Essential Tips For Contouring Cheeks

How To Properly Contour Your Cheeks

I had the best experience at Sephora a few weeks ago!  I learned how to contour my cheeks the correct way.   I knew it was important to select the right colors, but all along, I’ve been doing it backwards, I was highlighting the area that should have been low lighted.  Most of us who have attempted to contour, understand the purpose is to create a shadow effect but are we doing it right?  Well, now you can see what I learned.


Why Do We Want A Shadow Effect?

In the process of writing this, my mom asked me, why I would want a shadow on my face.  Therefore, I decided to explain this first, so here goes… by creating a shadow, you are making some of the areas darker on your face (low lighting), with the hopes to highlight another area, like your cheekbones, for instance. When you properly contour the area under your cheek bones, it should make this area appear to be indented so to speak; hence making your cheekbones seem more prominent. 

How To Create a Shadow Effect For Your Cheeks:

1. You want to choose a bronzer that has undertones that are similar to the color of a shadow. Well, that made sense, I guess that is why whenever I used a shimmer color it didn’t look right!  So don’t use a shimmery bronzer; it is a big no, no according to the girl at Sephora.  
2. Stay away from extremely tan bronzers, as they can make you look like you have dirt on your face or that you have a bruise.  
3. Don’t use a bronzer that has heavy orange undertones.
4. DO select a bronzer that has more of an ash tint to it.

                                                          

How to Make Your Cheeks Pop:

Color:  Apply a rose color blush, this helps for the more natural cheek look.

Makeup Brush: Put the blush on with a blush brush.

Where To Apply:  Spread the blush over the apples of your cheeks.

How To Contour:

Color:  The bronzer she used on me was Benefit Hoola.

Makeup Brush: Use an angled brush.  The brush used on me was a flat brush that came with the bronzer.  However ELF has a perfect contouring brush 

Where To Apply: 

1. Apply under your cheek bones first.  The best way to locate this area is to suck in your cheeks, then apply bronzer to the reseeding area (parallel to your jaw line). It is important to blend well, so you don’t see the line of makeup. 
2. Bring the color to your hairline and edge it out there.  
3. Smile! Yes, I said smile, when you do this,  you will be able to add some color to the corner part of your cheek bones nearest your nose & lips. This will help minimize this area as well, allowing for that great cheek pop.   
4. Finish this look by applying some highlights above your blush by using a luminzer.   

A Picture Perfect Cheat Sheet

Items Used: 

• Bronzer: Benefit Hoola
• Contour Brush Suggestion: e.l.f Studio Contouring Brush
• Luminzer:  Microsmooth Luminizer,  Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion
• Blush Brush: Pro Precision Blush Brush #73

Another Suggestion:  I located a product after the makeup artist had contoured my face.  This is an all in one kit, making it easier! MicroSmooth Baked Sculpting Trio

Areas To Contour:

• Under Cheekbone
• Along Both Sides of Your Nose
• Jawline
• Above Cheekbone

So there you have it! Great cheeks that any movie star would envy! 

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10 Tips To Prevent Your Hair From Being Used & Abused

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow!

In one of my recent posts, I talked about how to control the oil in your hair as well as some other tips to healthy hair.  Well, today I have another one for you.  If you have not seen this video that is on the web about this girl burning her hair you have to see it (CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO). Devastating, to say the least, which prompted this post;  hair today, gone tomorrow! Because if you don’t take care of your hair today, it can be gone tomorrow.

The Heat Wave; and I’m not talking about the weather here but rather styling tools for your hair.   I understand the importance of having great looking hair, and I know how hard it is to keep away from using these.  So instead, I’m going to give you my top 10 tricks to help reduce some of the exposure your hair can have to these tools.

BB Bit 1: Air dry your hair instead of blow drying it; your hair will be much stronger if you do this. Blow drying your hair and then immediately using a flat/curling iron can cause your hair to become damaged.   According to my hair stylist, drying your hair before using a flat iron will make your hair look dull as the heat from the dryer causes the cuticles to open.  Not enough time? Then, I suggest washing your hair at night and letting it air dry.  If that is not an option, you can allow your hair to air dry while you're putting on your makeup and getting dressed.

BB Bit 2:  Protector… Make sure if you are using any heated device, that you also apply a heat protector on your hair. In addition to a thermal protector, you should invest in a UV protector along with some Moroccan or argon oils or a trendy hat (there are plenty that we keep you looking chic)

BB Bit 3:  Unlike the girl in the video I mentioned above, do not leave the device on your hair for an extended period of time. It is not necessary. You should keep it on about 1 second per inch of hair while moving down the hair.

BB Bit 4: You get what you pay for, meaning it does pay to get a high-quality styling tools; some are better for your hair than others.

BB Bit 5: Hair trends today give us many of the options for a beach wave or partially curled hair.  For instance, you can braid your hair for a wave; try the sock bun method or even some soft non-heated rollers
.

