Category Archives: How -Tos

Beauty and style how-tos with some step by step directions.

{ Accessory Porn } Scarves… & a farewell to an Iconic Wonder Woman

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They are. Like shoes or arm candy, they can instantly elevate the style factor of an ensemble. The hallmark of scarves, though, is that they are much more versatile than shoes. They can be worn as a neck adornment, a hair accessory, a hat, a skirt, a top, a sarong… and of course, to be used to keep the neck warm and cosy. Scarves are the ultimate all season accessory, and something that will be essential with spring trends.

See how celebrity stylist Chriselle Lim along with makeup artist Michelle Phan and hair guru Krista Bradford transform a scarf nine different ways.

Credit: Michelle Phan YouTube

{What is your absolute MUST HAVE spring accessory?}

RIP, Liz Taylor.


She wasn’t afraid of Virginia Woolf. I suspect she wasn’t afraid of facing her own mortality, either.

She was fierce, ferocious, fantastic, and absolutely fearless. I can picture her sweeping grandly right up to the Gates of Heaven and saying, “Open up! I’m here.”

Fare thee well, Liz.

Images via Google image search.

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Sundays are for #2… Playing with makeup! {Architecture of Beauty/FOTD} Asian Doll Look

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I’ll admit it, I’m growing into a bit of a beauty junkie. The hours I spend browsing the white floors and colorful aisle of Ulta, the black, white and pink aisle of Sephora and the crowded makeup section of Target, they are innumerable. I actually spend more time reading beauty blogs, browsing makeup websites and watching YouTube beauty and skin care videos more than I do online window shopping fashion sites, or reading fashion magazines. I absolutely love fashion, it’s true. But in the world of style, beauty is my queen and skin care is my king. Fashion is just my princess in the hierarchy. As it should be. Whereas fashion is an outward expression of my creativity, it only just SITS on my skin. My obsession with beauty and skin care stems from the fact that I have had many a battle with skin issues and finding the right makeup for me–a battle that rages on today. The skin I’m in, well, it’s right there. I was born with it–I can’t say that about clothes. Seems stupid to say it out loud, though.

So yes, Sundays will find me sitting on a couch or breakfast nook stool, hunched over my iPad or iPhone, watching beauty or skincare tutorials on YouTube, mostly those of esteemed celebrity makeup artist, Lisa Eldridge. Hot damn, I love her work.

Inspired by her and Michelle Phan’s eye liner tricks, I decided to go for an all over thick eyeliner with a kick.

Because of how I looked in these photos, I name this Asian Doll look, very plastic, very porcelain, almost artificial. The only thing missing is fake lashes.

Click photos for larger image.


Architecture of beauty: Chanel Teint Innocence Foundation + Sonia Kashuk translucent setting powder + NYX Eyebrow Cake in Brunette + Lancome Color Design eyeshadow quad in neutral colors + Maybelline Lasting Drama Eye Studio Gel Liner + CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion Mascara + NYX Eye liner in Electric Blue + Stila Kajal Eye Liner in Topaz + NYX Cream Blush in Boho Chic + Laura Mercier Lipstain in English Rose + Burt’s Bees chapstick for sheen

Here’s a close up.

{How to get this look}

  1. Blend a neutral brown/taupe all over your lids into the crease.
  2. Apply a highlighter shade into your inner corners and along the brow bone.
  3. Fill in your brows.
  4. Take a gel liner and line a thick line along your top lashes. Really work it into the roots of the lashes, and then create a cat-eye shape at the outer corner. I used Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner.
  5. Next, take a flesh colored pencil [here I used Stila Kajal Liner in Topaz] and line the water line. This not only disguises the red, it also perks up your eyes and makes you look alert and more awake.
  6. Take a brightly colored eye pencil. Here I used a bright turquoise liner by NYX, and I lined 2/3 of the way along my lower lashes.
  7. Curl your lashes. I use Tarte’s crimp eye lash curler. It’s brilliant, and it’s got refillable pads. Green.
  8. Finally, use a lengthening formula mascara. A good one for both volume and length is CoverGirl’s LashBlast Fusion mascara.
  9. Keep your cheeks pretty neutral, nude coral blush, nude peach lip with a bit of gloss.

And that’s it! Easy, right?

Read the rest of my Beauty Posts here!

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Video How To: Get a flawless, easy makeup base

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A few weeks ago, my lovely cousin-in-law, Ria, volunteered to be my “victim” for a few hours, to let me do some makeup looks on her. The session was partly teaching her about skincare, and trying to teach her a few looks such as an easy neutral day look, taking that to night, a sultry smokey eye, and a dramatic green eye.

A beautiful 3/4 Asian/Polynesian/Caucasian mix, Ria has a very interesting complexion, large, doll-like eyes, and surprisingly, monolids (the hooded, thin, almost non-existent lid most East Asians like Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, or Taiwanese have). So creating looks for her and teaching her to do these looks was both daunting and interesting.

