Everyone Else is Doing It!

Oh it is time. I am just about to regale you with a tale from my "good old days" in college. Are you ready? Just wait. You will be telling your own stories just like this one day. I promise.

My first dorm in college was all-girls. After spending 5 years at an all-girls private school, I was less than thrilled about this. But it was a good experience and I made some good friends and I even managed to study once in a while. HOWEVER. What I remember most about this dorm is a poster that hung in the lobby, right next to the elevators. The poster (which I found online and posted above) was a wrinkled and gnarled looking woman, smoking a cigarette, and below her was the phrase, "Smoking is very glamorous." I passed that poster every day and I remember thinking, EW, I will never end up looking like that. Because I won't lie, I did smoke in college, and I don't like to admit it now, but my boyfriend smoked, a lot of my friends smoked, and so, in an effort to be all cool and college-like, I smoked, too. I quit a long time ago but I still worry that one day I'll end up looking like the lady in the poster.

Smoking, like sun exposure, is one of those things that has long-term affects that, since you don't see right away, you rarely think about. EVERYONE knows that you shouldn't smoke because of the risks of lung cancer. But not all of us think about what smoking will eventually do to your skin. When you are 12, 13, 14, I know it's practically impossible to think 20, 30, or 40 years down the road... but as much of a downer as it is to say, you won't be young forever (well, maybe in your heart you will be), so take good care of yourself and your skin now and the older version of you will thank you for it.

All joking aside, smoking is the single worst thing you can do for your skin (besides run around on the equator without sunscreen on). Keep that in mind when you and/or your friends start getting curious about cigarettes. Just take a look at my lady friend and remember that smoking is very glamorous.

Quest for the Best

I used to have this unbreakable habit of buying a new lip gloss every time I was in the drugstore. And, considering the amount of times per week I run into CVS, you can imagine what my makeup case looked like after years of doing this. I have managed to chill out (a little) on the lipgloss, but they say when you kick one habit, you pick up another, so I've really just replaced the gloss with mascara. First of all, there is a commerical for a new mascara pretty much every 3 minutes. I know. I watch a lot of TV. And, since I believe just about anything advertisers tell me to, this means that in the last 6 months I have purchased quite a lot of drugstore mascara in my quest to find the best (under $10) tube out there. Last night I picked up Rimmel's The Max Volume Flash (really, I love the names they come up with just to get me to buy a tube of black goop to put on my eyelashes), and although I wasn't totally astounded, I was impressed. My lashes were pretty full following 2 coats, and the applicator was easy to use. AND, the tube it comes in is hot pink. I've also recently picked up Revlon's Double Twist Mascara which sadly was a BIG dissappointment. The applicator is SO BIG (it's a combo of the traditional bristle wand plus the "new" rubber wand that separates lashes) it's hard to get in and out of the tube, not to mention it's almost too big to put anywhere near your eye. Maybelline's Great Lash is a big seller and favorite of many makeup artists, and they recently came out with Great Lash BIG, which (surprise) I got suckered into purchasing because the picture showed the brush was half green and half pink. Sadly, the brush is covered in mascara (duh!), so there was no sign of the pink and green I was promised, but the mascara did its job well enough and I'd probably buy it again.

I haven't tried the new L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara(again, what an AMAZING name, because I totally DO want my eyelashes to be telescopic!!!), but I have seen the wand and it looks like this is next on my list. It's small and spherical (that is round for those of you not paying attention in geometry) and I MUST know how that equals telescopic lashes.

And so. The quest continues!

AMAZING (if not perhaps a little bit of overkill...)

So, I am a big fan of So You Think You Can Dance (or, as we in the "industry" like to call it, SYTYCD). I was totally into it last season, but I feel like season 6 followed season 5 waaaay too closely, so I haven't really been following. So I am sitting at home trying to motivate myself off the couch (not having much luck), and I'm watching SYTYCD for the first time this season. I think the musical guest is a new thing, but 5 minutes ago, this girl took to the stage with her guitar and her song and I didn't notice any of it over the insane amount of glitter on her eyes. Now, I will admit, this look is WAAAAAY too much for day time (or really even nighttime, unless you are a drag queen or a rock star), but I am IN LOVE with how it makes her eyes pop. To achieve a more subtle version of this look (aka one that your mom will let you leave the house with!), use a color like MAC's Beauty Marked as your contour color on the outside corner of your eyes and stick with a matte all over shadow. Glitter on the entire lid can look a bit too circus-y, but if you keep it confined (and really, is it even possible to confine glitter??) you can get the look right.

PS- This girl's name is Orianthi or something like that. I do not know who she is, nor did I really care for the song she sang. But I do worship her makeup artist.

De-mystifying the Fan Brush

As I've mentioned earlier, it's holiday time. That means you'll probably get lots of gifts you don't want or like or know what to do with. As a teenage girl, I always loved getting makeup sets or kits as a gift, and they never failed to have this one crazy looking brush that I had no CLUE what to do with: the fan brush. For a while, I just had like 3 or 4 of these brushes sitting in my bathroom, collecting dust, because, surely, if they came in this makeup kit, they must serve some purpose related to makeup...right? Now I'm down to just one, since it's not one of the brushes I use every time I put my face on, but there are a few good uses for this mystical brush that I thought I would share with you.

1. Use a fan brush to lightly apply loose powder to your eyelashes before putting on your mascara. This fattens up your lashes a bit and acts as a base for your mascara, which also helps your lashes look longer and fuller. You don't need or want much powder on the brush, though, so just dust the brush in loose powder (pressed compacts really don't work here, in case you don't have loose powder already), close the eye you're applying the powder to (duh) and give the lashes one good swipe with the brush flat against the lashes. Voila! Mascara primer. Who knew?

2. Often when I apply my shadows, some of the pigments fall from the brush to below my eye and end up just above my cheek. I have tried to swipe this shadow snow away with my hand and it only leads to a big smear of color across my face, and unless it's Halloween or you're auditioning to be a backup dancer for Lady Gaga, that is probably not the look you want to achieve. Use your fan brush to gently brush off the excess powder without making a mess.

3. I am a girl. Therefore, I love glitter. I want to put glitter all over myself, at all times. This is not always appropriate. The fan brush comes in handy when I want to stealthily add some shimmer to my hair without looking like I fell in a vat of glitter (omg, how amazing would THAT be??). Use a shimmer shadow or loose glitter and very lightly dust your fan brush in it - then apply to the hair around your face (this is NOT the time to wear your heavy hands, though...chances are your mom will just make you get in the shower and wash it off if you go overboard. I speak from experience!). Proof that subtle CAN = pretty!!

holidaaaaaay, celebrate!

i know. i know, i know, i know. i have TOTALLY been slacking on my posts. shame, shame, shame, i know my name (do people even say that anymore?). the fact is, i have been super busy with my 9-5 job and have hardly even had time to do my OWN makeup (gasp!!!), let alone talk about it on a blog. i mean, halloween is over and i didn't even do a post about how to do your makeup like lady gaga!!! at least with the passing of halloween means that the holidays are quickly approaching. i do not know about you, but i am in LOVE with christmas. not because of all the gift giving (not that i DISLIKE that part!), but i just love the feeling of christmas and every year i wait on pins and needles for halloween and even thanksgiving to pass just so that the radio will start playing christmas music 24/7. but i also love the bright red lips and the shimmery shadows that are always totally acceptable around the holidays. normally i wouldn't wear red lips to the office because it's kind of a bold statement to make in a government office, but once the holidays roll around, i feel totally justified in putting on my shimmery red glosses (i use a nude lip liner to tone it down a little) because, HELLO, i am trying to look like a christmas tree! i am baking cookies from scratch as i write this, even though the first batch came out looking like fried eggs, because it gets me in the mood even more. now is the time, though, to stock up on supplies. christmas is gift set CENTRAL. brushes, shadow palattes, glosses, you name it, it will be packaged up with a precious bow and waiting anxiously for you to take it home. i will be the first to admit that i STILL ask for makeup every single year for christmas. EVERY YEAR. i bought one of those $14.99 sets last year from cvs just because the travel bag it all came in was so flippin cute. so. i say, treat yourself to that gift set you really want. you don't even have to wait for santa to bring it.

