DIY Vanity



 

For as long as I can remember I have wanted a vanity where I can sit and put my makeup on. I had been researching and found a ton of lighted vanity mirrors and they were all well over $200, and then I'd still have to buy the actual vanity part. And, with a new baby I just didn't see myself spending that kind of money on myself right now. So, I decided to find a cheaper way and I have been begging my husband to make me a makeup vanity since we moved into our new house in October. A few weekends ago we finally had to time to go out and get everything we needed to get started.

We started out by going to Ikea to get the desk that would be the base of the vanity. I chose to get the Mickie Desk in white because it was big enough to hold all my makeup neatly organized and had two really good sized drawers for even more storage. I chose the white because my office is all gray and white with a few pops of pink so the white desk matches perfectly.

 

 

We then headed to Lowe's to look for lighting that we'd use around the mirror (good lighting is a must have for a makeup vanity!) I chose to get lights that would have 4 bulbs on each side of the mirror - I didn't think 3 was enough and more than 4 was too many. We picked out the Project Source 4-Light Brushed Nickel Bathroom Vanity Light and purchased 2 of them. The price on these lights was amazing - under $15 for each!

 

 

 

The mirror was left over from a bathroom we remodeled when we bought the house. It's just a basic flat mirror with four clips that affix it to the wall. If you wanted to spice it up a little you could go to Home Goods and get a really cute mirror.

Next on the list were the light bulbs. Which we also got at Lowe's. I did some research to find the best lighting for makeup and decided to go with the GE Reveal LED light bulb - these are supposed to cancel out the warm light to give you the most neutral lighting - which is essential for makeup application! (I couldn't find the bulbs on Lowe's website, but I did buy them in store at Lowe's. I linked to the exact same bulbs on Target's website.)

 

All of the storage containers I have purchased from either TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods, or the Christmas Tree Shop over the years.

 

 

 

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE LOVE LOVE my vanity! It makes putting my makeup on such a breeze. Everything is in one spot and organized. I no longer have to carry my makeup from my dresser in my room (because the lighting is horrible in there!) to the bathroom to apply it. And the lighting!? OMG I have never before put my makeup on in such good lighting. My husband did an amazing job on this vanity for me and I just love it so much!

 

 

Talk soon :)

 

xoxo Coley

 





What Beauty Products Are In My Hospital Bag?

Ok, so I had EVERY intention of finishing this blog post BEFORE I had the baby, but he decided to arrive almost a week early! And, since then I've had my hands pretty full! Anyways, I figure better late than never, right!? I at least wanted to share the products I did pack in my hospital bag; and now I can tell you how it all ended up working out.

Let me start off by saying ... I know some of you may think I'm crazy for bringing makeup to the hospital. But, that's just me. And for me, this isn't a lot of makeup - literally just the bare minimum and I can apply it in under 5 minutes. I do realize for some people this may be way too much, but maybe you can just pick the bare essentials that work for you and pack that in your bag.

Here's a list of what I packed with links of where you can find all the products:

1) Foundation: Smashbox Powder Foundation
2) Bronzer: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
3) Brow Filler: Anastasia Brow Powder
4) Mascara: Rimmel Lash Accelerator
5) Makeup Remover: Neutrogena Wipes
6) Moisturizer: Sephora Sample Packets
7) Eye Cream: Neutrogena Eye Gel

I actually used everything I packed. It was so quick and easy for me to apply this makeup in the hospital and made me feel human! It was great for when people came to visit, pictures with my newborn, and for getting ready to go home. The powder foundation evened out my skin tone, got rid of any redness and blotchiness. The bronzer added a little bit of warmth to my tired face. The brow filler helped my brows to look normal (they are very thin and sparse) and shaped my face. The mascara helped my tired eyes look more awake and open. The moisturizer and eye cream helped moisturize my dry skin and helped with the puffiness under my eyes from lack of sleep. And, the makeup remover wipes were, of course, a quick and easy way to remove my makeup while at the hospital.

Some people may be wondering how I packed the makeup in my bag, because my bag was packed about a month early (crazy I know - but I liked to be prepared!). I have multiples of each category so I picked the ones I wanted for the hospital, packed them in a cosmetic case, put them in my hospital bag, and then just didn't use them the month before - I used other products in my makeup collection.

