Beauty + Nail Art Archives - Macarons & Mascara

Holiday Makeup Look + GIVEAWAY!

December 21, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara Leave a Comment

Thank you Essence for sending me products for this post and giveaway. All opinions and words are mine alone. Thanks for supporting brands that make Macarons & Mascara possible!

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is looking at all the pretty holiday makeup looks that surface Instagram, YouTube, and makeup blogs. They’re always so pretty and so holiday-ready! I know sometimes people get intimidated to try the looks they see from their favorite makeup gurus because they think that the looks are too hard to achieve, or they “can never do that.” I’m no genius with makeup (though, I like to think my eyeliner wings speak for themselves) but I do have a look I’d like to share that’s so perfect for holiday gatherings, ringing in the new year, and celebrating with friends. And the best part is you can kick it up a notch or keep it toned down depending on the event or what you’re feeling that day!

To start off, I did my usual foundation routine, which consists of my Revlon Photoready foundation in the shade “Medium Beige,” my Colorstay concealer (also from Revlon) in “Medium,” and my Colorstay pressed powder in “Medium.” I like a full coverage because my breakouts just ~love~ leaving me little scars and marks to remember them by. Sheesh, so clingy!

Once I finished my face, I got started on the eyes. I know some people like to do their eye makeup before doing their foundation because it’ll prevent any eyeshadow dust from ruining the foundation, but I just prefer moving on to the eyes afterward. You can do whatever you’re most comfortable with. If you’re wearing this look out to a party or event, prime your lids so everything stays put. I use $1 eyelid primer from Elf and it works great. I used white eyeshadow from my L.A. Colors Matte palette as sort of a “base” for the rest of the eyeshadow. I’ve come to love doing this because I find that it helps the other shades I put on top stand out more. For my transition shade, which I used in my crease, I used a warm, brownish shade from the same palette. I know the holidays are meant for going a little wild, but I like to play it safe by using a soft shade in my crease rather than a more dramatic one. This way, if I screw up the look it won’t be too noticeable!

I wanted to give my brow bone a little highlight, so I used the shade “Coral Me Maybe…” from Essence’s The Velvets line. It’s a gorgeous soft pink shade that feels super smooth. This shade is also super perfect for the inner corners of your eyes if you want to add an extra brightness. Even if you party all night, you’ll still look wide awake!

For my lids, I used the Essence Metal Glam eyeshadow in “Chocolate Jewelry” (yummy!). This is a GORGEOUS shade that must make an appearance at every holiday event. I love that the tone is very warm and earthy, but it’s also really jazzed up with a metallic texture — definitely gives new meaning to the term sparkly-eyed. You can add as little or as much of this as you want to really glam things up, either way, it’ll be show-stopping!

Ah, I love these two shades together!

Next, I just did my usual, everyday winged eyeliner. I know lots of people use liquid eyeliner for a winged look, but liquid eyeliner just doesn’t seem to get along with me very well, so I use cream/gel eyeliner instead. The one I use is from Elf and I’ve been using it for nearly two years now. I always get questions about what it’s like using gel eyeliner and, honestly, it takes some getting used to because you have to play around with the brush, find a technique that works for you, make sure you don’t have too much or too little product on the brush, and whatnot. But practice does make perfect (or at least selfie-worthy) — I’ve been practicing with gel eyeliner since I was a sophomore in high school and I’m now a junior in college!

After that, I applied my mascara for a really flared out look for extra ~glam~. I use Urban Decay’s Perversion mascara. Then it was time for me to do my lips. Since I really wanted to look Christmas-y, I opted for a bright, red lip. I lined my lips using Essence Longlasting Lipliner in “Ready For Red.” I don’t use lipliners, like, ever but this one seriously has me questioning that choice — it’s SO great! The tip allows you to make really precise strokes, and it literally GLIDES on. The formula is so smooth and so non-drying. I couldn’t stop at just using this product to line my lips, so I decided to fill them in with the lipliner, too and it was so pretty!

If you want a glossier pout, add some lip gloss over your lipliner. I used the Essence Beauty Balm lip gloss in “Heartbreaker” — really great name because I felt so ~badass~ wearing it! This gloss is the definition of red hot. It contains shea butter, so it nourishes your lips and keeps them hydrated even while you mingle with the friends you haven’t seen for six months, or eat too much holiday chicken. I also really love that it’s not heavy on the lips and not sticky, either.

If bright, red lips aren’t your thing, opt for a softer lip. The Essence Liquid Lipstick in “Make A Statement” is a perfect subtle pinky rose. It definitely goes so great with this look, too. The liquid lipstick is really pigmented and gives non-sticky shine so you can look dazzling without feeling like your lips are doused in cooking oil. This is definitely one of the prettiest liquid lipsticks I’ve ever tried.

Another great lippie for this look would be the Essence Longlasting Lipstick in “Coral Calling.” This really is a gorgeous coral color that has some pretty pink hues in it. Just like the other lip products, this one is super pigmented and goes on so smoothly. I kept it on for about six hours and it still looked great, so that’s a definite plus! Here are swatches of each of the lip products I just talked about.

Voila! An easy-to-do makeup look for the holidays! Now, let’s get to the giveaway…

Macarons & Mascara is turning one in FIVE DAYS, and I’m pretty darn excited about it! So to celebrate the blog reaching its big milestone, I’ve partnered with Essence for this fabulous holiday giveaway. You can win ALL of the Essence makeup products used in this holiday look as well as the liquid lipstick and longlasting lipstick! Entering is super easy.

Head over to Instagram and “like” this photo.
Make sure you’re following me (@xoitzjazz) and Essence (@essencemakeup) on Instagram.
Last, tag a friend in the comments section of the photo.

The giveaway will close on Thursday (12/22) at 11:59pm. I will randomly pick a winner and announce then name on Instagram the following morning. Good luck!

Which of these products is your favorite?

My First Colourpop Order: Swatches & Review

October 25, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 4 Comments

OMG. I’m insanely excited because after many weeks of adding things to my cart and never clicking ‘checkout’, I finally ordered products from ColourPop! I’ve heard such great things about this brand and I just drool over the lipstick shades every time I visit the website.

I think I’ve become a huge fan of liquid lipsticks because of their super matte quality, and because I feel like the doe foot applicator gives me more control than a lipstick does when I’m trying to get a clean, precise application. So, of course, I ordered their ultra matte liquid lipsticks! But I have also been dying for some fall-esque eyeshadows and since their eyeshadows are only $5 each, I decided to peruse their selection as well. As you can imagine, I was brought to tears by how beautiful every single shade looked! I ended up opting for a set of four perfect fall eyeshadows.

First off, I had to just admire the packaging of everything — so pretty! It took me a while to finally decide to, you know, remove the packaging so I can actually use the lipsticks. But eventually, I toughed it up and marveled at the lippies inside the boxes.

When your @colourpopcosmetics order is prettier than you are 😍💋 swatches and blog post coming soon!

