What's new?

Hey beauties! I just signed myself up for Birch Box! And if you don't know what it is, it's a program that sends you 4-5 beauty samples every month! I'm talking high end products. Like Benefit, Laura Mercier, Marc Jacobs, Purminerals, Shu Uemura, Stila and so many more! Click the link for the complete list.

https://www.birchbox.com/shop/brands

And this is the best part! It's only $10! :D How awesome is that! That's like $2 a product! Yes, they are sample sized but when you accumulate enough points you get discounts on full sized products through their website! So what are you waiting for? Go sign yourself up! :) 

https://www.birchbox.com/

You can choose to pay monthly, which is what I did, or you can pay for an entire year for $110, which saves you $10 and gives you 110 points. I think that shipping is free but you can check during check out. I'm getting mine August 10! :) I can't wait! :D

Maybelline Great Lash Big

$4-6 at Drugstores

Description:

• Bigger brush for great big live-it-up lashes!
• The Great BIG Brush plus volume-building formula gives great BIG lashes
• Volume builds with each coat - no clumps or globs
• Contact lens safe
• Ophthalmologist tested

I absolutely love this mascara! I think I got it for around $5 at Walmart. I've been using this product for a while and I'm almost all out! It adds a lot of volume to my lashes making them look full and thick. I love the huge wand! I feel like it coats every lash and builds up volume without the thick, sticky mess that you can often get. It's easy to remove and it doesn't smudge.

The only thing that I don't like about this product is that I found it doesn't add much length. But if you pair this with a lengthening mascara you're set! :) 

I definitely recommend this and will be repurchasing! :)

E.L.F Mechanical Eyelash Curler!

$1 @ Eyeslipsface.com or select Target stores

I absolutely love this eyelash curler! And it really works! And my eyelashes never hold a curl. I've been using this for about a year. I've used a lot of different lash curlers and for a while I gave up on using them. Then I discovered this! And I figured if I hated it, it was only a dollar. Turns out I love it! And I use it every day!

Rave:

• Super affordable!
• Doesn't pinch 
• Curl lasts
• Easy to use
• Lasts a long time

I really don't have a rant about this.. Except that my rubber pad keeps popping out. 

I have really short, straight, Asian eyelashes and I'm sure if it'll curl my lashes it'll work on anyone! And it doesn't pinch. Which I absolutely love! 

I recommend this curler to everyone who asks for a good one! And for only one dollar! You can't go wrong! :) 

BADgal Lash Waterproof!

Benefit's Waterproof BADgal Lash

$19 @ Sephora, Benefit counters or online

Description:

A long-lasting, smudge-proof, waterproof mascara that packs the same black bad-itude as our original BADgal lash for lashes that perform rain or shine.

The slimline brush makes it easy to apply and dries fast so you can add multiple coats in a flash.

Rave:

• Lasts all day
• Extremely waterproof [Tear-proof too!]
• Lengthening
• Dries quickly
• Small wand makes for cleaner application

Rant:

• Extremely hard to take off - you can scrub at your eyes forever in the shower and will hardly make a dent
• Doesn't add curl
• Pricey 
• Clumps
• Thick
• Formula dried up quickly in the tube

Overall:

I was so excited when I purchased this product after hearing all of the raves about the original BADgal Lash mascara. So I thought I'd try the waterproof. I thought this product was way over hyped and I was extremely disappointed. It added a lot of length but not without several coats that quickly became a hot, clumpy, thick mess! I was so disappointed. And when I tried to take it off that night, it was a nightmare! Normally I can get most of the mascara off in the shower, but this stuck on and smudged all over my eyes. 

I will not be repurchasing this product and I do not recommend it! But if you want to try the BADgal Lash mascara get the mini size in the original formula at Sephora for $8. 

Hope this review was helpful! :)

What have I been up to?

Extreme couponing! After the TV show on TLC, extreme couponing has been the latest thing! I've recently been inspired to start doing this by my cousin! She runs a beauty blog as well [mybeautyrate.com] and after hearing about all the money that she's saved, especially on beauty products, I've been hooked! I love to shop, especially for makeup! But since my paychecks are next to nothing and with everything being so expensive it's been hard to buy the things I want! So I figure if I can save money I'll be able to buy the things I want! So I did some [ok a lot] of research online and I came across this amazing site! 

http://thekrazycouponlady.com/

This site has everything! I mean the latest deals, coupons, and lots and lots of helpful tips! :) If you're a beginner and have no idea where to start [like me!] visit this page! It was so so so helpful for me! They have 10 day check list to help get you started. 

http://thekrazycouponlady.com/beginners/

If you live in an area that gets the Union Tribune I suggest you sign up for their Sunday paper! It's such a steal! It's $1 a paper and you get it at 7 am every Sunday! $1 is so much cheaper than buying it at one of those machines or a Starbucks! And it gets delivered right to your house! 

https://www.subscriber-services.com/sandiego/zipcheck.asp?pid=23

The LA Times also offers Sunday papers for $1! But you have to use this code: 180011. They also allow you up to 3 subscriptions! 

https://myaccount.latimes.com/select_pub.asp?uid=0

Once I start getting the hang of it I'm going to subscribe to more newspapers with several subscriptions. But since I'm only just starting out, I'm taking things slowly. And to start myself off I've purchased a binder to keep everything in and baseball card holders to organize the coupons! I can't wait to get my first paper!

