Tutorial Tuesday: Creating a Brown & Green Smokey Eye

Hello again!

In my second video tutorial, I'll be guiding you along with creating a brown & green smokey eye, along with how to use gel or cream eyeliner to create a "cat-eye" or angled liner look.

Some important pointers when creating ANY smokey eye include:

• USE PRIMER!  Primer is going to be what makes your smokey eye last all night long without smudging one bit.  For the longest time I couldn't find eye primers at drugstores around this area. But, we do have very affordable options now in Sephora inside JCPenney's.  If you don't want to commit to one right away (because there are many variations), ask for a sample of one or two inside Sephora! I would recommend any of Urban Decay's eye primers, Lorac's, or the Sephora brand.  It may be more expensive then you would think, but remember you only use a tiny bit!  So that tube is going to last you a long time!  It's worth purchasing.
• Use MAKEUP BRUSHES!!  Using anything else (including those foam applicators that come with some eye shadows) is going to make it extremely difficult to create a perfect smokey eye!  I'd recommend an angled brush for highlighting, mine is from elf, purchased at Walmart, and I believe it was $1.  Obviously more quality brushes will cost you more, but they will last longer if you take care of them.  And then I would also recommend just a basic eyeshadow brush.  
• When using gel or cream eyeliner, practice...a lot!  The first time you use it, I would advise to apply it when you are not in a rush.  Like I mention in the video, use small strokes outward to create the entire line.  

Here is my second ever video tutorial, hope you enjoy it! 

Have any questions or tips for others about smokey eyes?  Leave them below or on my YouTube Channel!  Again, thanks for watching!  Stay tuned, later this week I'll be posting a tutorial on cleaning makeup brushes.  

-Katie 

Saturday Style Solution: Parting Ways with Your Clothes!

It's true that styles come back overtime, 

but that doesn't mean you should hold onto items waiting for that day to come! 

You could potentially be wasting valuable closet space for 

clothing you'd get a lot of use out of NOW!

And if you're telling yourself, "Oh I'll wear this soon...", 

think back to the last time you actually wore the garment.

In the past I've struggled with this parting ways concept, 

but have come up with a few great solutions!

1) The 30 Day Challenge:

I was always one to tell myself, "Even though I haven't worn this in awhile, I still love it...and I'll wear it soon!"...only to have it continue to sit in my closet.  So a couple years ago, I came up with what I like to call the 30 Day Challenge.  I went through my entire closet, and picked out any items that I hadn't worn in the past 2 months.  I put those items in the front of my closet, and promised myself to wear them within the next month, or get rid of them.  By completing this 30 Day Challenge, I realized which items really did not belong in my closet anymore. It was the clothing I never wore within that month in addition to the few garments I did wear that I found I just wasn't in love with anymore.  If you're like me and really struggle with getting rid of clothing, I suggest having your own 30 Day Challenge! 

2) Clothing = Cash:

In need of a little extra cash?  Places like Plato's Closet or Cherry Pickers give you cash on the spot for your gently worn clothing!  Now, I'll be honest...you're not going to get much money back at these cash-on-the-spot consignment stores.  But, if you do feel as though you are being completely ripped off, these places do let you view what they are offering for each piece they would like to buy.  And you're allowed to decline their offers! If there's an item I paid a somewhat hefty amount for and they want to give me a dollar for it, I take it back home with me!  The items these second-hand stores don't accept, I donate to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.  

3) Toss the Trash:

I used to wear my favorite pieces of clothing until they were on the verge of falling apart at any second.  But recently I came up with a better idea; if there's something wrong or broke...fix it, and if it's not easily repairable, toss it!  There's no reason to be walking around in jeans worn down near the crotch, or a dress or top with stains.  Consider how much you paid for the item.  If you got it at a discount retail store, there is a reason it was such a great price! It isn't meant to last a lifetime.  Rather than running the risk of looking drab...toss it! 

There is no better time than spring to do some closet cleaning! 

It may be hard to break up with your clothing...but think of all the cute 

new items you could fill the spaces with! 

Do you have any other parting ways solutions? 

Leave them in the comments below! :) 

Update & Creating Curls with a Straightener

Well, it has been quite a long time since I have posted!  No bueno. :(  Since last updating my blog, I found myself extremely busy with school and work throughout most of the rest of 2012 and early 2013.  But, after leaving my job to focus on school, I finally have some time to dedicate to what I love most, gushing about style and beauty!

I had always wanted to try video tutorials, and finally got to it!  Without further ado, I present to you my first ever video blog on how to create curls with a hair straightener!

Just as a summary, I'd like to say that curling your hair with a straightener does take practice.  But, once you get it down it's more than worth it because it's much less of a hassle than using a curling iron.

Some of the more important tips are:
 - Select 1-2inch sections to curl, and make sure they have been brushed & sprayed with heat protectant.
- Clamp down, then slowly glide the hair through while turning the actual straightener in a circular, downward motion.
- Curl some sections towards your face and some away from your face for more natural looking curls.
- If  loose curls are what you're going for brush through the curls either right away, or after curling an entire side.
- If you want tighter, bouncier curls, do not brush through with a brush or comb, just use your fingers to detangle and separate curls.
- Teasing is optional.
- If you don't want your entire bangs to be curled, curl the ends away from your face.

Let me know what you think of my first video tutorial, and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE! :)