beauty

GIFT GUIDE: BEAUTY STOCKING STUFFERS

Dec 08

It’s that time of year again! We’re one week into December, and gift-buying crunch time is coming soon. These are my picks for stocking stuffers for the beauty lover in your life!

Living Proof Dry Shampoo
Read: The best dry shampoo ever.

Tula Primer
You can’t go wrong with a blurred look.

Bio Oil
Tried and true. Good for keeping dry skin at bay.

Real Techniques Beauty Sponge
WAY better than the Beauty Blender, and it’s a fraction of the price.

Lime Crime Metallic Velvetines
One of my favorite lippies for the winter season.

Slip Small Silk Scrunchies
Makes me feel a little less bad about wearing my hair up so much.

OPI Nail Polish in “Let’s Be Friends”
The most flattering nail polish EVER. Buy one (or three) for everyone.

Lime Crime Venus XS Vixen Palette
These shadows are super-pigmented, and this palette is travel (and stocking) friendly.

Ouai Hair Oil
If for nothing else, it smells AMAZING.

Morphe Lip Gloss in Flower Child
Gimme alllll the peach tones.

Lilly Lashes in “Miami”
I usually opt for Ardell lashes, but these babies are worth the price.

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ALL MY LASH SECRETS

Jul 03

all my secrets for longer lashes | vital blonde | by hunter wuensche

It seems I’m asked at least once a day, “are your lashes real?” Most of the time, my answer is yes. I don’t have lash extensions, but I do wear fake lashes on occasion (more on those in a bit). My natural lashes are quite long to begin with, but I’m a firm believer that with a little patience and a lot of mascara, anyone can get envy-worthy lashes. Wondering how to get the look of longer lashes? I’m dishing the secrets.

all my secrets for longer lashes | mascara | vital blonde | by hunter wuensche

AU NATURALE

Are you ready for the secret? It’s pretty simple, actually. Just use more than one mascara. Most mascaras are designed to give different results — some are great for adding volume, some are great for adding length, etc. I have tried many a mascara, both high-end and drugstore, and I have yet to find one magical mascara that does it all.

I typically use two different mascaras. The first one will separate the lashes and add length. The second one gives that “wow” volume. I also used to be an avid user of only high-end mascaras, but now I mostly use drugstore mascara.

WHY?

It’s the same thing. Truth be told, the actual formula of each mascara does not differ from tube to tube. The black stuff is basically the same ish. The difference is in the brush/applicator and in the stopper that controls how much product gets on the applicator. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather pay 1/3 of the price if I’m gonna get the same thing and splurge on other products.

SO WHAT DO I USE?

My go-to right now for the “base” or 1st layer mascara is Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious in “blackest black.” This mascara is AMAZING. It even adds a teeny bit of volume, so if I have a fresh tube of this stuff I can almost get away with just using one mascara for the look I like.

Another great base is the L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara. Y’all, this mascara has a cult following FOR A REASON. It’s amazing for separating and and lengthening lashes. If I’m using this one, I use it first and then follow with the Maybelline I previously mentioned.

My second layer mascara is L’Oreal Lash Paradise, also in “blackest black.” This one gives allllll the volume. Gimme gimme. Another reason I don’t like to shell out all the $$ for high-end mascara? This one is a dupe for Too Faced Better Than Sex. It’s the same thing — just a fraction of the price.

For something more high-end, I decided to try the NARS Climax mascara recently, and I actually like it a lot. I’m a sucker for packaging, so that’s what really drew me in for this one. I don’t like using this one on it’s own, but it’s really great when paired with the Maybelline mascara I mentioned previously for an “everyday” look. This mascara is also a good “base” mascara, and it’s particularly great at separating your lashes and giving definition to them so they don’t look clumpy.

