11 Quick Beauty Tips and Tricks

1.  To get stick straight eye lashes to curl instead of sticking straight forward, use an eye lash curler and a blow dryer.  Yep that's right, a blow dryer.  Use the blow dryer on medium or high heat, and a low speed setting to warm up your eye lash curler, before you use it on your lashes make sure it's not too hot, by running your finger along the curved plate.  Use it to curl your eye lashes and then apply mascara.  Do this one eye at a time so that the lashes are still warm and curled while you apply the mascara.  The heat holds the curl.  Also if you use water-proof mascara it will last better and a mascara with a curved brush also helps.  Follow these steps and your stick straight lashes will stay curly all day.  Wahoo!

2.  If you want to have less coverage and wish you had a tinted moisturizer, just mix some of your liquid foundation with your moisturizer.  This works better with certain foundations and moisturizers.  It works great if you have a simple moisturizer (like Olay Complete Moisturizer) and a smooth liquid foundation.  I have been doing this for years and love it.  I actually rarely apply liquid foundation without first mixing lotion into it on my hand.

3.  If your armpits get irritated from wearing deodorant and shaving, apply a little bit of lotion to your armpits each time you get out of the shower and then after a bit put on deodorant.

4.  If you don't have any highlighter, you can use light eye shadow.  Use the lightest color in a compact or if you have mineral eye shadow your lightest color.  Make sure you blend it well and don't use too much and it works just fine.

5.  If your skin is getting a bit dry and flaky, get some plain yogurt and sugar.  While you are in the shower mix the sugar and the yogurt and lightly scrub your face with it, then rinse.  It moisturizes, gets rid of the flakes and nourishes your skin.  You only need a few spoonfuls of each and don't mix them before you get in the shower because the sugar will dissolve and it will not scrub.  Also, of course, make sure you are using a daily moisturizer.

6.  If you want your lips to pop, use just a bit of highlighter along the top of your cupid's bow.  I got this one from SELF Beauty Quick Tip's in my e-mail.  Here's what they said about it, "it gives an Angelina-like illusion."  After trying it I definitely have to agree.

7.  Tired of trying to keep finger nail or toe nail clippings from going all over the place?  Clip them outside.  If you trim sitting on the edge of your lawn you don't have to worry about clean up.

8.  Get a great pair of flats for summer.  On days that your toes really need to be touched up but you don't have the time, wear the flats in place of flip flops.  They cover your less than perfect toes and you still look great.

9.  Get a great eye look update, just by changing the color of your eye liner.  Dark Plum, or dark purple eye liner looks amazing on every eye color.  It is in many ways more subtle than black, but is very flattering.

10.  To add moisture to your lips, apply a thick coat of lip balm before you hop in the shower,  the humidity and heat will help the balm soak into your lips and moisturize them.  To finish, gently exfoliate the lip gloss and dead skin cells away with a damp wash cloth (SELF Beauty Quick Tip).

11.  To quickly add volume to your hair, simply part it differently than you usually do.  When you part your hair in the same place most of the time, it makes your hair lay much flatter.  When you change the part the hair is automatically fuller looking.

 <  Tip numero uno for eye lashes

 < tip 8 for cute summer feet

              Tip number two, instant tinted moisturizer  >

ClevverStyle, I'm obsessed.

I think I have watched a few Clevver Vlogs on Youtub in the past, but their current host of ClevverStyle has me hooked.  She is so fun to watch, and she is very relatable.  Also, I love the news and tips they have been covering.

Here's one I wanted to share, it is about wearing colors that complement you.

Wearing colors that complement you rather than wash you out, or do nothing for you, is huge.

Check it out! At your local library :)

 A few weeks ago I had the idea to do some deeper beauty research using books at the library.  I spend way too much time on the computer and thought it would be amazing to be able to take a beauty book with me to work to read on my lunch break.

That's right there are some pretty amazing beauty books at the library.  Who would've thunk it?  Some of the books are more dated and have some older trends, but it you look at the second or third page on the left with all the writing you can find the copyright date.  The two books that I got that focused more on beauty trends and what's on shelves right now I tried to stick to less than three years old with.  The other book that was about beauty practices in Malaysia I did not worry about the copyright date because these are centuries old secrets and practices.

