Beauty Secrets Revealed Volume VIII - Summer Edition and Giveaway!

Every month I share some of my beauty secrets (you can see previous posts below). I have an unlimited vault of them! This month is extra special – it’s a summer edition and features a giveaway! It's so easy to enter; all you have to do is send me an email at Suttonvanb@gmail.com and share your favorite beauty secret or tip! I will feature it in next month’s post and you will win all of this swag! Giveaway:

Kimberly Ovitz Olin Sweater & Awesome Beauty Products!

1.) Protect Your Hair From The Ocean And Pool!

I am in the Hamptons every weekend, which means I am swimming in the pool. I also love swimming in the ocean, especially when I'm in the Caribbean! Unfortunately, this wreaks havoc on my hair. Chlorine and salt water are both hair enemies. Don't worry I'm not telling you to skip a swim - just do it safely! Wet your hair BEFORE you swim. Hop in a shower, run it under a sink or pour a water bottle over your head, whatever's convenient. Your hair shaft absorbs and holds water when it gets wet. So, once you wet it with tap or bottled water it will be wet and won't absorb any chlorine or salt water!

2.) Rid Your Face of Oil ASAP

This weather, while gorgeous, can leave your face looking like a greasy, oily mess, especially if you wear makeup. Washing your face and re-doing your makeup numerous times a day is not an option. Blotting papers are my skin’s best friend all summer long. My favorite is Tatcha Beauty Papers. These handy, all-natural, gold flake papers will absorb all the oil without affecting your makeup.

3.) Keep Your Skin Soft and Clear All Summer Long

An exfoliator should be in your beauty arsenal all summer. It will leave your skin softer, brighter, and even out your skin tone. Summer heat and humidity can clog your pores; an exfoliator will zap that problem immediately.

4.) Stop Your Eye Makeup from Smudging

Think about this equation... Sweating, swimming or sticky weather + eye makeup = raccoon eyes. Seems obvious? Well, apparently, it's not because everywhere I look I see girls with melting eye makeup. Now, many waterproof mascaras have built in lash conditioners!

5.) Get Sexy, Wavy Beach Hair Anywhere
I love how my hair looks after a day at the beach. But, I live in NYC and Monday through Friday I cannot be at the beach (so sad and unfair as my mother spends as much time in the Hamptons as she pleases. A nine to five work week is foreign to her). Thankfully, I have found a solution: Salty Dog Cocktail Beach Spray by Evo. After showering, I mist this spray though my damp hair and am left with perfect, beachy waves. Extra bonus - it has protein to strengthen your hair!

Now that I have shared with you, it's time for you to reciprocate. Don't forget to email me at Suttonvanb@gmail.com with your own favorite beauty secret by next Friday August 16th so you have a chance to win the giveaway and have your tip show up next month!

Check out my past Beauty Secrets Revealed posts Volume one through six! Volume I, Volume II, Volume III, Volume IV, Volume V, Volume VI.

Enjoy the summer weather!

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

Sophie Hulme - the Handbag Brand to Invest in Now

My love of Sophie Hulme has been made known on Twitter. I started to take note on Instagram, actually, when It girl bloggers and some of my favorite editors were crediting these impossibly cool bags to the brand. I was all like “who is this Sophie chick?!” but in a good way. Her bags were clean and structured, feminine but in a sophisticated, minimalist way, and details like the hardware provides just a hint of urban cool. The understated yet eye-catching look of these bags, along with the quality you can spot from a mile away, makes them ultimate investment pieces. But the best part is, their prices are not “investment bag” prices. Investment prices for bags usually fall above $1700 or so. But you can score a classic, chic, love-forever tote from Sophie Hulme for about $925. Or a statement printed clutch for $500. Here are the ones at the top of my wish list:

 Tote at Farfetch, $900 (Comes in a billion different colors all over the interwebs.)

Floral-Print Envelope Clutch at Harrods, $500

 Shoulder Bag at Boutique 1, $657

 Box Clutch at Barney's, $445


Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

What We're Wearing

Today I’m wearing Sephora’s Color Proof Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Purple Glitter. The purple really makes my green eyes pop and has just the right amount of glitter. This liner is very easy to use and lasts FOREVER. In fact, I put some on my arm before work this morning to take a picture and then showered and it was still on my arm.

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

Okay, so this is from last night and it was raining and I was sad. I had just come from the punk exhibit at the The Met - which made me happy! - but then was going to go to dinner downtown but as anyone who lives in the isolated land of the Upper East Side is familiar with, any sort of inclement weather can cause you to abandon hopes of neighborhood-to-neighborhood travel. Perhaps it was my plan to see the punk exhibit that inspired this look of assorted punk layers - studded flannel vest, ripped denim vest, camouflage jacket. And, duh, Dr. Martens.

Handbangs and Hugs,

Astor

BarkBox Review & Giveaway!

I just love my Chihuahua Trixie. You have seen the adorable pics of her sleeping in the Summer Beauty Must Haves post. Is she not the cutest thing you have ever laid your eyes on? As you know, I am obsessed with monthly subscription boxes. I have done reviews on Birchbox, From the Lab, Starbox, Glossy Box and Beauty Box 5… I need them all!

Well, Trixie sees how excited I get every month when my beauty boxes arrive and was getting quite jealous. She is as spoiled as I am so I needed to get her a monthly box too - BarkBox!

This monthly subscription is a must have if you love your pup as much as I do. Trixie is tiny so I got her the box for small dogs, but you could also choose one for medium dogs or large dogs. July’s box had a 4th of July theme!



We were both quite excited to receive the box! As I opened it Trixie quickly ran by with her tongue out in anticipation. 

 

She then became so overjoyed that she jumped into the box to start sniffing around!

The first thing she pulled out was the bag of Whole Life treats. She snatched it out of my hand in a very bratty manner.

Chips and beer on the 4th of July seems to be a human standard… now the dogs can join in on the fun. There were Puptato Chips, an all-natural doggy chip and Browser Beer, a beef based drink. And while a ‘beef based drink’ sounds gross to me, she loved it! I just poured some over her food.

We also received Heartland Premium bones in a perfect size for small dogs. But her favorite treats were the Fruitables Skinny Minis treats. Turned my back to get my camera and her entire head was in the bag!

Need to know:

1 month subscription is $29

3 months subscription is $24

6 months subscription is $19

Free shipping

Boxes are shipped on the 15th of every month

Each month you will receive 4 to 6 items, from treats to toys to hygiene products!

I know that your dog is becoming VERY jealous right now, and that is not my goal. I spoke with BarkBox and they are going to do a giveaway for all of you lovely readers! One of you will win a free 3-month subscription! All you have to do is email me a pic of your pup – show me how much your baby wants to win! Send me an email to Suttonvanb@gmail.com by Friday August 9th!

 

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

 

Sutton