current obsession; latest beauty buys

song of the day: love songs, anjulie

how are you doing? how's your week going so far? hope your tuesday is treating you well. don't have much time again today, just sharing my beauty obsessions as of late.

bright eyes
lately i've been skipping eyeliner altogether, instead i've been dabbing a light eyeshadow in the corners of my eyes for a look that widens them and make them look instantly awake. i just dab it along the natural v, but definitely trace farther along the top lid. and since i've started i've noticed blake lively does it all the time, on and off the show. she often uses white shadow in her corners, but that's a little too stark for me. tan or pale gold just right for darker skin tones. silver's also really cool for a night look. add a swipe of mascara, and i'm good to go!

madison mauve
at first, i wasn't so ecstatic that maybelline revamped their entire lipstick line earlier this year. the first two i tried were flops. but i finally found a plum that works for me. it's good to wear or stain. i don't care too much for the smell, but i love that it lasts forever. (pardon my bizarre expression in the photo, what's important here is the lipstick, not how deliriously happy i was at my birthday party.)


essie
remember way back when i was talking about matte nails? i'm officially a believer. i bought the matte about you top coat and i haven't stopped using it since. although, i think half the fun might be watching it change. i also got mint green candy apple and it's one of my favourite colours of the season. my tips? apply a good basecoat, because you can't put top coat on a matte nail. also, make sure the nail is completely dry before applying the matte topcoat.

that's all for now. but i'd love to know, what's on your nails right now?

xoxo
-B.

current obsession; colorstay ultimate

i've fallen in love with a new lip colour. before there was nail polish, i was obsessed with lipsticks/glosses and averaging about two a week. thankfully, i've got that under control. but then i saw this revlon colorstay ultimate lip colour peeking out of my mom's makeup bin...

here's what it promises, straight from the revlon website:

• food-proof lipcolor with a built-in, ultra-conditioning topcoat
• one-step application: no topcoat required for comfortable wear
• stays comfortable and wears beautifully for up to 12 hours
• does not feather or fade; no touch-ups required, even after meals
• available in 20 full-coverage, soft satin shades
  

and i think it very nearly lives up to all it says it will be. i think it's a really interesting combo, it has a wand like a lipgloss but feels really lipsticky when it's on. it does last a REALLY long time. ridiculously so. you need to give it a minute to dry (no talking!) and then it stays in for the long haul. like, the only way to take if off is with a strong makeup remover.

but it's totally kicking the butt of the lip colour i bought at sephora last month. i have it in #1 nude and premier plum (the shade i'm wearing in the pic). the temptation to buy this in EVERY colour possible is tempting! but i've got a budget to stick to, and school books to buy.

it's super important to apply it to bare lips. my only qualm? it would be awesome if it had just a little more moisturizing. even though there's not top coat required, i tend to stick on some c.o. bigelow's lip butter to keep things soft. but it's a bit of a compromise, even though it feels a little dry, it looks really natural when it's on because it's not all that glossy. i've been wearing it every day for the last two weeks. anyone else ever tried these?

-B.

how to; bright lips

happy friday! i hope you're having a good day. i know i wrote about it last week, but i still found myself falling into the mindset that august is "just the month until school starts." and don't get me wrong, i'm excited about school! but i keep finding myself kind of just waiitng in stasis, for september. so i'm making it my goal to do something exciting with the next two (or so) weeks. here are 3 of my favourite summer things to do.

1. go outside. nothing says summer more than hopping outside. i'm out there whenever i can. it's been raining alot, so heading outside has become even more exciting. i tend to do a lot of my internship work out on my back porch before it gets too warm.

2. summer is also the perfect time to save on summer clothes! stores are busy trying to clear out summer stock to get ready for fall. pick up tanks and tees on the cheap! and then come up with places to where them!

3. experiment with a new look. i've been doing this a little lately. i'm thinking in the next couple of weeks i'm going to go over my style affirmation for the next year. i'll post that up later. but ahh! there i go! thinking about the fall again! here's an idea!

summer is an awesome time to rock your bright makeup. i do have to watch out cause superbright ones can seem to harsh on dark skin tones. (i tend to wear only deep reds and berry shades) but i have a new favourite! my go-to for bold lips is cool watermelon from maybelline. it's not TOO bright? and it's also got spf 15. you really need to find a bright that works for you.

and there are a few tricks to making bright lips stay all day long. first? exfoliate. then, dab on a nongreasy lip balm ten to twenty minutes before applying the colour. blot the balm, and take your time applying the colour carefully. finally, dust lightly with a translucent powder and you should be good to go! excuse the mussy hair, but that pick's of me at the end of the day! still looking bright! that's all for now!

