Monday, October 24, 2011

Elnett is the BOMB

I must tell you a secret. I'm in love with Elnett. Oh, you dont know what Elnett is?? Its only the most amazing hairspray that has ever been created. Elnett has been available for years in Europe, but because of the USA's crazy FDA regulations, we have only had Elnett in the U.S. for about 2 or 3 years. American stylist have even been known to go over seas and come back having smuggled cans of this hairspray in their luggage. Its just THAT good.

The gold can that it comes packaged in screams luxury. And the super-fine mist that sprays out allows for ultimate hold, yet keeps the hair pliable. What you get is beautiful, shiny hair that stays in place, yet looks soft and touchable...because it is soft and touchable. Some people are on the fence about how it smells, but I love it. The scent is not overpowering at all, and in fact, I think it smells almost like a baby. One can of Elnett runs you about $15. And it is worth every single penny.

Last night, I styled hair for the International Fashion Super Model Competition in Boston. I was assigned my models, and was told that they should have at least 2 different hair styles...one more elegant, and another that would be a little more carefree. I was so glad that I came armed with Elnett in my kit. Using this product allowed me to effortlessly switch up each girl's hair. I was able to create sassy updo's with lots of volume, then take it all down and create large wavy curls, and then I was even able to completely straighten one of the model's hair! What hairspray do you know that will let you do that? I'll tell you....ELNETT.





I styled the winning model's hair. Check out each of her looks below. Thanks to Elnett, I was able to create these 3 different looks, and each look only took about 7 minutes to create. Elnett is a staple. Go get your can...now!


































Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Tips and Tricks Tuesday

Good morning beauties!! Welcome back to Tips and Tricks Tuesday!! Hope everyone enjoyed their Colombus Day weekend, and that your week is off to a fabulous start!!

Today, my tip is for my fellow curly-haired girls. Us curlies tend to struggle a lot with frizzy curls. Thats why a lot of us actually prefer to blow our hair straight and flat iron it. But today, I have a tip that will help you to beat the frizz embrace your curls!


Here's what you do:

1. While in the shower, wet your hair so that it is thoroughly soaked.

2. Using a sulfate free shampoo, gently wash your scalp, avoiding the ends of your hair. *Purpose is to remove any dirt, oil, or product buildup from the scalp, not to strip oils from the hair.*

3. After shampooing, rinse hair thoroughly, and let shampoo and water run through the ends of the hair.

4. Use a hydrating conditioner. Use a lot of it. Like, a lot. Starting at your ends, and working your way up to the roots. Make sure that the conditioner has coated your entire head of hair.

5. Allow the conditioner to absorb into your hair by leaving it on while you finish up in the shower.

6. Now, here is the frizz buster. Instead of detangling your hair with a comb or brush. Use your fingers. Take small sections of the hair, and begining at the ends, use your fingers to work any knots and tangles out. Apply more conditioner if needed to do this, and work your way up to the roots.
*By no combs or brushes, I mean no combs or brushes! Not even a wide tooth comb, or one of those shower combs! By combing and brushing the hair, we are disturbing the hair's natural curl pattern, thus creating frizz. Instead, by finger combing the hair, we are detangling, but keeping the natural curl pattern intact.*

7. Rinse 90% of conditioner out. Leave a little in to help hold the curl, and also keep your hair hydrated throughout the day. During this step, you will also apply gel or any other styling product if you use it.

8. Using either a cotton t-shirt, or microfiber towel, scrunch hair up towards the scalp. This will not only remove excess water, but also will help to define your curls.

9. DONT TOUCH YOUR HAIR!!! Let your hair air-dry, or dry with a diffuser, but once you have applied your product to it, let it be! By touching the hair, we create frizz! Let your hair become at least 80% dry before touching it. Once it it almost dry, you can scrunch the hair more to separate your curls or create more volume.


So curlies, I hope this is helpful. Give this method a try. I've been using it for a while now, and I must say that the more I do it, the less frizz I see in my hair, and the more defined my curls become. I'll have to post a picture for you. Also, if you'd like some product recommendations, feel free to ask!!

