Sugar Kiss

If you haven't heard of eyeslipsface.com (elf), then you've been hiding under a rock for some time. All of the products that they offer are ridiculously affordable, and the quality is really great.

Recently, the site has introduced their Sugar Kiss collection. I'm fairly certain that the products are meant for tweens, but the packaging is so cute that I couldn't help but order a few of the items for myself!

My personal fave is the Kissing Lip Tint. Each hue is $1 and c'mon, how cute is the heart?

Check out the site and I'm positive that you'll fall in love with it immediately.

The Importance of a Good Quality Base Coat

I know that many of you ladies--myself included--are inclined to skip wearing a base coat when you're painting your nails. I get it. It's an added layer, which means more time waiting for your nails to dry and more bottles cluttering up your space. But wearing a base coat is a lot more important than you may think.

A couple years ago, I was really into wearing red nail polish. I never used a base coat and soon found that my nails had an ugly yellow tint to them. Not only was this disgusting, but it also made it difficult to wear pretty sheer pink polishes, as the yellow would show through a bit (sorry if that's TMI).

You can always simply bleach your nails, but that's horrible for your skin. If you've got yellowing nails, try rubbing lemon juice on the base of the nail (maybe for five minutes daily for a week) and the yellow hue should disappear. That said, it's really best to avoid the issue entirely.

The best basecoat I've found to date is Seche Base. It's a ridge filling basecoat, meaning that it smooths out all the little imperfections you may have, and it's main redeeming factor is that it's slightly shimmery. And I do love shimmer. It's actually pretty enough to wear on its own; just throw a top coat over it. It also adds a tid bit of shimmer to any color you wear over it.

You can buy Seche Base at drugstore.com (which, by the way, carries great products for way cheaper than actual drugstores) for $6.99.

Fabbity Fab Flats for Fall

Thank the Lord that flats are still in. I have really tiny feet and, much as I love heels, I really have a hard time balancing in anything; let alone tiny little heels.

Everyone's got great flats for sale these days. I keep seeing the best ones for very little money. These studded flats from Walmart (yes, Walmart) are really quite cute. Studs are in for Fall and the shape of the shoe is very classic.

I'd wear these with a pair of dark-wash jeans and a flirty lace top (with a cami underneath of course, you pervs).

An added bonus? The shoes retail for $20. How can you pass up a deal like that?

Beauty Blunder: Lash Gems

While browsing my favorite makeup sites, I came across the sale section of drugstore.com, which is usually an awesome experience for me. Unfortunately, I found these: Lash Gems courtesy of Too Faced.

Apparently, you're supposed to apply them to the tips of your lashes (or the base, I suppose) using the adhesive that is included in the kit. I've got a few problems with this.

1.) Using any type of glue on your lashes is dangerous. Not only does it irritate most eyes, it also is difficult to get off. Because of this, chances are that you'll rip out a couple lashes each time you take the gems off.

2.) Much as I love bling, I can't really imagine seeing anyone wear these in real life. Even at a New Year's Eve party, they'd be out of place.

3.) "Trendy" black gems are included in this set. I'm telling you right now that black gems will only look like clumps made by a horrible mascara that is well passed its prime.

The gems are on sale for $10.50. Still a bit pricey for such an ugly accessory. If you must purchase them, please just use them as nail gems or something. Otherwise, look forward to being eyelashless!

Plump Red Lips

Mmmm, I love lip gloss (obviously). I also love sales. Fusion Beauty's After Hours Bling Fusion delivers both of those things. Sephora is selling each jewel-encrusted tube for $29.

I'm a huge fan of red lips. Though it's still Summer, I think that red lips can work during all seasons. Summer is actually great for the look, as not many other people take such risks in warm weather. Most usually go for bronze shimmer all over with a hint of mascara (don't get me wrong, that look is also cute). That said, a nice neutral eye, barely there blush, and a pop or bright red lips really makes a statement. How classic would that look with a pair of large white sunglasses and a little black dress?

For those of you who haven't tried this brand, it's actually great for plumping--probably the best thing I've tried thus far. The actual color of the gloss is quite sheer. For more pop, I'd layer it on top of a bright lipstick, but it works well on its own too.

No More Foundation!

Inspired by my cousin's recent question regarding a good foundation, I've decided to post a blog about my new found alternative to full-faced foundation.

Yes, there are some great foundations out there. But not matter how pricey or finely milled they are, it's very difficult to avoid looking like you're wearing a mask.

Personally, my skin is what I call a transparent white, but it's one redeeming quality is its freckles. I love 'em and they make me unique. Wearing a layer of foundation just covers them up, rather than enhancing their cuteness.

Recently, I've started to skip foundation all together and just use concealer where I need it--making sure to blend thoroughly. For me, that includes the whole eye area [quick tip: concealer on your eyelid forces eye shadow to stick and last throughout the day], and anywhere that looks a bit red or is broken out. Dot it on then, I cannot stress this enough, blend blend, blend!

