The Beauty Essential Hiding in Your Desk

If you spend any time on Instagram or Pinterest looking at makeup looks you've probably seen a few (ok, a lot) of amazing winged out eyeshadow with the crispest, cleanest edge ever. You've probably wondered how they do that, and how you can get that good. Well I'm going to let you in on a little secret: they cheated. Well, not Photoshop level of cheating, but that isn't the skill of the worlds steadiest hand. They get that perfect line with a little help from something you probably have sitting in your desk as we speak. This wonderful little tool is cheap, can be purchased pretty much everywhere, and can even be swiped from your obnoxious office mates desk.

I'm of course talking about tape. Yes, tape. Like the kind you use to wrap presents with or to tape notes onto the wall. You are a stripe of tape away from achieving that same level of precision too. First, the type of tape doesn't really matter. I prefer the cheap frosted stuff from my Dollar Store because A.) it's dirt cheap and B.) it's a bit gentler to peel off than some of the nicer tape out there. One thing to keep in mind, if you do your face makeup first the tape will pull it all up so I recommend doing eyes first.

I take a piece about an inch and a half long and I align it on the same angle my eyeliner would be if I extended it from my bottom lash line out and up. Please me careful not to accidentally tape any of your lashes down, nobody wants to inadvertently wax their lashes. I smooth down the edge that goes against where my shadow will be, just to make sure none travels under the tape.

Now apply you shadow however you see fit. For the purposes of these photos I used a bolder color combo than I usually prefer, which was a fun change of pace for me. Don't worry about getting any powder on the tape, it will all come off when we peel it off.

The tape makes it much easier to apply cream, gel, or liquid eyeliner as well. Just trace against the tape edge and you will have the straightest edge on Instagram. Just be careful to fill in where the wing connects to the lash line, unless you were going for that check mark sort of look.

A gentle tug (in case you taped a hair or two down), and away comes the shadow and liner mess, leaving you with a perfectly clean and crisp line.

A little liner touch up, some liner and shadow along my bottom lash, and a coat or two of mascara later and you have that beautiful and bold look you wanted with none of the mess or steady handed hard work it requires to get. And all thanks to a little piece of tape.

How to Pack a Suitcase + Dot&Dot Travel Folder Review

*I received this product for free for testing purposes. All opinions are 100% my own*

Hello and welcome to the second part of my packing series! This time I will be showing you how to pack up a suitcase as well as go over some items I think make packing a breeze (or at least less stressful). Obviously every body's travel style is different so what works well for me may not work for you at all. But hopefully you will find at least one or two tips and tricks that will help you next time you take a trip.

First I'd like to talk about suitcases. There are lots and lots of different types out there, but I am partial to older, vintage ones for several reasons. First, I think they look nicer than the box on wheels variety you see nowadays. I'm a visual person, so looks matter to me. The second reason (and most important) is that vintage luggage tends to have more built in features that will make packing much easier. Case in point, my suitcase has two built in pockets AND a divider screen on each side of it so nothing will dump out when I open it. This also allows me to keep things separated and organized. Check thrift shops for a nice vintage set of luggage, I actually got mine for free from a neighbor who was moving away.

When packing clothes I always like to bring at least one extra outfit and two extra days worth of undergarments. There is nothing worst than getting stuck somewhere and not having clean underwear. Think of these as your emergency supplies, you wouldn't drive your car without a spare tire so why travel without extra clothes? For the extra clothes I tend to pick neutral items that I can either dress up or down depending on what accessories I use. So a nice but basic shirt and either some black pants or a skirt depending on where I am travelling to. Throw on a hoodie to dress it down, or a scarf to dress it up a bit.  I also always bring flip flops I can use in the shower, ain't nobody got time for foot fungus.

