Almay eyeliner review: the best liquid eyeliner!

Helloooo Sunday morning! Let's talk about liquid eyeliner. It's hard to find a good one that is easy to put on and stays all day. Almay's liquid eyeliner goes on easy because it has a sponge tip vs a brush tip. I use it every day and sometimes work 12 hour days and it still looks fab at 10pm. People ask me at least twice a month what I use for my liner because it looks so good! I use the Almay regular liner first, then the liquid on top of that for the top outside corners. When you buy the regular one, i recommend the mechanical vs pencil. Easier on the eyes (less wrinkles) and smoother application. Try it, folks!

Both Almay liners at target for 4.99 (can also find at all drugstores)

Happy Almost Friday! Power lipstick review....(mac lipstick russian red dupe)

(Ana here). All right so I love dupes. Dupes dupes dupes! If you don't know what the heck a beauty dupe is it's basically a cheaper version of a more expensive brand. Example...I love mac lipsticks. They are wonderful but they aren't readily available at the grocery store AND they are at LEAST 15 bucks a pop. So I saw this color (Russian Red) on one Angelina Jolie (who is that?) and I had to have that color. So I bought it...because sometimes I'm impulsive. This is Angelina in the Russian Red:

Seriously?! Reeow (that's a cat). Now once in a while I will go through my makeup and throw away lipsticks and products that I forgot I had (it happens) and recently I came across a color that looked a lot like Russian Red...except it is Rimmel London 01 by Kate Moss and it was $4.99 at CVS. Please stifle your laughs at my lips compared to Angelina's...

They are both taken in natural lighting with no flash. Personally I like MAC more than the rimmel but only because the color smudges if you aren't careful and doesn't have the staying power of MAC. But if you want a very similar strong red (aka power lipstick) and don't want to spend 15+ bucks then go with the Rimmel. Both reds flatter most skin tones...especially cool and neutral (I am a cool neutral). 

**By the by, when you see the word MATTE in lipstick you can usually assume that it will 1.) not be shiny (durr)  2.) stay in place a lot longer than non-matte 3.) not be super moisturizing but again it is great for long wear.

End.

The best secret to dry skin: olive oil!

Sometimes lotions just don't cut it when it comes to REALLY dry skin in the winter. The most amazing secret I've found is olive oil! I started using it when I was pregnant as my skin was slowly stretching every day (not cool). It has now been over a year and I still use it on my arms and legs. If you are concerned about smelling like it, mix it with a little lotion. My secret is now yours... Try it!

Where to find it? In your cupboard! 

Aveda concealer review : a "green" item for st. Patty's day!

Happy st. Patty's day! I'm going to share an all natural "green" makeup item with you today.

The aveda "inner light" concealer is my all time favorite for under eye and blemish/red zones. It's a little pricey, but I love it so much it's my one splurge makeup item. I've used it for close to 10 years. It has a sponge tip applicator and rubs in nice and dry, no grease! Overall it just makes your entire face look more awake! "Balsa" is the color I use and works well for a majority of skin tones. When I do makeup applications on my clients, I'd say I use that shade 75% of the time. Do yourself a favor and splurge on this one item  that will change the rest of your makeup applications forever! BONUS: it's all natural! So no breakouts:)

Where to find it? Any aveda salon or aveda.com

Price: $18.00

It's Thursday! (Reviews for elf eyeshadow palette and wet n wild mascara)

So here goes another elf product that i literally (literally) use everyday...

e.l.f. Eyeshadow 32 Piece Palette in Natural

Price: 6.00 (on elf.com or amazon....maybe target too) 

Check out those glorious shades. The awesome things about this palette are....

1.) It's a wonderful dupe for the ever popular Naked palette by Urban Decay. The colors are very similar and it's 6 bucks compared to $54.00. Cha ching! So your eyelids still look gorgeous but for cheaper! 

2.) You will use every one of these colors. They are awesome for layering too. Smokey eye? You got it! 

Bottom Line: I will buy this product until they don't make it anymore. I use it with the Mineral Eyeshadow Primer by elf and I highly recommend using that because it makes the colors last longer and stick out more. 

Next up we have something that I am disappointed about but not surprised....

Wet n Wild Mega Impact Mascara in  Very Black
Price: Around 4 bucks at CVS and other drug stores/grocery stores

Ok, let's be honest....we all know by now that it's kind of hit or miss with wet n wild. For me this was definitely a miss. I was trying to find an alternative to my favorite everyday mascara (L'oreal Voluminous) to save a few bucks so I picked this up to put on the old peepers.

