game day make up: 9.29

Some pictures in this post were lost. I apologize if that makes this post difficult to understand, however I didn't want to delete it so you would still be able to refer to it.

Today I had a game against the University at Buffalo and decided to try a new eye look. (UConn won, by the way, for anyone curious!) I usually use a mixture of different browns, but wanted to try some grays and black. Here is what I came up with:

The lower left picture is in natural day light and the picture at the top left is with artificial light. It was quite easy to do and I think this is a nice way for me to use black without it looking overpowering. I used my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette and a single eyeshadow by a brand called Catrice. I bought this in Germany and haven't found a place in the US that sells it yet. The color name is Starlight Expresso. I have heard that this is similar to MAC Copperplate, however I have never personally swatched those shadows next to each other, so I'm not sure how well they compare. 

I started by using Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer since I have very oily lids and no powder eyeshadow can hold as long as I need it to on game days. I used the color Verve, a light silver, on the first two-thirds of my lid and then blended Pistol, a medium silver, to the outer third of my eye and a bit onto Verve. I then used Catrice Absolute Eye Colour in Starlight Espresso on my crease and outer corner. I wanted this to be pretty dark, so I layered it several times. I also applied this to the outside third of my lower lash line. This is a slate matte gray with a hint of purple (the picture does not do it justice, it is truly a beautiful color). Lastly, I blended a bit of Blackout onto my outer crease and also put this on lower lash line. All that was left is eyeliner and mascara. I used liquid eyeliner and made a slight wing. As for mascara, well you know, I put on pounds of that.

The blush I used is Wet n' Wild Color Icon Blusher in Heather Silk. I mentioned this in my favorite blushes post, and I just think it looks lovely with these colors! This look was so easy and I hope you get to try it using colors you have in your make up collection! 

Always stay happy and healthy! :)

Tschüss, Katharina



other posts mentioned:

• http://madaboutmascara.blogspot.com/2012/09/5-favorite-blushes.html

face of the night

I wanted to post this "face of the night" before I forgot what products I used. This is a look that I turned from day into night on Wednesday. I didn't use that many products and it was so easy to transform! On my face I just have my daily face routine (I will have a blog post on this soon), the only thing I had to do was my eyes.

For my day look, I used my Urban Decay Naked palette and applied the shade Half Baked to the entire lid and the inner corner. I then added Smog to the outer corner very lightly to give some dimension. I then used Buck in the crease to give the look a bit of a smokey effect. I then lined my eyes with liquid eyeliner and put my mascara on.

For the night look, I took the shade Half Baked and also appled that to my lower lash line- the whole way across. I took Smog again, only in the outer corner, but applied it much darker than before. I dragged that a little into the crease. I also lined my lower water line with black eyeliner and put on an extra coat of mascara.

On my lips I used Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Precious and layered Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee to give a little bit of a gold shimmer on the lips, to match my eyes.

I usually don't like gold, but I thought this look was cute! It was very easy to make darker since the eyeshadows in the Naked palette are so pigmented, and took me less than 5 minutes.

If you want to see more looks using the Naked palette, leave a comment below! Also, if you have any questions or suggestions for other posts, let me know.

Stay happy and healthy! :) 

Tschüss, Katharina

make up collection: every day products

Some pictures in this post were lost. I apologize if that makes this post difficult to understand, however I didn't want to delete it so you would still be able to refer to it.

So as I mentioned in my previous make up collection post about storage, I have this container that I got from Ikea where I keep my every day used products. I also keep the products that I want to use up here because then I can see them.

I have a whole bunch of different products here, everything that I need to do my usual face routine (which I am planning on doing a blog post on) plus a little extra just in case I want to change things up a little.

I am going to start in the back left corner. This has my lip products (Revlon, ELF, MAC, L'Oreal and NYX). I like to wear chapstick on an every day basis, one of my favorites being from Burt's Bees- right now I just have a Chapstick brand one that I am trying to use up. If I'm going to wear lipstick I like to use the nude ones I mentioned. A few other of my favorite lip products are Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in the color Precious and bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lip Color in Panache.

I also have my concealers there (ELF, CoverGirl and Maybelline) that I use almost on a daily basis. You can also see a few eye products (Urban Decay Primer Potion, a gel liner and 2 liquid liners in black and navy). You can also see my beauty blender, which I love! This is a knock off of the real version but I think works just as well- at least I like the way it applies. Lastly, you also see two primers and a translucent face powder.

The next section have most of my face products. This includes products from ELF, Revlon, Laura Gellar and a few random brands. Two of my favorite products are Revlon ColorStay Pressed Powder in Light and Josie Maran Argan Brightening Bronzer Sun Spot Correcter. I don't really use many face products on a daily basis, just a tinted moisturizer, face powder, blush/bronzer and concealer.

Next there is the liftable front part. Underneath there I just have some brushes that have dual ends and the brushes I use every day. They are mostly from ELF but there are also some Bare Escentuals and Urban Decay brushes. I also have a small make up bag there that I put some face products in if I have a long day ahead of me and want to touch up throughout the day.