Alright ladies (and curly gents)...stay curly and stay beautiful!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Mask Review

Hey there beauties! I have a product review for you! I was leaving work at CVS on Friday and I decided that over the weekend, I would give my hair a little TLC. I've always been very diligent with deep conditioning my hair. Usually, I do a deep conditioning treatment at least every other week to keep my hair hydrated, shiny, and in tip-top condition. But somehow, I started slacking. I think the summer kind of threw me off because I spent so much time with my hair curly and I would just put a good leave-in conditioner in my hair and go. But now that we are getting into the cooler weather, and I'm finding myself using more heat on my hair (I've been blowdrying my hair straight and flat ironing it...I hate wet hair in cold weather...not a good combo), I felt that I should do something special for Giselle (for those of you who dont know, Giselle is my hair...we have a great relationship and are on a first name basis).


So as I was saying, before leaving the beauty department for the weekend, I strolled down the hair care aisle into the Salon section (I'm a bit of a product snob...I dont use mass brand products usually). For months now, I've been intrigued by the Macadamia Natural Oil hair care brand. I had never tried anything from the line though, so I figured this weekend would be a great time to try their Deep Repair Mask. I didnt want to purchase the full size product because I wasnt sure if I would love it, so instead, I bought a small packet that retails for $5.99 (I received my employee discount though).




On Saturday morning, I taught my Zumba class, came home and jumped in the shower. I washed my hair with Alterna's Bamboo Smooth shampoo, and then cracked open the Macadamia Deep Repair Mask packet. Immediately, the pleasant smell filled my shower. I really cant explain what it smelled like, but it was fabulous...nice and clean, yet fragrant. I squeezed the mask into my hand and knew just from the texture of the product that it was going to be hydrating. The mask wasnt very "thick", but it was creamy...honestly, it almost reminded me of a whipped butter consistency. The product was heavy enough without being heavy...if that makes any sense to you at all lol. I started on my ends and worked the product up to my roots. I have a lot of thick, curly, dry hair, so I ended up using the entire packet.
After applying the Macadamia Deep Repair Mask to my entire head, I split my hair down the middle into two sections, and clipped each section up. Then I went about the rest of my shower business. The mask was in my hair for a total of maybe 12 minutes...I didnt cover my head with a cap or use any heat source other than the heat and steam from the shower water. Once I was done with everything else, I used my trusty, wonderful Denman brush and began to detangle. Detangling was honestly a breeze. Aside from some minor knots that I had to work out (I actually very rarely brush my hair lol...when I wear it curly, I usually detangle with my fingers as not to disturb the curl pattern and create frizz), my brush practically glided through my hair. After I finished detangling and rinsing the mask, my hair felt so hydrated that I didnt even need to use another conditioner like I usually do.

To finish my hair, I used very little styling product...one dropper of Alterna's Kendi Oil, and about 2 pea-sized squirts of Alterna's Caviar Perfect Blowout Creme, focusing mostly on the ends. Blowdrying was also a breeze. I finished blowdrying in about 45 minutes...which is TOTALLY unheard of for me! I usually take over an hour for my whole head of hair to be dried and straight. When my hair was finally dry, it was noticeably more hydrated and felt hydrated as well. Here's what my hair looks like today!



Last, but not least, here are the ingredients. I was very pleased to see that this brand is cruelty free, paraben free, and alcohol free (Cetearyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol used as an emulsifier and conditioner..it is not drying to the hair).



Overall, I was very pleased with this mask. After using it, I can now say that I would definitely purchase a larger size, and I would also keep a few packets on hand for deep conditioning treatments for my on-location clients!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Top 5 Reasons Why I LOVE Arbonne

Good day all!! Hope you're all having a fabulous day and enjoying the beautiful fall weather!

