How to - Make Your Own Tinted Moisturizer!

This blog post is embarrassingly simple but I thought I'd share it with you all anyways. I actually find this technique to work better than most tinted moisturizers that you can purchase and it's a good way to use up concealer or foundation that you might not be as fond of!

You're going to need:

1.) A concealer or foundation of your choice. I used Kat Von D's tattoo concealer but also thought about the Revlon Colorstay foundation.

2.) A moisturizer of your choice. I like the Clinique Even Better because it works to correct your skin tone while keeping your skin hydrated and protecting it from the sun. Also, it works well because it is white, so it mixes with pigment well.

3.) A brush to mix and/or apply the product with (optional).

The steps are fairly simple - essentially, I took a fair amount of the moisturizer and applied it to the back of my hand. I think I used about a quarter-sized amount. Next, I applied a bit of the concealer to the back of my hand. I used about a pea-sized amount for this. I mixed the two together with my flat foundation brush from Costco, and applied it to my face using my Sigma F84 Angled Top Kabuki brush.

I didn't use enough moisturizer initially, so I added more later. Play around with it until you get the consistency you like.

So that's it! I know it's embarrassingly simple but I figure I might as well pass along this tidbit of advice. What's your favorite "unconventional" beauty trick?

DIY Inexpensive Brush Holder.

I wanted to share a little tip I have about brush holders - and how I saved a little money making mine. I haven't actually seen anyone who did this like I did, so I thought I'd share my way today!

One of the most popular ways to hold brushes is the "Sephora-esque way" - having your brushes standing straight up in a container filled with clear plastic beads. This is how I did mine.

You're going to need:

1.) Brushes

2.) A small package of clear plastic beads (available at Michael's craft stores)

3.) A Slatkin & Co. 3 Wick Candle (preferably empty, and available at Bath and Body Works)

1.) Finish your candle. I already had mine and I finished it up, and this was when I realized I could use it to hold my brushes. Clean it out using hot water, but make sure to scrape out the left-over candle and throw it out! If you pour the leftover hot wax down the sink, it will solidify and clog your drains.

2.) Fill with the beads. I found one package was the perfect amount to fill the container.

3.) Put your brushes in! I find that this holder fits just enough brushes for me, since I have very few. If you had a larger brush collection, you might need two or three candles.

I love the way this looks on my vanity. I just turned the holder so that the candle label was facing the wall, and it's a simple yet elegant storage method for my brushes! If you already have any sort of candle (Yankee candles would work also, as well as the single wick candles from BBW) then you can do this for a very low cost - you just have to pay for the beads. 

Of course, candles can get pretty pricey - the Slatkin & Co. three wicks retail for about $20 per when you don't get them on sale - but as I said above, if you already had a candle, then this is a good way to make use of the container as well.

Thanks so much for reading! How do you store your brushes?

DIY dry shampoo.

So I recently ran out of my Oscar Blondi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo spray and I can't say I was disappointed when I found out the can was empty. It sure was invisible, and definitely volumized, but I must say that it didn't live up to my expectations dry shampoo-wise - it just didn't work for me, plain and simple.

I found myself in a bit of a pickle last night - it was my sister's graduation today and I, being the band kid that I am, got to play at her ceremony. This involved getting up at 6, which meant going to sleep early, which lead to not having enough time to wash my hair. Third day hair can be a train wreck if left alone so I ran around trying to find a substitute for a dry shampoo. Lo and behold, I came upon this recipe, which I feel the need to share with the world.

Ingredients:

• About 3-6 tablespoons of cornstarch
• A bobby pin, toothpick, popsicle stick or spoon
• A small bowl
• A plastic storage container
• Something to scent it with - essential oil, dried flowers, etc

Steps:

1. Pour cornstarch into your bowl. Note that measurements don't need to be exact by any means.
2. Add a few drops of essential oil, dried flowers, etc. I used some lavender essential oil that I got when I went to Provence. It's important to not put in too much to keep the corn starch from turning into one large clump - just enough to add a nice fragrance to the product.
3. Using a bobby pin or spoon, mix up the mixture until there are few clumps and everything is well combined.
4. Transfer your dry shampoo into a storage container with a lid to prevent spilling or dust.
5. To use, take a small amount (a pinch or so) and massage into your roots. I prefer to flip my hair upside down over a sink, which prevents messes. Make sure to shake the corn starch out after.

 And for a quick review - bottom line, best dry shampoo ever. It sucked all of the oil out of my hair and left it looking better than after I've just had a shower. Combined with a nice fragrance, this is definitely worth the little bit of work I put into making it - and at such a low price to make, this is a lifesaver. The verdict - I'm never buying dry shampoo again!

So, what do you all think? I've also heard of witch hazel being a good, natural dry shampoo - what are some that you've heard of?