Kylie Jenner Inspired Makeup Look (Y)

     (M.B.) Kylie Jenner is the youngest of the well-known Kardashian siblings. She is seen as a fashion icon for many young girls in the teenage age group with her bold yet completely comfortable style. On Instagram, she's known for taking flawless selfies with different makeup looks every time. While her outfits appear comfortable, she isn't afraid to take it a step higher with her makeup. She's been seen with strong cat eyes, strong eyebrows, bold lips, and even a smokey eye, which is what I will be teaching you how to do today. This look can be worn for almost anything even if it is a bit more daring than what you're used to (in fact, I'm wearing something similar at school right now).The look (seen on the left) may seem like it's difficult to achieve, but it's actually only four shadow colors along with liner and mascara. Depending on how dramatic you'd like it, you can build up the color or use a lighter hand.



Directions:
     1. After cleansing your skin, begin with a foundation or BB cream of your choice. This all depends on what kind of attention your skin needs. If you need heavier coverage, use a foundation. If your skin is mainly cleared and doesn't need a whole lot of attention, go with a BB cream or tinted moisturizer. (Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream)
     2. Conceal any imperfections you may have along with the area around your nose to erase any redness you have. (Amazing Cosmetics Concealer)
     3. With a concealer that is a shade lighter than your skin tone, begin highlighting beneath your eyes. You're going to want to create two upside down triangles going down to the middle of your nose. Then, draw a line down the bridge of your nose, your chin, and in between your eyebrows. Blend this out with your ring finger. (Maybelline Fit Me Concealer)
     4. An optional step is to set your makeup with powder and a fluffy brush. Blend this down to your neck and keep a light hand. You don't want your makeup to appear at all cakey because Kylie has a fresh, "no makeup" looking face. (Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder)
     5. Make the apples of your cheeks prominent by smiling, then apply a small amount of a bubblegum pink blush to them with a blush brush. Only apply this to the outer half of your cheeks so it doesn't contradict with the highlight. Blend this out to your hairline. (Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Dollface)
     6. Suck in your cheeks and apply a matte bronzer to the hollows of them with an angled bronzing brush. Create a mirrored "C" shape by bringing the product up to your forehead. Also, put it beneath your chin lightly. Then, with a small fluffy brush, reshape your nose if necessary. This will help make the highlight more pronounced. (Physician's Formula Bronze Booster)
     7. Prime your eyelids with a primer or base that you know will last all day and hold your shadow in place. (MAC Cosmetics Painterly Paint Pot)
     8. Groom your eyebrows with a spooly brush.
     9. Kylie's eyebrows have a high arch and are pretty bold. So when you begin to pencil them in, don't be afraid to use a heavier hand than usual. (Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Pencil)
     10. Now onto the eyeshadows (the fun part)! With a flat shader brush, pick up a matte mauve color and pack it onto your lids. If the color is heavily pigmented, it's better because you want to be able to blend it out into your crease. (Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette in "Nooner")
     11. With a clean fluffy brush, blend out the product to your outer crease. You're going to want to focus the darker colors on the outer portion of your eye to create that smokey cat eye that Kylie has.
     12. With a fluffy crease brush, begin working a matte warm brick tone into your outer corner. Feel free to blend it up slightly, but don't do it too far. You want most of the color focused on your outer area. (Urban Decay Naked Palette in "Buck")
     13. With a smaller crease brush, begin building up a slightly shimmery dark chocolate brown shadow into the hollowest part of your outer corner. Continue to build this up to your liking. (Maybelline ExpertWear Eyeshadow Single in "Made for Mocha")
     14. Taking the same color and a small flat shader brush, bring the color down to your lower lash line only about halfway. This will define the area around your eye without giving it the dreaded "raccoon" effect.
     15. Picking up a matte vanilla color on a small flat shader brush, begin placing the color beneath your brow bone for a highlight. Then, place the color by your tear duct. As you can see, Kylie's highlight is pronounced so don''t be afraid to build up the color appropriately. (Sephora Matte Colorful Eyeshadow in "Lazy Afternoon")
     16. It's difficult to tell what type of liner Kylie is wearing, but I'm going to assume that it is a black kohl pencil. Keep the line as close to your lashes as possible because this product was used clearly to thicken the lashes. Also, wing out the product just slightly. Then with a smudger, blend in the product to reduce any harshness. This will assist in the smokey effect you want. (Maybelline Define A Line Eyeliner in "Black")
     17.An optional step is to apply false lashes. If you do so, use ones that are long and sparse. Kylie's lashes are long and spidery, so this will help make yours appear that way as well.
     18.Curl your lashes.
     19. Apply a volumizing mascara to help blend your false lashes with your real ones. (L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in "Black")
     20. Use a moisturizing lip balm. (EOS in "Sweet Mint")
     21. Kylie's lips are matte in the picture, so use a rose-y pink matte lipstick. (Rouge Dior Nude Lip Blush Lipstick in "Charnelle 459")

Spring Hairstyles!!! (Y)

(S.K.) Spring is here and it came faster than we thought it would! With all of this cold and snowy weather, it doesn't feel like it is Spring at all. Here are a few quick and easy hair styles that will get you into the spirit of Spring! What a better way to remind you of Spring and get you into the season than flowers! Flowers or floral headbands are something that can be a very simple addition to your look, but at the same time, they add a very unique touch to your outfit. Depending on how you wear them, you can make them look bohemian, or just girly.


