Share the Pretty!

The other day i ran into an old co-worker of mine at a fancy make-up counter. We worked together at a make-up company (that is now completely dead) years ago. She is a make-up artist and i always loved her style overall. The other artists i worked with were very over the top. My friend could do over the top if that's what a client wanted but she was more realistic with her approach. That's why i always preferred her doing my daily face and got some awesome tips from her.

Anyways, she said i looked amazing and my application is wonderful! That made me feel so good! I have never taken a class but i love to experiment, especially with eye shadows. I'm an eye shadow junkie! If there is anything i hoard, its eye shadows and mascaras lol But yeah, it was good to see her and she actually asked me for some tips on how i got my eye lashes so "baby doll". She wanted to know what brand i used. I laughed and told her i love Rimmel Extra Super Lash which in the make-up world isn't the most high end brand but man it's awesome stuff! She said she use to be a fan of Rimmel but forgot about it because of where she works. I encouraged her to go try them out again, they are definitely reasonably priced and at least for me have done more than other brands in the same genre like Covergirl. We switched numbers and hopefully we will hangout soon.

This got me to thinking though. People ask me what brands i use all the time. I'm a bit of a snob in some cases when it comes to my brands but i know not everyone, especially women just getting into make-up can afford the ones i get. So i thought i'd share the ones i use and what i love about them:

NYX - they have cool glitter/shimmer eye liners and shadows for that POP many of us like to use on nights out.

Urban Decay - for just about anything. If you like big bold looks they are a good choice.

Rimmel - love their mascaras!!

Covergirl - nice foundations and powders. Mascaras are good for natural everyday looks too.

Smashbox - another good brand if you like bold looks. They do dark colors very well. And their "All
Nighter" spray primer does wonders for the wild/long nights out!

Fresh - just discovered at Sephora, has a great all over Primer lotion. So far it keeps my oils from building up so fast and great for powder application. Also cool mascara mini's, 2 for under $12!! Also love their under eye gel, very cooling and clears up the sleepy baggy eyes nicely.

Wet N' Wild - they get a bad rep for being on the super cheap end but their eye liner pencils are pretty awesome and at 99cents a pop you can't really lose!

Inglot - discovered them after watching one of my fave make-up artists on Youtube. Now, they are definitely on the high end of the industry but once you try them out, you understand why. They have a deal where you can build your own palettes (which can be hard to find companies that do this on a level Inglot does) and once i saw the colors i knew i had to do it! The colors are so freaking awesome! Their stores are very scarce...i went to the one in Vegas and spent almost $80 on 2 palettes but so worth it!! Go to their site http://www.inglotusa.com/ and look for Freedom System...you can build eye shadow, lipgloss, blush, foundation palettes exactly how you want them and order online. I'm gonna get another 2 palettes when i hit Vegas again and continue to build my collection lol They are the brand i would suggest hands down for the confident make-up wearer who doesn't mind spending money on great quality products.

Icings - they have their own make-up line that can be hit and miss but their small eye shadow palettes have been on the win side for me. They are great for playing with new colors and seeing what works for you overall. You don't break the bank at all and you can find some amazing colors that you can find in other palettes when you become more confident and want to move up.

NYC - another brand that gets a less than good rep for being cheap but again, great liners (pencil and liquid). Their lipglosses give some intense color like higher brands. Also a good brand to use when just starting out and finding what you like when it comes to colors.

Lancome - i only know about their lipglosses thanx to my bestie giving me a few as presents. They aren't sticky and go on really smooth. A lil pricey but i feel its worth it, as long as you don't burn through them fast.

Sephora - the Sephora brand itself is pretty awesome overall. They do compare nicely to Urban Decay, Smashbox, Stila etc. They don't cost much either. The quality is nice for their shadows and eye liners. I also enjoy their brushes. I recommend them when you are moving up to the next level of your make-up wearing. You could say they are that brand that is a level up from Target products and below department store products...a nice happy medium!

That's my list. I have used all the brands listed above. I haven't had any bad reactions like rashes or anything on that level with them and my skin is slightly sensitive. I think overall the thing you have to remember when it comes to make-up is don't be afraid to experiment and have fun! It's the only way you will learn what works for you.

BOOO SUMMER!!!!

I hate summer so much! I think it's the most annoying season ever! Especially after the age of 18. You don't get the luxury to have summer vacation and really enjoy it as much i think after high school. College yeah you do get time off but it's not the same i think. And it definitely changes once you start working and being an adult.

Kids our out of school terrorizing those of us who hate kids. Teenagers are out loitering everywhere and doing whatever latest "house hold product" that is the new drug of the week. Pregnant women are running us over with strollers and acting like they own the place, where ever they go.

The one thing i hate the most about summer though is...........

CROTCH SWEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right! you read me right! CROTCH SWEAT!!!!! I HATE CROTCH SWEAT!!!

No one likes to talk about it but i have no shame, you guys know this, so yeah i'm gonna talk about it. Actually i'm gonna make points about it because i feel like using bullet points....woohoo for higher education!


- It happens to everyone, male and female! - If it's hot outside and you are a human being, you have crotch sweat. Doesn't matter how much you weigh, what you wear, none of that matters! That little ring of sweat you see in your undies is sweat and it happens, get over it and wipe yourself up!

- Wearing no undies doesn't help! - that just means the world will see your sweaty crotch through your pants! No one wants to see that! Those of you who wear khakis are the worse offenders with this too! STOP IT! Stop wearing light colored pants and no undies in the summer and not expecting your sweaty crotch to show through. Stop it now! Gross!

- Proper undies is key! - thongs and string bikinis don't hide crotch sweat. It also shows off ass crack sweat which is even more gross!! No one wants to see your thong anymore, stop that! But we really don't want to see your sweat drenched ass thong either! Wear undies that cover your ass and keep a decent barrier between you and your clothes so when sweaty crotch does happen only YOU know about it. Ladies, pantyliner are created for a reason. You should invest in some during the summer to help protect you and everyone else from sweaty crotch. Guys, i don't really want to know if you use pantyliners, but if you do to each his own. No judgement! I would probably suggest wear looser clothing. Let the boys breathe!!! Let air move through to cut down on the sweaty crotch.

- Check yourself! - If you are going on a date, or out with friends or just living your daily summer life and happen to meet someone or know you are gonna get some "action" on any kind of level, do yourself and the other person a favor and check yourself out when attending the bathroom. There is no shame in keeping your shit clean! Infact, next bullet point!

- Keep Clean!!!! - The best way to keep crotch sweat from becoming a bigger issue than it needs to be is to shower, shower, SHOWER! I don't care if you are showering 2 times a day. Your body needs to cool off, showers are there for a reason. Also, if you don't shower and let sweaty crotch run wild for more than a day, it stinks and others can smell you. No there isn't crotch deodorant but baby powder can keep the sweating down to a minimum. As well gives a nice scent. Men, there ain't no shame in smelling like baby powder. It shows you care about how you smell and women LOVE THAT! Please don't spray more than 2 pumps of cologne/perfume in your crotch. That won't cover the stinky sweaty crotch. Just shower dude, its really that simple.

That's it, hope it helps you fight the evil that is SWEATY CROTCH! There definitely will be more "i hate summer" banter coming soon!

*shame is for the weak!