Beauty Archives - The Budget SocialiteThe Budget Socialite

01-22-14 {Beauty}

Foundation Fundamentals

Hello Beauties!
You may not have perfect skin, but nobody has to know, all you need are the makeup foundation fundamentals. The right foundation should make you look like you have flawless skin while making you look like you are not wearing any foundation at all. There are many different foundation formulations, which means there’s at least one that’s perfect for you! If you are someone who struggles with finding the right foundation, these tips will help you choose that perfect formula.

First, determine your skin type. Do you have oily, dry, sensitive, normal or combination skin?

If you have oily skin: typically, powder-based makeup foundations look best on you. Some favorite brands are: MAC, Cover Girl Queen Collection, and Make Up For Ever (can be worn wet or dry).
If you have dry and acneaic skin: usually cream-based foundations look best on you. Some favorite brands are: Illasmasqua, Giorgio Armani, and Cover FX.
If you have sensitive skin: mineral makeup looks best on you. A favorite brand is Bare Essentials.
If you have normal skin, the the sky’s the limit. Some favorite brands are: Giorgio Armani, Lancome, Revlon Photo Ready and L’Oreal True Match.
If you have combination skin: oil-control moisturizers can be applied to parts of the face to counterbalance the foundation choice.

After you’ve determined your skin type, then you need to choose the color that’s best for you based on your skin tone and your undertone. This is normally where most women go wrong. A general rule of thumb when trying to determine your undertone is- if you have yellow, orange or a red-orange undertone, then your skin tone is considered warm, which means your perfect foundation should have a yellow base; if you have blue or a blue-red undertone, your skin tone is considered cool, which means your foundation should have a slightly pink base; if you cannot identify your undertone, it’s safe to use a yellow-base foundation. The majority of people have yellow undertones in their skin.

Makeup artist tip: Always test foundation in natural light. Match the foundation color that closley matches the collar bone or chest. You can also match your foundation at your jawline. Swipe a line of foundation along your jawline and if it disappears quickly (2-3 swipes), it’s the correct color; double-check on the forehead. Some women have darker skin on the forehead and if the foundation matches here, it should work for the whole face.

Your makeup foundation color and/or formulation should change during the seasons (typically summer and winter). Generally, your skin darkens in the summer which will require you to change to a darker foundation. In the winter, your skin will lighten and you will need to change to a lighter foundation. Also, the formulation may need to change during the seasons. In the summer, you want to wear less because of sweating. During the summer, it’s a perfect time to use a tinted moisturizer. Tinted moisturizer is a combination of foundation and moisturizer, so you get the best of both worlds. There are some that are formulated with SPF so you also get sun protection. Tinted moisturizer can create flawless skin with minimal makeup. One of the best tinted moisturizers is Laura Mercier. Giorgio Armani Face Fabric is also a favorite.

Makeup artists spend a lot of time mastering foundation, so no matter who sits in their chair, they can successfully achieve a flawless look. If the foundation isn’t right, everything is off. Foundation selection can be challenging, but if you apply the tips and suggestions given, you should have no problem securing a foundation that’s perfect for you and will give you a flawless, natural look – each and every time!

Have you tried any of these foundation tips? What did you think?

Contributor | Holly Miller
Holly Byrd Miller, owner of Makeup By Holly is a 15 year makeup artistry veteran. Located in Richmond, VA her services include Bridal, TV, Runway, Fashion shows and Photo shoots. Holly also freelances for Giorgio Armani and is a Certified Makeup Instructor

11-12-13 {Beauty}

Eyes that Pop!

As a professional makeup artist, 100% of the women who sit in my chair tell me the thing they want more than anything else is to have eyes that pop! Even women who don’t typically wear makeup will make that request. Of course, I’m never surprised by their request and I simply smile and nod as if I’ve never heard it before.

The eyes are the focal point of the face and when they look bright and open, it’s very appealing. Not only can bright eyes make you appear more attractive, but they can also make you appear younger.

I love highlighting the eyes. Even if you are someone who doesn’t typically like to wear makeup, wearing minimal eye makeup and utilizing some quick and easy tips that I will share with you can really make your eyes pop! For example, did you know pressing eyeliner and/or matte eyeshadow into the lashline (base of upper eyelid) can make your lashes appear thicker? Makeup artist do this trick all the time, to create the illusion of thicker lashes. See for yourself.

