Change: The Only Constant

Image via Pinterest

           If there is anything I’ve learned in the 21 years of my life, it is that the only thing constant in life is change. One minute you think you have everything planned to a T, and suddenly, your plans go up in smoke and everything does a 180.

           I just arrived from San Francisco to NYC two Saturdays ago, and I just signed the lease on my first apartment – in SoHo, one of my favorite parts of Manhattan. Along with the move came the start of a new job, as marketing coordinator, at tarte cosmetics, where I will help to plan in-store promotional events and company video shoots, work on makeup artist education and training, and help with marketing copy. It is a perfect position for me because it takes both my writing skills and makeup artistry into account, allowing me to help create facecharts and looks to correspond with upcoming products, while giving me the security you have in an office environment as opposed to freelancing. So to say that I have been busy is an understatement.

          If you aren’t yet familiar with tarte cosmetics, you should get in-the-know now. Started by Maureen Kelly in her one-bedroom NYC apartment not too long ago, the brand has an amazing line of “high performance naturals” – products that are free of many of the harmful preservatives, irritants, and other icky things we see in many cosmetics lines. Many of the products are vegan and all are cruelty free. tarte’s products are fun and trendy, but they also seriously work. The company has won a plethora of beauty awards from Allure, Elle, and many other publications.

          I covered my favorite tarte products in the past, but I want to introduce a new fall launch that I absolutely adore: the Call of the Wild palette and eye liner, only available at Ulta. Not only is the black and leopard packaging super-chic, but the eye shadows inside really work. Most are bronzy neutrals, but I love the navy shade – “roar” – which is an unexpected pairing with the shimmering burgundy, “wild”.

          I’m so, so excited to start working seriously for a line that I love, and while this fall will be plenty busy, I can’t wait for the chaos! I find that I am the type of person that does much better on a regular schedule. Between tarte, my last few credits in college, enjoying what New York has to offer, and of course, blogging, I may suffer from a severe lack of sleep but I’m fairly certain it will all be worth it.   

Pre-Fall Favorites

          I’m sick of summer. More specifically, summer in New York. Yes, beach days are great, but the city in the sweltering heat is quite unmanageable. You leave your home looking what you think is wonderful and by the time you are at work, makeup is smudged and sweat-through, hair is frizzy, and you’ve sweat through your white dress. If fall started tomorrow, I’d be quite alright. I’ve amassed quite a large inventory of fall clothing, all of which I am unable to wear, and it just stares at me, dejected, in my closet. The poor sweaters, coats, and boots!

This fall, there are a couple of things I’m obsessed with style-wise (and beauty-wise, of course).

British Racing Green

Image found on Pinterest

 

           I’ve always been a fan of all the greens - lime, chartreuse, kelly, and most of all, hunter. For fall, shades of green are everywhere, and I’m a fan. My main goal is to get my hands on a deep green leather bag, preferably this one by YSL. You can wear the color with everything you normally would pair black with, which makes an outfit new and exciting. Another way to wear the color is in clothing, and Aritzia’s house brand T.Babaton makes the perfect button-down (only available at Aritzia stores), a steal at $110 compared to the classic Equipment blouses.

          A deep green cat eye is an unexpected, yet subtle twist on a classic – Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Gel Liner in Ivy Shimmer Ink and an angled brush is ideal for this. Or line the inner rim of your lower lashes with MAC’s Technakohl Liner in Jade Way, for a louder look.

 

Deep, Dark Lips

From Oyster Magazine via Le Fashion

 

          As I’ve gone gradually blonder over the past  two years, I’ve tried to go “darker” in my accessory and makeup choices, to prevent myself from looking too bubblegum. Blonde hair needs to be toughened up. I recently picked up these earrings from Topshop, which are almost like a faux gauge, but simple spike studs also do the trick to go bold.

          For makeup, the easier way to go from Barbiesque to something more Daria (the 90’s tv show, obviously) is a dark, plum-tinged matte lip. With clean skin, a touch of highlighter, and just mascara on the eyes, this look is modern and edgy. Don’t be afraid to rock it if you happen to be brunette or redhead, but be sure to prevent it from going too gothic by pairing it with hyper -feminine ruffles or lace.

          My pick for this look is Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella, which I picked up at the gorgeous Nars boutique on Bleecker Street this weekend. A subtler, sheerer option is Tarte's Lipsurgence Lip Luster in Moody.

         I’m just waiting for the first leaf to fall before I pull this soon-to-be-staple out of my makeup archives.

Stubbs & Wootton

Super-heroine shoes

          Ah, smoking slippers – the new ballet flat. This shoe shape is everywhere, from Steve Madden to Christian Louboutin. But my pick for the slipper of the season is the quintessentially preppy classic, Stubbs & Wootton. These embroidered loafers come in every style of embroidery imaginable, from yacht-clubby crests, to a more punky version featuring one shoe with a devil wing and the other with an angel wing.

