Friday, May 24, 2013

Summer Beauty Essentials

SUMMER BEAUTY ESSENTIALS


1.  Whether your soaking up the sun or self tanning it is important to exfoliate to keep your glow all summer long. Keihl's Exfoliating Body Scrub is a must have beauty product for summer.  This exfoliant is gentle yet effective and leaves skin feeling so soft...plus it smells divine!

2.  Detox Dry Shampoo is good to have year round but it especially comes in handy during the hot weather months.  I love it because if you are out and about all day, its perfect for transitioning from the beach or pool to dinner to a night out.  Spray it into roots to rejuvenate hair, remove excess oils, add body and lift without blow drying.  I tried many dry shampoos and this one is the best!

3.  Ever since I discovered BB Cream my life has forever changed.  I describe it as the perfect mixture of moisturize, concealer and full coverage foundation.  BB cream is designed to control excess oils, hydrate, prime, reduce fine lines, provide tint, and flawless coverage.  Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream is my personal favorite BB cream right now.  It has such amazing coverage... most of the time I use it as my moisturizer, concealer, and foundation.  Perfect coverage, tint, and SPF makes this a definite summer essential.  

P.S. here are some other bb creams I have tried and recommend:  

4.  Benefit Hervana Blush Powder is a year round essential, however, one might think blush is only important in the winter months when your skin is pale and needs color...but it is also essential in the summer too!  Having cheek and cheek bone definition is key.... especially in the summer so your face looks glowing and radiant not dark and drab.  Plus the Hervana Blush has such pretty bright peach and rose colors perfect for summer!

P. S. How I Contour and Highlight is a really helpful video for more details about face definition.

5.  I have tried so many self tanners over the years and I was frustrated with every new bottle I bought because I never felt completely satisfied.  Recently, my Mom (a huge bareMinerals user) recommended I try bareMinerals Faux Tan .....being that every self tanner I have ever used left me feeling orange, smelly, and disappointed, I was reluctant to try it.  Well I am so happy I did because I have finally found a self tanner that I feel 100% comfortable recommending!  This product is amazing.  My favorite feature is the revolutionary application brush, it applies the tanner so flawlessly and without leaving your hands orange.  Plus instantaneous color as you apply allows you to see exactly where to put more.

How I Self Tan: 

shower: exfoliate + shave 

pump tanner 3 times onto the applicator brush, moving the brush  
in a circular motion start at the legs and move up 

use a lighter application on the ankles, knees, elbows, 
feet and other dry spots 

let dry for 15 minutes [I stand in front of a fan which helps dry it really quick]

I like to shower and exfoliate at night, apply the tanner, then shower again the next day.  

Initially the tan comes out pretty dark so this way showering the next day tones down the tan resulting in a smooth and natural look. 

Use a ton of moisturizer after your shower it will help the tan last longer.

6.  Chapped lips are the worse, especially in the winter.  When transitioning from the cold, dry months, Sara Happ Nivea Lip Scrub, will help transform your chapped winter lips to a smooth and hydrated summer pout.

7.  Rollerball perfumes are the best!  They are ideal for travel and sampling different scents.  My favorite right now is Marc Jacobs Daisy.  I don't normally like overtly floral scents but Daisy mixes floral, citrus, and vanilla creating a great balance. Get a rollerball perfume and stay smelling lovely through long summer days.

8.  Anti Frizze Treatments are a must for humid summer days and nights.  Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum is a great hair product because it helps to repair damage while creating gorgeous shine plus it is free from Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Phthalates, GMOs, and Triclosan. Surprising these harmful ingredients are found in so many hair products.  Always check ingredients on any product you are putting in and on your body. The main part, Argan Oil, is an organic ingredient that contains vitamins, antioxidants, and moisturizing nutrition that is essential for summer hair. 

9.  Like I really need another lip wear product, but the Dior Jelly Lip Pen is so worth it.   It is a jumbo pencil that adds hydration, shine, and pigment.  I like #636 Carioca which is a pretty pink apricot color. The lip pen is great for quick and easy application. 

10. Last year I had gotten an amazing clay mask at a spa in Thailand. I just recently ran out and I was so sad thinking I would never find a mask I liked as much as that one....until.... I found Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask.  I always try to use products with minimal ingredients, just like eating preservatives and additives is bad for your body, using makeup, cleansers, and lotions with additives are bad for your skin.  When choosing beauty products be sure to read the ingredients just like you would for the foods you eat.  Origins make great all natural beauty products.  The activated charcoal acts like a magnet to draw out deep pore cloggers.  The white China clay absorbs environmental toxins.  Lecithin dissolves impurities. 

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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Light + Bright

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White kitchens,  I love them.  They always look so pristine and timeless.  It is so refreshing to wake up and walk into a beautiful bright kitchen.  I love a space with tons of natural light and the best way to add even more light is with white and light colors.  While having the majority of the space white, it is important to incorporating some nonwhite accents such as colors, woods, metals, etc.  Blues , yellows, lilac are perfect colors to add to create a clean, neat look, while still being so welcoming.






want a white kitchen...?
start by getting white on white accessories to brighten your space!




