Favorite Lipsticks & A Coupon Code

Lately I've been obsessed with lipstick and have found a few shades that I wear all the time. Right now I go back and forth between MAC lipstick and Revlon. The MAC tubes run about $16 each but the Revlon are right at $5. If you aren't too excited about spending $16 on a tube of lipstick, read on to see how you can get similar shades for less.

Lipstick left, right

When I'm wanting a pink shade, I usually go back and forth between MAC's Please Me, and Candy Yum-Yum. Please Me is a nice muted shade of pink while Candy Yum-Yum is an electric shade. 

I recently just picked up a pretty pink shade from Target for $5. It's called 'Pink Cloud' by Revlon and it goes on super sheer and feels like a lip gloss. If you want a subtle shade for less, check your local Target store.

Pink Cloud at Target - $5

Maybeline's Fuschia Flash - $5.50 - Identical to Candy Yum-Yum

Lipstick right, left

When I'm not wearing pink, I'm alternating between MAC's Morange and Revlon's Fire and Ice. Once again there is a more affordable option for this bright orange if you are looking for one. 

I recently picked up Revlon's Siren thinking it would be a nice sheer orange that I could wear over my MAC Morange for a bit of shine. I was surprised to see that it was almost identical. It goes on matte with a strong bright look just like Morange. So if you are looking for a nice bright inexpensive lipstick, get Siren. The pictures that I found online don't look anything what it looks like in person. It definitely is identical to Morange.

What are your favorite lipsticks and colors?

* If you are doing any shopping today, make sure you stop by my online jewelry store, How Gorgeous. Save $3 on your entire order today with the coupon code SAVE3. Happy shopping!

Skin Savers

I tend to blog mostly about fashion but since my blog is called Fashion and Beauty Finds, perhaps I should throw in a beauty post here and there. ;)

Recently I've started to feel old and haggard. No, really. It could be that my birthday is fast approaching. It could be that the kids I teach who are graduating from high school this year were just infants when I was about 17 or 18. Yikes. Or it could be that I'm old enough to have kids of my own... And I have three. Whatever it is, my skin is starting to show the signs of aging.

                        

But seriously, there are a few things that I have been doing to counteract the signs of aging. Like using these products:

Serum, moisturizer, brush

A Clarisonic has not been in my budget so I opted for the Olay Pro-X. It only cost $30 and has been a skin life saver! My skin was feeling rough and looking uneven (even though I exfoliate with a cream once a week). Using this every night has made all the difference. My skin feels baby soft and my complexion looks so much better. If a Clarisonic is not in your budget, make a point of getting one of these brushes. Trust me, you will wonder what you did without it!

I've also been using the L'Oreal Youth Code texture perfector serum and moisturizer. I use the serum in the morning and night and the moisturizer just at night. I think the combination of this serum, moisturizer, and brush have worked wonders. Let me know if you try them and what you think!

* When I looked online at the time of writing this post, it looked like if you bought 2 L'Oreal products (specifically these two) you would get a free $5 Target gift card. Check with your local store and see if they are running that promotion. You could use the $5 toward the brush!

Have a great day!

Hair 101

I'm one of those girls who reads beauty tips (at least hair tips) and walks away frustrated. I don't get the hair jargon and all the fancy schmancy products that I'm supposed to use. To be honest, lately I've just been using whatever products are under my bathroom sink. I have a system that works pretty well for me. It may not be for you but maybe you can take away a tip or two that might help your hair regimen. 

Sleek & Straight

You might remember this post I did ages ago on how I style my hair straight. I always start with some kind of root lifter or mousse to give my hair a little texture. While silky hair is fabulous, I can't stand the way it feels on me. The roots seem to get stringy quickly and they take on a greasy look way too fast. I do like to use a little argan oil on the ends of my hair because I like the tips to be smooth. After applying mousse, I pile all of my hair up on my head (minus a small back section) and start blow drying with this:

This is the best brush for straightening hair that I have found and is available at Ulta for only $18.99. It's so much easier to use than a round brush and I am able to get the back, normally hard to reach, areas. As I dry each section, I let down another section from the pile on my head until my whole head is dry. When I'm finished, I usually have a pretty flawless blowout. Sometimes I will go over a very thin layer around my head with a flat iron to give it extra shine. 

