Eye spy... Eyeliner!

I'm SO happy to hear that not only have people been reading my blog, but they actually LIKE it. I'm also glad to know that I'm not the only person who likes to hear myself talk (or in this case, type.) I love hearing from you guys on things you would like me to write about because honestly, my head is like a makeup whirl wind. I have lipstick, glitter and falsies flying around everywhere. This week someone requested I write about a few of my favorite eyeliners.

Let me start off by talking about eyeliners that #ihate. I HATE liquid eyeliners. I hate all brands, all colors, all formulas. From the disgusting felt tip, to the messy black goo that comes out of the hideous cone shaped tube, it just grosses me out. How on earth are you even supposed to begin to draw a straight line on your tender little upper eyelid with a felt tip that is stiffer than one of Charlie Sheen's cocktails? I could never seem to grasp this concept. Oh, and please don't get me started on how fast this rubbish dries. If you mess up at all, you might as well just shoot yourself right then because if you try to fix it, you'll just end up doing your entire eye makeup over.

Now lets move on to my favorites.

1) MAC's Eye Khols

These are not exactly my favorite eyeliners to line your eye with, however I had to throw these in the mix because I am obsessed with their smooth texture and amazing color pay off. These are NOT smudge proof or waterproof, however they are perfect for layering under eye shadows to really make a color pop. For a quick smokey eye, I just scribble Smolder (Black) from my eyelid to my crease, blend it out with a synthetic brush (I like MAC's #242 brush) and then pat on a matte brown shadow (I like Handwritten by MAC or Bucked by Urban Decay) on top of it. The eyeshadow will set the Eye Khol and the Eye Khol will act like a base to give you the intensity you desire in a quick and efficient matter.

2) Make Up For Ever's Aqua Eyes Waterproof Liner Pencil

If you love using pencil eyeliners but have trouble with them melting down your face or transferring from your upper eyelid to your brow bone an hour after you apply them, then this is the eyeliner for you. These little sticks of perfection glide on super easy, set quickly, and won't budge all day. They come in 25 different colors which range from bright yellow to coal black. *BONUS* Sometimes Sephora comes out with collector sets that have several of the Aqua Eyes eyeliners in them so please keep your little makeup loving eyes peeled!

3) Tartes EmphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener

I la-la-LOVE this eyeliner. It is not a traditional black or brown eyeliner. It is actually a neutral colored eyeliner used to rim the upper and lower waterline of your eyes to brighten and give your eyes that "wide-awake" effect. It is perfect for everyday use when you just need that extra little pick me up. (And by "pick me up" I mean you stayed out way too late the night before clubbin' and need look awake and presentable for an 8am meeting.)

4) Urban Decay's Heavy Metal Glitter Liner

This liquid glitter liner makes my little drag queen heart twinkle. It has a super thin brush which makes it easy to be precise (even though it is virtually impossible to mess up glitter liner) and it has the perfect consistency. You can do one coat to add a little glimmer to a simple eye or you can do several coats for the street walker effect. It's completely up to you. I think we all know which look I personally go for.

5) MAC's Fluidline Gel Eyeliner

I saved the best for last. I live, breathe, and sleep for this eyeliner. I am almost certain that I would probably trade my first born child for a pot of this sacred eyeliner if that is what it really came down to. Fluidline is a waterproof gel eyeliner that comes in a pot and is applied with a brush (I use MAC's #209 or #266 brush) You dip your brush directly into the pot and this eyeliner basically waltzes onto your lash line all by itself. It may seem a little intimidating to apply eyeliner with a brush if it is not what you are accustomed to, but with a little practice, it will become second nature. Technically this is "not safe" for your waterline (according to MAC) but I have been swiping this on the top and bottom of my waterline daily for the past 7 years and I have managed to survive. Since it is waterproof, it will stay in place on your eyelid or in your waterline all day without any smearing, smudging or disappearing. They have a great selection of colors and you can do several coats if you want to build up the color. This is a great eyeliner to use when applying falsies. Since it has a thick gel texture, it helps blend the band of the falsies with your natural lash line. If you're not going to try this eyeliner, you might as well just stop reading my blog right now because I literally write about this product in every other entry.

Well guys, I hope this helps. (Not like my opinion matters or anything.)

xoxox,
Ally Stagg

Nailed it!

If you're a moron like I am, it is probably virtually impossible for you to paint your own nails. I can paint one hand perfectly, then when I get to the other it looks like my dog, 2 year old, or little brother painted it for me. I had almost given up all hope and was ready to accept the fact that I'm 25 and I still can't paint my own nails until one of my best friends and fellow beauty blogger, Christine Guederian (http://www.ladycartistry.blogspot.com/) introduced me to my favorite new nail solution.... Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips.

I can't lie, I was a little skeptical of how these would work (I am a total manicure snob), but after hearing about them EVERY SINGLE DAY for a month from Christine, I decided to give them a whirl. I was truly blown away with how easy and inexpensive they were. The entire set cost me about $9.00 which includes 16 nail strips, a cuticle pusher, and nail file. The nail strips are pretty long so if you have shorter nails like I do, you can use one strip for 2 nails. They come in 2 sealed packages (8 nail strips in each) I recommend trying to find ones that fit from only one package because if you open both packages, I have learned (the hard way) that you can't save the ones that you don't use because they will dry out. I even had mine stored in a ziplock bag and they still dried out and wouldn't stick to my nail when I tried to do a repair a few days later.