A photo posted by Jasmin | College Blogger (@xoitzjazz) on Oct 22, 2016 at 3:15pm PDT

Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks…

I purchased three shades: More Better, Are & Be, and Bad Habit. My goal was really to purchase shades that I don’t already own because personally, I dislike having 50 different tubes of literally the same exact shade; I love completely using up the product before moving onto another shade that’s very similar. I looked up some swatch videos on YouTube to figure out which colors would look best with my skin tone and eventually settled on these three (after days of YouTube swatches!).

More Better is the most PERFECT cranberry lipstick I’ve ever seen! It’s absolutely perfect for fall, which is what really drew me to it. I definitely think this is a shade that would look great on pretty much any skin tone, too. I think this shade is perfect for a night out — date, party, hang out with friends, formal event — because it’s such a sophisticated looking color.

So, I’ve probably made a *bad habit* out of taking pictures of these lipsticks any chance I get, but can you blame me? Terrible pun aside, Bad Habit is a much more pink color. When I was looking at the tubes, I got a little nervous at first because I thought that Bad Habit looked too similar to More Better and, like I said, accidentally buying two very similar things really irks me. It’s different from More Better because it’s more of a mauve-pink, which I think is great if I want to tone down my look just a bit for the day.

Are & Be slays on SO many levels! It’s a mauve-plum color and it really just speaks to my inner vampire. I can definitely see myself wearing this shade on days when I want a distinct lip color but also want to match dark, rainy days (my favorite!).

I purchased these lipsticks for $6 each and I definitely think they’re fantastic for the price. The ultra matte truly is an ultra matte — it’s very shiny when you initially apply it but then it turns matte like magic. Seriously, forget Hogwarts, this lipstick is sorcery. But of course, the real matte lipstick test comes when you’re eating…These lipsticks passed with flying colors! I have put these lipsticks through macaroni & cheese, chicken fingers, bagels, sandwiches, and multiple drinks from Starbucks and my lips still look great. Yep, it’s pretty darn matte.

I love that despite this, the product does not leave my lips feeling parched. This is super important for me because the one thing I hate more than buying similar products is buying a liquid lipstick that dries out my lips majorly. My one caveat is just that plain water and a rag will NOT remove these lipsticks. I end up using makeup wipes to remove it, which works well. If you have found another way to remove the color from your lips, definitely share your method in the comments!

Will I buy more liquid lipsticks from ColourPop? You bet your Hogwarts acceptance letter.

Eyeshadow…

I bought an eyeshadow set of four because, let’s face it, it would’ve taken me forever to pick just four singles on my own. The set I got is called Zingara on the website (how mystical sounding!) and my first thought when I saw this set was: AUTUMN. The season was a huge factor in the decisions I made when purchasing, clearly.

I apologize for the weird lighting in my picture! The sun was setting when I took this and I thought it looked fine on my camera but I didn’t notice the difference until I was looking at it on my computer screen. Photography woes aside, Elixir is a sort of a toned down terracotta, which is super pretty (hopefully you can see the prettiness from the picture!). Like I said, this is perfect for fall because it’s so earthy and warm! The shade had a bit of shimmer in it but not a lot.

Jinxie is the lightest shade in the set and holy mother of shimmer, it is SHIMMERY. You probably can’t tell from the photo but, take my word for it if you’d much rather a matte shade. I find this shade very pleasing because it works hand-in-hand with the other shades in the set and it makes for a great inner corner shade!

Seeker is gorgeous because it’s a reddish brown shade with a gorgeous matte finish. When I look at this shade I think of pumpkin spice. My first day wearing these eyeshadows, I used this shade in my crease and it really gave my look dimension, so I was really happy with that.

Paradox is probably my favorite in the set. It’s a burgundy shade and the finish is more of a satin than a shimmer. It gives your eyelids a fantastic pop of color that really draws attention to your eyes.

The Zingara set was only $18, so that’s a real steal considering if you had purchased these four separately, you’d pay $20. These shades are very pigmented, so a little goes a long way! I recommend starting out with a little on your brush and working in more color as you see fit. It lasted on my lids all day long and at the end of the day looked just as flawless as it did when I first applied it! Love, love, LOVE this eyeshadow set!

Have you tried ColourPop products yet? Which ones are your favorites?

Related posts: 7 Matte Lipsticks Under $8, 10 College Beauty Essentials

The Collegiate’s Ultimate Guide To Skincare

October 11, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 4 Comments

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Clarisonic and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that make Macarons & Mascara possible!

I’m not going to lie, it’s really hard to take care of yourself when you’re on your own in college. It’s our own responsibility to make sure we get adequate sleep, feed ourselves properly, and still work hard in school, just to name a few (seriously, the list of responsibilities can go on and on). With all that to balance, I sometimes forget to take care of my skin regularly — despite wearing a full face makeup every single day!!!

Every skincare sin you can imagine, I’ve probably committed! Yep, I’m not proud of it but I’ve really up’d my skincare game in the last few weeks, and it has made the quality of my skin so much better. If you’ve put skincare on the backburner of college life, here are some tips for getting back on track to healthier skin.

1. Wash your makeup brushes regularly.

It takes me literally three months before the idea to finally wash my makeup brush even crosses my mind. I tell myself how unhealthy it is for me to use unclean brushes on my face, but alas my laziness always wins me over. I know some people wash their makeup brushes every single day, but cleaning your brushes once per week is fantastic progress from NEVER cleaning them!

2. Invest in makeup remover wipes.

Makeup remover wipes are Godsent. I use them to remove the day’s sweat, liquid foundation, and more sweat. I do this before I wash my face so that I can remove most of my makeup and make washing my face easier. Be sure to check out my post on college beauty essentials for other must-have beauty items!

3. Wash your face twice daily.

This is literally the easiest, and one of the best, things you can do to take care of your skin. Of course, sometimes just splashing water on your face won’t help remove the dirt and grime from the day. I used the Clarisonic Deep Pore Mia 2 device for two weeks and I’m in so much love! It really helps to remove every trace of makeup that my makeup remover wipes don’t get, and it feels so soft and gentle on my skin. This is especially important for me because my skin can be a little sensitive sometimes and harsh products can dry it out super quickly. But I’m extremely happy to say that I haven’t experienced any parched skin or anything negative after using the Clarisonic!

Before I tell you about my actual results, let me tell you about everything the Mia 2 device comes with as well as its features. The device itself comes in a really cute plastic case that makes it easy to store your device (mine was blue, which totally matches my aesthetic!!). I also received a charger for the device, the Deep Pore Daily Cleanser, and a Deep Pore Detoxifying Clay Mask. I used the deep cleaning facial wash and it was so great. A little goes a long way so I always place a dime-sized amount on the wet brush head. I also like to dampen my face first by splashing a little water on it.