Lastly, is the liftable part. Here I mostly have eye and eyebrow products and I also keep my Naked palette there. I have my brow products, which I mention in my post about how I do my brows and mascaras of different brands that I am trying to use up. You also see some q-tips and other small make up applicators. The favorite that I keep in this section is definitely my Urban Decay Naked palette. I have been experimenting with different looks using this and stepping a little bit out of my comfort zone.

So that is the make up I keep in my every day use storage area. If you have questions about specific products or want to know more about the ones I mentioned, just leave a comment below!

As always stay happy and healthy! :) 

Tschüss, Katharina



other posts mentioned:

• http://madaboutmascara.blogspot.com/2012/09/make-up-collection-storage.html
• http://madaboutmascara.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-i-fill-in-my-brows.html
• http://madaboutmascara.blogspot.com/2012/09/favorite-nude-lipsticks.html

make up collection: storage

Some pictures in this post were lost. I apologize if that makes this post difficult to understand, however I didn't want to delete it so you would still be able to refer to it.

So I have been trying to figure out the best method of doing this blog post: my make up collection. I ultimately decided to split it into several categories: storage, every day used products, face, eyes, lips and tools. I will try to upload these posts in order and link them all to each other so you can refer back and forth. This post is going to be pretty short since I'm only talking about how I store my make up. 

I use one of the 3 drawer storage bins to store my make up and some random stuff. I got the bin from Target, but I'm sure you can also find them at Walmart. The other clear bin, which you see closely pictured on the right, is from Ikea. It is called the Godmorgon and costs $18 (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60177473/). I like this container because it can easily hold the make up I use every day, along with some extra things that I keep in there to have options. I don't have much space in my apartment at UConn, so this is the most efficient way that I have found yet. I would obviously love to display all my make up- I find I use different products when they are easily visible- but I just don't have the room for that.

In the first draw, I store some of my lip products- mostly glosses. I use old containers from facial wipes and take out. Again, not the most effective way to store my products, but it is the cheapest at this moment. I really don't like reading blog posts or watching youtube videos of peoples' make up collections and see that they spend over $100 on their storage system. Yes, it may look beautiful but I already spend so much money on make up, I don't want to spend the same on storing my make up. Right?

On I also have another container that holds my blushes and bronzers. In the back you can see my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette, along with another palette I created and some miscellaneous stuff. Underneath the palettes, there is a smaller box that holds all the mascaras I have not yet opened. I think I showed this box in another post, that I'll link at the bottom.

In the second drawer I have a few circular containers to hold pencils and those kinds of things. In the back I have 3 foundations that are either too light or dark for me right now and a setting spray. Then you see my concealers in a small vase, followed by any eye pencils/liners I own. In the third container up front, there are the rest of my lipsticks. I tend to keep the lipsticks I own, unless I know there is no way I will wear them. I have really gotten into layering lipsticks so I like to experiment layering the lipsticks that are not necessarily my favorite.

You can also see the make up brushes I own in the frontmost container. Most of them are ELF brushes along with some randoms. You can also see the smaller, green storage container that holds fake eyelashes, single eyeshadows and small palettes and face products, such as highlighters and powders.

The bottom drawers has a bunch of random stuff in it. There is a Kiss acrylic nail set in there, along with some cosmetics travel cases and hair tools. I have 3 curling irons of different sizes, an old flat iron and blow dryer accessories. These are kind of the hair tools that I don't use very often or ones that I don't have room for in my bathroom.

I keep this make up storage in my bedroom because my bathroom doesn't have a window in it, allowing no natural light to come in. I like to do my make up in natural light as often as possible because it gives the closest depiction of what your make up looks like to others.

So that is basically how I store all of my make up. Let me know if you have specific questions about any of the containers or even some of the products you see. Also, let me know how you store your make up in the comment section below!

Always stay happy and healthy! :)

Tschüss, Katharina



other posts mentioned:

• http://madaboutmascara.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-to-make-any-almost-mascara-look.html

my bad beauty habits

So just like most of us, I have bad beauty habits too. (If you don't have any, then I am so jealous of you!) Breaking them is difficult, but I like to manage mine by keeping them minimal and not committing them every time!

My first bad beauty habit is picking at my face. I mention this first because it is most definitely the worst one. I know how bad it is and what it can do to your skin, but I just can't help myself. I have gotten better and only doing it when I have clean hands- and I also try to not be wearing make up. The worst is obviously when I am breaking out and I desparately want to pop a pimple. I keep trying to tell myself not to do it, but it doesn't work. If you can prevent yourself from doing this, please do! Picking at your skin can cause scarring, dark spots and spread more bacteria to cause more acne/blemishes.