1.     Floral head bands can be worn many different ways and with any type of hair style. You can leave your hair down and natural, curled, or even straight. Anything will work for this really. For a more bohemian look, keep your hair down, and put the floral headband over the top of your head, like a crown. Move it down until it is near the center of your forehead.





 2.     If you want to wear a floral headband, but want to dress it up a little more, and make the look seem more girls, a simple up do will be perfect, and the touch of the flowers will be the perfect thing to add a little bit of girly-ness to the hair style. A headband with a stretchy back is recommended for this look. First, put the headband on over your head like in the first look, but instead of moving the flowers down to the middle of your forehead, keep them at the edge of your hair line like you would a regular head band. Next, taking the hair that is down, falling behind the headband, bring it up and wrap it over the stretchy part of the headband at the back of your head. tuck the hair into the headband, so it creates a slightly messy, spring up do.


3.     Loose flowers can also be used in hair styles. Real or fake, either will work! Of course real ones will only be able to be used once, and fake ones can be used over and over again. For this look. you will want to start off by parting your hair to the side, and braiding all of your hair to one side of your head, and bring it over your shoulder. This is where you can add your personal preference. You can either do a regular three stranded braid, a four or even five stranded braid, a fishtail braid, or any other braid that you want to. Don't forget to pull at the braid when you finish it, to make it looser, and give it a more wispy effect. Now for the flowers, fake ones will most likely have a small metal stem on the ends of them that will be perfect for sticking into the braid. Arrange them in any pattern that is pleasing to you, and you are ready to go!

4.     The last look that you can incorporate flowers into is a waterfall braid. Just like the first look, your hair will need to be down, but it can be styled any way that you want, meaning that it could be natural, straightened, curled, or whatever you like. When you begin the braid, you are going to wrap it around your head, just below the crown of your head to give it a more laid back kind of feel. Begin braiding your hair as normal to create a base for the braid, Drop the bottom section of hair, and pick up another piece from the bottom. The pieces you drop will be what creates the waterfall. Alternate with grabbing pieces of hair from the bottom then the top of your head. Work this braid all the way around your head until you get to the front of your head. Finish the waterfall braid off with a regular braid, all the way down to the tips of your hair and secure it with an elastic. Now for the flowers, you will be adding them just like you did in the last hair style. Poke them into the braid, all the way around your head. You may need to use a few bobby pins to make sure they are secured in place, and don't fall out of the braid.

Spring Inspired Tutorial!!! (X)

Lily Collins Inspired Makeup Tutorial (W)

     (M.B.) Lily Collins has been making her mark in the acting industry between her roles in Abduction, Stuck In Love, and The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones. Not only has she been recognized for her nearly flawless acting, but her unique, yet completely wearable, makeup looks. Lily has very pale skin and unlike many people in our society today, she embraces it. Also, she isn't afraid to keep her bold eyebrows and make them stand out even more with a little bit of pencil. This look can be worn everyday or even for a special outing.

