Gel Nail Fake!! *How To Make Your Normal Polish Look Like Gel Nails*

Gel nails have been very popular this last year, and the trend continues into 2015, but gel polish is extremely HARD on your nail! Gel polish makes your real nails look incredible, without the use of acrylic or any "artificial nails", but once you decided you don't want the gel anymore it becomes a huge problem for the health of your nails. 

I have extremely brittle, peeling nails naturally , so quite a few years ago I had acrylic nails for over 3 years straight.

Here is a picture of what my acrylic nails looked like. So beautiful, but so terrible for the health of my nails.

 Then after "gel nails" became popular I decided to give it a try. I had heard how great it was for your nails, protecting your natural nails, and no use of acrylic. So the shape of my nails was the ACTUAL shape of my nails! So, I had my acrylics taken off, and replaced with gel. No chipping, longer wear time, healthy for your nails, is what they claimed. Who wouldn't want that? I soon came to realize because my nails were so brittle and peeling to begin with, the gel did not work well with me. After just a week I had peeling and chipping. What a rip off? So I decided that I needed to remove the gel and get my natural nails healthy. 

What I quickly found out was that removing gel polish is NOT an easy or painless process... After long hours of soaking and peeling and scrubbing I finally got off all of the gel. I soon would realize the horror of this product. My nails were shot. Peeling, breaking, aching, throbbing, thin, brittle nails is what I was left with, worse than my nails were after getting my acrylics taken off. 

I then decided that this was the time I needed to make my natural nails healthy. So after a few years of clear coats, and buffing, and maintenance my nails were in a decent state. Sill peeling, still quite brittle but I could work with it.

I've found the perfect combination of products to recreate that beautiful gel nail look, without ruining your nails. This regimen actually HELPS your nails! Now, the wear time is not as long as gel nails, but with a sacrifice of doing my nails ever week and a half my nails are healthy, and I get complimented on how great they look.

I get asked constantly if my nails are gel, or if they are my real nails! 

Here are the products I use to create the illusion of gel nails...

 I always start with the Instant Artificial as my base coat. One layer, and let it completely dry before moving on. I get this a Sally's Beauty Supply!! It's very affordable!

Next I move onto my Revlon Colorstay Polish. This is the BEST polish I've ever used and will never use another brand. It is amazing on its own or in combination with these other products! I only use 1 coat of this because the pigmentation is so great!

Next is my Seche Vite top coat! This is amazing stuff! Gives your nails that "Gel Polish" shine, and it is quick drying!!

 

   

Current Skin Care 2015

Since it is the new year, I decided my skin was going to be one of my resolutions. Getting great skin takes time, as well as trial and error with products! So here are the things I am currently trying out this new year for my skin! 

 So here are all of the products I use on my face, morning and night! I used to use different products in the morning, and at night, but found that was not working for my skin. So I decided to give my skin some consistency and get a routine! 

First of all I want to talk about my cleansers, and spot treatment from the drugstore. These are the only products I use that are NOT high end, and I'll tell you why!

So to start, you DON'T have to spend a fortune on your cleansers and makeup removers! A cleanser is on your face for a total of what, ten seconds? So why spend a bunch of money on something that has no lasting effect on your skin? You just want to make sure that the cleanser you are using is removing all of your makeup, or anything that is on your skin throughout the day. I am enjoying this particular cleanser because it is exfoliating! I have very dry skin in the winter time, and I find that if I use a cleanser that is just cream, it doesn't remove that little excess dry skin. Some of you may not want to use an exfoliating cleanser every day, but for my skin, it just works!!

Also, if you are finding that an exfoliating cleanser just isn't quite doing the job, use a sugar and coconut oil mixture once a week to really buff all that dry skin away! I love using this combo when I'm feeling EXTRA SCALY! LOL

Secondly, the Clean&Clear Spot Treatment is a favorite of many, because it simply WORKS! But if you have Cystic Acne like me, this WILL NOT HELP! I only apply this to small pimples that I get, that are not cystic. If you need to know more about why this does not work for cystic acne, you can research the causes and treatment of cystic acne. But this product works great for the average pimple!!

