So those of you who don't already know...I am/was a freelance makeup artist. I worked much more before I had babies. I specialized in editorial vivid makeup but I have always done makeup for dances and weddings. People always approach me asking what makeup is right for them and how to do your makeup. I thought that I might do a little mini series on makeup for mommies. What to splurge, what to save, great products that I recommend and common makeup techniques for a flawless day and fun looks for special occasions or heck- Tuesday!
Let me preface all of this with the most common thing that I hear- "I could NEVER wear color. I could NEVER pull of that look. I am just not that brave." BE FEARLESS! Makeup is meant to be fun- don't take it too seriously! Experiment! Heck, go to Walmart in a new look if you need to dawn a new look around people and your insecure. You know that at Walmart, no matter how crazy you feel like you look- you are FAR from the craziest thing there! Take pictures, go on youtube, look through magazines and find looks that peak you interest and experiment until you are happy. I think of makeup like playing dress up for adults. It can reflect a mood, lift your mood, transform you into something different, express your personality or just make for some fun time that you take for yourself.
Today I am going to START. This is going to be a multi post series. Please, post questions, give opinions, suggest products! This is going to be fun....
First off- I dont believe that it should cost a ton of cash to look stunning. There are A LOT of things that you can get for pure fabulosity for a ridiculously cheap price. There can be a lot of trial and error finding products that work for you but the good news is that there are a lot of online forums that you can turn to for great information. Dont buy into the attitude that a more expensive product is superior. In my days I have had the opportunity to try some really expensive brands some are AMAZING and some fall flat.
If you want to visit stores like Sephora or Nordstrom for a makeup purchase, my advise is ALWAYS plan on making two trips. Take the first trip to try the product out or to get a sample that you can use a couple of times. Wait a couple of days and then if the product still stands out and something that you want to invest in it- then go for it. This will also help in ensuring your skin doesn't react poorly. I cant tell you how many times I have gone and tried a ton out, bought a ton and got home and either wasn't impressed with it or was so excited and overwhelmed that I bought things that really don't fit into my makeup repretoir. (really- I dont know why on earth I bought neon orange lipstick) Makeup is something that you invest in and you have for quite some time before its gone. Make sure you are mindful of your purchases.
The biggest splurge that I suggest spending is on foundation. I know, I know- I have a lot of people who say that they dont care to wear foundation. I suggest foundation for a lot of reasons. Primarily, I suggest foundation because it doesnt matter how amazing your eyeshadow is, if your skin is a hot mess- it wont shine through. Second of all- it protects your skin from the elements. A lot of people find that statement to be backwards but as long as you are removing your makeup every night, you are trapping all the crud on your foundation and washing it down the sink at night. Third- I find that when women wear foundation, it forces them in a great skincare routine. It also doesnt hurt that most foundations have sunscreen in them so you are getting a 2-fer. And my favorite reason- it just makes an all around great base for your makeup to go on flawlessly and you look amazing.
I always say splurge on an amazing medium coverage foundation. That way, if you want lighter coverage in the summer you can mix it with moisturizer and if you want layered coverage you can build it up without a heavy or cakey feeling. I also suggest enrolling reinforcements for selecting your new kick butt foundation. Go to your place of choice, remove your makeup along your jawline and have a sales man or woman test it out on your face. The back of your hand is NOT the same color or texture of your facial skin and that can make quite a big difference. Knowing whether you are a yellow or pink undertone is really helpful too. Mineral, liquid, cream- that all comes down to personal preference. (I have all of them and powder too because they serve different purposes.) My fave, fave, faves are (in no particular order) Bare Minerals, DermaBlend, Make Up For Ever HD and Mac Studio Tech and Studio Fix. they are all in the range of $25-$40 but when you consider how long they last and the versatility....they are worth their weight in gold! (ooohhh, I love gold)
Saturday, March 24, 2012
INFLUENSTER arrival!
OK, So I was chosen the week of Valentine's Day to receive a "Love Vox Box" full of goodies from Influenster.com. I finally received my box last night!!! I cant wait to dive in and try all this fun stuff. I just wanted to share what I got...I got:
Venus and Olay Razor- SO excited to try this one out! I love me a good razor. I normally use the Schick Quattro but I am excited to try something new!
Ghirardelli Creamy Devotion Bar! Who doesn't LOVE chocolate?! And Ghirardelli to boot?! Its a milk chocolate which tends to be a better crowd pleaser- I tend to be a dark or bittersweet chocolate fan- so we shall see.
