Every makeup artist/beauty adviser's favorite question ...

"Do I really need that?" Now listen, I get it. We all want to save money and certainly don't want to spend money on something we don't need. But there are a few things that the girls behind that makeup counter may recommend that you should probably consider buying.

The number one complaint among women that were either customers of mine when I worked as a beauty adviser, women I know, or women I've done makeup for is that the makeup never ever looks the same once they go home. They decide its the makeup artist's special skills that make it look how it does and last and that it's impossible to recreate at home. While skills, talent, and practice do make a difference, it is possible to create long-lasting, quality looks at home ... when you use the right products!

Have you noticed your beauty advisers always use a primer? Face primer, eye shadow primer, even lip primers sometimes? It's really not for shits and giggles, ladies. It's like a base coat. Your face, along with the rest of your skin, has pores. Sweat comes out, moisturizer goes in. Well apply foundation directly to your skin without a primer and guess what?! That gets absorbed too! And beyond that causing clogged pores and breakouts, your makeup doesn't last as long as it should and looks uneven, not to mention you'll end up using more to get closer to that look you wanted, which will cancel out what you would have "saved" by not buying primer. Eye shadow primer? Ever apply eye shadow that looks pigmented in the container, but disappears on your eyelid? Feel like your eye shadow looks great in the morning, but come lunch time disappeared? You should have primed, silly!

Also, yes, we really do use brushes. And I know lots of makeup artists on TV (QVC, HSN, etc.) say you don't really need brushes, but I disagree. Your fingers are skin and therefore absorb makeup so you waste. More importantly, they are skin so they secrete oils, messing with the quality and formula of your makeup and add bacteria to your foundation bottle and face. Sponges also absorb so that wastes makeup, but sponges also give and uneven distribution. When you first apply the sponge to your face you get a decent distribution of makeup, but as you drag away and the sponge absorbs, you're coverage is uneven. They also are used and reused, face to makeup bottle over and over. BACTERIA HAVEN! Not to mention you probably store them in the closet or a makeup bag .. dark and warm, perfect for bacteria. Ew.

I get it though. Money is a real issue today so look into other options. Drug stores and makeup stores, like Ulta and Sephora, sell brushes that are generally less expensive than the makeup counters, but still work great. Same goes for primers. So if you find that you LOVE your makeup when it's done at the counter, but not at home, maybe those products really do make the difference.

Beyond that, keep practicing and trying. Read beauty blogs and watch tutorials on Youtube. You'll get there, gorgeous!

Killer Dupe For the Popular, Award-Winning Orgasm????

Nars blush in "Orgasm" I mean, of course :)! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Nars' Orgasm Collection. Beyond the names ("Super Orgasm", "Deep Throat") making me giggle like a 12 year old pubescent boy, they are actually really high quality products that are GORGEOUS on! However, as a mommy, I just don't have $30 for blush anymore since that would buy, oh, over a hundred diapers! Since motherhood, I have been on the hunt for amazing dupes (duplicates) of expensive products I love. I read an article that was all about dupes and comparing them to their high-end counterpart. One comparison was between Nars Blush in "Orgasm" ($28 according to the author) and it's dupe from Flirt (Kohl's makeup brand) Blush in "Heartthrob" ($6.00 according to the author). I was near a Kohl's so I stopped in because I LOVE that blush and if there was one for $22 less and had the same color, pigment, and quality, I had to check it out!

I visited the Flirt counter in Kohls and was rather disappointed. First off, there were all of maybe 10 blushes and not a single one was called "Heartthrob". I know the color used to be in the line, but it appears to have been discontinued. Furthermore, the blushes were labeled as $14! Granted, that is still half price, but for not having the color and being a good 1/3 more expensive than I was led to believe, I was pretty bummed!

Needing a new, summery blush I figured I'd give my trusty Target a go. I visited Target's e.l.f. cosmetics section and found e.l.f. Studio Blush in "twinkle pink" for $3.00 ... beat that! And yes, the color is almost an exact replica. It has great pigment and shimmer, just like the Nars blush, and is about the same size as Nars too. They look almost exactly the same on and you can buy, oh, 9 of them for one of Nars' blush! Not a bad dupe find, huh?! You're welcome for the tip, ladies ;)! Go hit up e.l.f. cosmetics or your Target tomorrow!!!!

e.l.f. cosmetics Studio Blush in "twinkle pink"

Nars Blush in "Orgasm"

For the boys .... and men!