My second bad habit is not washing my make up off at night. I must admit that I have improved greatly with this habit. I used to do it every night, especially in the summer. I would be out late with my friends and not get home til the wee hours of the morning and then just be too tired to wash off my make up. This is probably just as bad as picking at your skin. Leaving your make up on is just going to clog your pores and cause black heads. This rarely happens to me anymore, however if I happen to have a lazy day I at least try to use a make up removing cloth to remove the top layer of make up.

My third bad habit is not washing my make up brushes. If you get acne after wearing make up and use brushes to apply it, it is probably because you don't wash your brushes. They collect the bacteria that is sitting on your skin and it just multiplies on the brush. Every time the brush then touches your face, it is spreading the bacteria back on. You don't have to deep clean your brushes after every use, but a nice spot treatment is good. Again, this is something I never used to do but do now, and I have noticed an improvement in my skin because of it.

My last bad beauty habit is putting my hand on my chin. This again spreads bacteria from your hands onto your skin, but also removes any of the make up you had there. I do this so subconsciously that I try to tell myself in classes, "Don't lean on your hand." Many times it does work to say it over in my head because sometimes I don't even realize I'm doing it. I think this is a big reason why our make up doesn't last that well on our chins and cheeks.

Just like any habit, even beauty habits are hard to break. Like I mentioned, I try my best to not have these occur so often or catch myself when I do let it happen. What are your bad beauty habits? How have you tried to break them? Let me know in the comments below!

Stay happy, healthy and bad habit free! :) 

Tschüss, Katharina

would you rather?: beauty edition

I am a little busy today, but still wanted to do a blog post so I decided on a tag. I found this tag on this blog: http://www.frmheadtotoe.com/2011/08/tag-would-you-rather-beauty-edition.html. This is basically the "would you rather" game but the questions are related to beauty!

So here we go!

• Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, and lipglosses or lose all of your palettes and eyeshadows?
• I would rather lose my palettes and eyeshadows. I don't usually wear eyeshadow on a daily basis and don't have that many palettes to begin with.
• Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?
•  this is really difficult...I wouldn't mind having short hair, but I assume "chop it off" means bald. If that's the case I'd go with not being able to cut it.
• Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?
• definitely a pink cheek
• If you had $1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or makeup?
• make up of course, that never goes out of style!
• Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner, or eyeliner as lipstick?
• Eyeliner as lipstick. That can be faded out to make it look lighter. You can't do much with pink lipstick...
• Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?
• SEPHORA! that way I wouldn't be limited to one brand.
• Would you rather only use one eyeshadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life?
• I wouldn't mind using one lip color. I generally only use nudes anyway and as for eyeshadows I like to try different ones!
• Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?
• the winter clothes in the summer would work better for me. You can always take them off!
• Would you rather have dark nails or bright nails all year round?
• dark nails all year round. Not too big of a fan of finger nail polish, but it looks great on my toes :)
• Would you rather give up your favorite lip product or your favorite eye product?
• I like my natural lip color so I'd pick the lip product. My favorite eye product is mascara and let's be honest, that is just a MUST!
• Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a ponytail or a messy bun?
• I'll take the messy bun. My hair is too thin for a ponytail.
• Would your rather never be able to paint your nails again or never use lipgloss?
• I'll go with lipgloss. I enjoy painting my toe-nails and could probably use other lip products instead of lipgloss.
• Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all or sharpie them in everyday?
• I would rather sharpie them in, I'm sure I could find a way to remove them on pinterest!
• Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish?
• nail polish! I don't wear it that much anyway

I hope you enjoyed this post, even if it was a little different from what I usually do. What are your favorite tags? Let me know in the comment section below!

Always stay happy and healthy! :)

Tschüss, Katharina

nails for the weekend

About a week and a half ago I ordered some nail polishes by a brand called KleanColor so tonight I decided to repaint my nails to see how I liked them. I ordered a very sheer pink, white (both to use for french manis), a deep green and a matte top coat. I was most excited about the matte nail polish, since I have been looking for one for a while.

I used the green color on my toe nails and was kind of disappointed. The picture on the website made it look like it was an olive green but ended up being a dark hunter green. The name of the polish is Military Green. I'll spare you the picture since I am not too happy about the result of the color. (Do leave a comment if you REALLY want to see the color on.)

On my finger nails I wanted to try a light pink with the matte coat on top, since I have a bridal shower to go to this weekend. I used two coats of Wet n' Wild MegaLast Nail Polish in Sugar Coat. I have heard so much about this polish and I do really enjoy the color. It is quite sheer and takes about three coats to be completely opaque, but it is the perfect pink. The other thing I don't quite enjoy is the size of the brush. I have relatively small nails and end up making a mess...

As for the the top coat, it is called KleanColor Madly Matte and does just that. This is the first matte top coat I have used and even though I do like it, I kind of expect a better performance. I feel like my nails aren't truly matte- you can tell in the picture that there is still some shine behind there. The other downside is that it took AGES to dry. I've been waiting for at least an hour and I still feel like it isn't dry. I put on two coats of this and waited a while in between the coats (I realized this is the best method for nails to dry quicker). I kind of got impatient and you can see a little crease in the picture furthest right, not to mention that they had been drying for over 30 minutes at that point.

