It has been quite a busy week for me! Work has really gotten crazy and as I mentioned earlier this month, since posting videos and blog posts are just a hobby for me, work comes first. I will admit that I really missed this though! I'm very glad to be back at it.
In addition to crazy work, this week I actually finished up the Spring YouTube Creator Academy Boot Camp. The Boot Camp was a two week online course discussing many ways to improve your YouTube videos. Some of the topics included creating strong thumbnails, branding your channel, creating playlists and end screens. It was really interesting. If you're a YouTube content creator, I highly recommend signing up the next time they offer it.
Now, on to the important stuff, the makeup! For Makeup MAYhem Day 10, I wanted to share some tips, tricks, and techniques for creating a natural look with your lip liner. These tips will help you avoid harsh lines from your lip liner.
In the video below, I give 3 different, quick, easy methods to creating natural looks with your eye liner. If you have any tips I didn't mention in the video, leave a comment below. I would love to hear more techniques. For me, lip liner is a great tool because it keeps my lipstick or lip gloss in place. Some people are nervous about using lip liner though, because they have seen someone put it on in a bold, and unflattering way. Never fear, this video will help you make your lip liner look very natural.
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Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Spring 2014 Nail Polish Trends + Makeup MAYhem Day 9!
For Makeup MAYhem Day 9, I decided to share some Spring 2014 Nail Polish Trends. June 21st is the first day of summer so we still have plenty of time to break out spring nail polishes.
I tried to use a variety of nail polish brands during this video so you weren't getting the same brands over and over. This was actually pretty hard because I started to notice that I lean towards certain brands for different purposes. For example, I have lots of pastels and bright colors form Essie. Those are typically colors popular in spring.
You'll notice that a few of the trends mentioned are common spring trends and others are specific to spring 2014. While it's good to have a general idea of what polishes are trendy this season, I want to stress one point. Don't feel that you have to rigidly stick to any rules or trends. If you want to wear a dark burgundy in April, go with it! Last week, I wore brown nail polish with a black nail art design on top because I thought of a nail art design an couldn't wait to try it!
Sheer Nails or Sand Color
Fuchsia or Pink
Apricot or Melon
Blue (Light and Bright)
Radiant Orchid (2014 Pantone Color)
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Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
I tried to use a variety of nail polish brands during this video so you weren't getting the same brands over and over. This was actually pretty hard because I started to notice that I lean towards certain brands for different purposes. For example, I have lots of pastels and bright colors form Essie. Those are typically colors popular in spring.
You'll notice that a few of the trends mentioned are common spring trends and others are specific to spring 2014. While it's good to have a general idea of what polishes are trendy this season, I want to stress one point. Don't feel that you have to rigidly stick to any rules or trends. If you want to wear a dark burgundy in April, go with it! Last week, I wore brown nail polish with a black nail art design on top because I thought of a nail art design an couldn't wait to try it!
Sheer Nails or Sand Color
Fuchsia or Pink
Apricot or Melon
Blue (Light and Bright)
Radiant Orchid (2014 Pantone Color)
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Check out my Instagram
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Mascara Hacks + Makeup MAYhem Day 8!
For Makeup MAYhem Day 8 I decided to bring you some more hacks. For Makeup MAYhem Day 4, I posted a Fashion Hacks Video. However, today I'm bringing you some Mascara Hacks. These tips and tricks will give you some other options and ideas for your mascara. Hacks have become exceptionally popular on social networking sites like Pinterest and Facebook.
The first hack I've been telling people about for years! It's a special hack about reviving a dried out mascara.
Some of these hacks are newer to me, like hack numbers 3 and 4. Other hacks I've read in magazines and are just really helpful beauty tips in general, like hacks number 7 and 8.
Hopefully, you'll find these Mascara Hacks helpful! If you know any mascara hacks not mentioned in this video, please leave a comment below.
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Here’s the full list of hacks in case you're trying to remember one after the video but don't have time to watch the entire video again:
1. Revive mascara with eye drops or water.
2. Use a business card or notecard to keep mascara off your lids.
3. Dip eyeliner brush into mascara for liquid liner in a pinch!
4. Put baby powder on a q-tip and apply between coats of mascara to add volume.
5. Use clear mascara as brow gel.
6. Clean your used up mascara wands and turn them into cheap brow brushes or eyelash declumpers.
7. To apply mascara, put mascara wand at base of lashes, slowly close eyes and wiggle wand back and forth.
8. Pumping mascara wands in the bottle creates clumps and dries out the mascara. Twisting the wand distributes the product.
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
The first hack I've been telling people about for years! It's a special hack about reviving a dried out mascara.
