Tuesday Tips: Keep Mascara From Drying Out

Here's a quick tip for helping keep your mascara from drying out too soon or getting too clumpy:

When you are using mascara, don't pump the mascara wand in and out of the tube to get the product on it. It creates air bubbles that dry out the mascara and can cause clumping and other irritations. Instead, stick the wand in the tube and move it in a circular motion to pick up product on the wand.

Have a happy Tuesday! :)

                                                                                    Photo from http://thecallofbeauty.blogspot.com/2011/06/total-beauty-survey-12-best-drugstore.html

Tuesday Tips: Check Out Products Online Before Buying

Whenever I see or hear about a palette, lip product, blush, or any makeup item really, I check online for reviews and swatches before making the decision to buy it. Okay, I don't do this with every single thing, but at least with more expensive products. This way I can see what people think of the product to decide if it's worth getting. It can also save me from being stuck with a product I don't like or having to make an extra trip to return a product that I didn't like.

There are tons of beauty bloggers online on Youtube and other sites that review tons of products even before they are released in stores. Just Google whatever product you are looking for, and you will most likely find information and swatches on the product.

I know this seems really simple, but I can't tell you how many times I think I'm going to like a product I bought and end up wishing I hadn't gotten it.

Sorry for such a short and pictureless post. I will have at least one other post later in the week for you, so check back for that! Have a happy Tuesday! :)

Tuesday Tips: Tape Trick For Powder Eyeshadows, Blushes, and Face Powders

Have you ever had an eyeshadow that has gradually developed a bumpy, hard surface? It makes is difficult to apply the eyeshadow after a while when the surface isn't soft and smooth. Brushes have a harder time grabbing the powder and the powders might go on clumpy.

This can happen to most powder makeup like shadows, blushes, and face powders for a few different reasons I'm sure. I believe the main contributing factor to this happening is that the oil from our eyelids and face get trapped on the brushes we use. When we are going back and forth, putting our brush in the powder and on our face over and over again, the oil starts to build up on the powder and create that hard layer.

There is a simple quick fix that can take the layer of hard, oily powder off - tape. Take a piece of tape and place it over the powder. Rub it into the powder (not too hard) to get that layer stuck to the tape. Remove the tape and most, if not all of the bumpy surface should be gone. 

I did this with my Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette because the highlighter shade had developed a bumpy surface.

As you can see below, the tape took off most of the rough surface.

I hope this tip helps some of you out! Have an awesome day! :)

Tuesday Tips: Wear Makeup For YOU!

Today I wanted to address something that has a more personal meaning to me. Working in cosmetics can be really fun, but sometimes it just makes me realize how insecure women can be about themselves. Not everyone has to wear foundation and powder and eyeliner and mascara and eyeshadow and every other makeup product imaginable.

I think society makes women believe that we need to wear makeup to be beautiful. Wearing makeup is not a requirement and you should only wear if you want to. I just think some women don't fully understand that or maybe need to be reminded of it sometimes.

Personally, makeup makes me feels good about myself. I struggled with feeling very insecure about myself throughout my middle school and high school years. It maybe even started before that. Makeup became something that made me feel good and for the longest time, I thought I needed foundation and everything else because I felt it made me more beautiful. It took many years and a lot of growing up to realize that I don't need to do anything to please anyone but myself. 

Hahaha I found them gem on good ol' Facebook. I thought I was super cool.

I obviously still wear makeup today, but I wear it for the right reasons. I wear makeup for my own pleasure and not to impress anyone. I don't do it for the compliments and I don't do it to get anybody's attention. I do it for MYSELF!

Basically today's tip is to love the skin you're in. Wear the makeup you want to wear and don't wear makeup for anyone else but YOU. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

I hope you all have a great New Year's! Stay safe and have fun! I can't wait to see what 2014 brings! :)

Tuesday Tips: Beware of Salon Products Sold in Drugstores

I've decided to start giving a weekly tip that may or may not be beauty-related. They will mostly be beauty-related in some way, but I might throw in something else every once in a while. I will do one every Tuesday, hence the name Tuesday Tips.

My first tip comes from reading this article written by a hair stylist. I don't really ever buy salon hair products at a drugstore, but this makes me never want to start. It's worth the few minutes it takes to read.

http://www.xojane.com/beauty/why-you-should-avoid-salon-products-at-the-drugstore

If you really don't want to read the article, here is what I think you should know:

"What happens is that the world's least threatening black market underlords (actually, they call it the 'gray market') will buy salon products from a legitimate distributor, then set them aside in a warehouse for years until the barcode expires so they can't be tracked.  During this time, not only does the barcode expire but so does the product inside, warping from heat or just the cruel sands of time into something that is an ineffective shadow of its former self."

I would suggest not taking any risks and buying salon products from an actual salon. You can feel better knowing you are getting the real deal and you can get advice about what products to get from your hair stylist. That is a win-win situation! :)

Have you read my November Favorites blog post yet? Check it out here!