BFR Blog

As a self-proclaimed festival guru I must say, festival fashion is definitely one of my favorite parts about festival season. Even though I’m stoked about seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radio Head, Lady Gaga, and Justice perform live, planning my festival look and looking for makeup inspo is equally exciting.

As I plan for my festival season lineup, I think about my favorite festival-loving celebs like Vanessa Hudgens, my favorite Coachella fashion goddess, and the Ultra Angles, the super sleek rave queens. I think about my rave fam and all the tips we’ve learned throughout the years and wish we’d known to spare us those embarrassing pictures of looking a hot mess. These are the essentials of Festival Season 2017... simplified.

With experience comes wisdom, and I’ve learned that sometimes your perfectly put-together ensemble looks great for that first picture but by the end of your 12-hour sing-a-long dance-a-thon in the blazing sun...well, not so much. So here’s the 411 on how to keep your face looking fresh and put-together all day at your favorite summer festivals.

Now, I love beauty products and my makeup collection is pretty extensive but I’ll admit I’m no make-up artist. Whenever I try something too crazy, I instantly regret it. It doesn’t look quite how I pictured and in a couple hours it definitely won’t look how I pictured (yikes!). I’ve learned that if you want to look amazing from start to finish, less is more! Plus, fuss-free looks are guaranteed to last longer. This is especially convenient considering there’s no mirrors in the bathrooms, you definitely don’t want to be there longer than you need to, and you wouldn’t want to miss any second of your perfect setimes schedule anyway.

 

 

  

Long Lasting Music Festival Makeup is easier than you think. Start off with a good waterproof SPF and then you’ll want something light for your cheeks. Heavy makeup will not only melt off but also clog your pores and cause breakouts so you’ll want to leave the foundation and contour kit at home. For beautiful skin all 3 days of non-stop fun, you need to let your skin breathe. Cream blush and cream highlighter, like Beauty For Real’s Blush + Glo, are perfect because the creamy consistency works over sunscreen and can be layered on to achieve your desired pigment. Don’t forget to bring face wipes with you in your fanny pack or satchel to freshen up every couple hours!

Now for the eyes. The ultimate staple for any festival makeup look is colored eyeliner, and of course, it’ll need to be a sweat-proof, waterproof eyeliner pencil. Swap out your basic black or brown eyeliner for electric blue or metallic gold. The Beauty For Real I-LINE are absolutely the best colored pencils on the market. I wore my In The Navy to Ultra Miami, the absolute hottest and humid festival in the US, and I didn’t have to touch up once.

 As for the lips, lip care should go above everything else. Lip scrub and moisturizing, long lasting lip gloss is all you’ll need to beat the heat. I prefer lighter colors on the lips because they won’t smudge and it’s easy to apply. My first time at EDC Vegas, my lips were chapped no matter how much chapstick I put on, even days after coming back from the festival. If only I’d known about Beauty For Real Natural Sugar Scrub. Since I discovered this amazing lip scrub, I always bring it with me and I’ve gotten all my friends hooked!

Finish it off with some bling and setting spray! No rave outfit is complete without gems and glitter, my absolute favorite makeup accessory. The best part about it is there’s no wrong way to do it. I hold my gems with clear eyelash glue and they really don’t move (I may have fallen asleep with them and woke up like a true Glitter Queen once or twice…). Chunky glitter is all the rave right now, pun intended. Put it above your cheekbones, under your eyes, on your chest, go crazy with it. You’ll look fabulous, regardless. Lastly, every beauty-conscious ravers’ secret weapon for maximizing longwear makeup: setting spray.

For hair and body, you should still go for low maintenance. Flash tattoos are on my list of must-have festival accessories, along with a bandana and some sunnies. Flash tattoos stand out more on bronzed skin and last longer when your skin is moisturized. Last month at Coachella, both guys and girls were rocking these shiny temporary tats. In lieu of a choker or statement necklace, try a metallic strip on your neck or a couple accents on your collarbone. A fancy pattern on your sternum, back, or shoulder will have people blinded by your shine from all angles!

Beach waves hair, “the messy look,”  or a man-bun inspired lady bun are all trendy and easy-to-do festival hair looks that will hold in place with a texturizing spray. And if you’re doing a camping festival you’ll definitely need to consider this option. This year for Okeechobee Festival, I curled my hair with a wand Friday afternoon before heading to the festival and the curls held all weekend with the help of my handy-dandy texturizing spray! It keeps hair from getting greasy and really holds.

