How To: Blending colors *Blue Smokey Eye*

I have had a lot of requests for this, so until I can get around to a video tutorial (which btw, has poor quality so you can't really see any detail), I thought id also post a picture tutorial on how to blend eyeshadows, the same goes for pigments and everything else.

When blending, tools are important, but skill is the key to mastering the art of blending, I know it sounds cheesy, but seriously, it's either you can or you can't. It's definitely something that takes time and practice for those of you who are makeup newbies.So Just keep at it ladies, and you'll be the Queens of Blending in no time!

I also get questions on what kinds of brushes or tools I use to achieve blending, as well as other brushes I use and for what purpose, I posted a post named Brushes and Uses. It includes detailed pictures and description of the brushes as well as its purpose, so definitely check it out

My Holy Grail Brush: The fluffy blending brush, MAC equivalent is the #217 brush. Any fat fluffy brush will do!Left: Sonia Kushuk Blending Brush $3.99 (Target) on the Right: Sephora Crease Blending Brush ($16, Sephora.com)

ON WITH THE TUTORIAL!!

What I used:

- UDPP Primer Potion

- MUFE Flash Color Pot in "White" all over lid- MAC "Vanilla" pigment all over the lid and highlight

- MAC eyeshadow in "Electric Eel"- Milani eyeshadow in "Blue Ice"

- Sephora Blending Brush

- Sponge-tipped applicator

STEP 1: Apply your eye primer of choice (UDPP, Paint Pot, etc.), using an eye primer makes your eyeshadow(s) more vibrant and it lasts longer!STEP 2: (optional) I used MUFE Flash Color in White as an all over base color.

STEP 3: I then took MAC's Vanilla pigment and with my crease brush, took a little pigment from the jar cap and applied it all over my lid, concentrating more of the pigment on the highlight area.

STEP 4: Using your brush or sponge-tipped applicator (I love the control and vibrancy sponge-tipped applicators give), apply your light colored eyeshadow first on your lid, in this case MAC's e/s in "Electric Eel". ***Remember blending is similar to the gradient effect where it's light to dark.

STEP 5: Then apply the next color, in this tutorial I chose Milani e/s in "Blue Ice", and apply it on your outer-V, crease, and contour or wherever you'd like.This is how it will look like BEFORE blending:BLEND BOTH colors together...apply more eyeshadow if needed in case you blend too much that it lightens the color, including highlighting color.

STEP 6: Line your lower lashline and apply eyeliner and mascara (optional). I DID NOT use eyeliner in this tutorial to show more detail.And this is how it looks like

How to: Natural make up look

Every now and then I get messages from people who comment on my use of bold colors, and many of you are scared to try looks with COLOR, most of you haven't taken that plunge of going "outside the box", except Bionic Beauty who took her first steps into color and got some purple eyeshadows! But it's fun and it's amazing what you can do. So I know a lot of you think that all my looks are always dramatic and involve colors or bright colors, but truth is, I love sporting the natural look on what I like to call "lazy days", where you still wanna look hot but without all the effort!The only reason I show a wide range of looks here is so that you gals can just see all the different color combinations you can do, all the different looks, and really just breaking that box of always being either neutral or black. So for the gals that are still scared to try color, I have done another natural look for you! Enjoy!

What I used: (sorry I don't have a picture of all the items)

EYES

- Revlon's "White Whisper"

- MAC Paint Pot in "Painterly"

- MAC Eyeshadow in "Tectonic"

- MAC Palette Neutrals and Browns (Patina,

Bisque, Mulch)

- Milani Eyeshadow in "Snow Frost" and "Java Bean"

- ULTA eyeshadow in "Lustre" as the highlight

- Indelible Gel Eyeliner in Black Out- L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara

- MAC Studio Fix Concealer in NC30FACE:

- Everyday Minerals Sandy Glo mixed with KT Naturals Medium Warm Beige

- Luminous Blush

LIPS:

- MAC Lipstick "Sparks can fly"

- Sephora Lip Liner #206

- MAC 3D Lipglass in "Lightswitch"

Step 1: I applied MAC Paint Pot in Painterly as my eyelid base, then applied Revlon's White Whisper Eyeshadow all over the entire lid, and topped it off with MAC's Tectonic just above the crease.MAC's "Tectonic"

Step 2: Then using a small eyeshadow brush or an angled brush, take a dark brown or medium brown eyeshafow, I used a mixture of PATINA, MULCH and JAVA BEAN and applied it to the outer V, to almost the middle of my lid then outlined the top (like a ranbow) to the inner corner of my eyelid.

Step 3: Highlight the brow bone with a light color, it can be matte or shimmery whichever you prefer, I chose Lustre because it's super pretty!Almost done...

