Makeup, Ramblings & More

Let's go Giants! Let's Go!

2012-02-04T18:37:00.000-08:00

Hello pretty ladies!

Yesterday night, I was bored reading my latest issue of Cosmo when I suddenly got a bright idea. Why not put together a look for my blog? Considering tomorrow is the long awaited Super Bowl, I decided that in honor of my team the NY Giants, I'd put together a look inspired by them.

Ha! Who are we kidding? I just needed an excuse to put on some makeup.

The Ammo:

Face

Shiseido Day Moisture Protection

Benefit Boing Concealer - 02

Make Up Forever HD Foundation

Revlon Photoready Compact Makeup - Natural Beige

Milani XL Bronzer - Bronze Glow

Wet n Wild Blush - Mellow Wine

Eyes

Milani Eyebrow Kit - Medium

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - Black Bean (Lid to crease)

NYX Single Eyeshadow - Casablanca (Lid)

Tropez Palette - Bali Blue (Outer Lid)

Wet n Wild Greed Palette - Black (Outer V)

Wet n Wild Glitter Palette - Red Glitter (Lower Lash Line)

No Brand 88 Eyeshadow Palette - Red Eyeshadow (On top of Red Glitter)

Wet n Wild Greed Palette - Highlight Color (Tear Duct & Brow Bone)
MAC Fascinating Eye Kohl Pencil (Waterline)
Maybelline Stiletto Liquid Eyeliner - Blackest Black (Upper Lash Line)
L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara

Lips
Carmex Lip Balm
Wet n Wild Lip Liner Pencil - Berry Red

Even though, in all honesty, I'm not a raving sports fan like I used to be in High School, I'm super excited that the Giants are in the Superbowl!!!! Of course, I believe I'm more excited for the commercials and watching Madonna's creepy muscley arms jiggle on stage during the half-time show.

Hot wings, chips, beer.... More like Mojitos, Sushi and a leopard printed Snuggie. So ladies, will you be watching the Superbowl tomorrow?

Update & first ever "wSw"

2012-01-23T15:19:00.000-08:00

I have finally returned to the make up blogging world! A lot has happened since my last post and a lot of new make up has rolled into the drugstore world and Shelly is lovin' it! For my comeback, I decided to do something a little different. Every once in awhile, I'll do a feature I'd like to call, "What Shelly Wore". Although by wore I mean what make up and hair products I used in that look and what they retail for. So if your interested in seeing my first wSw feature, keep reading!

Hair

Recently I purchased the Hot Tools 3/4" Clipless Iron. I've been dying to have one of these and found this baby at my local discount store for just $12.99! This clipless iron retails at about $43.99.
Before I curl my hair, I use my trusty Sunsilk Anti-Flat Voluminizing Cream. I apply it to my roots, massaging my scalp. It's best to use this before you blow dry your hair but I actually just applied it the night before onto my damp hair. This retails for about $4-$6.00.
After I curl my hair, I finish it off with my Aussie Instant Freeze Hairspray. I love this hairspray! This retails for about $4-$6.00.

Face
Firstly, I apply moisturizer to my face and in this case, I applied my Shiseido Day Moisture Cream. It's pretty pricey but works great. It has SPF 15, providing me with UV protection which, by the way, is super important! I always recommend using moisturizer with SPF. This retails for about $40.00.
Next I used my Benefit Boing Concealer in "02" under my eyes and onto my blemishes. I actually prefer using this under my eyes rather than on my blemishes. At first I was a bit iffy about it but have found the right technique in applying it under my eyes and now I am so in love! This retails for $19.00.
With my all time favorite Elf Powder Brush, I apply my Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Golden Caramel all over my face. No matter what, I always go back to this foundation. It's staying power is amazing and it's coverage is just as amazing. The Elf Powder Brush retails for $3.00 and the foundation retails for about $12.99.
To set everything, I apply my Revlon PhotoReady Powder in "Natural Beige" with a large fluffy brush. I use round cosmetic sponge first, specifically around my nose and areas I concealed so that it sets well and then I brush on a bit of powder all around my "T-Zone" (Forehead, chin, cheeks & nose). This retails for about $14.99.
Finally I apply blush. Lately, I've been into applying makeup without bronzer at all. It's mostly because my foundation is actually darker than it should be so I don't want to look like Snookie, walking around with an orange face. So I applied my most favorite blush ever, Milani blush in "Luminous". It retails for about $6-$7.00.

