November 21, 2009
Top places to get a makeover (On-the-cheap)
As you will see soon, I’m going to post an interactive map for you to decide where the best place for you is. The map will be based on the Cherry Hill-Moorestown area, and possibly the Deptford Mall area. Stay tuned!
But, until then, I’ll post my weekly top-? list. This week’s topic? Makeovers, of course.
1) Ulta
Ulta is a great place to get a makeover, as many locations have a salon right inside. Depending on where you go (I’m basing my prices by the one located in Mt. Laurel, NJ), the prices and services vary.
- the location in Mt. Laurel has not only a hair salon, but also a place to get your makeup done. A basic shampoo and style costs about $30, and makeup application costs about $30 as well. This is a great place to go to if you have a special occasion coming up, such as a wedding or prom. They also have different kinds of beauty treatments as well, starting at about $30.
2) MAC
Of course, you knew this was going to end up on here. Now, from knowing a couple people who have gotten makeovers done here, I pretty much have an idea on what you have to do. Like any other salon, you have to make an appointment, or I believe they take walk-ins as well. The actual cost of the makeover is free, but of course a tip is only appropriate, and they require you to buy at least one item that they used on you. It’s not a bad deal, especially if you like what they did.
3) Sephora
Now, this one is iffy. I have a friend that works at Sephora, but she hasn’t been working there long, so I’m not sure how it works. But, like MAC and Ulta, you can get them. You can visit your local Sephora and check out how it works. I believe it’s like MAC, as in you don’t get charged for the actual makeover (except tip, if you wish), but you have to buy at least one product they used on you. If not, than it shouldn’t be more than $30-40.
Now, I’m not counting this as a top spot, but it’s always a possibility. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of a mall/shopping area, as pretty much every location of the three stores above is around a mall, you can always check out your local salon. Many salons double as a hair and nail salon, and also do other beauty services.
Happy makeover!! 
November 14, 2009
Top 5 lip gloss brands
Lip gloss is the number one weapon in any girl’s makeup arsenal. It’s versatile, and it makes your lips feel fabulous.
I love lip gloss. If I don’t have any on me, (which never happens) then I feel naked. I also like to try different brands, but of course, I have my tried and true favorites.
Here’s my favorite kinds to get:
1. Victoria’s Secret Sheer Gloss Stick
This is my most recent favorite. I discovered it when i went to the store for a blog field trip. It’s awesome, beyond awesome actually. I definitely recommend it. There’s a ton of cute colors, and it goes on smoothly. The only issue is the price-$12-which actually isn’t that bad if you think about it. (from the Victoria’s Secret site)
2. Cover Girl AmazeMint Lip Gloss
Lip Gloss+mint= GENIUS. This is an amazing combination of pretty lips and fresh breath. It isn’t sticky, and comes in a variety of colors suitable for anyone. It’s also pretty cheap, at about $5 each. Seriously, get it.
3. Maybelline Lip Polish Hi-Shine
This is a lip gloss I think I’ve tried maybe once. But, of course, if I tried, more than likely, I liked it. Like Cover Girl, Maybelline has good products for less. At around $5 a bottle, they make good stocking stuffers too.
4. Cover Girl Wetslicks Fruit Spritzers
This was an impulse-commercial buy. I saw it, then went out to Target to buy it as soon as the commercial was over. It does taste really good, which could be a really good or a really bad thing. (Tip: just don’t eat it and you’ll be good). Like #2 and #3, it’s around $5 a bottle, depending on where you go.
5. Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss
Yes, I’ve jumped on the Burt’s Bees bandwagon. Not only does it make your lips extremely soft and smooth, it’s also organic. It’s a win-win situation in my opinion, plus price-wise it’s not too bad, at $6-7 a tube.
These are just 5 of the many, many types of lip gloss out there. Since it’s so plentiful, try out as many as you can until you find your favorite!
October 30, 2009
Top 3 Halloween costume makeup ideas
Halloween is quickly approaching. Do you know what you’re going to be??
Makeup is a big part of Halloween, as it goes with every costume. You can be either scary, funny or pretty.
Here’s three of the MANY makeup/costume choices that you can do:
1) I’m using my costume idea from last year: the Flyin’ Hawaiian. Everyone who’s a Phillies fan knows that that’s Shane Victorino.
