(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best beauty accessories

I've been in your shoes. Sex was frequent, but very one-sided, and eventually my libido just zeroed out. And my guy stopped initiating because he didn't want sex that wasn't enjoyable for me.

We were able to dig ourselves out of that hole with some research and a serious commitment to do-it-yourself sex therapy.

This is a description I wrote about how we got messed up and how we got out if it:

• Escaping a Dead Bedroom.
  
  Our starting point was somewhat different from yours and not everything that we did will work for other people, but parts of it may be applicable to you and just seeing how someone else succeeded may help.
  
  These will help you develop a program of your own:
  
  
• How Women Can Become (More) Orgasmic – This is an overview that includes links to more than a dozen other useful resources, including three very helpful books for both of you. One of those books is...
  
  
• Becoming Orgasmic: A Sexual and Personal Growth Program for Women – This should be your highest priority. If you don't do anything else, at least get this book and work through it. Over the last 40 years it has helped hundreds of thousands of women in exactly your situation. The first part of the book is a program for you to do by yourself, to help you sort out your own feelings about sex and deal with what has been blocking your ability to become aroused and reach orgasm. The second part of the book is what is now usually called Sensate Focus Therapy (SFT), but this version is specifically oriented toward women with orgasm problems.
  
  
• Sensate Focus Therapy – This is a short online guide to SFT that you can use as a cheatsheet. Once you're ready, I strongly recommend doing this with your husband for at least three or four months, with no PIV allowed for the first few months. This is the first course of therapy that almost any competent sex therapist would prescribe, but you don't need a therapist to do it. After that, it's a good idea to make sensual massage a regular part of your weekend pre-sex routine.
  
  
• A good, inexpensive, folding massage table. For both SFT and regular sex, it really helps to have a comfortable massage table you can adjust to the right height. Amazon has them for under $100. (I also use ours to sort and fold laundry, and I'm told they make great changing tables.) Also get some coconut oil and a couple of big bath sheets or beach towels.]
  
  
• OMG Yes!!! – This is a review of a great app for men and women who need help figuring out the art of clitoral stimulation. You can try out different things for yourself and then show your husband what works best for you just by referring to the app. It makes communication much easier if you are shy about talking about your needs. It's also a perfect complement to "She Comes First," one of the books mentioned in the first article.
  
  
• The Mystery of Arousal and Vaginal Wetness – clearing up some common and harmful false beliefs about how our bodies respond to sexual arousal.
  
  
• What Lesbian Couples Can Teach Straight Couples About Good Sex – This is about a key lesson: nothing messes up a woman's libido more reliably than consistently having sex without being sexually aroused. (You may recognize yourself in Bev.)
  
  I think the most important thing for you to keep in mind is that a LOT of women take years to "wake up" sexually. During my research on tantric sex I interviewed a number of women who had their first orgasms in their late 20s to late 30s and who have gone on to have rich, lusty, thoroughly enjoyable sex lives. Although it's remotely possible that you are asexual, that's actually very rare. It is far more likely that you are simply a late bloomer whose sexual development was inhibited for a variety reasons in your teens and 20s.
  
  If you are serious about fixing your DB and saving your marriage, you and your husband need to make a commitment to a gradual process of learning to connect on a physical level and teaching your body how to respond to sex in a pleasurable way. And, as I indicated, the best place to start is with Becoming Orgasmic and sensate focus therapy. There's a reason SFT is the gold standard for sex therapy. The process may seem a bit artificial at first, but if you stick with it, it works wonders. (As a bonus, it feels really good!)
  
  Doing this with an infant in the house means making time for SFT every weekend when the baby is asleep. If she takes her longest naps in the early afternoon, for example, then you need to make sure you don't have any conflicts during that time and that you have done the setup in advance so you're prepared to grab the chance. It's going to require some creativity and persistence, a lot of love, and a sense of humor, but it's doable.
  
  Good luck!
  

Hmmm well I'm in the UK but I can recommend stuff I like! I know some of the eyeshadow palettes I like can be found in Walmart/Target sometimes (from what I've read on here).

I got ecotools brushes as my first set and I really like them. The quality is pretty solid and they are cheap - I know MAC brushes are supposed to be the best if you want to start off with the big stuff. I don't use make up that often so it's not a biggie...

One thing to note though is that has a concealer brush - not a foundation one. If you want a foundation one on it's own you can get it in MAC. Fingers would be faster to get the hang of tough to stick to that if you like :) I think brushes are supposed to give more consistency but it's honestly whatever works for you!

You can get loads of really nice multi-coloured palettes here on the cheap by E.L.F.. I got [this palette from Coastal Scents!)[http://www.coastalscents.com/makeup/eyes/eye-palettes/pl-001.html)
I liked it but you need a primer for some of the matte (not sparkly/shiny shades - just the flat colour).

For high quality expensive eyeshadow you could again go to MAC or Sephora :) I'm not sure what budget you are looking at - I'm very much a cheapskate for these things so I go for a balance between price, quality and quantity.

SPEAKING OF PRIMERS....

I have this primer that is also a liner for your eyeshadow! In all honesty the liner didn't last that long...the tip got dirty kinda quick and I only really used it for black. For pretty colours with different eyeshadows I used a nude eye pencil and then my liner brush from ecotools. I'm not a big liner user but if you want to I'd say to just buy a separate liner.

Some people REALLY like the Urban Decay's Primer Potions which are bottom left here. I think you need to go to the stores listed though to buy it.

Honestly the best advice I can give is check the sidebar and post some B&As here - or just your plain face asking for tips. People here are really nice and helpful - they helped me out a lot! :3 Also the sidebar as some good brands with a range in budget from drugstore to the super high-end expensive stuff!

Just start small and work up. The only thing I went big on was the eyeshadows where I bought that 88 palette...but I think that's fair enough for when you are just starting out. Get a primer for the cheaper eyeshadows though since they are not that pigmented (not much colour)!

I'm sorry those were all UK links but when I try to access US versions they switch me over to the UK version...I'm sure there will be an online store with it though :3 Amazon could be your best friend!!

Good luck and happy makeuping :3

We've been together for 11 years and the sex is great and keeps getting better, in part because we went in a somewhat different direction from you guys. Instead of trying to come up with new stuff to make things more exciting, we have gone on a quest to create the most intense sensual and orgasmic pleasure for each other.

Adrenaline sex is great for thrills, but it's hard to make it last without getting bored. And once the excitement is gone, it's hard to get it back for long. We still like to do new, adventurous stuff, but we've found that it works best if you mix it in with a lot of toe-curling extended sex and mind-bending full-body orgasms.

To start with, the thing that increases pure sexual pleasure the most for us is edging -- getting pretty close to a peak and then stretching it out, delaying orgasm as long as possible. The longer the arousal period, the greater the pleasure and the more intense the orgasm (or orgasms).

This works for guys too, and it can be a huge turn on for me to get my guy achingly close to the edge and hold him there, teasing and delaying and loving his cock and all the rest of him, and then finally making him explode.

It's hard to do this with regular sex, but it's much easier to do it when you're taking turns. If you want to try it, I recommend taking it in two steps.

First, learn sensual/erotic massage: Get a good, inexpensive massage table (under $90), a couple of beach towels, and some coconut oil. Start with full-body massages and learn to edge each other for a long time while giving fantastic handies with intervals of good oral. (Edging is hard with just straight oral.)

Then once you guys are blissing each other out on the table, you can try moving up to tantric sex, or -- as I prefer to call it -- Extended Polymorphic Pairbonding Sex. :)

This isn't the spiritual kind of tantra you've probably heard about, all hippie chanting and mystical nonsense (which is why I was trying to come up with some other name for it).

What I'm talking about instead is the strictly secular sexy kind of tantra. And fortunately, we have a really good instruction manual online for you to explore, courtesy of one of our mods, u/ShaktiAmarantha.

Here's the guide: Extraordinary Passion -- The Art and Science of Modern Tantric Sex It's detailed and complete, and best of all it's free! :)

Have fun!

Ugh. I know how frustrating it can be to not know where to start. Hopefully we can help you!


I would agree with the previous comment. Go to Sephora and get color matched for a foundation and a color-correcting undereye concealer. You have beautiful skin and I think a light coverage, but Dewey foundation would be the best (I really like the Bare Minerals liquid foundation).


As for blush, I would stick to warmer colors to best flatter your skin tone. This Sleek blush palette in Lace would be a great place to start. Great value, great colors, and it will give you an idea about what you like.


Invest in a quality eyelash curler (important!). Curl as close to the roots as possible and work your way up. Find a drugstore mascara you love.


