Have a weekend filled with the reading/watching/doing of things that aren’t necessarily productive but do bring you joy:)

I set up an email devoted completely to Monday Makeovers.
If you are near, in, or planning to be in the Las Vegas area you can enter to getcher self a fun makeover at no charge!
I will also let you know periodically if I am going to be travelling to other cities and if you live in those, you can enter as well!
I am really excited because I think this will give me a chance to meet some of you guys and work on an array of different skin tones, ethnicities and face shapes to help answer questions and represent looks that everyone can relate to.

If you wanna enter here’s what you do:

Send an email to makeovermonday@gmail.com
Subject line: Name and a random interesting fact about you (to make it fun:)
Email Body:
1. Where you live and when you will be in the Las Vegas area
2. A photograph of you (with your current skin tone – makeup on or off – either is fine)
3. Your phone number
4. Anything else you’d like to add

I’ll contact one or two ladies a month to arrange it.

I also have another option for my regular makeup services:
Cost: $100
Which includes a full makeup consult and eyebrow shaping.

Send an email to caralynbrook@gmail.com
Subject Line: MAKEUP CONSULT
Email Body:
1. Availability dates.
2. Your phone number
3. Anything else you’d like to add

I will respond and let you know if I am available.

I’m really excited to hear from you guys!

Oh, and don’t forget to vote! Don’t know what the deal was with the voting but I think it’s fixed now!

If you have damaged hair: maybe you can join me in this adventure and share your results as well (so we can have a wide array of hair types and opinions)
If you already have the perfect thing; I am hoping you share that too!
If we work together we are gonna have the softest sexiest hair of our lives:)
I know it.

You know I don’t like to report on things until I know for sure that I love them. Which takes many uses, comparisons and sometimes before and afters. Yet I want you guys to be able to try what I am trying as well, so I’ll tell you now what I’m doing so far and what my first impression is. I’ll keep up updated and do a round up when I come to some solid conclusions

(ahhh the healthier days!)

Wen: Not exactly a first impression, I couldn’t use it when I had my extensions in though because conditioner breaks down the glue. So I am elated to be back in the saddle. (more about that HERE) Although, my friend Marissa told me over the weekend (when I asked her about her STUNNING hair) she washes hers with suave coconut conditioner!

Suave Coconut Conditioner: She says instead of shampooing use the conditioner and scrub really good rinse then follow if a vinegar rinse. Haven’t tried this yet but I’m pretty excited to.

Vinegar Rinse: I was really skeptical about this when I saw it on pinterest but with her recommendation, I gave it a shot. After washing you rinse your hair with it. Which closes the cuticle and makes it look shiny and soft. My biggest concern was that I would smell like a salad afterward but I am sniffing my hair as we speak and there isn’t a trace of vinegar. (when it was went I could still smell it a little  The coolest part was that (as per her recommendation) I used about 10 drops of blue food coloring and 3 or 4 drops of red to tone it. Totally worked. Which was nice because as I said in my toning post the other day, the shimmering lights purple shampoo is very drying and obviously has sulfates. Initially I am very impressed and hopeful about this one.

Kerastase Mask & Elixir: This is amazing and very expensive. I love it so far but I used it mostly when I have my extensions in so I want to try it without so I can tell the difference better.

Coconut oil: Using it to keep the hair hydrated. I rub it into the ends during the day.

Taking my biotin and making sure to eat my veggies: Biotin is the hair health megavitamin. Hair health and body health are linked. Plus I just need more veggies anyway.

No Blow Drying: This is the single biggest difference I can see in my hair. I am not sure if its just my hair texture but my hair gets damaged so fast and easily by blow drying. I am avoiding it like the plague right now.

I’m also scrimping on:
curling irons:cutting it down to once a week
hairspray: by twirling or pin setting my curls I can get the body and hold I need with out a lot of alcoholic products.
Brushing my hair when it’s wet: Hair is a lot weaker when soaked. I’m leaving it alone in it’s vulnerable state.

