Brooke's Looks

I love the sun but hate the aftermath..little pimples from sweat...

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:05:59 -0400

I love the sun but hate the aftermath..little pimples from sweat (yuck). I find the best cure is to use a face mask. And when home facial remedies aren’t strong enough, I have my go to product: Freeman’s Mint & Lemon clay mask facial.

It’s simple, light, nondrying but removes grease. I recommend using it pre-shower, once a week for the best results. I love all Freeman facial products, but I find the the mint & lemon clay mask makes my pores the smallest, even in humid weather.

Freeman’s Mint & Lemon clay mask is also a bang for your buck costing only around $4 for a large tube. You can purchase it at local beauty supply stores www.freemanbeauty.com, and, of course, at www.drugstore.com for the most competitive price!

Browsing the Internet I always see Sparklingly beautiful nails...

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 19:20:20 -0400

Browsing the Internet I always see
Sparklingly beautiful nails and think.. I can do that! So, I did. Using OPI’s alpine snow and China Glaze’s winter wonderland.

Use a bottom clear bottom cost, I suggest nailtique, then apply 2 coats of alpine snow. Let it dry for a few minutes and apply 1 coat of winter wonderland. Add a top coat and voila! Pearly, sparkly, beautiful nails!

OPI’s alpine snow and China Glaze’s winter wonderland can be purchased at at amazon.com for their lowest price. Alpine snow is around $6 and winter wonderland is about $5. They can also be purchased directly from the companies websites!

A wonderfully sexy lipstick, or liquid lipstick in this case,...

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:34:31 -0400

A wonderfully sexy lipstick, or liquid lipstick in this case, I’ve recently fallen in love with is e.l.f.’s ‘luscious liquid lip color’. This is a silky, sultry gloss that is offered at an extremely low cost. It’s long lasting, soften lips, doesn’t clog pore, AND is cruelty free :)

I’ve fallen in love with their lovely shade ‘Cherry Tart’. It’s a rich, pigmented red shade that truly is cherry. It applies smoothly and has the sheen a lip gloss but has the deeper color of a lipstick. It’s a perfect middle ground.

E.L.F.’s luscious lip color costs only $1.49 on www.drugstore.com which blows my mind based on the quality of the product. It can also be purchased stright from the source www.eyeslipsface.com for $1.00 (I kid you not).

Browsing the nail salon I discovered this amazing color. A...

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 17:29:00 -0400

Browsing the nail salon I discovered this amazing color. A perfect peachy, pink - almost like a ballet slipper: Essie’s A Crewed Interest. It’s described as a ‘luminous peach shade’ on www.essie.com but I spy a bit of pink.

This is with a base, two coats, and a top coat. Perfect for the summer and appealing for work AND the beach. It really makes your tan pop!This polish is $8 on Essie’s website and can be purchased there. It’s also available at local beauty supply stores!

I love eyeshadow, I love Tokidoki, put them together and...

Wed, 30 May 2012 19:16:01 -0400

I love eyeshadow, I love Tokidoki, put them together and I’m in heaven. This is an adorable eyeshadow pallet carried by Sephora. Not only is it a Sephora exclusive, it’s also limited edition… and on sale!

This product contains 8 adorable, blend-able eyeshadows in a Tokidoki travel themed tin with a handle (clearly meant for the gal on the go). The colors are a pink, 2 shades of purple (lavender and a deeper shade), pale green, as well as a deep green, dark brown, bronze, and a luminescent white shade. All of these look great blended together as well as on their own.

As mentioned, this pallet can be bought at Sephora and, of course, sephora.com. Originally it was $42 BUT it’s on sale for a mere $19. Snatch it up while you can! Did I mention it comes with an adorable keychain? ‘Cause it does.

I love just about everything hello kitty but this is on the top...

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:37:42 -0400

I love just about everything hello kitty but this is on the top of my list. This is the Hello Kitty Graffiti duo, which has 4 summer-y eyeshadows and 2 shades of blush. The shadow colors are grey, soft pink, charcoal, and greyish teal. The blushes and the are peach and pink. Even the packaging is perfection.

The colors all blend together perfectly. The colors are vibrant, exciting, and perfect for this season. The blushes are my favorite part though, I love having two shades at my finger tips - pink and peach, they’re great for all skin tones.