1.)  Basically the texture to me was like old mascara. It was kind of dry and hard to get out of the tube (that's what she said?). It took about 3 layers to make it look like I had one layer on. It didn't clump really but it just wasn't doing it for me. 

2.) The color of the tube hurt my eyes! Just kidding I just needed to have another reason to not like it...

Bottom Line: I tried! But I won't try it again. I will spend the extra 2 bucks...


Throw back Thursday shout out....

Puppy Surprise! For the kid in you that wanted to give a dog a C-section!

(Happy Frickin' Monday) Elf Studio Makeup Mist and Set & Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm (Petunia) Reviews

Happy Monday..although I think that's an oxymoron is it not? Today I (Ana) am going to review two more of my favorite products from two of my favorite beauty product lines...ELF and Burt's Bees. Ahem...

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Petunia
Sold at most grocery stories/Drug stores for around $6.99

A few things about this product. 

1.) I love anything by Burt's Bees. Their products are all natural (no parabens yay) and usually work really well. Most BB products are not vegan though so you have to be careful if that's what you're looking for.

2.) You will notice that the color of this lip balm in natural lighting is kind of "lip pink" aka very sheer. But it feels so awesome and smooth when you put it on and it smells and tastes great! I also like to layer it under lipgloss and it has a really nice effect. 

3.) 7 bucks for lip balm. I know right? BUT I am often willing to pay a little extra for all natural products from a trusted company (what a sucker).

Bottom line: I'll buy this again and probably try out the other shades. I wish these had SPF in them though for when I break out the flippy floppys. 

e.l.f. Studio Makeup Mist & Set 

Price 3.00 (on the e.l.f website or amazon)..I believe it's also sold at Target though

Oh, e.l.f how do I love thee? Enough to put you on my face a lot. You will probably read about how much e.l.f products are loved by us. This mist is wonderful for the following reasons.

1.) Price. 3 bucks...as are many of e.l.f products.
2.) It works. All it takes is a few sprays on your beautiful face after you apply your makeup and your makeup (foundation/powder/blush etc) will last longer and stay in place for the day. So if you have a melty makeup face like me try this out.

Bottom line I will buy this again. Word to the wise though: use sparingly..a little goes a long way as they say. If you use too much by the end of the day you can get shiny. At least I can. 


All right...have a good one! 

The secret to getting rid of hair static

Hi all! We all know how annoying static can be on our hair in the winter. Let's face it, no product REALLY works, either. I've found something that finally works and I guarantee it's already in your house. A dryer sheet! I keep one in my purse all winter long. When I get my crazed out static cling, I whip that sucker out and wipe it on my hair. Problem solved!! It works for our clothes, why is hair any different? Give it a try!

Cheap Go To Red Lipstick and Baby Lotion for Adults

So today, dear precious and few readers, we have decided to share with you two things. 1.) Ana's favorite cheap as hell red lipstick and 2.) Kerry's new skin care discovery (what could it be?)


N.Y.C (New York Color) Sheer Red #309
Price: Less than $2 at many drug stores or grocery stores

As you can see from the flat top I use this lipstick quite a bit. It's my fourth time buying it and my "go to" red. This red is GREAT for anyone who wants to start wearing red lipstick but isn't quite sure yet (aka red lipstick apprehension). This color is pretty opaque and can be layered. One swipe is all you need sometimes. Goes on smooth and stays on for a few hours (with no eating/drinking). I believe it's a "blue toned" red so it looks good on cool toned and neutral toned skin. (I will talk about skin tones another time). It's the type of red that people would say "I like her red lipstick" and not "Dang that girl has some red lipstick". There IS a difference.

The photo of it on my lips was taken in natural sunlight (which usually is best when trying on makeup.) The swatch on my arm is done with flash.

Ok so onto Kerry's recent discovery. She has a lovely newly 1 year old daughter who is "totes adorbs" and for this reason she has an abundance of baby products. Kerry's skin is always something that she is conscious of, as we all are. It was impossible to find a face lotion she could use daily without being too greasy, or cause some breakouts. Finally, she has discovered baby lotion can be used on her face every day with no breakouts to follow! She is still using Johnson and Johnson's Baby lotion every day and swears by it. It has that classic baby scent, and who doesn't love that!
I have looked into this and there is no reason that an adult can't use the lotion on themselves.

Johnson and Johnson's baby lotion
Usually under $4 at most grocery stores and convenient stores

This may not be for everyone but I think if you have a baby or you are just feeling adventurous why not give it a shot? It worked for Ker! The nice thing about Johnson and Johnson baby products are that they are allegedly paraben and phthalate free. (WTF are those?..that's another blog).

Ok so that's all for now. Will try to update at least weekly!