10 Wonderful Beauty Uses for Q-Tips

1.  Root Touch Up:

- If you don't have time to re-dye your hair, don't worry. You can probably solve your problem with some eyeshadow and a Q-tip. Simply swab an eyeshadow that matches our hair color with a Q-tip and apply to the area to cover any re-growth.

2. DIY Teeth whitener:

- You can make a very simple and cheap teeth whitener by mixing toothpaste, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda into a paste. Apply it to your teeth with a Q-tip. Wait for 1 minute and then brush your teeth.

3.  Perfume on the go:

-  If you are carrying a small purse and don't have room for a full sized bottle of perfume, that's okay we have you covered. Simply spray the tips of some q-tips with your desired fragrance and place them in a ziplock bag in your purse. Whenever you need to refresh, pull one out, apply, and toss.

4. Eye shadow on the go:

- If you are going to an event or traveling and want to have a quick easy way to reapply your makeup, then here is the tip for you. Roll some Q-tips in your eyeshadow and place in a zip lock bag, and into your purse. Now you are ready for any eyeshadow melt downs.

5. Pimple remover:

- To get rid of a blemish safely and without scaring, first wash your face with warm water. Then apply gentle pressure with a Q-tip on either side and all the contents of the pimple will come out easily. Stop squeezing if you see blood.

6. Lips:

-Use a q-tip to outline your lips with translucent powder. This helps define your lip line.

7. Eyelashes:

-  Dont have a lash curler? When wet gently apply pressure to eyelashes with a Q-tip to curl them into place.

8.  Mascara:

- Use a Q-tip to clean up any mascara messes with ease.

9. Liner:

-Use a Q-tip to clean up your eyeliner for the perfect wing.

10. Lashes:

-Use a Q-tip to apply lash glue to your false lashes with ease.

10 Makeup Tips to Save You Time and Money!

1. Discount stores: 

Like TJ Max/Nordstrom Rack often have high end makeup items on clearance. It's always a good idea to pop over to one of them before heading to Sephora. You never know what incredible deals you can find. 


2. Half It:

Do you always find your self running out at the last minute to buy cotton round or sponges? I know I do. For whatever reason I never can remember I am running low until its too late. You can save some cash and time running out for them, by cutting them in half. This way you double the amount you have on hand. 


3. DIY Lip Plumper:

Adding a few drops of peppermint oil to any lip gloss will give you your desired look, without the high price tag.

4. Sample First:

Perfume can be expensive. Always ask for a tester sample at Sephora or ulta before deciding to open your wallet. This way you can try it for a few days to be sure it will be a good fit. 


5. Shop Online:

Often you can find items on mark down for less then what you can find in the store. So on your next makeup trip, take a photo of everything you want and look it up online. If you are stocking up you can really save some cash. 

6. Keep old mascara wands:

Many mascara formulas are the same, the difference is in the brush. More often then not the high price of the product is based on the brush style. So the next time you run out of your favorite high-end mascara, try using the brush from it in a cheaper mascara. You will get the same effects. 

7. Avoid Eye level:

This tip is an oldie. Sephora, Ulta, and many other retailers put higher priced items at eye level. Often if you look lower you will find an equally good product for less. 

8.Keep Them: 

Keep your old makeup containers and recycle them for another use. I do this with all of my pump bottles as many foundations in the U.S. do not have a pump. 

9. Instaint Eye Lift:

Simply apply a white highlighter or eyeshadow to under your eyebrow. It will give you the look of a lift with ease. 

10.  Downward Strokes: 

If you have lots of peach fuzz or dry skin, always apply your foundation with downward strokes. This will keep flaky skin and peach fuzz laying down and it will not be noticeable. 

Review: NYX Brow Pencil and Jumbo Eye Pencil. Ulta Haul Part 2

Hello all. Today I have part 2 of my Ulta Haul. Since both of these where NYX items I decided to just lump them together in one review. I used both of these today for the first time and I am really happy with them. 

