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My 2011 Product Faves That are Here to Stay
This past year has been quite the whirlwind. New friends, new jobs and opportunities, new adventures, new experiences.
Experiences including LOTS of beauty products. There are a few products that I’ve discovered this year or recently fell in love with in the past year. Products and brands have a permanent spot in my collection.
Napoleon Perdis – Front Row Red Lip Gloss
A long wear dark red that I’m in LOVE with. Stays put for the entire day. The formula took a little getting used to because it is a little drying but nonetheless, the color is fabulous and super flattering on many skin tones. This has been my go-to red since I got it earlier this year!
Mehron – Celebré Pro HD Make Up
Super creamy and buildable oil-free cream makeup I like to use as foundation and concealer. I swear by this stuff! It actually stays on from morning until night, even after I get off work and head out at night! Best of all, it doesn’t make me breakout!
NYX Cosmetics – Eyeshadow Base (Skintone)
SO affordable. I got my pot at IMATS in July and I’m still using it with so much left. Only think I don’t like is that since the pot is so small and narrow that I have to use a brush to apply it instead of using a clean finger straight from the jar. It’s an amazingly creamy and effective product for under $10
Kate Somerville – ExfoliKate
Speaking as a girl with large pores that is extremely blackhead prone on my nose, this stuff is wonderful. It’s a little harsh to use all over my face but I dab some around my nose area then follow with a cooling peel off mask to fully remove all existing blackheads. Works wonders between facial treatments. Pricey but worth it!
Love these products. I’ve been using these all on a daily/regular basis for months now. Until I find other products that are just as good efficiency-wise and price-wise, I will stick with these ones! Of course there were other products I liked over the past year but these really stood out to me because I use them so much. Thanks 2011, for introducing me to them 🙂
xo, June 🙂
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New Year’s Eve Glam: It’s All in the Details
New Year’s Eve is, no doubt, one of the most glam holidays on the calendar. It’s that special night when you kick it up a notch (or two, or three!). Glam doesn’t have to be from head to toe–sometimes it’s all in the details.
Here are some ways you can add a little touch of glam to your look…
HOLIDAY INSPIRED MANIS
For this look, I had just gotten a fresh dark maroon O.P.I. mani–but I couldn’t leave well enough alone! Well, that’s the point of glam, isn’t it??
I happened to receive my Julep Maven box in the mail just as I returned home (more on that in a future post) and inside was tiny star glitter. Meanwhile, my dark gold glitter Bon Bons nail polish (more on that later, too) was beckoning to get in on the action.
So, what I did was apply the Bon Bons ($.99) over my mani. On my ring fingers, I only put the Bon Bons half way up. Then, I sprinkled on the star glitter over the wet polish. I waited for it to dry a bit and covered the glitter in a clear coat.
www.baricosmetics.com
www.julep.comI love how the Bon Bons glitter polish has glitter of different sizes, creating depth. The way it looks over the maroon reminds me of this limited edition Chanel nail polish I was in love with back in the days, Ciel de Nuit (except, it had a dark blue base).
The next look is more Christmas-inspired, but still appropriate throughout the remainder of the holidays.
The colors are from Dr. Remedy’s line of enriched, natural nail polish. I did a funky French manicure using the Serene Silver Glitter ($14) on the tips over the amazing Revive Ruby Red ($17).
WOW LASHES
Another way to up the glam factor is to give yourself some WOW lashes for the night. Faux lashes don’t always have to be of theatrical proportions. Kiss makes incredibly natural lashes ($3.99) that come with applicator strings on either side for easy application. They allow you to easily set the lashes in place and then pull away the strings.
What I’ve learned about lash application is that the glue is almost more important than the lashes themselves. You need adhesive with immediate stick-power, that dries crystal clear. Kiss 24 Hour Flexible Hold Adhesive ($3.99) did the trick. I loved the easy applicator.
Just enough so that even your boyfriend will give you that “there’s something different, but I can’t quite put my hand on it” look.
Have any New Year’s even inspired looks to share? Let us know in the comments.
xoxo, Olisa
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Pucker Up with @violentlips
The ultimate form of self-expression, the Violent Lips Collection offers a statement-making line of Lip patterns that range from bold animal prints and fun polka dots, to sexy fishnets and picture-perfect Glitteratti sparkle.
As soon as I got my hands on these fun and funky lip tattoos, I couldn’t wait to try them on! All the rage in Hollywood, you’re sure to get the real star treatment when sporting these cool patterns.
I tried applying the Red Fishnet Pattern on my sister and we were both amazed by the results; these tattoos are AWESOME!
My main concern with the application of the tattoos was the size of the tattoos. They’re huge (to accommodate every lip size) and cutting them to match perfectly to my personal lip shape and size seemed like a complicated task. But, practice makes perfect and once you get the hang of it, they couldn’t be simpler!
