MASCARA WANDS 101 // WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOUR NEXT PURCHASE

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Ever wondered

what the crap all of those different mascara wands are for? Why are they shaped differently, and what will the results be?

It can be more than a little confusing at times- and really overwhelming when you are strolling down the makeup isle.

Wearing:

Can't Hold Me Down Dress

c/o White Plum

Well, rest easy my friends- today I am putting you through my

Mascara Wands 101

course, and by the end of it you'll be a pro! Here is what you need to know about the different mascara wand types, and don't miss the video from Studio5 TV with more info (available after 2pm MST) and the GIVEAWAY down below. Although there are variations out there that I haven't included, these are the 7 basic types of wands and the rest all fit under one of these categories as well.

Oversized Wand- Maximum VOLUME

These full bristle wands are designed for amplified volume all around. They will thicken the lashes as well as give length and are designed to POP the eye open with their effect. These types of wands are better for advanced makeup junkies who aren't 'flinchy' with eye makeup. If you have small or deep set eyes however, this guy is not the best pick. Try

Maybelline Mega Plush

 or

Too Faced Better than Sex

(dumb name, amazing mascara)

Cone Taper Wand- Winged Out Corners

Cone shapes will help direct the lashes toward the outer corners and accentuate the cat-eye look. The bristles that are longer will distribute more product on the lashes, so those will be the ones that are elongated. This mascara is great to pair with a cat-eye liner to really finish off the total look. Try

Maybelline Lots of Lashes

 or

Lorac Pro Mascara

Curved Wand- Fanned Out Curl

Curved wands are designed to fan out the lashes from the inner corner all the way to the outer corner. The wand shape mimics the curve of the eye, so the wand is the same distance from the eye all the way across. This gives more curl to the lashes located at the two corners of your eye. Try Cover Girl

Flamed Up Mega Curl

 or

Dior Over Curl

Balled Tip- Detailed Corners

The balled tip is a favorite of mine because it allows you get very near the root at the corners to thoroughly coat the base of the lashes, without the risk of poking yourself with a sharp point. You can also turn the wand vertically and sweep the ball end across the lower lashes with lots of precision. You can use the ball tip to direct the outer corners as well, so you have the exact shape you are looking for. Try

Rimmel Scandaleyes Show Off

or

ELF 3-in-1 Mascara

Micro Wand- Tinted & Natural

The micro wand is again a huge favorite of mine because I love the simplicity of it and the natural looking results it gives. Great for your 'no-makeup' days, a micro wand will deliver a dark pigment to your lashes but won't build volume or much length. I also love that a micro wand can get all the way down to the root of your lashes (without poking your eyeball) which is so helpful if you have naturally light eye lashes like blondes and redheads often do. Oh, and it's a dream on those lower lashes too! Try

IT Cosmetics Tight Line Primer

or

Maybelline Lash Discovery

Rubber Shorty- Defined Length

If length is your primary focus, a short bristled rubber wand is the right pick for you. The formula is most evenly applied with this type of brush so you'll have less clumps and be able to build up a longer length with more coats. The short bristles also work as a comb of sorts, keeping lashes extended straight, aiding in the length yet again. Try

Wet n Wild Mega Length

or

Covergirl Lash Blast Length

Flat Comb- Separated & Dark

Definition is the name of the game with lash combs, so if you love to see a separation between every lash then this wand is the one you need. The comb pushes through the lashes and forces each one into a designated path way in the comb. The result is a very uniform lineup of lashes that are equally spaced from one another and coated in lots of pigment. Try

Napoleon Perdis MesmerEyes

or

Mirenesse Cougar Mascara 

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I hope you found this guide to mascara wands helpful! If you want to win a HUGE goody bag of my fav mascaras for yourself, be sure you enter the giveaway down below using the rafflecopter entry. The first two entries are mandatory to play, and the rest are optional but additional entries into the running. Good luck! And check out my cute dress from

White Plum

today, it's only $39 and I LOVE it! 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE BEST BEAUTY FROM BACKSTAGE AT NYFW

Happy Monday! Today I am excited to share with you my backstage coverage from New York Fashion Week. It was such a thrill to be backstage at a handful of shows this year- the energy and excitement is like nothing I have felt before.

Imagine

15 gorgeous models, 30 makeup artists and hairstylists, and 5 manicurists... all doing their jobs at once,

 plus about 20 members of the press (that's me... 'press' :) trying to photograph and video ALL AT THE SAME TIME! In a tiny backstage area, I might add! It is chaos at its' finest.

