Bye Bye Acne (cont)

In my previous blog post, I explained what a skincare and makeup routine should look like if you are struggling with an acne problem. In this post I will be sharing some tips and tricks to help get rid of acne quicker and easier!

The first trick is to always clean in your pillowcase. When you sleep on your pillow every night, your oils from your faces are getting absorbed from your pillowcase so you need to be sure you can consistently clean it every week or so. This way your pillowcase won’t get any dirt or oils into your face, which can really help get rid of acne!

The next tip is to don’t touch your face a lot during the day. Your fingers and hands touch and do a lot of different things all day so make sure you keep the germs and bacteria on your hands away from your face! Of course, is might be impossible to never ever touch your face at some point, but just make sure you don’t do it constantly!

If you are currently suffering through an acne breakout, it may feel like the only solution is to just cover your face with foundation, but that’s not the case! Let your skin breathe and apply as little or no makeup whenever possible! I totally understand that sometimes it feel like you just have to put on foundation on because you might feel insecure, but sometimes covering it up can just look even worse. If you do breakout, just apply a little bit of foundation and concealer to get rid of the redness in your skin, you won’t be able to cover all the spots and eventually it’ll smear off, so the less the better! And once you are home or aren’t going to a social event, clean off your makeup immediately so your face can breathe and heal itself from the breakouts.

Acne breakouts happen to everyone, especially those going through their teen years. Just accept it and try your best to prevent it!

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Bye Bye Acne!

Acne sucks. One morning you wake up and you see a little red pimple in the middle of your face and you wonder what you did in your life to deserve this. But acne is just part of growing up. We all have it while going through puberty, and we all do every little thing we can to try and get rid of it. I, personally, really struggle with acne and blemishes and it wasn’t till sophomore year when my acne finally began settling down. After many different skincare products, mountains of concealer wasted trying to cover it up, I have found ways to quickly get rid of acne and how to conceal it if it appears!

First things first, make sure you buy a really good cleanser. If you have really bad acne, buy an acne cleanser. I recommend any of the acne cleansers sold at the drugstore; you don’t have to spend a ton of money on an acne cleanser as long as it says it has salicylic acid in the product. With the acne cleanser, I would also buy a deep cleansing face wash like the Shiseido one I always recommend. The deep cleansing cleanser can strip away the makeup and dirt from your face and then the acne cleanser can really focus on diminishing your acne and blackheads.

If you have a solid skincare routine set for get rid of your acne, its time to start concealing. Even on days when we use 500 different types of acne products, there is always a chance acne still pops up, its just because you’re a teenager and that’s okay! If I’m having a bad skin day, I will first use a medium base foundation to cover my smaller acne scars and blackheads. If I have bigger/redder pimples on my face I will then use a concealer to cover it. My favorite concealer is the Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer. This concealer covers absolutely everything! It has 4 different colors; a green tinted one for redness, a dark and a light concealer for your specific skin color, and a light powder to set everything. I swear by this concealer and promise that it can really cover every pimple imaginable. Because it’s such a heavy product, you have to be careful when using it. You can’t apply too much on because then it will be very cakey and will still look like you have an acne problem because you just tried to cover it up. A little goes a long way!

In my next post, I will explain little tricks to avoid acne, stay tuned!

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Store Review: Forever 21

As a teenager/young adult, you don’t carry a credit card around you all the time. Money can be a little tight and a minimum wage job just isn’t going to help you get those cute Steve Maddens you’ve been eyeing for a month. Thankfully, stores like Forever 21 understand the budget crunch of our age and realize that by providing cheap clothing items that are still hot in style.

Forever 21 is a store geared towards ages 14-26, give or take. They have a great selection of all different styles, preppy, punk, edgy, and girly and you can get quite overwhelmed in the big department store. The styles are usually still very fashion forward and many times you can find a mock of something that was seen on the runway. With that in mind, the pricing of all the items are very reasonable. Many times you can find a shirt for $10 and a jacket for $20 and that’s if it’s not on sale! I love to shop for jewelry at Forever 21 because it is super cheap and the quality isn’t bad either. The necklaces usually range from $8-15 at most, while other jewelry stores like Francesca’s and Charming Charlie’s usually range from $15-20. My only problem is that the rings are a bit on the cheap side, the gold covering the rings usually rust or turn bad, but it did only cost you $4! I would just make sure to only wear them every so often so it doesn’t rust as easily. I also love to shop at Forever 21 for nail polish. Yes, it doesn’t seem like Forever 21 should be known for their nail polish, but I think it’s one of their best products! The polishes are usually $2.50 (extremely cheap) and they come in a variety of different colors. The polish itself is very opaque and can stay on for about 4 days or so, depending on if you applied a top coat. For only $2.50, I think it’s so worth it!

