Double Color Bronzing Technique

bronzing is such an essential part of a summer face. well, any face really. for those of us who are past our twenties and looking to add color to our sleep deprived, care deprived and all around deprived skin, this is your solution. better than any amount of diet coke. promise.

so it is with great pleasure that i am going to share with you my favorite bronzing tip:

use two colors.

yes, it is as simple as that. let's imagine you are painting a picture of the sky. do you use only one color blue to create the depth and beauty of that vast escape? no, you use as many colors of blue as you can. so when you apply your bronzer, why would you only use one shade? adding a cream blush under your bronzer will help give it depth and a touch of sun kissed glow without the fake-ness of highlighters and shimmers. it is essential that you use a cream blush for this technique. it is going to apply a stronger color as well as really 'grab' your bronzer once you apply it. remember, cream and powder are a marriage made in heaven.

below are the amazing cream blush and powder i have been using this summer courtesy of Make Up For Ever. you should know by know that i am a MUFE junkie and refuse any other foundation but their cream blush and bronzing powder a true winners as well. the essential ingredients to a good bronzer is lack of shimmer and a slightly grey undertone. done and done. the cream blushes come in a variety of shades to match your needs and they have amazing pigmentation and last for. ev. er.

so ladies (and some gentleman) shared below is one of my favorite makeup-ing tricks:

 hope that helps you in your bronzing journey!

xo,
kristie

Easiest Smoky Eye Ever

who doesn't love a smoky eye, or a smokey eye (tomato, tomahto). if you are a makeup rookie or an old hat at makeup, you can always make use of the smoky eye technique. quite simply this is the easiest, fastest, error proof way to get your smoky eye. using only two products, an Aqua Shadow in 4E (grey) and a medium brown shadow for blending:

 

summertime is the time of year i bring out my Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow because of its ability to stay on under pressure, underwater and under duress (sweat). that is some amazing eyeshadow. a go-to during the summer months every makeup bag should hold one of these Aqua Shadow sticks.

follow this step by step eye makeup tutorial to create your easiest smokey eye ever:

1. apply grey shadow stick to eyelid from lashline to crease
2. blend grey using the medium brown eyeshadow
3. done!

xo,
kristie

Rimmel Makeup Looks at SoFabCon

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

last weekend was spent at SoFabCon14, a blogging conference put on by #CollectiveBias and its blogging division, Social Fabric. in attendance were some amazing food, lifestyle, parenting and beauty/fashion bloggers. while the sessions were amazing some of my favorite moments happened during the breaks where we could visit brand salons. naturally my favorite brand salon was the Rimmel room where you could get amazing makeup looks in an instant.

my go to station was the Rimmel Show Off Lip Laquer station. included at the station was a complete lineup of all of Rimmel's show-stopping, holy grail of glosses Show Off Lip Lacquer. though it may seem simple (you might be thinking, how difficult can lip gloss be?) getting good gloss has a technique! giving lips depth, color and fulness takes a little layering and positioning. at this station i had the gorgeous makeup artist Brooklyn (@lovelybrooklyn4) to teach me the ways of lip glossing.

first, you want to begin with a great product - thankfully Rimmel had that problem solved. prior to the conference i picked up a few Rimmel products from Walmart to keep me looking good. i decided on two colors: Nude Eclipse and Nova.

starting with a clean slate you apply your brightest shade over your entire lips. the strong color of the Rimmel Show Off allows for smooth straight lines and the longest lasting pigment. follow that with a lighter color applied only to the center of your lips. finish by blending the two shades together and voila! perfect lip color. how's that for #beautyinspiration?

xo,
kristie

Packing For SoFabCon - Makeup Looks

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

i am so excited to be getting home from Hawaii just in time for the #cbias #SoFabCon14 beginning tomorrow! after all of my swimsuits and beach wear was unpacked i accessed a completely different portion of my closet and makeup to prepare myself for a blogger conference. my makeup looks for this conference will be less beachy and more profesh.

so what does one pack to a blogger conference? a lot. this is your chance to really make an impression on other bloggers as well as representatives from brands that are sure to attend the conference. you want to present yourself in the best light possible. sure, the invite says business casual but that doesn't mean business frumpy. you want to pack clothes that are versatile, mix and match and are a classic. you want to stand out but not for the wrong reasons, so leave your neon romper at home and stick to more contemporary colors.

i think the biggest dilemma bloggers (particularly beauty bloggers) face is what makeup to pack? when i travel i typically pack light when it comes to makeup. i want just the basics, however in this case i would recommend packing heavy. and by heavy, i mean good foundation, mascara, eyeliner and blush. those are the backbone of any makeup look and you want to be sure you have them all.

