NOW TRENDING: COBALT BLUE EYE LINER

*This story was originally seen on

FabFitFun.com

Red carpets everywhere have been taken over with blue — blue eyeliner, that is! Style setters like Taylor Swift and January Jones have both worn the look lately, and I can’t help but love the glamorous results. Cobalt is a great alternative to black liner and is perfect when paired with a coordinating blue shade in your ensemble. Taylor opted for a smudged smokey eye, while January went with a bold edgy cat eye. Here is how you can get the look:

For the smokey eye, opt for a pencil or kohl formula in a deep navy or darker shade of cobalt. Trace the upper lash line with a thick line of the color, then sweep a thinner line on the bottom lashes from the outer corner to just past your pupil. Keep the inner corner free from the blue color to avoid any color melting that could make you look sallow. Next take a flat and compact shadow brush and blend out the line using small back-and-forth strokes on both lash lines to create a softer smokey look like T. Swift’s.

Blue Liner

Sapphire

 |  

Pink Lips

Back to the Fuchsia 

To get a sharp cat eye like miss January Jones’, work with a bright blue liquid liner that has a flexible felt tip for precision. With your eye relaxed and just slightly open, trace the flick portion of the cat eye starting at the outermost corner of the eye and then angling up towards the edge of your brow. The longer you make this flick, the more dramatic the overall look will be. Next, trace from the midpoint of the flick back down to the center of the eye running parallel to the lash line. Finally, use the lightest pressure and place the liner tip on the inner corner of the lash line then apply slightly more pressure as you draw back and connect with your previous line in the center of the eye.

What do you guys think of Cobalt Eyes? Too 80's, or just right-for

right now

? I have really loved to see colored liners making a comeback, for more inspo you can revisit my Jewel 

Toned Liners post

here

. 

Hope your week is treating you well! xo

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MY SPRING LOOK REVEAL! DUN, DUN, DUN...

If you follow me on

instagram

, you got a sneak peek of this look last night... but the real exciting part is HOW this look came to be. I mentioned a few weeks back that I was itching for a hair change, and sure enough the bug finally bit me!

What you may not know (or maybe you do?) is that I cut and color my own hair

. Why? Because I'm too dang busy to sit down at the salon- that's why! Ha, no really- it is just a matter of prioritizing my time, and I choose to support my staff and business while I am at the salon rather than get my own locks done. Although, I totally miss the me-time and have my hair shampooed by someone else!

To see how I made the switch you'll have to head over to this weeks

Allure Magazine Beauty Challenge

and watch the fun video. And don't forget to vote while your there- and everyday this week to keep me in the race. (to be honest, I am just barely scraping by each week, so I need extra votes and social shares. Add the hashtag #teambeautysnoop so I can find you and give you big virtual hugs for your help!)

What look are you going to try this Spring! Let me know in the comments below, and if you need some suggestions send me an email with a pic and I'll help you find the right look.

MATCHING CHEEKS & LIPS TO LUST AFTER: HOW 'BOUT THEM APPLES PALETTE

Lately I have been loving the look of matching lip and cheek color! I just feel girlier sporting this look

for some reason...? It sounds a little silly when I say it out loud, but ha! oh well, it's the truth!

When the weather starts to warm up I opt to switch my blush to a creme formula so that I get a slightly dewey finish that says, 'I do declare...I'm just a little flush from this heat!' [swooning and fanning happens here]

And while there are some other products out there that claim to be for both CHEEKS & LIPS, I always find that the formula is better suited for just

one

area, and doesn't perform equally on both parts of the face. That always leaves me a little disappointed.

Then this happened:

The Balm- How 'Bout Them Apples Cheek & Lip Palette

I don't know how, but the formula is perfect for both CHEEKS & LIPS! Finally, someone figured it out. The blush consistency is really pigmented, spreads nicely and stays on all day. I apply it with a

stipple brush

so I am not too heavy handed, especially on the more pigmented tones like 'cobbler' and 'pie'.

Then using my finger, I apply the same tone to the lips and it goes on creamy and smooth in a satin/matte finish. It stains the lips fairly well, so you may need a touch up after a few hours, but I find that adding a gloss later in the day brings the original pigment back to life.

