Easy as 1,2,3 - quick eye!

You've asked for it!  The quick eye... Here we go!

Step 1: Primer.  You cannot wear eye makeup with out a primer.  Your shadow and liner simply will not stay with out it.

This one is easy to use, glides on smooth and has the mineral basics that will give life back to your eyes all day long!

Step 2: The Shadow.  I am going to assume you have a decent eye shadow brush for this one, if not - here is one I use everyday on myself and professionally: 

This is a one shadow look:  Take your brush, pick up some shadow, tap it off.  Press then blend into your lid, up to the orbital bone.  

Here is my favorite every day color - young and old can wearing.  A great basic: 

Step 3.  Mascara.  Flawless Definition Mascara by Bare Minerals.
It is all minerals, great for your lashes.
Paraben-free, smudge-proof, flake-free, clump-free

Easy eye is done and you are out the door to start your day! 

Let me know if you need further color suggestions and I will post them here! 

Arica


Wet/dry shadow brush:

Need Volume? Here comes Your Highness!

Volume is about to come your way, my friends...

I am in love with Tigi Catwalk Your Highness Root Boost Spray 8.4 oz!  This one is amazing.  I spray it right at my crown *after my hair is half way dried), lifting up layers at a time... never on top of my hair.  It has a great smell and offers you great volume immediately upon a completely dried head of hair.

Some days when I feel I need a little extra and my hair is already dried, I will spray at my crown and seal the deal with my blow dryer and do some back combing.

My pretty pony

I love high ponytails!  

I think they are sophisticated, sleek and oh so chic!  

This is a cute idea to take it a step further and so feminine - ad a curl to it.  

This only takes a few sweeps through your hair with a curling iron or a hot roller while you do your makeup and send you out with an extra touch of class to start your day!  

Perfect accessory to achieve this look! 

My new do-dad! Ms. Maude

Ms. Maude paid me a visit this week.  She left a lovely little gift!  

If you have seen me out and about... you have seen me with my do-dads!  Ms. Maude made me a custom flower with feathers in colors that I loved - she even looked me up on facebook and my blogs before our meeting to get an idea of who I am, the colors I liked and what she thought would look good with my hair color!  I think she did well!  

Support small local business! 

Ms. Maude on etsy: 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/msmaude

Ms. Maude FB fan page: 

http://www.facebook.com/msmaudeonetsy

Tell her Arica sent you! 

Organize your Lipsticks

Wowza.  

Today was a huge clean and organize for my makeup, brushes and skin care.  I finally completed one project I have been thinking about for a while... organizing my lipsticks! 

Lipsticks are tough!  You can't see the color!  

As you can see, I have several - these are just the ones I have in my daily lipsticks, not including my "back stock" (makeup I am not currently wearing - kind of like a summer vs. winter wardrobe), my kit that I bring to do your makeup and whatever has found it into my purse!  

Here is what I did for myself today: 

I labeled all of the lipsticks with dots of nail polish.  I decided to use tones and intensities help organize, since I don't have a TON of polishes and it would be ridiculous to have polishes to match every lipstick!  

My color code:

• White (nail primer): neutral
• Pink: Any True Pink in my wardrobe
• Grape: any berry, plum 
• Graphite: Red - I don't have any red nail polish!  
• Graphite/White: neutral red 

I will probably refine it as I get more polishes, but for now... it works!  

I put a dot on the top and a dot on the side so it will eliminate one more step of combing through all of them ! 

Tell me how you organize your lipsticks!  

January's BirchBox

I have to say... this was the BEST Birchbox I have received to date!  I waited until I tried everything before posting my review, as I want to give you accurate information that was tested, instead of just telling you what was in my box.

Contents of my January Birchbox

Full Size  Stil Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner - I LOVED!  It stays all day, does not move (bonus points for me) and pretty color (dark purple, just a hint of color), goes on super easy.

BORGHESE CuraForte Moisture Intensifier - This is a serum that you wear once a day under your moisturizer.  I saw a difference within days of testing this out and there is enough to last me at least 3 weeks!

 Jouer Body Butter - Ok, so I am not a body butter person, but LOVED this cute little jar and it smelled like gardenias, so I wore it like a perfume.  Really enjoyed this!

LÄRABAR Mini Bars - This was a "lifestyle" bonus in peanut butter.  It was alright, I am glad I got to taste it because it is not something I would typically try - I am not a "bar" person, so it was kinda fun.

This is the inside of the box, after opening

After using everything in this haul, I can firmly recommend Birchbox to you as this box more than paid for it's self and it was full of things I loved!  The Stila liner alone was $20 (plus tax and shipping), so at $10 for the entire box - what a deal!

This is the box you open, after a bright pink and white box that arrives with your name on it! 

To  get in on February's shipment, sign up soon - boxes ship on the 10th!  

Key points: 

You can sign up for one month at a time, or one year and get one month free.  No commitment.  

You get one bonus points for every time your box ships, every product you review and every person you refer enabling you to get free full size products from the site (see my link below)

If you really like your deluxe sample, it ships free the month the same month it appears in your box

It's only $10 per month!  

No Tax, No shipping, $10!

Please sign up through my link: 

Girl's Bang Trim at Home

One of the ways you can make your girl's cuts last longer is to do a bang trim yourself.  Don't waste a trip to the salon if you only need a bang trim - waste of your time and money.

I do them for free for my clients, but in case I am not in your area - try this at home:

Here is what you'll need:

Clips

Comb

Shears - whatever is sharpest around the house

When dealing with hair, one fundamental concept is to divide the hair to make it more manageable and so you will only have to deal with the hair you need to.

Separate the sides of the hair you don't consider part of her bangs and secure snugly with clips.

Take one level of her bangs and clip them up.

I am going to assume you are right handed from here forward.

Take the center portion of her bangs and hold them in your left hand.

Take your shears and "point cut" - do NOT cut a straight or horizontal line across her bangs when you are doing this at home. I find the rate of error to be high doing it that way.  Point cutting involves cutting directly into the line of the hair NOT straight across.  You will cut toward her hair line, alternating long and short snips.  It will break up the "straight across" bang that your child may currently be sporting.

Point cut until you have reached your desired length - this will create a soft look and is very forgiving.

Example of a softened bang that will be created (mostly the left side)  by point cutting

Go to your next section which will be the hair directly to your right.  Then proceed to the right.  Make sure both sides match up.

Next pull down the bangs that were secure on top.

Point cut starting with your left hand and the middle part of her hair.  Match it up with the hair underneath and then move right, then left.

Tussle her bangs a little and make sure they are all matched up - remember the look will be soft and is not intended to be a blunt line.

This is how you will get through to the next hair cut for your sweet one!

Send me some feedback about how this worked for you and let me know if you have any questions.

www.runningwithshears.com

arica@runningwithshears.com