5 Reasons Why You Should Try Michael Todd True Organics

1) There is no better price for the quality out there. All of their products are so rich and luxurious. Some items, with the 20% off are cheaper and larger than some drugstore brands! One of my must haves is the Rose Body Wash. The first ingredient is organic aloe leaf juice, not water. If fact, there's no added water filler. One body wash bottle lasted me months! And it's all I use! Any penny you spend on Michael Todd True Organics is investing in the health and well being of your skin.

2) The healthier and more even your skin is, the less $ you'll spend on makeup and the next new fad. Because this entire line is mostly organic, you can feel good about using it on your precious face! I have very sensitive, oily, breakout prone skin. Even the products for drier skin work so well on my face. Because none of the ingredients clog your pores. None of them dry out your skin either. None.

3) Included in this blog is a pic of my Michael Todd collection. Yes, I bought every product with my own money. No, I don't use them all in the same day, and yes, I have loved every. single. product. And so will you. My goal here is not to sell you on this brand, it's to help you solve your skin problems. Any problem you have, especially acne or problem skin, will be solved by a combination of only a few products. Just check out the ratings on any product on their webpage if you're still skeptical, and of course keep reading. ;)

4) No matter what your skin type is, basically every product they offer will work for you. No joke. Like I mentioned, I used to deal with very oily, sensitive, inflamed skin. By using especially the Skin Defender cleanser, any of their toners, and basically any of their serums (my favs are the Knu Anti Aging, Hyaluronic + C, and Concentrated C) will balance the PH levels in your skin. My skin now, and through most of the summer has changed to normal because of Michael Todd True Organics. Yes, I still deal with hormonal breakouts. But the condition of my skin has changed. My pores are tighter, my skin is more vibrant and even, my skin heals faster, it produces significantly less oil. For the first time in my life, I have zero black heads on my nose. No matter your skin type, try and eventually cycle through their products. Steer clear of products that advise against your skin type. But even if it's not specifically for you, still try it! I have never had an issue no using up all of a product, even if it didn't make my all time favorites. Those have still been waaaayyy better than anything at the drugstore and many high end products as well. And they are still my favorites, just not my holy grail, never fail ones. (These are listed below)

5) That moment when you rinse off a cleanser or mask, or feel the serum soak into your nutritionally parched skin. Believe me, it's a glorious moment. I look forward to my morning and night time skin routines now. It's pamper time. And even though these products don't have irritating fragrances, they smell amazing! Each and every one is a true treat for the senses! I don't even need a wash cloth to rinse off the Skin Defender cleanser or my beloved Charcoal Detox Mask. They rinse immediately clean with warm water. Even the cleansers nourish your skin while gently, thoroughly purifying it.

It's no secret. I'm obsessed. Here's proof.

                                            

My Holy Grail Never Fail products
Skin Defender (so gentle, so effective even removes eye makeup!)
Jojoba Charcoal Scrub (so sad, I'm almost out! Gentle, non irritating scrub)
Organic Lemon Toner (alcohol free, anti bacterial, lightly hydrating magic in a bottle!)
Hyaluronic + C Serum (great lightweight one for daytime, vitamin C is great for fading pigmentation and aids in healing of skin)
Knu Anti Aging Serum (hands down my all time #1 favorite product, worth every penny, just take a bit of time and read about it!)
Pumpkin Mask (smells fantastic, has glycolic acid to gently exfoliate!)
Charcoal Detox Mask (this makes my skin sigh with relief, very calming)
Citrus Cream Moisturizer (this is too moisturizing for my face but PERFECT for my neck and chest and back of my hands. Those places age fast too!)
Wild Rose Body Wash (the one and only body wash I've repurchased. I always keep a back up in my bathroom, I'm scared to run out! The only body wash I ever reach for. Who doesn't want to smell like roses? And it's not grandma rose smell, it's fresh garden girly freshness!)

My Wish List!
Organic Aloe (you can use this on your face too!)
Cleanse and Tone
Roobios Tea Gel (you can keep this in the fridge for an anti eye bag pick me up!
Damascus Rose (perfect for dry winter months)
Tropical Fruit Scrub (can't believe I don't own this one yet! Most raved about product from youtube!)
Organic Cranberry Toner

Life Changing Beauty Tips: Skincare Edition

Do you cringe when it's time to take your makeup off? Do you purposefully not look in the mirror much without makeup? Is the condition of your skin less than ideal? Then this blog is for you beautiful!

