A to Z: U and V are for...UV!

Cheating? Maybe. Creative? Oh, I think yes.

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Today's post is all about something near and dear to my heart: Sunlight.

I'll be the first to tell you that I spent a good portion of my senior year of college tanning. Yes, me. The pale-skinned, easy-to-sunburn redhead. I would slather on a thin layer of low SPF and lay out in the sun for at least an hour, sometimes more, taking a few chances to jump into the pool to cool off. 

Although my skin got slightly darker, I did start to notice a few side effects. First off, my skin started getting really oily. Whether it was from the sunscreen or the sunlight, I don't know. But it got to the point where I would have to use oil blotting sheets several times a day. Normally, my skin isn't that oily. In fact, it's a little on the dry side.

I also started getting serious heat problems. I would be in my air conditioned apartment and suddenly feel like I was back out in the sun again. Frying. I would have to shower off to deal with it. 

Then came the acne, the hair turning from red to blonde.

Sure, the skin color was nice. I don't like looking like the underside of a trout. But then my dad came home with skin cancer. And that was the day I called it quits. I stopped hanging out poolside unless I was actually hanging out. 

And from then on, I wore nothing less than 30 SPF. I still won't.

I've had a history with bad sunburn. Once, it was so awful, it ruined an entire vacation with my then boyfriend/now husband's family. I spent the rest of that week trapped inside the beach house, miserable. 

Now that I'm a little older and have all of that knowledge to pull from, I'm super careful about sun exposure. I still like sitting out in the sun, soaking up the vitamins, reading, listening to music. But I don't do it purely to tan now. I don't want to be 40 or 50 and look like I'm 80, y'know?

As if reading my mind, Birchbox has been putting out all sorts of videos about sunscreen and SPF lately. And I really like them. I'm slowly wrapping my mind around the fact that it's something I have to do to keep my skin healthy. Limit sun exposure and always wear some form of SPF.

My general routine? My moisturizer has SPF 15. As does my foundation powder. My chapstick, also, is a great protector. And if I know I'm going to be in the sun for a while, I always don my Neutrogena Ultra Sheer that I mentioned earlier. Usually, 30 SPF. 70 if I know I'm going to be out for a while.

Seriously, guys. I know that it's super popular to look tan and glowing and golden. But be safe. There's no reason that something as fleeting as a good tan should ruin your skin later. 

Thanks for reading!

A to Z: T is for Tools

Today's (on time) post is going to be all about the tools that I use.

I think they're pretty important. But more on that later. First, pic spam!

This is, quite literally, the first serious makeup brush I ever bought. It's a kabuki brush that I bought with my first blush. In college. Yeah, I was a bit of a late bloomer. Still, this brush has lasted me for about four years. I keep it clean, treat it like gold, and love it to pieces. Because it is the absolute best (IMO) for putting on my BareMinerals foundation powder. Nice coverage, good natural bristles. I love this thing. And really, having one brush you love and use regularly is so much better than a hundred that you don't. 

This is a small travel set of brushes that I got at Sally's Christmas clearance for less than a dollar. Everything I need, on the go. 

I never use the spongy white one (you shouldn't, they're terrible), but I keep it in case of emergencies. Sometimes I will use it to remove smudged mascara when I don't have a q-tip handy. 

These...these are also precious to me.

I got them on Amazon for about $5, plus shipping, and they are the absolute best eye shadow brushes I have ever come across. All of the brushes I could ever need, each uniquely designed for a specific purpose. This is one of those times where the tool really changed how professional my makeup looked. 

Before these tools, I was just using the sponge applicator that came with the shadow. That really just wasn't giving me the accuracy or coverage that looked good, though. These tools changed all that. Now I can contour, shade, and smudge to my heart's content. 

Here's the brand, in case you wanted to invest in these for yourself.

More cheap brushes from Sally's clearance section. The one on the right is what I primarily use for blushes. The mini kabuki on the left I use for lots of different things, sometimes translucent power, sometimes blush. The middle one I haven't used yet, but it for foundation. 

This is the reason I haven't used that middle brush for foundation. I have found that these super cheap makeup wedges are perfect. The front side is for foundation, the back is for fixing blush if I need to. It gives me pretty good precision and nice coverage. 

If you'll notice, I don't have a whole lot of brushes. Because, honestly, I don't need them. Everything here I use pretty regularly, with a few exceptions. I wouldn't know what to do with one of those fan shaped brushes. I don't have a clue about the vibrating makeup puffs that are all the rage in Korea. 