My typical posts are geared to women or are gender-neutral concerning skin care. I decided this time to write a post for my male readers! I'd love to hear your opinions and suggestions too since I clearly don't have personal experience using your products and my opinions are based on my husband's recommendations of products.

Men have a few options when it comes to dealing with their facial hair. You can go full cave man and say screw it, but most of you who have jobs or women in your life tend to need to take care of it in some way. Most men go with shaving using either an electric razor or a manual razor. My husband uses both, but generally needs a manual razor to get a good, close shave and an electric razor for little, quick touch ups. He's tried all the brands and different razors within the brand and finally found one he loves. And he loves it enough to suggest I share it with you! Whether your the actual man reading this or a woman who has a man in your life, keep this razor in mind!

Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power

- The actual razor blades last a really long time in comparison to other razors so you get your money's worth and don't run into a dull, uncomfortable razor after just a few uses!

- The vibrating power is optional so if you don't like it, you certainly don't have to use it. However, it helps the razor glide over your face with ease, diminishing the likelihood of small nicks/cuts.

- The brand and specific razor can be found basically anywhere personal items are found like drug stores, grocery stores, Walmart, Target, and Kmart.

- Gillette often offers coupons in the Sunday paper and online and the brand is sometimes on sale in store too so you can get even better deals!

*** We got ours in a pack at BJ's, which was a phenomenal deal, so check that out too if you have a membership! ***

Want better pictures of yourself?

Of course you do! Guy or girl, let's face it, whether it's for your ID, Facebook, or pretty much anything else, we all want to look good in our pictures. A few of these tips I've picked up on my own just taking pictures of myself to get the best angle to see the makeup, but here's a couple tips from smashbox! They're a makeup brand, but they originate from smashbox studios, a photography company so who'd know better than them!

I get e-mail updates from them with new products, sales, and tips from the pro. Today I got an e-mail with 3 tips on how to take the best picture of yourself and you with friends. Here goes:

smashbox's tips for the perfect photo!

Click the above link and it will direct you to a copy of the exact e-mail I was sent, including the video! Just click the "Watch Now" button or the actual image! Let me know what you think of their tips!

Favorite Body Wash!

I, as most girls, have gone through my fair share of toiletries and bathroom products. I also have been guilty of trying products, hating the smell/texture/results, and abandoned them with barely a dent made in the bottle's contents. It's because of this that I feel the need to share with you when I find great products in multiple categories. Cost, smell, ability to find it, efficiency (how long it lasts considering the use/price), and overall quality are all important factors to me. This post is sharing with you my newest love: Suave Creamy Milk & Honey Splash Body Wash!

Cost: The price can range anywhere from $3.00 to $4.00 per bottle and you can often find $1.00 off or buy 1 get 1 coupons in the Sunday paper or online.

Smell: This product smells fabulous! It's a really light fragrance so it won't irritate allergies. I think the best way to describe it is a warm, clean scent. It's not flowery, musky, or strictly clean. It's like a light, clean warm vanilla sugar. BONUS: The scent is pretty gender neutral so if your man's body wash is low, he can borrow this! He'll smell great! ;)

Ability to Find the Product: Suave is a fairly common product that is easy to find. You can generally find their entire product line in grocery stores, drug stores, Target, Walmart, Kmart, and any other stores that sell similar products

Efficiency (lastability .. I know not a real word!): Pretty good! I always wash my body with a laufa and I generally use a quarter size amount on it and lather and wash my entire body with plenty left over. One bottle, showering regularly, (and if used in a normal moderation) will last you anywhere from 1 1/2-2 months! Not bad for a product around $3.50 (less if you have coupons) and needs to be used fairly often!

Overall Quality: Well it's household named product that can be found easily at an affordable rate. It smells good and as a moisturizing product, it leaves your skin nice and soft. It lasts for a pretty decent amount of time. Overall, I love it!

