Beauty is Within

Summer to Winter Fashion: Ideas to Winterize Your Summer Clothing

2016-02-08T20:00:00.001-08:00

It’s still winter in many parts of the world, but for some reason San Diego is perhaps experiencing an early spring. Lately it’s been unusually warm during the day and chilly at night. The weather can be extremely moody at times, so I’ve decided to keep my wardrobe intact and not put away my summer clothing.

Integrating your spring or summer clothing into winter outfits not only will save you money, but it challenges you to get more creative with your wardrobe.

Here are a few ideas on how to turn your summer clothing into cute winter outfits, including a couple of ideas from Christina Pearce, founder and designer of Lilika Designs.

Put a Blazer On It

Winterize a dress by putting on a blazer or jacket over a dress and pairing it with your favorite boots. You’d probably need a pair of tights too, especially in colder climates. Because I love a cute beret, I’d wear one to match the boots and throw on a warm scarf too.

Katie Blazer & Sweetness Pink Pastels Dress by Lilika Designs, Gianvito Rossi Carly Knee Boots, Merona Crossbody Handbag, Betmar French Beret, J Brand Infinity Scarf

Peplum tops worn with skirts were very popular last spring/summer, and you can still wear them during the winter. Again, just throw on a blazer (or a jean jacket for a more casual look) and wear with tights and leg warmers with booties.

The Popsicle Corset Skirt & Divine Peplum Top by Lilika Designs, Tom Ford For Gucci Denim Jean Jacket, Basic Thigh High Socks from SohoGirl.com, Wedge Ankle Boots from NewLook.com

Throw On a Cardigan or Sweatshirt

I love to wear oversized cardigan sweaters with summer dresses. You could also wear a sweater or one of those open cardigan sweatshirts with a crop top and jeans.

Photo Source

Layer With Long-Sleeved Tops

Wear a long-sleeved top or turtleneck underneath a loose-fitting tank top or short-sleeved jumpsuit to create instant warmth.

Photo Source

Pile on Tights, Long Socks, and Boots

Come to think of it, you can winterize just about any summer dress or shorts by wearing tights, a cute pair of long socks and knee high boots. You could also try opaque tights, leg warmers and booties for an 80’s vibe.

Photo Source

The key here is piling on the layers because what’s the point of looking cute if you’re not warm?!

What other ideas do you have to winterize your summer clothing?

10 Ways to Love Yourself Now: The Ultimate Guide to Inner Beauty

2016-01-20T14:48:00.001-08:00

What does it mean to truly love yourself? Over the years of writing on this blog, I’ve explored and pondered this question, offering various tips and ways to love yourself. It’s been 10 years since I started this blog, and as I’m growing up and becoming more of myself I’m learning so much about what this idea of loving yourself actually means.

My intention for this post is to impact the way you see yourself and others. Loving yourself isn’t just about treating yourself to nice things, but it encompasses every aspect of your life and how you interact with friends, co-workers, family, and the people you come in contact with on a daily basis. It’s also about finding balance between accepting who you are and working towards becoming a better version of yourself.

Hopefully you will spend some time really thinking about these 10 tips I offer here and implement them into your life. It would be so beautiful to see you realize your own power!

Say “No” to people and things that don’t align with your well-being. This will probably be the most challenging thing you do from this list. It’s easy enough to ignore toxic coworkers, acquaintances, or that mean girl you see around campus, but it’s a little bit harder when it’s family, loved ones, or long-time friends.

It’s stressful being around people who are negative. Even if they’re not negative towards you, they can be negative by their constant complaining or dumping all of their problems on you. You can try to show them how to look at life from a more positive point of view, but if they don’t want to change, then the best thing to do is to gradually separate yourself from them.

Don’t ever feel guilty for putting your happiness above other people’s happiness. How can you help other people if you don’t feel well yourself?

Let go of the need to be someone else’s idea of “perfect”. I always overhear young women talking about their favorite celebrities and claiming how “beautiful” and “perfect” they are.

“She has the perfect eyebrows.”

“She has such a perfect life.”

This is such bullshit. We each have this idea of what “perfect” is and it creates this illusion that we are not beautiful or perfect ourselves. I wish that parents would spend more time telling their children just how precious and beautiful they are, focusing on the qualities that make them unique and gifted.

Because of societal conditioning we believe that becoming perfect is outside of ourselves. The media has created this ideal of the perfect person, so we start to believe this is what we should look like to be accepted or be considered beautiful. The truth is, you ARE beautiful.

Rest. Just rest. I used to be the type of person who was constantly on the go. I worked full time, went to school, hung out with friends, and pretty much spread myself out too thin. I can’t imagine how I would even be able to hang if I had kids.

Many women put other people’s needs above their needs. I’ve seen it time and time again with my friends. They’re constantly running around trying to make everyone else happy and don’t give themselves time to just sit around, enjoy a cup of coffee, read a juicy book, and just do nothing. When you’re constantly going, going, going, you end up having a serious meltdown, crashing and burning before you even know what hit you.

Give yourself alone time. Continuing the idea of rest also includes giving time to yourself. This is not an option. We all need to decompress, rejuvenate, and have quiet time. Every day we are bombarded with the demands of other people, texts, social media notifications, etc. You need time away from all of that. Again, this is not an option. This is a must to keep yourself healthy and well-balanced.

Be open to receive. When someone compliments you, what do you say? Many times we try to downplay our beauty or don’t accept people’s positive feedback. Perhaps at a subconscious level you believe that you are not worthy of receiving kindness from people, or you’re not worthy to receive the abundance or happiness that you deserve.

You absolutely deserve all the good things that come your way.

Get to know yourself. What do you want to get out of life? What are your dreams? You might spend so much time trying to be like other people that you don’t even know who you are at your core. Don’t spend so much time worrying about what other people think of you that you don’t even know what you think of you.

You get to know yourself by spending time alone and reflecting on your life. You think about your likes and dislikes, how to be better as a person, learn more about what your purpose in life is, and how you want to contribute to the community.

