Beauty, Spiffy

Spiffy Beauty Organization

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easy ways to organize beauty products, beauty product organization, walmart finds, beauty product hacks, amazon finds, travel makeup case, best travel makeup case

Time to get inspired to spring clean with these super affordable ways to organize your beauty products!

Everything is under $25 – picked it all up at either Walmart or Amazon.

On the go – this travel makeup case is everything.

The floral case is a travel makeup case from Amazon. It’s got customize-able compartments, great zippered pockets, wonderful brush storage (that’s wipe-able!) AND it’s only $22!

Use a silverware divider for all of your every day products.

I’ve used one for years and it helps me access everything quickly. I organize things by product so concealers go in one compartment, highlighters, mascara, foundation and so on and so forth. Wash it in the dishwasher to bring it back to life!

Use an ice cube tray to organize all your eye shadows.

Keeps everything visable and reachable.

Use a over-the-door shoe rack for hair prodcuts and tools!

I think this is the coolest one of all – it’s genius for making things neat, organized, visible and within easy reach.

For organization that’s on display…

Take a wire storage basket – flip it! Use it to store masks/lipsticks/mascara.

Use a spice rack to put what you often reach for on display (this one’s cool because it’s expandable). If you’re a crafty person, I think this would look pretty with a gold stripe down the side

It’s also a great way to organize your foundation – do light medium and heavy coverage on different levels. Or use it to display all of your beautiful perfumes.

I love a good container for your dresser or bathroom vanity – this is a cute little way to display cotton balls

Think outside the box without having to spend a lot will keep you nice and organized this spring!
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What a Foundation Wardrobe is and Why You Need One

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bare minerals, west town mall, sephora, knoxville beauty blogger,

While shopping for a new foundation the other day, the girl (Sarah) at Bare Minerals used a phrase that caught my attention. She said it’s good to have a, “foundation wardrobe.” I caught it in the moment and didn’t unpack it until later on…

A “Foundation Wardrobe” is when you have more than one option when it comes to foundations. Gone are the days of the same-old swipe of the same-old formula day after day after day. Now there are so many foundation options out there, that you can build a collection – wardrobe – of textures, coverage and formulas from which to choose.

And much like your clothing wardrobe, you can stand in front of it your head full of your needs for the day, and pick whichever option will most perfectly suit them. It’s exactly what I do with my foundations, I just never thought of it like that.

If you’re still skeptical, let me unpack it further…Let’s say it’s Saturday, you’re going to run errands then work around the house. You don’t want to look like a slob – you’ll inevitably run into your high school ex boyfriend if you do – but you don’t want to spend valuable time and valuable full-coverage foundation on your face. What do you do? You go to your wardrobe and swipe a stick over your face, or apply some tinted moisturizer.

Okay, now it’s Sunday morning and you are going to church then lunch with friends, then out to dinner with family – you need full, long lasting coverage. Your tinted moisturizer will slide off your face by noon and the stick coverage just isn’t enough. You need liquid foundation.

I could go on, but those are just two examples in a pool of what could be 7 (since every day is different). And if you think it’s an expensive endeavor, think again. Since you’re not heavily using one foundation over the other, they’re all going to last that much longer, which means you don’t have to refill for probably another 6-9 months if not longer.

Okay, now let’s talk about options…

Light Coverage…

Complexion Rescue by Bare Minerals (clean products free of all the chemicals that are bad for your skin and full of ingredients that are good for you).

Hydrating Foundation Stick – new product! Gives a nice finish, swipe it in a few spots on your face then blend – it blends in really nicely and is especially good for dry skin. Has SPF25 and you can use it as a concealer.

Hydrating Gel Cream – a tinted moisturizer that has a nice gel-like texture. Lightweight coverage with a nice natural sheen. Also has SPF and antioxidants that are good for your skin. Both the gel cream and the stick are in the $30 price range. It’s great for moisturizing your skin, but doesn’t have staying power.

Laura Mercier has a very popular version of the tinted moisturizer – also has SPF and vitamins that are good for your skin. This one promises 24 hour coverage and is in the $50 price range.

IT Cosmetics CC Cream – this one has the heaviest coverage of all the moisturizer options. It is a CC cream which is color correcting so if you have more you want to cover, this is a great option. Also has the SPF and is hydrating. Of all the options this won’t deposit as many vitamins and minerals on your face, but will give you good coverage.

Medium Coverage…

Sephora Compact – matte, build-able coverage. I like to have this on hand to layer over a tinted moisturizer for a quick touch up.

Bare Minerals has a version as well – theirs is vitamin and mineral infused. If your skin is on the dry side you wouldn’t want one of these to be your main foundation, but it’s so nice to have on hand to add to moisturizer. Or to use as a finishing powder to lock everything in with a little extra coverage.

Sephora Airbush – this is a great, inexpensive way to try out an airbrush look. Gives you a soft, satiny finish that blurs imperfections. Apply by sweeping back and forth across your face. For under $30 it’s a great option to have on hand.

