How perfectly symmetrical and flawless is Kim Kardashian’s face? I bet you thought that she was bestowed with these gifts from birth, but it’s not true. I mean, obviously she has a beautiful face, but thanks to contouring and highlighting, Ms. Kardashian is able to get a much more impeccable face than most.

Essentially, you know you’ve arrived as a makeup artist once you’ve done the Kardashians’s makeup. This rings true for Mario Dedvanovic, Joyce Bonelli, and Rob Sheppy, amongst others. They all contour and highlight very similarly. And I’m here to teach you how it’s done.

This picture provides a good rule of thumb on how to contour and highlight a face:

It’s obviously very dramatic, but you would blend this all out like a pro.

You want the contour color to be about 2 shades darker than your skin tone and the highlighter to be 1 or 2 shades lighter than your foundation. You can adjust the colors based on what type of look your going for. Typically, you would want the look to be a bit more dramatic if you’re going out for the night. And you might not want to contour at all if you’re going for a natural look.

You can use different shades of foundation, concealer, or powder to achieve the desired look.

What you want is to go from this:

To this:

It takes a lot of practice and A LOT of blending. Have confidence and you’ll get it eventually!

Have fun playing around with it!

Do you ever have trouble blending your concealer or foundation?  I know I do!

Before I discovered brushes, I used my fingers for everything concerning makeup. And while makeup brushes can blend better than your fingers, sometimes brushes leave streaks that are hard to get rid of.

Enter the Beauty Blender!

Seriously, I have no idea why it took me so long to jump on the Beauty Blender bandwagon! Not only does this baby blend your foundation and concealer like a dream, but you end up using less makeup than normal.

So let me explain how to use this little pink sponge! It’s super easy. All you need to do is get the sponge wet. When you run it under water, you need to squeeze it multiple times to make sure it absorbs as much water as possible. Preferably, the water should be warm. The sponge is going to double in size. Once it’s absorbed the water, squeeze as much water out of the Beauty Blender as possible. The sponge will be barely damp, and that’s the magic!

Dab the larger, rounded end into a little bit of foundation and apply to your face. The application is important. When you put it on your face, you need to twist the sponge a bit. This is how it blends. The pointier end is used for blending your concealer and for blending in the hard to get-at places of your face, like the crease of your nose or the inner corner of your eyes. Despite which end of the sponge you’re using, be sure to twist just a bit.

You can also use this with cream foundation. Just roughly apply it to your face first and then blend with the Beauty Blender.

The only con about the blender is that it stains. Your foundation and concealer will more than likely stain the blender and no matter how many times you wash it, you won’t be able to get the flesh color out. This would be a downside if you were applying makeup to someone who might think that the sponge is dirty.

Also, it’s not cheap. There are some reasonable facsimiles out on the market which I haven’t tried which are much affordable, but it’s important to know that the Beauty Blender is reusable so long as you wash it.

Try out this baby! Honestly, you definitely won’t be disappointed. Where applying foundation was the longest step in my makeup routine, it’s now one of the shortest. Blending is a breeze now!

As 2012 comes to a close, I’m reflecting about all the new products I’ve discovered as well as my tried and true favorites. I’m here to tell you about my favorite beauty products of the year. I’ve limited myself to the top 10 which was extremely hard to do! Now, these products didn’t necessarily come out in 2012, but they’ve been my faves throughout the year. Also, they are in no particular order! Enjoy, and I hope you have a very happy 2013!

1)      Benefit Fine One One

So this is pretty crazy! It’s a one stop product for those who are a little less than savvy when it comes to contouring. It’s essentially a stick that includes the highlight, blush, and contour shade so there’s almost no guess work. It goes on very sheer so it’s great for a “no-makeup” makeup look. Just swipe it on your cheeks up to your temple, blend a bit, and you’re out the door! Available on Sephora.com.

2)      Make Up For Ever Empty Magnetic Palette

For professional makeup artists, this is pretty much a God-send! This palette is completely empty, but the bottom of the tray is magnetic, so you can take out certain eyeshadows, blushes, lip colors, etc. from other palettes and stick them right on this baby (as long as they are in metal tins)! So instead of carrying around a ton of different palettes with you, you can basically create a custom palette based on what you think you may need, or what your favorite colors are! Available at Make Up For Ever boutiques or search on ebay.com.

