Let's Talk: Brown Women and "Ashy" Lipstick

Hey all! This is the first installment in a new series I want to start called "Let's Talk" where I address makeup issues, whether it's application, colors, or even products, and tips on how to fix it! The very first issue I want to address is one that has been weighing on my spirit for a while. As you can see from the title, it is the "ashy" lipstick look on black women. Some of our sisters that are not of color may be unaware of this issue, so before getting into it, let's talk about the cause. Black women, especially my darker skinned sisters, pale, frosty lipsticks are not our friends. Shimmery = yes, glittery = YES honey, Frosty = NO MA'AM. Here are a few examples of frosty lipsticks below.

Now, just looking at these colors, you can see why they would be a problem for darker skinned women. Not convinced? Look at this...

It's not exactly the most flattering color. With a less frost and a little more warmth, this color would have been awesome. Many of us have been guilty of wearing "ashy" looking lip colors from time to time, it's a part of the makeup learning experience, especially for those of us with darker skin looking at makeup colors called "nude" that are the color of the palms of our hands instead of the back of them. So the next question is, how do we choose complexion appropriate nudes? Well first, if you're a darker skinned, black woman, DO NOT buy lipsticks that say "Nude" anything. That is the nude shade of our fairer skinned sisters, and it's not even suitable for all of them. Here are my personal tips for choosing the best nude and neutral shades for your complexion.

1. Learn your undertones, and choose colors accordingly. Are they yellow or red? Cool, warm, or neutral?

2. Choose colors that are close in color to the concealer that you wear.

3. Avoid frosty shades of brown like the plague.

4. The internet is your friend! There are tons of helpful YouTube videos by awesome beauty gurus on how to choose the right nude for you.

5. Ask around! If you see a woman close to your complexion with a lovely nude or neutral color, don't be shy or afraid to ask her the brand and where she got it.

6. Buy a plum colored lip liner to mix with colors that may be a shade too light, it will help darken the color and enable you to make it work!

7. If all else fails, use your concealer and a gloss. It's effective and nearly foolproof.

My chocolate sisters, let's please stop with the poorly chosen, frosty nude lipsticks. There are many appropriate nude and neutral shades for us, it's just a matter of learning how to pick them to avoid looking like Tyrone Biggums (from a comedy sketch of Dave Chapelle) ;). Good luck!

The Importance of NOT Sleeping in Makeup (And Changing Your Pillowcase...)

Let's admit it, most of us have fallen asleep a time or two in our makeup, right? What are the effects on your skin the next day? I've heard, and personally experienced, everything from complaints of trigger happy sebaceous glands to breakouts to rashes. The skin is the biggest organ that the body has. That's right, your skin is an organ. It functions in covering the other important organs and organ systems in the body to prevent them receiving from external damage and also from the bacteria, viruses, and pollutants found in the air and on surfaces that the skin touches. Despite the beauty and wonderful effects of makeup, it is a foreign substance to the skin. There are some makeup items that can aid in improving our complexion, preventing breakouts, etc., but aside from those, we're placing essentially foreign substances onto our skin. Throughout the day, our skin is accosted with all sorts of problematic bacteria, fungi, and pollutants. In addition to that, those of us with oily skin fight with our sebaceous glands throughout the day. Those of us who don't have oily skin are faced with sweat beading and sitting on our faces, especially during the summer months.These issues, in addition to the makeup on our skin can be breeding ground for problems ranging from breakouts due to bacteria, to clogged pores, to premature aging! It's also important to change your pillowcase. I recommend changing your pillowcase (or pillowcases) at least ONCE a week. As lovely and soft as our sheets may feel, they hold onto everything that sits on top of our skin. Imagine if someone is sleeping in their makeup AND not changing pillowcases frequently! Two of the many blessings of skin are its resilience and regenerative qualities; however, it's best to avoid causing problems in the ways that we can. Our skin is a precious, beautiful organ, take care of it well! I leave you with this, the British woman in the picture below slept in her makeup for a month, and these are the results. Do you REALLY want your skin to look like this? Love you all, and Happy Holidays!

