Preparing for Prom (Prom Week: Day One)

Prom is one week away, so it’s time to start getting ready! Here are a few ways I suggest getting ready for prom.

Skin
One thing I will definitely be doing this week is a face mask each night. Cupcake by LUSH clears up my skin so much! One of my friends is actually using it too, and she loves it as well. :) Also, I am making sure I wash my face nightly! Sometimes I accidentally fall asleep with my makeup on, but that canNOT happen this week. After I wash my face each night, I will make sure to put on my eye cream because I definitely do not want bad circles for prom. (Going along with this, make sure you get a lot of sleep this week!) Before I start to use my self tanner (by Bath and Body Works) I am going to make sure to really exfoliate. Also, I will moisturizing so that my skin is not dry for prom.

Hair
I will be doing a hair mask about halfway through this week. If you do not want to go out and buy a hair mask, you can just use your conditioner. I have found that it works really well. :) It makes my hair feel really soft and replenished. Make sure to practice what hair style you want before the day of prom.

Nails
If you are doing your own nails, I recommend filing, removing the ridges, buffing, and shining your nails before you paint them. It makes them look so good! Make sure to get your nails done one or two days before prom. Last time I tried to do my nails the day of…let’s just say it did not go well.

Teeth
I highly suggest using whitening strips; they are amazing. :)

One last tip is to make a list of everything you need to do!

Here is my list for this week:

• Use face mask EVERYDAY.
• Use self tanner EVERYDAY.
• Practice hairstyle on Monday.
• Do hair mask on Wednesday.
• Get everything together on Thursday.
• Paint nails on Friday.

Hope this helps you guys get ready for prom. :)

Good Foods for Your Skin

Dark Chocolate
This sweet can reduce the skin’s roughness and can protect your skin from sun damage. The credit for these perks goes to the antioxidant, Flavonols, in it. If you don’t like dark chocolate, it can be substituted with blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or cherries. However, you would have to consume a very large portion of these fruits for it to be equal.

Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds can erase fine lines and erase spots because of the omega-3 fatty acids they contain. These can be replaced with walnuts, flaxseed oil,  or salmon.

Safflower Oil
This oil is great for people with dry skin because it is a natural moisturizer. The moisturizing property comes from the omega-6 fatty acids that it contains. As a replacement, you could use corn, borage, or soybean oil.

Hot Green Tea
While it is hot, the tea gives off an antioxidant called catechins. This antioxidant works against cancer and inflammation.  While two to six cups a day will have desirable effects, it can be substituted with hot white tea.

Tomatoes
When they are cooked, the phytochemical that makes tomatoes red can help get rid of skin-aging properties. A good replacement for tomatoes would be watermelon.

Carrots
Carrots are good for clearing up breakouts on your skin because of the Vitamin A. Furthermore, it reduces the production of skin-cancer cells. If carrots (they recommend 16 baby carrots as a serving) are not  your favorite, they can be replaced with a cup of milk or cheddar cheese.

Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes, which are filled with Vitamin C, can help smooth out your wrinkles. However, if you don’t like sweet potatoes, a large carrot or six ounces of orange juice will suffice.

Tuna in a Can
The selenium in canned tuna assists in keeping your skin tight and smooth. Furthermore, it acts as a protectant from the sun’s rays. Brazilian nuts or turkey would be a good substitute for the tuna.

Almonds
Almonds are good for your skin because that contain Vitamin E, which is a great natural sunblock. If you don’t like almonds, a good substitute would be two tablespoons of peanut butter.

Spinach
Because of spinach, your cells’ DNA could be helped to repair and maintain themselves. Many think of spinach as a way to increase cells’ ability to renew themselves. You could eat collard greens as a substitute for spinach with the same effect.

For a more detailed explanation of each food, click here.

Make Up Posts

By make up, I mean the posts that I wrote to catch up. I discovered that if I go back and schedule a post for a past date, my subscribers will probably not get an email about it. If they do, then the link does not work for the most part.

So here are the posts I’ve done to make up for my busy schedule:

Hair Clip-ins: Pink and Purple
Find out what I got done to my hair while at the mall, and what my favorite way to wear it is.

OOTD: August 06, 2011 (Major Wardrobe Malfunction)
Find out what I wore to my friend’s birthday party and how I had to fix my wardrobe malfunction while in the mall. Also, see my crazy makeup look!

Hair Tips: Part One
Here are some tips for hair that I have not heard of before.

My Sweet Sixteen
See pictures from my sweet sixteen birthday party back in January, and find out how I prepared for the party.