The fab thing about this Clarisonic device that literally made my jaw drop is that when you press the ‘on’ button the brush starts cleansing your skin for exactly one minute and shuts off automatically. You should spend 10 seconds on each cheek, 20 seconds on your forehead area and 20 seconds around your chin area. But how might you keep track of exactly how long you’ve been cleaning those areas?????? Oh wait, the Mia 2 device tells you! It beeps softly after each time interval to let you know that it’s time to move on to the next area of your face so you don’t brush for too long. I’m in absolute love with this feature! Plus, using the Clarisonic is a way more fun way to clean your face daily.

So, here’s what happened to my skin after using this device…first off, my skin felt so much smoother and softer. Because of that, my makeup goes on smoother and looks better. I find it so hard to stop touching my face after I clean it with the Mia 2 device because it feels so supple and I don’t want to take my hand away! My skin also looks so much brighter because of all the deep cleaning the device does. I have also noticed that my skin looks and feels less oily than it usually is, which has been a definite plus while living in those super hot, stuffy college dorm rooms. If you want to invest in a Clarisonic Deep Pore Mia 2 set of your own or give one as a gift, use the code HERCAMPUS on their site for 15% off your order! I’m seriously super excited for you!!!

4. Get a facial cleanser that suits your skin type.

If your skin is oily, get a cleanser that reduces oil without drying out your skin too much. If your skin needs a little more moisture, be sure to do some digging to find a facial wash that will give you what you need rather than dry your skin out. I actually really love the Deep Pore Daily Cleanser from Clarisonic because it isn’t harsh and drying, it works great with the device to remove impurities, and I like the light, refreshing scent.

5. Wash your face an hour before your planned bedtime.

I have found in the past that when I wait until I’m super sleepy to wash my face, I don’t even have the energy to walk halfway to the bathroom! Wash your face ahead of time so if you end up crashing amidst your laptop, lecture notes, and several textbooks, at least you can do so knowing that your face is clean and free of makeup. *thumbs up emoji*

6. Clean your glasses regularly.

I actually recently got glasses (that’s what happens when your life is literally on a computer) and I have started noticing that my foundation gets on my frame when I take my glasses off. Bacteria can build off of that if you don’t run a cloth along it, and that bacteria will get on your face every time you put your glasses back on. This also goes for your phone!

7. Always have on hand: medicated acne cream

With all the stress, hormones, and forgetting to take care of our skin because we’re drowning in other obligations, breakouts can make their way into your life and annoy the hell out of you. Treat them fast, and if you think you might need to see a dermatologist, schedule a visit.

8. Always have on hand: facial moisturizer

You don’t need overly dry skin to keep moisturizer near you at all times. Any skin type can get dry — even super oily skin has its moments. To combat dry skin quickly, always have your favorite brand of moisturizer on hand so that you can apply it to the affected areas and get some relief. Bonus points if your moisturizer has sunscreen in it!

9. Always have on hand: Cocoa Butter

I grew up with an abundance of Cocoa Butter at home because it’s the perfect remedy for dry skin, cracked skin, dark spots, and just when you want smoother, softer skin. There are different formulas for your face but you can use Cocoa Butter everywhere and it works so well! I highly recommend it as a nighttime moisturizer for your skin, and a little does go a long way. Shea Butter is also a great alternative.

What’s your college skincare routine?

7 Matte Lipsticks Under $8

September 13, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 7 Comments

Beauty confession: I’m in absolute love with matte lipstick. To be fair, I prefer a matte finish to basically everything — eyeshadow, foundation, eyeliner????????? — so I really love the look of perfectly mattified pouts. While I do splurge from time to time and buy a more expensive lipstick so long as it’s the right shade and the consistency and finish are amazing, I’m also cheap AF and like to keep the costs down so I turn to drugstore lip products.

But to be honest, I used to absolutely hate lipstick! Yep, I was a lip-balm-goes-with-everything kinda girl (which is still pretty true for me because if you’ve read my post on college essentials you’d know that I hoard lip balm like it’s my job. But anyway, I started experimenting with lipstick about a year ago when I dyed my hair blue because I just really wanted to travel outside of my comfort zone and try something new to see if I’d like it. Well, I certainly fell in love with lipstick and I wear some pretty much everyday! Over the span of that year, I have found a few really awesome lipsticks that my life wouldn’t be complete without (okay, I’m being dramatic here). But nevertheless, If you haven’t already tried these products, give them a go!

1. NYX Lip Lingerie in ‘Teddy’

Let me start off by saying I love products from NYX and always run straight for them because they’re affordable and of really great quality, and there’s always a large selection of everything. Second, I adore a nice, brown lip. Brown lipstick is one of my favorite shades, especially on dark, gloomy days when I want to look a little edgy without going for a full blown black or dark purple lip. Brown lipstick also just goes so great with my tan skin and silvery hair! ‘Teddy’ is a fairly dark brown (think of the fur color of one of your favorite teddy bears!) so those who aren’t used to wearing browns may be a bight shocked to see that it’s really pigmented and dark. The liquid lipstick dries very quickly, but I have never felt that it was too drying on my lips. I hate super dry matte lipsticks that leave your lips feeling parched, so this is just perfect for me! $6.99 is very affordable for a matte lipstick of this quality, and I actually decided to purchase this because my Urban Decay matte lipstick in ‘1993’ (a much lighter brown than ‘Teddy’) wasn’t matte enough for me.

2. NYX Liquid Suede Liquid Lipstick in ‘Sway’

Like I said, I adore products from NYX! I also really seem to love liquid lipsticks, too, maybe because I feel like applying lip products with a wand applicator gives me much more control and allows me to apply it more precisely to my lips. But anyway, let’s get to the good part about why ‘Sway’ is too damn perfect to ignore: IT’S PURPLE. But not like a dark, vampy, plum-y purple; IT’S LAVENDER. I thought that having lavender lips would look really cool and be really fun at the same time, and it has taken me a lot of trial and error before I finally found the perfect lavender shade to go with my skin tone, but this is finally it. The Liquid Suede line is extremely matte and dries very quickly, and at $6.99 a pop, you really can’t not fall in love! The line is also pretty big and has other pretty shades that you should try — I also mention a few others here as well!

3. NYX Liquid Suede Lipstick in ‘Cherry Skies’

Like ‘Sway’, ‘Cherry Skies’ costs $6.99 and is, again, ultra matte. The one thing that can be a tad bit off-putting about this particular shade is that it’s a bit more drying than the others I have. But ‘Cherry Skies’ is such a gorgeous, deep red and I love it so much that I’m willing to tolerate it! To combat it, though, I just apply a very generous layer of lip balm (again with my lip balm obsession!!!!) and the liquid lipstick glides right on. The lip balm doesn’t affect the application of the lipstick in any way, nor does it affect the pigmentation — another thing I LOVE about this lipstick is that everything is extremely pigmented, so there’s no need to layer on excessively (unless you like to). This shade is a fab fall lipstick because it’s really dark and pretty sexy, so needless to say, it’s going to be my go-to for any fun, fall events at my school!

