Blog Archives
Spring Beauty: Mint
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Minty-fresh hues are not just for fashion, apply them to your beauty routine as well. Not only is it a fun pop of color, but this pale, cool-toned color has an immediate brightening effect.
Apply it all over the lid for a sheer wash of color or try the “Thin Mint” and line just under the eyes for a bright and instantly awake look. Both drugstore and luxury brands have a wonderful selection for a “Minty Mani” but if you feel bold and daring, wear this amazing Lime Crime lipstick in “Mint To Be.”
Here are a few of my favorites:
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics ~ Cosmetic Glitters in Mint: $14.00
bareMinerals ~ Velvet Eyeshadow in Velvet Pistachio: $14.00
NYX Cosmetics ~ Jumbo Eye Pencil in Horseradish: $4.50
China Glaze ~ Nail Lacquer in Re-Fresh Mint: $7.50
NARS Cosmetics ~ Eyeliner Pencil in Parrot Cay: $22.00
Illamasqua ~ Cream Pigment in Bedaub: $26.00
Lime Crime ~ Opaque Lipstick in Mint To Be: $15.99
Stila ~ Eye Shadow in Cha Cha: $18.00
Ellis Faas ~ Creamy Eyes in E117 Mint Green: $36.00
Glow-T Reports: Lip Trends
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Trending for 2013: saturated lip colors in matte reds, neon pinks and electric tangerines. Neons and bright florescent hues will still be going strong into summer. We will continue to see a ton of ‘pop of color’ on the lip – just exceedingly more bold and bright.
With new formulations and highly-pigmented hues, both high-end brands and drugstore brands provide the tools needed to wear these trends.
In early March, Givenchy is releasing a high-pigment, long-wearing matte lipstick – Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick. Super chic, this lipstick arrives packaged in a leather and silver case.
The Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars come in every color conceivable. A great way to create the color you want but just can’t find. Full Review: HERE.
Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick delivers intense, vibrant color with exceptional longevity. Feels great on the lips and is available in a variety of wearable colors.
Drugstore brands are really stepping into the trends these days. They are creating innovative and quality lip products equal to that of their high-end counterparts.
L’Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Aqua Lacquer combines the power of a lip stain with the luster of gloss. These lacquers can be compared to, my favorite, Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain.
The Maybelline Colour Sensational Vivids Collection is one to swipe-up immediately. A limited edition line of crazy bright, electric colors – and extremely affordable.
2013 will be a year of new categories in lip products. New Lip Oils, (explained in an upcoming post) colors and formulations will provide the consumer with millions of options to create their own trends.
Kitschy-Kit: Paul & Joe Holiday 2012
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The Paul & Joe Holiday Makeup Collection is a sweet gift collected in kitschy packaging. The limited edition makeup collection includes a skin perfecting Face Powder, Creamy Cheek Powder and pouch.
The Face Powder provides a soft matte finish with a touch of shine. Tiny sphere-shaped particles feel light and cool on the skin and creates a fresh finish. Use this powder to set your makeup and/or under-eye concealer. The Holiday Collection also comes with a contouring Creamy Cheek Powder, available in two sweet shades, Frozen Lilac (rose) and Sleigh Ride (peach). Easy to apply, these Creamy Cheek Powders add a subtle pop of color and are embossed with a holiday snowflake that creates a soft glow.
This precious, must-have kit comes in a kitschy unicorn-printed pouch that is both useful and adorable. Select one of these delightful collections to ensure a holiday season filled with beauty inside and out.
Summer Travel: Beauty Essentials
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Whether it’s a weekend road trip or a long-haul to an exotic locale, there is nothing like a summer vacation. Look your best while traveling with these beauty essentials:
Oxylent Oxygenating Multivitamin Drink: The effervescent multivitamin drink is formulated with the highest quality of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and electrolytes. Perfect for travel, the convenient packets are easily transported, so you can drink it anytime, anywhere – just add water. It is great for keeping the immune system in peak condition; a low calorie choice before or after working out; a true friend to the outdoor enthusiast; an easy-to-use daily multivitamin; or a wonderful late afternoon pick-me-up at work. Oxylent not only offers a unique effervescent delivery system, but unlike most, all of the formulas are both sugar and calorie free. Oxylent’s formulas do not contain any gluten, caffeine, lactose, artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors.
Kerstin Florian Rehydrating Neroli Water: This uplifting aromatherapy water instantly refreshes and hydrates the skin. Made from the bitter orange blossom, this facial spray soothes and hydrates the skin. The moment your face feels tight, one spritz will instantly hydrate and refresh the skin. Use as a toner after cleansing the face or as a body spray after showering. Or keep cool in the refrigerator and spray on hot, humid days. Perfect for après beach.
Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum: This light yet powerful serum is both a moisturizer and a broad-spectrum SPF 30. It fights the signs of premature aging – think fine lines and sunspots – and prevents future photo-damage from UV rays. Built for year-round use, this serum is amazingly lightweight and comfortable. Supergoop’s unique Hydrovotin 24 complex works with the skin’s own moisture mechanisms to increase hydration levels, while vitamins E and B5 heal past damage. It absorbs both UVA rays that lead to premature aging and UVB rays that cause sunburn. The top-of-the-line “PA +++” rating means the formula meets the highest standards for sun protection. Also paraben and fragrance-free—just what the doctor ordered for sensitive skin.
Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil: Formulated with an aromatic blend of 11 essential oils, this opulent oil relies on flowers and botanicals for their calming and illuminating properties. A staple of many top pros and makeup artists, this oil can be used to take makeup off, to moisturize and as a massage oil (expensive massage oil?). Add a couple drops to foundation to create a dewy finish or pat on the cheekbones and undereyes for a beautiful, fresh glow. Just a few drops will make your skin look radiant. Use as an alternate or supplement to your moisturizer and apply whenever your face needs a pick-me-up.
Dior Hydra Life BB Cream: READ FULL REVIEW: HERE
Bobbi Brown Bronzer/Blush Duo: Inspired by the look of “skin bathed in afternoon light,” this dynamic duo creates healthy-looking skin. On one side, Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Bahama Brown packs a blend of sheer powder and micro pearls (for a seamlessly glowing finish all over the face). The other side boasts Bobbi Brown Shimmer Blush in Pink Peony, the perfect way to add a pop of color to the apples of cheeks. Great for travel, this duo eliminates bulk and the need for too many face products. Tip: Sweep bronzer over eyelids for instant contour.
MAC Bare Study Paint Pot: This multi-purpose paint pot is perfect for travel. Bare Study is a metallic nude/champagne cream eye shadow that can be used as a primer, eye shadow and/or highlighter. Sweep onto the eyelid before applying a powder shade to ensure longevity. For highlighting, pat product on the cheekbones, brow bone, cupid bow and décolletage for subtle illumination. The soft, light-reflecting pearl finish will brighten any area.
Kiehl’s Lip Balm SPF 15 in Hue 30G: Lip balm with SPF is a must while traveling. Lips are often neglected and can suffer the same effects of the sun just as much as any other part of the body. Kiehl’s Lip Balm SPF 15 offers protection, relief and color. Lip products like gloss, stains or lipsticks can attract the sun with their shiny finish. This formula combines a sheer wash of color with UVA and UVB protection. Hue 30G is a beautiful light golden color with peach undertones.
Blinc Mascara: I have a love/hate relationship with waterproof mascara. While most formulas do last all day, they are a pain to remove. Blinc Mascara is a “tubing” mascara. It uses a copolymer-based formula to create little tubes around each one of your lashes preventing flaking, running or smudging. The formula is waterproof, sweat-proof and won’t irritate even the most sensitive of eyes so you can wear it all day without worrying about touch-ups. At the end of the day, use a damp washcloth to gently dislodge the tubes. They’ll slide off with just a little pressure.
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray: READ FULL REVIEW: HERE
Adara Organic Virgin Coconut Oil for Body & Face: Organic and biologically pure, Adara Virgin Coconut Oil is a gorgeous multi-tasking body and hair oil. Great for travel, coconut oil solidifies when temperatures are below 76 degrees – this makes it wonderful to pack and not worry about leaking. Adara Virgin Coconut Oil is available in five scented oils and travel-size, Oriental Jasmine, Soothing Lavender, Heavenly Peach, Innocent Rose, and Refreshing Green Tea. (Favorite: Jasmine) READ MORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS & USES OF COCONUT OIL: HERE
Flo Refillable Perfume Atomizer: Packing a big glass perfume bottle can be inconvenient and cumbersome. Tote your favorite fragrance wherever you go with the Refillable Perfume Atomizer by FLO. This ingenious gadget allows you to carry your perfume in an easy-to-use, compact atomizer. The modern design enables fast and efficient refilling without a funnel – preventing any danger of spilling a single drop of your expensive perfume. Suitable for all types of perfumes, this atomizer holds up to 77 sprays. Perfect for a purse, clutch, beach bag or travel bag, never leave home without your favorite fragrance again.
