Favorite Neutral Eye Palettes!

If I created a list of most asked makeup questions, this would be on it: What are some of the best eyeshadow palettes for everyday use? My short response is that neutral shadows are great for getting an appropriate look for day, night, or any special occasion. In palette form- neutral shadows are extremely practical and user-friendly. They don't contain bright, vibrant colors... but again- this general question I get comes from those seeking an appropriate eye look for an everyday natural look. Maybe in the future I'll compile a list of my favorite bright palettes! But for now- enjoy my list of top neutral palettes!



Featured Products:

• Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette http://www.coastalscents.com
• Cover Girl Eye Enhancers in Golden Sunset (drugstore)
• Bee Luscious Signature Shadow Quad in Naturalist http://www.beeluscious.com
• Maybelline Eyeshadow Quad in Chai Latte (drugstore)
• Kleancolor 9 Eye Palette http://www.cherryculture.com
• Revlon Colorstay Eyeshadow in Nude Elements (drugstore)

Thanks for stopping by!

♥

Emily

QOTW: First Impressions

This "Question of the Week" might give us a little more insight into how we see others- and how others see us! I asked: What's the first thing you notice about someone's physical appearance? You answered...

• Face/Makeup: 171 (46%)
• Outfit: 77 (20%)
• Hair: 60 (16%)
• Body size/shape: 59 (16%)
  
  Votes so far: 367 Poll closed

Almost half of those who responded to this question said Face/Makeup... that's what I said too. I think we just naturally make eye contact with people, and if makeup is something you generally look for or create an opinion on- you're probably going to notice that. The remaining votes were pretty evenly split among the other answers- outfit, hair, and body size/shape. Perhaps this could be a slight reassurance to those who're self-conscious about their weight- it's not necessarily the first thing people see! Regardless of your feelings on this question, I thought I'd offer some "first impression tips" I found online- for a circumstance where you're meeting someone new (parties, interviews, significant other's famliy, school, etc.). They're not entirely appearance-related, but they might come in handy, and lessen your fears of meeting new people.

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How To Make A Strong First Impression: 7 Tips That Really Work

Source: Bill Lampton Ph.D.

READ MORE ON EACH OF THESE POINTS AT: http://www.createmyself.com/personaldevelopment/makingafirstimpression.htm

1. The greatest way to make a positive first impression is to demonstrate immediately that the other person--not you--is the center of action and conversation.
2. You'll make a superb initial impression when you demonstrate good listening skills. Give positive verbal cues: Hmmm. . .interesting! Tell me more, please. What did you do next? Keep the exchange going!
3. Use the name of a new acquaintance frequently. Example: Judy, I like that suggestion. Or: Your vacation must have been exciting, Fred. You show that you have paid attention from the start, catching the name during the introduction.
4. Be careful with humor. Although a quip or two might serve as an icebreaker, stay away from sarcastic remarks that could backfire.
5. Give up the need to be right. Confrontations with somebody you've just met will destroy rapport before you even start building it.
6. Appearance counts. Don't dress for the job you have now, dress for the job you want to have.
7. Speak clearly, confidently, and convincingly. Listeners judge our intelligence, our cultural level, our education, even our leadership ability by the words we select--and by how we say them.

Makeup Tips for Glasses Wearers!

photo courtesy www.nextvision.co.uk

Hey everyone! I'm very excited about this blog! I was on my Beauty Broadcast Facebook Page answering some questions, and a Beauty Broadcast viewer, Ashley Knox, posted some pictures! She will occasionally throw up a makeup photo or two, and I love seeing them! I really enjoy her enthusiasm for makeup, and I always like seeing photos of peoples' makeup! Anyway, I noticed in her profile pic Ashley was wearing glasses, and considering how many questions I get asking for makeup tips for those wearing glasses- I thought she might be a great person to ask for some tips! I only wear glasses now and then (ususally it's contacts)- so I asked Ashley if she would post a few tips on the Facebook page. She graciously did- and I want more people to see it- so I thought I'd make it into a guest blog post too! Enjoy the tips, and thanks Ashley for taking the time to do this! :D

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Makeup Tips for Those Who Wear Glasses!

