The right blush for your skintone

We've all seen it. Someone who overdid it just a tad on the blush that morning and ended up looking more like a clown than a girl. It happens to the best of us, but its an easy fix.
Sometimes how blush looks on the skin has less to do with the amount you apply and more to do with finding the shade that is going to compliment your skin tone and give you the radiant look you desire without looking ridiculous. One thing is for sure, putting blush on is one of the best way to instantly radiate your skin and give a glow that makes you look more cheerful and happy.
Your gut instinct may be to go with the color you like the best or the one you think looks like the one "everyone else wears," but just like we all wear a different clothing size, we all have different skin tones and different color compliment them differently. Whether you prefer cream blush or powder, finding the right color is the most important, second to application. Keeping it light is the best way to make sure you won't have a blush catastrophe. You can always add more, but its almost impossible to remove what you've already done without having to completely start over with your makeup. And when it comes to getting ready for school, time is of the essence.

For fair skin, its important not to go too dark. You don't want to overpower your beautiful porcelain skin. Stick with a light peachy pink and a light application for more of a glow than a "blush".

For medium skin tones, just like fair skin, peaches and pinks are your best go-to, however you may want to take it a step further and go a shade or two darker. A rich pink or even mauve will provide
you with a lasting glow, without being too much.

For darker skin tones, deep shades of red, orange, and brown look best. Pink colors will tend to leave you looking more washed out than flushed.

Keep the blush focused on the apples of your cheeks for daytime wear and bring it up the cheekbones for a nighttime look. If you want something more dramatic you can always use contour shades with darker bronzier colors and a lighter highlight shade on the top of your cheekbones. However when it comes to contouring, especially during the day, like grandma always said, less is more.


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How To Look FLAWLESS in School Pictures

Most people have trouble when preparing for picture day. Here's a few steps you can take to make sure you are ready for your flawless photo shoot.

1. Clear skin = confidence

Going into a picture knowing your skin is looking its best can really take the edge off. If you don't normally, start washing and moisturizing your face 2-3 weeks before the picture is scheduled to prep it. This helps ensure you won't have any bad break outs, dryness, or uneven skin tones.

2. Put together an outfit. 

You can find something to wear that you already own, but buying something new is always fun. Make sure you select a shirt in a color that looks good on you. Also, choose something simple. No crazy colors or patterns. The pictures focus should be your face, not what you're wearing. You also want to stay away from anything that is too low cut, you don't need anything else to worry about when your getting your photo taken.

3. Style your hair.

Find something fun to do with your hair that you can practice the night before, You don't want to be scrambling in the morning, so make sure it's doable in a short period of time. You may want to choose something that brings your hair out of your face and eyes. 

4. Photo-ready makeup.

Especially when it comes to school photos, you don't want to over do it. You will end up regretting it later. Go for something simple, and remember the basics: apply lip balm first to make sure your lips are moisturized and ready. Avoid using moisturizers or primers that contain SPF, because this reflects the light of the camera and can cause your face to appear whiter than the rest of your body. Use a matte powder to set your makeup to control shine, and stick with a neutral eye shadow palette. Make sure to fill in your brows with either an eye pencil or matte shadow. Last but not least, make sure to add a little more blush to your cheeks than normal. Flash photography can remove up to 20% of color and intensity from your makeup, and you want to avoid looking washed out, so blush away.


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Jelly Watercolor Nails!

  Having trendy nails is a fun way to express your style and creativity as the seasons change. Its also an easy way to meep you looking put together and can brighten up any outfit or add a little color to your day.

For this nail look its good to have a few (3-4) bright pastel colors for a variety on each nail. Oranges, yellows, pinks, blues, and purples are all good colors to try for this one. 
Since autumn has just begun, try incorporating some fall-type colors into your design.. Try mixing reds, oranges, pinks, and yellows. 
I prefer Essie nail polishes because they have a thin consistency and are great quality products that last on your nails. For this type of nail art, it is beneficial to use more sheer colored nail polishes in order to layer the color and have it look the best.
You also want a base color (something neutral, or white even) as you're starting layer. Lastly, for easy application of the color in the "watercolor" or marble type effect we are going for, its good to have a few cheep makeup sponges. These can be found at any beauty retailer, are extremely inexpensive, and can be used for a bunch of other beauty-type situations, which i will cover in another blog. :)
You can cut them into smaller pieces to fit your nails.
Start out by applying the base coat to your nails, you may want to use a few coats to make sure its opaque.
When that is dry, you are ready to add the color.
Take a small piece of the makeup sponge (that you have previously cut into many smaller pieces) and dip it into a small amount of nail polish on a piece of paper. Dab it on the paper a few times to get the access polish off before transferring it to your nail.
Using thin layers, take each color and being to form your masterpiece. 
Pretend your nails are paper and paint away!

After its dried, apply your long lasting top coat to preserve your painting. If you are feeling extra creative, you can try adding jewels or nail stickers to an accent nail. This look has unlimited color combinations and possibilities, let your creativity run free and flash your beautiful talent to the world!


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