Recruitment Makeup Tips

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We can't hardly wait for you to participate in recruitment! Just like a job interview, you want to look your best for recruitment. Display your beauty inside and out. The best way that you can exude your outer beauty, is through getting your face dolled up for each day of recruitment. However, it's crucial not to overdue it; your makeup shouldn't hide your natural beauty. Our favorite products to use for a natural look are anything from Smashbox concealer and powder or Anastasia Beverly Hills blushes and dip brows. Simple and pretty is your best go-to no matter what brand you use! Here is a link to some awesome makeup tutorials perfect for recruitment shared by Kappa Alpha Theta, Mackenzie Brown (@kenziemacbrown)

Beauty Mistakes To Avoid

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Being in a sorority has been like having 100+ sisters to mentor you and set you straight. There's nothing better than being able to have the opinions of people who are a lot like you. We have definitely matured with our knowledge in beauty thanks to the guidance of our sisters so we thought it would be of benefit to you to share beauty mistakes to avoid!

1. 1. Don't Forget To Wash Your Face.  We know: It's so much easier to just plop on your pillow and wish that magically your face would wash itself. We have all had those nights where washing our face is a drag, but we can assure you as we have gotten older that washing your face no matter the circumstance is a huge benefit. If you know that you often crash on your bed, leave some makeup remover wipes underneath or by your pillow. If you do get around to washing your face, having a Clarisonic has been the best investment ever! We love how it really intensely cleans your face right down to your pores. Basis is Co Founder, Karen's favorite makeup remover & face cleanser and best of all it's super affordable.

    

   2.  Do Your Eyebrows. Wow. We are seriously looking back at old photos without our eyebrows 

         done and it's cringe-worthy. It's amazing how your face totally brightens up when you choose to 

         fill in your eyebrows. Being introduced to Anastasia Dip Brow was the best thing ever. With the

         perfect eyebrow brush, Anastasia Dip Brow allows for ultimate eyebrow coverage. Eyebrow

         pencils aren't too bad as well and we love the ones that MAC carries.

   3.   Wear Sunscreen...Especially On Your Face. SPF 30 and above is the best type of skin      

         protection. Even if it's a cloudy day, the sun is STILL shining so don't make the mistake of not

         protecting your skin because skin damage from the sun can cause some serious aging which is 

         no good. Smashbox offers BB Cream that contain both color and sunscreen- the  

         perfect combo. Here is a link to the dark BB Cream and light BB Cream.

  

   4.  Don't Sleep with Your Fake Eyelashes On. Believe us: we understand how meticulous it is to 

        put eyelashes on. Ardell Professional Eyelashes are every sorority girls BFF. But, even though         

        they are so glam,  you don't want to take that glam to bed and risk not being able to reuse them 

        because they've been smushed. 

  5.   Don't Wear Foundation That Is Lighter/Darker Than Your Face. Don't be too proud to go to 

        the beauty counter of your favorite makeup company to get the best color match for your 

        foundation, concealer, or powder. There is nothing worse then your face looking ten times 

        lighter or darker not matching your neck in pictures.

  

  6.   Clean Your Makeup Brushes. The more you have a routine of washing your makeup brushes, 

        the less likely you will carry bacteria on your makeup brushes. Johnson & Johnson baby

        shampoo is an awesome product you can use to wash your makeup brushes. Simply drop a 

        quarter size amount in the palm of your hand and swirl the bristles of your makeup brushes in it. 

        The makeup drips right off! 

Those are just a few of our beauty mistakes to avoid, but we want to hear from you. What are some Dolled Up tips that you have? Share with us in the comments below!

How You Can Use Your Primer To the Fullest

Ok, so we have always had a hunch that we might not be using our primer correctly. Either that, or we are just not using it to the best of its abilities. Therefore, we decided to connect with Makeup Artist and former TSS Senior Assistant, Mackenzie Brown, and former Dolled Up Contributor, Becca Ashmon to help us understand how to best use primer. Check out their explanations below and be sure to shop the products they recommend.

