No Lies Eyes

The second post under my reader's choice suggestion is one dedicated to properly doing eye makeup. This topic has a lot of area to cover, so I am going to attempt to provide a post that appeals to the most broad range of doing eye makeup (so none of my crazy applications this time around).

First and foremost, you have to prep your face. Start with a moisturizer with SPF. Distribute evenly across your face and neck and let it absorb fully in to your skin. Next, grab a good primer and apply evenly. After that, touch up with a concealer and smooth it all over with your choice of foundation. At this point you can choose to add an eye specific primer if you like. If you are going with something a bit more basic and demure, you can skip this part. If you are going to be applying colors that are dark or pigment heavy, you will want to do an eye primer to hold everything in its place. If you do go with a primer, dab a bit on your lids and pat it in gently.

Now it's time for application. For basic application, I recommend four styles of brushes, which you can purchase here.

Flat shadow brush

Standard shadow brush

Tapered shadow brush

Angled shadow brush

Select your shadows. I suggest a minimum of two but usually end up using close to five for any look. 

The lightest of your shadows should be applied on your lid from the inner corner to the center of your eye lid with the flat eye shadow brush. Next take your darker color and apply with the standard shadow brush from the center of your lid to the the outer corner of your eye lid. Bring your brush back to the center of your eye lid and blend in with your lighter color. It should not be clear where one color starts and another ends. When you are satisfied with your blending efforts, pick up the tapered shadow brush and blend along the crease. I usually select a similar color that falls between the lighter and darker colors I have already applied. I use this in my crease to add a bit of depth. Pull the brush back and forth along the whole crease.

Next, it's time for liner. Once again, application depends on the look you are going for. Some people suggest applying liner first, but I prefer adding it last. I use a cross between kohl liner and powder. Line your inner, lower lids with your choice of liner color. Then swipe a line across your upper lash line. Depending on the look, you can bring the liner to a small wing in the outer corner of your eye. After this, I dip my angled powder brush in the darker color I used on my outer lid. I apply this powder over any area where I already applied the pencil liner. I do this for two reasons. First, it softens up the liner so it doesn't appear quite as severe. Second, it helps set it so it doesn't wear away throughout the day. 

Finally you can add the finishing touches. Curl your lashes and apply your favorite mascara on both your top and bottom lashes, and ta-da infallible eye makeup!

Pixie Products

I've opened up my blog for post suggestions. It's a busy time of year for student affairs people, so I will let you come up with the ideas for the time being. You do the thinking, I'll do the writing.

My first reader-suggested post comes from a former classmate of mine at Coe College. She recently took the huge plunge and got a pixie cut (which looks absolutely fantastic, if you were wondering), so this post is about exactly what products I use andy recommend for keeping short locks looking sharp.

I've had short hair for quite a while. I cut off my stick straight, butt-length hair when I was in the 4th grade. Ever since then I've never let my hair grow past my shoulders. I found short hair to be extremely empowering. As I got older I knew that when I walked in to a room, people were looking at me. When you are a 6 foot tall ginger with a fierce mohawk, it kind of happens...a lot. I loved how different it made me feel. I highly encourage every woman to try a short haircut at some time in her life. If you don't like it, don't worry! Hair grows back! Only recently have I started to grow my hair out. Not because I stopped loving having short hair, but because I was in a hair rut. I'm sure there will be a cute crop somewhere in my future again. My residency in the short hair club has given me plenty of time to try out every imaginable hair product out there. At this time I can confidently say I know what works.

Shampoo and Conditioner:
Generally, unless you have course, damaged, or color treated hair, what you use to clean up doesn't matter a whole lot. That said, I still have my preferences for short hair maintenance. I use American Crew. American Crew is considered a premiere men's brand, but that obviously doesn't concern me.
Short hair means that you need to be more aware of the health of your scalp, and since men typically have short hair, it's pretty convenient. This brand utilizes tea tree oil which is known for its skin calming effects and keeps your scalp healthy. Additionally, short hair requires far more product for styling than other cuts and styles, so I look to this brand for its "unloaded" ingredient list. It gets the gunk out and allows you to start fresh with every wash. You don't want to use shampoo or conditioner that is heavy with oils or leaves a residue. Essentially, any clarifying or detoxifying shampoo or conditioner will work. You can buy the brand here.

Treatment:
I know I just said that you don't want to use anything that weighs down hair but doesn't contribute to the styling portion of your routine, so it may seem counterintuitive that I am suggesting a heavy, hair masque. I wash my hair every single day because of the product that I load it with for styling (and I'm also really neurotic about cleanliness). Stripping my hair of naturally produced oils can leave it parched and in need of some back-up. Once a week I take a few extra minutes in the shower to put in a hair treatment. I currently use the Organix Argan Oil line. This masque leaves my hair incredibly soft and healthy, without making it feel greasy or oily. It seems to combat the damaging effects of daily washes and heat styling. It also smells ah-mazing. You can buy the brand here.

Styling:
This is where it gets a bit intense. There are so many options for styling that it is difficult to make a concise set of recommendations. I've compiled a comprehensive list of what I use most regularly. Some of these fulfill roles that the other products on the list don't, so it is important to make your selection based on what you are looking for. It may be surprising to many people that short hair has a laundry list of possible styling options and requires a laundry list of products.

Big Sexy Hair Root Lifter: Every morning routine should involve a little bit of volume. I spray this stuff basically in the center/crown area for lift. Since I'm not looking for volume on the back or sides of my head, I keep it concentrated. I give a quick spray while my hair is still damp and massage the product it before putting anything else in my hair.

