GOODBYE PUFFINESS // DARK CIRCLES

Puffy under eyes in the morning is my absolute pet peeve and there is nothing worse than applying concealer after concealer to try and get rid of them {not a cute look}. A few weeks ago I was with a girlfriend of mine and she was saying that she uses this product before applying her under eye concealer and absolutely swears by it. She also gets puffy eyes in the morning and has slight dark circles {like me}. She said, ever since she has been using this product she has seen a big difference. Of course, when I heard this from her I had to try it! I went to Sephora and got a sample of it and I have been using it now for about two and a half weeks and I must say, I ABSOLUTELY love this stuff and it definitely works.

It's the Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer. Not only is it a primer but it also has a lot of other benefits to it as well.  It smooths the under eye area reducing the look of fine lines {yes, it's already creeping up on me, sigh}, puffiness and dark circles. It also has a brightening affect which diminishes my dark circles and when I apply it, it has a silky texture which keeps my under eyes hydrated. This product is also infused with anti-aging ingredients such as caffeine, peptides and optical diffusers.

Honestly, this stuff really diminishes my puffy eyes and dark circles in the morning and I really don't recall my concealer ever applying this nicely. A little does go a long way, so don't be fooled on how small this tube is. If you are like me and you wake up with puffy eyes and have slight dark circles and fine lines, than this stuff is for you!!

 I am so thankful that my girlfriend recommended me this product. This will ALWAYS be in my makeup collection.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day, xo!!

THROW A SWEATER ON IT

Happy Monday!

This weekends weather was perfect. It was warm but a little cool at times, which was nice since it's been so humid these past few weeks. Sunday's outfit was very casual and I decided to wear my Lululemon Wunder Under Pant , a tank, my Aldo necklace, pearl earrings and I also paired it with some flip flops {not seen in photo}.

 I ABSOLUTELY LOVE wearing slouchy, off the shoulder sweaters of any kind. They are so versatile, can be thrown over any top and they are the comfiest sweaters EVER!

It ended up getting a little cooler as the day went on, so I decided to throw on my crochet wool off the shoulder sweater that I got from Hollister {6 years ago}. It was the perfect sweater to wear to keep me warm but because it's crochet, it also kept me cool.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and for those who watch the Bachelorette, you would know that the FINALE is on tonight!!! Who do you think Desiree will choose?

Thank you so much for reading, xo!!

BEAUTY TIPS 101

There are so many beauty products on the market these days but wouldn't it be nice if you could use one product for many other uses and still save yourself some money? Well, I am here to give you some beauty tips and tricks in getting more out of your beauty products!

Eyeshadow Primer

We all know that Eyeshadow primers are key in preventing the shadow from creasing and oxidizing. I don't know about you but when I wear under eye concealer, it also creases under my eyes which is not a cute look. 

**Tip: You know your eye shadow primer? Apply it to your under eye area and then apply your favorite concealer over top. It works like a charm. Go ahead, try it!

Waterproof Mascara or Not?

Raccoons are cute but not when us girls look like one. Waterproof mascaras are key in preventing raccoon eyes and our liners from smudging and running but using these products can be a pain in the butt to remove or maybe these products irritate your eyes.

**Tip #1: If you find long wearing formulas irritating, then sweep a clear mascara over any regular black mascara on your top lashes as this will seal the color. For your bottom lashes, just apply a few coats of clear mascara by itself.

**Tip #2: To properly remove waterproof mascara, soak a cotton pad in your favorite makeup remover and hold it on your lashes for a few minutes, then gently wiggle the cotton pad down your lashes to remove all the eye makeup. Being gentle and having patience is key in preventing wrinkles and lash loss!

Make Your Lipstick Last

You know when you apply lipstick and about a half hour to an hour later its all worn off or it has totally faded?         ANNOYING right?

**Tip: Before applying your lip liner or lipstick simply apply a dab of your foundation on your lips {I like to use concealer as it works better for me} and then apply your favorite shade of lipstick and/or liner over top. This helps to fill in any fine lines and gives the lip color something to adhere to. 

**Keep in mind: the glossier or sheerer the lip color, the more quickly it will fade.

Powder or Cream Bronzers

Bronzers don't only have to be used for contouring or giving our faces some glow.

**Tip: Set aside your eyeshadow's and use your powder bronzer instead or if you want to add a little more definition to your lids, then use your cream bronzer that has a hint of glitter. 

 Cream Blushes

Don't think that your cream blushes are just for your cheeks.

**Tip: Save your lipsticks and glosses for another day and use your cream blushes instead. You'd be surprised how fabulous it really looks.