second, continue to keep it classic. save the fancy makeup looks for nights out with your girls and keep your makeup classic. while a super dramatic cat eye looks great in photos, it can be a little daunting in person. sticking to classic makeup, a strong eye and a bold lip will never be out of style and is gorgeous and approachable. exactly what we're going for!

i couldn't attend SoFabCon without first packing my trusty StayMatte Foundation by Rimmel. this high coverage foundation will take me from day to night at the conference and keep me fresh faced. this drugstore foundation found at Walmart is not only good, it is inexpensive which makes it even better for traveling. if it gets lost, spills, or crumples under air pressure, a replacement is only a short drive away.

my other must have from Rimmel is one of the best drugstore mascaras on the market. the Rimmel Scandaleyes mascara gives your lashes that extra oomph they need to make a serious first impression. just what the doctored ordered for a blogging conference because you'll be making A LOT of first impressions.

i'd love to hear what your conference packing makeup must-haves are. what #beautyinspiration do you follow? does Rimmel make it in your bag as well?


xo,

kristie

Makeup Tip For Lipstick

sometimes when i apply my lipstick or lip liner i accidentally make a weird bump or squiggle on my lip that looks unnatural. cleaning up that error can be a little difficult if you have already applied your foundation. or, have you ever tried to wipe away RED lipstick? let's just say it's not easy.

this weekend i was able to attend a MAC Pro seminar and i learned the coolest trick for applying lipstick. if you smudge, do not fear. just use an angled brush like the MAC 266.

wipe the tip on a moist towel, such as a makeup remover towelette or baby wipe. it's just enough moisture to remove the lipstick without being messy. take your angled brush and just brush over the offending smudge. it should wipe right off. when finished your lips should look perfectly lined.

xo
kristie

How To Get The Perfect Cat Eye 'Flick'

alright, let's do this. liquid eyeliner and the cat eye 'flick' are two of the most requested step by step makeup tutorials. learning these two techniques will give you the foundation for makeup mastery.

here is how it is done:

1. draw a dot at the highest point where you would like your cat eye 'flick'. i do this with my eyes open so that i can see where the flick will actually be, rather than doing it with your eyes closed and your eyelid stretched.
2. draw a dot at the base of where you want your cat eye flick to be.
3. connect the dots.
4. draw the remaining eyeliner across your eye and adjust thickness to desired width.

enjoy your cat eye!

xo,

kristie

Day To Night #BeautyInspiration Tutorial

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

as a mom my goal is find ways to make my 'get ready' routine quicker and easier. i like wearing makeup and i like getting dressed up, however convenience and time are always an issue. finding products that will do double duty, last all day, or cut down on maintenance time are essential. finding this new Stay Matte foundation from Rimmel has been a game changer.

apply it in the morning and once evening rolls around it will still be fresh. Rimmel Stay Matte is no joke.

to make my days and nights a little simpler, i've created this Day to Night tutorial for #CollectiveBias showing how you can go from 'fresh faced' to smoldering without doubling your steps.



begin by applying your morning makeup. my morning makeup routine always includes the following: foundation, mascara, blush & lip gloss. other elements are always optional but those four always make the cut.

evening is where it becomes a bit more complicated. it is the extra steps that bring on the wow factor, and these extra steps are worth the time. first, contouring is a must. adding some extra bronzer to your hairline, cheek bones and neck will give your face structure more depth. define your brows. adding definition to your eyebrows will bring more interest to your eyes, which is basically the area you always want to draw attention to! a little eyeshadow in the crease will help to give your eyes more smolder and eyeliner will help make lashes appear bolder and longer. add some concealer for porcelain skin and define your lips to create some pout. your day to night transformation is complete.

these products below are honestly going to save you time and money. head to your local Walmart to find your #BeautyInspiration match.

they can be found at this display:

to celebrate their 180 year anniversary Rimmel is offering a giveaway that you don't want to miss! 25 readers will be selected to win a gift basket filled with Rimmel product valued at $50. the odds are forever in your favor, so you should definitely give it a go.

lucky or not you can find $1 off coupon in the Sunday newspaper for each of the two products mentioned above. that helps make an affordable product even closer within reach.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xo,
kristie


NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The Coty® Rimmel® Giveaway starts at 4/2/14 at 12:00 A.M. (midnight) ET and ends on 4/25/14 at 11:59:59 PM ET. Open only to (i) members of the Social Fabric community, (ii) legal residents of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia, and (iii) who are at least 18 years old at the time of entry. Click here for Official Rules and details including how to enter, entry criteria, prizes and restrictions, etc. Void in PR and where prohibited. Sponsor: Collective Bias, Inc.

