Monday, September 22, 2014

Cleaning Makeup Brushes

Today I did some brush washing so I thought I would go through my cleaning process for brushes.

On an average day, I will normally use my Sephora travel kit (similar to this Slim Set) that has a blush, large shadow, crease, smudger, and liner brush, as well as a few random other (Elf, Neutrogena, etc.).  For nicer occasions, I will pull out my Sigma face and eye sets.

I try to clean either my "daily" brushes or the Sigma set all at once so I don't have to think which are clean and which I didn't clean yet.  I use Johnson's Baby Shampoo as my brush cleanser because it's mild and doesn't have a strong scent.


1.  Wet brush, angling brush down towards the sink, as not to saturate the handle (especially for wood handles).
2.  Wipe brush back and forth in small amount of baby shampoo in your palm, until any product seems clear of the bristles.
3.  Run brush under water until water runs clear (again angling down), using fingers if necessary.
4.  Press all excess water out of brush bristles.
5.  Let rest, angled down, or off the side of a table until dry.

The important things are not to get too much water into the base or handle of the brush so they don't loose contact with the bristles and to use a mild cleanser.  You can buy a special brush cleaner, or use an antibacterial hand soap or baby shampoo (my choice).  Some people even use a mild dish soap like Dawn mixed with olive oil, which conditions the brushes at the same time.

I use the vase shown in my picture filled with beads you would use in a flower arrangement to keep certain brushes I use often handy.

I hope this helps!

What are your favorite brushes and cleaning methods for them?

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Aveeno Positively Smooth vs Up & Up Smoothing Shave Gel

I have tried many...many...many leg shaving products my friends.

And let me tell you, the Aveeno Positively Smooth Shave Gel takes the CAKE!  I know, I know, you're probably wondering how I could be raving about a shave gel, but when I use this shave gel, it makes my shave last so much longer due to it's super smooth, close shave.

Now, after this rave, let me tell you a secret...I tried the Aveeno comparable Up & Up (Target) brand Smoothing Shave Gel with Soy.  It was on sale...they sucked me in.  I figured I should at least give the store brand of my fave shave gel a chance.  Let me tell you - I am super, super impressed!  If not for the very slight fragrance difference I could hardly tell the difference! 

Up & Up Shave Gel: on sale $2.31 (reg $2.44)
Aveeno Shave Gel: $3.49

I love that neither of these leave much of a scent behind, because sometimes I don't want that messing with my fragrance or lotion.

Both shave gels are amazing so give them a try!

While we're on the subject, let's talk razors quick...I use the Venus Embrace just because I am sometimes lazy and if I miss certain areas, this has the gel bar around it so glides smoothly over those darn areas I tend to miss (darn kneecaps!)

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Stash It or Trash It? Garnier BB Cream

Welcome to my new series, Stash It or Trash It!  This series will go into a short review-type post but ultimately decide, should we Stash It, and add it to our beauty collection stash, or simply Trash It?!?! 

First Up: Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream -- Medium/Deep


The Claims from Garnier:
  • Renews
  • Brightens
  • Evens skin tone
  • Protects
  • Hydrates for 24 Hours
I bought the original version, but wish I had bought the Oily/Combination Skin version.  This BB cream looks a bit greasy on my after wearing it for a bit or if I use it under makeup (I have oily/combo skin) but if you have normal to dry skin, I think the original formula would be perfect.

For now, I have been using it as my day cream just to get the benefits and blur any large pores, marks, etc.  I love the way it gives the look of makeup without applying makeup since I don't apply makeup during the week if I am just running errands, etc.  It also works well with the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder over it (I use shade Sandstorm).


