We go through a lot of make up and hair videos over here, but I don’t always go over skin care tips. How are you supposed to properly use makeup if you don’t know how to care for your skin?

A lot of people have issues with their skin, which is totally normal. I have problems all the time! The key is finding what works for you and you alone! While I make recommendations to you all the time, it’s always based on my personal experience. Just because a product works for me doesn’t mean it will work the same way for you, which is why I encourage trial and error. It’s important to create a skin care regiment that works with your skin and not against it. Don’t force some fancy kit on your face just because it worked for someone else!

That being said, in this video I’m going through some very basic tips and suggestions for caring for your skin. I’m talking everything from cleansers to sunscreen, why you need ‘em and how to use ‘em. (And I shouldn’t have to tell you how important sunscreen is, ladies!) If you have any questions, leave ‘em in the comments!

Got something you want me to cover? Post it in the comments below. And don’t forget to follow us on YouTube and check out my other videos right here!

Many of you have asked me how to get your makeup to last all day. This has been one of my own questions for a long time, but with one product, I figured it out. I’ve talked to you all about primers, which help at lot. However, what really makes it stick is a setting powder.

I’ve tried products from Maybelline, Covergirl, Neutrogena…you name it. Nothing even comes close to matching up with Make Up For Ever’s HD High Definition Powder (Sephora, $30). Yes, $30 is pricey for some powder. But this isn’t just any powder. This literally keeps your makeup on ALL. DAY. LONG!

$30 is nothing for what this little lady can do.

In CC Beauty Live’s new segment, Quick & Dirty, I’ll be doing short reviews of good, cheap products. So if you have anything you want me to review, let me know!

As a college student, I’m always on the lookout for bargains. And as a beauty addict, it can be difficult coughing up $30 for products. So that’s why I get really excited when I find amazing products for even more amazing prices. I often scour drugstores for a hopeful product, and every once in a while I find a great one, like Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Masque ($3.95, Ulta).

This product is fantastic and you can’t beat the price! You get an 8 oz tube for under $5! Check out my Quick & Dirty review for the DL.

It’s no secret that I love Bare Escentuals Mineral Makeup.  I ban myself from going in the store because I simply can’t control my credit card when in the presence of such amazing makeup. 

When friends need to go in I blab on and on about what they should get, to the point where sales associates consider offering me a job.  Don’t worry though, I don’t actually work for a mineral makeup company so everything I’m telling you is legit; no one is paying me under-the-table (but if you are from B.E and are lookin to throw some dough my way…hit me up). 

Okay, so before you dismiss this as just another article advertising mineral makeup, listen up: I’m going to tell you exactly what the benefits are so you can decide if mineral makeup is right for you. There are so many things you need to know (beyond what those ladies tell you in the 3am infomercial) and you may realize that mineral makeup is the best thing for you and your punim (that’s face.)

- Many types of regular makeup (i.e. certain liquid or compressed powder foundations) contain harsh chemicals or fragrances (synthetic dyes, preservatives, etc..)

- Mineral makeup doesn’t contain these extra chemicals and instead most mineral makeups contain titanium dioxide, which is a natural anti-inflammatory and sunscreen.  This is especially beneficial if your skin has inflammatory issues (like if it gets red easily or you have acne).  The color in mineral makeup is also a natural pigmentation. Read More »

Along with the beautiful summertime weather we are all so freaking excited about comes the not-so-beautiful summertime shine. Not the shine of the gorgeous sun, not the shine of that hot guy’s beach body, but the shine of your oily face. Not. So. Hot.

Oily faces are definitely not cute and leave you feeling gross, dirty, and, well, oily. Not to mention a reflecting surface for camera flashes. But warm weather doesn’t have to mean a slippery face; there is something you can do about it! There are several types of products out there to help with your shine, from anti-shine powder to oil absorbing blotters.

Below are some of my personal favorite products that are easy to carry with you all summer to stay looking matte and fresh. (Smelling fresh, however, is a whole different article…) Read More »

Your skin type makes a huge difference in what products you should use. Skin problems and makeup woes are oftentimes caused by using the wrong products for your type. So I’m making it simple for you. Here are 3 basics for oily and dry skin.

Oily Skin

First you need to confirm that you do, in fact, have oily skin. Most people have oily t-zones (that’s the forehead and nose area) but to have truly oily skin, your cheeks and chin will be oily too. If you have large visible pores, that’s another sign you fall into the oily category. So for you oily chicks – here’s a few things to pick up.

Murad Pomegranate Foaming Facial Cleanser ($25 sephora.com)

This fab cleanser dissolves dirt, makeup and most importantly – oil – in one easy step. Best of all, it won’t over-dry your skin. One pump of this cleanser leaves you feeling fresh and clean.

Clinique Dramtically Different Moisturizing Gel ($11.50 clinique.com)

This ultra light moisturizer is oil-free, so it won’t cause breakouts. It absorbs instantly so you can layer on more to get just the right amount of moisture. Perfect to replenish moisture if you are using acne treatments which can dry you out.

Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens ($10 sephora.com)

These handy little papers are perfect for absorbing oil throughout the day. The best part is they are oil free. Believe it or not, most brands of blotting papers (i.e. Clean & Clear or Sephora Brand) actually have mineral oil in them! Defeat the purpose much? Stick with Boscia.

Read More »

We’ve all been guilty of some major makeup meltdown. I was personally guilty of lash to brow blue eye shadow in high school. Yikes, glad those days are behind me. Now that I’ve recovered from my beauty blunders, I can impart my wisdom so you don’t follow in my UNfabulous footsteps.

Sperm Brow

There are a slew of brow problems to address, but sperm brow is the most annoying (and the funniest to talk about). You’ve all seen it before – a tuft of hair near the bridge of the nose, and then super over-tweezed little tail for the rest of the brow forming a little hairy sperm. Not. Attractive. Not only is it not cute to have sperm swimming above your eyes, the shape is simply not flattering to your face.

So to remedy this and any other brow issues you may be having, brow expert Anastasia has made it fool proof with some really rad stencils. They’re 20 bucks at Sephora and so easy to use. It comes with several different shapes; find the one that matches your brows best, fill in with a pencil or powder and tweeze anything outside the lines!

Foundation Mask

This is a classic mistake but it seems that some people just can’t wise up. Haven’t you seen that girl with the flawless makeup that looks great until you get to her jaw line and realize what color her skin really is? It’s so scary and unnatural to see someone’s face literally end when their neck starts. You never want to see a line where your foundation ends. So, how do you avoid it? The most important thing is to make sure you have the right shade. Never wear your summer foundation in the winter and vice versa – your skin is not the same color! Read More »