One Brand, One Look: e.l.f.

I had originally planned on doing a step-by-step makeup tutorial including Vine-esque videos for this post but halfway through I actually got called out to work (huge bummer).However, I still wanted to get something up today since I've been sticking to a pretty great schedule so far and that's how this little post came to be.

I was looking through my makeup collection (yes, there's so much of it I like to call it a "collection") and realized that I might actually be turning into an e.l.f collector. From the looks of it I had garnered enough e.l.f. products to use a single brand all over my face. 

Eureka! An idea was born. 

So here's a complete tutorial for this simple, summery, bronzed look that's perfect for a day out with friends or a summer night of adventure.
Since this was all a little rushed and e.l.f. products are generally extremely affordable and much talked about I've included little reviews of most of the products used.

I started with a clean, moisturized face and applied my favorite primer (which was not e.l.f. unfortunately but since I applied it right after my moisturizer I didn't really count it anyway).

Then comes foundation. I used the Flawless Finish Foundation with SPF 15 for this look and absolutely love it. First of all, I love the packing. Glass bottle with a pump? I'm all about that luxury especially at $6 a pop. 

The consistency of the product is exactly what I look for in a foundation and I would even go so far as to say that this foundation is definitely buildable to a full coverage product. I even used the e.l.f. Foundation Brush to perfect the coverage then blended with my finger tips.

Flawless Finish Foundation in Buff

I'm broken out in several spots on my face at the moment and have some serious undereye baggage so the concealer in this next step is key. I used the Stick Concealer in Ivory to cover my spots and dark circles then added the Under Eye Concealer before blending out with the Flawless Concealer Brush.

This brush is a recent purchase and has completely changed the way I apply concealer. I used to have to spend forever blending and covering my dark circles with my finger tips and mounds of concealer but this brush so makes things so much easier as it's the perfect size for under my eyes.

I finished things off under the eyes with a little bit of Glow from the duo end of the Under Eye Concealer in my inner corners and a bit of Translucent Mattifying Powder under my eyes to set everything. 

L to R: Blending, Eyeshadow, Foundation, Concealer

The next step was to fill in my brows a tad bit and I love how easy the Eyebrow Kit is from e.l.f. as it features a powder and a darker wax to set everything in place. I used the kit in Medium for this look and just filled in the sparse patches in the middle of my brows with the powder before going over them with the wax.

Using the Blending Eye Brush and the mini Eyeshadow Palette in Naturals, I started with a medium matte brown color (1) in the crease and blended out. Take your time with this step and make sure everything is blended out well so that you're creating a shadow in the crease for more definition. I then went in with a shimmery shade (2) on the Professional Eyeshadow Brush across the lid working out toward the outer crease and the shadow we just created. 

I made sure everything was blended well then realized that I really wanted to use the Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow in Toast in this look because it was such a great color. So even though this shadow is a cream product I did apply over the powder shadow I had just used but sparingly.
 I just used my finger to tap the product around the center of my lid, blending more toward the inner corner. This gives a great lustrous effect to your eyes without messing with the set of your powder shadow.
I also added one of the lightest shades (3) from the palette to my inner corner before moving on. 

Now, we're to the point that I would normally apply eyeliner but this is actually the point when I realized that I didn't own any e.l.f. eyeliner so I decided to use Benefit's They're Real! Push-Up Eyeliner so that I could test it out for my review which you can keep you're eyes out for very soon. 

So, after you've applied your favorite eyeliner (I did a Cat-Eye Flick but you can line your eyes anyway you want for a little more definition) you can move on to mascara. 

I used the 3-in-1 Lengthen, Define, & Volumize Mascara which is actually my favorite mascara at the moment and runs for $3 which is a huge bargain in my book. It really does everything it says it does and leaves me with "Oh my gosh!" lashes. 

I topped off this look with blush and bronzer from the Contouring Blush & Bronzer kit in St. Lucia which I actually believe is a pretty good dupe for the NARS Laguna & Orgasm mini duo. I applied the blush from the kit just under the apples of my cheeks and lightly contoured with the bronzer around my temples and along my jawline. 

Now here's the final look!

SUPA CLOSE-UP

Let me know what you thing of this makeup look and tutorial in the comments below! 

until next time

xo

Merisa

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

What a nice way to start off the week...I found this earlier today on Tumblr and sort of ran with it, which brings me to today's post.

When I think of productive Sundays I think of doing things that get me ready for the coming week. To most that might mean starting the two term papers I have due next week or preparing for my Senior presentation but no...what that really means is doing the laundry I've neglected, clearing out my makeup bag, and ultimately...

cleaning my makeup brushes!

