A New Chapter!

Well, a lot has happened since my last post. I resigned from my job, moved to Memphis, and took a job at Joseph (a high-end boutique) doing make-up. I am so excited about this new adventure in my life! I'll have to update y'all more later, but I've gotta run for now. If you're in the Memphis area or know people there, please swing by or tell them to swing by to see me!

A lot more to come from Shine!

XO,

Ruffin

Deal of the Week!

In my opinion. :-)

While I was in Ulta the other day(shocker, I know), I came across the Smashbox Limitless Beauty kit. It contains one of my favorite eyeliners(Java brown), a sheer lipgloss, blush, face primer and a beauty eye shadow pallet. The price is what really surprised me. Valued at $115, it was priced at $39. Of course I had to pick one up. They're going fast, so if you're interested, check your nearest Ulta store quickly!

Is it a Dress or a Shirt???

With the Fourth of July holiday upon us and the heat about to kill us, I know females everywhere will be breaking out the summer dresses. I love to rock a great dress, but these days, I often have to ask myself, "Is that a dress or a shirt?!"

Hemlines seem to be getting shorter and shorter, which can be extremely confusing and frustrating for women, especially those who are on the taller side. I remember once when I was shopping, I took a shirt(or what I thought was a shirt) to the register and the associate said, "That is such a cute dress!" I looked behind me to see who she was talking to, because there was no way the item I held in my hand could be a dress. When I realized that there was nobody behind me and that she was indeed talking to me, I couldn't help but laugh a little to myself. There would be no chance in you-know-where that I would be rocking that outfit as a dress.

So, how do you tell if the garment you are wearing is a dress or shirt? Well, the amazing folks at Outblush have put together this handy-dandy chart. Take a look, get a great laugh, and stay cool this Fourth of July!

(Click on the chart to see a bigger version.)

Ride the wave!

This summer, it's all about shades of blue. From light blue to dark blue, there is a color that will work for you. Here's a quick snapshot of the July issue of Glamour to help you get the picture:

The colors are gorgeous and make me want to dive into nearest ocean or pool! A good way to ease into the blue trend is to start using it on your nails or eyes. I have tried the lighter Sally Hansen polish featured in the article, and I am a big fan. The color is called Barracuda, and it's a member of the Complete Salon Manicure line. You can find it at Walmart, Ulta or drugstore, and it retails for around $8.50.

Cargo Swimmables Eye Liners

A fun way to play up the trend is through a pop of blue eyeliner. You can go the turquoise or darker blue route. I found a fabulous pack of four eyeliners by Cargo that I am in love with. There is a purple, turquoise, gold and blue color to play around with. Urban Decay also has a great eyeliners: 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils.

I know that some of these colors can be intimidating, but you can go subtle. One way I wear mine is to put black liner on first, then put the color liner on top of that. The black color helps to tone done things. Also, you can line the top of the eye with color liner not the bottom.

Happy surfing!

I wanna hear from you!

Take my poll on the right-hand side of my blog and tell me what you want me to blog about next! If you don't see what you want, leave me a comment under this post. With all the fun make-up and hair stuff out there this season...the sky's the limit!

Seal the Deal

Sorry for such a delay in posts! It has been a crazy few weeks! Lately, I've had multiple people ask me what I use on my nails for a top coat. I've tried a lot out there, and my fav by far is Sally Hansen's InstaDri Anti-Chip Topcoat. 

It boasts that it can dry any nail color in 30 seconds, and it honestly does. I usually do my nails before I go to bed, and when I wake up, I don't have the "fingerprint-looking" smudges that sheets usually cause. Just wait two minutes after painting your nails, apply InstaDri and then you'll be good to go in about 30 seconds.

It's available at Walmart, and retails for around $5.

It's Spring in My Mind!

Photo courtesy of Allure

Ok, so I'm starting to get Spring fever! Flipping through various beauty magazines is adding fuel to my fire. Featured are gorgeous colors that seem to pop off the page.

One trend that I have read about in several places are melon-colored lips. At first glance, I didn't think a lot of people, including myself, could pull this color off. However, there are many products/brands to choose from, so you can find your right shade, coverage, etc.

Photo courtesy of Allure

What I'm loving right now is N.Y.C.'s (New York Color) Smooch Proof 16 Hour LipStain in "Endless Spice", topped with N.Y.C. Kiss Gloss in "Murray Hill Melon". Each can be worn separately for a softer effect, but I like to layer them for a little more pop of color and staying power.

Another N.Y.C. Kiss Gloss that Allure magazine recommends is "Park Avenue Punch". These fresh colors are guaranteed to put a little "Spring" in your step. Also, the cheap price tag makes trying multiple colors a little less risky for your pocket book.They're available at Walmart and the lip stain retails for around $4.99 and the Kiss Gloss around $3.00.

 

Show me pictures of your freshly glossed lips!

Me with the lipstain/gloss duo mentioned above!

How-To Video: Metallic Eyes!

Ok, for some reason, my lovely blog program is not letting me upload my metallic eye tutorial. I wanted to let you all know that you can check it out on Shine's FaceBook page and on Your Tube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZGektvRvuE.

Let me know what tutorial you would like to see next!

Friends with Benefits...

Do you or someone you know have friends with benefits? Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow/Eyeliner that is! I discovered these fabulous little pots of color a few months ago and can't stop collecting them.

They come in a variety of lovely colors (10 to be exact), and retail for around $19. These shadows can be applied for a sheer wash of color, or layered(just wait 30 seconds and apply another coat) for a more noticeable look.

Benefit claims: "Our do-it-all cream shadow lines, shades and contours eyes with its alluring crease-proof, smudge-proof formula. Go as sheer or as dramatic as you like with buildable color. Either way, these shadows stay put!"

And they are correct! I've worn it all day, and there's never an unsightly crease on my eyelid or a smear other than where the color is supposed to be. 

To apply, you can either use your finger or a brush like benefit's The Talent Brush. I'll use a brush to start, and then my fingertip to blend the lines. If you want to take it a step further(which I often do), put a layer of a bareMinerals eye shadow over it. I like to use Queen Tiffany(good with Birthday Suit) or Nude Beach(good with Strut or Stiletto). It tones down the color of the cream eyeshadow and gives it a little extra sparkle and shine.

Three of my favorite colors are:

Strut: Smokey Denim

Stilleto: Aubergine

Birthday Suit: Brushed Chrome

 
You can find benefit products at Ulta, Sephora, and online.

Jewelry to Help You Shine...

So before Christmas, I stumbled upon a little gem(no pun intended) while online...Jess LC Jewelry. They had a sale going on, so on a whim, I decided to see what they had to offer. I'm glad I did. I discovered that they had delicate, hand-made pieces perfect for layering or wearing alone. I promptly ordered a necklace and bracelet.

Franklin Braille Necklace

When I received my loot in the mail, I was not disappointed. I was so excited and pleased with the jewelry, that I even became a brand ambassador! Jess LC has several different lines, each one unique.

My favorite line might be the Franklin Collection. They are gold discs with an inspirational phrase hammered out in Braille(actual phrase is on the back). I choose "Be Thankful" and have received so many compliments. I also ordered a bracelet from the Diversey Collection and it's a great staple piece to have.

Diversey Single Paisley Bracelet

There is something for everyone from this amazing jewelry company, and each piece would make a wonderful gift that the recipient would wear for years to come. I plan on purchasing more in the future, but for now, I wanted to share my great find! Happy shopping!