Tarte is an eco-friendly cosmetics line geared towards creating natural makeup for those who want good-for-your-skin products and eco-conscious.Company Claims: “This natural primer helps makeup stay in place longer while preventing creasing in fine lines and wrinkles. Unlike other primers, clean slate contains natural fruit and plant derived extracts to treat, protect, sooth and hydrate the skin.”
My Experience: Clean Slate primer by Tarte is similar in looks to that of Smashbox’s cult favorite, Photo Finish primer and Bare Mineral’s Primetime, However, the similarities stop there. I’ve tried and enjoyed all three but out of these type of primers, Tarte is by far my favorite. While the consistency is slightly thicker than the other two brands, the feel is cleaner, it doesn’t “ball-up”, and this one is packed with ingredients good for the skin. I’ve always been wary of silicone based primers because I wondered how items we use to protect and nourish our skin would penetrate through. With Tarte being a brand about good skin care, they have fully loaded this primer with fruit complex and avocado oil to promote healthy skin, Not just cover it up. I live in a humid climate and have oily/combination skin and this primer at least for me have lived up to the claims fabulously.
Right now you can experience Tarte and recieve20% off sitewide with code GGAD.
Sometimes I think we all need a time out but self-imposed ones are generally a lot more fun than ones that are imposed by others (like a jail sentence). Whenever I feel like losing it, I like to confine myself in a more healthy way by either driving, hiking, or going to the beach sans-people. Here are some tips for safe, happy, and healthy alone time.
Always be aware of your surroundings; you want to RETURN home rested and positive.
If you are recommending this alone time for a spouse or friend include activities they can do alone such as golf or hitting the batting cages if that is what they are into.
Pack or buy a food you like. Healthy items are good for your body. However, even if you pick less than healthy items, choose ones that remind you of your childhood or food that makes you smile. This is your day.
Tell a friend or family member what you intend on doing, where you are going, and when you expect to return for safety reasons.
Remember, this alone time allows you a space to reflect on yourself and take notice of the people you surround yourself by. If you find yourself realizing that some of your peers are introducing negativity into your life, then maybe it’s time to maintain some distance.
Think about things you are thankful for.
Find a way to channel your anger and frustration and expel it from your body.
Find at least a few moments of peace that you can reflect on in the future. During times of frustration you can reflect on your calm moments to help bring you into a better state of mind.
Forgive yourself and others, the act of forgiving is an act of moving forward.
Embrace acceptance. Accept your haters for they are your #1 fans. Accept your failures for they help you know you want to succeed.
Embrace yourself. Everyone may not get you, know you, or really feel where you are coming from; but if you know yourself then you at least know one person in this world you can trust.
Makes a positive promise to yourself such as returning to this place or always seeking a new spot to be alone, reflect, and regain yourself. Do it weekly or monthly but commit.
Commit to this experience, for it will be one of the few experiences you can routinely do that is designed and made for you.
All of us have dreams of doing something or becoming something. All jokes aside, many of our dreams can come true as long as we are not lost in the fantasy. What is it to be lost in a fantasy? It’s to not be aware of the consequences, not realizing we must make and commit to choices, it’s the unwillingness to make sacrifice. Like a beautiful rose which has a thorn, sweet fruit with bitter skin, and shiny metals that tarnish with time, dreams too have an ugly truth and harsh reality. Take marriage for instance, ask a couple who has been married for over 50 years and they will tell you it wasn’t easy, you and your partner have to put work into it to make it work for you. A successful businesswoman, she will tell you sacrifices of time must be made, losses will be had, and reflection is a must. A recovered addict will admit they are not recovered, temptation is always around, but commitment and will-power keeps them focused. Dreams have the power to reveal out feelings, our desires, our limitations, but mostly who we are. Are we those who give up our dreams and lose ourselves, or are we those who fight for them and navigate ourselves through them.
I do enjoy looking at imitations of different looks particularly celebrities like Uma Thurman being turned into Marilyn Monroe for her Vanity Fair spread as well as many Youtube beauty gurus doing replications of music video looks.. However, I think there is something to be said about inspiration as well. I really appreciate when people use a phrase like ‘inspiration’ versus ‘replication’ because to me it shows thought. For example, a hot look in a Keri Hilson or eccentric look in a Lady Gaga may look good in their latest video but may translate into a Bad Romance with makeup in real life. Then again if you are comfortable with extremes then by all means go for it however much like labels I don’t ever want to be labeled a Keri Hilson, Lady Gaga, or Beyonce knockoff nor a label hound. When I am looking to be inspired into a particular look, I try to take a few images in order to suit my personal taste, mood, and style. It become a lot less stressful than trying to copy a look entirely, giving you more flexibility.
