Category: beauty

Finding My Perfect Fit

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We all know that an errant bra strap, the wrong bra, or an unsightly v.p.l. can ruin the perfect outfit. In thinking about revamping my wardrobe, I needed to start with the foundation. I started branching out from Victoria’s Secret for lingerie basics a few years ago when I discovered Journelle, but had to admit that it was time to give my drawer a refresh. With being pregnant and then breastfeeding, investing in new bras hasn’t been at the top of my list in quite some time. Needless to say, it’s also been since pre-baby that I was properly sized. The thought of trekking out to get measured wasn’t appealing in the least, so I decided to give ThirdLove a try.

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You download the app to your phone and the fit finder guides you through taking two simple photos. Based on markers that you set on the photos, and your answers to a few basic questions, the app magically generates your predicted perfect fit. The truly amazing thing is that it is precise even to the half-cup size (which ThirdLove has introduced)! After learning my new size, which included a half, I went back to browsing their beautiful collection. In the spirit of buying what I need and is practical for my life, I settled on their basic 24/7 t-shirt bra in naked 1 (really a soft pink), the 24/7 lace t-shirt bra in evening-blue, and the front closure lace racerback in soft-pink because it’s really too pretty not to. I also threw in a few matching seamless cheekies for good measure.

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When my new bras arrived, I was pretty happy overall. The fit finder truly did it’s job, and the quality is just beautiful from the gold hardware detail and lace down to the ribbon trimmed straps on the 24/7 t-shirt bra. Ribbon straps…be still my heart. I may exchange the 24/7 t-shirt bra in naked 1 for the same thing in naked 2 since the color is a bit too light to be a true nude for me, and ThirdLove has recently introduced a range of nudes so not only can you find your perfect fit, but also your perfect match!

Have you tried ThirdLove yet? What is your favorite color/style?

If you’ve been wanting to try them out or your lingerie drawer needs a refresh, get $15 off your first purchase.

xoxo,

Kristen

 

Another Year Older (Almost)

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It’s exactly one month before my birthday, which always has me thinking about all of the to-dos, things I wanted to accomplish, and things I need to change before that next milestone. A few years ago, my biggest priorities were getting to a certain place in my career and seriously thinking about starting family.

The year, it’s the wrinkles, the workout, and the wardrobe…
I found out that I was pregnant shortly after my 30th birthday so I gave myself a pass on worrying about that whole post-30 wardrobe cleanse thing since I knew I’d be buying maternity clothes soon enough and had no idea what my post baby body would be like. In addition to asking myself, should I still be wearing this, I also need to consider how much my wardrobe needs have changed. I’ve always had a penchant for fancier clothes than my life really needed, but now going to the club means tee boxes and brunch rather than sequins and stilettos, and I need to be honest about what I really wear.
Further complicating matters, my office recently went from a minimum of business casual to a jeans everyday dress code. (Whether or not I actually want to wear jeans to the office everyday is a different matter…more on that later). For years, I invested in business professional or business casual pieces thinking they’d be wardrobe workhorses forever. While I’m pretty sure I’ll hang on to my favorite black pencil skirt and a few silk blouses, I just don’t need all of the filler pieces that basically stretched my wardrobe to avoid constant trips to the dry cleaner.
Getting my closet in check is sounding like a workout, and it’s a good thing since I haven’t been getting to the gym as regularly since going back to work. By the time we get Tad to bed, eat a bite of dinner, and I take care of any open items I may have left at the office, I feel like it’s too late to go to the gym (or so I tell myself). I’m hoping to start packing a gym bag and working out at the office before I come home on days that Ted has daycare pick-up, and challenging myself to go after dinner at least one day per week, even if for only 30 minutes.
Finally, I really don’t worry much about breakouts, but can no longer ignore those fine lines and wrinkles. I started using eye cream and night cream a few years ago, but have primarily relied on samples I received or whatever brand I happened to like the packaging on rather than really doing my research. I think I’m old enough now to invest in some solid products since an ounce of prevent is probably literally worth a pound of cure in this case. A fresh makeup routine probably wouldn’t hurt either!
Over the next few weeks, I’ll (hopefully) be tackling each of these areas and maybe feeling good enough about being another year older to celebrate gracefully.
In the meantime, I’d love suggestions on the best anti-aging products, especially for forehead lines and tired under eyes! What are your tried and true favorites?

