Eco Lips' Lip + Cheek Tints are truly a multi-tasking beauty balm that works as blush, lip color, and a contouring and highlighting tool.

They are vegan and cruelty-free and are made for all skin tones to provide a perfect pop of natural, sheer color to complement every beauty look.

Ingredients include organic jojoba, coconut oil, organic and fair-trade cocoa butter, and sunflower seed wax. So they're not just pretty to wear, they are hydrating, as well.

I've been wearing them for a few weeks, as I don't normally wear lipstick daily and typically wear a clear lip balm. I love that these balms make you look put together without any effort. They have a sweet scent/taste, too.

This is one beauty item you'll want in your beauty product arsenal. Here are 5 ways to use them:

Contouring

Glide the nude or pink along cheek bones, jawline and between the inner eye and nose for a contoured look.

Highlighting

Use nude for a subtle highlight on your cheekbones for a natural makeup look or if you just want a glowy complexion.

Lip Color

Looking for just the right pop of lightweight color? Try pink or red on your lips for a smooth, lip-nourishing look.

Cheek Color

Glide some red or pink on the apples of your cheek and rub in with your fingers. It goes on smooth and doesn't cake.

Eye Shadow

Try a bit of pink on your eye lids for subtle color. Nude could also work as a primer.

I've been loving the versatility of these Lip + Cheek Tints and I think you will, too. Find them at www.ecolips.com.

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With the makeup world filled with so many forms of highlighters (liquid, powder, solid sticks & now jelly), we can question: Do they all offer similar looks? Do we apply them in the same manner? How do I achieve the best results? What shades should I use? If you are looking for more ways to apply your highlighter, trust us you’re not alone. You and a million other women out there have sat in front of a mirror with their highlighter in hand and thought to themselves, what now? Nuest Cosmetics has come up with 10 Things to Know About Highlighting Your Face & Body using their newest form: the jelly highlighter! Available in 5 shades, Pink Luster, Metallic Bronze, Gold Rush, Ruby Kiss & Twinkle Star, the range of Nuest Cosmetics’ Magical Jelly Highlighters will help create your own personal glow. 1.  Want a Natural Look? For a simple, natural look, moisturizer is your best friend. Apply your favorite and allow it to set in. Then, apply a small amount of Nuest Magical Jelly Highlighter to key areas such as under the brow bone or diagonal along the cheekbone. This will give you a dewy finish that catches the light in a subtle, yet natural way. Twinkle Star is best because it has just enough pigmentation which is perfect for a natural glow. Nuest jelly highlighters set like powder that will resist fading, rubbing off or moving. 2.  Opting for Full Glam from Head to Toe? Nuest offers many options. Their jelly highlighters may be mixed with your favorite moisturizer or foundation for an all over subtle glow. Next, you can add additional highlighter using their Silisponge or your fingers and begin dabbing the top of your cheek and brow bones. Accentuate your cupid’s bow, down the center of your nose and on the tip of your nose, plus, around your temples. For added glimmer, dab a small amount to your shoulders, upper chest area, arms and even your legs. For a softer shimmer you can mix a jelly highlighter with your favorite body moisturizer. Their Gold Rush is perfect for that royal glow. 3.  Want Your Eyes to Look Larger? Emphasizing the size of your eyes is easy! You want to apply highlighter just under your brow bone, but above the crease in your eyelid and then dab a small amount in the center of your eyelid. Gold Rush or Twinkle Star are a favorite eye opener. 4.  Want your Face to Glow? Apply a small dot of highlighter in the center of the apple of your cheek over blush and blend in a circular motion. Pink Luster or Ruby Kiss will add just the right hint of blushing glimmer. 5.  Need to Re-Shape Your Nose? Apply highlighter along the bridge of your nose and gently blend foundation or contouring cream a shade or two darker than your natural skin tone on the sides to make your nose appear to be slimmer or hide flaws. Twinkle Star is best since there is less color pigmentation which will not interfere with your contouring. 6.  Want to Look Refreshed? Just add just a pinch of highlighter to the inner corner of your eyes to brighten up an otherwise dark area. Then, apply a small amount in the center of your eyelid to add brightness. We recommend Gold Rush to wake up your look like the morning sun. 7.  Want Your Cheekbones to Pop? Apply highlighter on the cheek bone in a diagonal line from just beneath the center of your eye socket up towards your hairline and blend with a Silisponge. Pink Luster or Twinkle Star are the perfect shades to catch the light. The glimmer of the highlighter, will give your cheeks a pop and glistening glow. 8.  Give You Lips for Days? Applying a little bit of highlighter to your cupid’s bow using a concealer brush. Also, you can dab a small amount on your bottom lip right in the center or add a jelly highlighter over our favorite lip gloss or lipstick for a real statement. Try Ruby Kiss to achieve those kiss-able lips. 9.  Would You Like a Summer Glow for Face AND Body? Without having to bake in the sun, simply add our Metallic Bronze to your foundation or moisturizer and apply on your face. Use our Silisponge to create that perfect blend. Feel free to add it to your body moisturizer for an all over summer glow. 10.  What Areas Can You Highlight? Highlighting can be done anywhere you would like to accentuate - besides the traditional cheeks, eyes and lips. You can go beyond and add jelly highlighter to your body lotions to add shimmer to our shoulders, legs and arms. You can even contour or add glisten to your chest when wearing a strapless or plunging neckline. Contouring your knees or legs are an option as well especially during the summer months. Simply dab a small amount to the center of your knees or a horizontal line down the front of your calves. Nuest Cosmetics are vegan and cruelty free. Check them out at www.nuestcosmetics.com. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Or check out our natural bath and body line!

