Chop Chop

I did it, I actually did it!!

 I cut 6 to 8 inches off of my hair!!

After months of consideration and a patiently trying to wait out growing my poor damaged and overly processed hair, I finally was fed up. Over the past two years I went from a foiled blonde, to a sombre, to a full on ombre, back to partial foils then, an all over blonde. Some lucky people out there can put their hair through hell and high water, I on the other hand can not.

I noticed almost immediately after trying to go blonde that all of my ends were breaking off. My hair felt crusty and  Needless to say it was a trying experience. I had these chunks of hair that were 3-4 inches long and the rest was about chest length... It was no good haha. So I decided to color my hair dark and try to grow it out to a healthy length again.

Years worth of blonde foils, still healthy long

 

Ombre, after previously trying sombre

 

The length I finally had grown my hair to before deciding to go for the big cut!

I am loving having short hair, but I've come to realize its a bit more work than it is when its long. My hair texture is very fine and naturally straight. So now that its short, I think it looks better with a bit of curl and texture. I cant just quickly run a flat iron through it or throw it in a ponytail.  I actually have to put some effort into my hairstyle.

I may keep it short, or try to grow it long (and hopefully healthy), what do you think?

Much Love,

Alyssa

5 Essential Beauty Tools

Hi All,

The holidays are coming up and if your family is like mine, they are asking for your list.

Brushes can get a little pricy, so why not ask for them as gifts!

Here are 5 brushes anyone that wears makeup should have in their possession.

Face:

http://www.sephora.com/beautyblender-P228913?skuId=1151869

Beauty Blender

Use when wet to blend in liquid foundation, concealer, liquid highlighter... basically flawlessly blends in any liquid product. I personally dab on my foundation then blend it out with this baby using the rounded end. Then I flip it and blend out my under eye concealer with the pointy end. Because you use it wet, you have better control over how much product goes on your face. When the liquid makeup combines with the moisture in the sponge it dilutes it slightly, allowing less product to go further. You can also build coverage in the areas you want to be more covered up.

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Large_Powder_F30_p/f30.htm

Large powder brush

... need I say more? I like to set the oily areas of my face with a powder, just in case. The large powder brush picks up enough product to make a difference, but not so much you look caked. Can be used for face powder, blush, bronzer, luminizer etc. You can even pinch the bristles together to contour. Very versatile, very necessary.

Eyes:

http://www.coastalscents.com/brushes/eyeshadow-brushes/br-250.html

Pro Blending Fluff

The most versatile brush you will ever own for your eyes. You can use it to sweep an all over color over your lid. Or for precise blending in the crease. This is comparable to the brushes at MAC or Sigma, but its less then $5.

MUFE medium precision smudger blending brush.

http://www.sephora.com/212-medium-precision-smudger-brush-P382439?skuId=1536721

I love to use this to smudge color under my bottom lashes and blend out the color to give my bottom lashes definition with out looking too heavy. It can also be used to apply highlight to the inner corner of the eye. Or even to blend darker colors into the outer V of the eyelids.

Finally:

Cuticle scissors.

Can be found at any local drugstore.

These may not be a "brush" but they will be the most handy thing to keep in your beauty area. I use mine to trim my eyebrows, scraggly hairs from my makeup brushes, split ends, tags from new clothes... and sometimes my cuticles too. Tweezers are just as important, but don't have as many uses.

Those would be my top 5 basic beauty must have tools. It was a lot harder to decide what my top tools would be then I thought. Each brush has a different purpose and different ways they can be utilized. These I figure are the most basic and versatile of the brushes I have. Is there anything you would add to this list?

Lots of love

Alyssa

A Little Beauty Haul

Okay, I'm admitting that I am a terrible blogger... 

It seems that every time I start a new post it begins with "so it's been awhile".

Sometimes I just feel that I don't have anything new or revolutionary to talk about. Nothing that is important enough to share with the world.

But all of that aside I figured I could spare some time to share some of my recent purchases from Sephora.