I really like pockets and bags to keep all of my clothes organized and sorted out. Remember the laundry bag set I reviewed back in February? Something like that is perfect to store undergarments in (I always keep my underwear and bras in a see through bag to discourage TSA from getting handsy with my stuff, I learned that lesson the icky way). And then I can stick my dirty laundry into the bag (after you take out the clean stuff) so when I get home I can just toss the whole bag into the washer. Since that was a set of four I actually bring a second bag along for my son's dirty clothes. My husband is an adult and can keep track of his own stuff, he knows where the bags are. I also have a travel makeup bag with a hook to hang it up that I always bring on trips. The whole thing is waterproof so I can take it into the shower with me and hang it from the faucet for easy access to my shampoo and soaps. I got mine in the clearance section many years ago but they are pretty easy to find.

Socks can be easily stored inside of shoes to not only save space but to prevent them from getting lost in the rest of your clothes. When you have to keep track of toddler size socks this becomes an important tip. Speaking of shoes, want to know how to pack them without getting dirty sole prints all over your clothes? Put them in a shower cap (the kind people use when they don't want their hair to get wet in the shower). This will prevent any dirt from the soles to come off on your clothes and helps keep them together in your bag. You can also get shoe socks (or make a pair yourself) to slip your shoes into. I have a set I use that are of course vintage (from my Grandmother), but these would be really easy to make (if you really want instructions, let me know down below in the comments).

Did you know that folding your clothes isn't always the best option? Rolling them up can actually save more space AND prevent wrinkles. I roll all pants I bring, and well as any shirts or sweaters that are bulky. If you are travelling with a backpack instead of a suitcase rolling works 100% better than folding I've discovered. We camp a lot so I'm a pro at packing a hiking bag by now it seems. And hands down rolling is the best option for a backpack.

Now what if you have somewhere nice to go, like a wedding in May, and you need to bring nicer clothes? That's where these wonderful packing folders by Dot&Dot come in handy. This 15" by 10" folder will hold up to seven items and will help prevent the formation of wrinkles. It will also help prevent damage to the clothes you put inside of it. The tough material will stand up to even the sharpest of stilettos and save that silk blouse from a snag you will never be able to fix. I feel like the 15" by 10" is a pretty large folder, though I seem to think that is the smallest size they offer. The medium is a few inches bigger. I'm a smaller person so I don't really need the large folder, so this size is probably perfect for me. Being able to put seven items in it really helps to organize your clothes too, and no matter what they will not tangle together no matter how hard the TSA tosses my bag around.

I really like that it comes with a folding board, which makes getting things the correct size really easy. Each folder has four wings that come together to close it up, this allows you to compress down your clothes to save more space. This particular size seems to fit into most luggage, even my smallest suitcase (also vintage). I like the handle on it, makes it easier to carry around and pack up. The whole thing has a clear heavy duty plastic zip bag to store it it as well, which I though was a nice touch. Once there are clothes in the folder it won't fit into the clear case, but it is nice for storage or even to put documents in if you need to bring papers. I will be using it that way on our upcoming trip, I always have stuff to work on.

I really love this travel folder and I will probably pick up the larger size before our trip for my husband to use with his stuff. I think if you had enough of them you could put your daily outfit in each one. That is a level of organization I dream about, I love a well kept suitcase. The price is really great too, the one I have is only $17.97 with free Prime shipping. I don't think that is to much at all. Though to be truthful I kind of want to buy everything Dot&Dot sells, they have a really amazing selection of travel accessories.

I hope this answered any questions you may have had about packing a suitcase and that I introduced you to a great new product. If you have a question I didn't answer please ask in the comments and hopefully I will be able to help you out. Thank you for reading and I'll see you guys tomorrow!

Packing Tips for Toilitires and Dot&Dot Silicone Travel Bottles Review

I received this product free for testing purposes, all opinions are my own

I think most people can agree that traveling can be amazing, but the packing and prep work beforehand can seriously blow. I'm going on a trip in May (and possibly April), so I though I would do a series of posts dedicated to breaking down the packing process and hopefully give you guys some good tips. I'll also talk about items that help keep you more organized for your trip as well. In today's post I'm going to go over toiletries, what you should bring and how best to bring them. Obviously every trip has different requirements and every person has different needs, so think of this as a guide of sorts.

