Concealer Shmealer...

Lets Talk Concealer!

One of the BIGGEST things I get asked about is Concealer. Here are the most common questions I get:

• Whats the best concealer?
• How do I know its the right color?
• Do I have to color correct before concealing?
• Why is pinterest confusing me?
• Will it crease on me?
• Is this too light?
• LASTLY, Whats the best drugstore concealer?

So here is the thing, I will be completely be upfront with you and tell you that I HAVE NOT tried EVERY concealer out on the market. Whether its high end or drugstore I haven't tried them all. 

However I have tried many and I can speak for the ones I HAVE tried. 

Now when I am talking about concealer I am talking about under eye concealing. I will do a separate blog on color correcting separately because that is WAY more in depth and I don't want to over whelm anyone with too much information. 

As a reference point for y'all if you speak MAC language I am normally an NC25 or an NC30 when it comes to my foundation. TRANSLATION OF COLORS: its a medium warm tone. If you want to find out what tone you are take the Tone Wrist Test. (I don't know if that the actual name for it but thats what I'm calling it!)

Tone Wrist Test: Turn your wrist over so that your looking straight at your veins and check to see if your veins look either Blue or Green or BlueGreen.

• Majority Blue that makes you cool toned
• Majority Green that makes you warm toned
• Majority Blue/Green that makes you neutral toned

So now that you know where I stand as far as foundation I will explain my concealer selection. I like to pick mine a shade maybe 2 shades lighter then my foundation. Reason being is because it gives me a more lifted and awaken look. I need all the help I can get specially since I barely sleep. I like to stick to the undertone of my foundation. Therefore my concealers are warm toned as well. 

Now for the nitty gritty... Your probably asking me "Sherley what concealers do you use?" Well guys I'm glad you asked. When it comes to my personal taste I had 2 concealers that I like to call my holygrail concealers. Notice I used the word HAD. Thats because I recently came across a concealer that has blown me away. Its what I like to refer to Champagne quality makeup on a Beer budget. :) 

So my NOW 3 Holy Grail Concealers for my under eye are:

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer & Im in the color NC20: $20.00

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Waterproof Concealer in the color Light: $22.00

Maybelline Face Studio Master Conceal in the color 20 Light: $8.99

 Application:

Now when applying your concealer you can do the upside down triangle or do more of an upside down rainbow or just keep it within the under eye area ONLY. Its all depending on the way you want your under eye to look. For example a person with a wider face will not do the upside down triangle because it will make the face look wider. So try different ways to see what will look best and what YOU like. STAY AWAY from pinterest and their diagrams. They can be helpful but also they can be very damaging. So just play with it until YOU love what you see.

Tools:

As for what to use when applying concealer I personally like to use my ring finger. It really helps to warm up the product and for it blend in smoothly. Another great tool would be sponges. Of course by now everyone has heard of the Beauty Blender and yes that is an amazing tool to use when blending in concealer. I like to stick to using sponges or a really fluffy brush when I am working on clients. But again your preference is yours which is why I say mine is my fingers. When I recently purchased the Maybelline concealer that you see featured above I also purchased a brush from ELF. I decided to use the brush with the concealer to give both products a try all at one. You know kill 2 birds with 1 stone... and It was a dream. This is by far the best brush for blending concealer. here is a picture of it bellow. 

NEW Maybelline Master Conceal & ELF Flawless Concealer Brush

Prevent Creasing

Now here is the trick that a lot of people don't know. In order to prevent ANY concealer from creasing you MUST set that concealer with a powder. Three of my favorites are MAC Emphasize Shaping Powder, Anastasia Beverly Hills Banana Powder(its yellow in tone so it will not work if your cool toned), & ELF High Definition Undereye Setting Powder. My Favorite brush to use when setting the under eye is the ELF Blush Brush. Yes Yes I know its supposed to be for blush but its so soft and it fits perfectly under the eye so to me its for the under eye. 