Mackenzie Brown (Kappa Alpha Theta, IG: @kenziemacbrown)
Site: www.youtube.com/kenziemacbrown

[Using your primer to the fullest] depends on the type of primer because they have different formulations. There is one from Hourglass that will help prevent oil buildup and I recommend that one to people who get oily in their T-zone because it will prevent their makeup from breaking up. If you mix that specific one with liquid foundation it makes your foundation waterproof. Some primers, like Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer when mixed with eyeshadow can help you use the eyeshadow as an eyeliner and it helps it stay longer. Some primers like the Porefessional are good if you have uneven skin texture because it evens it out. And Smashbox makes like 10 different primers for every sort of skin type and purpose. Also, if you put primer in your brows it makes it easier to use brow products because they won't budge and they'll be more pigmented.

Becca Ashmon (Tri Delta, IG: @beccaashmon)
Site: www.aprettyhotmess.com

Honestly, every face needs a good foundation and what makes a solid foundation you ask? Primer! Just like you prime a wall before you paint it, your face should be no different. Aside from giving your makeup a foundation to hold onto, primer can do a number of other things, from making pores appear smaller and reducing redness to helping reduce dark spots over time. So here is a list of some of my favorite primers and what it is they do!

1. Hourglass- Veil Mineral Primer 

Hands down my favorite primer of ALL time ! It is Jesus in a bottle (it saves) and goes on the face of EVERY bride I touch ! Hourglass is suitable for ALL skin types but if you are an oily girl like me then meet your new best friend. Veil is a mineral primer with an SPF of 15. Veil not only helps smooth and keep oils at bay, but it's also water resistant in case you happen to be a cry baby and tear easily at weddings and such (seriously I have cried through this stuff like ugly Kim Kardashian cried and managed to stay Beyoncé status...FLAWLESS). Bonus: It keeps makeup on my face for 12+ hours which is practically a miracle on this face !

2. Benefit- The POREfessional 

Aside from perhaps being one of the smoothest things to ever grace your face, Benefits POREfessional helps to minimize pores while also providing a surface as smooth as a baby's bottom.

3. Laura Mercier- Hydrating Primer 

If you're a girl with dry skin this primer is the one for you. All the benefits of primer plus hydration to keep you looking fresh.

4. Smashbox- Photo Finish Dark Spot Correcting Primer 

This primer does double duty as a makeup and skincare product and helps reduce the appearance of dark spots while also helping your makeup stay on and flawless .

How do you use your primer to the fullest? Share you primer tips with us in the comments below!

4 Makeup Artists To Follow On Instagram

Contouring, highlighting, glowing, "giving face". These are all amazing makeup tips we have learned from some of our favorite makeup artists (otherwise referred to as "MUA"). Instagram has always been our go-to when it comes to makeup trends and we often use it as a source to mirror some pretty amazing looks. We're sure all of you have that one Instagram page you check on the daily for beautiful makeup looks and inspiration and we do too. Check out our 4 "must-follow" makeup Instagram pages. Do you have a favorite Makeup Artist that we should check out on Instagram? Share with us in the comments!

1. Patrick Ta (@patrickta) #makeupbypatrickta
2. Angel Merino (@mac_daddyy)
3. Karen Sarahii (@iluvsarahii)
4. Haley Buckner (@haleybuckner)

Bonus: We are absolutely in love with the lip products from Dose of Colors (@doseofcolors). The lip products are vegan and cruelty free which is pretty awesome. The colors are rich, vibrant and super affordable. The colors are such a hot commodity that they get sold out quick, so that's why you've got to snag them quick. We especially love the Dose of Colors Instagram page because they often feature makeup artists and different people wearing their beautiful lip products. It gives us access to other makeup artists to follow while at the same time giving us an idea of how the Dose of Colors lip products look on different women---love, love, LOVE!

9 Halloween Makeup Looks

More and more each year we see some super creative Halloween looks done purely with makeup. There is something really fun about transforming your face and body into a work of art. Kappa Alpha Theta and Makeup Artist, Mackenzie Brown is the guru of fun Halloween makeup looks so we asked her to share some of her favorites. Be sure to follow Mackenzie's YouTube makeup account for even more every day makeup looks!

1. Cheshire Kitten
-What you need:

· White, pink and purple face paint, pink and purple eye shadow, white eye liner and false lashes for added dramatic effect!

