Tag Archives: Beauty

4 Powerhouse DIY Face Masks for Troubled Skin

Let’s admit it – when you’re desperate to fix your face, you’re willing to try any and everything. When it comes to facial products, I’ve been a stranger to nearly none. What I’ve found is that no matter what new product I come across that promises me clear skin in the morning, it’s only nature that can truly get the job done for me. That being said, not all natural remedies are created equally.

These natural face masks are fail-proof for those of us that have to work for our complexions. Whether it’s cystic acne, hyper-pigmentation, eczema, blackheads, sensitive or oily skin you’re dealing with, these four powerhouse pantry ingredients are going to bring your skin redemption. The key is remembering that while there are no overnight fixes, consistent application is going to get your skin to where you ultimately want it to be.

 

Honey Face Mask

Spot-treat and heal the skin
honey face mask

Honey has incredible antibacterial and healing properties. It prevents new acne from forming and actively treats existing acne. It’s soothing and keeps skin supple while it works.

Spread an even layer of honey over your face and leave it on for 20-30 minutes.

This can be used every night, with many people even swearing by it as a face wash.

Honey is a great overnight spot-treatment too, just be sure to keep your hair tucked away and your pillowcase protected. To experience extra-strength healing from honey, try manuka honey, which has the most antimicrobial properties of them all.

 

Egg White + Lemon Face Mask

Lighten, repair, and tighten skin
egg white

Egg whites work to repair tissue damage, tighten pores, and firm the skin, while lemon helps to lighten scarring and discoloration, and to loosen blackheads and whiteheads. If you have sensitive skin, skip the lemon juice altogether.

Mix one egg white and around 1 teaspoon of lemon juice together.

Beat mixture until you create a foam.

Use a makeup brush to apply this mixture to your face.

Leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse.

This can be used every other day. 

 

Bentonite Clay Face Mask

Stop acne, exfoliate, and shrink pores
brown clay mask

Consider bentonite clay your body’s plunger and cystic’s acne worst nightmare. Bentonite clay is best known for being able to draw out skins most stubborn toxins, stopping acne flare ups in their tracks, and shrinking pores. It is also an excellent exfoliant.

The classic recipe calls for bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar. Use a wooden or plastic spoon to mix both ingredients together in a non-metal bowl to form a paste.

Avoid letting metal touch the clay, as it will also absorb properties from the metal.

If you find that the apple cider vinegar is too harsh for your skin, use water to mix with it instead.

You can add essential oils for more benefits or to counteract the smell of the vinegar.

Leave mask on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse it off in the kitchen sink to prevent clogging!

 

Turmeric Face Mask

Lighten and repair skin
turmeric mask face

Turmeric is an almighty antioxidant with superior anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It effectively reduces skin inflammation in the form of skin conditions such as eczema and works wonders in lightening skin pigmentation. Turmeric’s healing powers help to repair skin damage and scarring. Traditional recipes for this mask call for mixing turmeric powder with yogurt or milk and almond oil. My hands-down favorite mask borrows ingredients from the others in this list with turmeric as it’s star.

Mix equal parts turmeric powder, bentonite clay, and buttermilk powder. (Buttermilk powder contains lactic acid which aids in the exfoliation process and makes skin feel extra soft afterward.)

Add enough honey and milk to make a thick paste.

Using a makeup brush or your fingers, spread this mixture all over your face, avoiding your eyes, and leave on for 15-20 minutes.

The Beauty Treatments You Should Never Do Yourself

Sometimes, it’s hard to splurge on yourself ; you might try to cut corners on your beauty regimen to save some time and money. While it’s fine to do your own hair and makeup for certain occasions, some treatments really do require a professional hand. Here’s our short list of beauty treatments you just shouldn’t do yourself.

 

Hair cut

Don’t cut your hair yourself. There’s a reason why hairstylists receive the amount of training they do – “because cutting hair ain’t easy.” I learned this the hard way. For a few years, I cut my own hair and did my mother’s. I was becoming quite a pro, at least so I thought. However, confidence turned into cockiness because one fine day, I did the unimaginable to my hair. I decided to try something new with my tresses and read about how to do layers online. The end result: my layers were uneven, if you could even call them layers. I ended up trying to level everything off and call it a day, but it didn’t look right; I had destroyed my lovely lady locks.

hair cut

A distressed me hopped into the car and went down to the local salon in an effort to fix the ruination – it only made matters worse because they had to cut off a great deal of hair to fix the problem. I was crushed when I looked into the mirror and saw my long, luscious locks were gone, gone, gone. Learn from my mistake and see a pro next time you want to try a new cut.

