Small Screen Beauty

Thank Goodness for Best Friends and BB Cream

2013-05-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

Skin79 Super+ BB Cream

I promise I'm not as late to the BB Cream bandwagon as you may think. I've tried a bunch of American drugstore and high end BB Creams and honestly haven't been impressed with many. The Garnier one is nice, but in my opinion, isn't anything special.

HOWEVER...

Just when I had almost given up hope on falling in love with a BB Cream, my best friend Rebecca went to Hong Kong and brought me back the Skin79 brand blemish balm. THIS STUFF IS AMAZING. It's sheer, dewy, and has SPF. I am in love, honestly. The lightweight formula is perfect for summer and lasts all day (you will most likely need to set it with a powder!). The best news? It literally takes one pump to cover your whole face.

The moral? Asian BB Creams are far superior and best friends rock.

XO,

A

Breaking Dawn 2/Essence Haul/Review

2012-11-22T21:52:00.000-08:00

Confession: My roommate and I went to see Breaking Dawn Part 2 on opening night.

Another confession: We loved it.

Last confession: I'm not embarrassed whatsoever about that or about what I am going to tell you next.

I was literally thrilled to see that Essence had partnered with Breaking Dawn Part 2 to create a Twilight themed makeup line. I couldn't resist picking up three products to try them out - the price was too low to say no (despite my boyfriend's reminders that I certainly have enough makeup!).

The first thing I picked up is one of the lip glosses. It's in the shade Renesmee Red (02). It's a beautiful sheer red with gold glitter. It's super wearable and I love it layered on top of one of my favorite red lipsticks for Autumn.

Second, I grabbed another of the lip glosses, and this turned out to be rather disappointing. I got the shade Alice Had a Vision Again (01). In the tube, it looks like a dark purple with silver glitter, but on the lips, it really isn't anything special. It comes out clear, and is much stickier than the red. Unfortunate.

The last thing I grabbed is my favorite. It's the shimmer powder in the shade Bella's Secret (01). It's an incredible highlight for the cheekbones. It is very true to the color in the pan, and I'd recommend it for any skin tone. I am very fair, but I did swatch it on a friend who has very dark olive skin and it looked fantastic on her. If you are looking for a very affordable highlight with a very wearable sheen, I would highly recommend this!

Here are my badly lit swatches:

From left to right: Bella's Secret, Alice Had a Vision Again, Renesmee Red

x's and o's!

Thanksgiving Favorites!

2012-10-07T20:48:00.004-07:00

Hi everyone! Happy Thanksgiving! This Thanksgiving, I have a lot to be thankful for. While I am always thankful for my supportive family, my wonderful boyfriend and great group of friends, I am also quite thankful for some of this season's holy grail beauty products! Without further ado, here are my Thanksgiving Favorites (in no particular order).

How beautiful are these shadows? I put together this Mac quad because I traveled home to my parents' house over the weekend, and shockingly tried to pack light. I chose:

Nylon: This pearly toned beige is perfect for a brow-bone highlight, or a quick sweep over the lid if you're in a rush. This might be my favorite Mac shadow of the moment. I can't get over it.

Patina: This is my all time favorite brown shade. It's the perfect balance of understated and a little flirty and shimmery. This is a great every day color for any time of year, but particularly beautiful during the Fall.

Satin Taupe: This is such a unique shade and I have loved blending it through my crease for a shimmery night time look. It's slightly cooler toned than Patina and it's insanely easy to work with.

Sketch: Sketch is a beautiful shimmery burgundy-purple. This wine colored shadow reminds me of the changing leaves, and I'm loving creating a fantastic Fall themed smoky eye with this.

These shadows can be purchased in Mac stores or at www.maccosmetics.com.

Holy smokes, you guys. I only had one OCC Lip Tar prior to this weekend (it is in the shade Pretty Boy if you must know). I essentially jumped out of my skin when I found out that they have started selling them at Sephora (dying over this...seriously.....I am still so stoked) so obviously I had to go pick one up. After careful selection with the help of my BFF (Rebecca over at www.chocolattemuse.blogspot.ca), I chose Memento, and I could not be more pleased. It's a gorgeous your-lips-but-better dusty rose, and it goes on like a dream. It came with a cute little brush that helps the product go on smoothly, and this insanely amazing formula stays on forever. I ate dinner and it didn't budge! I'm thrilled. Plus, the best thing about it is that you only need to use the teeniest tiniest little droplet of product for it to cover your whole mouth. It's no joke that a little goes a long way! Literally in love. My boyfriend will probably get jealous.

You can purchase OCC's Lip Tars at their website (www.occmakeup.com) or at Sephora (SQUEALLLLL).

You've all seen bloggers talk about this product to no end I'm sure, but I can't help it. This color is beyond beautiful for Fall. I'm dying for Maybelline's Color Tattoo eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze. It is perfect for underneath powder shadow or on it's own. It's shimmery and creamy, plus, it doesn't crease! This is an amazing drugstore equivalent to high end cream eyeshadows. I would absolutely say that this is a close second to Mac's Paint Pots. Let me know what you think!

For those of you who like a BOLD lip for the season, I have finally chosen my holy grail red lip liner. Of course, NYX Lipliners are talked about all the time, but for some reason, I hadn't picked up a red until quite recently. The formula goes on smoothly, and I love the shade Hot Red for those days when I feel like looking like Adele at the Grammys. If you love red lips, or are tying to get a little more adventurous with your shades, I would recommend this product. It's bold on the lips but light on the wallet!

Happy Thanksgiving beauties!

xo,

CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO BLOG.

2012-10-03T23:12:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!

I must sincerely apologize for my recent absence. The first little bit of school this semester has been crazy. Between my roommates and I (hi, Lex and Em), we have experienced the following since the beginning of September:

3 separate instances of head colds
Pink eye
A mysterious rash
Some (but not many, of course) rough mornings
Intense sleep deprivation (thanks, academia)
Acne breakouts
Blisters on feet
Allergies

In honor of our rather unhealthy start, I've accumulated some heath/beauty tips for the broke, burnt out hot messes that I know you are (I'm looking at you, university students).

To boost that immune system:

My mom will glow with pride when I tell you this, but I will be the first to admit that moms are generally right about stuff like this. The best thing I did this year was start religiously taking multi-vitamins. I was previously taking a generic brand that only contained Vit A, B, C and D + Calcium. I take Centrum now, and I swear I see a difference - there is loads more in this multi, and it definitely gives me a boost. BONUS: Unlike most multi-vitamins, Centrum contains Biotin which helps strengthen hair and nails.

To start your day off right:

I have never been a big breakfast person. Sure, I like my weekend eggs and toast, but during the week, I always find myself pressed for time. I used to just grab a granola bar and go, but lately I've been trying to be a little more food group-y (it's late, shut up). My typical breakfast is a cup of banana yogurt (the President's Choice one is my fav) with half a cup of Fibre1 wheat shreddies sprinkled on top. Sometimes (if I remember to grocery shop!), I have some raspberries as well. I can't kick the coffee habit though. Oh well. Small steps.

To keep the stress acne at bay:

Something I've been making a conscious effort to do (and trust me, it's hard for me - I'm a makeup junkie) is to wear less full-face makeup during the day. My skin has improved dramatically, and sometimes giving your face a break from piling on the goop is all it takes. I drink a mug of green tea every evening as well as it contains some great natural properties that brighten up the skin.

To cure a "rough morning":

I don't judge, I swear. We all have them, and no, there is no insta-cure for hangovers. Loads of my friends like to pop an Ibuprofen in the morning, but as my boyfriend likes to stress (in a big way) that taking Advil and Tylenol is NOT SAFE after a night of drinking. Instead, try 5 cups of water and lots of mineral rich foods. One of my roommates is pretty smart and drinks lots of water before she goes to bed, and she almost never feels sick in the morning. Hydration is key. Disclaimer: I do not condone underage or idiotic drinking - make good choices!

