How to Dye Hair Red Naturally with Henna Gloss Treatment

A few weeks ago, dyeing my hair with henna would not have been on my to-do list.  I didn’t even know that henna could be used for that purpose, only for tattoos I’d seen people get at the Renaissance festival.  Well, one day I was pondering my hair that has gone through all different various forms of hair dye and thought to myself of how I would like to change the way it looked again.  However, hair salon visits are extremely expensive, and not to mention damaging to hair, and that was not the route that I wanted to take again.
At the time, my hair was growing out (naturally dark blonde) and was not the prettiest in contrast to the light blonde the rest of my hair had become.  I haven’t dyed my hair since July 2015, and was attempting to let the roots grow out.  My original intention was to look for some natural hair lightening dye.  However, it didn’t take long until I came across henna, a natural plant dye, which will dye hair a shade of red (what exact shade depends on the hair color that you have).
Since that initial discovery and tons of research and watching videos on it, I decided that I wanted to try it and make my hair red.  What I learned was that there are countless ways to prepare henna, but a much quicker and easier to get out, less messy, and more nourishing way to do this is a gloss treatment.  Another great thing about the method I will showing you is that you can essentially control how much of a red hue you will get out of it, based on how long you decide to leave it in or what type of henna you use.
*I based what I did on one amazing woman named Vita’s video and blog post, with some personal tweaks, check it out here: http://vitalivesfree.com/henna-gloss-treatment/ 
So enough rambling on my life-changing discovery of henna, and let’s get on to explaining how I did it.

Ingredients (based on the original recipe, though I doubled it since my hair is so thick)
3 T natural henna (pure without any additives)
3 T warm water (or chamomile or hibiscus tea)
1 T raw honey
1 T apple cider vinegar
2-3 T conditioner (preferably natural, but just make sure it doesn’t have any silicones or proteins)
-non metal bowl and spoons for mixing the ingredients
--shower cap or cling wrap
*Optional: though HIGHLY recommended:
-essential oils to mask the yucky hay scent of the henna (I used a blend of lavender and rosehip, along with some regular cinnamon and nutmeg).
-hair dye brush for applying the henna. I got mine here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CDXPG9C?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
-plastic gloves

Now with the henna, I actually mixed two different kinds in order to achieve my desired shade, both of which I ordered from amazon.  Here’s the links to where you can purchase them
Hannah henna: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009YSTOAG?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_6&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Light Mountain in the shade light red (I highly recommend this brand, they’re organic and have a good color chart and a variety of shades to choose from in order to obtain a specific shade):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ACI0QE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Another thing a lot of posts forgot to mention is that depending on the brand of henna you use, it will vary how long you should allow the henna to set covered while mixed with the water before applying it to your hair.  The Hannah henna I let sit overnight, and the light mountain one only 2 hours, so make sure you read the box or reviews on whatever henna you decide to use.  This is really key because the henna is going to need time for releasing the dye.

After all of the henna was released, I mixed the rest of the ingredients in the bowl and prepared my bathroom (and myself) before applying the henna.  I would highly recommend covering up the floor with newspaper, or using a garbage bag to cover the sink.  Also, wear an old shirt you don’t mind getting dirty and cover the back of your neck with a towel.  I put lotion all over my face, especially near the hairline so that the henna wouldn’t stick to my skin (vaseline or coconut oil are good options).

Once you have everything ready, including gloves on, you can apply the henna in any way you find easiest, honestly.  I attempted to divide my extremely thick hair in sections, but in the end it was a tad bit tricky to be neat about it.  Make sure you get a thick layer and mainly work it deep into your roots, then smooth the rest down your hair.  It helps to have somebody with you to make sure every spot gets evenly coated, especially since it can be hard to see in the back.  After it has been applied, put the hair in a bun at the top of your head and either place a shower cap over it, or wrap cling wrap around it.

After this point, it’s up to you to decide how long to leave it.  I left my hair in for 3 hours because I wanted a decent amount of color.  If you don’t want any color, 30 minutes is good.  If you want A LOT, leave it in for up to 4 hours.

Then, I rinsed it out (a bit time consuming).  I used a ton of conditioner, the same one I had used in the recipe, and eventually it was set to go, once the color red stopped appearing at the bottom of the shower.

In all, I was pretty happy with the results, although my roots are a different shade of red than the rest of my hair, which I had expected anyways.  I received many compliments for my hair, however I do plan to redo the treatment to make it a bit deeper of a red (part of the effect of having used the light red hair color).  Here are some lovely before and after pictures for you:

If you have any comments, tips, or questions about dyeing hair with henna, just leave them below.  I am very pleased with how it came out, and hope that if you decide to do it, you like your results too!  Good luck, and subscribe for more updates and blog posts on here.