Eyes
On my eyes, with my ELF Eyeshadow Brush, I applied my favorite soft silver eyeshadow from my Stila Eyeshadow & Cheek Palette in Noir. I'm not sure if this can be easy to find but it retails for about $10-$14.00 and the ELF Eyeshadow Brush retails for $0.99.
Then I lined my upper lash line with another favorite, my Maybelline Stiletto Liquid Liner in black. This retails for about $4-$6.00.
With a pencil brush, I applied the blue eyeshadow from my NYX trio in "Team Spirit" to my lower lash line. This retails for about $3-$4.00.
I highlighted my tear duct and brow bone with the highlighter from my Stila Palette. Lastly, I curled my lashes and applied my L'Oreal Volumnious Million Lashes mascara in blackest black which retails for about $8.99.

Lips
I prepped my lips with my Burt's Bees Beeswax lip balm which feels so great on my lips! It stings a bit but softens them up so great. This retails for about $2.99.
After letting my lip balm set onto my lips, I applied my Maybelline 14 Hour Lipstick in "Eternal Rose". This retails for about $8.99.

I hope you liked my first wSw. There will be more of those in the future! What's coming up on Shelly's blog?

Video Tutorial Series: Work Appropriate Make Up
Make Up Look Blog Series: Celebrity Inspired Make Up, Magazine Make Up Ad Inspired
Make Up Reviews

Thanks for reading!

DIY by Shelly - Bling out your flash drive!

2011-08-20T22:32:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely readers,
Today I finally completed my DIY Bling'ed Out Flash Drive! After thinking and thinking of what sort of DIY I should post here, it came to me. DECODEN! I've had many people ask me how I blinged out my flash drive and figured... Why not make a DIY? :)

(Photo credit: Tumblr)

What is decoden?

It's a popular mode of decorating phones and other devices, originating in Japan. It started off as a way to make your cellphone or camera look a bit more cuter and personalized and exploded into something more artistic and amazing. I stumbled into decoden about a year ago when I was looking at a makeup guru who showed her blinged out cellphone. I was amazed by it and was determined to find out where to buy it. I searched and searched and quickly discovered that blinged out cases were PRICEY!

Being the resourceful person I am, I looked closely and realized... There MUST be a way to do this myself! After researching, I discovered many tutorials and sites that showed how to accomplish these wonderfully sparkly beauties.

The next step was to find out where I can buy the supplies. First stop: Ebay. Suprisingly enough, there weren't that many deco products on Ebay. There were a few things I found under the category: scrapbooking, but it wasn't all I was looking for. All though, in terms of finding more wholesale quantities, especially for flatback rhinestones, ebay is a better choice for that. I then discovered Etsy. That is THE place to find many many many deco supplies. These are usually categorized under: Decoden or Cabochon. The most commonly used "jewels" are flatback rhinestones, flatback pearls, flatback roses and bows.

Another important tool is GLUE. Not just any glue can be used for deco. You need to use a strong adhesive to prevent your pieces from falling off. Sure, eventually it does begin to fall apart but with the right glue, it can be easily fixed. Crazy glue or glue from the hardware store works too, however, you have to work faster because they tend to dry quickly. Working fast = sloppy job. Another reason why superglue isn't the best choice is because it creates a cloudy effect on clear rhinestones which takes away from the shininess. There are glues that are made specifically for deco which can also be found on Etsy. They're a little pricey though, unfortunately.

So on to the DIY:

(click to enlarge, if necessary)

I only decorated one side of the flash drive because if I were to use it on a laptop, it would most likely be difficult to stick into the USB--- unless I just used small rhinestones all over the surface. If you really want to make this look even more adorbs, you can attach a charm on the end. I just didn't have anything handy, otherwise I would have. Perhaps my next DIY will be for phone charms. Maybe? You tell me.

I want to hear it from you. Did you like this DIY? Do you want more DIYs from me? Let me know!

That's all I have to chatter about today! Thanks for reading!

Small collective Haul & FOTD

2011-08-10T19:33:00.000-07:00

Hello my lovely readers,
These past few days I've gone to the drugstore and always managed to leave with something! Today I stopped by the discount store "Lot-Less" and did a few little purchases there as well. I've decided to be more budget-friendly when it comes to cosmetics--even though I always have been. Five dollars or less is the mind-set I've kept so far.

So I recently bought a Wet n' Wild's single eyeshadow from their ColorIcon collection called "Penny/Sou neuf". It has caught my attention many times and I finally caved in. It was only $1.99 so it's not like I broke my wallet. I also purchased one of their blushes from the ColorIcon collection in "Mellow Wine" and I must say, it's lovely on my cheeks. Price?-- $4.99!

