Daily Beauty Tools

I'm a product junkie. Trying the latest and greatest is a priority.  So when I stick with a specific product or type of product for a long time, I know it's crucial and I'm in love. I've had questions about my beauty and skin care and thought I'd share my daily go to routine and products.

Cle de Peau Beaute concealer / Maybelline Mascara / Mary Kay eye shadow /Liquid eye liner / L'Oreal Paris Elnett hairspray/ Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain

I've mentioned before that I'm anal about my skin care routine.  I wash my face and moisturize every night.  I use eye cream and I use sunscreen daily. My sunscreen, moisturizer and eye cream vary because I need more help at different times of the year.  I use Cetaphil to wash my face. It's gentle and cleanses thoroughly without stripping oil from my skin. Clean, moisturized skin helps your makeup look great and last.

FACE
My favorite foundations are those that give good coverage without feeling heavy.  This spring I discovered Revlon Photo Ready Airbrush Foundation.  It's super light but gives great buildable coverage. Dark under eye circles have been an issue for me my entire life.  I tried every product imaginable until I read about Cle de Peau concealer and took the expensive plunge.  I've been using it ever since.  It's hands down the best concealer for dark circles.  It gives amazing coverage and the tube lasts forever. I apply both my foundation and concealer with a brush.

EYES
Most days, I'm pretty consistent with my eye makeup.  I save the bold eyes for evening.  I use neutral colors on my eyes, cream on my entire lid, highlighter on the brow and in the inner corner and granite on the crease. Mary Kay Granite is my all time favorite eye shadow. It's dark enough to give dimension but doesn't over power my eyes and make them look too dark (an issue for someone with dark circles).  I even use it for a lighter version of a smokey eye. I add black liquid liner.  Liquid works best for me because of the great staying power.  I finish with two types of mascara. I learned this from a make up artist. The two types compliment each other. First I layer volumizing mascara. Then I add lengthening mascara.

LIPS
I love a bold lip. Fuchsias, plums, and reds are my friends.  Revlon Kissable lip stain is great. It lasts but doesn't feel stiff or chalk like. It comes it some fantastic bold colors. Crush is my new favorite, it's a pretty plum, for fall.

HAIR
My hair is fine and straight. I use several products to give it volume and texture.  Even when I'm just doing a simple style, like curls, long and straight or a pony tail, I add a blast of  L'Oreal Elnett.  It's a bit on the pricey side for drugstore hairspray but it's the best.  It has staying power and holds my style but never feels stiff. It's easy to redo my hair with a just a quick run of the brush or comb.  Even when I apply it more heavily for an updo, I don't have trouble brushing my hair out at the end of the night.

Those are my must have beauty tools.  What are yours?

Inspiration - This Week's Pinspiration

You all know my love of Pinterest. It's been a great tool for wedding planning and I collect everything from style ideas to recipes on the site. For years I've torn pages out of magazines and shoved them in a folder. The favorites link on my Internet browser could use its own Dewey Decimal system. I save ideas, sites, thoughts and everything that inspires me. Pinterest is a dream come true. I thought I'd share with you, some of my latest inspiration.

Five fashion editors wore the same rock t-shirt, five different ways. I love the way it shows individual style but you all know I love mixing rock t-shirts all sorts of ways.

Great tip on accenting your eyes.  I love the step by step that you could use with any eye color and liner.

Cherry lime popsicles made fresh from real fruit.  These scream summer to me. I definitely need to make them pronto!

Four easy braided hairstyles.  With this crazy hot weather and my struggle to keep from cutting my hair off, I've been loving braids lately.

What's not to love about an ombre glitter manicure?  It's already on my list of, must try, manis this summer. The color options are endless.

This outfit is simple, fun and a great way to try neon without looking like an 80's flashback. Did I mention that I used to own a neon ski jacket?  Mixing neon with neutrals is a perfect way to try the trend.

This saying spoke to me as soon as I saw it.  I've been in relationships and had supposed friends who dulled my sparkle but not anymore.  Growing as a person has taught me to never let anyone dull my sparkle.

Do you have a Pinterest account?  If you don't, be sure to request an account. It's fun and a great way to collect your ideas.  Once you have an account don't forget to show me some love and follow me.  I'm in the process of  following all of you lovely folks who are following me.

Frugal Fashion Friday - Make It Last

I can't stand for anything to go to waste or for items to fall apart before they should.  Because of this, I employ a few strategies when it comes to my favorite beauty items.  They are all inexpensive ways to make your products go a little further or extend their life.

Makeup Brushes
You don't need to pay a fortune for brush cleaner to increase the life of your brushes and reduce bacteria.  Just use your favorite shampoo.  Place a drop of shampoo on your finger, wet the brush with warm water and gently massage until the water runs clear.  Gently wring as much water as possible from the brush and reshape it.  Dry the brush on it's side but elevate it.  I like to use a folded hand towel.  I fold the towel so it is high enough that the brushes hang off the end and don't touch the counter.  If you dry the brushes standing up with the bristles on top, the water will settle into the handle and metal casing and cause it to deteriorate faster and possibly rust. I usually wash my brushes in the evening and allow them to dry overnight.

Broken Eye Shadow and Blush
It's like some little gremlin lives in my makeup case.  Even if I never drop my case, at some point, my eye shadow or blush will break.  How is that possible?  How does that happen? It's not so tragic when there isn't much left. But sometimes there is a bunch left.  You don't want to trash it.  That's a waste of money.  To salvage those dollars you can turn it into cream blush, highlighter or cream shadow.  I like to use a pill case. They are readily available in every drugstore and discount store and even a local dollar store. I crush the eye shadow into a fine powder and mix it with eye cream.  Just a little at a time until I get the consistency I want.  I do the same with blush but I mix the blush with face cream or lotion. You can apply both with a brush or your finger.You can do the same with your favorite lipstick when it gets to the bottom of the tube. Just mix it with a little petroleum jelly.

I've also heard of a method that uses alcohol to bind the broken eye shadow back together. I've never tried it personally but here is a link to some instructions.

Nail Polish
When I get close to the bottom of my favorite polish and it starts to get thick, I get sad.  Some polish brands last longer than others. But of course it never happens with the polish you don't like because you never use that much. For a few dollars you can purchase a bottle of nail polish thinner.  It will last forever because you only use a few drops at a time.  Put a few drops into the bottle of your favorite polish and mix.  Check the consistency and add a few drops at a time until it is thin enough.  My favorite brand of thinner is sold at Sally Beauty Supply.  it's only $3.99. You can find it on line as well.

Do you have a favorite way to make your products last longer?  Please share it with me.

Happy Friday Real Girls!!!