Deep Topics #1: Noticing.

Hello everyone! I am sorry for having been off the radar for the past two months, and a lot has happened! But today, I don't want to get into great detail about those things because I'd like to discuss something else. I feel that by doing this blog, I not only want to better myself, but I want to share my thoughts with others in order to make them think! So without further ado, I will be talking today about my view on noticing little things. I'll try to do entries like this as often as you'd like, and I would love it if you could give me your feedback. I wanna know if you agree/disagree, and please suggest any topic that you would like me to share my opinion on. I am open to talk about anything, and thank you so much for listening to me!


Please listen to this song before you read this, and just listen to it. Try to think about the lyrics of what he is saying without reading the lyrics. This is just a way to be vulnerable to something without knowing first!

"Simple As This" By Jake Bugg: (from TFIOS!!) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXnIMKceHkk

~NOTICING~

June 19, 2014. 

It seems like people just don't notice the little things! The past few days I have not done much in terms of activity, but be by myself and think about things alone at home. I find myself searching for someone who will truly listen to me, not just hear my words and understand the meaning but the emotion behind them. Like if I said, "The stars are nice tonight," someone might say, "Yes, they're pretty." But in my head I'm thinking, "Wow!! Look how great it is. There are millions of them in the sky, but people look at them as a whole." We don't stop to appreciate the small things in life. For example, the sparkle in a child's eyes when he sees a new ball to play with... A person letting someone come into the lane while driving... Even a moment of light hidden by the dark. I notice these things, but even I sometimes forget just as we all do.

These are the things I've been thinking about! All I'm saying is take some time to truly think about things, and I promise you will learn and grow more than you will ever know. I know I am still learning, but I think admission of this is simply a good step in the right direction!

Sometimes all it takes is a simple question to get your mind moving. Whether or not you decide to share your ideas, don't forget that your opinion is important. Maybe try talking with your family about these questions at the dinner table, write them down in a notepad, or you can even talk to me! Here you go lovelies. You are beautiful beyond belief!

1. What do you notice or think about when you are gazing out your car window?

2. Do you fully listen to somebody when they are talking to you?

3. What are some small details that you pick up on that others might not?

4. Do you admit to seeing things as a whole or do you realize the beauty of the individual parts?

Don't think too much about these questions; Just say the first thing that comes to your mind! It is really important that the world starts to notice the little things because we might lose ourselves without it. 

Be open.

♡Gina Stephenson

Listen to the song again! Get another perspective on it. I'm sure you will pick up on things you did not notice the first time!!

Sunny Spring Break Look!

With spring break at its start, I thought it would be the perfect time to create a look that fit the feel of warm days and sunshine! It's a fairly easy look, and it is great for hanging out with friends, going shopping, or for vacation.. Let's get started (:

1. First off, you are going to apply a layer of your favorite liquid foundation & blend it in. To do this nicely, you can use a Flat Top Kabuki brush or a Beauty Blender. Start by placing a small nickel sized amount of foundation on your hand, and place little dabs over the areas of your face that you want to perfect. If using a brush, blend with small circles, and if using a Beauty Blender, lightly dab the foundation in! (L'Oreal True Match Lumi)

2. Using a fluffy blush brush, gently swipe a very light amount of coral blush to the apples of your cheeks, along your cheekbones, all the way up to your temple. This makes the color look more natural on your face! (MAC "Peaches"). Next, brush on a bit of cheek highlighter to brighten the look. (Too Faced Candlelight Glow).

 3. Eyeshadow

Pat a shimmery golden yellow all over your eyelid, but stop at the crease

Blend in a coral orange color a little over the yellow and into the crease, just under the brow bone

Finally, apply a slightly darker color, such as "Nooner" from the U.D. Naked Palette (mauve/red), onto the outer V. This creates the look of a sunset, getting gradually yellow to red.

Optional- Curl lashes and apply black mascara

 4. Added touch (:

 L'Oreal Color Riche Lipstick in 254 "Everbloom" (gorgeeeouss watermelon color!! LOVEE!)  I highly suggest getting this color because it is perfect for spring!

And here is the final look!!

Have fun on spring break everyone, and enjoy the weather!

I will see everyone soon; Next monday we are leaving to go to Florida for a week so I will try to post when I come back.. As for now, let me know in the comments some suggestions/comments/questions!