I can’t wait to hear what you guys have to say!
I’m also pretty excited to see how I did on the Allure contest last week and check out the challenges for this week, It’s the last week of the contest so it all comes down to this! Fingers crossed that I am still standing! If I am be sure to VOTE and to check out what I found at the drugstore for my $50 challenge.
(sometimes I get to the end of a post and have the distinct feeling that I have WELL overused exclamation points, I’m having that feeling right now so if you noticed that too, my apologies. It would be a very different world if all of us girls were actually exclaiming when we talked as much as we do when we write!!!!!!! haha)

Ignored Eyebrows:
Why? Do I harp on eyebrows too much? If so I’m sorry, it’s just,  I think they make such a dramatic difference! They are the most natural looking way to bring definition and intensity to your eyes. And when filled and tweezed right they bring balance to your face and they make your expressions look more authentic.
What to do instead? Fill those babies! I used an angled brush {here} and this shadow on Celeste’s. I have this old video {here} that gives you the basics. I’ve been asked to make a new video so I want to know from you guys, what exactly should I address in the new video? What are your biggest concerns with brows?

White eyeshadow:
Why? Now this one is probably just a personal preference of mine. I think white eyeshadow has a tendency to look chalky and unflattering. It can absolutely look beautiful but for the most part I think creamier warmer highlight colors look prettier and softer.
What to do instead? Some of my favorite under brow highlighters are: Lt Bronze {in lorac palette} & the one I used for this makeover was Bubbly {in Stila in the light palette}

Lack of Moisturizer:
Why? Most of the time I think women are timid to use much moisturizer because it makes them feel oily or they worry it will break them out but it is so important for getting your skin to look glowing and vibrant.
What to do instead? Moisturize! I promise it will make a difference. I try to slather some of this {here} on twice a day.

Foundation – More Coverage than you need:
Why? You gotta show off some skin! I find most women imagine their skin to be much less perfect than it actually is. They see perfect complexions in magazines and think that more foundation is the way to get there. In all reality no one has perfect skin (not even the babes in Glamour) but when you use too much foundation it can age you and make your skin look dull. Notice how dry Celeste’s face looks in the before image.
What to do instead? I just say to put on foundation thoughtfully, really decide what you actually want to cover up. So often it’s easy to go into autopilot and cover up everything. Instead use the sheerest coverage possible and then spot treat trouble areas with concealer. On Celeste I used Nars Sheer Glow Foundation {here} mixed with moisturizer so it went on very sheer ( I had to show off her cute freckles) then I used my my highlighting concealer {similar here}under her eyes and around her nose to cover up the redness.

Foundation #2 – Skipping the Blush & Contour:
Why? Now I am not saying you need to contour and blush every day but if you are going to do a full face of foundation it becomes more important. Your face has many different colors on it (ask anyone who’s ever painted a face) when you cover it up with one solid color it can look unnatural and flat. That is where the beauty of blush, highlighting and contouring comes in.
What to do instead? Using your products in the right places is all it takes. Most of the time I skip the foundation altogether and HAC instead. If I am feeling like I want to get really done up I will use a sheer foundation under my HAC. Either way it’s an art that is worth learning and getting good at! Even if you just do a quick version it’s all about letting your features shine and showing off your beautiful face structure. Learn ALL about that {here}

Disappearing lips:
Why? Nude lips are so fun and look amazing with a smoky eye. The problem is that sometimes when you throw on nude lip gloss instead of looking hot your lips look hidden.
What to do instead? I love to contour my lips. I use this {here} lip liner and lightly draw around the outer edge and then use the smudger on the stick to blend it out. You can also use your contour shade around the bottom of your lips to make them look defined. {then I tapped the same Tarte blush {here}I used on her cheeks into the center of her lip to give it a natural looking flush)

Hair Over Spray:
Why? Hairspray is made up of a fair amount of alcohol, so it’s really drying. When you layer it on the hair too much it looks dry and dull and lifeless.
What to do? Less is more. Always use the least amount of any product on your hair as possible to get the look you are going for. I understand that some hairstyles require more spray than others. It’s just one of those things that can become a bad habit.

I love this look! I couldn’t stop staring at her the rest of the day. She is just so feminine and beautiful. I don’t think she could possibly look that angelic and sweet if she wasn’t the person she is on the inside. I love her.
I also thought this would make a really pretty bridal makeup tutorial, do you guys agree? or do you think it’s too simplistic?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

1. Mac Eyeshadow in Brun:
I have been using this on pretty much everyone I see as my new favorite brow filler. It’s the perfect tone! I also love the ashy brown as a smoky liner. It makes eyes look so dreamy.
2 & 3. Mac Viva Glam in Nicki and Nicki 2:
Such fun colors! I fell in love with both of these at my nearest store and they were out, so I went running around town trying to find them. The purplish one is so cool but I will admit that it looks really weird on me unless I have a full face of makeup to go with it.
4. OP Bikini at Walmart
I instagrammed about this the other day. Walmart has these on sale for 5 bucks a piece! Such a smokin’ deal! They have like 10 colors too. It’s always nice to have cute solids around to wear alone or mix and match with your printed suits.
5. Kiss Trio Lashes ( I got mine at CVS but you can get em at Walmart or Walgreens too)
These rock my world. I’ve never had enough patience for the single clusters, but I love the way they look. Now I get to have my cake and eat it too. I applaud Kiss for their hard work that makes my laziness possible.