3)      Eye M Glam Highlighter by Mario Dedivanovic

This amazing highlighter is sold by Giella, but was created and formulated by celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic! If you know me well, you know that Mario is one of my favorite makeup artists as he’s highly in demand by celebrities and magazines everywhere! He does Kim Kardashian’s makeup and he’s very well known for his contouring technique. So it’s no surprise that he came out with a beautiful highlighter that works on all skin tones. A little goes a long way and it gives you a very healthy glow. Use it on your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, or on your décolletage.  You can also mix it in your moisturizer for a great glow on your legs! Available on Giella.com.

4)      Mally Poreless Face Defender

Ok, so this is pretty revolutionary! Hailed as the first ever clear setting powder, Mally Roncal has proved that she is very innovative. While most translucent powders are technically white, this product goes on completely clear. This makes it great for people with darker skin tones who have trouble finding and/or using traditional translucent powder.  It sets your makeup, making it stay in place and look very matte and natural. The first time I used this I was incredibly confused, because the texture is very strange. You’ll find it has an almost balmy texture. It comes with a sponge and when you blot the face defender on, it seems like you aren’t picking up any product, but you are! This is definitely different and is much different from the norm so it takes a bit of getting used to, but I am definitely a fan! Available at MallyBeauty.com and QVC.com.

5)      Laura Mercier Primers

There are countless foundation primers out there, but Laura Mercier is my favorite. It goes on smooth and fills in your pores so your foundation looks flawless. Also, the primers come in different formulas including radiance, hydrating, and oil-free. Available at Sephora.com and LauraMercier.com.

6)      L’Occitane Immortelle Brightening Cleansing Foam

As far as facial cleansers go, I can’t get enough of this one. I’m a bit of a skin care junkie and I love to experiment with different face washes, but I always come back to this cleansing foam. While most cleansers leave your skin feeling dry, this is gentle yet very effective. And you only need a small amount to clean your whole face. This is part of L’Occitane’s anti-aging line, and includes essence of the immortelle flower, which is considered “the flower that never fades.” Which brings me to…

7)      L’Occitane Immortelle Precious Cream

This moisturizer pairs well with the cleanser. If, like me, you have dry skin in the winter, or want a great nighttime moisturizer during the summer, this is the best. L’Occitane uses almost all organic and/or natural ingredients with little or no preservatives, so you know what you’re putting on your skin is good for you. This is very moisturizing and will restore brightness to your skin. Available at loccitane.com.

8)      Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque

Do you have large, clogged pores? This masque is your answer! Made with Amazonian White Clay, oatmeal, and aloe vera, it’s meant to gently detoxify the skin and suck out any dirt from your pores.  It’s great for sensitive skin. You can literally feel your pores breathing once you wash the mask off. Available at Kiehls.com.

9)      Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

This is a great portable palette of very neutral eyeshadow colors that look great on every skin tone. And all the shades have a matte finish which makes them look very natural. This is a great everyday palette. Available at UrbanDecay.com and Sephora.com.

10)   Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum

Well, there you have it! I hope everyone has an excellent new year! I know 2013 is going to be great!

Glamhugs for all!

~Sara

Today starts a blog series about inner beauty because I strongly believe that is the key ingredient to having a beautiful exterior.

I want to share a story of mine that reflects on how the universe gives us signs to follow our hearts.

A few months ago I lost my full time job. I won’t go into the gnarly details of exactly what happened, but to say I was devastated is an understatement. It came out of nowhere and I wasn’t expecting anything so drastic to take place. I beat myself up about it for a long time, but in the end there was nothing I could do about it. I worked in an office environment and I essentially really liked my job.

It’s hard when you’re told that you’re doing a bad job at something, or that you aren’t doing something correctly, especially when you are trying your best.  The truth is that every job or task out there in the world doesn’t come as easily to everyone as it does to some. That’s just the facts of life. That doesn’t make you a better or worse person. Some people can sing really well, and others can’t at all! Some people were born to be mathematicians and scientists, and it’s perfectly fine if you’re not interested in those topics. This is something I’m learning. When I was young, I excelled at everything I tried, but as an adult that doesn’t always happen. And you are given a pat on the back far less than when you’re a kid. I honestly always thought I could master any talent or subject if I put my mind to it, but sometimes you just can’t be the best at everything.

BUT… you can be the best at a few things! The key is to find out what those things are!