Alright, y'all. Have a great day and I'll speak to you soon (I promise). My September Favs will be my next blog post. I can't believe it's already October!

xo,

Learn to read a cosmetic label like a pro

2012-08-21T13:55:00.001-07:00

Most of us love this view: aisles and aisles of affordable, pretty, shiny drugstore makeup. It's easy to make a purchase on a whim in drugstores; there's always something sparkly to look at. As much as I love drugstores, something I've noticed a lot lately is that people do not know what is in their makeup, and will purchase products before educating themselves on the ingredients and marketing techniques used by makeup brands. Today I'm going to focus on a few different phrases in particular and teach you some basics about how to read a cosmetic label and educate yourself. Education is power, beauties!

1. What is a call-out and how should they be interpreted?
A call out is a list of ingredients meant to impress you. Call-outs can often be found on the front side of the label on your cosmetic items. For example, on Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer, the call-out is found right below the product name. It says "with total soy complex and natural light diffusers". Sounds impressive, no? But let's think about this for a second. Do any of us really know what that means? Sure, it sounds scientific and fancy, but a little research goes a long way. A quick Google search will tell you that total soy complex is a fancy way of saying "contains soy", and while it will likely not have any negative effects for your skin, it might not be that godsend ingredient you were hoping for. The moral of the story here? Call-outs are only there because marketing executives think they sound good. The real test should be the full ingredient list.

2. What is a paraben and are they really that bad for me?
Parabens are a series of chemicals used as preservatives commonly found in cosmetic and cleaning items. They can be located on ingredient lists quite easily. Methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, and isobutylparaben are some of the most common ones (the suffix "paraben" is usually present in the name). The presence of parabens in cosmetics is a widely debated topic; some people believe that parabens can speed up cell growth which may lead to cancer, and some believe that parabens are skin irritants and may cause redness and allergic reactions for some users. However, some people do not believe that parabens have any negative effects at all. They are completely legal for use in cosmetics in most countries. It is up to the consumer to decide whether to avoid parabens in cosmetics, but as I said before, knowledge is power, and being able to read a label is the beginning of your research. A great resource is David Suzuki's web page about cosmetic ingredients. Better to be safe than sorry!

3. What does "dermatologist tested" really mean?
When you see "dermatologist tested" on a package, you might assume that you're in the clear. If a dermatologist tested the product, it must be safe, right? Wrong. Think about it - just because a dermatologist TESTED the product doesn't mean the product passed the test. Case in point: one of my single-pan blushes has a bullet right above the ingredient list stating that the product was dermatologist tested. However, if you look further down into the extensive ingredient list, you might notice that almost ALL of the ingredients in this particular blush are parabens. While we can't be 100% sure that parabens are a dangerous ingredient, we can probably safely assume that MOST dermatologists might like to see a few less preservatives in something we generously cake onto our faces. The moral here? People fail tests all the time. If they can't prove they passed the test (administered by a LEGIT dermatologist with qualifications), their claim means absolutely nothing.

Now let's learn some basic language to help you break down the labels on your favorite products. This is label reading 101.

Non-Comedogenic: This term is found primarily on skin-care products. It means, in simple terms, that the product will not clog pores and therefore not lead to acne breakouts induced by the product. However, there is not a whole lot of scientific proof that this is true, and in fact, because everyone's skin is different, you might break out into hives from a product that claims to be non-comedogenic because you happen to be allergic to it. Moral? Anything can react badly with your skin.

SPF: This acronym stands for "sun protection factor". This is a universal ranking for how much of the UV radiation from the sun will bounce off your skin if you use a product containing SPF.

Hypoallergenic: The most important thing to note about this term is that there is no industry standard for the claim. Simply put, if one person does not break out into leprosy from a product, the company has the green light to slap the phrase "proudly hypoallergenic" on their product. Like with the term non-comedogenic, it's important to note that anyone can be allergic to anything, and companies cannot guarantee that you won't react badly to an ingredient.

Hopefully this helps you out a little bit when you are choosing ingredients. I'll be the first to tell you that while I try to be careful about what I put on my face, I still own some products containing parabens. I am trying to fill my cosmetic containers with more eco-friendly products and less nasty chemicals!

Cheers educated girls!

xo
A

Summer Fashion Trends I am LOVING.

2012-07-06T09:16:00.002-07:00

Well, where I am, it's about 36 degrees celcius (which is 96.8 degrees fahrenheit for you Americans) which is pretty much disgusting. I decided that because of the ridiculously HAWT weather, it is certainly a good day to post some of the trends I've been loving this summer. I won't chatter too much in the intro, because really, no one reads intros anyways.

1. The Floppy Beach Hat
Pictured above is the alarmingly popular Carly Rae Jepsen. Call Me Maybe is the anthem of everyone's lives due to it's consistent play on the radio and the Youtube parodies that annoy the hell out of me*. Regardless, Carly Rae's beach hat is perf for the beach - especially for those who are members of the pale-skin tribe. Shade is a must for us fair (note: fair is the NICE word for pale/pasty/ghost-like, etc.) folk, and floppy beach hats provide an umbrella effect without looking stupid for carrying an umbrella in the summer. This is a style I will definitely be sporting on my trip to cottage country at the end of July (FULL BEACH DAYS KILL MY SKIN - just wait for a long post on sunburns and heat rash in 3 weeks) and to Los Angeles in August. Plus, my dad, my boyfriend's mom, and a variety of other middle aged people have informed me that I am identical to Carly Rae Jepsen - I think this is crazy talk, but whatever. I take it as a compliment.

2. Arm Candy
No, I am not referring to a hot guy here (though, it's always nice to have one of those on your arm for summer as well) but the bracelet stacking trend that I've been seeing just about everywhere this month. From braided suede to charm bracelets, girls all over are piling on the wrist bling as a fun way to show off eclectic taste in colours, style, and beads. Personally, I'm sporting 4 bracelets right now in a variety of different styles (a Pandora, a linked heart silver bracelet, a beaded hemp bracelet, and an awareness bracelet). Miley's got it right up above, and in honour of her recent engagement to Liam Hemsworth, I've decided to use her as my jewelry example (although let's face it; most 20 year olds are NOT rocking engagement rings this summer - thankfully).

3. The Top Knot Bun
I cannot even express to you how happy I am that the top knot is in fashion this summer. First of all, it eliminates need to spend decades on my hair in the morning. I've grown increasingly lazy about blow-drying (I always end up lazier in the heat), so knowing I can toss my hair up into a messy bun on the top of my head before work is extremely reassuring. Even better is that the girls at work are also loving this style, and at least one of us tends to wear this style every day. Pictured above with this exact style is Katie Holmes, who is appearing in the tabloids an insane amount these days due to her impending divorce. MEH, I'm more interested in her hair.

4. Big Celebrity Sunglasses
No one gets enough sleep in the summer. That is a fact. Most people work full time and then don't want to waste the day in the office, so they venture out into the world and stay out until some kind of ungodly hour. At least, I do. And then I go to work in the morning and freak out because I have bags under my eyes that are not even cover-able by any amount of under eye concealer. Enter my gigantic sunglasses. This is a quick-fix and the people on the bus/streetcar in the morning aren't terrified that a zombie is sitting behind them. By the time I get to work, I have new found energy, my eyes have adjusted to the annoyingly bright light, and I have caffeine on my desk in the form of a Venti cup. Thanks, sunglasses. Pictured above is Whitney Port, and I can't help but notice how summer perfect she always looks. Sigh.

5. Summer Scarves
Be honest: you are all watching this season of The Bachelorette. Emily is too likable not to, and her style is hilariously Barbie inspired. However, sometimes (though not very often), Emily goes boho and rocks a couple of summery scarves. I love how she's got two scarves complimenting her maxi-dress in the photo above. The one around her head will hold her hair back on a hot day, and the one around her neck dresses up her cotton dress. Emily is super gorgeous, and for the most part, has cute style, but by far, Emily's best accessory is her precious daughter Ricki (the cutest child on TV other than Mason Disick).

6. Ombre Nails
As much as I would have loved the ombre hair trend to stick for longer, I think it has sadly finally died out. However, in saying that, ombre is taking other forms these days. I like the ombre nail trend, and it definitely works for gals who have a super big nail polish collection. Lauren Conrad is often caught with fun summery nail art, and I've kind of become obsessed with playing with nail polish. Painting my nails is my fav hobby, and I'm thinking I'm going to try out ombre nails tonight.

Sorry. I had to post that pic. It's too cute.

