New Year, New Me?

Hello my lovely Stars and a very happy new year 2016 to all of you!

 Every new year, people do resolutions and, for me anyway, they mostly fail.  Either they don't know how to attain them or they are too big to do in one year.  One way I am going to help myself achieve these goals is to hold myself accountable and one way to do that is to put it all out there and let others help to hold you accountable. Here are some of my blogging and YouTube and social media goals for this year.

Life Update- October 2015

Hello all, long time no type! I hope you all have be doing well.  I don't usually do 'Life Update' type posts but I figured since I've been gone for such a long while, or so it feels like to me, I would do one so you know that I am not MIA or anything like that.  As many of you who follow me on my YouTube Channel, linked here, you know that I had been working on two shows at once.  The first show, Lost in Yonkers where I was the Prop master, sound designer, and the hair and makeup artist, just closed this past weekend.  It was such a great show to work on, albeit a bit trying with the voice overs.  Closing day, the cast was very sweet and presented us with a bouquet of flowers presented by the actor who played Louie.  To my mom and I especially, this meant a lot.

How Being a Blogger has Changed Me

Hello my stars, long time- no post! I'm really sorry about that, but working on two different shows really makes life a bit hectic.  While I will work on getting out the posts that I had planned for earlier  in the week of October 27, I wanted to start out with the one I was supposed to do on Sunday: How Being a Blogger has Changed Me.  I saw this post a while back on another bloggers site and I decided that I would like to do something like it, too. So here I am and here is my story.

Why Do I Blog?

I've gotten quite a few questions lately as to why do I blog? I get no monetary gain from it, so why do I bother doing it? Well, my dear friends, read on and I shall tell you why!

Buy and Try: Why I Blog

I noticed a few weeks back that beauty bloggers were doing posts about why they blogged and, more importantly, why they would buy makeup just to try it.  So I figured, why not, let's give this post a shot.  So this is me, giving this post a shot.

Twice the Liebster Awards, Twice the Love

Hello again Stars and welcome back to my blog. Over the past week I have been nominated for two Liebster awards which is super exciting but, because of the show that I'm working on and starting a new job I haven't had time to answer them. So (finally) here are my answers and my nominations for both of the lovely people who nominated me!

First I'll start with the rules:
1. Answer the questions sent to you.
2. Nominate 11 bloggers who have under 200 followers on Twitter.
3. Ask them 11 questions thought of by yourself.
4. Notify them that they have been nominated.

The first person who nominated me was @megandoesbeauty on Twitter. Here are her questions and my answers!
1. What inspired you to start your blog?
Anna at Vivianna Does Makeup was my inspiration to start my blog and my vlog.  She encouraged me through notes back and forth on Twitter and answering any and all of my questions. Also, I have a love for makeup (well, duh) and I wanted a creative outlet to show that love and, poof!, my blog was born.
2. What three cosmetic products could you not live without?
Hmmm, this is tricky narrowing it down to three. I think my first product would have to be my Rimmel Scandaleyes Curve Alert mascara, my Naked 3 palette, and my NARS blush in Super Orgasm.
3. What are the first three things you do when you wake up?
First I check my phone to see what's going on in the world, I then play with my dog for a little bit, and then I go and brush my teeth and wash my face.
4. What was the last thing you bought for yourself?
Some Icing products from their 75% off sale.
5. What is the most underrated beauty brand and why?
Personally I think Revlon gets really underrated because, well, I'm not sure really. I just feel they're underrated.
6. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Being on time.
7. One piece of blogging advice for your new fellow bloggers.
Have fun with it!
8. What is your signature makeup look?
Black eyeliner, slightly flushed cheek, and red lips.
9. What is your latest cosmetic product craze?
It would definitely have to be my new found love of E.L.F products.  They are so price conscious and yet good quality.
10. How are you finding your new blogging lifestyle?
Well, I've actually had this blog for going on two years now but about a month ago I decided to revamp my blog, create a YouTube Channel, create a Twitter account, and really try to spread my reach out on social media.
11. What is your best style/beauty/fashion tip?
Wear it proudly, no matter what you're wearing on your body or on your face. Rock the catwalk of life.

