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Showing posts with the label beauty

A LIP ILLUSION

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TUTORIAL + PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY NADINE, GRAPHIC DESIGN BY EUNICE CHUN Most of us have a highlighting pencil, right? Well, you must use it to do this too! You can think of it as contouring your lips: you lighten what you want to appear fuller and you shade the rest. Here’s how: TOOLS: A Browbone Highlighting Pencil: I love  this one ($$)  and  this one ($) .A Natural Lip Tone Pencil: Try this one ($$)  or  this one ($) .Your Favorite Lip Balm: I love this one ($$)  for my clients and this one ($)  for me! SOURCE: beautydepartment

How to straighten your hair without heat

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Smooth straight hair is something many people want, but fewhave it naturally. So what are the less fortunate to do? Well,it typically means we have to use heat tools like straighteningirons to force our hair into submission.Unfortunately, those heat tools have a much-unwanted consequence of causing damage to our hair and so we are left with the decision of straight hair or healthy hair. But, nomore. I have found some tried and true tips to get sleek and straight hair without all the damage. Read on and see how this miracle works: 1. Get off to the right start Getting straight hair starts in the shower and it all depends on the kind of shampoo and conditioner you use. Give your hair a head start and choose one that is made for straight hair. Then after you wash, gently squeeze out as much wateras you can and apply a moisturizing cream or leave-in conditioner to prep your hair for smoothness. 2. Wrap it gently What you wrap your hair in is just as critical as what you wash it with. I

The eye pop

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TUTORIAL + PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY NADINE, GRAPHIC DESIGN BY EUNICE CHUN This is a subtle way to pop your eye color with colored mascara! But the trick is twofold. First you coat the lashes with the colored mascara, then you go back over them with black mascara, except you leave the pop of color at the lash base. If you have blue eyes, match the color with a blue mascara; green eyes, use a green mascara, and if you have brown eyes, you can use any color (purple, teal, blue, green, etc) because they won’t compete with it. You can also pair complementary colors like purple mascara with green eyes, copper with blue eyes, etc! Here’s how to do it with blue eyes: TOOLS: A Colored Mascara — These three are my favorites:  this one ($$$),this one ($$)  and  this one ($) .Your Favorite Black Mascara — I’m still obsessed with  this one ($$)  and  this one ($) .

The tricks of trade

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photos: kristin ess, post: jessica swanson So, you can knock out a full set of curling wand waves with one gloved finger tied behind your back? You still had time to ace that smokey eye after finishing bestie’s pull-through braid for Prom? Girl, we know you’re always up for a challenge, so we’re presenting to you our fave flat iron wave tutorial. There’s something just right about the look… not too precious or coiled, with subtle movement for manes both long and short. There might be several versions of flat iron waves out there, but this one gives us life! Here’s how to make it happen: Before beginning, we prepped towel-dried hair with  THICKENING SPRAY, then blow dried straight. This thickening spray helps to create the right amount of texture and a soft, sustainable hold. Keep in mind that once you’ve nailed your technique, it can also be an ideal way to touch up air-dried waves, or can be worked in with  OTHER  waving techniques. Before things get heated, take a few minutes to

How to hide your bobby pin

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POST BY KRISTIN ESS + JESS SWANSON Almost every time I do an updo, I get asked about how I hide my bobby pins. I took you guys through how to PROPERLY INSERT A BOBBYPIN  back in the day, but I’ve never shown you my trick for how I make those shiny little bobby pin ends disappear. We love glitz on a case-by-case basis, and sometimes you want your  BOBBY PINS  to show, but for the most part you want them them to be as invisible as possible; this means you’re about to fall (deeper) in love with your dry shampoo. See how the two rendezvous below: We begin with a handful of unassuming blonde bobby pins, which we found to match our hair the best. These are the  GOLD/BLONDE  and  BLACK  versions of the ones we used. Even when the pins match your color well, you still have the element of shine, which only serves to distract from your mane masterpiece as they catch the light. To prep your pins, lay a towel down on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area. Shake your colored  DRY SHAMPOO  w