XO,
A

*my boyfriend sent me this Call Me Maybe parody and it's semi-jokes. So Happy Belated Independence Day, Obama lovers. Enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX1YVzdnpEc

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

2012-07-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

I want to wish a very happy Canada day to my Canadian beauties! Today I'll be sharing my festive Canada Day nail tutorial as well as a list of the best Canadian born TV shows out there!

Apologies for the crappy photo quality - the lighting in my room is wonky! I'll try and figure out a better set up.

Polishes used:

American Apparel Nail Lacquer - Downtown LA

NYX Girls Nail Polish - White

OPI Nail Lacquer - Pirouette My Whistle (from the OPI NYC Ballet Soft Shades Collection)

Final product:

Some are trashy, some are historical, some are even off the air, but they are all Canadian!

Degrassi (and Degrassi: The Next Generation)
Road to Avonlea
Breaker High
The Real Housewives of Vancouver
1 Girl 5 Gays
Who Do You Think You Are?
6Teen
The Backyardigans
Canadian Idol
Emily of New Moon

Emily Maynard's Beautiful Self

2012-06-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick Polyvore set for all my beautiful girls on-the-go who may want to recreate Emily's polished and natural look without too much effort.

Emily Maynard Beauty Must-Haves by andiexo featuring maybelline blush

Maybelline blush
$7.49 - amazon.com

Christian Dior beauty product
$30 - sephora.com

Garnier beauty product
eleven.se

xo, A
PS. Follow me on Twitter, Pinterest, and Polyvore!

Summer DIY Series: Lips

2012-06-07T21:22:00.002-07:00

I hope you can all forgive me for my blogging sins as of late. However, I come with the promise of an exciting series I'm going to be launching this summer! For the next few posts, I will be teaching you how to make some awesome cosmetic products with very few ingredients. After loads of experimenting, my recipes are finally ready to share. So, hello, my loves, and welcome to lip day!

Chloe Crimson - Lip Tint - Sour Cherry
Inspired by Krysten Ritter's character on Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23

What you need:

1/2 tsp Small Beeswax Pellets
1 tsp 100% Coconut Oil
1/2 tsp Vaseline
1/2 tsp 100% Unrefined Shea Butter
Cherry Kool Aid

The first step is to wash your hands. This might seem obvious, but some people are gross. Just saying. Anyways, take a small chunk of beeswax, place it in a microwave safe container, and microwave it for about 40 seconds (or until the wax is fully melted. Mix the wax with the rest of the ingredients. You can use as much Cherry Kool Aid as you like. I just kept adding it until my lip tint reached the shade and scent that I wanted. When the gloss is thoroughly combined, pour the liquid into a small plastic container (wait until it has cooled down at least a little bit) and put the lid on. Place the container in the refrigerator for about 4 hours or until it has hardened.

Radiant Ronnie - Lip Butter - Banana Coconut
Inspired by Ronnie from The Real Housewives of Vancouver

What you need:

1 tsp 100% Coconut Oil
1 tsp Unrefined Shea Butter
A few drops of banana extract or oil
A pinch of Mica Shimmer Powder

This recipe is a little easier. For this one, just mix all of the ingredients together thoroughly with a popsicle stick or a spoon and pour into the container. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. This lip butter is clear and extremely moisturizing; plus, it's got a little shimmer for those days when you're just feeling a little sparkly.

Effortless Emily - Lip Gloss - Banana Split
Inspired by Emily Maynard from The Bachelorette

What you need:

1 tbsp Unrefined Shea Butter
A few drops of banana extract or oil
Mica Shimmer Powder
Strawberry Kool Aid

Mix the ingredients together thoroughly and add Kool Aid until the colour desired is reached. Remember, not too much Mica Shimmer, because Emily is one classy gal and you want to be just like her. Right? Right. Anyways, then refrigerate the container and wait at least four hours before using. I know, it's killer to wait.

Yummy!

xo,

Bad excuses, and best exam distractions.

2012-04-16T21:19:00.003-07:00

I realize I've committed a blog sin by essentially falling off the face of the planet. It's exam season here in university hell, so I have been confined to the campus library where buffering video is nearly impossible, and studying for my (dreaded) chemistry exam consumes my entire mind (including my dreams). However, like every good university student, I've found a multitude of new shows to watch and thus found myself some new makeup looks to play around with.

First is The Real Housewives of Vancouver.

Ah, my country is finally represented in the Real Housewives franchise. As many of you know, I am a (proud) Canadian, and while I have never been to Vancouver (though, I believe I'm going there with my family in August!), it's nice to know that we, too, have our share of materialistic but ever entertaining women to be jealous of. Pictured above is the beautiful Ronnie, who seems to be sporting a bit of a Michelle Money (of The Bachelor and Bachelor Pad) look as far as the hair is concerned (APPROVAL). You can achieve this look using a 1 inch hair straightener or a thick barrelled curling iron. My roommate has an Amika one-inch iron and it is ah-mazing for loose curls. Remember, always curl AWAY from your face!!! Finish the look with a generous spray of Bumble and bumble's Holding Spray. Anyways - Real Housewives of Vancouver looks extremely promising and I think my favorites will be Mary and Reiko.

Second is Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23.

I can tell you that I think I will be obsessed with this show, and it's my mother's fault. She peer pressured me via text message while I was studying for my looming sociology exam, and I caved. Tempting me with TV is fatal, always. Regardless, I have to thank her, because I think this will be one of my new go-to study break shows. Hilarious, and of course, there are a few obvious perks. Firstly, let's address James Van Der Beek playing himself. I was (you guessed it) a devout Dawson's Creek fanatic, so this completely floats my boat. I also have to appreciate the makeup artist's work on Chloe (Krysten Ritter), because her just-rolled-out-of-bed-with-last-night's-makeup-still-on look is rad. To achieve this look (eyeliner wise), pull out your favorite gel liner pencil and line away - finish it off by smudging the heck out of it with a sponge smudging brush. OR, you can do it my way and sleep in the library and stay there the following day (just kidding - I do not endorse that idea).

I PROMISE NOT TO FALL INTO A BLOGGING BLACK HOLE AGAIN (I've decided I like this blog more than exams anyways).

Sending you hydrocarbons and polymers (chemistry on the brain, sorry),

Saturday Scoreboard

2012-03-31T14:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first Saturday Scoreboard post! Every weekend, I'll be posting my top 3 TV moments of the week and my top 3 makeup products of the week.

TV

1. One Tree Hill

This week's One Tree Hill was rather entertaining. The development of Julian's new TV show (is anyone sensing a Dawson's Creek stolen storyline, though?) was cute, and the Brooke flashbacks made me miss the old OTH. I was always a Brucas fan, myself. I'm looking forward to Wednesday's series finale but it's bittersweet. One Tree Hill is definitely one of the shows I grew up with.

2. GCB

I'm in love with GCB. Big hair and hilarious outfits are just two of the many things I think this show does well. This week, pants were up for discussion; to wear pants to church, or not to wear pants to church? Too funny.

3. The Secret Circle

This show gets me excited. This week's continuation of Adam and Cassie's tragic love story had me hooked. And HOW SKETCHY IS THAT RANDOM BRITISH GUY DIANA KEEPS SEEING? There's something weird about him. Let me know if you agree.

MAKEUP

1. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Creme in Primrose
This is the PERFECT spring/summer lipstick. It's natural, but has this amazing your-lips-but-better effect. My lips are quite pink and pigmented, so Primrose lightens them a little. I'm obsessed.

2. Brian Bailey Fresh Lipgloss in Berry
I know, so many lip products. SORRY. This is the biggest surprise favorite of the week for me. It came in my Glossybox (www.glossybox.ca) and I thought it would be a scary purple color. To my surprise, it ended up being a wine-toned dark, sparkly, pretty gloss that I think I will likely become obsessed with. My only concern is that it smells kind of weird.

3. Powda Wowza by Benefit
I am in love with this blush/bronzer trio. It comes in a tiny little box and contains Coralista (coral blush), Bella Bamba (pink blush), and Hoola (bronzer). These are my three all-time favorite blushes and bronzers, so having them all in one travel sized box makes me smiley.

