Red Carpet Highs and Lows, and a few OOTD...

It has been a little while since I have posted, and I apologize. One excuse is our excruciatingly slow Internet speed, which will hopefully be fixed within the next few weeks.

I fully admit, that while I did not watch the SAG awards, I of course scoured the pictures this morning to admire the hair, makeup, and *sigh* fashion. Everyone's tastes obviously vary, and I try to not let the pre-assigned "grades" affect my personal choices for best and worst dressed. I will say the gowns this year were stunning, the understated, yet PRICEY bling was to die for, and I was disappointed with quite a lot of the hair. I get the messy, low, 'I want it to look like it took 5 minutes to do this, but really it took 5 hours' look... But I am of the personal opinion that if you are walking the red carpet in a $50,000 gown and a million dollars worth of jewelry, your hair should look perfectly coiffed as well.  (Hey, I never said I wasn't opinionated.)  ;)

I'm going to start with my least favorite looks.... I will try to keep it from getting too photo heavy, but come on, it's the red carpet!  (The following photos are all from Yahoo)

WORST WORST WORST



Kara Mara

 Let's just say that I would die to have a figure that I could squeeze into an Herve Leger design. Who knows, someday, maybe I will. But this is just all-over fug. And the headband looks like what I wear on my head after the shower and I am applying my makeup.

MOST DISAPPOINTED



Christina Hendricks



As a curvy girl myself, and someone who has always dreamed of being able to pull off fire engine red hair, I am always excited to see what she will be wearing. This L'Wren Scott gown/robe/smoking jacket??? was a major fail. And the goth eyeliner is just too much, even for an eyeliner lover such as myself. Girlfriend can do SO much better.

DOWDIEST



Jenna Fisher

This one got fairly decent reviews, but I just could not get on board with it. I love Jenna Fisher, but I feel like this Fendi gown is too overwhelming on her, and I would have loved to see something more elegant done with her hair. A little too 'Mother of the Bride' if you will.

WHAT THE?



Kim Kardashian

I love Marchesa, and I am always looking forward to see how Kim K is going to show off her famous curves. This is just an all over question mark for me... Dress is wearing her, she doesn't even appear to be wearing any makeup, and the hair! Ugh, don't get me started. It's like 30 minutes before the event she looked at her watch and thought 'do I have somewhere to be? oops, better get ready!'.  ;)

..................................................................

Ok, now onto my favorite part... The Best! I have so many looks that I loved, so once again, will try to keep it to my very very favorites. :)

HANDS DOWN, NUMBER ONE



Heather Morris

Quite a few of the 'Glee' girls made my list, but this one tops everyone of the night. It's airy, flowy, dreamy. Makeup is fresh and dewy, hair tied in perfectly. A +++++  LOVE.

MOST FUN



Julia Bowen



AND



Jennifer Lawrence

I have always thought to myself that if I were a celebrity I would attempt to break out of the box without going to far over the edge. Which is why I LOVE Julia Bowen's Valentino jumpsuit. And apparently I am digging the loose, straight hair this year.

On another note, I love Jennifer Lawrence's hot pink Oscar de la Renta gown, with the starkly contrasting black accessories. Refreshing on a young up and coming actress. (If you haven't seen Winter's Bone - SEE IT)

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

Natalie Portman in Azzaro

AND



Hilary Swank in Versace



We all know these ladies are anything but 'usual', but how often is it that I do NOT find them on my best dressed list. Perfection as always.

LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST

Mila Kunis

I love everything about this Alexander McQueen gown, the cut, the color... gorgeous. And most importantly, she look comfortable and like she's having FUN!! 

............................................

Something I've always wanted to do is dress myself for a red carpet event. So just to give you ladies an idea of what I feel like I would wear, and to give you all a chance to voice your opinion, here you go.... :)

GOWN



Carolina Herrara - Obsessed with her



JEWELRY

Harry Winston Antique Diamond and Emerald Necklace

HAIR

With emerald accented accessories

SHOES

Christian Louboutin

OR



Giuseppe Zanotti - Probably these. Simply Divine



Now to just work on that whole 'getting famous' thing.... lol.  ;)

Lastly, A couple OOTD for you....