5 under $50: Electric Belts
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Add some color to an outfit with a brightly-hued belt. From pastel to neon, a solid-colored belt will add dimension to an outfit as well as a pop of color. A simple belt accentuates not only the ensemble but the figure. Cinched at the waist, these belts provide figure-friendly curves. Pick your favorite color pattern, then pick up one (or a couple) of these electric belts, all under $50.00.
J.Crew ~ Patent Leather Skinny Belt: $36.50
Asos ~ FLURO Skinny Belt: $10.74
Mango ~ TOUCH Two Buckle Belt: $34.99
Banana Republic ~ Skinny Lizard Belt: $34.50
Old Navy ~ Skinny Faux-Patent Belt: $15.00
Handbag Trend: Bright Neon
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Spice up dreary winter fashion with neon hues. Fluorescent-colored bags are radiating in stores everywhere. These high-wattage accessories can add a fresh and fun look to wardrobe staples.
Incorporate neon pieces into your closet this season. Paired with black, a pop of glowing color presents a more stimulating look. Vivid colors can bring-out tones and details in patterns, prints and florals and coupled with neutrals, neons with look sharp and modern.
The neon trend continues to glow year after year. This season create your own fresh take on the trend.
Net-A-Porter ~ Marc by Marc Jacobs: Neon Croc-Effect Leather Shoulder Bag: $495.00
Bloomingdale’s ~ The Cambridge Satchel Company: Fluorescent Satchel-Neon: $155.00
Barneys New York ~ Givenchy Medium Leather Nightingale: $2265.00
Neiman Marcus ~ Michael Kors: Gia Ostrich -Embossed Leather Clutch, Neon Pink: $450.00
How To: Bright Eyeliner
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Bright eyeliner is a dramatic accent with minimal effort. A pop of color can “glam up” a makeup look instantly.
With this look, you want to tone down all other parts of the face. However, if daring enough, my favorite party season look is cobalt blue eyeliner paired with a fuchsia lip. Create your favorite combination with these easy steps.
Needed:
✒ Eye primer (Favorite: MAC Paint Pots)
✒ Matte White Eye Pencil (Favorite: NYX Milk)
✒ Bright Eye Liner (Favorite: Urban Decay 24/7 Pencils)
✒ Matching Bright Eye Shadow Shade
✒ Mascara
How To:
✒ Prime the lids and under-eye with eye primer.
✒ With a matte white pencil, draw a baseline where the bright color will go. (this will inhance the vibrancy of the color and help with the shape of the line)
✒ Trace over the white pencil with the bright eye liner.
✒ For a more dramatic look, make the outside line a bit thicker than the inside and extend it just beyond the lash line.
✒ Optional: Apply the bright eye liner to the lower lashes, keeping as close to the lash line as possible.
✒ Dip the bright pencil into the matching eye shadow and trace over these lines to increase brightness and ensure longevity.
✒ Apply two heavy coats of mascara to add definition and emphasize the look.
This look can be altered depending on preference and eye shape. Experiment with color and thickness of the line. If intimidated: Start by lining the lower lash line with a bright color only and leave lid neutral. Bright eyeliner is a great way to change-up your makeup routine and attain instant drama.
Great color combinations:
BLUE: Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil: Flipside & NARS Eyeshadow: Outremer
PURPLE: Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil: Ransom & MAC Eyeshadow: Purple Haze
GREEN: Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil: Mildew & Urban Decay Eyeshadow: Mildew
TURQUOISE: Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil: Electric & MAKEUP FOREVER Eyeshadow: 72
PINK: MAKEUP FOREVER Aqua Pencil: 13L & MAKEUP FOREVER Eyeshadow: 75
Tiny Tassel: Gorjana Brinkley Tassel Bracelet
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Gorjana Brinkley Tassel Bracelet
The Brinkley Tassel Bracelet by Gorjana is my favorite purchase of the week. This simple gold bracelet adds a pop of color with the perfectly-placed dangeling tassel. Available in four different tassel colors – caribbean sea, tiger lilly, tan and celery – each one is extremely darling.
The leather and studded detail of the tassel adds a nice texture to the simple gold-linked bracelet. Wear on it’s own or buy multiple Brinkleys and stack the colors together.
Drugstore Find: Maybelline Great Lash Mascara Royal Blue
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Maybelline Great Lash Mascara Royal Blue
When experimenting with bright colors and new trends, purchase an inexpensive version to test. Blue mascara is a fun and beneficial option when exploring bright colors.
Inadvertently recognized as 80’s makeup, blue mascara has come a long way. This intriguing color and technique has many benefits and uses.
