Glam and Uncensored

Everywhere you look on the Internet today, you see websites charging $23.00 for lipsticks or $30.00 for mascara. There are times when you have three items in your cart and are being charged $50.00. It is not as if the customer makes $350,000 per year. But yet the online stores continue to charge higher rates for their products, and people continue to buy their products.

Finally, one day I decided I had enough. I logged onto my laptop and began a search for websites with name brand name makeup at cheap prices. And once I found the sites I wanted to share them. So below please find my favorite websites with makeup for cheap prices.

1. SHOP MISS A (www.shopmissa.com) – I came across this website while I was playing around on the Internet. The products on this website are $1.00. It is its own brand. Brands such as NARS, It Cosmetics and Lancome are not sold. Shop Miss A is its own brand. However, the quality to this product is there. And in addition to cosmetics, high quality makeup brushes sold.
   
2. MAKEUPMANIA (www.makeupmania.com) – This website was invented by a movie makeup artist when she was having a real hard time finding certain makeup brands outside New York and Los Angeles. So she decided to start her own website in which these products were sold to those who are not makeup artists. She put La Femme and Ben Nye on the site. Today Makeupmania caters to every realm of makeup.
   
3. BUY ME BEAUTY (www.buymebeauty.com) – This website concentrates on selling discounted makeup such as L’Oreal, Revlon and Maybelline. Buy Me Beauty also sells skincare products such as Erno Laszlo. Should you have any issues with the brands that they sell, it is very easy to communicate your problem and be issued a refund or exchange.
   
4. IMAGE BEAUTY (www.imagebeauty.com) – Around thirty years ago, Image Beauty entered the beauty business with its supplies of beauty and salon products. In addition to these products, it offers discount designer fragrances and beauty brands, and its thousands of products are incredible. What I like about this website is it offers high end products at low prices. Not to mention Image Beauty is among the few beauty websites that offers skincare and fragrances at low prices.
   
5. RUE-LA-LA (www.ruelala.com) – This website always has sales on very specific brands of beauty products. Each and every day Rue La La will pull together specific brands of beauty products for a few days at a time. The products are those you have come to love at prices nearly 75% off.
   

So the next time you are in the mood for a little shopping in the beauty department, and do not have a whole lot of funds, check out these websites. You will not be disappointed.

It cannot be too dark and it cannot be too light. You need to strike that happy medium when it comes to foundation color. To start, for each range of shades, there is something called an undertone – cool, warm and neutral. You always want to choose the right shade with the right undertone.

Also, when choosing a foundation color, you want to consider your skin type and what you want the foundation to do. By doing this you are searching for a foundation which is good for your skin and what will make your skin look its best.

Next, if your skin is prone to breakouts, choose an oil-free foundation. It is lightweight and will not cause breakouts. Maybe choose a foundation with salicylic with acid as it can reduce and/or prevent breakouts.

• All women should to stay away from foundations which are powder based or have a heavy matte feeling. Foundations such as these can settle into fine lines and will make you appear older. Always choose foundations which are lightweight in texture and with moderate coverage. Also, you want to search for a foundation which will protect your skin from further aging as well as help improve your skin’s appearance.

• Stick to choosing foundations which are hypollaergenic, non-comedogenic or fragrance free. These foundations are great for sensitive skin. Examples of these foundations include Covergirl and Lancome.

• Make sure your foundation has SPF of at least 15.

• If you have dry skin, choose a moisturizing foundation. An example of this would be liquid foundation which is able to nourish the skin.

The ultimate goal for foundation is to discover one which looks like your own skin; only better. Even if you find that one foundation which is an extreme match, there are other concerns such as texture, coverage and finish.

The above is a guide to finding the right foundation. If you have any tips and tricks to finding the right foundation, please share your thoughts.

