On The Road Again...

My Monday took me fresh from a weekend trip to Boston and put me right back on the road again, in the other direction.

So far I've hit 7 states in 2 days and my go to beauty products for these last minute road trips are my favorite Ray-Bans to protect my eyes, my scruncci hair tie to secure my hair for full open window and sunroof driving and Blistex Deep Renewal lip balm with SPF 15.

But beyond anything I keep in my bag from the beauty isles or counters, my go-to road trip product is my music because it keeps me sane and happy and that helps me out more than any mascara ever could.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Polish Strips

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips $10

So the legend said that there would one day be an easy way to have ones nails polished without the messy smells and drips of polishes and removers. That day came has some with the advent of Nail Polish Strips, particularly the Sally Hansen Salon Effects.

I tried these on for size a year ago after visiting my friend Tiffany and seeing her perfectly polished hounds tooth nails. She explained her process of using the Sally Hansen Salon Effects and was very pleased with the results and how well they kept.  So naturally, I had to get them immediately!

I bought a small box of a gold and black fishnet pattern called, "Misbehaved". The application is completely foolproof. You find the right size strip for each nail from the MANY that they give you in each box. You peel it off the sticker paper and apply it to clean, buffed nails. Press firmly with your finger and enclosed orange stick to adhere it to your nail and buff the end to get rid of any excess. That's it! No drying time. No going back over for another coat. Not even a top coat!! It's by far the fastest manicure out there. 


They strips aren't very thick and feel exactly like nail polish and not like thick stickers on your nail. I had a completely polished manicure for a full 10 days with these strips and that's including the painting and moving of a garage! They give you 2 full sets, so long nail wears would probably get 2 uses per box, but with my short nails I was able to use only half of each strip and save the rest and got 4 full uses from 1 package. Not a bad buy for $10, and they comes easily with regular polish remover.

Sally Hansen offers tons of patterns and colors now and even puts out seasonal patterns but I've noticed many other brands popping up. Sephora has a line, along with NailPatch.net and just about every drugstore an beauty supply store has their own version, all ranging in price from $3-$12.  

The convenience factor can't be beat. You can do your nails anywhere and never have to factor in your drying time. They take no special tools or skills and are safe for kids or mess-prone adults alike. 


Don't forget, these can even be cut and used to make shapes, stripes, or your own patterns! Easy nail part that's even customizeable for $10 or less, that lasts? Don't mind if I do!

My Beauty Girl Crush

Oh Gwen Stefani, I feel as if I've grown up with her. From her days of teenie tanks and wide pants to her fashion line and equally fashionable family, I've come to always look upon her with an inspirational eye. My long standing relationship with red lipstick can easily be attributed to Gwen when she sang about being "just a girl" in the early 90's. Since then, she's perfected her vintage look with modern edge, but always keeps a rather classic feel to her makeup and hair, even if it is hot pink or blue. 

When you don't see her rocking a mod up-do, you won't catch her in this years 'in' haircut or poker straight hair. Her signature blond hair is always blown into a lovely coif of early era perfection that almost seems like she just wakes up that way. Her nod to early era classic beauty is always mixed effortlessly with just enough of a twist to border on risque and she does it all with a take no prisoners way about her. From your classic red lip and lined eyes, to rock girl persona and modern red carpet appeal, you Gwen Stefani will always be my beauty girl crush. From 90's rock star to fashion house mogul, Gwen is a good girl gone glam. 

                                     

                         

Best Thing In A Bottle Since Beer

Morrocan Oil Leave In Hair Treatment $40

I'm no stranger to hair oil. I'm Indian, we love us some coconut oil and live by it, but coconut oil doesn't help with styling. I still remember the first time my hair dresser used Morccan Oil on me. It was a minor miracle. NAY! it was a major miracle! My hair dried soft and sleek and curly with no frizz, no crunch and no oily residue. What was this black magic that she used on me??  She gave me a trial size of it for me to use at home. That's how they get ya huh? "First ones free, Kid!"  

And just like an up-and-coming addict, I pretended I didn't need it.  No...surely my concoctions of hair products will be fiiine...I don't need that oil! But more and more I kept flashing back to that wonderful light, heavenly smell. The ease with which it ran through my hair. The way it dried, even on my hands, so quickly, without a trace of oil. I needed it.

I bought my first full size bottle from a salon in AL while I was visiting my sister. I had never spent that much money on one hair product before and I was nervous. It was a heavy dark apothecary bottle, that I loved,  inside of an attention grabbing blue box. I spent the time at her house perfecting my method and amount I needed. I started off with very little, cherishing this new liquid gold.  By the end of the week I found my happy place.