A lot of women don't like to do this, but really look and examine your natural face in a variety of lighting. Bathroom(s), take a mirror into a naturally lit room, check it out there. And make sure you go outside and look at your skin. (just remember to put your SPF 30 on!) Don't look at it in direct sunlight, go for the shade. If the sunlight is bouncing off a big object, take advantage of that, it's natures spotlight! See where your discoloration or pigmentation is on your face, if any. 

For example, on my face I have a lot of acne scars and discoloration around my mouth and side of my face. My forehead is a shade lighter, completely clear of acne or scars. So I use that and my neck to base what color the bottom of my face should look like. I don't want to slather my forehead in foundation to match my face, yet that is exactly what people who "matched" foundation for me did. I found that my forehead always looked lighter and weird against the rest of my face. It took me over a decade to figure this out!!! It turns out I'm a lot more pale then I realized. But because I wasn't a knowledgable shopper and didn't know my canvas I'm trying to paint, I relied on darker shades to cover all my acne and spots. It takes the right hand and products to cover acne on fair skin. (Can I get an amen from my fair skinned ladies?! ) Check out my current favorites blog for the BEST full coverage concealer! 

So, know that you know your canvas, you can start playing around and find your right shade. As in a previous blog "Do This, Not That!", get two like based foundations (doesn't have to be same formulation, just water with water based, same with silicone based) that are right around your true shade. If you're starting out with this, get two shades that are a few shades apart. This way you can really control the blend and discover your custom shade. Start applying the blend on a small area and then adjust accordingly. 

Also, now is the time to start looking for skincare that is customized to exactly what your skin needs. If you have pigmentation/scarring, look for a serum that has Vitamin C in it. Michael Todd has a fantastic one: Concentrated C Serum. I use this at night because it is quite moisturizing and in the morning, I use the Hyaluronic Acid + C Serum since it is extremely light. (I wear this under my makeup everyday, it keeps my skin nourished and balanced and makes my foundation go on smoothly like a dream!) They also have a toner, the Organic Lemon AHA + DMAE toner. All of these used with the Skin Defender Cleanser have faded my spots and brightened my complexion significantly! Whether you are oily, blotchy, dry, whatever, there are products for your skin issue out there. 

I also deal with dark circles and puffiness under the eyes. So I've really focused on treating those (and yes, Michael Todd's Intensive Organic Eye Cream is amazing, I only use it at night because it is quite hydrating). Also, if you are in your early 20s or older, start using an anti-aging eye serum or eye cream! Another trick I love is to brew some caffeinated green tea, unflavored. Let it steep for 15-20 minutes. Take a handful of cotton balls and soak them in the green tea. Ring out a little of the extra and put it in a Ziploc bag and throw them in the freezer. I like to wrap each cotton ball in a little bit of clear plastic wrap so they don't freeze together. In the morning if you have puffy eyes, grab two of those frozen cotton balls and set them under the eye. Put it on the lid too, if you see puffiness there. 

I absolutely love Michael Todd True Organics. Everyone who I've heard rave about it (handfuls of people!) all love it and have seen it work! Every person I've recommended it to has loved this brand as well. It cleared up my complexion, even though I wasn't using a ton of products with specific acne ingredients. I was just gently and thoroughly cleansing, toning (no matter how oily you are, never use a toner with alcohol! Basically rules out all drugstore toners lol), and ESPECIALLY moisturizing!!! Now I use to produce oil like it was my job. My makeup used to literally melt off my face in the middle of the day and because my face was rampant with acne, I would wash my face on college campus and reapply my full face of makeup. Craziness. 

Now that I nourish my skin, my oil production has gone down to the point that I basically consider my skin normal, on a bad day combo. I can now use products for normal, or even dry skin depending on the formulation. I find that the Michael Todd line has really helped even out the PH levels which has almost cleared up my acne, faded my scars and pigmentation, and balanced my oil production. 

