Why do I feel this way????

I am a person who firmly believes that the way you look has alot of influence on how you feel. I am not talking about weight, etc. I am talking about the way you take care of yourself. Do you leave your home with your hair undone, do you go about your day and don't even bother getting rid of eye crust? Is your shirt so stained you can't even take your sweater off? The way you take care of you WILL be reflected in your attitude.

Here are some things you can do to make yourself feel better about YOU. Doing some of these things may even motivate you to make other changes in your lifestyle. You can't expect others to see you in a different light when you yourself don't.

Hygiene - Very important. Make sure you wear deodorant. There is nothing yuckier than a girl with BO. A little perfume or body spray after a shower goes a long way as well. Not only will this help around others, but you will feel good about you too.

Hair - Doing your hair everyday will allow you to see yourself put together. If you are like me, not having enough time to do your hair, then look for a hairstyle that caters to that. There is no reason for ratty hair.

Face - I like wearing makeup. I think it allows me to feel feminine and pretty. I go all out when it comes to makeup. You don't have to. A little bit of mascara, blush and lipgloss can go a long way.

Clothing - I am not saying you have to go out and buy expensive clothing. Not at all. I have seen people on a budget that look great. Take pride in what you wear. Your appearance says alot about you.

Sometimes we hurt our own self esteem when we don't take care of ourselves. We begin to see ourselves in such a negative way which hinders us from moving forward and getting motivated. Challenge yourself to look better so that you can feel better. There was a time when I didn't really care about my appearance. I wore whatever and looked not so great. One day it hit me. I am worth so much more than I think of myself to be worth. I deserve the best in life and that includes looking my best. When I had that eye opening moment I realized that I had to take care of myself better. It is such a confidence booster and you will feel better the moment you start. Try it. You won't be disappointed!!!

Bright Eyes that Smile!

Let me start by saying that my favorite part of doing my makeup is my mascara, yes MASCARA!! I think mascara is the High Heels of makeup. It is what completes your look and adds just the right touch of drama to make the look come together. I love a mascara that gives life to my lashes and looks amazing. I like dramatic eyes!

In the past few years I have tried many different mascaras and have realized that what may work great for one person doesn't necessarily work for the other. I like to try new mascaras and judge them for myself. Finding a GREAT mascara can be tricky and disappointing at times because not all of them live up to what they claim. Believe me, I have had many disappointments in the past few years but I have also found some treasures!

Below I will give my honest opinion on some of the mascaras I have tried.

Rimmel The Max Volume Flash Mascara

It is said to deliver 14x's more volume for more dramatic super charged lashes. It didn't deliver for me. It felt short on the Volume part for me. I tried it for a couple of weeks. I found myself having to keep on applying it on (about 5 times) and still seeing no results. My lashes didn't change much. I even tried it with another mascara and still didn't do anything for me.

Will not buy again :o(

Rimmel London Sexy Curves Waterproof Mascara

This is an ok mascara. I was expecting more because of all the rave but it was just ok for me. It has a full figure brush to deliver full figure lashes. After a few applications (probably 5 applications) my lashes did look ok. Nothing super dramatic but they looked nice. Too natural for my liking though. It is also said to have a plumping formula that strengthens over time. I tried it for a couple of weeks and I didn't see any results. The packaging is cute, the brush is a little weird and the mascara is ok.

Will not buy again :o(...Unless it is an extreme emergency and this is the only waterproof mascara available.

Maybelline Volume Express Turbo Boost Mascara

This was one of my 1st mascaras a few years ago. I do have to say, this is a pretty good mascara. It does take a few applications but not too many. I like the volume it gives the lashes and the way it makes them look. Definitely adds some drama to the lashes. It is thickening too which I love for the added dramatic effect.

 I do remember someone asking me if I had fake lashes on...lol

Will buy again ;o)

Maybelline Lash Discovery

This is one of my everyday mascaras. I use this mascara for my lower lashes. I love the small brush because I can easily apply it to my lower lashes without any problems. It is also great for the corners of the lashes. It goes on super nice and clean. Gives nice volume, nothing very dramatic but nice enough to brighten the eyes. I even tend to use it on the weekends when I have to run errands and just need a pop of something to add life to my tired face...lol
It is also great for contact wearers and it is hypoallergenic. Big plus!

