Archive for August, 2010
Hard Candy Lash Tinsel Voodoo Review
Hard Candy Lash Tinsel Voodoo Review
I had seen and heard of this product a few times and wanted to give it a try. I’d heard reviews that it was clumpy, wasn’t much sparkle, etc. However, I was determined to make it work if I had that experience.
The packaging is really pretty. It has a delicate design and the tube is rather thick. There is also a bit of rubber in the tube that takes off extra product. I may remove this and see if the results change. So far, I have only put it on over top of my purple mascara and wasn’t really impressed with the results. It is clumpy and hard. I tried to separate my eyelashes with a tooth pick afterwards and the result was still rather clumpy. There looked like there was quite a bit of product on the brush, and I’m certain it got on my lashes—I’m just not too sure that it is in a position where it can catch the light and give you the sparkle. The reason I say this is because when I checked the mirror a few minutes later and noticed one sparkle. Just one sparkle. One tiny, measly, pretty little sparkle.
Next time, I think that I will try to limit the mascara to the very tips of my eyelashes and see how that goes. Or perhaps find a different applicator with longer bristles. I’m not sure what the result would be on naked lashes, but I guess I shall see later.
After Reapplication: I tried to put a few coats on my lashtips and had fairly good results in the sunlight according to my mom. However, the result was still very clumpy. When separating it, I lifted my eyelashes with it and saw a LOT of product. It was just hiding under my lashes.
I tried it in my hair just for kicks and noticed a definite sparkle there. It made my hair kind of hard, but still rather manageable. I also noticed a little bit of sparkle in my eyebrows when I tried it there, but nothing overdone.
This might work if you curl your lashes, but I’m not entirely sure. I may or may not buy this again—maybe in a different color, since I already have dark lashes and the glitter is rather dark. This might last me a while, though.
Eye Shadow Tips for Bringing Out Deep Set Eyes
Eye Shadow Tips for Bringing out Deep Set Eyes
Deep set eyes can be a pain to put makeup on in order to make them seem less deep set. Using eye shadow in the wrong way can make eyes look even more closed off rather than open and shallow set. There are many tips and tricks, however, to use makeup to your advantage to help your eyes stand out rather than sink in, and bring out the best in your eyes.
The first tip when using makeup to your advantage to combat deep set eyes is to avoid using dark colors on the brow bones of your eyes – this will just make them look more deep set and less shallow. Brushing a deeper shadow color just above your eye’s crease – this brings out the natural contours of your eyes without sinking them in deeper, by using contrast. Using mascara generously on both the top and the bottom lashes can do wonders for opening up the eyes and helping them look more shallowly set. Only apply eyeliner thinly and without a thick, chunky look to them – this can make the eyes look too heavy and deep set and can do the opposite of what you need it to.
There are a few things to avoid when trying to bring out deep set eyes. One is avoiding very dark eye shadows on the brow bones of your eyes. Another is using shimmer and glitter on these brow bones, which can make the eyes look too much deeper set than necessary. If you are using any glitter or shimmering eye shadows, use these in the crease or just above the lashes of the eyes.
How to Use a Video Makeup Tutorial The Easy Way
How to Use a Video Makeup Tutorial The Easy Way
Using a makeup tutorial might seem easy. After all, all you have to do is watch someone apply their makeup and copy them—right? Not so. In fact, there is quite a bit more that you need to keep in mind.
1. Watch the tutorial beforehand. This allows you to make a note of anything that you may need or of anything that you may want to purchase before you attempt the look. It also gives you a better idea of how long it will take, how strenuous it might be, and a variety of other things. Don’t just jump into the makeup. If you do, chances are that you will end up with a mess or screwing up somewhere. That way you not only know what you need to do, but you also have the know how.
2. Use what you have. Don’t rush out to the store (unless of course you have absolutely no makeup. Then you just might want to.). Try to use whatever you have on hand. Maybe you don’t have a similar color—in that case, use something different. Maybe you don’t like the colors that are being used. Use different ones then. It doesn’t matter what you do—just make sure that you enjoyed it!
3. Take notes. Make sure that you make notes of anything that the person doing the makeup says. If they say that if you do the wrong stroke, a giant talking llama will ask for your license and suspend it, then make sure that you make a note of it. These can be mental notes or physical ones. Do whichever works the best for you.
4. Make sure you can pause. When you’re finally ready to do the look, make sure you are able to pause and rewind. This means not to use a mobile phone, unless you have the option of pausing and rewinding.
From there, have fun and good luck!
NYC Smooch Proof Long Wearing Lip Color
NYC Smooch Proof Long Wearing Lip Color
I was looking for a lipstain when I found this product. I have pale lips that are causing me a few problems—namely that my mom would look at me and tell me to go eat immediately. I have a very minor case of hypoglycemia and pale lips used to be an indicator my sugar was dropping. Needless to say, this aggravated me because I was fine and had just eaten when she told me to go eat AGAIN. So lipstains it was.