Most people have yellow and red tones in their sclera (whites of the eyes). The color blue counteracts these colors to make the eyes look whiter, brighter and wide-awake. Blue mascara will also enhance any eye color. Primarily, green and blue-colored eyes but it will also bring-out the gold flecks in brown eyes as well.
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Royal Blue is an inexpensive option to test this technique. But, it is also simply a great mascara. I use this on just the bottom lashes for a slight hint of color. It is a beautiful royal blue that makes any eye pop.
5 under $50 – LWD
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The Little White Dress is a summertime essential. Perfect for outdoor BBQs, cover-ups or just lounging around, these dresses are fun and feminine. Incrediably versatile, the LWD can be paired with just about anything. For a pop of color add a summer scarf or bright espidrelles. Or keep it simple and opt for neutral tones like nude wedges or a white or blush-toned linen blazer. No matter how you wear it, the LWD will never go out of style. Here are five options all under $50.
Hive & Honey – Tie Front Strapless Dress: $28.99
Alloy – Casey Dress: $34.90
C&C California – Hemp Slub Short Sleeve Tee Dress: $49.90
Roxy – Surf Roots Dress: $38.15
Asos – Vero Moda Slinky One Shoulder Dress: $29.31
Tropical Punch: Cargo Blush Key Largo
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Cargo Blush Key Largo
Cargo Blush in Key Largo is a bright tropical punch shade. This matte blush adds a vivid pop of color to the cheeks and instantly brightens the face.
Key Largo is a bold coral tone with some pink notes. The silky blush is extremely pigmented and blends nicely. This color can be worn alone for a bright flushed look or with bronzer to emphasize a summer glow.
Key Largo can be used on both the cheek and eye area. Brush a bit of this color on the lid or use as a liner and keep the rest of the eye area bare.
Cargo blushers come in a large silver tin containing 0.31 oz of product. They contain aloe, vitamin E and antioxidants to nourish the skin. The matte finish is a great option for those with large pores (shimmer tends to exaggerate the size).
This season experiment with fun bright colors and add a bit of punch to your look.
Exotic Eyes: Estée Lauder’s Island Oasis Eye Shadow Palette
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Estée Lauder’s Island Oasis Eye Shadow Palette
Estée Lauder’s Island Oasis Eye Shadow Palette screams summer beauty. The palette provides six beautiful shades that reflect sandy beaches and crystal blue water.
The richly pigmented shades are very luxurious and creamy. They apply with a sheer metallic finish but can be intensified by building the color. The palette is arranged with both cool and warm tones; a dusty green, glittery gold, mediterranean blue, rose gold, deep red bronze and shimmering stone. These shadows can be worn together in a multiple of different looks or applied alone for a single pop of color.
Palettes are perfect for summer travel, so many options packed easily away in a makeup bag. They provide the consumer with color-choices they would not usually buy which motivates experimentation. However used, this palette will provide the sensation of an exotic vacation.
Hair Jewelry: Urban Outfitters Oversized Turquoise Barrette
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Urban Outfitters Oversized Turquoise Barrette
Get creative with accessories this month and opt for an oversized hair barrette. Simple and polished, this one item can transform a look.
This Oversized Turquoise Barrette from Urban Outfitters is an excellent embellishment that adds a pop of color. The raw turquoise stone provides a natural yet edgy look.
Simply, add this barrette to a high/low ponytail or create a deep side-part, sweep the hair and clip barrette into place above the ear. Use as an ornament to compliment any classic chignon or french twist style, or decorate a plain headband by attaching barrette to the side.
Don’t want to wear this item in your hair? Fine… Attach to scarves, bags, bracelets or necklaces, the possibilities are endless. I have recently detached the clip and hot glue-gunned the stone to an old black clutch, instantly creating something new. With so many options, barrettes provide a finished appearance with a simple click of a clip.
Weekend Ensemble: Mara Hoffman
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Mara Hoffman Embroidered Dashiki Cover Up
This Memorial Day Weekend is all about fun-in-the-sun. A flashy cover-up is all that is needed for long beach days and outdoor BBQs.
This cover-up by Mara Hoffman adds a little flavor to simple swimwear. The pink neon hue will certainly be noticed from miles away. The draped openings at the arms and pleated racerback detail add comfort and style. The mint/black/white embroidered panel at the bust-line provides an alluring contrast. The tribal pattern and pop of color adds an enticing garnish.
This see-through veil will be primarily worn over swimwear. Casual and cool, pair with Havaiana flip-flops or decorate with wedges or espadrilles for a bolder statement. A ton of colorful bracelets and cuffs will polish off this weekend ensemble.
Have a wonderful long weekend!
Ashling
Glow-T 