Poise in a Pinch: Best Beauty Products & Secrets for Cheap

As an emerging personal stylist, I get asked all the time where I shop. I also get asked about my beauty products just as often. This is where it's at! Beauty products are the finishing touch to your overall look, that extra sparkle that makes people stop and stare. So obviously it serves you well to keep them a secret. Right? Well, I've been contemplating sharing my trade secrets with others for a few weeks. And it occurred to me that the only people who should know what's inside Bree's beauty bag are our loyal and lovely readers of The Gathered Lady! As you know I'm all about PINP'in (Poise in a Pinch), so these beauty finds will yield fabulous results without busting the bank!

HAIR

1. It's a 10 Leave-In Conditioner Plus Keratin
   • Approx. $15-$20 for 4oz bottle.  CVS, Online, Beauty Supply Stores. ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT.
   • This product is a MIRACLE worker. I have curly 3c/4a hair and I would always have to chop off an inch or two when I straightened it due to split ends and pixie knots from drying and wear and tear. After implementing this spray, as well as the next product, I have not had to trim my ends again. It's a phenomenal product. My hair detangled so much easier with this product, and it smells good. 
   • This product also works wonders on straight hair. My old roomie initially put me on to this product and she has long bone straight hair. She reported the same findings, that her hair was much stronger and had better ends and more damage-resistant to constant flat iron use.
2. Moroccan Argon Oil
   • Approx. $6-$10. CVS, Target, Online.
   • Another MIRACLE worker. This light oil makes me hair smooth and shiny and it retains water better because of the moisture locking properties. I use the Organix Moroccan Argon Oil type.
3. Silkology
   • $9-$20 depending on size. Online Silkology.com or Sleekhair.com. Independent distributors.
   • When I straighten my hair I SWEAR by this line of shampoo and conditioners. It can only be purchased online or from a distributor, but I ordered mine from Sleekhair.com. The Silk-It line makes your hair uber satiny and sleek. Here's the proof: Picture on the left is how my hair always came out when I straightened it by myself. Picture on the right is my hair after silkology. I straightened both times by myself with my non-professional flat iron and mediocre hair styling skills!!(L) Before silkology, (C& R) After Silkology,

 SKIN

1. Hot Water
   • Free! Everywhere!
   • Yes, you read that correctly. This is one of my favorite secrets. I read this in a self-help book written by a man. He said after years of working with models, it's an industry secret. Don't wash your face with anything but hot water. Seriously, it doesn't matter how much make-up I have on, this works. I will remove waterproof eye make-up with olive oil on a cotton ball, but that's it. I even wash the oil residue off with more hot water and a face cloth. I haven't used soap on my face since Feb 2013 and I've had no more pimples. Period. Amazeballs.
2. Cortisone Cream
   • $1-$4, drugstores, dollar stores
   • This can be bought at any drug store or dollar store for a few bucks. It works wonders on any possible zit or bump. It helps lock moisture in your skin and reduces swelling and redness for any pimples. Caution: don't use everyday or multiple times per day as your skin will get used to it and it will lose it's effectiveness. I use it 3xs per week at night after washing my face before bed.
3. Baby Oil
   • $1-$3, drugstores, dollar store
   • This is great for removing waterproof eye make-up or face stains. But this old school product is best for making your legs have celebrity status shine. I apply some down my calves right before I step out the door. It makes a total difference in pictures. Bonus use if you're prone to visible cellulite or stretch marks,etc. The light reflects away from scars and helps create flawless looking skin.

