Beauty Tip of the Week: Secrets to Whiter Teeth (Crest Whitestrips Review as well!)

Of course everyone wants pearly white teeth all the time without trying. But unfortunately with everything we drink and eat, it is not always possible. Teeth whitening can be very expensive, costing you hundreds of dollars to get them professionally whitened. If I had the money for it, I'd do it too. But I have found cheaper ways to whiten teeth, and prevent them for getting stained in the first place.

Whether you have slightly stained teeth and you just want to whiten up, or your teeth are completely yellow, I recommend using the Crest 3D Whitestrips. I have used these things for years and they never let me down. They have a variety of products in the line, all varying in how much whitening you need. Here's a run down of the products:

-Vivid: white teeth in 10 days, wear them for 30 minutes, no advanced seal, ($16 on Amazon)
-Advanced Vivid: dramatically whitens in 14 days (visible in 3 days), wear them for 30 minutes, advanced seal, ($28 on Amazon)
-Professional Effects: professional level whitening in 20 days (visible in 3 days), wear for 30 minutes, advanced seal, better lower teeth coverage, ($40 on Amazon)
-2-Hour Express: whiter teeth in 2 hours (lasts 3 months), wear for 2 hours, advanced seal, better lower teeth coverage, ($31 on Amazon)
-Stain Shield: protects against everyday buildup, wear for 5 minutes, ($13 on Amazon)
-Gentle Routine: for teeth that are sensitive to whitening, wear for 5 minutes, more subtle whitening, ($27 on Amazon)
*prices are estimates

I recommend the Advanced Vivid ones if your teeth are semi-yellow and you just want to whiten up. If you have really bad stained yellow teeth and you have never whitened, I would get the Professional Effects.
I would definitely get them on Amazon as well, because they are more expensive at the drugstore.

Some ways to prevent stains:
-Keep away from any dark drinks like coffee, tea, and soda
-If you are a big coffee drinker like me, or even tea, drink it with a straw! I buy big packs of these and always drink coffee with them. This keeps it from swishing around in your mouth and getting on your front teeth.
-Brush your teeth after you eat or drink. This immediately removes the stuff before it stains
-Use a whitening tooth paste like Crest 3D Advanced Vivid
-Floss! Don't let plaque buildup in between your teeth, because its yellow too! I like the Oral B Floss Picks
-Use a whitening mouth wash at night to remove surface stains. I like the Crest 3D Whitening Mouthwash. But still use a regular mouthwash with alcohol in the morning to kill germs and bacteria.

Let me know how you all keep white teeth! And let me know if you have any questions.
What are you beauty tips and ticks? Leave them in the comments below and I will feature them in the next post with your link!

Last weeks:
Apply Foundation Like a Pro!
Fix a Mascara Mistake!

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/GlamMeUp8
LUUUX: http://www.luuux.com/members/Glam-Me-Up
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/GlamMeUp
EMAIL: glammeup8@gmail.com

XOXO,
Gena

VIDEO: My Foundation Routine

Products Mention:
-L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base
-Covergirl NatureLuxe Foundation in Aspen
-MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC20
-Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer
-MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in Light Medium
-NARS Laguna Bronzer
-NYX Blush in Peach
-Revlon ColorStay Mineral Finishing Powder in Brighten

Tools:
-Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge
-Sigma Concealer Brush
-ELF Face Kabuki Brush
-Sigma Large Powder Brush
-Sigma Blush Brush
-ELF Blush Brush (used for highlight)

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer Review
How to Apply Foundation Like A Pro (the Sonia Kashuk Sponge)
ELF Kabuki Brush Review

Summer Foundation Routine (review of the Revlon ColorStay Mineral Foundation)


Watch me spring clean my closet in my latest video!

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/GlamMeUp8
LUUUX: http://www.luuux.com/members/Glam-Me-Up
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/GlamMeUp
EMAIL: glammeup8@gmail.com

XoXo,
Gena

VIDEO: Spring Cleaning- Clean Out & Organize Your Closet

Spring is here, and summer is just around the corner. So that means time for spring cleaning! I do this about twice a year. There is no need to keep clothes in your closet that you aren’t going to wear for a few months. Unless if you have a massive walk-in or full size room closet, then you need to find ways to organize your stuff so it is easily accessible.

