emily's makeup bag

Today's Agenda

2011-06-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

Will include this:

I have some hours I need to use before I begin my new job, so I'm taking off the afternoon and meeting my brother to layout at my grandma's pool. I normally use La Roche-Posay sunscreen for my face, but I have been out since the end of last summer and I've been meaning order this for quite some time but bought the Coppertone in a pinch (b/c I know it works well on my sensitive skin)

Happy summer! :)

Thursday's Cheap Thrill

2011-06-09T05:30:00.002-05:00

I'm still here!! Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I promise I'll be better.

When I was trying to think of today's cheap thrill, I went to my makeup bag to get an idea. Well I quickly realized the ALL of the contents in that bag are pretty expensive. I do not really use any makeup products that I could classify as a "cheap thrill." I need to change this. I'll buy face wash, body products, etc from Target and HEB, and will even use less than expensive hair products every now and then, but I really do not wander down the makeup isle in Target and normally buy all my makeup from either Sephora or Nordstrom.

So that brings me to my question - what is YOUR favorite makeup item that you can deem "cheap?" Do you have a favorite $4 mascara that you think can stand up to DiorShow? Or a CoverGirl lip gloss that you can't live without? Fill me in on your cheap thrills when it comes to makeup!!

LC's Beauty Dept

2011-04-20T09:32:00.000-05:00

It's probably no secret that I've loved Lauren Conrad since the first season of Laguna Beach, and have followed her life and career every step of the way. Today, she launched a new website, thebeautydepartment.com and it has tutorials, makeup ideas, hair ideas, and other several fabulous things. It's already on my list of favorites!

Thursday's Cheap Thrill

2011-03-24T07:30:00.002-05:00

Well hopefully most of you saw this post on C & P the other day, and I happened to see Lindsey the next day and noticed she was wearing the nail polish that Say was talking about. I will testify that it is absolutely fabulous. So last week I decided to stop by the Beauty Store after my Tuesday night dinner with Ali to buy the nail polish myself, and I ended up finding a tiny tot version.

Question: Have any of you ever used an entire bottle of nail polish? I have once, but it took me years. My point is that when I spotted tiny tot versions of Essie nail polish the other night for half the price of the full bottle, I was super excited! I knew I would never use an entire bottle of this nail polish, and probably won't even come close to finishing off this tiny bottle either. I bought two colors, Knockout Pout, and Demure Vixen. I painted my nails in Knockout Pout and have been loving it ever since.

(I told you I have play-doh hands)

So these mini-versions of nail polish are a definite "cheap thrill" at only $4. (and if you can paint your nails yourself, saves you even more)

I'm still trying to master the art of painting my own nails, but it's been quite a long journey. I kind of suck.

Thursday's Cheap Thrill

2011-03-10T05:00:00.000-06:00

Today's cheap thrill comes from Katie. The past couple of times I've seen her, I've asked to borrow her chapstick serveral times because I think it's so cool. It looks like an egg kind of, and when you twist off the top, it's a big ball of fabulous chapstick. If you know my friend Katie, you know that she would have a random, weird thing of chapstick, but she has me hooked on it!

The brand is eos and it's their lip balm - smooth sphere. But of course when I asked Katie for the name she responded with "it's called eos total new chapstick trend!" Katie loves setting trends.

And for around $3, it's worth every penny.

Here is the picture Katie sent me of her chapstick ball.

Enjoy!

Bachelorette Hair Part 2

2011-03-08T21:15:00.001-06:00

To continue telling you about my weekend in Dallas...

Saturday morning was Carla's bridal shower at Mallory's house. So as we were busy setting out the food and pouring the mimosas, we see Carla, her mom, her sister and her niece pull up and get out of the car. Our jaws immediately drop. Carla's hair was UNBELIEVEABLE!! I mean, Carla has beautiful hair, but we have never seen her hair done like this. I (of course) make a bee line to her as soon as she walks in the door and ask her what she has done. Her answer: Dallas' new Drybar. A place that specializes in blow-outs. No cut, no color, just simply pay $35, and they wash and style your hair. She got it done at 10:00 that morning, and it lasted until 2am when we went to bed. She said they have different styles that you can request and didn't take long at all. We were all sold.

In fact yesterday Carla texted me saying I should open up my own Drybar in Austin. So if anyone is in, let me know!! (I wish!) The next time I am in Dallas for a special event, I will definitely be making an appointment!

Here are a couple of pictures from Saturday morning...

and tonight took me a little longer to finish this post because SOMEONE wanted to help me type.

Bachelorette Hair Part 1

2011-03-07T21:30:00.000-06:00

This past weekend I headed up 35 to Dallas to celebrate Carla's upcoming wedding. I arrived on Friday afternoon to help Mallory set up for the bridal shower we were throwing Carla on Saturday morning, and then her bachelorette party was that Saturday night. Needless to say, I'm a little tired today, but I had a blast spending the weekend with some of my best friends!

Saturday afternoon, after cleaning up from the shower we had just thrown and as we were frantically getting ready to go to the hotel for Carla's lingerie shower, Melissa asked if she could borrow my curling iron after I was finished. So I left my curling iron plugged in the bathroom, and went to do my makeup. The next thing I hear is Melissa saying "Clod, why is your curling iron so much better than mine??!"

I don't know what it is about my T3 Curling Iron, but it is amazing. When I lived with Lauren, the majority of the time, I could find my curling iron in her room, and when I moved out, she had to bite the bullet and buy one herself because she loved it so much.

It makes curling my hair super easy, and my curls seem to last longer than they would with any other curling iron I've tried.

Here is a picture of Katie and myself from dinner on Saturday night - hours after I had curled my hair, and it's still holding up pretty well!

Thursday's Cheap Thrill

2011-03-03T10:09:00.000-06:00

My facial moisturizers are something I have always spent some money on. In my naive mind, I thought the more I spend, the better the product, right?? Well I am slowly learning this is not the case. When I ran out of my Bobbi Brown Face Base that I use as my night cream, I decided I would find a less expensive replacement.

The one I settled on was Aveeno's SMART ESSENTIALS Nighttime Moisture Infusion. I actually have been loving this! It has a citrus smell and does a pretty good job keeping my dry skin moisturized. Considering it is almost 1/4 the cost of the Bobbi Brown Face Base, it is a pretty good deal!

