Moving!

Hello Beauty Junkies!

 

I wanted to let you all know that I am moving my blog to Wordpress.

 

Come visit me from now on at

 

AmeliaAtSalon7.wordpress.com

Love Your Natural Curls!

     Hello Beauty Junkies! Last post I said I was going to talk about embracing your naturally curly hair, so here it is!

 

     I have fine curly hair and I have a lot of it! My hair is to the middle of my back and while it is curly, it's more towards the wavy side rather than the spiral side. Growing up my hair was never that curly and all of a sudden at age 15 it decided it was going to the curly side! I was actually excited because before my hair was curly, it was this strange in between. Not quite curly, not quite straight and I would heat style EVVVERY day. Blow dry, curl, straighten, over and over and over. My hair became increasingly fuzzy over time and I got tired of having to spend an hour on my hair. Once it became naturally curly, I jumped for joy and swore off regular heat styling. I am going to give you several steps to embracing your curls and achieving the curly look you've always dreamed of while getting your hair to a healthy state!

 

Step #1: Find a hair stylist that knows how to work with curly hair!

 

     I cannot express this enough! Curly hair can be a little tricky because it shrinks up when it dries. If someone cuts your hair or your bangs too short, you could end up with a poodle-like poof!  Communicate with your stylist and always let them know what you are trying to achieve. If you are going the natural route and are ending years of heat styling, opt for a deep conditioning treatment to get your strands back to a healthy start. If you still want to straighten your hair once in awhile, let them know so they can give you a cut that looks good straight and curly.

Step #2: Good a good shampoo/conditioner that nourishes and replenishes and is aimed towards curly hair
    
     Finding the right shampoo for curly hair was always disappointing for me. While they always made my hair feel clean, they never delivered the defined curls they always promised. Until now! I had the pleasure of recieving a sample of Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls curling creme in my Birchbox (I will talk more about Pillow Soft below) and loved it so much I decided to explore more of Miss Jessie's products. I ended up purchasing the Super Slip Sudsy shampoo and the Creme De La Creme conditioner. I LOVE THEM! My hair is super fine and gets very tangled when wet. I have to coat it with conditioner, let it sit and then comb it out with a wide tooth comb while rinsing. This shampoo/conditioner combo starts untangling with the shampoo! I lose less hair because my hair is less tangled and that is awesome! If you have any type of curly hair, I highly suggest Miss Jessie's products! Go to www.MissJessies.com, right now they are having a free sample promo!


Step #3: Find a styling product that works for your curly hair type

     Not all curly hair types are created the same! I have fine curly hair while I have friends with thick, course curly hair. Some have more wavy hair then curly, others have curls that are kinky instead of a spiral. Many use gel to cut down the frizz, but end up with crispy, wet looking curls with no life. Others use oil or a serum to cut down their frizz, but the final result is stringy, limp, lifeless strands that look like they need to be washed. I find a combination of a light application of Moroccan Argan oil and a curling creme work the best to define and defrizz my curls while leaving them bouncy and soft. Here I go plugging Miss Jessie's again, but seriously folks Miss Jessie's offers a styling product for EVERY kind of curly hair! I apply argan oil to damp hair, comb it out with a wide toothed comb, scrunch with a towel a few times and apply a small amount of Pillow Soft Curls. If I need my hair up, I wear it in a messy bun so later when I take it out, it compliments my natural waves. If I'm wearing it down, I will blow dry my hair with a diffuser on the lowest settings and finish with a curly light hold hairspray.

P.S. They even have hair product for curly kids!

Step #4: Find a good deep conditioner and use it while relaxing once a week

     If you are opting for a natural route after years of heat styling, you need to replenish the moisture in your hair. Damage causes breakage and breakage causes frizz so you want to avoid damage to your hair as much as possible. Treat yourself once a week to a face mask and a deep conditioner while taking a bubble bath while you unwind. Your skin, hair and mind will thank you! Stress is no good for your skin or hair so RELAX, drink a yummy drink and enjoy yourself. When I ordered my last shipment of Miss Jessie's product, I purchased a small jar of their Super Sweetback Treatment made for those wanting to grow out their hair. It smells like banana Laffy Taffy (which I LOVE!) and is thick and creamy so you don't have to worry about it dripping while you leave it on for 30 minutes. Just like their styling products, Miss Jessie's also has a deep conditioner for every curly hair type!

