The Summer of Peach

I guess I am into peach this summer.

Haute As Hell-O

I just couldn't decide on a nail color at the salon yesterday until I saw this color sitting in the chair next to me.

It's a little more neon than I thought but I think it depends on the light.  I like it.  At least on toes.

Peach leggings from Target (from yesterday's post)

And I see a trend in some of their summer outfits.

Head to toe, literally.

Peach shorts.  I was skeptical but my sis talked me into them and now they are my favorite.

Summer Favs & Some New Blogs to Follow

A few new things I've been liking lately.

I'm such a sucker for a good Instagram photo rec.

I ordered these online when they didn't have them in store (hello, Target card free shipping anytime).  I am not normally a fan of anything tie-dye but I like these in the peach color.

I highly recommend following FancyAshley's Instagram @Littlepresidents.  She's super cute, super cute kids, super cute fashion and just fun to see what she posts.  Her blog (Fancy Ashley) here.  She's one of those women that always looks like she stepped out of a J.Crew catalogue.  And sometimes she wears matching prints to her adorable 2 year old.  It's cute.

Then after seeing Kate's new birthday lipstick shade on The Small Things Blog, Lovelorn by Mac, I decided I needed a new color.  Or two.
She is also worth following on Instagram @k8_smallthings.  She is a hair stylist and has great tutorials and make up posts.  I think I found her a year or so ago on one of her youtube tutorials.  The color looks much better on her skin tone here.

Lovelorn 

I also bought Niagra from Nars.  A coral color and not as "pop"as I thought it was.  Good for everyday and wears well.

Not the best photo of the color, but you get the idea.

I purchased Roman Holiday as an impulse purchase with Niagra but quickly returned it after buying Lovelorn.  It's a very pretty color although a little too frosted pink...for me.

I apologize for all the "selfies" as they call them but it's the best way to show the real color.

Spring Finds

Picked this pink color lipstain balm up with my usual Revlon lipstain.

A little buttery, a little softer, more like a lipstick that stays.  I like it.

Bright, but it is spring after all.

I also randomly scrolling through Nordstrom's sweater sales on my phone during a hair appointment and immediately ordered this wrap.  I'm not big on department store shopping, too overwhelming.  I think I was actually just looking for a good hair style to copy.

This sweater is so incredibly soft I wish I would have found it months ago.  Decent sale price for Nordstroms.

Spring Lashes

I finally bought Maybelline's Falsies Volume Mascara after seeing it reviewed and recommended on various sites.

I like it.  Really thins out your lashes and makes them look clean and gives length.

It's kind of ridiculous the difference in price from store to store.  I think BBB, Target and Walmart are probably the cheapest, around $6 and CVS the most around $8.99.  Unless you take advantage of the buy one get one half off deals.

This is the best I could do for an example.  Useful self posed pictures are rare with a week left to go.

Beauty Break

I'm looking for a new lipstick for the Spring.

I popped into our local beauty store in the village to try to find a baby/bright pink shade that I always see on the show Happy Endings that looks soft, bright and just a nice new shade.

NARS always seems to have the "it" colors.  Yet it's price is not so "it".

So I did some research.  For Roman Holiday, a nice pink shade made by NARS I found the following comparisons of pink shades on lovelymissmakeup.

The best "dupe" to NARS Roman Holiday would be Revlon's Strawberry Shortcake.  Comparison can be seen on MissCouture17.

My other choice was NARS Niagra.  A little bright but with the right gloss it really softens the neon'ness.

So my word of advice when looking for a new color and don't want to spend a lot, find the really nice version and then google comparisons.  There's a lot of girls out there that like to do their research to help you save a dollar.

Face Wake Up

I wanted an exfoliator to help freshen my winter face and some dead skin with out paying too much.

I decided on Neutrogena's Deep Clean Foaming Scrub.  I actually think I bought this same line a few years ago.

It doesn't have a ton of scrubbing beads but enough to feel exfoliated.  Wow does it freshen your face.  I was pleasantly surprised by the tingle.  Like a cold, fresh splash of clean in every pore with out a harsh alcohol feel.

The Beauty Department

The other day I found a new website that I love.

TheBeautyDepartment.com

It's two girls that post tutorial after tutorial (even some youtube) of hair, nail and other beauty tips.  All the popular trends that you want to know and some not so popular but fun ones.

The third contributor is none other than my favorite go to beauty person (and slightly obsessed) Lauren Conrad.

They are also on instagram.

all photos from thebeautydepartment.com

{Friday Find} Neutral Eye Shadow

It's not exactly Friday but I'm running out the door.

