Kat Von D

Kat Von D Tattoo liner Review

by Yura Shin

Kat Von D is a Mexican-born American tattoo artist, model, musician, and television personality. She is best known for her work as a tattoo artist on TLC’s reality television show LA Ink. She came out with an eyeliner called Tattoo liner that was inspired by her tattoo work making the liner long lasting waterproof and smudge proof.

With it being one the best that I’ve ever purchased, I would recommend this eyeliner to anyone. The eyeliner is in a pen like packaging and has an extremely soft felt tip. The tip is so precise that you can make the slightest line without losing any control. The eyeliner is extremely dark and vibrant.

Kat Von D’s best selling tattoo liner is a high end product that is sold in Sephora. It is very affordable and retails for $18. It may be little bit pricy if you are someone who only buys drugstore products, but you will get your number worth considering the quality of the eyeliner.

What’s in my Makeup Bag?

by Yura Shin

Carrying a makeup bag is a must have! They are necessary when you want to touch anything up, or when you’re running late and don’t have time to for your makeup at home. Keeping a small pouch with any needed makeup or essentials like pills, may be a lifesaver when it’s needed. Or what if theres a cute boy you see and you wanted to look hella rad?

In my makeup bag, I have:

-Bare Mineral’s marvelous MOXIE lipgloss in Hypnotist

-Maybelline’s master precise eyeliner in black

-E.L.F’s Lip primer and Plumper

-Benfit’s Watt’s up highlighter stick

-Benfit’s They’re Real! Mascara

-Make Up Forever lipstick in Rouge

-Echo’s eyebrow Pencil in brown

Rimmel London Match Perfection 2 in 1 Concealer in Light

-IPKN’s Powder foundation in Creamy Nude

-Ecotool’s powder foundation brush

-Blue Magic’s Oil Control Film sheets

-Oral B Glide Floss in Mint

-Refresh Contacts eyedrops

-Tylenol Extra Strength

-Eyeheel Lipliner Pencil in 225

-Sephora’s Perfume O

-Hairtie and hairclip

-Tweezers

-Qtips

Smokey Fall eyes

by Kelly Leem

Even though fall is probably over, warm browns and reds are still in this winter to warm up the cold temperatures. Here’s how you create a nice and simple smokey eye that has transitions of all these warm colors.

What you need:

-Eyeshadow primer

-A dark brown eyeshadow

-A Copper red eyeshadow

-A creme colored eyeshadow (as a transition)

-Black gel or liquid eyeliner

Note: All eyeshadows being used was from the NYX “Love in Paris” eyeshadow palette

1. Apply your eyeshadow primer all over your eyelid and under your eye. I’m using the Milani eyeshadow primer
2. Take your creme colored eyeshadow and apply it all over the eyelid, inner corner, and up to the browbone
3. Taking the deep brown color, roughly apply it all over the eyelid and under the eye.
4. Take the copper red eyeshadow and apply it right on top of the crease.
5. Take a lighter gold color and lightly apply it on top of the copper red color
6. Take any blending brush (I’m using the ELF blending brush and a blending brush from aliexpress.com) and start to blend the colors together. Make sure you do it neatly otherwise it will look muddy
7. Use your black gel liner or liquid eyeliner and apply it on the lower lash line lightly and create a nice wing on the upper eyelid. Make sure you tightline your upper waterline so your eyes look more intense
8. Curl your eyelashes and apply your choice of mascara on both the upper and lower lashes
9. Optional: You can use fake eyelashes to make your eyes look larger.

Beautiful Fall Lipstick (Pt 3)

by Kelly Leem

NYX Jumbo Lip pencil: Deep Red

-This jumbo lip pencil has the same exact name as the retractable lip liner I use. Which means these two products would work pretty nicely together (which I have yet to test). It’s not a lipstick, but it’s a lip product that comes in the same packaging as the NYX jumbo pencils.

Pigmentation: *****

-It’s as it’s name says. It’s a beautiful creamy dark red that stains the lips, so you should put a lip liner underneath. The downside to it staining, could also make you look like the joker if you accidentally smudge it, so be careful (it’s very pigmented). Also, you might want to pat it down a bit with a tissue because it’s so creamy that it’ll just move around.