Thanks for reading,

Katie xoxo

How to Dye Hair Naturally with Henna Gloss Treatment

A few weeks ago, dyeing my hair with henna would not have been on my to-do list.  I didn’t even know that henna could be used for that purpose, only for tattoos I’d seen people get at the Renaissance festival.  Well, one day I was pondering my hair that has gone through all different various forms of hair dye and thought to myself of how I would like to change the way it looked again.  However, hair salon visits are extremely expensive, and not to mention damaging to hair, and that was not the route that I wanted to take again.
At the time, my hair was growing out (naturally dark blonde) and was not the prettiest in contrast to the light blonde the rest of my hair had become.  I haven’t dyed my hair since July 2015, and was attempting to let the roots grow out.  My original intention was to look for some natural hair lightening dye.  However, it didn’t take long until I came across henna, a natural plant dye, which will dye hair a shade of red (what exact shade depends on the hair color that you have).
Since that initial discovery and tons of research and watching videos on it, I decided that I wanted to try it and make my hair red.  What I learned was that there are countless ways to prepare henna, but a much quicker and easier to get out, less messy, and more nourishing way to do this is a gloss treatment.  Another great thing about the method I will showing you is that you can essentially control how much of a red hue you will get out of it, based on how long you decide to leave it in or what type of henna you use.
*I based what I did on one amazing woman named Vita’s video and blog post, with some personal tweaks, check it out here: http://vitalivesfree.com/henna-gloss-treatment/ 
So enough rambling on my life-changing discovery of henna, and let’s get on to explaining how I did it.

Ingredients (based on the original recipe, though I doubled it since my hair is so thick)
3 T natural henna (pure without any additives)
3 T warm water (or chamomile or hibiscus tea)
1 T raw honey
1 T apple cider vinegar
2-3 T conditioner (preferably natural, but just make sure it doesn’t have any silicones or proteins)
-non metal bowl and spoons for mixing the ingredients
--shower cap or cling wrap
*Optional: though HIGHLY recommended:
-essential oils to mask the yucky hay scent of the henna (I used a blend of lavender and rosehip, along with some regular cinnamon and nutmeg).
-hair dye brush for applying the henna. I got mine here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CDXPG9C?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
-plastic gloves

Now with the henna, I actually mixed two different kinds in order to achieve my desired shade, both of which I ordered from amazon.  Here’s the links to where you can purchase them
Hannah henna: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009YSTOAG?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_6&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Light Mountain in the shade light red (I highly recommend this brand, they’re organic and have a good color chart and a variety of shades to choose from in order to obtain a specific shade):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ACI0QE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Another thing a lot of posts forgot to mention is that depending on the brand of henna you use, it will vary how long you should allow the henna to set covered while mixed with the water before applying it to your hair.  The Hannah henna I let sit overnight, and the light mountain one only 2 hours, so make sure you read the box or reviews on whatever henna you decide to use.  This is really key because the henna is going to need time for releasing the dye.

After all of the henna was released, I mixed the rest of the ingredients in the bowl and prepared my bathroom (and myself) before applying the henna.  I would highly recommend covering up the floor with newspaper, or using a garbage bag to cover the sink.  Also, wear an old shirt you don’t mind getting dirty and cover the back of your neck with a towel.  I put lotion all over my face, especially near the hairline so that the henna wouldn’t stick to my skin (vaseline or coconut oil are good options).

Once you have everything ready, including gloves on, you can apply the henna in any way you find easiest, honestly.  I attempted to divide my extremely thick hair in sections, but in the end it was a tad bit tricky to be neat about it.  Make sure you get a thick layer and mainly work it deep into your roots, then smooth the rest down your hair.  It helps to have somebody with you to make sure every spot gets evenly coated, especially since it can be hard to see in the back.  After it has been applied, put the hair in a bun at the top of your head and either place a shower cap over it, or wrap cling wrap around it.

After this point, it’s up to you to decide how long to leave it.  I left my hair in for 3 hours because I wanted a decent amount of color.  If you don’t want any color, 30 minutes is good.  If you want A LOT, leave it in for up to 4 hours.

Then, I rinsed it out (a bit time consuming).  I used a ton of conditioner, the same one I had used in the recipe, and eventually it was set to go, once the color red stopped appearing at the bottom of the shower.

In all, I was pretty happy with the results, although my roots are a different shade of red than the rest of my hair, which I had expected anyways.  I received many compliments for my hair, however I do plan to redo the treatment to make it a bit deeper of a red (part of the effect of having used the light red hair color).  Here are some lovely before and after pictures for you:

If you have any comments, tips, or questions about dyeing hair with henna, just leave them below.  I am very pleased with how it came out, and hope that if you decide to do it, you like your results too!  Good luck, and subscribe for more updates and blog posts on here.

Thanks for reading,

Katie xoxo

I'M BACK TO BLOGGING!