Overall, I was super happy with what I packed - not too much, not too little, just the right amount! I didn't feel like I didn't use any of the products or that I wished I brought more products.


Talk soon :)

xoxo Coley

Dressing the Bump

Hey guys ... happy Saturday! This isn't my typical post, but after I discovered Pink Blush Maternity, I just had to post about it. Dressing the baby bump can be hard because 1) it can get very expensive and 2) as you get further into pregnancy your number one concern is comfort. Pink Blush has very cute maternity clothes and lots of trendy maternity clothes which is important when trying to keep up with your own personal style during your 40 weeks of pregnancy. And, the biggest plus? Their clothes make styling comfy and cozy, but still cute outfits a breeze! I recently got three tops from here and they're all SO cute, SO affordable, and super comfortable! I'll probably order some more maternity sweaters and a few maternity dresses very soon. I only wish I would have discovered this online maternity boutique earlier in my pregnancy because I would have ordered so much!


Here is the first look. You can find this sweater here.

 

 

Here is the second look, and you can find this flowy top here.

 

 

The third and final look is this comfy, cozy sweater. Check it out here!

 

 

 

I only have about 4 weeks of pregnancy left, but the good news is Pink Blush also has non-maternity clothes! I will absolutely be shopping there when I'm fitting back in my regular size clothes. So whether you're pregnant or not ... be sure to check out Pink Blush! I promise you won't be disappointed.


Happy Shopping!

Talk Soon :)

xoxo Coley

To Wash or Not To Wash? … That is the Question!

I’m sure you have all heard that washing your hair every day is not the way to go. And, many of you probably don’t, but I bet there are some of you (just like the old me) who wash every day.  I was always that girl. I’d say ohhh my hair is so oily I have to wash it every day or it looks greasy and flat and I can’t style it. I just have to wash, blow-dry, and straighten or curl every day to make it look good.

About 2.5 years ago I started working from home more and going into work less, I thought OK I’ll at least try out the not washing my hair every day since I won’t really care what it looks like if I’m just home. I started only washing my hair about 4(ish) times a week. I did notice my hair becoming healthier and my hair color would last longer. Fast forward another year and I began working from home every single day. At that point, I really took the opportunity to explore the not washing thing. I started only washing my hair 2-3 times a week (to those of you that wash everyday … I know this sounds so crazy).  And this is when I noticed the biggest difference. My hair was growing faster, was more shiny and lustrous, wasn’t so dry, and just looked SO much healthier.

Because I took these steps gradually, I can seriously attest to the fact that not washing your hair very often makes a world of a difference. Washing your hair so often can strip it of the natural oils and force your body to over compensate by producing more oil, and then your hair just looks oilier. I’ve definitely seen a decrease in how oily my hair gets by not washing it so much.

Now that I solved the problem of getting healthier looking hair, I was still having a hard time styling it if I went out – when I wore it straight or curly the top just seemed so flat and had no life so for a while I stuck to just putting it up into a messy bun when it had been a few days since my last wash. However, I then discovered my holy grail hair products that totally transformed my look. I use the TIGI Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo (http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod4750053) and the Kenra Platinum Dry Thickening Spray (http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod11151041&skuId=2279464&_requestid=172093).  I use the dry shampoo on my roots and it absorbs the oil while giving me some volume and I use the dry thickening spray throughout my hair to give it some added volume and thickness. These two products used together can absolutely make 3 day old hair look fresh and beautifully styled whether it’s down, straight, curly, or pulled up.

 

How often do you wash your hair?! What products to you use to style 2 or 3 day old hair?

 

Talk soon :)

 xoxo Coley

Concealer Craze

Hey guys … Hope everyone’s week is going fabulously! I wanted to write a post about the concealers in my makeup stash right now because each time I tried a new one I thought it was my favorite, but then I’d try something else and it would be even better. I’ve listed my thoughts about the concealers in the order I purchased them so you can see how my thoughts changed each time I tried a new one.

 

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

http://www.sephora.com/radiant-creamy-concealer-P377873?keyword=NARS%20Radiant%20Creamy%20Concealer%20P377873&skuId=1478387&_requestid=58194

I’ve had this concealer in three different shades: honey (pinkish tone covers the dark under eye circles), custard (used to highlight the under eye area when I am lightly tanned to my normal skin tone), and ginger (matched my skin tone when I was very tanned).