So, take care of your skin. Aim to improve the overall condition and appearance of your skin. It takes some research and consistent time and effort, but you will end up needing less makeup on your face in the end! And you will actually look in the mirror with a fresh face and like what you see! (imagine that!!) If you don't know where to start, I'm glad to give recommendations. Leave any comments, questions or concerns below! Let's all embrace our natural skin, love it, learn to take care of it, it's the only skin you'll be getting!

Here is my makeup free face as of now. I had massive breakouts on the sides of my face in the past two months because my hormones were completely unbalanced. Now my system is regulating and in the past 3 weeks, my skin has been more breakout free than ever before! My scars are over half faded because of my skincare routine. I hope this encourages you if you are having problems with your skin. ❤

Follow me for several more editions of Life Changing Beauty Tips, including makeup edition, body care, hair care, fashion and nails! ❤❤❤

Disclaimer: I am new to blogging so this post is not sponsored and I have purchased all products myself. This brand is a game changer, for the price, quality and amount of product you get. I do have several more products from this brand that I have not mentioned in any posts, leave a comment if you would like a run down of the others!

Also, get 35% off Michael Todd with coupon code "shefinds"! Hurry, I don't know how long it is good for!!

Some of my Current Favorites

Hello my gorgeous friends! ❤ I have soooo many favorites saved up for you girls, here's a start! 

Michael Todd True Organics

I have a few products from this brand and I love them all. The products are such great quality and my skin responds very well to them. I can use these products and know I'm putting something nourishing on my skin. I use the Charcoal Jojoba Face Scrub (very gentle scrub, I use it every morning, really feels like it's deep cleaning those pores!), Charcoal Face Mask (so nourishing, my skin feels so good after I use this. I love using the charcoal scrub before applying this), and the Organic Lemon AHA + DMAE Toner (this is soooo refreshing! It helps reduce dark spots and even skin tone, I've noticed a different in my spots!). 

I got a body wash too, the Wild Rose Body Wash. Holy cow, this stuff smells so good. I love showering before bed and I'll use this, rub some Boots No. 7 Dry Body Oil Spray (it smells like fresh powder, smells so good layered with the rose scent) and I'll still smell good in the morning! My skin holds the smell nicely. Love love love it. ❤ I will actually be doing a more in depth review on more products I've gotten. I love everything from this brand!

Maybelline Color Tattoo cream shadows

I kinda didn't think much about this product. Until I realized that I used it basically every single time I put makeup on. These look great on their own or I love shading in the crease with a deeper shade. I find that my eye makeup does not budge when I use these. Such great results for drugstore. Go Maybelline!

My favorite shades are Barely Branded (I'm actually almost out of this color! I wear it all the time!), Bad to the Bronze, Tough as Taupe and Inked in Pink. (I've loved putting this under Mac's Woodwinked on the lid and then a darker brown in the crease for fall. Gorg) 

Prestige My Biggest Lashes in blackest black

This mascara is just miraculous. Hands down favorite mascara even compared to high end ones. No joke. (This has remained my favorite for about 6 months, and I've tried quite a few mascaras in that time!) This mascara gives length, definition and fullness and when it dries completely, your lashes are left feeling so feathery and light yet big and voluminous! You can easily layer this mascara, I usually use two coats. For full on lash power, I'll finish off with a coat of waterproof Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara. Try it out, it looks a-mazing. 

Physicians Formula Pearl Rose Blush

This blush is just so gorgeous. It has a extremely fine pearl sheen to it, quite understated. It gives such an amazing glow to your cheeks. I know I struggle with breakouts so covering those patches up sometimes takes away a lot of my luminosity. So I love using this blush to give me a radiant glow, without looking like shimmer is all over my cheeks. It immediately makes my skin look healthier. People have been commenting on how good my skin looks since I've been using this even though I've been dealing with some breakouts lately! Score!

Vichy-Dermablend Corrective Foundation

If you suffer with acne or pigmentation, you need to try this! It's labeled a foundation but I use it as a full coverage concealer. It's so thin, yet creamy, ultra pigmented and blendable! An ounce of this stuff will last me years and years!! The thing I love the most: it does cling to dry patches and it still looks like skin after applied. The color I wear is 15 Opal. What an outstanding product! 