Here are some good organization items for your closet:

Hugable Hangers from Target
 

Hangers with clips from Target

The scarf organizer I used from Target

Hanging Shelf Organizer from Target

Hanging Shoe Organizer from Target

Storage bins from Target

Storage cart from Target

Check out My Closet Tour Video
Post that goes with it

Also check out My Jewelry Storage & Organization

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/GlamMeUp8
LUUUX: http://www.luuux.com/members/Glam-Me-Up
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/GlamMeUp
EMAIL: glammeup8@gmail.com
XoXo,
Gena

Steals & Deals: Carol's Daughter New Promotion

Hey guys! I just wanted to let you know that Carol's Daughter is having a good Easter sale going on right now until Monday night.

Free Gift With Purchase with $40 order at Carol's Daughter with code: EasterBunny

Free shipping on all orders! No code needed.

Click the link to go to their store!

If you are not sure what Carol's Daughter is, you can check out some posts of done on them in the past. It is a organic hair and skincare online store. They have some really great products!
Posts I've done on them:
http://glam-me-upxo.blogspot.com/2011/02/steals-deals-carols-daughter-free-gift.html
http://glam-me-upxo.blogspot.com/2011/03/carols-daughter-awesome-deals.html
http://glam-me-upxo.blogspot.com/2011/04/video-ins-outs-of-march-2011.html

Let me know if you check out the site!

Click here to see today's Beauty Tip of the Week on how to apply foundation like a pro!

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/GlamMeUp8
LUUUX: http://www.luuux.com/members/Glam-Me-Up
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/GlamMeUp
EMAIL: glammeup8@gmail.com

XoXo,
Gena

Beauty Tip of the Week: Apply Foundation Flawlessly Like a Pro!

I have tried several different ways off applying foundation. You can use a regular foundation brush, which works okay, but I find it to be a bit streaky. There is also a stippling brush method, which can be difficult since the bristles are so flimsy and some foundations dry quickly. You can also use a flat-top synthetic kabuki brush, which I have not tried but I have heard works well. You can also use your fingers, which is obviously the cheapest way, and works great, but it doesn't always blend the best.  Using brushes and stuff seems to take a long time to put on your foundation, because you have to blend forever and they are small.

So my favorite way to apply foundation is with a Blending Sponge (or better known as BeautyBlender. I love the Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge (pictured to the left). The BeautyBlender sponge was the original sponge used by pros to apply foundation. They are great sponges, but they can run you anywhere from $18-$20 and are only available online or at Sephora. But the Sonia Kashuk one makes a great dupe for them, and they are available at Target (or Amazon), for only about $10! That's much cheaper, and they get the job done!
This little sponge is easy to hold, with the indentation. It has a wide flat bottom, for applying foundation all over your face. Then the tips is pointy, so you can get into those hard to reach places like around your nose or hairline. This blends foundation so flawlessly, and super fast to use! It is recommended to use this sponge wet, but you can use it dry too. However when I use it dry I find that it soaks up a lot of the foundation, which wastes makeup and makes it hard to clean. So I keep a little spray bottle at my vanity, so I don't have to run to the bathroom every time. I just spray it to dampen it and pat on my foundation! It is so quick and foundation looks so even and well blended. I feel like I get the most natural looking coverage with this.

Have you guys tried either one of these sponges? What are your thoughts? What is your favorite way to apply foundation?

Comment with your beauty tips so I can put them in the next post (with your link)!

