15 September 2014

Kim Kardashian Inspired Fall Makeup

I absolutely loved this lip that Kim Kardashian wore to an event in July. Perfect amount of makeup to accompany such a dark lip. This tutorial is super simple and features Maybelline's The Nudes palette.

I did not have the exact lip color Kim is wearing so I had to invent my own. Gotta love a room full of products to play with! Color mixing is one of my favorite things to do with beauty products, especially lipsticks because you always come out with a unique color that no one else has!

Watch the video to see how I achieved this lip color using a black liner!








FACE:
MAC Prep and Prime in Neutralize
Studio Fix Liquid NW25
Studio Stick Foundation NC37
Studio Fix Powder NC 30
MAC Sheer Pressed Powder NW50
Bobbi Brown Blush in Mauve


EYES:
MAC Soft Ochre paintpot
MAC Soft Brown
The Nudes palette by Maybelline
ELF Liquid liner
Clinique Lash Builder
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme
Estee Lauder Turbo Lash
Nude eyeliner


Lips:
Estee Lauder Kajal Eyeliner in Black
NYC City Proof Twistable in South Ferry Berry
WetnWild Lip

12 September 2014

What I've Read [1.0]

This is the first book review of many for this blog. Lately I have been really into books about mysteries, self-development and financial success; but I am more than open to reading just about anything! I have even developed an appreciation for Victorian reads, as much as I despised them in college.


This past weekend I started reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and finished it in 2 days. I could not put it down. It is the most perfect combination of psychocrazyb*tch syndrome and a love story. I mean, planning your own murder and framing your husband as an anniversary gift is insane, but what is even more crazy is the fact that she lives out everything in life in her mind. She imagines a scenario, the dialogue, the setting, the characters, the plot twist- she creates everything in her mind and expects it to translate into real life situations. 
But that is not to say her husband is a saint either. He has some crazy in him as well. I'll try not to spoil it but by the end of the book I actually empathized with crazy Gone Girl. (probably because I have created a scene or two in my head and would get upset when things didn't go according to plan-just not to this extreme)
I wish I would have picked this up sooner. I was trying to avoid it with all the headlines it made but it is hands down deviously brilliant.



I also finished The Book of Money for the Young, Fabulous and Broke by Suze Orman. For some reason I was a bit skeptical about this book, I have no idea why though. It is extremely easy to read and she really does "dumb" financial lingo down. I was particularly interested in the investment section which she explained beautifully for someone without of lick of knowledge about business. I can't say I love every bit of advice she offers. I am no millionaire but I am entitled to my own opinions. What I do love is how encouraging she is of your passions. Doing what you love and turning it into a career is possible. Orman explains the difference between jobs and a career very well and I definitely plan on using her expert advise. Great read with really helpful guidelines to getting out of debt and building your portfolio. 

10 September 2014

What's in My Travel Bag?! Beauty and Baby Essentials

This weekend we are going on a mini family vacation to North Carolina. My hubby has a business conference/event in Raleigh so we all get to go and hopefully have a few hours to do something together. (He is in workshops and guest lectures back to back so we will seeee)

This video shows you all of my essentials I bring with me for beauty and baby. I didn't mention the basics- soap, toothpaste/toothbrush, deodorant, wipes, diapers, etc because that should be self-explanatory. I have listed all products below.

Also, I don't remember if I mentioned this, but when I travel I like to do my hair the day before then touch up when needed. I just think my hair looks best the day after I wash and style it.


**One thing I need to note: I keep calling the Clinique mascara Dramatically Different but I am wrong; it is the HIGH IMPACT mascara that I am mentioning.

08 September 2014

Healthy Me: 4 Ways to Workout at Home

I have been brainstorming a new series or two for the blog. 1) because it helps keep me organized with my topics 2) it helps keep me motivated/accountable to continue the idea. Today I am introducing the Healthy Me series. Instead of throwing in a random health related blog post here, I am will label the post under this title so you are aware it is health related. Healthy Me will cover food/nutrition, weightloss, exercise and more. 


We all have those mornings when we just can not get out of bed to go sweat like a pig for 45 minutes. And we all have those nights where we are just to tired after work, school, family, chores, to do the same. I have come to terms with making the best of every situation. Whether you overslept or simply have no time to make it to the gym, working out at home is your next best option. On the days that you seem to lack motivation to do 100 squats in your bedroom, here are 4 ways to help you get through your workout.

05 September 2014

Soft Orange Eyes

This makeup look was inspire by MakeupWithJah. I have been following her ever since she collab'd with Shaaanxo and absolutely love her tutorials! Her technique is flawlesssss.

