All About Brows

In the past, I have posted about my favorite brow products and have basically confessed my obsession with eyebrows. They're one of those things that I notice right away on people. I truly believe they better frame your face and pull just about any makeup look together. Whether you have 'barely there' blonde brows or super black brows, you can benefit from using the correct brow products. I don't even remember when I started filling in and gelling my brows... but I'm glad I started. 

Here are some of my favorite brows...

See what I mean about framing the face? 

So today I am breaking down the steps I take to get that sculpted brow we all know and love. Here are the products you will need:

double ended spooly/flat definer brush

Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade [this is the essential product to really shaping your brows]

concealer [use one the same shade as your skin]

clear [or tinted] brow gel

tweezers

small beauty scissors

This is a great diagram to consider if you have a lot of hairs to pluck 

OR don't have much to follow when filling them in. 

Step one: comb your brows into their best shape. [trim long hairs if you need to.]

Step two: dip small brush into pomade, getting the smallest amount onto your brush. this stuff is super pigmented so it's better to start with a little and build it up as needed.

Step three: starting at the bottom, use small stroking motions to apply the product, following the natural shape of your brow.

Step four: focus the darkest shading at the tail of the brow, this will look the most natural

Step five: flick the brush upwards to fill in the rest of the hairs [you can trace along the top as well, however, this really darkens the look and isn't necessary for every day.]

Step six: run through your brows with the spooly again to diffuse and blend the color you just applied.

Step seven: set brows with a clear [or tinted] brow gel.

Step eight: pluck any stray hairs that fall outside the filled in shape you just created. [doing this after will prevent over plucking.]

step nine: using a concealer in the same shade as your skin [or slightly lighter if you want to highlight], run a small concealer brush under the bottom of your brow to sculpt and intensify the shape of your brow. this also helps clean up any smudging or mistakes you may have made.

And that's it! You now have perfectly shaped & sculpted brows. I believe the trick is to follow the shape of how your brows naturally grow. People tend to get scared thinking about filling in their brows and end up skipping this step, because they think it means drawing on scary, dark brows that don't fit your face. When done correctly, filled in brows are the key to a pulled together makeup look!

What products do you use to get your perfect brows?

via here, here, & here

Sephora VIB Sale

If you are a Beauty Insider member with Sephora, you may know that the VIB Rouge sale is currently taking place. Sephora offers a few select sales each year [Friends + Family and Beauty Insider], usually offering up to 15% off all merchandise. I logged into my Sephora account and saw that starting April 3rd, [this Thursday] VIB members will be able to get 15% off too! 

We all know that Sephora is my weakness. I like to think of it as my comfort zone. Maybe it's because I live less than a mile away from one? However, I love stopping in every few weeks and checking out all the new products.

And because I love it SO much, I especially love when they run a sale. Every little bit helps, right?

As of late, I'm totally thinking ahead to makeup for the summer. I picture myself rocking an orange lip, paired with intensely bronzed cheeks. [Think date night!] Here are the items I have on my wish list and will definitely be considering when the sale begins:

NARS eyeshadow base || Lancome Lip Lover || Sephora Z Palette || 

NARS The Multiple || Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer || Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick 

If you qualify for VIB status, use the code "VIBTICKET" from April 3-April 11 to receive 15% off.

Enjoy the sale!

XO, Carrie

Beauty Tip of the Week

Hello & happy Monday! How was everyone's weekend? Mine was very good, but as always, it went extremely fast. Today I am ready to reset and tackle a hefty workload for school. But all of that aside, I've decided that each week I am going to share a beauty tip with all of you. You can find them right here on the blog, but I will always be sure to share on social media too! 

p.s  if you are visiting the web version you may notice L of H got another makeover. Slowly but surely I am learning what flows best and am working to create my blogs personal aesthetic. Let me know what you think! :)

Have a great week!