Mellow Wine

Penny/Sou neuf

Today's FOTD featured these two products. Whenever I haul a beauty product, I always use it a day after. I get so excited when I buy new products. What girl doesn't? Haha.

Used:Wet n' Wild ColorIcon Eyeshadow "Penny/Sou neuf" ELF Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette NYX Trio in "Team Spirit"As blush I used Wet n' Wild's "Mellow Wine"On my lips I have my NYX Lip Lacquer in "Coral-Licious"

1. I applied Penny/Sou neuf by Wet n' Wild all over the lid.

2. I then applied the bronze brown eyeshadow from my ELF Palette into my crease.

3. To blend out the edges and soften it up--With a fluffy brush-- I used the light pinkish eyeshadow from the ELF Palette.

4. Using a pencil brush, I picked up a bit of the blue from my NYX trio and applied to the outer 2/3 of my lower lash line.

5. For highlight, I picked up the white shimmery eyeshadow from the ELF Palette.

6. I topped it all off with a winged eyeliner (Maybelline Stiletto), Mascara (Maybelline Pulse Perfection) and lined my waterline with a black eyeliner (L'Oreal Linear Intense).

Today I hauled a bit at my local discount store (Lot-Less) and at Duane Reade. Just a few things, just a few things. If there's a bargain and if it appeals to me, me likey!

Green Tea facial peel . . . . . . $1.99

Almay Intense i-color (for brown eyes) with black eyeliner. . . . . .$3.99

N.Y.C. blushable Creme Stick (Gold Radiance). . . . . . $3.99

Wet n' Wild Lipsticks "525D", "521A". . . . . .$0.99 each

Almay Intense i-color & Eyeliner

NYC blushable Creme Stick

Wet n' Wild lipsticks

I'm looking forward to using these lipsticks more often. On top of their cheap price, the pigmentation is pretty fabulous. I am, however, on the lookout for some vibrant lipsticks so when I find them, I'll be sure to buy them and show them off to you here. On a side note, ELF is having FREE SHIPPING on orders that are $25 and up. As I've mentioned in the past, ELF is a good source for those just starting out in makeup. They have all the basics: primers, concealers, foundation, powders, blushes, eyeshadows and so much more. I really do recommend you buying some of their products. Click the link below to check them out:

Just for the record, I'm not being sponsored by them or anything, I just really love their products. That's all I have to show you all today! If you have any questions at all, feel free to comment below and I'll answer them asap! Thanks for reading!

P.S.

I have a DIY post coming up. Be on the look out!

Wet n' Wild Color Icon Palette Review & Look

2011-08-08T19:57:00.000-07:00

Hello my makeup lovers,

Today I'll be reviewing one of my favorite everyday palettes, my Wet n' Wild Color Icon Palette in "Comfort Zone". I've been a Wet n' Wild cosmetics lover for so many years. In fact, my first makeup purchase was from Wet n' Wild. Over the past couple of years they have definitely improved the quality of their make up, most especially their eyeshadows. The obstacle I've faced with their new Color Icon collection is actually FINDING it. For some reason, my local drugstores aren't carrying their latest Color Icon additions. Believe you me--- I'd buy every single palette! I have no choice but to order them online (heavy sigh). I managed to get my hands on Comfort Zone, which was sold out for such a long time on Nonpariel boutique but once it was back in stock, I wasted no time and placed an order.

"Comfort Zone"

With Flash

Without Flash

The color pigmentation is amazing! After seeing so many swatches of this palette, I had to have it. I mean for goodness sake, the thing is $5.00! Totally worth the money. I decided to create a look for the purpose of this review so you can see how fabulous it is!

I used this side of the palette:

1. I applied the "browbone" color onto my lid, browbone and inner tear duct.
2. Then I took the "eyelind" color and applied it to the outer half of my lid.
3. I used a fluffy crease brush and applied the "crease" color onto my crease.
4. I used a dense crease brush to apply the "definer" eyeshadow on the outer portion of my lid and crease to create more definition.
5. I topped it off with Elite Lashes in #8, a winged liner and Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara.

Result:

I'm posing with my fierce hinge ring 'cause I'm classy like that.

There are so many looks that can be created with this palette. It's so diverse and I love that! That's usually what I look for in a palette---the ability to mix around colors to create looks for day and night. That's what really makes it worth the buck or in this case, five bucks. Well I'm off to go nom nom nom on my black and white cookies. Shame on me... SHAME SHAME SHAME!

Thanks for reading and I hope it was helpful. Be jealous of my cookies. Be very jealous.