Sleek Makeup Pout Paint

This stuff is only available online (if you're in US, it's a UK brand) but you get free shipping over $40. It is a fantastic dupe for the OCC lip tars! It comes in a little squeeze tube, they have tons of mixable colors, and it's only $6.49 a tube! Amazing, amazing formulation. I sometimes get patchiness on my lips when they get dry, this Pout Paint feels moisturizing, but it's completely opaque. Long lasting, great shine, it wears really evenly and beautifully off the lips. It's just an all around winner. I love it too, because I'm so fair, I can mix white with any color to lighten it. If you wanna get down to business, they also have a blue and orange, to play around with different toned pinks and reds. I really encourage you to give this product a try, you will love it! And when I wear a color out for a night, sometimes I'll get a really small empty plastic jar and I'll mix my color in the jar and then have it for a whole evening! It's so nice cause you can adjust the color to your liking. And, I will add that all the lip products from Sleek I have loved, especially the True Color Lipstick!

The colors from left to right: Cloud 9, Peachy Keen, Minx, Pinkini and Pin Up. My most used colors are Cloud 9, Minx and Pinkini. You can make a gorgeous baby pink with those three! And these truly stain your lips! Love!

Hope you liked this blog, this is my first favorites blog! I have more lined up! 

Beauty Blogger Tag

Hello my lovely friends! 

So this is my first blog tag! It's been a lot of fun to write! I was tagged by the beautiful and sweet Ciao Bella, go check out her blog! I'm just now getting into networking and just subscribed to my first 3 blogs, all of which have already been tagged so I won't be tagging anyone BUT if you are a beauty blogger and you're reading this, I'd be thrilled for you to do it and comment below with the link! I'll follow you if you do! ❤❤❤

Here are the rules for the Beauty Blogger Tag:

* State that this tag was created by The Beau Bow

* Tag some more beauty bloggers

* Title this as I've done to show what the tag is about

This tag was created by The Beau Bow!

On to my Questions & Answers:

1. Name a beauty routine you rarely do.

I have never fake tanned. It's something I want to try, I just have to find a face tanner that doesn't break me out first. Because it would drive me crazy if my face was so pale and then my body was shades darker. I can't commit to that much foundation or face product, everyday.. I just can't. 

2. Is washing your makeup brushes something you do regularly?

Yes. I deal with acne, I just got over a enormous hormone caused breakout on both sides of my face. I recently got my issue resolved and my hormones are balancing, thank goodness! But even so I still am prone to the occasional breakout. So cleaning my brushes every 7 uses or so is a must. Face brushes I try to clean every 4-5 uses. Yep I'm that crazy. 

3. How long will you last with chipped nail varnish?

I'd guess an average of about 3 hours. It drives me up the freakin wall, I can't take it. I will stare at it and I just can't take it. :-P

4. How long do you put off buying/replacing a beauty or nail polish product even if you need it (i.e. - top coat, foundation, etc.)?

I will replace rather quickly, depending on whether I need to use up something else. But my must haves I keep in stock!

5. What is your worst beauty habit?

I'm in recovery from cuticle/ finger chewing. Not a pretty habit. My fingers have been the source of much embarrassment over the past year. When my anxiety goes up, so does the speed of my teeth chewing my fingers raw. The past few months, I'm proud to say I've barely touched my fingers! Some are still a little gnarly because yes, it was that bad. But overall huge improvement. 

6. Name something non-beauty related that you put off all the time.

Actually, in my life I've been trying to do whatever needs to be done right then, just dealing with it in the moment. Whether that be confronting an issue or doing the dishes, when I recognize something needs to be done, I put a lot of effort to do it right away. You'll feel better the rest of the day!

7. When going out somewhere, do you leave getting ready until the last minute or not?

Yes usually. I'll leave most things until right before I leave. And then I'm rushing out the door. But I'm rarely late!

8. Can you commit to spending bans?

Yes. Yes I can. I will not spend... I will not spend... I will. not. spend... for now. :-P

9. How organized is your makeup and nail polish collections?

Well my makeup is in a 6 metal drawer cabinet that fits under my makeup desk. I have draws separated into foundation and cream face products, powder face products, cream and powder eye shadow singles and palettes, eye liners and mascaras and brow products, lips, and then the last draw is just misc. 