MAC Cosmetics recently opened at Macy's within The Viewmont Mall here in Northeast PA. I'm still very much a mall rat and you can find me roaming the stores here a few times a month in search of a great deal. I recently asked the makeup artists at MAC to put together a holiday makeup look for me to share (Thank you Shae!) I am all about that red lip in this look and those gorgeous smokey eyes! Skin Prep Step 1) Apply two or 3 spritzes of Fix+ Spray to prep the skin. Fix+ adds hydration to the skin, leaves skin feeling smooth and protected before applying foundation. Step 2) Apply Natural Radiance. Just two pumps massaged into the skin will help control oil production in the skin all day and mattifies for a flawless application. Foundation Application Step 1) Apply Face and Body Foundation with #160 brush. This is a sheer natural-satin finish foundation that moisturizes skin, gives up to 8 hours of flawless wear for any occasion and is transfer resistant. Step 2) Set the Face and Body foundation with #167 brush, lightly tapping Mineralize Skin Finish in the color of your choice (11 different shades) for a luminescent finish. It contains jojoba oil to help condition the skin. This can also be used to touch up during the day or night! Step 3) Highlight the high planes of the face (cheek bones, nose, forehead, cupid's bow, chin) with Mineral Skin Finish Highlight using the #116 brush for a glow. Step 4) Add warmth and a pop of color to the skin using Mineralized Blush and #116 brush. These blushes contain shimmer, which add dimension and shine to the cheeks. Eyes + Lips Eyes: Step 1) For a festive sexy eye look for the holidays and a timeless look, apply the Nutcracker Sweet Eye Bag prolongwear paint pot that comes in the special holiday gift set called "Dream Scene" with a #248 brush, lightly applying a thin layer on eyelids. Next, use a #217 brush to apply eye shadow in the shade "Fathoms Deep" in the crease to add depth to the eye and it adds a smoky effect as well. Step 2) Apply False Lashes Maximizer. This is a smudge proof, clump proof, flake proof and all day wear that is used to prep, plump and thicken the lashes before mascara application. This product is also essential to conditioning lashes after false lash application (strip or individual lashes during wear or after.) Step 3) Use False Lashes Extreme Black Mascara - as many coats as needed for desired lash effect! This mascara gives volume and curl, is smudge and flake resistant, and comes in a waterproof formula. Step 4) Apply Kohl Eyeliner in "Phone Number" on the bottom waterline and lower lash line for a smokey effect. Lips: Step 1) Apply MAC Lip Primer on lips, which helps prep lips for all day wear, prevents lipstick from feathering and provides immediate conditioning and moisturization. Step 2) Apply Prolongwear Lip Pencil in "He Said She Said," along the lip line and fill in entire lip with liner to create a bed for your lipstick to lay on for all day wear. Step 3) Apply lipstick (Nutcracker Sweet "So Good for You") on the entire lip for a beautiful pout. Step 4) Apply Vamplify Lipgloss in the shade "Smart Aleck" on top of of lipstick for a beautiful plump look for the holidays! If you are local here in the Scranton area - stop into Macy's at The Viewmont Mall and drop by the MAC Cosmetics counter to see these products in person and get personalized recommendations from their makeup artists. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