The concept is so simple that it almost seems to good to be true. You simply find a nail strip that fits your natural nail, peel off the plastic back, match it up to your nail, stick it on, cut off the access strip with your cuticle clippers, (If you have short nails and can use one strip for 2 nails, this is where you would take the other side of the strip and apply it to the other nail before it dries out) then simply take the nail file and file your nail. This will shape your nail, take off the extra nail strip off of the tip of your nail, and smooth the edges. I have found it is good to do a coat of colored nail polish that is similar to the nail strip underneath. This way if the nail strip chips, you will have a coat of nail polish underneath that makes the chip in the nail strip less noticeable. It really is that simple and idiot proof. Trust me, if I can do it, you can too.

These strips last longer than any nail polish I have tried (usually around 5 to 7 days before chipping and I use my hands a lot.) They are perfect for day to day use or a quick fix when you have chipped nails between manicures. Also, here is no dry time so they are great for little girls who want fun nails too! I can't wait to pop out a baby girl and slap these on her fingers in the delivery room (along with her first MAC lipglass and a bad ass pair of falsies, obviously)

The strips come in so many different colors that there is something for everyone. There are prints, glitter, and solid colors as well. I recommend trying one of the glitter prints first because they are fool proof. Once you get the hang of it you can graduate to the prints such as Cheetah, Houndstooth, and lace. You can find them at grocery stores, drug stores, basically anywhere. So next time you're out, pick up a set. I promise you'll love them!

xoxox,
Ally Stagg

Your face bribed me.

Lets get down to business and talk about my new makeup and skin care obsessions for the moment.

1) Oil of Olay's Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System

Words can not begin to describe my obsession with my new facial cleansing tool. I have been drooling over the Clarisonic (same concept, much more expensive) since I previewed it at the International Beauty Show TWO years ago. I patiently waited for it to go on sale and two years later, it still was not on sale. I had heard a few things about the Oil of Olay version, but being the brand name whore that I am, refused to purchase it. That was until I found the Oil of Olay Pro-X Cleansing System at Costco for $38.00 (A fraction of the price of the Clarisonic which is priced at about $200.00!) I could not pass up this bargain. The set included the tool, an extra head attachment, batteries, and a full size bottle of the Pro-X Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser. This is basically a deep exfoliating and skin cleansing system for lazy people like me. The circular attachment spins gently around your skin to not only pull out and remove the dirt from your pores, but it works simultaneously with the Renewal Cleanser to lift dead skin cells from the surface of your skin to give you the worlds softest and cleanest skin. Its gentle enough to use every day (even if you have super sensitive skin like I do) and easy to clean and use. If you cant figure out how to use this OR you don't like it, you're an idiot.

2) Diorshow Maximizer Mascara

I have been eyeing Dior's Diorshow mascara for a while, but with there being 5,000 mascaras on the market (and me needing to try every single one) I had not got around to trying it. I was pleasantly surprised when my mother showed up on my doorstep with a goodie bag full of makeup that was given to her for hosting the Sephora convention that was hosted at the hotel that she works at and one of the products was Diorshow Maximizer. This is actually a primer that goes under your mascara and it works wonders. Every other primer I have tried has dried out my eyelashes and left disgusting crusties all over my face. This is the first primer to actually add length and volume without clumping my mascara or drying out my eyelashes. I apply two coats and before it dries, I add a few coats of my favorite mascara. It is almost as pretty as slapping on a pair of my favorite falsies (false lashes)!

3) Tarte's Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara

Long (annoying) name, great mascara. This is the best mascara I have ever tried. It is good for any type of lash no matter what you are hoping to accomplish whether it be adding volume or length. One of the main ingredients in this mascara, Amazonian Clay, helps to repair, hydrate and restore you lashes.  Do yourself a favor and splurge on this $19 dream in an adorable little bamboo tube. Please and thank you.

4) Urban Decay's Naked Pallet

Just when I didn't think that anything could top MAC eyeshodows, Urban Decay released the most amazing 15 color eyeshadow pallet. All the shadows are neutral tones and are all highly pigmented so that you are sure to get the exact same color payoff that is suggested in the pallet. It's compact so that it is good for travel (synthetic brush included!) and the colors range from a nude shimmer to a dark charcoal so it would work for a day to day basis and it also provides the tools to take your natural day look to a sexy, smokey night look. *thumbs up*

5) Urban Decays Primer Potion in Eden

I have always been MAC paint pots number one fan, but once I was introduced to Urban Decay's Potion Primer, I abandoned my crusty paintpot and started a long term love affair with Urben Decays Potion Primer in the color Eden. I love paint pots, but I find if I don't use them fast enough they seem to dry out before I am even half way through with them. Potion Primer comes in a tube so you squeeze out what you need and then toss the lid back on. It works just as good, if not better than a paint pot. It goes on super light but still has a lot of pigmentation to help even out your eyelid and make your eyeshadow last all day. A full size tube is around $19 and will last you forever (and by forever, I mean about 6 months)!

6) NYX Pencil Lipliners

For any of you that know me, I am a lip liner whore. I am always on the hunt for a good (and inexpensive) lip liner because A) I always lose lip liners and B) I basically go through an entire lip liner each day, so paying $15 for a lip liner that I will most likely lose does not really make sense for me. I stumbled upon NYX lip liners at Ulta a couple of weeks ago and between the $3.00 price tag and a wide variety of colors, I had to give them a try. They are smaller lip liners so they are easy to tote around, have a smooth and creamy finish so they glide easily on your lips, and are true to the color so what you see is what you get. I can't go as far as saying that these are my favorite lip liners in the world (MAC's Cremestick lip liners will always have my heart) but for the price, I have yet to find a product that is as effective for this type of bargain. SOLD!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

xoxox
Ally Stagg