My nail polish I keep in a bag, all just throw in there. I do store my out of season colors in my other set of drawers in my closet. 

10. What is the longest time you've gone without writing a blog post?

Oh goodness. Almost 2 months? I dealt with some health issues but I'm better now and ready to blog away!!

Now to the other Tag: Confessions of a Beauty Blogger

1. How many hours a week do you spend writing/editing posts?

I'm aiming to write about 3 posts a week, which means an hour to write, 30 minutes to edit? So 4 1/2 hours

2. Are you a spender or a saver? 

Some of both! You need a little treat here and there! But saving is important too!

3. When is it easiest for you to blog?

When I'm wide awake and energized and excited!!

4. What makes writing behind a computer comfortable for you?

Well, I'm actually wanting to do YouTube videos eventually, but waiting on a camera and good lighting for that to go down. I'd rather be talking in front of a camera. But blogging is a great first step. I want to do videos on the side of  beginning my own beauty and health business!

5. What’s your worst makeup/hair habit?

The only thing I can think of is I'm bad at reapplying lipstick unless I'm somewhere fancy. That's why my go to lip is a nude or muted pink lip!

6. One quote that you wish the world would live by?

"Treat others the same way you would want to be treated."

7. How long do you spend getting ready everyday?

I really depends on situation. Errand running: 5-10 minutes, lunch date with hubs: 20-30 min, dinner date with hubs: 45-60 min, going out on the weekend: oh lord I need hours. Lol. 2 hours? 3 hours? Heaven only knows. Our spare bedroom is my closet, complete with a huge makeup desk area. I get lost in there for what seems days. Haha

8. Who is your favorite blogger?

I'm pretty new to the blogging world. My favorite beauty/ makeup person of all time is Lisa Eldridge. She changed my freakin life! Check her out, her videos are the best I've ever seen. I've learned so much from her!

9. Who is a blogger that you read who deserves more subscribers than they have?

Everyone who works hard and applies themselves! 

10. One thing your excited about in the upcoming year?

Oh goodness, so much. Furthering my career in Indy, networking online, building my blog, starting a YouTube channel, launching a web page with more than one blog! Looking forward to time with friends and family, celebrations and special days. =)

11. Your most awkward blogging moment? 

None thus far. 

12. How long does it take you to prep for a post?

Not too long. I just wait for the inspiration, and I write and write. 

13. Are you wearing pants(jeans/skirt) right now or are you actually wearing pajama bottoms?

I'm in leggings and a long black tank and sports bra. It's my everyday outfit, add layers as needed. 

14. What are you most proud of in your life?

I have been in recovery for about 6 months now from years of depression and anxiety. People for most of my life did me wrong in very sad ways, a lot of verbal, emotional, mental abuse. I separated my life from them years ago, I met my soulmate (we just celebrated 3 years of marriage this past July!). I have worked so hard and overcame cutting myself and almost taking my life. I'm alive more today than ever and doing so great now. I always knew there was more to life, and it was so worth the fight. :-) One of the blogs I want to start is a life blog, with everyday tips to help other women embrace their bodies as they are, how to build a positive life, little changes I've made to make me so consistently happy and upbeat! So much to share with the world! ❤

Bravo to you, because you've read this entire tag! Thank you so much for your time and attention, I'm truly grateful for you. Check out my other blog posts while you're here! ❤

Do This, Not That!

Quite a stark difference, eh? These are commonly made mistakes (and since I'm writing this blog, I've made every single one!) that are so easy to fix. I hope you find this helpful! Check out my profile for lots of great pics! 

Do this: Make extra sure your foundation truly matches your neck and chest! 

To be honest, I'm not a super awesome pro at picking my shade in the store. I'm skeptical of foundation matching because I've gotten matched to the wrong shade several times before. This is what I do though, I almost always mix foundations. You don't have to have the same brand, same formula to mix shades. I would only mix like based foundations, water based with water based, silicone with silicone. If you don't see the ingredients or don't know, just google it! I find mixing foundation shades has made matching my face and body so easy! Whether I'm a little tan, more on the pale side, or anywhere in between, I always have perfectly matched foundation. If you apply a small amount first, you can see whether it's too light or dark, and adjust it accordingly. 

