Tutorial Tuesday : How to spice up your ponytail

Let's be real!  The main reason I have two inches of hair is because I have no patience to do anything with my hair on a daily basis.  For you ladies that aren't ready to take the short hair plunge I've got your "go to " ponytail spiced up.  

Step 1:  Using second day hair or loosely curled hair.  Douse hair with a good dose of dry shampoo to give hair some grit. 

Step 2: Gather hair to crown of head and secure with clear rubber band. 

Step 3: Braid your pony tail and secure at bottom with another clear rubber band.  Pull and tug braid to create loose look as you like. 

Step 4: Wrap a small amount of hair around the bottom rubber band and fasten into braid with a bobby pin.  

The key to this look is that is effortless yet so chic.  This is a great look for an evening out or even the gym.  Super versatile.  

To see more of my ponytail spice ups visit here.

Tutorial Tuesday: 2 minute Side Bun

Most of us busy girls have two seconds to get out the door and look chic! Always seems impossible but don't you fret!  I have started this new series to help you hustling ladies out!  I will go through various quick tips and looks to help you get out the door looking fabulous!  I will also give my top product recommendations below so you can get situated with the right tools.  

To kick off our first Tutorial Tuesday, we have this super cute and simple side bun. 

Step 1:  Start by loosely curling hair or best on second day hair that is already curled.  Blast hair with a good dose of Dry Shampoo to add some grit to hair. 

Step 2: Gather hair to side and fasten near lower ear.  Pull rubber band down a little  to loosen. 

Step 3: Split ponytail into two sections and loosely twist them around each other to bottom.

Step 4: Wrap the twisted ponytail around the rubber band to create bun.  Keep loose so make sure bun looks casual and effortless

Step 5: Fasten around the bun with a couple pins.  Fluff as you like. Mist with hairspray.

Products to create this look below

See full tutorial in pictures here!!  

Fresh fall skin

I've been off my schedule in the finest way this summer.  We have frolicking and sun basking our days away and it's time to get back on the skin care program.  I have stubborn melasma from the couple pregnancies and fine lines have started to creep in.  I swear the day I turned 30 I found fine lines.  Not fair!  I'm on the attack and here are my go to power punchers in the skin care department.  

Morning:  I start with cleaning my face with a gentle cleanser.   I wipe my face with toning pads to clean off any excess dirt.  Next, I apply a brightening serum to help with the melasma.  Next, I add eye cream and a light moisturizer.

Night: To take off my makeup, I cleanse again with my gentle cleanser.  I next, apply a scrub to my face for one minute then scrub for another minute to exfoliate dead skin.   Once a week, I apply a more intense Brightening serum to handle the melasma.  I add my eye cream and slather on my night cream.  

Bonus: Once a week, I apply a mask depending on what issue has cropped up that week.  If I feel like I need a little clarifying for blackheads, I go for a clay mask.  If it's that time of the month, I opt for an acne mask.  I also adore this Brightening mask for a dewy finish.  

Hello, World!

Twisted Messy Updo For Short Hair Tutorial

The lob is the hottest cut of the year.  It's universally flattering.  Having short hair myself, I get in conversation all the time with girls not sure if they want to cut their hair because they aren't sure of the versatility of it.  This twisted messy undo I love so much because it's beyond easy and really does last all day.  It's the perfect look for any short haircut on any occasion.  

Here are my step by step instructions on how to get this look: 

Step 1: Blast hair with dry shampoo all over to create grit and add texture. Also if working with dirty hair dust a hair texture dust onto roots to clean up hair and create volume.

Step 2:  Section off hair from temples straight back.  Twist each section as you move hair backwards.  Secure with a pin. 

Step 3:  Continue in 1 inch sections down the back of hair.  Twist hair and secure in the back. 

Step 4: When you get to bottom short layers at the nape of the neck. Twist the whole short layer together into a small bun and secure with a pins. 

Step 5: Loosen up twists on each section by pulling at the twists to create more effortless and casual look.  

Step 6: Pull face framing pieces out to soften around the face. Lightly spray with hair spray.

To see full picture tutorial visit Momtastic. 

