Makeup Tips & Trends From the Spring 2014 Runways

These makeup tips and trends from the spring runways are brought to you by Walgreens and Collective Bias®.  #WalgreensBeauty #shop #cbias

Spring is in the air here in Southern California.  Would you believe that our weather has been a very warm upper 80's all week, with one day getting as high as 92 degrees?  With the weather getting warmer, it's time to update our looks and freshen up our makeup for spring!  Using the Spring 2014 New York Fashion Week runway photos and looks as my guide, I came up with a list of hot new makeup tips and trends to help you look your best in the new year.

While some of the runway looks are a bit more conceptual, there were a handful of trends that you can easily incorporate into your beauty routine to get a hot new fresh look!  A big thanks goes out to my lovely sister-in-law for modeling these new makeup looks for us. Isn't she gorgeous?!

Makeup Trend #1- Orange Lips

Wait, stay with me here!  Surprisingly enough, orange lips are very flattering on most skin tones.  You can choose a bright orange lip, or go with more of a red-orange look.  The whole idea is to have a neutral face and eye but add that pop of color on the lips.  We did a little bit of eyeliner and mascara, but kept it minimal to really let the lips steal the show!  The lips look very red in these photos, but they were a lot more orange in real life.

Before our makeup shoot I stocked up on new makeup from Walgreens.  They have a huge selection of brands and colors to choose from, and prices that won't break the bank!  I went with Revlon products, and bought some fun new shades that I was excited to try.

When using a bright lip color, be sure to line your lips first with lip liner so your lipstick doesn't bleed outside your lip lines, and to keep your lip line nice and crisp.

For this look we lined the lips with Revlon ColorStay Lip liner in Red, and then used Revlon Moon Drops Creme Lipstick in Hot Coral.

I LOVE this bright lip color, and it looked amazing on Holly and I both.  You can also dot a tiny bit of a lighter lip liner on your cheeks, and then rub it in for a light, natural-looking rosy cheek.

Makeup Trend #2- Black Liner

The retro black lined eyes were definitely HOT on the runways for spring, and can be done a few different ways.  Precise cat eyes are big this season, as well as smudgy black eyes that are lined on the top and inside the bottom lid.  You can go neat or a little smudgy and messy with this look, but either way will make your eyes stand out.  A neutral lip is best for this look.  You can stick with a nude lip, or add a little pink for color.

I used Revlon's ColorStay Liquid Liner in Black to create these cat eyes.  Be sure to start on the inside edge of the eye with a very thin line.  As you get closer to the outside of the eye, gradually make the line a little thicker, and slightly higher.  You can take the edge of the liner out as far as you want depending on the look that you are going for.  Mistakes are easy to fix with a Q-tip dipped in a little water or makeup remover.  You don't have to line underneath the eye, but you can for a more dramatic look.

We used Revlon's Luxurious Color Eyeliner in Black to create her bottom line.  This pencil was perfect, because it came with a little smudging tool on the end of the pencil to help soften the liner line to create more of a smudgey look.

Makeup Trend #3- Light Wash of Pastel Eye Color

This is probably the most "springy" of the three looks I'm sharing with you today, and is very simple to create.  A pretty wash of pastel eyeshadow on the lids was huge on the runways, and can be a great way to add a little spring to your makeup routine.  Light green and purple were frequently spotted, but light blue and pink are also great colors to use as well.

This technique couldn't be easier!  Just sweep the color along your eyelids with a brush.  You can add a little liner if you like, along with some mascara, but the idea is to keep the eye simple and light.  We used Revlon's cute little compact eyeshadow single in lime.  To keep the look soft and airy, I used Revlon's Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Snow Pink on her lips.

I hope these trends help you to freshen up your makeup look this new year, and make you feel great about yourself!  It's so fun to try out new looks and colors… which look are you the most excited to try?

If your powder makeup ever breaks, don't throw it away!  Did you know that you can easily fix it?

It's easy to make your own DIY glitter shoes from a worn out pair of heeels that are sure to make you sparkle!  Check out the tutorial here.