Spring 2015 Beauty Trend Show at Nordstrom

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This weekend, I attended the Nordstrom Spring 2015 Beauty Trend Show at the Nordstrom in Tysons Corner Center. After being warmly greeted upon arrival, I was shown upstairs to the breakfast spread and runway where the fashion show was about to take place. The three “scenes” featured different makeup trends paired with fresh ensembles from the racks. I watched as models floated down the runway showcasing “New Neutrals”, “The Right Bright Lip”, and “Sculpting Made Simple”. Between scenes the emcee, Loredana Grama, Nordstrom Beauty Director, introduced guest speakers from all of the major brands to showcase new products and share tips and tricks for looking your best this season.    One of my favorite looks was featured during “Sculpting Made Simple”. The Guerlain model showed off one of their new products in a blue ombre floral print wrap sheath by Milly. Following the same scene, the Clinique representative showed the audience how to contour using a “C” shape.   “The Right Bright Lip” featured luscious lips by Lancome, Dior, Estee Lauder, and Nars. The audience was encouraged to “take your favorite fruit and go with it”.  Between scenes, the audience was treated to giveaways from Butter London, Clinique, Tom Ford, and many more!  

 Most importantly, I came home with a swag bag containing samples of some of the latest fragrances and products featured in the show.

If you’re interested in attending the next Beauty Trend Show at Nordstrom, make sure to drop by one of their beauty counters in early fall to inquire about local dates as the show takes place twice each year. You may purchase a ticket in advance for $20, which includes a $20 Nordstrom gift card. My lesson learned is to get there early – some moms and daughters had been camping out since 5:30am to snag a front row seat!

Beautycounter

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Have you ever thought about what’s in your makeup and skincare products? I have to admit that I really hadn’t until earlier this week when I was invited to a social by one of my dear friends to learn about Beautycounter. I was shocked as the consultant, Evie Cartwright, rattled off a list of ingredients commonly found in beauty products that are banned in other countries and noted that the list of banned substances in the US has not been updated since the 1930s! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised by how beautifully packaged the products are and how luxurious everything felt from the rich, silky eye cream to the delicious smelling sugar scrub. I decided to try Tint Skin, a sheer foundation product, and the Lustro Face Oil that the hostess was simply raving about. I can’t wait for my products to arrive so that I can tell you all how I’m enjoying them! Have you tried Beautycounter? Which products do you enjoy using?

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Crowning Glory

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Nothing puts a bounce in my step like freshly trimmed, styled, shiny, bouncy hair. I was lucky enough to meet the fabulous Nadine Matar at PR at Partners shortly after moving to the DC area and have converted several of my friends to loyalists. She truly gets to know and understand her clients to make sure they step out of her chair looking and feeling their best. For me, that means keeping my brunette locks a rich hue with lots of shine. After being snipped and styled, I took to the streets of Old Town to hit a few boutiques with one of my long time friends and played a bit of fetch with my precious pup, Nutmeg, before the weekend was over.

Crowning Glory 2Crowning Glory 5Crowning Glory 3Crowning Glory 7 Crowning Glory 8Crowning Glory 1In between trips to the salon I keep my locks looking sleek and shiny with Kerastase Cristalliste and John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss.

 

Color Crush on Blush

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I have a crush…on blush! I can’t seem to stop buying the frosty, flirty, feminine hue. I’ve been obsessed with Doutzen Kroes’ “Barely Pink” Color Riche lipstick for L’Oréal since the Victoria’s Secret fashion show aired. From my new favorite sweater, a beautiful beaded neckline sweater by Ted Baker, to my twinkling toes in Kate Spade’s “Trick” glitter flats, the surprisingly neutral color has become my new version of winter white. With blush on the brain, I also picked out the perfect not too sheer nail shade by China Glaze called “Diva Bride” to top off my my look. How have you fallen in love with blush?