Will buy again ;o)

Cover Girl Lash Blast Lengthening Mascara

This is not one of my faves. I just don't see it doing everything it says it does. I find the brush too flimsy. My opinion at least. It does give a little bit of drama but nothing drastic. It's an ok mascara.

Will not buy again :o(

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous Waterproof Mascara

Let me start by saying that this is a good mascara BUT it does have its uggg why moments. I love the volume and thickness it add. Goes on easily. Love the color. Dries pretty quickly which doesn't help very much since I tend to put on a few coats. This causes the mascara to flake. It continues to flake all day. I always end up having to clean under my eyes and cheeks due to the black specks that tend fall off during the day. Though I love what it does, I don't like how it works throughout the day.

This one is a MAYBE :o(

Cover Girl LashBlast Waterproof Mascara

This is my FAVORITE all time mascara. My go to everyday, dramatic, fantastic, mascara. I love it!!! It gives your lashes volume with a BOLD look. I heart that bold look. It makes my eyes look sexy and dramatic. The big brush touches each and every lash delivering a bold dramatic effect. It is wear proof which I love because it lasts all day and it keeps the dramatic look. It is waterproof. This is the one mascara that I know will ALWAYS meet my expectations.

Will ALWAYS buy!!! ;o)


**All my mascaras are waterproof. My eyes tend to water therefore I prefer the waterproof formulas.**
*This is my opinion. No company has contacted me or paid me to give my opinion. Just wanted to share my insight on certain products so that it can help other.*

Foundations, Foundations, Foundations

I have found out through out the years that foundation can be a very tricky thing. From finding the correct shade to finding one that works with the seasons, this process can be almost annoying to be honest.

Let me take you back to my first experience with foundation. I was about 14 yrs old and a very nosey teenager. I was looking through my sister's makeup bag because I have always had a love for makeup. Well, I found a bottle from Cover Girl and it said it was foundation. I automatically wanted to know what it did. I remember seeing my sister putting several dots of this stuff on her face (forehead, cheeks, nose, chin and upper lip area). I did the same thing. Then I remembered her blending it with her fingers and bringing it down to her neck. I followed her moves to the T. I felt fabulous. I had my first experience with foundation and I thought I looked great. Loved the Noxema smell too so that was a plus. Looking back I realize now that the color was way off for me. It had a pinkish hew that made my face look too made up. It wasn't a natural look for me at all but since I didn't know any better, I went with it for a few years. Pictures don't lie and I have a few that you can tell I had a bad foundation job. LOL

As the years have gone by and I have learned more about foundation, how to pick the best color for me, etc. I have been able to match my foundation with my skin. Maybe not perfectly because I don't think that is ever possible but close enough.

Now that the matching game has been conquered, it is time to find a foundation that works with your skin and the season of the year. Oh the joy!...NOT. Finding a good foundation that won't cake, look fake and provide good coverage is hard. Even harder is finding one at the drug store, but not impossible. In my quest to finding a good foundation I have made some bad purchases and some not so bad ones. I will list my foundations and my experiences with them.




**Pictures below are not in my shade**

Revlon Photo Ready

This is my weekend foundation. It is pretty good. Gives you light coverage. I do like it but if you have oily skin then this is one you have to stay away from because you WILL look shiny. I use Milk of Magnesia (see my previous blog) under my foundation and it helps out with this one a little. It really does look good but you must also use a powder to set. Not my monday through friday foundation because I don't have time to freshen up my makeup during the day. It has a dewy finish but that dewy finish can look like an oily finish after a few hrs. I use it on the weekends because I don't do much so it keeps up with me for those short errands, etc.

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse

I so wanted to love this foundation. Especially because I have tried the Matte one and did like it. I ran out to buy it and couldn't wait to try it on. The next day when I put it on, I was so disappointed. It gives light to moderate coverage but I find that it just sits on top of your skin. Another disappointment was that I found it highlighted my pores instead of discreetly covering them. Not at all what I expected. Will not purchase again. I use it to around my eyebrow area to clean up and conceal any loose powder from my eyebrow powder. :(

Rimmel London Stay Matte

Ok, this one is so, so. It gives ok coverage but I don't find that it lasts as much as it should. I find myself having to blot and just not feeling comfortable. I really dislike feeling my foundation. It is just something that doesn't feel comfortable to me. I prefer a foundation that feels light and not so obvious. Will I buy again? Umm, maybe not!!!