Those three are just the ones in my current lash rotation, but there are others I also like. I pretty much always stick to Maybelline and L’Oreal mascaras as far as brands go. I’ll link a few others I’ve tried and liked at the end of the post! If you MUST go high-end for mascara, opt for Lancome Hypnose Drama or Benefit Roller Lash or They’re Real, or the NARS Climax I’ve been using. Other honorable mentions are Milk Makeup Kush Mascara and Lancome Monsieur Big.

all my secrets for longer lashes | fake lashes | vital blonde | by hunter wuensche

FAKIN’ IT

I have yet to hop on the bandwagon of lash extensions. I’m terrified of destroying my lashes as they are now since they’re already quite long and always have been. However, I do wear fake lashes from time to time since they don’t damage your lashes as long as they’re applied correctly. I also love the feeling of a totally clean face — if I’m taking my makeup off I want it ALL off.

I tend to go through periods of time where I’ll wear falsies literally every day, and then not wear them at all for weeks. I can typically get roughly five or so wears out of each pair, considering that Stevie doesn’t find them and eat them first. We’ve had a few incidents of that.

I also don’t like to buy high-end lashes. I’ve tried Huda Beauty lashes and while they look gorgeous, the band is quite thick and heavy and just makes me want to rip my eyelids off. I am a Taurus through and through and while I love high-end, I can’t justify spending $20+ on lashes that end up making me a crazy person by the end of the day. However, I do like these and these for particularly fancy occasions.

I LOVE Ardell lashes. They’re cheap, there’s tons of styles, and you can buy them in multi-packs most of the time. My favorites are the Wispies and Double Wispies for a more dramatic look. Because you know, I love a dramatic lash look. I typically buy Wispies in a four pack and it will last me a month or two before I need more.

One thing about fake lashes if you’ve never used them: you have to have glue to apply them. Most lash glue typically contains latex. I’m allergic to latex, so I opt for the Duo non-latex glue which works like a charm. The original glue works great as well, but it makes me want to scratch my eyes off.

all my secrets for longer lashes | lash serum lash boost | vital blonde | by hunter wuensche

GROW ‘EM OUT

YES, you can grow your real lashes! My absolute FAVORITE lash serum that I will now never go without is Rodan + Fields Lash Boost. I have a few friends who sell R+F, and I heard great things about the product, so I decided to give it a try to support them as well.

Oh. My. Word. I didn’t think my natural lashes could get better. They were already long, and I TRUTHFULLY didn’t think any serum could make a big difference, but it did. My lashes are fuller and a bit longer. They seriously look as good as my falsies with just a few swipes of mascara! I don’t have a link for you to this product, but I would reach out to someone you know who sells R+F and tell them you want some lash boost! If you don’t know anyone who sells it, send me an Instagram DM and I’ll connect you with someone!

Another lash serum that I’ve tried is Latisse. Latisse is made by Allergan, which is the pharma company I used to work for, and it requires a prescription in a few states including Texas and New York.

I know a few people who have seen great results from using this, but I’ve never really used it consistently enough to see results. It also has some possible side effects (like turning your eye color more brown) that I’m not fond of. This did not happen to me, but I’m paranoid of it happening which has kept me from using it consistently.

If you’re interested in Latisse, you can get a prescription for it from your doctor to fill at the pharmacy or you can get it through the website SkinSolutions. To my knowledge, this is the only approved online vendor by Allergan to purchase Latisse, so I wouldn’t buy it from anywhere else online to be safe. It still technically requires a prescription, so you’ll have to fill out some medical info as well!

And that basically sums it up! Do you have any lash secrets to share? Head over to my latest Instagram and leave a comment telling me your secrets!

MAKEUP ROUTINE + FAVORITES

Jan 28

FACE

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in “2N1: Desert Beige” // Too Faced Hangover Rx Primer // Tarte Shape Tape in “Fair Neutral” // Lawless Seal the Deal Setting Powder // Benefit Hoola Bronzer // Anastasia Bronzer // NARS Blush in “Orgasm” // MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in “Soft and Gentle”

EYES

Urban Decay Primer Potion in “Eden” // Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in “Taupe” // Juvia’s Place The Nubian II Palette // Anastasia Sultry Palette // MAC Eyeshadows in “Saddle” and “Nylon” // Kat Von D Tattoo Liner // NARS Climax Mascara // Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious // MILK Makeup Kush Mascara // Ardell Wispies