Step #5: Be good to yourself

     Remember that healthy hair and skin start with a healthy body. Get your nutrients, drink lots of water and keep smoking and drinking to a minimum if you must do them at all. Reduce your stress by treating yourself to an evening of relaxing and doing things that make you feel pretty. If you have the funds, treat yourself to a facial with an extended facial massage by an esthetician (like me!) dedicated to helping her clients relax. Stress is hell on skin, especially around the jaw so relax and chill out. Your hair and skin will thank you.

    I know this will be the fifth or whatever time I mention Miss Jessie's, but I cannot get over how completely awesome their products are! They are more expensive than drug store products, but your hair will look so amazing you'll never go back! My product always lasts a decent amount of time and I can purchase the shampoo, conditioner and curling creme through Birchbox and get points and discounts. I do suggest checking out Miss Jessie's website before ordering through Birchbox because www.MissJessies.com does some pretty awesome promotions like buy one get one free on every product you order. Stock up and get free shipping! I've read on their website that Target and CVS carry Miss Jessie's products, however none in my area carry them. Check the map on www.MissJessies.com to see if a store near you carries their products. Right now they are running a free sample with free shipping promo so you can try their products for free to see if you like them. They also offer small sizes of several products for under $10 which is great for trial before shelling out more cash.

So remember curly haired chicks:

1. Awesome Stylist
2. Awesome Shampoo/Conditioner
3. Awesome Styling Product
4. Awesome Deep Conditioner
5. Treating The Awesome You!


Keep posted for my next entry on the make up palette every make up artist and Junkie needs!
    

Glitter Makeup Brush DIY

Hello Beauty Junkies!

 

 I decided to switch it up with this months entry and do a tutorial on glitter handled makeup brushes! I love crafting and turning alright things into AMAZING things. As you might know, I am a licenced esthetician and in school we got a pretty decent sized makeup brush kit. The brushes are of decent quality, but over time the paint on the handles began to peel exposing the rough wood underneath. I decided it was a great opportunity to add glitter with the amazing substance known as ModPodge! If you are a crafter, you know ModPodge does pretty much anything!

You could do this project on any makeup brushes, however I feel the rough wood will allow the ModPodge to adhere the best. Keep in mind if you are doing this project on metal or plastic handles, it might peel off quickly because the surface is slick. I would sand the surface of the handles to rough them up a bit and give the ModPodge some texture to stick to.

 

Things You Need:

*Makeup brushes
*ModPodge
*Glitter
*Paint Brushes
*ModPodge Clear Acrylic Spray Sealer
*Sheets of paper for sprinkling glitter (if doing different colors you will need a sheet of paper for each color)
*Scotch Tape
*Course Nail File
*Plastic baggies (or plastic wrap, anything you can tape around the bristles to protect them from the sealer)
*Scissors
*Wax paper - I should have used this on my drying station instead of newspaper and paper towels

*For my work area, I used a cookie sheet with a few layers of paper towels to protect it. The edge around the cookie pan gave me a place to prop them up while they dry and it makes them easy to move if you need to move them. *

Step One: If the paint on your brush handles peeled like mine, make sure all the paint is off. Mine was pretty easy to remove and for the stubborn ones I soaked the handle in water and rubbing alcohol. If you did need to soak your brush handles, make sure they are completely dry before you start. If you are painting over a plastic or metal handle, rough up your handle with some sand paper and go on to step 2.

  

Step 2: Use the scotch tape to tape off where the handle ends.

Step 3: Paint the handle of the brush with ModPodge and try to distribute it as evenly as possible. Avoid using a thick coat. 

Step 4: I got the most even glitter results by making a long pile of glitter in the center of a folded paper and then rolling the handle in it. Slightly tap the glitter into the ModPodge on the handle and then tap off excess.



Lay it propped on something to dry.

In this photo my brushes are propped up on a cookie sheet with paper towels. Later I moved the paper towels because the paper was sticking to the ModPodge. Now that I think back on it, I might have used wax paper because it would lessen the likelihood of the paper sticking to the brush handle.








Step 5: After that layer has dried look for any spots that have thin glitter/no glitter. Dab on thin layer of ModPodge and repeat Step 4.

*If you happen to drip ModPodge on the bristles of your makeup brush, don't worry. It will wash out with soap and water. *

Step 6: Cover the glitter layer with a layer of just ModPodge. It will look white, but will dry clear.

 

Step 7: Let it dry for awhile. You are going to file off any bumps or rough spots and you need the ModPodge to be very dry.