Lift your eyes at the lashline and using an angled brush, press a matte eyeshadow or an eyeliner (should match your eyelash color) into the base of the lashes. Gel liners also work really well and generally won’t smudge.

Define your brows. Fill them in with eyebrow pencil/shadow (apply with an angled brush). Note: choose two shades of eyebrow pencils/eyeshadow (one close to the color of your hair and another 1-2 shades lighter). Use the darker pencil/eyeshadow to make short hair-like strokes from the beginning of the eyebrow to the arch. After the arch, switch to your lighter pencil/eyeshadow. With soft strokes, finish the ends of the brow; use eyebrow brush or empty mascara wand to soften the pencil/shadow (will soften any noticeable lines). You can even follow-up with brow gel (also clear mascara will work) to keep the brows in place.

Curl your eyelashes. This will make the eyes appear lifted and the lashes appear fuller and thicker. Eyelash curling tip: Make sure your lashes are completely free of mascara. Start at the base of your lashes and make sure to get all lashes in the eyelash curler. Hold for 3 seconds. Don’t hold any longer or it will crimp the lashes instead of curling them. Curl the lashes in 3 sections: at the base, middle of the lash, then the tip of the lash to get a natural curl. To separate the lashes, follow with your favorite mascara.

Apply mascara. There are some really great mascaras on the market. For those of you who don’t want to appear as if you are wearing mascara, but want the benefits, don’t fret, as there are clear mascaras on the market that hold the curl really well. Some mascara suggestions are: ELF lash and brow clear mascara, Maybelline Falsies, L’Oreal Voluminous mascara, Lancome Definicil, and Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill.

Line your lashline. I recommend lining with waterproof eyeliner, a liquid eyeliner or gel liner. For those of you with oily eyelids, to prevent under eye smudging, try this tip: after applying the eyeliner, apply a matte black eyeshadow or whichever color coincides with your eyeliner, apply on top of the eyeliner (apply with an angled brush) and set with a translucent face powder, under the eyes. Tip: if you have small eyes, don’t completely line the top and bottom lashes, as the eyes will appear closed.

Add eyeshadow primer and/or eyeshadow base. These products will allow your eyeshadow to last all day. Primer and eyeshadow base suggestions: Urban Decay Primer Potion is fantastic! Lorac eye primer. MAC Paint Pots are incredible! NYX Jumbo Eye pencils.

After you apply your eyeshadow primer and/or eyeshadow base, follow-up with your eyeshadow(s) of choice. Here’s a guide to help you choose YOUR best eyeshadow colors, based on your eye color:

Warm blue eyes are blue-green. They may have flecks of light green or yellow in them. They look great with blue-green colors (like turquoise) and fuschia eyeshadow.
Cool blue eyes are vibrant blue. They may have flecks of white in the iris. Use complementing colors such as oranges and corals. Other colors such as ash, taupe, gray, heather, slate and lilac are also favorable.
Warm green eyes have slightly more yellow in them. They are enhanced by green shadows with a yellow, chartreuse color. Tip: green is a fall trend color, so are navy and plum which also look great.
Cool green eyes have more blue or brown in them. They are enhanced by green shadows that contain blue or brown. They are also enhanced with contrasting pinks, as well as taupe, plum or violet. Additionally, yellow-toned beige, camel, heather, moss, and slate are favorable.
Hazel eyes are a combination of brown, green and gold. They are best enhanced with yellow-green or brown-green shadows, as well as purple shadows.
Warm-hazel eyes contain large amounts of yellow. They are enhanced by gold to almost pink-brown. They are intensified with deep green, gold, lavender or plum shadows.
Gray eyes are enhanced with grays, earthy browns, plums, violets, periwinkle, navy blue, or deeper brown shadows.
Warm brown eyes are lighter in color with a slight amount of yellow. They are enhanced by blues, teals, greens, and purples.
Cool brown eyes have more red, black, or mahogany. They are intensified with contrasting colors such as blue and slate, as well as other colors such as cement, sable, mocha, khaki, stone, and bark.

I saved the best eye enhancing product for last ….white eyeliner. I know it sounds so ‘80’s, but there are many things you can do with a white eyeliner pencil to accentuate the eyes and make them pop. Here’s what white eyeliner can do for you: Highlight the inner corner of the eyes. Highlight the brow bone. Add to the waterline to make the eyes appear brighter.

There you have it…tips for eyes that pop every time! So, there’s no excuse to have boring, ineffective eye makeup ever again!!!! Give these tips a try and let me know how they work for you. Until next time….stay beautiful!