Driving under the influence --- No bueno

2011-08-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

I heard horrible news today. A cousin of mine that lives in NJ was killed by a drunk driver. She was on her way back home after dropping off a friend and was hit suddenly-- she died instantly. She was 24 years old and a mother of four (she had her fourth child about 3 months ago). This drunk driver left children without a mother, a mother without a daughter, a husband without a wife...

Please don't drink and drive. No matter how "tolerant" you may think you are, if you can't even walk a straight line, you shouldn't drive.

I spent the day trying to distract my mother from this tragedy. We finally started painting the kitchen. We just did the white portion and will do the light orange portion another day. I'm still in shock by what happened but man does this give me more reason to stick to public transportation.

R.I.P. Suamy Ortiz

FOTD & Day in the life...

2011-08-07T19:46:00.000-07:00

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Sun landing on the building windows,
reflecting onto my face..
The smell of Chinese sweet buns and
the laughter and chatter of
tourists rushing about...

Hello my lovely readers,
Today was just like any other Sunday where I spend the day with the mister. We went over to Target in Brooklyn to look around and decided to walk the Manhattan Bridge to get back home. Ah to be spontanious! Well the view was wonderful, of course, but the walk wasn't as delightful as I would have liked it to be. For one thing, it was disgustingly humid and hot today in NYC. A rain storm was brewing and man did it really feel like a sauna out there.

Besides the heat being a damper on our walk, it felt like we were playing a real-life game of frogger --- 'cep we were dodging bikers and runners instead of cars. I really wish the path was wider so pedestrians can walk or run more comfortably!

Still, it was a nice view! (the Mister to the left! ^_^)

I'd rather walk than take the train or bus all the time so walking the bridge was a nice change of pace.

So the make up was pretty fun today. I decided to play around a little instead of doing my usual everyday look. It's something I usually do on Sundays cause I figure, why not?

Featured: Coastal Scents double stack shimmer palette

♥Eyes♥

NYX HD Primer

Gold from Shimmer Palette (lid)

Copper from Shimmer Palette (outer lid)

Light brown from NYX Palette (crease & lower lash line)

Maybelline Stiletto Liquid Liner

Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara

♥Face♥

Eucerin Face Moisturizer

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation (Medium Beige)

Maybelline concealer (Sand Sable)

Milani Bronzer (Bronze Glow)

Revlon Matte Blush (Barely Buff)

♥Lips♥

Carmex & dabbed on NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil (Plush Red)

So after a lovely walk I was happy to go home and sit in my air-conditioned room. Have a lovely week everyone!

Momma needs some bloggin'

2011-08-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hello my fabulous makeup lovers,

I've been gone for much too long and it's about time I get back into my blogger mode. In terms of my make up routines, I've stuck by a pretty simple and minimal routine because it's been disgustingly hot in NYC. I've also been trying to watch my health lately by changing my diet (although I've been lazy on that department) and exercising more frequently. Lastly I've become absorbed in oil painting. I've just painting flowers so far to practice my technique but I plan to paint something beauty related later on.

Let's talk makeup, shall we?

What do I keep grabbing from my makeup collection?

Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Palette: Comfort Zone

I usually use the Brow Bone & Eyelid Colors from

both sides.

This palette is so versatile and it's pretty cheap!

You can find it at your local drugstore but if you're

from Manhattan like me, they are no where to be found!

I ordered it online here: nonpareilboutique

Price: $5.50 w/o Shipping

♥My Rating: 4 out of 5

NYX Cosmetics Lip Lacquer: Coral-Licious

I only apply this when my hair is up because this

and any other random lip gloss is like a hair magnet--

Annoying! Anywho... I like to dab some of this

baby on because it has a light tint of color.

I ordered this on ebay: Check it here

Price: $8.00 (or less if you're lucky)

♥My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (price kills it!)

Maybelline Stiletto Liquid Liner: Black

I simple love this liquid liner! It does not smudge and

has a smooth application! If there's a buy one get one

free or 50% off at your local drugstore, GET TWO! This baby

is amazeballs.

♥My Rating: 4.5/5 (wish it was bigger)

Look that I've been inspired by:

▬Retro Glam▬

This is a look that can worn day or night.

I love doing this. I just apply a simple eyeshadow color to the lid,

winged out liquid or gel liner, one coat of mascara and have well defined brows.

This can go with a natural lip or a bold lip. I personally like a natural color

like a soft pink or raspberry color.

So that's all I have to say for today. Have a lovely weekend everyone! While everyone's out to party, I'm chillaxin and watching me a movie.