Now, while taking on this task I started to notice that I've developed quite a nice technique so I thought I'd share it with you all!

Yay for clean makeup brushes! Yay!

This may seem like the most simplest thing in the world but honestly, if you're doing it right, it can take a little effort so I've actually developed a routine for cleaning my brushes in between cleaning but for now here's the deep clean. 

Start out my gathering all of your brushes!

As you can see, they definitely needed a cleaning. Please excuse that rather nasty looking Beauty Blender, we're about to fix that situation.

Now, gather the rest of your supplies!

I use a small bowl (or mug, in this case) filled about a third of the way full with warm water, some baby shampoo from the Dollar Tree, a wash cloth, and napkins. 

I forgot to include it in this photo but I also use Sephora's Daily Makeup Brush Cleaner spray.

Now comes the messy part but to help the time go by faster I usually check out some of my favorite YouTube channels for their latest videos while cleaning my brushes.

(I watched Tanya Burr's Nicole Scherzinger makeup tutorial and March favorites videos this time around) 

I start out with the smallest brushes first mostly because they don't really hold all that much makeup. 

After mixing a little baby shampoo into the water, I dip a brush in the water and swirl it around a little. 

Then, I take the brush and wipe it in a circular motion on a napkin (I usually save the wash cloth for the bigger brushes) until all of the makeup comes off and the brush looks clean. 

For bigger brushes or ones with a lot of makeup like my foundation brushes, I tend to use the Daily Makeup Brush Cleaner first by spraying it directly onto the brush then swirling the brush around on a napkin or cloth. If it's a brush I haven't used a whole lot, like the pink powder brush, then that's usually all the cleaning it needs but for more heavily used brushes I need to repeat the steps I used for the smaller brushes. 

My foundation brush and my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush required a little more care as they both had liquid makeup throughout the bristles, meaning I had to repeat steps a few times.

My Beauty Blender comes with its own cleaner but to be perfectly honest I don't really like the way it smells so I usually just end up running it through some water with baby shampoo and rinsing it until the water runs clear

Finally, once all of the brushes are done I give them a good rinse making sure all the makeup is off and squeeze out any excess water. Then I grab a towel, roll up one end, place it on a table (or my bed), then prop all of my brushes up against the rolled up end so that the bristles are facing down onto the towel. 

This allows the brushes to dry without getting water down into the glued part that holds the bristles and handle together ensuring that your brushes will last longer.

No, that's not some sort of pink latte that's actually the dirty brush water after everything was done. I think that means I might wear too much pink blush. haha

I hope you all enjoyed this look into my clean brush routine. I'm all set to start this week off fully prepared...I'm about to get started on those papers too, I promise!

Leave a comment below letting me know if you found any of this helpful and also if you have any tips or tricks of your own.

until next time, darlings.

xo

Merisa

New Year's Eve!!!

I can't believe another year has come and gone, it feels like 2013 just started yesterday! This year has been a crazy one and I am so excited to ring in 2014 with my family this year. 

New Year's Eve has always held a special place in my heart as far as holidays go and this year is no different so I thought it would be the perfect time to share my favorite NYE looks with you!

Now, I've been a lazy little thing during winter break (seriously, I'm so so so sorry for the lack of posts, forgive me!) so I've actually turned this into a New Year's Eve master post. By that I mean I had initially intended to make two different posts, one with fashion looks and the other with a makeup tutorial but this one is chock full of all of that so let's get started.

All of the looks featured below can be found on my Polyvore page!

For all you fabulous Monogrammed Magnolias out there I've compiled my favorite glam look for all those New Year's Eve parties that you're bound to find yourself at this holiday season. 

This year it's all gold everything, and not just gold...but gold glitter!

I love this classic, glamorous look and with all the glitz you're sure to shine brighter than Times Square at midnight!

Don't forget to check out this look and all of the items and products featured on my Polyvore page.

This next look is for all you couch potatoes, no worries though, I'm totally with you! There is nothing I love more than curling up on the couch to watch the ball drop in the comfort of my own home, call me crazy but nothing's better!

I love these cute little jammies! Especially the "A Little Party Never Killed Anybody" tee (I'm a little Gatsby obsessed!) and now perfect is that "Keep Calm and Ring It In" sweatshirt?! Adorable, I tell ya!

My plans are to turn my New Year's Eve evening into a spa night with my sister before channeling surfing between my beloved Anderson Cooper and the fabulous performances Ryan Seacrest is sure to introduce. 

Now, if you're not like me and you actually have fabulous plans that involve venturing out into the real world, I've got the perfect makeup look for any glitzy glam party you may stumble upon.

Glam Gold Eyes

Start with your favorite foundation and set with powder. 

Then contour the face with a bronzer a few shades darker than your skin tone. 