Fall Trends: Hot Pink Lips

I have never really been one to wear color on my lips. As my sister loves to point out, I have pretty thin lips that I don't like to draw a whole lot of attention to with bold color, so I tend to stick to nude or very pale pink tones when it comes to my lips. However, I do like to keep up with the trends and one that I'm really liking for the fall (picked up from people.com) is pink lips. But not baby pink, no no...hot, fuscia pink, which is a beautiful color on so many skin tones. If you're on the younger spectrum of your teenage years (say 12-14ish), I would stick to lip glosses just because an actual lip stick can look sort of heavy on young skin, and there are plenty of glosses out there that offer lots of shine and color. One thing to note here is that if you're going for bold lips, keep the rest of your look very light. Like how Charlize on the left here has totally played down her eyes so that there isn't a competition going on between her lips and her peepers. Hayden, in typical teenage fashion, has upped the liner around her eyes, but has otherwise kept the boldness of her look confined to her lips. I would definitely advise against using colored shadow if you're going to rock this look. That is just clown face waiting to happen. And most people I know are terrified of clowns, so we want to steer clear of that.

What IS Mineral Makeup, Anyway??

Mineral makeup is everywhere. People rave about its super powers, how pure it is, how great it is for your skin, how it could cure cancer (ok, I made that one up)...but is it really better for your skin, or is it all just one big marketing ploy? Nowadays we assume that because something says "natural" or "pure" on the label, it's better for us, but that's not necessarily true. The same thing applies to something labeled "organic." Pick up some products that say natural or organic and read the ingredients list - as long as an ingredient is derived from something that is "natural" (as in, a plant is put through a chemical process to get a certain ingredient out of it), that product can label itself as such. Just be careful about what you're putting on your skin, and into your body. It never hurts to read labels. But back to the mineral makeup, I did some research and found a great article at a reliable source - Web MD - that you can read here. But if you're not into reading a 3 page article, here's the low down. Mineral makeup contains the same basic ingredients that most makeup is made from (insert names of mineral sounding materials that are apparently ground up minerals that do exist in nature!). What mineral makeup does NOT contain is preservatives (which means the makeup can sit on shelves for longer), binders (chemicals that hold the makeup together and also help it bind to your skin) and fragrances (which can irritate sensitive skin) - so, in a way, it could be considered more "pure" than other types of makeup. By removing some of those things like synthetic dyes and fragrances that cause sensitivity in some people, mineral makeup could prove better for you if you have very irritable skin. So, it really all comes down to what works best on your skin. Just don't be fooled into thinking you are putting nothing but Mother Nature on your skin just because the label says "natural."

HOWEVER!!!

Fall does not mean that you are off the hook in terms of protecting your skin (especially your face!) from the sun. Fall and winter are especially dangerous because people think their skin can't burn. Well, people are WRONG! Glory for Girls makes an all the time sunscreen that goes on without feeling heavy or oily, it smells delicious, and it's all natural. It's available in SPF 17 and SPF 30, so I implore you, please do not stop wearing sunscreen just because it's not hot anymore. The heat may be gone, but the sun is not. And what is it that does the damage to our skin? THE SUN. So. Don't forget to apply sunscreen or a moisturizer with at least SPF 15 EVERYDAY, underneath your makeup. You will thank me when you do not shrivel up like a raisin later on in life. ;)

Things to Love About Fall

I don't know if you are anything like me, but i LOVE summer. I mean I heart summer big time. Lindsey + Summer 4EVA. I would probably marry summer if it were actually possible. I love the heat, I love the long days, I even love the humidity. But alas, summer is yet again leaving me, just like it does every year at this time. I am learning to embrace fall, and I certainly am a bigger fan of fall than winter, but let's be honest, nothing compares to summer. With fall, though, comes lower humidity, which is good for everyone's hair, plus makeup doesn't slide off your face the second you apply it because it's no longer 97 degrees outside. What I really like about fall is the change in color palattes you see...the browns, the golds, coppers, deep purples - all colors that a brown haired, brown eyed girl like me LOVES. This is not to say that your tropical neon pink lady palattes will never see the light of day again...but now is a good time to pack them away (or toss them if they need tossing) and bring out colors that are more earthy. As far as color, you can still wear it, but instead of baby blue, try navy. Eggplant purple is great for this time of year, as is a deep hunter or olive green. I got some samples from Milani over the summer that were awesome for that time of year, and that I really loved - so I indulged myself (and when I say indulge, I mean I spent like $5.99) in a beautiful color called Coffee Shop, from the Runway Eyes collection. It's a shimmery copper color and it's stunning. Copper is one of those colors that looks great on most skin tones and with pretty much any eye color. Also keep in mind you may need to think about a heavier foundation (but only if you need it), and consider that you may be losing your summer tan (GASP!!!) so powders and bronzers may need to go down to the next lightest shade. Another thing to adore about fall? Bringing out your fall wardrobe. Every year without fail when I switch out my spring/summer stuff for my fall and winter clothes, I find stuff I TOTALLY forgot that I had, so keep that in mind before you go blow your summer savings on a totally new wardrobe. And finally...fall means that the stores unleash that golden gift from heaven upon us all...CANDY CORN. If that doesn't deserve a season of its own, I really don't know what does!!!

What's Wrong With This Picture??

Ok, there are so many bad ideas going on here, I really don't know where to start. First bad idea is hanging out with Lindsay Lohan. That girl is a good influence on NO ONE. Second bad idea is Taylor Momsen yet again looking like a homeless vampire. These are people we should look up to? I think not. Lighten up, ladies...you're young and rich!! Stop acting (and dressing) like you are 35 and making minimum wage!

Taylor, look into eye makeup remover. Lindsay...look into your natural hair color. Please and thank you.

Goodbye to Summer

Ok, so I've been a bit busy enjoying the end of my summer and have totally slacked on my beauty blogging. What can I say, I'm not ready to say goodbye to summer yet. I promise to be more on top of the blog in the upcoming weeks - including posting video tutorials and more posts on celebrity looks and great new products. But while summer is still lingering, one thing to keep in mind is that with the change in weather will also come a change in the way your skin responds to products. Moisturizers that work great in the summer may not be enough once the fall and winter start their relentless attempts to suck all moisture out of your poor defenseless skin. You may need to think about stepping up your routine or finding a heavier foundation, since you won't immediately sweat it off as soon as you walk out the door. I'll get into all this more as the season progresses, it's just something to think about for now. For most of us, you'll wear a different foundation for fall and winter than for spring and summer, and your skin may need more than just a light moisturizer. Again, getting to know your skin type will help you figure all this out once you actually do have to start pulling out all your fall sweaters. So, enjoy your light summer foundation while it's still warm out, and prepare your wallets for a fall makeup spree!!