 

My Second cleanser I use is COCONUT OIL! Believe it or not, this is the best cleanser I have ever used, and it completely removes ALL OF MY MAKEUP! I just put a small amount in my hands, emulsify it, and start massaging it on to my DRY face. Using circular motions until all my makeup starts to break down, even my EYE MAKEUP! After you've massaged your skin for a while, lay a HOT cloth over your face to really pull the oil out of your skin, then simply wipe it all away!! This leaves your face clean, makeup-free, AND moisturized!! This is a great way to get all the jobs done in one, if you are a little lazy, or just don't have time for a full skincare routine! 

Now, we all know that just using good skin care is not going to magically make your skin amazing. It all starts with what you put INSIDE your body on the daily! So, always keeping a water bottle with you is such a great thing for your skin! Keeping hydrated will not only improve the look of your skin, but also helps with anti-aging! 

Also, taking a multivitamin, or Vitamin A! This is so important, and a great habit to get into!I take Vitamin A every morning with a glass of water!

 

 After cleansing your face comes the very important part. Now is the time to really replenish your skin with GOOD THINGS! This is where I like to spend a little more money, and get things that will really help my skin..

To start I have been using the Origins Balancing Tonic Toner! I just put a little bit onto a cotton round, and swipe all over my face. This toner helps balance the pH levels in your skin, fixes any pigmentation issues or acne spots, as well as helps moisturize the skin. This particular toner has NO ALCOHOL which is ideal for my skin, since I already have dry skin. Alcohol toners really strip the skin of all the natural oils, which is good for those who have very oily skin, but for me it just dries my skin out.

Second, is my Moisturizer. This is the Energy Boosting Moisturizer from Origins. I have just recently started using this product, but I am LOVING it so far. The smell is amazing, and it really locks in the moisture in my skin!

SIDE TIP: Another way to give your skin some moisture is a Humidifier while you're sleeping! This balances the moisture levels in the air, leaving your skin plump and refreshed when you wake up!! 

Now onto any Serums. I am currently using this Murad Pigment Lightening Serum Sample I received from Sephora. And I'm LOVING it so far! The full size is very expensive but if you have any pigmentation issues, or old acne scarring, this is for you! I've only been using it for 4 days and have already seen a difference! I will absolutely be purchasing the full size when I run out of the sample!

And lastly, about once every 2 weeks I like to use a facial mask. If I feel I need something very intense I use this Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay. This stuff is amazing at really pulling everything out of your skin, and refreshing it. But if I am feeling good about my skin, I love to use the individual masks you can get from the drugstore or ULTA. They give my skin a nice feel, and it's like a mini spa day! :)

What are your skin care secrets??

 

2014 Makeup Favorites

Here are some of my top 2014 makeup favorites! I've been loving these products and I know I will carry them into 2015!

Urban Decay Naked2 Basics - This has been SUCH an amazing pallet so far! I own the Naked 2, and the Naked Basics pallets and use them every day, and this definitely joined them. I've found myself using all three pallets daily!! Urban Decay shadows are by far my favorite, and I would HIGHLY recommend this one to you, plus its less than $30! 

Mac Matte Lipstick Smoked Purple - This lipstick is ESSENTIAL for the colder months. I love a matte lip, but sometimes they can be very drying during the winter months. This particular formula is AMAZING. I don't find it uncomfortable to wear, and you can really change the color with how much you apply. It ranges from a grey/nude purple if you only dab it on your concealed lips, to a very deep smoky purple when you build it up. The pigmentation is amazing, and definitely worth every penny!

BareMinerals Original Foundation(Medium Tan) - I LOVE using this for my contour/bronzing! During the summer time when I am self tanned, this is the color I use all over my face for foundation, but since I am extremely pale in the winter this is my perfect shade for contour/bronzing! I highly recommend using a color you know works for you when you are tan to contour with, this will help make your contour look more natural! 

Mac Mineralized Skin Finish(Soft & Gentle) - This is the PERFECT glowy highlight. I love using it on the tops of my cheekbones, my cupids bow, down the center of my nose and my chin, to give the perfect healthy glow! It's not too overpowering or glittery, but gives your skin a healthy glow during the winter! During this time of year my skin get very dry, so I need something to put some life back in my skin and make it appear supple and bright!