Have a great weekend, bloggies!
xo,
A

UnmAsked: Pretty Little Liars

2012-03-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

WOW. Just wow. How shocking and amazing was the Pretty Little Liars season finale? *This post contains INTENSE spoilers*

It was so talked up; I was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype. We all knew they were going to finally tell us who 'A' was - but do we really know? Mona did keep saying "A-team", so they did kind of leave the whole thing ambiguous. What do you guys think?

My thoughts on the other parts of the episode:

Very interesting (if not slightly cheesy) references to Psycho - Hannah in the shower was particularly frightening and had my roommate and I peering out the window in fear.
This goes without saying, but how ugly are the dresses the girls wore to the dance? Those should've been burned in the fire in Jason's house. Seriously.
TOBY, YOU'RE AMAZING.
Ditto for Ezra and Caleb.
SCARY ABOUT MAYA!!!!!!!!!!
They got me. I'm hooked for next season.

Today I'd like to talk about an issue near and dear to my heart; pale skin. I have been pale my entire life. I'm the kind of girl who can go for a fleeting walk in the park on a summer day and return home red as a tomato. Of course, you'd expect that these killer sunburns would turn into a tan eventually, right? False. My skin burns, peels, and then returns to its original state.

I'm quite similar to Spencer's color. I love how she makes it work for her, and I'd like to give you some tips for how you can make it work for you.

SO, welcome to what I'd like to call 'The Pale Girl's Guide to Skin Preservation' inspired by Spencer Hastings (Troian Bellisario).

SPF anything is your friend. I know there's a bit of a stigma towards SPF foundation, especially if you're going to be taking pictures. Many SPF foundations tend to create a white-cast effect (when glare from the sun reflects on the face) in pictures, but trust me, your skin will thank you. For an SPF foundation (it's SPF 20), I like Revlon Photo Ready.
If you refuse to wear SPF foundation, I strongly suggest wearing sunblock underneath. Just saying.
Don't zits always look so much worse on super light skin? Personally, I've never been too keen on expensive skin care products and have had a lot of success with Clearasil. Old school, but sometimes that's the best route to go.
Bronzer is great, but be very careful about the color you select! It's not all that attractive when a pale person suddenly turns orange. I tend to like matte bronzers, so I'll always opt for Hoola by Benefit.
If a burn happens, which is often inevitable with us fair folk, always apply aloe ASAP or it'll be a lot worse. Take it from an expert in nose burns.

Pale is beautiful.

Sending smiles.

XO,

A (this is extra funny today)

THE END OF BEN'S SEASON!!!!!

2012-03-13T15:50:00.004-07:00

I'm sure that you all witnessed the extraordinarily boring finale of The Bachelor last night and I'm relieved to say that finally, Ben's season has come to a close. While I was hoping to enjoy this season of The Bachelor, it was dreadfully BLAH, and as much as we all hate to admit it, we would have stopped watching if it weren't for Courtney, Ben's new fiancee and evil demon.

Thoughts (in no particular order):

Ben's wardrobe in this episode was absolutely bizarre. Not bad, but definitely bizarre.
Ditto on the girls. Weird capes. Batman? Harry Potter? Disney princesses? WHAT?
I guess there are no barbers in Switzerland?
Well, none of it was surprising, so I really don't have any SHOCKED thoughts.
Sad when Lindzi left. I wish she hadn't offered him a second chance, even if it was a joke. BE STRONG LINDZI!!!
It's really sad how pretty Courtney looked. Made me ill.

I guess what I'd really like to focus on is After the Final Rose. Also, sidenote: ARE THEY TOGETHER, OR AREN'T THEY? Literally, the most confusing crap ever. I just don't get it. And honestly, this show shouldn't be complicated. It's The Bachelor, it's all supposed to be painfully obvious.

My friend Katie said it perfectly last night. She said, "I love when people don't wear makeup all the time, because when they do, they look amazing". It's so true. Courtney, as much as we love to hate her, is undeniably very pretty (she is a MODEL after all, cough). Wearing more makeup than usual, Courtney wore a natural but shiny lip accompanied by an amazing smokey eye that I want to recreate STAT.

I think I'll use these products:

Urban Decay's Naked Palette (Original). The colors Gunmetal and Creep would be great for the darkest tones, and I love Virgin for the brow bone.
Milani Eye Tech Liquid Eyeliner: I just started using this and I'm obsessed. It creates the PERFECT winged liner. You must try it.
Maybelline Falsies Mascara: You know how obsessed I am by now. Please, don't judge. It's just the best mascara ever.

I don't want to drag on this post, because really, there's enough on the internet about Ben and Court right now. But I'm going to be the bigger person and say good luck to the happy couple. I hope their middle parts are very happy together.

Peace and love,

PS. Can we just get excited for Emily Maynard's season now?
PPS. Thank you to Blakeley (@blakeleyshea), Kacie B (@kacielynnb), Dana Weiss (@possessionista), and Tenley (@tenleymolzhan) for the Twitter entertainment while I watched the episode!

Real Housewives of Orange County: 80s Bunco Night!

2012-03-09T21:22:00.002-08:00

I miss the days where I'd get together with my girlfriends and get all dressed up in 80s costumes and play Bunco...

Wait.... what?

Never mind. No one plays Bunco. Except our favorite housewives from Orange County of course!

My thoughts on the episode:

Feeling for Vicki right now. She's taken a beating this season between her divorce, Briana's surgery, the whole Miss Piggy fiasco, and Tamra's friendship with Gretchen.
Kind of obsessed with how mature Gretchen and Tamra were about Slade's meanie-mo comedy skit. I was so proud of them when they talked on the phone!
I LOVE THE MEN OF THE HOUSEWIVES IN 80'S COSTUMES. They look legit!!!

Today I'd like to talk about.... WAYS TO GET TEMPORARY COLOR IN YOUR HAIR! Gretchen has inspired me once again. I like playing around with my hair and color but sometimes you just want something for a night or a couple days! These are ways to achieve the fun, color streak look without any permanent commitment.

SULTRA SOLID EXTENSIONS

These can be purchased at Sephora, and are perfect if you want to add some color without actually altering your hair. They are available in a wide variety of fun colors, and are extremely affordable. They retail at $22.00 (which is a great price for extensions!). The best thing about them is that you can use heat styling products on them, which is usually not the case with cheaper hair extensions.

HAIR CHALKING

One of my absolute favorite bloggers, Kandee Johnson, recently taught her readers how to temporarily color hair using chalk! This is an awesome method that I think its a great alternative to legitimate hair dye and hope you guys go check out her tutorial! Here's the link! Click me for Kandee's hair chalking!

MANIC PANIC DYE HARD HAIR COLOR STYLING GEL

This product is amazing for temporary, wash out color. It's easy, and claims to color most dark hair colors. It's a buildable product and like chalk and extensions, is available in multiple different shades. The only downside of this product is that it doubles as a gel, so it's not great for heat styling tools (that would likely make a large mess). This can be purchased at Sally's!

Enjoy!

xx,

The Women Tell All: Best Looks and My Thoughts

2012-03-07T09:52:00.001-08:00

OKAY, shut up. I'm a little late. But I'm still sick! Give me a break. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. Thankfully, I had something to do while I was locked in the dungeon (my bedroom) looking and feeling like a zombie wearing no mascara. ABC's 'The Bachelor' aired their "Women Tell All" episode on Monday night and it was a catty one!

My input:

The most mature girl in this lot is Nicki. She is extremely well spoken (it's possible she practiced in front of a mirror before this episode taped), and she is fair.
Courtney's return was a trainwreck and this girl is going to get a million and one Z-list movie roles (along the lines of Kristin Cavallari getting roles in hits such as National Lampoon's Van Wilder: Freshman Year)...WINNING.
Chris Harrison looked dashing as ever. I wish he was my best friend/life host.
Now I'm imagining what would happen if my life had a host. Interesting thought. ANYWAYS.
I don't even remember half the women. The ones talking the most are the ones who left like...the second night. Sigh.

As far as makeup goes, I shall discuss a couple of my favorites.

