Wedding Makeup pt 1: What I Packed

by

I decided a long time ago that I was going to DIY my wedding makeup. When I made that decision, I had no idea what I was doing but I figured that I could learn in the space of well over a year (yep, definitely did) and use the money that I’d spend on an MUA to buy (and therefore HAVE) my own products.

So I learned and practiced with the help of YouTube and the various beauty sub-reddits out there – in the time I had given myself, I exceeded my own expectations and was completely comfortable with it. Because I treat makeup as something fun rather than something that I must do, I was able to have a lot of fun throughout this process.

I definitely over-packed my kit, but this was on purpose. Although I had fully planned and practiced my eye look, I wanted to make sure I had plenty of stuff in case my bridesmaids wanted/needed to do theirs (at the time, I wasn’t sure they were doing the student bit as discussed in this post).

Here’s what I packed. Products are not in order of appearance in the photo, but grouped by type. If you need me to point something out/clarify it, please leave a comment.

Wedding Makeup pt One: What I packedWedding Makeup pt 1: What I Packed

Products

A lot of these products are minis, deluxe samples, GWP items.

Now for tools – these ARE in order of appearance, left-to-right:

Brushes/Tools

 

Just to reiterate – I did not use all this stuff on my face for my wedding makeup. Not even close. I just wanted to over-pack for the occasion rather than risk missing something I needed or that my bridesmaids may have needed. My next post will share what I actually used.

Disclosure: Hey! Some of the links in this Wedding Makeup post are affiliate links – this means I may get a very small percentage of the sale if you decide to buy something. I only recommend products I’ve tried and verified as awesome. Ethical blogging FTW.

Waterproof Mascara Will Differ

by
Waterproof Mascara Will Differ

Months ago, I was trying to decide on a waterproof mascara for use during my wedding. I don’t like getting weepy in front of people, but weddings (especially your own!) make rational people unpredictable, so waterproof mascara wasn’t just a frivolous thing, lest I risk raccoon-ery. Unfortunately, mascara is such a personal preference matter that it is hard to get much from research other than ones that flat-out don’t seem to behave across the board.

I asked a friend who works at Sephora, I spent hours on Reddit and scouring Google, asking others for recommendations – the struggle was real.

Ulta ran a 21 Days of Beauty promotion, though, and one day had bareMinerals’ Flawless Definition mascara on sale for half off – that is, $9 per tube (shoot, some drugstore stuff costs that much). Being as that it is my favorite mascara ever, hands down, I ordered one – and its waterproof sister.

“Surely,” I thought, “it will be just the same – just not susceptible to tears, yes?”

I did open it a few weeks in advance of my wedding day to test it out. It wore just fine, but it did not apply as nicely, easily. It required going back over with the wand several times to even out the coverage. The formula was stiffer straight out the tube. Sometimes, in my experience, mascara needs a few wears before what comes out of the tube is, “just right,” so I did that. I wore it a few times anticipating this.

And it never happened.

It was just as stubborn about applying on my wedding day, to my chagrin. By then, I was familiar with how it behaved so it wasn’t a shock, but it still was a bit of a disappointment. I didn’t get the same definition and fullness from it as I did with the original formula; a bummer since I did not use false lashes.

So this is me giving you a PSA – if you have a mascara you love, do not assume the waterproof mascara version will behave the same. It likely won’t. If you’re set on the look a specific product gives you, I’d advise looking into a waterproof mascara top-coat – bareMinerals actually makes one now, as does Anastasia Beverly Hills. I have not used either product, but they have good ratings. In retrospect, I really wish I would have gone this route, but hindsight is 20/20.

Disclosure: Hey! Some of the links in this post are affiliate links – this means I may get a very small percentage of the sale if you decide to buy something. I only recommend products I’ve tried and verified as awesome. Ethical blogging FTW.

Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo

by
Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry ShampooNot Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo

When your hair is long, when you’ve slept in too much, when you’re lazy, when you’re in a hurry (hello, every day of my life)…but also when you have last minute plans, or just don’t feel like waiting for your 47 miles of hair to dry etc. dry shampoo can be what takes your hair from looking, frankly, grungy, to looking presentable. I am a frequent user and am on the lookout to see if anything can top my current favorite, Psssst!

I discovered that Not Your Mother’s offers their Clean Freak Dry Shampoo in a trial/travel size (1.6 oz), so I picked up the little white can adorned with what is ostensibly green hair printed onto it to give it a shot (hah) and see if it could knock the reigning champion off its throne.

On the front, Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo says:

Instant results
Absorbs excess oils
Cleans without water
Lite matte finish

Nothing too crazy here – though I feel like we should clarify that dry shampoo does not actually clean anything, and is not a substitute for ACTUALLY washing your hair. It is just meant to tide you over another day between washings. You still need to take proper care of your hair and scalp! Also, I could do without the cutesy abbreviation of, “light,” but maybe I’m just nitpicking.

