TotalBeauty.com: Bizarre Beauty Tips That Really Work

Bizarre Beauty Tips That Really Work

See which crazy beauty tips are actually true and which are beauty folklore.

This is a TotalBeauty.com health and beauty article We hear tons of weird DIY beauty tips that have been passed down from our friends, mothers, etc. But, hearing so much advice leaves us wondering: Do these wacky beauty tips actually work? We asked experts to find out. Get answers

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Look: Simple spring, coral look...completely unintentional =)

I usually don't do seasonal makeups looks --just done a few since I started this blog. Is not that I don't like to, it's just that, well, the weather here is almost the same all year round. So to me, winter and spring are almost the same. The weather is just a bit cooler. 

Today I wore a nice, coral shade shirt you see in the next pics for work; jeans and safety shoes completed the whole look! LOL. I like to add some color sometimes because, yeah, I get bored of the usual neutral colors in clothes and makeup. This shirt (JMS.com) has a nice coral-pink shade that I just love.  So I looked for some makeup to match with it. I guess it turned out pretty monochromatic, but I really liked it.

Oh, since I've been wearing mostly ponytails lately, I've been trying to learn how to contour better, just to give some 'dimension' to my full, big face. I think it makes a huge difference, just look at some previous posts.

++The makeup I applied today is the one I do when I need to stay all day looking decent, without worrying about how my skin looks or about touch-ups; I can really say I applied it 7AM and it was 5PM when I used blotting paper; and no, it does not feels cakey on my skin or anything like that, which I love!++

*All pics are clickable*

PLEASE NOTE: I've included links to pics of some of the products, taken by other beauty bloggers/makeup addicts.

FACE

♥BORGHESE Prima Viso Face Primer -- always a favorite; applied with my fingers

♥ESTEE LAUDER Double Wear Light Makeup, Intensity 3 -- just bought it and love it; I applied it with a Beauty Blender and buffed it in with my Coastal Scents Bionic Flat Top Buffer Brush

♥MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NC 35 -- under-eye area and plane of the cheeks, applied with my fingers

♥BENEFIT Powderflage Concealer -- under-eye area, applied with a MAC 224. Honestly, this powder is great: it does not provides coverage but it helps so much preventing the concealer to get into the fine lines under my eyes

♥MAC Prep+Prime Finishing Powder -- all over my face, specially over the pores on my cheeks; applied with the Sephora 49 brush

♥MAC Powder Blush in Blunt -- to contour: hollow of my cheeks and temples; I used MAC 109 brush

♥MAC Powder Blushes in Peaches and Spaced out (LE--Neo Sci-Fi) -- I used the MAC 168 to apply both, Spaced out on top of Peaches for a subtle shine

♥MAYBELLINE Dream Matte Powder in Beige Medium -- applied with a powder puff, pressing it gently against my skin, specially the t-zone: that really helps to diminish the size of my pores

♥MAC Fix+ Spray -- for the powder to blend with my skin, helps the makeup looks more natura

EYES

♥TFSI

♥REVLON Illuminance Cream Shadow in Skinlights -- I used the second shade from the left (I don't like these shadows on their own, but sure are a good base); applied with a MAC 192 brush on the eye lids only

♥MAC E/S in Expensive Pink -- on the eye lids, applied with a MAC 239 brush; patting the e/s gently against the lids. I used the same brush to apply some e/s in the lower lashline

♥MAC E/S in Brule -- on the crease up to the brows; I used the MAC 217

♥MAYBELLINE Define-a-Brow Pencil in Dark Brown

COVER GIRL Lash Blast Mascara in Very Black

LIPS

♥SALLY HANSEN Healing Butter for Lips -- as primer

♥REVLON Shiny Sheers in Peachy Sheen -- I wish Revlon'd bring those lippies back, I really like them

♥MAC Lustreglass in Wonderstruck

Have a nice week!! // ¡Linda semana a tod@s!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in Spotlight Beige--got it @ a great price!

 Lipstick and Mascara are two makeup items I do not consider I have to spend many $$$ to get great quality.  I consider there are many great options at my local drugstore.