2. Doe, a Deer, a Female Deer
-What you need:

· White eyeliner, bronzer (or contouring powder), brown eye shadow, black liner, brown/taupe face paint for the lips

3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Babe
-What you need:

· Green and blue face paint, green and blue eye shadow (for contouring/highlighting to give the look more dimension) and glitter!

4. Cute Scarecrow
-What you need:

· Pink lipstick, pink blush, orange eye shadow or eyeliner and black/brown eyeliner!

5. Pixelated Pixie
-What you need:

· Black face paint, White face paint and lots of time and patience!

6. Jungle Cat
-What you need:

· Black eyeliner, brown eye shadow, gold eye shadow, black lipstick

7. Comic Book Heroine
-What you need:

· Black eyeliner, bright lipstick, white eyeliner, false lashes for an added dramatic effect!

8. Masquerade Ball
-What you need:

· Black eyeliner or face paint, glitter and patience!


9. Porcelain Doll Face
-What you need:

· White face paint, red lipstick, purple and red glitter, purple eye shadow, black eyeliner, pink blush and brown face paint/brow gel


*For a lot of these looks Mackenzie used the Make Up For Ever flash palette instead of face paint, but you could also recreate the looks using the NYX jumbo crayons and they’re more affordable for college students!

Draw the Line by Becca

As a makeup artist, I have learned countless tips and tricks, but what continues to amaze me is the power of a simple line. Be it liner for the eyes or lips, one line can make a world of difference. 

So, why line you ask? Lining your eyes has a world of possibilities! It can enlarge the eye, make lashes appear thicker and eyes look brighter. Lip liner can give you lips when you have none and can add the perfect kick to the lipstick that needed a little something extra. Plus, it increases lipstick wear time--SCORE! 

Now that you understand the importance of the line here is a guide to my favorite lines.

Eye Liner: It Gives You Wings !

I know…It’s hard. They never match and you just can’t get it but today you can! Step one is a good liner, I use Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eyeliner. It comes in pen form and is incredibly easy to use, thus my love for it. Now that you have the appropriate tools you may begin. Line your eye across the top; if u miss a spot you can always go back. After you have the initial line it's time to add a wing! With your eye open, mark the height of where you’d like your wing to be. Draw downward from the point you’ve marked connecting your dot to the initial line you created. Then fill in the rest to form the wing! Repeat the steps on your other eye then check for symmetry. If your wings don’t match no worries; take a q-tip with a little makeup remover and remove any excess where needed and VOILÀ! The Perfect Wing!

The Perfect Red Lip …Liner 

Start with moisturized lips then choose a lip color and complimentary lip liner. One of my favorite combinations is MAC, Russian Red lipstick along with their lip pencil in Brick. Start by tracing the lips along the natural line paying special attention to the top lip and the Cupid’s bow, so as to emphasize the shape of the lip. After lining fill in the lips with lipstick be sure to cover lips even over the liner. After this, rub your lips together and if necessary use a q-tip to perfect any imperfections. You now have the perfect lip and liner look! 

Happy Lining! 

xoxo,

Our Mary Kay Holiday Look: Flapper Chic

With all of these holiday parties underway, it was such perfect timing to receive some awesome complimentary makeup products from Mary Kay through Condé Nast!! This season, the holiday makeup looks from Mary Kay were so fab that we just had to try them out and recreate the holiday looks! “Vintage Holiday” is the makeup theme that Mary Kay has going on this season and the three vintage-inspired looks are: Flapper Chic, Silver-Screen Siren and The White-Hot Suit. Throughout the week we will be showing you our looks. First up is Ali showing off her rendition of "Flapper Chic".

Besides a wavy bob, long pearl necklaces, and sequence head bands, when we think of Flapper Chic from a makeup perspective, we think dark, dramatic eyes paired with neutral blends on the cheeks and lips. We're loving the lash & brow building serum from Mary Kay's Special-Edition Lash Spa...Co-Founder Ali has been testing it out for the past week! In addition, we also adore the Mary Kay Lash Primer and Lash Love Lengthening Mascara. The primer adds some oomph to the volume & length of lashes, and the mascara ups the lash drama as well-perfect for every Flapper dramatic eye look! Both the primer & mascara are pictured on Ali and really dramatize her eyes. For an even more dramatic look, add a little smokiness with eyeshadow. The Mary Kay At Play Baked Trio In Tuxedo is absolutely perfect for that sort of smokey eye look--it has blends of dark colors that you can use all at once on your eyes. There should be a balance when you apply an intense eye look so keep your cheeks and lips neutral. We would recommend the Mary Kay Mineral Cheek Color in Shy Blush and Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Café au Lait.

