Ode to my terrible skin

I've admitted it time and time again. I have terrible skin. Okay, it's not TERRIBLE by any standards, but I wouldn't exactly call it glowing, even, and radiant. So, I fake it! Having terrible skin and loving makeup don't exactly MESH well (that would be my ode to Clueless, my all time favorite movie). Since they don't MESH well, I have to over compensate in other areas.

1.) I never never never sleep in my makeup. It doesn't matter how tired I am, I am taking that makeup off! I use MAC wipes if I don't have time to go through my whole face washing routine.

2.) I clean my face brushes religiously. Yes, I'm talking like clock work. Twice a week, I wash and sanitize my face brushes (my other brushes get washed once a week). I use a mixture of water (4 parts) and Mac brush cleanser (1 part) to sanitize. You can also use alcohol. I don't use it straight because it will dry my brushes out. After I do my first wash with my mixture, I use Target baby shampoo to complete the process. I wash and wash and wash until the suds run clean.

3.) If my foundation lasted long enough, I would replace it twice a year. No questions asked. There is no reason to keep bacteria floating around for any longer than that. Yes, liquids hold bacteria. All hail powder foundations! If I could find one that I loved more than my Studio Fix Fluid, I would be in LUST. For EVER!

4.) Sometimes, you gotta know when to quit. If I'm experiencing a terrible breakout (which doesn't happen that often, all hail Retin-A) I know when to fold on the makeup. There isn't enough makeup in the world to compensate on some days so I just say uncle and suck it up.

5.) I also recognize and believe that on some level, makeup does provide a barrier between my skin and the environment. That makes me feel good. It also helps that my foundation contains sunblock. It's only SPF 15, but on the RARE mornings I get so ahead of myself that I forget to put sunblock on, I don't feel like a total slacker. (I also have sunblock in my car, so if I'm not wearing makeup, I'm covered. The sunblock in my car is for my hands, but that's another post!)

Toodles,
ms.new.beauty

Spring has REALLY sprung!

It's official, my obsession with body butters has lasted way past the winter blues. I was itching to try something new the other day, and decided to dig into my closet and see what I could find. I found Victoria's Secret body butter in Love Spell. I opened up the jar and couldn't hide my disappointment. It looked a little dried out, I wondered if I had kept it too long. Total sadness. Then, I dug my finger in. This stuff was so creamy, and unlike any other body butter that I tried. The consistency was a little like icing and that made my jump for joy on the inside. I applied it and fell in love. I also love that it served as a double duty product. The scent wasn't over powering (even though I applied it to my whole body) and it lasted a good portion of the day without reapplying. Total joy. And what's better? They are on sale now here: Body Butter.

While I'm thinking about it, I must write about what's supposed to be the "Holy Grail" of all mascaras. Dior Show. Yeah, I tried it, I couldn't resist. I am proud of myself though because I didn't buy it. Twenty dollars for a mascara? Please. Especially considering I'm a three months and toss type of girl. I got it as a gift. I'm glad I didn't spend my hard earned money on it. Don't get me wrong, it's GOOD, but six times the price of my normal mascara (I buy Maybelline when it's buy one get one free. Don't judge! I'm all about beauty on a budget.) I.don't.think.so. I guess it doesn't hurt that I already have long lashes (thank you, dad), so I don't really need help there that a drug store mascara won't provide. It's also a dry mascara and I don't think the tube is going to last me two months, let alone the three that I'm used to! The good thing about it is that it doesn't get all over the eyeshadow that I've already applied. I also think I'm partial to wet mascaras. Next on my list of mascaras to sucker someone in to buying for me: Benefit BadGal Mascara. You can pick up the diorshow here: Sephora.

And just a little bit of news that brightened up my day?! Sephora just hit the mall nearest to me! My MAC counter at Nordstroms, The L'Occitane B & M (have you TRIED their hand cream? Another item for my, please someone buy it for me list) store, and now Sephora?! What more could a beauty junkie ask for?

I'm terrible and I know it

I know, I'm terrible at this blogging thing. In fact, I believe I'm worse than when I was using a pen and paper journal, but I've got a new resolve, and I will do better this time! Finals are coming and I've been needing some extra help being ms. new beauty these days. Combination and easy to use products have been a must for me!

My newest love is the Aztec Healing Clay mask. This wonder pulls everything from way beneath the surface of my skin right up to the top. It's like heaven in a jar. I paid less than 10.00 for a pound of the dry clay. I just mix it with a little ACV (apple cider vinegar) because I'm trying to clear dark marks and apply. It can be used with water or a combination of both, though. Between 30 and 60 minutes later I rinse off and am left with smooth, poreless skin (now!) When I first started using it, you'd be amazed at the things that came up. This has even replaced my beloved aspirin mask (for now). When the weather turns cool again, I'll probably return to the aspirin mask once a week and use this once a week. This is also a good spot treatment for any incidentals that pop up between treatment times.

I also recently purchased Clinique's Gel Liner in black honey. This little cream is heaven in a jar. The color is so unique and applies so smoothly. Believe you me, as a self-proclaimed MAC girl, this is nothing short of a miracle for me! I am a firm believer in changing up your beauty routine at least twice a year so you always remain fresh, so I traded in my every day Blacktrack Fluidliner for this softer bronze color. I think it makes my eyes look fresh and unique and I get nonstop compliments about something that is "different." "Why thank-you," I reply, "I don't know what it could possibly be!" You'll keep my secret won't you?

As far as fragrances go, I am LUSTING after Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue. There's something abut this light, fresh scent that draws me in! This will be one of my next fragrance purchases, unless I can swindle someone into buying it for me first!

Toodles,
ms. new beauty