A Tuesday Tip: How to Keep Lashes Curled

Hello!

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I just wanted to quickly share some tips for those who struggle with keeping their lashes curled, defined, and lifted. Being of Asian decent, I have straight, black lashes that almost point downwards towards my cheekbones.  So, after many trials and errors I have gathered some info for you guys :) 

First off, you'll need a good eyelash curler.  No eye shape is exactly the same, so you'll probably have to shop around to find a company which offers an eyelash curler which caters to your eye shape.  I have rather large, round almond shaped eyes (they're more round than almond, though) and I find that Revlon is the best for me (I use any curler of theirs that has a spring).  Once you've found an eyelash curler which works for you, practice curling your lashes. And take your time. I literally spend more time curling my lashes than any other makeup step. Practice starting from the roots to the tips. If you want to flare out your lashes more, don't curl the very tip of your lashes. Personally, after I've curled up & down, I like to lightly push my eyelash curler to the very, very base of my lashes and curl there. And don't forget to turn your face slightly to see how your lashes look from an angle.

Next, search for a mascara! I'm a big fan of drugstore mascaras (specifically Maybelline or L'Oreal products). It's a rule of thumb that you shouldn't use a mascara for more than a couple of months (to prevent any unwanted infections), so why shell out major bucks at a pricier place? Now, this is probably the most important tip for keeping your lashes curled: Use A Waterproof Mascara. Something about a waterproof formula is great for preventing lashes from drooping and straightening. 

Lastly, if you've just tried out a brand new mascara and decide that you don't like it, wait a little bit. Give the mascara a chance to dry out a bit so the wand can apply the mascara formula to your lashes with a little bit of resistance (you can try it out again within the same week or wave the wand). The added tackiness can help build up the product too. Now, this does not mean that you should wait for the mascara to actually dry out. 

So, yeah! I hope that these three tips can help any of you which strive to keep straight lashes curved, flaired, and pretty! 

Feel free to share any of your own tips below :)

:) AL 

The 2013 Roundup

Hello!


Woohoo!!! 2014 has arrived! I cannot believe that a whole year has already gone by! I'd say that I've tried out a fair amount of products this passed year, so here are some beauty items that have become a staple in my makeup bag in the year 2013.

1) NYX Full Coverage Concealer in a Jar

Heavy duty, light, and easy to blend, this concealer is great for covering up unwanted pigmentation.  I especially love the Green Concealer for correcting any redness before applying skin-toned concealer. This is great if you're in a pinch.

You can buy it here**

2) Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Eyeliner

I'm going to be honest here, I recently just started using this eyeliner mere weeks ago- but it's quickly become a must-have for me! It's insanely smooth when applying, but stays put for hours long. The only black shade (to my knowledge) has slight gold glitter to it, but it's not too noticeable. If you're not a fan of glitter, this may not be for you.

You can buy it here**

3) Cover FX Cream Concealer

You'll love this if you've got acne marks to cover up. I use this over medium coverage foundation, or sheered out full coverage foundation, for a more natural appearance.

You can buy it here**

4) L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup

Also a new-ish addition to my makeup bag, this foundation has trumped all other foundations I've used this year. I'd consider this as medium-to-full coverage with about 6-8 hours of wear (without touching up). The main reason why I really love this foundation is that it controls oil very well, in my opinion, without having a super matte appearance.

You can buy it here**

5) Neutrogena SkinClearing Mineral Powder

Formulated with Salicylic Acid, this powder is made to clear up skin. I can't recommend this with full honesty to be used as a powder foundation because I use this as a bronzer. Haha, gotcha there! I use Tan (80) to warm up my nc25-ish complexion for a natural, day look.

You can buy it here**

6) Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder

If you're looking for an affordable setting powder, this it it. Admittedly, the packaging kind of sucks but don't be deterred (or, you know, drop it). It's matte, affordable, and widely available. Try it out!

You can buy it here**

7) Physician Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Powder

This pressed powder is a godsend for bronzing lovers. A little on the pricier side for a drugstore item, it's still awesome if you want to define and contour. A slight con is that it's not entirely matte.

You can buy it here**

8) Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer

The third and last concealer on the list! I've been using this stick concealer since January of 2013 and it's still going ham (sorry, I'm still recovering from celebrating the new year)! Apply with a fluffy eyeshadow blending brush for seamless coverage or straight from the stick and blend with fingers if you're in a time crunch.

You can buy it here**

9) L'Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions

Dare I say that I have found my Holy Grail mascara? I've repurchased this mascara continuously since I first found out about it. It helps lengthen my lashes and you can really build it up for volume. It's just a very nice, versatile, and well rounded mascara in my opinion. ps: I wear darkest black in waterproof.

You can buy it here**

So, hopefully this rundown of products will point you in the direction of your next makeup fave!

What were your makeup product highlights of 2013?

:)
AL