So really, this is all that I need. And I'm not ashamed to say that, either. 

Now maybe, down the road, if I get better at applying my makeup...sure. Then I'll invest in fancy brushes whose uses I can't even imagine right now. 

But as a beginner, this is all that I need. 

Thanks for reading!

A to Z: I is for Intimidation

Warning! Warning! Text post ahead!

This is going to be a feels heavy text post. Namely because I don't have any products that start with I (not yet, anways). 

This is going to be about intimidation. Fear. And how it can hold you back from doing what you really want to do.

Now I could go on for days about fear. I have anxiety disorder, and while I'm learning to get it under control, it does sort of cripple some of my life. Something I've never done before, even if it sounds like lots of fun? Nope. Not a chance. Spending time with new people without a person I already no? Ugh. Sounds awful. 

But today, I'm just going to limit this talk to the beauty industry. The world of makeup, and how absolutely, utterly terrifying it can be. 

You see, when you're battling anxiety, it can be tough to walk up to a woman at a makeup counter and ask for help. You know it'll help, but it's embarrassing to need help. Not to mention, she looks like a pro. Her contouring is perfect, her mascara flawless, her blush blended seamlessly into the apples of her cheeks. Surely, she won't want to talk to someone like you, who showed up with absolutely no makeup on. (Fun fact: always go makeup shopping barefaced. That way you know that the product will look good on you no matter what.)

And what about when you want to try something new, but you know you won't be good at it, so you don't even try? Like me and that Eyeko Eyeliner I reviewed a month or so back. I still haven't touched it. I'm scared that I'm just going to mess up and look like a goofball.

But here's a secret: So what? 

Makeup isn't permanent. It's not a tattoo. Or a scar. It can be washed off. Redone. Sure, it might take some time and effort, but in the end. there's absolutely no reason to be scared of makeup. 

It took me a long time to come to grips with that little fact. It took me years to be able to shop in the makeup section without feeling like a loser. Like a child wanting to buy her first lipstick. 

It's scary. And it's tough. I'm not going to be able to tell you that it's any but. The beauty industry is full of these airbrushed models and if we don't look like them, we're not good enough. Our eyeliner isn't straight enough. Our lipstick isn't quite the right color. Our contouring is nonexistent. 

But in the end, you just have to stand up and brush it all off. Despite the pounding of your heart. Even with the eyes of Drew Barrymore and Zoey Deschanel bearing down on you from those ads. 

Cause against it all, what really matters is what makes you happy. Period. End of story. 

And who knows, maybe one day I'll get over my fear of applying eyeliner. 

Until then, I'll take little steps, like painting my toe nails fluorescent green. Or perusing Sephora even those the sales people always seem to be judging me. 

Hopefully, you'll keep going, too. Even when you're scared. Or confused. Or intimidated. Cause in the end, your happiness is what matters most.

Thanks for reading!

A to Z: B is for Blemishes

This post is inspired by my good friend's post for the letter A. Check out her blog, BookishGeek.

Growing up, we're told that our acne and blemishes will go away once we get older. It's a teenager thing. A puberty thing. It'll go away with time.

But here I am, 23 years old, and I am currently dealing with two large pimples on my face. They're taking up way more realty than they should, considering they shouldn't be existing, right?

But here's the truth not many people will tell you: Adult acne isn't some weird freak thing. It's completely normal. Heck, if you go to Birchbox's video, you'll see their gorgeous editor talking about her own blemishes. And you know she has a skincare lineup that could put everyone else's the shame.

So here are some facts about blemishes, because I'm a nerd for knowledge.

Blemishes are more common when you're a teenager, that much is true. It's all about hormones and stress and your skin trying to find its right balance.

That being said, every little thing can cause a pimple. And honestly? Age doesn't matter. Stress, diet, exercise, water intake. All of that contributes to how your skin deals with intruders like dirt and oil. Your own natural body chemistry matters, too. My husband is 24, but his skin is very oily naturally. That means he's going to have more acne than someone like me, with combination skin. It's just a fact of life. It's something you need to figure out for yourself.

Another fact? There is a huge industry revolving around that reduction of blemishes. There are tons of of products out there that swear to make your skin pimple free in two weeks, to make you prettier, happier, more popular. And honestly? It's all a lie. An expensive marketing lie.