Check out Suave online for more information on this and their other great products!

A Few Myths Debunked

Everyone during their teen years (sometimes before and/or after) has experienced a breakout. And whether you were on the luckier side and only had occasional pimples or if you drew the short end of the stick and had boils and clusters of pimples, or cystic acne, we've all had it and hated it! And to make matters worse, your family members would tell you it was YOUR FAULT! Like okay, they're uncomfortable to painful and embarrassing, I have to apply concealer layer upon layer or tough it out as a guy, and you're going to tell me I caused it?! Well gee, now I feel all better! You've heard that you ate too much chocolate, ate too much fatty/greasy foods, don't get enough rest, drink too much soda, and so on. And while all these things aren't ideal for your overall health and replacing soda with water for a cleanse can help, it actually is NOT your fault! Doctors, dermatologists, and skin care specialists have studied and argued this case for years trying to decide if you can actually help, and therefore prevent, getting acne.

Officially, it has been determined that while getting more rest and consuming healthier foods is of course better for you, there is no direct link to the old wives' tales and acne. It is generally caused by genetics (as in you were screwed no matter what you did) and then a lack of care. If you wear makeup, sweat all day, and then don't wash your face, hydrate your face, and treat little breakouts as they come up, you will inevitably end up with a form of acne.

Instead of stressing about that chocolate bar you indulged in or those onion rings you got with your friends this weekend, remember the only thing you can do about acne is take care of your skin. Use sun screen, wash your face morning and evening, always wash makeup off before bed, use an appropriate moisturizer for your skin type, and use simple things like salicylic acid treatments on pimples to head them off before they get too bad.

Some people unfortunately can't do anything about it and are going to end up with bad boils and cystic acne. This is bacteria on your skin. Bacteria in your body means you go to the doctors. This is no different. See a dermatologist. They'll prescribe topical ointments and sometimes oral medication to treat it. It is NOT worth suffering the embarrassment, discomfort, and all the other costs and negatives that accompany acne.

** And remember: IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT! **

The Best Shampoo and Conditioner Product Combo for Dry, Damaged, Hair!

I have my mom and my grand-mom's hair. It's full and can grow to pretty much any length quickly. It can hold any style from the tightest curls to the straightest straight. But good god is it dry! Any processing or heat or weather affects our hair. The years of processing, blow drying, straightening, and being exposed to the elements has really dried and damaged my naturally drier hair. I have experimented with all different products and lines from the Dollar Store to high-end salon brands. I've tried using an entire line only and using a combination of brands. Finally, I've found a great shampoo and wonderful conditioner to hydrate my hair without weighing it down, provide shine and gloss without looking greasy, and they can be found in grocery and drug stores! You can often find coupons for these products, sales, and even at full price, they are affordable! Are you prepared for my find????

Shampoo: Aussie Sun-Touched Shine
This shampoo is hydrating and nourishing, while adding shine to your hair that is dry and/or damaged. Visit Aussie online  to get more information!


Conditioner: Dove Intensive Repair Conditioner
It works from deep within the hair follicle to repair the damage done. It strengthens your hair from the inside out and also leaves it stronger and better prepared for future damage. Visit Dove online for more information!


If you have tried these products, let me know what you think! My hubby and I both love this combination and couldn't be happier! 

To my blog readers ...

Hello, loves! I just wanted to let you know I've been working on my business aspect of makeup and skin care. Those of you who "liked" my Facebook page may have noticed that it is now called "FacEscapes by Tina". Confessions From a Makeup Addict will still be my blog where I update about looks, products, lessons, and reviews. Currently, a web designer is working on an actual website for the services I offer concerning makeup and skin care. I'll continue to update my posts on here like normal and will let you know once the official site is up!

If anyone needs high quality, professional, expertise at an extremely reasonable rate in the field today to build, design, and host a website, for personal or professional needs, go visit Kevin at: Laser Jump's site.

For those of you that haven't liked us on Facebook yet ..... go visit: http://www.facebook.com/ConfessionsFromaMakeupAddict

Thanks a ton and lots of love!

The Perfect Baby Pink Lip!