A guest blog by Ashley Knox

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It is actually hard to answer this question because everyone has such different features. But, I think some across the board tips would be:

1. Not wearing too much shimmer, and wearing a matte color in the crease really adds depth that can be lost under frames. Also not wearing loose glitters because they can fleck off onto your glasses.
2. Since glasses tend to make your eyes look smaller...apply makeup in such a way that makes eyes larger. For example: keeping darker colors away from your eye...keeping a lighter lid color, tight lining the lower lash line with white and even keeping most of your mascara away from the root of your lashes. I find that using dark eyeliner is fine but not on the water line. I think it's better on the lower lash line (where the hairs are) and swept above the lashes on the lid. I like to do false lashes on the outer corners of my lid also to make my eye appear wider. Also really concealing dark circles under eyes is important for making eyes look wide awake.... Anything to make the eye appear larger will make them prettier behind glasses.
3. The top rim of glasses tends to cut off right at about your crease and it can look too intense if you bring the color much above that. So, I think for everyday looks...I would say don't take shadows too much above the crease but instead add something fun on the lower lash line because this is a place that is well seen through the lenses. I like to maybe use a glitter liner (these don't flake like loose glitter) or a fun shadow color that complements the color of my eyes (like green and purple). Putting more detail on the lower lashes actually will get your makeup noticed, even behind frames.
4. This is a normal tip for everyone, but especially for glasses wearers, pluck and shape those brows! I think eyebrows are SO important for girls with glasses because for the most part they're seen better than the eyes! Not to mention they frame your face and your frames! :p Hope that helps!

Is being nice a bad thing?

Hey everyone- this is not a makeup-related blog- so if you're not interested, I won't be offended if you take this opportunity to check out! That being said- this pertains to a situation that was brought up at work today... which really caused me to think about my life as a whole and the way I'm perceived. During a meeting at work, the act of calling people out on their mistakes was brought up. Someone mentioned- *if Emily were to call someone out, people would really take note because she's so nice* (laughter). I'd first like to note that many who seemed to show agreement with this comment don't really work side by side with me on a regular basis to even know exactly how I respond to certain situations... but regardless... it seems they feel they've got me figured out- and I've been pegged as a "nice person". Are there worse things to be called? Absolutely! But in some instances- being known as "the nice one" can also be code for "the one without a backbone". At least for me, that's what it meant back in grade school, high school, and college (according to those who didn't really KNOW me as a person). So naturally- I had that negative flashback when the phrase came up in today's meeting.

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Here's a little history lesson... from kindergarten through 8th grade, my dad was my principal. I couldn't get away with being a "Diva"... everyone would say I thought I had some sort of right to do that since I was the principal's daughter. The alternative for me was to be nice. It still didn't earn me a lot of friends, but at least people didn't think I thought I had some sort of license to rule the school. Then came high school. A point came when we were practically coachless for cheerleading and once some of the older girls left, it was mentioned that I "wasn't enough of a bitch" to make the squad successful. In other words- I was too nice. I flashback to this moment quite often. In my opinion- once again I couldn't get away with being a Diva because I was the girl on the top of the stunts- I was incredibly self-conscious of people assuming I felt the need to be the center of attention- and also needed to command the rest of the team! I went out of my way to be nice- and if I had to be "mean" I did so with much caution. We remained a tight-knit team with great abilities and respect for one another. A similar assumption was made about me in college- (cheerleading squad was once again coachless) and I had to take charge. I still managed to keep my cool, be nice, and found that it got me far.

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Here's the bottom line: you don't have to be a bitch to be a leader. There's a difference between having high standards and holding others accountable... and being mean and disrespectful. Sometimes it's a fine line- but it's a line I feel like I've walked all my life. Now I'm a news anchor. Once again, a role where I could easily become the dreaded "diva". I've seen it happen to others, and just knew I didn't want to be the mean, unapproachable lady on the anchor desk who thought all should cater to her and do as she commands. I've always tried to be the anti-diva... probably because I've seen lots of divas in action- setting an example for what I didn't want to be. Kind of ironic that I got that diva magnet (shown above) as part of some sort of grab-bag present. I glance at it on my refrigerator from time to time... my little reminder to keep both feet on the ground. And that in my opinion- it's ok to be nice. It doensn't mean you're weak or opinionless. A person can still be assertive, while maintining others' respect. Some people may see your niceness as a negative thing- but if you believe you're doing what's right... don't stray from your course. Be nice, state your feelings, but have tact and compassion.