Mac Pro Longwear Concealer(NC15) - This is the perfect under eye concealer! If you have a problem with dark circles or just want a flawless/highlighted under eye, this is the product for you! It blends flawlessly, and after being set with a loose powder, will last all day!

Anastasia of Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade(Dark Brown) - Now, I know everyone went crazy over the Brow Wiz, but I personally like the control I have when using an angled brush rather than a pencil. If you are having trouble getting a precise line with a pencil definitely give this a try! Using an angled brush makes it easy to get a precise line with out having to go over it a hundred times. This is definitely for those who love statement brows!

Mac Paint Pot(Painterly) - I've been using this for YEARS, and have never found a better eye shadow base/primer. This is perfect if you have some discoloration in your eye lids, or just want your eye shadow to last longer without creasing!

Morphe Eyeshadow Brushes - These brushes have came as such a surprise to me! They are extremely affordable, but AMAZING quality. YouTube beauty guru Jaclyn Hill has paired with Morphe and has talked a lot about these brushes and eyeshadow so I decided to give it a try! They are absolutely amazing. If you are looking to save a little money here is a coupon code for the Morphe Website! Just use the code "JACATTACK" at checkout!

How To: Fix Fake Tan Oopsies!

We've all committed the dreaded "Fake Tan Mess Ups" but don't worry! There is a solution to each problem!

Fake tanning is an art, and something that you WILL NOT get right the first time.

Everyone's skin is different, so tanning products will react differently with your skin type. 

You just have to search until you find the right tanning product for you!

Here are some of my tips to fix your fake tan mistakes!

Fake Tan Mistake #1: The dreaded "I tan my arms but not my hands" Palm Line!

This is by far one of the worst fake tan mistakes! It screams "YES I FAKE TAN!" You want your tan to look natural, not like you just dipped your arm into a can of orange paint.

Solution:

BLEND BLEND BLEND! 

Take it easy when applying self tanner around your wrists, make sure you aren't spraying directly onto your wrist. Just blend from the middle of your arm down to your wrist. This will ensure an even gradual transition. 

Also, please tan the TOP of your hands! It's the WORST when you have really tan arms but your hands are white as a ghost! 

 A lot of people are afraid of tanning their hands because they don't want to get the "Weird Orange Knuckles" 

Solution:

Spray some self tanner on a cotton ball and blend it into your hands, starting at the wrist and moving outwards towards the fingers. Also, you SHOULD have a line where your tan STOPS along where the thumb connects to your wrist. Just make sure it is a blended line! Please don't tan your palms!! :)   

Fake Tan Mistake #2: The Patchy/Flaky Tan

This is another tanning mistake that is very common. This happens for a few different reasons. 

1. You didn't moisturize prior to applying your tan.

2. You didn't moisturize the day AFTER you applied your tan.

3. You didn't exfoliate/shave immediately before applying your tan.

4. You went into a chlorinated Pool/HotTub, or sat in water too long. 

Solution:

If this happens to you, well, there's no salvaging it. Start over. I recommend using a sugar scrub or a coffee scrub as well as a luffa sponge to remove the tanner COMPLETELY!

Make sure you exfoliate/shave/moisturize before you apply your self tanner. Also make sure the next day, after your tanner has set for recommended amount of time, you rinse off in the shower(NO SOAP OR LUFFA!!) And Moisturize your skin IMMEDIATELY after you get out. Also, when you are drying off, make sure you are using PATTING motions, not rubbing! Rubbing will remove your tan because your skin is wet!

DO NOT try to apply more self tanner over the top to "cover it up" You will have an even bigger disaster!

Fake Tan Mistake #3: The Fake Tan Mustache

 

This is really horrible, and TOTALLY avoidable! A lot of girls tan their face, and that's great if you don't wear makeup ontop. Obviously you want your face to match the rest of your body. BUT, you take the risk of committing this terrible mistake. Fake Tan comes off easily, its temporary! If your face is oily/sweaty/full of makeup, your self tanner WILL COME OFF PATCHY! 

