Oxblood Pucker

Listening to The Flower Duet by Charlotte Church. This song reminds me of the eighth grade. My Aunt Jenn gave my mom a Charlotte Church CD at some point during my middle school years, and I remember listening to that and Nickel Creek on the way to school when we were in the trailers for eighth grade.
Missing Corey like crazy. Two more weeks to the day, guys.
    So I'm working on a new and pretty neat idea for tutorials in the future, but haven't gotten all the kinks out yet. It's the kind of thing I need some practice with, and I really just don't have the time for that at the moment (and no, before you get excited, I'm not making YouTube videos. That's something I just couldn't handle.). In the meantime, I apologetically offer a visual guide to what's on my face today.

    I finally found that ideal oxblood color for my lips. Prepare yourselves for shock and awe - it's a Revlon lipstick, not one of the lip balm stains that I'm obsessed with. The only problem with this product is that it dries and tends to look flaky - like the color is coming off in patches. I always put it over a balm, otherwise it catches on the dry patches of my lips and looks really questionable. But even then, after an hour or so it's just not quite right. I would die and go to heaven if Revlon would come out with a lip balm stain in this color because they really are my absolute favorite lip product right now. (Rimmel Show Off Lip Laquers are a close second). I'll probably wear one of them on my wedding day if I can decide on what color to use. (Also, you know, I've got to get a dress and decide on my hair, and what kind of wedding Corey and I want... There's a lot more that goes into this than I was prepared for.) Anyhoo, these are all products you've seen before here and here. Of course, the Physicians Formula is popping up again, but I have a few e.l.f. products coming in this week I'm excited to try, so perhaps next week, there'll be something new and exciting to talk about! In the meantime, check out how gorgeous that Black Cherry lipstick is, y'all. I. Can't.

 

What fabulous fall lip colors are you loving? Tell me below!

Every Day I'm Bumblin'

See what I did there? I know. It's hard to achieve this level of clever. This clevel. Sorry. I took it too far.
Listening to OH MY GOSH HOW HAVE I NOT LISTENED TO 2 OF 2 YET?! I'm sorry, JT! I have failed you!
    Last Friday at about 11:45 p.m., my good friend Hannah DMed me on Twitter. Lucky for her I was awake because Friday is Bride-Day. (I can't help it. I'm drawn into the dress shows. I still have no clue what I want for anything at my own wedding - except the groom, of course - but I love watching other women find the dress.) She said that she was going to a Sephora event for Bumble and Bumble at a salon in Brookhaven on Sunday, and did I want to come? Naturally, I squealed and whooped and typed back, very nonchalant, "Yeah, I could probably swing it," because I can be oh-so-cool when called upon. Inside - who am I kidding, I was alone in the basement - outside, I was bursting with excited energy. I must have thanked her forty times.
    I've known Hannah since the second grade when she convinced our whole class that she was allergic to m&ms - she's always been a hoot, but at the time, we didn't fully grasp her level of hilarity. Sadly, we went to different high schools and somewhat fell out of touch. Until, of course, I found her blog and started to stalk her in the not-so-healthy way. (It was super fun running into her at Target once and referring to things I'd seen in her blog from months back.) In all seriousness, her writing is really fun to read, and I highly recommend that you four or five loyal readers (how I love you) go check her out. She's doing a fun 31-Days-Of-Favorites feature for October!
    Understandably, I was super excited to spend some time with her Sunday afternoon. And at a hair and beauty event, no less! At the salon, we got a dry styling by the stylists of Salon Red, which was super fun. David did a great job giving me some extra volume - my hair isn't necessarily thick, but there's so much and it's so heavy that volume at the roots is not an easy feat to accomplish. I went in with my hair wavy (tutorial here), and he showed me just a few simple tricks to get the volume I wanted.

    First, he suggested that I simply flip my part, which is something I've been toying with recently, but I've been a left-part my whole life, and I get sort of attached to things.. He also suggested using a mousse at the roots, even once it's dry and styled, and aiming the blow dryer there first on warm, then on cool to set it. Lastly, he suggested a tousling spray and to run my hands through it, roughing it up. And look at what all that did! BAM, baby. We make an adorable pair, too. Please ignore the towel around my neck that I forgot to take off. I'm fancy, I know.
    We were pampered, fed delicious chicken salad sandwiches and hummus, given wine - which was surprisingly good for Trader Joe's (not that I've had any of their other wine to compare it to, I was just surprised regardless) - and given free product. Who can hate on that? Not me!