LIPS

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in “Pillow Talk” // Marc Jacobs Lip Gloss in “Sugar Sugar” // Lawless Soft Matte Liquid Lipstick in “Cameron” and “Jake” // Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in “Bitch Perfect” // LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask

OTHER TOOLS

Duo Brush-On Lash Glue (Latex-Free) // Beauty Blender Pro // Sigma Brush Set // Morphe Blending Brush

THE BEST DRY SHAMPOO, EVER

Dec 06

I hate washing my hair. I love taking a good hot shower morning and night, but I absolutely despise washing my hair. When your hair is as fine as mine is, it gets pretty hard to go too long without looking like you put bacon grease directly on your roots. Okay, that’s a bit of an overstatement but you get the point. I’ve been on the hunt for the best dry shampoo I can get my hands on because ya girl loves dirty hair sans the whole looks-smells-and-feels-dirty part. That’s not asking for too much, right?

My problem with most dry shampoos is that they have an intense smell. No one wants gross smelling hair, I get it. But I also don’t want to walk around smelling like I poured a whole bottle of floral perfume on my hair when I woke up- it gives me headaches. But I also want something that smells nice, just not strong. Once again, is that too much to ask for?

Oh and I need volume. Lots and lots of volume. Fine hair also tends to be synonymous with flat hair, and this Texas girl ain’t here for flat hair. If a dry shampoo doesn’t give me killer volume, it’s a waste in my book.

For a long time, I just used magnolia-scented baby powder in my hair as dry shampoo. I loved the smell and it wasn’t too strong, plus the baby powder gave a decent amount of volume and soaked up any excess oil or grease in my roots. I can get away with using baby powder unless my roots are grown out… then it just looks like I am prematurely greying. Plus the powder ends up all over my bathroom floor and counter and then I look like I spend all my free time doing blow in my bathroom. Oops.

Then I met Ouai Dry Shampoo Foam. My first thought was, “yeah, not putting wet foam in my dry hair roots. You’re crazy, Sephora lady.” But, she convinced me to try it anyway and I walked out with a bottle.

YOU GUYS. This is life changing. One little dollop of foam removes oil, product buildup and gives the most volume I’ve ever gotten from ANY product. I use this when my hair is actually clean just for volume! The best part? It works for literally ALL hair types- straight, curly, wavy, blonde, black, red, you name it! It’s not made from powders like many other dry shampoos, so absolutely ZERO white residue in your hair is left.

Also, it legit smells like Tom Ford perfume, but the smell isn’t too strong either. Just a little bit of the foam goes a long way, which I love because I don’t like repurchasing hair product all the time. You will definitely get your money’s worth out of it!

Hate washing your hair too? Run, don’t walk to pick up this stuff. I won’t tell anyone you haven’t actually washed your hair… it can be our dirty little secret.

I’ve linked a few of my other favorite hair styling products below so you can go even longer without washing your hair. Dirty hair for everyone!!!

GIFT GUIDE FOR THE BEAUTY LOVER

Nov 27

one // Laneige Kiss and Makeup Set

I can’t live without this stuff!

two // Drunk Elephant Babyfacial

Tons of raving reviews.

three // Slip silk eye mask

For luxe beauty sleep.

four // Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry Palette

Possibly my favorite palette EVER.

five // MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in “Soft and Gentle”

The best highlighter. Also love the color “Global Glow.”

six // Mario Badescu facial mist trio

One for every mood.

seven // Beauty Blender

A staple.

eight // Summer Fridays Jet Lag mask

Ultra hydrating for stressed-out skin.

nine // Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb

Looks amazing on everyone.

ten // Lawless Beauty liquid lipstick in “Cameron”

My daily go-to color.

eleven // Skin Gym rose quartz facial roller

Also love a good ice roller.

twelve // Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette

Can’t go wrong with any color — I love the “rock chick.”

thirteen // NARS lip gloss in “Sixties Fan”

My favorite for a subtle kiss of color (it’s not as dark as it seems!)

fourteen // Urban Decay Born to Run palette

So many fun colors!

fifteen // Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen

Beauty begins within! Other flavors available also.