Friends & Fam: If you need someone to do your makeup for pretty much any occasion, I am available as well!

Thank you!♡

Update!

Hi everyone! I just wanted to check in and apologize for not posting in a while! I will try to post some more blog entries within the next few weeks, and I will do a review of some of the things that have been happening since I have last posted! As for now, check out a video from my FAVORITE makeup artists on youtube +Jaclyn Hill and +Nicole Guerriero! It's from August, but I was watching it yesterday & I thought it would be a fun thing to share (maybe inspiration for a future post?? hmmmツ) I watch them all the time, and their videos are so helpful. Much love♡

Click: JACLYN HILL YOUTUBE VIDEO

Eyebrow Threading

Before: 

 After:

    

   As I was walking through the mall with my sister and mom looking for tights for our NHS induction, I suddenly thought that maybe I should get my eyebrows threaded at a little salon. I had gotten them threaded years before, but I figured I might as well give it a try. I am really happy as to how they came out!

 ( For the sake of this blog, let me just explain to you my norm (aka the usual). I typically will pluck my brows here and there, but I also use a little electric razor to swipe off a bunch at once. Then, I will brush my brows so the hair will stay in the same direction, and I will sometimes fill them in using "Buck" from the Naked Palette. I don't do much!) 

Ok back to the story!!

   So after I talked with my sister, my mom agreed to pay for us to have it done (not sure of. We walked in, and the girl seated us immediately. I sat down in a comfy chair that was leaned back, and the young lady started to trim my brows with little scissors. Then, she told me to hold down each of eyes at a time, and it barely took two minutes!! It did sting a bit, but it was a bearable pinch unlike waxing! I admit I have never had my brows waxed, but I would assume this is much less painful! It was quick, and the girl was very friendly! She even cleaned them off with Witch Hazel to help diminish the sting, and she put powder on them for me. I was surprised when I looked in the little hand mirror at how precise the threading was, and I was glad that I decided to get them done! My brows now look so much better than they did before, and it really brings a look together. The little pinches were definitely worth it :)

As they say, "No Pain No Gain" right?!

**Check out this video "Eyebrow Threading NBC 10 Special"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIeHYNt-rl4

* "Threading 101 (Beauty& Grooming Guru)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYJytHke02o

January Ipsy Bag Review

   Hello hello! I'm back (a little late..I'm sorry! better late than never), and today I am going to share with you a review on the Ipsy bag I received last month in the mail. Now, you may be wondering, 'What in the world is ipsy, and how can I get one??', but spare no more! Here is your answer :)

   Ipsy is a monthly beauty bag that you can create a subscription for, and each bag costs $10... BUT WAIT! It includes about 5 or 6 beauty products that are sometimes full sized! Yes, you heard me correctly. FULL.SIZED. Now, that's a lot of bang for your buck, and plus the bags are cute too! Every month, your bag comes shipped in a shiny pink envelope with the bag enclosed like the ones shown below. When you first sign up, you take a beauty quiz to set your preferences and give them information on your skin type. This helps them to provide products that is suited for you. Here's some photos of my January bag!

Envelope

Bag

 Inside my bag, I got...

1. 4 little samples of Proactive Mark Fading Pads, but the results were only okay. I have used Proactive in the past because my skin is acne-prone, but my skin does not really respond strongly to it. This is why I would say it was just alright, but it may be different for others. However, I did like the size of the pads because I could easily use it on my whole face, unlike some pads you buy at the store. Compared to a Pond's Facial Wipe or something of that sort, it was about half the size.



 2. A small container of the Briogeo"Don't Despair, Repair" hair mask:
What you do is massage it into your roots & locks, and leave it on for 3-5 minutes like you normally would do with a daily conditioner. After you rinse it out, I suggest brushing it through with a wide-tooth comb to get rid of tangles. After I shower and wrap my hair in a towel, I blow dry it thoroughly. I noticed that the condition does work, makes it shiny, and smells good too... I would definitely recommend this product (:

3. the MICA Beauty Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm:
The color is a little darker than a natural lip color so it is nice to pair with an everyday makeup look. Also, it is light and creamy so it can easily be applied using your fingertips...Honestly, I think it is a nice little sample; however, I tend to forget that I have it (whoops)!