Before you can go for any kind of look, you have to have a good base. Not only are you concealing any major or minor flaws you may have, you’re evening out your complexion, which brightens the entire face, and instantly makes you look put-together, professional and mature. Most importantly, it gives you the appearance of being fully present: awake, alert and ready. Having a good base is like having a properly primed/gessoed canvas. You can’t just slap paint on a bare canvas and expect the paint to stick properly. The same principal applies to makeup. The different layers of a base not only serve to conceal and perfect your skin, but creates a proper surface to which the pigments in your eye, cheek and lip makeup will adhere.

A well-applied base will also help that makeup last longer throughout the day. Superficially speaking, there is nothing worse than makeup migrating in clumps, weird stains or drip trails down your face several hours into your day. It’s not only mortifying for you, it’s horrific for others to look at. And it’s just plain sloppy. Don’t be a slob.

This video is for those who are averse to liquid foundation and need an easy way to apply the base. Enter: Your secret weapon – tinted moisturizer.

Watch for how to!

Products used – click links for where to buy:
Primer – Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (Also available via Macys.com, Nordstrom.com, and Sephora.com)
Tinted Moisturizer – Stila Tinted Moisturizer (also available via Ulta.com, Sephora.com, Drugstore.com)
Concealer – Revlon Age Defying Moisturizing Concealer SPF25
Setting Powder – Revlon ColorStay pressed powder
Brushes – Sigma Beauty Brushes

The next step is a neutral day look that can be easily transformed into a night look. This will be the next video in the Rialeilani series. Stay tuned! I hope to have it up next week some time! Also in the works, we talk skincare.

{Music}
Music by Anya Marina, “Vertigo” and Jane Lui, “Goodnight Company”. Please support these amazing indie artists.

You can purchase Anya’s music here: Shopbenchmark/AnyaMarina

You can download Jane Lui’s latest album “Goodnight Company” at her website FOR FREE (!!!!), just make a donation of any size to support her awesome talent. http://janelui.com/music.

Remember to like and comment the video, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!

FTC: All products used in this tutorial were purchased for the purpose of this video or already owned by both Rialeilani and myself. This post and video are not sponsored by any of the products or manufacturers mentioned in this video. (Though I wish it was.)

Be sure to check out my Valentine’s Day Giveaway of a brand new in box YSL Rouge Pur Lipstick in shade 131 – Opium Red.

Go enter! Tell your friends.

Open worldwide. Ends Valentine’s Day at 11:59PST.

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{ Architecture of Beauty / FOTD } Bronzed Smoke Out Goddess

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People seem to equate a sexy, sultry, smoked out eye look with saturated blacks and dark, dark greys. But, more often than not, this look is inappropriate for most places with any bright light, natural light, or almost any light at all. It is best suited for bars, concerts, photoshoots and evening events. For the evening events, however, it’s best to go understated.

This look can go easily awry. Improper shading techniques, eye shapes and lining can result with a raccoon or bandit effect.

Exhibit A

Taylor Momsen: A girl in serious need of a makeunder.

That aside, smoky eyes can be done for day or night in an array of shades and hues, in more neutral, lighter textures that won’t be too distracting or inappropriate for most occasions. You can walk into a room and your makeup won’t be entering before you.

Here is one that I came up with a few years ago, using an array of bronze, brown and gold shades.

Bronze Goddess Smoky Eye Look.

  • Using a sheer cream-colored gold shadow, I used it on my inner corner and inner third.
  • Then I did a sheer wash of a coppery, penny-like bronze to the outer corner and up just a bit past the crease. I blended it out.
  • On the outer corners, I applied a slightly-darker-than-taupe, a low-fat chocolate pudding color with a bit of a red base to define my eye shape, then I blended it into the copper.
  • I tightlined my eyes with a brown kohl liner and then winged it out a bit (kind of my signature thing).
  • I rimmed my waterline with a flesh-toned liner to wake my eyes up.
  • Then I finished off with curled and defined lashes on top and bottom.

It’s important to remember that, when doing emphasis on the eyes, you need to downplay the rest of the features in order to counteract any possibility of looking like a clown. If you emphasize everything, you look overdone, unnatural, and really, really silly. Unless you’re going into a photo shoot, there is no need to oversaturate your face.

So go easy on the blush and do a neutral lip.

I used a warm, subtle bronzer in my cheek hollows and then a slight dusting on the apples of my cheeks. And I applied a warm, rose-pink nude lip stain topped with lip balm.

Here are the products I used:


(click for larger image)

I hope you try this!

Taylor Momsen photo credit: Glimmer and Shimmer via Google Search

Disclaimer: I purchased all products mentioned in this tutorial. I am not sponsored in any way by any of these companies to endorse their products, though I gladly would, since these are products I support.

