How to: Cover up dark circles

I don't know about you guys but one of the biggest problems I have with my skin are these impossible dark circles! It's taken me so long to finally figure out what I can do and use to cover them up. I know there are a handful of you girls out there who have the same problem so I thought I would share some of my tips are trick with you, along with some products I've found to be really helpful! For under eye concealer I like to use something creamy since this area doesn't produce any oil. Be sure to use a shade lighter than your skin, you want to brighten up the area. I have a concealer for under my eyes and a different one for the rest of my face, the textures and shades are completely different. Sometimes when my dark circles are looking extra awful I'll use a salmon shade concealer (like Benefits Erase Paste) and then apply my skin toned concealer on top of that, the salmon colour cancels out any of the purple or blue tones. Application Tips

• Apply the concealer after you have completed your eye makeup because it can pick up any fallen makeup
• I use my finger tip or my Sigma F70 brush, warm up the product with your fingers or the back of your hand if using a brush so it blends well and place it in the centre of your under eye
• Start from the center to get complete coverage, use only small strokes, in a stippling motion move from the center towards the inner corner of the eye; then back to the center and out to the outer corner.
• I like to apply a small amount of translucent powder lightly over top to set the concealer

Products I use

Benefit Erase Paste

MAC Studio Finish concealer

Maybelline Dream Lumi (not pictured)
Maybelline Dark Circle Eraser

Hope this helps you with those annoying hard to cover dark circles!  Do you have any tips or good products to cover them up? Don't forget to enter my MAC & Ad space giveaway going on right now HERE! Follow @Beautybyttwo

Guest post: Colourful Owl Stamped Mani!

Hello!

My name is Karen and I run a small nail polish/ nail art blog called Nail Call. I am a mommy to 2 young boys, and I'm slightly addicted to nail polish, costume jewelry and coffee! When Tawny said she was looking for guest posters to help her out, I jumped on the chance! Even though I write a nail blog I love reading make up, baking, and parenting blogs. Thanks for letting me come visit you guys here at BeautyByT, I hope I can do Tawny some justice :)

By now I'm sure most of you have notice the owl trend taking off in the last year or 2. I am SooOO late to the party its not even funny. The other day my sister and I were shopping and talking about how much we LOVE owls, then we both (somewhat shamefully) admitted we owned nothing owl!

Today I have a colourful stamped mani to represent the owl love:

Why choose one colour?

To create the above look I used (thumb-pinkie): OPI Dutch 'Ya Just Love OPI? , Lise Watier Tangerine, Zoya Pippa, Essie Pretty Edgy, and OPI Pink Friday. Then I stamped using MASH Plate 37 (my favourite plate!!) and Konad Special White Stamping Polish. I stamped the branch (on the thumb) using the same plate and Sparitual Lithophonic. The eyes are loose glitter in orange, that I placed using a dotting tool.

THUMB!

I love how my thumb turned out, I wouldn't mind recreating this double stamped look again very soon. OPI Dutch Ya' Just Love OPI is one of my fave purples! and purple is my favourite colour... so you know... its up there! :)

If you guys are ever bored feel free to hop over to my blog and say hello!

Thank you Tawny, for letting me blog-sit for the day! :)

And thank YOU for reading my post today,


Karen
Nail Call

Dupe Alert! MAC vs. Maybelline

I'm so beyond excited to tell you guys about this one. Ever since I saw that this product came out in the US I've been waiting for the day it came to Canada so I could get my hands on one.

Maybelline color tattoo in "barely beige" is a dupe for the ever so popular and one of my all time favourites MAC paint pot in "bare study"

I've used this paint pot from MAC for years, under my eyeshadow to make the colour pop and even just on it's own. It's such a beautiful champagne that looks great on every skin tone. 
This color tattoo from Maybelline is basically the same shade, it's crazy. The Maybelline one actually lasts longer than the MAC paint pot which is an added plus! I've also find that the Maybelline color tattoo has much better color pay off, and for half the price you can't go wrong!
Have you tried any of the Maybelline Color Tattoos? What did you think? PS: Check out my MAC & Ad space giveaway going on right now! 