Step 4: I then lined my eyes, DO NOT line the bottom, if you like you can put a neutral eyeshadow on your lower lash line, but adding eyeliner at the bottom makes this look dramatic. And now it's time for the concealer; use an eye cream or a moisturizer before applying concealer so that the concealer has something to "hold onto" then using a concealer brush, apply your concealer in dot and dab form under your eyes, be sure to dab only as brushing it will take away the color, and just dab till the entire area is concealed. Then apply a powder on top of that for it to 'set'. (not shown)Step 5: Apply your foundation, blush and Lips with "Sparks can Fly"

Ta-Da!

Multitasking Beauty Superheroes

Everyone already knows that conditioner can double as shaving cream (another tip: mix with water in a spray bottle to keep crazy beach hair in check). Here are five more multitasking miracles that do everything from taming cowlicks to banishing nasty odors. What are your favorite beauty multitaskers?

1. Anastasia Brow Gel. I cannot live without this! Beauty experts have proclaimed clear mascara as the brow tamer of choice for years, but Anastasia Brow Gel has that weak stuff beat by a mile. It's stiff enough that it keeps your brows in place all day, but not so much as to make them crunchy. Its other use? As a flyaway/cowlick tamer. My morning hair routine always ends with a light swipe of the Brow Gel along my part and at my forehead, to keep my long bangs perfectly sideswept.

2. NARS Multiple in Copacabana. I talk about this stuff all the time, but if I haven't drummed it into your head yet that it's the BEST, here goes another try. This creamy silvery-beige stick works as a highlighter on cheekbones, browbones, inner corners of eyes, and upper lip, as well as an incredible body highlighter (shoulders, collarbones and legs). You can even smush some into your favorite body butter to add just a hint of an allover glow. And try dabbing on lips, too, to lighten up and add shimmer to any of your favorite lip products.

3. Antiperspirant. Let's be clear: we're talking about solids here, not gels. A solid antiperspirant can work wonders to eliminate shoe friction from heels and straps, not to mention helping to keep your feet nice and dry. And it's fabulous for keeping bikini irritation and razor burn at bay.

4. Hand Sanitizer. (First of all, make sure yours works by using alcohol; stay away from sanitizers with triclosan, which may contribute to the development of superbugs, and has some potential safety issues.) I use hand sanitizer for everything - for its intended purpose, of course, for an allover body refresher (it's particularly good for eliminating "beach hands" and "beach feet," that weird, not-exactly-sand residue you feel after a day at the beach), as a top-up for antiperspirant, and most interestingly, as a bad odor blocker. I've been guilty of rubbing a dab of hand sanitizer just inside my nostrils when confronted with an offending aroma on the subway. It's like Vicks Vaporub for stinky environments - I swear it works!

5. A classic moisturizer. Refer back to last month's Five for Friday post for an in-depth discussion of the five most quoted moisturizers that answer the question, "What's the one thing in your beauty arsenal that does EVERYTHING?" Everyone has a favorite - what's yours?

Dressing for your Body Type

Accentuate the parts you want people to see first. If you’re a pear-shaped body type, wear tighter, fitted tops. Hourglass-shaped bodies have popular curves, so contoured pants and tops will show this off.

Minimize the attention given to the parts you don’t want to emphasize. If you’re pear-shaped, reduce the visibility of your hips with loose fabrics. Round women should show off their legs with shorter skirts.

Employ optical illusions in your wardrobe. Don’t wear a light color over a part of your body you’re insecure about. Using horizontal stripes will make you look wider, while vertical stripes, depending on the thickness and width between them, can make you look thinner.

Tailor your clothes to fit you better. If you don’t have the sewing ability to do this yourself, consult a tailor. This can be much less expensive than buying a whole new wardrobe. For example, diamond-shaped women would do well to let out the bottom hem of a jacket to make sure it doesn’t stretch over your midsection.

How to Bannish Bad Breath

Don't let your tongue become a dirty carpet.

According to WebMD, bad breath often strikes when people aren't properly taking care of their oral health. The odor is usually caused by decaying food particles and bacteria in your mouth. That's why brushing and flossing your teeth is so important, but don't forget to gently brush your tongue to get rid of even more bacteria.

Here are some ways to prevent bad breath:

A clean tongue goes a long way. According to Stephen Z. Wolner, a dentist in private practice in New York City. "Your tongue microscopically is like a shaggy carpet. There are millions of filaments on your tongue that trap tiny food particles and bacteria," he says. Get in the habit of regularly cleaning your tongue using a toothbrush, the edge of a spoon, or a tongue cleaner. If you have any mouth guards or oral devices, make sure to clean them thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth.

Mouthwash isn't a bad idea, but it's only a temporary fix. Granted, a little mouthwash comes in handy before a romantic dinner for two, but it masks the odor instead of tackling the source of your problem.

