Move Over Red

In a super-confident and fearless mood, selecting a red lip is a great lip color to choose. When looking for a change, try a tangerine lip color this summer! There’s a wide range of tangerine so, don’t say ‘no’ yet! This particular lip color looks best as a super slick and wet look, which simply needs a coat or two of a high shine lip gloss. Try Nars lipgloss in Wonder or Dolce & Gabbana Ultra Shine lipgloss in Secret for fabulous, high gloss tangerine lips.

For the smoothest lips, try the following steps to get an irresistible pout:

1. Cleanse: when washing your face, work your cleanser into your lips to lift up makeup and oils.
2. Scrub: exfoliate your lips with one of the following to scrub away dead skin: lip exfoliating balm, a soft toothbrush, a power-cleansing brush like Clarisonic or a wet face towel.
3. Plump: to pump up your lips, apply a lip plumper to tickle your lips to full-size.
4. Moisturize: take a swipe of balm to seal in lip plumper and to hydrate. No one likes chapped lips, honey!

Feeling tangy for tangerine? Loving the summer lip look? Let me know in the comment box!

Chunky: Me Likey

I like my peanut butter chunky and the same goes for my jewelry. The bigger the chunk, the bigger the statement!  Large jewelry pieces pump up the glam in any outfit regardless if the it’s casual or upscale. Oversize jewelry are great conversation starters and are simply mesmerizing.

If your outfit has an open neckline, opt for a large, embellished collar necklace. Pair multiple cuffs and bangles of different texters and styles to mix it up. Pairing large earrings and chunky necklaces together can be a bit overwhelming with so much going on in the same upper body area. Tone it down by only wearing one of the two chunky pieces.

Necklace + Cuff = Fabulous
Earrings + Cuff= uh-MAZING
Necklace + Cuff + Earrings= WAY TOO MUCH!

Check out some of my favorite chunky pieces:

Lizzie Fortunato

Lizzie Fortunato

Fallon

Fallon

What do you think of my favorite picks? Do you love chunky jewelry too? Let me know!

Beach Bag Essentials

Clearly, I’m still daydreaming about taking a tropical beach vacation! Check out one of my recent blog posts here to know what the heck I’m talking about.

Anyway, before I head out to the beach, I’ve got to have all my fashion and beauty ‘essentials’. I triple-double-check that I have everything I need, so that I don’t have to leave my spot in the sand or stay and suffer in the sun without the item.

Here are my Beach Bag Essentials:

1. Shades

Marc Jacobs

At the beach, you can’t avoid the sun. Stop squinting, protect your eyes and look glamourous while soaking up the sun.

2. Tinted Lip Balm

Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm

While laying in direct sun, everything is going to get dry– especially your lips. Moisturize, heal and protect your luscious lips with a lip balm and even add a punch of color by applying a tinted lip balm.

3. Sunscreen

Shiseido Sunscreen SPF 60

I mean, this is a no brainer. Do I even need to explain?

4. Water + Snacks

Say no to thirst and hunger pains. Stay hydrated and avoid passing out by bringing a huge bottle of water and some healthy snacks.

5. Waterproof Mascara

Dior DiorShow

After taking a dip in the ocean, running mascara is not a good look. Be prepared and keep mascara out of your eyes with waterproof mascara.

6. Floppy Hat

Echo

There’s only so much heat you can take. A floppy hat will surely relieve you from the sun’s rays.

7. Swimsuit Cover Up

Free People

When you’re not feeling 100% body confident, opt for a flattering cover up for a walk along the shore.

That’s my list! What are your beach essentials? Let me know by leaving a comment!

MANEtaining Frizz

I’m about to drop the F-bomb…FRIZZ! It’s a pain in the ass to spend so much time styling your hair at home and then walk outside and feel your hair frizz up within minutes. The heat and humidity always tend to create chaos in my tresses. Thankfully Allure.com has addressed this issue and came up with 10 tips to put a muzzle on frizz for good.

Here are the top 10 tips:

1. Only shampoo your hair a few times a week
2. Use a deep conditioner every time you wash your hair
3. Don’t towel dry
4. Use heat-protecting spray
5. Use an ionic blow dryer
6. Use a curling iron to smooth crazy curls
7. Apply a silicone serum
8. Do a hot-oil treatment once a week
9. Switch to alcohol-free products
10. Use a shine spray to tame flyaways

For more details, take a peek at the article on frizz here.

Got any personal tips on frizz? Share them in the comment box!

Island Inspiration

It’s the third day of summer and it’s the third day my mind has been completely fixated on going on vacation. The temperature has risen above 90 degrees, I’m relaxing in my patio with a margarita in hand and all I truly need in life is a beach! Is that so much to ask for?!

