Spring is always my favorite time for experimenting with makeup – there are always so many fun runway trends to try! Unfortunately, many of the looks we see on the runways aren’t exactly real life-wearable unless you’re Lady Gaga or Niki Minaj. (Eyebrow appliques a la Gareth Pugh, anyone?)

Below, I will go over the three most wearable runway makeup trends of Spring 2012 and show you some products that will help you get that runway look!

1. Bold Lips + Neutral Eyes

Bold lips at Anthony Vaccarello and Christian Dior S/S 2012 | Elle.com

A perpetual runway favorite, designers like Prabal Gurung, Mugler, Betsey Johnson and more are loving the bright lip this season! This look is all about keeping the rest of the make-up minimal while still keeping it punchy with a vibrant or dark statement lip color.

To get the look, test out different lipsticks to find that perfect shade – it helps to visit a makeup counter or Sephora to do this! Personally, I think NARS makes a gorgeous orange-red lipstick while Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Bordeaux is perfect for deeper looks.

2. Navy Smokey Eyes

Navy smokey eyes at Rodarte and Emanuel Ungaro S/S 2012 | Elle.com

On the other end of the spectrum, some designers have taken eye make-up to another dimension! We’ve seen black and grey smokey eyes almost every season, but designers switched up the colors this year, opting for soft, smokey navy eyes on their runway models. How perfect would these looks be for a night out?

Getting these looks is easier than you think! The darker look requires a double punch of navy liner (try L’Oreal HIP Studio Secrets liner in Navy) and deep blue shadow (like L’Oreal Studio Secrets Eye Shadow Single in Midnight Sky). For the lighter look, try CoverGirl’s Smoky Shadow Stick in Tempest Blue – it comes with two creamy shades that you can easily blend to create a smooth finish.

3. Bronzed Skin as the Focus

Bronzed skin at Michael Kors S/S 2012 | Elle.com

The designers certainly know how to get us in the mood for spring – many of the models on the S/S 2012 runways looked like they just came back from St. Bart’s!

I love the perfectly placed bronzer high up on the cheekbones as seen on this Michael Kors model; it makes for a perfectly polished look. (Don’t go too Jersey Shore!) Check out this list of good bronzers for every budget if you don’t already have a bronzer in your beauty arsenal. And for the runway look, keep the bronzed skin as your focus – just a swipe of chapstick and some light mascara and you’re good to go!

What do you think about the spring beauty trends?

Do you like the beauty trends this season? Would you rock any of them? What’s your favorite make-up look? Have you seen any runway looks you would never wear in public? Tell me what you think in the comments!

While 3D nail art has really been my thing lately (my last two tutorials have been on rhinestones and glitter), the other day I came across photos of the Giambattista Valli spring 2012 couture show, and it inspired me to switch gears; I’ve always wanted to try translating a runway look into nail art.

The pink floral dress above was my favorite in the entire collection, so I decided to try to recreate the look of the flowers on my nails. It was actually pretty simple – here’s my attempt at a runway-inspired manicure, and how you can pull it off yourself with just polish and a bobby pin!

What You Need:

• Base coat – I used my trusty Orly Bonder Rubberized Base Coat.
• 2 or more colors of nail polish – I used 4 that were inspired by the colors in the dress: Revlon Red, Essie Carousel Coral, Sephora by OPI Access 24/7 (which can only be bought in a boxed set, but you can get a similar color here), and CND Raspberry Parfait.
• Top coat - I used Seche Clear (which is technically a base coat, but it dries super shiny).
• A bobby pin or something of a similar size

As always, start off with clean, unpolished fingers and a flat surface to work on. Now you’re ready to arrange a bouquet on your fingernails!