Chew gum like it's going out of style. Believe it or not, saliva is your best weapon against bad breath. That's why dry mouth, often caused by certain medications or medical conditions, leads to odor problems. By washing away food particles and bacteria, saliva helps to eliminate odor, too. Mints, on the other hand, don't usually stimulate saliva production and only temporarily mask bad odor.When you chew gum it makes you salivate, and the more saliva you have in your mouth the fewer bacteria you have. It not only mechanically washes bacteria out, but we have antiseptic and enzymes in our saliva that kill bacteria.Chew gum with xylitol. While anything that makes you salivate will improve your breath, a gum that is sweetened with xylitol is your best option. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that not only increases salvation but also works to prevent bacteria from replicating in the mouth.

Choose cinnamon -- it's sweeter. A recent study of the cinnamon-flavored gum Big Red found that cinnamon might have breath-odor fighting abilities. Unlike other flavors, cinnamon is not just a cover-up, Wolner tells WebMD. In fact, he says, an ingredient in the flavoring appears to actually decrease the bacteria in your mouth. The only problem is that sugar gums are bad for your teeth, so stick to sugarless cinnamon-flavored gum instead, like Stride Gum's cinnamon.

Drink more water. The older you get the more likely you are to get dehydrated. You might not even notice you're thirsty, so make drinking water a habit, because water will help keep the bacteria in your mouth to a minimum. Drinking water has a lot of health benefits, and preventing bad breath is one of them.

Rule out rare causes for bad breath. While most bad breath can be banished with simple hygienic steps, there are times when dental or medical conditions might be the culprit. Make an appointment with your dentist if an unsavory odor takes residence in your mouth. On rare occasions bad breath can signal a larger problem, including infection, and even kidney or liver failure, you should also visit a doctor if your dentist doesn't find a cause for your bad breath problem.

Have a slice of bread. If you're on one of the many popular low-carb diets, remember that bad breath or "ketone breath" is a potential side effect when you always have that burger sans bun. Whole grain bread is the best choice. You can try different methods of masking the odor, such as gum or tart candies, but adding a few carbs to your daily diet might also do the trick.

best jeans for your booty

Have you ever noticed that some jeans just look awesome on your butt? To follow-up on my previous post, finding the right jeans for your body type, here is a quicker guide to find jeans that specifically accentuate your butt the right way.

Best Jeans for a Flat / Little Butt The problem with jeans and flat butts is that they aren't really compatible together. Denim is a stiff material. When a flat butt is stuffed into denim jeans, the butt looks even flatter because the denim will squish and flatten your butt even more. But a flat butt can still look good in jeans. Find a pair of jeans made from lightweight denim. The best jeans for flat butts will also contain some spandex or other stretchy material to lessen the chances of your butt going flatter.

Try to get jeans with some sort of design on the back pockets to add the illusion of more being there. Any sort of design on the backside of your jeans will make your butt look better. Look for lots of contrast stitching, flap pockets, or other design elements. If you have a flat butt, avoid jeans without pockets or jeans made of heavy denim.

Best Jeans for a Saggy Butt

To help make your butt look more firm and toned, here a few to tips to find the best jeans. Try skinny leg or straight leg jeans if you have a saggy butt. This makes your legs appear longer, so your butt seems higher and firmer. The best jeans for a saggy butt will have pockets. If you can find jeans with pockets that are placed higher than normal or with angled pockets, these are the very best jeans to enhance a saggy butt.

Best Jeans for a Big ButtJeans that give a little, such as jeans that have spandex, help make big butts fit better in jeans. The best jeans for a big butt are boot cut jeans. Avoid wearing jeans with widely spaced pockets. The wide apart pockets could make your butt appear too wide.If you feel that your butt appears too big, the best jeans for your butt will not have heavy decorations or stitching on the back side. Don't wear jeans with flap pockets or button pockets. Try wearing jeans with small, angled pockets.

Buff your nails without going to the nail salon

Step 1: You will need the following things:
- An emery board
- A nail buffer with at least 3 grades
- Hand and Nail Moisturizer
- Nail Clippers or Nail Scissors

Step 2: Before you start you must wash your hands thoroughly. Never buff your nails after a shower as your nails will be too soft and you could risk damaging your nail if you do buff it.

Step 3: Cut your nail to the length that you desire.

Step 4: Use the emery board to detail the shape of your nail.

*FYI: Buffing is the natural alternative to polishing your nails. If you are going to polish them you should not buff them as the polish would not hold as well. The three grades on the buffers are made to carry out different tasks. The course side of the buffer is used to remove any ridges on the nail, The second grade is used to give the nail a met finish and the last and finest grade is used to give it a good shine.

Step 5: Buff the ridges out. Be sure to do it not over do it, 3-4 strokes with the buffer should be more than sufficient. You should not buff the ridge more than once a month. Alternatively you can use ridge fillers which when applied will fill in the ridges and accomplish the same thing.

