Makeup & Beauty | Blog Category Archives | Meraki Lane

Makeup Brushes 101: 12 Makeup Brushes Every Girl Needs

Looking for the best drugstore foundation that will give you a sexy, dewy finish (or a matte finish, if you’re trying to look good for pictures) while still allowing full coverage for oily skin, for acne prone skin, for dry skin, or for combination skin? We’ve got you covered. We’ve tested them all and have narrowed it down to our top 10 picks of 2016. Who says flawless skin needs to be expensive, anyway?!

Best Drugstore Foundation: 10 Brands You’ll Love

The Best Affordable Eyeshadow Palettes! | If you’re looking for the best drugstore eyeshadow palettes, we’ve rounded up 10 affordable dupes you’ll LOVE. When applied with the right primer and brushes, these matte and shimmer colors will pop, giving you a pigmented, gorgeous look day and night. From neutral tones to a dramatic burgundy smokey eye, you’ll fall head over heels for these eyeshadows!

Affordable Eyeshadow Palettes: 10 Drugstore Eyeshadows You Need

With so many options to choose from, finding the best foundation for oily skin can be tricky, and that's why we've done the work for you. We've tested HEAPS of different drugstore and high end products, and gathered together our top 10 favorites for 2016 (and beyond). So whether you're looking for a full coverage foundation to hide acne scars and large pores, or prefer a more sheer and natural look, we've got a product recommendation to help you get a flawless face. We're mad about matte!

Mad About Matte: The Best Foundation for Oily Skin (Under $30)

The best smudge proof mascara! Looking for the best waterproof drugstore mascara dupes? Need a good smudge proof mascara that’s lengthening and adds volume? From Maybelline to L’oreal to Covergirl – and everything in between! – we’re sharing 10 cheap drugstore mascara products that are perfect for oily skin, hot humid days, and for swimming. And if you want to know how to take off waterproof mascara, we’ve included a great remover you’ll love!

The Best Smudge Proof Mascara: 10 Cheap Drugstore Mascara Products!

Fabulous tips, products, and tutorials to teach you how to apply self-tanner properly so you can get a natural, smooth-looking tan for your face and body without subjecting your skin to the sun's harmful UV rays. These sunless tanning application tips include links to some of the best products and applicators on the market (drugstore brands don't compare!), a couple of tricks to ensure your tan doesn't end up looking blotchy, and the best remover in case it doesn't turn out the way you hope!

How to Apply Self-Tanner Properly: 6 Sunless Tanning Tips

From foundation and contouring, to step-by-step eyeshadow application, to hiding acne scars and dark circles, this collection of makeup artist secrets includes fabulous tutorials to teach you how to apply makeup properly. Perfect for beginners as well as more seasoned beauticians, these beauty tricks will teach you so many great beauty tricks and tips to help you look and feel your best every single day.

10 fabulous makeup tutorials to teach you the best kept secrets of makeup artists

Look good in less time with these beauty hacks for busy moms! Whether you want to learn how to apply makeup in record-breaking time, need tips to draw natural-looking eyebrows, want to know the secret to DIY overnight beach waves, need to hide puffy eyes and wrinkles, want to know how to apply eyeshadow and eyeliner like a pro, need nail hacks… We’ve got it all, and more! Look good and feel good every single day with 26 beauty hacks every girl should know.

Beauty hacks for busy moms: 26 beauty tips to look good in less time

Waterproof mascara is a girls best friend - it completes our makeup routine by adding volume to our lashes and making our eyes pop, and also helps prevent raccoon eyes in the hot humid summer months or when we're pretending not to cry at our BFFs wedding. We've rounded up the best waterproof mascaras of 2016 which are perfect for swimming, date nights, and everything in between, and we've included drugstore brands as well as a high end brands to appeal to every budget!

The Best Waterproof Mascaras: 10 Brands We Love

Nail hacks. We love them. From how to prevent nail polish from chipping to how to get ombre nails to how to get your nails to dry faster, these DIY, life-changing beauty hacks are a must-read for every girl whole likes painting her nails. Some are easy while others are weird, but they all get the job done as fast as possible!

10 Genius Nail Hacks Every Girl Should Know

However you want to rock cat eye makeup - whether you prefer a soft, subtle, and natural look that's suitable and easy enough for everyday wear, or tend to opt for something a little more smokey and dramatic - these tips will teach you how to get the perfect cat eye in 5 easy steps!

