Budget Beauty Buys in Dollar Tree

    The American store Dollar Tree is rapidly becoming one of my weekly go-to stores. It is the American equivalent of Poundland in Britain, and us Brits love a bargain, so naturally I was overjoyed when I first encountered Poundland's stateside counter-part.

    Dollar Tree works the same way as Poundland, every item in the store is one dollar, and whilst there are hoardes of things you wouldn't even buy your dog, once in a while you can come across some hidden gems. 

    Today I bought three items, and although they certainly aren't the most exciting beauty products I've ever purchased, (I go to MAC for that) I know I'll definitely get some use out of them.

NYC Loose Face Powder in Translucent

    Despite this colour being too light for me, if used in moderation and in the right places, it gives a nice glow to my skin and helps my makeup stay in place.

NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Urban Spice

    Another NYC product, this is a cream blush that blends really easily onto the skin. I've been using a Real Techniques buffing brush to apply this, as I think it adjusts better to the skin when used with a brush rather than fingers. The colour looks dark in the packaging, but if it's used sparingly, it contours the cheekbones very well, and adds a sllight shimmer.

How cute?! Tiny 7up bottle lip gloss

     Being a sucker for cute things in every shape and form, I couldn't resist this little lipgloss. It smells and tastes exactly like the drink, and although it doesn't have the best staying power, it gives the lips a nice moisturising sheen. Plus, the packaging is the main reason I bought it, it was just too adorable to pass up!

Swatches; from left to right - NYC blush, NYC loose powder and 7up lip gloss

Has anyone else ever found any great beauty bargains in Dollar Tree?

The Ugly Truth of Tanning

    

     Now that summer is over and winter is rearing its chilly and sunless head, people all over the country will be opting to use tanning beds to recreate their summer glow.

    However, sun bed users need to be aware that indoor tanning causes over 170,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer in the U.S. every year, according to researchers at UC San Francisco.

    The study, conducted by medical students and professors, examined the danger of exposure to tanning beds during a person’s early life, amongst other hazards.

    Based upon data from three separate studies, using tanning beds before the age of 25 was strongly related to the development of squamous cell carcinoma, which is a type of skin cancer that usually occurs on the upper body, for example hands, face and neck.

Different types of skin cancer

     In fact, researchers found that tanning bed users are 67 percent more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma and a further 29 percent are likely to develop basal cell carcinoma.

    Although these two types of cancers are non-malignant, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, they can grow quickly and spread to other parts of the body, such as internal organs and lymph nodes, where they can become fatal.

    Some local governments are jumping into the fray with legislation.

    Springfield, Illinois, is one of the latest cities to ban minors from using tanning beds. Owners of tanning beds that allow people under the age of 18 to use them will be fined up to $750, according to the State Journal Register.

    Many of these policies came into play after the media storm surrounding ‘Tanning Mom’ Patricia Krentcil. Krentcil was arrested and charged with second degree child endangerment when it was alleged she had been taking her 6-year-old daughter into tanning booths. 

'Tanning Mom' Patricia Krentcil and her daughter. Did she seriously not realise how ridiculous she looked?

   However, despite the renowned dangers and increased risk of developing cancer from tanning beds, according to an article in the New York Post, Krentcil insisted she is no different from any other mother, who enjoys simple life pleasures like nail polishing or food.

   And according to a report by the Skin Cancer Foundation, tanning has become an addiction to some people. The study cites that 70 percent of frequent UV tanners met criteria for UV light substance abuse, with many tanners missing events in order to tan instead. 

No-one wants to end up like this...

Ombre Hair - Still on Trend

Who Knew Clinique Could Be So Generous?

    During fall break, I went on a trip to Chicago with some friends. The shopping was fantastic, so we all went a bit crazy and spent a few too many dollars.

    I spotted a huge Topshop on Michigan Avenue, and with it being my most favourite shop ever, I spent about 3 hours trawling through the sale racks. I came out with some bits and pieces, which I'll cover in another post.

    Of course I couldn't resist the makeup in Macy's, and I ended up coming away with some lovely Clinique items and a fantastic free gift. (I actually bought the items just to get the gift, that's how good it is.)

     So here they are...

Clinique Superbalanced Powder in Matte Biege.

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Intense in Intense Ebony.

    The reason I bought the Clinique items in the U.S. is because they are so much cheaper to buy than in the U.K. I'm definitely going to miss American prices when I leave!