I'll be keeping you guys posted on all of the deals that I can find! Especially on beauty related products! So keep checking back! :) 

Freebie?!

I don't know about you.. But I love getting free stuff! Click the link below to get your free sample of Garnier Fructis Anti- Dandruff shampoo! I'm not exactly sure which one you get from their new line.. But I think it's the mint cleanse Click this link and click the Get A Free Sample button! Take a minute to fill out the information and within the next 4 weeks you'll get your sample!


http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid99356.aspx?cm_mmc=dt-_-Anti%20dandruff-_-Walmart-_-sample


Basically their new line guarantees to get rid of your "visible" flakes in 48 hours! And if you don't see results and you've purchased this product you can send it back [within 60 days] with your receipt and get a full refund!


So what are you waiting for? Click that link before this offer expires! :)

Maybelline Gel Eyeliner

Maybelline EyeStudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

$7 @ most drug stores

I can't get enough of this product! I absolutely love it! I've used it almost every single day since I bought it. I have it in the color Blackest Black 950. But they also have 3 other pretty shades in: Brown 952, Charcoal 954, and Eggplant 956. 

Product Details: 

• Oil-free formula holds highly concentrated pigments in a clear gel base

• Smudge-proof and waterwproof for 24 hours
• Most intense line for lasting drama                                                  
• Safe for sensitive eyes and ophthalmologist-tested
• Contact lens safe

Rave:

• Easy to apply
• Smooth & creamy
• Long lasting
• Minimal smudging
• Extremely pigmented
• A little goes a long way

Rant:

• Brush included is thick
• Smudging after 6+ hours
• Transfer - You get a black line in the middle of your eye after a few hours of wear

I was skeptical when I first bought this product because I had never used a gel eyeliner before.. And I was worried that it'd be hard to use and apply. But after a few tries I got the hang of it! Now it only takes seconds to apply. I don't recommend using the brush that they provide, it's really thick and creates a thick line. But I suggest you try it out first to see if you like it. I bought the E.L.F Angled Eyeliner Brush for $3! And it works amazingly well. [Review soon]

I like to put this on top of eyeshadow, I find that there's less transfer and smudging that way and it lasts longer. But if you're not going to wear any eyeshadow I suggest that you apply a tiny bit of primer and some of your face powder and then apply the eyeliner.

I personally prefer this over liquid liners because I don't really like the shiney finish they have, this one leaves a nice matte finish that lasts all day! And this product will last you a really long time because you only need a very small amount when applying! I am definitely going to be repurchasing this product or a similar one when I'm done! I hope this review was helpful! :) 

Read my How To on applying eyeliner here:

http://beautyrave.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-apply-eyeliner.html

How to: Apply eyeliner!

Applying eyeliner can be intimidating! Especially for beginners or people with shakey hands [me!] But like with everything else, practice makes perfect! So here's how I like to apply different eyeliners. The technique is basically the same but they all slightly vary.:)

Pencil:

Everyone should have a pencil liner in their makeup collection! It's a definite must have!

My favorite is Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero

1. Start out with a sharp pencil
2. Pull your eye slightly taught 
3. Starting from the middle draw a thin line, as close to the lash line as possible and work your way to the outer corner of your eye using short strokes.
4. Then go back to where you started, in the middle, and slowly work your way to the inner corner of your eye, also using short strokes. [Your line doesn't have to be perfect but make sure there aren't parts that are super thick, and super thin]
5. Take an angled brush and dip it into some black eyeshadow, tap out the excess
6. Starting from the middle of your eye again and working your way out apply the eyeshadow on top of the eyeliner.
7. Then work your way from the middle to your inner eye. And then you're done! Adding the eyeshadow helps to seal in the liner and make it last all day and it helps to correct any mistakes that you may have made.

Liquid:

There are different types of liquid liner, most of them have a detachable brush. But there are also ones with "marker" tips. Personally I think that those are the easiest to apply. I like Stila's Stay All Day liquid liner. But for a standard eyeliner go with Maybelline's Ultra Liner. Make sure you get a waterproof one! 

1. Take your brush and wipe the excess off on the side of the tube
2. Pull your eye slightly taught
3. Work from the middle out, using short strokes. Then go from the middle in. Making sure to stay close to the lash line!
4. I like to run my brush over it again starting from the inner corner to the outer to make the line more fluid and correct any mistakes. And that's it! There's no need to apply a powder on top because liquid liners generally stay all day.
   

Gel:

These take a little more practice to get the hang of. But this is definitely my favorite product to use.

