DIY Lucite Vanity Makeover

“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Sharpie, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia  #PaintYourWay http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV”

my makeup needed a makeover. okay let me clarify, my makeup storage needed a makeover and after having seen a great DIY Lucite tray tutorial on Pinterest i decided that was exactly what my vanity was missing.

what works best with lucite? more lucite. and glass. and gold. 

so i headed to Michael's to pick up the necessary products. to begin you will need an inexpensive acrylic frame. they come in a variety of sizes and i selected two, one 11x14 and a 5x7. in addition to the frames i picked up three different glass containers as well a delicate wood box. i decided the solution to tying all of these products together would be the new Sharpie Paint Markers. my current favorite color palette includes gold and white so naturally those were the two Sharpie Paint Markers i selected. 

painter's tape, pencil and ruler are additional items needed for this tutorial however most of those can be found in your kitchen junk drawer, so please proceed.

first you will do a little deconstructing. remove packaging from Sharpie Paint Markers, frames and any stickers from glass jars. proper prep is essential for any DIY project. the Sharpie Paint Markers are an oil based product and will paint on any surface so the sky's the limit.

to begin your lucite tray you will need to mark off the areas you would like to paint. i am working on a striped tray so my ruler comes in handy to measure the strip distance. i decided to paint on the underside of the tray so that the paint would not get scratched or chipped from products placed in the tray. the blue painters tape works well to mark off the lines but be sure to use the eraser end of your pencil to seal the tape down, otherwise the paint from the Sharpie Paint Markers may leak under your tape.

above is the finished tray. i love the white stripes with the lucite, it is a perfect combination. i decided to paint the bottom of my smaller tray a solid gold. i mean, it doesn't get any better than gold paired with white stripes.

to tie in the wooden box and glass containers i added a gold or white stripe to each. i am going to warn you one last time, make sure to press the edge of your tape with the pencil eraser to seal the tape to the glass. no matter how hard you press with your fingertip it seems you just cannot get the tape to seal as well as it does with a pencil eraser.

give your products a few minutes to dry and go ahead with the vanity top makeover. i decided to place my jewelry favorites in the round wooden box, this way they are quick and easy to get to on a daily basis. my makeup brushes have plenty of room in my glass jar. i later added my mascara and liner to this jar as well to make them even more accessible on a daily basis. my summer lip color by MAC (Nouveau Pink),  Make Up For Ever Bronzer and Yves St. Laurent Touche Eclat take up vital real estate on my small gold tray. my mini glass container (designed for votives) has been repurposed to hold my small jewelry essentials, i.e.: rings & earrings.

the entire vanity top is completed with the skinny vase filled with lilies from my garden. enjoy your new lucite vanity!

xo,

kristie

How To Fix Broken Chapstick

let's start off the New Year right with a quick and easy tutorial - the bread and butter of Blushing Basics! i decided to create this simple how-to due to the outrageous amount of chapstick we are currently using and the outrageous amount of chapstick that is getting destroyed by my toddler. if you have found yourself in the annoying predicament of having the entire chapstick stuck in the cap, here's how to fix it.

stand the chapstick upright and blow dry for 30 seconds. yep, it is that easy. the chapstick will melt and fall back into the chamber. let it stand until it solidifies again (roughly 30 minutes) and your chapstick is as good as gold.

hopefully this will help keep a few tubes of chapstick out of the chapstick graveyard this winter.

xo,
kristie

New Years Countdown #9 Two Color Eye Makeup Tutorial

#9 in my top ten posts of 2013 is this two color eye makeup tutorial. i am assuming this easy to repeat tutorial has been pinned like crazy because it is so simple. check out below for how to get gorgeous makeup in only two steps.

one of the things that is so refreshing about makeup is that it does not have to be complicated. sometimes i get a bit carried away and have to remind myself to keep it simple. two complimentary eyeshadow colors that are well blended can be just as beautiful as six shadows. the trick is to use apply your color with a fairly dense brush and then take a clean fluffy brush and go over the edges to diffuse and blend the color. 

this simple step by step eye makeup tutorial will get you on your way to looking hawt in no time. apply your eye makeup like a pro, except this time we're only using two colors.

