Sally Hansen Nail Polish Strips Are So "Aflorable"

Sally Hansen came out with a bunch of new prints in honor of Spring and Valentine's Day. I picked up this one in "Aflorable" and I've already worn it twice. I also scored one of Revlon's brand new colors in Muse, the sage color you see on the rest of my nails. I like to mix it up when it comes to wearing the print nail polish strips. I'll do some of my nails in the print and wear a complimenting solid polish on the rest. 

I know it's only February, but these nails make me feel like spring is just around the corner!


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A lot of people have told me that they have a hard time applying these strips, and I used to as well, until I changed the way I put them on: 

1) Put on a base coat. The directions say not to, but I find that the strip doesn't stick as well if you lay it down on a bare nail.

2) After you lay the strip onto your nail, direct your blow dryer, on low heat, on your finger. This warms up the strip and "melts" the polish so it melds onto your nail. 

3) After blow drying for a few seconds, you should be able to gently tug at the top of the strip, pointing down, and it will cut off on its own at the tip of your nail. You can file down any ridged edges. 

Hope these tips help. Let me know if you would like to see a tutorial on this method !

Sindulge at Culver Hotel

On Wednesday evening I attended Sindulge's event at the historic Culver Hotel. Sindulge is a great new website that sends you a selection of luxury samples for $12 a month. What's really cool is that they also offer personalized consultations via video and text chat with an expert staff of makeup artists and beauty experts! When I asked Ami Desai, Sindulge makeup expert, what set Sindulge apart from other "swag bag-a-month" companies, she informed me that every monthly sample bag is different for each customer, depending on their skin type and style needs, which will be determined after speaking with the customer via video and texts. Cool, right?! I wasn't able to take photos of everyone who was there, but I met SO many awesome ladies and gents who genuinely were nice people and loved all things-beauty. Here are some of the highlights of the evening....

Ami Desai, left with a fellow Sindulge expert (sorry, I didn't catch her name)

How cute was the little swag bag? 

Youngblood Cosmetics, a mineral makeup company was there with all their new products

Youngblood cream blushes, highlighter and lipstick

The goodies we got: LA Fresh waterproof makeup removing wipes,  Pop Beauty nail lacquer  (mine was Tangerine Toste), Youngblood lip gloss in Pink Hope, Youngblood Mineral Primer, Youngblood Eye Impact Cream, and ME natural eye pencil in Emerald City.

I was in love with the upstairs bar area at Culver Hotel- so fun to shoot!

I absolutely adored this detailed column

At the Pop Beauty nail polish station

Having fun with the Vanity Girl mirror- oh how I'd love one in my home!

Miss Vanity Girl herself, Maxine on the red carpet with celebrity makeup artist Jeffrey Paul

From L-R: Beauty blogger Gloria Yang, TV host Jennifer Chan, my PR girl Jennifer Castaneda and me.

Apparently, we all love small, quilted purses with gold chains. LOL!

Style Haul during Fashion Week N.Y.C.

I've mentioned Style Haul before, but I think it's worth bringing up again, because it really is a great beauty and fashion channel. Style Haul interviews makeup artists, hair stylists, fashion gurus about the most up-to-date trends in all things beauty. If you haven't jumped on the Youtube bandwagon, now is the time! I love being subscribed to their channel. I just log in to my Youtube account and click on my subscriptions. Watching these Style Haul videos is one of the biggest ways I keep up with fashion and beauty news. 

Take the latest video for example. Glamour Magazine's Editor Louise Roe took to the backseat of taxi cabs in N.Y.C. during Fashion Week to talk with bloggers about what they saw on the runways. Being on the West Coast, I wasn't able to attend but it really felt like I was there because of all these fun interviews! 

Enjoy....

Blue Hair, Don't Care- KATY PERRY MAKEUP

No, you are not looking at photos of a Smurfette. You are looking at shots from my Katy Perry Grammys Makeup Tutorial. This year Katy showed up to the Grammys with a blue-dyed coif and bubble gum pink lips. I love her quirky and fun style, so when I saw her come out on the carpet I already knew I wanted to replicate this glamorous yet daring look. 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH TUTORIAL

Since I don't have blue-dyed hair, I threw on this California Girls wig I had and went to town.