Step 8: Feel the handles for rough spots and bumps. File them off with the course nail file.

Step 9: Paint with another layer of ModPodge and let dry. Feel the handle in between coats to see if it is smooth enough for you. Because glitter is rough, it might take a few coats of ModPodge for it to feel smooth and not grainy. I used about 3-4 


Step 10: Remove scotch tape.

Step 11: Cut plastic baggies into sections that will be big enough to cover the bristles on your brush.

Step 12: Cover the bristles with the plastic bag pieces and tape them down so there's no openings at all.











Step 13: In a well ventilated area, spray the
handles with the ModPodge spray sealer and let dry for about 15 minutes. The sealer prevents the ModPodge from being tacky. I suggest letting them dry for longer than 15 minutes because if they touch while they are even remotely tacky, they will stick to each other.


I sprayed them in my garage with newspaper underneath and had them spaced apart. You don't want the handles touching because they will stick to each other. I wish I had tried using wax paper because some of the wet sealer made the newspaper stick to my brushes and I couldn't get it off.

Step 14: After the sealer has dried, remove tape and plastic from the bristle end. Enjoy your sparkly brushes!

*WASHING THESE BRUSHES*

 If you must soak them, only add enough water to cover the bristles. The water should NOT go above the metal. This will make your glitter last as long as possible and it's better for the glue that holds the bristles together.

I loved this project! You can glitter pretty much ANYTHING with this ModPodge process. There are some awesome tutorials on Pinterest on how to glitter thrift shop shoes, candle holders, mason jars, ect. You can also give glass a tint by coloring your ModPodge with food coloring!

ATTENTION!: If glittering or ModPodging something that food or drink will be consumed from, do your research. I do not think Mod Podge is food safe! There are several tutorials on glittering the outside of wine glasses that use Krylon Clear Coat as a sealer. I'm not sure this is food safe and even though you're glittering the outside, I would assume some of the clear coat gets on the inside when you spray it on, so once again:

If you are glittering something that will be eaten from or drank from DO YOUR RESEARCH!

Also, keep in mind that sitting water may damage the Mod Podge. So if you want to glitter something like a Mason jar or vase and you plan on putting flowers in it, glitter the outside instead of the inside.


All in all, this project was very fun and I see many sparkly things in my future! Instead of glitter, you can also ModPodge fabric and paper to things!

Stay tuned for my next post on curly hair... many girls have beautiful curly hair and yet they spend every morning heat styling and damaging it. I will tell you about what products have helped me embrace my curls while making my hair more healthy from less heat styling.  Until next time....

Peace, Love, Light

It's Been Awhile!

Hello Beauty Junkies!

 

Happy October! Yay for fun, over the top makeup and costumes!

     Sorry for such the gap between posts, but I have been a VERY busy girl lately! I got into an esthetician apprentice program for one of the most popular and trendy salons in my city and its such a huge opportunity and honor! I also work a waitressing job at night so you can imagine how tired I am!

     I had my first pro makeup experience yesterday and I learned soooo much! Several girls from the salon did makeup for an event a local vintage/antique store put on. It was a zombie fashion show and a zombie wedding (which was a real wedding)! Let me start by saying that was my first time doing zombie makeup and I have a lot to learn and improve on. As far as pro makeup goes I've always had a knack for high fashion, editorial, fantasy and costume makeup. I'm great with sparkly, rhinestony, iridescenty, bright colorful makeup so this gore makeup was very new territory for me. I've seen a few zombie flicks and liked them, however it's not a movie genre that's in my regular rotation. While my makeups weren't as great as I would have liked them to be, it was an awesome and fun experience and I'm super thankful to have had it. The zombie wedding was featured in the local newspaper, local radio and on local news! The weekend before Halloween I will be doing makeup for people participating in our local zombie pub crawl. It's all very exciting!

     I love October and Halloween! Last year I was Mother Nature which was super fun but the costume was a little hard to move around in due to the vines wrapped around my body and arms along with the little critters that were in said vines. I lost many a butterfly at the bar that night :) Because of the limited mobility, I could not wear Mother Nature to my waitressing job so I picked up some small monarch butter fly wings and did a butterfly mask makeup. This year I'm going for something a little more simple in the costume area, but very elaborate on the makeup end so I can flex my skills. My zombie makeup was not terrible, but it definitely was not to my normal standard and it busted my confidence just a little bit, I need a boost :D I'm thinking a Sugar Skull makeup would be perfect. If you'd like to see what I've collected for inspiration, follow me on Pinterest! It's such a fun makeup with so many different things you can do and I'm looking forward to it. I will post pictures!

