gracefuls: a design + makeup + styling blog

spanish moss + sparkles

2012-04-08T22:31:00.001-05:00

a few weeks ago, i picked up one of the new revlon colorstay polishes and decided to give it a shot. i chose this muted, foresty green called "spanish moss" since i didn't have any colors like it. to mix it up, i accented my ring fingernail with a shimmery blue-green-slate color, and two different glitter polishes.

it took just one coat for the green to appear opaque on my fingernail, really, but for good measure, i applied two coats, and then my clear essie topcoat. the colorstay polish claims to stay on for "up to 10 days", and mine lasted about 5 days without any major chips (a few tiny ones here and there, barely noticeable).

they're not my favorite polishes i've ever tried, but i wouldn't say no to picking up another color next time i see them at the store :)

have any of you tried these polishes? what did you think? :)

i'm back! + casual friday do's and don'ts

2012-03-31T15:48:00.001-05:00

hello everyone! sorry for the extended break -- i quickly realized that having to work full-time meant a lot less free time, and therefore a lot less time for blogging! i really enjoy my job, and that's partly what this post is about today! and although i have less time for blogging, i will do my best to have one or two posts each week :)

so this is the top half of what i wore yesterday to work..

black blazer: h&m, silk top: vintage, necklace: red hue boutique, bangle: forever21, gray skinny jeans (not pictured): forever21, leopard flats (pictured below the jump): target

keep reading to see my tips for friday outfits!

since you don't want to be the girl in the office who looks too casual on a casual friday (and i definitely see some out there..), i made a list of a few do's and don'ts that will save you from embarrassment and/or stern warnings!

1. DO feel free to express your personal style, but make sure it is still work appropriate, depending on your specific work dress code.

2. DON'T wear torn, dirty, frayed, or too-baggy jeans. you don't want to look like a mess!

3. DO feel free to dress up your jeans a bit! it's all about balance, and since jeans are a bit more casual, i paired my gray skinny jeans with a bright coral red silk top and a black blazer. and a pair of leopard flats never hurt anyone.. (see below)!

left: american eagle, right: target.

are there any other tips you can think of that you'd add to this list? :)

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let's connect! :)

apologies!

2012-02-29T21:07:00.005-06:00

hello all! sorry i've been so..MIA recently. just wanted to apologize and let you know that i'm in the middle of some transitions right now and hope to start blogging again next week! looking forward to posting something wonderfully exciting :)

edit: i've still been instagramming a bit during this time, so follow me for updates!

photo diary: nail art splurge

2012-02-23T13:59:00.002-06:00

light dove grey (OPI's moon over mumbai) with hand-painted gold accents (urban outfitters gold)

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half moon manicure with olive green (urban outfitters) and glossy black (sinful colors' black on black)

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light dove grey (OPI's moon over mumbai) with multi-colored glitter (milani's jewel fx in gems)

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my recent nail art experiments! i can do a tutorial of the first one if anyone would like to learn :)

beauty school: brush up! (part 2)

2012-02-22T12:33:00.000-06:00

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sorry for the delay in part 2 of the "brush up!" series, but here it is! these may not be in every beginner's set, but definitely come in handy when doing more detailed and precise makeup. just as paintbrushes are essential to an artist, so are makeup brushes to a makeup artist.

even if you don't consider yourself one, investing in some great brushes (and keeping them well cared for!) will help you achieve even better and more detailed looks than without brushes.

look out for a tutorial on how to take care of and clean your brushes! :)

don't forget to follow me on twitter / pinterest / tumblr / rss!

eye look #15: the blues

2012-02-16T14:46:00.000-06:00

this is a look that uses blue tones yet works really well for everyday wear! just make sure to use neutrals for your main lid color, define with a navy shadow, and you can line with a navy blue liner as well. your bottom lash line is a great place to add a pop of teal or lighter blue, which is what i did after applying a bit of navy blue liner on the bottom corner.

hope this inspires you to try a look with hints of blue as well! :)

products used:

make up for ever aqua cream #15 taupe

l'oreal h.i.p. color truth cream liner in midnight blue

nyx single eyeshadow in frosted ocean

sephora collection retractable waterproof eyeliner in turquoise

find me on these social media sites!

aqua inspiration

2012-02-15T17:02:00.001-06:00

Source: tarteletteblog.com via grace on Pinterest

Source: 100layercake.com via grace on Pinterest

Source: eyeshadowlipstick.com via grace on Pinterest

Source: richesforrags.tumblr.com via grace on Pinterest

a few things that have been inspiring me lately, all with a hint of aqua. i love how light aqua makes everything feel so ethereal and light. and how charming are those nautical wedding invitations? i love how they have the hand-painted aesthetic yet they're still very sophisticated and clean.

