Sunday, August 11, 2013

Wavy Blown Out Hair Tutorial & Incredible Sale!

This video is from the Youtube guru Luxyhair, who has lovely hairstyle tutorials and the sweetest personality. This video is the best blowout tutorial I have ever seen. She makes the process really easy to understand and is very clear and concise. I gained a lot of knowledge from this video and I hope you to do!

On the same note, I recently purchased the BaBybliss Pro Ceramix Xtreme blow dryer which dries hair so incredibly fast, it is a very reasonable price and I just love it! Currently Folica.com is having a sale where if you spend $75 or more you get $30 off your purchase using code 30summer. I highly recommend watching this video as well as checking out Folicafor their sale! This was my final result after blow drying with Luxyhair's techniques and my new dryer.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

How I Took Back my Hair: A Journey from Orange to Sand

This past week I thought it would be a fantastic idea to get my hair lightened for a beachy blonde summer look. My first hair disaster occurred! The stylist I went to tried to lift the brown roots I had from a previous foil but instead he turned my hair orange at the roots & yellow all over. I knew it was awful as I was sitting there in the chair, feeling incredibly uncomfortable and embarrassed that my hair looked all sorts of crazy. I let it be for a couple of days to see if I would eventually like it, but I waited a week and I still hated it so I decided to take matters into my own hands.

I bought a box of Nice & Easy in color 106 Natural Medium Ash to try to neutralize some of the yellow and orange that the foils gave me. Surprisingly, I had great success & now my hair looks great! Some of the orange remained at my roots so I purchased Batiste Dry Shampoo in color Dark & Deep Brown in order to make the orange less noticeable. I am so glad I decided to DIY my hair because it was a hot mess. I got compliments from everyone today .. at the store, at the chiropractor, at dinner, I'm actually so happy with this color!


Any hair horror stories? What did you do .. go back to the salon or DIY? I'd love to hear from you!

Besos   

Friday, August 2, 2013

The Balm Sale on HauteLook!

Hey ya'll! You seriously need to check out Hautelook right this minute because they are having a sale on The Balm beauty products! There are concealers, eyeshadow palettes, tinted moisturizers, eye primers, bronzers, highlighters, brushes .. basically everything you need to start an amazing makeup collection from a high quality brand for less money than in the store!

Just lookin' out for my people!! But seriously.. don't miss it because it started this morning I believe and the sales only last a few days. Let me know what you end up purchasing, I'd love to hear about it!

Besos Beautiful 

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Summer Favorites

Hello Makeup Enthusiasts! I wanted to share with you my favorite products of summer, many of which have been listed on my blog before however these are my go-to products right now .... enjoy!



SKIN

Sarah McNamara wins my award for overall face products. The Miracle Skin Transformer Triple Active Night Treatment is a skin cream that is the most hydrating cream I've ever tried, and I have really dry skin! My face feels like butter (or should I say buttah?) after applying this cream, and I don't only wear it to sleep, I also apply it before foundation.



My most loved product of the moment is Sarah McNamara's Miracle Skin Transformer Face. It has SPF 20 which means no need to apply sunscreen to the face. What I love most about this product is I still look like me. It is light, breathable, diminishes imperfections in the skin, but doesn't make you look like a completely different person as most foundations do.



I still really like Too Faced's Beauty Balm (BB Cream) and if I am looking for a bit more coverage than the BB cream above, I mix the two together. Porefessional by Benefit is still my go-to primer. It reduces the appearance of large pores and smoothes the overall look of the face.






EYES


There are 3 mascaras I am loving right now, each for different reasons. L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black has always been my #1 for its lengthening and thickening effects. It is a buildable mascara and  I can add 50 coats without it getting clumpy or spider-like. Next, They're Real! from Benefit creates lashes that are long and striking. At first I was hesitant about this mascara because the effect isn't as thickening as L'Oreal's, but it gives a more demure look. Lastly, Mary Kay's Lash Love Lengthening Mascara pays heed to its name. This product definitely lengthens and gives a Kate Middleton, classy and sophisticated effect.





LIPS



Baby Lips in Pink Punch is my choice chapstick or lip hydrant. It has a sheer pink color and is very nourishing for those hot drying days.





Mary Kay's Pink Cherie True Dimensions Lipstick is the perfect rose pink color. I would call it an innocent pink. The formula is ultra hydrating, and from my experience, very long lasting. I will definitely buy more from this line of lip colors!



Mac's Plushglass in Big Baby is a gorgeous pinky nude. Mac's glosses stay on longer than any other gloss on the market! The formulation is a bit sticky on the lips but the colors and longwear will keep me coming back.





BRONZE


Miracle Skin Transformer Tinted Sculpting Balm in Coral Bronze is simply amazing. It gives the most gorgeous bronzed, glowing skin. One tube will probably last around a year, perhaps more, so I think it is worth the price.


Mac's Nude on Board is limited edition but if you can still get it you should because it gives a sunkissed bronze without the harmful sun rays!






GLOW





Luminoso baked blush by Milani is kind of my everyday blush! I can't get enough of it because it reminds me of a beachy, carefree surfer who's skin glows effortlessly.






Mac's luster drops in Sun Rush are perfect for a dewy glow. When I wear it I stipple it onto my temples and upper cheeks followed by a dusting of Rio Mineralize Skin Finish, also from Mac (use a big fluffy brush).