4. NYX Liquid Suede Lipstick in ‘Soft Spoken’

I promise, this is my LAST NYX product on this list!!!!!! I think you definitely believe that I’m in love with these products by now! I have a lot of very show-stopping lipsticks in my collection, which is why I wanted to make sure I didn’t leave for college without buying just one more toned down lip color. ‘Soft Spoken’ is a pink-brown that looks more natural against my skin, though, it still provides really nice pigment. It’s my new favorite for those days when I’m not exactly sure which lipstick to apply, or when I’m really rushing to leave my room but want to apply something quickly. Just bear in mind that, like I said, this looks a little natural against my tan skin, so if you have lighter skin, this may come off a bit more brown than you might expect and if you have darker skin, this may seem a bit more pink. Guess how much it costs — $6.99!!!

5. Katy Kat Matte Lipstick in ‘Maroon Meow’

This is the first Katy Kat Matte lipstick I’ve ever tried and I’m really excited about it!!!!! This line just seemed so beautiful and cute and I just needed to grab even just one, so I chose ‘Maroon Meow’ which is a bit of a plum-y shade — a significantly darker purple than ‘Sway’ from NYX. I love purples so I really enjoyed this color. The one thing that was unimpressive about this lipstick is that it claims to be matte but I didn’t really experience that here. As weird as this is going to sound, I wish that it was a little less slick and moist looking because what really caught me was the ‘matte’ element I expected to find. Maybe we can call this more of a moisturizing matte?????? It’s still a very pretty color and if you actually aren’t sure about diving into the wonderful world of matte lipstick, this would be a really good sort of “test” line that doesn’t give you straight up matte your very first time using it because sometimes you have to get used to the feeling of matte lipstick. I got this at Walgreens for $6.99.

6. ULTA Matte Lip Crayon in ‘Sparkle’

This lip crayon costs around $8 at ULTA but I actually received this for free in a swag bag from Her Conference back in July and I was so excited to try it out! ‘Sparkle’ is a really pretty pink shade that’s actually matte, which I was a bit surprised by because lip crayons I have used in the past were a little more slick than I had expected them to be, so this was a very pleasant realization. ‘Sparkle’ was a bit less pigmented than I would have liked, and even though it’s a medium pink, it was just a bit too light for my skin tone, however, it looks perfect on my mom’s lighter skin!

7. Wet n’ Wild MegaLast Lip Color in ‘Don’t Blink Pink’

Wet n’ Wild holds a special place in my heart because it was the first makeup brand I turned to when I started using makeup in high school. I remember the first product I ever bought from them was a waterproof mascara and it became my go-to! Wet n’ Wild is a super affordable brand (these lipsticks only cost $1.99!!!!!) and they have some really great quality products. ‘Don’t Blink Pink’ is a really hot pink — like really hot! Surprisingly, it’s one of the most daring shades I’ve ever purchased (yes, more so than lavender colored lipstick) because this lipstick just screams “LOOK AT ME AND MY FAB LIPS.” The lipstick itself is really creamy and is, in fact, matte and even when I rub it off after a long day, the tint still remains on my lips, so props for staying power!

I hope you decide to try out some of the lipsticks on my list (because they are the bomb dot com!!!!!). And if you love this type of post, definitely let me know in the comments what makeup products I should round up next because I feel like I own and have tried a lot of different products that I can definitely talk a lot about with you!

What’s your favorite matte lipstick?

Don’t forget to check out my post on college beauty essentials!

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10 College Beauty Essentials

August 2, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 6 Comments

I love talking about beauty, and I also love talking about college. And that’s how this post came about! In all seriousness, the stress of packing for college can make us do some crazy things…including forgetting to pack some really essential beauty items. Now, I love my lipstick, eyeliner, and mascara, but I’m not going to tell you what lipstick shades you need for the fall, or everything you need to pack in order to do full-face makeup because not everyone enjoys diving into makeup and I don’t want to assume that we all do. Plus, it’s not exactly ‘essential’ if we can do without it without giving it a second thought (my dear red lipstick, I’m deeply in love with you but I can, in fact survive college without you).

So for the sake of short and sweet intros, let’s talk beauty essentials…

1. A really good facial wash.

I can’t stress enough how important washing your face daily is, but it’s just as important that you remember to use a wash that has everything your skin needs. When you’re in college, you’ll find that you don’t have as much time to run to the pharmacy and grab skin products. In fact, when you’re on campus the nearest pharmacy might be a 15-20 minute drive away in the car that you don’t have on campus! Pack a face wash that suits your skin type and any skin concerns you may have, and use it day and night to keep your face clean.

Also, in case you’re interested, I also have a post on important ways we can pay more attention to our skin.

2. Sunscreen!

Listen to all those skincare articles and the fabulous beauty bloggers who tell you to keep sunscreen as your beauty bag staple. It’s still bright and sunny when you first start college in August — even in September — so make sure you protect your skin from damage caused by the sun. You never think that it’ll be your skin that gets damaged until it actually happens to you.

3. Nail clippers.

Everyone clips their nails — even lovers of long nails and the nail polish obsessed (like me!). But sometimes people forget to pack their nail clippers and it’s sometimes hell to find someone who’s willing to lend a pair. I’d also say that you shouldn’t forget to bring a nail file because your nail might break (annoying!) and you’d want to file it down asap. There’s nothing more annoying than having jagged nails!

4. Lip balm.

I. Live. For. Lip. Balm. If you aren’t a lipstick kinda girl, you should definitely at least carry around lip balm. The colder it gets, the drier your lips will get and you NEVER want to lick your lips because that actually dries them out even more! Lip balm is overall great for keeping the skin on your lips healthy and moisturized, and there are so many good ones to choose from. Bonus points if you get a lip balm with SPF, and if you take it up a notch and get a gentle lip exfoliator.

5. Makeup remover wipes.

Even if you don’t wear makeup you can still benefit from use makeup remover wipes. They’re great for taking with you to the gym so you could give your face a quick swipe after a rigorous workout. They’re also fantastic for just making your face feel refreshed after a long, hard day in class or a study session. My favorite two brands for makeup remover wipes are Neutrogena and ELF (believe me, I’ve tried so many wipes and many of them don’t cut the mustard!!!).

6. Dry shampoo.

Dry shampoo can be a major time-saver, especially as a busy college student. I’m going to be honest here and say that sometimes I really want to wash my hair but my schedule has me put it off for a day or two. I know, you might be turning up your nose at that, but guilty as charged! When my hair is a little too greasy for my liking, I spritz some dry shampoo into it and it works really well to absorb some of the extra oil. Just remember that you shouldn’t use dry shampoo as the ultimate substitute for washing your hair because it’s not meant to work like that. You also don’t need to stock up on it; one can of dry shampoo is more than enough for the entire school year!

