TAG - 25 Questions

Hey! I got this tag from the awesome Sara from http://sugasugasuga.blogspot.com/
Check out her answers as well and follow her!

1. Do you apply your foundation with a brush, sponge, or fingers?
I use a Kabuki brush with mineral makeup.

2. Do you apply your eyeshadow from light to dark? or dark to light?
Light to dark.

3. Do you prime your eyes?
Alwaysss.

4. Concealer first, or after foundation?
I do it before. But that's because I use mineral foundation. With liquid, I do it after.

5. Go for manicures, or manicure yourself?
I do them by myself.

6. Exfoliate lips, face or both?
Both.

7. On average, how long does it take you to do your makeup?
About 15 minutes without eyeshadow or much effort. 30 minutes with a whole face.

8. Do you wear makeup everyday and everywhere?
Yep.

9. What release are you most excited about? (Makeup)
Not sure..I don't keep up with them too much.

10. What's your weakness? Shoes, purses, clothes, jewelry, eyeshadow, lipstick or other?
All pretty much.

11. Do you whiten your teeth?
I used to use Crest White Strips everyday. But now I hardly use them. They work great though!

12. Wax eyebrows, or pluck?
I have pluck my own. I've never waxed them.

13. What do you use to contour?
NARS Laguna bronzer

14. False lashes, or natural?
Natural. I only do false on special occasions. It was a disaster ;)

15. Favorite makeup brand?
This is a hard one.. NYX, Revlon, Maybelline, NARS, Mac, Urban Decay, many more!

16. Liquid eyeliner, pencil or gel?
I have been loving gel lately! I use only black liquid. I use pencil too on the bottom.

17. Lipstick, lipgloss or chapstick?
Lipstick. Or liquid lipstick. Lipgloss too..I love them all!

18. Pigments, pressed or cream eyeshadow?
Pressed mostly.

19. If you had to wear only one thing, excluding foundation; what would it be?
Mascara definitely! Concealer and bronzer second.

20. Favorite color?
Pink!

21. Favorite color combination?
Teal and navy blue for eyeshadow. But in general..pink and green!

22. Natural? or Dramatic? (Eye Makeup)
A mix in between. I like toned-down wearable dramatic, haha.

23. Do you care more for quality or name brand?
Quality!

24. Do you enjoy using face masks? If so which ones
I like the Saint Helen's Mint Julep Mask.

25. What is your current addiction? (example: lipsticks, eyeshadows, earrings..)
Eyeliner! I keep buying gel liners and stuff. I will always be obsessed with eyeshadows too!

Let me know if you do this tag!

XOXO,
Gena

CSN Stores Review- Shoes

Hey everyone! CSNstores.com was so generous to provide me with a product of my choice. They have soo many stores (200+). Click here to see a list. They have anything ranging from Handbags and shoes, furniture, home decor, kids toys, office supplies, pet supplies, fitness gear, and so much more. There is pretty much a store for everything. I could not decide between getting home stuff or shoes, so I picked shoes. And I'm so glad I did! I got these awesome sandals that are so cute. They are $31 and the shipping is FREE.

This is the store they came from: Shoes Got Sole
They have another shoe store that is directed toward more fashionable shoes: Luxe
I think though that some of the shoes that are on Luxe are also on Shoes Got Sole. Shoes Got Sole is shoes for women and men of all ages.
Here is the link for the shoes I got: CLICK
They also come in teal and white-

 

I love all the colors! I only got the black because I already have teal and white sandals. They are comfortable shoes and don't hurt your feet like most flat shoes do. The straps and buckles don't rub or make blisters on my feet. They are not hard to put on either. Some sandals I have to sit down and adjust and fasten buckles all over. These you just slip on and fasten.
They go with everything too. Here are some outfits I put together:

They look good with skirts, shorts, rompers, or dresses. My favorite way to wear them is with skirts. If you have any questions about any of the clothing ask me in the comments.
Also comment with any questions you have about the shoes or CSN stores. I highly recommend them! You will find anything you are looking for!

