Archive for February, 2011
The Importance of Makeup Brush Care
Written by Kimberly in: Makeup
28 Feb 2011
A dear friend (shout out to you, V!) noted that I don’t often comment on the importance of makeup brush care. I know I’ve touched on it before in my post “Makeup Brush Care 101“, but its been a while and I figure it’s always good to have a refresher, especially when it comes to something as important as this.
We tend to take our makeup brushes for granted: They’re there for us everyday, just waiting to be used and make us look fabulous, but do we take good care of them in return? Most likely not. I know in the crazy rush that is life, at times I’ve slacked on taking the proper care that my brushes deserve.
There are lots of things we can do to take care of our brushes such as storing them properly and using them for their proper purpose, but the most important thing you need to do is to wash your makeup brushes! Not washing your brushes can cause you a whole world of grief… skin break-outs being one. By not regularly washing your brushes you’re leaving dirt, oil, and bacteria to fester and grow on the brush (gross!) and that transfers back to your skin when you use it! Not to mention all the old makeup that’s been caked on the brush will cause the product to apply unevenly and streak. So not washing you brushes sort of defeats the purpose, don’t you think? Plus, it’s just good hygiene!
The solution for a germ-free set of brushes is simple: Wash your makeup brushes at least once a week, twice a week if you’ve got oily skin. You want to use something that’s gentle and not heavy or creamy, otherwise it can leave a residue on the brush and cause you to have an uneven application leaving you streaky and not well blended. Baby shampoo is great. It’s mild so it won’t dry the brushes out and it also rinses out completely with no residue. You can also use a facial cleanser as long as it’s a gel or a foam. A creamy cleanser tends to be heavier and will leave behind a filmy feeling on the brush. If you want to take the guess work out, then you can invest in actual makeup brush shampoo located at most beauty supply stores.
You want to make sure you use warm, not hot, water when washing your brushes. If the water is too hot then it could dry out the bristles or cause any glue that might be holding the brush together to melt, and the last thing you want is a shedding makeup brush! After washing and rinsing thoroughly, reshape them to their original shape and just let them air dry by either laying the brushes flat on a clean towel, or by standing them up in a glass, or cup.
Tip You could actually cause damage and bristle fraying by washing them too much. You should definitely wash them, but just take care and don’t over due it. If you’re the only one using your brushes, then once or twice a week is more then sufficient.
Taking care of your makeup brushes is such a small thing, but it’s a very important one. All you need to do is work it into your weekly routine. If you take good care of your brushes, then they’ll take good care of you! 
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- Tags: brushes, makeup
How I Went From Drab To Fab (Using What I Had In My Makeup Bag)
Written by Kimberly in: Makeup
25 Feb 2011
OK, here’s what happened: I was enjoying a lovely afternoon of shopping and sightseeing with my family and we stopped into one of my favorite restaurants to eat. I excused myself to go to the ladies room and gasped in horror as I saw my reflection. I looked awful! Wind blown hair, smudged eye makeup, pale skin and faded lipstick. Yikes! I was in desperate need of a serious makeover but had no time and just my little makeup bag with me.
What to do?! Well first, I quickly ran a brush through my hair to smooth it out, then I frantically began to dig in my makeup bag. I have a fairly small, long, rectangular shaped black makeup bag that I almost always have with me. It contains a pressed powder compact (with pressed powder), lip liner, lipstick, mascara, eyelash curler, Visine, lip gloss, a black eye liner and a black with silver glitter eye liner (because you never know when a girl might need some glitter!). Yes, I realize it’s more makeup than “normal” but I am a makeup diva, after all, so for me that’s actually pretty scaled down.
After brushing my hair, I pulled out my pressed powder compact and cleaned up the smudged eye makeup using the sponge applicator and a little bit of powder. I then quickly curled my lashes and freshened what was left of my eyeliner with my black eyeliner pencil and blended with my finger. Next, I took my lip gloss (a sheer berry pink with sparkles) and applied it right over my tired, worn off lipstick. Then I put a tiny bit of gloss on my finger and put it on the apple of my cheeks and blended really well.