these are all from my pinterest boards -- i take pride in the fact that my boards are very carefully curated :) so head on over to my pinterest to see more of the things i'm loving!

shopping my closet

2012-02-14T13:56:00.001-06:00

sweater: american eagle (aerie), top+bottoms+necklace: forever21,

bracelets from top to bottom: h&m, luna (local boutique, h&m)

finding ways to shop my own closet and combine pieces i already have is definitely challenging, but i think it's a great way to stretch my creativity and also stick to a budget (because i've been trying to not buy too many new pieces!).

something i've learned is that even though you might not think the outfit will work when you see the pieces separately, sometimes if you put them on and keep tweaking, the result can surprise you. try just the front of the top tucked in, or just the side tucked in, or roll up the sleeves, or scrunch the sleeves, or belt the bottoms, mix colors, mix prints, add jewelry, add accessories. modify it until it either works or really doesn't work! good luck! :)

let's connect! :)

"hazard" bright + silver

2012-02-10T14:59:00.000-06:00

the bright nail look i've been rocking the past few days. this was my first time buying the sinful colors brand polish, and it seems to be pretty good quality for the price ($1.99).

3 coats of sinful colors' hazard nail polish, a swipe of silvery-champagne polish from forever 21, a coating of silvery glitter on the ring fingers, and then a clear top coat. it's holding up pretty well!

have a great weekend! :)

nyx cream shadows review

2012-02-09T11:49:00.000-06:00

i stopped by ULTA last week, and miraculously walked out of the store with only two products. (i really tried to restrain myself because i'm not supposed to be spending so much!) one of those was the new NYX cream shadow, which i had been excited to try ever since i wrote this post. to see what i thought about it, and the look i created with it, read on after the jump!

first off, let me just say that sponge-tip applicators are not my preferred method of applying eyeshadow... for cream eyeshadows i prefer them in container-form. but being that this was a NYX product, and having had a very good experience with most of their products in the past, i still wanted to try it. i chose shade 15, called musk. it's a really beautiful rosy-brown-copper color, with tons of beautiful shimmer. the swatches online do not do the colors justice at all!

it's listed for $5 online but ULTA always has sales and/or coupons for NYX products, so you can probably get it for cheaper. the packaging is very pretty, and definitely is one thing that compelled me to purchase this product in the first place. it's a convenient size, and great for taking with you in case you need to touch up! but you actually really shouldn't be needing to touch up at all...because this eyeshadow lasted me almost 12 hours, and at the end of the day, looked as good as when i had put it on in the morning!

i did a sort of cut-crease look with the eyeshadow, which works pretty well for my hooded eyelids, and then i didn't have to worry about it getting messed up in my natural crease at all. i applied it just to the main part of my eyelid, then defined above my natural crease with a matte brown eyeshadow.

as you can see in the photos, the color payoff is pretty good as well. i used a primer underneath, but this was just a few dabs of eyeshadow along my lash line that i then smoothed out using the tip of my finger. it dries pretty quickly, and after it dries is almost impossible to blend, so make sure you have an idea of where you want to put it on your eyelid first! if you have eyelids similar to mine, or monolids, i would recommend looking downwards for a few seconds to let the eyeshadow dry before continuing with the rest of your makeup.

overall, i'm really happy with it. there's a pretty good selection of colors, the quality is good especially for the price, and it has great lasting power!

[disclaimer: i bought this product on my own. i was not compensated in any way to do this review.]

let me know in the comments section if you found this review helpful, or if you purchased this product and want to share your thoughts as well! and don't forget to connect with me on the networks below :)

photo diary: recent style & beauty inspirations

2012-02-07T12:53:00.001-06:00

a few random photos i took recently that i hope either inspire you to try new things or let you get to know me a little better! :)

+ starry sky nail art (pretty easy, just paint a small star shape using 5 lines and then dots around)

+ rosy brown eye makeup with minimal eyeliner

+ part of my outfit the other day

(cardigan: gap, tshirt: madewell, belt+skirt+top 2 bracelets: f21, bottom bracelet: diy)

have a wonderful day!

don't forget to connect with me! :)

beauty school: very berry eye tutorial

2012-02-01T11:52:00.000-06:00

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beauty school is now in session! :) here's a great tutorial for valentine's day (continuing with the v-day theme!) or anytime! this is based off one of my previously posted eye looks called "very berry" but i had to modify it a bit.

to get the look, read on after the jump for the step-by-step instructions!