When deciding what to bring you need to know how many days you will be gone and where you are going. The longer you are gone the more you will bring obviously, I wouldn't bring one travel sized bottle of shampoo on a week long trip to the beach. My trip is spring time in dry land wheat country for a wedding, but it looks like we'll be camping it. This trip should be fairly short, leave Friday morning and get back Sunday at some point. I will basically need supplies for two days, so I won't be packing large volumes of items. Certain things, like dental hygiene items and razors, so if you want to know more about those let me know down below in the comments.

If you are only traveling for a day or two, foil packets of shampoo and conditioner are my preferred choice. Most of the time you can get them for free from different company's websites or as a sample from places like Costco or Wal-Mart. Foil packets take up very little space and I can typically get two uses out of them if I need too. And instead of lugging bottle back I can just throw the packet away when done. I more than likely will not have a shower available to use so I'll be bringing a small can of dry shampoo to use instead. Pssst! brand dry shampoo makes a travel sized can that is just a few dollars and will last you about a week with constant use. I currently have a mini bottle of Klorane dry shampoo from Birchbox (a great source of mini sized items to take traveling) so I'll be bringing that. And since I have seriously long hair I'll be bringing my small bottle of Beauty Protector spray from this post as well as my detangling brush. The Beauty Protector will also help protect my hair from the heat and keep it soft and smelling good.

Since I won't have access to a shower, I won't be bringing any body wash. Instead I'll bring a pack of makeup removing wipes for my face and some baby wipes for my body. Wipes are great because they pack well, won't explode soap everywhere, and clean you up faster than a shower. Because I'm not showering having deodorant is an absolute must, though I always bring it with me no matter what. Because sometimes things go horribly wrong, I always use some masking tape to secure my deodorant cap down and prevent it from popping off and making a huge mess of my bag. Only had to do that once, let me tell you.

Out of all the things I can bring from my skin care hoard, sunscreen will be the most important for where I'm going and should be high on your list no matter what. Skin cancer does not take a vacation, so always use protection. Thanks to subscription boxes I have several deluxe sized samples to choose from, so no giant sized bottle this trip. I'll be bringing along my Supergoop City Serum Sunscreen (anti-aging and sunscreen rolled into one, love multitaskers) and my Supergoop Eye Cream with added SPF just to make sure I'm super protected. I will probably bring along a wide brimmed hat as well for extra sun protection on my face.

Because of the risk of explosions, I always store my toiletries in a plastic ziploc bag. That way, even if it explodes you won't be completely screwed. This is especially important while flying, the pressure changes on a plane will make the liquids in your bottle contract and expand. And sometimes expand all over your clothes. Keeping things in bags also keeps your luggage more organized and easier for the TSA to snoop through. Remember, the TSA can and will poke through any bags you bring when you fly, so don't bring anything you wouldn't want someone to see. We'll also talk about TSA approved sized here in a bit.

Buying smaller bottle of items can be expensive, and if you already have shampoo at home buying a new bottle just for a trip can be annoying, which is why I love these silicone travel sized bottles from Dot&Dot, a travel accessory company that I'm quickly falling in love with. Each one holds 1.25 ounces of product, making them TSA compliant to have in a carry on. The silicone material makes it easy to squeeze your product out, no more shaking a bottle repeatedly until a tiny blob flies out and lands anywhere but where you wanted it too. Each bottle is a different color for easy visual identification, but the coolest feature is the built in labeling ring. You can twist the band so the bottle is labelled shampoo, or conditioner, ect. There is even a place to write in your own label. Since there are four bottle I'm guessing most people will use them for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion.

They come in their own plastic bag with a zipper, so you are protected against any accidents that may occur. Since they are smaller bottles they also take up less room in your bag, which is a huge plus for me. I like to keep my bags as small as possible, I'm a carry on sort of person. Checked bags can get lost, which is way more stress than I want to deal with on a trip. One of the other features I really like is each bottle has a suction cup on the back, so you can stick it to the shower wall while you're showering. Obviously they won't stay there forever, but I stuck them onto my bedroom mirror before I left for work one day and they were still there almost 7 hours later. The only thing to keep in mind with these bottles is the silicone can react to certain things, like oils. This can cause discoloration or leaking, but a list of items you shouldn't use comes with your kit. Nothing I plan on using reacts with the bottles so it isn't a big deal for me, but you should be aware of this.

