Tag: Makeup

7 Fall Beauty Trends That Are Perfect for Your 8 A.M.

We all know how hard it is to wake up for that early morning class since studying and homework keep us up at night. This makes trying to do your hair and makeup seem almost impossible. But it doesn’t have to be. These seven beauty trends, straight off the fall runways, are perfect for when you just can’t deal with that early morning class.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

1—Vampy Lips

Probably always a given for fall, vampy lips are still trending. The great thing about this look is that it requires minimal makeup on the rest of your face. Just grab a berry shade of your favorite lip product and swipe away. Only 10 seconds or less of your time and you look like you actually tried to get ready for class this morning.

PHOTO:  Julia Michael

2—Deep Side Parts

Early classes mean that sometimes there’s just no time to wash your hair. Deep side parts are here to rescue you and your greasy strands. Just smooth your hair down with a brush and tie it into a messy chignon or low bun.

3—Monochrome Makeup

Millennial pink ruled spring and summer fashion and now it’s ruling fall beauty trends. Monochrome makeup is a great way to quickly do a look that appears like it took much more effort than it really did. Trendy multi sticks are perfect for applying a wash of color to your eyelids, cheeks, and lips in a matter of seconds. Smudge out with your finger and you’re out the door and on your way to class.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

4—Braids for Days

The messier, the better when it comes to braids this fall. Just braid your hair however you like before bed, sleep on it, wake up, and head to class. Add some texturizing spray before you head out the door to play up the texture.

5—Clean Complexions

Heavy face makeup for fall? No way. The focus this season is on skin care. Good news, right? Just sticking to your normal routine and having clear, glowing skin is enough to get you to class in the morning without all the fuss. If you can’t leave without at least a little concealer, pick a natural one to spot conceal any problem areas like under eye circles or blemishes.

PHOTO: Madison Paloski

 

6—Statement Hair Accessories

Another way to disguise that second—or third—day hair is with statement accessories. Headbands, ribbons, scrunchies, you name it. Just throw one in your hair to hide the grease. People will think you really put in some effort before that 8 a.m.

7—Highlighted Inner Corners

Finally, highlighting your inner corners is an instant way to make it look like you actually got more than a few hours of sleep last night. Skip the rest of the eyeshadow and just focus a brightening color on the inner corner of the eye. Add some mascara and you’re ready to go!

 

Which beauty trends are you trying out this season? Let us know in the comments below!

Think Skincare and Makeup Are 2 Separate Things? Think Again.

Loving makeup is nothing new, but as time goes on we as a society have become more conscious of what our skin doesn’t like. Over time, makeup can make you feel more oily and dry based on your skin type and even cause more breakouts.

Here’s the good part: we don’t have to sacrifice makeup for skincare! Shocking, right? But here’s the thing; there are healthy ways to take care of our skin while still having an everyday makeup routine.

 

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

Keeping Clean

First, never sleep in your makeup. Giving your skin a good scrub at the end of the day is always a good idea. Our skin is our body’s largest organ, and it deserves some time to breathe. A great way to refresh your face at night is to use an all-natural cleanser, like Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser. This brand specifically goes by the phrase, “Skincare first. Makeup second,” so they are super credible in their intentions when it comes to healthy skin. Another great way to leave your face feeling extra fresh is doing a fun face mask. I’m a big fan of Yes To’s face masks. The ingredients check out, and they offer so many great options in their products.

Makeup That Helps

Another tip in taking care of your skin is to try to use the best makeup for it. You’re essentially feeding your skin, and just like food, some things are healthier to digest than others. This is why some beauty products leave you feeling oily while others don’t phase your skin after removal at all. Glossier carries an array of awesome products, all putting skincare first. I feel safe using these products, and you totally should, too. Glossier isn’t the only brand that cares about your skin’s health, of course. Some brands carried by Sephora that also value being all-natural are BITE Beauty, RMS, Lilah B., Antonym, and my personal favorite, Milk Makeup. Some of these natural products I would highlight are the Holographic Stick and Cooling Water by Milk Makeup and the Certified Organic Baked Blush by Antonym.