Source: Daily Mail UK
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2380419/What-sleeping-make-does-skin-Our-shocking-experiment-exposes-happens.html

Brands that I Love! NK Cosmetics

NK (Nicka K) Cosmetics has been a favorite brand of mine for at least 3 years. The very first item that I purchased from this brand was a plum colored lip liner (which I have to repurchase every so often, it goes with nearly everything!), and I was sold. The next products that I purchased were lipsticks and glosses, and from there I have even begun to buy their nail polishes and eyeliners as well! Each of their products come in a vast array of cool, lasting colors, and are of good quality. The prices are also great, I've never spent more than $5 on any item that I've purchased. The only product that I was less than pleased with was just one of the nail polishes. All of the other nail polishes caused no problems and were long lasting, even without the use of a base coat and top coat. NK Cosmetics products are found in beauty supply stores around the United States. I've seen the products in every one I have been to so far. If you give them as shot, let me know how they turn out for you!

- Lindsi

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Brands that I Love! Ruby Kisses

Most women who have been to beauty supply stores have seen Ruby Kisses products. There are a vast variety of products made by this company, and I love most of the products by them that I have tried! The very first Ruby Kisses product I ever bought was a wine colored lipstick in college. This is around the time I was first getting into makeup, and I didn't have a lot of money to spend on makeup (and still don't lol). When I first put it on when I got home, I was really impressed with the quality of the lipstick. I honestly thought that it wouldn't be much good, considering the fact that it only cost me $1. Ever since that first purchase, I have bought countless other Ruby Kisses lipsticks and other products as well. Their eyeshadow primer works really well, and their colored mascaras are highly pigmented and last all day. I also love their lip glosses eyeshadow sticks as well. The only product that I was displeased with that was a nail polish. The smell is very offensive, the color takes a long time to dry, and also chips extremely easily. That is the only product that I have purchased that I hated. Ruby Kisses products are found in beauty supply stores. Every item that I purchased has been $5 and under, which is an amazing deal for the quality of their products. If you try them out, let me know how you like them!

- Lindsi

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Brands that I Love! Milani

Hi! I'm back with another post. This is the first in a new series of blog posts that I will be doing called "Brands that I Love!". They won't be a review, more like suggestions of a brand you may want to give a try, why I like it, and where to find products. My absolutely favorite brand of cosmetics at the moment is Milani. It has only been in the past few months that I have started really loving this brand. The first Milani product I ever purchased with a pressed powder foundation. It ended up being a shade too light and I was pretty sad about it; however, I discovered that it was the perfect powder to use to set my concealer underneath my eyes for a brightened, awake look! On days I don't use concealer, I use it alone and the effect is essentially the same. It lasts long and had great color pay off, and I use it practically every day. After this purchase, I bought one of their lipsticks and fell head over heels in love. The smell is WONDERFUL. Each of the lipsticks has a sweet, berry candy sort of smell to it. The finish of the lipsticks are more of a sheen than a high gloss and are easily mattified by blotting or using a translucent powder. I also own one of their baked blushes and a volumizing mascara, and I love them both. I haven't bought any product from Milani that I haven't ended up absolutely loving. The pricing is pretty reasonable as well. Milani can be found in drugstores. All my Milani products were found in either CVS or Walgreens. Each one of the products that I have bought from this company have been under $10! Check them out, and let me know what you think ;)

- Lindsi

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

How to make your eyeshadow pop!

Hi everyone! If you're an eyeshadow lover like me, you know that pigmentation and staying power are very important qualities for eyeshadow colors to have. One problem that I have found with drugstore and beauty supply store eyeshadows and palettes is that many of the colors are not very pigmented and do not last long. If you're putting on a blue eyeshadow, chances are you want it to be opaque and show up boldly right? What about colors like purples, greens, and other bright colors? You want to see the color in the palette show up on your skin! There are a few ways that I have found to effectively, and cheaply, counter these problems, and I want to share them with you! Most people know to use an eyeshadow primer before applying shadows, but sometimes, the difference is made in what type of primer you use. The very last method I use may come as a surprise to some of you. On each picture, the left swatch contains the product, and the right swatch is the eyeshadow by itself. Please enjoy the tips I'm offering below, and feel free to let me know if they helped you! :)

Ruby Kisses Xxpress Liner and Shadow, K's Beauty Supply Store - $1.99 each

My absolute favorite method is to use an eyeshadow pencil the same color as the shadow you're using, before putting the eyeshadow on. The left swatches have the pencil underneath, the right swatches do not. The difference is pretty evident! The colors on the left are much brighter and more pigmented.