Weekend Moodboard

Hello & happy Saturday lovelies! What a gorgeous weekend we are having thus far- I'm loving the warmth in the air :) Today's quick post is to share my current "moodboard". These are things I am currently loving and being inspired by. 

Beautiful vibrant red poppies occupy a mint vase just perfectly.

Homemade fruit-cicles are on my list of things to try this spring & summer. Fill popsicle molds with your favorite fresh fruits and a favorite juice. I'm thinking I'll try coconut water. Freeze and enjoy! 

Blue suede heels have been on my radar for what seems like 6 months. While I fell for an SJP pair, they are simply of out of my price range. Finding the perfect [affordable] option is tough, but here is a great pair that I'm loving and will probably make their way into my closet. 

Jessica Simpson 

These spring nail and toe polish combos have me ready to bare my toes. I'm especially loving the coral/teal combo!

It Cosmetics launched a new palette [Naturally Pretty Vol. 1] that the YT world is going crazy over. Check out Tiffany's thoughts here. They swatch beautifully, and I can see myself using this all spring and summer. Versatile palettes are great for travel, which is great for me, as I plan to spend the majority of my summer at our lake house. 

As the warmer weather is on the horizon, I am itching to get outside and be active. I love my gym, but there is something about a nice run in the fresh air. [I have a 5K coming up in a couple weeks!] Another thing I am looking forward to is finding some great stairs in town to run. It's no LA climb, but I think it will work ;)

What are you all up to this weekend? Tonight my good friend Laura is hosting a murder mystery party... Sin City theme! 30+ people are on the guest list and the casted guest list sounds hilarious. Burke and I were given the roles of the Senator and Senator's socialite wife.  I've got bold lashes and red lips planned. Its bound to be a fun night! This is the reason I won't be attending the Iowa Blogger coffee date tomorrow :( Hope to see some of you there next month though!

Follow me on Instagram [@carrieberschman] for more fun pictures!

XO- Carrie

Life Lately

 

Let's get personal. 

Even though I post weekly, its usually all makeup and skincare related. However, I like to mix it up and share with you some more personal 'stuff'. 

Here is a peek into my life from the last few weeks:

Cabin Coffee. Enough said. Every time I drink their iced caramel latte, I say out loud, "How do they make this SO good?"

That Iowa sunset is just one I had to capture. A peaceful & calming way to enjoy a long hectic day.

GO COO! My bestie is a college baller & I was thrilled to watch her play in the tournament.

I've become a green smoothie drinking machine. These keep me full all morning and surprisingly give me a ton of energy. If you have a good recipe, shoot it my way! :)

My younger sister plays club volleyball. I couldn't believe the skill level at their age! Very fun & exciting to watch. (With my grandma and mom.)

St. Paddy's Day came and went earlier this week. Burke and I hit up the downtown block party and enjoyed good company & green beer. 

I just had to include our little fur friend. Sidney can make and ruin my day all in about 5 minutes. haha.

Last but not least, while I think my whole FB and IG fam has already heard the news, I'm proud to say I have officially been accepted into the Cardiac Sonography program at my college. Competition was tough and the interview nearly made me break a sweat, but I am beyond thrilled to finally get the start of my career rolling. Woo hoo!

So that's all for today. I hope you all enjoyed a little closer look at what I've been up to! I should do this more often. :)

You can also find me on Twitter & Instagram: @carrieberschman

Happy Friday!! GO CYCLONES! Who are you rooting for??

Beauty Organization

From past posts, you may know that I have a little desk that I store my makeup on [and in]. Over the course of the last few months, I really have been trying to better organize my stash collection, allowing me to be able to see what I all have and use it all regularly. [I'm such a visual person!] But, its tough. I'm on a college girl budget, working literally one time a month (womp, womp), so large, fancy organizers are not in my foreseeable future. Instead, I like to find other items to put to use. 

I found this clear plastic office drawer organizer at TJ Maxx for $7.99 and it fits my small desk drawer perfectly. Beforehand, I wasn't utilizing this drawer for makeup storage. It was mostly filled with receipts, post its, and other clutter... Now it houses my most used blushes, eyeshadow duos, brow products and various tools & brushes.