Using Color Creatively

It’s no secret that I’m a big advocate of wearing makeup that is not only age-appropriate, but situation-appropriate as well – meaning toning down the glitter or the thick liner for school, work, family events, etc. This does not mean, however, that “appropriate” means “boring.” Personally, I cannot seem to get myself to stay away from color, no matter if I’m going to work or doing freelance makeup work, or even just hanging out with my family or friends on the weekends (yes, I hang out with my family. They are cool people. You will understand how cool your family is when you are older, I promise). Granted, I don’t wear as much as I would if I were going out with my girlfriends or having dinner with my boyfriend (ok, he’s my husband, but I want to sound cool and hip here!), but you’d be surprised at how you can still work a pop of color into your everyday makeup routine to ramp up your look without crossing over into “inappropriate” territory. I am going to pretend like the girl on the left is not Stefani Pratt cause I could seriously care less about her, her brother, her brother’s wife, or any of those crazy idiots on the Hills or whatever show that is about all those rich kids who are famous for doing nothing. HOWEVER. The addition of a swipe of blue eyeliner to the bottom water line really makes the blue of her eyes stand out, and it’s an unexpected addition of color that also adds interest. In Ashanti’s case, the blue looks beautiful against her darker skin tone and adds definition to the shape of her eye that you may not notice if her liner were just black or brown. A little color in the outside corner of the eyes is always fun, or I also like to take a thin angled brush and swipe some color under my bottom lash line – purples, blues, greens…just don’t apply too heavily. Eyeliner is not meant to be black or brown all the time! I know I’ve advised you to keep a neutral color palatte for school/work, and you should, BUT…a little punch of color never hurt anyone. That I know of.

Back to School Beauty

So, sadly, it would seem that the end of lazy summer days are upon us…or at least you, because I have been working 9-5, Monday-Friday pretty much every day of my life for the last ten years. I still don’t know why “grown ups” don’t get summer vacation, but that’s another post. It’s back to school time!!! I know you must be so incredible excited, since you totally finished all your summer reading way ahead of time, and you can’t wait to use that new protractor you just got, right?? All that excitement aside, I have just a few back to school beauty ideas, do with them as you will:

-If you can’t wear makeup to school: Honestly, no one is going to notice some translucent powder so that one’s a freebie. Vaseline, oddly enough, is great on lashes when you can’t wear mascara. It gives them a shiny look which will make them stand out a bit more than if you weren’t wearing any at all, just dip your finger in the jar and very lightly apply to the tips of your lashes (I hope it’s not necessary for me to tell you to keep it out of your eyes cause it will not feel good). Clear mascara also gives about the same effect. Tinted lip balm is not technically makeup, and you can tell your principal I said that. So, put some of that on and you will be moisturized and have a bit of color, too.
-If you’re allowed makeup at school: DON’T. GO. OVERBOARD. I do this all the time, and I certainly did when I was a teenager – you stock up on a whole bunch of new products and you want to wear it all, immediately, at one time. Stop. This is not necessary. If you want to make a good impression on the first day, you want to look like yourself. Remember that boys are not the only ones checking you out, you also have a whole new round of teachers to leave an impression on. Keep your look simple, brush a neutral shade over your lids and use a mid tone (not super light but not black or a very dark brown, either) in the corners to emphasize your eye shape. Liner on the top lash line (black or brown…save the color for the weekend or special occasion), but again, you are not Amy Winehouse (and judging from the tabloids, I don’t think you want to be), so let your natural beauty and features be what people notice, NOT the fact that you have on more eyeliner than Pete Wentz.
-Throw a gloss or balm into your bag so you can reapply during the day, or a powder compact if you have a tendency to get shiny. Those oil-absorbing sheets also work really well for taking excess oil off without messing up your makeup. I would advise against in-class application, though. Just a thought.
-Clean out your makeup bag before school starts and toss anything that’s old. Need some guidelines? Start here. This is a great time to get some new shadows and liners. Just remember to keep your color palatte neutral for school!

It’s always sad to see another summer come to an end…but there’s always Thanksgiving and Christmas break to look forward to!

Why You Gotta Be So Mean?

I don't know what Perez Hilton has done to my mind, but he has worked his Jedi mind tricks on me and made me dislike Vanessa Hudgens for no real reason. For one thing, I think she is beautiful. I love her olive toned skin, her dark hair (how long you think it'll be before she, too, goes Hollywood blonde??), and the shape of her eyes. If you don't tell anyone, I'll admit I saw High School Musical, but failed to see the second or third and have no plans to see her new movie about being in a band or something ridiculous like that that I would never believe about her (see what I mean? Perez has MIND POWERS!!!). Anyway, none of this has any real point, but I just think she looks amazing in this photo, she's not overloaded with makeup, she looks like a teenager, and it's nice to see a teenager looking like a teenager and being happy about being a teenager. Maybe she's smiling because her boyfriend is Link Larkin (oops, I just admitted to seeing Hairspray, didn't I??), maybe it's because she's 18 and has like 4 million dollars. I don't know. Whatever the case, I do wish to let everybody know that you really are never fully dressed without a smile. :) Trust me. You don't have to make grown up sexy face all the time. You'll get wrinkles from all that pouting, anyway. And while I'm at it, don't believe everything you read, either...I love me some juicy celebrity gossip, but that stuff eats at your mind after long enough!

Shiny, Happy People (hmmm...this is a reference to an old REM song from the 90s that you maybe will not get cause you were like 4??)

I am the first to admit that I am very, very guilty of what I call "raccoon syndrome" because I am instantly attracted to and mesmerized by anything shiny, sparkly, or glittery. (In case you are not picking up what I am laying down, raccoons are infamous for their attraction to shiny, reflective things, I'm not just picking stupid names here) That said, I LOVE glittery, shimmery makeup. I love it. I got a Milani lip gloss the other day that I think I might want to marry. It's called Lip Mixer, and it's available in multiple shades (today I'm wearing Lip Stir, kinda like Hipster but with less hip and more lip - and I am all about that!), and not only does it look like something I might want to eat, but it's also incredibly, beautifuly shimmery, it's not sticky, and it smells delicious. I highly recommend adding any shade to your makeup collection, and you can get Milani at pretty much any drugstore. That said, it's also very easy to go over board with the giltter, so a tip for keeping the shine in check is to only apply it in one place. If your shadow is super glimmery, use a matte lipstick or a gloss that doesn't have glitter. If your lips are rocking the glitter, use matte shadows and maybe highlight by your brow bone with a shimmer. You don't want to look like a disco ball, so try to balance out something shiny with something matte (by the way, matte means it's not reflective, but a flat color that doesn't have sparkly specks or metallic shimmers in it...sounds boring, I know, but the combination of the two is really very nice!) to get your look right!!

