You asked. You've Got it.

I've had several of emails and comments asking me to document my getting ready routine. I'm kind of blushing. Because I don't think it's anything great. I'm just the girl next door. But I suppose that is what you are after so please bare with me and here we go... Remember I'm no skin or hair professional. This is just what I do and what I like. Also, I have not been compensated by any of the products I mention, this is just what I use every day and what I love and what I think. So there. Let's get started. I'm still not convinced that it's anything worth blogging about.

So I have learned that when it comes to makeup. The more expensive the better quality. That being said. I DO NOT believe that with every bit of makeup... So I'll tell you along the way.

First thing first. I love Laura Mercier. Love. It. I use their foundation kit from Sephora. It's $65.00. ack. I know. But it lasts a LONG time. I mean a very long time. And it comes with so much... It's worth it. I think.

It comes in a cute little kit like this. All neat and tidy. And it has enough room that I can stick in all my other makeup supplies I use on a regular basis. So yes, it's all in this bag. Literally. 

So from that kit grab the foundation primer.

And you just need a tiny bit. Rub it all over your face with the flesh colored sponge that it gives you in the kit as well. DON'T use your hands to apply your makeup. Unless you like zits. Then go ahead. That's what I've found out anyways. It's clear so you can't see it. It hydrates your skin and it helps cover your pours so your foundation sits on your skin nicely. 

Then grab the concealer brush and the concealer jar. Now this jar is the coolest. It has three in one. Both the jar and the brush come in the kit. Oh in case anyone is wondering I use the nude color in the kit.

Lift up the lid. On the left side there is a concealer for "problem spots" aka zits, or acne scars. And as you can see. I have alot. 

So cover them right up. It does not take alot at all. You use hardly any. 

Then use the right side. This is the under eye concealer. And as you can see. I have the genetic blessing of baggy eyelids. It's okay, I'm used to them. But this helps with the color immensely.

Just put a little bit underneath your eye with the brush and rub it in. You don't want to get any makeup sitting in your crease. You know what I mean. Yuck. You want it to look like it's not there. That's the best. Makeup that looks like it's not there. 

So here I am now with the foundation primer and the concealer on. 

Then grab the foundation from the kit. And the foundation brush.

Brush on a thin layer all over your face. Brush it in real good leaving no streaks or clumps. Nice and thin like you have nothing on. You don't need to use very much at all. Just enough to give you a nice smooth, even skin tone. You'll have a very healthy glow. 

Then take the poof from the kit and the concealer case. Untwist the bottom of the concealer instead of opening it like you did last time. 

This is setting powder. Put a little on your poof. 

And pat it on your face. It takes away the wet look of your foundation and it sets your makeup so it won't smear or come off. And you'll know it's working because you won't have and makeup on the poof when you're done!!! 

Then I grab Tarte in the color Tipsy. It is from Sephora as well, and it's ack. $30.00. However it will last you years. Literally. It will.

You take it and just lightly press it on your cheek and twist. Do it along your cheekbone. I do it three times on each side. And really that's all you use. It's like nothing. 

Just until you have a nice streak. 

Then take a blush brush and brush it out lightly to blend in with your cheeks. It gives you a nice sunkissed glow.

Now it's time for your eyes. Grab Maybeline's Eyestudio In Black. I picked it up from the local grocery store. It was around $7.00. Also grab an eyeliner brush. The other end of mine is a brush for your brows.

I outline the outside of my eye on the top and on the bottom. Just a very thin line. 

Now I use Maybeline Eye Shadow.In color Mocha Motion. I got it at the local grocery store. It was around $5.00. And an eyeshadow brush, this one is Mary Kay.

I take the white square, which is the bottom left, and I put it over my entire eyelid. Don't mind the awkward try to close my eye so you can see it. Put it all the way from your lash line clear up to your brow.

Then take the top left color and put it all over your lid. Meaning from the crease down. 

And then use the top right and put it in the crease. I just like a subtle look so I put it on very lightly. 

And then the bottom right I put in the outer corner. Just a little to give it a little pop, but not give you a sunk-in in dark eye. 

I then use this eyelash curler. Oh my. I LOVE it. It is so much better than those metal curlers. This one is a plastic one. It takes batteries. And it heats up when you press it. Amazing!!! It's an Ardell heated eyelash curler. I picked it up at Walmart for $10.00.

Here is a before. I have long lashes but they don't curl naturally at all. And curled lashes make a huge difference. It's also very important to curl your lashes BEFORE you put mascara on them.

Just put your lashes in. And squeeze tight. You will feel the warmth and the green light will go on. 

See. Look at the difference it makes to get those lashes up. Even if you have short ones. You will notice a major difference. 

Now for mascara. I have two go to favorites. The first one is my waterproof  go to mascara. It's from Maybeline. It's their lash blast. The brush is like a comb. And it's amazing. I think it's around $8.00. I could be totally wrong. I haven't needed to buy it for a while because it lasts forever.

And my second favorite is my wear out on my hot dates, because it's really expensive... It's Dior Blackout. It came from Sephora and it's $24.00 a bottle! Ack. Yep. But it's that good. Only problem. It's not waterproof. And I laugh to much until I cry so that isn't going to work... okay, okay... I also cry alot. What can I say. I'm just an emotional gal... I can see a dad holding his sons hand and I cry...

