Beauty Resolutions for 2011

Oh New Years, the time of champagne, sparkles, countdowns and, of course, resolutions! I don't know about you, but my past experiences with New Years resolutions usually end up being ignored by the second week of January. So instead of telling myself that I will lose ten pounds, stop cramming for school exams, and keep my bedroom perfectly organized at all times, I figured beauty resolutions would be a lot more fun and probably a lot easier to keep (at least until February hehe!). So here are my beauty resolutions for 2011:

-Use less makeup wipes and deep cleanse my face more: I always make sure that there is a bottle of cleanser in my bathroom but once I'm getting ready for bed and feeling a bit tired I find it so much more convenient to just wipe my face clean with a makeup wipe. The problem with this is that it doesn't get your face perfectly clean like regular cleansing does. So even if it takes a minute more and is a little less convenient, I'm going to try to properly cleanse my face every night before bed.

-Take better care of my eyebrows: my eyebrow hair is very light so its not super obvious when the plucked hairs start to grow in but I really hate the texture of eyeshadow over top of unkept brow hairs. Compared to most people I probably take pretty good care of my brows, but I would like to pluck the strays just a little more often in 2011.

-Exfoliate my body at least once, preferably twice, a week: I am pretty good about exfoliating my face (I do it about three times a week with a gentle facial exfoliator), but exfoliating my whole body takes a bit longer so I find myself procrastinating about it. In 2011 I resolve to exfoliate my body more as it just makes skin look so much more luminous!

-Last but not least, blog more!!!: this isn't really a beauty resolution but I was pretty bad about blogging in December so I definitely resolve to blog more. I have so much planned for this blog and my youtube channel of the same name so stay tuned to Cosmetic Confessions in 2011 for lots more reviews, tutorials, hauls, and other fun, girly things!

Happy New Year everyone!

xoxo, Caitlin

Wet n Wild Has Me Lusting Over This Palette!

I have a confession: I love drug store makeup. I know its hit and miss but high end products can be too, and there is nothing more satisfying than finding an amazing drugstore product at a steal! I never used to use drugstore eyeshadows because I found most of them to be chalky and unpigmented but after absolutely loving the Wet n Wild Color Icon singles, I had to try one of the Wet n Wild Color Icon palettes ($5). And boy did it deliver!

I opted for the Color Icon palette in Lust because I loved the plum and silver tones. The palettes consist of six shades: two neutral shades, two medium shades, and two dark shades. What is really awesome about these palettes is that the shades on the left side of the palette are matte while the shades on the right side of the palette are shimmery, allowing you to create a multi-textured look (and avoiding making your eyes look like a disco ball!). Cue the swatches!

The eyeshadows themselves are pigmented, blendable and long lasting when worn over a base. While they aren't as soft as some of my other eyeshadows, they are thoroughly impressive, especially for the price! The rich plums and shimmery silvers in this palette are perfect for fall but I'm definitely eager to try the other palettes from this line (aptly named Greed, Pride, and Vanity).

One of the trade offs in getting high quality makeup for low prices is often the packaging and this is true for the Color Icon products. Although it is functional and fairly durable, the packaging is very plain and simple. One thing I do like is that the clear front of this palette allows you to easily see what is inside without having to open it.

Overall, I am so happy that I found a great range of eyeshadows at low drugstore prices! I am definitely going to buy more of the Wet n Wild Color Icon products so be prepared for some more reviews and swatches!

Thank you for stopping by for some Cosmetic Confessions! Have a beautiful day!

XOXO, Caitlin

FTC Disclaimer: Purchased by me, all opinions are my own.

Benefit Full Finish Lipstick in Do Tell

I purchased this lipstick at the Sephora on 5th Avenue back in May at the insistence of the most fabulous makeup artist. For most of the spring and summer I wore pale pink or nude lips whenever I wore lipstick and therefore this color didn't receive much attention, despite me thinking that it was a beautiful color. Now that it is fall I have been wearing this lipstick whenever I want a slightly rich but not-to-dark shade on my lips.

I have never tried any Benefit lip products before this, and I must say I am impressed. The product goes on smoothly, feels silky on my lips, and is slightly moisturizing. Although this is a full coverage lipstick, it does not have a heavy matte texture. The finish is more glossy, meaning that you could wear Do Tell beautifully without having to wear a gloss over it.

The shade itself is a slightly cool toned pinky mauve. I think it is neutral enough that both cool and warm toned ladies could pull this off. This shade would look good on a wide range of skin tones from pale to medium-dark. While it is not a vampy berry color, I think this is the perfect everyday fall lipstick shade.

