Beauty 911: Locked & Loaded

Today I’m sharing 12 things every girl ought to have in her beauty ammo whether she’s on the clock or not…

Here’s the scenario: It’s Monday morning. Your beautiful dress is full of static, you’ve still got breakfast in your teeth (darn those mangos), your T-zone is shiny…and it’s only 10am. So what’s a girl to do? Whip out her Beauty Emergency Kit (lovingly known as a “beautE-Kit”)

There are a few tried-and-true items every working (or school-aged) lady must have close at hand. This is what I keep in my beautE-Kit…

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Static Guard. It may sound strange, but this is an absolute must. Not only will it come in handy when your new dress is sticking to your legs, it can also be used in lieu of hair spray to tame flyaway. Just spritz a little on your fingertips and lightly dab unruly hairs into place.

Floss Pick. After each meal, give your pearly whites a quick clean. If you spot any leftovers, dislodge them using a floss pick. Floss picks can also be used to de-clump mascara or remove dirt from under your nails. However, please remember to perform such forms of maintenance in the privacy of the ladies room.

Mini Mirror. It’s always a good idea to keep a small pocket mirror close at hand. You’ll never wonder if you have lipstick on your teeth again!

Lotion. Usually, offices are either too cold or too hot, which can lead to chapped hands–especially when you’re washing them constantly after using the restroom. To prevent dry, cracked hands moisturize throughout the day by using your favorite hand lotion. Your hands (and nails) will thank you.

Hand Sanitizer. Sneeze, cough or blow your nose? Do your co-workers a favor and disinfect. No need to pass around an unwanted bug.

Blister Blockers. Is there anything worse than breaking in a new pair of shoes? Keep a stash of extra strong blister bandages at your desk, just in case.

Vaseline. This is one of the most underrated beauty products out there. Use it to quench dry lips, smooth it over your heel if your shoe is rubbing, or swipe it over your cuticles for a quick pick me up.

Deodorant. Keep a travel-sized deodorant stashed in your kit. You’ll never have to sweat the small stuff again (like forgetting to put it on as you rushed out the door this morning).

Stain Remover. Food should be in your mouth, not on your clothes. And the same goes for coffee. Never worry about walking into a meeting with marinara polka dots again!

Snack. It sounds silly, but I keep little bites in my puse. A case of the hangrys (hungry + angry = hangry) is never becoming.

Meds. Whether you’re team Tylenol or you’re an ibuprofen fan, having a stash of goodies to combat headaches is a smart way to keep your head clear. Also, having a few Tums on hand isn’t a bad idea either…

Bobby Pins. Nix bedhead, windy-day-hair or I-was-in-a-rush-this-morning head with a few bobby pins. A topknot, ballerina or fun bun can always tame unruly hair with the help of a few hairpins.

Those are my essentials. If you’re stranded at your desk, these 12 items will get you through. Next week, I’ll be posting a blog about office items that double as beauty products!

Want to win a copy of my personal beautE-Kit?

Leave a comment below telling me about an office item that plays double beauty duty (Note: It must be a common office item such as a paperclip and you need to tell me how it can be used as a beauty product/tool). The winner with the most creative idea will win! I’ll announce the winner and I’ll feature my favorite 5 suggestions in next week’s post too!

XO LEE

Primp Tip: How to Make Any Lipstick Matte

I have a confession to make… I’m an absolute sucker for the latest beauty trends. After all, we are in the age of YouTube sensations and 1-minute Instagram tutorials. Mastering the art of contour: check, Mastering the art of winged eyeliner: check. Buying all of the matte lipsticks available: major check. I have a lot of lipstick colors in my drawer that don’t fit the matte bill. That doesn’t make them less beautiful, but right now I’m head-over-heels for that nudish brown look. Instead of letting my non-matte lipsticks go to waste, I decided to do a little research on what I could do to incorporate them into the mix. So I thought it would be fitting to address a question I’ve found myself asking a lot lately—is it possible to make an ordinary lipstick matte?

The answer is yes, you can make an ordinary lipstick matte (yay!). All you need is your favorite shade of non-matte lipstick and a few beauty products that you may already have in your makeup drawer. Keep scrolling to find out how you can transform your lipstick into this season’s hottest beauty trend…

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Here’s what you’ll need:

translucent powder
tissue
makeup brush
your favorite non-matte lipstick
corresponding lip liner (optional)

Here’s how to do it:

1. Line your lips with your lip liner pencil. This step will help ensure that your finished look will last through wear and tear throughout the day.

2. Apply your non-matte lipstick on top of your lip liner. If you’re a perfectionist like me, I’ll sometimes line my lips again after I apply lipstick so that my lines are as sharp as possible.

3. Take your tissue and separate the layers so that you have one fine sheet.

4. Lay the single tissue sheet over your lips and, taking your makeup brush, dust your translucent powder over your lips. By placing the tissue between your lips and the makeup brush you are essentially filtering the amount of powder applied to your lips. It’s best to start small and build up so that you can reach your desired texture without over doing it.

5. Remove the tissue and dust the translucent powder directly onto your lips one final time.

Viola! You have now created a rich, matte texture without breaking the bank on new beauty products. I love a good DIY makeup hack, don’t you?

 

Will you be trying this matte lipstick beauty hack?

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