Product Review: Lava Volcanic Wax by Framesi

As you might have noticed, I have short hair . . . very short hair. So listen up men – this blog post can be helpful to you as well! Those with long hair might be surprised when I say this, but I find that short hair takes more work to maintain than if it was lengthier. When I have a bad-hair-day or feel lazy, there is no option of throwing my locks back in a simple ponytail or braid. When I am getting ready to face the world, I must blow dry and style it. Therefore, the type of hair product I use is pivotal to my entire look. To get that “rock-and-roll” I so desperately desire, I need a product that provides strong hold and texture that is going to last throughout the day and night. When I received Lava Volcanic Wax by Framesi, I was super stoked! It contains actual volcanic ash, and you certainly don’t get more rock-and-roll than that! After using it, I am very pleased with the results; I received a lot of texture and hold but with very little build up. I love the way the wax makes my hair feel so much that I’m now inspired to try out the rest of the Framesi product line. Volcano hair . . . I never thought such an idea could make me so happy!

 

The Beauty Item Vicki Cannot Live Without – The Eyebrow Pencil

Let’s talk about  necessity. You know what I mean . . . the one thing in your beauty arsenal that you feel you need and cannot live without. We all have that item and it really does vary from person to person. Believe it or not, my personal “I can’t leave the house until I’m wearing it” beauty product is . . . my eyebrow pencil. I know it sounds silly, but hear me out; I get incredibly irked when my eyebrows aren’t even and filled. Eyebrows truly are the frame of your face; they accentuate your eyes and a clean arch adds definition to your cheeks and jaw line. Messy eyebrows can make the entire face less polished, and thin or over-plucked brows can make the face appear larger and makeup seem unnatural. Plus, fuller brows are currently one of the hottest trends off the runway.

When filling in my eyebrows, I prefer a quality waterproof eyeliner pencil – the trick is to find a product that stands up to perspiration but comes off with a makeup remover. Additionally, I always buy a pencil that is a shade or two lighter than my natural hair in order to avoid making my look too harsh. I draw the top of the arch and then fill in both ends, making sure everything is symmetrical. I then use a eyebrow comb to brush them up and out to make sure they look clean and even. What do I specifically avoid when filling in my eyebrows? Pressing too hard and creating a single, thick line. Instead, I draw  with light, short strokes that mimic the direction of the hair in order to have my eyebrows look as natural as possible.

Do you agree that the eyebrow pencil is an important beauty tool or is there another item in your beauty supply that you have with you all times? Let me know in the comment section!

Bronzer in the Winter? Vicki Gives us Her Take

So with the change of season it becomes necessary for me to change my beauty routine. Obvious ways are that I use a heavier face lotion and more Chapstick. One thing that I feel is very important that is often overlooked is changing your color palette in the fall winter months. Allow me to elaborate on what I mean … in the summer I love to wear bronzer on my cheeks a light green eyeshadow and a nude lip with gloss; it’s a very light and beachy look that, however, doesn’t quite match with cozy sweaters and hot apple cider. In the fall I need a darker eye or highly pigment lips (one or the other never both). The one thing that I don’t change is the use of bronzer. I really appreciate the healthy glow on my cheeks and bridge of my nose. Remember though, the objective is to look natural, so avoid applying it too heavily or darkening your entire face. Instead, focus on places that the sun naturally hits; your cheeks, nose, forehead . . . in my humble opinion the best product for this mission I have found is TIGI Dual Bronzer. It’s very light, the two different tones make it easily blendable and the light shimmer adds the touch of sparkle that I love. So pack away the bikini but leave the bronzer in your arsenal year round.

Product Review: Derma E Micodermabrasion Scrub

Dry, flaky skin = my nightmare. Every year when the weather changes from hot to cold, my face is the first to react . . . poorly. As someone who cycles to-and-from work, the elements are especially harsh on my skin and the results are less than flattering. I have found that a really good exfoliating wash is key to keeping my dry skin problem at bay, so I was psyched when I was told that I would be reviewing the Derma E Microdermabraison Scrub. What’s my take? The first thing I noticed is the amazing smell: it has the light  scent of lemon drops with refreshing citrus undertones. I also love that this product is very gentle; throughout my time, I have tried a lot of exfoliating scrubs and this one works very well to remove dead cells while leaving the skin underneath soft and healthy instead of red and raw. I used this product every night before bed for one week, and the change is highly noticeable. I would absolutely recommend this product!

