Beauty Spotlight: Jessica Stam

Super model Jessica Stam is one of the most successful and most featured models of our day, and judging by this photo of her it is easy to see why. 

Spotted: Blake Lively with Red Hair?

The Gossip Girl bombshell has decided to change her lust-worthy golden locks to a strawberry blonde hue for her new role in the film Hick directed by Derick Martini. Blake told the press that she thought her character needed red hair. So how does she like it? "I love it", she gushed - "I feel like Ariel". Well then Blake on behalf of myself and fellow red heads I say welcome to the club! 

Which do you prefer? Blonde or Red?

Check out some other lovely ladies in red!

Scarlett Johansson

Nicole Kidman went red for Moulin Rouge! (love that film!)

Hayley Williams of Paramore

Florence Welch (Love Florence + The Machine)

The beautiful and classic Julianne Moore

Hair Trend: Bird's Nest Hair Bun

A look taken from the Chanel pre-Fall 2011 show (pictured below) - the bird's nest bun has been seen everywhere recently from the catwalk to the red capet to the supermarket? Eh, well maybe not there. The look certainly differs from that of the typical ballerina knot but CAUTION! - Only wear this look with confidence, it is quite the attention grabber.

Here are some more examples!!!

My take on the look ...and a tamer version I might add

Beauty Spotlight: Adriana Lima

One of my favorite models, she's Brazilian and gorgeous and always looks amazing!

PRODUCT REVIEW: Befine Food Skin Care Night Cream

As I have mentioned before, Birchbox is a company that sends out high end makeup and skin care samples each month -  and I believe that this one came in March's Birchbox. It is honestly my favorite product out of the four boxes I have received thus far, and it is Befine Food Skin Care Night Cream. Made from all natural ingredients like Cocoa, Millet and Rice Bran this product is a miracle worker for my skin.

The product is described like this: Rice brans and protein and vitamins increase the skin's elasticity and support collagen growth as you sleep. Cocoa's caffeine increases circulation for a fresh and rosy complexion. Use every night to replenish and hydrate skin while you sleep.

The product is known to hydrate and replenish the skin, but it also clears it up - or atleast clears mine up. If I have a few blemishes and I put this cream on at night, the next morning they are significantly smaller. I am completely hooked to this. My sample is running out, so I don't use it every night like it suggests and I am dreading buying a full sized one at $30 - but I think I may have to splurge for this. Everything from Befine I have tried has been great, but this by far is my favorite.

40 Beauty Questions Tag

Hi lovelies! So there is a tag going around YouTube of 40 questions about things like makeup, skin care, and numerous products- but since I don't have a YouTube account anymore I figured why not answer it on the blog. This way I also won't ramble as much ;)

40 Beauty Questions

Skin Care Questions

How many times do you wash your face each day?   Once or twice.

What type of skin do you have?   Combination/Dry

What is your current face wash?   The Body Shop- Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleanser.

Do you exfoliate?    Yes, on my body if I am using Jergens or some sort of fake tanner and on my face about once a week.

What do you use to exfoliate?    The Body Shop -  SEAWEED Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator 

Do you have freckles?    Yes, under my eyes and on my nose - especially when I've been in the sun.

Do you use eye cream?    nope

Do you/did you have acne prone skin?    I get break outs  when I am stressed, so when finals week hit my skin went crazy, but in the summer when I get a bit of sun and have more time to relax it is usually pretty good.

Did you ever use proactiv?   Nope. I was pretty tempted to in the past when my skin was breaking out, but never got around to it. I have used ACNE FREE Severe Wash though before, which is similar to ProActiv and it works wonders but dries your skin out a ton, so be careful.

Makeup Questions

What foundation do you use?   For day to day I will use my L'Oreal True Match Foundation in shades W2 or W3 depending on how tanned I am at the moment (I love L'Oreal), but if I am being photographed a lot like at a wedding or something I would wear Revlon Photo Ready foundation or Makeup Forever HD foundation.

Do you use concealer?     Yes, Yes, Yes.  I always use concealer, even if I don't have foundation on. My favorite is Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage, it is brilliant. 

Do you know your undertone color?    My undertone I find very confusing, in the summer I seem to have more yellow undertones, but in the winter I can look very pink, it is probably because of the cold, but who knows.

What do you think of false lashes?  Love them, if you have the right occasion to wear them!

Did you know you're supposed to change mascara every 3 mo?    Yes I know, although I don't always stick to this rule because I tend to just use them until they are gone and then purchase a new one.

