Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Tips and Tricks: How to Look Younger Using Makeup


         How to             
Look less like this


and more like this

as you age!


Everyone wants to stay young. It's part of the universe's trickery that you get wiser as you get older. Well some of us do. They even say youth is wasted on the young and I have to agree. Unless you are Peter Pan, you are probably aging by the second. Good thing I'm here to teach you the do's and dont's, the tips and the tricks to youthful looking makeup! These tips are good for everyone, not just ladies above a certain age. I feel there is a very heavy handed makeup trend right now that can be very harsh looking and age you before your time. So everyone should listen up.

The Do's 
  • Do switch to a moisturizing foundation or a tinted moisturizer. Dewy is your friend. 
  • Do switch to a cream blush. As we age we lose moisture in our skin, every little bit of dewiness is going to help, so ditch the powders and opt for a cream. 
  • Do lighten up on your eyeshadow application. Stick to neutral tones and only use 1 or 2 colors. 
  • Do darken up your lashline with plums, blue, green, browns and greys. 
  • Do fill your brows in. Darker brows equal youth. Now I don't mean for you platinum blonds to start coloring your eyebrows in black, choose the color appropriate for you and fill em in!
  • Do add pink to your color repertoire. As we age we lose the pigment in our skin tone, a swipe of pink blush or baby pink eyeshadow will do wonders to give a more youthful complexion. 
  • Do add a little highlight to your cheekbones and inner corners of your eyes to add light and dimension to your face. 
  • Do use neutral or bright toned lip glosses or lipsticks. Pinks and nudes are your friends.
  • Do experiment with a nice bright eyeliner like a cobalt blue or turquoise green. Bright colors add modern youthfulness and fun! 

The Dont's
  • Don't apply a mask of matte foundation. Matte skin will age you in a heartbeat.
  • Don't over powder. Lightly powder only where needed. I usually only powder my forehead. 
  • Don't apply a lot of dark eyeshadow, especially in the crease. Try to keep darkness along the upper lash line where you start to lose definition. 
  • Don't put eyeliner or mascara on the lower lash line. Keep it clean. 
  • Don't over contour. Contouring is going to get it's very own post soon but for the sake of this list, harsh contouring will age you. Keep it light and well blended or just stick with a little highlighter. 
  • Don't use too much black eyeliner. Again, anything too harsh will age you. Switch it up and try softer purples, greys, browns, blues and greens. 
  • Don't wear dark matte lipsticks. Brick red, matte lipstick on a woman of a certain age pisses me off.
  • Do not line your lips in dark, lip liner. Lighten it up and skip the lip liner all together or use a nude tone that matches your lip color. Make sure to smudge and soften using your finger or a Q-Tip.  
 
So there you have them! Some quick tips to keep anyone looking like a fresh summer morning and not like some cold winter night! 

Be sure to click the links below to subscribe!

  
Me trying to keep it youthful!








Follow on Bloglovin:

Follow on Bloglovin

Photo Credits: [subbotina]/123RF.COM and [Scott Griessel]/123RF.COM



Tuesday, April 8, 2014

How to Save Money Shopping Online with Ebates


How many people that read this blog shop online? Can I see a show of hands? Oh, everybody does? Good, then you'll want to read this post and learn how to save money while shopping online. I had learned about Ebates from a fellow blogger and decided to give it a try. So far, it is working out great for me and I always like to pass along helpful info to you guys when I get it.

What is Ebates? It is a cash back shopping site. Lets say you want to purchase something from Sephora. You go to Ebates.com, click on the Sephora link and shop as usual. Ebates will offer you cash back when you shop through them. How can they do this? Ebates is an affiliate to many of these online shopping sites. An affiliate (in this case Ebates) will receive a small commission, or a kickback, when they refer someone to a website. They then pass some of these savings onto their members. For example, if Sephora offers Ebates 16% for referring someone, or basically advertising for them, Ebates then gives you 1/2. Sephora gets the sale, Ebates gets the percentage, you get cash back. Everybody is happy!