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KEEP IT COOL

Oct 18

Platinum hair has been “in” for a while, and that’s no secret. From high school and through most of college I kept my blonde tone anywhere from strawberry to golden and never thought I’d vary from that. I jumped on the icy train quickly and switched to cool toned blonde around the time I moved to New York, and since then I’ve gotten questions about how I keep my hair cool and light.

MY ANSWER? Patience, for one.

AT THE SALON

If your hair isn’t light blonde to begin with, it’s best to take your time with lightening it so you don’t damage your hair (if you do, I have solutions.) If you have any sort of red in your hair, be it from your natural color or from dye, the process of getting that cool tone is going to be trickier. Work with a stylist that is skilled with blondes and you’ll be just fine!

Now, there are two ways you can lighten your hair — highlights or bleach and tone. It is probably safe to say that most strikingly ice platinum blondes do bleach and tone, where bleach is applied all over and then toned to the right color. If you’re going for dramatic, this may be the way to go. If you like more dimension in your hair, you’ll want to opt for highlights, which is what I do.

MY HIGHLIGHTS TRICK

There are several things I do for my highlights to give the all-over color feel while maintaining dimension. First, my stylist in Houston does heavy slices of highlights as opposed to weaving them. This is better if your hair is already light so you don’t have stripes. I also alternate doing full highlights and partial. I like my color to be bright around my face as well, so sometimes I’ll have my stylist lightly brighten the roots all around my hairline on my face. This is what works for me, and I always recommend talking everything over with your stylist to create the look that is best for your hair and what you’re going for!

THE TONER

If you want an icy, cool toned blonde, you may need to tone your hair. I recommend opting for a toner that is grey, purple, or blue. Think about it like a color wheel. Purple is the opposite of yellow, so it will cancel out the yellow tones. Blue is the opposite of orange, so it will cancel out the orange tones. I’ll get more into those later!

I tend to favor more of a silver/grey tone to my hair, but I actually haven’t been toning it lately. I’ve been seeing Melanie at N Salon recently and she recommended not toning my hair, and I’ve loved the results so far. She just highlights and uses a purple shampoo on me. This is exactly why it’s best to talk through what your goals with your hair are with your stylist — they can recommend the best process for YOUR hair.

AT HOME UPKEEP

Keeping your hair icy doesn’t end at the salon, unfortunately. Lucky for you, I’ve found an arsenal of products that help me maintain my color and banish gross, yellow brassiness.

JOICO COLOR BALANCE PURPLE SHAMPOO

This one is probably a no-brainer. You’ve likely heard to use a purple shampoo to get rid of brassy tones. I’ve tried a few, and my biggest complaint with most that I’ve tried is that they never seem to feel like they actually clean my hair. I don’t wash my hair often, so I want it to feel clean no matter what shampoo I use, and I really don’t want to wash it twice to get that feeling.

I use the Joico Color Balance purple shampoo because it miraculously does give that clean feeling and just the right amount of color. I’ve heard great things about the Fanola No Yellow shampoo, but I have yet to try it.

OVERTONE DAILY CONDITIONERS

This is what I use when I want a dramatically “cooler” look. I have both the pastel purple color and pastel silver. The pastel purple deposits a little too much color for my liking, so I usually stick with the pastel silver. The ends of my hair soak up color very easily, so the silver gives the cool tone without straight up turning my hair a different color.

They have a ton of different colors so if you’re trying to maintain red, rose gold, or virtually any other color, they have something for you!

EVA NYC LEAVE-IN FOAM

I don’t use this frequently either, because it also deposits quite a bit of purple color. However, I like to use it when I want my color to look amazing in photos. It also smells AMAZING which is always a plus. It’s definitely great for a little extra boost when needed!

That’s about it! As I’ve mentioned a few times, it’s always best to work with your stylist on your color. They’ll be your ultimate resource for the results you’re looking for. Have you tried any of these products, or what are your secrets for keeping blonde color cool? Thank you for reading!