Look of the Day, Nails of the Day

2011-04-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

"It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart."

Hello my lovely readers,
Today I hastily worked on a new video tutorial for my Neutral Everyday Series on my youtube channel before heading off to work. It was a super easy tutorial and it's a look I do quite often.
When it comes to everyday make up, something that's quick, simple but fabulous is always the best option.

--> the garden at my job. Pedals on the steps. Pretty, no? :)

The featured product for this look is my NYX 10 Color Eyeshadow Palette (for brown eyes):

All the eye shadows that were used are in this palette.

I've decided to start using some of my neglected make up because I figure it's such a waste if I don't use it. Since this was a fairly simple look to achieve, I didn't face any challenges.

Neutral Everyday Look #3

Watch the video tutorial:

My thoughts on the NYX 10 Eyeshadow Palette:
So I actually bought this palette ages ago (on ebay). I used it once or twice and then just ignored it all together. It's not because I HATED it but because it was stashed away in my make up storage area. I recently re-organized all my palettes and discovered this palette. Does this mean I LOVE this palette? No it does not.

Faults:

Chunky glitters
Chalky
The color pay-off is so-so

However it's a good "on the go" palette to have. Something to leave in your purse or to take with you when you travel. The price is a bit "meh" for the quality it provides. ELF palettes are cheaper and have better quality shadows. That's just my opinion.

Moving on~

Playing around with nail design....
I've decided to start growing out my nails. They're a pain to take care of but I can achieve several fun nail polish designs with longer nails. Random cell phone beauty shot of the day:
"Semi-French" Nails

On my nails:
(French) Revlon Top Speed Nail Polish- Jaded
I'm loving this new Revlon nail polish line. They're $4.99 and the color pay-off is great. So far I've purchased two. On top of the color pay-off being awesome, they dry super fast! That's a great plus. However there is always a catch to something that seems superbly awesome: lasting power = BLAH. It chips really easily so you definitely need a good top coat to secure it more. But hey, it's an excuse to glam up your nails more than once a week.

Stay tuned. I have more make up tutorials and even a hair tutorial coming up.

With love,
Shelly

Spring into Trends + Shelly's Palettes

2011-04-19T14:20:00.000-07:00

Spring is a here! With spring comes spring make up trends and whether it's hard to believe or not, they do change with each season and each year. This year it looks like bright bold colors are definitely in for Spring--for both make up and fashion!

What's in this year:

Bold Lips
Natural Make Up
Bright Eye Make Up
Smokey Eyes (a trend that never fades!)

For a more in depth look into spring trends, check out this video by Sephora:

Just because these are the trends, doesn't mean you should follow them. I actually just take some inspiration from these trends and take it a step further or a step back, to fit MY STYLE.

Now to achieve these looks and other fabulous looks, you need to have either vibrant eyeshadow or neutral ones. If you've watched my videos, I love using palettes.

Shelly's Palettes:

88 Eyeshadow Palette
This is a really awesome palette to have! The colors are well pigmented and for someone who is starting out in make up, this would be a great product to have because of the wide selection in colors. This palette is available here: Coastal Scents. I personally purchased mine on ebay for a slightly cheaper price.
A good and cheaper alternative is the ELF's 100 Eyeshadow Palette which has an even wider range of colors and is SUPER cheap in comparison. I haven't bought this palette as of yet but from what I hear, it's pretty good.

28 Neutral Palette *Shelly's Favorite
Definitely a versatile palette. This is great for those everyday neutral looks for work and school. Every make up artist should have this in their collection. I really love this palette! This palette is available here: Coastal Scents. But I also purchased this palette on ebay for a better price.

42 Double Stack Shimmer Palette
This palette is pretty awesome for those dramatic eyeshadow looks. I use this often but not as much because I'm actually not a really big fan of shimmery eyeshadows. However I do like the fact that it comes with blushes which are super pigmented! I purchased this one on Coastal Scents. But I believe it's available on ebay. Alternative? I would say perhaps a pretty close "cheaper alternative" to this palette is the ELF Professional Studio Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette (super long title, I know! lol). I actually purchased one recently and will give a full review on my youtube channel and here soon.

Urban Decay Delux Shadow Box *Shelly's Favorite
This would have to be one of my favorite palettes of all. Though the eyeshadows are shimmery, the shimmers aren't as chunky in comparison to the 42 shimmer palette above. The color payoff of this palette is amazing. This is actually the first palette I've ever purchased and I truly love it!