It is seriously so good! I love the variety in the 6 colors too- you get the palest of peaches all the way to a cherry red & a warm carmel. I've had them on rotation since I got this palette, and I see no end in sight! (the muscular cowboys that accompany each color aren't bad to look at either ;)

Which color is the apple of your eye?

Don't forget to

VOTE

this week once a day for the Allure Beauty Blogger Awards- I need all the help I can get!

Love to your glowing faces-

THE MAGIC OF CC CREAMS // WITH STUDIO5 TV

Hello lovlies! Today I am stopping by Studio5 to dish on all things CC Cream. If you've wondered what all the buzz is about, or what the differences are between a CC and a BB cream- then be sure you check out the

Video

 below, and my top picks for products as well.

Wearing:

Lace Sleeve Top

c/o Oasap

CC creams are similar to BB Creams (essentially tinted moisturizers) but they pack more pigment

and are designed to neutralize redness in the skin

. CC stands for 'color correcting' and the tones in a CC are often pigmented with a yellow or green base to combat the pinkness in your face. In all honesty, I believe that the use of the double letters is just a good marketing gimmick. Tinted moisturizers have been around for years- but it wasn't until all of this alphabet non-sense that they became spotlight products. The benefit of course, is that when a product is suddenly 'hot', brands throw extra money in to creating better formulas.

They are especially great for someone who wants to even out the tone of their skin but doesn't like full coverage foundation. Remember that most brands only offer 3-5 shades in their CC range, so it's very unlikely that you'll get a perfect match with your own skin tone. And that's ok. Because these formulas are based in a moisturizer, they will be more sheer in coverage and let your skin tone show through slightly.

I like to think of it like a basic math problem:

1(your skin tone) + 2(the CC tone) = 3(a combination of the two tones/ somewhere in the middle)

When buying a CC cream, I always recommend opting for a color that is lighter than your skin tone if you can't find an exact match. As a general rule CC creams tend to be darker than traditional foundations in the same range. And you can always add more color to the face with bronzers or blush- but the opposite is not true. If your base color is too dark, there is nothing you can do to lighten it without looking like Edward Scissorhands.

My top picks:

Physicians Formula CC Cream (two formulas:

20 SPF

and 

30SPF

)

Olay Total Effects CC Cream

(Anti-aging properties)

It Cosmetics CC Cream

(50 SPF and the highest coverage of the three)

Double Sided Brush

(only available with the Tarte Founcealer, but totally worth it!)

Chiseled

 Foundation Brush

(only available with the Tarte Cover Creme Foundation, but again amazing!)

Do you have a favorite CC Cream? Let me know in the comments below so I can check it out. To vote for the Allure Beauty Blogger contest this week, head over

here

. xoxo

ASK THE EXPERT: WHAT DO I DO ABOUT DRY PATCHES ON MY FACE? MY FOUNDATION LOOKS SPLOTCHY!

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It's our final episode of

Ask the Expert

in my Skin & Makeup Series- at least for now. But we are ending the run with a great topic sent in via

instagram

by reader @btrumbo. She asks, '

What are your best tips for foundation and dry skin. My foundation absorbs into my skin making it look splotchy and flaky, help!

'

Well I've got some great advice and product recommendations in the

video

below. Take a look and find the answer. And remember that you don't have to be extremely dry skinned to benefit from these products... I promise your face will glow no matter what complexion you have. mmmm, this one is a good one!

Wearing: 

Lace Sleeve Blouse

c/o Oasap

Products Mentioned in Video:

Beautisol Citrus Face Scrub

(coupon code: 'BOGO2014' for Buy 1, get 1 free!)

Olie Biologique Rejuvenating Oil

(coupon code: 'olieBB05' for 20% off!)

Dermalogica Hydrating Booster

(coupon code: BOOST' for 15% off!)

Thanks for stopping by today, hope I helped any of you looking for some dry skin tips!

Too vote in the Allure Beauty Blogger contest, click

here

xoxo

*Sample products were requested by The Beauty Snoop and provided by iFabbo and Brandbacker

INSIDER STYLIST SECRETS: ROUND BRUSH SECRET WEAPON

Raise your hand if you love BIG hair!?!