1 + the two main eyeshadow colors you will need are a purple/plum eyeshadow, and a bright pink or coral eyeshadow.

2 + start out with a clean eyelid. using the primer of your choice, apply it all over your eyelid so that your eyeshadow will stay put.

3 + take a purple or plum eyeshadow and apply it on the main part of your eyelid. don't extend it up too much higher than your natural crease. if you have monolids and aren't sure where to place the purple color, try it how i applied it on my eyelid, or if it's too much, apply it just along your lash line.

4 + blend a bright pink eyeshadow right above the purple color. it should have a nice, smooth gradient appearance instead of two separate colors. continue to blend and add small amounts of eyeshadow in either color as necessary until it looks smooth.

5 + line your upper lash line with your choice of liner (liquid, cream, gel, pencil). i chose a gel liner, and didn't apply the line too thickly.

6 + i used purple eyeliner for this step, but if you don't have it, you can use brown or black. i just took the jumbo liner and lined my waterline and lower lash line with this.

7 + using the same purple eyeshadow from step 3, smudge it on top of the liner to set it.

8 + using the pink eyeshadow, apply it right underneath the purple eyeshadow, mirroring what you did on your eyelid. make sure to contain the color only on the lower lash line of your eye, and not extend it too far down.

9 + curl your lashes and apply mascara!

10 + your finished eye look!

products i used
victoria's secret minerals eyeshadow in divine (product discontinued)
bare minerals eyeshadow in beautiful lisa (color discontinued)
mac fluidline in blacktrack
sephora jumbo liner 12HR wear waterproof in #15 purple
smashbox full exposure mascara
maybelline volum' express the falsies mascara

don't forget to add me via google reader (or any other rss feed readers) so you won't miss another post!

style sheet: how to look incredible for v-day!

2012-01-30T14:40:00.002-06:00

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hello lovely readers! :) i'm back, and i'm here to share some of my style picks for valentine's day! i put together two outfits, either of which will definitely help you to look your best for v-day. i didn't want the outfits to scream "valentine's day", thus allowing you to have more versatile pieces that you can wear again. to see details, read on after the jump!

i've listed the item details and links to where you can buy them below! some items may be out of your price range (if you're like me..) so if you need help finding similar and more affordable alternatives, just leave a comment or shoot me an email, and i'd be glad to help you out!

which look would you wear? or if neither, what are you planning on wearing?

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classic & sweet set

1. pleat frill neck dress, $95 from topshop

2. schoolboy blazer in classic donegal tweed, $198 from j.crew

3. house of harlow khaki leather and gold sunburst cocktail ring, $50 from charm & chain

4. skinny calf hair belt, $60 from j.crew

5. mojo moxy magic platform pump, $55 from endless

6. catoggio two-tone clutch, $35 from aldo

7. ABS pave goldtone chain link bracelet, $125 from max & chloe

trendsetter set

1. clean ponte pencil shift dress, $92 from topshop

2. bb dakota garret coyote faux fur vest, $68 (sale) from piperlime

3. tortoise jet set watch, $195 from michael kors

4. pearlescent layered chain necklace, $8 from forever 21

5. enzo angiolini flory bootie, $70 from endless

6. purple leather cambridge satchel, $215 from asos

new nyx cream shadows!

2012-01-23T15:57:00.000-06:00

(all photos from nyxcosmetics.com)

if you haven't heard, NYX recently released these water-resistant cream shadows in 24 colors (even though there are only 20 available online), and i've been so excited to try them! i'm definitely planning to pick these up in a few shades on my next trip to ULTA.

NYX is one of my favorite brands -- great quality, and very affordable, so i'm expecting good things from these cream shadows! i've got my eye on the deep purple, aqua, and ice white shades :) i'll write up a review once i get them, but in the meantime, head on over here to check them out!

style sheet: winter closet essentials

2012-01-20T13:20:00.000-06:00

1. tall slouchy neppy cardi, $84 from topshop 2. chambray shirt, $30 from old navy 3. white blouse, $40 from H&M 4. pencil skirt in wool crepe, $98 from j.crew 5. icon trench in wool-cashmere, on sale for $259 from j.crew 6. the archive leather boot, $298 from madewell 7. black stretch twill trouser, $37 from miss selfridge

(all photos from their respective websites)

hi everyone! sorry about the lack of posts this week. i've been trying to focus a bit more on getting a design job, since that was one of my new year's resolutions! small steps, you know? :)

while i was gone, i put together a little mid-winter style inspiration board. i had gotten a request before to write a post about closet essentials, and so here are my picks for winter essentials! simple yet full of style. and i am in LOVE with that red wool pencil skirt. oh j.crew, why must i love you so much..?

what's your favorite piece from this board? :)

beauty school: brush up! part 1.

