Urban Decay's Surreal Skin Creamy Concealer Review

This was my first concealer purchase ever so I pretty much wanted to get the most bang for my buck. After raiding the entire Sephora website for the best choice for me, I came across Urban Decay's Surreal Skin Creamy Concealer Review. It was pretty cheap, priced at $16. I wanted a liquid concealer because I expected a powder concealer to look bad over acne scabs but I wouldn't know because I've never tried it before. It had pretty good reviews so I figured it was worth a try.

The difficult part to any face makeup buying procedure is finding a perfect match for your skin tone. The problem for this particular product was that there were only two options, a lighter color and a medium color. Considering I have a medium complexion it should have been easy but I was mainly going to use this under my eyes so I thought I could use the fairer one to brighten the skin under my eyes. But my boyfriend (the one who bought it for me) convinced me that the medium was a better match and it was!

It blended really well even though it was a little more yellow than I actually am. When I put it over my pimples they take away all the redness but there is still a bump but I'm not sure you can fix that. I don't even have to put a layer of foundation over it because it blends so well. I'm not really sure how to use a concealer brush because when I used my concealer brush, my concealer brush started to cake and turn gross so I usually just use my finger. It smooths it really well and creates an even and light layer. I use it with a face primer so it lasts all day. I love the way I look with this product on my face. I highly recommend it.

Sorry I have not been updating daily recently, I'm a busy girl. ;)

Beauty Tip of the Day: June 21, 2011

The way someone walks, stands or sits tells you a lot about that person. I saw a girl when I was in Georgetown this weekend who would be absolutely gorgeous if she wasn't so hunched over. She looked insecure when she really shouldn't have been. Having good posture tells everyone that you are confident, strong, poised, and elegant. Improve your posture by rolling your shoulders back, tucking your chin in slightly so your ears are aligned with your shoulders. Some good practices would be to try walking with a book on your head or standing against a wall so that the back of your head, shoulders, and butt touch the wall.

Beauty Tip of the Day: June 19, 2011

Vitamin E pills, taken regularly, can help boost the smoothness and radiance of the skin as well as aiding the health of your heart. Dermatologists often prescribe patients with serious acne large doses of vitamin E to help clear up their skin. Take the recommended amount on the bottle or go to the dermatologist if you wish to take more. 

How to Shop Smart

Scenario: You're going to the mall with a couple of friends. You are saving up for something very expensive but you want to go shopping anyways. You know if you go shopping you'll be tempted to spend your hard earned money and be put behind schedule in your purchase of that expensive item. What do you do?

1. Before going to the mall, only put the amount of money you are willing to spend in your wallet. If you don't have money, you wont spend money.
2. Establish a limit at which you are willing to pay for an item of clothing. For example: I do not want to pay over 10 dollars for a t-shirt, therefore I do not buy overpriced t-shirts.
3. Avoid eating at the food court. $7 for one meal that is unhealthy and will make you fat? No thanks. Eating at the food court really adds up.
4. Only buy items that are on sale. Sometimes you can find cute clothes for a lower price if you look hard enough.
5. Ask yourself this question: "Do I really need this?" or "Will I really use this often?". This ensures that you are not wasting money.
6. Ask your friends to help control your spending. They often are more sensible to notice if something is overpriced or crappy.
7. Do not feel the need that you have to buy something. Sometimes it is best to just not- it'll pay off when you have more money in the bank. You should be grateful for what you have anyways. :)

These are just some tips for the people like me out there (who really needs to follow her own advice). Good luck everyone. ;)

Beauty Tip of the Day: June 17, 2011

If you often find your eyeliner fades or smears throughout the day, after applying your black eyeliner, use an angled brush to apply black eyeliner on top to set it in for longer lasting results.

Is Summer Here Already? Tips for Getting Ready

 

Today is my official first day of summer vacation and I just realized that I need to get ready! Here are some tips to help you and me to look great at the pool, beach, or where ever there is adventure.

Work Out

A toned body is every girl's goal this summer but bad news, looking hot this summer actually requires work. The first thing you need to do to get the body of your dreams is to set a reasonable goal such as losing 5 pounds. It is important to make this goal reasonable to avoid discouragement. The next thing you have to do is research how to obtain that goal. Google is your best friend. As soon as you obtain your goal, you will have confidence to start another more challenging goal. Try to remember the benefits for what you are working for to increase your determination and pull through to the end.

Please avoid extreme diets, they usually never work and they put your health and life in danger.

