Bride on a Budget: Searching for the Perfect Wedding Day Perfume

Hey guys,
I'm sorry it has been a few weeks since I last posted. It's prom season, wedding season, and most importantly, GAME OF THRONES SEASON 5 IS AIRING!! Needless to say, I have been busy doing makeup, planning my own wedding, preparing for the wedding of others, and hoping that no weddings I attend are hosted by Walder Frey (The Lannisters send their regards).

Exciting news! My own wedding is only a little over four months away and I have finally started planning, which means I can finally start my new series that I have aptly titled "Bride on a Budget." I am doing a lot of DIY projects and I plan I sharing how to make some of the things that I will have at my wedding, as well as posting budget friendly tips for others who are on a tight wedding budget and may find my tips useful.

May has been the month of perfume for me. I am on a search for a perfect wedding day/honeymoon perfume. I find that scents are great to tie to memories. One whiff of a certain scent, and it's like you have hopped into a time machine and went back to a certain time in your life. Kind of like when you walk by Abercrombie in the mall and once their signature smell hits your olfactory gland, you instantly remember popping your collar in 2006 and thinking you looked damn good doing it.

On a less embarrassing note, I can smell Pumpkin Pecan Waffles scented candles from Bath and Body and it instantly takes me back to when my fiance proposed to me and the exciting time in our lives that followed that fall. I want to find a scent that I can fall in love with and start wearing so that it will take me back to this time in our lives. Even though wedding planning is hella stressful, I still want to have something to bring me back to this time in my life. I'm not saying that Elizabeth and James Nirvana White will be my wedding day perfume because I'll probably try a hundred different perfumes, but right now it is the front runner.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana White Perfume 
For those of you who don't know, Elizabeth and James is owned by the Olsen Twins. I loved their stuff they used to carry at Walmart as a kid and apparently my tastes have not matured much over the years as I am still throwing my dollar bills at the Olsen's. I received  a roller ball of this fragrance and of the sister perfume to this, Nirvana Black, when I cashed in my VIB points at Sephora. I prefer the Nirvana White to the Nirvana Black because it is a lighter, more feminine scent. The notes listed on the Nirvana White are Peony, Muguet, Tender Musk with the style listed as "Sophisticated. Feminine. Captivating." I am not one to go for a floral scent, but I don't find that this fragrance is overly floral. If you have 100 points in your VIB bank, I suggest you cash them in for this rollerball while they last! I didn't pay anything out of pocket for mine because I used my points, but a full sized rollerball retails for $22, a 1oz bottle retails for $55, and a 1.7oz bottle retails for $75. I personally never buy the biggest bottle of perfume because by the time I get half way through it, I'm bored and want to try something else, hence wasting my hard earned cash. I don't think that 50 bucks is too much to spend on a luxury fragrance, especially for such a special occasion if I end up choosing it for my wedding day scent.

While I'm at it, I'll tell you exactly why I prefer the Nirvana White when compared with its sister fragrance. Nirvana Black has that same strong masculine and almost sickly undertone that you find in Tom Ford's Black Orchid. I actually thought I would enjoy the Nirvana Black more than the White because the notes listed are Violet, Sandalwood, and Vanilla, while the style is listed as "Sensual, Mysterious, and Warm." I love any kind of warm, almost spicy fragrance, so I was really surprised that this scent was not my thing. In the end, it was just too manly for me to wear. I might give it to my fiance and see how he likes it instead!

Less than spectacular mentions on the fragrance front for this month: Loveswept by Philosophy (very light and summery scent, but lacks the staying power I want), Tainted Love by TokyoMilk Dark (warm vanilla scent, but a little too heavy for summer time), and Fresh's Sugar Lychee (fruity fragrance but it is so light that the scent dissipates almost immediately after applying). I'll keep you all posted as I continue the search for the perfect wedding day perfume. What's your favorite perfume? Do you have any recommendations I should try? Let a girl know! Tweet me, Facebook me, or email me. All of my contact info is on the side bar. Talk to you soon!

Xoxo,
--B

Product Review: Rimmel Show Offs Lip Lacquer and Lip Velvet

Remember last spring when chubby stick lip products were the cool thing to own and wear? I'm glad that fad has passed. I found all chubby sticks, no matter what brand, to be greasy on my lips and they would smear on my face while I was wearing them. No one wants to be looking like Courtney Love at noon on a Tuesday. As things tend to come and go, the popularity of the chubby stick and seen a dramatic decline and the popularity of the liquid lipstick is on the rise. Anastasia launched a new line of liquid lipsticks a couple of months ago, Lime Crime release their Velvetines last year (btw, do NOT buy from them. Google Lime Crime Scam and see why. Don't even get me started on how awful that company is), even Lush has jumped on the band wagon and brought out their own line of liquid lipsticks. 

In case you didn't know, Walgreens has all Rimmel Products on sale for 50% off (ends tomorrow). Rimmel is one of those brands that rarely goes on sale, so you know that I had to go stock up. I am a huge fan of their Lash Accelerator mascara, as well as their Stay Matte powders and Kate Moss lipsticks. As no surprise, Rimmel also has their own version of liquid lipsticks. The market these under their "Show Offs" line.

I have owned a couple of the Show Offs Lip Lacquers for about 6 months now and I was very impressed with their staying power and moisturizing qualities. When I went to Walgreens on Monday evening, I noticed that in addition to the Provocalips (a long wear version of the Show Offs), Rimmel had also launched a matte version of the Lip Lacquer, aptly named "Lip Velvet." Just the name makes me want to wear it. Lip Velvet. Yassss, make my kisser look and feel like velvet! I don't even know what that means but I feel like I need it in my life. 

My Walgreens sucks and is always out of stock, but I did purchase every shade of both the Lip Lacquer and Lip Velvet that had not already had the safety seal broken on it *insert gag here. I opted against purchasing the Provocalips because I am not a fan of long wear lip products. I find that they are very drying and often flake off and leave little bald patches on your lips, which could be misconstrued as HSV-1 and that could cost you a date or two.

Pros:  First of all, I love the names of these! Each shade has a fun space related name. Nova, Big Bang, and Meteoric Matte are just a few of the shades included in this line. I know that the name of shades is not a big deal to some people, but my inner science nerd could not help but giggle with delight as I was reading these. The formula of both the Lip Lacquer and Lip Velvet is on point. It is not drying on the lips and has good staying power. The lip lacquer stays shiny for the duration of the wear. Both formulas are very pigmented and one coat will completely cover your lips. I noticed that after I had eaten lunch, I had only lost a a little bit of the color. I touched up  The price is also very affordable. These retail at $5.48 each at Walgreens, but I got them on sale for only $2.74 each. I justify buying every shade of a line whenever it is on sale. Yes I know, I have a problem and I probably need an intervention. Sorry not sorry.