7. Hair ties.

As college students, we’re never short of tea and iced coffee (God bless), but for some reason our hair tie game needs work. Major work. We all know the struggle of not having a hair tie to pull back our hair on an extremely windy day, or to keep our hair from being plastered to the back of our neck when we sweat at the gym. Bring many hair ties and keep them all organized in one place so you don’t lose half of them!

8. Q-tips and cotton pads.

These are perhaps one of the most forgotten beauty essentials, yet one of the most important. Aside from using them to clean your ears, you can use Q-tips to clean up any makeup smudges quickly and precisely. Psst, they’re also great for cleaning and applying ointment to cuts and scrapes, but that’s a story for another time! They’re also awesome for cleaning up excess nail polish you might’ve gotten on your skin after doing your nails.

9. Nail polish.

Now, I know not everyone wears nail polish on the reg. but hear me out. You can actually use this nail candy in some non-beauty related ways. When I was younger and had to wear a school uniform (ugh, those were the days), sometimes my stockings would begin to rip, so to prevent further damage my mom would apply some clear nail polish to the source of the rip. Worked like a charm! Got too many keys to count hanging on your keychain? Use nail polish to color them so you’ll always remember what’s for what. Do you know any other awesome uses for nail polish? Comment below!

10. Eyeliner.

I know I said I wouldn’t focus on actual makeup, but in all honesty, almost every college girl will use eyeliner at least once in college if they haven’t already, so you might as well come prepared. You might apply a quick swipe of eyeliner for a night out or a job interview, and you don’t need to buy $20 eyeliner; a simple eye pencil will definitely suffice. Eye pencils are also very inexpensive and won’t take up a lot of space when you pack for college. If there’s just one makeup product every girl should bring to college it would probably be this.

So I hope that you really consider packing these beauty essentials for college because, believe me, they’re super worth the buy and the attention! Don’t overlook these items because whether you wear makeup daily or not, these are items that will greatly benefit your college beauty bag.

What are your college beauty essentials?

5 Summer Nail Polishes Under $5

July 16, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara Leave a Comment

One of my favorite things about season changes is being able to buy new shades of nail polish that go with the season. In my opinion, any time is a good time for buying nail polish, but new seasons make it even more exciting because I can’t wait to see what shades brands put out. The one thing I love more than pretty nail polish is affordable pretty nail polish, and I know I’m not the only one who gets a little stingy when it comes to spending money! So I have found some really pretty nail polishes that are super summer-worthy and cost less than $5.

1. Sally Hansen Hard As Nails in ‘Hot Tamale’ – $2.99

Wow, this is the most flavorful red-orange I’ve ever seen. The only time I ever wear orange nail polish is for Halloween, and I usually don’t like red-orange as a color at all, but this nail polish was just so appealing because it reminded me of all the colorful fruit pictures I’ve been seeing on Instagram for the summer. If this nail polish were a fruit, it’d definitely be something citrus-y and refreshing!

2. Sally Hansen Hard As Nails in ‘Coral Reef’ – $2.99

This color kind of reminds me of Patrick from Spongebob! It’s a really pretty pink that’s perfect for a playful day at the beach because it isn’t too light and it’s also not a hot pink (for some reason I don’t find hot pinks too appealing). Like all other Sally Hansen Hard As Nails products I’ve tried, the quality of this one is really good — not thin and watered down, but not thick and globby.

3. Wet n Wild Wild Shine in ‘Lavender Creme’ — $0.99

I like nail polishes from the Wild Shine collection because I find that the quality of the polish is pretty good for just a buck! The shades are all really pigmented, so I really only use two thin coats of polish. Plus, as the name suggests, it has a nice glossy finish, so I never feel the need to put on a top coat for shine. The color of the bottle isn’t exactly true to the color you get on your nails (the bottle color is just a teeny bit darker and prettier in my opinion), but nevertheless this is definitely a hot color for a summer party!

4. Jesse’s Girl in ‘Jasmine’ – $3.99

First thing’s first, I had no idea that I shared a name with this shade until I just checked the name on the bottle! Anyway, I honestly have never heard of Jesse’s Girl brand cosmetics before (I found it at my local Rite Aid) and I was just so taken with this light, minty color that I had to buy it! This cool color will definitely keep you cool for the summer because it’s just so chill and casual and wearable at literally any event — party; barbeque, outing with friends.

5. Salon Perfect in ‘Gone Sailing’ – $3.99

‘Gone Sailing’ is seriously the perfect name for this shade because it truly makes me feel like I have the sea at my fingertips. Okay, maybe not the entire sea, maybe just my own underwater kingdom. The color is gorgeous and so mermaid-like (and why wouldn’t you want to channel your inner mermaid for the summer?). Unlike the other polishes on this list, this one actually has no type of shiny finish whatsoever; it’s completely matte!

So these are some great summer colors if you’re on a budget, and they’re definitely my favorites this season! If I had to pick just one to crown my absolute favorite of the summer, it would definitely be ‘Jasmine’ because the mint color is so refreshing!

If you want to see more of my favorites, check out this list of products I totally fell head over heels for in May!

What’s your favorite summer nail color?

May Kiss List — Products I Absolutely Love

June 14, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 1 Comment

So back in May I bought a couple of products that I really needed/wanted and let me tell you, they’re pretty damn awesome. Like these products literally give me life. Okay, well they don’t exactly give me life, but I do get really excited when using them. So I decided to write a post about their awesomeness! Alas, my May Kiss List was born. Maybe you’ve read my January Kiss List and loved it so much that you’re excited to see what products I’ve listed this time. So without further ado, I give you the best of my May purchases.

1. Too Faced Melted Matte Lipstick in ‘Lady Balls’ — $21

I love red lipsticks, and I had been using this fantastic red lip creme from Tarte for many months, but then I ran out and really needed a new red lipstick (that particular shade was limited edition). So I went looking around at Sephora for my new red lipstick and I swatched ‘Lady Balls’ and fell in love!

It’s literally a bright, cherry red color — perfect for getting dressed up or if you just want to make a bold statement (which I pretty much always want to do). This is from the Melted matte collection, which is great because matte is my favorite lip finish. I also love that it goes on soft and really smooth — no yucky, sticky feeling at all! I have worn this lip color for more than 12 hours and haven’t experienced fading, creasing, or dry lips (which can sometimes be an issue with a lot of matte lipsticks). The applicator tip gives me ample control when I’m trying to get every application perfect (or as close to perfect as I can get it!) Bottom line, I hope this lipstick never gets discontinued ever, because I have literally found my red lipstick match made in heaven!

2. ELF Face Primer — $3

Cosmetics from ELF are one of my favorite finds because they’re great quality and super inexpensive — just ask the gel eyeliner from ELF that I use basically every day. Anyway, I picked this up at CVS Pharmacy one day because I really wanted to start using primer again. I’m actually really picky when it comes to making primer purchases because I have oily skin and wear medium coverage foundation, so I hate using primers that make my face and foundation noticeably oily. It was really cheap so I went for it and I was NOT disappointed.