Give yourself the gift of peace. What does a peaceful life mean to you? Have you ever genuinely felt complete peace in your life? Or do you allow circumstances to dictate how you should feel at any given moment?

For me, being at peace means not allowing other people to affect how I feel. If someone wants to start drama with me, I simply walk away. Peace is about focusing on my goals and priorities instead of worrying about what other people are doing.

Allow yourself to shine. As someone who tends to shy away from attention or the spotlight, this is something I have been working on. It’s OK to let your inner diva come out to play. Be frisky. Smile. Have fun.

“Don’t diminish yourself in any way. Dare to be all that you are.” --Leonard Jacobson

Be more loving towards others. I strongly believe in karma and what you put out in the world comes right back to you. You will receive more love if you give it to others. Every act of love - spoken or not - is a step towards your own personal healing and the healing of humanity as a whole.

Affirm your beauty. Every single day wake up, look in the mirror, and tell yourself how beautiful you are. Believe it with all your heart and soul. Know that you are a unique and special person who has something to contribute to this world. You have brains and beauty. You are charming and joyful.

I hope I’ve inspired you to take some time for yourself and to think more about who you are as a person. It’s taken me 20+ years to learn these lessons and be more accepting of my own beauty, but I hope it will take you less time.

Is there anything you would add to this list?

New Year, New Hair: Resolutions For Better Hair Care (+Giveaway!)

2016-01-03T20:26:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of year again! While most people are thinking about losing weight and setting it as a resolution, for me hair care has been on the brain.

I’ve been going through another hair rut where the messy hair bun has become the norm. I’ll mix it up, though, with the occasional side braid or the side braid with my trusty ole’ baseball cap. That’s when I know it’s time for my hair to get its groove back.

So this year I’ve made the intention to take better care of my hair. This includes:

Getting my hair trimmed every other month as opposed to only once or twice a year. I know, I was really bad about this.
Washing my hair only 2x a week. Hair stylists have different opinions as to how often you should wash your hair, but since I have a dry scalp, I don’t like to dry it out even more by overwashing.
Deep condition my hair at least once or twice a month. When I had my hair colored during the summer, the stylist said that I should deep condition my hair because color-treated hair tends to dry out easily. I haven’t been following her advice, and it definitely shows.

Although I haven’t been deep conditioning my hair as I should be, I have been trying out this new haircare line from Truss called the Mini Hydration Kit that includes a shampoo, intensive restore (to repair and condition), and a discipline treatment (to seal the hair cuticle). It’s highly recommended for any type of damaged hair.

At first I wasn’t too keen on doing a 3-step process. I like to keep shower time as short and sweet as possible. However, I’ve come to realize that the extra time to wash my hair is so worth it because this Truss Mini Hydration Kit leaves my hair so much softer. I can just imagine how much softer it would be if I went to the salon to trim off the dead ends!

Key ingredients in this kit include keratin, collagen, creatine, panthenol, phospholipids, plus the proprietary Truss 3D glow system, 7 miracle oil blend, and nano repair.

I actually had never heard of Truss until I started using these products, but apparently this company is one of Brazil’s largest beauty manufacturers and they’re hoping to make a presence in the U.S. market. Find out more about Truss by visiting TrussCosmetics.com.

Want to try out the Truss Mini Hydration Kit and see for yourself how awesome these products are? Enter the giveaway and you might just be the lucky winner who will receive this kit! ($31.40 value)

Giveaway Rules

* Open to U.S. residents only

* Submit your entries via the form below:

- Receive 5 entries for following @YouAreBeauty on Twitter
- Receive 5 entries for following @TrussProf on Twitter
- Receive 4 entries by leaving a blog comment and sharing a hair care tip
- Receive 4 entries per day by sharing the giveaway on Twitter
- Receive 3 entries for visiting Truss Professional on Facebook
- Receive 3 entries for visiting Beauty Is Within on Facebook

* Giveaway ends January 31, 2016 at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen randomly and announced on February 2, 2016.

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Who Is To Blame For Obesity?

2015-12-17T12:05:00.000-08:00

Are plus-size models to blame for the obesity trend?

That’s the question posed in an article over at Shape.com.

When I first read the article, I thought, This is bullshit. The article cited a study published by the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing that suggests plus-sized models in advertising are linked to rising obesity rates.

After giving it much thought, I have to say that the researchers who conducted the study might be onto something. I can see why subjects in the study may rationalize eating more and being OK with it because all they saw were images of plus-size models. It’s just like when you were little and got in trouble for being bad and you told your parents, “Well, everyone else is doing it!”

Although I’m not one to place blame on anything outside of myself for the choices that I make, I believe that we are heavily influenced by the media. We receive thousands of messages per day - whether through watching TV, reading magazines, and the people we talk to. As someone who has studied how the subconscious mind works, there are many messages that influence us without us being truly aware of it.

I used to be one of those people who blamed glossy fashion magazines for putting out this ideal that in order to be considered pretty you had to be waif thin and look like Angelina Jolie, Kim Kardashian, and other A-list celebrities. I also blamed fashion magazines for encouraging consumerism - that you had to wear designer clothing to be “cool”. I have noticed that when I browse through a fashion magazine, I’m more likely to go clothes shopping. I know I’m not the only one, right? Or if I browse through Shape.com, I’m more inspired to hit the gym.

I think the key is to not get caught up in all the subliminal messages, which of course, is easier said than done. Advertising people can be tricky, but it’s about being aware of all the messages that are thrown at us and choosing not to buy into it if it doesn’t serve our best interests.

I don’t think that looking at plus-size models is necessarily to blame for the rise in obesity, but it may serve a very tiny role. I think what we should be paying more attention to is all the fast food advertising and the convenience of cheap food.