I certainly do. In fact my nickname in high school was 'Texas'- due to my love of BIG, BLONDE Hair. And while I don't rock the platinum blonde hair anymore, I still feel a little more girly and bouncy when I am sporting some major volume in the locks department. (Love to any texan ladies out there!)

At the salon, one of the number one complaints I hear from clients is about their lack of volume. It's a problem for a lot of women. I wrote a post about the perfect recipe for major volume

here

, but you can replace the brush and traditional rollers with these all new bad-boys of blowouts: round brush hot rollers.

What are they? 

Round brushes with detachable handles that give you the ability to keep the brush in place while the hair cools

. I picked these up about 5 months ago and took them for a test spin at the salon. They were fab so I snagged a second set for my own use at home. 

You use the brush just as you would any other round brush while blow drying your hair. The center is made of ceramic plating, so it heats up with the hot air put out by your dryer. After the hair is 70% dried, you can roll the brush down to the scalp with a decent amount of tension- then press the release button to disconnect the handle. Now its a hot roller, waalaa! Blast the rollers with additional heat until dry. Keep the rollers in while you finish your makeup, and once cool, remove the rollers for some 'holy-hannah-that's-big-texas-hair!' 

Most sets like this that I've seen come with 5-6 rollers which is enough for a whole head. I tend to just use a couple on my trouble areas like the crown and bangs. Either way the results last much longer because the cooling stage locks in the lift. You can get true blowout results at home, especially after a little practice. My set is made by

Bioionic

which is a professional line sold at salons, but I found virtually the same type of system by

Click n' Curl

here

in two different barrel sizes. (plus there is a handy video to see it in action!)

Who is coming to Texas with me?

xoxo

THE FOUNDATION I CANNOT STOP BUYING!

Well folks, the love affair continues.

I have found another Tarte product that I cannot stop loving on- and who can blame me? This stuff is magic in my eyes. [Cue the swooning here]

The Colored Clay collection from Tarte is brand new technology that harnesses natural sun baked minerals found in the Amazon jungle. The clay is layered in the earth, and is naturally colored in amazing tones that range from green to purple! Mother nature is just showing off I think. Anyways- the clay is finely milled into a dust and then added to the foundations to give a color-correcting blend of goodness.

A few weeks ago I highlighted the 

Tarte Colored Clay Liquid Foundation

 in this

video

. So I won't go into too much detail here- but this option is a high coverage liquid with a silky texture that's a little more dewey when applied to the face. My only negative about this one, is the container that it comes in. It has a mesh filter in the opening which helps you to pick up only the amount of product you actually need, but once the product is running low- it becomes hard to access the last bits. I just end up cutting the mesh out and scooping with my finger. Classy.

Above is a pic of me in my natural bare face. This is scary, and I hate to post it- but I can't just tell you about my acne at some point I have to show you, right? The middle pic is with foundation only (the Tarte Foundcealer in Light) and I think you can see what a good job it does of neutralizing the redness in my skin and giving me a much healthier looking tone. The final pic on the right is with additional concealer on my scars and zits, as well as contour to visually camouflage the bumps. I also added blush to complete the look.

If you like the idea of a mousse-ier type foundation, then the 

Tarte Colored Clay Foundcealer

 option may be right for you. It comes in a tube and gives a more matte finish that looks more like airbrushed powder when dry. I like this version when my complexion more clear and I don't need as much camouflage.

Both are AMAZING products that I cannot stop buying or loving. So I hope that they find a home in your makeup bag too! You can get them both for a better value on QVC in value packs that include brushes!

The

Allure Beauty Blogger

contest kicks off on Monday- be sure you check out all the fun beauty challenges, and P.S. I would love your vote to keep me in the running!

OMG! HUGE EXCITING NEWS!

Eeek! I am freaking out- if only you could see my ridiculous expression as I type this!

Today

Allure Magazine

announced the finalists in this years

Beauty Blogger of the Year Awards

, and guess what!?!

I am one of them!

Holy amazing-ness, I could not be more thrilled, humbled, and terrified all at the same time.

