My Makeup Collection + Storage

     

     The moment has come to upload my long awaited makeup collection and storage article! For those of you who follow me on instagram (xbeautybellex) you might have seen the picture I posted of my makeup collection last week. I asked if you wanted to see a blog post on how I organize my makeup and I received a positive response. So, as promised, here is my treasured collection! 

     This article is going to be focused on where I bought my storage containers and how I organize my makeup. I won't go into specifics of what products I own, brand names, etc. If you want to see an in depth blog post on the products I own, leave a comment! But for the sake of this article, what you see in the pictures is what you get. 

Containers and Storage

     All the containers in my makeup collection are from The Container Store. For those of you who haven't been to The Container Store or don't have one near by, it's basically a store that sells anything you need to organize a space. They sell any product from hangers to tool racks to custom closets. But most importantly, The Container Store has a great beauty department with a variety of containers and holders to store your products. Before The Container Store, my makeup collection was a mess. I had everything stuffed together in one drawer with no order or structure. I am a bit of a neat freak, so I was desperate to clean up the space. These new drawers help me organize my makeup, so when I need to find something I know exactly where to look. The clear material makes it easy to see what is inside the drawers so I don't have to look through each one. The lipstick holder has three rows with eight slots each. Each row is elevated higher than the previous row, so you can see all your lipsticks at once. Having all the colors in front of me makes it easier to find the right color.

"Before The Container Store, my makeup collection was a mess."

 The three drawer containers are 6.5"x 6.5" clear cubes that retail for $12.99. They fit plenty of makeup without taking up too much space. The lipstick holder fits twenty-four lipsticks (even those with chunky packaging) and retail for $7.99 each. They are 8.75" x 3.5" x 1.875" and, like the drawers, they are easy to store in small spaces. I would highly recommend these containers; they are good quality and leave your collection looking professional and neat. Plus, they are relatively affordable. I was able to organize my entire collection for less than $35! If you don't have access to a Container Store, you can look for beauty organizers at amazon.com. I have not personally tried their products, but they have a wide variety of storage sets at an affordable price. You can also purchase beauty organizers in Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, and QVC. These products are well worth the investment and I am very pleased with the results. 

Makeup Organization

     Now here is the fun part! Buying the containers is the easy part, actually organizing my makeup was the real challenge. It took me a while to decide where to put what, but I managed to find a system that works for me. I organized each drawer by product (blushes, lipgloss, etc.) instead of by brand or color. Personally, this system works well for me because it allows me to find the products I need quickly. I would recommend testing several different systems and see which one works best for you!

Drawer One

This is where I store all of my high-end and drugstore lipglosses. Most of them are from the drugstore and can be found at Ulta. 

Drawer Two

In this drawer, I store my Tarte Lip Surgence (because I have a lot!) and any other lip pencil or liner. I love lip products like the Tarte's Lip Surgence and Clinique's Chubby Sticks because they moisturize your lips while adding a pop of color.

Drawer Three

Here is where I store all my eyeshadow bases, eye primers, individual eyeshadows, and small drugstore palettes. I call this drawer my "miscellaneous eye products" drawer. 

Drawer Four

This drawer stores the most essential products of my collection. It includes my powders, concealers, and bronzers. I use those products every morning, so it is convenient to have them all in one drawer.

Drawer Five

Here I store all of my high-end and drugstore blushes. This is my favorite of all the drawers because the packaging of all the blushes are cute and feminine. 

Drawer Six

This is where I store all of my mascaras, eyeliners, brow pencils, and brow gel. This is definitely the most crowded drawer! 

For more information on the containers I purchased, visit The Container Store website:

The Container Store: http://www.containerstore.com/welcome.htm

3-Drawer Box: http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10019532&N=&Nao=80&Ns=p_sort_default%7C0&Ntt=clear+drawer

Lipstick Holder: http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/cosmeticsOrganizers/countertop?productId=10030982&green=736C2A2F-0ECD-50A1-03FF-9FF1D59A7C35

I hope you all enjoyed this article and found it helpful. Comment or tweet me any suggestions! 

The Beauty Belle

Top 5 Drugstore Lipsticks!

