DIY: A Stunning Summer Glow!

Just by looking out the window, or walking down the street, you can tell that summer is upon us! Shorter sleeves, amazing sandals, and bronzer skin!

Here are 4 quick steps to get to that bronzy glow in minutes!


1.  Start off with a freshly cleansed face, then apply a base of tinted moisturizer and a dusting of translucent powder on your forhead and nose to minimize shine.

2.  Next, take a large face brush and apply bronzing powder on the temples, forehead, under the cheekhones and under the chin - for contouring.


3.  For subtle, yet sultry, eyes, apply gold or bronze shadows on the lid only, or as liner. Then mascara for long lashes.

4.  For this sun kissed, bronzed look, you want to keep the lips neutral - so a warm toned gloss is the way to go

*Friday Favorites* ~ April 20, 2012

Back from being MIA  - here are some new favorites to try out this weekend!!!

Peach is my New Pink!
Check out below all the great ways to add a hint of Peach to your look for Spring/Summer!


1. Peach Blush

LOVE IT! Peach is the new Pink for Spring! You don't have to use a orange blush to get that peachy glow! Peaches by MAC is my new best friend, it adds a sun kissed glow, yet doesn't overpower my face for a subtle day look.
$15 maccosmetics.com


2. Peach Lip Gloss

I do not leave home without my Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in Genie. The sponge applicator tip glides the product on smoothly. This is a great way to wear a coral/peach tone on the lips. It is not too much color, so can be used as almost a nude tone - however it immediately brightens up the face!
$32 chanel.com


3. Peach on the Eyes

While you can always use blush on your eyes, and vice-a-versa, there are a few tones that you may want to add to your makeup bag - or your makeup table (if you have as much as me). Bobbi Brown has 2 great colors - Nude Peach and Gold Peach - the difference? Nude Peach is a matte peach shade, while Gold Peach has a shimmer to it. Both are amazing. Use on the lid, or line the outer part of your eyes with the tones for a more fun look! (you can even use them as or over your blush!)
$21each bobbibrowncosmetics.com

Well, we've done eyes, lips and cheeks - how about peach as an accent piece for an outfit?

4. Peach Clutch

You want to add a hint of color to your outfit, but don't feel you can pull of something super bold? How about a peach colored clutch? It's almost nude and adding that spring-summer fun color to any outfit, makes it more fun! An accessory as simple as this can also be found at stores for any person's budget! Forever 21 has great products, all the way up to BCBG and beyond!

of course...let's now talk about food!

5. Peaches Soaked in Red Wine YUM (Peach Cobbler is great too if you're Under 21)

Need I say more about this? You can even take them out of the glass after they have soaked and mix them with other fruits - or you can soak all the fruits together!

Peach Cobbler is another amazing dessert if you aren't into have wine with your peaches!

ENJOY!

Product Review: La Bella Donna ~ Vision of Mineral Lights

There are so many products in the beauty world that there is no way a person could try everything in a lifetime - that's why I am here! I try soooo many products and give you reviews on why I think it's so great (or not so great).


La Bella Donna is a brand that I have, somewhat recently, come in contact with - and I LOVE IT!

They have great mineral makeup that works extremely well on any skin type. I use their "Vision of Mineral Lights" in Sunset every day over my blush, and more often than not, I use it in Bronze all over my face as a bronzer. I have been using it for at least 6 months, and to add that extra sun-kissed glow to my skin, this is the perfect product! Once applied, it lasts all day and the variety of compact colors make it a product for any skin tone.

Another reason why I love it so much, is the product feels like silk. When applied with the correct brush, your skin feels silky and smooth to the touch. Who doesn't want that? I know I do!

La Bella Donna products are sold online at www.labelladonna.com as well as in selected Spa's, including Trump Soho (246 Spring Street, NYC)

**Let me know if you need assistance choosing the correct color for your skin tone - I am more than happy to help!

A Fresh Face is Your New "Boy Magnet"!

No matter what anyone says, guys like it when a girl is dressed-down. I'm not saying they don't like it when your dressed up - especially if your wearing a tight mini-dress - but looking low-maintenance, even if it's actually high-maintenance to get there, is the way to a man's heart!

For the perfect fresh "low-maintenance" look (that really is pretty low-maintenance), while still looking made up and not like you rolled out of bed..is in 6 easy steps!
*It will take approx. 10 minutes - go try it!!

1. Start with a clean, moisturized face. Make sure you are using the correct moisturizer for your skin type - it makes a huge difference on how your skin feels as the day progresses.

2. Next, after your moisturizer has sunk fully into your skin, apply the appropriate primer.

You probably think that foundation will be the next step, but I always opt for doing eye makeup first. That way if makeup falls onto your cheeks, you can clean up once your done and continue on with your face makeup.

3. For definition on your eyes, follow each lash line with a soft brown, grey or taupe eye shadow instead of black. If you want to add a little more to your eyes, use a color that matches your skin tone with a little shimmer just on the lower lid for a slight pop of color when you blink! Finish off with mascara.

4. Don't forget your brows! Lightly use a powder or pencil to fill those babies in! The smallest amount does wonders.

Now, back to your face makeup!

5. Apply your concealer under your eyes - (check my previous blog for concealer techniques) then apply foundation or tinted moisturizer - I love tinted moisturizer for everyday. It's lighter, hydrates your skin and gives a great coverage for daytime.

6. Use a warm blush tone to accentuate your cheekbones, cream blushes are great for a natural look. Then apply a highlighter right on top of your cheekbones. This will make your blush color pop as well as feature your cheekbones when looking at your face.



**This is also a great transitional look! Perfect for daytime, all you have to do is a quick smokey eye over the look you already have, and *POOF* your night makeup is done! Add lipstick/gloss and you're ready to go!