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Thanks for taking the time to read!

Emily

QOTW: How Much Would You Spend on Lip Gloss?

This week's "Question of the Week" was pretty straight-forward... what's the MOST you'd spend on a lip gloss? Here's how your answers stacked up...

• $5 (or less): 79 (21%)
• $10: 118 (32%)
• $15: 71 (19%)
• $20: 55 (15%)
• $25: 24 (6%)
• $30 (or more): 14 (3%)

I wasn't exactly surprised by these results. I figured there would be votes across the board in eaach category- but $10 is a pretty average price range. Between the 5 and 10 dollar mark is where you'll find many drugstore lip glosses... there are actually quite a few less than 5 bucks, and that was the second most popular answer. Since many people aren't willing to spend more than $10 for a lip gloss- I thought I'd share ten great lip glosses under ten dollars! This is a variety of really nice glosses that are in the ideal price range for many of you! Some are glosses you've heard me talk about before- and others are new to me! The products are listed below in the same order they're pictured. Please be aware- in some cases the prices are approximate, and may vary depending on where they're purchased.

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10 Under $10

• Revlon Colorstay Mineral Lip Glaze in Lasting Shimmer (drugstore, $8) Shimmery, opaque peachy-golden nude. Slightly thick feel- long wearing.
• Coastal Scents Smacks in Sheer Tan (coastalscents.com, $2.95) Sheer, yet ultra shimmery golden nude. Great with a tan.
• Hard Candy Plumping Serum Lip Gloss in All American Girl (Wal-Mart, $6) Sheer, slightly plumping neutral lip gloss.
• ELF Mineral Lip Gloss in Trendsetter (eyeslipsface.com, $3) Slightly shimmery, smooth & creamy neutral gloss.
• NYX Diamond Sparkle Lip Gloss in Rose Sparkle (cherryculture.com, $4) Gorgeous pink gloss with concentrated shimmer. Nice alone or over lipstick.
• Cover Girl Wetslicks in Tutu (drugstore, $5) Light pink shimmer, nice as an accent color in the center of the lower lip for a plump appearance.
• Maybelline Volume XL Seduction Plumping Lip Gloss #115 (drugstore, $7) Fairly intense plumping tingle. Bright- but not too bright pink. Gel like formula, but not sheer.
• NYX Girls Round Lip Gloss in Amethyst (cherryculture.com, $2) Slightly metallic, medium berry shade. Texture is not sticky or sheer.
• ELF Super Glossy Lip Shine in Mauve Luxe (eyeslipsface.com, $1) Deeper berry tone containing SPF 15. A nice fall/winter shade. Not slick & slippery, yet not overly sticky.
• C.O. Bigelow Cinnamint Mentha Lip Shine (Bath & Body Works, $7.50) Great for cinnamon lovers. A clear gloss that will add life to any matte lipstick. Tasty flavor!

As you can see, my selections are a mix of shades and finishes. Hopefully these swatches (which correspond with the glosses above) give you an idea of how these will appear on the lips! Thanks for stopping by my blog, and have a great day!

♥

Emily

I Love Palladio Tinted Lip Balm!!