The packaging of this lipstick is functional and sturdy. The glossy black tube with white writing does the job; however, it is nothing too special. This lipstick has no detectable scent which is kind of nice as perception of smell is so subjective.

Overall, I am very impressed with this product. It is silky, pigmented and long-lasting. Here is a FOTD with me wearing Do Tell for your reference.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I hope you found this review helpful and come on back, I have lots of reviews coming! Have a beautiful day!

XOXO, Caitlin

FTC Disclaimer: Purchased by me. All opinions my own.

Fab or Drab: Volume 2

Due to the fact that I am still trying to sort out my pictures, etc. from my computer crash (see post below). I figured I would do a "Fab or Drab". I find things like this very fun to read on other people's blogs so hopefully you find it fun on mine as well :D

FAB:

Christmas Collections/Makeup Gift Sets: Its that time of year where all of the makeup companies are releasing their Christmas collections and gift sets! I love holiday makeup with its rich reds and shimmery golds! I also find gift sets very exciting as they are usually a good deal and they allow you to try things you wouldn't necessarily buy full sized right off the bat.

Sleek Palettes: These palettes are only $11.75 each (although when I ordered mine they were only $10 each) and they are beautifully packaged and very high quality eyeshadows. Expect a review and swatches coming very soon!

Hot Chocolate: Brr its getting cold here and nothing is a better treat to me right now than a nice hot mug of hot cocoa with marshmallows on top. I like it best made on the stovetop from scratch :)

Ankle Boots: I have a great pair that I bought in California. They have about a 2-3 inch heel so I can walk in them for days and they look good with so many things: leggings, skinny jeans, dresses, you name it! I am currently on the prowl for another pair because they are so dang versatile and cute!

DRAB:

Computer Crashes: Need I say more? Nothing frustrates me more than technical difficulties because I usually don't have the computer geek skills to fix them. Thankfully my boyfriend does and that is the reason why I am sitting here typing this to you :)

Dry Skin: Sooooo annoying! Every night before bed I slather my lips in lip balm and coat my hands with body butter and every morning I wake up to cracked lips and dry skin :( I live in a very dry area and once the cold weather rolls in its a constant battle with dry skin! I'm sincerely jealous of all you girls who live in warm, humid climates!

Midterms: I'm sure all of my fellow students agree with me on this one! Its crunch time and studying for 25 hours a day doesn't leave much time for pampering :(

I hope you enjoyed hearing about what I think is Fab or Drab at the moment. As always I tried to be positive and put more "Fab" than "Drab" because its very easy to complain but its nice to take a minute to enjoy the good things in life :)

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! Have a beautiful day!

XOXO, Caitlin

FTC: All products mentioned were purchased by me. I am not being compensated for this post.

Why I have been MIA

Just a quick message letting you know why I have not posted anything on here or on youtube for a while. My computer crashed, like literally "couldn't turn it on" kind of crashed and I had to delete everything currently on my computer in order to fix it :(

That included all my video and photo editting software, stock photos, FOTD and makeup photos I had taken, the intro that I use for my videos, etc, etc I could go on and on. I am currently working very hard to get everything up and running again.

But for some good news: I have lots of fun posts and videos in the works including a review and tutorial using my new *favorite* foundation, some reviews of some inexpensive but awesome new eyeshadows I bought, and some colorful eye looks.

I will try to have these things up as soon as possible (providing I don't run into anymore technical difficulties LOL). Stay tuned for more Cosmetic Confessions!

XOXO, Caitlin

Skin Care 101

This thoroughly exaustive post is meant to complement the skin care video that I put up on my youtube channel. You can check that out by clicking here!

This is going to be quite a long (somewhat text book style) post because I am VERY passionate about skin care! This post should give a bit more in-depth information about skin care products and their uses for those of you who are interested! So lets get started!

The first thing that I wanted to mention was that I switched to an all-natural skin care regimen about 4 months ago and it is working wonders for my skin! Although I do not suffer from acne, I have always had issues with sensitivity, redness, and irritation. Since eliminating all of the products containing irritating (and potentially carcinogenic) ingredients from my skin care regimen I have seen a great improvement! Some of the things that I try to avoid include parabens, pthalates, sulfates and petroleum by-products.

Now, moving on to the actual skin care products and why they are important:

Cleanser removes dirt and impurities from the face and prevents clogged pores. I recommend using a milky cleanser if you have dry skin or a foaming cleanser if you have oily skin.

