beauty

HAIR ROUTINE

Oct 19

Just a couple days ago, my sweet friend Tori asked me for all my hair product recommendations, and she inspired me to write an updated hair routine post! Thanks, Tori 😉

I have very fine chemically treated hair, so the products I use are catered to my hair’s needs. If your hair is thick and curly, these products may not work for you! Always use products for your specific hair type, and if you’re not sure if you have fine or coarse hair or what your hair type is, ask your stylist!

With that being said, make sure to ALWAYS buy your salon-quality hair products from salons ONLY or somewhere like Sephora, Ulta or Nordstrom where you know you’re getting the real deal. Don’t ever buy salon hair products from the drug store, or somewhere like Walmart or Target, because you could be getting a fake or expired product.

Now, onto the good stuff.

Shampoo/Conditioner

I like to switch out my shampoo and conditioner when I run out of one type so that my hair doesn’t get too used to a product. One of my all time favorites is Living Proof No Frizz, which is great for frizzy hair or if you live somewhere where humidity is a problem! Currently, I’m using Aveda Color Conserve Shampoo and Aveda Damage Remedy Conditioner. I absolutely love the way that Aveda products smell, and I wanted something that would protect and heal my highlighted locks. If your hair is colored in any way, you’ll want to be sure that you’re using color safe products, so your color doesn’t get stripped out of your hair.

For blondes specifically, I also love Pureology Perfect 4 Platinum. The shampoo has a blue tint to it that helps tone your blonde when you wash. Blue tint will cancel out orange tones, and purple tint will cancel out yellow. I also use a purple shampoo about once a week to keep brassy color out of my hair. My blonde tends to pull yellow, especially around when it’s time to get my highlights done again, and purple shampoo helps fix the color back to how I like it.

Styling Products

To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of using styling products. I’m always hesitant to put something on the ends of my hair out of fear it will weigh my poor fine hair down. However, I’ve fixed this traditional “limp” fine hair problem with Pureology Root Lift. This is a root lifting spray that you spray directly into your roots when your hair is damp before blowdrying. As the name suggests, it lifts the roots of your hair, preventing hair from falling flat and it also helps absorb oil!

If i’m going to use anything on the ends of my hair, I make sure that it’s something that is strengthening and will help prevent breakage. I love using Pureology Strength Cure Split End Salve, but I don’t use it every time I wash my hair so that I’m not adding too much protein back into my hair.

When drying my hair, I style it with this Spornette round brush. The thing I love about this brush is that the barrel of the brush is longer, which makes it easier for styling your own hair. Using a round brush can be a little tricky until you get the hang of it!

I love finishing off a look with Moroccanoil hair spray, mainly because the scent is to die for! In between washes, I also use dry shampoo. I didn’t include a specific one in the post because I haven’t quite found one that I absolutely love yet! Every one I’ve tried has just seemed kind of “eh” to me, or I get incredibly tired of the scent. I’ve been using this one lately and I like it, but I’m getting a little tired of the smell. If you have a favorite, let me know in the comments!

I can be a bit of a diva when it comes to my hair, but I think it’s worth it to keep it in good shape! Have you tried any of these products or which are your favorites?

HOW TO FAKE A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

May 25

Being a college student isn’t very nice for your sleep schedule. Being a college student who is prone to terrible stress dreams and nightmares is even worse. (I literally wake up shaking and crying in the middle of the night, it’s a great time!) So needless to say, I’ve gotten pretty good at faking a well-rested look, or at least I’d like to think so. Here are a few of my little tips to make it look like that 4 hours of sleep was actually 8 hours.

White Eyeliner

I fee like this one is no secret anymore, but I’m telling you IT WORKS. I use this Chella highlighter pencil, and it’s perfect because it’s not too stark white but also isn’t too flesh toned. I swear this makes the biggest difference, if you haven’t tried it you have to!

Concealer

Not just any concealer, but a really good full coverage one. Something has to hide those dark circles! I wear shade 7, and this tube lasts so long. I apply it in a triangle shape under my eyes to make sure the whole area is brightened up. I also really want to try this YSL apricot color correcting concealer to help cancel out dark circles.

Mascara

A major trick to appearing well-rested is having that wide-eyed look, and full lashes is one of the easiest ways to achieve that. I have naturally long lashes that have curl to them already, (sorry I got the good genes, little sis!) I’ve mentioned before how one of my biggest makeup tricks is to use more than one mascara, and I’m sticking by that! Benefit Roller Lash, Maybelline Lash Sensational and L’Oreal Miss Manga Rock are the three in my rotation currently.