Cons: I would like to see a wider color range. They offer a couple of nudes, one which I did not purchase because it was literally the color of concealer, a couple really bright pinks, a bright red, and an orange. I would like to have seen a bright purple, because purple lips are my jam, a deep wine color, or even coral. I am pretty bold with my lip color choices, so I may be one of the few who thinks they could have offered a wider range of color. My only other complaint is that the matte Lip Velvets do take a little while to dry. It is not a long time, maybe 3 or 4 minutes, but I am a girl on the go and I don't want to have to worry about messing up my lips when I'm trying to get to work in the mornings. 

In order from left to right, these shades are as follows: 102 Nova (bright baby doll pink), 502 Stellar (bright pink), 201 Solstice (tawny pink-nude), 400 Big Bang (bright red), Burning Lava (matte true red), Meteoric Matte (matte berry red), and Orange-ology (matte orange). 

In closing, I think that these lip products are well worth the money, especially if you're like me and you find them on sale or use a coupon. I highly recommend these to anyone who wants to try out some inexpensive liquid lipsticks before investing in high end liquid lipsticks and risk not liking the way they wear. Let me know if you try these out and what your thoughts on them are.

Xoxo,

Bridget

Favorite Products of February 2015

It's been so long since I have written a monthly favorites post. The reason for this is I generally find it a little forced to have a ton of different products each month that you allegedly "love." With that being said, the products I have chosen to write about are not just my favorites of this month, but rather, some products I have been using over the last few months and are good quality for the price. Without further adieu, here are some bomb ass products I am sure you will love!

L'Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Foundation and Powder
I have used nothing but Revlon Color Stay foundation for years. I am a complete L'Oreal junkie so I decided to throw my Color Stay to the side and try the new Infallible Pro Matte line that L'Oreal came out with a couple of months ago. This foundation and powder has changed my life!! I am so much happier with the way my skin looks (and I thought I looked pretty good before, KIDDING) since I started using this line. The foundation is a very matte liquid formula that comes in a squeeze tube. I love the squeeze tube because you don't have to worry about bacteria getting into the product and causing breakouts. Personally, I like matte foundation. This is because I like to highlight areas of my face with a little shimmer. (Side note- my favorite highlighter of the moment is Too Faced Candlelight Powder, $30 at Sephora).

I have combination to dry skin but this foundation will work for all skin types. The matte finish set with powder will absorb any oil on your face, which used to be a problem for me back when I was a teenager. As I have gotten older (I'm 25 now, aka an old hag), my skin has dried out quite a bit and some brands of matte foundation accentuates my dry patches. Don't worry, I have the remedy for this! If I am looking particularly dry, I will mix a little of the L'Oreal Magic Lumi Primer in with the foundation on the back of my hand and apply the combo to my face. This adds a little glow and hydration back to my face and helps to mask my dry patches. Did I mention the price is freaking right?! The foundation retails for $12.99 and the powder retails for $10.99. Don't pay full price! Wait until Rite Aid has their sale on L'Oreal, which is often, and stack it with some coupons you can find on L'Oreal's website and get it for next to nothing.

Nest Indigo Perfume
I originally purchased Nest's Midnight Fleur scent, which is a good one, but then I went to Sephora and came across Indigo, I packaged up my Midnight Fleur and returned it to get this scent instead. It is hard for me to describe a scent as anything other than the cliche adjectives like "amazing, love, and YAASSS!" The only thing I can compare this scent to is smelling like an expensive cup of tea. I know that does not sound like something you would want in a perfume. Trust me, you never knew how good tea could smell until you come across this perfume. I will be in the grocery store and people will walk by and ask me what I am wearing. The lasting power of this scent is pretty good. I will put it on before work and by 4:30pm I will still be able to smell it on myself. I am the type of girl that I want to do something once a day and I want it to last until the night. I expect my makeup, deodorant, and perfume to last all day. I am excited to try other scents from Nest when I use up all of my Indigo. Also, the packaging on the bottle is gorgeous. I bought the jumbo bottle at Sephora for $65, but they do have a rollerball version for $25 if you want to try it out before investing that much money in a scent you may not like.

Here is the description of the perfume since I can't really describe it accurately:

Notes: Moroccan Tea, Kashmir Wood, Cardamom, Wild Fig.
Style: Warm. Aromatic. Mysterious.

 

Covergirl Lip Lava
I think this is the first Covergirl product I have purchased since 2003. I came across these babies while I was at Walgreen's about a month ago. They were on sale for buy one get on 50% off (Regular retail price is $7.99). I'm not going to lie, I am a complete makeup hoe for red lips and purple lips. Those are pretty much the only two colors I wear. I purchased the shades Lava-Nder, which is a bright metallic purple, and Live Love Lava, which is a bright metallic red. Now, I am not a girl who normally goes for any kind of lip products that have shimmer in them. I normally go for matte liquid lipstick or a satin finish, but these two lip lavas may change my mind. Every time I wear the red, I get compliments all day. It is the perfect red without being too dramatic. My favorite thing about the red is that is does not stain your lips. I have worn a lot of red lipstick in my day, and from my experience, you have to be very meticulous with your application, otherwise you will have pink stains on your face where your lipstick has smeared. The purple shade is not going to be for everyone, but I wear what I want, so I love it! These lip lavas are very pigmented, have quite a bit of lasting power, and the price is right. I highly recommend these!

Clarisonic Acne Prone Head
Everyone already knows that I love my Clarisonic. I recently ventured away from the sensitive head and went with the Acne Prone head ($27 at Ulta). I don't have acne as much as I used to before I started using tea tree oil on my pillow cases and to spot treat my makeup brushes, but I do suffer from the occasional breakout. Thus far, I am very satisfied with  my results. I have not had a breakout since I started using it. I would not recommend this brush to anyone who has not used sensitive head first. I do feel that you need to work your way up to the rougher brush heads, but I use my Clarisonic every night, so I could pretty much take sand paper to my face and it would be like "I'm okay, boo. I love to exfoliate the first five layers of my skin off." I would describe this head of having the texture of hair that needs some conditioner (LOL). Seriously though. The sensitive brush head has pretty soft bristles, so this one will be very intense for anyone who is not used to it. The next level of brush head is the deep pore cleaning one, which I have heard nothing but horror stories about, so I'm going to skip out on that fine experience.

What products have you been enjoying? Do you know of anything I should try? Be sure and let me know. Follow me on twitter @Butterybiscuit7 and on Instagram at @Bridgetb2011. Thanks for reading!

Xoxo,
--B

Whiten Your Teeth At Home-- The Product I Swear By

Hey boos,

It feels like forever since I did a product review for you all. Today's review is all about whitening your teeth at home. I'm always self conscious about my teeth being yellow. I don't smoke or anything, but I do shotgun Coke Zero like it's my job and eat lemons on the daily, which not so great for my pearly whites.