Once a year Sephora has a 20% off code that they share with their VIB's (Very Important Beauty insider) so I decided to splurge a little and try out some products I've wanted but seem to always talk myself out of.

First being MUFE Mat Velvet +

I have combination skin that is relatively sensitive to new products. My forehead nose and chin are pretty oily and my cheeks and jawline tend to be more dry... Unfortunately, all areas are acne prone. I always use MUFE HD primer in 0 under any foundation I use (I am a firm believer in primers). I am excited to try this because it has coverage enough to cover any breakouts or dark marks I have, but light enough to look natural and not overdone. I have only ever used drugstore foundation before, I have high hopes that this formulation will help with preventing breakouts and will be kind to my sensitive skin.

Next is a product I've used before and absolutely love.

Origins is a brand I have come to adore. It is pretty affordable, all natural, no parabens and actually deliver on the claims they make about their products. Their VitaZing energy boosting moisturizer is wonderful. It is similar to bb creams, without the weight of feeling like I have put makeup on. It is a white moisturizer with small beads that deliver a slight glow of color to the skin. I like to wear this by itself to give my skin a healthy glow in the morning, rather than look pale, sickly and like I just woke up. When I wear makeup over it I've noticed that I look glow-y if not down right radiant. As if I just returned from a two week vacation spent on some remote beach. 

St Tropez Bronzing mousse is a product I cannot rave enough about.

LOVE... love. love. love this product, I've talked about it before and it is still true today. I avoid tanning beds like the plague, but I also like to avoid looking like a sickly ghost in the winter. St Tropez is my best friend when my summer tan fades away. It is the only self tanner I will use. I always apply it with the mitt that can by purchased along side it. So orange hands don't give me away. It is so easy to apply and because it is a mousse it is streak free as well.

This was my real splurge lately.

Normally, I stick to drugstore mascara. But I just find that they dry out quickly and there isn't very much product in their brightly colored tubes. In the past I have used Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume building mascara, which is still a personal favorite. I wanted to try out the product Sephora claims is a "cult favorite of over 10 years", you have to admit that has its appeal. I don't typically treat myself to luxury brands. I believe you are usually buying the name more so than the actual product.

Lastly, I have (relatively) recently purchased a new face lotion that works wonders.

I had a very bad breakout a month or so ago and it left in its wake the terrible aftermath of dark marks. I wandered into LUSH hoping the knowledgeable staff would be able to help me find a miracle, and I was not let down. I have always loved their face masks and try a new one every time I am there. This time I bought both Cosmetic Warrior and Catastrophe Cosmetic. When these are paired with Vanishing Cream, my skin has never cleared up so quickly. It normally takes a few weeks for acne flares to calm down and a few months for the dark marks to fade away. Cosmetic Warrior helped to make the breakouts calm down and disappear. Now I am using Catastrophe Cosmetic to keep any new breakouts at bay. I used vanishing cream along side each mask and I believe it has helped to prevent any new dark marks. The ones that I had already are almost gone and its only been 2-3 weeks.

Well, that's all for now.

I promise I will try to make my posts a more regular occurrence.

Lots of Love,

Alyssa

Egg Hair Mask

Well hello again,

Once again time got away from me and it has been awhile since my last post. School and work really finds a way to eat up all of my time.

 

Anyways, I wanted to tell you guys about a mask I have tried a few times over the past couple of weeks. It is a bit of a DIY sort of thing.

I have really dry and damaged hair from coloring it for too long. It is slow to grow, thin and fine... everything is working against me in my fight to grow my hair out. So I have decided to really take an effort in taking care of my hair. I have been taking my vitamins, avoiding using heat and using a very moisturizing conditioner followed by a hair serum.

Well, even all of that doesn't quite do the trick for me. Recently, I tried a home made hair mask made of two eggs beat into my normal deep conditioner, then letting the concoction soak into my hair and scalp for 20-30 minutes.

This is what it looks like all mixed in. You guys may want to use more since my hair is pretty thin. After soaking, I wash and dry as normal and my hair feels much better after the mask. It is smooth, the fly aways are calming down, even my split ends are trying to behave.

