Spring 2013 Beauty Trends

Spring is here at last (yay!), and it's time to try out all the new beauty trends.

Makeup

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For makeup this spring, barely-there makeup is very popular. The trick to this trend is to keep your face makeup clean and natural looking, but at the same time even out your skin tone and hide any blemishes. Keep your eyes very simple with a taupe eyeshadow (or no eyeshadow at all), very little or no eyeliner, and lots of mascara to make your lashes look thick. Make sure you don't use too much mascara so that you get spider eyelashes.

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Harper’s BAZAAR says “when your makeup is on the barely-there side, having defined brows is all the more important.” They suggest brushing brow hairs down to find your natural shape, and then fill in sparse areas with a pencil, using short, feathery strokes to shape and even out the contours of your face.  Seal with a coat of clear mascara.

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Pantone has called emerald the color of the year for 2013. I've seen it worn as eyeshadow the most, but you can also find emerald eyeliner, nail polish, and more.

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Blue eyeshadow is another hot color for spring.

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Neon eyeliner has been seen lots of different places, I think it's a super cute way to add a pop of color without over doing it.

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Bright lips have been in for quite awhile, and a red lip is always a classic. But red lips are especially popular this year. I suggest going for a cherry color with a creamy finish.

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Glowy skin is very popular for spring. Harper’s BAZAAR suggests trying a light-reflecting primer worn underneath makeup. They also suggest using a glossy lip treatment like Shiseido makeup artist Dick Page used to make your eyes glisten.  They said, “just dab it around the perimeter (careful not in the eye) and finish with mascara for a lush glow.”



Hair

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A clean, center part, with the hair slicked back is a very chic and popular hair trend for spring.

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Undone updos are a new trend that I haven't seen before. It's a style where the hair is half-up, half-down. The hair is up, but it's messy, and coming down.

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Harper's BAZAAR tells how Redken hairstylist Guido describes the Calvin Klein Girl, as “super chic, super urban.” He translated that into a style that’s “a little bit grungy” but “overall very natural. It's not blown out straight, but just blow-dried with the fingers to achieve this soft, unrefined texture." He prepped hair with mousse, drew a deep side part and finished with hair powder and hairspray brushed out to give a little grit.

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Last year high pony tails were really popular (and they still are), but low ponies are now coming in.

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Harper's BAZAAR showed rock n' roll waves with their spring hair trends, and I love this style! Harper's BAZAAR said "hairstylists took inspiration from nineties grunge backstage, giving hair a tousled effect that suggested the hair wasn't really "done" at all, but left loose and flowing with a natural bend. Hair pro Guido applied volumizing foam to damp hair and rough-dried with his fingers, scrunching up the ends before twisting strands into a bun and misting with aerosol hair powder for texture. After hair had set, he released the bun and sprayed with more powder."



Nails

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Nails with a metallic strip down the middle, is an easy nail trend to try out. You can choose any color for the background  and then all you need is a metallic nail polish for the strip.

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Pale nails (light pink, off-white, or even white) are pretty and simple. I think they're perfect for people who aren't willing to spend a lot of time on their nails, and since the nail polish is light, it isn't as noticeable when it chips.

If you want to see spring fashion trends for this year, check out a post I did on my blog, here.

What's your favorite beauty trend for spring? 

Happy Easter everyone!

Becca

Kool-Aid Hair Dye!

The Trend...

A trend that I have seen since this past summer is colorful streaks in your hair, or fun colorful tips. I always wanted to try it, but I would be nervous about going and getting it dyed somewhere, and not liking it. So I've seen the idea of dying your hair with Kool-Aid online and thought it looked like a great alternative. Depending on your hair type, it is very temporary, but I've heard that it can last anywhere from a couple washes to several months. Using Kool-Aid (or I've also heard that you can use a jello mix) is an easy way to add fun pop of color to your hair without committing to a long term dye. *Please be sure your parents are ok with this before you try it though!* You can do streaks in your hair, the tips of your hair, or even do your whole head and add a colorful tint to your natural color. Kool-Aid dye works best on light colored hair. If your hair is darker, and you really want to try this, you would need to bleach the section of hair first.

I did some quick research online, and it received mostly positive reviews. But like always there are people who post warnings and negatives they discovered when they tried it. A few common complaints were that if you use red Kool-Aid it can last too long...Some say that this washes out too quickly while others say they couldn't get theirs out and that they had to grow it out. I'd do some checking before you try it, even if it is a simple and temporary method.

Good tutorials on how to die your hair are very easy to find. I think this post was my favorite though. It explains different methods of using the Kool-Aid dye, gives instructions, and includes a video.

