Monday makeup

Today's tip is about layering for cut crease looks or defines crease looks.
Layering is what creates depth.
I like to use the same color in light, medium, and dark; and 4 different sized brushes.
A fluffy blending brush and 3 crease brushes.
I like to use a large, medium, and small crease brush; keep in mind that the sizes of brushes are relative to your crease shape and size.
The lightest shade and the largest crease brush will lay down your base, start at the outside corner and sweep inward following the shape of your eye.
You can can go all the way to the inner corner of the eye if you want.
If you have hooded or mono lids, you'll will need to stop every so often to check how high you the color is reaching and adjust.
Then use the fluffy blending brush to buff out and harsh lines.
With the medium shade and brush start at the outer corner and sweep in; I would bring the color into 1/2 to 3/4 of the way in.
Only sweep inward, this will give the most control over the gradient and you don't want to bring the color as high as your base color.
Being the medium shade it should fall between the edge of your base color and your crease.
Then with the same fluffy blending brush, lightly blend any harsh edges away.
Finally, with the darkest shade and smallest crease start at the outer corner sweep in and only in.
Bring it in about 1/2 to 1/3 of the way in, and try to keep the color most concentrated in the crease and outer corner.
Blend it lightly with that fluffy brush, add liner and mascara.

Monday make up

I wear a smokey eye most days because I've found it to be the most flattering look on my eyes.
I challenge myself to play with color, finishes, and techniques.
Pretty much it's a game of "how many ways can I make a smokey eye".
Turns out it's quite a bit.
I thought I'd start sharing the finished looks on here with some tips and tricks I've picked up along the way.
These will be pretty much gear towards those with small eyes, hooded lids, or mono-lids... Since that's what I have.
My tip today is to avoid shimmery highlighters on the brow bone.
This is pretty much the antithesis of a lot of makeup artist.
There's a couple reasons I say this.
1) light shimmery colors draw the eye there, so other will be looking at that frost white instead or your actual eye. It's distracting and dates you look. It can even age you. I've also found that shimmery or frost colors don't blend in the most flattering way and are very harsh for daytime wear, especially if you're heavy handed.
2)if you have hooded or mono lids this will make the excess skin on your brow look even more prominent, thus closing your eye off even more.
Choose matte or satin finish highlighters, they are soft for daytime and blend softer.
You may a different opinion, and that totally fine.
This is just what I've found.

Blogger meetup!

What fun I had today!
I attend a bloggers meetup hosted by Mikaela, founder of Indie Ogden (www.indieogdenutah.com) and a great food blog (mamamousesays.wordpress.com).
I was held at a locally owned coffee shop, Grounds for Coffee.
Really great coffee and cocoa, but I had iced tea.
Oh, and baked donuts!
I was good and only had one since I'm supposed to watch my blood sugar, but they were SO good!
Such a great variety of bloggers from the northern Utah area, plus a goodie bag!
Contents in pictured below.
I'm currently sporting the Indie Ogden tee.
It's pretty damn comfy.
I did cut the neck band out to make it an off the shoulder top.
I'll do a photo round up of the event later this week.
My toddler tagged along and had a blast playing with the other kids that were there.
And he thoroughly approves of the popcorn from Sweet Pop'n, which is one of the new shops in town.
We didn't even make it to the freeway ramp before he was out.
I pretty excited about the lip balms I got. They are made by my friend Kristen of Silver Firs Farm, and I'll a full review of them on my beauty/fashion blog (tiialinhearts.blogspot.com).
We went on a walking tour of 25th street.
And while I'm familiar with 25th street, it was nice to hear those not familiar musing about it.
Really good day, and now I'm beat.

whish non-foaming shave cream

Totally slacked off on getting this review done!
I had it ready then life happen and I spaced it.
But this was my favorite item from the March 2013 Birchbox.
I had a feeling it would be.
It rinses clean, the smell isn't too much, and it works with any kind of razor.
It is fairly concentrated, meaning i didn't have a lot to cover so it should last a awhile.
I don't notice anything really moisturizing about it, though.
If you don't have a go to shave cream solution, it definitely worth a try.
People with drier skin types should still use a good lotion post shave.

DIY for skin

I saw this on the Eco tools blog and had to share!