Birchbox Review!!

Here's my birchbox review! I've been awful about writing about them but I didn't want to write about them without having a review. So here are the past 4 birchboxes-



Here is a link to my blog on my first birchbox from March-



Here's a follow-up to March's birchbox-



I loved the color club bright purple nail polish! It stayed on really well and you could layer it up to get a great bold color or just do one coat and have a nice wash of color on your nails.



Another thing i loved from my first birchbox was the Jouer luminizing moisture tint. It went on great and added an unbelievable glow to my skin! If you're looking for that dewy, highlighted glow-then get this!!



I still use the Ahava Essentials Day Moisturizer most mornings and it's really great and it doesn't clog my pores. Just a great overall moisturizer with no fuss.



Orifluido is still something I use as well. I find it very comparable to Moroccan Oil and I can't really tell a major difference so since Moroccan Oil is easier to buy-I'm going to continue using that one. But it was awesome to try out and learn about a new product.

The other stuff was good but these were my main ones I wanted to bring attention to.

Once again- To see pictures of what products were in the birchbox and to hear the full descriptions of them, check out my previous blog.

http://thethriftymakeupartist.blogspot.com/2012_03_01_archive.html

April's birchbox-

This birchbox was natural themed. That's what I love about birchbox they have themes and I really like that!

This was a good birchbox here's what was in it!



Atelier Cologne- this is an orange-scented perfume. I really liked it! It wasn't too over-powering and it didn't smell too fruity or sweet. It had the perfect blend of essential oils like jasmine and sandalwood and it was wonderful. The full-size bottles range from $55-150.



Marula The Leakey Collection-I have never heard of this stuff before but I loved it and used it all up already! I went a little overboard this month with facial peels and was so dry and flaky so I used this at night and by the next morning my skin was back to normal! It is so hydrating and feels amazing! This product costs $78 for full size so unfortunately I will not be purchasing this again but if you have extremely dry skin all the time and can't find the right product to fix your alligator skin, this will be your life saver. This product is from the East African Marula fruit. This oil has high levels of antioxidants and omegas so it's awesome for stopping the signs of aging.



Weleda Pomegranate Firming Night Cream-this is a great all-natural firming night cream. This line is super affordable, a full size of this anti-aging cream is only $35! It feels so rich and creamy and I most likely will add this in to my skin care routine in the winter time. I'm at the age where I am starting to be proactive towards my skin and aging and this will be the perfect addition to my Skincare routine, but only during the winter time! This is super rich so I will not be using this during the summer!!



Zoya True Spring Collection-this was a nude nail polish that is supposed to last 50% longer but the color was too nude for my taste. It almost blended with my skin and it freaked me out so I don't know if it lasts 50% longer because I took it off! It never gave me the color name so here are just a few colors I could find online. But, I really don't know who this nail polish would look good on so I'm moving on.



Bonus product!!! Yes To Blueberries Brightening Facial Towelettes- love them!!! I used these when I went to Indiana for a weekend and I love these babies!! Great price, $7.99 for a 30-pack I suggest everyone get these!! I still washed my face first and then used these afterwards just to get that extra clean or I use these before I work out or when I want to start fresh with some new makeup. These are a must-have for everyone!

May Birchbox-Gossip Girl Themed! I have never seen this show but all I know is I opened up this box and gasped!! It had one of my favorite products in a cute little sample size in a new flavor so that was it, I'm sold! I LOVE birchbox and I am SO glad I got it!!! Soooo worth the $10 a month!!

XOXO,

Gossip Girl

First off the product that made me gasp in such a crazy, dramatic way was-



Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment SPF 15. The original Sugar lip treatment is my absolute favorite but I hadn't tried the Rose so I was THRILLED!!! I love this!! It's in my bag right now and has the perfect light color to the lips! This is a water-based lip treatment so it naturally plumps the lips by hydrating them. It's amazing!!! $22.50



BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Toilette Spray-this is nice but it's a little too perfumey for me. I can't really judge this because everyone is so different and everyone has a particular smell that they like and what works for them so I'm just going to say that it's so cool that once a month you can try out awesome perfumes to see what works for you and what doesn't without dropping a lot of money. This full-size bottle is $64. Check it out!



Kiehl's Abyssine Cream+ this was created when Scientists were in Galapagos and found Abyssine. This molecule thrives in the darkest parts of the ocean and Found that Abyssine protects the skin. This molecule can soften wrinkles and gets rid of free radicals which cause aging. It goes on soft and creamy and it is really gentle and great for most skin types. A full size jar is $48.



