3 Beauty Tricks to Wake up your Face

The worst thing in the world is waking up with dark, sunken eyes that match perfectly with how exhausted you truly are. Over time, I have learned a few tips and tricks that easily and effectively brighten up my face early in the morning! These are my top 5 MUSTS in my early morning makeup routine

The best concealer I have ever tried!!

1. The first (and my favorite) trick is concealing your under eye circles. The trick to this is to apply the concealer in a downward arrow shape. This shape creates the illusion of a longer face and less baggy eyes. My concealer is Tarte's Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in light-medium. Also, getting a concealer that is a tad too light for you does the job even better!

2. Next, contour! My go-to bronzer is Hoola by Benefit. It's the perfect shade for many skin tones, so if you've never tried it I would say you definitely should. My highlighter is Candelight Glow by Too Faced. I just recently got into highlighting and this is the first one I have tried. I think it works great because of the slight shimmer. I apply this on my cheekbones, outsides of my nose, and cupid's bow (right above your lip). This works great to brighten up your entire face.

3. Opening up your eyes is the most important part! Your eyes are the center of your face and are the first thing people see when they talk with you. White eyeliners and eyeshadows are the perfect way to do this. First, I like to use NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk to brighten up my inner corners. It's a perfectly pigmented cream base shadow that I think EVERYONE should have in their makeup collection. NYX is a drugstore brand with great essentials like this. Also, their eyeliner pencil in white works just as well when lining your waterline. Doing this instantly will make your eyes open wide and awake!

 Before                                     After

Surprise! It's Almost Valentine's Day!

Whether you have a significant other or not, Valentine's Day is a day to remind someone you love how much you love them. My favorite way to do this is with a surprise. I have always been a hopeless romantic and love to think of cute and creative ways to surprise my friends, family, and boyfriend like they do in the movies. When I was 10 I would deliver heart shaped cupcakes and candies to boys I had crushes on in my neighborhood. Although, that didn't work out so well in my favor (I still get teased about it to this day) these are some really cute and thoughtful ways to surprise the people you love this Valentine's Day.

1. One of my favorite things to do is surprise my mom with flowers and a card waiting for her in the kitchen right when she wakes up in the morning. I added a card because last year my mom was convinced the flowers were from her boyfriend and he almost got all the credit! It's simple, sweet, and unexpected. Mom's love that kind of stuff!

2. Forget the flower or chocolate deliveries, deliver something yourself that only this specific person in your life would love or understand. You know all of their favorite things so taking the time to put a gift together and leaving it on their doorstep for when they arrive home is a thoughtful surprise anybody would appreciate.

3. Low budget this year? Me too. Pinterest has plenty of Valentine's Day recipes that will cost you close to nothing. Last year I made my boyfriend strawberry chocolate chip cookies and he insists that's all he wants from me this year. 

How cute are these?!

4. Remind them of all the good times you've had. I'm a very sentimental person and love reminiscing. Get a jar or a box and fill it with little notes reminding them of all your best memories and leave it in their bedroom to find. I promise you, they will hold on to it forever!

4 Ways to Brighten up your Gloomy Monday Morning

Let's face it, no one likes Mondays. Especially when you wake up to a dark, and gloomy day outside. These are my top 4 ways to have a bright, positive, and productive day; even if the odds are against you.

1. Wake up and Smell the Coffee

I don't know about you guys but coffee is as essential to me in the morning as oxygen. Waking up and going to my 8:30 classes would be unbearable without even the strong smell of coffee brewing. Studies also show that people who drink coffee are less likely to become depressed than those who don't. This is because coffee has a ton of antioxidants that help fight disease and of course the caffeine helps to boost your mood as well.

2. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

It's a cliche, I know, but that's because it's true. Starting the day off with a healthy breakfast can help improve your day in so many ways. Eating breakfast helps to speed up your metabolism for the rest of your day, and to start your day off with an optimistic attitude.

3. Open up your blinds!

It may be too gross and gloomy to do your homework outside today, but studying in front of an open window with even a little bit of natural sunlight can help boost your mood and help you from getting that horrible feeling cooped up inside all day. Studies even show that light exposure in your workplace have both physical and mental benefits. 

4. Get Organized

I may be a little too obsessive when it comes to organizing my weekly planner, but I don't know what I would do without it! I love the feeling of filling out my weekly plans and reminders every Monday. Organization skills help you to have the most productive week possible and relieve the stress of waking up every day not sure what to do.