This Or That - Beauty Edition

Whether it's a blog post or a YouTube video, I can't help but love tags! Recently on Twitter, I happened upon a Tweet from a blogger, they were complaining that they have 'never been tagged', and their complaint stuck with me. This morning when I woke up I knew right away what I wanted to do for today's blog post - a popular 'tag' that I have not actually been tagged in. I ended up choosing the 'This or That - Beauty Tag'. Where I have not actually been 'tagged', I ended up searching YouTube for this particular tag, and took the questions from this video by Meredith Foster (StilaBabe09). So, without further adieu, let's get to today's post:

Make Up

Blush or Bronzer - Bronzer. No, blush. No, bronzer. How is a girl to choose? 

Lip Gloss or Lipstick - Lipstick.

Eyeliner or Mascara - Mascara.

Foundation or Concealer - Foundation.

Neutral or Color Eye Shadow - Neutral.

Pressed or Loose Eye Shadow - Pressed.

Brushes or Sponges - Brushes.

Nails

OPI or China Glaze - OPI.

Long or Short - Medium.

Acrylic or Natural - Natural.

Brights or Darks - This is more difficult than deciding between blush and bronzer. It really, really, really depends!

Flower or No Flower - No flower.

Body

Perfume or Body Splash - Perfume.

Lotion or Body Butter - Lotion.

Body Wash or Soap - Both.

Lush or Other Bath Company - Don't make me choose between Lush and Bath & Body Works.

Fashion

Jeans or Sweat Pants - Jeans.

Long Sleeves or Short - Short.

Dresses or Skirts - Dresses.

Stripes or Plaid - Plaid.

Flip Flops or Sandals - Flip flops.

Scarves or Hats - Scarves.

Studs or Dangly Earrings - Studs.

Necklaces or Bracelets - Necklaces.

Heels or Flats - I love all shoes equally.

Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe - Forever 21.

Cowboy Boots or Riding Boots - Like I said, I love all shoes (and boots are shoes) equally.

Abercrombie or Hollister - Hollister.

Saks Fifth Avenue or Nordstrom - Saks.

Hair 

Curly or Straight - Straight.

Bun or Pony Tail - Bun.

Bobby Pins or Butterfly Clip - Bobby pins.

Hairspray or Gel - Hairspray.

Long or Short - Long.

Light or Dark - Dark.

Up or Down - Both. It's such a perk to long hair.

Side Sweep Bangs or Full Bangs - Side sweep.

Randoms 

Rain or Shine - Shine.

Summer or Winter - Summer. 

Fall or Spring - Spring.

Chocolate or Vanilla - White chocolate.

East Coast or West Coast - East Coast!

And that is the end of the 'This or That - Beauty Tag'. Now, TAG, YOU'RE IT! Rather than singling out individuals, I'm tagging you all. So if you want to do the 'This or That - Beauty Tag', do it. Be sure to leave a link to your answers as a comment below, or, if you don't have a blog or YouTube channel to post your answers to, you can simply leave them as a comment.

I look forward to reading your answers.

XOXO
LAUREN

DIY Cherry Kool Aid Lip Stain

There are some DIYs that I just cannot ignore and when one of my close friends told me that the lip stain she was wearing, which looked absolutely gorgeous, was made from Kool Aid, I could not resist stopping at the grocery store on my way home for a package of Kool Aid and giving this DIY lip stain a try. I absolutely love this DIY cherry Kool Aid lip stain and I hope you will as well.

For this DIY, you will need:
-A small, airtight container with lid (the one I used was either from Michael's or CanWax)
-A carrier oil such as extra virgin olive oil or almond oil (I chose almond oil, however next time I think I will try using olive oil)
-Cherry Kool Aid powder
-Vitamin E Oil (Optional)
-A mixing tool (I used a butter knife)

Start by adding the Kool Aid crystals to your container. I filled my container about 1/4 of the way. Then add your oil. Mix well. You can continue to add oil and Kool Aid powder until you are happy with both the consistency and color. For extra moisture, add a drop of Vitamin E oil.