10-23-13 {Beauty}

Holiday Makeup Collections are Arriving!

Hello Beauties,

I was walking through the department stores the other day and I could not control my excitement as I saw them putting out their holiday makeup collections! This excites me more than you know because the cosmetic brands come out with the most beautiful collections of the year…in my humble opinion.

The timing of the holiday makeup collections is perfect because soon the holiday party announcements will be appearing in your mailbox and your Inbox, and not only should you be considering which outfits you should wear, you should also consider which makeup looks you will wear to compliment those outfits. Yes, the outfits are vitally important, but so is the makeup. It ties everything together (visually).

Often times, the collections are packaged together in palettes which not only make for a good value, but are already color selected. If you don’t know how to color match cosmetics, they’ve already taken the guesswork out of it for you.

I am so pleased with what I’ve seen thus far with this year’s collections and I couldn’t wait to share them with you. They are still coming in to the department stores, but here are a few of my favorites thus far:

Divine Night Holiday Colour Collection by MAC.
Laura Mercier Holiday 2013 Holiday 2013 White Magic Collection – currently available at Laura Mercier counters and coming soon to the Laura Mercier web site. This collection is packed with colors that will give you “fresh and luminous looks, with light-diffused pastels for eyes and brilliant high-shine colours for lips.”
Giorgio Armani Holiday 2013 Eccentrico Collection – currently available at Giorgio Armani counters and coming in November to the Giorgio Armani web site. This collection is comprised of the most beautiful sheer palette blush I’ve ever seen, electric nail lacquers, and colorful maestro lip colors.

Here are a few of my favorite products that will give you beautiful party makeup looks and you can purchase them from your favorite drug store or cosmetic store:

Sonia Kashuk Eye Couture available exclusively at Target
Revlon Luxurious Color eyeshadow
Sephora Glitter eyeliner
NYX Diamond Sparkle lipstick

So, whether you are going to a company holiday party, a family gathering or a night on the town over the holidays, with any of these suggestions, you will be ready for the occassion. The holidays are the perfect time to “put your best face forward!”

If you try any of these suggestions, please leave a comment and a picture.

10-09-13 {Beauty}

Halloween Makeup

One of the most anticipated holidays of the Fall season is Halloween. Although, I don’t typically dress up for Halloween, I do find myself incorporating the colors of Halloween makeup (orange and black) into my applications.Here are a few of my favorite Halloween makeup inspired looks, by some of my favorite celebrity makeup artists, and the products and tutorials to help YOU achieve the looks. Enjoy!

Products used: Teint Miracle Instant Retouch Pen, Color Design 5 Pan Eyeshadow/Liner Taupe Craze, Ã”SCILLATION INTENSITY Power Mascara, L’Absolu Nu Rose Veil

Product Used: L’Oreal Paris HIP Studio Secrets Metallic Duo

Evening/Nighttime look:

Products Used: MAC Soft Ocr Paint Pot , MAC Indianwood Paint Pot, Urban Decay “X”, MAC Rule eyeshadow, MAC Orange eyeshadow, MAC Shadowy lady eyeshadow, MAC Studio Finish concealer, Wet N’ Wild black gel liner, False lashes or lengthening and volumizing mascara i.e. Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill, MAC Carbon eyeshadow, Eve Pearl Contouring Blush, MAC Peaches blush, MAC Mineral Skin Finish Soft N’ Gentle, MAC Fix +, MAC Morange lipstick

Special Occasion/Party makeup:

Products Used: beige cream eyeshadow, Orange, shimmer eyeshadow, Volumizing mascara i.e. Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill, Taupe, matte eyeshadow, Fuschia eyeshadow, Black eyeliner, Black, matte eyeshadow, Cream Foundation Translucent powder, Matte Bronzer Sheer, pink lipstick

Halloween Cat’s Eye makeup

Products Used: Diorskin Nude Loose Powder, Diorskin Air Flash Foundation, Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer, MAC Bronzing Powder Refined Golden, Ardell falselashes, MAC Pro Chromagraphic pencil, NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil, NYX Single Eyeshadow Hawaiian Coffee, NYX Single Eyeshadow Taupe, Palladio Felt Tip Black Eyeliner, Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara, MUD Lip glaze

These looks will ensure that you look beautiful whether you are going to the office, out on the town or to a costume party.

Give them a try and let me know which is your favorite Halloween makeup inspired look.

