LIPP Beautifully

Happy first (official) day of summer, friends! To celebrate, I’m doing a little giveaway over on my Instagram page starting at noon today - be sure to head there and enter!

Wearing "CAUSE" semi-custom lipstick from Lipp // Conflicted Pixie necklace (on sale!)

With new seasons comes new trends. While I typically talk about fashion trends, I want to go into one way I can drastically change up my look with one item. I’ll give you a hint - it’ll make you smile.

LIPP lipstick shades and Take 5 Boutique shorts

Guessed it yet? LIPSTICKS! I’ll admit - when it comes to makeup in general, I have my makeup uniform pretty set in stone. I’ve found my go-to eyeshadow that I rarely deviate from, developed an obsession with this conturing palette and have life-changing feelings about this eyebrow pencil kit. The one thing that I love changing through the seasons? Lip colors.

One of my favorite companies to discover new colors has been Lipp. This season, I snatched up their Santorini shade (the prettiest coral color) and my own custom lipstick (that I designed myself!) called CAUSE. I’m wearing Cause in most of these photos and I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve gotten on both shades.

I love them both SO much that Lipp has decided to let one of my lucky readers make a custom color themselves! Just head over to my Instagram at noon today to enter! And if you'd like to pick one up for yourselves, they're offering free shipping all month-long with code: LIPPSHIPFREE!

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How I Go For Days Without Washing My Hair

It’s almost coming up on my one-year anniversary…of getting my hair cut! And I mean, CUT. Last year, I waved goodbye to 10+ inches when I had my first visit with Nadine Matar at the PR at Partners on K Street. And I haven’t looked back since.

But a drastic change in hairstyles calls for a drastic change in products on how I style my hair. The first revelation? I didn’t have to wash my hair everyday. And better yet, it looked BETTER the longer I waited to wash it! 

Friends, it takes an army. But thanks to my amazing hair guru, Nadine Matar, I’ve learned how to keep my short tresses looking fresh with my new favorite hair brand, R+Co. 

DAY ONE
This is usually my least favorite hair day, but I love getting to use my R+Co MOON Shine Shampoo. It smells SO GOOD and makes my hair the absolute softest. After my shower, I spritz some Prep Spray all over my hair so it’s protected against everything I’m going to do to it! Next, I put a little Park Avenue Blow Out Balm through my hair before I blow it (completely) dry. 

I’ll almost always curl my hair (Nadine’s tutorial right this way) with a wand in small, one inch sections. Then I spray the also-amazing-smelling R+Co Outer Space Flexible Hairspray and I’m ready to go! 

DAY TWO
I love day two. Like LOVE my day two hair. It’s usually a bit messy in the AM so I’ll spray some dry shampoo (not pictured) on my roots and all around, really. I use the R+Co Badlands Dry Shampoo paste on my roots and ends, then the R+Co Rockaway Salt Spray for some added texture. I’ll likely spray a little more Outer Space hairspray, and since it’s flexible, I never get that icky hard, crunchy hair. Again, the products smell amaze.

If I go with a more refined look, I’ll brush through my waves after spraying the dry shampoo. Then I’ll spray the Outer Space hairspray throughout my hair to keep its shape and I’m out the door!

DAY THREE
Day three can go one of two ways - if I’m feeling like I don’t want to deal with it, I’ll put it up in a half bun on top of my head with some bobby pins to give me some extra volume in the front. Or it’ll go up into a pony. Either way, I’m really getting into my Dry Shampoo and Dry Shampoo paste. And I’m being careful about using just enough products to help get rid of the grease at my roots without weighing my hair down. That’s why I love these products - none of them weigh me down.

You can find all these incredible products at the PR at Partners on K Street. And while you’re there, be sure to make an appointment with one of their talented stylists! 

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Bluemercury Opens at Cathedral Commons

Sweaty and tired, I swung my bare feet out of my car and fastened on my strappy heels. I checked my face quickly before I paid my parking meter - just as I’d expected. Shiny. I was eternally grateful that soon my problem would be solved - I was on my way to the Bluemercury opening at Cathedral Commons.

Upon entering the store (their 95th location!) I actually squealed. As one does as they enter Bluemercury. There was Oribe (pronounced OR-BAE as I learned that night) to the left, makeover stations on my right…oh - and cupcakes. Definitely ate one or two (or ten) of those before enjoying a little post-work makeup touch-up! 

The founders (Marla and Barry Beck) arrived shortly after and I was beside myself with excitement. Marla was SO beautiful - not that I was surprised. She is co-founder of my favorite makeup and skincare store of all time. AND with her semi-recent launch of her new skincare line, M-61, she’s more on-fire than ever.

Before I got a chance to steal Marla away from the throngs of people fawning over her (which I did later), I asked her husband and co-founder of Bluemercury, Barry Beck, about their mens grooming products.