Moving into the bathroom, I found this little mirrored tray at Target for $9.99 (temporary markdown) and it is now the new home for my 5 little pretty friends. While they looked fine without the tray, I love the touch of glam this tray adds as well as making the perfumes look and feel "grouped". If that makes sense? 

Next up are these two little wooden crates I found at TJ Maxx for $5.99 each. Beforehand, I was using a wicker basket to hold all of these items collectively, and lets just say it was always a hot mess after getting ready. So I moved the wicker basket to house lotions, self tanner, nail polish remover and my back stock of shampoo, body wash, etc. under the sink.

One basket holds all my skincare products and the other holds my hair products. Again, because I am such a visual person, this really helps me see all the items I have and helps me use them all more frequently. So these baskets have been great!

Here is a better look at how things are currently organized, with my new containers. I personally don't like that this is starting to look like the leaning tower of beauty hoarders paradise...but my bathroom is exceptionally tiny [literally no counter space], and I'm working with what I got.

The 'over-the-toilet thing' (what the heck is this called?) is from Target.
Acrylic q-tip and cotton pad holders are from Amazon-- so cheap and handy!
Mirror is from Target.


What makes great organization pieces for you?
If you have any tips/tricks for me, please let me know! :)


Find me on Twitter & Instagram: @carrieberschman

Stripes for Spring

I recently saw on The Glitter Guide a post on stripes and all the ways you can wear them for spring. I am a stripe lover. My closet contains lots of stripes and neutrals. So hearing that stripes are in (aren't they always?) made me want to do some hunting on my own for all the ways you can incorporate stripes into your wardrobe this spring...and always! 

Take a look at what I came up with!

IN A SKIRT:

ON A DRESS:

AS A JACKET OR BLAZER:

IN A SCARF:

ON YOUR SHOES:

Now that you have seen the inspiration, check out what I've found in stores NOW! 

[With a few exceptions, everything is under $50.]

Skirts: ASOS, Boohoo

Dresses: Forever 21, ASOS

Jackets: Macy's, Target (love this!), Amazon

Scarves: ModCloth, Etsy

Shoes: ModCloth, Gap, Nordstrom

How will you be wearing stripes this Spring?

XO, Carrie

images via pinterest

Oily Skin 101

Oily skin. If you have it, you probably hate it. And if you don't, you are very thankful. The only perk I have ever heard and known to be true of having oily skin is that your chance for wrinkles is considerably less. But why are some people oily and others are very dry? Well, this is something I have actually just learned in school and found it interesting enough to share with you!

Oily skin, if you have it, you'd know, is hard to control simply because it is genetically determined by hormones in your body [which we can't control topically on our own]. The hormones that produce oil are called androgens, known as male hormones, but are found in both men and women. Oil production is actually to our benefit, but it's when too much is produced that it becomes a problem. [A shiny, OMG problem.] When too much oil is produced, we see our pores become enlarged. They become large because they are trying to accommodate all the oil in our skin. Excess oil can also lead to the thickening of the pores skin, which can block the oil from escaping the pore. We all know that this leads to dreadful blackheads and pimples.

But itf you aren't sure you have oily skin, here are some ways to know:

• Your makeup seems to slide or disappear from your face throughout the day
• Your face becomes shiny and appears greasy by midday
• The oily places of your face are prone to blackheads, white bumps, acne, etc.
• Pore are visible, especially around your nose, forehead, and chin

When caring for oily skin, let's first take a look into your skincare routine. You might be using products that are drying [typically containing alcohol] which seem like a good idea because they initially make your skin feel less oily. However, using irritating and drying products can actually increase your oil production. These products will trick your hormones and skin into thinking they aren't producing enough oil, and in return, produce more directly in the oil glands. Consider using water-soluble cleansers, liquid toners, and serums to treat target areas. 