Nailing the Look

1. Paint your nails as you normally would, starting with a base coat and following with one or two coats of polish. As you can see in the picture, I started off with a bright pink.
2. Take your bobby pin and put a dab of nail polish on the tip. Don’t put on so much that it’s dripping, but make sure there’s a good dollop so you can make a nice, round shape on your nail.
3. As shown in the photo above, gently place the head of the bobby pin on your nail. Make 4 or 5 dots in a circle to create a flower shape.
4. Make as few or as many flowers as you’d like! I decided to make a lot and to do them in several different colors; I chose a purple, a red and a lighter pink. If you want, you can make them overlap a bit, or you can spread them out.

Helpful Hints

While you really could use any object of a similar shape and size to create the dots, I found bobby pins especially handy for this project because they have two tips, which is perfect if you want to make a design with multiple colors – you can have one color on one tip and a second color on the other tip. Plus, what girl doesn’t have a stash of bobby pins hiding in her bathroom? You may find it necessary to wipe the head of the pin off every once in a while, because the polish can start to dry on it and get gooey, which makes it difficult to make nice dots.

When choosing colors, I found it useful to start off with a bright color because it contrasted better with the other colors I was using. At first I wanted the pattern to have a red base, but quickly found out that the purple wouldn’t show up well enough and went with the hot pink instead. If you want to make a bolder statement, pick a base color that contrasts well with the colors you’re going to use for your flowers; if you want something more subtle, you may want to stick with colors that are in the same family.

The End Result

I was actually very happy with how these turned out. One of my friends thinks they look “Monet-esque,” and that they have a sort of watercolor-like quality to them. They’re nothing too flashy or head-turning, but they have a cute and playful feel. These nails are giving me spring fever!

What Do You Think?

Would you put a floral pattern on your nails? If you were to get nail inspiration from a designer, who would it be? Is there a particular runway look you’d like to see turned into nail art? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

One of the hardest decisions when first becoming makeup obsessed is choosing your makeup brushes. There are so many different brands and types that it can be hard to know where to start!

I know that there are a ton of questions surrounding makeup brushes, such as, “Do you need a whole brush kit?” “Are MAC brushes really worth it?”, etc. So I’m here to help. Watch the video below to see which types of brushes I think are really worth it and get started building your own makeup brush collection!

Makeup Brushes 101:

The Essentials:

• A Tapered Blending Brush: MAC 217 $22.50
• An Angled Liner Brush: Coastal Scents Taklon Brush $1.95
• A Large Fluff Brush: Too Faced Teddy Pouf Brush $32.00

The Extras:

• A Brow Brush and Mascara Wand: Royal and Langnickel (The one featured in the video is part of a collection, but they do sell the brushes alone for about $2-4)
• A Contouring Brush: MAC 168 Contour $34.00
• A Duo Fiber Foundation Brush: Sigma Duo Fiber $18 (Sorry about the price difference!)
• An Eyeshadow Brush: MAC 252 EyeShadow $30.00
• A Fluffy Blending Brush: Sigma Blending $11.00
• A Concealer Brush: Ecotools Concealer $7.98
• A Thin Brush for Smudging: Royal and Langnickel Smudger (The one featured in the video is part of a collection, but they do sell the brushes alone for about $3-5)

Brush Cleaning Products:

• Dr Bronner’s Baby Mild Shampoo $16.99
• MAC Brush Cleanser $13.00

Thoughts?

What are some of your essential brushes? What’s your favorite brush? Where do you buy your brushes? Let me know what you think!

*Top photo: iStockPhoto.com

Fortunately, it’s easier than you think to get gorgeous on the cheap: Here are three DIY beauty ingredients that I believe can take the place of any expensive beauty product you own. The best part? All three are probably in your kitchen right now!

1. Olive Oil

I feel like this is obvious, but for those of you who don’t know, olive oil is fantastic for you! Olive oil contains many excellent antioxidants and nutrients that are good for you internally as well as externally; it has been said in studies that it can help combat the effect of heart disease and malignant tumors! So here are some ways for you to use olive oil in your beauty routine.