   Have fun this Halloween and be safe Beauty Junkies!

Curly Qs!

     Hello Beauty Junkies! I realize I promised my next blog would be my late Birchbox reviews, but because of fun life surprises (broken down car, concerts, weddings, making wedding presents and an incredibly awesome job opportunity) I have had a hard time keeping up with them. I have decided to take a temporary hiatus from Birchbox reviews, however I will still be blogging beauty advice so always stay tuned!

     Today I would like to discuss mascaras and eyelash curlers. I have loved makeup from a young age and have always been obsessed with eyelashes. I have always been insanely jealous of people with long, black, thick, perfectly naturally curled eyelashes. My eyelashes aren't nonexistent, however they are rather straight and I always longed for curled eyelashes. Now even though I've always longed for these curled eyelashes, I could never figure out eyelash curlers to save my life! My eyes are long and slanted rather than open and wide so most curlers would pinch my eyelid and didn't fit the whole length of my eye. If I could manage a curl that wasn't kinked, I couldn't get it to hold and all the pinching and time spent was completely wasted.. I called it quits for a very long time and just figured they just didn't work for me.

     After a few years, I went on a huge Sephora shopping spree and decided to purchase a $19 Shu Uemura eyelash curler after reading RAVE reviews. I was super excited and got all this hope.... only to have it crash down once again. While this curler didn't pinch my eyelids like every other and fit the whole length of my lash line, I could not get a natural curl that would hold. I tried everything from $20 curling mascaras to heating my curler with my hair dyer and after nothing worked, I almost returned it.

     One night a friend came over and we were talking makeup. I pulled out my recent purchases and showed her the eyelash curler and told her how I couldn't figure out how to use it. I then realize how wonderfully naturally curled her eyelashes looked and asked if she curled hers. She showed me her technique and I decided to give it one last try before giving the curler away. Instead of pinching as hard as you can at the root, she would pump gently while moving the curler up the lashes from the root often referred to as the "walking" technique. It took me a few tries to get the hang of it and once I did, I was getting a wonderful, natural looking curl.

      REJOICE!.....?

     NOT SO FAST!!!!!!

     So I got super stoked because I was getting this awesome shape and yet every time I put on mascara my eyelashes went back to their normal straight shape. Once again, I was disappointed. Then finally while googling the subject I came across just the right article that suggested using waterproof mascara. Waterproof formulas contain waxes that hold your curl! Right away I purchased two drug store mascaras (Maybelline FullnSoft and DefineALash) in their waterproof formulas and started curling away. Sure enough, the waterproof mascara held the curl! YES!!!!!!

REJOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   The shape and quality of your eyelash curler is very important and unfortunately you can only find the one that works for you by trying them. I advise going somewhere like Ulta that has a variety of brands and range from high to low in price. They also have a pretty good return policy so you don't end up with a bunch of curlers you hate and wasted money. There are all different kind of eye lash curler pads, but I find the ones that are most comfortable with the best curl shape are mushroom shaped and made of silicone.


     The best and most coveted curler in the "industry" is the Shu Uemura eyelash curler pictured above. The bummer is not too long ago, Shu Uemura pulled all its products from U.S. shelves but you can still order it at http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/. It comes with two silicone pads that should be replaced after about 3 months or when you notice them wearing down. Shu Uemura does not sell replacement pads for its eyelash curler because you are supposed to purchase a new curler after the two pads wear down for hygienic reasons. However.... if buying a new curler doesn't fit your budget or you just don't want to by a new curler, the replacement pads for the Shiseido eyelash curler ($6 for two) fit in the Shu Uemura and give you pretty comparable results. I've had my Shu Uemura for several years and have had no experience in the curler itself wearing down, just the pads. I do disinfect my curler the best I can, but I should probably be a good esthetician and purchase a new one for myself.

     If you do not want to order your curler online, my next recommendation would be the Shiseido eyelash curler because it is the closest to the Shu Uemura. You can purchase Shiseido products at Sephora or Ulta, however if its the only reason you're going in I would call your local store first to make sure they have it in stock.





     Now.... regarding mascara. Mascara is pretty important to your overall look whether you are going for a soft natural look or a dramatic night time look. No one wants clumpy, spider lashes so the shape of the brush is as important as the mascara formula itself. The shape of your eye is also important because not all mascara brushes work for all eye shapes. Just like with many cosmetics, different products work for different people so if you want to explore the mascara world I suggest doing so somewhere with a generous return policy.