I'm pretty ignorant about eyeshadow, but I think the Naked 3 palette or any rose-gold palette would look gorgeous on you. You can use a concealer as an eyeshadow primer.


As far as lips go, it's a matter of experimentation. I think warm, rosy colors would look incredible on you, especially if they have a hydrating formula. Ask a Sephora makeup artist to show you different shades, and you can find similar ones at the drugstore.


Quality brushes are essential when starting out. Don't skimp and you'll never look back. You will need a foundation brush, a crease brush (you can easily use this in crease and on lid until you get a flat shader brush specifically for the lid -- just clean in between colors), and a blush brush. Later, you can invest in a fluffy crease brush
for better blending and a flat shader brush.


I hope this helps! Try some things out, and post a picture when you're gone so we can give you CC. I would use a better quality picture next time, so we can see :)


Have fun!

I'm not entering but just wanted to give some recommendations because this is really sweet.

For brushes, Real Techniques makes some fabulous sets(you could perhaps get the eyes and core collection to get someone started), ELF Studio makes a nice set, and I have heard good things about this one.

For lipsticks, I'm a big fan of the Rimmel Kate Moss line and NYX Round Case lipsticks with Tea rose being one of my favorite colors. If you're interested in buying one non drugstore item, a MAC lipstick would be an amazing gift.

For the face trio, Sleek makes this amazing palette with a contour powder, highlighter, and blush. I also highly recommend their single blushers. Individual items I would recommend from the drugstore are the NYC Sunny bronzer or NYX Taupe, Wet n Wild Reserve Your Cabana highlighter or the Boots liquid illuminator, and NYX powder/cream blushes.

For shadows, I'm going to recommend Sleek again. They make fabulous 12 pan palettes called i-divine. Some favorites of mine are the Original, Au Natural, and Oh So Special.

Some other products I love that would be great for a beginner are the NYX milk pencil, Maybelline Color Tattoos, Covergirl Clump Crusher, Revlon lip butters, and an Asian bb cream(Missha, Skinfood, and Holika Holika make some good ones).

I think I saw some other people suggest this on here, but you could spend some time trying to make your cubicle less...cubiclely! Decorate it, make it cute and stuff. DIY some simple things that you're able to do at work- fabric covered memo board, origami decorations, inspirational quote printables, etc.

You can also exercise your mind! Try sudoku or crosswords or search the App store or Google Play for some logic puzzles. One of my absolute favorites is Unblock Me! So fun!

Become an expert on something! Research Ancient Egyptian history, the Sonic the Hedgehog gene, or learn all about Theodore Roosevelt!

And you can always go on Pinterest and pin-binge on delicious and cute cupcake recipes to make at home later. ;D

You can also do some discreet exercises in your cubicle. Might as well get paid to work out, haha! One thing that I like to do sometimes that strengthens and stretches out your legs and feet is to trace the alphabet in the air with both feet. Don't like, put your leg up in the air, just while you're sitting in your chair at your desk, just lift up your foot off the ground just enough so you aren't touching it anymore and trace through each letter of the alphabet.

You could also use your spare time to do some creative writing or drawing projects if you're into that sort of thing!

I hope some of these ideas help to break you out of your Cubicle Coma! Thank you so much for this contest!! If I win, I would love this brush! Thanks again! =D

i am not really sure what you mean about the eyelid thing, maybe a picture would help?

i have never used costal scents, but ive seen a few girls here make some nice looks with it. no idea on the quality. i know you said ELF is too expensive, but this palette is only 10 pounds. i have it and i like it. they are pretty good quality for a cheaper eye shadow palette. if you can afford some eye primer, the colors will look even better. i use urban decay primer potion, but that sounds like its a little out of your budget, maybe someone can recommend a cheap one!

i have combination skin (oily and dry! ughhh) and I always use liquid foundation. Powder can make the dry spots look really flaky. Revlon Colorstay is a good drugstore brand, I like it, it has good coverage and staying power, and I hear a lot of people mention it on here.

[edit] i see you are a teen and have youthful skin. if you dont get many breakouts and dont have a lot of unevenness in your skin tone, you could probably get away with a tinted moisterizer or a BB cream instead of a full coverage foundation. i recently got a sample of loreals BB cream and I was a big fan!

i really like ecotools brushes. They are good quality and relatively cheap!

Good luck!

I WAS a skin twin and it was a pain. in. the. ass. I got something like this out of nowhere and came to find out that it was overexfoliation/dehydrated skin/using products that weren’t for my skin.

I went on a round of accurate and literally just don’t do it. A vitamin a topical is way better than putting a pill in your body that dries your whole body out.

Anything oil based for both cleansing or using as a moisturizer is literally TRASH for my skin. It hates oil. And forget squalane oil, it has a comedogenic rating of one, and I’m guessing you’re combo skin like me so that’s a def no.

Here’s what you need to do:

Cut back on exfoliating to 1-2x a week. And focus on hydration mostly, your moisture barrier is extremely stripped. A damaged moisture barrier makes acne and closed comedones worse.



Here’s what worked for me through extreme trial and error.

AM:

**Thoughly cleanse hands with soap and water (it’s important to remember this step. We do so much more than we can remember with our hands every day)

•Cleanse with clarity rx vitamin infused cleanser (daily)

•Wipe with Cocokind Rosewater toner (hydrating)

•Eminence clear skin probiotic mask (when I have time) gently wipe off and stream face with microfiber or baby towel (3 rounds of each)

•Cocokind Rosewater Toner (hydrating) (spritz)

•Cetaphil’s moisturizing cream (pat in) OR Clarity Rx “Call me in the morning” (either are great options)

•Elta MD Broad Spectrum 46 Clear sunscreen


PM:

**Thoroughly cleanse hands with soap and water

•Derma E vitamin c micellar water on organic cotton pads

•Cleanse- Clarity rx vitamin infused cleanser (daily)
•Cleanse- Clarity rx cleanse as needed 10% Glycolic cleanser (ONLY 1-2x a week at night for exfoliation)

•Wipe with Cocokind Rosewater toner OR Josh Rosenbrook hydrating accelerator toner with organic cotton pads or Renée Rouleau toning cloths

Spritz and dampen/wet skin with Cocokind Rosewater

•Hada Labo Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist (lotion mask 3-5 mins withmulti-layered cotton puffs ...pat in remaining lotion

•Lavish Serum by Jolicoeur (it’s a ‘vitamin a’ and 24k gold serum) ....any ‘vitamin a’ serum/treatment like differing or tretinoin work to help manage excess sebum production and deplete congestion.

•Cetaphil moisturizing cream (cover skin and pat in)

•Acure spot treatment (when needed)

•Thin layer of Vaseline (occlusive)



I know you feel so down on yourself but you just need to stay positive and stay hydrating your skin. There is always a solution and you will come to see that it is something that can be fixed!



Other things that could possibly help contribute to your problem:


•Hylauronic acid vitamin to accelerate your skin’s hydration process

•Cut out eggs!! I found out through my naturopath that I actually had a slight allergy to eggs which increased my androgen/testosterone levels and helped assist the excess sebum. Cutting eggs out has shown improvement in my skin.

•Go to a naturopath and have levels checked. They can do blood test, allergy tests, hormone tests, etc. Could be an imbalance internally)

•Proper SLEEP...8 hours. Try to buy a silk pillowcase. I did and it’s life changing.

•Switch to vegan hair care products

•STAY AWAY FROM COCONUT DERIVED PRODUCTS. This was a huge culprit for me.

•Don’t touch your face.

•Don’t pick!! and try to stay away from glaring at yourself in mirrors lol

•Buy a shower filter (what kind of water do you have?)

•Also try drinking a glass of celery juice every morning if you can afford it. It’s so beneficial for your body and skin.

•Stay hydrated with water, tea, water, water, and more water.

• Try to cut out coffee if you can, it’s extremely dehydrating


As always YMMV, sorry for the novel response, but feel free to ask any questions you may have! I hope I helped!


EDIT: One pointer I want to point out is that there is a proper way to use the Hada Labo Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist, and a lot of people don’t know how. Lotion masks really are the only/best way to use the product. The product needs to be in full contact with the dermis layer. Soak a cotton puff (link above^) with the product, peel apart layers, and place them on your face for 3-5 minutes. Remove and pat excess product into skin. Continue with the rest of your skincare routine.

Everyday Minerals. I swear by them. Been using it for years and my makeup looks so sheer and natural, yet I can cover any flaws I need to. It just melts into my skin. And they have free samples (well you pay shipping, a couple bucks) and can try a bunch of foundation shades before committing to a full size. I don't know what your skintone is, but their concealers are also fantastic if you have the right brush...