My Little Experiment...

I decided I'd give this a try today and picked up some purple (SUGAR FREE!) Kool-Aid packets at the store. When I was ready, I pulled out a small strip of my hair and ponytailed the rest on the opposite side. It's important that you keep all hair back except that hair you're wanting to dye. The tutorial will tell you this, but I boiled 2 cups of water and when the water had cooled a tad I added the 2 packets. When mixed dipped the hair into the bowl and kept my head there for about 5 minutes. I started with really thin pieces and added more when I liked the results. I took a napkin and dried the excess Kool-Aid and then blow dryed the section of hair. Although the results were more subtle than I was expecting, I was very pleased with it. I am a dirty blond and the color looks like a dark auburn/plumb. I will be definitely be trying this again, and maybe I will use a different method next time (like painting the hair and then wrapping with foil). I've included a picture, the quality isn't terribly great but you should be able to get an idea of how it looks. 

If you try this, or have done it before, let me know how it works for you! I'm curious how the results differ with different hair types, methods, and colors. Have fun ~Erin

Ready or Not...School is Back!

School bells are ringing and summer has ended for most of you. For the rest, it’s creeping up on you, maybe too fast! Whether the thought of school makes you so excited you want to rush into the hall and decorate your locker, or it makes you want to hide in your locker, something we all enjoy is back to school fashion and beauty. What will you wear to your first day of school, and how will you do your makeup and hair? If you’re a high school newbie, this may be daunting! But it doesn’t need to be. Here are some ideas to help you get in the school spirit!

Makeup:

Shown in this video is a nice natural look for school, but far from boring!

Want to recreate the look but don’t have the products she used? You can grab these dupes at your local drugstore.

Eyes

Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Velvet Crush

Face

NeutrogenaHealthy Skin Custom Glow Blush and Bronzer in Rosy Glow

Lips

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Perfect

Hair:

Ponytails, low and sleek are in! It’s super easy for when you’re in a hurry. Add some gel and brush in into a hair tie at the nape for a clean-kept look. If you have time, leave a piece of hair out at the nape and wrap it around the hair tie when you’re finished to add a bit of style.

Try a top knot! I’m sure you’ve seen them everywhere. Pull your hair into a sleek ponytail like before, except this time, you’ll want it to be in your crown. Then, loop your hair around just like you’re creating a ballerina bun. Stick a couple pins in and you’re done! Another quick hairstyle for the morning.

Clothes:

Deciding how to dress for school can be a challenge. You want to look cute but still be comfortable since you’re going to be spending all day in these clothes. Here is an outfit idea that is comfy but not frumpy.

Jeggings – these things are awesome! They feel like wearing sweatpants but still look nice. The only downside is they tend to be skin tight (Jeggings = “Jean Leggings”), but I buy a size up and they are perfect.

Big comfy sweaters are so in for fall! They are modest and comfortable. There are so many kinds of sweaters to choose from: lighter material, thick and cozy material, open knit, and more. Be sure to pair these with pants that are more form fitting to keep the look clean.

Autumn means boot season! Knee high boots are very trendy and are a super cute way to finish off this outfit.

What are your favorite ways to be cute but comfy for school? Any quick tips for cutting morning routine times?

Beauty Tool Box

Let’s face it. We are girls. We use things to enhance our beauty and to keep ourselves healthy and looking our best, and its okay! God told us to take care of our body and that is exactly what we are doing, taking care of the temple of God.




Every girl needs to have a few everyday things in her Beauty Tool Box though, so I have compiled a list of ‘tools’ that will help you look and feel your very best.

1) A good face wash~ By washing your face, you are removing oil, dirt and other nasty things that get on your face and into your pores as the day goes on. I have used many different face washes throughout my life and I’ve come to love two.



I use Neutrogena Grapefruit wash once every three days on my face to exfoliate it. When you exfoliate your skin, you are removing all the dead from your face, leaving it fresh and clean with the new skin. For everyday purposes, I use SeaBreeze. SeaBreeze gets deep into your pores and leaves it all on the cotton ball. Let’s just say, I KNOW this stuff works because I use two cotton balls a night with this stuff.



2) Sunscreen~ I know I’m from Florida and sunscreen is a given here, but this doesn’t mean that anyone who doesn’t live in Florida should not wear sunscreen. Sunscreen prevents wrinkles! (Got your attention now, huh?) Apply a small amount of sunscreen to your face before you apply your foundation or head out for the day. Your face is always exposed to the sun, even on cloudy days.