 SPF Instead of Face Primer

If you enjoy using a primer than perfect, but if you are like me and you want to use the least amount of products on your face then ditch the primer.

**Tip: Apply an Oil Free Waterproof SPF first, then apply your foundation of choice. This will act as a primer and you're protected from the harmful UVA/UVB rays.

Filling in Your Brows

**Tip: If you were to take a good look at your eyeshadow collection, you would be surprised that you would have a color that would match your brows perfectly. Save the money and use your shadows!

Treat Yourself Sometimes but do Your Nails at Home

 We all love to go to the nail salon and get a perfect streak free polish and perhaps a design also. If you already have your base coat, polish and top coat at home, then all you need to pick up is a "mattifying top coat." Essie makes a great one called "Matte About You." This will help minimize any residual streaking during your last coat of polish. 

**Tip: First you want to apply your base, then one thin coat of polish, add a layer of the "mattifying top coat," add another layer of your polish {at this point you could add a design with Sally Hansen's Nail Art Pen} and then top it all off with a shiny top coat and voila!


Save yourself some money and try these beauty tips. You will be amazed!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful day, xo!!

THE FEDORA HAT

Happy Tuesday!

Regardless if I am having a bad hair day or not, I absolutely love wearing any type of hat, whether it is a baseball hat {which is my favorite}, a floppy hat for the beach or of course a fedora hat. Fedora hats can be dressed up or down which makes me love these hats even more. I usually like to wear my hair down {straight or curled} when wearing a fedora hat but I also love wearing it tied back in a low messy bun {totally obsessed with this hairstyle lately} which is perfect for the beach or any casual outfit for that matter. My boyfriend has a Jeep and every time we take the roofs off, I am usually wearing my fedora hat or heck if I don't care about my hair that day, I will let the wind take my hair wherever it wants to {which is a great feeling by the way}. 

What are your favorite hats to wear? Leave it in the comments below!

Thank you so much for reading, xo!!

DRESSY // CASUAL

My boyfriend Sean's birthday was a few weeks ago and we just celebrated his birthday the other day by going to this amazing steakhouse restaurant called "The Keg" for dinner {which was delicious by the way}. Every time I have an outing planned, I get so excited to get ready and look my best for him. If I haven't told you before, we are high school sweethearts and have been together for over 9 years. I love him to pieces.

Okay, back to the outfit. I didn't want to be too dressed up for the occasion since it has been extremely humid these days {love the heat but not a fan of the humidity}. I decided to wear my lace, YES LACE skirt that Sean actually picked out for me a little while ago from American Eagle.. I paired it with a white Old Navy tee/tank. I say this because the sleeves are really short and almost border line sleeveless which was perfect for the occasion. I then paired it with a cognac belt of course, Aldo sandals, Pandora charm bracelet, Aldo necklace and Essie's Bikini So Teeny polish.

What is your favorite look to wear when you're going out for a date night with your man or with the girls?

P.s. Thank you so much for all of your comments on the last post "Melt Proof Makeup Tips" it really made my day :)
Happy Friday and thank you so much for reading, xo!!

MELT PROOF MAKEUP TIPS

You know that feeling when you can feel the sweat {a.k.a your makeup} dripping down your forehead and all you can think of is "oh no, I think my makeup is running down my face"? I am not one to wear a lot of foundation but even when I wear a tinted moisturizer that is always a fear of mine, especially in the summer months.

It is important to adjust your makeup routine in the warmer months to prevent your foundation and makeup from running down your face. Here are some key tips to a melt proof makeup:

{1} Start With a Face & Eyeshadow Primer

Always prep and prime your face before applying your foundation or tinted moisturizer. It's best to find a primer that has silicone in it, as this will act as a barrier between your skin and the humidity. Using an eyeshadow primer is key to prevent your eyeshadow from creasing and oxidizing.

**If you are one that doesn't like to wear a primer like myself, then make sure you apply a waterproof SPF instead. This acts like a primer and you're SPF protected.. 

{2} Silicone Based Foundation and/or with SPF
There are a lot of foundations on the market, but if you want to skip the face primer or maybe you want even more protection, then find a foundation that has a built in primer and perhaps an SPF. These foundations are the longest wearing and hold up better on the skin.

{3} Waterproof Concealer
Using a waterproof concealer is key in preventing it from wearing off throughout the day when in extreme heats. It's also a good idea to use a concealer with an SPF built in as well.

{4} Water Proof Mascara and Liner
Even if you commute to work, going to a wedding or perhaps you're doing some outdoor activities in the sun, it's best to use a waterproof mascara and liner. This will prevent your mascara from transferring to your under eye area or your liner from smudging and running into the corners of your eyes. No one wants to look like a raccoon, period!