Cause I wanted to be blonde.
And I figured I could nurse it back to health eventually (working on that, I’ll keep you posted)

But in the meantime… I’m just gonna fake it.

Not everyday (cause there’s heat involved) but if I do it once a week it will last me 3 or 4 days.
Which will allow me to maintain a healthy sense denial.

1. 1 1/2″ Hot Tools Curling Iron (BTW I know I didn’t add this to the list but I had to tell you, since I’ve been using the Malibu hard water elixir I have been amazed with how well my hair holds curl! Bouncy, light fresh and not at all weighed down with grime, post about that HERE)
2. Awesome hair oil
3. Fab heat protected
4. Fine tooth comb

First work oil into your hair starting at the ends and working up to about mid shaft. I use it in dime size amounts until my hair no longer feels dry at the ends. A little at a time keeps you from getting too much in one area. Next I section my hair in two and pull op the top half.
Now time to begin the stylin’

1. Take 1 1/2″ sections and spray with heat protectant then comb through section
2. Take the iron and clam the hair near the root ( I run it through the root a couple times to warm it up) then clamp down and slide through while curling away from your face until you get to the end of the strand.
3. Lightly twirl the strand and let it cool

Repeat the process on the rest of the hair. I rotate the curl going away from my face and toward my face each time, making sure the pieces that frame my face are all away)

Once your hair is COMPLETELY COOL shake it out and break up the curls.

This technique makes your hair look lustrous and healthy by smoothing the cuticle, adding wave/body and quenching it’s thirst.

I have a video where I do a similar technique in case the pictorial isn’t giving you enough info. Click HERE to see that:)

I hope this helps some of you even if you hair isn’t damaged, it’s one of my favorite styles and it looks pretty on hair of any length!
For long hair though, I would recommend a smaller iron (like 1″ or 1 1/4″) since your hair has more weight and might pull on your curl.

Don’t forget to vote!

What I used:
I used a copper shadow on her lid and then highlighter her brow with a shimmery cream {Garnet & Lt. Bronze from the LORAC Pro Palette}
Did a thick solid liner on her upper lid {SEPHORA Liquid Liner in Black}
Then filled her brows in a high arch {MAC Eyeshadow in Brun}
A thick layer of mascara {L’Oreal Voluminous in Carbon Black}
And a sexy pair of natural looking lashes Red Cherry False Eyelashes
A very light coat of foundation {NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in STROMBOLI}
I highlighted her with my mix but a similar option would be { Clinique Even Better Concealer in Buttermilk
Then contoured with {The Balm Bahama Mama Bronzer}
Contoured & lined her lips with {CoverGirl Perfect Blend Pencil in Mink}
and glossed her up with Colour Riche Legloss in Baby Blossom

HAIR! For her hair we lightened it and added some layers then did twirl curls (my favorite)

Be sure to check out the contest today and see how I fared last week and get some more fun details from this makeover (and the other fun makeovers)
Oh and of course vote! {CLICK HERE}
It’s Sunday night as I write this so I have no idea what happened yet… SO NERVOUS/ANXIOUS!

1. In-shower toning is VERY effective:

I can’t tell you how often I pull up my color wheel for beauty related referencing.
For hair it’s pretty vital.

The best (by way of pigment) that I’ve found is Clairol Shimmering Lights. It’s a bit drying though so I first put on my Wen then add the purple shampoo while the Wen is still in my hair, rinse and finish with a little more Wen for conditioning. If you don’t use Wen I would do the same with whatever conditioner you use. Get it {HERE}

2. Hard water is HARD on your hair.
My mom has always made it a big priority to have a nice water system in her house. I have never given it much thought until I started researching brassy hair. I found out that not only does hard water leave residue of minerals on your glasses and shower but on your hair too.
That residue can make your hair dingy, discolored and cause build up.
I also found out that as a LasVegas resident I am showering my hair with a heavy dose of the hard stuff:

Well, I am not exactly in the budget for buying a water purifying system (..someday) so I set out for a more price-friendly fix.