MAC Emphasize $17.00

Anastasia Beverly Hills Banana Powder $14.00 (refill only) 

ELF High Definition Undereye Setting Powder $3.00

ELF Blush Brush $3.00

FINAL TIP

Lastly this is very important. This is what has helped me with creasing & the longevity of my undereye concealer. I like to tackle one under eye at a time. I have found that by doing 1 eye at a time it had solidified my work. So for example I always start on my left ( i am a lefty!) so I apply my concealer then I tap it in with my finger OR blend in with the brush whatever is my mood. lol Once I have blended I quickly take my powder & blush brush and dip the brush in to the powder and instantly set it. Then I repeat on the right eye.


woooooo wow thats was a lot of info and I know it is so I do apologize if anyone is overwhelmed. I know I am and I am the one sitting her in my PJ's with a bun on my head and no makeup feeling flustered and hoping that atleast one of you that reads this can take something away with them. I hope this has helped even the slightest and if you have any questions or any products that you think i might like please don't be shy comment below or email me. Link to email me is below! :)

xoxo,
Sherley

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There is a kind of beauty in imperfection.- Conrad Hall

Q&A fun!

Thought a really fun way for readers to get to know me would be to just plainly do a Q&A.. so here it is!

1. How tall are you? well all my life I thought I was 5’2 and turns out I am only 5 foot… so yes a fabulous 5 feet tall! 2. How old are you? I am 27 years old!

3. When's your birthday? My birthday is December 13th

4. Zodiac sign? I am a sagittarius

5. Favorite food? I just plainly love food i don’t necessarily have a favorite. But I guess I can say I love pastas, shrimp, chicken. I am from the south & right now I am dreaming of some baked mac & cheese and fried chicken a roll & sweet tea from Minnies Uptown Restaurant in Columbus GA. AMAZE-BALLS!!!

6. Ever been in love? I am right now & married to him too!

7. Ever had a terrible breakup? i don’t believe I have ever had a terrible break up. I have had a break up in the past and it was with my husband when we first started dating years & years ago but it wasn’t terrible really.

8. Are you still friends with any of your exes? I married my ex… lol

9. Any tattoos? yes I do! i have a total of 6 tattoos. My forearm, wrist, feets, & my side.

10. Any piercings? i have my ears pierced and belly button that i have had for years now… lol

11. Favorite show? as of right now i have a few i can’t just narrow it down to one but my top is of course Game of Thrones, Once Upon a Time, The Originals, & Reign

12. Favorite movie? my favorite movie… hmmmmm. This is truly a hard one because I am a big movie lover. I love too many movies but if i have to name a few that come to mind right now. I guess Divergent was pretty bad ass (also an amazing book series) & The Fault In Our Stars, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Superbad & Catching Fire. I have too many to name honestly. I can't just pick one...

13. Besides your favorite movie, what movies could you watch over and over and still love? uhhhhhh… First off any Harry Potter film & I could watch Silver Linings Playbook over & over again. Also Hocus Pocus & Nightmare Before Christmas. Sweet Home Alabama (DUH!) Mean Girls (sorry! LOL!)

14. Favorite actor? well lets see… my favorite actress which i think a lot of my friends already know is Jennifer Lawrence. She is sooo damn talented and from when I first saw her in Poker House i just was just in awe of how amazing she was and such a young age. A favorite actor of mine would have to be Peter Dinklage and I selfishly say that because he portrays Tyrion in Game of Thrones and his portrayal deserves an award. I have never loved a character so much from the first moment I was introduced to them in the first season and he did that. He made me love Tyrion from the beginning and i still do.

15. Favorite talk show host? Ellen DUH! lol

16. Favorite bands? Mumford & sons, Imagine Dragons, Bastille, Kings of Leon, Young The Giant, The Neighborhood, American Authors, Passion Pit, AFI, its honestly too many!

