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Found this video..

This may not be exactly like Kate Middleton's wedding make up but it gives some really good make up tips and advice!
It's by "Katieandsophiebeauty" on youtube!

Now that it's over...

If you have yet to see pictures or videos or ANYTHING from the Royal Wedding last Friday then you may just live under a rock. Millions of people tuned in to watch a "commoner," Kate Middleton, marry Prince William, second in line to the throne.

It's safe to say that Kate Middleton (now known as HRH, the Duchess of Cambridge) is absolutely stunning and her wedding day didn't disappoint. She wore an insanely gorgeous traditional and classic silhouette, reminiscent of Grace Kelly's wedding dress, yet completely modern gown by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. The Cartier tiara was a gift lent to her by the Queen for her big day.
However, to me, the best part of all of this was that she did her own makeup.  What? A woman marrying into the Royal Family in front of millions of people and broadcast all over the world did her own makeup AND pulled it off? Yup. It wasn't too drastic of a change from her normal make up routine but she did have a heavier smokey eye, pink cheeks, and a light pink gloss. Some articles and other blogs suggest that the eyeliner was too much and too heavy but I say go for it, she looked absolutely radiant. To get her make up look, check out Victoria's Secret facebook page. (Like us on Facebook too!)

As for the hair, I'm so glad she wore it long and lose, but not totally casual like her usual gorgeous blow out. She jazzed it up a bit but kept it looking like her. The pieces around her face were pulled back which just highlighted her face.
All in all, if I were getting married tomorrow, I would want this exact look from head to toe; she looks like a princess.


What do you think of her Royal Wedding look?

Royal Wedding Fever

Is anyone else extremely excited about the Royal Wedding? Waity Katie no more! Is anyone else getting up at five am to watch it? I am!

First there was speculation about the guest list and who will be invited. Now that that's revealed, ALL the focus seems to be on what will Kate Middleton wear!? What designer? Long train? Ballgown? Simple & Elegant? I'm guessing elegant but not TOO simple; she's marrying a Prince! She'll be a princess!

Make up wise, Kate usually keeps it simple and classy, nothing crazy. No red lips, no purple eyeshadow, no rainbow colored eyelashes (warning: these are extremely tacky; they are so not okay!) I'm hoping she'll go for something a little more exciting, it is her wedding after all. (She probably won't wear Bath and Body Works Royal Wedding themed Liplicious but YOU can get them for $4 a piece!)
Usually her hair is also simple, straight or blown out. I'm guessing she'll go with her hair down but maybe wavy; maybe half up. I hope she doesn't wear an updo. It doesn't seem like her, she's never seen with her hair up. You want to look like yourself on your wedding day after all!

Again, these are all GUESSES. Check back Friday night for reviews on what she actually wore!

Five Products Ever Girl Needs in her Everyday Bag

I realize that some of us girls carry HUGE purses everyday because we put our entire lives in them! In just one of my bags I used to carry 7 different lip glosses/chapsticks, 2 lotions, hand sanitizer, 10,000 pens, gum, highlighters, sunglasses, hair ties, bobby pins, etc etc etc. It never ends. Now, I've been able to narrow that list down. Other than the essentials (wallet, cell phone, two pens), I've narrowed the list of non-essentials down to five. Maybe that's still too many for some of you but for me, I can make it work.

1. Hand sanitizer. Whether there's no soap in the bathroom or there's just no sink around to wash your hands, hand sanitizer works like a charm. Of course, I think Bath and Body Works has the BEST "pocket-bacs." They also have holders for them to tie to the side of your bag or key chain so it's not taking up too much room. (They're also in yummy scents!)
2. Travel size scented lotion. Whether it's a fragrance pick me up or your skin feels dry, it's the perfect addition to an everyday bag that you can change up quickly and won't take up room because of it's size.
3. Your favorite chapstick or lipgloss. I cheat a little here. I have one mentha chapstick by CO Bigelow and a CO Bigelow mentha colored gloss. It keeps our lips moisturized and if you choose one with color, it can brighten up your face.
4. Gum. Although it's not a beauty product, gum or mints are a huge necessity in my mind. No one wants to be talking to someone whose breath smells. Also, your confidence is so much better, I think, when your breath is fresh.
5. Bobby Pins. If I'm wearing my hair down it's not usually as bad of a problem but when my hair is up and it's windy outside, I always find myself eating my hair or getting it caught on my lipgloss. With a few extra bobby pins in your purse you can tame those flyaways!