KleanColor Smokin' Cream Cream Eyeshadow, K's Beauty Supply Store - $1.99 each

As a person with very oily skin, cream eyeshadows have never been my favorite. With my skin type, they would crease and slide all over the place, creating a bit of a mess. However, a month ago I discovered that they're great to use as a base for powder eyeshadows! They help the colors adhere and significantly brighten them.

Claudia Stevens Eye Prep Lid Primer, Sally Beauty Supply Store - $5.49

Most of us know that it's important to use a primer if you want lasting eyeshadow looks; most people use a clear one or one that matches their skin tone. However, there are benefits to using a white or very light colored primer (for those of us with deep complexions). White primer or beige primer instantly lightens any eyeshadow color. This is great for if you want the colors you're using to be more noticeable! This Claudia Stevens primer is my absolute favorite of all time. It doesn't crease, is under $10, and helps your shadows last ALL DAY. That's right, all day! If you ever see one around, try it out! I promise you won't regret it.

Water! $0.00 ;)

Yes, that's right, water! Dampening your brush before applying eyeshadow brightens the color, increases the opacity, and makes it easier to build for a great coverage. This method works best with loose pigments, NOT pressed powders. However, if you want to use this method with a pressed powder eyeshadow, use a butter knife and gently scrape some of the powder onto the back of your clean hand and you can use it that way.

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Blushing Beauty! Favorite Drugstore Blushes

Hey everyone! I'm sorry for being gone for so long, but I'll be in with two posts today so hopefully you'll forgive me ;). In the past year or so, I have really fallen in love with blush. I used to think that blush wasn't something that women of color needed, but boy was I wrong! A hint of blush is a great way to liven up your face, create a youthful flush, or even to do a fierce editorial look! High end blushes can be very expensive, and that's why I love Walmart and drugstores! Here are my top 3 favorite blushes. Each of these companies sell a variety of colors that are of just as great quality of the ones I will list below. I chose these three because they work with every complexion from the very fair to deep ebony complexions. I have used each of them on my friends and family members when I have done their makeup, and the results have been beautiful each time! I will list them in order of price, from lowest to highest. Each of them have AMAZING color pay off and blend beautifully. This isn't a review, just a suggestion for affordable blushes that I think everyone will love!

Wet 'n Wild ColorIcon Blusher, 833E Mellow Wine, Walgreens - $2.99

• This price is my personal favorite! The blush is very pigmented; however, the coverage is buildable. You can either do a very light application or a heavier one, depending on the look you're trying to achieve.

Black Radiance Artisan Color Baked Blush, 8306 Toasted Almond, Walmart - $4.74

• Out of all of the blushes, I use this one the most on myself. It's an absolutely beautiful, warm color that is very flattering on everyone, but especially on women of color with warm undertones. The color is intense, so if you purchase this, apply lightly and gradually build coverage.

Milani Baked Blush, 07 Fantastico Mauve, Walgreens - $8.49

• Although this is the most expensive of the three, the money is well worth it. Very highly pigmented, so apply with a light hand, or you may end up overdoing it. It's a dusty rose color with fine sparkles, so pretty! I love using this on women with cool undertones. I wouldn't recommend on those with lots of acne on their cheeks, since sparkles and shimmer accentuate bumps and acne and make them much more noticeable.

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Eyeliner For $8 and Under

Hello everyone! It's been a while, but I'm back with a new post. This one is a review of 4 eyeliners that I really like that can be found in drugstores and stores such as Walmart, etc. I'm very picky when it comes to pencil eyeliners, because I have oily skin that can sometimes muddle the liner up and have it looking an oily, smudgy mess. However, there are 4 eyeliners that I really like and that I find have great lasting power. They are as follows: Almay Amazing Lasting Eye Pencil, Black Radiance Eye Appeal Eyeliner, CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus, and LA Colors Eyeliner/Brow Pencil. Below I will include pictures and an in-depth review of each product, as well as the price I paid for them. Enjoy!

1. Almay Amazing Lasting Eye Pencil, $7.49 (Walmart)

Site description: "Lasts up to 16 hrs. Won't smudge. Beautifully defines eyes for up to 16 hours. Water-resistant and smudge-proof. Vitamin E nourishes and protects. Removes easily with eye makeup removers. Hypoallergenic. Good for contact lens wearers. Made in Italy."

