Prom Hair, Makeup and Nails.

I am so excited to tell you that I am officially a high school graduate! I graduated last night and will be going to college to study communications (I hope to work in public relations in the fashion business) in September.

Graduation Style

Last week was my senior prom. I wanted to show you my nails, hair and the makeup I wore, because it really lasted through a long night of dancing the night away.

My prom day started by getting a manicure. I wanted to go natural because my dress was bright red. I chose MAC Thimbleweed from the Proenza Schouler collection. It is a pale nude and gave my nails just enough color and lots of shine.

Natural Nails

My Mom did my makeup and she helped me to chose the best long-lasting products, but I insisted on a lot of my Urban Decay favorites a few things like CoverGirl's Bombshell Mascara, it's the only one I will use, and Urban Decay's Perversion Ink for Eyes. I wanted to look bronzey and natural with a little bit of a bronzey smokey eye. I wanted my lips natural with Urban Decay's Naked lipgloss too. I don't like a lot of makeup on my eyes because my eyes and lashes are very dark already.

Makeup Used for Prom

Makeup Used for Prom

Makeup Used for Prom

After my makeup was done, I went to the salon, where Paul did my hair. I wanted some pulled back and to wear some down. I have a lot of hair and it is naturally very wavy and almost curly. I showed Paul a few pictures, but really just let him do what he wanted in the back and then had him do some loose waves on the bottom.

Half-Up Half-Down Hairstyle

Perfect Hairstyle for Weddings

Here is the final look at my prom makeup. It came out how I envisioned it.

Prom Makeup Look

Prom was great! My best advice to those going to prom is to use long-lasting makeup and a good makeup primer. The makeup primer my Mom used on me from Hourglass worked really well because my makeup looked just good at the end of the night as I did when I left for the prom.

Back to School Beauty: Dare to Go Bare and More Looks from Benefit.

Misleading a bit, because I don't think I would ever go bare faced to school. Even if I only had a few minutes, I would slap on a little something to make my skin look more even and give it a bit of a natural glow. This would be a bare look, and I found a great tutorial on how to do just that over on the Benefit Cosmetics website.

 

In their Get The Look section, that I am totally addicted to by the way, the pros that know teach you in three easy steps, how to get a pretty, natural look.

screenshot from benefitcosmetics.com

The core products are for perfecting the skin and looking it look even and natural, with a bit of a glow, then topping it off with mascara and a neutral lipstick.

You'll have to check out the look details to see exactly all the Benefit products they used, but the look is easy to create using a few items that you may have already in addition to the ones suggested in the tutorial.

I do know that I want to pick up the POREfessional to minimize and hide my pores while making for a great surface to work on. I have a few makeup primers, but this look calls for a brightening primer - I like that suggestion. I have the boi-ing concealer already and this baby is great for my dark eye circles (thanks Dad!) and for covering those pesky pimples that pop up now and then. I have stolen my Mom's dandelion powder and I really like it. It brightens up my cheeks with just a hint of pink. It doesn't show up all that well with my tan, but the subtle glow is enough. The look finishes with mascara and a lipstick, but you could use what you already have.

Click Dare to Go Bare to see the look. Be sure to check out the other easy looks they have created:

Blushing Beauty - This look features a neutral eye with a pop of color on the cheeks (obviously) and a pretty pink lip.

Glowing My Way - This look is all about gorgeous, glowy skin.

Eye Gotcha! - This look features beautiful, subtle shades on the skin with an emphasis on the eyes

License to Bronze - This one totally suits me for summer and is perfect for extending summer into fall.

Starlet Fever - If you want an all out glam look, this one is it. Long lashes, lots of liner and red lips complete this red carpet look.

Up In Smoke - Smoky eyes are easy with these tips and products. Not for an every day look at school, this one definitely comes in handy for after school functions (aka PARTIES!).

My Easy Summer Makeup.

In the summer, I'm constantly on the go. I need a fast and easy, but still pretty; makeup look to keep up with my hectic summer lifestyle. My daily makeup routine does just that, and makes it look like I spent much more time on it than I actually did.

I first start off with a tinted moisturizer, which even out my skin tone and gives just a bit of color to my face. Then I apply concealer around my nose, eyes, and other problem areas. I then use 2 foundations. One is a cream to powder and then I use a powder one over that. I use one foundation, the cream to powder one, that matches my skin tone and another that is a shade darker. The reason for doing this is to prevent my bronzer from appearing too harsh on my face; using a foundation darker than my skin tone helps by blending with my bronzer in order to create the perfect shade. It is also very important to do all of this very lightly. II know it sounds like I am applying a lot, but I am not. It all blends perfectly onto my skin and makes it look very natural. I then use my favorite eye shadows combined with a product called Glam Rocks, which are used to add sparkles around my eyes and to give the overall look that extra bronzy glow. I top it all off with Mascara - an absolute must, and a nude lip gloss which adds the perfect touch. This look is quick, easy and perfect for summer.

Here is a list of the products that I use everyday to create my look:

Face:
Nuance Salma Hayek Tinted Moisturizer - medium/deep
Mally Poreless Perfection Glowing Foundation - tan
Urban Decay Surreal Skin Foundation - hallucination
Rimmel London Shimmering Maxi Bronzer - sun love

Eyes:
Mally Beauty Evercolor Shadow Stick - trailblazing brown
Stila In the Light Palette - bliss and champagne
MAKE UP FOR EVER La Boheme Baked Eye Shadow Palette
LORAC Glam Rocks - Metallic
Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Mascara

Lips:
MAC Kissable Lip Colour - Woo Me

What are some of your summer makeup products?