• Olive oil is part of the oil cleansing method. This is a cult favorite skincare regime that uses oil as a way to cleanse the skin, so no water involved, and is said to work fabulously on all skin types. For more info on the method, Crunchy Betty has a great guide to oil cleansing. Have any of you tried it out?
• It makes a great make-up remover. I stopped buying make-up remover a long time ago; now I just rub some olive oil onto my eye make-up and wipe it away with a washcloth. Works like a charm!
• Use it to make an Olive Oil Hair Treatment! We posted this tutorial a while back and it’s still among our most popular beauty articles ever, thanks to the gorgeous shine it gives hair.
• Olive oil makes a great toner as well. I used to mix olive oil, witch hazel, and green tea to make a natural toner. It worked quite well for me and you can vary the ingredients depending on your skin type.
• Also speaking of skin, olive oil is great for repairing damaged skin from acne or other causes. I like to rub a little bit of olive oil onto acne scarred areas at night; it helps to repair my skin’s texture over time. (And no, contrary to popular belief, pure oils like olive do not cause acne!)
• Use it to create an exfoliating scrub. This simple, three-ingredient scrub will have your skin looking luminous in mere minutes.
• It can also be used in place of shaving cream! Olive oil works just as well, if not better, than your regular cream and makes your skin feel awesome. Just wipe away the excess oil when you are done, and look at that, you just shaved and moisturized in one step!
• Eating olive oil daily is also a great way to be healthy in general. Eating it on salads or on bread is my favorite. Just by eating one or two tablespoons a day you are helping your body out! How easy is that?

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is definitely a powerhouse ingredient! As with all vinegars, its main active ingredient is acetic acid, so it’s extremely strong and has natural astringent properties. Here are some beauty uses for apple cider vinegar that you can try at home. If you have sensitive skin, however, be careful: Make sure to dilute it and buy organic!

• It can be used as a rinse after shampooing your hair. As opposed to buying a fancy clarifying shampoo, you can use apple cider vinegar to remove product buildup and give your hair shine and body. Fill up an old shampoo bottle with one half apple cider vinegar and one half water, and use to rinse hair after shampooing twice a week.
• Just like olive oil, it also makes for a great toner. I recommend mixing it with some other ingredients to dilute it a little bit more, just so you don’t dry out your skin too much. This is also more for people who have oilier or combination skin; be careful if your skin is dry!
• It can also be used for drying out blemishes. Be careful on how much you apply it to the blemish, you want to dry it out but not so much that your skin gets irritated! Don’t do this if you have very sensitive skin, or test it first to see how your skin handles it.
• It can be mixed in with facials and masks, too. Depending on your skin type, it can go with honey, green tea, yogurt, etc to create custom masks. I typically use apple cider vinegar with my Aztec healing clay that I mentioned in a previous post; it mixes up quite nicely.
• You can use it to bring out your hair’s natural red tones. Just dilute 2:1 with water, apply, and sit in the sun.

3. Oatmeal

My favorite multi-use product is definitely oatmeal! It’s good, natural, and does a lot of great things for your skin and body. Did your mom make you take oatmeal baths if you got a sunburn or your skin was irritated? I know mine did, and it worked every time. So here are some more oatmeal tips to try!

• Oatmeal is a great gentle exfoliator. I pour a handful of oatmeal into my palm, run my clenched fist underneath a running faucet for a couple of seconds to get the oatmeal nice and damp, and then rub it into my skin! After a couple of seconds, it will start to feel sticky and adhere better. This can be messy, but I think it’s worth the clean up. It’s a great alternative to harsher salt scrubs; perfect if your skin is sensitive.
• It’s great at calming down redness, too. I rub oatmeal into my skin like I mentioned above and then I leave it for about half an hour. After I wash it off, my skin looks a lot less pink. You can also mix yogurt, honey, olive oil, just about anything with oatmeal to create a refreshing mask. My particular favorite is organic, plain yogurt; it feels so nice during the summer!
• Oatmeal is also good for drying out blemishes! I sometimes just spot treat any blemish instead of doing an entire face mask with oatmeal. In addition, it helps get rid of the redness in your pimples.
• I also like oatmeal as a natural face wash. I used to remove all my make-up with olive oil, and then would wash my face using oatmeal. When my skin was overwhelmed by too many harsh chemicals, this regime balanced it back out to where it should be. This goes a little bit in hand with it being an exfoliant like I mentioned above.
• Oatmeal is just plain delicious, too! It’s a filling, healthy breakfast you can make in your room and it’s great with fruit, honey, yogurt, whatever you want!