Pros: Lasts VERY long time, great color pay off, self-sharpening
Cons: Pricey

Overall: This liner is my absolute favorite, hands down. It's easy to use, self-sharpening, long lasting (it lasted longer than 16 hours for me), and perfect to use even as a a brow pencil, which I often to. It doesn't smudge, and stands up well to my oily skin. If it were cheaper I'd give it a 10 lol, but because of the price I give this a 9 out of 10.

2. Black Radiance Eye Appeal Eyeliner, $3.00 (Family Dollar)

Site description: "Easy to blend formula glides on gently, will not tug or pull. The smooth formula creates clean precise liens for a daytime look or smudges for a more sultry look. Can also use as an eye shadow."

Pros: Affordable, easy to blend, self-sharpening
Cons: Smudges slightly

Overall: This liner is perfect for a sultry, sexy smoky eye. It glides on easily, even over eyeshadow, and has maintains a really great point due to the self-sharpening feature. However, if you're looking for an extremely neat line, this may not be the liner for you. This works best when smudged for a hot smoky, cat eye sort of look. I give it an 8.5 out of 10.

3. CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner, $5.00 (Family Dollar)

Site description: "The pencil gives you control and versatility. Want a precise line? It glides on easily. Want to soften a bit? There's a soft smudger tip. Best of all? No sharpening necessary, it's got a specially designed self-sharpener inside. So you always get the point perfectly."

Pros: Awesome dark color, self-sharpening, easy to create dramatic looks with
Cons: Self-sharpening tip looks confusing

Overall: Love the eyeliner! It does.exactly what it says and is also water resistant (not waterproof, that's different). However, I do not like the self-sharpener. The plastic part attached to it does not allow the pencil to get as sharp as I prefer my eyeliner to be, so I always have to use concealer to sharpen up the edges since I do a cat eye look 9 times out of 10. However, if you don't do a cat eye look often, like me, I think you would really enjoy it. I give this liner a 7.5 out of 10.

4. LA Colors Eyeliner/Brow Pencil, $1.00 (Family Dollar)

Site description: "Extra ordinary smooth formula defines & accentuates eyes beautifully. Choose from our amazing color collection. A must-have beauty essential!"

Pros: Neat, smudge resistant, very dark color, well priced
Cons: Must be sharpened after each usage

Overall: My only complaint is that I have to sharpen the pencil every time I use it, which causes the pencil to run out pretty quickly. Other than that, I like it. It's long lasting, doesn't smudge, and the price is great! Overall, I give it an 8 out of 10.

That's all folks! Hope you have found this quick review of these products helpful. If you buy any of them and like them, please let me know! Thanks for taking your time and reading. If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Site Recommendation

A good friend of mine shared these links with me. The prices are really good and a lot of the items are name brand! Ebay always has good deals. There's one for some of everything from clothing to makeup to DVDs. The only catch is that you must have an Ebay account to be able to use them. Please enjoy them, I'll list them below ;)

http://www.ebay.com/usr/bhfo

http://stores.ebay.com/bidashoe/

http://stores.ebay.com/Phoenix-Trading-Company?_rdc=1

http://stores.ebay.com/Palm-Beach-Cosmetix?_rdc=1

http://stores.ebay.com/FRIENDSHIPCAFE?_rdc=1

http://stores.ebay.com/Paulas-Stop-and-Shop?_rdc=1

http://stores.ebay.com/Dexter-Makeup?_rdc=1

8 Tips for Thrift Shopping (Thrifting)

As someone who is on a tight budget, I have to be very cautious about my purchases and the cost of my purchases. Despite this, I love to shop! I like to see new trends and I enjoy finding things that fit my body well and make me feel good and confident. For me, the perfect solution to this is shopping at thrift stores, AKA thrifting. My personal style is a mix of vintage 40's, 50's, and a hint of 90's with a splash of modern flair, and thrift stores suit me perfectly! Over half of my wardrobe consists of thrift store clothing. The prices are amazing, and it's not hard to find quality pieces if you search. I have found quite a few name brand, quality items for ridiculously cheap prices. I have found some of everything in thrift stores, from purses to shoes, and I really enjoy going! Often, I have talked to people who don't enjoy going into thrift stores and shopping there, and I was quite surprised, since I've found so many gems. The biggest problem that they run into is being overwhelmed! Thrift stores have a LOT of items. Some of them are even cluttered with things all over the place. It can definitely be a frustrating process, especially if you're not used to thrifting. I wanted to share a few of my personal tips for thrifting, for those who might be interested. Here they are! They're in no particular order, I'm just typing them as I go. ;)