What are the beauty blogging awards, you ask? Well basically it's like the 'Surviver' of the blogging world

. Each week, for the next five weeks, we will be competing in a series of blogging challenges. The challenges are voted on by you guys, as well as judged by a panel of editors at Allure, and one celebrity guest judge each week.

At the end of each challenge, there will be a winner declared- and one or more bloggers will be eliminated. [sad face.] At the end of the five weeks, one blogger is crowned Beauty Blogger of the Year, and she wins a trip to NYC to be photographed and interviewed for the October issue of the magazine. WOWZA!

I'll need all the help I can get to stay in the race- I am up against some awesome fellow bloggers. Be sure you check them all out too, and vote for your favorites each week at

allure.com/go/blogger-awards

 The fun starts on Monday. 

Hugs and thank you's to you all for helping me get this chance!

NOW TRENDING: TICKLED PINK LIDS

*** This article was first seen on

FabFitFun.com

Looking for a fresh makeup trend to kick off your springtime routine? Take a page from this trending book, and add a fresh pop of pink to your lids. The subtle ballet-slipper pink adds a feminine touch that is perfect to pair with your springtime floral and pastel wardrobe. Celebrities like Cate Blanchett have worn the look on the red carpet, and pink lids were a big trend during fashion month on catwalks all over the world. It’s a look that wears beautifully on all skin tones and is perfect for daytime office beauty as well as glammed-up nighttime styles.

To get the look, sweep a creme shadow all over the lid starting just above the crease line and down into the lashes. Cream shadows are ideal for pale colors because they pack more pigment and will give more color in less layers. Or opt for a powder shadow with a shimmer that will reflect the light and give major attention to the color of your eyes. Looking for just a hint of pink? Replace your white highlight with the pink version, and sweep the hue under the eyebrow and on the inner corners of your eyes for an instant eye-brightening effect.

Complement the look with a matching pale cheek and a few coats of black mascara, and your springtime beauty will be updated, feminine, and on-trend. To get the look, try these products

:

1. 

Clinique Chubby Stick in Pink & Plenty

2. 

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Ballet Pink

3. 

Make Up For Ever Diamond Shadow in Diamond Pink

4. 

Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Pomegranate Pink

 (In love with every shade of these!)

5. 

L’Oréal Infallible Eyeshadow in Glistening Garnet 

Ok lovlies, it's time to tell me what you think of this trend? Is it one that you'll be trying this Spring- or are you not a fan of the baby pink tone? Tell me in the comments below, and don't forget to come follow along for more fun on

instagram

.

ASK THE EXPERT:HOW DO I FADE DARK SPOTS QUICKLY?

Oooh Wee! This subject is a doo-zie (is that how that's spelled?) Today in my

Ask The Expert

video I am continuing my Makeup & Skincare series and answering another reader question that came through

instagram

. @JessieMariko wants to know how to lighten dark spots and scars quickly.

While

there is no magic cure for lightening up pigmentation on the face

, we can certainly help speed up the process with the use of some good products. Check out the

video

below for my recommendations, and a look at a LIFE CHANGING beauty secret that I use every. single. day.

Products Mentioned:

• DermaBlend Cover Creme

• Paula's Choice Dark Spot Eraser

• Paula's Choice Weekly Resurfacing Treatment

• Murad Rapid Age Spot Lightening Serum

I hope that you aren't suffering from dark spots, but if you or somebody you know is, you can shop my recommended solutions below and I wish you tons of luck with your treatment. Thank you as always for watching and reading- you guys rock my world! If you have your own beauty question, please leave a comment below or send me an email and I will read every single one! Thanks

ACCESSORY CRUSH: THE TURBAND (AND SOME FUN WAYS TO WEAR IT)

Bad hair day? Yeah, me too.

Seriously guys, lately my hair has been giving me grief. I think it's a sign that I need to make a change soon. So while I mull over what the future of my hair is going to look like, I have been covering up my bad hair days with my favorite new accessory; the turband.

A turband is a scarf-like headband that has a bendable wire core running down the length of it. The wire gives you the option to shape the turband for a perfect non-slip, non-squeeze shape- and the option to style the ends into numerous fun designs.