-xoxo
B.

how to; prevent makeup meltdown

(song of the day: mansard roof, vampire weekend)

as the weather warms up, makeup melts off. but not this summer! here are a bunch of tips and tricks for getting makeup that lasts. my most important suggestion is to try and wear as little makeup as possible, but should you feel you have to here are some suggestions.

before leaving the house...

start with a clean, fresh face. lately i've been using (and loving) olay dual action cleanser and pore scrub. but i've heard the exfoliants can be harsh for some. i like the way my skin feels offer, deep cleaned and dry, ready for makeup. if that's not your cup of tea you can also try a mattifiying cream, pore minimizer or a favourite of yours that absorbs oil.

skin: all i keep hearing when it comes to summer makeup that lasts is tinted moisturizer. and i mean that's great and all when you can find one that actually matches your skin tone. i have been unable to find one dark enough for me under $30. (if you have any suggestions let me know!) but when you find your oil-free tinted moisturizer of choice, apply with a damp sponge in short outward strokes.

for me, all i really need for cool dewy sking is a moisturizer with SPF. when applying, don't forget your neck, hairline and the tops of your ears! clean up problem spots with a few dashes of concealer.

eyes: makeup is more likely to melt when it contains emollients. i remember reading this interview from bobbi brown and she suggested you avoid overly creamy products. she preferred powder blushes and eye shadows becaues they are less likely to run. mineral makeup is good too.

aim to use neutral colours because they are less likely to show should they melt/run. skips the eye liner, most usually smudge. if you can find a waterproof eyeliner, avoid dark colours because they create dark circles around your eyes should they run. keep liner to the top lid. if you haven't already, trade in your favourite mascara for a waterproof version. but beware, even waterproof shades can melt if you use to use, try one thin coat.

lips: lip glosses can turn your lips into a slip and slide, and they also intensify your lips reception to the sun and can increase your chances of burning there (what an odd thing to say). lipstains don't melt off like other glosses do. if you don't want to splurge on new lip wear, you can transform any lipstick into a stain. you'll want to use a bright shade, the pigments are richer and better at tinting lips. apply two swipes, wait ten minutes and gently tissue off the top layer.

cheeks: again i recommend a stain, instead of applying directly use your fingers to get a more natural look. if you choose a bronzed colour (as opposed to a pink or rose), use it to give the look of a sun-kissed glow all around: smooth it across the bridge of your nose and on the high points of your cheekbones.

and then, i recommend finishing up with a transparent finishing powder. (maybelline has a nice one!)

when you're out...

it might not be a bad idea to carry blotting paper on you. i've never used them myself but the idea seems simple enough. press the sheet up against your face, there's no need to wipe. and if you can't get your hands on thatm try using a large white tissue to blot at your hairline eyes, coerners of the nose, lips, chin and jawline and attempt to suck up oil and smudges.

if your eye shadow has creased, close your eyelid and press your finger against it to smooth the remaining shadow and wipe away liner and mascara. wipe your lips clean and add a wash of balm or gloss to freshen up.

i think that's it for me. how do you beat the heat? drop me a comment!

-lovelovelove.

photos from here and here.

how to; use a marker lipstain

(song of the day: i wanna know you, david archuleta )

heyhey! it's been one crazy week, and unfortunately the next two don't really look like they're going to be any better. but i'm taking a study break to bring you my first tutorial! how to apply a lipstain! here's the before photo! woohoo! okay on second thought, there's nothing really exciting about the before photo, it's the end shot that's the fun. here we go!






1. first things first? you need to exfoliate your lips in whatever way works for you. there's a combo lip gloss and brown sugar scrub that i got from bath and body works and absolutely love. but all you really need is a good scrub with a wash cloth. note that lip stains are meant to sink into your bare lips, so after you've scrubbed them resist the temptation to put a balm on.


UPDATE: check my post on how to exfoliate your lips!



2.next, outline the natural shape of your lips with the lip stain. be sure to drop your jaw and get all the way to the back corners. i don't see any reason why you'd need lip liner for this look. this is mostly to trace the lips and make sure you don't go outside the lines!