Since then I've given way to all other hair products. Nothing else compared nor would do anymore. I tried other brands of Moroccan/argan oils, during short lapses in judgement, only to find them too oily or heavy, or drying and making my hair brittle. Every time I've gone back to the original Moroccan Oil brand in the blue box with the heavenly smell.

For the last few years the only thing that I've put in my hair is this oil and my hair brush...and maybe some hair spray for costumes/events(where I basically go to in costume).  I use it every time my hair is wet and even on on dry hair to smooth out some frizziness or to bring some life back to my slept in curls.

Each 3.4 oz bottle lasts me between 6 months to a year depending how long my hair is and now that I don't buy anything else for my hair, the price tag seems more than worth it.

The Moroccan Oil line hosts a long line of hair products available in salons or select beauty supply stores. The line has everything from a lighter version of the oil treatment, to creams, masks, foams and shampoo. Every thing my hair stylist has tried on me has worked amazingly. I'm not sure what they're putting into those little blue packages, but it's so good it should be illegal!

Cover Your Eyes, Girl!

Cover Girl Eye Enhancers 4-kit in Drama Eyes $4-$6

Recently ,during a little stash shopping* I broke out this Cover Girl Drama Eyes palette when I needed a dark eye shadow to punch up the color in my Heatwave eye color by Bare Escentuals. I was more than pleasantly surprised. It blended well and stayed long so I decided to give this little palette a new trial. 

The colors in this palette are a shimmery white (which I find just too frosty to stand alone on my tan skin but will definitely use for a bit of inner tear duct highlighting), the black, which is rather matte, a very shimmery silver, and a rosy plum tone. 

Both of these looks were using only the CG Drama Eyes kit and L'Oreal Color Truth Cream Eyeliner over Urban Decay Eye Primer

On the Left, I only used the black and a bit of silver on the inner eye.

On the Right, I used the plummy color with the black around my lash line.

I wore both of these looks through hot summer days and came home the exact same way! I was amazed. I actually wore the plummy eye first and when that went so well I tried out the darker color and was blown away. The colors went on easily with hardly any fallout from the brush. They blended well and when wore over a primer, these drugstore shadows lasted all day for under $5! 

 Since Drama Eyes have been working so well I picked up this purple palette at Target on clearance for #3.38!!, called Berries and Cream. The CG website doesn't show this palette anymore, which is a shame because the colors are wonderful. The dark purple is a rich, deep matte purple, a light mauve, a pale pink and a cream, all with lovely iridescent  finish that has purple and pink tones. 

CG Berries and Cream Palette with L'oreal Infallible Lacquer Liner in Espresso

I still came home fully in tact and I'm still blown away by how well these Cover Girl eye shadows are holding up! As I finish writing this post I've been wearing this purple look seen above for a full 12 hours and not so much as a crease!

5 Thousand imaginary points to you, Cover Girl!!

*Stash Shopping (Verb.) The act of shopping ones own stash of not regularly used items in the hopes of finding something usable. 

An Espresso To Go

The other day my makeup bag got just the slightest bit bigger when I picked up L'Oreal Infallible Lacquer Liner 24H (phew! what a name!) in Espresso $10. (Currently on sale at CVS for $7.50!) 

I immediately compared it to my HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner that I shall never let go of. 

First of all, the Color Truth is a cream eyeliner and has a much heavier consistency and the Infallible is a gel liner. Both go on smooth, and allow for smudging and both have wonderful rich color to them. After wearing the Infallible for a few full days, I've loved the staying power, it doesn't end up on my eyelid! The gel formula takes just a minute longer to dry if you're doing a heavy dark liquid liner look, but it's easier to layer the color on itself without taking it off like the Color Truth tends to do. I think I'm falling for gel liners here!

The best part is the brush that comes with it that looks nothing like a freebie. It's got a nice size handle, sturdy grip even though it's a shiny finish, and the bristles are completely gentle around delicate eyes.  Major upgrade from the short stubby one that comes with the Color Truth. The brush's tapered end lets you work with any side, wide or thin so you can create any size line you could ever need! Though I'm not sure who is using the wide side down for that amount of coverage from a liner but hey, it could happen. 

The Infallible line comes in rich deep colors of Black, Espresso, Navy, Dark Slate, and Bronze. I chose the Espresso because I've stuck to only black liner for years and with my new found love of natural looks, I'm looking for something softer for daytime. 

