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Yearly Archives: 2016
May Beauty Favorites
I’m excited to share a few of my current favorite beauty products with ya’ll because a few of them are part of a HUGE change in my everyday makeup routine. I’m slowly changing it up and plan on sharing once its fine tuned. I didn’t want to wait to share a little sneak peek with a few of the products I am loving that are part of my new routine.
I have been wearing Bare Minerals for years, but heat and humidity does not work so well with powders in the summer. I wanted to switch to something liquid, so after a recommendation from a friend I decided to try out the Maybelline Fit Me liquid foundation. I went for a less expensive drugstore brand in case I absolutely hated the liquid feel on my skin all day. I don’t want to feel my makeup on my skin all day, and I have tried others where it just felt caked on. This one is so lightweight and doesn’t leave me feeling shiny. I like it because I don’t feel like I have makeup on, but I’m still getting the great coverage and longevity from it. I have applied it with both a beauty blender and my foundation brush. I think both work fine, but I prefer the brush. I think it’s more out of habit than anything.
One thing I found with using liquid foundation is my face needed a little definition boost. I’m slowly learning about contouring and highlighting, but haven’t tried it out yet. I currently use this bronzer from PUR Cosmetics to help contour a little bit. I apply mainly around the frame of my face, cheekbones, and side of my nose like you would with a contour, but I also apply a light dusting all over too. It gives a really great sun-kissed look. You can’t really tell in the pictures, but half of the shades have a little shimmer.
Another way I am achieving that sun-kissed look is with a little self tanner. I have done professional spray tans and love the look, but not the price tag. It’s something you really need to do every week or two to maintain. I bought this mousse because I read it was comparable to a pricier brand for about half the price. I bought the medium shade which is perfect for my haven’t seen sun in a few month skin tone right now. I also like that it’s not super dark so I have a little wiggle room to practice and make a few mistakes. I use these gloves to apply the mousse. They have baby ones for your face too. I stand on a bathroom towel while I apply to prevent any staining on my floor. A few other tips, exfoliate before you apply, go slow to be sure you get all the spots to prevent streaks or missed areas, and apply before bed. You have to leave the self tanner on for several hours while it does it’s magic. I like to apply and then go straight to bed. I wake up and rinse in the morning, and my tan is ready to go! I applied this self-tanner the night before I shot this post and this one, if you want to see my results. I think I may have sold a few of my friends on this product a few week ago. I love that it looks natural, and I think it fades very naturally and not splotchy. I do notice a small tanning smell. If you have ever used a self tanner you know what I mean, but this one is actually pretty light compared to other products I have tried.
One other change to my routine is that I have been working on perfecting my blowout. My hairdresser inspired me to try blow drying my hair straight vs straightening with my highest heat setting of my straightener. Apparently this is why my curls fall so quickly, so I bought me a fancy brush and have been practicing. I have naturally curly hair, so I went with this brush which is suppose to be better for my hair type. I still need lots of practice! 😉
One last fun beauty thing, I always see people with all their brushes in pretty little glasses, so I dug in my fancy serve-ware closet and found this goblet glass. It has made such a difference to have all my brushes in one place. I used to have them just tossed in my makeup drawer and was always searching for the one I needed. My new makeup routine means I’m using more brushes, so I’m liking this little organizational tool.
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I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!! Our forecast looks pretty nice, so I’m thinking I might get a little pool time in. Thanks for stopping by!
3 Tips to Restyle a Dress
| DETAILS |
TRINA TURK Elin Dress | BP Denim Vest (similar) | SAM EDELMAN Dawson Sandals | VERA BRADLEY c/o Quilted Tess Bag | KENDRA SCOTT c/o Rae Necklace, Skylar Earrings, Andy Bracelet, Grady Bracelet (similar) | BAUBLEBAR Ladder Cuff | GORJANA Mika Necklace | PRADA (c/o Ditto) Sunglasses **Try One Month FREE with code LADYINVIOLET | Lips: MAC Craving
We have all done it, splurged on the pretty dress thinking I’m sure I will wear this all the time. It’s a gorgeous dress, but then you realize it’s one of those memorable dresses that you can’t wear to every event all summer long. I splurged on this dress last summer, and found it on sale but still a bit of a splurge for this summer. I always love trying to come up with new ways to restyle a dress, so I can wear it not only multiple times but to different kinds of events. A little over a week ago, I wore this dress with my heels to Afternoon Tea for a birthday celebration of several of my friends. It’s such a statement dress that it really doesn’t need much else.
BUT, I wanted to come up with a cute casual look for this dress. Something I could wear to a backyard party or family function. My denim vest is my summer go to piece to easily change the look of a dress and create a more casual vibe. Not going to lie, it’s also something I add on when I am so not in strapless bra mood. Another easy way to change the look of a dress is with your shoes. I could have opted for wedges if I wanted to go dressy casual, but to take the look even more laid back, I opted for my flat sandals. I like the nude shoe, so it still lets the colors of the dress be the focal point. My last restyling tip is all about the accessories. I typically go really simple with this dress when I wear it all dressed up. For a fun casual look, I added a long pendant necklace and some colorful bracelets that complimented the colors of the dress. When I added all these pieces, this look had a lot going on, so I went with a simple white bag. I think the white really helps to brighten the colors of the dress. There you go, 3 easy tips to restyling a dress from fancy to casual. If you want to see the previous way I styled this dress last summer, check out my post HERE.
