Nails by Cris VDAY Edition

Today you guys get a special treat of two nail art ideas done by my good friend Cris.
Enjoy and Happy Valentine's Day.

Nail Post #2: Dot Gradient

This is a cute and fun design that is perfect for spring/summer! Of course, it does help that it's basically always summer here in Florida:)

Nail Colors used for this design:

• Sally Hansen White On
• OPI Stand In Lime For Days
• OPI Yellopalooza
• Essie Tart Deco
• Sally Hansen Maximum Growth formula (Base Coat)
• Sally Hansen Invisible (Top Coat)

Ok, so for this look we are going to need a dotting tool (if you don't have one a toothpick will work just as well). First, you need to apply your base coat. As usual I always prefer to use my Sally Hansen Maximum Growth formula to protect and strengthen my nails. Then you move on to your base color. Here, I used Sally Hansen White On. This color tends to be a bit thick, so you can easily get away with doing only (1) coat. Personally, I always try to use (2) coats to make sure that I get a nice even color.

Next, you'll take your dotting tool and use OPI Stand In Lime For Days and add dots starting from the left tip of your nail and work in a curved "L" shape to the top. The next color is OPI Yellopalooza, add dots using the same pattern but towards the center of your nail. It's ok to add in a few sparing dots on either side to make for an easier color transition for the gradient effect.

(Side Note: The two OPI colors are part of the Rock Goddess collection which features (2) additional colors and a bracelet. These mini nail colors make a fabulous gift for friends, family or as a personal treat.)

The last color used will be Essie Tart Deco. Let stand for a few minutes and then add your top coat for that perfect shine.

 

Nail Post#3: V-Day Approved

Hi ladies! Ok, since Valentine's Day is just around the corner I wanted to do a post to help everyone look even more ABFAB on their special evening.

The designs for this look are a bit unconventional, but that's also what makes them more fun. Each nail design looks great on it's own, but makes more of an impact combined. So let's begin...

Nail Colors used for this design:

• Kiss Nail Art White
• Kiss Nail Art Black
• Bertina Sand Blast
• NYC Plaza Plumberry
• Sally Hansen Peachy Breeze
• Sally Hansen Maximum Growth formula (Base Coat)
• Sally Hansen Invisible (Top Coat)

Thumb: Heartbeat

Start with Bertina Sand Blast and paint about 3/4 of your nail. Add (2) coats and let dry for a few minutes. Paint last 1/4 nail using Sally Hansen Peachy Breeze; add (2) coats. Try to create as straight of a line as possible when you add the second color. Next, use the Kiss Nail Art Black striper brush to add the heartbeat design. Start at the base of your nail and continue by creating open triangles to achieve this effect. Try not to keep the beats even in size by making some taller or shorter.

Index: Dotted Heart

Add (2) coats of NYC Plaza Plumberry and let stand for a few minutes. Use your dotting tool to create a half heart design. Add an additional outline of dots.

Middle: Abused Heart

Again, start with (2) coats of NYC Plaza Plumberry and let stand for a few minutes. Second, use the Kiss Nail Art White striper brush to draw a half heart design. Add an additional outline stripe. Next, use your dotting tool to add dots along the lines of the heart. Let dry for a few minutes.

This last piece of the design looks messy (and is) but is also pretty simple. Prepare a piece of paper and your dotting tool as usual. Add a drop of white polish to the paper and use your dotting tool to continuously stir the paint till it slightly dries and becomes stringy. Get the nail as close as possible to the paper and gradually run the dotting tool over the nail (but don't touch the actual nail!) and allow the string to build however thin or thick you like to create the string design.

Ring: Kisses & Hugs 

Add (2) coats of Bertina Sand Blast and let stand for a few minutes. Next, use the Kiss Nail Art Black striper brush to create "X's" for the design. 

(Side Note: You can make symmetrical "X's" for this design, but I personally prefer the abstract look)

Afterwards, get your dotting tool to create the "O's" and finish the look.

Pinkie: Love

Add (2) coats of Sally Hansen Peachy Breeze. Use your Kiss Nail Art Black striper brush to draw the word. Start with a simple sweeping motion to create the "L" and then leave a space for the "O"; move on to the "V" and "E". Finally, add a small heart to in place of the "O" and complete your Love.

Throw on a little top coat and you are good to go!

 

Enjoy your Valentine's Day;)

Nail Art By Cris.

Here is a new section to my blog called Nail Art by Cris.  She will be sharing some of her latest designs and instructions on how to and what colors to use.  Enjoy and happy nail arting!

Fun new design that is super easy to do.

 

Always start with a base coat go protect your nails. I like to use Sally Hansen Maximum Growth formula since it protects and strengthens my nails.