Highlight

Lack of sleep can leave your skin looking rather dull. Giving your skin a good glow will fool just about anyone into thinking you got a full night of sleep! MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle is my holy grail highlighter, it gives the perfect natural-looking highlight. Pair it with a good blush (this one is my favorite!) and kiss dull, tired skin goodbye.

Do you have any tricks to faking the well-rested look?

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KYLIE COSMETICS METAL MATTES

May 23

I tried really hard not to get sucked into the hype, y’all. I tried. My first Kylie Cosmetics purchase was the Kourt K lip kit, which I ended up loving. Once I saw these metals, I knew I had to get my hands on them. So many people have asked me what I think of them, so I thought I would do a little review for you!

All three shades are very pigmented, and just one coat of product gives amazing color payoff. I’m completely obsessed with the metallic shine they all have, it’s gorgeous.

Heir is the lightest of the three, and has a sort of nude peach tone to the color. I really like wearing this one with Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect lipstick underneath, because I’ve found it makes the color suit my skin tone better.

King K is a golden bronze color, and is probably my favorite of the three even though it’s a close call! I wear this one with Charlotte Tilbury Iconic Nude lip liner underneath.

Reign is the darkest, and is a bronze red color. The website describes it as copper, which it has some hints of, but I feel the undertone is far more red than anything. It also is much darker in person than it appears on the website, but a beautiful color nonetheless.

They’re also fairly long-lasting, although Heir didn’t seem to wear quite as long as the other two from what I found.

One of my favorite things about matte lipsticks is that they are usually fairly smudge proof and don’t transfer easily, but that is not the case with these. This is my main problem with this product. I don’t believe that they are a true matte lipstick, they definitely have more of a satin texture. They can be quite a bit sticky depending on how much product you use. I also wouldn’t say they are drying at all like some matte lipsticks can be, which is good.

If you don’t like scented makeup, you’ll probably have a problem with these. They have a decently strong, sweet smell. I wouldn’t say it smells bad, but I’m also not particularly fond of the smell either. I’m sure it’s used to cover up the sort of “chemical” smell that unscented liquid lipsticks sometimes have, I just find the scent to be too strong.

Overall, they’re not a perfect product, but I wasn’t necessarily expecting a perfect product either. I think the color and pigmentation of these lipsticks alone makes it worth it. I’ve found myself reaching for these three more than any other lip products since I’ve had them. They’re also amazing for layering with other lip products to create new and unique colors.

Bottom line: you need these in your makeup bag. Trust me.

Without flash – Top to bottom: Reign, King K, Heir

With flash – Left to Right: Heir, King K, Reign

Have you tried the Kylie Cosmetics metal mattes or any of her glosses or lip kits? Don’t forget to check out my Instagram, @thelipsticktales! There you can find pictures of how each of the lipsticks look on. Thank you so much for reading, check back Wednesday for another new post!

BITE LIP LAB

Mar 29

Shop My Look:

Top: Banana Republic | Jeans: Topshop | Jacket: Banana Republic | Necklace: Beaded by W

For my spring break this year I took a trip with my Meme to New York for Fashion PR Confidential. We scheduled in a couple extra days for the trip so we could shop and enjoy the city before my workshop, and being the lipstick lover that I am, I just HAD to make a stop at the Bite Lip Lab.

Bite Beauty is a cosmetics line sold at Sephora. They specialize in lip products and use ingredients that are food grade quality. Their Lip Lab, located in SoHo, is a place where you can make your own custom lipstick color, and they’ll even keep your formula on file for you so you can reorder it easily.

The first part of the process is making your color, and was my favorite part. I had been searching for the perfect magenta pink that was just the right amount of purple but was also wearable. I’d been mixing MAC Up the Amp and Lovelorn trying to perfect the color, so I knew that this was the sort of custom color I wanted to create. You can also choose the finish of your lipstick, and I chose “cuvee” which is a sort of satin finish.

My first color mixed was too pink, the next was too violet, and the last one ended up being my perfect color. My Meme started out creating a very wearable color, but eventually decided she wanted a really good blue toned red. You can see those gorgeous blue undertones in the last swatch on her swatch card- I’ve never seen such a beautiful red!

