Ask Elle: Quick Makeup, DIY Body Butter, Primers, And More!

Happy weekend to US! Before I get into answering your questions, I'd like to remind you that it's the FINAL DAY to enter to win $100 to Sephora. Come on, you know you wanna!! 

Today I've got a fresh batch of cookies questions on beauty and life, so let's get started!

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kindy

I haven't gotten crows feet yet but my eyes are getting wrinkles in the other corner ( close to my nose) any tips on how to make them less obvious or stop them lol.?? My other question is I get pimples so to speak that are just hard bumps they never come to a head, how can i make these painful but not that noticeable buggers go away

--Since I have no pics, age info, or history, this will be a very general answer: inner eye wrinkles can be from age, sun damage as well as health issues. Plus the skin is thinner there coupled with usage of those muscles make wrinkles. Wear sunglasses and use sunscreen to help. To hide, try Dermaflage or Frownies. It sounds like possible cystic acne--Depends on what you are ingesting as well as applying topically can cause that. See a dermatologist for a cortisone shot.

carissajade

Happy Happy Blog Birthday! What's your favorite skin care product? Specifically, night cream or eye cream?

I am currently in LOVE with Scalisi Advanced Wrinkle Cream. If you have dry skin, you NEED this in your life. IT is so good and everyone I've recommended it to loves it as well. One of my friends uses it on her hands and the wrinkles there disappear. It's kind of like Botox in a jar. I've already gone through an entire jar. Eye cream-wise, I've been using one by La Roche Posay or a Vitamin C serum. 

Laura B

I would love to know how you balance social/personal life and blogging and fit it all in during the day!

--It is a struggle and I am always behind, to be honest, but I'm not complaining. I get up at 6 and visit blogs, do emails, and social media interactions until 1 hour before I go to work. I then take pics for Insta and blog pics before going to work. I'll film if I need to.  I'm a nanny and my boss is at home with me most of the day, so it's hard for me to do anything blog-wise, but I visit social media and answer emails when I can. Once I get home and start blogging, it's 8:30 or 9. I edit photos and make graphics (this takes me forever) and then work on the post until 11:30pm. Sponsored posts are usually done months in advance so they can get client approval, so I'm working on those too. I try to do more emails (respond to blog comments, respond to pr pitches, business stuff) until midnight. I take Friday nights off. Saturday I film a video or two for my Youtube channel. I open and break down boxes for any samples I've received that week. I take pics and record info on them as well. I also will write down weekly results on how a review or beauty experiment is going. Sunday night, I start over with editing and writing posts. I check my schedule for the week and month, moving things around as needed (more on this on the next Ask Elle). It's a lot of work to do it all by myself, but I LOVE blogging.

Debora

Congrats!!! I'd like to know more about the usage of primer :)

--Check out this post on the best/worst primers here.

Emily

Wow 5 years! I think you've been around longer than most bloggers I know. Congrats to you! For my question: What are your favorite full coverage foundations and/or concealers?

--I like Estee Lauder Double Wear and L'Oreal Infallible Pro Matte. I've been loving Makeup Forever's concealer lately.

Ashley

Thank you for 5 years of education, tips, and all of your time poured into this! My question is what is your 10 minute quick makeup for weekday mornings?

Jillian Manesh

congrats on your anniversary!! whoohoo for 5 years :) i love your blog and i'd love to see more tips on quick makeup routines (since i have very little time these days to get ready!) 

--Check out my Beauty-To-Go Kit here.

Shea Sayers

If you're on a budget, what is the one product that's worth shelling out the big bucks for, and what is one thing it's totally okay to go the cheap route on?

--Foundation is worth the $$. Save on mascaras.

Jackie

Elle, I just love you blog and love following you on IG. You are such a breath of fresh air! I love you DIY beauty products, do you have any good recipes for making your own body butter?

--Yes! I have over 100 DIY beauty ideas here.

Extra ELLE:

• Last chance to win $100 Sephora gift card!
• I've been on some sort of 90s alternative music kick thing lately. I read Girl in the Band by Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) and watched the Kurt Cobain documentary Montage of Heck. I admit I am not a huge fan other either band, but both were interesting to experience.
• Taking it easy this weekend to get over this illness and packing form beach trip next week! I've already started stock piling my magazines. I cannot wait! Have a great weekend!