Post #16 Morphe

Morphe is a makeup brand that has been around for sometime but has gained their following and popularity within the past 4 years. They are known for their eyeshadow palettes and makeup brushes. Their eyeshadow palettes come in a multitude of shades. You get about 35 different shades within one palette. there are over 10 different options for which shades you can choose from. this includes palettes that are are cool toned, to a palette that has all warm tones, to a palette that has bright, vibrant colors, to a palette that has all shimmers and glitters. My favorite pro palette from Morphe is the 35O palette. Its is a natural palette with cool toned browns and warm oranges. It also has a mixture of mattes and shimmers. It is my "go-to" palette. I also adore their brushes. They have many different selections to choose from, and they often have sales and discounts on their brushes. This is a brand that I think not many people know about, and I think that everyone should! The only bad part about them is that you can only purchase products from them from their online store https://www.morphebrushes.com/ , or from their store in Burbank, CA. 

350 Palette
Image credit: Morphebrushes.com

Image credit: pinterest

image credit: pinterest

Post #15 Contouring & Highlighting

Contouring and highlighting is a makeup sensation that has taken over the past 2 years. The purpose of contouring and highlighting is to slender the face, and to enhance the facial features. Contouring is done with a shade that is 2-3 times darker than your skin tone. This adds definition and depth to your face. Highlighting is done with a lighter shade that is 2-3 lighter than your skin tone. Highlight and contouring can be done using a powder or a cream, or even both combined. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit has gotten makeup fame. ABH has to contour kits, A powder and a cream. Contouring is placed on the outer portions of the forehead, as well as the cheek bones, under the lip, and under the jaw bone. The highlight color is placed on the middle of the forehead, under the eyes, and under the cheek bones. It can also be placed on the chin. This is just a general description of where the shades are usually placed. This will change according to your face shape. Nose contouring is also very popular. You use the contour shade on the outer part of the nose, and the highlight on the inside of the contour color along the bridge of the nose. This makes the appearance of a smaller or shorter nose. These shades are blended so that the transition is seamless and so you do not have any lines anywhere left on the face. I do not contour and highlight everyday, but I do like to sometimes because I like for my cheek bones to be more prominent, and contouring gives them that appearance. Highlighting and contouring definitely isn't an everyday thing, but it is good when you are going for that full face, beat look. 

Image Credit: Pinerest

Image Credit: Pinterest

image credit: Pinterest

Post #14 Lashes

Lashes are one of my favorite parts of my makeup. It can change a simple makeup look to a dramatic makeup look. Lashes really help complete the look and bring the look together. When choosing lashes there are several different options that you can choose from. There are strip lashes. Strip lashes are eyelashes that are lined and made into a strip that look like an eyelash. There several different options when choosing strip lashes. You can choose different lashes based on the shape and length and density of the lashes. You can also choose the material that the lashes are made out of. Options for this are artificial lash hairs that are synthetic which usually are cheaper in price to lashes that are made of sable, mink, and human hair. Strip lashes can range anywhere from $1-$50 depending on the quality and brand. Most strip eyelashes are reusable for up to 5-10 times or even longer depending on how well they are taken care of. Strips lashes are pretty quick and simple to apply. They usually take around 5 minutes to apply. Strip lashes are applied with strip eyelash glue. My favorite eyelash glue is the DUO eyelash glue in transparent. It is a temporary glue and comes off easily at the end of the day by pulling them off or with water. Single lashes are also an option. Single lashes are very similar to strip lashes, they are just not in a strip and are individually put on a tiny strip that is the size of the lash. Individual lashes take a little longer to apply than strip lashes do because you are applying each lash individually. This can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes depending on how full you wish for your lashes to be. The duo lash glue can be used as a temporary option for them. Usually individual lashes come with a special adhesive so that they will last longer. It also comes with a special remover to remove the lashes. These can last up to 2 weeks with proper care. The third option is eyelash extensions. This is process is performed by a esthetician that is licensed to do lash extensions. Individual lashes are attached to your lashes with an adhesive. This process can take up to 2+ hours to complete. You also have different options for the extensions such as the length of the lashes, and how full you want them to be. Also how you want them to shape your eye. the longer and fuller the lash, the more dramatic it will look. These can last up to 6 weeks with proper care. It is advised that after you get the extensions, you do not get them wet for at least 48 hours. This gives the adhesive time to fully dry so that you will not loose any lashes. You can also get a lash fill every 2-4 weeks. Over time, the lashes will fall off due to the wearing off of the adhesive. Lash Extensions are more of a semi-permanent options for your lashes. I have tried all of these options and my favorite is definitely the lash extensions. They look real and flawless. And you can look done-up with out having any makeup on. The downside to lash extensions are the application time and the upkeep. They are also pretty expensive. My lash extensions cost around $180+ and $25-$75 for fills and depending on where you are located and where you get them done, the price can even double. Here are some pictures below of my lash extensions. 