Braids are another great up-do option. A simple french-braid is a great quick touch-up or if you want to get really edgy get box braid or corn rows with colored hair-add ins. You won’t have to worry about your hair all weekend! Another great festival tip is to start hair down on day 1 and gradually start picking up your hair. So maybe do some Zenon or Miley buns with your bangs on day 2, and a high pony on day 3. Bandanas are amazing because you can wear it around your neck for the pre-festival pic, use it on your hair when it gets too hot (it’s practically an outfit change right?),  and even use it protect your nose and mouth from that dreaded festival dust.

My last festival tips is that every festival has it’s own culture, a certain vibe, a certain look. I love this about festivals because it gives me a chance to get creative. Not to mention my makeup and outfit perfectly coordinate with the surroundings for that perfect Insta pic.

For example, when you think of Coachella or Lollapalooza, you’ll definitely want to go for Boho Chic. Bring out the brown eyeshadow and brown eyeliner, some gold eyeliner on the waterline, a statement hat, denim and boots.  For EDC Vegas, Ultra, and Tomorrowland, you’ll want to go for street-style meets rave babe. Try a bodysuit with psychedelic print, space boots and colored eyeliner.  For Burning Man, be bold, get creative! Desert weather is unpredictable; you have to be prepared for anything. Don’t be afraid to show some skin during the day and show off your bronzed body in the Playa and bundle up at night. Are you a techno girl? Go for grunge. Black eyeliner, black harness, throw in a green alien somewhere,  black boots, and some more black wherever else you can fit it! Do some research, pick a theme, and make it your own! This will give you a starting point and plenty of ideas to work with.

Last but not least, whatever you wear, whatever you do, remember to be you! One of the best things about any music festival is how accepting the community is. My biggest mistake I made in my early festival days was trying to hard to fit the mold with my look. For example, when I went to Coachella for the first time, I over-accessorized. On Day 1, my outfit consisted of flowers, a hat, a lace top, rhinestones… it was just too much and poorly coordinated. As it turns out I had the best time on day 3 and snapped the best pictures in my last outfit, the one I put together last minute pulling random items from my luggage. I was comfortable, my look held up, and most importantly, I looked like me. You don’t want to be unrecognizable, you want to be the most beautiful version of yourself. Think of it like your wedding day but sooo much better. So remember, less is more!

Ultra and Coachella marked the beginning of summer festival season and if you’re following the looks like I am, on every social media imaginable, you’ll agree the FOMO is real. So how do you cope? Start planning your next festival venture and start shopping for your Festival essentials (this includes in your friends closets!). Try on outfits from head-to-toe, practice your makeup, take pictures and look back at the pictures a couple days later, don’t settle until you’re absolutely in love. That’s what I do! As for me, I’m off to Europe for Awakenings Festival and Ibiza Season. Beauty For Real, Bikinis, and Techno. Can you say LIVING?!

Leave a comment with your favorite festival look, the ultimate festival tips, or what you’re most excited for this festival season!

By Lyss Hollywood

At this point, we’ve all seen or heard about the new unicorn trend floating around the internet, making it’s way into the fashion, beauty, hair, and even food industries. If you’ve never heard of this trend, essentially, you must be living under a rock. Unicorn themes are being seen all over Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube as well as ruling the red carpet and runways at fashion weeks. So where did this trend start, how did it grow into a phenomena, and how long will the unicorn trend be sustainable?

The first signs of the unicorn trend are seen as far back as 2012 with OG unicorners Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Lisa Frank. Perry, a self-proclaimed unicorn,  has always maintained a unicorn look with her ever-changing and multi-colored hair, but the singer can be seen upping her unicorn game since back in 2012. Around this time, Miley began wearing unicorn onesies, featuring them in her music videos and debuting a lot more colorful hairstyles as well. The ultimate unicorn look though, comes from none other than Gaga herself who transforms into one for an editorial shot by renowned photographer Steven Klein.

A collaboration between Lisa Frank and Urban Outfitters in 2012 gave a huge push on 90s nostalgia. Specifically, with colorful prints and animal themes, spawning a Lisa Frank nail art micro-trend during that time. For his Fall 2012 collection, Jeremy Scott even featured a look that was composed completely of Lisa Frank stickers. These are the beginnings of the unicorn trend that exploded into the phenomena it is today.  

