Part 1: How to use Makeupalley (for beginners/new users!)

(This post started out as a post about swapping & tips, but I started writing more in detail about the website itself. So, the post about swapping will be Part 2. This post will just talk about what makeupalley is, and some useful tools.)

What is makeupalley? Makeupalley is a beauty social networking site. There are users located all around the world all sharing an interest in Beauty. Makeupalley is free of charge and is loaded with helpful advice & information to make shopping for beauty products much easier! There are many things you can do on makeupalley.

If you don't have an account already, create an account by clicking Join Now! on the left sidebar of the homepage. Verify your email.

Get started by clicking "My MUA" at the top of the screen. Then, on the left hand side of the screen, click "Change Profile". Fill in your Name (If you'd like to remain somewhat anonymous, you can put a nickname), Location, Birthday (All of this is optional of course, but recommended) . It also asks for your Hair Color, Hair Type, Hair Texture, Skin Type, Skin Tone, Skin Undertone and eye color. Why?? You ask? Because if you write a review, let's say for a foundation, readers will see what type of skin you have and it will help them relate to your review.. they may notice you have dry skin and they may have dry skin as well. They will better relate to your review than someones review that has oily skin. Or possibly you're looking at reviews for a certain lipstick. You are olive skinned and you see that other reviewers with the same skin coloring rated this lipstick 5 stars. There are many factors why a certain product worked for you and not someone else. It can be your skin type, coloring, etc. Also, If you ask questions in a board, anyone will be able to see what type of skin/hair you have and it will make recommending a product to you easier.

You can view ratings and reviews of products you're interested in by clicking "Product Reviews" at the top of the page and selecting the Category (ex: Eye Shadow, Foundation, etc) the Brand and the Name of the product (ex: Blacktrack Fluidline, Smolder Eye Kohl, Last Blast Mascara, etc).


Then, click Find Products.



You will see a rating (out of 5), the number of reviews for the product, and the Buy back percentage rate (Each reviewer was asked whether they would purchase it again. When more reviewers select Yes, the percentage is high. When more reviewers choose No, the percentage is low. I would consider 70% and higher being a product to consider trying. And, 80-90%, I personally would consider items definitely worth trying. (Based on many reviews of course).

If you would like to see what products have the most reviews, leave the Category, Brand and Product blank and click Find Products.

A bunch of random product reviews will pop up. (This is what came up for me. Yours may be different.) Then, click reviews.



The products with the most reviews will show up. You can do the same for Rating & Buy Again. I only click reviews because if you click ratings, it will list items rated 100% first, and typically it will be a large list of items with 1-10 reviews. I prefer reading reviews with over 100 reviewers. Most of my favorite products were discovered this way! I get questions all of the time saying "How do you know what's good?" "How do you know what to buy?" I never purchase a product without checking the reviews first.

This is what came up after I clicked reviews. The list will be in order from the most reviews to the least. As of this moment, Maybelliene Great Lash Mascara has the most reviews. You can add your own review by clicking "Product Reviews" at the top, and then click "Add a Review" on the left sidebar.

Other than reviews, there is a Forum (Boards) with several topics (Makeup, Nails, Hair, Fitness, Etc) I always post questions in Makeup Boards. They are always extremely helpful! Another tip is, you can research to see if anyone asked the same question you would like to ask. When you click on "Boards" there will be a small search box. Write the general idea of your question. For example, my question is: What is a good blush for a NC40 skin tone? I typed in "NC40 Blush". 

My Results:
I found pages of results! This question has been asked several times by many different users.

Create a question in a board by clicking the category that relates to your Question/Comment and click "Post a Message". Subjects can only be 100 characters long. So if your question exceeds 100 characters, cut it short and place "ROP" (Read on Please) OR "+" at the end and continue your message in the message box. Readers will know to click on your post to read the full question/comment.

There are LOTS of abbreviations for phrases to cut messages short. You can view a list with the meanings by clicking "Abbreviations" at the top on any of the message boards. Here is the direct link: http://makeupalley.com/board/abbreviations.asp

Any messages or replies you post, will copy to your profile.

Besides the boards & reviews, you can view thousands of members pictures. Lots of members post pictures of products, fotds, etc. I find makeupalley incredibly useful in searching for pictures of products. I always check MUA's member pictures before purchasing a product. For example, I'd like to see pictures of MAC California Dreamin lipstick so I can get a better idea if I'd like to purchase it. Click on "MY MUA" at the top and click on Search (Pictures) on the left sidebar. Type the name of the product in the keywords. You don't always have to be specific. I typed in "california dreamin".

Great Results! I found loads of pictures and swatches.

You can upload your own pictures to your profile and write descriptions so they will be searchable in member photos. You are allowed up to 200 uploads.