How to Get the Perfect Cat Eye in 5 Easy Steps

Want to look thinner without committing to a healthy diet, going for a workout, or (worse) giving up wine? ME TOO! And that's why I put together this list of easy make-up tricks that will teach you (and me!) how to make your face look thinner instantly. You're welcome!

8 beauty tricks to make your face look thinner

Whether you're a rocking brunette with an olive skin tone or have blonde hair and fair skin, prefer a more natural, everyday look or opt for a more dramatic 'do, there are certain makeup shades and techniques you should master to learn how to apply makeup for blue eyes. We've broken it all down for you, including great and affordable product recommendations!

Eye makeup for blue eyes: 4 looks to make them pop!

Looking for affordable drugstore concealers to help you hide acne and under eye circles? We’re sharing our fave drugstore concealers to help you get a flawless face for half the price. Some of these full coverage concealers work triple duty, while others offer a subtle highlighter to brighten and refresh the eyes. No matter which drugstore products you prefer – Maybelline, CoverGirl, NYX Cosmetics – these makeup artist approved concealers will hide imperfections for a clear, natural look!

The Best Drugstore Concealers to Hide Imperfections: 12 Brands We Love!

Makeup tips for teens. Whether you’re looking for tips to apply natural makeup for school, want to know how to apply mascara, need tips for applying makeup for glasses, want to know how to make your eyes look bigger, or need the best concealer tips to kind acne and imperfections, we’ve got you covered. We’re sharing our favorite makeup tips, tutorials, and products for a gorgeous DIY look you can do on the daily!

Makeup Tips for Teens: 9 Beauty Tips Every Girl Should Know

From eyeshadow and eyeliner, to brows and lashes, we've rounded up 7 great step-by-step eyeshadow tutorials teach you how to apply eyeshadow for brown eyes. These videos are loaded with simple beauty and makeup tips for beginners (although I'm sure even the most well-seasoned makeup artist can learn a thing or 2 from them!) as well as fabulous product recommendations for a natural, glowing look.

Makeup for Brown Eyes: 7 Eye Shadow Tutorials We Love

The key to perfect eyebrows is to tailor them to your face shape and make them look as natural as possible. With the right products and techniques (thanks for the awesome tutorials, YouTube!), you can DIY your brows in next to no time. From plucking to filling and everything in between, these eyebrow shaping tips for beginners will teach you how to get perfect brows (and arches!) from the comfort of your own home.

How to Get Perfect Eyebrows: 9 Eyebrow Shaping Tips for Beginners

Love holiday nail art? We’ve got you covered! Whether you need nail art ideas for Christmas and New Years, or want something a little more general that’s cute and fun to spice up your nails during the fall and winter months, these easy nail tutorials are the perfect place to start!

Holiday Nail Art: 9 Holiday Nails to Get You in the Spirit

Cleaning your makeup brushes is essential to remove dirt and bacteria that can cause breakouts and spread germs, and while store bought cleaners work well, they can be pricey. Thankfully, you can learn how to clean makeup brushes naturally with dish soap (we like to wash ours with Damn!), with vinegar, with baby shampoo, with coconut oil, with alcohol, with baking soda...and other natural ingredients you have at home. We've rounded up 10 easy DIY recipes that will teach you how to clean your brushes like a pro!

10 Easy & Cheap Tips to Teach You How to Clean Makeup Brushes

The holiday season is coming! Whether you need a look for Christmas, New Years or your holiday office party, these makeup tutorials will take you to holiday glam in a cinch! From bold and dramatic red lips to gold glitter smokey eyes, these holiday makeup looks are all you need this season! Full makeup tutorials included!

Holiday Makeup Looks We Love: 11 Trends We’re Falling for This Season!

Looking for an eyeliner that’s precise and won’t fade? Need a pencil eyeliner that’s blendable and can be smudged into a shadow? Want a lip gloss that won’t get stuck to your hair on windy days? Wish you could find a lip stain that won’t feather or bleed? We’ve got you covered. From pencil, ink, and gel eyeliners that stand up to water and humidity to lipsticks, lip stains, and lip glosses that hydrate with a pop of color, we’ve got 6 of the best fall beauty makeup must haves of 2016!

Beauty Uncomplicated: 6 Makeup Must Haves for Fall