   

*Friday Favorites* - March 30, 2012

Sorry there was no post last week! Let's finish off this week with some great favorites!

1. Keratin Complex Shampoo & Conditioner

This shampoo is perfect for maintaining your Keratin Treatment, however it is also great for hair that may not be keratin-treated. This shampoo and conditioner has some keratin in it, as well as it's sulfide and sulfate-free. It makes hair shiny, smooth and definitely helps with maintaining frizz.
Comes in regular, and color-protect!
$18each Drugstore.com

2. Shiseido Mascara Base

Sick of curling your eyelashes then applying mascara, only to notice a few hours later, they are uncurled already?! I can't stand that! This is the mascara base you need! Right after curling your lashes, apply this base all over lashes, as if it's mascara - it's white though, so you have to apply mascara over it. It will keep your lashes curled all day long! It's perfect to use before any mascara brand you use on a daily basis!
$24 shiseido.com

3. Smith's Rosebud Salve

Got dry lips? Buy Smith's Rosebud Salve, or Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm - those are my two favorites - but any of them are good! Whenever you feel chapped lips coming on, or just when you don't want to wear lipstick or lip gloss, they keep your lips hydrated, and taste good also! Some of the flavors are available in tubes as well - which are better in the summer because you don't want the pots to melt in your purse.
Under $5 RosebudSalve.com

4. A Foundation Brush

Above are the MAC #190 Foundation Brush and the Shiseido Foundation Brush - both phenomenal! However, I am saying that a foundation brush, in general, is a favorite of mine (these are two that I use often). When you apply your foundation with a brush, instead of your fingers or a sponge, you use less product and you'll notice the coverage is much better. Apply a powder over to set it, and you're done!
$33 maccosmetics.com & $30 shiseido.com

5. Giada's Smoked Salmon BLT

Ok, so this is not beauty-related, or DIY-related - but food is a big part of my life - I love it! This sandwich is not only amazingly good, but it's on the healthier side too! Multi-Grain bread toasted with tomato, a strip of bacon, arugula, smoked salmon and a lemon-dill mayo, is so delicious you'll want to have these ingredients on hand at all times. It is also SO EASY to make!

*Don't like salmon? Make the sandwich without it, and you'll have a healtheir version of a BLT =)

Click Here for Giada's Recipe from the Food Network!

Enjoy!

Cakey Concealer? No Way!

You want to cover those dark circles, but you don't want to look like you have pounds of makeup on either? Ever have that problem? Most people do. Below is an easy way to apply concealer so you won't feel cakey any more!

1. Start out with a clean face. I apply eye makeup first, then clean under the eye (from all the makeup that fell) with a makeup wipe - then blot dry. Apply your primer of choice to your whole face.

2. Your concealer should be at least one shade lighter than your skin tone. If it's the same color as your skin, it's not going to brighten up the eye area, it's just going to blend with your skin. Take your concealer, and disregarding what consistency it is and if it has a applicator included or not, apply it with a brush, not a sponge or your fingers. Use a thin, small brush that you can bring up right under your lower lashes (like the Bobbi Brown one above).
Make sure to fan the concealer out to the top of your cheekbone and up the side of your nose (near the inner portion of your eye). You want to lighten up your entire eye from all angles.

 

3. Make sure the concealer is nice and smooth and has filled in the fine lines. If you feel like your fine lines aren't filled in, then you aren't using the correct concealer. I personally love stick concealers, they aren't as heavy as the ones in the pots, but they offer more coverage than liquid/tube concealers.
Once that is all set, apply the rest of your foundation to your face. When applying foundation make sure to blend where it meets the concealer, but don't go over it completely because that would be defeating the purpose of concealer all together!
Last step for concealer application is brushing a light powder over the concealer to set it. Make sure you cover all the places where you applied the concealer, as close to the lash line that you can get without poking yourself in the eye! That is where your concealer moves the most due to eye movements, so setting it there is super important!

Now you will look bright-eyed all day long!

*Friday Favorites* - March 16, 2012

Latest trends and favorite things comin right up!

1. L'Oreal Volumnious Mascara

One of my new drugstore favorites! Goes on smoothly and you can layer it as much as you want. Just make sure to wipe the wand so ensure no clumps! $9 drugstores


2. Oribe 24-Karat Gold Pomade

Fun for everyday or for your wedding day, this gold pomade looks stunning on blondes or over highlights. Adds a hint of shimmer that doesn't look tacky. Great for the summer and for any event where you want to shine! $49 bergdorfgoodman.com

3. Hot Rollers for Volume

If you feel like your are curling iron and/or blowdryer-challenged, then hot rollers will be your new best friend! Depending on how much hair you have, I love to place the largest ones that will fit your hair, on the top of your head horizontally, usually 3 or 4 will do just fine for volume. Make sure they are the hottest they can be, then place on dry hair and leave for 15 minutes. When you take them out you will have curls that flow and the volume you can't get with the blowdryer alone. I recomment spraying them slightly once the rollers are in, then spray a little once you take the rollers out, to keep the volume and curls intact. The larger the roller, you will get more of a wave and more volume. If the roller is small, then you will get more curl and less volume. $30 conair.com

4. Layering Necklaces

You can layer necklaces of different lengths, chunky with dainty necklaces, or even if they are all similar! Mix silver with gold, silver and gold with colors - mix and match to give a new look to an old outfit or to enhance a new outfit! Anything goes (almost!)!


5. Keepsakes as Decorations

I love the idea of decorating your home with different keepsake moments in your life. Like above, you can frame the tickets to your first date as a rememberance of where it all began. You can frame photographs with dates below of where you were when the photos were taken. Almost anything important to you can be, somehow, made into a memory that could last a lifetime! Be creative!