It's time for another favorites post!!! Keep the questions coming, I LOVE questions! P.s. - I answered the last few questions from my last post at the bottom :).
Here are a few of my makeup bag necessities. I've tried lots and lots of different brands, products, colors, consistencies... you name it, and these are the products that, in my opinion, win the "love" title. A little note... Ulta ALWAYS has good sales. Most of the time, their line of makeup has some sort of "buy one, get one" deal going on, as well as the other makeup lines they carry (Maybelline, Revlon, L'Oreal, Almay, Covergirl, etc...).
Clockwise from top left:
1. I've searched long and hard for the perfect moisturizer for my "I'm-not-really-sure-if-I-am-oily-or-dry
extremely sensitive skin, and, alas - I triumphed with the WalMart offbrand of Aveeno! Love it - and it's pricetag!
Equate Absolutely Beaming Lotion, $4.96 (find it at WalMart, oh yes)
2. I feel like concealer is one of the trickiest items in a makeup bag. It can very easily draw
more attention to your lovely little friends on your face, which is just a HUGE no-no in my book. The combination of these 2 (white first, colored second) creates an oh-so-perfect cover that, quite frankly, I
need every once in awhile!
Maybelline Cover Sticks, $5.99 each (find them at Ulta)
3. Makeup brushes are usually hit or miss. Luckily, I scored some amazing, I repeat... A-MAZING, brushes on one of Target's "Daily Deals" for a sweet pricey-price and fell in brush-love. These are the perfect blend of softness and sturdiness. Love.
Sonia Kashuk Natural Wood brush set, $19.99 (find at Target)
4. Bronzer. This word conjures up a vision of a cakey, orange, unnatural mess in my mind. Luckily, Ulta has created a bronzer that is none of the 3. It is light, natural, and blends perfectly to nearly every skin tone (oh, and it is also NOT glittery. I hate gilttery bronzer! I am not 13 anymore, makeup makers! C'mon!). Plus, it lasts a
really long time because it comes in quite a large pot!
Ulta Powder Bronzer (one shade only), $10.00 (find it at Ulta, obvi)
Clockwise from bottom left:
1. I always use an eyeshadow base. For multiple reasons, but mainly because I feel as if it makes the eyeshadow stick to my eyelids instead of flying away after batting my eyes a few hundred times throughout the day.
For shimmery shades, I use:
ELF Shimmer Palate, $3.00 (find it at eyeslipsface.com)
For matte shades, I use:
Revlon Creme Eyeshadow, $5.99 (find it at Ulta)
2. I feel as if I could say this about every item on my both of my lists, but eyeliner is one of the most important items in my bag and I feel like a lot of makeup companies skimp on it. It's very hard to find an eyeliner that stays where you put it, doesn't smear, and just isn't lousy all around. Never to fear, I, the makeup hero, can rescue the day! I have found what is the closest to eyeliner perfection for a pretty perfect little price!
Avon Ultra Luxury Eyeliner, $6.00 (find it avon.com)
3. Ahhhh, mascara. Mascara! What girl can live without it?! This little baby right here is my pride and joy. I've tried many, many, m a n y little black tubes and was always, well, a little let down (as were my lashes - literally). What's a girl to do when every mascara out there is advertised by a model with FAKE lashes?! Helllllooo, we are not stupid, Maybelline. We
know that there are approximately 3 girls in the entire world that have eyelashes that look like this when they put mascara on:
You're not fooling anyone. So stop with the tomfoolery and show us how the mascara
really works. Ok, I shall step off my soapbox now. I have found THE perfect mascara. Try it. You'll love it. I recommend 3 coats, waiting for one coat to dry before the next goes on.
L'Oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara in Blackest Black, $8.99 (find it at Ulta)
4. I've never been much of a fan of lipstick. Lipstick sounds so... businesswoman/granny. Say it: lipstick. I hear the word and get that taste in my mouth that can't really be described but only known if you've ever worn thick lipstick. Blech. No thank you. This lipstick, however, is marvelous. No weirdy taste, no caking in the corners of the lips, sheer enough to pass as gloss to your boyfriend (boys do not like lipstick.at.all.). I go for more of a sheer shade and use lip balm or gloss over it.
Ulta Silky Wear Sheer Lipcolor in Sheer Shine (say that 7 times fast
), $8.00 (find it at Ulta)
5. This is the liquid counterpart to my ranting and raving about pencil eyeliner in number 2. The felt tip makes little room for blotchy errors. Don't be scared, it really is easy.
L'Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon, $6.50 (find it at Target)
6. Last, but certainly one of the most lurvvvvved pieces in my bag! I believe every makeup bag needs a good smokey/blending eyeshadow. I use a smokey eyeshadow over my liner and in the outer corner of my eye to soften the look of eyeliner and widen the eye (I'll be doing a post later on a "how to" for my perfect smokey eye). This one is my absolute favorite and never has a chance to get lost in the bottom of my bag because I use it so often!