The bottom line is that we shouldn’t be placing blame on anybody or anything else outside of ourselves for whatever challenges we are facing. Ultimately YOU are responsible for your own actions. You always have a choice on what to eat. You have the power to always choose a healthier lifestyle. Don’t disempower yourself by placing blame on outside influences. People can always try to influence you, but you can always choose not to be influenced.

5 Thoughtful Gift Ideas That Give

2015-12-11T05:30:00.000-08:00

Love that look of joy on your friends' or loved ones' faces when they open your gift and realize that it is exactly what they need?

When it comes to holiday gift-giving, I’m very practical and try to give some thought to the receiver and what they like or need. In past years I’ve had time to make gifts like art pieces, a photo-related gift, or jewelry, but this year I have more work and writing projects, so I don’t have as much time for handcrafted gifts.

If you’re still wondering what to give that special someone, here are 5 thoughtful gifts to consider…

Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach - If you have a friend who loves to read and enjoys inspiring books, Simple Abundance provides “gentle lessons of comfort and joy”. 15 years ago this book was the catalyst that helped me get back in touch with my authentic self.

Love With Food subscription box snack (Starting at $7.99 a month) - For the health-conscious person who loves to give back, the Love With Food subscription box delivers junk-free snacks every month. For every snack box, you are also feeding a hungry child in the U.S.

Dollar Shave Club (Starting at $50 for up to 3 months) - Just about every man shaves every day, so why not gift him with a box of fresh razors every month? In the first box he’ll receive a razor handle, Dr. Carver’s Shave Butter and Post Shave Moisturizer, and then every month thereafter he’ll receive razor cartridges.

Custom Quote Print by Maeve and Marigold on Etsy - Does your friend or family member have a favorite quote? Or how about inspiring someone every day with a positive affirmation? Order a customized print and frame it. This is one of those gifts that can be kept forever and every time the receiver looks at it, he/she will think of you!

Kiel's Limited Edition Creme de Corp ($26.55-43.20 at Nordstrom) - Everyone needs lotion, right? This season, Kiehl's will donate 100% of net profits up to $100,000 from the sales of its limited-edition products with packaging designed by Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra to Feeding America.

Want a few more gift ideas? Here are a few more from a past post...

The 30 Day Exercise Challenge, Plus Tips To Get Into an Exercise Routine

2015-12-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm doing a 30-day challenge to exercise 15 minutes per day. The holidays are here and being the foodie that I am, I will be enjoying all the goodies from holiday parties and family gatherings. This means I need to put in a little extra work to keep the weight off.

I like to mix up my workouts between the gym, hiking, and exercise videos on YouTube. Here is an exercise playlist I created on YouTube. The other day I came across this video on YouTube from Betty Rocker and thought I'd share. Maybe it'll inspire you to start your own exercise challenge...

If you find it difficult to get into an exercise routine, here are a few tips that may help:

Find an exercise partner or trainer who will keep you accountable. Exercise is always more fun when you do it with a friend. It's hard to say, "No" to someone who is counting on you to hold up your end of the bargain.

Sign up for group exercise classes. Sometimes being in a group setting keeps you inspired. I think I had the most fun exercising when I joined a zumba class because I love dance exercise and I was around others who were having fun too.

Write it down on your To-Do list. Just like you make commitments to business meetings or other day-to-day tasks that you have to do, make the commitment to exercise every day by writing it down. You can carve out 15 minutes each day if you really and truly set the intention. Make it a priority to yourself!

Post reminders around the house. Write reminders to yourself on post-it notes and put them on your bathroom mirror, in the closet, or in other places where you will see them every day.

I posted this on my desk to remind myself to exercise.

Create a vision board. Cut out pictures from health magazines of what you want to look like or how you want to feel. You can also print out inspirational quotes or mantras. Paste them all together on a piece of poster board that you can look at every day for inspiration. As part of your morning routine, spend a few minutes visualizing how you will look and feel when you're healthy and full of energy.

Are there any other tips that you would add to this list? What has been your experience with exercising on a consistent basis?

Stay tuned over the next few weeks as I share my own experience, plus other exercise resources I discover along the way.

The Perfect Gift For All Jewelry Lovers

2015-12-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

This weekend was pretty relaxing - put on my favorite super comfy jumpsuit by DKNY and took myself out on a lunch date because I needed a reason to get out and wear the new jewelry that just arrived in the mail from Rocksbox.

This month my focus is on taking better care of myself and being kind to myself, so treating myself to a yummy lunch of lobster ravioli was much needed after a long week of writing and client work. I also started a 30-day challenge to exercise 15 minutes each day and get back into a habit of meditating every morning.

How have you been treating yourself lately?

There are many ways to take care of yourself like spending time by yourself cuddled up on the couch with a juicy novel or going for a nice walk in the park. And if you love jewelry just as much as I do, why not treat yourself to a subscription from Rocksbox?

Rocksbox offers unlimited access to designer jewelry for $19 a month. You receive three pieces at a time, and whenever you're ready for new jewelry, just swap out your set for another one. Like other fashion-related subscription companies, you answer a few questions about your style and they send you pieces based on your answers. You can also add jewelry to a Wish List and buy any of the items at the "Insiders' Price". Every month you get $10 Shine Spend towards a purchase.

The personal note from one of the stylists, Lisa, made me feel special :)

I had added this grey and silver wrap bracelet from Nakamol to my wish list, so Lisa sent a House of Harlow pendant necklace and Sophie Harper studs along with it.

This is the perfect gift for someone like me who has a tendency to wear a jewelry piece a few times and then forget about it...although I do love these Sophie Harper studs and would probably wear them forever.

Find out more about Rocksbox: www.rocksbox.com

Should You Really Include Milk In Your Skincare Routine?

2015-12-01T14:06:00.001-08:00

If you grew up in the 80’s like me, you’re all too familiar with the commercials promoting “Milk...It does a body good!”

But did you know that milk is also good for your skin?

Or is it really?

