Top 10 Summer Beauty Tips!

 

Now that summer is pretty much here it’s time to change up the beauty routine. When it gets hotter I tend to switch up my skin, hair and makeup routine not to mention my fashion obviously. I know that sounds like a lot of change but don’t worry as always I will give just the top 10 tips that will help ease you into the change of summer.

 

1. BB cream is your best friend-I was a bit half and half about this product but it’s become one of my favorites to put on my face. And now there are so many different kinds depending on your skin type. All you need is a quarter size (sometimes nickel) amount on your face, a thin layer and you’re done. Not to mention is also leaves off a nice dewy glow.
2. Any makeup you have I strongly suggest it should have SPF in it- Even lip balm, and these days a lot of lip gloss and lipsticks have it in. You can always just put sunscreen on your face then add foundation but me I prefer to do it when there is SPF in it. This is so there is not a lot of product on my face, especially when its hot outside and I'm sweating. Also that way there is not so much makeup on my face and I can enjoy the summer rays more.
3. Summer Detox? - I’ve said this before only because I am a true believer. Fresh cut lemons in your water really help cleanse the palette, not to mention it’s a great detox. Make a pitcher of water add some fresh cut lemons then add some mint leaves. Leave in the fridge till its cold and pour yourself a glass and relax.
4. How can I make my tan stand out?-Bright neon nails on your toes and nails bring out any summer glow. Try colors like coral and pink those will really bring out any beach glow.
5.  In need of a fast tan-If laying out in the sun is not your thing, and you’re in need of a fast tan. There are a few products that can help with this problem. Top 3 products I'd recommend would be Victoria Secret Beach Sexy Tanning Spray, Sally Hansen Airbrush legs and L’Oréal Sublime Bronze.  But that does not mean to lay off the SPF!
6. For kissable summer lips try using sugar- I’m serious! Take a teaspoon of sugar and use your finger (or a toothbrush) and scrub it on your lips. After your done use a light warm washcloth to clean off your lips then apply your favorite flavored lip balm.
7. It’s ok to have messy hair- Let’s face it every summer every girl does the beach waves, even if your hours from the beach you want to have your hair look like you live right next door to it. It’s all about texture. Sea Salt hair products are your best friend, use a little bit and use your fingers to create the beach waves you desire
8. Do blonde really have more fun? - I know for me every summer I want my hair to be lighter but I don’t want to use dye or sludge to go to the salon. So my mom got me hooked on a trick that she uses on her blonde hair. Lemon juice. I know it’s random and there are products that have it already but if you do it yourself you save way more money. Get fresh pure lemon juice  then pour some into a spray bottle and add a little water and spray away. Also another thing if you add a little sea salt it builds texture but lightens your hair at the same time. But don’t over board the spray. 
9.   Messed up tan lines? - Lemon juice and a loofah sponge does wonders will smoothing out any tan lines. It make take a while for it to fade completely but it’s worth it to make sure your tan is flawless.
10. Free Spa day!- Sand from the beach is a natural exfoliator. So while you are moving your feet around in the sand know your making your feet extra smooth and ready for some polish (remember tip #4).

I hope these tips help and have a great summer!

 

5 Makeup Products Worth the Splurge

Makeup can be extremely pricey, and if you're anything like me, I buy too much makeup than any one person should ever accumulate. Granted, I do have a beauty/lifestyle blog which I try to use to justify my spending habits on mass amounts of makeup but I'm here to tell you that from trial and error there are certain products that are worth the splurge!

1. A Good Matte Bronzer
My Recommendations: Benefit Hula Bronzer, Chanel Healthy Glow Sheer Color, The Body Shop Honey Bronzer
- I recommend splurging on a great bronzer because it's something that you'll get use out of all year round. It's a product that's easily buildable, and won't go bad like other makeup products.

2. A Signature Lipstick
My Recommendations: Mac Cosmetics Lipsticks, YSL Lipsticks
-Finding that signature color is totally up to you and what you're drawn to. As far as a signature color goes I would stick to something that enhances your lip color like a pinky nude, that works with your complexion. If you go into any makeup store they'd be happy to help you find one and they're usually spot on with what they suggest for you!

3. A volumizing and Separating Mascara
My Recommendations: Benefit Roller Lash, Eyeko Skinny Masacara, The Balm What's Your Type Mascara
-Mascara is the one makeup product that if you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one makeup product this would be it. It instantly makes you look 100 times more awake and brightens up your entire eye area. If you don't wear eyeshadow wear mascara, it's worth the splurge and completes your entire look.

4. Setting Spray
My Recommendations: Urban Decay All Nighter Spray, Mac Fix +
-Setting sprays are a must in the hot weather because you'll find your makeup melting off your face about half way through the day. Do not play around with setting sprays if you don't want to look like a melting fudge sicle as the day goes on.

5. Face Wash
My Recommendations: Bliss Fabulous Foaming Facial Wash, Any Body Shop face washes
-Your complexion is extremely important, it's creating the base for the rest of your makeup and you want it to be as smooth and healthy as possible. Try to find a face wash that works the best for you that can be followed up with a nice moisturizer perfect for your skin type. You want to keep your face free of blemishes in order to be able to wear makeup that doesn't look caked on.

Coundown to Formal!