If you liked this project, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

xo, Laura

Picking a Perfume: 4 Tips for Finding Your Own Signature Scent

This post on picking a perfume and how to find your own signature scent is a sponsored post for Collective Bias®.

Isn't it amazing how a perfume scent can trigger strong memories, or remind you of someone years later? My grandma wore Shalimar perfume, and would let us put her shimmery powder on after swimming at her house. I loved my grandma so much, and although she has since passed away, when I smell Shalimar a flood of happy memories dance in my head, and I feel like I am back at grandma's house again.

I have always been a perfume girl, getting my first bottle of perfume in elementary school. I honestly don't leave the house without spraying perfume, or at the very least a body spray, on my skin. When I wear a perfume that I love, I find that it gives me confidence, and I have a happier, more positive outlook on my day.  

If you follow me on Instagram, you might already know that my tween daughter has been a bit obsessed with Justin Bieber. She has all his albums, and we drove up to L.A. for his concert recently, just her and I for a fun mom and daughter night out.  


Here's a little clip of the concert from my Instagram... just for fun!


When the Someday by Justin Bieber perfume came out, I remember going to the department store with her to try it out. I was VERY surprised at how much I loved the scent, and made a mental note to myself to buy it "someday" (pun intended!).  

Last week while shopping at Walmart I was surprised to find the same Justin Bieber fragrance selling at Walmart for a whole lot less than I saw it at the department store- AND it even came with a bonus lotion and had a $3 coupon attached to it... score! Now there was no excuse not to buy it! I bought it and have been wearing it since, and am thinking that I have definitely found a new signature scent.

So how does one go about finding their signature scent, the perfume that defines you, the scent that is "yours?" Here are some tips that I've learned along the way to help you find the perfect scent for you, your signature scent, that will make you feel great about yourself, and that will become a part of you!

1. What's your personality? Often people tend to choose perfumes based on their own personalities. Are you a romantic at heart? Then you might gravitate towards a floral scent. Do you love to have fun and feel girly? Then maybe a fruity fragrance is the right type of scent for you. Do you love being out in nature? Then a woody scent might be for you. Knowing your personality and the types of scents that you gravitate towards is the first step to finding your signature scent!  

I tend to gravitate towards fruity and floral scents, and Someday by Justin Bieber perfume has both fruity and floral scents, with a hint of vanilla and an ever so slight musk base note. In short, it smells amazing, and is light, feminine, fun, and girly! I love that it's light enough to wear throughout the day, but also lasts for quite a while, and is substantial at the same time... my new favorite!

2. Try, try, and try again. Choosing a perfume isn't about going to the store and picking the prettiest bottle, or buying a smell that your friend has because you like it. There's much more to it! To find the perfect signature scent you must test the perfume by spraying it directly onto your skin, and leaving it on all day. The scent will evolve throughout the day, smelling different when you first spray it than it will after an hour, and different than it will three hours later!  

Perfumes have three notes- the top (what you smell when you first spray the perfume, and is mostly alcohol), the middle (what you smell after the initial spray), and base notes (what you smell after a couple hours after you spray- the heavier scent that lasts). The middle and base notes of the same perfume will smell different on different people. Each scent works with your own unique body chemistry, and so it's important that you try lots of different scents to find the one (or ones) that work well with your chemistry!

3. Don't rush me. Choosing a signature scent should not be a rushed process! Take your time, try lots of different perfumes, but only one at a time. After you spray perfume on your skin, give it about 30 seconds before you smell it, since that first sniff will be mostly alcohol if you smell right away. See how it smells on you after you have been wearing it for a while. Ask family and friends what they think. If you get compliments on a certain scent that you like, then you are well on your way to discovering a new scent that might become your new favorite! I have received a few compliments from people on my new Someday by Justin Bieber perfume, which I love!


4. Switch it up! Once you have found your perfect signature scent, you can still mix it up and wear different scents for different occasions. If your favorite scent is light and fruity, then maybe you have another favorite scent that you wear at night, or during the fall and winter, that is a bit heavier. If you are headed out to a formal affair, then maybe your signature light and airy ocean scent needs to be retired for the night so that you can wear a more formal, complex scent. A day at the park or the beach definitely calls for a different scent than does a night out on the town. Being aware of the season, the event, and your even your mood can help you pick the right scent for the right time!