See? It’s easier to take care of your skin than you probably thought. Beauty companies aren’t out to hurt our skin; in fact, many want to help us! Just be cautious of what products you’re using, and stick to a skincare routine that works for you.

Let us know on Instagram what beauty products work wonders for your skin, and don’t forget to tag @CFashionista. We can’t wait to see your beautiful faces!

Additional photos by Lex Kelly.

A Simple Morning Makeup in 6 Products or Less

Whether you’re looking to cut down on time spent in front of your mirror in the morning or just keep makeup to a minimum, having a tried and true makeup routine makes life much easier before class. Here’s how you can cut your everyday makeup down to only a few steps with six products:

PHOTO: Valerie Cammack

If you are going to wear any makeup, then reach for brow pomade and mascara first. Defined brows bring shape to the face and mascara brightens the eyes, plus it saves you from dealing with the dreaded “are you sick?” when you walk out the door totally barefaced. My personal go-tos are Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade and Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara.

A quality primer is a staple to any makeup collection. The Becca Backlight Priming Filter is my current fave to achieve that dewy, your-skin-but-better look. An added bonus for this particular product is that you do not necessarily need to add foundation over it, as it blurs pores and adds luminosity to the skin.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

If you want a very natural makeup look, using a primer without foundation is the way to go. But if you do have the extra minute in the morning, BB cream applied with a damp beauty sponge or stick foundation with a stipple brush give the best well-rested skin finish. These methods hide discolorations without being heavy or cakey.

If you have dry skin like me, cream products work wonders on your skin. I use Stila Convertible Color in shade Petunia to brighten and bring shape to my round cheeks. It also doubles as a lip color, which is great for a monochromatic chic look.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

The product you pick to finish the look off really speaks to what level of extra you’re going for: translucent powder, bronzer, or highlight. Do you want to make sure your makeup does not move on a day running across campus in the heat? Or sculpt the face and add warmth during winter months? Or would you rather look like a glowing goddess with blinding highlight? Genuinely, you can’t go wrong!

Let us know what your go-to morning makeup routine is, and be sure to tag @CFashionista on social media!

Featured photo by Lex Kelly.

5 Guidelines for the Ultimate Fresh-Faced Beauty Look

The fresh-faced beauty look is all over the place right now—on the runways, on the streets, and even on campus. If you don’t have a ton of time in the morning, the fresh-faced look is perfect for you. Even if you do have a lot of time and just want to rock this beauty trend, here are five simple and easy guidelines to follow to achieve a fresh-faced look in minutes.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

1—Don’t neglect your eyebrows

Your eyebrows are important; they frame your face and balance out the rest of your beauty look. Even if you don’t do anything else to your face, just doing your eyebrows will make a huge difference. The goal is to enhance your existing eyebrows. If using a pencil is too harsh for you, I suggest using a tinted brow gel or lightly filling in your eyebrows with a brow powder. Pro tip: eyeshadow works great if you don’t have a dedicated brow powder product.

2—Keep it lightweight

This may sound like a no-brainer, but keeping your face makeup on the lightweight side is ideal. If you have freckles, let them peek through. Try a tinted moisturizer or just a mineral powder for the ideal fresh-faced look. The idea here is to elevate your natural beauty—the less coverage the better. If you can still see some imperfections on your face after application, then you are doing the fresh-faced beauty look correctly. Add a natural-looking flush of color to your cheeks with a liquid blush.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

3—Highlighter is essential

Highlighter can be intense, but when used sparingly it can add the perfect amount of luminosity. The goal here is to give your face a glow, not a shine. Highlight the high points of your face to keep the eye on your best features. Your cheekbones, Cupid’s bow, and brow bone are a good place to start. For an even more natural and glowy look, try using a liquid illuminator under your face product.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

4—Feature your lips

You should always prep your lips for a lip product. A lip scrub is your best bet, but a lip balm will be sufficient. Once your lips are prepared, add a pop of color. This is the step where you can be bold. Reds and oranges are the perfect pop for the end of summer and the beginning of fall.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

5—Mascara makes all the difference

Focus on making your eyelashes stand out; this is the step that makes your fresh-faced makeup look come together. A few coats of a volumizing mascara will have all eyes on your eyes. If you use an eyeliner, I suggest a super thin light brown line across the lash line for some subtle definition.

