how i curl my hair

Yesterday I talked about my outfit details from Saturday, and today I'm explaining how I curl my hair. Sometimes I curl it the night before using the Sultra curling wand, but when I curl it the day of an event, I prefer to use a regular curling iron. Here's how to achieve the look...

The tools: 

1. Hot Tools 1 1/4 inch curling iron

2. Tresemme Platinum Strength Heat Protectant 

3. Kenra Volume 25 Hairspray

4. Suave Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil

The steps: Let's see how good I am at giving hair styling directions through writing!

1. First, I spray the Tresemme heat protectant all through my hair, especially the ends. 
2. Then, I part my hair all the way down the back of my head, diving it into two sections. 
3. Clip the right side up and away from the other section so it doesn't get tangled. 
4. I take the left section and divide it evenly into two sections (top and bottom).
5. Pin the top half up. 
6. Starting from the back, I take about a 1-2 inch piece of hair, and clamp the curling iron about 3/4 of the way up my head. (The point is to NOT start at the end and curl up. When you do that, you are focusing all the heat on the ends of the hair, and you're not distributing the heat evenly, which can cause the curls to fall faster, and that method isn't great for the ends of your hair.) Remember to also curl away from your face. 
7. With my hair clamped, I curl up a little bit until hair is wrapped around once, then loosen the clamp (don't release the hair), then pull down a little bit, and curl up again. Repeat this all the way down to the end of the hair, until that piece is completely curled. 
8. I just repeat this all the way around my head for each section until it's all finished. 
9. Then you have some kinda tight curls. I run my fingers through it to loosen it up and gently twist them until they look relaxed, but still uniform. 
10. Then I spray the ends lightly with Kenra Volume 25 hairspray. Any aerosol hair spray will work! Just don't weigh it down with too much hairspray. Less is more.
11. Then I try to tame those flyaways. I have a few different oils/serums for this, but right now I'm trying out this Suave Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil. I focus the oil more on the ends first, and then using whatever leftover product is on my fingers, I'll smooth down the top of my head. 

So that's basically it. I have thick, mostly straight and hard to curl hair, and this method works great for me. My curls last all night, and even look great the next day. 

Hope you found this helpful. Stay tuned for tomorrow's post! xo

nail polish favorites

There are many times throughout the week when I feel like this girl. But if that's the biggest stress I have, then it's a good week. As I sit here typing away with my nude nails (Sand Tropez by Essie), I'm contemplating removing it and applying one of these ASAP! There's something about pastel and neon colors that just makes me a happier person. I'm itching for a bright color change! So today I just wanted to share some of my favorite nail polishes for the spring and summer months. Pastels, neons, glitter-- it's just too hard to choose. 

from left to right: 

L'oreal: Macaroon Me Madly: This is a really pretty creamsicle-peachy shade for when you just want subtle color. 

Essie Mint Candy Apple: This is more of a mint blue than a mint green. It's so pretty on the nails and it's one of those that I can never really get sick of. 

Sally Hansen Lacey Lilac: I'm just obsessed with this line of nail polish. It's the absolute best formula for the price, which is around $2.50. Can't beat that. 

China Glaze Shocking Pink: This is my go-to neon hot pink color. It's currently on my toes and it looks best on tan feet.

Essie Fiji: This is a classic pale pink that goes on perfectly in 1 or 2 coats. When all else fails, just apply this.

Urban Outfitters After Hours: You'll rarely see me sporting an all glitter manicure, so when I'm feeling a little frisky I just do the glitter accent nail thing. This one is perfect. 

Is it still spring? Did we switch to summer yet? The calendar says summer doesn't "officially" start until June 21, but the weather says otherwise... 

What colors/polishes do you reach for the most during the spring and summer? 

the expert face brush

There's something really nice about finding your absolute-gotta-have-it-favorite-go-to brush. While we have others that can do a similar job, there's comfort in knowing you have found "the one." When it comes to foundation application, I've been on the hunt for a brush that gives perfect, even coverage without breaking the bank. There's just so many different types of foundation brushes. It really just depends on your preference and needs. I have four Sigma foundation brushes. All of which I love, but none are "the one." I've had this brush all along. I was just using it for other things like contouring, setting powder, and sometimes blush. Basically everything except foundation. I tried it out only because all my other brushes were dirty and I figured I should switch it up.