Above you'll find a few ways that I like to style my turbands- but I am sure you can come up with your own unique ways too. That's part of the fun!

Have you worn a turband yet? If you have let me know which ways you like to style yours, I am always looking for more stylish ways to wear mine!

Below you can also shop of few of my favs too- perfect for warmer weather and EASY hair days.

See you soon, xo

P.S. It's April!?! How the crap did that happen?

DOUBLE SIDED MAKEUP BRUSHES THAT RULE THE WORLD

When it comes to makeup application, there is a HUGE deciding factor in the results you'll get: the tools. I think 50% of a good makeup application, comes from the brushes that were used to put on the products, and 50% comes from the actual products themselves. Surprising? Maybe. Especially if you've never paid much attention to the tools you use- but if you have discovered the difference between good and GREAT, then you'll know exactly what I am talking about.

Good brushes are soft at the beginning, then stiffen rapidly over time. Good brushes keep their bristles in tact until their first washing when many bristles come loose and end up sticking to your face. Good brushes wash out, but the makeup never seems to completely leave the bristles.

GREAT brushes walk all over the facts from above- and they last months and years longer because of it. Not to mention the application they give is more precise, and more consistent every time. Yes, they cost more too- but it's worth it... promise.

What's even better than GREAT makeup brushes? Duel sided GREAT makeup brushes, that's what!

Above in the pic are my top picks for quality duel sided brushes- they are the VIP list when everything else is general admission. Get what I'm saying?

It Cosmetics Duel Sided Foundation Brush

- This guy is the Macgyver of foundation and concealer brushes. It works for any type of foundation: cream, liquid or powder. And the compactness of the bristles is a perfect blend of either high coverage application or light weight. The smaller end is perfect for concealer work under the eyes or around the nose. It washes beautifully and bristle shedding is very minimal.

Bare Essentials Double Ended Precision Brush

- This brush will be your new best friend because it eliminates the need for about 10 other shadow brushes. The larger side is soft yet compact and great for applying your lid colors and blending out pigments. The smaller side is for your detail work across the lash line, in the crease, and under the brow. It can be used wet or dry and gives you the control of a liner brush, but the flexibility of a contour brush. Genius!

Tarte Cosmetics Two Sided Contour Brush

- Move over blush-brush... the new kid in town is all about highlight and contour, and this brush is the perfect pairing of both. Tarte has become a new favorite of mine, and their brushes are no exception. On one end you get a chiseled domed brush that's ideal for contouring under the cheekbones and down the sides of the nose for a major slimming effect. The other side hosts a looser angle brush that is made for blending, softening and applying your highlighters to the prominent areas of the face.

Aren't these double-sided work horses just uh-mazing!?! I think you'll be smitten with them as well. Thanks for stopping by today- here's hoping it's a beautiful week.

ASK THE EXPERT: WHAT IS THE BEST UNDER EYE CONCEALER?

Today I am excited to be answering another reader question in my

Makeup & Skincare Series

. The question came in from

instagram

, where @kmortensen6 asked. 'What is the best (reasonably priced) under eye concealer?'

I have two favorites to share with you in the

video

below:

PRODUCTS:

Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser

Josie Maran Argan Oil Creamy Concealer

WEARING:

Oasap Polkadot Blouse

 c/o (on sale!)

Thanks for reading- I appreciate you all so much! If you have a question for me, please leave it in the comments below and you may just get a video answer too. xoxo

STYLEWISE: THE LUPITA & THE RETURN OF THE HEADBAND

This years' Oscar red carpet was filled with 'hits' and not too many 'misses'- which is always a treat for celeb-loving people like myself. I honestly love the fashion and beauty in the pre-show much better than the actual award show itself, and I don't think I am alone. 

This year during the red carpet there was one women on everybody's minds: Lupita! She stole the show with her stunning blue plunge-neck ball gown, and her elegant use of a HEADBAND. Wha!?! Headband you say? My instagram feed was blowing up with pics of her simple jeweled band, which paired beautifully with her cropped haircut- which I didn't know was even possible! Since then I have been on the hunt for a version of my own, and now I just need an excuse to get fancy and put it to use.