 

Dark to light hair

I religiously went to the salon (as I should have) and shelled out lots of my hard-earned money to turn my hair from a natural black color to blonde. I would let it grow out a little too much and have black roots with near white-blonde hair. Looking back, it looked ridiculous. I finally went back to my natural hair color, which was easy to do and I matched my color perfectly myself. I couldn’t be satisfied with that, though.

hair swatches

About a year later, I had an itch to give myself caramel highlights. I followed the directions precisely, but when I rinsed my hair, I noticed it was yellow and orange, and not caramel at all. My highlight-placement skills were a bit off as well. I had no time to fix it because I had to go to work in about an hour. Never again will I try to go blonde on my own, and neither should you.

 

Chemical peels

A rule of thumb for beauty treatments – if it has “chemical” in its name, it’s best to leave it to the experts. Chemical peels are effective at making the face look more youthful. It helps to reduce sun damage, age spots, and scarring. However, the abrasive chemicals used can burn your skin or cause a serious reaction if not done properly. After you mess up a chemical peel, you’ll be thankful for those age marks when you finally get the irritation to subside, so be safe and get it done by a professional from the start.

chemical peel

 

Acrylic Nail Removal

After getting acrylic nails done, I decided that instead of getting them filled or having them professionally removed, I would do it myself. ”I am a beauty DIY expert,” I thought to myself. I grabbed a butter knife and popped each one of my nails off, not surprisingly leaving huge holes in my real nails. Afterwards, my nails didn’t grow out at all, so I had short, stubby, holey nails that I waited for quite some time to let grow in naturally.

nails

Take it from me: spend the money and get your nails removed professionally! Once you do the damage from pulling the nails off, you’ll be stuck with an unfixable disaster for weeks to come that isn’t worth the time or money you saved.

 

8 Lesser Known Reasons You Have Damaged Hair

Everyday should be a good hair day, but if you have damaged hair, with frizz and breakage, it can be hard to determine where you’re going wrong in your hair care routine. We’ve rounded up eight ways you’re unknowingly damaging your hair so you can start getting your locks back to optimal health.

 

1. Overdoing it With Shampoo

Shampoo is one of the biggest causes of hair damage, yet it’s one of the least obvious. That’s probably because we’ve been taught to shampoo and condition our hair daily for our entire lives. Shampoo strips our hair of it’s natural oils which can cause frizziness short-term and damage and breakage long-term.  The less you wash your hair the less you need to, so if you’re someone who is used to washing their hair daily, start by washing every other day, then every 3 days, and begin decreasing the amount of times you shampoo your hair over the course of a couple of months. Your hair will become used to the process and not build up so much of those natural oils. Shampoos are also riddled with chemicals that can cause even more damage to your hair and can even cause health problems, especially when used regularly.

2. Colour Treating

It’s no secret that colour treating your hair is not the best thing to do when it comes to its health, but let’s get down to the science of it. Hair dye is only able to penetrate the shaft when it can get underneath the cuticle which is what protects the hair. When it’s lifted to allow the hair dye to penetrate, it causes damage to our hair, as the cuticle shouldn’t be disturbed.  Once the peroxide penetrates the hair, it breaks down the natural pigment of it, which is very drying. The longer the peroxide sits and develops into your desired colour, the more damage is being done to your hair. Instead of using hair dye, consider a hair health alternative like colouring your hair with coffee grounds or lemon!

3. The Use of Heat Styling Tools

If you wouldn’t touch a 365 degree curling iron to the skin on your arm, why would you subject your hair to that sort of heat? Now, I’m not suggesting getting rid of heat styling tools all together, but using them sparingly is the key to having healthy hair. When using heat styling tools, always using a heat protectant to assist in preventing damage. Use heat protectant (I love the ‘Not Your Mother’s’ Beat the Heat Thermal Styling Spray) before exposing your hair to heat the same way you would apply sunscreen before exposing your skin to the sun.