What is your go-to makeup product for a fresh-faced look? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to share your looks with us on social media by tagging @Cfashionista! 

Top 5 Beauty Products for Back to School

With summer coming to a close, it is time to begin back to school shopping. Now is the time to stock up on new makeup products that you have been wanting to try! I have put together a list of my top five beauty essentials that would be great additions to any Fashionista’s makeup collection.

Top Five Beauty Products

1—Primer. Primer is an important product. Makeup will look smoother, giving you flawless-looking skin, but most importantly it will help your makeup last all day. Whether you have dry skin, oily skin, or normal skin, there is a primer out there for you. One of my all-time favorite primers is the Mario Badescu facial spray with aloe, herbs, and rosewater. I like this product for many reasons. One, it is a skincare product, so it is going to be treating dryness by adding hydration and glow. Two, it serves many purposes. You can use this product not only on your face but on your body and hair. Tip: Spray this into wet hair to add extra shine.

2—Foundation. Foundation allows you to create different makeup looks depending on the type of foundation that you use. For example, if you are going to the beach and want a natural look, I would choose a CC cream or medium-coverage foundation. This will cover most imperfections but let your natural skin peek through. When doing a night look, I tend to amp up my makeup. I will use a full-coverage foundation that will provide more coverage. One of my favorite full-coverage foundations is the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer 2 in 1. This is great because even though it is full-coverage, it still feels very light on the skin.

3—Foundation applicator. Whether you prefer a beauty blender or foundation brush, I think a foundation applicator is crucial for a makeup look. A foundation applicator helps smooth the foundation over the skin. One of my all-time favorite brushes is the Foundation Buff Brush from Clinique. This brush melts the foundation into the skin, giving a natural look.

4—Bronzer. This is a great way to add a sun-kissed glow to the face without having to lay out in the sun. You want to apply bronzer to the points on the face where the sun would naturally hit: your forehead, temples, cheekbones, and jawline. I love applying bronzer with a fan brush. This application allows you to have a light hand to enhance more of the natural look. I have used many different bronzers but one that remains in my collection is my Laura Geller Bronze-N-Brighten in the shade medium. This bronzer gives the appearance that you have been relaxing in the sun.

5—Highlighter. If you love the “glowing from within” look, then a highlighter is just the thing you need. Highlighters can add so much luminosity to the face. I am a fan of the Becca highlighters, specifically Champagne Pop or Opal, but if you want more a natural glow, try the Too Faced highlighter in the shade Blinded by the Light. This adds the perfect amount of radiance to the skin but is also very buildable if you prefer something more intense.

I would love to know what your favorite beauty essentials are so tag @Cfashionista the next time you post on social media!

4 Makeup Products You Need for That Sweet Summer Glow

As someone who rarely even bothers with makeup and knows next to nothing about the intricacies of the art, I thought it would be refreshing to do some vital research and maybe learn a thing or two. I enlisted the help of two Fashionista sisters and amateur makeup connoisseurs to show me some of their favorite products and how they incorporate them into their summer makeup routines.

1—Too Faced Sweet Peach Eye Shadow Collection Palette. The Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette has a great mixture of light and dark colors and features a few nice shades of pink. These eye shadows are very pigmented and easy to blend, making them great for novice or professional makeup artists.

2—Benefit They’re Real! Lengthening and Volumizing Mascara. Benefit’s Lengthening and Volumizing Mascara is always the sisters’ go-to for their lashes. Although it’s on the pricier side, the quality is far superior to any other mascaras these Fashionistas have tried. They’re Real applies evenly with minimal clumping and stays on all day, even without primer!

3—Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette. The Naked Smoky Palette is a great collection of grays and browns that make for the perfect smoky eye. All the shades are very pigmented and application is effortless. The eye shadow also stays on very well for long periods of time without smudging or fading.

4—Milk Makeup Highlighter. The Milk Makeup Highlighter is a creamy highlighter that is the perfect tool to accentuate your natural look. Whether applied directly to your skin with the stick or just applied with your fingers, the results are stunning! The perfect way to embrace the summer sun!

