Monday Manicures- 9/5

pearlsandcasebooks: Forever 21 brand nail polish in Lavender. Surprisingly, it’s quite a good polish that goes on well and lasted me a while.

pearlsandcasebooks: My favorite nail polish of all time: Essie in Ballet Slippers

thecollegeprepster: essie Fun in the gondola

Hannah’s : Matching my nails to the weather (it’s crazy stormy here!) with OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts from the Touring America Collection

Danielle’s: OPI You Don’t Know Jacques! - a classic fall color :)

Sorry everyone for the delayed post! I accidently saved this to my personal queue instead of BF’s! We will let you know asap what we decide to do with Mani Mondays!! Thank you always for your support, you all are wonderful!
SWAK - Danielle

Chocoholics Anonymous

What girl doesn’t love chocolate? It’s delicious and so yummy and of course chocolate is full of amazing things like antioxidants, anti-aging properties, and endorphins. Endorphins make people happy, so of course chocolate inspired beauty products are no different. Chocolate brown shades are absolutely perfect for autumn and they’re universally flattering. Everyone has a wonderful chocolatey shade to compliment their eyes or skin tone perfectly. If you’re looking for a little more happiness to your day, check out our extended column on Beauty Forum.


Givenchy Prismissime Eyes - 55 Tempting Chocolate- This chic eyeshadow palette offers 9 gorgeous shadows in a variety of finishes from matte to pearl.

Philosophy Classic Fudge Cake Shampoo, Shower Gel, and Bubble Bath- Here’s an incredibly decadent way to indulge in the shower with this Philosophy three in one.

Bare Minerals Big & Bright Eyeliner in Chocolate- A really creamy eyeliner to make your eyes appear bigger and brighter.

OPI Chocolate Shakespeare, OPI I’m Suzi & I’m a Chocoholic, and OPI Chocolate Moose- Three totally Chcolate inspired polishes to give you different looks depending on your mood.

MAC Lipstick in Mocha- This is a perfect peachy brown that can compliment all skin tones.


Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Designer Chocolates- This has been my go to quad for a few weeks now. I absolutely love the shades especially the warm crease color.

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder- This is a perfect matte bronzer
 that uses real cocoa powder to achieve better skin by neutralizing red and giving a flawless finish.

ELF Essentials Nail Polish in Chocolate - I’m absolutely loving this deep rich brown that is super inexpensive and great for fall.

Covergirl Eye Enhancers 1 Kit Shadows in Swiss Chocolate- This color is great to have to define your crease easily and quickly when you’re on the go.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in Chocolate Cherry- These are absolutely amazing creamy pops of color that blend and wear so well. I adore this deep red/brown shade!

Friday Favorites- Single Eyeshadows

I love seeing ya’ll’s favorite shadows because then I get new recommendations! I doubled up where necessary and if I couldn’t find a picture, I still listed you and your favorite! :)

Enjoy:

Benefit Leggy - blondeprep

Urban Decay Mary Jane - swiceupyourlife

Urban Decay Baked - classyandfabb

Urban Decay Half Baked - sweetlittlesnippets & kaitmarie
The Bronzer - photomoock
Maybelline Espresso - toaubin

Hannah’s Favorite: MAC Coppering (You know her crazy obsession with reds.)

Danielle’s Favorite: MAC Club (An amazing Satin duochrome with green, brown, and red undertones.)

SWAK - Danielle

Our August Favorites

Danielle's August Favorites

Hannah's August Favorites

Beauty Forum Bookmarks: Our Favorites Part One

These are a few of our favorite beauty sites! We thought we’d share the sites we have bookmarked and visit frequently and what we love and don’t love about each of them. These are GREAT resources, and while many of you may have heard of them, we thought we’d share this list for all of our readers. This will be a two part series so that you can check them out in little groups.

BEAUTEZINE: Part magazine, part blog, this site has a little bit of everything.
Best at: BROCHURES. Her Fall MAC Collection Brochures were the best way to view the tons of MAC collections and see EXACTLY what was in each collection. Sheer brilliance. The monthly magazine is usually pretty nice too.
Lacking in:  Post frequency. If you love hyper frequent posts, this one is not for you. It’s more like a magazine so it’s not as frequent.


Temptalia: Every product ever. The latest releases, the hottest products, great dupes, and reviews of collections.
 
Best at: Reviewing products before they even hit shelves. Wondering whether or not to grab that new Urban Decay Palette? Check Temptalia. The Glossover system rates each
product thoroughly and understandably, with a summary of final thoughts. It’s a great system. The blog has a swatch gallery as well, so if you’re interested in a product, check it out ahead of time.
Lacking In: I love the idea of the dupe list but I find it hard to use. That might just be me, but I’ve never really found it reliable.
Example of the Glossover for the Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette.
 
The Beauty Department: Tutorials, blogs, surveys, and advice from Lauren Conrad and her Beauty Team.  We’ve previously introduced it here.
Best at: Tutorials and beauty inspiration. They have a hairstylist and a makeup artist writing for them, so the posts are often really informative.
Lacking in: The tutorials are hit or miss. I either am dying to try it or feel like it’s been done on the blog several times (yes, we know LC loves winged liner, yawn!) or I just don’t like it at all.

