Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Top Five Beauty-Boosters

Below is a guest post from my fabulous and makeup genius friend, Autumn.  Take it away girl:

You’re beautiful the way you are. Remove the highlights, the nail polish, the teeth whitener, the shoes, the make-up and you are who you were meant to be – natural, beautiful, you. When I want to enhance who I was born to be – play up my eyes, cheek bones, skin, I turn to these top five start-my-day, beauty boosters. Add these five products to your make-up bag and you might just find yourself tossing everything else to the curb:

1.       Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion: I use this $24 fragrance-free moisturizer every day on my face and neck. After breaking up with a number of other moisturizers that left me feeling itchy, oily or claustrophobic, I found this one and I’ll never have another. It’s perfect in every way. My one piece of advice would be to avoid the “gel” version of this product – stick with the lotion and your skin will glow. The bottle lasts me a good six months, using daily so you’ll spend the cash up front but enjoy it’s lifespan for quite a while.



2.       Loreal True Match Naturale Mineral Foundation: For around $14, you can get great coverage that rivals the Bare Essentials BareMinerals line that will cost you quite a bit more.







3.       Christian Dior DiorShow Mascara: The biggest 
mascara brush you’ll ever encounter and your lashes will thank Mr. Dior for this one.  At a whopping $24, you’ll get a lot of bang but will spend quite a few bucks. I’ve also found that an inexpensive but similar alternative is Rimmel London Max Volume Flash for around $7.






4.       NARS Blush in Orgasm: This blush lives up to its scandalous name by being my absolute favorite make-up find of the decade. The peachy-pink, shimmery blush is my go-to all year long. It works on many skin tones and is very concentrated – just one pass of your cheek will do. For $27, it’s definitely a splurge, but the color is picture perfect, it lasts all day and the product itself lasts for a long time because you don’t need to put much on to get that peachy-sun-kissed glow. I’ve been wearing this same blush since the mid 2000’s and I’m not planning to switch it up any time soon. For those adventurous ones out there, there is also a Super Orgasm version. More sparkles, more fun. 

5.       Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler: There is no substitution for this bad boy. This is the one and only eyelash curler I trust not to tear my lashes out or leave an unsightly crimp in the arc. Previously sold at Sephora, this silver beauty is not sold in U.S. stores anymore but you can purchase it online for $19. It’s well worth the high price tag. I promise.



I truly believe that in the world of make-up the cliche less is more is completely true, which is why you don’t see eyeliner, eyeshadow, lipstick or lip gloss here in my top five. A good moisturizer, foundation, blush and mascara are all you need to enhance your natural beauty and leave you fresh-faced to take on another day. Invest (and indulge!) in some of these make-up bag staples to take your morning routine to another level of beautiful.


Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Going to the Ballet

Right now I'm loving ballet flats.  They're easy to wear, you can run around, and they look classic.  Whether you prefer a citrus hue or a printed pattern.  They're a great go to shoe for day or night.

J Crew Factory, pom pom metallic ballet flat, $69
This goes with a sun dress, cropped black slacks, or bf jeans.  You name it.

I would use these as my going out flats.  When you know its going to be a long Friday night but you still want a little bling.

Kelsi Dagger, Inna Ballet Flat, $52
I love a good yellow show because it goes with black, brown or blue.


Ah! Love me some bright bow flats! 

They may not be the sexiest shoes on the block, but ballet flats are reliable and come in every kind of style. So try a pair instead of sneakers this summer!

Be fabulous today!

Giveaway Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! It was so much fun to work with Rosy+Tart.  Here is the winner:

Congratulations Emily!  Please comment below or shoot me an email with your shipping information!

Be fabulous today!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Belted and Beautiful

Hey there lovebugs,
How was your weekend? I got outside a little bit and and checked out the new CB2 that opened in Georgetown and then tackled my closet on Sunday.

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about the waistline.  No, I'm not going to scold you on your food choices this weekend (I chose chili cheese fries and beef brisket); I'm talking about a great embellished waistline on a dress. It can really add the perfect amount of detail to an outfit.

Newport News, Grace rose print tank dress, $94
I'm obsessed with this beauty.  The flat pleats with the matching belt is truly feminine and vintage looking.

Modcloth, Simply Put Dress, $47
Just like the name of this dress: simple.  A soft silk bow- its just classic.

This thin silk belt is understated and casual.  Perfect for this shirtdress.

Talbots, Twist Sash dress, $97
This waist detail is almost origami-like.  Perfect piece for day or night.

Waist embellishments come in all shapes, colors, and sizes.  Remember to balance the accessories with the size and detail of the waist of the dress.

Be fabulous today!