     No makeup porduct gives more of a pop of color to your face than lipstick. A subtle nude can compliments a smokey eye while a bright red will be sure to turn heads! But don't be fooled by the prices in sephora because there are perfectly good lipsticks in the drugstore. Here are my favorites:

1. Pink Chic by Rimmel London
  This is a perfect barbie pink lipstick from the drugstore. It is a very bright color, but yet very versitile. It has a very high pigmentation and is quite creamy. If you wear it on its on, prepare for a bright, retro pink. Personally, I like to apply a little chap stick or vaseline as a base before I apply the lipstick. It will work to tone down te color and make it more wearable during the day. This color is perfect for the spring and summer and can be dressed up and down. I wore to school almost my entire freshman year in high school, and I also used it for formal parties at night. I would highly recommend you check out this product, its great quality at a great price!


2. Candy Apple by Revlon (Revlon Lip Butter)

If you are looking for a bold red lip color at an affordable price, this lipstick will be perfect for you. Revlon Lip Butters are the creamiest, most moisturizing lipsticks I have ever tried; I consider them to be a highly pigmented lip balm. They apply smoothly on my lips and leave them looking buttery and soft. Plus, the packaging is adorable. This color is surprisingly versatile and sheer. Because of its sheer formulation, it is very buildable. Sometimes I dab a little on my lower lip and pat my lips together, leaving them with a subtle red tint. When I am feeling more daring, I apply several coats. It leaves your lips looking fun and kissable. If you have never tried a red lipstick before, this is a great product for beginners. It is very forgivable during applications and it isn't as bold as other red drugstore lipsticks. Trust me, this product is worth having.


3. Petal by Revlon
This is the perfect neutral lipstick for any occasion. When I first tried this product, I was amazed at how smooth it applied. It is more pigmented than the Revlon Lip Butters, but isn't as creamy. The color is long lasting and it is perfect on the go. It is a soft pink color with a golden undertone. It has a little golden shimmer in it that glistens when the light hits my lips. The lipstick is perfect for school, work, or for any occasion where you want a subtle hint of color on your lips. I wear it a lot on the weekends, when I am wearing minimal makeup and just want a little bit of glam. The lipstick does a great job of making your lips look healthy and beautiful. This is a great gateway lipstick for those of you who are new to makeup and want to try some products out. Plus, it is very affordable so it doesn't require a big commitment. 


4. Brown to Earth by Maybelline
I have always been the type of girl who likes to stick to soft, pink lipsticks. Because I am so fair, I feel intimidated by darker, bolder colors. But I always try to encourage myself to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. That is exactly what I did when I bought this lipstick from Maybelline. It is a dark, matte brown shade that I purchased this past fall. I had never owned a brown lipstick before, and convinced myself that this year would be the year I would finally try one. I was insecure about my decision, but all my fears went away once I tried it. The beautiful brown tone looked amazing on, and it even complimented my light brown hair. I was surprised of how much I liked it and disappointed that I hadn't tried it earlier. That was my first Maybelline lipstick, and since then, I have bought three more. I love their smooth formula; they glide on effortlessly and stay on for several hours. If you are on edge about trying a new shade of lipstick, I would say go for it. You might be surprised of how much you ended up loving it! 

5. Plum by Maybelline
After my success with Brown by Maybelline, I decided to check out more dark lipsticks. I don't know if I was feeling confident that day or if I was just making an impulse buy, but one afternoon I left the drugstore with a new plum colored lipstick. It was unlike any shade I had ever owned. The formulation was as great as the last Maybelline lipstick I bought, but the shade was totally different. When I took it out of the packaging, I was surprised at how purple it was! I began to doubt my decision of buying it, but like the last lipstick, my doubts disappeared after the first couple of uses. Because the color is so bold, I tend to use lip balm underneath to tone it down. This makes the color more wearable for everyday. But when I am going out, I apply an even coat to my lips and a little gloss. I used it throughout the holiday season. It went everywhere with me, to parties, events, and even mass. I am not going to say this color is versatile, because its not. I would recommend you proceed with caution when using this color. But don't be afraid to pick it up because it is more wearable than you would think.