As for Forever 21 clothing, I do think they sell very unique and wearable fashion items. I love to go there and look for something I have never seen sold before or something that looks like something extremely expensive, but doesn’t cost too much! But because of the cheap pricing, Forever 21 material is not as good as high quality stores like Express and Dry Goods. A shirt can only be worn 3 or 4 times before it looks old and some of their denim pants shrink easily. That’s why I only like to buy clothes from OFrever 21 that I know I won’t find anywhere else because if I buy something I wear consistently, I know it won’t be as new after a couple washes. But if you’re not a freak about this like I am, then Forever 21 is definitely your go to store! If you want to see their whole collection, check out their website here

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The Best Fake Lashes

Buying fake lashes can be a bit difficult because you never know what it will look like when it’s on your lashes. Also buying a good brand is vital because you don’t want to buy lashes that are just extremely uncomfortable to wear. After many trial and errors, I have tried all kinds of lashes and found the perfect ones for me. Here is some advice to buying the right lashes for you and making sure you feel comfortable in them as well!

If you want volume in your lashes, or want your lashes to look really dark, buy the lashes that have lots of darker hairs. My favorite lashes for mega volume is the Eyelure Volume Multi Pack. These lashes are dark and long so make your eyes really pop out. These lashes are the BEST for show choir makeup because they give that great dramatic look. But, because these lashes are so dramatic there are a bit heavy on the eyes and can be a bit uncomfortable. Make sure you don’t place the lash too close to the inner corner of your eye so it can be more comfortable for you!

For a more natural look, choose the lashes that have less hairs and thinner. My favorite natural lashes are the Ardell 109 lashes. These lashes can make your eyes open up in a very subtle way and if you want more drama to it, you can put on some mascara. These lashes are also very lightweight and feel like you aren’t even wear fake lashes. The hairline on the lashes is also flimsy and thin so it doesn’t look like you are wearing fake lashes, and of course, it makes it more comfortable.

Speaking of comfortable, the Ardell brand sells very comfortable lashes at a pretty cheap price! Brand name lashes like MAC sell lashes for like $20, but Ardell sells them for $5 and they honestly feel like the same! The Ardell brand makes very natural lashes that can be worn throughout the day and since the hairline of the fake lash is so thin, it feels like you aren’t wearing fake lashes. If you are ever wondering what brand of lashes you want to buy, always go for Ardell!

Picking out the lash is extremely important, but buying good glue is also crucial. I recommend purchasing the DUO glue. This glue is great at keep the lashes on all day. I have never had a problem with a lash falling off using this glue. This glue also dries clear so if you put too much on, it won’t look like it when it dries!

Finding the right fake lashes can be hard, but experiment on yourself and see which one looks and feels the best for you!

Air Dried Hair/Beach Waves

Hair can be so frustrating. Some days you look like you just got out of the salon and some days you wonder what happened to make your hair look like a tornado just went through it. Many times, we spend hours on our hair curling, straightening, scrunching, and tying it into a different hairstyle totally changing what our natural hair looked like. While I do love curling and straightening my hair into a new style, it is very time consuming and can be very damaging. Lucky for us, a new hair trend has appeared in the New Year, air-dried hair/beach waves.

The name is exactly how it looks. The air-dried hair/beach waves are just your everyday natural wavy hair. Of course if you don’t have naturally wavy or curly hair, you might need to use some spray to get it wavier. But if you have naturally wavy hair like me, you can just let it air dry and you’ll look put together! For me, I just like to spritz some Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri Wheat Leave in Conditioner right after I shower and then just let it air dry for the night. The next morning I’ll have nice beachy waves and I didn’t even brush out my hair!

This hairstyle has been seen on many celebrities and even on the runway. A lot more people are appreciating that “just got out of bed” look and quite frankly, I am so grateful. Leaving my hair natural can really help heal itself and not damage it everyday from a curling iron or straightener. Some days, if I feel like my hair is not wavy enough, I will use some sea salt spray and give my hair a bit more curl and definition. My current favorite sea salt spray is the Toni and Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray. This spray can give my hair that slight curl and it makes my hair smell amazing!

