Thursday, February 28, 2013

Beauty Secrets Revealed Volume III





I love knowing any beauty-related tips and secrets. I shared some with you in volume one and two. If you are selfishly hoarding some of your own secrets, you better email me at SobbingOnFifth@gmail.com and share them! Include your first name, if I love it I will feature it next month and give you credit!


1.)  Get A Natural-Looking Glow
     Want to look like you were just tanning at the beach and not like you turned into an orange oompa loompa? Use a pinkish cream blush on the apples on your cheeks and then grab your biggest, fluffiest brush and sweep bronzer all over your face. (Don’t forget your neck and chest!

2.)  No More Bubbly Polish
     I posted about the Essie Polish Nothing Else Metals and heard from two readers they had a problem with it bubbling! Try this for no more bubbles: make sure that you swipe each nail with an acetone polish remover (even if you didn’t have polish on). Start with a base coat and let it dry completely. When you are using a polish like this don’t shake it before using - the way you would with a regular polish. You can gently turn it upside down a few times to get it moving if needed, but do that at the beginning of the manicure before the base coat and give it time to sit. If you are doing two coats of polish make sure that the first one is completely dry before applying the second coat and make sure each coat is thin – not thick gloppy coats!

3.)  Make Your Eyes Pop
     Big, open, wide awake eyes? Yes, please. Do your eye makeup however you want – you know your look. BUT when you finish, you want to take a shimmer shadow - gold, pink, silver, whatever you choose - and tap it with a brush onto the ball of your eyelid.

4.)  Big, Pouty Lips
     The same way you make your eyes look bigger works on your lips, as well. Apply your lipstick, gloss, or whatever you use normally. Now take your shimmery powder and dot your ring finger into it - a little goes a long way. Lightly tap your finger into the center of your bottom lip and pouty, here we come.

5.)  Silky, Soft Skin
     Winter is drying – you want to make sure you are moisturizing everyday. The best way to do that is to use a body oil AND a body moisturizer. After showering, apply the body oil from the neck down when your skin is still damp. Follow that with a moisturizer from the neck down. 

Perfectly Glosses Kisses,

Sutton

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

What an Andrew Jackson Gets You at Forever 21

Back for more $20 accessory updates - what can I say, I'm an accessories junkie and sometimes it's good to get a new look with what I was going to spend on lunch. Or something. And I have a feeling you don't mind, either. Today, Forever 21. I don't shop at Forever 21 for anything other than jewelry, nor do I condone doing so for any of you (::cough, cough:: flammable). But when it comes to fast fashion, trend-du-jour accessories, why not? They've got good stuff, and it's cheap.

 
Chunky yet glamorous chokers and short necklaces are a must right now, perfect for peeking out of collared shirts and contrasting a tomboyish look with a flash of opulence. At $12.80, this one surely beats any of the pricier versions you'll see, and it packs just as much sparkle.


 
Or, take an edgier approach with this rhinestone-embellished spike necklace. The spikes sort of have this bullet/icicle effect - pretty directional stuff for Forever 21, and makes it look way more than its $7.80 price.


  
A set of bracelets is always going to the best deal because you're getting a few bracelets for the price of one - in this case, the low price of $7.80. You can wear them alone, together, or as part of even bigger stack. And these are feminine and glamorous enough to stand on their own or create a really cool mix.

Nothing's better than when an accessory strikes the perfect balance of edgy and feminine - it will literally complement every outfit, for anyone's style, with a hint of glamour and a hint of attitude. Plus, the contrast is just so cool. This bracelet, with glittering beads and spikes, sums up that aesthetic, and all for $4.80. 

 
How fun is this chain ring set? It will add a pop of color to your look without stealing the show - bold yet subtle. And totally easy to wear with any ensemble - for just $3.80. 

 
This ring has some Pamela Love attitude going on. It's edgy but not flashy - very Southwestern cool. And just $3.80.

  
Geometric jewelry sharpens your look with cool, and the results are instant and effortless. These earrings will punctuate your look on just the right note - sleek but directional. And it's kind of unbelievable that they're just $3.80. 

 
Just $6.80, these earrings look much richer than their price. They will lend your look a dose of vintage glamour, providing an opulent finish that can either complement ladylike outfits or pop against edgier ensembles.

