What's On Everyone's Lips?

Lips are fun and simple way to really add character to a look.  There are plenty of different types of lip makeup to choose from:

•  Lip Gloss
• Lip Stain
• Long Lasting Lip Color
• Lip Stick
• Lip Liner

  
Lip Gloss:

ULTA Super Shiny Lip Gloss #11

Seriously comes in so many different forms it's insane. There's extra shiny, glittery, some with color, some without, there's even some with collagen in it to make your lips fuller (but that'll cost ya extrie..)


*If you want your lip gloss to last longer use lip liner on the entire lip prior to applying gloss.  It also acts like a primer in that it fixes any discoloration on your lips!

Buxom Lip Plumper in Katie

Lip gloss is a GREAT finisher because shiny lips never hurt anyone!

Lip Stain:

ULTA Extreme Wear Lip Stain (I was too lazy to take a picture of my own but I wear this in "Impulsive")

These are great.  Imagine a long lasting lip color that lasts about half the time, BUT you don't have to apply the sticky setting gloss stuff you have to apply on the long lasting in the color.  


*Using Lip Liner on the entire lip prior to applying lip stain will make it last even longer!


Long Lasting Lip Color:

ULTA Extreme Wear All Day #201

There are so many of these on the market and they are great for those who have a long day and don't feel like having to constantly reapply.  They all claim to last up to eight, ten some even twelve hours and most of them live up to their claims!

 Lip Stick:

NYX Chaos

Been around for forever!  Comes in so many colors and those colors come in just about every shade under the sun.  Available in shiny, shimmery and matte.

*There are enough shades of the different colors of lip stick that EVERYONE can pull off EVERY color.  It may take some digging but you'll find it I promise!


Lip Liner:

ULTA Lip Pencil Mauve

Much more essential than I think it gets credit for.  PS:  It's actually super easy to apply this without looking like a chola!

*Always use a color that matches your natural lip color and line lightly.  This will add definition to your lips.  


*Should you decide to get a lip liner that does not match the color of your lips use the lip liner as if it were the color you are putting on your lips.  Like so:

See?  Totally pretty!  I have tried this but I can't seem to get it right..

Sorry I know I've been MIA but I went from an unemployed student to a student with two jobs in three days time so I got hella busy but I'm back and all I have to say is Baltimore Orioles NUMBER ONE! (If you understand that reference I'll be your BFF for realz.)

Liner Notes

There are many different liners on the market.  Each liner provides the ability to create a vast number of looks to play around with.

• The Pencil / Kohl Eyeliner:

ULTA Brand pencil liner in Black

 
The cheapest of the eyeliner family, the pencil is made by literally every brand that sells eyeliner.  Personally, I think these sons of bitches hurt.  A LOT.  I use them as a last resort, they feel like using a #2 lead pencil to apply makeup.  ouch!  This is especially true among the cheaper (think Wet N' Wild) brands.  However, higher end brands of cosmetics don't hurt as much.


Some kohl eyeliners are made of a creamier substance as opposed to the lead-like material used in most pencils.  For example: Urban Decay (shown below) pencils are more of a cream and thus much gentler on the eye!

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Ransom

 

The reason pencils are so beneficial is you can get right up to the lash/water line, which is really important.  If your eyeliner isn't as close to those lines as possible your makeup will look strange (unless of course that is part of the plan for the look)!  Another benefit of pencil liners is that it is easier to draw with them.  For example, cat eyes are popular again, I find that it is easier to draw the outline of the desired look and then fill it in later with a different type of liner. 

• Liquid Liner:

ULTA Brand Liquid Liner in Black and ULTA Brand Precision Eyeliner Pen in Black

   
My least favorite.  Only because, I have yet mastered it.  I can't seem to apply it with out making a huge, sloppy mess.  Not to mention I always, ALWAYS get it in my eye!  However in the makeup artist community I imagine this is probably a favorite.  You can get the most varied looks from the liquid liner.  It is also the most dramatic of the liners.  Unless used SUPER SPARINGLY I don't recommend it for an everyday look as you could end looking like a raccoon.  Which is a look best left to raccoons...I especially recommend only using it on the top lid.

