Holiday Gift Sets

So I haven’t tried it yet (but I did get it for Christmas), but I’m completely excited about this Bliss Spa “Glow Ho-Ho” Triple Oxygen extravaganza set. It includes:

1. Energizing Face Mask (LOVE this – I get samples of it every time I go into a Sephora, so I think it’s time for me to actually spend money on an entire pack lol),

2. One pair of eye masks (never tried this but more than one person I know swears by this moisturizing, but non-greasy eye mask), and

3.Vitamin C Cream (anything that has Vitamin C is soooo good for your face – it gives it that natural glow)

I’ll keep you posted on how I like it, but from all of the reviews I’ve read online and heard from friends here and there, Bliss isn’t messing around when it comes to their face products. 

For Once, Fake is First-Rate

Fake eyelashes – Target - $4 (one pair)

Now, I’m not one that needs fake lashes (or fake anything for that matter) or that I even like the extra hassle quite honestly, but there’s something ultra hot and sexy about adding some thick lashes to play up your eyes, no matter how big or small your eyes may be. The brand Ardell seems to be the one I hear the most about and the only ones I’ve tried (NOT the individual lashes that you glue to your own because I couldn’t figure out for the life of me how that shit works and I def don’t have the patience). They make me feel glamorous and it commands people look at your eyes! Keep all of your other makeup low-key (lips, cheeks – keep them a neutral or light pink-ish color). That way, you won’t look like a drag queen!

Fake Hair - Sally Beauty Supply – $13 (one thick ponytail)

I’m laughing as I’m writing this because I’ve always made fun of those who wear fake hair (it reminds me of my aunts who wear hair that’s like 2 shades lighter than their own), but I decided to try it to make my hair look thick and lush (I wanted it for my engagement party but decided to go sleek and straight). Believe it or not, I love how it looks! I actually prefer pinning it in a bun, because by slicking my hair back, it actually looks polished and put together. And the ponytail by itself doesn’t look fake either! (I’m always worried though that someone will be able to tell so I make sure that I cover every trace I can to not show my undercarriage lol).  It doesn’t have a chance of coming off either, because there are two combs attached on the inside AND there is a tightening apparatus, so you can make sure it stays secure to your hair.  Either way, I’ve been converted into a believer. Extensions are next! Stay tuned…

Holiday Jumpsuit – Fit and Flair!

So for this entry I want to talk about a few different things. First, I want to talk about the Jumpsuit craze that will soon be overtaking the streets. Second, I want to use the jumpsuit to illustrate the two things that are critical to making an outfit look amazing on you – fit and focus.

Jumpsuit:

I found this jumpsuit at Bebe for $140. I also found a three-tiered metallic  (original $40, got it for 40% off + $25 off my entire purchase) necklace but it does NOT go with this outfit, but I’ll tell you why in a minute – oh, and I’ll include it on another post so I can show it off!)  The jewelry I have on is from Forever 21 - $8 for the emerald green drop earrings and $9 for the gold/emerald green bracelet.

In deciding what to wear for a friend’s office Christmas party (at a swanky West Hollywood hotel), I had to make sure I looked glamorous, yet classy (and still feel sexy, because that’s what makes me feel the most confident).  Looking at this outfit on the rack, I didn’t think it would do much for me. But when I tried it on, I loved how it showed off my assets by making me look taller (a one piece is slimming and elongating) while tightening me at the smallest part of my waist with a soft leather belt. The leather details along the edges brought an edge to the outfit that gave it a rock n’ roll feel, and yet it had a structured, straight-lined look to it that made it look classy and glamorous. The neckline is my favorite part, because it was a deep-V, but allowed me to wear a bra to give me a little extra cleavage (which as a small-chested woman, I always approve of some umph).  This was the focal point of my outfit and everything I wore as accessories merely brought the eye back to that area.

Accessories:

I decided to put my hair up in a high bun (again, making me look taller), with some sexy red patent-leather shoes, and simple (monochromatic), yet bold, jewelry that didn’t take away from the jumpsuit, but served as perfect accents. These dangly earrings draws the eye back down toward my chest. I could have mixed my metallics (silvers and golds), but I didn’t really have any long earrings that worked as well as these emerald green ones.  Now, I did NOT want to wear the three-tiered necklace because it would have taken away from the focal point of my outfit – the clean V of the neckline.  The type of outfit to wear with that kind of necklace is where the necklace is the focus. I decided to also keep my makeup monochromatic (bronze eye shadows, nude, shimmery lipgloss (I thought about wearing a red lipstick, but again, it would have changed the focus to my face with bright red lips and big, bold earrings) and a shimmery bronze with a touch of light pink to my cheeks.

Jumpsuit As The Example:

Tailoring: Getting your clothes tailored to fit you, even if it’s just a hem will make an outfit look as if it were custom made for you, not to mention it will make you look very put together (and also like you spent a fortune on the outfit, even if it’s just a hem).

Focus: Picking a focal point of your outfit will ensure that your eye is drawn to the most dramatic or flattering part of your figure.  If you make sure everything else compliments (and doesn’t overpower) that focal point, it will show off your shape wonderfully, because it will draw the eye to that one point (if the eye were drawn to multiple points, you would just look wider, or worse yet, a hot mess).

So to recap:

           1. Jumpsuits are IN this season (get one with some interesting trim or detailing

           2. Tailor your clothes

           3. Make ONE thing the focal point of your outfit and accessorize around it

Let's Paint the Town Red Lip Stain...by Tarte

Love, love, LOVE this color. It took me forever to find a red lipstick/matte that works well for my skin tone.  Funny enough, it also for those who are lighter than me as well - a friend tried it on (dark hair, dark eyes, fair skin) and it looked awesome on her too (a little more bright, but still freakin' perfect).

