The worlds greatest and coolest mascara!

I am very picky when it comes to mascara! I have tried many different kinds and the only one that I have found that I continuously use and love is:

L'Oreal Paris Double Extend Beauty Tubes

OMG! This stuff is amazing and very affordable (under $10)! You apply the white side first. This acts as a primer for your lashes and adds amazing length. Then, you apple the red side (no need to wait for the white mascara to dry). It does not clump or leave you lashes feeling brittle. I find I don't even need to curl my lashes when using this product! It is long wearing and smudge proof!

The greatest thing about this product is how easy it washes off. It seriously makes me a little excited every time I have to wash it off just because of how easy and fun it is. Unlike most mascaras, this is extremely easy to remove. Simply wet a washcloth with warm water. Hold the cloth on top of your lashes for about 30 seconds (maybe even less) and then wipe in a downward motion. All of the mascara will come off in little "tubes" and leave your lashes feeling wonderful. It will not break off any of your natural lashes!

I hope you all go out and try this amazing product! I can not say enough good things about it! If you have any questions feel free to ask.

xoxo

Steps to Take Before Applying Eyeshadow

So, you just bought this new, funky, bright color of eyeshadow and you're so excited to try it out. You start putting it on your eye and the color looks a million times lighter on your skin than in the pot. Damn! That's what you get for being cheap and buying the eyeshadow for a cheap price at the drugstore right? Wrong. You just didn't prepare your eye properly for the eyeshadow. Here are the steps you want to take before applying any colorful eyeshadow:

1. Put on an eye primer on your bare skin. Primer is used to make a base for all your makeup. It will prevent your eyeshadow from creasing or running. I prefer Urban Decay Eye Shadow Potion ($18). It covers nicely and won't leave your eyelids sticky or greasy and is odorless. If you would like to use a less expensive product, most companies do make their own line of primers and you can find most at your local drugstore for between $1-$10. Primer is really easy to use, just put a little dab on your finger or directly on the eyelid and rub all over your eye with your finger until it has absorbed into the skin. Make sure you do not put too much primer on or it will leave your eye oily.

2. Apply a neutral matte eyeshadow that matches your natural skin tone. This will give you an even base to work with. Put it on the entire eye area (lids all the way up to the brow).

3. Use either a white eyeliner pencil or a matte white eyeshadow on the area where you intend on placing the bright color. I prefer doing this with a white eyeshadow instead of the pencil...I find it's faster and can be distributed more evenly. When applying either one, make sure the white color is even and that you can tell it's white (i.e. don't blend it into your skin too much). This eyeshadow or pencil does not need to be expensive. Any cheap product will do the job just as well. I prefer the E.L.F. brand that only cost $1!

You are now ready to apply your bright color on top of the area you just covered in white! I will say this, when using a cheaper bright colored eyeshadow, you tend to have to still put on a couple layers of the color before achieving the color that it is in the pot but these steps will for sure make a huge difference.

Good luck my makeup beauties! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I will get back to you!

My first follower!!! =]

Thank you "flab2fab" for being my first follower! It makes me super excited! I have more fun tips and tricks coming soon! =]

Shhhh....It my best kept secret!

Ok, so this isn't so much a secret because I have seen it all over youtube lol but for those of you who do not know yet...let me introduce to you, the best face primer in the world...

drum roll please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(*insert drumming noise here*)

Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel!

Oh no she didn't!! Oh yes I did =] I know a bunch of you out there probably think I'm on crack. "She wants us to put what on our face?!?!" I promise you, this is for real. Before you start thinking that I'm asking you to rub coochie cream all over your face, let me explain. Yes, the brand is Monistat and they are known for making anti fungal coochie cream (ewww. isn't being a woman lovely?) but this has nothing to do with that area of the body. This is their chafing powder-gel that is meant for the inner thigh and bikini area. It just so happens to be the greatest facial primer in the world as well.

It is in a gel form but feels like a powder as you rub it onto your face. All you do is after applying moisturizer take a small amount and rub it all over your face before you apply any makeup . Primer is meant to keep your makeup looking fresh and in tact all day. The Powder-Gel does not leave your face feeling oily. It doesn't have a smell to it. It's not heavy feeling. It's just fantabulous! Like most makeup products, a little goes a long way with this stuff, so if you're face feels oily, you applied too much. It also dries clear so you don't need to worry about a powder-like residue being on your face. It will leave your face feeling silky soft and smooth. Remember, if you go to buy some, it will be with the feminine hygiene products, not the makeup section!