    Most of the Bumble and Bumble products were from their new Thickening line which I believe (but don't quote me) comes out in December. Lord knows my hair is thick enough, but I've been using some of them the last few days just to see what happens. We'll find out!

I can do a full review of any of these products if anyone is interested, just let me know in the comments! Have you tried any of these products before? What did you think?

Loose Waves

Listening to Surfin' Snoopy by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. This is just a thing I do. The slightest hint of fall and all I listen to is Vince and Ingrid.
Missing Corey. He's in the field for the next week.
    So, now that I'm in school again, I don't have much time in the morning to do my hair all purty. Normally I'm lucky if I get it dry, but I've been doing better about waking up on time, I swear. My favorite "quick-but-it-looks-like-I-spent-time-on-it" look at the moment is this loose and wavy look. I've found that if I curl all my hair towards my face and then brush it out, it lends itself to a very put together but chill wavy style. The catch is that right side. Cause technically you're not curling it under you're curling it up - supposing you're right-handed that is. Lefties do the opposite.

1.  Start with clean, dry hair. Use a heat protectant or style prep spray to avoid damaging your hair with the heat.
2. Separate your hair from the ears back and pin the top out of the way. Then using a small flat iron - preferably one with a curved edge - begin curling 1-inch sections on the left side under. (Lefties, curl the right side under.)
3. When you finish the left side (or right) move to the opposite side and curl it up.
4. Take down the top half and repeat steps one and two for your respective sides.
5. See how the curls curve toward the face? This does a lot towards preventing the look from going to 70s.

1. Note: On the right side, you curl all the hair up (or down, for Lefties)...
2. However, if you part your hair on the left and have a sort of swoopy fringe like me, curl the fringe under. (Lefties, curl it up and sort of flip it back.) If you part your hair on the right, curl your fringe up and back. (Right-parting Lefties, curl it under.)
3. Give it all a good spritz with your favorite hair spray.
4. Brush out with a brush, or tangle teaser.

    And you're all finished! See how loose and easy that looks? I love it. I know that was a lot of Lefty and Righty instructions, but it's for your own good. I don't want to leave out Lefties or give them instructions that will result in a different look. I'm here to help, yanno?

What's been your go-to style for school mornings? Tell me below!

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Products Used

• Aussie Mega Finish Hairspray
• Revlon 1" Stay Smooth Hair Straightener



Smoke Signals

Listening to the Beauty and The Beast Soundtrack.
Excited about Corey coming home tomorrow!
    I have to apologize. I was going to post my August Five Faves and a Flop today, but honestly, I have not had time to put that post together. I had a ton of reading to do this week, and I had to deep clean the basement since Corey will be here tomorrow!!! So I decided I'll post my Faves and Flop on Saturday, the actual last day of the month, and y'all will get an extra post this week!
    So. The smoky eye. Symbol of mysterious, smoldering seduction in the beauty world. But let's face it. Sometimes it's just a little too much for everyday wear. We all know how to wear it to a wedding or a night out on the town, but if you do it for your 8 am class, you look like you slept with your face in the dirt. You gotta tone it down for the daytime - here's how I do it!

1. Prep your eyes. Use a thin layer of your favorite primer.
2. Use a C-brush and a very pale golden tan on the inner half of your lids. Not too bright - the highlighting will come later.
3. Use a medium taupe on the outer half with the same type brush. Not too dark, but also not lighter than the golden tan you already used. We're just adding a slight definition to the outer halves.
4. Select a brownish-grey color, and using a crease brush, apply this to the crease and the outer-V.
5. Using a fluffy blending brush, buff out the edges and blend the brownish-grey into the taupe. They keys to a wearable day-time smoky eye are careful layering and ensuring there are no defining lines between colors.
6. Apply whatever's left on the blending brush along the outer half of your lower lids. Don't bring it all the way around like you may for a more dramatic nighttime looks. This is just a faint smoke.