I just had a quick conversation with a new friend out in Florida. As many of you know, I am an Independent Consultant with a beauty/wellness brand called Arbonne International. This new friend of mine has a friend who is involved in the business, and now my new friend (we'll just call him "Smarty"!) is looking to incorporate Arbonne products into his makeup artistry business. So, as I started telling Smarty a little about why Arbonne is great for a makeup artists business, I began to realize exactly why I LOVE these products and the company. I'd love to share my top 5 reasons with ya!

1. Ingredient/Formulation Policy. Arbonne is not made with just ANY ingredients. We are botanically based, meaning that we use plant, flower, fruit, vegetable, and herb extracts to create our products. We also do not include mineral oils, synthetic dyes or fragrance in our formulations. Lastly, we are 100% vegan friendly, and most of our products are gluten free! I love that we really ARE creating pure, safe, beneficial products!

2. The products that we create promote beauty and wellbeing from the inside out...literally! We have a crazy product range from nutritionals, to skin care, to cosmetics, to detoxification, to aromatherapy...and our products are for all ages! We have men's skin care, womens, acne care, anti-aging, and even a baby line. There is no one who can't use Arbonne products. Our full range truly brings health and beauty together, and helps you create a beautiful body from the inside out...which is something that not many lines have managed to do.

3. I'm a makeup artist. And as I was telling Smarty, Arbonne allows me, as a makeup artist, to offer my clients products of superior quality that they can't find in stores. My clients must order directly through me because they can't just go to Macy's, Nordstrom, or even CVS to get these products. In my business, this also strengthens my relationship with clients because they are constantly relying on me to find out what's new, what's out, or what they can use for certain concerns. I offer them something EXCLUSIVE that they aren't getting anywhere else, and I truly la-la-love that!!

4. These products WORK!! Simple as that! Arbonne fuses beneficial, clean ingredients with cutting edge technology and proprietary ingredient blends to create effective products that deliver REsults! My favorite Arbonne technology is our Opti-light technology found in the cosmetics...creates a flawless complexion, and is a fave of makeup artists, photographers, and all of mankind!! ;)

5. Lastly, Arbonne allows me to help others. Whether by offering product solutions for a clients skin or nutrition concerns, by offering an income solution for a stay at home mom or someone who is unemployed, or offering a career change to someone who has fallen in love with the beauty and wellness industry...ARBONNE lets ME (little old Melissa Wilson from little old Rhode Island) be a part of something bigger. It allows me to teach and train others how to do the same. And THAT is what I love the most!!

So there you have it! My top 5 reasons why I love Arbonne! Hope that you might discover that you love it too!!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Are Natural Products Important To You

So many cosmetic and skincare brands have jumped on the bandwagon of creating "natural" products that eliminate the use of ingredients such as parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances, and other additives that prove to be harmful. Within the past few months, many brands have either released or revamped product lines in order to stay in line with the trending market of natural product lines.

Personally, it's very important to me that I use a clean product line on my skin and hair. The way that I look at it is that my skin is the largest living organ of my body, and it protects all of my other vital organs. And just like I should feed the inside of my body healthy things to keep my organs performing in top condition, I should do the same for the organ on the outside, too.

So! My question to you is: do you find it important to use products that are natural, or contain natural ingredients?

Do share!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Tips and Tricks Tuesday

Hey there beauties! Welcome back to Tips and Tricks Tuesday!! Lets get started!

So, you know how we all have those thick, full, juicy Angelina Jolie lips, right? *crickets*. Okay then. Well if you are one of my ladies who wishes that she DID have a fuller pout, you can actually CREATE one without using collagen injections or those awful lip plumpers that burn and tingle when they are on your lips. Follow these simple steps to create the pout of your dreams:

1. Choose a natural colores lip liner that matches the color of your lips.

2. Using your lip pencil, line both the top and bottom lips.

3. Instead of following the exact shape of your top lip and creating a "cupid's bow" (the dip in the center of your upper lip), line your lip straight across.