1. Take your brush and lightly dip it into the product, making sure to evenly coat your brush. 
2. Wipe off the excess on the lip of your jar. 
3. Pull your eye taught
4. Begin in the middle of your eye, staying very close to the lash line. Using tiny strokes work your way to the outer corner of your eye.
5. Then work your way in from the middle, also using tiny strokes.
6. Then starting from the inner corner, retrace your line to make it fluid and to correct mistakes.
7. Keep your eye closed for about 15 seconds to allow the product to dry, or it will transfer to the top of your lid.
8. Once your 15 seconds are up you're done!

Waterline/Tightline:

This can also be intimidating to a lot of people, because you're working so close to your eye! But trust me, it's super simple and really quick! And painless. Why do you do this?? You might be asking, it makes your lashes appear fuller and thicker and it helps to define your eyes. This is typically done with a pencil, but you can also use a gel eyeliner.

Waterline:

1. Place your finger under your eye and gently pull it down. 
2. Take your pencil and lightly place it in the outer corner of your eye
3. Sweep your pencil back and fourth until you get the desired intensity
4. Optional: If you want your liner to last all day take a bit of eyeshadow on an angled brush and pat it on top

Tightline:

1. Place your finger right above the top outer corner of your eye and pull your lid up.
2. Place your pencil in the outer corner. [I find that it helps to look away, just move your eyeball to the outer corner of your eye]
3. Run your pencil back and fourth a few times. 

Tips!:

• Shakey hands? No problem! Just place your elbows on a hard, sturdy surface and place the sides of your hands on your face. This will provide stability to your hands and allow for easier application.
• Want long lasting? Wearing eyeshadow helps the product last longer. But if you don't want to wear eyeshadow, just apply a bit of primer and powder on top and before putting on your eyeliner. 
• Practice! Draw lines on the back of your hands and play with different thicknesses until you find the one you like. Get familiar with your brushes and find the best application techniques that work for you!

As you can see the techniques are basically all the same, so once you've mastered one the rest will be a piece of cake! Just practice, practice, practice! I suggest you go to Sephora or Ulta or any makeup counter and try out the different types of eyeliners they have and find one that suits you. 

I hope this How To was helpful! Wanna check out my reviews on eyeliners? Type in eyeliner in the little search bar on the right! :) 

DIY: Sea Salt Spray!

So I've recently discovered this awesome DIY! :D It's multifunctional and does wonders for whatever you're using it for! :)


I originally made it to help my piercing heal.. Because I didn't want to spend all that money on an H2O spray which was basically just sea salt and water.. So I made it myself. Sure it doesn't have all of the added good stuff like vitamins and things like that.. But I figured this would still get the job done. All you need to do is apply a few spritzes onto your piercing and move the jewelry through the hole to get the water in it.

Then I was thinking one day.. Why you get awesome waves after you swim in the ocean?? And I thought it must be the salt! So I spritzed it all over my hair and voila! Amazing, beachy waves! :)

What you need:

1. A spritzer bottle [I got a pack of 4 travel sized bottles at Target for $2.50]
2. Sea Salt [Also at Target $4 - Alessi Sea Salt]

Here's how:

1. Add a few pinches of salt into your bottle [ 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon for a 3 oz bottle]
2. Fill it up with water; use filtered water if you're using it for your piercing
3. Shake it up and you're done! How easy was that?

Waves:

1. Start with dry hair [works with wet hair too, but better with dry]
2. Spritz the salty water all over your hair, making it slightly damp
3. Twist your hair up into a tight bun
4. Let it dry! You can air dry it or blow dry it if you're in a hurry. [While still in the bun]
5. Let down your hair and shake it out to reveal your beachy waves! No need for hair spray or gel the waves will hold on their own! :)

Hope you like this DIY! :D

E.L.F Haul!!!

ELF was having a 50% off sale on their studio line! So I had to take advantage of the deal! :) Sadly this coupon has expired.. But checkout their site for their current sales! They are always having awesome deals on their already affordable products! Here's how I took advantage of this sale! 

100 Piece Eyeshadow Palette

$10

[Excluded from sales]

Code #: 71605

High Definition Powder

$6

Code #: 83331

Eyebrow Kit - Dark

$3

Code #: 81303

Kabuki Face Brush

$5

Code #: 85011

Powder Brush

$3

Code #: 84003

Angled Eyeliner Brush

$3

Code #: 84013

Daily Brush Cleaner

$3

Code #: 85011

These items are from the essentials line:

Zit Zapper

$1

Code #: 7801

Brightening Eye Color - Ivy

$1

[I received this as a free gift for referring friends]

Code #: 2008

That's all I got with this purchase. I'm really bummed that my daily brush cleaner broke during shipping. :( But I'm really excited to use these products! :) I can't wait to write reviews for all of them soon! 

If you want to purchase any of these items go to:

eyeslipsface.com

And type in the code # that I provided in the search bar and it'll take you right to the product! 

Sign up and you'll be the first to know about their awesome deals and promotions! And you'll get a special gift on your birthday! :)