Directions:
     1. As usual, begin with a clean face. Lily (just like every celebrity) has perfect skin and to achieve that, she most likely washes it everyday. Washing your face twice a day may seem like a hard task to achieve but if you keep at it, it will become a part of your daily routine.
     2. Prime your skin. This will also assist in clearing up your face, creating a smoother canvas for your foundation, concealers, and other facial products.
     3. With a foundation of your choice, apply an appropriate amount to your (clean) fingertips. Then, dot the product on your forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and the excess on your neck. Blend it out. The warmth of your fingertips will come as an aid in blending out the product as naturally as possible. Also, note that the lesser amount of foundation you can get away with is better.
     4. Conceal with a cream foundation. Apply this beneath your eyes, down the bridge of your nose, and on any imperfections you may have. Don't forget to blend out. In this look, natural looking skin is key.
     5. With a fluffy brush and a translucent powder, lightly buff it over your skin. This will set your makeup and lock it in place so that it won't run or streak.
     6. Prime your eyelids with a fairly opaque product. You want to prevent as much discoloration as possible and create the cleanest lid space possible.
     7. Groom your eyebrows with a spooly brush. If you'd like to, you can brush them upwards slightly to give off the illusion of a fuller brow.
     8. Find an eyebrow pencil that is closest to your natural shade. Just because you are going for bolder brows, doesn't mean you want them to look fake or drawn on. Make light strokes with a light hand to make them look natural and full like Lily's.
     9. Run your spooly brush back through them to help blend and make the pencil lines appear less harsh.
     10. Moving onto eyeshadow, pick up a flat shader brush and an orange-tone champagne shade. Pack this color on the lid and slightly into the crease. Then, bring the color to your lower lash line approximately halfway in. This will make your eyes appear smokey.
     11. Next, take a fluffy crease brush and a matte taupe shade shadow. Blend the color into your outer-v and into your crease to deepen the look. Then, bring the product to your lash line again but this time, keep it closer to the waterline. Only put the color one-third of the way in.
     12. Continue to work more of the taupe shade into your outer-v to intensify your eyes. The color will eventually build up to your liking.
     13. Tight line your upper and lower waterline using a kohl black pencil. If you don't know how to apply the color to your upper waterline, an easy solution is to apply an excess amount to your lower waterline and then continuously blink. The liner will transfer up into your waterline.
     14. With that same liner, lightly line just above your upper lash line, keeping it as close to it as possible. Avoid doing a dramatic wing. Keep it fairly simple.
     15. With a cotton swab or blending brush, smudge out the color to keep up with the smokey effect you're attempting to create.
     16. An optional step is to set your liner with a matte black shadow. If you do this, smudge it out to the best of your ability.
     17. Break out your favorite mascara and apply two to three coats of it to your upper lashes, focusing more of the product on your outer lashes for the same whispy effect that Lily has. Then, apply some more mascara to your lower lashes. Keep it to a minimum of two coats.
     18. Lily has defined cheekbones so to create that you're going to wan to sculpt your face with a matte bronzer. Suck in your cheeks and fill in the hollows with the product, then blend it upwards into your hairline for a mirrored "C" image.
     19. Next, apply a coral blush to the apples of your cheeks.
     20. Lastly, apply a coral toned lip balm to your lips.

Spring Into Color Makeup Tutorial (V)!!

(M.B.) With the spring season steadily approaching, new makeup looks are coming into season as well. You've probably been seeing bright, illuminating colors on the covers of magazines like Seventeen and Vogue in many different ways. The "pop of color" makeup can be created in many ways. You can use a colored shadow, mascara, or in this case, eyeliner. You could also use a pop of color on your cheeks or lips, but this look is for those who want something quick and simple with very little hassle.

Directions:
     1. Prime your eyelids. Make sure to use a primer that you know will last a long time. This step is very important because primer helps intensify the color of the shadow. Use your ring finger so that there is no tugging on the skin that could potentially create wrinkles. It is very important that you are careful when bringing the color to your lower lashline. The color is going to be prominent here so you need to focus most of the product in that area.
      2. Begin with a neutral shadow that is similar to your skintone. It can be matte or shimmery, but be sure to keep the shimmer to a minimum. If there is too much, it will be too overdone and the eye won't be drawn to the color. A champagne tone shadow would be best.
     3. An optional step would be to contour your eyes with a darker shade of brown. This should definitely be matte so it won't contradict or bump heads with the color you'll be using.
     4. Highlight with a soft, shimmery white. Focus the product on your brow bones and the inner corner of your eye. This will draw light to your face without distracting it from the color.
     5. With a colored kohl eyeliner of your choice, begin dragging the pencil along your lower waterline. Don't push too hard because you could possibly scratch your eye. Move it back and forth along the waterline so that the color is extra pigmented. Try avoiding colors like hot pink, orange, and red. These colors could make your eyes look irritated or bothered, which isn't what you want. The best colors to use are blues, greens, and purples.
     6. An optional step is to set the color with an eyeshadow. This is also the time to slightly blend the product into your lower lashline. Not only will it set the color but it will also allow the color to be more noticeable.
     7. Black eyeliner on the upper lashline is optional. If you do decide to use it, a pencil is probably better so that it can be blended better. Avoid a heavy wing because it will draw attention away from the color.
     8. On the top lashes, apply mascara as you usually would.
     9. This step is also optional. You can take a colored mascara that matches your eyeliner and apply it to your bottom eyelashes for further coloring. In the photo above, she is wearing black mascara but personally, I believe it would be better to use color to enhance your look.

Katniss Everdeen Inspired Braid!! (W)

(S.K.) With all of the hype surrounding the release of Catching Fire the movie on DVD, it would only be appropriate to do a hair tutorial on the famous braid that Katniss Everdeen, the main character in the movie, wears. If you are a Hunger Games fanatic, then you have most likely seen the first movie, as well as the second one titled Catching Fire. You would also be familiar with the braid that Katniss has become known for.It might look complicated but with just a few steps you will be on your way to looking like the heroic Katniss Everdeen! Happy Hunger Games!