I used Twilight Teeth about a year and a half ago and I really liked it. As most things do, it got pushed to the back of one of my makeup drawers and I forgot about it. Last weekend, I was packing up my freelance kit to prepare for a day of hair and makeup and I came across it and started using it again. Let me just say that I only used my Twilight Teeth twice before I was like YAAASSSSS!!

How does Twilight Teeth work? The whitening solution is activated by UV light, which in turn whitens your teeth. The starter kit comes with whitening solution, a UV light, and a weird mouth piece that fits on the UV light so you can just pop it in your mouth and start your whitening whenever the mood strikes you. The whitening solution comes in a tube with a brush applicator. All you have to do is paint the solution onto your teeth, then put in the mouth piece and slide your UV light into it. You can also use the mouth piece and solution while you're in the tanning bed, which I think yields better results that the mini UV light. You also don't have to spit or rinse out your mouth when you use this. The solution is absorbed and leaves your teeth with a minty flavor. My biggest complaint with whitening products like Crest White Strips is the nauseating bleach foam that accumulates in your mouth while you're trying to bleach your teeth. I prefer to NOT look like I am a rabid dog with foaming at the mouth, but hey, that's just me.

The best part about Twilight Teeth is that it doesn't make my teeth sensitive at all. I have used other whitening products that have made my teeth so sore that I couldn't even breathe without pain, some have made my gums peel (which is the stuff nightmares are made of), and some that don't do anything all.

I bought my Twilight Teeth set on Amazon for $15! It's super cheap too. After you buy the kit, you just have to repurchase the whitening solution when you run out. Needless to say, I am so glad I found my whitening kit again. This girl is going to have a smile white enough to rival Ryan Seacrest on her wedding day. I high recommend this product to anyone who wants to improve their smile without spending hundreds of dollars at the dentist.

Click HERE to go to the Amazon page I purchased my kit from.

Here's a pic of me after using Twilight Teeth for a week.

Hashtag no filter.

Let me know if any of your try this product out and how you feel about it! Also, let me know if you know of any other affordable at home teeth whitening systems. I love trying new things. Talk to you soon!

Xoxo,

Bridget

Christmas Giveaway Sponsored by Adorabelles!

It's the season of giving and it's time again for Beauty on a Budget to give back to it's readers! Adorabelles has so graciously sponsored this giveaway and has agreed to send one lucky reader one of the gorgeous blanket scarfs pictured above. I know what you're thinking? HOW DO I ENTER?! Here are the rules:

Facebook Entry

To enter on Facebook, all you have to do is like both my fan page for Beauty on a Budget and the fan page for Adorabelles, then share the original post with the photo above.

Instagram Entry

To enter on Instagram, you must first follow me @Bridgetb2011 and also follow the Adorabelles page @ShopAdorabelles, then post the photo above with the tag #BeautyOnABudgetScarfGiveaway. You can also tag my personal account if your account is private so I will be able to see that you shared.

Twitter Entry

To enter on Twitter, you must follow me @Butterybiscuit7 and also follow Adorabelles @ShopAdorabelles, then tweet the above photo with the tag #BeautyOnABudgetScarfGiveaway

Blog Entry

The last way to enter is to comment on this post and tell me what your favorite thing about the holiday season is. 

Did I mention that you can enter once on each social media site, meaning that you can increase your chances of winning by sharing all four ways! Want to see more looks from Adorabelles but you don't live in Kentucky? Don't let distance hinder you from wearing some of the hottest styles this season. Head on over to their online shop at http://www.shopadorabelles.com where shipping is always free! Now that's something every girl on a budget can afford. The winner will be announced on December 19, 2014! 

Thank you all for reading and good luck! 

Xoxo,

--Bridget

Christmas on a Budget: Gift Ideas for the Chronically Broke

It's Christmas time again and you know what this time of year brings. The smell of cinnamon and pine trees in the air, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, delicious foods and fun parties, while the tired crooning of Mariah Carey and her version of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" plays on repeat for the rest of the year. I think it's high time you retired, you old hag. 

This time of year is very stressful for many reasons. Most people are trying to sort out their affairs before the end of the year, so everyone is rushing around in the hustle and bustle of the world, all while trying to purchase Christmas gifts, plan time with family, and plan out their Christmas dinners. In addition to allotting funds for your roast beast and Hoo Hash, winter time also brings higher  utility bills due to the colder weather. Money is often tight around my house in the month of December, so I'm a professional when it comes to planning Christmas on a Budget. Lucky for you, I'm not going to keep my tips a secret! To help those of you who are strapped for cash or strapped for time, I have found some great gifts that are not only useful, but are also very affordable. Let's get started!

Rite Aid- Many gifts for the price of one!
My love for Rite Aid has been well documented over the last six months here on my blog. There is a reason for this. They have sales all the time, accept coupons, and usually have more of a selection than other stores in my area, like Wal-Mart.

This week, Rite Aid is running a 50% off sale on NYC beauty products. This is such a great deal because there is nothing in the NYC line that is over $4.99. If you have any pre-teen girls that are starting to dabble in make up, go grab one of everything from the line and use it as stocking stuffers. Now, that is not to say that more mature chicks would not like to get things from the NYC. They have a few hits and misses within the line, like stay away from the eye shadow but their nail polish is legit, but for what you pay, they do very well. I highly recommend their bronzer and eyeliner!

In addition to this sale, Rite Aid is also offering $10 off of any fragrance set over $30. I know what you're thinking --"Drug store fragrance sets are so tacky!" Okay, I agree that they are very tacky, and for the love of God, don't buy anyone under the age of eighty a White Diamonds gift set. What I have done in the past is to go buy a gift set, then break it up and pair it with another item or two. You can also get a few presents out of one fragrance set. For example, if you get a set and it has three different perfumes in it, ditch the box it came with, grab a bottle of perfume, some of that NYC makeup, put it all together in a cute bag with a bow and you have yourself a present that is quality, but won't break the bank.

Walgreens- Gifts for around $10
I generally think Walgreens sucks in terms of the sales that they run, but they do take coupons and every now and then you will find something on sale that makes up for the sheer amount of suckage they force upon us all.  In this week's sale paper, they have fleece lined leggings on sale at 2 pairs for $10. Fleece lined leggings are great because they are thicker... and I wear them as pants. Don't judge me, I look damn good doing it. Walgreens also has their scarves on sale with the same deal, 2/$10. To wrap up the $10 deals at Walgreens, they also have their Sherpa throws on sale for $9.99. These blankets are pretty large and measure at 50x60in, so one of these babies would be perfect for snuggling up on the couch with while watching Fireplace For Your Home on Netflix.