I spent tons of money on the proactiv regimen for a couple of months. And honestly? My acne got so much worse. My skin got so dry it started bleeding, but I thought that's what I had to push through to get better skin.

I was wrong. What works for me is creamier products that don't dry out my combination skin. Cream cleansers, not acid cleansers, work best for my particular skincare woes.

But as I said, that might not work for you.

The final fact is that despite everything the beauty industry tells you about zits, and how many products we are told to buy to help us look better, zits are going to happen. There are ways to prevent them, like having a healthy, whole foods diet, drinking lots of water, and exercising regularly. But they're an inevitable part of life. You can find a product that you adore that helps prevent them or stop them before they get too bad. But they're still going to exist.

And one tiny bit of advice from me? Don't. Pick. I know everyone says that. And I know it's hard. Heck, one of the zits on my face right now is a giant scab because I've picked it into oblivion. But you know what? If I hadn't picked at it the first time, it would be gone by now. Instead, I have a painful splotch on my face that is way more noticeable than the zit was.

My trick to help prevent picking (although it doesn't always work) is to give it 24 hours. Tell yourself that if the pimple is still bothering you in 24 hours, you can pick at it. Pop it. Whatever. Most of the time, I forget about the zit in the first place.

Thanks for reading! Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a better plan of attack for my A to Z challenge.

Tricks and Tips : Blush

Here's a confession: when I started out with makeup, I made so many mistakes. Aw, who am I kidding? I still do! Almost every day, in fact. I do something that could be better. I have to go back and fix something I messed up on.

My biggest problem? Blush.

It took me ages to figure out how to put on blush so that it didn't look like I had put on blush. My blush was always too red, too much, to weirdly applied. And for years, I didn't wear any. I bought blush, would try it, look horrendous, and would just wash my face and go out bare faced.

After some practice (and buying a decent brush), I finally have it down.

Well, a little.

First off, you need a decent blush brush. At first, I denied this. I thought that a makeup brush is a makeup brush and I didn't want to spend tons of money on a tool. I couldn't tell the difference between a powder brush, a foundation brush, or a kabuki brush. But then I learned that, actually, the right brush can make a world of difference.

This is the blush brush that I use now. It's just the basic powder brush from Sally Beauty. 

Notice: the bristles are soft and fluffy, so application isn't too concentrated.

And here's the difference between the one that comes with blush (small, stiff) and the brush that I prefer. You can see how distinct it is. And how even that brush can make a difference.

Big secret: You don't have to spend tons and tons of money to find the right brush. The blue beauty up there? Less than a dollar at Sally's. If you have the money to blow on the best of the best tools, then fine. But for me, and for people who are just getting started, there's really no need. There are good, affordable brushes out there that can help when you're just starting out.

And honestly, I'm not a makeup artist. I'm just an average girl. I don't need the absolute best brushes because I put on makeup once a day, not 50 times a day on different people.

Basically, figure out what price range is best for you and start out small. 

Trick number two: a dry makeup sponge is your best friend for blush. 

This is the back side of my makeup sponge. Notice how red it is. 

The trick is, if you apply too much blush or the color is uneven, use a dry makeup sponge to drag the color upward. Start at the bottom of the area, and then gently use the sponge to move up toward the apple of your cheek. Once you have most of the color smudged off, you can gently pat the back of the sponge back towards your jaw line to blend. 

If done right, the sponge will pick up a good bit of the excess blush. That way you won't look like you've just been slapped. You'll look fresh faced and warm. 

It takes a bit of practice to get this technique down pat, but I think that knowing how to correct mistakes is half the battle with anything. 

Good luck and thanks for reading!

Budget Beauty Products

Sorry for the lack of updates this past week.

Friday, during the first really big freeze in Georgia, I slipped down the stairs to my apartment and severely injured my tailbone. As a result, I haven’t been able to sit down for longer than a few minutes for several days.

Which means the segment I was going to post on Saturday has been postponed until…well, until now. And I’m changing the subject.

Because of my injury, I had to miss a day of work. Which means a tiny paycheck for me. So this little chat is going to be about budget.

Namely, how do you supply a beauty addiction with a small amount of income? Do you get substandard beauty products? Or hold off and splurge on something expensive?

There was a time when I would have said to go with drug store beauty products and just suck it up. But now, my opinion has changed. Because I realized what happens more often than not, is those substandard products don’t get used. If the concealer is cakey, or the moisturizer leaves your skin greasy, it’s going to be unused in a drawer. That’s money down the drain, even if it was super cheap.