Unicorn love laid dormant for a few years before making it’s way to the masses and exploding into the trend we see today. This trend splashed into the faces of the public once again in spring and summer of 2016. We began to see unicorn inspired fashion on the red carpet and runway, unicorn liner, highlighter, brushes, glitter, the works! Valentino and Alexander McQueen debuted unicorn themed pieces on the runway in 2016, which were then seen styled on celebrities walking the red carpets and cruising around town. Nicole Kidman was photographed back in early 2016 on the red carpet of the American Country Music Awards wearing a colorful Alexander McQueen gown covered in unicorns and other animals. Later in the year, at the premiere of Suicide Squad, Margot Robbie was also seen in one of McQueen’s remarkable unicorn gowns. The unicorn embellishments and colors on the gowns added a whimsical and fantastical feel to the actresses’ looks. Jennifer Lopez and Emilia Clarke were also seen wearing unicorns on their ensembles in 2016, both rocking pieces from Valentino. From there, the fashion cycle commenced and the trend began to trickle down and across the fashion system amongst everyone--including both fashion leaders and followers.

The trend transcended into the beauty world with unicorn makeup, liners, highlighters, hair color, and many more products aimed at the unicorn lover in us all. Gigi Hadid debuted unicorn makeup during summer ‘16, blending iridescent blues, greens, pinks, and purples around her eyes with opalescent highlights on the cupids bow, cheek and brow bones. More recently, we’ve seen a unicorn hair trend featured many times on Chrissy Teigen and Shay Mitchell’s Instagrams. The look is a braided ponytail that resembles a unicorn horn when finished.

(To Get The Look: Place your hair in a high, tight ponytail. Spray your ponytail with Beauty For Real’s South Beach Spray to add texture and volume. Separate the ponytail into two pieces and twirl them together so they swirl and look like a horn! Now that you've transformed your pony into a horn, all that's left is makeup!)

Shay Mitchell then teamed up with makeup artist Ariel Tejada to create a unicorn inspired Coachella look on YouTube. The look consists of pink tones on the upper lid and blue tones on the lower lash line, all of which are shimmery and give a lustrous look to the eyes. Ariel finished off Shay’s look by adding small dots to her forehead which resemble a unicorn horn and she was ready for Coachella.  

(Get The Look: Place Beauty For Real’s Shadow STX in All Day Latte all over the upper eyelids and blend with your fingers. Then take the Shadow STX in Ever Starstruck underneath the brow bone for a highlight. For the lower lashline and waterline, take the 24/7 I-LINE in In The Navy and smudge it under the lashes. To give the unicorn horn effect, take the I-LINE in 24 Karat and create dots which get slightly smaller as you go towards the hairline. Top it all off with a luminous highlight on the high points of the face using Blush + Glo in Coral Crush + High Beam. And that’s it! You’ve recreated Shay Mitchell’s flawless unicorn Coachella look.)

At this point, you can’t help but ask yourself, “Why unicorns?” Well, fashionistas of the 20th and 21st century aren’t the only mystic-magic-lovers around. Unicorns have been revered for their beauty and grace since ancient times. In most accounts, they represent purity and strength, while commanding respect from mankind. The funny thing about unicorns is they actually aren’t considered mythological because...well, they don’t actually appear in any myths. Unicorns are documented in natural history by ancient Greek explorers who recounted their trips to the mysterious, exotic, and far-off land of India. We can’t be sure of what these travelers actually saw, but anthropologist have their theories. So...are unicorns real, then? Nothing wrong with holding on to a little bit of hope.

Whether you love it, hate it, or have a love-hate relationship with it, the unicorn trend is here to stay awhile. It's made it's way across industries into facets of our everyday lives as this millennial obsession continues to grow. Millennials have long been known to follow a “retro-fashion” cycle by reverting back to moments of nostalgia. Trends that reflect this retro feeling ultimately do extremely well and have a strong following. As an example, just take a look at the Polaroid boom that's also going on right now. Although we have modern technology that allows us to share our photos instantly, it's become trendy to go back to using Polaroids and getting an instant printed photo. The unicorn trend brings back feelings of our colorful childhood which is why it has stuck around and will continue to grow. In the age of 80s and 90s nostalgia, the unicorn is king, bringing millennials back to the time of Lisa Frank. Unicorns have officially taken over the fashion and beauty worlds, and have now begun their big move into the food industry. With hot cocoa, and cake, and coffee, oh my….  