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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Liliac in Love


I am so in love with lilac this spring!  Last year my obsession was mint everything [which, by the way, is still very much in style].   Lately, I keep seeing lilac popping up in fashion, accessories and decor.  Lilac, my new love, adds the perfect mixture of fresh and feminine.  The pale cool tone is perfect for color blocking and mixing patterns because it can be a great neutralizer. I like lilac paired with orange reds, pale greens like mint or even sage, berry colors also look amazing with lilac.
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Seen In Interior Design








Seen In Jewelry 

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Seen In Bags

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Seen On The Runway 






Seen Ready To Wear


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Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Crop It Like Its Hot


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Rochas RTW Spring 2013

Rachel Comey RTW Spring 2013

Rolando Santana RTW Fall 2013

Mara Hoffman RTW Spring 2013

Alexandre Herchcovitch Fall 2013

Francesco Scognamiglio RTW Fall 2013

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Spring/Summer Trend  ||  Crop Tops
Seen repetitively on the runways during fashion week, cropped tops, can be worn in a variety of ways but tend to be seen accenting the waist rather than the naval....which, I think is much more flattering and allows the trend to be pulled off more easily.  Seen above are some of my favorite crop looks found on the runway this year.  Below are crop tops perfect for spring....ready to purchase now....these tops would look great paired with pencil skirts...high waisted pants...or a flowy maxi skirt.
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Lorry Newhouse silk chiffon crop top available here






floral zip front crop corset available here



rib panel mesh crop top available here







river island lime turtle neck crop top available here




varigated long sleeve crop top available here



embroidered lace crop top available here




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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Golden Easter Eggs DIY



What You Need:

+  a dozen white eggs, blown or hard boiled ( I recommend blown, once you make
    these beautiful eggs you wont want to throw them away )

+  food coloring of your choice ( I used McCormick's food color )

+  white vinegar

+  heat proof jars ( I used old mason jars )

+  metal spoon

+  metallic gold leafing kit ( I used a Mona Lisa Gold Leaf kit )

+  a foam craft brush

+ 2 old paint brushes


How To:
  • Begin by making your dyes. I used McCormick's neon food color.  I doubled the directions on the box for each color dye. 
  • Gently place the egg on the spoon and slowly lower the egg into the jar of dye.  Be careful how long you keep your egg submerged in the dye...the longer you keep the egg in the dye the darker and more saturated the color will be.  I like the color to be more pale so I kept each egg in the dye for less than a minute.  Prepare a dozen eggs so you can play around with the color until you find your favorites!
  • While the eggs are drying begin to set up your leafing supplies.  I used a leaf kit from Michael's craft store.  This kit includes 6 sheets of gold leaf, adhesive and sealer.  
  • Carefully tear a sheet of gold leaf into quarters (it is very thin, be extremely gentle). 

To Create Gold Marbled Egg:
  • Hold the egg and using a small paint brush apply a thin layer of adhesive to one half.  Apply randomly leaving some parts of the egg free of adhesive.  Using a dabbing and dotting method is best. 
  • When applying adhesive be very careful not to get it on your fingers as it is very sticky.  Once you have allowed the adhesive to dry for a few seconds pick up a quartered sheet of golden leaf and lay it on the part of the egg you applied the adhesive.  A toothpick can help with placing the gold leaf.  Use the foam brush to rub down the sheet.  The metal leaf that doesn't stick will just fall off.  
  • Continue to gently rub the leaf to create a smooth and natural marbled look.  Repeat this process for the other half of the egg.  The excess metal leaf will be difficult to clean up....I used a piece of masking tape to pick up the fallen pieces. 
  • Once the gold leaf and adhesive is completely dry use a brush to apply a sealant to prevent the gold leaf from rubbing off or oxidizing. 

For Gold Dipped Egg:
  • Using a small brush apply the adhesive to the entire area of the egg you wish to be gold.  I wanted it to look as if I dipped the egg into gold, half the egg either up/down or side to side.  
  •  Gently tear a sheet in half.  Applying one half first, then putting the second sheet over the parts you  missed.  
  • Carefully use a razor to remove any excess leaf off the part of the egg you want bare. 
  • Once the gold is dry use the sealant to finalize your eggs. 

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More Egg Decorating Ideas

Masking with Rubber Bands:

  • Start with a hard boiled or blown white or brown egg, or start by dying the egg one pale shade.  
  • Twist a few rubber bands around the egg.  Carefully make sure the rubber bands are wrapped snugly around the egg. Submerge the egg into dye until desired color is achieved.  
  • Wait at least 10 minutes for dye to dry before removing rubber bands.
  • You can repeat this process with more rubber bands and colors till you reach a desired look. 

Speckled and Marbled:

  • Dye an egg a pale shade of your chosen color. 
  • In a small shallow bowl add 3 cups of warm water, a tsp. of white vinegar, 15-20 drops of food coloring
  • Add a tsp. of oil.
  • Use a folk to combine mixture
  • Put egg into mixture, turn and swirl egg until you have achieved desired look.

You can experiment with all kinds of color combinations: by varying the base color and the swirls in the oil dye bath to achieve different kinds of contrasts and shading and different multi tint patterns. 

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ALL PHOTOS CREDIT KELLEY FRANCES HIGGINS 
© COLOUR MY LIFE BLOG


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