Which leads me to coastal scents. If they still have a brush called the 'mini detail' buy that right now. As someone who has dealt with cystic acne and regular acne..its the best thing ever. A teeny tiny brush that will dab on foundation/concealer (liquid, cream, mineral, whatever you end up using) with precision on top of blemishes. Its amazing and works better than anything else. You need to be able to blend and dab product right on that spot without getting it everywhere around it. As for blush and thicker brushes...I still recommend EcoTools. Try to find one of their travel sets with the half size brushes, they have the best blush brushes that work with mineral makeup, blush, bronzer, highlighter...I bought a couple packs and use that mini blush brush for everything. its fluffy and not stiff and seems to pick up the exact right amount of powder on every product.
This is the set I have
http://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Organic-Natural-EcoTools-Starter/dp/B00DFQP06U/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1422389989&sr=8-11&keywords=ecotools+travel+set

And this one also looks good

http://www.amazon.com/ecoTOOLS-Make-Up-Kabuki-Brush-Set/dp/B005TKZS76/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1422389989&sr=8-6&keywords=ecotools+travel+set

1. Now this is a goblet worthy of a queen. And honey you should see me in a crown.
   
   
2. Every witch should look her best. These face brooms should help me out!
   
   
3. Sure, the hat completes my look, but this will make sure that the hair underneath is just as fabulous.
   
   
4. Sure, this may not be much of a stretch as far as explanations go, but how much more fitting could you get? (PS - It was even on my wishlist before today!).
   
   
5. I would be HORRIFIED if my chest were to look like just any one I could have snagged at Amazon-Alley. This will ensure that I can customize it to be completely unique!
   
   Bonus: This is one classy cape. I have to look my best when I'm off campus!

This is so lame, but the Gallagher Series by Nora Roberts. They are quick, easy, fun, and sexy/romantic. Romance novels are my guilty pleasure, and she is a master! I think I have to check out some Neil Gaiman though, so I don't feel too bad about my guilty pleasure. Thanks for hosting!

I would love these! http://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Flawless-Blender-Foundation-Sponges/dp/B00BQ76XK2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2T11EQPO1RDV4&coliid=ICM0VJJDKE5ND

Link to album: http://imgur.com/a/r28Kr

I thought this might be helpful for others who are tight on space. Welcome to my 46 squarefoot closet.
This is everything I used for the vanity, but feel free to ask about other stuff in the pictures.

• IKEA Storjorm Mirror with built-in light- This mirror has been great. It does need to wired directly into an electrical box; I think there's a workaround for that but I'm not sure.
  
  
• BESTÅ Shelf unit with glass door - two of these bolted to the wall. Super easy to put together and put on the wall. They've been sturdy even when I forget to not lean on it. I do wish I had a glass topper to protect the top shelf from spills. These work particularly well because of their 7 7/8" depth. The unit only sticks out maybe an inch from the door jamb and was the shallowest thing I could find.
  
  
• Acrylic Organizers from Amazon:
  Lipstick,
  Tri cup organizer,
  3 Drawers,
  Multi level palette,
  Nail polish
  
  I find the lipstick organizer to be kind of narrow. KVD bullets don't fit in it, bummer.

Hmmm, so I don't have an actual vanity and I am a HUGE scavenger/recycler. I basically use things that I already have and make them work for me. Here are some pics so you can better see the use of boxes and lids for organization.

I also use prescription bottles to hold all brushes, mascaras, etc. because I have A TON laying around. For the extremely brief period of time that I used a beauty sponge, I kept it in a prescription bottle cap or a metal cap from a fancy juice bottle.

The 2 boxes I've repurposed to store different make up items. One was a large mascara sampler box that is sturdy and has a nice magnetic closure so I decorated it using packaging to make a collage.

If you're not looking to buy anything new for storage/organization I highly recommend thinking creatively! Perhaps lids from jars (I use the cookie tin as a trash can and the lid as a mixing palette), shoeboxes could work, or with the upcoming holidays any boxes you may receive. Do you have baskets laying around or glasses/bakeware that are unused?

Not everyone wishes to go my route when it comes to organization so there are specific organizers like this one from Amazon and many you can find at TJ Maxx/Marshall's/Home Goods that are inexpensive. Always remember at those stores, things can be turned into storage or organizers! Particularly kitchen items like spice displays/racks or fridge organizers.

And depending on how you'd like to store your nail polish, wall displays are also nice and somewhat space saving. Here is an example from Amazon, but I believe Ikea and other stores have single shelves that you can purchase for much less and just install multiples of.

I love make up storage and organization (despite my set up being pretty wonky) so I apologize for the huge essay!!

I've been using mine for several months now. I seriously drench my face with it because of the large amount and affordability LOL. I find that it is great for layering and providing refreshing hydration, but not much else. My skin has been improving lately (less breakouts and inflammation, more even tone), but I'm not sure I can 100% attribute it to Hatomugi. It's mainly hydrating and a little bit calming, if anything. I'm able to use it when my skin is more sensitive as well.

I use Selena Hagaseru Cotton, that are apparently very popular. It has 80 puffs that can peel to 5 sheets each, so 400 total omg. Soft cotton, appropriate size, holds good amount of liquid for masking. I think these are good for the cost, but it tends to fray a bit around the edges during use and tickles my face. I like the nooni toner mask sheets, it's literally like the sheet mask material cut into squares. But these are only 60 pieces total, so it's more on the pricey side.

Woohoo, congrats on the BIG MONEY! :)

I've had Velvet Teddy on my Wishlist for such a longgg time, it looks so pretty when I see it posted in FOTD's!

And a look posted by CosmicOlive not too long ago made me lust after the NYX Adorable Palette as well :)

I would also like to try this Ardell Brush Duo, as I recently bought some Dipbrow and am having some serious struggles with my current tools.

Thank you so much for hosting, and awesome job on the record shattering work! :)

Hi friend! Something I would suggest for you:

There are single use, sterile diabetic lancets that are probably a better option for lancing; you can get 300 for $7, there may be even cheaper options.

https://smile.amazon.com/Care-Touch-Twist-Lancets-Gauge/dp/B01GGGS8XW/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1542822301&sr=8-4&keywords=diabetic+lancets

You can also get a pretty nice set of tools for under $10:

https://smile.amazon.com/BESTOPE-Blackhead-Remover-Comedone-Extractor/dp/B019SVHLEY/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1542822442&sr=8-3&keywords=skin%2Btools&th=1

I think both of these options may be more gentle on your skin and easier / safer to use.

This is just meant as a friendly suggestion, feel free to disregard!

That is AWESOME! Great job! :)

If I were to win I would love this amazing Sigma brush! :)

edit - BIG MONEY!

My random user is /u/sweetbeauty

I had TONS of things in common with my match. She likes lisa frank and I like lisa frank. She likes adorable necklaces and so do it! She likes kinder hippos and I love those damn things!! They are on one of my wishlists. She wants this and I bought that exact same set on 01/30 of this year. She likes Rachael Ray and that is my favorite cookware set. I have her plates in green! She likes colorful knives, guess who bought that set back in March? She has contacts and I have contacts! I just added that to my wish list too. She likes makeup and I love makeup. Those brushes are amazing, btw. She also had quite a few makeup items that I liked, but I wasn't about to link all those. Ditto with books!! My random person is pretty awesome.

Also, welcome!!

RAOAs before foes

Aww, shucks! I never imagined anyone say that about my nails! Thanks!

Just replied above. Reposted below. best of luck! Hopefully this method works out for you!

I actually made my own cuticle oil pens. A mix of jojoba and vitamin e oil. I bought the pens from Amazon

Since these are so handy I kept them everywhere - my nightstand, end table by the couch, my desk, in the kitchen, purse, any other place you can think of. The key for me was to not be caught without the cuticle oil pen within arms reach at any time.

Can’t take credit for this - I saw Simply Nailogical’s video on how to care for your nails. She is pretty knowledgeable.
Simply Nailogical - how to grow your nails

This is the brush I use. However, I may be in the minority in what I like in an eyebrow brush. The bristles are not very stiff, but I love this as it's very easy to get short, feathery, natural strokes! If I'm going for a bolder brow, I use a small Sonia Kashuk angled liner brush from the anniversary set that was out over the summer - it looks pretty similar to a SK brush someone posted earlier!

Travel writer human person here. Feel free to ask questions!

1. Best travel-related purchases: GoToobs; a good set of noise-cancelling headphones for planes; a Kindle; a durable spinner-wheel carry-on bag (good luggage will change your life, have many recs if needed); slip-on sneakers for airport security and general travel comfort; this converter/adapter; a cute floral baseball cap for bad hair days.
   