Look out for Part Two later this week!
Stay beautiful,
Hannah

Enchanted Jewels

Jewel tones reign the runways every fall for a reason. They’re universally flattering, and they speak to the princess in all of us. Luxurious deepened teals, bright blue-navys, rich burgundy reds, bright ruby reds and the royal purples look as great in your wardrobe as they do in your makeup drawer. Whether you try this perennial trend on your eyes and nails, or you want go a little more daring and try it on your lips, we promise that you’ll feel a little more enchanted. For more Jewel toned fun, check out the extended column on Beauty Forum.
Stila Eye Shadow Trio in Afterhours - This trio is perfect for a night out with a smokey eye with a pop of color. The green and the violet are perfect are also great stand alone colors when you want to rock the jewel tones especially for eyeliner.

MAC Lipsticks in Hang-Up, Dubonnet, and Rebel - We love MAC’s range of lipsticks, and these three all fit the trend beautifully. Hang-up is much deeper than Rebel when swatched, so definitely look into that!
Maybelline Eye Studio Master Drama Eyeliner in Sapphire Strength & Vibrant Violet - These are such creamy long wearing eyeliners in two really fun and unexpected jewel tones to brighten up your eyes.

Nars Cream Blush in Cactus Flower- I go visit this blush all the time. It’s my latest obsession. The bright Ruby Red has an undeniable siren call and I think it would be equally gorgeous blended out on fair skin and deep skin.

Milani One Coat Glitter Lacquer in Red Sparkle, Blue Flash and Purple Gleam- I love Miliani glitters, and these are so much fun. For the price, you really can’t beat these adorable jewel toned nail polishes. Pick up all three and play around!

Incredible Exfoliators

blesshisheart asked beautyforum: i have combination skin, but its more oily than dry, so everyone says exfoliation will help, but i know NOTHING about skin cleanser stuff, besides my like acne face wash stuff, but anyways, i am on the search for a good exfoliator and need suggestions, got anything for me?

Hello love, I have a few wonderful options. Exfoliating is one of my favorite things and it’s really a crucial part of my skin care routine. I have really oily skin, so without exfoliating I’m much more prone to break outs. Because you’re not super familiar with exfoliating, I am going to provide you with a few links to a few short youtube videos that will give you all the details.
DermTV: What is Exfoliating?
DermTV: How Often You Should Exfoliate
DermTV: The Difference Between Chemical and Physical Exfoliants

I am going to provide three physical exfoliants and one chemical exfoliant. All four of these are wonderful and I’ve used/use them. All three of these leave my skin super smooth and wonderful by removing dead skin cells.

• Clean & Clear Morning Burst Detoxifying Facial Scrub- This a great scrub/cleanser combo that has amazing microbeads that is inexpensive and makes my skin feel squeaky clean!
  
• St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub- This was my first exfoliator/scrub and is still a fan favorite! It’s natural and keeps my skin clear. I love that it gives amazing redness relief because of the really great properties of green tea.
  
• Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse Off Formula- This is my current favorite and it’s great for all skin types. I love that it is so creamy, but still does an amazing job exfoliating. It gets rid of all flakiness and dead skin, leaving my skin so smooth. This is the priciest, but it will last me forever. A pea sized amount goes a long way!
  
• Walgreens Alpha Hydroxy Face Cream- If you’ve watched my youtube channel, you know that this is my absolute favorite exfoliant. It’s like nothing I’ve ever used because it’s a chemical exfoliant. (Watch the video above to learn the difference.) I found this via LaFemme5278 and her in depth review! I used this at night after cleansing and toning because it’s a little bit too heavy. In the morning, my skin is absolutely smooth and wonderful. My skin’s texture has improved dramatically and the AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) has done wonders for my face (including keeping breakouts at bay!) at only $8, this huge tub is a must have!
  

I hope I gave you lots of options and that you find the one that’s perfect for you!!
SWAK - Danielle

Wake Up Sleep Head, Time For School

So you stayed up late last night, got less than 4 hours of sleep, now you have to be in class in 20 and you look like a zombie. This is every student’s nightmare, right? It doesn’t have to be. Getting enough rest is a huge beauty must, but there are little tips and tricks to beat the bags this school year when eight hours just isn’t an option.

1. Night Time Eye Cream- This is important before you make it to bed at night to reduce puffiness in the morning. Products with AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) will reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines in the morning. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Eye Cream is a wonderful option because it’s super moisturizing for your eyes. ($11.99)
   
2. Cold Spoons- Yes, I said spoons. One of my favorite tricks is a couple of cold spoons right out of the freezer. At night, I pop in two spoons on a shelf in my freezer. Then in the morning for a very quick wake up call, I put them right on my eyes to decrease puffiness around my eyes. It’s great right after I cleanse and moisturize my face!
   