Toner restores the skin's ideal pH. Cleanser is basic but the skin functions best at an acidic pH of about 4.5-5.5. Toner converts the skin's pH back to its ideal acidic pH. It also removes any residue left behind from cleansing and reduces pores. Toner should not be applied to the eye area. I also recommend avoiding toners that contain large amounts of alcohol or witch hazel as these are very harsh/drying on the skin.

Moisturizer helps to hydrate the skin. If you have dry skin try a moisturizer that has more moisturizing properties but if you have oily skin look for an oil-free moisturizer. I recommend using a thinner moisturizer for the day time and a richer moisturizer for overnight.

Eye cream moisturizes the delicate eye area. Eye creams often contain anti-aging or brightening ingredients in them. I like to use an eye cream at night for moisture and an eye gel in the day under my makeup. It is actually necessary to wear eye cream in addition to regular facial moisturizer because the molecules in facial moisturizer are too large to be absorbed by the skin in the eye area.

Sunscreen is very important! If you want more info about sun protection, check out the post I did a while back.

Exfoliators/scrubs remove any dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. They can improve the complexion, making it smoother and brighter looking. Avoid exfoliators that are too rough as they can damage or irritate the skin. I recommend using exfoliators with microbeads in them, as they do the job but they aren't too harsh!

There are many different types of facial masks available, including moisturizing masks, clarifying masks, and exfoliating masks. I like to use masks containing clay, as the clay extracts your pores by sucking all the stuff out of them. Sounds gross but it works!

Acne treatments often contain salicylic or benzoic acid to kill acne-causing bacteria.

Serums usually contain high concentrations of anti-aging ingredients or vitamins to nourish the skin. I don't think that serums are necessary for everybody (I don't use one!) but they can be useful if you are having issues with your skin or if you want to fight wrinkles!

I know that was very long but I hope it was helpful! Check out my skin care video as well for my product recommendations and skin care routine! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!

xoxo, Caitlin

I'm Pleasantly Surprised with Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Singles

Mention of the brand Wet n Wild takes me back to my days of being a broke 13 year old on the verge of becoming makeup obsessed! Wet n Wild was pretty much the only makeup I could afford back then and even though the quality wasn't the greatest it made me happy (I remember that the lipglosses smelled like rocket candies hehe). Flash forward seven years and, while my makeup budget has grown exponentially, it seems as though Wet 'n Wild products can still make me happy!

That's where Wet n Wild Color Icon eyeshadow singles come in. At around $2 a pop these single shadows are nothing short of impressive. I found them to be richly pigmented, blendable and comparable to shadows that cost ten times as much!

The Color Icon eyeshadow singles come in seven shades: Sugar, Brulee, Nutty, Penny, Lagoon, Envy, and Kitten. They all looked very beautiful but I opted for the Lagoon, Envy, and Kitten which are vibrant jewel toned shades.

As you can see the packaging is nothing special, just a clear plastic case, but it does the job. I had no issues opening the durable case, and it is nice that you can see the eyeshadow color when the case is closed without having to open it or check the label.

I found that these shadows were soft enough to be pigmented and nicely blendable but they did not stir up a lot of powder so I did not experience much (if any) fallout. When applied over an eyeshadow base they lasted all day without any fading, creasing, or smudging. I found that Envy applied the smoothest while Kitten was the least smooth and pigmented, but I suspect that this is due to the beautiful gold sparkly shimmers that Kitten has.



From left to right: Envy, Lagoon, and Kitten

The only possible con I can think of for these shadows is that the limited shade range may make it difficult to do an entire eye look with only these shadows, but I'm sure that this isn't a problem for all of you makeup-obsessed girls out there who probably have a ton of other shades that could be used to make a look along with these ones. Overall, I found the quality of these shadows to be very impressive and the fact that they are so inexpensive makes me really happy (who doesn't love a good deal!). I am most definitely going to be buying the rest of the shades that I didn't get and I'm going to have to try some of the other new Wet n Wild products as well!

I hope you guys enjoyed this review! If there are any other Wet n Wild products that I should try let me know! Have a great day and thank you for stopping by my blog :)

xoxo, Caitlin

FTC: All products purchased by me. All opinions expressed are my own.

Fab or Drab Volume 1

So I kind of borrowed inspiration for this post from magazine's "Hot or Not" pages and some of the "In or Out" posts I have seen on various blogs. To not seem like a complete copycat I am calling this series "Fab or Drab" and its basically my opinions on some random things that I am loving and not quite loving at the moment! I find these really fun to read on other blogs so I hope you guys find this fun as well!

FAB:

Fall Nail Colors- I'm talking to you Metro Chic! I love me some fall nail colors whether it be grey, brown, purple, taupe, or navy. These colors scream chic and have a level of sophistication that brights and pastels just don't have.