Acne products. There are hundreds on the market. But which ones are really the best to fight acne? In the skincare market there are many treatment options at different price points. Experts will attest to the fact those options which are gentle are better than harsh products that can rid your skin of moisture. Below are a few suggestions for treating skin with acne:

1. CLEAN & CLEAR ADVANTAGE ACNE SPOT TREATMENT – This treatment is a drugstore favorite. It has won Best of Beauty Award twice in a row. The Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment will reduce the appearance of all breakouts, thanks to a small percentage of salicylic acid. This is available at your local drugstore for $7.00.
   
2. THE ORDINARY NIACINAMIDE – Have you ever been out, having a fabulous time, then you look in the mirror just to see your face shinier than a disco ball on a dance floor. Well, kiss that shine away with the Ordinary Niacinamide. This vitamin B3 and mineral serum product is a game changer. Just apply a few drops in the morning and evening to your skin. This product is available at Sephora for the cost of $6.00.
   
3. LA ROCHE-POSAY EFFACLAR DUO DUAL ACNE TREATMENT – This awesome skin treatment features micronized benzol peroxide and lipo-hydroxy acid which will gently slough off dead skin cells and infiltrate deep into your skin. It is available at Target for $19.99.
   
4. NEUTROGENA RAPID CLEAR STUBBORN ACNE CLEANSER – This product treats your full face and clears the acne without drying out your skin. It contains the maximum amount of Benzoyl Peroxide and is recommended by dermatologists as the #1 non-prescription acne medication. Available at Ulta for $10.99.
   
5. PAULA’S CHOICE CLEAR DAILY SKIN CLEARING TREATMENT – Harsh acne fighting ingredients tend to irritate and aggravate acne. Your best bet is to look for products which are formulated with active ingredients and skin soothing ones such as bisabolol. This product can be purchased for $19.00 at QVC.

Looking for the right product to fight acne boils down to trial and error. This list will hopefully give you a head start in the search for the best acne treatment for your skin. If you have any product suggestions, please share with me.

You have makeup brushes to thank for flawless foundation application and properly contoured cheeks. Because of that we cannot forget about the buildup of dirt and oils on those brushes which can cause skin breakouts and possible rashes. But this buildup can disappear with a weekly cleaning of your makeup brushes. But how often should you be cleaning the makeup brushes? Well, for makeup brushes you use on your face (i.e. foundation and concealer) you would clean these brushes once a week. When it comes to brushes you use for eye makeup, you should clean in between uses. However, you should WASH these brushes on a monthly basis.

METHOD OF CLEANING:

• What is the proper way to clean your brushes:
• Squeeze 2-3 drops of a gentle shampoo (i.e. baby shampoo) into a glass or mug and fill it with warm water;
• Wisk your brushes in the soapy water, then massage the brush bristles to get the rest of the grime;
• After getting the grime from your brushes, take clean water squeeze the water out;
• Lay the brushes on a flat on a clean dish towel to dry

The most potent brush cleaner are the ones you have in your kitchen, for example Dawn dishwashing liquid. This soap will remove almost anything. Dawn will also clean your makeup sponges. Just let your sponges soak in a glass with Dawn and water. Then rinse with warm water, dab on a clean paper towel and repeat. Finally, place the sponges in a microwave for a few seconds to rid of the bacteria.

As soon as you see your makeup brushes are not getting as clean like they once were, it may be time to replace them. As a rule of thumb, replace your makeup brushes every three months.

With very fluffy brushes, i.e. powder brushes, you will see they are ready to be cleaned based on product build-up at the base of the brush or the bristles.

Beware not to over clean your makeup brushes. Overly cleaned brushes will not pick up product very well. And do not dry your brushes in a vertical position. It will make water leak into the ferrule (the piece which joins the bristles to the wand) and then loosen the glue, causing loss of bristles. Brushes do a horrible job when they become too pinched or squashed.

These are just a few steps to clean your makeup brushes. The main point is to make sure you keep your makeup brushes clean as they help prevent skin breakouts and assist in a better application of your makeup.