And happy birthday dad! Not that he will see this, or even knows what a blog is, but it's his big 5-5, so I thought it deserved a shout out.

it truly "Does It All"

2011-02-28T22:18:00.000-06:00

I've tried for years. I have tried to find a cheaper version of this hairspray, but I just cannot find something that I love as much as Bumble & Bumble's Does It All Spray. It's magic in a bottle.

Growing up the only thing I liked about hair spray, was the way it reminded me of my grandma's bathroom. (She used Shaper Hairspray and to this day I love the smell because I picture myself sitting on the bathroom counter as my grandma was getting ready) But I never used hairspray myself because it made my hair feel gross and sticky.

In high school, I started using Bumble & Bumble's hair spray whenever I would curl my hair because it didn't feel sticky, held my curls, and smelled fabulous. Now I use it as a finishing spray almost everyday, and it's light enough to not weigh my hair down, but strong enough to do the job. Every other hair spray that I have tried, makes my hair feel "crunchy" and I like to be able mess with or change my hair during the day, and using regular hair spray wouldn't let me.

So if you have a hair spray that you love - please let me know! I'm always willing to try something new, it just has big shoes to fill in the department.

Thursday's Cheap Thrill

2011-02-24T00:30:00.006-06:00

Maybe I got this habit from my cousin Lauren, but I cannot go to bed without taking a bath. It's become a nightly ritual that some people make fun of, but I can't stand the feeling of going to bed dirty. I've spent quite a bit of money of bubble baths in the past, but with my new resolution to save money, I set out to find a less expensive one that I like. I like the Johnson's Baby BedTime Bath, but I found one that I like even better. My favorite scent is gardenia, (I get that from my grandma) and I found Bodycology's white gardenia shower gel & foaming bath at Target. I think it was $3.99 and it smells fabulous.

Enjoy!

Sonicare for your face

2011-02-22T20:39:00.005-06:00

I have used a Sonicare toothbrush for about 6 years, and wouldn't dream about going back to a regular toothbrush. In fact, the couple times I've used a plain toothbrush I don't think it cleans as well. I have now become this way about cleaning my face. I talked about the Clarisonic Brush awhile ago, but only because of the pink color. That following Christmas, I received one and oh my goodness, it is amazing. Not to toot my own horn, but I receive compliments on my skin pretty often, and when they ask what I do, all I say is SPF everyday, and my Clarisonic Brush. I've had a handful of friends buy one since then, and all of them can say they see an improvement in their skin. This brush uses Sonicare technology and it takes about a minute to clean your whole face. I am naturally blessed in the fact that I've never had REALLY problematic skin, but I would have my regular breakouts. I cannot remember the last time I had a blemish on my face, and I attribute it all to this brush.

I know it's not a cheap investment at $195, but it is something you will use for years, and once you start using it, you won't want to go back.

Anyone else out there have one and love it too??

and something completely unrelated - Mr. Charlie got a new haircut and is feeling quite dapper. (when I got him, he looked like he had been cut with a weed wacker, so he is a work in progress right now)

Thursday's Cheap Thrill

2011-02-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today, I"m going to let PW (the Pioneer Woman) tell you about a product that has been in my possession for quite some time. (and I'm not embarrassed about it)

Enjoy!

Link to PW's blog post

Eyes on Kappa

2011-02-13T21:49:00.004-06:00

I admit - I miss college. My brother has always told me I was an idiot for finishing in 4 years and not stretching it longer. I now agree with him. So any chance I get to pretend like I'm back at Baylor, I take.

This past weekend I went to Waco with Katie and Mallory, two of my old roomies from college for Kappa initiation. Mallory's little sister was getting initiated, so we went to surprise her sister. We arrived in Waco in time to go to a late dinner, and had the full intention of pretending like we were back in college and go out afterwards. However, that did not happen. After dinner, we were extremely tired, so we drove around Baylor and laughed at all of the old memories we remembered, then went back to the hotel since we could barely keep our eyes open.

We had been joking all night about how old we felt, and Mallory started to complain about her non-existent wrinkles around her eyes. So that led to the discussion about skincare and how we are now taking much better care of our skin since college. I then asked them whether or not they used an eye cream, and both said they don't, and haven't found one they like since their eyes tend to be sensitive. I introduced them to the only eye cream I have found that does not make my eyes burn, and genuinely makes my eyes feel moisturized. It's Clinique All About Eyes - Rich.

I'm normally not a huge Clinique fan, but I have tried so many eye creams, and this is the only I have found that works really well. I am on my 3rd bottle of this stuff, and haven't gone a day without it in over a year.

If you have sensitive eyes, this eye cream is really great. It lasts for a long time, and it's only $29, which isn't too bad for a decent eye cream.

I guess it's a clear sign that we are getting older when our conversations now consist of skincare and age prevention, but with these girls, every conversation is hysterical, no matter what the topic.

Thursday's Cheap Thrill

2011-02-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

Today's cheap thrill is my favorite hand soap. Kind of random, I know. Many of you know the Mrs. Meyer's brand of cleaning products, and probably have used their hand soap in either the lavender scent in your bathroom or lemon verbena scent in the kitchen. Well I have a different scent that I love. It's their honeysuckle hand soap. I love the smell of honeysuckle, and this soap smells really clean, and it doesn't dry out your hands. (which can be a problem in these winter months) It's only $3.99, and I found it at Target. (I have yet to see this scent anywhere else) I just hope they come out with other things in this scent soon!

Ruthie Hart's Wedding

2011-02-06T19:54:00.002-06:00

On Saturday I had the privilege of doing Ruthie Fanning's (now Hart) makeup for her big day. Ruthie is the younger sister of my dear friend Cori, who got married just a year and a half ago. I've known their family for years, and it was a blast getting to hang out with them all weekend!

Ruthie wanted dramatic, sexy eyes, and she was more than pleased! She is a BEAUTIFUL girl so it wasn't hard to make her look glamorous for her big day!

Here are a few pictures from getting ready, to the wedding itself.

Thanks Ruthie for letting me be apart of your special day!

Thursday's Cheap Thrill

2011-02-03T06:00:00.003-06:00

It is no secret that I highlight my hair. I've been doing it since 8th grade, and have no plans to stop. BUT - this has wrecked havoc on my hair and continues to make it extremely dry. For years my hair dresser would tell me that I need to be using a deep conditioning treatment. The first one I got was Bumble & Bumble's DEEEP conditioner, and of course it was amazing. However, I went through it so quickly that I had a hard time justifying buying it again, so my hair went back to feeling like straw.