If you’re looking for local Miami fun, no one knows the scene like celebrity makeup artist and our founder, Leslie Munsell. Whether you’re hitting the gorgeous beaches playing in the turquoise waters or strolling down Lincoln Road shopping the hottest trends, Leslie takes you through the city like a true Miamian and shares products that can beat the Miami heat.

 

Treat yourself - Check out The Raleigh Hotel Pool

As a Miami Beach hot spot for over 70 years, it’s safe to say The Raleigh Hotel has South Beach's most beloved pool. The Raleigh Miami Beach pool has been a South Beach icon since it served as a backdrop for many Esther Williams’ films, but it’s the Pool Bar that has kept visitors coming back over the years. Sip a midday mojito as you float around the pool or enjoy a fresh, creative cocktail while lounging poolside. 

Treat Yourself- Unwind at a spa right on Miami’s world-famous South Beach

Spa Ricci is the place unwind with wellness. Not only is it conveniently located on South Beach, Spa Ricci is a wholistic wellness center that ensures you’ll be pampered with the utmost quality care. 

 

Beauty Tip: After your facial, you’ll want to let your skin breathe. Avoid foundation and simply apply Blush + Glo on your bare skin for a refreshed, natural glow.

Treat Yourself to the most delicious seafood in the country

Joe’s Stone Crab is so good it’s always packed, but you don’t have to wait for takeout. World famous- some celebrities even get Joe Stone Crab flown out to them! But if you do want to stay and dine, you'll want to look good for the crowd. A quick red lip and mascara is all you need. Leslie even reported a Tom Cruise sighting there!

 

Views, brews, and shoes- Visit Wynwood, Miami’s hot new art district for the scenery at Wynwood Walls, a bite to eat at any of the various eclectic restaurants, and shop at boutiques and shops offering one-of-a-kind selections.

The Wynwood Walls are an amazing collection of graffiti murals in the Wynwood district of Miami. Located just south of midtown and so worth a quick Uber drive, the walls attract natives and tourists alike. The 2-mile span of murals are unique to Miami, and with over 50 artists from 16 different countries being represented, the walls completely exude the diversity of Miami. It’s a great place to shop, eat, and people watch, too.

Beauty Tip: Don’t let the famous Miami humidity get the best of you. Try our Miami-proof makeup- if it’s good here, imagine how good it will be back home. I-LINE, HI-DEF Mascara, Shadow STX and South Beach Spray.

Views, brews, and shoes- Visit Midtown and relax with a handcrafted cocktail at SugarCane.

Once you’re done wandering through Wynwood, stop at the Shops at Midtown for a drink at SugarCane. SugarCane is an eclectic spot with an indoor/outdoor bar.  Take advantage and enjoy the beautiful weather. Leslie recommends you try the Moscow Mule. The food is tapas style so you can try several dishes- the best brussel sprouts ever!

 

Views, brews, and shoes- Enjoy a cocktail with an Extraordinary Miami View at Juvia.

Want an amazing rooftop view of South Beach? Then Juvia, right off Lincoln Road is the place to have an evening cocktail and feel the fresh ocean breeze. Who said you can’t have it all?

 

 

Wind down and go for lunch- Need some serious lunch after those late night cocktails?  Leslie’s favorite pizza place is Andiamo Pizza and it’s highly recommended to try the Portobello!

 

 

 

Wind down and soak up the sun- You don’t see Miami if you don’t see its gorgeous beaches. If you're looking for family fun, Mid-Beach, between 32nd and 79th streets is the way to go. For all of you party animals, take on Miami’s famous South Beach. You'll have to arrive early to get parking in one of the public lots or private garages, otherwise it’s best to Lyft or Uber.

 

Beauty Tip: Don't forget to spritz on our South Beach texturizing spray so your locks look lavish all day long--Miami heat and all.

 

 

 

To be a jetset beauty means to pack light but not at the expense of your look. This season's hottest trends are perfect to throw in your case for your travels.

It’s all about subtlety, which is perfect for a girl on the go.

Glowing clear skin, gilded eyes and glossy lips are undoubtedly the most wearable trends from the runway. You can’t go wrong if you keep it simple. With these essentials, you just need to decide on your destination.

 

 

Step 1: Pack your makeup must-haves:

Travel-proof Makeup -- Wear out your passport, not your makeup. Long flights, hot car rides, and beachy escapades can be taxing. Don't let that keep you from taking cute selfies in front of memorable places! Opt for a waterproof or water-resistant makeup.