4. Using Products Filled With Chemicals

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) is found in many hair products and is one of the worst things you can put in your hair. SLS is also commonly found in industrial and cleaning products, so it’s no surprise that this chemical is going to severely dry out your hair, causing breakage. Isopropyl Alcohol is another ingredient found in a lot of hairsprays, gels, and other styling products. This alcohol can also be found in shellac and antifreeze. While the purpose of the chemical is to dissolve oil, it’s definitely too strong to be applied to our gorgeous locks without some sort of consequence. Other chemicals to avoid are parabens, sulfates, perfumes, silicone, phthalates, etc. Instead of chemicals, look for products that contain seeds, oils, butters, and vitamins. My favorite brand for this is HASK.

5. Brushing When Wet

When your hair is wet, it’s more susceptible to breakage because it’s at its most fragile state. While breakage obviously isn’t good for your hair in terms of growth, it’s also the main cause of frizz – which no one wants! The safest way to brush your wet hair (to avoid a tangled mess when it’s dry) is to use a wide toothed comb and work slowly from the bottom up. Never tug at your hair or try to pull out a knot; work it out slowly.

6. Sleeping on Cotton

As a girl who used to have severely damaged hair, I think this is one tip that has helped my hair immensely, but wasn’t super obvious to me. Sleeping on cotton pulls at your hair when you move around, which makes perfect sense when you really think about it. Switching to a silk pillowcase allows your head and your hair to slide across the fabric rather than causing friction and therefore, breakage. BONUS: sleeping on a silk pillowcase also prevents the signs of aging as your face can glide across the fabric (preventing wrinkles and creases.) Another quick fabric switch that can also benefit the health of your hair is switching from a regular towel to a microfiber towel.

7. Using Hair Elastics

There are a number of ways you’re damaging your hair simply by using an elastic to style it. Up-do’s and elastics can pull your hair too tight causing hair fall-out. The elastics are also generally wrapped around the same place each time you wear your hair up which causes severe breakage. Lastly, the metal pieces that hold the elastic together can actually cut the strands of hair, causing further hair loss and breakage.

8. Avoiding Hair Cuts

While it may seem counterproductive to cut your hair when you’re trying to grow it out, that’s actually the best thing for it. A lot of the time, especially with long hair, you’ll find plenty of split ends, most commonly at the ends of your hair. Split ends are no good for our hair (even though they do provide that extra length temporarily) because they’ll just continue splitting. The best course of action is to cut off the split ends regularly so they won’t end up doing more damage and causing your hair to be shorter than it would have been had you committed to regular haircuts. Healthy hair is best!

5 of the Best Anti-Aging Products Under $50

Whether you’re 22 or 82, you’ve definitely thought about aging and the effects it has or will have on your skin. The great thing about the products mentioned here is that they can be used as preventative measures to slow down the signs of aging and also to reduce the signs of aging on those who have already started experiencing it. Read on for our picks of the best anti-aging products for under $50.

 

No.7 Protect and Perfect Intense Beauty Serum ($29.99)

 no 7 face creamThe No.7 Protect and Perfect Intense Beauty Serum is one of the best anti-aging products on the market. Protect and Perfect is loaded with key ingredients like pro-retinal, which helps to increase collagen production, larch extract, which helps to firm the skin, vitamin C, which is an amazing anti-oxidant, and glycerin to moisturize the skin. The British Journal of Dermatology published a study about this No.7 favorite, stating that all of the anti-aging claims made are in fact true! Not only does this serum have the benefit of making you look younger long-term, it also provides instant results. This serum hydrates and plumps your skin, and fills fine lines.

 

L’Oreal Age Perfect Eye Renewal Eye Cream ($24.99)

l'areal age perfect cream

Some of the first tell-tale signs of aging happen around our eyes, including dark circles, puffiness, redness, crows’ feet, and under-eye bags. That is why anti-aging products formulated specifically to reduce the signs of aging and the appearance of wrinkles around our eyes is so essential for looking our best. This L’Oreal eye cream can hydrate, firm, and tone the area around your eyes and smoothe the eye contour, all within hours. It can also diminish dark circles, reduce the appearance of under-eye bags, smooth out crows’ feet, reduce eyelid crepes, and revitalize your entire eye long-term. This product has amazing reviews so it’s definitely worth picking up considering that the price is so reasonable.

