Haven Hints: How To Trim Your Falsies!

After my blog post regarding false lashes, I was bombarded with requests to do a short tutorial in order to teach you guys the way I trim my falsies. Challenge accepted!

I decided that since I get so many requests for how and why I do things, that I would make this into a new series: Haven Hints!

Easy Lash Trimming Tutorial

What you need:

• Small Scissors
• Lashes
• Hard Service

Taking one strip at a time, begin with the end that is applied near the Epicanthic Fold (the inner corner of your eye). You will want to trim this in sort of a fan like manner, so you are not taking the full length off and still allowing enough lash that it will do it’s job.

Trimming this section will help to stop irritation when you blink and provide a more natural look.

Inner Corner After Trimming

The strip of this particular brand of lashes are much too long for my eye, so I cut the length of the side to fit my eyes.

Trim to fit your eye and the length of the lashes, as well.

I also trimmed the length of the lashes due to their being so long they hit my brow bone. Since I wanted a more natural look, I also would cut into the lashes to take out some of the volume.
Although I wear falsies to give me a little more volume,  the doll-like inspired look with my features is in no way charming. I am I satisfied with the length of my natural lashes and wear them for that little extra umph in volume.

Tada!

Although this is super easy to do, I suggest buying a few pairs of cheap lashes to practice before doing this to the more expensive brands. The pair I used in this tutorial is by Salon Perfect and is what I used to learn how to properly apply, trim, wear and care for. They are inexpensive and are generally a decent brand to teach yourself with.

Have a suggestion for a product review or a subject you want to know more about?

Leave a comment, tweet me (@Stormiekim03) or email me: stormieshaven@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel!

Gratefully,
~Kim

The Haven Reviews: Mineral Fusion

Since Mineral Fusion is one of my favorite brands of makeup, I decided to do a different sort of review. I have used many of the products in this line, but there are only a few items that I use in my regular makeup routine.

Here are the three items I keep on hand:

All-In-One Mineral Beauty Balm (Perfecting)
Before I began using Pur, this was my go to for light coverage foundation. It feels incredibly light weight, covers well, evening out skin tone and minimizing pores.

Volumizing Mineral Mascara (Jet)

I use this EVERY day, even if I am mostly makeup free I will apply at least one layer to my eyes. I love the feel of the mascara and it helps my natural lashes appear full and enchanting. I especially love this brand because it does not irritate my eyes and works well even if I choose to wear false lashes.

Featuring the Mineral Beauty Balm and Volumizing Mineral Mascara

Sheer Moisture Mineral Lip Tint (Flicker)

This color is so beautiful and natural looking. There is just enough shimmer and tint to give a gorgeous glow and it is less tacky than your typical gloss.

Most of the products are vegan-friendly, gluten-free, parabens free, SLS free, with no artificial colors or fragrances and always vegetarian friendly. Not to mention, they recently paired with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to raise more awareness regarding domestic violence. You really cannot help but to respect the brand.

Have a suggestion for a product review or a subject you want to know more about?
Leave a comment, tweet me (@Stormiekim03) or email me: stormieshaven@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel!

Gratefully,
~Kim

Falsies 101: 5 Things to know!

As many of you know, I have an intense love and passion for eye makeup. I like to try an assortment of products, looks and am generally not afraid to try any look at least once. That is, unless we are talking about false eyelashes. To be honest, I wear false lashes while vlogging. In fact, I wear extremely heavy makeup while I am filming due to the camera washing me out and causing me to appear much paler than I actually am. I have slowly began to integrate falsies into my every day look but when I first began to use them, I had NO idea what I was doing. I thought I would throw together a list of the top 5 things you need to know before using false lashes and some other blogs and vlogs I used to learn the basics.

#1- Choose your look.  We all have different styles, some of us may want a more natural look while others want a much more dramatic dynamic. I have tried both and I am definitely on the more natural scale when it comes to how I want to look in my everyday makeup.

Without/With Falsies

#2- Learn the proper way to apply. I found THIS awesome video with step by step instructions on how to properly apply my lashes. You should always take the time to practice this. As a side-note: You should always apply your lashes AFTER you have put on your eye shadow. This will prevent any shadow from falling onto your lashes and keep your eyeliner sharp.

#3- Know your brands. QUALITY>QUANTITY I swear, this will become a t-shirt that I sell in the future. I cannot express this enough, you want to always go with a quality product over the quantity of it. This holds true for your false lashes, as well. Some of my favorite brands: The Vintage Cosmetic Company Eylure (I am in LOVE with their Enchanted collection!!) M.A.C. Make Up For Ever The lashes that I am ADDICTED to using currently is by The Vintage Cosmetic Company- Connie. They give me the full and lush natural look that I want and are really lightweight so I do not blink insistently while wearing them. I also use DUO as my lash adhesive, as it is lightweight with a nice grip and waterproof to boot.

