Top Ten Beauty Picks!

Ten of My Favorite Beauty Products & How I Use Them
...links are in red, click for more info :)

I.

MAC Fix + Spray

I use this product EVERYDAY, it's something I absolutely cannot live without. This solution can be used in a variety of ways however, there are three specific ways I apply Fix +

i. Spray all over face before applying make-up (before primer, foundation, etc.)

ii. Spray after make-up is finished to set and rejuvenate (I also carry this with me throughout the day and use it whenever I want to rehydrate and revitalize my make-up)

- This is a technique that should always be used (alone or paired with techniques I or III) 

iii. Spray directly onto brush (188 MAC Duo Fibre Brush, F80 Sigma Flat Kabuki Brush, or E.L.F Studio Powder Brush), apply foundation onto damp brush, then apply product onto face...after the foundation is applied evenly spray a generous amount of Fix + onto brush and stipple the damp brush around your face to help create a dewy finish

II.

E.L.F Essential Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara

(this is another product I use everyday) This is only one dollar, it works like a charm and it's a two in one set. I prefer the brow gel in this duo over MAC's Brow Set. Unlike the latter, the E.L.F brow gel holds your brows in place but doesn't make them overly stiff...

I use this product twice during the application of my make-up.

First, Apply my moisturizer and primer

Second, Shape my brows using the "brow gel" side of the wand (let them dry then continue)

Third, Fill in my brows using MAC's "Spiked" Eyebrow Pencil

Fourth, Shape and clean brows using concealer  

Fifth,  Apply brow gel again to keep brow hairs in place 

III. 

L'oreal Advanced Haircare Smooth Intense Frizz Taming Serum

The texture of my hair is crazy, my hair is really thick and curly (naturally). When I straighten my hair it tends to get really frizzy/puffy, I just started to use this product recently and it works really well with my hair. It tames any "fly aways" and keeps my hair shiny/smooth. I apply this onto my hair when I wear it curly or straight, when my hair is curly I like to use this to help keep it soft (all the gel and mouse can make my hair really hard so I use this to balance everything out).

IV.

MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow "Guilt by Association"

This is an amazing shadow, it's buildable so you can make it as strong or dull as you want it to be. I love the fact that it's a blend of black and gold because this makes it extremely versatile, you can use it to complete a smokey eye or you can use it on your lid alone to create a more natural look.

V.

Prestige Cosmetics Primed & Ready Face Primer

This is a great primer because it leaves your skin feeling silky yet it dries as a matte finish and it helps conceal the appearance of pores and fine lines.

VI.  

188 MAC Duo Fibre Brush, F80 Sigma Flat Kabuki Brush, & E.L.F Studio Powder Brush

These are my favorite foundation brushes!
(I apply my foundation with these brushes in a stippling motion)

VII. 

Rimmel "Stay Matte" Pressed Powder

I love this finishing powder, it absorbs any oil/shine left after applying foundation and leaves your face looking extremely matte. (I like to use this as an eyeshadow as well)

VIII. 

Covergirl CG Smoothers BB Cream

This is an amazing product, it has excellent coverage and is extremely lightweight.  

IX. 

MAC Mineralize  Moisture SPF 15 Foundation 

...when used with the Fix + technique (iii) detailed in number one and paired with Rimmel's Stay Matte Pressed Powder, it looks amazing. It's the prefect foundation to create a dewy finish and it looks extremely natural (which is one of my main concerns when choosing a foundation). This product also works well with dry skin!

X.
MAC "Lightscapade" Mineralize Skinfinish 

I love to use this product for highlighting purposes, it's the perfect powder to set any creme or liquid concealer/highlighter.


じやあね。 

Read More

Summer Sensations! How to Style: Cut-Off Shorts (Part I)

Can't You Hear Summer Knocking?
...styling for the HEAT WAVE
This will be a summer collection on "How to Style: Cut-Off Shorts"
 
Music to Match the Look:
"Litost" x Ambassadors

For this set,

I decided to style with black (distressed&studded) cut-off shorts. I've been wanting to include this graphic "Celine" tee in one of my sets and I figured this would be the perfect look to accent this shirt.  
Shoes:

Jeffrey Campbell "Damsel" in floral print 

I chose to go with this style of shoe because I knew it would compliment this vibe perfectly...the platform bootie gives a lot of edge and this particular  floral print adds color/depth to the entire outfit.

Accessories:

One thing I love to do is "mix metals"...for a very long time it's been said that "you can't mix silver and gold, etc" well that's WRONG! Mixing your metals (gold, silver, gunmetal, bronze, etc.) adds so much of style and edge to your look. In this set, I chose to show this aspect of my personal style by choosing rings that are pre-mixed and a leather wrap-around watch bracelet. Leather bracelets are another one of those staple pieces that can add a sense of style and character to your outfit.  I chose a sideways cross chain as a necklace, it's simple yet stylish (this type of neck-wear will help accentuate your look).

じやあね。

Read More

Summer Sensations! How to Style: Cut-Off Shorts (Part II)

All Good Things are Wild & FREE!