An old ad for Jennifer Lopez’s Glow, Sakura Flowers, a candid photo of Marilyn Monroe, and a single cover of Beyonce inspired me to create a very soft, organic, and easy look for myself. Obviously I’m unable to walk around with a shower on hand but the glowing skin and headscarf in Jennifer Lopez’s ad campaign inspired me in my hair and skin for a look that was fresh, luxurious and just “in the moment”. Marilyn Monroe’s photo inspired me to add a classic and iconic feel. While Beyonce’s single cover hints at a natural and urban vibe. The Sakura Flowers added to the softness and idea of using pinks for a youthful and sweet look.
Style:
I’m sure we all have friends that say they have no style or even want it because it costs too much. This logic could not be further from the truth because style is FREE. For example, take two teenage girls, one from New York City and one from California, give them a plain white t-shirt, denim jeans, pair of scissors and a necklace and tell them to make that outfit work for them. The teen representing NYC might distress the denim and leave the white t-shirt as is and wear the necklace as a bracelet giving off an edgy rocker vibe. While the teen from Cali might do denim cutoffs, turn the white tee into a v-neck, and style the necklace in her hair for a beachy and relaxed vibe. Both teens have the same products but have created different styles using nothing but scissors. Style is free, it’s how you take an oversized t-shirt and turn it into an off-the-shoulder minidress. Style is an extended expression of yourself.
Hair:
I braided all the lower layers of my hair into medium braids leaving out my bangs.
Then I created two sections and created two classic braids.
Then I created a bun out of the two braids at the nape leaving out the longer front layers and bangs. Applied a scarf and pinned it on for security. Proceeded to braid the excess layer and wrap it around the newly formed bun.
Nails:
Polish by China Glaze in ‘Cherish’
Makeup:
Face: Sheer Glow by Nars applied with Beauty Blender Sponge in a dabbing motion. Followed by Bare Essentials Mineral Veil. While I’m not a big fan of Bare Essentials foundation, I love their mineral veil to set a foundation because it’s super light and adds to a silky feel.
Blush(B)/Highlight(H): Nars in Mata Hari (B), NYX in Angel (B), Benefit in Dandelion(H), Nars in Albatross (H). You can use blush to enhance your cheeks like Kim Kardashian by placing Blush in the hollows of your cheek as you would a bronzer and add a highlight to the top of your apples to break out your cheekbones.
Lips: NYX Lip Laquer in Georgia Peach, Mac Lipglass in Underage. I love nude lips, while a lot of times I’m using Myth by Mac, I find that Georgia Peach and Underage deliver a really great light peachy pink soft lip when combined.
Eyes: Makeup Forever Smokey Lash in Black & Loreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara. While the Smokey Lash is a All-in-one Mascara, I like to apply the Loreal mascara as the base of my lashes for a more voluminous look. In addition, the formula of both of these mascaras are soft so you can build up without it look too chunky. For eyeshadow I used Mac’s eyeshadow in Yogurt all over the lid followed by Sweet Lust in the outer-corners of the eyes and entire crease. The concentrated Stila’s kitten eyeshadow at the center and inner corners of the eye. Using Loreal’s Extra Intense Liquid Eye Pencil to line the upper and lower waterline (I love this stuff!).
Clothing & Accessories:
Necklace: Tiffany & Co.
Denim: Avedon Slick Skinny Leg by Citizens of Humanity. The denim is thick enough not to look like spandex but has a really soft and luxurious feel.
Top: White Tube Top from Victoria’s Secret, Knotted Gray Cowl Neck Top by YMI
Headscarf: From my Mom’s closet back in her heyday. Score! I really want the scarf Beyonce was using in the movie Dreamgirls in the studio scene, singing ‘Listen’.
Sunglasses: Dior but Target has some really cute oversized glasses.
Purse: Max Azria. I like white for the summer day outings.
