What's in my beach bag [and NOTW]

Unfortunately the summer is coming to an end, and this is a very late post. However, I finally got myself to the beach and I figured I would give you a peek into what I bring for my basic, bare minimum essentials.

I have a 6 year old so most of the things I bring to the beach are pails and shovels, so here is what I stick in the bag to stay comfortable and enjoy the day along with my little one.

The wicker/bamboo bag is SEASONS old, but it works and it's beachy so I still use it.

Looking into getting a Victoria's Secret Pink one for next summer :]

So, in my bag is:

- my inhaler [if I do a little too much underwater swimming]

- a Dovebody mist [gotta be fresh]

- my phone

- a camera

- facial wipes [they are so refreshing]

- my 50 spf Chapstick [ever had burned lips? I have. OUCH.]

- a mini pouch for cash, keys, whatever.

- a hair tie

- a hair clip

- an spf lipstick [i have Stila's "Charlotte"]

- a towel

That's what I bring to the beach with me. I feel like it's everything I need and I'm not lugging around a 50lb bag! I feel like most people bring the same things.

Now, my nails of the week!

Revlon's "Dreamer"

It's a slightly deeper sky muted blue. I've had it on my nails for a week and I have no chips.

I'm having really good luck with Revlon's nail polishes, they are staying looking freshly painted for a week if not longer. I know it's the polish because it's the only thing that changes when I do my nails.

I'm impressed :]

I can't wait to start bringing out the fall polishes. What are your favorite fall nail colors?

I hope you all had a fab week, and an even better weekend!

Lots of Love,

XOXO Mary

Tag! Most Worn Things - Summer 2012

I love this tag! I see it all the time on youtube and the fabulous and amazing Samantha Schuerman tagged all of her subbies to do this tag. Since I don't have a youtube channel that I post videos on, I've decided to take the blog route - I'll be answering the questions and inserting pictures~

I tag all of you to do it as well, and if you do, leave it as a comment so I can check it out. I'm always down to read other blogs and get other ideas for makeup! Who isn't?!

Here is Sam's original video if you haven't seen it yet :)

Alright, on with the questions ~

1. Most Worn Nail Polish: Sinful Colors "Easy Going"
[i love this color. it goes awesome with a tan and it gives your nails a very 'clean' look]

2. Most Worn Hair Product: The whole Dove Nourishing Care Line
[my hair has never been softer or smoother. great for post-pool hair]
- read my review on the leave-in spray here -

3. Most Worn Bag: My DKNY metallic wristlet
[great for bringing just the essentials to the pool, beach, anywhere!]

4. Most worn Shoes: Old Navy flip-flops
[super cheap, basic flip-flops. every single color you can imagine, i'm partial to black]

5. Most Worn Accessories: Diamond studs and my sideways cross bracelet
[i like having everyday jewelry. jewelry i never take off. makes accessorizing easy]

6. Most Worn Clothing Item: Old Navy lounge shorts
[i have them in white, black and coral. easy to pair with a cute tank and you're done]







7. Most Worn Foundation: None!
[maybe a little concealer, but a huge noooooooo to foundation in the summer]



8. Most Worn Blush/Bronzer: Smashbox Softlights Bronzer
[i use bronzer as a blush in the summer. i'm not any sort of blush fanatic year round either]

9. Most Worn Lip Product: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain in 'Honey'
[i really don't like things on my lips either, so this is perfect and the color stays ALL day]

10. Most Worn Mascara: L'Oreal Carbon Black Curved Brush
[all time love. and it curls my lashes since i don't. my lashes grow better when i don't]

11. Most Worn Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked Palette
[depending on my mood, i wear a highlight, a whole look or nada]

Ta-da! There are my answers :]

I really hope you guys do it too,

this was kind of fun!

Lots of Love,

XOXO Mary

Makeup 101 - Foundation

Although not everyone is blessed with good genes, a flawless complexion is a desired effect for most women. Since we can't alter our body's genetics, we can still achieve this by doing it the way celebrities and makeup artists do - fake it! This simply means using makeup like foundation, concealer, and powder to hide or correct uneven skin tone, blemishes and unwanted spots.

