Old Hollywood Glam Tutorial - Perfect for New Year's Eve!

Check out my tutorial for the PERFECT glamorous makeup look for New Year's Eve! If a red lip frightens you, I've included a couple other options - fret not! Everyone can tailor this look to their individual style and have the best NYE while looking and feeling fabulous!

Products Mentioned:

Face
L'oreal Visible Lift Foundation
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
Sonia Kashuk cream bronzer
Revlon cream blush in Rosy Glow
Benefit's High Beam

Eyes
MAC Painterly Paintpot
Urban Decay Vice 2 - Shellshock, Habit, Derailed
Coastal Scents matte black shadow
L'oreal Carbon Black Linear Intense kohl liner
Jordana Fabuliner in Black
Jordana Best Lash Extreme Mascara
NYX liquid crystal liner - Crystal Silver (NOTE: I've used their glitter liners for years, but this one stung a little until it dried. Never happened to me before!)

Lips
L'oreal La Laque in Laque-onic



If you do try this look out, be sure to use the hashtag #makeupbyaundi so I can see! :)

things I am LOVING

   

What are you LOVING?

xoxo.

REVIEW - Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Foundation

Looking for a medium to full coverage drugstore foundation? I may have the one for you! Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Foundation is a relatively inexpensive foundation with a semi-matte finish and staying power like you wouldn't believe. It's also talc and paraben-free for all the sensitive skin gals out there. The foundation retails for $13.99 for 0.8 fl. oz. of product (watch my video for my slight rant - c'mon, Revlon!).

While the finish and longevity of this product is phenomenal, the density and overall texture of the foundation can make it slightly difficult to work with. You will want to drench your face with generously apply your moisturizer, especially if you have dry skin like myself, to help the foundation glide on with more ease. It is free of SPF, which is not great for everyday summer use, but it does make it a great option for all the brides/bridesmaids out there! (As a general rule, you want to avoid SPF face products on special occasions with lots of photography to avoid the white cast/reflection; not the cutest look!). So, if you are going to be out in the sun, make sure you include SPF in another part of your skincare routine. I wear shade 240-Natural Beige and NW 20-25 in MAC foundations, just to give you a point of reference.

I am beyond impressed with the wear of this foundation, and overall quite happy with the foundation! Be sure to watch the video to see how I apply the foundation and the before & after shots.

XOXO.

Summer Glam Makeup Tutorial

We all want to look glamorous, even in the summer, but often we forego the glam due to the heat and humidity! Let's face it...

This:

... is not cute. No one wants to be that girl (sorry, Paris!).

I have a blog/video coming soon of tips & tricks to keep your makeup in place all day long - yes, even here in the south where the humidity often seems unbearable!

Until then, check out my latest tutorial - a glamorous night-out makeup look that's appropriate for summer. You can still rock a smokey eye, just consider opting for the bronze/gold shadows and leave the black/gray for a different season. You can still get a smoldering eye without being so harsh. For the ultimate glam makeup look, a bright lip is a must. I opted for MAC's Speak Louder in this tutorial, but you can use whatever you currently have in your makeup collection.

I hope you will try out this look at some point this summer. Let me know what you think!




XOXO.

Drugstore Haul With HUGE Savings

I am super pumped about sharing this haul with you! Not just to show off the fun goodies I purchased, but to share with you how I saved big while buying them.

First off, you'll notice that a good chunk of my haul came from the brands ELF and Wet N Wild. While some of their products can be hit or miss (especially ELF), they are great brands to stick with if you are on a budget. There are SO MANY gems at the drugstore! The problem comes from the process of trying to find those hidden gems. And that's where I come in! I can't wait to share reviews (check back soon!) of these new items in my collection. Let's get started, shall we?

My first stop was Target, where I picked up these ELF products. The great thing about ELF is, while they may be hit or miss, if it is a miss, you've only wasted $1.00-$3.00 of your hard earned money! I can handle that. The clear mascara/brow gel was $1.00 (score!) and the matte lip color was $3.00. These aren't even sale prices!


My next stop was CVS. While I could have gotten some of these brands at Target, I knew I had some savings calling my name at CVS. If you don't have an ExtraCare card, you should! It's totally free and there are often perks to stocking up on certain items at CVS, despite their high mark-up. I like to scan my card right when I walk through the door, and more times than not, it prints out coupons I can use on the spot. If often prints out cosmetic coupons... CVS knows the way to my heart.

