Happy Halloween!

No matter what your plans are, I hope that you all have a fabbity-fabulous Halloween!

As a little side note, how cute is this mask?! Check out all the fab holiday finds that Charming Charlie has to offer! Until last week, I had never been to a CC store, and I can honestly say that I'm now QUITE obsessed. More on that in the future!

Have a fun night, ladies!!

Say Yes to Smoochable Lips!

It's no secret that I have an obsession with all the products Yes to Carrots has to offer. So when I received their latest Yes To Naturally Smooth Lip Balm Collection, I was super excited to try it out.

With Winter right around the corner, it's important to have lip balm with you at all times. I know that my lips tend to dry out super easily, and I'm sure many of you have the same issue. This lip balm is perfect to keep in your purse, pocket, or desk drawer for the season.

The product itself is fabulous. There are grapefruit, pomegranate, and blueberry lip balm flavors. Each flavor has a light, subtle touch of flavor and scent. The balm is packed with moisturizing shea butter, aloe vera that’s rich in minerals and vitamins, cocoa seed butter to keep lips soft, and in some formulas you’ll even get a hint of SPF to protect lips.

I've been using one of these balms for the past few days, and I absolutely love it! My lips feel much healthier and moisturized. The added flavor is a nice bonus. PLUS: the balm is boyfriend approved!

Each lip balm is $2.99 and can be purchased on the Yes to Carrots site, as well as in select stores.

Disclosure: This post contains products sent for review consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Superb Store Spotlight: Dots

As much as I love to shop, I hadn't ever been in a Dots store until recently. I don't know why I never ended up going in the past, but I am so happy that I finally did!

The store that I went to (in Manchester, NH), had such a friendly staff. They were all super helpful during my shopping excursion--even when I gave them piles of clothing to put back after I had tried them on!

The feel of the store is actually much more like a boutique. The store has a lot to offer; from the amazing staff to the gorgeous things they sell, Dots isn't like most chain stores.

Another thing I loved--the prices are ridiculously affordable! Usually that means that the clothing falls apart the second you bring it home, but everything was of very good quality.

Here are some of my favorite looks from the store:

I love love love their Satin Trim All Over Sequin Tanks ($10). They come in oodles of colors and are great for a night out. I actually bought this top and wore it out of the store--I didn't want to take it off! In the past, I've tried wearing sequined tops, but due to my sensitive skin, I've always found them to be too itchy. That is not the case with this tank. The lining is smooth and very comfortable.

This outfit is great for in-between seasons. You can pair it with sandals if it's a warm day, or tuck the pants into boots and throw on a chic blazer if it's chilly! The Skinny Jeans in green ($21) aren't something I would usually go for, but the soft mint hue intrigued me. They're also the most comfortable pants that I've ever worn. I like that they aren't super bright, and that they are just a little different from regular denim. It makes them much more wearable. With the pants, I chose to wear a white Pheasant Top with Crochet Bib ($16). It was super comfy, and because of the detail at the top, it also looked unique and super pretty and dainty.

Without a doubt, this Tank Dress with Lace Detail ($18) was definitely my fave out of all the looks I tried. I've got quite a collection of little black dresses, but you can never have too many! The fit was perfect--it came down just enough to show off my legs, without revealing too much, and the lace on the neckline added a little bit of sexiness to the look. This is the type of thing that you can easily dress up or down, based on the accessories you choose. It is a Sassy Fashionista Must-Have!

What do you think of the looks? Make sure to either stop in a store near you, or check out what they've got online. I know I'll be doing that a ton now that I know how amazing everything is!

Stay fabulous and happy shopping!

Disclosure: This post contains products sent for review consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Sniff This: Victoria's Secret Night

It's no secret that I'm a HUGE fan of everything Victoria's Secret has to offer. In particular, their fragrances are always amazing!

Their latest scent, Victoria's Secret Night, is rapidly becoming my favorite perfume.

Inspired by a supermodel’s night out, this sensual, warm fragrance is the sexiest way to own the night. Take it from me. The tempting eau de parfum embodies glamour and intrigue, with a sensual cocktail of sparkling fruity notes, exotic florals, dark woods and sultry musks.

You can purchase the eau de parfum by itself for $52-$68.

That said, I actually think it's way better to buy the Night Gift Clutch, so that you can try everything out. The set includes lotion, body wash, and fragrance mist. The great thing about the set is that you can layer the scent on. When you use products that all have the same fragrance, the scent lasts much longer.