The Beauty Belle 

Saving on Style: Jewelry

     We all know that feeling when you walk into Bloomingdales and admire all the beautiful handbags, shoes, and jewelry. As you walk by the dazzling products, something suddenly catches your eye. You casually go to check the price and suddenly your heart starts pounding, your eyes bulge out of your head, and you break into a heavy sweat. Well, the situation might not happen quite like that, but I am a little more dramatic. But what if I told you that there was a way to find those beautiful pieces without breaking the bank? All it takes is a keen eye, some patience, and of course, a little help from The Beauty Belle. I am going to show you how to save money on one of the most important beauty essentials: jewelry.

"Keep your eyes open, and your mind positive." 

     Lets face it, every girl lovers her jewelry. But sadly, we can't all afford to pay through the nose for a necklace or watch. On my last trip to Bloomingdales, I was looking at bracelets from different brands and was aghast by the prices. A bracelet from Kate Spade New York cost $88 and another from Marc by Marc Jacobs was priced at $188, to name a few. For a girl with a $20 limit, these prices didn't suit. I was hoping to find a nice quality bracelet for a reasonable price, but after seeing those prices, I knew it wouldn't be easy. If you are in the position I was in, don't worry, there is a solution. This might seem obvious to some of you, but many people overlook this key piece of advice: hunt for sales!
     After my disappointing trip to Bloomingdales, I went to Macy's with little hope of accomplishing anything. But as I walked through the jewelry section, something caught my eye. I turned around and saw a stack of Betsey Johnson, Guess, and Kenneth Cole bracelets sitting on a table. I looked up at the sign and saw a beacon of hope, it read, "50% off". I quickly ran to the table to check the prices. All the bracelets were already significantly marked down before the extra discount. That day I left Macy's with a new Betsey Johnson charm bracelet that I bought for a great price of $19. Later that day I went on their website and found that the original price was $65--meaing I saved a total of $46 on my bracelet!
     So here is my advice, ladies: keep your eyes open and your mind positive. It might take a little hunting, but that piece of jewelry you want is out there waiting for you. Besides, who doesn't like a good hunt?

The Beauty Belle

The Naked Palette: Is it really worth it?

     Everyone thinks that diamonds are a girl's best friend, but personally, I prefer makeup. When I was younger, I used to be obsessed with bright colored makeup products. But as I grew older and as makeup began playing a bigger role in my life, my preferences changed. I began to opt for more neutral colors that I could wear everyday. All makeup junkies know that if you are looking for neutral colors, there is nothing better than the Urban Decay Naked Palette. This palette has a wide range of neutral colors, from a satin highlight to a shimmery black (and every shade of brown a person needs). It's sleek, portable, and on top of it all, it has great packaging! The only down side? It costs $50.00 (U.S. dollars). For me, this palette was not easy to buy. Even though I read so many good reviews on it, I still couldn't justify the cost. I contemplated buying it for several months and all the while I thought to myself, is it really worth it? or isn't there a cheaper alternative? Since then, I have bought the Naked Palette and loved it. But recently, I picked up a very similar neutral palette from Walgreens for only $4.99! It has similar shades to the Naked Palettes, and even several dupes. So why buy the high end product when you can find similar products in the drugstore? 

"It all depends on how often you will use the product and how much you are willing to pay"

              Naked Palette by Urban Decay                                                           Sultry & Neutrals Palette by Profusion

     As you can see, both palettes have a wide variety of neutral colors. There are even several dupes, for example: Virgin + 1st Profusion color, Naked + 7th Profusion color, and Buck + 9th Profusion color. The Naked Palette comes with a flat shader brush and a mini Primer Potion. The Profusion palette comes with a black eyeliner and a sponge-tip applicator. Now here are the main differences. The eyeshadows in the Naked Palette are much better quality. They are highly pigmented and have a smooth formula. In contrast, the Profusion shadows are very chalky and powdery. Also, the lighter colors have very little pigmentation. Both shadows stay on a long time, but they do require primer (I would recommend adding a base and primer before applying the Profusion shadows).   
     If you are looking for everyday eyeshadows, I would recommend making the investment for a higher end product. It might seem hard to justify the price, but trust me, these products pay off. But, if you are only going to use the shadows once in a while, I wouldn't make the investment.  It all depends on how often you will use the product and how much you are willing to pay. But if your on edge about buying the Naked Palette, I would say go for it. You won't be disappointed.

The Beauty Belle