   
2. All of the above are my travel necessities for int'l travel. Just good books, good music, my passport, and a fairly open mind. :D
   
   
3. Are you from the US? Look into getting TSA Precheck or Global Entry certification so you can waltz through security and customs. Best thing I ever bought myself.
   

I have a few colors in mind for this fall, but the one I'm most excited about is Limecrime Salem. I know they're controversial, but this color was calling to me, so I ordered it from Urban Outfitters. Here's a swatch on my lips (if that's ok).

I'm going to tag /u/Elle_Woods to do this giveaway!

If I won, I'd want this Sigma brush or this Anastasia Beauty Genius.

Thanks for the giveaway :)

I think Ebony should work fine! I use the Ardell Duo Brow Brush to apply.

The steps are pretty easy but it takes practise to get the shape you like!

I spoolie my brows first to get them to go in one direction, then I draw the outline (shape) of the brow that I want.

I'll fill in from the back of the brow inwards so the inner of my brow won't be as harsh as the outer :-) Something like this! Haha I'm still far from an expert for my brows - but currently I like how it looks.

I'm not sure about over there, but you can get some clear acrylic dividers from the cheap shops here. Pretty sure you can get them from Amazon. Like this but it's one single flat plate. I hope that makes sense lol.

Well, there's Container & Packaging, which I use for bulk orders. There's also Bottles.com, which isn't bad but a bit more expensive.

But, honestly, when I was into DIY and just making a few bottles I just ordered from amazon. Here's a link for 1oz (30ml) amber glass bottles, and a link for 2 oz amber glass bottles.

I've ordered both of those before and they're nice and high quality. Feel free to look around on amazon for better deals, though.

You can buy baicalin powder on Amazon. You can also buy olive leaf extract with at least standardized 15% oluropein (preferrably more) on Amazon as well.

You also want to turn the powders into a topical solution.

You will need:

• a glass bottle for essential oil with an eye dropper. You can get it on Amazon or ebay
  
• a graduated cylinder, and
  
• a funnel
  
  For the solutions, here's what I recommend:
  
  
• 50% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol
  
• 30% propylene glycol
  
• 20% distilled water
  
  For the baicalin solution, mix in 10mg per millilitre. So, if you have a container with 60ml, then you want to mix in 600mg. This creates a 1% solution of baicalin. If you want, you may increase the concentration of baicalin. Perhaps 20mg/ml for a 2% solution, or even 50mg/ml for a 5% solution.
  
  For oluropein, the rule of thumb is just mix in 10 capsules (unless you get pure powder).

These are awesome! I've been using the GoToob bottles (I got them way cheaper than this listing [http://www.amazon.ca/HumanGear-GoToob-3-0-Ounce-3-pack-HG0187/dp/B002VS8H3G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415331508&sr=8-1&keywords=gotube] at my local pharmacy, but they're leakproof and squeezable which works good for creams) for my mineral oil and BP cream, then carrying around my full bottles of BHA/AHA, moisturizer, and sunscreen. I don't know if your set up is best for me, but I'm trying to revamp a little and this is an awesome idea. (Keep em coming, if you've got em!)

I purchased These Jars off of amazon. Note: You get 50.

You can find different sizes, shapes, or colors by searching Amazon. These ones were highly reviewed ( plus fulfilled by Amazon) and I am pretty satisfied with them. They are pretty sturdy and the stickers from the indies fit perfectly.

I have extremely oily skin. The best thing you can do is incorporate salicylic acid (referred to as bha). People on this sub love stridex because it's effective and cheap. Salicylic acid is important for oily skin because it's the only acid that goes inside the pore and cleans oil.

I actually don't think Proactiv is that bad. The best thing you can do for your skin is understand ingredients & what they do for you, then analyze your products based on that. I think a good routine could consist of: PM: Cleanse face, use stridex AM: (rinse face, optional), use a spf/moisturizer. My favorite moisturizers/spf are Blue Lizard, Olay spf 30, and Kao Biore Sunscreen. The last Biore sunscreen isn't moisturizing, really it's more mattifying.

Unfortunately there is no topical skin treatment that reduces how much oil you produce. Accutane will lessen it, but that's a serious drug. You'll see people here claim niacinamide reduces oil production, but there is no evidence for that. Speaking as someone that genetically has oily skin, the best thing I've done is use stridex, moisturize in the morning, and blot my makeup during the day with this If your a guy just using a napkin to blot would be fine.

If your oiliness has increased since starting Proactive, you may be able to help it by moisturizing more. Excessively drying out your skin can damage the moisture barrier & trigger more oil production. If it's genetic then you really have to just cope with it & rely on a good routine.

THESE! By Ecotools! It is the perfect eye set. The Crease brush works as a totally decent blending brush, which is a super big must-have.

They also sell this little set that I also own and adore. I mostly only use the buffing brush from bronzer and the powder brush for blush! Liquid foundation can be applied pretty well with just fingertips, unless you're like me and you've got calluses. Icky pooey.

The mini kabuki set is indeed special--it's "limited edition" but has been sold for forever so idk what's up with the LE designation. Anyway. Can't get it in stores, at least in my experience, amazon has it for 10 USD

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005TKZS76?pc_redir=1414271858&robot_redir=1

Even the designs are supposedly special.

The handles are aluminum and have a certain weight to them, which takes away the "cheap" feeling, and all brushes are sufficiently dense and fluffy (especially the concealer brush, which is the magic finger I referred to). If you choose to get them, I hope you'll like them :)

Nail pens

Pure jojoba oil

I follow Simply Nailogical on youtube and she made a video on how to grow your nails long. That may or may not apply to you, but her tips are good for nail health in general. She recommends jojoba oil to put in the pens. They are refillable, though some people in the reviews can't seem to figure it out lol.

I keep one in my purse and one at my desk, and try to apply whenever I can remember. I brush the oil on my cuticles, the skin around my nails, along the sides of my nails (between the nail and the skin), and underneath my nails, because I 99% of the time have polish on lol. But when I've removed my polish, I apply to the whole nail too.

Hope this helps!

Actually, as pointed out by Dr. Lee, AKA Dr. Pimple Popper. Acne or comodomes are an infection. They should always be removed. She has dealt with ones that have been left for years or even sometimes, DECADES. The thing is you can't just pop a zit and leave it. it needs to be treated like any infection. It needs cleaning, disinfecting, and dressing. This could be as simple as washing your face and applying astringent. Which most astringents are alcohol based and then applying some topical redness reliever, like a cortizone cream. The cortizone reduces the size and makes the swelling go away. At worst case a bandaid, like a little bandaid plaster to keep out bacteria.

So many people pop a zit and wipe off what they can see with their finger. That spreads bacteria to all the other pores, plus anything you have on your finger is now wiped into an oozing open hole on your face. Basic hygiene is what is required. Leaving them alone can help but only because you not spreadin all that crap. But the acne will stay and cause great big sores sometimes. Best to get a comedome set like this.

https://www.amazon.com/BESTOPE-Blackhead-Remover-Comedone-Extractor/dp/B019SVHLEY

Hope this helps. I suffer from pimples like almost every one does. But this will help.

Hey man I do this too and I got a few tips for ya. If you're not using 90%+ ethanol you need to switch right now. Your pills will have much less chlorophyll (making it easier on the stomach) and other undesirables that may or may not hinder absorption. Make sure you freeze both the ethanol and flower for 6-8 hours before you do your rinse.

Additionally, for trim you only need to agitate the solution for a minute or two and then strain immediately, as the larger surface area of the trim means that the oil will more readily mix with the ethanol than chunks of flower would. You'll also get less crud this way. If you're using CBD for pain relief or another ailment, consider doing a shorter, partial decarboxylation, as CBDa is another very useful cannabinoid.

I use a [pill sorter I got off ebay for <$15] (https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2545226.m570.l1312.R2.TR10.TRC2.A0.H0.Xca.TRS2&_nkw=capsule+filling+machine&_sacat=0) that helps tremendously, as well as a reusable glass syringe for filling. I used to make pills quite a bit up until recently, now I carry a bottle with an eyedropper in it as it's portable and I can dose fairly accurately throughout the day. I'm also getting a buchner filtration kit to purify the extract further.

One last tip, if you're worried about the psychoactive effects of high doses of your extract (I know exactly what you're talking about) try adding terpenes like Myrcene and Beta-Caryophyllene. I use those two, plus limonene and a/b-pinene. Those have drastically reduced my experience of being intoxicated and made my extracts much more tolerable.