2012-01-17T17:01:00.000-06:00

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hi everyone! i thought this might be helpful for some of you :) this is just part 1 of a little guide to help you when deciding which brushes to invest in, and which ones you may not need at the moment. part 1 features two types of shadow brushes and two types of smudge brushes.

the brushes shown here are photos of the brushes that i own, so the ones that you may be considering may look a bit different although they're the same type of brush. a few popular places to purchase brushes are sephora, MAC, and sigma. my brushes are from many different places, but i have some from sephora, a few from MAC, some from the sonia kashuk line at target, some from E.L.F, and some just regular paintbrushes :)

i'll be posting other types of brushes and their functions soon!

eye look #14: the naked eye.

2012-01-14T13:41:00.000-06:00

my skin has been so extra dry this winter :( so i'll just show you the eyes :P

i've been meaning to post a look like this one for a while, but never got around to getting pictures of it! here's a more polished way to look like you're not wearing any makeup, or barely any makeup. this is great for those days where you want to go for the natural look :)

check out how i did it after the jump!

[1] pat a taupe or flesh colored eyeshadow onto your eyelid. be sure to choose one that's similar to your skin tone. i used one with a bit of shimmer, but you can choose a matte one if you'd like.

[2] using a black or brown waterproof eye pencil, line your upper AND lower waterlines, your lower lashline, and be sure to define the corner of your eye. this will keep your eye defined while keeping the makeup to a minimum!

[3] using the same eyeshadow from step 1, smudge a bit onto your lower lash line, right on top of the liner you just drew, to set it and keep it from smudging later on.

[4] curl your lashes and add mascara. and you're done!

products i used:

urban decay's toasted eyeshadow

nyx slide on pencil in jet black

shu uemura eyelash curler

smashbox full exposure mascara

a very simple way to go natural and still look put-together, and very work-appropriate as well. hope this helps! post any questions below, and i'd love to hear how your look turned out if you try this!

chocolate moose & silver tips

2012-01-12T14:46:00.000-06:00

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i love this manicure. i used 2 coats of OPI's chocolate moose, and love & beauty's taupe/champagne polish for the tips, and a topcoat. the silver looks pretty light in the photos, but in real life it's a gorgeous dark silvery color. i freehanded the tips so they're not the best..my left hand tips turned out okay, but surprisingly my right hand tips turned out pretty well also (considering i'm right handed).

and i'm super excited -- just bought a thin paintbrush so i can start painting designs on my nails! i'll be sure to get some photos when i try it out!

channeling j.crew

2012-01-11T12:52:00.000-06:00

pearl necklace: j.crew, gold bracelet: madewell, brown bracelet: h&m, belt: charlotte russe

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blue oxford shirt: gap kids, bright coral cardigan: gap, denim: forever21, brown oxford shoes: forever21

channeling j.crew // what i wore the other day, when i felt like i was dressed as if i walked out of a j.crew catalog. :) sorry for the phone camera quality in the second photo, i snapped a quick one while in the dressing room at h&m when i was out shopping the other day.

j.crew is one of my favorite stores though. every time i walk in, it makes me so excited to see all the gorgeous brights, ginghams, great fabrics, and colorful accessories on the women's side. and i always love looking at the menswear as well -- great, structured, timeless pieces. now if only my budget would allow me to shop there more often.. :)

what's your favorite store to shop at?

fresh lime & fuchsia

2012-01-10T11:27:00.000-06:00

fresh lime & fuchsia // i'm very proud to share with you guys that one of the wedding invitations i designed has been featured today on WeddingLovely's blog! If you're not familiar with WeddingLovely, it is a great resource for brides and vendors alike to find that perfect invitation designer, photographer, wedding planner, etc. i'm part of the community and am listed as one of the vendors and it's been a great experience so far!

below are a few of the photos from the feature, and don't forget to check out the larger photos and the post here!

photos & design work by me.

color block it

2012-01-09T12:11:00.000-06:00

emerald green top: the limited, dark navy sweater: jcrew, cobalt pants: forever 21, flats: payless, necklace: forever 21

belt: forever 21, bracelets from top to bottom: forever 21, diy, h&m

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color block it // happy monday everyone! :) so last week i wrote a post on how to style bright bottoms (to see it, click here!), and i had paired bright bottoms with neutral tops in my own wardrobe before, but had never done the bright-on-bright, so i decided to give it a try...and take pictures in nordstrom while waiting for my friend. :P i don't have any bright shoes, but i think the cognac color works well with brights.

