Prime Time

Hey Ladies!

I'm so excited to tell you all about my glorious new beauty find! It's amazzzzzing!

It's the new Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer from Benefit.
The reason it's so great is because it actually does what it says it'll do. On Saturday I put on my makeup around 10am and got home at 1am and I was shocked that my makeup actually held up and stayed in place!

With the weather all icky and hot outside it's good to use a product that will help your makeup from not creeping into your fine lines, moving and looking cakey- not fun.

Here is my Instagram pic :) Isn't the packaging adorbs?

There is a trick to make it work-
Swipe the stick on one side of your cheek and then immediately apply your foundation, BB cream, tinted moisturizer- whatever you prefer to use and then move from there. The primer itself dries quickly so it's important to use it in steps.

If you try it, I'd love to hear your feedback!

You can find it online and at your nearest Sephora or Ulta.

If you love the nail color it's Essie in Fiesta!

Happy Priming!

xoxo- Kelly

This or That

Hello Lovely Ladies!

HAPPY Friday!

This post I'll be comparing drugstore products against high end. This has been fun to do, and I think you'll be shocked at some of winners!

Well, maybe not as shocked as the announcement of Kim & Kanye's baby name. North West.

Here's This or That:

Foundation: (updated 1/27/14)

Winner is.....  Chanel!
My bank account hates me for it, but it can't get any better than the Chanel Lumiere. Trust me, it's worth it!

Blush:

 

Winner is.... Bobbi Brown!

The colors are pretty identical. I found that e.l.f's blush was a little chalky and didn't stay on quite as well as Bobbi Brown's did. I love this blush- try it out, it's perfect for summer!

 

 

Mascara:

Winner is... L'oreal!
I absolutely love this mascara. The reason why Benefit didn't get my approval is because it dried out super quick, and it clumped easily on my lashes. I also wrote about L'oreal here.

Hairspray:

Winner is... OSis+!
The Elastic Hair Spray is amazing for all hair types! Everything about it is great, unlike the Pantene. The Pantene spray left my hair (and shoulders) sticky. The nozzle had the spray going everywhere and it left my hair really saturated in spray so then my curls fell. So then I learned, if you think your hair can't hold a curl - chances are you might be using the wrong spray for your hair.

I hope you enjoyed this post!

Next week I will be having a giveaway! All you have to do is follow my blog and one lucky follower will be selected to win a $50.00 giftcard to either Mac or Sephora! The choice is yours!

Cheers to the weekend!
xoxo- Kelly

Happy almost Weekend!

In this post I will be letting you in on a few secrets- beach waves, my favorite at home tanner OH! and best of all a recipe for my favorite summer cocktail!

Here are a few ways to make you look like you just back from St. Barths :)

Beach waves. There are like a gazillion DIY beach wave products, my favorite happens to be Wella- Ocean Spritz Beach Texture Hairspray. I purchased this product from Ulta and I love it! It's super easy to use and gives your hair a yummy smell and care free beach waves. You can use it on straight dry hair but how I love to use it is spraying the product on day old curls.

 

 

Get a sun kissed glow at home with St. Tropez Self Tanning Bronzing Spray. It's so easy to use and Sephora has a kit you can buy for $39.00 that includes bronzing spray, illuminator and their famous applicator mitt. It lasts for about 5-7 days and doesn't smell bad at all.

How I apply is starting with my lower legs first. I put lotion on my toenails for a barrier and lightly spray from my knees down about 6 inches away from my skin. When you're done spraying use the mitt to even out the spray. Then I work my way up to my face. I don't spray my face directly, what I do is use the mitt with the product on it and wipe my face with it. If you need more direction there are a ton of YouTube videos that you can watch.

Please note- as with all sunless tanning products it does strip off in chlorine and salt water and you still need to use sunscreen when out and about.

 

 

 

This recipe is from Pinnacle Vodka and I LOVE it! It's refreshing and perfect for sitting pool side, beach side or at home. Whatever you fancy.

 

Recipe:

 

6 oz. Orange Juice (Pulp-Free)

2 oz. Pinnacle Whip Cream Vodka

Splash of Pineapple Juice

 

Mix and pour over ice.

 

Super easy and yummy... SEE! I don't just drink wine :)

 

Cheers!

xoxo- Kelly

 



#summer

I'm back ladies! I have to apologize for my absence, but I promise I'll be better this time around.

Summer is officially in full swing! Tis' the season for longer days, warm nights and sitting pool side with  your favorite people with of course with your favorite cocktail (mine- obviously is a goblet of wine... duh) !

The next couple of posts I'm going to touch on a few things I'm loving about summer and how to prepare you for the BEST time of the year!

- The MOST important thing to remember is sunscreen. I recently received the Coola Organic Sunscreen in my birchbox and I loved it! It's moisturizing and not greasy. Make it a daily routine and you'll be happy you wont be rocking burnt skin and wrinkles. (Ew.)