What mascara do you use?    Any L'Oreal mascara - I love them all, especially the Voluminous Million Lashes. I have one in brown black and a waterproof one in The Blackest Black.

Sephora or MAC?    Both. Don't make me pick - it's too hard.

Do you have a MAC pro card?     No, but I'm working on it!

What makeup tools do you use for makeup application?   Brushes mostly, I have a set that I got at Costco one year , I am not even sure what their proper name is, but they are really nice The thing with brushes is you can usually find some pretty cheap ones at places like Target or Walgreens, they don't always have to be MAC - just remember to keep them clean.

Do you use base/primer for eyes?/face?    I actually never use a primer on my face. I don't know why I just don't really find it necessary. My makeup usually stays put for the most part. If I go out though I will use an Eye Primer - Urban Decay Primer Potion is my favorite.

Fav eyeshadow?    I don't know if I could choose one-  I tend to lean towards bronze shades like Woodwinked from MAC, Half-Baked from Urban Decay, or 24-K from Victoria's Secret. I also always use some sort of light color on my inner corner and brow bone as a highlight.

Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?   I actually don't normally wear eyeliner for day to day makeup, but when I am going out I usually stick to pencil or gel liner, like Wet N' Wild's gel liner- it stays put forever!

How often do you poke your eye w/ an eyeliner pencil?   Not very. I am very clumsy though and tend to poke myself with a mascara wand, especially when I'm in a hurry.

What do you think of pigment eye shadows?    Really pretty colors but not as convenient to use as pressed shadows. I have one in Antique Gold though from MAC that I love.

Do you use mineral makeup?     Sometimes yes. I used to use Bare Minerals a lot but I felt like it dried out my skin. I do think it is better for your skin though so when I want to give my skin a break I will switch to mineral makeup for a while.

What is your fav lipstick?   I really really love my MAC lipstick in Blankety, especially in the winter. Some of my other favorites are Whisper from Victoria's Secret, Soft Nude from Revlon and YSL Rouge Volupt in Provocative Pink if I am trying to spice things up a bit. Also, the 24 hr Superstay glosses from Maybelline work wonders and the Red shades stay on all night without bleeding or rubbing off. 

What is your fav lipgloss?   YSL glosses are a new discovery of mine and they are great. They smell good and have just enough pigment in them so you can layer them over lipstick or wear them on your own.

What is your fav blush?    Well Dressed by MAC or Dandelion from BENEFIT. 

Do you buy makeup on ebay?     Yes, but only things that have been discontinued.  Just make sure the seller is reputable and you read some user feedback first!

Do you like drugstore makeup?  Yes, especially L'Oreal, because a lot of people don't know but they are a French company and you are actually getting high quality cosmetics for just a fraction of the price.

Do you go to CCOs?   Have never been.

Did you ever consider taking makeup classes?    Yes, and I still might but for now I am focused on college.

Are you clumsy w/ putting on makeup?   If you know me, then you know I am pretty clumsy with all aspects of my life, but if I have time I will go slow and make sure everything is as put together as possible. 

Name a makeup crime you hate.   Colored glitter on eyes during the day that leaves fall out all over the face. AND tons of black eyeliner (reminds me too much of middle school) AND concealer too light for the skin - no one likes the raccoon look.

Do you like colors or neutrals?    I tend to stick more towards neutrals especially on my eyes, but I can appreciate a red or hot pink lip. I will wear color if I have somewhere to go, but sometimes its a little much for everyday.

Which celeb always has great makeup?   Blake Lively, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, The Victoria's Secret Models

If you could leave the house using just one makeup item, what would you use?   concealer

Could you ever leave the house w/o any makeup?    I do all the time. 

Do you think you look good w/o makeup?    Yes! Makeup should enhance, not hide!

What is the best makeup line?    I can't choose I love them all. 

What do you think of makeup?    It's awesome! It is one of the best forms of self expression you can have- and it's totally fun!

Anna Wintour Speaks Out for Gay Marriage

Vogue's Editor-in-Chief and rightful Queen of Fashion, Anna Wintour has recently appeared in a video with the Human Rights Campaign - the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization to speak out for Gay Marriage. Watch the video below and see what she has to say! Remember, fashions fade but Equality is always in style.

Calling All Beauty Junkies!

So, if you guys watch YouTube haul or tutorial videos then you have probably have heard about a company called Birchbox, but for those of you who haven't I am going to explain. So what is a Birchbox you ask? Well, Birchbox is a great company that sends you between 4-5 high end beauty samples a month which can range from any kind of makeup, to skin care or nail polish, etc. The goal of the company is to help cut the makeup clutter out of your life by sending samples to determine which products work best for you. It is only $10 a month, and you can even create your own skin profile so that you will be sent products that match your skin type.