You can see the difference here. The mascara is on the eye to the left. And I have none on the one to the right. 

Then I grab my lip gloss. It's also a plumper and I love it. I am not a lipstick type of gal but I like a slight bit of color and I really like the gloss. I use Maybeline Volume XL Seduction Lip Plumper in number 105 or 120, depending on the shade I want.

It makes your lips tingle. So if you don't like that, stay clear of this stuff. But I like it because it doesn't dry out my lips and it stays on for a long time before I need to reapply. 

And there it is. My makeup face. Complete. 

Like I said. I don't like much, so I kind of feel silly sharing this with you! But hey, you asked so here you go! 

Oh a few more of my tricks before I move on to my hair. I use Biore Cleaning Wipes to take my makeup off at night. And then I use Oil of Olay Moisturizer to lube up my face. And then for my teeth. It's no secret. They aren't white. I try. Hard. And what I really love is Crest White Strips. They have to be the professional or they don't work for me. My teeth are stubborn. I also use the toothpaste and mouthwash. And yes, I have noticed a huge difference. HUGE.

Now for my crazy hair. I have ALOT of hair, and it's thick, and it's wanna be wavy, and it's huge, it's cowlicky, and it's frizzy. So if you are similar pay special attention. LOL. Here's what I do to tame my mane. First off I shower at night, pull my hair up in a twisted bun and sleep on it. It's not dry by the morning. But its' getting there. So I pull it out and that's where I begin. That is if I choose to do my hair that day.  So my hair grows super fast. And it's because I use Head and Shoulder's Dandruff Shampoo. Really, I swear by it. It's the chemical that is in it. And it doesn't react to my sulfa allergy either! Imagine that. It's great. And then laugh it up but I then wash my hair a second time and I use John Frieda's Blond. Yes, it gradually lightens your hair, it's supposed to make it bright blond. Well, it doesn't, I'm to dark, but it brings out my red, and that's why I use it. I love it. I only use that once a week.

So I grab my hair blower. It's old, I bought it at the local grocery store it's a Conair 1875. However it is very powerful and that is why I haven't bothered to change. Because my hair takes FOREVER to dry. Always blow your hair down so you don't ruin it.

Tadaa. It's finally dry. 

Then I turn on my hair straightener. It goes up to 400 degrees. And that is what I set it at. I got this from Sally for $34.00. It's a GVP. It's compared to a Chi, but I actually like it alot better than my sister's Chi and my other sister's Paul Mitchell straightener which were ALOT more than that. 

Then oddly enough, I spray my hair with Chi Heat Guard. 

Just a light spray all over the ends. 

Yeah, I know you noticed. I warned you that I frizz easy. 

To calm that down I take my brush. Oh My. I love this brush. Really I love it. It's a Goody Plasma Gel. And it's just fabulous. The handle is squishy and comfy and the brush works magic. I got it at the local supermarket. It was $5.00. 

See. Gone. All you have to do is run in through. Keep all those crazies in their place. 

So I take my claw clip and I put up the top part of my hair. I just leave a small section down in the back.

Take a little piece from that section. 

And start with your straightener at the top of the strand. Please note. This is not steam. I am not frying my hair. It's the reflection in the mirror from the camera. 

When I get to the end I turn the straightener slightly when I pull to curl the end underneath. 

I finish the entire bottom section of my hair. And then I pull down one of the sides and put the rest up. 

Then I pull down the other side and straighten it. This is before. 

And this is after. 

Then you have left the top section. I take the very back of this section and hold it straight in the air.

Am I really about to admit I do this? Really. Because I hate rated hair. Like despise it. Ugh. But I need a little bit of lift back there so I back comb it. 

Using my rat tail brush. LOL. I don't know what it's really called. I got it at Sally's for $7.00. 

Then I put it down and smooth it out using that comb. See. It gives a little umph but not the huge rat nest that you can see through and see a mess in there. 

Take the rest of the hair and put it back. And then you have my bangs. Oh the cowlick. It's a great one. You know your jealous. I have fought it my entire life. And that's the main reason I despise bangs, because it runs right through it. I can't keep them together. I can't. It's so hard.

Then I grab all those bangs in my hand and pull them straight forward. Defying that cowlick. 

I run them through the straightener and pull them to the side. Over and over. It takes about three times before I can defy that cowlick and let it know it's not in charge. 

Then I finish off with a quick spray of Vitae. I got it from Sally's. It was $7.00. I like it because it's strong and holds in place but doesn't give you that crusty hair when you shake your head it stays in place and doesn't move look or feel. 

Please remember, I am no licensed anything. I am just a girl. Who likes to try to look like a girl. And I had a few requests to do this. So I thought hey, might as well! Here's the finished look.

There you have it! Hope it helps some of you out! If you have any questions please ask! I think looking good, or feeling like you look good makes a world of differences in your day and your attitude! Try it out and let me know what you think? Do you notice a difference?

And for all you mom's with daughter. Sit down and help them. Teach them how to do their makeup. I never had that. I had to learn on my own. And let me tell you. It's so much easier to be taught the right way. (Thank you Sephora. They saved my life a few years ago...) I can't wait until I have a daughter to teach someday...