Orange Ambition

ORANGE AMBITION

Now if you told me last month that I’d be obsessed with all things orange, I would have thought you were crazy.

Well folks, It’s official I’m obsessed with orange or a nicer name for it coral. I never would have thought orange blush would work on my yellow toned skin. Who would have thought that my new favorite lip product would be Revlon’s Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous (orange)? Or how about my favorite candle Market Peach from Bath and Body Works, again orange.


I would have to say my love for orange started with buying my first slightly orange beauty product at the suggestion of Tanya Burr. In her Monthly Favorites video  she mentioned Clinque Chubby Stick in Hibiscus. I had to have it and when I ran to the department store to get my own, I was scared when I saw it in person and realized it was an orange based red and more orange than red. Then I tried it. At first I was hesitant, so bold of a color, so not use to it, then I notices how great the slightly orange toned red looked agains my skin and with no other make up on at all it really brightened my whole face. 
Then I started to be drawn towards the beautiful coral nail polishes from L’oreal and Butter London. After watching Essie Button’s latest favorites video where she mentions Stilla’s convertible color in gladiola, I thought well I need to try that. Even when I swatch it at the store I was hesitant, I mean it is VERY orange.

Today was a almost no make up day and I decided to pat a bit of the scary cream gladiola on my cheeks. I was surprised by the blend-ability of the color and how it really brightened up my face. It didn’t even seem orange, more of a natural peachy glow from within.

Who knows what I”ll broaden my pallet to next. It really is like a kid and her brussels sprouts, just because as a kid you hated it, doesn’t mean your adult pallet won’t like it. I think orange is my brussels sprout in beauty. That is also why I love makeup so much! You can explore, create, express, and just feel good from a new lipstick or blush or in my case a chubby stick and cream color.

What colors do you avoid? What have you been hesitant to try? I dare you to go try it this month, it’s just makeup, you can always wash it off. Go and have some fun, be bold, be daring, be happy!

Review and First Impression Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation

I am a HUGE skeptic about this product. First off I hate covergirl foundations and powders. My first powder compact in 6th grade was from covergirl and it was awful. I have not used covergirl foundation or powder since middle school, when I learned better. 

That being said, the CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 foundation has been a huge must have among the beauty guru community, especially on youtube lately. So I caved and finally bough my own bottle to try.

The product claims to be a primer, foundation, and concealer in one and stay on all day.

After wearing it all day this is what I find:

Goes on with a powdery finish

light to medium coverage with potential to build more

does not need a primer (Huge plus)

Still need concealer

Did not really need to powder thought the day. My nose got a little shiny by 9:30PM.

Looks better after application

dries quickly so need to blend well right away

Does last all day

Matte finish

Good for combination oily skin

Probably not going to work on dry skin or dry patchy skin

I am actually over all quite suppressed with this product. I do like that I can skip priming my face with a primer. The stay power is pretty amazing and I love the matte finish for certain looks I do. For a drugstore foundation, I’m impressed, for a Covergirl foundation I’m amazed.

Will I wear it again? Yes. I’ll actually probably use it consistently for the next few weeks to make sure I like it.
The packaging is great with the pump and easy to travel with.
I also did a video review and first impressions of this product you can find it here  http://youtu.be/vntQqT8CMR8

Review: Dr.Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Cream

Review: Dr.Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Cream

Claims to: 

“What it is:
A purifying face cream that provides age defense, and hides uneven skintone and blemishes. 

What it is formulated to do:
- Botanical Formula to purify and calm blemish prone or sensitive skin while also combating dark spots and pollutants for an enhanced radiance 
- Features SPF 25 sun protection 
- Comes in one universal shade

Perfect and protect skin instantly with this all-in-one multifunctional Beauty Balm. This triple-action formula naturally covers blemishes and uneven skintone, and contains botanical actives to purify and calm blemish-prone or irritated skin. Arbutin works to erase unwanted dark spots, while caviar extract and antioxidants protect skin from inner and outer pollutants for an enhanced radiance. Lightweight with sunscreen protection for simple, one-step neutralizing coverage, this soothing cream delivers optimal results for both women and men. 

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates 
- Phthalates ”

info from Sephora

So I finally gave this baby a try. I have to say that at first application I liked it. The texture is smooth and lighter than my Asian bb creams. It blended in nicely using my beauty blender. My complexion looked brighter and more even. It still felt a bit like a glorified tinted moisturizer, but it did even out my complexion and left a dewy/ matte finish. 

I powdered lightly to set the bb cream, but I found a few hours later I was a bit too shiny for my taste. I did not use any concealer with the bb cream, but I found that areas on my face looked as if I had used concealer and it was slipping off. 

By evening, I looked pretty worn off. 

Overall verdict, It’s a good tinted moisturizer that need to be touched up 2 to 3 times a day if you want to stay looking fresh. 