Oh my.  If you're looking at this right now, you may be a bit confused.  And rightfully so.  Because I haven't made a blog post, in, well, over a year.  Yeah.  A really long time.  And what I want to say is: I'm sorry.

I don't have much reason to say why I stopped except that life happened.  I got busy and didn't get so much inspiration and ideas.

I have to make this quick, but in all I simply wanted to tell you that I WILL be making blog posts again, including plenty of natural beauty things, along with sharing some new products, reviews, etc.  What I'd like to ask you is what things you want to see blog posts on.  My goal will be to post at least once a week.

Thanks to those of you who stuck with me even in my absense.  I appreciate it, and now I'm rewarding you by letting you know I'm back.

xoxo
Katie

UPDATE + What I Got For Christmas 2013!

I realize it has been a REALLY long time since I've posted.  Here it is, 2014. It's been over a month.  I'm so sorry about this, but I will explain why.  I've been making youtube videos and that's something I'm currently more passionate about than writing blog posts.  I will probably post my videos on my blog and add additional information in the posts, but it isn't likely I'll be doing too many more posts non related to a video I've made.

However, if there's any blog post that you really really want to see, just leave me a comment below and I will do it for you.  Right now though this is just how it's gonna be though.

Now here's a video I made a few days ago but forgot to share with you: What I got for Christmas 2013! 

Hope you enjoy!  What did YOU get for Christmas?

DIY Honey Face Mask For Acne

Hello everyone. Once again I apologize for the lack of blog posts, but today I have a video for you.  Below I will list the ingredients and instructions for you and hope you enjoy this quick little blog post :).

Ingredients

-1 tablespoon of honey (I used locally made, but you can use whatever you have. However, raw organic honey gives the best results.)
-1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
-1 teaspoon of milk (preferably whole, but whatever kind you have works fine)
 -bowl
-Optional: I used a 1 dollar elf brush for a smoother application.

Directions:

Mix together the ingredients and apply to the face. Leave on the face for about 10 minutes.  What you can do is rinse it off, OR stand in the shower to steam it and even further penetrate the mask. Wait until after you have steamed, then rinse off with lukewarm water.

You can do this mask up to 3 times a week since it is so gentle.  Let me know if you try it and if it works for you.  It certainly did for me!

Thanks always,

Katie xoxo

Tips For Clear Skin Naturally

 Hey everyone, it feels like it's been forever since I've actually sat down and written a blog post.  I've really missed it, and I just had to write a new post.  This one's gonna share my tips that have helped out my skin to get a lot clearer than it used to be.  My acne is still quite bad, but these have really helped improve it.  And best of all, this is all stuff that can be done without a dermatologist. Enjoy!

1.Create a simple and gentle skincare routine. Don't overload on products.  Often we can get too excited about trying new stuff and this can end up confusing our skin and causing it to break out even more.  I'll be sharing my skincare routine with you soon, but what I use are a gentle cleanser, witch hazel as my toner and a simple moisturizer.  Make sure to have oil-free, hypoallergenic, and non-comodegenic products.

2. Use face masks. You can buy them, or make them at home yourself.  These can really help out your skin and offer many benefits.  To see my post on some great acne face masks you can do, click here.

3. Drink plenty of water and/or green tea. I often forget to drink water, but I'm aiming to drink at least 5 glasses a day, though lots of people say to take eight.  However, I feel like that's an unrealistic goal right now.  Green tea has many health benefits and I try to drink it regularly to help get rid of toxins in the skin, and it overall makes me feel healthy and really good when I drink it.

4. Toothpaste is your friend.  You can use this to spot treat your acne (not the gel kind, it won't work).  Sounds weird, but it has baking soda in it and actually really works!

5. Tea tree oil is awesome.  This one you can get at Whole Foods, and I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard lots of great things about it.  Apply a small amount to your active acne.

6. Exercise.  It's just part of being overall healthy.  By staying healthy with everything you do, your skin is naturally going to cooperate and function at it's best.  It's just common sense, you know?

7.  Try not to stress.  This is so tough for me, since I tend to panic and worry a lot, but stress can actually cause acne.  If you want, I'll make a blog post with some tips on how to be less stressed, but try to take deep breaths and just stay calm.  And most importantly, BE HAPPY! :):):) 

Thanks for reading,  Katie xoxo

Check out my latest video for more helpful tips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0-tHZe6rnw
 Follow me on pinterest: here. 


What do you think of these tips?  What tips do you follow to help your skin?

5 Cute and Easy Heatless Hairstyles For School (Fall Themed)

 
So sorry I haven't posted lately on the blog!  I've been quite busy, as well as making some fun videos for you guys :)

Really hope you enjoy this hair tutorial, please let me know what you think of it, as well as leave some requests for future videos.  

