For shampoo, right now I'm switching between the Redken Extreme and the Garnier Pure Clean. The Redken one is opaque, and contains a lot of protein, making it great for damaged hair. When I need my hair to be squeaky clean, I switch over to the Garnier one, which is clear and clarifying.
Whenever I use the Redken shampoo, I also use the matching Redken Extreme conditioner. This particular formula isn't very hydrating, so it doesn't leave the hair feeling very soft - it's just enough to untangle the hair. Even though it doesn't soften, this formula definitely strengthens my hair and I will continue to use it. When I want my hair to be soft, I use a little bit of the Herbal Essences Touchably Smooth conditioner, which works extremely well at softening. About every two weeks I use a deep conditioner, and the one I'm currently using is the Naked Rescue Hair Treatment. I coat the length of my hair and leave it on for about ten minutes.
After I get out of the shower, I usually choose between a few treatments and styling products. The Redken Extreme Anti-Snap treatment is a great leave-in conditioner, but if I need more smoothness, I'll go with the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny serum. The super skinny serum smells amazing, and it really does help dry my hair faster! Another product that I really like is the Garnier Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk. I've used this in the past and always gone back to it, but if I'm using it, I'll use it by itself, since too many products can cause buildup. That product is great to apply right before a blowout, since it really takes care of any frizz.
Dec 28, 2011
Dec 27, 2011
Sephora Professionnel Airbrush Concealer 57 Brush: Review & Photos
I first discovered the Sephora Professionnel Airbrush Concealer #57 brush when one of the beauty consultants at the store used it on me. I was originally interested in the actual concealer, but as soon as I felt this brush on my skin, I knew I had to have it. I've always had trouble applying concealer under my eyes, because the traditional flat brushes would leave the area looking streaky. If I applied with my fingers, it always ended up looking splotchy and uneven, and I'd end up using more product than necessary.
After the beauty consultant was done, I took one look in the mirror and was immediately sold. As the name states, this brush definitely gives an airbrushed finish. My concealer had never looked so good, and the best part was that I barely felt it to the touch, so it's extremely gentle (great for the delicate eye area).
The beauty consultant at Sephora also mentioned that with this brush, it didn't matter what concealer you chose to use, you were going to get a perfect application every time. I find this to be absolutely true, and I'm glad that now I'm able to use all my neglected concealers!
This brush is made of synthetic fibers, which make it great for applying concealer as it won't absorb the product. I find that when using this brush, I only need a fraction of what I used to use before. At first it might appear too big, but the round shape allows it to get into the contours of your face effortlessly. I bought this brush primarily for under-eye concealer, but I find that it works great around my nose as well.
This brush retails for $24 USD and can be purchased at any Sephora store or at sephora.com. Thank you for reading!
Sephora Professionnel Airbrush Concealer 57 Brush
After the beauty consultant was done, I took one look in the mirror and was immediately sold. As the name states, this brush definitely gives an airbrushed finish. My concealer had never looked so good, and the best part was that I barely felt it to the touch, so it's extremely gentle (great for the delicate eye area).
The beauty consultant at Sephora also mentioned that with this brush, it didn't matter what concealer you chose to use, you were going to get a perfect application every time. I find this to be absolutely true, and I'm glad that now I'm able to use all my neglected concealers!
This brush is made of synthetic fibers, which make it great for applying concealer as it won't absorb the product. I find that when using this brush, I only need a fraction of what I used to use before. At first it might appear too big, but the round shape allows it to get into the contours of your face effortlessly. I bought this brush primarily for under-eye concealer, but I find that it works great around my nose as well.
This brush retails for $24 USD and can be purchased at any Sephora store or at sephora.com. Thank you for reading!
Sephora Professionnel Airbrush Concealer 57 Brush
Sephora Professionnel Airbrush Concealer 57 Brush
Sephora Professionnel Airbrush Concealer 57 Brush
Comparison: Sigma F70 Concealer Brush (left), Sephora Professionnel Airbrush Concealer 57 Brush (right)
Dec 26, 2011
Quick Tip: Garlic Nails
If you have trouble with weak, short, and peeling nails, this is for you. Buy the cheapest clear polish you can find. Next, take a small garlic clove and cut it into itty bitty pieces, and stuff them into the polish. Try to paint your nails with this concoction every week or as soon as you see a chip, and your nails will thank you.
Dec 22, 2011
Tip: Determining Your Skin's Undertones
Many people become very confused when faced with products labeled for "warm" or "cool" skin tones. An easy way to determine this is to look at your arm - if your veins appear greenish, then your skin has a yellow undertone, or is warm-toned. If the veins on your arm look blue, then your skin has a pink undertone, or is cool-toned. If you can't see the veins under your skin, try to determine whether you look better in gold or silver. Warm skin tones tend to look best in golds, while cooler skin tones look best in silver.