3. Daytime Eye Cream/Gel- Gels are amazing for your eyes during the day because they tighten and cool around the eye area. They sooth and soften to give a better canvas for any concealers to apply on. My favorite is the Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel. It is great for depuffing and softening before you put on your makeup for the day! Remember to ALWAYS use your softest finger — your ring finger to pat in any creams, gels, or concealers!!!
   
4. Concealer/Brightener - This is the best way to cover up any discoloration and dark circles after you’ve taken care of the puffiness! I especially love ones that brighten too. My favorite liquid pen click brightener is the super inexpensive Milani HD Advanced Concealer Eye & Face that leaves a natural and weightless finish!
   
5. Inner Corner Highlight Eyeshadows - Once your finished with your eye look, add a bright champagne shadow with your finger or a brush to your inner corner to complete your look.
   
6. Eye Roller - As a pick me up during the day, I always keep an eye roller in my purse or makeup bag to brighten up my undereyes during the day. My favorite is the Garnier Skin Renew Anti Dark Circle Eye Roller with caffeine to wake up your eyes instantly and stimulate circulation to reduce puffiness.
   

First Day Fun

Anonymous asked beautyforum:

Hey! I was wondering if you can do a post about first day of school looks! Im going to be a freshman and I don’t want to stand out too much on the first day and I don’t want to go too neutral. Thankss:]

Great question! I’m going to link back to a few previous posts, because I feel like we’ve done a lot of great things for you. I’ll also add lots of new things, and try to give you a range from a little color to a lot of color!
 I know neutrals can seem a little tired, but Danielle just did a great how-to post on a Missglamorazzi tutorial using the Urban Decay 15 Palette that combines neutrals and a pop of color that I feel like you’d LOVE!
Here’s a preview of that look:

Another great way to spice up your makeup routine is to try a bright pop of color on one part of your face. I’ve been really enjoying wearing hot pink blushes (blended well,  of course) and simplifying the rest of my makeup. This look is not noticeably pink on your cheeks, but it is so much fun to put on in the morning! I promise, it looks so much more pink in the packaging.
Here are two great hot pink blushes in different price ranges:

ELF Studio Blush in Pink Passion- A really pigmented blush for only $3!!

NARS Blush in Desire- My favorite Barbie pink blush. I wear this so often that it’s almost become my signature look! I adore that it looks like I just came in from the cold when I wear it!
Another Beauty Forum Post that featured a lot of great colors was the Eye Color Basics Post. Make sure to check out what colors look best with your eye color.
Last, but not least, turn to Youtube. Here are a few of the best Back To School Tutorials I’ve watched this year, but try searching Back To School on Youtube right now. There are so many great videos!

Back to School Makeup with a Pop of Color by Makeupologie- A great basic winged liner tutorial with a bright pop of color! All of her tutorials are great.

Wet N’ Wild Dancing In The Clouds Tutorial by Emilynoel83- If you love color, this is for you! This also uses a drugstore trio, which is affordable on a school budget.

Edgy Lilac Liner Tutorial by Beautyfulthoughts- Dawn’s tutorials are simple and gorgeous and this one would look great going from day to night. She used false lashes, but this look could be simplified and made appropriate for daytime by skipping the tightlining and the lashes!
Experiment, have fun and find out what suits your personality for the first day back! A lot of these can be toned down or turned up to suit your personal tastes as well. Enjoy!
Stay beautiful,
Hannah

Missglamorazzi Sweatproof Makeup Tutorial using Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Palette

Hi lovelies! If you checked out Prep Talk this week, you saw the wonderful Ingrid or Missglamorazzi’s Sweatproof Makeup for Summer tutorial, which has been one of my absolute go to staple looks lately. I think sometimes watching beauty gurus can be annoying when they’re doing tutorials you fall in love with and then you realize that you don’t have those exact products. In this case, I do not have the same shadows, liners, cheek, and lip color. But a similar/lighter eye look can be recreated using the wonderful Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary palette that Hannah and I have been raving about! (And of course using any other similar colors you might have hanging around in your collection!!)


Tools:

• Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Palette
• MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque
• Eyeshadow Shader Brush
• Angled Eyeliner Brush
• Eyelash Curler
• Mascara
• Blush
• Lipgloss

(All shadow pictures are from Temptalia) How to:
A. Start with your normal foundation routine.
B. Apply MAC Rubenesque Paint Pot all over your lid or any other peachy cream eye base.
C. Using the shader brush, apply the shadow, Flow, all over the lid.
D. Take your finger and apply the shadow, Vanilla, to brighten the inner corner and on your brow bone (underneath your eyebrows).
E. Using your angled eyeliner brush, and the color, Deep End, apply to your lower waterline.
F. Curl your lashes and apply your favorite mascara to your top and bottom lashes.
G. Apply your favorite peachy pink blush to your cheeks and your favorite pink gloss to your lips and you’re all set!!

For a drugstore affordable version of this look check out these two products that are such wonderful alternatives!!
WetNWild Color Icon Trio - Walking on Eggshells using the Eyelid & Browbone colors

(Picture via CafeMakeup)
Milani Liquifeye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil in Aqua


Hope you enjoyed this as much I as I did!!
SWAK - Danielle