Hopefully this list will help you find YOUR signature scent! You really need to go check out the incredible quality and wonderful selection of celebrity perfumes available at Walmart for an incredible value! You can find department store perfume brands at Walmart Every Day Low Prices! Now you won't have to wait so long to buy your next bottle of perfume- you can buy it for less when you are doing your shopping at Walmart!

My daughter found my new bottle of Someday by Justin Bieber perfume up in my cabinet, and exclaimed with huge eyes, "Is this for ME?" I felt kind of bad when I told her it was actually for me, but now that I know I can buy it for so much less at Walmart, I'm going to surprise her with her own bottle as a fun gift. Maybe when she sprays it she can start having her own memories of the two of us, just like I have those amazing memories of my grandma associated with her perfume. Oh, and she has already claimed the adorable little key and lock charms that came attached to the perfume- they're now looking cute hanging on her backpack!

Do you have a signature scent? Have your tried out any of the celebrity perfumes at Walmart? Which would you like to try?

xo, Laura

Hair Curling 101 with Conair Curl Secret

This curly hair tutorial was written as a sponsored post for Collective Bias®, to show how easy it is to get amazing curls!  #ConairCurl #cbias

Virtually everyone who knows me has seen my hair only one way- long and straight. Don't get me wrong, I love my straight hair, but as my hairdresser sister has told me (many times), sometimes you need to mix it up!  But I'm a busy mom with four kids, and although I usually do full makeup each day, my hair is always the same.  I love the big bouncy curls that celebrities flaunt on the red carpet, but my hair never looks like that after I get a curling iron to it, not to mention the multiple burns I accidentally inflict on myself in the process!  There's got to be an easier way, right?!  Well now there is!  It's called Conair Curl Secret!

Conair has an amazing new product out called Curl Secret that I bought this week at Walmart for $99 (which is a great deal considering it sells for $150 on http://buycurlsecret.com and www.curlsecret.com). It is nothing short of breathtakingly AMAZING!!  

In under 15 minutes, I transformed my whole head of hair into a bouncy, beautiful mass of curls that I never thought possible for my stick straight hair!  The cool thing about Conair Curl Secret is that there is virtually no work involved- the machine does all the work for you, because it's an automatic curling iron!  And, unlike a traditional curling iron, there's no chance of burning your fingers, and you don't have to guess when the curl is done.  

Check out this 30 second video that shows you exactly how Curl Secret works- I promise you will be amazed!

Cool, right?!  My pre-teen daughter and I had some fun together doing our hair, and she was a pro at using the Curl Secret!  It's so easy, and she couldn't burn herself, so I had no worries about letting her use it herself to create her own hairstyle.

Here's a step by step tutorial to show you how to get those beautiful curls you always wanted:

1.  Turn on the Conair Curl Secret.  It's ready to go once the temperature indicator light stops blinking (which only takes a minute or two).  

Decide what type of curl you would like- tight spiral curls, or bigger curls or waves.  For tight curls, turn the setting on the appliance to high, and the 10 or 12 second timer setting.  For looser curls or waves, use the low setting, and 8 or 10 second timer setting.  Try out different combinations and see which settings you prefer for your hair to achieve the look that you love!

2.  Completely brush your hair, making sure it is nice and smooth.  Take a small 1/2 inch- 1 inch section of hair. Place the styler where you want the curl to start on your hair, making sure that opening of the curl chamber (the circle part) is facing toward the head.  Place the brushed section of hair into the hair guide of the machine, let go of the hair, and close the handle.  Be amazed as your hair is automatically taken into the curl chamber!

3.  The machine will beep four times, and after the fourth beep, simply release the hair by opening up the Curl Secret, and release your pretty curled hair!  Repeat with the rest of your hair.  No burnt fingers, no hour spent on curls that don't last... these curls are easy, long lasting, and fast!  I spent only 15 minutes curling my entire head, and less than 15 minutes curling my daughter's hair.  Simply amazing!! 