09-24-13 {Beauty}

Ooh La La…Look at Those Brows

Sometimes the difference between a polished look and a not so polished look is as simple as the shape of the brows. Brows are the frame for the face. Overgrown eyebrows can cast a shadow on the brow bone or between the eyes. Overly tweezed eyebrows can make a face look puffy or protruding, and eyes can look surprised.

When brows are shaped to compliment your face shape, they can make a vast difference in your appearance. To minimize confusion about which brow shape to choose, here are some tips:

Brow shapes to compliment any face shape:

Round face: arch the brows high to make the face appear narrower; start on a line directly above the inside corner of the eye and extend toward the cheekbone.

round face shape

Long face: make the eyebrows almost straight which will create the illusion of a shorter face; don’t extend the eyebrow lines further than the outside corner of the eyes; create a slight arch.

long face shape

Square face: arch the brows high on the ends; begin the lines directly above the corners of the eyes and extend them outward; can create the appearance of an oval face (ideal face shape).

square face shape

Oval face: create soft angled shaped brows.

oval face shape

Heart face: Create rounded brows. The curve of the brow is soft, feminine and attractive and also creates the heart like look of the face.

heart face shape

Diamond face: Soften the angles; this makes the widest portion of the face appear less wide. Curves will soften your look and make the widest portion of your face look less wide.

diamond face shape

To Create an Ideal Eyebrow Shape (Tip: draw 3 lines with a white eyeliner pencil):

1st line: vertical from the inner corner of the eye upward; this is where the eyebrow should begin.
2nd line: drawn at an angle, from the outer corner of the nose to the outer corner of the eye; this is where the eyebrow should end.
3rd line: draw a vertical line from the outer circle of the iris upward; this is where the arch should ideally be located.
After the lines are drawn, tweeze, trim or use a razor to shape the brows.

Conversely, if you have sparse eyebrows (spaces in your eyebrow hairs):

Fill in with hairline strokes using an eyebrow pencil or shadow and apply with angled brush. Note: choose two shades of eyebrow pencil (one close to the color of your hair and another a shade or two lighter, than the darker pencil).
Use the darker pencil to make short hair-like strokes from the beginning of the eyebrow to the arch. After the arch, switch to your lighter pencil.
With soft strokes, finish the ends of the brow; use eyebrow brush to soften the pencil or shadow (to soften any noticeable pencil lines).

Eyebrow Products:

Brow pencils- fill in sparse areas: brown and black hair – 1-2 shades lighter; blonde and red heads – 1-2 shades darker; gray hair – 1-2 shades darker.
Brow shadow/powder – create soft-looking eyebrows.
Brow cream- filling in sparse eyebrows (heavier coverage).
Brow stencils – shape the brows.
Brow gel – holds eyebrows in position.

Suggested brands and products:

Anastasia

Ardell

Dior

There you have it…full-proof tips for brows that wow!

09-10-13 {Beauty}

Concealer Confusion!

Concealer has mystified people from inception…what’s the right color? when should it be applied? what’s the difference between concealing and correcting? can concealer be used as a highlighter? can it be used as foundation? There are many different variables that have to be considered before deciding the answers to these questions. I’ve outlined them here, in hopes of clearing up the confusion.

Concealers cover up problem spots (i.e. dark circles). They also serve as color correctors which neutralize unwanted colors in the skin (i.e. hyperpigmentation). You can apply one or the other in most cases.

Pot concealers provide the heaviest coverage. Pencil concealers provide sheer to medium coverage and contain some moisture. Wand concealers are a fluid consistency and can be used as highlighter to brighten and illuminate. Tube/stick concealers provide medium to sheer coverage and may double as foundation.

Tip: Concealer is best removed from the container with a spatula, to minimize bacteria. It is best applied with a concealer brush or sponge. The shelf life is 6-12 months.

Concealer for dark circles

Tip: apply eye cream to the under eye area so the concealer goes on smooth and doesn’t look cakey. Match the concealer to your skin tone (exact match or 1 shade lighter). Apply concealer over the dark area. Blend with ring finger and smooth it into the area. Typically, do not apply foundation on top of the concealer. Set with a translucent powder that matches the concealer. Tip: Never overdo concealer – too much will look rough and add years to your face!

Tip: If you are using concealer as a highlighter, it can be 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone.

Color Correctors

Concealer can be used to color correct the skin. Color correctors target areas of discoloration to balance skin tone. Tip: Only place color corrector exactly where needed.

