GlamGlow Gravity Mud Mask

This mask is not cheap costing at $70 by the brand GlamGlow, and after this mask you truly do glow. The texture is quite unique, it’s sticky and almost feeling like a melted marshmallow in your hands. So when applying, using the brush provided will help to not only keep your hands clean but provide a more even and precise application.

Once the mask is on, I left it on my face for about 20-30 minutes.  Unlike peels or other DIY masks, I didn’t feel any discomfort or intense tightening. When the mask dried, the color of mask changed from a pearl white to a metallic, almost silver color. This is where the thick application comes in handy the edges of the mask started to peel up slightly, and I was able to peel my mask in one go. After peeling, make sure to not wash your face with a cleanser (you can rinse) because the ingredients continue to work to tighten and firm your skin. Another tip do the mask before applying your foundation, I think the foundation apply s smoother.

Disappointing Purchases

I hate to be negative, but I thought it would be helpful to blog about products that I’ve tried and found disappointing.

 I’ve always had problems with super dry, flaky under eyes lately, and my concealer looks cakey and creased. Smashbox BB Cream Eye is supposable for all those things I have trouble with under the eyes. I assumed it was a concealer that would also hydrate and prime in one step. I thought the priming would conceal circles and smooth my lines all in one step. But the BB Cream Eyes did not have enough coverage for my under eye circles and did not noticeably smooth lines.

Smashbox Hydrating Under Eye Primer seemed like it was made for me! I tried it on in the store, and it did seem to make my concealer go on more smoothly and disguise some of the lines. But, my concealer still creased a little while later. I was sad. As I would not ever be repurchasing this products. 

I also returned the much-hyped Sephora brand Formula X nail polish system. They do have a great color selection, so I tried Cosmic, a dark purple shimmer. It was not very shiny, and it chipped the next day. I have gotten much better results with OPI.

Affordable Vegan Make Up Brushes!

Lately it’s hard to find good inexpensive make up brushes, now a days a full set from Sigma Beauty cost $500 which is RIDICULOUS! But, you still have good brands like Morphe which are half the price of a Mac brush and same quality as a Mac or Sigma brush. But, for people who are about cruelty free brushes here’s a brand that is amazing! It’s easy to find synthetic makeup brushes, but not always easy to find GOOD QUALITY cruelty free makeup brushes! I recently had the pleasure of trying out the entire new range of PUR Minerals vegan brushes, and I am happy to report that these are top notch! Oftentimes synthetic brushes will be either too harsh or way too soft. Soft sounds good, but trust me – brushes can be soft, BUT they have to be densely packed enough to do their jobs. If the brushes are too soft and not packed well, they will splay out on your face and you won’t get the pigment where you want it. PUR makeup brushes are soft, but packed tightly, which is perfection!

Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes

I probably don’t have to tell you that removing your makeup morning and night is extremely important for beautiful skin! I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t always have time clean my face especially at night when all I want to do is crash into bed for some beauty sleep! Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes are ideal for every face, because there are several to choose from. These towelettes are perfect because there is a product for every skin type, and they are great at removing makeup, cleansing and toning all in one so your money does come a long ways worth. I have a love affair with Burt’s Bees towelettes for a few reasons. The first one is of course because they are cruelty free. You can find lots of face cleanser wipes out there, but it’s extremely important to me to find a brand that does not test on animals. And, what’s even better is that you don’t have to special order these cleansing wipes. I also carry these with me in my luggage every time I travel (the travel size wipes are perfect for your carry-on bag). They are good for avoiding gross situations on the and of course, to use in my hotel room when I don’t have a lot of time to spend on my regular facial routine (no rinsing needed).

Preferences

Most people don't like wearing tons of makeup, but everyone has their preferences. You don’t have to spend hours doing it, either. Once you know how too, you’ll see just how much makeup can accentuate your best features and hide those that aren’t as favorable. Makeup is a form of art, the unique thing about it is there are so many tips and tricks to disguise the eye. if you wanted a wider eye you line your waterline with white eyeliner, a slimmer face you contour your face, want a dewy face affect you could use a highlighter. Makeup is all about placement and contrast, how you want to enhance your features is up to you. The reason makeup is an art is you can express yourself and you need an imagination in order to create the eye look you plan on wearing that day, also know what colors complement each other and most importantly your skin tone. But, just remember there are endless tips and rules to keep you looking fabulous, but as long as you feel comfortable and beautiful in your own skin is all that matters.

