Archive for the ‘Make-up’ Category

For All You Busy People Out There…

A product thumbnail of Lip & Cheek Stain Rosie RedLately I’ve been busier than ever juggling all of the things I need to do during the week.  I think we can all agree that there simply aren’t enough hours in a day. That’s why I jump at any opportunity to multi-task.  Working while eating lunch, reading my emails while talking on the phone, and even applying mascara while driving —I’m guilty of them all.

One thing I don’t have to feel bad about is spending money on one of the many 2-in-1 products that seem to be everywhere lately.  I’m obsessed with Femme Couture’s Get Rosie Lip and Cheek Stain Duo.  This product is a true lifesaver if I’m running low on time in the morning.

Not sure if I’m alone on this, but I’ve found most other “stains” to be really difficult to use—though I’ll admit that it may have something to do with the fact that I’m the messiest/clumsiest person ever.

The idea of trying to blend a runny liquid onto my cheeks or lips before it stains (and, by the way, I’ve learned that they’re called “stains” for a reason!) is a little terrifying.  That’s why this product is a nice surprise.

One side is a twist-up blush stick, the other, a lip gloss wand that perfectly applies a gel-like stain that smells delicious. The best part is that both look completely natural and last through my whole day—from running out the door for work to sweating my buns off at the gym.

Now all I need is a product that will help me sleep and burn calories at the same time!

How to be Dazzling in 2012

Sadly, my favorite holiday of all, New Year’s Eve, has come and gone.  I think one of the reasons I love it so much—aside from the champagne—is the excuse it gives me to get all dressed up and to try out some fun glitzy make-up!  In my opinion, there is no way to over-do the sparkle on this special night.  But just because it’s January doesn’t mean the party has to end! Here are a few ways to keep the sparkle going the whole year ‘round, regardless of your make-up style!

Dramatic:  If you’re like me, you love trying out fun new make-up trends, and you’re never afraid of a little color…or sparkle.  Femme Couture’s new Eye Drama Glitter Eye Pencils are just the thing for you!  They come in a variety of colors (yes, even black and brown if you don’t want to get too crazy) and give you just the right amount of sparkle for a special night out.  And, for the whole month of January, you can get 2 for only $5—a steal!

Unexpected: Another fun way to try out sparkle is on your lashes!  It may sound a little wild, but it’s actually a pretty understated way to shake up your normal look.  Try swiping on some Femme Couture Lightening Lash in “Black Tinsel” over your regular black mascara.  Now go on and bat those beautiful lashes—the boys won’t know what hit ‘em!

Subtle:  Over-the-top glitter not your thing?  Don’t worry, there is even a way to make the most demure girl shine.  Try Femme Couture Lip Luster in “Pink Sparkle”.  This gorgeous light pink gloss will give you shiny, irresistible lips with just a hint of shimmer.

My Favorite Beauty Products

I just returned from a beautiful weekend in San Diego at the BlogHer conference. I met some truly amazing women bloggers and had the best time socializing and learning.

After finding out that I was with Sally Beauty, the first question out of everyone’s mouth was, “What’s your favorite product?” So, I decided I should do a round-up of my Top Five Favorite Sally Beauty Products.

In no particular order:

1. Ion Color Brilliance Permanent Creme Hair Color in 3G – My hair has been a lot of colors over the years, but this has to be my favorite shade. It’s shiny, has just a hint of red for warmth and makes my hair feel and look super healthy. 

2. Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat - I refuse to paint my nails without this. It gives my polish a glass-like finish, dries in a snap and keeps them from chipping. I apply it every couple of days to keep my manicure looking fresh.

3. China Glaze Refresh-Mint – You know how newly engaged women constantly hold out their hand to admire their ring? That’s what I do when I wear this polish.

4. Miracle 7 Leave-in Conditioner - Now here’s a product that actually lives up to the hype. It’s ahhmazing. I love it because I have fine hair that gets weighed down easily, but needs a lot of conditioning, and Miracle 7 takes care of it.

