Beauty Heat Beat: Eyeliner

In sweltering heat waves such as these in the NW ('rainy' Portland, yeah right!), lathering on eye shadow makes me hot and tired, even the thought of it. So to beat the heat while still looking your summer best, here is a tip.

Eyeliner. Yes yes and yes. Hot damn, I love eyeliner and think it is a key product that should always remain in your beauty bag. Again, you do not need to pay a lot. Rimmel and Wet n' Wild make great lines as well as the eyeliner pencils that sit next to the Sinful nail colors at the check out in Walgreens...

If you haven't noticed them before, do try. At most Walgreens, in the beauty section, there will be a check out stand with a variety of odds and ends. There is always a stack of shelves holding eyeliners in ALL shades and don't cost more than $2. Excellent!

There are two ways of utilizing these eyeliners. Dramatic and funky; Black and blue. I experiment with both. Currently, I am obsessed with blue and turquoise eyeliners and eye shadows. I will only line my bottom lid and maybe add a light gold shimmer on the inner corners of my eyes. Perfect for summer and exotic trips with very little fuss. See below; love!



The black is much bolder; your eyes will scream "Hello world!" This look below takes a little more work and practice, but it can be perfected. And sometimes, the smudge look is edgy and great for nights out on the town in heels and a mini.

But with the black pencil, start with small strokes moving outwards-- you can also make an outline of a cat eye and fill in, like you are coloring with a marker. The thicker the better. Layer and layer. Add some mascara, maybe gold in the corner of your eyes, and you're done! If you are nervous, practice this look before setting foot on the street. Wear it with confidence! See blow: just gorgeous!




And don't forget your cocktails! Relish this weather and relax with friends (which I'll be doing in Bellingham with my FAB 10+1 for a dear friends wedding)...

xo,

Congratulations, mon cheri!

A very large and extensive congrats to my dearest friend and roomie, CMac, for landing a kickin' job! After months of searching the city, this pretty little lady finally got what she desrved. In her own words, "employment rules!" Hugs and kisses! Let the celebration begin...

*And so on my shopping list, I have quite the mixed bag:

tampons

clorox (for cleaning, NOT beauty)

champagne (duh!)

lip gloss-- try Covergirl Wetslicks

hair clips-- to pull back that mess of sweaty, summer hair

Peace and love,

Dying to Try: Passsss Me that Goodness

Psssssst Instant Spray Shampoo. Became a cult-fave among hair stylists and you can get addicted too-- lightly spray your roots at the scalp in sections to remove grease and limp locks, while leaving your hair looking clean, full and new again!

Buyers beware: if you have dark hair, this white powdery spray will leave you looking like you hit age 65 at age 25. So definitely more for the blondes...

But totally budget friendly! Only $5.49 at most drugstores. If you can't find it in person, try drugstores.com.

*Beauty trick tip: If you are really on a budget, take some baby powder in your hands and run through your hair to give a blonder than blonde effect and rid yourself of greasy filth...

Bee clean, little pumpkins!

Summer Sounds

Again, totally unrelated to beauty, but beauty also resides within..and if you're feelin' good on the inside, it will only shine through (so cheesy, I know). But so I digress...

For some sweet, chill, summer tunes, I LIVE on Coldplay and Missy Higgins.

Coldplay's Viva La Vida has to be one of their bests, but pop in any of their albums and you are sure to feel sexy and cool.

Missy Higgins is an Australian singer and quite the melodist. I've seen her 3 times in concert and her ballads are sultry, honest and beautiful. On a Clear Night and The Sound of White are incredible albums. Again, a sure sign to get you in the summer mood.

Do enjoy! Stay cool. xo,

Some New Favorite Essentials!

Let's face it, being a woman is quite the fiasco some days. Not all the time, and not all women deal with beauty issues (or even take the time to care), but there are parts of our beauty regime that often go overlooked, overworked, or are just plain overly frustrating.

With summer (and life) comes damaged hair and damaged skin. But here is where we can battle the summer heat beat with two of my new beauty essentials, YEAR ROUND.

