Five Faves and a Flop: September

 Listening to Groove is in the Heart by Dee Lite. (I highly encourage you to check out the vid. It's like a five-minute trip to the seventies, accompanied by some rad dance moves.)Dreading my midterm in 19th Century American Literature at 3:30 today.
    Last Thursday in September and look at me! I'm so on top of things. Except, you know, school things. Probably going to lose it during my midterm today. But I've got my blog post up!
    Not gonna lie, this month has been highly beauty-centered as far as my favorites go.

• Caress Tahitian Renewal - I have weirdly sensitive skin. I have to be careful what makeup, cleanser, and lotion I use, as well as what products I use in the shower. Everything has to be as natural as possible. The problem is that a lot of all-natural products really don't smell awesome, or make my skin as soft as it could be. I'd been using a Method soap for a while, but I've gotten tired of the smell. Before I went all-natural-everything, I'd been using Caress, and it didn't give me hives too badly. So what I've been doing is alternating every other day, Caress-Method-Caress-Method, etc. That way I smell and feel yummy, but the next day I really cleanse my skin and get all the chemicals that irritate my skin off completely. Tahitian Renewal feels like a trip to a private island villa with an outdoor bathtub and shower and bamboo flooring. Minus the likely jellyfish stings.
• Black Moccasins - I honestly don't remember where I got these since it was about three years ago, but I remember my grandmother buying them for me. She actually bought me two pair - one in tan, and these black ones because we liked them both and couldn't choose. The tan ones unfortunately broke a few years back, but these babies have held up! They are super comfortable - perfect for booking it around campus (get it? 'cause I'm running around, and hitting the books. Ha. Haha. Return of the Puns). Plus I think they're just super cute for fall.
• L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation in Creamy Natural - What with fall looks being all matte, I figured it's time to retire the BB cream (since the only one I like/can use has a very dewy finish), and opt for something a bit more mattifying. Unfortunately, alone, Magic Nude isn't quite what I wanted - although I guessed my color perfectly! In order to achieve that truly matte finish, I have to wear a primer underneath, and set at least the center of my face, if not all of it, with a mattifying powder. Which I don't mind, I would just appreciate less steps in the morning. It really does go on nicely, though I would recommend using your fingers rather than a brush or a sponge. And for goodness sake, shake before use. I made that mistake.
• EOS in Summer Fruit - It smells like peaches, tastes like Pez, and the cap is fun to twist on and off. I'm sold.
• L'Oreal Infallible 24-Hour Eyeshadow in Amber Rush - I really just love this color. It screams fall. Some have called it a rose-gold, some copper. I think Amber Rush is just fine. It looks like fall leaves against bright blue skies and pumpkins and brisk air and toe socks* and I love it. It's so beautiful, sometimes I wear just that one shadow as a wash over my whole lid with no crease color, no highlighter, and just a smidge of brown eyeliner. It's perfect. Infallible. Oh yes, I did.

• FLOP: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Shine in Plum Velour - It's not really the lipstick's fault. It can't change what color it is. I just really wanted and oxblood color, and as dark as this color looks, it still looks like a berry color on my lips. And not even that dark. I was torn between this one and Black Cherry at CVS, so I guess I'll go exchange it tomorrow. (I literally just bought it today, too.)

*I associate toe socks with fall, mostly because I used to buy a pair of Halloween toe socks every Halloween during middle and high school.

What have you been loving this month? Any disappointments? Let me know!

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Product List

• Caress Tahitian Renewal
• L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation in Creamy Natural
• EOS Lip Balm in Summer Fruit
• L'Oreal Infallible 24-Hour Eyeshadow in Amber Rush
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Shine in Plum Velour (discontinued.)

LifeScouts: Ballet!

Listening to Justin Timberlake TKO - not sure how I feel about it yet. I want to like it, but I'm just not sure. Plus I'm pretty sure I can hear a guinea pig in the background.
Overwhelmed with homework.
    Normally, I write these posts when I don't have anything else to write about. Today, I just felt like giving myself a prompt and going with it.
    Ballet was a huge part of my life. I danced for nine years in two different ballet studios. I quit just before auditioning for company, and part of me regrets that so much. See, my feet naturally turn out. I walk like a duck, or a penguin, or some other absurd animal. And you don't even wanna see me run. If you didn't already know I danced, you'd figure it out pretty quick, even though I'm an absolute klutz. When I was a baby, my parents worried something was wrong and took me to get my feet checked out. The doctor said, "Oh, she's fine, just put her in ballet." So in kindergarten, that's what happened.
    I did everything but hip-hop and tap, really. Ballet, jazz, pointe, modern - I would've done tap and hip-hop if given the option. I learned Thriller when I was eight, danced to Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend from Moulin Rouge and A Hard Knock Life from Annie. I got to be a fairy in two different performances (I was fairy-obsessed as a child, and still want to own anything Tinker-Bell related). I was in the Nutcracker almost every single year. I was a Christmas Tree Doll, one of Mother Ginger's Children (twice), a Little Angel (twice), a Toy Soldier, a Big Angel. I quit the year I would've been one of the Party Girls, which is the one thing I regret most.
    Before you get excited, I don't mean the current definition of party girl - I would not have been playing beer pong in a tutu. The story of the Nutcracker is that a little girl named Clara receives a nutcracker doll for Christmas, and on Christmas Eve he comes to life, battles the Rat King and his minions, and takes her to the magical land he comes from where a bunch of different countries dance for her (girls on pointe from China, a belly dancer from Arabia, Mother Ginger and her Children, The Sugar Plum Fairy). Before all this occurs, she is given the Nutcracker at a Christmas party that all of her friends and their parents attend. I would have been one of the friends. They had beautiful Victorian-style dresses, got to wear their hair down in bouncing ringlets (not buns like everyone else), and got to do a little play-acting on stage while other people danced. It was every little girl's dream, just short of getting to be Clara herself, or the Sugar Plum Fairy. Personally, I wanted to be a Party Girl, then dance in Tea (the Chinese dance), then Coffee (the Arabian dance), then the Russian dance, and lastly the Sugar Plum Fairy, so I could get a chance to do all my favorites. But I never got to do any of them, because I quit to be in colorguard, which as I've previously stated really wasn't worth it. What sucks is even if I got back into ballet, I'm so out of practice and out of shape, I'd never be good enough to do any of those parts I loved. So I've missed my narrow window of opportunity.
    But I know if I'd kept doing ballet, it would have taken over my life - we're talking practicing like twenty hours a week - and I never would have met Corey. In missing my first goal in life, I met the one I never knew I wanted, until I did. So I guess I really don't regret anything.
    Except maybe not transferring to UNCW while I still could. ha ha.

