how to: wear eye makeup with glasses

Four eyes. Specks. Google-eyed. If you wear glasses, you've probably heard any or all of those nicknames at some point in your life. Whether they were meant jokingly or not, here's your chance to prove how you can rock glasses any day using these tips to coordinate them with your eye makeup!

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Before we get specific, here are some general tips for all glasses-wearers:

1. Define Your Brows
Defined brows are a key element of making your glasses really pop. The eyebrows provide a frame for your frames (see what I did there ;) and can really affect how pulled together your face appears. Filling them in lightly with a brow powder, like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo (currently on a great deal!), is the best and most natural option. Using brow powder allows you much more control over the amount of product (and the resulting intensity of color) being applied.

*Quick Tip: For brunettes, pick a brow powder that is 1-2 shades lighter than your hair color. For blondes, choose a shade that is 1-2 shades darker than your hair color. This will ensure the best match!

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2. Use Highlighting to Your Advantage
By adding a cream or champagne shimmery shade right below your eyebrows, they will appear so much more prominent and defined looking on your face. My favorite highlighting shade is 'Bootycall' from the Naked 2 palette.

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3. Get Rid of Under-Eye Shadows
Glasses' frames and lenses can cast shadows down your face, particularly under your eyes. Make sure to use a brightening under-eye concealer, like the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer Pen, to make sure everything is flawless and radiant. That being said, make sure that you don't add too much concealer because the lenses will magnify everything, and make it look extra cakey.

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Now, for the specifics:

First, put on your glasses, and look in the mirror. Do your glasses have thick frames or thin ones? Are they circular, or are they more angular? What color are the frames? These will all affect the shape and style of the eye look that will best suit you.

Thick Frames: 

-Look good with neutral or smokey eyes (choose shadows that work with the frame color!)
-Use a thin swipe of eyeliner to avoid it blending with glasses' frames.
-Super polished brows look killer with these frames.
-Keep the rest of the face even and neutral when rocking thick-framed glasses.
-Look fabulous with a bold lip color.

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Thin Frames: 

-Look best with neutral eye makeup, as to not overwhelm the delicate-looking frames.

-Again, thin eyeliner is the way to go with this look!

-Playing up your blush while wearing thin frames gives you a more innocent and youthful look.

-As with thick frames, wearing a bold lip color with your slender glasses help balance the look a bit.

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I hope that this post was helpful to all of your glasses-wearers out there, like myself! Please let me know what you think in the comments below, as well as what type/brand of glasses are your favorites! Thanks for reading, and have a great day!

P.S. Don't forget to check out my giveaway of Moose and Nigel's Rose Gold 'LOVE' Necklace! It ends TONIGHT at 11:30 PM EST!

what's black, white, and pink all over?

A slightly sunburned penguin who's been out in the sun a little too long…. or me!

It's starting to feel a lot like winter (except for today's 80 degrees…what?). I've finally had to start wearing tights with skirts and dresses, seeing as it is December.

Yesterday's outfit was very Kate Spade inspired. The black and white color blocked sweater coordinated perfectly with this feminine, pink skirt. Add black tights and flats, and voila!

Sweater (similar): Madewell

Skirt: J.Crew

Tights: Target 

Ballet Flats: Wanted 

Watch: Michael Kors

Necklace: Stella and Dot (old)

Thanks so much for reading! Make sure to check out my giveaway of the Moose and Nigel Roe Gold 'LOVE' Necklace! Have a great day!

a natural beauty

"No matter how plain a woman may be, if truth and honesty are written across her face, she will be beautiful."  -Eleanor Roosevelt

I need an iPhone reminder with this quote like 25 times a day. Today, many women base their own self worth on their physical appearance, and we need to remember that we are so much more than our dress size, that big zit on our foreheads, or the muffin top poking over our jeans. Today, I wanted to show you the type of makeup look that I wear on a daily basis: au natural (or as close as you can get with makeup :). I think it's very important to utilize makeup in a way that will enhance your own facial features, instead of masking your face to paint on another one. The goal of this look is to bring attention to you glowing, healthy skin and your bright and shining eyes. So, without further ado, here's my natural makeup look: 

I go through phases where I like really perfected and flawless makeup looks, and then times where I swoon over naturally enhanced stunners as well. Here are some of my recent favorites via Pinterest (by the way, follow my on Pinterest at Poised and Preppy!).

How to achieve the best "no makeup" makeup look:

1. Use a thin base of tinted moisturizer or powder foundation on your face just where you need coverage. For me, that's in my T-Zone and under my eyes.