So after I got over the initial shock of losing my job (which took a while!), I started looking for a new job. I applied at a lot of places. And I had a lot of interviews. And I faced a lot of rejection. It’s hard when you think that things are finally going to work out, and you’re told over and over that you’re “not qualified” or that you’re just not “what we’re looking for.”

Nothing was happening and I was beating myself up for it, thinking I wasn’t good enough.

And then I realized that things aren’t happening for a reason.  I’ve always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, as cliché as it sounds. And I think that it’s time at I take the hint!

I’m not an overly religious person, but I am spiritual. I believe that the universe/God/whatever, gives us signs all the time to point us in the direction that we are meant to go.

When we follow our passion and achieve our dreams, we feel good about ourselves and we glow from the inside out!

It could be something small like walking the dog on a beautiful day, or playing with makeup when you’re bored, or reading a book. Or it could be something greater like graduating from school, landing your dream job, or starting a family!

It’s important to live life the way you want to, and not the way everybody may or may not tell you. Live your life in a way that the Westboro Baptist Church would want to picket your funeral! Now that’s a life worth living!

Find your passion, and even if you’re not great at it, be the best you can be! Happiness is the key to beauty and a person’s best accessory is their smile!

Talk to you all soon!

~Sara

Long time, no blog! I’ve been off the grid for a while, but I’m back in action and ready to share some Do It Yourself tips!

Now anyone who knows me, knows I’m in love with Adam Lambert. I think he’s a gorgeous specimen of a man who takes excellent care of himself! Lately I’ve noticed that his skin looks healthy and dewy, and I was wondering what he’s been doing to look so great! On a recent trip of his to the fabulous country of New Zealand, he shared some of his beauty tips and information about products he uses. I don’t believe he’s guarded about sharing his favorite products, but until now we didn’t know a whole lot about his “beauty routine.” You can read the article by clicking the following link: http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/beauty/beauty-news/7828723/In-my-beauty-bag-Adam-Lambert

The one thing that interested me the most is that he says he gets regular facials and uses Epicuren’s Acidophilus Probiotic Facial Cream. So after researching the product I found that it’s highly reviewed, but pretty pricey for the average Jane or Joe. Also, a bi-weeky facial is not in my budget. So, I did a little scientific research to see if I could create a DIY mask that could deliver than same results as a facial and the excellent cream he uses! Read on, because I think I’m a genius for creating this amazing mask!

Disclaimer: DO NOT use this mask if you are allergic to aspirin.

Ingedients

• 1 acidophilus pill, un-coated
• 2 aspirin, un-coated
• 1/2 a lemon
• 1/2 tablespoon of honey

 

Okay, so before we get started, let me explain how each of these items benefit your skin!

Aspirin – This contains beta-hydroxy acid, which you can actually find in most medicated and over-the-counter acne medications and face washes. This is great for clearing your pores and reducing the frequency of breakouts on troubled skin. It’s also an old-school remedy for bad skin, since I first heard about this from my grandma! I’ll explain how to use it in the directions, but be sure that the aspirin in NOT coated! The aspirin in this recipe will represent getting regular facials.

Acidophilus – When ingested (which is how it is normally taken/used), acidophilus aids in digestion and promotes friendly intestinal flora. In this day in age, we’re constantly trying to avoid bacteria, but acidophilus is a good bacteria. The easiest way to get it into your system is by eating yogurt, however I am not a yogurt fan. So I take a pill every morning so I can get my good bacteria. Also, taking acidophilus in pill or powder form delivers more of the benefits than just eating yogurt. Now, it can be good when applied to the skin since it helps decrease inflammation and reduce the amount of toxins in the skin. It’s also very soothing!

Lemon – This is a natural brightener for the skin and vitamin C has been shown to aid in decreasing signs of aging.

Honey – Honey is a great mild antiseptic for the skin. It promotes new tissue growth and helps the skin hold moisture in. Honey can also improve blood circulation and improved blood circulation means beautiful skin! If you’re uncomfortable using something sticky on your face like honey, you can use a dash of extra virgin olive oil instead.

Directions

Place the 2 aspirin and 1 acidophilus pill into a small bowl.

Next, squeeze about 10 drops or so of the lemon onto the pills until they start to break down and dissolve.

Once the pills have broken up enough, mash them with a knife on spoon to make a gritty paste. Like this:

Then add as little or as much honey as you would like. I used about half a tablespoon.

Mix the honey well into the paste.

