Olay Professional Facial Cleanser

I have notoriously bad skin and have tried every thing under the sun to help it, and when the Clairsonic came out not only was it the price tag that deterred me but also the fact that it seemed like it would irritate my skin.  For my birthday this year, my mom got me the Olay Professional  facial cleansing brush.  I was nervous at first that it would make my skin worse than better but it has proved me wrong! The bristles are actually really soft and you have two different setting to choose from so it's not super abrasive.  It's really good at getting rid of the little bumby places on my face and helping it look clearer.  I don't use it day and night, usually just at night when I also put on extra lotion and healing serum.  It came with a cleanser but I haven't used it and have stuck to using my Clearasil face wash and then following with my Clean and Clear toner.  If you're on the fence about a powered facial cleanser, like the Clairsonic, I would say give this a whirl first before you shell out over a hundred dollars for one.  This only costs $25-$30 depending on where you look, and you can replace the bristle heads with ease.  I am really pleased with this product and will definitely continue using it.

Headshots: Makeup Do's and Don'ts

So as many of you know, I'm an actor, and this is my last year of college.  One of the perks, is that there is a weekend during your first semester when our Senior Seminar teacher brings in an alumni who does professional photography so we can get our headshots done for not $500.  I did mine in two 30 minute sessions so that I could get two different looks, a big shout out to Lindsey King who took all of the amazing photos.  

For headshots, you NEVER want to have over done or cakey makeup.  You want to look 'natural' but put together and nice.  That means, no super bright or trendy eye or liner colors, a nice lip, no bright unnatural cheeks, and natural lashes.  So let's just go over what I did for these photos!

Top photo:

I started by curling my hair with my flat iron and then spraying the bejeezus out of it with Aqua Net so it would stay because it happened to rain that day.  I then used my favorite Revlon PhotoReady liquid foundation and then my NYX dupe for NARS orgasm blush.  I then highlighted my cupids bow and right above my cheekbones with a NYX highlighter. I lined my eyes, top and bottom, with my Urban Decay 24/7 black eyeliner, and then used my BH Cosmetics color palette to do my eyeshadow.  I stuck with copper, light brown, and gold- neutral tones that would accent my eyes.  I finished this look off with a slick of Rimmel Apocalyps lip gloss in the bright pink color of which I can't remember the name of right now and a few swipes of my mascara of choice at the moment which is Rimmel Scandaleyes Curve Alert.

Bottom Photo:

Basically the same face, except my hair is in it's natural state of being straight and instead of using a bright pink lipgloss, I used the double ended dimension lipstick from Covergirl.

A Summer of Fun!

So, as I said in one of my first posts once I got back, I would post some pictures from my adventures this summer.  I worked and studied in Okoboji, IA at the Okoboji Summer Theatre which is a professional summer stock theatre owned and operated under Stephens College.  I was in three shows this summer as well as sound designing three.  The first two shows were in the Boji Bantam, which is the children's theater, "The Fairy-Tale-A-Vision Show" and "Chicken Little: A Vaudville Panic" and it was one of the best experiences I have had with theatre.  The casts for both of the shows I was in was five people, so including the PSM and the director there were seven of us which meant that I strengthened so many relationships and made two life long new ones.  It was the first time I was able to completely let go and not be afraid of looking stupid in order to be funny, I just did what my gut instinct told me to do and I learned so much from it.  I sound designed two of the Bantam shows as well, "The Fairy-Tale-A-Vision Show" and "James and the Giant Peach".  "James" especially made me remember why I loved doing sound, the music and sounds I put together for that show were really what was in my realm- very cinematic and big and being left to my own devices and "Fairy-Tale" was a totally different and rewarding experience because it was very much collaborative with all of the cast.  Here are some pictures from backstage from the shows:

(Above) The amazing cast of "Fairy-Tale"
(Right) Emma and Emma

(Left) Ducky Luck from "Chicken Little"

We also celebrated my 20th birthday and the fourth of July on the lot, both being an amazing experience in and of itself.

I had the amazing opportunity to sound design on the main stage as well, doing "Circle Mirror Transformation".  It was probably one of the most stressful designs I have done but I learned a lot from it as well as learning how to edit and re-edit in under ten minutes.  Then it was my turn to perform on the mainstage in  Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" where I played  Miss Prism.  The show was absolutely amazing to be in and work on, and it was amazing working with the professional actors they brought in for the show.  The dress I wore was built completely from scratch, the costume designer created the pattern herself and built it from that.  I dyed my hair pitch black for the show and added grey for each performance, I also did old age makeup because Miss Prism is supposed to be older and a 'stuffy' teacher. 

 The old age makeup looks a lot better from under stage lights, otherwise it looks quite scary.
This was the best summer of my life, and I hope all of you had a great summer as well! XOXO

DUPE for Nars Orgasm!

 I had heard that the NYX blush in Pinched is an exact dupe for the famous Nars blush in Orgasm.  The Nars blush is one of the most iconic shades in makeup kind, being flattering on almost anyone.  Just like the Nars blush, the NYX blush is a peachy pink with gold running through it.  It can be put on as a sheer swipe or built up to a more solid color.  It really helps to warm every person's face up and gives it that 'just kissed' glow.

 This blush has very quickly become one of my favorites.  It blends really easily and has a wonderfully pigmented color.  It's not too overpowering and isn't very glittery, it just has a nice sheen to it.  This is definitely one of my favorite blushes- I highly suggest you pick it up  if you get the chance!

What is your favorite blush dupe? XOXO

We clean up

 This was the look I did for the opening of the show "My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra" at the Okoboji Summer Theatre.  I used BH Cosmetics 120 color eyeshadow palette #2 for my eyes.  I used a lighter and brighter purple closer to my nose and then slowly got darker as I went out.  I then put silver in the middle of the eye to help add dimension to the eyeshadow.
 The lipstick is a bit sloppy, and I look like I haven't slept (which at that point, I really handn't) but I did this look in under 15 minutes.  One of the best things I learned at Boji that can transfer to here is how to get ready, and look really nice, in under fifteen or twenty minutes.

This was a short post, I know, but it was more of a 'HEY I'M BACK' sort of post and the next few will probably be about my time at Okoboji but I also learned some awesome hair and makeup tricks and tips.  I hope everyone had a great summer! XOXO