4.  If you want tight, spiral curls, then you can leave the curls as is.  If you want looser, more natural curls or waves, then you can fluff up the hair a bit at the crown to give a bit more volume, and use your fingers to split and separate the curls.  You can also flip your head upside down to loosen the curls and give more volume to your hair as well.  Add a light spray of hairspray over your curls to help set them. My daughter wanted looser curls, and I wanted to try medium-tight curls on my straight hair.  We got exactly the looks we wanted with Conair Curl Secret!

I am absolutely in LOVE with the Conair Curl Secret, and think it's a steal at $99 at Walmart.  For less than it costs for a cut and color for my hair, I can have multiple new hairstyles and transform my look many times with the Curl Secret.  An extra bonus to buying it at Walmart is they offered me a two year warranty on the appliance for only $9, so that if anything happens to the machine for two years, I can get a replacement.  Love that!

Be sure to follow Conair on their Facebook and Pinterest pages for all the latest in hair.  If you have any questions about Curl Secret, I'd love to answer them for you!  Leave a comment and tell me what you think about this fun new product!

xo, Laura

Linking Up Here:  Tatertots and Jello

Nautical 4th of July Nails

As you may already know, I have a love for anchors and anything nautical (like this nautical dinner party I created for World Market).  Since it's summer and the Fourth of July holiday is next week, I thought I'd try some nautical 4th of July nail art!

I originally wanted to red or blue and white stripes, but my practical side kicked in, so I decided to go with alternating red and white nails, with my ring fingernail painted navy white with a white anchor drawn on.

It was kind of fun to try something different!  Usually I keep it pretty simple on my fingers (I love bright colors on my toes), but I really like the patriotic summer look.  Here's how you can get the look too!

Remember how I told you I changed my original plan?  Ignore the colors of my nails in the above picture, just follow the words!  Sorry about that ;)

A white nail pen would have been perfect to make the anchor, but since I didn't have one, I just used my white nail polish and a toothpick to draw the anchor on my nail.

Start at the top with a white circle, then draw the straight line down.  Make the rounded base of the anchor (looks like a smile), add the pointed ends, and then add the horizontal line across the anchor. Finally, make a small blue dot in the middle of the white circle at the top of the anchor.

Aren't they fun?  Now you're ready for the Fourth of July and a trip to the beach!!  How are you getting ready for the 4th?

If you like this idea, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

xo, Laura

Linking Up Here: Somewhat Simple, The 36th Avenue, House of Hepworths

DIY Glitter Heels

I have always wanted a pair of sexy, shimmery, gold high heels, but my practical side has resisted buying them, telling myself that I wouldn't wear them enough to justify the purchase, and opting instead for shoes that I could wear with more outfits.

Being the girl that I am, I decided to make my own DIY pair of gold glitter heels from an old pair of shoes I bought for my sister's wedding a few years ago.  I was ready to toss these babies, but decided to give them one last chance.

And I'm so glad that I did!  With just a little Mod Podge and some gold glitter, I transformed my tired black peep toe heels into a shimmery shiny work of art that I can't wait to wear out on a hot date with my honey!

Would you like your own sparkly pair of glitter heels?  I basically used the same technique that I shared on my how to glitter anything post and when making my glitter letters.  

Supplies:

• Pair of shoes
• Mod Podge (I used matte)
• Glitter (I used Martha Stewart and Recollections from Michaels)
• Paintbrush
• Krylon Triple-Thick Crystal Clear Glaze

You can place newspaper, foil, tape, etc. anywhere that you like on the shoe to block any drips, spills, etc.  I chose not to do this- much faster and easier!

Step 1: Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge onto your shoes, one section at a time.  

Step 2:  Liberally sprinkle fine glitter onto the Mod Podge, and gently tap or shake shoe to remove the excess glitter.  

Step 3:  Repeat until entire show is covered.  You may do additional coats once the first cut is dry if necessary.  I did two coats, which was the perfect amount of coverage!

