Spring Beauty VoxBox Arrived!

I finally received my Spring Beauty VoxBox from Influenster and it has a ton of great products in it.  I'm going to be testing out all these products and giving you guys my opinions of each one.  I'll also be posting videos on my youtube channel bruingirl14 so be sure to check that out for more info.

Here's a rundown of the products that I got in my VoxBox:

Sheer Cover Duo Concealer (Light/Medium)

I'm very excited about trying out this product.  I have a few acne scars/red spots that I need to cover up so this comes in handy!  I like that it has 2 shades so it'll be easier for me to match my skin color.

AVEENO Daily Moisturizing Body Wash:

Love Aveeno products and can't wait to try out this body wash.  It smells amazing and I'll be using it tonight for sure.

ChapStick Lip Shield 365:

This has an SPF of 50+ so it's perfect for summer and it'll be great to use at the beach.  It has a really creamy texture!

Sally Hansen Salon Effects:

Beyond stoked about this one.  I got the patter "Kitty, Kitty" and I'm looking forward to putting these on my nails and seeing how they hold up.  Instant manicure, what could be better?

Bath & Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist:

I got the Paris Amour fragrance mist, which is one of my favorite scents, light and refreshing, perfect for summer weather.

SOYJOY Bar:

I got the Blueberry flavor and it tastes great.  Couldn't resist eating this one as soon as I opened the box.  It makes for a great on the go snack.

Stay tuned for more reviews!

Flawless Foundation

Foundation can be tricky to apply.  If you don't do it right, you can end up with a cakey, fake finish.  You could also have your face look a completely different color than your neck.  The idea of foundation is to hide imperfections in your skin, even out your skintone and look natural while doing that.

Here are some tips to get your flawless foundation finish:

• Apply foundation to freshly moisturized skin to ensure you have a perfect base with which to work.  I also like to use a primer following my moisturizer.  Benefit's POREFessional is a great one for giving skin a smooth surface.
• Use a cosmetic sponge to apply most types of foundation--using your fingertips can result in an uneven, greasy finish.
• Apply foundation in dots, and then blend each one with your sponge.
• Dampen the sponge first of all, and then squeeze out the excess moisture - this will prevent the sponge from soaking up too much costly foundation.
• Check for marks on your jawline, nose, forehead and chin.
• Choose a color only one shade lighter than your skin tone for the most natural look. You will get best results if you use a flat brush to apply the cream into the hollows of the shadow and then gradually blend it into the rest of your makeup.

Add some light:

• Without luminosity, foundation can leave your complexion looking dull.
• You can get radiance from shimmer sticks, bronzing powders or liquid makeup with shimmery finishes.
• Dark complexions need only a touch of shimmer; lighter complexions require both shimmer and warmth to shine.
• But keep away from shimmers with a silvery or pink-colored base, because they can leave you looking ashy.

Spring Beauty Box!

Great news!!

I just got word that I've been selected to receive a Spring Beauty Box from Influenster!  So excited!  If you haven't heard of Influenster before, it's a great program where you sign up to test out and review a variety of products.  The send out themed "voxboxes", which are boxes of different products based on the responses you give in your profile and the lifestyle badges that you can earn, which reflect your interests.  You can head over to influenster.com to check out the site and sign up for a chance to test out your own box of goodies.  I will be posting soon once I receive my box to let you all know what products were included and my opinion on each one.  I often find that I get introduced to a great product that I wouldn't have thought of trying before so I definitely recommend giving Influenster a try!

Makeup tools every girl needs

If you want your makeup to look flawless, it's important to have the right tools.  The following is a list of absolute must-haves:

1. Makeup Sponge

Have a wedge-shaped one, so you can use the finer edges to help blend in foundation around your nose and jawline.  The flatter edges are great for your cheeks, forehead and chin. However, if you prefer not to use a synthetic sponge try the small, natural ones instead.

2. Powder Brush

Get used to using a powder brush each time you put makeup on. To prevent a caked finish to your face powder, use a large, soft brush to dust away any excess.

3. Blusher Brush

Use this to add a pretty glow to your skin.  A blusher brush is slightly smaller than a powder brush, which makes it easier to control.

4. Eyeshadow Brush

Smooth on any shade of eyeshadow with this brush.

5. Eyeshadow Sponge

A sponge applicator is great for applying a sweep of pale eyeshadow that doesn't need much blending or applying high lighter to your brow bones.

6. All-in-one eyelash brush/comb

Great for combing through your lashes between coats of mascara for a clump-free finish. Flip the comb over and use the brush side to seep your eyebrows into shape, or soften penciled-in brows.

7. Lip brush

Use to create a perfect outline for your lips and then use to fill in the shape with your lipstick for a natural look, without harsh lines.

8. Eyebrow Tweezers

It is essential to have a good pair of tweezers for regularly tidying up the eyebrows.

9. Eyelash curlers

Once used, they'll soon become a beauty essential!  Curled eyelashes make a huge difference in the way your lashes look and help open up the eyes.

Properly Filling in Your Brows

If you're like me, you probably have one brow that is thinner than the other and doesn't have as nice of a shape.  Brows can change your whole face so it's important to get them shaped correctly.  This means that you have to use a pencil or a powder to fill them in and get your brows symmetrical.  Here are a few guidelines to help:

* Choose a pencil and powder in the correct shade. Women with fair complexions should use a blonde shade, those with olive tones should go tawny or brown, and those with with African-American skin should use gray.