Color Corrector for dark circles

If you are using a color corrector, for example, and you have a yellow skin tone and dark under eye circles, gently brushing an orange color corrector under the eye area will help neutralize the dark circles and you can add exact match foundation OR exact match concealer on top, as needed. Be careful because adding too much product can lead to quick creasing and caking. Using a color corrector can greatly reduce the amount of product and time it takes to cover discoloration.

Skin tones

Pale skin – choose bisque or light pink color correctors.
Light to Medium skin tones – choose yellow, light peach, lavender and light green color correctors.
Darker skin tones – choose orange or darker peach color correctors.

Skin types

Ruddy skin (skin that’s red, wind-burned, or Rosacea): apply yellow or green color corrector to the affected areas.
Sallow Skin (skin that has a yellowish hue, i.e. Jaundice): apply purple (mauve) color corrector to the face.

Applying Color Theory to correct discolored areas

Orange neutralizes blue veins and brown spots also known as hyperpigmentation.
Green neutralizes redness in lighter skin tones.
Mauve or light pink brightens and conceals dull skin.
Light yellow corrects under eye circles and purplish/blue discoloration.

Tip: You can make your own color corrector by mixing a lipstick or pigment with your concealer.

There you have it, concealer confusion demystified! Below are some of the best concealers to hit any price point. Go forth and be flawless!

Top rated concealers:

L’Oreal Paris True Match concealer, $9.

MAC Studio Finish, $18.

Cover FX Cream concealer, $27.

Giorgio Armani Precision concealer, $37.

Make Up Forever Camouflage cream pallette, $38.

YSL Touche Eclat (highlighter) concealer, $40.

08-27-13 {Beauty}

Top Fall Beauty Trends

Summer is coming to an end and Fall is just around the corner. The season is changing and so should your beauty products. The following Fall beauty trends were seen all over the runways and to get the looks at home, here are the top trends and product suggestions:

1. Slick Hair and Skin: Chilly Fall temperatures can cause your hair and skin to become extremely dry. That’s why it’s important to use products that moisturize, protect and rejuvenate. To accomplish these goals and to stay on trend, you can try: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant ($19.50, www.elizabetharden.com), Alterna Caviar CC Cream for Hair 10-in-1 Complete Correction ($25, www.sephora.com), Marc Jacobs Beauty Genius Gel Super-Charged Foundation ($48, www.sephora.com), or Nars Skin Aqua Gel Luminous Oil-Free Moisturizer ($58, www.narscosmetics.com).

2. Matte Finish: A porcelain, matte finish was all the rage on the runways and you can also have the look with any the following products: Cover Girl Clean Whipped Creme Foundation ($7, at drugstores), Make Up For Ever Super Matte Loose Powder ($28, www.sephora.com),, Cover FX Matte Setting Powder ($32, www.sephora.com), JINsoon Nail Polish in “Matte Maker” ($18, http://www.jinsoon.com/shop/jinsoon-nail-polish.html). Paint nails with a regular polish, then lay down a quarter-inch stripe of “Matte Maker”, only on the tips. Tip: For a twist on black nails, paint nine nails with Butter London Nail Lacquer in “The Black Knight” ($15, www.sephora.com) and then paint one red accent nail.

3. Red Eyeshadow: Red is the in-demand Fall makeup color! Some favorites are: Cover Girl Flamed Out Shadow Pots in “Red Hot Flame” ($5, www.ulta.com), Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow in “Pomegranate Punk” ($6, drugstores), M.A.C Eyeshadow in “Sushi Flower” ($15, www.maccosmetics.com) or Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes eyeliner in “Deep Burgandy Sheen” ($19, www.sephora.com).

4. Jewels and Glitter: To add a touch of glitz and glamour, try the following: Make Up For Ever Glitters in “Silver 2 – Metallic Silver” ($15, www.sephora.com), Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer in “148 Glinda – Silver Glitter” ($18, www.sephora.com or M.A.C Pro Glitter in “Reflects Transparent Pink” ($21, www.maccosmetics.com).