Some of these hacks are newer to me, like hack numbers 3 and 4. Other hacks I've read in magazines and are just really helpful beauty tips in general, like hacks number 7 and 8.
Hopefully, you'll find these Mascara Hacks helpful! If you know any mascara hacks not mentioned in this video, please leave a comment below.
Follow me on Twitter
Check out my Instagram
Here’s the full list of hacks in case you're trying to remember one after the video but don't have time to watch the entire video again:
1. Revive mascara with eye drops or water.
2. Use a business card or notecard to keep mascara off your lids.
3. Dip eyeliner brush into mascara for liquid liner in a pinch!
4. Put baby powder on a q-tip and apply between coats of mascara to add volume.
5. Use clear mascara as brow gel.
6. Clean your used up mascara wands and turn them into cheap brow brushes or eyelash declumpers.
7. To apply mascara, put mascara wand at base of lashes, slowly close eyes and wiggle wand back and forth.
8. Pumping mascara wands in the bottle creates clumps and dries out the mascara. Twisting the wand distributes the product.
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Makeup & Beauty Haul + Makeup MAYhem Day 7!
It’s Makeup MAYhem Day 7! I’m excited today to share with you a Makeup & Beauty Haul. I purchased these items over the last month or so and thought it would be fun to film a haul video today. I love a good sale and several of the stores above drew me in with sales and coupons!
For this haul, I did a little drugstore shopping at CVS and purchased some nail polish and a dry shampoo. I featured the dry shampoo in a previous Makeup MAYhem video when I reviewed 5 different dry shampoo brands. The video was day 5 of Makeup Mayhem on my YouTube channel.
I did some of my shopping when I went "home" recently to visit family. The Bed, Bath, and Beyond where my family lives has a drugstore makeup section, oddly enough. So, I did some shopping there too.
In the airport, I was lucky enough to have time to look around The Body Shop while I waiting for my flight. We don't have a Body Shop where I live so I was excited to smell all of the scents. I haven't been in a Body Shop in years!
I also made some purchases in ULTA and Sephora. So, all in all, it was a good shopping month for me! In fact, I also did some clothing, fitness, and accessory shopping. I'm going to put those in another haul later this month. After all of this shopping, my wallet will be taking a nice little break!
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Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
For this haul, I did a little drugstore shopping at CVS and purchased some nail polish and a dry shampoo. I featured the dry shampoo in a previous Makeup MAYhem video when I reviewed 5 different dry shampoo brands. The video was day 5 of Makeup Mayhem on my YouTube channel.
I did some of my shopping when I went "home" recently to visit family. The Bed, Bath, and Beyond where my family lives has a drugstore makeup section, oddly enough. So, I did some shopping there too.
In the airport, I was lucky enough to have time to look around The Body Shop while I waiting for my flight. We don't have a Body Shop where I live so I was excited to smell all of the scents. I haven't been in a Body Shop in years!
I also made some purchases in ULTA and Sephora. So, all in all, it was a good shopping month for me! In fact, I also did some clothing, fitness, and accessory shopping. I'm going to put those in another haul later this month. After all of this shopping, my wallet will be taking a nice little break!
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Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
What's In My Purse + Makeup MAYhem Day 6!
First, Happy Mother's Day everyone! I hope everyone is having a great day spending time with family or loved ones. I was having such a great day with my family that I almost forgot to publish today's Makeup MAYhem blog post!
For Makeup MAYhem Day 6, I thought it would be fun to film a What's in My Purse / What's in My Bag video. It's always fun to see another person's purse essentials. So, here's what I carry with me on a daily basis. Let me know in the comments what your purse essentials are.
I absolutely love the purse I'm showing in today's video. This is one of those AMAZING finds/deals you sometimes come across in life. It's an estate sale find so I don't know any of the product information, such as the name of the bag. It was brand new, never been used and it was extremely discounted.
You'll start to see a trend in this video. I love a good deal! The Coach wallet I show in the video I purchased at an outlet mall. The mall was either closing or many of the stores in the mall were closing. So, the stores that were still open had LOTS of great deals. Luckily, Coach was one of those stores and I actually purchased two wallets there. I mainly carry this smaller wallet with me. The other wallet is much larger and has reward cards to stores I don't use as often.
This video was super fun to film and edit. If you film a What's In My Purse video, let me know on Twitter!
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Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
For Makeup MAYhem Day 6, I thought it would be fun to film a What's in My Purse / What's in My Bag video. It's always fun to see another person's purse essentials. So, here's what I carry with me on a daily basis. Let me know in the comments what your purse essentials are.