In the

video

below, I put together some of the beauty looks that I was able to witness first hand, as well as some of my other favorites from shows I wasn't able to attend this season. It gives you just a glimpse of the beauty you can expect to see trending come Spring 2015. The majority of the designers all opted for sleek/wet hair looks on their models, and mostly natural looking makeup. But, there were of course a few outliers that went for bold lips, crazy nail art, and even pierced eyebrows! Take a look:

Featuring looks from:

• Rodarte (pierced eyebrows)

• Degen (rainbow/water color nails)

• The Blonds

• Zac Posen (red lips)

• Georgine (hair wrapped in scarves)

• Libertine (letters/tassels on the fingernails)

• Thakoon

• Suno

• Rebecca Minkoff

• Jason Wu

I hope you find some beauty inspiration in these looks! I know I did, and I'll be bringing you some '

Inspired By'

posts over the next couple months, where I'll showcase some of my favorite looks, and how I would achieve them at home. Stay tuned for those, and be sure you come back later this week for a recap of what I wore while in NY, and for my

Mascara Wands 101

class with Studio5 TV. xo

NOT SO SNOOP-TASTIC | THE PRODUCTS THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT

I try to keep this blog a

mostly positive place

... Aside from my few rants here and there, I choose to only feature brands and products that I have positive experiences with and genuinely love! Not only because the world has enough negativity in it already, but also because as a

business owner

, I understand that negative reviews hurt and aren't always the fault of the company. So my usual approach is: 'if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all'.

That being said, SO MANY of you have requested videos or posts that talk about

products I don't recommend

. I am not sure why this is exactly, but I imagine its part human-curiosity and part research before you spend money on products that you could avoid disappointment with.?.

I get it. I always research before I buy too. So in an effort to give you guys what you want, I'll make a

NOT SO SNOOP-TASTIC

 video every now and then, and run down the things that didn't make the cut. Just keep in mind that these are only MY opinions, and there may be people out there that have better experiences with these products then I did. In fact I hope that's the case! Please let me know if you have different results.

Wearing:

Polka Dot Blouse

c/o Oasap

Thanks so much for reading and watching friends! Right now I am knee-deep in fashion goodness during NYFW Spring/Summer 2015. It's been a whirlwind, and I can't wait to share everything with you soon. For a peek at what is coming, head over to my instagram. xo

THE NEW BREED OF NAIL POLISH // WOULD YOU BUY IT?

Lately there's been talk about a new breed of nail lacquers. These aren't your run-of-the-mill drugstore polishes, or even your salon quality polishes.

These are designer, luxury lacquers that carry a hefty price tag and come in stunning little packages.

And while I'll probably bite the bullet some day, and throw down $50 for a bottle of the iconic red colored polish produced by Christian 

Lou Boutin

, for now I've found just the right amount of luxury in my new

Azature Black Diamond Lacquer

. ($18-25) 

People often ask me '

what is the difference between cheap polish and high end polish?'

, and in my experience it's two things: the consistency and the pigment. High quality Polish is thinner so it gives a smooth even coat, without being lumpy in any way. BUT even though it's thin it still has major color payoff and only needs 1-2 coats to have beautiful non-streaky results.

The Black Diamond lacquers are spot on in both categories, and I have been wearing them 24/7 since they landed on my doorstep. The red color called '

Ruby Diamond

' is so close to the Lou Boutin red, I may never need to buy it after all. And you may know that Azature is renowned for their beautiful black diamond jewelry, and true to form, each Azature polish contains a tiny black diamond in each bottle! 

Yes, they are more expensive- but they are luxury in the best way. I suggest buying a couple classics shades that you'll get years of use out of, making them investment polishes you'll love to use time and again. Plus if you bring one of these bad boys with you to your next manicure appointment, you'll feel like a million bucks to boot! 

What do you think? Would you splurge on the newest breed of nail polishes? Tell me your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure you are following along with me on

instagram

- this week I'm prepping for my trip to New York Fashion Week, and I'm sharing sneak peaks on my IG account! xo

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*Azature samples provided to the beauty snoop, all opinions are my own

NINA DOBREV VMA LOOK TUTORIAL

Hi Snoopers! Thanks so much for hanging out with me today!

Over on

instagram

, I asked you

which beauty's look from the VMAs

you wanted me to recreate in a video, and a whopping

majority of you voted for Nina Dobrev

! She rocked a high pony and orange lip like nobody else could on the red carpet, and it was one of my fav looks of the night as well.

Take a look at the

video

below to see my take on her style and makeup... let's do it! *The focus on this video was not so great, so sorry! But, my new office/studio is almost finished so my next video will be much better!

