FALLing for Dark Nails

I love nail polish. Plain and Simple. It's like me and shoes...you can never have too many!

I like to go a little darker/neutral for the Fall and Winter, and last night, I pulled out one of my go-to's for the Fall. The color is "Pat On the Black" by my favorite brand, Sally Hansen, and from one of their best lines, Complete Salon Manicure. I honestly think it's better than OPI and Essie *gasp!

The color is pretty dark, but it's not straight-up black. It's more a dark purple, which I like a lot better than just black. I did apply three layers for a really rich look, and I followed it with THE best top coat, Sally Hansen's InstaDri Anti-Chip Topcoat (blogged about it here previously).

Here's why I like the Complete Salon Manicure line:

- It's got a way cool brush that contours to your fingernails.
- There are 5 Steps in 1 Bottle: Base Coat, Strengthener, Growth Treatment, Color and Top Coat.

- Contains Vita-Care Technology for advanced wear (it really does stay  on a long time) and more shine.

- There are 42 shades to choose from.

It's about $6 a bottle, and can be found at drugstores, Walmart, and Target. Try it out and let me know what color you chose!



Shine On!

Ruffin

Turning Over a New Leaf

Ok, so it's been a while, and I feel horrible about it. I've missed you, and I promise I will do better. :-) There are SO many fabulous products and things that I can't wait to share with you all! I am also gonna switch things up a bit, and talk/share about things that might not pertain to beauty.

Since I'm turning over a new leaf, let's talk about Fall (See what I did there...Leaf...Fall) It's the perfect time to try something new, and also to reevaluate your skincare needs since the cold weather is coming! One of my new favorite lines for skin is Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare. I was introduced to it while I was working in the wonderful world of cosmetics, and at first I was skeptical. I'm pretty picky about what goes on my face, because it's a lot more sensitive than I ever realized. I tried some samples, and I was hooked! Another great part...it's affordable!

One of my FAVORITE products is their Vitamin D Serum Oil. Now don't freak out when you read the "oil" word. It's not what you think. I've got combination skin, with my cheeks being really dry and other places being pretty oily. These serum works like a charm to balance everything out without breaking it out. Here are the details:

What Is It? This serum-oil is a concentrated skincare treatment. Packed with Vitamin D and other reparative antioxidants and botanicals, it helps improve the appearance of skin elasticity, hydration and minimizes the appearance of pores—all immediately visible upon application.

Why Is It Different? While traditional Vitamin D oils need sun exposure to be made active, this formula, containing the ingredient Ergocalciferol, is already active and does not require sunlight. This unique serum-oil emulsion is infused with the multiple anti-aging ingredients & benefits of a serum within the hydrating delivery system of an oil.

I put it on after I wash my face and before I put on lotion.  It's a perfect thing to introduce into your skincare routine, especially with winter coming. It's $65 for a bottle, and a little goes a long way. Some  places you can pick it up are Sephora, Joseph in Memphis, and online, of course.

Shine on!

Shimmer and Shine!



Nectar Shimmer Brick: $39

I'm back!! And at the perfect time too! Spring and summer are fabulous times to play around with some great products. As the heat rises, tans start to appear(I know, I know. Sunscreen!). One of my favorite products to enhance that radiant glow is the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick. They're so great that one is sold somewhere in the world every 60 seconds!


Two of my favorite shades(there are around 5 to choose from) are Nectar, which blends to a lovely coral, and Bronze, the original and perfect for almost every skin shade. You can even use them as eyeshadow too!




Bronze Shimmer Brick: $39

To use: Sweep a blush/fluffy brush through all five shades of Shimmer Brick Compact and dust lightly on cheekbones after blush. Focus on applying shimmer on the top of cheekbones - where light naturally hits the face - for the most flattering look.



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!