#4- CUT THE LASHES!!!! Ladies (and gentlemen, if this applies) learn how to CUT your false lashes. Lashes are rarely one size fits all and they will need to be trimmed 90% of the time. They need to fit your eyelid, not touch your brow bone (unless this is the look you’re going for) and should never impede blinking. Do not be afraid to alter them. It is really easy and can be done in minutes. Here is a tutorial on trimming false lashes.

#5- Learn the importance of taking off and maintaining the lashes.  Cleaning and maintaining your falsies is extremely important, both hygienically and to keep the look of your lashes where you want them to be and not in the trashcan a week later. Think of your lashes as a type of makeup tool. We have to clean our brushes and applicators, the same applies to our false lashes. One of the first steps in maintaining your lashes is to know how to properly take them off at the end of the day. Always use the pads of your fingers to remove your lashes and NEVER use a tool, you run the risk of tearing the falsies and your natural lashes by using tweezers or other tools. This is an unfortunate and common mistake a lot of newbies to the false lash world make. I found THIS amazing blog that teaches you a bunch about cleaning, taking off and maintaining your lashes. She is amazing and I highly recommend her if you would like more tutorials regarding makeup in general. In fact, I’m sure she has a tutorial in how to properly trim your lashes, as well.

Without False Lashes

With False Lashes

Ultimately, you should not be afraid to branch out your makeup game and consider adding false lashes to your repertoire!  They can add either a little or a significant boost to your natural lash game. Have a suggestion for a product review or a subject you want to know more about?

Leave a comment, tweet me (@Stormiekim03) or email me: stormieshaven@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel!

Gratefully,

~Kim

The Haven Reviews: BoxyCharm-April Bloom

I was really excited to try this service. BoxyCharm claims to send at least 4 full size products and one luxury sized (aka trial size) item.  When I registered, I was in time to receive their April box even though the initial subscription mailings were over.

April-BoxyCharm

First of all, I love the packaging and marketing of those who are subscribers. Charmer?! Thank you very much, talk about a self-esteem boost!
They came through with their promise, I received four full size products and one trial size perfume to try.  If you read my last blog, you know that when I received my box I found that my OFRA Highlighter was broken. I showed you how to fix it and I did contact BoxyCharm to let them know. They had sold out of all their products but awarded me with enough charms that I can choose another full size product to replace it. No fuss, back and forth or trouble at all. They were apologetic and pleasing to work with. Which was not exactly what I found when I was subscribed to Ipsy, who were difficult to get responses from.

I liked the fact that I did not take any sort of quiz, what you get is predetermined. Therefore there is no annoyance that the service did not pay attention to your needs or wants. The downside is that this is predetermined, so there is no way to set preferences. Despite the fact I could not set what I wanted, I still was impressed with the products I received.

As before I have chosen my top 3 favorite items I received.
#3: OFRA- Blush Stripes-Illuminating

Depsite that this arrived broken, I was able to fix it. I LOVE it and it is now a staple in my regular routine. The light powder provides just enough shimmer to give the dewy look that we want to achieve during the Spring and Summer months! A light dusting goes a long way, so this product will last quite a while.

#2: Jangai Velvet Shine Lip Jewel

First of all, I adore what this company stands for. I’m not a huge fan of red lipstains or lipsticks, so I was quite surprised how much I liked this. Not to mention, the lipstick left my lips moisturized and soft. Be aware that this product is HIGHLY pigmented, therefore you do not need much.

#1: Coastal Scents- Revealed 2 Palette

Ah, yes. You know there had to be eye shadow somewhere in this review given my obsession with it. This was my first time encountering Coastal Scents, I had heard of it before but never tried it. The pigment in this palette is about mid-level, so buildable but not quite to the level I like. There is A LOT of shimmer in it as well. Although I usually prefer matte finishes with a touch of shimmer, I found that I enjoyed playing with this set. I’m not sure I would purchase this particular palette again, but it has given me interest in trying another set by Coastal Scents.

I call this my  “You have no idea how long it took me to be happy with this eye makeup look”

Featuring Coastal Scents Reveals Palette AND the OFRA Blush-Illuminating….and a lot of coffee.

Have a suggestion for a product review? Leave a comment, tweet me (@Stormiekim03) or email me: stormieshaven@gmail.com

Gratefully,
~Kim

It Isn’t The End Of The World! -Broken Makeup Easy Fix-

I received my first BoxyCharm box (yay!) the other day, when I opened it I found one of my products broken (boo!). The review regarding the box will be in another post, but I felt that maybe some of you could benefit from a trick I learned when it comes to broken pressed powered makeup!