Liquid liners come in two forms: A wand and a pen.  I think the pen is easier to maneuver, but I'm not a big fan of either.  Liquid liner is best used to fill in lines you already drew with pencils or another type of liner.

• Automatic Liner:

ULTA Brand Automatic Liner in Black

I guess technically this is a pencil, but it is more of a cream substance and it's retractable!  I use this everyday! It gets right up to the water line, it's gentle and easy to apply so I LOVE it.  I also get really good results when I attempt more dramatic looks with automatic liners.  So they're shaped like pencils but you can get the effect of either a pencil or a liquid with them!  SUPER!

• Cream Liner:

The Cream Liners are on the far left, this is an ULTA Brand palette

In my opinion, these are not really worth it at all.  They're messy and they don't last.  There are plenty of other types of liners on the market, so really there isn't any point in getting a cream liner.

• Gel Liner:

ULTA Brand Extreme Wear Gel Liner in Primetime

MY FAVORITE!  It's essentially liquid liner without the mess.  You will need an eyeliner brush to apply it which I think gives you more control..this also can get right on the lash/water line if you're comfortable!  It will still look good!

Regular vs. Waterproof:

Just like mascara, eyeliner comes in both regular and waterproof.  If you are someone who has allergies, sweats easily or lives in a humid climate you should invest in waterproof.  I live in Omaha and I use waterproof (mascara, because I did not realize waterproof eyeliner would be a good idea until after I bought a bunch).  Just beware that once waterproof eyeliner is dry you need makeup remover to get rid of it, so fix any mistakes ASAP!

Low End vs. High End:

Low end eyeliner will get the job done initially.  It won't last as long and it may go more quickly as you will need to use more to get the desired look than you would need with a higher end liner.  Higher end liners will provide essential vitamins that will replenish your eyes and most higher end liners lack harmful chemicals such as sulfate that dry out the skin over time.  Plus, they are easier to apply, they last longer, and they generally have a higher pigment which is greatly needed if you choose to wear anything other than black.

Colors:

Colors are a great way to play up an eye or to create a dramatic look, but there are a few colors that everyone should have.

• Black.  Everyone should have black eyeliner because it looks good with any color of eye and any shape of eye.  If you have wide set eyes, black around the whole eye (including inner corners) can help bring yours eyes in closer.

• White. It's great for opening your eyes right up!  Apply to the inner corners and on the bottom lid's water line and your eyes will appear bigger!

• Brown. Another essential neutral if you want a softer, more natural look that the black won't provide.

• The Color Of Your Eye. A dark or bold shade of that color can go a LONG way in making your eye color pop!  A light shade of the color can also be used to open your eye in the absence of white.

Only Browsing?

I'd like to take time and discuss a very real issue.  Eyebrows.  Eyebrows are hella serious peeps, they make or break your face, I promise!

Check this out:

• On the left: Aww Mila Kunis is so pretty I'm like mega jealous of her!
• On the right: Aww gross, that's nasty!

Right?  It's a very serious thing that is very, very easy to get wrong so please pay attention!

 First, determine the shape of your face.  The picture below includes all of the basic face shapes:

• If you have an Oval shaped face: Congrats!  You can pull off any brow shape you damn please!
• If you have a Round shaped face:  You should shape your brows into the "Soft Angled" (shown below)
• If you have a Long shaped face: You should shape you brows into the "Flat" (shown below)
• If you have a Square shaped face: You should shape you brows into the "Hard Angled" (shown below)
• If you have a Heart shaped face: You should shape you brows into the "Round" (shown below)
• If you have a Diamond shaped face: You should shape you brows into the "S Shape" (shown below)

Now that you know which shape your brows should take, it's time to determine the size.  This is very simple to do and yet seems to be the biggest offense in the "eye brow criminal justice system".