This pallet costs $35 and can be bought at Sephora stores and on their website, www.sephora.com. Worth every penny, perfect for traveling, carrying in your bag, and everyday use.

Sometimes I can be a bit of a make up snob, if I’m buying...

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:28:40 -0400

Sometimes I can be a bit of a make up snob, if I’m buying a product I like to know it’s high quality, wont irritate my skin, and blends well. That’s what I love Physicians Formula, they make high quality product but at a lower price mark than the big name brands.

Well, Physicians Formula makes amazing eyeshadow pallets at a very reasonable price. They even have pallets formulated to bring out the beauty of every eye color, however they work for all eye colors. I use the bronzed hazel (product number 1154). It’s lovely! Sparkly, but not over the top. It’s great for everyday use.

They manage to pack 3 different color blends into this compact sized pallet, you can come out to about 18 different looks from this one product alone! The pallet also comes with a brush, which is sponge like and works great with this formula.

Physicians Formula Custom eye shadow costs around $11. It can be purchased at ulta, drugstore.com, beauty stores, and of course physiciansformula.com.

I love lipstick, especially in the spring/summer to liven up the...

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:19:55 -0400

I love lipstick, especially in the spring/summer to liven up the colors in my outfit. I’m a fan of the expensive stuff because it’s usually quality - it lasts longer, doesn’t over dry lips, and pigmentation is usually more vibrant.

Recently I haven’t been allowing myself to splurge, it can be unnecessary once you find the right product. Luckily, I found the perfect and INEXPENSIVE lipstick that isn’t drying and had awesome pigmentation: Revlon’s ColorBurst Lipstick!

I have this product in a few colors: fuchsia, baby pink, and peach. Baby pink is definitely my favorite, it’s a nice everyday light pink color with a bit of a sheen. It’s the most moisturizing out of the ones I’ve tried. Fuchsia is is a bright, bold, and summary pink that really makes a statement. And the peach is subtle but beautiful.

These lipsticks cost around $7 a piece and are sold at drugstores, target, walmart, and various beauty stores. It’s also sold directly on www.revlon.com where they have the largest array of colors.

Tweezers, an item no one wants to buy but EVERYONE (men and...

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:48:16 -0400

Tweezers, an item no one wants to buy but EVERYONE (men and women) need. There are a million brands, styles, designs, and companies that make them. However, one company outshines them all: Tweezerman.

Their tweezers are the best for so many reasons. They grasp hair the best, whether fine or thick they surely can pluck them out. They make tweezing less painful because you don’t have to go over the same area over and over again. They make several varieties including slanted, splinter tweeze (for ingrown hairs), and they even make tweezers in mini sizes. They’re durable, last a long time and, FINALLY, they come in a huge variety of adorable colors - even Betsey Johnson made a line! And of course good old stainless steel.

Tweezerman tweezer’s range in price from $12.50, for mini efficient tweezers, all the way to $100, for ‘luxe crystal edition’ tweezers. Take it from me, the cheapest ones are just fine!

These can be purchased at beauty supply stores and local drug stores. And of course they can be bought at www.tweezerman.com along with all their other products.

I was thrilled when I saw this amazing Sephora...

Wed, 16 May 2012 23:24:56 -0400

I was thrilled when I saw this amazing Sephora collection customizable smoky eye pallet. There are 21 eyeshadow trios for custom smoky eyes that fit your daily mood! It also has a great compact size with a mirror, making it portable!

Another great aspect of this product is that you can choose your 3 faves and remove them from the big pallet into a small portable compact for your purse! It’s perfect for touch-up’s at work or a long night out.

This product is sold exclusively at Sephora and their website www.sephora.com. It’s value is $210 BUT it’s being sold for $34, such an amazing deal.

Upon my lip balm crusades I’ve recently discovered a...

Sat, 12 May 2012 14:29:44 -0400

Upon my lip balm crusades I’ve recently discovered a delicious product that is ALSO: all natural, organic, vegan, and raw. I love finding products that vegan and naturalists can enjoy and this is definitely one of them that everyone will love.

This chapstick, or lip balm is called Hurraw! (exclamation mark included) and it’s simply amazing. It has sheer texture and a slight sheen. It’s also available in over 10 flavors including chai spice, root beer, and black cherry. I purchased chai spice and I’m addicted.