Overall, I like the way the polish turned out. There are some things I would have changed but for the prices I paid, I say, hey, why not. What is your go to pink? Do you like matte nail polishes and have a favorite matte topcoat? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great weekend, and stay happy and healthy! :)

Tschüss, Katharina

the 5: favorite blushes

Let's just say that blush is not my favorite part in my make up routine. I know blush is important but I just can't seem to get into it, like I do with other areas of my make up. I find myself gravitating towards the same colors but I decided, what the heck, why not make a my favorite blushes blog post! You will probably notice that they all share similar characteristics and aren't anything too crazy. The blush I name third is my absolute favorite, but the other ones are in no particular order. So let's go!

taken without flash (from left to right)

The first blush is called NYX Cream Blush in the color Natural. I think the packaging is so adorable and reminds me of MAC. It is a red pink cream blush that gives the "just pinched cheeks" look, especially when applied with a stippling brush. It has a dewy finish, but I like to apply a translucent powder over it so it can set, since I have somewhat oily skin. This is perfect for a really natural look or even for a dark smokey eye. The formulation is so creamy and applies without effort. At about $7 this is  a great blush for any look.

taken by window

The next blush is one of the brightest colors I have. This is Wet n' Wild Color Icon Blusher in Heather Silk. It is a gorgeous true pink with the slightest hint of magenta. It is a powder blush but blends effortlessly and is very pigmented. You can tone it down by adding only a little or spice it up by having bright pink cheeks. I think this is great for a day when you are wearing a very natural eye to let your cheeks pop! This is so affordable, at about $3, and would absolutely recommend you pick this up!

This is my absolute favorite blush. I have been looking for this color as long as I have been wearing make up. This is Lorac Blush in Soul. To me this is the perfect combination between a bronzer and blush. It has a brown undertone with a slight hint of pink. I love this blush for every occasion, but especially when I have a lot of eye make up on. It has the slightest bit of shimmer, which I usually don't like, but it is almost invisible. Even though it costs $20, I think this is worth it. I bought it part of a set, but I will repurchase this blush over and over again (once my challenge is over that is!)

I kind of have a love/hate relationship with this blush. It is MAC Blusher in BlushBaby. The color looks like a slight lighter version of the Lorac Blush with a bit more of a blue undertone. I think the color is gorgeous and I would the blush so much more if it was more pigmented. I always hear such good things about MAC products but this one kind of disappoints me. It's also $20 and if you had to choose, I would say go with the Lorac one. I do really enjoy the color, I just wish there was more pigmentation.

Lastly is the Wet n' Wild Color Icon Blusher in Mellow Wine. This is a deep pink, almost reddish color blush that can also be used to contour your cheek bones. It is so pigmented and gives a beautiful color to your cheeks. I think mixing the two Wet n' Wild blushes together would be a perfect combo!

I hope this aids you in finding the perfect blush for any of your looks! What blushes are your favorites? Do you use any of the ones here? Leave a comment below letting me know!

Always stay happy and healthy! :)

Tschüss, Katharina

challenge

So...my mom caught me. She is linked to my bank account and is able to see my purchases on my card. She knows I have a serious make up OBSESSION (even when I studied abroad in Germany I ordered make up and had it shipped to my house in the US!) and checks up on me regularly to make sure I am not buying more make up. Obviously I do, and then I proceed to get yelled at...

While talking to her, she proposed that I do not buy make up for two months. I am not the competitive type but I know my make up addiction is somewhat out of hand (although, not as bad as other peoples'). I just ignored her and ended up buying make up a few days later. As I was checking out it was like a little bulb went off in my head. Not buying make up for a while would allow me to use up the products that I may not necessarily like and make way for new ones. It would also allow me to be more conscious about my make up collection and not just buy things because they are all the rage, but actually read the reviews and make educated purchases. So...I have accepted her challenge. Yes, you have read that correctly.

I, Katharina, will not buy make up for TWO WHOLE MONTHS! I started this challenge on Sunday, September 16 and will continue until Wednesday, November 14 (60 days). 

It is going be two very long months, but I am ready! I think this will be really good for me (and my bank account) and allow me to discover old products and finish up ones that I have started. I'll try to make blog posts about products that I have finished up, every 5 ones or so, with reviews. And I must mention that I am so looking forward to buying new make up already!

So I pick you to do this challenge with me! Try using up your least favorite products or ones that you really do enjoy! Leave a comment below if you are going to try the two month of no make up buying challenge! 


Stay happy and healthy! :)

Tschüss, Katharina

how I fill in my brows

I have a love/hate relationship with filling in eyebrows. Sometimes I think they look so beautiful and yet other times they look fake and overdone to me. I do agree that eyebrows are an important feature to the face, and can really change the way you look. There are countless videos, blog posts, tutorials, etc. telling you how to fill in your brows and they are very informational, however I wanted to tell you a little bit about how I fill in my eyebrows because I feel that my way is a little bit unconventional.