Do you have a makeup product you swear by? Let us know in the comments or show us on social media! Tag @CFashionista!

The Perfect Bronzed Summer Makeup Look

When I think of summer makeup, three words come to mind: fresh, glowy, and bronzed. For my 20th birthday, my best friends got me something all aspiring makeup gurus want—the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. Since then, I’ve been creating makeup looks for day and night. After lots of trial and error, I think I’ve finally come up with the perfect, bronzed, summer makeup look.

A fresh, dewy face is very popular during the summer months. Around this time last year, I was looking for a long lasting foundation from the drugstore. After reading multiple reviews, I finally found my holy grail foundation. For the past year, I’ve been using the Revlon Colorstay foundation. This foundation is long lasting and gives my skin a natural glow. Although advertised as full coverage, I find it is very lightweight on the skin making it perfect for summer.

Bronzer is crucial to any summer makeup look, especially when you get an unsuspecting tan, and you don’t have a dark enough foundation color. My favorite bronzer to use is the Rimmel Natural Bronzer in the shade, Sun Shine. Personally, I prefer to use a bronzer that has little to no sparkle (I like to save the sparkle for my highlighter).

As for my eye look, I used a handful of colors from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. Don’t worry, you don’t need to have the palette to recreate this look. The drugstore has lots of close alternatives that match the colors in the Urban Decay palette. For this look specifically, I mixed Foxy and Bootycall for my base shadow. Next, I applied Tease in my crease to add definition. On the outer corner, I placed Busted to give the look more depth. To get that bronzed goddess look I mixed together Chopper and YDK and applied it to the center of the lid. The final step is to blend it all out. My favorite blending brush is from Real Techniques and it has been a lifesaver. To finish off the entire eye look, I added a light touch of black eyeliner and a few swipes of mascara.

No makeup look is complete without blush and a highlight. A few months ago, I walked into Ulta searching for a replacement for my Physician’s Formula highlighter. I ended up purchasing the Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter in the shade Radiant Lights. I add this to my cheekbones, nose, brow bone, and cupids bow.

Until next time, you can find me rocking this summer look, trying to convince my friends to let me do their makeup.

What’s your favorite summer makeup product? Let us know in the comments below! 

What a Makeup Break Can Do for Your Skin and Confidence

As someone who has struggled with their skin for several consecutive years, it is a rare sight to see me, confidently, without makeup. Wearing makeup every day can get tiring and I have longed for the day to leave the house with clear and confident skin. I tested a theory on what a makeup break can do for my skin. The whole month of June I drank water, worked out, and stopped eating late to help clear up my skin. By the time July came around, I was ready to live a makeup free week.

Day One

My boyfriend took me out for our anniversary so of course, I was nervous about being out in public, bare face. I could not resist brushing through my eyebrows and putting on a nude lip, but I washed my face as soon as I returned home. My nighttime routine is to wash with Burt’s Bees facial cleanser, tone with Thayers, and use a CeraVe night cream. I also add Mario Badescu drying lotion to any blemishes.

Day Two

Fourth of July—it was hard for me to back off festive makeup, so I had a slight red lip for most of the day. Showering, I used my Cetaphil face wash and moisturized with Garnier afterward. I went bare and felt comfortable surrounded by friends and family and finished out the day with my typical nighttime routine.

Day Three

This was an easy day for me because I didn’t have to leave my house. I washed with Burt’s Bees in the morning per usual and later decided to do a charcoal face mask. Masks are a great way to brighten and clear up skin without makeup, and they leave you feeling incredibly fresh afterward.

Day Four

On this particular day, I did have to go to work. I like to feel confident while talking to customers, which is hard to do with a face full of acne. Luckily for me, my skin was not looking too shabby. The day went better than expected; I think my skin was enjoying the break.

Day Five

On this day, I watched a lot of YouTube videos as I was starting to miss the feeling of makeup and how beautiful it truly was. Going makeup free made me realize I didn’t need all that, even if only for a few days. I saved so much time getting ready for work and was able to sleep in.