Moving onto the back, which reads:

I know you’re busy keeping up with that social life! So don’t waste precious time in the bathroom, just use Clean Freak Dry Shampoo. Get that perfect hair (and the perfect guy!) before all the other girls. Expect more room on your social calendar because this salon formula dry shampoo will have you and your hair ready for a night out on the town.
Refreshes instantly
Application: Spray generously on roots and throughout hair. Brush through to diffuse powder and watch it absorb any excess oils. Style as desired and enjoy your newly freshened hair.

Sigh. Marketing. I am more inclined to use a product like this at 5:30-6AM when I am getting up for work than I would be to help me, “keep up with my social life.” The next line is what I find the most ridiculous. Get the perfect hair AND the perfect guy? For the love of cats who knew I could have the best of both worlds with just a couple blasts of this amazing Clean Freak Dry Shampoo? I must be a terrible fool as I am seeking neither (can I just look presentable and quasi-professional for work, please?).

Sigh. Marketing.

Application instructions are pretty straightforward and not insane, which is nice. I tested it out by doing just that – it took a while of depressing the dispensing nozzle (after shaking, of course) for the product to actually come out, leaving a greyish-white veil on my roots. I re-sectioned my hair and reapplied in areas that hadn’t gotten coverage. I then let it sit for about 30 seconds, then massaged it into my roots with my fingertips – this helps move the powder around to areas that still may have been missed. I let it sit for 30 more seconds and brush through – my hair was left matte, but not grey or white. It is scented, and while it is not strong, it is noticeable – a perfume-y powder, not for me.

For what it is, Clean Freak Dry Shampoo it worked well enough. It is a decent product, despite its…er, tasteful. rear  product description. Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo isn’t super costly, at around $9 per 7oz can is superior to both versions from Suave, better than Tresemme’s…but does not top Psssst! Dry Shampoo ($5.50 per 5.3 oz can, and Psssst’s availability and frequent sales), which means it will retain its tiara and title as Best Dry Shampoo. That said, if I couldn’t find any Psssst! and needed something quick and inexpensive (well of course I need something inexpensive. KMS Hair Play is glorious but I can’t swallow $18 for dry shampoo), this is what I would reach for.

In the meantime, this little guy will live in my cubicle at work for touch ups.

Birthday Haul

by

The last month – sheesh! A great giveaway, my birthday, Independence Day, my freaking wedding, and another giveaway! I cannot believe how busy I’ve been.

Birthday HaulBirthday Haul

Pictures/descriptions aren’t in order. Bear with me!

Sephora Birthday Haul

I had a gift card from a friend that I took for-ev-er to decide what to use it on.

Purity – I’ve tried a tiny sample of Purity cleanser by Philosophy, but I wanted to try it a little more, so I got a little duo of two 2oz bottles to try. So far, I dig it.

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light – Because it is summer and I think the regular stuff might be a little heavier than I liked, I got a bottle. I was hoping I can use it for daytime – I can, but not on full-face days.

Benefit they’re Real! Push Up Liner – This is a deluxe sample and I am so dang lucky to have got it before they ran out. I have only tried it once so far, early in the morning and in a rush; but I am really excited to play with it more and share my thoughts with you guys once I have. So far, I can definitely say it is a very unique product.

Deborah Lippmann – in Boom Boom Pow (not pictured) – I didn’t have an obnoxious yellow gold glitter. This one was on clearance for $5, is 3-free, cruelty free, and all that jazz.

Beauty Insider Birthday Gift from MUFE – Unboxed already, they give you an eensy mascara and a little Aqua Rouge lipstick. I like the color, not the formula.

Ulta Birthday Haul

Lorac Pro Palette 2 – You’ve already seen it but though I gave one away, I likely would not have gotten one if not for my (then upcoming) birthday. Really though, it rocks, you basically need it, and congrats x1000 to the winner.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream – in Stockholm (not pictured again because I am a spazz) – This is my third SMLC so far, and I still love how they wear. This one is nude on me without corpsifying my face. Woot!

Real Techniques Retractable Lip Brush – I didn’t have a lip brush! I needed one for tomorrow.

Ulta Rewards Birthday Gift from Calvin Klein – Engineering? In MY mascara? I haven’t cracked this sucker open yet, but the wand has a dial that you can use to change the configuration of the applicator’s bristles. Amazing.

Bonus: Amazon

ORLY Go Deeper (not pictured) – I got this over a teal-blue polish during a recent pedicure, and it is only the second color, to date, that I have purchased due to having had it used at a salon. I. Love. It. I redid my pedicure last night with it. Cameras have a hard time picking up how complex and awesome the glitter is in this ORLY FX polish, and the other great thing is that the glitter isn’t super-gritty – it lays pretty flat, only one layer of top-coat to cover! Basically, you need it in your life if you are into any kind of glitter polish.

Disclosure: Hey! Some of the links in this Birthday Haul post are affiliate links (not all of them, of course) – this means I may get a very small percentage of the sale if you decide to buy something. I only recommend products I’ve tried and verified as awesome. Ethical blogging FTW.

