Tag: how to

My Summer Makeup Look With NYC Cosmetics and a GIVEAWAY

 My Summer Makeup Look With NYC Cosmetics and a GIVEAWAY on Belle Belle Beauty

Looking for a way to change up your summer makeup look? And even better… at super prices? Look no further than NYC Cosmetics at Wal-Mart. This brand is inspired by the city that never sleeps with great sophisticated shades that are affordable. Below, you’ll find my steps for how I am using NYC Cosmetics to change up my summer look.

Get Date Night Ready on Belle Belle BeautyWhile I can’t say dating in the forefront of my mind right now, I am loving this smokey eye – something new for me. And you know my new found love for a bold lip. Here is my how-to for Date Night (or an evening on the town with the girls):

 My Summer Makeup Look With NYC Cosmetics Before on Belle Belle Beauty

  1. Starting with the Individual Eyes Custom Compact in Smokey Charcoals, I apply the included primer. I like using the lightest shade all over my lid and then the third shade in my creases for a natural looking eye. But as you can see in the video, if you want to amp up the effect, the four available shades allows for that.
  2. Using the Show Time Velvet Eyeliner in Noir, an intensely dark, pigmented eyeliner, I line my waterline. I then follow up with the High definition Liquid Eyeliner in Extra Black along the lash line.
  3. It wouldn’t be date night without bold lashes, so next I apply Big Bold Volume by the Lash Mascara in Extreme Black. My new favorite budget mascara for intense, full-bodied lashes.
  4. In the summer, bronzer is my jam. So I like to use the Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in All Over Bronze Glow. It is easy to sweep across cheeks, temples and jawline for a natural looking glow.
  5. Last but certainly not least, lips that can withstand a date – dinner and maybe a smooch or two. The Expert Last Lipstick, Traffic Jam lasts for hours on me and is the perfect summer red.

My Summer Makeup Look With NYC Cosmetics After on Belle Belle Beauty

Now is the ideal time for a complete update because on the NYC New York Color page you can watch NYC makeup artists show you how to five different looks for under $20. Bonus: when you’ve watched a video you’ll be eligible to download a coupon for $1 off any NYC New York Color product! Here’s the NYC makeup artist’s Get Date Night Ready video tutorial for a slightly different take than my go-to look!

Learn A New Look and Get A $1 NYC Coupon

And who can resist a giveaway! One lucky reader will win the products used in one of the five looks and a $50 Wal-Mart gift card. Enter using the widget below:

#NewYorkColorMakeover

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Lunchbox. All opinions are my own.

Tips For An At-Home Manicure

Tips For An At-Home Manicure on Belle Belle Beauty

Sure, I’d love to have a professional mani/pedi weekly and let’s go ahead and add on a couple blowouts and a massage (or two). But that just isn’t possible for us regular folks. So, I will continue to pursue the perfect at-home blow out and beg for a back rub when I can. But I have had enough practice to pretty much master an at-home manicure which makes me feel pampered and will give my nails a professional, clean look. And I am excited to share those tips on Great Day Green Country this AM – we changed things up this week and will be doing my usual Friday segment on Thursday

Quick side note on my polishing skills: I have lots of trouble getting polish to remain chip-free for more than two days. I know even the illustrious Eva Chen admits to repolishes every couple of days. So I’ll settle for working my way through my endless nail polish collection with a switch up more often. I’ve had gels for a couple months. With my returned natural nails, changing up shades right now is kind of refreshing. With that said… here is my routine:

  1. Start with clean, dry nails. Remove older polish with a nourishing remover. Make sure to double check sides of nails for any rogue polish. Splurge on specialty nail cottons because they are particularly absorbent and abraded.
  2. Shape nails with a glass file. A glass file is gentle on delicate nails and avoids tugging or breakage. Squoval is the universally-flattering and classic shape but we have been seeing editorial-shaped nails like pointed on runways for a couple seasons so go for any look you desire!
  3. Soak nails in a bowl of warm soapy nails to soften skin. Sometimes, I jump in the shower at this point to kill two birds with one stone.
  4. Apply a cuticle remover to remove dead tissue from the cuticle area. Use a wooden nail tool to push back cuticles. Resist using those dreaded nail clippers. Cutting skin can breed bacteria. And that skin also serves a purpose protecting the delicate cuticle area and can prevent redness. Cut any hangnails if you must.
  5. Thoroughly rinse cuticle remover ensuring it doesn’t stay on skin too long. Nourish dry hands with a rich hand cream like Nuance Salma Hayek Super Brightening Hand Cream (which is cruelty-free and can help with the appearance of age spots) or Library of Flowers Coco Butter Handcreme.
  6. Wipe nail beds only with alcohol or a nail primer like Deborah Lippmann 2 Second Nail Primer to ensure oils from the nail bed are completely clean. Use specialty cotton to avoid any residual threads that could ruin polish application. Or try Q-Tip Precision Tips Cotton Swabs if your nail beds are on the small side.
  7. Apply a strengthening base coat like Essie Grow Stronger and allow to completely dry. If you have trouble keeping polish on, try Orly Bonder. Then use two coats of colored polish, starting with a swipe down the middle of the nail followed by one on each side. Finish with a quick dry, no chip top coat. Right now, I am loving Debroah Lippmann Hard Rock.
  8. Maintain your manicure by applying a new top coat every other day. In the evenings, keep cuticles looking healthy with hand cream or specialty designed cuticle and nail balm.

