While last summer’s hot makeup trends focused on pastel eye shadow; 2012 spring eye makeup is focused on pastel eye liners instead. Just a hint of color swept over black liner makes for a playful summer look without going over board.
To create a summer version of winter’s dramatic winged liner & smokey eye, use playful shimmering colors to compliment your black liner. Instead of black and grey eye shadow, go for coppery, bronze, or champagne shadow that will add some depth to your eyes without looking dark and heavy.
There are many ways you can make your eyes stand out without heavy amounts of eye shadow. Try using a black liquid liner close to the lash line, and then sweep a bright vibrant color on as a double-liner. Just make sure to let the liquid liner dry for a few minutes before applying a second color. To re-create the look below, use Mark Cosmetics Get In Line Waterproof Liner, and Mattify Cosmetics Day Dreamer Blue Eye Shadow to form the blue stripe. Keep the rest of your eye lid bare, or use a barely-there taupe or shimmery white.
For soft, romantic, daytime look – use a pink shimmery shadow with dark liner. If you want to call attention to your eyes without spending hours painting your lids, this is the perfect pairing! Use either the Kat Von D or Mark Liquid Liner to line your upper and lower lids. If you have trouble getting liner to stay put on your water line, try using Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Liner Pencil. It lasts all day long, even on the water line. Then, brush on a sparkly pale pink eye shadow – as if you are creating a smoky eye, but with a much lighter color. A great one to use is the Mattify Cosmetic’s Cotton Candy Long Lasting Eye Makeup.
To create a dramatic yet colorful summer look, go for the green! First, line the top and bottom of eyes in black. Then, place dark green shadow close to the black liner on upper and lower lids. Using a liner brush, sweep a lighter shade of green around the edges of the dark green liner. Dust a light golden shadow as a highlighter on inner corners and underneath lower lash line. To achieve this look, you can use the Kat Von D Tatoo Liner, Too Faced Eye Shadow Duo in Lucky Charms and Mattify Cosmetic’s Fields of Gold Eye Shadow.
Plagued by blackheads, oily skin, congested pores, dead skin and breakouts? Try Shills Black Peel-Off Mask! This amazing mask sucks impurities out of pores and bonds to them – so when you pull off the mask, the gunk clogging your pores is whisked away!
It’s like a Biore Pore Strip for your entire face, and leaves you with a squeaky clean complexion.
Compares to:
Boscia’s Luminizing Black Mask
This is an excellent dupe for the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask. I have used both, and have found no discernable difference between the two except the cost. I purchased the Shills brand on Ebay for only $8.00 per 50 ml tube with free shipping. The Boscia brand, I purchased at Sephora for $34 in a 75 ml tube. So, for just a slightly larger tube, the Boscia brand costs more than twice as much.
The only plus to the Boscia brand is that you can purchase it in most local beauty stores, whereas if you live anywhere besides China, Japan, or Taiwan, you will probably have to order the Shills brand online and wait a couple of weeks for it to arrive. After falling head over heels for this mask, I’ve gone back and ordered 4 more so I can be stocked up for the year! One tube will last for about 5 whole-face applications or 10 partial face applications. You can use the mask 1-2 times per week, or as needed.
Application
The Black Mask contains charcoal – which is highly effective at purifying the skin. It attracts blackheads like a magnet, and adheres to them. When the mask is peeled away, it takes the blackheads with it; leaving you with clean, empty pores.
Before applying the mask, use an exfoliating scrub and rinse with hot water to help open pores. To ensure extra deep cleansing, hold your face 8 inches above boiled, steaming water for 5 minutes before exfoliating. This further opens pores and softens blackheads to get them ready for removal. After exfoliating, dry vigorously with a fluffy towel and immediately apply the mask.
1) Apply the mask using your index finger, starting at the top of your T-Zone and working down over the nose, cheeks & chin. You can apply the mask to your entire face if needed, or just to the T-Zone or problem areas. Avoid getting it on eyebrows, lips, eye lids and hair line.
** It is very important to use a semi-thick layer so that the mask is effective, and removal is easy. The black tint of the mask should cover enough so that NO skin is visible – but not so much that it’s dripping off your face.