Sarah McNamara Miracle Skin Transformer Body SPF 20-this is like s primer and foundation for your body!!! I love that it has a SPF 20 and it evens out your skin all over your body!! This cream hydrates, masks scars, evens out ski tone, and is awesome for the warm weather when you wear shorts and summer dresses. This costs $34, awesome for people who want that flawless ski look without going to the tanning bed or even using self tanner.

I also got notecards in this birchbox which I threw away...oops. I wasn't going to use them anyways.

Speaking of throwing things away, I threw away the card that came with this birchbox that gives you a little blurb about each products and discusses the theme of the box, which I love and try to keep them, but I lost this one and while I was writing this I could not remember what all was in this box and what is another cool part of birchbox is you can hop online and look at your past birchboxes and reorder what you had and refer back to what I got.

This months is pretty awesome too!

June's theme is travel and here's what's in it. I'm not going to explain it all yet I'm just going to show pictures and prices



Ada Cosmetics Bronzer, $12.45, this is the best picture I could find...sorry!



Likewise Facial Moisturizer + Sun Protection SPF 50, $44, perfect for summer!!!



Masqueology Brightening Mask, 3 masks $24, I'm ready to try this baby out! This aesthetician's skin is completely neglected!!



theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen, $17, so excited to try this!!!



Extra Bonus gift!!! Cynthia Rowley Dress Up Band-Aids!! They are SO cute! These band-aids have fashion-inspired prints all over them so even when you hurt yourself you'll look cute and fashionable!





Hope you enjoyed!! I'll review these products from this month's box soon!

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Hairspray!!!

So I'm not a huge hair girl, I'm awful at styling and I never put enough effort and time towards drying it. But after getting pinterest and just paying attention to hairstyles in photographs and magazines I was inspired to put a little more effort towards this rat's nest on my head. When I started trying out different styles and when I watched how-to videos online I realized hairspray is a must!! So I have tried a few at work:




the Moroccan Oil Hairspray ($20) smell delish and gives me enough hold for just every day hairstyles. And when I say every day hairstyles I mean like straight and down-nothing fancy at all!!!! I pretty much use this as a perfume. If you need strong-hold this is not the one for you. But if you just want your hair to smell good and your hair is down and you just want to spritz this just for good measure go for it!

Oribe Superfine Hairspray




This is $29 and smells like heaven!!!! The whole entire line smells amazing!! But this hair spray will hold a lot but still be nice, fine spray that isn't sticky. This one isn't the strongest hold but messy up-dos and stuff like that will work great with this. I loooove this one!!

If you need a stronger hold there is the Oribe Superfine Strong Hairspray





This is around $35 and it is an awesome, major-hold hair spray. I sprayed it in my hair once right after I washed my hair and I was SO mad at myself because my hair felt kinda sticky and I thought, "oh great!! Now I have to wash my hair again tomorrow!" and if you know me you know I do NOT wash my hair every day! So I was a little worried about what my hair was going to be like once I got home and took my hair down. I was honestly so pleasantly surprised by my outcome!! I took my hair down and combed through it and viola! My hair was soft as could be and no sticky!!! I didn't have to wash my hair for 3 days!! Yay!! (my hair is so dry I only wash it twice a week, don't judge) so-obviously this is great for super strong hold and then all you have to do is gently comb through your style at night and you're good to go!

*after proof-reading I am realizing I obviously love this hairspray. I'm shooting exclamation points all over the place in that last paragraph. It's like I'm just screaming the whole time!

I'm going to have to write a blog strictly about Oribe because I like a lot of stuff in their line!

Now on to the more affordable side here is L'Oreal Elnett Satin hairspray




This stuff stinks!!!!!!! Oh my gosh I am SO sorry if anyone loves this smell I don't meant to disrespect your olfactory nerves but wowie! I HATE this smell! It's like instant grandma scent-no offense to you grandmothers out there either! It is very powdery and strong!! The hold is awesome and I love everything else about it so I hate that this stuff stinks because it's awesome besides that!! Once again, I am SO sorry if you love the smell!! We are all different, we all like different things I just have a super sensitive nose, all my other senses suck, so my sense of smell is out of this world!! So I think just spraying that so close to my nose it really bothers me and it stays on the hair quite a while. So if smell are your thing (they're my thing) then this might not be the one for you. It's a little pricier for drug stores as well, it's about $14.

This is Pantene Pro V Anti-Humidity Hairspray




This hairspray is really affordable, about $4, but it's very sticky. It holds really well but it is sticky so if you like a soft-touch to your hair you might want to pass on this one. This one doesn't blow me away or anything I'm pretty neutral towards it.