As you can see I bought the brow pencil in Medium Brown. This color has a bit of a auburn tint to it and at first I thought I might not be able to use it. I was scared it was going to look too orange. However, once I had my makeup on, I felt a lot better about it and decided it actually looks more natural then the darker brown brow powder I had been using. 

I adore this Jumbo Eye Pencil. When I put it on today I was worried it may be a little to white to look natural. I used my smudging brush to help lighten it under my eye brows and it really turned out lovely. I was so impressed that I also used it to highlight the corners of my eyes. It worked like a charm. I know it is available in 2 shades of white, I am not sure what the difference in the 2 shades are. I do highly recommend this pencil, as it can be used for so many things. It is great for defining the brow bone and making its look crisp and clean. 

I was surprised when I saw that the tip of  the NYX brow pencil. I have never seen a oblong shaped pencil before, but I have to say it really helps with dispensing an equal amount of product to the brow. It also did not take very long. I did not think to take a close up of the other end of this pencil. It has a brown top with a brow brush on it. The top looks like another lid, there is no extra surprise hidden there, but the brush does a great job as lightening and blending the brow product. So no complainants there. 

 

When I saw that this was a "Jumbo" stick, for some reason I was picturing one like the huge lip pencils. Its good sized, but I would describe it as a middle man between a regular pencil and a jumbo lip pencil. This formula is very creamy and smooth. It glides on like silk and blends quickly. I did not find it to leave any sharp harsh lines and thought it was very easy to use.

Swatches: So here is what they look like. Please excuse my freckles, or angle kisses as my Momma calls them. I have been spending a lot of time at the ball field. You can see how the white just pops, and it will define your eyes and make them appear wider and more awake. Win! You can find this at Ulta for $4.49 and it is available in 23 colors and has a 4 star rating. The brow pencil complements my skin tone well. It is available in 8 shades, so there is bound to be one to fit your needs. They are $4.99 at Ulta and have a 4 star rating as well.

Here they both are after a little bit of blending. They really both work well. I will probably buy both of these again when I run out. Unless I can find a better deal for equal quality products. I doubt that will ever happen though. 

Review: Pixel Eyeshadow, Ulta Haul Part 1

Hey everyone! As promised, today I am doing review #1 on stuff from my Ulta haul. I got my boxes Friday and was super excited to rip them open and get a look at my goodies. I want to do this review first because these items were the cheapest, and I would like for you all to be able to get a few (if possible) before they sell out. 

As most of you know, I got these babies on a sale so great, it was like I stole them. I walked away with 7 of these and it cost me less then $3.50 for all of them. Since they are singles, I focused on colors I love or that I did not have in other palettes. 

 I have to tell you guys that I am super excited and happy with these eyeshadows. They are very pigmented, blend well, and stay on all day with a primer. For the price you really cannot beat it. They retail for $3.99 each and I paid $0.49 for each one. I will be ordering the rest of them soon.

I do not usually use these types of eyeshadow applicators, but I think these are perfect for trips and quick touch ups. I will be taking a few of these with me on vacation in 3 weeks.  I love how the applicator is used as the lid to the eyeshadow pan. Its nice to know you will always have it when you need it, if you decide to carry it in your purse.  The reviews on Ulta show that this eye shadow has 4 1/2 starts. As I mentioned in my post about their sale, this is not something I usually see on Ulta. Normally I see 3 to 3 1/2 star reviews. Considering this, I decided to give them a try and I am glad I did. 

 Swatch:  I just love these colors. I think that my favorite is Charming, its such a unique and beautiful gold toned color. If you would like to give these a try, and I highly recommend it, you can find them here: Ulta

Beauty Do's and Dont's

Today I am going to answer some age old questions concerning makeup. All of us have had these same questions at one time or another. So this if for my makeup newbies. 


1. Is it ever okay to sleep in my make up?

- No its not a good idea. Makeup will clog your pores and make your skin oily if you sleep with it on. Always try to remember to wash your face before bed, if you cant do that then reach for a makeup wipe or wet wipe. 