This covers toiletries, minus makeup, which I'll be doing in a separate post. Come back tomorrow where I'll be talking about clothes to pack and how best to pack them up. And come back on Sunday for my traveling with makeup post plus an awesome downloadable packing list to help you stay organized and stress free.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

Halfway through January already, is that crazy or what?!? This month feels like it is moving twice as fast as normal I swear. So how about some times to help you maximize your beauty routine or at least make it run a bit smoother.

Tip #1: Cold weather turned your lips into a dried out, cracked mess? Mix a bit of brown sugar into some olive oil and then scrub your lips with it. The sugar will help buff away dead skin while the oil will help hydrate and moisturize your lips. Repeat as often as necessary.

Tip #2: Want your mascara to last longer? Don't pump the wand in and out to get more mascara on it. This forces air into the tub which will dry it out and encourage bacterial growth. Instead, wiggle the brush from side to side to pick up more mascara. And remember, mascara is only good for 3-6 months.

Tip #3: Tired of always getting nail polish on your fingers when you paint your nails? Swipe on some Vaseline before you paint them, Then when you are done just wipe the Vaseline and any extra polish away. No more q-tips with nail polish remover.

Tip #4: And because this pin is making the rounds again, I'd like to remind you that just because something is labelled as "non-toxic" that doesn't mean you should be ingesting it. Making lipstick out of whatever oil and crayons sounds like a fun idea, but ingesting crayon wax and coloring can make you sick.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

I love that first real weekend after all the holidays are over. Gives you a chance to breathe, gather your thoughts, and plan just what comes next. My family is using this weekend to purge our apartment of things we no longer need, sort of a "out with the old, in with the new". So today's tips will be geared towards helping you move away from the old and entering 2015 a new you.

Tip #1: Makeup and skin care products have expiration dates. Go through everything you own and finally toss that 5 year old lipstick or blush you've been using since the 90's. Not sure how long makeup is good for? Check out this post.

Tip #2: The skin care regime you were using during the summer won't be the best for your skin during the harsh winter months (unless you live in some place sunny year round, in which case you are good to go). Hydration will be even more important for your skin so make sure you are using a really good night cream and don't skip that morning one either. Lotions break you out? Try a hyaluronic acid serum instead. All the moisturizing perks with none of the acne inducing headache of traditional lotions.

Tip #3: Baking soda makes a great gentle exfoliate. Just mix some into a bit of water until it is a loose paste then scrub (gently) away. It will also cleanse your skin and help dry up any acne you have.

Tip #4: Those long, hot baths/showers feel amazing this time of year, but will significantly dry your skin out. Try and limit how long you stay in the hot water and use a really good moisturizer as soon as you are dried off to help lock in moisture.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

Welcome to the first weekend of 2015! A new year typically means a new you, so here are some tips to help keep your resolutions or at least help you look good while you break them.

Tip #1: Water, water, water. Drinking enough water throughout the day will not only make you feel better but help you look better too. Being properly hydrated will help improve your skin, making it plumper, more even toned, and will help with acne. So try and get at least 8 glasses a day.

Tip #2: Adding an exercise routine to your daily schedule but worried about looking gross post workout? Carry a pack of baby wipes and a small can of dry shampoo. Post workout wipe yourself down with the baby wipes to desweat then use the dry shampoo to revive your hair and soak up some of the sweat. Nobody will know you just kicked butt in spin class before that 10 AM meeting.

Tip #3: Cheeks wind chafed from the cold weather? An aloe gel (like what you use on sun burns) will help soothe them and get them on the path towards healing. Use a thick face lotion to help keep them from flaking. I'm a big fan of the Yu-Be brand, it is popular among mountain climbers for protecting their face from the harsh winds.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

Try not to panic, but this is the last weekend before Christmas! If you are anything like me you have a million things to do still and have little to no time for yourself. Here are some tips and tricks to help you run a little smoother.

