Want to look STUNNING on your Big Night Out?

Hello again, friends!

I’m back with a new make-up tutorial for you that you’ll absolutely love! This is the routine I personally like to use for big events like dates, weddings, or parties. Let’s begin!

First, these are all the products I used:

Step 1: Priming the canvas
Priming your face and eyelids has many benefits. It not only helps your make-up go on smoothly, it also helps the make-up stay on longer and helps control oil. Also, most types have SPF, so that’s just an added bonus!
I wear eye primer every day that I wear eye shadow. I don’t use foundation primer during my every day make-up routine, but whenever I need to look really nice for a long time, there’s nothing better.

I use Mary Kay’s foundation primer:

And Mary Kay’s eye primer.

We’re best friends.

Step 2: It’s face time!
I don’t always start with my face when I do make-up, sometimes I start with my eyes. It just depends on how I’m feeling. Let’s do face first today.
I started with a tinted moisturizer because it makes my face look fresh, and it works as a nice light-coverage foundation.
I just LOVE Mary Kay’s tinted moisturizer. (It also has SPF, so my skin is nice and protected. With all the SPF I use daily, I should look 25 when I’m 60!)

On most days, tinted moisturizer is enough for me. However, when I am going somewhere extra fancy, I like to top off my face with a bit of…

mineral powder foundation! I love Mary Kay’s.

I like to use powder foundation because it gets rid of shiny oily spots, and it makes my face look a bit more airbrushed. It’s not necessary everyday because using a lot of it on top of tinted moisturizer would clog my pores. However, it adds a nice touch. I use a powder brush to apply it:

Application tip: Don’t just dip your brush straight in the powder and apply it to your face. That will get very messy and give you uneven coverage. Instead, tap some powder out into the lid…

and dip your brush into the powder that is in the lid. Tap off excess powder from the brush…

Then buff the powder onto your face! Remember, a little goes a long way. You don’t have to cake this stuff on. Just cover the extra oily spots and any discolorations.

Step 3: Eye love it!
Yay! It’s time for eyes! I love eyes!
Okay, so I began with just a base color, from Mary Kay. It’s called Hazelnut:

Hazelnut

I covered my entire lid with hazelnut using the Mary Kay definition brush:

Next, I’m going to teach your a little trick of mine that will make your eyes really pop! This next color is a favorite of mine, called Cinnabar, by Mary Kay.

Cinnabar

I use this color in my crease all the time because it gives definition, but it doesn’t make me look like I have raccoon eyes. I will be using this in my crease in this tutorial, but I’m also adding a little extra step as well. I take my trusty Mary Kay angled eyeliner brush:

and dip it in the cinnabar, and begin to create a cat eye sort of look on my lid. Take a look:

The best way to do this is to begin with your eyes open, with the liner brush on the lower lid. Draw a straight line up from the outer corner of your eye toward the outer edge of your eyebrow, stopping before you actually reach your brow. If you do this on both sides, the lines should look even.
I do this because it gives my eyes more definition and makes them look bigger in the end.
Next, I use my Mary Kay Crease brush:

I dip it in the Cinnabar, then follow the line that I created with my eyeliner brush, and connect that line with my outer crease. I’ll give a few pictures that I hope will help you understand.

You can even use the cinnabar along your whole crease if you want, just don’t use so much toward the inner corner of your eye.

Okay. Now you’re gonna look kind of crazy, like this:

But don’t fear. I’m here to help you.
Step 4: More eye stuff.
Okay, grab your lighter eye color, I’m using Mary Kay’s Crystalline:

Crystalline

And apply it right under your eyebrows (I’m using my Mary Kay eye definer brush):

And in your inner crease.

Begin to blend all of these colors out so they don’t look so CRAZY.
Next, for extra awesomeness, I applied just a touch of Cinnabar to my lower lid:

Oh my, what a face…

And I also brought in this new color, Mary Kay’s Denim Frost:

Denim Frost

It’s a shimmery dark blue that I only use on special occasions. I just added a touch to my crease to darken it up a bit and make my blue eyes stand out.
And when you’re done, you should look like this!