Final Tips

And there you have it – three natural beauty ingredients you can find in your own kitchen! All of these items contain no nasty chemicals, just make sure to get organic if you do plan on testing any of these out, especially if your skin is sensitive. (And it should go without saying that you should always do a patch test before applying anything new to your skin!)

A few tips on choosing quality ingredients:

• If you want to try out olive oil, I recommend getting virgin olive oil, cold pressed. It’s better for your skin! I will also say that for people with skin that seems to clog easily, be wary. I have heard of some people breaking out on it, so test a small patch of skin before rubbing it all over.
• For oatmeal any brand will do, just make sure it’s plain and unflavored. You can also grind up the grains with a spoon to make them more refined for masks and facials.
• Again, any brand will do for apple cider vinegar, but remember: This ingredient is strong, so don’t use it every day and remember to dilute!

Thoughts?

Do you know of any other uses for these beauty staples? What about other multi-use beauty ingredients that you use daily? Have you tried any of the tips listed here? Let me know with a comment!

For the second article in my series about three-dimensional nail embellishments (in case you missed it, see the first one, DIY Nail Art: Loose Glitter), I’m going to to cover rhinestones.

One of the things I love about rhinestone nail art is that you can create so many different looks, from super-glamorous to girly to a little bit tough, depending on the size, color and shape of the stones. I know this may seem intimidating, but it’s easier than it looks!

There’s one thing I want to address before getting started: Yes, stick-on nail jewels that are made specifically for this purpose do exist, and may seem like they would be easier to use. However, there are several reasons why I recommend you use loose rhinestones bought from a fabric or craft store instead:

• First, you can get at least five times more jewels for a fraction of the cost. (I paid $2-3 per pack, as opposed to paying $5 for a small sheet of stick-ons from Sephora.)
• Second, there is a greater variety of loose rhinestones then there is of stick-ons made specifically for nail art. The options are endless!
• Third, I would argue that putting rhinestones on this way will give you a longer-lasting manicure than stick-ons will. Think about it: If they are made so you can pull them off a sheet of paper in order to stick them on, you can accidentally pull them off your nails just as easily.

Bejeweling Your Nails, Step by Step:

{Polish: It’s Hippo To Be Square by Sephora by OPI}

Let’s get started! Here’s everything you need to know to give yourself a rhinestone manicure like the one above.

What You Need:

• Base coat – I used Orly Bonder Rubberized Base Coat (both under the polish and to place the jewels on the nail).
• Nail polish
• Top coat – I used Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Top Coat.
• Some type of small stick – This could be an actual orange stick for manicures or it could be something as simple as a toothpick. Anything around that size should do the job.
• Pack of jewels with flat backings – I got mine at a fabric store for $1-3/pack. I wanted a variety of different gems to make some cool designs, so I bought several packs, but one pack would be more than enough to cover your nails.

What To Do:

Before you begin, make sure that the rhinestones you’re using are set out, right-side up, on a flat surface. This will make them easier to pick up later. Now it’s time to bejewel your nails:

1. Put on you base coat and nail polish as you normally would.
2. After your polish has dried, take your stick and dab a bit of base coat on it, then use the part of the stick with the base coat on it to pick up a rhinestone from the top (i.e. the flat back should not be touching the stick, so that you can place it directly on the nail).
3. Dab some base coat on the flat back of the rhinestone. You should be able to see that there is base coat on the backing, but don’t use a ton – if it looks like there’s a little bit much, you can use a finger to gently wipe some off.
4. Place the rhinestone on your nail. Do this gently. You don’t want to dig the stone into the polish and risk messing it up.
5. Repeat these steps until you’re happy with them!