* Brush brows downward with a dry, mascara-like wand. To define the arch, use the pencil to draw a line along the upper edge of the brow. Comb the brows upward and outward.

* For added fullness, dust eye shadow into the hairs of the brow with a stiff, slanted brush. Dip the brush into a tiny amount of powder and use short, gentle strokes while applying.

* If your brows have been severely over-tweezed, brush the hairs in the direction of the growth, and fill in any visible patches with powder. Avoid adding to the top or bottom of the brows.

* Comb a clear or tinted brow gel up through the brows to set hairs in place.  I like Benefit's Speed Brow.

Preventing and Getting Rid of Whitheads

Nothing is worse than getting breakouts, especially whiteheads, which can be difficult to cover up even with makeup.  For me, they always throw off my mood and lower my confidence so I decided to include some tips about how to keep your skin clear and how to get rid of the breakouts that do happen.

First thing, you should never try to remove whiteheads alone at home, EVER! You should know that whiteheads are different from pimples or blackheads. If you try to squeeze the whitehead you may easily break the skin which will result in permanent, reddish scar.

Best Prevention Methods:

• Clean your face at least twice a day with skincare products that are appropriate for your skin type. Use a facial cleanser that contain salicylic acid or alpha hydroxyl acids as there ingredients help in unclogging the pores.

• Exfoliate your skin regularly – twice or three times a week. Apply the exfoliating products all over your face, using light, circular motions concentration on the problem areas of the face – forehead, nose and cheeks. Try to find a gentle exfoliator with small particles – it will encourage newer, smoother and healthier skin cells to grow, helping to unclog the pores.

• Even if your skin is oily or mixed you should never forget to apply a moisturizer or a hydrating cream.

• Once a week steam your face for a few minutes to cleanse your skin in deep. Steaming is very important to loosen debris that may be embedded into the skin. When steaming the face you wide the clogged pores and soften the skin in order to cleanse more easily the impurities, the traces of makeup, the dust, the sebaceous secretions as well as the dead skin cells.

• You can also use a comedone remover tool –a handy device to help keep pores free of blackheads and blemishes. It will remove all clogged dark bumps with trapped sebum, bacteria and excess oils dislodging pore blockages leaving skin clear and smooth. This tool should be used immediately after steaming the face.

You could also head to your dermatologist, which I have done a few times.  They use special methods and tools to extract the whiteheads without a risk of skin infections and scarring.

• The first thing they will do is to steam your face – to widen the clogged pores and to soften the skin in order to cleanse more easily the impurities. After steaming it will be more easily to remove the comedones /blackheads, whiteheads/ and the little pimples.

• Then they will use a sterilized needle to gently prick the tip of the whitehead with the needle. A gentle pressure will be needed to ease out the pus. Basically this is to most common way used by the dermatologist and the beauticians to remove the whiteheads. The method resembles the way a pimple is popped but a higher degree of attention is needed.

Other useful tips I've gathered:

• Remember: whiteheads should be extracted by an experienced esthetician or dermatologist.
• To prevent whiteheads from forming in the first place, you should use a mild facial cleanser that is oil-free and wash your face at least twice a day.
• Never squeeze or pick at a pimple as doing so may spread the inflammation and leave an ugly red scar behind.
• Use a face cream or moisturizer containing salicylic acid.
• Always look for antibacterial skin care and cosmetic products.
• Use skin care products with benzyl peroxide, salicylic acid or AHAs.
• Do a cleansing face mask once or twice a week.

Stop hair breakage

Lately, my hair has been a mess and it's breaking like crazy so I decided to search out the best tips to get healthy hair back, especially during the tough winter months. 

So what causes hair fall?

Hair fall is due to several reasons, which can vary from person to person.

• Hereditary factors.

• Natural factors: the weather the environment.

• An unhealthy diet that lacks necessary vitamin for healthy hair.

• Hair coloration, brushing and combing

• Hormonal trouble or anemia

• Excessive stress or other health problems

Hair Natural Defense System

Luckily, our hair is naturally quite strong.  The inside of the hair shaft is made up of lots of little fibers bound together like rope. This gives hair its strength and makes it quite hard to break.

However, if the cuticle is damaged, chipped, or lifted off, and the many layers are worn away, the inside structure is left exposed and vulnerable.  This can be at any point of the hair length, but if it starts at the end of the hair this causes a split end which, like a snagged jumper, starts to unravel further up the hair shaft, and the end result will be hair weakness and breakage.

So what can you do to stop it? 

¨     Having a proper diet that contains proteins and vitamins that are essential for your hair such as calcium iron, zinc and Vitamin B is key 

¨     Keep away from fatigue and stress

¨     Use an appropriate anti-hair fall shampoo and conditioner like the new Aveda Invati system that contains strengthening ingredients that reduces breakage thus hair fall

¨     Wash your hair frequently and gently massage the scalp

¨     Don't use a brush that is rough on your hair

¨     Limit exposure to sun

¨     Although it's hard, limit the use of hair dryers and other styling tools

¨     Reducing the usage of colorants or chemical products