Rachel is a young stay at home mom and a part time makeup artist. She loves to share her makeup looks and beauty secrets for all to enjoy! Rachel does not Photoshop her pictures because she wants you to see the makeup – the way it actually looks. She believes that everyone is beautiful in their own way and makeup just enhances that! She has a blog called Makeup by Rachel, and lives in Toronto with her husband and son.
With Yom Tov coming up, I decided to share with you a beautiful makeup look along with a few tips on how to keep your makeup lasting as long as possible.
The look I have for you is a neutral look that will match any outfit you decide to wear. To prevent the eye makeup from rubbing off over night, do your best to sleep on your back. That way, it won’t rub off onto your pillow. In addition, using a good primer (as mentioned in step #1) will help the makeup last. However, even if most of the makeup does come off over night, you will be left with the black eyeliner for the next day.
Prime your eyes: You want to use a really good primer so that your makeup has the best chance at staying on overnight. I used Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, and although it is not meant to be used as an eye primer, I find that it works really well. Use your ring finger to lightly pat the concealer all around the eye area- both on the eyelids and under them. Set your eyes with some foundation powder to prevent creasing.
Apply gold eye shadow to the center of your eyelids. Instead of sweeping it on, pat it on with your fingers or a brush. This will pack the eye shadow on better, making it last longer.
Apply a shimmery light eye shadow on the inner corners of the eyes to brighten them up.
Apply black eye shadow on the outer corner of the eye.
Apply a light natural powder (I use regular foundation powder) and apply it on the brow bone, blending it well into the crease.
Use the same black eye shadow and line it under your eyes using a small eyeliner brush.
Apply black eyeliner. If you want the best chance at having the eyeliner last for a day or two, here’s what I recommend: A) Use gel eyeliner and apply it with a small eye shadow brush. A good option is Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner. The second best option is to apply liquid eyeliner, but I find the gel works better and lasts longer. B) Set the eyeliner with black eye shadow.
Apply some mascara to complete the look.
For the rest of the face, I suggest not applying any foundation whatsoever, because going to sleep with makeup on your face is really bad for your skin. Therefore, I will move on to the lips.
Apply a long lasting lipstick. The lipstick I used is Revlon ColorStay Overtime Lipcolor, and be warned: This lip product is very hard to remove even after wearing for an entire day. It really lasts very well.
This post is all about mascara: How to curl your lashes, how to apply mascara, and a few tips and tricks to get your lashes looking awesome.
Curling your lashes:
The curler I use is by Sally Hansen. The reason I use it is because it’s cheap, and it works really well. Place the curler as close to your lash line as possible, and pump 5 times. Then move the curler up your lashes and pump another 5 times. Repeat this one last time on the edges of your lashes.
If you want, use a blow dryer to heat up your curler just for a few seconds, this will help the lashes curl. Be very careful with this step, don’t burn yourself!
The more often you curl your lashes, the better they will curl and the longer they will stay curled.
Apply a few generous coats:
It’s very simple: The more you apply, the more dramatic, fake and ‘spidery’ your lashes will look. Apply 1-2 coats for a natural look, 3-4 for a dramatic look. Apply the mascara by wiggling the mascara wand back and forth at the root of the lashes to separate them, and then blink down so that the mascara coats the entire lash.
Use at least 2 different kinds of mascaras. It’s best to use 2 that have very different wands. I use Maybelline Great Lash and Maybelline Falsies Volume Express. I love them both.
Use the blackest mascara, don’t use brown unless you want a super natural look.
Allow the mascara to dry in between coats.
Tips and tricks:
Don’t expect your lashes to look amazing if you only spend 30 seconds on them. Spend time curling them, spend time applying the mascara.
Tight line your eyes. Use a black eyeliner and color right under your upper lashes, concentrating on the outer part of your eye. This will give your lashes the fullest look.
Removing Mascara (and other eye makeup):
This step is as important as applying it. If you remove the mascara incorrectly, you will pull out your lashes resulting in thinner ones.
First, splash your face with water.
Use your favorite eye makeup remover and apply it generously to a cotton pad. Press it onto your eye for 30 seconds. Do not rub your eye, just press the cotton gently on to your eye area.