The Best in Beauty book was by Riku Campo who is a makeup artist.  The book featured advise from various experts in dermatology, esthetics, hair color, etc.  I really liked reading this book.  It contained a lot of great tips and information.  I will probably be reading it again and taking notes.

The next book was by Paula Begoun (the cosmetics cop).  The book is an amazing encyclopedia of her reviews of almost all of the cosmetic products out there on the market.  I think the book is a great idea and could be very helpful.  I did not agree with a lot of her reviews though.  There were some products that I absolutely love that she rated as just alright and others that she rated as good or superior that I think are pretty crappy products.  It really helped me start to realize how much of reviews and other information on beauty products is just another person's opinion.

The last book I really enjoyed reading.  It is called Health and Beauty from the Rainforest: Malaysian Traditions of Ramuan.  The book was full of treatments from the Malaysian culture.  A lot of floral baths, rice and tumeric scrubs, sauna treatments, and massage.  Even reading the book made me feel more relaxed.  I wanted to eat much more fresh fruit and vegetables and try more D.I.Y. natural treatments for my skin and hair.

The book talked about using coconut oil as a scalp massage to help in hair growth and using coconut milk for hair conditioner.

The traditions and the Malaysian people in the book are so beautiful and serene.  The book also shows how these practices have made their way into many spas.

If you are looking for some new ideas for your beauty routine or some inspiration, I would highly recommend looking for a book at your library.  There are some amazing books out there and it doesn't cost you anything.

Favorite Products of July!

 My first favorite is the Alba Botanica Natural Hawaaian Facial Scrub with Pineapple Enzyme.  I love the texture of this.  It is very grainy and it gives you a good scrub without being too harsh.  It also smells great.  I have been using it on my face about twice a week and have started to gradually increase my use to every other day.  It is also great for bacne :)











I bought a mini of this BED HEAD TIGI Some Like it Hot from T.J. Maxx for $3.99 and I have loved it. It is the conditioner, but I have used it more as a leave in conditioner or heat protectant and it has worked swell.  It has helped keep my ends from getting too frizzy and has not weighed down my hair or made it greasy.  I've only tried applying it in wet hair.  Since it is actually a conditioner I wouldn't try it as a heat protectant in already dry hair.










This month I have not struggled with keeping my shiny skin matte.  Thanks to this homemade translucent powder made with corn starch.  I have worn this almost every day and it has been amazing!  My face is not shiny and has much more of a soft focus effect to it.

 The last few weeks at work I kept smelling hints of a very nice fresh smell and was wondering which coworker it was.  I was quite puzzled because I couldn't narrow it down, because I had smelled it all over the whole building with all different people.  I finally realized the smell was my own deodorant.

I love it when you realize the great smell you keep smelling is coming from a new product you are wearing!  This has been a good deodorant overall, but I love it because of the smell and how it stays with you.

This is Secret pH balanced shower fresh invisible solid.




I have decided that I really love the spray on sunscreen because it is so quick to apply and lets you get out and get to what you really want to be doing.  It is also very mess free (if you have a good sprayer) and gives a great even coat.  I bought some Target brand Up&Up with a coupon and actually liked how it sprayed even more than the Coppertone brand.  It gives a very nice even coat and is super easy to use.











My last but probably best favorite is genes Vitamin E Creme Swiss Collagen Complex.  This is super cheap and such an amazing moisturizer.  I buy it at Sam's Club and it lasts almost six months.  It is a super thick, moist creme.  It takes a bit of time to work into your skin or to absorb into the skin.  It is well worth the wait though.  It makes your skin super soft and moisturized and lasts all day.  I don't use it every day because it is so moisturizing.  I probably use it about every other day.

It has been great for adding back moisture after being out in the sun all day.  During winter and summer I can't imagine not having it for super dry skin.

Colored Eye Liner on Your Waterline

Inspiration:

I saw a few photos the other day on Pinterest of eye make up with colored eye liner used on the water line.  There was an aqua one that especially popped!


I decided to try it myself today.  I used very neutral colors to do my eye shadow and then applied a bit of black liner to my lower eye just on the outer half.

I then used my Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush pencil eyeliner in Emerald City on my water line.




The Results:

I'm really struggling to take good pictures of eye make-up...this was my best image and it still leaves a lot to be desired.  You can barely see the color on the water line.


I really liked this look because it was playful, but not too over the top to wear on a daily basis.  It's a great summer eye trend!