Tuesday Tip: Change Your Foundation Color

It's almost summertime and I have already switched to my darker foundation for the summer....not because I'm tanned, but because I feel like my skin needs more of a glow. I am of course bronzing my neck and chest to blend this new slightly darker shade. I think that changing your foundation color twice a year is a must. In the winter you don't need to have a darker foundation, you need to match your skin. I embrace my "Snow White Complex" (as my manager at Armani called it) during the winter months. I play up the lighter skin, dark lips and dark hair. During the summer though I'm ready to look bronzed and dewey with peach toned cheeks and glossy lips. So, when you go foundation shopping in May or June go just barely darker than your normal shade so that your face will match your bronzed skin you'll have after being out in the sun. A couple of ways to change up your foundation color without buying a new foundation shade is to mix in a liquid bronzer with your foundation, or use a powder bronzer on top to add a glow.

Tuesday Tip: Lovely Lips

Lip color is such a fun and easy thing to change up depending on the day and your mood. I find when I do makeup that a lot of people don't wear lipstick and stick to a neutral gloss or chapstick...there is no need to be afraid of lipstick or adding color to your lips! Here are a few things to know about when it comes to making your lips look lovely...

If you have small lips use a neutral or lighter color and gloss, if you do a dark color your lips will appear smaller. Don't feel like you can never wear a dark color, now you just know the effect it will have on your lips.

Lipsticks come in many different textures....a lot of people steer clear of lipstick because they assume it is heavy and something people wore twenty years ago. You can find sheer lipsticks, shine, shimmer, or matte...my point, there is one out there for you!

If you want to stick with gloss at least pick one with some color to change things up.

To make your lip color, whether lipstick or gloss last longer use a lip liner first, line and fill in your lips. Choose a neutral lip liner that will match your lips so you can use it with all lipsticks you use.

My favorite lines to purchase lip products from are MAC (tons of color and texture options), Bobbi Brown (lots of great neutrals and everyday colors), Giorgio Armani (classic colors and I love their sheer and shine lipsticks), Smashbox (awesome glosses). One of my latest cheap finds is 99 cent lip gloss from Sally Beauty Supply. The glosses are mini and found right by the counter.

Tuesday Tip: Shop Sales

I will justify spending a good amount of money on makeup and skincare, but that doesn't mean I don't like to find a great deal...checking out sale items at stores like Ulta is a must! Sometimes there is a reason that a certain makeup product or nail polish is on sale...but lots of times great products go on sale to allow room for new products. I just found two great nail polish colors at Ulta on sale last week...a bright summertime red and a pinkish plum that is also perfect for spring or summer. Sale items are worth looking at because often times they are perfectly fine items that there was an overstock of, or they are limited edition items that are on sale so that the latest limited edition item can have the shelf space in the front of the store. A lot of makeup lines do limited edition palettes, lip colors, eyeshadows, etc. Most of the time they are colors that I would wear, and I find it convenient that they are in palettes, or fun that they are in cute cases rather than the normal makeup. Why not get the same quality makeup at a discount...the only problem with buying limited edition items is that once the color runs out it is gone for good, so BEFORE it runs out take it into a store and have someone help you find a similar color.

Don't neglect sale shelves, but do keep in mind that if you are questioning the color, then probably the rest of us are too and that is a sale item you do not want!

Tuesday Tip: ALWAYS Wash Your Face

Excellent skin care is equally as important as fabulous makeup. Washing your face at the end of the day is a must...keeping makeup on through the night will dry out your skin and can cause blemishes...which we don't want! If you find a face wash you love then washing your face won't be such a chore (because when you are really tired and it's late it really does seem like a chore...trust me, I know). Here are 3 of my favorite face washes, yes 3, I'm convinced that if I only use one cleanser my skin becomes immune to it and I start breaking out or becoming oily (I think it's in my head, but you never know!). All can be purchased at your local drugstore or Ulta.

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Cream Cleanser....what's not to love, it's pink, smells like grapefruit and fights breakouts!





Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser...a gentle, basic cleanser. I feel refreshed every time I use it...and my skin really does look radiant after I use this.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Makeup Removing Cleanser...this foaming cleanser feels amazing as it dissolves away makeup.

Remember to use an alcohol free toner and moisturizer/face cream after cleansing...I think I'm going to go wash my face now that it's on my mind....and tonight's cleanser choice? Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser.

Tuesday Tip: Excellent Exfoliator

I've gotten out of the habit of exfoliating my skin the past couple of years...I think one day I ran out of whatever I was using and failed to purchase another exfoliator. Well, I have been missing out, in a MAJOR way! I had a 15% off coupon to Sephora burning a hole in my wallet last week, so off I went, I mean who doesn't use a coupon to Sephora?! I left with new foundation and powder for my makeup kit and 2 products for myself, the dry shampoo I blogged about last week and my new favorite exfoliator by Bliss, Pore Perfecting Facial Polish. This is a very gentle scrub and after using it I feel my face glowing...really! By removing old dead skin cells on top of your skin (by scrubbing) your skin will look younger because it then has a smooth even texture and a natural glow...so, whether you go pick up my favorite exfoliator from Sephora or find one at your local drug store get in the habit of using one 2-3 mornings a week...it's something I'm getting into a habit of again!

*Remember, scrubs for your face should be VERY gentle, rougher scrubs can be used for your body. If you are using a scrub that is too harsh it can actually enlarge pores, and we want to do the opposite.

Engagement Pictures

Click here to see my best friend's engagement pictures done by Benfield Photography a couple of weeks ago. The pictures turned out great despite the crazy Oklahoma weather that day...and the makeup looks fabulous. I used my usual Make Up For Ever Face and Body Liquid Foundation. I mixed 20 and 34 (two of my most popular colors). I love how her blush turned out, especially with the pink dress she wore...I used Nars blush because of how well it shows up. I loved the quarter lashes I used on her, it was my first time to do this rather than a full strip lash or flares...I LOVED the result! I will be stocking up on these! My favorite pics are the ones in the bookstore, such a fun and creative idea!

Tuesday Tip: Have Your Best Hair Day...With Little Effort

I'm going to be honest with you (as always), I'm a busy person, and not much of a morning person. So, that means there are some mornings that I simply don't have time to wash my hair (clearly I value my sleep). I've found a little something that is a life saver, well-hair saver, on mornings like that though. Dry shampoo. I remember reading an article about it years ago and thinking wow, what a great idea! But it was impossible to find at the time. A couple years ago I picked up a bottle of TIGI's Dirty Secret. I was hooked instantly. I had figured out a great way to save time and keep my hair looking fabulous! Dry shampoo is so easy to use, you simply spray it on your roots and fluff your hair. It gives your hair a fresh look rather than a drab second day oily look. There was one problem with my discovery though, I'm brunette, and I dye my hair so that it is darker than my natural color...most dry shampoos on the market have a slight white color to them, so they work great for blondes but not so great for brunettes. I found a way to make it blend, but it took more effort than dry shampoo should. Thankfully, Bumble and Bumble has looked out for ladies with all hair colors. Try their dry shampoo, now sold at Sephora (which means I picked up a bottle of my own this evening when I was there). It comes in white, blonde, brown and black....perfect! This is a pricey product, but oh so worth it. You can use it as a substitution for washing your hair, or as a way to add some volume and life to your hair at the end of the day before going out. So, whether you are busy with your job, school, kids, or life in general and need to save a few minutes you now know how to save time and still look great!