Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Soft, Kissable Lips

I hate chapped and dry lips – it is one of my biggest pet peeves and it isn’t very pretty either. And since we’re getting into the colder months, our lips are much more prone to drying and cracking. So follow these few easy steps to get smoother and fuller lips!

My favorite product to use to get smoother lips is the Lip Scrub by Lush. This comes in a few different flavors (Bubble Gum, Sweet Lips, Mint Julips, and Popcorn). This is a sugar type formulation that you just scrub all over your lips like an exfoliant. You don’t need to wash it off – you can just lick it off your lips (it tastes soooo good!) Afterwards, your lips are silky smooth!

If your lips are extremely dry, you can always use a wet washcloth and scrub your lips with that. The texture of the washcloth helps to remove dead cracked skin.


My number one product that I use EVERY night is Vaseline. I have multiple jars of it next to my bed and a small jar in my purse. At night I load it on my lips. It may feel a little strange and goopy but your lips will feel AMAZING in the morning! (My favorite is the Lavender & Chamomile scent – it’s very calming at nighttime!)


Finally, if you want plumper lips (without the injections) simply take a toothbrush and rub it on your lips. This will increase the blood circulation to your lips, making them look fuller! You can also apply a lip plumper! My favorite are the Lip Plumpers by Lola. These lip glosses make your lips tingle and come in beautifully pigmented colors!




Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Eyes. Lips. Face.


If you have ever been to target, I’m sure you have seen the crazily inexpensive products from E.L.F. You know I love my high end products but I am constantly surprised with the brand E.L.F (stands for eyes lips face). The majority of their products range from $1 to $5 and the quality of their products is AMAZING. Of the products I have tried, they are all compareable to high end products. E.L.F. products are perfect if you’re looking for budget-friendly products that are high quality at the same time. So, I wanted to share with you my favorite products from E.L.F. that I’ve tried!

My obsession is makeup brushes and, let me just say, E.L.F. brushes are some of the BEST brushes I have ever found. The two that I use everyday (and will NEVER be without) are the Kabuki Face Brush (top) and the Powder Brush (bottom). These brushes are so soft and dense and feel like they should cost $40 (but they're only around $3 - $5!)

I always set my foundation no matter what! I feel that setting foundation helps it last all day, keeps you matte, and makes foundation look more natural and less cakey. This High-Definition Powder is an amazing powder to use for setting! The only downside is the packaging – It is bulky and a little messy but I can look past that for the low price and amazing product!

As you can probably tell from my blog, I love contouring my face. For some reason it's just fun for me (I'm weird, I know). E.L.F. has an amazing Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder Palette. This bronzer is matte and is another great dupe for Benefit's Hoola Bronzer. This blush is also a great color if you want a neutral look with a little color and shimmer to your cheeks.

Winging your eyeliner is such a popular beauty trend. It took me a lot of practice to get it right and even on both sides, but if you have the right liquid eyeliner, it can be SO MUCH EASIER to apply! E.L.F's Liquid Eyeliner has the perfect formula and the most precise brush. Plus, this eyeliner is only $1!!!!!

My last, but not least, favorite E.L.F. product is BY FAR is the Conditioning Lip Balm. I've only tried the color Nice and Natural but will definitely try the others! It has shea butter in it and is so moisturizing and gives just the right amount of color and gloss to your lips. Plus it has SPF to protect your lips! If you only try one of these E.L.F. products, I suggest this one to try!

(I tried to go to the website to find out prices to list for you guys but the website is down due to Hurricane Sandy. On that note – I am thinking and praying for everyone on the East coast and everyone affected by Hurricane Sandy. I hope that you all are safe and leave a comment below if you live on the East coast and let me know how you’re doing!)

Sunday, October 28, 2012

I can't live without...


MY BEAUTY BLENDER!