The next step is to select the scent/flavor of your lipstick, which is created with essential oils. I chose to mix cherry and vanilla for my lipstick, considering my Sonic order is always cherry vanilla diet coke! 😉

After all of that is decided, they mix up your color and pour it into the mold. It’s set on a freezer, which chills it down and solidifies it into it’s lipstick form so it can be placed in the bullet. Once that’s done, you have your own custom lipstick! They give you a card with the recipe for your color, and also keep it on file so you can reorder it if you run out.

The whole experience was really fun! I definitely recommend making an appointment (which is needed) if you’re in NYC. Grab lunch at Joe’s Pizza (my favorite) after to make a day out of it! If you’re looking for a color similar to the one I made, this one is almost identical.

Have you ever been to the Bite Lip Lab or anything like it? Let me know 🙂

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Top High End Foundations

Mar 11

I get a LOT of questions on what face makeup I use, and a lot of times it varies by the day! I’m a huge advocate of using high-end makeup on your face, because I always want the very best on my skin. Here are my top 3 foundations that I wear on rotation.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet

I absolutely love this foundation, and I wear shade B40. It makes my skin look completely flawless, and feels like there’s nothing on my skin. It can be hard to find a foundation that sits just right on oily skin, considering most just kind of slip off. This foundation has such a strange consistency (it seems SO runny!) but works perfectly on normal to oily skin. I definitely would not recommend this one to anyone with remotely dry skin, and if that’s you, try this one instead! But for most days, this is my go-to! Keep in mind too, a little bit goes a long way with this product.

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue

If you don’t like a heavy foundation, this is the one for you. It’s pretty similar to a tinted moisturizer, but the consistency is almost a bit more like a gel. I typically prefer a little bit more coverage out of a foundation than this gives, but it’s also buildable, so you can get more coverage out of it if you want to. I didn’t think that I was going to like this foundation at all because it’s marketed more to dry skin types, but I’ve found it really works well for all skin! Sometimes oily/combo skin overproduces oil because of a lack of moisture, and this product really ensures your skin gets the moisture it needs. Another great thing about this product is that the color range is very forgiving and relatively easy to find the right match. I have both buttercream and ginger, and I’ve found that both shades can be blended to match my skin well.

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD

This is the newest foundation that I’ve tried. I heard so many good things about it that I thought I’d give it a try, and I wound up loving it! The shade range has a TON of colors, so no one should have a problem finding the right match. I wear shade 123/Y365. HD foundations were developed to make your skin look amazing on camera, and I can promise you that it does just that! I’ve been wearing this pretty much everyday, and my only complaint is that it doesn’t seem to wear as well as the day goes on. (If your skin isn’t as oily as mine you might not have this problem though!) Definitely be sure to moisturize well and prime before using this foundation. I’ve found it does look best in the first few hours of wear, so that’s just something to keep in mind.

Have you tried any of these foundations? Let me know which are your favorites in the comments!

Summer Hair

Jul 09

photo taken by Hunter Wuensche

I’ve teamed up with my favorite hair stylists to bring you the last part of my summer series, summer hair! I asked three stylists that I’ve trusted with my locks over the years what their must-have products for summer are, and these are their responses!

Photo courtesy of Alyssa McCurdy

Alyssa McCurdy, ONE TWO ZERO Salon in Cypress, Texas

Her Must-Haves: Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream | Moroccanoil Hairspray | Living Proof No Frizz Humidity Shield

Alyssa’s first pick is the Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream. “I put it in right before I blow dry my hair while still damp, and it smoothes out flawlessly when I blow dry,” she says.

Alyssa loves the Moroccanoil Hairspray “because it has just the right amount of hold for a little bit of added volume without weighing my hair down especially with me not washing [my hair] everyday!” (Alyssa got me hooked on this hairspray, it smells amazing!)

Alyssa calls her final must-have, Living Proof No Frizz Humidity Shield, a “miracle in a can.” She advises to use it after hairspray, as your final product. “It holds your style throughout the day while blocking humidity which can make it fall or frizz,” she says. Perfect for humid summer weather here in Texas!

Alyssa has been cutting my hair since high school, and the updo she gave me for prom junior year has by far been my favorite! Your hair is in good hands with her, promise.

Photo courtesy of Chris Jeffcote

Chris Jeffcote, Blue Mambo in Houston, Texas

His Must-Haves: Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray and Surf Infusion | Raha Vital Restore Conditioner

Chris says he tells his clients who have wavy hair to use Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray and Surf Infusion to “create easy manageable styles.” He also advises clients who do a lot more to their hair (color, bleaching, hot tools, etc.) to use Raha Vital Restore Conditioner. Chris says he likes it for protection against sun exposure and for daily upkeep.