Bath and Body Works- Stacking up the savings!
I love BBW... That would stand for Bath and Body Works, not Big Beautiful Women, just in case you were wondering. There are some great deals at BBW, but you better hurry because the coupon code I am about to give you expires on December 11, 2014. If you're shopping online, use the code WHYNOT10 (in store code: 4761) to get $10 off of a $30 purchase. You can stack this coupon with the sales that the store is already having to maximize your savings. Let's take a look at the deals they are running right now:
-3 wick candles-- 2 candles for $22
-Hand soaps-- 5 hand soaps for $18 or 7 hand soaps for $24
-Wallflower refills-- 4 refills for $20 or 6 refills for $24
-Signature body care items- buy 3 items, get 2 free
Not only are these items already discounted, but the coupon code really takes a chunk off of the overall price. Dare I say that you may even want to keep some of these products for yourself? It's okay, I won't tell anyone that you did.

Ulta- High end gifts for less
Do you have a lady in your life that is worth a little more than the NYC makeup that you can get for 99 cents down at the local Rite Aid? I got your back, boo. Head on over to Ulta's website and pick her up the Lorac Royal Pro Eye Collection for only $28. Included in this collection is a palette with three neutral eyeshadow shades, eyeliner, and mascara. If you order this collection online from Ulta, you also get a free mini Lip Lustre Lipgloss. A combined total on this set with the lipgloss is a whopping $113. Talk about a bargain!

Until December 13, Ulta has their Chi straighteners on sale for only $99.95... but wait, there's more. On the back page of their weekly ad (available on their website) there is a 20% off coupon on Chi, knocking the final price down to only $79.95! Keep in mind that these straighteners retail for $160.

The Body Shop- Half priced body butters

The Body Shop is offering their seasonal body butters for 50% off on their website. The scents included in this sale include Vanilla Brulee, Glazed Apple, and Frosted Cranberry. These retail for $20 each, but are on sale for only $10. These body butters would make great stocking stuffers, or you could even pair one of these up with some fuzzy socks for a gift exchange or Chinese Christmas. The Body Shop also has gift cubes (pictured above) that include two mini sizes items for $9 and $10 each, or two for $15, if you would prefer to give something in a gift set form. The packaging on these sets are much nicer than those you see at Wal-Mart.

Sephora- Sampler sets for the girl (or guy) who has everything

Sephora does these great sampler sets they call "Sephora Favorites." They have several varieties of these sampler sets available, like ones specifically for skin care or specifically for lips, etc. Most of the sets include travel size versions of products, but usually one or two of the items included are full sized, which makes these gift sets worth the price. There are 21 of these sets and they range in price from $20 to $99. My personal favorite of these sets is the Fragrance Sampler for Her. For only $65, you get fourteen samples, each of a different fragrance, and a voucher is included to redeem a full sized bottle of the fragrance you liked best. They also offer a men's version of this gift set with cologne for only $60!

And there you have it, a few gift ideas for the those of us who need some advising this holiday season. Just because you're on a budget does not mean that you can't do it in style. From my family to yours, lots of hugs and love as you celebrate with your loved ones.

Xoxo,
Bridget

New Video Tutorial: Easy Smokey Cat Eye

Hey guys,
Here is my newest video for an easy smokey cat eye using purple shadows. If you like this video, be sure and follow me on Twitter @Butterybiscuit7, on Instagram @Bridgetb2011, and don't forget to like the Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/beautyonabudgetblog! Thanks for watching :)

Xoxo,
Bridget

Top 5 Tips for Acne Prone Skin

As many of you know, I have struggled with adult onset acne for a few years now. I never understood how my face was so clear during my teen years because I never did any kind of skin regiment, apart from just washing my makeup off at night. Around the time I started losing weight, my skin decided to go ape sh--
Excuse me, let's keep this post PG.

I looked up all sorts of things to see why my face was breaking out. Was it the makeup I was wearing? Was it my healthy diet? Did I catch leprosy? Honestly, I don't know what triggered my skin to completely change when I was 22. I even studied Chinese face mapping a little bit to see what my body was trying to tell me and still got no answers. I finally just gave up and accepted that this is the skin I have, so I may as well work it (hair flip). Over several years, I have discovered a few tips that have helped my face clear up immensely. I hope that these tips help anyone who is like me and just wants to not look like a 15 year old pubescent twit.

1.) Wash your darn makeup brushes
I have always been super clean with my makeup brushes, both because I am a germaphob and because I often do other people's makeup, so I have to keep everything sanitary. If you don't wash your makeup brushes often, especially if you use a sponge, like a Beauty Blender, to apply your makeup, then you are creating an ideal environment for a population explosion of bacteria. Bacteria on your face is never a good thing. To keep my skin clear, I wash my brushes about once a week, and I microwave my damp Beauty Blender a few times a week for 60 seconds. This step did clear up my face somewhat, but not completely. Which leads me to the next time.

2.) Use a darn face mask
I don't think it really matters what face mask you use, just as long as you are consistent with it. I like the Queen Helene Mint Face Mask that I bought at the Family Dollar for 3 bucks. I also like the Freeman Oatmeal and Clay mask as well. Anything that hardens when dry and purges pores is ideal for acne prone skin. The mint mask actually makes my skin feel tighter, plus the mint in it is so refreshing. Every time I use this mask, I have a good skin day. I usually do my mask on Sunday nights, but do it how ever many times a week you like. Just remember to be consistent with it or you won't see continual effects.

3.) Disinfect your darn pillows
It's not realistic to wash your pillow cases every night. Think about all of the oil, hair products, dead skin cells, and even sweat that accumulates on your pillow night after night. All of nasties just lay and wait to clog your pores up when you get into bed. Instead of washing your pillowcases every night, you can use tea tree oil to disinfect them. All you need to do is buy some tea tree oil, which is in the vitamins section at Wal-Mart for $7, and a 3 oz spray bottle. I put about 7 or 8 drops of tea tree oil into the spray bottle and fill it up with water, then I use it to mist on my pillow. You can also use this spray on your makeup brushes between cleaning. I spray this mist directly on my face after I wash it in the morning just in case there is any bacteria left on there, as well as at night before I get into bed. When you first start using this mist, you may notice that you get a few dry patches on your face. If you keep consistent with using the mist, these will go away as your skin will get use to the presence of the tea tree oil. If you are prone to acne on your back or other unmentionable places, use this mist on those areas as well. Fun fact: Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo to help combat dandruff. If you have a kid in school, tea tree oil also helps repel lice. Too bad it doesn't help repel children-- I would keep a bottle in my purse at all times if that were the case.