I finally was sick of my dry hair this summer (all of the direct sun from laying out was not helping my hair too much either) so I decided to do some research for a new deep conditioning treatment. And I am happy to report that I found a great one, AND it's at your grocery store. Loreal EverPure Moisture Deep Restorative Masque does the trick.

My hair dresser even told me that my hair is in better shape! I know my hair would be much healthier if I wouldn't basically put bleach on it every 8 weeks, but this at least helps to lessen the damage. :)

my little helper

2011-01-31T20:17:00.002-06:00

This is what I see every morning when I'm getting ready for work

Meet Mr. Charlie. Because of him, it now takes me 3 times as long to get ready. He likes to be picked up and hugged frequently.

Thursday's Cheap Thrill

2011-01-27T20:16:00.001-06:00

I know that many of the things I talk about or recommend can be a little on the expensive side. But many things that I use on a daily basis are your average drugstore products. So on Thursdays, I will be letting you know some of my favorites.

When I first started this blog, I talked about dry shampoo and many mornings it saves me from having to wash my hair. Even though the Oscar Blandi dry shampoo is fabulous, I have found a MUCH cheaper version that honestly works just as well.

I bought Tresemme's dry shampoo a few months ago, and I honestly use it all the time. It turns out, I wasn't the only one loving it, some of my friends were already using it when I told them about it. So this might be old news to some of you, but to the others, this stuff is a must have, especially if you don't like washing your hair everyday.

Another perk is that it adds great volume to your hair!

Jen's Allure

2011-01-25T19:56:00.001-06:00

I picked up February's Allure last week because of just how stunning Jen Aniston looks on the cover. I then went online and saw her photo shoot she did for them, and I am loving her hair color, and the nude lips she is sporting. Her smoky eyes are equally as fabulous and I will probably be using this as my inspiration the next time I am playing around with my makeup. (which is quite often if you're wondering)

and having those fiercely blue eyes does not hurt either.

Jen's photo shoot pictures

Twirling into 2011

2011-01-24T21:34:00.001-06:00

Santa delivered this little surprise in my stocking this year, and I must say, I am absolutely loving it! I have been loving my Jo Malone - Honeysuckle & Jasmine, but this scent is a welcome change and I have received several compliments since I started wearing it. I tried it on one day while out shopping with my mom, and I guess she kept catching me sniff my wrist over and over, and realized how much I liked it.

My grandma wore the old Kate Spade perfume and I always thought it smelled so good, and I am a huge Kate Spade fan in the first place, so it makes sense that I would love this perfume.

Next time you are in the hunt for a new scent, try this one out and see what you think!

Black Pearl

2011-01-20T20:34:00.002-06:00

I have always been a little self conscious about having dark nail polish on my fingernails. It might be the fact that a nail lady once told me that "hand too fat for color" when I asked her to paint them OPI's "Lincoln Park After Dark." I have been told many times that I have "play-doh" hands and my ring size is several sizes larger than most of my friends. BUT - this hasn't stopped me from loving Chanel's new "Black Pearl" nail polish.

I spotted this nail polish a couple of weeks ago when I was in Nordstrom, and then it started popping up in a couple of magazines, and I decided that I had to give it a try. It's unlike any other color I've tried. In some lights it's grey, some lights it is kind of green, and in others, it looks dark blue. I've had it on my nails for exactly a week, and I can't tell you how many compliments I have gotten.

When I showed Lauren last week at dinner, she immediately went and got it, and sent me this pic to show just how much she liked it. These pictures don't do a great job showing the color, so I suggest taking a look at it the next time you're near a Chanel counter.

Minty Lips

2010-08-19T15:01:00.004-05:00

I went to lunch the other day with my sweet friend Carrie who recently went to San Fran and told me about a new cosmetics line/shop she found out there called LUSH Cosmetics Since she is so thoughtful and fabulous, she bought me her favorite product that she found. The new product that she introduced me to is a lip scrub called Mint Julips. It smells like a Junior Mint and you rub a little bit on your lips, rub your lips together and it actually tastes like a Junior Mint!! Plus -it actually softens your lips pretty well. I just hope I don't go through this whole jar in a week b/c it's kind of addicting! Now, they don't sell this stuff in Austin - but obviously you can order it online - and I would highly suggest that b/b you would be missing out.

Thank you so much Carrie for my San Fran souvenir!

Katie's Wedding

2010-06-09T10:51:00.007-05:00

This past weekend was my friend Katie's wedding in Arlington, TX. Katie asked me to do the makeup for her and her bridesmaids and it was a blast! Although Katie was concerned about me putting too much makeup on her since she's not a fan of a ton of makeup (probably b/c she doesn't really need it!) but she was quite happy with the end result. :) here are a few pictures from the weekend. Congrats Katie and Jordan!!

coming attractions

2010-05-21T08:47:00.003-05:00

Sorry for being MIA lately, but I've got a new project in the works. Thanks to Sarah, I will be coming out with a series of "how-to" videos, and considering that Sarah & Lauren will be my test bunnies, I'm sure they will be quite entertaining!! :) If you have any suggestions or things you would like us to do, please let me know!!

Happy Friday!

Brighten Up Your Day

2010-03-11T16:23:00.003-06:00

So the weather is FINALLY starting to come around and it is absolutely B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. outside right now in Austin... so when I was on Bobbi Brown's website today, I noticed that they have announced a new skin care line, and one product stuck out to me as a perfect remedy for all of the outdoor activities I'm sure you are now taking part of.

It's called Brightening SPF 50 UV Protective Face Base and is part of their new "Brightening skin care" line. If you have ever used their regular "Face Base" you will know that this stuff is amaaaazing, but my only problem has been the lack of SPF in it. Well this solves the problem. I know SPF 50 seems like a high number, but honestly, having SPF 50 on your face daily will save you quite a few wrinkles in the future, or help prevent new ones from coming in. :)

Color Care

2009-12-14T15:45:00.008-06:00

Unless you were blessed with fabulous, beautiful colored hair, I'm guessing your hair color is not 100% natural. Whether your color is from a box, or you drop some major cash with your hair stylist/life coach Phillipe, there are certain products you can use to make your color last longer and stay brighter. Like I've told you before, I have colored my hair since I was 14, so I have absolutely NO idea what my natural hair color is... and I'm saying that it's still blonde (just a very dark shade of blonde) :) but I have tried SEVERAL products out there, and here are a few of my favorites.