Individual Lashes
Image Credit: Makeupalley.com

Strip Lash
Image Credit: @PerfectlashesLA on instagram

My Lash Extensions

Post #13 Brushes & Sponges

Brush V.S. sponge has been huge debate over time. I'm going to tell you my preference on what I think of both. Lets start with brushes. First of all, there are many different types of brushes. There are brushes for contouring, powder, highlight, liner, brows, blush, foundation, concealer, eyeshadow. The list could go on forever. There is literally a brush for every aspect of your makeup. I like using brushes for majority of my makeup. This includes my eyebrows, blush, eyeshadow, highlight, and face powder. Now lets talk about sponges. There are also many different types of sponges. There are wedged sponges, circle sponges, and sponges shaped like eggs. The sponge that I personally like to use is a beauty blender. Its appearance is similar to an egg. Before I got introduced to using a beauty blender for my makeup, I used brushes. I feel though my beauty blender blends my makeup better than any brush ever has. I would always get brush streaks on my face after blending, and I never seemed to get the coverage I wanted. I was able to achieve this with a beauty blender. It also helps blend my concealer better because of the point on it. The texture of the sponge actually simulates the appearance of the skin, so this is why it appears to look more natural when foundation is blended because of this. You can use the beauty blender dry or wet. When it is wet, it expands to almost twice its size when it's dry. I prefer to use my beauty blender when wet because to me it blends better. You also knock out a handful of brushes by using this single sponge. Now I still do use brushes, and I still like them despite my love for my beauty blender. I use my brushes for things my beauty blender cannot achieve such as eyeshadow and sweeping away powder. Some of my favorite brushes are the Real Technique brushes. They have an array of brushes to choose from and they are under $10. They are great quality and affordable. I also like the brushes from Morphe Cosmetics. They are also pretty reasonable in price and have several different selections in collections of brushes they carry. They also sell complete professional brush kits. Real Techniques also sells a sponge that is similar to a beauty blender. It is very similar in size, the only difference is that the RT sponge has a slanted point on the bottom of the sponge, unlike the beauty blender that is rounded. It is also slightly stiffer than the BB. The RT sponge retails at around $4-$6 while the Beauty Blender retails at about $20. I like both brushes and sponges. However, when it comes to foundation and concealer, a Beauty Blender is a MUST for me. You can find Real Techniques at any Walmart, Walgreens, or CVS. You can find the Beauty Blender at Ulta, Sephora, or Beauty Brands. You can only get Morphe brushes online from their online website. 

Beauty Blender
Image Credit: HSN.com

Real Techniques Sponge
Image credit: Makeupalley

Real Techniques Brushes
Image Credit: Sweetlifewithlove.com

Morphe Brushes
Image credit: Xueqiii.com

Post #12 podcast

Here is my podcast! Did some q & a on things that I get asked frequently! Hope you guys enjoy!

post #11 Life as a makeup artist

Life as a makeup artist has changed how I view people. Women especially. I definitely notice every aspect of someones makeup more than ever before. Not as if I am judging, but in my head I'm usually thinking of ways to beat your face (not really, it's a makeup artist term).
I have always been an active Youtube watcher. Or, whatever you want to call it.. I love Love LOVE watching tutorials. Tutorials on anything really. But mainly makeup and/or beauty related videos. I started buying more and more products. and i eventually got pretty decent at doing my makeup. I used to never wear makeup besides some eyeliner and mascara here and there. I wasn't against makeup or anything. It just wasn't my thing. BUT, I started to see how makeup can really enhance someones features. You aren't becoming or looking like a completely different person, you are enhancing you own features that you already have. Wearing makeup makes be feel beautiful, but I also feel beautiful when I'm not wearing any. "Love the skin you're in" is a saying that I truly admire. Makeup gives me more confidence. 