I don’t know about you, but it is devastating when one of my favorite products have broken. Being that I am slightly clumsy, I drop my makeup more than I should. In most cases I do luck out and they survive, but in others…well…they seem to be beyond help. That isn’t the case! You can save your makeup with a few easy steps!

A Makeup Enthusiast  Nightmare!

So, this OFRA highlighter arrived in this horrible condition (yes, I did contact them and they have great customer service). Since I have broken so many products in the past, I knew I could possibly fix it. However, this was the first time I have ever attempted to do so with a multiple layered product. Fixing pressed makeup is really simple, there are very few steps involved and the longest part is waiting for it to dry.
4 *EASY* Steps to Fixing Broken Makeup

What you need:
-Rubbing Alcohol
-Small (round) piece of plastic
-Paper towels
-Hard surface

Step 1:

This is what I affectionately refer to as the “Annoyingly Meticulous” step of the process. In non-layered products this is rather simple, just push the pieces as flat as possible in the compact or tin.
Since what I was fixing was a multi-layered product, I had to take the product apart and arrange the pieces in order THEN I was able to press it as flat as possible.

Step 2:

Using  A LITTLE rubbing alcohol, cover the product.
The amount used is important as you only need enough to cover the makeup. Do not go overboard, as a little goes a long way otherwise you will have a soupy mess.

Step 3:

Those lines, tho… 😉

Once you have lightly covered the makeup with rubbing alcohol, use a small round piece of plastic (in this case, I used a cap off a small bottle of lotion) to tamp down and reattached the product. Use the paper towels to clean any excess product.
Although using your fingers is an option, I would not recommend it because it will make a terribly colorful mess.

Step 4:

Done.

Allow the makeup to dry overnight and you’re done!

So the finished product in this case isn’t as nice and clean as it normally would be.  However, it works just as well as it should had it not been broken.

Would you like more easy fixes or D.I.Y. projects?
Let me know in the comments, twitter (@stormiekim03) or via email: stormieshaven@gmail.com

Gratefully,
~Kim

The Haven Reviews: Ipsy- April Glambag

As in the last review, I am only going to highlight a couple of the items I liked from this month’s Ipsy Glambag.

I made the decision that after this bag that I would cancel my subscription and try another beauty box series. I should be receiving my first package from BoxyCharm in the next few days and plan to do an unboxing on my YouTube Channel! This will become a regular aspect of my channel and I will continue to do in depth reviews of the products here on The Haven.

Back to the review!

The theme for Ipsy’s April Glambag was Bohemian Beauty and I was excited for it. The textures, colors and overall freedom of the Bohemian style is my absolute favorite of any. It truly matches my spirit and I was hoping for a great bag.

I count myself lucky as there were three of the five items I was interested in this round.

KCO Colors by beauty brands
Creme Lipstick in Natural Born Beauty

First of all, I LOVE this color. I do not, however, love the feel of it. It isn’t as smooth as it looked in the tube and is rather tacky, borderline cheap feeling.
It was rather really disappointing.

The Haven’s Rating:  2 out of 5 Stars

The Balm
The Nude Dude Eye Shadow in Flirty

Aside from the ridiculously objectifying names of the shades and overall theme, the actual product is decent. There is a rich pigment and lovely shades. The entire palette looks to be quite beautiful.

The Haven’s Rating:  4 out of 5 Stars

Hikari Cosmetics
Blush in Tango

At first, I was afraid to even try this. The color while packaged looks like an intense shade of pink, almost rivaling the craze of bright shades worn in the 80’s.
Luckily, this brand is very silky and blends well…but still VERY bright. I would use this only for certain looks I was trying to achieve but not for an everyday look.

The Haven’s Rating:  4 out of 5 Stars

 As I mentioned above, this will be the last of my Ipsy reviews for a while. I plan to change up the suppliers and types of boxes I receive in order to keep the products fresh and explore different brands.

Have a product you would like me to try? Shoot me an email at stormieshaven@gmail.com or tweet me at @Stormiekim03

Gratefully,

~Kim

The Haven Reviews: Too Faced-Country Eye Palette

I seem to be a sucker for eye makeup. Considering I feel that my eyes are one of my best attributes, I just cannot seem to help myself when I find a product that peaks my interest.

Originally, I was looking for the new palette (Natural-Matte) but every single time I attempted to purchase it they were out of stock. Ulta was having their killer 21 days of beauty sale and had an amazing promotion if you bought the product.