So the jury is still out on some affordable hairsprays, I'm still on the hunt! I'm going to Target tonight for some research and development!!

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The good and the bad, in products that is

It has been a while since I have written. The holiday season just rolled up so quickly and I haven't had a moment to even relax and breathe let alone blog! But-I have been trying products out the whole time even though I haven't been blogging lately. Lately I've tried a few things here are two, one is great one is not so great. We will start off with the not so great one so we can end the blog on a positive note!--i dont know what i did to make this blue and underlined!!! oy!

I usually use a yellow concealer to help lighten the dark circles and redness around my nose. I have tried and LOVED the Cover Girl Simply Ageless Anti-aging yellow corrector. I really love it! But it can be a little pricey for drug store brands, it usually runs around $10 or so. But it goes on really creamy and smooth and doesn't dry out your skin and really gives a flawless look to your makeup application. I ran out so I went without the yellow corrector for quite a while but I realized I really needed the yellow corrector. I just didn't have that flawless complexion that I was going for without it. So-I tried this one out: Maybelline Cover Stick Concealer in Yellow. It's about $3.50 and it's really not that great. :( I wish a $3.50 concealer stick was amazing but it's just too drying. I have to do a lot of maneuvering to make my application not look too drying. I really like a flawless finish on the concealer and foundation and this does not cover, conceal or give an even finish that I like. So pass on this one! The concealer that I do use is amazing though! I have written about it before it's the Maybelline Fit Concealer. It is amazing!!!

The other product I tried out lately was the N.Y.C. brow powder and gel. It's called Browser Brush-on Brow kit and it's only about $3.95. It has the brow powder and a gel to hold your brows in place and the color looks amazing on and the gel keeps everything in place.

I have tired a few different brow pencils and I just can't do pencils. I am too heavy-handed and the brows don't look natural. I think it is so much easier to use a brow powder, I know it seems like it's more intimidating to use a powder over a pencil but it's so much easier! Powders last a lot longer and it gives more of a natural brow look! A lot of the other colors I use drugstore brand or higher-end brands are hard to find a good color to match your brows but this one isn't too red or orange and it really is a beautiful natural look! Try it out it's so cheap, will last a long time, give you the pop you need for your face and will keep your brows in place!

5 minute makeup plan!

Hello! Here is a post how to apply your makeup in 5 minutes! Yes-you can do it in 5 minutes! I tend to do my makeup quite fast but the one thing that takes up a lot of time for me is eye makeup application and liner as well. So-I have found a small amount of products that will take only 5 minutes to apply and this stuff will stay on ALL day! I'm not kidding! I have been trying this application technique out for about a week now and even through my busiest days at work my liner, mascara and eye shadow didn't budge! My good friends Laura and Travis bought me a web cam for my birthday so I will post a video on my application of the 5 minute makeup once I get them over here and they can show me how to upload it!

First I start out with a moisturizer. Even when I use a tinted moisturizer as my foundation I still like to put a moisturizer on first because I like that extra hydration throughout the day and it also gives your skin this beautiful glow. I like to use the CoverGirl NatureLuxe Tinted Moisturizer, it's about $9 and it is amazing!! I really can't try anything else right now I'm so in love with it! All I do is apply this all over the face, neck if you want to, I do.

Next I use that fantastic concealer that I also cannot live without! I have yet to try another concealer since I tried this one because it is really creamy and has fantastic coverage so a little goes a long way and it lasts all day without going flaky, crepey or melting off. I apply this under the eyes, around the nose and around the mouth and chin. A little goes a long way!! This little gem is only $5.

After I apply a light amount of concealer I use one of my more expensive but SO totally worth it makeup pieces! I promise you this piece of makeup is worth every dime!! I have two of these multiples in different colors because they are so amazing and versatile. I have this one I'm going to talk about called Orgasm and the other color I have is called Maldives. They are called multiples because you can use this cream-based stick as a cheek color, eye shadow and lip color as well! So see, it's definitely worth every penny! I will give a word of warning----do not use over a powder unless you use a brush. If you apply this cream stick directly onto the cheeks it will take off your powder color and you will look splotchy. So-if you are doing exactly the steps I'm doing here you can apply it directly onto the cheek but if you throw a powder on top of your face after your concealer then use a foundation brush to apply this color on your cheeks. I apply this multiple stick on the apples of the cheek and go up the cheek bone and stop when you are just below your eyes. Barely blend this, it will go on so sheer and light that you really won't need to blend. This is my little gem:

Nars Multiple in Orgasm, yes that's the name, $39

This color is written up in all sorts of magazines because it is so universal. Any beauty editor can write about this blush color and know that it is going to look good on everyone. This is a beautiful peachy/pink with a beautiful shimmer to really accentuate the cheekbones so it will make those pop and give you a beautiful glow!