 

Olay Total Effects 7 In One Anti-Aging Firming Treatment ($22.99)

olay 7 benefit face cream

This night cream is said to reduce the appearance of fine lines and winkles, firm skin, even skin tone (so important!), reduce the appearance of age spots, improve texture, provide moisture, and give skin an amazing glow. Olay has been around since 1952 and for good reason – their products are effective! You need to moisturize your skin anyway, so why not garner these seven beauty benefits while you’re at it?

 

Vichy Liftactiv Supreme Night ($50.00)

vichy face cream 

This anti-aging product by Vichy is perfect for all skin types. It contains a breakthrough ingredient called Rhamnose. Rhamnose is an ingredient that is naturally derived from plants and has been proven to rejuvenate skin and fight the signs of aging, which makes it an obvious ingredient to include in an anti-aging product. The best thing about this product is that it also contains a gentle exfoliator, which helps to remove dead skin cells, allowing the product to absorb more effectively into the skin. This product also promises to keep your skin properly moisturized for up to 24 hours.

 

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum ($23.99)

neutropenia face cream

The key ingredient that makes this serum so effective is hyaluronic acid, which is basically just a crazy word to explain an intense moisturizer. This serum is so intense that you may only want to use it a couple of times a week to prevent irritation. This product also promises to fade the look of wrinkles, brighten skin tone, smooth texture, and diminish age spots (like every other product on the market) but this one seriously works! All you need is a pearl-sized amount on a cleansed face every day and you’re good to go. This product also works well as a makeup primer!

*All images from Polyvore.com

DIY Hair Masks for Stronger, Healthier Strands

If your hair needs some love, raise your hand and use it to open up the kitchen cabinet because these DIY hair masks use all natural ingredients that you are guaranteed to have around. From milk and honey, to bananas, brown sugar, and even beer, these amazing homemade masks work wonders on any hair type!

Here’s what these pantry ingredients can do for our locks:

hair mask ingredients

 

Avocados

The amino acids, proteins, and vitamins in this super-fruit help to revitalize and moisturize the scalp, promoting strong and healthy hair.

Almond oil

Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and magnesium, almond oil strengthens, nourishes, and deep conditions hair strands.

Bananas

Rich in potassium, natural oils, and vitamins, bananas soften the hair and enrich it’s elasticity, helping to prevent breakage.

Beer

Ever heard of beer shampoo? With B vitamins and the proteins found in malt and hops, beer helps to restore damaged hair. What’s more, the sugars present in beer help strengthen hair cuticles which enhances luster and shine. Who knew?

Black tea

Since the caffeine present in black tea helps to decrease hair-loss causing hormone DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), black tea helps reduce shedding and lowers hair loss.

Coconut oil

The richest natural source of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), a special type of fatty acids high in antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, coconut oil is able to effectively penetrate hair follicles, conditioning hair, repairing damage, and helping hair retain protein.

Eggs

With the highest level of protein in this natural ingredient list, eggs strengthen hair follicles, leading to stronger strands and much fewer split ends. Eggs are nature’s conditioner!

Honey

Boasting antioxidants and antiseptic qualities, honey keeps our scalps squeaky clean and fights infection. Being an emollient, it keeps hair follicles healthy and can even wake up sleeping hair follicles, boosting hair growth. Honey also helps to prevent the loss of moisture since it is a humectant, leading to smoother, more nourished hair.

Lemon

The anti-fungal properties of lemon help to rid the scalp of dandruff and build up. Its limonene compound works to promote shine in frizzy or dull hair. Fresh lemon juice also stimulates hair growth by strengthening hair follicles.

Milk

The calcium, proteins, and vitamins in milk help to restore hair’s structure, while enhancing luster and shine.  Got milk?

Olive Oil

The antioxidants and vitamins E and A in olive oil help to strengthen strands and add moisture. Regular use of this oil can nourish hair back to original health.=

Yogurt

The active cultures from lactic acid in yogurt act as a deep conditioner, moisturizing trouble areas on the scalp while fighting irritation, making the hair softer, less tangled, and enhancing shine. 

Masks for Dry Hair

dry hair

Yogurt, Honey + Olive Oil

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 tablesppon honey
  • ¼ cup yogurt

(Double ingredients for longer hair)

 

Apply mixture to damp hair. Keep hair covered in a shower cap, towel, or plastic bag. Let the mixture soak in for 30 minutes and rinse out thoroughly. Follow up with shampoo and conditioner.