COVERGIRL TruBlend Collection Review + Tutorial

COVERGIRL has done it again with their latest TruBlend Collection. updating their foundation formulas to find a better match and finish for your skin they continue to be the reigning drugstore champions of foundation. additionally they introduced a new TruMagic Skin Perfector and TruMagic Skin Luminizer as well as the TruBlend Fixstick. TruBlend has a unique water-based formula that allows the product to blend into your skin, rather than just sitting on top of it.

check out the video above for my thoughts on the new products as well as a quick tutorial to get your COVERGIRL look.

xo,
kristie

Beauty Blog Back Track - Eye Makeup Tutorial

if you haven't noticed already, my daily basic shadow tends to be pretty subtle. i like to add hints of color here & there, but overall i like it wearable.

with this step by step eye makeup tutorial, i added a hint of blue to the corner of my eye. it's an easy way to coordinate your shadows with your clothes, or to add just a bit of in trend eyeshadow color.

1. apply a nude shimmer shadow to your entire eyelid.
2. follow with color of choice (i used blue) to the corner of your eye.
3. finish with a light brown contour color to your crease (this adds depth)

have fun with this, experiment with different shades, and enjoy!

xo,

kristie

for more makeup tutorials, click HERE

New Years Countdown #1 Post(s)

the top post of 2013 is a tie. my How To Apply Liquid Foundation and How Get The Perfect Crease post have generated lots of buzz and lots of traffic for my little beauty blog.

thank you, thank you for taking this journey with me. i am typing to an anonymous internet but for my friends, family and readers i don't even know who take the time to comment and support my blog, thank you. here's to a fantastic 2014.

see both tutorials below.

liquid foundation is my jam, but learning how to apply liquid foundation took a bit of practice. there's something slightly intimidating about that one ounce jar which offers the promise of airbrushed skin or a face mask, depending on how it is applied. here are some tips to get your liquid foundation perfect every time.

How to Apply Liquid Foundation:

• PRIME - i'll admit, i don't do this step every time, but think of primer like velcro for your foundation; it holds it in place. priming is a must when you want your makeup to stay put, last longer and apply smoother. a perfect solution for summer when foundation notoriously wears off quickly. using a pea sized amount, apply from the center of your face, outwards.
• APPLY - first and foremost, let's make sure your foundation is a match. for tips on how to select makeup colors, check out this post here. second, opt for a nicer foundation if your budget allows.  i swear by my Make Up For Ever HD Foundation. it is hands down my favorite foundation. 
• to apply, pump once onto the back of your hand. with a foundation brush, apply starting just below the inner corner of your eye and blend outwards. this helps prevent the foundation 'line' at the edge of your face and typically you want the most coverage around nose, cheeks & chin. for extra coverage, use another pump of product. follow the guide above for instruction on where to place product, and which direction to spread it.
• FINISH - using an invisible finishing powder, apply product to the entire face. invisible finishing powders make your makeup look flawless. finishing with a pressed powder or colored powder will give extra coverage, but it can easily get that 'cakey' makeup look. an invisible finishing powder will set your makeup and help it look natural. a finishing powder also allows for better application of brush and bronzer.

once you get this foundation routine down you'll find that it gets easier and easier with time. you'll learn which areas of your face need extra coverage (in my case: cheeks & chin) and which areas need very little coverage (in my case: forehead). regardless, you will quickly graduate from 'beginner' to 'pro'.

struggling to learn how to get that perfect crease every time? the answer is simple, tilt back. tilting your head back while applying your making helps stretch out the surface of your eyelid allowing you to apply the details of your eyeshadow more carefully. applying your shadow while your head is upright compresses the surface of your lid making accuracy more difficult.

additionally, you tend to apply the color lower than it should be applied when your head is upright. when your head is tilted back you apply the color directly to the shadowed part of your brow bone which is the perfect location. WARNING: applying your crease color too low can actually make your eyes appear smaller. your lid surface will look wider and bigger when your crease color is applied correctly.

getting the perfect crease every time has never been easier.

xo,
kristie

New Years Countdown #6 How To Apply Eyeliner

How To Apply Eyeliner made the top ten posts of 2013 countdown because pencil eyeliner is notoriously easy yet difficult. easy to apply but to a stinker to get perfect. here are some tips below to guide you to that perfection.