The next quick step is throw a little eye primer on. I have written about this one before but it is amazing! It helps keep any eye makeup you put on to stay on all day and it gives you this beautiful even shimmer on the lids if that's all you want to wear!

Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Candlelight $18

A little goes a long way on this product as well. If this is the only color you want on your eyes go for it. I apply this from the last line all the way up to the brow. It's a beautiful shimmery nude color that will wake up your eyes but give a nice shimmer too. I also hit a little right near the tear ducts just to make your eyes pop. This primer also gives a really nice highlight for right under the brow so that's why I simply apply this all over the lid. Now-if you want to stop here you can and give a really light, natural eye look. If you want to do that then skip down to the liner portion, if you want a little extra color read on...

Okay, if you want a little extra color this step is quick, easy and it will last ALL day!!

Jemma Kidd Vintage Gold Liner $20

Yes, this is a little bit pricier than what I normally write about but this is also another multi-purpose piece. You can line your eyes with this and I'm telling you these babies don't move!!! You can also draw this all over the lid and smudge to give this beautiful shimmery, copper shadow that will stay on all day! That is what I did on Saturday and it looked amazing all day! These liners are the best in the beauty industry!!

Next step is liner. I would line this color on the inner rims of the top lid and do on the lash line for a really natural look and that's all I would do. The liner I would use is:

Once again, Jemma Kidd Liner in Zodiac, $20

Yes, I know these items I have written about are a little pricey, but I am here to help you not waste your money so yes, there are sometimes I'm going to find a piece that is so fabulous that it is worth the money so I promise you, the multiple and these 2 liners are so worth it!!!

Next step would be throw on a little mascara

I have been using this one lately. It's pretty good. I have been getting a lot of compliments on my lashes lately and the only thing I'm doing is using this mascara so something must be right!

CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion $8

Finishing touch: my new favorite lip stain

Revlon Just Bitten Lip stain in Desire, $7

This 5 minute look might take a little longer at first but once you get the swing of it you will be ready to go in no time!! I really think this look will look right on for the fall beauty trends as well. My prediction for the fall beauty look will be really neutral and dewy with a pop of lip color. This is exactly what you're going to get when you do this makeup look!!! The blush color is beautiful and shimmery, the eyes are very neutral but your eyes will pop when you line the inner rims of your eyelids with that zodiac black pencil and throw a little mascara on and that pop of lip color I think you will look amazing!!! Video to come soon!!

Bitten!!

Okay, I have just tried a new lip stain/gloss that I just love!! It's super affordable and easier to get a hold of since this one is sold at all your local drugstores. The price is much more appealing than my other tried and true lip stain (I'll write about this one too) but I will compare the differences here.

This one here is Revlon Just Bitten-for some reason I have always loved a really natural lip on myself and all of a sudden I have been dying for a great, bold lip so when I was at Target this week I decided to give this one a try. I know there are a bunch of different lip stains out there now like the Covergirl brand as well but what drew me to this one was that there is a lip stain on one end and a gloss on the other. The lip stain is just like a marker, which I can recall using markers as lipstick as a child, but this marker is easy to apply and it really will adhere to your lips and stay on. You have to make sure that you apply it very evenly and neatly because if you hit outside your lip, most likely it's not coming off for a while. This one does not stay on for hours and hours but I will say it stays on great for a $6.00 lip stain and the balm/gloss that comes with it keeps your lips hydrated where most lip stains dry out your lips like crazy! So-that is why I picked the Revlon brand over the other ones, the multi-purpose use. If you buy a stain strictly with no other hydration, you're going to hate it! So that's why I love this one. Like I said, the life of it isn't as long as some lip stains, but I was pleased and by the time I was ready to re-apply that yummy balm on the other end it was time to re-apply the stain so it worked out nicely. I first bought Desire and I liked it so much I went back and got Victorian, Gothic, Crave and Passion. These are all bold pops of color that I just love and are going to be so popular for fall!! I love these and for $6 you can't beat it!!!

