Fall Trends: Clean Crisp Lines

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It is the most simple and classic of looks but yet so difficult. The idea of liner is not brain science, take your desired weapon (pencil, gel, marker, or liquid) and draw a line across your lash line and a wing if desired. But once you put it into practice and it's a different story. I’ve worn eyeliner practically everyday for almost 5 years and it’s still a nerve racking task. However, at the end of the day if I don’t have my liner on I feel incredibly naked and less like myself. 

I’ve come to realize that the shape and thickness of my lines shift with the season. The spring and summer bring thinner, wispy lines. But my oh my, once the leaves touch the ground I go to 0 to 180. My lines become so dramatic and winged, my own personal weapon. So considered me thrilled that there is a need for dark thick liner this Fall, which is a nice mix from the usual bare face or day time smokey eye that's been on demand. To achieve this crispy clean line you’re going to need your selected liner formula, a lot of patience, and a ton of cotton swab. My suggestion would be to practice, practice, practice and to start with a thin line and work your way up from there. 

If you’re still new to the idea of eyeliner that’s totally fine. It is definitely scary at first but you’ll get the hang of it with not only practice but also with the range of formulas. From gel liner, pencil, liquid liner, and the quick emerging marker liner. When I first started with liner countless guru’s promised the gel liner would be the best and “easiest” for beginners. After numerous attempts I beg to differ, gels and pencils just don't do it for me. Of course I’m not saying you should never use them but it’s just my personal evolution with liner. It is all about experimenting until you find what works for you.

Fall Trends: Nails

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It is common knowledge that I have a problem when it comes to cosmetics, but nail polish is a whole different ball game. I am what you would call a hoarder when it comes to nail lacquers. I hit rock bottom when I successfully collected enough nail polish for two years if I changed colors once a week. After going cruelty-free I’ve used up my favorite colors and given most of them again so now I am starting from scratch and it couldn’t come at a better time. I personally prefer a nude beige based color or dark purples and reds. Anything else just doesn't feel like me. However, I definitely will be giving the fall colors a try in order to get out of my comfort zone because at the end of the day what’s life if you don't mix it up a bit?

Over the years you begin to see a pattern within trends and beauty is no exception. There are definitely trends that have become more like staples then anything else. I introduced the idea in my post about berry lips and I’m bringing it up again for this one. Oxblood, olive, and cobalt are making a come back and it’s not surprising but it’s also not disappointing. Again, these are all colors that flatter every skin tone when using the right shade of color. Though these colors aren’t shocking or revolutionary don’t settle for just a plain double coat of color on your nails this season, make it your own. Add gems to it, do a fresh french tip, do an ombre. Don’t be afraid of trying new things.

Fall Trends: Bold Eyebrows

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My best friend and I like to joke that our lives are split in two parts. The first called “Before I filled in my brows” and the current part is “After I filled in my brows.” Yes I know what you’re thinking, can something so simple be so monumental? Oh darling, yes it really can be. You see the brows frame the face so if they look put together so do you and if they’re sloppy so do you, you get the idea. It's no surprise to see that bold, well-groomed brows have been seen all across the runways. I mean look at Cara Delevingne not only is she the new “IT” model but her eyebrows are banging. Or Lily Collins, who’s starring in one of the biggest pictures this year (and her eyebrows have their own twitter account.) It isn’t hard to find your eyebrow role model and though it’s scary and intimidating at first it’s definitely worth a try.

One of my all time favorite brands for all things eyebrows is Anastasia. Not only does the brand have a ton of different colors and formulas but they have the most amazing clear brow gel. I personally use and love the Perfect Brow Pencil. It has the pencil on one end and an eyebrow brush on the other. The pencil is pigmented and ever so soft which mean it glides nicely on the brows versus tugging at them. The brush on the other end is also such a perk. You can groom your brows and use the brush to soften the color of the pencil and create a more natural look. It also makes it so convenient to throw into your purse and touch up if needed.