OOTD: August 13, 2011
See what I wore to a movie night at my friend’s house. :)

Hair Tips: Part Two
Although I have heard of these tips, maybe you guys have not.

Junior Year Blog Posts
Find out why I haven’t been posting as much, and help me decide how often I should do Outfit of the Days.

OOTD: August 22, 2011
Take a look at what I wore to school.

200th post!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you guys for supporting me. ♥

First Football Game of 2011!
Check out what my friends and I did for the first football game of the season.

Grizzly Green Eye Tutorial
See how I did my makeup for the first varsity football game this year.

I am terribly sad and angry. STUPID PURSE.
Last week, one of the inside walls of my purse ripped. D: Until I get it fixed, I am using a black leather bag that I got freshman year. See what it looks like here.

GUESS WHAT!
Find out something really exciting that’s happening in October. :D

Hautelook Sale: LORAC, My Tribe, Arm Candy, and More!
Find out what high-end makeup brand you can buy for just $14 through September 6th, 2011.

Hair Tips: Part Two

My first post about this article of hair tips that I found contained all tips that I had not heard of before. This post will be about tips that I have heard of before. I had originally planned on not talking about them, but I figured they might be able to help someone out.

1. If you don’t have greasy hair, and you want to skip taking a shower, here is a way for you to still get your normal volume: First, fill a spray bottle up with water. Once you have done that, spray the roots of your hair until they are damp. Use your hair dryer and a round brush to dry your roots.

2. Another way to get a lot of volume is to use rollers. The article said to use velcro holders, but for my hair I would use two-inch hot rollers. I feel like these would make the volume stay longer. Separate the roots on the top of your head (from your temple to your crown) into three sections on each side of your head. Leave your hair in the rollers for about thirty minutes. Once the time is up, gently comb and spray them with hairspray.

3. To give your hair more shine, rinse your hair with cold water before you get out of the shower. I almost always do this, and it really helps. The reason that it works is because it seals the cuticle and makes your hair look sleek.

4. When curling your hair, there really is no need to clamp your hair. In fact, I feel like it hurts your hair style. Whenever I use a clamp, it leaves a dent in my hair and is harder to get the curl to stay perfect off the barrel. I use Jose Eber’s no-clamp curling irons for curling my hair. If you do not have once, you could always just wrap your hair around the barrel without releasing the clamp.

This is the brand I used when I had colored hair.

5. In between your color treatment appointments, use an at-home glaze. These can help smooth and moisturize your hair because they fill holes and rough spots in your hair cuticles. They can also keep your hair color shiny and elongate the amount of time that the color lasts.

Hair Tips: Part One

I found this article that talked about hair tips that are generally “unheard” of. I felt like a knew a good part of them, but there were still some that I had never been exposed to. This first post will tell you all the ones that are new to me, while the second post will be able the ones that I already knew. I originally planned on leaving out the ones that I already knew, but then I realized that some of you may not have heard of them before. (Here is part two to this post.)

Here are some tips that I had never heard of before:

1. Although I have not heard of this tip before, I realize that it makes a lot of sense. I am actually not sure why I have not heard of or thought of it before. Apply your hair products ten minutes before you start styling. This tip goes for heat protectant, mousse, leave-in conditioner, and any other product you might have. If you give the product you’re using time to soak in, it will have a higher performance level.

2. Keeping your hair wrapped up in a towel can make your hair frizzy. The article I read said, “The roughness of the cotton forces your hair cuticles open, making them more likely to go every-which-way.” Since reading this tip, I have tested it out. I discovered that my hair tends to get frizzy once I pass the ten minute mark. So instead of doing my makeup during this time, I moisturize my skin. I feel like letting my hair dry in a towel is necessary for me because it takes a lot of time out of my hair routine, and I can get other things done during that time.

3. The article says to find a shampoo that does not lather that much. Apparently shampoos that lather a lot contain too much moisturizing products. These products can make your hair dirtier quicker because they leave build-up. Although I am kind of skeptical about this tip, I would be willing to give it a shot. 4

4. If you have oily prone hair, use dry shampoo immediately after you wash and dry your hair. Not only will it give you really good volume, but it will also keep your hair cleaner throughout the day.

5. While you blow dry your hair, use the “hot and cold” method. First, separate your hair into sections. Dry each section individually, starting at the root and going down. Once you finish a section, turn off your hair dryer, and wait five seconds. This break will help your hair style set and will give you more volume.

Back to School: Seventh Grade

I know many schools do not go back for a week or two, but where I live, we go back to school tomorrow, Monday, August 1st.