I absolutely love the purse I'm showing in today's video. This is one of those AMAZING finds/deals you sometimes come across in life. It's an estate sale find so I don't know any of the product information, such as the name of the bag. It was brand new, never been used and it was extremely discounted.
You'll start to see a trend in this video. I love a good deal! The Coach wallet I show in the video I purchased at an outlet mall. The mall was either closing or many of the stores in the mall were closing. So, the stores that were still open had LOTS of great deals. Luckily, Coach was one of those stores and I actually purchased two wallets there. I mainly carry this smaller wallet with me. The other wallet is much larger and has reward cards to stores I don't use as often.
This video was super fun to film and edit. If you film a What's In My Purse video, let me know on Twitter!
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Check out my Instagram
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
Friday, May 9, 2014
Dry Shampoo Review/Comparison + Makeup MAYhem Day 5!
Welcome to Makeup MAYhem Day 5! I've been trying to take better care of my hair lately and one way to keep my hair from drying out is going longer between washes. That means, more dry shampoo! I've tried out many and wanted to compare and review some of them for you.
In today's video I discuss 5 different dry shampoo brands and talk about their benefits and drawbacks. I will also talk about my favorite dry shampoo so far. I tried to get a variety, drug store and high end. 4 of the 5 are spray dry shampoos in aerosol cans but one of them is a powder dry shampoo. Honestly, on the days I use dry shampoo, I'm generally running out of the house and need a quick option I can just spray into my hair. So, I'm not a huge fan of powder dry shampoos but the one I mention is a great option.
In the video, I review 3 of the Batiste Dry Shampoos. I talk about the Rich & Elegant Paisley, Fruity & Cheeky Cherry, and A Hint of Color Vibrant & Red. You can generally find an assortment of Batiste Dry Shampoo scents at ULTA. I mention of few other scents/types in the video but after filming, I remembered even more varieties I've seen in ULTA.
The powder dry shampoo I discuss is the Jonathan Green Routine Dry Shampoo. This product is on the pricey side but it has a easy to use brush applicator and blends into the hair well. I originally found this in ULTA too but when looking at their website to find the pricing for this product I noticed it wasn't available. ULTA may still carry it in the store but it you can't find it there, you can find it easily online.
A few months ago, I tried the Suave Dry Shampoo Spray after watching a YouTube video rave about the product. Suave can be found at CVS and it is very affordable. However, I talk about some of the drawbacks in the video.
You can also find the Toni & Guy Cleanse Dry Shampoo at CVS but it is much pricier than the Suave Dry Shampoo. However, I can see why the product costs more. Sometimes, you get what you pay for and I'll probably repurchase this product because it works extremely well and I love the scent!
The TRESemme Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo is one of those products that you want to love because it's easy to find, it manages oiliness in the hair well, and it relatively affordable. If I wasn't so picky about scents, I would probably repurchase this product. But it just isn't for me.
Check out the full review/comparison of these products in the video below. Also, let me know what you favorite or least favorite dry shampoos are in the comments.
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Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
In today's video I discuss 5 different dry shampoo brands and talk about their benefits and drawbacks. I will also talk about my favorite dry shampoo so far. I tried to get a variety, drug store and high end. 4 of the 5 are spray dry shampoos in aerosol cans but one of them is a powder dry shampoo. Honestly, on the days I use dry shampoo, I'm generally running out of the house and need a quick option I can just spray into my hair. So, I'm not a huge fan of powder dry shampoos but the one I mention is a great option.
In the video, I review 3 of the Batiste Dry Shampoos. I talk about the Rich & Elegant Paisley, Fruity & Cheeky Cherry, and A Hint of Color Vibrant & Red. You can generally find an assortment of Batiste Dry Shampoo scents at ULTA. I mention of few other scents/types in the video but after filming, I remembered even more varieties I've seen in ULTA.
The powder dry shampoo I discuss is the Jonathan Green Routine Dry Shampoo. This product is on the pricey side but it has a easy to use brush applicator and blends into the hair well. I originally found this in ULTA too but when looking at their website to find the pricing for this product I noticed it wasn't available. ULTA may still carry it in the store but it you can't find it there, you can find it easily online.
A few months ago, I tried the Suave Dry Shampoo Spray after watching a YouTube video rave about the product. Suave can be found at CVS and it is very affordable. However, I talk about some of the drawbacks in the video.
You can also find the Toni & Guy Cleanse Dry Shampoo at CVS but it is much pricier than the Suave Dry Shampoo. However, I can see why the product costs more. Sometimes, you get what you pay for and I'll probably repurchase this product because it works extremely well and I love the scent!
The TRESemme Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo is one of those products that you want to love because it's easy to find, it manages oiliness in the hair well, and it relatively affordable. If I wasn't so picky about scents, I would probably repurchase this product. But it just isn't for me.