Tip #1: Dry shampoo is your best friend on those days you really don't have time to shower. Spray on your part, on your left and right side part, and on the front of your hair (like if you had your hair in a pony tail) then rub it in. Fresh looking hair in just a minute.

Tip #2: A white eyeliner placed along your bottom waterline and the inner corner of your eyes can help brighten up your eyes and make it look like you actually got 8 hours of sleep when you only got a few.

Tip #3: Hair frizzy but you are no where near home? Put a little bit of lotion on your hands and use that to smooth out any fly aways and tame that fizz. Just don't go overboard or you'll look like you lost a battle to a bottle of cheap hair gel.

Tip #4: No matter how desperate you are, never use markers (even non-toxic) in place of lipstick. That's just nasty and is not meant for your skin. Keep a tube of lipstick in your bag or drawer instead for those impromptu after work get together.

Tip #5: Tinted moisturizers are quicker to apply and don't require the blending most foundations need, plus they also typically contain SPF so they do several things at once. This can save you several minutes at home or can be applied in the car fairly easily (no judging, we've all been there).

Weekend Tips and Tricks

Hello and welcome to another edition of Weekend Tips and Tricks! It is prime party time for me so I'll be sharing some of my favorite party ready tips with all of you out there is the interwebs.

Tip #1: Hang your clothes up near the shower when you take your steamy shower. The steam will help to release an wrinkles on the garments and keep them looking great.

Tip #2: Test out your party makeup and hair a day or two before the party. Not only will that give you extra practice but you can change things up if that hairdo becomes a hair don't.

Tip #3: Wash your hair the night before the party, slightly dirty hair is easier to style and will hold it better. . If you want curly hair try one of the overnight ones, search Pinterest for just the right one.

Tip #4: Can't find just the right shade of eyeliner? Mix your eyeshadow with some setting spray to create your own custom liquid eyeliner.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

First weekend of December, anybody else having horrible anxiety already? Holidays can be an extra stressful time for many people, myself included, so here are some tips and tricks to making your daily routines run a little bit smoother (or cheaper).

Tip #1: Teeth a little yellow but you really don't have enough time to bleach them before that party? Pick a blue based lipstick (might I suggest a lovely purple shade?) instead of a yellow based one. Think cool colors rather than warm ones. Warm colors, like that brick red shade we all love, can accentuate the yellow of your teeth. A blue based color will have the opposite effect.

Tip #2: Spray hairspray on an old (but clean) tooth brush and use that to smooth down fly aways that are turning your chic updo into a fluffy mess.

Tip #3: Do any major changes, like a hair cut or a dye job, at LEAST a week before your big event. That way you have enough time to deal with a bad hair cut or a dye job that went horribly, horribly wrong. You never want to do it the day before or the day of your event. Unless you want pictures of you floating around with orange hair for eternity. I've been there, it sucks.

Tip #4: Day old hair holds styles the best, so think about showering the night before your event. If you hair is looking a little greasy try some dry shampoo. Not only will that degrease you but will help your pins and clips stay in a bit better.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

The weekend before Thanksgiving, is anybody else panicking a bit? I'm doing all my test runs this weekend so hopefully turkey day will go smoothly, or as smoothly as a big family holiday can go. Here are some tips and tricks to help your beauty routine run as smooth as you want your gravy to be.

Tip #1: Want curly hair but really don't have the time to sit there and use a curling iron? Take a page from the 1940's and do it the night before. Cut thin stripes out of an old t-shirt and use them to wrap chunks of your hair up like you would with rollers. Tie the two ends of the strip together do you have a little bundle of hair, then do that for the rest of your head. Go to sleep and you will wake up with some great, no heat curls with no real work in the morning. Do this on slightly damp hair for even better curls.

Tip #2: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! The cold winter air is sucking all the moisture from your skin, so make sure in addition to using lotion every day you are drinking plenty of water. It will not only keep you feeling great but will help you look your best. Dehydrated skin will be saggy and dried out and just won't have that youthful glow we all want. So drink up!