Customer favorite I-LINE eyeliner was just named best sweatproof eyeliner by Equinox Mag so you know it will last through even the longest layover. Choose from 6 shades. Complete the look with Miami-proof HI-DEF Mascara.

 

Hydrated skin and smooth lips-- Your skin care routine needs to be on the go as much as you are. Especially since travel can be dehydrating.

If you're on a long flight you should drink about eight ounces of water every hour you’re in the air. This isn’t just about hydration: Hitting the restroom forces you to move, which keeps blood flowing in your legs.

Refresh dried, chapped lips with our natural sugar exfoliating Lip Revival Exfoliating Lip Scrub.

 

Step 2: Use Ziploc baggies:  Ziploc bags are light and space-saving, and since they’re transparent, you’ll be able to find your necessities quickly and easily.

Step 3: Important Documents

Any woman on-the-go and in-the-know should always make sure she has copies of important documents. Make copies of your passport, ID, and travel information and save it in two places.  Don't just keep a photo on your phone without backing up to the cloud just in case your phone takes a dip in the pool or lake! 

 

 

 

Step 4: Make it fit: How do you fit it all in that super-cute leather weekend bag?

Roll it. If you roll your clothes, it saves space and keeps them from wrinkling.

Pack the Ziploc bags on the side pockets. This ensures the center space is reserved for your clothes and beauty products.

Wear your heavy or bulky items to travel in. Can’t live without your platform sandals? We understand. Just don’t let them take up all the room in your bag when you’re trying to get away for the weekend.

Step 5: Choose your destination

Not sure which destination to hit first? Feeling adventurous? You’re not the only one. That’s why there’s apps out there to help you find a place to travel for any budget. Check out Skyscanner--it allows you to explore flights to anywhere, for any dates with their “Explore Top Deals” feature. Now that’s wanderlust simplified.

 

 

Bon voyage! Send us a selfie!

Spring Essentials simplified? We’ve got you covered. No matter what adventures you’ve got planned this spring, skin care is essential for those sunny days and hot nights. Pack light with these Beach Babe Face+Body must-haves. Radiant beauty starts with healthy glowing skin and that’s just what you’ll get with these products.

 

Step 1: Total Revival Body Scrub for smooth and hydrated skin

The first step to gorgeous skin is exfoliation; that’s where our sugar body scrubs comes in. With a coffee extract and raw brown sugar base, this formula gently exfoliates your skin while invigorating your body and senses to take on the day. The real brown sugar crystals and raw organic coffee gently buff away dry skin cells. Citrus oils and moisturizers made from nature’s simplest elements leave the skin invigorated and renewed.

 

 

Step 2: Total GLO for illuminated skin

Next, hydrate your skin and add a healthy, natural-looking glow with our body bronzing lotion. As a moisturizing body bronzer, this product gives you that sun-kissed look while enriching your skin with shea and cupuacu butters. Shea butter aids in the skin’s natural collagen production. It also protects and nourishes the skin to prevent drying. This helps with skin softening and strengthening and can even reduce wrinkles. The aloe extract acts a soothing agent perfect after a day soaking in the sun. 

Step 3: Blush+GLO for an effortless “no makeup” makeup look

We’ve doubled the dosage of Vitamin E in this product by adding grape seed extract and pomegranate extract. The Vitamin E in our Blush + Glo is a natural moisturizer which has the power to improve skin texture and blemishes while preventing premature signs of aging. These two antioxidants are not only high in Vitamin E, but rich in Vitamin C as well, which means your skin is fortified against aging, oily skin, and acne. These powerful antioxidants are the perfect formula for beautiful, glowing skin.  

Step 4: Lip Revival Sugar Scrub for soft, kissable lips

Get that perfect pout with proper lip care. Getting your tan on often has a harsh effect on your lips. The raw sugar cane in our Lip Revival Scrub exfoliates your lips while orange, vanilla, and cinnamon bark essential oils hydrate and condition for the softest, smoothest, kissable lips. This product will leave your lips hydrated and moisturized like a lip balm. 

s waterproof mascara bad for your lashes? Does a bigger brush actually mean more volume? You can say these are the Old Wives' Tales of beauty ...