One package of Violent Lip tattoos comes with three appliqués, all in the same pattern, so you can easily recreate your favorite look! Check out the YouTube tutorial I included for foolproof instructions.
For a look that’s sure to turn heads, you can find Violent Lip tattoos at a Ricky’s NYC store, Ulta Beauty, or Sephora near you!
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Save the world with @PowerCapes
Are you ready to fly into the New Year? Have you always wanted to be a superhero? Does your child think they are one already? Check out PowerCapes, where you can buy superhero capes, and custom superhero capes for kids and adults!
This is great for students or work because you can use their “Donate a Cape Program,”
which is where you purchase their products and all the proceeds will go to your choice
of organization or cause. You can also purchase their “Cape Kits & Team Spirit Capes
Program,” which is great for clubs, daycares, schools, etc., to earn money and fundraise.Every cape is handmade in Michigan, ready to be worn whenever you or your child is
ready to fight some crime and save the world.Here are some of their designs that I like:
Super J (Jackie), saving one crime at a time
Blogger by day, Princess Superhero by night
Playing Cupid or Matchmaker, perhaps?
Choose from 11 cape colors, 29 emblem colors, and 8 emblem designs, to create the cape
you have always dreamed of!
‘Follow’ their Twitter and ‘Like’ their Facebook!
Let us know which capes & accessories you like from their website!
I think this is so much fun for kids and adults (I know everyone has an inner superhero in them!) 🙂
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Entertaining Tips from Nadia G and @VanGoghVodka
Christmas is over and Hanukkah ends tonight, but fortunately, the holidays aren’t ever yet!
The grand finale, New Year’s Eve, has yet to come. Like many people, you may still be undecided about your New Year’s plans. You may even be entertaining the idea of hosting your own last minute NYE bash. Personally, I feel an intimate gathering or even a rockin’ house party is ten times better than any club or mega event.
So, if you’re thinking about entertaining this year, we have some tips for you from Nadia G of Cooking Channel’s Nadia G’s Bitchin’ Kitchen and Van Gogh Vodka.
Nadia G and Van Gogh VodkaGet yourself out of the kitchen. “The hostess should enjoy her holiday party every bit as much as the guests,” says Nadia. “The best way to get yourself out of the kitchen is to prepare foods ahead that will taste great at room temperature.” By letting guests serve themselves, everyone can eat on their own time giving the hostess time to kick back and relax with her own cocktail and spend quality time with friends.
Let the guests be their own bartenders. Nadia G recommends a vodka punch like her Pomagrenade Punch or a DIY mixers bar: stock a table with bowls of bite sized fresh fruit and herbs that have been soaking in liquor and simple syrup. Serve these gourmet mixers with chilled bottles of unflavored- and flavored-vodkas, carbonated water, rum and white wine. Guests will have a blast mixing and matching cocktails and experimenting with new combinations!
Pomagrenade PunchGive them something sweet – and don’t forget the coffee. Nadia’s Chocolate Balls made with butterscotch chips, peanuts and crushed pretzels are easy to whip up and major crowd pleasers. Topping off the evening with coffee is always a good idea; have regular and decaf on hand for guests to choose from at the end of the night.
Send the guests home with something you’ve created in your kitchen. “Everyone loves my Homemade Hot Cocoa mix. I add a little cayenne and some cinnamon to step it up,” says Nadia. “Gifted in a glass jar or a tin with a bright ribbon, it’s my personal way to say Happy Holidays at the end of the night.”
And of course the most important part of a party is the music; as Nadia says, music can make or break a party. If the host or hostess doesn’t have any musical taste, get a friend to make a playlist for the party.
Here’s one more idea to help make your party a hit.
HOLIDAY MOJITO
1 1/2 oz Van Gogh BLUE Triple Wheat Vodka
1/4 cup fresh squeezed pink grapefruit juice
1 heaping tablespoon minced fresh coriander
1 teaspoon maple syrupDirections: In a shaker combine all ingredients above. Shake vigorously with ice. Strain into martini glass rimmed with maple flakes, drop in 2 coriander leaves, and garnish glass with pink grapefruit rind twist.
For more recipes, get your hands on Nadia G’s cookbook: Nadia G’s Bitchin’ Kitchen: Cookin’ for Trouble
xoxo, Olisa
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Teach Me How To @Schoodie
Introducing the innovative and versatile Schoodie! Pronounced “sku-dee” (a combination of the words “scarf” and “hood”), the Schoodie is a hooded scarf with buttons to secure your wrapping technique of choice. With the winter months now in full swing, the Schoodie is a handy way to look trendy and stay toasty.
In a variety of colors for both men and women, tie it, wrap it, drape it, layer it, cross it, hang it, do whatever—the Schoodie is a fashion statement any way you work it!
How do you SCHOODIE? Comment to enter for a chance to win your very own Schoodie and show us your favorite way to wear it!