Kacie B:

Kacie looked amazing. I loved loved loved her dress, and her makeup was incredible. I want to talk about inner corner highlighting because Kacie really does do it so well. To get her look:

Pick up a loose pigment in a shade that you're comfortable with. I like to use NYX Ultra Pearl Mania in the shade 'White'. They actually sell on Cherry Culture for about $1.99 each. They come in an extremely tiny little plastic container, but it lasts a really long time because you only need to use a small amount at a time.
I use a Sonia Kashuk precision brush to apply an inner corner highlight, but any small eye brush will do.
TIP: You can use the same highlight pigment to highlight the cheekbones (SMALL AMOUNT - I REPEAT: SMALL AMOUNT) and the cupid's bow (the dip on your upper lip).

Emily:

Emily was all no-nonsense during the episode. I like her honesty. She also looked nice but kept it pretty simple. She winged her eyeliner intensely but kept the rest of her face very natural. I sort of wish she hadn't lined her lower waterline because it can have a shrinking effect on the eye. Perhaps I would have gone with a flesh toned liner and lined the waterline with that, as that does help open up the eye a lot. For winged liner like Emily's though:

Pick up a liner like elf's Liquid Liner in Black (it's only $1.00!). This can either be ordered from elf online or in Target/KMart and a variety of other superstores.
You MUST practice! Winged eyeliner using a liquid can be tricky and takes a few tries to get it right. Don't get discouraged!
Start thin near the inner corner and slowly the line should get thicker as you reach the outer corner. Follow the natural line of your eye.

Good luck!

XO,

Monstruation.

2012-03-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

Forgive me for my absence. I have been a little under the weather so ran away to my parent's house for the weekend. Being sick has sucked intensely, but it has allowed me to catch up on Modern Family. The Leap Day episode was rather entertaining and I could relate. Claire, Haley and Alex are all struggling with their monthly gift (that Phil so lovingly has nicknamed "monstruating"). I have a slightly longer lasting illness, but I think this still counts as a valuable teaching moment that I intend to take advantage of.

In their honor, I'd like to share with you my "sick day" cosmetic routine (also for days when you're just too tired to care...but you still care a little):

No one likes to cake on foundation when they don't feel great, and who are you kidding. Your skin is oily enough when you are monstruating. Enter tinted moisturizer and/or BB cream. I like using a thin layer of Garnier BB Cream (light/medium). It actually makes me look slightly human again (a true gift this weekend).
If you need it, a small amount of concealer never hurt anyone. Believe it or not, I like NYC Liquid Concealer in 786 Light. I just put a bunch under my eyes to cover the evil dark circles that have formed. ALL BETTER.
Now your face looks kind of decent, right? Add a TINY TINY TINY bit of Coralista Blush by Benefit behind the cheekbones.
Nothing beats Maybelline's The Falsies in Blackest Black. Get every lash and you'll actually start looking like a valued member of society.
I hate wearing lipstick or gloss when I feel gross, so I usually just use a chapstick or balm. My current favorite is EOS lipbalm. Mine's the reddish one.

So, this goes out to any of my fellow sickies and monstruators. I hope you feel all better soon and such! Tweet me your favorite products to wear when you are not feeling yourself.

Air kisses because real ones might get you sick,

"YOU DIDN'T BLOG ABOUT THE BACHELOR!!!!!!!"

2012-02-29T18:50:00.001-08:00

Dear Blogbabies:

I am sorry. I have missed the most crucial part of the week and neglected to blog about The Bachelor. I am ashamed. I did watch, but between my disastrous inability to comprehend "simple" concepts in my HORRENDOUS chemistry course, and a very exciting job interview, time just kind of scurried away. My apologies, loves. I will absolutely be blogging The Women Tell All episode on Monday, and of course, the following Monday, will be HARDCORE blogging the finale, tears and all. I hope we get a fun Jason Mesnick balcony cry from our dear Ben.

Regardless, tonight is a HUGE episode of Revenge and I expect that you are all watching carefully. Tweet me (@andiexox) some requests for makeup looks to blog this week before Monday, and I will not let you down again!

I hope you enjoy the photo above of our Ben, middle part and all. Consider it my 'I'm sorry' gift to you for being a little MIA!

Cheers!

-A

Oscar Makeup 2012: Best Looks

2012-02-27T14:00:00.001-08:00

Who watched the Oscars last night? I'm sure most of you did (if not, I would really like to know what else you were doing...).

My thoughts on the event:

I really like the French guy from The Artist. He looks like he'd be fun to hang out with on weekends.
The women from Bridesmaids presenting. It could hardly get better.
But wait. It does.
Because then Meryl Streep speaks. Goddess.
Also: were any other beauty junkies thrilled that Meryl's makeup artist won for Best Makeup for his work on The Iron Lady? And how adorable is it that they've been working together since she started doing movies? Makes me happy.

But onto the important(er) stuff. Here are my favorite makeup looks on the night and how to do them yourself!

First up is Clooney's right hand lady, Stacy Keibler, who looked absolutely beautiful in her gold Marchesa gown.

Eyes:

For eyeshadow, Stacy went full out gold. I would try Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Bold Gold as a base. These eyeshadows are creamy and pigmented and work well if you want to skip the eye primer (though if you're desperate for an eye primer, Urban Decay Primer Potion is a must-have). On top of the gold base, pack on the color Half Baked from the Urban Decay Naked Palette (original).
Eyeliner wise, tightline the top lashline with any black, creamy eye pencil. I like the CARGO Cosmetics Eye Pencil in 82 Black. For the bottom lashline, instead of using a dark pencil, go in with an angled brush and line the waterline with Half Baked.
Stacy's upper lashes are thick and black, so I would automatically reach for my favorite mascara, Maybelline Falsies in Blackest Black.

Lips:

Stacy's lips are light and glossy. When fooling around with how to get her color, I settled on starting with Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss.
I would probably top it off with my all time favorite lip gloss, NYC's Liquid Lipshine in Brighton Beach Peach

The next beautiful lady I'd like to discuss is beautiful Jessica Chastain, who was nominated for her role in The Help.

Cheeks:

Fun fact, kids. This is the kind of thing that gets me excited. I read in multiple places that Jessica's makeup artist (Mai Quynh) used mark products on her cheeks! She started off with the Just Pinched Blush Tint in Peachy.
Next, she topped it all off with the Good Glowing Powder Blush in Cameo Glo. So flushed and glowy!

Eyes:

Jessica's shadow is rather similar to Stacy's, though a little more orange toned. To get a similar shade, I'd recommend picking up the Revlon CustomEyes Palette in Naturally Glamorous. The color I'd pick is the gold shade on the right of the palette.
How about that winged eyeliner? Wow. I like the Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Liner in Blackest Black. Your favorite gel eyeliner blush will do!

Finally, my favorite of the night. Michelle Williams was nominated for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in My Week With Marilyn.

Lips:

I know a secret. I saw lots of sources revealing Michelle's lip color shade. Her makeup artist, Angelina Levin, chose a cocktail of two Chanel Rouge Coco Lipsticks in the shades Destinee and Paradis.
But let's face it. Many of us (most of us) do not even have the funds to even buy one of those Chanel lipsticks, let alone two. What to do? Use a $5.00 dupe of course! I like the Yves Rocher Rouge Dragee Lipstick in #66.

Let me know who impressed you the most! Let me know on Twitter (@andiexox). As well: make sure you tune in tomorrow for my thoughts on tonight's episode of The Bachelor! Getting close to the end, aren't we?

Lots of love,

Real Housewives of Orange County: Looks of the Week

2012-02-24T16:14:00.000-08:00

This week's Real Housewives of Orange County was a hoot. Between Tamra and Eddie's annoying fight about boobs, to Alexis's inability to stop talking about how her hubby Jim dated former friend Peggy, this set of housewives remind me of a soap opera; different episode, same old drama.

My (brief) thoughts:

Vicki is boring and annoying. How she has been asked back for every season of this show is a mystery.
Slade is one angry dude. Gretchen should take her tennis shoe-boots and pink pom poms and escape. Now. With her puppy.
The new girl Heather is dull. Not only that, but she looks out of place. She's the only brunette in sight.

Today I'll be rewarding two lucky OC ladies with a prestigious honor: Andieland's Look of the Week Award, Housewives Style.

Second place goes to Tamra, who looked cute at Heather's bizarre painting party.