The application was amazing. It's the perfect size, very soft (probably the softest brush I've ever used), gives a great finish to the skin, and best of all-- it's inexpensive. The tapered bristles allow foundation to be applied from all angles rather than just one. And as long as you wash it regularly, it's like good as new each time. 

Like I mentioned before, you can really do anything with this brush. Except maybe apply eye shadow. :) I just highly recommend using it for foundation.

You can find Real Techniques brushes at Ulta or online for $8.99. 

What's your favorite/go-to foundation brush? 

xo, Mallory

april favorites

It seems like a lot of what I've been reaching for lately has been the color pink, and I didn't even realize it until I took these photos. Not sure the reason for this, but I do love pink, so I guess it's okay. Here's what I've been loving lately...

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Amused: This has been on my wish list for quite a while. When Sephora sent an email with a VIB coupon, I figured it was the perfect time to finally purchase a couple of wish list items. I originally went with the intention to purchase the shade Dollface, but after swatching it, I realized I wanted a more intense and rich pink shade. This is a highly-pigmented, matte bright pink. Apply with a light hand and its a perfect flush on the cheeks for Spring. 

Rimmel ScandalEyes Kohl Eyeliner in Nude: I've never owned a nude shade of eyeliner, but always a little interested. Black is my go-to. These are brand new and already have great reviews. I figured a $6 nude eyeliner couldn't hurt. I like applying it just in the inner corner of my waterline. I then finish the waterline with my usual black liner. It helps keep that black junk from forming in the inner corner and also brightens it up bit, which is a plus. 

NARS Turkish Delight: This was my other Sephora purchase. This is my first NARS lip product and it's well worth the splurge if you like light pink glosses. You can wear it alone or over a lipstick to lighten it up. Going to be my go-to shade for Spring/Summer nights. 

L'oreal Shocking Extensions mascara: I couldn't help but include this as a favorite again, just to let you know that I'm still loving it. Check out that post if you're interested. 

Covergirl Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation: This is probably the most surprising favorite for me. I've loved my Revlon ColorStay whipped foundation ever since it's come out, but for some crazy reason,  I can't control my urge to try something when I hear great things, especially foundation. Covergirl is not my go-to brand for makeup, so I really didn't expect to like this. But I do. This shade is too light for me, so I'll have to go pick up a darker one when my Summer tan kicks in, but as for the formula and quality of the foundation, it's amazing. Let me know if you're interested in a full review! 

China Glaze polish in Shocking Pink: If you love hot neon pink and do not own this color, I recommend picking it up. Not only is the color spot on, but it lasts longer than the average on my nails. I'll be painting my nails and toes with this a lot more come Summer. 

Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Wink: Just when I didn't think I could love the baby lips line even more, Maybelline came out with new shades. This one is beautiful! It's the your-lips-but-better chapstick that you can't help but want to apply all day long. I still love the one in Quenched, but it's colorless. This one is perfect for when you need moisture and color quickly (read: without a mirror). This will be going straight in my beach bag! 

Have you tried any of these products?  What are you loving lately? Let me know! :)

Mallory

spring cleaning your makeup drawers

It's definitely Spring here in Louisiana and I'm excited. I didn't think I would do much spring cleaning this year because I figured I cleaned out my place pretty regularly, but it's amazing what can multiply in just a few months. While constantly trying to keep my vanity area clean and organized, I went on a major "spring cleaning spree" recently, so I thought I'd share how you can decide what products to keep and what products to toss if you do the same.

Cream-based products include things like liquid foundation, cream blush, and cream eye shadows. Toss those after a maximum of 8 months.

Liquid eye products include mascara and liquid eyeliner. Of all my makeup, I am most diligent about throwing out mascara regularly. That little tube is a haven for bacteria growth. As someone who wears contacts, I have enough eye issues to worry about, and contracting pink eye or something like that is not on my to-do list.