Final Verdict: STASH IT (for now).  This is the first BB cream I have tried, so for now, I'll be STASHING IT because I love the look of it for every day when I am not putting a full face of makeup on but don't want to look like a schlub.  I definitely will use it all up and wouldn't TRASH IT.  However, I won't be wearing it as a moisturizer under makeup because it makes me greasy but will try the version for oily skin.  I also want to try the Laneige BB Cushion so we'll see how I feel about BB creams overall after trying a few more :)

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Duel: Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse v. Dream Matte Mousse

I have been hearing about the Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse for a while now and have been meaning to pick one up to give it a try.  When I finally went out to buy it, my brain happened to erase the word Smooth.  For some reason the Dream Matte Mousse seemed to be what I saw everywhere, so that's what I bought.  Then watching a review one day I wondered why my pot looked different.  Oh.  That little word Smooth makes it an entirely different foundation.  So that brings us to today's post...a duel!

The Duel: Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse v. Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse.

Dream Matte: Normal to Oily Skin, 12 shades
Dream Matte has double the shade range of Dream Smooth, so it would be easier to find a perfect match.  I bought this one first and in shade Nude (Light 4) at Bed Bath & Beyond.

Dream Matte*

I applied Dream Matte with my fingers and it's a light, fluffy, whipped texture that glides right onto skin.  I actually forgot I was wearing makeup because it was so light, even hours later!  It stayed matte, even without powder, and I wouldn't even use powder with this foundation because it almost has a powder look already to it once it's on.

Dream Smooth: Normal to Dry Skin, Hydrates for 14 Hours, 6 Shades
This one seems not as readily available as the Dream Matte.  I bought shade Nude Beige 180 based off my shade (Nude) in Dream Matte at Target.

Dream Smooth*
 
I can definitely see why they call it Dream SMOOTH because that's exactly how it feels!  It has great medium coverage and feels extremely weightless.  I applied it with the sponge that's housed in it's lid, and it glides right on.  Another day where I felt like I had no makeup on.

WINNER:  TIE!  Both these foundations apply beautifully and are great lightweight foundations, especially for summer.  I love the flawless finishes and easy to travel packaging.  Both give a 'My skin...just better" look and feel.  If I had to pick, I would say the Dream Matte looked slightly better on me, but that may be because I have an oily/combo skin type.  It was really so close though, and I will be keeping both in my foundation cycle.

*For the pictures, all I have on is the foundation and the L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black.  I didn't want to add anything else to distract from how the foundations looked.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
My Foundation Shade Comparisons:
MAC -- NC 20-25
Makeup Forever HD -- 117-118
Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation -- Light 48
Kat Von D Lock-It Powder Foundation -- Medium 52
Urban Decay Naked -- 3.0
Bare Minerals -- Medium Beige
Revlon Colorstay Combo/Oily -- Medium Beige 240
Revlon Colorstay Whipped -- Medium Beige 250
Neutrogena Healthy Skin -- Nude
Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear -- Nude 40
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers -- Nude 40
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse -- Nude (Light 4)
Maybelline Dream Smooth -- Nude Beige 180
L'Oreal Magic Nude -- Natural Buff 318
L'Oreal True Match -- N3

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Foundation Makeup Review

Neutrogena as a brand has been a long time love of mine.  When I started wearing makeup I used the Cover Girl Clean Foundation then quickly found the Neutrogena Skin Clearing Foundation.  I used the Neutrogena foundation from when I started wearing makeup regularly (Sophomore/Junior year in high school) , and through college.  I love that Neutrogena offers great coverage but doesn't feel super heavy or clog your pres.

So with a love for Neutrogena already in place, I knew I had to try the new Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Foundation Makeup.  I picked it up in the shade Nude 40 at Target since Cartwheel had an extra 10% off (plus if you use your Red Card, another 5% off).


Claims from Neutrogena:
- Lasts 12 Hours (Resists Heat and Humidity)
- Erases Skin Imperfections
- Tone Correcting Complex: nourishing antioxidants, soy, Vitamins A, C, E, and light diffusing powders
- Improve Skin Tone and Texture in 4 Weeks

I would say the downside is that there is only 8 shades (ivory through dark beige range).