Love always,
Katie xoxo

October Beauty Favorites 2013

In this video I shared with you my October favorites of 2013.  It was really simple this time, but in the future I'll add more different products rather than just makeup.  Comment below your favorites of this month (any kind).

Products Mentioned💖

Covergirl 3 in 1 Foundation- Best foundation I've ever tried. Love it.
 
Physicians Formula correct & cover duo concealer in green and light-Amazing coverage concealer.
 
Rimmel Stay Matte-Just recently got this, it kept my face matte all day and it's so inexpensive!

ELF essential wet gloss lash and Brow clear mascara-Loved it for taming my brows, as well as using it as a natural looking clear mascara.  And only 1 dollar!
 
Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me-I love this color, great for fall :).

Thanks for viewing!

Drugstore Makeup Haul (E.L.F., Wet n Wild, + Jordana)

Hey everyone!  So today I'm sharing with you in a video the stuff I got today at kmart.  There were some good sales, and somehow I was able to get 7 products for just $8.95! Including tax!  So below I have the swatches but be sure to watch the video for the full info.  Thanks for reading!

From top to bottom: Wet n Wild cherry frost, wet n wild light berry frost, jordana Easyshine glossy lip color 02 berry colada, jordana Easyliner retractible pencil in black. 

Here's a close up to demonstrate the shimmer of the lipsticks. The top 2 are EXTREMELY pigmented, not drying, and easy to apply. The third is more sheer and more of a natural everyday look. I loved the ease of the eyeliner and the good pigment it gives. Seems like it will be good for beginners like me. 

Hope you enjoyed! Thanks so much for reading (and watching).

The Skincare Tag + Update!

Hey guys, I know it's been a complete five days since my last blog post, and for that I'm very sorry.  So today I'm bringing you a skincare tag, as well as a special announcement to share afterwards.  Please enjoy, I found this tag from missmakeupbeauty, one of my favorite beauty bloggers to read from.

I saw this tag from missmacbeauty, and decided to try it out.  Anyone reading this can do the tag, I tag you all!  Just be sure to mention me if I helped you discover it.

Describe your skincare routine in 5 words
Gentle, simple, soothing, hydrating, acne-fighting

  What's your skin type? 

Oily/combo, oily in most places, but I do get lots of dry patches during fall and winter.

  What's your favourite skincare product?
This is quite difficult.  But I'd have to say probably my Cetaphil Oil-control moisturizer, since it's something I haven't stopped using since I've gotten it, and it's so gentle and not irritating at all.

Top blemish zapper I actually really like my ELF zit zapper, which is only 1 dollar!

Face wipes yay or nay? 

When traveling, yay, since they're so handy.  But I prefer to wash my face when I'm at home since it irritates my skin less.
  Toner yay or nay?  Yay, I use witch hazel, which works awesome!  I'll be doing a blog post on witch hazel soon :).

  High end skincare or high end make up? Hard to say, since I don't own any of either.  I guess I'd say skincare because taking care of your skin is super important.  But I would probably buy high end makeup before buying an expensive 300 dollar cleanser.
  
  What's the most unusual skincare product you've tried?  I haven't tried anything that unusual before, surprisingly.

You're in a French pharmacy and can only pick one item - what is it?  I honestly don't even know what this questions means but perhaps some special cleanser?
Tell us your top skincare tip  Use a moisturizer, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR SKIN TYPE!  It is so essential, and I used to not believe it since I had oily skin.  But moisturizer actually helps out with the oiliness and controls it.  Make sure moisturizer is a part of your skincare routine, it's so important.

If you enjoyed reading my answers, do the tag yourself! And comment below if you do it, I would love to read it!

 

UPDATE!

 

Now that I've done the tag, it's time for me to update you.  My announcement is that just a few days ago, I created my own youtube channel!  And the cool thing is, I'll sometimes be doing videos that I'll also share with you directly on the blog and post additional info written down on the blog.  So even if you don't have a youtube account, you can still stay updated with the videos I'm making.  My goal is to make at least one video a week, and 2-3 blog posts a week.  Because of this, I may have to delay beginning Wednesdays From Within, since I am extremely busy lately.

Anyway, that is my news.  Be sure to subscribe to my channel here. 

 

Also, leave your thoughts below about this new update.  What do you think?  Leave your video requests below.

How To Manage Frizzy, Unmanageable, Thick Hair

For those of you who didn't know this, I happen to have extremely unmanageable, frizzy, poofy, dry and thick hair. Which can make it  quite difficult to care for at times.

I've been doing some research on what to do if you have u thick hair, and it was kinda hard to find information however, since most posts were about thin haired people trying to volumize their hair.  But even though I probably have the thickest hair of almost anyone I know, there HAVE to be some people out there who have the same problem as me (that is, at least somewhat unmanageable hair).  Well, I fortunately did find some stuff that I found to be helpful, and I hope it's helpful for you too. Enjoy!