xo,
kristie

DIY Exfoliating/Hydrating Scrub

are you looking for a way to look like a zombie with chunks of skin peeling off your face fresh faced with smooth, hydrated skin? then look no further. i was recently sent the ingredients below, courtesy of Hershey, to create a DIY face scrub that not only exfoliates but hydrates your skin. with summer winding to a close and many days spent in the sun this is probably a much needed treatment. the best part about this mask is that you probably have the majority of the ingredients in your kitchen!

mix all of the ingredients below and apply this DIY scrub. let sit for 10 minutes followed by rinsing with luke warm water while gentle exfoliating. leaves your skin feeling smooth and silky. the best part? it tastes delicious and is safe for you and your little ones.

xo,
kristie

*Disclosure: I received information about HERSHEY’S SIMPLE PLEASURES Milk Chocolate with Creamy Caramel products and items for the caramel beauty care package from The Hershey Company. All expressed opinions are my own.

How To: Get Gorgeous Summer Gams + Giveaway

summertime is that dreaded time of year when your winter layers are shed (literally) and your entire body is exposed. for those of you who are body conscious as well as sun conscious, letting your legs do the talking/walking can be a bit intimidating. here are some tips on how to get your legs summer ready in no time (sans sunlight of course!)

listed below are the products you will need:

• Too Faced Royal Oil - this coconut oil body bronzer is a temporary fix for pale legs. apply it for a quick and immediate golden bronze shimmer. body oil gives just the right amount of shine with added tint for smoother, glowing legs. it is seriously my secret to great legs - even when you can't workout and haven't seen a gym in few weeks er... months. (insider tip, add some of this to the ends of your hair for increased shine and moisture)
• Nad's Bikini & Underarm Wax Strips - yes, you read that right, Nad's. these bikini and underarm wax strips changed my (summer) life! they're portable, they're easy to use and they work really well. pack them in your suitcase for quick touch-ups on vacay or keep a box at home for easy maintenance. smooth skin = great legs.
• St. Tropez - i may be beating a dead horse recommending this self-tanner over, and over and over again, however, it is one of my favorite tanning products and i would be doing us both a disservice by not recommending it. the mousse formula applies evenly and dries to a deep bronze tan. no sun needed for bronzing.
• BIC Soleil Bella Razors - this disposable takes disposable razors to a new level. the four blades give you a smooth clean shave, the pivoting head hugs the curves of your knees nicely, the moisture strip helps soothe the legs once finished and the rubber grip means no slipping in the shower. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


xo,
kristie

all BIC Soleil products provided for giveaway courtesy of BIC Soleil. all reviews, opinions and observations are my own.

Tribal Nail Art Tutorial

tribal nail art tutorials typically involve several colors of polish, teeny tiny brushes and a very steady hand. many people have complimented this tribal nail mani usually followed by the comment 'that must have taken you forever'. 

surprisingly, it didn't.

last year i posted about using permanent markers for manicures and created some simple tutorials with it. since then, the nail art trend has continued its popularity and has become increasingly complex. thankfully fine point permanent markers not only make it a cinch, they come in a variety of colors that make them more cost effective than purchasing individual bottles of nail art polish.

while i may be a beauty blogger i consider myself a nail art civilian. my talents only take me so far. thankfully, permanent markers help bridge that gap and allow me to explore creativity beyond paint brushes.

oh yeah i'm easy, easy like Sunday morning. Lionel Richie taught me that.

xo,
kristie

Choose Your Own Styl Makeup

i was recently sent some new makeup products from Mary Kay to create a tutorial for some of the latest makeup trends. i decided to branch out and try something new: Choose Your Own Style Makeup.

in this video i chose nine products (seriously, only nine!) to create three different makeup looks. a makeup tutorial look for the everyday casual wear - you know when you don't really want to wear makeup but still wear some makeup? following that is a makeup tutorial for the business appropriate look - a little more makeup but not so shocking. last is the going out and want to look smokin' hot makeup tutorial.

watch the video and click on the look you want, you will then be directed to the video with that particular tutorial. if you like this method of tutorials please let me know. editing this footage was a labor of love and i will gladly create more if it is something you like. if not, meh.

so here goes, choose your own style makeup and find the makeup tutorial that suits you or your mood:

xo,

kristie