First, I want to tell you what kind of brows I have and what I do in terms of maintenance and grooming. I have thing brow hairs but they are long. At the front, my hairs stand straight up and then slowly start to grow sideways. Towards my arch they get thinner and there are some spots where the hairs no longer grow. You will see in the picture that I have a slight arch, but nothing too high (personally, I think this keeps my youth and helps my brows from looking overdrawn). I usually wax my own brows every 3-4 weeks using small cold wax strips that you can find at any drugstore. I also trim them every two weeks or so and pluck sparse hairs daily. If I have to attend an event and am between brow waxing I use a brow razor just to get the blond peach-fuzz hairs to make my brow bone more smooth.

Now that you know all that, let me tell you what tools I use (I haven't really developed an opinion on these brow products because I see my myself as a fill-in-brow novice). For color I use the Catrice Eyebrow Designer in the color Date with Ashton. This is just a taupe-blonde color that is my perfect eyebrow color. When selecting the right color for you (using my method) it is important that the color matches your natural eyebrow hair color- you will see why later. I also use the Essence Lash & Brow Gel Mascara (you can find this at ULTA) but any clear or colored brow gel, in your brow color, will do.

So basically what I do is comb my brows into the correct shape and then fill them in from the arch towards the outer end. I extend the "tail" of the brow if I have to. This is why a pencil in your natural brow color is so important! I am only filling in half the eyebrow, concentrating on the areas where my hairs are sparse. I use the spooly on the other side of the pencil to comb through them and then shape them how I wish them to sit. Lastly, I just take my clear brow gel to set them in place.

I think this is a really easy brow routine and takes only a minute! I love this method because I can still fill in my brows without looking like I am overly done up- this is especially good since I only wear minimal make up to class and not a full face. Do you use any products on your brows? Or do you let them go natural? Let me know in the comment section!

Always stay happy and healthy! :)

Tschüss, Katharina

favorite nude lipsticks

Besides nude lipsticks being all the rage these last few years, personally they look very flattering on me, compared to other colors. Now I am not talking about "same color as your skin" kind of nude, but ones that are actually wearable day to day. I swatched a few of my favorite nude lipsticks for ya'll to let you know what they look like. If you want swatches on my lips, leave me a comment for which color! Also, most of them are drugstore, so you won't have to spend a lot of money to find the perfect nude lipstick for you!

from left to right: MAC Politely Pink, NYX Black Label Nude, Maybelline ColorSensational Nude Nuances, ELF Essential Nostalgic, L'Oreal ColourRiche Caresse Merino Mauve, Revlon Lip Butter Creme Brulee, Revlon Balm Stain Precious, Wet 'n Wild Matte Bare it All

with flash

As you can see, most of these lipsticks are pink based, with the exception of a few. For my skin tone (pretty fair, medium with a tan) these look the best. Brown or orange based nudes- especially orange- make it look like it was supposed to be coral but went wrong. They just end up looking muddy or orange. So without further ado, here are the colors!

MAC Lipstick Politely Pink (Lustre): I think this lipstick is absolutely beautiful! It is the perfect pink based nude with blue undertones and applies amazingly. Also, the familiar MAC scent is heavenly and just leaves my lips feeling and smelling great! The only think that I would change about this is the finish. I should have noticed that when I bought it but I can't seem to like the lustre on its own. I love this lipstick layered on top of others because it takes away the shine. It isn't "sparkly" just shiny- think metal. Once it's layered though, it just adds the perfect amount of poutiness in the right places. At $15 this isn't the cheapest of the bunch, but worth a try if you are looking for a splurge.

NYX Black Label Lipstick Nude: I just recently purchased this lipstick and I have to admit, I am in love! This is the most "wash-out-my-lips" type of nude I have and I find it to be perfect! It is also a pink based nude with a hint of brown. I think it looks great on its own or with a gloss. It can even be layered with other lipsticks to make them lighter or change their color. I bought this for around $8 on beautyjoint.com and wouldn't spend a cent less!

Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick Nude Nuances: I believe this is a limited edition lipstick and still available. I tried getting a back up for this because I love, love, love it! It is a nude, but just a slight bit more pink than the NYX lipstick. It applies so smooth and effortlessly! If you find one at your drugstore, grab it because I can almost guarantee it will look great on you, and at about $8 it's a steal!

ELF Essential Lipstick Nostalgic: Although this is no longer available on the ELF website, you can find this online. I already talked about this lipstick in other posts and will link those below.

L'Oreal ColourRiche Caresse Lipstick Merino Mauve: This is such a nice pink nude. It is more on the pink than nude color but since it comes out pretty sheer, I would section it as a nude. I find this to be like the Revlon Lip Butters but more moisturizing, less opaque, creamier and leave more of a shine. It wears off pretty quickly, but can be applied easily since it is so sheer. At $10 this is at the high end of the drugstore, but definitely worth the price.