     I enjoy many high end products and if my budget permits, will insist on using them. However, mascara is one product where I enjoy the drugstore formulas more than the high end formulas. I've tried many high end formulas including Buxom, Tarte and Bad Gal and while they weren't terrible products, I didn't feel I was getting a big enough difference to spend $15-$25 dollars on a product I use pretty much every day. Both the Buxom and Bad Gal brushes were too big for my eye shape. I couldn't open my eyes wide enough to coat the last from root to tip. I liked the Tarte "Lights, Camera, Lashes" formula, but even the waterproof formula smeared a bit by the end of the day and wouldn't hold my curl.

 

     After buying and returning several high end mascaras, I ended up going back to a brand I used back in high school... good old Maybelline. I purchased Full N Soft waterproof formula and Define-A-Lash waterproof formula and tested away! Both of these mascaras are great at holding my curl and are pretty smear proof, even through tears. I feel the Full N Soft adds volume with its thick, round brush and  Define-A-Lash separates and adds length. They are also less expensive which can make a huge difference in your budget for everyday cosmetics.

 

     So there you have it. My take on mascara and eyelash curlers. Curling your eye lashes opens your eyes up and draws attention there. Finding the right products for your eye shape is pivotal and remember to know a stores return policy just in case you don't like it. Hopefully this helps you find a product that works for you! Stay tuned for more advice articles........

 

 

 

p.s. Just because I'm taking a hiatus on Birchbox reviews, doesn't mean you shouldn't sign up! Go to Birchbox.com to sign up for their waiting list and wait for you samples!

    
    

    

Gifted Body Wash... Grrrrrr!

     Hello Beauty Junkies! I apologize for such a gap between posts... life has been a bit hectic, but very fun lately. I realize I did not post a review for the June Birchbox, but I shall catch up and post it when I post the review for my July Birchbox which will be coming soon.



     My topic for this post is the annoying pest known as gifted body wash/bubble bath. I am incredibly grateful to receive any present, but gifted body wash has begun to irritate me over the years. Most women love wonderful smelling items so for many people its a fail safe when purchasing gifts for females you aren't necessarily close to. There is an exception... if a female you know LOVES a certain body wash and you know that for sure, then by all means it's an awesome gift. However, if you aren't very close/personal, step away from the body wash. Every Christmas, I would put the body washes I accumulated that holiday in my linen closet, saying I would use them one day. Lo and behold I would forget about their existence until the next time I moved and once again I would say "I'll use it one day" and "one day" never came.



     I enjoy scented body wash, however I prefer to use Dove bar soap because of the way it moisturizes my skin. It has a soft fresh scent that I enjoy, it leaves my skin moisturized so I don't have to apply lotion and its inexpensive. Anyway, after storing body wash after body wash away while using my Dove soap I realized I was accumulating a body wash hoard hahaha. In the past few months I made a dedication to use EVERY body wash/soap in my linen closet before purchasing more Dove soap... it's been about four-five months and I have about four left! LOL if you know me personally and you are reading this post:

NO MORE BODY WASH!

     So if you can't buy her body wash and you don't know what to buy her, what do you do? My answer is BODY SUGAR/SALT SCRUBS! While every girl probably has her own favorite soap/body wash she purchases on a regular basis, sugar and salt scrubs are something us women will always use whether its in the shower or next to our hand washing sink and most of us don't have a favorite, we love them all.

WE LOVE SCRUBS!

     We all know how much I love exfoliation and scrubs most important benefit is they exfoliate, leaving skin feeling smooth and soft especially after shaving or waxing. They also benefit shaved/waxed areas because they remove dead skin cells that can cause ingrown/infected hairs. However, always use caution when using products on shaved/waxed areas; hair removal can cause the area to be more sensitive. Always use caution when using products on bikini lines/genital areas, as these areas are naturally more sensitive. Grapeseed oil and Jojoba oil are less likely to clog pores than other oils, so a scrub with a grapeseed oil base could help with body acne by removing dead skin cells and preventing them from clogging pores.

 P.S. NEVER USE A BODY SCRUB ON YOUR FACE!

     Another benefit to scrubs is the circular motion you use while using them increases circulation to your limbs and provides an invigorating effect. 