 

Move on to your base color. I used OPI Suzi Loves Cowboys.  Always use two coats for a nice even color.

 

Next, do an off - center thick stripe with Essie Tart Deco.

 Outline the stripe using Kiss Nail Art Soft Blue. Let fry for a few seconds.

 

Finally we use our white striper brush, also from Kiss Nail Art to create horizontal streaks across the nail. Finish with a clear Top Coat and you're good to go!

 

Enjoy,

Cris

 

When was the last time you CLEANED your makeup brushes?

Well it is a new year with new starts and time to clean everything, from out homes to our bodies.  But let me ask you a serious question, When was the last time you clean your makeup brushes, if at all.  I just did mine today and that's what sparked this blog.  Did you know you should clean your brushes at least once a month if not twice a week?  I bet a handful of you haven't even thought of cleaning them. Its ok I am here to help.

So your probably asking your self why should I take the time to clean my makeup brushes, well the answer is simple germs, bacteria, build up, the longevity of your brush ( they aren't cheap) and your face will thank you.  Oils, dirt and makeup get trapped in brushes and will break down the bristles over time, so cleaning them actually preserves them. Also you know when you get random breakouts after applying your makeup and you know it isn't the products your using, it is actually your brushes trying to tell you to clean them. 

Here is an experiment with makeup brushes that might help to push you along to go cleaning your stash. Don't forget to also wipe down train cases, makeup bags and the drawers you keep them in as well.

http://makeuputopia.com/makeup-microbiology-or-why-dirty-makeup-brushes-are-disgusting/

To wash your brushes:

1. Run the hair bundle under lukewarm water making sure not to get water on the ferrule, especially where it meets the handle (this can loosen the ferrule from the handle or the hair bundle). 

2. Add a pea-sized amount of baby shampoo (or any mild shampoo) to the palm of your hand and swirl the brush gently. Try to keep the brush straight up and down as much as possible to avoid getting water in the ferrule. You should see the color coming out right away, however if you have a lot of product build up use your finger to massage the shampoo into the bristles gently. The bristles can take awkward shapes and kinks if you wash to rough.

3. Rinse the brush (again, only the hair bundle). The color should be coming out of the brush, rinse until the water runs clear. To test and make sure all the color is out, swirl the wet brush in the palm of your hand pressing gently to see if any color comes out.

4. Dry by squeezing out excess water and swirling on a clean paper towel or face towel, shape the brush. ALWAYS dry brushes laying flat! Never in a cup facing up.

 

I recommend that eyeliner and concealer brushes be cleaned everyday. Those brushes are constantly around our eyes and in water lines. Eye illnesses are nooooo good. Plus our concealed brushes go over blemishes and some times areas that are healing which don't need infection.

 

You can also use brush cleaners as well. There are many out there.  I will sometimes use Sonia Kashuk (Target) or Japonesque (Ultra).  I personally mix these with the baby shampoo to get a good deep clean.  You can also use the above technique to clean your sponges as well that way you get a little more life out of them. 

I hope this help you all out today.  Please feel free to leave comments, or questions about anything.
Love and Peace
Amanda Eve  

PS proof I cleaned my own brushes today:

 

The Battle of the Alphabet Creams: Which team is right for me.

So as a popular request I am going to tackle the subject of Alphabet creams.  You may know them as BB, CC, or DD creams.  I know already confused.  When these first came out I was the same way.  Sooooo many questions like, which one is right for me, why the funny double letters etch. Well I have some answers for you.  Hopefully after reading this you'll have enough info to make the right choice for you.  

Lets start with the basics " what is a tinted moisturizer?", well it is a produce that gives you a bit of color with the added benefit of a facial moisturizer.  The colors are usually sheer enough that you don't have that caked on look like you get with foundation.   They also come in a few color combinations ranging from very light to dark tan. 

The benefits to these tinted moisturizers are very simple:
1) Time saver - you never have to do the waiting game like you do if you moisturize before foundation
2) Sun protection- foundations do not protect from the sun they actually tend to just dry out the skin. The tinted moisturizers all come with varying SPF.
3) Younger looking skin over time- these creams all now have some form of anti aging, and wrinkle reducing complex and over a few weeks of use you'll notice a difference in your skin.
4) Moisture protection- gives added moisture so your skin doesn't feel dried out by the end of the day
5) Natural look- goes on lighter than the foundation so you don't get that caked on mask look.
6) Packed with Vitamins- each has their own combination of vitamins and anti oxidants to keep your face feeling young and fresh
7) Great for Summer and FLORIDA- light enough that you won't have a "melt down" doing the hot summer months or everyday use in South Florida
8) Easy coverage and application- again its lighter than foundation so you don't have to worry to much about the blending and streaking issues.