     I've used the powder for years, it's great for when you're on the go and don't have a lot of time to do makeup. The packaging is lovely too, which always tends to cloud my judgement when buying things.

     I was recommended the eyeliner by a friend, and it's my favourite eyeliner so far. It has a creamy texture, so it glides on easily. I find that some eyeliners tend to be too dry and you can feel as though you're clawing your eyelid off when applying, but this one is smooth. It's also highly pigmented, and lasts for hours without running.

     Now for the good part...

My Clinique 'Bonus Gift'.

    The gift was definitely the deal-breaker for me. It contains a facial cleanser, moisturiser, mascara, lip gloss and a eyeshadow & blush palette. 

    The colours of the set are beautiful, deep plum for the lips and a burgundy and pale pink for the eyes. In my opinion, fall's perfect colours! The tones are so rich and warm, and fortunately suit all skin tones.

    All of these lovely little products came inside the pretty cosmetic bag, which has a separate, smaller matching bag. It's the perfect kit to take travelling, as it has all the essentials in beautiful packaging.

Four More Years - Democrats Rejoice!

What Makes up the Fall Beauty Trends?

This is an article I wrote for my reporting class about the fall makeup trends.

Oxblood Lips

      Berry-red lips and deep, smoky eyes have been widely touted as this fall’s must- have makeup colors. 
      Just as fashion usually mimics the typical autumn shades, the beauty world has done the same this year, with colors like oxblood, mulberry and dark greens taking center stage. 
     “Women are starting to change their coral and hot pink lipstick shades to a darker, vampy color,” said Tricia Wetherby, a sales associate for Makeup Art Cosmetics. “We’ve been more selling darker colored eye shadows and berry colored lipsticks now that summer is over.” 

We've moved on from the coral lip trend...

      Since the arrival of fall, the bolder, more luxurious colors have been the focus of attention for beauty enthusiasts. Smoky two-tone eyes and wine colored lips have dominated the catwalks recently, and in turn created a buzz at makeup counters like MAC, with girls and women alike hoping to recreate some of this season’s trends on their own. 
     The smoky eye has continued to evolve in tones of classic black, with accents of pine green and deep violet. 

MAC's Rebel Lipstick

      “All skin tones can wear them.” said Wetherby. “Not only can the colour be adjusted, but the texture too. There are many different shades of dark shadows that vary in texture, for instance matte or shimmer.”
      Many women have been coveting the deeper red lip colors in favor of the summer brights. A lot of women have been asking the MAC girls when its Marilyn Monroe collection, which includes many of fall’s dark hues, is available to buy. The collection, featuring an image of Monroe on the packaging is exclusive to MAC and is out Oct. 4. 
      “The collection features five different shades of red lipsticks,” Wetherby said. “It also includes some nail polishes in vampy colours like dark purple and navy.”

MAC's Marilyn Monroe Lipstick Collection

      However, not every woman who wears makeup identifies and follows these popular trends. “I follow some fashion trends, but I don’t take notice of beauty crazes,” said Sofi Lopez, a healthcare management senior at the University of Memphis. “I don’t like the very dark lipstick; I’d feel as though I was dressing up for Halloween.”
      And according to Wetherby, a lot of women she meets are inspired by what color lipstick she is wearing, or what texture shadow she is sporting on her eyes.
      “If we stay trendy, then they stay trendy.” Wetherby said. 
      The cosmetics industry posted sales of $36.5 billion dollars in 2010, according to Drug Store News, and this amount is gradually increasing every year with the emergence of ‘beauty gurus’ on YouTube and makeup blogs.

      These days makeup seems more popular and important to women, and not just because of the fashion crazes.
      “Makeup can change peoples’ lives,” Wetherby said. “Face and eye shapes can be transformed, that’s why it’s important to women.” 
      More women focus on the seasonal beauty trends they see in the multitude of magazines like Glamour, makeup counters and blogs, according to experts.
      For instance, Wetherby has seen a definite increase in the sale and interest of oxblood colored lipsticks called ‘Diva’ and ‘Rebel’ and with spring approaching in a few months, the makeup world has to be just as ahead of the seasonal trends as the fashion world does. 
     “Spring beauty will be very different to fall,” Wetherby said. “Expect pops of vibrant colours and dewy, healthy skin.”

A Smokey Purple Picture Story