Palettes are great to have because of the many looks you can achieve within each palette. Though the prices are usually more expensive compared to drugstore brand make up, it's actually more inexpensive in the long run because they last a longggggg time! Every lady should have at least one palette in their possession.

With love,
Shelly

Elf Studio 50% Off!

2011-03-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

ELF Studio 50% off Sale-- Over $25-- Ends 3-7-11

Easy Hair Style, Mini Haul & More

2011-03-05T20:23:00.000-08:00

"The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart."

Hello lovely readers. Long time no post. I've decided to do a very simple, straight to the point sort of post rather than my usual "article-like" posts I've been doing. So on with it!

Finally, I've purchased a camera! With this, I can post many things here like video tutorials and make up of the day photos. Exciting? -- Yes!

Today I went simple on the hair. It's been awhile since I've experimented with hair styles and I like how this one turned out. Best of all, it was super easy to do!

I don't have "head on" picture because my eyebrows looked redonkulous. So perhaps I'll do a video tutorial on what I did later in the future but for now, here's a little explanation:

First I parted my hair to the side and did a small french braid on the shortest side.
Then with a curling iron, I curled my hair loosely, focusing mostly on the largest parted hair (as seen in the picture). Rather than curling small strands, I curled bigger pieces of hair. It didn't matter if I missed a few spots here and there, I was going for a more simple look.
I curled a few big strands near the braid to sort of even out the whole look.
I finished it off with some hair spray. Time: 10-15 minutes

Mini Haul

Went to my local CVS and purchased the new Maybelline "Fit Me" Foundation. A little pricey for my taste but Revlon is much more expensive in comparison. I'm a dedicated Maybelline fan so I don't mind. I'll try it out tomorrow and hope for the best.

And that is all I have to say for today. Yeap, that's all. Short & sweet. Since I have a camera, I'll be doing random video tutorials here and there so be on the look out. Until then, good night my beauties.

With Love,
Shelly

Shelly's Face Routine

2011-02-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

Dear Miss (or Mister) "how do you apply your face make up?",

There are so many face routines out there. Everyone has their own method or preference. I am constantly changing mine according to what products I'm using or even how I'm feeling that day. I'll be sharing with you my daily face routine.

The first step I take is to wash my face using a cleanser. This will eliminate any oilyness I may have on my face. The next step I take is to apply face moisturizer. I use Shiseido Skincare Day Moisture Protection (Available HERE– Also available at Macy’s or at your local Shiseido Store). I love this moisturizer. I admit, it's a bit expensive but man I've had it for over a year and I still have a lot left over. Why? Because it only takes a dime size amount to completely moisturize my entire face. I stopped using this moisturizer at one point because my face was reacting to it in a not so pleasant way so I was trying other moisturizers like Ponds and Eucerin. They were pretty good but my face was still either too dry or too oily. I drifted back to my Shiseido Moisturizer and never turned back since.

So let's continue with the process to Shelly's Face Routine:

I use the NYX Green Concealer stick to cover up red spots. I then apply the NYX Concealer pot (medium) right on top of the green concealer, making sure to blend it into my skin a bit. FYI- I'm using my index finger.

BUY BOTH HERE - Both are also available on Ebay or check your local beauty supply store (however not all carry it).

With a MAC 187 brush, I stipple some of my Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse foundation (creamy natural). These two are like a match made in heaven. I find that a lot of people actually apply this foundation with a flat brush but I find that using a MAC 187 (or any stippling brush), it gives it a more smoother lighter finish. This is my second time using this foundation and I have to say, I really love it!

MAC 187

BUY HERE - Also available at the MAC Counter at Macys, Bloomingdales, ULTA or your local MAC store.

Cheaper Alternatives:

ELF Studio Stipple Brush

BUY HERE

Coastal Scents Destiny Duo Fiber Stippling Brush

BUY HERE

With an Essence of Beauty kabuki brush or another stippling brush, I apply my Maybelline Dream Matte Powder (Medium) to set my foundation. I focus mostly on my nose, chin and forehead--These are the areas that tend to get the most oily.

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

Both are available at all drugstores (Rite Aid, Duane Reade, CVS, Walgreens)

With my Bare Escentuals brush, I apply my favorite bronzer, the NYC Color Wheel ("All-Over Bronze Glow"). I apply it to my temples down to the hallows of my cheek in a circular motion. I've got to say, Bare Escentuals brushes are awesome. I don't think they have ever shed once! Okay so the reason I love this bronzer so much is because it's light. It's not dark making it easy to build up the color how I'd like it.

Bare Escentuals Full Flawless Face Brush

BUY HERE

NYC Color Wheel is available in almost every drugstore.

