A Sexy Halloween on a Budget!

Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in college anymore...

It's a sad day when you graduate from college and are thrown into the adult world of paying for your own wifi, admiring cute placemats, and other less-than-fun bullshit. Just to top it off - you're in this weird relationship with Halloween.
I loved Halloween in college. I was literally an airplane every single year for 4 years. As a freshman I found an airplane costume in the toddler section of target and committed. I couldn't justify spending $30 on something I'd wear once... so I wore in every year thereafter. It was the perfect amount of "adult" because it showed a lot of skin as you're encouraged to do in college because your parents are finally not around to disapprove of you "leaving the house like that without a jacket or how about some pants?!" or "the rest of your shirt!?" But it also mixed in a little bit of silly fun, which is much more my speed. It was the perfect slutty-silly mix that made it a fucking legendary costume that will never be forgotten.

 But as I recently entered the real world, I am coming to realize that it's no longer acceptable for me to dress like this and go to a frat party. Instead, I'm going to be sitting in my studio apartment with nobody to dress up for except my boyfriend. At first I was excited - this meant that I could finally buy one of those really sexy costumes because I wouldn't be going anywhere other than to bed. But it did not take me too long into my google search to realize that this shit is expensive. I don't understand expensive lingerie - I've been buying my shit from the sale rack of forever 21 for years and a man has yet to give a flying fuck that it cost me $4. A man doesn't care if you are literally wearing a paper bag as a bra because, regardless of whether it was $4 or $400, they just want it off of your body.

But, as I have always been one of Halloween's biggest fans, I couldn't resist concocting a brilliant costume. My boyfriend keeps telling me how fun he thinks it will be for me to dress up (dress down...) and I can't help but agree. So I figured out a way to be sexy on a budget.

If you're like me and not going out for halloween this year but still want to dress up and give a man a good time, I'm about to blow your mind for under $12.

My boyfriend is a big fan of super heroes. I know literally negative amounts about super heroes. We are really compatible. However, I do know that some of his favorites are Ironman and Captain America. Ironman has this real weird, full-face mask that could really ruin an intimate moment so I went with Captain America. This costume could easily be altered to be literally anything with the purchase of different colored lingerie and a different face mask, though. Which is cool, because when I wear it again next year with a spiderman mask, I am confident that my boyfriend will not notice at all.

Step one: Head to the mall, walk into Victoria's Secret, walk out of Victoria's Secret because we're on a budget (are you fucking serious thinking we're going in there? Jesus Christ.) Go to Forever 21's sale section. Surprisingly, they have great, skanky lingerie. The best part about it is it's cheap as literal dirt so it doesn't matter if it's man handled or left on a stranger's floor. I got a black, lace, see-through (in a classy way, calm down) bra for $3.99 last time I was there that I will be wearing for my costume... "costume." Here's an example of what you can get there for $6.99.

Step Two: Get to a party city and check out their mask/glasses selection. I, for example, will be buying the cutest Captain America glasses that every existed for only $4.99. All of the child size masks are under $5 so if you're cheap as hell and have a tiny little head like me - you're golden. If your head is of the bigger variety, you might have to splurge for an adult mask or get into some DIY crap that I will not be involved with.

Step Three: Go into your underwear drawer and put on some red, white, blue, silver (literally any color because your boyfriend doesn't actually care as much as you do) panties and you're done!

It's as simple as that! And all for under $12! Yea, I do even amaze myself, thank you for asking!
So sign me up as fucking stoked for one thing about being an adult. Halloween won't be so bad after all.

XO,
Halloween Costume Legend and only 5 year old to ever ask their mom to custom-make a Crest Toothpaste costume for them

Tiger Halloween Make Up!

 What:

• bareMinerals "Prime Time"Foundation Primer
• bareMinerals "Mini Full Flawless Face" brush
• Covergirl "Tropical Fusion" 205 eyeshadow pallet
• NYX "Love in Rio" eyeshadow pallet 
• bareMinerals "Mini Concealer" brush
• Dior Addict "It-Lash" Mascara
• NYX "Noir Liquid Black Liner" 
• Urban Decay "24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil"
• Rimmel London "Professional Eyebrow Pencil"
• bareMinerals "mineral veil" protectant powder
• Maybelline "410 Blissful Berry" lipstick
• Palladio "Baked Bronzers" in Atlantic Tan