2) Allow the mask to dry completely (about 15-20 minutes). As the mask dries, it will tighten, and you will be unable to do things like smile or eat while the mask is on.
3) To remove, start at the chin and move upwards. Peel a bit of the mask away from b both corners – slowly & gently peel it up & off your face. You will feel a pulling s sensation, and you will be able to see the debris being lifted out of pores.
4) Wash your face with your regular scrub, and apply toner to cleanse the open pores.
The photo below is kind of disturbing – all of this nastiness is hiding in your skin! Here is a brief photo description of how the product works:
Photo from: http://shoppingholics.com/goods.php?id=486
Who should use the Shills Black Peel Off Mask?
Anyone with large pores, congested pores, thick skin, blackheads, whiteheads, acne, oily skin
Who should NOT use the Shills Black Peel Off Mask?
Anyone with very sensitive skin, thin skin, rosacea, allergies to charcoal, or those with chronically dry skin.
How does the Shills Black Mask compare to other Peel Off Masks?
Above and beyond! Not many peel-off masks are available, but among the few – this is by far the best. Previously I’ve used: Freeman’s Cucumber Mask, Superfruits Revealing Facial, and Queen Helene’s Grape Seed Mask. None of these even came close to removing as many blackheads as the Shills brand.
Is there a way to make the Shills Black Mask work even better?
Yes! If you have thick, durable skin, you can use the Shills Peel Off Mask after using a deep cleansing clay mask, such as the Body Shop Ionic Clay Mask. Using the clay mask first draws out deeply imbedded toxins, allowing the Peel Off Mask to be even more effective. However, this is not recommended for sensitive skin types.
Final Thoughts:
I would highly recommend this mask to anyone with clogged pores. Every time I’ve used it, my skin has felt amazingly clean and fresh. Also, I’ve stayed breakout free since I started using it weekly. This mask gets an A+++ in my world of beauty products!
Shills makes numerous other masks as well – I am anxious to try the Whitening Mask, which is supposed to lighten imperfections and freckling while also clearing pores. You can check out the other Shills mask varieties at this website: http://inspired-beauty.weebly.com/shills-facial-mask.html
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& these Become Gorgeous articles on skin care!
Makeup Reviews & Product Dupes
So you stayed out late and fell asleep with your makeup on; it’s a common story, but one of the biggest “No-No”s of the beauty world. Do you know why? When you sleep, your body temperature rises. This forces pores to open and allows makeup to sink further down than it would during waking hours. For this reason, it is also important to wear minimal makeup to the gym, and to wash your face directly after exercising. It’s especially detrimental to wear makeup during sleep, because your skin uses the time you sleep to repair and rebuild your skin. When it is smothered in makeup, your pores cannot properly receive oxygen and skin cannot repair itself.
But don’t stress! There are ways to reverse the damage so you will not end up with clogged pores and breakouts for the next week! Here’s how:
Step 1:
When you wake up, take a hot shower, or rinse your face with hot water several times. This helps dissolve any accumulated oil and opens pores to prep for cleansing.
Step 2:
Apply an exfoliating scrub to remove all traces of dirt, oil & makeup from your face. Rub in circular motions to slough away dead skin, and stimulate circulation and cell turnover. This will give your face a renewed glow, and make your skin feel uber fresh.
Step 3: After rinsing away exfoliator, wash vigorously with a face scrub containing salicylic acid, using a wash cloth or body glove. This detoxifies your face and gets rid of any makeup that may still be lurking inside your pores. If you have time, use a clay detox mask to draw out any additional toxins that may have settled into pores and fine lines. Even if you do not have time for this in the morning, be sure to apply the mask no longer than 24 hours after falling asleep in your makeup. This is a crucial step in flushing old makeup out of your pores.
Step 4:
Apply a PH Balancing Toner to further purify pores before applying fresh makeup. Toners that include salicylic acid or Tea Tree Oil are very beneficial to cleansing pores and preventing breakouts.
Step 5:
Go about your regular makeup routine … leave the house feeling clean & refreshed!
Additional Tips:
Check out my other Become Gorgeous articles on skin care!
Makeup Reviews & Product Dupes