With my other Bare Escentuals brush, I apply my NYC Color Wheel ("Peach Glow"). I apply it from my temple and blend it towards the apples of my cheeks. It's my way of blending the bronzer and blush together to soften up the color. With the same brush or a small round blush brush, I apply my Maybelline Mineral Power Illuminator (Nude) very lightly along the apples of my cheeks.

Bare Escentuals Flawless Application Brush

BUY HERE

The Final Step
After I apply my eyeshadow and such, I usually finalize everything by spraying a little big of MAC Fix+ onto my face.

BUY HERE – Also available at the MAC Counter at Macy's, Bloomingdales, ULTA or your local MAC store.

Cheaper Alternatives:

ELF Studio Make Up Mist & Set

BUY HERE

Evian Mineral Water Facial Spray

BUY HERE – Available at most drugstores (Rite Aid, Duane Reade, CVS, Walgreens)

So that's my regular face make up application process. The only thing that changes in this process is what products I use but I've been using the products mentioned above for quite awhile. If you have any questions, please write a comment below and I'll be happy to answer them. Hope you have a great week!

With Love,
Shelly

Does my make up look good?

2011-02-04T18:20:00.000-08:00

Dear Miss (or Mister) "I always look good with make up",

Don't you just love the 80's? The period that people now look back at in awe of their crazy hair and wild make up and say, "What the hell was I thinking?". Listen up my beautiful readers... STAY AWAY FROM THE MAKE UP IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT! Nothing kills me more than to see beautiful women hiding away their natural beauty under piles of foundation, smudged eyeliner, clumpy mascara, dark lip liner and lipstick on their teeth. Okay maybe I'm exaggerating a bit.
Before you ever decide to use make up you have to really look at yourself and say, "How much do I really need?"

Take care of that face
If your skin is pretty clear, perhaps with only a few slightly noticeable flaws.....
1. Skip the foundation: Just use concealer to cover up the flaws and use a tinted setting powder (matching your skin tone) to set your make up.
2. Instead of using liquid foundation, try mineral foundation: it's light but enough to even up your skin tones and cover up any signs of oiliness. (Recommended mineral foundation: Bare Escentuals. Available at Sephora.)
3. If you want to even out your skin tone using something light and healthy, try using tinted moisturizers. There are several out there so I can't really give you some recommendations, especially since I've never really used any.

Why do this? Make up is not exactly healthy for your skin--- Big surprise! In fact, our face is sensitive considering it's the place where the sun and wind hits the most. Therefore, your face may actually lose it's flawlessness because of make up! It can be prone to breakouts or allergic reactions, especially when you're new to make up. For some, it takes awhile for their skin to adjust to it. Whether it be your face or your eyes.

But if you are blessed with flawed skin such as mine with blemishes, red spots, uneven colors and even acne (heavy sigh) then liquid foundation is a necessity. But I failed to mention something vital. Something everyone must do before applying foundation, concealer and powder. This goes out to even the flawless ladies out there---PREP YOUR FACE!

Always, always, always moisturize and cleanse your face everyday! Especially in the harsh winters here on the East, dry and flaky skin is not happy skin.
-In the mornings, cleanse your face. The weather doesn't just affect you when your outside but also in your own home. Cleansing your face in the morning is not only good for your skin but it's also a good wake up call in the morning (let's hope no one does it to you while your sleeping though!).
-Apply moisturizer before you even think about applying foundation or concealer. Even though you've cleansed your face, moisturizing is still a must. It helps to prevent your face from getting dry or oily. Make sure you use moisturizer SPECIFICALLY for the face and that it has SPF. The sun is here all season long so you're skin still needs extra protection.
-Before you hit the hay, cleanse your face. Yes, cleanse it again. Not only does it ensure that the residue of your make up is gone but it also gives your face some extra loving.
-Scrubs and facials, why not? But unlike moisturizing and cleansing, do not do this everyday. The point of using scrubs is to remove the dead skin from your face. Using it everyday is terribly mean to your skin! So keep it minimal but don't keep it out completely.

Knowing how to apply make up
When I first started using make up, I looked a mess! My biggest errors were using foundations that were either too light or too dark for me. I was incapable of using eyeshadows and eyeliners correctly. It was all a big mess. So how did I go from looking almost clownish to looking fab?

RESEARCH!

I looked at tips in magazines, searched around online and then finally I came across the wonderful world of Youtube. There are dozens of Youtube make up gurus that upload how-to make up video tutorials DAILY! This is where I really learned the basic techniques. Eventually you develop your own techniques that work best for you.