1. Go thrifting when you have PLENTY of time to browse and search the store.

• Most of the time, it is not wise to try to make a 'quick trip' to the thrift store. It takes time to search racks and familiarize yourself with where items may be, especially if you're new to thrifting. If you're in a hurry, you may want to wait to go until you're not. Also, don't go close to closing time, you will end up feeling rushed, because the workers would like to go home when it's time to close up shop.

2. Look in your closet and make sure you know your size and size range.

• It's so important to know what sizes to look for when you're in a thrift store. Many times, you may not be able to return an item if it doesn't fit properly.

3. Find out the return policy of the store.

• Before you purchase something, it's good to know if you'll be able to bring it back if you don't like it. Most thrift stores, in my experience, will not give money back, only store credit if anything.

4. Walk around the store a few times and get a feel for where everything is.

• Upon entering a store, I walk around a few times and make a mental note of where everything is, so I know where to go once I decide what I am looking for. 

5. If possible, try it on!

• Certain things like jackets, coats, blouses, and shoes, can be tried on in-store. Ask a cashier or worker if they have a dressing room as well. Not many thrift stores have dressing rooms, but there are usually chairs and mirrors where you can sit down (to try on shoes) or stand up and have a good look at the item you're considering purchasing. If you want to try on shoes, wear socks or stockings. Do not try on shoes with bare feet, you don't know where those shoes have been.

6. Carefully examine all the items you've picked up before making your final purchase.

• Be sure to look for rips, tears, stains, discoloration, worn down spots, scuffs, missing buttons, etc. before going up to the register with your items. If you feel like it is an imperfection that you can't deal with, it is not a wise purchase.

7. Find out about discount and restocking days!

• Check into student discounts, military discounts, senior discounts, and whatever else may apply to you. Also inquire about holiday specials and deals. You never know about the great deals you may be missing out on by not asking. Also, find out when the store restocks, so that if you can be there around that time, you can find and pick what you like before everyone else!

8. Don't expect to find something EVERY time, be patient.

• There's no guarantee that you'll find something you'll fall in love with every time you thrift. It's ok to leave empty handed if you don't see anything that strikes you, because there's always next time!

Hope you enjoyed these tips! Here are a few pictures of some of the great things I've found in thrift stores, I'm sure you'll find even more amazing things. ^_^

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Favorite 5 Mascaras Under $8!

Any makeup and beauty enthusiast knows that one must have makeup item is mascara! Even on days I just powder my nose and opt out of 'putting on my face' I rarely leave the house without a little bit of mascara on. There are 5 drug store mascaras that I absolutely LOVE and swear by, some old and some fairly new. Each of them are under $8, which I think is a good price...considering the $20 and up prices of mascara from MAC, Yves Saint Laurent, Bobbi Brown, and other higher end lines. I didn't realize until I gathered them that 3 of the mascaras are from the same company lol, but I assure you they are all very different products ;). I wanted to do an in depth review of them for you guys, so here you go...hope it is of some help!

1. Maybelline Volum' Express Mega Plush, $5.94 (Walmart)

Site description: "Now, mega volume goes mega plush, our first gel-mousse mascara , lashes never brittle or flaky."

• Pros: Glides on easily, creates volume and assists with length, doesn't smudge or run easily!
• Cons: Can be heavy on lashes, must curl lashes prior to use

Overall: I like this mascara a lot! The new formula Maybelline is using for it is great. Even after the mascara has dried my lashes do not feel hard or brittle to the touch. I wouldn't recommend using more than 3 coats of this mascara or lashes may begin to clump together. I give this a 7.5 out of 10

2. Cover Girl LashBlast Volume, $6.99 (Target)

Site description: "Get a blast of lush, volumized lashes! LashBlast's patented volume-boosting formula and patent-pending brush are designed to max out each and every lash, leaving you with the ultimate big-lash look. Now in waterproof, too!"