          While they are certainly not cheap, starting at $330 per pair, these shoes are timeless. Even my grandmother rocks them! J.Crew currently has an exclusive collection, and Stubbs & Wootton also several boutiques in preppy mainstays: Madison Avenue, Palm Beach, and East Hampton, where you can get a glimpse of the entire collection and choose a loafer that truly fits your personality.

Mizuki Jewelry

Image via Fragments

 

          If you haven’t noticed, tiny pendants of crosses, owls, hamsa hands, stars, and everything in-between, are all the rage right now. Featured on the necks of every girl from Brooklyn to Birmingham, they are a fun way to give a glimpse of your personality and tastes. As an April baby, I am partial to diamonds, and when I discovered Mizuki pendants (particularly the moon symbol necklace; yes, sometimes I want to channel Practical Magic), at one of my favorite boutiques, Red Bird, in Berkeley, CA (a must-see for anyone in the Bay Area: they have a perfectly-curated collection of clothing, jewelry, and accessories, that is unmatched anywhere), I was in love. While the moon pendant I am lusting over is a little (read: a lot) out of my price range right now, a girl can dream, right?

          Black diamonds mixed with gold are less bling-bling, but just as luxe, as the typical platinum and crystal combo. A peek at Mizuki’s website reveals the stunning assortment of pendants, charms, and chains they offer, which are also available at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide. This is not just a fall pick, but a forever pick, the ideal (albeit pricey) gift for a friend, parent, or sibling.

Sunburns 101

Picture from Pinterest

        Sunburns, are, without a doubt, the biggest fun-killer of summer. Your lovely beach vacation almost instantly turns to torture when that lobster-like tone appears. And, while religious sunblock application (my pick is Josie Maran) is the best preventative measure, sometimes, let's face it, we can be stupid with the sun.
          One of those especially stupid moments was me, yesterday, laying out, sunblockless (THE HORROR!!) for one hour in my yard. 2PM on a California summer Sunday, I did not think I'd get burnt. Yet here I am, having to avoid my religiously-attended Bar Method class for fear that I might frighten people with my degree of redness. Thankfully, it does not hurt to much, but boy am I pink. And the most attractive part? A strange diagonal line down my neck that is not burnt.

So, what is a girl to do?

Here are my top tips for dealing with sunburn.

1. Brew some strong Lipton or PG Tip's black tea (I'd say four bags for 8 oz. of water). Wait for it to cool, and then dip a washcloth in the blackened brew and wring out the excess. Pat the washcloth all over your burn. The tannin in tea will help relieve the burn, and some even say that it will have the redness gone in 24 hours. Repeat every few hours.

2. Mixing pure lavender essential oil with an aloe vera-spiked lotion (or what I'm using, Sibu Beauty's Sea Buckthorn Body Cream) will help calm the sting of the burn. Lavender is an anti-inflammatory.

3. My favorite fix? The amazing Solar Recovery Spray, which I've mentioned here several times. It really does the trick in healing and preventing burns from forming. Unfortunately, the Whole Foods in CA doesn't carry it, so I was left with the previously-mentioned remedies. 

4. Aloe. The real, pure stuff, not the electric green, alcohol-tinged gel that just makes it worse. Sticking it in the fridge before application will make a great after-sun refresher, even if you aren't burned. It can get sticky though, which is why I prefer other methods.

Anyone have any secret cures for sunburn? I'd love to find out about them!

It Was All Done in Vain

          Behold the vanity – the heart and soul of every girl’s bedroom, bathroom, or closet. This is the place where us females (and some guys, too!) take themselves from tired to glam, from simple to stunning, or from ho-hum to ravishing. It’s not to say that we don’t look smashing without the addition of makeup, but there is something about the application of a little powder and rouge that makes you feel much more ready to face the big, beautiful world.

          Upon my arrival in the bay area in June, my mom surprised me with this fun vanity she won in an auction at the Alameda Antiques Faire and painted. The mirror is also from the auction, and you may remember the Virgin Mother pictures from my antiquing post back in January. The rest of the items have come together over the past few months. The lamps are from Target, the jewels on top are from my vintage collection, the silver box was part of a Godiva gift set, and the rest of the accessories are vintage from various little antique/flea markets all over.

          When seated upon the white, frilly stool, I get a rush of joy: it’s my favorite time of day – makeup time. I keep most of my cosmetics, hair accessories, and nail polishes in the drawers (the pulls are from Anthropologie) but allow my brushes and prettiest cosmetics to sit on top. It is a delight to have such a wonderful space for daily “beautification”, and I think it will become the site of filming for future Youtube tutorials.

          Oh, and sorry about the looooooong absence! Essentially, I had very little to blog about, as my life at the moment is quite a makeupless non-event. Thankfully, things are getting back in gear, and I will share some updates as soon as I can!