 Ebates will offer different cash back rates for different companies. For instance, last week if you ordered from Sephora through Ebates you received 8% cash back on your order, Ulta earned you 4% cash back. These rates change all the time. You receive this money at the end of every quarter in the form of a check.

This is what an Ebates email looks like

Ebates works with TONS of online stores (1600), ranging from the big boys such as Home Depot and Target, to the lesser known stores. Besides offering cash back, Ebates will alert you when your favorite stores are running a special. For instance, I was alerted to Ulta's 20% off sale and then I earned an additional 4% cash back. Understand how it works?

I do most of my beauty shopping online. Ebates works with most of the big name beauty sites including Paula's Choice, Skin Store, Bobbi Brown, Lancome, etc.This could spell trouble.

So far I have not had to fill anything out besides my email address. Easy Peasy!

If you are curious and would like to try Ebates for yourself, feel free to click on my referral link.

And if you're in the link clicking mood, don't forget to click on one of these bad boys!




Follow on Bloglovin

Sunday, April 6, 2014

A Review of Era Everyday Foundation


http://www.erabeautyusa.com/p-5-era-everyday-foundation.aspx
I have a crush! Is it weird that it's on an inanimate object? Of course not! It's foundation. 
I have wanted to try Era Everyday Foundation ever sine my friend and makeup artist, Ro Puchal, recommended it to me. 

So what is Era? Era Everyday Foundation is an airbrush foundation in a can. Similar to Dior Airflash but a fraction of the cost. (Dior cost $62 for 2 oz). Era comes in 10 shades (mine is R4-Pink Champagne) and gives you the most natural skin finish, without settling into lines. It is the perfect combination of matte and dewy if that makes any sense. Exactly what skin should be.
http://www.erabeautyusa.com/p-5-era-everyday-foundation.aspx

I have said it before and I will say it again, the finish you get from airbrush foundation is unlike any other foundation I have tried. It is as close to a true skin finish as you're gonna get. In order for the foundation to pass through an airbrush machine, or in this case a nozzle, it has to be thinned out considerably and therefore allows you to achieve a much more natural, skin-like finish. It is not a thick formulation like a traditional foundation. I always say I want it to cover everything and look like nothing. That's never going to fully happen but this sure comes close. 


Pros
  • The finish
  • Good coverage
  • Good staying power (I don't like to powder)
  • Quick application
  • Price ($33 for 2.25 oz although I purchased it for $25 during a sale)
Now the cons. The thing I dislike so much about airbrush makeup, is the actual act of airbrushing. I do not like spraying makeup on my face, whether from a can or a machine. I do not like the feeling of air hitting my face, I do not like the feeling that I may be inhaling some of the makeup, I do not like holding my breath as I am applying the makeup. I am a traditional gal when applying my foundation, so the spraying on the face is not pleasurable. You can experiment and spray on your hand first or into a sponge or beauty blender. 

If you watch the demonstration video from their website, they suggest spraying the makeup on your face in a Z pattern. Then take a velour powder puff and blend it in with downward strokes. I have been applying it in a Z pattern, then taking my Real Techniques Buffing Brush and blending it in using downward strokes. I then spray a little on the back of my hand, take a concealer brush and dab it on wherever I may need a little extra, such as blemishes, discoloration, dark circles etc. Then I take a tissue and press onto my skin to absorb any oils (this prevents having to powder). 

Cons
  • Application
  • When I spray it on my face, I notice a little gets in my hairline
  • Choc full of parabans. I know it is impossible to avoid them all the time, however I do try. I am not sure if this will be a repurchase because of this. Keep this in mind if parabans are of any concern to you and you are considering purchasing.
So time will tell if my crush will turn into a full blown love affair. So far, I am very happy with the results and if you were thinking of trying airbrush makeup, this is a great option to start with.  

http://www.erabeautyusa.com/p-5-era-everyday-foundation.aspx


Now scroll on down and subscribe to this blog!

 My photos have disappeared from my older post! I have not had time to reapply them, sorry for any inconvenience~
 





Follow on Bloglovin