5. Palladio Liquid Eye Liner in Black Forest - I always made a mess with liquid liner until I tried Palladio. The brush is super easy to work with and lets me draw perfect lines. Black Forest is a great color because it’s dark without being as harsh as black.

What beauty products can you not live without? Please share in the comments!

Beach Bag Musts

As a mom of three girls, I know that beach bag musts go far beyond a towel and umbrella. A perfectly lovely day at the beach can turn ugly fast when a few of these are forgotten.

Sunscreen – we cover every last inch of our bodies with it, or so we think. Sunburned lips are no picnic and can really hurt. Keep lips covered by making sure your lip balm has sunscreen. Pucker Up carries one with Aloe and SPF15 or a medicated one with SPF30.

Salt water can create some great beachy waves until you try to comb through them. Bringing a wide tooth comb and leave-in detangler helps you get through tangled hair easier and also keep hair from drying out in all the sun. I love the Plugged in Shower Comb because it has a hook to hang it from in the shower and my kids love the smell of the Beyond the Zone Last Call Leave-In Conditioner. Also make sure that any ponytail tie you use is snag free.

It’s also a good idea to bring some makeup remover wipes. Not that I expect you head to the beach with much makeup, but it is a great way to remove sunscreen at the end of the day. I generally keep a pack of the Fria Makeup Remover Towelettes in my beach bag. These have vitamin E which can help soothe and refresh skin.

So there are a few tips from a seasoned mom on how to make your trip the beach a little bit nicer. I would love to hear any other tips you may have.

New Year’s Eve

It’s almost time for New Year’s Eve! This year celebrate it in color. Whether it is a subtle shimmer, or rockin’ bold colors, any look can be achieved by shopping at Sally Beauty. Here are my picks for looking gorgeous on this special night:

REAL COLORS Smokey Eye Kits walks you through each application step for a complete evening look.

REAL COLORS Eye Shadow Palettes will put a glimpse of shimmer on your eyes.

FEMME COUTURE Quad Eye Shadow contains four great shades to create multiple looks from smoky to soft subtle plums.

Out for several hours and want to ensure your make-up looks great all night? Then Sally Girl cosmetics are perfect, inexpensive and small enough to fit in any clutch! 

So rock out or shimmer your way through the New Year’s! Either way Sally Beauty’s cosmetics have you covered for the year!

Halloween Memories

Halloween, 1988

Do you have a favorite Halloween costume memory? Mine would have to be the year I went as a Punk Rocker (That was the official name I gave myself).  I was the toughest, coolest chick on the block with my pink ratted hair, spider tattoo and puff painted splatter shirt. (What’s that? Puff paint isn’t usually considered to be Punk Rock? Details!) I don’t know why at 5 I just had to be a Punk Rocker but I’m guessing like most things, it can be blamed on the 80s.

What makes this costume memory even more fun for me now is that I distinctly remember going with my mom to Sally Beauty to pick up the pink hairspray. Yes, I was a big fan even then.

To recreate this look break out your rattail comb, spray on some Beyond The Zone Color Bombz Temporary Haircolor in Air Head Pink, draw on a tattoo of your choice with black eyeliner, and voila! You’ve got a super fun and simple costume.

I’d love to hear about your favorite Halloween memory! Any fellow Punk Rockers out there?

Gray is the new black…again

Have you heard that gray is once again THE color for fall? I attended a presentation on trends last week and everyone is still all about The Gray. What are your thoughts? Do you agree or are you sick of it?

My love affair with it continues, but I admit that gray by itself can come across as a little…blah. That’s why I prefer to mix it with pops of colors, especially burnished oranges. I’ve got pumpkin spice lattes, gray cashmere scarves and caramel scented everything on the brain right now, so it’s only natural that it’s spilling over into my beauty look. Smoky eyes and nails the color of pie? Bring it on!