You can add any photo/review/board messages/users to your makeupalley favorites by clicking on the little red heart. Anything you favorite will save to your favorites section. Find it by clicking "Favorites" at the top of the screen. You can create groups for your favorites and file them all. You have the option of having your favorites public (will be listed on your profile) or private (only you can see them).

Another fun tool is the Diary! A diary is basically a list where you can keep track of all of your purchases. Add all of the beauty products you purchase, each time you purchase any, and you can keep tabs of how much money you spend on makeup! You don't have to limit your diary to makeup, you can put all of your expenses if you'd like. Click "Diary" at the top of the page, and "Add Entry" on the left sidebar. You can make your diary private (for your personal records) or public (members can search for it, and it will show on your profile). To update your settings, click "Preferences" on the left sidebar.

I just started mine this month! I haven't updated it though in a couple of weeks.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me! You can also contact me on makeupalley via messages. My username is nattyngeorge.

Part 2 of the post is on it's way!

An Article: 10 Myths About Dieting

I don't normally read articles regarding diets and weight loss because everyone has their own theory. You may read one thing is good for you and you may read somewhere else that you should stay away from it. I don't ever really follow any plan, but my own. I don't know how I came across this article, but I liked it so I thought I'd share..

Debunking 10 Myths About Dieting
Misinformation about dieting is everywhere. How can you drop those unwanted pounds safely and successfully, without falling for bogus claims? Dr. Nancy Snyderman, the chief medical editor for NBC News, has written a smart, comprehensive new book debunking the myths that abound: Diet Myths That Keep Us Fat.

1) You can eat after 8:00 P.M.
It doesn't matter what time of day you eat. It is what and how much you eat and how much physical activity you do during the whole day that determines whether you gain, lose, or maintain your weight. No matter when you eat, your body will store extra calories as fat. If you want a snack before bedtime, think first about how many calories you've eaten that day.

(Something I always debate. I always feel guilty eating late. I try not to eat after 6-8PM, but I go to bed at around 2AM every night, so its a very large gap not to have any food. I do believe that it depends on what you eat and your physical activity throughout the day. If you're going to be sitting on your butt anyway, there's really no difference than just going to sleep.)

2) There are No Negative Calorie Foods
You may have heard that some foods, because they are difficult to digest, will make you lose weight. Dubbed "negative-calorie foods," citrus fruits and celery have both basked in this flattering light in fad diets over the years. The problem is that it's not true. The calories your body burns in fueling the digestive cycle are minuscule compared with the calories in the food itself. Although chewing celery might seem like a strenuous activity, it burns about the same amount of calories as watching grass grow.

(I never believed in negative calories. So many people call beer negative calories. I don't understand that theory. The only negative calories are the ones you're not eating.)

3) Liquid Calories Count
If and when you tally up your calories at the end of a meal or a day, do your calculations take into account what you drank? Do you remember to include that can of soda, smoothie, cup of latte, or cocktail? People tend to guzzle their calories and it really adds up, often more than they realize. For example, that can of soda you drink each morning is the calorie equivalent of a piece of fruit and a slice of toast, about 150 calories. A smoothie can run up to an extra 500 to 1,000 calories despite all the good stuff added in, and a 16-ounce latte with whole milk packs 260 calories. The average margarita — my favorite — has more than 500 calories. What's more, the brain doesn't seem to register liquid calories as accurately as calories that are chewed, and it doesn't send stop-eating signals to keep you from eating more food. If you're taking in only 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day, save those calories for food. Liquid calories add up quickly, so stick with water and calorie-free beverages, and you could lose a pound or more a week. I lost 5 pounds last month because I decided not to have a cocktail periodically with friends.

(I always watch what I drink.)

4) Dessert Can Be Dinner
Don't call the food police on me for this one, but I say you can enjoy a Rocky Road ice-cream dinner "now and then," which means as an occasional deal and not a steady routine. Don't deny yourself certain cravings. Make a meal out of a favorite treat and you'll be less tempted to overindulge on your splurge foods. Just swap the steak out for the sundae and know that this tactic is for the occasional treat, not the everyday occurrence — and it may help you be more successful in controlling your weight over the long term.

(I do this a little too often. LOL)

5) Moderately Overweight Kids Shouldn't be put on Restrictive Diets
If you have kids who are 10 to 15 pounds overweight, the current thinking is that they should not be put on restrictive diets. Instead, it's better to help them make basic improvements in their diets, ramp up their activity, and give up some TV and computer time. Perk up your kids' diet by adding more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while cutting back on the junk foods. That way, you'll automatically slow the rate of their weight gain while they continue to grow in height. Children go through dynamic phases of growth, and a low-calorie diet is not what they need. They need nutrients and activity.

(Lol, I remember trying Weight Watchers when I was 10 because my aunt was on it.)

