I was out of town for Halloween this year, and knew ahead of time I would need a simple costume for an event at my Grandfather's VA Home, so I found some cheap ladybug wings and an antennae head band at Spirit and wore some black and red items I already owned. Halloween is NOT my favorite, so it's hard for me to get into it, but I started looking up makeup looks on Pinterest for some inspiration and enthusiasm. Keep in mind these pictures were taken hours after application and I smudged it a little because I kept forgetting I had it on. Here it is:
I first primed my lids with Urban Decay's Primer Potion banking on it preventing the dreaded creasing (it didn't fail me! :D) I didn't own any red eye shadow, and didn't get a chance/wasn't super motivated to buy any since I wouldn't use it again for a while-if ever, so I used my NYX waterproof lip liner in Red instead that I've used maybe twice on my lips. Ha! For the black I used Rimmel's Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl eyeliner in Black. For lashes I used Ardell Natural 120 Demi in Black. 'Cause you have to have fluttery lashes as a ladybug! I really didn't know what I was doing, hadn't practiced before, and didn't have any time to wipe it off and start over, so I am pretty pleased with how it turned out, all things considered. I think if I were to do it again I'd have the body of the ladybug connect with the wings and also do the spots differently/more random. Other than me forgetting I had the makeup on and rubbing my face/forehead/nose, I'd say it had great staying power. I was super worried about the lip liner creasing since it wasn't meant for eyelids, but it was extremely pigmented and held up all day. What looks did you come up with for Halloween?
Most of these products are tried and true, but a few are some staple items that I tried in new brands. The first one I can think of to mention is the makeup removing wipes. The Dollar Tree brand failed miserably. They aren't thick, moist or large enough to get the job done! The Swisspers brand of cotton rounds aren't my favorite either. I believe I bought a value pack of three sleeves from Walmart and I've gotten used to them but I think I'll spend a little more to get a thicker cotton round that will give me more bang for my buck. Are you familiar with the Yes To brand? I had heard a little but about it, and understood it was a pretty natural line of products. I picked up the Yes To Cucumbers facial wipes which are for normal to sensitive skin, and my skin would turn beat red afterwards. I didn't figure out what was causing it at first but eventually ruled out other things as this was really the only variable and new product I was using. I have never had a reaction to cucumbers so I don't know why I reacted the way that I did, but sure enough, I would react every time. Terrible! The Calgon body wash is to die for! I have stuck with Sweet Pea for a good 10+ years, but I was trying to use up products I've had forever, so I made myself stray from the usual and I really like it! The Victoria Secret perfume in Pure Seduction is also a favorite and became my summer scent. I've always loved the scent and it's perfect for summer, as it is so fresh and floral, so I finally used this bottle up that I've had forever. The last product I haven't reviewed yet is the floss. Random, I know! I got this from my dentist and it is the worst! It shreds and becomes useless after just a few teeth. Any suggestions for a good quality floss? :D
Thanks for reading!
I'll admit, I held off on buying this palette for a while—even after going the day it came out and swatching it with the BFF. It just didn't do anything for me! I felt like the colors were too similar to the other 5 (!!!) Urban Decay palettes I own, let alone shades I have in other brands of palettes or singles. I ended up buying Too Faced palettes instead, and have loved them, yet I was still drawn to this palette. I ended up swatching it every time I went to Ulta or Sephora but couldn't justify buying it. Sephora ended up having a 3X the points at the beginning of August, so I purchased some staple items and the palette. I thought if I wasn't impressed, I could always return it. I left on a trip right after I received it so it did not make the cut for which palettes I was going to bring. (I only bring palettes I am familiar with and know quick looks to get me out the door fast.) So since getting back I have been wanting to try this new palette and I have to say, my hesitation was unwarranted. What I thought were your typical smoky shadows, were actually very diverse shadows! They might look similar to each other and similar to other shadows we all already have, but these really are a different kind of amazing. The pigmentation, blendability, quality, and intensity are one of a kind! I highly recommend this palette! Here is the first look I came up with:
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you try this look! :)
For this look I used both palettes that I recently purchased and this is what I came up with:
To get this look, I first applied Too Faced Natural Matte shades Strapless with a fluffy brush to my brow bone area, Honey Butter on my lids, and Chocolate Cookie in the outer third of my eyes. From the Love palette I used shades from the Pure Love square. I used Adore on my lids, Amorous on the outer thirds and crease, Dearest in a small triangle above my irises, and Cherish as a highlight. To finish the look, I applied Ulta's Automatic Eyeliner and Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara as well as Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara. Normally, with the color of shirt I'm wearing and the summer vibe I would use a coral lip color, but because Adore is so coppery, I decided to use a lip color that had blue undertones. I used the Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Barcelona Nights.
I hope you enjoy this look as much as I do and are enjoying your summer! :)
I was recently asked to teach a three 45-minute makeup classes to girls ages 12-17. It caused me to reflect on the basics, something I think I overlook a lot. I hope the information I gave the young women, as well as you, will help prevent mistakes that I made for years from being made.
