Besides mascara, blush is my other beauty must-have. Even if I don’t have time to do my 5 minute face, I always find time to throw on some mascara and a quick swipe of blush. Blush is a must because it instantly brightens your face. For many years, I’ve been using the same Estée Lauder…
About four months ago, I got my hair cut and colored by the best stylist I’ve found in Orange County so far. And as the adage goes, you get what you pay for. It was a great haircut and hair color job that I really loved. But here’s the thing – I just can’t stomach the cost…
With so many sunscreen choices out there, I wanted to give you a rundown of what to look for to keep you protected this summer. I’ve mentioned it before, but my biggest health and beauty mistake of my youth was not wearing sunscreen. I have brown spots and skin damage to show for it. I…
Summer came early to southern California. My car thermostat read 100 yesterday. Taking care of my skin in the summer means I retire my winter standbys (like heavy creams) and dig out my summer skin care essentials, which always includes light-weight, oil free lotions and products with SPF. This year, I’ve also added a serum and…
Is it just me, or does Pinterest have you trying DIY projects and recipes you never imagined you could do? Pinterest ignites my crafty self that I’ve put on the back burner for many years. I never really imagined creating my own skincare products, but after seeing DIY body scrub after DIY soap on Pinterest,…
Short hair is in for spring. Everything from the asymmetrical pixie cut, to the chin-length bob, or the longer shoulder length lob, short hair is everywhere. Even if you aren’t willing to go short, bangs and shorter layers can give your hair a shorter feel without taking the plunge of chopping it all off. I’ve…
My daughter turns three weeks old this week. With the new addition to my family, I have very little time to concentrate on my normal beauty routine. After a quick shower and slathering on some body lotion and SPF for my face, I might find a minute to dry my hair before I need to…
This Valentine’s Day, first love your face and everything else will fall into place. For our first Valentine’s Day giveaway, we are so excited to partner with Dermalogica to offer one lucky reader personalized skincare products based on individualized results of Speed Mapping — up to a $450 total value*! How I met Dermalogica Back in October, I…
I unexpectedly ended up in the hospital last weekend with early contractions. Luckily, my daughter decided to stay put (at least for now), but her near early arrival prompted me to hurry up and get my hospital bag packed. For my first pregnancy, I packed my hospital bag based on this The Bump list. A…
I’ve never done anything with my eyebrows. I didn’t even pluck them until one of my college friends suggested it (and thank goodness she did! I was oblivious to how caterpillar-like my eyebrows were!). With the resurgence and fashion world’s love for a fuller brow, I’ve decided I need to jazz up my makeup routine and…
Broken Eyeshadow Is An Expensive Annoyance It is the worst when you buy an expensive eyeshadow, and you either drop it or it cracks while traveling. I recently had two of my eyeshadows end up broken and I wasn’t sure what to do. Given they were expensive, brand-name eyeshadows, I wanted to do what I…
A new take on the French Manicure My nails are usually bare, but if I do get a manicure, I generally choose a very pale pink or just opt for clear nails. With New Years Eve upon us, I thought it would be fun to add a little sparkle to my nails. Essie has a…
Finding the best concealer for your face can be arduous, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple rules and guidelines, it’s not just easy, but fun. I’ll walk you through these rules and how I applied them to products I tested. 1. Determine if you need foundation or concealer. If you want…
I’ve tried a lot of creams, gels, lotions and cleansers in my day, everything from La Mer to Walmart brands. Although I don’t doubt that some of the fancier and more expensive options can do wonders for our skin, I have found a few reasonably priced drugstore beauty products that keep my skin clear (expect…
In my late 20s, my skin started to show signs of sun damage, like age spots and broken capillaries. Pregnancy gave me melasma, which causes more discoloration on my face. My skin, suffice it to say, is starting to show its age. I thought it was time to try one of the many products on…