I also did a post for high schoolers, so if this is not the look for you, don’t worry.

My little sister, Kristen, is going into seventh grade, so I made this look especially for her. You can do less or more depending on what you like.

To get this look:

1. Use ELF’s Tinted Moisturizer all over the face.

2. Cover any blemishes with ELF’s Concealer.

3. Line lower lash line with Wet ‘n’ Wild eyeliner in Taupe.

4. Use Ulta eyeshadow in Flutter all over the eyelid.

5. Take Ulta eyeshadow in Iceland and place in around the tear duct to brighten the eyes.

6. Finally, apply the Ulta eyeshadow in Cherry Bomb in the outer corner of the eyelid.

7. Blend all the edges of the eyeshadows together.

8. Apply Cover Girl clear mascara to the eyelashes.

9. Use Ulta Tinted Lip Balm in Blossom on the lips.

P.S. I will post a picture of her outfit tomorrow.

Meltproof Your Makeup

These might be well-known tips, but they sure do the trick when it comes to hot, summer days!

Blotting Papers
I know I have talked about these before, but I cannot help but mention them again! If you have oil-prone skin like mine, these are a must. I carry some with me in my purse to make sure that I have one when I need it. They are especially good in school because you do not have to bring powder with you and run to the bathroom. Instead, you can easily get rid of shine during the five-minute break our school allows us.

These are the ones on my wish list! If you want them, click here.

Cheek and Lip Stains
When going in the sun, cheek stains are often a better choice than cream or powder blushes because they are less likely to melt off. Not only do they stay on, but they can also double as a lip stain. It is a very subtle way to pull your look together and have it be melting-proof. :)

Oil-free Foundation
To get your foundation to stay, look for ones that are oil-free. Also, ones that contain silicone are less likely to melt off of your face.

This is the waterproof mascara that works best for me.

Waterproof Mascara
To prevent your mascara from running all over your face, use a waterproof mascara. It might be a little harder to get off, but it is worth it in the end. I suggest using a gel-like makeup remover for the easiest removal.  Keep in mind, even your sweat can make your mascara run sometimes!

My favorite eyeshadow primer.

Primer
I know I have also talked about this product many times before, but I highly suggest using it! This product has never failed me. I know there are cheaper options out there, but I have never tried them. Because of this, I do not know if they work. However, I have heard good reviews about some of them, such as the NYX Eye Shadow Base. Another way to get your foundation to stick, other than choose oil-free, is use a face primer. I use L’Oreal Studio Secrets Face Primer. It works really well, and a little of it goes a long way!

How to: Keep Your Manicure From Chipping

I didn’t have any time to write a post today, so here an exerpt from a slideshow I viewed on www.self.com. I hope this helps someone!

“Cheer up: bold tones make for happy toes, but they’re also quick to show a smudge.

Revive shine: Restore the luster to once-vibrant lacquer by stroking on one coat of a very pale sparkly color. We like Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Bring on the Bling, $20.

Stay bright: Too much sun can cause light shades to turn tawny. Prevent yellowing with a quick coat of CND Air Dry Top Coat, $9, packed with UV absorbers.

Heal a split: Snag a nail? No sweat. Empty a tea bag and trim the paper to match the size and shape of your nail. Coat nail in nail glue (try Kiss Maximum Speed Nail Glue, $2), and press the sheet on, smoothing with an orange stick. Dry, file, then repolish.

Nix Nicks: It takes 24 hours for polish to set. (That explains those annoying chips!) Brush on Orly Smudge Fixer, $10, to diffuse color and hide boo-boos.”

I’ll write a better post tomorrow!

How to: Take Out Your Contacts

Video Description:

When I first got my contacts five and a half years ago, it took me an hour to get them out. If there are any people out there who are have trouble with it, this video is for you.

WARNING: If you do not like to see people touch their eyes, then do NOT watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIZCUwHZ_eM

How to: Take Off Your Makeup

Video Description:

I filmed this video about three weeks ago, but I didn’t get the chance to upload it until now. Like I said in the video, when I filmed it, I had not seen any videos similar to this one. However, I did not look for them. At the present time, I have seen that someone posted a video similar to this, but I decided to upload mine anyway. I did not view the video, so I do not know how similar they are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIK-gUhdsVQ

I used:
Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser
Almay Oil-Free Makeup Remover Wipes
Olay Pro X Advanced Cleansing System
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash
Oil of Beauty Face Lotion
OXY Clinical Hydrating Therapy