Good luck bro

I actually just got this one from amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MFX4B3C/ref=s9_hps_bw_g194_i3

With tax and everything, it came to $53. It is a little smaller than I thought it'd be, but it still fits all my makeup & the drawers are pretty deep. My makeup finalllly looks nice and organized now! I really like it :)

Thanks for hosting... so generous on your birthday :)

My picks would be the Coastal Scents 252 Palette for $25.99... because i don't really have any adventurous colors, or Real Techniques Core Collection for $15.50 because one can never have enough awesome brushes! Or even a big bundle of falsies for $14.90 because look how fun...!

Thanks again for hosting and Happy Birthday!! It's my party!

Products to add to your wishlist:
The expensive Neutral palette!
Beauty blender sponges for foundation or this
Eye brush set
GREAT blush duos offered in a few colors
ELF eyelid primer makes your eye makeup stay in place
NYX milk use this over primer to make your eyeshadow STAND OUT like woah
Search for "Sleek Palette", they're all great but I love this one
This is a fantastic one as well!

Yeah bourbon and Vanilla is a great combination. Higher proof and lower rye works well IMO. I think something like Old Weller Antique would be perfect. Split open a few vanilla beans into a bottle of OWA, and then pour it into these bottles from Amazon for a great gift

if you are going to remove blackheads and clean pores, definitely make sure your face is warm and moist. perfect time to do it is immediately after a shower. the steam really helps open up your pores! I would recommend using an extractor tool. something like this would be fine. make sure you wipe off and clean the tool with an alcohol wipe before each use. if you press down and its not coming out - leave it. it is not ready. trying to get it out will cause so much redness and scarring (trust me ive made this mistake many times!) also highly recommend using a toner after extracting. i would also recommend incorporating a clay mask into your routine 2-3 times a week. i use the fresh umbrian clay mask and ive noticed a huge difference in my nose blackheads. they aren't completely gone but they are much smaller and less noticeable!

As someone who has an adoration for both lipsticks and art supplies I don't know why I haven't tried this yet, as I have seen tutorials before...

Thank you for the inspiration! I have ordered these little doodads and can't wait to experiment. These would go nicely in the little holiday gift baskets I am making.

I just received my DragonPad 11 piece brush set order today for $11.94 (free shipping with prime). They are sooo soft, on par with more expensive brushes like MAC. The brush denseness is good for the price. The kabuki feels on a little thin, but the rest is adequate. I tried them out on my hand and they worked well! Applied eyeshadows and blended easily. I was also rough with them and no shedding so far. They did arrive with a smell, but I can only smell it when I sniff up close. I think this brush set is well worth the price!

Okay so maybe 6 months ago my aunt got a cold that would not go away. She went into the doctors and after many tests she was diagnosed with cancer and given about 6 months. We all had been hoping she'd make it past christmas, but we got word yesterday she's about to pass. Things have been getting worse and worse but now she's unconscious, non-responsive and her vitals are dropping. We thought she'd pass yesterday, but last we heard she was still just out, her vitals are still really low, but she's kind of hanging on. I didn't get to see her before because it was sudden and we've kind of been trying to give her husband and kids time with her, ya know. I know she's been in a crazy amount of pain, so I almost hope she passes sooner rather than later so she's finally at peace...

Sudden change of topic and on to something less depressing! Since husband isn't buying me a christmas gift (and lets be honest, no one else is either) I got myself this nail polish holder, and this one too. Yay for me. Super happy to move out of boxes and into pretty displays.

Hope everyone is doing well. <3

PM Routine and product help!

Current routine: Been using a Neutrogena Cleanser and a CeraVe AM Moisturizing Lotion for a couple weeks and love them! Ready to add more products.

Skin type: Male - Combination (normal cheeks, oily T-zone)

Location: USA

AM

Cleanse - Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Foaming Cleanser

Moisturize - CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM SPF 30

PM

Nothing right now :(

Questions

1. Need recommendations for PM cleanser and moisturizer.
   
   
2. My forehead is a little shinier than usual during the day. How can I reduce the shininess? Thinking of adding this to AM routine - La Roche Posay Anthelios Clear Skin with SPF 60 Or maybe some Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets?
   
   
3. Anything else I should add to my routine?
   
   

Really love Go Toob. They're really squishy so you can actually use up most of the stuff that's in there. We haven't had an issue with leaks but I don't use them for the really liquidy stuff (because we don't have enough!).

Bonus protip, if you need to fill a tube with something that comes in a jar, baby medicine syringes work amazingly well. Husband uses this with his hair cream with great success.

Item.

I am going to buy new pillows today! ha possible the least exciting post but new pillow are fucking awesome and the first night you sleep on them it feels like I'm laying on a cloud.

Also I made pizza with vodka sauce last night and it was delicious.

I love my Muji drawers. I have the two of the large 2-drawer ones, and they stack beautifully. The drawers feel luxe -- a heavy weight acrylic -- and glide very nicely. For the sake of comparison, I also have this organizer. The acrylic is a bit thinner, the edges aren't as smooth, and the drawers don't glide as easily. But, the price point is better, it holds a boatload of stuff, and it's Prime eligible. I access my acrylic organizers daily for my makeup staples vs. for added storage, so I appreciate the quality/user experience of Muji drawers. I'd definitely repurchase them if I need more storage in the future.

Don't wash your face too much, your skin could be greasy because it is too dry. If my face looks greasy during the day, I dab it with a tissue. There are oil absorbing sheets you can get too, like this. Wash with a cleanser, CeraVe is a very popular brand on this sub, and seriously look into some creams with active ingredients like BHA(aka salicylic acid), AHA(glycolic acid + a few others), and benzoyl peroxide. These are 3 things that you can get over the counter. Check out the wiki on the sidebar for "Acne" there are a couple of other ingredients you could look into as well, like vitamin C and clay. If you read this sub more you'll see people mention stuff like clindamcin or tretinoin, but those are Rx so go to a derm if you can.

Have patience! If will get better :)

I found this video helpful when I was first learning. It's more in depth than would be needed for a beginners video, but it should help you learn what everything is and what it does. When I was starting with make up, I just focused on learning to apply concealer, foundation, eyeliner and mascara, and then once I felt I had a good grip on those I moved on to learning eye shadow. Still working on making eye shadow look good consistently tho.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EisAMZb5Lkc&t=606s

Edit: Also, this is a good, cheap brush set to start with

I bought this brush set from Amazon after hearing the youtuber Thataylaa talk about it, and I like it. I have also slowly added individual Elf and Real Techniques which you can find at Rexall among other places when I feel like there's a gap in my collection. I love my Elf and Real Techniques brushes, so if you want to start out by making a little list of what types of products you need brushes to apply, then going to somewhere like Rexall and looking through their sets and individual brushes to fill your needs, that would be a good way to start.

I purchased this for my wife and when I know she needs some attention and care I pull it out, turn the lights down low, put on some soothing music and some candles. I spend about an hour massaging her which means I only spend maybe two hours out of my day and it makes my wife extremely happy. Thats a great trade off to me. Not only does her body feel better but she knows that I care and that I see her stress/struggles/tiredness which I think means the most to her.

On top of that, bringing home flowers for no reason what so ever is always a good thing.

I used to use one of these racks.

It was fairly easy to move from one room (storage) to the other (my work desk) when I was ready to paint. Now I'm starting to build a dedicated workbench for painting, and after some consideration, am going with these racks. They probably wouldn't work the best for storage, but are great if you have the dedicated space to paint in one area.

I have the Coastal Scents 252 color palette. You can usually find it on Amazon around $30 and the colors are great. Just make sure you prime and use a white base beforehand and they stick beautifully. :)

I have this Sigma set and I love it. It's got every brush I ever need, and the brush holder it comes with is sturdy, beautiful, and portable. In addition to these brushes, I also have this Sigma flat top kabuki. They are all amazing brushes.

Good for you and your pup! I'm so glad to hear that's working. We're struggling with much the same issue (with our adult dog) and we've used similar tactics with some good successes.

If you find the deli meat ever loses its charm, don't be afraid to switch it up with new, stinkier treats. We hit a plateau with our dog that seems to be scalable with some new, even smellier treats (just wrote about that here actually!).

You can also use squeeze tubes with cream cheese in them, if yours--like ours--doesn't always have the gentlest mouth when stressed. We use these and it helps us give a good steady supply of treats when passing stimuli that take a minute to go away (e.g. clanging trucks going down the street), while keeping our hands relatively clean.

You know, I tried out the neutral palette thing for a while and it's great for some occasions. But it's so much fun working with colors!

The 252 was on sale on Amazon when I bought it for $20. It was a really brief dip in price and I thought "there's never a better time!"