Lunch and Margaritas on the beach followed by pedicures with a girlfriend:

Dress - BCBG Max Azria
Belt - Guess
Scarf - Target
Cardigan  - AT Loft
Shoes - (Not shown) Nine West flip flops

And out running errands and meeting the girls for coffee: (Sorry, my bed is unmade!!)



Top/Belt/Hat - NY & Co.
Jeans - AT Loft Modern Trouser
Jewelry - Local Boutique

Shoes - Deserve their own pic





Gianni Bini

OK, last pic, I promise!!! I cut some straight across bangs this past weekend. I am my hairstylists worst nightmare, constantly trimming and messing around with my bangs and ends. But as long as I don't do my own color at home, I think she forgives me. Also, something happened to my camera, so the pic is extremely weird looking. hmmmmm, maybe a new camera for Valentine's Day?? ;)

Hope you all have a great day, and I promise there will be another giveaway this week!!!

Peace,

Lindsay

Lets's Talk Skincare, Hair Color, and OOTD

Good Morning all!!! As I blearily sip my morning coffee, I have thoughts of skincare running through my head. Ahhhh, the skin. The bane of almost every woman's existence at least some point in their life. I myself struggled with acne in my teens, and still have to work every day to maintain a clear, healthy complexion.

Working for years as an esthetician, I have seen it all. To an extent. ;)  I have seen the 60 year old woman with the complexion of a 30 year old, and the 30 year old with the complexion of a 50 year old. Acne aside for the moment, there are a few obvious secrets to maintaining that healthy youthful glow we all strive for.

• Drink plenty of water
• DON'T SMOKE
• Never go to bed with your makeup on. (The hardest one for me in all honesty.)

I would like to start with a few products that I highly do NOT recommend. Don't worry, I will provide alternatives later on in the post. :)

Remember, these are all just MY personal (strong!) opinions.

This is one of the worst products on the market for your skin. The crushed apricot pits are extremely harsh, and using this can cause microscopic tears on the skin. I have seen it under the magnifying lamp. I am able to identify an apricot scrub user from a mile away.(With a mag lamp, I should add)  Think of it this way, open tears on the skin, more vulnerable to bacteria nestling in the skin, leaving the skin more prone to inviting free radicals and cystic acne. Ugh.

I know, I know it's what all the celebrities use. It saved their skin from the horrifying acne they suffered, yada, yada, yada. PLEASE. Can we honestly believe celebrities who make millions of dollars a year (a lot of which comes from hocking this product, I'm sure) use a $19.95 a month skincare system. Can you tell this is a pet peeve of mine? lol. The active ingredient in proactive is benzoyl peroxide. I hear that and I think of one word... DRYING. Sure, it may dry out existing acne, and clear out your skin's natural oil production, but we need our own natural oil. Short term fix, maybe (and that's pushing it for me), but I picture a life long user of proactive looking like this.

I kid, I kid. Kind of.  ;)

I personally have combination skin, more on the oily side. Like I mentioned before I am also prone to breakouts, so I have a pretty straightforward skincare routine. I will forewarn, these recommendations are Aveda heavy. But I will also provide you with a number you can call to consult with an expert, and they will ship directly to your door. Can't beat that.

I canNOT live without this skincare system. If I stray, I notice an immediate difference.



Aveda Outer Peace Acne Relief System

 I will preface this by saying the active ingredient in this system is Salicylic Acid. However, Aveda derives it's salicylic acid organically from wintergreen. Salicylic acid in it's chemical form is aspirin. That's it. Needless to say, this is much less harsh than chemically derived versions, it helps CONTROL the skin's oil production, but does not eliminate it. It's all about balance. :)

This is my recommendation for Proactiv addicts!!