(Literally) Going Green

So I’m sure you’ve seen this in the store before: a little tube of green liquid that calls itself concealer or cover up, or the same thing in yellow. And you want me to put this where?? Seems a bit off to put something that shade on your face and not come out looking like a cast member of Cirque du Soleil, but these are actually products of genius. If you’ve ever taken an art class and had to learn about the color wheel, this might make a little more sense, but if not, no biggie because it’s a pretty simple concept. Red and green are complimentary colors, right? Meaning they are opposite one another on the color wheel. So, when you apply green goop to a red spot on your face, guess what happens? The green counteracts the red and it works to neutralize the fact that hey, you’re human and you have a blemish. The trick with this is to not go overboard. You don’t need a lot to cover a blemish or two (or even cover a splotchy area if you’re dealing with uneven skin), and the real key here is to blend like crazy. Because if you don’t…you’re left with a greenish tint to your face which will have people thinking you’re on the verge of vomiting all day. And good luck getting anyone to sit next to you when they think you’re going to lose your lunch at any second.

As for the yellow concealers…these work really well on eyelids, for two reasons. One, they provide a base for your eye shadows to cling to and can actually make them last longer – just beware that you’re not overloading your lids, cause that will lead to your shadows “creasing” which never looks good. Secondly, they work great if you have really thin skin on your lids (like I do) and the veins below your skin are visible. Regular concealer will cover that up as well, but what the yellow does is work to counteract darker tones, if the skin on your eyelids happens to be darker than on the rest of your face, or if you have dark circles under your eyes (really, turn off the computer and go to SLEEP!!), a bit of yellow concealer can help cover that. Yellow or green, just be sure you’re blending. And of course, you’ll want to go over that with your foundation or powder, to give your skin an even tone, all over.

I'm Just Saying...

So I blogged recently about the importance of blending your foundation and powder so that your face isn't a totally different color than the rest of your body. This is maybe slightly less important in the fall and winter when you're more covered up, but as demonstrated by the adorable and very talented Jojo, when it's summer and you're showing skin, it just looks weird when your face is tan and the rest of you...is not.

Lighten up on the bronzer, ladies. If you're not blending right, you'll just end up looking dirty. And Jojo seems like the kind of girl who bathes on a regular basis, so I doubt this is the look she was going for. The dress is a totally different story, but I can't talk about that right now because I'm too distracted by the color of her arms versus the color of her face and neck. And the little peep of skin peeking out of the side of her dress. Hmmmmm....

When It's Too Hot for Foundation...

If you are one of the lucky few who is just blessed with beautiful skin (and oh, how I envy you!!) and you just don’t NEED to wear foundation, there’s a great product out there that doubles as a moisturizer and a little bit of color – tinted moisturizer (genius name, right??). One thing that’s really great about it is that it will blend in to match your skin tone because it’s only lightly tinted to provide just a teeny bit of coverage, and it also is super lightweight so you don’t have the heavy feel of foundation. This is also great during the summer if you want to skip the foundation all together but still need to even out your skin tone or cover a blemish. Sometimes it really is just too HOT for foundation. Instead, dab a bit of concealer under the eyes or over a blemish, then blend over that with the tinted moisturizer, finish with powder, and that’s that. Neutrogena makes a great one that is available at any drugstore, and even comes complete with that SPF factor that I love so much. And may I say, that had I had skin like Selena Gomez when I was 17, I would have paraded it around every single day. Not that she is parading, I’m just saying that I would have.

Hats Off to Hayden

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my lucky stars that I was never a child celebrity. Considering that I was a teen in the 90’s, when sky high bangs and unbelievably tacky crap were in fashion, I think most people who were famous back in the day can only look back at the photos and wonder why on earth they ever thought wearing multiple colored scrunchies (oh my GOD, do you even know what a scrunchie IS?!?!) or velvet button-up shirts was cool. That said, I am (for the most part) totally amazed at how classy and put together most teenage celebrities are now. I am not a huge fan of her acting (sorry, but I speaka da truth), but I would like to applaud Hayden Panawhatever, because she was born when I was like TEN and I seriously want to raid her closet. I plan to get some video tutorials going on here soon, and I’d really like to recreate some of Hayden’s looks. MOST of the time she looks age appropriate and fresh-faced and cute (ok, ok, she’s beautiful) and I know that for me, attempting to imitate the looks of my favorite celebrities back in the day often had disastrous endings (I have already mentioned the pencil thin eyebrows that were a result of telling my older sister to make me look like Drew Barrymore).

I do think it’s kinda creepy that she can’t date anyone her own age, but that has nothing to do with this blog, I just wanted to say it. Out loud. So she can hear me.

Anyway, stay tuned for some video soon, and kudos to Hayden for growing up in Hollywood and remaining (relatively) normal-ish. Kind of. Most normal people don’t have million dollar Dooney & Burke deals and a closet full of Louboutins but you know what I mean.

The Eyes Have It

I am not going to lie: I do not always get my beauty sleep. I wish I could say I religiously get 8 hours of sleep every night, but I do have a life and that means sometimes I stay up past my bedtime. You may be able to lie to your parents about what time you actually got off Facebook last night and went to sleep, but your skin will give you away, every time. Your eyes have an amazing ability to point out the fact that you did not have them closed for a solid 8 hours while you were off in dreamland, but there are ways to fake a decent night's sleep. I do not recommend this as a substitute for actually getting the sleep you need, but I remember the time when I also thought sleep was highly overrated. Anyway, I found a great product by Yes to Cucumbers - and knowing that cucumbers have long since been a remedy for puffy, swollen eyes - I am really anxious to try it out. There was a time when I would put cold cucumber slices over my eyelids or chilled tea bags to reduce the swelling, but when they put it in gel form and wrap it up in a cute package, who am I to not try something new? The great thing about this is that it's available at Walgreens and Target, among other stores, and you won't pay a fortune for it. Another thing to remember when dealing with tired eyes is to not load up on concealer under the eyes...lightly apply a dab under each eye and blend using your ring finger (just because it's your weakest finger and you'll do less damage to your skin's elasticity that way). Layer that under a light foundation and your eyes will perk up a bit. Keep your shadow colors light in the inside corner of your eyes, especially near your tear ducts - that really opens up your eyes and can also make them look a little more wide awake. That said, I am not promising miracles here. You really should be getting your sleep. And, if you know you're shorting yourself and you fall into bed at 1am after a night of talking to your boyfriend on the phone, do yourself a favor and at least indulge yourself in a glass of water before bed. Getting up to pee at 5 am is a small price to pay for keeping your skin hydrated and healthy looking, believe me.

Check out the cucumber eye gel here: http://www.yestocarrots.com/?CategoryID=416 Your eyes will thank you for it in the morning.

Beauty Without Breaking the Bank

I recently went away on vacation and while I was gone, I indulged myself in some new cosmetics that I can't readily get at home. Normally I would hesitate to buy one eyeshadow pot that cost $13, but hey...I was on vacation. Now that it's back to reality for me, I thought I'd post something about how to look great without spending a fortune. I've found that mixing high-end department store brands like Chanel with drug store brands like Revlon and Wet'n'Wild is a great way to feel like a million bucks without spending your entire summer earnings. Some people scoff at Wet'n'Wild, but I will go down on the records and say that I wore W'n'W cosmetics at my wedding. Oh yes I did. They have a shadow pallete called Sand Castle that I would recommend to anyone. The colors are beautiful and they go on smoothly, don't crease on my lids, and they stay put all day. AND I don't have to put half the container on my face to get the colors to show up. I recently discovered another great line that is perfect on a tight budget - it's called Eyes Lips Face (E.L.F.) and it's all A DOLLAR! Just one dollar will buy you brushes, shadows, liners, glitter pencils, mineral lip glosses...amazing. For the most part, I wouldn't skimp on things like foundation and a good eyeshadow brush. Things like that you want to pony up a few more dollars for and get yourself a really good, blendable foundation or some nicer brushes. That said, I've never used E.L.F. brushes OR foundations, so maybe I should try them out and put my money where my mouth is. Anyway, you can sometimes find it in stores, but it's also available online at http://www.eyeslipsface.com/. The Sugar Kiss line is really nice for young skin, and the colors are fun and bright without being overbearing. And they even sell shimmer eyeshadow cell phone charms. And who doesn't need one of those??? Don't think you have to spend a fortune to look good. True, some of the high-end products are more enviable, but if you can buy TWENTY eyeshadow colors or brushes for less than the cost of ONE shadow from one of those lines, it kind of seems like a no-brainer to me.

Color Me Bad

I know I've mentioned before that I love to wear color on my face, my eyes especially. The right color can really make your eyes pop, and complement or enhance your natural eye color. I have brown eyes, so I love to wear purples and greens on my lids, but there is a fine line between getting color right during the day and getting it very very wrong. First of all, make sure that you are applying your makeup in a well-lit space. Obviously if your bathroom or bedroom is on the darker side, you'll tend to go heavier on the makeup because you can't really see it. And then you go outside and people stare because you look like you have clown makeup on. And we don't want that to happen to you. So, always be sure that you can clearly see what you are doing. Back to wearing color during the day, I left the house today wearing a bright blue shadow with charcoal gray in the outer corners of my lids. Consider toning down how much color you're wearing when you are going out in the day time - I lightly applied the blue and the gray was just a touch of color to set off my eyes. I also skipped the eyeliner on my top lid because I didn't want my look to be overly dramatic for the day time. Instead, take a gray or black pencil and just line the bottom lash line, to emphasize the shape of your eye, without adding too much weight to your look. Finish it off with a great black mascara and you're all set. If I step out tonight, I might do a black liquid liner to dress up the look, but it's really a bit much for middle of the day, summer time makeup on top of the color I'm already wearing. So remember to keep it simple - but fun - during the day and kick it up when the sun goes down.

Making It Your Own

How you wear your makeup is ultimately an expression of how you see yourself and how you want other people to see you. Your face is the first thing people see when they meet you, and makeup can actually make a pretty lasting impression. Your teenage years are no exception to this, but what makes it especially hard is the desire to stand out while at the same time, fitting in. You want to blend in, you want to be like everyone else and do the same things your friends are doing - and yet, you want to be noticed, you want to be different and special. I see groups of girls all the time who are dressed in different variations of the exact same outfit - from head to toe, same, same, same. Maybe the color of the shirt is different, or the brand of the skirt, or the exact style of the shoe, but essentially, it's all the same. And the same goes for makeup. Matching liquid eyeliner and eyeshadow across the board. I'm not complaining, I went through the same thing, I wanted to wear what everyone else was wearing (for the most part, until I totally rebelled from this idea and wanted to wear gray lipstick and black eyeshadow for a while), but as I've gotten older and gotten more comfortable in my skin, I've learned to ask myself, "is this really what I want to be wearing?" Turns out, I really really love bright colors of eyeshadow. My favorite shade is a green ("Graffiti" by Urban Decay) that belongs in a box of crayons. I seriously LOVE to make my eyeshadow match my outfit or an accessory (like a yellow ring or bright blue shoes). Lots of people tell me, "oh, I could never wear that color eyeshadow", but the truth is, they wouldn't want to. It's not their style. It's mine. Basically, what I'm saying here is that finding your own style is an experiment and it's going to take a while. Don't be shy about what you really like just because no one else wears their makeup the same way you do. You can bet I got a LOT of strange looks in my gray lipstick days (including lots of disapproving ones from my mother), but I thought it was really cool - at the time - and it allowed me to express myself. Life is too short to spend too much time worrying about fitting in all the time. Just be sure that the way you are presenting yourself (meaning, the makeup you're wearing) is telling the world what you want it to say. Makeup can very often times be misleading and people can quickly form opinions about what kind of person you are, based simply on the way you look. It sucks that people are so judgemental, but that's the way it is. If you don't wear any makeup, you're a nerd. If you wear too much, you're a tramp. It's tough to navigate your way through it, but stay true to yourself and don't let your friends dictate what you like. Do I sound too preachy? Agreed. I'll give it a rest. For today, at least. :)

A Personal Favorite

I found myself in the makeup aisle at CVS today (although I swear I went in there for sunscreen and a birthday card) and couldn't help but pick myself up an angled blush brush. I'm going to be heading off on vacation soon and want to make sure I have all the tools I need to look my best while I'm away (that's a good enough excuse, right??). So that got me to thinking about blush in general and how one little swipe of color to the cheeks can really brighten or lighten up your whole face. One color that I love in particular is Dandelion by Benefit Cosmetics. It's a little on the pricey side at $28, but it comes with a cute little brush that's actually great for application, but it's a beautiful shimmery pink that is so feminine and gorgeous and works on just about everyone. Plus, I also use it to highlight my brow bones or even as a base eyeshadow when I'm feeling creative. It's enough color to be noticable but it's also soft enough to not shout, "LOOK AT ME, I'M WEARING BLUSH!!" which is not the kind of statement you want your blush to make. Anyway, I get nothing out of this, I just love the product and love telling other people about it. You can surely find a comprable and less expensive alternative, but then it wouldn't come in that adorable little package. ;)

http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/product/B000FBK5IQ/sr=1-2/qid=1248295966/ref=sr_1_2/188-4711404-0340232?ie=UTF8&n=164983011&bcBrand=core

Dealing With Problem Skin

Your teenage years come with all sorts of firsts - first dates, first kisses, first time driving a car...first outbreaks. Clearly, some of those firsts are more fun than others, but there's no reason a few breakouts here and there - or even acne - should keep your teen years from being anything but memorable. I started breaking out mildly at first when I was around 15 or so, and had the pleasure of dealing with acne shortly after. If you're like me, and super sensitive about your skin's appearance (I swear, people were too staring at my pimples!!), your first instinct is to load up with concealers, foundations, and whatever else you can get your hands on to cover it up. As a teenager, I undoubtedly wore much more foundation than I needed, and looking back, it probably hurt my skin - and prevented it from healing - more than anything else.

First off, if you have anything more than a mild breakout here and there, my best piece of advice is to see a dermatologist. There's no reason to suffer through acne when you don't have to - there are so many creams and medicines available now, even the most stubborn skin can be affectively treated. Or, if you'd rather not or can't see a doctor, I highly recommend giving Proactiv a try - it really worked for me (and I'm not just saying that!), and it's not too expensive.

