Quick Review: e.l.f. Maximum Coverage Concealer

Brand: e.l.f.

Product: Maximum Coverage Concealer

Price: $3.00 USD

Would I Re-Buy: Yes

I have very bad dark circles under my eyes, I blame my fathers German heritage. So I’m a big fan of a good concealer. I tried this product because it’s called “maximum coverage” and is a liquid which means it’s good for under the eyes and it’s so cheap that well why not try it?

It comes in a squeeze tube, which I love because it’s so easy to use. The coverage is most certainly heavy, meaning very good, and it stays in place well. It is also very good at covering blemishes. I bought it in sand but I think the lighter shade, porcelain, would work better because it would be a little lighter then my skin tone and I could use it to highlight my face.

I would highly recommend this product to anyone.

For more reviews, beauty tips, and tricks and to enter my giveaway which includes a palette by The Balm plus products by Benefit and e.l.f.

Photo Source: http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/concealer/maximum_coverage_concealer_oil_free

The Looking Pretty Giveaway!

***THE LOOKING PRETTY GIVEAWAY!!!***

I’ve wanted to do a giveaway for a while now and so I am proud to announce the “Looking Pretty Giveaway”!

This giveaway is all about the eyes and includes:

-The Balm Nude’Tude Palette

-The Balm Schwing Eye Liner in Black

-Benefit Full Glam Ahead mini’s set (includes Bad Gal Lash Mascara, High Beam Highlighter, and Stay don’t Stray Primer)

-e.l.f. Eyelid primer

-e.l.f. Make-up Removing wipes

This prize will have you looking pretty this holiday season so hurry up and enter! How do I enter you ask? Well let me tell you!

First this prize is only available in Canada and the U.S.A. (sorry everyone else, I can only afford so much shipping right now). And you can enter as many times as you like! 

To enter:

1) You must be following my blog on tumblr and you must share this post on tumblr at least once. To see this post on tumblr use this URL:   http://makeupforall1.tumblr.com/post/37664565100/the-looking-pretty-giveaway

2) Gain 5 extra entries by liking the Make Up For All facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/makeupforall1 ) and gain 1 extra entry for every reblog and like of this post you do!

So get reblogging and liking and this wonderful prize could be all yours!

This Giveaway closes December 18^th at midnight (eastern time). With the winner announced soon after! 

And stay up to date on this giveaway and future prize opportunities by following Make Up For All in all these places:

https://twitter.com/MakeUp_For_All

makeupforall1.tumblr.com

https://www.facebook.com/makeupforall1

http://makeupforall1.blogspot.ca/

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Todays Tip:

Tip:

Instead of foundation try using concealor under your eyes, on top of your cheekbones, sides of your nose, and between your brows and blend. Now your skin looks toned and you look awake and glowing without foundation. For more beauty tips and tricks plus reviews and so much more check out my blog makeupforall1.tumblr.com (Mufa for short)

Eye Make Up Special

Most of us do our make up focusing on our eyes, so today’s post is all about them peepers.

Lets start at the base do you need a primer? No you don’t NEED an eyelid primer. If you have trouble with eye shadow fading and creasing a primer can help keep your eye make up in place for much longer then eye make up on its own. 

So now that your eyes are primed (or not) what colours will you use? Look at the colour wheel above. The colours opposite each other contrast, meaning they’ll bring attention to each other if worn together. So imagine if you had lets say blue eyes and wore a contrasting orange or pink eye shadow, your eyes would pop! Green eyes look great with purple eye shadow and colours with warm red undertones. Brown eyes actually have an advantage when it comes to eye make-up colours though. Blues and purples will give brown eyes great contrast and draw attention to them creating a head turning look but brown also goes great with gold’s, oranges and almost any other colour.

So what goes where? Like contouring and highlighting eye make up can be used to change the shape and appearance of your eyes. Highlighted areas become brighter and more prominent whereas contoured (or shaded) areas appear to recede. That’s why highlighting the brow bone and shading the crease of the eyelid is so popular. The highlighted brow bone improves the appearance of bone structure and lifts brows while the shaded crease recedes making eyes seem bigger.  But don’t get hung up on the idea that a shading colour needs to be dark, I love using gold in the crease to bring out my beautiful chocolate coloured eyes. Also using an orangey bronze shade in the crease is amazing on blue-eyed beauties.