here are some basic tips to help you apply your pencil eyeliner with precision! i tend to avoid pencil liners as i like the preciseness that liquid liner gives you, however occasionally i step outside my usual routine and use some pencil action. the great thing about pencils is that you have so much versatility with application. you can apply as thick or thin as you like - combine that with a little smudging and you can create all sorts of eyeshadow shapes. liquid eyeliner isn't as friendly with mistakes or blending.

tip one:

hold up eyebrow while applying. holding your eyebrow makes your eyelid skin taught, allowing pencil a smoother canvas to draw on.

tip two:

i sometimes cringe when i look in the mirror and see i've skipped that strip of skin directly above my lash line. usually it's not bad but if you apply in a hurry, that strip of skin looks like Moses parted the Red Sea. take a quick second to draw downwards to ensure that no skin peeks through.

tip three:

if you are going for drama then leave your pencil line as is, but more often than not a smudged pencil line looks more flattering. it blends the eyeliner into your shadow and looks like a more savvy makeup application.

if you have any additional tips for pencil eyeliner application, i would love to hear.

xo,
kristie

pin this image to see all tips in one place!

New Years Countdown #9 Two Color Eye Makeup Tutorial

#9 in my top ten posts of 2013 is this two color eye makeup tutorial. i am assuming this easy to repeat tutorial has been pinned like crazy because it is so simple. check out below for how to get gorgeous makeup in only two steps.

one of the things that is so refreshing about makeup is that it does not have to be complicated. sometimes i get a bit carried away and have to remind myself to keep it simple. two complimentary eyeshadow colors that are well blended can be just as beautiful as six shadows. the trick is to use apply your color with a fairly dense brush and then take a clean fluffy brush and go over the edges to diffuse and blend the color. 

this simple step by step eye makeup tutorial will get you on your way to looking hawt in no time. apply your eye makeup like a pro, except this time we're only using two colors.

xo,
kristie

Mary Kay Holiday Makeup Looks

i was thrilled when Conde Nast contacted me to try out some of the beautiful holiday makeup looks from Mary Kay. i am a Conde Nast Influencer and from time to time we get to participate in special promotions like this one. a few days after being selected a box filled to the brim with Mary Kay goodies arrived at my door.

my challenge was to try out the holiday looks that can be found in December's Glamour, Allure and Self magazines. definitely up to the challenge i wasted little time unwrapping all of my new 'toys'.

the Mary Kay holiday look i found most appealing was a natural look featuring a purple eyeshadow. the holidays are a fun time to experiment and be bold, but let's be honest, these pictures are going to be in photo albums viewed for a lifetime and i would rather have a classic look than a contemporary one.

i am a big proponent of the Mary Kay makeup. their products work well, last long and are affordable. some of my favorites include their mascara - amazing, and their liners: lip, eye and brow. the mascara applies without being too gloppy and their pencil liners are so smooth but don't break easily. have i mentioned the compacts?! they're portable and house a variety of products making them the perfect travel accessory or quickly pack into your purse for a night out.

below is the look i recreated with my new products but you can see the original look on MaryKay.com:

xo,
kristie

How To Get Velvet Skin

winter months are the time when you skin begins to dry, you lose your summer glow and that dewy complexion of summer fades. how do we solve this dilemma? by opting for a new skin finish - velvet skin.

a velvety complexion is the perfect complexion for the winter months. it is the solution to dry, dull skin and can be easily achieved, with the right products of course!

step 1: correct imperfections - i've said it before and i'll say it a million times again, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage is your best friend. you know, the one in elementary who you swapped broken heart halves with and promised to never forget, fast forward thirty years and your kids are best friends? yeah, that one. Secret Camouflage will never leave you stranded, will never dump you and while it won't hold your hair while you're throwing up it will cover the bags under your eyes.

check out my (Pinterest popular!) tutorials here for How To Conceal Acne &; How To Conceal Under Eyes

step 2: cover. a lot. i'm a full foundation kind of gal and while i know it is not everyone's cup of tea, a little extra coverage in the winter will go a long way in keeping your skin from looking dull and colorless. Make Up For Ever HD Foundation is a complete win in coverage, wear power and holding strength. if Secret Camouflage is your BFF then MUFE HD Foundation is the John Cena of foundation - the Ultimate Fighting Champion.