• Pros: Amazing brush that separates lashes well, easy to use, buildable, doesn't clump, no strange scent
• Cons: Smudges slightly, requires 3 or more coats for the full effect it claims

Overall: I want to start by saying this, if length is what you're trying to achieve this mascara is NOT for you, it will not do that on its own. You will have to use it in combination with a mascara that specializes in lengthening. With that said, I am in love with this brush! Out of my fave 5, this one has the best brush in my opinion. It separates the lashes very well and prevents them from clumping and sticking together. However, multiple coats are necessary most of the time. Every time I have used this mascara, it required 3 or more coats, depending on if I was using a lash comb along with it. I give this an 8 out of 10.

3. Maybelline Great Lash Washable Mascara, $4.44 (Walmart)

Site description: "America's favorite mascara, conditions as it thickens, no clumps, no globs."

• Pros: Great color pay off, separates and lengthens lashes well, thickens look of lashes without looking clumpy, no need to curl lashes prior to use
• Cons: Will run and smear from ANY liquid contact

Overall: The black of the mascara is very dark and pretty. If you have watery eyes, this is NOT the mascara for you. The mascara will end up on your cheeks and face lol. Try the waterproof version instead. I would not recommend wearing this on a rainy day either. But without any contact with water, this mascara is amazing. Does everything it claims! I give this an 8.5 out of 10.

4. L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess, $7.00 (Walmart)

Site description: "Our newest addition to the Voluminous family, L'Oréal Paris introduces Voluminous Million Lashes Excess, which combines bold volume with clean definition for an excessively dramatic lash look. Our legendary Millionizer brush is bigger than ever to separate and build each lash evenly from root to tip. The mascara features a built-in, anti-clump wiper that removes surplus mascara for a clean and impactful effect. Plus, the ultra black formula amplifies each individual lash for a dramatic lash effect."

• Pros: Amazing lengthening effects, separates lashes well, doesn't clump, doesn't leave lashes feeling brittle
• Cons: Inky smell

Overall: This is the newest one, and my favorite of the 5, hands down! I love how my lashes feel when I'm wearing this mascara. The brush is amazing. It grabs and coats each lash, even the tinier ones that are sometimes missed by other mascara wands. The only thing I dislike is the smell. I have a sensitive nose, and I noticed an ink sort of smell as soon as I opened the tube that stuck around until the mascara was fully dry. Other than that, I love it! 9 out of 10.

5. Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies, $5.94 (Walmart)

Site description: "False lash glam in a tube, instantly! 300% more visible lashes corner-to-corner, no gaps, spoon brush."

• Pros: Lengthens and volumizes VERY well, very good color pay off, no offensive smell
• Cons: Clumps, Dries out fast

Overall: I have such a love hate relationship with The Falsies lol. This mascara gives INSANE length that I absolutely love. The dark color is great as well. However, it dries out very fast and gets clumpy if any more than 2 coats are used. I recommend using a clean lash comb between each coat of the falsies to prevent the clumpy, spidery look that we all despise. I give this one a 7.5 out of 10.




* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Fave 5 Fall Nail Polishes Under $5

Hi everyone! Just wanted to pop in with a quick showing of my favorite fall nail polishes. And guess what, as the title states, they all were under $5! Nail polishes from higher end brands, such as OPI, often start and $9 and $10. It may not seem like a whole lot at first, but those $9 and $10 dollar charges eventually start to add up, especially for those of us that are polish lovers like me! The Revlon and Sally Hansen polishes came from Walmart, the NK Cosmetics polishes came from my local beauty supply store, K's, but are found in most beauty supply stores, so you should be able to find that brand as well if there are beauty supply stores in your area. Enjoy!

1. Revlon Colorstay, Indigo Night $4
2. NK Cosmetics Nail Enamel, Purple $1.99
3. NK Cosmetics Nail Enamel, Red Gem $1.99
4. NK Cosmetics Nail Enamel, Infinity $1.99
5. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails, Chocolate $4.97

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Quick Site Recommendation

http://www.buymebeauty.com/buy-revlon-cosmetics.aspx?gclid=CISkj6qKmLoCFUOe4AodylsAkQ 

A good friend of mine shared this site with me the other day. There are lots of cosmetic and skincare products on this site and they have great prices.You can also buy your favorite products that have been discontinued here for a discounted price! Most of the items on the site are reasonably priced, and I think it's well worth checking out. Happy Shopping!

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Lipstick for Under $2!

