When you tweeze your brows you must use Tweezerman ($20-$25 www.tweezerman.com) tweezers. These are slanted tweezers that can get every single hair out from your brow in no time, with zero pain! They are so strong that you won’t spend time pulling and tugging at your hair. The stainless steel is the basic color, but they come in a lot of fun colors and fun prints. You can even buy a pair covered in Swarovski Crystals, if you are willing to pay $100. These are a MUST HAVE to add to your beauty arsenal! They won’t make your eyebrows red after use and they are great for “touch-ups” in between waxes. If you already have the slanted Tweezerman’s, try the pointed version, they are great for precision tweezing! Throw out your old ones and invest in these, it will be one of the best things you have ever done!
Tweeze With The Very Best
24 JanAirbrush Concealer
11 Jan
When I get breakouts I will not leave the house until I cover them up. My sisters can testify that I will sit in front of the mirror and even risk being fired from my job if I do not have every imperfection hidden before I leave the house. All I can say is blemishes are embarrassing and I don’t want to walk around all day with everyone staring at them. In any case…I have perfected the art of covering blemishes and covering them fast! One of my best friends turned me on to Clinique’s Airbrush Concealer ($19 www.clinique.com) last year and I am addicted! This is like magic in a tube! If I am wearing a liquid foundation, I apply that first and let it set on my skin for a few minutes. Then I twist the concealer tube, it is a brush, but I don’t like to apply it directly to my skin, I put the amount I need on the back of my hand for the amount of coverage I think I will need. Then using my ring finger I apply the concealer to the blemishes. If you have a really bad blemish, you can build coverage with this and it works perfectly! Just let the first application sit for about 60 seconds before applying more. Before you know it all of your imperfections are perfectly hidden! Then you can gently set with your favorite powder. If you aren’t using liquid foundation then apply the concealer to the skin as above and then finish with your powder. This concealer is also great for the under eye area and I put it on my nose to help make it brighten up and smooth out my skin tone in that area. The texture is smooth and creamy and does not feel heavy on your skin. I have turned several people onto this in my office and I know you will love it too!!
Brush It On
10 Jan
I have been collecting make-up brushes from all different brands and I have my favorites from each. However…the more I use my Trish McEvoy brushes the more and more I think they are the best. I bought one of the Trish McEvoy holiday brush sets last Christmas because I “needed” several new brushes and they seem to be the best. Even when I have looked at other cosmetic counters they always say “Trish has the BEST brushes!” Her brushes are made of 100% natural hair which makes them really soft and for smooth application of foundation, powders, or eyeshadow. Her eyeshadow brushes are amazing, I really like the Tapered Blending Brush ($32 www.trishmcevoy.com) also know as the “Pony” brush, it gets the crease perfect! A good way to start a nice set of brushes is to either collect them one at a time starting with the basics or start off with a basic set such as, The Essential Brush Collection ($145 www.trishmcevoy.com), this is 5 of the basic brushes from her collection which will get you started on your own collection. If you really want to go for it you can get The Power of Tools Brush Collection ($245 www.nordstrom.com), which is 10 of the best brushes from the line and will really complete your brush collection. The sets are a great value because if you buy the brushes on an individual basis they can run between $30-$50 each. A good set of brushes will last you for many years as long as you wash them and take care of them properly. Since you wear make-up pretty much everyday, a nice brush set is a good investment to make the process easier not to mention make it look better. You should try a brush from the line or go have your make-up done by one of their artists so you can see how well they work. I promise you will want to use these brushes everyday!
Make Your Eyeshadow Last Forever!
6 Jan
I have tried every eyeshadow base and primer and when I say “every” I mean literally every top brand that has one, I finally found one that actually works! Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion ($19 www.urbandecay.com) is the only eyeshadow primer that will make your eyeshadow last all day and WILL NOT crease! It is even guaranteed to last 24+ hours! Even make-up artists at other ‘top of the line’ cosmetic brands have even mentioned it to me. It comes in an easy squeeze tube and I just put a small amount on the back of my hand. Then I use my ring finger and apply it to my eye lid and brow area. You only need a little bit, it takes a couple of times to see how much you like. Then you let it dry for about 60 seconds and then put your eyeshadow on right over it. You can apply it with a brush if you prefer. It will wash off easily with make-up remover, but it comes off just fine with my face wash. I have not had any creases in my eye shadow since I started using this. The tube is huge and you only need a little bit so it will last for quite a while. I have the original formula, but it comes in 3 other shades that have metallic tones and you can even wear those alone as shadows or use them as highlighters. This has made eyeshadow application so much easier and if you are struggling to keep your shadow in place, you need this potion!!
Drink Your H20!
4 Jan
I absolutely hate water. I don’t know why but I have hated drinking water my whole life. I am trying to get better about it and I must say it has become easier as I am getting older. I am always reading how one of the best ways to great skin and great health is drinking enough water everyday. I don’t think it really matters if you drink it out of a fancy water bottle or straight from the kitchen sink, really it just matters if you drink it! I try to drink at least 48-64oz. It is hard and some days are better than others. To make it easier on myself I have a water bottle that is 33oz so I know that once I drink two, I have reached my goal. Drinking only two bottles seems like a lot less than drinking a bunch of smaller glasses…it is all psychological. Anyways, no matter how your drink it, make sure you stay hydrated so that your skin and health are at their best! CHEERS!