Revlon Lip Butter Creme Brulee: These were all the rage when they came out last fall and I didn't get this color first, but once I did there was no going back. This has such a moisturizing feeling and is so creamy on the lips. It has slight gold specks of glitter and has a slight orange/brown undertone- this is as orange as it gets for me. I love the color and I love the feeling. Period. This lipstick costs $8 and can be found at any drugstore.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain Precious: Even though this is a stain, it doesn't last all too long on yours lips (most likely because it is a light color). But aside from that, I love the color. It has a bit of sparkle but not as much as a lustre- it doesn't look metallic or chrome. It is a brown-based nude with the slightest hint of pink. It is very moisturizing and leaves a slight gloss on your lips. It has a bit of a minty smell, but only when you first apply. At about $9 this is worth a try, if not the nude then another color from this line!

Wet 'n Wild Matte Lipstick Bare it All: This is a much darker nude that is great for all skin tones but would look especially beautiful on medium to dark skin tones. On a fair person, this would almost look like a brown. It is completely matte and is probably best if you exfoliate before putting it one. I have heard that it can be drying, but I haven't experienced it myself. I think this would look stunning alone or with a nice shimmery gloss, or even just a bit in the center of your lip. You can find this for about $2 at Walgreens, Ulta or Harmon's/Face Value. Definitely worth a try!

So those are all the nude lipsticks I like! Let me know if you'd like to have a blog about my other favorite nude lip products, gloss, chapstick, etc. (can you tell I'm obsessed with nude?). Have you tried any of these lipsticks? What is your favorite nude one? Leave me a comment!


As always, stay happy and healthy :)

Tschüss, Katharina



other posts mentioned:

• http://madaboutmascara.blogspot.com/2012/09/5-best-elf-products-plus-some-extra.html

how to make any (almost) mascara look great!

If ya'll hadn't noticed yet, I am obsessed (this is underlined to stress its importance) with mascara. I have at least 5 open ones right now and a whole tray of ones waiting to be tried out. I've been trying to control myself and not open any new ones before the other ones get used/dry out...but I'd be lying if I said I'm not itching to open them all and give them a try! (not to mention that most of them are high end- came with the Sephora Lash Sampler)

The whole reason I have so many open ones is because I like to layer them on top of each other, coat after coat, to get full, dark lashes. Over the years- yes, years- I have tried to perfect this routine, adding ones in and taking others out, and I think I have finally found the one thing that really determines what will make my lashes look exactly how I want them to. So, drumroll please...

the answer is so simple- PRIMER. We use facial primer to make foundation/concealer hold and give it a flawless look, lip primer to blank out our lips to give the perfect base and eyelid primer to make shadows bolder and hold longer. So why does lash primer seem so weird? Many companies have come out with their dual-ended mascara (primer one side, mascara on the other), but it has never really picked up. For my lashes, primer makes all the difference. It allows a mascara that would, on its own, make my lashes look boring and too clumped, or thin, or short, etc. and makes and helps to make them look great. I have tried this on several mascaras that I particularly don't enjoy on their own and it just seems to be the perfect thing to make each mascara look good. For example, I mentioned the Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash Mascara in an earlier post, saying that I did not particularly enjoy the way it made my eyelashes look. However, with the primer I felt like it performed substantially better!

Although, I would probably layer another mascara on top of this there is a big improvement from Buxom lash on its own to this picture (right).

In this picture (left) I am wearing the Rimmel London Glam'Eyes Mascara with primer. I would not even attempt using this mascara on its own without a primer because the formulation is too wet and the brush does not separate your lashes enough. 

Now to the primer...I actually think any white eyelash primer would work- drugstore to high end- as long as it is white. I am currently finishing up the L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Lash Extension Mascara (Step 1). I first apply one coat of the white mascara and let it dry for about 10 seconds. I then apply a second layer, get my black mascara and do my bottom lashes, to give the second coat a few seconds to dry. Once I have done my bottom lashes, I move on to the top lashes! Viola! Be amazed at how well this usually "crappy" mascara performs better than it has ever before!

The key to this is that you let the coats dry enough to be tacky, but not enough to completely dry out. If you layer mascara when it is too dry, it causes flaking. As you can see in both pictures, I have pretty long lower lashes so I don't do this for the bottom, however, if you are unsatisfied with yours give it a try! I hope you get to give this a method a try, and let me know if it works for you! What mascaras have you layered with a primer? Leave a comment below!