Again, do not use this mask if you are allergic to aspirin. Otherwise, you’re ready to apply this to your face! I suggest you do so with clean fingers.

I love the consistency of this mask. It’s really gritty so it exfoliates the skin very well. Gently massage it into the skin if you want extra exfoliation. I used the entire mixture on my face and left it on for about 15-20 minutes, or until the mask was dry and tight on my skin. When you’re ready to remove it, just gently rinse it off by the sink or in the shower using circular motions. Afterwards, apply your favorite toner and moisturizer. You can use this mask 2-3 times a week depending on what your skin needs.

This mask is incredibly easy, cheap, and can be made with products you probably already have in your pantry or medicine cabinet! And best of all, it’s super effective! I’m sure Adam Lambert would be proud!

Please be sure to let me know how the mask works out for all of you! I know I’m in love with it!

Until next time,

~Sara

Hurray! It’s officially summer-time!

Now I love sunny and healthy weather as much as the next gal, but sometimes it’s tough to look marvelous out in the heat and humidity. The last thing most us girls want to do is spend time applying makeup or doing our hair, because most of the time it just doesn’t last!

Here are my top 5 summer beauty tips (other than a high SPF sunscreen!) to keep you looking fabulous all season long!

1. Try a tinted moisturizer – Most people have never heard of or used a tinted moisturizer, but they have recently become my new favorite thing! On super hot and humid days when you have to run errands and know you’ll be sweating (or glistening!), you don’t want a full face of foundation since it will just melt right off. Tinted moisturizers often provide sheer coverage and are normally pretty forgiving as far as shades are concerned. Also, most tinted moisturizers contain SPF, so you won’t need to worry about applying sunscreen underneath your makeup! My favorite brands are my Laura Mercier and Philosophy.
2. Drink lots of water – This might seem like a “duh!” tip, but I can’t stress the importance of this enough! If you don’t stay properly hydrated throughout the summer, your skin will suffer, and so will your beauty routine. Remember to take in 8 glasses of water a day at the least and even more if you spending a lot of time outdoors. If you drink enough water, your skin and lips will stay hydrated, making it easier for your makeup to stay on and keep your skin looking healthy!
3. Keep powders to a minimum on your face – Yes, we want you skin to stay matte and looking flawless, but we don’t want you to look like a porcelain doll. Glowing, dewy skin is in, ladies! You can definitely use a setting powder for your makeup, but try out some blotting pads throughout the day if you have oily skin. They wick away the oil on your face without disrupting your makeup. They’re cheap and be found in any drug store.
4. Use waterproof items - Keeping your makeup looking flawless (especially here in New England, where I live) requires a lot of waterproof beauty items. I would definitely suggest waterproof eyeliner and mascara at the very least. There is water in the air when it is humid, and this can contribute to your makeup melting away. Also, when you sweat, so does your makeup. If your makeup is waterproof, it will stay until your take it off with a cleanser!
5. Don’t stress too much about your hair – Natural waves are in for the summer! Pin straight hair doesn’t look natural as most hair has a little bit of a natural wave to it. If you’re like me and have a head full of cowlicks, you can blow dry those areas if you need to. I know that most people’s hair (including mine) frizz up like crazy once they step out into the heat. Before your hair is dry, use a product like John Freida or another anti frizz serum and this should help battle the crazy hair! Also, a little hair spray can go a long way where frizz is concerned!

I hope these suggestions will help with your day to day beauty routines during the summer months! I know that I use all of these tips and they keep my face and hair stress free when it is too hot outside.

Do you have a beauty tip that you use during the summer? I would love to hear about it! Be sure to leave a comment and let me know your fool proof beauty tricks!

~Sara

You know those days when you feel so icky that you just can’t get out of bed?  You call out of work and spend the whole day laying around in misery, eating soup and praying for mercy. The last thing you want to do is stand in your bathroom and go through the motions of your usual beauty routine. You need to get in, get out, and get back to bed.

My sick day beauty routine is easy, quick, and effective. It doesn’t take long and will actually help you feel better.