When applying this primer, you get a sort of silky feel that gets worked into your skin really quickly. Two pumps is usually enough for my entire face and I don’t wait for this dry because I never feel like I need to. I have worn this under foundation for 13-14 hours at a time and I have rarely felt the need to blot or reapply my makeup. A definite favorite!

3. ELF Eyeshadow Primer — $1

I love doing fun eyeshadow looks but sometimes my eyeshadow fades throughout the day. Despite this I’ve never felt the need to purchase eyeshadow primer, but since this was only $1 I decided to go for it. I love that the product is actually white because when I rub it on my eyelids it leaves a light, white base, so if I want to do an extremely bright and vivid look all the colors show up nicely. My eyelids don’t feel oily and I haven’t experienced any creasing so far. I definitely think that this eyeshadow primer is great if you’re looking for something extremely affordable or if you’re an eyeshadow beginner.

4. Urban Decay Perversion Mascara — $21

OH. EM. GOD. Mascara is probably the makeup product I’d never leave home without, so I’m really picky about which ones I purchase. My eyelashes are naturally long and curled, so I hate mascaras that make them look clumpy and spidery. I do love getting a “fake eyelashes” look, but without too much drama. I started off by buying a sample sized mascara and I loved it so much that I bought the full-sized one.

Perversion from UD doesn’t clump my eyelashes together and it also doesn’t cause any flaking. Plus, removal is pretty easy — I just gently wipe it off with makeup remover wipes so that I can start again fresh the next day. I also really love the wand itself because I hate wands that are so small and sparse that you could literally count the number of bristles on the wand. This is definitely a fantastic mascara!

5. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Hardener — $3.99

It’s weird how I pay attention to my nails every single week, but I don’t actually pay attention to them. Basically, I’m a huge fan of nail art so I paint my nails all sorts of designs, but I don’t usually think twice about caring for them the way that I should. I use a base coat and that’s about as careful as I am. But I was at Rite-Aid one day and my eyes glanced over this nail hardener. It was only $3.99 so I decided to go for it. It promises to strengthen your nails and reduce chipping and breaking, which sounded like a great idea to me. In the past my nails have broken much more easily when they got really long, and so far I haven’t experienced any breaking or chipping since using this.

Be warned, however, this product does NOT promise to grow your nails faster, so don’t expect it to!

I would totally repurchase every single product on this list because, well, they’re great!

What are some of your favorite makeup products from May?

The Perfect Beauty Guide

June 5, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara Leave a Comment

The pursuit of beauty is as old as the human race itself, or at least as long as proper society has existed. Some of the most advanced beauty products that we use today are just better versions of the natural products that were used by our ancestors. For example, olea/Olive extracts have been used in beauty products as far back as the Ancient Egyptian times. Ornaments made for beautification have been found in all the ancient civilization including the oldest of them all: The Ancient Mesopotamian Civilization.

However, the fast paced times that we live in, juggling our career and family lives, leave us with little time to take care of ourselves. As with all things in life, this has consequences and most of them are not good. If care is not taken, not only will aging effects kick in earlier, but chances are that improper care can lead to a lot of skin diseases. We have always believed in the pursuit of both inner and outward beauty. Ironically, both take a long time to achieve, if you lose them along the way.

The best way to go about having the latter is to have a set routine. Break your efforts down to daily, weekly, fortnightly, and monthly schedules. To accentuate our point, let us elaborate a few points related to a daily routine. Start with the most basic things. If you consume a lot of caffeine based products cut down on them. If you lack in oral hygiene take up your game by applying oral health best principles. Make a habit of moisturizing within three minutes of washing your skin. You can buy most of the stuff via these coupons from Groupon. But, perhaps the most important part of your daily routine is a proper night’s sleep. Depending on your age and genetics, you may require 6-9 hours of sleep.

We have prepared an infographic which depicts some major hacks when it comes to beauty. Just read through it to find out about them.

Co-produced by :Rebateszone & Macarons And Mascara

12 Skin Goals That Will Change Your Life

June 1, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 7 Comments

Your skin is the largest organ, so make sure you treat it right! Over the years I’ve definitely had my share of skin struggles, like many others, but those struggles did open me up to a world of skincare that I (honestly) probably wouldn’t have known existed if my troubles didn’t force me to pay attention. Some people have great skin without even paying much attention to it, while others treat their skin like its gold and get great results. And I’m not just talking about the skin on your face, either. Here are some #skingoals that we should all strive for no matter what our skin condition is.

1. Wash your face at least twice a day.

Most people wash their faces in the morning when they wake up, but after a long, exhausting day at work, school, and home, it can be easy to just throw yourself in bed and not give a care in the world about washing your face; you just want to sleep and that’s understandbale. But not removing the dirt and grime of the day from your skin can lead to clogged pores, which can lead to skin problems. Even if you aren’t acne prone, you should still aim to cleanse your face at least twice a day — it’s so refreshing!

2. Never sleep with makeup on.

This paster year in college, I was so guilty of falling asleep with makeup on. It was an accident because I didn’t remove my makeup early enough so I’d fall asleep surrounded by papers and books with perfectly winged eyeliner, mascara, and full foundation. This is a one-way ticket to clogged pores and unhealthy skin! Remove everything from your face before you sleep. I like to use Neutrogena makeup wipes on my entire face, and then go wash my face completely with my face wash to make sure I really get everything out.

3. If a product irritates your skin, stop using it.

No one likes to spend money on a product that they end up not being able to use, but if your lotion is causing a rash on your arm or making you break out, stop using it immediately. Prolonged use will only make it worse. If you don’t want it to go to waste, give it to a friend or family member; maybe they’ll have better luck with it than you did.

4. Seek professional help if needed.

Don’t punish yourself for years and years because you’re too stubborn or too embarassed to see a dermatologist. Even if you think next year will be the year you conquer your skin issue by yourself, chances are things will get worse. Dermatologists aren’t just for treating facial issues; they can give you a full body exam if you want, and help you treat skin conditions before they become really serious.

5. Drink lots of water.

Water keeps your skin hydrated, and some experts say that it can influence the elasticity of your skin, thereby making it less likely to crack (cracks in the skin are fantastic for irritations!) This doesn’t mean you should drink yourself sick with water, but aim to stay hydrated by consuming water regualrly.

6. FYI, DIY isn’t always best.

One time on Facebook, I saw a video of a DIY charcoal pore strip using non-toxic glue. It looked cool so I shared the video to my timeline, and I even thought about trying it myself (because some pore strips are pretty expensive). But I got a wake-up call from a friend who said that that’s actually dangerous to put glue on your face, and it can cause my skin to become immensely irritated. Beware of some DIY facials, because (depending on your skin) some of them might actually cause more harm than good.

7. Don’t be overly aggressive with your skin.

Save your aggression for the soccer field; you need to be rather gentle with all types of skin. Scrubbing the shit out of your face and arms will cause redness, and can even break the skin. You’re not scrubbing an apple, so be nice!