Rinse your eye well. Most of the mascara should be off. Use the cotton pad to remove any exess mascara.
Very gently, rub some baby shampoo onto your eyes. Baby shampoo is gentle and will not ruin your lashes. You can alternately use baby wipes for this step.
There are countless beauty products out there, and I get asked all the time which products are great and work well for different skin types. My answer is always the same: Whenever your skin isn’t ‘working’, and breaks out badly or just starts acting crazy, go back to the basics. It’s hard to tell whether you have oily or dry skin when it’s always covered in products. Very often, the products you buy claim to be the miracle cure when they aren’t, and in fact, could be doing more damage than good.
1) Elimination: The first step is to completely stop using everything, and start from the beginning. Use lukewarm water in the morning and at night to cleanse your face and do not apply any makeup whatsoever. Let your skin breathe for a few days. Sometimes, this is all your skin needs and will clear up on its own just like that.
Now that your skin is aux-natural, you can figure out exactly what facial care your skin needs. Study your face in the mirror. See if your skin is dry and flaky or shiny and oily or a combination of the two. Once you figure that out, throw away all the products you have that are not meant for your skin type.
2) Cleanse: There is no need to go out and buy yet another cleanser; you most likely have something that will work perfectly. Try and pick one that is not too expensive, I find that the fancier products have a lot more chemical type stuff in there that you don’t want on your face. In addition, most of those expensive products are actual dupes for something cheaper. Use this cleanser every night. If you go to bed with a clean face, all you need is a splash of lukewarm water in the morning to cleanse your face.
My suggestion: Cetaphil has a great cleanser, and they have different ones for all skin types. It is also gentle enough to use both in the morning and night if you want to.
3) Toner: This is not a necessary step in your skin care routine unless your skin is very oily. I skip this step completely because my skin is more on the dry side.
My suggestion: Witch Hazel is something you can pick up from your local pharmacy. Use a cotton pad to apply it to your face. Use it sparingly and only if you have very oily skin.
An alternative idea is to buy a cleansing water to use after you cleanse your face. Bioderma is a great one you can buy off Amazon.com.
4) Moisturize: This is one of the most important steps in a skin care routine, even if your skin is oily. Do it at least every night. Almost any moisturizer will do. If you are worried about your skin becoming too oily, apply it with a sponge or very clean fingers. I would suggest using a moisturizer with SPF in it which helps prevents wrinkles. Don’t skip this step.
My suggestions: Aveeno makes a great moisturizer. Here are a few more products I think are worth mentioning:
Coconut oil: One of the best beauty secrets. The best way to use coconut oil is at night. Before going to bed, rub a small amount of coconut oil in your fingers to warm it up and then massage it on your face. It is an all-in-one makeup remover, facial cleanser, and moisturizer.
Do not be worried about it leading to breakouts, just be sure to rinse it off well. 90% of the coconut oil will come off, and 10% will moisturize your skin all night long, which is what you want. After rinsing, you can add a bit more to the eye area as an eye cream.
If you want an added reassurance that the coconut oil won’t break your skin out, here’s what to do: add two drops of tea tree oil to the dab of coconut oil in your hand and mix it together before applying it.
Vaseline: The best (and cheapest) lip balm.
That basically says it all. I use this all the time, and apply it to my lips throughout the day. You can easily use it as a lip scrub by mixing a small amount of Vaseline with some brown sugar and rubbing it on your lips. Rinse off afterwards. This will remove all the flaky skin off your lips.
You might think that this skincare routine is too simple for your skin, especially if you are battling acne. But for 90% of you, this routine will work. The key is consistency. The fact is that if you are very consistent with taking care of your skin, your face will look a lot better than if you occasionally apply whatever acne treatments you have. Be consistent and you will see results. For those of you with more severe skin issues, I recommend that you see a dermatologist to help you out.
One of my favorite makeup looks in the winter is red lips. When I got married right in middle of the winter, I immediately decided that it was the makeup look I wanted for my wedding.
One thing I was worried about was my lipstick. How would I get it to last without smudging or coming off for my entire wedding? Well, my makeup artist told me what she doing as she was doing it, and told me the lipstick would last the entire night.
