Alcohol Saves the Day

Some people use alcohol to drink their sorrows away... or some people use it to go from "Rachel, the desk assistant" to "Rachel, life of the party".

I use it... for MY MAKE UP... and OH MY GOD did it help me out so so so much!

1) I use it every time I sanitize make up items that I've swapped for. I put the alcohol (I got the cheap one 50% isopropyl acohol) in a spray bottle and spray what ever item I want to disinfect. It works on any powder and lipsticks (which are the ones I always get anyways).

2) I use it to mend my stuff. So I bought a Victoria Secret baked eyeshadow and we all know that baked items are EXTREMELY fragile... and of course it came broken. No need to fear I thought, I just need my alcohol and I'm all set!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

* I just crushed the shadows that were loose w/ a spoon
* Then I used a quarter and wrapped it around a napkin - sprayed that w/ alcohol
* I sprayed a bunch of alcohol on that shadow and PRESSED!
* Ta da - of course, there was no way I can actually make it back into the cute dome shape that it was but heck, it is still usable and doesn't make a mess everytime I take it out.
* Now, I have no idea how the alcohol actually make the product stayed together like that... if you have a clue, let me know :D I'm curious!

TOOLS:


* This method does get messy. I think I lost about 10% of product but that's okay. It was totally worth it.
* I think the paper is extremely important in this method! (Disclaimer: I'm not trying to promote Albertson in anyway...)

3) Finally, I use alcohol to wash my brushes! I know that brushes get a tremendous amount of bacteria build up. Your skin has tons of bacteria living on it and think of a brush just taking up some of that everytime it touches your face. With the oil that comes from your face... bacteria can form colonies and it is just a disgusting mess!

So alcohol is ESSENTIAL! Now, I know 50% ispropanol is probably not the best (I was CHEAP!) but some is better than none.

I followed EnkoreMakeup Brush cleanser recipe and it works great. 40% approxmiately is alcohol!



So I think that alcohol, no no, not talking about the stuff you drink (ethanol... and such) but ISOPROPANOL is very important as a disinfecting agent and also... powder mender.

I hope this helps someone out there :D

See ya! Thanks for reading and stopping by.

If you have a brain, Do-It-Yourself!

So, besides make up, I LOVE to DIY! Especially sewing wise.

For example, a year ago, I made:




My sister got me the pattern for my birthday and I went to town with it!

For awhile, my sewing machine was broken and I couldn't do anything with it but I got a new one for Christmas this year.

So...

I made THIS:



What the heck is that?? Well, let me show you -


It is a brush... roll... sorta. It has places for me to hold my brushes on the right and then on the left, I made a little pouch for random make up. And let me tell you - I was so surprised by the amount that could fit in that pouch!




Definitely NOT PERFECT! The patch at the top to cover the bristles is not straight... SIGH! Oh well. I'll live.



So this might not be something that everyone can do - but I hope it is some sort of inspiration for you and your next project!

This took me... if I were to sit and do this - 12 hours. Yes, I made a bunch of calculation mistakes... but it is my first brush roll though.

I still think this pouch is GREAT for light travel. Just pop in a concealer, blush, bronzer, liner, mascara, chapstick and lipstick (YES, that will all fit! especially with smaller products like Jane's blushes or Covergirl's blushes and a drugstore shadow quad) and I'm all set!

If anyone wants more info - just go ahead and ask! And if you don't have your own sewing machine - JUST sew by hand. It works just as great.

Check out your Ulta... hurry!

So Ulta is having a really great sale last time I went - which was Thanksgiving weekend... so I don't know if they still have this BUT::

Revlon buy 2 get 2 free...

2 things I got from that deal:


* 2 Revlon eyeshadow contour brushes, 2 illuminance cream shadows - Coastal Blues and Pink
Yeah, so all of this was $7.50!! Yeah, it was insane because the stuff was "clearance"

And I am in love w/ both of them already:


I was so excited to see these on sale because I hear Emilynoel83 on youtube talk about them all the time! So, I HAD TO TRY IT OUT!

This contour brush is soft! It is dense and fluffy!! It is tapered and really well cut. It looks sturdy and it is just great at blending and putting colors in the crease.

The only problem is that it is pretty big for my eyes but it works so well! I've been playing with it nonstop. It is the only brush I use to put on shadows... ha ha...

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Then the cream shadows - I haven't opened up Pink Petals yet... but Coastal Blues... is so lovely!! This is a great palette for those who love blues or smokey eyes. And it is great because of that neutral color in the midst of those more dramatic ones.

Here are some swatches... it was really hard to take a picture of them for some reason:


** sorry for the tiny pic!




Very pigmented! All the colors are vibrant and lovely. I LOVE THAT GRAY!!! OH YES LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Great for smokey eyes!!!

I just wanted to post quickly about these great items just in case it is all gone or sold out. I should've done this sooner but I was busy! SORRY GUYS!