The result is a look that is both natural and flawless. My fave concealer is TruConceal foundation by CoverGirl. They offer a lot of color options for fair skin tones (like mine!) and the tubes are relatively cheap; $6.69 on drugstore.com.

Gorgeous Girly Guerlain Makeup

I love Guerlain's new Meterorites Pearl collection. The set delivers light-diffusing perfection while pastel-hued spheres hold the key to a glowing, immaculate complexion and luminescent lips. The effect is subtle, serene, and and gorgeous.

The line ranges from $29-66--a little pricey, but the brand is well-known for its highly pigmented products and each item is sure to last you a good amount of time. This particular collection features colors that are classic, youthful, and will never go out of style. Not bad, eh?

Stila Palette for $20!

Sephora sales are the bomb diggity. Originally prices at $40, this Stila eye shadow palette is now a mere $20.

The kit has 6 very wearable shades (yes, even the bright green is gorgeous if worn as a sheer wash). Stila's shadows are always very well-made and highly pigmented, and from the reviews I've read, these picks are no different.

Hooray for sales!

Fashion Faux Pas: Stupid Tees

Much as I love Forever 21, this "I Heart Stuff" tee shirt is pretty irritating. I don't care if the company is trying to be ironic or whatever, but if I see someone walking around with this on, I will immediately hate them.

What better way to say "I'm a b*tch who likes to spend money on random sh*t" than wearing a shirt like this? Sorry for the language, by the way.

Let's stick to cute tees (they're all over the place) and stop wearing shirts like this. No one will like you if you wear this. Seriously.

Nine West Twisted Sister Tote

I just hopped over to overstock.com and found a few goodies. My fave? The Nine West Twisted Sister Tote. I really like the turquoise color. It's bold enough to stand out, but the shade surprisingly goes with a plethora of outfits.

The best part is, the bags are on sale for a mere $17.99! This is really the type of bag that'll last you a while and is fairly seasonless. Fabbity fabulous!

Gorgeous Cropped Trench

If there are two things I love, they're cute Fall jackets and bargains. This cute little cropped trench has both of those things and I'm practically in love with it.

Forever 21 is selling this bad boy for $27.80, which is really quite a steal. This is the type of jacket that can be worn with virtually anything in your closet. Frankly, you could even pair it with a Summer dress for those chilly evenings. Other enjoyable features include: double-breasted chest, layered yokes on both chest and upper back, waist tie and full lining.

Yippee! This jacket [almost] makes me excited for colder weather!

Fashion Faux Pas: Crocs for Kids

I've written countless articles about my hatred towards Crocs. For some ungodly reason, people seem to think that they are stylish and comfortable. I see roughly 15 people wearing disgusting Crocs daily--and I don't really walk a ton!

The most disturbing thing I've recently witnessed is oodles of children sporting the hideous footwear. It's one thing to look like an idiot yourself, but please people, don't subject your kids to looking like fashion rejects before they have the ability to choose for themselves.

Apparently, Crocs are now family footwear. I've seen a gross am out of entire families wearing the shoes in a variety of colors and each time, I have to stop myself from writing them a "fashion ticket". Or simply screaming at them.

Dressing your children in Crocs is exactly one step above using one of those hideous leashes for kids. Both are cruel and highly offensive.

That is all.

Double-Sided Wonder

'Tis the season for traveling! Whether you're at the beach, traipsing all over Europe, or simply spending a weekend at your parent's (I feel sorry for you), packing tons of makeup brushes is a pain.

Sephora has tapped into this growing concern and created this amazing Double-Ended Perfect Complexion Brush. One end is fluffy and perfect for powder, while the other side is much more precise and works well with foundation and concealer. It doesn't hurt that the brush is pink either.

Also, both sides are incredibly soft and blend makeup just as well as all of Sephora's other makeup brushes.

Retailing at $35, this groovy brush is sure to be a long-lasting staple in your travel makeup bag--yes, I have a separate bag for traveling...I know, I'm crazy.

Cute as a Button

I'm from NH, so I've still got a bit of love for the whole artsy-craft look that's big around here. Also, I frequent craft fairs. So I'm basically 60 years old.

Regardless, my latest trip to a fair was pretty good. I managed to find this adorable button bracelet (for $10!). It's a stretchy bangle and I think it looks super funky.

The thing that's tough about accessories like this, is that lots of people see an item that's crafty and immediately want to pair it with more crafty things. The result of that is an outfit that looks like it was made in a barn--not very appealing. The way to wear something like this is to make sure that the rest of your outfit is classic, stylish, and well-tailored. That ensures that 1.) you won't look like a hick, and 2.) the accessory will stand out in a good way.