Take a pen or pencil from the point at the side of the nose you see in the above drawing:

• Point A: Is where your brows should start
• Point B: Is where highest point of your brow's angle should be, it will begin to taper at this point as well
• Point C: Is where your brows should end

So you see, it's literally as easy as ABC!

Moving on, there are a few different ways you can tame the beasts! You can wax, tweeze, thread or go to an esthetician and have them worry about it!

•  Wax: My FAV!  It's fast and it's easy, plus I have my own wax pot at home.  I use GiGi Creme Wax and the GiGi Wax Warmer (pictured below).  Initially this will set you back about $100+ (that's both products seen below, plus wax sticks and strips, cleaners and lotions that are necessary) but it ABSOLUTELY pays for itself!  It does however, have a tendency to be SUPER messy plus if you're not careful you can remove more brow than originally planned.

• Tweeze: This is the most painful way but it allows the most precision which is worth the tears!  I recommend using two pairs, one with a slanted edge and then one with sharp edge.  Tips to remember:

1.  Don't numb your brows with ice.  It just makes the pores smaller, which causes the hair to be harder to remove.  Meaning more pain for you!  Instead, "warm up" the brows by rubbing your finger back and forth on the brow bone.
2. I'm sure you've heard this a million times but always, always, ALWAYS shape from below the brow..BUT that doesn't mean you can't clean up the hairs above the brow, in fact you should, just be really careful that you don't cut into the shape of the brow.
3. After using an eyebrow brush (shown at the above right) to find the natural shape of your eyes, spritz a little hair spray on the hair to keep it in place while you chisel out your masterpiece!

• Threading: I'll be honest I've never had it done, I don't know anyone who gets it done so don't have any advice here.

•  Esthetician:  This is by far the easiest!  But it can be pricey, you'll be looking at $30-$45 every three weeks.  But you'll get a spa experience, the wax will be hot and ready once you get there, you don't have to clean it up, plus estheticians have LOADS of training in brow shaping and hair removal so if you're not sure how to shape or would just rather have someone else deal with it estheticians are great!

1.  If you're in the Omaha, NE area: I recommend Elisha with Simply Pure Salon.  She is so nice and she's great with facial waxings, ESPECIALLY brows!  PLUS you'll score like a 5 minute mini face massage which is awesome after having hair ripped out of your face!
2. If you're in the Grand Junction, CO area: I recommend Jessica at Cost Cutters in the Mesa Mall (yeah, they do facial waxing there!)  She's AWESOME, If I lived there I would be in there all the time seriously!

*Tweezers and eyebrow brushes can be purchased at ULTA Beauty Supply, and local drugstores, mass merchandisers or grocery stores.  Also, don't feel like you gotta drop serious cash on tweezers and an eyebrow brush.  I've read a good pair of tweezers should put you out $15-$20.  Uh no.  I dropped about "tree fitty" on my tweezers and they work JUST FINE.  Same goes with the eyebrow brush, you're just using it to push your eyebrow hairs in the direction they grow naturally, just get a cheap generic one they all work the same.

*Wax Warmer, Wax and all the accessories can be purchased at Sally Beauty Supply. 

*Face shape corresponding to brow shape is like pirate code.  It's really more of a guideline.  What I listed are brow shapes that are most flattering on that face shape.

*Disclaimer*

I want it to be totally clear that the opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not work for ULTA or any cosmetics company (I am however extremely brand loyal)  If I hear something I will pass it and probably say where it came from just to add legitimacy but really I won't post it unless I already believed it.

First Things First: Take Care Of Your Face

I don't care who you are, you need to wash your face twice a day, every day.  Wash right before you go to sleep at night and then again right when you wake up (because something about your body in it's sleep state makes the oils in your face settle faster?  I don't get it either, but I don't question it and neither should you!)

I use Neutregena's Deep Clean line (with an added blackhead scrub because I've had a problem with black heads my whole life.  If you have a problem with blackheads this scrub works really well!)

• Cleanser: Twice a day, every day
• Blackhead Scrub: Once a day, every day
• Exfoliating Scrub: 2-3 times a week
• Cleansing Mask: Once a week

I also use Neutregena's Make Up Remover wipes, which are not pictured but they're the best, I seriously won't use anything else!