Offers light to medium coverage. 

easy to blend

a bit steep at $36 for a full size for a tinted moisturizer, but also not overly expensive for a higher end brand. Really just depends on personal preference. 

Advice From a Stranger

Recently I was given a piece of wisdom; “never take advice from someone you wouldn’t want to switch places with.” It was like the universe heard all my fears and frustrations and gifted me with these words at a soon-to-be dark hour.

I was feeling a bit sad and doubting some of my decisions that I had made, even though I feel the happiest I’ve been in years. You know how sometimes, when everything is going well, great things are happening, and you’re busier than ever (but in a good way), somehow doubt manages to sneak up from no where? Well that was happening. Some people in my life, while I’m sure meant well, were making me doubt my actions.

It’s funny how when you’re happiest and passionate about something, people who are not as happy or are insecure, start to put their doubts and fears onto you. Normally I’d put on the old sweats, grab a bag of Ruffles Sour Cream and Cheddar, a coke, and plop down on the couch in front of the T.V., claiming that I was re-evaluating my path. Instead, I walked into a meeting for the first time where I didn’t know anyone and the woman leading the orientation gave me the words of wisdom, “never take advice from someone you wouldn’t want to switch places with.” This is so simple and phrased so beautifully. While I had grasped the concept, it was much clearer hearing these words from a complete stranger.

I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m marring the man I love in 2 months, I feel proactive and in control of my destiny. There are so many great things happening in my life. So while I may have occasional problems and hiccups, I wouldn’t want to trade my life for anyone else’s right now.  Things are good.

Things are good
At my bridal shower

The wonderful woman that gave me the piece of advice that I keep reminding myself with for the last few weeks is Menena Givens. She is my adopted sales director for Mary Kay. Now I know there can be a lot of stigma that goes along with Mary Kay, but I also have met a lot of women in the past 3 weeks who have used the products for years and love it. I had looked into selling Mary Kay back in college, but found it too confusing. However, when I was really stressed last month about my upcoming wedding and worried about my new business venture, I was given a free facial with a bridesmaid by a Mary Kay Independent Sales Consultant.

My fist skincare party

She didn’t sell me or try to recruit me. She just gave my friend and I a wonderful experience. I was shocked at how much better my skin looked and what high quality products they offered, then my friend said, “you would be really good at this.” I laughed it off. But the idea kept popping into my head for a week.  I thought about how much fun it would be to give other women the same wonderful experience I had and help them feel beautiful on a different level. So I e-mailed Vicki, my Mary Kay Independent Sales Consultant…now recruiter and have met some amazing women in the last 3 weeks.  I figured worse case I’d just pay the $100 for my starter kit and play with the products and use the discount for myself, but the more I read about Mary Kay the more I wanted to share it’s legacy with others. I was inspired and felt passionate and full of possibilities.

I started to actually wear make-up, just because I could.  I felt prettier and better about myself.  My skin has never looked better either! My sales director encouraged me to attend the weekly meetings, so I did, feeling insecure and scared. What I found at the meetings were a bunch of inspiring, passionate, and motivated individuals. I’ve never encountered so many positive attitudes. Everyone was so welcoming and helpful. The problem was, not everyone in my life was super supportive about MK. Some questioned why I would do this? Don’t I have enough going on? MK?! Really?! So I walked into my first meeting already starting to doubt myself, but then I heard a few of the women’s stories and became inspired again. MK isn’t just about cosmetics and sales. MK is about women empowering women. Taking control of your life and goal setting. Mary Kay is helping me to see the positive side of things, plus it’s really fun and It’s helped me catch up with friends I haven’t seen in awhile.

So next time someone starts to make you feel doubtful about your life and your choices, think about it, would you want to switch places with them? Odds are…probably not. 

A Feather Leads to Fun

The other day a good friend of mine told me how she found a giant bow and decided to put it on her head for fun at work. She did it for joy and she was having a good time. No one said anything about it, but she felt more playful all because of it.

Lately, she has also been wearing this bundle of feather earring in one ear. If you knew her, you would see that fit her true personality… natural, beautiful, fun, and free. When we went to try on bridesmaid dresses, even the sales clerk complemented her on her earring. She said how she liked the feathers and wish she could pull it off herself. Why can’t she? No one will judge you if you are confident in what you choose to put on. At the end of the day it’s not permanent, but it’s a way for you to explore and have fun.

Sometimes I will put in a much more conservative version of her earrings in my own ears, to try and channel the traits I love about her. It gives me a little more confidence and excitement. It lends me the strength that I admire in her.

Lots of people want “to put more effort in their appearance.” I say put more fun in it. Effort seams like work. A little joy can go a long way. Dress for yourself. Dress to put your best self out there. Dress to feel good from the outside in, most importantly, Dress Yourself to Happiness!