beauty must have: black eyeliner

i’m sure you’re thinking, of course black eyeliner is a beauty must have – duh! and yes, darlings, you are right. and yes, duh. but these, my ladies, these eyeliners you truly must have.

from the perfectly executed line (in any shape and thickness) to a smoky, smudged eye – these liners will get you there.

these eyes can be yours with a gel liner and a good brush. it takes a little practice to get the hang of it, but i personally find the bobbi brown gel liner to be perfect for this kind of line. liquid crackles, gel doesn’t. plus bobbi brown’s products are superior quality and feel so silky smooth when it hits your lids.

then of course is the ever sexy smoky-smouldering eye a la mila kunis (and every other celebrity). it’s a little softer than a harsh cat eye or other vintage-inspired liner looks. this eye is acheived with a kohl liner – MAC is the obvious leader, but for me i find MAC runs. i like it but need to reapply frequently. enter, ulta beauty. their kohl liner doesn’t run the same way MAC does and is great (from my experience) all day long. and of course you could opt for a kajal liner – also great for this look. apply and smudge with your finger tip – easy as 1-2-3.

here are some great products you definitely want in your arsenal:

must have black eyeliners
images here and here

winter skin care: beauty

over the past two weeks, we’ve talked about caring for your face and your body in the winter. now it’s time to talk about beauty – i promise this is the last one. when you are talking about every day makeup, i think it should be quick. some people say 5 minutes, i say 3. i don’t like to take too much time on makeup every day, so i’ve gotten myself down to a few key steps that ensure i still look polished and put together for the office.
when it comes to winter makeup, i want to make sure i get a dewy look with rosy cheeks to look invigorated, awake and basically ready to conquer the world – but fast.

here are my picks and tips to get on with it in the morning.

winter skin care: beauty

1. murad bb cream. i’ve tried a few and i love this because it has a little extra something to give you a dewy foundation. i’ve certainly been known to skip step 2 and go out of the house in just this but in the winter….

2. it’s good to have extra moisturizer, so i gravitate towards a tinted one, like this from smashbox. always opt for spf – even in the winter the sun can damage your skin.

3. a flushed cheek is perfect year long, but i particularly like it in the winter. i love when i go outside and come back in my cheeks have a rosy glow from the cold. i love the contrast on paler, winter skin. i love this cream blush from nyx in red – yes red. highly recommend it ladies, but you only need a little – I REPEAT A LITTLE – otherwise you will just look like a streetwalker.

4. finally, a quick swipe of mascara on the top and bottom. whatever you like, i just happen to like shocking from YSL. i go for black for a little more drama.

winter skin: face

it’s cold. that means winter skin is a comin’. which means we need to discuss this and prepare – immediately!

so here’s the deal. winter dries your skin out, regardless of skin type, from the cold air outside and the heated air inside. to achieve perfect skin in this climate, you’ll need to exfoliate so as to remove this dry, dead skin, and hydrate, to stimulate the blood cells and oxygen and all that stuff.

here are my picks to keep your skin looking radiant all winter long:

winter skin care

1. clarisonic. it’s worth the investment – nothing will clean your pores and exfoliate better than this bad boy.

2. face lotion with oxygen. it helps stimulate blood, oxygen, collagen, and so on. the extra boost is hydrating and gives you a little boost of energy.

3. unpetroleum jelly. so, it’s like vaseline and won’t clog your pores. i have sensitive skin that is prone to blemishes, and this stuff does not bother me. you might not want to sleep with this on, since it could get on your pillow case. but, i will tell you right now, i have slept with this on, my pillowcases are fine and my skin is AMAZING after. you could also walk around the house for a bit and then rinse it off. it is shiny so it’s not a cute look when you are going to bed with a significant other.

4. finally, a humidifier. the heat in your house will dry out your skin (consider that, too, before taking steamy hot showers!). keep a humidifier on your side of the bed to have radiant skin in the morning. bonus? add some lavendar essence for a calming and relaxing effect.

winter skin care by herlongwayhome

valentine’s day beauty

i totally love makeup – i’m a little bit of a makeup whore. i don’t go crazy and use wild colors, but i like to change my beauty look with my moods, the same way i like to change my clothes. sometimes i like a little cat eye, sometimes i like that smoldering smokey eye. sometimes i like au naturale.

for valentine’s day i like to do something a little more. you definitely want to go for a look that makes you feel a little sexier than your everyday and gives you the ability to give him “that look.” check out my picks for a valentine’s day-perfect look as well as a tutorial from my most favorite beauty blogger, kandee johnson.

valentine's day beauty
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get the look – neon pink lips

chloe sevigny has inspired us today – as well as the brutal heat wave hitting the east coast – to try some neon pink lips. often seeming edgy, there is something gentle and graceful about this photo.

feeling a little bold today? here are some great options to get chloe’s hue.

Top: MAC Chatterbox; Clinique Extreme Pink; Illamasqua Fable; Maybelline Fifth Ave Fuschia; Sephora Maniac Mat 01, Bottom: MAC Girl About Town; YSL Pink Celebration; MAC Show Orchid; NARS Schiap; YSL Provocative Pink; NARS Carthage