Countdown to Formal!

One of my favorite parts about being in a sorority is formal. A sorority formal is like a high school prom but way better. Because it’s all of your sisters and their dates, so it’s way more fun. Not to mention way cheaper. This is because most sorority dues cover the cost of a formal ticket and transportation. When I was in high school, prom was the most exciting event to come at the end of the year, but also the most expensive. Don’t worry with my list with planning, I will help ease the stress of the countdown to formal.

1.      Dress- Before you buy anything, ask yourself what you already have and what is in your personal budget to sludge to get something new. Also before you buy anything I suggest asking your sisters if you can barrow things for formal. Another thing to look at is the theme of your formal. You can go with the theme and it can help narrow down what you want to wear.

• Nordstrom Rack-Get a designer dress for more than half the price. Not to mention you have 90 days to return!
• David’s Bridal- They have really cute dresses however my only issue is it is final sale. I suggest getting short dresses from them because you are more likely to wear a short dress more than a long one
• Rent the runway-You can rent a dress! No joke, they have designer dresses for an amazing price!

2.     Shoes- My big advice for shoes is make sure they are comfortable to wear for dancing not just for pictures. You can do dress flats or go high in heels. If you need help breaking in your heels. What I do is I do my chores in heels, I take out the trash, clean up, etc. It sounds like a lot but when you’re at formal and you’re not taking off your shoes 5 minutes after putting them on. So worth it! Suggested places to look are:

• Payless- They have dress shoes for cheap, and the comfort plus shoes are so comfy
• DSW-Designer shoes for less not to mention they usually have a lot of color options.
• Nordstrom Rack- Same reason as the dress, and their shoes are really good quality.

3.     Date or group-If you want to ask some to formal. I say go for it! You can keep is casual and simply ask or go big. Asking someone to formal is not like asking someone to prom. Its way funnier and most likely the person you’re asking will say yes. Or you can go in a group which is always fun, you can even pick a spot near campus to take pictures. The most important thing is have fun!

4.      Makeup-You can have it done or you can always use YouTube. I use YouTube for makeup all the time. Thanks to countless beauty blogs and videos. Videos I suggest to subscribe to are

• Em’s Beauty Secrets- https://www.youtube.com/user/EmilyGoulart93
• Casey Holmes- https://www.youtube.com/user/itsbl0ndie
• Makeup by Ali- https://www.youtube.com/user/MakeupByAlli

Get Recruitment Ready: Makeup Tips and Tricks

Recruitment is right around the corner and it’s easy to get all caught up in classes and lose time to put some effort and a ton of time into your appearance. Have no fear! Here are some tips and tricks that I’ve come up with to save you tons of time and still look put together. Some of you may not know, I own and run the beauty blog thebeautychapterbyali.blogspot.com and have done tons of looks on there you can checkout! But I wanted to do a feature on here for all you sorority ladies who need some pointers and quick tips on how to make the most of your time available and with the least amount of products as possible.

You want to make sure you look your best for recruitment even though getting to know Potential New Members and putting your best foot forward personality-wise means much more. First impressions are important and looking and feeling your best plays a large role in that! Here are some products I recommend.

For your face, stick to a simple foundation routine that can easily be applied with no tools, go for a BB cream, these cover a lot while still being lightweight. I recommend the Smashbox BB Cream which you can get at Ulta or Sephora. It is a little bit pricier than a drugstore product, however it’s definitely a product that you want to splurge on because it works amazing and lasts a while.

For those tired eyes you definitely need a concealer which is quick and easy to apply quickly when you’re in a rush before recruitment starts. Go for an inexpensive drugstore concealer I recommend the NYC cream concealer which is available at CVS or the Maybelline Age Rewind concealer. They're much more inexpensive products than high end ones and do just as well. It also works amazingly and doubles as an eye shadow primer; saving you money and cutting down on products you need. Apply this concealer under your eyes, in your t-zone [forehead, chin, nose] and then use on eyes as a primer.

You most definitely need a bronzer, not necessarily a blush but definitely a bronzer to brighten up your face. A great drugstore bronzer is the NYC brand bronzers they’re also inexpensive and great quality. Apply it in the hollows of your cheeks, on your temples, and down your nose. This will add a great flush of color to your face.

For eyeshadow go for an all in one palette so all your shadows are in one place, I love the Rimmel London eyeshadow palettes that are available at all drugstores. These quads have great eyeshadow colors that are high quality. Go for a quad that is all warm brown tones, they’ll be perfect to add dimension to your eyes, just take a warm brown, pop that in your crease and make sure to highlight under your brow bone.

If you don’t want to fill in brows you don’t have to but if you’re interested in doing so, I would go for a quick and easy fill in pencil or brow gel that’s tinted. The Maybelline brand at the drugstore recently came out with a brow gel that are in various shades and these are a great way to add color to your brows quickly and effectively. If you want a pencil, go for Anastasia Beverly Hills brow whiz at Ulta or Sephora, it’s a little pricier but does the trick.

Lastly, keep your lips simple, for the fresh and clean look go for a sheer gloss or my favorite chapstick. I love the Body Shop lip balms or just simple chapsticks. They add a light glossiness and keep your lips hydrated!

Now go rock recruitment! Shine on the outside and on the inside!