This incredible stuff rids your hair of all of it’s orange/green glory and leaves it feeling soft and silky. Get it {HERE}
I was pretty skeptical but found myself touching my hair relentlessly after one use.
Well played Malibu, well played.

3. If all else fails, you can tone with mousse too:
For most cases I’m guessing you won’t need this last step. I only add it because as someone who is absolutely terrified of having much warmth in my hair (it really doesn’t flatter me…which is sad because I’d love to be a red head) It does work. There’s a noticeable difference when I don’t use it. (of course I mean noticeable to me, Nick wouldn’t notice it in a million years)

Get it {HERE}

Have a gorgeous weekend beauties!
(Allure has me all mixed up, I’m excited for Monday instead of Friday to see what the results are! )

Cara!
I found your blog via Pinterest, and  I couldn’t be more blessed to have stumbled upon it when I did!
The past year of my life has been filled with many unexpected trials and some minor health challenges. I was just having trouble getting motivated, and seeing both my inner and outer beauty. Seeing your video about doing “mommy” make up in a few minutes was exactly what I needed. Though I am not a mommy, I like to keep things simple and emphasize natural beauty which I think is something you do naturally in your videos and blog posts. I was hooked after the first view of the video, though it wouldn’t be my last.  I started reading any and every post on your blog, and exploring! I copied your list of drug store buys from the Mommy make up video and set out to get them. This was almost backwards for me, I almost strictly shop at Sephora, so heading to Target was refreshing. I guess I forgot you can still find good “drug store” products. I got everything you said and watched your video countless times! I started to get the hang of it and felt up to finally wearing this new look out in public, the very first day I did I had 2 compliments at work! I was floored! I have since received more compliments, and its not about the compliments, but the way it makes me feel, knowing I can do it! I have a rounder face so I have always struggled with applying my makeup in a flattering manner. It was like all I needed was that little boost, and my confidence started to snowball- I started working out again, I got on Match.com (Oh dear… ) I am eating right, and I jump started my weight loss again. I am down 22lbs from my heaviest last October! Still have plenty of weight to go! I just needed to stop and take a second to express my thanks, sorry it was so scattered!  Please keep doing what you are doing, because I am sure my life isn’t the only one you have changed!

With Love,
Reilly

I am so grateful to Reily and all of the beautiful women who send me messages, letters and comments of encouragement and gratitude.
The only problem is, I don’t know how to fully express my gratitude for going out of your way to make me feel like what I do is worthwhile.

When I entered the Allure contest I wrote this: I think the best part of the blog is my readers. They are so sweet, funny and smart and always have a lot of great information to share. The comment thread is truly uplifting and informative, often better than the post itself.
Man, I hope I am not boring you with all of my blubbering, I just have to gush about you guys from time to time:)
Like I said, You’re the best.

-Melody Beattie

Nonetheless, I figure the many many things that can be accomplished with this one, pure and natural goldmine need to be addressed.
Get it HERE or at pretty much any grocery store.

1. Shaving Cream -
My legs were in a bad way over the winter. They were itching so bad at one point I briefly considered the relief of scrubbing them down with an an SOS pad on them. I went to the interwebs to find a cure and The Pioneer Woman hooked me up. She claimed it was my shaving cream causing all the problems and suggested I use something pure and simple to shave with. So was the birth of my coconut oil shaving routine and the death of my itchy leg syndrome.
2. Body Lotion -
This stuff sinks into the skin enough to properly hydrate and leave you with that gorgeous tropical scent.
3. Eye Makeup Remover - 
Obviously this one isn’t oil free like the one photographed above but it is perfect for ridding your eyeballs from the black stuff.
4. Frizz Control-
Rub a little oil in your hands and tap down any flyaways. You can also run it through your ends to combat dryness and add some shine.
5. Lip Balm-
Smear some into your pout for an instant moisture lock.
6. Hair Deep Conditioner-
I mix about 1/4 cup coconut oil + half an avocado together and massage it into wet hair. Leave it on for about 20 minutes and then rinse. It will leave your hair shiny, silky and moisturized.
7. Protect your tresses from the chlorine-
Before you jump in the pool wet your hair and oil it from about the nape of your neck down. Then throw it in a bun. Now you don’t need to worry about chlorine fried hair.
And that’s just the beauty stuff! It can also replace pretty much any other fat you use in the kitchen.
Be sure to let me know any of your cool ways to use it I didn’t discover yet..

PS Be sure to vote for me at the Allure contest if you can! Click HERE or on that badge over there>>>>>>