Excessive? Probably. I see a lot of nearly the same shades repeated in the palette. I would say whatever you're comfortable spending would really be the factor in this. It's not excessively priced for $26 (with prime) and I like the variety.

I think if you had a good eyeshadow base to fall back on, getting a smaller palette wouldn't be a problem. For me, this is my eyeshadow palette. The only one, until I can get more (there was a thief let loose), so spending $20 on the 252 was a good investment for me.

I actually started buying bath & body stuff on Etsy years before I ever found this sub (or reddit!) I was just looking for natural products for my husband's sensitive skin. Eventually I got into makeup subscriptions, which then led me again to want natural cosmetics for myself...and so found my way here. :)

I don't think I'll ever bother pressing, personally. I'm comfortable using loose product and it just seems like too much hassle for me. I've purchased sample baggies and after much griping to my hubby over using them, he surprised me with a whole bunch of small jars to put them in. :)

I personally use these things all from amazon. Works amazing. I rub it on my cuticles once a day. Within a week they looked so healthy and amazing. Massage it into your cuticles for just a few minutes. So worth it.

Maxdot 5 Pack 3 ml Transparent... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075R6MDSK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

USDA Organic Jojoba Oil, 100%... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A74442I?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Vitamin E Oil by Kate Blanc.... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077PCNSBX?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Of course! So I bought [this] (https://www.amazon.com/BESTOPE-Blackhead-Remover-Comedone-Extractor/dp/B019SVHLEY/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1498406863&sr=8-1&keywords=comedone+extractor) kit. I first make sure to double cleanse and get all the gunk off my face. Then I use a toner to get the remaining dirt off my face. I bought [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BPKUCRE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) steamer. I turn it on and steam my face for 5 minutes. It gets really hot so I'm pretty far from the steamer itself. You want a nice warm mist on your face. After 5 minutes, I whip out the kit and examine my face. With the smallest loop, I gently press down on any sebaceous filaments and blackheads I see. If it doesn't come out with a gentle press, I leave it alone. It's sooo tempting to push harder and get everything out but it can lead to scarring which has happened to me so many times.



I had rhinoplasty done recently so I can't extract anything on my nose so I do something different for that. I first apply BHA, wait 10 min, then apply a clay mask and wait until it dries. I wash it off and infront of the steamer, I apply my cleansing oil and just massage it into my nose gently and to the rest of my face. After about 3-5 minutes of massaging, you'll start to feel grits which is all the gunk that came out of your pores. [This] (https://fiftyshadesofsnail.com/2015/03/28/how-to-shrink-pores-temporarily-plus-3-pore-myths/) is where i got this method from :)

How important having the right brush is for success with ABH Dipbrow!

I tried it a few times with a small-ish eyeshadow/lip brush and kept looking like I'd drawn them on with a sharpie.

Once I bit the bullet and got an eyebrow-specific brush (small angle brush on one end, spoolie on the other) my brow game was forever changed.

Doesn't have to be expensive either, I got this one on Amazon and it works great!

Sample containers:
௳ The bottles with the green flip-caps are from Amazon (~0.5oz/15mL each, $21.99 for 36).
௳ The little pots with screw-on lids are also from Amazon (3mL each, $7.99 for 50). I wound up making 2 pots for each sample because they were a little smaller than I had imagined (Starfish Lord, grant me the presence of mind to look at dimensions before ordering things), so next time I might get these slightly bigger ones (5mL each, $10.00 for 50).

Decanting supplies:
௳ I used these plastic transfer pipettes (3mL, $4.50 for 100) to decant anything that I could suck up with them.
௳ Anything in a pot was decanted using these wooden spatulas ($22.98 for 500); I put 2-3 in with each potted sample and kept the rest for myself. (Forgive me, my Spiny-Skinned Savior, for lacking the diligence to wash and dry my plastic spatulas after each use; pray accept my disposable compromise or guide me to a better way).

Baggies:
௳ The small ones are from the Container Store (2.5” x 3”, $0.89 for package of 10).
௳ The larger ones are from Wegmans, but similar ones are available at Target (3.5” x 5.5”, $2.24 for 64).

Markers:
I tested a lot of different markers before I found some that didn’t smear/smudge/wipe-off and that could withstand the watery trials of the bathroom counter. From my own stash, these three worked:
௳ Gold: Montana Acrylic Extra Fine Point (0.77mm) Marker in Matte Gold (Metallic) (available from Dick Blick for $5.35).
௳ White: Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Extra-Fine Point Marker in White (available from Joann for $2.62).
௳ Teal/peacock blue: Derwent Graphik Line Painter (acrylic, 0.5mm) in Brilliant (available from Dick Blick for $3.96).

Hey! I'm glad you took my recommendation to join!

Real Techniques are great! But I'd also recommend this ecotools set

I vote for Takashima Cupertino Store despite the parking situation.

I'd like to see if it's possible to meet at a restaurant or boba place first and then mosey over to Takashima. This gives us time to meet each other and also gives people time to find parking/beat traffic/find us in this confusing plaza etc..Thursday or Friday evenings, Saturday all day and Sunday after 1:00 PM on any date works well for me.

I'd like to product swap (seeking a single Freeset Donkey Milk mask) and pick other AB-er's brains for tips n' tricks on my skin type (dehydrated).

Also - looking to become a MIZON snail convert but haven't been able to patch test any samples on my skin yet!

May possibly bring another friend who is a non-redditor who is completely new to AB skincare.

p.s. This store also sells DIY SELENA multilayer cotton puffs 80 ct useful for Hado Labo DIY face masks with Gokujun lotion for $3.50!

I’m sure it will come back sooner or later. Maybe in a slightly different style or color.

Meanwhile, if you search for ‘makeup brush set’ on Amazon, you will find tons of sets with near-5-star reviews for around $15, and some even under $10!

I have heard really good things about this set. - I own just the stubby kabuki from this set and it is excellent.

Here’s one with white bristles (also comes in purple!)

And there’s even a unicorn set .

So really - lots of choices out there. I would just read the reviews carefully. There’s even an app that can tell how how many of the Amazon reviews are fake. I forgot the name of the app, though.

Update: OK, it might be fakespot.com
I’d just heard about it online. I don’t know if this is the app I’d heard about.

(According to Fakespot, the first 2 sets have reliable reviews; the unicorn set does not).

I have a MALM Ikea desk that I purchased solely for school/regular desk stuff. Since then I've become more invested in makeup and have transformed it into a half vanity half regular desk hybrid. I fit a lot of makeup (like palettes, primers, and large highlighters and bronzers) in drawer organizers in the top drawer of the desk and use the large bottom drawer to store school stuff. On top of the desk I have two Ikee acrylic containers from Amazon here and here that I use for eyeshadow, eyeliner, lipstick, foundation, blush, concealer, and basically everything else. I also have a couple Sonia Kashuk brush holders on top of my desk as well, along with a lighted makeup mirror. I also hung a larger mirror on the wall in front of the desk.

It's a pretty big desk so I can fit a lot on it and it works well for multi-tasking with all of my school stuff.

I actually had a big corner desk for my collection before I got my Alex drawers and those small plastic drawers from Walmart were a lifesaver! However since you are interested in going with the acrylic drawers, I would highly recommend them. They display your makeup beautifully. I got my large acrylic units from Amazon. They hold so much! I store my palettes in drawers but If you want them on display I like the idea of a wall mount or maybe a mail organizer.

Hello, nice to meet you! :3

I would love these because I am entering a scholarship contest for a full paid tuition next week and I need my model to have flawless skin when she walks down the run way!

I bought the different oils separately and put it in an amber dropper bottle. I mixed the argan oil, jojoba oil, and lemongrass oil in a 20:20:1 ratio. The lemongrass is more of just a scent than a functional oil (it's very strong), so you might replace it with some other aromatic oil like tea tree, eucalyptus, or cinnamon oil depending on your SOs preference. I hope you and your SO like it! You might google around for other recipes, but argan and jojoba will make up the bulk of most recipes.

edit: and this is the brush I got, it works great

Thank you! I found them on amazon and you get 50 5g jars which is about the perfect size for the samples. I don’t fill them all the way with wax though so they smell very strong.

amazon link to vials

I need some jars for all my new indies!
I also really want a stamper and some cuticle remover.

Happy birthday, lady! Thanks for the contest!

It's my party.