With these low prices, you can score a multitude of different combinations. Get the crystal choker for $12.80 and the bracelet set for $7.80. Or, instead of the bracelet set, you could get both the spike bangle and the colorful chain ring set. You could get the spike necklace with the chain ring set, Pamela Love-style ring AND geometric earrings. You could get the vintage-looking earrings with the spike bangle and the spike necklace - you get the idea. I'm not a mathematician but I know the possibilities are endless.

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Makeup Shelf Life



In case you haven't noticed, I love makeup. Yes, I do have a plethora, but I have one (okay five) makeup bags full. I also have different items floating around all my bags, bathroom vanity, closet, basically over my apartment. Pinkie swear I opened my sock drawer this morning and found an Urban Decay eye shadow. Some may call me a hoarder, but I can't help it! If I see something I don't own I obviously have to buy it. I love changing up my looks, smoky eyes, red lips, bright shadows, etc. I do not want to have one makeup palette and do the same look every day, bor-ing. With that said, you may love your products but that doesn't mean you get to keep them forever. Do you drink milk past its expiration date? I didn't think so. I am going to break down how long you can keep your loved products. If any of your products start to have a funky smell or change consistency you know to toss them ASAP, but it isn't always that obvious, you really need to keep track of when you purchased and opened them. I know it sounds crazy but I do recommend writing the date right onto the product.

MASCARA
2 to 4 months
Unfortunately, this product has the shortest life. Hopefully you are using it enough that you will run low before you need to toss it. You will know it's past its due date if it starts to get clumpy. Every single time you pull the mascara wand out, apply to your eyes and stick it back into the tube it collects bacteria. Pink eye, redness, itchiness, sties? No, thank you. Also, I know you will let your BFF share your Prada bag and in turn she will let you wear her Chloe jacket. While I admire your generosity, mascara should not be held to the same standard. Mascara sharing is a sure way to share germs, eww.

EYELINER
Liquid 2 to 4 months and pencil 2 to 4 months (unless you are sharpening it regularly.)
Liquid eyeliner is similar to mascara and will only last two to four months. But a pencil eyeliner can last much longer. When you use a sharpener you are removing the part that is close to your eye and are therefore removing the bacteria ridden area, yuck. PS- you need to clean your sharpener, as well!

POWDER: foundation, blush and eye shadow
2 to 3 years
Powders can last a long time if you treat them right. If you apply with a brush, clean it regularly so that it doesn't spread germs to the powder. If you apply products with your finger, make sure you wash your hands! You will know it's time to toss when the product starts to become flaky.

LIQUID FOUNDATION AND CONCEALER
Water based 6 to 12 months and oil based 12 to 18 months
The upside of these liquids is that you don't need to directly dip your fingers or a brush into them to get the product, therefore you are not adding any bacteria to the product. Definitely time to say goodbye if the product is separating into layers even after shaking it up. 

LIP GLOSS & LIPSTICK
Gloss: 1 year and lipstick: 2 years
If you lipstick becomes dry you know it's time to toss, and if your gloss is extra sticky say bye-bye to that as well. If you have a ton of lipsticks and like to change up your looks (aka you are not wearing the same one every day) store them in the fridge and they will last longer.
PERFUME
8 to 10 years
Of course if your perfume smells weird it is time to get rid of it, which is quite obvious because you wouldn't wear it anyway! As you learned in my perfume post you should store them somewhere dark.

NAIL POLISH
1 to 2 years
This is another product, like lip gloss and lipstick, that will last longer in the fridge. If you love your polish and have a hard time tossing it, then get some nail polish thinner and add it to a polish that seems a bit clumpy. (A few drops of nail polish remover will work almost as well). Add that and shake it up. If it is STILL clumpy and separated it's time to cut your losses.
OTHER PRODUCTS
Shampoo and conditioner: 3 years
Shower gel and bar soaps: 3 years
Bath oils: 1 year
Hairspray (and other alcohol-based hair styling products) 4 to 5 years
Shaving cream and deodorant: 2 years
Sunscreen: check the expiration date (sunscreen will always have an expiration date on it, and will not work past that date!)
Body lotions and creams: 2 years

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

Monday, February 25, 2013

SOF Scoop: Christina Yi

SOF: What motivated you to start your own line?

Christina Yi: I've always wanted to start my own line because it gives me the creative freedom and allows me to provide a way for people like me to express themselves.

SOF: Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

CY: Inspiration for me is pulled from everything in life.  It could be an emotion, shape, texture, literature, history or anything that triggers a deeper connection to me.


(At the FW13 show - photo credit: Sam Gold)


SOF: Who are your biggest style icons and influencers?

