Glam and Uncensored

I will admit it; I’m obsessed with makeup and makeup brushes. From the beginning, I had issues with storing my makeup and tools. So I was forced to sit in front of my laptop and come up with the answer to my problem. It took me about three days to find answers to my problem. But then it occurred to me that I could not be the only person suffering from this issue. With that, I drafted this blog to share my findings.

A) DOOR SHOE ORGANIZER – If you have a small bedroom, a shoe organizer which hangs over the door is going to help. Just hang the organizer over the door and place the cosmetics you use the most into the pockets.

B) PAPER TOWEL TUBE – Not only does an empty paper towel tube store makeup, you are also recycling paper products from your kitchen. Once you are done with your paper towels, simply take the empty tube, cut it in half, wrap it with patterned sticky paper and glue the tubes to a paper plate. You now have storage for cosmetics and brushes on a consistent basis.

C) MASON JAR CONTAINERS – Simply gather all the mason jars within your possession. Then go to your local hardware store and pick out your favorite color spray paint. Once home, gather your mason jars and place them on a flat surface, top down. Then get to work. Spray your jars with your spray paint and allow to dry. And here is the fun suggestion. Take painters tape and tape off sections of the mason jars. Next spray the taped jars with a second color and allow to dry. Once the spray paint has dried, take off the tape to reveal a colorful and useful makeup brush container.

D) MAGNETIC MAKEUP BOARDS – First find an old frame (i.e. frame from an old, unwanted painting). Then go to your local hardware store for a sheet of metal, and cut it to fit your frame. Once the metal has been cut, take your favorite color of spray paint and paint the frame. Next, get some spray adhesive to stick some fabric to the metal. Then attach the metal to the frame. After the metal and the frame are attached, choose the cosmetics you want to place on the magnetic board. Find some magnets and hot glue the magnets to the back of your cosmetics. Hang the frame to the wall and place the magnetic cosmetics to the metal board. You now have a new way to store your cosmetics.

E) SPICE RACK STORAGE – Looking for a new way to store all your nail polishes? How about a spice rack. Take your spice rack or second hand spice rack, and paint it your favorite color. Once dry, mount the rack on the wall, then place your nail polish on the rack; organizing the polishes as you see fit.

These are just five ways to organize your make-up and brushes. The ideas are cheap, simple and DIY. If you have ideas on how to store your makeup and brushes, please share.

With so many drugstore concealers in the market, it seems impossible to choose the best one. But from dark circles to blemishes, I have narrowed down the concealers which are on the drugstore shelves today.

CONCEALERS

1. NYX HD STUDIO PHOTOGENIC CONCEALER – This concealer has the ability to cover blemishes, dark circles, and still give the look of flawless skin, not the appearance of some cakey mess. In addition, the NYX concealer will not clog your pores and will work fantastically with foundations all by itself. It may be purchased for $4.29 at Target.
   
2. ELF 16 HOUR CAMO CONCEALER – This highly pigmented, concealer is lightweight and its doe-foot applicator conceals, contours, corrects and highlights to help achieve the appearance of flawless skin for at least 16 hours. And since it is lightweight, it will not settle into fine lines or creases. The concealer is 100% vegan, gluten and cruelty-free. It may be purchased for $16.00 at Kohl’s or Wal-Mart.
   
3. WET N’ WILD PHOTOFOCUS CONCEALER – Want flawless skin? Turn to the beauty junkie’s best secret. Didn’t sleep well last night? Have no fear! Wet N’ Wild Photofocus Concealer will instantly brighten your complexion so you are always selfie-ready. This concealer has proven to be cruelty-free, gluten-free, and it delivers buildable, light-weight coverage hiding blemishes, dark spots and conceals imperfections. The Wet-N-Wild Photofocus Concealer sells for $3.40 and may be purchased through Amazon.
   
4. MAYBELLINE NEW YORK FIT ME LIQUID CONCEALER – This is an oil-free and non-comedogenic concealer that will rid any signs of tiredness by creating a more restful appearance. This concealer works to conceal redness, blemishes, and flaws. It is made to match every skin tone from light to dark, and stay on perfectly fresh throughout the day. However, this concealer doesn’t provide full coverage when first applied. But if you layer the concealer, you will do just fine. The Maybelline New York Fit Me Liquid Concealer sells for $6.49. It may be purchased at your local ULTA store.
   