Classic Nude Nails With A Twist!

Classic Nude Nails With A Twist! // Belle Belle BeautyFor my second installment with Suave® and Q-tips® for their awesome ManiCure Pinterest sweepstakes, not only am I sharing how to get awesome DIY nail art looks, I’ll also be sharing tips on keeping skin hydrated and nails looking clean and healthy. This week is all about classic nail looks. And today, I am showing off a look inspired by a classic French style manicure. Nude nails with a reverse metallic moon – how’s that for a twist?

Up first, a little detail about the ManiCure Pinterest sweepstakes– make sure to head over to the Suave Beauty Pinterest page and pin one of my featured looks (or any other looks by my fellow influencers) and copy the pin URL to the Suave Beauty Facebook page to enter for the chance to win Suave® Skin Solutions Body Lotions and Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs or $500 for the ultimate day of beauty and style!

Classic Nude Nails With A Twist! // Belle Belle Beauty

After a week of moisturizing with Suave® Skin Solutions Smoothing Body Lotion with Cocoa Butter & Shea, I can tell my nails and cuticles really do look richer and healthier. I pushed back my cuticles and prepped nails with a base coat. Before the base coat, I used a little alcohol on a Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab to make sure my nail beds were oil-free.

Classic Nude Nails With A Twist! // Belle Belle BeautyNext, I layered a relatively opaque nude in two coats and allowed to dry thoroughly. I love the Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs for cleaning up any mistakes on the cuticle and around the nail. They really help me achieve a precise finish without having to be perfect along the way.

Classic Nude Nails With A Twist! // Belle Belle Beauty

Using those re-enforcements from our Trapper Keeper days, lay one on each nail at your desired length above the cuticle to shape where the reverse half-moon will appear. You really want to make sure polish is completely dried before doing this because the adhesive on the stickers can pull off your nude polish if it is the slightest bit wet.

Classic Nude Nails With A Twist! // Belle Belle Beauty

Paint in a metallic polish from the bottom of the nude polish up to the sticker. Make sure the sticker is adhered well for the most defined line. Again, you can use a Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab with a little remover to clean up any mistakes around the cuticle.

Classic Nude Nails With A Twist! // Belle Belle BeautyAllow to dry a couple of minutes and remove. Voila!

 

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Influencer for Suave® and Q-tips®.  Visit www.facebook.com/SuaveBeauty for the chance to win Suave® Skin Solutions Body Lotions and Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs or $500 for the ultimate day of beauty and style.

 

Get The Look Video: Pretty in Plum

Get The Look Video: Pretty in Plum // Belle Belle Beauty

For the last in our Get The Look series, Sara and Rebecca accent with plum shades. I love the soft, sophisticated look of this shade. Love these tutorials? Check out the other videos in the series here, here, here and here.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKZ0J9egpXQ]

“Using one color in various tones is anything but boring! Purple, plum, eggplant, and mauve combine perfectly on eyes and lips for the sultry winter look. Just make sure to keep your cheeks light to maintain balance.”

Get The Look Video: Pretty in Plum // Belle Belle Beauty

Links for brands used:

  • http://shop.janeiredale.com/
  • http://www.econveybeauty.com/

Get The Look Video: Smokey Goes Green

Green Smokey Eye // Belle Belle Beauty

I can’t really think of a more festive look for the holidays: a deep, smokey green eye. Sara and Rebecca use natural makeup from Jane Iredale, Ilia Beauty and Youngblood to get a party-ready look. Love these tutorials? Check out the other videos in the series here, here and here.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNpBumvqCro]

“Who doesn’t love a sultry, sexy smokey eye? My favorite way to get a quick smokey look is by using RMS Beauty’s Cream Eyeshadow in Karma. With just a few sweeps of a brush I am ready for a night out. Pantone just named Emerald it’s 2013 color of the year so Rebecca and I thought we would update a smoky eye by having it go green!”

Final Look on SJM - Green Smokey Eye // Belle Belle Beauty

Links for brands used:

images by Mia MacDonald