Encyclopedia Organica

          I apologize for the serious lack of updates as of recently. However, my life has contained little to blog about – I don’t think anyone wants to hear about my return to healthy eating, daily Bar Method classes/ellipticallizing (I made that a word), and the daily fighting of super-fun parasites evolving into stomach viruses, a lovely takeaway from my Indian adventure.

          But, I felt it necessary to inform everyone of my latest skincare finds – all of which are organic! I have been eating mostly organic and unprocessed food since I was a young girl, but to be honest, if a cosmetics or skincare product works well and there happens to be a ton of chemicals in it…I’ll continue to use it. For me, as long as there is no adverse reaction, it is okay. On a sheer whim, I began using organic skincare products, and I have to say, my skin has not been this clear since I was in the fourth grade. Yes, that is when I began getting acne.

          I think in my lifetime, I have tried at least 500 different facial care products. That may even be a low-ball count. I’ve found products that work for a short term, but then the season changes, or my skin type goes wacko, and bam, I’m left with spots.

          My skin is supremely bizarre – extremely dry, yet acne prone. I seem to also have a lot of redness, which I have essentially accepted at this point. The main concern for me is keeping spots at bay. For the past few years, my acne has not been bad, but there were some stubborn zits on my chin and lower cheeks that just seemed to never budge, no matter what spot treatment I would use. I've solved this by mixing Lavender Essential Oil (Young Living) and Sibu Sea Buckthorn Oil into my nighttime moisturizer (currently Kiehl's Rose Arctica, but another favorite is Yes to Carrots' Calming Night Cream - so cheap!).

Mountain Ocean Skin Trip – Although I can eat a whole lot of it, I have been slow to get on the whole “extra virgin coconut oil as moisturizer” bandwagon. Maybe it is my aversion to laying around naked and waiting for my body oil to dry for hours when I could be fully dressed and out the door, but something about body oils always made me feel as if I had clogged pores and a sweating problem. Anyways, getting to this body lotion, which, indeed contains coconut oil – it’s fabulous. It smells like real young Thai coconuts, not that sickening sweet Bath & Body Works catastrophe that reeks of a Pina Colada made from artificial concentrate. But most importantly – it works like a charm. It absorbs SUPER quickly (my holy grail fast absorber is Crème de Corps Light Weight Body Lotion and this is comparable), and leaves skin soft and lightly scented, but not oily in the slightest. This will be a beach staple this summer as it was designed to be used after sun.

Solar Recovery Spray and Hydrating Cream – This brand is a miracle. Two years ago, I was sunburned beyond recognition (the Jersey shore has stronger sun than you think – even when you are reapplying SPF 45 every 2 hours…). I discovered this at Whole Foods, and since then, have not been able to use anything but this product on sun-parched skin. It is basically a blend of essential oils, but boy, does it work. I’ve recommended it to hoards of (Irish) friends, and they all have amazing results. Seriously a must have for anyone who ever steps foot outdoors. 

Maui Babe Browning Lotion – So, I’m about to contradict myself by telling you to apply soothing oils and then recommending a tanning lotion. However, when using this OVER sunscreen (my favorite, as I’ve mentioned before, is Josie Maran’s), it helps you to get a lovely touch of color. Don’t mind the balsamic vinegar-esque smell, because this gives you a golden glow without self-tanner and with the ability to protect your skin. Besides, that is what showers are for.

Sanre Lemon Sparkle Toner - I'm a sucker for anything that says "lemon sparkle" on the bottle. And it's not a seltzer? Sold x2. While practically every derm says that toner is not necessary, I cannot deny how wonderfully clean it makes my skin feel. I usually use plain rose water from the Indian market, but this product is fabulous! It removes the excess makeup that my face wipe plus makeup remover combo does not. In addition, it is made almost solely of essential oils and completely of ingredients that I can pronounce. The best part? It's made in Sarasota, Florida, where my grandmother lives - a coincidence I found out after I studied the bottle at home. I picked mine up at Whole Foods. 

Organix Moroccan Argan Oil - Okay, this isn't a skin product, it is for hair, and I found it completely by accident. While visiting a friend, I asked if her roommate had Moroccan Oil I could borrow, assuming she would lend me the stuff in the dark brown bottle that I had adored for years, and she came back with this. I figured I would try it. I was amazed by the results - my hair was sleek, shiny, and still had volume. I bought it as soon as I could! While I will never give up my beloved Moroccan Oil, this is an awesome finishing product for the summertime and a good bottle and size for travel. A word of advice: don't go crazy spritzing, or you may look a little, well, unclean in the hair department. 

The rest of the products pictured are new purchases that I have yet to test. I’ll let everyone know what I think of them as soon as I get a chance!

