Beauty Blog

I really try not to buy “cheap” mascara.  I hate calling them cheap, but drugstore mascaras $10 and under fall into this category for me.  Of course, what girl doesn’t like buying the good stuff like Clinique, Dior, and Lancome?  But lately, I’ve not only needed to make a few sacrifices when it comes to splurges but taking the time to go to the make up counter at the mall is kind of a hassle.  So, I picked up a cheapie at my local drugstore the other night and I was totally impressed with what I found.  L’Oreal has created a new formula for the lashes, Bare Naturale Mascara…

The new mineral enriched formula is specifically geared towards lengthening and is made with 86% natural orgin-ingredients like jojoba oil, vitamin E and aloe vera.  This mascara is totally eco-friendly and paraben free, plus it only cost me about $10.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more mascara.
Discounts on L’Oreal cosmetics.

Well truth be told if you don’t have any boobies, I don’t see the point in “enhancing” your flat chest! Just saying..

It seems like if  mother nature gave you mosquito bites to work with all you are really doing is “highlighting” your sternum bone. However for you petite ladies that have A cups that you have mashed together with your water slash push-up bras you might want to look into the “Essentials Kit”- My Beautiful Breasts.

The Essentials Kit includes a full size waterproof My Beautiful Breasts Contour and Highlighting Palette, along with our Mini-Buffer Brush – it’s the perfect brush for achieving natural looking, undetectable cleavage! Plus you get the complete Library Of Secrets manual which will take you step by step through how to achieve your desired look – whether you want a larger or smaller bust, or even a LIFT! This kit works on ALL body types and skin tones!

This is the image from their site of the results, quite significant if you ask me. The skeptic in me still thinks that they might have pushed those petite boobies up with those chicken filet booby enhancer things, but I could be wrong. I don’t know if I could invest the time to do this to my cleavage all the time plus not to be gross but I just thought of what this stuff taste like? If someone motor boated you would they get a face full of foundation? Ha!

Then again it might be nice to have this kit handy for special occasions or picture friendly events. (Example: If you are one of those import car “models” or for like your wedding or something.. )

 Price $39.00

If you are interested in the “Essentials Kit” - My Beautiful Breasts  - Click here!

Celebrity Hair Spotlight

Kelly Clarkson hairstyles have ranged from small-town-simple to Hollywood glamour since she became Americas sweetheart after winning the first season of American Idol in 2002. She has been spotted sporting some of the trendiest hairstyles, including long voluminous locks reminiscent of fellow American Idol winner Katherine McPhee, the poof/pompadour of 2004 & 2005, and most recently the classic bob of 2007 & 2008. Although she has never been considered a hair-fashion trendsetter, her hairstyles have always been ones to take notice. Kelly has a round/square face so her hairstyles are generally designed with the objective of creating a more oval-shaped face. If you have a wide/round/square face shape, then these Kelly Clarkson hairstyles are sure to suit you well…. 

(To continue reading - click here - > The Cuttting Chair )

While in the Land of Smarter Beauty….

• Heal Thyself! - Shop for an Ingrown Toenail Lifter 
•  Origins Discount Cosmetics - Youthtopia Ag-Correcting Serum
• Get Shiny Hair and Fresh Hair Color Always - John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze
•  Tinge Razor and Vibrator -This does NOT seem like a GOOD idea!!

Well my sister and I were having lunch on Saturday and while we were waiting to be seated I asked her if I could borrow her mascara because in my laziness I did not wear any makeup and now that I was surrounded by moderately good looking people, I regretted it.

So she handed me her tube of Dior Black Out Mascara - OMG - loves it!

It’s really great when you come across great products on the spur and when you have no idea or conception that you are looking for something.  So there I was no eyelash curler present, just my tube of Dior mascara and plumping wand…. a few strokes thru my pathetic lashes later and BAM! - thick, black long lashes.

Great product, really works seriously. I went to Sephora immediately after lunch and bought my very own tube. Tis’ now my current favorite mascara.

If you are searching for show stopping black eyelashes - try DIOR BLACK OUT MASCARA.