As a little side note, the scent has been boyfriend approved! Yay!

Oh, and did I happen to mention that the trio comes in a super adorable clutch? I'm always a sucker for makeup bags that can double as clutches for  night out, and this one is just perfect.

The set retails for $39.50, which is a fantastic price, considering that it's worth about $75.


Disclosure: This post contains products sent for review consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Eco-Friendly Baubles by Silvana K (And a GIVEAWAY!)

I've always loved unique jewelry. So when I found the Silvana K Collection, I was beyond excited! All of her products are handcrafted from recycled metals, and look fabulous. I really want every single thing her shop has to offer.

I'm currently loving this gorgeous Scissors Cuff Bracelet (pictured). I've honestly never seen anything like it in my life! It's classy, unique, and makes a great addition to any outfit. Bonus? Like most cuffs, the bracelet is adjustable, so it fits all wrist sizes.

Now for the extra fun part! Silvana K has teamed up with Sassy Fashionista for an awesome giveaway!

I have one fabbity-fabulous Scissors Cuff to give away to a super lucky reader.

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "SILVANA K". The giveaway ends 10/30 and the winner will be alerted via email.

Good luck, ladies!

The Scissors Cuff retails for $120. I think it's the perfect price for something this gorgeous. I know I'll be getting one for myself! You can also check out all of her other designs--and trust me, you'll fall in love with them immediately! They're sold at Silvana K Designs Facebook Page, Handbags.com , Nimli.com and in Fine Boutiques Nation wide .


Disclosure: This post contains products sent for giveaway consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Fashion Faux Pas: Harem Pants (Yes, AGAIN!!!)

Okay, a few years ago, I started seeing "harem pants" all over the place. Of course, my sass took over and I blogged about it. Multiple times.

Am I crazy??! Why are these pants so ridiculously trendy?? Why is everyone selling them? And why do they keep getting upgrades, like "funky" patterns and drawstring waistbands??

As far as I can see, these are just poorly-cut pajama pants.

I've said this about a million times, but here are the facts:

• The cut of harem pants make everyone look at least 10 lbs heavier. Because there is so much excess fabric around the thigh area, and because they nip in at the ankles, they simply make it look like you have a huge ass as well as have some sort of crotch issue. Like a horrifying "front ass", or something of the like. Not cute.
• No matter what "fancy" pattern you print them in, poorly cut pants will continue to have the same effect time and time again. The print actually makes it worse.
• A drawstring waist?? Seriously? Do I need to explain this?

The only people who should be wearing something even remotely close to these stupid clown-esque pants are older women, who want something comfy to wear around the house. And I really want to stress it when I say around the house. Because even a senile 100-year-old lady has no business running to the store in a pair of these.

So spread the world, fellow fashionistas! I do NOT want to have to write about this again. It might get pretty violent.

That is all.

Shop for a Cause at Sephora (AND a Giveaway)!

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the always fabulous Sephora is offering up tons of must-have products to celebrate the cause, and the proceeds go to BCA foundations (info on that can be found by clicking the individual links for each item).

Pictured above are my top picks of limited-edition BCA products from Sephora.

1. Sephora Collection Together In Pink Hair Ties ($6) - This pack of four, perfectly pink hair ties are functional, super cute, and can even double as bracelets when they're not in your hair.
2. Marc Jacobs Fragrance Daisy Hot Pink Edition ($79) - The signature Daisy eau de Parfum premiers in a new hot pink, limited-edition bottle. Honestly? I'd buy it for the bottle alone. But the  wild strawberry and light floral scent is super yummy too.
3. Tweezerman Breast Cancer Awareness Slant Tweezer ($22) - This award-winning stainless steel slant tweezer comes in an adorable pink hue, is adorned with the iconic ribbon (in hot pink!), and even has a Swarovski™ Elements sparkle. As a side note, I own multiple pairs of Tweezerman tweezers and they work better than any other brand out there. Plus, how cute are they in pink?!
4. Sephora Collection Together in Pink Brush Set ($36) - Stylishly packed into a pink snakeskin makeup bag, this five-piece brush set is perfect for traveling, or daily use. The brushes included are: a flat powder brush, an angled shadow brush, a domed shadow brush, a smudge brush, and an angled liner brush. They all work incredibly well--no surprise there!
5. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion ($38) - Last, but not least, this fantastic lotion is always in my medicine cabinet. Since my skin is ultra sensitive and dry, using this lotion daily makes a huge difference to my skin. This is one of those products that everyone needs to own. And what better time to try it than when it comes with a pretty little BCA keychain?
   