1. Take a hot shower. The steam and warmth from the shower will help loosen any mucus stuck in your throat or nose. Just make sure you don’t take too long of a shower, as having the hot water on your skin for too long can dry out your skin. If you have a high fever or are sweating, feel free to stand under cool water for a few minutes, but you don’t want to get a chill.
2. Keep cleansing towelettes handy. When you don’t want to take the time to wash your face, these babies work just as well. You can even use them while your in bed. My personal preference is by Yes To Cucumbers facial wipes. They are soothing and are super gentle on your skin. If you have the energy, you can definitely scrub a little bit to get some exfoliation going on your face.
3. Use an extremely gentle moisturizer around your nose. Chances are that you’ve been blowing your nose like crazy if you have a killer cold, and heavy duty moisturizers are going to sting and irritate. Also, if you’re keep using tissues around your nose, you might break out in that area. The gentler and more hypoallergenic your moisturizer is, the better it will be on your skin. My personal favorite moisturizer on sick days is by L’Occitane. Their Shea Extra Gentle Moisturizer is great. I’m mildly allergic to Shea, but this has only 8% Shea in it which I don’t have a reaction to. Just be careful, because if you have a nut allergy, you most likely have an allergy to Shea. Anything over 15% Shea makes me break out viciously. Other gentle moisturizers include Aveeno and or Josie Maran Argan Oil.
4. Drink water! Vitamin C is so important, so if you can get your fluids in by drinking orange juice, that’s even better. I know people tell you this all the time when you feel sick, but it’s so important. Sometimes, the last thing you want to do when feeling icky is drink or eat, but it really is the key to getting better faster. Also, drinking tea or hot water with lemon is not only great for making you feel better, but is also great for your skin.
5. Replace your toothbrush when you’re feeling better! So many times I’ve forgotten to do this and I get sick all over again. Your toothbrush can hold on to germs you had when you were sick, so keep it away from family member’s or your room mate’s toothbrushes if you share a bathroom. This isn’t exactly a beauty tip, but a hygienic tip!
6. Try out a sheet mask. Most people haven’t tried or even heard of a sheet mask, but it’s my new favorite thing! Your skin is most likely going to dry out due to you blowing your nose. Colds seem to suck all of the moisture out of our skin. My favorite is by myfaceworks (yes, all one word). They have a great Aloe Vera sheet mask that is super soothing. This restores moisture and will help you relax. The best thing is that you don’t need to remove this mask with water and make a mess. Once you’re done just remove and throw away. This is another thing you can do while laying in bed. It’s easy and relaxing.

———————————–

I hope these tips help you out. I know it can be hard to take care of yourself when you’re feeling under the weather, but it’s important to keep up with a modified beauty routine so all your hard work from when you were feeling good doesn’t get thrown out the window. Follow these easy tips and your skin will be glowing throughout your sick days. Nobody will know you were ever feeling lousy!

Good luck and feel better!

~Sara

It’s no secret that flawless, even-toned skin is what’s idolized in today’s society. Obviously, very few people possess perfect skin, but when we see airbrushed photos of models on skin care ads, we can’t help but be jealous.

Personally, my face is covered in freckles and I also have scars from acne. I have learned to embrace my freckles and all of my skin’s imperfections, but there’s no harm in trying to diminish these things on my face. After doing to research, I found that there are a lot of things that you normally have in your kitchen that can help brighten you skin and decrease the appearance of scars or sun spots.

The following is a great mask that is easy to make. Plus, it has only a few ingredients and they are really good for your skin.

What you’ll need:

• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon honey
• juice from 1/2 a lemon
• 1 teaspoon papaya juice (optional)

So, to break it down really quick, I want to tell you about what each of the ingredients do for your skin. Yogurt is rich in so many things including zinc, calcium and vitamins B1, B2, B6, and B12. With the numerous vitamins readily available, yogurt can basically improve skin’s texture. Honey is just naturally healing and good for the skin, and it will help hold your mask together and keep it on your face. Lemon is very high in acidity and has been shown to lighten scars and blemishes when applied directly to the skin with a Q-Tip or cotton ball. Papaya juice is great to include in your mask, but I know it’s normally not readily available in everyone’s kitchen. Add it if you have it since it has an enzyme called papain which helps in skin exfoliation. It doesn’t necessarily lighten the skin, but is super at naturally exfoliating your skin and by removing dead skin we can fade scars.

OK, so all you need to do is mix these ingredients in a bowl and apply to your face with clean fingers or a foundation brush. Be sure it apply it liberally, but not so much that it’s sliding off your face. Keep it on for about 15 minutes and rinse it off. Your skin will feel soft and moisturized.

I’ve been doing this mask now for a couple of days now and I’ve seen a slight improvement in my skin tone. In the picture below I’m not wearing any makeup and my skin looks bright and healthy!