My brows are sparse and basically non-existent in some spots. They also do this caterpillar ish from years of plucking the wrong way when I was younger. I've considered getting permanent makeup with a brow tattoo, but to be honest, I'm not a fan of needles (which is also the reason I don't think I'll be getting Botox any time soon.) So the next best thing, and really the only option for me, are brow pens, pencils, brow gel and highlighters. Chella recently sent me their Tantalizing Taupe Eyebrow Color Kit, and I was totally on board to give it a try and up my brow game. Chella's brow kit comes with a pencil sharpener that can sharpen both large and small pencils, Latte Highlighter Pencil, Tantalizing Taupe brow color pencil and brow defining gel. Taupe is a mid-range brown, not too dark and not light. I think it would be a great fit for most brunettes. The brow gel is clear and weightlessly thin. It's not clumpy at all and sometimes I really had to look at the applicator to ensure that there was gel on it. When you apply it, it's not sticky on your brows or even obvious, so your brows look natural. With the brow pencil I was able to fill in color to make my brows look a bit more lush. I also have a scar in one of my brows, and since scars don't grow hair, a brow pencil is the only way to cover it. (You can see it in the before - after picture below.) The Latte highlighter is flesh toned and gives my brows the look of being lifted, which also makes my eye area as a whole look lifted. The products didn't seem to wear off, but were easily removed with makeup remover. Voila! Before and after. I really love the look of my brows from using this kit. It transforms my face. What do you think? Chella's Tantalizing Taupe Eyebrow Color Kit is available on their website and in any of their 4 brow bars in California. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: press sample

Disclosure: Thanks to RoC® MULTI CORREXION® 5 in 1 Eye Cream I can fake 8 hours of well-rested sleep. This is a sponsored post for Socialstars #WomenWhoRoC, but all opinions, and sleepless nights, are my own.

Whether you have a baby in your 20s, or you are still expanding your family into your 40s, the image of sleepless nights all look the same. Under-eye puffiness, dark circles and looking like you could be an extra on The Walking Dead... But there is also a big difference in that 20 year gap. In your 40s you're also dealing with wrinkles and mature skin (dryness and dullness.) So basically, yay me. Close friends and family know that my sweet baby boy is not much of a sleeper. At 7 months old, he still wakes up a few times a night. Throw in teething, and well... let's not talk about that. The bottom line is that I lead an incredibly active lifestyle due to my family of 8. With having such a large family, comes lots of appointments and activities. I'd rather look put-together when out and about than like I could use a nap. Whether you're a mom like me and lacking sleep, or you have had one too many late nights, there's a way to fake looking well-rested. You may be feeling sleep deprived on the inside, but you'll look like you've slept 8 glorious hours on the outside. So here's what you'll need: Eye cream (RoC® MULTI CORREXION® 5 in 1 Eye cream) Flesh colored eye pencil Brow highlighter Brown pen Eyeliner Eyeshadow that complements your eye color Eye primer Mascara Step 1: Using your pinky finger, gently pat RoC® MULTI CORREXION® 5 in 1 Eye Cream on the skin under and surrounding your eyes.  RoC®'s 5 in 1 Eye cream improves the look of dark circles, puffiness, dryness, dull tone and wrinkles with breakthrough HEXINOL® technology. With consistent use, you shouldn't need a concealer. Step 2: Apply your favorite eye primer to keep your eyeshadow intact without creasing. Step 3: Using short strokes, apply your favorite brow pen throughout your brow hair, following the natural shape of your brow. Be sure to blend. Step 4: Along your brow bone under your brow, apply a thin line of brow highlighting pencil, then blend. This will create the illusion of lift to the eye. Step 5: Using a flesh toned eye pencil, line your waterline. Pat with your pinky finger to blend it. This will conceal the redness and make your eyes look bigger and more wide awake. Step 6: Apply and blend your favorite eyeshadow that enhances your eye color. I like to use hues of purples and rose for my hazel eyes. This will make your eye color pop and detract from any look of tiredness. Step 7: With your eyeliner, create a cat eye. This winged style also gives the eye the look of being uplifted and wide eyed. Step 8: Apply mascara - voluminous or for length, whichever your lashes need most. That's my little rascal who only allowed me 4 hours of sleep when this picture was taken. Even if you don't have kids, these tips can work for you, too. Have anything to add? Leave a comment and let me know! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

Finding makeup that contains sunscreen, but does not leave my skin looking gray and ashy, has always been a challenge for me. I'm sure it has been a challenge for a lot of women of color, too. I love and want to take care of my skin by making sure that I wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with an spf of at least 20, but I also hate the feel of too much product sitting on my face (especially during the warmer months.) It can be difficult to find makeup that also provides broad spectrum sun protection without making me look like I've put baby powder on my face. Can you relate??? Thanks to Ambi Skincare, which has been providing skincare products for women of color for decades, I  found a product that provides coverage, evens out my skin tone and contains broad spectrum sun protection without leaving my skin looking ashy. The Ambi Even & Clear CC+ Cream is a really light feeling, non-greasy CC cream and the light/medium shade is a perfect match for my skin tone. It gives my skin a soft glow with absolutely no ashy appearance.  The coverage is really light so it's great at making my skin look even-toned and naturally flawless without looking like I'm wearing full coverage makeup. Have you tried it yet? I highly recommend it! Leave a comment! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: press sample, affiliate link