(Check out this video from Jaclyn Hill for some advice on how to contour.)

Next, apply a peachy blush (or one you feel compliments your skin tone best).  After applying the blush to the apples of my cheeks I primed my eyes with a cream nude primer but you can use any eye shadow primer you wish.

For my eyes, I stuck to shimmery neutrals because I plan on using gold glitter eyeliner and false lashes on my eyes. 

I started with the palest color in my inner corners and used a medium matte brown shade in my crease and outer corners. I think used a shimmery gold shade across my outer corners, keeping the mid lid and inner corners a pale shimmery color. 

I then used a black liquid felt tip eyeliner to create a winged look (check out this post on winged liner) and went above the line with a gold liner topped with gold glitter liner for sparkle. 

Next, I applied my favorite false lashes with a pair of tweezers for precise application. 

My final touch was a pale, shimmery nude pink lip. 

Here are pictures of the final look, sorry I forgot to take step-by-step pics. 

A close up of the winged eyeliner!

Fancy Merisa

Sorry these are kinda crappy quality, iPhone selfies were the best I could do at the time.

I hope you all have a fabulous and safe New Year!

until next time, lovelies.

xo

Merisa

Fall Beauty Tutorial: The Cat Eye

The Fall semester is jam packed with events from Homecoming to Halloween and everything in between. If you're like me, you're done with the smoky eye/lip gloss routine and ready for an upgrade. Well that upgrade you're looking for just so happens to be a classic look that will take you through this Fall's festivities in a glam and updated way.

The Cat Eye

For this look, we turn to the Queen of Winged Liner, Miss Lauren Conrad!

I grew up with Lauren, or "LC" as she was known as back then, from the time she was in high school on Laguna Beach all the way through to her role on The Hills and her recent engagement (eek!). Not only has she become one of my role models in life but she's also one of the first people I go to when in need of some beauty advice. See her book Lauren Conrad Beauty or her work with The Beauty Department.

I've been doing this look since I first saw Lauren rock it on The Hills so I can say from experience that practice really does make perfect. Don't stress if you don't get it right on the first try, just grab a makeup wipe and try again!

There are probably tons of ways to pull this look off but I'm going to show you my way...two different ways. The first being a dramatic line fit for a night out such as a Homecoming dance (which just so happens to be this Saturday for our university! Go Bears!) and the second is an everyday cat eye you can fit into your normal makeup routine or if you just want to dress up your look a little.

The Dramatic Look

Step One: Prep your eyes! 
I just recently picked up this tip from a friend and it has become one of my go-to tricks. Primer on your eyelid will do wonders for your makeup look! She suggested putting a little face lotion on your eyelids before doing your makeup, I've upgraded to Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion since but both have similar results. 
For a look like this, I usually go without shadow but for extra sparkle I suggest taking a highlighter such as Benefit Cosmetics Watt's Up! and adding it to your inner corners or using a highlighting shadow in the same area. Remember to stay neutral, otherwise you will overpower the look!
Be careful with the amount of primer you use if you choose to go shadow-less across your lids, if you're not using a waterproof liner things could get smudgy.

Step Two: Line your eyes!
For the more dramatic look you want a defined line and a bold black, so reach for a liquid liner that has a fine tip and easy to hold handle to steady yourself. I use the super affordable Wet 'n Wild MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliner! 

The trick to this is to take your time, rushing will just lead to a sloppy look. Start with your liner at the inner corner of your eye and lightly drag it across your lash line toward your outer corner. That practice I mentioned early makes this step easier with time but if you're having trouble getting a steady line I suggest making 3 dash marks at the inner corner, middle of the lash line, and outer corner then connecting them to keep the line straight and bold.
Staying as close to your natural lash line as possible will lead to the perfect wide-eyed look we're going for, no one likes raccoon eyes!

Step Three: The Wing!
This is part of the line that creates the cat eye effect. For this dramatic look we're going to do a dramatic line. I start by dragging the line out and up from the outer corner then going from the top of the line started on my outer corner and make a small triangle. Fill that in and you've got your look. 
Be sure not to drag your line too far out or too far up. It shouldn't go further than the end of your eyebrow or the top of your lashes.
I'm no LC but here's the dramatic look on me (ahh!).

Everyday Look

For this look, follow steps one and two exactly the same except for a softer look I like to use a waterproof kohl pencil liner. 
Step three consists of just dragging the line slightly beyond your outer corner, just a flick. 
Finish with a coat of mascara and you've got the look, just like Lauren!

I hope you enjoyed it, for more tips on how to achieve the perfect cat eye look check out the links below.

VMA Cateye via The Beauty Department

until next time,
xo
aFm