Once you’ve finished, put on a generous amount of top coat to really seal the stones onto the nail. This step is really important! I actually tried doing two of my friends’ nails, one with top coat and one without, to compare the durability of the two manicures. The friend who had top coat on her nails didn’t lose a single stone until 4 days after I did them, even though she abused them with baking, writing and wearing gloves constantly. On the other hand (haha), my friend who didn’t have top coat started losing hers in a matter of hours. So if you want to ensure that your beautiful handiwork stays put, make sure you put a top coat on!

Some More Design Ideas:

{Polish: Hey! Get in Lime! by OPI}

{Polish: Carry On by Essie}

I had a ton of fun trying out different designs on my friends! In the top picture I was going for a stud-inspired look, so I used black stones and made sure the rows were straight so the result was nice and uniform. The bottom look was actually inspired by this lovely tutorial from Honestly, WTF - I loved the use of differently-shaped gems, and this is how I translated it into nail art.

What Do You Think?

Now that you know how to do these nails, I want to hear your thoughts! Would you rock rhinestone nails? How would you wear them? Tell us in the comments section below, and be sure to let us know how the tutorial works for you if you try it!

I actually haven’t done any product reviews on this site, but I had to do this one because I truly believe every girl should know about this amazing new product line: Revlon’s Lip Butters.

If you’re an avid YouTube watcher like I am, you have probably seen a million and one raves about these babies. And I honestly feel they’re all well deserved!

Why I Love Them:

Being a makeup junkie, I love a good lipstick for a bold, polished look. But let’s be real: I’m in college. I am busy! I have a job, a full load of classes, freelancing on the side, and run my own Youtube channel and blog. Needless to say, I have a lot going on and lipstick is not the easiest thing to whip out and apply on the go, especially if it’s a bold color – can you say messy?

Fortunately, these lip butters are perfect for the college girl on the go: They’re super moisturizing, ultra pigmented, AND easy to apply in a hurry – you don’t need a mirror for perfect application every time. The best part? They’re available at your local drugstore for less than $10 a pop. (Tip: They’re on sale right now at Ulta for BOGO 50% off!)

Shade Information:

Shades L-R (click to buy at Ulta): Cupcake, Sweet Tart, Raspberry Pie, Sugar Frosting, Brown Sugar

Revlon Lip Butters come in 20 shades, which makes it easy to find your perfect color. My personal favorite is Sweet Tart, a light bubblegum pink (second shade from the top left, above). Here’s a rundown of all the shades so that you can find your favorite:

• Tutti Frutti – A beautiful coral shade that’s perfect for spring.
• Cupcake – A light pink with a blue-base.
• Cotton Candy – A very pale pink with a hint of gold.
• Gumdrop – A lilac shade with a slight shimmer.
• Berry Smoothie – A medium pink with hints of purple – very wearable.
• Cherry Tart – A sheer red, perfect for those days you want to be a little daring.
• Lollipop – A bold fuchsia shade
• Strawberry Shortcake – A medium-toned pink – very wearable.
• Creme Brulee – A light tan shade.
• Peach Parfait – A peach shade with a little hint of gold.
• Pink Truffle – A browned rose shade.
• Red Velvet – A smooth brick red.
• Sugar Plum – Similar to Berry Smoothie, but more of a plum shade.
• Creamsicle – A very pale, creamy tan shade.
• Brown Sugar – A soft pinkish brown.
• Fig Jam – A rich dark brown.
• Sugar Frosting – Pale, beige-y pink with shimmer.
• Candy Apple – A bright red with hints of orange.
• Raspberry Pie – An opaque magenta color.