1. Wash your hair every other day.  Over-washing just isn't good for your hair, especially for thick hair.  My hair is quite dry and poofy and it just doesn't look it's best when I wash it more than once in a row.  Give it a try and let me know if it works.

2.  Use a wide-tooth comb.  These are much better for thick hair, and are also designed to help it out.  It's also less damaging than a thinner toothed comb since each pick is farther apart.

3.  Try a leave-in conditioner.  You can purchase these from the store to put in after your shower, or you can make one on your own to leave in before you take a shower.  Mayonaisse and olive oil are both very good for that purpose.  Mayonaisse brings hair amazing shine while olive oil deeply moisturizes your hair, which is just awesome :).

4.  Avoid using heat if possible.  This one is pretty obvious, but let's admit it, we still do it.  But this is especially important for unmanageable hair because it damages even more deeply if your hair is already dry.  This includes: hot showers, heated hair appliances, etc.  Don't worry, because I'll be doing a post on easy heatless hairstyles for thick hair with video!  Stay tuned ;)

5.  Apple cider vinegar as a conditioner.  I recently started doing this, and I've noticed my hair has been A LOT smoother.  What I did was put into a spray bottle 1 part apple cider vinegar and 1 part water into the bottle.  I spritzed it all over my hair after shampooing and usually let it soak for about a minute and then just rinse.  It is literally awesome!  And I was even surprised at the fact that the smell of the apple cider vinegar did not remain in my hair after the shower.  This is my current conditioner and I'm so so so glad I tried it.

6.  Rinse hair with cold water for 20 seconds at the end of the shower.  This was another thing I tried doing.  Make it about as cold as you can manage, and count to 20.  What this does is kind of help the hair follicles (sorry, I forgot the exact science) and it helps to promote shine as well as hair growth.  It feels really good and refreshing and motivates me to get out of the shower (haha).  But yes, I have noticed my hair being way smoother, and I'm definitely going to keep doing this.

Just remember, even though thick hair is sometimes a huge pain, there are also several advantages, which I will be talking about in future blog posts ;).

Hope you enjoyed these tips!  Please leave all your thoughts below.  Also follow me on google plus, google connect and bloglovin for some hairstyle tutorials up ahead. 100 followers in any of those means you have a chance in a future giveaway.  Also please share so others can see :)

Follow me on pinterest here.


What type of hair do you have?  What do you usually do to manage your hair?

DIY Makeup Series: Bronzer!

Time for part 3 of the diy makeup series!  This is super simple because you only need four ingredients.  IMPORTANT: Be sure to test the cinnamon on your arm first to make sure you won't get an allergic reaction.  Read below to see how you can make your own diy bronzer :)

What you'll need:

Ground cinnamon
Ground nutmeg
Cornstarch
Cocoa powder
Optional: Face shimmer (powder)

So the cool part about this is that there really is no set amount for how much you should use.  Everyone's skin tone is different, so you'll have different ideas of what shade you would like.  But if your bronzer is too light, add more cocoa powder. A cool trick for a glowy type bronzer, add some more cinnamon.  And if you want a shimmery type bronzer, just add some shimmery type face thing to it.  Then just seal and place it in a container, and you are done!  Super easy, super awesome :)


Be sure to follow me on google plus, google connect, and bloglovin.  Also leave your comments below so I know what you think.

Follow me on pinterest here.

Have you tried DIY makeup before?  If so, which have you tried?

7 Makeup Products You SHOULDN'T Splurge On

 Hey guys!  So today I'm really happy about making this article, because this is a topic I've been wanting to blog about for a LONG time and hope to write more about in the future.  Beauty on a budget.  I am a high school student, and quite frankly, I just don't have a lot of money.  But no worries if you're like me and money is a problem.   This is my top list of products that I personally don't feel you need to spend on.  

Now, keep in mind, these aren't all necessarily products you shouldn't be buying, if I meant that, I'd be in big trouble.  What I mean is that I feel you shouldn't have to spend a lot of money on them, and I will be giving you cheaper and cost-effective alternatives for each of these if you still want to get any of these products.  But who knows, maybe I'll convince you not to buy some of them at all after all!  Anyways, I really hope you enjoy this, so let's get started ;).

1. Eyelash curler: While it's true you can get these for just a dollar (E.L.F. brand), many price ranges for eyelash curlers are much higher.  And while they can be nice, especially for people with very short lashes, there's an easy way to do it just by using your fingers which I use all the time.  Let me know if you want me to share this trick with you in a future blog post.

2. Tinted Moisturizer: I'm a strong believer in purchasing foundations and bb creams, but personally I'm not much of a fan of buying tinted moisturizers separately.  You see, it's easier just to make your own at home with 2 ingredients you already have: fav foundation + fav moisturzier.  Do whatever you prefer, but this little tip works just about as well for me.

