Deborah Lippmann Berry Metal. One of two shades in the Steal My Kisses Magnetic Wave Design Set, $36. Available now at Nordstrom and online.
Deborah Lippmann Berry Metal
MAC Unsung Heroes: C-Thru Lipglass
Okay, so maybe C-Thru isn’t going to win a flashy dance-off with MAC’s louder Lipglasses, but ya know, for some reason, it always keeps me coming back for more.
Why? Because it just works. Whenever I want a little sparkle and shine, BAM! There’s C-Thru. Whenever I want a gloss to give my lips some warmth and shimmer, KAPOW! Hi, C-Thru.
A shimmery, sheer peachy beige/nude, C-Thru goes with just about everything, and I think it’s great for a toned down lip look.
7 Steps to a Perfect DIY Manicure
About the Author
This guest post was written by Sammy of The Naulasaurus. You can also find Sammy on Twitter, Facebook and Etsy.
I’ve been blogging about all things nail-related for more than two years now, and most of the questions I get from readers go back to basics. How do you get the polish so smooth? How do you get it so neat around your cuticles? What’s the secret?
I must’ve painted my nails more than a thousand times in my life, so I suppose if there is a secret, it’s just practice, practice, practice!
To get you started on the practicing, here are the seven steps I take to get a perfect DIY manicure!
Step 1:
Start by washing your hands and giving your nails a good scrubbing with a nail brush. Make sure you completely remove the remnants of your previous manicure.
One trick I use to remove stubborn old polish stuck around my cuticles is to use an old toothbrush dipped in polish remover to scrub it away.
Pushing back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher makes it easier to smoothly paint on your polish without making a mess, and here’s a good bargain on a set from E.L.F.
Step 2:
With a glass nail file, smooth away any snags around your nails, and sculpt them to your favourite shape. Glass nail files are my favourite kind. They work mush faster than other files, and they’re better for your nails.
Step 3:
Apply a base coat to protect your nails, keep them strong, and make your mani last longer.
My all-time favourite base coat is OPI Nail Envy, and before I discovered it, my nails were weak!
I couldn’t grow them out at all because they’d snap and peel all the time, but I’ve been using Nail Envy under every manicure for years now, and my nails are practically diamond hard! It’s a must for anyone whose nails peel or break easily.
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Kauai, Day 5: Jungle Hikes, Kayaks and Ke’e Beach
I’m a little sad about having to leave Kauai this morning, but vacations never last forever…
Who am I kidding? I’m very sad about it. No more falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the beach, no more secret swimming holes and snorkeling spots, no more lush tropical landscapes, jungle hikes, waterfalls or fresh papaya picked from farms down the street!
And what about the kitties!? Poor Tuxie, Tortie Girl and Tabby Mac. Who will feed the kitties!?
Oh…I know someone else will. I hope. It’s time for me to pass the torch/Friskies box to another CCL.
In other news, we kept busy yesterday, trying to squeeze in as much fun as possible on our last day here. We started with a kayak ride up the Wailua River (just one small part of it) and a hike to the Secret Falls, and finished the day at Ke’e Beach, located at the very end of the paved road that runs along the east and north sides of the island. There’s nothing else beyond it except treacherous jungle hikes and steep cliffs along the coast.
It’s going to be tough leaving this beautiful island, but that’s the thing about beauty — it’s everywhere we look. 🙂 This time tomorrow I’ll be back in the Bay, so I’ll see you again soon from California.
But before that, here’s one last look (for now) at lovely Kauai…
This way to the Secret Falls
Diving feet first into the Wailua River…
This way to adventure!
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Dior Pink Croisette Addict Ultra Gloss
Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in Pink Croisette, $28. Available now at Dior counters and online.
MAC Unsung Heroes: Fresh Flare Pro Longwear Eye Shadow
I wish I could go back in time to the exact moment I purchased my first green eyeshadow from MAC, the now discontinued MAC Sprout, and hand myself a pan (from the future!) of MAC Fresh Flare Pro Longwear Eye Shadow ($20) instead.
Ah, MAC Sprout… I think I liked the color more than the execution. Gritty and difficult to blend, it was one of the hardest eyeshadows I’ve ever used.
Fresh Flare, on the other hand, an intensely pigmented kelly green with golden undertones, might as well be called a dairy product because it blends like butter on toast. Smooth, super pigmented, easy to blend, and I barely detect any fallout from it at all.
If you’ve been feeling green (in a good way) but don’t know where to start, take a quick look at Fresh Flare.
Detoxify Your Skin the Bentonite Way With a DIY Bentonite Clay Mask
About the Author
This guest post was written by Nadege of Atomic Beaute. You can also find Nadege on Twitter and Facebook.
With what our faces face on a daily basis — sun exposure being the big one — clay masks are a great way to treat common skin challenges. I like to give my face a good detoxing once a week to make up for not taking good care of my skin during the week (I’m definitely guilty of this!).
Take a night, and treat yourself to a nice, calming bentonite clay mask.
Bentonite clay is here to save the day! — scratch that. The week! This soft volcanic clay is suitable for all skin types. It absorbs toxins, draws out blackheads, kills acne-causing bacteria, and it’s great for spot treatments, too (just mix it with a little bit of water). It also has anti-aging benefits, because as it exfoliates the skin, it helps with cell turnover.
So, are you ready to detoxify the bentonite way? 🙂 If you are, here’s…
What you’ll need
- A few small stalks of sage
- 2 tbsp of bentonite clay powder
(carried at most health food stores) - 1 tbsp of honey
- 1 tbsp of coconut oil
- Half a lemon
Sage (enough to fit in a small bowl)
2 tbsp of bentonite clay (available here and here)
1 tbsp of honey
Tango With Tangerine: Simple Ways to Wear Pantone’s Color of the Year
About the Author
This guest post was written by Radhika of Weekend Ramblings. You can also find Radhika on Twitter and Facebook.
Back when we were kids, my cousins and I spent a good deal of each summer vacationing at our grandma’s place. I don’t really remember how we spent our time (stealing mangoes, yes), but one thing I do remember clearly is the ice cream man.
Well, it wasn’t actually ice cream… More like frozen sticks of bright orange juice that prompted animated discussions about whose tongue was the most stained.
Sigh… Good times. 😀
Anyhow, that’s what I thought of when I saw Pantone’s Color of the Year, a bright reddish orange quite aptly named Tangerine Tango.
While I can see a bright tangerine pump making all the difference between drab and chic, I’ve always found it difficult to embrace bright orange makeup. Then, this year, it starts up popping up everywhere! — most notably perhaps in the much hyped Sephora + Pantone Tangerine Tango Collection.
Truth be told, I’m a little shy about venturing beyond beiges and browns, and it took me a while to build up the courage to try the colour. When I did, though, I caved and bought the set.
If you’re wondering how you can add a splash of tangerine to your look while staying firmly on the safer side of the colour spectrum, here are some options:
Tangerine eyes
Sephora + Pantone eyeshadow quad and Tangerine Tango Twist eyeliner
The easiest way I’ve found to add the colour to my eyes is by using a tangerine eyeliner close to my lash line, which I usually smudge with some brown eyeshadow.
The Sephora palette comes with a tangerine eyeliner and an eye shadow quad, which is probably enough tangerine to last someone a lifetime!
If you’re looking for a drugstore option instead, try Maybelline Colour Tattoo eye shadow in Fierce & Tangy, or for a colour bound to outlast the current tangerine trend, try orangey copper MAC Coppering.
MAC Coppering and Maybelline Colour Tattoo Eyeshadow Fierce and Tangy
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