Hope this was helpful!
Hope this was helpful!
Dec 21, 2011
Tag: If I Had To Start Over
So there is this tag that has been going around YouTube that asks you to name the ten items you would purchase first if all of your makeup disappeared. I don't make YouTube videos, but I thought it would be fun to share this anyway.
The first item on my list is a cheap clear mascara. I use a clear mascara every single day to keep my crazy eyebrows in place, and I think it makes all the difference in the world. I don't bother buying expensive tubes of "brow gels" because a $2 clear mascara from a drugstore works just fine!
The second item is actually a dark grey eyeshadow, which I use sometimes to fill in the gaps of my brows. My hair and eyebrows are black, and I find that dark grey looks more natural than a brown shadow. I apply it using an angled eyeliner brush for a natural finish. The one I currently have is Kiko Eye Shadow in 175, but when I run out I'll have to get something different unless I go to Italy to get it :)
My next item is the Milani Liquif'eye Eyeliner Pencil in Black, and so far this has been the darkest, creamiest liner I've found that doesn't move around in my inner rims/lower lash line.
I would have to buy a mascara, and although I don't use one every day, I like to have one for when I'm doing night looks or if I feel like wearing one. I've tried many before, but so far I really love the Clinique High Impact, L'Oreal Voluminous, and Rimmel The Max Volume Flash mascaras.
The first item on my list is a cheap clear mascara. I use a clear mascara every single day to keep my crazy eyebrows in place, and I think it makes all the difference in the world. I don't bother buying expensive tubes of "brow gels" because a $2 clear mascara from a drugstore works just fine!
The second item is actually a dark grey eyeshadow, which I use sometimes to fill in the gaps of my brows. My hair and eyebrows are black, and I find that dark grey looks more natural than a brown shadow. I apply it using an angled eyeliner brush for a natural finish. The one I currently have is Kiko Eye Shadow in 175, but when I run out I'll have to get something different unless I go to Italy to get it :)
My next item is the Milani Liquif'eye Eyeliner Pencil in Black, and so far this has been the darkest, creamiest liner I've found that doesn't move around in my inner rims/lower lash line.
I would have to buy a mascara, and although I don't use one every day, I like to have one for when I'm doing night looks or if I feel like wearing one. I've tried many before, but so far I really love the Clinique High Impact, L'Oreal Voluminous, and Rimmel The Max Volume Flash mascaras.
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| Rimmel The Max Volume Flash Mascara |
For foundation, I'd like something that I could use as a powder and that's portable. Right now I'm using the Mark. Powder Buff Foundation in Buff, and I really like it. I haven't found my holy grail foundation yet, but I'm working on it!
I think my favorite makeup item is blush, so I actually picked two from my current collection. If my makeup actually did disappear, I'm not 100% sure if I would repurchase these specific ones, simply because I love blush and I want to try every single one out there, but for now MAC's Dame and Benefit's Dallas would definitely have me covered.
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| Benefit Dallas & MAC blush in Dame |
For eyeshadow I had to pick a palette, and of course I went with my new boo, the Urban Decay Naked2 Palette. This palette is amazing, and I can create so many different looks! If you want to know more, you can read my review here.
I have oily skin, and thus I have oily eyelids. Without primer, my eyeshadow would crease badly, and then just disappear somewhere, and that's not a very good look. I haven't tried many primers, because the one that I tried first was amazing, and that was the Urban Decay Primer Potion. I currently have the original, but I'm really interested in trying the Eden one.
Lastly, I had to pick a lip product, so I decided to go with Clinique's Superbalm Lip Treatment in Currant. This is a balm/lip gloss that leaves some color and is super moisturizing, and I've actually repurchased it twice. Most of the time I wear lip balm, but this one can act as a lip gloss as well.
That was all, thank you for reading!
Dec 20, 2011
Urban Decay Naked2 Palette: Review & Photos
Why hello there! I know I haven't posted in forever, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten about this blog. I have many reviews, tips and routines coming up that I think everyone will enjoy, so stay tuned.
If you are somewhat interested in makeup and beauty products, you've probably heard of the ever-so-famous Urban Decay Naked Palette. UD eyeshadows are known for their amazing texture, pigmentation, and overall quality. Last year when they released a 'Naked' palette full of wearable neutrals, everyone went nuts and it sold out everywhere. The palette became so famous that this month they have released a sequel called the Naked2.