    

While you may not know every women's favorite scents, there are many fail safe scrub scents you can opt for:

*Nutmeg/spicy/cinnamon scents are usually enjoyed by most because they give a warm, cozy feeling that is great for fall and holiday seasons.
*Peppermint is a great holiday scent that is energizing and refreshing.
*Gingerbread is another good holiday scent enjoyed by most.
*Brown sugar/vanilla is a great scent combination that most enjoy all times of the year, even men. It brings up memories of fresh baked cookies, coziness and warmth.
*Citrus scents are great for spring and summer seasons. They are uplifting, energizing and clean.
*Stay away from floral scents, they can be much too flowery and overpowering.
*Stay away from anything too musky or specific, such as Nag Champa. Not all enjoy those heavy scents.


     You can purchase body scrubs in most retail stores that sell body wash  for decent prices. If you are purchasing them for more than just a couple of people it may be more cost effective to make the scrubs yourself. This involves a carrier oil (almond, grapeseed, hazelnut, ect.), a sugar/salt (brown sugar, organic sugar, Epsom salt, ect.) and your choice of essential oils. You can add fun elements to your scrubs like crushed candy cane, sprinkles, dried flowers, ect. to give them a personal touch. There will be another post entirely dedicated to making your own body scrubs so stay tuned! If you can't wait until then, do a search for DIY body scrubs on Pinterest... there are hundreds of recipes out there! 

     Men enjoy scrubs too! Here's my scrub-loving-man story:

    
     The Christmas after I enrolled in esthetician school, we made our own scrubs in class. I enjoyed it so much I decided to make scrubs as gifts for family and as favors at my work party. I made several different scents, such as Candy Cane, Cinnamon, Brown Sugar Spice, Vanilla Brown Sugar and Nag Champa (that one was for a special lady). Anyway, I gave two scrubs each to my boyfriends sister and sister-in-law. The next Christmas, at my boyfriends parents house we were talking about past presents and the scrubs got brought up. My boyfriends brother had an injury on his knee and shin that resulted in a large scar. He said this scar would itch and developed excessive eczema like dryness and all the lotions he tried would not relieve it. One day, behind closed doors (haha), he decided to use the cinnamon scrub because it had an oil base and thought it might provide some relief. He loved it! It relieved the dryness as well as exfoliating the dry, flaky, itchy skin. Men love a good exfoliation too!

     They have uses outside of the shower as well! Oil based scrubs help remove sticky residues off hands such as motor oil, paint, stains, sap and glue. I do recommend washing hands with a very small amount of hand soap after using an oil based scrub because your hands will feel a tiny bit oily, like right after you use lotion.

     So this next holiday season, instead of going for the body wash for that female coworker you drew for Secret Santa, get her a body scrub instead. Chances are she doesn't have a million already and its an item she will still enjoy! If you aren't sure of her favorite scents and you are somewhere like The Body Shoppe or Bath and Body, ask the sales clerk if any scents are the most popular. Variety packs/gift baskets are nice because you get a few different scents. If you're daring, make your own!

Stay tuned for my June and July Birchbox reviews!

Urban Decay Product Review

     Hello Beauty Junkies! As you may know from my previous post, I recently made a purchase of Urban Decay products from the Hautelook.com website. My first post was entirely about the of Shadows and in this post I will be reviewing the other products I bought.


     I purchased the Urban Decay Lash Kit which came with a set of UDs false lashes in Minx, a small tube of Urban Lash False Lash Mascara, a small 24/7 pencil liner in zero (black) and some lash adhesive. The lashes are very pretty outwards swooping lashes rather than curled upward. This gives them a feathery look. The quality of the lashes are great, they are very soft and aren't shiny or plastic looking like some lashes can be. However, the band on these lashes is SUPER thick. My eyes are a bit small and slanted and these lashes would not bend to my eye shape. They kept lifting in the corners no matter how I trimmed them. I got fed up that time around, but saved them for another day. I tried again, only this time I cut them into pieces and glued the pieces on individually. The effect was nice, but they were pretty heavy and rather uncomfortable. Gluing them on like that was timely and also made reuse a bit difficult. I used the False Lash Mascara which is a formula made to blend your lashes with the false ones for a more natural look. It was coating my lashes and the false once nicely until I got too close to my water line and got some in my eye. Excuse my language, but HOLY S*** it burnt the hell out of my eye! If I feel adventurous I may use it again with a steadier hand, but maybe not. This mascara at full price is $19. The eyeliner is great, I love the travel sizes for when I can only bring essentials and who doesn't need black eye liner?  I believe this kit originally sold for $19 and I bought it for $5. All in all, this kit was not for me, but at $5 it wasn't a big deal. This lash kit is no longer available through Urban Decay's website.