I purchased mine in an American Apparel store but they also have a flagship website, www.hurrawbalm.com, where it can purchased directly. The website also has a wider variety of their products. They cost $3.79 (except moon balm which is $4.29), worth every penny.

Recently I colored my hair (just a light ombre) which is not...

Sat, 12 May 2012 01:03:54 -0400

Recently I colored my hair (just a light ombre) which is not something I do very often, but I immediately noticed split ends! I know that between dying, straightening, and blow-drying my hair, I am inevitably doing damage to my hair.. and I’m sure many of you are too.

So, off to CVS I went to find a color treated shampoo that smelled delicious and a conditioner to help preserve my color and keep my hair lively. I sniffed a bunch and decided on Herbal Essence’s Color Me Happy shampoo & conditioner. Lucky first choice! I love it, it smells fruity and lush.

The shampoo formula lathers much better than most color treated shampoos. I find that I can also go longer in between hair washes, which is a plus. The conditioner really detangles my hair and has made it noticeably softer. The formula is very creamy and rich. After using both products my shower smells like a spa, it’s wonderful.

Overall, this product works just as well.. if not better than salon products such as Paul Mitchell which can cost around $19 a bottle. Not to ‘bash’ other brands, I just like to save money where I can and still look dashing!

Both the shampoo and conditioner can be purchased at drug stores for around $6 per bottle. I purchased my bottle(s) at CVS but I’ve seen them at Target and Walmart as well.

I love having straight hair but it can get boring. To spice...

Wed, 09 May 2012 15:34:54 -0400

I love having straight hair but it can get boring. To spice things up I like to go for the wavy deconstructed look. It can be hard to find a product that doesn’t clump but actually creates texture and volume with the “messy” but sexy hair style.

Redkin’s rough paste 12 is a godsend. It’s a light weight formula that can give volume and texture to even the straightest and most difficult hair. It’s best used when your hair is slightly damp but not by any means soaked. Blow dry your hair until it’s mostly dry and start with a pea sized amount of the paste. A good way of creating the deconstructed waves is by flipping your hair over and “scrunching” or grabbing your hair from the very ends and hold it to your head while messing it around. Use as much as desired, but I find that less is more.

Redkin’s rough paste 12 is sold at hair salons, beauty supply stores (such as harmond, ulta), and can be purchased online www.drugstore.com. It costs around $20 ($17.63 at drugstore.com!) and lasts for at least a few months.

Eyebrows make our face. They may not be glamorous, like the...

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:17:02 -0400

Eyebrows make our face. They may not be glamorous, like the color of your eye, but they help frame their beauty. It can be hard to keep the perfect shape to your eyebrow or to make sure they stay perfectly in place all day and THAT is what I love eyebrow gel.

Yes, I know it sounds silly. Eyebrow gel. Get your laughs out now but soon enough you’ll be buying some for yourself. Essentially it’s a clear mascara formula, a bit thinner though, that holds your brows in place. Brilliant idea.

A lot of companies make expensive gels but they’re really all the same. I use Maybelline’s Great Lash clear mascara for my eye brows (which are wonderful by the way). It only costs around $6, last a long time, and does the job right.

This product, along with other eyebrow gels, can be found at local drug stores (CVS, Walgreens, ect). Also, Sephora, Ulta, and other beauty supply stores carry “higher quality” eyebrow gels.

BB creams are the new thing.. and they should be. Five important...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:19:48 -0400

BB creams are the new thing.. and they should be. Five important things in one flawless cream. Smashbox’s Camera Ready BB cream is the best. It has SPF 35, moisturizes, primes, controls oils, and protects skin. Could you ask for more? Because I feel like that would be asking too much.

When using the cream you have to pat it on slightly, rather than rub it in like with other facial creams. Patting it allows for proper absorption of the product on your skin. Other than that, it’s pretty simple. It protects your skin and gives it an amazing glow.

This can be purchased for $39 at Sephora and www.sephora.com, as well as www.smashbox.com.

Maybe I’m extremely vain but I hate being sweaty but I do...

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:38:59 -0400

Maybe I’m extremely vain but I hate being sweaty but I do believe every women (and man) out there knows what I mean. Especially with the summer coming up and excursions to the beach and other warm places, the feeling of being sticky and sweaty is just no fun. Thats why I always carry a bottle of Evian spary with me.