4. Fill in your lips with your lip pencil.

5. Apply lip color (lipstick, lip gloss, etc.)

6. Voila!! Enjoy your brand new set of Angelina lips!!

Try it out and enjoy!!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Tips and Tricks Tuesday!

Welcome to "Tips and Tricks Tuesday", my new series that will help you learn the tips and tricks of hair and makeup pros. There are lots of things that we do to keep our clients looking fabulous all day long, and now, you will learn some of the techniques we use. If there is anything specific that you'd like to learn, please feel free to let me know!


Lets get started! The first tip/trick that I'm going to share with you is how to make your red lipstick last. Lots of women want to wear red, but they are hesitant because they dont want it to wear off during the day. So, following these few steps, you can give your red lipstick lots of staying power...



1. Line your lips with a red lip pencil that matches your lipstick. This will prevent your red lipstick from "bleeding".




2. Fill in your lips with the red lip pencil. By filling in your lips, you are creating a base for your lipstick to adhere to.




3. Apply your red lipstick. You can apply it either straight from the tube, or you can use a lip brush if you like.




4. Blot your lips using a tissue. Simply put a tissue between your lips and press together gently.




5. Here is the trick!! After you've blotted your lips, use a makeup brush to apply a layer of transluscent setting powder over your red lipstick. This trick will set your lipstick to prevent smudging, smearing, and wearing off.




6. Apply one more coat of red lipstick.




My favorite red lip combo of the season is Arbonne Cosmetics Cherry Lip Liner and Strawberry Lipstick. The combination is beautiful on almost every skin tone. Here is a picture of me at a conference wearing the combo.






Its gorgeous, and perfect for the upcoming holiday season! Hope you enjoyed this tip! Cant wait to share more!

NEW Series! Tips and Tricks Tuesday

Have you ever wanted to know some of the tips and tricks of professional hair stylists and makeup artists? Well, I'm going to help you learn! I will be debuting my new blog series "Tips and Tricks Tuesday".

Check back tomorrow for the first post!!

See you then ;)

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Inspiration: John Galliano

Fashion shows are generally focused around the clothing...hence why they are called "Fashion Shows". But I feel that at times, the hair and makeup don't get as much credit as they should. One designer that really pays close attention the the entire ensemble is John Galliano. Through the clothing, to accessories choice, to color schemes, to posture and posing, all the way down to the hair and makeup styling, John Galliano truly creates living art pieces. Check out the hair and makeup in these pictures. These images inspire me to grow creatively and professionally. Hope you enjoy them too...








Friday, September 23, 2011

Vintage Vogue

I love Vogue Magazine. I know that the magazine is comprised of lots of advertisements, but for someone like myself, who studied Marketing in school, I find them interesting. I love everything about Vogue though. I love the articles. The fact that they talk not only about beauty, but cultural and social happenings as well.



But, what I love most are the Vogue Magazine covers. Especially the vintage covers. They inspire me. The illustrated covers that transcended into covers with living models, down to the color schemes, and themes that were used truly inspire me. The images are not only from a place of style, but also class. Vogue oozes nothing but class and sophistocation to its readers, and that image shows through its cover flow. Here are some of my favorite vintage vogue images. Hope you enjoy them, or find some inspiration from them, as much as I do.



































Tuesday, September 20, 2011

10 Things To Do With Bobby Pins

If you know me well, you might know about the sick love affair that I have with bobby pins. For some reason, I never leave the house without at least 4 brown bobby pins. They must be brown because brown bobby pins match my hair. I keep them in my purse, pockets, and my car. Heck, I even sometimes stick a few extras in my hair when I'm wearing a bun! Yes, I know this is strange behavior, but I feel that you never know when you're going to need an extra bobby pin to switch up your 'do!


With that said, I thought I'd fill you all in on just why bobby pins might come in handy. Here are 10 things to do with a bobby pin! Enjoy!!