Find the Perfect Shade of Bronzer

Summer is all about sun and to get that perfect sun kissed glow, you must have the right shade of bronzer. Be careful for choosing a bronzer shade that is too dark, light, or orange for your skin color. Bronzer that is too light or shiny will not define your features or give you a beautiful tan. Bronzer that is too dark will make you look dirty or "fake". Light skin tones look best with rose or peach bronzer, medium skin tones look best with copper or earth tones and darker skin looks best with chocolate colored bronzer. Apply it with your favorite shade of blush on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. Dont forget to blend!

Buy Waterproof Makeup

Everyone wants to look great at the pool but how could we look beautiful without mascara running down our faces and everything else disappearing? Small sample sizes of waterproof makeup should be bought for the certain times where you want to do something water related and still want to stay beautiful. Be careful with waterproof mascara though, if you use it too much it can damage your eyelashes.

Beauty Tip of the Day: June 16, 2011

Cucumbers are made up of 90% water so they are often used as cooling agents for the eyes. Putting slices of cucumbers on your eyes for a soothing and relaxing 10-20 minutes can decrease puffiness and dark circles.

Beauty Tip of the Day: June 15, 2011

Sleeping on your side is proven to be one of the causes for wrinkles. To avoid early aging, try your best to sleep facing upwards.

Expensive Make Up Prices Got You Down?

(Me at Nordstrom Rack)

Addicted to Sephora? Don't like drug store make-up? Wallet empty? (Wow this sounds just like me...)

Take a trip to your nearest Nordstrom Rack. I don't really like the clothes there but whatever, they have awesome prices for their makeup. They have brands such as...

• Stila
• Too Faced
• Smashbox

... for less than half the price you would get it at a department store or Sephora!

I was pretty surprised when I was stuck there shopping with my best friend's mom. I was really bored because everything else was still pretty expensive. The last time I bought something there it was Stila's Sun Highlighter for only $10! Its so pretty it gives me this sunkissed sparkly look, complimenting my bronzer and everything. Every time I go to Nordstrom Rack I just want to buy the entire makeup isle.

The only downside is that you can't claim Sephora Beauty Insider Points from it. :'(

Its definitely worth checking out if you haven't been there yet. :)

The Body Shop: Tea Tree Oil

I admit I was reluctant to buy this because firstly, at the store there were no instructions and secondly, I didn't think it would work for blemishes. But after buying it, I think it's safe for me to say that this stuff really works!

I have mild acne on my best days and moderate acne on my stressful days. My old skin care army consisted of Neutrogena's Pink Grapefruit Face Scrub and Biore's Triple Action Astrigent along with Clean and Clear's Brightening SPF 15 Lotion. After switching from drug store brands to the body shop, my complexion really has gotten clearer. I now use many of The Body Shop's Tea Tree products along with this. When I get pimples I simply put this on under my lotion and within 2 or 3 days, they are reduced significantly.

For $9, this is a bargain unless you tend to use things up really fast. But since it is oil, it is easy to spread. When I first put it on after deciding to buy it, I could really tell that it was soothing. It has this kind of menthol-y feel that makes me believe that it is already helping with my acne by soothing it first.

The only downside to this product is that the directions need to be somewhere on the bottle. You can find the instructions here at the Body Shop's Website:
http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/skin-care/face-eye-treatments/tea-tree-oil.aspx

Good luck in the fight against acne. ;)


  

Home Remedy for Acne: Yogurt Face Mask

Who knew that a $2.50 tub of plain yogurt could be so beneficial? With just one use, you'll notice your skin is softer and smoother. With regular use, your acne and acne scars start healing and you're left with beautiful skin!

Recipe:
2 Tbsp. Plain Yogurt

To use:
1. Wash your face thoroughly with a face cleanser.
2.. Smear a sufficient amount of yogurt on your face. Enough to cover your face but not so much that it drips. (Try not to laugh because it reminds you of semen)
3. Leave on for 20 minutes or let it dry and go to sleep with it on.
4. Wash off with lukewarm water first. When all yogurt is gone. Close your pores with a couple of splashes of cold water. Pat dry.
5. Repeat process daily until acne fades away.

The problem is $2.50 can get you a large tub of yogurt and that's the only size they have at my grocery store. I had trouble using it all up for just my face before it expired. So here are some other great uses for yogurt:

1. Hair Mask - Before showering, put some in your hair and cover with a shower cap for about 20 minutes. Using yogurt as a hair mask is proven to help with dandruff and make your hair shinier and softer.

2. Smoothies - I personally don't like the taste of plain yogurt so I had trouble eating it so I put a cup of it in the blender with my favorite assortment of frozen fruit instead of milk and I ended up with a healthier smoothie! Yogurt is easier to digest than milk and it also fights off high cholesterol and intestinal diseases.

Yogurt can make your wallet, face, hair, and tummy happy. It is a great investment because it worked for me and will also work for you. :)

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First post! Yay!
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