Not that: Nobody wants to look cakey and powder face. I have oily skin, so I used to go on the heavy side with powder. Since then I have learned that very thin, light layers of a translucent powder are a perfect way to set your look and not cover all the luminosity in your face. Also, I don't powder the tops of my cheekbones, or the outer perimeter of my face. People don't usually produce much oil in those places so it's nice to let the surface of the skin shine through. 

Do this: Take the time to apply your eyeliner as perfect as you can! I used to just draw my eyeliner on so fast and haphazardly. I remember around the time when I really started applying myself to watch videos on YouTube on how to apply perfect eyeliner. You have to take your time, really concentrate on making both eyes as symmetric as possible. Make sure the width of the line is equal on both eyes at the inner eye, the middle, and the outer eye. Even if I'm just doing a line on my upper lashes, I like making it thinner on the inner part, and slightly thicken it as you move out. This is also the first step of my cat eye/winged liner look. I find the felt tipped eyeliner pens are the easiest to work with. Revlon has a decent Colorstay one. I find they don't last as long as my NYX gel smudge liner (that stuff is the bomb!) but they are so easy to work with and I can do a cat eye in 2 seconds. I'll use the felt tipped pen if I'm just thinly lining my lash line or if I'm doing more dramatic eyeliner that doesn't have to look picture perfect or last for 8 hours. I'll also use the pen to touch up or finish smoothing a line at the end my eyeliner application and I'll toss it in my clutch for an evening out. It's perfect for quick touch ups on the go!

Not that: Don't make your eyeliner on your bottom lashes equal or greater thickness than the eyeliner on your top lashes. Always make your top lash line more defined than your bottom one. If you put liner on your bottom waterline, put it on your top waterline, every time! Something I love to do is taking a pencil brush and my crease color or a medium toned color and line my bottom lashes with a wash of shadow, kind of blend it out and make it a nice background for your lashes. This is a subtle but effective way to define your bottom lash line. 

Do this: Try out a finishing spray if you haven't! I have read reviews and scoured the Internet for more affordable options than Urban Decay but still work. Well, I didn't get too far. Urban Decays setting sprays have technology in them to actually keep your makeup cooler throughout the day. I always feel like the first thing to get warmer when I'm overheated is my face... and my makeup.. not a good look. If you have dry skin, go for the Chill Makeup Setting Spray. If you're oily, go with the De-Slick. And if you want your makeup to last even longer, they have the All Nighter Long-Lasting one. I personally love the last two, since oil control is an issue for me. These setting sprays have made all the difference. My blush actually stays on my cheeks now! If you try them out, remember to always shake them! 

Do this: Use a deep repair hair mask at least once a week. My favorite routine is to towel dry my hair after washing it, then apply my hair mask (my favorite is the Macadamia Natural Deep Repair Masque) and I throw it up in a little bun, slap a disposable shower cap on and wait for 20-30 minutes. I rinse it out with cold water to seal the hair cuticle and prevent further damage. After I use this hair treatment, my hair is so soft, yet weightless. This product, along with the Macadamia Natural Healing Oil Treatment have made such a huge difference in the condition of my hair. 

And always do this: Try to find something about yourself once a day that you see as beautiful. I find focusing on the things I like about myself, instead of all the things I'd rather change, really helps my self esteem. Makeup and hair and fashion, these are all things to enhance natural beauty, not cover it up! Find products and clothes that 100% work for you. Be a stickler, do a little research on products. You'll have a much better chance than something you happened to randomly pick up during an errand. And most importantly, find and think of things you can do that will make you feel better about yourself. Treat yourself every few days to a face mask, a body scrub, or a fragrance that you can get lost in. Embrace your body, no matter how much you love it or not, it's the only one you're getting in life! Take care of your skin, hair and nails; nourish your body. Hopefully it'll help you feel beautiful as you are, not you with all the makeup. ❤

My Online Shopping Tips!