Here is the higher-end option that I do love and the staying power is unbeatable!!! This is Tarte hydrating lip stains. They have different finishes, which most don't. There is a matte finish, a gloss finish and a shimmer finish. I really love these because this is a great starter lip stain. Lip stains are amazing and they are a bold look but they don't have a heavy look like lipsticks do. Lip stains are usually just a watery, liquid that you apply directly to the lips and your lips just absorb it up and the color stays on for a long, long time! So, most lip stains are a bold color but they really look just like your lips so in a way it still gives you a great natural look. Unlike most lip stains Tarte's gives you different sheen's which no other line can be compared to. I love that these stains are also hydrating where in my previous paragraph I wrote about most stains being pretty drying, which they are. This one does not have a gloss/balm on the other end like the Revlon one does, this is just a two-in-one that you don't need it. I really like these and the color does stay on for a very long time and the longer they are on the bolder the color gets! I use these lip stains every time I do weddings for photo shoots because you rarely have to think about re-applying which is really nice. The price is a little steeper, but if you are a huge lover of bold lips and are looking for something really spectacular try out these little beauties!! $24 at the cosmetic market!

Easy access Mineral Foundation

CoverGirl TruBlend Mineral Foundation

$7.50

Okay, I have been trying out a new mineral foundation after one of my friends asked my opinion on a cheaper, easier to find mineral makeup comparable to Bare Escentuals. I have tried a few different mineral makeup foundations and most tend to feel a little too heavy and really get into the pores which just looks awful. When I went to Target to try and pick out a new mineral makeup to try I really wanted to find an affordable one, and let's be honest some drug store makeup brands are getting just as expensive as some department store brands and higher end makeup brands. I also wanted to find one that was easy to pick out color wise. I have been in the makeup artistry business for many years and finding the right foundation is pretty easy now but I know how overwhelming it can be trying to find the right shade for your skin. So, when I was trying to find one to try out I decided that ease of color matching would be very important too. Usually when you use a mineral foundation a lot of the foundation colors can really match a wide range of skin tones. I decided to pick CoverGirl TruBlend Mineral Loose Powder. There are only 4 colors to choose from which makes finding your shade very easy!!! I used it and really enjoyed the feel of it. Like I said a lot of mineral foundations tend to go on really heavy and just sit right on top of your skin and that makes for a very heavy, not natural look, especially if you have large pores or uneven skin. I have just started to like Bare Escentuals but it does give a heavy coverage (that's why it's taken me so long to really like it). Bare Escentuals foundations are great and they won't clog your pores but they can sometimes go on very thick and look and feel very heavy. You really have to use very little and really spread the foundation evenly all over the face, very little goes a long way.

I tried out the CoverGirl foundation and I really liked it. The one main change with this one over the Bare Escentuals is that the CoverGirl foundation definitely does not give full coverage like the Bare Escentuals brand. But-overall I was really pleased. The application of the powder and the feel and stay of the makeup was great! I really like it and I will definitely be using this again. I always put mineral foundation on first, then apply concealer on top of the mineral foundation, throw a tiny bit more foundation on top all over the face and really sealing where I put concealer and then throwing a loose translucent powder or mineral veil on top of the foundation just to set everything.

To find a drugstore brand "mineral veil" I would really go for any loose translucent powder. I really like Coty Airspun Translucent Loose Powder, it's about $7.99. Very little bit will go a long way!!! Some days I will just throw on moisturizer, put on some concealer and then throw on some of this translucent loose powder to go a little lighter on the coverage and it does a great job!

Coty Airspun Translucent Loose Powder

$7.99

***The main key to application on any type of makeup is brushes and that is one thing I will not skimp on!! If you purchase a nice group of brushes you will not be disappointed and it will completely change your outlook on all sorts of makeup brands so definitely go get a great pair of brushes for great application!!***

Stay Fit!

I have been on the hunt for a great, affordable concealer and I have found one worth writing about! I have been trying this one out for about a month now and it has already turned into a must-have from now on! I use this concealer to help cover the dark circles under the eyes and I also use it to help contour around my nose, in between my brows, and around the mouth and chin. This concealer is really creamy and a little goes a long way. I love this concealer because of the texture and because of the finishing look. The end-results after using this concealer is a really beautiful even, flawless look. This is one of the few concealers that I have found that really gives that flawless look that you would see in editorial work. I always look at celebrities and models and always wonder if there is any way to get that look without breaking the bank and I truly believe that I have found it! Here it is!!

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

about $5.00

I bought mine at Target, but all drug stores carry this fabulous concealer! I hope you try it out and enjoy! Remember-little goes a long way!!! My next blog I will show you where I put my concealer (which is a lot of places) to really give the illusion of a perfect complexion. I don't do too many makeup artist tricks for an every day look but I always use my concealer tricks every single day because it can really make a huge difference!!

New Thrifty Find!!!

