What I am loving: Jewelry

Hi Ladies! This is not makeup related, but I wanted to share a piece of jewelry with you girls. I have been on an Etsy kick lately, and I found a seller that makes gorgeous jewelry. For those of you who do not know what Etsy is, it is an online website where people sell handmade items, such as jewelry and art.

I came across the seller Classic Designs (http://www.etsy.com/shop/classicdesigns) who sells modern, celebrity inspired jewelry pieces that are beautiful and affordable. I ended up placing an order for the gold filled sideways cross necklace. I absolutely love this piece and it looks so pretty on. It complements almost any outfit and I love layering it with other longer necklaces . There are definitely some other pieces that I will be ordering from this seller in the future. If you like this necklace, you should definitely check out her store on Etsy.

This necklace was purchased by me and I am in no way affiliated with the seller, I just love her pieces :)

Katy Perry Nails!

Hi Ladies!
I went to a Katy Perry concert last week and it was amazing! In honor of the fabulous KP, my friend Ashley and I decided to do "Teenage Dream" themed nails (while listening to her CD on repeat of course). The nail look was super easy to do, and we got lots of complements!

The pink base I used is by Sally Hansen and its called bubble gum. Over that I layered OPI's Teenage Dream glitter polish and finished it off with my Seche Vite top coat. It was hard to catch the glitter in a picture, but this look was super sparkly and fun.

Below are a couple pics from the concert:

Teenage Dream

California Gurls

Thanks for stopping by :)

Essie Topless & Barefoot

Topless & Barefoot was released back in the spring with Essie's A French Affair Collection. I almost purchased it back then, but I was trying to cut back on cosmetic purchases so I passed on it. My nail polish collection has grown exponentially this past year!

Anyways, I kept thinking about it so I finally broke down and ordered it last week. Topless & Barefoot is a light nude creme polish that is more pink than beige. It is a very modern and sophisticated color for the nail. It is the opposite of flashy and makes for a very poised and polished look.

The application of topless & barefoot is a little bit streaky but after three coats my nails looked pretty good. It lasted a couple days before it chipped so it has average wear. This color would be perfect for anyone who wants an understated, polished look. Colors like this one are great for a professional environment where bright colors may not be appropriate.

Has anyone tried Essie's Topless & Barefoot? If not what is your favorite nude/natural nail polish color?

My Bronzer Collection

Hi Lovelies! I don't know about you, but summer is my favorite season. I love spending time at the beach and pool soaking in the sun. Although I enjoy tanning, I try to keep my face from getting too much exposure (we don't want premature aging!) That is why I love bronzing powders; they give a natural glow to your face without harmful side effects.

I have four bronzing powders in my collection:

-Physicians Formula Bronze Booster
-Mac Golden Bronzing Powder
-Clinique Almost Bronzer
-Nars Laguna Bronzer

All of these bronzers provide a nice all-over glow. I have had the Clinique Almost Bronzer the longest and it gives a very subtle bronzing effect. I purchased Mac's Golden Bronzing Powder last year from a collection and it's nice, but I don't reach for it all that often. Nars Laguna works well for an all-over bronzer or for contouring. You need to be careful when applying it or it can end up looking dirty, which is not attractive. Lastly, Physician's Formula is a pretty decent bronzer, especially for a drugstore product. It provides a really pretty subtle glow that looks very natural.



Above are swatches of the bronzing powders. I did heavy swatches so that the colors would show up well against my skin-tone. Although I enjoy and use all of these bronzing powders, I am always on the lookout for something better. What are your favorite bronzers for summer? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for stopping by!

IMATS (International Make-up Artist Trade Show) in LA

Hi Ladies! I was able to attend IMATS this past weekend in Pasadena, CA and it was amazing! I went with my friend Tracy and we had so much fun! There were so many different makeup brands there that we did not know where to start! I saw several youtube "beauty gurus" there including JulieG, Pursebuzz, Xsparkage, Enkore, and Kandee Johnson. Tracy and I were able to attend Kandee's Seminar and had the opportunity to meet and take pictures with her which was super exciting. She is so beautiful and talented! Below are some pictures from the event.

Tracy and I at IMATS

Pursebuzz
http://www.pursebuzz.com/

Waiting for Kandee's Seminar

Ms. Kandee Johnson herself!
http://www.kandeej.com/

If you are able to attend an IMATS event, you should go. It was so fun to check out new makeup brands and meet people who share your enthusiasm about makeup! Everyone was so sweet and I am definitely going back next year.

Essie Knockout Pout

Hi Ladies! Summer is here and bright nail polish colors are all the rage. There is nothing more perfect than bright, sassy nails to accessorize your bikini. Right now I am loving Essie's Knockout Pout which is a bright pink cream shade. The color is super fun and the name of this polish is too cute!

It is almost looks neon, but not quite. Knockout Pout is pretty opaque since I only had to do two coats. The finish is pretty matte so I would definitely recommend a clear top coat to finish off the look. In honor of the polish name, I had to do a "knockout pout" expression in the picture below ;) Tell me your favorite bright summer polish in the comments below. -Stacy

What I am Wearing: Essie Van D Go

Photo Credit: Kaboodle.com

Hi Ladies! I have been on a major Essie kick lately. Don't get me wrong, I still like OPI, China Glaze, and drugstore polishes, but there is just something about Essie lately that has really got my attention. Essie has a wide selection of soft pastel colors which are my absolute favorites! After hearing rave reviews on Youtube and Blogs for Essie Van D Go, I had to have this shade.

Van D Go is a gorgeous pastel peachy-pink color that has a cream finish. The formula is pretty good and the color is opaque in two to three coats. Used with my Seche Vite top coat, this polish stayed nice for about 5 days. By the way, if you do not use Seche Vite as a top coat, you must try it. Seriously, it's life-changing...and dries super fast. Anyways, I found Van D Go at my local Ulta, but I have not seen it available at CVS. Let me know what nail polishes you are currently loving! -xoxo, Stacy