10 Basic Must-Haves
To start off your make up collection, these are a must:
1. Face moisturizer (as mentioned earlier)
2. Concealer (regular concealer/brightener-for under eye)
3. Lip Balm- My favorites would have to be Burt's Bees & Carmex (stick version)
4. Eyeshadow primer-Urban Decay or Two-Faced (Can be found at Sephora) or ELF has one too.
5. Mascara- There are several that I've tried. Later I'll do an in-depth look on drugstore mascaras.
6. Smudge-proof black eyeliner-My favorite would have to be Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes
7. Smudge-proof black Liquid Liner- L'Oreal Linear Intense is by far the best I've ever tried
8. Liquid foundation- There are sooooo many to choose from. Whatever fits best for you.
9. Setting powder (tinted or transparent)-Same comment as above.
10. Neutral Eyeshadow Quad or Palette- Fits every occasion. L'Oreal and Maybelline have some nice quads which are great to start off with.

Make Up Brushes
If I can add one more thing on that list it would probably be make up brushes but I'd say that's already a given. Have at least one eyeshadow brush, foundation brush, blush brush and a large powder brush. Brushes help you control the amount of make up you apply to your face. Without a brush, you are likely to pick up more of the product than you need to which would ultimately give you a "cakey" look. Keep it simple!

Make up can be intimidating and scary but with good practice and basic knowledge, you're on the right track! Remember this...

Make up is an

Don't be afraid to use bold lipsticks or eyeshadow colors. Trust me, it's fun! But of course don't overstep your boundaries either. However, don't ever think you aren't beautiful without make up. Make up is just an accessory to an already outstanding work of art.

With Love,
Shelly

Bargains are a girl's best friend

2011-02-03T09:44:00.001-08:00

Dear Miss (or Mister) "Is expensive make up the only make up worth buying?",

When it comes to make up, girls (or boys) usually like to cough up money for the pricey high-brand make up. I admit, I used to be one of the those girls -- Notice the past tense. However, I didn't always purchase all of my make up in places like Bloomingdales or Sephora. Drugstore brand make up has always been my top choice.

High end make up is not just high end because of the brand but also because of the quality. My top favorite brands would be: Urban Decay, MAC, Make Up Forever, Smashbox and Benefit. I'd say that in terms of quality (and popularity), those are the best.

Is it really worth the buck?
If you ever want to invest in high end make up, you should definitely invest in eyeliners, eyeshadow primers, face primers, foundation, setting powder and at least one eyeshadow palette. Trust me, it's worth it. If you're still the thrifty type--not willing to invest.... Look for sales! Often times those brands hold sales on their websites. That's how I purchased my Urban Decay eyeshadow palette with ease, it was discounted %15. Trust me it was worth it! I purchased it about 2 years ago and I STILL have it: Awesomeness.

But it's been awhile since I've purchased any high end make up. Mostly because it burns holes in my wallet. I've gone back to my preference: drugstore make up. However, brands like L'Oreal and Revlon are trying their hand at improving the quality of their make up, extending their lines into a more "high-end" feel. L'Oreal with their HIP & Studio Secrets lines and Revlon with their Colorstay line, their quality has increased but their prices have increased along with it.

My favorite drugstore brands:
-L'Oreal
-Maybelline
-Revlon

-Milani

-NYX (rarely found in drugstores, can be found mostly in beauty supply stores/online)
-Wet & Wild (Cheap!!)
-N.Y.C. (Supa Cheap!!)
-Rimmel

Those are the best, in my opinion.

Now lets look into depth. You have to get to know the drugstore brands by playing around with them a bit but guess what, the saying goes: You get what you pay for. After years of experimenting with different products from different brands, I found out what each brand specializes in. It is my own experience that these brands have only particular products that are worth the purchase.

The break down:

Lipstick
1. Revlon (Colorstay, Colorburst)
2. Maybelline (Color Sensational)
3. Rimmel (Moisture Renew)

Foundation

1. Maybelline (Dream Smooth Mousse)

2. Revlon (Photo Ready)

Blush/Bronzer
1. Milani

2. NYC

3. NYX

4. Wet & Wild

5. L'Oreal (Discontinued products)

This is, of course, is my own personal opinion. What do you think? What are your favorite make up brands? Much like with shoes, purses, perfumes... There are just so many options when it comes to make up.

I hope that you now see how brands and quality may not ALWAYS be the only choice. After all, make up is only a temporary product. It runs out or gets old eventually.

With Love,
Shelly