Okay so your eyes are primed, highlighted, shaded, and covered in colour. To complete your eye looks comes eyeliner. Pencil, powder, or liquid eyeliner takes a pretty eye look and adds intensity. Pencil is the easiest option providing a subtle yet defined eye. Powder is the most subtle/natural looking, simply pick an eye shadow you want to use and a liner brush and your set. Powder tends to smudge and wear away fastest. Liquid is long lasting and dramatic but applying it can be hard and has a bit of a learning curve. If you have narrow eyes you can use liner to elongate them by only lining the outer lid. Using black liner against your lash line will make your lashes appear thicker. And of course Mascara makes your eyes appear bigger and more feminine and is a quick way to finish any look. 

For more beauty info plus tips, tricks, reviews and more check out my blog makeupforall1.tumblr.com 

Or check us out in these places:

https://twitter.com/MakeUp_For_All

https://www.facebook.com/makeupforall1

http://makeupforall1.blogspot.ca/

http://pinterest.com/makeupforall/

Photo Source: http://www.uwgb.edu/heuerc/2D/ColorTerms.html

Quick Review: Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser Mask

Brand: Clean & Clear

Product: Advantage Blackhead Eraser Cleansing Mask

Price: $10.00 CDN

Would I Re-Buy: Maybe

I have to be honest; I bought this after a night in which I slept with make up on (I know it’s awful but I fell asleep and common nobody’s perfect). So I went to the store looking for an acne fighting mask to deep clean my skin and hopefully start combating the breakout I knew I had just caused myself. It’s made for oilier skin and I tend to be on the dry to normal side but I figured I’d be fine. It’s made to fight blackheads and contains salicylic acid.

It goes on blue without any offensive smells on sensations. It hardens as it dries and turns white; this mask is worn for only 5 minutes. I use it once or twice a week and have been for the past month or two. I still have blackheads and breakouts so even though I feel like this mask does a good job of cleaning my skin it’s not a miracle product.

So I’ll keep using it until the tube is empty but I’ll likely try another mask instead of re-buying this one. I may recommend trying this is you have oily and/or acne-prone skin as part of an anti-acne skin care regimen if you’re looking for something to add.

For more reviews plus beauty tips and tricks and so much more (like a photo tutorials page) check out my blog makeupforall1.tumblr.com

Photo Source: http://www.cleanandclear.ca/product/treatments/clean-clear-blackhead-eraser-cleansing-mask

Tip:

No need to buy a spooly brush. Just take the brush from a old mascara that you’re throwing away, clean it with some shampoo or facial cleanser and you’ve got a perfect spooly. Also this allows you to get whatever type of spooly your prefer.

Tip:

Blushes can cause acne, try using a pink, red, or coral eye shadow instead. Eye make-up ingredients are less irritating because they’re for use near the eye and so they contain less acne-causing ingredients. 

How to look well rested, even when you're not

Getting a goodnight’s sleep is important, but not always possible. Just because you only got a few hours of shuteye doesn’t mean you have to look tired all day.

First wash your face with cold water to help reduce under eye bags. It will also help you feel alert. Be sure to moisturize and using a good eye cream will also help to reduce under eye bags and dark circles. Once the moisturizer has absorbed its make-up time. 

Being tired can make us look ill, pale with sunken eyes. If your in a time crunch or don’t like wearing too much make-up just grab a liquid concealor (your shade or a shade or two lighter then your skin tone) and use it under your eyes, on the tops of your cheekbones, and down the sides of your nose and blend. Blush helps you look healthier and more awake, focus on the apples of your cheeks and remember a little goes a long way. For super quick make up use a lip and cheek tint (like Benefit’s Benetint, posie tint, or cha cha cha). Also using a coloured lip-gloss, lip stain, or coloured lip balm will aide in giving your complexion a healthy glow. (I like Revlon Kissable balm stain in Honey and Charm for a subtle day look)

And lastly your eyes. Curling your lashes makes your eyes look bigger and therefore awake so it’s worth your time. Then finish with a coat of waterproof mascara to hold the curl (also if you take a nap waterproof mascara won’t smudge). To really look well rested grab a highlighter, or light coloured eye shadow and use it on your brow bones and inner eye corner. It will quickly brighten your eyes. 

And to feel more awake caffeine and get moving, do some stretches or simple quick exercises to get your body moving. Put on a fast-paced song to keep yourself awake well getting ready in the morning, it will also help amp you up for the day ahead. 