1. Select a dark brown - darker than the brownish-grey from the previous step 4 - and apply that directly to the crease a clean crease brush to really define it. Blend it out.
2. Take a brown pencil eyeliner and apply that on the outer two-thirds of your lower lash line. Use the buffer on the other side of your pencil, or a dense smudge brush, and smudge it out, being sure to connect it with the color from your upper lids.
3. Use a waterproof and smudge-proof black pencil liner and line your lower waterline. Don't bring the color all the way to the inner corner, though. Just to the inner edge of your lash line. This is another way to ensure that the look is not too intense to wear everyday.
4. Apply a black gel eyeliner to your upper lash line. Keep the line thin and precise, and don't wing it out. The look is already intense enough without a wing.
5. Take a C-brush and dust your favorite highlighter on your brow bone. Be sure to select a warm-toned highlighter like a peach or golden champagne as opposed to white so the contrast between the highlight and your smoky lids isn't too drastic.
6. Use the same highlighter on your inner corners, meeting the inner edge of your lower lashes so that the highlighter illuminates the entire inner corner of your eye.

To finish up, curl your lashes, and layer on a few coats of your favorite volumizing mascara!

When will you be rocking this wearable daytime smoky eye?

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Products Used (in order of use)

• Maybelline 24-Hour Color Tattoo in Barely Branded
• Fifth shade from the top in the Physicians Formula Nude Classics Palette
• Third shade from the top in the Physicians Formula Nude Classics Palette
• e.l.f. Mineral Eye Shadow in Socialite
• Fourth shade from the bottom in the Physicians Formula Nude Classics Palette
• Covergirl Perfect Blend Pencil Crayon in Black Brown
• Rimmel Exaggerate Auto Waterproof Eye Definer in Noir
• e.l.f. Studio Cream Eye Liner in Black
• e.l.f. Mineral Eye Shadow in Elegant
• Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara in Black

The Neutral Wing

Listening to Summertime Sadness, Lana Del Rey (Cedric Gervais Remix)
Craving some Chickfila. It's about that time, folks.
    One of my favorite trends is winged eyeliner. It's been around for a while, and much to my relief it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. I used to wear it all the time with liquid black eyeliner, but I recently crossed to the gel side, and I haven't looked back. I feel like you can be so much more exact with gel than you can with liquid. That may just be me, though.
    Anyway, here's a little tutorial for a neutral winged look. Enjoy!

I start off with a base of Barely Branded, but any primer or creamy neutral base will do. Then I use a fluffy brush and apply a warm taupey brown to the crease, and blend it up past the brow bone (but not to the brows). I also pat some on the outer third for added depth. Next, I use a C-brush and swipe a shimmery champagne on the rest of my lid, blending it into the taupe on the outer corners.

Using the same shimmery champagne and the same brush, I apply a bit of it on the brow bone, but don't overdo it - it shouldn't be the center of attention here. Just a light wash. (Not pictured) I dab an extra dose in the inner corner as well. Next, using a smaller crease brush and a darker brown color, I define my crease and outer V and blend away. Then, using a matte charcoal grey, I create a fake drop-shadow from my "voluminous" lashes (ha) by taking the C-brush with the grey on just the edge, and draw a small short diagonal line down and away from the outer corner of my eye (you can see this best in the second photo of the next photoset). Marilyn Monroe was known for doing this to make her lashes appear longer and more dramatic. Just be sure it's matte, because a shimmer in a drop-shadow would defeat the purpose!

Now time for black eyeliner! Once again, I love using that e.l.f. concealer brush, but use whatever you feel comfortable with. I generally start from the middle of my pupil and work my way to the outer corner, then, starting again from the middle, fill in the rest to just before the inner corner, saving the wing for last. (If I'm not wearing liner on my waterline, I don't draw my liner all the way to the corner.) For the wing, I draw a diagonal line up and away from the lower lash line, and draw a small line from the upper lash line to meet it. Since this look is more neutral, I don't line as thick as I would for a true 40s-inspired wing look.

Finishing up! I fill in my brows and set them with brow gel, curl my lashes, slather on some mascara (do my hair from another tutorial) and I'm done!

Reasonably simple, quick, and straightforward. How do you wear your wings?