Let your hair be free once in a while and just wear it natural! Don’t be worried if it looks not brushed or messy, that’s what makes it look good!

Golden Globes: Fashion Review

The Golden Globes were a big hit last Sunday and the celebrities who came made a huge fashion statement. There were several celebrities in my mind who really stood out from the rest, fashion wise. If you want to look at all the outfits from the Golden Globes, look here.

Lupita Nyong'o looked STUNNING in her Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown. Whenever you see her on the red carpet, you can always expect her looking elegant and sophisticated. She continued to wear her statement flowy, chiffon dresses at the Golden Globes. I loved the purple petal detailing at the chest area and the floral pattern that continued from her dress. While this dress could have easily been an extremely tacky looking outfit, Lupita pulled it off with grace and style. Her makeup and hair didn't overpower the outfit and complemented her beautiful gown.

Emma Stone already has a fiery personality, and her outfit at the Golden Globes made her look even fiercer. Her gold and black Lanvin jumpsuit accentuated her body and brought a sophisticated, edgy look to the red carpet. The gold beading on the top of the jumpsuit and the slight train at the side brought out the red carpet glam while the structured pant brought out the edgy playful side of her look. Her fiery red hair and the bold red lip completed the outfit. She was truly a girl on fire.

One of my favorite evening gowns tonight was Diane Kruger’s Emilia Wickstead gown. The mermaid style dress fit her in all the right places and the high neckline made her look 5 inches taller. I loved the old Hollywood glamour about this dress, yet the silver color of the gown made the look modern for today’s fashion. The texture of the gown was also very different than most gowns, it had a firmer, more structured texture that turned out beautifully in pictures. Diane complemented the gown with suttle makeup and old school Hollywood waves.

But of course, there were some fashion mishaps. Jemima Kirke’s crop top gown just didn’t look as stunning as the other gowns. I liked how she wore a crop top and jumped into the fashion trend, but her crop top had some sort of cape at the back of it? The outfit certainly did not flatter her body and it wasn't fitted quite right. Keira Knightley also didn’t make a big mark in my fashion book. Her floral maxi dress kind of looked like it was something you put on a Barbie doll. It didn't look red carpet fashion. The lace detail at the top of her dress and the bottom look liked it was made out of curtains, yes curtains. I feel with some minor adjustments, it could definitely look like a cute sundress, but for the Golden Globes? Think again.

The Golden Globes were super fun to watch, and everyone looked beautiful. Congratulations to all the winners, it was quite a show to watch!

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Lights, Camera, Action!

Are you getting your pictures taken for senior pictures, head shots, or just for fun? Make sure you're makeup looks perfect and flawless! Putting on makeup for a photo shoot can be a bit different than day makeup and stage makeup because of the bright lights from the camera flash. If I ever do my makeup for a photo shoot, here are some guidelines I follow.

Always put on full coverage foundation. The camera catches all you're imperfections so make sure you're foundation make your skin looks smooth and concealed. I recommend using a primer beforehand to make sure the foundation has a smooth canvas to be applied on. After you apply your foundation, be sure to use a powder to matte your face down. You don't want oily skin in your pictures! If your want more of a dewy look in your pictures, I would recommend using a highlighter in the places you want brightened like your cheekbones and the top of your lips. This way you can still have dewy look without looking like you're sweating.

Blush is so so important for a photo shoot. Blush/bronzer can outline and enhance your face structure, which is so important because the bright lights and camera can really hide your facial structure. So be sure to enhance it with some blush and bronzer! If you're going for more of a lighter, daytime look, just apply some blush to look more fresh and flirty. If you're going for a dramatic look, apply bronzer in the hollow of your cheekbones for definition and a darker blush to blend with the bronzer.

For me, I will always where fake lashes for a photo shoot because my lashes are so short. Fake lashes can open you're eye wider and bring more depth in your eyes. I will go for more natural fake lashes so it doesn't look like I have fake lashes on in the pictures. If you want a more dramatic look to your pictures, go for the big crazy lashes! I always like to apply some mascara to my fake lashes after I put them on to make them seem more natural as well.

For lip color, it really depends on what your a wearing for the photo shoot. I would always find something that complements your outfit. So if you're wearing greens, blues, and peach colors, go for a peach tone lip. If you're wearing yellow, pink, and navy blue, go for a pink lip. If you're wearing red, black, or white, go for that bold red lip! But, it really just depends on what fits you're skin tone and your outfit.

These are just some tips on having the perfect makeup for a photo shoot, I hope your pictures turn out great!

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