3. does it sound like colouring? mostly cause it is! while filling in your lips, i reccomend going in a diagonal direction and moving across both lips until covered. if desired, wait for lips to dry (approx 1 min.) and add another layer for intensity.








4. and there we go! the picture at left is the finished product, but you can totally put a balm or gloss on if you so choose! here is a glossy finished product at right. voila!

current obsession; haircut and joe makeup

(song of the day: fall into place, apartment)

heyhey! anyone else find it's ten thousand more times harder to drag yourself to school when it's raining? after all that happened yesterday i'm super tired, and the idea of staying home this morning was wayyyy too tempting. i chickened out of the forever21 outfit. it was raining a lot more than i thought and rain and tights are not a winning combination. maybe tomorrow though, cause i'm seeing a certain someone, again. (this whole week there's been a boy overload! i'm running out of outfit ideas!)

haha, but anyway, on to my obsession du jour! and it's none other than the joe makeup i was talking about a few days ago. after my shift on saturday i went out and tried a few. this is the stuff i got. two lip stains in watermelon (on the right) and sheer pink (far left).

does that look like watermelon to you? i think not! i had this problem with the covergirl lip stain i bought too. i'm not sure if it's because of my natural lip pigment, but lip stains for me never look the way they do in the tube. lip stains are great, but i strongly advise you to test them out as thoroughly as you can.

but that's the only bad thing i have to say about them really! the first time i tried them and my pink stain yielded this very red results i was a little miffed, but today i rolled with it! in fact, this look is definitely a contender for the red lip thing i posted about a few weeks ago. lip stains are great, they feel a little silly putting them on. they're literally like a marker. when i was putting it on in the bathroom today some girl was like "what is that?" but after i explained it she thought it was really cool.

which it is! it's not sticky, and once it dries it doesn't feel like you're wearing anything at all. it's actually pretty weird. being weightless! i do have to say, the covergirl one does last a little bit longer, this one didn't make it through the whole day, but this one's well worth the $6! i rate it 7 out of 10.


but i have to say my favourite is the cheek stain (the short one in the middle). i've never tried one before and i have to admit, it was a little different than i thought it would be. i think i was expecting it to be more liquid, but it's kind of like smearing chapstick on your face. haha. that said, it's easy enough to use. you just have to work it in with your fingers. but i love the way it looks. i got it in peach. le perfect spring/summer colour! and it actually showed up on my skin, whoopwhoop! this one gets an 8 from me!

this is what i wore to shoeless joe's yesterday. are you feeling my new haircut? there are some moments where i reach my hand up and freak out cause there's nothing there anymore! but when i look at it i love it! are you changing / have you changed your hair for spring? how?

ciao for now!
-xoxoxo.

catalogue; six

(song of the day: here comes the sun, the beatles)

i hope it was beautiful where you live! today was tyhe first sunny day we've had in a while. i wore a dress (with tights, bien sur). but today i'm cataloging the good hair day i had on sunday!!! one of these days though, i'm going to get ready with enough time to take pictures BEFORE i go out so you can see what they really look like! one day though. haha! so! there's a number of things i'd like to call attention to in this top picture. the first being the light purple nail polish (OPI's done out in deco) that managed to last relatively chip free for the last SIX days! (read up on what i found about preventing chips here!) it did take me almost 45 minutes, but i haven't had to do touchups all week! so i'd definitely say it was worth it. unfortunately i don't have a better close up of the makeup. but my eyes were gold and blue!

because we're cataloguing, some detailed info. first i swept cover girl eye enhancers in golden sunrise all over my lids, and then i put a dusty stripe of annabelle's single eyeshadow in bleu nuit along the upper lash line. crazy? yes. but very cool. though i do have to say, this might look a little different if you don't have darker skin. although you're welcome to try it! if you're going to go with blue, i suggest one like bleu nuit, cause it's not TOO bold, or light... or too nineties =P haha. on to hair!

have you heard about bumpits? i've been hearing about them everywhere lately. and i'm slowly beginning to wade my way into it. for sunday service i tried to add a little bump to my regular half updo. it was pretty cute if i do say so myself. but it was hard for me to get it to stay! i took the top part of my hair and used a hairdryer and a round brush to poof it up from underneath. then i clipped it kind of in the middle of my head and hair sprayed the thing like crazy. (i actually use a drug store brand natural hairspray. it smells good - not like aerosol- and holds pretty well!) then i did my bangs and kinda flipped the ends out a little. because my hair was being so co-operative i decided to try and curl my hair for youth group at night.

