If there’s one thing you should put on before leaving the house, it’s mascara. A few layers can instantly make you look more awake and ready to go. And mascara paired with a fierce lipstick is even better! Seriously though, lashes are a prominent part of your face. They frame your eyeballs, which hopefully is where people are looking. Not everyone has lengthy or full lashes, but that’s okay! Mascara is your friend.

Even though I have really long eyelashes, I still use mascara otherwise my look feels unfinished. It’s just one of those things I gotta have, and it should be in your beauty bag too. But before you go crazy and buy the world’s most expensive tube, watch this video. While I love my Dior mascaras, $24.50 is definitely a splurge especially when I’d rather spend on high end skin care. Drug store mascaras are awesome, so don’t ignore them! Maybelline Falsies and Covergirl Lashblast are two great ones that have my CC Beauty Live Seal of Approval!

Now, go ahead and watch for some tips! Read More »

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While many of you love wearing makeup and search your couch cushions and the bottom of all your purses for loose money so you can buy new products, there are a lot of you out there who actually hate wearing makeup. Trust me when I say that I get it; I used to be one of those girls!

Makeup can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you don’t know what products to use or how to use them. Plus, sometimes you just don’t want to stand in front of a mirror and put on your face, dammit. But the honest truth: you don’t have to! Having a polished face doesn’t have to mean 35 products and 30 minutes putting them on. Read More »

As many of us rush to get ready in the morning, we usually don’t give our mascara or blush a second thought. Well, beyond avoiding clumpage and blending it in so we don’t look like we’re getting ready for a dance recital. However, makeup has been around for at least 6,000 years (!!) and has played a role in nearly every society.

Our friends from the Medical Insurance Blog are here to show us where makeup started and how it got to where it is today! Read More »

Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming. So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money? Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.

(Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me for review purposes. Because I can never have too much makeup!)

What it is: Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash

Why this should be in your bag: Most girls I know wear mascara every single day, however, that practice can be pretty damaging to your lashes. I’ve noticed that when I use certain brands of mascara, my lashes end up suffering, becoming weak and brittle. This creates a vicious cycle, as I’m applying even more mascara to hide the damaging effects. Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash is made with natural ingredients, leaving out a lot of harmful chemicals. I discovered it by accident and have never looked back! I walked into Sephora one day, and asked about some eyeshadow. The salesgirl asked if she could do a whole eye look for me, but when she pulled out the mascara, I begged her for something that wouldn’t damage my lashes. She whipped up the Buxom Lash and once she was done, I was amazed. This mascara truly transformed my eyes and looked 100% natural. Read More »

Even though I am a beauty guru of sorts (dishing out sage makeup wisdom) and own lots of high end beauty products, I still like to budget shop for drug store options. I am a cost conscious college girl, after all.

I’m not gonna lie – it’s easy to get swept away by brand names and pretty packaging (and pushy sales people) in department stores, but you don’t need to burn a hole in that wallet to get some good makeup. There are a lot of products in drug stores that do nearly the exact same thing as high end products, especially when it comes to mascara. In case no one told you before, you don’t have to use products from MAC or Sephora to look beautiful!

You lookin’ to enhance those lashes without spending all that hard earned (or begged-your-parents-for) money? Just watch:

Got a beauty question? Want to know about a product? A hairstyle? Leave your questions and suggestions below and I’ll try to help you out in future videos!

So if you’re like me, part of the fun of being a girl is getting all beautified and purtied up. I mean, beyond the fun that is playing with makeup, what’s the point of putting together a cute outfit if your skin looks dry, your hair looks flat and you smell like a thrift store?

Obviously, my all-time favorite one-stop-shop for all my beauty needs is Sephora. That place has it all… not to mention you can pop in there while you’re shopping and freshen up with their variety of samples. (Confession: sometimes I’ll make Sephora my last stop so I can use all their expensive makeup to get ready for the night!) The sad fact is, beauty products are muy expensive-o and can quickly add up.

Good thing Sephora has a nice stock of too-good-to-be-true goodies for under $20. Let the beautification begin! Read More »

Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money?

Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money (like Dior’s Skinflash Primer) and which are not.

What it is: Covergirl Lashblast Volume

Why this should be in your bag: Cuz Drew Barrymore says so in the commercial.  Okay really though, while this is what initially enticed me to buy it (who doesn’t trust Drew?), homegirl was right.  This mascara is under $10 (awesome), it’s waterproof (fantastic), and the brush is packed with tiny bristles to make sure that every lash is covered (hollaaa!).  Drew called it the most successful mascara launched in recent years, and it’s easy to see why.  It covers completely with great color and volume (I tested the very black option).

How to use it: Curl your lashes with a curler, holding down for several seconds.  Start at the base and wigggle the brush back and forth until you reach the end of the lashes.  I like to use the curler again before applying a second coat.  Then, pointing the wand at your eye, swipe back and forth lightly on your bottom lashes. Read More »

As I was going through the mascara aisle at my local Rite Aid, I saw the same old blacks, dark blacks, super black blacks, and midnight blacks that I usually set my big green eyes on. Then I stumbled upon green mascara for green eyes! I thought it was a little strange, but I was intrigued so I tried it out.

And take my word for it: this mascara is wonderful!

Mascara should bring attention to your eyes and bring out the color. For many of us,  though – especially those of us with lighter eyes – black mascara doesn’t do that. Sure, swiping some ultra black onto those lashes makes your eyes look better, but it doesn’t make that color pop. And why wouldn’t you want those bright blues to pop?!

Well, this mascara does that; it highlights your eye color and your eyes. It’s brilliant and I just had to share! Read More »

You already know how I feel about Tarte cosmetics and if you don’t I’ll tell you: I’m obsessed. Their products are high quality and eco-friendly; what more can you ask for?

Well, Tarte has teamed up with Commando underwear to get you covered (from top to [your] bottom) for the upcoming holiday season. They’re giving away up to $750 worth of goodness and all you have to do is enter. And with products like theirs, that is definitely something to be thankful for this season.

Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara is hands down the best mascara I’ve ever tried. Ever. And I’ve tried all of them. Every time a magazine boasted about their favorite mascara, I’d buy it. But they were all the same. I just figured mascara was mascara and started buying whatever was cheapest at Target. But Tarte taught me that there is a difference and not all mascaras are created equal. I honestly don’t know how they do it, but my eyes have never looked better or brighter. Seriously. It’s a miracle product.

Oh, and as long as we’re talking about the best products ever, let me just tell you about The Eraser, a legendary concealer. Not only does this stuff cover up the major black circles under my eyes (tested and approved on a particularly hungover morning), but it has a brush built in so you don’t have to run your greasy fingers across your freshly washed face. Gah! I just love it. Read More »