Wouldn't it be great if we could have that bronzed, sun-kissed skin all year round? With Gerard Cosmetics Star Powder your skin can still maintain its summery glow even if you live in Minnesota. Gerard Cosmetics’ Star Powder is inspired by iconic Hollywood starlets; Marilyn, Audrey and Lucy.  The lightweight powders each add a hint of color and buildable sheen.  Marilyn Star Powder is inspired by the ultimate blonde bombshell and is a luminous powder with an ultra luxurious, creamy texture. Audrey is a warm champagne gold that is reflective with high shine and can be built up for an intense glow or dusted lightly on cheekbones for a subtle sheen.  Lucy, which I am currently using, is a really velvety, finely milled powder that adds a hint of golden shimmer and looks beautiful on cheekbones or mixed with blush. A little goes a long way, even when mixed with your blush, so just a light dusting is needed for an insanely gorgeous, sun-kissed look.  I also love sweeping a light dusting over my eyelids for an extra glowy look.  For less of a sheen I mix Lucy with my everyday face powder to tame down the sheen factor. What do you think? Leave a comment and let me know! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: Press sample, affiliate link

My lashes basically seem non-existent without mascara. They lack length and volume. I've tried so many mascaras in the pursuit of enviable lashes. Maybe you can relate..? False lashes have also made their way onto my vanity, and while I adore the *POW* they give my lashes (and I swear they make me look younger - yes, please!), I have to be honest and say that I am no pro when it comes to applying them. Not only does it take some skill to apply the lashes in a way that looks natural, you then need a steady hand to apply your eye liner in a way that doesn't look like you are trying to emulate that 70's disco vibe with a thick line. (Am I right??) With the trend leaning towards fibre mascaras, Cherry Blooms piqued my interest. I've tried an all-in-one fibre mascara with Maybelline's The Falsies and did really like it, and I've also used Physicians Formula Eye Booster, which is similar to Cherry Blooms. But as we know, not all mascaras are created equal (or at least we tell ourselves that so that we can buy the latest and greatest new mascara.) Cherry Blooms is a two-step fibre mascara. The mascara and fibres come in two separate bottles, although there is some transference of the fibres into the mascara bottle after using it for a period of time. The mascara itself is not a thick or clumpy formula; it's actually pretty thin and made of high grade beeswax. After one application (which is about 20 strokes), you then gently brush on the fibres. I didn't find that the fibres fell off the applicator onto my face at all, it simply remained on the wand until it touched my lashes. A definite plus since no one wants to wind up with fibres in their eyes. The directions say to use 15 strokes to apply the fibres, but I didn't find that I needed that at all. I did about 5 per eye, then applied the Transplanting Mascara Gel a second time, applied the fibres for a second time and then sealed it all with one last coat of the gel. Of course, you can skip the second coat of fibre, but I wanted a voluminous look to my lashes, not just length. The difference is noticeable and I like how my lashes look natural, not fake-lashes-fake. You know what I mean? If I wanted a more date night dramatic look, I can always apply more coats of fibres and gel. And that's the best part - with a typical mascara you tend to get clumps the more you apply, but that's not the case with this buildable fibre mascara. Lastly, Cherry Blooms didn't smudge or rub off. Removal was easy and didn't take my natural lashes with it - I just used Herbacin Two-Phase Make-up Remover. I'd love to hear from you if you've tried this mascara! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure: Press sample