June Favorites: Color Theory

It’s June already? Crazy how time flies. In just a few days, my month spent on the East Coast will be over, and I will be basking in the California sun for the rest of the summer. Hooray! This will be the longest span I’ve spent in the Bay Area (2 months!) and I’m quite excited to explore.

This gets me to another topic, what I will be wearing. Unless you are living under a rock, it’s clear that brights are this year’s “thing”. Here are a few of my favorite pieces I’ve picked up recently.

J Brand 811 Mid-Rise Jeans (in several colors) – J Brand makes my favorite denim, hands down. They always fit me perfectly. In fact, I’d say 95% of my “denim wardrobe” consists of J Brand, with some odd pairs of Citizens of Humanity and True Religion thrown in. The 811 is my ultimate: mid-rise (no risk of underwear peeking out) and skinny. The fun colors they had this season were an extra bonus. I’ve been wearing these with everything – boxy tee shirts, silk blouses (J. Crew’s are my fave, and much more affordable than Equipment!), and neutral colored sweaters on chilly nights.

Zara TRF Floral Pants – I bought this pair back in India, but Zara still has an awesome selection of floral pants. Ever since I spotted prints like this on the Celine S/S runway, I was obsessed. This pair fits well, has adorable tuxedo detailing, and best of all, was super affordable, since unfortunately, I don’t think floral, skintight pants are exactly considered a classic.

Multitude of colorful tees – Joe Fresh, Aritzia (my favorite store for basics), James Perse, Alternative Apparel, J. Crew,  Leslie Fremar for Fruit of the Loom. I love plain tees, and stock up on them every season. There is nothing like a well-fitting tee shirt to wear with everything from boyfriend jeans to pencil skirts to tie-dyed cutoffs a la Isabel Marant (I picked mine up from Forever 21). I am currently loving H&M and James Perse’s mens tees, which I buy in a size small, for that effortless “boyfriend” look, tucked into pants and worn with an oversized rhinestone necklace.

Fun, citron heels from Thailand – Ever since Miu Miu’s polka dot platform sandals from last spring, I’ve been hunting down an affordable pair that uses dots as an accent. I found this pair at Zen Department Store in Bangkok, Thailand, in April, and I love how they add a touch of whimsy to an otherwise simple outfit.

My favorite jewelry right now – Woven Skull bracelet (unknown brand), Tai Shell Bracelet, and Tiffany & Co. Key necklace with additional charms by Dyanne Bell.

The best part about the “brights” look is that dressing is as easy as one, two, three – pick a bottom, add a contrasting color top, and finish with fun jewelry (vintage rhinestone necklaces from Ebay are my go-to).

All In The Family

          We all have certain traits that run in our families – wavy hair, a fiery temper, animated body language. While quite a few qualities run in mine, one thing stands out: beauty product addiction. In honor of mother’s day, I thought I should highlight just one of the many ways my mom has influenced me along the way.  Here is a look at my mom’s vanity, and with a glimpse, I’m sure that anyone can see why I fell in love with cosmetics from such a young age.

          My mom also has a penchant for finding fabulous-but-still-unheard-of beauty products. Here are some of her favorites in the photos above that you may not have heard of, but that are definantly worth a second look.

Young Living Essential Oils – As a Kundalini Yoga Teacher, my mom has been using essential oils for some time. Several years ago, she discovered Young Living and never went to another brand. While they are expensive, they are absolutely worth the extra money. She uses her massive collection of oils (just some of which are pictured here) for everything from muscle ache to allergies. My favorite oil is their Lavender – not only does it help heal sunburn when mixed with lotion or applied straight to the burn, but it is also a high-powered acne fighter. Dab it on a spot and watch it disappear overnight. Also worth a second look is Young Living’s line of “Thieves” cleaning products, which get rid of grime, dirt, and germs without harmful chemicals.

DNA – My mom discovered this line on her honeymoon in New Mexico at Ten Thousand Waves Spa, and the whole family has been hooked on it ever since. The line is difficult to obtain online, as they recommend having a facialist recommend specific products for your skin type, but I can say that Hydro Blend Mist is to-die-for as a mid-day pick me up for tired, dry skin that anyone would be happy with. It is a kit staple for me, and everyone (even men) who I’ve spritzed it on come back for more. Their chemical-free sun protection and booster drops also get rave reviews from my mom.

Vinie’s Veda - Another line discovered through a Kundalini Yoga connection (Vinie, the lines founder, is the daughter of Yogi Bhajan, the man who brought Kundalini Yoga to the U.S.), this ayurvedic skincare company creates unique, 100% natural products. The “Dew Drops”, which are choc-full of the highest quality skin oils, are the perfect addition to a moisturizer to boost its effectiveness, and my mother swears that the “Perfect Cleavage Cream” is well, perfect.

Happy Mother's Day to all! 

XOXO