There are alot of articles that have popped up on my radar in the past few months about milk and its skincare benefits. Since I’m currently obsessing about skincare, I thought I’d do a little digging and find out more.

It was my intention for this article to provide some studies or research about the use of milk in beauty products, but surprisingly could not find much of anything on the subject. Sure, there are tons of articles on the health and beauty benefits of milk, but my scientific side wanted to see at least one or two studies. I couldn’t find anything. If you happen to know of any research, please do let me know!

This article written by a dermatologist does list the benefits of using milk on the skin, which he or she claims have been time-tested or science-tested. Ok, so give me proof of all this research then! It’s not that I doubt the benefits of milk and how it’s good for the skin. I’d like to see just how much it actually helps.

All I know is that for thousands of years we’ve been told that Cleopatra, the Egyptian Queen, was known for her ritual of bathing in milk and honey.

What Types of Milk Should You Use?

Goat milk soap has a high content of alpha-hydroxy acids such as lactic acid that help break down skin cell bonds and remove dead skin cells from the surface.

Milk thistle has also been known to help flush the body of toxins, which contributes to a healthier chemical balance in the skin. When used in topical creams, milk thistle works as an antioxidant and coolant.

You may also consider using soy milk on the skin because it contains proteins, amino acids, and lipids that allow for rapid hydration and cell regeneration. This article about the oral and topical use of soy has supporting studies and research that lead me to believe that soy does indeed have skin benefits.

What If You’re Lactose Intolerant?

According to this article, Is Your Skin Lactose Intolerant?, you should be OK to use beauty products containing milk. Do keep in mind that if you are or tend to be lactose intolerant, you may want to test products on a small area of your skin first before applying it all over.

Have you tried milk-based skincare products?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about the use of milk in skincare products or your experiences using these products.

I’m a big fan of Yes To products, so I’m currently trying out the Yes To Cucumbers Gentle Milk Cleanser (sample provided by company), which is a milk-based cleanser that contains organic cucumber, aloe vera, soy proteins, and green tea. If you’re not familiar with Yes To products, they are over 95% natural, and are free of parabens, petroleum, and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS).

For the past month I’ve been using this cleanser in combination with the spa sonic facial cleansing brush or the ViaBuff loofah. I love the silky smooth way it feels on my face, plus I honestly have noticed an improvement in my skin texture.

After writing this article I came to realize that I probably should stop obsessing over my skin. As someone who believes in the idea that "thoughts become things", I'm learning that all this obsessive energy I'm putting into my skin is only making it worse. So from now on I will focus more on send loving thoughts to my skin and just be grateful that it is healthy!

Dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe Offers Turkey Day Inspired Skin Solutions

2015-11-25T14:37:00.000-08:00

#Pumpkinpie goals via @skatrinalee. Would anyone even notice it we snuck a slice before tomorrow?
A photo posted by Shape Magazine (@shape_magazine) on Nov 25, 2015 at 10:07am PST

It's that time of year again, and as you sit around having Thanksgiving dinner and enjoying time off with friends and family, take some time to be grateful for your health and beauty!

NYC-based dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe shares some turkey day-inspired skin solutions to help your skin look as good as your food tastes...

Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a key ingredient for most Thanksgiving meals. You can find it in apple pie, pumpkin pie, and mulled cider. Cinnamon boosts circulation, giving a healthy glow and transporting essential nutrients to the layers of the skin where collagen and elastic tissue are being produced.

DIY tip: Apply a cinnamon honey face mask 1-2 times per week. The honey will restore moisture to your skin and reduce redness, and the cinnamon will increase circulation while also ridding your skin of any acne-causing bacteria.

Sneak peak at what I'm making for Thanksgiving! 🍎🍴 ##cranberry #apple #cinnamon #magic
A photo posted by @steviemv on Nov 25, 2015 at 2:34pm PST

Sweet Potatoes, Butternut Squash, and Pumpkin: These richly colored foods contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant which promotes skin health and texture, AND as a gorgeous added benefit they give a beautiful, even golden hue to your skin. These orange-colored vegetables are the secret to a golden glow without the sun or self-tanner. This is good news if your skin is milk bottle white, as these skin tones tend to show up fake tan streaks much more then sallow skin tones.

Dr. Bowe’s favorite juice contains carrots, sweet potato, cantaloupe, coconut water and chia seeds – tastes delicious and has all the ingredients to give you healthy nutrients and a radiant glow!

Cranberries: This berry is high in collagen-building vitamin C and ellagic acid, an antioxidant that protects skin from sun damage and hinders the formation of enzymes which break down elastin in the skin. Try making your own antioxidant-boosting mask by mixing a half cup of mashed cranberries together with a half cup of yogurt (which contains probiotics, a healthy bacteria and anti-inflammatory) to reveal hydrated, radiant-looking skin!

Follow Dr. Bowe (@DrWhitneyBowe) for more insider tips and skincare solutions and check out her blog at http://drwhitneybowe.com/blog/!

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." -- Oprah Winfrey

Pre-Black Friday Online Deals

2015-11-24T00:54:00.001-08:00

Who needs to wait until Black Friday to shop for great deals? I don't know about you, but as usual I will be staying away from the madness. I am perfectly fine sitting in front of my computer in my pj's with a glass of wine. When you've worked in retail for 13 years, Black Friday becomes associated with aching feet and frazzled hair.

If anything I may go out and about this weekend to take pictures of window displays like this Kate Spade window I took during a trip to San Francisco a few years ago.

Anyways, I decided to check out what kind of deals my favorite stores are offering before Black Friday. Here are a few that you might be interested in:

Banana Republic is offering 40% off your purchase with code BRFRIENDS. Ends 11/25.

Get an extra 20%, 15%, or 10% off at Macy's. Enter code FEAST, Ends 11/24.

Saks Off 5th has amazing steals! Save up to 70% off with code PRICECUT. I have my eye on this ZAC by Zac Posen handbag.

White House | Black Market is offering 25% off your entire purchase with code 39732. Ends 11/25.