Solution:

Don't tan your face! If you are scared of getting the fake tan stache, buy a foundation that matches your skin when it is tan, as well as a shade that matches when you are not tan. 

That way, as your tan fades you can start to mix the two shades and match your body at any shade! GENIOUS! 

Here are some links to some of my previous posts that will help your Tanning Journey!!

My Tanning Routine: Using Million Dollar Tan 

My Foundation Routine: Mixing Foundation Shades

My DIY Coffee Scrub: Exfoliating   

My Shaving/Exfoliating Routine: For Summer

     Happy Tanning!

Shaving: You're doing it WRONG!

So, obviously we all shave (hopefully) and we all have a pretty similar way of doing it. Put shaving cream on, shave it off. But there are a few things a lot of women don't do in order to get the best shave possible! If you're just putting on Schick Skintimate shave cream and Bic shaving it off, you're probably NOT getting the best shave and there are a ton of things your missing out on!

First thing: Get rid of that nasty shave cream! 

Reason 1. Yes they are cute and smell delicious but, they clog your razor, so you're not getting the closest shave you could be getting.

Reason 2. It DOES NOT moisturize your skin well enough. Wonder why you get razor bumps or dry irritated patches after shaving? It could be because of your shaving cream.

Reason 3. Store bought shave cream has a TON of chemicals in it. When you're shaving your skin you are allowing all those chemicals to have easy access into your skin. (Hence Reason 2)

Here's a list of the ingredients in Skintimate Shave Cream:

Water, Palmitic Acid, Triethanolamine, Laureth-23, Propane, Isobutane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Mineral Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Fragrance, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmitate, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Red 40, Yellow 10.  

Second Thing:  Throw away those cheap razors and buy a mans razor!

For years I have used the Schick Intuition Razor. I always loved it for the first few weeks but after that it got very dull and wasn't giving me the same results. But of course I continued to use the same razor head because the refills for the Schick Intuition is $16.99 sometimes more. Which is ridiculous. So one day I used a Gillette Razor my boyfriend didn't use, and it works AMAZING! Obviously men have courser hair than women so men's razors are designed to give a closer shave and tackle tough hair! 

Third thing: Exfoliate FIRST!

This is the step that most women DO NOT do, but it is the most important! Exfoliating your legs BEFORE you shave is the key to long lasting, smooth legs. By exfoliating the dead skin off your legs before you shave ensures that your razor is only having to shave through HAIR not dead skin. Dead skin acts as a barrier, and prevents you from getting a close shave. I recommend a Sugar scrub or a Coffee Scrub pre-shave. Although it does feel funny exfoliating hairy legs, it will make a world of difference!  

Click Here to see how to make a DIY Coffee Scrub!!

Fourth Thing: Use Coconut oil!!

Using coconut oil as your "shave cream" is AMAZING!

1. There are no harsh chemicals - Using coconut oil will prevent you from getting any weird rashes, bumps, or clogged pores!

2. It's water repellant so it won't wash off before you get to shave!! -  I always felt like I was wasting so much shaving cream because I would put it all over my legs but when I got half way though shaving the shower had washed most of it off!

3. It moisturizes your skin. - So after you get out of the shower you don't have to apply a moisturizer! 

4. It's WAY cheaper than buying expensive shaving cream every other week! - Those little bottles of shaving cream always seemed to go way too fast! (Or I was just using too much)

   Hopefully these little tips will make your legs smooth as a baby's butt! 

Happy Shaving:)

 

DIY: Coffee Scrub

So, I was quite the skeptic about these coffee scrubs, because I thought, what was the difference between a sugar scrub and a coffee scrub? They both seem like they would exfoliate but I had never used a homemade scrub all over my body.. I preferred the Victoria's Secret Body Scrubs but I recently ran out so I decided to try this out!

I've heard SOO much about the FRANK Coffee Scrub, but I would NEVER pay money for something I could make right at home. Especially since I drink coffee everyday, so I always have grounds to use!

I did some research and decided on the ingredients I wanted to use! This is a great recipe because you SHOULD have all of these ingredients in your kitchen already! 