4. An épicé Purifying Skin Exfoiliant:
I have used this product a couple times since I got it, but the exfoliation is a little harsh. The fine salt in it is hard to remove because you really can't see it well after you have applied it. I just use a wet hot towel to wipe it off after letting it sit for about 3 minutes. Even though the salt is hard to remove, I do think that it does its job, but I would probably prefer a more gentle exfoliation better!







 5. And finally, the Yaby "Natural Finish Liquid Foundation (Oil Free)":
To be completely honest, I haven't really used this product! I typically prefer to use MAC foundation instead, but I will let you know once I do use this (:
Sorry lovelies!








*BONUS*
My ipsy envelope included a little paper to fill in a reason why I thought 2014 will be totally amazeballs. Here's a photo that I shared on my instagram of my reason!! (follow follow follow using my instagram link on the right)! Let me know in the comments your reasons too, and check out the link to ipsy under my pages also on the right!! ♡

Naked 3 Rosy Hues Look

TUTORIAL

Step one: Face

Prime+ Liquid Foundation+Concealer

Contour + Highlight

Step two: Eyes

A) Eyeshadow:

~Strange as brow highlight

~Limit in crease and outer V (not precise)

~Dust on middle of lid (not on inner or outer corners)

~Nooner in crease (precise- do not go above crease)

~Darkside small outer V

B) Winged Eyeliner

C) Curl lashes 

D) Mascara

Step Three: Bring together your look!

~Add nude lipstick

~Pink blush (whichever shade you choose, preferably light)

~Natural hair

~Wear a white sweater with black accents to go with your eyeliner

Some of the products I used:

-Naked 3 Palette

-Urban Decay Primer Potion

-Sephora brushes

-Tweezerman Eyelasher curler 

-Benefit They're Real Mascara

- Rimmel Moisture Renew 642 Nude Delight 

-Smashbox Jet Set Gel Eyeliner Deep Black

Not shown:

-MAC Pro Longwear Liquid Foundation

-Too Faced Candlelight Glow Highlighter

-Concealer (not sure the name/brand sorry!)

-Pixi Bronzer Subtly Suntouched

Busyness + Upcoming Posts

I just wanted to let everyone know that I have been working this past week on new blog posts, and I apologize for not posting much this week! However, this week is going to be just as busy because I have school midterms to study for. I promise I will try to do some more posts within the next few weeks!! Oh, and also I have recently made an Instagram account as well so please follow! @gina_tbl

Here's what will be coming up soon:

1. Naked 3 Rosy Hues Look

2. January Ipsy Bag
3. Eyebrow threading

If you have any ideas, please let me know. Thank you! ♡

Madre Challenge

   As I was sitting in my room like all teenagers do, a pinterest notification popped up on my phone. I, being the pinterest lover that I am, clicked on it immediately to see what the little red 1 on my pinterest app was all about. It was a pin that my mom (also a pinterester) sent me, challenging me to do this glamorous makeup look!

Here is the original pin VS mine:

Six-step tutorial:
1. Crease: Use a bronzer as your eyeshadow- Pixi Beauty Bronzer "Subtly Suntouched"
2. Crease and outer V: Dark brown- Urban Decay Naked "Darkhorse" 
3. Lid: Silver glitter- Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner "Distorted"
4. Liquid/Gel Eyeliner on upper lid: Smashbox Jetset Eyeliner
5. Fake eyelashes: Ardell Natural Lashes "120 Demi Black"
6. Black eyeliner on bottom lid: Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner "LWL-01 Deepest Black"

Final look:

Minus the lipstick

Straight on with Lipstick
(NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in "Dragon Girl")

"A smile is the best makeup a girl could wear"-Anonymous :)

  I know that the two looks are not exactly alike, but I tried to do it to the best of my abilities. For me, I very much enjoy doing these requests and challenges because it helps me to learn to meet the needs of others (or clients if I ever become a makeup artist), and it gives me something fun to work on! Please let me know if there are any other looks that you want me to do because I will definitely do them when I have the time. It's always a pleasure!! 

Oh, p.s. I will try to stay on track with my posts, but I will be very busy within the next week working on my 1000 word research paper due next Friday! Please bear with me!♡

"Frozen" Movie Review

So let me just tell you about this adorable movie that I just watched called "Frozen."