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Have you checked out my awesome jewelry giveaway? You could win the most lovely statement necklace by Pretty Things by Meg! Go enter by clicking this link! Giveaway ends on January 23rd! Go get it!!

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{ New Year, New Me: 21 Ways } Episode 1: Accessorize!

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This year, I’m implementing a series called “New Year, New Me: 21 ways” inspired by iVillage’s “21 Easy Ways to Give Your Look an Instant Update”, but with a thereafterish. slant.

First up: Make the most of winter with accessories.

How: The colder temperatures during this season necessitate layering. You can do this by just glomping on the scarves, layers and gloves, or you can learn to make the most of the weather and do it beautifully. Remember, even one detail, like a scarf, can change your entire look. So accessorize with purpose.

Michelle Phan and Style Guru Chriselle Lim show you 7 ways to transform your outfit with a simple scarf:

My favorite? The cardigan scarf. I have even done a modified version of this look before.

Check back for my New Year, New Me: 21 Ways Posts and any updates to this look!

Img: iVillage Beauty & Style
Video: Michelle Phan & Chriselle Lim

Do you have any tips to transform your look easily this year? Please share! I may feature it here!

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{ Architecture of an Outfit } Q: What’s Cookin’, Good Lookin’? A: New Year’s Eve Dindin, son.

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What I wore on New Year’s Eve, on our night in.



{ Outfit Architecture: Backless cross sweater, Victoria’s Secret. Slip, vintage. Multi-layer, reversible lace petticoat/tutu, American Apparel. Socks, Target. Platform YSL styled pumps, Dolce Vita Aprils. Satin Bow Belt, ModCloth. }

{ Architecture of Beauty/FOTD }


{ The Look: Neutrals with berry red lip. Urban Decay Surreal Skin Mineral Foundation in Nirvana + Tarte Eraser 4-in-1 Natural Concealer + Lancome Colour Design Quad in Haute Sunset + Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner + Laura Mercier Lipstain in Mulberry (as base) + Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry (deep red) + Tarte lights, camera, lashes! 4-in-1 Clinically Proven lengthening mascara + Clinque High Impact Curling Mascara + Anastasia Brow Pencil }

I never, in my wildest dreams, thought that I would own a blush pink tutu, let alone wear one. But here I am. Since American Apparel released the Mini lace Petticoat, and I saw it on Sandra B of Niotillfem months and months ago, I have lusted after owning this extraordinarily feminine, somewhat sensual, whimsical and charming-without-being-overly-sexual item. After enrolling in school for Esthetics on New Year Eve, I dropped into the local AA and purchased one of my very own, along with some necessary key pieces for work and school, as a treat for doing something constructive for myself for 2011!

I hardly entertained the idea of wearing outdoors, so I wore it inside instead. What is the point of owning glittery, backless sweaters and frilly micro-mini tutus if you’re not going to wear them?

Do you have anything you’d never or be unlikely to wear outside, but decided to buy anyway?

I’m also guesting over at Monochromachic.com while Kristy is away (again). I wrote about “Power Items”. Please go visit and comment! Let me know what you think!!

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{ Stylish Story } Traipsing about Europe… hopefully in style? Episode 1.0: Iceland

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The prospect of finally taking my honeymoon thirteen months our wedding has filled me with such incredible joy and anticipation, that it’s been difficult to muster the motivation to function in every day life as of late. I equate it with the syndrome that affects high schoolers with the impending freedom from the rigid, serial academic environment of secondary education. I’ve contracted a senioritis-like affliction of everyday life and work: Ordinary life-itis.

We’ll be spending the majority of two weeks in Europe.

2 days are wasted in transit, but, our itinerary looks something like this:

22 hours flight/transit. Land in Reykjavik, Iceland.






2 nights at Blue Lagoon Clinic & Spa, bathing in volcanic mineral hot springs, getting revitalizing and refreshing full-body massages, and getting invigorating, skin purifying facials.



6 nights at CenterHotel Thingholt in downtown Reykjavik, where we are right on the main artery of the city’s shopping, restaurant and nightlife. What we’ll do for 6 days for the rest of the time in Iceland? Who knows, but I bet a lot of it will be spent in Iceland’s lounges, bars and clubs, as Icelanders party until 6:30 in the morning. No belligerence and surliness here; citizens just know how to enjoy themselves with wine and dance and conversation. These are some of the most peaceful socializers on the planet.

Other than drinking, eating, and being merry, there is so much more to Iceland than what can be found in Reykjavik. I mean, other than shopping, what’s a girl to do?

I’m strapping on my waterproof trail running shoes, because I’d LOVE to see some of the following:

Glacier watching, The Jökulsár Lagoon

Hiking, Thingvellir National Park

Sky gazing – Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

Hot Tubbing. There are geo-thermal pools and “hot pots” all over the city and in the surrounding landscapes.

Sight-seeing. Reykjavik is chock-full of museums, good movie theatres, bars, good shopping.