i'm not sure you can really appreciate just how HARD it is to curl relaxed hair. like you really have no idea. i've had curly hair maybe three times in my entire life?? and the other two times i had to get my hairdresser to do it. i have a curling iron by revlon and i only really curled it from about half way down (i only had an hour) and i still think it looked okay! i got lots of compliments so that was nice! the only makeup i wore was blush (again, revlon's creme blush in blushing mauve) because i didn't want to make it look like i was trying to hard (which i was). but it totally paid off cause i got to talk to the guy i wanted. teehee! (and did i mention how AWESOME kristen is? she waited around for me to gather my cahones and talk to the guy so we could leave. beyond awesome)

anyway, my cousins are over! it's time for me to stop being so anti-social. have a good night!!

-xoxo.

je t'aime;

this is the FIRST lip balm i've ever actually had long enough to see the bottom of. it's almost done! some of the time i just lose them, OR i end up buying new things and forgetting about it. but not this one! this is the best lip balm i've bought in a while. i've heard it called the drugstore-equivalent to MAC tendertones. the colour is really sheer, it mosturizes really well and lasts a long time on your lips. my only gripe? it's only available in the states. if the "mystery vacation" takes me anywhere near the border i'm buying three at least! i got it in pink last time so i'm thinking this time i'm going to get it in coral/orange.

p.s. does anyone else fantasize about stateside shopping like i do? if i don't end up going i'll be quite upset =P

how to; stop nails from chipping

original post date: march 31, 2009
(song of the day: so far, so great, demi lovato)

heya! i've been singing that song LOUDLY all day. it's been a good one. i hope yours has been too. but i have a problem! the other day, i discovered something wonderful. did you know OPI makes miniature sets of their nail polish collections? i was going through the mall when i saw these in the display window. they included miniature versions of three of the polishes from the new south beach collection and a rapid-dry top coat. "suzie the lifeguard" is a really nice light pink, "done out in deco" is a matte lavender (not the one i had on the other day, but defs the one i'll be trying next) and "overexposed in south beach" is this deep magenta-purple combo with just a hint of sparkle. they're all to die for! i thoroughly reccomend picking up one of the mini lacquer sets if you ever see them, it only cost $13, when a regular bottle of OPI retails for about $10. (haha. actually when i saw them, i literally stopped in my tracks and just smiled at them, and then a guy who was walking by thought i was staring at him.) haha. i'm digressing. on to my problem. my nail polish ALWAYS chips. and i mean always. part of that has to do with my job. (tying balloons isn't exactly easy on the nails.) but even when i'm not my nail polish never seems to last. and the solution was actually quite simple. the best way to avoid chips? (continue reading!)



again one of those obvious things i never really think about it. i always try and cut corners, but you actually have to give yourself a wide berth of time if you want to do nails that last. apparently (but not surprisingly) base coat actually helps. it gives the real polish something to adhere to.and did you know you're supposed to take five to ten minutes between each coat? (and apparently it doesn't work if you cheat and put on a thick layer, they're only more likely to chip. thin ones will last longer.) i'm lucky if i wait two minutes. and i usually go on my computer while it's drying. i think i'm safe using the pads of my fingers instead of my tips, but the scarlet stain on my J-key says otherwise.

and here's another mistake. apparently you're not supposed to use those "quick dry" lacquers. the extra ingredients that allow those fast drying polishes to set so quickly makes them cheap more easily. you're better of springing for those no-chip polishes. (try the no chip 10 day nail colour from sally hansen. i have one, and it lasts pretty long even though i've never quite made it to the 10 day mark? but then again, i've never applied them properly either.) here's another tip i read about, if you apply a horizontal swipe across the top of the nail after the first coat, it'll act as a ridge to further prevent chipping, and then when you beginning applying the second coat, you'll cover up the horizontal line. i'll certainly be trying that out. and lastly, top coat is also helpful when it comes to preventing chips. and that's it for me. happy chip-less-ness? hahah. bon soir!