Hey everyone! I'm so excited to tell you about Palladio Herbal Tinted Lip Balm! :D It's a brand available at Sally Beauty Supply- and I've recently been checking out some of their products (there are some GREAT ones)- but this tinted lip balm is a real treasure. Tinted lip balm is something I often feel let down by. Sometimes it's not moisturizing enough to be called a "balm", and other times it's barely tinted enough to be referred to as "tinted". So after trying out this Palladio TLB (my hip new term for tinted lip balm LOL) I had to immediately include it in my latest "Shopping List Ideas" video, then purchase more- and blog about it! :D

(left to right: Bronzy Pink, Golden Pink, and Rosey)

The first shade I tried (and featured in my Shopping list ideas video) is Bronzy Pink. The name pretty much sums up this shade perfectly, and I enjoy the amount of color it gives off. These give color that reminds me of a lipstick, but they are SO moisturizing- if you weren't looking in a mirror, you'd just feel like you were putting on a lip balm. They are surprisingly long wearing, and they seem to fade leaving a light stain all over your lips (especially Rosey). I'd describe the scent as light- to barely there. I like how there are a variety of finishes. As you can see, Bronzy Pink and Golden Pink both have some shimmer, while Rosey is a creamy, non-shimmery shade. There are 5 other colors ranging from Orange to Brownie that I've yet to try. You can see the swatches below- they correspond to the TLB's shown above.

These are really fantastic for only $3.99 apiece (or $3.79 with your Sally's Beauty Club card!). You can check them out on Sally's website, or head to your local Sally Beauty Supply store. Again, I was so impressed with the first one I tried, I had to go out and get a couple more. They'll be a fixture in my purse and makeup bag- and I hope you get the chance to try them out yourself! Have a great day!

♥

Emily

QOTW: Battling Dry Skin!

Hey everyone! Depending on where you live, you may have noticed the weather starting to turn a bit colder! I don't know about you, but that tends to have a pretty big impact on my skin. (especially during the winter when the air gets really dry!) So for this "Question of the Week", I asked- How do you keep your skin moisturized during the cooler seasons? Here's what you said... (you could select multiple answers)

• Apply a lip balm: 171 (58%)
• Apply extra body lotion: 149 (50%)
• Use a rich facial moisturizer: 149 (50%)
• Use a foot lotion: 47 (15%)
  
  Votes so far: 294 Poll closed

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Not surprisingly, many people do feel the need to layer on the moisture this time of year! I definitely answered all of the above! It's almost essential to go through these steps after a shower to really lock in moisture and keep skin looking supple and radiant. Remember that exfoliating (on face and body) is very important as well to get rid of those dead skin cells. It doesn't necessarily need to be done daily- but maybe a couple times a week (and before sunless tanning to make sure it goes on as evenly as possible). Below are some of my favorite products for each category mentioned in this "Question of the Week"...

• Cococare Cocoa Butter Lip Balm (SPF 15)... This was mentioned in one of Tyler's first videos as his favorite "beauty" product. He swears by only having to apply this before bed and his lips retain the moisture throughout the night and the next day as well! After a little of this is left on my lips from a goodnight kiss- I'm convinced it's truly a fantastic lip balm- even for those who're plagued with dry, chapped lips! It's available for only about $1 at Walgreens, and probably other drugstores too.
• Bath & Body Works Body Cream... A rich body cream as opposed to the typical lotions with thinner formulations really makes a difference! I especially love the Bath & Body Works body creams in Japanese Cherry Blossom (shown here) and Vanilla Nior. Without feeling greasy, the moisture stays with your skin, and really makes you feel hydrated! Cost is around $10 at Bath & Body Works stores (but be on the lookout for holiday sales!)
• Merlot Moonlight Radiance Night Cream... in the picture above- you're looking at the $2.99 travel size I found at my local Walgreens store. They also sell a larger full-size, which is a bit more expensive. I'd heard good things about this moisturizer with natural grape seed (and it smells like fruit loops!) I wanted to recommend a moisturizer that I thought would provide that extra jolt of hydration, without being "too much" for oily/combo skin types. If you've never tried a night cream, this might be a good option to really moisturize skin amid dry air conditions.
• Silk Bee Elan Vital Foot Moisturizer... Remember when I reviewed the all natural line of moisturizers called Silk Bee? They are wonderful- but lately I've been really loving the extra moisturizing Elan Vital Foot moisturizer. The texture is absolutely luxurious and leaves your feet feeling super soft! It's fragrance free, at costs $11 at http://www.silkbee.com/

Please keep in mind that these items worked great for me, but that's not a 100% guarantee that you'll love them too! I just wanted to pass along some items that I'm really impressed with that I hope you'll discover as well! :D Have a great day everyone!