Here’s a roundup of some products featuring my current color combo obsession:

  1. FingerPaints in Copper Elements
  2. Femme Couture Baked Eye Duo in Copper Chic
  3. China Glaze in Avalanche
  4. Palladio Tinted Lip Balm in Orange
  5. Palladio Baked Eye Shadow in Gun Metal
  6. Palladio Eye Ink in Smokey
  7. Sally Girl Mini Squeeze Tube Lip Gloss in Shimmer Pink
  8. Sally Girl Mini Baked Eye Shadow in Silver

 

So what colors are you loving this fall?

A Simple Halloween Costume

Every Halloween I dread the question, “What will you dress up as?” Thankfully, this year I already have a plan! I don’t want to spend a lot of unnecessary money, especially on make-up that I will never use again.  So I have decided to be a cat! Simple and very inexpensive, plus I get to purchase cosmetics that I really can reuse. Besides buying black stockings, all I need is Femme Couture Gel Eyeliner, Ardell Wild Lashes, and Femme Couture Lip Luster Gloss in Cherry Frost.  Easy as 1-2-3!!

Here’s how you do it:

Starting with the gel eyeliner create a thin stroke from the inside of the eye and draw across getting thicker as you line the upper lid. Be sure to pull out and up at an angle to create a perfect cat eye.  Then apply Ardell Wild Lashes using clear adhesive.  Using the same Femme Couture eye liner brush, create whiskers on each cheek and fill in the tip of the nose.  Finally add some Cherry Frost gloss and MEOW, you’re cute as a kitten!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

The life expectancy of makeup

Nothing lasts forever. Well, maybe Twinkies do. But makeup doesn’t, and sometimes you need to replace it even if you haven’t used it up.

How long does makeup last?

The answer varies, depending on many conditions, including temperature, light, and humidity. And also on whom you ask!

Many of you know this, but I’ll bet some of you don’t: Most makeup packaging includes a small symbol that tells you how long it will last after opening. It looks like a jar with the lid open. It’s very tiny, and you might have to use a magnifier to read it.

That information is useful to a point. Who remembers exactly when they bought that lipstick, that foundation, that mascara? A year can seem like only a few months!

Here are guidelines on how long makeup lasts, and how to tell it’s time to replace it.

Foundation
About a year.
How to tell when it’s bad: Change in color or consistency

Lipstick
Two or three years.
How to tell when it’s bad: Change in consistency.

Mascara
About four months.
How to tell when it’s bad: Change in consistency.

Nail polish
One to two years.
How to tell if it’s bad: It won’t fully mix when you shake it.

Powder, blush, eye shadow
Two to three years.
How to tell if it’s bad: Color change.

Your mileage may vary. I’m not looking for an argument!

Disclamer: My coworker Kim suggested this topic for the Beauty Hints section of our website. I decided to put it here on our blog first. Please don’t mention this to Kim. I’ll tell her when the time is right. Thanks.

Check out our Beauty Hints section for ideas, instructions, and product recommendations!

A hint of color for fall

Fall is one of the greatest times of the year! Football season is back, the leaves are changing, and we’re getting to enjoy the reappearance of cooler weather.  But as summer winds down, I am also watching my tan fade away as I say goodbye to the sun-kissed cheeks.  As much as I love fall, I am not ready to see my golden glow go! 

Fortunately Palladio has the best mosaic bronzer to keep me looking good until spring. Each mosaic comes in five unique colors that can be used separately or together to create one unique shade.  I love this because if I just want to add a little hint of color I can choose from one of the 5 shades to highlight just my cheek bone. Or if I want that all over sun-kissed look, I sweep my brush across all the colors to create the perfect bronzed look. There are 6 different pallets with a range of pinks, tans and browns so there is definitely something for everyone.

So enjoy tailgating, raking the leaves, or whatever you do for fun in the fall, but do it with a little hint of color!