For those who shave quite often or for the unfortunate women who have to deal with the pesky razor burn, bumps and brazen irritation, it leaves most of us annoyed, uncomfortable and foiled. However, I introduce to you the most effective and glorious bump beater and killer. Ladies (and gents),

Tend Skin, $33.

Tend Skin is God's gift to this green, sun beaten world. My best friend first opened my fuzzy eyes to this product in college. She deals with serious razor burn and irritation and finally discovered this baby. Her mother works for a salon and got her a great deal. Yes, it is on the spendy side, but it lasts forever. Definitely worth the splurge.

Working like a liquid toner, you only need a dab of this juice on a cotton ball. Swab and swipe where necessary--don't be timid. If you get the tiny, annoying red bumps on your legs, slab this stuff on. And don't forget about your bikini line, especially! It will tingle or burn for a quick second if you just shaved, but will immediately disappear and leave you feeling smooth and at ease. I am addicted to this stuff, mainly because of my sensitive skin.

Now this isn't just for women! Men, you can also use this for your face when shaving. It reduces redness and irritated bumps. A beauty essential for both men and women. Who woulda thought? Astonishing. You can purchase tend skin at most Sephora's, Ulta Beauty stores and most salons.

Hair is another debate for most women, especially in the summer. Like I said, heat, sun, chlorine, salt, hair dryers, straightners, curlers etc. If you are coloring your hair, it needs even more special care and attention. Like mine...

So as I searched Walgreens for a sufficient conditioner, I decided to venture out and try, yet again, a new product. OK, it is love at first try!

Organix Revitalizing Pomegranate Green Tea Conditioner, $6.99

Praise the lawd! This stuff is delicious and thankfully, sulfate free, meaning no stripping or tearing of your hair. Designed specifically for dry and damaged hair, this organic line is pure, not tested on animals, and enriched with antioxidants to awake the follicles of your hair and repair broken strands.

And let me not leave out the intoxicating smell; a sensual and exotic blend of fruity pomegranate and crisp green tea. No matter the condition of your hair, you can use this product without feeling weighed down or heavy. It is light and legitimate. Buy this now. I'm a follower, that's for sure.

Bee grateful for these summer days, but be sure to make yourself comfortable and healthy, both skin, hair and heart. Cheers!

xo,

Totally Unrelated to Beauty...

...but I am in love (or maybe lust?) with this gorgeous man. If you haven't seen it yet, drag your hot, little summer booty to The Hangover. Without being overly crude, you are sure to enjoy this disaster of a comedy. The added bonus is being able to stare at this hilarious hunk for 2 hours...

Ladies, load up on the lipgloss. And hello Bradley!

Eco My Ego

The idea of summer and summer scents keeps a girl happy. After gallivanting around Walgreens twice yesterday, I just kept finding more and more goodies. It was a beauty product overload!

Seeing that I probably overspent my monthly beauty allowance, I still found a beauty essential that is a must for the summer and don't forget eco friendly. The marketing is what really got me...

EcoTOOLs just added a brand new liquid collection: The Bath and Body collection coined, "a beautiful reflection on you." And boy is it true!

Not only do I love this brand for its sustainable practice and earth friendly, recycled and recyclable goodies, but their product promotion is fantastic.

Right now at Walgreens, if you purchase any products -- around $7.99--from the bath and body collection, you receive a free, eco friendly tote. It's adorable and perfect to lug around the city or to the beach. The body wash smells absolutely delicious-- a mix of citrus and floral, but light enough that it isn't overwhelming.

The entire collection is 98% from nature, paraben-free, phthalate-free, dermatologist-tested and cruelty-free to show respect for you and the planet. So in a nutshell, amazing for your skin.

To top off the Walgreens trip, I purchased an EcoTOOLs recycled aluminum travel kabuki brush for $9.99 and it feel glorious. A great tool for blending face powder and bronzer.

Yes, I'm a sucker for all things beauty. But I must say, it does a body good. Just like milk.

Smooches,