Next I was nominated by the lovely Alyssa Melanie also known as @angsavvy on Twitter and here are her questions and my answers!
1. What is your blog about? Why did you choose to blog about it?
My blog is about all things beauty and style, but not necessarily fashion.  I chose to blog about that because I love makeup so much and I wanted to share my ideas with people and review products that were both good and bad.
2. Who is your inspiration for your blog?
The inspiration for my blog is really no one actually. It's more the idea that beauty comes from the within.
3. If you could take 5 makeup/beauty/fashion item with you to heaven, what would they be?
First would be my MAC Skin Mineralize in Soft and Gentle, second would be my Naked 3 palette, next would probably be my Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara, fourth would be my Bath and Body Works lotion in Stress Relief, and finally I would bring my Vera Wang perfume.
4. When did you start blogging? What made you do it?
I started blogging about two years ago because I had started reading Anna's blog over at Vivianna Does Makeup and was inspired to start my own.
5. Would you buy clothes, makeup or beauty products you haven’t tried on or tested? Why?
Sometimes, it would depend on if I knew the brand well and if I knew I already liked the product.
6. Do you think it’s worth shelling out money for designer and high-end brands? Why?
Personally, if the product works for you and you know that you won't have to buy anything else (like a million drugstore foundations if you have one high end one that works on you) I would say that it definitely is worth it.
7.  How do you test makeup (especially lipsticks) products at the counter? Do you sanitize them first? Explain how.
I never test them on my lips, I always swatch them on my hand. If it looks grody or gross at all, I don't even swatch it on my hand.
8.  Would you review a product from a fashion or beauty brand you don’t really like? Why?
I would because every brand has good and bad reviews, it's how they improve their cosmetic or fashion product.
9. What is your favorite drugstore brand? Which of their products do you love?
My favorite drugstore brand would have to be a tie between Revlon and NYX. From Revlon I love their foundation and primer. From NYX, I really like their lip butters (surprise surprise) but also their blushes, normal and baked.
10. What brand is your most expensive bag? Why did you choose to buy it?
The most expensive brand I own is Urban Decay.  I bought it because I love their products and that they are Vegan.
11. Do you join blog giveaways? Why?
Every once in a while I will, just for the fun of it, but I don't win so it's all just a big game. Why? I don't really have a reason I just do :D

My questions:
1. Why did you name your blog/vlog/twitter what you did?
2. What is your favorite high end beauty product?
3. Do you use drugstore brands? If so, what do you recommend?
4. Are you and Ulta gal or a Sephora gal or a MAC gal?
5. What is your favorite blusher?
6. Liquid, pencil, or gel liner?
7. Who or what inspired you to write your blog?
8. How do you swatch things that you might want to buy?
9. Do you have a morning and night time routine?
10. Lipstick or Lipgloss?
11. What is your favorite movie?

Who I nominate:
1. @MerrieK_PCG
2. @bebeautifulyouu 
3. @prettydrasticm 
4. @stylemedaring
5. @angsavvy 
6. @LynchMobChick 
7. @dillybeauty
8. @omqreadmybio 
9. @elzabethfrances 
10. @AnBeautySecrets
11. @Danielle44996

I can't wait to read your answers to my questions! XOXO

Get to Know Me: The Beauty Blogger Tag

 A good way to start the Get to Know Me tag is with pictures, don't you think? Alrighty, on to the questions!

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight? Straight

2. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon? Both

3. Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it? Usually it's pulled back in pigtails or has a headband/ barrette in it.

4. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon? I do my own but every once in a while I will treat myself to a salon.

5. How often do you change your nail polish? At least once a week

6. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just the summer? Being from Cali, I do a toe polish all year round.

7. How long does it take for you to put on makeup? For a simple five product face, less than five minutes but for a full face it can take twenty or more minutes

8. What do you do first? Face or eyes?  Face                         

9. Do you collect makeup or just buy what you need when you need it? I collect it, I definitely have products that I don't necessarily need but I use everything I own.

10. How often do you wear false eyelashes? To big events, parties, and on the stage.

11. Do you do a full face of makeup everyday? No

12. Do you wear makeup when you're home alone or with family? No

13. Will you leave the house without makeup? I don't.  I always put on a BB or CC Cream, mascara, and lipstick.

14. How many high-end products do you have? A lot, I don't know the exact number.

15. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you're getting dressed? I decide when I'm getting dressed.

16. How often do you change your handbag? Rarely

17. What time do you wake up and go to sleep? I wake up anytime between 8AM and 11AM, and I go to bed sometime after midnight.

18. How often or when do you workout? At least three times a week.

19. Left handed or right handed? Right handed

20. How tall are you? 4'9"

21. Do you speak any foreign languages? Spanish

22. How many pets do you have? One, a cock-a-poo named Henry

23. How often are you on Blogger?  Multiple times during the day.

24. Do you read comments posted on blogs? Often

25. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts? Yes

26. How did you come up with your blog name? I wanted something that was creative and unique and so I went with Canvas of a Face because the face is a makeup lovers canvas.

27. What kind of camera do you use for your photographs? Canon SX160 IS

28. How often do you clean your house? Once or twice every couple of weeks

29. What's your favorite color? Cerulean blue, Tardis blue, and hot pink

30. Do you swear? Yes

31. What are you doing with the rest of your day? I don't really know, actually.  Probably blogging some more.

If you've done this tag or are going to do it, link it down below and I will be sure to check it out! XOXO

♥ 

The BEST Nude lipstick

Okay, it may not be the best nude lipstick for you but it certainly is the best nude lipstick I've found for myself. The color is 'Tender Heart' and it's from Clinique. I don't even know if they make this color anymore, oh well, best make it last whilst I have it.  Here's what it looks like:

 I'm really fair, so finding a nude color that doesn't wash me out is really difficult and I've tried time and time again to get it right and failed miserably on multiple attempts.  Then I whipped out this beauty from my collection of lip products this morning and fell in love with it all over again.  I remember getting it in a sample bag from Clinique and being very apprehensive about the color at first.  It's a peachy brown nude, without any shimmer but it's not a drying matte consistency.  It's hydrating, it stays and doesn't leave a wring around my lips, and just looks good with anything.  I have rediscovered my love of this lipstick and will definitely be wearing it on a more constant occasion. What do you think of the color? XOXO