Always stay happy and healthy :)

Tschüss, Katharina

other posts mentioned in this review:

• http://madaboutmascara.blogspot.com/2012/07/buxom-buxom-lash-mascara.html

ways to apply mascara

After talking about these different mascaras, I realized that I never actually dedicated a blog post to putting on mascara. Although this may sound like a pretty self-explanatory thing at first, I have heard many techniques mentioned through my friends, YouTube and myself experimenting. Here are what I have come up with:

standard method
This is probably the most common used method to make up newbies, or people who enjoy minimal mascara/a natural look. I would say this method deposits the least amount of mascara and general coats only the lashes located in the center of the lid. In this method, you are placing the wand at the base or roots of your lashes and pulling the wand up to reach your tips.

wiggle/vibrate method
This is probably the method I hear most mentioned. Mascaras that vibrate have also been developed to replicate this technique (one by L'Oreal and one by Lancome). In this method, you  are applying mascara from the root to the end of the lash, and simultaneously wiggling the brush left and right. It sounds a lot harder than it is, and I guarantee that many of you already do this naturally. This method tends to separate the lashes a bit more than just pulling the wand up from the roots. I would also say that a bit more product is dispensed because you are spending more time on each lash.

blink method
This method is exactly what it's name states. In this method you are blinking, or closing your eyes, onto the mascara wand. I do not personally use this method because it sounds too messy for me. People who do use this though, say that it makes their lashes curled, without the use of a eyelash curler. It also seems that this method allows you to get closer to the roots because you don't see the wand coming to your eye, which may frighten you.

eye pull method
I have only seen this method used by one person and I can't quite explain what she sees as benefits. Basically, she pulls the outside corner of her eye towards her temple and applies the mascara to her lashes. I assume this may have something to do with not seeing the mascara wand also (she is terrified of them). I can only assume that this also allows you to get close to the roots, however, I can't say for sure. (if you use this method, leave a comment as to why. I am curious to know how it works for you!)

top and bottom method
This is a play off of any method, but in this one, you are coating both "sides" of your lashes. I think this is probably best for people with blonde or very light lashes because it doesn't allow your natural lash to show at all. I personally have dark blonde eyelashes and don't feel the need to do this. I think it just makes a mess, but that's my opinion.

Those are all the methods that I have heard of or seen. Which method do you use, or do you use one that I haven't mentioned here? How did you come up with it? Leave a comment!


Always stay happy and healthy :)

Tschüss, Katharina

perfect pink "Pretty Little Liars" lip

Ever since my friends and sister have told me about "Pretty Little Liars" last month, I have been obsessed! I watched both of the beginning seasons and the first half of season 3 in about 3 weeks! One thing that I have noticed though, is that almost all the female characters (mostly) seem to be sporting the same pink lip. I mostly see it on Aria, but others wear it sometimes also. (On Spencer, here)

courtesy of: http://www.brebeauty.com/spencer-hastings-troian-bellisario-makeup/

It is a true pink lip, almost like a natural lip color but much more pigmented. I feel like a achieved a pretty close effect using 2 products. The first thing I used was the Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Honey. I made sure to get a nice layer of that and then added a light nude lipstick on top. I personally used the ELF Essential Lipstick in Nostalgic (can be found on beautyjoint.com), but you could also use the Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in 865 Nude Nuances or any light pink lipstick that you have laying around. I think this is a great color lip because it is natural enough for work, class, etc. but can be brightened up for a night out!

Although my version does look a little bit lighter, it's only because I took the picture in direct sunlight. Face to face, the color looks much more of a deeper pink.

What do you think of this lip color? Have you found any lip products that generate a similar lip? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Stay happy and healthy :)

Tschüss, Katharina

the 5: best ELF products (plus some extra!)

For the price of their products, I think ELF is a great make up company that is making dupes that match many high end brands. I composed a list of what I think are some of the best ELF products, in no particular order (these are my opinions):

1. Blending Eye Brush and Professional Eye Crease Brush

I think these two are very essential for any eye make up. The Blending Brush is very soft and easily blends out the rough edges of any natural or even dark smokey look. I have also used it for concealer, where it performed amazingly. This is from their mineral line of brushes and I think it cost around $5. I could not find it on the website, but try looking for it at beautyjoint.com.

The Eye Crease brush is a perfect size to get not only the inner and outer corners of your eye, but also underneath. It can also do a little bit of blending (if your shade is light enough) and serve as a pencil brush, for lining your lower lashes. This brush costs only $1, so even if you end up not liking it, it didn't cost a whole bunch of money.

2. Conditioning Lip Balm SPF 15 (Nice & Natural), Luscious Liquid Lipstick (Bark) and Essential Lipstick (Nostalgic) -swatches from left to right

    

The Conditioning Lip Balm was one of the first products I ordered from ELF. It has a great color that just goes on the lips so smoothly and has a nice moisturizing effect. I could wear this color every day because it is truly the "your lips but better" type of effect. It has a coconut scent, which is not too strong. And an added plus is the SPF, which keeps your lips from getting chapped on a sunny day! This is from their studio collection and costs only $3.

The Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Bark has to be my favorite liquid lipstick. I think the color is such a beautiful natural brown that looks great on fair skin! The lipstick itself has a minty smell and is somewhat sticky, but that doesn't bother me! This lipstick is from ELF's essential collection and costs only $1. I love this color so much, that I have several back ups of it, just in case!