Now that you’ve heard all about these amazing lip butters, I hope you guys found this helpful and will give them a shot – in my opinion, they’re definitely worth the money, and if you can find them on sale (like the BOGO sale at Ulta right now), even better!

Thoughts?

Now I want to hear from you! Have you tried these lip butters yet? If so, what did you think? Do you normally wear lipstick? What’s your favorite lip product? Tell me your thoughts in the comments.

First date makeup is a little tricky: You want to look polished and like you put effort into looking nice, but you still want to look effortless… if that made any sense. A first date is not the time to whip out your darkest smokey eye or reddest lipstick, but rather a chance to enhance your own natural features.

Check out the video below to see how to get a simple, clean, and pretty first date makeup look.

The Look:

How To Get the Look:

Products Used:

• Sonia Kashuk Tinted Moisturizer in Tan
• Wet N Wild Coloricon Blush in Heather Silk
• Benefit’s Erase Paste in Deep
• Maybelline FitME Powder in 325
• L’Oreal Infalliable 24hr eyeshadow in Eternal Sunshine
• Sally Girl Eyeshadow in Beige
• Lancome Brow Pencil in Sable
• MAC Paint Pot in Indianwood
• MAC Eyeshadow in Brown Down
• L”Oreal Lineur Intense Eyeliner
• MaryKay Ultimate Mascara
• Revlon Lip Butter in Sweet tart

First Date Makeup DOs and DON’Ts:

• DO exfoliate the night before – you’ll wake up with soft skin in the morning.
• DON’T try any new skin products that may cause breakouts.
• DO wear neutral shades that are flattering to your skin tone.
• DON’T wear every color in your eyeshadow palette.
• DO stick with waterproof everything to avoid smudging.
• DON’T wear any super bright lipsticks.

Thoughts?

What is your go-to makeup routine for dates? How did you guys like the look? Did you enjoy the “First Date Fails” bonus clips? What’s your most embarrassing first date story? Let me know down below!

One of the major trends in nail art right now – and one that I myself happen to love – is using materials other than nail polish to create unique, textured designs.

Over the months ahead, I’ll be writing a series of articles covering some of the practically endless nail art possibilities and showing you how to achieve them yourself. First, I want to start with one of the more straightforward options: loose glitter.

Getting Started:

There are two main techniques for applying nail glitter, and I’m going to demonstrate both. The first results in a nail that is completely sheathed in sparkle, and is perfect for special occasions or just a more daring statement. The second technique ends in glitter that’s more sparse, and creates a really cool effect when used over color for a more wearable, everyday look.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• Base coat
• Nail polish
• Top coat
• Loose glitter

One quick note on the glitter: I used Sephora by OPI Nail Glitter for this tutorial, but I don’t see a reason why any other loose glitter wouldn’t work just as well (although the super sweet Sephora checkout girl did say she swears by this stuff and that it lasts forever). The Sephora glitter is also cheap, at just $5 a pot. But no matter what brand you choose, go with a fine glitter, so that it will adhere easily and lay flat on the nail.

Before you start, you may want to put something down on your work area – I used printer paper – so you can easily clean up the excess glitter and funnel it back into the pot. As with any manicure, remove any nail polish you’re currently wearing and wash your hands. Now it’s time for the fun part!

Technique #1: All-Over Glitter

{Photos by me}

1. Apply a clear base coat. Make sure to apply it evenly so that the glitter will stick to the entire nail!
2. Dip your nail in the pot of glitter, laying it flat over the surface and rolling it back and forth a bit to cover the sides.
3. Tap your finger to remove any extra glitter. If you find that the glitter seems chunky or not completely even, you can press it on with your fingers.
4. As you can see in the picture of my nails above, glitter will probably get on your cuticles. Be sure to wipe it off so the finished product looks precise. I found that an eyeshadow brush is perfect for this, because it dusts all the glitter off without getting it on the fingers of your other hand or messing up your nails.