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A Little Bit Gray
| DETAILS |
VERO MODA Gray Blouse (similar | similar) | AG JEANS Stilt Skinny Jeans (similar & on sale!) | STEVE MADDEN Stecy Sandals | HENRI BENDEL c/o Mini Jetsetter Bag | JENNY BIRD Flagstaff Earrings (same but different stone) | KENDRA SCOTT Elisa Necklace, Arden Cuff | STELLA & DOT Renegade Bracelet | RAYBAN Mirrored Aviators | Nails: ESSIE Blanc | Lips: BOBBI BROWN Neon Pink
I took these photos a few weeks ago when I bought this top, but I couldn’t find it available online. I held off on posting hoping I could find it, but no luck so I found some similar styles of this top instead. I picked this top up at the Bevello boutique. I actually walked by it slowly several times before deciding to try it on. I much prefer longer tops, and this one was more like a long crop top. I loved the gorgeous details on it though, so I finally gave in and decided to try it on. It ended up being a little longer than I thought, and the details were just so gorgeous so I bought it. I think it will also be really cute with shorts and white denim. The gray color was also a selling point. It is a color that will work well in the fall when I can pair this top with flared jeans or black skinny jeans and booties.
Gorgeous detailing is everywhere right now! If you are looking to add a few new beautiful pieces to your wardrobe, here are a few things I look for in a detailed top. One, will I need to wear something underneath? The one I am wearing is completely open, so I will have to wear a camisole or bandeau underneath it. Two, will it be easy to wash or a dry clean only item? I hate going to the dry cleaners, so I try to go for mostly machine wash clothes. I put my delicate machine wash clothes in bags like these to prevent any snags in the washing machine from other clothes.
I hope you all have a great week ahead! Thanks for taking some time to stop by! 🙂
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Spring Shoe Review
At the beginning of Spring, I added quite a few shoes to my closet. Now that I have had time to break them in, I wanted to give you all a little review of what I loved and disliked about each pair. Overall I am really happy with all the purchases I made, some a little more than others. Read on for more of my great spring shoe review!!
I love these sandals! I love how they look, and that they work with dresses, shorts, and jeans. The back of these have a zipper which makes them easy to get on and off without needing to untie them each time. I wore these for three days of walking in Charleston with minimal issues. The back has the ever so slightest wedge raise which I love! A long day of walking in a super flat shoe leaves my arches aching, so I appreciate the small wedge. I wore these out a few times prior to my trip and had no issues with breaking them in. On the first day in Charleston after they were soaked in the rain, the right one started rubbing my heel a little. The left one never bothered me. I pulled the zipper down about halfway and put on a bandaid and was fine to continue walking in these. The only real annoyance I have with these it that sometimes the front ties get stuck in between your foot and the caged part. The ends have a teeny little metal end, and it kinda hurts a little. Every so often I have to stop to fix it. I would highly recommend these shoes, and would 100% buy them again!!
I searched forever for the perfect pair of lace-up flats. For me, these are them! They are super comfortable to walk in and needed no breaking in time. I love wearing these to run errands or to work. I do a basic tie around my ankle. With all lace-ups, I find it takes a time or two to learn how tight to tie them. If you tie them too tight, your ankle will hurt and you will leave a pretty little line around your ankle. I double knot mine in the back, and they don’t come untied too often, but every now and again they will. I would buy these again in a heartbeat!!
Of all the shoes I bought this Spring, these were the ones I was the most on the fence about. I love the look of them, but I didn’t know if they would be comfortable or not. After wearing several times, I find them to be comfortable. They needed no breaking in time. I have worn them to events with tons of standing and done a good amount of walking in these. I love that they work great with dresses and help dress up jeans or shorts. My only con to these so far is the initial finding that perfect strap spot. If these are too tight, they will be sooo uncomfortable and harder to walk up and down stairs. I would definitely buy these again, and I’m already considering purchasing in another color for summer!
I fell in love with these wedges at first sight. I was seriously on my lunch break with zero intention of buying these. I left empty-handed and came back after work because I had to have them!! I liked their price point and the simple look of the straps. I had been eyeing a similar much higher priced pair, so for me these were a bit of a dupe. I already own another pair of sandals from this brand, and they are so comfy. I can say these did not disappoint. I didn’t really need a breaking in period. These unzip from the back so they go on and off pretty easy. I wore these out in Charleston a couple nights, and had no problems walking for long periods of time. I prefer these mainly styled with jeans. I do wear them with dresses, but I think the top thin strap sometimes make me look a little shorter. I for sure would buy these again!
Oh the oh so popular fringe heels. I debated on these shoes for quite sometime before finally pulling the trigger and buying. I didn’t like the price tag because I think they are a bit trendy. I waited for them to go on sale, so it was a little bit better. I love the look of these and always receive tons of compliments!! I like that I bought them in yellow, because it makes them a little different than all the other fringe sandals out there. I can walk in heels for days, but I do find these sometimes a bit hard to walk in. The laces have to be tied just right or you will have zero support and your heel will move around too much. If you tie them too tight however they hurt your ankle, so you have to find that happy medium. I usually have to retie them a few times before I find that sweet spot. If you are wearing these with a dress, the laces don’t stay up very easily and usually end up bunched together after a few hours. I love the statement factor of these, but the comfort and ease of walking is a huge downside. I really don’t know if I would buy these again. I might try to find something with a bit more hold around the ankle. If I’m going somewhere with minimal walking, I will grab these because they are really cute. If I know I’m going to be walking more than to the car and back, I usually opt for another pair.
If you have been contemplating any of these shoes, I hope these reviews helped you out. I find shoes are that one item that in the store can fit amazingly and then after two hour of wearing them you can’t feel your feet. 🙂 And after you wear them you can’t return them either. I wanted to give ya’ll my honest opinion on these shoes now that I have really had a chance to break them in. If you have any other questions about these shoes, feel free to shoot me an email or drop me a comment below. Thanks for swinging by today, and I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!
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