I try to use it 2-3 times a week. But I think I am going to cut it down to once a week if it becomes too much.

 

 

If anyone else has a great hair mask, by all means share it with me! haha

 Lots of Love,

Alyssa

Beauty Gift Guide

Hello loves,

It has been awhile since i last posted on my blog. Oops :/

Well, seeing as the holidays are literally right around the corner, I figured a gift guide would be a good re-entrance into my blogging scene.

Most of the stuff will be female oriented. Maybe I can help someone out there with ideas for their mom, sister, grandma, girlfriend or even themselves :)

 

Ill start off by listing off some of the things that I have had for awhile and have become essential to my everyday life. (well maybe not EVERY day, but you get it.)

 

First off is a product I mentioned a while ago, but I still love

 

ST TROPEZ Bronzing Mousse

As of late, I have become obsessed with protecting my skin. So needless to say I have been avoiding tanning beds like the plague. But my love of being bronzed hasn't faded with a little help from this baby. I got mine from sephora.com and it runs about $40. In the summer I would use it about once a week to maintain a nice glow. Now that the winter months are upon us, I am attempting to come to terms with my natural paleness. But this guy has helped me on those days that I'm feeling less than glowing. Plus when class resumes in January I can just slap some of this on and fool all of my new classmates into thinking I went somewhere exotic over break ;)

 

Speaking of skincare...

 

Origins makes a very nice moisturizer called

VitaZing with SPF 15

 

I liked it because it has SPF, I LOVE it because it is slightly tinted. But it isn't a tinted moisturizer. It is supposed to adjust to almost any skin tone with little micro beads infused into the moisturizer itself. I have very acne prone skin, and to make it even more difficult to maintain, my skin is combination dry and oily. But this moisturizer doesn't leave my skin feeling too greasy or too dry. And as an added bonus, the slight tint helps hide all of the dark marks my acne leaves behind.

 

I also have very fine hair that is also pretty dry (because I bleach the you-know-what out of it) so I tend to use a pretty heavy conditioner. Which can weigh my hair down making me look like a little kid that just crawled out of the swimming pool. So it should come as no surprise that Big Sexy Hair is one of my favorite brands. I have used a few of their root lifters but I have a new favorite.

BIG SEXY HAIR Blow Dry Volumizing Gel

 

 

As you can see, my little sample is all used up, but I have already asked for the bigger one for Christmas :) Thanks Mom!

 

As for make up, I have found two brands I LOVE.

 

First is Laura Mercier. This woman can do no wrong in my eyes. I have tried her eyeshadow, concealer, mascara, tinted moisturizer and I want to try more. But so far, my favorites are...

the Secret Concealer (in #2)

and the Full Blown Volume Lash Building Mascara

 

As I said earlier, I am acne prone and Laura formulated her concealer to hide just about any blemish. I haven't found another concealer with a similar consistency. It may sound weird, but it is almost gummy. It isn't liquid but it isn't solid but it covers and blends phenomenally. The mascara I cant say enough good things about. I already have relatively long dark lashes, but when I treat myself to wearing this, it feels like I am wearing false lashes instead of just mascara. Simply wonderful.

 

The next brand is NARS.

Again I have tried a lot of different products from this line. I know the lip gloss isn't every ones cup of tea because it is sticky and tastes plastic-y but I like it. However, I loveeeeee the bronzer and blush.

My favorites being

NARS Laguna bronzer and

NARS Orgasm blush

 

As you can see, my bronzer is especially well loved. These two together give such an amazing glow. The bronzer creates a natural shadow where I contour and the blush is a very natural color on the skin. I read on their website that the blush is supposed to mimic the glow you can only get in the *ahem* bedroom, hence the name Orgasm.

 

Now some things that are on my own wish list.

 

First of all, I have a new love of taking luxurious baths. So anything from LUSH would be a safe gift for me (hint hint). Lush products are all handmade, many are animal friendly and some are even vegan friendly. Using all natural products to make bath time extra nice.

Bath bombs fizz in the tub, leave your bath water whatever color the bomb is, send out a very fragrant aroma of your choice and moisturize while you soak.