Tip #3: Extend the life of your manicure by painting the actual tip and part of the underside with your clear top coat. This seals down the edge of the polish and makes it a bit harder to chip off. While you won't be chip free for a whole week, it can give you an extra day of nice looking nails.

Tip #4: That aloe gel you bought over the summer for that nasty burn can continue to help you during the winter months. Apply it to wind chafed cheeks after that all day snow boarding adventure. Unsharp razor leave you with some nasty razor burn? Aloe that baby up! New face mask leave you with raw, red, and angry skin? A little aloe gel with help soothe and replenish your poor skin.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

Winter has officially moved in here in the Pacific Northwest, so I thought I would share some of my favorite winter time tips and tricks this week.

Tip #1: All those long hot showers and baths feel great right now, but they can seriously leave your skin dried out. Try adding a bath oil (or just straight almond oil like I do) to your bath water to help replenish your skin a bit. And make sure you put lotion on as soon as you get out of the water and lightly towel off.

Tip #2: The weather can make your nails especially brittle this time of year, so make sure you are using a good oil on them at least twice a week. A light buffing once a week will help with blood circulation as well.

Tip #3: Dry hands and feet? Slather on a THICK lotion or some Vaseline and put on some socks and gloves before you go to bed. You'll wake up with soft and well hydrated appendages.

Tip #4: Lip balm, lip balm, lip balm. I cannot say this enough, but apply lip balm often during the winter. Trust me, you'll thank me later when you are the only one in the office without chapped, cracked lips. And a little balm will do wonders for those wind chaffed cheeks.

Tip #5: For those planning on hitting the slopes this winter, don't forget your sunscreen. The sun reflecting off the white snow can leave you severely burned at the end of the day. Add in wind chaffed cheeks and that's a whole lot of ouchie face.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

Another weekend, another sets of my favorite tips and tricks to help your beauty routine run a little smoother and quicker.

Tip #1: Preventative care is the best care, don't wait until your face is acne ground zero to start a good skin care regiment. The same goes for anti-aging treatments, if you wait till your skin is a mess it'll be 10x harder to fix than if you start taking better care of your skin now.

Tip #2: This is a repost, but since the weather is turning cold I thought I'd remind you. DO NOT USE A HAIR DRYER TO DEFOG A MIRROR!! This "tip" is floating around again, and I'd like to point out that this is the quickest way to shatter said mirror. Trust me, don't do this.

Tip #3: The cold weather is probably drying your skin out already, but did you know it can dry your nails out and leave them brittle? Use a good quality cuticle oil and a thick hand cream at least once a day to help keep them in top condition. A nail strengthening treatment can't hurt either.

Tip #4: This time of year can be very stressful, so make sure you take time everyday for you, even if it's just ten minutes locked in the bathroom reading a magazine.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

With the holidays coming up I know time management will be a huge struggle for me, so I need every extra second I can get. Here are some of my tricks to helping your days run a little less chaotic and unruly.

Tip #1: Mascara getting a little clump but you aren't ready to open a new tube? Place the tube (closed) in a mug of hot water for a little bit to help melt away some of the clumps.

Tip #2: Another mascara related tip. Save that fancy mascara wand you loved so much and use it with the cheaper formula you also like. Most of the time the wand is what makes the biggest difference, so this let you treat a $5 mascara like a $25 one.

Tip #3: Need new things but have zero money for them (story of my life)? There are lots of websites out there that give you points for doing surveys that you can redeem for gift cards. Swagbucks is the one I like the best and think is the easiest to earn gift cards from. I paid for my son's birthday gifts last year that way.

Tip #4: Put some deep conditioner in your hair before bed, you'll wake up to super soft hair (once you wash it out obviously) and you won't be stuck sitting around in the shower for 10-30 minutes.

Tip #5: Fold you shirts flat and then place them in your drawer up and down instead of flat. This will not only create more space but will let you see each shirt you own and cut down on how much time you spend looking for that specific shirt. if you have drawers big enough (I do not) do this with pants as well.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

Hello! Some of you may have noticed that there was no post yesterday, and that was because after a week of burning the candle at both ends I was beyond exhausted and decided to take a day off to take care of myself for once. So this week's tips will have a "take care of yourself" slant.