In the

StyleWise

pic above, I simply placed the stretchy head band around the crown of my head in a halo fashion, with the rhinestones placed about 2 inches behind my hairline. Starting near the temples, I took large 2inch sections of hair and wrapped them from the outside of the band up and over, then under the elastic to form one complete loop around the elastic. Once the tail is wrapped around the elastic and hanging free, incorporate it with the next subsequent 2 inch section, and then wrap them both around once again. Repeat on both sides, until the two tails meet in the back near the nape of your neck. Join them into one final tail and gently tuck it in behind the elastic to form a completed roll. This style is so quick and easy, and it works for shoulder length hair or longer.

You can shop my fav picks for a sparkler-band below. What do you think of Lupita's headband? Let me know in the comments below, and thank you for stopping by today! xoxo

NOW TRENDING: LIQUID GLOW CHEEKS

Clockwise:

Maybelline Master Glaze

  |

Smashbox O-Glow

  |  

NYX Stick Blush

  |  

Tarte Cheek Stain

  |  

Josie Maran Color Stick

[This article was originally seen on

FitFabFun.com

 where I write as a contributing beauty blogger] 

While the weather is still cool, but you're dreaming of warmer months ahead- take a page from these celeb looks, and add some sizzle to your cheeks until the weather catches up. The subtle color and liquid sheen amp up your makeup routine in just the right way, while still pairing perfectly with your neutral winter wardrobe.

To get the look stick with a creamy blush that boasts a hint of shimmer and apply it to the roundest parts of your cheeks. Be sure it's one of the last products you apply so that the sheen isn't matted down by powders or setting sprays. Want to boost the sheen even further? Add a tiny dollop of petroleum jelly to the cheek and work it into the color and back onto the top of the cheekbone ever so slightly. My favorite is the 

Cocoa Butter flavor by Vaseline

, the scent is so yummy and the consistency is perfect for makeup use.

Opt for subtle colors this time of year and leave the brights for Spring and Summer. Fair skinned beauties will look radiant in peach and pale pink tones, while darker complexions look stunning in bronze and rose gold cheeks this winter. 

---

Let's meet up on

Pinterest

shall we!?! 

Be.YOU.tiful link party

3 GREAT THINGS TO DO WITH SALT SPRAY

SachaJuan Ocean Mist

 |  IT Surf Spray (discontinued) Instead

Try Bamboo Ocean Waves

  |  

Pureology Sea Kissed Texturizer

Salt sprays have really found their place amongst the giants of the hair care world, and for good reason. They mimic that 'just-left-the-beach' hair without the sticky and sandy leftovers. And while women with natural curl know the great benefits of salt sprays- there are also a few lesser known uses for the stuff that will leave you wishing you had known sooner.

Add major volume to your blow dry

While the most common use for sea sprays is to scrunch texture into your waves or curls, my favorite way to use salt spray is to spritz it in at the roots prior to my blow dry. The salt formula gives great flexible hold, and unlike gels, they are easily brushed through and never flake. Apply 8-10 sprays to your damp roots then blow dry as normal and use your fingers or a brush to lift and give volume to the crown of the head. *Extra tip for volume- After you've dried the hair completely gather it all onto the top of your head in a high loose bun...secure with a Spin Pin or scrunchy to avoid leaving indents in the hair. The roots will cool in an upward direction, then when you release the bun after 10-15 minutes you'll have great lift from the scalp.

Skip the shower one extra day

You know I love my dry shampoos, but salt sprays also work great to keep roots grease free. Like in the step above, applying the formula to your roots prior to your blow dry not only gives volume, but the salt is also good at soaking up excess moisture in the hair. On day 2-3 of your blowout you can reapply the salt spray to the roots and hit it again with your blowdryer to give the hair a good pick me up and give you one extra day without washing. Scented sea sprays also help deodorize dirty hair.

