The right blush for your skintone

We've all seen it. Someone who overdid it just a tad on the blush that morning and ended up looking more like a clown than a girl. It happens to the best of us, but its an easy fix.
Sometimes how blush looks on the skin has less to do with the amount you apply and more to do with finding the shade that is going to compliment your skin tone and give you the radiant look you desire without looking ridiculous. One thing is for sure, putting blush on is one of the best way to instantly radiate your skin and give a glow that makes you look more cheerful and happy.
Your gut instinct may be to go with the color you like the best or the one you think looks like the one "everyone else wears," but just like we all wear a different clothing size, we all have different skin tones and different color compliment them differently. Whether you prefer cream blush or powder, finding the right color is the most important, second to application. Keeping it light is the best way to make sure you won't have a blush catastrophe. You can always add more, but its almost impossible to remove what you've already done without having to completely start over with your makeup. And when it comes to getting ready for school, time is of the essence.

For fair skin, its important not to go too dark. You don't want to overpower your beautiful porcelain skin. Stick with a light peachy pink and a light application for more of a glow than a "blush".

For medium skin tones, just like fair skin, peaches and pinks are your best go-to, however you may want to take it a step further and go a shade or two darker. A rich pink or even mauve will provide
you with a lasting glow, without being too much.

For darker skin tones, deep shades of red, orange, and brown look best. Pink colors will tend to leave you looking more washed out than flushed.

Keep the blush focused on the apples of your cheeks for daytime wear and bring it up the cheekbones for a nighttime look. If you want something more dramatic you can always use contour shades with darker bronzier colors and a lighter highlight shade on the top of your cheekbones. However when it comes to contouring, especially during the day, like grandma always said, less is more.


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Fall trends worth trying

This fall is bringing in lots of new clothing and hair trends, both good and bad. There are some I like more than others, and some I would never wear myself. One thing is for sure, no one is afraid to experiment with various colors, lengths, and trends this fall.

Hats are an interesting piece to play with in an outfit, but its also an easy thing to get wrong. Adding a beanie to an outfit is almost always a plus. But you can't forget about all the other types of head wear. Fedoras, floppy knit hats, baseball caps, and headband are all things that add personality and a fun element to an otherwise boring outfit. I love the way the grey beanie looks paired with this dark colored flannel shirt. In the picture you can see how she layers this with a cream colored hoodie underneath. Add a pair of dark wash skinny jeans, some white Chuck Tailors and this makes the perfect outfit for autumn.

Embracing classic prints seems to be another huge trend this all. When you get tired of floral from spring, try hounds tooth for fall. This pattern has been huge on the runway lately. The great part is that it goes with almost anything. And I love this paired with bright colors like red and royal blue. You have to be careful however, too much of this pattern can be overpowering to the eyes. Try to keep the print small or limit it to a single piece instead of the entire outfit. This picture shows a great option for a more formal pairing with the black mixed with the pattern. Notice how she keeps the waist high.

One color I have always loved but never think to wear is emerald green. It looks great paired with other jewel toned colors like amethyst (a purple color). You see this a lot on the runway as well. This color is great for fall, as well as spring and summer. Light emerald is great for casual attire and darker emerald can be turned into a sultry formal outfit. This spring dress is simple but has a beautiful cut at the bottom, giving it the flare that makes it a perfect go-to for a day out. For fall, just throw on a cardigan, add a pair of fun sandals and a neutral tote of bag and you're good to go.



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Can wearing bright colors improve your mood?

Do you ever have those days where getting out of bed seems like the most impossible task on the planet earth? We all do. And when it comes to dressing myself on these days, it always seems easier to throw on a pair of dark jeans and a grey sweater. Something simple, something.. boring.
I mean the last thing I want to do is attempt a trendy outfit when I can hardly stand to shower in the morning.

Liana Satenstein, a writer for vogue magazine, posted an article on this yesterday where she tells of her wardrobe "transformation" from a boring black and grey color scheme to mixing wide array of colors and textures to add personality to her outfits.

The article deserves a read, if you are interested I have it linked here.

Her experiences are not only motivational for other girls to start expressing themselves through their clothing, but raise an interesting question... Does changing your day to day wardrobe really have an effect on your mood?
I found this to be an entertaining research project,
here is what I came up with:

While it isn't directly proven that clothing we wear can effect the outcome of our emotions, what we do know is that there has been a long history of the use of color for therapy in ancient civilizations, this is known as chromotherapy. Red being used to stimulate the body and increase blood circulation, orange to increase energy levels, and so forth.
However, that being said, most modern psychologists are skeptical of the idea, especially of its lasting effects over long periods of time. But even if it is all "just in your head", does it really matter?
Even if you are skeptical of the idea, its worth a try.
As far as my personal experience goes, the difference is minimal, but not to be dismissed as irrelevant. I would say however, that my mood reflects not only in the colors of the pieces I'm wearing, but more in the cut, shape, and style of the pieces themselves. If I feel confident in a particular outfit, I don't think it would make a difference what color it is.
If you do tend to lean towards the side of a neutral color palette, its not hard to work bright pieces in with accessories. Your clothing choices should represent who you are, and you should be proud to wake up in the morning, open up your closet, and flaunt whatever it is you may choose to wear that day.

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Jelly Watercolor Nails!

  Having trendy nails is a fun way to express your style and creativity as the seasons change. Its also an easy way to meep you looking put together and can brighten up any outfit or add a little color to your day.

For this nail look its good to have a few (3-4) bright pastel colors for a variety on each nail. Oranges, yellows, pinks, blues, and purples are all good colors to try for this one. 
Since autumn has just begun, try incorporating some fall-type colors into your design.. Try mixing reds, oranges, pinks, and yellows. 
I prefer Essie nail polishes because they have a thin consistency and are great quality products that last on your nails. For this type of nail art, it is beneficial to use more sheer colored nail polishes in order to layer the color and have it look the best.
You also want a base color (something neutral, or white even) as you're starting layer. Lastly, for easy application of the color in the "watercolor" or marble type effect we are going for, its good to have a few cheep makeup sponges. These can be found at any beauty retailer, are extremely inexpensive, and can be used for a bunch of other beauty-type situations, which i will cover in another blog. :)
You can cut them into smaller pieces to fit your nails.
Start out by applying the base coat to your nails, you may want to use a few coats to make sure its opaque.
When that is dry, you are ready to add the color.
Take a small piece of the makeup sponge (that you have previously cut into many smaller pieces) and dip it into a small amount of nail polish on a piece of paper. Dab it on the paper a few times to get the access polish off before transferring it to your nail.
Using thin layers, take each color and being to form your masterpiece. 
Pretend your nails are paper and paint away!

After its dried, apply your long lasting top coat to preserve your painting. If you are feeling extra creative, you can try adding jewels or nail stickers to an accent nail. This look has unlimited color combinations and possibilities, let your creativity run free and flash your beautiful talent to the world!


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