First of all, starting with a good shampoo/conditioner...

Lately, I've been using Pureology shampoo and conditioner. This entire line is meant for colored hair and have a few different types, whether you want a volumizing or some serious hydration. Since I tend to have fine/flat hair, I like to use volumizing products, but most volumizing shampoos aren't meant for colored hair (this is why I love this line)

From the grocery store, I really like L'Oreal's EverPure line... It's not expensive and I think it also works really well.

For the majority of shampoos and conditioners, always read to find if it says "safe for colored-treated hair" if it doesn't, it might not be the best choice.

One product that I have used since I was a freshman @ Baylor, is Bumble and Bumble's color support conditioner. I use it about 2-3 times a week and I can tell a difference when I don't use it. I use the one for 'cool blondes'

The last product I want to tell you about has become an every day necesssity for me. I put it on right before I blow-dry my hair and it makes blow-drying a breeze! and it smells really good which is a plus in my book. It's from Kerastase and it's their Chroma Thermique.
Long live your color!! :)

Recent Sephora trip

2009-10-07T11:40:00.005-05:00

Last Friday I took the afternoon off and ran some errands with Grandma. She needed to go to Sephora to get some new lotion and I am ALWAYS willing to make a Sephora run with her. While I can spend hours upon hours in that place, I know most can't. I ended up coming away with 2 things that I'm growing quite fond of.

First, I have always been a big Bliss fan, and have used their fabulous foaming face wash before and loved it. They also used to make a body wash called Mammoth Minty Body Wash" or something like that, and I almost cried when they discontinued it. I'm not kidding. It was the only body wash I used for like 4 years. Well anyways, they just came out with a new body wash, and it's the best of both worlds! It's Fabulous Foaming BODY Wash. It smells like my old face wash, and has some exfoliate beads in there as well. AND it's only $18 for a huge bottle. They have more scents, but this one was my favorite.

The other thing I got was a new lip pencil. It's NARS and it's their Velvet Matte Lip Pencil and I got in it "Roman Holiday" which is very pink, but I'm definitely digging it for my "transition" color from Summer to Fall. (the picture is clearly not the color I got)
So all in all, it was a success of a trip. Thanks grams!

Oct = PINK

2009-10-02T10:39:00.003-05:00

well not only do I love October b/c of the cooler weather and that the holiday season is just around the corner, but also b/c everything I love and use comes out with a pink version this month! Yes, it's breast cancer awareness month and this year it seems to hit home more than ever. My grandma survived her (by the grace of God) small battle earlier this year. But I also lost my dear friend Sara not even two weeks ago. (the story is amazing and inspiring and if you have the time, please read their blog http://bandssullivan.blogspot.com/) So I think it is amazing that we have a month dedicated to bringing awareness to something that affects so many women in our lives.

So my favorite BCA product thus far is from Bobbi Brown. It's a creamy lip color along with a shimmery lip balm.

I'm also wanting to invest in this little piece of heaven. From what I've heard, it transforms your skin... maybe a Christmas idea (hint hint) :)

what are your favorite "Pink" things??

head over to http://oursolepurpose.blogspot.com/2009/10/retail-therapy.html for more ideas!!

Hair History

2009-08-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

One thing that I find very entertaining about looking through old photos, is hair. Laughing and making fun, and the "what was I thinking" that seems to come to mind is all part of the fun. So I thought I would walk you down my "hair history" and you can share in my giggles I have about some of these pictures!

For as long as I can remember, my mom always made sure my hair was "done." Most of the time that involved some sort of curlers, like the soft pinks ones you sleep in, hot rollers, curling irons, you name it, I've had it on my head. Then in elementary school, I had my "perm" phase, which I L.O.V.E.D. at the time, and thought I looked gooooooood.

I chopped it off in middle school, and then started on a path to which you can never return: coloring your hair. My mom let me get my hair highlighted in 8th grade, and I have never known what my natural color is since then.

and I have definitely had my bangs phase... quite a few times in my life

and my first experience with a Chi was a disaster! I looked like I had stuck my finger in an electric socket. (I can't seem to find that picture....)

I've gone really short....

and really long....

I even took the plunge and went dark a few times (which never turned out quite right)

but I always seem to come around to my bright blonde and this is what I've been sporting lately...

Do you have a funny hair history?? or is yours kind of boring like mine??

Plum Perfect

2009-07-24T13:07:00.006-05:00

okay, the title is a shout out to Katie, who used to have to wear purple EVERY DAY at her job, but little did she know just how BIG purple is this fall! I know it's hard to think about wearing sweaters, coats, or even pants when it's 104 outside, but that doesn't mean that everyone's fall line isn't on its way to stores. Not only do I love the color purple for clothes, but I'm a BIG fan of it on eyes. So I'm going to give you a few of my favs.

JCrew:

Anthropologie:

like I said, I also love eyes done in purple and some of my favorite purple staples:

LC's darker side

2009-06-26T13:02:00.003-05:00

thoughts?? I'm kind of digging it. And I've always been a fan of her dirty blonde hair...

from Guava to Jasmine

2009-06-22T15:45:00.003-05:00

so awhile ago, I told you that one of my all time favorite lotions was Korres body butter in Guava (at the time, it was their only scent besides yogurt)

well during a recent trip to Sephora, I noticed that they now have many different scents of this fabulous lotion, and my NEW favorite scent is the Jasmine. Unlike the Guava, this scent is much lighter, but still gives the great, intense moisture that is a must right now when getting out of a day of sun.

SO, if you are in the market for a new lotion, this is my suggestion.

Ha-llelujah for Bra-llelujah!

2009-05-21T08:37:00.003-05:00

I know this maybe stepping outside the lines of "beauty and product ideas" but to me, it's a beauty issue, so why not.

So last night I went to Neimans to return a dress... (b/c the beautiful, red Marc Jacobs dress just wasn't necessary when I'm down to double digits in my bank account) On a high from doing my good deed and feeling good about myself, I decide that I can finally treat myself to a decent bra. I mean, get fitted, measured, etc... and come away with a bra that I never want to take off my body. Well, mission accomplished.