After my post the other day I went out and bought this color palette in Decadent.

Very light and very neutral.  I feel like I see the almost no color but something color on tv all the time.

Then you can pair it up with a bright lip or your normal color.

Make Up Routine

I don't have much of a routine but I always enjoy seeing what others use.  (Hint to other bloggers that you know I follow)

I'm very lazy so I do the same thing everyday and if I am actually going somewhere with other people that I know, I may put on real eye shadow and liner.  I would say my routine doesn't take me longer than 5 minutes, maybe 10 if I'm actually trying.

I usually always put a moisturizer on mixed with my Chanel tinted moisturizer.  At least in the winter.


1.   bareMinerals Light Stroke Fan brush - I bought this at the outlet store over the holidays.  They recommended it for bronzer over a large, fat brush that I usually use.  I like it and it makes sense.

2.  Loreal Telescopic Liquid Eye Liner Black/Noir - I usually buy Almay or Revlon, whatever is on sale.  Most people are scared of liquid eye liner and it is a little much sometimes, but I like that it really opens my eyes and doesn't smudge during the course of the day.  It is pretty easy to do a straight line with some practice.

3.  MAC Liner Lip Pencil Naked (for eyelids) - I use this on occasion to help make my eyes look less red or cleaner.  The nude color on your bottom water line or inner crease creates a more open effect.

4.  bareMinerals Flawless Face & Eye brush - also found at the outlet.  I love it because I use my blush for my eye shadow so it saves me room from having an extra brush.

5.  benefit Erase paste No 2. Medium - I love this concealer.  I use it almost everyday even if I am just around the house and use nothing else.  Cleans up red spots and blemishes too but really creates a smooth surface and coloring under the eyes.

6.  NYC Sun'N'Bronze Bronzing Powder Hamptons Radiance - Bronzer is a must for me in the winter.  I was using a hand me down Trish McEvoy from my sister that I really liked but figured it was probably expired by now.  Years ago I used Jane Bronzer from the drugstore and it was always perfect and cheap.  I had a little more trouble this go around trying to find the right bronzer that actually bronzed with out Jersey Shore'ing it.  After ELF, two other NYC colors and Neutrogena, I decided on Hamptons Radiance.  For $4 you can't really beat it for just a little glow.

7.  Trish McEvoy 21 Large Laydown brush - I've had this brush forever.  I use it for eye shadow from my crease to eyebrow and sometimes inner crease.

8.  Bobbi Brown blush Nectar 11 -  I love the bright pink color with out it looking too strong.  I use this on my eyelids 97% of the time as eye shadow for a neutral look.

9.  Sephora Eye Shadow Aspen Summit No 23 - For my eyelids from crease to brow line and sometimes inner crease.  Creates a highlight and slight contrast.  Not too much white or shimmer which is key.

10.  Covergirl lashblastvolume Black/Negro -  I switch back and forth from Covergirl's different lash blast's (purple & pink tubes), whichever is on sale.  They aren't anything amazing but I don't feel they smudge, clump and last through out the day.

If I am going to a family event or taking pictures, I usually switch up my eye shadow to a purple/grey collection.  I really like Revlon's Colorstay 16 Hour Eye Shadow 525 Siren collection.  You can do smokey, dramatic or just a little more subtle with the palette they give you.

Here is a review I found on this collection.  I think I may try the 505 Decadent palette for an even more neutral look.

Lips are a whole other story.  I am always way too lazy to put on lipstick so I usually go with a tinted lip balm or my favorite Revlon Lip Stay that I have posted in the past.  Still a big fan of Baby Lips by Maybelline.

My favorites here.

Korres Lip butter here and here
Baby Lips here
Revlon Lipstain here  *My go to lip color since it stays on for hours

Winter Butter

My sister recently came home from a trip abroad and brought me some amazing Korres products.

I didn't realize Korres was out of Greece and was very excited to be introduced to some more of their products.  I think a select variety are available at Sephora and Ulta but nothing is ever as good as it is from its origin.

She brought me some body butter lotion that is amazing.  It is pretty thick but has a very nice smell that isn't too overpowering.  Something that is very important to me when moisturizing.  Supposedly it is very good for preventing stretch marks.

Always looking out for me, that sis.

She also brought me some of the awesome lip butter in Quince.  I bought this lip moisturizer last year after reading about it and it is great.  Ever since I bought the neutral color I had wished I bought the recommended Quince lightly tinted color.

Hair Ties For Less

Why spend $12+ on those new (and awesome) hairbands at your local boutique when Remington now sells them in packs of 3 for $2.50!