 

Honey, Oil + Egg Yolk

  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey

(Double ingredients for longer hair)

 

Whisk ingredients together and apply to hair.  Leave in for one hour and rinse. Follow up with conditioner.

 

Avocado + Mayonnaise

  • ½ avocado
  • 1 cup mayonnaise

 

Mash avocado and mix it together well with the mayonnaise. Apply to wet or dry hair and allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing out with cold water and washing hair as normal.

 

Banana + Egg Yolk

  • 1 sliced banana
  • 2 egg yolks

 

Mash sliced banana and whisk together with the egg yolks or use a blender. Apply to wet or damp hair and allow mixture to soak in for 30 minutes before rinsing. Follow up with shampoo and conditioner.

 

Masks for Frizzy Hair

Banana, Yogurt + Honey

 

  • 1 sliced banana
  • 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon honey

 

Blend sliced banana, plain yogurt, and honey. Apply to wet or dry hair and leave in for 30 minutes up until one hour. Rinse thoroughly and wash hair as normal.

 

Milk + Honey

    • 1 cup milk (whole, coconut, or almond)
    • 2 tablespoons honey

Apply mixture to dry hair and leave on for 15 minutes, laying hair on top of head uncovered. Rinse out with cold water and condition.

Masks to Restore Shine

blond braid

Beer + Almond Oil

  • ½ cup flat beer
  • 1 teaspoon almond oil

 

Leave beer uncovered overnight or for a few hours. Use ½ cup of the flat beer and mix together with almond oil. Apply on dry hair and lay hair on top of the head, covered for 30 minutes. Rinse out with cold water and condition.

 

Coconut Milk, Lemon, Egg + Olive Oil

  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • Squeeze of lemon
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

 

Whisk ingredients together and apply to dampened hair. Leave in for 15-20 minutes and rinse out thoroughly, following up with shampoo and conditioner.

 

Coconut Cream

  • ½ can coconut cream

(Use entire can for longer hair)

 

Apply cream to damp hair, massaging it in from the roots to the ends. Rinse out thoroughly and shampoo and condition.

Masks for Oily Hair or Dandruff

hair bun

Apple Cider Vinegar, Lemon + Honey

  • ¼ cup ACV
  • 1 juiced lemon
  • 1 tablespoon honey

 

Whisk ingredients together and apply mixture to dampened hair. Leave mixture covered for up to one hour. Rinse with cold water and shampoo and condition.

 

Brown Sugar + Olive Oil

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

 

Mix sugar and oil together and apply to damp hair. Massage roots with mixture for 3-5  minutes for maximum exfoliation. Wash out with shampoo and conditioner.

 

Olive Oil + Lemon Juice

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

 

Mix equal parts olive oil and lemon juice together. Massage into dampened scalp and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse out and shampoo. Use no more than once every other week.

 

Masks for Hair That’s Falling Out

Black tea + Egg white

  • 4-5 black tea bags
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 egg white

 

Add 4-5 tea bags to a pot of water and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes and let it cool. Whisk in egg white and pour tea mixture into a water bottle. Fully saturate scalp and spray the rest of the hair. Lay hair on top of head and cover with a plastic cap. Let sit for 1 hour. Rinse hair with cold water and follow up with deep conditioner.

 

Castor Oil + Vitamin E

  • 2 tablespoons castor oil
  • 5 vitamin E capsules

 

Puncture 5 vitamin E capsules and mix together in a bowl with castor oil. Use fingertips to massage mixture into scalp for 5-10 minutes. Let mixture soak in hair, covered, overnight. Rinse thoroughly in the morning and wash out with shampoo and conditioner. Tip: Use Jamaican Black Castor Oil for more effective results. This type of castor oil is used specifically for hair growth and users have seen many positive results with consistent application.

Our Top Picks in Fall Makeup Palettes

From rich espresso browns and warm copper tones, to cool grays, plum purples, bold reds and notice-me pinks, to soft neutrals, we’re falling for these five stunning fall makeup palettes. Like the changing colors of the leaves on the trees, these eye shadows are mega-versatile and echo the season perfectly. With these palettes, you’ll be able to capture the magic of fall with your look with the swirl of a brush!