♥

Emily

Share your Tips about Q-Tips and Win!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to make sure all my bloggin' buddies knew about the giveaway I just started on my YouTube channel. Here are the details!

• Head to my Q-Tips Giveaway! video on YouTube
• Make sure you're a subscriber!
• Add a comment under the video about your favorite use for Q-Tips!
• The last day to submit a comment is November 13th
• One winner will be selected at random and announced on November 14th
• The prizes include 4 adorable Q-Tips Vanity Packs plus a cute jewelry box (I show it all in the video)
• Do not submit more than one comment! I'll be able to figure that out.
• If the prize will be mailed to your parents address- make sure it's ok with them that you give it out.
• The prize will be mailed directly from the people at q-tips (I'll pass along your address to them)
• This is open to international viewers.

Please take part- this is a great little prize package, thanks to the great people at Q-Tips! If you don't win and would like to purchase the new Vanity Packs for yourself, check out amazon.com, walgreens.com, your local Walgreens store (and probably other drugstores as well). They're only a few bucks a pop!

Thanks for stopping by!

♥

Emily

QOTW: Favorite Fall Footwear

It's question of the week time once again! Here's what you said to this question: What's your favorite fall footwear?

• Tall boots (upper calf): 87 (31%)
• Short/Medium boots: 82 (29%)
• Sneakers: 40 (14%)
• Flats: 39 (14%)
• Heels: 15 (5%)
• Clogs/Loafers: 14 (5%)

Tall boots win! It's my fall favorite too! I'm a fan of classic black boots that zip up the side, and I have a brown pair I love as well. If you're curious about the boots shown above, I got the brown pair last year at this time from Wet Seal... they have a soft suede-like feel and come about 3/4 of the way up my calf. They were around $20, and I believe they have similar boots in stock this season. I got the black boots at a store called "The Shoe Department" at my local mall. The brand is Torta Caliente, and they cost between $30 and $40.

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I like most of my boots to have heel, just because I feel like it gives my legs a sort of elongated look. I'm a fan of tucking skinny jeans in the boots, and leggings look cute like that too. How do you like to wear your tall boots? What are some great brands or styles? Feel free to share in the comments section! :D

Have a great day!

♥

Emily

You Know You're Obsessed With Makeup When...

a shot of one of my lipgloss drawers

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Just for fun- I posed this question on my Beauty Broadcast Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/beautybroadcast ... The thought came to me when I was searching for a pen in my purse and kept pulling out either an eyeliner or lip liner... at that moment, I thought- wow, you know you're obsessed with makeup when something like this happens. I thought it'd be fun to hear your take, and I was thoroughly entertained while reading your comments! Many made me laugh out loud, or think- I thought I was the only one who did that! LOL :) At the time I'm writing this, there were 75 comments- so I picked some of my faves to post here...

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You know you're obsessed with makeup when...

• "You empty out your underwear drawer to make room for more makeup. :)" -Dania
• "When bonding with your two year old is watching Makeup Tutorials together and she calls it 'painting'" -Laura
• "You're in hospital and you send your mother to MAC to get the new collection." -Alison
• "When you have a weekly/monthly budget (as if it's a necessity like groceries). I'm guilty of that." -Elena
• "When you buy more mascara, even when your old mascasa is still fresh!" -Misty
• "When you hide packages that come in the mail from your husband and hope he never notices the exponential growth in you collection (guilty again)!" -Cynthia
• "When your down and sad makeup is the only thing that makes you happy..(.i mean it)" -Sirsha
• "...you HAVE to do "the rounds" at the drugstore even if you were there just yesterday." -Jacqueline
• "When you spend hours watching make up tutorials on youtube and u are notoriously known for getting in trouble for putting on make up in class : / lol." -Katelyn
• "When you also join beauty broadcast on facebook....." -Louise

Have you joined Beauty Broadcast on Facebook? You should! You can share tips & pictures, ask questions, and get updates on the latest BB videos and blogs. Get a Facebook account started (if you don't have one already), head to the Beauty Broadcast page, and click "Become a Fan"! Have a great day everyone!
&hearts

Emily