I highly recommend treating yourself to Birchbox if you have not already, it's like getting a gift in the mail every month OR give it to a friend! I got my friend 3 months of Birchbox for her birthday and now she is hooked too :)

The Wrong Goodbye - Gossip Girl Finale Fashion Breakdown

Okay, so for all of those who follow Gossip Girl religiously (I know I do), then you understand that part of the reason for that is the amazing clothes this cast gets to wear on a daily basis. Eric Daman, costume designer for the show has been dressing the cast for four seasons now and if anything the clothes have only improved as the years have passed- and the end to the fourth season was no exception. Check out what the GGs wore below:

Blake Lively (Serena Van der Woodsen) wore a gorgeous coral Jenny Packham dress, one of my favorites this entire season.

Leighton Meester (Blair Waldorf) wore an Alexis Mabille Couture Petal Embroidered Gown from the Fall 2010 Collection- it was absolutely stunning. If you watch the finale you can really get a good look at all of the incredible detail. AMAZING.

        

And now cousin Charlie... who wore a Pamela Dennis original - which Serena also wore in Season 1 to cotillion in the epsiode "Hi, Society". I loved the dress then, and have to say I didn't mind seeing it reappear. 

Who do you think wore it better? COMMENT BELOW!!!

PRODUCT REVIEW: NARS Super Orgasm Lipgloss

Continuing on my Lipgloss binge... yesterday I bought NARS Super Orgasm Lipgloss and I love it. I can't say that I like the formula more than the YSL Pur Gloss but I love the color!!! I first heard it about it on Fleur de Force's channel and am so glad I bought it.

And unlike the YSL gloss, this one has shimmer. There are little gold flecks inside the gloss, without it being over powered by glitter which is nice, because who really wants chunks of glitter on your lips? - bleh! Again at $24, it is kind of a splurge (something I have been doing a lot of recently, AHHH! ) but it really is gorgeous and I hear that NARS only releases it sometimes so, since I was at Sephora and they had it I thought... why not? 

If there is something you want reviewed, comment below and don't forget to subscribe/ follow!!

Prom Season!

So my sister's prom was about a month ago and she wore a gorgeous red gown so to compliment the dress I did her hair in a pretty side pony-tail and did her make-up to reflect A Modern take on Old Hollywood Glamour - think Marilyn Monroe meets Gwen Stefani. She had a great time and I was glad to be a part of it :)

Products Used:

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation

BENEFIT Hoola Bronzer

Victoria's Secret Champagne Eye Shadow

BENEFIT High Beam

Maybelline Superstay 24 Lip Gloss in Endless Ruby

NYC Black Liquid Liner

L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes in Black

Photo Flashback!!! Senior Prom 2009

What was your prom like? Comment Below!!!!!

STORAGE: Z-Palette

When I first saw the Z-Palette mentioned in one of Kandee Johnson's makeup tutorials on YouTube I knew that I had to have it. What is a Z-Palette you ask? Well, the Z-Palette is an empty magnetic make-up palette without any sort of separators, which makes it easy to store refill pans of anything - blush, eye shadows, anything really and they don't even need to be the same size. The palette also has a clear cover, making it even easier to see what colors are in your palette - something which is great if you have a larger kit. Mine hasn't expanded that far yet, but I'm sure in the future another one will be needed.

I personally got my palette so I could buy MAC refill pans, since they are cheaper than buying individual eyeshadows and because a lot of tiny individual shadows floating around are hard to keep track of, especially when you have sisters who tend to "borrow things" (not to mention any names, hehe) so the Z-Palette is great at keeping you organized. Another great feature of the palette is that it comes in different colors and patterns. I have a cheetah print one - sooo cute! I believe they also come in pink, black and zebra print. There are two sizes as well, a smaller more square shaped one and then the larger rectangle. I highly suggest the palette if you are interested in organizing your kit or just interested in collecting different refill pan shadows like me. The Z-Palettes range in price from $14-$20 and can be purchased on their website :)

FAVORITE CONCEALER EVER!

Hi guys, this is not really a product review so much as a testimony of my love for Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage concealer. I never really used any concealer until last year when I tried Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Concealer stick, but after using it for awhile it just was not working out. I absolutely love Neutrogena as a drugstore brand, especially when it comes to skin care, but the concealer just did not work for me. It made my skin look really oily which is not good, especially because when I break out it is on my chin, so an oily chin is not cute at all.  It wasn't until one of my best friends Kate told me about the Laura Mercier concealer that I was confident I would find one that wouldn't break me out, but it's been about 4 months now and I won't go back to anything else.