-lovelovelove!

current obsession; red lips

original post date: march 27, 2009
(song of the day: colours of the wind, disney)

hey there! i have to do this super quick! i'm on my way out. i wish i hadn't left this to the last minute. cause the pictures didn't really turn out the way i wanted them too, but it's too late to take more! still, i feel NOT posting something today would be a crime! so here we go anyway. my current obsession? (among many things) red lips! they're like little black dresses, you know? one of those staple things that all glamourous (two ou's?) people have! so i've been out there trying to find "the one." that red that will complete me! you know? i'd like you to help me out by picking which one you think looks best.


one.

naked lips!!!! please ignore the lack of all other makeup, stringy hair and of course the very white bra under my very black shirt. pahaha.

two.

the blush thing i was talking about! this is where my lack of photography skills come into play. i maybe should've taken a close up of my lips so you'd see how this looks for real. anyway, it's red, buy way understated.

three.

this is a full lipstick. ruby rose from maybelline. once again, a close up would've been helpful so you good see the gold flecks that are in it. it's pretty! but it's a pain to take off cause the sparkles REALLY stick on. haha. i wore this christmas day and it looked really nice.

four.

it's hard to tell in the pic, but this one is actually on the orangey side of red. it's really quite bright. i've never worn it out. it's a maybelline super stay gloss, but i can't seem to find the name of the colour!

five.

haha. you can tell i'm running out of time cause i didn't even make it cover my lips completely. so this is one of the new lipstains from covergirl. and might i just say it takes FOREVER to put on, and even longer to take off! it's v. frustrating. but i do give them points, cause once it dries, it really does feel like you're not wearing anything. the picture doesn't do it justice, in real life the colour is SO intense. it's a deep red? but still so LOUD. my mom when i first put it on was like "that's not the right colour for you." haha. what do you think? i've still got some more red lip sticks/glosses/stains in my case, but no time to try them on. so....

i leave it in your hands! are any of these "the one?" please vote in the comments section by indictating, one, two, three, four or five!!!! (and just a reminder, you don't have to have a livejournal account to make a comment!)

on a completely unrelated note, today's been AWESOME. i made muffins that gave me quite the sugar rush, i had a really awesome talk with vicki, i've been running around my house singing "colours of the wind," and i just found out a certain someone will be at youth group tonight! score!!!! haha. the outfit i'm in now is totally channeling pocahontas actually. feather earrings, a long tan dress thingy, fringey/moccasins boots. it's awesome. have a happy friday!!!!

-lovelovelove

how to; make the most of your makeup

Original Post Date: March 24, 2009
(song of the day: gonna getcha good, by the jonas brothers)

i don't know if you're anything like me, but i hate throwing things away. absolutely hate it! that's the reason my clothes don't fit in my closet and TWO dressers. paha. i'm the same about makeup too. BUT most people forget makeup has an expiration date. i know it never really occured to me until a while ago. i googled when to throw makeup away and realized i was grossly overdue. the other day i had a hard look through my make up cases/buckets and through out all the stuff i'd never "goten around to" using. here's what i found so you can do the same.

first off, if it smells funny, has gone chunky or isn't it's orginal colour, throw it away immediately. if you haven't used it in the last two years? it really is time to let it go.

lipstick/lip gloss lasts for approximately 18 months. now, luckily for me, lip products are one of the last ones to go. or not luckily... since i end up buying about one a week anyway. i've heard if you store lipstick in the fridge it'll last longer, even though i couldn't really find why that was. lip liner (if you have it) can last up to a year. i feel like this is more of an old lady thing, don't you? plus, whenever you see people wearing lipliner, it's usually not pretty. anyway, if you end up buying a lip stick/gloss that you don't like, before you throw it away try using it in combo with something else! you could end up finding a colour you do like!

foundation can last 12 - 18 months. you're going to wanna check the ingredients label on this one. a water-based foundation will only last up to 12 months. should it dry out before the expiration date, mix in a few drops of alcohol-free toner and shake. oil foundations tend to seperate, just shake it back together to fix that. i couldn't find it online, but my mom said powdered foundation and concealer also have a 12 month window.

blush and bronzer have a shelf life of about a year. i make the most of my blush though! a little while ago i bought this red blush that in the package looked like it would go great with my skin tone but made me look like a geisha in real life (and not in the good way). luckily, i came across this tip from one of the creators of sally hansen beauty. if you slick on some vaseline on your lips (or another clear, but sticky gloss) and then roll a clean finger in blush before pressing it to your lips you end up with your own customized lip colour. i get to keep the richness of the red, but it looks really subtle and matte. sounds crazy but it works! i love it! maybe i'll try and get a picture of what it looks like this week.