Or so I thought. Honestly, the ideas of lipstains scared me. I’m willing to try anything with eye makeup, but when it came to lips, I usually wore way too bright red lipstick. True, it was a good shade of red, and looked great on me, but it wasn’t good for daily use. So when I saw NYC, a company I am familiar with, especially in the lip color department (the company I found my red lipstick with.), I jumped at the opportunity to take a look.
The product has two ends. One has lip gloss with a brush while the other has the lip color with a lipgloss applicator. The lip gloss kind of made me flinch for a second. I hate lip gloss. It’s goopy and sticky and I hate it. It makes my hair stick to my lips and looks way too shiny and I hate it. Did I mention I hate it? All joking aside, I was also worried about the product color. The only one that looked close to my shade was a bright pinkish color. So I tried it.
First of all, I love the lip gloss. It hasn’t converted me to a lip gloss wearer, but it’s as smooth and slick as my favorite lip balm and my hair only gets stuck in it occasionally, and not usually after it dries a little. The applicator could be better but the texture of the lip gloss makes up for it. It helps to seal in the color too, even after the shine fades away.
I liked the colors too. The first one I tried was 481 “Dreamer”. Even though it appeared to be a bright pink, it was a little bit more muted and worked well with my coloring (pale. Very pale.). I liked that color enough to buy 483 “Heartbreaker” which is a darker pink. It worked even better with my coloring and is most likely going to be my primary lip color.
There are a few drawbacks, however. If you use lip balm under or over this or both, it will fade quite quickly. On the flip side, if you have dry lips, the color will pill and look clumpy and gross. The trick is to have well moisturized lips without using a whole bunch of lip. My suggestion is to try one day on and one day off. Alternate with your favorite lip balm because, despite its benefits, this lip color is rather drying.
Au Natural for Those More Fond of Dramatic Looks
Au Natural for Those More Fond of Dramatic Looks
If you’re more into dark, dramatic looks, changing to something a bit more natural can be a bit of a task. After all, what looks natural? What doesn’t? How can you transition? First of all, you need to look at your eye makeup. It is usually the most dramatic of a woman’s makeup. What are you wearing?
Dark eyeliner. True, it’s normal to have a black eyeliner pencil kicking around in your makeup bag, but if you’re looking for something more natural, then you might want to opt for a brown instead. You also want to keep the liner on your top lid as thin as you can possibly get it and as close to your lash line as you can possibly get it.
Mascara. If you don’t have black lashes already, or you’re more fair skinned and light haired, you may want to look into different color of mascara. Brown and grey are both options to help you look a bit more natural.
Brows. This is generally a given anyways, but use a pencil or eyeshadow very close to your hair color, or just a tad darker. For redheads, you can use a brown pencil if you wish, but could also give an orange eyeliner very close to your natural color if desired (depending on how natural you want to look).
For lips, keep everything either nude, or, for simplicity, eat something! This may sound ridiculous, but your lips tend to flush when you’re eating. Look at the color or take a picture if needed. This is the darkest that you can get if you want to look natural. This also gives you a bit of playroom for your lipcolor, because you don’t absolutely HAVE to get that dark.
Face. Keep foundation as close as possible to natural skin color. If you can’t get it quite right use a setting powder that is a little darker or lighter to help even up your skin tone to make it look more natural.
Stila Makeup Gift Sets
Stila Makeup Gift Sets
Stila takes pride in being known for helping to get every woman to get her own special unique look. This is the case for not only women but also for younger girls. With this in mind Stila has a number of different makeup gift sets for girls to use.
Many of the sets available from Stila feature the popular Kitten shimmer shade. This is a pale pink shade that is heralded for its impressive appearance and its ability to help with creating natural looks on one’s skin. This is by far the most popular shade that Stila has.
A popular lip set for girls to see is the Jewel Lip Glaze Trio set. This works in that it features unique sparkles and smooth materials that are natural in quality. Shea butter and goa seed butter, which are both used for helping to moisturize one’s lips, are used in these glazes.
The Smudge Pot collection of eye liners and shadows is great to check out too. Four different hues, including the Kitten hue, work to create unique eye appearances. They can also be applied with the easy to handle applicator pencil that comes with the set.
The Purrfect Eyes palette is also a great thing for girls to use. This works with an instruction program on how to get eye liner or shadow materials applied and various materials including four different shades. A liquid eyeliner and a slanted eyeliner brush are used in this set too. This is a great set for girls who are new to eye beauty products to check out.
How to Use Green Eyeshadow
How to Use Green Eyeshadow
Green eyeshadow is generally seen as a color that is only used with brown eyes, or overly dramatic makeup. But the fact is, you can use green eyeshadow no matter what color your eyes are—it’s all in finding a color for your eyes and what shape.