I know, I know it’s just a sponge. But this is the best tool to blend your concealer or foundation. When I first tried it I was so disappointed – I HATED IT! But then I realized that you have to get it wet in order for it to work. It sounds weird that it has to be wet (and it feels even weirder on your skin) but it actually does work! Wetting the Beauty Blender makes it so that it doesn’t absorb the concealer or foundation. This way the product stays on your skin – not the sponge. Using a wet tool on your skin feels strange at first but you’ll get used to it in no time! When you use the Beauty Blender you want to run it under cool water and squeeze out the excess. Then you want to pat (not rub) the product into your skin. The blender also has a pointed tip so it’s easy to blend in the product into small spaces, like the inner corner of your eye and around your nose). It will give you the most flawless finish.
 
There are many different brands of this sponge. The original is the Beauty Blender, which is around $20 at Sephora. You can also buy knockoff brands at your local drugstore for around $8 and they work just as well! You can also buy Beauty Blender cleaner (which is something I have to invest in!) Go try out this miracle tool and let me know what you think!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Kissable in the Cold


In the fall you get darker. No, I don’t mean you get tanner – I’m talking about darker clothes, darker nails and even darker hair. My favorite thing to make darker in the colder seasons is lips. I feel that it’s hard to find a lot of places to wear a dark lip, but when I get the chance I don’t pass it up! I’m not a huge fan of fire engine red lips, but I am absolutely crazy about dark purples, maroons and wine toned lips. Here are a few of my favorite dark lip products for the season:

CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in 330 Divine

 
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain in Crush


E.L.F. Mineral Lipstick in Beautiful Berry



L’Oreal Colour Riche Le Balm in Plush Plum

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Brilliant in Bouclé


A new favorite trend of mine is bouclé. Bouclé is a type of fabric where the yarns are knotted or looped, so the fabric has a bumpy texture. I love bouclé jackets because they are easy to dress up or dress down and can even be incorporated into a work outfit. Many people connect bouclé jackets to Chanel suits or Jackie O, showing that they are very classy and stylish. Here are three different ways to style this amazing bouclé jacket from Dorothy Perkins!


Top: Joie
Jeans: Hudson
Flats: Lulu*s
Earrings: Bauble Bar
Purse: J Crew


Bralet: TopShop
Leggings: Bebe
Booties: Aldo
Earrings: Miss Selfridge
Clutch: Tobi


Dress: H&M
Heels: Zara
Necklace: Bauble Bar
Clutch: Armani Exchange

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Tea Time!


I’m a HUGE believer of the benefits of drinking tea. I trust that tea is an overall body, mind and spirit booster. I try to drink at lease one cup of tea a day. One benefit that girls will love is it boosts your metabolism (especially green tea). Drinking 5 cups of green tea per day could help you burn an additional 60-80 calories. Green tea contains caffeine (not as much as coffee, though). So drink some green tea if you need an energy boost! Moreover, tea contains fluoride and keeps your smile bright and white!

It’s also great for your health. Drinking tea greatly boosts your immune system and can help fight off many diseases. It is also a great remedy for colds and sore throats. Teas also contain antioxidants, which can protect your body against harmful pollutants as well as prevent the aging process. Many research studies have shown that drinking tea can help prevent cancer as well as shrinking already grown tumors in your body. Furthermore, tea keeps your heart healthy and can prevent blood clots and heart attacks. This magical substance lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and delay cardiovascular disease.

Overall, drinking tea regularly can help you live a longer and healthier life. Here are some of my favorite teas:

My favorite green tea (not flavored):


This tea is perfect if you are feeling under the weather and to soothe a sore throat:


I love drinking this tea right before bed. I don't think it helps put you to bed but it does relax you:


Chai tea is one of my newest favorites. I love chai tea lattes (hot or cold) and this hot chai tea with vanilla tastes similar to gingerbread with all of the delicious spices:


I also LOVE peppermint tea. I drink this mostly in the fall and winter time but the minty flavored tea can be used any time of the year for a refreshing hot drink:

This Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea is by far the BEST holiday tea! (just beware - it does have gluten so gluten intolerant people, like myself, should limit themselves to this tea):

Any teas you love that I didn't mention?? Let me know!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

How to get long, shiny, healthy hair!


What girl doesn’t want shiny and healthy hair?? It isn’t all that hard to do either! Just follow these steps and your hair will thank you!

(Just to start things off, I wanted to share my hair type: my hair is very straight and thin. It is oily on the top and dry and brittle on the bottom. Some of these steps might not work if you have different hair than I do. I’m not a professional – this is just a hair routine that I have found works for my hair type and texture.)