Now, if you can find a product that’s affordable and awesome, you’ve hit the jackpot. Bask in that glory, because it doesn’t happen often.

Usually, beauty products are a case of “you get what you pay for.”

That’s why I’m more the type to spend a lot of money on one or two products, and only buy things occasionally. It’s tough saving up for something and doing without for a while, but in the long run, it’s worth it. You’ll end up with a product that is amazing, that you love, and that you’ll use regularly. And honestly, there’s nothing better than that.

For instance, there's a really great hair protecting spray on Birchbox's store right now. I have lots of points, so I can get it pretty cheaply, but I'm waiting until my bank account has recovered from Christmas. It's difficult, but I know that if I don't buy the best, it's going to end up like the hair putty that I bought ages ago: I had to throw it away because it dried up in its little container. That was a $7-8 product that just went to waste. 

And to get things more often? I recommend putting up a wishlist online. Anywhere visible really. That way, when a birthday or anniversary comes up, or your friends want to give you a gift, they can give you something you’ve had your eye on for a while.

Another tip: Like your favorite beauty suppliers on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. A lot of companies have giveaways for their products and that’s a great chance to enter to win goodies. In addition, they’ll post coupons or promotional codes that can cut the price for something you really want.

Basically, you just have to be smart about it. And spend the big bucks on something you know you’ll use rather than something that might fester away in some dark corner of your bathroom.

That’s all for today. Hopefully I’ll be able to put up a longer post once my tailbone isn’t in agony. Thanks for reading!

Setting Up Your Meez!

Five internet points if you get that reference.

For those of you who don't, it's a food service phrase. What I'm talking about is your mise en place. It's a term for your work area, the particular arrangement of food/herbs/prep items that is arranged just the way you like it. It's a sacred space and you risk bodily harm by messing up someone else's mise.

Why am I talking about food service on a beauty blog?

Because mise en place isn't just for the kitchen (or in my case, the coffee shop).

One of the best things to do with your makeup and skincare regimen is set it up in some way that it will be used. Because if it's not organized, or something gets shoved to the back of drawer, or you have to search for that cool sample a friend gave you, you're never going to like getting into makeup. It's going to feel like a chore, and that's just awful.

Trust me on this one. For most of college, I didn't wear makeup because it meant dragging my makeup bag out from the counter, digging out what I needed, putting it on, cleaning up the (shared) bathroom, and then throwing everything back in the bag for the next time. And I just wasn't feeling it. I was lazy and busy and anything that took more than a few minutes didn't make it into my schedule.

That didn't really change once I graduated college and got my own place. I have tons of sample shampoos and conditioners that I haven't tried because they're somewhere in the depths of my sink.

So, I said all of that to say this: Set. Up. Your. Station. I don't care if you live in a tiny flat in New York or a sprawling house on the West Coast. Find a corner, claim it, set up a flag, and then start building your makeup stash from the ground up.

Here, for starters, I'll show you mine.

This is one of my reused Birchboxes, which I use to hold all of my main ingredients. Everything is easy to reach, although it looks a little cluttered. 

This is the top of the above Birchbox, which I use to hold my eye shadow. I have more eye shadow palettes than anything else, so I like them to have their own container.

This is the top drawer as a whole. It looks crowded, but everything has its own place so that my routine is cut from infinite minutes to about ten. Which is useful when I'm rushing off to work or run errands.

This is the top of my sewing/makeup table. Everything that I use really often is up here, including my box of BPAL perfumes and lotions (I have such dry skin, guys). I also have a mirror, a good desk lamp, makeup removal towlettes, and a spritzer of water.

I know, I know, my collection isn't much. But it's growing. And if you're just starting out and you're looking to make a habit out of this whole prettifying thing, you're going to need your goodies set up for success.

Wow, I sounded like a high school counselor for a second there. Sorry about that.

Having your own little corner (complete with an outlet) is also great if you don't have your own bathroom or, like me, you share that bathroom with a man who wouldn't know foundation if he was bathing in it.

That's it for today. In case you can't tell, I'm starting with basics and going from there. Also, there is a cat on my lap demanding attention. Who am I to deny him?

Tomorrow, a review of a Zoya nail polish (not a new one, but it comes with a story, so there's that).

Thanks for reading!