You don't have to spend an arm and a leg to build or diversify your lipstick collection. Many of the higher end lipstick tubes can cost anywhere from $15 or more, and that's lot to pay for only about 0.11-0.14 oz of product per container! Local beauty supply stores, dollar stores, and drug stores are excellent places to find good deals on beauty products. Certain brands, only sold in beauty supply, dollar, and drug stores, are sometimes overlooked and called 'cheap', but quite often, they offer products that work well and are effective. A 'cheap' prices isn't always synonymous with a low quality product. Below, I have swatched 11 different lipsticks that I own that all cost me under $2! They're from four cosmetics lines that specialize in affordable, but good makeup products: Ruby Kisses, Nicka K (NK), NYC, and LA Colors. Each of the lipsticks from Ruby Kisses and NK were $1 at my local beauty supply store, K's. The NYC and LA Colors lipsticks came from Family Dollar, and were each $1.99. The colors are shown in cool light (left) and warm light (right).

Thank you for reading! If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Creating Cool Lip Colors with Eyeshadow!

With Halloween coming up, I'm sure many of us may want to experiment with some unique makeup looks, for those of us who will be dressing up for it. Unique lip colors, such a blue, green, yellow, etc. are extremely popular for costumes and costume parties, but can be very hard to find...not to mention expensive. However, chances are you already have what you need to create a cool lip color of your own! If you own eyeshadow, lip gloss, and a lip brush, you have everything you need to create some of the vibrant colors you may want to give a try! I'll be using four different colors to demonstrate how to do this, blue, green, purple, and deep pink. It will be sort of a pictorial ;)

• Dab your clear or light colored gloss (that's not very sticky so it will be easier to spread) onto the back of your clean hand.
• Use the tip of your index finger and get a generous amount of the eyeshadow color you want to use onto it. Press it onto a spot near the gloss and build up the color gradually until it's very opaque (pigmented).
• Use the tip of your index finger and mix the gloss and the eyeshadow together until well blended.
• Use the lip brush to scrape a very generous amount of the eyeshadow onto the back of your hand in a separate spot. It's important to do this because it will be unsanitary to dip the lip brush back and forth into the eyeshadow, so you need to gather as much pigment as possible to accomplish the bright color you desire.

• Apply a lip primer for longer lasting color. *optional
• With your index finger, rub the gloss and eyeshadow mix onto your lips.
• Use the eyeshadow on the back of your hand to press the color onto your lips, making sure to cover them well, and build the coverage until it has the color payoff you desire.

After that, you're done. The color is generally long lasting and will hold on pretty well, even better if you use a primer underneath. This will work well with most eyeshadows, but chalky ones may prove a bit difficult to work with. Here are the results below. My personal favorite is the purple, what's yours? Thanks for reading!

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

The Wonders of Baby Powder

Ok, so you may be asking, what on earth is the connection between baby powder and beauty? You might be surprised. This post is geared toward those of us with combination skin and mainly those who suffer with oily skin, but there's also a cool tip that everyone can use at the end! Even with all of the mattifying primers, creams, etc. that I use, I still have very oily skin. It's so frustrating sometimes, because it can turn a cute makeup look into a messy oil slick! No one wants to have to constantly powder their nose or go through tons of oil blotting sheets and (which are amazing, btw! I'll address that in another post ^_^), wasting them. Mattifying powders are a great option...but they can be expensive! Urban Decay's De-Slick Mattifying Powder is $32.00, MAC Blot Powder is $25.00, Lancome's Translucence Mattifying Powder is $29.00, and many other brands have costly products of this sort. But what works without having to dish out this kind of cash? Baby powder! That's right, baby powder that you can find in Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and any local "dollar" store. The largest bottle generally costs less that $6.00, but travel sizes are usually $1 or less! Baby powder absorbs the oil on the skin and works to keep the skin matte from anywhere from 8 hours or more, depending on how oily the skin is.

How to use the Powder:

What You'll Need: 

• 1 container of baby powder (any brand, any size)
• 1 Makeup Sponge (excuse the color of mine, used it today lol)
• 1 Dense, large powder brush

If you won't be wearing makeup, simply place the powder onto the back of your hand or onto a clean, flat surface, fold the sponge, dip in into the powder, and press onto your skin. Let it sit for a few seconds, then brush off of the skin THOROUGHLY, making sure no white marks OR streaks are left behind. If you will, do your normal makeup routine, and then follow the same steps listed above. It's very important to dust ALL of the powder off so you don't end up looking like a ghost. ;)

Bonus tip: You can also do this with lipstick! Simply, easy, and cost efficient. Check it out below!