CoverGirl Clean (Oil Control)

Not too bad for an oil control foundation. Doesn't feel too uncomfortable nor does it feel caky. I find it gives me light to moderate coverage. I look a little dewy by hour #4 but I can deal with that. Blends nicely with fingers as well as with a brush. Possible buy again!

Revlon ColorStay (Combination Skin)

This is my all time FAVORITE. It is my go to all the time, Monday - Friday, including weekends foundation. I use the Combination skin one. I love it. Stays put ALL day. I don't look like I was slapped with oil. Doesn't dry out my skin. I can use it all year long. I bought this foundation while it was still cold outside. Worked well in winter but I was kind of afraid to see how it held up in summer. To my surprise, it held up quite nicely. Used in combination with my Milk of Magnesia routine, I can wear it all day long without having to blot. If I forget to put on the Milk of Magnesia, I don't have to worry because I won't look too oily. The coverage is amazing. It is full coverage. Hides my pores nicely and any blemishes. I set it with Loose Powder and I am good to go. Blends evenly. It is a little thick but it doesn't feel like it on the skin. I use a stippling brush for a nice air brush effect. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!!! Will definately buy again!!!!


I hope my foundations reviews help you out! Thanks for reading!!!!


**All my mascaras are waterproof. My eyes tend to water therefore I prefer the waterproof formulas.**
*This is my opinion. No company has contacted me or paid me to give my opinion. Just wanted to share my insight on certain products so that it can help other.*

Milk of Magnesia - Shine Control

I love to wear makeup all year around. Fall and winter are the best seasons for me because I don’t get shiny and yucky all in the face. Spring and summer can make my skin super oily and not looking too nice. That is especially true in the summer months. My T-zone is where all the oil accumulates and looks disturbing to me. It just looks like someone took a stick of butter and wrote a T on my face. Yuck!


I like my skin to look fresh and dewy without excessive oil. I use to use a lot of pressed powders to keep the oil under control but what I noticed was that my face ended up looking cakey. This usually happened at around 1:00p. It just got to the point where I just didn’t wear makeup at summer time or I would constantly be blotting my face to keep the shine away. That was too time consuming and annoying. Another annoying thing was that since I like to fill in my eye brows, they ended up looking super shiny. Not an attractive look at all.

I tried foundation primers, pressed powders, mineral foundations, etc. Nothing seemed to work. The most annoying part of it all was the money spent trying to find something that worked.

One day as I searched online, I came across someone who was talking about Milk of Magnesia. They spoke about how they used it to prevent pimples and to keep oils under control. It quickly grabbed my attention and I began to do further research. According to the research I did, the ingredients in Milk of Magnesia help alleviate acne and prevent excessive oils.

Magnesium is a great oil absorber, soother and healer, and it is a lot less smelly than some face masks. Another great thing is that it is cheaper too!!! Milk of Magnesia helps reduce redness and inflammation keeping your face looking nice and healthy.

That afternoon after work I rushed to the pharmacy and bought a small bottle of store brand Milk of Magnesia. The first time I used it I was impressed. My makeup lasted all day without looking excessively oily. My face remained nice and fresh looking. I didn’t need to blot or use pressed powder. I used the whole content of the bottle over the next few weeks. I do have to say that I have not had many pimples (not that I have an acne problem but the ones that I did have went away), my face has remained nice and fresh looking throughout the day while wearing makeup and the overall appearance looks good. Once my first bottle finished, I promptly ran and bought another bottle because I went one day without using it and I just didn’t feel right with the makeup. Due to the heat and humidity I began to look oily and yucky once again. I love the Milk of Magnesia because I feel like it doesn’t allow my foundation to melt away with the heat. I will continue using it all year around.

Methods of Use:

1) I use it at night after washing my face. Once my face is clean, I’ve used my toner and moisturized my face (I usually let the face moisturizer be absorbed for a few minutes); I then take just a little bit of the Milk of Magnesia and just apply it to my face lightly to help prevent acne.