For more articles plus beauty tips, tricks, reviews and so much more check out my blog makeupforall1.tumblr.com

How to wash your face

The first step is to remove your make-up. Most cleansers can’t completely wash away foundation and other cosmetics (especially if you use primers and setting sprays). Whether you prefer wipes of liquid make-up removers, remove that make-up!

How often you should wash your face is dependant on your skin. You must wash your face before you go to bed, but whether you face also needs morning cleansing or just a splash of water and day cream depends on you. For dry or sensitive skin once a day is enough as over washing can be very drying. For oily and acne-prone skin morning washing can be helpful. But you’ll have to figure out what benefits your skin the most. If you have very clogged pores try cleansing your skin in the shower. The steam can help loosen the grime in your pores. 

You should exfoliate at least once a week to remove dead skin and give skin a good cleaning. Choosing a gentle exfoliater like a salicylic or glycolic acidcleanser is easier on skin then using a scrub. No matter what exfoliant you choose exfoliating helps prevent breakouts and reduce the signs of aging. You can exfoliate as much as 3 times a week or use a daily exfoliant. Again you have to decide what’s best for you. If you have sensitive skin you don’t want to exfoliate too much. Also our skin needs more exfoliating in the winter months compared to the summer. Using a facial brush on your skin can be great but it can also be harsh on your skin, you don’t need to use a brush on your skin everyday. Also if you’re using acids and retinols on your skin you need to be gentle to it so only brush your face a few times a week. And remember to keep that brush clean! Rinse and air-dry after use and replace the brush head every 3 months like you would your mascara.

You don’t need to use a toner. Alcohol based toners can give a clean “feeling” to the skin that may even tingle, this is bad! They are very drying and can strip your skin of it’s natural oils (which are good for your skin). If you want to tone your skin choose an alcohol-free version to help restore your skins pH balance. 

Lastly moisturize! Cleansing and exfoliating skin is great but without maintaining your skins moisture balance all your hard work goes down the drain. I love cetaphil, but most moisturizers are okay for your skin. Again your going to have to figure out what works best for you. Of course using one with SPF during the day is a good idea as it helps prevent sunburns and premature aging and also helps to avoid acne scarring.  And I can’t say this enough, you must apply your lotion/cream right after washing your face. Even a minute or two later can cause your skin to become dry which can lead to dullness and flakes.

For more articles plus beauty tips, tricks and so much more check out my blog makeupforall1.tumblr.com

Quick Review: Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Brand: Too Faced

Product: Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer

Price: $18.00

Would I Re-Buy: Yes

I recently decided to try a few Too Faced products as I haven’t tried many before. And so far I am impressed. This eye primer is very good. The packaging is a squeeze tube in a pretty robins egg blue. The product itself is a matte cream with a bit of a light beige tint to it that fades away when applied to skin.

I love the e.l.f. eyelid primer for its value. It works really well and costs only a dollar. The Urban Decay primer potion costs about the same as the Too Faced but, for me, it doesn’t work quiet as well. Also I prefer the squeeze tube applicator to the sponge applicators most primers I’ve tried had. I like this primer because my eye make-up doesn’t smudge, or fade and barely creases at all. So I would recommend it as a great eye primer worth the cost but the e.l.f. eyelid primer is also wonderful for a much lower price.

For more reviews, beauty tips, tricks and more check out my blog makeupforall1.tumblr.com

Photo Source: https://www.toofaced.com/p-544-shadow-insurance-anti-crease-eye-shadow-primer.aspx?

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation Review

Brand: Maybelline

Product: Dream Smooth Mousse

Price: Approx. $10.00 CDN

Would I Re-Buy: Yes, probably.

I had tried the dream matte mousse foundation and concealor before and was not very impressed, the finish was weird and it didn’t last well. But I do like Maybelline and I’m always up for trying new makeup so I decided to give this a try when I was looking for a new winter foundation. I have dry to normal skin and this formula is for dry skin, winter conditions are very drying so I thought this would be a good fit.

It’s a cream foundation with an interesting package. The top flips open to reveal the sponge applicator and the foundation twists off at the bottom. There is no mirror, which I dislike and because the package splits into two parts it’s not easy to do standing anywhere, which isn’t great. So the packaging leaves a little to be desired.