All of the products are great and I highly suggest you buy one (or all) of them--it's for a good cause!!

Feeling lucky? I have one Sephora Collection Together in Pink Brush Set to give a reader!

To enter, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "SEPHORA". The giveaway ends 10/21 and the winner will be alerted via email.

Good luck, ladies!

And be sure to check out Sephora for more beauty finds!

Disclosure: This post contains products sent for review & giveaway consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Makeup Tips for Gals with Glasses

Whether you wear glasses because you actually need to see, or because you find them to be super trendy, you've probably had some trouble finding the right makeup routine. Trust me--your makeup options are not as limited as you think! Following the right steps will turn you from clueless nerd to a fashionista in no time.

1. The Base

Glasses will leave unflattering marks in liquid or cream foundation, so switch to a mineral foundation. Use a powder brush to swirl it all over your face and set it with a mineral powder.  

2. Neutral Eyes

When choosing a shadow for your framed eyes, pick one that compliments not only your eyes but also the color of your frames. Your safest choice is a warm, neutral tone that goes with everything. Shimmery shadows are also great and really make your eyes pop. 

3. Delicate Liner

Heavy eyeliner, especially with thick framed glasses, can be a little much. When you're applying eyeliner, mimic the thickness of your frames. To create the illusion of a lifted, youthful eye, make the outer liner thicker than the liner towards your inner eye. 

4. Bold Brows

Your eyebrows are much more noticeable when you’re wearing glasses, so make them stand out! Make sure they are nicely groomed and shaped. Define your brows by using an eyebrow pencil.

5. Mega Lashes

Be sure to use an eyelash curler--this is very important-- to make your lashes look extra glam. The eyelash curler will also prevent them from hitting your lenses (bonus!). Apply two to three coats of waterproof or smudge proof mascara. Be sure your lashes are completely dry before putting your glasses back on.

6. Bright Blush and Lips

Now that your glasses are back on you’ll be able to determine exactly where your blush should go. Try something pretty and pink. Give your pout some punch by finishing with an eye catching lipstick. Red is always classic, but switch it up with bright pink or tropical tangerine.

Wine Not?

I'm totally loving Sally Hansen's latest Complete Salon Manicure polish colors. My fave? The delightfully titled "Wine Not?" polish that looks awesome on all skintones.

Fall usually makes me want to bust out my darker hued polishes, but this year I wasn't really into it as much.  That's why I absolutely adore this new shade.  It's dark enough to be on trend for the season, but also has a bright-ish punch of color to it. It's the perfect shade!

Often times, new nail polish colors come out that really don't go with anything. But this hue is great for any occasion. And it seems to go with tons of my outfits magically, so I'm definitely in love!

I've always loved the Complete Salon Manicure polishes. They come in so many fab colors, and I can usually apply one medium-thick coat for it to immediately turn opaque. It also dries quicker than other nail polishes I've tried.

The one thing that I'm not a fan of is the fact that the polish claims to have a base coat and a top coat built in, so you don't have to worry about applying them. But after trying to sport just the polish, I noticed that it chipped quicker than usual and, because there was no top coat, it didn't look shiny or gorgeous.

Aside from that, this stuff is fantastic! Just make sure to apply your regular base and top coats for the best results.

Each bottle of polish is about $6 and you can find them at most drugstores.

My Latest Obsession: Floral Betsey Johnson Dress

Oh Betsey Johnson, you've done it again!

I've always been a HUGE fan of all things in her collection (especially the handbags!), but I recently found this super cute Floral Strapless Party Dress and I'm absolutely smitten with it.

Teal is actually one of the colors that is in style for the season.  I love it because we don't usually see a lot of bold colors in the Fall.

The cut of the dress and the floral print makes it look a bit vintage and unique, which makes it the perfect dress.

What I really like is the fact that you can wear this for any occasion. Pair it with heels and some earrings with some bling to dress it up, or wear it with flats and a cardigan to dress it down. You can also wear it when it starts to get chilly outside--just throw on a pair of opaque tights!

This dress is definitely on my wishlist (hint, hint). It's a little pricey at $188.00, but because it can be worn for literally anything, anytime, it's really a good investment...or at least that's what I'm telling myself to justify it!

Get Your Glow On! Plus a GIVEAWAY!!!