“As guys start to move into their career, they start to take better care of themselves - they get a better haircut, buy nicer shirts, invest in nicer shoes, and we fundamentally believe that taking care of yourself in terms of better shampoo, hair grooming products, better shaving creams - and the truth is, better grooming products are actually better! The ingredients are better. And there’s a reason why certain people out in California in the movie business look so good!”

He’s so right, friends. My husband has really taken off in his career and with his entrepreneurial mind, is always meeting new people. Looking your best is important. And while I’ve become quite the skincare prowess, if I do say so myself, I had no idea what a guy should be using. I knew he’d have no patience for my 7-step routine, so I asked Barry for specifics.

He suggested this routine for bae:

1. M-61 Brilliant Cleanse Face Wash
2. Kiehls Blue Astringent Toner
3. M-61 JetGlow Cream

Now that I had a set routine for the hubs, I needed to get Marla’s take on her favorite products. And I got my chance shortly afterwards when she joined my group of friends as we were chatting about our favorite M-61 products. 

Pictured here with Marla Beck, Briana and Ally

Her favorites?

The M-61 Vitablast C serum (which I'm already obsessed with) and the PowerGlow Peel. I also picked up their makeup remover because it is actually THE BEST I've found.  As evidenced from all the products in my hand in the photo above. I'm CLEARLY a fan.

The new Bluemercury store is located in Cathedral Commons at 3320 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016. Be sure to check out this gorgeous (and my new favorite) location! Not located near one? Shop my favorite Bluemercury products below! 

M-61 by Blue Mercury Favorites

• SHOP THE POST •

This bad weather feels like it’s never-ending. Game of Thrones knows it and so does my face. When the weather starts changing, my skin does this little number where it decides it’s going to break out, get super dry and provide me with the chappiest lips ever. It first started happening a couple years ago (getting old is the best) and I grew frustrated with trying to find a remedy.

You see - I grew up using Dial soap as my face wash (are you cringing yet because I am) and only recently discovered my need for really incredible (and often times more expensive) skin care products were 100% worth it. I recently tested out a few of Bluemercury's M-61 line and wanted to share my thoughts with you!

PowerBlast:
I have been looking for a face mask for a while now and so glad I gave this one a try! I’d been apprehensive about the time commitment for a face mask, but this one only requires one minute. THAT’S RIGHT FRIENDS, 60 seconds is all it takes. Usually I use this in the shower, but right before I get out. I dry my face off with a towel after I’ve washed it, then slather this stuff on. It tingles a bit and I was nervous I’d come out with splotches all over my face, but instead, it resulted in a warm, rosy glow! Obsessed.

Hydraboost Eye:
I live for a good luxe eye cream and this is the best one I’ve tried so far. Don’t let its size fool you - a little bit goes a LONG way. I got two (in fear the first would run out quickly) and I've been very happy with how long it's lasted me. It truly brightens my eyes keeps them moisturized all day. ALL. DAY. I loved that this is a smaller - it makes an excellent travel companion! 

Share with me! What are your favorite facial products?!

Side-Braid Tutorial for Short Hair

I love having short hair. There’s never a moment I’m not grateful that I chopped off 10 inches 6 months ago. NOT A MOMENT.

However, I do find myself lacking for short hairstyle inspiration. I kind of have my go-to style (loose wand curls), but lately I’ve been wanting to mix it up! And I really want to share some fun styles with you because I honestly feel like there aren't enough short hair tutorials out there - we can’t all have Amber Fillerup locks!

So here’s a style I’ve been adapting into my routine lately - a side braid! This look is simple to do but adds a ton of interest. Here’s the how-to:

First, wash hair (duh!)
I used this color-safe shampoo and conditioner combo from CIBU, a new line of products by Hair Cuttery. I’m very picky with shampoos so I was thrilled with how my hair felt using both of these products. Plus they smell very salon-like, always a plus. It has an antioxidant-rich blend of Uji green, toni leaf, and silver needle tea extracts (and is sulfate and paraben free!)

Then I brush through my tangles with a Wet Brush - I used to use hard brushes and this has been such a revelation to me. They’re super cheap, under $15, do yourself a favor and order one!

Next, I put volumizing mouse on my roots and underneath my hair. My hair always end up falling flat when I blow dry au natural, so this is a game changer for me.

Finally, before I bust out my hair dryer, I spray some blowdry excelerator spray (also from CIBU) all over my hair. Luckily, my hair doesn’t take long to dry as-is, but I still felt like this sped up the process even more. It took me under 2 minutes to dry.

Then blow dry hair.

After it’s completely dry, I take a 3-5 inch section of my hair and braid it towards the back of my head.

Once braid is finished, start to tug at individual pieces in your braid. I usually start at the bottom of my braid and work up to the crown of my head. You’ll start to notice the braid starting to look thicker. Thin-haired girls rejoice!

Secure with bobby pins and spray with finishing spray! Viola! The cutest side braid for short hair!

This post was done in partnership with Hair Cuttery. All opinions are my own.