Friday, July 13, 2012

Playful Pink Eye Look- From Day to Night



Whether you’re accustomed to using only neutrals or you regularly enjoy throwing some color into your make-up routine, sometimes it’s hard to come up with a bold look that works for daytime. We tend to shy away from using colors that are very bright, preferring to go about being unobtrusive and unnoticed.

I, however, like to throw a little bit of flavor into the mix. The key to using loud colors during the day is to keep them subtle, while not being afraid to fully indulge in their vibrancy. This look might be a little overwhelming for ladies working in a very conservative environment, but for those employed in less restrictive fields (or are still students!) it can be a fun change of pace. It also works wonderfully for any casual daytime activities, like hitting the mall or meeting some friends for lunch (And if you like it for daylight hours, read on for a way to upgrade it when the sun goes down.)


















The tools we’ll be using for the basic look are:
Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion
YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking in Deep Black
Ulta Eye Shadow in Platinum
Marabella 24hr Semi-Permanent Eyeliner in Black
Yves Saint Laurent Eye Pencil in Velvet Black
Urban Decay Glide-on Eye Pencil in Woodstock











Step 1-
Prime your lids only, making sure to keep the lines nice and neat. Don’t forget that it’s best to prime one eye first, proceed to the next step, then come back for the second one. 












Step 2-
Fill in the primed area with a white eye shadow, making sure to not go past the crease.

















Step 3-
Grab the hot pink eyeliner. Line the top lashes, making sure that the color is bright and evenly applied. You’ll want to keep this line relatively thick for later steps.












Now apply a matching line on the bottom lashes. 































Step 4-
Take the felt tip liner and make a very thin line over the one you just applied. Make sure that the black line is small enough that some of the pink is still visible behind it. 




















Step 5-
Give your lashes a quick sweep of mascara.













Step 6-
Now use the black pencil liner to line your waterline and complete the look!




However… what say we take this look to the next level for nighttime? I personally love making my make-up more and more flamboyant the later it gets in the day and the following look is as loud and out there as it is cute. 

















For the upgrade, we’ll be using the following tools:
Green contacts
NYX Eye shadow trio in Cherry/Cool Blue/Hot Pink
Ardell LashGrip Eyelash Adhesive
e.l.f. Dramatic Lash Kit
Physician’s Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner and Serum










Step 1-
This part is entirely optional, but as I wanted to give the look an extra pop of color and bring more attention to it, I decided to put in my contacts. 













Step 2-
Take a light pink color smooth it into your crease, extending it a little towards the brow bone. Follow the natural shape of the area, without adding a pointy edge.



















Step 3-
Take the dark pinkish-red and apply it over the baby pink. Make sure that there’s a clear edge between the two colors.




















Step 4-
Use a fluffy blending brush to wipe away the sharp edges and blend the two shades into a nice gradient.
























Step 5-
To really take this look to the next level, apply a track of fake lashes to your upper eyelid. Just dab some lash glue onto your hand and dab the edge of the track through it. 















Give it a few seconds to become a bit sticky, then carefully press it onto your lids. 















You want it to as close as possible to your lashes, without actually sticking it onto them (unless you want to painfully remove your lashes when you peel these off later!)
























Step 6-
Use the other pen liner to extend the black line with an upwards sweep. A liner like the Physician’s Formula one is excellent, as it’ll allow you to form the thin edge much more easily than the one from Marbella. However, if we’d used it before, the pink liner would have led to blockage on the tip.


























Step 7-
This next step might be a little much for some, but I love going all out with my eyeliner! Just add three little dots under the line you just made for a cute, whimsical touch. You are now ready to go out and show off your fun and wild look! Enjoy!



Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Bliss's Fabulips Kit


As much as I love going to the spa or the salon, sometimes my busy life just doesn’t allow me the time. That’s why I absolutely love little spa treatments that I can take with me to enjoy while I go about my business. Thanks to Bliss, I can now enjoy their refreshing lip “facial” at home.

Originally a procedure you could request at any Bliss spa location, the Fabulips kit (available in Sephora at $45) is a four piece set that will leave lips feeling super-soft, with a pop of glossiness.

Start by removing any lipstick or lip gloss. If the color leaves a stain, don’t worry. The kit has something that’ll help remove it. Just make sure that all product is cleared away.

Step 1: Foaming Lip Cleanser 


























A lot of people will probably think this product is a lot of hooey. I mean, a cleanser specifically for lips does sound kind of superfluous. Please believe me that it’s totally worth it, though. Just pump a little of the product onto your finger or a Q-tip (smells so yummy, like oranges!) and smooth it onto your lips. It’ll start fizzling instantly, which helps it remove impurities and leftover lip color. After 20-30 seconds it’ll have foamed white and you can wipe it away. There is an instant improvement. Lips feel delightfully fresh and clean.















Step 2: Sugar Lip Scrub


Next, the lip scrub is going to help get rid of any rough spots and dead skin cells. I like that the scrub is very moisturizing and gentle, but still does the trick (not to mention, has a really nice vanilla scent!) Rub it on with a circular motion. If you feel you have too much product, just wipe some of the excess away. 














Step 3: Instant Lip Plumper














My only major complaint with this product is the lip plumper. The packaging is a little bit obnoxious. When I twist the end, I have to do it several times before some product finally comes out, and when it does, it’s a giant glob of it. You don’t need a giant amount of plumper, so this feels pretty wasteful. I’ve tried twisting it less and waiting for the product, but I haven’t found the trick to it yet. But on the bright side, it’s a really great plumper! It feels pleasantly tingly and a little bit of product gives your lips a nice little poof, without being excessive. Ladies with very thin lips will love this product.









Step 4: Softening Lip Balm

The final product in our little kit! It’s a nice, hydrating ending for our little lip-facial. Having a light cherry smell, it delivers some rich, delicious softness and helps seal in moisture. 





















                                                             My lips feel amazing!


Here’s a side by side comparison and you can see the improvement. I love that the whole procedure also brings out the lip’s natural color, giving it a beautiful, rosy hue.


Now I have soft, kissable lips and am ready for my date! ;)


Final Verdict: Love It!
Foaming Lip Cleanser: Water/Aqua, Methyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether, Sorbitol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Carrageenan, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Parfum/Fragrance, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Yeast Polysaccharides, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Saccharin, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Sodium Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, o-Cymen-5-ol, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Mica, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Red 40 (CI 16035), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). 
Sugar Lip Scrub: Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sucrose, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cera Alba/Beeswax, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Silica, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Squalane, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Juglans Regia (Walnut) Shell Powder, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phospholipids, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Aroma/Flavor.
Instant Lip Plumper: Polybutene, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Octyldodecanol, Triisostearyl Citrate, Dipropylene Glycol, Silica Silylate, Squalane, Polyethylene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Parfum/fragrance, Tribehenin, Ceramide 2, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Water/Aqua, Butylene Glycol, Tripeptide-3, Hexapeptide-3, Quercus Suber Bark Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lecithin, Faex/Yeast Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Methyl Lactate, Lauryl Laurate, Zea May (Corn) Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Starch Octenylsuccinate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Saccharin, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) 
Softening Lip Balm: Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Microcrystalline Wax/Cera Microcristallina, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Cetyl Palmitate, Cera Alba/Beeswax, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/ Cera Carnauba, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Aroma/Flavor, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate.