2013 Hair Trends

In the hopes of getting inspiration for my own locks, I have done a ton of research on current hairstyle trends for the coming year. I was hoping for a few shorter style ideas, but that wasn't happening. It's seems like styles are either really long (which I have and I'm sooo bored of ) or super short (which is great for Miley Cyrus and maybe Anne Hathaway, but certainly not me) So my search for a great haircut failed but I did pick up on some trends along the way, here they are...

• low buns and slick low ponytails, easy breezy anyone can do it
• braids, harder to do yourself, but that's what friends are for
• deep side parts, they are back in full force
• headbands and jewels, an easy way to add color and fun to your style
• pastel, good placement and this is very pretty
• auburn and rich browns, red is calling me, it's been a while
• wait for it...ombre, it's been years but she's here to stay
• and ps girls...we'll be seeing orange lips and nails of all shades. Jessica Alba let the cat out of the bag!

ombre check

deep side part check

orange lips BOOM

photo credit:

forever21

Fischer: Glamcheck.com

Alba: Bossip.com
Fox: Makeupforlife.net
Cyrus: Mileycyrus.blogspot.com
fashion week: rizzierischools.com

  

Root Curls Not Bo Peep Curls

Ever curl your hair with all intentions of looking like a Kardashian and come out looking like Bo Peep? It happens to the best of us. Here's a step by step guide on how to get this famous (never going away) red carpet look.

*First let me start by saying your hair needs to be completely dry before you use any hot tool (curling iron, flat iron, etc..) because if it's even slightly damp the curl will go limp and most importantly you can really sizzle and burn your hair. It's always better if it's not freshly washed. It'll look better and also last longer. If you have to wash it make sure you are using the correct products. I can't say this enough! Pick out the appropriate shampoo,  conditioner and styling products for your particular hair type. If you have normal hair, use shampoo for normal hair, NOT for damaged or stressed hair. Treat your hair like you would your skin. If you have a dry face you're not buying moisturizer for oily skin...following? It's the same concept.

So your hair is totally dry and you are ready to curl. The number one thing to remember is curl your roots NOT your ends. Meaning break that high school habit of pulling the iron down to the ends of your hair and curling up toward your scalp. Here's the reason: when you do this the ends of your hair are getting the most heat and for the longest time so therefore the most curl. The result is flat on top and overly curly on the bottom. We need to reverse this.

• Use a good iron that heats evenly. I love the Hot Tools Professional brand. The barrel size I use is 3/4" or a 1" will work too. You can use larger for looser curls, but remember every hairstyle will fall a bit so go with a tighter curl to start.
• Sectioning with clips is good if you feel like it'll be easier. If not, just simply look in the mirror and grab a 1" section of dry, tangle free hair, place the barrel of the iron about 3 inches from scalp and twist up leaving the ends of your hair out.
• Hold for a few seconds and slowly release and twist until all of your hair is curled except the very ends. Making sure the iron is always close to your scalp.

This technique gives you body at the roots of your hair, and beautiful loose waves at the bottom. If you have stubborn hair that doesn't like to curl or stay curled, try spraying each section with a thermal styling product. It protects hair from the heat of the iron and holds the curl longer.

Yea I know, that ass works for anybody...but that hair only works for a child, and even that's a stretch

photo credits

Kardashians: tvguide.com

J Lo : stylebistro.com

Kate Hudson: styletips101.com  

Get Naked This Winter

photo: Allure

I'm seeing it everywhere! Everyone wants to be naked! Naked eyeshadow palettes, naked lip color and naked nails. I'm a fan of going nude this cold weather season (or anytime) so let's take a look!!

Starting with Nails: Christian Dior Vernis Nude Collection.

Four shades of amazing: Trench, Dune, Grege and Chamelle. *If neutral alone is too boring for you try pairing it with a maroon french tip* 
so chic and unexpected.

photo: zimbo.com

Eyes: Urban Decay Naked is a classic. New this season is Urban Decay Naked2 Both are amazing eyeshadow palettes for everyone.


Two Faced Shadow Bon Bon comes with a full sized mascara and an eye primer.











Lips: Bobby Brown the Queen of neutral pulls it all together with her Bellini Lip and Eye Palette. and Stila All Is Bright Lip Glaze Set has a color for any occasion.


(Click on any blue font and it will link you to that particular product.)

Stay beautiful in the flesh this winter and remember it's only makeup, it's not permanent so have a little fun!

the gorgeous Bettie Page wishing us all a happy, healthy and hot holiday season

travel tip(s) #3

3 fun travel tips:

• Room darkening window clips. Yes they are great...clips you can buy to throw in your bag to clip hotel curtains fully closed. However, the pant and skirt hangers in your hotel room closet work just a well. Plus they are double clipped so you can use 2 hangers for the length of the curtain!

• Re-usable canvas bags. Great for so many things, here are 3:

1. You know everything you are going to need while inflight so why wait until you board to dig through your bags and hold up the boarding process? Put your headphones, ipod, books, magazines, lip balm, hand cream, etc... in your canvas bag while you wait in the terminal for easy access once on the plane.
2. Beach bag! Tote your H2O, sunscreen, mags, wallet, etc.. to the pool and beach.
3. Dirty clothes. Perfect for keeping clean and dirty items separate. 

• Cell phone cameras aren't just for uploading pictures to Facebook. When parking in a long term lot at the airport take a picture of the marker heading for the row in which you parked....Don't want to look like a tourist with a gigantic map? Take a picture of the map with your phone. This also works for subway maps, bus route maps, etc.... Also, take a picture of the address and phone number of your hotel. This comes in handy when you are telling your cab driver your destination. (after a few drinks you might need this information) You can find this info posted on your hotel room landline phone, it's usually located right above the number keys for dialing.

BB Cream

BB huh? I know I didn't get it either. “BB” stands for blemish balm or beauty balm. The cream was originally designed and used by a German surgeon to speed healing after post-peel and laser treatments on his clients. He also designed it to hide redness and help with inflammation.  
The product was picked up by the Koreans, and their celebrities started to attribute their flawless skin to the product. It's also said that the average women's skin care routine in Asia is an astonishing 7 steps. Apparently Asia has been holding out on us girls because this cream is a moisturizer/sunscreen/foundation/concealer all in ONE fantastic tube, with soothing, healing and anti-aging benefits. It's no wonder the craze took off with feverish panic in the Asian community! 7 steps? Yeah, ok, not in our insanely fast paced world.


Now, how and where do you buy it? Looking into this further I found that different companies concentrate on different problems:

• hydration
• anti-aging
• redness
• acne control
• skin lightening (most Asian brands)

Decide what you are after and make sure you read the packaging. 


After reading many blogs, and articles a trend started to appear. Here are the top 5 brands for BB cream in the US as far as I can tell:

1. Garnier Skin Renew ~ You can get it for under 15 bucks at Target
2. Bobby Brown ~ comes in 3 different shades with SPF 35
3. MAC prep + prime bb ~ SPF 35 and sold out online! So go directly to a MAC store
4. Estee Lauder Day Wear BB ~ comes in 2 shades with SPF 35
5. Smashbox Camera Ready BB ~ comes in 5 different shades with SPF 35

Peonies Lips So Summer Sexy

Someone recently asked what's the new lip shade for the upcoming season. Palest coral and soft pinks make the prettiest pouts this spring and summer, just like a fresh bouquet of peonies brightens any room. Of course I have a few suggestions. Click the links for pictures.

• Bare Escentuals Buxom Lip Cream in Creamsicle ~ easy lip gloss type applicator
• Fresh Sugar Coral Tinted Lip Treatment ~ best part is it's SPF 15 
• Benefit Posietint ~ doubles as a cheek stain in a pretty poppy shade
• MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner in Fuchsia Fix ~ don't let the "fuchsia" scare you away. I wear this one all the time. It's perfectly sheer and SPF 15
• Urban Decay Super Saturated High Gloss in Lovechild ~ stain like effect with stay power

All 5 of the products listed above are light, sheer lip colors. Perfect for summer wearing when you don't want to cover too much of anything.

Hot tip: If you are someone that likes a more opaque look you might want to try applying a pale coral or pink lip liner followed by a gloss or translucent lip conditioner on top. This way your color has more punch and hold (lip liner has better wear time than lipstick) but you're keeping that spring/summer moisturized look. *See hot lips below ;)

Good Morning/Ready For Take Off! Taking your day time look to night.

This is a basic-for-everyone-technique. Steps 1-5 are your day time look. Steps 6-11 will let you turn your day look into night.

1. Start with a clean palate. Always use concealer under your eyes AND on top of your lids from lash line to brow. This gives you a clean slate.
2. Sweep a creamy neutral shadow from lash line to brow. This sets the concealer.
3. Take a neutral color like brown, bronze or whatever you like...sage, tan, gold etc... and start to build color on the outer corner of your eyes, keeping inner corners light. Work this color into your crease...remember this is daytime so use a light hand.
4. Highlight inner corner of eyes and under brow. You can use the same creamy neutral you started with.
5. Apply light coat of mascara.
6. After work function, happy hour, whatever you plan on doing here's a few more steps to freshen up for your fun night. Take a blender brush and smooth out any creases that might have formed in your eyeshadow during the day. Don't worry about blending out the color, we'll add more! Next define your brow. Nothing beats a strong brow!  Refer to my post  A Brow Raising Good Time for instructions on filling in and perfecting eyebrows.
7. Line your eyes with choice color as close to lash line as possible, and blend slightly with a brush. *We are trying to blend the liner so you don't have any harshness going on. Also this works great if you aren't the best eyeliner applier. It blends out mistakes or a shaky hand.
8. Pile on your best shimmery, smoky shadow. Remember to keep inner corners light. Work color into outer corners of your eyes. Blend shadow into crease. Imagine a ">" sideways triangle at the outer corner of your eyes. Layer and blend and take your time until you reach the saturation you want. Again highlight inner corners and brow with a light neutral...make it a shimmer.
9. This is totally "old school" but I've been lining my inner rims with black liner! This technique is often called "tightlining" I use regular old black pencil which usually smudges off but I just carry it with me. Or you can use a waterproof cake liner or similar product and apply with a liner brush. Try MAC fluidline if you hate the smudgy look. *You can also use a white eyeliner to open eyes up and brighten your look.
10. Pile on the mascara! If you put a light enough coat on in the morning you shouldn't have any problems adding another coat or two. Comb through wet lashes with a metal tooth comb if you are worried about clumps.
11. Add a little something extra by highlighting a half-moon shape from your temple to your cheekbone. Try a product like The Multiple by Nars. So fun!