Oh So Good

I really love discovering new makeup.  When working with Saks I got to play with lots of beauty products and ended up buying my fair share of goodies.  My favorite being Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Eclat.  It's this wondrous little pen that has the ability to make faces look so much brighter and fresh.  When used around the eyes it erases dark circles and makes eyes look wider.  And when applied  to the hollow of the chin and around the contour of lips it makes lips look 100 times fuller.  I highly recommend this product to anyone who likes to play around with high-lighting one's features.

Storm Cloud Grey

Perhaps it's the suffocating heat.  Strike that.  I know it's the suffocating heat that has me craving cool rain storms, bowls of soup and anything with sleeves.  I get sick of summer.  It usually happens around mid July, but this year, it's more than just being ready for fall.  It's being down-right annoyed with this weather.   I keep telling myself I'm being silly - I'm headed to the lake this weekend and I want it to be hot, right?  Not this hot.  Not so hot that I can't enjoy my new light weight sweatshirt for night time boat rides.  Not so hot that nothing sounds good to eat (except for maybe watermelon).  Not so hot that I feel like I need a nap after I've watered my garden.

Okay, enough with the complaining.  If I can't be cool, I might as well look cool (pun intended).  Chanel models sporting these storm cloud grey eyes look so fresh and icy, it's a smokey eye perfect for summer.  Finish it off with a smattering of babydoll pink blush and some nude gloss, and you are left with a look that is light and sexy.

A Little Experimentation

In my mind, summer is the perfect excuse to experiment with makeup.  For some reason, ultra bright colors and funky trends just seem more appropriate when the weather gets hot.  Above are three not so standard beauty tricks I will be giving a whirl.

• Light Blue Nails -  Light blue has always been one of my favorite colors but I never thought to use it on my nails.  When I spotted Revlon's Blue Lagoon polish at my local pharmacy, I knew it would be new favorite.  And I was right.  The color is fresh and fun and looks so pretty with a tan and chunky gold jewelry.  

• Hottest Pink Lipstick -  Last summer my favorite way to dress up for a night on the town was with bright orange lipstick, a little mascara, and some bronzer.  This summer I'm repeating, but this time with hot pink lip stick.  The more neon, the better.  It's such a youthful trend, and Nars' Carthage Hot Pink is just the color I'm looking for.  

• Violet Lashes -   I was very hesitant about the colored lashes trend at first.  It seemed so 80's and dated.  But when Stella McCartney's models at her F/W 2012 show were sporting the trend I had to reconsider.  When paired with sleek hair and other makeup is barely there, this is a look that is just gorgeous.  I want to get my hands on the Emilio Pucci for Guerlain mascara.  

For more makeup tips, head on over to The Beauty File to see my guest post on Summer Eye Makeup!

Blushing Over It

There are few things prettier than a rosy cheek.   And although it is *always* apart of my daily makeup routine, it's probably the makeup item I put the least amount of thought into.  Which is pretty silly because the color, amount, and location in which rogue is applied can completely transform a face (as the pictures above demonstrate).    My current blush (Lorac, Exposed) is running  low, and I'm beyond eager to try something new.  After reading different beauty articles, I've decided that I want my next blush to be a simple matte, that provides a healthy glow.  This will be an interesting change for me being that almost all of my blushes in the past have had shimmery gold undertones.

1.  Estee Lauder Tender Blush Sheer Stick -  I love this stuff - it provides a healthy glow, and is what I wear when I'm wanting to add a bit of a tan look without piling on the bronzer. Gold undertones make is night time appropriate.  Only complaint is that it rubs off pretty easily.

2.  Lorac Baked Matte Satin Blush -  I purchased this blush because I was wanting Nars Orgasm (see below) and my local beauty retailer was out.   So I gave this a try.  I find that it's a little brighter than Nars' famous "Orgasm", thus making it more daytime appropriate.

3.  Nars Blush in Orgasm -  This cult favorite has become world-known for a reason - it flatters every skin type and almost has a bronze like effect, making one look like they spent a day at the beach.  It is so pretty - only complaint is if one is too tan, it doesn't have the same dazzling effect, and it's hard to tell you're wearing it.

4.  Urban Decay Afterglow Cheek Tint in Crush -  I received a free sample of this and was taken aback by how bright it was.  But when I tried it on, I adored how it made me look like I was blushing.  It's youthful and fun, and I love that it's not ultra natural - you can tell you're wearing a fun colored blush without looking like a clown.

5.  Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush -  I have read too many amazing reviews on this stuff not to try it.  The one thing I've heard time after time about this product is that it's so natural and actually improves skin's balance, which is why it wears for so long.