I've always liked Tamra. She's funny, and she has decent style (unlike icky Alexis and her streaky highlights - girl, you aren't fooling anyone, BRUNETTE). Her makeup look is pretty simple:

Dark eyes: Tamra seems to like a dramatic eye. The best way to achieve this is to blend a color like Hustle from Urban Decay's Naked Palette (original) from the upper lashline to about mid-lid. Then, apply a liquid liner with a slight wing. Tamra has long, thick lashes (probably falsies). If you're looking for a great brand of false lashes to try out, go for Ardell. Great brand. They can be purchased off the website http://www.madamemadeline.com/.
Peach lips: Tamra went for a peachy pink lip in this episode, and for that, I have two recommendations. I would probably go for a lip butter (shock of life, I know) like Peach Parfait (Revlon Lip Butters) and top it with a gloss. I like NYC's Liquid Lipshine in the color Brighton Beach Peach (575). It's an awesome gloss, isn't sticky at all, and extremely cheap. Amazing!

First place has to go to Gretchen, my favorite housewife, who looked awesome at Heather's little ~~fingerpainting~~ soiree:

Gretchen is hilarious. I will probably use a picture of her dogwalking look at the end of this blog just for kicks, but seriously. She looks great this episode (other than that odd little dog walking fiasco in which she made Slade feel really bad about himself).

Bright cheeks: Gretchen's blush is awesome. It's sort of orangey without looking clownish. Her look reminded me of a color I have in my new Coastal Scents 10 piece blush palette. In the pan, the color looks extremely orange (frighteningly so) but if you use a light hand, this can look peachy and wonderful. If you're too terrified of that color (or extremely pale like me), another color in that palette that would work is right next to the orange blush to the right. It's more of a light, browny orange tone. I highly recommend Coastal Scents for palettes (great value). Brush wise, for a color this bright, I find it easiest to use a stippling brush like the Eco Tools mini kabuki brush.
Face: Gretchen is very obviously wearing foundation (this is Orange County), but instead of looking like a yucky cake, Gretchen's foundation is dewy and seems to have light-medium coverage. I recently picked up a Garnier BB Cream (had to see what all the fuss was about...) and personally, I've been loving it. It's been my go-to foundation this week and I'm not quite sure what all the bad reviews are for. I apply it with a Coastal Scents flat top brush, but any brush will do. I get slightly better coverage with a brush as opposed to my fingers or a sponge.

Love you Gretch.

Peace and love,

A Brutally Honest Review of Ben's Brutally Horrid Hometown Dates

2012-02-20T20:40:00.000-08:00

NOTE: This post contains ********spoilers******** about The Bachelor (season 16) hometown dates episode. If you haven't watched it, go ahead and come back later when I'm not responsible for ruining your happiness.

I've decided to begin this post with a visual for your viewing ~~horror~~ pleasure:

Here's our Ben, folks. Beginning to seriously wonder what his appeal is.

Without waiting any longer, here are my thoughts on tonight's disaster:

Rose ceremony (I love you Chris Harrison), let's go.
Courtney, obviously. First? Really? Maybe she knows love spells or something.
Good, Lindzi. I like you. You're smart and sweet.
NICKI? OVER KACIE?
Facepalm.
Oh, Ben. Mistake after mistake.

Now onto the important stuff. Tonight I'll be grading our final ladies on their cosmetic improvements or downfalls based on last week's critique. If you missed it, find it here.

Lindzi:

First, my apologies for the bad picture quality. Unfortunately, Ben's middle part is more in view than Lindzi is, but also unfortunately, Lindzi did not take any of my advice from last week. If you recall, I was highly critical of Lindzi's choice in lipstick. SADLY, it seems Lindzi is a woman of habit and will not be changing her makeup routine any time soon. Tip: wearing a lipstick the same color or lighter than your face/foundation makes you look washed out and feverish. So, Lindzi, while I adore you and your horses (your parents were also pretty cute), you'll be receiving a C+ today on your makeup. Your eyes looked beautiful, but until you stop covering your freckles with orange foundation and buy a new lipstick, you won't be getting A's in my books.

Kacie:

The poor, poor girl. Daddy and Mommy Boguskie really screwed her over without any hesitation. Oh well, it's Ben's loss and Kacie's gain, really, if you think about it. I hope her parents feel pretty bad that they ruined all their little girl's fun! Kacie looked pretty this episode. Last week, she was heavy on the coral, but this week, Kacie went for a more natural look. Maybe it was something about being in her hometown, but Kacie looked like she was back in high school again. With just a dusting of makeup and some pink lips, Kacie was cute and put together. However, I still wish she would've picked up some curl defining serum. Kacie, you get an A-, because I feel bad for you, first of all, and second of all, you're naturally pretty and I'm glad you don't pack on the makeup!

Nicki:

Nicki looked really nice this episode. Her hometown date was mostly boring, but for some reason Nicki and Ben's kisses always make me kind of sick to my stomach. They use too much tongue and no one wants to watch that, sorry. Regardless! I like Nicki's hair this episode. I can't help but notice how healthy it looks. Only someone who doesn't regularly dye their hair can achieve that sort of shine, and I have to admit, I'm jealous. I liked her makeup as well. Nicki went for a sort of glittery glam look for hometowns and it seems like Ben was into it. So, Nicki, while you weren't as natural looking as last week, I have to hand it to you: you can pull off the done up look as well. I'm going to give you an A. Aren't I generous?

Courtney:

Last week I didn't really talk about Courtney because I really don't like her and all that. But I guess I can't avoid her forever, since it seems that she won't be going anywhere any time soon. So. Courtney's hair is also middle parted, as pointed out by my roommate. Perhaps this is why Ben and Courtney believe that they are soulmates. Courtney wears very little makeup. It's obvious that she wears foundation, but she doesn't pack on eye makeup and she rarely wears lipstick. In my personal view, this is because she is too fixated on making out with Ben. Everyone knows girls who want to make out don't wear bright colored lipstick/gloss! So, just because she middle parts her hair, and because she thinks she's hot sh*$, our Court receives a failing grade. F.

That about wraps up this week's Bachelor episode, kids. So, to end off, I'd like to leave you with this parting image:

"What the f#$@ happened?"

We hear you, Kacie. We hear you.

As usual, follow me on Twitter (andiexox) and I'll see you tomorrow for a post on either Pretty Little Liars, or Gossip Girl. Let me know what you'd rather see!

-A

Red Lipped Revenge

2012-02-16T20:42:00.000-08:00

WHO WATCHED LAST NIGHT'S REVENGE???

I'm afraid Grandpa Grayson is going to come into my room at night and kill me.
Jack Porter is a whiny, annoying little baby.
Ditto about Amanda.
Nolan is love. Love is Nolan.
Did not feel any sort of emotion about Tyler's demise.
Maybe I'm heartless like Emily Thorne.

Tonight was the Fire and Ice themed engagement party (can I just say that for my engagement party, I would prefer a slightly less dangerous theme?) at which chaos ensued - of course. I like how the women were in red and the men in white, but I have to wonder how you enforce a dress code like that. I think I'd feel awkward being like YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RED DRESS OR ELSE YOU SERIOUSLY CAN'T COME TO MY PARTY (reminds me of Mean Girls: "YOU CAN'T SIT WITH US"). Regardless. It is the Hamptons. And it is a TV show (sometimes I forget that these people aren't real).

Here are Victoria (Madeleine Stowe) and Emily (Emily Van Camp). Emily is wearing a 'your lips but better' muted red, while Victoria has more of a 'go big or go home' attitude both in life and in lipstick.

To get Emily's muted look:

This is the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in the shade Rose. This truly is a 'your lips but better' color and doubles as an extremely moisturizing chapstick, and a beautifully muted red lipstick. This color is buildable and while it goes on sheer when you apply the first layer, after about three, you can achieve Emily's perfect muted frown (sorry... I know you wanted something uplifting but when have you ever seen her smile for real?).

For Victoria's bold look:

L'Oreal's Colour Riche line is amazing. The shade I suggest for a dark and deep red is True Red (315) and super luscious. This product feels like a high end lipstick, looks like a high end lipstick, and applies like a high end lipstick - luckily it runs a little cheaper than your average high end lipsticks. I'm sure the Grayson women only have the finest, most expensive products, but for the rest of us, we'll fake it till we make it.

Anyways, the next episode will be very interesting. Looks like Daniel Grayson's got blood on his shirt and he might not be able to run off to Paris any time soon...

Tear tear.