Of course while daydreaming of soaking up the sun in Turks and Caicos, I’m also planning my daily outfits of fuss-free, relaxed and flirty fits plus bright and bold accessories.

Take a peek at my island inspirations below:

Summer Glow

What I love most about this season is the summer sun kissing my face. (Note: please remember to protect your skin! SPF 50 baby!) To enhance my summer glow, bronzer is the best go-to solution. Bronzers are available in many different tones depending on how ‘bronze’ you’re trying to go. The primary use for bronzers is for your cheeks, but you can apply bronzers on any part of your body to have an all-over sun-kissed look. I recommend mixing a loose bronzer with your everyday lotion or you can buy a lotion with bronze shimmer effects.

Tip: Double-check your finished bronzer look in different lighting– natural and indoor lighting. It may show subtle in your bathroom, but when you’re outside, you might look like a bronze trophy. Apply bronzer lightly until desired finish is achieved.

Here are some of my favorite bronzers:

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit

This is my number one bronzer! Mineralize Skinfinish is super light and natural and has a beautiful metallic finish that adds perfect highlights to face and body. This product makes me feel like a bronze goddess!

Clinique Almost Bronzer

Clinique Almost Bronzer has two shades for you to use one at a time or together. This bronzer is great for newbies to try out a bronzer for the first time and to play around with. Oh, did I mention it has SPF 15? Nice.

Stripes + Florals = Perfect Pairing

The top two in-demand prints this season are stripes and florals. In stripes, your look can be clean, nautical and classic. In florals, your look exudes femininity and playfulness. With the two together, magic happens! Pairing the two prints together makes me want to prance and skip down the street in bright and vibrant roses and daisies and big sailor stripes! Remember to: mix textures, keep accessories at a minimum, wear only one dominant print and keep prints in the same color family. Most importantly, have fun!

Hope you’re loving the happy print pairing as much as I am! Let me know what you think!

Summer Must-Haves

At the beginning of every season, I scan through my closet and create a checklist of where in my closet I need to fulfill or replenish– denim, dresses, accessories, skirts, shoes, handbags, tees, tops…you know what I mean! (While doing this assessment, this also creates an opportunity for me to create a donation pile. Get rid of the clutter people! Don’t end up like the folks on ‘Hoarders’!) So after going through all categories, I came up with my ‘Summer Must-Have’ list:

1. White Denim

MiH Jeans

 2. Bright and Light Scarf

Epice

 3. Linen Shorts

A.L.C.

 4. Metallic Strappy Sandals

Miu Miu

 5. Colored Denim

Rag and Bone

6. Cross-Body Bag

Sophia

 7. Crop Top

Urban Renewal

There you have it! That’s my Summer Must-Have list. How about you? What are your summer must-haves? Let me know!

Turning Heads

Summer’s almost here, which means the temperature is rising and the sun will be shining bright! One of my favorite ways to protect myself from the sun’s rays is with a cool and fun hat. It’s like putting the cherry on top of a double fudge sundae! In the summer heat, it’s best to choose a woven, straw hat where air can circulate freely and keep your head from boiling. Fedora hats add the cool edge factor to an outfit and are available in many different color and printed bands. Add a feather to add more flair! A feminine, floppy sun hat adds even more protection from the sun and a lot more drama, baby!

Any hat should fit comfortably above your eyebrows. You don’t want your hat to leave silly marks on your forehead.

Here are my favorite picks below:

Echo

Genie by Eugenia Kim

Helen Kaminski

Hinge

Shady

August

Which is your favorite? Are you a fedora or floppy hat girl? Let me know!

My Fave Looks: MTV Movie Awards 2011

My most favorite part of award shows is the red carpet. I’m not one to watch the entire award show, winners’ speeches and performances (well, only if I really love a particular music artist). I really just want to see what they’re wearing! Duh!

On Sunday, June 5th, MTV hosted their annual MTV Movie Awards. I’m a fan of MTV awards shows because celebs are dressed in more fun/party/sexy attire with lots of tight, sheer, glitter, embellishments and studs going on as opposed to the Oscars where all the lovely ladies are in ball gowns. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the Oscars red carpet too!

Anyway, here are my favorite looks:



Kristen Stewart in Balmain




Emma Watson in Marchesa




Leighton Meester in Balmain




Nikki Reed in Heather




Alyson Michalka in Ramy Brook

  

Jessica Szohr in Alica + Olivia



Mila Kunis in Balmain

 Clearly, my favorite designer on the red carpet that night was Balmain! I can’t get enough studs and embellishments!

Loving my picks? Which look is your fave? Let me know!