Lots of foundations now have salicylic acid in them, to help treat your blemishes as it covers. Keep in mind that if you're caking makeup on to cover a zit or a patch of bumpy skin, you will most likely end up drawing more attention to it. And it's never cool to pull a Britney and wear your zit cream out in public. It may be embarassing to not completely cover it up, but your skin also needs to breathe, and if your pores are blocked by heavy, cakey makeup, you're not even giving it a chance.

Also, as hard as it is, try not to pick! If it's something you just can't live with and you must pop it, clean the area afterwards with a good astringent and keep your hands away. Excessive touching just adds more oils to the problem area, and you also risk infection from all the germs under your nails! Even at my age, I still deal with outbreaks from time to time, so I do have to follow my own advice here, but the thing to keep in mind is to keep your skin clean, treat it when it's necessary (with medicines from your doctor or cleaning systems like Proactiv), and try to get out of the mindset that loading up on concealer will do the trick. Dot a tiny bit of concealer over the blemish or area you want to cover, and then blend your foundation over it, dusting it all over with loose powder to set it.

Um...yeah

I know this whole "rocker chick" look is hot right now, and I can certainly appreciate that because I will not lie, I used to wear dark eye makeup back in my own teen years. I just wish someone (other than my mom) had told me how to wear it without looking like I just hadn't washed any of my makeup off in about a week. Taylor Momsen actually is in a rock band, so she KIND OF has an excuse for this raccoon eye look, but unless you are about to step on stage, this is really a little too much drama around the eyes - and in all honesty, it makes you look more like you haven't slept in a while than a rock star when you load it on like this. So. Let's talk about how to fix it. For starters, I would do away with the under eye shadow - it's a really heavy liner for her, and because she is so blonde and so fair-skinned, she really just ends up looking like a set of eyes and nothing else. If I could take a cotton pad loaded up with makeup remover to the bottom of her eyes, I would. Instant improvement. I would also probably tell her that gossip girl is my favorite show ever (which is a big fat lie, I've never even seen it) just so she would smile and wipe that ridiculous pouty look off her face. If you insist, a light line could be applied to the lower water line (which is that sort of ridge just above your lower lashes that butts right up against your eyeball - so that means be careful with that sharp pencil you're about to stick in your eye), and take it to about the center of your eye. But the heavy ring of shadow under her eyes? Not needed. She's a cute girl, and I feel like she's using her makeup to hide her eyes, rather than show off how pretty they are. And since her bangs are so heavy, I really can't even see what's going on on her eyelids, but something tells me we could tone that down, too. Dark shadows are great for creating sultry evening looks, but in this case, there IS too much of a good thing. Anyway, she's what, like 16 years old? She has plenty of time to be sultry after she is of a legal age! But believe me, I used to do the same thing, heavy heavy eyes and very light everything else. Lighten the eye makeup and add a touch of color to the cheeks and on the lips, and we'd be in business. I'm not sure what kind of business, but one that would at least require wearing heels to work, for sure.

How Old is Too Old??

It is no secret that my favorite mascara is Bad Gal by Benefit (and surprisingly, they do not pay me to say that!). I've never tried Dior Show but I think they are very similar in terms of the effect - which is really flippin long lashes. HOWEVER. There's a recession going on and I can't indulge in $20 tubes of mascara (because that is pretty much a whole outfit from Forever 21 or some super cute shoes from gojane.com), which is just as well because, as a general rule, your mascara has about a 3 month shelf life after you open that tube. I posted earlier about some guidelines for sharing (or, I guess I should say, NOT sharing) your makeup, and the same stuff applies here. Basically, mascara is just one of those things that you shouldn't share and you shouldn't hang on to for more than 3 months. You should also steer clear of pumping the wand up and down into the tube to load up the wand when you start running low. This actually will push air into the tube, which will make your mascara clumpy and it won't go on as well. But, back to my Bad Gal obsession, there are some great drug store options out there now that will only set you back around $6 when it's time to toss your tube in 3 months - trust me, I was always very reluctant to throw my $20 mascara away. I'm on my third tube of Lash Stiletto by Maybeline, and I"m pretty happy about the results, I get a lot of length without looking clumpy. Mascara isn't the only thing you should toss on the regular, though - your makeup sponges should get tossed every week, pressed powder should be tossed when you start to notice oil spots (this is actually caused by putting your powder puff back into the compact face down, which leads to the powder absorbing the oils your face left on the puff - so to make your powder last longer, don't put the puff side down when you close it), and foundations and concealers should both be tossed if you can't use it all before around 6 months. Again, keep your application tools clean and your makeup will last longer and go a lot further!

Taking It All Off

I know I already posted something about the importance of keeping your skin clean, especially before going to bed at night, but there are a lot - A LOT - of options out there for this nightly ritual. And I'm certainly not here to tell you what's best, because it's going to be different for everyone. But I did just happen to buy a new product yesterday and I'm loving it enough to share it with you. As far as makeup removers go, I have started favoring lotion removers over the liquid kinds - I feel like there's less rubbing involved to get the makeup off, and my skin feels more moisturized afterwards. If your face hurts after you've removed your makeup, you may need a new remover - and a new method! I just picked up Physician's Formula Organic Wear Facial Makeup Remover Lotion - one because I liked the bottle it came in (I am such a sucker!) and two because it's free of chemicals (which, when you think about it, you probably don't want on your face, anyway). I was a bit skeptical of how an organic product would work at removing makeup, but I was very pleasantly surprised at how well it removed my makeup - mascara included - without me having to work too hard. One thing to remember is to always be gentle with the skin around your eyes. It's very thin, for one thing, and (again I'm thinking long term here!) years and years of pulling on that skin will eventually show. I like to get some remover lotion on a cotton pad and hold it on my eye for a few seconds and give it a chance to break down some of the makeup first. If you're a fan of the liquid eye removers, I prefer the oil-free kind, just because I usually feel like I need to wash my face all over again after using remover with oil , but pick something that will work with your skin type and don't feel like you have to buy the same one every time! Physician's Formula is available at drugstores - I snagged it for around $6. Oil of Olay also makes a nice lotion remover...the makeup remover pads are fine and all, but I think you can get the same effect with baby wipes, which are generally a lot cheaper. Plus you smell so good afterwards. ;)

Crazy Beautiful

I am about to say something that might shock you. I have never seen any of the Harry Potter movies. I do not care to read any of the books, and despite my overwhelming crush on Alan Rickman, I flat out refuse to watch a movie about wizards and flying around on broomsticks. That said, I flippin LOVE Emma Watson. I seethe with envy over her shiny hair and I am in love with her style...she's always looking very classy, feminine, elegant, and sort of retro. I also think she is a great role model and I love that she's going to real college and living in a dorm and not partying it up all hours of the night like some crazy Hollywood types (are you listening, Lindsay??). So, anyway, this is from the premiere of the latest crazy wizard movie she's in and I think she deserves a standing ovation for looking so amazing. Her makeup is FLAWLESS! I love love love her brows - they are on the thicker side but they totally frame her face perfectly and make her eyes stand out even more. I'm also thrilled that she doesn't have tons of makeup piled on, because she really has beautiful skin and features and knows how to play them up without overwhelming her face.