Stash Herbal Tea- Caffeine Free Sampler. It is complete with 9 flavors: Acai berry, Blueberry uperfruit, Chamomile, Cinnamon apple chamomile, Lemon ginger, Licorice Spice, Mango passionfruit, Peppermint, and Wild raspberry hibiscus. I will have to have the kids help me out with this one. I am super excited to try the Licorice Spice! I LOVE Aveda tea which is sweet basil licorice- SOOO yummo!
To mix in the tea, a 7 packet Truvia sampler. Since having stomach surgery, I do MUCH better with artificial sweetener than sugar. I have my packet of preference...so we will see how a "natural" artificial sweetener stacks up!
Last but no least, Kiss Nail Dress. I have been interested in trying these but have been a bit hesitant to purchase them. I have an infant, and am HARD on my manicures- so I tend to do a UV soak off manicure. They have such cute options with these Nail Dresses! Lace, jeweled, zebra, cheetah or leopard ( the one I received ) I think the way I will try these is to cut them and use them as a french tip or do only a couple of accent nails. They are WAY cute though. I must take pictures once I figure out how to do these.
OK- So I mentioned on my previous post about HauteFox.com- a plus size edgy outlet store of sorts. Well- I got my shipment. I ordered a black V-Neck with a full black lace back and black lace pocket, and an ivory cowl neck t-shirt with a foiled graphic print on the back and a lace insert in the back. I LOVE (ED) them online! I really, really liked them. I only paid $10 for each so I wasn't expecting the most awesome quality. They are THIN- I mean cheesecloth thin. I always wear a tank under my shirts anyway but this is ridiculously thin. The other issue is that they run SMALL. I am a size 14 on top which translates to a 1X most places. I ordered a 2X just to be careful and I am SQUEEEEZING myself into these. I mean- REALLY tight. Not just form fitting, but TIGHT. I'm not sure really what to do with them. It will cost me to send them back- but I don't feel quite confident enough to rock these on their own. Maybe UNDER something?! Any ideas?! Blurg...I hate being disappointed with online ordering. Lesson learned. Maybe next time I should do a bit more research.
So THAT'S IT! Fun- huh?! I am SOOO excited! I still am working on my eye post...its a complicated and lengthy one....hope you all understand! Hope your week is awesome and rainbows and unicorns!!
Kiss My Nails Please- Kiss Nail Dress
So in my Vox Box of goodies I also got the Kiss Nail Dresses. I was SUPER hesitant about these because I am SUPER hard on my nails. I wash dishes, change diapers, cook, clean bathrooms and wash my hands about 40 times per day- no exaggeration. So when nail stickers were sent my way I thought that these were for the birds...or young kids. The thing that kept me interested were all of the cute design options. There are SO many to chose from. I was sent the leopard print ones. Honestly, they are probably the least favorite out of the bunch for me- but I'm a 31 year old fuddy duddy. The stickers come sealed in a plastic film with a nail file. When you open the film there is a very strong epoxy scent that initially worried me. How strong ARE these things? Are they ever coming off? Once the package was opened for 30 seconds, there was no more smell- so that was nice. There are 28 different sticker. 2 stickers in 14 different sizes. I had a little trouble with that because I have pretty tiny nail beds- so I utilized the smallest the fastest. I also have pretty curved nails. They not only are deep set on the sides but they have a natural curve to them as well. Putting a flat sticker over the curved surface caused some wrinkling but I was able to press most of them pretty well so they weren't too obvious. These are really easy to put on. It took me all of 5-10 minutes. The only thing I didn't love about putting them on is that it takes an emery board to file the ends off. When you do that- it doesn't leave the sticker all the way to the end but ends a millimeter or 2 from the end. With the leopard print it's not too obvious though- so I cant complain TOO much.
I decided to really put them to the test. I put them on Friday night. I knew I had a busy weekend ahead of me so I thought that I would "put them to the test". I put whole stickers on all my fingers but my ring fingers. I cut those into french tips. I wanted to see how they performed with different applications. The fingers with the french tip I put a UV gel top coat over to seal it in. On my index fingers I put a regular top coat and my thumbs I put a UV gel top coat over the entire sticker. I wanted to see if anything like this helped them stick longer, kept them shinier or changed the color of the sticker.
So its been almost a week- 6 days- and I am SHOCKED to tell you that I kind of love these. I purposely tried taking one off to see how hard it was to remove it and it was a breeze! It left a tacky surface that I just rubbed with some alcohol and my nail was back to new! No acetone, no filing- it was AWESOME. My nails still look pretty much the same- which is a good thing!
