Happy Friday dear readers! I hope you have a few fun things on your weekend to do list. If not, here are a couple suggestions to help you along:
1. Clip-In Bangs
Personally, I feel there is still a stigma around extensions, clip in bangs, and fake hair in general. Maybe it’s just in my head, but it took me a while to come around to the idea of wearing a wig. But last year I bit the bullet and invested in a set of clip in bangs, and I’m SO glad I did! I’ve had bangs before, and it was fun for a change. But you know what clip-ins save you? The excruciating pain of growing them out. If you’ve ever experienced this, then nuff said.
2. Bronzer
Like clip-in bangs, bronzer is another beauty product that I recently tried for the first time. How did I go without for so long? Believe me, I’ve been asking myself the same question. Ideal for contouring or an all over kiss from the sun, I use Hoola by Benefit. Seeing as it’s the first and only bronzer I’ve ever used, I don’t have enough to compare it to. I’ve hit pan on mine and I’m starting to get excited about my next bronzer purchase! Which should I try next?
3. Pink Lippy
Now this is one I haven’t yet tried, but I hear Mac’s Saint Germain is the pink lipstick. This sweet Barbie pink shade is much lighter than any lip color I own… all the more reason try it! But be sure to use a bronzer because such a light shade of pink has the potential to wash you out.
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 lipstick NARS / eyeliner Urban Decay |
I may not be an editor or a designer (I spy Alber Elbaz), and I may not have been seated in the front row of Raf Simons’ debut with Christian Dior, but I sure felt like it! The coverage I gathered via twitter and instagram during the show was instant, detailed, and high-res enough for me to experience it all as it happened. Isn’t technology awe-inspiring? Yes. And so are those shoes. They’re like grown-up replicas of the tiny pink shoes I used to put on my Barbies. But better.
And as for the makeup. I will tell you right now that it is unlikely that I will actually step foot outside of my house with hot pink eyeliner and hot red lips tomorrow, but I might play with the idea in the privacy of my own room. I have found that the color pink should generally be kept away from my eye, but I do think it looks smashing on the runway! And I might consider trying it in a more subdued purple 😉 How bout you?
These are my top 3 favorite makeup looks for the summer, as you can see they all involve plenty of color. The last one, hot pink lips, looks fantastic with another summer favorite of mine, the daytime smoky eye.
p.s. don’t try all of these looks at once. or if you do, send me a picture because that would be a trip!
When I first saw these pastel balls at CVS, they piqued my interest. You know we’re all pastel-crazed this Spring so anything in mint or lavender is pretty much a gimme. At $3.79, I bought one. Now, what are they? EOS, or the Evolution of Smooth, is 95% organic, 100% natural, paraben and petrolatum free lip balm. I don’t always look for organic products but I figure something that I put on my mouth should probably be safe. As for the packaging, I can’t fault it! It took me a couple tries to figure out that the tops screw off (embarrassing? maybe) but once you get that down it’s a lot of fun to apply lip balm in a new way! It’s like having a brand new toy and wanting to play with it all the time. Sure, it’s a little gimmicky, but anything that will convince me to hydrate my lips more often is a great thing. If you’re not into the ball, it also comes in a stick. So far, my lips are smooth and soft, success! Prior to this I was a Burt’s Bees addict, but I actually think my lips are smoother now than ever before (that could be because I’ve been using it so often). I found mine at CVS but you can get them on the EOS website as well. I chose the flavor Summer Fruit, which is delish, but I’m reeeally wanting to try the lemon drop and the sweet mint!
I’m trying to enforce a rule, I can’t buy a new one until I finish my first one. Just one more reason to use it all the time!
xo Cristina
Now that we’ve got our coveted beach waves, it’s time for step two in the summer bombshell transformation. I personally prefer a no-makeup makeup look. Natural and pretty. Nothing too severe. Plus I find that even a small amount of makeup can overwhelm my small features. Basically what I’m trying to say here is, I do not rock the smoky eye. My eyes get lost in the dark shadows and thick black eyeliner! So I rejoiced at this makeup tutorial, a wash of bronze shadow and a smudge of kohl eyeliner is definitely going to be my summer go-to. And when I’m feeling especially daring? A hot pink lip stain! They used Nars eyeshadow in Galapagos, and I love the natural smoky color it gives. I’m pretty sure a number of colors in the Naked Palette would do the trick (which I already have)… but I still want the Nars anyway!
We’ve seen a few variations of the ombre lip where dark edges faded to a lighter center (Gucci, Miu Miu). I quite frankly was skeptical about the real world application of ombre lips. I feared looking like the girl whose lipliner was too dark or not filled in properly. And I know this look is not for everyone. However, this newer variation seen this Paris Fashion Week at Nina Ricci has me reconsidering ombre, with its bright red edges and rich berry center. To me it looks like their lips have been stained eating the juiciest of red cherries. And this version is much easier to master!
Obviously I’m gaga for bright pink lips at the moment. I think I’m going to take the plunge! But I plan to experiment with a cheap brand like NYX first before committing to YSL (or Revlon for that matter). To be worn with mascara only (naked eyes!). If you want the color to stick around (and not leave marks when you take a classy sip of wine) then use the method above!
I feel like I’m cheating on fashion with makeup, but one of my secret (not so secret now!) addictions are makeup tutorials on Youtube! Here’s one of the best, Lisa Eldridge, with her take on the pink lip. The lipstick starts at 11:27 if that’s all you’re interested in.
Let me know if you’re into these beauty posts and perhaps they’ll become a mainstay here on Fuji Files!
source: tumblr, vogue, lisaeldridge.me.uk
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