Music to Match the Look:
"Dog Days Are Over" x Florence & the Machine

Part II is dedicated to the Indie Rocker,

I chose to style this set for someone who is attending a festival like Coachella or the Free Press Summer Fest. Distressed (light denim) high-waisted cut-offs were the perfect shorts for this look because the light color adds a vintage "angelic" feel to this set. To accompany this hippieesque look, I chose to pair these shorts with an over-sized white  shirt (it's made out of a lightweight jersey material which is perfect for an outdoor event).

Accessories

I decided to accent this look with gold jewelery. A long necklace is perfect for this set because it will help highlight the neckline. This particular shirt has a column of buttons down the center, if you wear the shirt unbuttoned (two buttons or so) it will expose the neck and collar bone area (having a long chain helps to elongate and beautify this region).  I instantly knew that I wanted to have some Arm Candy with this look, I chose to go with a color that was vibrant and alluring. I ended up choosing a mint and gold braided watch, the wrap-around feature of this piece intensifies the layering and to add to the wrist area I chose to combine a few beaded bracelets (also in mint and gold).

Hair

I would style my hair with a lot of body, big curls or loose beach-styled waves would be perfect for this look and I would complete my hairstyle by wearing a headband (around my forehead like in the photo above).

Shoes 

"Erika"  Gold Metallic Sandal

じやあね。

Read More

Summer Sensations! How to Style: Cut-Off Shorts (Part III)

I Won't Be a Rockstar...

I Will Be a Legend

Music to Match the Look:
"Dream Catcher" x In Fear and Faith

In the Spirit of Rock & Roll,

I chose to style this set with a little edge and simplicity. Military inspired looks are one of my favorite "vibes" to create a set with. Instead of going with camo-printed shorts, I chose an army green colored cut-off short to style with this graphic tank, the American flag print used on the tank helps further the military "vibe" of this look. With the summer comes an abundance of concerts, festivals, and outdoor activities, this collection is styled with ease and comfort for the summer weather. This set is particularly styled for someone attending an in indoor or outdoor concert. I would wear this at an event like Vans Warped Tour but, for this particular occasion I recommend swapping these wedge booties for a pair of Vans or Converse sneakers since this is an all day event.

Accessories

I chose gunmetal colored jewelery for this look, a winged skull pendant is the perfect neck piece because it will hang around your collar bone and it accents the American eagle on the tank. You can purchase this "Full Tilt" tank online here. I also chose a watch in the gunmetal color by designer Karl Lagerfeld. This is such a sleek and sporty watch, it compliments this outfit perfectly by not being too flashy. The last accessory that I chose to accompany this look is a pair of matte sandalwood colored glasses. These are non-medicated and look great paired with a messy bun hairstyle.

Shoes

Lanvin "Wedge Derby Shoe"
I would wear this look as is if I was attending an indoor concert and like I stated above, if I was going to an outdoor concert like the Vans Warped Tour I would swap these booties with a pair of Vans or Converse sneakers.


じやあね。

Read More

Couple's Wearapy

...the Couple that Styles Together, Stays Together
“I'm oxygen and he's dying to breathe.”

Music to Match the Look:
"Her Monologue"x Issues

His & Hers:

Styling, etc.

For the guy I chose a harem-styled pant, it's made of a lightweight material and of sportswear design. I love the slim-fit of these pants, actually I'm just biased to any men's pant that is skinny at the ankle... This design is amazing and the comfort level is high. I've included a photo (left) to show how these pants look on a model, so that you can actually see the fit. One of my favorite things about this pant is the "dropped crotch", it adds an element of style to the look and I would imagine that it adds to the comfort of the pants. To accentuate this pant, I chose to go with the Men's UNIF "Hellraiser" again but in black this time. What can I say? I told you I'm in love with a spiked loafer and there's at least six more colors in this style so be prepared to see them again in the future ;)
I chose to style both looks with a graphic tank, for the men's look I decided to go with all black...I chose a black tank w/ a graphic skull on the front to bring out the grunge in this look. 
To accessorize, I chose two pieces of jewelery. I decided to go with a stainless steel Salvatore Ferragamo watch (this is one of my dad's favorite labels, so I thought about him when I chose this timepiece) and a stainless steel ring w/ skull & cross detail. To complete the men's set, I selected the True Religion Drifter Eau de Toilette Cologne. This fragrance is priced at $59 USD.

Women's Styling, etc:
I decided to style the woman in leather high-waisted pants w/ a peplum detail to match the slim-fit of the menswear pant. I also chose to keep the graphic aspect of these looks by choosing a white tank with an image of model Rick Genest aka Rico the Zombie on the front.
To match his look, I paired this look with Jeffrey Campbell's Digi Spike Loafer in black. I wanted to keep these sets less accessorized because the looks are strong and over-accessorizing would be detrimental, because of this, I chose to stay minimal with her jewelery. I paired a silver Fossil watch with a swirl ring detailed with a quote which reads "Not All Who Wander Are Lost" (kudos to whoever quoted this, it speaks volumes and I'll probably use this as a post title, or better yet, a tattoo ;-P).