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale : Beauty

How To: Freshen Your Beauty Routine

How to freshen up your beauty routine

  Summer is a great time to freshen up your beauty routine and keep makeup light.  Colors are vibrant and the heat is up!  It's time to cut out some of the heavy skin coverage and opt for glowing skin and pops of color.  I have a major girl crush on Jenna Dewan- Tatum, and feel like her makeup and hair is always on pointe!  She is young and vibrant without being to trendy.  I love this peachy makeup look of hers and have recently replicated the look myself in a quick 5 minute way.  A great tip is to find a great lip color you love and add it to your cheeks as well.  It will act as a cream blush and make your skin look dewy and gorgeous.  It will compliment your lips and make your whole makeup look really seam cohesive.

Here are some easy breezy makeup tips to get this look in 5 minutes...

1.  Smooth ">tinted moisturizer to whole face with fingers.  Make sure to blend down neck and onto ears.

2.  Apply highlighting concealer to inner corners of eyes and blend under eye with fingers.

3.  Line eyes with dark brown liner and smudge to create smokey look.  This doesn't have to be perfect.  Repeat on outer corners of lower lashes.

4.  Apply 2 coats of waterproof mascara.

5.  Apply orangey/coral lip color to cheeks and blend with fingers.

6.  Finish look with that same lip color on lips.

Find more easy and quick tips and tricks at Momtastic to help mix up your makeup look just in time for summer.

To shop my picks to replicate this look...

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Top Short Hair Product Favorites

Best hair products for short hair

With short hair I feel like products are your saving grace.  I have a drawer full of great products and literally two inches of hair.  It's really ridiculous.  There are a handful of things that I just can't live without though.  These faves make my top list because they keep this lazy girl from having to wash her hair everyday.   Here's my routine and go to products..

Peter Lamas Chinese Herbs Energizing Shampoo and Conditioner

What I love about this little duo is that they really get my hair and clean and product free.  It's natural plant based formula promotes healthy hair and scalp as well as creates thicker and fuller hair.  It also smells like pure heaven.

It's a 10 leave in Conditioner

Easy Peasy….you spray in and comb out for super silky, tangle free hair.  I use this one on the kids too.  I don't know how they seem to get as many tangles as they do after shampooing but this get's them out super easily.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-n-1 Styling Treatment

If it's good enough for Jen Aniston it's good enough for me!   I love this product because it keeps hair looking shiny and healthy but adds a layer of heat protectant so when I hit the hair with a blow drying it's protected.  I use about a dime size before blow drying.

Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo

I find that some dry shampoos leave a dusty look on the hair and this one doesn't.  I've used this product on really dark haired clients of mine and it doesn't show up there either.  I give my hair a big blast right after blow drying.  It gives hair a bit of grit and keeps first day hair from feeling to clean.

One Love Organics Healthy Locks Dry Shampoo

This magic dust is the number one product in my routine!  It's a powder made from all natural and clean ingredients.  Whether I'm on fresh and clean hair or on day 4 hair this dust helps boost my roots for volume and keeps hair in place.  Dust powder onto roots  and massage into scalp.  Use as needed.

Redkin Wax Blast wax spray

Make sure to use this product sparingly.  A little goes a long way.  I lightly mist hair concentrating on the ends for texture.

Kenra Volumizing Hairspray

I finish off whatever style I'm going for with a light mist of hairspray.  This one from Kenra has been my favorite for years.

You can score some of these amazing products at www.ROOTSbeauty.com or make an appointment with the girls there for a one on one beauty consult.

Lipstick lovers round up

Lipstick is as much a staple to me as a little black dress!  I am huge fan of a bold lip and find it an easy and fun way to create a more interesting makeup look without much effort.  Here are my favorite shades from nude to bold just in time for Valentine's day!

Makeup Forever Aqua Rouge in 9

MAC Ruby Woo

MAC Impassioned

Yves St. Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in Rose Tempura

Melted Dusty Rose

NARS in Niagara

Givenchy Volumptious Nude

 

Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch

NYX Butter Gloss in Vanilla Cream Pie

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sweet Tart

My go to beauty routine

I've always kept my beauty routine very simple and really like keeping natural and fresh.  With that said, this mama needs a little oomph added in there every now and then.  I've been wearing red lips off and on for a while now and have resoluted to the fact that it's my all time favorite and not going anywhere.  A classic red lip takes a simple two second beauty look that seems like it must have taken much more time.  Here is my go to, easy peasy, always look pulled together makeup look that I rock basically every day. 1.   After washing my face and applying my  aging oil, eye cream and SPF, I sweep foundation all over face and under eyes.  Make sure to blend foundation down neck and on ears so you avoid any harsh lines.