Helpful tip: Lots of eye makeup is fun to apply but equally harder to clean off! Have no fear; when you're ready to remove your eye makeup use the Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover--it nicely removes every little bit of that beautiful eye makeup off of your pretty little face!

Now you have seen Ali's rendition of Flapper Chic from the Vintage Holiday makeup look from Mary Kay. Check back for our recreation of the Silver Screen Siren and The White Hot Suit Mary Kay Vintage holiday makeup looks.

P.s. Mary Kay products make great holiday gifts. You can use them for beauty baskets, secret Santa gifts, or even to give yourself a holiday makeover.

Fall Makeup Looks Part 1 by Victoria

There’s no doubt about it that everyone knows autumn is my favorite season. There’s an indescribable feeling and celebratory persona that comes along with the seasons. In lieu of my favorite season, I’ve accumulated all the makeup and beauty trends you need to know for the rest of this fall as well as heading into the beginning of winter. In addition, I’ve also looked towards my favorite YouTube beauty gurus to show you how to work these trends off the runways. Afterall, commanding attention with your fashion “know-how” is almost the best part of the chilly seasons!

After looking through all the fall makeup trends and seeing the mix of different colors, the first thing I related it to was a fancy, candlelit, holiday meal. I noticed the mix of different red shades, ranging from classic reds to slight orange reds, and deep wine or oxblood lip colors. There was also the emphasis on prune, washed out grey, and warm roasted hues of peach and orange for eye shadows. 

Check out some of my favorite YouTube Beauty Gurus and how they've pulled off some of my favorite fall makeup trends seen on the runway.

Cat Eyes:

Your Beauty Gurus:

Jordan Liberty, Video: “Easy Cat Eyes and Bright Lips: HD Makeup Tutorial”

Pin Up Beauty, Video: “Perfect Winged Eyeliner Tutorial <3 Cat Eye Liner”

(Note: winged and cat eye liner are two separate looks, the angles differ enough to create a different effect on the eye!)

Rustic Orange Shadow:

Your Beauty Guru: 

Pin Up Beauty, Video: “Kristen Stewart Inspired Makeup Tutorial <3 Makeup for Green Eyes” 

(Note: Even though this says Kristen Stewart, DON’T WEIRD OUT. This also works on every eye color, feel free to lighten the pigment for a more fall windswept, daytime look!)

Rouge Lips:

Your Beauty Gurus: 

Jordan Liberty, Video: “Fall 2013 Makeup Trends + Wantable  Challenge”

Ambrosia Malbrough, Video: “Daytime Red Lip (Tutorial)”

As the months get colder, keep with more of the cooler colored shadows and nix the orange. When the season begins changing so will eye colors.  Check back for Part 2 of my Fall Makeup Looks for more fun looks!

LAST MINUTE Halloween Makeup Look by Becca

Halloween is right around the corner, but what's that you say? You have no costume?! Not to worry, here are 2 Halloween looks you can achieve with makeup you've probably already got at home!  

Party At Gatsby's  

Start with a standard smokey eye using silver eyeshadow as a base and blending upward with black eyeshadow. Add a good pair of false lashes and line eyes . Next, follow your normal foundation routine and add a touch of pink blush. I used NARS Orgasm here. Lastly, add a BOLD red lip! I used NARS Flamenco here! For the finishing touch, curl your hair, pin it up, and you're ready to go!  Tip : Outline your lips with concealer to help emphasize your cupids bow ( top of the lip ) like the ladies of the 1920's.  

OH Deer!  

Start by applying foundation to the face. Next, using NYX Jumbo Milk Pencil, color the perimeter of eyes ( in a mask like shape) and down the center of the nose; blend using a brush. Around the perimeter of the white mask you've just created, use a Dark Bronzer from your forehead down to your mid cheek. Using a black eyeshadow, my personal fave is Carbon by MAC, place shadow on the lid only- follow with black liner adding a wing on the edges and also in the front going towards your nose. Using the same liner, draw in your nose then, using the NYX Jumbo Milk Pencil, draw spots on both sides of your face. Add Lashes to the top and on the bottom away from your actual lashes. Darken your eyebrows with black eyeshadow and you're set to be what all the hunters want this Halloween! Happy Halloween Loves !  