2) I also use it under my foundation. Again, I do my usual face routine which consists of washing, using my toner and then moisturizing. Once my moisturizer has been on for a few minutes I take just a little bit of the Milk of Magnesia and apply it to my face ESPECIALLY my T-zone and my cheeks. I use it lightly because too much will turn my face white. You can always wipe it off if you see that you have applied too much. Once the Milk of Magnesia has dried up, I then proceed to apply my foundation as usual.

** Applying the Milk of Magnesia will take some practice (since too much will give you a powdery residue) but once you get how much to put on you will see how easy and effective it is against oil and acne. **

Also, use the original flavor because the flavored one may contain added ingredients and color. I’m not too sure so I rather be safe than sorry!!



I really hope this information helps someone the same way it has helped me.

**All my mascaras are waterproof. My eyes tend to water therefore I prefer the waterproof formulas.**
*This is my opinion. No company has contacted me or paid me to give my opinion. Just wanted to share my insight on certain products so that it can help other.*

Love My Brows!

I am very big on having nicely done eyebrows but I am also very big on dramatic eyebrows. Everyone has their own sense of style when it comes to makeup and I for sure have my very own preference. I don't think there should be a set rule for makeup. You should be able to wear your makeup how ever you like and enjoy. I like drama, I like bold, I like to stand out!

I recently purchased the Brow Tones Palette from Coastal Scents (http://www.coastalscents.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm/product/2068_145/brow-tones-palette.cfm). I've used many different eyebrow definers without feeling completely satisfied until now. I have used pencils, gels, powders etc. I must say this is by far the best EyeBrow Definer I've used.

I've used cheap pencils - more expensive kinds. I always find that with the pencil it is a little harder to blend. Especially when you are going for a certain look. I also have problems finding a shade that I love. Blacks are too black and browns are too bright. I just don't like the look I get with brow pencils.

Brow gels.. What can I say about them? Well, for starters, they are not for me. I just don't find them to work as I would like them to. I've tried Revlon Brow Fantasy Powder and Gel (http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=VP00195). First time I tried it I was horrified because I just couldn't get it to work for me and my brows looked awful. A few years later I tried it again. I had a little more experience with my eyebrows and how to apply some of the brow pencils. Again, I was disappointed. Not as bad as the first time but not what I was looking for. My brows just looked penciled in and boring. Not the look I was going for. I have nothing against the penciled in look because as I stated before, everyone has their likes but it just wasn't what I was looking for.

Powders are my favorite options but again it depends on what the brand. It has nothing to do with how much it costs because my first eyebrow powder set was from NYC (http://www.newyorkcolor.com/products/index.cfm?item=520). Not very costly but I did like it. I tried a more expensive one from Avon but it was not my fave. About 2 yrs ago I tried the BE Brow Kit (http://bareescentuals.com/Essential%20Brow%20Kit%20-%20Dark%20Blonde/Medium/masterBrowKit,default,pd.html?start=1&cgid=BE_SUB_BROWS). This works good and I used it for a couple of years without any complaints. It was the closest to what I wanted. The only problem I have with it is that it is just one note. Doesn't have a WOW factor to me. I like a little more WOW. Finally, recently I discovered Coastal Scents. I saw their Quad and decided to purchase it. What the heck it wasn't too expensive and I just wanted to try it out. It took me a couple of tries but I finally found a way that works for me. At first I wasn't sure what I was going to do since some of the colors are too light or too brown, etc. I began playing around with the colors and the order I put them on and I found my WOW  way of doing my brows. Since I use each color in the palette in a different way, I find that I get more of a dramatic brow with contrasting colors. I just love how easily it can be brushed on. You can use more or less depending on the boldness of the brow you are looking to get. It is just spectacular. My only complain is the brush. It is too small and I don't have a use for it. I use the brow powder with my BE brow brush. Works perfectly. I highly recommend this Brow Quad.

**All my mascaras are waterproof. My eyes tend to water therefore I prefer the waterproof formulas.**
*This is my opinion. No company has contacted me or paid me to give my opinion. Just wanted to share my insight on certain products so that it can help other.*