Products Used:

• Kerastase Discipline

• Unite Hair Oil

• Round Brushes

• Philosophy Hope in a Jar Foundation- Shade 4

• It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye- Shade Fair

• Dermablend Cover Creme- Shade Rose Beige

• It Cosmetics Illumination Powder- Shade Light/ Medium

• Urban Decay De-Slick Powder

• Ofra Bronzer

• NYX Brow Powder- Shade Brunette

• NARS Eye Primer

• Too Faced Cat Eye Palette

• Covergirl Bombshell Mascara

• Revlon Laquer Balm- Color Tease

• Chella Highlighter Pencil- Shade Ivory Lace

• Bellami Hair Extensions- Color 4

• Nume 32mm Curling Wand

I also mentioned my how-to video for using brow powders, which you can see 

here

. And a look at those cool round brushes can be found 

here

.

I hope this gave you some new ideas, and inspired you to rock an orange lip very soon! Have a great weekend, and see you all soon! xo

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BLUE RIBBON WINNERS: DERMALOGICA SKINCARE

A long time ago, in a far away place called Salt Lake City... a little girl named Megan went to beauty school. Megan didn't even know what the word 'esthetics' meant, let alone that someone could have a career in it... but thanks to Dermalogica, she fell in love with the study of skincare and the rest is history!

***

Yes, it's true! When I went to beauty school- I had never even heard the word '

esthetics

' before, and I had no idea that I would be learning about skincare as part of my cosmetology training. I was 17 after all, so I hadn't paid much attention to my skin just yet. But, my education in the spa world opened my eyes to the wonder of that part of the beauty industry, and luckily for me-

Dermalogica

was a big part of that experience.

I've continued to use and love many of the Dermalogica products that I used during my school days. After all it's one of the top skincare lines in the world, and its' products are loved by millions. I wanted to share with you my top picks from the line, maybe there is one just right for you as well!

Dynamic Skin Recovery

- This little bottle of goodness has freakin 50 SPF in it, yet it isn't thick or greasy like traditional sunscreen. It is a lightweight daily moisturizer that is geared for anti-aging and is seriously so good. Don't mess around when it comes to sunscreen. Just use it everyday and be glad you did later. It isn't cheap, but a little goes a long way- and you'll be much more likely to use a sunscreen if it is high quality and good for your skin like this one is.

Ultra Soothing Eye Serum

- I have crazy sensitive eyes! The actual eyeballs them selves (I can't walk outside without sunglasses on), plus the skin around my eyes stings with almost every product that touches it. This eye serum has never irritated my eyes, and is so lovely. I always go back to it.

Overnight Clearing Gel

- The name says it all. Put this stuff of your blemishes at night, and they'll be reduced in size by at least half in the morning. I use it religiously for my troubled skin.

Environmental Control Deodorant

- I don't know why I love this stuff SO MUCH... deodorant is not something I usually splurge on. But this has a mens cologne scent that I just can't get enough of! It's a clear gel/solid formula, and I think it is divine. [I'm a weirdo, I guess]

Multi Vitamin Power Recovery Masque

- Heaven in a Tube! I wear this Vitamin C masque for hours on end. The creamy orange masque leaves skin feeling totally refreshed and glowing, and it is so good for post peel or microdermabrasion treatments. Must have.

Cheers to great skin! Let me know if you have any Dermalogica favorites, and be sure you vote on

instagram

, to tell me which #LOOKSTHATROCK you want me to recreate from the VMA's.

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*Dynamic Recovery sample provided by Dermalogica via iFabbo

MAKEUP SPLURGE OR SAVE

Hello loves! Today is a great day on the blog- I am so happy you are here, so thank you!

I stopped by Studio5 TV today to dish on my makeup must haves, and the best part is I included two budget options in each category so you can SAVE or SPLURGE! Check out the video and then shop your picks using the links below. PLUS, one lucky reader will be scooping up a care package full of my must-haves, so be sure you enter to win using the rafflecopter entry below. There's also a BONUS VIDEO today, where I answer the question, 'Can a women over 30 wear a headband without looking like a wanna-be teenager?' Check out my answer below.