I am so excited to write about a new thrifty find for you all! It's by CoverGirl and it's in the new NatureLuxe line. This is the new line with cute little Taylor Swift as their cover girl. I bought the Liquid Silk Foundation and the Touched by Nature Gloss Balm. The Liquid Silk foundation I bought is amazing!!! It has an s.p.f. of 10 and it also has jojoba extract, and cucumber water in it. I love the smell of it and I have used a lot of different tinted moisturizers, most being over $35 and I really think this one is better than most of those! It gives you a good amount of coverage without being too sheer or too heavy and drying, which is the main problems with me and foundations/tinted moisturizers. This foundation is definitely something I am going to continue using and I would suggest this to anybody looking for a nice, light, medium coverage, tinted moisturizer. It's fantastic and it's only $11!!! The Gloss balm I purchased is Sandstone. It is a beautiful color! I am predicting the spring/summer looks and I think glossy is out. I think it's going to be a bold eye or lip in matte colors. This Gloss Balm has tiny little sparkle to it that makes your lips look bigger. It's amazing and smells wonderful. This gloss balm also has an s.p.f. in it which fantastic!! This gloss balm will definitely help you have the newest trends in makeup. The Sandstone is a nice neutral color but they have some brighter, bolder colors that will really go for that pop of color. The Gloss Balm is only $6.50! Try them and I hope you enjoy!!

Warm of Cool? What skin tone are you?

A main factor in picking the perfect foundation is what undertones you have in your skin. People are either yellow skin tone or red skin tone. People also have warm or cool skin tones. Warm and cool skin tones help people base what colors to use for your foundation and blushes etc. Here are a few ways to find your skin tone. Yellow-orange goes for more warm tones and blue-red are more for the cool tones.

Vein test-This is one way to determine your skin tone. I have never tried this one before but I wanted to at least put this one on here to give a lot of options-

***Flip your arm over if your veins are greenish then you have yellow skin tone and you are a warmer skin tone.

*** If your veins are bluer than you are a cooler skin tone with blue undertones.
I have never used this test before, but I wanted to give you the option to try it out. I hope it works for you!

Towel Test-Pull your hair back and wash your face. After you have washed your face keep your hair pulled back and place a white towel across your neck and chest.

***If your face looks yellow against the towel-guess what? You have a yellow undertone and are a warm tone.

*** If your face looks blue against the towel you are a cool skin tone and have blue undertones.
I have not tried this test either---sorry I will get to my preferred tests next :)

Jewelry Test-Sometimes people determine their skin tones by seeing how gold or silver jewelry looks against their skin. I do not use this method either, and I like both types of jewelry even if one looks bad against my face. But really, what I would do instead of jewelry would be a piece of metallic fabric. I would put it against your clean skin and see which one brings your skin to life with a rich, vibrant color and which one washes you out and makes you pasty.

***Ok so-if silver looks better on you than you are a cool tone. If the gold looks better on you then you are a warm tone! Yay!

Scarf test-Pull your hair back and wash the face. Stand in front of a mirror and have your shoulders bare. Put a piece of yellow material across your shoulders and see if it brightens your appearance and really draws attention to your eyes then you are a warm, if it makes you look blotchy and very yellow then you are a cool. When you place a blue piece of material around you then if you’re cool the blue will really brighten your skin and draw attention to your eyes and if you’re warm it will basically look the opposite :)

Warm tones tend to have a yellowish-orange cast to the skin.

**Usually warm tones have naturally black or brown hair and your eyes are brown and you have olive or golden complexion and you tan easy.

***You could also be a warm tone if your hair is naturally golden to dark blonde, your eyes are dark brown and your skin is golden or olive and you tan easy.

***If you had red or light auburn hair with maybe a bit of dark blonde, your eyes are green or brown and you skin tone is more beige, and you tan easily you have a warm tone.

If you have warm tone then I would say go for earthier colors for a normal day-to-day basis. Look for words like mocha, bronze, caramel, browns, taupe. For more dramatic looks you can go for bright navy, oranges, light greens and olives, moss, jade, grass-green, celery and Granny Smith Apples green. For lipsticks you can pick colors in brick reds, dark tomato red, burnt oranges. Always look for gold undertones.

Cool tones will not have a yellow-orange tone (obviously) Cool tones have more pink undertones.

***Cool tones usually have a natural hair color of light to medium brown and you have greenish-hazel eyes or blue eyes, your complexion is usually very fair to pale as well or you burn easy.

***If your natural hair color is dark ask blonde and you have hazel or blue eyes with a fair complexion.

***Dark brown hair with blue eyes and pink tones to your skin tone which is usually very fair or pale, you have cool tones.

