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.
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.
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.
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!
Someone asked me what I recommended for do it yourself hair color for Fall/Winter. Now, I've got to be honest, I've never colored my hair at home, so I'm no expert. However, I have been seeing a new brand of DIY hair color that I am very curious about. It's called Fat Foam and currently only available at Walmart. Here's part of the pitch on their website:
100% Gray Coverage
Long Lasting Color
Conditioning Formula with Soy
Easy Hand Application
Less Application Time
Less Mess! Non-drip whipped foam means the color wraps every strand, stays in place, and won't drip. No-mistake hand application provides even distribution, especially to those hard-to-reach areas such as the back of the head. No dry spots, it's so simple.
Long lasting, rich color that covers gray completely with less application time. Conditions & Shines! Formulated with soy protein to leave your hair looking smooth, healthy, shiny and youthful. Retails for around $8.97.
For more information on Fat Foam and reviews, visit:
I came across this very helpful article from Daily Glow about coloring your hair...
Wash you hair the day before you color it, not the same day.
Color your hair when it is completely dry.
Apply a thin layer of moisturizer along your hairline to prevent color from oozing onto your face and neck.
If you are doing your own hair color treatment, part hair into small sections and apply color from roots to ends.
Follow the package directions and apply the color properly. Leave the solution on your hair as long as the instructions say you should, then rinse hair for at least 5 minutes in warm water. Squeeze out excess water, then apply the conditioner that came with the color treatment.
Do not wash your hair the day you color it, or on the day afterward. It’s best to do nothing on days one and two, then, on day three, “wash” with conditioner only. Remember that semipermanent color washes out, so the more you shampoo, the quicker it fades.
Touch up your hair color regularly to prevent roots and gray hairs from showing and to keep the color even throughout your hair.
For more great information on hair coloring, check out this link:
Honestly, I don't think there's a certain color that's in or out for this Fall/Winter. I think whatever makes you feel good and compliments your skin tone is the best way to go! I'm personally rocking blonde hair that's probably a little too blond for winter, but I like the way it looks on me so I decided to defy the system. :-)
Happy coloring and let me know what you decide to use and/or if you need more information. Highlights are a different blog post all together!
I know platform heels and trendy boots are all the rage right now, but a cute pair of flats can take you a long way, especially if you're walking. :-) I spied these on a coworker of mine, and fell in love. It made me want to pull out my flats and give my usually stiletto-wearing feet a break. There are so many different styles of flats to choose from that everyone should be able to find a pair they like. I highly recommend a red pair. You feel like Dorothy and get so many compliments!
Wear To Buy?
Honestly, the majority of my flats come from TJ Maxx. They are super affordable and usually have several pairs to choose from. I'm not sure if it's the norm for all TJ's, but the one closest to me usually gets shipments in on Tuesdays.
Here are some other places and brands that might be worth looking into...
I'm always looking for new lipgloss, so I saw this in Sephora the other day and thought I would try it out. Part of Smashbox's Wish holiday 2010 collection, "Wish for the Perfect Pout" gives you SIX lipglosses, all of which are glittery and gorgeous, for only $29! My favorite so far is the dark plum color, which is being toted as one of this season's "it" colors.
Also part of the Wish collection is a beautiful set of eye pencils, which I can't wait to try out. There's a jet black, dark purple, metallic gray and soft metallic gold, and they retail for $16 for the set of four. So if you want to add a little shine this holiday season, check out the collection at Sephora, Ulta or www.smashbox.com/Smashbox-Collections/WISH-Holiday-2010.
Recently I was asked by a friend of mine about what to do with dark under eye circles, or as she called them, "raccoon eyes". I know this is pretty common with a lot of women, so I wanted to put up some ideas/thoughts/solutions that might help. I did some research and pulled from several different resources that should hopefully help us attack "raccoon eyes" from all angles!
Basic Training
Get plenty of sleep.Though an obvious solution, most under eye circles are caused by lack of rest and skin damage from illness.
Try placing cool cucumber slices or black tea bags over your eyes for 20 to 30 minutes each day. These natural remedies minimize the swelling and redness associated with dark under eye circles and bags.
You can also try covering your eyes with thin potato slices for 10 to 20 minutes each day. Potatoes contain a skin lightening enzyme called catecholase(big word) which is used in many retail cosmetic products and aids in restoring discolored skin areas.
Apply Vitamin E or olive oil directly to under eye circles and dark spots. Break open a capsule (or purchase a cream if desired) and lightly dab the contents on your under eye circles. Vitamin E and olive oil contain hydrating ingredients that reduce the appearance of circles.
Drink plenty of water (8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses a day) and take a multi-vitamin regularly. Under eye circles are sometimes caused by a lack of hydration or balance of nutrients in the body and are easily treated by restoring these levels. Courtesy of www.ehow.com.
Choosing Your Weapons
If you're fair-skinned, apply a sheer light pink concealer, which helps to bounce light off the dark areas.*
If you have a medium skin tone, try using a peachy beige concealer.*
For darker skin tones, use a golden beige concealer.*
On of my favorite things is Laura Mercier's Secret Concealer. This moisture-rich concealer is designed specifically for under and around the eye area to conceal discolorations and dark circles. It comes in 6 shades and retails for around $22. You can purchase this at Sephora, some department stores or at www.lauramercier.com.
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly solution, try NYC New York Color Corrective Cover Sticks.The soft formula will not pull or tug around your gentle eye area. Use yellow Corrective Cover Sticks to conceal dark under-eye circles and freckles.You can pick this up at almost any retailer such as Walmart, and it runs about $2-$3.
Ready, Aim, Apply!
Use your ring finger to dab on the concealer, since it's the weakest finger and won't pull as hard on your delicate eye tissue. Also, don't forget to apply concealer on the hollow sides of the nose(right next to your eye socket). This will open up your eyes and make them look bright and fresh.
I like to finish off my under eye treatment with another Laura Mercier product, Secret Brightening Powder. It's used to set your concealer, as well as add an invisible lightening boost. It retails for around $22 and can be purchased at the same locations as the LM Secret Concealer.
Get a medium-sized flat makeup brush, dip it into the powder, tap off the excess and apply to your under eye by pressing slowly from the hollow sides of your nose to the outer corner of your eye.
Other Tips and Tricks
(Courtesy of Bobbi Brown, one of my favorite makeup artists!)
Keep the focus on your upper eye. Most women who have extreme under eye darkness also have dark eyelids. Lighten it up with a white or bone-colored eye shadow. Don't line the lower lash line or apply mascara to the lower lashes.**
*Crazy Busy Beautiful by Carmindy **Living Beauty by Bobbi Brown
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.