I’m sure there’s other tons of things to do in Reykjavik, we’ll have trouble fitting it all into eight short days.

After our Iceland leg, we’ll be jetting to London for five days. But that will be left to Episode 2.

One quandary I have is how to travel in chic. The last and only time I went to Europe, back in 2006, I was not really much of a style lover. I managed to be somewhat stylish, but I’d say most of it was hit or miss. The wrong shoes threw off every single outfit. This year, I want to be comfy and stylish.

This is one of the styles I’ve test driven, which I hope is warm enough. What’chu tink?



{ Outfit Architecture: Peppermint Cardigan, Doki Geki at Spotted Moth. Striped shirt, H&M. Scarf, Vintage. Jeans (Born to Fit), GAP. Boots, … uh, I don’t know. From DSW. Heart Locket Watch Marc by Marc Jacobs via Luuux.com. Beret… uh… random London boutique. }

Photos via: Blue Lagoon Clinic, Matthew O’Connor, Kathika.com, Lunch.com, TravelPunk.com, Flickr

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{ Beauty Tuesday } Faux Bob by Love Maegan

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Our lovely DIY guru at …love, Maegan is such a genius with her how-tos and tutorials. And she’s done it again, even out-doing herself this time.


The bob is more of a big-haired 40′s bomb-shell kind of style–the exact look Maegan is more than capable of pulling of, being a bombshell herself. It is not an everyday sort of look, due to the fact that voluminous curls and big, big hair are requirements and also the results. This style is best worn on the weekend or on a night out, rather than to the office or to school, because 1., it does require curling, and 2. generally hair this big and sexy is more appropriate for a night out on the town, rather than the conservative, somber environments of the professional or academic forum.

I think my favourite part of this hair style is that it liberates long haired femmes from the occasional desire to chop the tresses. It’s also a nice departure from normal straight styles I’ve gotten used to.

My second favourite part of the faux bob? Maegan’s voluptuous and gorgeous self modeling the hair in that body hugging vintage dress and Loubs. She is the picture of absolute perfection.

Thanks, Maegan!

For more style DIY and outfit shots, visit the brilliant fashionista at her site.

Video and photos credit, Maegan S of …love, Maegan.

—
Shoe Porn full article on Christian Soriano’s S/S 2011 shoe collection is tomorrow!

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{ Beauty Tuesday } Romantic Summer Sunset Eyes

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I have been out of it for the weekend due to a hectic family schedule, and then sideline Sunday-Monday with a bad lupus flare. But I’m back today with a Beauty Tuesday post! I hope you enjoy it!

I am a huge fan of Michelle Phan, as I have said in the past. I’ve been looking for a nice, natural but warmer, feminine look for everyday. And I have been loving Michelle’s Lancôme video: Romantic Valentine Look. It has light, natural sunset hues of dusky rose, sunset cream and rusty taupe and earth. My eyes are larger, but with a smaller lid than Michelle’s so lining the bottom isn’t as flattering on me as it is her (as you’ll be able to see in the pictures below), but I like experimenting.

I apologize for the picture quality. It was taken on my iPhone. Also, I’ve been going through some serious adult acne problems lately… so don’t mind the craters and Olympus Monses.

{ What I Used }

  1. Primer: L’Oreal Secret #1 Perfecting Base (let me tell you, it’s not the best primer).
  2. Foundation: Revlon ColorStay Mineral Mousse in Light/Medium Medium.
  3. Concealer/Concealer primer: Benefit Stay Don’t Stray Concealer Primer under my eyes. Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Medium Beige. Waterproof, opaque, and salmon with a hint of yellow undertone, which then covers my undereye circles perfectly, yet still matches the rest of my face. I am so content with this concealer.
  4. Setting Powder: Pür Minerals pressed powder foundation in Medium Golden. Dusted all over to set the foundation and concealer.
  5. Cheeks: Laura Mercier Lipstain in Mulberry. Dipped fingers in and blended it into my cheeks for a subtle, natural flush.
  6. Eyes: L’Oreal Eyeshadow Quad in Desert Sunrise. Michelle uses a better pink hue from Lancôme called Haute Sunset quad. I can’t spring for the $42 it costs on Lancome-usa.com, so I tried my best with drugstore brands. It doesn’t come exactly close, but oh well.
  7. Liner: L’Oreal Eyeshadow Quad again, and using an angled brush, I brushed the darkest brown from the quad onto my upper lashes and then winged it out a bit. I also used the excess on the bottom lashes, but I think it makes my eyes look smaller.
  8. Eyebrows: Another, but different L’Oreal Eyeshadow smokey brown quad darkest brown, I used with my Anastasia Brow Stencil (petite arch) to fill in my brows. Let me tell you, this works better if you apply a wax over your brows FIRST. Otherwise, it’ll be really, really thin. You could also use an eyebrow pencil, but I’m not very good with those.
  9. Lashes: Shu Uemura Lash Curler and Clinique High Lengths Mascara.
  10. Lips: Maybelline Lipstick in Warm Me Up.