SPLURGE:

• Nude Toned Eye Palette- Urban Decay Naked Palette

• Highlighting Cheek Stick- Nars The Multiple Stick

• Peach Toned Under Eye Concealer- Bobbi Brown Corrector

• Automatic Brow Pencil-Anastasia Brow Wiz

• Translucent Finishing Powder- Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder

SAVE:

• Nude Toned Eye Palette-Maybelline The Nudes Palette

• Highlighting Cheek Stick- Sonia Kashuk Luminosity Stick

• Peach Toned Under Eye Concealer- NYX Dark Circle Concealer

• Automatic Brow Pencil- NYX Automatic Brow Pencil

• Translucent Finishing Powder- Neutrogena Shine Control Powder

Hope some of these goodies solve an issue for you! Thanks again for stopping by, don't forget the giveaway below- the first two entry options are required, the rest are optional but each one you complete adds your name into the drawing an additional time. Good luck!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE FRENCH-GIRL SCENTS YOU'LL LOVE FOR FALL

Illustration by

Melissa Bailey

My fascination with France started young. My favorite book of all time was Madeline, and a read it religiously as a child. I can still quote many of the brilliantly worded rhymes from the stories. And those illustrations! Don't get me started on the beautiful images found in those books, I still treasure them to this day.

When junior high came around, I chose to take French as my foreign language- much to my parents' dismay. (They thought Spanish would be much more useful in life... and they were right- I don't get much practice speaking french, but who cares!?!) I took six years of French class to be exact, but I only remember the basics, sadly. But that six years of hard work, was enough to warrant a trip to France when I was 17, and I'll never forget it! The magic of France is still with me, and I can't wait to go back.

That long tangent there, was really just to tell you about two of my newest perfume collection additions. I feel like Fall is the perfect season to change your scent, and nothing changes a mood more than fragrance. I know it's still warm outside and you are hanging on to Summer just as much as I am, but cooler weather will be here soon, plus I had to speed up my process when my 2-year-old kindly shattered my Summer perfume bottle on my bathroom floor recently. I went searching for a new fragrance and wound up with two- both French. No complaints here. 

The first, Dune by Dior

is full of warm citrus and vanilla notes and just a hint of the ocean mist. I have been wearing this in the day time, and the staying power is legendary. It's perfect for early fall when you are just starting to add layers and the nights are cooling down.

The second scent I'll be wearing this season is Lys Soleia by Guerlain. Guerlain is the ultimate beauty label in my mind, and I love everything I have ever tried from the French design house. If you haven't shopped their makeup counter before, put that on your list of must-dos. This scent from their Aqua Allegoria collection is very robust and sensual, with a spicy musk note, and a Lilly kicker. This scent lends itself beautifully to night time wear, and is quite strong so stick with only 1-2 sprays.

If you are looking for a new parfume in your life- I hope you'll check out these two! We can be smell-twins... yes, that's a real thing. I just made it up. xo

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*samples for were requested by the beauty snoop and fulfilled by fragrencenet.com 

THE MAKEUP TREND STARTED BY CLEOPATRA... OR MAYBE IT WAS ELIZABETH TAYLOR?

I am a huge fan of 

Sex & The City

! If you didn't know that- well, there ya go! What does this have to do with today's topic:

Kajal Eye Liners

?

Well, in the second [and quite horrible, really] Sex & The City movie, Carrie and the girls take a wild trip to Abu Dhabi. While out shopping, Carrie runs into her ex-fiance, and show favorite, Aidan. Prior to this run in, Carrie makes a purchase from a street vendor who is selling beautiful jeweled shoes... AND traditional Indian Kajal eyeliners. This sets the scene for a later part in the film where Carrie applies the eyeliner and then gets into lots of trouble with Aidan. We will just leave it there...

These types of eye liners date all the way back to Ancient Egypt, a la Cleopatra... but are still worn today in many Indian and Asian cultures. You've probably seen similar types of

eye kohls

produced by all the major beauty brands, but lately the more traditional kajal formulas are popping up too!

Kajals typically come in a cone-shaped applicator, and contain deep tones of natural pigment, that are laced with oils to give them a super creamy texture that is perfect for inner-eye lining. 

The liners are made for sultry looks, and they are typically worn around the entire rim of the eye with a flick on each corner. If you've been wanting to try a new take on your eye makeup routine- this is a really fun way to start. I've seen the Kajals by both

Maybelline

and

Physicians Formula

at my local stores, and no doubt more brands will be jumping in on the action soon too.

Here's a look at how I've been wearing mine. To get the perfect extended cat eye, use my super high-tech trick: fold a facial tissue in half, then again a few times until you have a nice thick folded edge. Place the folded edge at the corner of your eye on the the angle you want your cat eye to sweep. Then, simply trace your liner across the edge of the tissue, for a perfectly straight line that extends as high as you want it to! Easy as pie.

Let me know if you pick up any of these Kajal type liners and what your thoughts are. I am really liking the way they apply so smoothly, but I am still working on the best way to set them so they don't migrate as the day goes on.

xo

PS- anyone remember that music group called 'Cleopatra'?

One hit wonder...