If you watched my Hits & Misses Series, then you'll know I love the Wet N Wild Megalast nail polish formula. (And if you didn't watch it, you should.) I had to pick up a couple more of these bad boys. I am obsessed with these two colors for summer. The purple is "On A Trip" and the orange is "Club Havana." With a fabulous formula, a top of the line brush, and ringing in at $1.99 a bottle, can it really get much better? I think not.

If you can't tell, I'm slightly obsessed with Wet N Wild as of late. I just can't get over the drastic improvement in the quality of their makeup! I wanted to try a couple of their lip products, and I don't think I will be disappointed with these selections. The one on the left is from their Megashield line and the one on the right, from their original Megalast line. Costing $2.99 and $1.99 respectively, you certainly get a bang for your buck!

NOW for the major savings!

CVS is currently running an offer on Revlon products. If you spend $10 on Revlon, you receive $4 in Extra Bucks, which you can spend on ANY item in the store. I had a $3.00 coupon for Revlon, so I purchased the Colorstay Whipped Foundation - originally $13.99 - I paid $10.99 and received my $4 Extra Bucks. In a separate transaction (which is where the other customers started to get annoyed), I purchased the Lip Butter and Gloss. Originally $7.99 and $8.29 respectively, I had $5.00 Beauty Reward Bucks (swiping your card beforehand tends to pay off) bringing my total for both to $11.28 AND scoring the $4 Extra Bucks for the Revlon promotion. 

Liking where this is going? It gets even better!

Maybelline is running a Buy One Get One 50% Off promotion. The Lash Stiletto was originally $9.99 and the Rocket Volume was $7.50. I got the Rocket Volume 50% off at $3.75. I had a $2 Maybelline coupon AND used both of my $4 rewards from the Revlon purchases, bringing my total for BOTH of these mascaras to $3.73. Get excited!! *I even had an additional $4 rewards that I used to purchase a small mirror. My total savings at CVS, you ask? $25.75!!

These offers are currently running, so head over to your local CVS! The great thing about the CVS rewards is you can use them on the spot as opposed to some other drugstores, where you are required to wait 24 hours. I am not used to the whole couponing thing, but I'm not going to lie, I felt as if I should have been featured on the Extreme Couponers television show.

Are you a dedicated couponer? If so, I'd love for you to share your tips with me!

For more details and swatches of the products I bought, check out my haul:

I sincerely hope you enjoyed this haul! I had so much fun putting it together. Look for reviews on these products SOON!

XOXO. 

Pop of Color Makeup Tutorial

After nearly three months, my latest makeup tutorial is HERE! This is an interesting, fun makeup look which is perfect for summer and that you can achieve with minimal time and products. Adding a bright color to the lower lash line is a great way to amp up the look, appearing that you spent more time and effort getting ready than you probably did.

Remember: you don't have to stick to the old school "rules" of makeup. If you find a color that you like, rock it out! However, if you do want to complement your eye color, here are some shades to keep in mind:

Brown/Hazel Eyes - blues, purples, golds (any shades of these colors)
Green Eyes - purples, warm taupes, greens, warm browns
Blue Eyes - warm browns, some blues, golds (especially warm copper tones - even orange can work!)

I may do a more in-depth blog soon about color theory, as in warm/cool tones and what colors work best. Let me know if you would be interested in something like that!

Now... onto the tutorial! Please watch, like, and even share! Let me know what you think.

XOXO.

Hits & Misses Series - Part 2

Part 2 of my mini-series is HERE! Check it out for my recent beauty favorites in hair, nails, eyes, and lips! And stay tuned through the very end to see my non-beauty OBSESSION! Let me know what you guys think!

My next tutorial will be up in the next few days, so check back soon!

Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MakeupByAundi/192664414091148

XOXO.

Hits & Misses Series - Part 1

Finally: a video! I filmed all day today, y'all. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. I've put a lot of thought into this mini-series, so I sincerely hope you enjoy. I may have gotten slightly carried away (hence the twenty minute video) so kick back, relax, and enjoy! I have lots of fun stuff planned for the summer, so check back soon!

XOXO.

Contouring & Highlighting Like a Boss

Watch my Contouring & Highlighting Video !