We all have skin imperfections that we don’t like. Applying too much foundation or concealer can end up cursing you with “cake face”. It's a common problem when it comes to makeup. Maybe you don’t necessarily need a full face of foundation, maybe just a little concealer where you feel you need it and a very thin layer of powder on top if you have more oily skin and like to "set" your concealer.

Anyway, the main purpose of foundation is to even out your natural skin tone. Foundation is not meant to make your skin lighter or darker. That is what contouring and shading with bronzers and highlighters are for.The "perfect" foundation color will "disappear" into your skin.

It's important to know what you want from foundation. Do you want it sheer? Matte? Shimmery? Do you want to tone down specific areas of your skin or just even out your overall skin tone?

When you're shopping for foundation, make sure you're in natural day light or white light. Also, don't wear any makeup on your face! I suggest getting color matched in a store like Sephora or bringing a friend with you to the drugstore. If you go to a drugstore and can’t test the color, just hold up the bottle to your jaw line and have a second set of eyes there to help you find the closest match. When choosing a shade, try different ones and compare them. If you can try it on, always test foundation on your jaw line. If you see a spot or the color once it's dry, it's not right for you. It should be invisible, blending into your skin so your skin looks like skin, not makeup. Testing the foundation on your jaw line will help make sure you get the best shade that blends with your face and neck.  

I found information on the makeup geek site breaking down the types of foundation, I will copy and paste it to the end of this post! [much easier than me sitting here and typing it all out since I've been so long winded already...]

Once you have your perfect foundation, make sure you apply it to moisturized and primed [if you wish] skin. Apply your face products in THIN layers. Don’t put too much on at first or it may cake up on you. It's easier to add more than it is to take it away ;]

I hope this helped some of you, and to those that requested it, good luck! And remember, it's just makeup. Everything is trial and error. Unfortunately that's the way it goes. What works on some people may not work on you and vice versa. That's why you should always get a tester before you drop the dollars on a high end foundation. Or, make sure the store has a killer return policy. Nothing sucks more than spending $50 on a foundation and never using it.

Lots of Love,
Mary xoxo

TIPS FROM MAKEUP GEEK

Use only enough powder to set the foundation- using a powder puff will help.  Too much powder will get cakey looking.

Let your moisturizer set for at least 10 minutes before applying foundation- your skin needs time to soak in the moisture.
 
If you are rushed for time, skip the full foundation and just use concealer on problem areas.  No powder is needed unless you have oily skin.

The best method to make your foundation last all day is to use a primer – this stops oil from breaking through and taking off your foundation.

TYPES OF FOUNDATION [FROM MAKEUP GEEK]

Liquid Foundation: Offers light to medium coverage. Available in moisturizing formulas with a satin finish for dry skin or oil-free versions with a matte finish for oily skins.

Cream Foundation: Offers light to medium coverage, slightly heavier than a liquid. Great for dry skin. Avoid using if you have oily or combination skin.

Stick: Foundation sticks also double as concealers. The new gel or powder finish formulas are not as heavy or greasy as the older "pancake" formulas.

Dual-finish compact formulas (liquid to powder or cream to powder): Medium  coverage Great for combination skin, but should be avoided by those with excessively dry skin or who need heavier coverage. Can tend to dry out your face.

Tinted moisturizer: Can be used under foundation or alone for minimal to no coverage. Almost like a liquid bronzer.

Mineral Powder Foundation: Offers light to full coverage. Comes in every shade and tone imaginable. VERY easy and fast to apply. Longer lasting than most foundations. Controls oil and most are waterproof with a natural SPF!

This or That - A Tag!

Heyyy! I've been a little under the weather this week and I've still had to manage my house! But I wanted to at least get a post up. Here is a tag from youtube! I'm makeup-less today but still wanted to post :]
If you would like to answer them, post it on your blog and let me know! I'd love to see what other people say. This is just for fun!