 'comin at-cha'!

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FIRST LOOK: ONE DIRECTION MAKEUP COLLECTION

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Hello lovlies! Thanks so much for stopping by today. If you've been a reader of mine for a while you may know about my fascination with celebrity endorsed or designed products... I am always drawn to them, even though I usually am very skeptical about the amount of involvement the famous faces

actually

have with the creation of these products. (Although sometimes I am wrong, 

click this post

 to see when that happens)

'One Direction: They are cute. They can sing. They wear really tight pants. And now they sell makeup. Ok.'

This line is no different. I highly doubt that the 5 members of One Direction actually had much to say or do with the development of their new makeup collection, after all- they most likely have a lot of things on their plates... and don't wear hot pink lipstick too often themselves. But I still wanted to check it out and give you a first look at their

Up All Night

collection that launches on August 11th at Macys.

Take a look at the

video

below to see what you get in each box, and to see my first impression on the makeup itself.

To get more info on the makeup collection by One Direction, you can follow along over on this

facebook page

, and read up on each collection and its' contents

here

. If you are ready to join in the fun, you can shop the makeup starting on August 11th at

Macys

.

Adios!

PR samples were provided to the beauty snoop by brandbacker

MY SUMMER HAIR REVEAL AND RECIPE FOR SHINY LOCKS

Heyo! It's time for another look reveal- and this season I decided to warm things up and add a face framing POP of copper! You may remember a few weeks back when I

posted

about the celebrity trend I'm calling 'frame-lights'? Well I jumped on the bandwagon too (at home in my bathroom as usual).

PLUS, I answered a question that I get asked so often both here on the blogosphere and at the salon...

'how do I get SHINY hair?'

  Well peeps, the answer is... YOU FAKE IT! No but really, most of us aren't blessed with tresses that shimmer in the light, so I've deemed my process for shiny locks:

The Styling Book End

. Get the full scoop in the

video

 below.

Products Mentioned in Video

(secret recipe for shiny hair)

IT Haircare-

Fix IT

IT Haircare-

Polish IT

Wearing:

Blue Floral Dress

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Let me know if you've switched up your hair for Summer. And don't forget to come follow along on

instagram

for some fun extra glimpses into my world. xo

Thanks to IT Haircare for sponsoring this post

THE MATTE LIPS YOU'LL LOVE FOR NEXT SEASON

1- Glace

2-Tatin

3-Sucre

4-Peche

5-Fraise

6-Framboise

No but seriously, I have been stalking Bite Beautys' every move since they came on the scene, and let me tell you- they are leading the pack when it comes to lip products and development of formulas that just wow me every time. The lip-only line is available at Sephora, and these newest additions are so good it hurts. Matte finishes have swept the beauty world by storm this year, and I for one love the sophisticated look they give any outfit or hair style.

The Bite lip crayons are so easy to use because they are like a liner and lipstick all in one tube. The formula is creamy and easy to apply, comes in the perfect sized automatic pencil applicator, and stays put for hours. Not to mention the pigments are super rich and opaque which makes for the perfect matte look.  To say I have been 'bitten' by these, is a totally cheesy pun, but I'm stick'n with it! And I hear that there will be an additional 6 new shades for Fall out next month, and I am so excited to see them. Which color is your fav?

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WATERCOLOR NAIL ART

Get my easy WATERCOLOR NAIL look, follow these super easy steps:

• Start with your base color, I used Revlon Gel Envy in the color 'Jokers Wild'

• After your base dries, top it with a clear coat (this step is to protect it from the use of acetone, see steps below) and let that thoroughly dry before moving on to your art steps

• Apply a few random dots of your next color, mine is Essie in the color 'Splash of Grenadine'

• Dip a small art brush into your acetone and gently thin and smudge the dots of polish

• Next add random dots of your third color, mine is Revlon Parfumerie in 'Pink Pineapple' and repeat with the acetone until your desired marble effect is achieved

• Finish with a coat of clear top coat, and you're done! I always use Revlon Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat... it's amaze

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you give this easy nail art a try... it is so easy to do and I seriously love the effect. If you do enter the contest, tag me in your pic too so I can see your mad skills! xo

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5 QUICK TIPS FOR PREVENTING A MAKEUP MELTDOWN

I'll never forget the time I vacationed to Palm Springs one summer just after high school, in early June. It was my first time to that part of California, and I quickly learned that

'I wasn't in Kansas anymore'  

when I stepped out of the airport and was met with a wall of heat unlike anything I had ever experienced before!

As I literally felt the makeup melting off of my face I thought two things: 1) remind me to never visit Palm Springs during the summer months again, and 2) there has to be a better way to apply makeup when it's hot.