After my sister sent me a few in a variety of sizes last year, I was hooked.  After wearing them out I needed more.  I first found them this summer at Walmart in San Marcos.  Finally after months of searching every drugstore, Walmart, Target and Kmart I found them at Target last week.

The pack I found came in threes.

From Walmart.com.

Lipstain Replacement

It was time to update my lipstick since mine are about 2 years old.

I don't wear lipstick often so I need something I can put on in the morning and it will stay.

I went back to Revlon's Just Bitten Lip Stain.  I figured I would mix it up from my last Victorian color purchase.



I decided on Desire for an everyday pink/rose color and Gothic for a darker red, bold days color.

I tried Passion and it was too Barbie pink.

I also tried their lip butter balm but it was too buttery.

Second Day Hair

(1st day hair)

FYI- The wavy hair tutorial does not work on second day hair.  At least my hair.

I tried it and not even a wave.  Just in case you have thick, been in the Houston humidity, lazy hair too, don't waste your time.  Plus no one needs the added heat of the curling iron in this state of yuck.  I mean really Houston, have you always been this hot and humid?

That's all for today.  Just a little PSA for the day.

I'm off to take pictures of the cutest little baby in the Houston area today.  If only she didn't cry every time I pick her up.  And my son freak out every time he sees me look at her.  Today is a one on one photo shoot and I am very excited.

{Friday Finds} Suave Keratin Dry Shampoo

This is the dry shampoo recommended in my favorite hair tutorial for wavy hair.  I posted it awhile ago and still think it is the best for simple, casual waves.

My only issue with this tutorial is that the dry shampoo makes my hair very hard and knotted the next day.  I have no idea how she gets two day hair.

I wanted to try the Suave brand but I've been using Ojon Dry Shampoo for years now and still have a few bottles.  I used to swear by it for those afternoon greasy times or second day hair.

Three major issues I always had that I just overlooked because well, it made second day hair look like first day;
1) Smell - It smells very strong and not good
2) Price - $20+ a bottle?  No buena.
3) Messy - It sprays white powder all over your mirror, walls and arms.

So at $2.67 a bottle, I decided to buy Suave while visiting in Texas.

Smells nice
Cheap
My hair was still soft and clean the next day with out looking hard or crunchy.

Win, win, win!

Benefit Make Up Follow Up

What? No awkward/creepy self portrait to go with my make up review the other day?

Of course.

With one eye done (the one on the right in case you couldn't tell).

With both.

awkward.

{Friday Finds} Benefit Eyes

I know it's Monday but I'm on vacation'ish.

I was really trying not to buy any more products that other bloggers posted but I caved.  While at Ulta I thought I would take advantage of a cosmetic coupon with some fun Benefit cosmetics.  Turns out, everything I wanted was an exclusion.  Whah, whah.

I went ahead and picked up this dark circle treatment and actually got a sample of the Stay Don't Spray product I also had on my list.  (So go to Ulta and ask for a sample)

I like both.  A lot.

I wasn't even in the market for a new concealer but after a funny smell came from my "on clearance" concealer I figured I should replace it.

It's great.  A lot thicker than my usual but it really makes a cleaner look and more finished.  It was almost too make up'y for me at first but I think it's worth it.  It makes me look like I am actually wearing make up for more than the first hour after application.

I just read that Real Simple recommends the Stay Done Stray as primer and concealer.

They sell a package of the two products above and one additional.  Wish I would have seen this before.

Make Up Dupes

Thanks Pinterest.

Mac vs ELF 

A site that posts make up products that are close in color and function for half the price.  Many cases 1/8 of the price.

Read here @ Makeup Lovers Unite!

picture from here and a few more dupes.

More Beauty Products to Buy from Pretty People

Essie's Poppy Art Pink

If you want that perfect wave, The Daybook posted a tutorial.  Although, it's never that easy.  Right?

Plus she gives you a few more products to invest in.  I prefer Ojon's dry shampoo.  But I use it as a dry shampoo to cover greasiness, I've never thought it as a styling spray.

Here are a few other products by a pretty person.  I admit it, I bought a new baby pink sheer Essie nail polish.  It sounded like a good idea even though I couldn't commit to bubblegum pink.  Also picked up the hand wipes at BBB.  I'm a sucker.

Ulta Finds

My 16 year old cousin recommended this while we were strolling the aisles at Ulta.  I bought it in the red color.  Very lightly tinted.  I love my Korres but I really like this one too and has much more of a tint and you don't have to use your fingers.

Also, there are some really fun nail polish colors out right now.  I had to stop myself but I could have gone crazy.

Cute As A Button

Ole! Caliente

Red Lights Ahead

Peach Daiquiri