BB Bit 6: Don’t wash your hair every day.  In my recent post, I talked about the reasons for this, but today I have another reason for not washing; if you don’t wash it every day, you don’t have to expose it every day to these styling tools and products.  So what do I mean?  If you style your hair say on a Monday and have taken the correct steps mentioned here and in this post, you can have that style last for days with only minimal touch-ups.

BB Bit 7:  Dry shampoos are the best.  They give your hair an extra day, sometimes two depending on how you take care of your hair.  

BB Bit 8:  Sleep with your hair up, by doing so you will prevent your hair from getting dirty. Dirt can be picked up from your face and bedding, so keeping it away from these can give you a few more days of hair not having to be exposed to a hair dryer.

BB Bit 9: Avoid using too much conditioner as it can weigh your hair down.  This can cause you to have to wash it quicker or try to compensate with another hair product or hot rollers.  Sulfate-free conditioners work best.

BB Bit 10: Never flat iron your hair while it is wet.  Your flat iron is HOT, some up to 400 degrees. 

 

So hair, there you go, my top 10 BB Bits to alleviate your hair from being abused and products being over used.

What's In Your Lipstick? | Try Carmine-Free Lipstick

What's In Your Lipstick?

PINK and RED makeup often contains the color additive cochineal extracts, which are derived from crushed cochineal insects (beetles).  Now before you get bugged out, these additives are safe. However, they can be a common allergen.  So, if you’ve ever found yourself sensitive to a red lipstick or blush, it could be because of this. The FDA does require manufacturers to list these colors on the labels, but you need to know what to look for.  For example, you may see an ingredient listed as carmine or natural red 4, (AKA bugs).

Although I am not a vegan, and honestly, we could be putting worse things on our lips then bugs.  The allergy part intrigued me, as I have been allergic to some makeup colors, and after looking for the ones that bothered me, they all had carmine listed as an ingredient.  So, this made me wonder are there any Eco-friendly, carmine free cosmetics I should consider to see if there was a difference?  The search was not that easy, but I was able to find Carmine Free sites/products. 

Please see below some of the best carmine free lipsticks.

1. Dose Of Colors: This brand creates cruelty-free cosmetics that are user friendly, functional and always on trend.
2. Aveda's Uruku Lip Pigment: This collection features products derived from organically grown Uruku Seeds.
3.  Alba TerraGloss: This company features a lot of products, including some naturally tinted lip products. 
4.  All-Natural Natural Cosmetics: This website listed all kinds of goodies, including gluten-free, fragrance-free, carmine free, and more! 
5.  100% Free: All of their cosmetics are colored from antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetable pigments. 
6.  Kiss My Face: This company has been around for over 30 years, and their products are made from the finest ingredients from mother nature.

How To Blend Your Way To A Flawless Face!

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It's Time For Another FRIDAY FAVORITE... 

With a foundation applicator LOVE! 

This Weeks Favorite: The Beauty Blender, this is my secret weapon; it is a makeup tool must have!  This little pink beauty leaves you with a professional look and a flawless complexion. I PINKY swear by it!

About:  Now your face can have a smooth, flawless finish each time you use this beauty!  I’m sure at one point in time you’ve experienced a bad foundation applicator, whatever the reason.  But not any longer as this sponge is fool proof. I think it has a lot to do with its shape; the curves allow you to get easily in all those difficult areas.  Furthermore, the sponge eliminates all streaks, and when it’s wet, it expands to double its size for full face coverage.  Plus, it is latex free and non-allergenic. Can we say YEAH? This is probably why, this is the most used item by professional makeup artists, and now you know our secret!

How Do I Use This? 

• I prefer to use it damp as it doesn’t absorb a lot of unneeded foundation, considering the costs of some foundations, why waste it on the applicator!  It’s important that if you want to use this wet that you squeeze out the extra water before using. 
• Next, you want to pick up a small amount of your favorite foundation and apply to your face (make sure you have applied primer to your face first)!  
• Apply your foundation using the stippling approach, which is basically tapping the sponge to your face, allowing for spectacular blending, with no streaking! 
• The pointy end of the sponge permits you to get near your eyes, nose, and other small areas. This end also works wonders when it comes to covering blemishes. (I'm telling you this is one makeup applicator you must have in your makeup arsenal).

Cleaning:  As with all makeup brushes and applicators, cleaning them correctly and more importantly, often is essential.  I mean, why would you want to continually apply oil and dirt to your face?  You will if you don't clean your sponge regularly, so please clean correctly.

The Beauty Blender brand has a few options for cleansers. There is a liquid product as well as a travel-friendly alternative to the liquid, which is called Solid. The Solid comes with a custom grid to dry the Beauty Blender; I also use it to deep clean my other makeup brushes!   

BONUS: One really neat thing about this bad boy is you can put it in the dryer! However, make sure to use an air-dry setting.  NO HEAT!  

So there you have it beauties the secret to blending your way to a flawless face.  

Want one, click below!