Beauty Blunders: Makeup Mistakes and How to Fix Them

It happens to the best of us--one minute you're applying makeup like a pro, and the next thing you know your face looks like a six-year-old colored all over it with magic markers.

No need to fret! I've compiled a list of the most common mistakes along with quick ways to fix them (without sudsing up and starting from scratch!)

Tone down cheek color
I know I've definitely thrown on way too much blush without thinking. It's one of the most annoying things, and I used to just wash my skin and start all over again every time I did it. Luckily, that isn't the only way to make your face look less clown-esque. When you've put on too much powder blush, sweep a clean, fluffy brush across your cheek, then wipe it on a towel to remove the excess.  Continue brushing and wiping until you get the right intensity. For cream blushes, lightly smooth on a dab of lotion to water down the color. If neither way works, just add a swipe of foundation or translucent powder on top and blend it in.

Soften eye shadow
Go too dark or intense? Layer a lighter shade on top to make harsh shadow look much less extreme. A great go-to hue is shimmery taupe--it neutralizes most colors. Or if you waaay overdid it, brush your foundation on top of the bright shade to tone it down.

Remove heavy lipstick
If you've overloaded your lips with color (or used the wrong shade entirely), apply a clear gloss or balm over it, then blot with a tissue to dilute it. Repeat until you've subdued or removed the offending layers.

Fix eyeliner smudges
Run a cotton swab over liner to soften the color, or dip it in makeup remover first to fix a crooked line. If this happens often, there are also cotton swabs that come pre-soaked in makeup remover for quick fixes. You can find them at most drugstores.

Remove mascara mishaps
If your lashes look a little clumpy, put a very small amount of moisturizer on your fingers and pinch the larger clumps. This will release the buildup immediately and will allow you to apply a new, lighter coat of mascara on top.

Stay fabulous!

The Perfect His & Hers Rings (Just in Time for Valentine's Day!)

Whether you're looking for wedding bands, lovers rings, promise rings, or even just friendship rings, EverMarker has the most spectacular options out there. Plus the prices are crazily reasonable.

Out of all their Lovers Rings (their term, not mine), I'm really into the Tungsten Steel Lovers Telepathy Rings. The idea is just too cute to pass up!

Even though the rings are more of a novelty item than anything else, they're actually really well-made and look super pretty in person.

Yes, they'd make kick-ass wedding rings, but I don't think they need to be limited to that. They'd even make great friendship rings, as far as I'm concerned. Get a bunch and hand them out to all your lady friends in honor of Valentine's Day! Or surprise your main squeeze with the matching rings (unless you think it'd freak him out!)

The best part is that the set (one men's ring and one women's ring) is under $65! You can also get them engraved for under $5.

Love it!

Laura Geller Brightening GWP at Ulta!

It's no secret that I'm a pretty much overly obsessed with the ever-coveted makeup gift with purchase. Currently, Ulta is offering up a fabulous Laura Geller GWP that I'm quite frankly drooling over.

All you need to do is spend $30 or more on any Laura Geller products (trust me--it's easy to do!), and you get:

• Travel size Spackle Primer
• Baked Balance 'n Brighten Foundation
• Foundation Brush

The products are valued at $44, and work amazingly on all skin types. The two products work really well together and give skin a "glow from within" look--and let's face it, we could all benefit from anything that makes skin look extra fantastic, especially this time of year!

Needless to say, there are oodles of amazing products to choose from in order to qualify for the GWP.  Personally, I'd go for the Eye Calligraphy Color Liquid Liner Trio ($30). The liner applies like a dream and the set includes the most gorgeous hues (Captivating Cobalt, Enchanting Emerald, and Classic Black).

Happy shopping, ladies!

Fashion Faux Pas: Wearing a Bra as a Top

Who could forget the infamous episode of Seinfeld in which Elaine's frenemy Sue Ellen Mischke, flat-out refuses to wear a bra? Well, at least until Elaine "helpfully" gives her one as a gift and Sue Ellen wears it as a top. In true Seinfeld fashion, The episode is one of my all-time faves, mostly because I find the idea of wearing a bra as a top simply ridiculous.

Apparently wearing bras sans shirt is some sort of real life trend. Seriously. And I'm not talking about crop tops, or anything else that would even remotely be considered clothing. I'm referring to, what I would call, legitimate bras.

Celebs have been going for this look quite a bit lately.  Here are a handful of famous ladies trying it on for size (for their own safety, I'm not naming names):

 

Granted, all the gals have insanely amazing looking bods.  But I'm sorry...that simply doesn't make it okay.