Chris has been coloring my hair since high school. He’s given me every color from blonde to black (and even red!) and it’s perfect every time. Seriously, if you want amazing color, go see Chris!

Photo courtesy of Angela Spenrath

Angela Spenrath, The Haven on Main in Tomball, Texas

Her Must-Have: It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product

Angela calls this her “number one go-to for every season.” (I have to say it’s mine too!) “With sun exposure, salt water and chlorine, you will find that your hair will start in to lighten up more so than during the winter months and you will also be at greater risk for breakage,” she says. “With ‘It’s a 10‘ it helps to seal the cuticle and prevent lightening of the hair do to UV.” Angela also says that It’s a 10 will help prevent breakage and keep your hair hydrated, which is very important in the summer.

I feel like I’ve known Angela for as long as I can remember, and I couldn’t even tell you when she started doing my hair. She was the one who cut off ten inches of my hair to donate, and she even fixed my sixth grade pink hair disaster. She’s a miracle worker for that one! Cut, color, style, you name it, Angela can do it.

Thank you so much for reading! What are you favorite summer hair products?

Summer Lips

Jul 02

Happy July, friends! I can’t believe that June is already over, where does the time go? Today I’m sharing the 2nd part of my summer series, my favorite summer lip products. Although I have a tendency to wear the same colors throughout the year, there are some that definitely fit better in the summer. I picked my top five, and lately I’ve been wearing these on rotation!

MAC “Please Me”

This lipstick is my perfect everyday pink. It’s bright, but not too bright. This color goes with everything, which is what makes it perfect throw on for lazy summer days. It has a matte finish, so I always wear a gloss on top. I’m always wary of matte finishes in the summer because they can feel dry, but with a gloss this one has the perfect texture.

NARS “Heat Wave”

This is the perfect summer red. It’s warm toned, which gives it that vibrant almost-coral look. Surprisingly enough, this one is also a matte finish, but I have less of a problem with it being drying than the MAC mattes. The color is outstanding though, and looks perfect with a tan!

Charlotte Tilbury “Nude Kate”

I’ve said this before, but I had never really tried a true nude lipstick before this one. I love that the color doesn’t wash you out, who wants that for summer?! The color is inspired by Kate Moss, as the name suggests, and I always think she has the perfect look for summer!

NARS “Sixties Fan”

In the bottle, this color looks scary dark. However, when it’s applied it is actually extremely wearable. It’s a sort of pomegranate color that warms up your skin and is super easy to throw on with any outfit. My roommate is always stealing this one from me (looking at you, Rachel!) but I can’t blame her, the color is amazing!

MAC “Razzledazzler”

This color has probably been my most worn lately. It’s a light orange, which is a pretty scary color for most people who aren’t used to orange lipsticks. Something about the color just screams summer to me, probably because it reminds me of a dreamsicle! I wear Laura Mercier “Nectar” Lip Glacé over this one for a glossy finish, which is my favorite in the summer.

Thanks so much for reading! What are your favorite summer lip products?

Summer Nails

Jun 25

one | two | three | four | five

Although here in Texas it feels like summer for half of the year, it is now officially summer! With summer comes a lot of my favorite trends, and I’m going to be breaking them down for you in a three part series over the next few weeks. Up first is summer nails, and I’ve rounded up my five favorites.

1. Jin Soon “Charme”

I can’t even tell you how long I’ve been lusting after this color. Chartreuse has recently become a favorite color of mine, and I have yet to find another polish come close to this color. Bright colors are always a hit for summer, and this polish definitely meets the mark.

2. Essie Silk Watercolor

This polish is such a cool new concept. The polishes are formulated to act like watercolor, making it easier to create simple yet gorgeous nail art. All of the colors in the line look wonderful, and I will be picking up a couple to try my hand at the look.

3. Christian Louboutin Scarabée in “1”

This polish may have a ridiculous price point, but it makes up for it in looks. The line is inspired by the scarab beetle, as the name suggests, and features three colored metallic polishes. The color “1” is my favorite, and it is a rose gold hue.

4. NARS “Thasos”

No summer nail polish collection is complete without the perfect mint blue polish. The color makes me feel like I should be laying out on an island somewhere. Since that’s not what I’m doing, I’ll paint my nails this color and daydream about it instead.