 

Huda Beauty Textured Shadows Palette Rose Gold Edition ($65)

huda beauty

This dream palette not only boasts the most beautiful and vibrant colors you’ll ever see on your lids, but it’s formulated with praise-worthy texture. With highly saturated mattes, chrome-pressed pearls, and 3D metal shadows, others will have to resist the urge to comment. The creator designed this palette to wear like a wardrobe for your eyes, befitting of any mood or occasion. This palette is fall ready with rose gold hues, neutral shades, soft tones, and burnt orange.

 

Anastasia Master Palette by Mario ($45) limited edition

anastasia palette

Made in collaboration with celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, this special-edition eye shadow collection is in high demand and it’s no wonder why. Featuring twelve neutral and jewel-toned shades in both matte and metallic finishes, this palette has all of fall’s breathtaking tones. From burnt orange in the “Isabel” shade, gold leaf in “5th Ave”, to the perfect shimmery olive in “Bronx”, this collection will have you looking as gorgeous as the foliage on the trees. Act fast, this edition won’t be on the shelves for too much longer.

 

Anastasia Modern Renaissance ($42)

anastasia palette

Fall is certainly one of the most magical and awe-inspiring times of the year, and Anastasia’s Modern Renaissance elegant 14-shade eye shadow palette captures the whimsical romance of the season in their present-day take on Renaissance colors. From neutral to berry tones in ultra-matte and metallic finishes, these highly pigmented shadows are crease and fade-resistant, giving you an enchanted look that lasts. This fan favorite features charming fall shades like Venetian Red (crimson), Cyprus Umber (espresso), Primevera (shimmery gold), and Antique Bronze (metallic sable with a satin finish).

 

Tarte Tartelette Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette ($45)

This all-matte eye shadow palette features four combination palettes in one, in 12 light to rich shades for those who like to highlight the season’s crisp cool weather, and for those who like to embody Autumn’s deep and rich, earthy tones. Tarte’s sleek palette features their signature Amazonian clay-infused eye shadow in these matte shadows, a must-have for the brand’s lovers. Shades include Free Spirit (cream), Force of Nature (nude), Dreamer (warm brown) and Best Friend (mulberry) to name a few.

 

Smashbox Matte Exposure Palette ($49)

smashbox

Smashbox’s all-matte palette features versatile neutrals in rich, smoldering fall hues with shades like Tonal (peach nude), Spice (burnt orange), Blackberry (deep burgundy), Black Plum (deep purple), and Truffle (light grey). These silky and high-pigmented shadows double as stay-put liners when wet. Created in Smashbox’s L.A. photo studio, this palette has been designed to make eyes pop in photos without any reflective sheen. This palette is your one stop shop to achieving the season’s smokey and smoldering look.

5 Items You Need In Your Minimalist Makeup Bag

These days, Instagram feeds and YouTube videos are ripe with gloriously flawless faces demonstrating how to contour the cheekbones or create the perfect cat eye. Pair red lips with natural eyes and bold smoky looks with nude lips. The techniques and trends seem to change and evolve with each passing day, and it can be overwhelming. So what’s a girl to do when all she wants is a little glow and minimal work?

This isn’t the guide for the woman with 18 brushes, six palettes and a drawer full of lipstick. This is for the woman who doesn’t know where to begin, but wants something a little more than the mundane daily routine.

A simple, easy makeup routine starts with quality products. Though more expensive than their drugstore counterparts, these brands offer products that will last longer and easily give you the look you want. Here’s your minimalist makeup guide.

Start with a Good Moisturizer

Moisturizer works for your skin now and 10 years from now. It keeps the skin balanced, fresh and helps prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging. For a simple, all-purpose moisturizer, go with the bareMinerals Smart Combination Smoothing Lightweight Emulsion. It sounds complicated, but it’s as simple as one pump of lotion.

smart combination bare minerals

 

Choose an All-Day Wear, Light Foundation

One of the easiest ways to look great without much effort is applying a foundation or powder to the face. An all-day wear liquid foundation is a great option. Why? Because you’ll use less over time, which saves you money and hassle. Try Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Full-Coverage Foundation. This foundation lasts all day long, regardless of humidity levels or how oily your skin might be. Once it’s on, you won’t have to worry about it again. No touch-ups. No carrying it with you. This foundation stays in place and looks beautiful all day.

tarte makeup

 

