My Makeup Mini-Haul + Product Reviews

Hey, beauties! I recently tried out a few new products and I'm excited to blog my reviews on them!! I ordered the AVON Magix Face Perfector, AVON Lash Conditioner + Primer, mark. All Butter Now Lip Treat in Mauvelous, and the mark. Juice Gems in Juicy Fig. All of these products can be purchased at youravon.com/ssandis so be sure to check that out after reading my post. 

I'm going to start right at the beginning. I have been looking for a product to help combat the oily shine that has been attacking my face as of late -- does that sound too dramatic? No, I think it's fair to say. I've heard the rave reviews on the Magix Face Perfector ($11) and was hoping I would like it as much as others seem to. What is nice about this product is that it is a colorless face primer. There is no tint to it and it is for all skin tones. I love the added SPF 20, which I can rely on to help protect my skin from the damaging rays from the Sun. 

My Notes on the Magix Face Perfector Product: 
- It has a powdery feel when applying. 
- Soaks up the shine practically instantly! 
- Delivered a matte finish.
- I do notice the scent of SPF and that's the only scent I get from the product. 
- I applied my Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation over-top and it blended easily and flawlessly. 
- My pores are all but gone! 
- This product really does make a difference in how your finished makeup look will turn out.
- I am now a firm believe in face primers. This one gets my vote and I won't ever go without it again!

I already knew that I loved the mark. All Butter Now Lip Treat ($11) product, since I had tried it before and fell in love instantly with shade Bare All. I am just about all out of my tube (eek! *gasp*) and was dying to try one of the new shades that was recently added to the product line. I chose the shade Mauvelous! This lip butter smells and tastes amazing with the shea, cocoa, and mango seed butters.

My Notes on the mark. All Butter Now Lip Treat shade Mauvelous:
- Perfect mauve shade for Fall.
- My dry lips instantly felt moisturized and smooth.
- Smooth, buttery texture that is pleasant and non-sticky.
- Wears like a lipstick but feels like a lip balm (lightweight!) 
- I realized that I NEED all 8 of the mark. All Butter Now Lip Treat Shades!!

I've been wanting to try the mark. Juice Gems High Shine Lip Gloss ($11) for a long time now and finally I was about to! I wanted a more neutral colored lip gloss as most of my lipstick stash is pinks and reds. I chose Juicy Fig and i'm quite glad that I did. I am so excited that this product contains real fruit extracts that amp up that yummy factor! This really does taste delish and that's refreshing from the chemical taste of other lip glosses that i've used. 

My Notes on the mark. Juice Gems High Shine Lip Gloss shade Juicy Fig:
- My lips felt hydrated and conditioned after applying.
- This tube is much BIGGER than I thought it would be (yay more bang for your buck!). 
- High Shine in the name is exactly what you will get with this product. Incredible glazed look. 
- Just a hint of color, which is what I was looking for! 
- Easy to squeeze tube, making application a breeze (just be careful to not overdue it. Less is more, ladies!!). 
- Packaging is overall made well. I can trust that the cap isn't just going to fall off when in my bag and dry out my product.
-Tastes a bit like peach. Yum!!

I previously blogged my review on my new favorite mascara: Big & False Lash Volume Mascara. Since I have just started to wear mascara, i'm still learning how my eyelashes will take to it and how to treat and take care of them. I discovered the AVON Lash Conditioner + Primer ($8 ON SALE NOW $4.99!) and knew I had to get it. I saw some reviews that this product had actually helped in growing eyelashes and who wouldn't want that!? This was the first go at using a lash conditioner and I wasn't sure really what to expect. 

My Notes on the AVON Lash Conditioner + Primer:
- What I found was that the conditioner is a white, creamy primer that goes on just like any mascara would. 
- The wand is not too big nor too small, I found it to be the perfect size and brush to reach and prep all of my lashes.
- Went on and left the tips of my eyelashes white at first, but quickly faded and you couldn't tell it was on them. 
- My mascara went on over-top nicely, and I even noticed a difference in how the product worked. I was surprised to find that the mascara results intensified with the use of this lash primer! 
- Also, I noticed when it was time to remove my eye makeup, it came off even easier than before. Which though I thought was not possible, clearly it was. 
- I'm very pleased with this product and will continue to use it and see if I notice my eyelashes grow during continued use.