Animal Print Accessories- Animal print is definitely one of those things that can be good or very, very bad depending on the curcumstance! I definitely think that wearing animal print head to toe should be left to animals but a pop of animal print in the form of a scarf or a ballet flat can be very fab! Oh and synthetic fabrics only, no real fur (another thing that should be left to the animals)!

Glee!- I missed the boat on this first season but wondered what all the hype was about. I ended up watching (and falling in love with!) the entire first season over the summer. I guess that makes me a bandwagon jumper. Season two premiered this week much to my excitement and I turned into a Gleek all over again!

Green Tea- Its yummy, healthy, and gives me just enough caffeine ward off grumpiness in the morning without making me jittery.

DRAB:

Homework- Nuff said! I'm sure my fellow students would agree that homework/studying is one of those necessary evils. I already have midterms starting next week even though it feels like school just started a couple of days ago!

The end of summer- As much as I love fall fashion and makeup styles, I don't particularly love the "fall" part. I'm a summer loving girl, and unfortunately where I live summer doesn't last for long. Basically it has been cold and rainy here since the end of August and I know that its only gonna get colder!

Well thats all for my thoughts on whats Fab or Drab right now. I will definitely put up more of these posts, I think they are really fun! I hope you guys are having a fab day hehe!

xoxo, Caitlin

Rimmel's Steel Grey: The Perfect Fall Polish!

A few weeks ago I treated myself and my sister to a mani at a fairly high-end spa. The spa had its own line of nail polishes, all of which I found a bit boring and not at all unique. I did end up choosing a polish that I was okay with but when I went up to pay for our services I saw that the girl at the front desk was wearing the most unique shade of creamy warm grey. I assumed it was one of the spa's own nail polishes and felt pretty snubbed that it wasn't one of the choices presented to me but when I asked which polish she was wearing, it turned out that it was from none other than drugstore brand Rimmel!

Turns out the color is from Rimmel London's Lasting Finish Pro nail polish line, which I have heard good things about! The color is called steel grey (number 207) but in my opinion it is a much creamier and warmer grey that what I would imagine a steel grey to be. It is a cream finish, which I am partial to, and I think it is a very unique shade perfect for fall! Cue the swatches!

The formula of this nail polish was impressive. It applied easily and opaquely in two coats and dried slightly darker than it appeared in the bottle. The brush is a bit different, kind of thick and flat, but it was very easy to use (although it might make things difficult if you have very small nails).

At only $5, this nail polish performed similarly to some of my more pricey nail polishes, and I am excited to try some of the other shades!

Overall, I think this is the perfect nail polish for fall. Its tame enough to wear to the office but it is still unique enough to make a statement.

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Have a beautiful day!

xoxo, Caitlin

FTC: Purchased by me. All opinions my own.

40 Beauty Questions

This is a tag that went around a while ago on blogs and youtube and I thought it would be fun to do. To put this in a video would no doubt take forever so I thought I would put it in a blog post instead :)

So here goes!

SKINCARE

- How many times do you wash your face daily?

I was my face twice- once in the morning before doing my makeup and once before bed. Sometimes I use cleansing wipes if I'm feeling tired/lazy but they work pretty well. Gotta get all that makeup off!

-What skin type do you have?

I have combination-dry skin (i.e. dry with some oiliness on my t-zone).

-What is your current facial wash?

Alba Botanica Pineapple Enzyme Cleanser...Smells sooooo good but it REALLY hurts when you get it in your eyes (I mean A LOT) so I'm going to try Alba's Coconut cleanser after I use this one up.

-Do you exfoliate?

Definitely! Gotta remove all the dead skin!

-What brand do you use?

I use Alba Botanica Pineapple Enzyme Facial Scrub. I really like it, the particles are small enough that it isn't too rough and you can use it a few times a week.

-What moisturizer do you use?

For daytime I use Jamieson's Vitamin E Natural Radiance Daily Moisturizer. For nightime I use Jamieson's Vitamin A Night Cream.

-Do you have freckles?

No, but I wish I did! Freckles are so cute!

-Do you use eye cream?

Yes, but I haven't found my HG yet so I'm trying a few samples at the moment.

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?

No, and I am so thankful for that. I get a few pimples a year if I am really stressed but never more than one at a time and not very often at all.

-Did you ever have to use Pro-Activ?

Nope, see comments above :)

MAKEUP

-What foundation do you use?

Hmm I use a few- Revlon Color Stay, Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation, Sally Hansen by Carmindy Foundation, Bare Minerals...it all depends on the coverage I want for that day.

-How about concealer?