The results of the top- coat challenge....Do NOT put a traditional top coat over these. It didn't go on that smoothly because its a plastic top- and it didn't dry well. The french tip that I did a UV gel over the top still look amazing. None of them have lifted and it still looks shiny- but that's UV gel for you. My thumbs that got a full coat of UV top coat still look awesome and perfect- but I seriously could have gone without the top coat. The only use I would do a top coat is if you are cutting them or using them just as french tips- to really seal them in.
Would I actually go out and purchase them? Yeah actually I would. I wouldn't wear them as my normal day in and day out polish alternative but they are a really fun once and while option! If you cut them down to tips you can get a TON of uses out of them too which is nice. They retail in the $6 range and you an find them anywhere.
SIGMA SIGMA SIGMA!!!
As a side note- get ready to get bombarded with a blog a rific day!! My Mom, Lynn and Dad, Raymond will be in town TOMORROW!!!! They will be here for the next week and consequently- I will be MIA from my blog a roo. Fun stories and many pictures to come- I promise!
My Big Fat Greek Hair
A girl and her hair...ahhh- the love hate we all have with our hair. Its too curly, its too straight, its thinning, its changing colors, its not the color we wish we had....Sound familiar? I have fought my hair for YEARS. I have intentionally kept it jaw length or higher because my hair gets curlier the longer it gets- making it unpleasant to blow out and straighten on a daily basis. I also have very dry hair and scalp so washing daily just isnt an option. I have tried brazilian blow outs, home treatments, permanent straighteners, serums, pomades, flat irons- all in the quest for that sleek straight style.
So almost two years ago I made the decision that it was time. Time for a change and for something a little more mommy and budget friendly. I decided to grow out my hair. (gasp) I had waist length super crazy hair as a kid that was the envy of all my friends. I on the other hand could NOT for the life of me figure out how to make my hair work for me. Its soooo thick that when that long, it would take a full 18 hours to dry out naturally or over 30 minutes to blow out which begat straightening or curling with a curling iron. I was fighting flakes, my ends split- I was a hot mess. SO the decision to grow out my locks also started the research process to finding out how to handle my type of hair long without making me check into the loony bin.
I would google- how to grow out wavy hair. How to handle dry scalp. How to, how to, how to....for hours, days, weeks and months. I made the decision that if I was going to grow this bad boy out- I was going to have to accept my hair for what it is- Super thick, super black, super wavy hair- and stop trying to fight against it. I have NEVER been comfortable wearing my hair naturally. I thought I looked a hot mess- because I did! SO....I stumbled onto a method used primarily for my sisters of color who are making the transition from relaxed locks to natural flowing hair. It was called the Curly Girl Method. It is based on a book by the same name basically detailing everything NOT to do with natural hair. Guess what- I was doing it ALL. I was using regular shampoo, silicone based conditioners, slathering more silicone and artificial moisture on, blow drying to death and flattening it all out....or at least trying to.
So just out of pure curiosity and well.....desperation- I decided to give it a go. I stopped shampooing, removed all "cones" from my hair and learned how to handle- or NOT handle my hair. The result three months later? I LOVE my hair. No, really- I LOVE my hair. My scalp is awesome, my ends feel good, it only takes me 5ish minutes to do my hair right out of the shower and it LOOKS good! Its so funny to hear people that I haven't seen in a long time question how I got my hair to curl and then are shocked when I tell them its my natural hair. Yes, it's bohemian looking- but everyone wants to have beachy waves anyway- and I have them!
It took me and my hair about 3 total weeks to be on a new hair care routine but even after week one of no shampoo- I knew I was onto something! I have started doing the same thing to Sophie's hair and you can tell the difference- even in straight hair. She doesn't get the night time nappy frizz, her hair detangles on its own and it is SHINY. I still have between 8 and 10 inches left that I would like to grow out- so its going to take me some time- but Im not worried! Im just going to do what I am doing and throwing out all shampoo for me! I will have to post pictures along my quest to long hair. I dont have a recent picture of my hair and Im in pj's and napped in make up- so Im not in the modeling mood right now. Maybe tomorrow....or Tuesday. Eh, we shall see.