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 Cup - Coffee Grounds

1/4 Cup - Coconut Oil

2 Teaspoons - Cinnamon (optional)

1 -  Steeped Green Tea Bag (optional)

In a resealable container (I use Old Candle Jars for everything) add in Coffee Grounds, Cinnamon, and Green Tea. (I just cut open the tea bag and scraped the leaves out) Mix ingredients together, then slowly start to add in melted coconut oil. Add small amounts at a time, you may not need the full amount. It is purely personal preference. I don't like mine to have a lot of oil in it.

Make sure it is completely mixed together, and set aside to set up, or use right away!

USE:

Rub hard in circular motions over desired areas. Preferably areas that are rough or have cellulite. Then rinse with cool water!

WARNING! This will make a mess in your shower, but it is easily cleaned! 

  

TIPS:

• Do not use before self tanning! The coconut oil does sit on your skin after you wash it off, so it will not allow your self tanner to apply correctly! If you do wish to use this as a scrub before Self Tanning, either make a batch WITHOUT coconut oil, OR use a luffa to scrub your skin clean of any excess oil before getting out the the shower!
• I LOVE the way this makes my face feel, but be very careful using this on your face. If you have sensitive skin only use ONCE a week! This is very abrasive and could possibly damage delicate skin if overused. 

Happy Scrubbing!! <3

 

Brow Routine!

Brows are so important and can completely change ANY look! Even if you're not wearing any makeup at all, filling in your brows can make you look so much more put together!

Steps:

1. COMB YOUR BROWS!!! Please, please please! Always comb through your brows before you start filling them in. Use a spooly brush and get your hairs where you want them! Also using some brow wax is a great way to keep your hairs in place!

2. I always start by underlining my brow. Getting the bottom line precise and set is essential in getting a good brow!

3. Fill in the "tail" or the very end of your brow. This part should be slightly darker than the front of your brows, in order to make them look more natural!

4. Using small strokes use the left over product on your brush to fill in the front of your brows, using upward flicks in the very front! 

5. After you're finished filling in your brows, make sure to comb them again! Just to ensure all is blended and looks natural! 

TIP: If you think you messed up or want more definition, use some concealer to carve out the end tail of your brows! 

      I absolutely LOVE this brow mousse by Tarte. I've been using this for a few years now and I love it! I also use the angled brush that comes with it! :)

Hope you enjoyed today's post!

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Foundation routine for the "Masked" girls!

I recently started Dental Assisting school and I found that my regular liquid foundation was NOT working well with wearing a mask all day. Every time I changed my mask there was makeup all over the inside, and my chin and cheeks were left with smeared/blotchy makeup. This was really bothering me so I decided I needed to try something else!

I used to use Bare Minerals foundation when I first started wearing makeup at 13 years old, but I slowly quit using it over the years and started trying new things. 

I decided to give it a go, one more time, because my mother uses this foundation and told me how long wearing and transfer resistant it was. 

  I use self tanner, so my body is much darker than my face, so I use a combination of shades. When I am fully self-tanned I use the shade "Medium-Tan(c30)" and when I am my natural pasty white I use the shade "Fair(C10)" and as my tan fades throughout the week I mix the two together to create a custom shade to match my body!

 On days where my foundation is a little bit lighter I will add some bronzer to my face to warm up my complexion as well as contour. I love using the "Benefit Hoola" And on days that I am pretty dark I love using a peachy blush to give my face some color! I love the elf Blush in "peechy keen"

 Here's the most important part!!! A setting spray is ESSENTIAL if you want to make your makeup last all day. I love the Urban Decay setting sprays! Since we are using a powder foundation this also helps the powder settle and not look like you have a bunch of powder on your face. Thus, making it look much more natural!!

I usually pair this foundation look with a really simple eye, usually just a shimmery shadow and lots of mascara! Perfect for everyday work makeup! 

I HIGHLY recommend this foundation routine to anyone who has to wear a face mask all day! It stays in place and doesn't rub off on things that touch it!

This is my typical work/school makeup! <3

Hope you enjoyed today's post!

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