Here is a sample step-by-step routine for oily skin:

1. Cleanse- It's best to find a fragrance-free, gentle cleanser that doesn't contain drying or irritating ingredients (sodium lauryl sulfate, alcohol, etc)
2. Exfoliate- This is essential for oily skin! This is the best way to remove the built up caused by clogged pores and make your skin feel smoother. (Check out these options.)
3. Tone- Find an alcohol-free toner that is made to balance the pH levels in your skin. These toners can help minimize pores and reduce inflammation. (Here are some great options.)
4. SPF in the A.M.- Wearing sun protection is important for oily people too. Find a weightless form that helps mattify your skin. (I love this one by Murad and it acts as a great primer.)
5. Hydrate in the P.M.- Choose a lightweight lotion or serum that contains antioxidants and helps fight pore size. (I am loving the new Proactiv+ products.)

So there you have it! A brief, Cliff notes version of oily skin and how to attack it. 

I hope this was helpful! Happy Tuesday!

image via 

Spring Fever

Spring means new life and a change in the air. And if you are like me, you are beyond ready for some a lot of sunshine, green grass, and much warmer temperatures. Not only am I ready for all of that, but I am also ready for spring trends to take off in the fashion world AND the makeup world.

These are some of the items I am hoping will make their way into my collection this spring...

Hourglass Ambient Blush || Roses de Chloe perfume || YSL Lipgloss || Josie Maran Illuminizer || Benefit Posie Tint || Formula X Polish 

I love how these products all coordinate. No, I didn't even do it on purpose! I just love the idea of fresh pinks and corals in early Spring, paired with highlighted cheekbones and a perfect pout.

I got a sample of the new Chloe perfume and it smells like the perfect everyday scent for Spring. I would love to mix a little bit of the illuminizer into my foundation for when I want an extra glow...think date night! :)

What things are on your Spring wish list?

XO, Carrie

images via Sephora

Let's Get Ready!

Hello again! Can you believe the weather we are having here in Iowa? Yesterday I was raving about how beautiful it was and how much I was enjoying the sunshine, while today I am stuck inside and classes are cancelled across the state. If you're reading Mother Nature, I am ready for spring! ;)

Over the course of the last month, I have been working hard at organizing my blog, adding more resources, and brainstorming idea on how I can make it a better platform for sharing makeup tips and tricks with all of you! So I decided to have a little photo shoot with one of my very good friends. She's great behind the camera and knows a thing or two about what looks good. I wanted some new photos for my different pages that really would capture who I am. And I think they turned out great. See some of them on my About Me, Connect, and Ask Carrie pages!

We also snapped some photos of me getting ready...

Contouring is key when being photographed. 

*If you have a round face, avoid putting blush directly onto the roundest part of your cheek.
Placing it higher on the cheekbones will prevent an even rounder image. 

I grab for the Lorac Pro palette every day. So versatile!

Can't forget to tease the hair! ;)

Ready to go!

As always, thanks for reading!

XO, Carrie

A Blog Story

Upon starting my blog, I knew up front I would be starting completely from scratch with only the faintest visions and a little inspiration. This meant I had a lot to learn (about the community, discovering my style, etc.) I really didn't have much for goals, except that I wanted a hobby to compliment my creative side and to use it as an opportunity to share my passions to anyone who was willing to read about them. Little did I know, blogging would teach me so much more than I expected. 

--> Blogging can be as creative as you make it! And it can completely be "your own". This may be the best thing I have grown to love about my blog. I have the ability to create, advise, share, and blabber about anything that I want, whenever I want! It feels good to sit at my computer and type about products I have tried, what I recommend, fun things I've done, share whats been inspiring me...AND have no deadlines. While I make it a point to post a couple of times a week and share whats been going on in my life as well, sometimes it's just not possible. But I can assure you, I have no plans to quit this any time soon!