For the eyes, Katy had a natural champagne shimmery look with thick, winged eyeliner and humongous lashes. I also traded in my normal brown brow filler for bright blue, as Katy has also done.

The lips were a cool, cotton candy pink.

PRODUCTS USED

*some of these are replacements for the limited items I've used in the photos.

Eyes

Urban Decay Priming Potion in Eden

Shimmertime pigment by MAC

Blacktrack Fluidline by MAC

Naked shadow from the Urban Decay NAKED palette

Makeup For Ever lashes

Reflects Pearl Glitter by MAC

Fix+ spray by MAC

MAC False Lashes Extreme Black Mascara

Electric Eel MAC eyeshadow (for the eye brows)

Face

Peaches blush by MAC

Trophy Big Bounce eye shadow (Shell Cream Color Base is a great substitute for this limited MAC item)

MAC Skinfinish Mineralize Powder in Gentle 

Lips

Hot Pink NYX lip liner

Tease (baby pink) lip liner from MAC

St. Germain lipstick by MAC

Enchantee Kissable Lipcolour by MAC

Guest Post Part II: Five Beauty Essentials for the Bride

Hi all! Yesterday I shared my guest blog post for Los Angeles-based event coordinating company, Purple Meadows Events and today I bring you Part II: 5 Beauty Must-Haves to Prepare For Your Wedding Day

Debra Meadows, owner of PM events has a fantastic wedding blog that covers everything from decorations to the dress. Part II of my guest post goes over the best products to have with you in preparation of your big day. Check it out by clicking the link below.

five beauty must-haves to prepare for your wedding day

Bridal Advice by Me on Purple Meadows Events

I am excited to share with all of you that I was invited to write a guest post for the Los Angeles-based event coordinating company, Purple Meadows Events! 

Debra Meadows, owner of PM events has a fantastic wedding blog that covers everything from decorations to the dress. My guest post gives brides beauty advice on how to prepare your skin and hair for the big day. Check it out by clicking the link below.

bridal beauty helpful tips prepare big day

Sexy Sofia

Who doesn't love Sofia Vergara? She's pushing 40 and oozes sex out of every bone in her gorgeous body. The best thing about her is that her "sexiness" comes effortlessly. She always has beautiful editorial makeup that is great for every day wear, so I decided to replicate this look she wore to the Golden Globes last month. She has winged out bronzey-plum eyes with a mauve mouth and straight hair parted in the middle. 

CHECK OUT THE STEP BY STEP TUTORIAL BELOW

Close-Up of the Eyes

Kissable Lips

PRODUCTS USED:

Eyes

Yogurt, Coppering, Mythology, Trax and Brun eye shadows from MAC

Rose and Pink Bronze Pigments from MAC Pro

Rich Ground (as a base) Blacktrack (as a liner) Fluidlines from MAC
Molten Sun Liquidlast Liner from MAC

Urban Decay black 24/7 eye liner in Perversion

Revlon Growlucious Macara

Lashes from Naimie's

Cheeks

Plum Foolery Shimmer Sheertone Blush from MAC

Lips

Mauve and Hot Pink liners from NYX

Up the Amp and Plum Dandy lipsticks from MAC 

Grammys 2012: Makeup Review

Adele

Judging from my Twitter and Facebook feeds and every beauty blog from here to the moon, Adele wins best makeup at the Grammys by a landslide. The flawlessly matte foundation, the slight contouring, the perfect red lips and nude eye with lots of lashes and bold black liner! <3

Carrie Underwood

Carrie's makeup is always on point. Although this is a pretty typical "Carrie" makeup, I think it's a great look for her. She even added some gold glitter on the lids (you can't really tell in this photo). Those lashes are pretty bold for her too. Way to go, stepping out of your comfort zone, girl!

Fergie

Yes, I know Fergie looks a little rough sometimes, but I really liked her choice of tangerine eye shadow and peach lips. It compliments her eyes and skin tone. Gorgeous!

Jessie J

Why this pretty girl insists on covering her face with harsh bangs is beyond me. Underneath that curtain of black, you can see that she has beautiful milky skin, perfect nude lips and a plummy-purple smoky eye with flatters her blue peepers. 

Katy Perry

I love Katy for bringing colorful hair to the red carpets. She is so stunning and truly rocks the crap out of this on-trend blue hair that was seen on every runway for spring. She complimented her Smurf 'do with cool-tone pink lips and thick, black cat eye liner. Precious!

