Spring Beauty Essentials

I was recently invited, and overjoyed, to be a part of Glam’s Beauty Board and discuss with you some top essentials for spring 2012.  I received a box full of great beauty products to review and share with all of you. 

• Oscar Blandi Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray – I just recently had my hair cut short and had been washing & styling it everyday because it would be so flat the second day.  This dry shampoo really gave me all that volume back without feeling greasy or dirty.
• Oscar Blandi Dry Styling Heat Protect Spray – Great if you love the flat iron or curling rods.  I used this then curled my second day hair and it turned out gorgeous!
• Aveeno Positively Radiant Eye Illuminator – You could really feel this penetrating and perking up tired under eyes.  Tip: Squeeze slow to distribute a little product at a time–a little goes a long way.
• L’eau de Chloe – I change my signature scent with the season and I have just deemed this one for spring this year.  This scent just radiates spring with all it’s floral notes.  Now if spring would just get here already!
• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy – Remember my homemade lemon sugar scrub??  Well this lip treatment smelled just like it!  My lips have been so chapped from this dry winter we’re having and they just ate this right up.
• Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes – I haven’t confessed my love to you yet for Neutrogena but I definitely love this brand.  These towelettes are the ONLY ones I get.  They work amazingly and don’t sting your eyes when taking off eye makeup.  Tip: After I take off my makeup I rinse the towelette with warm water and wipe my face down again.
• Neova Breakout Control Swabs – These are just sooooo handy and travel friendly!  Simply snap the one end of the cotton swab and the product dispenses to the other end.  I used it on some red spots I had that looked like I was going to break out and the red spots disappeared without over drying.

• Pixi Glow Fairy Face Palette – Tinkerbell was the muse for this spring line, but don’t let the packaging fool you, this line was made for us older ladies.  The pigments are great and very beautiful.  Great collection if you want something new but like to keep it neutral.
• Pixi Straight on till Morning Liner in 2nd Star Twinkle (goldish green) – This has to be one of the silkiest pencils I have EVER used.  I was done applying it in a snap because it just was that easy to use.
• Jemma Kidd i-Sculpt Shadow and Line in Kings Road (deep purple) - I believe that purple is just universally flattering.  There is a shade out there for everyone.
• NP Set Glamorista Mascara – If clumping is an issue for you then you have to try this mascara.  The brush really combed through my lashes leaving a light formula for a very natural look.

Swatches of the Pixi Glow Palette:

Wearing #1 on the inside corner, #3 from middle to outer corner and above crease, #4 middle outer corner under crease, & NP mascara.  (I wore #2 & #3 in yesterdays post.)

Mixing #6 with a little #7 (colors were light and glossy).  Swatch of Jemma Kidd’s i-Sculpt.

Keep a look out for future makeup looks and tutorials featuring some of these great products!

xoxo Heather

Shift Into Spring with Covergirl

Before you know it spring will be around the corner and I’m so eager not only for the warmer temperatures but also to change over to a lighter look.  I recently teamed up with Glam and Covergirl to share a spring look featuring Covergirl’s new natureluxe gloss balm.  I decided to share with you not only an easy look but also a few other key things I do to shift my look into spring.

1. Fresh cut — The most refreshing and feel good thing I do to kick off my spring look is to get myself a new haircut.  To me hair is just hair and it always grows back (although I might just feel this way because I have the most kick-ass hair dresser LOL–love you Nikki!!!).  This year I had about 5 inches taken off my length and had layers and angles put in that I’ve never had before, but then again I didn’t know it looked great on me until I did it!  Disclaimer: Going with a drastic change to your do may give you new found confidence and power
2. Own one trend — There is soooo much spring trend fashion overload coming.  Between magazines, blogs, and advertisements it can get a little overwhelming.  The way I deal with it is to focus on pieces that may seem trendy right now but can transition into classics in my wardrobe.  Below I’m wearing a faux-suede shirt with cutouts in white that I just recently purchased.  I can’t wait to mix it with different colored tanks under or paired with a sequined skirt.  Own one trend at a time!
3. Find a new classic — This is the best time of the year to switch or give a boost to your daily beauty routine…..especially your makeup!

Face:  Fake that glow with a bronzer dusted to slightly under and on your cheekbones (a little down you neck and chest too).  Apply a bright pink to the apples of your cheeks.

Eyes:  This is when I totally switch over to shimmery eye shadows (not to be confused with glittery ones).  Shimmer can give the illusion of youth.  My go-to is a champagne shade in the inner corner and a darker bronze shade for the outer corner.  Black liner and black mascara.