3.  Eyeshadow primer: I know many of you will disagree with me on this one, but keep in mind that I didn't say you should use it, I said it isn't something you should necessarily need to splurge on.  Elf has one for just one dollar that has great reviews, and I'd suggest trying that first.  Then can you can go ahead and complain all you want to me.

4.  Makeup setter spray: Believe it or not, even this item is something many people pay big bucks on.  But before buying, ask yourself, "Do I REALLY need this? Is this the ONLY alternative for me?"  Obviously these expensive sprays can be super great and all, but part of doing "beauty on a budget" is learning to cut back and buy only what you actually need.  I'll be posting an article soon on how I make my own makeup setter soon as part of my diy makeup series.  Or you can try elf's makeup mist + set (3$).  I just don't think this is all that necessary if you invest in a good setting powder and/or have blotting sheets.  The only exception would be a wedding or big event in my opinion.

5. Bottom lash mascara: Seriously, a separate mascare JUST for the bottom lashes? Sorry, I'm just not buying that (OMG, best pun ever!).  That was seriously an accident!  Anyway in my opinion just use regular old mascara and place an index card underneath to prevent a mess.

6. Undereye setting powder: I'm sure this is nice and all, but any translucent or brightening type of powder is just find for someone who's trying for beauty on a budget.

7. Highlighter: This is the last time I mention ELF saving the day.  No need to spend money on expensive Benefit High Beam!  There's an amazing one dollar drugstore alternative known as ELF Shimmering Facial Whip that is pretty much the same and I've seen some reviews who even say it's better.  If it's a miss, you've got nothing to lose! ;)

Thanks for reading, Katie xoxo


Please follow me through google plus, google connect, and bloglovin.  If I get 100 bloglovin followers, I'll be doing a giveaway.  Also share this post so others can see :).  Follow me on pinterest here.

Hope you liked these tips, and that they help you think before splurging on certain items.  Comment below what you think.  What items on this list do you agree don't need to be splurged on?  Are there any products you would add or take off this list?

Wednesdays from Within: New Blog Series

From the title of my blog, you can tell this blog focuses on beauty both inside and out.  I've decided it would be a good idea to set aside a certain day each week to focus on beauty from within, and as you can see from the title, that day will be a Wednesday.

So what IS Wednesday from Within? Basically it's going to be something where I post a new article each week on Wednesday relating to inner beauty, something other than my usual beauty tips, reviews, and the other stuff I do. Now, just a heads up: some Wednesdays ill be busy and may not have time to post something new, but ill do my best :). Ill start on Wednesday 10/16.

Got any questions, requests, feedback, etc. on this new part of my blog? Comment it below, I reply to every comment.  Also please follow me through google connect and bloglovin, link is on the right. 100 followers in either of those two equals a giveaway!!!

Love, Katie xoxo

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HOMECOMING 2013: Makeup + Dress Demo

Last night was the homecoming dance at my school, and I thought it would be neat to share with you my makeup, hair, and dress I wore to it.  Hopefully this can help you out, the routine I followed is definitely one for a special occasion and could be used for that.  The eye makeup I did was made to go with my blue dress, but you can follow pretty much the same steps just by switching the base and shadow colors to match your dress.  Hope you enjoy!!!

MAKEUP

Face

ELF Mineral Infused Primer-This was my first step after cleansing and moisturizing. Normally I don't use primer but I did this time because it was a special occasion and I wanted my makeup to last longer.

Physicians Formula Twin Concealer (green and light)-I took the skin tone side and dotted the concealer onto my problem area blemishes and then blended with my elf small stipple brush.

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation+Revlon Colorstay-The covergirl is my fav foundation, but since I knew I would be in photos, I mixed it with the revlon.  Yes I know foundation with SPF is not the best for photos, but I love the way my skin looks with the covergirl so despite that I used it anyway. I just went with a group of friends and not a date and we didn't take that many photos, so I decided I'd just stick with my favorite.  I blended this also with my small stipple brush.

Almay Hydrating Makeup Powder: Next I set everything with my favorite setting powder, focusing on my t-zone. 

ELF HD Blush: Because it's a special occasion, I couldn't go without blush. Once I again I used the small stipple brush to blend it into the apples of my cheeks for that glowing look.

ELF Shimmering Facial Whip: The look wouldn't be complete without highlight, so I took this baby and used it underneath my brow, in the inner corners of my eyes, on my cubids bow, and just a little bit on the area above my blush.

EYES

Here's what it looked like, but keep in mind the lighting makes it look lighter and it was darker and more pigmented in real life:

Avon Eye Color Eye Pencil in Sky Blue-I used this as my base and just colored it over the entire lid. It is a lighter shade than my dress, but it was the only blue base I had and it ended up turning out fine.

Avon Unknown Pallette-Then I took a sparkly deep midnight blue shadow and applied that on my entire lid also, focusing mainly on the innermost section.