The lip gloss on the cheeks is a strange notion, I know, but it gave my pale cheeks a very soft, natural glow and even a bit of sparkle. Using a gloss is a great way to add a little color and glow if you don’t have access to a blush. You could also use lipstick, but since gloss isn’t as pigmented, it’s easier to blend and obviously much more sheer. Make sure you do blend really well, though, or you’ll just have two shiny spots on your cheeks. Not so sexy.
So that’s my 5 minute makeover on myself in the bathroom of one of my favorite restaurants. Hair: brushed and no longer looking like I stepped out of a wind tunnel. Eyes: Green and sparkly and no more messy eye makeup. Lips: shiny and sexy. Skin: fresh and glowy. Ah much better! Now I was able to sit down and enjoy a wonderful meal with my wonderful family with self confidence and not have to worry about people thinking I was some strange homeless person from off the street.
So what’s in your makeup bag? Do you carry one at all? I know I’d be lost without mine… it’s sort of like my security blanket! Seriously, though, there’s no way to really plan these things, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with being prepared! I’m just saying…
- (2) Comments
- Tags: eyeshadow, lip gloss, makeup
To Shimmer Or Not To Shimmer?
Written by Kimberly in: Makeup
23 Feb 2011
A lot of women feel that when they get to a certain age, they can no longer wear shimmer because they’re afraid it will make fine lines and wrinkles stand out more. Yes, to a certain degree that’s true, but also false. Confused? Let me explain…
Yes, it’s true that wearing shimmery products can make those pesky fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable, but it can also brighten your skin, open up your eyes, and give your skin radiance. It all depends how, and more importantly where you put it!
First of all, let me clarify that I’m talking about a shimmer and not a frost, or glitter. Yes, there is a difference! A frost tends to be ultra shiny and sort of sticks on the surface of the skin and will stand out a lot because it doesn’t blend very well. A glitter has actual little specks of, well, glitter that are noticeably sparkly. A shimmer, however is much more subtle. It reflects the light and blends seamlessly into the skin so all you really see is radiant, glowy skin.
Here are three ways that absolutely everyone can wear shimmer, no matter what your age, or how many wrinkles you have:
- Your brow bone:
Putting a shimmer right under the arch of your brow, on your brow bone will help to lift and open up your eyes.
- The inner corner of your eye:
Applying a shimmer on the inner corner of your eyes will help to make them look more awake, brighter, and bigger.
- The center of your bottom lip:
Adding a touch of shimmer in the center of your bottom lip will help them look bigger as well as luscious and full.
Tip If you’re feeling a bit lack luster and need a little extra glow, then add a little bit of shimmer to the top part of the apples of your cheeks and blend well. Doing so will help bring a light, soft, healthy glow to your face.
Shimmer or not to shimmer? My answer is shimmer! Don’t let your insecurities stop you from trying something that can help you look and feel better about the way you look. I mean, who doesn’t want to have bigger, brighter eyes and full, pouty lips?! You can do it! It’s just makeup, after all… if you really hate it, then take it off. You’ll never really know unless you try it out for yourself and I really hope you do!
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- Tags: makeup, shimmer
Five Hot New Trends For Spring
Written by Kimberly in: Makeup
21 Feb 2011
Who’s ready for Spring? I know I am! I think Spring is my favorite season… warmer weather, everything growing and blooming and there’s a sense of rebirth and that everything is possible! Well, at least that’s how I feel about it.
With a change in the weather also comes a change in your wardrobe and makeup. This season brings lighter, brighter colors, bronze skin and fun, flirty, colors. We long to echo the fresh palette we see outside and let the enchantment of Spring surround us with it’s beauty.