Half of all my makeup I got at the drugstore. Honestly, ALL of my makeup could be gotten at a drugstore if you’re not my specific skintone (hard to match). Revlon, L’Oreal and Neutrogena all do mineral powder lines. Revlon has an OK eyelash curler. For blush you could use Maybelline’s Dream Matte Mousse blush, but you could also use your lipstick. Rimmel and Covergirl both make alright primers as well. I don’t recommend using L’Oreal for their primer. They have glitter in them, which will settle into fine lines. Also, if you’re not a complete idiot like me, you don’t need stencils to fill in your eyebrows.

This entire look could cost you less than $60 and last you for ages.

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{ Beauty Tuesday } Bare Canvas, The “I’m Not Wearing Any Makeup” Look

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One thing I have become more and more passionate about in recent days is skincare and makeup. After learning about Michelle Phan, the YouTube-verse’s own Beauty Yoda, I’ve started to pay a bit more attention to the things I put on my face and how I apply them.

Primarily, I’ve been obsessing over having long, lush lashes and perfectly shaped eyebrows. They say eyes are the windows to the soul. If that is true, eyelashes and eyebrows are the window casings and window treatments that complement and showcase those windows. A poor metaphor, I’ll grant you, but it’s pretty darn true. Strong, shapely, filled in brows give more structure to the face. They frame the eyes and make them pop. Anyone with wispy, sparse brows knows what I’m talking about.

Back in 2001, after a bad break-up, I wanted to change my image (how dreadfully cliché of me!), shed the stupid, naive girl I was, the love-lorn fool who allowed someone to come in so intensely that he could crack every part of my carefully constructed shell. Anyway, in my haste to rid myself of the girl I had been, I allowed those in charge of my makeover to trim too much excess. Namely, my brows. In those days, thin was in. But Miss Beauty Expert (she wasn’t) didn’t know the rules of shaping brows. (following the eye and nose lines) So she made them small and extremely thin. She must have plucked out tons of hair follicles, because even nine years later, much of my original brow hairs have not grown back in. I will never ever have full, thick brows ever again, sadly. Not without assistance of powders and waxes.

Anyway, back to the topic of skincare and beauty.

The first thing a girl should learn is how to have a bare canvas face. The “Not Wearing Any Makeup” Look. It truly is the canvas for a face, and is the foundation that allows you to experiment with bolder, more dramatic colors.

{Bare Canvas: “I’m Not Wearing Any Makeup” }

Except that I am.

Here is what I used to achieve this bare naked look:

{ Prime and Prep }

  1. The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion. I use this on top or under SPF 34 sunblock. It has Tea Tree oil which helps to fight acne and also contains mattifying powders which help calm oil production on my T-Zone, which can look like the BP Gulf Oil slick by about 3PM.
  2. L’Oreal Studio Secrets #1 Perfecting Base. As far as primers goes, I don’t think this is a very good one for delicate skin. It’s very thick, so when you put it on it takes lots of heavy-handed smoothing before the product is evenly layered on the face. It holds color decently, though. I’ll use it until it’s gone.
  3. Revlon ColorStay Oily/Combination Skin Foundation in Warm Golden. I debottled it and put it in the Revlon PhotoReady foundation bottle because it has a pump, which is better.
    • I apply with a Japonesque foundation stipple brush (3b) and stipple it onto my skin, and then buff it in. It dries quickly, which leaves streaks. Any streaks I even out with a wet sponge.
  4. Next, I apply Benefit’s Stay Don’t Stray Eye Primer to my upper and lower eye lids with my EcoTools concealer brush. Then I pat the excess product in. Just a small, small amount goes a long way. If I’m in a hurry, I use it as a concealer, since it’s so sheer.
  5. Once primed, I squeeze a hatbox pinhead sized amount of Revlon Age Defying Concealer SPF 25 in light/medium onto the back of my hand and mix that with the same amount of Amazing Concealer in Light Golden. Using my concealer brush I apply a thin layer to my under eye bags and a tiny amount to the inner corners of my eyes. Using Studio Basics foundation brush (Walgreen’s equivalent to the Essence of Beauty brushes that Michelle Phan swears by), I blend it in. If in a hurry, I just use my fingers, but the brush works better.
  6. I set my face with Pür Minerals Perfectly Natural Everyday Balancing Makeup powder with a fluffy mineral powder brush. (This one’s by Bare Minerals, but I hate their makeup and I don’t advocate it. The brush is kind of itchy, too. Poorly made.