Taking a dark and sparkly color, I made a v shape in the outer corners of the eyes to elongate them and give a slight cat eye. I loved the color though and it went well with my dress I think :).

LIPS

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer-Surprisingly, I didn't go for anything super special for lips this time, I felt like keeping it simple. So I put this baby on, and then applied my baby lips after, but that's pretty much it for the lips.

And here's the finished look with everything:

Please excuse the awkward smile...lol :P

DRESS

And of course, I must show you the dress...

I had to cut out my friends who were in the picture, but yeah that's my dress! I actually got it from my friend for a lower price who had worn it at her homecoming last year, but she got it at Windsor in case you're wondering. Anyway, I guess that's it, thanks so much for reading!

Don't forget to follow on bloglovin and google connect (link is on the right), as well as Pinterest!

Pinterest:http://www.pinterest.com/hollyleaf007/boards/

What did you think of the makeup I chose? What makeup do you think would be good for a special occasion? Comment below all your thoughts and suggestions, I reply to every one of them.

Remember you're beautiful, and no special product mentioned on this blog can make you that way. It's just the way you naturally are :).

DIY Makeup Series: Translucent Powder

Today I will be continuing with my diy makeup series with my 2nd part to it.  This one is super simple because you will only need two things: 

cornstarch (any amount, it's up to you)
a makeup container of some kind

Cornstarch really does work as a translucent setting powder, and it helps control oils and keeps the makeup lasting longer.  You can place it in an old makeup container, or even just a cup that you seal and use it right from there.  Super easy, super awesome.  Hope you enjoy!

 ~Katie xoxo

Follow me on pinterest here.  Also please follow through google connect and bloglovin, the links are on the right.  Remember that when I reach my goal of 100 followers on either of those, I will do a giveaway :).  Please share this so others can see!!!


Have you done DIY makeup before?  If so, what have you done?

September Makeup Faves 2013

Hey everyone!  The month of September is nearly over, and so I realized it's time for me to share my September favorites.  This is my first month of blogging, and so this will also be my first monthly favorites.  What I'm thinking my plan will be in regards to these types of things is that I'll try to post these on the last Friday of each month (but obviously I didn't do that this time).  Let me know what types of favorites you'd like me to do (for example, a different one for makeup, skincare, food, all in one, etc.) so I can decide which specific types of favorites you're interested in reading about.  Also let me know if you would find it better if I just made a video and posted it here talking about my faves.  Remember, I'm here for YOU, and I need to know what you would prefer :).  Well, let's just get started then, hope you enjoy!  Leave your comments below!

1. Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation:  I've been loving this this month, the coverage and blendability is just amazing.  It's definitely the best foundation I've ever purchased, and I'll do a full review on it if you guys would like :).

2. Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer:  I have this in strawberry, it's a nice simple lip balm that is really soothing and feels minty when you put it on, yet it has a nice fruity scent.  I really love it and just about anything Burt's bees.

3. Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Concealer:  This is really good for under-eyes, which I have quite dark circles, but this really helps cover them.  Probably the best under-eye concealer I have used thus far.  

4. Elf HD Blush: I mentioned this in my last haul, and I wanted to give you the chance here to know my opinion of it.  I got it in the shade headliner, which is a nice light pink, the right shade I like for blush.  It's super easy to apply and I blend it using my elf small stipple brush, it's really a great blush and only 3 dollars!

4. Physicians Formula Happy Booster Mood-Boosting Powder: This is a really awesome powder, to read more in detail on it click here.  Anyway I've really been loving it this month so thought I'd mention it again.

5. Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer:  This concealer really is heavy-duty and covers blemishes very well.  Only problem is the shade, it looks a little cakey on my skin since it doesn't quite match, but it's still really good.

6. Elf Volume Plumping Mascara:  This mascara is pretty awesome for just 3 dollars.  I'm not one who uses mascara very much, but when I do this is the one I use.  It has a big wand which is why it creates so much volume and I've been liking it quite a bit :).

7. Garnier Skin Renew Shine-Control BB Cream: I will be doing a full review on this soon, but I have to say, this is truly amazing.  It covers SUPER AMAZINGLY for a bb cream, and it does help control my oily skin.  Only problem is that the shade is a lot darker than my skin tone, and I wish they would have a light or fair/light shade for it :(.

8. Maybelline Baby Lips: I just recently got this one, which is Cherry Me.  I like it, it's a nice flavor and I like the color too.  To see my full review on it, click here.


Hope you liked these favorites!  Please subscribe by email and also follow through google connect (link is on the right).  When I get 100 followers, I will do a giveaway so be sure to do that.  Comment your fall favorites below, as well as what you would like to be blogged about next :).