Why:
Last weekend, my sorority had our annual crush party.  This year's theme was "Jungle ParaDiZe" seeing as we have to somehow incorporate our letters into everything. (That being said, I am a Delta Zeta.) I was pretty excited when I heard that we had a jungle theme because I have had this tiger dress sitting in my closet for AGES! For some reason unbeknownst to me, my mother and I happened upon it in forever 21 and thought that I needed it about a year ago. Why anyone would ever need a dress with a giant tiger face on the front, I do not know; but I needed it, so I bought it. (That is the story of my entire life summed up in one sentence.) A few days before the event, I was scrolling through instagram and I saw British blogger and youtuber, inthefrow, dressed up as a tiger with the most incredible make up. I needed to replicate it. She hadn't posted her tutorial yet so I had to just copy her from her instagram photo.  I pulled it up on my computer, put on some Taylor Swift, and situated myself with all kinds of ridiculous make up in my bathroom, ready to make myself look ridiculous(ly fabulous).

How:
I started (as I start all make up routines) with the bareMinerals "Prime Time" foundation primer. I put it all over my face to ensure that the make up would last though out the entire event. The event was at a hot, sweaty club filled with a mob of drunk sorority girls and their dates so, while I didn't expect my make up to last 10 minutes, it stayed perfectly the entire night and there is no doubt in my mind that bareMinerals was wildly responsible for that. After the primer, I took the "Mini Full Flawless Face" brush that I got with my bareMinerals "Up Close & Beautiful: 30 Day Complexion Starter Kit" and began to use it to apply the orange eyeshadow from the Covergirl "Tropical Fusion" eyeshadow pallet to parts of my face.  I applied it to my forehead around my hairline and right above and between my eyebrows, to my cheeks (where one usually would apply bronzer), and under my jawline. Then, using the same brush, I applied the white eyeshadow from the NYX "Love in Rio" pallet to the middle line of my forehead, around my eyes, above my cheek bones, my nose, the area above my lips, the area below my lips, and the area above my jawline. At this point I was looking entirely ridiculous - it was time to add black. Using the bareMinerals "Mini Concealer" brush, I began to make the nose line by applying the black eyeshadow from the NYX "Love in Rio" pallet starting near my tear duct and dragging the brush in a clean, straight line to almost the end of my nose. I then went back and blended the bottom parts so it would look like a tiger's nose (reference: my dress). I also used the black to be actual eyeshadow! (For once, I am using it for it's given purpose!) Once I had the nose, it was time for the stripes.  I continued to use the same eyeshadow and brush and made fur-like, sketchy lines around my face. To make the ones on my forehead a little lighter, I later went back over them with a little orange and white eyeshadow so they wouldn't overshadow my entire face. It was time for my eyes! I used the Dior Addict "It-Lash" mascara, as per always, because it is the most amazing mascara. I created the thick top eyeliner and wing effect with the NYX "Noir Liquid Black Liner" and used the Urban Decay "24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil" for the bottom waterline.  I continued to use the pencil to make my nose effect by applying it to the front and bottom of my nose, making sure to not go entirely around the nostrils.  I made a line from my nose to my mouth and then 3 little dots on each side to be in place of my whiskers. Nearing the end of my look, I applied Maybelline "410 Blissful Berry" lipstick to add a pop of color and some Palladio "Baked Bronzers" (in the shade Atlantic Tan) to my neck to avoid looking like my head was not attached to my body.  Finally, I finished the look by protecting it all with the bareMinerals "mineral veil" powder.  As I mentioned earlier, bareMinerals was definitely the reason this look lasted all night (not sure if it was the primer or the powder but they are both amazing). I straightened my hair, made a tiger ear headband, painted my nails orange with black stripes, put on my tiger print high heels (created by using the orange eyeshadow on the white parts of zebra heels that I had), and headed off to have an amazing time at crush party with my best friend and my handsome boyfriend as my tiger date!

When:
This is a perfect look for Halloween! A tiger is such a cute, fun (might I add EASY) costume! It's an animal print that most stores don't sell so there's a huge possibility you'll be the only tiger at the party. The costume can be made easy by buying a cheap orange dress or shirt and simply painting orange stripes on it (which is exactly what I did for my boyfriend's costume).  It's also a fun costume for a sorority event like a date night or exchange that could fit so many themes. You could even be Tigger from Winnie the Pooh in a cute group costume with friends who love Disney. Doing the make up isn't nearly as difficult as it may seem and is definitely worth it. I got so many compliments and everyone told me that I was easily the best tiger at the event which always feels great! Hope this helps and you're the best tiger at the party too!!