holiday 2014: last minute gift ideas

there are so many options for gifts and it can become quite overwhelming. with time for holiday gift buying becoming less and less, getting down to basics are great ways to reduce the stress, but still know you're giving a fabulous gift. these simple products can be spruced up creatively, and if your recipient loves to be pampered, they'll be thrilled when they're unwrapped!

use pretty bows and notecards to gift highly effective {not to mention pampering} Lumene skincare products {i recommend the Bright Now line and Time Freeze looks great too}!

use candy canes to match her mani and the Salon Clip Bow from Scunci!

you can always let the glosses do the talking! the Smashbox amazing Be Legendary Lip Glosses in holiday colors {with or without sparkle} should do the trick.

if she's not a gloss gal, these Sun Bum lip balms are a beautiful option!

for the one on your list who loves to smell good...Soap & Paper Factory Solid Perfume in Bella would be a great choice. it makes the perfect gift since it travels well and can be tossed into any handbag. this hand-poured scent is created with jojoba oil and pure beeswax with notes of bergamot, grapefruit and black pepper, it's described as uplifting and citrusy, but you can find it in other formulations on their website. {SoapandPaperFactory.com}

last but not least…gift a not-so-basic Conair hair brush, but glam it up to make her daily mane-keeping ritual a bit more special.



you can find all of these products online and in stores now. happy shopping!

info and images provided by representatives of the brands featured.

nyfw spring '15 {hair}: scünci x Tracy Reese

i was beyond in love with the ballerina-inspired collection and complimenting hair styles seen at Tracy Reese's spring 2015 runway show ~ did you see it? the best part, in my opinion, were that the hairstyles are easily created using affordable products from scünci hair accessories!

 the scünci x Tracy Reese ready-to-wear collection will be available in spring 2015 {the collaboration marks the first-ever designer partnership for the leading hair accessory brand}, but you can get the look at home right now with the chic headbands from the current collection!

as you can see, hair accessories were integral to the Tracy Reese collection for spring 2015, so it seems fitting that she'd turn to scünci to create exclusive items for the runway. the designer also tapped Bok-Hee, master stylist, to lend her creative perspective in the development process. together, the three joined forces to come up with the pieces based on the hair look, including fabrics, designs and colors of the ballet-inspired collection.

 both easily beautiful and on trend, thin and thick soft headbands were used in various textures. here's how to get the look yourself...

1. add tons of texture to the hair using a texture spray, a round brush and a teasing brush such as Conair's Infiniti Pro Thermal Round Brush and Teasing Comb.

2. pull back into loose ponytail in the middle of the back of the head and secure with a scünci No Slip Grip or Evolution Hair Tie.

3. next, layer headbands in different textures and colors to add some pop and dimension to your style with a scünci No Slip Grip or Interlock Fabric Headwraps.

4. finally, take the ponytail and loop the end in the back of the bottom of the headband to create the perfect "unpolished" look.

pull up the headbands and voila ~you have textured ballerina hair, imperfectly perfect for every day wear! 

j'adore...

"Tracy Reese was inspired by the modern dance techniques of Martha Graham for her spring 2015 collection, and when you look at her pictures, you see that she is very structured and angular," explains makeup artist Daniel Martin.

the focal point when it came to makeup for the show was exaggerated, 60s-inspired graphic eyeliner, and rather than going for a traditional cat eye, Martin used NYX The Curve liner to give models a more square-shaped line above the lashes, and drew a banana-shaped line over the lids to keep the graphic element. Martin also gave the models a two-toned lip to create depth, and accentuated their natural lip color using various shades of the brand’s Simply Pink Lip Cream collection.

visit scunci.com to see more behind the scenes pics and {as always} more info and where to buy.

images style.com, zimbio.com + featured brand's PR

summer beauty: 5 beach bag must-haves

are you enjoying your summer, beauties? i hope so! with the season in full swing, i feel it's my beauty duty to keep you in the loop of fabulous products that will keep these warm days fabulous and beyond beautiful. on that note, here's another set of goodies sure to help you look and feel your best, before and after your fun in the sun...

 Smashbox Full Exposure Waterproof Mascara ~
i love this mascara! it not only leaves lashes full and soft, but it's waterproof, so there's no worry about looking like a raccoon on the beach or poolside.

 Sun Bum Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion {shortie} ~
available in spf 15, 30, 50 and 70, this lotion contains breathable, oil-free ingredients {like vitamin E and antioxidants}. the smaller 3 ounce size ensures an extra dose of sun safety without compromising space {also available in 8 oz}.