The formula goes on easily, blends well and gives a natural dewy finish. The coverage is medium, like most foundations. And it lasts well; I haven’t seen any fading yet. It does leave me a little shiny at the end of the day but a little powder or blotting takes care of that easily. I’m not sure how moisturizing it is but it isn’t drying at all and makes my skin look and feel healthy. So all in all I would recommend this product to anyone with drier skin looking for a dewy finish.

For more reviews plus beauty tips, tricks, photo tutorials and more check out my blog makeupforall1.tumblr.com

Photo Source: http://www.maybelline.com/Products/Face-Makeup/Foundation/Dream-Smooth-Mousse.aspx

How to choose a foundation

Buying foundation can be tricky.  To dark or to light and everyone can see not only your foundation but also your mistake. Choosing the wrong formulation can make your skin look dull or shiny. Choosing the right foundation can make your skin look flawless and creates a great base for other make up.

The traditional advice for choosing a foundation shade is to apply a few shades to your cheekbone and stand in the sunlight choosing whichever shade blends seamlessly into your skin. Which is great advice and a useful tip but most of us don’t want to go stand on the street with stripes of foundation on our face staring into a mirror. Although sunlight (natural light) provides the most honest light for using make up applying foundation swatches to your bare skinned jaw bone in store and using a mirror and finding some good lighting will work just as well.

Start by testing foundation textures and consistencies on your inner wrist (the side with the veins). To see how much coverage the formula offers rub it over a vein and see how much in conceals. Also note how easy it is to blend and the finish it provides. For dull dry skinned girls a dewy finish will help skin look healthy, for oily skinned people a matte finish (like a powder) will keep skin from looking to shiny.

Once you’ve found a formula you like, it’s time to pick your shade. If you’ve bought foundations before you’ll likely have an idea of which shades will work for you. For myself I’m usually not one of the lightest shades and fall more into the “beige” category but for winter a shade called “porcelain ivory” suits me. For winter most of our complexions become lighter due to spending less time in the sun. So your summer foundation may be to dark in the winter, and your winter foundation may be to light come summer.

Choose a few shades you think may work well for you of your chosen formula (2 or 3 should be fine) and test them in front of a mirror on your jaw line. The jaw line is used because it’s easy to blend their and since not all cosmetic stores offer wipes to remove tested make-up you may end up going home with a few swatches still on your face and they’ll be less obvious of your jaw then say your forehead.

If you find yourself stuck between 2 shades, one a little light and the other a little dark. Try blending them to find your perfect shade. If you want to look slightly tanned you can choose a foundation one shade darker then your skin tone BUT BE CAREFUL! Using a shade that’s darker then your skin tone can be hard to pull off; you must blend well around your ears, hairline, and jaw line to avoid an obvious foundation line. NEVER use a foundation that’s to light for you, it will create a ghost like look and will look very unnatural. To make your skin tone seem lighter use a foundation that matches your skin tone and then a liquid concealor lighter then your skin tone, only slightly lighter, as a highlighter across the top of your cheekbones and down the side of your nose and under your eyes and blend well. Now you’re glowing.

Tip:

looking for skin care products (and cosmetics) that work for you can be hard. Especially if you’re acne prone or have sensitive skin. Did you know it takes skin cells about 23 days to turnover and 23-60 days to show both good and bad results of a skin care product, cosmetics, or regimen. A pimple can show up a month after it’s cause, like sleeping with make-up on or using a poorly made face mask

How to get sexy soft skin

How to get sexy soft skin

Sexy, soft, smooth skin not only looks good it feels good. Just a few steps here and there and you can be sexy soft in no time.

Moisture is key. Skin suffers through dry air, itchy fabrics, and all sorts of abuse every day. Even bathing can be hard on skin if it isn’t properly cared for after. Find a body lotion you love, I love St.Ives vitamin E formula. Right after you steps out of the shower and towel off use your lotion all over to seal in moisture and create a protective barrier for your skin. For extra dry patches, like elbows and feet, use body butter. Tip: to give dry feet an extra boost put on warm socks right after body butter to intensify the moisture.

Exfoliation sloths off dead skin and prepare skin for moisture. Exfoliate with an exfoliation product or exfoliating gloves at least once a week. Try adding a little baking soda or sugar to your body wash for a quick homemade exfoliate.  

To get a sexy sheen rub a little Vaseline on areas like your shoulders. This is the subtle sexy version of body glitter and will make you look more toned, which is always nice.

For more beauty tips like this plus articles, reviews and more check out my blog makeupforall1.tumblr.com