1. Make a side bun. Pin loose waves into a sexy side chignon.



2. Add height. Back comb just behind your hairline and pin to the crown of your head.



3. ZigZag pins. Pin in an "X".



4. Romantic 'do. Part hair in the middle, twist each side back, and pin in place.



5. French twist. Twist a very low ponytail tightly upward, hide the ends, and pin in place.



6. Fake a no bang look. Twist bangs under longer hair and pin in place.



7. Wear a halo. Form a side braid, wrap the length around head, and secure.



8. Pull up a top knot. Pin hair into a bun.



9. Hide flyaways. Work in product to tame hair and pin in place.



10. MacGyver a key hole ;)







Have fun with your bobby pins!!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Alterna Haircare

Hey all! So much has been happening in these past few weeks...its just incredible! I can't update you all just yet on EVERYTHING...I must provide you details in moderations ;) But one detail to the bigger picture that I'd love to share with you is an amazing hair care product line that I've come across and I'm pretty sure that I love.

This new brand that I tried is called Alterna Haircare. I know, this brand is nothing "new", but its new to me. I've been looking for a "clean", professional, hair care line that will actually deliver great results, and I believe that I've finally found it. Let me clarify...by "clean", I mean healthy. Alterna products are all free of all the ingredients that are bad for you. Ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and mineral oil are sadly found in most hair care products on the market today, however, Alterna chooses not to use these ingredients because they understand that they are harmful, but they know that great products can be created without the use of those harmful ingredients. Alterna also does not test on animals, which is a good thing in my book because I love animals and lots of people are agains cruelty as well.

So I tried a the Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner from their Bamboo line. The shampoo impressed me because most sulfate free shampoos are so watery that you need to use a lot, but this shampoo was very rich and luxurious. I literally used maybe a quarter size amount and got the most amazing lather. Which brings me to my second point of impression with this shampoo...the fact that its sulfate free and gave such a good lather, as most sulfate free shampoos do not lather at all. LOVED that! I'm a conditioner nut...I have very thick, dry, tightly coiled hair and I'm totally chemical free. My hair requires major hydration and major detangling, and the best way to do that is when its soaking wet with palmfuls (yes, palmFULS) of conditioner in it. With the Anti-Frizz Conditioner, I used maybe 2 half dollar-sized squirts and my hair was covered. To detangle, I didnt even use a comb...just lightly took sections of my hair and detangled with my fingers. I think the conditioner made this an easy process for me.

After washing my hair, I used Alterna's Bamboo Kendi Pure Oil Treatment. Let me just say this one word about this stuff...HEAVEN. Okay, two words...PURE HEAVEN. This product comes with a dropper. I used 1 full drop, rubbed it through my hair and made sure it was spread evenly. I always put oils first because I feel they are best absorbed without anything blocking them. After that, I used the Perfect Blowout Creme from Alterna's Caviar line. And guess what, my blowout was pretty darn perfect. I rubbed about a nickel sized amount through my hair. First off, it smelled heavenly, but secondly, I could immediately feel a difference in my hair with this product on it. I felt like my hair was soft and silky. The Kendi Oil and Perfect Blowout Creme truly made blowdrying my hair a breeze. My round brush literally ran through my hair nice and smoothly. No tangles, no frustration. Normally, I take breaks in between blowing my hair out because its a lot of work, but I really just sat there and did it because it was just EASY.

Lastly, I Alterna's Bamboo Luminous Shine Mist. Can I just tell you, this stuff was so lightweight on my hair its not even funny. A lot of shine sprays and mists will leave you feeling greasy...not this one HONEY! Oh no! My hair felt so soft, light, shiny, and it smelled fabulous!!

So, a total of 5 products were used in my hair...2 for cleansing, 2 for pre-styling, and only 1 product for styling. And when I tell you I was impressed, I was impressed. I will continue to purchase Alterna. There were a few other products that I read about and saw in the beauty supply when I went, so I will be trying and reviewing those for you as well.

Alterna has my stamp of approval! Check out their website at www.alternahaircare.com. Its good stuff, and its also good FOR you stuff!!


Have you ever tried Alterna? Have you had any experiences with this brand? Let me know!