2. Is it okay to wash my hair everyday?

-Its not going to hurt you, but it can damage your hair. When you wash your hair shampoo strips the natural oils in your hair. This can lead to dry and damaged hair. It is ideal to wash your hair ever 3 days and dry shampoo in between. 

3. How often should I wash my makeup bushes?

- Many people wash their brushes 1x a week, however experts say that washing them 1x a month is fine. You should not go longer then 1 a month though as dust, dirt, and germ, can build up on them and be transfer to your face. This can cause breakouts. I recommend baby shampoo to wash brushes safely, gently, and effectively. 

4.  Is it okay to pump my mascara?

- Goodness we have all been there, what fun it is to pump away at our mascara; but unfortunately no its not okay.  When mascara is pumped it puts excess air into the tube and it is sealed inside. This air will dry out your mascara very quickly. Avoid pumping your mascara, I roll my wand around the inside to make sure its good and coated. 

6. Is it okay to keep my lip stick after having a cold?

- Yes its perfectly fine to keep your lip stick after a cold. By then your body has developed and immunity to whatever it was that was making you sick and you are indeedly over it. There's no reason to throw out your favorite lip color. :) 

7. Do I have to wash my face every day?

- You wont get arrested if you don't, but your face will love you if you do! Its a good idea to clean your face daily as this removes dead skin cells and revives your skin, especially if you wear makeup daily. If you don't have time, grab a makeup wipe or wet wipe.

8 Night Time Beauty Hacks

1. Vaseline:

- Apply a coat of Vaseline to your feet before bed. Cover them with socks. You will wake up with softer, smoother feet in the morning. 


2. Treating puffy eyes:

- If you have puffy eyes, add an extra pillow under your head at night and sleep on your back. The extra height will help drain the excess liquids from your eyes and you will awaken less puffy. 

3.  Waves over night:

- Simply braid your hair after a shower and sleep on it. In the morning you will have easy no fuss beach waves. 

4. Dry Skin:

- In winter months try sleeping with a humidifier in your room. This will put extra moisture in the air and it will also absorb into your skin. 

5. Silk/Satin Pillow Case:

- Treat your self to a silk case because it has many uses. It will prevent wrinkles, bed head, and split ends. 

6. Baking Soda:

- Whiten your teeth at bed time by brushing your teeth with baking soda. It will work to fight stains over night. Do not eat or drink for an hour after this. That's Why I recommend night time. 

7. Leave in conditioner:

- Applying one before bed will give you extra moisture through the night. 

8.  Softer hands:

- Apply lotion at night and wear gloves to bed. This will give you super soft hands over night. 

7 Neat Makeup Tips No One Ever Told You

1. Tanning Streaks:

- Is there anything worse? If you find streaks from tanning spray, don't worry. Grab a loofah, wet it, sprinkle it with baking soda and wash the area. This will blend it in perfectly.

2. Cold sore:

- If you feel a cold sore coming on, dab on some aquaphor or another thick cream. This will keep the cold sore from growing and spreading. You can think of it as smothering the cold sore.

3. DIY Scented lotion:

- If you don't want to pay gobs of money for scented lotion. Buy a cheap bottle of unscented and add 2-3 drops of your favorite perfume to it. This works great.

4. Decorative soap: 

- If you have some adorable decorative soap and you can't bring your self to use it, just toss them in your dresser drawers. This will make your clothes smell amazing.

5. Awesome Cheek Bones:

- If you want awesome cheek bones, try contouring with a grey eye shadow. Makeup artists use this trick all the time. Grey more naturally mimics shadows on the face. Just use a little and build it up as needed. 

6. Eye shadow primer:

- If you are out of primer, you can use a dab of concealer or even a pressed powder will keep your shadow from creasing.

7. Redness and irritation:

- If you are having trouble with redness and irritation, try seeping some green tea bags and then applying them to your face. The antioxidants in green tea will soothe irritated skin and remove redness and swelling.