{5} Cream Shadows and Blushes/Bronzers
Try a cream based shadow and blush/ bronzer instead of powder. Cream products give you that nice dewy/glow appearance and it wont get cakey either! BUT, like I mentioned above, if you apply an eye shadow primer than a powder shadow is fine.

**Another great option to have in your purse throughout the day is blotting papers to absorb any oils that are on the skin. Applying powder after powder is just going to make you look cakey and that is never a cute look.

Do you have any melt proof tips? Leave it in the comments below!

Thank you so much for reading and all of your kind comments that you all leave, it truly makes my day. xo!!

DRESSING DOWN

Sometimes on weekends I like to totally dress down, wear flip flops and tie my hair back and do nothing. Lately it has been very humid and hot and there is nothing worse than having your hair down and your bangs sticking to your face and hair that ends up going haywire. It's so frustrating!!! I love wearing my hair down but there is nothing better than having my hair tied back and out of my face.

 I have been wearing my hair a lot like this lately and you will see a lot more of this "side messy bun" in my upcoming posts. I have been obsessed with this hairstyle and the messier the bun the better!! Not to mention, this hairstyle can be dressed up also...

  What is your favorite way to wear your hair in the warmer months? Leave it in the comments below!

I hope you had a great weekend and thanks for reading, xo!!

LACE...

Happy Friday!

I never used to like lace as it always reminded me of my grandmothers tablecloths but I am really starting to love it more and more and have been gravitating towards anything that is lace. It is feminine and classy and not to mention it is so popular these days.

When I first saw this Cynthia Rowley top I had to have it. I do apologize as you can't really see the lace details on the top as the lighting was too bright, but it truly is adorable. These shorts may look familiar as I wore them in my last outfit post. I decided to pair it with the same shorts and cognac belt to give it that classy look and then paired it with my cognac wedges. I did mention that I love cognac right? :)

Do you like lace? Yea or Nay?
Leave it in the comments below!!

Have a great weekend and thank you so much for reading, xo!!

ALL I NEED IS 5 MINUTES

 

Sometimes were all in a hurry or some of us don't want to spend too much time dolling ourselves up in the morning. I love to do my makeup and get ready for a night out or just in general and I usually like to give myself some extra time to do that but sometimes I am in a hurry {usually if I have slept in or spent too much time picking out an outfit} and need a quick 5-10 minutes to do my makeup.

I have tried different makeup routines and literally "timed myself" doing it to try and figure out what works best in a 5 minute time frame. Honestly, grab some products and start timing yourself doing your makeup. You will definitely find a routine that works best for you.

These are the following products that I found work best for me when I am in a hurry or just want to do a quick makeup look without spending too much time doing it..

Origins VitaZing SPF 15

I apply this all over my face with my fingers. This stuff is my absolute favorite product ever. It gives my face a little bit of a tint and leaves my face looking dewy which I personally love. This is what I use instead of foundation..

MAC StudioFinish Concealer

I apply this concealer to any blemishes, redness around my nose or chin. I apply this with a concealer brush or my index finger.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Concealer

I apply this concealer underneath my eyes as well as my eye lids and brow bone to even everything out.

Bobbi Brown Long- Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black

I apply this along the upper lash line and winging it out slightly for that polished look

Revlon Brow Fantasy Eyebrow Pencil & Gel

Eyebrows are a very important feature that frames our face. A polished brow is key to every makeup look or even if your not wearing any makeup. I use this to fill in any sparse areas as well as define my brows.

L'Oreal Full Definition Voluminous Mascara

I have so many favorites when it comes to mascara but lately this has been my go to mascara. I apply a couple of coats and it gives my lashes a lot of volume and it doesn't flake onto my cheeks or under eye area.

MAC Blush in Pink Swoon

 I apply this to the apples of my cheeks to give that instant pretty

NARS Laguna Bronzer

I swipe this on my cheekbones, along the hair line and little down my nose to add that sun kissed glow

MAC Lipglass in Pink Lemonade

A couple swipes of this on the lips gives the perfect finish

What types of products do you use that you find are the quickest to do your makeup?

I hope you all have a great day and thanks for stopping by, xo!!

BLACK // TOUCH OF COGNAC

Black and cognac is one of my favorite colour combinations to incorporate in an outfit, especially when I want to dress up. It's such a classy look and you can wear this combination anywhere and accessorize it with any type of jewelry as well. Even if I decide not to wear black, I love to incorporate cognac with a lot of different outfits and colours to add that "extra" classy touch to my outfits. You will notice a lot of cognac in my upcoming outfit posts..