Have you found yourself somehow stuck with a bunch of random things you found in the sale section online that you don't like, and can't return? It's happened to a lot of us, me probably more than the normal human being. But, all those mistakes are why I'm able to write a post about how to shop like a pro online! These are my own rules I've found helpful and I hope you do as well!

1) I rarely buy anything fitted (Ex: 100% polyester, 100% rayon) online (only example I can think of that is an exception is "boyfriend" or loose fitting blouses, blazers, etc. although almost everything is better with at least a bit of stretch!). You are taking a shot in the dark if you think every garment is measured to the exact one fourth of an inch. Don't get me wrong, I use those size guides as a general idea, but I keep in mind the fabric blend. My favorite items from online are stretchy dresses, pants, skirts, etc. because they are a guaranteed fit, if you have an general idea of your measurements. A great guideline when shopping for dresses, tops, pants, skirts, whatever article of clothing will be very stretchy and comfy if its a jersey fabric or has at least 3 or 4% spandex or elastin and the rest of the fabric will be cotton or a cotton, polyester blend. I personally don't like rayon/nylon with spandex  because sometimes it can make the clothing feel rough and kind of stiff. 

2) Make sure you read the return policy for online orders! There are several websites out there with great return policies, some of them even cover your return shipping. 

3) ALWAYS, ALWAYS, always google the websites name and the word 'coupon,' 'coupon code,' or 'promo code.' The most popular site, my go to site for coupons, is retailmenot.com. Before you checkout, always search for a coupon code. You can also sometimes find them in blogs as well. They're worth a shot every time! 

4) Consider how much you spend on shipping. Speaking of shipping costs, most stores have a dollar amount to reach and then you'll get free shipping. Now, I don't condone over buying (some of us might know what that feels like... me, maybe I've bought a little too much before! Lol) but only put what you need in your cart and if it doesn't meet the required shipping, find out how much it costs to ship your order at that amount. Sometimes it's around $5. In some cases, like if I'm far away from the free shipping price, I'll pay to ship IF its reasonable AND it's not available anywhere else for a better overall price, including any tax. Add in any discount codes you find, as well. 

5) Keep an eye out for sales, especially near the end of a season (like right now, today, go! Lol). I have an email that is mostly devoted to websites I subscribe to. They keep you up to date on any sales, but be forewarned, you will have to sift through a bit of junk. Since I'm somewhat glued to my iPhone (I'm sure some of you can relate!) I check my email a few times a day and keep on top of deleting most emails that don't interest me. Here's emails you need to look out for: anything % off site wide, % off already reduced sale items, new markdowns, or any specials where the free deluxe sized gift is something you're truly interested in trying, make sure the needed dollar amount isn't a crazy number first (try not to fall for things you might think you want but end up getting thrown out a year later). 

6) Find ways to create an account (sometimes signing up for email is optional or you can unsubscribe just from the emails) and create a saved wish list or closet of items you are interested in or items that you find you are missing in your wardrobe. This way you can check up on things to see if they get marked down. Watch for markdowns in the early week. Look for sales and free shipping on any $ amount through the middle of the week. I feel during weekends, it can be hard to find good specials. 

7) READ REVIEWS! Almost all comments are worth reading. Good or bad. Don't let an initial low rating deter you from items you find you truly love, but read the review. If it is defective or cheap looking in person, you'd want to save yourself the hassle! However sometimes the review is just a personal opinion. I take those more lightly than good, solid review comments or anything greater than 4/5 stars that has more than 15 reviews I'd say (based on the popularity/availability of the product) is the way to go.

8) Do what you're doing right now! Read blogs, reviews, watch YouTube makeup favorites videos or just makeup tutorials. Most of the time they at least mention the product, if not link it below the video, for your easy access. You can see that product in action and the immediate results of the application. Take note of products 2 or more people mention positively. I think this is the future of cosmetic sales! We trust other people like us! Especially people you know aren't sponsored. There are a lot of amazing YouTube channels like that. It's a great resource for all things beauty and fashion!

I hope these tips help! I was going to link some of my favorite sites, but this blog is already a novel. Bravo if you've made it to the end, much thanks for your interest in this blog! 