5. L.A. GIRL HD PRO CONCEALER – This is a budget-friendly concealer that is available in a majority of stores, and comes in 30 shades. It is the biggest bang for your dollar! The HD Pro concealer is crease-resistant and highly lightweight in texture. This long-wearing concealer formula hides any darkness under the eyes, any redness, and skin imperfections. It may be purchased at CVS and Wal-Mart for $4.99.

These are the best drugstore concealers. They are reasonably priced and work as well as a high-end department store concealer. They are creamy, provide full-coverage and last all day long. Finding the perfect drugstore concealer is a definite must for any beauty lover, and with this list you will have zero problems finding the best drugstore concealer for you.

Now that winter is upon us, the feel of heat and shine from the Sun is slowly disappearing. So we now turn to bronzer to help achieve a bronzed appearance. But for a lot of people, bronzer can pose some difficulty on application. So I have listed a few pointers to help you to apply your bronzer to achieve a natural sun-kissed look.

• First, choose a matte bronzer that is one to two shades darker than your natural skintone. Then choose a brush that is fluffy and wide with a curved top. When choosing the proper color bronzer for your complexion, follow these tips:
  
  • Do not choose a shimmery bronzer. This type of bronzer makes you appear shiny. If you have oily skin, it will not look natural. On a normal type of skin which is sweaty, it too will appear unnatural.
    
  • FAIR SKIN COMPLEXION – Look for a honey-colored bronzer.
    
  • MEDIUM SKIN COMPLEXION – Search for a rose bronzer or gold flecked bronzer; and
    
  • DARKER SKIN COMPLEXION – Use a tawny or amber bronzer.
    

1. To start, take your wide, fluffy blush and swirl your brush evenly around the bronzer. A key tip is to apply your bronzer in light, even coats building the color up, rather than adding one dark layer all at once.
   
2. Now apply the bronzer across your forehead. When making this application, do it in the shape of a three (3), beginning at the top of your face (forehead) to the bottom.
   
3. Next, brush the bronzer on your cheekbones. Example: Smile in the mirror, then begin applying on the cheeks and up to your hairline.
   
4. When finished with your cheekbones, complete the bronzing by sweeping the bronzer along the jawline. By completing this application, you will add total definition to your face.

COMPLETING THE LOOK:

To eliminate any harsh lines which may be leftover, dip a powder brush into translucent powder, tap off the excess powder, and blend over the lines again.

Applying bronzer is a fantastic way to add an attractive natural-glow to your complexion; especially during those times when your appearance looks a little dull. So give it a shot, and let the glow from inside show!

1. Cleanse your skin on a regular basis. Removing oil and dirt, which can clog your pores, will keep your skin luminous. Ideally, wash your face in the morning and evening with a small drop of cleanser applied in circular motions. One example of a cleanser which can be used on a daily basis is La Roche-Posay Tolerane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser which may be obtained at ULTA for $14.99/13.50 oz.

2. Exfoliate Your Skin – One way to brighten your skin is via exfoliation. It is the process of removing the outer layer of dead skin, that makes the skin’s surface smoother and cleaner, and it also reflects light. You should use a physical exfoliant, such as a facial scrub, two to three times a week or maybe a chemical exfoliation, like a peel for dry/sensitive skin, once a week. One top physical exfoliant is Dermalogical Daily Microfoliant. This gentle exfoliant works wonders on all skin types. The scrub contains ingredients that work together to balance pigmentation and dead skin cells and impurities. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant may be obtained via Wal-Mart for $38.95/2.6 oz.

3. Vitamin C Serum – A few drops of Vitamin C serum every morning will help lighten brown spots, target free-radical damage, and even your skin-tone. In addition, Vitamin C serum will reduce the appearance of under eye circles and hydrate your skin. To use, take 3 to 5 drops on your fingertips and rub across your face. Start with using the serum every other day to everyday. One of the better Vitamin C serums is Revolution Skincare 12.5% Vitamin C Super serum and is available at Ulta for $14.00 for 1.0oz.

4. Moisturize – If your skin lacks hydration, it will make your complexion appear dull and accentuate any and all wrinkles. The best type of products to hydrate your skin are face lotions and creams. Why? Creams and lotions are emulsions that carry hydrating ingredients that deliver those ingredients into your skin’s top layer, allowing it to hold moisture. One of the better moisturizers on the market is Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream. This cream increases the skin’s hydration by 50% over a 24 hour period. You can purchase this Olay for $22.84 for 1.7oz at Wal-Mart.

These are just a few ways to help your skin look radiant. And the hydration from the products will help slow down the appearance of aging. So make an investment into your skin and enjoy that glowing output.