Technique #2: A Sprinkle of Glitter

{Photos by me}

1. Apply a clear base coat and color, as you would with a normal manicure. I used a very pale pink, but colors that are darker or more vibrant would also look awesome.
2. While the polish is still wet, take a pinch of glitter with your other hand and sprinkle it over the nail.
3. Tap off the excess and wipe your cuticles clean.
4. Make sure the nails on one hand are completely dry before doing nails on the other hand. If they’re still wet, they will pick up more glitter than you intended to put on them when you go to sprinkle your other nails, and they may start to look messy.

Finishing Up

Repeat these steps on the rest of your nails. Or don’t, and have just a few nails that glimmer. The choice is yours!

After applying glitter, I would recommend at least two top coats to ensure that you get a really good seal and a smooth texture. I used three or four – I like my nails glossy! Be sure to do this gently in order to avoid wiping off chunks of glitter as you go.

After trying these two methods, I decided to give some fun designs like these a go:

{Photo by me}

To make the polka dots, I just dabbed little dots of top coat onto my nail and pressed my nail into the glitter. I then used my eyeshadow brush to clean up extra glitter between the dots.

The other patterns were a little easier – for the stripe on my middle finger, I put scotch tape on either side of my nail, leaving a gap between the two pieces where I put on some top coat. Then I dipped my nail in the glitter as I normally would and gently peeled off the tape to reveal a clean stripe. On my index and pinkie fingers, I just put top coat on half the nail and then used my brush to get the glitter where I wanted it to go.

Your thoughts?

Would you try out ultra-sparkly nails? How would you wear them? Have you come up with any cool glitter designs of your own? Leave your ideas and questions in the comments section below.

Hello, CF readers! I hope you all had a fabulous winter break! (I ate lots of donuts and watched Toddlers & Tiaras; exciting, I know.)

As this is my first post as one of your resident beauty bloggers, I decided to kick it off in style by showing you what’s in my beauty closet – my list of my top 10 favorite beauty products. I’m going to run through these quickly so if you do want a more in-depth review of a product I mention, then please ask!

1. Philosophy Purity One-Step Facial Cleanser

Philosophy Purity Cleanser

I’ve only been using this facial cleanser for about two weeks now, but I already love it! It takes off absolutely everything, so there’s no need to use a makeup remover beforehand. It’s very hydrating and gentle, and I’ve definitely seen an improvement in my skin tone and texture since I started using it. Two thumbs up!

2. Philosophy Hope In A Jar

Philosophy Hope In A Jar

And, of course, to go along with the Purity cleanser is this magnificent moisturizer! My skin gets very dry and it’s very finicky, so a lot of times certain moisturizers are too greasy, not moisturizing enough, or just make me break out. This one is light, yet it gives me a very nice glow. No dry patches here! I absolutely love it and highly recommend this.

3. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

I’ve been using this cult favorite product for about three months now and I have to say it definitely lives up to its hype. The ingredients are camphor and calamine, so it works quickly to dry out the blemish and reduce redness and size. It’s one of my favorite acne solutions because the ingredients are simple but effective.

4. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

Silly name, but awesome mask! The only ingredient is bentonite and the great thing about it is that it’s completely customizable! You can mix the powder with apple cider vinegar, green tea, anything you want. It’s a very powerful mask and excellent for drawing out toxins out of your skin. Plus it’s dirt cheap and it lasts forever.

5. Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream

Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream

Another product with a funny name, but once again, it’s brilliant! This is another cult favorite that I’ve heard a lot of celebrities love (I believe Madonna is one of them), and it’s easy to see why once you use it. This cream is made up of beeswax, olive oil, honey, propolis, bee pollen, and royal jelly, essentially cream of the crop ingredients. It’s a bit pricey, but I promise, it’s worth the investment. I slather this on extra dry spots at night and by morning, they’re baby soft.