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~Remember, TRUE beauty comes from within, and cannot be achieved by any product or tip on this site.  Nothing I talk about is sponsored, these are all my own personal opinions :).~

Beauty That REALLY Matters

 

So far on this blog, I've been talking mostly about ways to enhance your beauty on the outside.  But I've realized that its even more important to talk about a different type of beauty.  One that really matters. 

I haven't made this entirely clear yet, but I'm going to now.  I'm not just here to give you beauty and makeup tips, tell you about favorite products, reviews, etc.  I'm here to support each of you as a person, and not just with ways that can enhance your beauty on the outside.  I should tell you how to be happy with how you are, even without makeup on.  How to be confident with yourself, even though you have flaws.  To embrace those flaws, and learn to be a better person.  And most importantly, to believe in yourself, and embrace that beauty from within.

Kindness really does go a long way.  And it shows.  I'm not saying that makeup and that stuff is bad in itself.  Obviously it's not.  It's an amazing invention that helps so many people.  It brought me confidence when I was finally able to learn how to cover my acne.  Just remember not to let it become an obsession.  Know how to have the right balance between outer and inner beauty.  Remember, the focus should be on beauty from within.  I feel like lately I've been forgetting that, but it's SO important.  The way you treat others and yourself can really affect the way others think of you, and how you think of yourself.  Another thing is to accept that you're not perfect.  Even makeup can't make you flawless.  At least, not on the inside. 

So today, remember what I've written.  Be happy.  Be kind.  Be beautiful.  Show that you're not afraid to show your flaws, because you know there's more to beauty than that.  And believe me, THAT'S what really matters :)

Love always,

Katie XOXO

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Be sure to share this so others can receive this message and know they're beautiful too <3.

DIY Makeup Series: BB Cream

Super excited to be starting my first series!  A diy makeup series was the most voted for series you all wanted on the poll, and I'll be posting this series on and off over the next week (or 2).  There are so many amazing recipes I've discovered and can't wait to share them with you guys!  This bb cream is great if you already have some makeup at home and want to try making a bb cream by combining some of those products.  Also, if there's some free samples (or in my case, way too much foundation) you want to make use of this is awesome!  Hope you enjoy and please comment, follow, subscribe, etc. so I can know if this is something valuable enough for you!  (Below is a picture of the products I used for this)

What you'll need:

1/3 foundation
1/3 moisturizer
1//6 sunscreen (the kind you would put on your face)
1/6 primer
a container to put it in

So this is the ratio you should follow, but make as much or as little as you desire :)  I would suggest starting with about a teaspoon of the top 2, and 1/2 of the other ones.  Then, put it in an old makeup container or possibly a mini container, and you're done!



Have you tried diy makeup before?  If so, which ones have you done?

Beauty Tips For Fall

Today is officially the first day of fall!  It's really not too big of a difference in my schedule or anything since I've been in school for a few weeks, but it can bring a change in skincare, makeup, and things relating to beauty.  So this upcoming week, I'll be posting various articles related to this season for a mini "Back To Fall" series.  In my last post, I told you about some products I found are great for this season.  Here, I'll be sharing you some tips on how to make your transitions to suit the season.  Hope you enjoy!

1.  Use a tinted moisturizer.  Or a foundation.  But since most people already know that, I need to go in depth on this.  These are great because it contains the hydrating benefits of a moisturizer, but can also be used to even your skin tone because of the tint in it.  I'll be doing this probably most of the time, especially during school since it's a lot faster (I can just skip the whole moisturizer step) and it is easier to apply than a full foundation since you can easily just use your fingers.  You can make your own by just mixing your regular moisturizer with your favorite foundation.  

2.  Go for a berry or coral lip color.  These colors work great for fall.  Look for something that you think will go well with autumn leaves.  This isn't really the best time for pale pinks or reds.

3.  Use more bronzer or a deeper toned blush.  You can even skip the blush.  Contour is definitely something that should be more of the focus, we're no longer looking for that beachy kind of glow, we're looking for a pumpkin and cider kinda glow (um, at least I think so) ;).

4.  Moisturize more often than usual.  Every tends to get flaky and dry during the colder months, even people who are normally oily.  Thus, it is even MORE important to moisturize your skin, which is why I said tinted moisturizer is so important in my first tip.

5.  Exfoliate.  This is extremely important!  During autumn, you're going to want to get rid of those dead skin cells, and so you should try to do this at least once a week.  You can use a more gentle one like Aveeno's, or try St. I've's or Burt's Bees scrubs.  You can also make your own using lemon and sugar.


These are the basic tips I find are important.  I really hope these were helpful for you all :).  Please remember to share this so that others can find it, and also follow me on google connect, pinterest, or subscribe by email.  If I reach 50 followers on google connect, I will be doing a giveaway so don't forget to if you haven't already.  Love you all and enjoy this autumn season!

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What are your best tips for fall?  What fall related posts would you like to see next?