3) Deep Conditioner~ Curling, straightening, and blow drying, Oh my! Our hair gets hit with heat all the time. It’s good to use a deep conditioner on your hair every three to four days. A good, cheap deep conditioner is Aussie’s Three Minute Miracle. Apply it to the ends of your hair (What you pull up into a ponytail), leave in for three minutes and rinse out. It leaves your hair so soft and smelling like coconut!



4) Skin Moisturizer~ Our skin lacks moisture. To give it more, we are to apply lotion to it once we get out of the bath or shower and then later sometime that day, especially on your knees and elbows (ever notice how dry they can get?). Use a lighter lotion in the summer time and a deeper one in the winter. During the winter, our skin is prone to dryness, so be extra generous on the moisturizer then.



5) Tweezers~ Take a look at your eyebrows. Do they need plucking? Are a few hairs out of place? Look at your eyebrows once and day and make sure they are nice and well-groomed. If you wait a long time, then you have a mess of a brow and you have to take time to pluck them, but if you check once a day, you won’t have that problem!



Do NOT buy cheap tweezers! They do not work as well and you will be more prone to pinching your skin than you would with a nice pair. Bite the bullet, buy the good ones.



6) Loofah~ I love loofahs! That cute little puff ball that always smells like your body wash. Loofahs help exfoliate your skin and they suds up your body wash better than a wash cloth so you end up having to use less! Money saver!



7) Chap Stick~ Our lips get dry all the time. The more we lick our lips, the faster they dry and crack. Keep your Chap Stick on your person at all times. Whenever you find yourself licking your lips, take out you Chap Stick and apply. If you can find some that have SPF in it, buy it! Remember, our face is always exposed to the sun. For a super hydrating boost on your lips, apply generously before you go to bed. You’ll wake up with soft lips.



8) Whitening chewing gum~ A lot of people chew gum with sugar in it and that is not good for your teeth and it’s extra calories you consume on something you’re not even eating. Why waste it? Buy a sugar-free whitening gum and you’ll be cutting calories, whitening your teeth and having fresh breath all at the same time! I like Orbit White. It’s fresh, clean and the commercials make me laugh :D



Alright ladies, I’ve gone over my everyday Beauty Tool Box. What’s in yours?   ~ Haylie

Summer Beauty Trends!

I love summertime and all the fresh, relaxed trends that go with it. This summer, I absolutely adore the bohemian style. I like stacking bracelets, wearing flowy dresses and strappy sandals. Today, we are going to focus on makeup and hair trends you can easily adapt to your own summer style, no matter if it's beachy or bohemian or anything in between!

For summer, the most popular looks we are seeing are fresh pastels on the eyes and lips…

...Or bronzed and dewey complexions.

Watch this tutorial for a pastel look like the first one:

And watch this tutorial for a look similar to the second:

Pinky-nude lips will go well with both lips. Sugar Frosting Revlon Lip Butter is light and pastel to go with the first look, and has a frosted finish to go with the glowy-ness of the second look.

I absolutely adore these lip butters by the way!  They have nice color so it’s like wearing lipstick, except they are super moisturizing and have a nice finish, not matte, not glossy, but in the middle. Love it!

For hair, braids are in as ever! You can do so much with them; they are not just pigtails for little girls anymore! Curls or natural texture with volume of course are in, and any other type of boho inspired hair also for the summer, great for those of you who aren’t quite nimble enough with your fingers for braids. ;)

What hair and makeup trends have YOU been loving for the summer?

The Hair Feather Trend!

Hair feathers were definitely in last summer, will they still be the rage this season?

YES! Not only are hair feathers still in style, but they're coming back with a rainbow of colors - including neon!

                                                    Photo credit http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1tmatrFFa1qkthw4o1_400.png

I personally love hair feathers! They're a fun and trendy way to express yourself. You can wear feathers in bold neon colors, or in soft earth tones.

Pick any color you like!

I got a few hair feathers at salon last summer and they were pretty pricey! However, they did last almost three months. This year, I plan on getting them myself. Feathers can be bought in numerous colors on Amazon.com and then you can crimp them hair with simple jewelry pliers.

For a DYI hair feather tutorial, click the image below:

What do you think about the hair feather trend?

                                                     Photo credit http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lp1pj7PEpJ1qmaln4o1_500.jpg

I (Grace) have been blogging for MSL for over a year! However, due to the busy life of a high school student, I simply don't have the time to blog anymore. I've really enjoyed it!:) Although, this will be my last post.

Beauty and fashion is so much fun, so I'll definitely keep reading MSL!

Ladies, remember who your true beauty comes from!♥

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30 

~Grace