P.S....sorry I didnt post any pictures of these products, but honestly, I'm sleepy!! And I'm writing this, and heading off to bed!! Nighty night beautiful people :)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Five Tips for Fabulous Skin

So you say you want to have great skin, huh?

Well, there are five easy, basic actions that you should take daily to keep your skin looking fab.

Step 1: Drink PLENTY of water...I drink at LEAST 32oz of water on a daily basis. A hydrated body equals hydrated skin.

Step 2: Eat well...a diet rich in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants will keep your skin looking its best.

Step 3: Wear SUNSCREEN...simply put, protect your skin from the sun's harmful UV rays. FACT: 90% of what you will look like in the future is based on external factors. Soooo...WEAR SUNSCREEN!!

Step 4: Keep your skin clean...always wash makeup off of your face at night. Every night that you go to sleep wearing your makeup, aging of the skin will increase. And we all know that's not cool. So make sure you wash your face off at night, and if your skin calls for it, wash it in the morning too.

Step 5: Use products that are CORRECT for YOUR skin...if you have oily skin, why use products for dry, chapped skin? Or if you're dry, why use products that target acne? Make sure that you are using a skin care regimen that is specifically tailored for YOUR skin type. If you are unsure about that, seek out the help of a PROFESSIONAL...and by professional, I mean someone who has been trained and preferrably has been to school to specialize in skin care.


There you have it! Follow these five easy steps, and follow them consistently, and I can assure you that your skin will stay looking its best.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Style: My New Bag!

For the past month or so, I've been on the hunt. I've been looking for THE perfect bag. A bag that will take me through the end of the summer, well into fall and winter. And, finally, I have found that bag...





I had requirements for my new bag. First, I wanted for it to be colorful. Nothing too over the top, but still something that will stand out and catch your eye. This requirement was met as soon as I laid eyes on it...the beautiful plum color caught my eyes immediately, and from that moment, I knew that THIS was "The One". My second requirement was that the bag needed to be big and oversized, but not HUGE. I carry a lot of things with me throughout the day...generally, I will have my wallet, makeup bag, planner, hand lotion, reading book, umbrella, and any other necessity that I may feel I need at any given time. All of these items MUST be able to fit in my purse. This bag holds everything that I need! Next, I needed for this bag to have a shoulder strap, but also to be able to just carry around my forearm (so that I look extra chic ;P lol)...requirement MET! And lastly, I didn't want my bag to just be plain...I like the little details. My new bag is accented with a gold chain and gold detailing, which is great because I love and wear mostly gold.




I purchased my bag at Francesca's Collections at the Garden City location in Cranston, Rhode Island. This bag was well worth the $50.00 that I paid...I foresee myself getting more than plenty of use out of it and carrying it for quite some time! Hope you guys like it as much as I do!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Gratitude

I've decided that everyday, I am going to write out a list of five things that I am grateful for.

Here is what I am grateful for at this very moment today...

1. My lungs...I love being able to take in deep breaths and let it all out!
2. My crazy little chihuahua Macho...hes a lot of fun in the morning! That guy is crazy!!
3. My mom...yes, I said it. Shes a pain in the neck, but shes pretty cool to have around sometimes ;)
4. The comfy couch in the living room.
5. Silence :)


What are you guys grateful for today?

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

My Beauty Closet

There was a point in time when I had an incredibly HUGE overabundance of beauty products. Being that I am a hair stylist, makeup artist, and certified product junkie, I found that I was collecting all sorts of products. I receive free and discounted products on a constant basis from my full time job and my health and wellness business with Arbonne International. So, I finally found that it was time to clear out the clutter and get organized.



My beauty closet is in my bathroom. Its a rather large closet that used to have towels and all of my beauty items stuffed onto all of the shelves. Now, I have all of my products in an orderly way that actually even helps me get ready for work in the morning a little faster. See for yourself...