People started to ask me tons of questions about my makeup, and a few even suggested that I make my own makeup tutorials. I though about that, I thought, would people even watch it though?? I finally gave in and made my very first makeup tutorial. I got lots of love on it. I believe it got around 5,000 views on Facebook. now on Youtube, it didn't get nearly as many views. Like.. not even close. But then again I only have like 21 subbies on Youtube and like 4,000 friends on Facebook. But looking back on the video I just want to cringe. I mean it wasn't that bad.. but I have progressed so much since then. I can't wait to do another video. It will def top my first one. But besides that, I work as a "Beauty Specialist" at a beauty store/salon. So I do makeup there. I help with skin care, makeup, blah blah blah all that great stuff. But I really do like my job. I get to be around things I love (plus a nice discount). But the thing that I love most about my job is that I can make someone feel so good about themselves. I can give them more confidence, I make them feel beautiful, even though they are already gorgeous.

Post #10 Highlight

Highlighter is something that is becoming more popular in American makeup. I personally feel as though if I don't have on any highlighter, then my makeup just isn't complete. My favorite highlighter at the moment is the Laura Geller Skin Illuminator in the color "Gilded Honey". It's a golden highlight with a bit of bronze in it, but not too much. It is literally the perfect highlighter that will look good on any skin tone. There are plenty of highlighters out there from high end brands and drug store brands. I will have to admit that when it comes to highlighter, I try not to be cheap. I have tried a bunch of drug store highlighters only to be disappointed in the product. My favorite drug store highlighter is NYX cosmetics illuminator in the color "Ritualistic". It is almost an exact dupe for Anastasia beverly hills "So Hollywood" Illuminator. It is just not as pigmented. But for a drug store product, its pretty darn good for the price. But I'm not surprised. NYX doesn't disappoint me. Some other highlighters that are extremely popular right now are the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kits. There are currently 5 different glow kits. The Sun Dipped, That Glow, Moonchild, Sweets, and The Ultimate Glow. The Moonchild and Ultimate Glow have 6 different shades, and the others have 4. These kits are constantly out of stock. I can't wait until I have all of them! The Moonchild Glow Kit is definitely next on my list. 

Image Credit: Anastasiabeverlyhills.com

Post #9 Purple Looks

This is a look that I created using a multitude of different products. I also filmed this look, so it should be on my Youtube Channel soon. I wanted to do a makeup look that was out of the ordinary because I am a person that generallt sticks to neutral colors, so going with purples was really out there for me. This is a list of the products that I used:

-Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in ebony
Eyes:
Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette
KCO Cosmetics single eye shadows in frisky, epic, majestic, gossip
Tarte the tartiest clay paint liner
Face:
Tarte timeless smoothing primer
NARS Sheer Glow foundation- Tahoe
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer- biscuit
Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit in Medium
Highlight: Laura Geller Gilded Honey
Lips: NYX liquid Suede lipstick in Foul Mouth

Post #8 Eyebrows On Fleek

I get tons of questions regarding how I do my eyebrows. I have super thick, curly, unruly eyebrows. So it is a MUST that I get them shaped correctly. I get my eyebrows threaded. I know that a lot of people get theirs waxed, but I just prefer threading. I feel as though threading gets them super clean and precise, which is just how I like my brows. I get them threaded every 2-3 months. I don't go that often. In the meantime when I don't go, I keep them cleaned up by plucking them with tweezers. What I use to fill them in with depends on the day. On a daily, I usually use the NYX brow defining pencil. It is a double sided pencil with product on one side, and a spooly on the other for blending. I use the color "dark brown". I like this pencil because I'm usually in a rush 99% of the time, so this pencil gets the job done good and fast. When I actually have time to do my makeup, my favorite brow product of all time is the Dipbrow Pomade by Anastasia beverly hills. I use the color "Ebony". I use the dipbrow with the #12 brow brush which is also from ABH. When I'm done filling in my brows, I like to clean them up with a little concealer. My favorite concealer to use for this is the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. I use the color "Biscuit". I like cleaning them up because it gives them a really sharp, crisp look. I made a tutorial on how I fill in my brows. I go in depth on how I do it, so check it out!

Sidenote: You can purchase the ABH dipbrow and brush at any Sephora, Ulta, Beauty Brands, Dillards, or Nordstorm that carries ABH. You can also find them online at those retailers. You can get the NARS concealer at Sephora, or Nordstorm, or online.

I've also linked where I get my brows threaded at. I get them done at the 'Perfect Brow Bar' in Topeka. There are other places that do brow threading, but I would look into it before you go, just so you know that your brows are in safe hands. (I've heard & experienced too many brow nightmares!)