No More Dark Circles!
2 Jan
I have very pale skin and when I am tired I don’t get puffiness under my eyes but I do get dark circles. I have always just used concealer, but recently I tired Bobbi Brown Corrector ($22 www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com). You apply it to your under eye area before applying concealer. I had one of the Bobbi Brown Artists apply this and I had so many compliments throughout the day that I had to buy it! It really brightens up your under eye area and makes you look AWAKE! I apply it directly to my skin with a concealer brush and then blend it in using my ring finger. It does feel a little sticky at first but once you blend it in, you can’t tell it is on your skin at all. Then you apply your concealer directly on top. There are 12 colors so you can easily find one to match your skin tone. I really recommend this for anyone that has dark circles or needs that extra “Under Eye Pick Me Up” in the morning.
Line and Define
24 Dec
If you are tired of using your traditional eye pencil, try using Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner ($21 www.bobbibrown.com). This eyeliner gives you the look of a liquid liner but goes on so much easier! You apply it with an eyeliner brush ($25 Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush) and it goes on very smooth with out the mess of a liquid liner. It is long-lasting and stays put all day! You can use it on upper and lower lids as well as the inner lid for extreme definition. I think this is a great update to an eye and it also makes your eye color really POP! I use Caviar Ink which is one shade lighter than black for everyday. I have had so many compliments on my eye makeup recently, I suggest using this to update your look too! There are 13 colors to choose from so the options are endless. Don’t be scared to try this, practice makes perfect!
Kissable Lips All Year Long!
22 Dec
I have always had dry lips. I hate using chapstick because I am a lipstick person. When the weather started to change this Fall and started to get really cold, my lips became so dry and even cracked. I did some research and read a lot of great reviews about “The Lip Balm” from La Mer. I knew that their other products were great but I had actually not tried anything from this line before. I decided to give “The Lip Balm” a try as a solution for my “aching” lips. I used this product for one night and saw results by the next morning! When I woke up the cracked areas of my lips had healed and the moisture had been restored. When you read about this product on their website it says “Applied at night, lips are renewed by morning.” I was a skeptic I must admit but it worked overnight just as the website said! this is a pricey product but you get a large amount in the container and you only need a small amount with each application. I apply this every night as the last step of my beauty routine and in the morning before I apply lipstick. My lips have been so soft since I started using this it is amazing! It even has a nice mint flavor and the La Mer Specialist at the Counter told me that it helps to keep your breath fresh! If you are looking for something to rejuvenate your lips and keep them soft all the time go and get a sample of “The Lip Balm” from La Mer, you won’t be disappointed! ($45 www.cremedelamer.com)
The Perfect Curl
21 Dec
I can’t tell you how important it is to add the Shu Uemura Eyelash curler to your beauty tools! I am sure you have seen it in tons of beauty magazines as the “Top Rated” eyelash curler but let me tell you…all the hype is true! This eyelash curler will change your life! Before I had the Shu Uemura I had a cheap curler from the drugstore that pulled and tugged on my eyelashes and hurt at times. My sister decided to try the Shu Uemura after we kept seeing it in every beauty magazine we read and once she did she told me, “You have to buy this immediately!” I have been using this eyelash curler ever since and that was about 6 years ago! When you buy the eyelash curler, you must take care of it. That means you need to wash the curler and the silicone pad. Once you use the second replacement pad it is time to buy an entire new curler. I know it seems like a pain but just like everything else eyelash curlers wear out and need to be replaced. The curler is gentle on your eyelashes, it will not pull them out and it will give you the perfect curl every time! The curl that you are given helps tremendously when you are applying makeup. It helps give you a clear defined lash line so applying eyeliner is a ‘piece of cake!’ If you currently look at your eyelash curler as a “torture device”, please switch to the Shu Uemura, it will make your morning beauty routine one step easier, the curl is so perfect you can even skip mascara if you are in a hurry! Currently the curler is only available online ($19 www.shuuemura-usa.com)
Keep It Clean
19 Dec
I do everything known to man to make sure I do everything to prevent breakouts! One thing that you need to do on a regular basis is wash your make-up brushes and replace make-up sponges. As part of my Sunday routine, I wash my make-up brushes and if I am short for time I make sure I wash at least the foundation and concealer brushes. You don’t have to wash your brushes weekly like I do, but every other week is best. It helps get old makeup and oil off the brushes as well as any bacteria that may have grown on the brushes in between washes. There is no need to buy an expensive make-up brush cleanser either, then you will just be introducing another product to your skin. You should use your daily face wash to clean your brushes. If you use an expensive face wash, then buy a gentle cleanser from the drug store such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. After washing your brushes lay them flat on a towel to dry. After a couple of hours I like to fluff them up to help maintain their shape. I hope you start doing this regularly, it will help improve your make-up application and make your brushes last longer.
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