6. RoC Deep Wrinkle Night Cream

RoC Deep Wrinkle Night Cream

I was first introduced to this product by my mom since she swears by it, and even though it says wrinkle in the name, don’t let that scare you off! When my skin had very bad discoloration from an acne attack, I used this at night. It reduced my discoloration more than any other product in a month, so now I’m hooked! Plus you don’t need a lot, so it lasts for quite a long time.

7. BareMinerals Original Mineral Foundation

BareMinerals Original Mineral Foundation

Everyone and their mother uses this foundation, including me! I’ve been a loyal user for about three years now, so that just goes to show how awesome it is. It gives me great coverage and my skin can actually breathe, it doesn’t feel like I have makeup on. By the way, has anyone tried out the matte version? If you have, leave a comment! I want some insider advice before I pick it up.

8. BareMinerals Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara

BareMinerals Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara

When I was on a photo shoot a little while ago, I was given this mascara from the makeup artist because I loved it so much. Now I’m hooked! It doesn’t flake, it washes off easily, and it really gives your lashes that ‘oomph’. Definitely try it out!

9. CoverGirl Shimmering Sands Eyeshadow Trio

CoverGirl Shimmering Sands Eyeshadow Trio

I will admit, I’m a little boring when it comes to eye shadows. I wear this palette just about every day and I like it so much because it goes with everything! I can make my eyes more dramatic using the darker shade, or just use one shade for a more natural look. It’s versatile and it’s cheap, two of my favorite things.

10. Tigi Rockaholic Groupie Texturizing Spray Pomade

Tigi Rockaholic Groupie Texturizing Spray Pomade

Usually my hair is pretty well behaved and I don’t need to do much to it, but the one product I do use over and over again is this spray pomade. It makes my hair super silky and gives it just enough texture, plus it smells amazing!

What do you think?

Do you have any questions about these products? Do you use any of them? What are YOUR beauty must-haves? Let me know by leaving a comment!

Contouring is when you enhance the hollows of your face to create sharper features and help slim your face. When you contour your face, you can also highlight it. Highlighting is when you enhance the parts of your face that naturally stick out, such as your cheekbones. Contouring and highlighting is the perfect way to make your favorite features stand out – and it’s easier than you think.

My face after contouring and highlighting

If you look at pictures of celebrities, you can tell that most of them are contouring their faces to help create a more structured face and to help their face keep its shape when all those flashbulbs are going off. (Hi, Kardashians!) It really is a great way to look fabulous in photos.

A few quick tips: You want to be sure not to contour too dark or highlight too light or else you’ll look like you’re wearing a mask. It’s best to keep everything as natural as possible – start subtle and work your way up.

Also, the colors you use matter: My best advice is to visit a makeup counter to get color matched, then go to the drugstore to find some cheaper duplicates of the products.

Learn How to Contour:

Products Used:

• Benefit’s Erase Paste in Deep – I use this product to pre-lighten the area under my eyes before I apply concealer. Optional.
• MAC Studiofinish Concealer in NC45 – A thick, creamy concealer. Perfect for covering really dark spots.
• Coastal Scents Foundation Palette – A palette with multiple cream foundations. No longer available, unfortunately.
• MAC Coppertone Blush – A matte shade that complements most skin tones.
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit – The price tag is high, but I seriously recommend these powders. They are gorgeous.
• Benefit’s Hello Flawless Powder in Hazelnut – A soft powder that works wonders for setting cream and liquid foundations.

More Tips for Contouring:

• For darker skin, concentrate on highlighting.
• For fairer skin, concentrate on contouring.
• Contouring with cream foundations is much easier than using powders.
• Make sure all of your shades are the right color: Contouring won’t look right unless the colors are in tone with your skin.

Thoughts?

How many of you contour your faces? Did you find the information helpful? What are some more beauty tutorials you would like to see this year?