DIY Eye Makeup Remover Pads

Supply List
1/2 T baby wash
1 T grapeseed oil
6 oz water
cotton rounds
container with lid

• Mix the baby wash, grapeseed oil and water together.  It will sud slightly, much like a bottle you can buy in stores. 
• Place cotton rounds in container and slowly pour the mixture on top of the cotton rounds and let it absorb through the stack.
• Make batches of about 20 at a time.  This allows the eye makeup remover to penetrate all the cotton rounds and keeps them fresh. 
• Store the eye makeup remover pads tightly closed.
• For efficient, fast removal follow my use guide here, How to Remove Eye Makeup.

A note about my take on DIY beauty recipes.
I love simple recipes, DIY beauty and minimal chemical ingredients.  However I also love convenience and haven't made a switch to living all organic and eco harmoniously just yet.  I do my part at respecting the earth.  Equally as important is my goal at buying things intentionally.  I read labels, I educate myself on what those big words are and do for a gal and I strive to purchase minimally processed and chemically packed products.

Additionally all eyes are not created equal and all though this is made up of gentle ingredients it may not be for everyone.  I have sensitive eyes and store bought formula's irritate mine and this homemade eye makeup remover works with no problem.  

Q & A | Blogtorial Chatter

Q.  What do you love in the summertime?
A.  Vacations.  Near, far, day trips and longer stays.  Traveling is easier in the summer months.  Weather is rarely a problem, packing is light and school is out so scheduling is made simpler.

The best place to be is the beach by far!  

2011 Wildwood NJ | Olivia building sand castles

Spring Lip Color

Pink lips are in for spring.  It's an easy look to pull off and fun to try.  Josie Maran is famous for her natural beauty and organic looks and her line of cosmetics boosts the same.  Products are made in the US using eco friendly practices, vegan varieties and USDA organic ingredients.

Shades of Spring by amariebeauty featuring a lip makeup

Read the full article>

Removing Eye Makeup | Tip Off Tuesday

It's all in the details.

• With your eyes closed hold a makeup remover pad on top of the lid for about 10 seconds.  This loosens the makeup off your lashes and makes wiping away the liner and mascara easier.
• Use gentle pressure and wipe down and inward toward the inner corner of the eye, repeat until all mascara is removed.  
• Use enough moisture so you are not dragging across the delicate eye area.  

On Monday we are making our own eye makeup remover pads.  Come back and make your own too.

How about cleansing the whole face?  Read my DIY facial here.

Crying, Teenage Mom, Decorating and Versatility.

My friend Courtney of  Courtney Cakes awarded me with the Versatile Blogger Award.  Days later I received another award from College Girl.
On Amarie Beauty I typically don't talk much about my personal life.  I am working to build on online resource of realistic and workable tips as not only a lover of the Beauty Industry but someone with training and experience.  I don't want to clutter it up with all the craziness of my life.  I have a small attention span and random variety of interests, oh and staying on task is not my strong suit so I have to zero in a "subject" to get things accomplished on here.

Off line I am a major over sharer and these girls have prompted me to bring a piece of that online.  I love meeting new people, making connections and learning about who it is I am reading.  So without further ado the award asks for 7 random facts and here are mine...

1.  I am not a natural at being photographed, I usually look hysterical or mad like in the above, I am not mad or a huge snob like I look here.
2.  Clutter makes me crazy, it is borderline OCD, I have cried over messiness before.  I am happy to report that my grip on reality is currently tighter.
3.  Number 2 makes me live and love this decorating mantra.

Source: theclassywoman.blogspot.com via Angela on Pinterest

4.  I follow number 3 of the above mantra loosely.  I kill plants and pets are not my thing but I do have bamboo, a semi healthy palm and kids all over the house, kids definitely count as living things.
5.  I became a mother in 1997 when I was 16, today her father and I are married with 2 more daughters.
6.  I was obese at one point, it was closely related to heavy wine drinking, untreated hypo-thryodism and a general lazy lifestyle.  See the progress photos here.
7.  I actively repurpose and restyle things in an effort to reduce, reuse and  be creative.  I abandon projects that get too in depth due to my serious slim attention span.   It's a personal flaw and I claim it as my favorite.

You know those fun little questions on the first pages of your magazines, the Editorial Q and A's where staffers answer a different question providing some insight to their personality?  I love them and am going to start that here.  I have a few Q's lined up but would love some more so please ask away about anything.  This feature starts on Sunday. 