17. Favorite song? so right now I am kinda jamming out to Twenty Pilots “Car Radio”

18. What is your song of the week? “What you wanted” by One Republic

19. First concert? Oh goodness kind of embarassing but my first concert was a B2K concert years ago and that was my last one too… haven’t been to another but i want to sooo bad!!! 20. Who would you like to see in concert? Mumford & sons & Imagine Dragons & Ellie Goulding

21. Quality you look for in a partner? Funny

22. Where do you go when you’re sad? ummm no where in particular. I guess I turn to my books.

23. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? it all depends on where I’m going. If I’m just taking my daughter to school then just 5 minutes but if i actually got somewhere to run errands and i want to look a bit more put together then maybe 30 minutes.

24. Ever been in a physical fight? uhhhhhh. yes! lol

25. Turn on? pretty teeth lol

26. Turn off? stench… if you stink i just can’t!

27. Last book you read? The last book I thoroughly enjoyed & fully read was The Mortal Instruments City of Heavenly Fire.

28. The book you’re currently reading? ok so this is embarrassing. I have a total of 3 books that I’m currently reading which are the 6th book in the Vampire Academy series Last Sacrifice. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green & and Forbidden. 

29. Last person you talked to? hmmm… my BFF Mary. and it was about books! lol

30. The relationship between you and the person you last texted? My bff and fellow book clubie & my Parabatai lol

31. Something you miss? all my family back home… all of them!!!

32. Place you want to visit? Egypt… Please & thank you in advance!

33. Last time you hung out with anyone? What did you do? well this past weekend my friend Brit invited me over for dinner and its was absolutely AMAZING... dat peach cobbler dou...lol

34. What are three things on your bucket list? Go to a Music Festival. Go to Egypt & visit Universal Studios to go visit Hogwarts & Diagonally!

35. What is your biggest pet peeve? Liars…

36. How many languages can you speak? 2… english & spanish

37. Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? hahaha i always watched this show and always wanted to say she was in Egypt!

38. Your proudest moment? when i became a mom to 2 amazing little monsters lol!

39. Happiest day of your life? i can’t just pick 1 day thats the happiest day of my life… I have too many to choose from but my kids being born when i got married and when i have done something that people have doubted me about... :)

40. Favorite Authors? this goes to 2 people and I like to refer to them as my king & queen of authors and thats John Green & Cassandra Clare.

Hope y'all have enjoyed getting a little insight into my life...

Xoxo,

Sherley

"One must always be careful with books & whats inside them, for words have the power to change us."

Cassandra Clare

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Disappearing Act

OH HELLO BLOG-OSPHERE!!! 

So I should be ashamed of myself. Its been 3 or 4 weeks since I last posted a blog and well I am totally ashamed. (insert virtual slap in the face)

So the happenings of the last few weeks have been insanely hectic. Last I posted my parents were coming into town so as you can guess I was spending time with them and yes thats partially why I did not post a blog & why I haven't even done a youtube video. Also within those weeks both my husband & son had surgery. 

Its been a great few weeks having family here but at the same time it was hard because I knew they had to go back and we still miss the whole rest of the family as well. We have a very close nit and loving family. We have so much fun together. I know its very cliche because everyone says it but I really do mean it. We went from having access to all of our family this time last year and seeing everyone everyday to not having any of them close by anymore. But hey its the Army life right?! 

My daughter Angelina had her Kindergarten graduation & we were able to take my parents hiking and to Chena Hot Springs & around our little town here. They really enjoyed it and thought it was beautiful. Which it is... If your ever able to visit Alaska do it in the summer its absolutely gorgeous! Here are a few pictures of our awesome happenings...

Here is my daughter at her graduation!

Took a hike and got some awesome shots!

 

Got to go to Chena & look at the Ice Museum

Santa Clause House in North Pole

Also this past weekend I ran The Color Run 5K. It was a whole lot of fun. Its my 2nd time running a 5K. I do it for the simple fact that its something that I enjoy and I know I don't suck at. lol! Not that it counts now but I did run track in Highschool. I always saw running as just something I am mentally good at. Lets face it its just a mind game anyways. You tell yourself its too long and you end up quitting but if you pace yourself and just tell yourself not much longer keep your breathing steady then you push yourself. 