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Products Used

• Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded
• e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow in Enchanting
• e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow in Elegant
• Physicians Formula Nude Classics Palette
• e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow in Seductive
• e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner in Black
• Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Brown
• Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express Mascara in Black

The Big Girl Bow

Listening to Pusher Love Girl, JT. Don't worry, though. I still love That Girl. I'm just trying to break the streak.
In the mood for some iced tea.
    So lately I've been kind of obsessed with wearing bows. Thank Beth and her little DIY tutorial here. I made one (only I hand-sewed mine) and then fell in love and made two more. I have one big polka dot one, a medium sized red one, and a tiny black and white if I wanna just clip back my bangs (which I'm growing out, so they're driving me mental). I really want a big blue one so I can wear my hair like this. Don't judge me.
    One of my favorite ways to wear it is half up and half down, with the bow in the middle of the back of my head so it's loose. Wearing these bows, I feel that there's a fine line between looking chic and cute, and looking like a four-year-old with a giant bow on top of your head. I have enough trouble looking like I'm younger than I am; I don't need to exacerbate the problem with an ill-placed bow. So here's a tutorial for wearing The Big Girl Bow, and rocking it. (N.B. I part my hair on the left. So if you part your hair on the right, do the opposite of what I tell you for the curling process.)



Click to enlarge.

1) Brush your hair. Duh. But really, since we're using a flat iron, you do not want to flat iron tangles into your hair. They're a nightmare to deal with after that.
2) Part your hair into two sections, from the top of your ears...
3) ... to the center of the back of your head...
4) ... and twist the top section so it'll be easier to secure.
5) Take a big alligator clip (my mom used to call them that, am I the only one?)...
6) ... and clip that top section out of the way.
7) Now separate the bottom into left and right sections and our prep work is done!



Click to enlarge.

1) On the left side, take a 1-2" section (the bigger the section, the looser the curl), and curl it under with the flat iron.
2) Move slowly down the section with the flat iron on medium heat, with your wrist flipped under, like my wrist here.
3) This curls the hair towards the face.
4)Finish curling the left section then spray. I like Aussie's Mega Finish Hairspray. It's still flexible and touchable and it smells like Pez.
5) For the right side, take the same sized section, but this time flip it up and wrap the hair over. Because you're using the same hand on the opposite side, if you flipped it under, it would curl away from your face, not towards it. Bizarre, but there you go.
6) It's slightly difficult to see in this photo because my hair is dark underneath, but it's curled towards my face.
7) Finish the right side, and spray again.



Click to enlarge.

1) Now take down the top section and separate it on your part. For me it's on the left.
2) I like to curl the underneath towards my face, and the top away, so on the left, we're going to flip it up this time.
3) ... And away from the face.
4) Since I have a ton of hair, and there's way more on the right side, I separate it into two sections - a front and back - and clip the front up with the alligator (mine's missing a few teeth. ha. haha.)
5) for the right side, flip it under, and it will curl away from the face (the opposite of what you did underneath on this side).
6) See? All flipped away.
7) I take one or two sections at the crown at the back and flip them under as well, and give 'em some hair spray.



Click to enlarge.

1) Last section! I'm starting to get a little loopy here. Curl the front section, flipping it under as well, then spray.
2) If you have bangs, like me, hold them up like so...
3) ... and part them at a diagonal to get the most natural layering of hair (rather than in vertical or horizontal sections, or all in one section - do not do that unless you want super flat bangs).
4) Flip them under just like the rest of the right side.
5) See how nicely it flips back away from the face?
6) After you've curled each section of your bangs (my sister Maggs would kill me if she saw this - she goes to Toni&Guy, and evidently, they're called fringe), which is about three sections for me, spritz them and run your fingers through them to break it up.


Click to enlarge.

1) Now, the fun part! Run your hands through the curls to make them looser.
2) Flip your head over and give it a few good shakes.
3) Look at this adorable bow!
4) Separate two sections at your temples...
5) ... pull them to the middle of the back of your head and secure with the bow!
6) Now grab your brush...
7) ... And brush both sides...
8) ... to make it even looser.
    And voilà! Rocking that bow like the awesome big-girl you are. ha ha.

What do you think? Will you be wearing a big girl bow soon?