eyeshadow and eyeliner will hold on for 18 months. you have to think about it, the closer to your eyes the more careful you have to be. here's a quick way to get the most out of the eyedshadow you buy. once in a while, give your eyeliner the day off. using a super flat eyeliner brush (or the pointy end of the given eyeshadow wand and a really steady hand) trace the brush into your lash line focusing on the space between your lashes, then sweep the color just above your lash line. It's great if you're going for that smokey look. And here's something that's hot right now, (i'm betting i read this in glamour? but i'm not sure) swiping a light powder on the bottom rim of the eye gives a fresh dewy look. i've done it before, it's super cute! and also note, liquid eyeliner lasts six months.

mascara expires in THREE - FOUR months. this is the most important one, and the reason i decided to write this in the first place. i had no idea it could expire so quickly! the reason it expires to fast is because it's closest to the eye. beware, applying it too close to base of your lashes can block your the ducts that create tears and cause dry eyes. pumping the wand in and out of the tube only introduces dry air to the enclosed liquid. it's a breeding ground for bacteria! haha. i've read you're not supposed to share it, and i'd say that's pretty good info to go by. i was kind of peeved cause i tend to spend the most money on mascara for some reason. i could only find one other use for it though, in good old seventeen. if you swipe a tiny eyeliner brush around the inside rim, you can use mascara as a liquid liner. a brush with a pointy tip will get a really precise line, perfect for winged tips.

nail polish is good for a year. this is the only one i'm not so sure of. i've got nail polish from middle school that still works just fine. and i haven't really found anything that bad that will happen if you use nail polish past it's expiry date. some tips though, store it upright to keep it from separating. like i said with the lipgloss, if you purchase a bottle that doesn't look as good as you thought it did, experiment with layering or mixing to create a new custom colour. if it thickens up, return it to it's original consistency with nail polish thinner (available at most drugstores). i've been told that a real perfume (one with alcohol) will also work. last time i was there though, the manicurist said NOT to use remover to thin polish as it will distort the colour.

some last thoughts, make sure makeup is kept in a cool and dry place. a muggy bathroom is not always optimal. record the date you purchase makeup so you know when it's time to go. and you might want to have the expiry date in mind next time you're going to splurge on something in the cosmetic aisle. (no more $20 mascars for me!) or if you're going to splurge, do it on a product that can double as something else. for example check out lip/cheek stains from sephora, the body shop etc. don't forget to wash your brushes and sponges regularly as well! now note, it's not like you'll go blind if you use expired makeup, but you could get an infection. i've seen it happen. not pretty. plus, just look at it as an excuse to buy new stuff! (like i need a reason, haha).

today was a pretty good day even though it was windy. the sun was shining, i got to sleep in a bit, i doodled in class, i got tickets to the jonas brothers concert... ( i know i said the last concert was my last one? but this time i mean it. this one really is going to be my last concert. i think =P who am i kidding, i'm so excited!) but now i've got to buckle down and study for a linguistics test. have a great night! ♥

-lovelovelove.

how to; fake awake

Original Post Date: March 3, 2009

i don't know about you, but for me wednesday is the worst day of the week. it's got the earliest wakeup, i have to head to the farthest campus, for the longest day, with my LEAST favoruite classes. (nine' o 'clock french anyone?) i know in high school waking up at 5:45 wasn't such a big deal, but lately it's been killing me! so i went scouring the internet for interesting, yet practical ways to look more awake even when you're not =)

• cucumbers. this isn't as hocus pocus as the stylist in Princess Diaries would lead you to believe. cucumber actually contains anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness and puffiness of eyes. i've done it before and it does feel really nice and tighten things up. unfortunately, this solution isn't really viable in the morning, cause I can just see myself kicking back with two slices on my eyes, and falling asleep again.
• concealer. fortunately, i don’t really have a big problem with get dark circles under my eyes. but there are some days. the quick fix is to swipe a concealer a shade lighter than my actual skin tone. today i read that bronzer can also give sallow skin a lift, but i don’t own any.
• eyelashes. if you're lucky enough to own an eyelash curler (i don't. i'm trying to find one that doesn't scare me) that's your best tip for getting eyes that look instantly alert. curling your eyelashes up and away literally opens your eyes. mascara works too. you're better off using one with a brush as opposed to a comb for the curliest results.

another eye tip? feel free to use eyeliner but avoid putting it on the bottom lash line. you want to draw the attention away from your bags! teehee. try a dabbing a very light liner in the lower inner corners of yours eyes to brighten them up. this works best in white, pale pink, ivory or silver. of course, you could always substitute with a light dab of eyeshadow in similar shades. i’m big into making the most out of what you have.