I recommend trying eyebrow pencils, powder, or gels in person. Places like Sephora or Ulta are great for this because you can test them and if you don’t really know what to look for you can always ask an associate. It’s also more flattering to choose a color that resembles your own eyebrow color. If you go to dark it will look very exaggerated and borderline tacky. Go too light and you either lighten your brows to the point where they look fake and wash you out or it’ll look awkward on you. It’s so easy to want to do this on your own when it’s your first time but trust me you want to go to a professional so they can pick what’s best for you. After you get the hang of it feel more then welcome to decide on your own what will work best for your face. I say this because many tend to be too heavy handed when filling in their eyebrows which leads them to create a new pair of brows on their face. Make-up is meant to enhance your natural features so using a light, gentle hand and applying slowly while following your natural brow shape. The end result will be a fresh and flattering look. It’s all a learning experience.

Fall Trends: Berry Lips

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The chiller weather means a cooler, darker palette. Lip colors are probably the easiest to play with and change according to the season. Berry lips come back every year so its no surprise you’re seeing it again, it's a classic. So my darlings, put down those pinks and oranges and put on a rich berry color. It can seem very intimidating at first but please don’t be afraid to give it a try. It’s universally flattering on all skin tones and with so many different formulas you are bound to find your match.

If you are uncomfortable with the idea of wearing such a deep shade or if you’re minimalist, a stain would be a great option for you. Stains are great way to test out colors and are easier to applier then a lipstick. You can either buy a sheer berry color stain or DIY. Apply a clear balm on to the lips, then gently tap a berry colored lipstick until you reached the desired shade. To matte it out use your ring finger and press onto lips.

If you’re ready to go head first and rock this trend then a opaque berry lipstick is what you need. Make sure that when wearing this look you keep the rest of your make-up simple. You don't want your make-up competing with one another or it will begin to look very animated. Applying such a dramatic color straight from the tube can be very tricky and get messy very quickly. I suggest starting with a clear lip liner to insure your color won’t bleed or disappear. Next, use a synthetic brush to apply the color while bloating in between coats. When you’re happy with the color use a cotton swab to clean around the mouth. Remember, you wear the color the color doesn't wear you. 

Good luck!

Fall Trends: Coconut Oil

Fall is among us and I can’t be more excited for the crisp city air, cardigans, scarfs, and chai lattes! However, I am sure the incoming September issues (which I must add are more like weights then actual magazines- InStyle has 716 pages, while Vogue weighs 4 pounds) have given that away.

So what’s in store for this Fall in the world of beauty? Plenty. But it’s more the ingredients then the actually looks this season. The last few years olive oil and argan oil have dominated and rocked the beauty industry. Gradually, Coconut oil has been gaining more attention not only in beauty but health as well, making it fantastic to add into any part of your lifestyle. 

Coconut oil is the most nutrient dense part of the coconut. The oil is over 90% saturated fat and has antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Using coconut oil on the skin leaves it moisturized because the skin absorbs it slowly. It also has antioxidant properties that help in the absorption of other minerals and building cells making them ideal for younger looking skin. Pretty cool, right?

It’s definitely overwhelming seeking coconut oil specific products (or any ingredient specific product.) So I have selected a few of my favorite true and tried LUSH products that are jam-packed with this beneficial oil. 

Hey!

My name is Val and I am behind The Urban Beauty Junkie. This blog is something that I’ve wanted to do for quite some time and it's been really exciting prepping everything before I started posting. I can't wait to see where this goes and you are more then welcome to join me.

A bit about myself, I currently work at an international cosmetic brand’s retail store. As a brand the company is very vocal on political issues as well as being and supporting the cruelty-free industry, which changed my outlook on the industry. So I've thrown out every product I had and am starting over, and what better excuse is there to buy more make-up? But as I was looking for cruelty-free beauty products it became more apparent how difficult it was to find cruelty-free centered blogs. I’m not saying there aren't any but they are nowhere near as popular as regular beauty blogs. It seemed that no one was really aware of what was going on with cosmetics just fooled by the pretty packaging and promises. All of which gave me the idea for this blog.

So what's the game plan for the Junkie? I definitely plan on reviewing products and exploring cruelty-free brands but I'm hoping to create a more intimate experience between buyer and seller by researching and contacting brands. I will be showcasing and reviewing "indie" brands. There will also be posts about trends and the latest news as well as research and conversation topics on whats going on in the industry. The schedule might change as time goes on but thats what you can expect for the time being.

That’s that. I would love to hear from you guys, absolutely whenever. I am going to be continuingly trying to make this blog better.

Talk to you guys soon!