Powder products such as blush, bronzer, and highlighters can last up to about 18 months. This is probably the one I don't follow like I should. Mainly because of blush. I just have too many and could not part with them until they're completely used up.

Lip sticks and lip glosses should be able to last you a couple of years. I just use my best judgement when going through the lippies. If it's a thick, goopy and sticky consistency, then it gets tossed in the trash.

Pencil products like lip liner, eyeliner, and shadow sticks can last up to 3 years if sharpened regularly. I don't use a ton of pencil products, mainly just eyeliners, so if I'm not using and sharpening it regularly, I have no problem tossing.

Nail polish can last a few years, it just depends on the brand, formula, and consistency. If you're a nail polish hoarder like myself, you probably keep longer than is recommended. I do keep an eye on them though. I throw away top coats once they get too thick and unmanageable. But color polishes, umm... keeping maybe forever. 

Other things I suggest you clean and sanitize is your eyelash curler, tweezers and brush holders. 
I like to wipe each down with Clorox wipes. Takes just a minute. Maybe two.

One thing to keep in mind when going through your makeup is the packaging. For example, if it's a pump foundation, rather than a jar, that foundation is more sanitary and is okay to use for probably a year. If you're constantly dipping your finger or a dirty brush into a jar, it obviously will increase chances of bacteria growth.

Each product can be subjective. Use your best judgement. Sometimes I get scared to toss makeup because I feel I might "miss it." I've learned that I rarely miss anything because once it's out of site, it's out of mind. If I really need it, I just re-purchase it. Simple as that.

xo, 

Mallory

March Birchbox

I really liked this month's box. Was not disappointed in one thing! Here's a glimpse at what was inside my "March Madness" Birchbox... 

Marcelle BB Cream

I've just added this to my "try it" list of BB creams, along with Dr. Jart, Boscia, and Revlon (which I've already tried and will post about soon). I'll let you know how this one turns out! 

LA Fresh Nail Polish Remover Pads

Going to be traveling these next two weekends so these will go straight into my luggage. Now I don't have to worry about packing my usual polish remover. I've only ever heard good things about these so I'm excited to give these a try. 

Vasanti Brighten Up Face Rejuvenator

Never heard of this brand, but it contains Papaya and Aloe with micro-crystals, and I like all of those things. Sounds like a great exfoliator. So we'll give it a shot and see how I like it. 

Whish Shave Cream

Never heard of this brand either, and was a little hesitant, but I did try it and this made my legs SO smooth. 

Nail File (by Madewell)

I only own one nail file, and it's seen better days. So I think this came at a perfect time. Plus, it was created by Madewell, so that's nice. 

If you're interested in trying Birchbox for yourself, click here!

What did you get this month? 

xo, Mal

Revlon ColorStay Foundations

Allow me to get on my Revlon ColorStay Foundation soap box. 

One of my favorite "long lasting" makeup lines from the drugstore is Revlon Colorstay. I haven't tried a product from them that I haven't liked. There are similar lines by other brands such as Covergirl Outlast and Maybelline SuperStay, but I think Revlon does it best. I will share my thoughts on more products from the line, but I want to start with foundations. 

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Foundation

What I love about the liquid ColorStay foundation: the color and skin type selections. There's a wide range of colors to choose from based on your skin type. You can choose from Normal/Dry and Combo/Oily; then choose warm or cool tone; then your exact color from there. You're bound to find one that matches. It is a little bit of a thicker consistency, which what I think helps it to cover everything and last all day. 

This foundation will last you all day, and longer. I like applying with my Sigma Sigmax foundation brush and setting with MAC Mineralized Skin Finish. 

My only downfall about this foundation is that it does dry fast when applying. My suggestion is to work in sections. I start with cheeks, then forehead, then nose/chin and blend it all together. You kind of have to work fast. If you do this, you can avoid any streaks. 

I've used the liquid foundation every day for over two years... until.... 

Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme Foundation

It was going to take a lot for something to de-throne my Revlon liquid foundation, and of course, it had to be another from the line to do it. Revlon released this over the summer. I was very skeptical about this "whipped" thing at first. I've tried mousse-like foundations before, and found them to be very flaky and not give enough coverage. I was also worried it would leave me "shiny." I was wrong, wrong, wrong. 

This foundation does exactly what I need to do. It is lightweight, gives excellent coverage, long-lasting, and does not leave me shiny. I use my Sigma Sigmax foundation brush to apply it and set it lightly with MAC Mineralized Skin Finish. Like I've said before, I have oily skin and this really does keep me shine-free for 8+ hours. In the photo above you can see it leaves a pretty natural finish. 

Now that I've raved about how well it works. I do have a big problem with the packaging. It looks nice, but that's about where it stops for me. This is in a glass jar, which makes it very heavy. Not at all convenient for traveling. And, the fact that you have to use your fingers to get the product out makes the germaphobe in me freak out just a little. However, the way around this is to use a tiny plastic spatula stick or sanitize your hands thoroughly before dipping in (as you should before any makeup application.) 

Can't you just put your foundation in a pump, Revlon... pretty please? 

Also, there is not a wide range of colors like the liquid. I think there is 12 total. You kind of just have to take a stab at it in the store. I have Natural Beige and Medium Beige and they both match well. I bought the Medium for the summer time, when I was a little darker. Natural is just a shade lighter and matches my skin now for the fall/winter seasons. 

So, that's my only beef with the whipped foundation. I just love how well it works for my skin, which is how I get past my issues with the packaging. I've been reaching for the whipped foundation every single day. 

Revlon ColorStay Liquid retails for $11.99.

Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme Foundation retails for $13.99. 

Have you tried either of these foundations? 

What are your "holy grail" foundations? 

july favorites

Face:

MAC Mineralized Skin Finish (MSF) in Medium Dark

This has completely replaced my Laura Mercier translucent powder for setting my foundation every day. This provides a slight hint of color, which help match my face to the rest of my body since I'm a little more tan now. My favorite brush to use is the Crown Brush C405, perfect for applying this MAC MSF.

ELF Contouring Blush and Bronzing Duo

This is one of my favorite ELF products, but I forget how much I like it until I start using it again. I like this bronzer for the summer because it’s one of my darker ones, that I can only get away with when I have a tan. This duo is a close dupe for the NARS “laguna/orgasm” blush and bronzer duo, except this only retails for $3 at Target.

NARS Orgasm Blush

Speaking of NARS, I only have one their blushes, and it’s their best-seller, Orgasm. One of my favorite summer-time blushes. It looks pretty intense in the pan, but it goes on as a subtle coral-pink with a hint of golden shimmer. I’ve been reaching for it everyday these past few weeks.

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer Highlight

I definitely don’t use highlighter on my cheekbones everyday, but when I do it’s always this one by The Balm. I got mine for half off on a Hautelook sale. Many times I’m turned off by highlighters because they are too white, or just way too “sparkly.” This one has a natural finish with some shimmer. My favorite brush for applying is the ELF fan brush.

Eyes:

Tease from the Naked 2 Palette

It isn’t often that I prefer a matte eye shadow over one with shimmer. This one, “tease”, is in the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. I probably wear this on my crease 6 days out of 7. You can apply it lightly for an everyday look, or build up the color for a more dramatic smokey eye. My favorite shadow out of both of the Naked Palettes. I like applying it with the Sigma E25 Blending brush.

Maybelline MasterDrama Eyeliner

I’m usually biased to the Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner pencil, but decided to give this Maybelline eyeliner in Midnight Master a chance after hearing good reviews. It’s a very opaque midnight black, long-lasting, doesn't need sharpening, and is inexpensive.