A decade later, I still haven't been back to Palm Springs later in the year than April- and I still change my routine in the warmer months to prevent makeup landslides.

Here are five quick tips that you can use to help your makeup hold up during the hottest months of the year. 

1- Exfoliate in the PM

I honestly learned this technique on a fluke. I am a pretty regular exfoliator, but sometimes I get lazy in the summer usually because I am staying up much later, then I fall into bed without going through my whole skincare routine. After a couple weeks of skipping the scrub step, I realized that my makeup was breaking down much more quickly than usual and I was looking greasy by 4pm.

The culprit? Clogged pores and dead skin cells. My skin wasn't able to breath- causing major oil buildup on my face. That led to a break down of the makeup with a reckless abandon. As soon as I added the scrub back into my nightly (2 times per week) routine, my makeup adhered to my skin better and resisted the elements of heat and humidity much better. Now, I never miss this step and I hope you won't either!

* If you are wondering why I specified NIGHT time scrubbing? Because scrubbing can cause redness, so give your skin a whole 8 hours to calm and repair before applying makeup. Try

Beautisol Exscrub Me?

2- Switch to a gel moisturizer

Cream moisturizers often leave a sheen on the skin that doesn't absorb into the skin for many hours. That glossy finish, although radiant, won't do you any favors when combating humidity, heat and sweat. A gel moisturizer will absorb into the skin much quicker and is light and refreshing with a matte finish. My current favorite is

Garnier Moisture Rescue for Dry Skin

3- Wait 10 minutes post moisturizer before applying anything else

After reading #2 above this step should be a no brainer, but here is the expanded version: apply your gel moisturizer to a clean face in the AM. Then give your face a solid 10 minutes to absorb the gel fully. This is a great time to work on your hair, check your

social

feeds (which hopefully include yours truly! #shamelessplug) or get dressed. Finally, continue with your makeup application.

4- Set first with spray

Once you've completed your beautiful face canvas, set your masterpiece with a makeup setting spray. I love

NYX Matte Finish

in the Summer months (I choose their Dewey finish in the winter) because it works great and is totally affordable. Think of this step as hairspray for your face. Neat-O

5- Set second with powder

And finally hit your T-zone with an extra dose of translucent powder for major oil control and staying power. You can also reapply midday for bonus power, if needed. My go to?

Urban Decay De-slick Mattifying Powder

Hope these tips help you stay fresh all day long. Got any meltdown tips of your own? Let me know in the comments below, xo And don't forget to enter my huge Summer Beauty Box giveaway

here

!

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FIRST LOOK: CYNTHIA ROWLEY BEAUTY REVIEW

Cynthia Rowley Beauty

 c/o  |  

Rowley Eyewear No. 58

  c/o

Cynthia Rowley

is synonymous with high style and luxe feminine fashion. Her design esthetic has always been one that I've been drawn to, so it was safe to say that I would be smitten by her new makeup collection. I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the line, via Birchbox, and I am SOOO over-the-moon excited to share it with my readers! 

The first thing that caught my eye, and I am sure yours as well- is the stunning packaging. Holy moly, I love everything about it! The makeup bag and eyeshadow palette are wrapped in a happy and colorful confetti pattern that's a little abstract. Then comes the eye liners that all have a sleek black finish with perfect gold spots adorning them... too cute, and sophisticated for sure. The lip stains also boast the gold polkadots, but the colors of the stains inside really steal the show. 

Now for the makeup it self:

Eye Shadow Palette No. 2-

Five yummy colors in shades like 'licorice' and 'marshmallow' are surprisingly velvety and easy to apply. The pigments are sheer but build-able and perfect for light and feminine eye looks. In the pics above, I'm wearing the purple 'cotton candy' shade through the crease of my lid, with the pink 'confetti' shade along the lash line. I've been reaching for this palette quite a bit since I got it for natural day-time looks.

Eye Liners

- These creamy pencil liners are a major high point of the line in my opinion. They go on so smoothly without any tugging and have beautiful metallic pigments. I have been wearing them non stop and in the pic above I am wearing the 'silver' shade. The 'charcoal' shade is also amazing for a slightly softer version of your typical black liner. Mmmm. so good! 

Liquid Liners

- If you love a liquid liner, these will be an added bonus to your collection. The are super pigmented and opaque... and the staying power is spot on. 12 hours, at least! The felt nib is quite long, with just a hint of flexibility in the very tip, so it's great for those who like a lot of control in their application (beginners... that's you).