To get brows like Emma's, you may want to start out at a salon before you do any at-home work. DO NOT do what I did, which was let my sister pluck my eyebrows when I was in the 8th grade and I ended up with eyebrows so thin my mother bust out in tears when she saw me (this was also in the early 90s when super thin brows were the thing). If you have a great brow shape naturally, consider yourself lucky. If your brows are thinner than you'd like, use a powder to fill them in - it looks much more natural than a pencil and blends into your brows much more smoothly. You can get a brow kit anywhere - NYColor (Target) makes a powder/wax combo set, Milani (CVS) also makes a good kit, as does Benefit (department stores). Grab an angled brush to lightly apply the shadow into your brow - if your kit comes with a wax, use that over the shadow to help set and hold the shadow, then don't forget to run a brow brush over the whole thing, to blend the shadow and complete your look.

Share and share alike??

I think a lot of people think it's ok to share makeup. What's the harm in letting your sister use your mascara when she can't find hers or letting your best friend use the awesome new concealer you just bought, right? You'd be surprised. While some products are ok (but still not ideal) for sharing - like shadows or loose powders, here is a short list of things you should never share, not even with your BFF:

- MASCARA. Please, please, please do not share your mascara, no matter how much your friend begs to borrow it. Most people do not like to think about this little tid bit, but there are actually micro-organisms living in your eyelashes (yes, i know it's gross, but they are harmless and there's nothing you can do about them - EVERYONE has them, even sweet beautiful Emma Watson), so as much as you love your friends, I'm going to assume you do not love their micro-organisms enough to let them live on your mascara wand.
- Concealer. Especially if it's something you apply directly to your face, from a wand that goes back into the tube of concealer. A lot of this is common sense...oils and bacteria from your skin go back into that tube when you close it, and while it's fine when it's your own, it's best to steer clear of letting a friend use it on a blemish and then let that marinate in the tube for your next use. Ewwwww, huh?
- Eyeliners. This one is iffy...if you do let a friend use your liner, have her sharpen it before and after using it, which will remove that "layer" of the pencil from her use. You certainly don't want to make your friends feel like a leper, but things like pink eye spread quickly and easily from sharing products that you apply directly to your eyes.

Basically, keep in mind that you don't want anyone using a product of yours that you would apply directly to your skin. Things like loose powders, lipsticks, shadows - those are safer to share because you don't necessarily store the applicator within the actual product (like a mascara wand or concealer wand). Just use your best judgement, and if a friend asks, just say, I'm sorry, I don't share mascara/eyeliner/whatever.

Ever been to a MAC store and watched one of the artists apply makeup? They use about a zillion applicators and they do not ever put a mascara wand back into the tube once it's been on someone's eyes. It may seem wasteful and kinda silly, but think about how many people use those sample products - that is a pink eye extravaganza waiting to happen. But, MAC artists (and most other makeup artists, too!) are well aware of the germ/bacteria issue and do their best to make the process as sanitary as possible. I'm not saying you have to be that anal about it, but do remember that while sharing is always a nice gesture, it's not always the best idea.

Summer Skin

I know I probably sound like your mother (roll of eyes) but since it's summer and all, I thought I'd do a quick post about the importance of sunscreen. If you're going to be in the sun all day, and even if you're not, it's always a good idea to have SOME protection on your face - whether you pick a moisturizer with an SPF or if you wear full-on sunscreen. When I was about 15, my mom handed me my first bottle of moisturizer with SPF 15 (Oil of Olay - good stuff!!) and I've been hooked every since. I know it's super hard to think long term when you're in your teens, or even in your early twenties, but having good skin later in life is totally dependant on how you treat your skin when you're young! Personally, I will own up to my obsession and admit that I wear full on sunscreen, every single day of the year. Rain or shine. Summer or winter. I up my SPF to about 55 in the summer time, and bring it down to 35 in the winter. I LOVE Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch, because it doesn't feel oily or sticky under my makeup, and it really does go on just like a moisturizer. If I can't convince you to put sunscreen on, a good moisurizer with SPF 15 will protect your skin while providing a good base for your makeup. Also, do not fear the big summer hat. You will thank me when you are smoking hot at 65 and everyone else your age looks like a prune. It kills me to see girls out in the sun with nothing covering their faces - because every sunburn causes more and more damage to the layers beneath your skin that you're not seeing, and it will eventually lead to thinks like wrinkles and age spots, and no one wants those. So, at the risk of sounding like a nag, start taking care of your skin now and take 2 minutes to put sunscreen on - or at least a protective moisturizer - every day. Even if it's raining. You cannot hide from UVB rays. I've tried. It didn't work.

It IS Ok to try new things!

When it comes to finding the right looks for you, be prepared to experiment. If you see something you like in a magazine, tear it out. Start a notebook of "looks" you like, and learn to recreate them at home. Some things you will find do not look as good on you as it did in the magazine. And some things are hard to master - like liquid eyeliner, or finding the right foundation color - but I've found that when it comes to makeup, just because you are wearing a ton of it doesn't mean it looks good. Repeat after me: The point of makeup is to ENHANCE my already beautiful features, NOT to hide them/cover them up/make me look like I'm 20 years older than I actually am. If that is the only thing you take away from this blog, I could live with that. Chances are, you really DON'T need a ton of makeup, anyway. But do have fun with it and play around. Again, figuring out when/where certain looks are appropriate and when they aren't is half the battle. ;) School and/or your summer job is probably not the best place for that new glittery pink shadow. You probably already know that. But, I'm just saying. Trust me, sometimes I still have to resist putting glitter or green eyeshadow all over my eyes before I go to work. And I am not ashamed to admit that.

Starting with the Right Tools

Also CRUCIAL to figuring the whole makeup thing out is having a good set of brushes. See those little foamy brushes your eyeshadows come with? THROW THEM AWAY, IMMEDIATELY!!! They are useless. When it comes to makeup, the tools you use to apply it with are just as important as the actual makeup itself. I'll get more specific later on, but for starters, make sure you have a decent powder brush, blush brush, an all over shadow brush and an angled brush - and you don't need to drop your life savings on those, either. Target and CVS are perfectly good places to get your beauty supplies and both sell really quality brushes at a fraction of what they cost at high end places like Sephora or MAC. (I have nothing against these places - I just can't always afford the products there!) Pay attention to how you're applying your makeup - are you quickly swiping color on with your fingers? (I used to do this all the time and now I frown upon it - yes, your fingers make excellent blending tools, but you are also putting the oils from your body into that shadow pallate every time you touch it) Are you using the same brush for your lid color and the color you apply to the outside corner of your eye? There are specific brushes for all types of application. Angled brushes will obviously give you more control over where you're putting your shadows - so it makes sense to use these for your darker, outside corner colors, or for something like applying shadow under your bottom lashes or along your lash line. Bigger, fluffier brushes should be used for application on larger surfaces, like all over your face, or the neck/chest area (for things like bronzing or adding shimmer). Please, please, please, just remember to wash your brushes at least a couple of times a month. You don't need a fancy brush cleaner, baby shampoo will work just fine. Letting color build up in your brushes over time will not only lead to the brush becoming clumpy and full of your body's oils, but it will also mean that the colors you're trying to apply won't be as true, since they are competing with a month's worth of other colors loaded up on your brush. Plus, taking good care of them will mean they last longer. Most drug store brushes are made out of synthetic hairs - the more expensive brushes you'll see in places like Sephore are made from real hair - much, much softer to the touch and divine to use, but if you can't afford it, synthetic is just fine! Just take care of your brushes and your brushes will take care of you!