This state-of-the-art scrub utilizes a crystal blend system to remove dead skin cells and absorb excess oils. Markedly diminishes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and retexturizes your skin, leaving it silky smooth. The crystal blend used in this product is a large molecular structure and is therefore not bio-available to the body, so there is no possibility of absorption through the skin.

Vicky – Fall Fashion I Love

Fall is here! I have had my first pumpkin latte and gone apple picking with my friends . . . my favorite season is upon us! In my humble opinion, autumn brings opportunities for the best fashion of the year. I love doing lots of layers, the thinner the better; the weather is finicky, so I like being able to add or take off a layer or two if necessary.

One of my favorite looks to rock are tights with chunky sweaters.  I love the comfort of leggings and the coziness of big sweaters. I often always wear an extra long tank top under my sweater that covers my tuckus, as tights are not pants and I like to keep it classy. I like to finish off the look with knee high boots; one chilly breeze and your legs will be so happy for the leather protection.

Another look I enjoy is colored denim, which comes in a variety of fun patterns and colors. Thicker than tights, it’s a great choice for those colder days or outfits with shorter tops that don’t quite cover my bottom.

My personal favorite look is this floral dresses with tights and knee-high boots, topped off with a bright cardigan. The best trick is to wear solid dark opaque tights with lighter fishnets over top, as it adds a lot of texture to this look but without seeming overwhelmingly busy. Plus, all the layers are easily achieved for under $20!

Product Review: Borghese Perla Duale High Impact Lipcolour

                            

What comes to mind when you think of pink lipstick? Frosted pink abominations from the 80′s or Barbie dolls . . . that’s what I picture. So, when I was received the Borghese Perla Duale High Impact Lipcolour Perla Rosa, I was immediately struck by just how pink it was. Yes, I was a little worried. After all, it seems like a very hard color for someone to pull off for an average day. Well, let me be the first to say that I was very wrong. I received so many compliments while wearing this shade that it was awesome!

So, what look did I match my bright pink lips with? With such a statement-making color, I didn’t want to overwhelm my aesthetic, so I put on light blush and minimal eye makeup. Next, I applied nude lip liner to help prevent the product from bleeding. When using the lipstick itself, it was so soft that it felt like putting expensive coco butter on my lips! The product lasted very long and I only had to reapply once in 12 hours. With the durability of the color and the ultra-softness, I give this Borghese lipstick two thumbs up!

Inspired by the fashions from the runways from Milan, each lipcolour contains a pearlescent outer core that gives each shade that extra pearly glow. It is formulated with Vitamins A, E and C to condition lips and provide anti-oxidant protection, and Chamomile and Aloe to keep her lips smooth.

How to Transition a Smoky Eye from Day to Night

Smoky eyes . . . they’re sexy, flirty and edgy. I believe that every woman owes it to herself to try it at least once. Good news is, the smoky-eye-look can be styled to be “classy and ladylike,” and then easily modified to “a sexy, late night” appearance. Last night at work, I did just that with my makeup. At the beginning of my shift at the restaurant, there were lots of families and so I wore simple makeup. However, as the night progressed into more of a party atmosphere, so did my personal look. An adaptable smoky eye is easy to achieve with a few simple tricks.

Last night, I used Too Faced MoonBeam Baked Eye Shadow and was very impressed. It lasted all throughout an eleven hour shift, was super blend-able and it had just the right amount of sparkle to make it look sassy instead of trashy.

To start off the day, I used another light green eyeshadow on my whole eyelid and blended it into the lid. I then lightly applied Moon Beam Baked Eye Shadow on my crease. The goal was to achieve a subtle tint instead of bold, statement making color, so I only pressed down slightly. Feel free to add a single coat of mascara, but avoid using eyeliner for now.

To smoothly transition this look to night, slightly wet the tip of your brush and then apply the same eye shadow to the area above your lash line, using slightly more pressure than before. Don’t worry about being precise, as you will next use a smudge brush and blend it into the lid. While the subtle green shade was suitable for a daytime affair, darker shades are needed to obtain a sexier eye.

Next, line your lower lash line using the same eye shadow; utilize the thicker part of the thin brush on the outer half of your lower lid, and then switch to using the brush’s tip as you approach the inner corners. To add extra oomph, use a dry brush to add another layer of the eye shadow to your outer crease, though I found such a step unnecessary with the baked eye shadow. Apply another coat of mascara and you’re ready to rock & roll!