Give Me Li-Body or Give Me Death

Please excuse my horrible pun for the time being. I just could not help myself.

Last week, I got my hair cut. Nothing drastic, just a trim, but my I asked my hair dresser, "What should I do about my flat hair syndrome?" She handed me a volumizing foam and told me never to blow dry my hair upside down ever again.

Instead of using mousse, which tends to weigh my hair down, the foam is light and gives my hair enough body to end my flat-head problem. It also makes it easier for me to tease (when needed) and calms down my fly aways immensely. I recommend Herbal Essences Body Envy Mousse for thicker hair and Suave Volumizing Foam for finer hair, like mine.

The other thing that she told me was that body comes from the top layer of your hair. So instead of blow drying your hair upside down (which makes the bottom layer of your hair have the body), dry your hair from the root up and out. You can use your fingers or a round brush, if you're going for a more curly style.

I hope this helps everyone with this awful problem.

--Jill 

Late Friday Feature : OMG NAILS?!

(imagefromkawaiinails.com)

I know you all remember my last post on these babies, back in December. 

Well, they're back. And here is why: I actually found a site where you can purchase them for a reasonable price ! Yupp ! Kawaiinails.com sells these awesome sets of perfect nails. 

I cannot even contain my excitement. Still trying to figure out my nail measurements and stuff so that I can order myself a pair. 

My favorites right now are the ones above. They're sophisticated and pretty with lots of bling-age. 

I'll be ordering a pair as soon as I can get my hands on some extra cash. =)

-Jill

Colors We Crave: Nail Polish

There are two accessories in the world I absolutely adore. The first, handbags. But even more than handbags, I love love love nail polish. It's simple to use, it can brighten your mood, and it comes in an immense variety of brands and colors. The best part, it's an accessory that doesn't break the bank and you can get multiple uses out of it. I've used nail polish to do anything from painting my nails and toes to doing a quick fix-it job on a pair of scuffed shoes. Seriously. So I've compiled a list of nail polishes that I love and that I think you'll love too!

From Sephora:

Illamasqua Nail Varnish in DWS 

It's a cement gray color which I have been absolutely head-over-heels in love with since late summer/early fall. It was $14 well spent.

Sephora by O.P.I.

From left to right: It's All About Me, Caffeine Fix, Dark Room, Casting Call. All $9

I find all of these colors striking in different ways. I always find a hot pink hue necessary for spring and summer. This color in particular is flattering to my skin tone and it just a delightful and happy color. Caffeine fix is slightly more demure. I love purples and plums and I believe they add a chic pop of color to an all black ensemble or something slightly more formal. Dark Room is something we've featured here before. I adore the mix of gray and black and nave and forest green. The green is the standout shade when the color is actually on and it's a great and less harsh alternative to those who love black polish. Casting call is an interesting variation on a pink. It is much more muted than other pinks but it's equally as  adorable and chic.

From Essie:

From Top: Bordeaux, Midnight Cami, Lilacism, Pop Art Pink, All $8.

 Bordeaux is my newest color obsession. I'm a huge fan of burgundy this winter. It's a less bright alternative to red and adds a purplish hue. As you can see, I have an intense love for the color purple. Midnight Cami is another shade that I've been loving. Navy has always been a color staple in my wardrobe so it's fitting that I have a nail polish that color too. Lilacism is a great color which will be featured in many items this spring. When I was two, I decided that lilac was my favorite color. Looking back, the color represents the whimsy of childhood, so naturally, I love it. I'm just tickled pink by Pop Art! I think the color is the perfect neutral pink. This shade, being as neutral as it is, makes chips much less noticeable than they would be otherwise.

I hope you enjoy my color picks, as safe as they are. Let me know what you think! It's never too late to get into the contest. The winner could even get her favorite shade in the swag bag.

P.S. Three days until our Fashion Week Kickoff event and four days until fashion week. Stay with us for your chance at the prize.

"I don't do fashion, I am fashion." Coco Chanel

Gaga...Oh La La !

Yes, we all know about Lady Gaga's infamous hair bow in her poker face video and out in the street, but not only has Lady Gaga been rockin' the interestingly childlike do, it has been showing up all over the runways at foreign fashion weeks !

I know it looks complex, but it's actually very simple. Trust me. If I can do it, anyone can. There is only one catch: you have to have at least medium length hair to get the hair to fold into your desired shape.

Of course you can always buy a bow to put on your head. But it looks  much more cool (not to mention natural) if you do it yourself with your own hair.

Other hair trends to look out for:

Colored streaks - Greys, pinks, and purples have been the most common. If you can rock it, wear it ! Take a couple risks, ladies. It's only hair and can always be cut off or dyed back.

Blunt cuts - Whether it's a blunt, heavy bang or just an unrefined end on normal length hair, blunt cuts are in and (I'm going out on somewhat of a limb) are here to stay. Simple to do and even simpler to manage, they look good on all kinds of faces.

Always remember to pick what looks best on you according to your skin tones and face shape. It can make a great cut go bad, if you know what I mean.

Also, I did a little youtube hunting for you all. This was the best tutorial for the bow that I found. Yes, she is speaking Japanese, but there are subtitles so you should be all set !


 - Jill

Extreme Nail Art

Have you ever seen someone with totally blinged out nails? Your thoughts were probably something along these lines when you first saw them: "Those are cute." or "Those are a  complete train wreck." 


Well, for the girls that don't think these nails are too tacky, there is hope for the future. Although the trend has not hit the states yet, embellished nails have been huge in Japanese fashion for years now. Though it just started with the pinky nail a few years ago, the nail art has started to cover all ten nails with various designs that include many different style motifs (some are even wedding themed!)


So, don't be afraid to try something new on your nails. My suggestions are dark nail polishes and bright, metallic colors (my favorite metallic is Avon's purple metallic color: it dries the fastest out of all my polishes). And if you're feeling especially creative, nail art pens are helpful to get the achieved design that you want, like an animal print. And if you're really daring, there are tons of nail appliqués, like rhinestones, that you can get at  your local drugstore to play with. 


Here's a cool little video showing how they make the nail art in Japan. It's a 3-D blossom. 


I want it. 




-Jill

10 Beauty Investments Worth Making, Plus...

I'm the kind of girl who saves up all of her money for a trip to Sephora. I always look for good deals on products, but the next ten are worth the money. Each of these products is in my makeup bag or bathroom and I've been hooked on them for a while. So get ready for the best ten products the stores have to offer this season and beyond.




1. Rosebud Salve (strawberry is my personal fave): $6-The do-it-all balm. It's great for dry skin and especially for lips; it keeps them moist and soft all day, beating chapstick by a long shot. I've even used it to tame a flyaway or two!

2. Sephora by O.P.I. Nail Polish in Dark Room: $9-Style.com raves about this color as do I. It's the perfect color for both fall and winter

3. Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner: $11-Another style.com fave. I just had to try it when I heard about it and it is great and produces soft, luscious hair.

4. Tarte Emphas-Eyes Liner: $18-A "green" pick at Sephora, and a long-time fave of mine, it looks great in black and plum, which proves to be a great, not-so-intense color that still gives your eyes definition.

5. Code Blue: $18-A great treatment for sunburns, acne, or any type of soothing for skin.

6. Bare Minerals Mineral Veil: $19-A great transluscent mattifying powder to lock in liquid foundation or concealer. A plus, it has SPF 15.

7. Diorshow Mascara: $24-This mascara gives lashes phenomenal length and volume. It's definitely my go-to mascara.

8. Smashbox Blush: $24-Smashbox is known for great products (think photo-finish primer, another must-have), and this is no exception. This blush gives a radiant and natural glow. My shade of choice is Bare.

9. Juicy Couture Fragrance Pen Set: $35-I absolutely adore all three Juicy Couture fragrances. For a limited time, get a .33 oz spray of all three scents at Sephora. This is great for purses and on-the-go.

10. Clinique Radiance: $55- This is a bit of a splurge but it's so worth it. It works like a peel, so if you have skin that needs exfoliating or have redness left from acne and want to speed up the healing process, this is for you. Style.com raves about this as well, but be careful with this one--its powerful, so you might want to see your dermatologist before using it.

xoxo Elise

Plus...

I’m in the market for a new primer. I got a sample from Sephora which I absolutely adore. Problem: it’s ridiculously priced. So I'm asking you, my beloved fashionistas and beauty mavens, to send any suggestions my way! I'm looking for a primer that will make my skin look fantastic, will minimize the need for touch-ups and won't break the bank. I would greatly appreciate any help!

Drugstore Essentials

I love expensive makeup as much as the next girl, but there are just some things that I need to survive the day that I can always find at my drug store down the street. I always keep these things close at hand, just in case of emergency.

1. Burt’s Bees Beeswax Chapstick – I am OBSESSED with this stuff. Literally, I am never seen without it and I always have it on me for the occasional dry-lip nightmare. This stuff moisturizes your lips like no other and also keeps a protective shield around them so you don’t have to reapply it all the time

2. Physicians Formula Conceal Rx - This liquid concealer is a little bit more expensive than most, but this stuff covers everything. Even the reddest blemishes blend right into your skin when you put this formula on your face. It’s also great for dark acne scars and bags under your eyes. Since it’s from physicians’ formula, it is oil-free and fragrance free, which is good news for people with oily skin like mine. 

3. Covergirl Professional All-in-One Curved Brush Mascara in Black – This is the mascara I use for going out for the weekend. Since the brush is curved, it helps you get more of a curl to your eyelashes and coats them evenly. Also, my eye allergies do not react to this mascara, which is a definite plus.

4. OPI Nail Lacquer in Not so Bora-Bora-ing Pink -  This stuff will stay on your nails for days without any touch-ups. Plus, this color is subdued enough to go with any outfit, yet bright enough to be noticed.

5. Organic Cotton Rounds – My eyes would literally crust over if I did not have these. I use them to take off as well as put on makeup as well as apply my toner in the morning and before I go to bed. Plus they’re completely organic and delightfully green!

-Jill