Ace of Base

Getting foundation right can be tricky - obviously there's the issue of choosing the right color for you, figuring out what kind you need to best suit your skin type, applying it properly...the list goes on and on. Spend a little time in the makeup aisle of a Target, Walmart, CVS - wherever you prefer to shop - and check out what your options are. If you have the money to spend on a professional consultation, any Sephora beauty consultant or department store makeup counter can recommend foundation to match your skin tone and type. Prescriptives (available in department stores) can even custom blend a foundation just for you. But if you don't have $30-$50 to drop on foundation alone, most drug store brands provide great coverage and are really affordable. Right now I'm using Dream Liquid Mousse by Maybelline and it does a great job of evening out my complexion and covering blemishes. I always go with a lighter foundation during the spring and summer, so my skin can breathe and I'm not sweating underneath a thick layer of makeup. Use foundation sparingly when it's hot out, and really take the time to blend so that you don't get that unsightly line you see on so many girls that stops at the jawline where they stopped blending. Look closely. Is your face a totally different color than your neck? You're not blending enough, and you may also be wearing a shade or two darker than you should be. You want your foundation to match your skin as closely as possible - too dark can make you look dirty and too light can make you look grayish or ashy. If you're going for a tanner look, use a powder bronzer on top of your foundation, NOT a darker foundation. Liquid foundations go on well with foundation brushes, but I prefer to just use a makeup sponge - just don't forget to toss it after a week of use.

THIS is what i'm talking about!

Ok, so I felt kinda bad about ragging on Miley's makeup yesterday, so I thought I'd post something nice about her today to balance out my karma. This photo is from the Oscars or the Emmys or some awards show that I didn't know why she was attending (oops, I am supposed to be saying nice things, huh?), and although I questioned her presence at whatever event this was, I do have to say, I love her makeup. She looks totally fresh-faced here, very feminine and yet glamorous, too. The blush is great (this is a difficult skill to master!) and I love that she isn't too heavy on the eye makeup since she's wearing red lips. It's important to remember to keep the drama to one part of your face - like if you are doing dramatic or smokey eyes, you'll want to steer clear of bold, dark lips, or else you run the risk of looking like a clown or a showgirl. Since Miley is doing a bolder lip here, she kept the eye makeup simple and it really works well. She looks her age (yahoooo!!) AND her makeup is totally appropriate for the event she's attending. Love it!!

To get that glowing look she's rocking, pick a more red-toned blush, but apply it VERY LIGHTLY - trust me, a little blush goes a long, LONG way - to the "apple" of your cheek, and brush upwards towards your ears. In case you are wondering, the apple of your cheek is easily found by smiling. Feel that fleshy part where it's most rounded out? That's the apple. But again, go easy on the blush - the idea is to make it look like you're naturally flushed like you got embarassed, NOT to obviously look like you have color painted on your cheeks. I have the best luck with powder blushes, but creme or mousse blushes work just as well, they are just a little tricker to apply. Pick a blush with a little sparkle to it and you'll really get that glow!

Do NOT try this at home

I promise I don't have anything against Miley Cyrus. I really don't. I think she is a beautiful girl and I envy her purse collection, but sometimes she just makes me want to throw my hands up in frustration because why, WHY would such a pretty, young person feel the need to put so much makeup on? Does the photo on the left look like a person who is not even 20 years old to you? If I looked at this picture and just had to take a guess as to this person's age, I would say, 33, 35 maybe. This is what I mean by too much. Obviously, the face she's making is not really what I would call "appropriate," but that's beside the point. The point is, this look is not age appropriate. She's made herself look a lot older than she actually is, and not in a good way. Dark eye makeup doesn't always equal sexy, so think about it before you start piling it on. For the most part, darker shadow colors should be applied to the outside corner of your eyes, with lighter shades in the inner corners and on the majority of the lid. When you put dark colors on your lids, it tends to make the eyes look smaller and less open, which is probably not the look you're going for.

It IS within the realm of possibility to look beautiful while also looking your age. Just don't use Miley here as an example.

Getting Started

So, it probably sounds dumb for me to say my first piece of advice is for you to always, always wash your face before you go to sleep. But, given the amount of girls (mostly under 16) I've worked with who have come in for a shoot wearing the same makeup they had on last night, I feel the need to say it anyway. Putting new makeup on top of old makeup is a recipe for disaster. I know you're tired, I know you don't feel like it...do it anyway. Invest in a good facewash to use morning and night - and pay attention to how your skin reacts. If it gets red and irritated, this might be an indication that you have sensitive skin and need a wash made for your skin type. Or if you get dry or flaky skin, obviously you'll need something moisturizing for dry skin. Getting to know your skin type is a big part of getting your makeup right - there are foundation formulas for normal skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, skin with acne, combonation skin...it can get confusing!

Starting with fresh, clean skin is super important - it will help your makeup go on smoother and you'll avoid looking clumpy or cakey when your base (and by that I mean your skin) is smooth and even. Don't forget to moisturize, too. A daily moisturize with at least an SPF 15 is a good way to start practicing good habits early on - Oil of Olay makes a great, lightweight moisturizer that's available in any drugstore. So, clean and moisturize every day - sounds simple, but it's the best thing you can do to make your makeup look even better!

Welcome to 13 Going on Beautiful!!

So I've been thinking for a while about starting this blog...not because I think I know everything there is to know about makeup - because I don't! - but because I wish I'd had someone to seek makeup advice from when I was in my early teens, and just starting to experiment with it all. It's sort of like learning anything new, and sometimes it takes a while to figure out how everything works. I hope to use this blog to answer questions about makeup and to offer advice on application so that no one else has to endure the embarassment of looking back at high school photos and thinking "Oh my GOD, who let me out of the house looking like THAT?!?!" Believe me, you do not want that.

That said, I want to get one basic thought out before I really get into things here. In my ideal world, 13 and 14 year olds wouldn't really be interested in wearing makeup becuase they'd be too busy playing Barbies to care about how they looked, I'm pretty sure those days are behind us. I've done makeup on some young ones - 8 year olds for fashion shows, 13 year olds for photo shoots...so telling them they don't need makeup is in one ear and out the other. Maybe you're hearing the same thing at home, that you don't need it or aren't allowed to wear it. But the truth is, if you want to wear it, eventually you will wear it, so my main concern is that you're wearing it correctly. I am a big fan of age-appropriate makeup, and I know this is a phrase I'll be using over and over on this site. Lots of young celebrities -like Hayden or Miley- wear makeup, and lots of it! But their "red carpet lips" aren't necessarily appropriate for your Sunday family dinners, and the "sexy smokey eye" is probably a bit too much for school. The trick is to consider the occasion, and then decide what is ok and what will probably raise an eyebrow. I'll talk more about this later, but in the meantime, just keep in mind that during the day, simple, natural looks are best - save the drama for nights out with your friends, or special events like prom or birthday parties. You are not a vampire. All-over black eyeshadow during the day is really not a good look. On ANYONE.