- Bronzer! My absolute favorite bronzer is from Tarte, it looks amazing on your cheeks, temples and can also be used as a body bronzer. Its a matte color- so you wont be a disco ball on bright summer days. (Tarte- Park Avenue Princess) Use with the brush from this post for perfect contouring.

- A great summer read. I have a few books on my list for this summer- I'm in the middle of one that is called "French Women Don't Get Fat" and I love it! It's a quick read and very interesting. Pour yourself a glass of vino and "Do as the french do"! I'll be sure to keep you posted on my next reads!

 

 - Rock a bold hue. Neon is huge! I'm loving the bold lips this season. I think I say that every season... but anyway it's a great way to brighten up your look without trying too hard. If you choose to wear a bright color on the lips, please keep the rest very neutral and choose colors that compliment your skin tone.

 

Colors I'm loving at this moment


Mac- Candy Yum-Yum
Mac- Ruby Woo.. a classic
Smashbox- Pink Petal
Maybeline- Shocking Coral #870
Chanel- Rouge Allure Velvet in "La Favorite" #43
Chanel - Rouge Allure Gloss in "Insolence" # 57
Chanel - Glossimer # 149 (their normal gloss)






 I want to end this by saying I'm happy to be back in action and I hope you keep up with me and my amazing beauty finds!

Till next time....
xoxo- Kelly

Wake Up, Buttercup!

I'm not gonna lie, I have had many mornings wishing I hadn't consumed 24 a few cocktails on a work night. I'm usually waking up praying there is a snow storm, hail storm- actually ANY type of storm for work to be cancelled. That never happens. Ever.

So, I have to get up and use my secret tool to give me a glowing look that makes my eyes look like I've had more than a few hours of sleep.

Trust me, it works! Even if I had 10 hours of sleep, I still use it. It creates a dewy look and immediately brightens your whole face.

Please let me introduce to you...

Givenchy Mister Light $33

This item will always be found in my makeup bag. It's even great for covering blemishes!

How to use it? After foundation and powder are set, swipe the pen below each eye and blot with your finger to blend in.

 

ALSO...

 

I recently started using Mister Bright.

It's great to mix the Light with the Bright to create an iridescent glow under your eyes. You can also use alone on your cheek bones and above your eyebrow arches as a highlighter.

It's amazing.

 

Givenchy Mister Bright $33

 



 

You're welcome.

xoxo- Kelly

Lady in Red

Okay, okay... I know in a previous post I mentioned that I can't sport red bold lips. Well turns out, I was wrong!
I have found the most GORGEOUS red from NARS. It can work for most skin tones since it's such a rich red and can be layered.
Turns out, it's the same red lipstick Ann Hathaway wore in her role as Catwoman. Never saw it, but Anne Hathaway is amazing so I thought I'd try it out!

Lipstick: NARS Trans Siberian $24

It's a semi matte finish. You can go mod or vintage glam with this color.
REMEMBER: If you do a red lip, skip the blush and opt for a matte bronzer instead. Also, keep the eyes simple. Think of it as not wearing a chunky necklace with chandelier earrings. Big no, no.

Lip Pencil: NARS Jungle Red $22

Two words: It's amazing. I always try to go a little lighter on the liner, it creates a more plump lip.
When doing a bold lipstick, I always recommend a liner, especially if it can stain the skin around your mouth. No one wants a Sangria mouth!


Go to a NARS beauty counter or Sephora and try it out -
I've learned the fun you can have with a trendy bold lip!

Enjoy!

xoxo- Kelly

#HappyThanksgiving

I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and share a few things that I am thankful for.

Friends & Family:

Nothing beats having an amazing family and great friends! I wouldn't be me if it weren't for the people in my life. I am truly blessed to have such a great and supportive Fiance. I am also thankful for my mother and dear friends who that have been there for me through thick and thin.

Makeup value sets:

Tis' the season to stock up on gift sets and makeup brushes! Sephora has amazing makeup lines in affordable value sets. It's also a great way to try new products or a new beauty routine without shelling out the dough.

Here are a few that are on my wish list:

Tarte Carried Away Collector's Set: ($54 valued at $512)

Not only do you get a fancy travel case, but it also comes with several eyeshadow quads, lip gloss, mascara, finishing powder and a face brush. Get it by clicking here. Another thing that is great about Tarte is they do not test on animals!

NARS Kiss Mini Larger Than Life Lip Gloss Coffret: ($55 valued at $94)

In this set you will find five beautiful lip glosses in this seasons hottest hues and a fancy tin to carry them! P.S. NARS happens to be my favorite for lip gloss!
Click here to check it out.

You can also find awesome brush sets, lip pallets and face essentials- check out www.sephora.com!


Falsies:

Ardell false eye lashes:

Ardell Eyelashes $4.99

 

They're a perfect way to glamour your look!

You can find them at any Sally Beauty Supply Stores.





A few more to be thankful for: Mystic Tans, facials, Spanx, wine, fashion, nail polish and anti-aging moisturizers.

Happy Turkey Day!

xoxo - Kelly