So when I first got this concealer I thought it was amazing – it had great coverage and what I thought, at the time, was a great finish. I loved the wand applicator and would blend it out using a concealer brush or my beauty blender. I used this for a couple years and repurchased a few times and continued to love it. That was, until I tried something else. I finally realized that while this concealer is good, it did tend to be a little drying and could look cakey if my under eye area got dry. And sometimes, I got some slight creasing as the day went on.  Now that I think about it, these problems couldn’t have been THAT bad because I really didn’t realize it until I tried another concealer.

While I have some complaints about this concealer, I still like it and I still use it frequently. I use the honey shade every day to cover the darkness under my eyes. So far, this is the best pinkish tone concealer I’ve found for this! (If you have any suggestions of other ones to try … please do let me know!)

 

 

 

Mac Pro Longwear Concealer

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13844/10181/Products/Makeup/Face/Concealer/Pro-Longwear-Concealer
 

I have this concealer if NW20 and NW25. First let me just say I was BLOWN away by this concealer when I first tried it. It has a medium to full coverage and has a creaseless technology. I use it to highlight the under eye area (still using the Nars in honey underneath to cover the darkness). I apply it with my fingers and blend it out using a beauty blender.
 

The coverage and finish is absolutely flawless. I couldn’t believe the coverage it offered, how it didn’t look cakey, and how it didn’t crease. The name also describes it perfectly (“Longwear”) – it’s supposed to be long-wearing up to 15 hours and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I’ve worn this concealer on my longer days and it stayed intact.

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this concealer for anyone in the market for a new one! My only complaint about this concealer is that I have to pump it on the back on my hand and then apply it – I really like using the wand applicators better.

 

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer
 

http://www.sephora.com/naked-skin-weightless-complete-coverage-concealer-P392854?keyword=URBAN%20DECAY%20Naked%20Skin%20Weightless%20Complete%20Coverage%20Concealer%20P392854&skuId=1678937&_requestid=58362
 

OK, this is my FAVORITE and Holy Grail concealer. I have it in the light neutral shade (and yes, I use the Nars honey underneath to cover up darkness).  Similar to the Mac pro longwear, it has great coverage and a beautiful finish. But, there is just something about this one that’s better. It’s a lot thinner and a more watery consistency. This concealer never, ever dries out my under eye area – even the few times I forgot my under eye moisturizer or if I’ve had dry skin in that area.
 

I never knew there could be a concealer that has such great coverage and a seriously flawless finish but is also hydrating ... this stuff is amazing! It also comes with the wand applicator so I apply it with that and then blend out with my beauty blender. Because it’s so thin and never looks cakey, it’s perfect for under eye highlighting. And, it really seems to last all day. I also haven’t had any problems with creasing. I really cannot say any bad things about this concealer … everyone NEEDS this in their makeup collection.

 

What are some of your favorite concealers? I’m always open to suggestions for new ones to try!

Happy concealing!

 

Talk soon  :)

xoxo Coley

 

 

10 Commonly Made Beauty Mistakes

Hey guys! Hope you're all having a great week! I thought I'd put together a little post about some common beauty mistakes and my take on them. Hope you enjoy :)

 

 

1. Curling eyelashes with mascara on – Doing this will make your lashes clumpy and if the mascara is still tacky the curler can stick to your lashes and rip them out. It’s much better to curl your lashes and then apply mascara. This way your lashes will look better and you won’t risk ripping them out!

2. Washing your hair everyday – I’ll admit, I was SUPER guilty of this until about a year ago. I have oily hair so I felt like I had to wash everyday so my hair wouldn’t look dirty and greasy. About a year ago I started using dry shampoo more and only washing my hair 3-4 times per week. I’ve noticed such a huge difference – my hair no longer gets greasy as quickly. Washing your hair everyday strips the hair of natural oils and your hair will try to over compensate because it thinks it needs to produce more oil. Try washing your hair every other day for a month and I promise you won’t be disappointed and you’re hair will be much healthier!

3. Not moisturizing oily skin – Same thing as the hair - if you’re not hydrating your oily skin, your skin will become more oily because it’s overcompensating. Find a moisturizer made for oily skin (and any other skin needs you have) and moisturize every time you wash your face. Your skin will thank you!