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HOW TO KEEP YOUR HAIR HEALTHY

May 04

I don’t think it’s any secret that I highlight my hair- and with bleach comes damage. Whether you color your hair or not, it can be hard to maintain healthy hair. I’ve been coloring and highlighting my hair for about 10 years now, and I’ve learned a few tricks along the way to keep my hair strong, even through my transition to platinum.

MY NUMBER ONE SECRET?

STOP WASHING YOUR HAIR.

I mean, please wash your hair. Just don’t do it as often. I only wash my hair MAX twice a week. This allows for your natural oils to run through your hair and keep it moisturized. I definitely understand it can be hard to just switch to not washing your hair as often, but build yourself up to it. Add an extra day between washing your hair each time you wash it until you’re only washing it once or twice a week. I PROMISE you can do it! Get a good dry shampoo (I’ve got a post on my favorite one coming up!) and you’re good to go. If you’re blonde, baby powder works great too. Eventually, your hair will stop getting “greasy” or “oily” plus you won’t be putting as many harsh chemicals on your hair, it’s a win-win!

NOW LET’S TALK PRODUCTS.

I only use salon quality products on my hair, and I only purchase them from a salon or beauty store like Ulta, Sephora or Nordstrom where you know you’re getting the real deal. Don’t ever buy higher-end products from a drug store, Walmart, Target, etc, you don’t know what’s really in them.

For shampoo and conditioner, I recommend getting a product that is strengthening. I love Joico K-Pak shampoo and conditioner for colored hair so I don’t risk stripping out my toner that keeps my hair cool-toned. They have a version for colored hair and non-colored, so make sure you pick up the right one.

If your hair is already damaged and you’re trying to repair it, you will want some sort of damage therapy leave-in treatment. I use Aveda Damage Remedy, it’s also a heat protectant for an added bonus. I run this through my hair evenly, making sure it gets it all.

If you’re not one for blowdrying your hair, then great! No heat — that’s perfect. I can’t air-dry my hair. I hate it. It gets a weird texture, and I’m not about it. So since I’m inevitably going to put heat on my hair, I make sure to do it in a healthy-ish way. Aka a GOOD hairdryer. You may have a stroke at the price, but my last hair dryer lasted me for almost 10 years before it shot fire out of it. That was a fun day. Anyway, I use a slightly older version of this T3 hairdryer. I got mine at Costco for a bit cheaper, so check there first if you have a membership. They also have a mini version that’s cheaper too. My hair dries a lot faster now with this dryer and faster drying = less damage.

I also try to avoid styling my hair with a curling iron or straightener. I have naturally straight hair, so all I have to do is give it a 30-second hairdryer blast to smooth out any kinks. I also recommend sleeping with your hair in a bun with a crocodile clip or in a braid to keep it from getting tangly and breaking in your sleep.

THE HOLY GRAIL

O L A P L E X.

If you don’t know, now you know. This is the MAJOR secret. Ask your stylist about mixing Olaplex in with your color and also doing an Olaplex treatment. It will do WONDERS on your hair. This is truly the gamechanger in my hair-health routine. I have Olaplex added every time I highlight my hair, and I use the No.3 treatment at home. You know how chocolate can mend a broken heart? Olaplex can mend your broken hair. Okay now I’m just being dramatic, but, you need this.

OTHER COOL THINGS YOU WANT

By now, you’ve probably heard of sleeping with a satin pillowcase to prevent breakage. If not, this is a thing. And you should do it. My satin pillowcase is from Savvy Sleepers and I kinda want one in every color… is that too much?

I’ve also become hooked on these Invisibobble hair ties. They look like telephone cords and are actually super cute in your hair. More importantly, though, they don’t pull on your hair as much or rip hair out of your head, and they’re less likely to leave those dreaded kinks in your hair. They even make tiny ones for smaller sections of hair if you’re a fine-haired babe like me.

ANYTHING ELSE?