Your daily ritual

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If I had to pick one thing that you can do to fight aging, it would be to use an exfoliating toner twice a day. It literally changed the texture of my skin! You want to encourage and speed up cell turnover and an exfoliating toner will wipe way the dead skin cells without using a harsh scrub. All you have to be is diligent and patient and your skin will change. Then you have to be committed to do it twice a day, every day. But that’s a small amount of effort for a youthful glow! Here’s how: FAVORITES: Dr. Loretta Purifying Micro-Exfoliation Toner Lancome Tonique Radiance Clarifying Exfoliating Toner Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner Cotton Squares STEPS: First wash your face as you normally would (either in the shower or in the sink, but please use a muslin  cloth !).Pat the skin dry.Pour the toner on a cotton square and start wiping over the skin.Continue all over.Go back over the surface area a second time. Disclaimer:  As all of us have different skin types, please remember tha

Multitasking your nap

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TUTORIAL BY AMY NADINE, GRAPHIC DESIGN BY EUNICE CHUN I mean. If you do this, you’re  actually checking two things off your list, all while you work on your beauty sleep! The eye pads de-puff and the technical placement of the mask folds the lashes upward for a full-on curling effect. You MUST try it. Here’s how: TOOLS: Your Favorite Eye Pads — Lacy is wearing  my favorites ($$$)  but I also  die for these ($$)  and  love these ($) .An Eye Mask with a little weight to it — I love  this silk slip mask ($$), this copper-infused mask ($$)  and  this aqua cooling mask ($) . STEPS: Start with a clean and dry face. Moisturize as you normally would then place the eye pads under your eyes where you need the most hydration and de-puffing.Here’s the clever bit. Instead of plopping the pad over your eyes, or if there’s a strap on it, instead of pulling it downward from your forehead, do the reverse: open your eyes and place the middle of the mask at an angle so the bottom lashes are not in p

The eye shadow skill

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TUTORIAL + PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY NADINE, GRAPHIC DESIGN BY EUNICE CHUN So by now you’ve got mad eye shadow skills, right? But let’s take a second to get really technical and think about something that you never noticed you do or don’t do. If you’re doing a single wash of color all over the eye area, then of course apply the shadow using the same amount of pressure on the lid and crease. But if you’re highlighting the lid with a lighter shade and contouring the crease with a darker shade, you should use different pressures when you apply them. And different speeds. Here’s how to be happiest with the result: TOOLS: Your Favorite Eye Shadow Palette — I used  my favorite nudes palette ($$)  but also really love  this one ($) .A  Laydown Brush for the Lid ($) A  Tapered Crease Brush ($) STEPS: Using the laydown brush, apply medium pressure with the highlighting shade on the lid. You really want this to show up and you don’t have to worry about being precise, you just want to get the job d

Maybe just a little spirit

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TUTORIAL + PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY NADINE, GRAPHIC DESIGN BY EUNICE CHUN This is one of my favorite tricks to make me smile and chillax throughout the day! You should already have all of the ingredients and it only takes a second.Here’s how! TOOLS: Your Favorite Parfum — right now I’m into more masculine scents (think musky, tobacco, vetiver) and really love  this one ($$$)  but have been obsessed with  this beachy coconut one ($$)  and of course love  this gardenia parfum ($$)  for years. And when I’m feeling really feminine, I always go for  this one ($$) .The Cloth that comes with your sunglasses — Emily is wearing these French round sunglasses ($$$)  that I invested in a few months ago and can’t get enough of but I also love  these round sunglasses ($$)  and  these ($) .Your Favorite Handbag — Emily is modeling  this studded bag (that’s now half off!)  that basically got me through Winter because it’s the perfect size in that it’s not too big and becomes a black hole and it’s not too

The Lip service

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TUTORIAL + PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY NADINE, GRAPHIC DESIGN BY EUNICE CHUN Matte lipstick has been huge for a few years now. But there’s something we can do to make it a little more alive! I promise you will still enjoy the effect of a matte lip. But there will be more life to it if you do this: TOOLS: Your Favorite Lipstick — I used my favorite nude lipstick ($$)  in Speak Your Mind and I also love this budget-friendly lipstick ($) in Nile Nude.A Matching Lip Liner — I used this liner ($$)  in Nude because it’s a staple in my kit being such a warm pinky nude.  This one ($)  is my favorite budget-friendly nude lip liner (shade is Ceramic).A Matching Lip Gloss or Clear Gloss — I used  this nude lip gloss ($$)  in Almost Nude but you can also try  this epic nude gloss ($)  in Slip or  this iconic clear gloss ($$) . STEPS: You can skip this step but I’m a big fan of a lined lip so I start by lining the perimeter with the lip pencil.Next fill in the lip area with the matching lipstick.Now he