4. Not cleaning your makeup brushes on the regular – We’re all guilty of this one! Cleaning your makeup brushes is so time consuming and so daunting. But, it’s an absolute necessity. Dirty makeup brushes not only sweep bacteria all over your face, they also don’t apply the makeup in the best possible way. Your makeup can come out cakey or muddy when all the old products and colors transfer to your current makeup application.

5. Not removing makeup before bed – And yet, another one we’ve all done! We’ve all had those long nights where we either forget or are just too lazy to remove our makeup before going to bed. But this is a real no-no. You’ve had makeup on your skin all day and/or night and now you’re going to leave it for another 7-8 hours!?! Leaving makeup on your face will clog your pores and age your skin more quickly. The makeup will settle into your skin and enlarge your pore – that’s something none of us want! If you’re super lazy and don’t want to actually wash your face, at least use makeup remover wipes to remove most of the makeup. But, for the best looking skin, I’d really recommend using a makeup remover and then a cleanser.

6. Applying concealer just under your eye – If you have dark circles or bags under your eyes (I’m sure they are designer!!) concealer can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Applying a swoop of concealer just to the darkness or the bag can accentuate what you’re actually trying to cover up. What you need to do is apply the concealer in an upside down triangle under your eye. This will lift the entire under eye area and rid you of dark circles and bags.

7. Skipping base coat when painting your nails – Have you ever painted your nails a dark color without a base coat and when you took off the nail polish later your natural nails were discolored? YUCK! Always, always use a base coat when painting your nails any color, but especially dark colors. This will keep your natural nails from turning yellowish as the base coats puts a barrier between your nails and the color.

8. Applying concealer before foundation – You most definitely should apply your foundation and then your concealer for the best coverage. If you apply your concealer first, you will move the concealer all around when you are buffing the foundation into your skin. Apply foundation and buff it in, then apply concealer and push it into your skin in the triangle shape under your eye without moving it around too much then immediately set with powder to prevent creasing,

9. Filling in your brows too close to a mirror – Using a magnified mirror can absolutely be helpful, but it can also be disastrous. If you use a magnified mirror, or fill your brows in close to the mirror, make sure to take a step back here and there to make sure you’re not going overboard. If you don’t you might over overdraw them too much or make them too dark.

10. Not using the right type of skin care products for your skin type – Learn about your skin type and look for products specifically designed to help your needs. Don’t just use something because someone else uses it. Using skincare products that are right for your skin type will help keep your skin looking on point at all times. And, great makeup application starts with great skin!

 

 

What are some beauty mistakes you've made in the past? Leave a comment below!

 

Talk soon :)

 

xoxo Coley

REVIEW: Freeman Sweet Tea & Lemon Peel-Away Clay Mask

Hey guys ... Welcome back to my blog! I've been so MIA lately because life has just been so crazy! I do have a few new posts coming your way soon though so don't worry :)

About 3 weeks ago I was in the market for a new mask because my GlamGlow had just run out. I had heard some good things about the Freeman Sweet Tea & Lemon Peel-Away Clay Mask on YouTube so I figured I'd give it a try. Plus, it's under $5 so how could I not!?!? I picked mine up at Ulta.

It claims to give you the oil absorbing benefits of a clay mask and give you the pore clogging grime removal benefits of a clay mask. And, let me just say right away this mask really does what it claims (don't we all just love that!?)!!! I've been using this mask consistently for the past 3 weeks about 2-3 times a week and I've noticed such a difference in my skin. My face is less oily and my pores appear less clogged. Right after using the mask my face feels extremely clean (like squeaky clean) and very refreshed. I seriously feel like this mask is removing stuff that was deep in my pores. I've even had a few of my friends comment on the way my skin has been looking - so that just validates all thoughts I had of this mask actually working for me!

There are definitely mixed reviews about this mask online - some people love it, some people hate it - as is the truth with pretty much all beauty products. What works for some, won't always work for others. I have seen people saying that they think this mask hurts when they peel it off - I don't think it necessarily hurts, but it's certainly not comfortable. But, that's the case with all peel of masks. But hey, I'll take a little discomfort any day if it will improve the appearance of my skin! Wouldn't you!?!?

Check out the Freeman Sweet Tea & Lemon Peel-Away Clay Mask for yourself!
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod12041935

I've heard really great things about the other Freeman masks too, but haven't tried any of them yet. Have you? Leave a comment below and let me know your favorite!


Talk soon :)

xoxo Coley