7 Makeup tips for tired moms

Being a mom of three and being a coach's wife is a tiring task. Because of this I have been on the lookout for some makeup tips to help us tired ladies look refreshed!

You know that I am not a morning person, so anything to help me look a little less angry in the mornings is welcomed :)

We are going to take this spring forward time change and rule it by using these makeup tricks for looking awake and vibrant!!!


I've searched makeup artists blogs and articles for the best tips I can find. These are the most simple, affordable, and frequently recommended tips by the experts for waking up your look.


Today we are going to focus on the Eyes!

The eyes are the windows to the soul, so let's get started on putting some pretty curtains on those windows!

1. Keep your brows groomed. It is recommended that you go to a professional and have them shape your brows first, and then if you want to, you can keep up the grooming.

P.S. My Grandmama taught me to pluck in natural light. I know that when I don't, I end up getting in the car, looking in the rearview mirror and freaking out that I just plucked and still look like "Alf" (I loved him!!!)

2. Use eye drops to reduce redness. I think the bloodshot look is very Twilight, but pretty sure Coach would prefer peppy refreshed Autumn.

3. Concealer, concealer, concealer! Concealer is the key to reducing those pesky undereye circles. Each person has different skin tones and needs, so the type is up to you. Just make sure it is a shade lighter than your skin tone if it is going under your eyes. This will brighten up and give an awakened look.

4. White or nude eyeliner on the inner rims of your bottom lash line is one of the most used makeup artists tricks!!! Some experts suggested silver or pink colors as well if white is too bright and nude blends too much.

5. Shimmery shadow in the inner corners of your eye is a recommendation that I have heard for a long time, but apparently it works. In Januaary's Glamour magazine, Gwenyth Paltrow recently was reported to have done this to look more awake on Good Morning America. If the stars do it, we know it's good :)

6. Curl your lashes. The higher the lashes, the more open your eyes look.

(My mom always gets mad at me because I put on mascara and then curl!! It kills her. Don't tell her, but I still do it sometimes.)

7. Highlight your brow bone with a light colored shadow. Some articles said to use a shimmery shadow, while others said to just use a tan matte color. I particularly would rather not have to try to get sparkle/shimmer out of my eyebrow at night, so I stick with the matte. This highlighting again brings a more open look (especially if you have kept up with tip #1)

I know there is no way that in the morninngs you or I will be able to do all of these tips to brighten our look, but try them and see which one's work for you. If you decide to forgo all of them, remember you can always claim to be going for the Twilight look :)

Good Luck!!!

Today's Makeup Monday post :

Mascara

Mascara is the staple of every makeup bag. If you only choose one thing to put on before you run out of the house in the morning, it is mascara! So, if I am going to have very little time to put on very little makeup, then it will be one that makes the biggest difference.

I decided to try a new mascara that claims to lengthen your lashes dramatically.

L'Oreal Telescopic Intense Looking Lengthening Mascara Blackest Black

Their claim:

"For clump-free, perfectly defined longer lashes. L'oreal introduces new telescopic clean definition mascara for lashes with telescopic length, perfect definition, and a clump-free, natural end result. The patented no clump brush cleanly defines and lengthens up to 60 %."

Type of Mascara: Lengthening
Colours Available: Black, Blackest Black & Brown



When I first opened this mascara I realized that the wand is different than most I have used. It is long and flexible and does not have a brushy end, but more of a separator. I opened it, and swiped on a a coat.

This mascara impressed me for many reasons. It only took one coat, and really seemed to lengthen my lashes. I've always dreamed of long lashes, and this definitely did the trick. I have now worn this mascara for a week, and have not had any flaking. It is very long lasting (this is a plus!!!  because I constantly have allergies and itchy eyes which I can't stand not rubbing)

Okay, so I must really love y'all for letting you see
my naked eye :)



This was with one coat of mascara! I was pretty impressed.
I took these pic's with my phone camera, so
please excuse my unenthusiastic look :)
I was concentrating!
All for the love of makeup.

  Pros:

• This mascara gives lots of length and very little clumping.
• It gives good clean definition, and looks natural
• Creates long looking bottom lashes
• Does not feel too heavy but still looks dramatic 
• Does not have a scent
• Is safe for contact lens wearers
• Gives good separation of lashes
• Quick and easy to apply no mess, clean wand.
• Widely available : Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS
• Good pricing

Cons:

• Does not give much volume for those with thin lashes
• Does not curl lashes much
• Does not come in waterproof- for those of you like me who occasionally break out into random tearing when our children say sweet things, or when we watch movies like "An Affair to Remember."

Overall:
Quality: Good
Price: Great (approximately $7-$10 depending on where you buy)
Would I buy again? Yes

Fits into our category of

Simple, Affordable, and Functional!

Yea for Makeup Monday!

Today is the first edition of Makeup Monday!   I thought I would start with one of the basics:

Tinted Moisturizer

I have always been really bad at wearing moisturizer until this year when I started noting a few wrinkles around my eyes. I have always thought wrinkles are cute, and still do, but can wait a few more years until I embrace them with open arms :) I usually use a sheer moisturizer, but during the winter thought, "Hey, a little color never hurt anyone!"

So, I was on a quest to find a good, inexpensive tinted moisturizer (that doesn't turn my face orange). The life of a pale girl *sigh......

Well, I have found one that I like. It is smooth, sheer, and very inexpensive (that always makes it sooo much more appealing).

Jane BE PURE
aquaceuticals

This moisturizer is sheerly tinted, and includes organic green tea and white tea extracts. It is certified organic, so not only am I looking good, but I'm helping the environment while I do it :)

This product comes in 4 shades: Fair (very fair, pink or porcelain undertones), Light Warm Tones (beige or yellow undertones), Medium Warm Tones (mediterranean, tanned complexion) and Dark Tones (deep, warm complexion). I use the lightest which is supposed to be used on  fair/pink toned skin (I call it pale, but fair sounds so much prettier).

Pictured: Fair Tones for very fair, pink or porcelain
undertones

When I first put it on my skin, I almost had a heart attack. I knew for sure that this was not going to blend in well.

But it did! There was no sign of a line!

The moisturizer also claims to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and delivers a 30 SPF. So..... not only am I preventing my little haunting eye wrinkles by wearing this moisturizer, I'm also hiding them! What a deal.

The PROS:
-SPF 30, protects your skin
-paraben free
-has green tea and white tea extracts
-gives a good coverage that does not feel cakey,
-When I put it on, Coach said, "Wow, your skin looks really nice!
-you get a  good quality and quantity for the price, 1.5 oz for about $7

The CONS: (I didn't really have any, but this may be a con for some)
-a slight scent, but it goes away quickly after application

Worth Buying Again?: Yes

Where to buy it: Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Rite-Aid

Overall, I was very impressed with the Jane Be Pure aquaceuticals tinted moisturizer.

It fits into the Autumn motto:

 Simple, affordable, and functional.