For this, I bought Halloween makeup (which you can get at any store) and used the red, white and blue. I also bought glitter gel and glitter hairspray. On my eyes, I used the red on one eye and blue on the other, and used the glitter gel as an accent over the makeup. For my cheeks, I had my dad draw the Phillies “P” in red and I drew 2 hearts with the blue makeup and filled it in with the white makeup. On my other cheek, I drew “I <3 8″ with the makeup and drew blue stars around it. On both cheeks, I accented the makeup with glitter gel. In my hair, I sprayed the glitter hairspray. I finished the costume with a couple leis around my neck, some Mardi Gras beads around both wrists, a lei wrapped around the bun in my hair, and a Shane Victorino t-shirt. You can buy the leis and beads at any craft store.
The great thing about this costume idea is that you can use any team and any player. You can also use a team nickname, such as the Flyin’ Hawaiian, as a costume idea. It’s easy, and it’s cheap.
2) Fairy makeup-
I’m going to move on from sports now and bring on another girl-directed costume idea. Fairies and princesses is possibly one of the most common, especially for little girls. But, the makeup is so pretty and so delicate-looking that any girl wants to get in on the action. On lovetoknow.com, they have how-to directions for light fairy’s makeup.
Here’s what you need: iridescent eyeshadow in colors like pale green, sky blue, pink and white; light foundation; light, loose face powder with sparkle; mascara, in basic or bright colors; pink blush; glitter gels for the face; pale lipcolor and gloss. (these can be bought at any makeup specialty store, or any store that sells makeup)
The directions:
1. Apply a light layer of foundation all over your face, using a damp sponge to keep it fairly transparent
2. Sweep loose powder all over your face
3. Use an eyeshadow brush to apply eyeshadow to your lids and all the way up to the brow
4. You can also apply eyeshadow beneath your eyes, sweeping it out almost to your hairline
5. Apply mascara in black or brown, or go for colors like bright pink and blue
6. Sweep blush over the apples of cheeks and bring it to the ear
7. Apply lipcolor and top with gloss
8. Use glitter gels on the eyelids and on the lips if desired
*Special thanks to makeup.lovetoknow.com for the supplies list/directions
(I’ll show a how-to video in another post)
3) Anything scary requires a makeup kit, which can be bought at any Halloween supplies store. There are plenty of how-to Web sites out there on how to apply it, considering it is extremely hard to do it right. (This is probably one of the reasons why I was never anything scary) Anytimecostumes.com has a list of costume makeup ideas that are fairly easy to follow. I will also post a how-to video for anything scary that I can find.
Good luck, and Happy Halloween!!
October 22, 2009
5 things you can do with that old makeup
Don’t try to deny it. You KNOW you have extra makeup lying around somewhere that you completely forgot existed.
I can see it on your face. You agree with me. But don’t worry kids, I can fully admit to this as well. I have a full makeup case (see My Arsenal) that hasn’t ever been touched on a regular basis. To be honest, the only time I ever used it was for my sister’s makeup on Halloween. Not even kidding.
So, without further adieu, I am going to come up with a list to help you with this undying question (you know you think about it everyday…)
1. Sell it.
~ yes, if you have unused (and by unused, I really mean UNUSED) makeup, there are Web sites out there that you can sell it on (think Ebay, Amazon, and Craigslist). Believe me, someone will buy it.
2. Give it to a friend.
~ This is probably going to be the most practical out of them all…and the most lazy. Yes, if you think your friends will take more use out of your old makeup than you will, then by all means, give it to them. This plan isn’t foolproof, however, and if your old makeup is so used that it’s worthless to you, then it is most likely worthless to them as well. Don’t be stingy.
3. Recycle it.
~ How Can I Recycle This? is a blog all about what to do with the old “junk” lying around your house. Yup.
4. Charity shops.
~Related to tip 1, thrift shops will take in your old makeup, being that it is in good condition and it doesn’t look overly used. It won’t cost you to ship it out to a potential buyer, and you can feel good that it will go to someone who needs it more than you, who obviously didn’t need it as it was just sitting around your house. Ashamed (kidding, kidding).
5. USE IT.
~ I know, this is not what you wanted me to say. But, I’m saying it. Bright and bold makeup has come back into play these days. Got extremely bold eyeshadow? Buy yourself a thin brush, or better yet, use a Q-Tip, and apply it like you would eyeliner on your lid. You can downplay ridiculous lipstick by applying it with a brush and place lip gloss over it.
~The only makeup that you should NOT use again are: mascara, eyeliner (the pencil), and compact foundation. These can develop different kinds of gross bacteria that can seriously mess up your skin and your eyes.
Just remember to have fun with it!! That would be the most important advice I could ever give to you!!
