My favorite inexpensive beauty buys

Milani - One of my favorite drugstore brands. It has high pigment so you get an amazing color payoff! The color range is amazing and they constantly come out with new things that are popular in the prestige lines. My top favorites are their lip gloss, lipstick, liquid eyeliner and glitter nail polishes.

Sonia Kashuk Brushes - I love these brushes! They are great for personal use, cruelty free and high quality. I especially like their Medium Fluffy Eyeshadow Brush, which is the perfect size for a multitude of eyeshadow styles. 

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF 15 - I love this line from Neutrogena. It contains a small amount of Retinol, which will improve the appearance and texture of aging skin if used long term. It's also fragrance free, non comedogenic, hypoallergenic and oil free, all of my favorite skin care terms.  I suggest using a lighter moisturizer by day with a higher SPF (Like this one) and wearing the cream at night. General rule of thumb, if you're not yet 30, don't tan excessivly and don't see any signs of skin aging, stick to lightweight moisturizer with SPF and an eye cream, no anti-aging products needed.

Cetaphil - Come on, you know you've heard this one before. There are so many attractive and enticing lines out there to use and this isn't the most fancy or popular one but trust, it does everything you need a cleanser to do and it's under $10. It's all the good skincare words (fragrance free, non comedogenic, hypoallergenic and oil free) plus inexpensive and great for your skin.

Loreal True match Foundation - I love this foundation! They have made it so easy to match your skin color by making each shade in a Cool, Neutral and Warm shade. Really what that breaks down to is, is your skin pinkish, yellowish, or neither aka neutral. The best thing about it is Rite Aid, CVS and other major drug stores are allowing cosmetic returns these days, making it very easy for you to choose the shade you think is correct and take it home to try it out. If it's not right, take it back and try again. Your shade is out there, you just have to find it. Remember, the correct shade will disappear when you put it on! Ideally you wont be able to see it on your skin at all! Take a look at in in indoor and outdoor light to be sure, that way you avoid the dreaded visible foundation line at your jaw.

Revlon Lipstick - I have been a fan of Revlon's ColorStay Overtime line for years now! It is phenomenal! Lasts as long as you need it to and sometimes longer. The key is to exfoliate your lips before application and to apply it quick! Use a lipliner first if that'll help you get it in place before it dries. I like to scrape the excess lipstick off of the want and then apply, that way I can build the color. Also fab about this brand, Gucci Westman is their creative director! She is everything!

Loreal Mascara - All or Loreal's mascara's are perfection. No matter if  you need a lash building or a lengthening product, they've got it and this brand is #1. Try Voluminous False Lashes, my favorite!

What are your favorite bargain buys? Share your thoughts with me Here, or Here!

Put your best face forward! Get glowing, healthy skin for the holidays!

Holidays are coming! Time to put your best face forward! One great way to do that, get a complexion brush! You don't have to but the $200 motorized ones, you can get a brush for $6 from sephora that will do the same thing! It's invigorating

, deep cleaning, exfoliating and will help keep your skin tone nice and even. Word to the wise, don't use any facial brush on inflamed, rosacia prone or broken out skin. It can spread bacteria from breakouts to other areas of your face! *Not the look you're going for* Treat breakouts with a salicylic acid skin clearing product. Once cleared up use gentle circular motions all around your face while you're cleansing. Great for older skin that has lost it's radiance as well! 

http://www.sephora.com/face-complexion-brush-P0096

Look Good... Feel Better

I've been looking for a group to volunteer with for a good long while, trying to figure out how I can help improve peoples quality of life with my makeup and skincare tips. I was lucky to meet a woman while I was working who was affiliated with the group Look Good... Feel Better. I had never heard of them, have you?

Long story short, I went and was certified to run these classes for cancer patients. I will teach them makeup and skincare tips and practices so they can feel great about themselves. Donations are sent by many companies and each participant is given a (product neutral) makeup kit to take home with them. I am so pumped to start! I found out that this program is run internationally by the American Cancer Society and anyone can sign up to help, not just licensed estheticians, like me.

Sound like something you'd be interested in? if you're not licensed you can go to these classes and provide moral support, set up the stations for the participants and just lend a hand. If you feel this is something you'd like to do, or that you'd like to volunteer Look Good... Feel Better or for one of the many other programs offered, here are some resources to help you on your way.

lookgoodfeelbetter.org/
www.cancer.org
1-800-ACS-2345

I'll keep you up to date on how it goes!

It's November! Get out your lip chap!

As soon as October hit I started noticing my lips chapping. I'm in california so it's not like it's cold.. I blame it on the temperature changes (we've been going up and down) and it's been windy. Well the other day a friend asked me how to get rid of her chapped lips and it motivated this post. There are a few things I do to remedy the situation. I choose between them based on the amount of time I have and the tools I have on hand.

I always start with a lip balm layered on thick. Let it sit while you ready your (few) supplies. Chose one of the following:

Toothbrush - Buy a soft bristled toothbrush to keep on hand. Wipe off your lip balm after 5 min or so. Wet the tooth brunch and use it to gently scrub your lips. Make small circles across both lips, twice. Check it out! soft and naturally flushed lips.

Washcloth - Dampen washcloth. Scrub gently in small circles across both lips. You'll end up as good as new!

Homemade Brown Sugar Scrub - Mix the following together in a resealable container and use it anywhere you need to exfoliate. It will leave your skin feeling amazingly soft.

1 cup Dark Brown Sugar

1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or substitute your oil of choice)

1 tablespoon honey

One of the best times to exfoliate is after a shower. Put the lip balm on before you get in and do a lip scrub once you're out.

Remember to never scrub roughly! You could tear new skin which is going to lead to more chapping.

Happy scrubbing!