4.) Wash your darn hands
Are you eating fried chicken and then applying moisturizer to your face with your greasy paws? Never touch your face unless you have thoroughly washed your hands. I even keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in my makeup bag and in my free lance kit so that I know my hands are never going to transfer bacteria to my face or someone else's. Be conscious of when you are touching your face. This is disgusting so let me share-- One day in my office I accidentally knocked my phone off of my desk. When I saw the receiver, I wanted to hurl. There was like a quarter of an inch of foundation stuck to the receiver! Needless to say, I now wipe that bish down with a Clorox wipe on the daily. I also have a bad habit of resting my chin on my hand when I am working up cases that I was not aware of until I caught myself doing it. I was shaking people's hands at work and then touching my chin. The hand germs of a stranger were growing on my face. If that doesn't make you want to take an acid bath, nothing will.

5.) Invest some darn money in a quality product
After spending hundred of dollars on products that never worked, I finally bit the bullet and purchased a Clarisonic Mia. Everyone I knew had tried to convince me that my breakouts were hormonal and a Clarisonic would not help. I knew that my breakouts were not hormonal, but rather from some unsanitary practice that I was unconsciously performing. I can tell the difference in a cystic pimple that is infected and incredibly painful, versus a red bump that may appear every 28 days. Since I purchased my Mia, I have not had one cystic pimple. My makeup goes on so much smoother, I have very few black heads, and my skin is so freaking soft. I know that this piece of equipment is very expensive at right near $100, but it really is worth the investment. If I had back all the money I had spent at on knock off products like the ones that both Neutrogena and L'Oreal have on the market, I could have probably bought five Clarisonics. You get what you pay for, and if you desire clear skin, you need this device. As a bonus, in addition to the 90 day window that you have in which you can return it to the store you purchased it at, Clarisonic also gives you a year warranty. If at anytime this product is not living up to your expectations, then you can send it back. That shows how the company stands behind their product, which is something very admirable.

Bonus Tip-- When McDonald's had their iced coffees on sale for $1 a couple of months ago, I was getting one almost every day and my acne was getting bad again and I couldn't figure out why. I finally put two and two together and figured out that the milk in the iced coffee was giving me acne. I cut out my iced coffee and all dairy except for cheese, and I have not had a breakout since. If you're struggling, try cutting out dairy and see what happens for you!

I hope that you found these tips helpful and that you will be able to get your skin problems under control. Remember to follow me on Twitter @Butterybiscuit7, on Instagram @Bridgetb2011, like the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BeautyOnABudgetBlog, and follow me on BlogLovin. Thanks for reading!

Xoxo,
Bridget

Fall Inspired Makeup Tutorial-- Video Post #2

Hey guys,
Who is ready for boots, scarves, and everything pumpkin flavored? This stereotypical white girl is! While we sweat out the last couple weeks of summer, I came up with this neutral eye look and red lips that is perfect for the upcoming cooler weather. This look is neutral so it will look good on absolutely everyone! If you try it out, be sure and send me a photo. I would love to see what you come up with :).

If you like this video, give it a thumbs up and subscribe! Thank you all so much for watching. Talk to you soon!
Xoxo,
--B

Sunset Eyes Makeup Tutorial- First Video Post

Hey guys,

I thought I would try my hand at videoing a makeup tutorial for you all, rather than my usual static photos and description of what I am doing. I also did a voice over instead of talk thru because I thought it would be easier... Guess what? It is NOT easier. Anyway, after hours of editing and Youtube crashing, here is my video tutorial for what I am calling "Sunset Eyes." 

Let me know if you like this better or if you like the photos and description better. Also, excuse my big man voice. I have some intense allergies going on at the moment. Pass the Zyrtec! Also, the winner of my giveaway will be announced tomorrow night, so be on the lookout for that! 

Xoxo,

--B

August 2014 Beauty Haul

"Should I buy or nah?" That's the question I am constantly asking myself every time I come across a product I am interested in. I typically do a lot of research on any product I'm considering buying, whether it be online reviews or googling "Has anyone's face fallen off after using this product?" I work hard for my cash, so I like to spend it on things that I am going to actually use and hopefully won't turn my face to mush.

Clarisonic Mia 1
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen that I recently, like 5 hours ago, bought a Clarisonic Mia. I was torn on which Clarisonic to purchase. I ended up with the original design called the Mia, but there is also the Mia 2, the Aria (which I almost got because it shares the same name with my favorite Game of Thrones character, although a different spelling), the Opal, and the Pro. They range in price from around $100 to $225, depending on which model you get. I know those prices look steep, but there is a 90 day return policy at Ulta, where I purchased mine, and a one year warranty from Clarisonic, which I think is amazing. That really shows that they stand behind their product.

If you don't know what the heck I am talking about, let me explain. Clarisonic sells these face scrubbers with the claim that they clean six times deeper than you can with your hands. For some reason, I have been battling acne on only my right jawline. I'll get it cleared up for like a week, then it is right back and I can't figure out what I am doing to that side of my face. I do wear a lot of makeup, a full face at least five days a week, so I was thinking that perhaps I need something deep cleaning to help clean up this acne patch. After reading different reviews for about six weeks, I finally decided to make this investment. As I have only owned this product for just a few hours, I have only used it once. So far, I can say I am impressed. For kicks and giggles, I went ahead and took my makeup off the way I always do, which is with a face wipe and a little coconut oil around my eyes. After I got my skin "clean" I went to my sink to use my Clarisonic and to see just how much residue I have been leaving on my face. When I finished, the brush was completely tan with my foundation!!!! Keep in mind that I use those makeup remover towelettes that are supposed to take all of your makeup off, exfoliate, etc. Spoiler alert- they do not! The lady at Ulta told me that my skin will probably get worse as I start using the Clarisonic regularly, then clear up. Anyone have a ski mask I can borrow to hide my ugly while my skin goes through self destruct mode?

 Makeup Geek Eye Shadows
I said I wasn't going to talk about anything that I put in my monthly favorites post, but I cannot get over these eye shadows! Good gawd, they are creamy, pigmented, so blendable, ahhhh! I did some swatches for you guys so you can see how awesome these are. I ran out of arm room since I went a little crazy and bought fifteen of these, so I had to swatch Chickadee, Mango Tango, and Razzleberry on their own. I also wore these three together last week and I got so many compliments, so I am probably going to do a tutorial post on how to achieve that eye look. These shadows are pretty affordable too. I think they are around $5.99 a pan, but I would pay double that for these shadows. It's like getting the quality of Mac with the pricing of Nyx. Freaking sign me up for one of everything! I've already ordered a couple more shadows that were out of stock when I placed my initial order, but I cannot wait for them to get here. One I ordered is called Cosmopolitan, which is a dupe for Mac's Expensive Pink. I also ordered Bitten, which is a matte burgundy color that I can't wait to wear in the fall.

