I picked up an Ardell brochure from Sally's the other day and found out some helpful info. I am writing it on my blog without permission but maybe people will buy lashes and Ardell will forgive me for that ;)
Small Eyes: Ardell Fashion Lashes 109/110, Sweeties/Babies Invisibands, Andrea Modlash 21 or 70
Large Eyes: Ardell Fashion Lashes 105, Inivisbands Hotties/Wispies/Lacies or Andrea Modlash 23
Round Eyes: Ardell Fashion Lash 109, Inivisbands Beauties, Andrea ModLash 21 or 52
Almond-Shaped Eyes: Demi Pixies, Luckies, Andrea Modlash 13
Deep-Set Eyes: Ardell Fashion Lash 131 or Inivisibands Wispies, Demi Wispies and Andrea Modlash 52.
Universal Lashes: Ardell 110
Hope that helps!
xoxo
Eyeliner 101
Hey everyone!
I got a request to explain the difference between the various types of eyeliner available in the wonderful world of cosmetics. I'm by no means a makeup guru, just a gal that has loved makeup all of her life, has plenty of it, and has learned some tips and tricks along the way!
There are plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to apply your makeup for natural and dramatic looks, so I would like my posts to help out those of you that are timid when it comes to makeup. These posts will be basic yet (hopefully) informative. My goal: make you all less afraid to use makeup. I won't be posting specific brand recommendations in this entry, but if you want any just leave your questions in the comments.
The first thing I would like to say is that you shouldn't be afraid of cosmetics. While some people think they are a way to oppress women, I call bull on that. It's so much fun and it can help you with your confidence, so I don't find that oppressive at all! Makeup really is a creative outlet as much as painting or drawing can be. It is not just a way to make yourself polished--make it fun!
Quick note: I won't be talking about kohl liners (the loose powder type, not kohl pencil) because even I can barely use it without making a mess ;) Here we go, lovelies: Eyeliner 101!
PENCIL LINER
Positives: Good for lining the rim/waterline of your eye (though this isn't recommended since it can clog tear ducts and cause infection) easier to smudge
Negatives: One of the fastest to slide off/disappear if you have oily lids and/or are in hot and humid climates.
-I think everyone starts off with pencil liner because it's readily available and chances are your makeup mentor (usually mom) started off with that as well. The quality of the pencil is very important. You want one that requires little tugging of the eyelid to get a smooth line and one that will stay on all day. Considering my skin type and where I live (Miami) I never use pencil liner without a sealer, because if not it will just melt off.
If your skin isn't as oily you can try out pencil liners. The kind you can sharpen are good because with a sharp point you can get a thinner line and once the point wears down you can make a smokey eye. I've never had much success with twist-up liners, so I won't recommend those.
LIQUID LINER
Positives: Great for retro and bold looks. Also great for when you need to add emphasis to your makeup look without bold color.
Negatives: One of the hardest to apply. Some need time to "dry" (meaning you need to keep your lids closed or your eyes looking downward to prevent the line from smudging)
-By now I have gotten used to liquid liner, but if you're just starting out it will require a lot of practice. You can find liquid liner in pen or "ink well" type packaging. Some liquid liners, like SANA's Maikohan Liner (my favorite in the world) lasts all day, but others can run at the lightest tear or drop of sweat and cause a huge mess (way more messy than pencil can!) If you are a beginner with an adventurous makeup spirit, pick out a cheaper liquid liner from the drug store to practice your technique. Check out YouTube for great makeup tutorials as well!
CREAM/GEL LINER
Positives: Glides on great, (usually) amazing staying power. Available in a rainbow of colors. With the right brush, great control of application and line thickness.
Negatives: Require a separate brush, the product can dry up quickly in the jar.
Technically, cream and gel liner are two different things, but you will often find people calling the two liners by the same name and generally, the packaging and technique is the same. This has become my favorite type of liner, not only because of staying power, but because with the right brush it is the easiest to apply. You don't need to tug on your eyes at all (less wrinkles!) and pretty much every brand, including drugstore lines, are making them now. I would say this is a great product for those of you afraid to use liquid liner to try out. Depending on the quality of your gel/cream liner, you can also get a strong line that gives your look the impact liquid liner does, but without the mess. You can find angled/slanted brushes at the drugstore and those always work well with cream/gel liners. You can either slide the brush along the lid or press it into the lash line.
EYESHADOW
Positives: You probably already have an eyeshadow! Pretty good staying power, creative flexibility
Negatives: You need a separate brush and some water, some shadows work better with this technique than others
If you have an angled brush, all you need to do is dampen it up and sweep it on the edge of the eyeshadow pan (don't spray your entire shadow with water!) to pick up some color, then you would apply it as you would with a cream or gel liner. It's cheaper than buying a new cream/gel liner if you already have a brush, and you can often get great results depending on the quality of the shadow.
