Holiday Survival- Travel Essentials with EcoTools by Alicia Silverstone

Because sometimes putting your boyfriend in the overhead rack isn't an option.

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Pack rats, holiday travelers, and lovers of pretty bags can rejoice, for EcoTools by Alicia Silverstone has got you covered with a brand new range of eco-friendly cosmetics bags that are not only great for holiday travels, but also make really cute (and useful) gifts for that pack rat in your life.

Rohto Eye Drops, Tired Eye's Best Friend

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A busy lifestyle isn't always easy on the sleep schedule, and I personally get no more than 6 hours a night on average between my day job, beauty blogging, and social functions. Lack of sleep isn't exactly one part of the look pretty formula, so oftentimes I have to fake it using products designed to make me look a bit more rested. Lack of sleep actually takes a toll on my peepers, making them appear red, irritated, and altogether not so pretty.

This might be a dramatization, but I feel like they look something like this:

Not pretty, not pretty at all. Nothing ruins a gorgeous, crisp smoky eye more than tired, bloodshot eyes (flames reflected therein are optional).
Fortunately, Rohto has me covered with their fantastic line of Hydra eye drops. Designed to take me from red and irritated, to cool crisp white in no time flat, these drops are a lifesaver. They immediately cool and clarify my tired Scleras (the white part of your eye), making me smoky eye and camera closeup ready.

You can find Rohto at Walmart, Walgreens, and Drugstore.com. At a price range of $7-$9, they are a cheap and easy way to fake awake yourself.

Softlips- The Essential Product for Fall's Hottest Trend, Fierce Red Lips

Question: How many times have you gone to put on an amazing new lipstick (burgandy is so hot right now), only to have it drag across a dry and flaky pout?

Answer: Probably more times than you would care to admit.

There is nothing worse than not being able to pull off a lipstick, all because you forgot to moisturize your flapping lips. Fortunately, it is a problem that is easily solved with the right product. A nifty little lipbalm appropriately called Softlips is the product your dry lips desire.

Softlips Lip Conditioners are to supple lips what little pink umbrellas are to a pina colada, a necessity. They glide on effortlessly, taste amazing, and keep your lips slick and pouty no matter what. When you consider the fact that these cuties also provide your lips with sun protection, its a virtual no-brainer.

When you hold that slim white tube of moisturizing goodness in your hands, you hold the golden ticket to a world full of hot new lip trends for fall. Not sure which trends I am talking about? Well, Celebrity Makeup Artist Belinda Moss has some clues.

RED LIPS REIGN FOR FALL/WINTER; LIP FASHION FORECAST

This fall and winter, bring fullness, boldness and definition to the lips by applying rich, red hues. The word of mouth, according to Moss, who has worked with Eva Longoria, Beyoncé, and Scarlett Johansson (to name a few), is that you don’t need to be a Hollywood starlet to pull off wearing red on your lips.

Moss, who is a consulting makeup artist for Softlips, says “everyone can pull off this look so long as you understand which shades complement your particular skin tone and hair color, and you used some tricks for application.”

Here, Moss pours out her red-pout advice:

For Picking the Best Red for You: Moss suggests that fair-skinned ladies choose true red colors (i.e., berry or brick), medium-skin hues try orange-based shades (i.e., spicy or brown-based reds) and dark-skinned women pick deep red shades (i.e., blackberry and burgundy).

Mix and Match: Moss suggests purchasing a few lipsticks and glosses to experiment with them, like most make-up artists do, to help create your perfect shade of red…mixing and matching several colors to come up with a signature color.

Chase Away Chapped Lips: Moss says red colors can emphasize any chapping/flakes or lip creases, and can more easily “bleed” outside the lips. To help effectively pull off this beauty style, Moss suggests the following tricks:

· Repair: Slough off dead skin with a soft toothbrush in order to have a smooth base for lipstick or lip gloss application.

· Cover: An excellent, anti-feathering lip base is already in your bag…your concealer or liquid foundation; apply this facial make-up to the outside edge of the lips to help prevent the lip color from “bleeding” onto surrounding skin.

· Line: It is very important to match your lip liner to your lipstick; it is equally important to apply this liner to the entire lip, not just the edges; using a lip liner will not only help define your lips, but it will also help set a border for both the lip balm and lipstick.

· Balm Your Lips: After the application of lip liner, apply a coat of Softlips lip balm with SPF 20 to help condition your lips and protect them from sun damage. This product will soften and moisturize the lips without making them waxy or greasy for the top coat of lipstick or lip gloss.

· Brush on Red: For maximum precision with the red lipstick, use a lip brush to apply your lipstick neatly and evenly.

· Smile: Check to make sure no lipstick has rubbed off onto your teeth; red lipstick on your teeth can be unforgiving.

This is the look we are going for:

Clearly, smooth lips do a great red lip base make. At $2.99 each, Softlips are ridiculously affordable and very recessionista friendly. You can find them available everywhere from Target to Rite Aid, and come in fun flavors ranging from mint to acai berry. There is literally a flavor to suit every one of your cravings.

Budget Friendly Beauty- Revlon Artificial Nails

I have a confession to make. I indulge in weekly spa manicures. In Manhattan, that is quite a pretty penny I spend on manicure services, polishes, and proper nail upkeep products. Did I mention it is also time consuming, and that I am not a very patient gal? I put up with the inconveniences because I am convinced that nothing looks better than a trendy polish on a freshly manicured hand, but gosh, sometimes I just lack time and funds for a proper manicure. If you see my sleeves pulled down or my hands in my pockets, chances are I am hiding my chipped fingers in shame. This has me looking to fake it when I am having one of ‘those weeks’.

For a long time, artificial nails have gotten a bad wrap. Fake nails of the 80s and 90’s oftentimes looked tacky, cheesy, and straight-up stupid. I am not lying when I say that in the past I would have been the first person to tell you that press-on nails look ridiculous. Images of plastic talons with Technicolor designs and boxy shapes come to mind. Filed under beauty faux pas, artificial nails fell off my radar for years and years.

* You see kids, that is what we don't want! source

Fast forward to present day. As previously mentioned, I fork over big bucks and lots of time to keep my nails looking pretty. Sometimes, I just wish that there was a quick fix solution that would actually look good and not break the bank. I am happy to report that Revlon is slowly convincing me that yes, press on nails aren’t that bad after all. In fact, fake nails can actually look cute.

A stylish alternative and half the cost of a manicure, Revlon’s Runway Collection line is not only cute, but they look natural. They come in amazing colors and styles, and last for a very long time.

Witness my Revlon faux mani.

I am rather impressed with the results, and will now happily use these when I just can’t get to the salon or can’t justify forking over the money.

How do you all feel about faux nails. Yay or nay?