CY: This is a hard question.  I would have to say at the moment it is Daphne Guinness, Rooney Mara, Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, Christina Ricci, Johnny Depp, Ryan Gosling, there's so many that I can't really name them all ^_^

SOF: Who is the woman you design for, what is her life like?

CY: The woman I design for is a fearless and confident person who isn't afraid to express who she is.  She's cultured and enjoys every part of life while she travels the world to defeat the odds.

SOF: Your designs are bold in their artful feel and edge, yet they're very flattering and incredibly made. What are some tips you have for women in how to wear these pieces, how to style them?

CY: These pieces are made to be worn effortlessly and easy to wear from day to evening.  They are easy to mix and match with each other or with whatever else is in your closet.  If you want to make a statement, these are the garments you want to style with your favorite heels.


 (At the FW13 show - photo credit: Sam Gold)


SOF: What lies in the future for your line, where do you hope to see it go over the coming years?

CY: I would love to see my line in boutiques across the nation in the near future.  And I would love to have key people wear garments from my label.  In the future, I hope to apply for notable awards and see where it could go from there.  

SOF: Where do you shop, online and/or brick-and-mortar?

CY: My favorite go-to shops online and/or brick-and-mortar are luisaviaroma.comasos.com,
skingraftdesigns.com, and the y3 store. If I'm in Soho, then Zara or Atrium. to name a few.

SOF: What is the last thing you bought?

CY: The last thing I purchased was a pair of Y-3 Summa.  Love Love them!

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Lazy Beauty Sunday


Yay! My lazy day is finally here. Time to sit back, relax, and not go outside into this chilly NYC weather. I am in major need of some relaxation and moisturization. Today I needed to concentrate on moisture – winter is zapping my moisture from head to toe.



I needed to get in the tub and have a luxurious soak. If you know anything then you know a hot bath or shower is amazing… and can strip your skin of moisture. So enjoy it but don’t forget your skin. Not to fret- I have the answer. I am using mybody probiotic bath and shower gel. I love the revitalizing citrus coconut scent. This one of a kind product cleans your skin but it doesn’t dry it out. Poured some in my tub, sat back, and relaxed…

         


Don’t forget your luscious locks- I didn't! I am obsessed with Beauty Society’s Redemption Shampoo and the Redemption Conditioner. It is 2013 and you need to get with the program, the hair program that is. No more sulfates on your hair! This shampoo is gentle, yet it truly cleans and removes any oil and buildup. I promise if you use this shampoo and conditioner your hair will be shinier, stronger and restored, especially if your hair is damaged. With Keratin and Biotin you will reveal hair you never knew you had.



Okay, enough relaxing in the tub, lazy girl, time for to get out! Next, I coated some of mybody's probiotic cream all over my body. Using the products together are perfection. Instead of only coating your skin with moisture it does something better- the probiotics HEAL your skin from the inside out!


Now that my hair and body are in tip top shape, we’re done right? No, not right. Aren't you forgetting a very important thing? Yes, your pretty face.  The last step of my relaxing day is using Osmotics Cosmeceuticals Anti Radical Age Defense Moisture Veil. Just because your skin is dry, a super thick moisturizer might not be ideal for you skin. Sometimes lightweight moisturizers are better… but aren’t always the most moisturizing. Okay, I am talking in circles.  But I have discovered a perfect product- moisturizing and lightweight. This product will add the moisture right back into your skin without the heaviness that can make my skin oily, perfect for all skin types- even if your skin is combination or oily. This moisturizing is like wearing armor on your face - well soft, luscious armor. Is that a thing? Anyway, it of course moisturizes your skin but it also protects your skin. No aging signs coming my way, thank you very much.

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

Friday, February 22, 2013

What We're Wearing

Today I was feeling a bit intergalactic so I painted my nails with Essie's Nothing Else Metals, so they could travel through the galaxies. Too much? Well, whatever, this polish is out of this world. Okay, I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself. Metallic lavender, lilac color is gorgeous. 





Perfectly Glossed Kisses,


Sutton





This Guns N' Roses sweatshirt is proving quite the smart buy for me. I wear it so much that I'm pretty sure the cost-per-wear is that Urban Outfitters is paying me. I just love a good rock tee and crazy skirt, as you all know by now, so this sweatshirt is the winter version. I feel like the skirt changes the entire look. (You may disagree but maybe that's because you just don't have a shirt like this in your life yet so THERE.) Here I've layered it over a printed flannel shirt for just a pop of print at the top, and then I added my beloved Sandro skirt. It's got an orange underlay that looks red with its long mesh overlay, and even though it's an awkward length on me, I'm addicted.


Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Deborah Lippmann's Mermaid's Kiss for Spring 2013




As you know, I LOVED Deborah Lippmann’s “I’m Not Edible” polish that will come out this spring. Well, I couldn’t wait and needed to try a new polish. I figured out a way to get my greedy fingers on “Mermaid’s Kiss.” This polish is from her new 2013 Spring/Summer Collection. You can preorder one of the four colors for this selection at Neiman Marcus. It will come in Mermaid’s Kiss (shown here), Million Dollar Mermaid (Orange), Do the Mermaid (Purple) and Mermaid's Eyes (teal/aqua). Don’t you want a mermaid to kiss your nails as well?


Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

SOF Scoop: Inside Vaunte with Founders Christian Leone & Leah Park



A friend first introduced me to Vaunte a few weeks ago and I instantly fell in love. It incorporated all of my favorite aspects of online shopping and fashion sites into this new, exciting hybrid I'd never seen before. Vaunte presents the closets of stylish women, from magazine editors to socialites. You can shop their closets, and even learn a little more about them. Each closet is framed in a personal light, telling that woman's story with a look inside her home and who she is. It changes the landscape of shopping - not only are you buying a truly amazing designer piece, but you are buying into a piece of its history. Vaunte's founders Christian Leone and Leah Park believe that who fashion features needs to travel beyond movie stars to women with great style and points of view.

Oh, and if you want to check out Vaunte - and you should - here is a special invite for SOF readers!

SOF: How did the idea for Vaunte come about? What was the process like taking it from the initial idea to where it is today?

Leah: Christian and I met at Gilt Groupe, we both had luxury fashion backgrounds. We obviously immediately clicked, we were in charge of the site, the brand, the voice, the shoots - and Christian was responsible for all the big brands we were able to get. Christian's background is so incredible, VP of Communications at Armani - he's the one who knows everyone in fashion, I'm the brainiac, the nerd.
I was at Gilt for almost five years, Christian was there for four and a half - we both loved Gilt dearly but wanted to work with each other. There's so many fantastic women out there, but only celebrities get featured in magazines, you have to be an actor or on a reality show. We were talking about Christian's friends and how amazing it would be to feature real women, go into their closets and look at their clothes - like how my sister and I shop each other's closets. Christian just asked his friends, like Nina Garcia, and we started shooting his best friends. We've been up for two months and it's amazing...
A lot of these women we are featuring and profiling have real style and great clothes. It isn't about a stylistic approach to these women, it's about going into their homes, closets and lifestyles. It's about choosing the great pieces we want to sell, that are in great condition - there's a great value in that. Everything is beautiful whether one or four seasons old. And it's kind of a voyeuristic approach - we see their lives, how they interact with their families - it's a personal thing we're doing.
We want to create a social set called "starlets." Anyone with a great point of view should be celebrated - we're hoping to change people's ideas about who is a celebrity. You don't have to be an actor! Celebrities can simply be someone with great style and vision! They have great stories, and they're real women.


SOF: You guys are a dream team of technology, fashion and e-commerce. How do your backgrounds contribute to creating the formula for Vaunte's success?

Leah: Before Gilt, I was responsible for re-branding at Bergdorf, creating 5F. I was the first person to redesign the magazine. Before that, it was the holy grail, no one could touch it, so that was so amazing. When I went to Gilt, same thing: I was able to create this brand. It was unheard of, no fashion house was online - I was actually made fun of, no one thought these fashion brands could be fresh and exciting and online.
Christian: I moved to NY in 1996 and have always worked in fashion. My first job was at Paul Wilmont. Eleanor Lambert was a fashion PR icon and introduced me to the whole industry, and got me my first job at Wilmont. I worked at Hamptons Magazine and Ocean Drive. I saw how fashion changed from then to today. There was no online fashion then, it was about fashion houses relating to magazines. But magazines brought the coverage of the social world to the celebrity world. The celebrity aspect is about sales. Fashion could be more fun and now it's become very serious, because it's such a money-making industry with the celebrity factor and sales - everything is strategy. But real women are a great source. We're not opposed to celebrities, but it becomes a whole other thing and loses what these special, stylish women are. We've been focusing on women in NY and recently in LA and San Francisco to find and identify these women. If you're a woman in St. Louis you can identify with these women, they have careers and families. If you love fashion, this is a direct link.