I, like most girls, love baby pink lips for a natural makeup look or to compliment smokey eyes. It's hard to get the perfect color sometimes because many glosses are so sheer and come lipsticks come out looking "old ladyish" and you always have to factor in your own lip shade. I found a great combination of a nude lipstick with a medium pink lip gloss in a department store brand, but it was too expensive for daily wear! The lipstick was $14 and the lip gloss was $17.50, and neither were very big containers. Well, I was getting by with those two because they did create the color I wanted, but I somehow lost the lip gloss and was rather screwed when it came to my lip color anytime I did my eyes up. Smokey eyes and a hot pink lip?? I'm not going clubbing ... I'm mommying!

So instead of breaking down and spending another $17.50 for the lip gloss (mine was barely used as it was), I headed out to my, what else, local dollar store to peruse the e.l.f. cosmetics and L.A. Colors cosmetics and lo and behold, found a killer dupe for both the lip stick AND the lip gloss .............. so yes the perfect baby pink lip at *drum roll please* $2.00 (plus applicable taxes)! You are welcome, ladies!

Here it is:

e.l.f. cosmetics lipstick in: Natural Nymph
L.A. Colors cosmetics lip gloss in: Flirty


Go enjoy!!!!

Quick Tips on Dying Your Hair at Home ... Successfully!

Dying your hair at home can be a daunting task if you've never done it before, but if you're not looking to dramatically change the color (like blonde to black or vice versa) and are trying to find ways to cut costs, it can be a big help! I know personally since I have long hair (when straightened, it falls a little below half way down my back), I got really tired of the "long hair charges" for dye, hair cuts, just about everything! The signs in salons will say cut & color $75 and some how, before tip, I end up spending $125. Like, I'm sorry, but you have to be shitting me! (Pardon my language, but I mean really!) My hair isn't freakishly long! Anyway, sorry for the mini rant. Here's a few tips on dying your hair at home:

First and foremost, buy extra. One box will RARELY cut it unless you have a pixie hair cut. I can easily use 2-3 boxes and generally need all 3. My hair is long & thick though, but still err on the side of caution there! I LOVE LOVE LOVE (like I wrote about before) Revlon Colorstay Hair Color. I went a little darker this time (#40) so it wouldn't fade as fast and I love it! Anyway, back to the tips:

1. Lay a plastic shower curtain from the dollar store down on and around the surface your coloring on. No matter how careful you are, little bits splash and your carpet or whatever else will now match your hair color this month!

2. Wear a towel you don't care to much about around your neck and keep it there by closing a clip in the front to secure it. (I'd recommend underneath the towel that you only wear a bra. Good luck trying to take a shirt off over your head with dye in your hair for your shower rinse!)

3. Section the pieces of your hair in advance. Use hairdresser clips and go by color (green comes down first, then purple, then peach, then pink, etc.) to avoid trying to separate your hair with gloved hands covered in dye.  Make sure they aren't clips you love though or keep an extra set on hand for hair dying since they will certainly get colored too!

4. Take Vaseline (petroleum jelly from the dollar store is fine) and rub some all around your hairline, around your side burns, and all around your ears. Hair dye doesn't stick to it and it'll still color all the hair around it without dying all your skin! Be sure to fully wash your face when you rinse your hair because all that petroleum jelly on your face will cause breakouts if left on!

5. If for some reason hair dye does end up on your skin, clean up quickly. As soon as all the hair dye is in and your waiting the required time, take the corner of a towel or a wash cloth and wet it with hot water and shampoo and scrub the dyed area. If you do this quick enough, it will generally completely remove, or at least greatly diminish how dark your skin is left dyed.

6. Once your hair is completely dyed, I always use a disposable shower cap (generally sold in big packs at the dollar store) over my hair. It keeps the hair from falling down and dying my neck or the towel any worse and the dye from rubbing off the hair. It also makes it easier to sit comfortably while you wait instead of begin afraid your hair is going to fall onto the couch!

If you have any questions, just ask away! Don't be afraid to dye at home. Just choose a color no more than 2-3 shades darker or lighter and remember, it is just color! It can always be fixed!


Happy dyeing, loves!!!