Get regular haircuts. If your hair is super damaged on the ends, cut it off. Even if it’s several inches. I promise your locks will grow back quicker than you think and won’t be constantly breaking anymore. If you’re trying to grow your hair out, this is way more important than you would think. My hair grows stupid fast and it’s solely because I keep my ends from getting damaged so it won’t break off. Also, those tiny hairs you see around my face are baby hairs, not breakage. I’ve had them for forever and they drive me nuts, but that’s neither here nor there.

It’s definitely not impossible to color/highlight your hair AND keep it healthy. Last time I got my hair highlighted my bae Chris said he’s never felt my hair so healthy ever before. For context, he’s been coloring my hair since I was 14. I’ve done A LOT to my hair with him — basically every shade of blonde, brunette, and even a short stint with red hair. This is by far the lightest my hair has ever been and also the HEALTHIEST. So it’s possible! Don’t let yourself believe otherwise.

And that’s all my tips! I have more hair-themed posts coming soon, including one on dry shampoo and how I keep my hair cool toned. If there are any other hair type posts you wanna see, definitely let me know! I also wanna know if you try out any of these tips and they help. You can always email me if you wanna chat or have more specific questions. All my luck with transitioning into not washing your hair! ♡

SEPHORA SPRING SALE

Apr 23

If you know me at all, you know I can’t resist walking into Sephora as soon as I see it. (Okay honestly I pretty much run as soon as I see it.) Lucky for all of us, Sephora’s Spring Sale is back, BUT it ends today. I decided to round up some of my favorite or “must-have” products for you to snag before the sale ends tonight. Today is my 23rd birthday, so I had no shame clicking “add to cart” on a few items as a little birthday present to myself.

SOOO… HOW DOES IT WORK?

First off, you need to be a Beauty Insider to participate in the sale. You can sign up here. Once you sign up and have your items all in your cart, you’ll want to enter the code for which level Beauty Insider you are.

Beauty Insiders: 10% off everything with code YAYINSIDER

VIB: 15% off everything with code YAYVIB

Rouge: 15% off everything with code YAYROUGE

MY FAVORITES:

INVISIBOBBLE // These are my favorite hair ties! They look way cute in your hair and don’t leave a crimp.

KOPARI COCONUT BODY GLOW // I want anything and everything that will make me glow AND smell like a tropical paradise.

LAURA MERCIER TRANSLUCENT POWDER // I always need more powder. Always. #OilySkinProbs

NARS POWERMATTE LIP PIGMENT // This liquid lipstick does. not. budge. I have the shade “Get It On” because I’m incapable of resisting a cheeky color name.

ANASTASIA DIPBROW POMADE // This is the secret to amazing brows.

T3 HAIR DRYER // I have an older model of this hair dryer, but it’s made a HUGE difference in my hair. (aka I dislike washing my hair a little bit less now)

ANASTASIA GLOW KIT // Does anyone else want to bathe in highlight? Just me? Ok.

DR. DENNIS GROSS ALPHA BETA PEEL PADS // Every time I use these my skin feels BOMB. Read more about why you should get these here.

KATE SOMERVILLE EXFOLIKATE // I use this in the shower, turn the water heat all the way up (I enjoy burning my skin off it’s fine), and then enjoy the steam for a couple minutes before washing it off.

WHAT I BOUGHT:

SOL DE JANEIRO BRAZILIAN CRUSH FRAGRANCE MIST // I just wanna smell like summer all the time.

DR. JART ALL THAT CONTOURS SHEET MASK // I’ve heard this sheet mask is similar to getting Botox, so I will report back with results. Sidebar — I got Botox almost 2 months ago and I’m working on a post about that experience!

NARS CREAMY CONCEALER // This concealer has a cult following, and since I’m almost out of my beloved Tarte Shape Tape I decided I would give this a try.

ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR FOUNDATION // This is a repurchase for me! I love this foundation because it has great coverage but also feels super light.

If I had it my way, I would probably purchase just about everything during this sale. BUT I’ve done a little too much #treatyoself this month (birthday month so it’s justified?) so I had to limit myself a bit. Let me know what you’re picking up for yourself from the sale — be sure to hurry, it ends tonight!