First of all, look at your eye color. If you have blue or green eyes with a brown starburst around the middle, you can pull off darker greens. If you have light blue or gray eyes, try looking for a soft green as opposed to something bold.
Then there’s how you wear it. If you have slanted eyes, then use a light washing of green eyeshadow on your lid and a little more on your crease for definition. (You can use a darker green for the crease if you want.)
For almond shaped eyes, pull out the black matte eyeshadow as well. Put on a generous amount up into the lid and blend upwards into the crease. Use a tiny amount of black eyeshadow and blend into the green in the crease. You should have a little bit of definition without a whole bunch of darkness.
For round eyes, use a very light, almost silvery green on your lids and something slightly darker in the crease.
If you have very protuberant eyes, then be careful to blend your crease very, very well.
Once you’re done applying your eyeshadow, use a little bit of black or dark brown eyeshadow or eyeliner on your bottom waterline. If you want to tightline (apply eyeliner on the top waterline), you can do that as well. It’s entirely up to you and what you think looks best.
Makeup Don’ts
Makeup Don’Ts
There are a few things that every woman has seen and gone eek when it comes to the makeup world. Maybe it was something small, maybe it was huge. This aside, here are a few makeup don’ts that are sure to keep you on your toes.
1. Thick eyeliner. There’s nothing wrong with thin or medium eyeliner, but thick eyeliner is a bit overdone. If your eyeliner is thicker than 1/8th of an inch it’s far too much. Accidents do happen—which brings us to our solution. Short, controlled strokes. One of the causes of thick eyeliner is a lack of control. You may notice thick eyeliner especially with younger girls still learning how to apply their makeup. It’s not that they don’t want thinner eyeliner—they lack the control to apply it correctly. Small strokes make this much easier for them and anyone else suffering from thick eyeliner syndrome.
2. Tan or paleface. Like “blackface” on Halloween, tan or paleface is where your face is obviously too tan or too pale and you didn’t blend down your neck. If this happens, then you either need to blend down your neck…or choose a more natural foundation. Your foundation should be as close to your skin tone as you can possibly get it. No more than one or two shades about your natural skin tone—and even then, remember to keep blending down your neck so that the color looks even.
3. Bright blue eyeshadow and bright red lipstick. Now, on one hand, with the right makeup, this can look nice. Most of the time, however, it doesn’t look quite right. If you choose to use bright blue eyeshadow, keep your lips muted.
Innovative Givenchy Makeup Gifts
Innovative Givenchy Makeup Gifts
Givenchy is one of the world’s most unique makeup companies. Many creative features that can be found in these gift sets are ones that are available for girls to use. Here are some quality makeup gift sets for girls to check out from the company.
The Summer collection is a great gift set for girls to use in the summer months. This set offers a number of colors that can give any girl a nice tanned appearance during the summer. Many gift sets for girls in this line include lipstick, eyeshadow, blush and eyeliner materials that can work to create radiant appearances that will be very appealing in the summer.
The New Impressions gift set is also popular. This set, which works with common spring patterns like blue and purple, work with materials that are translucent in feel and will not add a great amount of weight to the skin. Many sets come with Le Prisme Mono Eyeshadow materials that work with easy to apply powders and brushes. The brushes that work with these materials are ones that are easy for girls to handle in that they are thick and can work with all sorts of color mixing processes.
Many of the gift sets for girls work with the company’s innovative Phenomen’eyes Mascara. This is a mascara product that features a brush that works as a sphere. This is used to help with getting into all eyelashes so that the can be fully penetrated. The feature is a truly innovative thing to check out.
Bridal Makeup Removal, Step by Step
Makeup Removal, Step by Step
Makeup is great, and girls all over the world use it, whether it is a simple dash of eyeliner and some blush, or a grand effort to make a bride look gorgeous. Unfortunately at the end of the night you have to remove your makeup. If left on for long periods it can lead to clogging of your pores and skin irritation. Here are some steps you can use to get the job done right.
1. You will need soap as well as baby oil or shampoo. This is because there are two different types of makeup. Soap will help get off non-oily makeup, while baby oil will help with the oily makeup. You may also be able to get special removal kits at the cosmetics store.
2. The first thing you should do is remove your eye makeup using a face cloth or a cotton pad with a bit of eye makeup remover. Gently wipe from one side to another under your eyebrow until the makeup is off. You can’t simply use water in this case because eye makeup is designed to be water resistant.
3. If you have any waterproof eye makeup on you can use baby oil to get it off.
4. Next, use warm water to gently clean your face and neck. Don’t forget to clean behind the ears, as makeup can also end up there. Use special face wash, and not ordinary soap because that will dry your skin out.
5. You can then use a towel to dry your face. Do so by patting gently. Have a look on the towel and see if there are any traces of makeup, which you can then clean.
6. Once you have done this, you can resume your usual beauty routine you would follow before bed. This may include toner and moisturizer.