New Fragrance Launch at Bath&Body Works

(Picture from BathAndBodyWorks.com)

Bath and Body Works has a new scent coming out! The official launch date is April 15th but for the most part, stores usually put out most of the products earlier than that! It already previewed and many people might already have it but if you haven't tried it, go check it out. It's called "Country Chic" which is supposed to embody the effortlessly sexy, down to earth, country girl. It's a blend of lemon and wildflowers atop a woodsy base note. To me, I mostly smell the lemon but everyones nose is different so you have to try it on yourself!
If you like strong and exotic scents, this one may not be for you but Bath and Body Works does have around 30 other scents (and that's only their "Signature Collection") and you are sure to find one that works for you!
"Country Chic" is a very light scent that is part of their "Freshes" Signature Collection which really works for the woman who likes light, non-heavy, everyday scents that won't overpower them. With my experience, Country Chic doesn't last THAT long on me (compared to one of my favorites, Black Raspberry Vanilla, which lasts hours). If you want the scent to last longer, I definitely recommend layering the shower gel, body lotion, and fragrance mist, of the same scent, which will give you a layering of the scents so they will last longer. (We call this "the ritual").
The full sizes are the "usual" price for the Signature Collection which is
Shea Cashmere Hand Cream - $10
Body Lotion - $10.50
Shower Gel - $10.50
Fragrance Mist - $12.00
Bubble Bath - $12
Shower Cream - $12
Body Cream - $12
EDT - $29.50
Also, Signature fragrances are ALWAYS "Buy 3, Get 2 Free OR Buy 2, Get 1 Free".
If you don't want to commit right away to a full size, some stores may still have the preview lotions out (2 oz lotions for $1 or 3 oz mists for $2).

Funky Fingers

 Now that "open toed shoes" season is officially starting, (though it wouldn't seem so with the weather in New York) I wanted to find some new, fun nail polish colors to wear on my toes. With my job, I find it extremely hard to get away with nail polish on my nails because by the end of a shift, they are chipped from opening boxes all day! I tend to only wear polish on my toes but occasionally will put some on my fingers (I'm also REALLY bad at painting my right hand nails so I tend to steer clear of doing it myself).

  When I was home for spring break, my sister told me about this new store called Five Below in Latham, NY (not sure if they're a chain or not, I've never heard of them before). When we got there I saw they had a bunch of fun colored polish (called Funky Fingers) for 3 for $5. I bought a lime green (Limelight), a hot pink (Screamin' Fuscia), and a dark purple (Riot) polish. I used the hot pink first on my toes and it actually works REALLY well. The color is bright after two applications and it lasts! Also, it's been a week and I've only done ONE touch up a couple days ago and it hasn't chipped yet. Since I'm completely incapable of using my left hand to paint my nails on the right, I have yet to wear them on my nails (except for a couple of REALLY messy attempts). However, those messy attempts did come off farely well with average nail polish remover on a tissue.
  I have never seen this brand before nor have I been able to find a website for them but you can find them on sites like eBay and Five Below.

Traveling Sizes

  This week is Spring Break for Purchase and I went to Baltimore with my boyfriend for the weekend. I don't usually buy travel size items from Bath and Body Works but since I work there, I got some gratis which was a travel size ritual (shower gel, lotion, splash) in our newest scent, Carried Away. Since they are small (3 oz; they are perfect if you are going on a plane, too!) they fit perfectly into my small weekend bag.

  Most of our signature scents are also made in the travel sizes but some are only made in lotions and not the entire ritual (like my favorite, Black Raspberry Vanilla). When I first tried Carried Away, I HATED it. But, when I tried the shower gel, I fell in love and gave the lotion and spray a second chance and now I wear it almost everyday. Simply, its a fruity scent with floral undertones. To me, I smell the raspberries the strongest. Some of the other top notes are Italian Bergamot, Meyer Lemon, Mandarin, and Pear Nectar. The mid notes are Purple Freesia, White Tuberose, White Jasmine, and Violet Petals while the base notes are creamy sandalwood, whipped vanilla, and musk. When I smell it in the bottle, I smell mostly raspberries but when it's on the floral notes come forward.

