Note: This is NOT me and my friend. We're girls.

Last year for Halloween my best friend and I dressed up as Ernie and Bert, complete with yellow and orange face-paint.  Can you say ‘hottest costumes ever’?  The guy I was hooking up with didn’t seem to think so.  I had seen him out earlier in the night and when we texted later to meet-up (read: hook-up) he said, “I’m on my way over. Wash that sh*t off your face before I get there.”

Ouch.

You mean you don’t think I’m hot when I’m wearing bright orange face-paint? Harsh. But I wasn’t ready to end my Halloween night hookup-less, so I proceeded to the bathroom to scrub “that sh*t off my face.”  But it turns out that washing off layers of face-paint that took a half hour to apply was tricky. And when he finally did show up I just looked like Bert…with a melting face.  If only I had been prepared with the right equipment to return to my natural skin color ahead of time.

Whether you are putting on face-paint, false eyelashes, or just regular makeup that is heavier than usual, it’s all gonna need to come off at the end of the night (especially if you want some Hallow-sexin).  So arm yourself ahead of time with these helpful heavy-duty makeup removal products and you’ll have your real face back in no time.

To Remove Face Paint/ Heavy Makeup
Cold cream is your best option. Yes, it’s gonna feel gross, but so does a face full of giant zits in the morning from improper makeup removal or, worse, a face that has been scrubbed raw trying to get that ish off. If you want your skin to be truly clean, cold cream is the way to go.  Just use a cotton ball and apply the cold cream to your entire face (or other painted areas).  Let it sit for a few minutes and soak up that nasty makeup.  Then use a facecloth and warm water to rub off it all off. Follow up with a little rinse with water and you’re face is fresh and ready for bed (or booty).

Another option is to use baby oil applied and removed in the same way.  Even baby wipes are a decent option for face-paint removal.  (All of these products can be found at your local drugstore).

To Take off Those False Eyelashes
You may want to try and just yank these guys off at the end of the night, but I would advise against that. Strongly. Removing false eyelashes is difficult because it’s easy to accidentally pull out your own lashes (which hurts like a mo-fo) and lash glue can be really sticky. The best and safest way to remove false lashes is with an eyelash glue remover, like this one from Ardell.  Apply the remover to your lash line, let it sit, then carefully pull off the lashes beginning at each corner, working towards the center. 

Note:Make sure that even if you’re intoxicated you pull on the lashes gently.

Remember that even though your Smurf makeup looks great tonight, it won’t look good in the morning… when your pillowcase is blue and your pores are clogged. No matter what time you get home (and no matter what your BAC is), make sure you get that makeup off and get it off thoroughly.

And if that doesn’t happen, well, arm yourself with some good cover-up techniques. You’re gonna need ‘em.

Pause.

Not.

And this stuff doesn’t have a long term effect; you have to keep using it to keep your lashes looking good. The pros simply do not outweigh the cons for Latisse.

Luckily there are other things you can do and use to make your lashes looking beautiful that won’t permanently ruin your face. Things like, duh, mascara, false lashes, lash curlers, lash primers, and eyeliner tricks.

The first and easiest option is to curl your lashes using a clamp eyelash curler, like this one from Tarte. (Wait a second, isn’t Tarte on sale through CollegeCandy right now?? Score!) Clamp your lashes down at the base, hold for 3 seconds, repeat in the middle, and then the ends.  It also helps to heat up the curler first for a few seconds with a hairdryer, but do not do this every day, as you will damage your lashes with excessive heat.  It can be helpful to curl your lashes before applying mascara, then clamp once after to add a little extra oomph.

Another fabulous lash tip?  Pick a mascara that is designed to lengthen or add volume.  To find the perfect one for you, try the Sephora Favorite Deluxe Sampler.  It includes about 10 mascaras from all different companies so you can find which one does the most for your particular lash problem.  This whole sampler set is only $39, which is a steal considering how expensive mascara is!  A great mascara that’s included in this collection is Two Faced’s Lip Injection Mascara that builds tubes around your lashes, therefore lengthening them without the damage of Latisse!  Also, applying a black liquid liner dotted along your top lash line will give the appearance of longer lashes.

Another option is to try fake lashes. If you’re new to the fake lash scene try Sephora Brand’s false lash set for only $8.  It comes with full lashes and smaller pieces, along with adhesive.  Just apply the adhesive and let it sit for about a minute. Then apply the lashes beginning in the center and working your way out.  Or try Makeup Forever’s lashes which come in more styles and colors than you can imagine.  Some are thick, others are thin and natural, some are thicker on the outsides, and some are funky colors.  Once you know what you are doing with fake lashes and what looks best on you, these are a great investment.

Anything is better than risking your health for beauty, ladies!

I’m here to show you how easy it can be to apply falsies so you can look hotter than ever. Pair lashes with the cat eyes from last week, and you’ll have every guy in the bar picking their jaws up off the floor.

False Lashes

Oh so fun and glamorous but a little too drag queeny 11 months out of the year, December is the perfect time to have fun with false lashes. Make Up For Ever has dozens of styles to play with. If you want something subtle, try the individual lashes to add a little fullness and fill in sparse areas. If you are feeling extra festive, MUFE has really over-the-top lashes with red or green tips, or even white feathers!

Make Up For Ever Eyelashes – $14 sephora.com

Metallic Eye Shadow

Heavy metal colors are perfect for the holidays. Golds and silvers are a great way to be festive without going straight for red and green. A gold metallic eye shadow is a perfect accessory to a little black dress – the holiday party staple. A silver shadow is the ideal way to glam up for New Year’s Eve. Try Lorac Glam Rocks in Metallic Gold for a molten gold look and Tarte Lock & Roll in Slate for a sexy silver.

Lorac Glam Rocks – $16 sephora.com

Tarte Lock & Roll – $17 tartecosmetics.com

Liquid Liner

A beauty classic full of glamour. Unless you are Dita Von Teese, you probably don’t wear liquid liner every day. But, hey, it’s the holidays and a slick liquid liner is a classy way to glam it up. Go for a classic black or try something more festive like Urban Decay’s Liquid Liner in Acid Rain or Shattered. If you are overflowing with holiday cheer, step it up with Urban Decay Heavy Metal liners that are full of sparkle and shine. Try it in Mullet for a bright green glitter or Distortion for a snow white icicle glimmer.

Urban Decay Liquid Liner – $18 urbandecay.com

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner – $18 urbandecay.com

Deep Red Lips

Yet another beauty classic. You’ve always wanted to take the risk, and the holidays are the perfect time to take the red lip plunge. Nars brand is famous for their red lipsticks and it’s a great place to look for your perfect shade. Just remember if you have a pink undertone to your skin (fair skinned ladies), use a blue based red like Afghan Red. If you are more yellow (tan skinned ladies), stick to an orange based red like Shanghai Express. Always use a matching lip liner, or else the color will bleed or feather and you’ll end up looking like crazy Aunt Edna, which kind of defeats the purpose. Lip liner plus a fab red shade equals classic elegance for the holidays!

Nars Lipstick – $24

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