    It seems Urban Decay has been doing some spring cleaning remodeling its label and also
discontinuing some products, one of these being the Urban Glow skin highlighter. Normally I use Smashbox Artificial Light in Flash which is a peachy, iridescent pink tone in a liquid formula but at $24 a bottle and money being a bit tight I had to find a cheaper alternative. I was pretty happy when I came across this on Hautelook for $6 (normally it is $24) and couldn't wait to give it a try. I bought the shade Moonshine, which like Flash is an iridescent pink but isn't as peachy as Flash is. It has a bit more white pearl to it. It comes in a cream cake and liquefies on touch from your body heat. I dab a few dots on my cheek bones and blend to add a bit of glow to my face. It has a nice texture and blends well without being overly shimmery. I like this product and would use it again if it weren't being discontinued. This product is still available on Urban Decay's website but only in the shade Wicked, which is a pinky shimmery shade.


    I was also excited to come across a five pencil set of UD's 24/7 shadow crayons. These are jumbo crayons in shades of your favorite UD shadows. They are a quick precise way to apply shadow and these can also be used for a base for other shadows. I already had a few full sized crayons ($19 each) and enjoy them so I figured five small crayons for $9 (Orig. $32) was a killer deal! It came with Sin (champagne shimmer, one of my fave shades), Clash (shocking bright blue), Juju (med. beige shimmer), Rehab (dark brown shimmer) and Delinquent (dark purple with glitter). I already owned a full size Delinquent and enjoy the shade so an extra mini was a plus. Sin, Rehab and Juju are great for a natural daytime look, while Clash and Delinquent are perfect for a night out on the town. These have a creamy texture and are pretty blendable, however they set rather quickly so you might want to be quick with your blend. The brush that works best for this is UD's 24/7 Shadow Pencil brush, a small dense brush with a tapered tip. This kit was a steal and I would purchase more of these crayons in their full size.



     I also picked up a 24/7 Concealer Pencil for $5, normally priced at $18. The only shade left was CIA, which is rather light but I can make it work. Normally I don't use heavy concealer around the eyes because it can settle into fine lines making even young eyes look older. However, after a stressful night with some redness and swelling, this did a pretty good job at covering these imperfections (after treating the swelling with cool teabags). I would prefer a tone closer to my own skin tone, but after setting this with powder it works. I wouldn't purchase it at full price simply because I do not use it enough. One thing I'm a bit confused about.... the pencil is plastic instead of wood. The bottom does not twist and I have no idea how you are supposed to get the rest of the product out!!! >..<


     I also purchased the Urban Decay Temporary Tattoos. These were $2 and seemed like fun, but I have yet to use them. They take a steady hand in applying and I just haven't played around with them yet. I am excited to try them, but am conscious of when I experiment in case they do not look as good as I hope. When I try them, I'll definitely do a post on how I like them!


     While I wasn't 100% pleased with this purchase, I liked enough of the product for it to be worth it. I see why Urban Decay has changed a lot of it's packaging... some of it just isn't practical. I am the most pleased with the Urban Glow highlighter and the 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner. The eyelashes were of great quality, but the band was much too thick. I probably won't purchase lashes from Urban Decay in case they are all like this.

    Stay tuned for my next post... most likely a review of the June Birchbox! Have a beauty question you'd like help with? Let me know! I'd love to do Q&A posts! Until next time!
   

May Birchbox!

     Hello Beauty Junkies! I apologize for the delay in posts.... I've been a bit lazy with blogging lately. May's Birchbox included a tinted moisturizer, a small bottle of gold nail polish, a perfume vial, a tinted chap stick and a pink hair tie (not pictured). Also included was a cute note card with a matching envelope. I used the hair tie before I could take a picture because it looked so cute! Anyway, here is my May Birchbox review!