Let me back up even more. To start off, I am a HUGE Spanx fan. I've used them for years, and think they are a direct gift from God. So awhile ago, when I saw that Spanx came out with a bra, I knew it had to be good.

So last night, the Spanx bra, "Bra-llelujah" was the first bra I tried on, and ladies, I've never been so in love with a bra, and it's the bra I ended up buying. Even as I'm typing this, it feels like I'm not even wearing a bra. No pulling, tugging, nothing. It snaps in the front, making the back feel like I just have on a smooth, stretchy undershirt. There are no bumps, rolls, bra straps digging into my shoulders. It's amaaaazing. There is one downside, they only go up to a size D, which I know for some is N.O.T. an issue, but for some I know it is.

At $62 it's on the pricey side. But for me, who has problems finding well-fitting bras, it is worth the $$.

I found mine @ Neimans, but any place that carries Spanx should carry these bras as well.. It also comes in racerback for some variety.

a new way to brighten your day

2009-05-18T10:36:00.003-05:00

I can't believe I haven't posted about this, considering it's one of my staples, but this morning I was reminding about what a little blessing this pot is. One thing about my face that I'm self-conscious of (besides my face shape in general) are dark circles under my eyes. There are so many products out there, but some take some time to put on, and can look cakey, which is a no-go for me. So quite awhile ago, I started using Bobbi's Eye Brightener, and have used it literally every day since. I'm hooked! It just takes a dab, and I just use my middle or ring finger, and dab it under my eyes and it makes a world of difference!!

speaking of staples, I think I will start a "best of" series which will includes all of my staples and must haves...

Pedi Must

2009-05-04T10:05:00.006-05:00

So yesterday I went to get a pedicure b/c my toes were absolutely terrible, and beyond repair. (but let's admit, it really doesn't take much to convince me to go get a mani/pedi) I love Spring/Summer because bright pink is my favorite, and lately my go-to color has been OPI "feelin hot hot hot" but the place I went didn't have it, so I picked an Essie nail polish, and I must say, I think it's my favorite pink that I have EVER used! It's called "Pansy" So the next time you go for a mani/pedi.. I HIGHLY suggest this color!!

moisture maven

2009-04-16T10:00:00.008-05:00

One thing that I take pride in, is the fact that I have religiously worn moisturizer with SPF on my face everyday since I was 17. I started with a MAC moisturizer that I bought after getting my makeup done for homecoming, and have since tried almost every moisturizer out there. From Neutrogena to Chanel, I've definitely had my favs. but the brand I've been most loyal to would have to be Kiehls. I've been a huge fan of this cream for about a year now, but before that, I've just been using the lotion version, which is just not a moisturizing, but fabulous as well.
Lauren introduced this to me years ago, and it has always been fabulous, but when I was running out of my current supply, I had an itch to try something new.

Going along with my current goal of being a more thrifty shopper, I decided I would try to find a less-expensive moisturizer. Since Sephora has one of my favorite body lotions, I decided to try their face lotions, and I must say, I was impressed!! Not only is it just $20 for the lotion, I think it feels amaaazing. They have 3 versions for Dry, Normal, and Combo skin. and have moisturizing cream, and then moisturizing cream with SPF. I bought both, in Combo skin, one for night, and one for the morning... and I am loving both. I think it's a great value... and I might have found my new favorite moisturizer.

scent of summer

2009-04-15T10:02:00.003-05:00

I discovered this scent I believe my junior or senior year of high school, and I have remained a loyal fan ever since. Maybe the fact that this scent is the closest thing to the beach that I've had in quite awhile is the reason... but this scent is the essence of summer. It's Beach from Bobbi Brown... I'm sure you have all smelled it/used it at some point, but I thought I would just remind everyone of what a fabulous summer scent it is.

Minty Fresh

2009-04-08T14:13:00.002-05:00

Fresh breath has always been a big thing to me. I remember when I was little I would make people check my breath before I went somewhere, scared to death that my breath would be less than minty fresh. Weird, I know. I love brushing my teeth, but hate that 10 minutes after, they feel dirty again, or at least the "clean" feeling is long gone. Well this past summer, my old roomie, Carla (who is in dental school, so I think she knows what she's talking about) introduced me to this toothpaste. Not only does it do the trick, it's the only toothpaste that I feel TOTALLY eliminates bad breath germs. It's pretty strong, and can take some getting used to. I use the whitening one. But when I tried switching back to another toothpaste, I could totally tell the difference, and went back to this asap. So thank you sweet Carla for being my go-to toothpaste guru :)

LC's new look

2009-04-07T13:05:00.006-05:00

Like most of you, the highlight of my day yesterday was the return of "The Hills" and hours were spent watching the previous episodes and then the 2 (how great is that??!!) new episodes. Of course there were many memorable moments, like where Spencer went psycho and attacked Cameron in the bar (am I the only one who busted out laughing when this happened??) Heidi sneaking onto Lauren's party boat, and of course our boy Brody making a special appearance.. but besides Heidi's even blonder locks, one thing kind of took me by surprise. Lauren's dark red lips at her birthday party.

Besides from her being a little wasty-face, I just don't think this is her best look. Don't get me wrong, I am all about the red lips right now, but I just don't think this is the right shade for her.. is it just me?? Let me know what you think of Lauren's new look....

Teddy's Body Conditioner

2009-04-06T10:46:00.003-05:00

Lauren introduced me to Ted Gibson (or as we like to call him, either Teddy or Theodore) awhile ago, and I have been a big fan of his shampoo/conditioner and esp his hair spray... but this is something of his that I've never seen before, and I'm thinking it is equally as fabulous... It's his body shampoo/conditioners... basically, his body wash, and in shower body moisturizer. I'm a huge fan of in shower moisturizers, esp in the morning, when I sometimes don't have time to lather on the lotion. So I found these at Sephora, but can only find then online, but, they are on sale! (always a plus) Thank you Teddy!!