Left: Milani Powder Shadow in Just Perfect with B.E. Eyecolor in Heat Wave from Wanderlust Desert Collection in the crease and corner and Infallible Lacquer Liner in Espresso.

Right:  Nothing but Infallible Lacquer Liner smudged into the lash line and mascara. The perfect "No Make Up" Makeup! 

This tiny pot just made it to my Every Day Makeup Bag, which has very exclusive membership! And with the CVS sale happening right now, I might have to try out the other colors so it's not in there alone. 

A Rainy Day Up-Do

The sweltering heat that we were getting here in New England was cut drastically on Friday when it was a cool and rainy day. And I was so greatful. I love rainy days. Mostly because I love rain gear. Trench coats, hats, umbrellas....I love it all. So when I peeked out the window to see the rain I was really excited to break out my semi costume attire and decided on a whole nautical themed day. Navy stripes, gold accessories and of course, a braid!

           

Originally I was going to leave the house like this, an easy sideways french braid. If you can french braid, you can sideways french braid. (sorry for the not so clear photo, but do you have any idea how hard it is to photograph the back of your own head??)

As I was about to leave I noticed that the rain looked like it had no end in sight and I had no intentions of spending my weekend scrubbing hair dye off the back of my favorite sleeveless trench. 

So with the help of some of my trusted bobby pin friends!.... 

 I rolled the braid from the bottom up to my ear and pinned in place and VIOLA!! Instant up-do and a dyeless collar!

Bobby Pin Tip: Always make an X with two bobby pins around an up-do. Crossing the bobby pins makes sure they never budge!

Stamp Collecting

My love of infomercials is only beat by my love of the Price Is Right.  The commercial about an at home nail stamping kit kept popping up, but made it seem like it was for women with full acrylic nails that possibly drive mini vans. I didn't think much of it until I came across some photos online of stamped nails in great patterns and colors created by the Konad Nail Stamping kits, the more professional version of the As Seen On Tv brand but exact same concept:  metal plates; scraper; stamper. 

Konad is great, but they are not cheap. Each plate is around $7, which can add up, unless you want the same image on your nails, always. If not, it's going to add up fast.  I did my research and found that there are other brands out there with the same quality but with a smaller price tag. I opened up my Amazon account and got to clicking. My package arrived yesterday and I wasted zero minutes before trying it out. 

I purchased the Bundle Monster 21 Piece Plate Set. Totalling out at 139 designs, this pack for $18 is a great value! I also picked up the Konad Double Ended Stamper and Scraper for under $5, all from Amazon.com 

The designs range from curved designs; perfect for the tips of long nails, full nail designs, and also accent images like small cupcakes, flowers or holiday designs. From geometrics to full floral, there is something for everyone!

Each plate comes with a protective film on top that you need to remove before using and each plate is numbered clearly. ie. BM21

Out of all 21 plates, only one was slightly mis-manufactured, but it seems it's only off center a bit and won't make a difference in the performance.

 Stamping: 1.) Paint polish on the image 2.) Scrape off excess 3.) Press stamper on image 4.) Roll onto nail              5.) Seal with a top coat. 

It's actually that easy.  Well...once you get used to it. 

TIPS:

• Wipe off the image and stamper with a remover soaked Q-tip after each stamp.
• The plate edges can be sharp so use with caution!
• Glittery polishes generally don't work, and neons work best.
• You need a thick polish with very saturated color. Konad makes a special nail polish just for this which you can get on Amazon for fairly cheap. 
• There are lists on many sites of polishes people have used with success. Like here and here.
• Some colors only get intense when you apply a few coats, since you won't be doing that, those polishes won't work, keep those for your base coat.
• There are plate holders available but my research suggested that it wasn't worth the trouble. It seems to work great simply on a paper towel, which is also easy clean up!
• Trial and error is your best friend in this game! Play around with your technique. Some images need to be applied on the stamper from image plate by rolling it across, some work better when stamped straight up and down.
• Here is a great video on the application technique.

So far, I've found my cheap, Sinful Colors Nail Polishes ($2 at walgreens!) and NYC In a Minute work the best.

The only reason I didn't do a full, newly stamped manicure is because I ran out of nail polish remover (sadface) but I'm excited to try out new combinations and styles! Who knows, maybe I'll start decorating my nails per holiday and move on to holiday themed clothing as well!  *shudder* maybe not. 

Hair Dryer, Oh Hair Dryer...

A Haiku to my hairdryer

Dryer, oh Dryer,

You are a prize possession

But you hurt me so.