Post #7 NYX liquid Suede

NYX Cosmetics is probably the most underrated drugstore makeup brand. Hands down it is my favorite drugstore makeup brand. They literally have EVERYTHING! But, I will cover NYX in a later post. Today I'm going to talk about their Liquid Suede Lipsticks. These Lipsticks some in 24 different shades. These lipsticks dry matte. These lipsticks are priced at just $7 a piece. The formula that these lipsticks have are pretty impressive, but I will admit that these are not my favorite liquid lipstick formulas that they carry. NYX actually carries 3 different liquid lipsticks: Soft matte lip cream, Liquid Suede, and Lip Lingerie. My favorite formula is the Lipstick Lingerie. It has a matte finish, but doesn't dry completely, it stays just a tad bit sticky and moist. But I don't mind that because  I rather my lips be somewhat moisturized than to be completely dried out like matte lipsticks usually do. They have a  similar feel to Smashbox's liquid lipsticks. If you're thinking about getting one of these lipsticks i suggest you do it. You won't be disappointed! I have 4 different shades in the Liquid Suede Lipsticks. For $7 they are very good quality. Here are some swatches of the colors that I have on my skin. 

Post #6 Colourpop Cosmetics

Colourpop cosmetics is a brand that has gotten pretty popular with in the past year. The brand made it's debut through social media platforms. Instagram to be specific. They have everything from liquid matte lipsticks, to vibrant duo chrome eyeshadows. All of their products average from around $3-$8. The quality is unbeatable. The liquid lipsticks they have are almost identical to the liquid lipsticks from Kylie Cosmetics (word is that they are made in the same factory!). Colourpop has a wide range of products including blush, bronzer, highlighters, eyeshadows (mattes, shimmers, and duo chrome), eyebrow pencils and gels, contouring sticks, liquid lipsticks (mattes, satin, & metallic) as well as lippie six, and lippie pencils. They also have super pigmented lip glosses. These products are top notch, and for under $10, you just can't beat that. Now the only bad part about Colourpop is that you can only get it online by ordering it from their website Colourpop.com. However, they always have coupons that you can add to your order to save even more money! The shipping is also pretty fast. I have yet to have a problem with their products. Below are some swatches of some of their liquid matte lipsticks as well as a swatch of a satin lipstick from them. 

Post #5 Chocolate Bar!

The Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette is one that had been around for a few years now. But it is one of those palettes that is highly sought after, and sometimes even should out. It was not originally supposed to be a permanent eyeshadow palette for TooFaced. However, the palette had such a high demand that the brand decided to keep the palette in their lineup for good. Or at least for now that is.. Now I know what you're thinking. "Why is this makeup palette named "Chocolate Bar"?" Well, the eyeshadows are actually infused with coco powder. The packaging that the palette comes in is also in the form of a chocolate bar. So, not only does it look like a chocolate bar, but it also smells like one! just DO NOT EAT IT! Sadly, palette is not edible, it is only, made to beautify your eyes :) The palette contains neutral colors and of course different shades of browns It also had a few shimmers in the palette. The shimmers range from rose gold, purple, copper and even a champagne colored shimmer. this is definitely my everyday go to palette. Hands down, one of my favorite palettes that I own. This palette retails at about $49. You can get this palette at Ulta Beauty, Beauty Brands, Sephora, or Any other store that carries TooFaced, including the Toofaced official website.

Post #4 ABH Modern Renaissance Palette

Today I'm going to talk about the Modern Renaissance Palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills. This Palette is the first eyeshadow palette from ABH that has become permanent. This palette is highly requested and it always seems to be out of stock. This palette was out of stock for a good 3 months worldwide until ABH decided to do a restock and announced that this was going to be the first ever palette from her line that was becoming a permanent palette. This is especially exciting because besides the single eye shadow pigments that the line carries, all eyeshadow palettes that have been released by ABH have only been exlusive, limited and never restocked. Now I could not get my hands on this palette just yet, but I soon plan to! There was an announcement on the official Anastasia Beverly Hills Instagram page that there will be a restock sometime at the end of October. I already reserved mine, so when it comes to the store I will have it! This palette retails at $42. You can get this at Ulta, Sephora, Dillard's, Nordstrom, or straight from the Anastasia Beverly Hills website. The colors that this pallet contain range from neutral to berry tones. There are so many looks that can be created with this palette. There are colors that are usually nontraditional for an eyeshadow palette, which is why I think it is so popular ( and because its ABH, everyone loves all of her products). I will do a tutorial of some sort when I actually get the palette!