Body:
Donna Karen Cashmere Mist Body Oil Spray. This is light and absorbs easily. I don’t like thick lotions during the summer.
Sometimes when we are in a real rush to get out the house and on our way whether from a late night out or all night in, the last thing we have time for is saving face. While we all vary our routine for our 5-minute face sometimes even that routine won’t cut it. So here are some hopefully helpful tips:
Skin: My cheeks have a tendency to get red. If I don’t have time to cover it up I wash my face with really cold water and rub an ice cube on my skin. Afterwards I’ll apply either Physicians Formula Self Defense Color Corrective Moisturizing lotion with Suncreen ($10) or Eucerin Redness Relief Daily Perfection Lotion ($14) both in green tint to neutralize red undertones. If you have red blemishes a drop of Visine will neutralize red tones also by closing blood vessels for about an hour. Skip Foundation if you don’t have time to properly apply it because a clean face is better than one that isn’t blended. Stick with concealer for undereyes an spot treatments with a light pink powder like Benefits Powderflauge ($26) to set and brighten. I also follow with a pink blush to add some fun to my look such as NYX’s Angel or Nars Angelika
Lips: This one is all about about preference. Red lips is a statement color that is paired best with light makeup such as just a little bit of liner and mascara, however it’s not meant to replace all makeup, meaning if you just wear red lipstick you might run the risk of looking like you tried to put on makeup for a night out but didn’t have time to do anything else which defeats the purpose of getting ready, try to “wow” not “whoa”. I prefer a light pink, nude, or natural lip. Pink adds a youthful and girl kick to your look while natural is always beautiful. If you just go for a nude lip make sure you add a bit of gloss so you don’t well… look dead. I love Mac’s lipstick in ‘Angel’ paired with lipglass in ‘Underage’ for a light to midtone pink lip.
Eyes: Always curl your lashes to make your eyes pop even if it’s the only thing you do. A bit of mascara takes it even further. If I need to rush out of my house and intend on doing a public bathroom makeup routine I just bring concealer, mascara, and one eye shadow. I use concealer to even out my lid color. I use Make Forever’s Smokey Lash Mascara ($26) because it’s soft and super black. I work it into my lash line for a smokey eyeliner effect and set it with Mac’s eyeshadow in ‘carbon’ to set my “liner” and then apply to my outer corners of my eye then blend it with my fingers keeping the center of my lid light and the inner corner the lightest. For extra drama I line my upper and lower waterline.
If I feel I look tired, dead, or “heroin chic” I add a braid to my hair and stick with light color wardrobe to appear peaceful, beachy, and bohemian like Jessica Alba and Jennifer Aniston.
I love a palette that works for daytime or nighttime. Right now I’m completely lusting after Urban Decay’s release of the Naked Palette. From the name, packaging, to the colors this palette is a beautiful must have for natural eye fanatics. Your looks can range from office-appropriate, beachy bronze, or sultry smokes. While it retails for $44 it comes equipped with 12 shades including 5 new shades.
If you’ve owned Too Faced Natural Eyes palette, you will love this sleek new palette from Urban Decay. As always for a more intense swatch a color dampen your brush prior to application.
Colors like ‘Whiskey’ and ‘Zero’ are great for brown eyes and a sultry nighttime look. Try using eyeshadow instead of liner for a winged out cat-eye that is both soft and sexy.
For blue eyes and an easy daytime look ‘Virgin’ and ‘Naked’ paired with their 24/7eyeliner in Zero is just as stunning as a smokey eye. Add ‘Sin’ for a pop of shimmer than is anything but sinful.
Check out Kandee Johnson’s tutorial on her Youtube channel…. two thumbs up!
Today was super long but actually kind of relaxing. I had do some spreadsheets and organize files but believe me I wanted to jump out into the ocean or at least do some shopping. Today was a weekend so I got my warrior on with some blue eyeshadow. I normally don’t wear blue because it’s rather bold but I was sporting my Led Zeppelin concert tee and just felt like rocking out today. I love with I have space for myself to just have a concert in the hallways. Overall, today was awesome, encountered some nice people and a few trolls but didn’t let any hate fade my bright day. I drove home listening to Mary J. Bliges’ take on a couple of Zeppelin classics “Stairway to Heaven” and “Whole Lotta Love”. Also excited to read some of these magazine’s…. Yay!!!