I've always been a HUGE fan of neon-hued nails. So when I got the Ciaté Corrupted Neon manicure set, I was obviously ridiculously excited to give it a go!

So I went with the pink kit, since--let's face it--pink nails are one of my fave accessories.

Each kit contains a bottle of polish, a bottle of glitter, and a black light top coat.

I really liked the way that the polish applied. It came out evenly and the color was gorgeous. After painting my nails, I went straight for the glitter. It needs to be applied before the polish dries. I knew this would be the trickiest and messiest part, so I set up a bunch of paper towels to do the deed. Basically, the glitter bottle contains loose glitter that is the same color as the polish. You just lightly sprinkle it onto the nail until you're satisfied. At this point, it's time to apply the black light top coat. Again, this applied like a dream! It was thick enough to hold the glitter onto my nails, but not so thick that it took forever to dry.

Here's the end result:

Pretty cute, right? And since different textures are all the rage for nail polish, this matte-ish, almost gritty, glittery look is perfect for Fall! 

Here's a look at what happens with a black light:

It was tough to get a good picture, but I think this shows the bold brightness fairly well.

After you master the look, you can apply the polishes in different, unique ways. The black light top coat works over the neon polish sans glitter, so I suggest trying the glitter on your ring finger as an accent nail. You can definitely be creative!

The sets come in four different colors: pink, yellow, orange, and blue. All of them are fabulous. Each kit retails for $25 at Sephora.

But now for the best part--Ciaté has teamed up with Sassy Fashionista for an amazing giveaway! I've got four kits (one in each color) to give away to four lucky readers! 

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "Ciaté" and include which color you'd like.  You can only enter once for ONE COLOR, so choose wisely! The giveaway ends 10/15 and the winners will be alerted via email.

Good luck, ladies!

Disclosure: This post contains products sent for giveaway consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Blush Rules to Break

When I started wearing blush, I remember somehow knowing random rules...like the fact that you should "never pair bright blush with bright lipstick". And I just went with it.  Blush is particularly tricky, and it can be easy to fall into a rut with it. Most of us are just afraid of looking like a clown, prostitute, or some sort of hybrid clown-prostitute (trust me--they exist).

But of course there have been lots of updates over the years.  Here are a few old "blush rules", and how to break them!

Old Rule: Combat inevitable fading by reapplying blush.
New Rule: Layer on different formulas for extra longevity.
First, apply a primer and follow with a cream blush. Dust a powder blush on top and blend.

Old Rule: Steer clear of bright lipstick if you’re wearing blush.
New Rule: A bold lip and flushed cheeks can be a spectacular duo. Just make sure to pick complementary shades: Match the undertones of your lipstick to the blush and stick within the same color family. That means cool tones go with cool tones and likewise with warm tones. Coral blush and tomato-red lips? Go for it, girl!

Old Rule: Pick a shade and stick with it.
New Rule: Don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zoneBright pink shades seem intimidating, but most of them go on fairly sheer. If you’re out to find a harmonious shade for your skin, gently pinch your cheeks and match that shade to your blush color.

Old Rule: Only apply blush to the apples of your cheeks.
New Rule: Blush isn't just for the cheeksFor a natural, unified flush, blend the pigment out towards your ears, dust a bit across the brow bone, and finish with a light swipe down the middle of the nose.

Old Rule: Never wear blush and bronzer at the same time.
New Rule: The pair actually looks great together as long as you don’t go overboard.
Once you've finished putting on blush, apply bronzer where the sun naturally hits your face: forehead, temples, the tip of your chin, and the bridge of your nose.

Beauty Products on the go!

I am SO excited about this!! Benefit has come up with an amazing Glam Up & Away beauty kiosk that includes some of the best beauty products they have to offer. Everything is travel-friendly. The kits are small enough so that even the toughest TSA won’t turn them away. Huzzah!

By the end of 2013, Benefit is planning on having 25 locations where you can buy these fab products when you're in a rush to catch your flight.

Here are a few places that already have this groovy kiosk:

• Austin International Airport
• New York JFK, Terminals 2 & 5
• Savannah-Hilton Head Airport
• Houston International Airport
• McCarren International Airport (Las Vegas)
• Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport
• Nashville International Airport
• Minneapolis St-Paul International Airport
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

How amazing is this??! I want to go to an airport ASAP just to grab makeup from a vending machine, because--let's face it--there's nothing cooler than that.

I love that beauty is branching out like this. No longer will we have to suffer because we forgot an important makeup product! Benefit comes to the rescue!