This blog is for Gracie..my friend Joy’s beautiful daughter (Joy is beautiful as well, but this is for Gracie, not Joy 😉 ).  I am in No Way qualified to write anything about beauty tips, just as I’m not qualified on telling people how to have thin thighs in 30 days.  That being said..I do think I know what looks good, I know right from wrong, and  I am quite astute in searching topics on the internet.  My make-up routine consists of moisturizer, under-eye concealer, mascara, light pink eye-shadow on my eyelids, eye liner, and possibly bronzer or light pink blush.  My routine Never takes more than 4 minutes…and that’s for a night out.  Sadly, it also probably appears that way, as well.    So I should say this blog is for Gracie…as well as me!  And thank you Gracie for recommending this topic!

Beauty tips for the College Girl

Here is a  quick routine that will make you look wide awake even when you have a 8AM class. They say this  will take less than five minutes?  Found these great tips on collegegloss.com

Tinted Moisturizer:

Tinted moisturizer is a college girl’s best friend. It’s perfect because you can smooth it onto your face during the morning rush to class. Try to find one with SPF so that you get sun protection as well as a light coverage. I find that a tinted moisturizer is perfect for taking the redness out of my cheeks without looking completely made up for class. This one from Clinique gives skin a healthy glow, and the Aveeno tinted moisturizer is available at most drugstores as well!

Peachy, pink blush:

Blush is one of those products that really makes a huge difference in a little amount of time. All you have to do is sweep the shade on the apples of your cheeks and you instantly look radiant. Pink shades are the most universally flattering, but peach shades look give you a natural glow as well. Try blushes from brands like MAC, Benefit, Maybelline and NYX. Each brand offers a wide variety of formulas and colors. Our favorite? Beach blush from Cargo.

Eye shadow:

You don’t have to get crazy and put six different shades on your eyes for class, but you can sweep a light shimmery brown shade across your lids for added dimension. You’ll never have to hear the words, “you look tired” when you use this trick. If you’re really in a rush, you don’t even need to use a brush to apply this, just dab on the shimmery shade with your ring finger. MAC make some really great shimmery shades, but Physician’s Formula and Covergirl offer some nude shades as well. A great affordable option is the Coastal Scents Original Palette.

Lengthening mascara:

If you only have time for one thing in the morning, mascara should be at the top of your list. It also helps to curl your lashes because it really opens up tired eyes. Mascara adds a subtle definition that’s enough to give you the confidence to wink at the cutie in calculus without the added step of eye liner. I love drugstore mascaras because mascara has one of the shortest shelf lives cosmetics-wise (3 months, ladies!) It makes more sense to search for a less expensive option if you’re going to be buying mascara four times a year. Maybelline Volum’express mascara and Covergirl LashBlast mascara are top choices.

Tinted Lip Balm:

Okay ladies, a show of hands: how many of you have gotten your hair caught in your lip gloss on your way to class? Been there, done that! Then on top of that, you have to make the super-flattering motion of getting your hair out of the said lipgloss. Has anyone else noticed that lip gloss acts like super-glue on hair? Just me? A tinted lip balm is the perfect solution to this common problem. The tint gives you color like a gloss, without the stickiness factor. Burt’s Bee’s makes great tinted balms in several colors.

Source:  collegegloss.com

Beauty Tips every Teen should Know

Skip the foundation

If you have acne the first thing you want to do is slather on the thick foundation. Don’t. Foundation is for women over 30. Not only will it cover up your natural beauty, but foundation on a teenager looks anything but natural. Instead, cover up blemishes with concealer, then follow with a powder or tinted mosturizer. Tinted moisturizers tend to be lighter than heavy foundations.

You pat concealer in, you never rub it in

This is a beauty trick every magazine touts. When applying concealer, put a bit on the pad of your middle finger and pat it in. Never rub. Got acne? Pat the concealer on top of it.

Play up your lips or eyes, never both

If you wear smokey eyes, go for nude lips with just a bit of gloss. Prefer the drama of dark lipstick? Keep face light (stay away from heavy blush) and wear only mascara on your eyes and a light eyeshadow. Don’t heavily line your eyes. Play up both and you’ll look like a clown.

And never, ever line lips in a darker color than your gloss or lipstick.

Less is more

Ever notice how some of your friends look best with no makeup at all? No matter your age, too much makeup makes you look worse. If you wear foundation, powder, blush, liner, mascara, eyeshadow, lip liner and gloss on an everyday basis, then you’re overdoing it. Tone it down: All you really need is a great mascara, concealer for blemishes and gloss. Add a pop of blush in winter.

Natural hair is always best

If you have super dark hair, lighten your look by going a shade darker or getting lighter highlights. Blonde? Try highlights, especially framing the face. We see too many teens lightening their hair several shades and the look can be super-tacky, not super-fabulous. The trick is to let people assume you were born with sun-kissed hair, not that you gave yourself a bad dye job from a bottle. 