Brushes
In an attempt to clear up my acne patch, I have switched my foundation application. I normally use a Beauty Blender (go enter my giveaway HERE for your chance to win one), but I decided to switch to a brush and see if that helped my patch of ugly. Plot twist--it did not help with the acne, but I did get a kick ass brush for $10! This is the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. I was really wanting to get the Makeup Geek Stippling Brush (yes, I am a Makeup Geek hoe and I can't even help it) but they won't be back in stock October. I probably will buy that one when it come back in stock, but until then, this one will do. I really like it and I have no complaints other than it makes my under eye area and the area around my nostrils a bit streaky. I just tap my Beauty Blender over those spots to make the lines go away, but other than that, this brush is FLAWLESS! I am going to use it for applying cheek highlighter if I like the Makeup Geek one more.

Speaking of Makeup Geek, I purchased a pencil brush from their website right before I bought all of those shadows. I specifically bought this brush for smudging shadow under my lower lash line. I find this brush to be a little scratchy and I keep washing it and hoping it will soften up. If does blend beautifully, so it does its job, but I will it did so with a little less pain.

Makeup
In an attempt to further cover my ugly patch of acne, I purchased Mac Pro Long Wear Concealer. I always buy my Mac stuff online from Nordstorm because they always have free shipping, their return policy is bomb ass, plus they send you three samples with each order. If you live in a Podunk town like I do, this is the way to go. This is a really good concealer, but I have to admit, Maybelline's Fit Me concealer is just as good and is a fourth of the price. I like this concealer on my eyes as primer more than anything, so I probably would repurchase it, but if you're on a budget and want something from the drugstore for cheap, grab the Maybelline.

This month's Birchbox contained some really good products. My box included both Noir Eyeliner and Laqa & Co. Lip Lube. The eyeliner is actually a full sized item, not sample, which excited me because it is really good! It is very creamy and goes on very smoothly. I would compare it to the Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencil. The Lip Lube has a disgusting name, but a good product! It's similar to the chubby sticks that Revlon has out, only they don't stain your lips after. I like lip stains, but I am kind of over them at the moment, so trying this lip LUBE was nice.

Random Purchases
Since I'm getting married in a little over a year, I am doing all kinds of things to make sure I look banging on my wedding day. In addition to various hair treatments, dieting, and trying to get my skin under control, I've been looking for legit teeth whitening products. I came across Dr. George's Dental White. Their website claims that Oprah uses this to keep her teeth white. Honestly, I couldn't tell you what Oprah's teeth look like. She could be all gums and I wouldn't even know, so sorry Dr. George, name dropping didn't work on this girl. He should have thrown Nicki Minaj or someone like that to appeal to my demographic... Aka white girls that like rap music and white teeth. This product is the real deal. Apart from foaming up in my tray and making me look like a mad dog, I have no complaints. The price is right, too! I paid like $12 plus shipping for this huge bottle of whitening gel. I don't think I will use this up in my lifetime. I have been using this for about 2 weeks now and I've actually had people ask me how I have gotten my teeth so white. I just tell them about Dr. George and ask them if they knew Oprah has teeth.

I meant to put the Julie G nail polishes in my August Favorites post, but I think I forgot. Anyway, these polishes are very nice. They are the perfect formula and I can go about two days without my nails chipping. I'm super hard on my nails because I type a lot, clean a lot, and I like to pick at it when I'm bored. The color I have been loving is a rose gold metallic polish called Liquid Metal. Because I am gaudy and I love it, I have been topping this color with a rose colored Julie G glitter polish called Little Fairy, which gives me the mental picture of Britney Spear's tramp stamp. I bought these on sale at Rite Aid for only $1.99 each, so I see a lot of nail polish reviews coming in the near future.

And there you have it. My beauty purchases for this month. I'm anxious to see how the Clarisonic works out for me and I will do an in depth review on it in a few weeks, or whenever I get past the Quasimodo stage and my skin has finished purging. If you haven't already, be sure to enter my giveaway! Follow me on Twitter @butterybiscuit7, on Instagram @Bridgetb2011, and like the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BeautyOnABudgetBlog. Talk to you soon!

Xoxo,
Bridget

Favorite Things of August 2014

So yeah, I'm pressing the season and I don't even care. Nobody puts Baby in a corner-- **hair flip.

Today I am going to share with you a few of my favorite things that I have been loving all month. Most of these are actually completely new products that I have never used before, which is always exciting. I love adding new and exciting products to my staple items that I will always use. Let's get started! 

Hair Products

If you have followed my blog since I started it a few months ago, you may remember my hair tutorial I posted. In this post, I uploaded a photo of my hair in its natural state (click HERE if you're brave and want to see the photo to which I am referring). My have crazy thick, curly, frizzy hair that can only be compared to a lion's mane when it has no product applied to it. I'm getting married in a little over a year, so like every other bride, I want long luscious locks for my wedding. No veils over here, please. I don't need anything covering all dis beauty ;).

I have finally found a hair regiment that is helping to get my hair healthy and to strengthen the weak ends. I was a bleach blonde for years, but I decided that looking like a two dollar hooker was a little too mid-2000s for me, after which I went back to my roots. Today, I am mostly natural (in the hair department, I mean) and I tend to get just a few blonde highlights to keep me from looking like I'm wearing a brown football helmet a la Sally Field. 

In addition to using a bottle of Aussie 3 Minute Miracle deep conditioner about every week and a half, I have been using this "Miracle Leave In Product" by the brand It's a 10. I found this at my local Rite Aid, and HOLY COW! This stuff is expensive. Luckily, I had like 15 bucks in Up Rewards, so I only paid about $6 for this product. I think that this line may be sold in salons, so maybe it would be cheaper there. If you know, help a sister out and tell me where I can get this stuff on sale because it is like the bottled tears of angel babies for my hair. Supposedly, this is like a leave in conditioner, heat protectant, anti-frizz product. The whole sha-bang in one bottle is worth the ridiculous price tag. Since using this product, the ends of my hair feel like silk. Keep in mind, my hair is so dry that I can put straight up coconut oil on the ends of my hair and literally go out in public because there is no grease that is left on my strands. If you have an afro, or if you just want to strengthen your hair so you can grow it out, I highly recommend this product. Everyone I see keeps commenting on the length of my hair and I think it is because my ends are not breaking off anymore when I brush my hair, curl it, etc. I see very little hair in my brush and I am having zero breaks when I brush threw my hair.

To apply this product, you wash and condition your hair, towel dry it, then spritz it all over your head. I will usually take a wide tooth comb through my hair after I spray this product into it, then blow dry it on low. Because my hair is so thick, it takes like 8 hours for it to towel dry, so I just get he excess water out of it, spritz on my goodies, then blow dry it. After that, I will usually either curl my hair with my wand or straighten it, depending on what mood I am in. I have also noticed that I can use less heat on my hair while I use this product. Instead of cranking my wand up to 430 degrees to get my hair to hold a curl, I am putting it on about 360 degrees and seeing it curl wonderfully. 