The steps are the same as how you do it when using the baby powder to mattify your face, the only difference is you blend it by pressing your lips together and dusting the excess off of the colors of your lips. If you use this method, be sure to apply very generous amounts of your lip color before using the powder, since some of the color vibrancy can get lost when using this method to mattify your lip color. I didn't apply enough lip color before doing this lol. Hope you enjoyed the post, and thanks for reading!

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Quick Swatch!

Ok, so I found this cute little palette in K's Beauty Supply Store about a month ago. I wish I had found it when summer was still here, because there are some really vibrant, bright colors in it! It's by a company called Princessa, and it was $2.99! I was very surprised at how pigmented most of the colors are. My only complaint is the chalkiness of the yellow color, but if you wear lots of bright colors, you know that's a common problem with lighter colors, such as yellow, and pastel colors as well...even among high end products. However, with chalky products, a good primer and help from an eyeshadow stick will give the color something to adhere to. The name rubbed off, but I managed to find a picture of what it looks like with the name on it, and I swatched the colors on my finger tips. Hope you like it!

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

It's so important to clean your makeup brushes! With that being said, most of us do not do it frequently enough. If you wear makeup every day, it is recommended that your wash your makeup brushes at least once a week. Failing to do so, or washing them infrequently, may result in breakouts or even rashes on those with really sensitive skin. Makeup brushes, as well as improperly stored makeup, can hold bacteria that irritate or affect the skin. Personally, I have fallen prey to the occasional breakout caused by constantly using dirty brushes. I'm sure some of you have too, without realizing what the cause might have been! Professional brush cleaners are expensive sometimes. MAC's Brush Cleanser is $15. Clinique Makeup Brush Cleanser is $15.00. Sephora Collection Daily Brush Cleaner is $6.00...but for only 2 fl oz! Many of the high end brush cleaners are around $15 and up. But not a lot of us have that kind of money to spend on a brush cleanser. What are some cheaper, but effective alternatives? Some things you've got right in your kitchen (where I normally wash my brushes anyway ^_^)! The things I use to clean my makeup brushes are baby shampoo and a concoction of dish soap and vinegar. Each of these are inexpensive, but work like a charm!

Products Used

I used two different kinds of vinegar and two different dish soaps to show that you can use pretty much whatever kind you have. It also doesn't matter whether you use apple cider vinegar or regular vinegar, both will work!

How To Mix Vinegar & Dish Soap:

1/4 a cup of vinegar and 1/2 a cup of dish soap, and fill the container a little over halfway with warm water. You can put it in any small Tupperware or cereal bowl, as long as the bowl is deep enough to hold the water without it splashing. On the left is the clean fresh solution, on the right...it's time to dump that bad boy! ;)

How To Clean:

For the solution (vinegar & dish soap mix, left), submerge the brush head into it and gently swirl it around throughout the mixture for about 2 minutes. After doing this, dot a little bit of the dish soap onto the brush, scrub gently, then run it under warn water while rubbing the bristles between your finger tips. For the baby shampoo (right), wet the brush, dot a generous amount onto it, then run gently back and forth in the palm of your hand. For smaller brushes, you can put the baby shampoo directly into your hand and run the brush through several times. For both methods, it's important to get a good lather while cleaning the brushes. I usually do this 3 times before I'm satisfied. By the third time, this lather is nice and white!

After Washing

After rinsing the rest of the soap out, be sure to squeeze excess water out, and then shape the brush. This will help ensure that the shape of your brushes doesn't change as a result of washing. Be sure to lay them down on a paper towel or towel as you wash them. The brushes on the left were washed with the dish soap & vinegar solutions, the brushes on the right were washed with baby shampoo. :)

Makeup Containers

Don't forget to wash these too! No point in putting clean brushes back into dirty containers after they're dry.

Drying

I always tilt my brushes at an downward angle when letting them dry so that whatever water that's left doesn't drip back onto the handle, which can loosen up the glue and cause the brushes to fall apart.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this, hope the pictures helped to make it more interesting :). If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)