TheBalm's Time Balm concealer (HG!) and Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer (a new love!)

-Do you know your undertone color?

Yes, I am neutral-warm

-What do you think of fake eyelashes?

Love them but rarely wear them...I am secretly always afraid that they will pop off but they never do so I should wear them more

-Did you know that you were supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?

Yes, and I definitely do! Eye infection= Not a pretty situation

-What brand of mascara do you use?

I have tried many different brands but most of my favorite mascaras are from L'oreal.

-Sephora or MAC?

Really tough questions but if this is considering makeup alone I would have to say MAC because I love most of their products and their products are less expensive than most of the products at Sephora.

-Do you have a MAC Pro card?

Sure do :)

-What makeup tools do you use in makeup application?

Brushes, fingers, and q-tips! I also use sponges a lot on clients.

-Do you use a makeup base/primer for the eyes?

Always! I love Too Faced Shadow Insurance and UDPP!

-For the face?

Sometimes but not usually. I do if I need my makeup to look flawless for a long period of time.

-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?

I could honestly never choose! It changes day by day!

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?

Both! I also use gel eyeliner! I think they all have their place, depending on the look you are trying to achieve.

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?

Umm never...lol I don't remember the last time I did! I have poked my eyes with a mascara brush before though, and it really hurts!

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?

I love them but only use them when I have lots of time to do my makeup because if you use them in a rush things can get messy!

-Do you use mineral makeup?

Sometimes. I love MAC MSFs and I use Bare Minerals Mineral Foundation sometimes if I am in a rush.

-What is your favorite lipstick?

Maybelline's Pink Please lipstick. The perfect pink and oh so affordable :)

-How about lipgloss?

MAC's Love Nectar lustreglass

-What is your favorite blush to use?

NARS Orgasm, MAC's Tippy (Hello Kitty collection), or ELF Studio Blush in Peachy Keen

-Do you buy your makeup on Ebay?

No, I never have before but I wouldn't be opposed to it if I found something I liked.

-Do you like drugstore makeup?

I absolutely love it! Its the best feeling ever when you find that perfect drugstore product! With that being said, drugstore makeup (like any other makeup) is not all created equal so there are good and bad products.

-Do you go to CCOs (Cosmetic Company Outlets)?

I have only been once. It was on a recent trip to Vegas and I loved it! I live in Canada so there are no CCOs in my area.

-Did you ever consider taking makeup classes?

Consider it? I did it! I got my makeup license last summer and it was one of the best things I ever did :)

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

Not usually but I have my moments. Mostly if I am in a big rush!

-Name a makeup crime that you hate.

When people wear too dark foundation and have an obvious line of orange on their jawline! When people wear really nude lips without a gloss (makes you look dead!), when people shave off their eyebrows and draw them on really harsh, when people have cake face (really cakey, obvious foundation)...oh I could go on and on!

-Do you like colorful shades of makeup or neutrals?

Both! I love neutral colors for work and school but I love colorful shades as well! I feel that makeup allows you to be creative and this starts with the products and shades, whether they be neutral or colorful!

-Which celebrity always has great makeup?

Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Angelina Jolie, Gwen Stefani, Lauren Conrad, Leighton Meester

-If you could leave the house with just ONE makeup item what would you use?

Hmm probably mascara. My second choice would be concealer.

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?

Yes, and I do sometimes but not very often because I love doing my makeup in the morning! I think it is important to try and be comfortable in your own, natural, makeup free skin as well though!

-Do you think you look good, even without any makeup on?

I think I look okay. My skin is pretty good but I have dark circles, redness under my nose and my eyelashes are very light.

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?

This one is easy, for me its MAC. I think they make a great range of products for everyone from the average girl to the makeup aritst and everyone in between :)

-What do you think of makeup?

Two words: LOVE IT! I think it can be used to enhance a person's natural beauty and I see it as an art form that allows me to express my creativity. Makeup is my favorite hobby!

I hope you enjoyed this very long post! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! Have a beautiful day!

XOXO, Caitlin

Sun Protection

I know its a bit late in the summer season to be posting about sun protection but this is a topic that is VERY important to me and I think that we should be conscious of sun protection all year long because UV rays are emitted from the sun all year, not just in the summer and not just on sunny days.

First off I want to say that I am by no means an expert on this topic but I have done a lot of my own research on this topic simply because I am very concerned about sun protection. So lets get started!

The first and most basic thing to know about the sun rays is that they emit ultraviolet radiation (UV), which causes premature aging, cancer and damage to the eyes. This is why it is necessary to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays.