Bloomingdale's will take $25 off almost every $200 you spend, plus free shipping and returns. Ends 11/25.

Happy shopping!

4 Steps To Developing Your Very Own Unique Fashion Style

2015-11-12T13:36:00.000-08:00

Photo Credits: @saralrash, @_misscurly, and @jeka_blabla on Instagram

It's been said that the clothes make a man...as well as a woman. There are more reasons why you don’t want to dress up only in your pajamas to the conference than just to make yourself look like you know what you’re doing. Many times you want to dress up as you mean to, but also to dress up well as you want to. Yet, how do you differentiate between dressing up well and dressing up as yourself?

When it comes to the word “fashion”, it’s more of the fabulous results from various self-cultivation processes than simply just following what’s trendy on the Internet and on the streets. These are the reflections of the self-cultivation of what others have already developed, but it's not exactly yours. You can never truly dress up as yourself if you simply blindly copy others.

So how do you develop your own unique fashion sense to be able to dress up bon chic, or “bon self”?

#Step 1: Having the eyes of curiosity and appreciation open all the time.

The answer lies in the word “fashion” itself. Unlike what most would take for granted, fashion is actually the combination of many kinds of cultural, art and lifestyle influences. Which is to say, the key to developing your own unique fashion style lies in the fact that you will first have to develop your own opinion about the arts, having your own favorite artwork, as well as artists (and sometimes your own favorite fashion designers could also be the result of their style that you like, similar to your favorite artists). Keeping the eyes of curiosity and appreciation open is critical, and that’s the first step in developing your own unique fashion style.

#Step 2: Keep on reading

This might sound a bit silly, but how does reading have anything to do with having your own style? Well, the thing is, keeping on track with your trusted fashion editor whose articles inspire you is another key factor to developing your own fashion sense. Senses are not just grown by themselves; they’re also transplanted from other good sources. Editors from fashion magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar could be sources of inspiration.

#Step 3: Know your own brands and lifestyle

This is when you define how your clothes will represent you as yourself, the lifestyle you desire to live, as well as the requirement from your personal profession. As different brands tend to create and focus on different styles, it’s very crucial to develop your own background knowledge toward various brands before diving into the sea of fabulousness.

The point here is, keeping an open mind in finding the right pieces for yourself is much more important than sticking only to popular or luxury brands. So don’t be afraid of getting your hands dirty and dig into items under $100, online fashion retailers such as yoox.com and Neiman Marcus are all brilliant places worthy of keeping your eyes on in addition to H&M and Zara. Price certainly plays a big role in defining the designs and the effects that certain clothes can provide, but you can certainly define your own style in distressed jeans and raw-seamed blazers that you picked up at a thrift store. You can dress up fine and well in luxury brand clothes as well as lesser-known brands.

#Step 4: Wear it loud and proud

Whatever you decide to wear, confidence is what brings it all together. Confidence is believing in yourself and knowing that you are beautiful and stylish both on the inside and the outside.

I'll leave you with these inspiring words from one of my favorite stylish women...

OOTD: Happy Fall Blues

2015-11-05T13:16:00.001-08:00

I am so happy that fall is here! Summer in San Diego is great, but fall is so much better. You can't get any better than crisp, cool air with sunshine. Being able to wear boots, jackets, and sweaters fills me with style inspiration.

Some people take wearing jeans for granted, but, oh no, not me. Putting on these new skinny jeans I just got from Yoins made me giddy with excitement. Even wearing long-sleeved tops makes me happy. This navy v-neck blouse is the perfect everyday top that I can also wear with leggings. I love that I finally have something cute to wear with these Forever 21 denim strappy heels that I've had for awhile. And of course, putting on a hat is the cherry on top!

What are you excited about wearing this fall?

ViaBuff Review: Great Product For Exfoliating Skin

2015-11-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

Are you having issues with dry, flaky skin? As we head into colder weather, keeping my skin soft and moisturized becomes one of my biggest challenges. Exfoliating has become a part of my daily skincare regimen. If you're in the same boat, read on because I have a product that may just help…

I used to think that all loofahs were the same. I didn't give it much thought when I bought one. The last loofah I had actually ended up in the trash after awhile because it started to get moldy. Ick.

When I was offered to review ViaBuff, I thought it was going to be just another loofah. What caught my attention about this product, though, is that there are different products, or levels for every type of skin. From sensitive to clinical-type skin, there’s an exfoliator made just for your skin, plus there are mini buff exfoliators for your face. So if you have dry, flaky skin like me, you could try the Level 3 (pink) exfoliator.

The different levels include:

Level 1: Extra gentle - for oily, acne prone, or psoriasis
Level 2: Mild - for normal skin or those with eczema
Level 3: Moderate - for dry skin, ingrown hairs, keratosis, and pilaris
Level 4: Clinical - for very dry skin

I ordered the pack that includes the 3-pack mini facial buff with Levels 1, 2, & 3, plus the body exfoliator with handle. I like the handle because it helps with those hard-to-reach areas on my back. You could use the body exfoliator with or without the handle, though. The difference in texture of the facial buffs is very subtle, but still noticeable when you start using them on your face.

I’ve been using the exfoliators for the past couple months and they’ve held up pretty well. They’re soft and durable, not like those meshy loofahs that stretch out or get moldy. I especially love the body exfoliator because it really has worked on my chest area where the skin tends to get a little rough.

Benefits of Exfoliating Your Skin

Exfoliating your skin on a regular basis promotes new skin cell growth and improves skin texture. As you get older, the natural exfoliation process slows down, which makes exfoliating even more important. If you don’t exfoliate, old skin cells start to pile up on the surface of the skin, making it look dull and dry.

Exfoliating Tips

Skin renews itself at night, so the best time to exfoliate is in the morning.
Don't overdo it. Rub the product in a gentle, circular motion.
Give extra attention to your feet, elbows, and knees.

Do you exfoliate your skin on a regular basis?