じやあね。

Read More

Chino, Chino, Chino!

Guns n' Roses
...denim diva

Music to Match the Look:
"All Signs Point to Lauderdale" x A Day to Remember

Styling:
I chose to style with chino pants & a denim moto-styled jacket.
I knew that this was the route that I wanted to go so, I ended up styling around these two items.
A graphic tee shirt was the best top to compliment this outfit, I picked a grey washed tank w/ a skull detail on the front to bring out some edge, subtly...
These colors mesh well together, they're complimentary instead of clashing.

Accessories:
To accessorize this look, I paired suede pumps in the same deep navy blue color as the jacket (the blue will pop against the khaki of the chinos)
- leather over-sized handbag (black)
- layered "mixed-metal" necklace
- "mixed-metal" knuckle or midi rings
- gold cross ring

Beauty:
- Tom Ford "Spanish Pink" Lipstick
I recommend going with a nude face, this look is pretty strong I would personally go very natural with my makeup & style my hair in an over-sized messy bun.


じやあね。

Read More

Nicole's OOTD: “I’m not a woman. I’m a force of nature.”

“We believed that anything that was worth doing was worth overdoing.”
Steven Tyler - 1990

Music to Match the Look:
"CrushCrushCrush" x Paramore

Outfit Details:
- fur vest
- black over-sized shirt (long sleeved)
- body con skirt (olive)
- spiked booties
- leather wrap around bracelet
- knuckle rings


じやあね。

Read More

Makeup Madness: Get the Look :)

Golden Smokey Eye 
I was able to work with this beauty at work, it was her sixteenth birthday and she was having a photoshoot to celebrate another year in life :) 
Because she's just entering the modeling scene and these photos would be used on her comp card I decided to keep her very natural yet, glamorous. 

To achieve this look, I used: 

Eyebrows: 
"Spiked" Eyebrow Pencil, "Clear" Brow Gel, & "Studio Finish" Concealer

Eyes: 
Primer: 
"Medium" Prep + Prime Eye 
Crease:
"Soft Brown" (Matte Eyeshadow)
Outer-V:
"Woodwinked" (Veluxe Pearl Eyeshadow)
Lid:
"Amber Lights" (Frost Eyeshadow)
Browbone:
"Brule" (Satin Eyeshadow)
Eyeliner:
Top:
"Blacktrack" Fluidline 
No. 263 "Small Angle Brush"
Bottom: 
"Engraved" (Powerpoint Eye Pencil)
Mascara: 
Primer: 
Prep + Prime Lash
Haute & Naughty (Lash) 


Face:
Primer:
"Natural Radiance" (Prep + Prime) 
Foundation:
"Mineralize Moisture"  SPF 15 Foundation
Powder: 
"Medium Plus" (Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder)
Blush:
"Gentle" (Mineralize Blush)

Lips:  
"Supreme Style" (Sheen Supreme Lipstick) 


To Set Everything: 
Spray Fix +



じやあね。

Read More

Hellraiser!

“To be noticed without striving to be noticed, this is what elegance is about.”
- Luciano Barbera

Music to Match the Look:
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" x Panic! at the Disco

I love this look, it's sleek and effortless. I decided to stray away from the traditional "suit & tie" look by not styling with a tie and swapping oxford-styled shoes with the men's UNIF "Hellraiser".
Styling:
Wear your shirt unbuttoned at the top to show a little skin ;)
This is a good look because it will show off any tattoos you have; showing off your tattoos will allow everyone to see your personality and "personal style"
...the small amount of skin gives off a GQ vibe while setting you apart from the crowd.
I also chose to style this set with cuffed slim-fit pants, this gives such a "dapper" feel because it adds depth to your look. By wearing cuffed pants, you're exposing your ankles as well as your shoes. This is perfect for a look like this because the "Hellraiser" shoe is so strongly designed, you don't want them being hidden by the hem of your pants. A shoe like this will be the highlight of your look, wearing slimmer pants will help accentuate your style.
Shoes:
Men's UNIF "Hellraiser" Loafer
I chose a bold shoe like this to add a little color-blocking effect to the look...
The red adds a nice pop of color & it offsets all of the black.
Normally, I would chose an oxford-styled shoe to style a formal look but I wanted to come out of my "box" and style for a man who's edgy and fashionable.  I love this shoe because it's not for everyone, it takes a confident and tasteful man to rock them & that's the type of man I style for :)
Another reason why I chose this shoe is because of all the SPIKES, I'm obsessed with anything spiked out and these loafers are perfect!
Accessories:
Red "Pocket Square" or, Handkerchief
Handkerchiefs are like the staples to any suit...

Black Leather Belt
Every outfit isn't complete without a belt!

Marc Jacobs Rubber-Strapped Watch
I love Marc Jacobs watches, this particular design fits this look because it's not too dressy yet, it's sleek enough to compliment this outfit...


じやあね。

Read More