The Hair Dryer. A crucial tool in any hair arsenal. And in mine, the greatest tool. Over the years I've gone through countless dryers in countless shapes and watts. One was even in the shape of duck, complete with webbed feet stand! I digress. 

Every time a hair dryer finally meets its end, I feel as if I've lost a good friend. All the hours together, gone. And there I am, back in the market searching for something new. This happened to me last year when my trusted Conair finally blew and I was forced to get out there and find a replacement. I tried low end models, I tried high end models, but none of them ever delivered the combination of heat and power that I needed. Even my sister's expensive T3, with it's Allure Beauty Rating, was no match for my hair. The power was good but the heat was lacking for my coarse curls.  Finally, after returning my 6th hair dryer I came across this Zoe dryer on an end cap at Target. Yes, it has a giant daisy on it, but function over form right?

This Zoe hair dryer, was worth all the times I drove back and forth to stores buying and returning dryers. This was my match.  Amazing power and air flow, and the heat!!!  I have never come across a hair dryer with this type of intense heat. It was perfect! It immediately cut 1/3 of my dry time! (I happen to sometimes time my dry times like my own personal Hair Pit Crew) On some days I can ever cut my time in half! 

I was so enamored with this dryer that I wasn't even bothered by the amount of times the concentrator kept falling off as I dried my hair. I just kept putting it back on and going about my day. This was far too good to worry about one flaw. 

It wasn't until recently when I tried to put the concentrator on that I realized what the problem was.

                                        

It's melted. melted! The dryer itself gets so hot that it has physically melted the plastic of the concentrator and that is why it doesn't stay on properly! I then decided to take a closer look at my dryer.

Yup, as suspected, that's melted too. Sigh.  This is probably a fire hazard, huh? I guess this Zoe dryer was in fact too good to be true. 

It all came to a head recently when I was drying my hair after turning it teal that I realized I actually melted off a small chunk of my hair down at my neckline. I held the dryer on it too long, along with my ceramic hair brush that heats up. The dryer has gone from hair style go-to to hair style assailant. 

I've still been using this dryer because I can't face the Hair Dryer Buying World just yet. I need more time. But soon, I know I'm going to have to take that leap and get back out there in the market. But it never gets easier. 

I'm considering looking for a hair dryer support group, or maybe even starting my own. 

I'm Finally Faking Natural

After my recent purchase of the Bare Escentuals Wanderlust Desert Collection, my mind has been fixated on neutral tones and daytime smokey eye makeup.

As much as I love eye makeup, it's been quite a while since I've worn eye shadow in the daytime, let alone something that wasn't neon yellow or purple.

I began with some inspiration photos, like these from Keiko Lynn

             

 Keiko's post for makeup on the Left and post about Right.

And these Celebritry photos from Pinterest

                 

Now, it was time to try it out on myself.

                       

I kept it subtle, which was hard for me. 

Bare Escentuals eye shadow in Heatwave from the Wanderlus Desert Collection across the lid with 

Cover Girl black shadow from Eye Enhancers Drama Eyes, in the crease and outer corner.

Smudged Round the Clock eyeliner in Midnight into the top and bottom lashline and went over it with the B.E. eye shadow.

Finished with Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion mascara in Very Black

It's completely wearable for daytime and I'm actually liking this whole natural colors look more than I thought I would!

L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner

L'Oreal Hip Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in black $10-$12

When I began wearing eye liner on a regular basis I kept finding myself irritated by the performance of my many pencil formulas because they would end up on my eyelids or just never stick to my waterline. I tried out  products like MAC Fluidline and Smashbox JetSet Waterproof Eyeliner.  I had such high hopes. I tried out each new product at least a few times before making a decision, but, nothing made the cut. After mere hours both the MAC and the Smashbox left my lower water line smudgy and faded. I was very disappointed. During a defeated round of review reading on MakeupAlley.com, I came across a reviewer tip to try the L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner.  What the heck, right? 

After the unassuming packaging with tiny brush that I tossed out after feeling it was much too stiff and hard to hold, my rounds of testing declared this cream eyeliner a true winner!

Amount of product? Tons!

Consistency! A dream!

Smudging? You betcha! and way better than the expensive counterparts!

Lasting?  Longer than that mayo jar in the back of the fridge!


This product would get 6 stars from me even if my ratings were 1-5. I've used it for years and managed to wear it through every trend I've gone through. I put this on with either a slanted tip brush, like this one from Bare Escentuals, when I'm doing a cat eye or tight lining my eye, or a slanted edge brush like the one in the photo when doing a daytime smudged top liner.But no matter how I use this, it goes on effortless, has a consistency I have time to work with, but dries in place and doesn't budge until I take it off with my Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover


My only gripe is the heavy glass container but I can look over that because the product goes above and beyond. I've recently seen this taken off of many shelves and keep checking the L'Oreal website to make sure it's not discontinued. I'm hoping that L'Oreal is just going through a new product packaging phase, but just in case, I will buy many back ups. 