• Foaming Cleanser - The foam is formulated to penetrate deeply, I feel like every nasty thing I have collected throughout the day is gone when I use this. I'm so in love with this cleanser, I would marry it if I could. lol
• Acne Relief Pads - These are more concentrated with salicylic acid, and I use them nightly to exfoliate. Tip: Cut them in half! You will get 100 pads for the price of 50.
• Acne Relief Lotion - I will say, I use this in the morning only. At night I like a little more hydration in the form of a cream, but this lotion during the day is amazing. No oily, shiny, glistening if you will, skin throughout the day. Love.
• Cooling Masque - A seaweed derived masque that calms and detoxifies the skin, as well as reduces redness. Another tip: Use it for sunburn! Put it in the fridge, put it on your nose and cheeks after a little too much sun (you know we all do it) and it will feel like a breath of fresh air.
• Spot Treatment - Pretty self explanatory. Keep this in your purse and use it sparingly throughout the day for those yucky every so often big guys. ;)  Don't use this all over! It will dry the skin due to the heavy concentration.

Ok, so there are a few things outside of this line I use as well. First being this...



Aveda Beautifying Composition

I use this at night as a pre-cleanse before using my Outer Peace Cleanser. It may seem strange to apply oil to oily skin, but oil attracts oil, so it really helps keep my oil production in balance. This is an amazing product... You can use it as a scalp treatment, a hot oil treatment for dry hair, I even use it on my baby because she has extremely dry skin.



Aveda Enbrightenment Correcting Creme


This is the moisturizer I use at night. Still not too heavy, but provides a little more hydration, and I wake up with dewy, supple feeling skin.

HOLY GRAIL PRODUCT:

I use this morning and night. I slather it on below and above my eyes. You will feel a warming sensation when you out it on. I have been using this for four years religiously, and I truly believe in this product 1000%. Price-wise, compared with other high end eye creams, you can't beat it. $45 and it lasts about 6 months.

Also, as promised an alternative to the Apricot Scrub addicts...

This exfoliating cleanser will satisfy the need for scrubbing, as well as cleanse. Two in one! The difference is that it uses jojoba beads, which are round, so none of those nasty abrasions or tears. It's gentle enough to use morning and night.

Obviously, everyone's skin is different. If you have any questions, leave a comment and I will help to the best of my ability. You can also visit here for a customized consultation. If you would like a more personalized experience please call my friends at the Indianapolis store. They would be happy to help, and will place orders and ship directly to you. (317) 580-0808.


Finally, I got my color done. I only use Aveda color (surprise surprise, lol) and it turned out beautifully. I couldn't be happier.

Here are some before shots...



Brassy... Aggghhhhh!!!

 And after....

Ahhhh, I feel human again. I am so fortunate, my lovely friend Cassy came over and did it at my house for me... Just a few (ummm, over 50 foils, lol) highlights and lowlights. I love Aveda color. To find a salon near you, simply click here.


One last OOTD pic, and I'm out to do a little shopping...




Top - Gap (It's really a deep plum color, looks black)
Jeans - Loft Modern Trouser
Shoes - Cole Haan Wedges (it was 68 here yesterday!!)
Jewelry - Anthropologie



I hope you all have a wonderful day, thank you so much for reading, and again, I welcome ANY and ALL comments, questions or concerns. Be on the lookout for another giveaway next week!!  ;)


Peace. xoxo



Friday Night Makeup and OOTN... And Giveaway Winner!!!

Hello everyone!! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I spent the greater part of the day yesterday nursing a wicked hangover, but had SOOO much fun Friday night. Yet another nice thing about military living is the relationships you form with other spouses. The girls and I decided it was time for Girl's Night Out, so out we went!

This is by far the only decent photo I managed to get on my phone... My friend Hiromi (middle) is from Japan, and Dimple (right) is from India. They are such beautiful and lovely ladies, not to mention a blast to hang out with.