It did. It lasted the entire wedding – around 12 hours total until I wiped it off. The lipstick I wore was Mac, but I have since tried this same method with cheaper brands and it worked just as well.
Here’s how to make lipstick last:
Preparation: Before applying your lipstick, you need to prep your lips.
Apply any lip balm to your lips and massage them lightly.
If you have extra skin, use a clean toothbrush and rub your lips.
Apply a translucent powder as a lip primer.
Applying lipstick:
Line your lips carefully with a red lip pencil. If you don’t have red, a nude one will work as well.
Fill in the rest of your lips with the same lip pencil.
Apply your lipstick.
To finish:
Apply a second coat of lipstick using a lip brush.
Blot your lips using a tissue.
Apply the same translucent powder, this will prevent smudging.
You’re finished!
I know this seems like a lot of steps, but they work. You will be able to eat and drink and not have to worry about reapplying your makeup. Try it, you’ll see!
I asked one of my frequent writers to share her story on HG, being that it is all over social media due to Kate Middleton‘s current Hospitalization. We had a discussion about this on the forum (see thread here) when someone posted “The View”‘s reaction to Kate’s news (see below), which was disgraceful to say the least. It occurred to me that too many women are simply unaware as to what HG is, and this is a good opportunity to raise awareness. Please share this with your lady friends.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum. A.K.A. Puking your guts out while pregnant.
For those of you that don’t know what HG is, I envy you. What it is: Although 90% of women suffer some amount of morning sickness, HG only affects around 1 in 200 women. Symptoms include severe nausea and vomiting, food aversions, significant weight loss, dehydration, fainting, and malnutrition. It is serious, and without the proper care, can result in life threatening complications to both mother and baby. This is Morning Sickness vs. Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
Morning Sickness:
You lose little if any weight.
Nausea and vomiting do not interfere with your ability to eat or drink enough each day.
You vomit infrequently and the nausea is episodic but not severe. It may cause discomfort and misery.
Dietary and/or lifestyle changes are enough to help you feel better most of the time.
Typically, you will improve after the first trimester at a gradual pace but may be a little queasy at times during the remainder of your pregnancy.
You will be able to work most days and care for your family.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum:
You lose more than 5% of your body weight.
Nausea and vomiting cause you to eat nothing or very little and causes dehydration.
You vomit often and may vomit bile or blood if not treated. Nausea is usually moderate to severe and constant.
You will probably require fluid hydration through a vein and/or medications to stop the vomiting.
You usually feel somewhat better by mid-pregnancy, but you may continue to be nauseous and/or vomit until late pregnancy.
You will likely be unable to work for weeks or months, and may need help caring for yourself.
My story, pregnancy #1: Husband and I find out I am pregnant; we are thrilled like any clueless first time parents are. I feel great, and I naively think I will love being pregnant, just like my mother. It shouldn’t be surprising, my mother and I are nothing alike, but I get sick at 8 weeks pregnant.
The first 3 months are spent with my head in the toilet. I throw up an average of 30-40 times a day. Occasionally, I don’t throw up at all, and that results in me momentarily blacking out. I lie in bed all day, fantasize about taking a shower standing up.
I don’t cook supper, and I don’t let my husband cook supper. The smell of the sun gets me sick, my husband tries smelling it and can’t. We go on vacation when I’m five months pregnant and I black out after standing out in the heat for ten minutes. I sit under a tree while my husband gets me water, and a bunch of people are staring at me. I laugh, thinking it’s no big deal, this happens all the time, but it hits me: This is not normal.
Baby is monitored constantly throughout the pregnancy, baby is growing well. At nine months pregnant, I weigh less than I did at my wedding. After a long labor, I give birth to a huge, healthy baby. A little while later, I eat a peanut butter sandwich, followed by meatballs and spaghetti.
Pregnancy #2: My mind tricks me into thinking I can handle a second HG pregnancy. Once again, we are thrilled and clueless like any second time parents. I get sick sooner this time, at 6 weeks, and it is more severe. My vision of a normal pregnancy is gone, and is replaced with the reality of popping 25 pills a day.