One of the biggest tips I can give is DON’T WASH YOUR HAIR EVERYDAY! (FYI: This doesn’t mean not to shower every day – just don’t wash your hair everytime you shower). Washing your hair everyday strips it of its natural oils which can delay growth and make it more dry, damaged and brittle. Many people feel gross if they don’t wash their hair everyday – trust me, I felt that way too before I got used to it! In the past if I didn’t wash it every day, it would become super oily (I’m talking rubbing pizza on my face oily!) But that was because my hair was used to getting washed everyday! You have to train your hair to go a few days in between washes – it doesn’t take long to get used to it either! And if your hair does get oily between washes use a dry shampoo! My favorite is TRESemmé’s Fresh Start Dry Shampoo.

On those days that I do wash my hair, my favorite shampoo to use is Redken’s All Soft Shampoo. All Soft Shampoo is infused with a keratin and protein complex, which brings moisture to your hair while it cleanses. This shampoo is known to be great for people with permanent extensions too!

What I use as a conditioner is actually a hair mask. My favorite is the Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque. I can’t say enough good things about this product – it is by far my favorite hair product and I will NEVER be without it. If you want to purchase a hair mask that isn’t quite as expensive, try the TRESemmé Nourishing Rituals Rejuvenating Mud Masque. Both of these are amazing products and both smell phenomenal! Also, only put these on the lower half of your hair so the top won’t get greasy (I only condition my hair when I wash it). These deep conditioners are safe to use instead of a regular conditioner as long as you don’t wash your hair everyday.

When I get out of the shower I squeeze the excess water out of my hair and spray It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product to the lower half of my hair. This product does 10 (amazing) things:
1.     Repairs dry damaged hair
2.     Adds shine
3.     Detangles
4.     Controls frizz
5.     Seals & protects hair color
6.     Prevents split ends
7.     Stops hair breakage
8.     Creates silkiness
9.     Enhances natural body
10. Flat iron spray & thermal protection


Next comb your wet hair with a WIDE TOOTH COMB!!! Your hair is at its weakest when it is wet and any other brush will create breakage.
When your hair is just a little damp, put to add Macadamia’s Healing Oil Treatment to the very ends of your hair to add a little more moisture.

Another part of my hair care routine is to always always ALWAYS use a heat protectant before you apply any kind of heat to your hair (hair dryer, curling iron, straightener, etc). Heat is quite damaging to your hair, so just spray this through to help protect your hair from becoming damaged! (TRESemmé Heat Tamer Protective Spray).

The very last tip I have for you is to get regular trims. This is the part that I have a problem with. I HATE getting may haircut, even if it is just a trim. I get anxiety from it (lol!) but I’m getting better :)


Let me know your favorite hair products to keep your hair long and healthy!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Neutrals: Cozy & Chic


One of my favorite trends last fall/winter that has made a comeback this year is pairing a chunky knit sweater with an elegant sequin skirt. The casual and dressy elements mixed together make the perfect transitional day to night outfit! Plus this is a great way to add neutral colors into your wardrobe for the chilly seasons. If it’s cold where you live, throw on some black tights and some comfortable boots instead. For some final touches, just apply a dark smoky eye, a pale pink lip, a donut bun and you’re good to go!


Sweater: H&M
Skirt: Top Shop
Booties: Miss Selfridge
Bracelet: ASOS
Clutch: ASOS
Nail Polish: Essie’s A Crewed Interest

Sunday, October 21, 2012

2 October Favorites!


I always like to try new products – whether someone has recommended it to me or it’s a new product on the shelves. Here are two products I just recently bought and have been LOVING!

NYX Matte Bronzer
This bronzer is PERFECT for contouring. I’m not a fan of glittery or shimmery products, so I love the fact that it is matte! It has such a velvety texture and is super affordable! This bronzer comes in three different shades: Light, Medium and Deep Tan. The one I have is in medium (they’re all pretty dark in my opinion).