8. Be consistent with your skincare regimen.

You’re not going to see results overnight; you’re not going to use a lotion on your legs for two days and wake up on the third day with super smooth, glowing model legs. You need to stick to a regimen for many, many months (sometimes a year or so) before you decide that it doesn’t improve the quality of your skin. Plus, being hasty and changing products like you change your answers on a multiple choice test can further aggitate your skin.

9. Shave carefully!

You’re not sheering a sheep (though if you were you’d probably still be careful because sheep are adorable!) You could accidentally nick your skin and cause it to bleed. You can also get annoying razor bumps! Try to find a good razor that can at least meet you halfway. I like using Schick Hydro Silk razors because they give me a close, clean and smooth finish without the need for aggression.

10. Use lip balm religiously.

Your lips are still part of your skin, so they require care as well. Overly chapped or dry lips can lead to very painful peeling. Avoid this by moisturizing your lips on the regular with your favorite lip balm. I apply lip balm to my lips multiple times throughout the day because I can’t stand the way my lips feel when they’re even remotely dry! You’ll have soft, supple lips in the long run!

11. Actually test products before using them.

Before using a new product, my mom always made me test it out for 24 hours on a small patch of skin on my arm, much to my dismay because I couldn’t wait to use a new product. This serves its purpose very well. It’s very possible that a product won’t agree with your skin. Fun fact: I actually can’t use EOS lip balms because the first one I ever used dried out my lips insanely and left me with a strane looking dark mark on my lip, which took many months to heal.

12. Have patience!

Like I said, nothing is going to change in the blink of an eye. There is no such thing as a miracle product. Haste makes waste, so treat your skin gently and with patience — it’s one of the best things you can do for your skin.

I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope I was able to offer some skin advice that’s *life changing* for you. Please note that I am not a doctor of any kind and I do not claim to be. These were just some eye-opening things that I have realized over the years when it comes to skincare.

What are your tips for healthy skin?

7 Tips For Perfect Eyelashes

May 11, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara Leave a Comment

Mascara is probably the one makeup product I’ll never leave home without applying. It was actually a struggle for me when I just started wearing it back in high school, because my eyelashes are naturally long and curled, so I didn’t want a product that would make them look like long, clumpy spider legs! And that feeling when your eyelashes touch your eyebrows and leave a mark…So I’ve had quite a journey with mascaras, trying everything from drugstore to higher end products. Alas, here I am, a 20-year-old with what I like to think of as a perfect routine for getting perfect eyelashes. My routine eliminates clumping while giving me just enough length and volume in such a way that people actually wonder if I’m wearing false eyelashes (spoiler alert, they’re completely real). And in some weird way, they still have a natural-looking texture, too. So here are a few useful tips and tricks for getting unforgettable eyelashes.

Get naked. Whoa, I mean your eyelashes! I wear mascara every single day, so at night I make sure I remove as much of it as possible, if not all of it. In case you were wondering, yes, I have left mascara on overnight before, and the next morning when I tried to apply more on top of it, it just didn’t look as good as I thought it would. The next thing I knew, I just had these clumps of product weighing down my eyelashes, and it was even more difficult to remove. So make sure you’re removing all of the previously applied product from your lashes before you do anything else.
Get rid of all the extra. I love seeing a lot of product on my wand, but if you’re not careful all that extra product can clump your eyelashes together, then you’ll be left with spider legs on your eyelids (but if that’s your thing then more power to you!)
Get to the ROOT of your problem. Haha, do you get it? I like to brush the wand through my lashes starting from the roots (a.k.a.the areas closest to my eyelids and unfortunately my eyeballs). If you aren’t used to putting wands and things near your eyeball, this may sound terrifying to you (and with good reason). But here’s a subtip to remedy any eyeball-poking that may occur: take your time! You don’t need to spend five minutes on each eye, but going slowly and really paying attention to what you’re doing and how your eyelashes look so far can really make a difference. You might think that normally it takes three coats for you to get them perfect, but if they look pretty perfect after the second coat, then maybe you should just leave well enough alone.
Don’t let it dry in between coats. I never let my mascara dry in between my coats. Maybe that has stemmed from me not having enough time in the morning to do that, but I have found that I get an overall better look when I don’t let them dry. In the past when I did let my eyelashes dry in between coats, I have found that it was harder to ‘move’ my eyelashes to the position I wanted them in, or that it was just difficult to see much of a difference with an added coat.
Wiggle slightly to de-clump. If you happen to run into the issue of having clumpy eyelashes, one thing that I have done to separate them is simply wiggling the wand through the clumped area. This should be a slow, gentle wiggle because otherwise you could risk doing more harm than good if you act too hastily. Another thing that works is going in with a Q-tip to move the clumped sections apart from each other, but make sure you’re doing this before the product is dry!
Don’t forget the lashes toward the inner corner! I never really used to pay attention to the baby eyelashes toward my inner eye, but now I do and it has made a more obvious difference. Remembering to brush through the baby lashes makes my eyelashes look more fanned out and defined, which I really love! I want that full, fluttery effect and this is, in my opinion, the easiest way to get it.
Swipe right (and left). I never used to apply mascara to my lower lashes because I never failed to accidentally get product on the skin under my lower lashes. I used to brush them the way I brushed the wand through my upper lashes, but now I have found that quickly, but gently, swiping left and right through them gets adequate product on them without getting any product on my skin. My lower eyelashes are enhanced greatly and add a sort of roundness to my eyes overall, and really opens them up!

So there you have it — that’s exactly how I get my version of perfect eyelashes all day everyday! What’s your favorite mascara? Tag me in a picture on Instagram @xoitzjazz and use the #macaronsandmascara to let me know!

Swatches + Review Of MAKE Beauty Eyeshadow + Lipstick

April 11, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara Leave a Comment

Anyone who knows me knows that I love pretty makeup products — eyeliner, lipstick, eyeshadow, you name it! So I was super excited to receive free eyeshadow and lipstick samples from MAKE Beauty, a company that strives to encourage individual artistic approaches. MAKE is also awesome because their products are cruelty free (yay animals!) plus, 10 percent of their sales is donated to the We See Beauty Foundation, an organization that seeks to empower female entrepreneurs. So you can really see why I’m crazy about this brand!

I received eyeshadow in the shade, Alabaster, and lipstick in the shade, Taffy (sounds delicious!) Below you’ll find swatches of the two on my rather tan arm. Alabaster is a silky, light cream-colored eyeshadow, and Taffy is a soft pink — perfect for spring (whenever that is in New York!) I really loved the simple and sleek packaging because it makes the makeup look very sophisticated.

I did this simple, natural look using these products, which is great for adding a little extra something to a plain day at school or work. After applying my foundation and doing my eyebrows, I took my ELF eyeshadow brush and dampened it ever so slightly because I found it worked better for application since I was able to get more product on the brush that way. I patted the Alabaster onto the inner 2/3 of my eyelids. I used a brown eyeshadow on the outer corners and in my crease. After topping it all off with my classic winged eyeliner and some mascara, I moved onto my lips. Fun fact about me: taffy used to be my favorite candy when I was a kid — especially the sour apple flavor! I could hoard that stuff like it was my job. Anyway, I applied Taffy to my lips — no primer and no lipliner — and was met with a pretty, soft, natural looking tint.