XOXO,
Gena


FTC: CSNStores.com provided me with this product. I was not paid for the post. This is my honest opinion.

I need help from you all!!

I need to find a good face wash and toner. I have tried many and can't seem to find one that works. I don't care if it is a mild scrub, cleanser, or cream. I prefer drugstore products, unless there is some amazing cleanser I need to have. I am currently using Neutrogena's Clear Pore and its doing an okay job. But I am still getting breakouts around the lower half of my face. I can see where some of my pores a clogged, and then whether I mess with it or not, it turns into a blemish. I have combo skin, my forehead and cheek bones get dry, but my nose, chin, and around my mouth get oily some. I am mainly seeing the clogged pores around my mouth and the sides of my chin. I did not get these until I started using liquid foundation. But I have switched to mineral and I still have them.
I heard that using a toner can help with clearing pores and preventing breakouts. Does anyone know a good one? Are they worth it?

Also, does anyone know a good treatment or product to get rid of acne scars?

Thanks a bunch. I need your feedback!

XOXO,
Gena

Makeup for Every Eye Color

I am just showing you what colors compliment each eye color. Anyone with any eye color can wear any color eye shadow and look good. There are just certain eye shadows that bring out your eye color.

All the pictures are using the Maybelline Eye Studio Quads. 
Check out Maybelline's website for more pictures and how-tos.
I have changed the eye colors in the photos above to show you how the eye shadow brings out the colors (except in my pictures, haha).

Brown
I'm going to talk about brown eyes first, because that is what I have and I have experimented the most with what looks the best.
Brown eyes have the advantage because they can go with pretty much any color, since brown is a neutral color. There are different shades of brown eyes- dark brown, medium, and light brown. Mine are kind of a medium shade. They don't look black, but they're not as yellow-y as light brown.
Eye shadows that go best with brown eyes are purple, teal & blues, green, and gold.
Purple and teal flatters every shade of brown. Green goes best with dark brown eyes and gold goes best with light brown eyes because they have a hint of yellow around the pupil. Brown eyed girls can really pull off bright colors because it contrasts with dark eyes.
Brown eyes look good with brown and black eyeliners. Line your waterline with white eyeliner to really contrast against brown eyes. Here is some looks I've done to enhance mine.

First two pictures are in Give Me Gold and the third is in Sapphire Siren. Click here for a full tutorial using Sapphire Siren.


Blue

Spirited Seas

Blue eyes come in a variety of shades too. There's gray, baby blue (like in the picture), and a true blue. All blues look good with brown, copper & gold, and blue. Browns contrast well against blues and adding light blue shadow accentuates the blue eye color. Navy blue eyeliner looks great with blue eyes and really brings out the whites of the eye, without looking harsh like black. Putting a lighter blue on the lid and lining with a dark blue like in the picture brings out the eyes because that is the same way the iris is. Gray and charcoal eyeliner also looks great.
Blue eyed girls can pull off smokey gray and black looks too because the contrast of light eyes and dark shadow.

Green

Mad for Mauve

Green eyes are pretty versatile with colors too. Plum, pink, green, and copper look best. Colors that you want to stay away from cooler colors like blues and even gray. Pink and plum colors bring put the green the best. It is best to put theses colors over the lid. Use a hint of green around the outer part of the eye to compliment green eyes.
Green eyes look good with brown eyeliner, green, and plum.

Hazel

Taupe Temptress

Hazel eyes are a mix of brown and green pigments. They can be worn with the same colors as brown or green eyes can, depending on which color you want to bring out more. However, I would avoid the cooler colors that go with browns like blue and teal. Stick to plum, pink, brown, and gold.
Brown, green, or purple eyeliner looks the best with hazel eyes.