Not quite finished yet, but significantly less scary, am I right?
Step 5: Time to line!
Okay, I finally figured out what this next technique is called! Tightlining!! Also known as Invisible Eyeliner, this lining technique gives your eyes an extra bit of pop without looking over done.
I usually use a stick liner for this, but I wanted to see if I could do it with my gel liner. FYI-it’s possible, but I still prefer stick liner because it’s easier and faster.

Tightlining is easy once you get the hang of it. I do it EVERY day, because it lines my eyes and still looks so natural!

This is the gel liner I’m using, which I LOVE. It’s Maybelline New York Eye Studio Gel Liner. It even comes with this handy eyeliner brush!

To tightline, all you have to do it hold your eye open with one hand, and apply the eyeliner under and between your lashes with the other. It may take some practice, but once you’ve got it, it’s going to look great!

After I’ve tightlined my eyes, it’s time to really get to work with this bad boy.
Since we’re doing a tutorial for a fancier occasion, I’m going to do a pretty thick cat eye. I just really love the way it looks.

And the best part is that in order to make your wings even, all you have to do is follow the lines you drew earlier!

And connect the upper lid to the bottom lid:

And your eyes are lined!
Step 6: La-la-la-lashes!
You don’t have to, but I like to curl my eyelashes. You can get an eyelash curler from the drug store, and they’re pretty inexpensive.
Remember: Curl your lashes BEFORE applying mascara!

Why do eyelash curling pics always look so creepy?

This is the mascara I used for this tutorial:

I’m assuming you know how to apply mascara. I’m not even sure if I do it right, but as long as I don’t have clumps, I’m happy.
Step 7: Finishing touches!
I like to apply concealer as one of my last steps. I prefer to put it on over foundation, because otherwise the foundation covers it up and there’s really no point to wearing it anyway. I use Mary Kay’s concealer:

I put a dot on my hand and use another finger to dab it around and warm it up a bit. This helps it blend easier once it’s on my face.

Then I apply the concealer to my under eyes, where my perpetual dark circles live.

Make sure that you blend the concealer in VERY well. Since it’s on top, it’s pretty easy to spot if you don’t blend it thoroughly.
Step 7: Are you blushing?
Use an angled blush brush like this one:

Apply a light shade of blush. Make sure that the color you choose isn’t very bright. If you go for a very extreme color, you’ll either look like a clown or a prostitute. I prefer to look like neither, so…
I use Mary Kay’s Strawberry Cream:

Strawberry Cream

Remember, go LIGHT. At the stage in the tutorial, less is more. You could even go without blush and look just gorgeous!

If you feel that you simply must wear something on your lips, go for a light pink tinted lip balm or a light pink/clear lip gloss. Just make sure you downplay the lips. It’s all about the eyes on this one, baby.

Ready for the finished product?
Here are the eyes:

Pensive eyes.

And the full face:

Voila!

I hope you guys find this tutorial useful! If you have any suggestions or questions, leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you!

With Love ❤

Hebrews 11:1

Affordable Salon Brand Products!

Hey there, friends!

So you’re probably seeing this title and thinking “WHAT? Affordable salon brands? That’s not even POSSIBLE!”

Golly, settle down, there, it’s going to be okay! Let me explain! I know that salon brands can be VERY expensive, which is so unfair, because some of them work downright miracles with your hair. But don’t worry, I’m here to tell you my tips and tricks to making salon brand hair products totally worth their while.

First of all, keep an eye out for sales. If you use them wisely, they can make a world of a difference. I know of this particularly good sale that I take advantage of. There’s this store called Beauty Brands near where I live. They have this annual thing called a Liter Sale. IT’S AMAZING.

During Beauty Brands annual liter sale, you can buy bottles of shampoo and conditioner that are normally around $20-$40 for only $12.98 each! I KNOW. I totally suggest you take advantage of this sale, because that’s a GREAT deal. Think about it, you could be saving up to $36 on a liter of shampoo and/or conditioner! Even if you don’t have a Beauty Brands near you, this liter sale also takes place online, too. I don’t know how long it lasts, but it started July first, and is still going on at the time of this blog post.

I hope I don’t get in trouble for advertising for a website or something without asking permission. I’m only helping them, right?

Now I know what you may be thinking: “But Kelsey! $12.98 is still SO much more than I want to pay for a bottle of shampoo! Heck, I can get a bottle of perfectly good shampoo for $4.00 at the drug store. You kiddin’ me?”

Let me explain, dear friend.

I agree, in comparison to those brands of shampoo at the drug store, $12.98 is a lot. It’s more than 3x the price! (I got A’s in all of my elementary school math classes.) But let me teach you how to STRETCH your shampoo!

So you may or may not have heard about this “no-poo” movement. I tried it, and didn’t like it. However, I do something that produces sort of similar effects, but it’s a bit more my speed. I only wash my hair every 3 days-and before you get grossed out, let me tell you, I LOVE IT. You can read more about it here. That way, I don’t have to type out the why‘s and the how‘s all over again.

Okay, so now we know I only wash my hair every 3 days. That means I only use my super awesome, super nice salon brand shampoo every 3 days…are you seeing where I’m going? That makes the shampoo last a WHOLE lot longer, but my hair still feels the effects every day. I bought 2 different sets of shampoo and conditioner at the last liter sale, a year ago, and they are both still about half full. That didn’t stop me from buying a ton more this year…but still.

It’s super easy to make salon brand products affordable. I’ve noticed a difference in my hair since I switched to salon brand, and I hope you will too. 

With Love ❤

Hebrews 11:1 

Show off your Supernatural Good Looks

Hey friends, I’m back! And I’ve brought with me a make-up tutorial that is super in lately!

The natural make-up routine involves a surprising amount of make-up products. The difference between it and every other type of routine is in the application.

When applying natural looking make-up you have to keep in mind that the goal is not to cover up your whole face and paint on a new one. The goal is to emphasize your God-given beauty.

I’ve set up this tutorial so that every step builds on the ones before it. That means you can just do the first step, or just the first 2, 3, 4, and so on, and you will still look great and natural. If you only have time time to do a few, that’s okay. What you’ve done will still look awesome.

Before you begin, try to open blinds and get as much natural light in the room as possible. Sunlight will reveal any make-up blunder. From cakiness to unblended smears, sunlight shows it all. If you do your make-up in natural light, you’ll be able to catch it before you go out and embarrass yourself.

Here’s all of the make-up I used in this routine:

It took me so long to arrange all of these so that they looked good.

Step 1- Curl those lashes!

I didn’t realize curling my lashes made such a big difference in my eye appearance until I started doing the natural make-up look. But it really does open up your eyes more, and add a subtle femininity.

For those who don’t know how to do this:

Place the curler close to your eyelid, and blink a few times to make sure that all of your lashes are within the upper and bottom clamp. When you clamp the curler, make sure that your lashes fan out along the whole surface, and aren’t pinched or folded in on one another. If you feel a pinch along your lashline, loosen the clamp, and pull the curler a little bit away from the lashline. Avoid pain or pinching as much as possible, because that could cause you to lose eyelashes.

Step 2-Light Coverage is the Best Coverage

When I go for a natural look, I want to use the lightest make-up possible. Using heavy foundation not only clogs your pores, it can accentuate fine lines that you’d rather keep hidden. It also looks cakey and fake, which produces the opposite of a natural effect.

Instead, I use tinted moisturizer.

It’s light, and if you wear it, it won’t feel like you’re wearing make-up at all. It provides minimum coverage, which some people don’t like. But embrace your natural skin, and show it off. I promise, you won’t look sickly or gross. You’ll just look like you.

To apply, use only a small amount of tinted moisturizer. Put approximately a dime-sized amount…

in the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together, to warm up the moisturizer, and begin applying it on your t-zone and any other discolored places on your face. I don’t recommend covering your entire face with this moisturizer, just red or discolored places.

Tinted moisturizer doesn’t cover up shiny spots on your face. The dewy, realistic look is a key part of the natural look. Cakey, matte skin looks unnatural.

Step 3- Conceal the imperfections

I use concealer almost every day, even if I don’t use foundation or tinted moisturizer. I have perpetual dark circles under my eyes that I like to keep hidden. I also use this product to cover up my zits and discolorations. Make sure you blend it in very well around the edges so that it’s not obvious that you’re wearing make-up.

To apply, put a dab on your hand, then use your ring finger of your other hand to mix it around and warm it up. Use the same ring finger to dab the concealer on your undereyes and blemishes. Make sure you don’t rub it anywhere on your face, or you’ll damage skin cells, which eventually leads to wrinkles.

Step 4- White as a Lily
I love putting eye shadow on. I don’t know why. It’s just always my favorite!

One thing you have to keep in mind when doing the natural look is that your eyes are not the show stopper, here. They may be in many other situations, but they are not the intended focal point. Keep it simple.

First, I start with white eyeshadow. I use White Lily, by Mary Kay.

You can use creamy ivory color, I’m using White Lily, the lightest color Mary Kay has. Don’t use an actual WHITE color, because that looks very harsh. Creamy, natural ivory tones look best.

I use the Mary Kay eye definer brush to cover my eyelids with my White Lily eyeshadow.

You should see a very subtle difference to the color of your eyelids.

Step 5- Crease it Out

Use a crease brush to apply a medium brown to the crease of your eye. Focus on the outer eye, but make sure you don’t make it too dark. It just needs to define the shape of your eye a little.

I use Mary Kay’s Eye crease eyeshadow brush.

As far as color, I use Mary Kay’s Hazelnut.

I cover the whole crease, but then go back and focus on the outer eye.

Next, I use a bit of blush to add a soft, natural pink color to my lid.

It’s called strawberry cream! Sounds so delicious!

I use the same crease brush from before and put it on the inner crease.

Here’s what your eyes should look like after all of this:

Or something like that…

Next, you’ll take the same brush you applied the white with (in my case, my Mary Kay eye definer brush) and blend all of the color together. I like to start in my inner corner, and brush up and back toward my outer eye. I use multiple long, fluid motions until I’ve blended all of my eyeshadow.

Step 6- Time to Line!

When I go for a natural look, I like to use brown stick liner. It’s less harsh than black, especially with my light eyes. It lines my eyes, but doesn’t look super extreme.

I like to use Mary Kay’s Deep Brown stick liner.

There’s a certain technique I use when I line my eyes. I CAN’T remember what it’s called, maybe weaving? Whatever it is, it involves lining between and below the upper lashes, instead of lining above. It gives a more natural look, while still lining the eyes.

You can hold your eyelid up gently with a finger or a Qtip so that you can reach underneath the lashes better, but I was unable to take the picture and line my eyes…so I just made do. It still works just as well.

Take a gander at this little baby.

See the difference? My left upper eyelid is the one that I applied eyeliner to.

Step 6.5- Only if you want to!

You can also apply a little bit of liner to the very outer corner of your lower lid, if you want.

Step 7- Give your lashes some love!

I use a dark brown mascara instead of black…partially because I was a hurry the last time I went to the store, and I grabbed dark brown instead of black. Also, it looks really natural when I put it on!

Tip-Apply a tiny bit to your lower lashes first to avoid smudging, then apply them to your top lashes.

I don’t think you need a picture of that. It’s pretty basic.

Step 8- Lighten up!

I love facial highlighter, as you can see here. It can make you look so perky and awake and just… AWESOME! AHHH!

This is the kind I’ve fallen in love with. It has a shimmer to it which reflects the light even more.

 

Apply the highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones and down along the sides of your nose. I apply it around my nostrils and on the center of my forehead, too. This is one of the places where doing your make-up in the sunlight is really important: unblended highlighter can look really wrong.

Step 9- Get Cheeky!

Now we get to the centerpieces of your natural face. your cheeks and lips are what’s on display here, so get comfortable with your blush!

Use an angled blush brush for the best blush application. This is the Mary Kay Cheek brush.

I use the same color I used on my inner crease as my normal blush. It’s Mary Kay (Like almost all of my make-up), and called Strawberry Cream.

Apply your blush upward from the apples of your cheeks to the top of your cheekbone, by your ears.