check out my (Pinterest popular!) tutorial for How To Apply Liquid Foundation

step 3: get your velvet on. and by get your velvet on i mean finish with a loose finishing powder like the Giorgio Armani Micro-Fil Loose Powder (a less expensive version would be the equally good Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder) . applying some finishing powder to your face will help mattify your skin (make it velvet-y) as well as set your makeup. powder + liquid is like setting concrete. your makeup will STAY. in addition to that, this particular product will help reduce shine, even out skin tone and leave your skin looking matte and luminous. well, played Giorgio Armani.

step 4: add some depth. sure, a matte face is ideal but a flat matte face is sad. give your bone structure some depth by adding a subtle touch of shimmer to your cheek bones, bridge of nose and brow bones. there's no better product for this than the illustrious Shimmer Brick by Bobbi Brown. this award winning shimmer applies easily and warms up your skin tone just a touch. let's also not forget this is a multi-use product. add some of those warm browns to your lids for perfectly glowing eyes.

velvet face complete.

xo,
kristie

Halloween Makeup Ideas

good morning ghosts and ghouls! Halloween season has arrived and with it is an overload of Halloween costume ideas, makeup ideas/tutorials and Halloween ideas for couples, siblings and friends. i'd like to be your source for all Halloween ideas but i always find that YOU seem to have the best ideas. posted above is my most recent Halloween tutorial created last season but i would love to do more. check out my other Halloween ideas/tutorial videos here or please leave me a comment and/or request.

i love, love LOVE this time of year and need some inspiration from you. (perhaps my most recent move has left me still in a bit of a blogging fog)

don't forget to stay in touch with me on Instagram to see what Halloween goodness we are up to in the Blushing Basics household.

and though i love Halloween i love YOU even more. the season of thanks is just around the corner and after last weekend's General Conference i am filled to the brim with appreciation and love for those of you who support and encourage this mama/blogger/friend/sister/wife.

xo,
kristie

Tips For Applying Eyeliner

here are some basic tips to help you apply your pencil eyeliner with precision! i tend to avoid pencil liners as i like the preciseness that liquid liner gives you, however occasionally i step outside my usual routine and use some pencil action. the great thing about pencils is that you have so much versatility with application. you can apply as thick or thin as you like - combine that with a little smudging and you can create all sorts of eyeshadow shapes. liquid eyeliner isn't as friendly with mistakes or blending.

tip one:

hold up eyebrow while applying. holding your eyebrow makes your eyelid skin taught, allowing pencil a smoother canvas to draw on.

tip two:

i sometimes cringe when i look in the mirror and see i've skipped that strip of skin directly above my lash line. usually it's not bad but if you apply in a hurry, that strip of skin looks like Moses parted the Red Sea. take a quick second to draw downwards to ensure that no skin peeks through.

tip three:

if you are going for drama then leave your pencil line as is, but more often than not a smudged pencil line looks more flattering. it blends the eyeliner into your shadow and looks like a more savvy makeup application.

if you have any additional tips for pencil eyeliner application, i would love to hear.

xo,
kristie

pin this image to see all tips in one place!

Pop Art Comic Makeup {Halloween}

in case you haven't you haven't heard, halloween has arrived! my favorite time of year for blogging because i get to be ridiculous, have fun and share it with you. even though my costume makeup skills are nil i love doing these tutorials. maybe they will spark some ideas for your own costume or give you a push in the right direction. regardless, they are usually a good laugh (Tman and i still crack up at my pirate makeup tutorial - ARRRGGGHH).

xo,

kristie

ps. any requests? please leave them in the comments section. 

Everyday Eye {Step by Step Tutorial}

i just received the products shown above and i may have done a fist pump (or two) to add some awesome new Urban Decay shadows to my collection, as well as the Urban Decay Super-Saturated Lip Pencil in Big Bang. having previously tried the Big Fatty mascara and the 24/7 eye pencil (both of which were winners) i was in makeup heaven. the Big Bang lip color has already been a makeup staple the last few days and with the eyeshadows i may have created my favorite 'Everyday Makeup' look.

the pictures below don't do this look justice due to the foiling effect of the shadow. i can't capture the shine and shimmer highlight that make this look the ultimate easy eye makeup:

plus, for those of you advancing in years and are worried about using shimmery colors (they tend to accentuate wrinkles) this look actually works since you are only adding shimmer to the very center of your lid, rather than all over.

on to the tutorial!

1. apply nude brown shadow from lashline to crease. in this instance, i am using Urban Decay's YDK shadow.
2. using the foiling technique (for further instruction click here), i foiled my Queen Phyllis to the center of my eyelid only. 
3. using the same brush used for foiling, gently sweep back and forth just above the lash line.
4. enjoy!

xo,
kristie