Creamy Lip Stain

- Stars of the show! These lip stains are gorgeous and inspired the palette for my illustration above, which also has swatches of all the products on it for reference. The three tones are varied enough that all three are great additions to your lip collection. The consistency is creamy and smooth- with zero stickiness in sight. They don't stain as strongly as some others I've tried, so they need to be reapplied a few times during the day. The purple 'tulip' shade has been my go to for the last two weeks- and I'm wearing it in the pic above! 

Over all, I am totally impressed with this line and will definitely be purchasing subsequent releases. It's available exclusively through

Birchbox

and you can check out all of that goodness

here

.

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SUMMER BEACH PARTY MAKEUP // LORAC AFTER GLO PALETTE

LORAC After Glo Palette

 |  

Ray Ban Sunnies

 |  

Layered Necklace

 |  

360 Turquoise Earrings

Happy Friday friends! ***I thought it might be fun to switch things up around here and present products in a more personal way- let me know if you like it, or if my typical 'magazine cover' presentation floats your boat more. I love your feedback!

The new

LORAC After Glo

shadow palette immediately reminded me of the beach. I love the shades of the sunset, sand and water together and I have been able to create some beautiful 'sunset eye' looks since I got this palette in my hands. True to LORAC's amazing quality the pigments in this collection are stunning, and velvety so you can blend until your heart's content. There is also a great variation in matte and shimmer shades so you get a little bit of everything in this perfect-for-summer palette.

Hope you make your way to the beach this Summer, but if not- you can fake it with a gorgeous sand and sea look! xo

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INSIDER STYLIST SECRETS: MAKE YOUR HAIR COLOR LAST LONGER AND FADE LESS

Hey there! Nice to see you 'round these parts. [yup, that was my inner cowgirl talking]

Have you ever had a color on your hair that was glossy and beautifully pigmented, only to have it fade into a brassy, mousy version of it's former self? It happens to the best of us, so don't feel bad- but

there are 4 steps you can take to keep your hair color vibrant longer. And today, I am stopping by Studio5 to dish on my 4 step process and the stylist secrets you've been looking for.

*** Disclaimer. ALL HAIR COLOR FADES! Even natural pigments fade in the right conditions... remember how your child hood hair turned two shades lighter in the Summer months? Yup, that's fading. These steps will slow down the speed at which your color fades, but you'll still need to keep up on your color services on the regular. Ok, let's get started!

1- The first three washes are crucial!

Resist washing your locks for at least 2 days post color job to allow the color to fully oxidize and set into the cuticle (outer shingle-like layer of the hair) Then, for your first 3 shampoos, use the coldest water you can stand without giving yourself a headache. This means you should wash your hair at a different time than your shower. I prefer to bend forward over the edge of the tub and wash under the faucet, but a kitchen sink works too. The cold water closes down the cuticle layer trapping the color molecules inside. Hot water opens the cuticles so pigment can escape- which means cool water is ALWAYS better for color treated hair, but is essential in the early stages of color protection.

2- Soft water = soft hair

The minerals in our water are not hair and skin friendly. Just ask anyone who has eczema and they'll tell you what a problem hard water is when it comes to drying out the skin. If you don't have a built in water softener on your water heater, you can add a filter right to your shower. The T3 Source Shower Head

uses tourmaline, charcoal and other precious medals to remove 95% of the Chlorine in your water. Your skin and hair will be softer then ever before, and your hair will retain those precious color molecules much longer with this god-sent gizmo.

3- Gentle color safe shampoos are required. period

Shampoos are essentially soaps designed to cleanse the hair of oils and buildup, but if you're not careful they can also 'cleanse' the hair of color molecules too. Using a gentle sulfate free formula is the most important step in this series. And yes, higher end products are the best option because they contain more of the ingredients designed to prevent fading. For example, Pureology Strength Cure uses the plant oils found in sunflower seeds that give a natural sunscreen to the plant [and in turn, your hair] A drugstore brand may also use this oil but usually in lesser amounts, say 10% versus 30% in the salon brand option. So both will help, but the Pureology option may help more. That being said, ANY color safe option is better than nothing... so spend what you feel comfortable with as long as it is sulfate free.

4- UV protection isn't just for your skin

Everyone knows the importance of sunscreen for your skin, but don't miss your hair when you are getting sun-ready every day. Adding a UV protection spray into your hair routine will guard against fading due to the environment. This is essential if you spend time outdoors, and if you were prone to sun-bleaching as a child, you're still prone to it as an adult. Living Proof Instant Protection spray gives a weightless coating of UV protectant to your locks for 24hours, and as a bonus it also protects your hair from heat styling tools up to 450F degrees.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I hope you got a few new ideas for protecting your hair color. Be sure you sign up to get these posts delivered right to your inbox, using the email signup bar on the top right side of the blog. xo

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ASK THE EXPERT: HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY USE DRY SHAMPOO? AND WHICH ARE THE BEST ONES?