Anyway, I searched Instyle, Glamour, Allure and other companies that do a "Best of 2010, 2011 Beauty Products", given their readers' and editors' picks. Based on my skin tone, the ones I tried out below overlapped in a few of the different "Best of" lists.  Out of all the ones they suggested (and yes, I did try them all on at the store), this one by far gets my vote. Why you ask? Here's why:

1. It's moisturizing - WTF? Yep. It's a matte lipstick that goes on soft and is moisturizing without being sticky at all (and it looks like you're painting your face with a crayon - super fun!) It even looks super smooth and flawless as it goes on, filling in the cracks on my dry lips (it IS winter) and giving them relief at the same time.

2. The undertone color has just enough orange in it. The orange tint, believe it or not, is big for someone with olive skin because if it's too orange it makes me look like a clown and if it has too dark of blue undertones, I look sickly and like a vampire. So this had just the right combo. I'm looking into trying their other colors as well, especially their nude ones.

3. Staying power. A lipstick that feels like chapstick and lasts for more than a few hours (if you aren't drinking) is all I need to be sold on a product. It looks and feels comfortable and makes me feel super sexy without 'trying too hard'.

Brand: Tarte, LipSurgence natural matte lip stain, Color: Fiery  - @ Sephora for $24

Here is a list of the ones I tried that I didn't like. Try them yourself and see which brand you prefer:

- (Expensive) Brand: Nars, Color: Heat Wave - $24 - I heard a lot of great things about this one, but this was one of the ones that was just too orange for me.

- (Expensive) Brand: Nars, Color: Jungle Red - $24 - A step down off the orange train from Heat Wave, this one still had a bit too much for me, but actually, it came down to this one and the Tarte Fiery that I ended up choosing.

- (Expensive) Brand: Nars, Color:  Shanghai Express - $24 - A friend with a lighter complexion tried this on and it looked killer on her, but when I tried it on, it looked a little too dark red/vampire-esque for my skin tone.

- (Expensive) Brand: Lancome L'Absolu Rouge, Color:  Absolute Rouge - $29 - It took me forever to find this one at a bunch of different Sephora stores (I guess it is very popular), but once I did, I wasn't that impressed. It had more of a blue undertone and it looked too dark red on me.

- (Inexpensive) Brand: Revlon, Color: Fire & Ice - $9 - Apparently this color has been a staple in their line of red lipsticks for decades, but when I tried it on at an airport beauty store, I took it right off - it was waaaay too bright orange (and left a bit of a stain).

A Little "Target" Practice

Ok, so yes, because I'm currently unemployed, I've been spending a little too much time at Target...that means...(not only spending more money, sigh) but more ways to daydream about what I "need" to make me look just a little bit sexier, more modern, a little more ahead of the fashion curve....Yep, that spells trouble. Either way, I picked a few "little" things here and there to give me a bit of an edge without having to revamp my entire wardrobe:

1. "Hipster" Black-rimmed Fashion Nerd glasses - $13

I tried them on for the hell of it because it looked good on the girl in the poster (don't judge me, she looked super cute) and had to do a double-take of myself.  I justified the purchase by saying I could always try them on with different outfits on at home and if I didn't like it, I'd take them back (I already knew I was keeping those bad boys). The next day, I put hair up in a bun, gave myself some rosy pink cheeks, and a light pink lip gloss (though it would work nicely with either a ruby red or shimmery plum lip color) and wahlah! I got lots of looks and compliments from random strangers. And of course my sisters and fiance had something to say about them (if it's a conversation starter, it's typically worth the fashion risk, as long as YOU like it). 

2. Merona Kamischel Suede Lug sole boots in Grey – $45


I’m 5’1, usually wear a size 6 shoe, with thick calves – i don’t fit in most boots actually but these….holy crap they zipped up, had some give from the material, but they were already constructed so well that I didn’t even have to cry as I tried to zip them up. (I later tried pairing them with some bootcut jeans;  tucking them in was too much to ask, but it was worth a shot). They don't look "cowboy-ish" but instead polished, sleek and casual. I pair them with a boyfriends sweater and some leggings and damn it works!! I love, love, love these boots and trust me when I say I vowed that I could never wear round-toed, flat boots because it would make me look too squat. Well, not this time!! 

Anybody know of any other brands that make boots for us thick-calved women??

Holiday Nail Polish - Bargains from Target

     The easiest way to get ready for the holidays without breaking the bank, in my opinion, is by spicing up the colors in your nail polish collection. I was in the spending mood at Target one night and drifted into the nail polish section and ended up with these fabulous colors:

1. Brand: Essie, Color: “Trophy Wife” – $8 

     

     This color is in between the "turquoise & caicos" color and a brighter green they had available (I don't remember the name). I decided on this one because it is shimmery and just dark enough for the holidays (and I can use it now instead of waiting to use the T&C color for summer). I tried it  on my toes so far and love it. It's a mysterious dark turquoise that I can't stop looking at. 

2. Brand: Sally Hansen Insta-Dry, Color: “Co-bolt blue” – $4 

      I got this instead of Essie’s “Aruba Blue” , which they describe as a “frosty sapphire blue” – between the Essie and Sally Hansen, they are the exact same color and SH's is $4 less (hey, 4 bucks is 4 bucks) – already love it on my toes – shimmery, dark but not dark enough where u can’t see the bright blue color – just enough tint for the holidays! It's a bargain buy!

3. Brand: Sally Hansen Crackle coat, Color: “Fractured Foil 03” – $6 

      I tried this on top of the cobolt blue – love it!  The crackle coat is all the rage right now and I see why - it's sooo fun and gives you a little extra something different - almost like an accessory in and of itself.