 Lumene Sensitive Touch Gentle Cleansing Wipes ~
remove sweat, sand and other impurities with these alcohol-free cleansing wipes. non-waterproof makeup quickly dissolves from the skin, so you can quickly reveal that gorgeous glow!

 Conair Infinity Pro Argan Oil Treatment Strip Finishing Brush ~
sand and salty beach water don't have to ruin your locks! with the new Infiniti Pro Argan Oil Finishing Brush, you can give your hair a treat every time you brush., thanks in part to its {replaceable} argan oil conditioning strip.

 Scunci Everyday & Active 3X Stronger Braided Hair Ties ~
want to give your ponytail a bit more pizazz? these bold and colorful hair helpers fit any mood and style, maintain a tight grip on your hair without damage or snagging, oh, and of course, they look super cute around your wrist!


what products will you be including in your bag of summer must-haves? share in the comments!

drugstore beauty: 10 Items Under $10

the spring season is all about welcoming in sunshine and starting fresh, right? so why not use this time of year to reinvent your usual beauty routine by adding in a new product or two? i always find that even the smallest product additions can make everything else seem new again (am i the only one?)

below you'll find a list of goodies, all under $10, sure to bring a bit of newness to your spring (almost summer!) season...



1) Essence of Beauty Soy Lotion Candle-- these unique candles burn to create a warm, smoothing skincare lotion, leaving your room and skin feeling flowery fresh.



2) Scunci Flower Barrette-- add a little playfulness to any hair style with this simple and affordable clip.




3) CoverGirl Outlast Double Lipshine-- these beautifully rich-- yet subtle-- colored glosses give your pout a little pop.



4) Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen-- a quick polish change always gives your look a total revamp without breaking the bank.




5) Softsoap Ensembles Hand Soap in Fresh Essence-- this "little something extra" can add a spring essence to any bathroom or kitchen; it also leaves your hands feeling nourished with natural flower and plant extracts.



6) Vickery & Clarke Natural Apothecary Jojoba and Vitamin E Facial Scrub-- give your skin a morning lift with this 94% natural line that only uses nature's best to improve your skin and lift your mood.



7) Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Shampoo and Conditioner-- experience pure bliss in the shower by lathering up with the pure benefits of cassia, a blend of natural ingredients developed to give you high impact results.



8) Boots No7 Stay Perfect Shadow Palette in Petal Shimmers-- this eye trio offers you the perfect blend of complimentary colors that will guarantee a chic look in a blink of the eye.



9) Veet Spray-On Hair Removal Cream-- take a break from shaving and take advantage of the sunny days; show-off silky smooth legs with this lily infused cream.



10) Essence of Beauty Body Cream in Passion Flower-- add a thick layer of this body cream to smooth away your last bit of winter-damaged skin; made with aloe vera and shea butter to reveal soft and smooth skin all over.


xo

my favorite drugstore beauty buys: Cetaphil, JK Jemma Kidd and Scunci

hello all! another week is behind us and not only is it friday, but january is almost over! i'm shaking my head right now at the fact that in a little over a month, my baby boy will be six years old, which then makes me think of my daughter turning nine in may (sigh), which i know will be here in no time...bleh...i'm not looking forward to having teenagers, LOL!

whoa...i need to stop.

ok, let's just move on, shall we?


Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser is the quintessential must-have cleanser. no matter your skintype, Cetaphil cleanser treats skin fabulously. my aunt swears by this stuff, and her skin is amazing. i love that it doesn't overdry, and removes all of my makeup. there are different formulas, but this one, for some reason, removes makeup the best for me.




JK Jemma Kidd Air Kiss Shine Lip Gloss is a new gloss of mine that i am absolutely loving. it is thick without being sticky, last a good while for a gloss, and comes in a variety of shimmery colors. i love it in Rendezvous, a pretty pink, and i'd like to try Poser (bright fuchsia) and Hot Spot (another pink, but different) next. these are a bit higher priced, but still a lot cheaper than Jemma's original lippies.




Scunci Mini Jaw Clips have been part of my hair accessory arsenal long before Whitney and Olivia caused them to suddenly go missing from shelves (this last time i went out to buy some, they were sold out in three drugstores, lol!). in any case, these have now become an even bigger part of my life since growing my hair out. now that it is long enough in the front to be clipped back, blend into the rest of my hair and look pretty, my clips look like more than just a way to disguise hair that is too short in the front. :)

have a great weekend!

xo