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Products Used

• Aussie Mega Finish Hairspray
• Revlon 1" Titanium Stay Smooth Hair Straightener

 

Sweet and Simple

Listening to That Girl. JT. I cannot handle this song, y'all. I. Can't.
Missing Coco. I don't get to talk to him until Sunday. Suckfest.
    So, lately I've felt like doing something different here. As my interests have developed and evolved, I've started writing about different topics besides just reading and writing. I've decided I'm gonna do a little photo tutorial. I'm definitely not claiming to be a beauty expert, but I've been doing make-up since I was seven (I was in ballet and did my own make-up for recitals and performances), and I know enough to be able to give an example now. My everyday go-to look is quick and simple, and the overall result is natural and chic, the kind of "I didn't try too much for this" look. And I'm sharing it. With the internet.




    I start off with the Loreal RevitaLift Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Eye Cream (mouthful!) under my eyes for my atrocious circles and bags. I actually have no clue if it does anything, but I use it anyways. It just makes me feel better. Then I use my CVS brand 10% benzoyl peroxide Acne Treatment Gel on any blemishes. For a lighter everyday look I use Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream in Light/Medium, applied with an e.l.f. Studio Stippling Brush. (For a more sweat-proof and smudge-proof foundation for work I use Revlon's Colorstay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin in Sand Beige.) Then I use Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Dark Spot Eraser in light on any blemishes and the Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in ivory under my eyes.


    Next, I move to my eyes. Instead of a primer, I've been loving Maybelline's 24 Hour Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded. I don't have super oily eyelids, so this stuff does the trick, but if you have excessive oiliness, I would suggest e.l.f.'s Mineral Eye Shadow Primer. It's only about three bucks and does the trick just as well as any Mac or NARS product, in my humble opinion. Like I mentioned in this favorites post, I've been loving the Physician's Formula Nude Classics Eye Shadow Palette. It has a wide selection of colors and is fairly idiot-proof in terms of all the colors looking good together. Lately, I've been using the peachy pink all over the lid, the cool taupe all over the crease and blended up to just below my brows (it's a pretty light shade so it doesn't look ridiculous blended that high) and then the darker steely grey directly in the crease and along the outer V. I highlight the brow bone and inner corner with the top iridescent white, and blend it onto the lid color from the inner corner so it's not so stark of a contrast.


    For powder, I just recently switched to Rimmel London's Stay Matte Pressed Powder in transparent (which was not intentional; I just wasn't paying attention when I bought it). I had been using Maybelline's Dream Matte Powder, but with the South's smothering humidity, it just wasn't getting the job done. I've only been using the Rimmel for a week or so, and I'm not disappointed yet, but the packaging is exceedingly frustrating. The lid just will not lock, and I know this is a universal problem. I used to use e.l.f.'s Studio Bronzer in Golden Bronze for bronzing and contouring but it has a good bit of shimmer in it, which reflects back on camera and sort of defeats the purpose of contouring. I went through quite a few brands to find a good matte bronzer, all of which were far too orange, and actually bought this Milani Face Powder in their second darkest shade Deep Amber. It's highly pigmented, which is great, and it's not orange. I use e.l.f.'s Studio Blush in Blushing Rose (pictured) or Candid Coral, or if I want something more golden pink, I go for Mary Kay's Mineral Cheek Color in Shy Blush. I still have e.l.f.'s Studio Bronzer in Golden Bronze and I use the lightest shade as a highlighter, across my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, and on my cupid's bow (I accidently deleted that pic).


    To finish up, I love Maybelline's Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner in brown. I use an e.l.f. Essential Concealer Brush to apply it. I don't know why, but I like it way better than any eyeliner brush I've ever used. I don't know why I forgot to take a picture of it, but I use a Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Brown for my eye brows. I have a regular old e.l.f. eyelash curler, and I've been loving Maybelline's Mega Plush Volume Express. It gives a very naturally voluminous lash look, and I hate when lashes look too clumpy or spidery. Two coats of this stuff and I'm good to go. Then I just had to show y'all my adorable bow that I made today. I'm kind of obsessing over bows at the moment. 

    Let me know what you think of the change in post!

 

***DISCLAIMER*** I was not paid to recommend these products. I have about eight readers overall, so no one would pay me to talk about their stuff. These are all my opinions, and I bought all of this stuff myself. Except the bow. 'Cause I freaking made it, y'all. I know.***