Create waves you never knew you had

If you have straight or only slightly wavy hair, you can fake it with the help of a salt spray. On dry hair, lightly spritz the lengths with your salt spray (not too much) then use a wide tooth comb to disperse the product evenly. Next take large sections of hair, usually only 2-3 are needed for your whole head, and loosely braid the sections down to the ends. Secure each braid with a hair tie- then break out your blowdryer and apply low warm heat to the braids until the salt spray is dry and the braid is heated through. Wait at least 10 minutes for the braid to cool completely and for the waves to set. Remove the ties and carefully finger through the braids to undo them. Finally scrunch in some hair spray for added hold and you'll look beach worthy in no time.

Just keep in mind that hair that is air dried with salt spray will likely clump into cluster pieces, which is great for natural curl. But to use the spray in the above mentioned techniques you'll need to brush through the hair while applying heat to get a soft clump-free finish.

What is your favorite Salt Spray? Let me know in the comments below and I'll be sure to check it out. My top picks are in the image above, you'll love all of them- just decide which factor is most important to you, then shop accordingly for either most curl/hold, best for volume, or yummiest scent. Thanks for reading, be sure you're signed up for email so you never miss a SNOOP STORY.

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NOW TRENDING: VIOLET TULIP EYES WITH STUDIO5

1-

FLOWER Beauty Creme Eyeshadow

[Orchid-ing Around]

2-

Maybelline Color Tattoo

[Painted Purple]

3-

FLOWER Beauty Eyeshadow Chubby

[Keep Your Pansies On]

4-

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Crayon

[Paranoid Purple]

5-

Urban Decay Glide On Eye Pencil

[Empire]

6-

NYX Love in Florence Eye Shadow Palette

[xoxo, Mona]

7-

Avon True Color Eyeshadow Quad

[Purple Pop]

8-

Maybelline Expert Wear Shadow Quad

[Lavender Smokes] 

9-

NYX Baked Shadow

 [Violet Smoke]

10-

NYX Creme Shadow

[Deep Purple]

11-

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil

[Lavender] 

12- *Not pictured, but still fabulous

Almay Color Softies

[Lilac]

Hello Snoopers! Today I am back on Studio5 talking about this seasons hottest color in eye makeup... Violet Tulip. You may have heard that Pantone named Radiant Orchid the color of the year, but you may not be aware that they also name 10 colors per season as well. These 10 colors show up in our fashion magazines, on the store racks, and in beauty looks as well.

And while Radiant Orchid is beautiful, it is quite a pinky shade of purple that isn't quite as easy to find or wear when it comes to makeup. Her sister shade Violet Tulip however, is stunning for winter/spring and is easily one of the most flattering makeup colors universally.

Check out my guide to wearing Violet Tulip in the

video

clip below and then get your booty over to these links above to pick up your own perfect shade of purple.

Tips for wearing Violet Tulip:

1- Start with creme shadows if purple makes you nervous

. The creme formula is more forgiving and is blendable and spreadable for a much longer time before it sets in place. You can use your finger to smudge cremes which gives you more control over the pressure and allows you know exactly where the product is being placed. Start with a small amount, you can always layer and add more to give a brighter pop of color. If you're a makeup maven, then feel free to use powder shadows- just be sure your precise with the application so your purple doesn't run with the wind!

2- Keep purple lower than the crease of your eyelid

. To avoid looking cray-zy focus the color on either the lash line

or

the crease, but always remember to never let purple venture up towards the brow bone. This will keep the color more 'hidden' and will give a beautiful revealing effect when you blink your lids.

3- For a mature look (if your eyes have more 'wisdom' in them) keep the shadows glitter-free

. Glitter and shimmer should be reserved for a younger lady and for night time events. To wear purples during the day, keep them matte and pair them with complimentary neutrals like taupe and navy blue. Muted purples are a great option too, so look for tones that have grey or pink in them to subdue the purple tone slightly.

Remember that purple is an accent and works nicely with other colors. You certainly can go all-out with this look and wear a whole eye of purple, but there is no need to. Pair your purple with neutrals or just use purple on one portion of the eye, and you'll still get the wow factor without going over the top.

Enjoy your day, meet me over on

instagram

?-

NOW TRENDING: NUDE NAILS FOR FALL 2014

Now that New York Fashion Week has come to an end, I always love going back through the collections and spot patterns that weaved through many of the designers looks. Without a doubt

the biggest nail trend was the return of the Nude Nail for Fall

.