So now lets get into the Alphabet cream tinted moisturizers.....

BB is for....
BB cream stands for blemish balm, blemish base, beblesh balm.

 

 

They were first developed in Germany by a dermatologist who wanted a single cream that would protect skin and provide coverage after laser treatments.
The all-in-one formulation became a sensation in South Korea and then spread throughout Asia.BB creams started hitting U.S. store shelves in the spring of 2011. Today, almost every major beauty company has a BB cream, from drugstore brands that cost under $10 to high-end department-store lines that may be as costly as $100 or more, as well as lines that are only sold at spas or in doctors' offices.

Many BB creams offer effective sun protection, with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, the American Academy of Dermatology's recommendation for daily use. What's more, BB creams generally contain zinc oxide or titanium oxide, physical sunblocks that have some built-in water-resistant properties.

When it comes to skin treatment, you can find BB creams that contain:

• Anti-aging components, including peptides and antioxidants such as vitamins A, E, and C
• Moisturizing workhorses like hyaluronic acid and glycerin
• Ingredients such as licorice and arbutin that help even out skin tone
• Light-reflecting mica to give skin a luminous finish
• Silicone-based ingredients, such as dimethicone, that help smooth the skin, acting much like a foundation primer does

CC is for.....

CC cream, also known as Color Control cream, or Color Correcting cream, is a refined Blemish Balm cream or Beauty Balm.

Unlike BB creams and foundations where coverage is buildable, CC Creams usually remain sheer and natural looking no matter how many layers are applied. Some tend to work better as primers rather than a replacement for foundation.   The benefits of CC cream is said to include high SPF rating to ensure protection from damaging UVA and UVB rays. CC creams  also treats and covers uneven skin tones more effectively and blends with skin tone better than BB creams that sometimes appear too light on certain skin tones. A lighter texture than that of BB cream also allows for smoother application with a less oily finish, while remaining extremely nourishing to the skin.

DD is for......

DD can stand for a "Dynamic Do-All," "Dermatologically Defining," and "Daily Defense," depending on which brand you turn to.

While BB creams added primer, antioxidant protection, and SPF to standard tinted moisturizers and CC creams added color-correcting ingredients into the mix, DD creams now offer all those benefits plus even more ant aging benefits to help smooth skin and reduce fine lines.
Additional benefits include the following: self-adjusting coverage; antiaging; hydrating; defending; evening skintone; minimizing pores; blemish soothing; reducing redness; firming; brightening; priming; enhancing vibrancy; refining; mattifying; and nourishing.  



So still confused or did my research help you just enough?  Well if your still in the fence the best thing is to give them a try and see what one fits your needs best.  I personally use BB Cream by Peter Thomas Roth

 

Mineral complex – includes Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Zinc and Lysine which help reenergize skin Sunscreen 

SPF 30 – Broad-Spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen protection
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14 – helps improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles 
2 Shades - An immediate light, sheer, luminous tint with line blurring diamond powder perfects all skin tones and can be blended into all skins for a natural-looking, flattering, skin-enhancing complexion evening booster. 
Squalane – help provide superior moisturization in skin 
Vitamin E and Goji Berry – Anti-oxidants helps protect against free radical attack 
Oil-free Paraben free

For me I have seen my skin begin to look smoother and also since using this product people have told me my skin looks good too. 

Please feel free to leave comment and questions about todays topic and I will respond with what answers I can. 

 

Welcome To My New Beauty Blog

Hello everyone in Cyber land.  My name is Amanda Eve and this is my new Beauty blog.  Here I will be ranting, raving, giving tips, and sharing pics/videos about makeup, skin care, hair and anything else that comes to mind. 

Makeup by me

Here is a little back ground on myself. I was born in FL but brought up between NJ and here.  My heart is always with NJ. I always loved being creative.  I took every art class I could growing up and always loves makeup because I considered  the face and body a canvas and loved discovering new and innovative looks.  I started to work as a receptionist at a salon in 2004 and fell in love.  I than started school at Boca Beauty Academy and soon after started Makeup By Amanda Eve and did everything from weddings to special effects for Halloween costumes.  I currently work at Ulta as a beauty consultant and love helping people with questions about products and the latest trends and looks.  My biggest enjoyment is doing make overs and having people leave the store feeling confident and beautiful.

Photography me


The goal of this blog is to keep you all informed about the latest trends, newest makeup lines and skin care products.  I'll also review new products I use and be honest if it works or not.  I will also put up articles from fellow makeup artists and hairstylists and even have them reviews some products too.  If you have questions on products feel free to leave it in the comments and I will get back to you with the info.

Here is a sampling for some of my work ( above pics are mine as well)

Makeup and Photography by me

Makeup by me

Makeup by me Photography by Alex