Hopeless Romantic

Valentines Day is right around the corner!!!  Here’s the makeup look I did for last Monday’s “Romantically Rocking” post.  (Pssss I hope you didn’t forget to enter that giveaway!  It closes tomorrow!

What I used:

• Eye shadow primer*
• LORAC Starry-Eyed Baked Eyeshadow Trio in Movie Star*
• LORAC Front of the Line PRO in Black*
• Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Amethyst
• Smashbox Eye Beam Double-ended Brightener
• Hourglass Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara in Onyx
• Vanilla eyeshadow for blending
• Nude/Champagne Lipstick

*Eye primer, baked eye shadow, and liquid liner pen were all from LORAC’s Close Up: Real Life To Red Carpet Eye Tutorial.

Steps:

1.  Apply the Caviar Stick from lash to just above the crease.

2.  Taking a small (but stiffer) eye shadow brush start blending around the edges using a stippling action.

3.  With the same brush I patted the golden color in the Movie Star trio just to the inner corners.

4.  Line upper lashes with Front of the Line in black extending out and up for a little cat eye.

5.  Line lower lashes with the inner rim half of the Smashbox pencil, this gives the illusion that your eyes look bigger.

6.  Coat lashes with black mascara.

7.  Sweep a pink blush and champagne-nude shade to the lips.

xoxo Heather

Romantically Rocking + Giveaway

Hey ladies!  I’m sorry for the lack of posting but I’ve been working on something special for you all.  Today I’ve teamed up with my Glam team on helping to promote the new launch of Rock & Republic for Kohl’s!  I was so excited and honored to be able to help out.  I know I normally just chat about beauty with you all and hardly ever about fashion.  Hopefully I get to share more fashion posts with you in the future after this one.  For now keep reading and don’t miss the amazing giveaway at the end.

So what is a Rock Star look to me?  Obviously something that I can relate to and easily be mimicked in the real world.  I’m normally such a sucker for girly pieces but lately my purchases have been driven by more edge.  With a closet full of sheers and flowy pieces I had to start mixing what I had with my new items, and thus my Romantic Rocker look was made.  My look below utilizes a few pieces that can be added into any wardrobe.

1. Leather jacket  I kept it short with a larger collar.  Look for ones that cinch in a little at the waist to keep a more feminine look.  (Warmer option:  Because my leather jacket is more fall appropriate and was thinner I was able to layer up with a black wool coat.)

2. Sheer top  I love love love sheer tops and nothing is more romantic and feels as beautiful.  Adding one to this look made me still feel ladylike and not part of a motorcycle gang.

3. Jeans  I opted for grey instead of the more traditional blue.

4. Boots  High or low, suede or leather, boots are a staple for any rock star look.  (Warmer option:  because nobody will see under your high boots wear higher thicker socks.)

Want a chance to see Rock & Republic up close and personal???  Me too!!  They’re giving away an amazing opportunity to visit NYC for 3 nights during fashion week and sit in on their fashion show AAAANNNDDD receive R&R makeovers for you and a friend PLLLUUUSSS $300 spending money!!!!  To be entered in this once in a lifetime opportunity click below and fill out the form.  Good luck ladies!!!

xoxo Heather

P.s.  Stay tuned for the makeup tutorial to go with this post later this week!!!

What if ads told the truth?

Hilarious commercial by Jesse Rosten(!!!) and a must watch for sure.  Sure makeup and skincare ads are beautiful…but that’s because they get a lot of help we all know that, and this video just makes a mockery of them.  But it makes me wonder, who would buy the products if the said movie stars and models didn’t look somewhat perfect?

I want to hear what you think.

xoxo Heather

January Birchbox

Soooo my first Birchbox arrived this week!!!  Yayyy!  I was so excited to start this that I also signed up for MyGlam (first bag should come in February).  Crazy right?  I just love all this sampling!

Included:

• C.O. Bigelow, Lavender & Peppermint Shampoo
• C.O. Bigelow, Lavender & Peppermint Conditioner
• Jouer, Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Birchbox Pink
• Juicy Couture, Viva La Juicy
• Zoya, nail polish in Kristen
• Larabar, mini bar blueberry muffin
• Birchbox logo magnet

I had a chance to experiment with all these products on Tuesday night.  I made it mini pampering session.  First I tried the lip gloss, naturally, because I just love Jouer products.  I was a little down about it’s small size but the pink color is so vivid it’s not something I would end up wearing everyday anyway.  The C.O. Bigelow shampoo and conditioner is sooo nice and smells sooo heavenly.  They were full travel sizes and doing some research online normally go for $4 a piece, pretty much pays for my box right there.  Next was the Zoya nail polish, first time I have used this brand and had a great experience so far.  Zoya is also a nail polish company known for being free of toxins.  Last, I splashed myself with a little Viva La Juicy…mmm love.