While we are on the topic of hair products, I freaking love Suave's Moroccan line. I'm not sure what the official name of it is... I suppose I could go get it off my vanity and look... but nah! I gots things to do. Anyway, it's the one with the blue lettering. I have tried the shampoo and conditioner, which I love, the hair serum, which I love, and the dry shampoo, which I looooove. In my opinion, this hair care line is spot on. I'm not one to use Suave products too often. I think the price tag is cheap and the quality is cheap, but this line they have out is priced dirt cheap and feels like a high end product. I have nothing bad to say about this line, other than I don't care much for the scent of it. It kind of smells like an old lady, but I'm willing to make that sacrifice for healthy, sexy, manageable hair. 

Makeup Products
My 25th birthday is next month (eww, halfway to 50), and as a present to myself, I purchased fifteen eye shadows from Makeup Geek. If you aren't familiar with Makeup Geek, or her products, you need to check her out. I have followed her on Youtube since 2008 when she started, then a couple years ago she started her own makeup line and I have yet to be disappointed by anything that I have purchased. In addition to the eye shadows, I bought a new Z palette to store them in. I originally was going to buy myself the Ultimate Palette she has on her site, but it has been out of stock for like 5 months and I was just tired of waiting, to be honest. There were also a lot of shades that were in the Ultimate Palette that I already had something like. Most neutral shades I stay away from because I have my Naked palettes, but I did pick up a couple neutral colors that were rather unique. They are as follows:

Cocoa Bear- reddish brown
Latte- cool tone tan
Corrupt- blackest eye shadow I have ever used
Vanilla Bean- matte white
Shimma Shimma- shimmery whiteish beige color
Beaches and Cream- matte light tan

These eye shadow pans are $5.99 each, which I don't think is a bad price because these are good quality products and they will last you a long time. The only one that I think I will actually hit pan on is Shimma Shimma because I like to use it to highlight under my brow as well as around the tear duct area, in addition to using it on my lid. I also picked up some unique colored shadows. I cannot even deal with how pigmented these shadows are!

Shimmermint- light sparkly green
Envy- dark green with turquoise reflects
Mango Tango- matte peachy pink
Razzleberry- berry color with gold reflects
Mermaid- shimmery blue color
Unexpected- matte purpley taupe
Sensuous- medium purple with gold reflects
Peach Smoothie- matte peach
Chickadee- matte orange yellow

If you are interested in purchasing any of these products, head on over to www.MakeUpGeek.com and place an order. I am a huge fan of their pigments as well. You just can't go wrong with quality products!

The other makeup product I have been loving this month is Maybelline's gel liner in Blackest Black. This is the best gel liner I have ever used. It is super black, super smooth, and easy to apply. If you all would like a tutorial on how to apply gel eyeliner, just let me know and I can do that for you. Once you get the hang of using gel liner, you'll never go back to a pencil. Trust me!

Home Items
Lastly, my favorite home items of the month! Bath and Body Works has their candles 2/$22 this week and there is also a coupon on their website for $10 off of a $30 purchase, or if you're ordering online, use the coupon code FALLINLOVE to get the $10 off. I took full advantage of this sale and got four of my favorite candles! Pumpkin Pecan Waffles is probably my most favorite scent on earth. Just smelling this candle makes me want to eat, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. I also picked up six of the new wallflower scents as well. Yes, I did buy all of the pumpkin scents. I just can't help myself! The one I am using now is called Pumpkin Cider or something like that and I really like it, too. Nothing will be able to take the place of my Pumpkin Pecan Waffle candle though.

The other kind of random product I have been loving this month is one of Bath and Body Works' hand sanitizers. This scent is called Peach Pecan Cupcake. Apparently I really like pecan scented things. This is also one of the fall scents that BBW releases and I cannot help my love for this stuff. It smells like straight up cupcakes and fall time. It's hard to explain, but breaking out all of my fall scents has me in the mood to put on my scarves, leg warmers, and boots... But it's like 90 degrees outside so I better refrain unless I want some ungodly pit stains to show up.

What products have you all been loving this month? Know of anything that I should try out? Let me know in the comments below or tweet me @Butterybiscuit7! I hope you all are having a good week thus far. I'll be back later on this week with a weight loss post, an eyeshadow tutorial, or a product review because I just got my first Birchbox in the mail today. Now I need to go play with my new goodies. Talk to you soon!

--B

10,000 View Giveaway! Enter For Your Chance to Win a Free Beauty Item

Who wants to win a free beauty product? In celebration and appreciation of 10,000 views on my blog, I am hosting a giveaway to one lucky individual! Not only do you have a chance to win free stuff, you get to pick which item you would like to win! The choices are between an authentic Beauty Blender sponge or the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette. The best part is that you can enter the contest a maximum of 4 times! Entering your name in the pot more than once increases your chances of winning! The only rule is that you have to like the Facebook fan page in order for your votes to count. Go towww.facebook.com/BeautyOnABudgetBlog to like the page. The ways to enter the giveaway are as follows:

1.) Share the link to my blog and this photo on your Facebook.
2.) Share the link and photo on Instagram with the hashtag#BeautyOnABudgetBlogGiveAway
3.) Tweet this photo with the hashtag #BeautyOnABudgetBlogGiveaway
4.) Pin this photo on Pinterest with the link to my blog in the description.

Share the original post on Facebook so that I will be able to keep up with who has shared and I can enter your name on the list. If you shared it and you are afraid I won't see it, be sure and send me a message. Don't forget to comment on the post saying you shared and which item you would like to win. Also, be sure to tag my personal account telling me you shared on Twitter and Instagram, as those are harder to keep up with! My twitter handle is @Butterybiscuit7 and my Instagram is @Bridgetb2011. The contest will close two weeks from today and everyone is allowed to enter, except my sister (Sorry, Sis). Also, if your Instagram or twitter is private, send me a message telling me you shared the photo and to follow you because I will not be able to see the hashtag if I'm not one of your followers! When the contest closes in 2 weeks (August 25, 2014), I will announce the winner and contact them to get their shipping address to send them whichever goody they selected .

True Blood Inspired Makeup Tutorial: Smokey Eyes, Winged Liner, and Bold Lips

With the final season of True Blood winding down to a close (excuse me while I sob violently), I figured I would take the time to put together a sexy vamp inspired tutorial for you all. If you know me in real life, you will know that I am obsessed with Pam from True Blood. Not only is she freaking gorgeous, she is stylish, hilarious, an uber biyotch, and most importantly, my soul mate. I even went as Pam for Halloween in 2012 with my best friend dressed as Sookie. I'll probably dress up as Pam again this year... And next year, too. Don't judge me. If you don't watch True Blood, I suggest you watch it for no reason other than to hear Pam's hilarious one liners, and of course, the sexy shirtless men, sans Bill Compton. No one finds Bill attractive. Eww. 