Tip #1: Sleep. It sounds so simple on paper, getting 8 hours a night, but for someone of us we never seem to get anywhere near that. Make getting at least 8 hours a priority for you, your body cannot survive on 4-6 hours constantly.

Tip #2: Stress can cause your skin to breakout, so use that stress filled week as an excuse to use that really good face mask you've been saving. Or use this as an excuse to buy that one you've always wanted.

Tip #3: With the weather turning colder your skin is going to need some extra moisture. If you are someone, like me, who avoids face lotions over fear of breakouts, look into a hyalauronic acid serum like this one. Serums typically absorb better and won't sit on your skin causing breakouts like a lotion can.

Tip #4: Your nails need a break too, polish can dry them out and cause them to peel, crack, and be brittle. Put a good oil on them 3 times a week and give them a good buff once a week to improve the health and look of your nails.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

Getting close to Halloween, anybody else beyond excited? We're doing the whole pumpkin patch and costume building thing this weekend so I'm looking forward to it. Since my weekend will be packed, here are some of my favorite tricks and tips to getting the most beauty time for me while I'm trying to do 50 other things.

Tip #1: Hang your clothes by the shower while you shower, the steam will help the wrinkles to release and help it look sleeker and like you just picked it up from the cleaner.

Tip #2: Lay your makeup and tools out the night before in the order you use them in to cut down on all the time you spend looking for that particular shade of lipstick or just the right eyeshadow brush. This seriously cuts at least 5 minutes out of my getting ready time in the morning.

Tip #3: Look for double duty products to cut down on your time in front of the mirror. Use a BB cream that contains primer and SPF protection, use a cheek and lip stain, and a mascara that makes your lashes look so good you won't need to curl them.

Tip #4: Use dry shampoo in place of that morning shower for days you are really crunched on time. A good brand (I'm partial to the Psssst! Dry Shampoo) will leave your hair looking like you just hopped out of the shower. Baby wipes work for a quicky sponge bath as well, because some morning you wake up stinky AND 20 minutes late.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

The weekend, that magical time I try and cram a weeks worth of errands into two days. The weather is sloooowly turning colder here, next week is suppose to be more typical fall weather apparently, so I may be busting out the scarves finally. Here are some tips and tricks to keep your beauty routine running smooth.

Tip #1: As that cold winter weather slowly moves in, you may be finding your hands and feet getting drier and drier. An easy overnight fix for that is to slather them in a good, thick moisturizer (or Vaseline) and place cotton socks and gloves on before bed. You can actually buy ones with moisturizing stuff already in it, but why spend money when you have the items at home already. DO this once a week during those cold, dry months and you'll never have crocodile feet (or hands!)

Tip #2: This is a DO NOT DO tip. I recently say a tip to use tissue paper, like the kind you use for presents, as an oil blotting paper. The only way this is a good idea is if you use the white kind, anything with color will bleed onto your skin when it gets wet. Honestly, blotting paper is pretty cheap depending on what brand you get so just stick to the real stuff and save yourself a blue forehead. The tip about using toilet seat covers as blotting paper may work well, but ew. That's nasty. Particles from the toilet fly out every time you flush, do you really want to put that on your face? Just...ew.

Tip #3: Find yourself going through a product super fast? Make sure you are using the correct amount. For shampoo you need about a strawberry, conditioner a raspberry or two depending on your hair length. Eye cream is something you need very little of, about the size of a grain of rice.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

First weekend of October, slowly getting close to Halloween. My heart flutters in anticipating, Halloween is my favorite holiday. Here are some tips and tricks to help your life roll a little bit easier.

Tip #1: Stuck at work and suddenly remember you've got plans afterwards but forgot your full makeup kit? First, if your hair is a bit frizzy find some regular hand lotion. Rub a bit between your hands then use that to smooth the frizzies down a bit. Don't overdo it or you'll look greasy. If you can find a lipstick use it as cream blush, otherwise a chapstick can be used to highlight your cheek and brow bones.