For more information and to shop for exfoliating products, visit ViaBuff.com.

Fall Nail Art Inspiration For Beginners

2015-10-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Are you excited as I am for this fall season? Fall is my favorite time of year and it really inspires me to try out new beauty looks and put together cute outfits - with boots, of course! This week I was also inspired to dig around in my collection of nail polish and put together a fall nail art look.

As usual, I turned to Youtube to find easy nail art designs and came across this video by Jenny Fox a.k.a. MissJenFABULOUS where she offers three easy nail art designs for beginners...

I tried out design #2 from the video and as you can see from the photo above, it turned out great!

Looking for more nail tutorials? Check out my past posts for more nail art inspiration...

Here are nail polish colors I'm adding to my wishlist...

Makeup Trends for Fall-Winter 2015/2016

2015-10-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

Marc Jacobs Fall 2015 beauty look / Photo Credit: Michele Morosi
It's time to put away the pastel polish and coral lipstick and renew your makeup bag for the fall and winter seasons. Here are key beauty and makeup trends that are likely to inspire your beauty store purchases in the coming months...

Less Is Always In

This fall/winter 2015-2016, the no make-up look continues to rule. On the runway, we continued to witness nude lips and eyes accented only a hint of mascara. Even the smoky eyes were not overly dark. But if you love more prominent makeup, the buzzword of the season is...black!

Eye Makeup - Back to Black

The basic eyeliner has given way to many spinoffs this season. The precisely drawn line along the lash has disappeared completely. Eyeliner this season emphasizes either the middle of the eyelid (Thiery Mugler), the inner corner of the eye (Proenza Schouler), false eyelashes on the eyelids (Fendi), or the vastly popular graphic patterns above the cheekbone (Anthony Vaccarello). For those looking to keep it simple, a kohl pencil used along the lower lashes is back for a dark look in black (seen at Tory Burch and Erdem).

Photo Credit: Jennifer Livingston for Tory Burch

Winter's favorite eye makeup look, the smoky eye, will be popular in metallic gray and very pronounced like the halo seen at Chanel. The soft halo in plum, seen in Dior, will also be popular as all shades of plum are eternal winter favorites.

Chanel beauty look / Photo Credit: Sonny Vandevelde

Orange eye shadow is also in this season. Create a halo around the eye like in Alexander McQueen or stretch them outside the lids like Thakoon.

Alexander McQueen beauty look / Photo Credit: Kevin Tachman
Eyebrows are going to be plucked to perfection, but not made very thin. If fact, the trend is to make them look thicker.

Lip Makeup

The lips are all extreme this fall/winter. The three popular trends are no-makeup, extremely dark, or nude. Lip liners are smoky or completely invisible. Lips will be simply dressed with a touch of nude lipstick. If nude lips are not your cup of tea, go for deep plum (Carolina Herrera), dark red (Dolce & Gabbana) or even black (Giles, Ungaro).

Nails

Save the Halloween makeup! This season Nail polish stays true to the winter classics. Blood red as seen on the Carolina Herrera runway or Black like in Dior.

Face Makeup

With eye makeup being so graphic and lips staying nude, the face overall has a blushed look this season. Blushed peach and pale pinks are the choice of colors for cheeks.

Shopper Mandy over at YouTube goes over these makeup trends and more in this video. Check it out!

Which beauty looks will you try out this fall/winter seasons?

Super Easy and Cute Way to Organize Bobby Pins and Safety Pins

2015-10-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

Cute organizers in less than 5 minutes!

I am all about cheap and easy DIY projects and ideas to organize my beauty products. I know I’m not alone when I say that it can be frustrating when I have to dig around to find bobby pins or safety pins. So here’s a super cheap and cute way to organize those bobby pins and safety pins…

All you need is a pair of salt and pepper shakers and adhesive rhinestones on a roll. I bought the salt and pepper shakers from Dollar Tree and the rhinestones I found at Michael’s in those dollar saver bins. This is the closest thing I could find to it on their website.

Ditch the tops of the shakers and apply the rhinestones around the rims. Voila! That’s it!

I love to collect glass jars, so I also decorated a glass jar that used to be a grape jelly jar. I use it to hold my eyeliners, scissors, and other miscellaneous makeup pencils.

Do you have an easy DIY way to organize beauty products? Share a pic on the Beauty Is Within Facebook page and I'll post it here!

OOTD: Mixing Dressy and Casual

2015-10-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

I bought this pleated midi skirt with the intention of wearing it to a birthday party, but ended up wearing something else. I couldn't just let it hang in my closet waiting for another special occasion, which could be awhile, so I threw it on with a T-shirt and my favorite Puma sneakers. It's casual chic on a what have otherwise been a blah-blah outfit day!

Looking for more ways to wear a pleated midi skirt? Check out this inspiration board on Pinterest.

Put together your own casual chic outfit with these picks!

Current Obsession: How Do I Keep My Skin Soft?

2015-09-29T15:28:00.001-07:00

When you start to get older, one of the biggest challenges is keeping your skin soft and looking young. For me, though, it’s mostly about soft skin - not so much about looking younger because there’s enough obsession out there to look young. I’m with the philosophy of “aging gracefully”. Girrlll, there is nothing more annoying to me than dull, itchy skin. I know I’m not the only one with this issue, so I want to share a few things I’ve been doing or want to try to keep my skin soft:

Milk bath - This is one thing I haven’t tried yet, but supposedly Cleopatra’s secret to soft skin was soaking in a milk bath. Apparently the lactic acid in milk is an alpha hydroxy acid that helps dissolve dead skin cells.

Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate - When old skin cells accumulate on the surface, it can leave your skin looking dull, dry, and feeling rough. The build-up can also cause excess oil and clogged pores. I’m currently using Vivo Per Lei Dead Sea Minerals Facial Peeling, a product that a friend turned me onto, and I absolutely love, love, love it. You can actually see the dead skin coming off as you gently rub it across your face.

