As a little girl, lipstick was always the first item I’d reach for in my mom’s purse. I always watched her swipe a little across her lips and look instantly beautiful. I wanted to look beautiful, too.

And now that I’m actually old enough to be wearing the stuff…well, lipstick scares me. Although it defined icons like Marilyn Monroe and Christina Aguilera, I find the whole thing a bit stressful. There is a very fine line between looking glam like Gwen Stefani and looking like you’re just trying too hard to look glam like Gwen Stefani. And I always worry I’m in the latter category.

But I still want it! Lipstick is classic. And if it’s done right, it’s glamorous.

So how does one do it right? How do we college girls find the right lipstick to enhance our lips without making us look like a clown? I’ve been doing my research (OK, so it was for my own selfish reasons, but I’m sharing it with you now!) and I found some general lipstick guidelines for choosing the best shade and wearing it well.

Picking a Color: For everyday wear, choose a color that is only a few shades darker than your natural lip color.  Remember, your lips are naturally a few shades darker than your skin tone so if you’re testing a color on your hand (you know, to avoid germs…I’m a freak) keep that in mind.  Choosing a color this way will enhance your lips naturally and not scream, “I’m playing with my mom’s makeup bag!” In general, the lighter your skin tone, the lighter shade you should choose.  Read More »

When it comes to beauty there are certain tools that every girl needs in her arsenal. But what are the must-haves and what are the spend-a-lot-of-money-on-stuff-you-don’t-needs?

I know a lot of girls are confused about what brushes to buy and what tools they should have lying around their bathroom counter so I wanted to give you all some insight on what I use regularly. I’m not telling you to go out and buy a $100.00 brush kit full of stuff you’ll never use. Instead, I’m going to explain what everything is and allow you to decide what you need for your daily beauty regime.

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here: the smokey eye!

You’ve seen it on just about every red carpet from Hollywood to New York. It’s glamorous, it’s sexy, it’s chic… and it’s not that hard to do all by yourself. Nope, you don’t need a professional makeup artist to smoke out your eyes – you just need a few shadows, a few brushes and the know-how. Which is why I’m here.

Watch, learn and rock this look in no time.

Want to look absolutely perfect all the time like Hollywood’s biggest celebrities?

Get a makeup artist.

Makeup artists know that one of the keys to creating a perfect makeup look is to consider what a person already has.  Skin tone, hair color, eye color, etc. all have an effect on what colors look best on a person.  You’ve probably heard the ladies at the makeup counter talk about people being “seasons,” and what colors look best on a face.  But you may have never done the research to figure out exactly which colors are meant to consistently work best for you.

And that’s where I come in. Consider me your personal makeup artist for the day. I’ve checked out a couple of different sites and compiled a summary of what you should be looking for when shopping for staple makeup items.

Everyone knows that a unibrow is about as attractive as a muffin top. But many girls don’t know that having two distinct brows isn’t enough to fix your face.

The shape of a brow can really make or break you, so it’s crucial to do ‘em right. I’m covering all bases in this video from how to grow, fill, and shape them to give you some bangin’ brows! Read More »

How many times do you apply bronzer and end up looking like Lindsay Lohan? If this has happened even once, it’s one time too many. The trick to bronzer is simple: less is more. In this quick video, I’ll show you how to get a faux tan on your face that looks natural.

It’s better to use bronzer than get melanoma, ladies! Protect your pretty mug and still look summery fresh.

Eyeliner is the one makeup staple that I just won’t leave the house without. Liner-less eyes make me feel like a zombie and I inevitably get bombarded with “are you sick” or “did you not sleep well” type questions.

I’ve tried so many different liners just trying to find that perfect one. And then I realized there isn’t one. The trick is that with so many different varieties, there are perfect liners for different occasions! Certain lifestyles and situations fit better with a particular type of eyeliner. I’ve outlined the different types of liner and the pros and cons of each so you can decide which ones are right for you: Read More »

Oh St. Patty’s day. The only day it’s okay to lie and say that you are a wee bit Irish and take a shot toasting the green isle.  It’s also okay (and damn well expected) to add a little green to your routine.

Yes, including your makeup.

Don’t worry – you won’t look like Kermit… or Elphaba from Wicked. There is a perfectly acceptable way to put green on your face. And that involves subtlety. Shy away from neon greens or green lipsticks; instead, layer on the green shadows, liner and mascara for a festive yet totally classy look.

Who knows? You may even continue to rock those greens all year long. Plus, no one will be able to resist a pair of sparkling green eyes.

So give green a chance with these great green products! Read More »

Dragons, leprechauns, centaurs, fairies, a lip gloss that’s long lasting without being sticky – they just don’t exist right? It’s a fantasy.

Well, we had Pterodactyls on this earth, is it really such a stretch to think that maybe they could breathe fire? I choose to believe that flying fire breathing lizards once existed, so the lip gloss thing doesn’t seem so far fetched now does it? Yes, I believe the perfect lip gloss exists.

First we have to define what a gloss would need to be perfect.

1. Not Sticky. Who hasn’t had their hair blown into the sticky stuff on your lips? Gag. Now your lips look weird and your hair is sticky. Bad.

2. Long Lasting. What’s the point of spending the money and taking the time to apply if it’s totally gone by the time you get to where you were going? The perfect lip gloss has to survive the commute and the first drink/kiss/cigarette.

3. Look Pretty. This is why you use it. The perfect gloss has to come in beautiful flattering shades that everyone can use.

4. Good for Your Lips. You know what sucks? Putting on a lip gloss that dries out your lips or tears them up with glitter. The perfect gloss would leave your lips feeling amazing.

So is it a myth? Do you have a better chance of finding a Unicorn in your backyard? Well ladies, I am proud to present to you, the PERFECT lip gloss:

Tarte Vitamin Infused Lip Gloss powered by Borba ($21 tartecosmetics.com)

Read More »

Lip Liner – most college age girls skip it all together and, quite frankly, probably associate it with crazy old ladies that draw on their faces with Crayola crayons. But don’t let those trend-ruiners ruin lip liner for you! There are some cases where you NEED to wear it.

Since most of us don’t usually (or ever) rock the lined lip I’ve compiled some basic do’s and don’ts so you know what to use and when to use it for the perfect pout.

When you DO need it:

Lip liner is a MUST if you are wearing dark lipstick colors or opaque glosses. If you want to try for some Hollywood red lips you NEED to match it with a good liner. It’s also a good idea for formal occasions or for professional photographs. Using lip liner will make you look polished and glamorous.

When you DON’T need it:

You shouldn’t use lip liners for every day makeup. You might be mistaken for a theater major. Never use liner with sheer glosses or lipsticks. The liner stays longer than the lip color so you can end up looking a little Bozo the Clown. Read More »