Scent List

• Back on the blog again! 

I am such a huge scent person... I love perfume. I am a little bit all-over-the-place though, and this bugs me. Ever since I can remember, my mom has always worn Eau de Soire by Sisley, and I love that she has this signature scent. Her clothes, her bath robe, her pillows- everything has this light, lingering aura of "mom". In an effort to find my own scent, I have test driven quite a few. My preferences change depending on my mood, the time of the day, the occasion and especially the weather. Okay, so in no particular order, although I do like some more than others, I have decided to list some of my favs. Before that I would just like to hit a few points about the technique and etiquette of wearing...

• Note, that over-wearing a scent can be offensive, so always think less is best. 
• It is better to find a light scent for hot weather. 
• I recommend a day time scent and a night time scent... some tones are a bit more sexy than others. 
• Always try the testers before purchasing because perfumes wear differently on every single person depending on natural scents, body oils, etc. Your best friends perfume will not smell the same on you as it does on her. 
• Once, you have found your favorite, keep a sample size in your purse for those quick-fix emergency situations. 
• Against popular instruction to apply on the wrists and neck- I would advise elsewhere. The wrist area comes off easily because you wash your hands throughout the day, so instead, I suggest the inner crease of your elbows. And, direct spritzes to sides of neck can be detrimental to the skin because the alcohol in the perfume and sun light can burn the pigment in your skin over time. Instead, try an over head spray and walk through the mist. 

So here are some of my favorites, and again, these are in no particular order. 

 Alora

This makes for a great light, summery scent or with the diffuser for your bedroom. 

IF by Apothia

ARMANI Code by Armani

 great sexy, evening scent

Sandalwood Cologne by Art of Shaving

Heavy and masculine. I love this on a man. 

BATH by Bobbi Brown

Literally smells as if you just stepped out of the bath... so fresh!

Hamptons by Bond No. 9

Classic, sophisticated scent. 

CHANCE by Chanel

This twist on the classic is fun and girly, great for the day time. 

Millesime Imperial by CREED

It just that. Very regal and glorious

Silver Mountain Water by CREED

A classic, cool scent. It's a really dimensional scent. 

the one by Dolce & Gabbana

Sweet and luxurious. this is so enticing for evenings.

La Prairie Midnight Rain

Less is best because it is very sweet. 

For Her by Narciso Rodriguez

One of my all time favorites. This has a lingering musk hue that is so memorable.  

Grace by Philosophy

This is perfect for hot summer days... light and demure. 

Stella by Stella McCartney

Her signature scent. Wears perfectly from day to night. 

9 by Trish McEvoy

Sweet and fruity. Looks beautiful on the bathroom counter. 

Enjoy the blog, and please feel free to comment and share some of your favorites!

More About Mascara!

Okay, so the last post I told you all about some of the different Lancome mascara products... all of which I LOVE! However, these are department store products and can be a bit pricey. There are many drugstore options that will help give you beautiful, lengthy lashes for a much smaller price.

First, there is Maybelline's Lash Discovery with the "Mini Brush." This is a very unique product, but I always recommend it. Lash Discovery is actually made to apply mascara to your bottom lashes, which is why it has the mini brush, but I have found that it is a great product for applying mascara to your top lashes. The small brush gives you great control and makes it very easy to comb through your lashes without getting any mascara on your eye lids or brow bone. The brush has very fine bristles, so your lashes are very separated and mascara is evenly applied. This is a great tool for daytime makeup, a quick pick-me-up reapplication or a really natural look of bare eyes and mascara.

Second, I have used and LOVED L'Oreal's Telescopic Explosion Mascara. This mascara has a one-of-a-kind brush... kind of a rubber, spiney bulb! Again, the unique shape of the brush makes it very easy to really pull through your lashes, giving them great length and even application. My technique with this mascara is a bit different than with most.. I hold the wand away from my face at about "2 0'clock" as opposed to the "3 o'clock" position where we normally hold the handle. This will give you a good angle with the round shaped brush to apply the mascara to your beautiful lashes!

Third, I have tried Maybelline's Volum Express Mascara in an attempt to find a comprable substitute for Lancome's Hypnose Mascara. I liked the stoutness of this brush and handle... it was very easy to use, but I did not like the actual product on my lashes. It goes on very thick, as it's supposed to give your lashes a full, bushy look, but it did not separate them well (the brush is straight and flat) so I felt that it made them look clumpy and like too much product was caked on. I took a lash comber to my eyes after applying this product to pull off some of the excess and give my lashes more definition, and I was much more pleased with the results after this second step!