Don't get me wrong--I love a fabulous bra. I probably own 50 or so gorgeous bras, courtesy of Victoria's Secret for the main part.  But much as I love how pretty they are (and trust me some of them are the cutest things ever) I still don't see myself wearing them front and center for the world to see!

Got a fantastic bod? Great. Own some super pretty bras? Awesome. Just do me a favor. Keep 'em underneath an actual shirt.  And if you're feeling gutsy, show them off to your main squeeze.

That is all.

BEST IDEA EVER: Pro Tip Clips for Nails

If you know me at all, then you are painfully aware of how much I love nail polish. It's an addiction, yes, but quite a pretty addiction if I do say so myself.

Last year, I really got into gel manicures. Even though I can be quite fickle when it comes to the hue I sport on my nails, I loved the fact that the gel manicures I got lasted for up to two weeks (something almost unheard of for someone who constantly picks at her polish).

But when I felt like removing the polish, it was seriously a messy, multiple-hour-long event.

That's why I am currently in luuurrrve with these fabulous Pro Tip Clips. They remove even the most difficult polish with ease--including chunky glitter--without making a mess, in a timely fashion.

How do they work? You soak a remover pad in acetone, clip them onto your fingers, and let them soak for 15-30 minutes. Then you simply take the clips off, removing even the harshest of nail polish.


I'm really loving this idea! Though I'm kind of over my gel polish phase, chunky glitter will always be a part of my nail regime. And honestly? I've practically ruined my nails filing, scraping, and attempting to remove glitter in the past. Not anymore! Huzzah!

Each Salon-quality Manicure Removal Kit contains 10 reusable, sanitizable finger clips (2 thumbs, 8 fingers), and a storage box for $39. The site also sells a pedicure version for the same price, and a combo set that contains both for $68.

Really not a bad deal, considering how much use you'll get out of it!

Pretty Pink Pumps

I've probably written this quite a bit, but here goes (again): pink never goes out of style!

It's easy to fall into a bland shoe rut, especially when it's chilly out. Usually in the winter, if I need to dress up, I tend to grab one of the million pairs of black heels that I own.Yes, they're awesome to have for last-minute outfits, but why not try something bright and unexpected?

A bold pair of pink shoes, like these gorgey Steve Madden Varcityy Suede Pointy Toe Pumps, can really liven up your look. They're unexpected, and surprisingly go with more outfits than you'd think. They're also pretty seasonless, so a pair like this can be worn for any season transition.

Another plus? A pair of heels like this can be dressed up or down, depending on what you wear them with. A pair of dark wash jeans and a solid-colored tee can look casual and chic with the heels, while a cute little black dress can be unique and fun with the bright punch of color.

Each pair of pumps is about $90--a great price for how much use you'll get out of them.

Be Prepared for Hair Emergencies!

I like to think of myself as a Girl Scout, at least when it comes to beauty products--I am always prepared.

My purse constantly contains a "beauty emergency kit" of some kind. You never know what the day might bring, and having a few makeup essentials on hand is always a good idea. Hair-wise, I usually just throw a couple hair ties in with everything else. That was before my very stylish mom found this amazing Hair Emergency Kit by Scunci.

The super cute set contains everything you could possibly need for nearly any hair problem:

• 12 small clear bands
• 12 bobby pins
• 2 black elastics
• 2 headbands (one thin, one thick)
• 1 mini jaw clip

Also, everything comes in a pretty little case--just perfect to throw in your handbag.

Unfortunately, I cannot find a place to buy the set online. That said, you can purchase the kit at a few different drugstores (my mom found it at Riteaid). It's definitely worth buying; no one likes a bad hair day!  Each kit is $5.99.

Fashion Faux Pas: Wearing a Bra that Doesn't Fit

We've all been guilty of this at some point in our lives.  Wearing the wrong bra (size, shape, and even texture), can completely ruin your look. No matter what outfit you're wearing, always remember that your undergarments are the foundation. I've seen the most adorable outfits look like complete crap simply because of an ill-fitting bra.

Stop looking like a fool, and take the extra time to find the right bra for you! Here are some tips on shopping for your perfect bra:

Bring a Friend--Friends can make even the most tedious tasks enjoyable. If you have a gay friend, take him. He's less likely to get distracted looking for himself. But really anyone who you trust to give you a no-bullshit opinion is perfect.

Get Measured by a Pro--This is really important. Find yourself an old-school lingerie shop (you know...the kind with bloomers--yes, bloomers-- hanging in the window). Those places are legit and the old ladies who work there know what they're doing.