Let's face it - if not done right, contouring can go terribly wrong. I wanted to share with you guys a few guidelines on how to contour and highlight. Please keep in mind that this is not a natural, everyday technique. In fact, the only time I would recommend going this extreme would be for a photo shoot or something like that. This is technique is slightly tedious and involves several products. However, you can use these concepts and adapt your own contour/highlight routine. Let me know if you are interested in seeing a tutorial on how I contour on a regular basis.

The purpose of contouring & highlighting is to enhance your natural features or, if you're like me and don't have great features, creating the illusion that you do. You can manipulate different features to give the appearance that you have strong cheekbones, a smaller forehead, slimmer nose, etc.

Here is a (somewhat) simple chart on how Kim Kardashian's makeup artist contours her face, which is the basic guideline I show in this tutorial.

Here are a few examples of a glamorous, dramatic contour:

I hope you find this helpful! Have fun contouring & highlighting (like a boss!) :)


xoxo.

Quick & Easy Everyday Makeup

Watch my Quick & Easy Everyday Tutorial!

This is my go-to look for everyday when I'm running a few minutes behind or just don't have the energy to put into a full face of makeup - which, let's face it, happens more often than not. It's super simple and literally takes me less than 5 minutes to complete the look. What are some of your everyday favorites?

Here's a full list of the products I used in the video:

Rimmel London Clean Finish Foundation
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles Eraser
Revlon Cream Blush in 09 Rosy Glow
Benefit High Beam
Rimmel London Stay Matte Powder in Translucent
Diorshow Blackout Mascara
Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle

Enjoy!

Sultry Valentine's Day Makeup

It's time for another tutorial! With Valentine's Day right around the corner, what better time to bust out an intense and dramatic makeup look?! I used a blending technique that I use quite often when using cool, dark colors. Anytime you're using a dark color, it is often helpful to use a soft, warm brown to blend the outer edges. It warms the look up and prevents a bruised look around the eyes - not cute. I also used a technique I learned from Kandee, which is using a black eyeliner as a base for your dark shadows. You don't have to spend a ton of extra money on a shadow base, just use what you have! Make sure you use a soft kohl liner and blend it in quickly before it sets. Using a dark base will help give your dark shadows more of a punch and prevent the shadow from having a patchy, uneven effect. Although it's a simple concept, using just three matte shadows, this technique does take time. Make sure that you take it slow, layering and blending as you go. I did not use false eyelashes in this tutorial, but it would certainly glam up the look even more. I would definitely recommend falsies if you have short lashes, as your natural lashes may get lost in all the dark colors.

By the way, this voiceover was the bane of my existence! I most likely won't be doing another one for a while. Let me know if you prefer the voiceover or just explaining as I go. :)

xoxo.

Drugstore Makeup Tutorial - Simple Smokey Eye

Hey guys!

I finally uploaded a tutorial! This is a gorgeous, simple smokey eye achieved using only three eyeshadows from the Wet n Wild Color Icon Palette in Silent Treatment. If you have not tried these palettes from Wet n Wild, you are seriously missing out! These palettes were included in my 2012 Drugstore Favorites. The shadows have a creamy velvet texture that are so smooth and easy to blend. The pigmentation and color pay-off is ah-mazing! Several of these shadows are perfect dupes for MAC shadows. The best part? They are so inexpensive; perfect for any budget - especially one of a teacher. ;) The three shadow palettes are $2.99, and the eight shadow palettes are $5.99. Check them out if you haven't already. You won't regret it!

Check out my video and let me know what you think. Are there any other videos you would be interested in seeing? Let me know!

xoxo.

Big Announcement

Exciting News! Makeup By Aundi is officially a dot com! I said adios to the "blogspot" in the url.  Makeup By Aundi is in the beginning stages of a huge transformation - a makeover, if you will. Yes, I went there. 

There are a few things in store that I cannot wait to share with you all. So check back soon! 

xoxo

2012 Drugstore Favorites

I know we're already two weeks into 2013, but I thought it would be fun to share my drugstore favorites from the last year. These have been staples in my makeup bag, some for years, and I'm finding it hard to branch out.  I mean, if ain't broke, don't fix it. Right? I've tried high-end department store products, but these drugstore items take the cake. One of my resolutions this year is to experiment with different products. I'm in the process of trying a few, so reviews will be coming soon!