Lips:

Tarte Maracuja Oil Lip gloss in Peaceful

I received this gloss in a Tarte set. I put it to the side for a couple of months because I couldn’t figure out, for the life of me, how to get the product to actually come out. After seeing it in a magazine as a favorite, I busted it out and didn’t stop clicking the tube until I  finally saw some product come through the brush. I’m still not sure why it’s so difficult, (I’m sure it’s user error!) but it’s been one of my favorite lip glosses this month nonetheless. It’s not sticky, and is a perfect sheer pink for summer.

Skin:

Clarisonic Mia

I finally got a Clarisonic! (Thanks mom!) And like the rest of the world, I love it! After getting off of Accutane in 2009, my skin has been near-perfect (minus the scars). But recently I’ve noticed more frequent breakouts around my chin. It’s not enough of a problem to go back on Accutane, and quite honestly I would dread doing that. And since topical gels never did anything for me, I’m hoping the Clarisonic can help prevent any breakouts in my problem areas. We’ll see, but so far so good. My favorite gentle face wash to use with it is the Neutrogena Naturals face wash.

What have you been loving in July? 

beauty battle: waterproof mascara

Greetings from Florida! I hope everyone's having a great week. I'm not going to lie, I don't want the week to end yet. I've been in Navarre, Florida and we're headed to Destin tomorrow for the rest of the week. My boyfriend and I have our families here so we're spending time with both throughout the week. It's been a great few days, and I just hope the weather stays nice. 

While I'm here, I haven't put on any makeup. Which is just fine with me. My routine consists of washing my face, loading up on sunscreen, and applying some waterproof mascara. I brought two drugstore mascaras with me. I had them in my collection and thought this was the best time to test which is the best. 

The two I'm testing this week: 

1. L'oreal Voluminous Waterproof in black 

2. Covergirl Professional All-in-one Waterproof in very black

It's no secret that L'oreal Voluminous in carbon black is my holy grail mascara for everyday. It's a drugstore mascara that outperforms even most high end mascaras. For around $6.00, you really can't beat it. So, I decided to try out the waterproof version of this to see if it compares to the carbon black. 

I also like the Covergirl mascara. I find it to be a very underrated, but it has always worked for me. 

I simply just wanted to try this one out again. 

The bristles on the brushes are very different. The L'oreal brush (above) is denser and larger than the Covergirl brush (below). 

To test these two, I've been wearing the L'oreal on one eye and the Covergirl on another for the past few days. I've been in the pool, the sun, and the big salty gulf of mexico. 

When first applied, the Covergirl provided more length and volume than the L'oreal. I like the L'oreal too, but it didn't look as "volumized" as I had expected. 

As far as staying power, the Covergirl didn't smudge nearly as much as the L'oreal. The L'oreal gave me a little bit of a raccoon eye by the end of the day. Although both did perform well for most of the day. 

I really expected the L'oreal to work the best. But, in the end, I would have to pick the Covergirl Professional. I haven't tried any high end waterproof mascaras. So if anyone has had any luck with any others, definitely let me know. I 'll continue to use the Covergirl, but always on the hunt for something better! 

xoxo,

review: smashbox camera ready bb cream

What is BB cream? The “BB” stands for beauty balm or blemish balm. And if skincare and makeup had a baby, it would be BB cream. This do-it-all cream combines functions of a primer, anti-aging serum, moisturizer, light coverage, tinted color, and contains SPF.

BB cream was originally created in the 1950’s by a German dermatologist to help post-chemical peel patients cover their redness. These creams are very popular in the Asian beauty supply market, and are quickly spreading into the US. Once one company came out with one, the rest quickly followed. Drugstore brands such as Garnier, Maybelline, L’oreal and Covergirl all make a form of BB cream. High-end brand BB creams include Dr. Jart, Stila, Dior and Smashbox.

I’m going on vacation next week and have been on the hunt for the perfect BB cream to replace my foundation for days when I’ll just be laying out on the beach. I once tried the Garnier BB cream, but found it to be way too greasy on my face and didn’t seem to do much else to outweigh that disadvantage. I have oily skin, so an added greasy finish is a no-go.

What I’m specifically looking for in a BB cream is light coverage, oil control (non-greasy), and SPF. I decided to spend more and hopefully get better results, so I picked up the Smashbox Camera Ready BB cream in the shade light/medium with SPF 35. After reading reviews on Sephora, I found that this one claims to do all of the things on my list.

