Memorial Day Beauty Tricks

I can't believe that it is already MEMORIAL DAY! So much for keeping "this thing" up, as it is only my second post of the year. I have written out a list of ideas of the things I am loving right now, and I have lots of activities on the agenda for the summer, so I think I have a good shot at this go round!

Since Memorial Day Weekend is already upon us, and most are in the search for sun I have some tips and tricks sun seekers might find helpful with Self tanning, preventing hair color fade, and keeping SPF on all day.

I am all about sunless tanning, I however am not all about orange and streaks. Mystic tans are OUT unless your local tanning salon can help you put barrier cream on properly and not put in all the bronzers. When I need a quick dose of color, Rock Star Tan Bar in Kirkland has the VERSA spa. It's the best booth tan I have seen so far. I like the Dark Bronze cocktail. You can get a clear one, but I think the bronze gives you just a little more.

For my maintenance, I love the Loreal Sublime Bronze in Medium/Dark. You can get it at Target, Walgreens, or any other drug store that might be near you. When I get out of the shower, I spray (In sections) when I jump out of the shower. I usually do it twice and then follow with a gradual tanning lotion to make sure things are even. I like Jergens for in inexpensive brand but you can really smell the DHA (the chemical that changes the color in your melanin). For a product the delivers results, is not incredibily pricy, offers a little shimmer and a nice beachy smell, I love Two Faced Tanning Bed in a Tube.

Of course you need to have sunscreen on these weekend get aways. We all know we should wear it daily, but it is such a pain to not only put on body/face moisturizer we have to put on SPF on top of all of it!?!?! Sheesh, I know it hurts to be beautiful, but thats just a painful step to add into our daily regimen. One brand that I LOVE is ALBA. It is a natural brand full of great ingredients like aloe vera, and avacado oil, and they have a body lotion with SPF 15 in it. Super affordable too! Most drug stores carry it, you can also find it here. If you are going to be out in the sun for real, do make sure you put on http://www.drugstore.com/neutrogena-wet-skin-sunblock-spray-spf-30/qxp328491?fromsrch=nutrogena+SPF, and if you are a makeup wearer here is a great option for reapplication throughout the day without having to take off your face every time!

The last thing is your hair! If you color your hair you will want to protect it with wearing a hat. TJ Maxx has some cute large brimmed hats, and American Eagle has some cute straw fedoras that are all the rage it seems. You can't usually cover it all tho, and for the pieces that sneak out I love products like HALO and Redken that have UV protection. Below is a lotion that you put in damp hair and style normally. There are also shampoos, conditioner, and shine sprays!

Happy Sun Finding Washington!!!

2011!

So it has been 3 years since I have started this blog' and I have done a dismal job of keeping it up. This year, I wouldn't say its a resolution but my goal is to keep this thing up. To show people whats new in the world of fashion, makeup and fun.

My newest fabulous item that I have found this year is actually at Walgreens. When I worked at Sephora, there was a skin care brand called BORBA. It is a brand that was started by an esthetician, and focuses on skincare from the inside out. They still have it at High end stores such as Saks and Fred Segal, but they now also have it available at Walgreens at a better price. Some of it is just smaller packaging but makes it affordable to try something new! Borba has drinks, topical items and even supplements all for every skin type. It is used by celebs like Annalynne Mccord and featured in magazines like InStyle monthly. Go to http://www.borba.com/ to do some research or head to your local Walgreens or ULTA and try it out!

Summer Favorites and Must Haves

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful summer! I had a few spare minutes and wanted to share what I am loving this summer for your makeup and beauty needs!