What a hard life he has.

I'm not bitter.

Sweet dreams, loves.

Best and Worst of Ben's Final 6.

2012-02-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

A few candid thoughts on this week's Bachelor episode (season 16 episode 7):

SKDJFLKSjdlKSNCfkjsldkjeFSDFsd;lkds
Are you serious?
What the hell, Ben?
I'm never watching this show again.
Seriously though.
I meant I'm never watching it until next Monday
WTF, come on.
Breathe.
Herbal tea time.
Cry self to sleep.

Anyways, since I really don't have anything positive to say about Ben's taste in women, hairstyle, clothing (please buy t-shirts to supplement the amount of sailor tanks present in your wardrobe, Ben) or anything else for that matter, I'm probably just going to talk about how to avoid or achieve Ben's final 5 girls' makeup looks. To do so, I will be using their ABC promo shots as they are very representative of what the girls look like regularly.

First up in the hotseat is Lindzi.

I suppose I should start by saying that Lindzi is my favorite thus far. She's down to earth, seems smart, has yet to involve herself in any of the drama, and in my opinion, is one of the most naturally beautiful girls left on the show. Her makeup, however, is far from natural. Evidence: Study her face when she's at home with the girls during them day. Then study her face during dates and rose ceremonies. Can you spot the differences? Here are a couple:

She packs on the foundation. I mean PACKS. How do we know this? Well, Lindzi has freckles naturally. Said freckles disappear at night.
Personal pet peeve: Do not wear lipstick/gloss the same color as your foundation. You end up looking like you've fallen ill and stuffed yourself into a cocktail dress.

Lindzi would be better suited with a tinted moisturizer. It looks like she has a pretty clear complexion, so she doesn't need a full coverage foundation. I recommend the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer.

Next, we've got Rachel, who was tragically (jokes) eliminated from this episode.

My roommate and I started calling her Awkward Rachel a couple of episodes ago. She is awkward with Ben, awkward with the girls, and awkward in her interviews. I do not see what Ben saw in her, nor do I understand why he subjected himself to conversations with her regularly. They were painful to watch. However, Rachel's style redeemed her (partially). I love her makeup. Want to get Awkward Rachel's look?

Sparingly apply your favorite lightweight foundation. My current favorite is the NYX HD Studio Foundation.
Apply a gel eyeliner in stick form to the bottom lashline and tightline the top lid. I like Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Mat Black.
I was ready for Awkward Rach to make her exit. I didn't know how many more awkward conversations I could stomach.

Hey, Nicki.

I think Nicki is adorable, and probably the most 'real' girl on the show. She was a big girl this episode and approached the Courtney problem with Ben in a more mature way than silly Emily did a few episodes ago. I think Ben really respects Nicki, but unfortunately, I think he's more taken with a couple of the other girls. I sense that her time with Ben is nearing the end. Regardless. I like Nicki's look because she doesn't pack it on. She keeps everything very light and beachy. How to get the look:

Apply a very light foundation or tinted moisturizer. If you're like Nicki and have an even skin tone, go for something sheer. Again, the Laura Mercier would be perfect.
Find a bronzer you like. Nicki doesn't wear TOO much, but she always has a nice contour and color. I like Benefit's Hoola.
Smile! Nicki smiles the most and is just adorable when she grins.

I'm happy Nicki is still around, though. Hooray!

Poor little Emily.

Eliminated this week for what seemed like no reason at all, I had to conclude that her talk with Ben about Courtney weeks ago did her in. I don't think anything she said to him redeemed her. I liked Emily though. She seemed to have chemistry with Ben, and she is without a doubt the 'smart girl' on the show. It's too bad her journey ended before hometown dates, because those are always the best. Emily is the queen of pink makeup, and I'm going to share a few of my favorite light pink things with you in her honor:

Emily likes to apply pink blush on the apples of her cheeks. For this, I recommend using Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Fresh Pink as a very light base. Don't over apply, and it's okay if it's not showing up super dark. It's serving more as a primer to bring out the color in the Benefit Bella Bamba blush that you're going to apply on top.
Lip wise, I would recommend a light pink lipstick like NYX Round Lipstick in Tea Rose topped with a pink gloss like NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in French Kiss.

Sorry Emily. To be honest though, you'd likely be better off with a man who doesn't middle part his hair.

Awww, Kacie.

I don't think anyone dislikes Kacie. She's young, but she's open and honest, Southern, and seems to be completely genuine in her intentions. I think Kacie's an absolute frontrunner and might end up in the final two with Courtney Robertson (nightmare). Although, if anyone caught the preview for next week, it looks like Kacie's papa has his doubts about Ben and is absolutely not afraid to share them. As far as Kacie's look goes, she is adorable. Though she may want to invest in some kind of curl defining serum, or a hair straightener. One or the other. Makeup wise though, Kacie is all about the coral.

For cheeks, Kacie seems to go for a coral toned blush. I like this against her extremely tanned skin, and when they're on trips, Kacie always looks perfectly tropical. For this tone, I like Benefit's Coralista blush.
Lip wise, there's no way around it. I have to recommend Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait. It's the perfect coral color with a micro glitter. I wouldn't be surprised if Kacie owns this product herself.

I'm rooting for Kacie. She deserves it.

*Cue villain music* Last and certainly least... Courtney.

Courtney's ugly personality makes me not want to say anything nice about how she looks. So I'm not really going to. She's mean, self centered, in my opinion, self promoting, and I truly can't see what she sees in Ben, who is naive to her evilness. She reminds me of the villain in Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent. The only thing I will say is that Courtney is a really nice color. For self tanner, I like Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy Lotion.

I REALLY DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT COURTNEY THOUGH. Sorry. Athough, I'm curious to see what kind of people could possibly CREATE Courtney, so I'm intrigued by what hometown dates will bring on Monday night.

Hope you enjoyed this, Bachelor Nation. Also: JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW that Chris Harrison (be still my heart) tweeted back at me this week. It was, needless to say, the highlight of my day (~~life).~~

Check out my twitter (@andiexox) to stalk my convo with the rose master himself.

xo,

Ashley's Perfect Pout

2012-02-11T20:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday, everyone. While I'm stuck inside cramming for two Monday midterm exams, I hope you are all out on the town enjoying your weekend. I'm not jealous or anything, I swear. Anyways. A couple of friends tweeted me this week (speaking of Twitter, feel free to follow me at @andiexox) about the show Revenge. I know, I'm a little behind, but you'll be pleased (and probably slightly disgusted) to know that I'm quickly catching up. Speaking of which, no spoilers, please - I'm only on episode 7. Regardless, here are my notes on the episodes I've watched:

This show is juicy. I'm sure everyone's noticed how much I love suspense, but this show takes the cake.
I've been a big Emily Van Camp fan since Everwood, and I loved her in Brothers and Sisters as well. This role is a little bit of a departure for her, and I'm loving that death stare that she's clearly mastered in the role of Emily Thorne.
The boys of the show are wonderful. I'm happy to see Conner Paolo again (previously on Gossip Girl) and am liking Daniel, Nolan and Jack. I'm definitely Team Daniel for the moment, but I'm known for changing ships regularly.
Can anyone say WHATTHEF*$#VICTORIA?

ANYWAYS. Am I the only one admiring the amazing wardrobe on Ashley? She has the best clothes and makeup on the show, hands down. I'm sure you've all noticed, but she always has the same fuchsia lip. I'm going to share with you my top three fuchsia lip shades in her honor.

1. Revlon Lip Butters - Lollipop

Who at this point doesn't own at least one lip butter? If you don't, I would sincerely advise you to go out to your nearest drugstore and pick one up! As the proud owner of Creme Brulee, Peach Parfait, Lollipop, Cherry Tart and Strawberry Shortcake, I have to say, these live up to the hype. I love Lollipop for its bold pigment. Some of them are more sheer than others, but Lollipop acts like a super moisturizing lipgloss with intense pigment.

2. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars - Pretty Boy

To me, OCC's lip tars are one of the most innovative lip formulas out there. The product is thick and appears like a gloss in the tube, but on the lips, it looks like lipstick. I only have one and it happens to be Pretty Boy, a hot fuchsia color that is seriously amazing. Another upside to the OCC lip tars is the ingredients. They contain no parabens. Win!

