Five Ways

Sunday, November 25th, 2012

5 Holiday Red Lipglosses to Try

I can’t decide if I love red gloss or lipstick more. I just love the juicy glossiness of a gloss, which is why I don’t often wear a matte lip by choice. Do you have a preference?

MAC Driven by Love — rich ruby red
Bobbi Brown Black Ruby — darker red with gold shimmer
Illamasqua Succubus — juicy orange-red
Hourglass Siren — metallic red
MAC Russian Red — classic red

What’s your favorite red lipgloss to wear during the holidays?

Sunday, November 25th, 2012

5 Great Layering Shades to Create Festive Lip Looks

Whether you love a red, berry, burgundy, copper, or orange lip for the holidays, these are fantastic products to layer with your favorite lipstick to add the sparkle and shine of the holiday season.

Bobbi Brown Canary — clear gloss packed with orange-gold shimmer and sparkle
OCC Triptych — bright gold; alone or patted on top, it is absolutely festive
Illamasqua Opulent — mix of champagne, pink, and gold shimmer
NARS Albatross — white gold shimmer
Hourglass Imagine — glossy, champagne shimmer

What’s your favorite holiday lip combo?

Saturday, November 24th, 2012

Small Business Saturday

I love to support local and small businesses, because I just love when people LOVE what they do. I want to support their dreams and show my appreciation for the time and effort they put into their creations. I’m a huge Etsy shopper as a result! I thought in the spirit of shop Small Business Saturday, I’d share some of my favorite small businesses both beauty and non-beauty alike! And for honorable mention, I love Sugarpill and OCC (they both seem too popular to fit this list now!).

Noaki — for all of your brooch bouquet and jeweled clutch needs; she did all of my wedding arrangements
Bella Anela Jewelry — all the way from Hawaii, this is one of my favorite jewelry shops! Fast shipping, excellent customer service, AND free shipping (within the U.S.)
Lacquistry — lots of glittery nail polishes from a shop with impeccable customer service
CanineDesign — my first stop whenever I’m looking for a new collar for Mellan; incredibly affordable and lots of designs with ridiculously fast shipping
Bigpaw Collars — I like to call this the “sophisticated” shop for dog collars and leashes; this is where I picked up Mellan’s black bow-tie collar (and I have a few others from this shop, too)
Sihaya Designs — handmade artisan jewelry with lots of vibrant hues and wire work
The Air Castle — custom cake toppers and ornaments; this is where I had my cake topper done for my wedding, but I also had an ornament made recently with Mellan’s name on it!
Vienna Sparkle Wreaths — gorgeous, well-done wreaths that are just the right balance of elegant, sparkly, and unique; my fall and Christmas wreaths are from here!
Cult Nails — indie nail polish company that is exceptionally well-done and formulated
A Touch of Romance — beautiful vintage jewelry done so well
Le Bijou Precieux — beautiful chandelier and drop earrings with beads and precious jewels
Haus of Gloi — small vegan business that creates handmade bath, beauty, and perfume products with seasonal offerings — the Lavender Sugar Bubbling Scrub is my favorite

What are your favorite small businesses?

(Please share your favorites that are not your own!)

Saturday, November 24th, 2012

5 Stunning Dark Red Lipsticks for the Holidays

Not so into bright reds? Here are some darker red options!

Giorgio Armani #408 — subdued dark red with berry-red shimmer
Guerlain Orgueil — rich berry-red with ruby shimmer
NARS Mascate — deepened red with matte finish
MAC Dark Side — red with brown and berry
MAC Good to Be Bad — glossy-finished deep red

What’s your favorite dark red lipstick to wear during the holidays?

Saturday, November 24th, 2012

5 Decadent Bright Red Lipsticks for the Holidays

If there was ever a time to break out the red lipstick, it’s during the winter holidays. I love red lipstick year-round, and I most definitely have a weakness for a really fantastic red so narrowing them down to five was hard… which is why this list is just bright reds.

OCC Super NSFW — bright metallic red
Dior Diorling — juicy medium-dark red
NARS Dragon Girl — bold, blue-based red
Giorgio Armani #404 — bright ruby red
Guerlain Garconne — classic true red with a glossy sheen

What’s your favorite bright holiday red lipstick?

Sunday, October 28th, 2012

From Edgy to Creepy to Transformative, Get Ready for Halloween!

In case you’re still not sure what you’re doing for Halloween, here are a few videos to give you some inspiration! Or, if you’re like me, just some masterful videos to enjoy. I love seeing the techniques people employ in such time-intensive looks like these. This post is in the spirit of Sunday’s Link Love, so I invite you to share the love and share a link to your favorite Halloween tutorials (that are not your own).

P.S. — Stay safe if you’re being affected by the storm! <3