how do you think i did? :)

eye look #13: go-to look

2012-01-07T15:41:00.000-06:00

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eye look #13: go-to look // hope you all are having a relaxing weekend! this is a look i wanted to share with you -- i love the neutral tones and how it's a more toned down version of the traditional smoky eye. this is my go-to look, especially on those days where i'm already rushed and don't have time to experiment with colors as much.

i didn't need to prime my eyelids for this one because i used make up for ever aqua cream #15, which acts as a primer and eyeshadow all in one. this is a great product that multi-tasks for you, and i highly recommend it, or any similar waterproof cream shadow. i added some definition to my eyes with a shimmery dark gray eyeshadow on my outer corner, and lined just the outer 2/3 of my upper lashline, to keep the look a bit lighter and not so heavy. i defined the lower lashline with black pencil and brown eyeshadow smudged on top, added mascara, and i was all set to go.

what is your go-to makeup look? :)

royal blue chevron

2012-01-06T12:35:00.000-06:00

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royal blue chevron // three coats of OPI's moon over mumbai (a light dove grey/taupe color), tape triangles on top, one coat of love & beauty polish in royal (gorgeous color by the way), and a clear topcoat. first time trying out tape triangles! success. :)

links a la mode feature #3, courtesy of IFB

2012-01-06T12:19:00.002-06:00

links a la mode feature #3, courtesy of IFB // it's a privilege to be featured as one of the top 20 links on IFB again! don't forget to check out all the other great posts that were featured as well. you can read the full list after the jump!

Ringing in 2012 with Style

Edited by: Meghan Donovan of WIT & Whimsy

It’s clear from this week’s Links a La Mode that we are all excited to have 2012 here and that we’re sure it will be one stylish year. From closet clean-out tips to style resolutions, IFB members have loads of ways this week to work that closet in the new year.

THE IFB WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LINKS À LA MODE: JANUARY 5TH

Blonde Vivant: Spring 2012’s Brights
Coming Unstitched: Man’s Word on Spring Trends
Dress with Courage: 2012 Style Goals
elodiebubble: The Fearless Shoes of 2012
Endear: Closet Clean-out
Fashion Hacker: 2012 Style Resolutions
Girl Next Door Fashion: Get Inspired with Your Wardrobe
Gracefuls: Rose Gold Eye Makeup Tutorial
House of Modern Vintage: Vintage Nightgowns
Inexpensive Chic: Wearing Your Denim Jacket in Winter
My Fashion Wish List: Classic Buys You Won’t Regret
Over 50 Feeling 40: Journalism 101 for Fashion Bloggers
Simply Frabulous: 10 Unforgettable Pieces of Fashion News from 2011
Style Abuse: Bring on Print-Blocking
Style Delights: Caring for Cashmere
Styledelica: New Year, New Fashion Goals
Sugar & Chiffon: Peter Pan Collar Trend
Sugar and Spice: Shopping the Sales Now
The Average Girl’s Guide: Closet Clean up for 2012
WIT & Whimsy: A Touch of Ralph Lauren Rugby

SPONSOR:
Necklaces at Shopbop: Chan Luu, Iosselliani, KJL, Vita NY, Noir, Dara Ettinger, Shashi, Phillip Lim, GinetteNY, Vanessa Mooney, Adia Kibur, CC Skye & Dannijo

PLEASE READ IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE
If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE. The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode group will be published later today. ~Jennine

gracefuls: a design + makeup + styling blog

spanish moss + sparkles

i'm back! + casual friday do's and don'ts

apologies!

photo diary: nail art splurge

beauty school: brush up! (part 2)

eye look #15: the blues

aqua inspiration

shopping my closet

"hazard" bright + silver

nyx cream shadows review

photo diary: recent style & beauty inspirations

beauty school: very berry eye tutorial

style sheet: how to look incredible for v-day!

more posts to come..!

new nyx cream shadows!

style sheet: winter closet essentials

beauty school: brush up! part 1.

eye look #14: the naked eye.

chocolate moose & silver tips

channeling j.crew

fresh lime & fuchsia

color block it

eye look #13: go-to look

royal blue chevron

links a la mode feature #3, courtesy of IFB

Ringing in 2012 with Style

THE IFB WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LINKS À LA MODE: JANUARY 5TH