• lips. keep things simple. pick a nude/neutral coloured lip gloss. a shiny one might work cause it’ll pick up natural light.
• dress. i find that the days i’m feeling worst are the days it’s most important to look my best. dreary days are the most important ones to wear bright colours. wearing black will only drag your look down. so choose a lighter shade that compliments your face and hair. one that makes you happy! (i have a light purple shirt that is my go to on days like these. unfortunately, i wore it last week, so i’m not sure what i’m going to do tomorrow =P) also, a high ponytail or bun gives your face a nice little lift instead of letting it fall all over your face.
• etc. i feel obligated to mention that drinking water and getting sleep are pretty much the go to remedy for any ailment, cause i read it EVERYWHERE. i really should drink more water. coming to a weekly resolve near you! anyway...
  

tomorrow’s the start of a new semester for me. i’m a firm believer in the “fake it till you make it” school of thinking. hopefully i’ll be able to pull this off. wish me luck! and a happy wednesday to you! =)


-lovelovelove!

p.s.

in my makeup bag:
cover girl exact eyelight eye-brightening mascara, approx. $7
bonnebell eye definer eye liner, approx $2
l'oreal infallible lip gloss in "blush", approx $8

p.p.s.
what's the worst day of the week for you? tips for looking more awake?

current obsession; pink blush

Orginal Post Date: February 9, 2009

Song of the Day: Rock N Roll, Eric Hutchinson

Blush: TruCheeks by Cover Girl
Hoodie: American Eagle, $45
Crochet Beret: Target, $9

hey! i've found a new favourite! today was my day off, and i was only walking (yes walking, the queen of taxis took a walk today) down to the video store but i didn't want to be all slouchy and gross. back in september i made a resolution never to take a day off when it came down to syle. not saying i can't wear comfortable clothes, but i'm not picking up whatever's on my floor anymore. (there were too many incidents where i was wearing dirty, mismatched things and i ran into people i usually aim to impress. the memories have left lasting scars.)

anyway, so i was just wearing a hoodie and jeans, and didn't want to pile on the makeup. i've already mentioned I buy a lot of stuff I never use. this morning when i was digging through the annexes of my makeup box i found this blush palette i'd bought a few months ago cause i'd seen it in a magazine. (yeah, sadly, i'm one of those.) it was still in its package >.< but today i finally unwrapped it.

and i'm absolutely in love with it! it went on really nicely and actually looked really natural! which is refreshing. pink is one of my favourite colours but often looks a little clownish on my face. the blush that i usually wear (when i do wear it) is a lot closer to my skin tone, it's not really all that noticeable. definitely not as pink as this one. but i'll definitely be using this one more often, it's the only makeup i wore today and it brightened up my whole face. and my day! i think it's because you have to smile to put it on =)

usually i hate doing anything on my day off. not getting dressed and certainly not actually leaving the house. feels too much like work. but i made the most of it! i flirted with this guy at the video store. he was really cute in this emo-ish kinda way. we had a rousing conversation about star wars haha. (i was NOT happy about losing my star wars virginity for film class, but i'm getting over it) anyway, when i went to the bank i had a really conversation with a guy there (that i'm not gonna call flirting because he was kind of old, haha) but i usually i don't do that sort of thing, it's the blush i tell you! haha. and then at the grocery lab, i helped this old lady bring groceries to her car. and then i sang all the way home. and i spread that happiness on to a friend who was upset, and made them giddy too. my bff jenn told me that each happy friend you have gives you a 9% high chance of being happy yourself. which isn't surprising, cause on the whole i really do have a lot of happy friends. haha. oh wow. i sound SO ridiculous right now, i'm sure i'm going to hate reading this on a bad day. haha.

anyway. i hope your day is going just as well!

-lovelovelove!

p.s. and i do reccomend you check out that song by eric hutchinson. it's so catchy. (thanks rachel, for that intro). he's amazing!