This new palette is already famous by association. I managed to get my hands on it, but so far only the Urban Decay website is carrying it and it keeps selling out at a ridiculous rate. This palette deserves five stars just for the fact that it includes twelve full-size shadows, when a single UD shadow usually retails for $17. The packaging of this version is made of plastic and resembles a metal tin, which might make it more durable and definitely easier to clean. It comes with a bigger mirror, a double ended brush (a flat shader and a fluffy blending brush) and a mini lip gloss. All of this for just $50 USD is just too good to pass up.
The real question would be, is it worth to have both? In my opinion, I actually prefer this new palette over the old one. On the UD website it says that this palette was created with more 'greige' and cooler colors, which I definitely like. Many of the new shades lean more towards the cooler side and there are many shades of taupe. There are also three matte colors: a cream highlight (Foxy), a mid-tone beige/gray (Tease) and a really intense black for liner or defined crease work (Blackout). I have light, cool-toned skin, so this palette will definitely get more use than my original Naked.
If you are a makeup collector and can afford it, it's definitely OK to have both palettes. My older Naked palette was barely used, so I actually sold it to a friend who prefers gold and bronze shades. If you have neither and are considering purchasing one, I'd say go to the store once it's released and swatch the shades. Although they look very similar in their packaging, the difference is quite notable. However, I definitely like the Naked2 better than the first. :)
This palette is currently available at UrbanDecay.com and I believe it will be available at Sephora.com after Christmas. This palette retails for $50 USD.
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| Urban Decay Naked2 Palette |
 |
| Urban Decay Naked2 Palette |
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| Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, & Snakebite |
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| Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, & Blackout |
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| Double-ended brush |
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| Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Naked |
This new palette is already famous by association. I managed to get my hands on it, but so far only the Urban Decay website is carrying it and it keeps selling out at a ridiculous rate. This palette deserves five stars just for the fact that it includes twelve full-size shadows, when a single UD shadow usually retails for $17. The packaging of this version is made of plastic and resembles a metal tin, which might make it more durable and definitely easier to clean. It comes with a bigger mirror, a double ended brush (a flat shader and a fluffy blending brush) and a mini lip gloss. All of this for just $50 USD is just too good to pass up.
The real question would be, is it worth to have both? In my opinion, I actually prefer this new palette over the old one. On the UD website it says that this palette was created with more 'greige' and cooler colors, which I definitely like. Many of the new shades lean more towards the cooler side and there are many shades of taupe. There are also three matte colors: a cream highlight (Foxy), a mid-tone beige/gray (Tease) and a really intense black for liner or defined crease work (Blackout). I have light, cool-toned skin, so this palette will definitely get more use than my original Naked.
If you are a makeup collector and can afford it, it's definitely OK to have both palettes. My older Naked palette was barely used, so I actually sold it to a friend who prefers gold and bronze shades. If you have neither and are considering purchasing one, I'd say go to the store once it's released and swatch the shades. Although they look very similar in their packaging, the difference is quite notable. However, I definitely like the Naked2 better than the first. :)
This palette is currently available at UrbanDecay.com and I believe it will be available at Sephora.com after Christmas. This palette retails for $50 USD.
Dec 2, 2011
NAKED?! AGAIN?!
The NAKED2 palette from Urban Decay is officially out, but it's already sold out! Word is that the colors are very similar, although this new palette has a few more matte shades and an amazingly intense matte black color. From what I've seen so far, it doesn't look that different from the original palette, so if you already have that one, I wouldn't necessarily suggest purchasing it. However, if you never got the chance to buy the first edition, I definitely recommend buying this palette!
This palette comes with a dual-ended brush (regular shader and crease/blending) and a mini lip gloss. There are twelve shades, and five of them are exclusive. The shades are:
The palette is currently sold out at urbandecay.com, but you can sign up on the website to be notified of when it is back in stock. As for other retailers, sephora.com will start carrying the palette after Christmas, and it will be in stores as of January 2012.
Happy Holidays!
Photo and information courtesy of urbandecay.com
This palette comes with a dual-ended brush (regular shader and crease/blending) and a mini lip gloss. There are twelve shades, and five of them are exclusive. The shades are:
- Foxy
- Half Baked *
- Booty Call
- Chopper
- Tease
- Snakebite
- Suspect
- Pistol
- Verve
- YDK
- Busted
- Blackout
The palette is currently sold out at urbandecay.com, but you can sign up on the website to be notified of when it is back in stock. As for other retailers, sephora.com will start carrying the palette after Christmas, and it will be in stores as of January 2012.
Happy Holidays!
Photo and information courtesy of urbandecay.com
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