Just Brow-zing by Becca

Photography: Rachel Elaine Photography

There are SO many things I can say about eyebrows but let me start by saying I LOVE them. As a Makeup Artist, eyebrows are in my opinion one of the most important elements in a facial beauty routine. Eyebrows not only frame your face, but when properly shaped they can help to define and lift the eye and even slim the face! 

So how do you get that perfect brow?  I’m here to show you how!

To figure out where your brow should begin, hold a pen next to your nose on the inner corner of your brow. This should be your starting point. Now, angle the pen across your iris. This will determine where your arch should be. Finally, angle your pen  to the outer corner of the eye-your brow should end there.

Now that you’ve determined your eyebrow shape, tweeze any stray hairs you may have. Then, using a flat angled brush and brow powder (my personal favorite is Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo) outline your brows and fill in where necessary. If you are a beginner and filling in your brows and freehand seems too daunting of a task, try using a brow stencil (also available from Anastasia Beverly Hills). If your brows seem too dark or overfilled not to worry; take a disposible mascara wand and brush them out to lighten the color! You can stop there or for extra credit you can use concealer to sculpt your brow (this is perfect for special occasions like formals!!!). Using a concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin, outline your brows on the top and bottom blending as you go and voilà, you now have the perfect brow!


Happy Brow-zing!

The Secret to Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes!

Raise your hand if you know how to properly wash your makeup brushes.

crickets....crickets....

Ok, so we are not alone on this one! Merely rinsing our makeup brushes with water after using it has proven to be a not-so-effective way to keep the brushes clean for its next use. We finally decided to turn to the beauty experts about how to best clean off our makeup brushes and we were exposed to literally the simplest way to clean our brushes: baby shampoo! Here is a quick rundown:

Step 1: In one hand, pour a quarter size amount of baby shampoo into the palm of your hand.

Step 2: Turn your water faucet on until the water is lukewarm.

Step 3: Using your empty hand, grab your dirty makeup brush and begin to swirl the brush into the baby shampoo as you hold it under the sink water. You will see the makeup start to pour off into the sink from your hands.

Step 4: After you are done cleaning your makeup brush, lay a paper towel or cloth towel onto the sink counter making sure that one end of the paper towel hits the edge of the counter. Place the wet makeup brushes on the towel so that it is hanging over the edge of the counter. Allow the water from the brush to drip dry (place a towel on the floor where the water is dripping to avoid a wet puddle on the floor).

Another easy and simple alternate to keep your makeup brushes extra clean is by investing in a brush cleanser. You can find a good brush cleanser at MAC Cosmetics or Estee Lauder.

Know of any makeup tips? Share your secret by emailing us at secret@thesororitysecrets.com!

Flawless {Makeup} Finish

Makeup: Victoria's Secret, MAC, Bliss Pro.

In the quest for a flawless complexion, our search is finally over!  From a fun night out, to looking perfectly polished everyday, we found 2 fabulous products that have become a staple in our makeup routine.  TSS Co-Founder, Ali, has personally been using both of these products for years... and we're all hooked!  

To start... if you're not already using a primer in your daily makeup routine, it's time to give it a whirl.  The Oil-Free Airbrush FX Face Primer made by Victoria's Secret not only protects your skin with SPF 15, but it creates a velvety smooth canvas for your makeup.  Ali is flat out obsessed with this product, and swears that she can't go a day without it.  Even on the days when you're wearing less makeup, it provides a clean look for your skin.  For the times when you're wearing heavier foundation, it's a must-have.  The primer provides a base for even makeup application (it even makes your pores less visible), and gives it all-day staying power.  

After applying the primer, MAC Studio Fix Fluid is the next step in the flawless complexion process.  This foundation is a bit on the heavier/full coverage side, but you can choose to either apply a little or a little more depending on the look desired.  Start small, and go from there if more of the foundation is needed.  Ali suggests applying the foundation first with a makeup brush, and then taking a beauty blender to smooth any lines created by the brush.  The beauty blender is also key to providing that "airbrushed" effect at home.  Pat down with the beauty blender all over your face, focusing on the areas around the eyes and nose, and you will create a beautifully smooth look.  Extend the foundation application a little under your chin, fading off onto your neck, as to avoid a harsh line between the coloring on your face and neck.