The best part about using this brush, as opposed to strictly a flat iron, is that my hair stays full looking. Normally when I use only a flat iron my hair comes out looking, well, flat.

Full, Curly Hair

Curly hair is what I do when I feel lazy. I normally wash my hair, blow dry it halfway and do my make-up while the rest dries on its own. I use one large hot roller to roll my 'bangs' (they aren't really bangs, but the front part of my hair) away from my face. Then I use about seven medium (one inch) rollers throughout my hair. I usually leave them in for twenty minutes until they are cool and then let them down. If the curls are a little too perfect, I will separate them with my fingers and then spray with Aussie hair spray (flexible hold). I typically spritz my hair, do what I need to do around the house, and then go back for a final spritz. I find that after the first spritz has dried, I usually miss a section and can catch it on the second try. The flexible hold hair spray helps to keep my hair from looking too stiff.

Top Knot

A top knot is what I do with my hair when I am feeling the laziest. It is super easy, quick, and has been my go-to hair style for several years now. I pull my hair up into a high ponytail and smooth out any bumps with my brush that may happen in the process.

Next, I give the ponytail a twist once to the left (while still holding the ponytail high above my head). Only then, after giving it a twist, do I wind it around the base of the ponytail. I secure the base with several bobby pins and place a few throughout the top of the bun to secure stray hairs.

I realize that these pictures may not be the most professional, but let's face it: I'm a mom and my kids were beating on the door during these pictures. So even if the video I took would have worked, there probably would have been children in the background demanding entrance to my bathroom.

So there you have it. The not-so-glamorous hair routine of a busy mom to two little boys. If any of this helps you or inspires you, bless you.

* I'd love to have your vote in the Wallis Ambassador Contest. Click here to go vote! Make sure you like their page and accept the pop-up from Offerpop in order to vote.

Don't forget to enter the Poppy Boutique giveaway here. Have a great day!

Make-up Routine

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I shared my skincare routine in a previous post and promised to share my daily make-up routine this week. As you might have read in that post, I consistently use the L'Oreal Studio Secrets primer after I moisturize. After it dries, I apply Covergirl & Olay's foundation with a sponge, blending gently. One of the things my mother taught me was to apply foundation and concealer gently. There is no reason to pull at your skin. Gravity will take care of that in years to come so I see no reason to speed its progress. Sometimes I will take a tissue and rub along my jaw line to ensure there are no lines or streaks. After my foundation, I apply the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer. The product comes out of a small rounded sponge at the end, which I love. I use my ring finger to gently blend in the remaining product under my eye. Next I apply my BareMinerals powder foundation with a large brush. Really, this powder can be used as foundation but I just do a light dusting over my face. The final step in this section is applying my Urban Decay Primer Potion across my eyelids. This primer is great - it helps my shadow go on smoothly and vibrantly and keeps it in place all day long.

My favorite shadow right now is the L'Oreal Smokes Quad. It's actually light enough for day wear but I have experimented with adding more for night. I never use the little sponge brush that comes in a shadow pack. I have an assortment of different brushes to apply my shadow. If you are looking for some reasonably priced brushes, check out Ulta or Target.  

After I apply my shadow, I always do a cat eye with my Almay liquid liner. I rarely use pencils anymore because I can get a bolder, more dramatic look with my liquid liner. I think it is easier to apply than a pencil as well. 

I curl my lashes before I apply mascara. Since I have very straight lashes, I start at the base with the curler and give it a few squeezes and then hold it. I continue doing this as I slowly move down my lashes until I reach the end. A few coats of my new favorite mascara by IsaDora is the final touch to my eyes.

Next, I add a bronzer to my cheeks for a little color. I have been using Mary Kay bronzers for a few years now. The color pictured above isn't the exact shade that I own, but it is close. 

Finally, I put on a few swipes of my favorite lipstick. I have loved the deep berry shades that have been so popular and this Amber Suede shade is my absolute favorite.

So that is my make-up routine. Just as I thought, it is slightly more involved and lengthy than my skincare routine.

Have a great day!

Skincare Routine

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One of my best friends asked me to do a post on my daily skincare/beauty regimen. She sweetly referred to my complexion as 'flawless' and was curious about the products/methods I use. (Thanks Katie!) 