The only thing I disliked about my box was the Larabar.  Sorry but it just wasn’t for me.  Overall this was a great opportunity to try a variety of things that I wouldn’t normally pick up.  Let the countdown begin for February’s box!

xoxo Heather

January Julep Maven

Oh how this kicked off my new year.  I received my Julep Maven box this past weekend and was soooo happy with the contents.  I received 3 polishes!!!  Woot Woot!   The first one was the Nail Therapy to help strengthen and condition nails, also works as a great base coat.  The next one was called Heather(!!!!) and was a metallic gray with this cool pinkish mauve undertone, swoooooon!  The last one was a pastel yellow, Blake, that I admit I was extremely excited with.  I have been searching for the perfect buttery yellow and only the Chanel one has caught my eye, but I refused to pay that much for a nail polish.  The treatment that was included in this box was a Pomegranate body scrub that will no doubt go perfectly with the body lotion I got last month.  I’ll post up Blake when I use it on BtL’s fb page, for now below is Heather.

xoxo Heather

Mascara Monday: Kickin’ Blue in the Daytime

All That Lash in Kickin’ Blue

By Flirt!

image via kohls.com

Cost: $15.00

I’ve been sitting on this mascara for a while now.  It was a total impulse buy at Kohl’s one time.  I just couldn’t resist the bright blue-purple color and as soon as I laid eyes on it I knew I had to have it.

The packaging was comparable to Benefit’s Badgal Lash with a big fat tube which was accompanied with a big fat wand.  The formula was great and went on with a breeze.  It was super volumizing and the blue really made my lashes stand out.

I decided to give this a go on a Saturday where it wouldn’t feel to crazy.  I did a simple wash of shadow on my lids and wore no liner, I wanted my lashes to really take center stage.  From farther than a few feet away you couldn’t really tell that I was wearing such a vivid shade but the moment you came any closer it was all the more apparent, especially in the sun!

A mascara like this needs tons of coats to get the full impact so I didn’t include any one coat pics.

Special thanks to my bf Dave for taking these pics–more pics coming soon ladies of this fun shoot we did!!

xoxo Heather

Splurge vs. Save

Kicking the new year off with Splurges… I use one product on my hair and that’s hairspray.  I’ve gone through MANY brands over the years and nothing compares to Elnett.  It holds perfectly but can be brushed out in a snap.  It’s just amazing!

Elnett was first introduced to the market over 50 years ago in Europe and instantly became a hit among stylists and beauty lovers.  Rumors started emerging of editors and stylists smuggling cans to the states.  I used it for the first time when it became available at Target a couple years ago, I still remember rushing to the store and was so excited to test this out.  I’ve gone back and forth with other brands since then, mostly because lets be honest Elnett is not cheap (averaging $13 a can in stores).  I now justify it’s cost because it is the only product I use on my hair haha.  Totally worth it right?

xoxo Heather

Birchbox!

I joined Birchbox on Monday and can not wait to get my first box!!!  According to my subscription I should get it a little after the 15th–and a post will follow soon after   Even though I run a beauty website I’ll put it out there that my hard earned dollars are being paid for this service, so the reviews hereafter are not swayed by any means.

Tell me…Do you subscribe to any beauty sampling services??  If so, which ones?

xoxo Heather

Happy New Years!!!

If you’re a long time reader of my blog you might remember my new years list from last year.  If not or you’re new, no worries, I’ve got a new one!  Kick resolutions to the curb and make a list (or print mine) to make 2012 the best year ever!

Statistics show that about half of those that make a resolution don’t keep them after a month or two.

^^I don’t want to be apart of that statistic!

How it works:  You make a list of about 25 items or things you want to accomplish in 2012.  They can be silly, adventurous, fun, and as serious as you want.  Your goal is to cross off as many items as you can within the year.  Best part is you won’t feel guilty by February because you’ve totally slacked off on that workout program you made.

Good Luck!!

xoxo Heather

25 Ways to Make 2012 the Best Year Ever!!!

1.  Learn how to make a delicious chocolate dessert to perfection.

2.  Take a yoga class.

3.  Go to the movies during the daytime.

4.  Call your friends instead of texting them.

5.  Fly a kite on a windy day.

6.  Find a new favorite song.

7.  If nobody buys me flowers–buy them for myself!

8.  Be kind.

9.  Send postcards.

10.  Fall in love!

11.  Host a dinner party.

12.  Visit a new city.

13.  Take a hike.

14.  Spend a weekend being lazy with my boyfriend.

15.  Margarita brunch with the girls.

16.  Do something that scares me–for the adrenaline rush and the sense of pride after.

17.  Wear glittery eyeshadow on rainy days.

18.  Picnic as much as I can–nevermind bad weather, picnic on my living room floor.

19.  Go on a road trip.

20.  Wear more jewelry!

21.  Learn to make a fancy cocktail.

22.  Perfect at home mani/pedi’s.

23. Try a new eyeshadow color!

24.  Get involved in a charity or organization.

25.  Find my signature style rather than trying to conform to trends.

*Click pics for sources.

Giddy Girl

I hope all you ladies had a gorgeous and lovely holiday!  As promised on Tuesday: What does a beauty lover get for Christmas?  A whole lot of beautiful things that made me all giddy inside.  I can’t wait to ring in the new year with you ladies and all of these products!

xoxo Heather