6.  Benefit Dandelion Blush - This blush has one so many beauty awards and is supposedly key in making one look fresh faced and well rested.   I was wary to try this at first - thinking it'd be too light for my medium skin tone, but was pleasantly surprised to find that it still provided that healthy glow.

Happy blushing!

Total Beauty Crush

The first time I saw Jennifer Lawrence, I thought she was a total doll.  Not a fashion icon, but a pretty, talented, young lady.  Lately, her red carpet style has me thinking differently - she's coming into her own (style-wise) and has chosen youthful, sexy, and appropriate looks while promoting her latest film The Hunger Games.  And at the red carpet premier?  Wowza.  Her hair and makeup is straight up dreamy and I'm *completely* in love with it.

Fresh Faced for Spring

While the current weather is keeping my ballet flats in their shoe boxes and my light blouses tucked away in my closet, it's never too soon to start experimenting with spring hair and makeup trends.  While watching the Spring/Summer 2012 collections last September, I made notes of some of my favorite trends to try out.  They are listed below, along with some of the products and tools that will be needed to make them possible.  

Romantically Pink at Ralph Lauren

Soft pink blush, sheer golden lip gloss, and lots of black mascara set off this amazingly simple and wonderfully spring look.  The sleek hair finishes off this angelic trend and I'm dying to try it.  

Chanel Poudre Tissee in Brompton Road, DiorShow Iconic in Black, Mac Lustreglass in Instant Gold

Fluffed Up-Do's at Diane Von Furstenberg

Completely in love with the voluminous up-do's that all of DVF's models sported on the runway.  Combined with barely there makeup, the look is completely fresh and oh so elegant.  

Pantene Pro V Voluminous Hairspray, Conair Pro Styling Comb, Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

Mod Hair & Girly Makeup at Erin Fetherston

Messy ponytails, thick eyeliner, and pink stained lips give off a sexy and youthful vibe.    Paired with sweet attire (like polka dots and bows) the look is retro and fun.

Estee Lauder Doublewear Eye Pencil in Onyx,  Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me, Goody Ouchless hairties.

Dramatic Falsies at Zac Posen

I love nothing more than a good fake eyelash - and I'm loving the varied lengths of these particular  lashes.  With just a simple eye shadow and not much else, this look could even be day appropriate.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Macara, Urban Decay Naked Palette, Revlon Runway False Eyelashes 

Natural Beauties at Calvin Klein

The "no-makeup" makeup look is a trend that will never go away.  The keys to this look are glowing skin, a slightly glossed lip, and flowingly care-free locks.  

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Moroccan Oil Shine Spray for Hair, Shu Uemura Eye Lash Curler

Rimmel + Kate's 10 Year Anniversary

I like to think that for the most part I don't let ads suck me in and I rarely buy makeup or clothes because a certain person is their spokesperson - but Kate Moss makes this lipstick look so good, I'm going to have to try it.  The line was created by Moss to celebrate her ten years as the face of Rimmel.  A few days ago was the launch party and Moss looked incredible in an all grey ensemble that made the bright red color she sported in the ads absolutely pop.   Will you be trying the new Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick?

Starry Eyed Over Spring

I want to do with you, what spring does to the cherry trees

Pablo Neruda

Spring is here!  You can just feel it in the air, as the world slowly defrosts, trees start blooming, and our front lawn is filled with robbins instead of snow banks.  Spring is always a time I've liked to experiment with my beauty routine (during the months of winter I keep things simple, and my philosophy is less is more.)  Here are some trends I either use or am very excited to try.

Eye-Lights-  Although I don't think I'll ever stop wearing eyeliner completely, I love this bare yet sparkly trend.  Touches of gold on the inside corners of lids make eyes pop in an unexpected, fresh way.  I use Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips ($8.99)  and  a coating of dark brown mascara for a fun twist on the bare faced look.

The Voluminous Half Up Hair-  In high school I loved wearing my hair half up - I recently tried the look again, and felt I looked like I was stuck in 2001.  Figured out how to modernize it thought - messy and voluminous ala Brigitte Bardot.  Such a sexy look, and so simple.

Barrette On the Side -  I haven't worn a barrette since I was in grade school - but that's going to have to change.  A few strands swept to the side look surprisingly chic when paired with a blinged out barrette.  So fun and unique, I'm in love.

Nude Nails -  I've always been a fan of light colored nails but for some reason never go for nude.  This spring, I'm on the hunt for the perfect nude polish.  I'm also loving how most celebs are ditching the square shaped nails and going for more rounded looks - it really enlongates fingers.

Pretty Pouts - I have only recently started to wear lipsticks and what a difference that added pop of color makes!  I've been wearing bright pinks and orangey reds and they are just perfect for spring.  The shockingly bright colors also make skin look a little tanner.