Is this new lip product from IT Cosmetics a gimmick or does it really work? The product is called Blurred Lines Smooth Fill Gel-Crème Lipstick. This is the first ever actual lipstick formula from IT Cosmetics. It contains ingredients to improve the appearance of the lines in your lips. Upon application of the lipstick, your lip lines will be filled in and your lips will appear smooth thanks to the optical blurring ingredients. What a great anti-aging promise to those of us who need it! IT Cosmetics is known for the scientific technology used to create their line of cosmetics. Each product has ingredients that are beneficial to the area that it’s being applied. The Blurred Lines lipstick formula contains the following ingredients: collagen, peptides, hyaluronic spheres, shea butter, jojoba and grape seed extract. These are all good for hydration and have anti-aging properties. In addition, the lipstick has a built in primer. These lipsticks are designed to be worn day or night and to provide lasting lip color. The Blurred Lines lipstick retails for $24 at Ulta. It can also be purchased on QVC for discounted bundle pricing. I purchased this product in the colors Naturally Pretty and Perfect Nude, both of which are in the lighter shade range from nine available options. Ulta also carries an exclusive shade called It Girl, which is a bright red. The product glides easily onto the lips. It deposits a nice amount of semi-sheer lip color, which is buildable to an opaque and glossy color. I chose two of the lighter colors from this collection and imagine that some of the darker shades have more color pay off. The Verdict: In my opinion the Blurred Lines lipstick from IT Cosmetics is just an average shiny lipstick. Unfortunately, these did not live up to their name for me. I could still see the lines in my lips. I didn’t feel like the lines were filled in at all. In addition, the product wore off of my lips in an hour’s time. It’s possible that the darker colors may be longer lasting. I feel like there are many other lipsticks available on the market today that are superior to these. Sorry It Cosmetics! You have some of the best cosmetic products, but this one is more of a gimmick to me. Thanks to Stacie, a beauty and lifestyle blogger over at Makeup Obsessed Mom for providing this post while I'm on maternity leave! She writes reviews of beauty products and shares tidbits from her busy life as a mom to three college students. Stop by to see what she’s been trying out lately. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

One part of our beauty routine that we tend to neglect quite often is ensuring that our makeup brushes are kept clean and bacteria free.  Dirty makeup brushes can transfer old makeup, germs, and bacteria to your skin each time you use them, so it is important to regularly wash your brushes to get rid of buildup. As a bonus, washing your brushes also makes them work better as well.  When it comes to cleaning my makeup brushes I will be the first to admit that I am absolutely clueless, so I decided to consult with an expert and consulted LA based Makeup Artist Lauren Snyder for her tips on cleaning and caring for makeup brushes. A Girl's Gotta Spa!: What are some of your favorite makeup brush cleaning tricks? Lauren Synder: Mixing warm water with brush cleanser is a good way to make the cleanser a little more flexible when it comes to cleaning while also helping the product last longer. Products can be expensive so any way to make the most out of them helps. Another tip I have found useful is when using a cleanser, let the brush soak for only a couple of minutes. I mix warm water with the cleanser (pretty equal proportions) in a bowl, swirl and mix the brush for about 30 seconds, and then let the brush soak with the actual brush at an angle. I keep the brush at an angle because as long as there’s movement in the brush, there’s movement in the liquid, which means there’s movement in the makeup that needs to come out. Movement is key when it comes not only to cleaning, but coverage as well. After the brush has soaked at an angle for a couple of minutes, I continue to work it through the cleanser just to quickly break anything up from soaking and then a very good rinse with the brush head facing directly under the faucet. Thoroughly dry with a towel and then I suggest letting the brush air dry overnight because no one likes unnecessary moisture. Especially when it comes to blending. AGGS: Which makeup brush cleansers would you recommend? LS: Neutrogena Cleansing Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover – I started using this almost on accident because I was out of MAC Brush Cleanser. It was the only liquid makeup remover I had that I could actually pour into a bowl and I didn’t want to use up pure alcohol. After cleaning my foundation brush with it, I don’t think I’ll use anything else. The remover really gets into the brush without sitting in the head and also doesn’t leave any residue. The best part is that the cleaner doesn’t leave any scent either. Just like any cleanser, working the cleanser and the brush is crucial – the cleanser doesn’t do all the work for you. Plus it’s not nearly as expensive as most brush cleansers. Parian Spirit Brush Cleaner – This cleaner is a little more on the expensive side, but it’s definitely worth the money. The liquid is fast acting and you don’t have to put much muscle into cleaning the brush and making sure it’s getting worked in throughout. Scent is a very subjective and preference based thing. With that being said, this cleanser has a fairly strong orange scent to it that will stay with your brush to some extent. While the orange is certainly a part of the cleanser that contributes to the actual cleaning, if you don’t like the scent then it may not be for you. AGGS: Which brush cleansers do you think are not really worth the price? LS: MAC Brush Cleanser –This unfortunately is an overrated cleanser in my opinion. While there is no strong or lingering scent to it, that doesn’t make up for the fact that is doesn’t really clean brushes at all. In my opinion, it seemed more like I was giving my brushes a light rinse without actually doing anything, like removing makeup, bacteria, excess product, etc. It isn’t a very expensive cleanser considering its size, but it is expensive considering it doesn’t really do what it’s supposed to do.  Lauren Snyder is an LA based Makeup Artist who has been doing makeup for film for six or seven years and specializes in  practical effects makeup artistry. Have any makeup brush cleaning tips you want to add or a brush cleanser that has worked for you? Leave a comment and let us know! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure: affiliate links