Step 6: Use the second grade of buffer to give your nails the met shine which is indicative of how well you nail will look when you give it a gleaming shine later.

Step 7: Use the finest grade of buffer to bring out the gleaming shine on your nail. You can use this grade of buffer every week to bring out the shine again.

Step 8: Clean your hands again and remove any filings or dirt that might have accumulated while you were doing the treatment. After washing and drying your hands completely, you should use the hand and nail moisturizer to keep your hand smooth.
Done!

Choosing Your Perfect shade of Blush

Personally I prefer NARS Orgasm Blush.I never get tired of it. It gives you a natural glow, and carries you throughout the year as your skin changes. However, it might not work for everyone.

Here is how to choose the right shade of blush for you:

STEP 1: Consider blush colors that match the color of your cheeks after an aerobic workout. Such shades mimic your natural coloring and help you avoid having cheeks that look painted or artificial.STEP 2: Head to a department store and have a makeup artist assist you in finding a complementary shade. I am bias to thinking that the women behind the Chanel counter are more knowledgeable. Ask their opinion, they usually make great suggestions. If you can't afford Chanel, see what shade they recommend, and buy the closest color to that shade in a more economical brand.

STEP 3: Remember, the darker your skin tone, the darker your blush should be. Women with fair complexions usually look best in pink or coral shades, while darker complexions are enhanced by wine or burgundy hues.STEP 4: Keep daytime blush light in tone. Opt for a heavier application to create a more dramatic evening look.STEP 5: Match the undertones in your lipstick to the color of your blush. If your lips are red, opt for a pink or reddish cheek color. For pink or rose-colored lips, opt for similar hues in your blush color

Secret to Awesome Eyelashes

1. You need the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler.
2. Take your Shu and warm it up for 5 seconds by blowing your hair dryer on it.
3. Test to make sure it's not too hot by touching it to the back of your hand. If it's too hot for your hand, wait a few seconds.
4. Begin by tilting your head up and inserting lashes into the curler as close to the base as possible; press for a few seconds. Always BEFORE you put the mascara on.
5. Be careful not to do it too tight, otherwise you will get a crimp not a curl.
6. Apply mascara!

Make your eye color POP!

Every time I step into any cosmetic store I get lured in by all the interesting colored eyeshadow. I always find myself buying some obscure color that I thought would look awesome on me, but never does.

Based on your eye color, certain shades will look better on you than others. Here are some basic guidelines to follow:

FOR BLUE EYES

Tried and True: taupe, gray, violet, purple, deep blue (a darker shade than your eye color makes your eyes really blue), black (mix it with bright blue for a smoky effect)

Trendy Favorites: silver, turquoise, fuschia (brightens any shade of blue)

GREEN AND HAZEL EYES
Tried and True: brown, apricot, purple, plum, deep khaki or forest green (because they are in the same greenish family, they brighten green eyes)

Trendy Favorites: gold, glowing, lime-green, really light green, bright purple

FOR BLUE EYESTried and True: taupe, gray, violet, purple, deep blue (a darker shade than your eye color makes your eyes really blue), black (mix it with bright blue for a smoky effect)
Trendy Favorites: silver, turquoise, fuschia (brightens any shade of blue)

BROWN EYESTried and True: copper, bronze, champagne (soft pink with a touch of apricot), brown (for a doe-eyed look), beige, and khaki-green (lighter shades add highlight)

Trendy Favorites: tangerine, royal blue, hot pink, lime-green (the contrast adds punch to brown)

ALL EYES
Tried and True (Classic): navy or charcoal base to define and a powder-blue shadow for highlighting (it brightens your brow bone so any eye color pops)

Trendy Favorites: silver-sparkle shadow makes all eyes look edgy.

How to apply false lashes

**If you are looking for a dramatic look, fake eyelashes really do the trick.

****If you have a steady hand you can definitely pull it off without the help of a makeup artist by following these steps:

Step 1: Using tweezers, dip the base end of the lashes into the glue, then place the lashes as close to the baseline of your own as you can, filling in wherever you want the greatest impact (generally, the mid to outer lashes look fabulous in false lashes).

Step 2: Press gently, but firmly with something blunt. Hold the lash in place for about 5 seconds until the glue has a chance to hold.

Step 3: Let the glue dry, and then apply a dark eyeliner to camouflage the line of the fake lashes and then apply your mascara. The mascara will help blend your own lashes with the fake ones, and make your eyes look fuller and larger.Step 4: To remove, use the same makeup remover you would use to remove mascara. Then gently pull them off with tweezers

EXTRA TIPS:
The assortment of fake eyelashes are pretty good at drug stores like Wallgreens, CVS, etc.
You should practice before the event you plan to wear them for. Buy extra just in case you mess up the first time.
Never fall asleep with them on. If you rub your eyes while you sleep and by accident pull them out, you might pull out some real eyelashes too.