Garnier Sleek and Shine Serum: Okay, you know how before I stated that if you have short hair you should avoid weighing it down with oils and stuff? Well, ignore that for a moment. I have been using this Garnier product for ages when I'm pretty sure I first bought it at Target on clearance (I find so many awesome products that way). I put a dime sized amount of this product in my hands and rub my palms together before applying to damp hair. This keeps the oil from getting to concentrated in one area. I swipe my hands through my hair multiple times, making sure my strands are evenly coated. I always use some sort of shine oil on my pixie cuts because it evens out the texture a bit. Pixie cuts tend to come with a whole load of piecey bits and texture, so a bit of oil keeps it from looking like straw. If you have naturally oily hair, you may want to reduce the amount you use, or look for another product that doubles up with some other benefits (such as a wax or pomade). With this product, a little bit goes a long way, so it is a fantastic and inexpensive purchase.

At this point I usually am ready to start the drying and straightening process, because all of my other products require dried and almost finished hair in order to successfully do their thing. If you don't have one already, find a hair dryer with a concentrator on it (the duck bill looking thing). It will change your hair styling life. Oh, and even though the price is ridiculous, Chi makes the best everything in heat styling tools.

Redken Refresh: I don't have oily hair and I wash mine so much that I have never needed the help of dry shampoos. I started using dry shampoos on my short hair whenever I felt it needed a bit of a dirty effect. If you've had short hair before, you should know that day-two hair always looks better than day-one, but because of my tendencies my day-two hair never saw the light of day. Dry shampoo gives it a messy texture that lifts some of the excess oils from the aforementioned products. This product has a faint minty smell and doesn't leave a peculiar white residue like cheaper dry shampoos. I don't use this product every day, but I like to have it on hand for the times when my hair is just being difficult.

The next three products all depend on the type of styling finish you are looking for. I do not use all three of these at once.

Big Sexy Hair Powder Play: This product was one of the first items I wrote about on my blog. This stuff comes out of a small shaker in powder like form. Deposit some in your hand and cautiously sprinkle over the top of your head (don't rub your hands together). Run your hands through it however you like (straight back, pulled forward, or all messed up). The powder creates a wax like hold without the oily residue. It also allows for restyling throughout the day. I use this product most frequently for styling. It allows for a natural finish that doesn't look like it took a ton of effort or time. The only down side of this product is that it takes some getting used to, as it isn't the easiest to master. Start in small doses on days when you are rushed and you'll get the hang of it.

Redken Styling Paste: This styling paste is great for what I consider more edgy looks. I use it when I want certain pieces to stand out and there to be definite layers and sections in my hair. Deposit a small amount in to your hands and spread it out evenly across your finger tips. Starting halfway down your hair shaft, begin piecing out the sections you want to stand out. This product is wonderful for promoting hair badassery. The only downside of this product is that I personally think it smells like melted crayons, which I'm pretty sure no one finds alluring.

Redken Wax Blast: This product sounds a little bit dirty and that might be why I tried it in the first place. I use this product whenever the finish I am looking for is more refined or sleek. After drying and straightening my hair I evenly spray, in short bursts, this light wax all over (once again, a little bit goes a long way). I then run my fingers, or a comb depending on how precise and polished I want my hair to look, through the coated strands. I neatly push my hair to whatever side or direction I want it to lay. Fair warning, this spray is very easy to overdo it on, so keep your spray time brief.

Redken Fashion Work: This hairspray (or finishing spray) has a light hold that doesn't make my hair feel stiff. This allows me to restyle my hair as necessary without feeling like I have permanently glued my strands in their final resting place. Use this like any other hair spray by keeping it about 10 inches away from your head and spray evenly.

I don't work for Redken and never have, but as you probably noticed, I use a ton of their products. I've personally found a lot of success with their hair products both independently and in tandem with each other. These are simply what have worked for me over the past few years. If you find that these aren't right for you and aren't in a price range you area ready to commit to, you can easily find drugstore brand products what serve the exact same purpose and may work just as well. The best thing about short hair is that it allows you to experiment with some really cool and edgy styles. Enjoy finding what works for you.

Kat Von D True Romance Eye Shadow

Very, very rarely do I come across a product that I feel obligated to buy every single item from that line. This week I found one of those products.

Over the Christmas holiday I received the Kat Von D eye shadow palette called Ladybird. It's an eight eye shadow palette, all matte and comes with a small eyeliner. During my first go with this kit I used three of the brown shades and created a smokey, gradient effect across my eye. I finished by lining with the brown eyeliner that came with it. I was in love with everything.

The eye liner went on as smooth as anything I have ever used. The color was rich, clean, and went on evenly and smoothly. The eye shadow was highly pigmented and true to color. It went on like butter, and blended seamlessly. I literally cannot speak highly enough of this product.

This is my second impressed purchase from Kat. I currently use her full cover foundation and full coverage concealer. Her face products give me flawless, doll-like skin.

At first I was skeptical. I thought this would be another celebrity venture into cosmetics and fragrance that was only intended to further their own personal brand and image. This is different. As a tattoo artist she understands how color and texture translates on all skin types. Her products are marvelous and better than some of the more well-established makeup brands out there. She knows what she is doing. I would not lead you astray when it comes to makeup and I can assure that you will find you makeup soulmate with Kat Von D.

The Kat Von D line is currently available at Sephora and her own website.