5. Olivia Palermo for Ciaté in “Off Duty Nude-Sundays”

Although summer is traditionally associated with bright colors, a nude polish can be perfectly fitting as well. It’s natural and fuss-free, just like summer. Plus, if I can make any part of me look like Olivia Palermo, I’ll take it. 😉

Thanks so much for reading! Which polishes are your favorite for summer?

Best of High End Brands

Jun 09

After reading Sarah’s post on her favorite high end products, I was inspired to do my own! I tried to pick brands that had a lot of products that I loved, so it would be challenging to pick my absolute favorite. I tried to think of it as, “If I could only buy one thing from this brand, what would it be?” So without further ado, here’s my best of high end brands:

Charlotte Tilbury – The Rock Chick Eyeshadow Palette. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was to try Charlotte Tilbury’s products. They’re all absolutely amazing. I have a tendency to to navigate towards gold and bronze hued eyeshadows, yet I love the look of a perfect grey smoky eye. This palette allows you to create that look and is also wearable for day and night.

Chanel – Perfection Lumiere Velvet Foundation. My holy grail foundation. It makes my skin look flawless and airbrushed. It’s lightweight and also helps to mattify my skin since it’s made for normal to oily skin. If your skin is normal to dry, try the Vitalumiere Aqua foundation.

YSL – Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick. This lipstick is incredibly buttery and smooth. It also stays moisturized and not dried out with long wear. I have the color Rose Libertin, which is a light lilac-pink. Definitely picking up another color soon!

NARS – Lip Gloss in Sixties Fan. Picking my favorite NARS product was especially hard. I love pretty much everything by NARS that I’ve tried. They have fairly recently revamped the formula of their lip glosses and they are 1000x better- not sticky whatsoever. This color is my favorite because it is unique and also much more wearable than you would think. Your lips will always look perfectly stained with this gloss.

Benefit – Roller Lash Mascara. Benefit is killing the mascara game. Roller Lash and They’re Real are by far my favorite mascaras ever. I will not leave the house without at least 1 coat of mascara on and I almost always use more than one mascara in my makeup routing. They beauty of Roller Lash though, is that I don’t have to. My lashes look perfect with just this mascara alone!

Bobbi Brown – Creamy Concealer Kit. I’m a college student. Sleep isn’t always so easy to come by, which leads to horrendous dark circles. This concealer makes them disappear. It packs on the coverage because it’s creamy, and also has a setting powder right next to it to ensure that it doesn’t budge the whole day. If you’ve got bad dark circles, this product will be your BFF.

What are your favorite high end brands & products? I wanna know!

May Favorites

Jun 08

Happy Monday everyone! Today I wanted to share with you my May favorites. I cannot believe that it’s already June! We’re almost halfway through with 2015, and if that’s not weird to you then I don’t know what is. I didn’t pick up a tremendous amount of new products this month, but I loved the ones that I did. Here are my favorites of the past month:

1. Elizabeth and James Nirvana White

This has been my most reached for perfume lately. I have the rollerball, which I love because it’s so easy to through in my purse and take with me in case I need a little pick me up throughout the day. It’s a sophisticated scent that’s great for daytime wear.

2. MAC Blush in Full of Joy

I picked up this blush because I really wanted a color that was very different from other blushes I have. It’s a lilac color, which sounds really out there, but I’m telling you it’s gorgeous. I get so many compliments every time I wear this blush, and I love how different it is.

3. Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Nude Kate

Prepare yourself here. I went a little crazy at the Charlotte Tilbury counter in Nordstrom and I have no regrets. Looking for the foolproof nude lip? This is it. I was so afraid of trying nude lipstick before this one, because I was afraid it would wash me out. This one definitely does not.

4. Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Iconic Nude

Lip liner has gained the credit it deserves lately, most likely thanks to Kylie Jenner. I never really saw it necessary before, but it really does help shape your lips so they’re impeccable. Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat makes this SO easy, and this color goes perfectly with the Nude Kate lipstick.

5. Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre in Blondie

This lip gloss is the finishing touch to the nude pout. I love lip gloss, and I can’t stand when the formula is sticky. This one glides on like a breeze and looks gorgeous over any color – not just nude!

6. Charlotte Tilbury The Rock Chick Eyeshadow Palette

If you couldn’t already tell by the 3 previous favorites, I’m obsessed with Charlotte Tilbury’s Rock Chick look. Makeup that will make me look like Kate Moss or Brigitte Bardot? Sign me up! This palette achieves that smoky look without being overpowering.

What products have you been loving lately? Let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading, enjoy your Monday!

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