All I have to say is, trust me! It only cost about $8 or less, so even if you're unsure, it's not that big a deal to just go buy it and try it. And if you still don't believe me, do some research of your own on the internet and you will see that I am not the only one to love this product as a primer. All I want to know, is who was the first person to say "hey, this would be great on my face!" lol.

If you dare to try this best kept secret, let me know what you think!

xoxo

Advice on how to get clear skin.

Good skin is the first step to good makeup.

I am in no means perfect and I tend to be lazy when it comes to washing my face. I know that my skin could be a lot nicer if I washed my face twice a day and always made sure I took my makeup off before going to bed....but whatever, I'm human. =]

So, here are a few products that I have found help me when I'm being lazy:
1. Noxzema Clean Blemish Control Foaming Wash
-- I just keep the bottle in the shower and use it once a day. I like this product because it is formulated for adult skin. Most face cleansers out there are geared toward teenagers and adult skin is different. It is alcohol free and actually leaves my skin feeling moisturized. My gf however says that this product dries out her skin a little bit so I guess it just depends on your skin type. I tend to have very dry skin and I still have no problems with this cleanser. An added bonus, this cleanser smells AMAZING! It's like fresh apples! Every time I pump some in my hand I have to smell it first lol. =P
-- I bought this at Target for $4.93

2. Pond's Cold Cream (It must be the COLD CREAM in the green container! The blue container is not the same product!)
-- I can not say enough good things about this product! It is by far the best makeup remover I have ever used! It is great for removing eye makeup! All you do is take a little dab on your finger, rub it all over your eyelid (don't be scared of it getting into your eye, it doesn't hurt AT ALL) and then wipe it away with a tissue. NO WATER NEEDED! Could it get any easier than that?!? This is perfect for those nights when you come home after drinking a bit too much and all you want to do is throw on some sweats and go to bed...I know you know what I'm talking about =]...It takes literally a minute if that to use! I spend more time stumbling up the stairs to my apartment on nights like that lol. This product also makes an amazing moisturizer! I use it every time i get out of the shower on my face. It doesn't leave your skin oily and it works perfectly under makeup. Oh and one more amazing thing about it, since you only have to use a little bit every time, the bottle last FOREVER! I just bought a new bottle about 2 months ago, I use it everyday, and I've hardly made a dent in it.
-- This product typically runs at about $10 but I bought the MARC'S store brand for $3. It works the exact same. Oh, and for those of you who don't live in OH, Marc's is a local grocery store...I'm sure you can find store brand versions of this product any where though. I also recently purchased the Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes to keep in my purse and they work great too! The towelettes cost $1 at Target and are great for on the go!

3. Lemon and Sugar Facial Scrub (Homemade)
-- This scrub will help take off the top layer of dead skin (don't worry, it doesn't hurt) and leaves you face super soft! First, wet your face with warm water to open your pores. Second, soak a cotton ball or pad with fresh lemon juice or organic lemon juice (make sure it's organic! you don't want to clog your pores with bad additives!). Third, put about a teaspoon of sugar on the soaked cotton ball/pad. *Note, make sure you do this next part over the sink so as not to make a big mess =]* Fourth, scrub your entire face in small circular motions. If you find it is creating a stinging feeling, just dilute the lemon juice with a little water. Finally, just rinse with water. It will leave your face feeling so soft and smooth! Also, if you get a little in your mouth it taste like lemonade! Mmmmm! =] Do this about once a week.
-- You can buy the lemons or the organic lemon juice and sugar at any grocery store and it should cost you under $5

Those are all my facial cleansers for the lazy girl (or boy). I hope it helped! I would love to hear feedback from anyone who tries any of these products out! Have a fun-clear-face-filled-day! =]

xoxo

Getting Started

Welcome to my new blog, Paint it Zebra! Thank you for visiting!

On this blog I will be posting beauty and makeup advice, explaining how-to do different looks (with pictures and eventually video), and answering any questions you may have. I am also a bargain shopper and would love to tell everyone when I know of a company having a sale or just plain good deals. You don't need a lot of money to look like a million dollars!

FYI: I am not a professional makeup artist (even though that would be a dream come true for me!) and every product I use is bought with my own money.

If you have any request or questions for me, please feel free to send them my way! I am a very open person. I just want to show that EVERYONE can do makeup! As long as you are not afraid to experiment and have fun and of course practice, you can achieve any look. That is another reason why I am starting this blog, I want to practice my skill more and any constructive criticism will help.

Thank you for following me in my makeup journey <3>