3. Nars - Schiap

I love Nars. This was one of my first lipsticks ever, and while I don't wear it often, it holds a special place in my heart. This high end fuchsia is a statement lipstick and if worn correctly, can look incredible. This lipstick can be a little drying though, so I'd recommend putting on some chapstick or balm first, or alternately, putting a clear gloss over top.

Hope this helps you achieve that gorgeous fuchsia lip that Ashley so flawlessly sports!

xo,

PS. SERIOUSLY, no spoilers about Revenge! I will flip.

Tree Hill Hair

2012-02-09T19:48:00.000-08:00

Alright. How did everyone like last night's episode of One Tree Hill ("The Killing Moon")? Here are my notes:

I am growing to love Chase more and more every episode. His relationship with Chuck makes my heart melt, and he is slowly turning into one of my favorite guy characters. Then again, there isn't a wide variety these days, as Dan sucks, Nathan's MIA, Clay's crazy, Julian's moody, and Chris is comic relief.
What is up with the Nathan situation? Is it just me, or are they seriously running low on storylines? I don't think the Scott family needs to deal with yet another kidnapping (anyone remember Nanny Carry?).
Let's talk about the kids on the show. I'm in love with Jamie as usual. I think his concern that Clay is a werewolf is rational. I mean, what else could possibly be wrong with him? We haven't seen too much of Lydia, but from what I've seen, she is a cutie. Of course, I adore the Baker men (Davis and Jude). There's also a new kid in Tree Hill. We've got little Logan, Clay's new friend. I'm interested to see where that storyline goes.

But that's enough about that. I'm really far more interested in discussing Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush). In particular, her hair.

That's a screencap from last night's episode. As you can see, Brooke's hair is dual-toned. It's dark brown at the roots and gradually fades into a honey blonde color. In the past couple of years, this style has become increasingly popular - you might know it as the 'ombre' trend.

I jumped on the ombre train this year as well, and with Brooke as my hairspiration, I attempted to achieve this look in the comfort of my own bathroom. I'm going to teach you how to do it the way I did it (just mentioning: my natural hair color is very similar to Brooke's).

Note: I didn't want to use pure hydrogen peroxide (bleach), though I chose a product containing bleach. Bleach can be very drying, and though it works for some, I was worried it would lighten my hair too much as well as turn it into straw.

I opted for the John Frieda 'Go Blonder Lightening Spray'. It's a drugstore product and was about $12.00 at Shoppers Drugmart. I also purchased Herbal Essences 'Long Term Relationship Split End Protector' to avoid split ends.

Routine for 14 washes:

Wash your hair the way you normally would - shampoo, conditioner, and brush.
Section your hair into four parts.
Apply Go Blonder spray where you want the lighter tone to start.
Using a fine toothed comb, brush the product down to the ends of your hair.
Do this for the first week. In the second week, apply the product only to the very ends of your hair. This will create the gradual fade.
Blow dry your hair after each time you use the spray. If you curl or straighten your hair regularly, now is the time to do it. The spray reacts to heat, and that's when you'll see the color start to change. Don't freak out if it doesn't look like it's doing anything the first couple of days - it will.
Apply the split end protector after you finish blow drying. This will keep your hair soft despite the fact that you are frying it with bleach and heat.

That is about it, folks! If you try this, send me a picture. Let me know how you felt about this week's OTH episode.

Sending love,

PS. I'm thinking about a Secret Circle post tomorrow. Thoughts?

Pretty Little Eyebrows

2012-02-07T17:59:00.000-08:00

Why hello there.

So, after finishing last night's episode of Pretty Little Liars, I have a few general comments before jumping into my eyebrow tutorials:

Aria's outfit in the scene where she's helping Holden with the Truth-Up event poster is hideous. The only place those neon yellow shoes should be walking is to an Afrojack party.
I did not appreciate the obvious absence of Ezra and Toby. Where was my man candy hiding?
It's a really good thing Caleb was around, otherwise, I probably would have turned it off.

Anyways. I'm really just here to talk about eyebrows. They're important and they frame the face. A couple of episodes ago (maybe last week's), I noticed that the girls on Pretty Little Liars all sport relatively natural looking eyebrows as opposed to extremely arched and perfect eyebrows. This, from a teen show, is something I particularly appreciate (because really, no one's eyebrows in high school were that great).

So let's take a closer look.

Here's Aria (Lucy Hale).

Aria has the darkest eyebrows of the bunch, and she wears them with a slight (VERY slight) arch. Most people's eyebrows aren't as thick as Aria's, so if you want to achieve this look, your best bet is to use an eyebrow pencil as opposed to a powder in order to create the illusion of extremely full brows.

For this look, I'd recommend using either:

High End: Brow Wiz by Anastasia of Beverly Hills (retails in Canada for about $20). Really, if you're going to splurge on eyebrow products, Anastasia is your go to brand. This brow pencil is creamy, but it has incredible stay power. I like this for darker looks. It also comes with a brow brush on the opposite end of the pencil.
Drugstore: Brow Fantasy by Revlon (retails in Canada for about $9). This is almost a perfect duplicate product for the Anastasia pencil. The only considerable difference is that this pencil is a little bit less creamy and a lot thicker which makes it a tiny bit harder to work with.

Moving along. Next up is Emily (Shay Mitchell).

I love Emily's brows. They start off thick and then have a dramatic triangle arch, and taper off quite thinly. It doesn't look like she fills in her eyebrows with much, perhaps just a dark shadow in spots that are sparse. It does, however, look like she's invested in a good pair of tweezers.

High End: Slant Tweezers by Tweezerman (retails in Canada for about $20). I don't personally own a pair of these (I wax for the most part and the tweezers I use on an every day basis are the drugstore ones BELOW). However, I have tried a pair of Tweezermans in the past and they do have a nice slant and a sharp blade. Personally, though, I'm not a diehard fan.
Drugstore: Slant Tweezer by ELF (retails in the USA for about $1). Frankly, these ELF tweezers that I picked up at Target in Lousiana for a dollar are really not that much different than those Tweezerman ones. Save yourself the $19.

Hi there, Spencer (Troian Bellisario).

Spencer's brows remind me a lot of my roommate's brows. They're well kept (no strays or bald patches) but stay within their natural line. The best way to achieve this look is not to pluck or wax a dramatic arch and to regularly clean up strays and fill in bald patches using a shadow (not a chalky one!) the same shade as your hair. It also looks like Spencer uses a highlighting pencil underneath her brow on the brow bone.

High End: Brow Duality - Anastasia of Beverly Hills (retails in Canada for about $25). Brow duality is beautiful. It's a champagne colored pencil with two sides - one matte, and one shimmery. You can also use this in the tear duct if you like highlighting that area as well. It's a great formula and I love the color of this.
Drugstore: Jumbo Eye Pencil - NYX (retails in Canada for about $5). These are fantastic and glide on the skin super creamy and pigmented. I would recommend either the shade cottage cheese or the shade sparkle nude.

And lastly, Hannah (Ashley Benson).

Something I notice instantly about Hannah's brows is that they do not look like they move. Ever. They are one solid, perfect unit, and this is most likely achieved using a brow gel. Brow gels can be a tricky thing - there are clear gels, tinted gels, and colored gels. Personally, I like clear gel and would prefer to use my own colors (using a pencil or a powder) rather than a gel color. Your best bets for brow gels are as follows:

High End: Brow Gel - Anastasia of Beverly Hills (retails in Canada for about $23). This gel is absolutely worth the price. The perfect formula, this gel does not go on chunky and dries absolutely clear throughout the day. It reminds me of a hair gel, except it comes with a mascara style wand. Worth every penny, but don't smell it - it smells like nail polish remover (the smell wears off after it dries).
Drugstore: Clear Lash and Brow Gel - Joe Fresh (retails in Canada for about $6). I think you can only buy this in Canada, but correct me if I'm wrong. This is a great drugstore product, and really reminds me of the Anastasia one. It does not flake off at all, and has wonderful staying power. I definitely recommend this and just picked up a tube of it to replace my Anastasia one (I don't feel like spending $23 this time around). A bonus about this is that it does double as a clear mascara for days you don't feel like wearing heavy mascara.

So that's all for your Pretty Little Eyebrows this week. See you tomorrow!