Finally, Watt's Up! from Benefit is subtle glow that I would recommend for brides or a sophisticated night out. The sparkle in this product is more fine than most so it is a bit more mature looking than most highlighters.







APPLICATION

I adore the Sedona Lace 928 brush!  It is a flat top kabuki brush. The bristles are so soft and it applies foundation unlike any other brush! What's great is that you stipple the foundation onto the skin and then can buff the makeup into the skin for a smooth, airbrushed look. Sedona lace also sends you free eyeshadow samples when you buy anything online from them!




I hope you enjoyed my summer favorites! I'd love to know what yours are ❤❤

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Her Campus National Intercollegiate Conference

Her Campus's National Intercollegiate Conference is happening July 27 and 28 in NYC! The conference provides attendees with an incredible opportunity to meet and network with top industry leaders like Cosmo, Teen Vogue, Glamour, Seventeen, and many more!

If you attend you will receive amazing goody bags and enjoy fun activities like a BCBG sample sale, free mini manicures, a braid bar, free lunch from Chipotle plus a Chipotle gift certificate, a movie screening, and more! This sounds like a dream come true! Plus, you will meet amazing people throughout the conference! (Networking, networking, networking!!)

Monday, July 15, 2013

How to Shop Like a Pro & Save $$

I was working the other day and my coworker was discussing how it is cheaper to go to the store itself instead of shopping online because there are always shipping charges. Then I introduced her to the magical world of online coupons! The following are my tips for shopping on a budget and getting the most for your money.

1.  Check for coupons when shopping online! The two sites I use are retailmenot or dealigg whenever I am shopping online. I simply google "Forever 21 coupon code" and those sites will have them if a coupon exists! I never checkout online without checking for a coupon because at the very least you can save yourself shipping costs but I have saved 30% or more on my purchase because of the discount!






2. The Gas Buddy app will find you the cheapest gas in your area! You can find the cheapest gas by distance from your location or price. Don't be that guy who is at the more expensive gas station when there is one $0. 12 cheaper a block away!







3. Ebates offers coupons and online rebates for stores that you already shop at! Just login to ebates prior to shopping online at your favorite retailers and you will earn cash back.



4. Shop for designer clothing, accessories, skin/hair care, perfumes, & handbags for less! Places like T.J. Maxx and Marshall's have name brand labels such as Abercrombie, Ralph Lauren, Levi's, Michael Kors, Coach, 7 For All Mankind, Cynthia Rowley, and many more! The best part is they always have clearance items so you can find fantastic steals! I bought a dress last week for $7! If you've never been, you need to go!




5. Forever 21 is teenager heaven! They have all of the hair accessories, jewelry, purses & bags, shoes, and clothing you could ever want. The clothing is trendy so the style is what is "in" at the moment, but their clothing line Love 21 has more classic, timeless pieces.



6.  Charming Charlie is the one stop shop for accessories. The entire store is divided by color, which helps if you are running in to complete an outfit, or you have very specific taste in accessories. The price of their jewelry is unbeatable and it is a great place to complete an outfit for a minimal amount of money.



7. Amazon is a great site because you can compare the price of the product you are searching for against many different sellers. You also have the option to purchase a used item which can save you even more money if you don't mind that the item isn't fresh out of the box.


8. Groupon is one of my ultimate favorites because of the quantity and variation of the products and services they offer. You can purchase anything from a jazzy pair of heels, to a relaxing massage, to dinner on the town, or a movie with popcorn for 2, a sunset boat ride, a hotel room, an all inclusive vacation .. the list is truly endless, but they are offered at a fraction of the cost and the deals are right at your fingertips! I check my Groupon app on a daily basis. Groupons are perfect for a last minute gift or a treat for yourself, check it out!


9. Check reviews of a product before you purchase. This is something I spend a great deal of time doing because I don't want to waste my money on junk! For any beauty or skincare product I check the Beautylish app, read reviews, and start conversations with real women (and some men!) about their favorite products. On this site you can also get tips and tricks for your beauty routine as well as advice from real, honest people.

10. On the same note as #9, test out the product before you purchase! Whether that be trying on the clothes in the store or sampling the foundation in Sephora or Ulta, it is in your best interest to try before you buy! If you don't like it, you are not compelled to purchase the product and you can look for something better suited  for you.

11. Craigslist! This is one of the best inventions ever. Seriously. My family has bought a boat off CL, furniture and appliances for apartments, houses, and dorms, computers, an Ipad, and many many more items. If you don't mind buying a used item you NEED to check out CL! People also sell new items for example if they received two Ipads for the holidays or they are selling something new because they need money for rent. You can find jobs, apartments, roommates, bikes, jewelry, clothing, handbags.... pretty much everything you can imagine you can find on CL. There is also a FREE section where you can find items people are throwing away that may be useful to you.

I advise caution when meeting someone from CL however, take necessary precautions such as meeting in a public place and letting someone close to you know where you are going and when they should expect you home by. Or, take someone with you to meet up with the seller!


Plato's Closet12. Plato's Closet is a great place for young people with empty pockets. You can generally find them in college towns that have a large student body. At PC you can bring your gently used or new clothing and sell it to the store in exchange for cash. The payout isn't huge but it can be helpful in desperate times. You can also snag some great finds in their stores!




13. Along the same lines, a thrift shop or Good Will might have what you need. Try checking there before spending 5x the price elsewhere.







I hope you enjoyed this post and it was helpful, don't forget to subscribe to get notifications when I post! Muchisimo amor ❤ Besos