Cherry Blossom

2009-04-01T14:41:00.004-05:00

Now that it is officially April, it's normally time to retire all of your dark lips and nail colors, and move onto all of the beautiful, bright, Spring colors. Except this Spring is a little different. I've been reading, hearing and seeing a lot in the past couple of months about how red lips are becoming the new Spring color... and I thought that will be a trend I will NOT take part in.. but the more I've seen it, the more I love it. It's not the matte, dark red that most do for Winter, it's more of a shiny, juicy, glossy type that almost appear see-through. It's a very bright, cherry red that is surprisingly flattering. So on Saturday, while at the Domain's "Fashion Now" event, Lauren and I went early on the quest of finding the perfect "Spring Red" and I must say, we did a great job. After trying many, we ended up both getting this Chanel lip gloss...

The color we got was Cherry Blossom... and it is amazing. Lauren and I both received compliments on it, and Lindsey and Sarah both tried it on, and looked fabulous. My Spring/Summer look is going to be a great tan, mascara, and this lip gloss... what could be easier?! I seriously recommend EVERYONE try this.. and if you don't think it looks great on you, let me know, and we can find you YOUR Spring Red...

B&P beliefs

2009-03-20T14:17:00.003-05:00

As girls, we all have our individual beliefs and ideas about what beauty is and what certain things can make us feel like we're unstoppable, and what things make us feel like not even getting out of bed. So I thought I would share with you MY personal beauty and product beliefs...

a little sun on your face can be the best makeup you could ever put on.
Crest whitestrips are a fabulous invention
changing your blush color with the season is a must, and I often blend them together during the "transition" time (like right now from Winter to Spring)
accepting beauty marks or spots boosts confidence and makes you even more beautiful. (I have one on the corner of my chin, and I always asked my mom to let me get it removed, and she said that one day I would appreciate it, she was right)
you should never look like a completely different person when your makeup is on vs. when you don't have any on. makeup is meant to enhance your features, not hide them
taking good care of your skin while you're young is one of the smartest things you can do. (SPF daily)
never go to bed without washing your face
indulging in a really expensive, unnecessary product (like bubble bath, a candle, lip gloss...) can be very rewarding, and help put you in a better mood
drink tons of water everyday... i don't think there is a magic number of how much you should drink, but it really is one of the best things you can do for your body
maximize your assets (big eyes, beautiful complexion, etc...) and don't worry about your flaws. Chances are you are the only one who notices them
have a lip gloss or lipstick that you use as your secret weapon, the one where you KNOW you look good with it on. :)
a good mani/pedi is enough to erase any bad day
just because something is in style at the moment, does NOT mean it something you should do. know which looks are flattering and which aren't.
put lotion on every night before you go to bed, not only does this make your sheets smell amazing, you will notice how well your skin responds to this
classic looks are always in style

calling all BB fans

2009-03-17T16:06:00.003-05:00

Bobbi Brown is having a GREAT deal online right now... from now until March 19th, anything you order from their website is 25% off... so if you are out of some of your BB essentials, or have been wanting to try something new from their Platinum collection... either way, it's a pretty good deal! Just click on the link on the right side of my blog and it will take you there.... happy shopping!

just when I was about to crack...

2009-03-11T13:13:00.003-05:00

This past week, I've been considering breaking down and going to a tanning bed for a few times. You know, just to get that "first burn" over with and start working on my base tan. I had vowed to myself that I would never do this after I graduated college, but I couldn't handle it anymore... until I came upon this article, and instantly, my pale skin and I decided that I can wait a few more weeks and wait for the glorious, natural sunlight....

This article tells the story of a man who literally CAUGHT ON FIRE while in a tanning bed... no thank you... I love being tan, but not that much!

then I see this... SPF 100??!! who in the world would need that? What's the point of even being outside?? (I do understand that some people do burn very easily, and this product might actually be a saving grace to them, so I don't mean to poke fun... that's just some pretty intense suncreen!!)

hello sun, here I am!!

2009-03-04T14:57:00.000-06:00

With it now officially being March, and Spring is literally just around the corner... it is time to start preparing for the months ahead... and that means getting ready for the sun! I have been slightly obsessed with the sun, beach and everything that comes with it for as long as i can remember... I blame my cousin/sister Lauren for this... b/c growing up, anything she did, I HAD to do, and this girl loves her sun!! :) but as we are all getting older, and have to be more proactive when it comes to skin care, I think we all need to read the following article and actually be safe when it comes to sun exposure... even though, I admit, I have totally been "that girl" with her bottle of tanning oil (or even baby oil, gasp! I know) who loves to get fried, but I don't know if my skin can take it anymore!!

http://www.skincancer.org/sunscreens-explained.html

mascara

2009-02-26T14:07:00.002-06:00

It's time for me to buy new mascara.. which is an everyday staple for me. but I want to try something different. I know everyone has their own personal favorite mascara, so please let me know what yours is! I need your help!

BB update

2009-02-24T10:19:00.003-06:00

okay, well Bobbi Brown finally has the new shimmer brick up on their website... so you don't have to go to NM to get it, it will be available anywhere where they sell BB. It's called the "Platinum Pink" Shimmer brick... once again, I will have to try this out before I give my seal of approval :)

my next purchase

2009-02-23T12:28:00.006-06:00

So as I'm browsing around today... I stumble upon this from NM... I normally check for makeup updates from bobbibrowncosmetics.com... but for some reason I was looking at makeup on NM... and noticed they had a limited edition Shimmer Brick

Now this has some strange colors for your cheeks, but also some fabulous eye colors (at least that's my opinion... but I would have to try it first... who knows) and it appears that it could become my spring and summer staple.. but I will have to get back to you on that one. I need to wait until the first of the month when I get paid, but my first stop will be to NM to buy this!!!

there is also Bobbi's Exclusive Runway Kit... which looks fun as well. I might have to decide which one to get... but both are worth looking into!

easing your nails into Spring

2009-02-18T16:42:00.001-06:00

I think the article says it all... I have this nail color on my toes right now and I love it!!

too easy

2009-02-18T13:36:00.003-06:00

I know that I get lazy when it comes to putting on makeup in the morning, and I think someone had that in mind when they created this...

but who the heck wants zebra eyes at 7:15 in the morning? I found these at Sephora, they are from a brand called ColorOn... and it's press on eyeshadow. The idea sounds fabulous... but 99% of the time I'm guessing they don't quite work as well as you would think. They have all different colors and packages, but they come out to $5 per application... which is pretty expensive... unless you use so much eyeshadow that it is part of your weekly purchases... I would guess that you are better off taking an extra 5 minutes and doing it yourself than to have zebra eyes for $5 a day. It's a fun idea though... if anyone out there has actually used these things before... please let me know! But at this point, it seems too easy (and a little weird) for me.