Maybelline also makes the Volum Express Mascara in a "Lift Up" version which I need to try. It seems to be very similar to their normal Volum Express Mascara but it has the arc-shaped brush. This is more similar to Lancome's Hypnose Mascara and will apply the heavy product for thick+full while lifting and separating to give you great show-stopping lashes like those we envy in the ads!

Have any of you tried Maybelline's Volum Express Lift Up Mascara or any others for that matter? Please enjoy the post and leave a comment telling us about your experience with these mascaras or any of your personal favs!!!

Lancome Mascara

Hello All!

I'm sorry for the time since my last post, but I'm back and ready to blog away!

When I interned for Lancome, I was spoiled with their most coveted product... mascara! For the past year I have been using 3 different Lancome mascaras that each provide a different look. First, the Oscillating mascara was my first experience with any of the oscillating products that came out last year, and the stuff is great. You have to apply it correctly, which means holding the button down while steadily brushing it through your lashes (don't wave the mascara back and forth over the lashes), let the vibrations do the work! The oscillating mascara really separates and lengthens the lashes. Don't be intimidated by the vibrating mascaras... you can't even feel it when you're holding the wand and the product really is great!

The second Lancome mascara that I fell in love with was their High Definicils in black. This is a great day time mascara because it really seperates your lashes in a delicate way. Also, I feel like this mascara gives me a great grip to strongly comb through the lashes, really lifting them up and helping to make my eyes look bigger and more open. The brush on the wand is rubber so it stays very clean with each use and really gives your lashes high definition... true to its name.

The third Lancome mascara I used is my favorite! It is the Hypnose mascara in true black. This brush is really big so it gives your lashes that thick, bushy look. I love to do my eye makeup for a night out and then put this stuff on as the finishing touch... it makes them so dark and full! The Kardashian sisters swear by this product and it certainly shows. Lancome has also come out with the Hypnose Drama. I have not tried it yet, but it is an even more intense Hypnose look and I'm liking the sound of that!

Since my time at Lancome, the brand has launched its Precious Cells Mascara. I have yet to try this mascara either but Julia Roberts looks beautiful wearing the product as the new spokesmodel!

I love Lancome's mascara and use their product as often as possible, but it is a department store product and therefore expensive. I truly believe that there are plenty of drug store brand mascaras that will give you lashes as beautiful as the products found at Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus. My next post is soon to follow with allll of my favorite mascaras that can be purchased for under $10 as well as some tips for application and sanitation.

Please enjoy reading the blog and share your thoughts and comments!

In with the NEW

Hello hello...

Step one in my beauty regimen has always been a light layer of bronzing gelee. For the past 3 years I have been a daily user of Benefit's "Talk to the Tan," which I have shared with you all on blog posts past. I ran out of the product recently, but when I went to Sephora to get some more, I was told that they have DISCONTINUED IT!! I started searching for a similar product and luckily have found something that I love! It's Guerlain's Terracotta Bronzing Brush. I am really particular about what I put on my face and there were specific characteristics about this product that make it such a great substitute...

The medium is a light gel that doesn't clog your pores or feel "heavy" on your face

There is NO glitter in the product

It comes off with face wash (not a layering self-tanner)

Also, it is packaged in a tube with a brush on the end- you can directly apply the bronzer without worrying about stained fingers!

It dries immediately, so it's great for the beauties who like to dust a powder, blush, etc. on top. You can order it online or buy it in Sephora. Try this stuff out and please let me know what you think! Happy Bronzing ;)

The Makeup Master

Happy Friday Everyone!

3 years ago I started working in a little boutique in Atlanta, Ga called "BethAnn's." It is an image boutique that carries everything from wild accessories to classic staple pieces...jewelry, handbags, belts, wraps and the list goes on. I had always been a fan of the boutique and BethAnn (think Meryl Streep meets fairy godmother), but became determined to work there because she also started her own makeup line.

The line is called "BethAnn" and although I am partial to the stuff- it is seriously some of the best product I have ever put on my face. Whenever I am using her bronzing powder regularly, I have found that it not only gives me great, natural color but also repairs blemishes! Once you know a little bit about the sage herself, you know why her products are so incredible. BethAnn was a model in the 1970's as well as an image consultant. She established her own line of cosmetics in 1980 and has been a makeup artist with her product since.