Here are the questions:

Makeup:
blush or bronzer? bronzer, change up the color and it can double as a blush too ;]
lip gloss or lipstick? neither, but if my life depended on it, lipstick.
eye liner or mascara? mascara!
foundation or concealer? concealer. i don't use foundation.
neutral or color eye shadow? both! it really depends on my mood. but for everyday i'd say more neutral.
pressed or loose eye shadows? pressed. i can't be bothered with the messiness of a loose one.
brushes or sponges? brushes :]

Nails:
OPI or china glaze? OPI
Long or short? long-ish. more medium "active" length
Acrylic or natural? neither, GEL!
Brights or dark? neither, i always have a french manicure.
Flower or no flower? no flower. i don't like any embellishments other than some glitter now and then.

Body:
perfume or body splash? if i remember, perfume. but i prefer body sprays.
lotion or body butter? i don't moisturize! i hate the feeling of lotion.
body wash or soap? body wash, exfoliating to be exact.
lush or other bath company? neither. never been to a lush. don't care too much about that stuff.

Fashion:
jeans or sweat pants? sweat pants!
long sleeve of short? uh, depends on the weather.
dresses or skirts? dresses
stripes or plaid? ugh, stripes i guess.
flip flops or sandals? flip flops!
scarves or hats? hats :]
studs or dangly earrings? studs
necklaces or bracelets? bracelets
heels or flats? i would love to wear heels, bad ankle though, so flats.
cowboy boots or riding boots? riding boots
jacket or hoodie? hoodie all the way!
forever 21 or charlotte russe? neither. old navy :]
abercombie or Hollister? neither again.
saks 5th or nordstrom? nordstrom

Hair:
curly or straight? straight
bun or ponytail? ponytail
bobby pins or butterfly clips? bobby pins
hair spray or gel? spray gel :]
long or short? long!
light or dark? dark, i rarely stray too far from my natural color [1B]
side sweep bangs or full bangs? side swept, i like the option of getting hair out of my face.
up or down? up! i'm very low maintenance when it comes to my hair.

Random:
Rain or shine? shine, of course!
Summer or winter? Fall, but i'll say summer
Fall or spring? woo, fall!
Chocolate or vanilla? ew, neither.
East coast or west coast? east coast!!

Well that took forever, now I tag EVERYONE!

Lots of Love,
Mary XOXO

Curly Girl Tag :]

I found this tag while I was searching for fun tags to do on a blog. Youtubers always have tag videos, but there aren't many for us bloggers. But I found one, and it's right up my alley :]

Curly Girl Tag questions:

1. What inspired you to go natural or wear your hair curly?
- well, it's so much easier to work with your curls rather than against them. plus, i'm not a huge fan of having to do my hair [all the products, the flat irons, the blow dryer, etc.]


2. Who are your favorite curly hair idols?
- i don't really have any curly hair idols. to be honest, i haven't really noticed. i'll be keeping an eye out now though :]


3. Which You Tube curly would you trade curls with for a day?
- i really love Jackie from BeautyChaoticLive's hair, it's just like mine! i also love Grace from UglyFaceOfBeauty's hair. it's so big and wild and crazy!


4. If you could have only one product for a year, which product would you chose?
- if you read my latest blog post, it is now the Dove Oil Hair Therapy Detangler. just to get rid of the frizz. but a styling product? garnier fructis' curl spray gel.


5. If you could change one thing about your curls what would it be?
- my curl pattern. it's wavy at the roots, ringlet like in the middle, and then wavy again. it's a strange pattern, i'd like a uniform one.


6. What's the craziest thing you've tried on your "natural hair journey"?
- an oil and egg mask. SO GROSS!


7. What's your secret ingredient that your curls LOVE the most?
- again, the Dove leave-in detangler. nothing is worse than tangled curls!


8. If you could merge two brands of products to make your perfect product, which two would it be?
- ummm... i would merge my garnier spray get and a volumizing mousse :]


9. What is your go-to hair style when you're in a rush?
- i throw it all up on the top of my head and go!


10. If your curly hair had a name, what would it be and why?
- two face. it will either work with me, or it won't. it depends on what mood my hair is in :D


So yeah, there are my answers. I TAG EVERYONE WITH CURLY HAIR! This is a cute, fun little tag for a blog. Does anyone have any tags? If so, tag me!

Follow me if you wish, I'll follow back. The more the merrier :]

Lots of Love

Mary XOXO