This is a recreation of her Soft Orange eye look. Def a looking I will be wearing a lot this fall!

Also I recently picked up MAC Stripdown Lipliner
(whats on my lips) and I am obsessed.


Enjoy the video
x0









04 September 2014

Beauty Mistakes I Have Made and Now You Don't Have To

I have been overly obsessed with makeup since I got my first beauty kit from BareMinerals junior year of high school. The fact that I could cover up blemishes and give myself a tan just sent me over the moon. I have spent every year since then buying makeup to feed this addiction. Some days I felt like a collector, others mostly like a hoarder. I definitely understand the 'high' a gambler gets when he wins the jackpot, its like- you just need more. Over 5 years later I am still learning the ins and out of the beauty world and definitely adjusting to a more logical approach before going on a makeup shopping spree.

With so many years of trial and error, I am going to share some of my biggest beauty mistakes so that you don't make them!


No Girl.
1. Overly Nude Lips and Tan Skin

Jersey Shore was huge while I was in high school and entering college. There were Jersey Shore themed parties every other weekend and naturally you would dress up as either Sammi, Snooki or JWow. Unfortunately, I didn't get the memo to leave these looks for the party. Not only was I overly tanned, I freaking loved nude lipstick. I still love nude lips to this day but on a much more flattering-for-my-natural-skintone scale. I kid you not, I was the color of an oompa loompa and I wore Myth lipstick by Mac everyday of my life. Unless you enjoy looking like you just made out with a powdered donut, take the time to find your perfect nude lip.


2. Shaping My Brows
Although I do not think I got "plucker crazy" to the point I over-plucked my eyebrows, I did have an obsession with trimming my brows. Literally every two days I would be combing them up and snipping away at any hairs out of place. I also used to hate how thick the center of my eyebrows looked and trimmed those bad boys as well. Long story short, I ended up with halfsies and had to painfully wait and learn how to fill them in until they grew back.

3. Sleeping with Makeup On
I am still guilty of this to this day. So bad I know. I have legit made an effort to remove and cleanse my makeup every night before bed. This makes such a huge, noticeable difference in my skin when I am consistent with it. Throughout college I could care less about taking my makeup off after a night of bar hopping and dancing. The only thing on my mind at 2:30 a.m. was WaWa sandwiches and 7-11 Slurpees. I wish I would have at least invested in makeup remover wipes back in the day.



  4. Blonde Overload


before
after
I began highlighting my hair Freshman year of college. By the end of Sophomore year I was a Blonde Bunny and loved every minute of it. What I didn't love was visiting the salon every 2 months to get it touched up and conditioned. So my oh-so trustworthy self allowed my mother to touch up my blonde for me- Mistake Numero Uno. No matter how much research I did online I could not get the color just right and ended up with a big carrot orange mess. My hair was ORANGE. And I had too much pride to go back to the salon to admit my faults because I would get charged an arm and a leg to fix it-Mistake Numero Dos. As a result I had no choice but to dye my hair back to its natural color. Sad the blonde is gone, happy my hair is healthy again.



5. Picking My Face
Yes, this is super gross but we all do it. I see it happening in the car, in bathrooms, walking down the street. 90% of us are guilty of picking our faces and we must stop it at once. This is probably my number one biggest beauty mistake because now I spend countless hours and money trying to heal and conceal these scars. Picking at acne will irritate the area and popping a pimple will create and open wound (no matter how small) allowing for more bacteria to enter that already infected area. I am guilty of stress-picking because it takes my mind off of whatever is stressing me out, but the outcome is not pretty. Instead I have been trying to read or go for a walk to clear my mind, and not reach for the mirror.

03 September 2014

Full Coverage Foundation for a Flawless Face

I absolutely love full coverage foundation without the feeling of having tons of makeup on your face. I really believe that investing in good quality brushes and practicing your technique will help pull the entire look together. Learning how to use a stippling brush like the 187 by MAC and understanding the angles of your face are big factors in creating that flawless skin appearance. I love to layer everything: concealer, foundation, powder and more concealer. It may seem like a lot, but like I said invest in good brushes! The way your makeup is layered onto your face should be pressed into your skin so that you have no harsh lines, no streaks and no patchy areas.

I hope you all had a great holiday weekend and a first day back at school!

x0















Products Used:

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer NC30
Mac Studio Fix Liquid NC30
MAC Studio Fix Powder NC30
Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in Light Medium
MAC Fix+