Just a little addition- I was thinking about this post last night as I put my kids to bed. Accepting things as they are and not fighting it for something I think is better has brought love and happiness into my life on so many other ways other than just hair. I have found a genuine happy place in my life and within my own soul that I have never had before. Wishing that things were different or that people were different or thinking that I am right in all circumstances did nothing for me but bring disappointment to my life. Changing your expectations of people, circumstances and things is the secret to happiness- according to the book of Kristen.
So almost two years ago I made the decision that it was time. Time for a change and for something a little more mommy and budget friendly. I decided to grow out my hair. (gasp) I had waist length super crazy hair as a kid that was the envy of all my friends. I on the other hand could NOT for the life of me figure out how to make my hair work for me. Its soooo thick that when that long, it would take a full 18 hours to dry out naturally or over 30 minutes to blow out which begat straightening or curling with a curling iron. I was fighting flakes, my ends split- I was a hot mess. SO the decision to grow out my locks also started the research process to finding out how to handle my type of hair long without making me check into the loony bin.
I would google- how to grow out wavy hair. How to handle dry scalp. How to, how to, how to....for hours, days, weeks and months. I made the decision that if I was going to grow this bad boy out- I was going to have to accept my hair for what it is- Super thick, super black, super wavy hair- and stop trying to fight against it. I have NEVER been comfortable wearing my hair naturally. I thought I looked a hot mess- because I did! SO....I stumbled onto a method used primarily for my sisters of color who are making the transition from relaxed locks to natural flowing hair. It was called the Curly Girl Method. It is based on a book by the same name basically detailing everything NOT to do with natural hair. Guess what- I was doing it ALL. I was using regular shampoo, silicone based conditioners, slathering more silicone and artificial moisture on, blow drying to death and flattening it all out....or at least trying to.
So just out of pure curiosity and well.....desperation- I decided to give it a go. I stopped shampooing, removed all "cones" from my hair and learned how to handle- or NOT handle my hair. The result three months later? I LOVE my hair. No, really- I LOVE my hair. My scalp is awesome, my ends feel good, it only takes me 5ish minutes to do my hair right out of the shower and it LOOKS good! Its so funny to hear people that I haven't seen in a long time question how I got my hair to curl and then are shocked when I tell them its my natural hair. Yes, it's bohemian looking- but everyone wants to have beachy waves anyway- and I have them!
It took me and my hair about 3 total weeks to be on a new hair care routine but even after week one of no shampoo- I knew I was onto something! I have started doing the same thing to Sophie's hair and you can tell the difference- even in straight hair. She doesn't get the night time nappy frizz, her hair detangles on its own and it is SHINY. I still have between 8 and 10 inches left that I would like to grow out- so its going to take me some time- but Im not worried! Im just going to do what I am doing and throwing out all shampoo for me! I will have to post pictures along my quest to long hair. I dont have a recent picture of my hair and Im in pj's and napped in make up- so Im not in the modeling mood right now. Maybe tomorrow....or Tuesday. Eh, we shall see.
Just a little addition- I was thinking about this post last night as I put my kids to bed. Accepting things as they are and not fighting it for something I think is better has brought love and happiness into my life on so many other ways other than just hair. I have found a genuine happy place in my life and within my own soul that I have never had before. Wishing that things were different or that people were different or thinking that I am right in all circumstances did nothing for me but bring disappointment to my life. Changing your expectations of people, circumstances and things is the secret to happiness- according to the book of Kristen.
Truvía® natural sweetener Product Review
OK guys, so remember my Vox Box that I cant stop talking about? Well- I received some Truvia in my package. I am hooked on artificial sweetener since my stomach surgery- I don't do well with real sugar. I have been interested in trying Truvia but hesitant since I like my little packet that I have used for 5+ years now. I didn't want to buy it and then get stuck with a box that I may or may not use. Well- I received a little seven pack which is perfect. I could try it without the commitment. I tried it in coffee, herbal tea, fruit and greek yogurt with cinnamon. I really, really liked it with the tea and the fruit. The yogurt and the coffee not so much. It had a strange dirt like after taste. I cant really explain it...but I would FOR SURE pick some up for my herbal tea. The kids really liked it too- so that's always a bonus. Have you tried it? What do you think about it?
A fresh new start!!
SOOO excited for this new endeavor. I have had one blog that I have recorded everything on from the stories of my children's birth to my new favorite lip glosses (kristenparsons.blogspot.com- Here goes something?!). I decided it was time for a change. Time to put all my personal stuff and family related stuff one place and all my beauty, product reviews, makeup tutorials, and all other girlie stuff over here! This is an exciting change for me! Thanks for all of your patience while I make a change, or two, or five!
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