SO I GOT MY LIPS FILLED

Jan 09

Okay, so, SURPRISE. I got lip fillers! Well, if you’ve seen me in the past few weeks that may not be much of a surprise to you. I made this impulsive decision just before Christmas. I moved my appointment to get a lip augmentation with Juvederm from a week ahead to the literal day after I decided I wanted my lips done right then.

Here’s the thing- when I decide I want to do something I want to do it now. Patience is not my strong suit when my mind is made.

I decided I wanted to blog this experience because I don’t know many people who have gotten a lip augmentation and was really curious about the process and what all to expect. So whether you’re curious too because you want to have your lips done also, or you think it’s weird and gross and just wanna know how things go, I’m here to tell you my experience.

My appointment was with Mara at the Med Physique in Austin. I ended up getting 3/4 syringe of Juvederm Ultra Plus injected, with 1/4 syringe saved for touch-ups later. I wanted to go for a full, natural look without looking like I stepped out of Real Housewives.

Full disclosure: I work for Allergan, the pharmaceutical company that makes Juvederm, which is why I chose this specific filler. Juvederm has a whole family of fillers used for different things. I honestly can’t tell you much about the different types, but Med Physique recommended Ultra Plus for volume so that’s what I went with.

Now you’re probably wondering what on earth is in these fillers and why I would agree to inject them into my lips. Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid gel. Hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring in your body, and you likely see it as an ingredient in some of your skincare products. Because of this, fillers like Juvederm aren’t permanent, and for lip augmentations can last up to 6 months depending on how your body metabolizes the hyaluronic acid. If you’re wanting to keep your lips nice and full, plan on getting injections around twice a year with a couple of touch-ups in between too.

And now you’re thinking… Does it hurt? Short answer: kinda. It doesn’t feel like rainbows and clouds and lollipops and everything sweet and nice that’s for sure. Mara numbed my lips with lidocaine prior to the injections and I could barely feel any part of my mouth for the actual injecting part. Of course, you can tell that something is being injected and you can feel pressure, but the injections themselves don’t hurt too much. The whole process from start to finish was really quick, only about 30 minutes.

Afterward… that’s a different story. It took around another 30 minutes for me to be able to feel my lips again to the touch, and even then there is lidocaine in the filler itself, so your lips will still feel a bit numb.

Let me be honest- this is when it starts to get painful. Not anything too bad, but definitely sore and uncomfortable. It’s like this for a few days, and your lips are very very swollen.

At around day 3 my lips weren’t as swollen anymore and just slightly sore. At 1 week later, they were only sore in two small places and just barely swollen there at all. I iced my lips the whole evening and next day after I got them done, and I think it made a huge difference. In all, it took about 2 weeks for the swelling to go down completely.

Overall, I’m extremely happy with how they turned out. They still look natural, where people who don’t know that I’ve had them done won’t think, “oh my god her lips are so fake.” Most people don’t even know I’ve had it done unless I tell them.

Would I do it again? I would consider it. I like the look right now, but I am glad that they’re not permanent so I can choose to not have them done again if I want to.

If you’re in Austin, I recommend going to Med Physique where I got mine done. If not, I would do some research on different dermatologists or medspas in your area and look at their before and after pictures to make sure their clients have a look you’re going for. A consultation is typically done to recommend how much to have injected and all of those details, so don’t stress too much about having it figured out ahead of time.

The whole process was incredibly easy and I’m glad that I ended up doing it. I was on the fence for a while and was worried about what people would think, but the bottom line is I’m happy with it and that’s what matters. If you want to get yours done too- I say go for it!

There’s a lot of stigmas that come with cosmetic procedures like this and I wanted to be upfront and real about it to try to break some of that down. I try my best to be an open book when it comes to blogging and kind of life in general. I never want to be that girl who acts like she can’t remember where she got her shoes from or won’t share her secrets. If there’s anything more you want to know about the process, feel free to ask!