Pick Your Perfect Mascara

Accentuating the eyes is a staple in any makeup look, and good mascara will do the trick. You’ll want to choose one that defines, elongates and thickens the lashes. Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara does all of the above. Its innovative brush elongates lashes while defining them without clumps. This mascara is natural-looking and comes in multiple colors, so you can choose which shade will work best for you.

benefit mascara makeup

 

Go With a Light Shade of Lip Gloss

The world of lipsticks and glosses can be overwhelming. Your best bet is to go with a neutral toned lipgloss for an everyday look. You want something that will add a tiny bit of color and shine to accentuate your lips. Urban Decay’s Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss in Naked is a great option. This natural, pink tone not only looks good with every skin tone, but it adds just enough color without feeling overdone.

urban decay lipgloss

 

A Little Shimmer on the Cheeks

Blush is another one of those makeup products that will have a makeup minimalist cringing. The wrong color blush can make you look overdone, which is the opposite of the desired look; but you can add a little shimmer to the cheeks without adding a ton of clown-like color. Stila offers an All Over Shimmer Duo  perfect for adding just enough shimmer to the cheekbones. The duo includes a natural, light pink and a light beige option so you can choose between adding a little color or swiping on a little bronzed glow — perfect for multiple occasions without all the hassle and confusion of too many options.

stila all over shimmer makeup

 

The perfect everyday look doesn’t have to include 45 minutes in the mirror and a YouTube video tutorial. These five simple items will add the right amount of glow to your skin and pep to your daily routine.

The Nail Styles You’re Seeing Everywhere

If you get your nails done regularly, you’re used to being asked what shape you’d like them to be. Traditionally, this has been a simple question of round versus square; but you’ve got so many more options than that now. Most require your nails to be on the long side, but if you can make it work, you’ll open the door to a vast array of nail options, from solid colors to intricate nail designs in all shapes and lengths. Who doesn’t want pretty hands? Here are four of the most popular nail styles right now.

 

Almond

These are rounded and a bit narrow with a very slight point, just like an almond. Perfect if you want to elongate your fingers, the almond shape is a balanced mix of sophistication and seduction.

Oval

Similar to the almond shape but (usually) shorter and slightly wider, the oval shape nail has been extremely popular in 2016. We think it’s because you get a long looking nail (and slender looking fingers) without as much obstruction.

Coffin

This shape is aptly named, just like the almond, as they pretty well resemble actual coffins. They are required to be quite long to make the correct shape, but the end result is feminine and in style, so don’t let the grim designation scare you off.

Stiletto

The stiletto is like the yin to almond’s yang; a little edgier, a little darker. The stiletto is similar to the almond shape but comes to a sharp point. Remember seeing them on Lady Gaga back in 2012 and thinking they were just a bit scary? There’s nothing to be afraid of and plenty of celebrities have proven that on the red carpet by pairing fiercely-shaped nails with chic designer outfits.

Our Picks of Must-Try Indie Makeup Brands

When it comes to makeup, most of us are willing to plunk down a pretty penny for high-quality.  I am becoming increasingly more careful about the products that touch my skin as I get older, but I have also learned that expensive does not always mean better. In a time when small businesses, artisan products and support-your-local-company trends are capturing our attentions, it seems wrong not to give indie makeup brands a try.

Sephora
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

Indie makeup is made by small, independently-run companies, and many of them are vegan. In addition, none of the brands listed here have been tested on animals. As the internet continues to make the world seem smaller, more of these companies are popping out of the woodwork, helping to set a green example.

Have you ever needed an extra hint of brightness from your eye shadow or lipstick, but your normally trusted brand just didn’t pull through? Try an indie product! Many of these shadows, lipsticks and liners boast vibrant, eclectic and artistic shades that you may be hard-pressed to find in most stores. They  are also void of fillers or other cringe-worthy ingredients. Now that’s something to smile about.

Glamour Doll Eyes

This company has been around since 2008, bringing lustful eye shadow color to the world from Sin City itself, Las Vegas. Now Glamour Doll Eyes sells other products including lip gloss and blush, but eye shadow continues to be their specialty. With ingredients like beeswax and carmine, they are not vegan, but their eye shadows are FDA approved. Purchase eye shadow for $6 a piece, or experiment with their sample-sized collections which come with three to 10 different shades, many under $10.

flowers and makeup

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

OCC are seasoned professionals in the indie makeup world. They have been in business for 12 years and boast success as a choice of professional makeup artists for TV, advertising and film.