For more  Discount Mascara, Click here!

I like her, and it’s not because we have the same name.

“Michelle Obama graces the cover of next month’s Vogue magazine, marking the second time a U.S. first lady has appeared on the front of one of the world’s leading fashion magazines. Obama, 45, who has been hailed by both U.S. retailers and the media as a new fashion icon, donned a magenta sheath dress for the cover photo. The dress was designed by Jason Wu, who also created her white inaugural ball gown. Famed photographer Annie Leibovitz took the cover photo and several fashion shots featured inside the March edition of Vogue.”
(Source Makeup Beat Blog - continue reading full article, Click here.)

Smarter Beauty Blog Highlights: 

• Cheap Skin Care Products that Work - Pond’s Cold Cream
• Poor Rihanna - Learn How to Hide Bite Marks & Bruises
• Mood Swing Emotionally Activated Lip Gloss - Inspired by Smurfette, Have ALL the Smurfs

Have you ever thought why Smurfette was the ONLY girl in a village of dudes?! What the heck? As a kid it never fazed me that she was pretty skanky if you really think about it… Haha! I’m just sayin.

Well if you want to be the envy of the entire male village like Smurfette than check out the Too Faced Mood Swing Emotionally Activated Lip Gloss! 

Apparently this lip gloss starts out Smurfette blue then based on your “mood” changes to a beautiful berry shade. I think the idea is cute and fun! Depending on your body heat level, the gloss blooms into countless shades of Smurf-berry pink. You never know what shade you’ll get but that’s half the fun, right?

Price $18.50

If you want to give the Mood Swing Emotionally Activated Lip Gloss from Sephora - Click here!

For more Discount Cosmetics and Low Priced Make-Up - Click here!

Okay so one of my guy best friends is dating this girl who is as sweet as pie BUT (and being a beauty blogger this was a major BUT) she applies makeup like a Circus clown…

1. Chola Eyebrows - Really!? What year is it again? 2009 I believe, I haven’t seen McDonald’s arches like that since the movie “Mi Vida Loca” came out on VHS!!

2. Excessive Frosted Eyeshadow! - Maybe on their own it would be okay but coupled with the brows and garish blush application - Major OVERKILL

3. THE BLUSH -Strangely the thing I find the most offensive is her blush application! Maybe because growing up in California I have seen those kind of eyebrows all my life, and like I said I could even forgive the frosted eyeshadow if I am drinking, but the blush…come ON!!

Not only does she choose shades like nuclear pink and toxic orange BUT she applies the shades in literally triangles on her face! In lieu of applying sparsely to the apples of her cheeks and dabble along her nose or forehead (basically where the sun would hit your face naturally) as featured above she literally tries to carve self made cheekbones with a crayola pen on her face.

The irony is that she wouldn’t be “that” bad looking if she would wash the layers of crap off her face. Oh and let her eyebrows grow back…

Honestly girls when it comes to blush, I think most of us can agree that keeping it subtle and natural looking is always best. Having two streaks of color painted across your face is a “DON’T”!

I mean there is a reason they call it “blush” for petes sake! It is suppose to mimic the natural flush that fills your face when you are young, embarrassed or hot. And if that is how your face lights up when you are flushed naturally, I think you should see a doctor. You may have some sort of rare disease.

I am just saying! Am I being too harsh or do you guys agree?

Pur-Perfection Mineral Starter Kit

Okay girls this is straight up my humble beauty bloggin’ opinion - BUT -  I think Pur Minerals makeup is way better than Bare Minerals.

I did not get paid or anything to say it either. I actually did a post about Bare Minerals before (see: Best Mineral Make-up? Hits & Misses, Does it work?) And  you can see from the past that even then I had a few reservations about their products.

Although I will say this from the start I immediately like the light feel and natural concept of “mineral” makeup in general. Much, much better for me than heavy foundations and sticks.

I just did NOT like how messy it is, and to be honest the color jut didn’t really match up with my porcelain complexion very well. The “bronzing” tan powder included in Bare Minerals is way too dark and orangey! Made me look like an oompa-loompa!