Vaseline is your best friend

Vaseline is a great, cheap eye makeup remover. It’s also great for fixing chapped, scaly lips. Slather on a bunch of Vaseline, then use a toothbrush to massage lips. Wipe the excess off on a tissue. Your lips will be smooth and soft.

You can never go wrong with layers Long layers are great for any hair type: Super curly, straight or wavy. It makes thin hair appear thicker, curly hair appear manageable and wavy hair appear just-got-back-from-the-beach sexy. Just make sure you don’t get too many layers cut in. Too many short layers is dated.

Acne? Get thee to a dermatologist, stat

Biggest mistake people with acne make? Not going to a dermatologist. Forget those $150 jeans you covet. Getting rid of those pimples will be the best investment you’ll ever make. And the only guaranteed way to do it is with a dermatologist.

Buying foundation or lipstick? Test it first

There are some beauty products you simply must try out at a department store or Sephora before you buy. These include: Foundation, lipstick, blush and powder.

Buy these products in a grocery store and you’ll be lucky if you picked the right color for your skin tone. What you can get away with without testing: Mascara, eye liner, most basic eye shadows and lip gloss.

When can you skip Sunscreen? Never!!!!

Here’s a trick we wish we knew: The first beauty product you should apply every day is sunscreen, even if it’s cloudy or rainy outside. Why? Good habits start young and if you use sunscreen now, you’ll have gorgeous skin when you’re 50, 60, 70. Remember, the sun’s UV rays can penetrate clouds and car windows.

Wrapping hair around the curling iron barrel creates waves

There’s nothing cooler than long, layered waves.  To get them, wind hair AROUND the barrel of a large curling iron. Reverse direction for each 2-inch section (wind up for one, down for another).

Self-tanner will always stink

Unfortunately, even the best ones smell. Your best bet is to apply self-tanner a good 24 hours before an important event and take a shower (don’t loofah) to wash off any smell. For really big events like a dance or wedding, consider a professional spray tan. These are pricey and don’t last long, so make sure to do it a day before the big event.

Don’t let nails go

Not into manicures and pedicures? No worries. Just make sure to keep nails clean and the same length. If you do want to paint them, don’t keep the polish on until half of it’s chipped away. Also, there’s nothing worse than too-long toenails. Keep nails clipped between pedicures! People tend to judge others by the care they put into their hands and feet.

Don’t line the inside of your eyes

It will make your eyes appear smaller. Instead, line just at the lash line. Also, an obvious line doesn’t look natural. Smudge the line just a bit.

Oily Hair?  Try baby powder at the roots

If you have blonde hair, sprinkling a bit of baby powder on your roots and at your crown will soak up excess oils. If you have brown hair, you might be better off with a dry shampoo for your hair color.  They also have some great Dry Shampoo’s now.

Shave legs at the end of the shower

Cut down on nicks and cuts by making shaving the very last step in your shower or bathing ritual.   If you don’t have shaving cream, you can use conditioner!

Know your best feature and play it up

What feature do people comment on most? Play it up. If you’re told you have Angelina Jolie lips, make sure to wear gloss and play with bold lipstick colors. If it’s your eye color people love, find eyeshadow colors that complement them and make sure to wear mascara. Also, know what color shirts look best on you and go shopping.

Scrubs are great for dry skin

If you have dry, itchy skin in winter, invest in a scrub and handmitts and scrub away in the bathtub. Make sure to slather on a thick moisturizer afterward. For dry, callous-y feet, buy a pumice stone. They work better than any of the other wimpy options on the market.

Remember: Beauty is mostly internal

Think about a girl you know who’s overweight yet all the guys love her. Why? Because she’s confident. If you aren’t wearing makeup and your toes haven’t been repainted in weeks, if you’re happy and smiling you will still be 10 times prettier than the mopey cheerleader sitting next to you in class.

And when a Picture is worth a Thousand Words!

Smokey Eye Tutorial

Making your eyes POP!

The Best Way to Apply Mascara

How to get the Fattest Lashes

Eyeshadow Tips

Concealer

Red Lips

Brushology

Make-up To 10 Must Haves

Bobbi’s Top 10

Best Nutrients for your Skin

12 Natural Beauty Remedies

 

Hmmm…guess I should start throwing away my make-up!  Like milk and bread, they have an expiration date!  And I know this blog is a tad lengthy (sorry, LAP), but that’s why I threw in many pictures…and I’m going to try the Red Lips tutorial.  Stay tuned. 🙂

On a side note re: “attractiveness”, a friend of mine indicated he thought Paris Hilton was “hot”.  I just don’t see it so took a quick straw poll and asked my 5 Top male peeps, and not one of them agreed…one of the best comments was, “she’s kinda ‘nasty sexy’, but Definitely not attractive”.  I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but you can Never go wrong with being kind to others. 🙂

Have a great weekend!  Re-entry this week has been tough, but I’m managing to forge ahead, and have had an absolute Fantastic week…a bit distracting at times, but Fantastic!

xoxo,

T.

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