The bracelet is made by a small company based in Maine, Cute as a Button Designs. They don't have a website, but I can supply their email: hwoods@middlebury.edu. They make loads of things out of buttons and, living up to their name, everything really is cute as a button (har har har, I know I'm hilarious).

Christian Siriano's Fab VS Makeup Collection

Christian Siriano (of Project Runway fame) has just come out with his very own makeup collection for Victoria's Secret.

There are only a few items available, but all of them come in this gorgeous gold packaging and all the products are of the best quality. The collection is packed with great fall colors like rich plums, berry shades, and shimmery champagne tones.

The products range from $12-18 and are available at victoriassecret.com starting today, and in stores starting August 11.

Nordstrom's Gift With Purchase!

Nordstrom just introduced their latest gift with purchase for Fall and I loooove it!

First and foremost, plum is a huge color this season, so the makeup bag is a great accessory. Included in the set is:
• Anastasia Mini Mascara in Black (0.1 oz.)
• philosophy 'divine illumination' packette (0.1 oz.)
• Essie Mini Nail Polish in Really Red (0.16 oz.)
• Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex (10-Day Supply)
• L'Occitane Shea Butter Extra-Gentle Milk Soap (1.7 oz.)
• Shiseido 'Benefiance' Pure Retinol Instant Treatment Eye Mask (Single Treatment)
• Clarins Instant Make-Up Remover (1 oz.)
• Bliss 'Lemon + Sage' Body Butter (1 oz.)
• CAUDALIE Gentle Cleanser (1 oz.)
• Purple quilted cosmetics bag (10" x 3.5" x 3")

It's all really great stuff. I'm personally a fan of the mini Essie nail polish. It might sound crazy, but I'm prone to nail polish chipping, so I love keeping a bottle of it in my purse. Mini bottles are the best and the red shade never goes out of style.

The set is free with any $100 beauty or fragrance purchase.

Fashion Faux Pas: Denim Shirts

I'm in shock here. After reading one of my fave style mags (which I will not name, as it usually has good advice and i don't want to give it bad press), I have found out that denim shirts are "hot" right now. For women. In their 20s.

Here are the reasons why I find this unacceptable:

• No matter what type of pants you wear a denim top with, the result is not flattering. Jeans are tricky because wearing the exact same shade of denim makes it look like you're wearing a full-on denim suit, and mixing shades looks messy. Black or tan pants don't work either because they look a bit dressy for the whole super-casual-shirt thing.
• I can't think of one social occasion in which a denim shirt would be appropriate. They are, essentially, cowboy shirts.
• Even my fashion-challenged boyfriend thinks that the look is hideous saying, "You're kinda an asshole in them."

So there you have it. I'm sick and tired of these "trends" messing with people. This is a perfect example of us ladies needing to listen to our instincts and not rush out and buy anything simply because we hear it is "in"!

Sublime Sequins for Fall

In past seasons, sequins has always been a fashion faux pas--not quite acceptable to wear unless you happen to be a Broadway superstar or are certifiably insane. Now, in moderation, sequins are fabulously gorgeous!

The key is to limit yourself to one glitzy item. Keep the rest of your outfit toned down and let your shimmer shine! A great way to do this is by wearing a cute sequined top (like this one from Express for $29.50) with a simple pair of jeans. Personally, I'd wear the outfit with flats as to avoid the overly done up prostitute look. Accessory-wise, throw on a pair of simple stud earrings. The top is basically all the jewelry you'll need.

Oh, and a note to the fashion inept out there: even though sequins are in this season, please do not pull out any old sequined blazers with shoulder pads that you might have kickin' around from the 80s. They weren't cool then and they aren't cool now.

Lash Attack!

This post is kind of like a PSA for gals everywhere. I am going to share a piece of information with you that I have just learned myself (from a very reliable source):

IF YOU DO NOT WASH OFF YOUR MASCARA, YOUR EYE LASHES WILL FALL OUT.

Alright. I know that sounds overdramatic, but it's true. Wearing mascara overnight is horrible for your lashes. Mascara can clog your eyelash follicles, which leads to breakage and shedding. Shudder.

In fact, it's a good idea to skip mascara for a day or two a week to encourage growth. On those days, try applying a little Vaseline to your lashes. It not only adds essential oils to your lashline, it acts are a pseudo-mascara and adds shine to lashes.

So please ladies, let's make a pact to always wash our makeup off before we go to bed--no matter how tired we are!

These Earrings are Smokin'...Literally. Ew.

Good God, what has the world come to? I am such a fan of cute novelty earrings, but cigarette inspired ear wear? Not my cup of tea.

Girl Props thought it'd be a dandy idea to sell these cigarette earrings (in two different sizes, mind you) for $4.99. Supposedly, they are supposed to be "anti-smoking" earrings...okay. Still, they are ugly. I don't even like seeing cigarettes in real life, nevermind seeing them on my ears! If I ever see anyone wearing these, i will personally punch them in the face.

Simply unacceptable.