Fit First, Style Later--Every company makes bras a little differently, and it can be crazily infuriating to have to find your size in multiple stores. So go into a store with lots of different brands and try on one of each, rather than going from shop to shop. Once you find the brands and sizes that work for you, you can start searching for pretty styles that you actually like. It doesn't matter how beautiful a bra is, if it doesn't fit and it's not comfortable, you probably won't wear it.

Even It Out--I don't know any lady whose knockers are perfectly symmetrical. It just doesn't work that way. Fit your bra to your largest breast and, if you need to, use a pad to fill in the other side.

Stick To The First Hook--It's a fact: bras stretch out over time, that's why they have three hooks in the back, so you can adjust them as needed. Going straight to that third hook cuts the life span of your bra in half. If the bra feels best on the third hook, chances are, you need to go down a band size and up a cup size.

Spend What It Takes--Maybe you'll be lucky and the bra of your dreams will come in a value pack from the Walmart, but don't let the right one slip away just because it's more than you were planning to spend. The right bra is worth the investment. Like I said, your bra is the foundation of your entire outfit. If you start out with a bra that doesn't fit properly, your entire look will suffer.

Happy bra shopping, ladies!

Makeup Must-Have: Make Up For Ever's Fifty Shades of Grey Collection

I have to admit, I was a little hesitant to read Fifty Shades of Grey.  Even though I'm still as much of a bookworm as ever, I wasn't completely sold on the whole concept. After seeing the movie previews, I became pretty much obsessed with reading it though, and my lovely boyfriend actually bought me the trilogy for Christmas. Needless to say, I absolutely loved it and am waiting quite impatiently for the movie to come out!

Since I've fallen in love with the unconventional love story, I also was crazily excited to see that Make Up For Ever just barely came out with a makeup collection based solely on the story.

The entire collection looks fabulous (not surprising, since Make Up For Ever always has incredible products). My ownly issue? None of the products are gray! I was surprised by this, since the color itself is mentioned throughout the story a bunch. I just assumed that eyeshadow-wise, there'd be a palette of soft gray hues.

Instead, the shadows are all nice neutral colors that are actually quite gorgeous, so I can't complain very much.

Here's a pic of the different products available in the collection:

 

I'm sure it comes at no surprise that my top pick is the Give In To Me Eye and Lip set ($79).  Each kit comes with the following:

• Artist Shadow palette in I-514, ME-612, S-556, I-625
• Graphic eyeliner
• Smoky Extravagant mascara
• Rouge Artist Natural lipstick in N4
• Lab Shine lip gloss in D14
• Exclusive keepsake box

And yes, of course I'm loving the box. The keepsake box features a hidden compartment and key so you can lock away secrets of your own. I mean, how cool is that??! All that aside, the products in this set are gorgeous and flatter nearly every skin tone. This is also a great kit to buy if you've never tried any Make Up For Ever products and you want to give them a go. The price may seem a little steep, but the quality of this makeup is totally worth it.

Along with the main set, Make Up For Ever also has a super pretty Desire Me Blush Trio ($49). The blush hues are fun to mix and match to create your own unique look, and it all comes in a super cute keepsake pouch.

If you want to get something from the collection, but aren't up for spending a ton, try out the last set in the collection, the Tease Me Lip Trio ($32). You can purchase it in either nude or berry colors--personally I love a berry lip for Winter. This set comes with matching lip pencil, stick and gloss to create the perfect look for your pucker.

The entire collection is Sassy Fashionista Approved! I absolutely cannot wait to wear this gorgeous makeup when I drag my boyfriend to see the movie (it comes out on Valentine's Day)!

THE Perfect Super Glam Sweater

For all my fellow New England ladies who have had ridiculously freezing weather (today reached a balmy 7 degrees...seriously), I feel your pain.  Weather like this sucks for oodles of reasons, but finding ways to look stylish in the cold is almost downright impossible.

That said, it can be done. The easiest way? Pick up an embellished sweater or two (or 20, if you're like me). I am absolutely loving them these days. Somehow, they've got the ability to keep you toasty warm and looking incredibly gorgeous at the same time.  I know--it's pretty much a miracle.

One of my faves is this Gemstroked Sweater from Loft. The cut of it is on the casual side, mimicing the look of a sweatshirt, but the blinged-out details dress it up a bit and make it wearable for nearly any occasion.

I'm pretty much in love with it, in case you couldn't tell.

Each sweater is $64.99. The store has some other fab tops for the season; some of them are even on clearance (huzzah)! Check out the site for some more chilly weather looks.

Happy shopping!