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If you want visuals, I can't recommend YouTube enough. There are some great makeup videos on there that will help you understand the technique and placement of liner, as well as give you some insight into the creative things you can do with it. Please leave comments and questions! I will answer as many as I can and as always, feel free to request a post from me. I'll be more than happy to help you out!
Diary: Real Beauty Secrets
(Photo from web...don't know the credits)
This post is for those of you with young girls or those of you just getting started with makeup and skincare. I hope this will save you not only money, but sorrow. A lot of people don't realize how awful low self-confidence and self-esteem can be. Women sometimes compensate for these feelings by purchasing expensive products and makeup they hope will magically change what they don't like about themselves.
I am guilty of that behavior..
I'm very gullible, even as an adult. So you can imagine how awful it was to go through that awkward teenage phase watching skincare and makeup advertisements with my eyes wide open and a whole lotta hope. I kept thinking if I just bought that one cream or lipgloss, I would look like (insert actress name here.)
Now that I know better, I want to clear up some beauty myths to keep as many of you lovelies as I can from making the same mistake. Is there a lesson here? Perhaps. But I won't be preaching, because in many ways I am still as gullible and awkward as I was then.
If anyone can counter something that I wrote with tested advice please feel free to do so! This is all about helping each other out!
1) No amount of product can change genetics- No matter what you put on your face if people in your family (especially mom or dad) are prone to certain skin issues, chances are you will be too. While you can control the issues to a certain extent, no product will make your large pores go away or your dry skin magically smooth forever. Accepting this from the beginning will keep you from compulsive shopping. Think control, not cure.
2) When a celebrity boasts they use a certain expensive product, there's a big chance it's not true- Do you honestly think Sarah Jessica Parker dyes her hair with Garnier? Or that Beyonce dyes her hair with L'Oreal? Let's get real here; they go to top salons and drop hundreds on their tresses. That's not to say box/drugstore dye isn't good, I use box dye/drugstore all the time, just don't expect the same magical transformation the digitally enhanced (and sponsored) commercials give you!
3) Cover models usually use what's in the makeup artist's kit...not what the sidebars suggest they use. - The reason I write this is because I have noticed, many times, that a "get the look" section will suggest products I KNOW were not used on the actresses. How do I know? Because I might have the same product myself and can tell the difference. Or the model will have dark, smokey eyes and the color range of the makeup line wouldn't even cover that look.
I could, of course, be wrong (Please correct me in the comments!) Sometimes products actresses represent ARE used in a shoot, but not always. For example, Jennifer Garner is a spokesperson for Neutrogena. I like Jen Garner, so when she's mentioned in a magazine I pay attention to what she talks about beauty-wise. You are guaranteed to see non-Neutrogena products mentioned. Be cautious when thinking of purchasing something your favorite star mentions. Much like YouTube, you never know if they're being sponsored or given stuff for free. (FTC changed that of course...but only on YouTube and in the blogosphere.)
4. This might be obvious to some...but mascara commercials are as fake as the boobies on South Beach!
If they aren't CGI lashes, they are totally falsies (sometimes more than one pair!). If you want to look like a mascara commercial, skip the tube of Great Lash (which I don't like and don't understand the obsession with) and get some Ardell lashes. They're probably a few steps away from the mascara in your local drugstore.
5) This relates to number 1, but "remedies" aren't a magical cure either.
Megan Fox got some heat for saying she stays thin drinking apple cider vinegar because it "flushes out the toxins." Riiiiight. She's thin and gorgeous because she has the genes and doctors to make her that way. Think of body types. Again I will use Beyonce. She has an hourglass figure that you know she has to work hard to maintain or she could easily gain weight. Apple cider vinegar won't make you or Beyonce look like Megan Fox. If you work out and eat right your body will fall into a healthy weight range (unless you have hormonal issues) and look as it is supposed to look. You can't shrink your skeletal or muscular structure; which plays into how you look at lower and higher weight ranges. If Megan Fox and I wore the same clothing size, we would still look completely different.
*One tip that IS important and true: Drink water. Your insides need it, not just your complexion (and even water won't cure cystic acne-prone skin!) But dehydration contributes to ailments a lot of us face every day (headaches, fatigue, etc.) that aren't much fun.
Bottom line: Products, whether they are for face, hair, nails, or body, will only help so much. They are meant to enhance and soothe issues, not erase them. You can fight certain things with makeup and skincare, but you can't fight your genes and you can't fight nature. Don't spend a fortune trying to find the one product that will! It doesn't exist. Buy what works for you and treat yourself to some things every now and then. But the next time you look at a glossy magazine ad, I hope you remember this post and turn the critical eyes you keep on yourself toward that computer-generated and fake magazine. I need to try my best to do the same.
xoxo
xoxo