Not that nude is ever un-beautiful... it's just too classic for that. But it certainly hasn't been the talk of the town in the last few years, because the focus has been on detailed nail art and the power of the gel nail formula that has seemingly taken over the world.

But I think it's safe to say that the return of the nude nail will be big this Fall, and while that may seem boring, check out some of the variation in these pics above! Splashes of color mixed with the nude are stunning in my book, and the use of color blocking has now entered the scene as well. Those gold and nude combos are my favorite, hands down.

I love the subtleness of this trend and the attention to detail that it brings to any ensemble. So get your bright Spring and Summer colors in while you can, then be ready for a classic [subtle] taste of beauty come Fall.

Do you like these looks? Let me know if the comments below, and be sure you come back Friday for a new episode of Studio5 where we are dishing about the newest color in eye makeup...

Violet Tulip

!

THE BEST OF: LIP SCRUBS

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish

  |  

Bliss Fabulips Scrub

  |  

Bite Whipped Lip Scrub

  |  

Sara Happ The Lip Scrub

Lately my lips have been through the ringer- frigid cold air and lots of wind, mixed with dry indoor heaters, make for seriously parched lips. It is one of my biggest [beauty] pet peeves, but I have learned to concur the winter weather with the brilliance that is... 

LIP SCRUBS

.

If you've never used a lip scrub, let me give you the 411. Lip scrubs are usually composed of a granulated sugar and moisturizing essential oils of some kind. The sugar granules gently slough off the dead skin on the lips, while the oils repair and replace lost moisture. The combo is perfection, and you'll be surprised what a difference it makes for the softness and appearance of your lips. No amount of lip balm can do what a scrub can, and that's a fact.

The one that started it all is the

Lip Scrub from Sara Happ

. She introduced scrubs specific for lips about 5 years ago, and the industry has grown ever since. The Sara Happ line consists of amazing flavors including Peach, Peppermint, Blood Orange and more! They are so yummy, I swear you'll want to eat the whole jar. But don't.

Others that I love are the

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish

and

Bliss Fabulips Scrub

, both are great options and have luxury oils infused in the formulas. The last one pictured is by the new line

BITE

, and to be honest I haven't tried their scrub yet, but their

lipsticks

have recently rocked my world so I can't imagine the scrub is anything less than amazing!

Since I discovered the amazing results of lip scrubs, I have since started experimenting with making my own too. Next week, I'll give you my favorite recipe so you can join in on the fun! xoxo

HOW TO WEAR DARK LIPSTICK WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE THE JOKER

I love wearing dark lipstick, but I've had too many embarrassing moments when I realized that the color had slipped off my lips and on to my face in public. After a few of those 'uh..what the hell!?!' moments, I started looking for a better answer- and after a lot of trial and error, I finally discovered the amazingness of using a physical barrier around the perimeter of my lips to keep the color in place.

It all started when I had tried to use my finger to wipe away some excess lipstick that had snuck passed the perimeter of my lips. I was left with a pink stain on my skin that needed to be covered up ASAP otherwise I would have looked like the joker, and let's be honest- that is NOT a good look.

I would have reached for the concealer, but I feared getting my fingers in to the mix again, would only smear things even greater. So out of shear desperation I reached for my nude eyeliner, and to my surprise it worked perfectly and the rest is history!

Since then I have researched, and found out that others use this technique, so I'm certainly not the only one who's had the idea, but I wanted to share it with you because it has been a life saver for me, and now hopefully for you as well.

Now, before I apply any lipstick I pre-line with a nude liner to create a physical barrier for the color and the clean up the perimeter especially around the corners of my mouth where color can easily wander. In addition to all that goodness, the flesh tone give an optical illusion of fuller lips by highlighting those nice curves!

My two favorites are the Nude

Waterproof Kohl liner from Rimmel London

which also comes in Taupe and Brown for darker skin tones. And even better in my opinion is the

Chella Cosmetics Highlighter Pencil

which comes in Ivory, Cinnamon, and Latte so all your colors are covered! It's an easy fix and makes a world of difference- give it a try I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Love to you all! Let me know in the comments below if you have any other good lipstick techniques to share. xoxo

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