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Mermaid Mica iPhone 5/5s case / Kate Spade Trick Glitter Flat / Ted Baker Embellished Neckline Sweater in Nude Pink / China Glaze in Diva Bride / L’Oréal Collection Privee by Doutzen

Rainy Day Hair Styles (that work for work)

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Supposedly, April showers bring May flowers, but for now they are only bringing seemingly never ending bad hair days. I have to admit that although my normal hot roller curls fall more quickly on a rainy day, I am (thankfully) also pretty free from frizz thanks to my naturally fairly straight locks. The one thing I refuse to do on a rainy day though, is shampoo (unless really necessary). A rainy day is typically my excuse to skip the shampoo (and blow dry) and opt for revitalizing my ‘do with dry shampoo, a good brush out, and a few hot rollers. Turns out, skipping the shampoo helps banish frizz and lock in style when it’s drizzling outside.

Since there have been so many rainy days lately, with only more to come, I started looking for a few alternatives to the rainy day flat hair blues that could go to the office without looking like I was ready for a red carpet affair, or just rolled off of my beach towel. I needed look no further than my favorite “it girl” Olivia Palermo. She is a great example of how a low, sleek bun always makes you look professional and polished for any meeting, or that embracing the curl killing weather can end up being a study in sleek, straight chic!

What are your “do’s” for a rainy day hairdo?

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Essie Nail Polish vs. OPI Nail Lacquer

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I have to admit that I consider myself an Essie girl, but started to wonder if there are actually any real reasons why? Most obviously, Essie has been known for a tremendous assortment of conservative office friendly shades, which is my cup of tea, but are there other differences as well? (Don’t get me wrong, I do love a good deep bordeaux or even dark plum.)

Polish vs. Lacquer

First off, Essie is a “nail polish” verses OPI, which is a “nail lacquer”. Although I could not find an ingredient list for OPI to compare to that of Essie, both are “3-free” (free of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene and formaldehyde). According to http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-nail-polish-and-vs-lacquer/, “Nail lacquer… is a quick drying liquid formation containing pigments to leave a coating on the nail that is not only protective in nature but also provides a sheen and the shade that makes nails look extremely beautiful. The main ingredient that acts like a thin film on the nails after drying is nitrocellulose. Resins and plasticizers are added to this nitrocellulose to make it resistant to water and soap. Color or pigments are added to this mixture to come up with the nail lacquer.” What I’ve found this to mean is that it often takes more coats of Essie for the color to develop, and each coat seems to dry faster, but that it actually takes longer to chip. I have very flakey nails so if the polish is heavier than a layer of my nail, it chips very easily.

The Brush:

OPI has a thick, wide brush that covers more of the nail with one stroke. Appealing for those seeking efficiency, but can make it more difficult to paint within the lines, particularly if you have small nails. Small nails require smaller brushes for easier application. Essie has a smaller brush, which I find easier to maneuver, and to control the amount of polish on the brush.

The Colors:

There is no doubt that OPI color collections are full of celebrity endorsements or even movie themes (James Bond, The Muppets), or even catchy names. They also seem to be easy to find whether at the front of the nail salon, or in a special display at your local drugstore or Target, though you can often find better prices online. If looking for a dark, moody shade, something with sparkle, or the latest trend, OPI is usually sure to have something to suit your fancy, and often more readily available in stores. Essie, on the other hand, tends to release more season related collections with a more classic appeal. Perhaps this, addition to the more elegant packaging, is why I gravitate toward Essie, but they have also ventured into brighter territory lately with my favorite from last summer, “Sure Shot”, which is a bright, bold, highly pigmented fuchsia.

Which do you prefer? Are you and Essie girl or an OPI loyalist?

In My Makeup Bag: YSL Touche Éclat

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The newest addition to my makeup bag is YSL Touche Éclat in 2.5 “Luminous Vanilla”.  Though often marketed as a concealer, I had heard of it’s magic as a highlighter and brightener, and decided to add Touche Éclat to my arsenal as a subtle way to incorporate the contouring and highlighting craze into my daily makeup routine and freshen up my look. I was amazed at how, with a few flicks of her wrist, the Nordstrom Beauty Spot consultant was able to wake-up my 7pm post long day at the office look. I instantly looked like I had either gotten a few additional hours of sleep, or spent a few hours less at the office….a complete win in my book! Plus, I simply love the chic gold and black packaging. It just looks glamorous!

Once I got home, I scoured the web for a quick how-to cheat sheet that I could keep on hand to replicate her artful strokes, and found this quick reminder of a few tips and tricks above and beyond virtually eliminating under eye circles. How do you use Touche Éclat?

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Source: http://www.yslbeauty.co.uk/