2.  Next, using a fan brush I sweep bronzer under cheek bones, onto temples and down middle of neck.

3.  Using a angled blush brush I dust blush onto apples of cheeks for natural flush.

4.  Now for the finishing touches… line lips and fill in whole lip with red lip liner to help color last.

4.  Fill in lips carefully with red lip stain.  Make sure to keep outer lines super tidy.  Red lips have to be super sharp to look chic.

5.  Now for my favorite part, the highlighter.  Apply cream highlighter to cheekbones and temples.  Blend well for perfect "light catching" glow.

Voila!  The perfect look for any occasion. Chic for the office, polished for any date night or party and fresh for everyday life. Done and done!

For more detailed tutorial check out Momtastic for full article.

Photos: Corey Morgan

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10 Best hair Do's for New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is a perfect time to get sassy with your do!  I put together my favorite hairstyles for the perfect night out!

via

Do go for the Braided undo, it's is always right.

Do tie up your half up with a sweet bow

Do flirty curls,they will do all the work for you.

Do add a sparkly DIY headband, OBVI!

Do create a sleek, classic look with your short do.

Do work in chain embellishments to any effortless undo.

Holiday Beauty Must Haves

source

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Benefit Cosmetics Watt's Up, Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat, Bare Minerals BareSkin, Bare Minerals BareSkin Perfecting Brush, Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, Clarisonic Mia 3, Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish, St. Tropez Tanning Mousse, DiorShow Mascara, Nars blush, Essie Good as Gold Nail  polish, Too Faced Melted Longwear lipstick, Essie Greys Playa Del Platinum, MAC Viva Glam lipstick

Pumpkin Enzyme mask

When planning my wedding I was managing skin issues when my facialist that introduced me to enzymes. Ever since then, I have been in love with these little devils!  " There are many types of enzymes, they have two primary uses in skin care-- for exfoliation and anti-inflammation. Certain enzymes are effective exfoliants and can be gentler than other methods like scrubs and microdermabrasion. The upper layer of your skin is mostly made of dead skin cells containing keratin protein. The enzymes work by specifically breaking down the keratin protein, resulting in smoother skin." SELF magazine I personally have used enzymes as an exfoliatiant and have in the most recent years made my own masks focusing on enzymes.  Tis the season of pumpkins so I incorporated my left over pumpkin puree into my at home pumpkin mask.

For full recipe my visit Momtastic article.

Photos: Corey Morgan

Easy Halloween Makeup

Halloween is two second away and you have been so busy gathering tidbits for the kids costumes and the last minute candy that your costume is a little lacking.  We all have the easy go to's for Halloween that still work.  Kitty, fairy and witch are always a great standby for a last minute costume. To add a little more of a fun touch you can add some festive makeup to take your simple go to up a notch.  I love being able to use what I have on hand to make things more fun.  The girls went crazy for my fun kitty makeup.  For kitty, fairy and witch makeup tutorials visit step by step instructions on Momtastic.

Photos: Corey Morgan

Fall beauty haul

As fall is upon us, I am slowly shifting my beauty choices as well as my wardrobe.  I'm excited to share with you some of the pretty things I've picked up!  

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Product list:

Dry Bar Detox dry Shampoo

'bareSkin®' Pure Brightening Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20

Perfecting Face Brush

Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Concealer

Algenist Advanced Anti-Aging Repairing Oil 

Nars Sixties Fan gloss

Stila Stay All Day® 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm Trio Broad-Spectrum SPF 30

Video- The Pixie

Welcome to my YouTube Channel! I can't wait to share all sorts of fun stuff with you!  First up, I am chatting today about my hair!  I've been loving the change and have been getting tons of questions on why I did it, what was my inspiration, how I style it, do I love it….etc! Be prepared for a lot of crazy hands!  I get excited and talk with my hands!