Heavy Coverage…

Makeup Forever Water Blend – perfect option for the pool or beach. It’s going to last hang on in the water and can go on both your face and body. Has a gel-like texture and gives you a satin finish. Rings in at $43.

Bare Minerals Bare Pro Liquid Foundation – this is performance wear, meant to last 24 hours. It does hold up well on your face. I like the build-able coverage. Gives you a matte finish and is transfer resistant – which I have found to be true! Has SPF and is $34.

Right now Bare Minerals is running a sale – get this box with samples in it, a brush of your choice and then 3 other products of your choosing for $99. That’s a great way to get your foundation wardrobe started!

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Beauty, Spiffy

Best Buys of 2019

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hydrating products, fresh kale bath company, night cream product review, knoxville shop local, west town mall, knoxville beauty blogger

2019 was a great year!

The fact that I had a baby at the beginning of it was good motivation to dive deep into the products that would help me feel like a regular person again and fast.

Which is good for you! Because I’ve accumulated those products here to showcase my favorite buys of 2019…

1. Revlon Volumizer Hair Brush

It’s like you grew a third hand and that hand can hold both a round brush and the hair dryer for you to give you the best, fastest blowout.

Sometimes I use it instead of straightening my hair. Other times I get detailed with it and will dry a section then hold it with a regular round brush to let the hair set while it cools. Regardless, it’s awesome, fast and gives you a blowout that will last for days.

Don’t start with sopping wet hair, dry it half way with a regular dryer then just wait for the fabulousness to come forth.

2. Tula Glow and Get it Brightening Eye Balm

Bought this in my car after I had pulled up to the house. My toddler was asleep in the back seat and it was one of those moment when I was not willing to get me and my baby belly out of the car just yet. So I sat and scrolled Instagram and came across this.

I bought it on the spot because I would be having a baby soon and I knew that after my last kid my under eyes needed HELP.

Boy was this the best purchase. It’s cooling, brightening and good for your skin. I’ve seen noticeable improvement in my under eye area since I’ve started using it – it’s brighter, just better. I will use this for a long, long time (and not just because the tube will last me forever).

There is the Rose glow and the Blue one – go with whatever would work with your skin type. If you have red undertones go with the Rose Glow. I’ve used both and they’re just both awesome.

3. Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

I’ve heard a lot about this stuff. I would often ignore it. Then I bought it and I get it – this is the greatest concealer of all time. Why? It’s long lasting, gives you great coverage, mattefying, brightening and blends in really well. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted in a concealer.

Don’t be like me and read those statements and ignore them – click that link and buy some. You won’t regret it.

4. Marc Jacobs Eyelash Primer

This isn’t going to give you long luscious lashes – let’s get that out of the way. But it is going to get you fuller lashes than if you would just use mascara.

I’ve tried it and it really gives you a fuller look. Now it’s not HOLY COW WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO YOUR EYES THESE DAYS GINA?! – kind of full, but it is the confidence boost you need to walk out and wink at the security cameras in the grocery store.

5. Rocksbox

This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about this and it won’t be the last.

Okay, $21 per month gets you a round of jewelry with three pieces in it. That box you can keep as long as you want or return it as many times as you want. I generally use two boxes a month to give you an idea and it usually takes about 4 days for turn around.

The great thing is that $21 goes towards anything you decide to keep.

What I’ve used it for is to systematically update my jewelry collection with quality pieces that I don’t have to pay full price for. Each piece is discounted then with the $21 you’re putting toward on top of it you can get a lot of good stuff without paying a ton.

And you get to live with the piece before deciding to give it a forever home.

I’m going to write a full post on it, but if you’re tired of your jewelry and want to refresh for the new year – this is the way to do it.

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Beauty, Spiffy

Tanning Tips for a Spiffy Faux Glow

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self tanning tips, knoxville beauty blogger, self tanner tricks and tips

Want to look like you just stepped out of that picture and DIDN’T lather yourself up with SPF?

Sephora has some really awesome options that I’ll be posting about later in the week. For now, let’s go through some application tips that I’ve picked up myself and from the ever trusty YouTube…

1. Lotion up.

As you are doing your arms/legs and you start to get close to the tricky areas like your wrists and ankles, apply some regular lotion so that you can use it to blend that with the tanner and create a smoother transition. Keep reading for the unexpected tool to use to help with that…

2. Use a beauty brush for a smooth application.

You don’t want your hands giving away your faux tanning secret, so take a big soft blending brush and use it to buff the areas around your elbows, wrists and ankles. It’s a great trick to get those tricky areas looking natural and smooth.

3. Wear long sleeves/pants to bed to prevent stained sheets.

No one wants to sleep in a pool of tanner night after night so a good trick is to wear full coverage pj’s in order to keep your tan off your sheets.

Coming from someone who has to wash their sheets SO VERY OFTEN thanks to kids and dogs? This is a game changer.

Stay tuned later this week for a post with ALL the self-tanners I brought on the show this morning – all of which you can pick up at Sephora in West Town Mall!

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