Check out last weeks Beauty Tip of the Week- How to Fix a Mascara Mistake!
April's Video for the Beauty Tips of the Week

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/GlamMeUp8
LUUUX: http://www.luuux.com/members/Glam-Me-Up
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/GlamMeUp
EMAIL: glammeup8@gmail.com

XOXO,
Gena 

VIDEO/OOTD: Springtime Look #5

What I am Wearing:
Cardigan: Charlotte Russe
Cami: Forever21
Tank: Hollister
Jeans: Old Navy
Belt: Forever21
Necklace: Charlotte Russe
Earrings: Forever21
Shoes: Charlotte Russe

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/GlamMeUp8
LUUUX: http://www.luuux.com/members/Glam-Me-Up
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/GlamMeUp
EMAIL: glammeup8@gmail.com


Last Springtime OOTD

XOXO,
Gena

VIDEO: April Beauty Tips & Tricks

Hey guys,
I'm going to be doing a video once a month, after I've done 4 Beauty Tips of the Week, sharing all of them with you all on my YouTube. Let me know if you think it is a good idea! Don't forget to leave a comment on the video with your beauty tip to be featured in the next video!

Make your nail polish last longer:
http://glam-me-upxo.blogspot.com/2011/03/beauty-tip-of-week-new-series-make-your.html

Stop Breakouts:
http://glam-me-upxo.blogspot.com/2011/03/beauty-tip-of-week-stop-breakouts.html

Get an Even Long Lasting Tan:
http://glam-me-upxo.blogspot.com/2011/04/beauty-tip-of-week-get-even-long.html

Fix Chapped Lips:
http://glam-me-upxo.blogspot.com/2011/04/beauty-tip-of-week-chapped-lips-fix.html

Manicure Routine:
http://glam-me-upxo.blogspot.com/2010/03/at-home-easy-manicure-tutorial-make.html

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/GlamMeUp8
LUUUX: http://www.luuux.com/members/Glam-Me-Up
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/GlamMeUp
EMAIL: glammeup8@gmail.com

XOXO,
Gena

VIDEO/Tutorial: Big Wavy Curls

Products Used:
-Got2B Guardian Angel Flat Iron Balm
-L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray
-Paul Mitchell Pro Tools Flat Iron
-Hot Tools 1 1/2 Curling Iron

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/GlamMeUp8
LUUUX: http://www.luuux.com/members/Glam-Me-Up
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/GlamMeUp
EMAIL: glammeup8@gmail.com

XOXO,
Gena

Beauty Tip of the Week: Fix a Mascara Mistake

Somehow when doing my mascara, I always seem to get a little on my lid. Most of the time, its not as much as shown in the photo, but I always get little dots where my lashes touched, or at the base where the wand touched. So I have mastered how to correct these mistakes without making an even bigger mess and having to retouch your eyeshadow.

After you smudge your mascara, LET IT DRY! Do not try to wipe it off when the spot is still wet. This will just cause a smear that is harder to fix. Then take a DRY Q-Tip (cotton swab) and LIGHTLY rub off the spot by spinning it, or doing shirt strokes over it. Do not wet the cotton swab! I used to do that all the time and even if the spot is dry and your Q-Tip is wet, it is going to rub off your eyeshadow. So wait for the spot to dry and rub it off lightly with a dry cotton swab. It works every time! And you don't have to do hardly, if any, retouching on your eyeshadow.
If it is a really small spot, like the little dots, you can even take your fluffy blending brush and buff over it and it should come off. If your eyeshadow did come off (it might if you didn't use a primer), just take what color was left on your brush and go back over it, then blend with a blending brush. And it should look new again!

Let me know if this was helpful!

Don't forget to leave your beauty tips and tricks in the comments below so I can include them in my next post (with your link!).

XoXo,
Gena

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/GlamMeUp8
LUUUX: http://www.luuux.com/members/Glam-Me-Up
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/GlamMeUp
EMAIL: glammeup8@gmail.com
 

VIDEO/Review: Olay ProX Advanced Cleansing System Review

The  Olay ProX Advanced Cleansing System is amazing! It is so affordable and accessible. Wonderful Clarisonic dupe for sure!


Products mentioned:
-Olay ProX Advanced Cleansing System ($30 drugstores and amazon)
-Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub ($8 drugstores and amazon)
-Clarisonic ($130-$200 Ulta and Amazon)

*prices are approximate




Comment below for any video/post requests!

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/GlamMeUp8
LUUUX: http://www.luuux.com/members/Glam-Me-Up
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/GlamMeUp
EMAIL: glammeup8@gmail.com