After a couple hours I went back outside and sprayed the completed shoes with the Krylon Triple-Thick Clear Glaze, just to make sure that I wasn't leaving a glitter trail everywhere I went.  Worked perfectly!  If you didn't have the Krylon spray, you could probably just do another coat or two of plain Mod Podge over the top of the shoes to seal in the glitter.

The before and after... what a transformation!  And this photo was after only one coat of glitter.

And helllllllooooooo sexy heel!  My tired sad black shoes are now screaming for attention after two coats of shimmery gold glitter.

You really should try resurrecting a pair of your old shoes!  It was fun and easy, and looks great.

You can check out my glitter letters and glitter heart for more sparkly fun!

Tune in next week where I show you how to glitter a kids' pair of canvas shoes too!

xo, Laura

If you liked this project, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

Linking Up Here: I Heart Naptime, Skip to My Lou, Craft-O-Maniac, Sugar Bee Crafts, Lolly Jane, A to Zebra Celebrations, Lil Luna, Ginger Snap Crafts, Someday Crafts, Snap!, House of Hepworths, 36th Avenue, Whipperberry, Tidy Mom, See Vanessa Craft, 

DIY Lemon and Rosemary Body Scrub

This time of the year my hands and skin are so dry, they need all the TLC they can get! I've got a great solution for you to help soften your dry winter skin and get it ready for the warmer months that are ahead. 

Michelle Pino, who works at Skana, a spa in upstate New York, sent me some tips to share with you that will help you get the spa treatment and luxury at home for a fraction of the price! 

I made this DIY lemon and rosemary body scrub this weekend, and I loved it! The lemon and rosemary smell was so refreshing, and this scrub really couldn't be easier to make!  

If your skin is dry and needs a little moisturizing, then this DIY body scrub is the perfect solution for you! 

Lemon and Rosemary Body Scrub:

2 cups of white sugar
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/8 cup rosemary essential oil
2 Tbsp. baking soda

Combine all of these ingredients until the mixture forms a paste-like substance.  Place in a mason jar.  Because of the olive oil ingredient, it is ideal to use this body scrub while showering, and to clean the tub thoroughly when you are finished to get rid of any oily or slippery residue. This body scrub may be used before shaving to leave your skin feeling soft and resilient.

Simple combinations of olive oil, fresh herbs (such as rosemary or basil), essential oils, and sugar or sea salt can easily create a very effective body scrub.  Bananas may be mashed and combined with sea salt and citrus juice to make a luxurious body scrub that will leave your skin silky smooth and rejuvenated, just in time for spring!

I used a little less oil than the recipe called for, because I like my scrubs with a lot of texture and less oil, but you can make according to your preference. I also added some finely grated lemon peel and chopped fresh rosemary to add some extra color and texture. I love the way this scrub looks in the mason jar! The recipe fit perfectly in a wide-mouth pint size mason jar.

Making your own body scrub is the perfect way to repair your skin without spending a lot of money.  There are so many different combinations of oils and natural ingredients you can use to create your own blends that are perfect for you. The great thing about making a DIY scrub is that the ingredients used are often inexpensive ingredients that you already have around your home. Body scrubs also make great gifts!!

Thanks Michelle for the easy recipe!!  

And for another great DIY body scrub, be sure to check out my Rosemary and Mint Body Scrub, with free printable tags for gift giving!

xo, Laura

If you liked this project, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

Linking Up Here: Lil' Luna, Someday Crafts, 36th Avenue

How to Fix Any Broken Powder Makeup... Really!

I am so excited to share this cool trick with you today!!  I'll admit it, I like to buy the good stuff when I buy makeup, and it is beyond frustrating when one of my kids (okay, or me) knocks down one of my MAC eye shadows, powders, or blushes, and it breaks into 10 million little tiny crumbles all over the counter.  I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me, and as much as I want to salvage it, it's such a big mess, so I end up throwing it all away, and throwing away my money in the process!

Not anymore!  Using just one ingredient you probably already have at home, you can easily repair your broken powder makeup, and have it back to normal the next morning!  Life changing!!  AND it takes less than 5 minutes to do (although it does take overnight to dry).  Let's begin!