Packaging: ***

-It’s the same exact packaging as the NYX Jumbo pencil. However, my cap broke, so it presses down on the pencil and just squishes it flat, so that’s a no no (don’t break the cap). You do have to sharpen it with a special pencil sharpener that sharpens larger pencils (I use Revlon’s Pencil Sharpener; It’s black and has 2 holes. One of the holes can be adjusted to the size of your pencil and works fine with this product).

Staying Power ****

-It stays nicely on the lips. But, like I said, it’s pretty cream, so it’ll pretty much go everywhere you wipe your lips on, so that could contribute to a shorter lasting power.

Application: ****

-It’s harder to apply it from the pencil because it’s not as precise. So, you might need to use a lip pencil to precisely apply it for a nice and clean look. It does tend to smear sometimes and go everywhere, so I need to blot it down before applying another thin layer to add the glossiness back.

Overall: 4.5/5

-It’s a nice color and I like that it stains my lips because I love my lips to look red. It’s a beautiful fall color and it’s pretty cheap too! I definitely recommend this product.

Beautiful Fall Lipstick (Pt 2)

By Kelly Leem

Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick: Divine Wine

-This recently new lipstick collection has a bunch of colors that’s perfect for fall. One of my favorites is Divine Wine, which is this beautiful, creamy, dark red color that just UGH looks so amazing!

Pigmentation: *****

Maybelline Divine Wine lipstick in the right 

with lipstick bullet exposed.

-The color in the tube is the color you get when you swipe this creamy lipstick on your lips. Such a gorgeous color (I can’t stress that enough)

Packaging: *****

-Like Maybelline’s usual lipstick packaging, it has a silver bottom and a long lipstick case that pops right off. This lipstick collections color is a purplish brown color. I think it looks sleek and it keeps the lipstick nice and covered.

Staying power: ****

-This is a matte lipstick, so it stays on longer. However this lipstick does have a slight creamy sheen to it despite it being matte. It actually stays on pretty long. I like using a lipliner (NYX retractable lip liner Dark Red)  underneath for an extended wear. It wears beautifully and has lasted through my messy eating and drinking. The inner part of your lips and the corners will fade, so you will need to reapply. However, with a lip liner, the problem is not THAT prominent.

Application: *****

-Oh my goodness this lipstick applies so buttery. It has a slight sweet buttery smell (like all of Maybelline’s lipsticks), but it isn’t noticeable once it’s on the lips. It doesn’t dry out my lips which is pretty good because matte lipsticks usually have my lips peeling and dry if I don’t use a lip balm underneath. For this lipstick, slam on a little lip balm, use your lip liner (optional), and swipe this lipstick on and you’re out the door!

Overall: 4.9/5

I really love this lipstick and it’s a good thing it’s not limited collection (I need to stock up soon) because I would be VERY upset if it was. It applies so nicely on the lips and wears nicely throughout a day with and without a lip liner. Highly recommended!

Tarte Air Brush Bamboo Foundation Brush Review

by Yura Shin

Tarte’s Air brush Bamboo Foundation Brush is the perfect brush to achieve a flawlessly blended airbrushed look. Its made with sustainable bamboo and synthetic material. The brush itself is not big/long, but rather short and wide. This gives the user more control of the brush once they start using it. The bristles on the brush are very short and dense, making application extremely easy.

Applying foundation has never been so quick if it wasn’t for this brush. All you do is apply a pea size amount of foundation/BB cream onto the back of your hand, and dab a little products onto your fingers and onto parts of your face. After you spot your face with foundation, slowly buff out the foundation with your brush in a circular motion outwards. The bristles on the brush are very soft and make the application very easy.This gives the “flawless airbrushed” effect.

“Although this brush is extremely soft and dense, the brush absorbs a lot of product because of the size,” senior Harvind Japra said.

Other than that, this brush is great for an everyday and/or a special night out look.

