Vee Shows You: Prep Your Eye for Eyeshadow

Vee

Via

"Vee, what's the difference between eye primer and eyeshadow base?"

We've done a few eye primer reviews on Hot Ink (here, here, and here) but we've never talked about eyeshadow base.  I'm here to me drop some beauty knowledge on you.

Eye primers are made to create a barrier between your eyelid and the product you are wearing.  By doing so, they keep the oils on your eyelid from building up and causing eyeshadow creasing or fading.  The primer creates a smooth surface for your eyeshadow and makes blending easier.  Primers often will improve the vibrancy of your shadow.  Most primers are milky or translucent and will blend clearly on your lid, but you can now find some with pigment in them to be worn alone or to boost eyeshadow color.

Ultra Effective: Arm & Hammer UltraMax Deodorant

Vee

I live in Houston,  the armpit of Texas.  It gets hot and muggy starting in April and stays that way until October.  You get sweaty and oily just walking from your door to your car so when it comes to deodorant, I need something that works. 

I ran out of Secret Clinical Strength deodorant and was at the ghetto grocery that didn't carry the $10 deodorant I usually buy.  I spied some Arm & Hammer UltraMax varieties for about $2.50, so I picked one up in Powder Fresh to hold me over til I could get to Target.

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner: Save The Drama For Your Mama!

Vee

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner has gotten some good buzz around the beauty blogosphere for being similar to Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners but without the expensive price tag.  I'm always up for a drugstore dupe so I picked up a pot in Espresso a few days ago and gave it a whirl. 

I should have remembered that I hate whirling, twirling or spinning in general. 

Hot Tip: Blister Prevention!

Vee

Sandals giving you blisters? Try dabbing a little liquid bandage on the back of your ankle or toes to create a barrier that prevents blisters. You can also use an anti-blister stick (often found in the footcare department) to keep uncomfortable shoes from rubbing or to help break in new shoes.

One-Two Punch: Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo and Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask

Vee

I'm constantly on the lookout for products that leave my hair shiny and clean without breaking the bank. My hair was feeling a little dull and oily so I picked up a bottle of Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo. Walgreens had a special on Neutrogena products so I grabbed a jar of the Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask as well since I know deep cleaning products can be drying.

Hot Tip: Get Rid Of Clown Cheeks!

Vee

You: Used a heavy hand with your blush and now you have clown cheeks. Solution: Take a fluffy face brush and some translucent powder and blend, blend, blend! If you don't have translucent powder, you can use a compact, powder foundation or even a plain, clean brush.

Hot Tip: Sharper Idea For Avoiding Messes!

Vee

Via

Don't you hate it when you sharpen your eyeliner or lip pencil and the back pops off and gets shavings everywhere? 

Here's an easy fix: Wrap a rubber band or hair elastic around that baby and it'll keep the lid and the back securely in place. Ta-da!

Hot Tip: Puffy Eyes? Fake a Well-Rested Face!

Dixie and Vee

Ladies, we all have those nights - you drink too much, eat salty foods, or cry over Doctor Who (not that I've done that before, certainly never more than once. Ahem.) The next morning you wake up, you look like crap, and everybody at work asks, "Are you okay?" So, how do you avoid all of that? The answer: Fake it! Here's how:

First, drink a big glass of water and a cup of tea or coffee. The fluid and the caffeine will get to work while you're busy faking a good night's sleep and good, clean living.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Vee

The Urban Decay Naked palette is a classic for a reason. There are a great variety of shimmery neutrals and classic colors. If you are just starting your makeup collection or if you are looking for a comprehensive palette, Naked is worth a try.

The set comes with 12 eyeshadows, a mini primer potion and an eyeshadow brush. I'm a longtime fan of UD's eye primer, so I loved the pocket-sized mini. I was shocked at the high quality of the brush, as most kits contain subpar applicators. I wouldn't use it to apply all my eyeshadow, but the flat shape and smooth bristles would be great for applying shadow to your crease when you want a precise shape. The whole shebang costs $50.

Brighten Your Day: Milani Nail Lacquer

Vee

This winter has been dreary and rainy so I was looking to put a little spring back into my pedicure. Normally I stick to reds, plums and french manicures, but mama needed a little cheering up! When I spied Milani's Nail Lacquer formulas in Neon and Jewel FX I thought, why not?

I chose Fresh Teal in the Neon range of colors. When Milani says Neon, they aren't playing. These colors are highlighter bright.

I was super impressed with how opaque this nail polish is and what great coverage a single coat gives your nail.

Tinted Balm Battle: Fresh Sugar Rose vs Burt Bee's Tinted Lip Balm

Vee

This winter I decided to step away from my usual lip liner + gloss formula and try something a little softer, a little gentler and a little less likely to leave lip prints on my wine glass. Tinted balm seemed just the ticket. Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm had good buzz (ba dum dum) in the beauty community, and I'd just gotten Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose from Sephora for my birthday so the time was perfect for a head to head match up.