Lips:  I love sheer glosses and balms in the spring and summer, they’re not as heavy looking and seem youthful as well.  I chose to use Covergirl’s natureluxe gloss balm here in Coral.  It’s a gorgeous orange color that goes on super smooth and surprisingly glossy.  The colors of these balms are very light and sheer and also include SPF 15 which makes them great for spring and summer.  To see all the colors go HERE!

About CG natureluxe gloss balm: Get the sheer color and shine of a gloss with the soft, lightweight feel of SPF 15 balm.  Fortified with mango and shea butter, this feel-good formula leaves your lips feeling decadent and delicious.

What do you love most about spring??  Which color natureluxe would get you through spring??

xoxo Heather

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of COVERGIRL.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Hope all you ladies have a lovely and gorgeous day!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

xoxo Heather

*click pics for sources

Jouer & Kate Spade Autumn/Winter 2012

**A word with Jouer**

Jouer Cosmetics Partners with kate spade new york for Autumn/Winter 2012

Friday, 10th 2012, New York – Jouer Cosmetics was delighted to partner with kate spade new york for their Fall 2012 presentation. To complement the Ready-to-Wear collection with its rich hues, playful prints and Parisian influence, Jouer Cosmetics created a classic, clean look this season with a romantic edge. The look featured a clean and luminous complexion with natural, rosy cheeks and a light Orchid Tint stained lips. The focus for Fall was on the eyes, which were kept dark, smoky and mysterious.

Application:
To achieve the Autumn/Winter 2012 kate spade new york look, the Jouer Cosmetics team prepped the models’ skin with Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint, followed by the Age-Repairing Perfector to ensure extra coverage on targeted areas. Where needed, Jouer Cosmetics’ Age-Repairing Concealer was used to cover any blemishes or dark circles. For a dewy look, AgeRepairing Brightener was applied above the cheek bones and around the eyes. Mineral Face Powder was the final step for the face, setting the makeup and minimizing shine in the t-zone.

To create the light, smoky eye, Amaretto Powder Eyeshadow was the key component. The product was firstly used on the lower part of the eye lid. To smoke-out the look, Cappuccino Powder Eyeshadow was applied in the crease bringing drama to the eyes, yet still keeping it wearable. Noir Eye Definer was added to subtly sharpen the top and bottom eye lids followed by a sweep of Amaretto Powder Eyeshadow on the bottom lid to continue the smudged and smoky effect. Noir Mascara was lastly swept onto lashes completing the eyes and the brows were strengthened with Brow Definer to create a fuller look and frame the face.

Lastly, Rose Mineral Powder Blush was used on the apples of the cheeks. Blending outwards, the natural flush of the cheeks was accentuated. The look’s final touch was a pop of Orchid Tint on the lips, leaving a natural rose stain.

Loving these looks!!!

xoxo Heather

Homemade Kissable Lip Balm

It’s only fitting that Valentine’s day is tomorrow that I make a lip balm this month.  This recipe is super easy and will match that blush you love so much.

Ingredients:

• Vaseline (contains minerals and waxes that help protect skin from outside elements, perfect for chapped lips)
• any mineral powder blush (or color of your choosing)

Just mix together and put in a little container.  The more powder you use the more pigmented your balm will be.  Now I told you that was going to be easy!  <3

xoxo Heather

A Girls Quick Start Guide to Anti-Aging Skincare

The skin is the bodies largest organ and the first defense against the elements.  It truly takes a beating and as it ages starts to show it.  Aging is inevitable but there are still ways to slow it’s progression.  Here are six easy ways any girl can use to get a head start!

1.  Moisturize daily  –  Aging skin begins to produce less and less natural oils to help protect itself.  By moisturizing daily in the morning and evening, especially after a shower, it helps to lock in moisture and prevent the skin from drying out.

Tip: Look for creams rich in Vitamin A.  This ingredient helps to slow down the rate of collagen breakdown.  Also lean towards warm rather than hot water for showering–the added heat will contribute greatly to dry skin.

2. Wear sunscreen –  It’s nothing new that the sun can do severe damage over time.  Unprotected exposure increases breakdown of the skin’s collagen and elastin (which is what gives skin elasticity to bounce back).

Tip: Use moisturizers in the morning with at least spf 15 for the best protection during the day.