Have fun making your mask and be sure to comment and let me know how it worked out for you!

Have a great night, everyone!

~Sara

I was recently approached by a good friend who asked me whether it is worth the time, effort, (and often times) money, to get hair waxed off. I thought this was an awesome question, since I have experience with waxing both at home and at a spa.

First off, what is your tolerance for pain? Waxing any area of your body is not exactly a relaxing spa treatment, and certain areas of the body hurt more than others. There are a couple of ways that can help you avoid as much pain as possible.

1)      Take a hot shower before waxing. Your skin definitely needs to be completely dry when waxing, but the steam from the shower will open your pores, thus the hair is slightly easier to remove.

2)      Take a small dose of ibuprofen about 30 minutes beforehand. This will help dull the pain.

3)      Always exfoliate at least the day before you wax. This will help you avoid pulling off any dead skin which would cause additional pain.

4)      Relax, breathe, and don’t tense up too much. The process will be much smoother (no pun intended) if you are at ease.

Also, if you wax compared to a professional at a spa, there is a chance you will feel more or less pain. Do you like to know when the pain is coming? Or do you prefer to have to it done quick without warning? These are questions you need to ask yourself

It’s important to let your hair grow out about a quarter inch. If the hair is not long enough, the wax will not be able to hold on to anything. Alternately, if the hair is too long, the hair will just slip right through the wax.

Types of wax

There are multiple different types of wax and you can experiment with all of them to find which works best for you. There is hot wax, cold wax, wax strips (which I prefer since they’re less messy), and sugar wax. All different forms can be found in sensitive skin formulas and natural formulas.

Now you may be wondering, should I wax at home, or at a spa or salon? Well there are definitely pros and cons to both. I’m going to go over specific body parts one by one and share my experiences.

Legs

Waxing your legs can be a really good alternative to shaving if you have really dark and thick hair. However, leg hair grows back quickly and the time and money you invest may not be worth it. I’ve waxed my legs at home and will not pay over $30 per leg at a spa, especially if the hair will grow back in less than a week. I always shave my legs. I used Sally Hansen strips when I waxed once, but it took so long that I gave up halfway through one leg and ended up shaving. However, if you have going on a short vacation and don’t want to be bothered with shaving for a few days, waxing is definitely the way to go.

Bikini area / Brazilian

Yikes! This hurts the worst, ladies! Especially a Brazilian! This is something I would definitely recommend getting done by a professional. This is because you can’t see down there very well (unless you’re a contortionist) and you want to make sure you get every last hair and do a bad job. Now, the pain is intense, since this area of your body is especially sensitive. If you shave, make sure you’ve grown your hair out for about a week or two, depending on how rapid your hair grows. And I know it can be nerve wracking, letting someone wax you down there, but trust me when I say that they’ve seen it all! No need to be embarrassed.

Facial Hair

Let’s face it, most women have small fuzzy hairs around their chin or lip line. This is easily taken care of by waxing. This is a pretty easy process and I would recommend doing this at home. Be sure to buy wax for sensitive skin, as the skin on your face is delicate and the hair is very fine.

Eyebrows

Now, obviously, you can wax away the hair on any body part if desired. It is not limited to the ones I have listed above, but I believe those are the most popular.

Keep in mind, waxing is not for everyone and by no means should you ever do something you are not comfortable with.

As a side note, please be careful if you are using hot wax. It can get extremely hot and you definitely don’t want to burn yourself.

If you have any question, please leave a comment! Happy waxing!

~Sara

 

Lets face it, we all wish we had luscious lips like Angelina Jolie or Scarlett Johansson. The truth of the matter is that we’re not all born with their genes, but with a little work we can obtain the best natural lips we can!

The first step to making your lips plump and moist is drinking water! Good old H2O helps more with cracked dry lips that you could imagine. By keeping hydrated, your lips will be full of moisture, which means they will look fuller and feel softer!

The second step is exfoliation. This step is probably the most important. Just like it is recommended that we exfoliate our skin at least once or twice a week, we need to do the same with your lips. Dead skin on our lips leads to them looking flakey and thin.

