit more waxy and therefore provide an awesome barrier to your hard-earned, moisturized lips!

Also Remember:

Drink Lots of Water!

Staying hydrated is one of the #1 ways to prevent chapped lips.

Avoid Licking Your Lips!

This may provide (very) temporary relief, but it is only making your chapped lips worse!

Determining the Shelf Life of Your Makeup

Have you been holding on to your favorite discontinued blush forever?  What about that bright red lipstick you swear you’re going to wear one day, or the liquid liner your keeping for the day you learn how to finally apply it? As unfortunate as it is, makeup does have an expiration date so it may be time to do some (late) spring cleaning through your vanity.

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Oil-Free Foundation: One Year

Cream Foundation: 18 Months

Concealer: 12-18 Months

Powder: Two Years

Blush & Bronzer: 18 Months – 2 Years

Cream Blush: 12-18 Months

Eye shadow: 2-3 Years.

Cream Eyeshadow: 12- 18 Months

Eyeliner: 2 years

Liquid Eyeliner: Six Months

Lipstick/Lip Gloss: 2-3 Years

Lipliner: 2 Years

Mascara: 3-4 Months!

Nail Polish: 1-2 Years

So, not everyone can remember the exact date they purchased their makeup so here are some simple guidelines to go by:

- No matter when you bought your makeup, if it smells bad, or weird toss it!!

- If your foundations or concealers start to separate or get clumpy and thick. It’s probably not something you would want to put on your face.

- Lipglosses tend to separate when they start to go bad. If you see this happening, it’s a good idea to throw it away. I have also noticed that MAC lipglosses smell really off when they get old so that’s a sign that it needs to be tossed.

- If you have a cold sore, avoid using lipgloss or lipstick. The virus can reinfect you if you continue to use them.

- Mascara goes bad the fastest. If your mascara is dry, flaky or clumpy, get a new one.

REMEMBER: WHEN IN DOUBT, TOSS IT OUT!

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Tip: Write the date you get your makeup on the bottom of your bottles/tubes with a sharpie. It may sound a little OCD but it can help you to keep track of what’s old and what’s new.

How to Get Brigitte Bardot’s Iconic Look

Brigitte Bardot celebrated her 75th birthday two days ago! It’s hard to believe that this beauty icon is already 75, yet we still use her famous makeup and hair as a popular references for today’s styles!

Brigitte’s look is the embodiment of “sex kitten,” with her teased, voluminous hair and smokey bedroom eyes. Re-creating this look is actually quite easy and when you wear it out,  I guarantee you’ll make some heads turn!

Key Items You Will Need

1. Black Eyeliner (preferably liquid or gel)

2. Grey or Black Eyeshadow

3. A Volumizing Mascara

4. Apricot or Nude Lipstick and Lipliner

5. Teasing Brush or Comb

6. Bobby Pins

7. Curling Iron

8. Hairspray

How To: Makeup

Start by taking your grey or black eyeshadow and sweeping it across your eyelid and up to your crease. Brigitte Bardot was all about the smokey eye, so the darker the better. However, keeping it lighter can also be a more casual option.

Next, BLEND! Blend like you’ve never blended before! Dark eyeshadow can look very harsh and amateur if you don’t blend it well enough. My recommendation would be to take a fluffy eyeshadow brush and use a “windshield wiper motion” across the shadow as many times as it takes to see the edges start to soften up.

Now it’s time for liner! This can be one of the toughest parts of the look if you are not comfortable putting on liner, but with practice comes perfection! Line your upper lash-line with your liner and bring it out a little past your eye to give it that cat-eye, winged look. Clean up any rough edges, and sharpen your point with a pointy Q-Tip (talked about here). Don’t forget to line your bottom lash line as well. Smudge with with a Q-tip to keep it sexy.

Apply 3-4 coats of volumizing mascara to top off the eyes. I, of course, am a huge fan of L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black (click for review).

Line your lips with a nude lipliner, preferably one that is the same color, or slightly darker than your lipstick. I like MAC’s “stripdown” liner for nude lips.

Next, apply your lipstick. You can choose to blend your lipliner into your lipstick to keep it modern, or keep the slightly darker liner (as pictured above) to stay true to the original look.

You can finish of by applying your foundation, or, if you applied it first, make sure to clean up any fall-out from the black eyeshadow!

How To: Hair

Brigitte’s hair is super messy and big, so it’s very easy to pull off since it doesn’t have to be precise!

If you have straight hair, I would start off by adding a few loose waves to it with a curling iron. My favorite technique for waves is to simply wrap separate strands of hair around your closed curling iron. Leave for several seconds depending on how well your hair curls and the spray with hairspray.

Next, section your hair at the crown of your head and use your teasing brush or comb to back-comb the hair. Don’t skimp on this part because the volume is the most important part of the look!

Spray your teased rat’s nest with hairspray and let it sit for a few minutes. I know it looks crazy right now, but trust me

Now, lightly start to comb the back-combed hair into place. Be careful not to take out all the teasing! You are just trying to smooth over the top of the hair.

You can either leave your hair like this, or take your bobby pins and start pinning sections of your hair back, into a half-up, half-down, voluminous look!

Drew Barrymore’s Bardot Inspired Look!