Ulta Eyeshadow in Molten, $7.00 (find it at Ulta)
Some answers!
1) If you have trouble with snail-pace hair growth, my recommendation is to use heat sparsely, condition well, and take a vitamin specifically for hair growth (such as Biotin). My favorites are:
Sundown Hair, Skin & Nails Vitamins, $11.49 (find it a Publix or CVS)
Sundown New Life Hair, $11.49 (find it at Publix or CVS)
2) For sustaining highlights AND moisture, I suggest doing what I do... which is alternating both. I never use the same shampoo EVERY time I wash (it's better for your hair when you switch it up), and then you accomplish both color brightening AND moisture... Voila! :) I wouldn't suggest using one or the other - use both. The more, the merrier! :)
Until next time, much love! Don't forget... ask away, hopefully I will be able to help YOU feel MORE beautiful. Toodles!
Ok, ok... so this is technically more than one step. I'm bad at math... ok?! :) These 3 really can actually be combined because they are very simple and I don't want this smokey eye how-to being 1,200 steps!
Using one of my fav new products, Maybelline's eyeshadow quad, start out with the shade closest to the top labeled "Lid." Sweep over the top of your lid, extending out a little farther than your lash line.
Using the shade labeled "Crease," press into corners of lids, extending a little farther out beyond your lash line.
Line your top lash line, lower lash line, and inner lid with eyeliner. A good guide is the middle of your eye... I never extend eyeliner (unless I am going for a SUPER dramatic look) beyond the middle of my upper and lower lid.
Use the shade labeled "Liner" to smudge eyeliner on your top and lower lash line.
Mascara! My fav! Don't forget to open your mouth... this ALWAYS aids in putting mascara on oh-so-perfectly ;)
This shampoo and conditioner... ohmyword. Let me just tell you! I have fallen in shampooconditioner love! I am dead serious. This is the perfect combination of moisture and volume. And it smells just delicious! You have to try it. Plus, since it's new... I've seen lots of coupons to save a few buckaroos! Go get it, you won't be disappointed. Promise. And if you are, um. You can give them to me :)
Don't be scared... eyelash curlers are easy AND your friend! Best way to use this little miracle worker (in my opinion, of course): get as close as possible to your eyelid and clamp down for 7-10 seconds... before AND after mascara (wait for it to dry!). Voila - pretty eyelashes that look - gasp - a smidge like the mascara commercials!!!!!! :)
Clockwise from top left:
Clockwise from bottom left:
You're not fooling anyone. So stop with the tomfoolery and show us how the mascara really works. Ok, I shall step off my soapbox now. I have found THE perfect mascara. Try it. You'll love it. I recommend 3 coats, waiting for one coat to dry before the next goes on.
Sundown Hair, Skin & Nails Vitamins, $11.49 (find it a Publix or CVS)
Pravana Hydrating Intensive Leave In Treatment, $18 (find it at your salon or you can order it online - I saw it on Amazon) *note: this is a little pricey, but it lasts a good bit of time. I have very long hair and mine lasts me for at least 6 months - it doesn't take more than a few spritzes each use.
VO5 Hot Oil, $10.68 (find it at WalMart)*note: follow instructions on package - it's pretty easy :)
Dove Therapy Intense Shamp/Cond, $4.99 each (find it at Target) 
We all know how those oh-so-fun frizzies can pop up without welcome. I love both of these serums because not only do they help with the frizz, they also help with shine and heat protection. I swear by the 2nd one (Frizz-Ease) and use it everyday. Just be careful to use serums very sparingly, they can easily turn into a grease-ball disaster. Eeeek.
Once a week, I like to get the gunk that builds up in my hair from hairsprays/mousse/whatever else ends up in there with a hair cleansing shampoo. I love the way my hair feels after using a cleanser... just feels, well, clean (surprise!). While I love the Hair Cleansing Cream by Redken, Drama Clean by Herbal Essences does a pretty bang up job as well. Just use in place of your regular shampoo whenever you feel a deep clean is necessary. I like to shampoo twice (leave the first on for a little longer) and then use a smaller amount of conditioner than normal (so I don't put all the weight back in after just taking it out).
Because I am a blondie (ahem... naturally, of course), I also like to use a blonde brightening shampoo every once in awhile when my golden locks are lacking shine or looking shamefully brassy. Blonde friends: we all know that brassy looks just about as bad on your head as it does on a doorknob. I do the same as the hair cleansing cream: use in place of your regular shampoo as you feel the need. While the Jhirmack tends to leave my hair smelling a little grandma-esque, I absolutely adore the softness and brightness it adds to my hair. Hey, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.