My drive home was so calm. I think this week just went by so great. It’s not like I won the lottery or anything or everything went perfectly but all the things that I was excited for worked out amazingly. I’m in such a positive state of mind even amongst negativity. I feel like I can overcome negative people and dire situations.
Do you have to deal with rumors, gossip, or abrasive attitudes? I think we all do at some point in our lives. Sometimes it’s difficult to ignore the “hate” but sometimes it’s the best option. While this may not apply to every situation such as those in work and school environments that may best be handled by HR or school counselors, it can work on someone trying to just get under your skin. Like fire, haters feed on air. A fire needs oxygen to survive. A hater needs you talking about it and spending your energy on them in order to get bigger.
Dirty Laundry: Whether it’s keeping your white jeans white or keeping your Boo’s white tee looking fresh, bleach can only go so far. A helpful tip to keeping your white’s looking brighter is to add a couple of caplets of those old school plain aspirins (The white plain tablets not the liquid type).
Double Duty: Plain white Aspirin can be crushed up, adding tablespoon of honey, and teaspoon to form a paste to be applied as a skin treatment. Or crush up the aspirin until finely milled and add to your regular facial cleanser when you run out of your normal facial scrub cleanser.
(Just trying out my Ipod Nano, the 4th Generation… I’m actually not tech savvy, this is the first Ipod I ever owned. Definitely felt ancient when 1st graders were showing me how to use it.)
Like most of you we’re all aware that the sun damages our skin and makes us susceptible to skin cancer. However finding a sunblock that doesn’t feel thick, sticky, and greasy has always been my challenge. For the past month I’ve been trying out Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Sunblock. While I’ve tried other formulations from the Ultra Sheer line which I find comes closest to ShishedoSuncare. I would hands down pick this new liquid formulation over any department store brand.
Pros:
Comes in SPF 55 & 70+
Lightweight, not thick and greasy (all you need is a few drops)
A little goes a long way
I wore it under my Nars Sheer Glow liquid foundation and it didn’t slide my makeup off.
Cheaper than department store brands
Great alternative for people who have oily skin and don’t want to use an SPF in powder form, but still want protection.
Non-comedogenic (Won’t clog pores)
Sweatproof
Works well with moisterizers
Cons:
Retails for $11-14 dollars which may seem expensive for a drugstore brand
Still has that famous sunscreen smell but I would say it’s mild upon application and deminishes as it absorbs and dries.
I looked at online reviews and noticed a couple possibly with sensitive skin have felt a burning feeling. I personally didn’t experience even a slight tingle. However, I would like to add that sunblock should not be use nor is it intended for after-sun use such as a Sunburn. That will definitely cause tingling and no protect you from harmful rays.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know who Taylor Swift is, love her or strongly disdain her she has become a pop/country icon. To her credit she has sold over 10 million albums and currently the youngest artist to ever win a Country Music Award. Having a young and already blossoming future ahead of her, she joins the ranks of Rihanna, Drew Barrymore and Queen Latifah to ink an endorsement deal with the iconic brand Covergirl. Swift is known for many things in particular her spiral curls and retro cat eye; this is why the spread she gave for Elle a couple of months back caught by eye, as her hair was blown out straight and her makeup was understated with a smokey eye. I used her as inspiration for one of my natural makeup days using Covergirl Lashblast (8.99) which is my favorite drugstore brand mascara. Because of it’s sales volume I know most of you are aware of this great mascara but for those who have yet to try it, LashBlast gives volume, some length, and holds a good curl blasting your lashes in the Swift-fabulous.
Budget Makeup Tip: Have you been wanting to try a tinted moisturizer but don’t want to shell out the bucks for light makeup that gives you zero coverage or worse a look with too much shimmer. Simply mix your matte liquid foundation with baby lotion. I love Johnson & Johnson’s Aloe Vera & Vitamin E formula. It’s not thick and absorbs easily into skin. Just mix one pea size of your foundation into two to three pea sizes of the lotion and there you have it… Tinted Moisturizer and babysoft skin.
See Taylor go Straight from her signature Spiral coils.
Company Claims: “This natural primer helps makeup stay in place longer while preventing creasing in fine lines and wrinkles. Unlike other primers, clean slate contains natural fruit and plant derived extracts to treat, protect, sooth and hydrate the skin.”