Now, there are a few different ways we can exfoliate the lips. The skin surrounding your lips is delicate, as are the lips themselves. Here are a couple methods to keep your lips glowing and plump:

• Washcloth – Wet a washcloth with warm water and scrub away. This should be done everyday as it’s very gentle and definitely the easiest method. It’s best to do this while in the shower
• Toothbrush – For those of us who live in dry climates, this might work best. You can use a standard toothbrush or an electric toothbrush. Make sure that the toothbrush is wet with warm water and dip the tips of the bristles in sugar. Gently massage the sugar all over your lips with the toothbrush. You can use your everyday toothbrush for this, just make sure you rinse it thoroughly afterwards. When you are finished and the dead skin has come off, wipe away the excess on a damp washcloth.
• Scrub - This is my preferred method! You can use a store bought scrub like the one pictured below (by Tarte) or make you own!

When you open this adorable tin, inside is a sugar scrub. It has the consistency of melted lip gloss with sugar in it…

It tastes so yummy! This is definitely my favorite store bought lip scrub. You can find this on Sephora.com or QVC.com. I am personally a bit of a QVC-aholic so this is where I purchased it from. However, the good news is that if you’re tight on a budget, you can make your own lip scrub.

All you need is:

• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• About a teaspoon of Vaseline (or add as much as you want)
• A dash of olive oil

Mix those ingredients together in a resealable container and you will have a scrub comparable to my favorite one by Tarte. You can use both the same way, scoop a little bit out with a Q-tip or clean fingers, slather on your lips, and scrub. I find the best way is to rub your lips together with the scrub on them. Again, once you are finished after a minute or two, remove the dead skin and excess scrub with a warm wash cloth.

Immediately after your wash away the scrub, apply your favorite lip balm. Avoid cheap, smelly chap-sticks if possible. My favorite lip balm is by EOS.

How cute is this lip balm? It goes for around $3 at your local drug store, so it definitely doesn’t break the bank.

For healthy lips, you can stop right here, nothing else needs to be done. However, If you have a hot date or event to go to, then you will want to dress up your lips.

The next step after applying your lip balm is to line your lips… Yes, I hear it all the time, “Nobody uses lip liner anymore!” It’s true, it’s not used as often as it used to be, however we’re not lining your lips with a black pencil and filling your lips with nude lipstick! You want to find a lip liner that is as close to your natural lip color as possible. This way, if you go outside the lines a little bit, nobody will know! If you have never lined your lips before, it can take a little practice. You want to outline the natural shape of your lips and then fill in your lips with the pencil. Yes, completely cover your lips with the pencil color. This will help any lipstick stay longer and will definitely help your lips look fuller.

Then comes the fun part, picking your lip color. Do you want lipstick or gloss? Do you want matte lips, or dewy lips?

Matte Lips

To obtain matte lips, the process is simple. All you need to do is put on a light layer of your lipstick with a lip brush or with the lipstick bullet (if you’re the only one using it). Be sure to stay inside the lines of the lip liner. Once you apply that, pat on a light dusting of translucent powder on top of the first layer with a small fluffy brush. This will set the lipstick and keep it from having any gleam or glisten, as that’s the look you’re going for. Repeat the process one more time. Your lips will look edgy, sultry, and relatively natural, depending on your color choice. I would recommend sticking with nudes, light pinks, or vibrant reds if you’re going for matte lips.

Dewy Lips

When going for dewy lips, it’s important to consider what you’ll be doing while wearing this look. Keep in mind, the name of this post is “Kissable Lips.” It’s hard to wear a lot of lipstick without getting it all over your dinnerware or date. So keep the color natural and sheer. I would opt for a satin or shimmery finish to the lipstick, if using any. Again, make sure to stay inside the lines of the lip liner.

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So, now you’re about done, and you’re looking at yourself in the mirror thinking, “What else?” Here lies the secret to full lips! On the center on your bottom lip, dab on a little bit of highlighter or shimmer white eye shadow. This needs to be applied only in the very center of the bottom lip. Then, on your cupid’s bow (the very top center of your upper lip) add a tiny amount of the highlighter. This does more than you could know! This will give you lips a glow and make them appear bigger.

Of course, if you’re going to be smooching the night away, you might want to tone down the colors and layers, but you can certainly add a tiny bit of gloss if you would like. Gloss can add so much to your lip look, but can get a little messy.

Below, I followed the steps for the matte lips. I am wearing Lancome’s Rouge In Love lipstick in Jolie Rosalie.

What are your favorite lip products and  lip colors? Let me know! Also, be sure to let me know if there is a specific look you are trying to achieve and I’ll do my best to tell you how to obtain it!

Have a lovely night everyone!

~Sara