In the shower I’m currently using Softsoap’s new Fresh & Glow products including the Exfoliating Fruit Polish and Hydrating Shower Cream. The Fruit Polish contains apricot seed powder, which helps with exfoliation, plus orange oil (source of Vitamin A and C) and sweet almond seed extract to help lock in moisture. The Hydrating Shower Cream contains milk protein, almond, and coconut, which all help to soften the skin.

Avocado mask works!

Avocado mask - One of the most important elements of avocado is potassium, which keeps cells hydrated and supports the growth of new skin cells. I found this recipe for an avocado face mask and decided to try it out. My face definitely felt softer!

Eat and drink healthy - Fill your diet with revitalizing foods such as romaine lettuce, tomatoes (a natural antioxidant), strawberries (for Vitamin C), and almonds (for Vitamin E), just to name a few. I also make sure to drink plenty of water each day.

Use an alcohol-free toner - Immediately follow up with moisturizer to seal in hydration. (Thanks to Renee Rouleau for this tip.) I actually have Pixi’s Glow Tonic that I probably should use more often.

How do you keep your skin looking and feeling soft?

Mod Chic Nail Art Inspiration

2015-09-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

Those of you long-time readers know how much I love black and white, so after buying a new black and white striped top at H&M (No, you can never have too many black and white tops!), I was inspired to paint my nails in a geo/color-block design. The lines aren't straight, I know, but when you're drinking a glass of sangria that's what happens :) Check out this past post for more mod nail art inspiration.

Fashionable Home, Fashionable You: Finding Style Inspiration From Home Decor

2015-09-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

If you told me that I could watch only one TV channel for the rest of my life, I would probably choose HGTV. I love interior design and even took a few classes many years ago. I thought I wanted to become an interior designer, but that was before I rediscovered how much I love to write.

Now that I’m getting settled into a new apartment, I’m having so much fun decorating and shopping for furniture. I love hunting through thrift stores and upcycling vintage finds. My favorite thing to collect is milkglass. There’s something about all-white decorative pieces that I just love, which is probably one of the reasons why I love wearing black and white stripes or black and white polka dots.

I believe that just like the clothes you wear are a reflection of you, your home decor also communicates your personality and style. And when you’re stuck trying to put an outfit together in the morning, find inspiration from your environment or browse through some of these photos of stylish interior design...

Midcentury Living Room by Amsterdam Media & Bloggers Ninainvorm

Mid-century is one of my favorite styles because of the clean, minimalistic lines, geometric designs, and neutral, earth-toned colors. I especially like mid-century style sofas such as the marshmallow sofa that was designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller.

If I were to translate mid-century design into a fashionable outfit, this is what it would like...

Whenever I get caught in a color rut like wearing the same color combinations over and over, a trip to the local home improvement store and browsing through the paint chips and brochures gives me inspiration to try something new.

During the fall/winter 2015 runway shows it became apparent that the 70’s were making a comeback. In my mind I don’t think the 70’s ever really left. Even in home decor you’ll often see 70’s style patterns and art like this eclectic mix of mid-century furniture and colorful geometric designs in the pillows and wall art.

Midcentury Living Room by New York Interior Designers & Decorators Anthony Baratta LLC

I’m very drawn to boho style because of its creative, relaxing vibe. I would probably say that my own personal decorating style is very boho because I love to mix and match.

Photo Credit: ELLE Decor

Eclectic Family Room by Gold Coast - Tweed Interior Designers & Decorators Alida And Miller

For me Bohemian fashion is a timeless, classic style. I love the free-flowing pieces and adventurous nature of boho-chic clothing. My favorite accessory is the floppy, wide-brimmed hat.

Boho LucLuc by ansev

Do you find inspiration from home decor, and is your own home decor the same as your fashion style?

Rikashadz Nail Polish Review

2015-08-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Not long ago I talked about a new nail polish line called Rikashadz that I was pretty excited about it because I haven't seen anything like it.

Rikashadz has a color called "Miami Tan Lines", which looks really pretty and is perfect as a subtle chic polish for summer...or any season for that matter. I've been having this thing for the color nude lately. I've been on the hunt for a pair of nice strappy heels in a nude color, so wouldn't it be cute with a nail polish in nude?

I also tried out Rikashadz's "Bottom To Top" - basically a conditioning base coat and top coat that is essential to ensuring your nails stay healthy, plus allows the polish to stay on longer and look super shiny. I love the little details like the tiny flowers that were included in the top coat.

As with all the Rikashadz polish, you get the regular color and a glitter or shimmer version that complements it. Although I don't use glitter polish all that often because it's such a pain to take off, I won't have that issue anymore because Rikashadz has this Wipe Off Water that easily takes off the shimmer nail polish. I like to call these the magic pom pom balls. Excuse my valley girl excitement, but this nail polish remover is totally Ah-mazing!

And speaking of amazing, each set comes with magnets on the back so you can mount them to a metal surface. Rikashadz does offer a hanging wall mount that makes for a pretty display on a wall. If you really want to go all out, you could get the Totally Magnetizing four sided display that features a LED display with a remote.

You can tell that alot of thought went into making this nail polish brand stand out from the others, plus the pricing is reasonable. Each pair of polishes is $20, but remember that you are getting two bottles in one.

For more information about Rikashadz, visit: rikashadz.com

The Best Time to Shop For Fashion Bargains

2015-08-24T20:58:00.001-07:00

My Burlington/Urban Outfitters Haul

As some of you long-time readers know, I am all about bargain hunting. I'll pay full retail for the things that I really, really love, but otherwise you'll find me scouring the sales racks for great deals.

I used to buy things because they were on sale and I would end up just wearing it a few times then forget about it. Now I'm pretty selective. Even though something might be a good deal, if I don't really need it (like black shirts or black dresses) or I don't think I'll wear it that often, then it goes back on the sales rack.