The packaging is nice and sleek. It’s a small squeeze tube, which makes it easy to throw in a bag and apply anywhere. 

The product itself feels just like sunscreen. I apply it in small sections on my face at a time so I can focus on blending before it dries. The results have been 10x better than I expected. I’ve worn this a couple times while laying out at the pool, and it truly does control oil in my t-zone, gives light coverage and also a little bit of a bronzing effect. 

This blended so well into my skin, and the color matches pretty perfectly. 

You might be thinking, “what’s the difference between this and a tinted moisturizer?” Well, to me this one offers more coverage, color, oil control, and contains higher SPF.

I recommend this to anyone with oily skin and/or just wants to replace their foundation on the hot summer days for lighter coverage. If you have dry skin, I would definitely make sure you still apply a moisturizer before, just to be sure this doesn't leave your skin looking too flat or dry. 

Let me know if you try or have tried this product. Have you tried any other brands of BB cream? I’m looking forward to getting my money’s worth out of this next week! 

favorite summer nail polish

Before I get into this particular post, let me just tell you a major side effect of reading fashion and beauty blogs. I think every blogger (or blog reader) has that one item that they never seemed to “need” for the first 20 years of their life… but, now all a sudden, they find themselves obsessing over. For me, it’s definitely nail polish. Something about those bright shades of colors all in a row on display staring me down when I walk in a store. It just sucks me in. Anyways. Now for my favorite colors for the summertime! For me it’s all about the pastels (shocker!) and neons. I’ve somehow narrowed it down to nine colors, so here they are: 

1. Gargantuan Green Grape by OPI: I wanted to start with this polish because it is my absolute favorite right now. This is a bright mint green color. It’s the perfect mint without being too much on the nails. You really only need one coat for complete opacity. Love love love. Did I mention this is my favorite? 

2. Shocking Pink by China Glaze: If you want that perfect neon pink for summer, this is it. It looks so good on tan skin. The name hits the nail on the head. It’s definitely BRIGHT, so I have only worn this on my toes. Great consistency and opaque in one coat. I highly recommend this one!

3. Coastal Surf by Revlon: I’m not big on blue nail polish. I bought this one on a whim at Target when I had a coupon and didn’t really see any other colors I wanted. So I guess I decided to buy blue (even though I’m not a fan of blue polish)..? See what I mean by buying things you never “needed” before? Anyway, I love this one. It’s a nice summertime blue color without looking tacky.

4. Play Date by Essie: It’s hard to describe the exact color of this polish. To me, it’s a bright-kind-of-pastel purple. I really love this one because it’s super opaque in just one coat.

5. Fear or Desire by Essie: Pantone says that Tangerine Tango is the 2012 Color of the Year. I don’t think I own any true orange colors other than this one. This is a GREAT tangerine tango color. Looks great on the toes and is very opaque in one coat.

6. Cute as a Button by Essie: I admit that sometimes I buy polishes because they have cute names. Luckily, this is a cute name AND an awesome "coral pink" polish. It’s opaque and looks so pretty on the nails.

7. Van D’ Go by Essie: There’s something about the pale peachy-pink colors that get me. I have way too many. But this is my favorite! … for now J

8. A Cut Above by Essie: I honestly do not like glitter nail polishes. They can look nice, but I find them very difficult to remove. This one is an exception. I LOVE this glitter polish. It’s great for layering over a pale pink or gold color. I usually wear this on just one nail as an “accent.” Saves the headache of removing the glitter and it looks really nice as just an accent!

9. Alpine Snow by OPI: Every girl needs a good red and pink polish in their collection. But, what about a white? I don’t really wear just white polish, even though it's a trend right now. But it’s a good idea to keep a white in your collection. Use white as a base coat, then layer one of those sheer polishes you have (but hardly wear because you thought it was too sheer). The white polish will help any polish appear true to color. 

What polishes do you wear most in the summer? Let me know!