Swatch of Nude 40
 
Wear Test for the Foundation!

I did a wear test on this on Saturday and wore it for about 10-11 hours.  I didn't set it with a powder like I normally would because I wanted an honest opinion of what the staying power was going to be like without it.  I have to say, for having combo/oily skin, the only thing shiny on me after the 10-11 hours was my nose and that's pretty impressive!  Nothing came sliding off or looked shiny elsewise.

The coverage is really good!  It covered all my little marks I wanted covered but didn't look cakey or like too much coverage either.  I would call this full coverage, but doesn't feel like it, in a good way!

The closest thing I can compare it to is the Revlon Colorstay (I have the Combination/Oily Skin Foundation in Medium Beige-240).  It's very thick like the Colorstay and stays put for a long time.  I wore this in about low 80 degree heat and in and out of places so I would say it holds up pretty well to it's claim.

I will definitely keep this in my foundation rotation!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
My Foundation Shade Comparisons:
MAC -- NC 20-25
Makeup Forever HD -- 117-118
Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation -- Light 48
Kat Von D Lock-It Powder Foundation -- Medium 52
Urban Decay Naked -- 3.0
Bare Minerals -- Medium Beige
Revlon Colorstay Combo/Oily -- Medium Beige 240
Revlon Colorstay Whipped -- Medium Beige 250
Neutrogena Healthy Skin -- Nude
Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear -- Nude 40
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers -- Nude 40
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse -- Nude (Light 4)
Maybelline Dream Smooth -- Nude Beige 180
L'Oreal Magic Nude -- Natural Buff 318
L'Oreal True Match -- N3

Monday, August 4, 2014

Review: John Frieda Precision Foam Colour & My Color Story

{This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}
 

John Frieda Precision Foam Colour is my absolute favorite drugstore hair color!

My Hair Color Story: I first discovered John Frieda Precision Foam when I couldn't make it to my salon to get my hair colored (I was a level 6 red in Wella at the time) and just needed to touch up my roots between appointments.  So I figured I would try myself, knowing if the results were terrible, my colorist/stylist could fix it..  I picked the John Frieda 4R Dark Red Brown after seeing it on Pinterest, and it didn't turn out too bad considering I had no clue about dyeing my own hair!

After a while, I stopped having time to get to the salon, and the salon dye smell was making me feel crummy so I decided to try doing it myself again.  Back to my trusty John Frieda Precision Foam I went.  For a year or two, I played around between the 4R and the 5R.  I tried the 3VR once and I also tried the Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Ultra Color Intense Red for Dark Hair in Medium Intense Auburn R2.  The Garnier Ultra Color R2 was great for dark hair, but the smell was more like salon color and it was a bit too bright for what I decided I wanted for myself.

I eventually decided to go back to my natural color, which is black.  First I went to the darkest color John Frieda makes, 2A Blue Black.  This color was a tad darker than my naturally black hair and definitely has a blue sheen when the light hits it.  Not like an electric blue that you'll notice right off the bat, but a black so dark it has an almost blue-ish highlight when the light shines on it.

Then I tried the 2N Natural Black which I would say is closest to my natural color.  I used this color for about four or five months to let my hair grow out a bit.  I could go longer between coloring because no obvious roots showed like with the red (just grays, wha wha whaaaa).

Right now, I am back to the 3VR Deep Cherry Brown because it looks dark like the 2N Natural Black but with almost a red highlight or sheen.  So...my hair...but better!

I love this dye because it doesn't smell as bad as others (definitely not as bad as salon dye), the foam is super easy to use and covers every hair evenly and beautifully, and the conditioner it comes with it is AMAZING (and I never used to like conditioner!).  The conditioner smells awesome and locks in your color.  You get a lot in the conditioner, definitely enough for the weekly use it suggests and more!