*Another good way to bring out your eye color is use the color that your eye color has only a little bit of. For example, brown eyes can have a hint of yellow or gold around the pupil. This really makes eyes pop.

Was this helpful?
I want to know what eye color you all have and what makeup you find that looks the best on you. Comment below!!

XoXo,
Gena

Brown Smokey Eye Look

Hey! This is just a quick and easy brown smokey eye tutorial!

1. Almay Intense I-Color in Trio for Browns (light highlight shade) all over lid and up to brow bone using a SS239 flat shader brush.
2. Coastal Scents 88 Color Palette medium brown shade (last row, third from the bottom) on the outer half of the eye and the crease using a SS217 crease brush.
3. Coastal Scents 88 Color Palette dark brown color (last row, second from the bottom) in the outer-V using a SS219 pencil brush.
4. Same dark brown with pencil brush on the lower lashline.
5. Same highlight color from Almay in the inner corner with a pencil brush.

6. Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in brown, lining the entire eye and water line and winging it out a bit.
7. Loreal Telescopic Clean Definition Mascara in Blackest Black.

And thats it!

Hope you all like it!
What is your favorite color to do a smokey look with?
Comment with your thoughts!

XOXO,
Gena

Maybelline EyeStudio Eyeshadow Quad Review & Tutorial

This little quad right here is amazing! It is the Maybelline Eye Studio eyeshadow quad in Sapphire Siren. Its got 4 totally pigmented and shimmery shadows- white, teal, dark blue, and black. They are really silky and blend great. I love using the shimmery white with any look everyday to put in the corners of my eyes or under my brow bone. The little applicator works great for the inner corner.

I created a less dramatic look than the one in the first picture. My pictures did not turn out as well because I took them at night with a flash. If I had done them in natural light, you would've seen the intensity of the colors better.

First, using a flat shader brush, put the white color all over your lid, all the way to the brow bone. Make the color more intense in the inner corner.
Then using the same brush, take the teal color and put it on the outer 3/4 of your eye.
Next, use the dark blue color on the outer half of your eye.
Then using the pointed tip on the applicator it comes with, take the dark blue color and line the upper and lower lashline with this.
Last, use the black color in the outer crease with a pencil brush.
Use a fluffy brush to blend the entire eye.
I lined my entire eye and waterline with Jordana EasyLiner in Blue Devine.
Last, I curled my lashes and applied Loreal Telescopic Clean Definition Mascara in Blackest Black.
And thats it! It looks complicated but its simple. These quads come with a picture of the look on the back for help.
Check out Maybelline's website for how-to videos on how to use all of the EyeStudio products.

What do you think?

There will be more looks using these quads and a post about eyeshdow for different eye colors. This one goes great with brown eyes, or blue :]
XOXO,
Gena

The Ins & Outs of June

Hey everyone! I cannot believe June is already over! I hope the rest of the summer slows down.
Here are some of the things I was loving and not-so-loving during June.

Ins:

-All the CSN stores. There are soo many of these online stores (200+)! They have anything you can imagine. There is a site for everything from accessories, luggage, home decor, furniture, the list goes on and on. They have headboards, shoes, handbags, linens, pet supplies, office stuff, just to name a few!
-Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner. I got the Black and the Brown one. These last forever and are so smooth!
-Loreal Telescopic Clean Definition Mascara in Blackest Black. This will always be my top mascara. Enough said.
-Sephora brand eyeshadow in Aspen Summit N23. This is the perfect highlight for under brows.
-The Bra Strap Concealer from Charlotte Russe. Its just like the StrapPerfect bra clip but its only like $3-$5 at Charlotte Russe. I could not find it online but it was on a table with the accessories at the store.

Outs:
-Working all summer!
-I guess I've been really lucky on choosing products lately because I don't have any I didn't like :]

*Review on CSN products soon
*Tutorial and review coming up on Maybelline EyeStudio eyeshadow quad

XOXO,
Gena