Beauty: DIY Ombre Nails

I love, love, love, ombre nails. The trend is both soft and funky. Ombre nails can be toned up or down depending on your mood and attire. I saw this nail idea in Glamour and had to give it a try. 

DIY Ombre Nails 

You will need:

2 nail polish colors (one light, and one darker).

Colors can complement or clash, (doesn't matter).

chip resistant top coat

A makeup sponge- (or any sponge that has a flat side.)

A plastic sheet (to mix the nail colors on, and to contain the mess)

Toothpicks

Get The Look:

1. Paint your nails with the lighter of the nail colors, and wait for nails to dry completely. For a bolder look double coat each nail. 

2. On a flat surface paint a liberal amount of both colors side by side on the plastic. (colors should be just touching)

3. Using the toothpick swirl the two colors together where the colors meet. This will be the graduation of color: mix to personal long/short preference.

4. Dab your sponge in the polish, and collect the color.

5. Dab the paint covered sponge directly onto your nails. Dab lightly and move it around slightly to cover the whole nail. 

( Repeat this step as needed, just allow each layer to dry before re-sponging to prevent smudging.)

6.  Add a layer or two of a topcoat, (the sponge makes the mani textured so you may want to even out the surface).  

7. Clean up the excess nail polish around your finger using a cotton pad/ Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover. 

...and enjoy your beautiful ombre mani!

Beauty: Bold yet Minimal

The makeup trends that are emerging across fashion magazines, pop culture, TV, and the runways; is a look of simplicity. The look is strong, polished, bold, and neutral. It is a look of classic elegance with an attention to details. A good friend of mine, Shalaine Howell, is a makeup artist with loads of experience both in movies, fashion, and for the every day girl. Shalaine broke down the look of Bold Minimalism for me, and gave me some tips on how to master  the look. 

Your skin, and your natural complexion is what the look strives to showcases. Take care of you skin by exfoliating regularly and by using product that are a good match for your skin. You should always strive to look red carpet ready, easily achievable through proper skin maintenance, healthy diet, sunscreen and sleep.

For the look of bold minimalism, you will need a neutral pallet of eye shadow, blush, mascara and lip stick.

Start with your eyes, apply a gentle primer to hold color in place, and use a light shade to highlight the inner corners of your eyes. Contour the eye with a more brownish hue, and start just above the pupil. Work the color into the eye crease and then gently pull it down and blend the colors.  Add a gentle touch of eyeliner and mascara. I personally love cat eyes, and the look of spidery lashes.

Always start you look with your eyes, then move to your foundation. The bold minimised look is about having perfect skin. So use a foundation rich in moisture and preferably with an SPF. As Shalaine says: "You can't paint a house with your fingers, so use a brush!" Apply the foundation with a brush this will help to work the product into your skin making it look fresher and last longer. When you apply foundation with your fingers, you run the risk of spreading bacteria from your hands all over the face. In addition the natural oils and warmth of our hands can react with the make-up causing a change of color. 

On the apples of your cheeks, what balls up when you smile, gently dust on a light brush. If you have any blemishes cover with  concealer. Dust your face with a non-bronzing powder.

To finish the look, pick a very bold yet neutral lip color. Line your lips, I always like to use a nude liner. With a brush fill in your lips with the color. Apply two layers, and blot after each layer.

So Pretty! 

Fat Lashes

When it comes to fat there is one body part I want maximized; and it isn't my Kim Kardashian butt. I want Fat, voluptuous, lashes. Mascara: I can't live with out it. 

Mascara is a miracle worker. To just apply it leaves you feeling vitalized and fresh faced. I'm a mascara addict. I must have at least 6 different kind of mascara in my make up bag each with their own unique characteristics.

I use a rich brown mascara for days I don't have time to do make up. The brown looks less harsh against the face. I have a waterproof for the gym, and all sorts of lengthening, voluming, and condition mascaras. The way I see it is you cant go wrong with mascara.

When I stated wearing makeup, my mom instilled in me to never use someone elses mascara or to wear mascara older than 6 months. She's a doctor, so I take her advice seriously. I sometimes wanna stretch the life of a mascara but if starts to clump its time to say goodbye.  The 6 month life of mascara is to long, according to recent health research. Mascara should be trashed every three months. Failure to do so can cause: Red eye, pink-eye, itchy eyes, and conjunctivitis. 

Think about it- Our eyelashes evolved for the function of protecting our eyes. They catch all sorts of bacteria. When every we comb our lash lashes with the applicator what ever was on the hair is now on the brush and back in the tube. Mascara is moist and usually stored at room temperature. The Perfect breading ground for nasty bacterias. 

I'm not trying to freak you, Mascara is my go to beauty product love. Bacteria build up can be easily reduced by combing your eyelashes with a separate wand/comb before applying, by roatating the applicator into the tube, and by always removing left over makeup before applying new makeup. Beauty experts say that if there is one product to cheap on it would be mascara. There is virtually no difference between a $10 tube and a $20 tube. 

It's easy: for healthy eyes toss the tube every 90 days.