Kelly Osbourne

I really wanted to hate Kelly Osbourne's choice of hair color, but I don't. Those lilac strands just look so darn pretty on her! I adore that she matched her lips to her hair and did her eyes up in a yellow-gold. Yellow is the complimentary color to purple, which is why this look works so well.

Rihanna

The only way to describe Rih-Rih these days is: sex-pot-dot-com. Could she get any hotter? It's really just unfair. The jury's still out on her newly-dyed blonde tresses but her makeup is, as always, lovely. Her hazel eyes stand out thanks to the smoky black soot in the under-eye, and she kept it simple on the top lids. The pinky-nude lips work well with this subtle and sultry makeup look. SIZZLE 

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Which celebrity's makeup was your fave of the evening? Would you like to see me do a tutorial on any of these looks? Let me know in a comment below!

Here Comes The Sun

One of my favorite skin care lines, Philosophy has come out with a sun care line! Everything comes in these cute, yellow "sun-inspired" bottles, and best of all, it's all broad spectrum spf-coverage. This means that the sunscreens will help block both uva and uvb rays. There's a face spray, a face lotion and a body lotion. 

Face spray

age-defense very water-resistant spf 30 uva⁄uvb broad-spectrum spray sunscreen for body

$26 for 4 oz.

Oil-free, non greasy formula absorbs quickly

face lotion
age defense water resistant spf 40 uva uvb broad spectrum
$30 for a 2 oz.

Oil-free, non greasy formula

body lotion

Age-defense water-resistant spf 30 va⁄uvb broad-spectrum sunscreen

$26 for 4 oz. 

Prevents signs of aging

Philosophy's "here comes the sun" line also has sunless tanners for the face and body, check them out below!

sunless tanner- face

age-defense gradual glow self-tanner for face

$26 for 2 oz.

Helps improve the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles

Sunless Tanner-body

age-defense golden glow self-tanner for body

$28 for 4 oz.

 Helps firm & tone skin

Stay safe in the sun my loves!

Beyonce- A Red Carpet Look

Today I'm excited to show you a makeup look that Beyonce rocked last year at the Grammys. There isn't a lot of bold color in this look, it's mostly golds and black. However, it's definitely a "Sasha" look- the top of the eyelids are a fierce cat eye completely smoked out, and the bottom is lined with angelic-like gold shimmer. Beyonce's artist kept the cheeks and lips neutral to balance out the strong eye, and I think this is one of the best looks Beyonce has done. I LOVE the gold hoop earrings too!

CLICK TO WATCH THE TUTORIAL:

PRODUCTS USED:

Contouring

MAC Bronzing Stick: This was a limited item, but you can substitute this with a concealer or foundation stick                  that is about 3-5 shades darker than your skin.

Matte bronzer: any type of pressed matte bronzer will work. 

Angled blush brush: Crown Brush and MAC carry great ones, follow the links to see!

Blending sponge: Beauty Blender

Eyes

Phone Number Eye Kohl (MAC)

Shadows: Creep (black) and Gunmetal (grey) from the Naked 1 Palette, and MAC's Soft Brown and Crystal Avalanche (peach and white) shadows

Lower lid: Urban Decay's El Dorado gold eye liner and Makeup For Ever's Honey Gold 3 metal powder

Lips

Natural lip liner by NYX

Sunmetal lipstick by MAC: this was a limited item, but any bronze frost textured lipstick will work

Stila's 24K Gold lip gloss

Diagonal Shatter Nail Design

When OPI first came out with the shatter polishes I was obsessed. Then I kind of got over them. Last week, I was perusing the nail blogs I'm subscribed to and came across some shatter polish photos and they got me thinking about ways to revamp the look. 

I grabbed a matte, hot pink polish from Essie and painted two coats all of my nails. After they dried, I covered half of each nail with tape and applied OPI's Silver Shatter to the exposed parts.  I put the glossy top coat on JUST the shatter portions and voila!

The combination of the matte with the shimmery shatter looks really cool in person. The color looks red on camera, but it's actually more of a dark pink.Next time I'll have to try this with black!

PRODUCTS USED:

Essie- unknown... but it's a matte dark pink color

OPI's Silver Shatter

Scotch Tape

Top Coat