Luckily my friend Nalini told me about Pur Minerals and I love it! 

It’s pressed so it’s not messy and does not leave a trail of powdery tears along my night stand, on the inside of my makeup bag, etc. Plus I always felt like so much of the mineral makeup is wasted whenever I see it sprinkled all over my bathroom counter and clothes.

4-in-1 Pressed Powder - $24.50

The pressed powder still offers that light, natural coverage PLUS they offer way more colors to match every skin type! From the really light (me - Porcelain) to the really tan/dark (maybe you?).

And the set includes:

Mineral Glow - Adds a touch of sun, not orange or too dark! Thank god.

Universal Marble Powder in Pink - Suppose to add a rosy glow of pink. It’s so light and natural I kinda don’t even notice. Which I personally think is a good thing. The mineral veil in other brands if applied incorrectly makes one look uber shiny and oily. This is matte and subtle.

Chisel Makeup Brush - $22.00

Hands down one of my favorite features of Pur Minerals kit was the brush! It was compact (fits in my small makeup bag) yet condensed enough so I can apply the pressed powder to trouble zones (under my eyes). Plus it was cute, I like the lucite handle.

Anyhow so that’s that, I honestly use the stuff every day now. I haven’t broken out and I heart the stuff. I figured I’d share.

If you are a fan of mineral makeup I really suggest you give it a shot. The best place to start is with the Pur Perfection starter Kit which includes all that stuff above and only costs $35 dollars!

It would cost a lot more if you bought all the stuff individually. I wonder why they do that? If you do try it and love it or don’t like it - let me know. I give it 4 stars. Ha! - Michelle 

Honestly, not everyone can pull off rockstar red lips. It’s sad but true, you need to exude a certain amount of moxy to do the look justice. For example the following celebrities showcase perfect examples of “Bangin’ Red Lip Action”. 

Plus another key detail with red lips is that not all shades of red works for all girls. For example the orange based ones that look awesome on a Beyonce girl look horrible on me. I lean towards deeper shades like the one on Charlize Theron.  However I am careful not to crash the chola line, going too dark on the red lipstick starts to classify you as goth or gangsta!

Well I think Stila has come up with a nifty little invention. Their “Paint your Pout Red” palette features a lip smoother, three shades of red lip color and lip brush. Pretty much providing you the tools you need to create your perfect red lip—but if you’re still at a loss, simply push a button and a Stila makeup artist will talk you through the application steps for the look you’re craving.

Price - $60

I think it would be an awesome beginner’s introduction to the realm of red lips! You can mix the provided shades into the perfect shade for your skin tone.

If you want to shop for low priced Stila cosmetics, click here.

What shade or brand of red lipstick do you LOVE - love!? 

Check out  ecoTOOLS, the premiere mass eco-conscious cosmetic brush and bath accessories collections are not only affordable but chic! These professional make-up brushes do the job of any salon-quality brush at half the price! The ecoTOOLS cosmetic collection features animal-free taklon bristles (made from soft and pliable synthetic hair, with the metallic ferrule made from recycled aluminum cans.) The beauty brushes are housed in reusable pouches and printed with plant-based ink, utilizing resources that minimize the negative impact on the environment.

Some great new products are the Retractable Kabuki Brush ($7.99), which is perfect for applying face powder or bronzer. It also features a sleek retractable case made of recycled aluminum.

TIPS FOR HOW TO GET GORGEOUS  WITH ECOTOOLS!
Perfectly pretty rosy cheeks are a girl’s best accessory this holiday season. The ecoTOOLS Blush Brush ($6.99) is expertly-tapered to apply your blush evenly along your cheekbones. To re-create Reese Witherspoon’s effortless definition, sweep the brush lightly across your cheekbones to gradually highlight your natural features. The slight contrast will make a glamorous difference that will keep you glowing morning, noon and night.

ecoTOOLS products can be found at select Walgreens, Kmart, and Ulta stores or online at Smarter.com, or EcoTools Online.