In the same way the clothes you wear makes a statement, the color of your eyeliner speaks volumes about your personality and the mood your in. Luckily, our new I-LINE colors are perfect for any mood that strikes you—whether you’re feeling romantic, adventurous, or like a boss. Curious to know what your eyeliner says about you? Read on!

The Adventurer wears In The Navy: As an innovator, you’re not afraid to take risks, and you’re always ready for a new challenge. You’re the creative type who bores of the status quo easily, which is why your eyeliner is as bold as you are. You’re the life of the party and your energy radiates color to every corner of the room. Spontaneity is your middle name, whether it’s going to a concert to see a band you’ve never heard before, or four-wheeling in a remote jungle, you’re always down for adventure. Click here to buy

The Romantic wears Storm: You’re full of soul and believe love conquers all. There’s more to that dreamy look in your eye, though. You’re a classic with a hint of a devilish flair, which means you know what you’ve got and know how to make it pop. You know nothing can go wrong with a little shimmer and a subtle smile. Always ahead of your time, you know how to make people feel special, and friends like to go to you for advice. The glitter you relish within means you have a special glow about you that is simply irresistible. Click here to buy

The Girl Boss wears Whiskey: A multitasker at heart, you know the value of using liner that doubles as shadow. You’re a true woman in control. You’re sharp and sophisticated, neat and decisive, which of course makes you effortlessly timeless. You often find yourself buried in Mad Men marathons, Audrey Hepburn Pinterest boards, DIY projects on the weekends and conquering the boardroom during the week. You’re the one-of-a-kind type of woman who has no problem drinking whiskey from a tea cup. Click here to buy

The “It” Girl wears Black Magic: You’re the embodiment of effortless beauty. You’re a natural problem solver, always finding creative new ways to approach things in every aspect of your life. By keeping it simple with the color, you are able to experiment with eyeliner styles: cat eye, smudged & smoky, orjust along the waterline. If not going for the bold eye, you draw attention to your impeccable style which can paired perfectly with black liner. People find you dependable and loyal. Your knack for common sense makes you admired by all. Click here to buy

We know you're not the same person every day so grab all four and be who you want to be, beautiful.

Click here to buy 2 for $24 (Save $4)

Click here to buy 3 for $32 (Save $10)

Addicted to chapstick? Do you find yourself reapplying lip balm and chapstick all the time? It’s because your lips aren’t really being hydrated! Most balms and chapsticks are made with dangerous chemicals and using them more than once a week is extremely detrimental.

To top it off, if the dead skin cells are not removed before application of lip product, you’re not really doing anything to remedy the problem of chapped and cracked lips.

What is a lip scrub?

Lip scrub is an exfoliating product designed specifically for removing dead skin cells from the sensitive lip area. While there are numerous body exfoliating creams on the market, they tend to have a strong odor, unpleasant taste, and may contain ingredients that should not be used in close proximity to the mouth.

Why use a lip scrub?

The purpose of using a lip scrub or any other exfoliating agent is to remove dead skin cells that tend to dull the natural glow of the skin.

What can you do about chapped lips?

At this point, lip balm will not help to remedy the problem unless the dead skin cells are removed first. A scrub can be used for this action; gently rubbing the lips with a toothbrush or a washcloth could produce the same results.

What’s the best way to apply it?

Apply the scrub all over the lips and gently rub in a circular motion before rinsing. Since Beauty For Real’s Lip Revival Sugar Scrub is made of all-natural ingredients, it is edible AND safe to use daily.

Get a Beauty For Real Lip Scrub today - Shop Here

Watch how it's done here!

It’s the holiday season, which means many of us will be hopping on a plane to jet off on vacation. While this is something to celebrate, you might be slightly ...

At Beauty For Real, we understand that not everyone is a professional makeup artist like Leslie. Most #bfrbeauties are women, like you who love our products because they're easy to use and don’t require hours of YouTube tutorials to apply. There’s nothing wrong with not wanting to spend a ton of time on your makeup. However, if you are breezing through your beauty routine, you may be making some of these common makeup mistakes. Fortunately, they all have simple fixes.

Lip color on dry lips

It’s winter, and if you live in a cold-weather climate, you are probably combatting chapped lips on a daily basis. If you’re a lip-color lover, you don’t want to give up rocking your reds just because your lips look a bit rough. However, whether it is a lip cream, lipstick, or lip gloss, when you apply it to dry, chapped lips, it will accentuate the bumpy texture. Fortunately, there is a very simple solution: exfoliating lip scrub. When you find your lips have dried out, simply apply our Lip Revival scrub to your lips and gently rub with your finger to exfoliate. Voila! Smooth lips that will look flawless, whatever lip color you choose.