We went to Coyote Ugly Saloon ... Always keeping it classy here in PCB. We may or may not have danced on the bar at one point.  ;)

Flash backward a few hours... let's talk hair and makeup. A few of the products I'm going to show you have been discontinued, which is where I can use your help!! Once I run out I will need replacements and I have been using some of these for so long I don't know where to start.

Starting off with a fresh face, this is the foundation I currently use. It is so lightweight and applies so evenly and easily, and sadly, it is no more.  :(((   If there are any out there you all think I should try, please comment accordingly.

Aveda does make a Tinted Moisturizer that I like, but during the winter months I like a little more coverage than what it provides. If you like a light dewy finish, then I highly recommend trying it out.


Next I like to use Mac's Lustre Drops. Sometimes I will mix it in with my foundation, sometimes I will just put it on my cheekbones. I was feeling sassy Friday night, so I mixed it with my foundation for an all-over healthy glow. I'm pretty sure this is a seasonal item with Mac, but if you find some in a shade you like, it lasts forever. Trust me, a little bit goes a LONG way.

The Eye Shadow Transformer is a fairly new product to Aveda, and one that I can't rave enough about. You can mix it in with your shadows to create a creamy, more intensified look, I use it as a base. Just ONE drop on each eye is all you need, and your shadow isn't going anywhere for the rest of the day. I guarantee it. I love, love, love it.

I went for more of a smoky eye, which I like to do when I am going out. On a daily basis, it's pretty minimal, but I love glamming it up for a night out.

For a highlighter, just under the brow bone to right above the crease, I used Mac's Shroom (I hate the name, but oh well).

On my lid I used Urban Decay's Twice Baked... (ok, I'm noticing a funny trend with my shadow names)

In the crease, I used Mac's Greensmoke. I just blend in from the outer edge in towards almost the corner of my eye. I love this color. So versatile.

I have been really into the 'cat eye' eyeliner, and have experimented with quite a few different types and brands. By far my favorite to achieve this look is Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner with an angle brush.

I am constantly on a quest for longer eyelashes. Mine are naturally somewhat long, but they are very light, so I use at least 2 coats of mascara, sometimes 3. I found a Latisse-type serum at the beauty supply store that I can get at cost, so I think I'm going to try it out starting this week. Even at retail it would be far cheaper than Latisse, so I will let you know how it goes!

For now, this is what I am using.

Finished eyes closed...

 And open...

Just a quick run - through on how I styled my hair... I used all of the products referenced in the first post, but I thought I would give you the reason why I like the Glossing Straightener so much. My hair has a lot of natural wave, and is medium-long in length. I use this much of the product (looks like a Jelly Belly Jelly Bean, for size comparison)

Use just a paddle brush and blow dryer, and my hair goes from this...

To this...

Voila! Quick and simple. :)

I could go on and on about hair and makeup, but there's plenty of time for that!! 

OOTN



Top - Gap
Jeans - Gap Long and Lean
Bag - Coach
Boots - Antonio Melani
Belt - Michael Michael Kors
Bangles - Gifts, unknown



Detailing on shirt and necklaces...



Leaf Necklace - Banana Republic (about 5 years old)
Wood Necklace - Anthropologie



Dimple gave us all bindis to wear, which was super fun!

How was everyone's weekend? Did anyone do anything fun or have anything interesting happen? My friend is coming over tomorrow night to highlight my hair, so I hope to have some nice before and after shots. My roots are BAD right now.  ;)

And now, for the giveaway... Using random.org, it generated the number 1, so the winner is....

Brig!!! Please message me your info and as soon as I receive it, I will ship your product.  :))

I hope to be able to do many more giveaways. What is the fun of loving a product if I can't share it with fellow beauty lovers... especially when I get it on the cheap! 

Again, I would love feedback... and just so you know I never take myself too seriously, here is me at the end of the night Friday. Literally cross-eyed. Put.the.camera.away Lindsay. lol.

Peace. xoxo