Anyways I am again sorry that I have been away for so long I will have lots of fun post going up specially with summer here and lots of fun things to do here in Alaska! By now I have put up a new video on my youtube channel so go check that out! 

Oh before I forget a little book update: I am currently reading the last book in the Vampire Academy series The Last Sacrifice & An Abundance of Katherines. I said I was reading these before and I took a pause from those 2 because I had to re-read City of Lost Souls and then read the highly anticipated 6th & final book in The Mortal Instruments series City of Heavenly Fire. Thinking of doing a video on What have I read 6 month update... hmmm maybe!

xoxo,

Sherley

"A room without books is like a body without a soul..."- Cicero

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Kylie Jenner Makeup Tutorial

So as I scrolled through my favorite app Instagram a few weeks ago I saw this picture of Kylie Jenner. You may love them or you may hate them. But however you may feel about them this makeup is absolutely to die for! I of course being the crazy person  I am took a screen shot of it (i sound like a stalker... lol i promise I'm not!) and I knew I wanted to re-create it. So here is the picture I basically stalked & gawked over for a few weeks now.

I think this look is just so pretty and I specially love all of the awesome earthy tones used in it. Lets have a moment of silence for that AMAZING lip color. Yes I'm obsessed! its so rich yet neutral & best part is that its matte. If you know me then you know i love my matte colors. So anyways I totally jumped on it & re-created it!

DISCLAIMER: This isn't going to be an exact replica of her look this is my interpretation of the look. Plus I am much much paler then she is :)

Here is my version...

I am totally loving this look and I think its so refreshing considering that its Spring time almost summer and all people want are bright colors. Im not a bright color person. I love my neutrals! so I filmed a tutorial which I will link as well! Also a list of all products used will be here too! :) 

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Products Used in Tutorial:

Arbonne Makeup Primer

YSL Touche Eclat foundation (BD 50)

Nars Sheer Glow foundation (Ceylan)

Real Techniques essential foundation brush

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

*Brows*

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pomade (Ebony)

Anastasia Beverly Hills No 12 Brush

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

MAC Paint Pot (Soft Ochre)

Fluffy Brush from Sonia Kashuk (no number just really fluffy)

Naked 3 (Nooner)

Naked Basics (Faint)

Real Techniques Base shadow brush

Naked 3 (Darkside)

MAC Brush #224

MAC Eye Shadow (Saddle)

MAC Brush #217

Naked 3 (Darkside)

Real Techniques Shader brush

Naked 3 (Strange)

Flat shader brush

Wet N Wild Eye Shadow (creme brûlée)

Covergirl & Olay Under Eye Corrector

Nars Creamy Concealer (Vanilla)

MAC Prep & Prime highlighter (Lightboost)

Eco Tools Skin Perfecting brush

Real Techniques Setting Brush

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Palette (banana)

Real Techniques Contour brush

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Palette (Java)

Rimell Scandaleyes eye liner (Taupe) 

ELF pencil brush 

Naked 3 (Darkside)

Loreal Infallible Super Slim Eyeliner pen

It Cosmetics Tightline Mascara

Covergirl Bombshell Mascara

Velour Lashes in "Whispie Me Away"

Real Techniques Blush Brush

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed

MAC Lip Liner (spice)

MAC Lipstick (Kinda Sexy)

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And those are ALL the products I used in my tutorial! I hope you guys enjoy that video & let me know what you guys think! 

If you click my logo up top it will give you a direct link to my Youtube Channel! 

Remember you don't need all the products that I used. I show you & mention the products in hopes that you can find something similar to your liking! :) Thanks so much for taking a few minutes to read this & thank you! 

I am filming 2 videos a day because I do have my parentals WHOOP WHOOP coming into town & also my son is having surgery soon so i really want to spend as much time with them as possible without worrying about filming & editing. So this video & my next 3 or 4 videos will be filmed some time in advance. 

Hope you guys enjoy & thanks for your time! 

Xoxo,

Sherley

"What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable?” - John Green An Abundance of Katherines