We hope you love our tricks for creating a flawless complexion.  Give it a try, and let us know what you think! 

Emerald Brushes

Makeup Brushes: Sephora.

Yes, we are among the giddy people who anxiously await Pantone's Color Of The Year announcement, which is emerald for 2013.  But, equally exciting, is seeing the creations made by the Sephora + Pantone Universe each year.  As you may know, the two companies collaborate on a makeup collection annually, in honor of the chosen color.  We weren't sure what to expect for emerald makeup...emerald lipstick?!  Instead, Sephora has created a beautiful collection of vivid eye makeup, as well as nail polish and makeup tools-- and we love it!  Definitely chic, and perfect for 2013.  TSS It Girl, Alyx, tried out the makeup brush set in the collection.  The verdict?  TSS approved... plus, brushes in a pretty color do seem to make everything more fun!

Excited to meet the rest of our It Girls, and learn more about Alyx from University of Colorado Boulder?  Our big It Girl announcement is coming later this week, and we can't wait to share it with you!

OMBRE LIPS

Lipstick: Mac Russian Red & Mac Diva.  Lip liner: Mac Nightmoth.  Beanie: American Apparel.  Tank: H&M (sold out).

Ombre has been THE trend over the past year, shown on everything from haircolor to dip-dyed denim.  So, we decided to take this trend and apply it to our lips-- literally.  Creating your own ombre lip is easier than you may think!  All you need is 3 shades (we chose deep red) in a similar hue, ranging from darkest on the outer area, to lightest on the inner area.  

Step One: Apply darkest color, the lip liner.  We used Mac Nightmoth.

Step Two: Apply lipstick in middle shade all over lips.  We chose Mac Diva for this dominant color.

Step Three: Apply lightest lipstick shade in center of lips only, dabbing on in the inner pucker.  Gently blot your lips together, to blend ever so slightly.  We used Mac Russian Red for the lightest shade.

Just like that, you'll have ombre lips.  This look would be perfect to try for our Valentine Makeup Contest!   We would love to see you put your own spin on this makeup trend.  What color do you want to try using an ombre lip?

 

Valentine Makeup Contest.  

 Email us: secret@thesororitysecrets.com OR Instagram us: #TSSkiss

Winners will be featured next week on our site, showing off their date night makeup looks. 

Send us your selfies!  

{Contest ends 2/17}

Pink Pop

Lipstick: MAC Candy Yum Yum (buy here and here).  Nail Polish: OPI Mod About You.  Top: Express.

Brighten up your day!  We've been having fun with lipstick colors lately, and we instantly fell in love with this shade by MAC Cosmetics.  Ali doesn't usually wear lipstick (she's more of a sheer gloss kind of girl), but she flipped over this neon pink color, and gave it a whirl.  It's the most vibrant shade of pink lipstick we've ever seen!  This particular shade, Candy Yum Yum, just recently became a part of MAC's permanent lipstick color collection-- it was formerly a limited edition hue.  MAC actually calls this color "the lipstick dreams were made of" on their website.  Now hooked on the hot pink, Ali is no longer afraid of adding a bold lip to her makeup routine.

What's your all-time favorite daring lip color to wear?

Beauty Blender

beautyblender: Amazon

Don't underestimate this cute little pink thing, because it happens to hold a very special power to give you perfect flawless skin. Some people like to use brushes or their fingers to apply foundation.  If you look really close, you can see the lines from your brush (or fingers) in the foundation that’s now on your face.  By utilizing the beautyblender over your face after applying foundation, the sponge blends in the foundation smoothly.  Hello matte, perfect coverage!

Towards the end of the day, do you find your makeup to be a bit oily?  By carrying the sponge in your purse, instead of piling more make up on, you can use it to blend everything back in.  Save money by using less make up!  The beautyblender sponges are only $19.95 at Sephora but you can get them for only $6.00 on Amazon! They are reusable for at least 6 months if you wash it after every use. 

A little secret to getting that perfect look!