How to Grow Out a Pixie or Very Short Haircut.

  Well it's been almost a year since my last blog post and about 6 months since I chopped all of my hair off. I loved it! For summer, a cool short style is definitely the way to go, especially if your hair is as thick as mine, but I went from Rihanna-esque to straight pixie, and I just wasn't feeling it anymore.

This is what I looked like last summer:

Then I had  a mini long-haired-girl-who's-never-had-short-hair-crisis and decided I wanted it "all off"

I would like to point out right now that Victoria Beckham and I have one thing in common: the funny way we pose in pictures, It's a little ridiculous.

So after having to come to the realization that I wanted to grow my hair back out, I dyed it (cause growing out platinum blonde is in no way easy, or quick) and found some interesting ways to style it so as not to feel like a frumpy, crazily thick short-haired girl. Here are some creative ways to help with the awkward "growing out" stage.

One of my favorites is the bandana:

   

I took this retro look from a Rosie the Riveter Tutorial made by my favorite makeup artist Kandee Johnson 

Or... if you're feeling really crazy you could always try wigs, hairpieces, hats or really big (but not heavy) statement earrings.

This one was definitely an impulse buy, not real hair but it did the trick! I got this wig from Abantu, one of the best suppliers of real and synthetic wigs, extensions and a lot of their products are also really affordable. 

This is a clip-on hairpiece from Jessica Simpson's hair do line (everything in front of the head band is mine, and the rest is a clip-in extension)

Edie Sedgwick has always been a big fashion icon for me, and she always rocked her short hair, no matter which stage it was in. Why have short hair if you're not going to wear big earrings?

And my final pictorial example, the incomparable Audrey, who made me feel like having short hair was the sexiest look possible

And if you want to play it low key and plain and simply rock what you got, just remember, hair shaping and styling products (ex. pomade) are your best friend right now!

Happy Holidays! Here's to new years and style transformations.

Elizabeth

Ps. Please don't forget to fill out the beauty survey on this page, I really want to know what y'all think! Comments and questions are always welcome!

Mascara: Top Three

  It's been awhile since my last post and the 10 some odd pounds of turkey has successfully passed through my digestive system. I'm now rested and ready to shout to the rooftops the best mascara I've ever tried. Cause it's just so great. There are only two important aspects of a mascara that matter: The brush applicator and the formula. I have tried many brands, styles and colours, these are my top three:

Loreal Double Extend: Beauty Tubes

  Now I don't know about "beauty" but this sure makes your lashes look fake (they shoulda named this "falsies" but I guess it was taken), the only trick is that to remove the stuff, you need warm water and your fingers to GENTLY pull off the mascara (plus makeup remover), cause it forms fibrous "tubes" around the lashes not unlike Clinique's Lash Power mascara. apply the white primer, wait 20-30 seconds and apply, and layer and layer and layer (it's amazing) as much as you want and you have glamorous lashes which will make you look fresh and youthful. The best I've tried by far, and beauty editors agree, it's even printed on the packaging. hehe.

The next Covetable  mascara is:  Loreal Double Extend: with Lash Boosting Serum

 

  Basically, it's the same thing as it's predecessor, but instead of forming tubes that need to be "pulled" off, all you need is makeup remover (explained in the previous article) and your done at night. The effects are about as dramatic as the original double extend and definitely better than any other drug store brand, plus the lash boosting serum claims to strengthen those suckers. I'm indifferent on whether it does or not, but nevertheless, a great product.

And Ol' Reliable and fave of all time: Loreal Voluminous

This mascara has seen me through many a year. it's simple, layer-able and conditioning. it's the cheapest of the three and one of the best selling mascaras on the market. Nuff said. Now let me tell you about my choices:

 Did you notice one thing in common with all these great lash-swaddling  products? yes, they're all made by Loreal. I've been a fan of Rimmel, Maybeline (great lash), Covergirl (lash blast), Revlon and Clinique to name a few and these have beat out any of the competitors for my hard-earned money. This is also a personal fave cosmetic of mine because I love glamorous lashes and I think they make everyone look fresh and gorgeous.

Top Three Tips for mascara:

#1

Opt for black, it looks better, frames your peeps the best and is versatile.

#2

limit the amount of times you put your wand/brush in and out of the mascara tube, the more you do, the more air you'll generate in the tube = the faster you're mascara will dry out. 

#3

always start with the brush in a short, side to side motion from the base of lashes then pull up and out near the ends, they'll look more natural. 

Till next time. 

Liz.

Hey Hey Hey 'tis the season to make your lashes look crazy. (In a good way)

Whatever mascara you use, whatever eyeliner you put on, THE most important thing is how you take it all off. Now, I'm pretty broke, so I'm not about buying all the makeup removers on the market, but what I've tried so far is Clinique and Loreal's gentle eye makeup remover ( The most important aspect of a store bought eye makeup remover is that it's OIL FREE because the oil used in some removers is mineral oil and ain't good for the skin in any way).
Just blot some of the liquid on a cotton pad and smother it on your eyes (before you wash your face at night) and most everything comes off. It's great. Removing your eye makeup is EXTREMELY important for eye+lash health and regeneration, so once you have that down (and any residual makeup/remover is gently wiped off of your lash line (q-tips work the best for that), you can dream your way to stronger, thicker lashes every night.
Olive oil is the best alternative for remover, just make sure you wipe it all off before you start cleansing your face or you could develop a clogged pore or two (same goes for the vaseline which is your third best option)

Ps. It ACTUALLY works.