2. Apply a peachy or rosy blush color (whichever suits your complexion the best) NOT to the apples of your cheeks. I repeat, not on the apples of your cheeks. A person does not naturally blush on the tops of their cheeks; the natural flush appears more in the middle of your cheek just under the cheekbone. Just tap your blush there and sweep it backwards for a bit of natural-looking contouring.

**Optional step: Adding a swipe of of a gold or rosy-toned highlighter on the top of your cheekbone brings the youthful glow back into your skin and makes you look like you've been drinking enough water and sleeping enough ;)

3. Lightly fill in your eyebrows. I like to use an eyeshadow because I think it gives a more natural looking effect, but using an eyebrow pencil with a light hand is fine. Eyebrow shape can truly change your face, so make sure to follow the natural arch of your brow to keep this makeup look minimal.

3. Apply a shimmery, champagne shadow to the inner corners of your eyes. The trick is to make sure that the shadow is not too frosty looking, which would defeat the purpose of "natural." The goal is to bring the focus to your eyes, while making them look wider and brighter.

4. Lastly, whip out your good ol' mascara. I can't not put on mascara… it's an addiction! I use my regular black mascara for this step, but to make it even more natural, you could opt for a mascara with a brown tint.

*Any of these steps are optional. Don't feel like you haaave to do this, if you don't think it makes you look your most beautiful.

TA-DA! You're finished!

P.S. Don't forget to check out my giveaway of Moose and Nigel's Rose Gold 'LOVE' Necklace!!

my favorite makeup products!

Over the years, I've accumulated a fairly large collection of makeup (in my mind…). However, I only use about 25% of the products that I have, simply because after a while, the other 75% of products seem to just stop working as well. Today, I'm going to share with you the products that have all continued to work for me and perform beautifully every time. If you want a more in-depth review on any of the products listed below, please let me know in the comments section!

bareMinerals Customizable Get Started Kit

-1 bareMinerals READY SPF 20 Foundation, ORIGINAL SPF 15 Foundation(size: large), or MATTE SPF 15 Foundation(size: large) 

-1 Mini Prime Time Original Foundation Primer 

-1 Warmth All-Over Face Color (size: medium)

-1 Mineral Veil finishing powder (size: medium)

-1 Full Flawless Face Brush

-1 Flawless Application Face Brush

-1 Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush

Photo: 1

Nars Blush in Deep Throat

Photos: 1, 2

NYC Smooth Bronzer in Sunny
Photos: 1, 2

Sonia Kashuk Instructional Eye Palette in 02 Eye on Neutral
Photos: 1, 2, 3

Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara in Excessive Black

Lancome Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base

Photos: 1, 2

P.S. Here are a few Makeup Cyber Monday Deals:

        -Sephora: Free shipping on orders over $50 with code SHIPNOW and 5 free samples with every order (online only) with code SUSPENSE

        -Ulta: Free shipping on any $25 purchase with the code JINGLE13, Free 18-piece beauty bag with any purchase of $40 or over, CHI hair tools on major sale + free gift, 30% of all Real Techniques, 25% off Pur Minerals, 2 for $18 Butter London nail polishes, free luxury robe with any purchase of a $40 fragrance 

        -Beauty.com: Up to 25% off prestige brands (ends 12-4-13)

Don't forget to check out my giveaway with Moose and Nigel of their Rose Gold 'LOVE' Necklace!!

out of every oyster comes a pearl

Well, I didn't see any come out of the ones I was eating last night… 
Last night,  I went to an outdoor oyster roast, and boy, it was cold!! I had to make sure to wear a super-duper warm outfit, but I still wanted to look polished and put together. 

I paired my colorful Fair Isle sweater with these cozy caramel corduroys for a cute and casual combo (say that three times fast :). I chose my long brown riding boots, so that I could wear fuzzy socks and foot warmers (don't judge me... it was seriously cold). Lastly, I added my pearl studs and MK watch for a touch of glamour. Over top my comfy ensemble, I added a burnt orange peacoat and gloves, and I was out the door!

Sweater: Madewell

Pants: Madewell

Jacket: Hydraulic (mine's from Belk)

Boots: Madden Girl

Necklace: Moose and Nigel c/o

Watch: Michael Kors

Thanks for reading everyone! Don't forget to check out my giveaway of the Moose and Nigel Rose Gold 'LOVE' Necklace! Hurry to enter and win! Have a great day!