     The first product I used from this box was the pink Twistband hair tie. This hair tie boasts no snags and no crimps or dents in your hair. While I'm not fond of the color pink, this hair tie is too cute to pass on just because of the color. I love that it looks like a ribbon instead of an elastic. My only complaint about this hair tie is it just doesn't hold my hair tight enough. My hair is fine, but I have a lot of it so my hair is moderately thick and is naturally curly. If I tried to wear a high ponytail or messy bun with this tie, it would loosen and migrate downward within the hour. However, these ties work great for braids or pigtails. A recent hair trend I have loved lately is the braid and I love to wear the Hunger Games side french braid. These ties add a little bit of color and girliness to your hairstyle while being subtle. On Birchbox.com they run $18 for a pack of 12 and you can choose between bright colors or neutral colors. $18 is a little pricey for hair ties, but I would purchase them for the fun colors.  All in all, if I saw these ties at the grocery store I would purchase them. However, the only way I would order these online is if I was already purchasing another item.

     The next product I used was the Color Club Foil Collection in Disco Nap, a nice shimmery gold color. First I must say, I love mini nail polishes. Over the years of purchasing a TON of nail polish, I have never been able to use a full bottle completely before it gets chunky and goes bad. I love these little bottles because they are good for 5+ applications and you don't end up wasting money on product you didn't use. This polish applied great and even and dried rather quickly. I only had to apply one coat as it is not a very sheer polish, which I like. I find it annoying when you have to layer on coat after coat to get a solid wash of color. The first time I used this polish I didn't apply a clear coat and it chipped in about a day. Using a strong clear coat made it last a bit longer, however due to constant hand washing at my job even the strongest polish doesn't last long. This polish would look great with chunky gold sparkles over the top! The mini bottle is 0.25 ounces while the full size is 5 ounces and sells for $8 on Birchbox.com. I would possibly buy this polish in a full size, however I would love if they made a set of minis instead.

P.S. Urban Decay makes super fun mini polish collections! At full price the sets are a bit expensive ($20+), if you keep your eye out they frequently end up on sale on Hautelook.com or Urbandecay.com for as little as $8! Totally worth it for seven mini polishes in bright awesome colors!

     My favorite product that I have received in my Birchbox so far is the fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment. This is an awesome tinted chap stick that nourishes and hydrates your lips while giving you a little hint of color and SPF 15. It's free of petroleum and sulfates as well as synthetic dyes. I loved that they kept the original packaging and made it a little mini twist up chap stick. I absolutely hate lipstick, lip liner and most lip glosses, so tinted chap stick and lip stains are the extent of lip make up I wear. This one goes on smooth, gives just enough color to not end up on your teeth and leaves your lips soft. Too bad I washed and dried mine while doing laundry ARRRRGGGHHHH!!! It came out of my clothes pretty easily with some degreasing stain remover, but I was super sad because I really love this product! I would purchase this product at full price $22.50, which is pretty expensive for chap stick but that is just how awesome this product is. They have several different colors and formulas on Sephora.com, all of which I would like to try. The only thing that would make this product more awesome is if they sold a set of minis! I love minis!

     The next product is Dr Jart + Water Fuse Beauty Balm. Essentially, this is a tinted moisturizer but it boasts that it is a sunscreen, serum and moisturizer to save time and product. It seems that one size fits all for the shade as well as skin type. I put this on instead of my moisturizer and found that it wasn't moisturizing enough to be used alone. It was tinted, but not tinted enough to make a difference, so I still applied my powder. All in all, for $32 for a full size, I would not purchase this product. It doesn't seem to match every skin type and doesn't hydrate as promised. If I were going to buy a pricey tinted moisturizer, I would purchase Laura Mercier for $42 instead. This tinted moisturizer hydrates better, causing you to use less product and with SPF 20 it's great for summer. You can also pick your shade and choose between a few different formulas like oil free that would best match your skin type.

     Last, is the vial of Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée Petite Cologne Absolue perfume. This perfume has notes of vanilla and jasmine as well as brown sugar. Its subtle, but rich and could be too heavy for a summer scent. I enjoy the smell of this perfume, but I hate the packaging! Its in a vial with a cork top that is somewhat difficult to remove. You get more perfume on your fingers than anywhere else and because of this, I believe it prevents you from truly smelling how the scent sits with your body chemistry. For $65 at full price, I wouldn't change my perfume, but I feel if this scent were packaged differently I could have enjoyed it more, possibly enough to change my mind.

     This was an awesome Birchbox and I can't wait for next month! I will most likely be purchasing a full size Sugar Lip Treatment and hoping they bring out a mini set.... maybe for the holidays? I'm also hoping Twistbands are sold somewhere other than online... but I might just have to cave and buy them online. Next few posts should be on the rest of my Hautelook Urban Decay purchase and June's Birchbox. Till next time!