What Comes In the Box:
1 Pair Gloves (heavy duty - much thicker than others)
Developer (Bottle #1)
Color (Bottle #2)
Conditioner - 1.69 oz (Bottle #3)
Foamer Pump
Directions for Full Coverage and Root Application

Price: $11.99 [Target] or $9.99 [Amazon]
Shades: 21 Shades [5 Sheer Blonde, 8 Brilliant Brunette, 4 Salon Blends, 2 Radiant Red, 2 Luminous Black]

 
 
Directions:
1.  Empty the Color (Bottle #2) into the Developer (Bottle #1).
2.  Tip bottle 5 times to mix.
3.  Apply foam to head using either Root Application or Full Head Application.
4.  Wait the 15-30 Minutes depending on which application you chose.
5.  Rinse and use Conditioner (Bottle #3) to lock in!

Colors I Have Used:
5R Medium Red Brown
4R Dark Red Brown
3VR Deep Cherry Brown (what I have been using lately)
2A Blue Black
2N Natural Black (closest to my natural color)

Check out the John Frieda Precision Foam Colour if you're interested in an easy at home dye.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Skincare Routine

Welcome to Skincare Sunday!  I will update my skincare routine as I change products.  I will also do some separate reviews and mask routines.

Part of a friend's New Year's Resolution was to take better care of her skin.  I had never thought of making this a resolution but she was totally on to something.  I definitely need to make this a mid-year resolution.

When I was working full-time, it was a lot easier for me to get into a routine with my skincare.  I would shower in the morning, then moisturize my face and body right after I got out.  Now that I am a stay-at-home mommy, it's harder to get into a routine.  It seems making the baby breakfast comes before washing my face, then so do a million other things.  I also shower in the afternoon or evening during the week so I am a bit backwards of what I used to do.

So, back to the resolution board I go - better late than never.  I put a pump bottle of the Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser by my toothbrush to remind myself to wash and moisturize my face when I brush my teeth (no excuses!).  The Neutrogena Pore Refining Exfoliating Cleanser is in the shower for when I shower at night.  Both lotions are in the linen closet so I can use them right after doing my face.

I usually use a mask at least once a week to control the oily parts of my skin.  The Microdermabrasion wand stays in my shower and I will use that once a week as well to exfoliate.

So here's the current rundown of my skincare routine:

Morning:
Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Cleanser
Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer - SPF 15


Evening:
Neutrogena Pore Refining Exfoliating Cleanser
Neutrogena Pore Refining Daily Cleanser
Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Face Lotion - SPF 15
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Eye Cream



Masks:
Freeman Avocado & Oatmeal Mask
Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Facial Polishing Mask


Other:
Neutrogena Microdermabrasion System
Up & Up Blackhead Facial Scrub (Target brand of Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser)

 

When I run out of the Aveeno, I will probably make the Neutrogena Pore Refining Cleansers my morning routine.  I want to try the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer to get some retinol back into my facial care.  I used to use the Retin-A Micro for acne and it really evened out my skin tone.  Plus retinol helps as an anti-wrinkle treatment, so it's great to get started early!

What skincare products do you guys love?  I want to try a sheet mask so let me know below your favorite kinds!

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Happy National Lipstick Day!


I posted this picture on Instagram (Follow me @BeautyFreckled) of some of my favorite lipsticks right now...so here they are:

Mac Matte -- Russian Red
Mac Creemsheen -- Brave Red
Urban Decay Revolution -- F-Bomb
Revlon Super Lustrous Creme-- Wine with Everything
Mary Kay -- Red
Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter -- Wild Watermelon
Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter -- Pink Truffle

Wet n Wild Haul (Rite Aid)


All Wet n Wild products are 40% off at Rite Aid this week so I popped in to pick up some things that I keep hearing about.  I have been wondering how many really live up to their hype!