Here is a quick look I did using the brush only and a few other little things:





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So, the Holiday season is about giving... and let me tell you... THERE ARE A TON OF GIVEAWAYS going on at the moment!

1) Rai's 1 Year Anniversary Giveaway!! AWW...

2) Sleek for Beauty's 50 Followers+Xmas giveaway
- Really fun blog and great prizes!

3) Nouveau Cheap - a favorite blog of mine is having a massive giveaway - so many chances and so many choices!!

4) Finally, Lipglossing - another MASSIVE giveaway!! these prizes blow my mind! WHOO!

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And of course - my own giveaway :D


CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE!!!

Ecotools - A GIVEAWAY! ends DEC 9! **CLOSED**

Okay, before I say anything about this giveaway, I wanted to do a review first... of my own Ecotools:

As you know, Ecotools is a company that makes eco-friendly beauty tools. What I bought was the 5-piece set from Target that cost me $11! It came with a Blush Brush, Eye Shading Brush, Eyeliner Brush, Lash & Brow Groomer, and (one of my favorites) Concealer Brush.

The sturdy handle is made of bamboo, which on the website states that it is a highly sustainable plant. The bristles are synthetic and the ferrule is made from recycled aluminum. Everything is from natural and recycled materials - which IS AWESOME!

So what about the quality???

SOFT!!! Amazingly soft - especially the blush brush. It is like the Everyday's Mineral brushes or like a kitty's tail or something. Sooo good! Because of this that I don't mind using it to place the color and blend.

The concealer brush makes it so that I just dab the concealer on a blemish and the edges are already blended - although it is a bit small for under eyes though so you might need a foundation brush. But again, it is soft, it works GREAT with liquid/cream concealers. I love it.

The liner brush I use often to line my bottom lash line w/ a shadow. Sometimes, I even use it for brows. I mean, a liner brush is a must-have and why not buy one that works well and is cheap!

I use the eyeshadow brush to blend out my cream shadows and even place powder underneath my eyes to set my concealer. DID I MENTION HOW SOFT THESE BRUSHES ARE? Yeah, they are amazing.

And of course, the brow and lash brush - another must have and this is part of the pack - why not.

Another great thing I love - how sturdy and well made these brushes are. I feel like they're never gonna break on me!

** Of course, I would like to mention that the blush brush doesn't pick up as much color as I would like... but if you have a heavy hand w/ your blush - this works great. Also, it allows color to be buildable. Nothing major.

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So I was shopping and I thought - why not buy an ECOTOOLS set for this giveaway I've been planning for ages! So I went to the section and this set really caught my eyes - it was the only one that they had there too!

This is the new Alicia Silverstone brush collection. It comes with a blush brush, eyeshadow brush, lash & brow brush.... and MOST EXCITING...

A DUO FIBER BRUSH!!!

Yeah, cool eh?? Oh and they also have a cute little floral brush holder too :)

What you have to do to join is:

COMMENT TO THIS POST!!

Tell me: What is your favorite Holiday/Christmas family tradition?

I will do that whole random thing again!

Rules: YOU MUST
1) Follow this blog
2) Put your email address w/ the comment
3) Answer my email in 3 days or I choose another winner
4) Comment once!
5) US RESIDENTS only! I'm really really sorry about that!

THIS ENDS DEC. 9! It isn't hard - just write a quick response!

This isn't a requirement but I would really appreciate it if you guys advertise this giveaway on your blogs too! If I don't get more than 5 people joining this contest - I might as well just keep it for myself! I know... I know... horrible!


Well, thanks for reading my post! I hope I've enticed you... ha ha! Please join!

~***~

My favorite tradition is decorating the tree! My sister and I are usually in charge of it. It was more special when my mom would come home late at night from work and the tree would already be up. Also, we love to bake sweets during the Holiday season. We are not Christians but we still enjoy the spirit of the Holiday and we do try to be part of it as much as possible!

Important Brushes

These are the brushes that are extremely helpful when I'm doing my make up:


Of course, I cannot do much without the ELF eyeshadow and blending brush. Those two are nice, soft, they do the work and they are both $1 each! I really recommend this for anyone who is starting out. Why go and fork out $20 for a brush if you don't really know what you're doing anyways?

Then the Ecotool brushes - one of the best purchases ever! I use the blush brush (which is not in this pic) everyday and I use the liner a lot! I randomly have the concealer brush in there (not for eyes) but for under the eyes ;p I really recommend beginners to look into these brushes again. MAN are they soft! And healthy for the environment (b/c of the material) and cheap! $11 for 5 things you find important for everyday use.

Finally the Essence of Beauty crease brushes - it comes in two and I do find myself using both but the bigger one is better to use for crease work (so is the little one... - depends on the situation I guess!) but this is a great brush! For details for getting the colors in there! Totally worth the $5-6 dollars that it costs!