I linked some hyaluronic acid products below, and I now take a hyaluronic acid supplement each day to help ensure the filler lasts as long as possible. Would you ever get lip injections, or what are your thoughts on it? I wanna know! xx

2016 FAVORITES

Jan 03

Now that 2016 has come to a close, (thankfully!) I wanted to share my favorite products from the year! I tried to pick products that I wore on any “average day” and include as many makeup categories as I could. Some of these are different from my current favorites since I purchased some new products, but I wanted to keep this post true to what I wore most throughout the year.

On to my 2016 favorites!

Face

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint – This is my favorite foundation for warm, humid months (aka the whole year in Texas!) My skin is oily so I always reach for a matte finish! However, in the past week this CC cream has become my new favorite since it is more moisturizing.

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer – I love this concealer for covering undereye circles. I’m convinced I’m actually nocturnal, so I frequently need a heavy duty concealer to cover up those dreaded circles.

Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette – If you’re looking for a good contour palette, hands down get this one. I used the Anastasia Contour Palette previously, and the Kat Von D has better color payoff and looks less powdery and chalky. She recently released a refillable palette which I’ll be purchasing when I use this one all up!

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in ‘Fervor’ – This blush duo has been my go-to the whole year, and I love that you can get 3 different colors out of it by using either color or mixing the two. The colors are really intense and incredibly flattering.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in ‘Soft and Gentle’ – I’ve had this bad boy for 5 years now, and I’m just now getting to where I’ll need to repurchase it soon! It’s a bit pricey, but worth the money. I always get compliments on my highlight when I’m wearing this, it’s an all-time favorite.

Eyes

NARS Duo Eyeshadow in ‘Kalahari’ – If you look closely, you can tell I put a pretty massive dent in the lighter (left side) of the two colors. It’s pretty safe to say that I wore this eyeshadow most days of the year! I frequently paired it with NARS ‘Coconut Grove’ in the crease and MAC ‘Nylon’ as a highlight.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner – This liner has been my favorite for YEARS. It has a cult following for a reason! Its the only liquid liner that I’ve found that doesn’t dry out on the tip, which is important for getting a sharp wing.

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara – Another longtime favorite of mine! I love this mascara for lengthening, separating and lifting lashes.

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara – This is a mascara I discovered this year. The price tag is pretty high, but I’m obsessed with the dramatic look it gives to your lashes! It quickly overtook Roller Lash as my top favorite mascara.

MAC Veluxe Brow Liner Pencil in ‘Fling’ – For majority of the year this is what I used to fill in my brows, but I have recently switched over to the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in ‘Ash Brown.’ I love that this pencil has a spoolie on the other end which is super helpful when doing your brows.

Lips

Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in ‘Bitch Perfect’ – I think it’s safe to say this is my favorite lipstick ever. I’m getting pretty close to using the entire thing up, which I’ve never done to a lipstick before! I pretty much carry this lipstick with me at all times, I love it that much. All of Charlotte Tilbury’s lipsticks have a gorgeous finish, so try one if you haven’t!

Colourpop Liquid Lipsticks in ‘Frick N’ Frack’ and ‘Times Square’ – Liquid Lipsticks blew up this past year, and I am close to trying all of the popular brands. In my opinion, the Kylie liquid lipsticks are overrated and overpriced. I love the Colourpop liquid lipsticks in both the matte and satin finish, and they are SO much cheaper than most other liquid lipsticks and have a huge range of colors. I wore these two most over the past year.

Perfume

Gucci Guilty – I have several different perfumes and I love switching up my scent depending on my mood. I go for warmer scents that are more “nighttime” than “daytime,” and this one was my favorite for the year. I actually have the Gucci Guilty Intense version, which is “more provocative and sensual” according to Sephora. Essentially it’s just a more intense version of the original!

What were your favorites throughout the year? Let me know in the comments, I love hearing everyone’s favorite products! I’m also going to be doing a full-face makeup video VERY soon to show exactly how I do my makeup everyday, so let me know what kind of look you’d like to see as well!

P.S. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram! I’ve consolidated my accounts and will only be posting from @hunterwuensche from now on!

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