The Haul:
Wet n Wild MegaEyes Crème Eyeliner - Black
Wet n Wild MegaLast Lip Color - Sugar Plum Fairy
Wet n Wild MegaShimmer Shimmer Dust - White Lotus (262A)
Wet n Wild Color Icon - Walking on Eggshells (380B)
Wet n Wild Color Icon - Tunnel Vision (392A)


MegaEyes Crème Eyeliner - This is always raved about by beauty bloggers and gurus on YouTube so I had to pick it up so I could try it.  I have the e.l.f. gel liner so I am curious to do a comparison review on these two.  The brush it comes with is way too short for my liking but I will try it out with a longer handled brush.


Sugar Plum Fairy - Supposed to be a dupe for Mac Rebel.  I need more bright lipsticks and this is really pretty for any season!



MegaShimmer Shimmer Dust - I had someone at Sephora put the Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity over a smoky eye look (with a Dior palette) and I loved it.  It's a great way to add shimmer to a matte shadow or just make the look pop more.  I didn't love the Makeup Forever Glitter because it was too chunky, so I wanted to try this out to see if it's similar to the Sparklicity.



Color Icon Walking on Eggshells - Another dupe!  This one is compared to the Naked Palette (Virgin, Sidecar, Sin) and Mac's Nylon, Mulch, Naked Lunch (or Shroom, Cork, Naked Lunch)


Color Icon Tunnel Vision - Thought I would pick up one other palette I hadn't heard anything about and see how the pigmented they were.  It also had an extra $1 off coupon on it...couldn't hurt, right?  This actually has similar colors to the Dior 5-Colour Designer Palette in Smokey Design the Sephora associate used on my eyes with the Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity over it so I am going to do a dupe look for that with the Shimmer Dust and this together to replicate it.

 
 
Rite Aid has the whole Wet n Wild line 40% off for the rest of the week so check them out and stock up while you can!

Monday, July 28, 2014

Sephora + Pantone Color IQ

I wanted to go into a bit more detail about the Sephora + Pantone Color IQ system after my Sephora Haul post...

The Color IQ system premiered in select Sephora stores and is now available Sephora-wide, so check them out at your local Sephora!

Purpose:  to make finding your perfect match easier.

How it Works: A Sephora associate takes pictures in three different places on your face (I believe mine were forehead, cheek, chin) with a little device that looks like a light meter.  Your Color IQ number is pulled up on an iPad along with foundation matches.  The Color IQ number and matches are emailed right to you for future reference. 

I originally got matched in late 2013 when I went to pick up my free birthday gift, so my skin was definitely in winter mode!  My number match was 2Y06.

That day I wanted to get the Makeup Forever HD foundation so I had the associate test match the shade that the Color IQ suggested - 118 Flesh.  Being that it was winter, 117 Marble ended up looking slightly better on me.  Since I am in my summer skin now, I tested 118 Flesh and 120 Soft Sand in the store the other day and both looked good (120 is yellow undertone like 117.  I am a neutral undertone but leaning towards yellow so that might be why 117 looked good.).
MUFE HD in 117


All in all, I would definitely recommend getting a Color IQ match!  You can save your results to your Sephora account so you don't forget.  You can also go here to do a reverse foundation search to see what numbers are matches to foundations you're already wearing.  I added 2Y06 as well as 3Y03 which is the skin IQ match for MUFE HD 117.  Color IQ gives you a better starting point than you would normally have going in and testing a bunch of random foundations. 

I have put my foundation comparisons below in case that will help anyone as well!
Happy Foundation Hunting!

--------------------------------------------------
My Foundation Shade Comparisons:
MAC -- NC 20-25
Makeup Forever HD -- 117-118
Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation -- Light 48
Kat Von D Lock-It Powder Foundation -- Medium 52
Urban Decay Naked -- 3.0
Bare Minerals -- Medium Beige
Revlon Colorstay Combo/Oily -- Medium Beige 240
Revlon Colorstay Whipped -- Medium Beige 250
Neutrogena Healthy Skin -- Nude
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers -- Nude 40
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse -- Nude (Light 4)
Maybelline Dream Smooth -- Nude Beige 180
L'Oreal Magic Nude -- Natural Buff 318
L'Oreal True Match -- N3

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Sephora Haul

I have had about five different items in my online Sephora basket at any given time over the past few weeks.  There are many products I want to try recently...it was a tough call as to what I should get first!