I use this comedone extractor kit, and the one I used is the one on the far right that has the pointy tip at the other end. Yes it helps the pop, it’s much easier and more comfortable than using my fingers.

damn.. i see this thinking sweet a cheap easy way to store my 50 bottles for easy display when mixing and the 30 im ordering.. nope -.-
i currently use [link 1] which i got for under $20 and use only use the top 4 levels which holds 49 15ml bottles, 2 30 ml bottles, 2 60ml bottles of vg, a box of 3/4in circle stickers [for labeling for me and coworkers so nothing fancy] and a few spare bottles for decoration with the entire bottom two levels open for pipettes, steeps etc.. im about to upgrade to the [link2] just for kicks so ik it fits more :).. only downside i have for the one im using now is it doesnt hold my 100ml of vg/pg blend which is why vg is in 60ml im a high vg guy so it doesnt bother me. just gota balence it or lay on its side for moving the rack from its storage spot.. i to like to take advantage of the empty space to store attys in the same area lol

[link 1]http://www.amazon.com/Nail-Polish-Table-Display-Bottles/dp/B0052FZ3CI?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00

[link2]http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052FZORC?psc=1

I Love organization and love the organization posts :D I posted my ikea-made vanity set in a thread once but I wanted to share the whole setup.

Also /u/Thatsbasic suggested a 'shelfie saturday' in another comment so I thought I'd give it a try :3

• I have this desk http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30213076/
  
• and hutch http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60306494/ from Ikea
  
• and something like these (can't remember exact brands) for some organization https://www.amazon.com/Multi-Level-Premium-Quality-Organizer-Collection/dp/B00FPOOJL2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1492284744&sr=8-5&keywords=acrylic+nail+polish+organizer
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Whitmor-6-Section-Clear-Drawer-Organizer/dp/B00AN8CTX0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1492284812&sr=8-3&keywords=acrylic+makeup+organizer+for+drawer
  
  
  Top of the hutch: makeup brushes, larger bottles, and a little basket for all my AB samples, pore strips, etc.
  
  Top row: perfume (no AB), and some Face Shop cotton pads
  
  Middle row: all my AB products, plus some sunscreen, hair products, and deodorant hiding behind them
  
  Bottom row:
  
  
• (back left row): nail polish
  
• (front left row): travel and sample sizes
  
• (back right row): essential oils/aromatherapy
  
• (front right row): mostly medicinal tinctures
  
• right side: misc., jar of spatulas, products that are almost empty
  
  empty space: sheet masks and makeup wipes
  
  Drawer: Makeup--a couple AB things in there :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006U98T08/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AQDY5GD0WP9RT Thanks! I've never even heard of some of those! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

http://www.meltcosmetics.com/collections/melt-shades/products/by-starlight

This baby is currently on it's way to me! It is the most gorgeous deep purple I have seen!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BQ76XK2/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?colid=25TSQ59DYJ7W3&coliid=IXTD08IL0X0QS&psc=1&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl

And I have been dying to try these sponges! This is an awesome contest! I'm sorry that this isn't formatted... I'm on mobile!

I bought this set from Amazon (from other sellers, it's under $10 but shipping takes longer). They're really soft and pretty good quality!

• Here is my entire brush collection, including my favorite(s).
  
  
• My first brush probably came with a classic cover girl blush...but for real, real, it was the Clinque set my sister got me for Christmas approximately 12-15 years ago. They sat dormant for a while, and about 6 years ago, I started using them, and still do. I guess I've just taken good care of them.
  
  
• This is my coveted/holy grail/ dream brush.
  
  Brush love...obviously lol
  

I have sensitive skin and rosacea. The only physical exfoliation my skin truly handles are these cotton puffs for applying toner or micellar water. I use chemical exfoliation only. Even konjac sponges and super gentle microfiber cloths proved to be too much physical exfoliation with daily use. I double cleanse - I use an emollient cleansing balm followed by CeraVe hydrating cleanser. I don't follow up with the cleanser if I don't think I need to that day.

You can get a pack of 4 beauty blender dupes for like 2 dollars on amazon too

Personally, I think the only reason they're able to make 20 dollars a pop off of 1 Oz of sponge is because they know how to market and package it. It's clearly not even in the ream of costing that much to make.

What is this magic? They'll be at my house in two days. Holy shit I love Amazon Prime. Here, I'll return the favor: I swear by this eyeshadow palette. 252 colors for $30, and if you really love one just order a pot of that one off their website.

Hmm. I use this rack meant for nail polish. I'd have to count to see how many bottles I'm actually able to fit in there. The Vallejo rack looks like it holds 52 or so, plus spaces for larger bottles in the back. I want to say this nail polish rack holds 70+. It works pretty well, too.

I've had decent success with Amazon brushes, and regularly reach for them. I've used and enjoyed these brushes, especially as a beginner set. They're very soft, no shedding, and pretty versatile.

I have a nail polish rack I use to keep my paints on I use the larger model but there are others designs including wall mounted. If I am careful it lifts easily in & out of a cupboard onto my painting table, if I ever bother to clean up the area. I have just bought another one yet to be assembled to hold my ever expanding paint collection. I have a row for each colour, all major brands of paint fit fine.

I use a paintbrush roll (check out art supply stores) to store my brushes and an old glass jar to stand them in when I am painting and a couple of old make up cases that zip up to store the many tools. The roll & cases all live in a small plastic box that fits next to the paint racks on my shelf, you know if I were to actually put them away.

PS First time trying to do a link. Sorry if it messes up.

You aren't crazy at all. Squeeze tubes are great! I use these: https://www.amazon.com/Humangear-GoToob-3-Pack-Large-Clear/dp/B002VS8H3G

You may need to make the opening a bit bigger by cutting away some of the plastic, aside from that it is good to go right out of the package.

I use peanut butter, whipped cream cheese, or mashed liverwurst (with some warm water mixed in).

Pretty cool. A suggestion for your next iteration, sand down the pieces you are going to cast as you can see the grain of the wood.

If you need quick iterations without casting, you can also try the link below. With a quick spray paint job and gluing the magnets or washers inside you can make lots of them really fast for pretty cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Empty-Plastic-Cosmetic-Containers/dp/B00J7A4SAW/

Ecotools has kind of a beginner set that I got for my first set, and I love it! This is the set that I got, and it's a good little starting kit. I built on it with some Sephora brushes for blending, highlighter, and blush, but this kit started me off on a good foot!

I'm a huge fan of these blotting sheets. They're really great if you're wearing makeup, since they remove oil without removing/messing up makeup.

I really enjoy this Ardell brush for use with my Dipbrow. It's stiff but soft and great for blending.

makeup brushes

or

Moonwalking With Einstein (can be a kindle version if it helps!)

Thanks for the contest and happy cake day!!

[This one holds 10ml bottles really nicely]
(http://www.amazon.com/Leegoal-Transparent-Trapezoid-Cosmetic-Organizer/dp/B00CWZ0BLE/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1458839835&sr=8-3&keywords=lipstick+holder)

[This one is really nice for 30ml bottles]
(http://www.amazon.com/Nail-Polish-Table-Display-Bottles/dp/B0052FZ3CI/ref=sr_1_11_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1458839904&sr=8-11&keywords=nail+polish+holder)

I personally use 2 of each. I use one of each kind for concentrates and mixes

[this one] (http://www.amazon.com/Bottle-Nail-Polish-Wall-Display/dp/B002WVBEH8/ref=sr_1_13_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1458840081&sr=8-13&keywords=nail+polish+rack) might be your best bet if you would rather just make one larger purchase instead of multiple little ones

I use the EcoTools brush set here: https://www.amazon.com/ecoTOOLS-Make-Up-Kabuki-Brush-Set/dp/B005TKZS76/ref=pd_sim_194_11?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PTQ14MVFMXC2VS52ZFHQ

I've used both the Contour and Buff brush and they both work great. Beautifully soft.

I know you already convinced her but...seconded! I have [this] (http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B008FX7B9M/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) thing and it's awesome! They're makeup is crazy nice for the price.

Not a doc, but oil blotter papers work great. You can get them at Target or probably most pharmacy stores. Mary Kay sells them, too. And, of course, Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Clear-Absorbing-Sheets-Count/dp/B003V57Q5I?th=1

I have these jars for samples. They're a pretty good size for something like foundation.

Ah, I have little experience with cold weather yet. Just moved to Colorado so we'll see how my lips do in winter! I'm thinking about getting an empty lip gloss tube, like what indie makeup sellers use, and seeing if that works for vitamin E. Let me know if you find an on the go product that works for you though!

EDIT: I was thinking a tube like these. If it holds cuticle oil, it should hold vitamin E oil, right?