Check out the full review/comparison of these products in the video below. Also, let me know what you favorite or least favorite dry shampoos are in the comments.
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Check out my Instagram
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Fashion Hacks + Makeup MAYhem Day 4!
It’s Makeup MAYhem Day 4 and I’m excited to bring you some fashion tips and tricks, aka, fashion hacks! Hacks are really popular on Pinterest and BuzzFeed so I thought I would compile some beauty hacks. Today’s video is focused on fashion hacks but I collected and remembered so many hacks that I’m going to post another hack video sometime next week.
Most of these hacks I've been doing for years but a few are new to me in the last few months. If you have any fashion hacks I don't mention in the video, leave a comment below or send it to me on twitter!
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Here’s the full list of hacks in case you're trying to remember one after the video but don't have time to watch the entire video again:
1. Use a flat iron to iron your collar or small wrinkles in clothing.
2. Paint clear nail polish on inside of cheap rings so they don’t leave a green ring.
3. Put necklaces through straws while traveling so they don’t tangle.
4. Rub dryer sheets on deodorant marks to remove them from clothing.
5. Rub clothing together to remove powder marks.
6. Turn shirts inside out (or right side out) in one motion.
7. Stop runs in pantyhose or tights with clear nail polish.
8. Stretch out tight shoes by wearing extra thick socks. (Online tip says to blow-dry shoes after putting on the thick socks.)
9. Put drawstring back in clothing by attaching safety pin or straw.
10. Put hangers in your closet the wrong way to see which clothes you never wear.
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
Most of these hacks I've been doing for years but a few are new to me in the last few months. If you have any fashion hacks I don't mention in the video, leave a comment below or send it to me on twitter!
Follow me on Twitter
Check out my Instagram
Here’s the full list of hacks in case you're trying to remember one after the video but don't have time to watch the entire video again:
1. Use a flat iron to iron your collar or small wrinkles in clothing.
2. Paint clear nail polish on inside of cheap rings so they don’t leave a green ring.
3. Put necklaces through straws while traveling so they don’t tangle.
4. Rub dryer sheets on deodorant marks to remove them from clothing.
5. Rub clothing together to remove powder marks.
6. Turn shirts inside out (or right side out) in one motion.
7. Stop runs in pantyhose or tights with clear nail polish.
8. Stretch out tight shoes by wearing extra thick socks. (Online tip says to blow-dry shoes after putting on the thick socks.)
9. Put drawstring back in clothing by attaching safety pin or straw.
10. Put hangers in your closet the wrong way to see which clothes you never wear.
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Nail Stamping Tutorial + Makeup MAYhem Day 3!
It’s Day 3 of Makeup MAYhem! Today I wanted to share with you one of my nail art secrets, nail stamping! If you don’t have the patience or steady hand to draw intricate nail designs, a great alternative is nail stamping. You can create amazing designs using this easy process.
After filming this tutorial, I have a new-found appreciation for the amazing women who film nail tutorials on a regular basis. It’s really hard to set up the lighting, get the camera at the right angle, and twist your hands so that you don’t block the shot but still create a great design. Kudos to you, nail tutorial creators! You always make it look so easy!
Luckily, nail stamping IS easy (even if it's hard to film). It takes a little initial practice just to get used to it but after that, you'll be a pro! I highly recommend using a full nail image if you're a beginner. That way, if you place the stamp slightly off, it will still look like a great design. If you use a smaller stamp that does not cover the whole nail, you have to be much more careful about where you place the stamp.
Have you ever tried nail stamping? Did you have success? If you have any nail stamping photos, let me know on Twitter or Instagram!
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After filming this tutorial, I have a new-found appreciation for the amazing women who film nail tutorials on a regular basis. It’s really hard to set up the lighting, get the camera at the right angle, and twist your hands so that you don’t block the shot but still create a great design. Kudos to you, nail tutorial creators! You always make it look so easy!
Luckily, nail stamping IS easy (even if it's hard to film). It takes a little initial practice just to get used to it but after that, you'll be a pro! I highly recommend using a full nail image if you're a beginner. That way, if you place the stamp slightly off, it will still look like a great design. If you use a smaller stamp that does not cover the whole nail, you have to be much more careful about where you place the stamp.
Have you ever tried nail stamping? Did you have success? If you have any nail stamping photos, let me know on Twitter or Instagram!
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Check out my Instagram
Saturday, May 3, 2014
What's In My Yoga Bag + Makeup MAYhem Day 2!