Anti-Wrinkle All Star: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF 15

Vee

The Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF 15 has consistently won the Allure Best of Beauty Award so many times that it is now in the Best of Beauty Hall of Fame. Since I will try anything on that list at least once, I picked up a tube at the store when I was in need of face cream with SPF. I've been in search of a great day lotion for years now. I use to love Olay Complete All Day Moisture, but now that I'm about to hit the big 3-0, I'm looking for something to ward off wrinkles.

Ask Ink: A Brighter Smile

"Do y'all have any products you'd recommend for easy teeth whitening? I can't afford a professional treatment but would desperately love to have whiter teeth by my wedding!"

Sally Hansen Healthy Cuticles Now!: A Dab'll Do Ya!

Vee

My nails are brittle and weak. No matter what I do, I can never seem to have beautiful hands without paying for acrylic nails. Maybe I am not patient enough to use a product long enough for it to be effective, but I've given up trying for long, strong nails and just go for healthy looking hands. Enter Sally Hansen Healthy Cuticles Now!, a cuticle cream with vitamins and soy protein.

You get a little under half an ounce of cream in a cute orange and white container. The cream is rich and emollient, without being greasy and it absorbs quickly. The scent pleasantly perfume-y but not overpowering. I leave the jar on my desk at work and dab it on my nails as needed. Because you need so little of the product, the small amount you get does last a while.

Tweezer Pleaser - Tweezerman Slant Tweezers

Vee

I am blessed to have my father's eyebrows. In my natural state it looks like two caterpillers crawled across my forehead and stopped right above my eyes (thanks, Dad!). I've plucked, waxed and threaded them down to about half their original glory, but I have a lot of maintenence in the old eyebrow area.

I tried countless drugstore tweezers from Revlon to those knock off cheapies. About 10 years ago I finally bit the bullet and bought the most expensive ones, the $20 Tweezerman Slant Tweezers . Ladies, I've never regreted it. These little guys are my eyebrow tool holy grail.

Super-Colour Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Plumping Gloss

Vee

I recently received a free full-size sample of this lip enhancing gloss with an order from Sephora. The product claims " A single slick of Sexy Mother Pucker™ can fool your lips into looking and feeling fuller. It features SUPERFILL™ microspheres that explode in volume up to 10X when they absorb moisture, and circulation-enhancing LIPSWELL™ natural plant oil infusion to increase blood flow and make lips look almost instantly lusher."


They lied. I swiped my lips with the lipgloss and waited to see the results. The product warns that "Sexy Mother Pucker™ activates on contact. It's likely that you'll notice a bit of a buzz (and likely, create one)."

Gifts for the Beauty Fanatic in Your Life: Vee's Wishlist

Vee

Everyone who knows me knows I love me some beauty products. I think I'm easy to shop for, but apparently not. Any beauty junkie in your life would probably love one of the following under the tree this year:

Masque Off - Umberto Repair Treatment vs Pureology HydraCure Intense Moisture Hair Masque

Vee

My hair is pretty processed. It's also straight and long, so damage is obvious. I'm always on the lookout for a good deep conditioner to combat the dyeing, blow drying, and flat ironing I inflict on my tresses. A couple of years ago, while staying at my best friend's house, I did that thing where you try out your host's bath products even though you brought perfectly good ones yourself. You do that too, right?

My friend, being the baller that she is, had the Pureology Antifade Complex Hydrate line, the best shampoo and conditioners that I'd ever had the pleasure of lathering up with. Once home I was on a mission to get these awesome products myself and I finally found them at a specialty hair store. Problem was, each 10.1 ounce bottle was $28. Thinking I could get the benefits from a treatment without using the shampoo and conditioner, I bit the bullet and bought the Pureology HydraCure Intense Moisture Hair Masque for around $45 at the time.

From Straw to Silk in 5 Minutes - L'Oreal Feria Color Moisturizing Treatment

Vee

Whether you're trying to cover up grey, highlight your locks, or go blonde bombshell, lots of us dye our hair either at home or at the salon. We've reviewed hair dyes, tips to keep dye off our skin, and products to get dye out when you forgot to lube up. But what to do to keep you hair healthy after you dye? L'Oreal Feria Color Moisturizing Treatment, that's what.

Earlier this year I got the idea to lighten my own hair. I regularly dye my own hair, so I thought nothing of trying to take my long dark brown hair to a light golden brown. What I ended up with was orange brown hair with light orange roots. Even my normally oblivious guy friend took one look at me and asked "What did you do to your head?" In my attempt to fix it I stripped the color, then dyed over it. In less than 2 weeks I had bleach/dyed my hair, then stripped, the demi-dyed it twice. My poor hair was trashed and it felt like straw even when it was wet.

My, what big eyes you have! - E.L.F. Essentials Mechanical Eyelash Curler

Author: Vee

Who has time to curl their eyelashes? You do, if you want gorgeous lashes that frame your eyes and make them pop.

For years I avoided eyelash curlers because they looked like medieval torture devices that not only threatened to pull out my lashes, but worst of all just weren't that effective. All that changed the day I met the E.L.F. Essentials Mechanical Eyelash Curler.