Makeup is just an add on and not a necessity, especially in summer. Giving your skin time to relax is key to clearing it up. Every girlboss knows confidence is skin deep and makeup on the surface only enhances the beauty you already own. Although I drank plenty of water and did a continuous workout routine, I also take a regular birth control pill that, in combination with other products, may have helped clear my skin. This may or may not work for everyone, but is another option.

What are your best acne fighting secrets? Post them in the comments below!

How to Slay Your Job Interview

College kids are constantly in a financial jam. We are always seeing new clothes we feel we simply can’t live without. We are constantly facing an inner battle within ourselves to decide whether we should spend our money on what we need or give into our temptation and purchase that cute shirt that’s calling our name. If you’re like me, you’ve decided to seek employment. With that said, I am here to give you guys a few tips that will help you slay your interview so that you can start rolling in the dough.

1—Dress for success. Appearance plays a major role. When you step into your interview, you want to make sure that you are looking the part. Your prospective employer should be able to take one look at you and think to themselves that you are a perfect fit. You can never go wrong with a classic all-black look, especially if it includes a blazer. Blazers scream professionalism, and you will turn heads. Also, be sure to add a pop of gold or silver jewelry, some super cute shoes, and you will be good to go.

2—Wear minimal makeup. Now I understand that we live in this era of wearing super heavy makeup with a lot of cheekbone glow, but that is not always best. You want to have on enough makeup to where it will be noticed, but you don’t want your shiny cheeks and dark eye makeup to distract the person interviewing you. Less is more, my friends. Neutral colors with a red lip are perfect. You can still have that wow factor without it being an overkill.

3—Smile, smile, and smile. Now that you’ve mastered the appearance aspect of an interview, your next focus should be your presentation. A friendly smile will carry you a long way. You can win over your employer in the first couple of seconds with your great personality. Just remember to have fun, be yourself, and smile, and you are setting yourself up for perfection.

How do you slay your interview? Show us on social media, and be sure to tag @Cfashionista.

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6 Summer Products I’m Keeping as Year-Round Essentials

When the sun starts fading as we roll out of August, many of us say goodbye (with tears in our eyes) to products that make up more exciting and dewy looks for the summer. But we shouldn’t have to leave behind all the glow and fun just because the fun-in-the-sun months are behind us! Here are six summer products I’m keeping around as year-round essentials.

1—Eye shadows that pop. While everyone transitions to a muted pink or neutral eye after summer passes, I like to go for a super pigmented pink or a red that pops—eye looks typically reserved for the summer. My favorite to work with right now is Pigalle from the Stila Eyes are the Window: Spirit palette.

2—Sea salt spray. When summer rolls around, everyone goes out to buy sea salt spray for those perfect beachy waves. I have curly hair, though, so this stays in my rotation all year long to give me volume and that nice tousled look for the style I want.

3—Bronzer. Bronzer might seem like an especially summer product to complement and amplify the tan you got while on vacation but I like to use it to sculpt and give my face definition while adding a hint of extra color regardless of the season. It’s a perfect substitute for when you don’t want to do heavy contouring, especially if your bronzer doesn’t have any sparkle in it.

4—Highlighter. The sun might be brighter in the summer, but that doesn’t mean that has to apply to your glow, too! To keep my cheekbones looking high and my skin looking bright, I use a pearl toned highlighter. Or if you want a warmer look, you can also go with a blush with some sparkle like Nars’ Orgasm.

5—Au naturel lipsticks. The ‘I woke up like this’ fresh-faced look featuring the au naturel lip is most in during the summer months. But having healthy, natural looking lips is in any time of the year so consider giving your natural-lip lipstick (mine’s Generation G in Leo) a permanent spot in your lipstick lineup.

6—Non-black liners (and mascaras). I give my love of everything black a break in the summertime and sub in some navy and olive eyeliners and mascaras. But besides giving my black products a rest, they look great and keep my look interesting in subtle ways, which is great for when I do want to go for a more unconventional fall or winter look for the rest of my face. 

Do you have any summer products that you like to keep in rotation all year? Let me know in the comments below!