Pps. Your welcome

Ppps. all of the CAPS. words were for a reason.


Love and Peace

All you Need is Love. And the Right Makeup Brushes

 The way we wear our makeup, makes all the difference in our appearance and confidence.

But let me just say, it is ESSENTIAL to have the right tools. We're all in luck too, because most of 'em are marked down in price for this holiday season:

 

EcoTools are the best and most reasonably priced brushes on the market. Allegedly good for the environment, I own the full set (with bamboo case included) and it has been my best makeup friend for anything I want to put on my face. Retails in Canada for about 16$.

 

Another GREAT makeup set is from Joe Fresh, On sale now is a full set of makeup brushes including, one blush brush, Powder brush (for your bronzer, etc.), eyeshadow brush, eyeliner brush (and brow, slanty is very important and MUCH better than a liquid or kohl), crease brush (for shadowing that will make your eyes pop), lip brush(to easily apply any lip product) and a brow and lash brush, for grooming and setting brows and lashes. Full set available anywhere you buy Joe, for about 19$.

Proper makeup application is everything and less really is more. If you have a loved one that may not understand the concept of blending their makeup, surprise them or just get this stuff for yourself and wow everyone at your next christmas party.

Some Crazy Things I've Done Involving Makeup... and Toothpaste. Happy Late Halloween Everyone!

 Halloween feels like it's long over, but Christmas feels like it's just around the corner.

Let's take a minute to look back on some things I've tried with or without the "I'm just dressing up for Halloween" excuse.

Halloween 2010

Some photos of makeup I did this year:

Self tanner and makeup al la me. To transform my cousin from gorgeous to waaay over the top sexy for her J-woww from Jersey shore impression.

And then there was me.

As DJ Pauly D.

I was minus some socks in the pants at this point but you get the idea.

Now for my 8 year old sisters "evil" queen makeup.

No use in trying to make this girl look evil, but I did my best by arching her brow, adding some heavy cat eyeliner and a dark neutral lip (courtesy of Revlon Just Bitten) ( lasted her whole school day too).

Halloweens Past

 

Back when I was 17, I equaled my little sisters ability to portray Edward scissor hands and some botched brawl makeup to create this number.

I then put her through a little more unneccesary pain to create these pictures of the joker two Halloweens ago.

All it took was some year-old face paint from the dollar store, the cotton pulled off of q-tips and toothpaste to make the mouth all adhere together.

Turns out I love makeup so much that when I'm dying of sheer boredom, I leave my Vanity Fair behind and pick up the facial wax and bronzer instead.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

The Best Stuff to Put on Your Lips if You Wanna Look Pretty

  
 A great lip product is by far the quickest and most convenient way to freshen or complete your look, whether it's a lipstick, gloss, stain, liner or balm - I have tried them all, (almost) and here are some of my favorites of all time:

For all day wear:

 L'oreal Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour Compact 

The most amazing stuff I've tried. Hands down. 

Just apply the liquid color over lips, wait 1-2 minutes then apply the super moisturizing topcoat and you literally have half a days wear.  Another bonus is that the compact is a mirror! I know right?

Sheer genius once again from L'oreal. 

Shown here is the suited to almost everyone cherry luscious: rebel red.

PS. If you don't believe me, test a bit on your hand first with the clear topcoat over it. I work in a busy restaurant where I constantly wash my hands and no one can believe how long this stuff stays on.

 For Light to medium skin try: Geranium. A rosy neutral that makes your eyes pop.

Best lip gloss:

  

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss

 

 Another heavy weight in the lip color department, this gloss has even been tested with long hair and a trampoline. It feels so good on your lips and doesn't stick! Something that's a must for me especially now that it's getting windy outside. Just enough shimmer and shine and long-lasting wear for a lip gloss. 

Shown here in: Shine city

 PS. It also contains SPF 15 in there to protect and moisturize your lips, the most vulnerable area next to your eyes for sun damage = aging.

Best Lipstain:

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm

Another product I just can't say enough about. Lipstains really are the best new beauty product on the market, and the best of them is Just Bitten. Modeled by Jessica Biel and her crazy pooftah smackers, this stuff really works, just wipe the felt tip pen over lips, wait 30 seconds and apply the lip balm over top, long wear, super natural and unlike any other lip product because you can adjust the intensity of the colour by just adding more. This gorgeous color is called: Passion

 And if your looking for a great neutral: Forbidden is amazing as well.

There you have it!

Later in the week check out my favourite brands for lips and the best balms to protect them from the elements fast approaching.

Welcome

   

  Since I can remember, I've been giving advice to women, and the occasional man on beauty products, mainly of the drugstore variety. I'm no licensed makeup artist (yet) but makeup is what I love to do. From a long line of women who understood when Audrey Hepburn uttered the line, "a girl just can't read that sort of thing without her lipstick", I would say I was exposed to the world of beauty and cosmetics at an early age. So early in fact, I took to eating full tubes of my mom's lipstick before I fully understood how to apply it.

  

Basically, my mission is to learn and help other interested people out in the process, with tips on how to recognize good advertising from a good product. When Makeup is done right  and when it's just... wrong.