Foundation:

L'oreal True Match Lumi

L'oreal released this formula in 2012, and I love it! It's perfect for someone with dry skin like myself. It gives the perfect natural, radiant glow. It is super light weight, offering light to medium buildable coverage. Because of my dry skin, I don't often feel the need to set my foundations with powder, but I do with this one. If I don't, it does give my face a bit too much shine by the end of the day. If you have oily skin, you may want to skip the Lumi and opt for a more matte finish.

Face Powder:

Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder

I am currently obsessed with this powder. I use the color 001 Transparent, so that it doesn't offer anymore color, just gives me the bit of shine control I need in my t-zone and sets my foundation all day long. It's around $3.99 for .49 oz of product. I mean, seriously. It doesn't get much better than that.

Concealer:

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind

This product has been raved about all over YouTube, so I thought I'd give it a go. And I'm so glad I did! I use the color Light for more of a heavily highlighted under eye look (a la Kim Kardashian). I love the formula. It's lightweight enough that it doesn't cake up under the eye, but gives great coverage - even on those days when I'm running on very little sleep. The sponge tip applicator is not my personal favorite, although some really like it.

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer

This concealer I use for the rest of my face to cover any breakouts or redness. I also like to use the lightest color, 002 Pale, to highlight my cheekbones on days when I'm not really feeling a shimmery highlight. This is probably the best drugstore formula I've tried when it comes to a cream concealer. Once I apply it, I set it with my Rimmel Stay Matte, and it doesn't budge!

Bronzer:

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder 

This is the perfect bronzer for pale skin during the winter months. It has a warmer tone, so it doesn't look extremely obvious that I've bronzed my face. I can use it to contour my face or for an all over sun-kissed glow. Not only is it ridiculously inexpensive, it's also matte! Yay for matte drugstore bronzers! They are so hard to come by. I think they may have recently changed the packaging on these, but hopefully the formula is still the same. 

Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder Duo

This has been a favorite of mine for almost two years now. I love to use the bronzer during the warmer months. It does contain a slight shimmer, but it's bearable. The blush is the perfect coral/peachy shade. It's not matte, but I like a little shimmer in my blush every once in a while. Some have called the duo the perfect dupes for Nars Orgasm and Laguna. I don't know that I'd take it that far, but for $3.00, you really can't beat it.

Eyes:

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Palettes

I heard about these on YouTube as well, so I bought a few palettes to try. These bad boys are amazing. Wet n Wild has come a looong way since I used them when I was younger. The shadows have stunning color payoff, and rich, blendable textures. Seriously, if you haven't tried one yet, you should. They have so many dupes for different MAC shadows, which cost $15 a pop, but these palettes are $5.99 for six shadows. Boom.

L'oreal Lineur Intense Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black

... at least that's what I think it's called. I've used this guy so much, I've worn the label slap off. It's definitely time for a new one. I'm not sure if it's a waterproof formula, but I've not had a single problem with it smudging. I like the formula a lot, but I'm not so in love that I would be opposed to trying another formula. 

L'oreal Extra-Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner

Super confusing name, right? It's a creamy blackest of the black pencil liner. I can use it to line my tight line or water line, and it doesn't move. It's also soft enough to blend and use as a shadow base. I would use this over Smolder or even Feline by MAC any day of the week. I just love it. Period.

Covergirl Lashblast Mascara

This mascara has had my heart for longer than I can remember. To have such dry skin, I have grossly oily eyelids. And with hooded eyes, it's super important for me to use a waterproof mascara, and one that doesn't transfer to my eyelids or under eye area. And that's what Lashblast does. It adds some length, but also gives my lashes a ton of volume. It's my holy grail. I don't know if I can ever part ways...

Lips:

These are my go to lipsticks for basic looks - 

Nude - L'oreal Colour Riche lipstick in 800 Fairest Nude. Perfect "my lips, but better" kinda color.

Pink - Maybelline 135 Make Me Pink. Been a favorite of mine for years. Always loved it. Always will.

Red - Maybelline 645 Red Revival. A great blue-toned red. The perfect color to throw on when you're having a crappy day and need a little boost.

And of course, the product I never leave home without!

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm in Original. I keep ones of these bad boys stashed everywhere so I never have to go without.

I hope you guys have enjoyed this post. Let me know what some of your drugstore favorites are!

xoxo.