I would definitely recommend the Taffy-Alabaster combo for a soft, natural look. They pair well for when you want to add just a little pizzazz to your makeup without going over the top — really great for job or internship interviews. Because of the ease of use of these products, they’re also great for beauty beginners who have never before jumped into the fabulous world of all that is makeup.

Alabaster Pros:

Buildable: I was able to easily build up my coverage for a more pigmented look without it looking cakey, so that’s a definite plus!
Light shade is great for natural looks: I love insane eyeshadow colors, but this is fantastic for those times when you really just need to tone things down and go au naturale.
Soft, satin finish: This product makes my eyelids look so delicate! The finish is really smooth and pretty.
Long-wearing: I’m a full-time college student with lots of 13-hour days, so I really appreciate an eyeshadow that actually lasts!

Alabaster Cons:

Slightly reflective: I didn’t have a problem with this, but if you just prefer completely matte eyeshadows then be aware of the fact that this eyeshadow is just slightly reflective and the more you put on, the more of that effect you get.

Taffy Pros:

Non-drying: I have so much appreciation for lip colors that don’t dry out my lips because my lips get dry and chapped really easily, so this product was great for me.
Soft and subtle color: As with Alabaster, the softness of this shade makes it great for more toned down and delicate looks.
Fragrance-free: If you aren’t too fond of lip products with some kind of fragrance in them, this is a great pick for you!
long-wearing: Ah, those 13-hour days…

Taffy Cons:

I didn’t experience any particular cons, which is really awesome!

I hope you all liked this product review, and if you haven’t considered buying products from MAKE then I hope you will! I have a little surprise for you, too: Take 20% off products on the MAKE website using the discount code MAKEYOURSELF

Click here to go to MAKE’s website to explore all the pretty stuff they have. Act fast, though, this offer ends on May 31st! Have you ever bought products from MAKE? What’d you get? Let me know in the comments!

NOTE: This is a sponsored post in partnership with MAKE Beauty and powered by BrandBacker. As always, all words and opinions are my own. Thank you so much for supporting brands that make cool posts from Macarons & Mascara possible!

Easter Nail Art…Using A Bobby Pin!

March 26, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara Leave a Comment

Nail art is a cool way to spice up any manicure. Since tomorrow is Easter Sunday, I wanted to do bright, fun designs on my nails, however, since I’m away at college and forgot my nail art tools at home (what was wrong with me?) I quickly found myself with very limited resources. If you don’t really do nail art by yourself, then chances are you’d find yourself in this situation too. Lucky for me I’m also very resourceful, if I do say so myself, and found a super simple solution that can work for everybody: I used a bobby pin to do my nail art!

Aren’t they cute!? The index finger and pinky are very simple dots on a contrasting background, the middle finger is an easter egg design, and — my favorite part — the ring finger is a little chick! The best part is that all you’ll need are your favorite bright, festive nail polishes and a bobby pin — that’s it! No going out to buy any kits, no hunting for specific brushes, and no spending more money than you want to! Here’s what you actually will need:

white nail polish
yellow nail polish
2 light/pastel nail polishes (I chose light pink and blue)
2 darker nail polishes (I chose dark pink and blue)
black nail polish
orange nail polish
other pretty colors
a bobby pin
time

So here’s how I did these nails…

First thing’s first, I browsed my dorm room-friendly collection of colors and picked the ones I thought would look best for this design. I settled on a light pink, white, yellow (because the ring finger will be a chick) and a light, peppermint blue. My thumb nail has the same exact design as my middle finger, so whatever you see on my middle finger is also what’s on my thumb, in case you were wondering. In the picture above, I used two coats of all my selected colors, to make sure I got a nice and smooth finish. Get as creative as you’d like with the colors, though — light purple, light green and even light orange would look really pretty too!

So now it’s time to actually start using that bobby pin…

Bobby pins have these tiny round ball-looking things on the tips, so they’re great for creating uniform dots and things. As you can see, I used the tip of the flat side. I poured a bit of dark blue nail polish and dark pink nail polish onto a stiff piece of paper and dipped the bobby pin into it. The great thing about using the bobby pin is that it’s small which allowed for more control when creating the designs.

I used the dark pink color and the bobby pin to create dots on the light pink nail, and I did the same to the dark blue nail polish on the light blue nail — a pretty, springy contrast! That part wasn’t so bad, was it? Good, now let’s kick it up a notch…Moving onto the middle finger with white nail polish, we’re aiming for a pattern you’d see on an easter egg. I dipped my bobby pin into light green nail polish and used it to create three dots near my cuticle. Not too shabby. Now about that zig-zag line…I chose the dark pink for this. The secret here is to not get too much product on your bobby pin; if yo do, it’ll just come out in a big, blobby mess! Don’t worry if you have to re-dip your pin into the color, just start off a little bit above where you left off.

Okay, you can take a breather now! I went back to polka dots and used yellow and dark blue alternatively for some added flair. After that, I used the pin again to paint a (somewhat) straight blue line right across the nail. Simple, yet substantial. Lastly, (you’ll like this part) all I did was take the brush from my bottle of light purple nail polish and paint the tip of the nail. That’s it! I promise you, this nail was the hardest of them all! But now that that’s over, let’s check on our chick…

This “accent” nail will really bring the whole hand together. Remember the pink zig-zags we made on the easter egg nail? We’re going to use that same technique here, only with white nail polish. Once you make the zig-zag right across your nail, you can fill in the bottom half. This is our cracked egg shell because the adorable little chick has hatched! Take your bobby pin again and dip it into any black nail polish you have to create dots for the eyes. Now for the beak, dip the pin into orange nail polish and create a very short, straight line between and below the eyes. I (sadly) forgot my orange nail polish at home, too, but like I said, I was being all kinds of resourceful yesterday and just mixed together my yellow and red nail polishes.

Finish off with a top coat and there you have it: pretty easter-themed nails, and all you needed was a bobby pin! I hope you liked this tutorial and I hope you all enjoy Easter Sunday!

My Spring Break Beauty Wishlist

March 11, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara Leave a Comment

I look forward to any type of week-long (or longer) break from school because it gives me a chance to think about myself, which can be pretty hard to do when you’re juggling classes, exams, work, internship hunting and the drawn out process of getting your shit together. So when I’m being understandably selfish, I like to think about beauty products I have and ones that have really been on my mind. My Spring Break has officially started, and since I’m not going anywhere special, I’ll definitely make use of this time to explore new products. I know you’re just dying to see what super cool beauty products I’m dying to purchase, so without further ado this is my Spring Break beauty wishlist:

Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Eyeshadow Palette – $36