The sun emits both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays cause sunburns while UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply, causing premature aging (such as wrinkles and age spots) and cancer. So its UVA for Aging, UVB for Burning (at least thats how I remember it!).

To protect yourself from UV radiation sunscreen is a must! At the very least, SPF 15 sunscreen should be worn on the face, neck, and backs of hands on a daily basis, even in the winter or on cloudy days. Remember to use broad spectrum sunscreen to protect from both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen should be worn no matter what your skintone is. Although darker skin tones are less susceptible to skin cancer, they are still at risk.

On sunny days spent outside such as on a beach day, at least SPF 30 should be worn on all exposed areas of the body. Don't forget to apply to the feet, hands, and backs of knees, and reapply throughout the day. Lip balm with SPF should also be worn. Sun burn on lips really hurts!

For additional protection from the sun wear a hat to protect your face and scalp, and sunglasses with 100% UV protection to protect your eyes. I know a lot of this seems like common sense but so many young people neglect many of these things and they regret it when they are older!

Tan safely with gradual sunless tanners to achieve a safe and healthy glow! They are so many great sunless tanning products available now that are easy to use without turning streaky and orange, which is great unless you're going for the Snooky look!

This post is meant to compliment a video that I made concerning sun protection where I share some of my favorite sunscreens and products for achieving a sexy glow and tan safely. Check that video out here!

Phoof! That was a lot of writing! Hope you found some of this information useful, I tried to summarize as much as I could so that it wasn't too boring! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! Have a beautiful day!

XOXO, Caitlin

My First Attempt at Konad

On a recent trip to Los Vegas I purchased an introductory kit for Konad nail art which included the scraper, the stamper, three mini Konad special polishes, and two plates. I also bought three additional plates (if you are wondering what all this stuff looks like, I show it in my Vegas haul video part 1, here is a link).

I have seen many youtube tutorials and pictures of amazing nail art that people have done using Konad so I was really excited to try it out myself! It takes some practice to get the hang of, and I am definitely no where close to being a pro but I tried some simple looks this week and thought I would post some pics :)

The first is using OPI Princesses Rule nail polish, Konad Special Polish in White, and Konad image plate M56:

The second look is using OPI Do You Lilac It? nail polish, Konad Special Polish in white and Konad image plate M64:

I am definitely going to need some more practice to master the Konad technique but its really fun so far! I got a lot of compliments and people saying "how did you do that!" when they saw my nails.

Some quick tips I picked up along the way include working as fast as you can because the special polish dried instantly and pressing very firmly when pushing the stamper onto the plate and onto your nail!

Thank you for stopping by my blog! Have a gorgeous day!

XOXO, Caitlin

Favorite Nail Polishes of the Summer: Pastel Creams!

I just wanted to show a few pictures of my favorite nail polishes of the moment. All of them are pastel creams and are very pretty, girly colors that I have been wearing frequently throughout the summer!

So here they are in no particular order:

From left to right: OPI "Do You Lilac It?", China Glaze "For Audrey", OPI "Lucky Lucky Lavender" (Hong Kong Collection), Essie "Turquoise and Caicos" (Resort Collection)

All of these colors have great formulations as they apply evenly and opaquely in two coats without any issues. None of them are too thick or too sheer, and I find myself reaching for them again and again as they are just such great summer colors for both fingers and toes!

OPI "Do You Lilac It?" is a cool (but not too cool) toned pastel purple color.

China Glaze "For Audrey" is a pastel turquoise blue that closely resembles Tiffany blue (hence the name of this polish!).

OPI "Lucky Lucky Lavender" is a pinky lavender (definitely more pink and warm toned than a true lavender).

Essie "Turquoise and Caicos" is an aqua green color. I find this color to be pretty unique.

And here are swatches of what the polishes look like on:

The polishes are shown in reverse order as they were in the above picture

I hope you enjoyed seeing swatches and recommendations for some great summer nail polish colors. If you love pastel cream finish nail polishes as much as I do then definitely check these out!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!

xoxo, Caitlin

My Favorite Mascaras of the Moment!

As I write my first post concerning mascara, I must say I am definitely not a snob when it comes to mascaras- it is all drugstore for me! Mascaras should only be used for three months before being tossed and drugstore mascaras are completely comparable to or even  better then their high-end counterparts. Here are my top mascara pics and also check out the YouTube video I put up all about mascara tips and tricks:

Youtube Video: Lovely Lashes

My first mascara pick is L'Oreal Telescopic mascara in both Clean Definition and Carbon Black formulations. This mascara is all about length and it sure delivers! L'Oreal Telescopic makes my lashes look longer than any other mascara I have ever tried and the formula stands the test of time as it does not flake or smudge after long periods of time. I do slightly prefer the Clean Definition formulation over the Carbon Black one just because it separates the lashes better.