Follow @Beautybyttwo

Guest post: Fall Nail Polish

hi guys :) i blog over at the lily white english rose but today i have the pleasure of guest posting here on beauty by t. i love cupcakes, nail polish, candles and books, so these are the things i blog about as well as my life as an english girl living the american dream :)

today i wanted to share with you my favourite nail polish trends for fall. when it gets to this time of year my nails are decorated in three distinct styles; darks, glitters and neutrals.

neutrals is one of the easiest trends to wear and its so versatile. think baby pinks, nudes and light grey shades. soft metallic hues and shimmer add a little something special to the look. i love (l-r) essie ballet slippers, essie penny talk, opi its totally fort worth it, relvon nail lacquer cremé brûlee and essie miss fancy pants.

dark nails look amazing on any length nails and so its a fab style for everybody. the vampish colours are great for adding drama to an outfit but i also love a bit of dark green or blue thrown into the mix. with this look i always make sure i have a super shiny top coat to make the nails really pop and the colour stand out. here are my favourites; (l-r) maybelline colour show nail lacquer in sapphire siren, essie devil's advocate, essie smokin'hot, essie recessonista and opi honk if you love opi.

who doesn't love a good sparkly glittery nail polish :) as soon as i wear glitter no matter what time of year it is i automatically think about christmas and the up coming holiday season. but my favourite thing about glitter nails is that chips can be covered up and are hardly noticed :) for this look i love maybelline colour show in twilight rays, maybelline colour show in metal icon, opi  meet me on the star ferry and inful colours white diamond.

what are your favourite nail trends?

A big thanks to Jess for writing this awesome post! PS:If you haven't already, enter my giveaway going on right now!

Review: Macadamia Deep Repair Masque

Hey Everyone!

So lately my hair has been the most damaged it has ever been. Right after dying it from blonde to dark brown it just looked so fried, the fact that I apply so much heat to it probably doesn't help! So I went on a serious hunt for a really good deep conditioner I tried ones from brands like aussie, joico, and matrix. This one from Macadamia seemed to be the one that I noticed the biggest difference from.
 

It has a very think consistency and it feels like butter when you rub it into your hair. They recommend you leave it on for 7 minutes and then rinse and repeat this 2-3 time a week (I use it twice a week). After blow drying my hair it felt so soft and healthy, it was crazy. My split ends weren't as noticeable and it left such a nice shine without weighing down my hair.

On top of all that it smells amazing and comes a fairly big size tub that will last you a good few months. If you're interested in another great Macadamia product here is a review on their healing hair oil which I love!
If you haven't already, enter my giveaway going on right now! Follow @Beautybyttwo

A Thank You Giveaway(International!)!

Hi Everyone! I've been swamped with midterms over the past 2 weeks and have had to put my blog on hold but after this week I will be back at it with some great posts that I'm super excited to share with you (as well as a few guests posts from some amazing bloggers!).  Anyway as a little thank you for always taking the time to read my posts, write such lovely comments and have just in general made this whole blogging experience so great for me I want to do a little giveaway!  The prizes will include one MAC lipstick in the shade of your choice & 3 months of large ad space  Rules: Please do not lie on the rafflecopter, I will verify ALL entries. The giveaway will run until November 8th, 2012  This giveaway is international  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Looking for some guest posters!

I'm now accepting guest posts on the blog! I love the idea of featuring some really great bloggers and sharing some of their tips,reviews, thoughts etc. I'm also open to doing guest posts on your blog if you'd like as well!     Any beauty and fashion related posts are welcome! outfit posts,reviews, tutorials, etc!   If you're interested send me a email at beautybyt2@gmail.com

Products I've used up #2

Hi Girls! I've been trying really hard to finish up a lot of the products I have before purchasing new ones. I have WAY to much! I get so happy every time I finish one because it's one less thing I have stuck in my bathroom! So here is my progress so far...