The top four eye cream trick

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TUTORIAL + PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY NADINE, GRAPHIC DESIGN BY EUNICE CHUN If I could come hang with each one of you and pass down words of wisdom to keep your skin young as long as possible, it would be to make eye cream a twice a day habit. Then apply it with these four tips in mind. MY FAVORITE EYE CREAMS: $$$ — I always use  Awakening Eye Cream  on my clients because it instantly makes the skin around the eyes look more rested.$$ — I personally use this  Magic Eye Cream  because I feel like I need a really heavy one now!$ — I love this  Hyaluronic Eye Cream  because it replenishes the Hyaluronic Acid that we lose as we get older. TOP FOUR TIPS: Use your ring finger (your least strong digit) to dot it along the eye socket. Not closer than that because it will travel up inside your eyes and irritate them (making puffy bags).Now tap it in like your playing the piano to increase circulation and blood flow while you’re stippling it in.Then tap the excess along the perimeter of your upper

The seed oil

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You know how much I love natural oils for my hair and skin care, i'm currently obsessed with oils from the UK that can be commonly found yet are not widely used. I love Afro Hair and skin Co they use ingredients sourced from the British Isles. I love their Flow oil which contains Blackcurrant oil. Blackcurrant seed oil is a bit of a hidden treasure it helps to heal and regenerate the skin protecting the skin from free radicals [highly reactive eletrons ...yeah i still don't really get it but lets pretend....] here are a few interesting benefits of Blackcurrant seed oil for the skin Anti-inflammatory: GLA [Gamma-Linolenic Acid] contained in black currant seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties. That means, it can treat arthritis pain and swelling. Also, it can treat gastritis, which can be regarded as nothing but inflammation that occurs in the stomach region. The secret behind GLA’s power to treat gastritis, according to the American Association of Anti-Aging Medicine, li

Day to light

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TUTORIAL + PHOTOGRAPY BY AMY NADINE, GRAPHIC DESIGN BY EUNICE CHUN The obvious day to night eye makeup bump up is adding black/brown liner to the inner waterline. But a lot of my clients love wearing that during the day too. So for my girls out there that wear a little more and want a little more, this one’s for you! TOOLS: Your Favorite Gold/Copper Eye Shadow Palette — of course I used my favorite palette ($$)  but I also love  this one ($) .A Small and Thin Eye Contour Brush — I only use precision contour brushes in the crease like this one ($$)  or  this one ($0.99) .A  Blending Brush ($$) Gold Sparkle Shadow ($$) Your Favorite Lash Strip — I used these lashes ($$)  in Lexi but also love  these ($) .Your Favorite Mascara —  this one ($$)  and  this one ($)  are still my favorites this season. STEPS:

Mac Spellbinder Collection for fall 2016

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MAC Spellbinder Collection This is one attraction that’s impossible to resist. M∙A∙C Spellbinder Shadow creates mesmerizing eyes with the deepest, most mysterious shades, clinging to lids like pure velvet. Black, ionized pigments are magnetically charged, fusing the loose powder together so it magically maintains its form and dimension. Hexing hues pull you in, casting their spell in blackened emerald, cobalt and teal, as the metallic finish captivates all that crosses its path. Availability Online October 13th, in-stores October 20th MAC Cosmetics   Nordstrom   Saks Bloomingdale's   Dillard's   Macy's The Details Spellbinder Shadow | $22.00 U.S. / $26.00 CAD | Limited Edition Mysterious Influence Rich olive golden greenHigher Power Rich deep brownCosmic Clash Deep greenAphrodisiatic Rich cobalt blueBlue Karma Soft greyed tealRetrograde Greyed blackGravity’s Pull Dark purpleDynamically Charged Taupey cool bronze Brush | $25.00 U.S. / $30.00 CAD 283 Duo Fiber S

The pen skills

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TUTORIAL + PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY NADINE, GRAPHIC DESIGN BY EUNICE CHUN There’s something magical that happens when you marry a kohl pencil and a thin flat brush! Kohl pencils are made to be smeared and blended, especially paired with a smoky eye. And my favorite way to do it is with a brush. Simply line the outer half of the upper lashline, switch to the brush then “pull” the line outward and inward. It’s a beautiful thing! Here’s how: TOOLS: A Kohl Pencil —  this longwear but blendable pencil ($$)  is my favorite in my kit but I also use this one ($)  on the regular.A Thin Flat Brush — I used  this small contour brush ($$)  but also love using  this detailed lip brush ($) .Your Favorite Mascara — I used this long-time favorite ($$)  of my girl Krysten Ritter but also am really into  this find ($)  right now!A Grey Smoky Shadow Palette — I used  this one ($$$)  in Rock Chick on Corinne but also love  this one ($) . STEPS:

The 3 fave for perfect blowout

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Most of us are trying to live our best life and do less with our hair while hoping it looks better than ever. While I love an air-dry scenario or a second day wave/dry shampoo combo, sometimes you just have to go FULL blowout. If you find yourself faced with the daunting task of round brushing your own mane, trust me– you will want to have one or two of these bottled-up miracles on hand to get you through… ORIBE ROYAL BLOWOUT  : my favorite for coarse, thick, unruly, curly, wavy, frizzy and/or slow-to-dry hair. Apply a very thin veil all over before blowdrying. I feel like my brush goes through 100 times smoother and doesn’t get caught on anything. I’ve also noticed it speeds up drying time significantly. I have yet to find something comperable to this in a more affordable price range, but I will say this bottle seems to last for ages, so I would say it’s worth the splurge. LIVING PROOF BLOWOUT STYLING SPRAY : great on fine, straight hair that needs styling support from the inside ou

Beauty:Hair accessories hound up

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While it can be totally satisfying to splurge on that new cult-fave hair  PRODUCT  or  CURLING   WAND   you’ve been coveting, I’m also big on the thrill of adding gorgeous and versatile hair accessories to my growing collection. They provide a level of instant gratification that products and tools sometimes can’t…like great jewelry, a chic hair clip or interesting accessory can instantly elevate an otherwise simple look. With ongoing summer temps being of the relentless persuasion (what? I can’t hear you over the squirt bottle/fan combo I’m waving around my face like its my job.), we’ve pulled together a well-rounded list of perfect accessories to help you chill. Links below the photos. 1.  SAFETY PIN CLIP   I’d wear a paper clip too if it was dipped in gold. It’s just SUH cute! 2.  OVERSIZED BARRETTE  This classic barrette must have chowed the “eat me” cake (Alice & Wonderland fans?). Mini things are adorable, but giant versions are just plain useful. Also how is this only $4?!

Chrome +hologram

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Okayyyy, these nails are absurd in the best way and I am so into them. I mean, what even is this stuff? Car paint? I follow this nail salon on Instagram called Gloss Nail Spa, which is here in LA, Silverlake to be exact, and I originally saw this look on one of their posts. I took a 2 year hiatus from the nail art game and have been sticking to the classics (aka: being boring af) for the last couple years. But this is giving me major flashbacks to my love of nail art and I’m feeling like maybe I should be revisiting that subject. Anyway, the point: When I started seeing these hologram nails I was like, HOW?? I deep creeped on the www and found that it’s done with an impossibly fine powder. There are tons of “hologram” nail polishes out there but this is referred to in the nail world as “hologram chrome powder” or “hologram mirror powder” and it’s not a regular polish. Here’s how mine were done… Right now I have some length added onto natural my nails. I realized afterward, I kinda li

5 ways to stop being jealous and start being successful

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It doesn't take much to feel the jealousy starting to grow in us as we just look at instagram, facebook or twitter, the lands where everyone posts the best their lives have to offer. It seems like everyone just bought a fancy car, eats the best meals, has the perfect house, vacations everyday, goes to the best parties, and spends all their money on new clothes. Symptoms of Jealousy: feeling like a failure, angry, wondering why nothing good like that happens to you, wondering why good things are happening to THEM, feeling hopeless, did I already mention angry? Oh yes I did. Here's 5 ways to help stop jealousy in it's tracks: 1. SUCCESS HAS NO TIME FOR JEALOUSY: Successful people are too busy working hard on their dreams and goals to focus on what others are doing. If you have too much time to see what others are doing, you are not spending enough time going after your own goals and dreams! You be working so hard on them you don't have time to see what everyone else

THE MAKEUP HACK

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TUTORIAL + PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY NADINE, GRAPHIC DESIGN BY EUNICE CHUN Sometimes when something is new to you, the best thing to do is find a little makeup hack until you get a feel for it without it. And everyone has one of these in her kitchen! Here’s how to draw a basic cut crease: TOOLS: A Matte Shadow Palette — I usedthis favorite matte palette ($$)but also love this one ($).An Eye Contour Brush ($$)A Blending Brush ($)A Spoon!Your Favorite Mascara — I usedthis one ($$) for incredible coating and separation.