It’s great for when after tanning (yes I know thats bad for you but as I said, I am vain) when you feel pretty but drenched in sweat. Also, like I said at the beach, it helps remove sand. And in everyday life it helps maintain a healthy dewy look to your skin and body.

Evian Spray mist can be purchased in a large bottle (10.1 oz) or a small bottle (5 oz), which is ‘travel sized’. They’re a little costly for what people think it “just water” but really, they last a LONG time and are worth it ladies! The large bottle is $16.50, small is $11 and a duo of the travel sized is $14, I recommend the latter. They can be purchased at Sephora and www.sephora.com, as well as www.drugstore.com and other wesbites.

I love giving myself home manicures. My only issue is I can...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:47:38 -0400

I love giving myself home manicures. My only issue is I can never fix my peeling cuticles the way the people can at the salon. I’ve tried trimmers, lotions, you name it. Then I decided to try a cuticle cream. Loving Burt’s Bees products so much, I gave their a try (among others) and was extremely happy with the results.

This cuticle cream is soft and nourishing to the skin. It contains lemon oil that helps heal and moisturize, while making your fingers smell delicious. It’s best when used overnight.

Push your cuticles back, trim them lightly (if you’d like to) to get rid of all the scraggly ends. Apply a thick layer of the cream around your nail bed and keep it on over night. Try doing this 3-4 times a week and those suffering from hang nails and dry cuticles will be very happy with the results.

Burt’s Bees Cuticle Cream costs $6 - definitely worth it if you have yucky fingers. You can purchase it at your local drugstore or beauty supply store. And of course at www.burtsbees.com, along with all their other wondrful products.

I’ve been spotting people all over the place with the...

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 22:18:46 -0400

I’ve been spotting people all over the place with the ‘perfect bun’. Every time I ask how they accomplish this spotless look they say ” a sock bun”. Sorry, but that seems gross to me. I don’t want a sock in my clean hair.

I did manage to find ‘the perfect bun’ at H&M. It’s phenomenal. It’s made so, if necessary you can stick bobby pins into in secure your bun to perfection. It’s so easy to use and created the perfect ballerina style bun with limited effort.

All that you have to do is make a high ponytail, slip the ‘perfect bun’ ring through the pony tail and spread it out evenly though out the bun ring (which should be slipped at the base of the pony tail). After doing this, all you have to do is spread out your hair evenly (as possibly) and tuck your hair under the loop and almost swirl it around. Place bobby pins as needed. Also use some hair spray to keep it intact!

This Perfect Bun can be purchased at H&M stores for$3.94, quiiite a deal!

I love color club’s nail polishes. They’re super...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:25:00 -0400

I love color club’s nail polishes. They’re super cheap and have a formula that lasts! Their shades are often similar to Essie’s. This color is called ‘Jackie OH!’ which is similar to Essie’s ‘Secret stash’.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Essie.. but often they’re just too expensive for me to rationalize spending my money on them. Color club on the other hand, I have no issues spending my cash on.

Color club polishes cost about $4, such a bargain! They can be purchased online at www.brightonbeautysupply.com for $3.50. I get my polished at Harmond and other beauty supply stores.

We all want rockstar hair that stays in place. Unfortunately a...

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:54:06 -0400

We all want rockstar hair that stays in place. Unfortunately a lot of the ‘good’ hairsprays are expensive and the cheaper ones can leave your hair feeling crusty. I’ve flip flopped between the cheaper ones and the more expensive ones and I’ve found one that perfect for the price.

Mega Spary by Aussie hair care is by far my favorite. It’s cheap and effective. I like to use a medium hope spray so I can still have movable hair and can blow in the wind (always looks sexy) and so I can still play with it and not fear ruining my perfect look.

When using Aussie’s Mega spray use quick sprays as you style, it give the maximum hold and a professional style. It’s shiny and leaves no build up.. so no crunchy hair!

Aussie’s Mega spray (and their other awesome products) can be bought at Ulta, Walgreens, CVS, and all the other great drug stores that carry hair products. It only costs $3.69, can you believe it?! So, go out and get it and create the awesome style that’s true to you!