Haley's Handout
"Make-up, if applied tastefully and in moderation, can enhance appearance. But no amount of eye shadow, lipstick, or mascara could possibly compete with the natural attractiveness of a genuine smile. It brightens the room. It cheers others. It communicates friendship, love, and optimism so much more than any cosmetic ever could. It puts people at ease and is welcoming. Truly in the world of glamour, there is no close second to a genuine smile.”
~Elder Lynn G. Robbins
Haley’s Hints:
-Don’t sleep in your makeup! Your eyelashes and skin will do so much better if you allow them time to breathe. Hygiene and skin care are so important! No amount of makeup can compensate for unclean or unhealthy skin. I highly recommend eye makeup remover to ensure all the eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara are off without excessive rubbing or scrubbing. Allow the moistened cotton pad to sit on your eye for a few seconds and then gently wipe off your lids. In the same way you applied your mascara, gently use the pad to get the mascara off of your lashes. You don’t want to cause premature wrinkles in the eye area from poor makeup removing techniques. Your makeup will apply easier if you’re working with a clean slate, so wash and hydrate your skin and then you won’t need as much makeup and it won’t take as long! Depending on your skin type, once or a couple times a week, use a face mask or cleansing brush to deep clean your pores so they don’t get clogged and cause breakouts that could have been prevented. Avoid scrubs, as they will cause mini tears in your skin which will only make things worse. Be sure to have the water just barely warm because if it’s too hot it will burst capillaries, which will cause redness and an older appearance.
-Hydrate and protect your skin—always! If you notice you are breaking out, don’t skip your moisturizer! Your skin may even be breaking out because it’s over-compensating from the lack of moisture and nourishment that can be found in face creams. Face creams and sunscreen will help keep you looking young! DNA is of course a huge factor, but control what you can and it will prolong the aging process! The sun provides us with Vitamin D, which is vital, but excessive exposure will cause your skin to become leathery and will wrinkle much sooner than it would have otherwise. It can also cause skin cancer, so be diligent in protecting your skin! If you do get too much sun, apply aloe vera without lidocaine (it’s alcohol based and will dry your skin out) to get your skin healing fast! You also need to hydrate yourself from the inside out, so drink lots of water and avoid greasy foods to help keep your skin clear and luminous. It will pay off in the long run, I promise!
~Makeup Application:
·Face
-Primers for eyeshadow and face may seem like a gimmick, but they truly help to create a smooth canvas for flawless application. Eyeshadow primers help the shadows appear in their truest shade, stay put, and keep them from creasing. Face primers make foundation application easier, allow you to use less, and will help with staying power.
-Mineral foundation/loose or pressed powders are great for everyday use because they’re light, easy to apply, and yet still provide coverage. They’re also great to use for setting foundation when it is worn for special occasions. If you do start using foundation for school dances or family pictures, make sure you have the right shade! Either mix two shades of foundation together or mix a foundation that is slightly too dark with a moisturizer to tone it down for your perfect shade. It’s very important to get as close to skin color as possible. Of course we always want to look tan or we feel like we have to cover up our flaws and blemishes so we want to go darker, but it's important not to go too dark. Always blend a little foundation down your neck and below your ear so there aren't any harsh lines. I like to use a foundation brush or beauty blender to make sure it’s even so it doesn’t look patchy or caked on.
-Cream blush can have better staying power and can be applied with a small stipple brush or your fingers. It’s best to apply blush slightly below or on your cheekbone, depending on your face shape, and from the colored part of your eye (iris) out because any closer can accentuate redness around your nose.
·Eyeshadow
-Blending is key! I like to use a shadow that is a shade or two darker than my skin tone (usually kind of a blush color) for blending on my brow bone so my highlight shade and my darker crease color transition more smoothly. There really aren’t any rules to how you apply shadows, but my go-to is using a medium shade on my eyelids, a darker shade in the outer one-third of my eye and crease, and a light color for a highlight below my eyebrows and in the inner corner of my eye. The darker the color, the smaller the brush.
·Mascaras
-I have yet to find the perfect mascara, but there are tons of great ones at the drugstore. You don’t want it to flake off on your face or make your eyelashes look like spider legs. A mascara that lengthens, thickens, separates, or keeps your eyelashes curled can be a fun way to switch up your look.
Hits with Haley:
-e.l.f brushes, primers, blush, eyelash curler, lip exfoliator, zit eraser, etc.
-Up & Up or Equate Eye Makeup Remover & Facial Cleanser (no different than Neutrogena)
-Ulta (drugstore & high-end products with a rewards program)
-Search YouTube for dupes of high-end products, reviews, and tutorials for palettes or products before buying
Remember, you’re already beautiful! Makeup should accentuate your natural beauty, not cover it up. :)