Tip #2: Grease paint not coming off all the way? Cold cream, yes the stuff your grandma uses, is the best thing to remove it. Also works pretty well on fake blood too. I use to work in Haunted Houses back in the day and that's what we always used. The red might stain a little bit but that'll fade by the next day typically. A layer of Vaseline under the grease paint can help prevent staining but will make you break out, so pick your poison.

Tip #3: Want an unusual color of eyeliner but don't want to buy it? Mix some setting spray into some eye shadow will create an instant eyeliner. You can either scrape some shadow onto a plate and spray the setter on it or you can get a decent amount of the powder on a flat eyeliner brush then dip it into some setter.

Tip #4: Unruly eyebrows? Spray a little hair spray on a clean mascara spoolie and run it through your eyebrows to help them keep their shape.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

Last weekend of September, and its finally fall yay! Time to bust out the sweaters and scarves and my boots. Autumn is my favorite season, so I'm super happy right now. Here are some tips and tricks to help your days go a little smoother.

Tip #1: Teeth less than pearly white but no time to bleach them? Use a blue based lipstick (like a great vampy purple) to make them appear whiter than they really are. Yellow based lipsticks will make them look yellower so keep that in mind as well.

Tip #2: Nail polish getting a little dried out? Put a few drops of nail polish remover in it to help thin it out and make it easier to apply.

Tip #3: Your mascara should be replaced every 3 to 6 months. Bacteria from your eyes will grow in it, making it dry and clumpy looking and increase your risk of an eye infection. This is why you don't use the "eye drops to thin your mascara out" trick. If the mascara is dry and clumpy it means it's a petri dish of nasties and you really need to toss it.

Tip #4: With Halloween approaching, make sure you test your skin for sensitivities or allergies before you walk out in that awesome zombie makeup. Apply any makeup or latex or glue to your inner elbow, the skin there is sensitive like your face. If you get no rash, hives, skin melting off, or blisters after 24 hours you are good to go and can use it safely typically.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

This weekend is comic con weekend, so I'm super excited! I wait all year for this, I'm to excited to sleep right now. Let's get this party rolling!

Tip #1: That great deep conditioner you like to use in the shower? Put it in your hair before bed and you'll wake up to the softest and shiniest hair ever once you wash the mask off of it.

Tip #2: Just because you have oily skin does NOT mean you can never use moisturizer. Actually, many times the oil is an overcompensation from your skin to make up for dryness. Try an oil free moisturizer, it may make a big difference in how your skin looks and feels.

Tip #3: Using a nail base coat seems like an extra step, but it can not only help to prolong the life of your paint job but prevent certain colors from staining your nails. Making sure your nails are free from oil can also help prolong the life of your manicure.

Tip #4: Not exactly beauty related but I found this one helpful the other week and thought I'd share. Get superglue on your fingers? Vaseline rubbed in and left to soak will help break it down. It works slowly but it's easier on your skin that some of the alternatives. It was gentle enough I could use it on my 3 year old.

Weekend Tips and Tricks

We had a really horrible week here, sorry if I've been delayed in getting back to you or if the last few posts have been pretty short. After this week I will be doing some massive TLC and self care for sure. Today's Tips and Tricks will be my guide to getting back together after an emotionally or physically tough week.

Step 1: Get some sleep. There is no mask, serum, or special cream that will do as much for your skin and how you feel as getting enough sleep. Even a half an hour long power nap can make a huge difference.

Step 2: Take a shower. Use that fancy body wash you love, that really good hair mask, and a good exfoliate to scrub away that dull skin.

Step 3: Use that luxe body butter you've been saving, think of today as an at home spa day so use the good stuff.

Step 4: Pick a mask depending on your skin needs. Freeman's makes a ton of really great masks for like $4 each, and you can find them at just about any place that carries body stuff. I like the charcoal black sugar scrub one since my skin gets oily and broken out when I get stressed.

Step 5: Make yourself a cup of tea, get your comfy jammies on, and curl up with a good book or movie and just relax for an hour or two, you've earned it.