Alright, enough poetic blabber, let’s get down to what trends are going to be hot for Spring, 2011! More specifically, what are some new trends to be on the watch for. These are all fresh and new, not your usual pink and pastel Spring color story. These trends have a definite edge we haven’t seen for Spring in a good, long while. OK, here we go…
- Neon pink lips:
Pink has always been a color associated with Spring, but this pink is taking things to a whole new level! It’s strong, super bright and not for the timid. The key to wearing this trend is to keep everything else very minimal and bare. Slicking your hair back might also be a good idea to ensure that this color has nothing else to compete with.
- Purple eyeshadow:
The deep, rich jewel tones of Winter and Fall have happily crossed over into the Spring season. This time, it’s a little brighter and definitely more violet purple then plum. This is a shade that flatters every skin tone and eye color and is a great way to add a pop of color to an otherwise neutral pallette.
- Coral makeup:
Coral is the go to color for Spring this year. We’re seeing it everywhere… on cheeks, lips, nails and even eyes! It’s bright and cheerful and an instant pick me up. Depending in your skin tone, you may need to adjust to a coral with more pink for fair girls, or more orange for medium/deep toned girls.
- Two toned nails:
This is definitely NOT your Momma’s French manicure! This edgy look was seen on this season’s runways and can best be described as an inside out French manicure with black on the bottom and taupe tips. It sounds crazy, but actually looks pretty cool.
- Black-green nail polish:
This season’s nail color of the moment is a deep, iridescent, silvery greenish black. I know it’s a difficult to picture, but it’s very reminiscent to black pearls and actually very pretty. Wear it on your fingers for a dramatic flare, or you could keep it just on your toes for a fun, trendy pedicure color.
Tip If you feel these new trends are just too much for you, then try a more toned down version. For instance, instead of a neon pink lip, try a shade that’s a little brighter than you normally would wear. That way, you’re still in your comfort zone and being fashion forward!
Alright fashionista’s, those are the new Spring trends to be on the lookout for in 2011! I’m not saying you need to wear them all, but I hope you try at least one… or at least try your own version. Be brave, be bold, be beautiful!
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- Tags: eyeshadow, hot trends, lips, makeup, trends
Benefits Between Lipstick and Lip Gloss
Written by Kimberly in: Makeup
18 Feb 2011
I’ve talked a lot about lipstick and we all know how much I adore lip gloss, but what I haven’t talked about are the different benefits between the two. Is there really that much of a difference between lipstick and lip gloss? Why, yes there is… and today I’m going to discuss the difference and the pro’s and con’s between both lipstick and lip gloss. Yay!
As we all know, there are many, many different formulas for lipstick and lip gloss. But just for today, I’m going to be talking about a basic cream lipstick versus a basic lip gloss. Here are the main differences between the two:
- Texture:
This one’s pretty obvious if you’ve worn both. Lipstick can be a bit thick and creamy and has a heavier texture on the lips, while lips gloss is more light-weight and slippery. Both can be moisturizing, but a gloss feels slicker and more moisturizing. Both can have shine, but a lip gloss will be much shinier, wet look than a lipstick.
- Wear:
Because of the difference in texture, lipstick is going to wear much longer than lip gloss. A lip gloss really needs something to anchor to because it’s so slippery and a lighter weight than the rich and creamy lipstick. A lip gloss by itself will not wear very long on your lips.
- Coverage:
Again, because of the difference in texture, a lipstick will have a fuller coverage and a lip gloss will be more sheer. So if you have a discoloration or something you want to cover on your lips, then I would go with a lipstick.
Tip Make sure your lips are well exfoliated before wearing you lip color. Both lipstick and lip gloss will only exaggerate and the dry skin on your lips. Ew!
Well, there you have it! Now you know the basic differences and can make an educated decision on whether you want to go with a lipstick, or a lip gloss. Of course I think you should just wear them both together! Why not have the best of both worlds?!
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