This time, the sun does not have a smell, but water does. Husband does not agree. I don’t drive, I don’t bathe my son. I don’t cook, clean, or work. I rarely leave the house and I often make my husband skip work to stay home and help me do absolutely nothing.
I am unable to physically care for my son, so I send him to daycare, and it breaks my heart. Its déjà-vu this time, so I do not freak out when I black out. The pills work, I do not throw up so much. Instead, when I do, it is very sudden so I throw up on my bed, in the sink and on the floor, unable to make it to the toilet. Pros: We finally have a reason to dry clean our blankets.
I am now a little over five months pregnant. I am over the worst, but still going through it. I throw up once in a while usually accompanied by a brief black out. Based on my first pregnancy, I will most likely feel this way until I give birth. I cannot wait until my babies are older so I can tell them what I went through and make them feel bad. Just kidding, I would never do that.
I am lucky. I never stayed overnight at a hospital and managed to avoid an IV. My story is not one the really bad ones, you don’t want to read those, they are crazy. Kate Middleton is pregnant, and I can definitely relate to what she is going through. I feel reassured that HG will finally get the awareness it needs so people stop telling me, “Just try ginger, it helps wonders with nausea.”
Here is a great article that explains HG along with the authors personal story, and a funny, but useful guide for husbands of women suffering from HG. I know I’m not alone in wanting to raise awareness, Ashli Foshee McCall just published her story on the “Washington Post”. She is the author of the children’s book, “Mama Has Hyperemesis Gravidarum (But Only For A While)”.
The look I have for you today is inspired by the rainy/snowy weather we have been experiencing, here on the East Coast. It is dark, smoky, and really beautiful, perfect for a night out!
The blue eye shadow goes perfectly for those of you with brown eyes. If your eyes are green, switch the blue for a dark maroon/purple. If your eyes are blue, switch the blue for a dark brown.
Tutorial:
After priming your eyelids, apply a bright silver eye shadow to the inner corner of your eyes.
Apply shiny gray eye shadow to the middle part of your eyelids.
Apply a dark blue eye shadow to the outer corners of your eyes. Use a small precise brush to do steps 1-3.
Apply a light neutral eye shadow (foundation powder) under your eyebrows and right above the crease. You can use a bigger, softer brush for this.
Apply black eyeliner in your waterline and wing it out. I used a gel eyeliner and a thin eyeliner brush for this.
Finish off the eyes by applying mascara. You are now finished your eyes!
I kept the rest of the face very neutral, without even applying any foundation or blush, and applied some natural lip gloss on my lips.
Putting on makeup daily does not have to take up a lot of time; in fact you don’t even need more than five minutes. This makeup look is quick and easy, and will fit perfectly into everyone’s morning routine.
Here is a step by step tutorial:
1) Apply a moisturizing face primer all over your face, including your eyelids. If you don’t have any, use a regular facial moisturizer. It’s also a good idea to use one with SPF. You can use your fingers to apply.
2) Apply a neutral light brown eyeshadow to your eyelids. If you don’t have any, you can use foundation powder. The best way to apply it is with a small eyeshadow brush. However, if you don’t have one, you can use your fingers.
3) Apply a slightly darker brown eyeshadow in the crease right above your eyelids. You can use regular bronzer.
4) Apply black or brown eye liner right above your upper lashes. You can play around with different colors that complement your eyes. I’m using black. If you are a beginner, apply the eye liner very slowly and carefully. Practice makes perfect.
5) This step is optional; I like the look of it a lot. Smudge the eyeliner to give a softer look. If there is no ‘smudger’ on your eyeliner, you can use a Q-tip.
6) Apply mascara.
7) Apply Vaseline on your lips. If you want, you can apply lipstick, as I am in the picture.
It’s a good idea to let your skin breathe and not apply liquid foundation every day. Personally, I don’t have the patience; therefore I almost never wear it. However, if you wanted to, I would suggest applying it sparingly, using a sponge.
Yes, it really is that simple! It’s subtle makeup that will really make a difference. You won’t look ‘done’, you’ll just look refreshed 😉