Some may have cans of food in their fallout shelters, mine shall be stocked with L'Oreal Eyeliner.

Tips: 

• Always keep the lid closed tightly. This is a cream and will dry out.
• If you're new to cream eyeliners try out different eyeliner brushes because they make a world of difference to your application and results. My most favorite brushes are actually cheap ones that I've acquired over the years and will never know the origin of. 
• Have patience if you're new to using a brush. Just like all makeup it will become easier and faster with time. 

DIY Lip Palette

Finding proper purple shades for my lips has becomes one of those lifelong missions for me. Everything is either too dark or too frosty or just not a flattering shade. I've bought countless tubes over my lifetime yet can count the times I've gone out in public with a purple lip.  The color that I want is not one that I've found in just one tube so I've taken to mixing my lip colors to create something custom.  Which is fine and dandy until I, you know, do things. You just can't deny the fact that lipstick needs reapplying. sigh.  That is admittedly the reason I don't go out in purple lips, because I refuse to carry 2 or 3 tubes of lipstick with me.



In walks the empty lip palette.

I found this empty lip palette by e.l.f. in Target for $1 !!! It came complete with lip brush, which was crucial for me. 

I decided on my 4 best purple mixing colors and got to work!

Revlon in Black Cherry #477, Revlon in Berry Haute #660, Cover Girl in Divine # 330, Revlon in Va Va Violet # 663

Cutting slices off the tube I arranged them into the empty spaces. 

 I was rather shocked that each round took the entire tube. 

Here's where it got a little hairy. I assumed putting it in the microwave to melt the lipsticks into place a bit would be a great idea. Nope, not a great idea. Soon as I hit start there was a loud POP! The top of the mirror sparked and began to melt. I turned it off immediately.

My 2nd run as melting I decided to use the toaster oven. I turned it on for a min and then turned it off. I put the palette on the tray and put it inside. Everything was going smoothly!! Until......

I heard the POP and saw that the mirror cracked.Straight down the center from where it began to melt earlier. I pulled the palette out and as it cooled the mirror cracked twice more on either side, creating a rather unflattering cracked cross. The lipsticks melted wonderfully, but the mirror....not so wonderful.

I pushed around the lipstick a bit with my finger and flat top of the Revlon tube and cleaned up the mess I made with a thousand Q-tips.

The Result.

Minus the mirror mishaps, the palette worked! The lipsticks cooled very quickly into their original texture and all the colors stayed true. I'm very excited to be able to have all my favorite purples in one convenient place to play around with as I wish!  

And maybe on another lazy Sunday I'll work up to popping out that broken mirror and putting in a new one. 

**Pro Tip:   

• Since I was going for function over form, I didn't bother making the finish of the lipsticks very smooth and flat. Perhaps some wax paper or cling wrap over the palette to smooth it down to a flat surface would work, if you were so inclined to do so. 

Plaid Nails

Anyone with access to Pinterest or the internet itself has been seeing these photo tutorials about making your own nail stickers or strips with nail polish and scotch tape. I decided to give it a try.

It's a pretty straight forward process, here's what I did:

I painted some scotch tape with nailpolish. I did this first to give them time to fully dry. Then I painted my nails in a neutral grey and let them dry completely. A simple clear coat would work just as well.

Once the polish on the tape was dried, I cut the colors into very thin strips so I could create a plaid.  This was way more time consuming than regular stripes or shapes. Next time, I'll stick with something easier. For now I kept the same pattern on every nail. Tad overload?? Maybe. But it's only nail polish!

The long ends that were left I cut off with cuticle scissors and then pressed each nail well to make sure everything stuck.

I covered everything with a good top coat and VIOLA!! 

Plaid Nails!!

Colors I used:

Base grey: Petite Color Fever in Vintage Grey, Turquoise: L'Oreal Color Riche in Club Prive, Lime Green: Sinful Colors in Innocent, Hot Pink: NYC In A Minute in MoMa, Orange: NYC In A Minute in Spring Street, Silver: Milani Nail Lacquer in Ms Milani, Top Coat: Sally Hansen No Chip Acrylic Top Coat

Oh Scotch Tape...turns out you are so much more than just something to create funny faces and tape up my hands with when I'm bored.