 MAKE-UP

1. ELF Brushes
   • $1-$3 Target, Big Lots
   • This line is made specifically to save money. I love it!
   • I use the powder brush to apply foundation. It creates a more even & buffed appearance in your foundation coverage, rather than a traditional paint-brush shaped foundation applicator.
   • The stipple brush is amazing for adding highlights to your cheeks and contour lines of the face. I swirl it in my gold shimmer dust, then swipe across my cheeks and Tzone. It captures the perfect wispy amounts.
2. Wet & Wild Matte Lipsticks
   • $1.99 at CVS, Walgreens, various stores
   • This line of lipsticks is potent and full of beautiful colors. The lipstick applies smoothly and richly. It lasts on your lips for hours (more than 4). I always get compliments on these shades. My favorite shades are "Bare It All", "Sugar Plum Fairy", "Purty Persimmon", "Wine Room", and "Mauve Outta Here"
3. Gold Shimmer Dust
   • $5-$10, various drugstores and make-up outlets
   • This adds highlights to your face, making you camera ready. It also gives you a healthy glow that makes people think you drink gallons of water!
   • I swipe it on the high angles of my cheeks and across my T-zone.
4. Careprost (Generic Latisse)
   • $30-$40, online
   • I saved the best for last. Latisse works! BUT it's almost $100 a pop. Boo! Luckily, there's a generic version called Careprost.
   • I coughed up the $100 for Latisse last winter as a bday present, and sure enough my lashes grew waaaaayyyyyyyyyy longer and fuller than any length they had been my entire life. But once I caught wind of Careprost, I hopped the PINP train and I'm totally satisfied and have maintained my Latisse length.
   • Be sure to order enough applicators. Try Amazon as they are only $3-$5.(L) before Careprost (Latisse); (R) After Careprost (Latisse)

Do you have any PINP beauty secrets? Have you tried any of these products and had great results? Share your pics and products with us, and if we like it, we'll share! Connect with us at Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter @ Thegatheredlady.

How to Take Your Makeup from Day to Night

By messybessyhairart from Flickr

We've all found ourselves with less time than we'd like to get ready for a fun night out. And while showing up fashionably late may be an option, it has its limits. Fortunately, if you don't have time to scrub your face clean and start from scratch, you don't have to. Save some time with these tips on how to glam up your day look fast.

1. Freshen up your skin. Blotting papers are your best friend. Use them to soak up excess oil in your T-zone and around your nose. If your eye shadow is creasing (time for a new primer!) you can wrap the paper around your index finger and smooth it over your crease to pick up the excess oil and clear out any clumped eye shadow. Blotting will remove some of your foundation, so spot cover any blemishes with a liquid foundation or a concealer that matches your skin tone. Don’t go for another full layer of foundation, unless you want to look like you applied it with a spatula.

By by its all about Lizzie... from Flickr2. Accentuate your eyes. The best way to glam up any look is with dramatic eye makeup. If you aren’t wearing eye shadow, start off with a primer. Otherwise, you can easily play up your existing look by deepening the colors you’re already wearing. Try wetting your brush to get a more dramatic color on your eyelid, and select a darker shade for your crease. Carefully fill in (and if necessary, lengthen) your eyebrows to create a finished look. Swipe on some liquid eyeliner and a fresh coat of mascara and don’t skip the eyelash curler.

3. Highlight your bone structure. This step is super easy. Refresh your blush, do a little contouring with your favorite bronzer, and sweep on some highlighter to make your face glow. Since you probably don’t rock anything besides blush during the day, you can act like you’re working from a completely fresh face.

4. Glam up your lips. A pop of color or a little shimmer will go a long way towards making you look ready to party. In fact, If you have time for nothing else, blot your nose, slap on your favorite shade of red and go.

5. Don’t forget the finishing powder. This is going to fight oil, extend the life of your newly refreshed makeup and generally make you look flawless. Brush lightly, grasshopper. The last thing you want is cake face.

By It's Holly on Flickr

Dating & Mating: How To Make Yourself More Attractive

So our friend Jackie shared a interesting video on the science of beauty. Yes, there's a science to it! Quite fascinating to ponder the math and science of your face, but how does that translate into what a regular woman can do to increase the recognition of her beauty? I've scoured lots of research and articles, and combined that info with my own personal findings.  Here are the easiest and most essential tips to help out! Share your thoughts on the video!

• Figure out your best haircut and hair colour for your face. Don't know? Ask your friends, ask some men, ask a professional. Too afraid to cut or change your hair? Try on wigs and take pictures, then share the pic collage with close friends and ask them to vote. This way you'll notice which styles draw the most attention.