It is probably one of the cutest animated Disney movies, and it also includes songs that I admittedly have belted while home alone. Especially, the song "Let It Go" sung by Idina Menzel! (No shame ladies and gents. No. Shame.) 
Click here to listen to "Let It Go"

Now, I don't want to ruin or spoil the movie for you, but I will tell you that the characters definitely make you feel like a little kid again. I am seventeen years old, and I can honestly say that this movie made me happy, even though it was probably meant for five year olds.

Anyways, my favorite character has to be the snowman, Olaf, because he is just as cute as button, and his comments are super silly. He made me smile throughout the whole movie.

Also, the message in this is one that is special; It shows that you can rely on the love in your heart and others to overcome your challenges. Don't let your fears of being hurt influence you in negative ways.

So, I will conclude this by saying this: Definitely go see "Frozen" if you get a chance, take a moment to relax, and enjoy...I know I did! (: 

Check out this awesome blog!

Just wanted to share with you guys a blog page from the website I use, where you pay $10 a month for a bag of about 5 or 6 beauty products and samples.

The makeup is really nice, and they also give you discounts to buy them again!

If you are interested, there is a link under my pages for it♡

Makeup Challenge: Eva Simons

Guess what everyone?? I have been challenged yet again!
Here is the look that I was challenged to do. The makeup is inspired by singer, Eva Simons, who is featured in the song "Take Over Control" by Afrojack. I must say I didn't recognize the name at first when my friend, Thomas, told me about her, but after listening, I do know this song. 

You can listen to the song here: Grooveshark. (My "Oh, I've heard this!" moment is at 0:55 in the song!) 

Here is the look next to the original:

And here it is close up!!

   Personally, I actually really like this makeup for myself as it brings out the hazel in my eyes! 
I think I would surely want to do this again or wear it with some of my outfits in my wardrobe (:
The colors blend well together, and it is not too dramatic! Overall, I enjoyed doing this beauty challenge♡

More Shadow, Less Makeup

   On my Facebook, I was requested to do a look that used "less makeup while making detailed eye shadowing effects" by my friend, Thomas Mikkelsen, and today I tried that out! 

   The eyeshadow product that was my main focus today was the "Bring Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio" by POP Beauty (I got this in my $10/month Ipsy bag!). It features three "Naturally Bare" colors: a shimmery neutral, a light brown, and a dark brown as well. I also used MAC Pro Longwear Foundation, the Exact Eyelights Mascara ("Black Gold" for hazel eyes), and "Buck" from the Naked 1 Palette.

Swatches Shown Above.

   Prep your eyes by applying foundation (MAC) to cover the redness or veins on your lids, and fill in your brows lightly ("Buck"). First, put the shimmery neutral color all over your top lid. Then, put the light brown in your crease, focusing the pigment on the outer half of the crease and lid. This will create the shadow that you are looking for, even with minimal color applied. Next, use the dark brown in place of your eyeliner, and draw a line like you usually would. Here, you will create an outline for the white area of your eye. Finally, swipe a coat of your fav mascara to the upper lashes only. By doing this, your eyes will look much brighter, without having to use a ton of makeup! Now, that's an easy "Natural Smokey Eye" that you can brag about!!

Products:

1. The POP Eyeshadow Trio. 

2. Exact Eyelights Waterproof Mascara

3. MAC Pro Longwear Foundation

4. Naked Palette

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

 

   This Christmas, I received a gift from my mom that was really quite unique! It is called "Diamond Candles," which places a ring in the center that could be worth either $10, $100, $1,000, or even a whopping $5,000!! 

   What you do is burn the candle for a couple times (mine was peachy mango scented! smelled pretty good!) for a few hours until you see the foil wrapping of the ring. Then, you blow out the candle, use tweezers or something else to remove it from the wax, wipe it off, and take the ring out from the foil and bag inside of it.

   Inside the bag was this beautiful silver ring with a yellow diamond in the center, surrounded by two clear diamonds. Now I admit that I never really wear rings because I usually end up taking them off, but I might try it out! It seems like a successful gift if I'd say so myself.. Now I just have to find an outfit to match (:

   What do you think? Did you get any interesting gifts like I did? Let me know in the comments! Also, here is a link to purchase your own Diamond Candles: http://www.diamondcandles.com  

Totes Magotes

Just a silly photo to brighten your day (:

It's cray cray adorbs!!