  At 3 for $10 (the ongoing promotion) these are PERFECT for traveling OR if you just want to try a new scent before committing to a full size product. Also, for the sale, you can mix and match ALL travel sizes (forms, scents, and even other brands like True Blue Spa and Aromatherapy).

Eyeliner solutions

When I first started wearing make up, eyeliner was my number one thing. Never went anywhere without it.  As I got older, I started hating how it looked on me because I didn't know how to wear it right. I always just used a cheap stick of black eyeliner that you can buy at CVS for about a buck. While that may be okay when you're 15/16 years old, as I got older I realized it was always running and I looked so unnatural with these black lines over my eyes. While that may be a "trend" for some (Taylor Momsen), for me, I felt like an idiot, as do most people, I think.

Then, my friend gave me her MAC eyeshadow (Beauty Marked) that she never used, it was a really dark, dusty purple that looked almost black. I like this color because I have a green tint in my eyes so the purple-ish color really brought out the green flakes in my eyes. If you use this, find which one matches your eye color best. I threw out all my dollar stick-eye liner and started using that shadow. All I do is lightly wet a slanted brush (mines on the other end of my eyebrow brush). This probably isn't what it's supposed to be used for, but I use it anyway. Then, I dab it in the eyeshadow and just slowly swipe it atop my eyelid, right on my eyelash line. Sometimes, depending on the amount of water, this would be dark so I would use my finger to smudge it a bit. I found this LOOKED better and LASTED much longer because it doesn't run.
Alas, three days ago I lost my MAC eyeshadow. I've tried using other eyeshadows that seem to not do the trick. I remember a couple years ago in a magazine it suggested that if there is no eyeliner, try using your mascara. I did that. It worked better than a cheap stick of eyeliner but wasn't really as pretty as the MAC eyeshadow.
Although the shadow is, what I think, a bit too high in price ($14.50 for 1.5 g), it works. I have yet to find a comparable result with a less expensive product but I'm on the hunt!

Supermodel by Victoria's Secret Eau De Parfum

Victoria's Secret "Supermodel" Eau de parfum is my secret weapon. I wear it any time I want to impress someone. Let's just say the first time I wore it was to a party my freshman year in college and I met a really cute guy. I've been convinced ever since.
    This super sexy and fruity scent contains berries, peach blossom, and creamy sandalwood as their top notes. When I wear it on my skin I can really smell the sandalwood which kind of gives it that sexy, musky scent. The lighter notes, the Berry and Peach Blossom,  are kind of an afterthought when mixed with my body chemistry. However, this can be very different on every person; it's all about how it mixes with your skin. My number one suggestion is to utilize testers in the store! If you can't find one, ask. If the store wants the product to sell and wants to satisfy a customer, they will make a tester if there isn't one. I recommend spraying it on you and then walking around the store for a little or shop some more before making a decision on if you like the scent. There are NUMEROUS scents that I cannot stand in the bottle but when I put them on, they smell completely different and some I've even come to buy.
    Because it is an eau de parfum, it is a little stronger than your typical EDT or body splash. There is more perfume so the scent will last longer throughout the day which means you need less touch ups.
   As to the price, although it is a little more expensive than some may want to spend, a little goes A LONG way. I had the 2.5 oz bottle and it seemed to last me forever. A month ago, I bought the 1 oz bottle and using it a few times a week (three to four), I still have 90% of the bottle left. Like I said, this is totally worth it and always makes a good impression!

Taaz.com - Free makeover

 Hey, so I'm doing my sisters hair and make up for her junior prom (I know, it's months away but I'm excited) and I came across this really cool site that lets you try make up before you buy! Taaz.com lets you upload a picture of yourself, or you can use one of their pre-set models, and try on a bunch of different brands and colors of make up. There are thousands of different varieties you can try. Also, they have celebrity hair styles that you can try on and even change the hair color. You can save your creations and view other people's creations in a gallery. It's a free makeover!
 Only problem I seem to have is that it's really hard for most people to get a good picture of themselves with the perfect lighting so unless you have a really good camera and lighting, it may be hard to really get a feel on how the make up will look on you.
  Check it out though! Even if you don't want to upload your own pic, it's still fun to be creative with make up!