• Get your skin clear. This is a sign of health. Buy a moisturizer for day (with spf 15 at least) and night and apply religiously. Hydrated skin is happy skin.
• Look well groomed. Being neat is more appealing than being trendy. Nobody is attracted to sloppy or disheveled attire.
• Enhance your eyes and lips. Make your lashes bold. I recommend a mascara with fibers for additional length like Loreal Million Lashes.  For your lips- try lipstick (not just a nude or pink tone). There is plenty of research that shows men are attracted to red lips!
• Get healthy. Again, the health part is important. Health is not only fitness and figure related, but it's mostly about good self-care and wellness. You know when you're on your health game and when you're not, so I won't preach. But I will say: water, fruits & veggies, plenty of sleep, get an outlet for stress (exercise, a hobby, a pet, a club, etc.)

Simple right? Now all you have to do is keep your personal style on point and you're a knockout. Try reading What to wear on a first date, and other Dating & Mating articles! Click on the tag "dating" for more articles!

Update on Wed, February 4, 2015 at 4:42PM by The Gathered Lady

In Our reboot of this fabulous blog we're reposting all the juicy articles you may need to re-read! Here's our first one!

Weekend Fashion Mash-up (May 11, 2013): The perfect smokey eye

Cheers to the weekend! It's Saturday and the perfect opportunity to rock some sexy weekend style. Check out the videos below for the sultry smokey eye. The first video is great for beginners and women with darker skin tones. The second video is a "dark clubbing smokey eye" and she uses a lot more products, which is better for ladies with advanced make-up skills. Watch both to master the technique.

Happy Mother's Day to all the gathered women who continue to give to their families and love their children! You deserve gifts! Daughters, did you forget your mother's day present? Shame on you! No worries, Macy's is having a 1 day sale TODAY both in store and online, so you have time! 

Here's a style inspiration that I would wear to rock the smokey eye!

 Have a hot outfit that will inspire others? Submit your 'fit to thegatheredlady@gmail.com and if we like it, we'll share it.

 Do you and your friends have style when you go out and about? Submit your fierce pictures to thegatheredlady@gmail.com and you may make our weekly Gathered Fashion Spread!

How to Rock a Trend: Emerald!

Happy May! This is my favorite month, and for good reason. Spring is in full swing, the weather is consistently great, and both my sister and I celebrate our birthdays. Another awesome thing about this month is its birthstone: the emerald. Its intense green color, which made this gemstone one of the most valuable in the world, has become very popular in clothes, makeup and accessories, especially this year. The world's leading authority on color, Pantone, declared emerald the "Color of the Year" for 2013, so you'll definitely want to work it into your spring/summer style. And while I'm definitely in favor of adding a few jewel-toned pieces to your wardrobe, the easiest (and cheapest!) way to add a pop of green to any outfit is with makeup. Below are some of my current favorites:

 

Nail Color

Both of these are Sephora brand nail lacquers: Green Generation is the shimmering color, while Picnic in the Park is the flat color. They are only four bucks a piece, and a great way to start experimenting, if you're nervous about wearing this color on your face. Any skin tone can pull off green nails, and the short, fat brush that comes with all Sephora nail lacquers makes it easy to do your mani yourself.

Eyeliner

Eyeliner is a good first purchase if you want to try an emerald eye color. You can wear it alone or with neutrals and golds for a natural, yet sexy look with a twist. Later, you can layer it with more dramatic looks and pair it with a green shadow for a really intense concentration of color. The pencil here is from Urban Decay, while the liquid liner is from Stila.

 

Eyeshadow

If you're feeling adventerous, an emerald shadow is a must (Goodness, does that rhyme?!). Makeup Forever has two of my favorite emerald eyeshadows right now. The first is a loose pigment, while the other is a more traditional eyeshadow. Both are highly pigmented, which is exactly what you want in an emerald eyeshadow. The trio, by Smashbox, is great because you get the green shadow (this one is called Serpent), plus two other versatile colors that you can--and should--wear both with and without the green.

 

All off these items are available online from Sephora, which did an entire emerald collection with Pantone featuring eye shadows, liners and brush collections.