Hair Directions:

1. I find it a lot easier to braid hair while it is wet or damp, so the first step should be done either after you get out of the shower, or after you have sprayed down your hair with a bottle of spray water. After combing or brushing through it completely to get all the knots and tangles out, you can begin by parting your hair to one side, either the right or left, depending on which way your hair lies.
2. Katniss's braid wraps almost all the way around her head, so to start this braid you need to pick a side. I would recommend starting the braid on the side of your head that you have parted it on. So picking up three sections of hair, you are going to be doing the dutch braid. The dutch braid is the same thing as the french braid, except instead of pulling the hair over one another, you are pulling them under one another. 
3. Taking those three sections of hair, you are going to begin by taking the top section, and pull it under the middle section.
4. Take the bottom section of hair, and pull it under the top section that you have just crossed under the middle section. 
5. Now since the once middle group is at the top, you can begin adding a small amount of hair to it. Once you have added the hair, you are going to bring it under the section of hair that was originally at the bottom.
6. Now add a small amount of hair to the section of hair that is now at the bottom, which happens to be the section that was originally at the top. Taking that section of hair that you have added, cross that hair under the middle section of the braid.
7. Repeat this process of adding hair to the top and bottom of the braid, and work your way around your head. If you are used to doing the french braid, it might help to think that you are basically just reversing that, while making the dutch braid. 
8. Remember to pull the hair tightly as you braid it so it stays in place, and no loose hairs fall out.
9. Once you get to the base of your head, and you have no more hair to add, just continue with a regular braid until you get to the very ends of your hair.
10. Secure the ends with a small elastic that preferably matches your hair color so it is less visible.
11. To finish off the look, if you have any type of bangs, part them the same way you parted your hair. Katniss's bangs have a very natural wave to them so if you're hair isn't like that already, you can either add a very small amount of mousse, or you can curl the ends of your bangs to add a bit of a wave to them.
12. A small amount of hairspray will ensure that the braid stays all day and night long.

No Heat Curls!!!! (V)

(S.K.) YouTube sensation Bethany Mota is known for her video tutorials about hair, makeup, and fashion, but if you know Bethany, you also know her for her famous curls. Beth's hair is always shiny and healthy, as well as having the perfect curls. A reason for her hair looking so healthy is because she knows how to treat her hair right, and one way to do this is to try not to use a lot of heat on your hair. Hair straightener, curling irons, and deep wavers will slowly but surely damage your hair. For those of you who want to prevent your hair from becoming damaged, and stay healthy for as long as possible, this is the tutorial for you!


Hair Directions:

1. In order to let these curls set, you will need to do these first steps the night before you want to wear them. Since using heat allows you to automatically get the curls, the alternative is to allow them to set overnight. After doing your normal routine in the shower, comb through your hair with a wide toothed comb to get all the knots and tangles out. 
2. If you're not washing your hair that night, you can substitute getting your whole head wet by just spraying your hair with either a spray bottle full of water, or a detangling spray.
3. After your hair is damp, begin by taking about an inch section of hair and separating it from the rest of your hair. (If you want bigger curls, take bigger sections of hair.)
4. Twist the section of hair, all the way from your root to the tips of your hair, making sure to twist all of it. While keeping it twisted, wrap the hair around approximately two or three of your fingers, so you now have something that looks like a small bun at the roots of your hair.
5. Taking any type of clip that will secure the hair, clip it to your head. (Make sure the clip is on the flatter side since you will be sleeping in them, and you want them to be comfortable. I recommend bobby pins.)
6. Continue with these steps all the way around your head, until all of your hair is up and pinned to your head in little buns. (Just like you should alternate the curls when you use a curling iron, alternate twisting every other curl. One towards your face, then the other away from your face. This makes them look more individual and separated.)
7. Now time to get some sleep!! Zzzzz…..
8. Now that you have let the curls set for hours, they should be ready to take out! Remove each bobby pin, clip. or whatever it is that you used to pin them up.
9. You will notice that the curls are very tight. In order to loosen them up, all you have to do is play with them a little bit. Run your fingers through them, and loosen up the base of each curl, at your root. You can even pull them apart a little to make them seem more casual and relaxed curls.
10. If you skipped washing your hair, and you just sprayed your hair with the water or the detangling spray, dry shampoo will be something you definitely want to put in your hair.
11. Spray the dry shampoo at the roots of your hair, or where it is greasy and comb through it with your fingers until you can't see the product any more. As well as getting rid of any oils, the dry shampoo will add some texture and volume to your hair.
12. Once you have the curls how you want them, spray them with an extra hold hair spray to ensure that they are going to stay all day and night long!