Tweezerman Tweezers

   One of the things I hate when plucking my eyebrows is how long it can take! Even if you're just trying to keep up in between waxes, if you have the wrong tweezers it can take a little while to get them perfect.  With some of them, it takes a couple tries to get a grasp on some of the shorter hairs. Like I said... if you have the wrong tweezers.

   The first time I tried Tweezerman tweezers was my freshman year in college and they were my roommates. I never kept up with my eyebrows in between waxes because it hurt so bad and took more time than I cared to give. Well, since I bought my first pair of Tweezermans (you can buy them at Sephora or on the Tweezerman website) I have never gone back to the drugstore brands. They may be a little more expensive (ranging from $12.50 to $40) but let me tell you, they are completely worth it. I bought the mini slanted tweezers for, I believe, $15 a couple of years ago and still use them. My 16 year old sister even begged me to buy her one last Christmas, so I did.
  There's not much you can say about the actual use except that the slanted head really grasps on to even the shortest hairs and you don't have to try multiple times to pull them out. Another great thing is that they come in a variety of colors. My make up bag area can become a hot mess on the weekends or when I'm in a hurry to get ready and I always seem to lose things. But, my Tweezerman's are light green so they are easy to find against all my other make up. That also comes in handy if they're on the bottom of a big, cluttered purse.

Beauty Rush Mascara

  Other than foundation, my number one beauty product has got to be mascara; I don't go outside without it, even to take out the trash. Without mascara, my eyelashes are thin, pretty light (for being dark), and they go "out" instead of "up." I think one of the hardest make up finds is good mascara that really does what you want to your lashes. I've tried so many mascaras since I started wearing makeup that I don't think I've ever boughten the same mascara more than once. Until now, that is, with Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush mascara . At $7 (or 2/$12 or 3/$15) for a .35 oz tube, it's about the same price as most of the big name brands sold in CVS or Walmart but with a better outcome.

  The reason I love this mascara is simple. It lasts. Although I always have a back up in my purse just in case, I never have to continually reapply throughout the day. With a few swipes of the brush before I go out, my eyes pop, even without other eye makeup. I use the black (they have two other colors) so it really darkens my lashes as well as lengthen and volumize them. Although it's not waterproof, it doesn't run through out the day and is easy to wash off at night. The only small problem I have is after I wash my face, it is hard to get off from under my eyes on my skin. However, that is easily solved with a little bit of Vaseline or facial moisturizer.
  From my experience with what seems like hundreds of mascaras, my favorite is definitely Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush mascara.

Step Into Spring with Shea

   Although it definitely doesn't feel quite like it, at least in the Northeast, spring is definitely on the way! If you're anything like me, you're dying to pull out your flip flops and open-toed sandals and put away the boots. However, it may not be so fun if your feet aren't so pretty. With these long, cold winter months, your skin dries out and some people forget about their feet when moisturizing. So, how do I get my feet ready for bare feet or flip flops? True Blue Spa's "Shea It Isn't So" foot cream (sold at Bath and Body Works stores and online).

   This stuff is FABULOUS. The main active ingredient is shea butter so you know it is exceptionally moisturizing. Although it has many uses, shea butter is typically used in our society for moisturizing all types of skin, from severely dry to normal skin. The avocado oil in this foot cream also adds to the moisturizing and conditioning component. Your feel may feel oily when you first put this on but as it starts to sink into your skin, your feet just start to feel moisturized, not necessarily "oily" or "slippery." Lastly, the eucalyptus extract adds a minty, yet not overpowering, scent as well as a "cool" feel. This product is a go to of mine when I get home from a long day on my feet partly because of the cooling effect the eucalyptus brings.
 The price of this runs a little bit on the more expensive side (4 fl oz container costs $15) but a little goes a VERY long way so it will last you awhile. Also, Bath and Body Works is always handing out coupons for free items with purchase or 20% off that you can pair with their in store sales. Many times, the True Blue Spa products are "Buy 2 Get 1."
  Like I said, this product really has all the components of a great foot cream. If your feet just need a little spruce up before Spring, you could use this on it's own. If your heels may be a little cracked or feet a little dryer, try using a pumice stone or exfoliant before putting on the cream. Also, to get a little extra "spa" like treatment, I like to put socks in the dryer to get really warm and put them on after the cream.
  Now that your feet are soft and pretty, all you need is pretty nail polish and a cute pair of sandals!