Personal Digest #2 (Makeup & Retail Therapy)

There are few cosmetic staples that separate low-fuss beauty from high-maintenance glam, in my opinion. False lashes and highlighting/contouring products are best left forgotten if you’re in a hurry (well, maybe…), but there is one product that is so borderline essential that it should be deemed of same importance as your daily moisturizer. That’s right: a foundation base (or primer).

My once forgotten bottle of Chanel Base Lumiere Illuminating Makeup Base now has a special place in my makeup bag. I dispense a dime-sized amount onto my fingers, mix with a little of my favorite serum or moisturizer, and massage it onto my entire face. I now have a nice glow going on, but it gets better. Everything that goes over it - foundation, blush, eyeshadow, whatever - stays put all day long with minimal touch-ups! My usually oily skin is beautifully matte, yet glowing. Containing marine extract to minimize imperfections, this potion leaves your face looking and feeling like a million bucks.

My girlfriend Janine would be delighted to know that, with using a makeup primer, her Wet ‘n Wild blush will stay put along with her Body Shop eye colors. Primers enhance staying power of cheap to steep makeup, saving money on product and minimizing the need for frequent touch-ups.

Steeper	Cheaper
Chanel Base Lumiere $38.50	MAC Prep + Prime $22

I am absolutely in love with fall/winter styles this season. They’re amazing. I get to go color and print crazy well into fall, and then transition back to my default business fab wardrobe of blacks, whites, greys, & silver. The great thing about shopping for fall pieces is that they’re all on sale right now before wintery gear rolls in - more deals & steals!

Urban Outfitters has a rockin’ sale going on, so naturally I ransacked the place and came out with brilliant pieces by Lux that I purchased for less than half of retail price:

» Green/blue print tunic: $48 $15
» Tangerine shirt dress: $53 $20
» Black kimono dress: $53 $20

…As well as a few accessories and two pairs of Havaianas flip flops - a celebrity favorite comfy thong that resists wear, essential for when you live in flip flops as I do.

Tonight’s running around has got me pooped, so I’m going to finish up my tea and hit the sack. Office dwellers will appreciate the fact that tomorrow is not only jeans day for most, but a half day for most, also (a stellar opportunity to break in my Havaianas and run some pre-weekend errands).

Have a blessed holiday weekend, everyone!

Fitness Bit: Caffeinated Workouts

Did you know that incorporating a bit of caffeine into your pre-workout routine might just help you burn a few extra calories?

A small amount of caffeine – such as a cup of iced tea or your favorite diet caffeinated beverage – will help alleviate muscle aches and give you an added jolt of energy. Just what you need to keep you going longer and stronger at the gym! Don’t forget to hydrate during and post-workout with plain h2o – naturally.

Side note: Contrary to popular belief, caffeine does not cause dehydration. According to FitSugar:

“Lawrence Armstrong, of the Human Performance Laboratory, concluded that moderate caffeine consumption (up to about 500 milligrams a day) did not adversely impact exercise. While caffeine is a mild diuretic, meaning it briefly increases urine production, moderate amounts are not enough to interfere with a workout by causing excessive fluid loss. Dehydration is about the balance of fluid intake and fluid loss.”

So skip the decaf before the gym and add a little pep to your step! My choice faves are Peach Ooh-La-Long Honest Tea (an organic lightly sweetened black tea) or a Diet Rockstar energy drink if I’m feeling sassy.

In My Bag: MAC Lipglass in ‘Pop Mode’

I promise I’m not a MAC fiend. Seriously; Lancome and Chanel will always have my cosmetic heart. But there is something that needs to be said about MAC. When you need those important, specific staples - whether it be the perfect shadow, those fabulous false lashes, or in this case a perfect gloss - MAC will not disappoint! I give them that.

As the ‘beauty savvy’ know, berry lips will be hot this fall/winter season. I’m one for pale pink or gold gloss myself, so it took quite the quest to find a perfect berry for my liking. I sampled a few lipsticks, to no avail. They were too dark, too matte, or too clown-like. With the help of an energetic MAC MUA and dirty lip brushes from trying on many, many colors, I found a gem. MAC Pop Mode Lipglass: a pink berry with shine and glimmer that looks great alone or with a dark liner (for darker skin). This shade will be perfect for the office - accessorizing a chic button up top and the resurfacing high-rise slacks look - or out on the town in those dark wash skinny jeans and print tops.

This is how it looks on me.

Fall Fashion: High-Rise Pants

Can you believe it: High-rise pants are back. And can I tell you that I’m actually excited about this? No really, I am.

Being a low-rise connoisseur practically all my life, it’s always been about the hip hugging jeans, pants, and mini skirts. It’s all good when you’re thin and tasteful about it, but goodness forbid you’ve gained a few extra pounds around the waist or you bend over a bit and a little bum cleavage peeks out. Also, in my opinion the social acceptance of ‘whaletail’ – or visible panty lines – has allowed for increasing distastefulness in female clothing choices. Like it or not, high-rise styles are being revamped in your favorite designer and low end lines – ushering in a wave of chic, ladylike fall fashion.

Steeper	Cheaper
10th Amendment high-rise skinny jeans $212	Express high-rise slacks w/ wide belt $58

Wearability: High-rise skinny jeans styles look great with a wide belt for an ultra-slimming effect, accompanied by cute babydoll tops or button ups that you can tuck. Wide leg styles are also a hit. High-rise slacks for the office can look chic with a grey turtleneck top and this season’s metallic silver pumps or boots.

Where to buy:
Express
Shop Bop
Couture Candy

fitness equipment

What’s Hot: Elle Signature Collection

As I flipped through the fashion ads of the September issue of Elle Magazine, one ad really caught my eye. The model was wearing a fabulous off-the-should babydoll print peasant top, accessorized with a black belt. I wanted that top! Lo and behold, it was of Elle’s new signature collection…and the collection is exclusively sold at Kohl’s. No way! Not only was this Elle clothing, but affordable Elle clothing. What more could one want?

Because I don’t regularly shop at Kohl’s (nor do I know of any locations nearby), I was thrilled to see that this collection can be found online: kohls.com/elle

These are some of my favorite pieces:

Chiffon Kimono Top $30 Sale! $17.99	Cuffed Bermuda Shorts $30 Sale! $14.99	Mesh Babydoll Tee $24 Sale! $11.99

It looks as if I was late to find out about this, as most of the items are sold out. However, if you shop today (thru the 25th) via the Kohl’s website, shipping is only 99 cents! This collection is perfect to build up your fall basics.

wind chimes

Personal Digest #1 (Time Management)

I need to prioritize my daily life. One of my biggest flaws is my lack of effective time management. Maybe if I post a public agenda, I shall stay on top of it? Well, I shall see.

sound bars

Frugal Finds: Fishnet Top by Frederick’s of Hollywood

I have a friend whose name is Shanna, and one of our favorite things to do is to randomly ransack a local secondhand clothing store, scouring for unique clothes, jewelry, and accessories to add to our wardrobe.

My lastest find is an edgy yet feminine top by Frederick’s of Hollywood, $10.50. What a combination of materials: fishnet, ribbons, and lace! I tried this on without much thought to accessorize, so feel free to add your own opinions as to what you would pair this long, sheer top with, or whether or not its even your thing. But that’s the beauty of secondhand shopping: you’ll come out with hard to find pieces that are truly you.

Loves it!

Top: Frederick’s of Hollywood
Tank top: lace; Forever 21
Headband: American Apparel
Necklace and earrings: silver toned; unknown brands
Bracelet: patent black bangle; unknown brand
Jeans: dark wash skinny; Express

lingerie