Lady GaGa once said in an interview that she sleeps in her makeup every night.  I cannot stress this enough: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU SLEEP IN YOUR MAKEUP.  EVER.  Think of it this way: Every night you sleep in your makeup, you age your face seven days.  It doesn't sound like a lot I know, but if you were to sleep in your makeup every night for six weeks straight you'll add a year to your face!

Some people have naturally good skin (Lady GaGa being one of them, obvi).  In cases such as that you don't need the chemicals in a lot of the facial cleansers on the market.  In those cases, the chemicals can actually cause your face to break out, scar or cause unevenness in your complexion.  Take my mother as an example.  She washes her face with Dove bar soap, she has for years and aside from age, her face is flawless.  Guys really "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".  Another key point to remember is not to constantly change up your facial cleansing routine.  Don't go trying every product you see a commercial for.  Once your face is used to a routine that works it won't be as likely to break out.  Should you decide to try a different product, remember to give the product 3-4 weeks before you decide whether or not you like it.  That will be about the time your skin will take to adapt to the new chemicals.

Words cannot express how important exfoliation is for your face (for your skin in general, but especially your face).  You can't get it really clean if all those dead skin cells are still hanging out (not to mention your makeup will look flaky).  So get rid of them!  And at the rate that skin cells die, it's important to exfoliate 2-3 times every week.

Another thing that is really, REALLY important:  Moisturizers!

 I use Ponds Dry Skin Cream on my face and Physicians Formula Hydrating Eye Cream for the skin around my eyes (twice a day, every day for both, natch).  

You need to use something that is specifically for the eyes, as the skin around your eyes is much thinner than the rest of your face.  For your face, you can use anything, I like Ponds because that stuff packs some serious moisture!  

Please don't bother with astringents.  I've never understood them, really, but just don't.  I know they seem like a good idea right now, but 20-30 years from now, you will seriously wish you hadn't..

*AS SOON AS you are finished washing your face or showering, quickly pat your face dry so that you're not dripping wet and moisturize.  It is crucial to get the moisturizer on your skin as soon as you can, preferably within 30 seconds of washing your face or showering, in those first 30 seconds your skin is at it's most absorbent, so it will benefit the most from the moisturizer during that time!

*I've never personally used it, but I have heard from more than one source (one being Dermalogica) that Apricot Scrub will tear up your face.  So try to avoid it.

*Proactiv is super hit or miss.  It will either work wonders or it will seriously damage your skin (I'm just now getting rid of the marks it left on my face in 2006)  I say avoid it if you can because it's not worth it.  If you see a Dr. and that person recommends Proactiv, then by all means try it.  I'm not a Dr. so their word should be valued over mine.

All of the products shown were purchased at ULTA Beauty Supply.  You can also find them at your local Drugstore, Mass Merchandiser, or Grocery Store.

c. Labor Day Weekend 2011

That's when this whole infatuation with makeup began.  I had always liked makeup and the artistry behind it but I never thought I would be able to do it myself because I'm not very creative, nor do I have very good hand coordination.

But then I went to school and one day I was sitting in class, totally innocent and minding my own business, when this guy walked in.  It took me like a 15 second delay to recognize this guy was a MEGA BABE!  So I thought to myself "Oh, man, I gotta get this guy's attention but I don't think my knowledge of 90's music and Disney movies is going to cut it!"  I decided that in order for this mega hottie to notice me, I had to become a mega hottie myself.  And so began my addiction to cosmetics.

Flash forward ten months later:

• I'm still really into makeup but it has now become an infatuation with esthetics in general.
• I am a Platinum Club Member at ULTA Beauty Supply.
• I'm seriously considering getting an Esthetician's license.
• I NEVER got the guts to say anything to hottie's face and I'm pretty sure that ship has sailed..(but a girl can still dream right?!) 

 This blog is where I intend to share my experiences, recommendations, tips, tutorials that I find or come up with and I hope you find it helpful!