Love, Terry 

Winter Tips:

Even if you love a winter wonderland, your skin may not. The chilly, dry air and shorter days can bring on a dry, dull complexion. The secret is having the right products to create the perfect look. Here are the some tips that I swear by:

1. A healing ointment. A tube of Aquaphor does triple-duty against chapped skin. I always have a tube on hand to help with dry lips, hydrate patches of skin. It especially works wonders if you apply it before bedtime.
2. Exfoliating scrub. To achieve fresh-looking skin, you need to slough off the top layer of dead cells. That’s why I recommend using a gentle exfoliating scrub once or twice a week; a drugstore brand, such as Aveeno or Neutrogena, does the job. Just don’t go overboard. Exfoliate too much, and you’ll strip the skin of its protective oils.
3. My last and final tip, always remember to moisturize your skin, by applying plenty of lotion and oils such as the Neutrogena body oil for that soft baby butt feel.

Well, i hope you guys found these tips helpful :)

Nivea Men Post Shave Balm

So back at the end of April one of my favorite bloggers NikkieTutorials mentioned the NIVEA Men Post Shave Balm in her April Hits as one of the best face primers she's ever used.. so obviously I was intrigued. Because one of the most used ingredients in the aftershave balm is glycerine it means that anything that you put on top of it will cling to it, ie. your foundation will cling to it keeping your foundation last all day long. You apply a small amount onto a clean face and rub the Nivea Men Post Shave Balm into your face, at first when applied it is very watery but as you begin to rub it in some more it becomes tacky and thats when you apply your foundation making it last all day! My foundation looked absolutely flawless and managed to stay perfect all day long, even in the areas of my face that would normally be extremely oily! Super impressed with how well this worked, I felt like I had an expensive primer on it worked that good! Considering the fact that it cost less than $10 which is an absolute bargain compared to what I'd normally spend on a primer.So impressed with how well this worked for me and I'll definitely be repurchasing, thanks to NikkieTutorials for the heads up!

Maintenance

Many people forget the importance of maintaining your brushes clean. Yes, cleaning your brushes can be a hassle. Having a clean brush makes the foundation or any product go on the face smoother and you don't have old products going onto your skin either. For example, when blending in the crease you always want to make sure the brush is clean so you won’t have any old products that was on the brush previously on your lid now. You could go to any store like Ulta, or Sephora to buy brush cleaners. But, I personally like using a bar of soap when cleaning my brushes. When it comes to cleaning your brushes here are some steps in doing so:

1.      Begin by running your brushes under lukewarm water, rinsing out all of the residual makeup. Try to focus on the actual bristles while avoiding the part of the brush where handle meets the head, as this can loosen the glue over time

2.      Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and a squirt of shampoo, and gently swirl your brush tip in the water. If you need to, you can also swirl the brush in the palm of your hand to work up a lather.

3.      Rinse the brush tip under running water once again. Repeat steps two and three until the water runs clear from the brush,

4.      Use a cloth to wipe your brush clean, reshaping the bristles as you go.

5.      Lay your brushes flat on a cloth to dry.

"Baking"

As you see on the left hand side, the powder is only applied in the "T" zone.

The term or technique "Baking", which has been used in the drag community for years, refers to letting translucent powder sit on your face for five to 10 minutes, which allows the heat from your face to set your base foundation and concealer, and then dusting it off your face, leaving you with a creaseless, flawless finish. (Kim Kardashian's makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic uses it on in order to get the Kim k. look.) The purpose of doing this is, your conceal doesn't crease, makeup last longer once set, and your face looks so flawless. Basically what you do is once you finish applying your foundation and concealer, you get any lose translucent power. My favorite at the moment  is the Laura Mercier powder, this power has a brightening affect so it really brightens the under eye area making you look more awake. You grab a damp beauty blender, saturate it into the power and put an excess amount of power under your eyes, bridge of your nose, forehead, and chin (the 'T' zone). You let the powder "bake" or sit their for five minutes and after wards you grad a powder brush and wipe away the excess powder off. Finally, you begin contouring.

How To Clean Your Beauty Blender

How To Clean Your Beauty Blender 

1. Grab a cup or bowl of hot water.

2. Mix in the recommended liquid Beauty Blender Cleanser. (If you use other cleansers, make sure there is no Glycolic or Salicylic acid because that can break down the foam of the beauty blender)

3. Soak your Beauty Blender and lather the soap into the foam, or you can leave it to soak overnight.

4. Once your done with the cleaning process make sure to squeeze out all excess water. It is recommended to use a towel, to make sure there is no water left behind.

5. Leave in an open area to air dry. Do not put it back in any makeup bag or case until it is completely dry to prevent any bacteria growth.

You should clean it after every use and replace it every 3 months, if used daily. Just for hygiene reasons, if you can't afford a beauty blender their are always other brands that sell imitations of it and half the price. The Real Techniques beauty blender is just as good if not better and half the price! For one sponge it is $6.99 but for two it is $10.99, what a deal!