3. Stay clear of tanning beds  –  If the reason above is not enough then maybe the risk of  getting age spots is.  Tanning beds help to increase the skin’s defense process against harmful UV rays by creating these dark pigmented spots.  Still crave that golden glow?  Self-tanners have come along way and come in a variety of formulas to suit everyone.

Tip: Pay special attention to age spots.  If they seem to be getting bigger over a short amount of time or get darker with a random border–it’s time to see a doctor!

4. Cleanse carefully  –  Not all cleansers are the same and treat skin equally.  Try staying away from using body soap on the delicate skin on the face.  Opt for cream cleansers that will not only wash but also nourish the skin.

Tip: Dry, normal, and most combination skin types can benefit from just a cloth and warm water in the mornings.  That extra wash can strip natural oils from the skin.

5. Toner talk  –  As the famous Bobbi Brown puts it, “Often sold as a must-use step, toners are truly optional.”  Toners are often formulated with alcohol and can be drying for the skin.

Tip: Make a toner of your own by putting rosewater in a spray bottle.

6. Quit smoking  –  Not only does it smell gross and have a horrible impact on overall health, a regular smoking habit in the 20′s and 30′s will easily age skin itself by 10 to 15 years.  Also the pursing of the lips movement will form premature wrinkles around the mouth.

Tip: No extra advice needed here…just QUIT already!

Keep a look out for more skincare posts in the future.  <3

xoxo Heather

February Julep Maven

So far this has to be my favorite Maven box yet!  All their boxes were Oscar themed featuring rich shades of red, rust, gray, or blue.  Every box had the great gold glitter polish, dubbed Oscar of course!  My box included Marissa which is a shimmery deep cobalt blue, so gorgeous and topped with Oscar seems so fitting for my upcoming trip to California.

My treatment in this box was the Essential Cuticle oil which I just fell in love with.  It’s soothing lavender oil comes in almost the same jar the polishes come in only this one has a sweet roller ball on the end to distribute the oil to your cuticles.  Because it dried quickly the treatment was fast and mess free.  I only painted 1 nail Oscar for this pic so you could also see how gorgeous Marissa was (which only needed one coat!!!!).

xoxo Heather

Weekend Swag

Three words to sum up my weekend;  nautical, sequins, and Jason Wu!  Here’s my score from the weekend…

F21: blue sequined tank, white eyelet top

H&M: blue sequined skirt

Macy’s: Sperry’s

Sephora in JCPenny’s: Lorac face tutorial

Target: Jason Wu for Target dress, top, and skirt

Saturday was spent with my girlfriend for some much needed girl time.  We drove out to the Freehold mall in NJ and relaxed while shopping our hearts out without the guys asking if we’re done yet.  Sunday I woke up early to do my Wu shopping online but unfortunately most of the items I had my eyes on were only sold in stores.  So I got myself ready and dragged my butt to the store to wait.  I got there only 30mins before the Target opened and there were a handful of girls outside already waiting.  I stood in the cold for about 20mins and joked with the girls around me.

I was fortunate enough to grab items that I really wanted and I was impressed at how organized the Target employees were.  After the initial rush, and I snagged up the items I wanted and tried them on, I wandered over to the mini bag section they had just to see the bags and clutches.  The Wu stuff was gone and the Target employees already had the sign down and other bags in it’s place all neatly stocked like they had been there the whole time.  Have to give it to them, they were very well prepared for this rush.

What fashionable items did you pick up this weekend?  Any Wu??

xoxo Heather

2012 Valentine’s Day : Gift Guide #3

Beautiful classics give a boost to your long-term relationship.

1. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

2. Philosophy Caribbean Getaway™ Duo

3. Yves Saint Laurent Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain 12 Coril Fauve

4. Dior Garden Clutch Makeup Palette

5. Urban Decay Naked2

6. NARS Wicked Attraction Set

*Don’t forget the checkout code!

xoxo Heather

2012 Valentines Day : Gift Guide #2

Traveling to and from can be exhausting.  Just a few things that I know from experience would make it soooo much easier to pack and be on your way to see your love.

1. Mini Kittour Collection Overnight 2-in-1 hanging traveler (chocolate shown, also comes in champagne)

2. Sephora Collection Express Cleansing Wipes To Go

3. Sephora for OPI Bohemian Brights Mini Nail Colour Set

4. LORAC Unzipped

5. Sephora Favorites Collector’s Edition Fragrance Sampler For Her (comes with a certificate to redeem for a larger bottle of her choice)

*Don’t forget to enter BRIGHTPEEL at checkout!

xoxo Heather