So many cheap brushes around. I've been eye-ing the more expensive ones but I just haven't found a reason to buy any new brushes yet because I don't feel like I need to. These will do just fine... for now :) They haven't broken on me... well my ELF ones had but easy fixes! I don't know... give 'em a try!


This is what I came up w/ after looking at a few vids and inspired...

I actually did a cool make up look for Halloween - a total purple/black smokey eye! But I didn't take any pics! SAD! Oh well.

My skin has been acting extra horrible lately. So much break outs! I think they have all calmed down though... hopefully!

Thanks for reading, see ya all later.

Bath TIME!

OMG, I don't know why my internet has been so slow lately!! It took forever to load this page. Anyways, now that my busy week is over, I now I have to post a little bit. I had to wash my brushes the other day and I wanted to make a post about it just because... I dunno. Well, this is how I clean my brushes and it's worked out well for me thus far.



This is what I use. The bottle of "water" is the cleaning mixture that I learned from Enkore's Channel. I love using it b/c after wards, my brushes smell nice and they're clean and just really awesome!

Then also, I was watching Pursebuzz talking about using a facial scrub that she doesn't like to deep clean her brushes and I realized I also have a scrub that I don't like. So that's what the Neutrogena face scrub in there is for.



So, I first pour some of my brush cleanser mixture in a little bowl. Enough to dip my brushes in but not a lot! Then I would take it and wipe it on a piece of paper towel. Then I would put some of my scrubs on there and just get into the bristles and scrub! Then rinse w/ water and hang them either upside down or on the side. Never dry them just standing straight up b/c that might ruin the brushes.


My foundation brush is always the dirtiest!


See how my skunk brush from Coastal Scents has the dyes coming out. This is the 2nd time I've washed it.


Here is one of my favorites E.L.F eyeshadow brushes. It is the eye defining brush and it is so awesome b/c it is slanted. It is multipurpose. You can do so much with it.


Let them layout to dry... this is an old pic. I have a bit more brushes (the coastal scents ones) since then.

and you see the sky turn red,"

COASTAL SCENTS!!!. I purchased some Coastal Scents brushes a few weeks ago and wanted to try them out first before writing/reviewing on them.

First of all, I just want to say that their shipping/customer service is awesome. The only thing is that they need to do something about their site b/c it looks kinda - well not really professional. Besides that, I love how they allow you to choose your own shipping method. So instead of paying $6 for FedEx, I paid $3 for USPS. But if you really need your stuff FAST, you can get like overnight shipping or something crazy like that. I ordered my stuff on Tuesday and got it on Friday (or maybe Saturday)!! Anyways, I absolutely love it.

Here are the products that I got:


The Pink Kabuki Brush for $4.99, Italian Badger Angle Blush Brush for $6.99, and Pink Duo Fiber Powder Stippler Brush for $7.49.

So here is what I think...
1)

PROS: IT IS SO FLUFFY!!! Look how dense that baby is. Oh yeah, it is HUGE! It also doesn't shed or have pink dye come off when I wash it. Doesn't smell funky anymore. Very good at putting powder on!

CONS: Not as soft as a cat's fur or something but it's not scratchy either.

Overall: - 4/5 cupcakes~

2)

PROS: It looks very fancy - nice shiny wood handle :) Picks up good amount of product and blends well. SHEDS a little - only a little and no dye problem w/ this either.

CONS: The only thing I hate and it is a big thing is that it isn't as soft as would've liked. It isn't SCRATCHY!! It's just not soft. I don't like to blend much with this brush because it's not very soft.

Overall: Even though I do love this product,
- 3/5 ;_;


Finally, 3)

PROS: SOFT AS A CLOUD. I got it b/c its denser than the black one. Barely sheds. Definitely gives nice stippling effect. Sheer colors of blush.

CONS: It's kida flimsy when you blend... like the bottom isn't as stiff as you would want it to. I get dye coming off when I wash it.

Overall: This is a strange one... and I don't know how I feel about it yet. I still need to use it more to see if I like putting on foundation the normal way better or if I like putting on blush w/ another brush. For now, I say:
- 4/5

Sorry if you find my cupcakes weird. I found them on a website and couldn't resist using them for something.

So, in conclusion, I say that I'm not in love with any of these brushes. I find them useful but not something that I would be extremely excited about. So, if you want some cheap brushes that works well, this is defintely something to look for.

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These are my wish list for my next order (yes, I still really like this company)
- Their hot pan eyeshadows
- Gel liners in 24K, Deep Plum, Maroon, Indigo Blue, and True Black
Also, I'm looking into pressing and making my own palettes (DIY stuff) so I might get some of their:
- Pressing Medium and eye shadow pans

So many things I want!! But I'm pretty good w/ brushes right now... well, I might get a blush brush... we'll see~

Until next time! Have fun shopping and bargaining and cutting coupons!