I just got some of these these empty brush pens things from Amazon and filled them with jojoba oil, also from Amazon, and I just leave them on every surface in my house and every bag I own. I learned this from this youtube video by simply nailogical!! I have fancy peel off base coats but the sally hansen one works just as well for our purposes lol

Thank you! I'm going to try lancing the bigger ones with something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019SVHLEY/ref=crt_ewc_img_dp_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3T1UHEPNW0KQ8
How do I treat my skin after doing this? Just my normal skincare routine?

You can get jars like these off Amazon that hold samples perfectly. I use them for everything

Next time I would highly recommend you dissolve your Alprazolam powder in Everclear, it tastes better as it doesn't linger as much, and its able to hold more mg of powder per ml of Everclear.

You can order droppers such as these and then calculate how many mg of Alprazolam you have per ml by dosing it with the cc dropper.

I prefer to put my xannies on sour patch kids for on the go. The taste is pretty fowl, but if you let it soak up for awhile (using Everclear vs Propylene glycol helps too) you can hardly taste the absorbed liquid.

Are you feeling 22? Happy birthday!

1. headbannnd
   
   
2. cute blue headband!
   
   
3. Strawberry hair clips!
   
   
4. Makeup blenders
   
   
5. Fun LED hair extensions!

Yes! I have these amazon brushes and they are amazing. Way softer than my sonia kashuk ones and the blush brush is about as soft as my ecotools one if not softer. I seriously recommend them.

I got the basic 6 brush set last year to use as my first proper make up brushes.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ecotools-Bamboo-Piece-Brush-Set/dp/B003ZX32ZO
Even though I now have a silly amount of brushes I still use these almost every day, really good quality for the price. I use the angked liner brush for my eyebrows and it's perfect. The only one I don't use is the foam sponge one cause I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with it ha.

These are perfect for creating DIY masks:

SELENA Multi-Layer Cotton Puff, 80 Count

Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00260T94K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nVnSAbF87AWW4

They are five very thin, lint-free layers that you can peel apart to your desired thickness.

I can tell you what she owns because I bought it a lot of it lol.
http://amzn.com/B008FX7B9M
http://amzn.com/B001JKTTVQ
and she has ruby woo, bombshell, fetish mac lipstick. Some foundations she got on her own as well.

Get a pimple popping kit.

something like this.

It makes it easier to pop the pimples/remove the black heads. Easier to pop for the popper and better visual for the pop. And hurts less for the pop(-ee?).

Elphaba supports this contest!

Alternatively, earth-friendly makeup brushes!

Cute contest!

$62.80, and congrats! :)

eleven years item

these are not too much cheaper right now but sometimes the price comes down. They are great for separating into layers without the fluffs getting all over your face when doing toner masks.

Yeah I mix by weight, I can usually knock a few out really quickly if I already have all the flavors set aside. I just need something better than a big box to store all the flavors in. Are you talking about something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Multi-Level-Premium-Quality-Organizer-Collection/dp/B00FPOOJL2

Lol that's not even all my brushes! I was drying my face ones when I took the pic. And the pink brushes are on Amazon for like $15!

Yeah, I dropped $126 and waited anxiously for 10 days just to hear that. So fucking frustrating. If anyone's curious what I bought specifically:

• NYX Cosmetics Studio Finishing Powder
  
  
• Nyx Highlight & Contour Powder
  
  
  
• BLINK BEAUTY Professional 8 Layer, Blush, Lipgloss, Eyeshadow Makeup Cosmetic Kit
  
  
• SHANY Slick & Shine Lipstick Set of 12 Famouse
  
  
• CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer
  
  
• COVERGIRL and Olay Tonerehab 2-In-1 Foundation, Golden Tan
  
  
• e.l.f. Baked Blush, Peachy Cheeky
  
  
• EcoTools BAMBOO 6-pc Makeup Brush Set 1206
  
  
• EcoTools Make-Up Kabuki Brush Set

Some folks recommend things like nail polish organizers.

I use a foam filled hardshell case from harbor freight for mod organization (I have too many mods) and a cheap plastic toolbox to organize atties (in the tool tray up top) and building supplies below. If you drill little holes for the 510s all your atties can stand up neatly in the tool tray.

I got it off amazon, 22 pieces for 16.80 including shipping! They are super soft and I tugged on them and didn't lose any bristles.
Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006U98T08/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The amount of markup seems to vary quite a bit. For Japanese products it's reasonable; Selena cotton puffs were about $4, Kiku was $14, and the large Dr.Ci:Labo Bihaku was $110. Korean products, on the other hand, were easily double the Amazon prices.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AKYYSCM/ref=shptrk_scth these ones. The Meow ones are the 5 gram, I think? The acrylic case came with these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0036C0RT8/ref=shptrk_scth which I would NOT recommend. The threads on the lids don't really match up half of the time and quite a few lids were cracked and wouldn't close at all. The case is super nice though.

I'm a fan of GoToobs.

They are silicone and the rotating collar reveals the product type.

My ma got knock offs at Target (I think) but can't confirm their BITL status.

Enjoy!

I use the Hada Labo Rohto Hadalabo Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist. I find that if I apply it before a sheet mask the hyaluronic acid really helps my skin absorb the sheet mask essence. You can also use the Hada Labo lotion to make your own sheet mask with puffs like these. There are step-by-step directions in the first review on the Amazon page.

I have two of these and I like them quite a bit. They're not as big as the Kardashian ones but it's pretty much impossible to find those for under $100.

I have two angled brushes: The one I have amongst my other eye brushes is from Sephora that I got in this set though of course you can buy it individually. It's a good angle brush but I dedicate it solely to eyeshadow. The one I actually use for my brows is the Ardell Duo Brow Brush. The angle brush on this one probably isn't as firm as my Sephora brush but for the price it gets the job done. I bought it because of the price, particularly because it has the spoolie end and I was too cheap to buy the Anastasia version of this brush for $18 lol

Get this https://www.amazon.com/Black-Portable-Massage-Table-Facial/dp/B00K0OW60I/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1524883537&sr=1-4&keywords=massage+table and something like this https://www.amazon.com/Fractionated-Coconut-Oil-Massage-Oils/dp/B01LQSSSRG/ref=sr_1_17_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1524883667&sr=1-17&keywords=massage+oil and this https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Premium-Flannel-Sheet-Natural/dp/B00E3RYZF2/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1524883754&sr=1-4&keywords=massage+table+sheets and finally this https://www.amazon.com/Full-Body-Massage-Back-Massage/dp/B01MDMAS7I/ref=sr_1_4?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1524883822&sr=1-4&keywords=massage+video or this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFdQJx0FHDE and your all set. I bought one and my wife just loves it! When she tells me she's had a really bad day I ask if she wants the "treatment" and she can't come home fast enough. This can be something you both can get into and share with each other.

That's a good one, so is this one. The one I linked has a blush brush. They're both good quality sets.

So far I think the gel-cream has been my favorite moisturizer. I tend to get pretty oily throughout the day but it doesn't make me oily but it also hyrdates me well. I use cotten sheet masks to dip into the gel-cream for sanitary reasons and so I'm not touching my face with my fingers directly.

Even when I'm not that oily, like an hour after washing my face..ha! These help a ton with the shine. They're fairly discreet, except for the blue color, for touching up on the go.

http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Clear-Oil-Absorbing-Sheets-50-Count/dp/B003V57Q5I

They're really easy to find in Walgreens, target etc too. About $6.

I recommend these EmaxDesign brushes from Amazon. You get a variety of brushes for very little money. They are decent quality (in fact, I prefer some of them to their more expensive counterparts). That way you can get a sense of what kind of brush you like to use, and down the line you can upgrade just the type of brushes you actually use.

I use the fourth brush from the left in this set for my all-over base shadow and light brown crease because it's nice and fluffy. I use this brush for the darker brown in my crease because it's denser and more precise. If it feels too harsh, I'll go back with a light brown color on my fluffy brush to blend it out. And this has been my go to for packing eyeshadow on the lid. It's small enough for my lid and does a great job.

I love how you just flung it to the floor, after grabbing it with your fingers.

Also, you might want to buy a blackhead removal tool. They are cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/BESTOPE-Blackhead-Remover-Comedone-Extractor/dp/B019SVHLEY/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=blackhead+remover&qid=1571179390&sr=8-6

I use this Ardell brush with an angled brush end and a spoolie and it works great!

I've had a great experience with these jars!

I’ve been traveling with these GoToob bottles all over the world, and on a regular basis in Canada. Doesn’t say what’s in the bottle, or a brand name, though does clearly state the volume. Nobody has ever said anything to me. Did you have your bottles in a clear plastic bag?

https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/form/questions-comments-complaints

Try getting a hold of them there and see what they have to say about your event. I recently did and they responded to me with a day or two.