Thank you for reading and all your support. xoxo

Get Badger Balm for Double Duty | Tip Off Tuesday

Badger Balm is a perfect multi use product.  Use it as a lip balm, for cuticle care and to smooth heels, elbows and other rough areas.

image source

Badger Balm is USDA organic and packed with powerful active ingredients.  No artificial fillers necessary.  The bases are made from extra virgin olive oil, beeswax and aloe.

It softens cuticles better than any specialty cuticle formula I have ever used, try it with your next at home manicure.

How to Stipple on your Foundation

Stippling is, was and always will be the most valuable makeup lesson I was taught.  You want coverage?  You'll get it with this quick and easy technique.  First some general notes about applying liquid foundation.

Always apply to moisturized skin.  Skipping this step causes the makeup to settle into fine lines, highlight dry spots and wear off faster.  Moisturizer acts as a primer and preps the skin.  Primer can also be used after moisturizer, not in place of, to get even longer wear.



Video notes.

• Apply a light, even amount of foundation with your sponge.
• Load your sponge with foundation, using about a pea size amount per facial area.
• Pat the makeup on to your face, pressing the sponge into your skin and lifting it on to the next space without rubbing or wiping it on.  Wiping or dragging the sponge removes some of the makeup. 
• Do a second layer where more coverage is needed.
• Finish with powder.

I used Revlon Photo Ready Airbrush in Nude and Cover Girl loose powder in translucent fair in this video. 

naked face

stippled coverage

Get more face makeup tips and product info at Just Lovely Things as part of the Sharing the Beauty series.

Fight Lack Luster Skin on an Airplane | Tip Off Tuesday

The stale air in an airplane depletes the skin of moisture leaving it dehydrated.

Traveling Skin Tip by amariebeauty

To keep your skin looking it's best when flying use a water, not oil based moisturizer.  As the skin dries out it draws whatever is on the surface through the pores in an effort to stay hydrated.  If it's pulling a water based moisturizer it can be absorbed and skin has a fighting chance of staying supple.  If there is a heavy weight oil based moisturizer it is not easily absorbed by the pores and as it pulls what ingredients it can  the heavier oils are left pooling on your face leaving behind a greasy complexion.

Pack light, on your face at least.  The more makeup you have on the bigger the mess it can be.  Apply your water based moisturizer and some light makeup for the best results.  Touch up or add more before you land to complete your look if you have to be ready to roll upon arriving.

Bronzer on a Budget | Hard Candy Makeup

I bought this box of Hard Candy products for $8.  It has a full size Baked Bronzer and smaller tubes of the face primer, body and face illuminator and sparkle lip gloss (not pictured).  Beyond worth it for the bronzer alone.

I use Hard Candy Baked Eyeshadows because they are highly pigmented and come in fabulous colors.  My hopes were high that I would love the Baked Bronzer too but we all know how inexpensive bronzer can get scary and turn a gal ultra orange.  Honestly this applies and looks like high end bronzer.  It's not glittery and has a great glow and color.

The face and body illuminator does have a sparkle to it, not over bearing glitter but a subtle sparkle and bronzed glow.

The gloss was somewhat sticky but not the worst I've used and I loved the look of it, the shine made my lips look full and supple.

The primer did it's job, it kept my shine down throughout the day and I did use less foundation to get the coverage I wanted.

I linked this post up to the Sharing the Beauty series!

Sunless Tanner

I wrote about the best exfoliation for an even sunless tan here.

Self Tanner made in the USA by amariebeauty on polyvore.com

I added a list of tips to get you even better results.  Go here to read them all.

Makeup Bags harbor Bacteria | Tip Off Tuesday

Don't forget to clean your makeup bag.  You rummage in and out of it, stuff spills and that sort of scene.  It can be a big ole' breeding ground for bacteria just like those unwashed brushes.

Cosemtic Clean Up by amariebeauty featuring a stila eye shadow

I shared my favorite method for cleaning makeup brushes here.  You don't have to get religious about it but a good habit is once a week.

A clean makeup case for a clear face.

Warm water and soap will do the job.  Just don't get it soaking wet and make sure it's dry before putting your goods back in it.

Sharing the Beauty

I have been sharing beauty tips and linking up in the Share the Beauty party hosted by Yellow Heart Art, The Elephants Trunk and Just Lovely Things.

This week was all about face care and I shared my favorite post about skin care to date.  It's got all the steps and my products pics for doing a facial at home.  Check it out here.

Facial Fresh Glow by amariebeauty featuring mark. face moisturizers