 

What's something that was once a big part of your life? Something you thought would shape your future, or maybe something that has? Tell me below!

Fall Trends 2013

Listening to CheaterCheaterBestFriendEater by NeverShoutNever
Nervous about my second presentation for today.
    Sorry this post is a little late - I stupidly scheduled two presentations (with coordinating papers) due on the same day. I did number one this morning (have to finish the paper, though), and the second one is at two. At least I will have them over with!
    I've been looking at the runways a lot more this year - as opposed to previous years when I'd just pick up on trends once I saw them being worn - and I thought I'd do a little collective post on what's hot for the cooler months! A lot of things I've already seen being worn, and others I'm excited to try.

Plaid

I've already seen a lot of plaid, but rather than being tailored, it seems to be more of a renewal of 90s grunge - only less grungy. Everything is sort of oversized and baggy, but with more put together makeup and accessories. I like here that though the shirt is baggy in the arms, she has a very classic and vintage makeup and hairstyle.

 Shoes

Pointy-toed flats are way in, particularly in animal prints, but I love these plaid ones. The leopard booties are super cute with the minimalist black outfit and tartan scarf (love that combo!) and the black and white stripes and Moto jacket in the other photo bring in another trend that's showing up everywhere -

Black and White

Black always seems to be in style, but you'd think according to those old rules of style that white would be out what with fall coming down the road. On the contrary, there's a ton of black-and-white looks cropping up everywhere! I saw a lot of white blazers and jackets, which I love. On the positive side, you don't really have to stick with snow white, you can go with a winter white or creamier warmer white and still be just as on-trend! Bonus in this photo: teal is also making a big appearance. It really stands out with the black-and-white!

Dark Florals

I'm all for florals year-round. It's not like flowers don't bloom in winter time, too, right? But I think this is a really excellent way to keep it from looking too springy - keeping the colors more muted and dark. I really love doing it in a flowy dress as well, rather than the patterned skinnies I keep seeing everywhere - although they're great (I'm wearing some now!). It's a good way to stand out a little.

Stacked Bracelets

I know this has been a trend since early spring, but it's really stuck around. A good way to keep it from looking too spring/summer is to stay away from the pastels and stick to neutrals. I also love the idea of mixing metals. I think that lends more particularly to fall and winter than the pastels and golds from the spring and summer.

Thick Fringe

Once again, thick fringes are super hot. Some designers were using faux fringes on their models, and some were really conceptual, but the core facts are here: bangs are bangin'. I keep saying I want to grow mine out, but each time I start, fringes come back and I want to cut mine so badly! I like that the ones pictured here aren't straight across, but they curve down at her temples to frame her eyes.

Textured Tresses

There was a lot of crimping going on at the runways. While I like the concept, I think it may be too much to do for every day. I like the idea of crimping a few sections of hair all throughout and giving it some texture, then maybe throwing it in a piecey fishtail with lots of volume. This is also a good example of the minimalist eyes and bold lips trend!

Simple Eyes / Bold Lips

I love that oxblood lips are still going to be around for this season. I loved that last fall. It made makeup really easy with just a bit of eye shadow and mascara, then that bold pucker of oxblood burgundy. Beautiful. The key is to make sure your eyebrows are bold, too, to balance it out. Additionally, as much as I love my BB Cream, everything is very matte as far as makeup - eyes, lips, cheeks, everything. I'll have to invest in a good mattifying powder.

Just Bitten Lips / Flushed Cheeks

If you're not brave enough for super heavy lips, a good compromise is to go with another popular look on the runways - flushed cheeks and "just bitten" lips. Focus your lip color on the inner portion of your lips, then blot until it's just barely there, and keep your blush matte and on just the apples of your cheeks, not bringing it too far up your cheekbone towards your temples. This works well with a lightly smoky eye or neutral matte tones. (Low ponytails with lots of texture and volume are also making an appearance!)

Statement Eye / Soft Lips

Statement eyes in bold colors like lavender, cobalt, and violet were making huge waves. I love this smoked out purple. Just be sure to keep the lip neutral to avoid clown-face.

 Textured Nails

Textured everything is big, but especially in nails! Everyone from China Glaze to Zoya to Sally Hansen are coming out with fuzzy textures, sand, pixie dust, sugar, matte and everything in between. I love the idea of this cross-hatching with nail strips. I also saw snakeskin - super cool!

 

What do you think? Which trends will you give a shot? Tell me in the comments!

 All photos from my Pinterest.