5. Red Matte Lips (including darker berries): For beautiful, textured lips, try: Colour Crush Lipstick in “Red Siren” ($13, www.thebodyshop.com), M.A.C. Chromagraphic Pencil in “Process Magenta” ($16, www.maccosmetics.com), Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick in “8 Matte Bright Red” ($20, www.sephora.com), Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in “Scarlet Red” or “Dragon Girl Siren Red” ($25, www.sephora.com), or Giorgio Armani Rouge D’Armani lipstick in “409” ($30, http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Giorgio-Armani/Beauty-and-Fragrance/For-Her/Makeup/Lips/shop/_/N-1z12vlwZ52fqs2/Ne-6lvnb5).

Tip: Typically, light skin or olive skin tones look great wearing tomato red or orange-red lipstick. Typically, dark skin looks great wearing a true red (aka neutral red) or a blue-red (lipstick has a blue undertone). A true red can also be worn by all. Don’t forget the liner (fill in entire lips). It prevents the lipstick from bleeding and it lasts longer. It should match the lipstick. If you have discolored lips, you can apply a thin layer of concealer to create an even base, gently blot and then apply the liner and lipstick.

6. Big Hair: Big, sexy hair is back and you can get the look with any of the following: Living Proof Amp2 Instant Texture Volumizer ($24, www.sephora.com), Alterna Bamboo Volume 48-Hour Sustainable Volume Spray ($25, www.sephora.com) , or Bumble and Bumble Thickening Full Form Mousse ($29, www.sephora.com).

7. Cropped hair: Cropped hair is always in season and this Fall is no exception. To get the look, try: Kevin Murphy Super.Goo ($22, www.exclusivebeautyboutique.com), Bumble and Bumble Sumotech ($27, www.sephora.com), or Bumble and Bumble BB Texture Hair (Un) Dressing Creme ($28, www.sephora.com).

What’s your favorite Fall beauty trend? We want to know!

08-13-13 {Beauty}

How to get that glowing complexion.

A radiant, glowing complexion is not restricted to young skin or from using expensive products or from spending tons of money on frequent trips to the dermatologist for cosmetic spa treatments. With the proper TLC and the right makeup products, you, too, can have a glowing complexion that will rival even J-Lo.

Here are some makeup tips and makeup favorites to help you meet your goal of having a radiant, glowing complexion:

• Exfoliate: Exfoliate at least 2-3 times per week. It is important to exfoliate because it removes the dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface of your skin. Removing dead skin cells can make the skin appear younger and more luminous. While I prefer my homemade exfoliator containing Vitamin C, a few other popular brands are: Oil of Olay Pore Minimizing Cleanser + Scrub (Available at Walgreen’s, Target or Wal-Mart), Peter Thomas Roth anti-aging buffing beads scrub for face and body, and Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub (Available at Walgreen’s, Target or Wal-Mart).

• Moisturize: There is a ton of great moisturizers. However, a staple within my makeup case is Laura Mercier radiance foundation primer. I wear it and love it and so do my clients! Laura Mercier tinted moisturizers have also proven to be amongst the best. It’s a pricey brand, but definitely worth the investment.

• Illuminate: Illuminators refresh and enhance the complexion by creating a shimmering glow. They can be applied alone or mixed with your favorite foundation. Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer, Giorgio Armani fluid sheer (the secret to the Armani glow) and Victoria Secret radiant FX face Illuminator are a few that really deliver!

• Bronze: When done right, bronzer gives you that fresh from vacation tanned look. Be careful when choosing a bronzer, as you don’t want it to be too shimmery and cause you to look overdone. Bronzers can be used to slim and/or accentuate facial features. When using it for those reasons, choose a bronzer that is matte and darker than your skintone. To create slimming effects, you can add it to the sides of the nose, the sides and top of the forehead, the cheeks and along the jaw line. It is important to blend and diffuse the lines so they look natural. Sephora shimmering bronzer, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish and Lancome Absolue Powder Radiant Smoothing Powder are bronzers that never disappoint. To achieve optimal results with these highlighting bronzers (they contain a slight shimmer), apply them on the high planes of the face i.e. the top of the cheekbones, the center of the nose, the center of the chin, the center of the forehead and the cupid’s bow (the indention above the top lip).

These products can be used alone or in conjunction with one another. They will give you a glow from within look that will get you noticed every time!

06-04-13 {Beauty}

Are you a Beauty Product Junkie?

Hi, my name is Scarlett, and I’m a Beauty Product Junkie.

Ever notice when you are walking through the drugstore aisles, you become sidetracked by all the pretty packaging? You want to touch it, smell it and rub it against your skin (I’m not the only person who does that). It’s no secret that marketers are all fighting for your dollars with promises of youth, shiny hair and tasty treats.