Bare Minerals BareSkin

Big news… Bare Minerals has just debuted their gorgeous and first ever liquid foundation.  I've been in the beauty industry as a makeup artist for almost 7 years and am always on the hunt the gorgeous coverage that still feels light.  I love a glowing , youthful complexion. Enter the new queen of amazing skin…Bare Skin from Bare Minerals.

Staying true to their "less is more"  philosophy, Bare Skin is just dreamy!  Applied with a super soft Perfecting Face Brush or with finger tips, buff this lovely solution to whole face.  I am smitten with the brush and even applied the foundation to brow bones and under eyes as a concealer.

They recommend 2 drops for sheer coverage, 4 drops for medium coverage and 6 drops for full coverage.  I found 2 was perfect for me.  Some of the key ingredients that sold me were skin brightening Vitamin C and the 20 SPF sun protection. WINNING!

I'm wearing Bare Natural 07, find your perfect match here.

Photos are not retouched. Product gifted.  All opinions are my own.

To Pixie or not to Pixie?

To pixie or not to pixie is always the question!!! I adore this fresh and sexy trend happening right now in young hollywood and have always rustled with the idea of chopping my locks into a sassy pixie.  I had this idea that you had to have super high cheekbones and a gorgeous long neck to get away with a short look like that.  The more I see the cut pop up the more I see how versatile it is and really anyone can rock it.  Here are some I've been obsessing over! I have a hair appointment this week and follow along on my Instagram to see if I chicken out or not.

5 Spring Pinks

I love pretty pink lips in springtime and I've rounded up some of my favorite shades!  From pastels to brights and high to low prices you are set for a spring perfect pout!  

 left to right:

MAC Beet liner, Maybelline Ruby Star lipstick, Dior Addict in Diablotine 643 

Dior Rouge Rose Tulip 448 lipstick  discontinued but similar here 

CoverGirl Outlast lipstain 435

MAC Chatterbox lipstick

MAC Cherry liner, Dior Addict Diablotine 643 lipstick

Fresh faced beauty- Tory Burch

I get asked a lot to chanel Tory Burch's fresh faced natural makeup often!  I'm not surprised!  She is the epitome of understated chic and her beauty routine is no exception!  Here are my recommendations in achieving the "Tory" look  yourself.

1.  Using your fingers apply Tinted Moisturizer all over face and neck.

2.  Blend a couple swipes of concealer/highlighter under eye and blend with fingers.  A good rule is to keep bulk of concealer in under eye closest to nose and blend down and outward as to not get the dreaded "raccoon" look.  By highlighting under the eye and by nose you are drawing attention to center of face.

3.  Using eyeshadow crayon in dark brown, draw thick line on upper lash line.  Blend with thin brush or finger to smudge line.

4.  Apply two coats of mascara

5. Brush up brows and fill in if desired

6. Sweep blush/bronzer  on apple of cheek to create rosy, sun kissed glow

7.  Apply light gloss to lips and Voila!

Clean and green

If you aren't familiar with Candice Kumai you need to be!!! She is not only smoking hot, celebrity chef and fellow CSULB alum of mine, she is amazing in all ways!  I mean check out her abs!!!! She is the authority on food=sexy and talks often about certain foods that are great to enhance the "sexy time" if you know what I mean.  Okay, not the topic at hand but what I really mean to showcase today is her new 100 + smoothies! Her new book  "Clean Green Drinks" has been ordered and I can't wait for it to come!!!!  She makes things easy, pretty and sexy!  I mean, how much better does it get?!

Candice is featuring her Clean Green smoothie and I wanted to share it with you all!

The Clean Green

Smoothie: Kale, Banana, Spirulina, Almond Butter

Serves 4

The Clean Green smoothie,  a delicious and vibrant am boost for you to stay lean and gorgeous! With filling fiber, an immunity boost from spirulina and fiber-boosting kale, you’re on your way to reclaiming your health. Go green!

1½ cups coconut milk drink or almond milk

2 cups kale greens

1 frozen banana

1 tablespoon spirulina

2 tablespoons natural almond butter

1 cup ice

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.