How Olivia stays tan

2009-02-16T13:36:00.003-06:00

Continuing on my paleness streak... I stumbled upon this article about how the girls from The City stay tan... and hello, if Olivia uses it... then it's good enough for me! It's about a self-tanner that they use...

It's called Model Tan... and although I've never been big on self tanners... I think I might have to give this a try... or if you have used this... please let me know what you thought!

Here's the website

back from the dead

2009-02-03T08:33:00.003-06:00

hello world. sorry I have been away so long. But 2009 has started off as a very busy year for me! But now that we are in the dead of winter, I'd thought I would share with you one of my secrets for dealing with the paleness. This is the first fall/winter that I have not put myself in a tanning bed. I know for most of you, you would think that I am acting like a 19 year old girl and who the heck cares if you are slightly more pale than normal. Well ladies, I'm not going to lie, I have been having some issues with my newly discovered paleness. For the first time in about 9 years, I do not have tan lines and I think I look like I am part of the Cullen family from Twilight.

But I am not the person that will throw a bunch of bronzer on and have my face 17 shades darker than the rest of my body. This looks muddy to me, and is one of my biggest irritations when it comes to makeup flaws. There is an easy way to give your face a "glow" that doesn't make you look fake or that you are actually trying to make yourself look tan. I'm just talking about helping you to not look dead. (like I do now when I don't have anything on my face)

This product I have been using for years, and my cousin Lauren has been an avid follower as well. It's Chanel and it's called Sheer Brilliance. I don't think it actually adds color, but it just warms your skin up. What I like to do is add a dot of this to my tinted moisturizer. A little bit goes A LONG way, and if you use too much, you are going to look oily. Which is also why I suggest using it under your powder for the most natural look.

Also remember, when your skin is lighter or darker than usual, you are probably going to need to change up your blush color as well... what looks good at the beach is not going to be the same color you wear in the dead of winter....

My Holiday De-Stressor

2008-12-30T10:59:00.002-06:00

This is very unlike me, but I am so happy that the holidays are almost over. For some reason this year, I feel like it's been unusually stressful. This might be that it's my first year ever to not have a Christmas break, but with the overload of family time, gift buying, and trying to be somewhat creative/thoughtful with gifts, decorating, Christmas parties (which I love) I'm just done!

When I starting thinking what relaxes me the most, of course the first thing that comes to mind is taking a bath. Anyone who has ever lived with me, knows that I take a bath every single night before going to bed. I know to some, this is overkill and not necessary, but I happen to think it is very necessary.

There are so many different kinds of bubble baths, bath salts, etc... and I know everyone has their own preference, so I thought I would share some of my favorites.

My staple bath product is just Aveeno Stress Relief Foaming Bath. It's cheap, smells fabulous, and I've been using it for years. I like lavender smelling stuff right before bed, so that's why I'm drawn to this. This is my backup grocery store brand product that I love as well. It's Neutrogena Relaxing Shower & Bath Gel. Once again, it smells like lavender, so great right before bed. Johnson's Bedtime Bath is also wonderful.

Philosophy makes these fun, all in one shower gels, that are bubble bath, shower gel and shampoo. They come in so many fun scents, and my favorite right now is Bubbly, which smells like champagne. So whatever mood you are in, they have a bubble bath to match. I even got some of my friends these in scents like Mimosa and Strawberry Daiquiri for their 21st birthdays.

So even if you don't enjoy baths as much as I do, you can still enjoy these products every once in awhile... or after a stressful Holiday season :)

brush essentials

2008-12-17T15:32:00.002-06:00

I know that for many of you, you can probably think of about 1000 things you would rather spend your money on than nice makeup brushes. After all, they can be expensive, and why not just use the brushes that come in your compact, right? WRONG!! I'm not saying that you have to have like 30 brushes in your collection (but please don't judge those that do :) but there are a few essentials that every girl should have in her makeup bag (or in their cute brush jar on their bathroom counter)

#1 - a blush brush. Those little plastic brushes that come in some grocery store brand blushes, should be burned. They are WAY too small, and end up leaving a streak of blush, instead of properly distributing it. My blush brush is from Stila, and I've had it for years, the only place I think you can find it is online. But the blush brush I love, and want to buy in the near future is Bobbi Brown.

#2 - an all-over eyeshadow brush. This is an eyeshadow brush that was my first brush to buy. I know so many girls who have this brush as their staple eyeshadow brush. It's from Stila, is best used when applying eyeshadow all over the eyelid. Since many girls only use one shade of eyeshadow, or at least have a shade that they apply all over, this brush can be used and appreciated by all.

#3 - a tapered blending brush. this one I get from MAC. I use this for the crease of my eyes, and pretty much use it every day. It is wonderful, and for anyone who uses more than one eyeshadow at a time, will benefit from this brush.

There are SO many more brushes that I have, use, and love, but if you are starting out, or only need the basics, then I would start with these.

Also, in general, I think MAC has the best selection of brushes, and if you can think of a brush you need, they would more than likely have it.

Brushes are an investment, and should be treated as such. You should clean your brushes regularly, especially ones that are used with creamy products (like my eyeliner brush) A cheap way to wash your brushes is with baby shampoo, and just lay them out to dry over night.

The Great Shampoo Debate

2008-12-09T11:35:00.003-06:00

For probably about six years now, I have been an avid Bumble & Bumble fan. I have literally had the liter size bottles in every single type of shampoo & conditioner that they make. My all time favorite would have to be the Gentle Shampoo and Super Rich Conditioner. But it doesn't stop there, I love their styling products as well, and have probably tried all of those at some point in the past 6 years too. I feel like there are 2 types of people: those who can use "cheap" shampoo, and those who can only get their shampoo at Luxe. Unfortunately for my checking account, I fall into the last 2nd category. So I have a question, who out there has found a shampoo and/or conditioner that is so-called "cheap" that they actually like and think is just as good? Or is there such a thing? Or is there a middle ground product that you have found? Or are you like me, and only like the good stuff?? I would like to know your thoughts....