Image source: http://www.mybeautyfavs.com

Image Source: http://www.leopardprinteverything.com/

Post #3 Foundation Frenzy

This weekend at Dillard's they had a special called "Foundation Frenzy". Basically you get a good deal on a foundation. if it the foundation is under $35 you get $5 off, and if it's over $35 you get $10 off, and over $40 you get $15 off. So being the makeup addict I am, I couldn't resist the deal. So, I got the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick foundation in the color "Amber". Now I haven't got to fully try this foundation out just yet, but the swatch I did on my hand seemed pretty good. I will wear it over the week and take pictures, and update how it lasted, coverage, etc. The ABH stick foundation usually runs about $25, but since I got it during the foundation frenzy, I got it for $20. Which was a pretty great deal to me. This foundation is new, and if won't last on the shelves for long, I'm glad I snagged me one ahead of time. Another foundation I purchased was the Mac Studio Fix Fluid in the shade NC45. Now I was skeptical at buying this foundation at first because the shade was a little off, but I though I could make it work. And let me tell you, it didn't. I looked like an Ompaloopa.. it was seriously like 4 shades darker than the rest of my body. It was horrid. Soooo, I took it back and exchanged it for a lighter shade. Hopefully this one will work out better. I will post an update to how these foundations worked out!

Post #2 Dupe Sunday

Hey You guys! I'm here with a dupe. 

"What's a dupe???" Well a dupe is something that is similar to something else, but is different. A substitution.

Now, I'm sure you've all heard of Kylie Jenner's new makeup line "Kylie Cosmetics". If you haven't then you've obviously been living under a rock. Well her lipkits are the hype right now. In the lipkit you get a matte lipstick, and a lipliner to match it. Now this retails at about $29. You can also just buy the lipstick by its self for $17, or buy the lipliner alone for $14. You can only purchase Kylie's products from her website Kylie Cosmectics . Shipping is $8.95. So if you purchase a lipkit, it's gonna cost you around $37.95 for one kit. I know what you're thinking... "damn near $40 for just one lipstick and a liner??? Hell no." Technically, high end liquid lipsticks are usually around $18-$23. So with hers being priced at $17 for one, you're actually getting a pretty decent deal. 

The dupe I have for you guys is Kylie's matte liquid lipstick in the color "Ginger" and Anastasia Beverly Hills matte liquid lipstick in the color "Ashton". Here's a picture of a swatch below on my skin. Ginger is on the top, and Ashton is on the bottom. I also included a picture of the swatch with flash and without so you can get an idea of the true colors of the lipsticks.

Both lipsticks are pretty close in color. Ginger has a tad bit more red in it though. I like them both. But If I were to choose, I'd choose Kylie's Ginger. I really like the formula of her mattes, it doesn't leave my lips super dry or crusty like how other mattes do. Now don't get me wrong I like the formula of ABH's liquid mattes, but they are a little drying. I just prefer Kylie's. If you're wanting to get one, ABH "Ashton" is gonna run you about $20. You can get it at Ulta, Dillards, Sephora, or the websites for those stores. You can also get it straight from the Anastasia Beverly Hills Website . As mentioned earlier, Ginger is gonna run you $29 + $$8.95 for shipping if you want the lipkit, or if you just want the lipstick it's $17 + $8.95 shipping. So if you can't get your hands on Ginger (her lipkits sell out within MINUTES!!!) then Ashton is definitely a perfect dupe. or vice versa (ABH liquid lipsticks seem to sell out pretty quick also). 

Hope you enjoyed this dupe!

Post #1 Into

Welcome to my blog!! Just a little intro to for you all about me, and what my blog will be about and consist of! Obviously by the title of my blog, you can guess that this will be about makeup. Ahh, one of my favorite things in the world. Anyways, my blog blog will consist mostly of me comparing and contrasting high end brands to drug store. As well as listing some dupes for you!I will also occasionally be doing some makeup videos, I will post them here and I will also list my Youtube channel so you guys can subscribe and catch all my uploads!

Here's a little about me: 

My name is Antonia. you pronounce it "An-ta-knee-uh". I'm a 20 year old from Topeka, Kansas. (ugh I know. "Kansas") I am currently in my Junior year of college. I am a graphic design major. I'm very artsy and creative. Always have been. I started really getting into makeup my Sophomore year of college. (actually the summer before my sophomore year, but you get the point).  (: ) 

Getting into makeup wasn't hard for me. being an artist I think really played a part in helping me learn so fast how to do it.  Its something that I think I will continue to progress in. 

Okay, so by now  I think you guys get the gist of what this blog will be about, and a short summery about myself. If you're interested in makeup then you definitely came to the right blog :) stay tuned for more!