Shelf 1 (the top shelf) is my "Jewelry Shelf". Since jewelry is usually one of the last things that I put on before heading out the door, I thought it would be a good idea to keep it here. I was also finding that when I came home from work, I would take my jewelry off and leave it on the bathroom sink. So since it was finding its way into the bathroom, I figured it should stay there. I keep my bracelets, necklaces, and rings all separate.


Shelf 2 is what I like to call my "Treatment Shelf". I keep my waxing machine and accessories here because I wax my own eyebrows and my mother's at home. I also keep my paraffin wax machine here. I actually got that for Christmas a while back and have only used it once. But I thought that maybe if it were right in front of me, I would be more inclined to use it. In the right corner, I keep my facial steamer for when I want to give myself a more in-depth at home facial. And lastly, I keep small things that may be needed in a pinch in a cup...items such as a nail file, nail clippers, eyebrow brush, tweezers, etc.


Shelf 3 is my "Body Shelf". From left to right, I keep my makeup brushes in their rolls, body lotions and oils, facial skin care, and parfumes and fragrances. If you look closely at the picture, you will see just how much Arbonne skin and body care I actually use!!


Shelf 4 is my "Hair Shelf. To the right, I keep all of my "random" hair items...hair gels, hair sprays, shampoos, conditioners, spray bottle. These are all items that I may or may not use on a regular basis, but I just want quick access to. In the middle, I have a small basket with hair accessories like pins, elastics, head bands, and other hair jewelry. I also have a box of roller clips that I use to weigh some of my curls down, hold rollers in my hair or to hold my hair in a doobie wrap, and I also have my diffuser. Finally, in the white basket to the side, I keep all of my "salon products"...you know, the good stuff. Stuff I may not use everyday but is absolutely worth keeping. One item, for example is the blue jar that you may see...that is my MoroccanOil Intense Hydrating Mask.




Lastly, at the bottom of the closet, I have a set of white rubbermaid drawers that holds my nail items, hair appliances like flat irons and curling irons, and randome hair tools like clips and brushes. On the floor in the silver train case is all of my Arbonne makeup, and the black one holds random cosmetic items that I dont really use anymore, but may find useful at some point in the near future.




There you have it!! Hopefully, I can record a video to show you better what my closet really looks like, but hopefully you can see how I've organized and simplified one area of my life!!





How do you guys organize your beauty items?? Please share!!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Shots!!!

Hey there guys and gals! Just wanted to share some pics that a photographer friend of mine, Kevin Auger, did for me. He worked magic!! I did my makeup and hair for the pics, and he took them. I'm not sure if I can even express how HOT and muggy it was outside the day that we took them. I'm surprised that you cant see the beads of sweat dripping down my forehead lol. But I had a blast shooting the pictures came out absolutely beautiful! Hope you like them!! If you're in the Rhode Island area and you'd like more information on Kevin's photography services, shoot him an email at KAugerPhotography@gmail.com. Thanks again Kevin!!




















































Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Hot Summer Nails

Normally, I'm the kind of girl who loves neutral, natural colors on my fingers. I often times dont even wear nail polish at all because I am constantly doing things with my hands and I hate the way chipped nail polish looks. But I guess that maybe summer has gotten into me because right now I'm absolutely LOVING bright, fun, funky nails. Let me show you...




This morning, I was having such a hard time deciding which color to go with. I had pretty much my whole nail polish collection sitting out on my dining room table. I have tons of bright blues, but for some reason, I was really being drawn towards the warmer colors...like the oranges, hot pinks, and yellows, as you can see from my swatches lol. All of them were so pretty and looked really nice, so my decision was a pretty difficult one! BUT, a choice had to be made! Check out my final decision below..



The color I chose is called "Tarte Deco" by Essie. I've always been a fan of Essie nail polish...in my opinion, they have a great selection of colors, and they wear so well. I topped of my ring finger and thumb with some Crackle nail polish by China Glaze, and some chunky gold sparkles from Sephora. I'm LOVING my nails today!!


What about you guys? Are you feeling the bright, summer colors on your nails, or are you into the more natural tones or french mani's? Do share!!