All Made Up for the Holidays

I love the holidays! It's all about spending time with the one's  you love and celebrating the good and not-so-good things that have happened throughout the year. But, I have to be honest, and say my favorite part of the holidays are the exquisite parties that are thrown throughout the city. It's a perfect excuse to get cuter than cute and I am all about that life lol. A chic dress, skirt or jump suit; pumps, booties or wedges; celebrity inspired tresses and you can't forget makeup that says I tried and I did damn good! Whether your favorite look is a hypnotizing red pout or eyes that look like you just left a glitter party-this holiday season allows you to put the glam in glam-azon.

After months of searching-I finally found my shade of red! It's Forever Red by Flori Roberts. Its rich and creamy formula gives me all day color.  

The Cate eye is one of the hottest make up trends for the holidays. Find out how to achieve a perfect cat eye here. Here's a complete holiday makeup tutorial for those of us that don't know the know how.

How To Wear: Dark Lipstick

Simple tips for choosing the correct lipstick for a star struck vampie pout. 

8 Fall Makeup Trends for Less

Preparing for a LO can be costly, even when you cut corners by shopping at thrift stores, accept hand me downs, create DIY projects and keep to a firm budget. But my motto still stands, in 2013, "Being a mommy has never looked so good"! I firmly believe in looking your best, but have to admit saving up for my little guy's college fund is a lot more important. But I can definitely accomplish both! Here are 8 makeup dupes that will allow you to achieve a splurged look on a splashed budget.

1. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette, $52

Showcasing a dozen neutral shades, this eyeshadow palette ranges from pale and deep, to matte and sparkly. No wonder it's the #1 seller! Luckily, MUA, a UK based cosmetics company, created the Undress Me Too Palette for only $6.50! NYX also has a Nude on Nude palette for $25 which can also suffice as a great dupe. 

2. MAC "Syrup" (Lustre) Lipstick, $15

This neutral mauve pink pout by MAC, is a perfect way to wear a bold color without being usual. It's a Lustre finish, which for me, reads as a less sticky lipgloss. The perfect dupe would be Revlon's Superlustrous "Sassy Mauve" exclusive LiquiSilk moisturizing lipstick, which can be snagged at any drugstore for $6.

3. Too Faced Primed and Poreless Primer, $30

This foundation primer does a lot of things at once...it not only blurs the look of pores and fine lines by "filling them in" to allow makeup to flawlessly glide over top, it also contains special ingredients, like Retinol, that promote healthy skin. It's designed to be worn alone or with makeup, which is perfect for a new mom.

NYX Pore Filler, $13,  is a great flawless-finish primer. It's thicker than its comparable, but it melts easily onto the skin once you warm it up by rubbing it between your fingers. I find that you have to rub this in a little bit more to achieve the totally flawless look, but at more than half the price of Too Faced-rub on ladies.

4. NARS Oasis Powder Blush, $29

This sparkling pink-champagne highlighting blush is perfect for Fall. It's a softened, reddish-plum with a hint of golden shimmer that translates to a shimmer-sheen once applied to the skin.

Elf's Studio Blush Blushing Rose is a great dupe for the NARS Oasis. This berry color with a gold shimmer is a steal for only $3! The staying power of Elf blushes is of course not as good as that of NARS but at a price this good I wouldn't mind reapplying every 4 hours. Besides, what's my traveling makeup bag for?


 

5. Benefit Moon Beam Complexion Enhancer, $26

This iridescent highlighter is great! Not only because it is super easy to blend and super easy to travel with, but it adds a warm shimmer that leaves your skin radiant! It can be used as a spot highlighter (brow bone, corner of eyes, cupid's bow and cheekbones) or delicately blended all over your face. But why pay $26, when you can achieve the same flawless complexion with MeMeMe's Beat The Blues Sunbeam for less than $9! Available in Oyster Gold and Pearl Pink, you can dot and blend at a fraction of the comparable's cost. 

6. Moroccan Oil Treatment, $17

MoroccanOil has been all the rave and has quickly become one of the best selling hair care lines in the world. This alcohol-free and weightless formula is perfect for all hair types. It softens thick unmanageable hair and restores shine to dull and lifeless hair. Although, much of this product isn't needed give your hair the lift it needs, I still found $17 was a bit much for a 25ml bottle. Thankfully, our UK friends at Aldi recreated this product, making it possible to buy a 50ml for less than $5.50! Which is perfect for the upcoming, drying and harsh winter. You can thank me now if you'd like.  

7.  NARS Blush/Bronzer Duo, $41 

Both blush and bronzer give a sheer, healthy glow to the skin. This complimentary pairing delivers summer's quintessential radiance with ease and convenience anytime of the year. Although the E.L.F. Studio Contouring Blush duo is slightly more shimmery and the bronzer is slightly darker than the expensive counterparts, it is a perfect contrast for your future tanned looking skin at only $3! 

8. Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils, $19 

Both eyeliners deliver vibrant lasting colors. Each is smudge-proof, meaning you can apply it to the lash line and water line without worry about it disappearing throughout the day. Purchase the lower priced NYX pencil in colors you've never tried before in prep for a neon-filled fling for only $8. 