Top- Old Navy {Sold Out} | Shorts- Dynamite | Sandals- Target | Necklace- Aldo {old} | Nails- Essie Cute As A Button &      OPI Alpine Snow for the toes

Have a great day and thanks for reading, xo!!

JEAN & CORAL

Lately I have been obsessed with this jean shirt. I feel like it goes with absolutely everything and it's super light weight and comfortable. I either wear this shirt tucked in or untucked or I even leave it unbuttoned and have a cute camis underneath. I decided to tuck it in and pair it with my coral American Eagle jeggings, which are sold out but love this option.You can't tell from these picture's but at the bottom sides of these pants, there are little zippers, which totally sold me as it gives that extra touch of detail to the jegging. Like I said, I would wear pretty much any coloured bottom with this jean shirt as it's light in colour and goes with anything...

Note: I promise my roots are not as bad as it looks, the lighting was awful that day!!

I paired this outfit with these cream coloured flats from Target but I would also pair this outfit with some heels to dress it up.

I hope all of my American readers had a great July 4th!
Have a great weekend and thanks for reading, xo!!

TIPS TO PROLONG YOUR HAIR COLOUR

Once I started going to a hair salon and paying big bucks for my hair colouring appointments, I have learned that taking care of my colour and making my colour "last" was a definite must. As all of you know, I am a blonde and being a blonde is definitely high maintenance in keeping it healthy and brass free. Regardless if you are blonde or not, the following tips will help you prolong your colour in between touch ups.

1. PICK THE RIGHT PRODUCTS

Use a shampoo or conditioner with colour protecting ingredients that is directly for your specific shade and avoid styling products like gel and mouse with alcohol listed in the top six ingredients as this will dry your hair out.

2. LEAVE IT A LITTLE DIRTY

If you over shampoo the colour is just going to wash down the drain faster. Try washing every other day or less if you don't have oily hair. In between washes, tackle the roots with some dry shampoo.

3. DEEP CONDITION

The chemical in dyes leave the hair porous and most of the time leaving your hair dry, so to keep it feeling soft and looking healthy, apply a deep conditioner once or twice a week after shampooing starting from the nape of your neck and down to the ends and I even like to apply it to my bangs as well. Clip your hair up and let it sit for 10-15 minutes (I leave it on for 20-30 minutes sometimes) then rinse with cool water as this will help seal the cuticle and lock in moisture. If you want to boost the effectiveness, apply a shower cap once you have applied the deep conditioner and let it sit for the same amount of time.

4. SHOWER SMARTER

One of the biggest reasons of fading is the shower. You don't want to rinse your hair in hot water, instead rinse in warm or cool temperatures.

5. ADD A GLAZE OR TONE IT

Try adding a gloss to boost both shine and brightness between salon appointments or if you are a blonde, you can purchase a toner and do it at home to get rid of the brassiness or use a purple shampoo once or twice a week.

6. SPF

Hair sunscreens do exist. Ultraviolet rays can penetrate the hair's cuticle and oxidize or bleach the colour. Not only are you protecting your hair, you are also protecting your scalp from burning also.
{Redken has a product called  "Color Extend Sun" which is an SPF 25}

7. POOL WATER

Mineral deposits that are found in pool water are what lead to that "feared" green or orange tinged hair after being in a pool all day. I once read an article that if you apply a few drops of baby oil to dry hair before swimming, this will prevent that green tinge that some of us get, especially blondes. Once you have finished swimming, immediately rinse your hair with water.

FOR THE BLONDES:

I read in a magazine recently that if your hair becomes green from being in a swimming pool (which all of us have experienced I am sure}, all you have to do to get rid of it is to apply tomato juice {V8} to your hair. The red juice neutralizes the green bringing your blonde locks back to life.
No I haven't tried this but who would have thought? If you have tried this or have heard about it before, please let me know in the comments below, I am curious lol...

Happy Wednesday and thanks for reading, xo!!

CANADA DAY

I always look forward to Canada Day. I love dressing up and wearing red and white and heading to the Lake to watch the fireworks show while eating some sort of candy that is stashed in my purse. The fireworks was twenty minutes long but only felt like ten minutes. Once the fireworks are over, everyone tends to run to their cars which are either parked along the side of the road a mile away or right in the center of it all. It's almost like a game, let's see who can get to their car and out of the parking lot the quickest before getting caught in traffic, which is usually a half an hour wait.. Luckily my boyfriend and I found a spot on a hill that not too many people know about, so getting to our car wasn't a problem!!

My Canada Day attire

The fireworks show was amazing as always. I took so many pictures but these are the ones that actually turned out. How neat is that happy face one?

I hope all of my Canadian readers had a great Canada Day long weekend...

Thanks for reading, xo!!