Simply, the definition of a beauty product junkie is ‘someone who is addicted to beauty products’.

Do you have 2 or more of the same exact product?
Do you buy several of the same product because it’s on sale/clearance?
Do you have 2 or more different brands of the same product all partially used?
Do you purchase one more of an item in a different colour?
Do you get easily distracted as you browse down the store’s aisles?

Did You Answer Yes?

If you’ve answered yes to one or more of these questions, then you can stand next to me, fellow beauty product junkie. Fret not, my lovely, you too can become a recovering BPJ by following a few simple steps and soon you will have freer cabinets and closets for the things that you really want and use.

Clean it out – going through your drawers, cabinets and closets for old items and partially used items you won’t use again. If throwing out products makes you cringe, give them to a friend who may benefit from them.
Stay out of stores unless you absolutely need something – this one is tough, especially when you see the sale signs in the store windows. You will be tempted but all junkies know that it is too hard to resist temptation – STAY OUT!
Create lists and stick to them – do not walk into a store without your list of needs and do not deviate from your list.
Get tunnel vision – this means, going only to the aisles where the items on your list are located. Just like staying out of stores, stay away from the other aisles.
Pay cash – You hear this one all the time and it’s the most important one. You can stick to your list and budget better when you pay for only what you can afford. No debit cards either. When you actually see the money go from your hands to the cashier’s, you can better gauge what you’re paying.

Are you a beauty product junkie? Or are you reformed? We’d love to hear your tips on becoming a recovering beauty product junkie. Let us know in the comments.

Co-founder | Scarlett Rocourt
Scarlett creator of Wonder Curl is a Marketing Maven, DIY Diva & Glamour Girl! Her affinity for style, organization & discount designer shopping makes her a true Budget Socialite. Her flare for creativity allowed her to translate that into a career in marketing.

05-21-13 {Beauty}

Top 10 Beauty Products Under 10 Bucks – Summer Edition

Summer is around the corner – temps will rise, heat will swelter, sweat will pour. I’ve rounded out a list of my top 10 beauty picks for the warmer months and they’re all under $10!

{Working clockwise}

Tame that Mane – It’s unavoidable, hair frizzes in the heat. As moisture rises, it’s oh-so necessary to tame your tresses. These are my budget-friendly picks to help you out.

Les Corps – Keep your skin radiant, bronzed, and tight with my favorite body scrub and gradual glow. Note, I’ve confirmed that Jergens HAS changed their formula to leave you smelling less like a bag of tortilla chips.

Kissable – My go-to summer pout has to be hydrating, lightweight and completely kissable.

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm, $4

Mani – Summer manicures involve lots of colors and change frequently, so when in doubt I like to keep it fresh and nude. The key to an at-home nude mani is perfect cuticles!

Ladylike Lashes – Let’s face it – I love a good lash. While I hate piling on mascara in the summer months, I opt for a full and flirty pair of lashes with a flexible and invisible band if I’m looking for that extra va-voom. For days spent out in the sun, simply toss on a light coat of mascara, nothing fancy pants.

Cheeky Pop – Summer = cream blush. Enough said.

Mark Just Pinched Cream Blush, $9

So, what penny pinching drugstore products do you swear by? What are your 10 beauty products under 10? Let us know in the comments.

Contributor | Lauralai Clymer
Lauralai is a beauty absorbed YouTuber and blogger. She strives to deliver tips, tricks and trends that are both practical and fabulous while being as honest and open as she is with her closest girlfriends.

05-15-13 {Beauty}

Blue Eyeshadow

Whenever Spring rolls around, I like to put my the coats and sweaters away to make way for all the happy dresses and skirts I own. The same thing holds true for my makeup. And the warmer weather is all about being bright and cheerful, and what better way to show that than with using blue eyeshadow.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

I will admit, my love affair with blue eyeshadow when I got the free makeup kit with my Lancome purchase. Her name was “Luring” and she was every bit as alluring as the name implied. It was a mix of blue and gold and brown and when applied, she created this amazing brightness around my eyes. I used this as eyeliner with a small brush and water, I’d apply to the crease of my eyes to create a modern smoky eye.

NOT YOUR REGULAR OLD BLUE

Blue eyeshadow might be associated with the 80s, (which has made another comeback) but done right, can bring new dimension to your look. All you have to do is find the right shade(s) for you and use as if it was your usual brown shadow.

Would you do blue? Let us know in the comments!