Drew Barrymore's Makeup Tips for New Moms

Pic courtesy of Flowerbeauty.com

Drew Barrymore has come a long way since playing the adorable Gertie in E.T.-Extra Terrestrial, over 30 years ago. Now, an admired businesswoman and a mom to 11 month old daughter, Olive, she is inspiring mothers all over the world with her beauty line FLOWER. Growing up in a makeup chair, she had not only began to grow a passion for the art but also learned many techniques which she shares on her weekly Tip Tuesday Tutorials. These tips are empowering to any woman but she makes sure she caters to new moms as well. Barrymore wants to give women a quality product, with the finest ingredients at an affordable price. Flower is available at Walmart and Walmart.com. Below, Drew shares a 2 minute makeup routine that will make any sleep-deprived mother not only feel empowered but beautiful.






TheBump.com has even more of Barrymore's makeup tips, her favorite thing about being a new mom as well as the beauty items she cannot live without. Here's a snippet:

The Bump: What is your favorite thing about being a new mom?

Drew Barrymore: Being a mom makes me think so much about my reactions to things. With kids, your reactions to everything are so utterly important and its made me rethink other parts of my life as well. In a nutshell, how you handle everything comes into the sharpest focus of your life when you become a parent.

The Bump: Any tricks or shortcuts for new moms who have less time to get ready-- if they could apply 2 or 3 things tops, what would you recommend?

Drew Barrymore: I do these short videos called "Tip Tuesdays" on Flowerbeauty.com and I talk about my "Two Minute" makeup routine. It's amazing what you can get done in two minutes!

The Bump: What's in your makeup bag?

Drew Barrymore: Our new FLOWER Glisten Up! Highlighter Chubby that is coming out in January. I put it on my cheekbone, brow bone, a tiny bit down the slope of my nose and a dab on the bow  of my lips. It has literally changed the way I do makeup. I love it and I can't wait for people to try the new product.

The Bump: What's the one beauty item you cannot live without?

Drew Barrymore: Concealer. I never leave home without it. I lobe our Skincognito Stick Foundation, or for something lighter, our Lighten Up! Illuminating Concealer click pen. They're my go to!

Visit TheBump for the full interview.

10 Beauty Tips for Busy Moms

THIS BLOG HAS BEEN MOVED TO WWW.FASHNBEAUCOUP.COM

THIS BLOG HAS BEEN MOVED TO WWW.FASHNBEAUCOUP.COM

Being a mom and being busy are two of the same. Usually this leads to putting your own needs on the back burner. Looking good doesn't have to cost a fortune nor take a lengthy amount of time. Here are 10 beauty tips for busy moms.

10. Before doing dishes, lotion hands before putting on gloves. Wash dishes as normal using hot water. The heat from the water will soften hands.

9. Witch hazel can replace your expensive skin toners. This natural astringent has many benefits. It can help fight off acne and blemishes, reduce puffy eyes, treat varicose veins, heal bruises, reduce pore size and treat razor and sun burns.You just need a few cotton balls and dab it on the affected area of your skin. And you're good to go.

8. Many condiments found in your refrigerator can be used for an at home hair treatment. Grab  mayonnaise, olive oil, avocado and one egg. In a bowl, combine 1/2 avocado pureed, 1T of mayo (not light), 1t extra virgin olive oil and the yolk from your egg. Mix these ingredients until smooth and creamy. Massage into your scalp and comb through with fingers or a wide toothed comb. Put on a shower cap, or use a plastic bag. For a deep condition, warm with a hair dryer for 5 minutes. Leave on for 20 minutes or longer then wash and condition as normal.

7. You may not be able to visit your manicurists once a week as once was the case-before you became a mom. But that's no excuse to neglect your nail care. Lemons are a great way to maintain cleaner and whiter nails. Rub 1/4 of a lemon on nails, allowing the juices to run over nails. Let sit for 1 minute and voila! Don't forget to lotion hands afterwards to prevent dry hands.

6. A busy mom's makeup kit should contain mascara, an eyelash curler, eyeliner and lip gloss. All of these items can be purchased for well under $20! If you'd like you can also use ColorOn Professional Eye Envy Shadow Kits, which is a adhesive eyeshadow applicator that can be found at Sephora or on their website.

5. Exfoliating your skin is a skin remedy that is super beneficial to smoother and younger looking skin. This can be done your favorite spa or for we busy moms-at home. Simply mix baking soda with your favorite drug store facial cleanser and watch the dead skin disappear.

4. You woke up with puffy eyes and you have to look your best today.  A quick and mess free alternative would be to place something cold on your eyes i.e. a cold spoon, hemorrhoid cream, cool tea bags. Cool objects are only a temporary solution to puffiness-which can be a symptom of another problem like sleep deprivation or allergies.

3. A scarf can drastically change and outfit depending on how busy you are that day- it may be all you have time for. It an be used for different looks and can also cover up a "spit up" stain from your little one.

2. DIY Manicure. Sally Hansen Strips are a perfect way to achieve the look of an expensive manicure without the cost and time restraint.

1. My bath time is my favorite part of the day. A time to unwind and wash off my worries and release tension. Bubble baths are a wonderful inexpensive way to treat yourself. I like to add epsom salt to relax my muscles, 1/2 cup of honey and a cup of milk to keep my skin smooth.