Here's all you'll need:

• Broken powder makeup (powder, eyeshadow, or blush)
• Rubbing alcohol (the higher the concentration, the better- I used 70)
• Plastic wrap (optional, but keeps your fingers cleaner!)

Directions:

1.  Gather all of the broken pieces of makeup into its original container, and crush the whole thing up (even the parts that may not have broken).

2.  Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the compact, and let it soak in. Use your finger, the back of a spoon, or anything, really, to rub and smooth down the makeup.  I used my finger (which is still stained bright pink after about 10 hand washes!) at first, but I found that I got better results by placing a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the makeup, and then rubbing the plastic wrap to smooth out the makeup.  If the mixture is still too dry, then add a little more alcohol, and rub again.

3.  Once your makeup is all smooth again, all you have to do is wait, preferably overnight.  The alcohol has to dry out, and once it does your makeup will be totally back to normal, and the alcohol smell will be gone! My blush was perfect the next day, and you never would have guessed that it was a crumbled  mess the day before!

My sad crushed pink blush that would have gotten tossed because I (can't blame the kids this time) dropped it, is now whole and complete and ready to be used again!  Yippee!! This is probably my favorite tip of all time, because everyone drops their makeup, right?

Is anyone else as excited as I am about this?!?

And if you've ever had a problem with your underwire poking out from your bra and stabbing you, be sure to check out my easy tutorial for how to repair a broken underwire bra.

This DIY Lemon and Rosemary scrub smells amazing, is so easy to make, and is a great inexpensive gift!

Another DIYscrub that smells amazing is this Rosemary Mint Sugar and Salt Scrub!

If you liked this project, please follow me on 

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

Please share and pin!

XO, Laura

Linking Up Here:  Tatertots & Jello, Whipperberry, The 36th Avenue

Rosemary and Mint Sugar & Salt Scrub + Free Printable Tags

Don't you just love the combination of rosemary and mint?  My favorite body wash is a rosemary and mint wash by C.O. Bigelow, and I feel so fresh and clean when I use it!

I have a good friend (check out her fun blog here) who is currently moving to another city, and I wanted to give her a little gift during this stressful time of packing and moving.  I have been wanting to make a rosemary mint scrub for a while, so this gave me the perfect opportunity to make some for her and some for me :)  I have bushes of fresh rosemary, and plenty of supplies from past scrubs I have made, so this scrub was a breeze to make!  It leaves your hands and body feeling so smooth and clean, and smells amazing.

I also made a cute tag for you to go with this rosemary scrub that you can download for free at the end of this post!

Rosemary Mint Sugar and Salt Scrub

1 cup Sugar
1 cup Epsom salts
Fresh rosemary, chopped (I used a lot, but use as much as you like)
3/4 cup Carrier oil, such as sunflower oil, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, or light olive oil
Rosemary essential oil
Peppermint or spearmint oil (I used a combination of both)

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, and spoon into a jar with a lid.  This recipe made one big glass jarful.  I bought a bunch of these jars when I spotted them last year because I knew they were the perfect container for homemade scrubs.

You can use this scrub on dry hands, or as a whole body scrub in the bathtub to polish and remove dead skin. The oil may cause the shower floor to be slippery, so I do not recommend using this while taking a shower, just to be safe.

You can also play with the ingredients and fit them to your preference.  If you don't like as much scent, then use less essential oil (I used around 20 drops of rosemary, 20 peppermint, and 20 spearmint).  I like my scrub to be thick and coarse, and less oily, but if you like more liquid, then add more oil.  I like the combination of sugar and Epsom salts because you get a mixture of fine (sugar) and coarse (Epsom salts), but you can also use just one of these if you like, or change the proportions.  You get the picture... now go try some rosemary mint sugar and salt scrub!  It is very inexpensive to make and makes a great gift.

The  tags I made for you can be found here.  There are three tags on the page.  Enjoy!

Rosemary Mint Scrub Tags Download 

I'll be announcing the winner of the Martha Stewart labels package giveaway on the blog later today, so stay tuned!!

If you liked this project, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

XO, Laura