I ended up popping into a Sephora brick-and-mortar store near me the other night and picked up the Kat Von D Lock-It Powder Foundation (Medium 54), Urban Decay's Eyeshadow in Mushroom, and the smaller Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil.

Kat Von D Lock-It Powder: I have the liquid version of the Lock-It foundation and have been loving it lately so wanted to try the powder for summer.  Plus I can use a light dusting of it to set the liquid.  I realized when I got it home it was one shade darker than I wanted (I couldn't remember what my Sephora + Pantone Color IQ suggested - more on the Color IQ in the next post).

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Mushroom:  I wanted a lighter but still slightly smoky color for summer.  Love the new packaging - my old UD shadows have the plasticy cases - this one is an upgrade!  UD eyeshadows are highly pigmented and have good color payout for the money.


Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Oil: My previous hairstylist (before I moved) used to put this in my hair after my blow out to make it extra smooth and tame the flyaways.  It smells amazing and makes my hair look so sleek and shiny.  I have been meaning to buy it for a while now!  So glad I did!  I used it today in 80-something degree heat and humidity and my hair still looks silky smooth.

I am really excited to try the foundation and eyeshadow...reviews soon!

Products I Debated Buying:
-Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Pistol or S&M
-Urban Decay Naked Foundation (Shade 3.0)

Any thoughts on the Naked Foundation?

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Bed Bath & Beyond Haul & Deals

I recently picked up a few items with coupons and sales that I have been wanting to try for a while...here's a look at my mini-haul...I'll be reviewing and talking more in depth about these products in a post soon!

Bed Bath & Beyond
L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Eternal Sunshine
L'Oreal Infallible Gel Eyeliner Lacquer Liner in Blackest Black
L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Black
L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black


L'Oreal Eyeshadow in Eternal Sunshine: Kim Kardashian wore this shade during her recent wedding to Kanye West.  I've tried this color out already and it's oh-so-gorgeous for summer.  I also want to pick up the Naked Foundation by Urban Decay and do a dupe look using the products she used since she wore that foundation with this look as well as the Naked Flushed.


L'Oreal Gel Eyeliner: This supposedly stays on for 24 hours and gets amazing reviews as does the Butterfly mascara (which is new).  I am almost positive after only trying this quickly twice that this is HG for me and just as good as the Stila gel liner.  It comes with the small liner brush shown.


L'Oreal Smoldering Eyeliner: The Smoldering Eyeliner has been out for a while, but I love smudgey eyeliner and anything kajal inspired so I had to pick this one up.  Only tried it once, quickly, but this is a pencil liner that feels like a combination of gel and kohl.  The consistency reminds me of the Rimmel Scandal Eyes but in a pointy form that you wouldn't expect to be so fluid because it's in pencil form.
 

Side Note:  If you don't shop at Bed Bath & Beyond for beauty items...you should be!  They are often cheaper than drugstores and you can use both coupons from the Sunday paper and their own 20% off coupons.  Score!  Not all stores have the Harmon (the beauty section) inside so check which stores near you have it.  If you live in the NJ/NY/CT area Harmon is even a separate store.

Monday, July 14, 2014

False Lashes

False or Fake Lashes are the newest item in my beauty repertoire.  I had seen a bunch of beauty tutorials on YouTube that had lashes as part of the look and never really thought about using them myself until I was in a wedding recently and wanted my eye look to stand out in photos.

I naturally have pretty decent length (tough problem to have, right?).  In fact, I never even wore mascara until I was in college, because I thought I didn't need it.  Little did I realize your lashes tend to get a little bit lost if you're wearing a full eye look.  Which is the same reason to wear falsies!