Apply the lip stain to your lips using a Q-Tip. Store the product covered in a cool and dry place. As with any DIY beauty product, discard upon any signs of change.

In the container my lip stain looked very dark, it really reminded me of the color of cherries and I was worried I may have messed up this DIY and I prepared myself for lips that looked more purple than red. However, as you can see in the picture above, upon application, the dark cherry look fades into the desired shade of red.

Alternatively, you can create an instant DIY cherry Kool Aid lip stain by dipping a wet finger into cherry Kool Aid powder and rubbing it into your lips.

What are you waiting for? Go rock those red lips!

XOXO
LAUREN

DIY Orange Juice and Baking Soda Face Mask

Lately, I have seen this DIY face mask popping up on social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest with many people arguing that this is "their mask", "their invention" or "their idea". Some people have gone as far as to threaten to sue hundreds of bloggers and Pinterest users for "stealing" their now-practically-famous face mask. The truth is, I do not know who invented this DIY face mask and I am not here to try to take credit for the idea. However, I am here to share it with you. 

This DIY face mask requires two ingredients - baking soda and orange juice, and preparation is simple. In a small container (for example, a shot glass or Dixie cup), combine 1tbsp of baking soda and 1tbsp of orange juice and mix. If your mask needs thickening, slowly add more baking soda until you are happy with the consistency.

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat dry. Next, apply a thin layer of the baking soda and orange juice mask to your face. As with any face mask, avoid your eyes and lips. Let the mask sit for 20 minutes. As the mask dries you may find it tingles or even feels itchy. Do your best to keep your face still (for me, the most difficult part is not talking for 20 minutes) - I like to watch an episode of something on Netflix, write, edit upcoming blog posts, read or browse various social media sites. 

For those of you who don't enjoy face masks or are looking for something that requires less time, the mixture can also be used as a quick scrub to help exfoliate your face.

After the twenty minutes is up, run your fingers under water until damp and then gently scrub the mask in a circular motion for about a minute.

Finally, rinse the mask off. When I rinsed off this DIY face mask for the first time, I let out a horrified shriek when I noticed my bright pink face in the mirror. Fortunately, the pinkness went away. To help, be sure to rinse your face well and follow by applying a gentle toner and moisturizer. 

While some DIY beauty products, including DIY face masks have a shelf life, I recommend using this face mask promptly after preparing it and discarding any leftovers. 

Be sure to let me know your thoughts on this DIY face mask.

XOXO

LAUREN

Multipurpose Make Up: Lip Balm

For those of you who don't know, my name is Lauren Hill and I love lip balm. While many of us rely on lip balm to keep our lips looking and feeling their best, or to combat and sooth sore, cracked lips, lip balm is also a multipurpose beauty product with uses that go beyond our lips. Today, I want to share three other uses for one of my favorite beauty products.

(1) Add color to your cheeks - Experts say that make up looks more natural if the lips and cheeks match, so, whether you forgot your blush, you're trying to de-clutter your make up bag, or you are trying to achieve a more natural look, try using a tinted lip balm in lieu of blush. Apply the tinted lip balm to your cheeks by dabbing it onto your cheek bones either directly from the applicator or using your finger, and then rubbing it into the apples of your cheeks using your finger. This is actually something I initially started using during flights - not only did I want to limit the amount of make up in my carry on bag, but I also knew my skin would thank me for the extra moisture the lip balm provided during a long flight. 

(2) Soften your cuticles - Next time you notice your cuticles looking cracked and dry use your favorite hydrating lip balm in lieu of a cuticle softener to hydrate and repair them. Simply apply a small amount of lip balm to your cuticles and massage gently using your fingers. 

(3) Tame your brows - Instead of carrying a brow gel in your make up bag, or instead of buying a brow gel at all, next time you need to tame your brows simply use your finger to smooth them with a little bit of lip balm. 

How else do you use your lip balm?

XOXO

LAUREN