I found this beautiful l/s today at Kmart for $3.50 (retail price was $8)  This is Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in 620-Spotlight Beige. I really love this shade! So natural. Gives my lips a natural rosy color while feeling very moisturizing. I do think all the moisture stuff in it doesn't help the color to keep longer on my lips, maybe also because I apply it over lip balm (as I always do). Don't know but I surely don't mind re-applying. Besides, the manufacturer does not claims it is long-lasting.  I already have one of this l/s, it's called 180-Sunset. It's a beautiful shade similar to Spotlight Beige but a touch more pink and with a frost finish. What I don't like about Sunset is how it feels on my lips, very...gritty? But this one is very creamy. And I have to say, my lips are quite pigmented, mostly on the borders and the coverage of this lippie is good.  The following swatches are just the l/s over my lipbalm, no lip pencil or anything else.

This has to be one of the best l/s I've bought in a while. Love the shade.

All in all, great buy and nice texture.

Rating: 4/5

++Click on pics for enlarged versions++

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 620-Spotlight Beige

 Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 620-Spotlight Beige

(swatched over NC 30 skin)

 

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 620-Spotlight Beige

(LOL--I know, I know: I look tired)

Have a nice week!/¡Linda semana!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Sigma F80 Brush...Man, what a let down! =(

Back in September 2010, I blogged about this amazing brush (CLICK HERE). I first had a bad experience with it because it completely came apart. At first it felt very dense, but after using and washing it a few times it was softer...then it started to shed bristles...THEN the bristles separated completely from the ferrule! But I was glad Sigma answered my email super quick and sent me a replacement. Def. one of my favorite brushes until the same thing happened again!!

This is a pic of what happened to the first brush:

I can't believe it. I noticed the brush started to shed again and to look uneven, not flat. The other day I was washing it and I felt the bristles...mmm...IDK how to explain it..the part that is glued inside the ferrule was a bit loose. I washed it carefully with my Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Liquid Soap and let it to dry, standing up (ETA: standing up with the bristles part down--if not, water will get into the ferrule).  When I picked it up to use it, I noticed the shedding again, pull the bristles a little and the whole thing came out.  =/

I have not contacted Sigma, don't know if I will because I was so mad I threw it to the trash right away...

ETA (3/19/11): So I ended up sending an email to the company yesterday night. I mentioned it was a great brush, excellent performance, but the quality is bad. I also mentioned that I don't expect a replacement brush, since I threw mine to the trash and can't send it back. I just wanted to let them know about this issue.

I got curious if other people have had the same experience, so I went to MUA, Google, etc. I found out many people have complained about the same thing.

It's sad. This brush performance is amazing! So good that I'd considered buying another one, but I won't.  The quality is terrible!

Oh, and to add insult to injury, I also have the F82, Round Top Synthetic Kabuki. I bought it a few months ago; amazing brush too. The same thing is starting to happen.

FYI, I have many brushes from drugstore to H.E. The Sigma ones are the only ones I have issues with.  =(  ={

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Yeah...foundation brushes are my biggest weakness in the makeup world, followed closely by foundations. =/

7 Tools You Need to Create Any Makeup Look

See which brushes pro makeup artists say are the only ones you actually need.

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup brushes article Investing in and using the right makeup brushes and tools will not only help give you a flawless makeup look, but you'll also save money in the long run. Find out which tools you need now. See brushes

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Japan--March 11th, 2011

All my thoughts and prayers go to the victims of this tragedy. Truly a catastrophe. As decent human beings, we are called to help others in need. Not only when things like this happen, but everyday...there is suffering and injustice everywhere. It's up to us. Those like me that don't know exactly what to do, maybe can donate a few bucks to recognized organizations?

AMERICAN RED CROSS 

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

TotalBeauty.com: Do You Have the Totally Wrong Hair Color?

Quiz: Do You Have the Totally Wrong Hair Color?

Find out if you're actually a blonde trapped in a redhead's body.

This is a TotalBeauty.com hair color article If you feel like you've been dealt a bum hand when it comes to the color of your strands, change it. But, first, take this quiz to see what color is best suited to you. Find out

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Great news! My blog has been published!

One of the main newspapers in my country (Primera Hora) has a section about bloggers and guess who was featured (twice!!) last week on the online version and this week on the hard copy version... your's truly! Beda's Beauty Blog  Woohoo!! LOL  It's in Spanish, of course.

Click HERE to check the online article about this blog. =)

I'm really happy they featured my blog because this section in the paper is about technology and they state that not all blogs mentioned in their section have to be about tech stuff: some are about beauty like mine... ;)

I would love to know about other boricua ladies who blog about makeup and beauty stuff.