Long Lasting, Melt Free Makeup

Hello there beautiful! 

So it's getting hotter here in Indianapolis, and I've been finding that if I don't carefully apply my makeup or use the wrong product, my makeup will melt off my face. Since I have been dealing with some breakouts, that does not appeal to me. 

This post will not only give tips for event makeup (party, date, wedding, etc) but also tips for hot days, because I've found several of my events lately have also been outdoors. 

Make sure you face is prepped. If it's been a little while since you washed your face in the morning, take some cleansing water or a light amount of a gentle face cleanser (one of my favorite things to do since I'm a little oily, I wash my face with a clay mask. It removes any excess dirt and oil, without stripping your skin or drying you out). Sometimes I'll do minimal makeup for daytime and then I make sure to gently, but thoroughly cleanse my skin. Because long lasting makeup is reliant upon a clean, healthy canvas. If your skin feels dehydrated or tight, use a moisturizer. 

Now, some people are inseparable from their foundation primers. Let me say, good foundation primers can do wonders for longevity and I almost always use one for long lasting makeup. I usually apply it where my skin is imperfect. If makeup fades a little (sometimes it looks better if it looks a bit worn in), only your imperfections will become more prominent. So I apply primer on my acne scars, blemishes, under my eyes and sometimes on my t-zone to help with oil. I find when I use a primer on imperfections, they are much easier to apply makeup on while still looking as natural as possible. 

Now time for foundation. I think everyone needs a long lasting foundation in their makeup collection. Revlon has one of the best for drugstore, Colorstay foundation. They have tons of shades and two different formulations, one for oily/combination and one for normal/dry. I, obviously, use the one for oily skin and I love it. No joke, it will last all day. I tend to sweat a lot on my upper lip and this will still not move! When applying long lasting foundations, apply it in very thin layers. If you need more coverage in some places, add another layer there, just make sure it dries and sets between layers. I also always apply it with my fingers. I find rubbing it into your skin, much like a lotion, it will be easier when you can see what it feels like as you rub it in. I usually take my foundation down my neck just a bit, as well, and make sure all edges are blended in. 

Now when it comes to concealer, I have tried sooooo many. I have found the holy grail. It's Vichy-Dermablend foundation. You can use the teeny tiniest amount, it's quite liquidy, but the smallest dot will completely cover even the darkest imperfection 100% and still looks like skin. No cake, it stays put SO well, I love it. It's a bit of an investment , but let me tell you, it will last forever. If you struggle with acne or spots on your face, you need this product!! Days where I have a breakout, I am not worried as much now because I know I can erase it! I apply this product with either a fine liner brush or a synthetic brush like this. I'll dab the product into the skin, sometimes I'll tap it with my finger to ensure it is completely meshed with the skin. 

One rule you do not want to live without: use a smaller setting brush to set the concealer (especially over spots but also under eye) and lightly pat a small amount of powder onto the area. You don't want to go crazy, rubbing a powder brush, messing up the beautiful concealer you just spent time on! Use the big powder brush for the rest of your face, I focus on the t-zone. Remember to keep using thin layers, you can always add a tiny bit more to where you need it. I keep my cheekbones powder free to promote glowing, luminous skin in that area. 

If your blush seems to fade away quite quickly (this happens to me sometimes), it's a great idea to use a cheek tint or a long lasting blush. Cream blush can also be great, just make sure to apply this before your powder, and only use a small layer of translucent powder. Take your time to ensure there are no harsh edges with your blush. If you need to, take a drop of foundation on the back of your hand, rub some on a foundation brush and lightly go over the edges. After you've blended and blended, one of my favorite things to do for a healthy, flushed glow is I add a little extra blush to the very center of my pink cheek. This won't create any edges and can really add another dimension to your blush. 

For bronzer, I prefer buying a powder a few shades darker than my natural color. Since I'm so pale, I prefer shades that are more cool, not orangy. 

A good setting spray can also help prolong your makeup and keep it looking beautiful. If you have oily skin, Urban Decay De-Slick is great one. I have achieved great results without a setting spray, but it is still on my list to try out!

Part 2 is coming soon! It will be about long lasting brows, eyeshadow, liner, mascara and lips!