E.L.F Nail Polish Remover Pads are THE best thing to keep in your purse! When I first got them I thought they were dried up. Well thats what you get for only spending a dollar, right? Wrong! Its almost like a dry oil that helps your cuticles and takes off your nail polish super fast. So when you put on your sandals and realize that your pedi is chipped, whip these out and your toes will look amazing in those wedges! you can get them at Eyeslipsface.com

When I worked at Sephora, dry shampoo was making a comback. I however thought it was brand new. I used all the spendy Oscar Blandi, Rene Furterer, Ojon, and they all worked. But... some smelled funny, left really obvious white streaks or ran out after maybe 20 uses. My mom told me about Pssst, which apparently wasn't so new and was from the 70's. It is under $6, smells sort of like Bath and Body works Coconut Lime Verbeena, and best of all... lasts for a few months rather than a few trys. Also has an Allure sticker!! Check it out at your local drug store!

Vincent Longo Hydro Stick

During the summer our makeup can sweat off. I love this Hydro stick as a cream blush set with a little bit of powder. Stays all day!! Ulta.com and locations carry this product.

Alterna Leave in Conditioner

I have been growing my hair out and trying not to use alot of heating products. In the meantime I needed something to help my curly hair get some more moisture when it drys. This product has hemp in it which is known for its moisture locking properties, also avocado, shea butter and other natural products. This and a little salt water in a spray bottle gives you the perfect beach waves look right out of your shower!

Burts Bees Radiance Lotion

I haven't been able to find a good NON self tanner lotion to just give you a little glimmer over the past few summers. We all love Burts Bees and this lotion is great. Same natural ingredients we expect, some Mica that gives a radiance but not sparkle. It smells like the blue RALPH fragrance. Brings me right back to highschool! Under $9 and your leggs will look great and toned in shorts or sundress!

Things That Inspire Me

There is far too much besides what I have here that inspires me, this is just what I have time for today. Enjoy and feel free to comment:)

Sunshine- I LOVE THE SUN!! Hawaii is my favorite place to be, and someday when I am rich and famous hopefully I will be able to have a home there. It illuminates everything, makes us happy, makes the flowers stand up straight and sparkle with dew. I own a spray tan business so I can get that healthy looking glow we all so feel makes our fat go away just a little bit more, and pretend I sat in the warm sun and relaxed while I got it!

Family-

All members of my family are very creative. My dad with his dirtbikes, and he can cut in a line with out using anything to mask it off. My Mom has always helped me to be creative like getting white Keds when I was a kid to decorate with paint pens, and covering me in corn startch and irredecent purple to look like Ursala. ( Oh yeah, I was 18 and my friend Adrienne was my eel!!) Today (see JW Photography website) she is amazing with makeup and has the best ideas for styling.

Marc Jacobs Adds-

These adds always seem to show me that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. These girls arn't ever made to look glam or unreachable Hedi Kloom status gorgeous. Fabulous, funky girls in Fabulous Funky Fashion! The Ususal Bright red lips or bronze eyes are great also..















Mascara-

Yes, I am a dork to the tenth power. However, you can never underestimate the power of a few coats of mascara. Your eyeshaddow can look amazing and be done by emmy winning makeup artists, but if there is nothing to frame it (even well kempt eyebrows) then it wont truly showcase it. My favorite is Fresh Super Nova (http://www.sephora.com/). It is about $25 and has lash conditioners so that your lashes don't fall out as often when you wash off your eye makeup. Less expensive but just as fab is Loreal Voluminous in Carbon Black. You can find this at any drug store and it is like $8. Great volume and great color.

NARS Blush-

I love blush. I think it makes us look awake, young and fresh. Or, it can help our red lipstick not look like we are trying on our mothers. Nars has an amazing variety of colors for every skin type. Bright oranges and reds for those who are brave or with deeper skin tones, peachy pinks (Orgasm, the most popular) light pinks (Deep Throat, my personal fav) and barely there golds. Try it for yourself and see how it wakes up your makeup routine!