    7. Total time: 4-6 minutes.

    { Draw the Line, Fill the Gap }

  7. Using L’Oreal’s Wear Infinité in Neutrals, I use the peachy beige and brush it all over my lid for all over color with my Mac large flat eye shadow brush. Then I use the sandy tan shade and contour my crease. Using Sonia Kashuk’s angled eye shadow brush, I blend the two colors together. If in a hurry, I just use my fingers.
  8. Then I tightline my eyes using Maybelline’s Unstoppable eyeliner in Onyx. I fill in the outer 4th of my upper lashline on top, but as close to the lashline as possible.
    • Then, using my Studio Basics angled eyeliner brush, I fan out the edge for a subtle, smoky, wispy cat eye line.
  9. Next I define my brows using Revlon’s ColorStay Brow Enhancer in Light Brown/Champagne. I am careful to make sure my brows are properly filled and they are arched without looking too harsh or angular.
    • Using the champagne highlighter on the other end of the stick, I run the stick all over my brow bone and in the inner corners of my eye to make my eyes pop and illuminate these areas. I blend with my fingers.
  10. I use Clinique’s High Lengths Mascara to lengthen my lashes.
  11. To fatten them up and really separate them, I use Maybelline’s Pulse Perfection Vibrating Waterproof Mascara in Very Black to my top and bottom lashes. 2 coats. If only they could make a mascara that both lengthened like Clinique’s and volumized.
  12. Lastly for the eyes, I curl my lashes using Japonesque heated eyelash curler. It’s like a curling iron for the eyelashes.

    13. Total time for the eyes: 2-3 minutes.

    { Blushed pout }

  13. Prime the lips using Smith’s Rosebud Salve. I let it sit while I apply blush.
  14. For blush, I actually use Laura Mercier’s Lip Stain in Mulberry. I bought this for it’s long wearing matte, red berry finish. It’s a subtle, bricky red with some berry undertones. It’s extremely long-wearing and is one of the items I always have in my purse.
    • It works well as a blush because it’s so pigmented, a small dab is all I need to get a perfect blushy, coral flush. And it takes seconds to apply!
  15. I blot my lips to remove the RBS and then I apply a nude rose color, here Maybelline’s Warm Me Up nude pink.

Total time for lips/cheeks: 1 minute.

And you’re done! Total time for Bare Canvas look routine: 7 – 10 minutes. Worst case scenario, I get a little meticulous with my concealer and lashes, and it takes me 15 minutes, tops.

I hope you enjoyed that!

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for 25£ ($38USD) to ASOS! CLICK HERE! Giveaway closes on 8/13!

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{ Beauty } Get Summer Beachy Boho Hair Without Going to the Beach

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Textured, calculated, boho-beachy waves looks tough to do but really simple for women with naturally wavy hair. For girls with straight hair, it can be done. I’ll show you how [with the help of Glamour's Girls in the Beauty Dept].

Firstly, the easiest: Already there with natural waves.

Credit, Glamour.com

How to:
Julianne already has naturally wavy hair. She just texturized it with a pomade with a bit of glossing spray. Any pomade in small amounts will do–maybe about a nickel sized amount. Warm the product in your hands to melt it a bit and then using your fingers kind of just “muss up” your hair with it. Stay away from the roots–this will weigh your hair, bringing it down and making it lose volume quickly. Add more texture with a few thin braids. This adds depth and more texture to the hair, also giving it a further boho look. It’s subtle.

Second: Slightly straight hair with some bendy waves.

Credit. Glamour.com

How to:
Elle’s hair is pretty straight, but has a few kinks and bends in it, which makes creating waves easier. To recreate her bendy waves, use a wide barrel curling iron with the clamp SHUT. There are irons out there without a clamp–those can be used, too, but stay away from iron barrels that taper like taper candles–this creates a more spiral look, which is what you’re not going for. Wind large sections of hair 1-2″ around the closed barrel of an iron for 10 seconds. Shake it loose, then spray a texturizing spray. To get more of a slept-in look like McPherson has here, instead of curling, hold a section of hair away from your head, and then press the iron into it, making a round indentation in the hair. It should look like the bends in McPherson’s hair. Alternate the bends in upper and lower sections to achieve a wavy look. Finish with a glossing and texturizing spray.

Lastly, for girls with stick straight hair (LIKE ME). Boho waves.

Credit: Glamour.com

How to:
Dree Hemingway is so charming here at the Ferragamo fragrance launch. There is no frizz here…

Start with prepped head. The night before, wash your hair. Blow dry until slightly damp. Apply small amount of organic mousse. I use Giovanni Organics Air-Turbo Charged Natural Mousse ($8.50USD, drugstore.com or at Whole Foods). Wind your hair into two buns. One on each side. Twist inward, toward the direction of the back of your head. Make sure both are twisted inward, rather than in the same direction. This will give better consistency with the waves. Secure with an elastic. Sleep on it.

Remove the buns in the morning and brush through with a wide toothed brush. Then texturize with an organic homemade salt spray. (Home made is better, because it’s cheaper, and you can use better products without having to pay an arm and a leg for it. Recipe below.) Mist the stuff onto your hair evenly, but without wetting your hair. Just an even, light mist. Then scrunch away. If you want to set it, use a the diffuser on your hair dryer and focus the air onto your hair with more scrunching motions.