It's Makeup MAYhem Day 2 and it has been a crazy day for me! I had some unexpected yard work today due to one of my wonderfully destructive doggies. So, I'm a bit behind schedule but I'm posting today's video before I go to bed!
I've been doing more yoga lately because I currently have a stress fracture in my shin. At the beginning of the year, I ramped up my running and started training for a half marathon. I ended up running on shin splints because I wasn't really sure what they were. Always take injury seriously! If I had taken some time off, I probably wouldn't have ended up with a stress fracture.
My physical therapist has banned me from running and other exercise that's high impact on the legs. So, I get to focus more on yoga, cycling, swimming, stretching, etc.
More yoga means more use of my yoga bag. So, I bring to you today a What's In My Yoga Bag video. What do you bring with you to yoga? Leave a comment below!
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I've been doing more yoga lately because I currently have a stress fracture in my shin. At the beginning of the year, I ramped up my running and started training for a half marathon. I ended up running on shin splints because I wasn't really sure what they were. Always take injury seriously! If I had taken some time off, I probably wouldn't have ended up with a stress fracture.
My physical therapist has banned me from running and other exercise that's high impact on the legs. So, I get to focus more on yoga, cycling, swimming, stretching, etc.
More yoga means more use of my yoga bag. So, I bring to you today a What's In My Yoga Bag video. What do you bring with you to yoga? Leave a comment below!
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Check out my Instagram
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Travel Tips Video + Makeup MAYhem!
Happy May Day Everyone!
I absolutely LOVE the month of May! I generally have bad luck in April (and this year was no different) but everything always seems to get better for me in May. It helps that my birthday is in May but it's more than that. I loved making May Day arts and crafts in school as a kid. I love when all of the flowers start to bloom. I love that the weather starts to warm up. I love how the days get longer and have more sunshine. It's just a great month!
Over the past few years, I have watched YouTubers like, Elle Fowler and MissGlamorazzi, make videos as part of a series called Makeup MAYhem. Basically, the idea is to post a video every odd day during the month of May. It's fun to watch as a viewer but very time consuming as a content creator.
I am excited to announce that I will be participating in Makeup MAYhem this year as more than just a viewer. I will attempt to make a video every odd day in May, which means I'll be posting 16 videos this month!
Now...let's talk briefly about some realistic expectations of me participating in Makeup MAYhem. I am newer to the YouTube community and the blogging community. I have not taken on a commitment of posting this many videos yet. I also have a full time job, which slows down a little during the month of May but let's be honest, I'm still working everyday.
My point is, please, please, please be kind! I will do my best to post as quickly as possible and keep a regular schedule. However, if something happens and I post a video late, please be patient and understanding.
That being said, I'm so excited about Makeup MAYhem! My first video of the month discusses travel tips focusing specifically on ways to limit your liquids while traveling. Beauty junkies always have trouble fitting products into the carry on airline restrictions for liquids, gels, and aerosols. I used to travel a lot for a previous job I had and I have come up with my top 5 tips for limiting liquids while traveling.
I hope you like this video and Happy Makeup MAYhem!
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I absolutely LOVE the month of May! I generally have bad luck in April (and this year was no different) but everything always seems to get better for me in May. It helps that my birthday is in May but it's more than that. I loved making May Day arts and crafts in school as a kid. I love when all of the flowers start to bloom. I love that the weather starts to warm up. I love how the days get longer and have more sunshine. It's just a great month!
Over the past few years, I have watched YouTubers like, Elle Fowler and MissGlamorazzi, make videos as part of a series called Makeup MAYhem. Basically, the idea is to post a video every odd day during the month of May. It's fun to watch as a viewer but very time consuming as a content creator.
I am excited to announce that I will be participating in Makeup MAYhem this year as more than just a viewer. I will attempt to make a video every odd day in May, which means I'll be posting 16 videos this month!
Now...let's talk briefly about some realistic expectations of me participating in Makeup MAYhem. I am newer to the YouTube community and the blogging community. I have not taken on a commitment of posting this many videos yet. I also have a full time job, which slows down a little during the month of May but let's be honest, I'm still working everyday.
My point is, please, please, please be kind! I will do my best to post as quickly as possible and keep a regular schedule. However, if something happens and I post a video late, please be patient and understanding.
That being said, I'm so excited about Makeup MAYhem! My first video of the month discusses travel tips focusing specifically on ways to limit your liquids while traveling. Beauty junkies always have trouble fitting products into the carry on airline restrictions for liquids, gels, and aerosols. I used to travel a lot for a previous job I had and I have come up with my top 5 tips for limiting liquids while traveling.
I hope you like this video and Happy Makeup MAYhem!
Follow me on Twitter
Check out my Instagram