The wrong foundation

This is probably the most common makeup mistake in the book. It makes sense because most people make the mistake of trying to match the color by applying it to the hand or arm. To make sure you have the right color, don’t test on your hand; test directly on your jaw line, as your skin tone and shade is often different on your face. Additionally, your skin tone varies with the season; your skin could be as much as four shades darker in summer! To combat this problem, invest in a different shade of foundation for each season.

Blush in places it shouldn't be

Well-applied blush livens your face with a bit of color, but poorly applied blush can age you and make you look clownish. Some women make the mistake of applying blush below their cheekbones, which ages the face by making it look saggier. Others apply circles of blush to the apples of their cheeks, creating a clownish look. Instead, your blush should go along your cheekbones, drawing the eye upward to create length. 

Overdrawn brows

Bold brows have seen a resurgence in popularity recently thanks to beauty icons like Cara Delevingne, and as a result, more and more women are investing in brow pencils, gels, powders, and waxes. While we love a strong brow, a little goes a long way. Avoid going too intense with your eyebrows by using a shade lighter than your natural hair color and applying with a light hand.

Too much bronzer

Everyone loves a sun-kissed glow, but there is a point where it goes from bronzed beauty to carrot real quick if you aren’t careful. When you are applying to your face, lightly brush over your forehead, temples, neck, and nose instead of all over your face. If you are looking to add a bit of color to your body, use our body bronzer for subtle illumination for any skin tone.

At Beauty For Real, our makeup is intuitive and easy to apply, so you can worry less about makeup mistakes and more about what’s really important to you. Simplify your beauty routine by shopping Beauty For Real today!  

Be sure to sign up for our BFR Newsletter for special access to The 12 Days of Savings event starting next week & save on all your favorites.

If you have ever shopped our awesome eye makeup at Beauty For Real, you may have noticed that our black mascara, Hi-Def Mascara, is paraben free. More and more cosmetics companies are moving away from products with parabens in them. You might have noticed “paraben-free” labels popped up left and right, but you may not know exactly why. In this blog, we will give the lowdown on what parabens are and why we don’t put them in our best-selling volumizing mascara.

What are parabens?

Parabens are preservatives that have been used in a variety of beauty products since the 1950s. These chemicals are used to prevent bacteria, fungus, and mold growth. From lotions to shampoos to lipsticks to eyeshadow, parabens are present in roughly 85 percent of all cosmetics, making them the most used type of preservative in makeup. This is because they are very cheap and have proven to be effective.

So what’s the problem?

The problem is that recent research has shown that paraben may have detrimental effects on our health. Specifically, the issue is that research into breast cancer has discovered the presence of parabens in breast cancer tumors. Parabens have the ability to mimic estrogen, and estrogen exposure has been linked to the development of breast cancer. Some scientists believe that the prevailing presence of parabens in cosmetics may be messing with our endocrine systems because repeated exposure to these chemicals is disrupting the estrogen receptors in our bodies. Some researchers believe that the prevalence of parabens is linked to the rising rates of breast cancer. While we don’t know for sure if parabens really cause cancer, recent studies have led some scientists to be concerned. For example, one Danish study recently discovered that after participants applied lotions with parabens to their skin, parabens were detected in their blood hours later. Because of the ubiquity of parabens, their estrogen-mimicking abilities, and our ability to quickly and effectively absorb them into our bodies, we should be concerned about the potential impact of parabens.

What to watch out for

If you are concerned about the effects of these chemicals like we are, luckily, you have alternatives. When shopping for any personal care items, check for “paraben-free” labels. Read the ingredients and look for the following chemicals: butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and anything else that ends in -paraben. As more and more consumers become aware of the potential problems with paraben, you will probably see more paraben-free options soon.

Better safe than sorry

In short, more research needs to be done on parabens to determine exactly how concerned we should be about their effects. While small amounts of parabens may be harmless, at Beauty For Real, we’d rather play it safe. After all, our mascara is going near your eye; who wants potentially toxic chemicals there?! We always aim for our products to be natural with as few ingredients as possible because we’re all about simplicity and quality.

When you need a volumizing mascara that won’t smudge and contains no parabens, shop Beauty For Real for one of our favorite products, Hi-Def Mascara.