***If you have naturally light to medium brunette hair and your eyes are blue-gray to light green and your face is fair to pale with a rosy cheek, you are cool.

***If you have red or dark brunette hair with very dark brown eyes and your skin is pale with rosy cheeks, you have a cool tone.

So, if you have cool tones look more for ivory colors when picking foundations. When you’re choosing lipsticks go for more blue-red colors, you can even do bright pinks. Cool tones can do all shades of blue, all shades of green, deep purples and rosy pinks.

I hope this helps. I know a lot of it was very repetitive but, I just wanted to give a few of the options that I do hear about all the time even if I don’t do those tests. I hope you enjoyed, sorry it took so long to write this blog. I will have a new blog up very, very soon and it will be about all the different option of foundations and which ones will work best for you!

http://www.carefair.com/Makeup/Are_You_Warm_or_Cool_1463.html
www.womenshealthcaretopics.com

To splurge or not to splurge-That is the question.

I love to shop and I love buying make up, purses, and especially tops and dresses! But what I hate is spending a lot of money on one item! I can shop til I drop, but I rarely spend over 25$ on any clothing item and I definitely do not spend more than $10-$15 on make up. But, there are just a few things that I will spend more money on make up-wise. I have been on the hunt for the perfect foundation and that is one item that I will spend more money on.

This subject will change and I will write more blogs about foundations the more I try and go through! If you are curious about a certain foundation that you want to try but you don't want to risk your skin or your wallet let me know! I'm up for the challenge and I'm here to help you!

Foundation is the most important make up you will use. It will base how your skin looks for long periods of time and it lays out the canvas for your masterpiece :) I will just give my opinion on what I've tried and what I love and what I do not love so much. Now remember-this is just my opinion.

Before we get started, I am going to say again, this is just my opinion. I love hearing what different people like and don't like, that's why I am here. Everyone's skin in different and this is just from my past experience. Another thing is take some extra time to find that perfect foundation. I know at drug stores you won't be able to take a sample home and try it out for you (that's what I'm here for :) I will try it and let you know before you have to spend your money) but, if you are looking into more expensive make up lines that you can get at a cosmetics store or at a department store, make sure the make up expert matches you up and gives you a sample to take home and try for yourself. If they are not willing to do that for you, go somewhere else!! I always encouraged my customers to take a sample home and use it for the next few days and I would always apply the foundation they were interested in on their face and told them to run around and test it out for the day to see how it wears, how your skin reacts and adjusts to it, and how you like it. So, once again, don't worry about asking for someone's help to apply some foundation on you and don't be afraid to get a sample, and if they're rude, leave and go elsewhere!

I do like the new mineral make up craze. I think people cannot put time and effort into washing their face and moisturizing and then using some heavy, pore-clogging make up. It completely defeats the purpose of taking time and effort into taking care of your skin.

First line I will write about is---Bare Escentuals foundation. I have used it and sold it at the store I worked at and I for one did not like it. I felt it was a little heavy and it created a mask-like appearance on my skin. Now, I do have some friends that use it and it looks amazing, the mask look and the heaviness is not there with them. For me, I do have clogged, blemished skin and it is kind of dry so I think the Bare Escentuals was just a little heavy for me. I feel like older women want to try to mineral line as well and I do feel like if you have wrinkles or larger pores, I do not think that Bare Escentuals is the right fit. I also feel like it is kind of shiny and metallic on the skin. I used to work at a cosmetics store and I could usually look at people's skin and I could tell if they used Bare Escentuals. Now, like I said this is purely my opinion and again, I do have a couple of friends who wear Bare Escentuals and it looks amazing on them! One thing I do like is that Bare Escentuals has a starter kit which has two small foundations, a mineral veil, and some brushes and bronzer. I do like that, it's a good way to try it out and it's a good price. Plus-even if you hate the make up you get some brushes! Words of the wise---if you choose to purchase the foundation in this line, make sure you buy the mineral veil as well. It finishes the whole foundation look, it seals in the foundation, helps buffer fine lines and wrinkles, it's weightless, and gives you a flawless finish.