For an extra sexy kick, mist on a light layer of glossing spray. I use Giovanni Shine of the Times gloss spray ($9USD drugstore.com, or $7.50USD, Whole Foods). It helps cut down on frizz and makes your hair shiny. Be wary of using too much, because it can weigh your hair down or make it look greasy.

This is the end result on me:

Cool, right? Easy.

Salt Spray Recipe

  • In a large mug, warm 8 fl. ounces of filtered water in the microwave for 30-45 seconds–you can use a Brita water, or water from a filtered tap (because I’m green and do not advocate the purchase of bottled water, which pollutes landfills, and uses precious resources and emits tons of carbon into the atmosphere during production, I prefer that you find a way to get distilled or filtered water in any way without buying a bottled water–which isn’t as pure as you’d think, anyway). Make sure it is warm to the touch, but not so hot it’s near boiling and that you can’t stick your finger in it.
  • Mix in 1 teaspoon fine organic sea salt. Do not use regular iodized table salt. I can’t tell you why, but it will give you bad results. You can get purchase sea salt at any grocery store. I buy mine at Trader Joe’s. However, the more finely ground, the faster the grains dissolve when mixing.
  • Mix in 1/2 teaspoon coconut conditioner. Use a more watery formula so it mixes better. Suave makes a wonderfully scented coconut conditioner for $1USD. You can also get the BioSalon version of Suave, which has coconut scent in it as well as other pleasant fragrances. It smells like Biolage, but doesn’t cost as much, about $1.99 for a 16 oz bottle. Ca-ching!
  • Mix in 1/8 teaspoon of cheap brand hair gel. Buy it at the dollar store or in the cheap section of Target. I go with an organic formula and water just use less. If you do organic, it’s better for your scalp.
  • Mix all ingredients thoroughly until dissolved. If it has trouble dissolving into the liquid, heat the mug up for an additional 10 seconds in the microwave.
  • Once mixed completely, using a funnel, or a careful hand, pour the mixture into a small spray bottle (capacity about 10 fl oz).
  • Now you’re done!

      • Note, if the mixture separates, pour it into a microwavable container, like a mug, and then heat it for 10-15 seconds and mix again. Then put it back into the container. Do NOT heat it up in the spray bottle. You can melt it, or it can explode if the pump and spray apparatus contains metal. You may also add 1-3 drops of a scented organic essential oil you can find at any health food store or Whole Foods to add a kick of aroma; this also keeps coarse and dry haired girls more moisturized.

      I hope that is helpful! Now go get your beachy hair!

      —

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{ Beauty } How to Get Rid of Blackheads!

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It’s been said to me many times that I have great skin. However, I tend to disagree (hey! not everyone can get a good look at my skin as close as I do, so they don’t truly know). If you’re like me, you battle with on and off good skin, and find skin care more of a task than not.

While from afar, my skin looks good on any given day, around certain times in the month, my skin blows up with acne in the T-zone: I get sprinklings of red, irritated pimples around my forehead, on my cheeks, on my chin; big sebaceous, pussy pimples that need to be extracted three or four times around my nose, forehead, and that leave terrible scars that take a year or two to completely fade.

I’ve gotten into a routine when it comes to my skincare, including religiously removing every bit of makeup from my face every night before bed. I remove makeup, cleanse, tone, moisturize and then treat. It’s a grueling, annoying process that takes about 20 minutes. But if you have to battle acne like I do, it’s something that should be done. Especially for we women in our twenties, who neglect our skin care regimen without realizing that makeup that clogs the pores results in pimples, and aging our delicate skin.

Not all of us can afford to book a facial at a salon or a weekly basis (or, for me, an ever basis!). Most women can combat the blackhead scourge at home!

Use pore-unblocking skin products: A good exfoliant (face scrub) and refining mask can work wonders if incorporated into a good skincare routine.

Here’s what I do to combat blackheads and acne:

Night routine

  • Remove makeup. Use a good remover that removes even waterproof. I use a food, oil based makeup remover. The oil does not clog my pores because it’s light, and the molecules are too large to clog even my big pores. I recommend Almay Oil based makeup remover, as mine is one from Korea.
  • Cleanse. I use a cleanser with salicylic acid, which dislodges oil and dirt deep inside pores–which is what causes acne and blackheads. I use Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser ($9.99, Drugstores.

  • Tone. Toners refine and exfoliate the skin. A good toner will also hydrate properly, infused with antioxidants (anti-aging) and anti-inflammatory nutrients that nourish the skin. This further cleanses and refines, which is a good deterrent for acne. I use 100% Pure Organic White Tea Rose Soother Facial Tonique ($15, Drugstore.com).