The brush may is a little pricey for some people, it is $32. However, I have bought a lot of “cheap” brushes from drugstores throughout the years and those brushes have only lasted a few months. I have had this Tarte brush for over a year and it is still in great condition. The quality of this brush cannot compare to any drugstore brushes. The price may is expensive for now, but it will save you all the money you’d spend on future “cheap” brushes.

The Tarte’s Air brush Bamboo Foundation Brush can be purchased from Tartes online website, Sephora, and Macy’s.

Beautiful Fall Lipsticks (Pt 1)

by Kelly Leem

Lime Crime Velvetine in Salem on left

The leaves are falling with beautiful colors of red, gold, orange, and brown and the weather’s getting colder. Fall is a beautiful season that consists of dark colors that complement each other. In this season, burgundy-reddish colors seem to catch people’s attention the most. I would know since so many people have asked me and complimented me on the dark red lipsticks I wear specifically for the fall.

Some fall lipsticks or er lip “colors” are the Lime Crime velvetine in Wicked, Maybelline’s creamy matte lipstick in Divine Wine, and NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in Dark Red.

Lime Crime Velvetine- Wicked

~This doesn’t really count as a “Lipstick” since it’s a creamy formula that smells like crayons and cupcakes that goes on like a gloss but dries to a smooth matte finish. I’ve heard so many people talking about this color on youtube and I decided to give it a try. I went to Urban Outfitters in Manhattan, where they exclusively sell Lime Crime and bought it for $20 (pretty pricey I know).

Pigmentation: *****

It definitely is a very VERY pigmented color. When you swipe it on, it goes on velvety, and sort of feels like the NYX matte lip creme. The color in the bottle is the color on your lips.

Packaging: *****

I love the little rose packaging on the cap, and the blurry looking glass (adds a luxurious feeling to it). Since roses are my favorite flower, the packaging definitely caught my attention.

Staying Power: ***

I was confident this would stay on my lips for a very long time, but ended up it faded around the corners of my mouth and in the center of my lips, making it look patchy and blech. I had to reapply and it looked fine, but it started feeling sticky and that sticky feeling would not go away. Not what I expected.

~Tip: Apply it in smaller layers. Apply your first layer, let it dry (blot off any excess) and then apply another layer. I recommend 2 layers since this is a pigmented product. Also, use a lip liner for a longer lasting wear on your lips.

Application:****

It goes on so soft and the little doughfoot applicator feels ticklish and soft on my lips. Make sure you exfoliate your lips before applying this otherwise your lips will look patchy and very messy. I

Overall: 4.5/5

I really like this lip color! This is a true dark red. It didn’t really last as long as I wanted it too, but reapplying doesn’t really bother me.

Cosmetic Queens

by Madeline Heinsen

Make up can vary from being used as a form of expression or an enhancement of beauty.

Celebrities are well known for their makeup styles, which can influence a new trend like the well known “Winged Eyeliner” commonly seen on Marilyn Monroe. Many young girls are influenced by well known celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner.

A bronze smokey eyeshadow with Kim Kardashian inspired lashes.
This look is perfect for an evening out because
of the dramatic bold lashes.

Kim Kardashian is known for her heavy contouring and highlighting routine done by her makeup artist, Joyce Bonelli. Youtubers like ‘MakeupByEvon’ and ‘GlamBooth’ upload tutorials on Youtube, in which they teach the public how to achieve the ‘Kim Kardashian Makeup Routine’.

Kim Kardashian is also known for other makeup styles like, ‘The Barely There- Fresh-Faced thing’. Usually Kim’s makeup is very dramatic as she always has an evening out but when Kim goes for something soft, the results are equally as striking. The key is a thin layer of a really great foundation. Kim’s pick: Makeup For ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation.

Another celebrity known for makeup is Kim Kardashian’s little sister, Kylie Jenner who is known for her full luscious lips.

“I look up to Kylie for makeup styles because she always looks great. The fact that she is around our age makes her more relatable, her make up styles are very influential on our generation,”  junior, Josabeth Vinas said.

Kylie Jenner’s lips have been the subject of much debate lately. No one can tell if the seventeen year old has received surgical work done for her pout or if she achieves the look with makeup.