I've mentioned my un-dying love for DRY SHAMPOO on this blog before (ok a couple times) but when this reader question came in from @BrianneE, I thought- 'hey, you've never shown them HOW to use it effectively! Duh!'

She asked... 'What are the best dry shampoos, and how do I actually use them? Are there tricks and tips that I am missing?' Well the simple answer is yes! Check out my latest video below and pick up a few of my techniques and favorite dry shampoos out there.

Products mentioned in video:

• Batiste Hint of Tint Dry Shampoo

• Taya Amazon White Clay Collagen Plumper (not actually a dry shampoo, but works the same way to refresh the roots and give major volume in between shampoos)

• Bumble & bumble Pret a Powder

• Color Proof Powder Fix (salon locator)

• Tangle Teezer

I sure hope that answered your question Brianne, and that you fall in love with dry shampoos like I have! And if YOU have a question you'd like me to answer in my All About Hair Series- send me an email or leave a comment below. Have a great 4th of July! xo

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THE SUMMER ACCESSORY EVERY WOMAN NEEDS : FLASH TATTOOS

Wearing: Flash Tattoo

Zahra Collection

 |  Oasap c/o 

Striped Crop Top

 | Maurices c/o 

Layered Stone Necklace

Hello! Happy Tuesday. I am super excited about this unique product on the blog today-

Flash Tattoos

are seriously so much fun and every time I look down at my hand while typing this I think 'oooh pretty sparkles...' Yep. That made me sound like a Seagull, didn't it? Ha

Even my 5 year old got in on the action!

My sister in NYC, spotted these cool metallic tattoos and sent them my way, and I have been hooked ever since. 

Flash Tattoos are the gown up version of the gumball-machine tats you loved as a kid

, and work the same way. You simply peel the clear coat off the design, place that tat on your skin in the desired location, then apply a little water to the back side of the paper and Walaa!

The collections come with 4 sheets of metallic designs that all resemble jewelry. You can cut them up and make your own designs to create a look that is completely unique. I love the way my bracelet turned out when I added the dangling feathers, but you could do something totally different with yours. That's part of the fun! I think these tats are the perfect accessory for Summer because you get the glam look of blinged out jewelry without actually wearing any.

And if you feel like this look is a little too young or not quite work appropriate, just remember that they are temporary and come off in 4-6 days (or earlier if you remove them with baby oil) so it's great for a long weekend or a Summer vacay to the beach. I might also suggest a more discreet location like the top of your foot, which gives a beautiful henna-type effect. Cute eh!?!

See you all later this week- xo

P.S. I just updated my

Shop the Snoop

 page with the latest of my

Holy Grail

beauty finds- check it out if you are looking for my top recommendations.

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SUMMER ESSENTIALS: 4TH OF JULY NAIL ART

I'll be the first to admit that nail art is not my forte. But there is just something about 4th of July nail art that gets me excited every year! I feel like it's the perfect way to introduce a little

red

,

white

and

blue

into your style with out being too LOUD and it's perfect for the whole month of July! When I saw this patriotic glitter polish by Sally Hansen, I just had to have it! I love a good glitter and this collection is a favorite of mine because I love the variation in size of the glitter specks. Cute huh!?!

Wearing:

Sally Hansen Color Frenzy

in 'Red White & Hue' [it's a brand new collection so you may have to shop around a bit until you find it] Available at drugstores and other major retailers.

A few quick tips for nail art newbies:

• Don't attempt to do anything if you're in a rush! Nail art takes a long time to do well, you must let EVERY layer dry completely before moving on to the next. If you skip the full dry time, you'll end up with overly thick nail color, and most likely major smudges.

• Layer STRATEGICALLY. Darker colors will cover much easier over lighter colors and you won't need as many layers. In the above pic, I used white first then added the red half-moon after the white had completely dried. Doing the opposite may have left me with a pinkish-white.

• Use HOUSEHOLD items to help form your designs. You can certainly go to a beauty supply and buy some fancy nail art tools, but things like toothpicks and push pins work great for creating dots and doodles... and they are free and disposable!

• When in doubt TOP COAT it out! A clear coat goes a long way to hide imperfections and complete a look. Don't stress if your art isn't perfect- that's why it's uniquely yours.

I challenge you all to have fun with your nails this month too, and if you do- send me a pic or tag me when you share it, so I can see your artistic work! See you all soon