Running a successful brothel before she met her maker, Eric, Pam had plenty of time to perfect the art of seduction. With her smokey eyes, bold lips, and flawless white skin, Pam makes a statement with her signature look. Before I get started on my rendition of a sexy vamp look, let me leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the series. I should have it framed to hang in my office at work--

"I don't know what it is about me that makes people think I want to hear their problems. Maybe I smile too much. Maybe I wear too much pink. But please remember I can rip your throat out if I need to. And also know that I am not a hooker. That was a long, long time ago."--Pam to Lafayette, True Blood Season 3

Things you will need:
For this look, I use a mixture of high end and drugstore products, but use whatever you have on hand and you'll come out with something similar. This is not an exact recreation of any of the looks in the photos above, but rather my take on Pam's look throughout the series.

Eyes:
-Medium brown eye shadow--I used the top color from the Cupa Joe palette (L'Oreal)
-Dark gray eye shadow--I used Pistol (Urban Decay)
-Black eyeshadow-- I used Blackout (Urban Decay)
-Shimmery silver or gray shadow or pigment-- I used Diamond Dust (NYC)
-A shadow close to your skin tone-- I used Brulee (Wet 'N Wild)
-Black liquid liner
-Black pencil liner
-False lashes-- I used Revlon but I threw away the package without looking at the name, oopsie.
-Mascara-- I used Voluminous Carbon Black (L'Oreal)

Face:
Foundation-- Revlon ColorStay
Bronzer-- Physician's Formula Bronzing Beads
Highlight-- Physician's Formula Glow Pearls
Brows-- Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel
Concealer-- Rimmel True Match, Maybelline Fit Me, Maybelline Dream Lumi

Lips:
Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Brazen Berry
Maybelline Lip Elixir in Purple Rhapsody


Prime those eyelids! We are about to put a crap ton of shadow on them and you want it to last. I used Palladio eye primer, but I wish I had either used my Mac Painterly paint pot or put concealer over my lids because the gray shadows made my veins more visible. Maybe I'm a Hep V infected vampire, whatevs.

1.) After you prime your lids, take a medium brown and work it into your crease. Use any crease brush. I used a cheap Sephora brand one I got on sale for like $3. It doesn't matter how sloppy this part looks because we are going to be covering it up. Just make sure to blend this color out very well. After you blend the medium brown into your crease, you can take a darker brown and work it into your crease as well. You don't have to do this step, but I did because I was trying to help cover up some of my ugly veins in my eyelids LMAO.

2.) Next step, take a flat stiff brush, I used my Mac 239 brush and pick up some of your gray color. If you do not have a good brush for packing on color, I suggest that you invest in one as I have yet to find one from the drugstore that is even comparable to the Mac 239. As I said before, any gray shadow will work. I used Pistol and it is a grayish blue shadow. I would say it is like a steel blue, if that makes any sense. Anyway, pack that color all over your lid. I mean pack it on there thick! I think I put like 2 coats on shadow on each eye. Trust me. You may look like a drag queen now, but you'll look like vixen when we are finished. When you're pack on color, make sure you are tapping it onto your eyelid. Do not sweep. Only sweep if you want to blend something. You'll be looking a hot mess if you sweep this shadow on.

3.) After you pack the gray shadow on, take whatever shimmer you have and pat that on over the gray shadow. I used the loose eye dust or whatever it is called. It is like a pigment in a lip gloss tube and consider yourself warned when I say that these bad boys are messy. There is a doe foot applicator that goes down into the tube of pigment, so when you pull it out of the tube, it flies everywhere. To make less of a mess, I suggest you open these over a kleenex or a towel, unless you want to have shimmer all over your thighs like me. I guess this is what Ke$ha feels like on a slow day.

4.) After I put on my shimmer, I wanted to darken up the outer corner of my eye. I took my black shadow and a pencil brush and applied some black shadow to my outer corner. In order to blend this out, I took my flat stiff brush and on one side, I put the gray shadow and on the other I put the black. I just kept alternating the sides of my brush to blend the two colors together where I wanted them to meet. Don't forget to take a blending brush and run it in your crease if you have a harsh line there where the black shadow ends. I lost a little bit of my shimmer when I did this step, so I just added more after I blended and packed it on over the gray again to get the effect I wanted.

5.) Once everything is blended together and you are happy with your overall look, add your eyeliner. I did a  simple winged liner, but you can do as much, or as little as you like. After you finish this step, then take some mascara and just lightly apply one coat if you're going to put on falsies. If you're not wearing falsies, then do those lashes up big, girl! When you're applying false lashes, the key is to use the glue that dries dark, and let the glue get tacky before you stick it to your lid. I usually let mine sit on my strip of lashes for a good 30 seconds, then I pop them on using some tweezers and they never give me any problems. If you can see the band on your falsies, take a little more liquid liner and cover it up.

6.) Now that we are almost finished with the eyes, let's put on some concealer to clean up any fall out we may have had from using those dark shadows. I'm using very light colors because I am severely Caucasian and because Pam is a freaking vampire, so looking pale is kind of her thing. After you get your concealer on, make sure to set it with some powder. I use the Palladio Rice Powder.

7.) Run your pencil liner into your water line to make your eyes look even more dramatic. Of course, this part is optional, but I took a pencil brush and ran a little more of that gray shadow beneath my lower lashes and added some mascara to them as well.

8.) The eyes are finished! Onto the face and lips. I'm not doing any blush today because Pam obviously doesn't have pink cheeks due to her lack of blood, but I am doing a little bronzer to contour because Pam's cheekbones are insanely sculpted. I took a stippling brush and lightly stippled my bronzer beneath my cheekbones, then I stippled a little highlighter on the tops of my cheeks to give myself that ethereal glow the vamps on True Blood seem to have.

9.) Pam is almost always rocking some bold lips. I started out with the Brazen Berry lipstick, but it just wasn't bold enough for me. I really wanted a lip that was dramatic, so I blotted most of the Brazen Berry off and added the lip elixir over it to get this look.

 

And there you have it! A True Blood inspired makeup look. If this is too bold for you, you could always trade our the purple lips for a nude and leave the false lashes at home. Are you going to attempt this look? I would love to see! Tag me on Twitter @Butterybiscuit7, on Instagram @Bridgetb2011, and don't forget to like my Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BeautyOnABudgetBlog to see the latest posts here on my blog. Thank you all for stopping by.

Blah, blah, vampire emergency, blah,
--Bridget