Purchase today's Mini-Haul Makeup Products + MORE at youravon.com/ssandis

Use COUPON CODE: MARK25DEAL for 25% off your $50+ order PLUS, 

FREE SHIPPING TO YOUR ADDRESS!!

Quick Beauty Tips for the Girl who is Short on Time

Hey there, beauties! There are "a zillion" beauty tips online and some of them take up more of your time than others. Here are just a few of the ones I found that are sure to help out when you are short on time.

Prime Your Pucker. Use a bit of foundation on your lips before applying your lipstick. It will help the color stay all day. I recommend the Smooth Minerals line or the BB Cream.

Perfect Peepers. A Q-tip dipped in eye cream can easily clean up any mistakes or smudges from your eye makeup application. For radiant, well-rested looking eyes, use Anew Vitale Eye Gel Cream.

Lash Blast. Heat your eyelash curler with your blow dryer for a few seconds (don't overdo it!) before you use it. It will help lock in the curl. Add an Avon Eyelash Curler to your online order. It's only $3.99!

Reduce Zit Redness. A dab of Visine will help take the red out of a pimple.

Healthy Looking Skin and Hair. Baby oil is great to add to your daily moisturizing routine for a bit of extra sheen. In a pinch, a pea-sized amount can act as a shine hair serum before dashing out the door. Be sure to try the AVON Classic, Skin So Soft Original Bath Oil It does wonders for your skin!

Clean Up. If your 12-hour lip stain isn't coming off with soap and water, a bit of makeup remover will do the trick. I highly recommend using both the Eye Makeup Remover Lotion and the Makeup Remover Wipes when its time to clean off the beauty products.

Use Gloss to Glow. Celebrity makeup artist Gina Brooke says, "Take a lip gloss in a sheer nude color and add it to the apples of your cheeks. It will instantly illuminate your skin and create the illusion of a healthy glow where you need it most."

For Bushy Brows. Use a fresh toothbrush and a spritz of hairspray to tame unruly eyebrows.

Dry in a Flash. The quickest way to dry hair after you shower is to first soak up excess water with a towel. Then, blow dry starting with the hair underneath and work your way to the outer layers.

Sleep Your Way to Frizz-Free Hair. Use a satin pillowcase so your hair doesn't turn into a beehive overnight. Satin helps keep strands smooth while you sleep.

xo Sylvia

Mascara Tips from a Celeb MUA

Good morning, beauts. It’s no secret: Long, lengthy, dark eyelashes that frame and define your eyes, are one of your most important beauty assets. This beauty truth explains why so many of us rely on an extra coat of mascara before we head out the door. It’s that finishing touch that is essential for an extra dose of confidence. In fact, if a person seeks out eye contact when talking, he or she is judged to be more believable, confident and competent — an extra incentive to keep those lashes looking their best.

So, if you’re looking to step up your lash game, read on for a few helpful pointers from Lauren Andersen, Avon’s Global Celebrity Makeup Artist.

Ready, Set, Curl!

“Curling is a crucial step for longer-looking lashes, because it makes them more visible and opens up your eyes. As always, make sure your lashes are clean before you start. Wipe them gently with an oil-based makeup remover. Then, using an eyelash curler, get as close as you can to your eyelid and press the curler firmly.”

Less Is More

“If necessary, rub excess mascara off the brush with a clean towel before application. Avoid applying too much too quickly — this can create heavy clumps that are a no-no for lengthy lashes. I would recommend using a specialized product such as Avon’s SuperExtend Mascara. The unique formula and spikey bristles allow for maximum lash coverage.”

Get The Right Balance

“When all is said and done, lashes should be lighter at the tips so that they won’t get weighed down and straighten out. To accomplish this, position the brush at the base of the lash so the bristles grip your lengthy lookers evenly. Then, push up lightly against the lashes, wiggling the brush slightly outward (but not all the way to the tips of the lashes). Extend the drama by drawing out some length with a few smooth strokes starting from the base, out to the tip.”

Take Creative Control

“You have more creative freedom with your mascara than you might think. You can create different looks by sweeping the mascara in different directions. Sweep upwards for an open-eyed, doll-like look or brush outwards at an angle for a more elongated, classically feminine look.”

Bottoms Up

“Don’t forget the bottom lashes! I suggest doing them after the top lashes when there’s a minimal amount of mascara on the brush. With a few light strokes downward, darken your lower lashes a to add a bit of definition for larger looking eyes.”