--> Another great thing I have learned is that the blogging community is SO helpful! Over the course of the last year I've been blogging, I have reached out to a handful of my favorite bloggers asking for a few tips as well as just exchanging a few words about our love for blogging. Each and every one of them has been so generous and have made it clear that bloggers help other bloggers. Not only in the aspect of me emailing to make a connection and ask a few questions, but also in the sense that reading other blogs helps us get a better idea of what is pleasing to the eye, as well as grasping onto ideas for content, keeping things original to yourself of course! I've noticed that my 'personal' and 'inside look' posts are far more popular than anything else. Please don't ever be afraid to make a recommendation  of what you might like to see either! 

--> And finally, this: People are going to have things to say about your blog. That is simply a given. There is nothing you can do to stop people from making a few negative comments (online or in person). I remember how nervous I was to unveil my new blog with my very first post, but I am so glad I did! Being still VERY new and still experimenting, I am by no means an expert, nor do I claim to be! I blog from my apartment bedroom, usually while watching The Bachelor (guilty pleasure) and taking a break from studying. I use the simplest features on Microsoft Powerpoint to make fun spreads of pictures to share. I don't own Photoshop and don't use anything more than an iPhone and a Sony point and shoot camera to take photos. Yes, I might flood your Twitter or Instagram feed, but I don't want anyone to miss the opportunity to read about things I think are worth sharing, if they feel inclined to do so.  Which by the way, thank you ALL! Seeing my views go up daily is VERY rewarding. I never imagined to have 12,000+ views and counting. Who ever you are, it means so so much to me. 

I want the moral of my blogging to be that makeup and our personal beauty bring women together. Sometimes it might be the only thing a group of ladies have in common, but what is a better way to connect than through something as simple as that? Makeup and skincare is so much more than labels. It's knowledge on how to embrace and LOVE the skin we are in. 

With all of that said, if any of you have ever considered starting a blog, I highly advise you to do so! Write about what you know and love and it will be much easier than you imagined. My little blog has already opened doors and my eyes to a whole other world I didn't know about. While I am still learning the ropes, I am so happy to be able to share with all of you. 

On a side note-- I hope that you all had a happy Valentine's day whether it was with your honey, your girls, or just spent the evening relaxing. This year was my first "romantic" Valentine's. We enjoyed a nice dinner and ended the night at a comedy club in town. I also was surprised with this GORGEOUS white pearl ring. I've been feeling the love this weekend, to say the least! :)

As always, thank you for reading! 

XO, Carrie

"You've Got Me Blushing": A Valentine's Look

I've put together a sweet and romantic look for this special Valentine's weekend. 

To get the look, here are the steps!

1. Apply your favorite foundation. 

Try a satin or luminous finish for a radiance effect.

2. Conceal, highlight, contour, and powder... Whatever you do to look fab!

3. Prime eyes! This is essential for keeping your shadow perfect all night.

4. I've created a guide above for you for eyeshadow steps. Follow the numbers above.

1. All over the lid

2. Crease/Transition shade

3. Center of lid for a pop

4. Outer corner for definition

5. Inner corner and on brow bone for highlight

You don't need to own Naked3 for this look! Use similar warm shades you already own!

5. Fill in and set brows.

A brow gel gives the brows back that natural look of hair.

6. Bronze up your face for some extra glow.

7. Apply a sweep of a gorgeous rosy/coral blush on the apples of your 

cheeks for a 'just pinched' look.

8. Apply a few individual false lashes to the outer corners of your lashes for some extra, yet subtle drama! (This is great for you gals who don't apply lashes often.)

Use a tweezers for the most precise application.

9. Use your favorite mascara to finish the eyes. 

10. Last but not least, use a nude-pink lipstick with a gloss over top 

to accentuate your pout!

Try Angel by MAC (shown above) & see why Kim K. made it famous!

And voila!!

There you have a romantic, sweetheart look for an evening out.

If you try this look out, be sure to tag me in your pic so I can see! :)

XO, Carrie