Consider Beauty Students

by

I got married last week! Yay! Thank you for bearing with me through my dearth of posts as I’m slowly returning to, “real life,” post-madness.

Early on, I knew I didn’t want an elaborate updo. I have a ton of hair (which you can see in my shine treatment post) and an updo would take too long, require approximately 3.46 cans of hairspray and roughly 27,483 bobby pins. I opted for a curled style with the sides pulled back slightly into a waterfall braid across the back. Woo! I cannot do this myself, however, so I knew I needed help. Here’s what I was going for, originally:

Consider Beauty StudentsConsider Beauty Students

A friend of the family was a stylist, and there was pressure to ask her if she would be able to do it. I did, she said she would do it free BUT she couldn’t do the braid. Well…okay. The braid wasn’t that important. We settled the day and all that stuff, all was well. Two weeks later she called back saying oh, no, I didn’t realize the date, sorry, can’t do it.

…cool.

I then start looking into other options. On-site hair wasn’t a requirement for me, and frankly I was happy to save the money by going, “to them.” My now-husband actually found a Paul Mitchell partner school in our area and suggested I look into it and consider beauty students. At first I thought, “Do I really want to trust my hair to students? I know everyone has to learn somehow, but I take pride in my hair and would hate to have it messed up due to a novice’s mistake.”

Then I thought, “Well, you haven’t having it cut, colored, or otherwise chemically processed, so why not?” I found that their rates were substantially cheaper than those of regular salons (whose eyes, I’m afraid, seem to light up with dollar signs when they learn it is for a wedding – even though they might do the same style for any other occasion…or no occasion at all), and it wasn’t terribly far away. They were willing to do a trial (not included, but the price + stylist tip it was still FAR cheaper than what it would’ve been for juts the day-of bridal style at a regular salon, let alone for a trial and day-of, let alone on-site).

Read more

Tan Talk: Million Dollar Tan Review

by
Million Dollar Tan Cabana Tan and Cabana Tan Extreme LotionsMillion Dollar Tan Cabana Tan & Cabana Tan Extreme

So I mentioned in last week’s favorites post that I have been using Million Dollar Tan sunless self-tanning products recently. I avoid tanning in the sun and do not tan in a bed any longer – I actually had no intention of getting any color this year, but by April I already didn’t match my fall/winter foundation quite right. My wedding was come up so I figured, “Oh hell, I’ll just self-tan since I already need different foundation anyway.”

I previously wrote about Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanners, but I wanted something that packed a little more punch that I didn’t have to apply every single day. The last couple months leading up to most weddings are pretty hectic (mine was no exception), and ain’t nobody got time for that. I’ve tried sample packets of the towelettes – I had one from Kate Somerville 360, but towelettes aren’t for me. Years ago I had tried a spray-on variety and wasn’t a fan either. I compiled a list of requirements and ventured forth to see what Google could share.

My requirements for a sunless tanner:

1. Please for the love of cats do not be perfumed/scented*
2. Wash off my hands easily, please.
3. Not a towelette.
4. Not a spray.
5. Not super thick or goopy.
6. Fast-drying.

Optional:

No green tint
No color guide
No shimmer/glitter/nonsense

Call me picky. It’s okay – I know I am when it comes to this. To touch on these – I’m not a fan of fragranced lotions to begin with; I definitely do not want a perfumed sunless tanner, as the fragrance will almost surely not be cute once the DHA starts reacting and the, “tanning smell,” starts*. I just plain don’t like the towelettes – they may be a good option for you if you are traveling a lot, but I’d still rather have lotion. Sprays can be messy – that isn’t to say they’re bad, just not for me. 5 & 6 coincide – I don’t want to sit there for a half hour waiting for my self-tanner to dry before I can get dressed or go to bed. As far as the optional stuff – some tanning products have a green tint or dye which helps counteract the orange that sometimes occurs. This isn’t a bad thing, but it coincides with the second optional point – I do not need instant gratifications. I do not want dyes or bronzers in my lotion; I can wait the 4-8 hours for the color to develop. Also, as I am not Ke$ha, please skip the shimmer/glitter. If I want something like that, I’ll get a Soap & Glory Body Butter.

* Now, really quick, let’s talk about that asterisk next to the scent remark. I want a lotion that does not have ADDED FRAGRANCE or perfume because I am very picky about scents. I am not asking for a miracle-lotion that does not produce a, “tanning smell. Let’s chat about the science of the sunless-tanner odor before you lose your mind.

The smell that so many people get mad about and say, “boo,” to tanning lotions over is going to happen to some degree with any lotion that contains DHA..which is most of them. DHA, or dihydroxyacetone, is a compound derived from beets and from sugar cane (not scary), and when applied to the skin it reacts with the amino acid in your skin – this is what produces the color you seek, but a side effect is that this reaction also produces a smell. The strength of the odor will depend on your own body chemistry and the concentration of DHA in the particular product you choose – but it isn’t that the lotion smells that way, it is actually your body producing this smell.

Read more