Products used in this article: Moisture Effective Eye Makeup Remover Lotion, Avon Eyelash Curler, SuperExtend Winged Out Mascara

For more articles on beauty, empowerment, lifestyle, and more make sure you check out AVON's Beauty for a Purpose website. To purchase the products used in this entry, go to youravon.com/ssandis

13 Big Moments In Beauty History

Happy Monday, beauties! Since the beginning of time, women have primped and pampered themselves to feel attractive, healthy, poised and confident — all in the name of beauty. But the word’s very definition is one that’s constantly changing, as much as the cultures that define it and are defined by it.

Enjoy a bit of time travel as we recount some of history’s most important beauty moments and trends, from 4,000 B.C. to today.

1. 4,000 B.C. Cleopatra’s makeup was more than just a fashion statement. According to National Geographic, her heavily lined lids actually protected against infection. The low dose of lead salt in kohl, a mixture of animal fat and lead, increased the body’s production of nitric oxide, which stimulated the immune system and helped fight disease-causing bacteria.

2. 1370 The first “modern” perfume was made for Queen Elizabeth of Hungary. The scent, known as Hungary Water, was made of scented oils in an alcohol solution.

3. 1500 Another queen, this time Queen Elizabeth I — you know that Queen Elizabeth — popularized the use of makeup. She used white lead and vinegar to create a ghostly white countenance and then tinted her lips crimson with beeswax and plant-based dyes.

4. 1880s Queen Victoria denounced the use of makeup. She thought it to be vulgar!

5. 1911 It’s been said that false eyelashes were invented by American director David W. Griffith to widen the expressive eyes of the actresses in his silent films. But a patent was actually granted to a Canadian woman named Anna Taylor in 1911. False eyelashes wouldn’t become popular with mainstream women until the ‘40s.

6. 1912 Activists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Charlotte Perkins Gilman who walked in the New York Suffragette Rally of 1912 wore vibrant red lipstick to signify both liberty and rebellion, proving once again that lip color can become a badge of female strength.

7. 1929 Avon launched its line of color cosmetics at a time that could have been potentially disastrous: during the Great Depression. However, the business thrived thanks to Representatives who could travel and meet face-to-face with customers, even in the most rural of settings. Some now call it “the lipstick effect” — studies show that in times of economic distress, many women turn to their favorite makeup item for a boost.

8. 1939-1945 During WWII in Britain, all cosmetics were rationed except for lipstick, which was thought to have boosted morale. Female nurses in the armed forces were also stuck to the bright shade as lipstick was thought to have a calming effect on male soldiers.

9. 1946 Eva Perón was as not only a political activist and trail-blazing First Lady of Argentina, but also a style icon. Her honey-blonde locks were always fashioned in a pristine, voluminous chignon — creating #hairenvy throughout the country and world, long before the advent of the hashtag.

10. 1974 The seventies were a big decade for the women’s liberation movement in the U.S. and beyond: Switzerland finally gave women main election voting rights in 1971, Oxford University opened their doors to women in 1972, and the U.S. passed the Domestic Violence Act, making domestic violence no longer a “private matter” in 1976. It was also a year of change in the fashion and beauty industry. Beverly Johnson became the first black model to grace the cover of American Vogue.

11. 1980s Big hair and shoulder pads weren’t the only looks that defined this decade. With the launch of MTV in 1981, the fierce and fun beauty looks of pop princesses influenced women all over the U.S. Over-the-top eye shadow, thick liner, rosy cheeks, full lips and bushy brows — girls just wanna have fun a full face of makeup!

12. 2013 Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated many parts of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. Recognizing the power of a pick-me-up, Department of Education Secretary Armin Luistro called for donations of beauty products with the goal of gifting them to teachers in the affected areas. Avon was honored to provide makeup kits, including tubes of brightly hued lipstick. “Avon feels very much humbled to be given this privilege, through our lipsticks, to have a role in these teachers’ heroism as they return to their teaching posts for the sake of the students whom they serve,” commented Faith Fernandez Aranton, Avon Philippines’ Head of PR and Communications.

13. 2015 Today the “power brow” is having a moment. Look to none other than mark. Ambassador Lucy Hale and her perfect arches for evidence. Women are using tweezers sparingly and filling in brows with pencils and powders to get strong, confident brows.


What will be the next big moment in beauty? 

Only time will tell.