Too Faced- Country (Nasheville Nudes) Eye Palette

Honestly, I did not know what to expect with this brand. I have never used it before and cringed a little at the price tag. I was hopeful considering I really did like the colors in the collection and being that I’m a country girl at heart, I was intrigued if it was as good as it looked.

The shadow is decently pigmented and I quickly fell in love the neutral “Cowboy Take Me Away”, it was exactly what I look for when searching for a natural balance with silky full coverage. They provide a guide to three simple applications and the very first I tried was the “Day” look.

Day Look-Too Faced

I was very pleased with the outcome, it wasn’t overbearing but gave a little wink to a smoky eye look without the raccoon eyes.  Although I enjoyed playing with the guide, I wanted to see where my comfort level was with the collection.

Tip: If you have heavily hooded eyes like I do, it is important to figure out the best way to apply new shadow without using a ton. Do not be afraid to play around for the look you want!

Overall, the palette is a little more glitter than I prefer but is a decent product. The price is a little more than I am willing to pay again, but this splurge is fairly well justified since I feel this palette is going to stretch for a while.

Again, I will continue to preach QUALITY > QUANTITY.
I should really consider making that a bumper sticker…

The Haven’s Rating:  4 out of 5 Stars

Have a product you would like me to review? Shoot me an email at stormieshaven@gmail.com or tweet me at @stormiekim03

Gratefully,

~Kim

The Mary Kay Challenge!

I feel like there should be some sort of ominous music with such a title.  I thought it would be a great idea to take part in the 21 Day Challenge set by Mary Kay. I received the Time Wise Miracle Set.

I have a bad habit of getting bored with my day and night facial routine. I’m definitely guilty of falling asleep without washing my face once in a while or only moisturizing during the morning prior to putting on my makeup.

My skin has changed significantly in the past five years and I have had a bit of trouble finding the best fit for a regular routine. I thought I would take advantage of the challenge for the product and to change my ways.

I have actually tried Time Wise before, but it was a few years ago and I never compared the before and after.

Without further ado-here’s my before pic as of 4/2/15….sans makeup.

Yay, no make up! 

Man, I hope it helps with that skin tone. Yikes.

I will check back in on 4/23/15 to see if there is a difference. 🙂

Gratefully,
~Kim

The Haven Reviews: Maybelline-The Nudes Eye Shadow

Since my local Ulta was out of the Two-Faced palette I wanted to try, I decided to review a drugstore brand. Maybelline recently released a new eye shadow palette named The Nudes.

The palette looked promising as I only use natural tones and it was really cheap ($10) compared to most of the palettes I had been considering.

I really did not have high expectations of this, no offense to those who use this brand of eye shadow but I have never been that impressed by it. I find that most drugstore brands are not pigmented enough for my liking, gritty and crease like a starched pair of pants.

I was surprised by how pigmented a few of the lighter browns were. Unfortunately, I found that the darker browns and lighter nude colors were exactly as I feared and expected. They had very little pigment and when attempting to blend they completely disappeared, which is utterly annoying. After 10 minutes of trying to make it work, I finally gave up and had to use a mix between my individual sets and the lighter browns to achieve the look I wanted.

Ultimately, I suggest either spending the money on a good brand that will last a long time or not wasting your money on the palette itself and just buying the individual shades you like.  I tried this palette both with my brushes and the tool included in the kit and using my finger tip to blend and both failed.

The Haven’s Rating:  2.5 out of 5 Stars

Do you have a product you would like for me to review? Leave a comment below or email me at stormieshaven@gmail.com!

Gratefully,
~Kim

The Haven Reviews: EOS Shave Cream

I love EOS brand of lip balm, but I had never tried any other products from their skin care line.  Since I am going with the theme of trying new things and the love myself mantra, I decided to take the plunge and try their shave cream.

The product claims to do the job of deep moisturizing and preventing cuts while being used either dry or wet.  I have to admit that I was not looking forward to attempting to shave using just the shave cream and a razor, but I said a quick prayer for my poor skin and went to work. The cream was similar in consistency to that of lotion and the pump on the bottle was much easier to manipulate than the foam gels.

The two major issues I ran into while using the cream dry shaving was that it caked up no matter how often you rinsed the razor and I still managed to cut myself (ouch). Aside from that, it just felt odd and wrong to shave dry. My skin felt tight and alligator like even after rinsing off the residue. Definitely did not like that aspect.

When using the cream in a normal environment (while in the shower), it works like a dream. It deeply moisturizes while providing adequate protections from cuts. The steam helps to soften the skin and makes for a closer shave anyway.

Dry Shave: 3 out of 5 stars
Wet Shave: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Have a product you want me to try? Email me your suggestion at stormieshaven@gmail.com!

Gratefully,
~Kim