I have been washing my face two times a day ever since I was thirteen. I have never gone to bed with my make-up on. I definitely believe in removing all traces of make-up before my head hits the pillow each night. I've been using Olay's Age Defying wash for a few years now. The tiny exfoliating beads in the cleanser are gentle enough for daily use. If you are looking for a good exfoliator, I recommend St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I use it three times a week for a glowing, fresh complexion.

During the day I use Olay's Age Defying Anti-Wrinkle lotion. I like using a light moisturizer during the day and this one is the perfect weight and consistency. It also has a SPF of 15. I think a huge part of fighting the signs of aging starts with protecting your skin from the sun. Once the sun has damaged your face, there is only so much you can do to correct it.

I started using the Revitalift Triple Power moisturizer as my night moisturizer since it is pretty thick. It claims to repair wrinkles, redensify, and re-firm the skin. Wearing this cream for over 8 hours gives my skin plenty of time to do all of those things! 

I've started using just a bit of the Revitalift around my eye area during the day because that is one of the dry areas of my face. I like to give it just a little more moisture before I apply my foundation and concealer.

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Once I have moisturized, I use the Garnier Ultra Anti-Wrinkle eye roller. I always use some form of anti-aging eye product before bed and before I apply my make-up in the morning. This just happens to be the product that I am using now. The eye area is so sensitive and is usually where signs of aging start. I definitely believe in using some sort of product around the eye area to combat the signs of aging.

My complexion is not always flawless - I get zits every now and then. I have found that the best way to avoid zits and breakouts is to not touch my face. When the stubborn zit appears every now and then, I use my Mary Kay Acne Treatment Gel. It truly is the one zit zapper that I have found that works. It stops a zit right in its tracks and heals it. The most effective method I have found is applying the gel to a spot when I feel a zit coming on. You know the feeling. That little sore spot on your chin. Nothing has 'formed' yet but you can feel something under the surface of the skin. Put a huge glob on the area and it will help prevent it from blossoming into a full-on nasty zit.

When it comes to primers, I am obsessed with the two pictured above. I use both on a regular basis. Sometimes I just use the Magic Perfecting base when I want a matte finish. Or if I want a little luminosity I use the Magic Lumi-Primer. And sometimes I mix the two - using the Lumi-Primer on just a few parts of my face to highlight them and using the matte formula on the rest. 

I didn't really think my skincare routine was that involved but this post is rather lengthy (for me at, least). Stay tuned in the next week for my daily make-up routine. That one will be even longer...

Have a great day!

Can't Live Without Them

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I don't really consider myself a beauty junkie but I love a good product every now and then. There are a few products that I came to realize that I would be lost without.

Back in the day (when thin brows were in) I plucked my brows until I had about 3 framing each eye. (My mother warned me against doing so. Why didn't I listen?) I hear about people 'growing their brows out' but mine refuse to do so. (Let's just say I've been growing them for fifteen years and still no progress.) I've tried shadows to enhance my brows and I've tried pencils but have hated the effects of both. I discovered this brow pen by Anastasia and was instantly hooked. It is really for filling in missing gaps of your brows but I use it to draw in what is missing. It is the closest that I have come to having eyebrows again. If you are like me and have over-plucked, then you have to try this brow pen.

I recently received this Anastasia brow gel along with my last brow pen purchase at Ulta. I love the freebies that you get when you make a purchase but I didn't think I would really like the brow gel. Using a brow gel for the first time was very odd. After the gel dried, my brows felt quite stiff. However, after a week of using it, I was hooked. I never realized how disheveled my brows were until I started using this gel. It holds them in place all day, keeping your arch perfect until you wash your face at night. This was definitely one of those items that I never saw myself needing before but after a few weeks of use, I am hooked for life.

I definitely cannot live without this Urban Decay eyeshadow primer. I really don't know how I ever wore eyeshadow before it. Not only does your shadow stay put all day, it goes on so smoothly and vibrantly with the primer acting as a foundation. I have had a few days where I have felt a little lazy and have skipped the primer. I can tell as soon as I try to apply my shadow. There is no going back once you have tried it!

These are just a few of my favorite beauty products that I absolutely can't live without. What are some of yours?

Pretty in Pastels - Part 3

Pretty in Pastels - Part 3 by amyshaughnessy on polyvore.com