My second mascara pick is L'Oreal Bare Naturale mascara. I use this mascara when I want to add volume to my lashes and it does exactly that without clumping at all! I find this mascara very easy to work with and as a bonus it is made with natural ingredients and is paraben free!

My final mascara pick is Cover Girl Lash Blast Length mascara. This pick is a recent find and to be honest with you I rarely ever use this mascara on my upper lashes. Instead, I have found that this is the perfect mascara for the lower lashes because it does not cause clumps and the brush makes it easy to apply without getting it all over the lower lid!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I hope this mascara information was helpful and don't forget to check out my YouTube video for more mascara tips! Have a great day!

xoxo, Caitlin

FTC Disclaimer: All products mentioned were purchased by me with my own money. All opinions expressed are my own and I am not being sponsored to do this post.

All About Foundation Part 2: Finding Your Perfect Shade of Foundation!

Okay, so you have picked a foundation formulation that you want to try, now to find your perfect shade match. This seems easier than it actually is! The lighting in many stores is often poor, making it difficult to see if the foundation is a true match or not, and even once you have found your perfect match the foundation could oxidize over time, turning your face orange! Here are my tips on finding your perfect shade match:

As far as shade matching goes, I would recommend to anyone who is just starting out to seek help from a professional at a makeup store or counter. They can tell you about their products and help you pick out what you are looking for as well as properly color match so you know you are getting the proper shade and tone. I caution you though, don't buy the foundation right away. Ask the makeup artist to apply the foundation to your foundation-free face and leave the store for a little while so you can assess how the makeup wears on your skin as well as if you are happy with the shade and finish. This also allows you to make sure the foundation does not oxidize (turn orange) on your skin over time.

If you want to purchase foundation at a drugstore where there aren't necessarily staff to assist you, I recommend going with a friend and testing three shades of a foundation that are close to your skintone by applying stripes of each to your jawline. Allow the stripes to settle on your skin (again in case of oxidation) and after a few minutes get your friend to look at the stripes and squint her eyes. The stripe that disappears into your skin when your friend squints is your shade match! It should be noted that the fluorescent type lights often found in drugstores make it difficult to assess your proper shade match. Also, I recommend reading some online reviews of good drugstore foundations to give you an idea of some specific products to look for (once again, because there is no one at the drugstore to help you with specific product selection). The drugstore foundation I recommend the most is Revlon Colorstay! It has a great color selection, comes in two formulations (dry/normal and oily), has great pigmentation, a beautiful and natural looking finish, and is blendable and easy to work with!

I hope you found both of these "All About Foundation" posts helpful! Good luck finding your perfect foundation and thanks for stopping by my blog!

xoxo, Caitlin

All About Foundation Part 1: Finding the Perfect Type of Foundation for You!

Let's face it ladies, trying to find the perfect foundation can be an overwhelming task! With so many different types and shades of foundation out there, it can be difficult to find one that complements your skin type, skin tone and budget! I hope to eliminate some of the confusion that goes along with finding the perfect foundation in this post and the next where I will share with you some tips on finding both your perfect foundation type and the perfect shade of foundation for your skin! This is gonna be a long one so here goes!

Things to consider when shopping for foundation:

1. Your Skin Type: Your skin dictates the actual type of foundation you should choose. Generally speaking, dry skin types should choose foundations with some moisturizing ingredients while oily and acne-prone skin types should choose foundations that are oil-free. I personally feel that there is a liquid foundation for all skin types and I use liquid foundation almost exclusively on my clients. There are, however, many other foundation formulas to chose from. Moisturizing cream foundation can work well for dry skin while oil-free cream or powder foundation can be used for oilier skin types. If you are looking for a more sheer coverage, mineral powder can provide a light-medium coverage for normal to oily skin while drier skin types may prefer tinted moisturizer. If you have combination skin you may want to look for a foundation specifically formulated for this, as they tend to have moisturizing ingredients along with particles to soak up excess oil. Remember, this is only a general overview. If you find that you prefer foundation that isn't necessarily formulated for your specific skin type then use what works the best for you!

2. Your Skin Tone: Wearing foundation with the proper undertone ensures that your foundation looks natural and does the best job at making you look radiant and flawless. Wearing the wrong tone of foundation; however, can make your skin look dull and can bring out the dark circles under your eyes. There are three basic skin tones: warm, neutral, and cool. Warm-toned skins have yellow undertones while cool-toned skins have pink undertones. Neutral skin tones have neither distinct yellow or pink undertones but have a more neutral undertone. An easy way of accessing your skin tone involves looking at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If the veins appear blue then your skin is cool-toned and if the veins appear green then your skin is warm-toned. If you cannot decide whether the veins look distinctly green or blue then chances are you have a neutral skin tone.