Coastal Scents Camouflage Concealer Palette
I’ve been looking to buy this for months now and I finally gave in and I couldn’t be happier with the palette! All of these concealers are creamy and perfectly blendable. There are 10 different concealer colors for all skin tones. As you can probably tell from the picture, I have used the first two in the palette. I like my concealer to be very light to brighten up my under eyes. The darker shades can also be used as a contour on darker skin tones (but only if you use a light hand and make sure they’re blended in!)


Top row of colors:

Bottom row of colors:

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Drugstore Blushes


Every time I go to a drugstore or grocery store I have to stop in the makeup aisle.  I can’t help myself – I love inexpensive (but quality) cosmetics. Sure, some of the products are cheap in both price and quality. But in my opinion, the majority of drugstore cosmetics are just as good as high-end cosmetics. Since I am a little obsessed with buying blushes, I decided to share with you my favorite drugstore blushes! The blushes I am about to mention are inexpensive, long lasting and quite pigmented (not to mention the colors are beautiful as well!)


1. Maybelline Fit Me in Deep Mauve
2. Wet ‘N Wild in Heather Silk
3. E.L.F. in Pink Passion
4. Hard Candy Fox in a Box in Spicy and Sweet
5. Milani Baked Blush in Corallina
6. Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in Coral Reef

Just an FYI: I like to layer my blushes – I think it gives a longer lasting power as well as a more vibrant color. I usually use a base blush and then put the main blush color over it. The base blush I usually use is by E.L.F. in Tickled Pink (pictured below).

Let me know your favorite drugstore blushes – I’m always wanting to try more!

Equestrian Classic


One of my favorite trends for this season is Equestrian. It seems that this trend keeps making a comeback autumn after autumn. It is such a classic look that incorporates the fall colors perfectly. Moreover, the color for this season is oxblood, so I decided to feature this color in an Equestrian-focused outfit! Let me know how you feel about this trend and what your favorite trend is for this season!


Shirt: Mango
Jacket: Alexander McQueen
Leggings: Dorothy Perkins
Boots: Aldo
Hat: Forever 21
Gloves: Target
Bracelet: Michael Kors

Thursday, October 18, 2012

My Secret Primer


When you paint a room you use a primer first. So why not use a primer before applying makeup? I always always always use a primer before I put on any makeup. I hate the feeling of makeup going on my face without one. But what’s the purpose of a primer?

-Helps your makeup last longer and stay in place
-Absorbs oil from your face
-Prevents your makeup from creasing
-Makes it easier to put on makeup
-Reduces the appearance of pores

My favorite type of primer is one with a silicone base. I feel that these work the best and help your makeup last the longest, plus I just like the feel of them as opposed to a creamy primer. There are many low-end and high-end primers, but my favorite primer isn’t ACTUALLY a primer – it is the Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder Gel. Don’t be freaked out - haha! (This product is NOT used for yeast infections!!!) But this is truly the best primer I have ever found. It has a silicone base and is moisturizing. It makes your skin silky smooth and eases the application of your foundation. Plus, this primer has never broken me out!

I still haven’t been able to find this product at my drugstore but I know other people have found it at their local drugstores. However, I usually buy mine off of Amazon.com and it is only $5 - $6! This tube is 1.5 oz and lasts for months!

If you’re in the market for a new primer, try the Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder Gel! You won’t be disappointed!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

7 Layer Bars



Just an FYI: this is NOT part of the Health Kick series! (but who doesn’t want a yummy treat every now and then??)

I just baked these, might I add, DELICIOUS 7 layer bars for a bake sale that supports breast cancer. I was so tempted not to eat them for myself! These bars are super easy to prepare and make – all you need is 7 ingredients!

Ingredients:

1 stick of butter
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup coconut flakes
1 package chocolate chips (I use dark chocolate!)
1 package butterscotch chips
1 can condensed milk
1 ½ cups chopped nuts (I use chopped walnuts)

Here’s How:

1.  In a 9 x 13 inch pan, melt 1 stick of butter (make sure to distribute the butter and the rest of the ingredients evenly over the pan)


2. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over the butter


3. Sprinkle the coconut flakes, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips over the pan


4. Evenly pour the condensed milk over the pan


5. Sprinkle the chopped nuts on top


6. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes
7. Cool, cut & enjoy!