This past month I've been on a serious shopping spree because in the retail world it's considered end-of-summer and they want to make room for all the new fall clothing, so that means all those spring and summer clothes are now on the clearance racks. I was even able to find a couple pieces that I could wear during the fall as well!

And can you believe I spent less than $100?!? (Before tax)

Here's what I bought:

Cardigan and sweatshirt at Zara: $25.98
Shorts at Free People: $19.95 (You can also buy them online here.)
Top at Urban Outfitters: $9.99
Jumpsuit, dress, and skirt at Burlington: $31.97

I'm especially excited about the shorts at Free People, the Max Studio dress (originally $128), and the Splendid jumpsuit (originally $188). I've been looking for a cute jumpsuit for awhile and I found one for only $6.99. There were so many clearance racks in Burlington, but somehow I managed to stay focused!

Just about every store I've been in has a clearance sale on spring and summer clothing, so this is definitely the time to go shopping. What are your favorite stores to shop to find bargains on clothing?

Getting Back To Your Beautiful, Authentic Self: Lessons From Cait Jenner

2015-08-16T14:43:00.001-07:00

Watching Bruce Jenner make the transition to Cait Jenner has been fascinating and eye-opening, to say the least.

Being transgender in American society is not particularly new, but because of Cait’s ties to the Kardashian family, of course all eyes are on her, which has put the trans community in the spotlight. I see this as a good thing.

I completely support Cait and what she is doing to become more in tune with her soul and true self. Can you believe how difficult it must have been to deny who you are for so many years? I’ve actually been there myself, but not in the same context or to the extent that Cait has done. In many ways, people often deny who they are by trying to fit into a certain clique and wanting to be someone they are not, acting in ways that are detrimental to their spirits and souls. I see this alot in high schoolers who become attached to labels and wanting to become part of the “in” crowd. Actually, many adults do this too.

But now Cait Jenner is “free” because she no longer has to hide who she truly is.

In what ways are you hiding who you truly are?

From watching reality TV shows and all the drama that is portrayed in these shows, I’ve observed many women who hide behind these personas of being “bad *ss **tches”, putting up a wall around their authentic self because of this fear of being betrayed or taken advantage of. Many of us watching these shows are quick to judge these women, but all I see are gentle and very hurt souls. And they’re so hurt because they can’t be who they truly are at all times. They've built up a wall so high around their hearts thinking this will protect them from being hurt, but all they are doing is hurting themselves.

Deep down inside we all want the same thing. We just want to be happy and to be able to be our true, authentic selves. For me this means being able to live how we want, love who we want, be who we are, and pursue the life we want. The challenge with that is we often fear what other people will think about us, and so we we end up trying to please everyone else except ourselves. We lose ourselves in this idea of what people want us to be, which is what Cait did for so many years. The fear was probably more amplified for Cait because she is famous with so many people tied to this idea of who Bruce Jenner should be.

I was watching Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday with Caroline Myss who said something to the effect of “the biggest betrayal you can make is the one you make to yourself”. This was an “aha” moment for me because I think about how I betrayed myself in the past when I stayed in relationships that did not serve me anymore. Many people betray themselves when they continue in a job that they hate or try to be someone they are not. Another form of betrayal is when we continue to allow other people to physically or emotionally abuse us.

When you begin to reacquaint with your true self, you’ll begin to feel this huge weight being lifted from your soul, which is what we’re witnessing with Cait. For many years I saw grumpy Bruce Jenner getting lost in the background. Watching Bruce blossom into Cait, you see this exuberance and happiness that wasn’t there before.

Getting back to your authentic self

So how do you make contact with your inner self? I like this advice that Deepak Chopra offers in an article titled How to Love Yourself Unconditionally:

This implies paying more attention to self-care. Through meditation, self-reflection or contemplation, and the experience of quiet at least a few minutes every day, you make contact with your inner world. You learn to appreciate and enjoy it.

For me, this process of becoming in tune with my authentic self did not happen overnight. It’s actually an ongoing journey. I spend a great deal of time with myself to reflect on life and discover the little lessons that can be taken from each situation. I’ve spent less time thinking about or judging other people and more time listening to or watching uplifting talks from inspirational people who keep me grounded.

It’ll be interesting to see Cait Jenner go on her own journey. I know that there are many lessons to be learned about our own lives as we find out more about her life.

Visiting the New Kipling Store in Fashion Valley

2015-08-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

As an artist and fashionista who enjoys all things colorful, I was excited to hear about the new Kipling store opening up in Fashion Valley. I'm in need of a new wallet, so that was my excuse to check out the grand opening last week.

It was awesome to be surrounded by so much colorful inspiration. They didn't have any small wallets, but I did see a couple black and gold travel bags that I've added to my wishlist...

Here are even more Kipling bags that I'm adding to the wishlist...

Here's a fact about Kipling that you may or may not know: The company's name came from the spirit of the monkeys in Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. Hence, the monkey in to the logo...and the little pink guy holding an artist's palette perched on a shelf by the wallets in the store.

Do you own any bags by Kipling?

Get Your Free Tickets: Sassy City Chicks Shopping Event Comes Back to San Diego

2015-08-09T13:27:00.001-07:00

It's that time again! It's one of the few shopping events I look forward to every year when it comes to San Diego...and you're invited!

Sassy City Chicks will be here this coming Wednesday, August 12 from 6-10 pm at Parq Restaurant & Night Club in downtown. Enjoy a night of pampering, shopping, and a super fun girl's night out with your besties. The last time I attended I scored some awesome deals because many of the vendors were selling off samples.

Plus, who doesn't like to shop while sipping on wine or cocktails?

Tickets for the event are normally $10, but you can get a free ticket by entering promo code "BEAUTYISWITHIN". Get your tickets here: http://sassycitychick.com/event/details/sassy-city-chicks-san-diego/. Please note that you must be 21 years or older to attend.

If you're not in San Diego, there are other events in cities including San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles. Visit the Sassy City Chicks website for more details.

See you there!