The steps to achieve this look without a surgical procedure are pretty simple. First, create a blank canvas by using a concealer pencil to trace over the lips and lip line. After, build up the lip shape. Using a rosy-nude toned lip liner, begin outlining just outside the natural lip line. Follow the lips' natural peaks but take the line just above. Using the same lip liner, fill in the entire lip. After that, use a rosy-mauve matte lip color, to fill in the lips. Using a rosy-nude toned lip liner, begin outlining just outside the natural lip line. Follow the lips' natural peaks but take the line just above. Blot the lips and all finished.

Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner are just two celebrities who are well known for their beautiful make up styles that are very influential on societies idea of beauty.

Let’s Be A Doll

by Kelly Leem

In Japan, the Harajuku and Lolita fashion is skyrocketing! Popular models such as Tsubasa Masuwaka and Popteen Model Nana Suzuki have inspired many girls to express the Lolita Fashion Style as well as the Gyaru makeup that makes their eyes look huge like a doll.

Youtubers like VenusAngelic, Dakota Rose, and Anastasiya Shpagina, with many views has already inspired many girls worldwide including America to start wearing this type of makeup.

Doll Eyes

Products you’ll need:  

~Neutral eyeshadows

-Brown, champagne, light copper, dark brown.

~Fake Lashes (top and bottom lashes)

~Lash Glue/ eyelid glue or tape

~Concealer of choice

~Red lipstain (you can use a pigmented red lipstick) or light baby pink lipstick

~Pink shimmery blush (optional)

1. Apply your foundation or concealer if you wish.
2. Apply an eyeshadow primer before using your eyeshadows for long lasting wear.
3. Apply a shimmery copper eyeshadow all over your lid and your lower lashline. This will add a tiny bit of depth
4. Take out your false lashes and apply your top lashes and bottom lashes of your choice. Bottom lashes will emphasize the size of your eyes and so does the top lashes making your eyes look fluttery...like a doll!
5. Take a brown shadow and apply it under your bottom lashes and blend it out.
6. Add that same brown shadow to your crease to emphasize and make  your crease look deeper.
7. Take a shimmery highlighting color and apply it to your inner corners! This will brighten your eyes and enlarge them.
8. Apply a light pink shimmery blush or any blush color of your choice to make those cheeks glow.
9. Apply a red lip stain in a gradation effect; concentrating the color in the middle of your lips and blending it out will make your lips look smaller and doll like! If you prefer a light pink lipstick, then go ahead and apply that to your lips instead.
10. Style your hair and wear the cutest outfit you can find! Go out and be a doll!

This is a general video on how to achieve this look, but there are tons of other videos on youtube that have different styled dolly eyes that you could do! Enjoy.

Tattoo your eyes with Maybelline color tattoos

by Yura Shin

Maybelline has launched their new Dare to Go Nude 2014 Collection. With that said, there are five new shades for their color tattoos. These Color Tattoos are cream gel eye shadows. They come individually in a small pot.

Their ink technology creates super- saturated colors. The colors come out very vibrate and pigmented. Although cream shadows tend to crease, this one does not. Since these color tattoos are cream gel eyeshadow, it is extremely long lasting, does not smudge, and does not fade. It can be used as an eyeshadow base/primer, or it can be use alone.  It can be applied with an eyeshadow brush, or with your finger; it’s very easy to use.

“I love the color tattoos because it’s so easy and simple to use. I love the creamy beige color because it’s a nice light neutral brown that can be used everyday. It’s also extremely affordable,” senior Ysbel Hernandez said.

There are five new shades to this collection.

-Creamy beige: A light brownish tan beige color.

-Deep Forest: A deep green forest color

-Vintage Plum: A gray/purple color

-Chocolate Suede: A dark brown color

-Dramatic Black: A jet black color.

Chocolate Suede and Dramatic Black are great colors to use as eyeliner as well. You can apply these colors with an angled eyeliner brush to use it as eyeliner.

These color tattoos are retailed for about $5. It can be purchased from any where that sells beauty products like Target, or Ulta, or any drug stores like Walgreens, CVS, Duane Reade, or Rite Aid.