Lastly, is the lipstick in Nostalgic. Although, I do not necessarily like the consistency of this, the color is just amazing. I like more pinky nudes because orange or brown based ones are too dark for my skin tone. Even though I have fair skin, I think this lipstick would look great on any skin tone! I think this is almost like Myth from MAC except since it has more pinks to it, it is much more wearable. This lipstick only costs $1. It is no longer available at ELF, but definitely at the site listed above.


3. Shimmering Facial Whip (Spotlight, Toasted)

These highlighters are just amazing! I think they give the most beautiful sheen to the skin that makes you look glowy and fabulous! The one on the left (Spotlight) is perfect for lighter skinned tones and is white in color. Once blended out, it looks very similar to Benefit's High Beam.

Toasted, however, is my favorite. This is beautiful for all skin tones and gives the skin a bronzed look. I love this one for when I'm trying to look a bit tanner because it just seems to do that, along with giving my face a beautiful highlight.

Both of these are part of the essential collection and only cost $1. I know they have a hard, stick version of these, but I didn't find them to work as well.

facial whips on left (2), tinted moisturizer

4. Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

This tinted moisturizer gives the perfect coverage for me. All the ones I have tried before leave some redness still showing, but this is great. It matches my skin tone easily and can be made up to medium coverage when adding a powder. I usually use a translucent powder in my t-zone to offset oiliness.

This does not have the greatest staying power, but for going to class it does great! I like to apply it with a flat top brush (which you can also find at ELF). This is part of the essential collection and costs $1.

5. Mineral Powder Brush and Small Stipple Brush

The Powder brush can be used for so many things! It has very soft bristles that are perfect for blush, contour, highlight, t-zone powder, full coverage powder application, etc. I can think of so many uses for this! For many of these brushes, I ordered 2 of them because I think they are amazing for the price.

The Stipple brush runs along the same lines. There are so many uses for this, but especially when using cream products. I think the finish this brush gives is absolutely gorgeous! There is a larger Stipple brush that I sometimes use for foundation that I also enjoy.

Both these brushes are part of the studio line and only cost $3. The quality for the price is outstanding!


*Honorable Mention: Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder. I also enjoy this product, but only half of it. The bronzer is the perfect matte color for me to contour with, however the sparkly blush only benefits me in the summer (I like to keep my blushes matte most of the time to make my skin look less oily). I also noticed that they have come out with this in several shades, where as before there was only one. Definitely worth a try for $3!

I love many of the ELF products, but these are my favorites (even though there were more than 5). Do you enjoy any of these products, and what are your favorites from ELF? Let me know in the comments below!

As always, stay happy and healthy :)

Tschüss, Katharina

nails of the day

Lately, I have been experimenting with nail polish colors. Now let me start by saying that I am not a "colorful" person. My clothes are pretty much neutral colors, with maybe one or two tops that I bought because I was trying to incorporate something that wasn't black, white or gray. So obviously, this trend generally continues to my nails...until now. I have been stepping out of my comfort zone and been rocking colored nails. I am starting slow, in the green/blue zone. So these were my most out-there nails yet.

       

Pictured you see the nails in different lights. I think this is a really cool nail polish because it does look like different shades in different types of settings. The first is natural light (no flash, taken around 1 pm), the second with flash during the evening (around 9 pm) and the third, under a lamp with no flash (around 9 pm). The first picture is the most true to color.

I've built this nail polish up without even listing the name! The nail polish is by Color Club in the color Age of Aquarius. I think it is one of the cheaper brands (I couldn't say the exact price because I received it in my monthly Birchbox subscription, which I do not recommend, by the way), so definitely worth the money if you like the color.

As for more details:

• the color glides on nicely and has a good thick formula. Pictured are the color after 2 coats, however, one thick coat would suffice. It is almost like a gel formulation.
• the brush is a traditional one (which I personally like best because I have small nails/hands).
• I like the finish without a top coat (a bit shiny), but you could use one for more added shine.
• after the 3rd day I still had no chips (unfortunately I started to pick at my nail polish after that, so I can't say how much longer it would have lasted).
• removal was also easy, which is a big plus!

Overall, I think this is a great polish! I look forward to trying more from this brand. If you have any colors from this brand that you love, or any great colors in general let me know in the comment box!

Stay happy and healthy :)

Tschüss, Katharina

PS. I just ordered nail polishes from a brand called KleanColor and am waiting for them to come in. Have you tried anything from this brand and do you like it?

Also, if you have a perfect french manicure pink, feel free to leave that in a comment too! I'm pretty picky with that am looking for the perfect one!

PPS. I recently found out from a friend that works in the nail polish industry that L'Oreal owns Essie and they use the same formulation for both. So if you find a color that is sold in both brands, pick up the L'Oreal one to save some extra bucks!