Bare Escentuals Run Down-
Prices---$25 for large foundation
$18 for mineral veil
www.bareescentuals.com
Pros-all natural, doesn't clog pores, good for acne-prone/sensitive skin, natural finish, love the mineral veil!
Cons(remember just my opinion)-too heavy, weird shiny finish, bad for large pores and people with wrinkles

I have used Therapy Systems mineral powder foundation and I think it's great! It's a little pricey so that is a major downfall for me. Plus, in the summer time the mineral foundation works great for me, winter time I get dryer and I cannot wear the Therapy Systems foundation, it feels heavy and my dryness gets very noticeable. If you purchase this one I definitely would suggest purchasing the finishing powder. It is fantastic!!! I use this even when I'm not using their mineral foundation. The Therapy Systems make up line is triple-milled which means this mineral line has been ground down 3 x's more than other mineral make ups. I think this is why I love the feel, look, and texture of it. This line also has silk powder in it which I think leaves your skin fresh and healthy looking! The finishing powder is amazing and really sets the foundation. So once again, if you buy the foundation definitely get the finishing powder. I like the sunlight, it has a yellow-tint to it and it helps reduce redness which I think everybody needs! Another pro to this line is that you can get the foundation and finishing powder in loose or pressed powder. I still prefer loose :)

Therapy Systems Run Down-
Prices---$34 for foundation
$25 for finishing powder
www.therapysystems.com
Pros-great finish, light feel, super-fine texture so great for large pores, and wrinkles
Cons-not the best for oily skin, dry skin, slightly pricey

I used MAC Mineralize foundation around November of last year. It was about 32$ and it was great! It didn't last as long as I would have liked but honestly, it was great. It was a little sheerer than I wanted but overall I was pleased. I usually associate MAC with heavy coverage but this wasn't like that at all! My skin felt and looked great! Like I said, it is sheer coverage so if you're wanting heavy coverage--this is not the one for you! I also feel like if you're one really prone to breakouts or has very sensitive skin, I would not suggest this one for you!

MAC Mineralize Foundation Run Down-
$29.50 for liquid foundation
www.maccosmetics.com
Pros-fabulous finish, lightweight, looks great, does not clog pores
Cons-needs a little more coverage, didn't last too long


I have tried L'Oreal True Match Foundation and I will say the coverage is good but I did not like the way it went on. You could tell their was a medium coverage but---it made my skin look very dry and it almost rolled off my face. It looked awful! It looked like my skin was super dry and peeling. That is not a look we want right girls?

L'Oreal True Match Foundation Run Down-
$10.95
Any drug store or you can go to lorealparisusa.com
Pros-affordable, lightweight, good coverage
Cons-made my skin look dry and flaky

Jane Iredale has some amazing foundations! I really like their pressed powder foundations and their Liquid Mineral foundation. Usually I would prefer a loose powder, which Jane Iredale does offer, but I really prefer their pressed for some reason. It lasts such a long time and it gives a great look and feel! I also really like the Liquid Minerals. It has A LOT of coverage so if you're one for minimal coverage-this is not the one for you! Pointers on the liquid foundation---take a few pumps and put on a make up palette plate and get a foundation brush and smash and blend it together or take a few pumps and put it on the back of your hand and just press and mix together with your fingers. You must make sure to blend well because all this foundation is is pigmented mineral powder shaped in little balls and it is suspended in hyaluronic acid. So, if you do not blend well it will look awful on the skin! So make sure you blend well and then apply to skin. Hyaluronic acid is wonderful for your skin, it keeps hydration up and helps with anti-aging. This foundation looks weird-but it's great! Major downfall-it's expensive but I love it!

Jane Iredale Foundation Run Down-
$36 for pressed foundation, $42 for loose foundation, $46 for liquid
www.janeiredale.com
Pros-great coverage, does not clog pores, good for all skin types, stays on all day
Cons-very expensive, hard to find in some locations

Right now I am using CoverGirl Clean liquid foundation for normal skin. I am really, really enjoying it! I was so weary of using CoverGirl just from past experience many, many years ago but I am really loving it. It's light but has great coverage and the price you cannot beat!! They have one foundation in the same line for sensitive skin and they have one for anti-aging. I would always stick with either normal or sensitive skin. If you tend to breakout easy go for the sensitive skin! It's just a safer bet!

CoverGirl Clean Liquid Foundation Low Down-
$4.50 at drug stores
www.covergirl.com
Pros-great coverage, light-weight, stays on all day, amazing price!
Cons-I can't think of anything right now!

I am so sorry this is so long but foundations are so important! I will continue to keep trying new brands so keep checking back!

Next blog-----how to match yourself when you're at a drug store!

Hello to the wonderful World of Makeup!

Hi all! I am new to this and honestly I am not too great with technology. But, I love makeup, I love doing makeup, and I love helping others with makeup as well. I notice I get so many questions about makeup application tips, new trends, and makeup itself. So, this is what I am here for :) Hopefully I can gain a lot of friends on here and help you all with any makeup or skincare questions :) Tell your friends and family to follow me and feel free to ask any beauty questions you have!