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!

The Plastics

I love Los Angeles. I love Hollywood. They're beautiful. Everybody's plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic.

Andy Warhol

The plastic, fake, over-the-top side of fashion.  It's there.  We are reminded every time we open up the pages of Vogue.    It's what runs through our heads when we glance at a model and think, "Just how little does she weigh?" or "Just how much airbrushing was done to get her face *completely* poreless." We can't help it.  We wonder what's real.   How close can the average person actually get to looking that flawless?  Instead of letting such thoughts consume me, I prefer to take in the beauty of it.   The flawless, decadent, unrealistic perfection, it's enough to inspire.  Below are ultra-glam pieces, fit for a Barbie.

180 by Jean Yu, Cuff Stretch Silk Chiffon Shorts

Furla, Candy Bag

Topshop, Orange Sleeveless Tuck Shift Dress

Giuseppe Zanotti, Assymetrical Eel Pumps

Missoni, Geometric Acetate Bib

Miu Miu, Crepe Silk de Chien Top

Tom Binns, Fauve Hand Painted Swarovski Crystal Drop Earrings

Nars, Easy Lover Lip Gloss