Belle’s Favorites: Part One
For awhile now I have been meaning to put together a list of my favorite beauty products, and in this post I’m focusing mainly on my favorite secret weapons and problem solvers. My quest to find the “best of the best” never ends in this department, but these are some of the fabulous finds I’ve discovered over the years. Hopefully they’ll make your life a little easier too (or at the very least, save you from having a panic attack when you notice your blouse is gapping right before you walk to the front of the room to give a presentation)!
1. Sole Mates: With Summertime right around the corner, I hate having to put up with my high heeled sandals sinking in grass when I go to the park. Or the WORST is getting your heel stuck in one of those grates on the sidewalk. Soles Mates solve the sticky stiletto problem. I always have a pair with me. They cover the heel of your shoe, slightly increasing the size so you won’t get stuck anywhere when walking outside. Another great thing about them is that they protect your heels so they don’t get beat up when you wear them out on the town. Soles Mates come in a variety of colors but I personally love the clear ones because you can use them on anything and no one will notice anything aside from the fact that you navigate rough terrain with ease and grace. I’ve given these to several of my friends and they all love them too. Check them out at www.TheSoleMates.com
2. Shadow Shields: If you’ve ever wanted to wear a bold color on your eyes and gave up because you couldn’t apply it without some of it ending up under your eye…these are the miracle you’ve been looking for. Whether it’s using a bold color or just for assistance creating different dramatic looks with your eye makeup, these have so many uses. Not only do they protect below your eye from getting dusted with color (you know, which you try to carefully sweep away only to make it worse… resulting in having to redo your concealer), but they also work as a great guide for creating smokey liner that is picture perfect. For every day use, I like to set mine below my eye, allowing them to curve up at the end so my eyeliner creates a clean cat-eye look. The Shadow Shield is practically weightless and adheres to your skin lightly so there is no pulling or damage done to the sensitive skin below your eyes. Additionally, you have complete control how you apply them so you can just adhere them at the corners or remove the entire back to have the shield cover a larger area for more dramatic and time consuming applications. You can buy Shadow Shields at various mass retailers or by going to www.ShadowShields.com. LOVE THEM!
3. Hollywood Fashion Tape: This is a lifesaver in a container that is the size of a tube of lipgloss. I have used this stuff for so many different things, I don’t know where to begin. If you always have to get your pants hemmed or you go to put on an outfit only to realize that the hem needs to be repaired… placing a strip of fashion tape will secure the hem so you can wear the outfit as planned and have it repaired when you find the time. I use it to reinforce shirts in the places my boobs tend to cause blouses to gap, or to make sure a potentially TOO revealing top stays in place… it’s the perfect solution. And while I realize this is controversial, if I’m at the club and notice a girl is wearing one of those super skimpy shirts and begins revealing more skin with every move she makes (aka pulling a Janet Jackson), I always offer a fellow belle a strip to solve her problem for the night. This has been met with gratitude 100% of the time. Besides, I like to think that we’re all looking out for our fellow Belles whether it’s in the workplace or on the dance floor. You can buy Hollywood Fashion Tape at boutique retailers or online at www.HollywoodFashionSecrets.com
4. Red Cherry Eyelashes: Anyone who knows me, knows that I la-la-love glamming up my baby blues every chance I get. I wear false lashes everyday, however, even if you are just using them for a special occasion for or a night out on the town, Red Cherry has great false lashes that are affordable and easy to use. They have a ton of different styles to choose from so you can achieve any look you want. My favorites are #107, #505, #DM, and #82. I use lash glue by DUO, because I think it is by far the best out there. You can buy it online or at Sephora. One tube will last you forever and it won’t irritate your eyes. If you are new to applying false lashes, I recommend putting your eyeliner on first, applying the glue using a q-tip and just put enough glue on the edge of the lashes so that it looks like there is an even amount distributed across the entire lash. If you are worried about lining up the lash correctly, try placing it a couple times before you apply glue to the lash. Make any adjustments to the length using scissors, and finally, if you are still nervous about application, you can cut the lash in half and apply it one half at a time. Also, I always apply the glue to the lash and blow on it for a few seconds to let it dry just enough so it will be a little gooey when I first place it. With regards to where you place the lashes to make them look most natural, place them right at your lash line where your natural lashes begin. If you are using Duo lash glue, you will have no problem removing the lashes at the end of the night with your fingers and then removing the remaining glue with your eye makeup remover without causing any damage to your natural lashes. You can buy Red Cherry Lashes at www.madamemadeline.com or if you want to buy in bulk, you can also order them on Amazon and eBay. I found this fantastic YouTube Video that demonstrates applying lashes step-by-step, so check it out before you try it yourself!
If you have favorites to share, comment below or email me at Belle@IndependentBelle.com.
Next time I’ll share some of my favorite makeup tricks for taking great pictures! Until then…