SOF: For all potential Vaunte sellers out there, what are you looking for when it comes to what sells on Vaunte?

Christian: Nothing really so specific, but we like that woman who encompasses everything - she's attractive, intelligent, has something to say, a point of view. Like when you're at a dinner party and you're next to the most beautiful woman and she has nothing to say. We want to find these women who have something to say and give them a voice. This is real curation. These women [that are featured on Vaunte] have been purchasing a collection for themselves. Some branch out and are adventurous. Some have things they've never even worn. It's so interesting, the differences between them.
Leah: We do look for luxury brands and make sure they're in great condition. We value them by bringing them to our in-house brand merchandiser. They make sure it's current and relevant now. We had one closet that was only vintage Chanel, it sold amazingly. We want it to be something we're proud of. You don't come to Vaunte to sell your cast-offs, you come to sell something you treasure but just won't wear it often enough. I had a Chanel bag from Bergdorf that I didn't wear after two years, but loved, so I passed it on.
We had closet professionals go in and assess that women only wear 20% of their closets! 80% are unused. We realized we had something there, to tap into that 80% women aren't wearing but love.  

SOF: Who are some of the style icons you're loving right now - and would love to feature on Vaunte?

Christian: Gwyneth Paltrow, Aerin Lauder, they're different but similar - we would love to do those two.
Leah: Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, Carine Roitfeld - I love their combination of vintage, easy, sexy, edgy and black.
Christian likes an uptown lady look, I like edgy and black. No one is more elegant than Christian. 
Christian: We have two distinct styles, that's the whole thing about fashion. I can appreciate the downtown eclectic look, but I gravitate toward uptown lady - but it all depends on who you are and what you're doing. I admire a woman who is so well dressed and put together. I love a beautiful and stylish lady, but also someone who has something to say, and a real firecracker.


SOF: Where do you shop - after Vaunte, of course! What are your favorite online and brick and mortar stores?

Leah: In New York I'm at Curve and KiKi. In LA it's Maxfield.
Christian: I love Bergdorf. I think the men's store is so well done, they have everything I like and want. I also like Uniqlo, their jeans are my favorite. I'm obsessed with their cashmere sweaters. It's that high and low mix. I also love Fred Segal in LA.


SOF: What is the last thing you bought?

Christian: Online - it was Vans. They make customized shoes and I got camouflage with orange trim.
Leah: While I was at Maxfield in LA, I bought a beautiful Thomas Wylde gown, it's like a champagne color. It's elegant and I usually don't do elegant.

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

SOF Street Style

Special NYFW edition of SOF street style today! We didn't get as much street style time as we would've wanted to because Nemo is a jerk, but here are some of our favorite looks - not the craziest, loudest, etc. - or, sometimes, they were - but just the ones we kinda wish we were wearing or the ones we wish we were friends with just to be around their awesome style.







Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

Monday, February 18, 2013

Easy Braid Styles That Make You Look Like a Hair Pro

I remember the good old days when Frederic (Fekkai, of course) would come over to do our hair... now that we are left to our own devices we needed to figure out an alternative. Here are a few braids we tried.

Braided Top Knot 



For this one start by making a high pony tail; almost on top of your head.


Now braid the ponytail, you want it to be a lose messy braid. No need to worry about perfection here!




After you have braided it, tie the end with an elastic. Now the fun part: wrap the braid around the ponytail. Try to get it mostly above the top of your head. Use bobby pins to hold it in place. Tuck the end of the hair, with the elastic on it underneath and secure it with a pin so that you can't see it.


Pleated Mermaid Braid
  




This 'do was Astor's favorite! First sweep all your hair to the side and then put in two braids.



The braids will look uneven but that is fine because they won't  be hanging down your back.


Take out both of the elastics at the ends of each braid and tie each braid together with only one elastic.


Now you want to line up the braids next to each other.


Time to connect the braids. Use bobbypins and push them through the middle of each braid so they are connected into one giant mermaid braid!


The last step is to cover up the elastic at the end. Just take a piece of hair and wrap it around the elastic. Pin it in place and you're ready to go.

 
 


Braided Ballerina Bun



You want to start with a high ponytail, very tight, and no bumps! After that's done split your hair in half and braid each side, you will want these braids to be very tight.
 

Finally, wrap each braid around the ponytail again, very tightly! Secure with bobbypins and you are all set!

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton
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