Step 10- Summertime Glow!

You don’t have to use bronzer. In fact, I just started using it about 3 days ago. I’m still not sure if I’m even using it right. But oh well! I like the way it looks!

I use Mary Kay’s sandstone, and use the same Cheek brush I used for my blush.

To apply, start with your brush up by your temples, then move it in a “c” shape around your eyes…

Finishing off underneath your cheekbones.

Step 11- Icing on the cake!

It’s time for the finishing touch, the lips. These, in addition to your cheeks, should be the main event of your natural face. Use a natural pinky lip color with a bit of pop.

I used Covergirl’s Fervor.

Just apply it…

Once you’ve applied, tap your lips with your finger to get the color into the creases of your lips. This will blend it a bit, and make it look natural.

Top your lips up with some Chapstick, to seal in the color and make them look nice and soft.

Aaaaand you’re done!

Let’s do a before and after, shall we?

I love how enhanced my natural features are with this look.

I really hope you enjoy this tutorial, let me know if you have any requests for others!

With Love ❤

Hebrews 11:1

Love the Skin You’re In!

You’re welcome, Olay. Or Jergen’s…or whoever is using that slogan these days.

Okay, okay, so we all hear “Love the skin you’re in” on commercials all the time. It’s so catchy and easy to say, but not so easy to do, right ladies?

When our whole world is telling us we’re not as pretty as the women on the catwalk, loving our own imperfect epidermis seems more like an unreachable dream than a possibility.

While using trustworthy cleansers and moisturizers is helpful when it comes to loving your bundle of blemishes, it’s not the key. I have two easy pieces of information for you that will help you reach satisfaction, and eventually, love.

1. Stop Hiding
Day after day, we women slather on that foundation, concealer, colored goop, black goop, brown goop, and cover up everything that makes us who we are.

We’re women. Not clowns.

Please stop. Your face will thank you for it. You can stop in two ways:

1- If you are constantly out in public, and you’ve grown accustomed to putting on 20-minutes worth of make-up every morning, it’s probably not best to quit cold turkey. People will ask you if you’re sick when they see you without make-up,  and then you’ll get offended and put it all back on, and it’s just a huge mess.
Instead, begin by switching to more natural colors first. Instead of black eyeliners and mascaras, use dark browns. (Unless you have dark skin, and naturally black hair. Then skip this step.) Use pale pink blushes and neutral lip colors.
Next, switch to products that give less full coverage. Instead of oily, thick, liquid foundation, use tinted moisturizer. Use powder only on high-oil areas. Start to eliminate products one by one.
You don’t have to end up completely paint-less, the point is just to make you feel comfortable wearing very little. Let your natural beauty shine through!

2- This is my favorite. It tricks my eyes a little bit.
I started off with the previously mentioned step during the school year. The real fun/laziness began when I went home for summer vacation.
Just stop wearing make-up. Wash it all off at night, and when you wake-up in the morning, don’t put it back on!
I prefer to do this over vacations because I don’t see many people, and the people I do see really don’t care what I look like. They love me anyway!
After a few days of seeing yourself without make-up, you’ll start to think of it as normal. Your eyes will get used to seeing yourself this way, and you’ll begin to realize just how beautiful your natural self really is.
You don’t need to quit make-up this for a long time. If you only have a day or two away from the rest of the world, take advantage!

The best part is that after refraining from applying foundation for a few days, your complexion will really start to improve.
It may not be perfect but…

2. No one’s Skin is Perfect
Remember those runway models I mentioned earlier?
Well, even they don’t have perfect skin.
Those actresses you see on TV and on the red carpet?
Nope, they don’t have perfect skin either.
As you may well know, models and actresses practically have their make-up painted on. Even the most natural of looks take an incredible amount of time (and skill).

You know what that means? That means that they have something to cover up!! Which means that their skin is just like yours. They’re just lucky enough to have someone make them look perfect when the world is watching.

You are beautiful just the way you are.
Though make-up is fun to apply and comes in handy often, don’t let it cover up who you are. You have more to offer the world than a fake pretty face.

With Love ❤

Hebrews 11:1