At first fans were, yes, obsessed with their original two lip balms, but now OCC sells a wide range of cosmetics, makeup brushes and nail polish for us to fall in love with. This brand is 100% vegan and has been given the PETA stamp of approval.

Are you in the biz? OCC gives 40% discounts to professional makeup artists, hairstylists, models, and photographers, to name a few.

 

Shiro Cosmetics

“Making nerds sparkle since 2010” is Shiro’s motto, and it’s clear to see why. The inspiration for their colors and collections stems from all the things these handcrafting makeup masterminds enjoy, from music to food to even books, and all in between.

Their company is run from indie-friendly Portland, Oregon, but they ship to most locations (nationwide and international). In addition to sending you quality makeup made by hand, they offer goodies like free shipping domestically (on orders over $50) and free samples.

Shiro Cosmetics are also 100% vegan.

shiro cosmetics
Image courtesy of Shiro Cosmetics

 

Makeup Geek

Founded by makeup vlogger Marlena, Makeup Geek educates people on proper makeup application, in addition to selling their own products. Their company, including labs and manufacturers, do not test on animals, making them yet another cruelty-free organization. The hot products on their makeup palette are the foiled and duochrome eyeshadows, which run around $10 and $6 per color, respectively.
full spectrum ten pack makeup geek
Full Spectrum Eye Liner Pencil Set | Image courtesy of Makeup Geek
To get one of their many inspired looks, eyeshadow starter packs and bundles are available starting at $28 for the most basic and reaching $160 for the 27-color pans.
makeup geek eye shadow
Duochrome Pigment in Wildfire | Image courtesy of Makeup Geek

The next time you have a party or event, highlight your appearance with one of these, or other, indie makeup brands. Save some money, support a small company, and feel good knowing that you’re contributing to green, world-friendly efforts.

Best Makeup Trends from 2015

Every decade — every year, actually — is marked with its own memorable make-up trends that come and go. The ‘90s were packed with brown lipstick, blue eyeshadow, and body glitter. The turn of the millennium presented mineral make-up and everything retro. (Hello, winged eyeliner!) What did last year leave us with? Here are the best makeup trends from 2015.

1. Thicker, More Dramatic Eyebrows

It wasn’t that long ago that super thin, precisely tweezed eyebrows were the way to go. 2015, however, had all the girls reaching for their eyebrow pencils to achieve fuller, thicker, longer brows, a la Cara Delevingne and Lily Collins.

You’re gorgeous just the way you are; but if you’re looking to amp up your brows, there are countless YouTube tutorials demonstrating just that. The key is to find the right products and the proper tools. With a little practice and patience, you can have the eyebrows of your dreams. This eyebrow tutorial is very easy, straightforward, and shows you how to achieve the look in just a couple of steps.

2. Over-Lined, Extra Kissable Lips

2015 was, without a doubt, the year of the plumped up lips, making this one of the best makeup trends, no doubt; and I can’t think of a woman who wouldn’t mind having the pout of Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, or Amanda Seyfried.

Countless products hit the market all promising fuller lips, and girls went a bit nutty trying to pull off the Kylie Jenner look. (Remember when her lip kits sold out in under a minute and the Internet almost collapsed? She restocked the product and it sold out almost immediately again.)

There are ways to get this look with no pain and without having to drop a ton of money. If you want to skip the needles (eek!), give your lips a little love with a few simple steps added into your morning make-up routine. This tutorial makes the process of over-lining your lips super easy, using inexpensive products you can find at your local drugstore. Affordable, fast, and fun! I’ve had the best luck with matte lip pencils that are pretty close to the natural color of my lips, just a few shades darker. Anything glossy not only bleeds and smears, but the real outline of my lips is way more obvious.

3. The Art of Contouring

This is one that still has me scratching my head, and I am in absolute awe of people who skillfully pull this off without flaw. My face always ends up looking dirty. Clearly, I still have work to do.

I feel like, for the average gal, contouring and highlighting are a lot tougher to master, especially since they often require special brushes. This tutorial breaks it down into more manageable steps, again using products that can be purchased from drugstores and Target.

Experts are already making their guesses for what the best makeup trends of 2016 will be, and it looks like blue eye make-up and glitter might be making a return. Are you going to be a bit daring with your cosmetics this year?