Skintimate Cream shave

Love this shaving lotion, its so moisturizing and I prefer it so much more to the normal foam shaving gel. 

Would I repurchase this? Yes! Already have!

John Freda Go Blonde purple shampoo

This product was a life saver when my hair was blonde, it kept my hair from getting to bronze and orangey. If you have blonde hair I would definitely recommend this!

Would I repurchase this? If I ever go blonde again most definitely! 

Bath and Body works "Frosted Cupcake" Candle

Love this candle! It really does smell like you just baked a yummy batch of cupcakes!

Would I repurchase this? 100% yes! I've already purchased the 3-wick size!

Marrakesh Hair Oil

This has been a staple in my hair care routine for years! Ever since my hair dresser put it in my hair I was hooked. It makes your hair feel so soft and gets ride of any fly aways for frizziness, plus it smells amazing!It also never makes your hair feel weighed down. My mom and sister love this stuff as well!

Would I repurchase this? I'm currently trying out a different hair oil but I think I might come back to this one because it's just so amazing!

Andrea Eye makeup correctors

This are super handy to have when you're doing your makeup. Its pretty much a pointed Q-tip soaked in makeup remover. Really great when your mess up on your liner or have some fallout under your eye. 

Would I repurchase this? Probably not. Not because it isn't a good product but just 

because I find it's a lot cheaper to just take your own Q-tips and makeup remover.

Benefit Pore-fessional Primer

I fell in love with this product right away. It makes such a good base for your makeup and fills any fine lines and pores as well as helping with any oil. 

Would I repurchase? I would love to but I just can't justify the price right now. I find the  L'Oreal secret magic perfecting primer is a lot cheaper and works just as well with filling in pores as this one does.

Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Corrector

I've seriously talked about this product way to much! But I can't help it because I really think its that great! It's really helped me cover up my awful dark circles.

Would I repurchase? yes yes and yes! Already have!

Simple Makeup remover wipes

Another product I've talked about a whole bunch. I've tried so many different kinds of wipes and nothing seems to compare. They're not oily, good with sensitive eyes and remove makeup so well.

Would I repurchase? Most definitely! Right after I'm done the say yes to cucumber ones.

Maybelline Falsies Mascara

I really enjoyed this mascara but not as much as I though I would. I found I only started to like it once it began to dry out a bit.

Would I repurchase? Probably not, I have so many other mascaras I like better.

Make up Forever Smokey Lash

I really loved this mascara...until it began to dry out and get clumpy so fast! I was totally ready to run out and purchase this because of how amazing it makes your lashes look! Long, volumized and full! Has anyone else had this problem with this mascara? Maybe it was just my sample?

Would I repurchase? Undecided 

ps: If you haven't added your link to the Beauty Bloggers Club then head over here and check it out! So many great blogs!

September Glossybox Canada!

I'm so SO excited to share this months Glossybox with you guys. It's for sure one of the best boxes I've ever received from a beauty box service! There were so many things that caught my eye when I first opened the box...A NYX palette was the product that got me the most excited. So lets just get right into it...

Dove Cleartone- 45g $3.99 This claims to reduce any underarm discolouration caused by dry skin. This is a different product, I've never really had a problem with dry skin but I'm interested to see if i'll notice a difference. Either way this is a great travel size product to keep in your purse!
Wella Mirror Polish Shine Serum- 40ml $16.99(FULL SIZE!) Polish and smoothen any style with a high-gloss finish. I'm a huge fan of Wella products and I was actually in the need of a shine serum so this is perfect! I've tried it a few times and I really like it. You have to use it very sparingly because it does easily weigh down your hair but if your careful it's a great product!
B.Kamins Lip Balm(Canadian Brand!)- 15g $21.00 A soothing anti-aging lip balm with Bio-Maple. 
B.Kamins Maple Body Lotion(Canadian Brand!)- 180ml $41.00 A luxurious anti-aging lotion infused with honey, Vitamins A&E and Bio-Maple.
NYX: The Crimson Amulet Collection. Limited Edition- $25.00 (FULL SIZE!) Inspired by the movie Dark Shadows. Eyeshadows, eye liner, blush, highlighter, eye primer, and lip gloss