Dry Skin Staples

2008-12-03T14:44:00.000-06:00

For the last couple of months, lotion seems to be the gift of choice to both give and receive. (All starting with Lindsey's birthday) As I've gotten older, at the ripe old age of 23, my skin seems to be getting continually more dry. So of course I have my lotion staples that I have come to love. I am finally in the habit of putting lotion on nightly before I go to bed, which I recommend everyone to do, esp on your elbows, hands and knees. But I'm actually quite picky when it comes to lotion b/c I HATE feeling greasy. I know people who lather up with lavender baby oil every night, and I say more power to them, but for me, I'd be afraid I would slide right out of bed. I think this is why I have never been great about sunscreen (except on my face which i DO wear everyday) Skin care will be a whole different blog, so I won't get into it now :)

Okay, right now, I have 3 favorite lotions for 3 different times. One for night, one for in the morning before getting dressed, and the other for when your skin is killing you because it is so dry, or you spent the day in the sun. One thing that they all have in common, is that they all smell FABULOUS!!! that is a huge factor when it comes to lotion. I think most lotion lovers would agree with me there. Okay, now here are my top 3 (not in order)

Kiehl's Gardenia Hand & Body Lotion. I can't find it online, but it's a Neiman Marcus exclusive. You can ask anyone I lived with, but this lotion is amaaazing. Katie would always sneak in my room and use it because it is just that great. This is the lotion I use in the mornings. It is so light, and is easily absorbed so you can get dressed right after putting it on. This is not to say that it isn't moisturizing, because it definately is, but it is just that fabulous to be such a multi-tasker. I even use this lotion as my perfume because the smell stays with you for most of the day. For a big bottle of it, I think it runs about $30ish which is a tad on the expensive side, but once you use it, you will be hooked. That's a promise.

Korres Body Butter in Guava. This lotion is my miracle worker when it comes to dry skin. If my skin is extra parched, this is who I turn to. Lauren and I discovered this lotion a couple of years ago, and we both keep going back to it. It is a staple during our beach trips, and I think it even smells a little tropical. If your skin is so dry that you think nothing would work, then you clearly haven't tried this. For me personally, it's a little too heavy for daytime, but for nighttime, it's dreamy :)

The 3rd lotion I received for my last birthday by Lindsey. I used hers one time and she knew just how much I loved it, and thought I needed my own, and how right she was! It's from Sephora, and it's Sephora Brand Super Supreme Body Butter in beurre fondant. It's smell delightful and is the best of both worlds. It's super rich, but it suprisingly absorbs rather quickly. The scent is very light, which is nice and everyone who has tried it has fallen in love with it. So thank you Linds!

I know it sounds like I have a love affair with lotion (I promise you I don't) but take my word for it, and if you try any or all, they will become a Dry Skin Staple for you.

Eyeliner

2008-12-01T09:45:00.000-06:00

Living with 8 girls in college... I had my fair share of doing other people's makeup. Without a doubt, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, one of my friends would ask me to do her eyeliner. For some reason, eyeliner seems to be very tricky to a lot of people. Most can't seem to get it as thin as they want to, or maybe they were just lazy and knew I would do it for them :) Either way, I have gotten more practice at doing eyeliner on myself and on others than most people get in a life time.

Clearly, there are several different types of eyeliner and ways to wear it and I'm sure everyone has their preference... so I'm going to fill you in on my preference... (I have a few)

First of all, (and my cousin Lauren knows this drives me nuts b/c she is terrible about doing it) but in order to make your eyes appear bigger, more alert, etc... your eyeliner should always be thicker on top than it is on bottom. I'm not talking about a drastic difference between the two, but if your eyeliner is significantly thicker or heavier on the bottom, then it makes you look tired, and your eyes appear smaller, and it drags your eyes down. (and who would want that?) You may think that it doesn't make that big of a difference... but I promise you, you will start to notice.

For quick and easy eyeliner, I think MAC makes great eyeliner pencils. For me, having blonde hair and light eyes, I tend to stick to navys, greys, and purples when it comes to eyeliners. Some of my MAC favs are Blooz, Prussian and Navy Stain.

But as most of my friends know, I normally do not use pencils. My all time favorite eyeliner would have to be Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner. I honestly could not love this product more, but I will say, it takes some practice and patience getting use to. My favorite colors for this product are Graphite Shimmer Ink, Bronze Shimmer Ink, Violet Ink, and Sapphire Shimmer Ink. One trick that I've discovered is having the right brush. The brush you need is a tiny angle brush like this one from MAC. I know it says it is a brow brush, but you don't always have to use brushes for what they are intended for. Now this type of eyeliner can require some skill, and maybe in the near future I can post pictures of how to do it.. I just need to find a volunteer to let me practice and take pictures of her....

Bed Head Quick Fix

2008-11-25T09:33:00.000-06:00

In trying to decide what my first post was going to be, I thought of any recent questions I've gotten lately, or maybe even my first "must have" list. But when I woke up as late as I did this morning, I realized I needed to let everyone in on one of my favorite products I've been using lately. Since I have been in the working world for a grand total of about three months, I am still getting used to this whole idea of getting up early. Not only is the getting up part hard for me, but the getting ready with hair done and makeup is slowly killing me. In college, it was throwing on whatever was on the floor, and putting on a hat and you were ready for class! So in order for this transition to go a little more smoothly, I have discovered a new hair secret.

For those of you who are lucky enough to not have to wash your hair everyday, I envy you! But for those of you who are like me, and washing your hair daily is a must, then you might enjoy this new product.

This product is by Oscar Blandi and is a "dry shampoo"

All you do is spray a decent amount into your roots, wait a minute, turn your head upside down, and shake out the excess. This isn't something to replace your normal wash and blow dry routine, but this is a fabulous way to not look like you rolled out of bed, even if you did! The plus side to this is it actually gives you a decent amount of body as well. It can be found at Sephora for $21, or in a travel size for $11.

Welcome!

2008-11-24T15:05:00.000-06:00

hello all!!

I am new to the whole blogging world, but I have been convinced by a certain Sarah Elizabeth Myers that it would be a good idea to start one since she (and many others) always ask me makeup and product advice. Some might think it a little strange and even sad that I seem to be so obsessed and knowledable about all of this, but hey, I could have worse hobbies than this right?! So my goal is to post about all of the latest and greatest out there, as well as inform everyone of new and great tips that I learn, or happen to discover myself. Also, if you have a favorite product, beauty tip, here is the place to tell~!!