In a happy mood right now, enjoying my few minutes of fame, lol.  <3<3

LOOK: MAC's Amber Lights + Espresso

Amber Lights is one of those MAC e/s that is just...beautiful. 

++Clickable pics++

++NO FLASH++

++With Flash++

++Nice girl look (L) ----- More fun, crazy hair look (R)++

FACE

MAC Matte Cream--applied on T-zone with a MAC 231 brush.

SMASHBOX Photo Finish Light Foundation Primer--applied with the same brush on the rest of my face.

MUFE HD Foundation in 128 Almond--applied with a Beauty Blender (wet).

EVE PEARL Salmon Concealer in Tan--applied on the plane of my cheeks (to cover my brown spots) with a MAC 188 brush (using a stippling motion).

MAC Select Cover Up in NC 35--applied in the same manner with the same brush, on top of the Salmon Concealer.

BENEFIT PowderFlage Concealer--To set the above mentioned concealers; I used a MAC 224.

MAC Invisible Set Powder--applied lightly with a SEPHORA #49 Powder Blush (love it).

NARS Laguna Bronzer--applied lightly with a MAC 150 brush all over my face.

MAC Powder Blush in Sunsbasque--I used a MAC 168 brush.

EYES

TFSI

MAC e/s in Wedge--applied on the crease with a SEPHORA #13 brush; I used this color as a 'transition' shade.

MAC e/s in Amber Lights--applied all over the eyelids and lower lash line with a MAC 239.

MAC e/s in Espresso--applied on the crease with with a MAC 217 brush; on the outer part of the lower lash line with a MAC 219.

MAC e/s in Vanilla--as a highlighter under the brows; I used a MAC 227 to apply it and blend it with the Espresso.

MAC Blacktrack Fluidline--MAC 266 brush

MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud--I've been using this for years, but I think I need to go a shade down now...

MAYBELLINE The Big Falsies Waterproof Mascara in Very Black.

LIPS

SALLY HANSEN Healing Butter for Lips--as always, my favorite +discontinued+ lip balm.

LORAC l/s in Charity--lovely nude

REVLON Shiny Sheers l/s in Honey Drizzle +discontinued+--(any nude gloss will do).

After watching the pics, IDK, I should have picked a warmer lipstick/lipgloss combo but...oh well. 

ETA: I forgot to post the pic of the bracelet that made me think of Amber Light. There are so many e/s combinations this cute thing inspires.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

¡Vivan, ámen y rían!

Review+Swatches: NARS Casino/Sin Duo

I absolutely love how NARS do blushes/highlighters/bronzers. The formula is perfect. Very pigmented.  I bought the Sin/Casino Duo ($40 for 0.35oz) last December and being the crazy, very absentminded person that I am...I forgot all about it.  Yeah.

Anyway, I finally took some pics the other day. Sin is a pinkish mauve blush with some gold sparkle in it.  Casino is a reddish dark brown bronzer. I really didn't care much for the SIN blush, but also didn't want to buy Casino alone (so big) so that's why I bought the Duo.

SIN is very pretty to my delightful surprise. I was worried maybe the color was to cool for my NC 37 skin, but it is just fine and blends so well. The gold sparkles are not terrible (I hate huge sparkles). I would love it without the sparkles, but it's okay.

Compared to the NARS  Laguna, CASINO is of course darker but as I mentioned before, more red (redder?). One of the reasons I love Laguna is because it is one of the few bronzers that are brown, not red or orange. So if you have issues with bronzers making you look orange, be careful with Casino. It will def. work on darker skins. I find the texture of Casino 'softer' and more pigmented than the Laguna bronzer and also, I don't think it has as much of the gold sparkles as Laguna. To me, it's perfect for contouring and if applied with a very light hand, it can also work as bronzer all over my face.

And yes, this combo works great together (at first sight, I wasn't that convinced). I like to apply the Sin blush with a brush like the MAC 168 and the Casino bronzer with a big fluffy brush like the MAC 150 (for all over bronzer) or the MAC 109 or MAC 225  for contouring---did MAC discontinued this brush?? It is one of my faves for eyes and face!

RATING: 4.5/5

Here are some swatches:

++Click on all pics for enlarged versions++

Swatches on the back of my arm, maybe NC32 skin (medium, warm skintone)

Hope these swatches are helpful.  =)

¡Vivan, amen y rían!