If you don't know what Glossybox is, It's a monthly subscription service where you can receive 5 products (deluxe samples and some full size) right to your doorstep for $15 a month. It's a really great brand and it is by far the best beauty box service i've tried so far!
Hope you all enjoyed your weekend and if you're Canadian like me then I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Don't forget to add your link to the Beauty Bloggers Club, It's a great place to find some really great blogs!
Intstagram: beautybyt2 Twitter: beautybyttwo

Beauty Bloggers Club Blog Hop!

Do you get excited when you see the newest makeup collections, do you run to the nearest store when you see a haul video or when you find a great new product do you run out and tell your friends ASAP? This is the hop for you!

<a border="0"href="http://beautybyt2.blogspot.ca" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o623/DulcetSparkle/Beautybloggersclubbutton.jpg" border="0" alt="Beautybloggersclubbutton" /></a>

Today I'm so excited to let you all know about a blog hop that myself, Sophie, Ashlee, Steph and Laura have created called the Beauty Bloggers Club Blog Hop!

This is an awesome chance to gain new followers and find great new blogs! We are trying to create a beauty and fashion blog directory where someone looking for a new blog to follow can look through this blog hop and discover brilliant new blogs! Please add your link and tweet all about it with #beautybloggersclub.

For this blog hop please:

♥ Follow your host and co-hosts

(let me know you're following in the comments and I'll check out your blog!)

♥ Check out other blogs on the hop and let them know where you found them!

♥ Grab our button so your friends can link up too!

♥ Let us know you linked up by tweeting and adding the hashtag #beautybloggersclub.

TAG: This or That?

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend! I was tagged to do this by Arielle over at Beauty by Arielle. If you haven't checked out her blog yet you definitely should! It's full of great post on beauty and fashion!    This or That?  

Blush or Bronzer?

Blush for sure! I use it every single day, I think it just pulls together any look

Lipgloss or Lipstick?

Lipstick! I rarely wear lipgloss, I absolutely hate the feeling of it on my lips...I know...I'm weird

Chapstick or Lip Butter?

This is a tough one! I love my Revlon lip butters but I think if it came down to it I would have to say Chapstick. I love a good minty chapstick like the EOS mint lip balm

Matte or Shimmer Eye Shadow? 
I would have to say shimmer because that's what I wear more of (my naked palette is always my go to) but lately I've been leaning more toward matte, although I don't have very many!

Gel, Liquid, Cream, or Pencil Eyeliner? 

Gel, I love my Maybelline Lasting Studio gel liner!

Foundation or Concealer? 
Another tough one! I could live without concealer if my dark circle weren't so bad! But even so I would have to go with foundation! If you take a bit of your foundation and let it dry out for a bit it can be used as a concealer!

Liquid or Powder Foundation? 
I used to be all about the mineral powder but ever since trying my Chanel Vita Aqua I've been totally switched over! Liquid foundation it is!

Neutral or Statement Eyes?

Neutral all the way

Pressed or Loose Shadows? 
Pressed! I don't have the patience for loose shadows 

Waterproof or Non Water proof? 

Non waterproof without a doubt! 

Brushes, Sponges or Fingers?

Brushes! I love my Sigma brushes 

 
Powder, Cream, or Liquid Highlighter?

Powder highlighter is my favorite but I also really love my Benefit Watt's up cream highlighter

Thanks again to Arielle! This was such a fun TAG to do!  I tag all of you!