If you're from the Atlanta area I am sure you have heard of her name and talent...she has worked with many-a-face. Her style is very real and natural, and she applies her talent with the belief that wearing makeup is about personality. For her appointments, she insists that one come wearing a white blouse and a clean face. She likes to spend time talking and getting to know her clientele (usually with a glass of wine too ;) and then she will start the application. It is the perfect way to spend an afternoon in spa ambiance for glamorous results. I personally believe that because of her method and talent, BethAnn's clients always leave her studio with a fresh face of makeup high lighting their natural beauty and glow of personality.

Her makeup studio is a separate room inside of her boutique and all of her product can be found here too! You can check out her website for pictures of the store and inventory (www.bethannstyle.com), follow her blog for styling advice and makeup tips (www.bethannstyle.blogspot.com), or search for her page on FaceBook. I am currently back at the store, working for the summer and our next big project is a YouTube channel where we can post tutorial videos and interviews with the guru! If you are living in Atlanta, please come check out her store (47 Irby Ave. Atlanta, Ga 30305)... I promise you will be intrigued!


She did Hyatt's, my youngest sister, makeup for her prom. What a beaute!

Keeping Clean

One of the most important things to know about makeup is that you have to keep clean brushes. These are the tools that carry product from the container to our face, so whatever is on them, is going on your face. It is much harder to maintain a healthy, clean complexion if you are applying makeup to your face with a dirty brush. Also, the actual product will not go on as well if it's being applied from a dirty brush (old product makes brush hair clump, colored makeup does not go on true to shade when sitting with old product, etc..). Think about using a paint brush over and over again, without washing it, on a blank canvas! You get the point... There are so many different tips for cleaning brushes and there are tons of different products available. I have just recently tried Bobbi Brown's Brush Cleaning Spray, but was not a huge fan. It did in fact remove old product, but the formula was kind of greasy and it was expensive. The guru does have another "conditioning brush cleaner," which I have not tried... have any of you? Trish McEvoy makes a GREAT product called "Brush Bath" which works the exact same way as shampoo. Lather the product in the hairs, rinse it under luke warm (NOT HOT!!!!) water until it runs clear, and then lay them out to dry. Most of the designer products available for brush cleaning are great at removing product as well as maintaining the health of the actual hairs BUT most of these are expensive.

There are several great ways to clean your brushes at home that will give you the same results for much less. Baby shampoo is a great alternative because it is gentle and not abrasive. Dawn dish washing soap is also a great cleaner because it is a disinfectant and will not only remove all product but also harmful bacterias and germs. Fellow cosmetic junkie, Michelle Phan, suggests using a combination of Dawn soap and E.V. olive oil to clean the brushes. (Dawn cleans+disinfects hair while the e.v.o.o. conditions the hair leaving them soft). I have tried this method, and it is now my cleaner of choice! Also, make sure that when you are using your brushes, do not grab them by the hair... this will transfer any oils, dirt, bacteria, germs, etc. from your fingers->brushes->face!

**The most important thing to note when cleaning your brushes is that you allow them to dry upside down, with the hair of the brush pointing downward. It is so important to dry your brushes upside down because if the water runs back into the brush handle it will loosen the glue holding the bristles in place and also cause a wooden handle to swell over time. The best way to do this is by using "The Brush Guard." It's an expandable tube that slides down the handle of your makeup brush, over the bristles, holding them in their original form while they dry. Once you apply The Brush Guard to each of your brushes, you can put them in a glass, upside down, to dry and gravity will make the moisture run from the brushes into the glass, leaving you with clean, good-as-new tools!

Hello Hello Again

Hello! Summer is finally here, and it's so HOTTTT! With all of the heat and sunshine- PLEASE remember to keep your face clean, moisturized (use something lighter for the summer to avoid clogging your pores with heavy product and sweat) and PROTECTED!! Either choose a moisturizer with SPF protection or apply a separate facial sunscreen on top of your moisturizer. My mom did some research and has found an incredible sunscreen product called All Terrain AquaSport Sunscreen, which you can order online. It has SPF 30 and is very water+sweat resistant!

Just recently, I took a trip to the beach and unfortunately got a little toooo much sun. My face naturally has freckles, but I noticed that after a week in the Caribbean sun, they darkened. So, I have just started using Clinique's Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Correcter. THIS PRODUCT IS AWESOME! It's a serum, and I apply to my cheeks both morning and night after I wash my face. After only 3 days of use, I have noticed a remarkable difference in my skin. All of my freckles have started to lighten and my "sun spot" is starting to disappear. The product is supposed to be used over a 12-week regimen, so I'll be sure to keep you all posted on the progress!

I am certainly hooked on Clinique's new spot reducing product, but my best advice is to protect your skin from harmful rays and avoid burning, sunspots, and wrinkles all together!