This concealer really is a miracle worker, it covers just about anything. The way it works is that each concealer comes with two colors, a more pinky color and then a more flesh tone. You apply the pinker tone first to cancel out redness, then layer the   fleshy color on top to give you a completely flawless look. Even when my skin is really bad, this concealer covers everything without making my breakouts worse. It also photographs beautifully and does not smear eye makeup when under your eyes which can be very irritating. I was so impressed with this product that I bought it for my mom for her birthday and she has become a bit obsessed as well. It is just so nice, I can't say enough good things about it. The only thing that I would suggest is buying a concealer brush while using this product, it makes the application a lot smoother than if you'd use it with your fingers. I highly, highly recommend this product to everyone. It is a little steep at $28, but so worth it, and it lasts for a while. I have hit pan on mine, but like I said it's been four months already and I use it almost everyday, so in my opinion if you had to splurge on one thing it should be this!

Don't forget to subscribe! :)

PRODUCT REVIEW: YSL Gloss Pur

Now to be totally honest lipgloss is not really my thing. I think I have bad memories from middle school with the really glossy lips and loads of black eyeliner, but those days are over and I have decided to do away with the Bonne Bell lipSmackers and try something new. So, while I was browsing the Sephora website as I so often do I stumbled across the YSL glosses and decided to go ahead and order one. I decided to go with the Gloss Pur gloss rather than the Golden Gloss, because it does not have shimmer.  Don't get me wrong, I love shimmer, but I feel that on my lips it does not always look right. I love the Pur gloss though, it isn't too sticky and has a good amount of pigment, so you could wear it alone or layer it. I ordered shade 47-  pure peach and it is a nude pinky peach... so pretty. So far I found that my favorite way to wear it is layered overtop of my Revlon Soft Nude lipstick.

 I normally tend to lean towards more pinky colors, but I am having a peach moment right now and am totally feeling the whole coral summer vibe so I decided to try something new, not to mention it has a great mango scent. It was kind of a splurge at $30, but I absolutely love it and the packaging is beautiful. As cheesy as it sounds, I feel like a grown up with my YSL lipgloss - goodbye middle school, hello fabulous! I would definitely recommend this gloss to anyone.

Savage Beauty: Alexander McQueen

For everyone wondering what to do this summer holiday, I have a suggestion. If you are going to be close to the New York area between now and July 31st go check out the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I have not been yet, but I really want to take a trip to see this amazing man's work. The late Alexander McQueen was the fashion pioneer of our time and the exhibit pays homage to him by showing his pieces from 1992 all the way through to his last collection. If anyone goes please comment and tell me how it was and if I go, I will be sure to put up pictures!

For more info please visit the Met's website :)

PRODUCT REVIEW: Garnier Surf Hair

Okay guys, so the first product that I wanted to review is Garnier's Surf Hair. I absolutely love this product. When I use it, I usually blow dry my hair with a hair dryer in circular motions to add volume to my hair, then once it is almost dry I just add about a nickel sized amount of the product to my hair and just kind of scrunch it in with my fingers and mess it around a bit to get  well - Surf hair! I use this product all year long whenever I want those beachy sort of waves, but in the summer is when I can especially get away with that windswept, effortless look.

 If I am going out somewhere, sometimes I will add a few extra waves with my curling wand, but for the most part I just leave it to do whatever it wants. I personally have pretty straight hair, so when I use this product it adds just the right amount of wave to make it look like you spent the whole day at the beach, without that gross dryness from the salt water. And the best part about this product is that it is so cheap. I bought it at Target for $2.65 - you really can't ask for a better price. I have wanted to try Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray for ages now, but after spending three bucks for this it is hard to justify spending $23. I would definitely suggest to everyone to try this product, I can't seem to get enough!

Hello World!

Hi guys! For years now I have been following blogs like Tanya Burr's and Fleur De Force's and thought it was about time to create my own. These girls have been such an inspiration to me       and if I could inspire just a few people of my own from this blog then mission accomplished! Now, I am by no means highly qualified to be giving people glamour advice, but I think I have something to offer in terms of tips and tricks.  On this blog I will be doing product reviews and sharing secrets I have learned from past mistakes (we all have them) and maybe eventually create a YouTube channel for tutorials, but for now here is the blog, so ENJOY!