Kandee Johnson-

If you follow the beauty/You Tube world, Kandee is making herself known with amazing talent, and a shining personality. She is happy, and upbeat even if she doesn't feel like it. As a buisiness woman she recognizes the importance of attitude and how far it can get you in this world, and roller coaster of an economy. It reminds us that talent isn't everything, and if we have an upbeat attitude, are polite to whom we are working with, and do what we can to make whatever we do an amazing experience, we will get alot farther than being grouchy! Not to mention her videos are interesting and I love the use of color and Urban Decay... another one of my inspirations:)

This is all for today, look back later for part deaux. Look around and see what inspires you to be who you are, and be fabulous!!

UV Free Air Brush Tanning!

Hi There~ I am SO excited to introduce Airbrush Tanning! It is so much fun, and hello, who doesn't want a tan in 10 minutes! We all associate health with tan. The only way to safely do this is with a UV free spray tan!

We are completely mobile. No need to leave the house, or schedule your day around a spray tan. We come to you!

Our product is completely natural and not tested on animals. It gives a rich color with a DHA tan. We have a clear solution as well as one with a bronzer in it so that we can customize it to your preference. A little bit of bronzer is used so that you can leave with a sun kissed glo as well as the applicator can better give you an even tan.

We use an HVLP machine, which is high pressure low velocity. It is similar to a vacuum but backwards. It is quick and has heated air to help you dry quickly.

Q: I hate the smell I get from other UV free tans, does this have a smell?

A: It smells like almonds and raspberries! Kind of like a light lotion. At the end of 6-8 hours there is a slight smell to it, but it doesn't last after your shower. From someone that has been spray tanning for 5 years it is fabulous! You definitely can't smell it just by walking by.

On the 4th of April we are hosting a tanning soiree. It is $25 a person, and if you bring a friend yours is $5 off. Come check us out and take this opportunity for a fabulous deal on customized UV free tan. you can e-mail Sydney at sydney.christensen@gmail.com to make an appointment.

Here is our basic pricing. Please e-mail if you have further questions. I will also have airbrush makeup soon! Stay Tuned!

1 Personalized Tan- $45

Package of 3- $120

Tanning Soiree (6 or more people and host is free, 4 people party min)- $25 pp

Mandy Maternity Shoot

This is my BFF Mandy. She has a spunky personality that shines through her natural makeup.

We started with a spray tan (yes I am plugging) from myself to enhance her already glowing self. We did a natural eye with a pop of a grey purple and bronze to bring out her eyes.

Since she is spunky and all, we decided to do some lashes which just finished off the look!! Little Buxom Lips in Candy (http://www.sephora.com/) and she was ready to go.

I love doing shoots like this, that we can use makeup and accessories to bring out peoples already sparkling personalities on the camera. My cousin Jodi is the BEST photographer and I am not even bias:) Check her out, (www.jwphotographystudio.com)

Hi There! Hope everyone had a fabulous summer and enjoyed their bright colors, gladiator sandals and a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone (we gotta treat ourselves once in a while!).

As much as I hate the cold of winter, I love being able to layer. Layer my coats, with scarves, belts and gloves, boyfriend sweaters with v-neck tee's and flat over the knee boots, and of course my makeup. Little bit of bronzer with a pink blush. A grey and purple smokey eye with green mascara, a light plum lip stain with a bit of gloss.

At Sephora, they have a new palatte for the winter season. A great gift, but also a great gift to yourself. With an amazing 16 shimmering eyeshaddows, and get this! An additional 16 MATTE shaddows! Its so hard to find matte shaddows, but in a pallate also with all of falls rich jewel tone colors. There is also mineral bronzer, luminizing powder and 4 powder blushes. Definitly a great buy and fabulous green quality for the hippie chic in all of us. Look above for the picture. Go to http://www.sephora.com/ to purchase, you get 3 free samples!

Also There is a photo to the left of Chineese Laundries " Trust Me' flat over the knee boot that is at Nordies right now. Leather upper with snaps so you can do over the knee or fold down for those days you just feel a little piraty.

Look forward to the grey and purple smokey eye as mentioned above, as well as skin care reminders for the slopes. Stevens Pass opens November 19th!!! WOOO HOOO