6) Calorie Free Soft Drinks May Make you Fat
I've never been a big fan of diet drinks (I prefer good old water), and now I'm glad. A study conducted by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio followed over six hundred people ranging from twenty-five to sixty-four years old for up to eight years and found that those drinking diet soda — even as little as one can or bottle a day — did not lose weight and were significantly more likely to become overweight than those who drank regular soft drinks or none at all. How can this be? No one knows for sure, but scientists think that artificial sweeteners, perhaps even the caramel coloring, may muddle brain chemistry. The brain in a sense gets a reward, and the desire for more sweets is intensified. The more of these fake sweet products you eat or drink, the more sweets you want.

(I definitely agree with this. The more sugar you eat, the more you crave it. Once you cut table sugar and sugar substitutes out of your diet, your cravings will subside. I was the biggest diet coke addict and I cut out sweets and diet coke and haven't had one craving for a diet coke. I use to seriously shake if I didn't get my diet coke.)

7) You can Lose more in Cold Weather
Some people swear they gain more weight in the wintertime. Frankly, I think it's because we're not quite as active in winter. But the reality is, your metabolism revs up to keep your body warm in cold temperatures. This may mean marginally more calorie expenditure each day.

(Never knew this.. pretty interesting.)

8) Yo-Yo Dieting Won't Wreck your Metabolism
Because of all the ups and downs I've experienced with my weight through the years, I was afraid that dieting might have messed with my metabolism. Now I've learned I don't have anything to worry about. While extremely low-cal diets temporarily lower your metabolism, recent studies suggest that the effects don't last. Researchers in Canada looked at fifty-two overweight women who'd been dieting on and off for an average of eighteen years. They measured the women's resting metabolic rate, then compared those numbers with what their metabolism was expected to be based on their weights, heights, and ages. The result: There was no difference between actual and predicted metabolic rates in all but four dieters. So even if you've lost and regained weight countless times, don't give up. Yo-yo diets don't hurt you; they just don't get you anywhere.

(I wondered about this. It always worried me that because I've been on so many diets, I ruined my metabolism and its gets harder for me to lose weight each time.. This makes me feel better. I think It's just an excuse a lot of people give their selves.)

9) There's no need to Shun Red Meat on a Low-Fat Diet
While it's true that prime and choice grades of meat are high in fat, lean cuts with fewer than 30 percent calories as fat are available. When buying meat, it's best to look for "select" grades of lean cuts like top round and tenderloin as well as extra-lean ground beef. They are among the lowest in fat.

(I always eat Beef tenderloin and Pork tenderloin.. yum)

10) Diets Do Work
The phrase diets don't work has been drummed into us by book titles, advertising slogans, and other such mantras. But the truth is, you can lose weight following pretty much every diet on the bookstore shelf. The problem is that unless the diet fits your lifestyle, it's bound to fail, and your weight will creep back on. You want a diet you can live with. If you like sandwiches for lunch, for example, you'll have trouble sticking to a low-carb diet. If you hate counting calories and find it much easier to follow rules — like avoiding carbs — Atkins may be for you. And if you really love your olive oil, the Mediterranean diet is more appealing than a true low-fat diet. If you're trying to lose weight, you have to exercise your options.

(Yep, any diet will work in the short term. You have to make it your lifestyle.)

-Article from Time.com

Made a Twitter! Follow me! :)

I was very bored, so I decided to make a twitter! Follow me and add your link so I can follow you! :)

http://twitter.com/nattyngeorge

**I absolutely no idea how to use twitter, so bare with me. Lol

FOTD (using nars night clubbing)

These pictures were taken at the end of the day, so I was super shiny..

This was a really quick look I did, I didn't like the outcome too much, but I thought I'd share anyway. Next time I'm going to pair night clubbing with maybe browns/golds.

Face: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Barcelona
Lancome Effacernes Concealer in Light Bisque (too light =\)
MAC Select Cover-up NW25
MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Natural/Med. & Shimmer (I love this, but it doesn't keep my shine away for more than a couple of hours & I don't even have oily skin. I use the nat/med all over my face and the shimmer on my cheek bones)
BE Well Rested e/s (under my eyes)
MAC Smooth Harmony Beauty Powder (as an all over bronzer)
Estee Lauder Matte Bronzer (to contour)
Chanel Orchid Rose Joues Contraste Blush

Eyes: MAC Bare Canvas Paint (lid primer/base)
NARS Night Clubbing e/s (all over lid)
Bobbi Brown Graphite Shimmer Ink (lined my eyelid, bottom lash line and waterline)
(smudged night clubbing into bottom lash line)
Green pigment called chit chat with riff raff (someone sent me this as an extra in a swap. I have no idea what brand it is/who makes it. It's a sheer shimmery green) (I blended this into night clubbing)
Everyday Minerals Pearl Mint (corners of my eyes)
Covergirl Lash Blast Luxe Mascara

Lips: MAC Oak Lip Liner
Smashbox Sand Lip Gloss