This is the dragon egg bath bomb

Bubble bars are amazeeeeing too. You run them under the faucet and it leaves a very fine bubble in your bath, tints the water and is super moisturizing.

 

 

The French kiss bubble bar

 

 

This last product is something I have heard rave reviews about, but just cant bite the bullet to buy for myself.

The YSL Touche Eclat radiant touch.

 

I have always felt that I have dark under eye circles and this product is supposed to perform miracles. It is supposed to cover and highlight your under eye area. I currently use Maybelline instant age rewind dark circle eraser. It works well enough, it is supposed to be the dupe for this YSL one...but I would still like the touche eclat.

 

Hopefully I gave someone out there an idea of something to get that special person out there.

 

Happy Holidays!!

Lots of love from my computer to yours.

 

Alyssa

My top 5 favorite nail polishes for fall

Hi everyone!

I know it has been awhile since my last post, August flew by! I can hardly believe it is already September.

But on that note, the only season I like more than summer, is fall. I love how most days are still sunny, the air is crisp and cool. The leaves turn a beautiful array of colors and its time to break out the sweaters and boots again.

 

So here are my TOP 5 FAVORITE NAIL POLISHES

 

 

For fall I like to wear neutral and dark colors. I will occasionally still spring for the bright pinks or pastels. But dark, not-quite-black colors are my fav.

 

First up, is by the brand Savina and is called Pedal to the Metal.

On your nails, it is a gorgeous metallic silver/rose.

 

Second, is NARS Bad Influence. This is a nice flat brown color that matches with almost anything.

 

Third, is Essie Devil's Advocate. It is an almost black dark purple/maroon.

 

Fourth is Nicole by OPI, it is a part of the Kardashian collection and is called Khloe had a little lam-lam

 

 

Fifth (and last) is OPI Dulce de Leche a nice pink-y nude.

 

 

 

 

 That's the last of my favorite polishes. I had the day off yesterday and went a little crazy giving myself a pedicure just for fun.

 

 

I painted them completely black, then put a small pink gem on the outside corner of each of my little toes. Then on the big toes, I made a row of tiny pearls at the top to mimic a french pedi.

 

 

Well that's all for now, hope you enjoyed my favorites and maybe inspired you to get a little creative!

 

Lots of Love,

Alyssa

Nail polish collection and storage

Hello beauties,


As some of my close friends know, I am somewhat addicted to nail polish. I love finding original colors as well as classic ones. Trying new brands and finishes is like a hobby for me.

I have also found a way to store all of my polish that I really like. So I thought I would share just what nail polishes I have (so far) and how I keep it all contained.

This is the carrier that I keep everything in. I got it at Target for like $12, gotta love Target. It is the perfect size to store nail polish while keeping them all upright. It fits nice under my bed too so it stays out of sight.

In the top layer, I keep all of my nail care related products. In the top left I have two nail files, on the right I have three different sizes of nail clippers. The yellow case is a travel nail care case my Nana gave me when I went away to college. I have both nail polish remover and cotton balls. The bottom right is a nail decorating kit that has a bunch of different jewels. I also keep my base coat and top coat in this container. I use OPI nail envy nail strengthener for my base coat. I like OPI top coat for... well my top coat.

In the bottom part, I keep all of my nail polishes. I kind of organize them by brand. I noticed that OPI and Essie are my favorite brands. I also have a lot of sinful colors, its hard not to, they're only $2. My collection may not look very big, but it is swiftly growing. Just today I received my first Butter London nail polish in Cheeky Chops from amazon. I am really excited to use it! It is a nice banana yellow.





I also swatched all of the polishes and tried to write in my best scrunched sharpie handwriting.

I took these photos on my phone. I also used natural light, there are no filters used on the pictures. It is kind of difficult to tell the actual color of some of the swatches, but it is helpful for when I, or a friend of mine is looking for a particular color.

I have a feeling I am going to have to buy another container soon to keep my collection contained.

That's all i have for now

Lots of love,

Alyssa