  • Moisturize. Next, it is essential to hydrate the skin properly with a good, oil free moisturizer. It keeps your skin supple and firm, which helps prevent aging. An oil free moisturizer will hydrate without blocking pores. Since I’m rounding my 30′s I use moisturizers that contain retinol and vitamin E to slow wrinkles and age spots. I’ve been using Olay Total Effects ($17, drugstores).

  • Treat. If I have bad pimples, or even a spattering of tiny pimples, I spot treat. I use tea tree oil (you can get a .4 oz bottle at Trader Joe’s for $4USD). I put about 3-4 drops on the same cotton pad I used to tone my skin right after I tone and rub it all over my face BEFORE moisturizing. If I don’t have bad pimples, I’ll just spot treat right after moisturizing with a 2% salicylic acid gel, like Neutrogena’s Fight and Fade acne gel ($8.99, Drugstores). I’ll sleep with the treatment gel over each pimple. They’re usually smaller in the morning.

  • Every other daily exfoliation. Old skin needs to be rejuvinated. Old skin cells gather on the top of the skin, which make your skin look dull and lifeless. In addition, old skin cell particles get drawn into facial oil and down into pores, causing blackheads and pimples. Exfoliating them with a good facial scrub every few days or so removes these dead skin cells so the new skin can breathe, leaving the face looking bright and smooth. I use Aveeno Daily Brightening facial scrub. ($7.49, Drugstores.)

  • Weekly Refining. A refining clay pore mask draws out impurities from deep within the pores, and natural extracts like rosemary purify the skin from oil, which reduces pore-clogging oil, shine, and pores appear smaller and less blocked. I use Boots Botanics Complexion Refining Mask ($8.99, Target).

Let me know if you have any questions, I’d be happy to help you out!

Do you have any good skincare tips? I’d love to hear them!

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How to wear opposing prints without looking like an imbecile who can’t match.

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I’ve always been a big fan of wearing opposing prints and patterns. I’ve done a few outfit posts wearing clashing prints, and it’s always been a winner.

Here are some examples:


April 2010



March 2010

Done well, this can be a quirky and fun way to dress, and a way to stand out from the crowd. It’s youthful and spunky, but without the darling silliness of our younger days when we had no concept of matching, when we’d sling on anything because it was fun and bright and colourful, without a mind to whether the two worked together.

However, like anything else in fashion, finding the right balance of opposition can be tricky and can often lead to disastrous results if that balance is not struck. Basically, you can look like a total imbecile who can’t dress properly, or a sloppy, thrown-together haphazard dresser who just doesn’t care. Which, hopefully is not the look you’re going for.

Here are some good guidelines/rules to follow for wearing opposing prints, styled wonderfully by Wendy Toth and Amy Sung for iVillage:

1. Black and white patterns make a great base. Do pair a black and white piece with a quiet combo of colors like light purple stripes. Add a pop of color with a scarf. Don’t mix more than one black-and-white pattern per outfit.

2. Do think outside the box by combining your investment pieces, like a plaid pencil skirt, striped blouse and pretty printed scarf. Make sure one of your prints is on a smaller scale than the other for the right balance. Don’t forget to pull it all together with one strong solid. We don’t want anyone forgetting that you mean business.

3. For a sophisticated social affair, do pair two classic patterns like tweed pants and a gauzy French rose top. But don’t add frilly accessories. Wear what you’d normally combine with your more pulled-together pants, like a pearl necklace, navy patent structured purse and plain shoes.

4. Do keep your overall look pulled-together by playing with a conservative theme like nautical. To keep it from looking costume-y, don’t choose more than one quirky piece. We combined an unusual anchor-covered cardi with a standard striped dress.

5. Do pair patterns that come from the same basic shape and colour, like gingham and plaid. Don’t follow our advice if the colors clash. Try to find at least one common shade in each.

6. Do keep a floral print babydoll dress from looking too precious by adding a long striped vest, solid blazer and combat boots. Don’t go overboard with color. Floral or not, a subdued color palate comes off as edgy.

Article by Wendy Toth & Amy Sung
Styling by Wendy Toth and Amy Sung.
Photos credit: Wendy Toth and Amy Sung via iVillage Beauty & Style (click for article).

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{ DIY Fashion } Balmain inspired leather obi belt

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The brilliant style maven behind the popular Southern California blog bearing her namesake, LoveMaegan (www.lovemaegan.com), has come up with an amazingly easy Do-It-Yourself tutorial for a leather obi (wrap) belt inspired by Balmain and Louis Vuitton.

Her directions are thorough, and the final result is a deceptively simple piece but with a brilliant, edgy finish. She even provides handy links to where one can acquire the leather material with which to make the belt.

Here’s how:


















Unfortunately, she did not take photos of herself wearing the belt, so it is only up to readers to imagine the fantastic styling possible with this versatile, yet unique accessory!

Perhaps a few readers might want to give it a try!

Thanks, Maegan!

As featured on LoveMaegan. Photos and DIY tutorial via LoveMaegan.