3. The Coverage and Finish you want: If you are unsure of the coverage that you want I recommend purchasing a medium coverage foundation that is buildable. That way, if you want a lighter coverage one day you can mix the foundation with your daily moisturizer and if you want a heavier coverage you can apply a second layer of the foundation. Remember: your skin is probably not as bad as you think and the little imperfections that you see are probably not noticeable to anyone else. It is better to look more natural then to have cakey looking makeup that looks like a mask! The foundation finish you want is entirely personal preference. I find that drier skin types tend to prefer a satiny or dewy foundation finish to brighten their skin while oilier skin types tend to prefer a matte finish to combat looking greasy (we always want what we don't have!). I prefer a natural finish foundation, that is, one that is neither too shiny nor completely matte. It looks the most natural because it looks like your skin! How perfect is that!

4. How much money you want to spend: While there are many amazing high end foundations out there (MAC Studio Fix Fluid, Makeup Forever HD foundation, and NARS Sheer Glow, to name a few), it is also possible to find your perfect foundation at the drugstore at a fraction of the cost. Two of my favorite drug store foundations are Revlon Colorstay Foundation and Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation. In my kit I have a variety of high-end and drugstore foundations but for myself I find myself reaching for drugstore foundations (and why not? With the money I save I can buy another more exciting product too!)

5. Any allergies or sensitivities you may have: For all of you who have acne-prone skin, I feel for you. Products in a foundation that cause breakouts or other reactions can turn an otherwise great foundation into a nightmare! Look out for ingredients such as mineral oil, silica, and corn starch which can clog pores or encourage the growth of bacteria on your face (gross!). Instead, look for the terms oil-free and non-comedogenic (does not clog pores) if you have acne-prone skin or the terms hypoallergenic or allergy-free if you have sensitive skin.

Consider these five tips when shopping for a foundation and hopefully the task will be a little less daunting! Stay tuned for part 2 all about how to find the perfect shade of foundation for your skin!

xoxo, Caitlin

My New Love: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat!

 I love beautiful nail polish as much as the next makeup lover but I must admit that I used to rarely take the time to paint my fingernails. Now don't get me wrong, my toe nails are ALWAYS painted (I think toes look weird without polish LOL!) and I keep my nails neatly filed and my cuticles groomed but nail polish rarely graced the surface of my fingernails...until now! I recently purchased the much raved about Seche Vite nail top coat and I absolutely love it! In the past I used to spend forever painting my nails only to have the slowly drying polish smudge or chip and get scratched right away. I am extremely picky about how my finger nail polish looks and the second it would get messed up I would remove all the polish and avoid painting my nails for weeks! Seche Vite solves all of my nail polish woes because it is fast drying, extremely shiny, and more resistant to chipping and scratching than any top coat I have ever tried! I have started painting my fingernails on a regular basis and Seche Vite allows it to last for up to a week!

One thing to note though, Seche Vite contains some pretty harsh chemicals (you can smell the fumes when you use it) and I have read some things online saying that some bottles are printed with warnings stating that the product is known to the state of California to cause birth defects or something like that. While my bottle does not have such a warning on the back of it, I ALWAYS make sure to use this product in a very well ventilated area (preferrably outside or in a room that I won`t be spending much time in after I have painted my nails).

Overall, this is hands down the best nail top coat I have ever tried and I will continue to use it as long as I am in a well ventilated area! I hope everyone reading this is having a great day and thanks for stopping by my blog!

xoxo, Caitlin

Welcome to Cosmetic Confessions!

My name is Caitlin and I am a girl with a passion for makeup and the creativity that comes with it! I have loved makeup for all my life from when I was a little girl and was fascinated watching my mom do her makeup. Through my love of makeup I have developed my skills and I recently obtained my makeup artist licence to increase my knowledge of makeup and skincare even more! I see makeup as a creative outlet and a form of self-expression. Makeup should not be used to cover and hide but should instead be used to bring out and enhance your natural beauty!

I hope to use this blog and my YouTube channel as a way for me to share my knowledge and connect with other makeup and beauty lovers out there! I have a lot planned for this blog and my YouTube channel including a series of beauty basics, some fun and creative makeup looks, and reviews of products that I love. Stay tuned for what is to come and subscribe to my YouTube channel if you are interested- its fun and completely free, just click the "YouTube" link bar at the top of this page!