The first set I bought were the Eylure Naturalites in Super Full (100).  These lashes are just that...SUPER Full.  These came in a kit that came with an eyelash placer tool and a small tube of lash glue.


The second set of lashes I picked up are the Ardell Naturals 109.  These ones are much lighter and more natural for everyday or to beef up your lashes for an event.  I wore them for a wedding (the same wedding I used the Gel Envy for in this post) and they really made my eyes stand out more for photography.  I had the makeup artist apply them for me since she did my eye makeup, then I tried them myself at home later.



Here's a quick rundown of how I apply them:
1. Measure lashes against your own. Trim as necessary.
2. Apply thin layer of glue on lash band.  Let it get tacky for about 10-15 seconds.
3. Using tweezers, place the lashes as close to your natural lashes as possible, lining up the end of the band to the end of your lashes as a guide.
4. Adjust outer corner, then inner corner, using tweezers.
5. Repeat for other eye.

TIPS:
*Line your eyes at least on the top before placing the lashes.  This hides the lash band.  I used gel liner.
*Use tweezers to place them on and lift/line up the corners.

Friday, July 11, 2014

DIY Gel Nails & Revlon Colorstay Gel Review

Who doesn't love a good gel manicure?  That feeling that you know you can get the next week (maybe more if you stretch it) out of your manicure, can bang into things (because it dries right away), and has a hard set finish is such a relief, especially for a clutz like me.  However, who has time to go to the nail salon all the time?  Not me!

I tried a "gel mani hack" on Pinterest (ah, the Pinterest vortex...) a while back.  The topcoat they suggested was the Sally Hansen No Chip Acrylic Top Coat.  This was probably the worst topcoat I have ever tried.  I think a cheap clear coat would've been better.  I was really surprised because usually I am a huge fan of Sally Hansen products.  This one just seemed to crack and crackle all over within 24 hours,

For a while after I was using the Sally Hansen Double Duty Base & Top Coat.  This stuff is great, plus it's a two-for-one!  I apply one coat on clean, dry nails as a base coat; apply 2 coats of whatever polish I am in the mood for; then one coat of this as a top coat.  I recently used it over the 4th of July and my polish was hardly chipped after four days (more on that look below).

On a recent trip to Target (hmm...another vortex), another gel product caught my eye.  A bunch of Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy products had been marked down so I grabbed the Gel Envy Top Coat.  Again using the Double Duty as a base coat, I applied two coats of an Essie polish, and used the Gel Envy to seal things in.  It was amazing!  My nails lasted at least five days, which for me is a record for nails I did myself.  And I didn't even have to find time to go to the salon.

Left: Double Duty      Right: Gel Envy

I was so thrilled with the Gel Envy top coat I used it for a wedding I was in over Essie's Sugar Daddy (three layers of the color).  I did my nails two days before the wedding and they lasted the whole wedding weekend, plus!  Longwearing color you can do at home for half the price?  That's my kind of deal!

$18 Gel Mani (at home!): $5 Double Duty Base Coat + $8 Essie Polish + $5 Gel Envy Top Coat

Essie in 'Sugar Daddy'


4th of July Polish: I picked up the Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy in 'Wild Card' which is almost an exact dupe for Essie's Butler Please.  I wore 'Wild Card' on eight of my fingers with OPI 'Alpine Snow' and 'I'm Not Really A Waitress' on my ring fingers.  I haven't tried the Gel Color with the Gel Topcoat yet, but I only see good things for this line!  Check 'em out and let me know what you think!

4th of July Nail Colors

-BeautyFreckled

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Welcome!

Welcome to Freckled Beauty!

I have a long time passion for makeup that I wanted to share with everyone.  I will be doing reviews, favorites, regrets, and more on this site so please subscribe. 

I would love to hear suggestions for reviews, wear tests, love/hates, etc. so please comment as often as you can with your suggestions!

Welcome again...

Freckled Beauty