I'm relatively inexperienced when it comes to getting my hair colored - in that aside from switching to sulfate-free, color safe shampoo and conditioner and adding a hair oil (mine smells like coconut!) to my hair routine, I didn't quite realize that hair color fades in the sun.

The realization came when after 3 hot, sunny days in Seattle, my hair was about 5 shades lighter than when I left New York! Luckily I quite like the color for now, but I definitely don't want it to get any blonder than it already is. So as a result, I did a little research on sunscreens for hair to select one for my mane.

From left to right:

1. Aveda Sun Care Protection Hair Veil - this is the one I ended up with, only because I knew I definitely wanted one in spray form and one that was just for UV protection and not a multi-tasking product. Plus, it smells good!
2. Kiehl's Color Protect Shine-Infusing Hair Oil Treatment
3. Fekkai Summer Hair Cooling Shine Mist
4. B. the Product Sun Out Protective Spray
5. Tela Sun Protection for Hair and Scalp
6. Bumble & Bumble Colorminded Protect & Finish

Now that the weather is finally warming up, I've been hyper-aware of how pale I am after this long, longgggg winter. Some of the effects of winter was a dryness I wasn't accustomed to - my skin normally behaves pretty well, but this winter was harsh on my cheeks in particular, and really drying! Here are a few products I've found to help me recapture that summery, warm-weather glow:

Elle has sang the praises of Boscia's Tsubaki Oil (#1) so I gave it a try during Sephora's Chic Week. Not only does it smell amazing, but it really did give me almost an instant glow - for the first time I found that I didn't even really need foundation or anything to make my skin even and pretty. Amaze! 

Then, I read about overnight moisturizing masks in Elle magazine (article here, if you're interested), and decided to try Clinique's Moisture Surge Overnight Mask (#2) out. I love it. I use it a few times a week, and my cheeks are never dry the next morning! I wish it came in a travel size so I could bring it on the plane with me, but I would totally just squeeze some into a small container to use on a long flight. (Also, think of it like a heavier lotion rather than a mask - it doesn't make your face look alien-like while you have it on, and it absorbs as you sleep so you don't need to wash it off.)

I know I sang the praises of Smashbox's BB Cream last time, but I realized that I'm really just in between two shades at the moment so I returned the one I had and ended up getting a CoverGirl (#3) one that I love! It's under $10 as well, so it's a great price point, and the light-medium was the perfect shade for me. I don't use this every day, just on days where I feel like wearing a little more makeup than mascara and blush!

After using the above three products (or two, if I chose not to use the BB cream on a particular day), I dust my face with some pressed powder (I use mark.'s Powder Buff in 5 - light medium), use an angled blush brush with my new favorite blush, Jouer's Bloom (#4) on my cheeks (discovered when I had my makeup done at the Joie & Birchbox event last week - I love it because it's matte!), and then brush on some mascara and use a little of my eyebrow pencil, and I'm glowing and out the door!

PS. This isn't related to "glowing" at all, but I recently discovered this eyeliner and it's amazing. Super intense color but in a self-sharpening pencil form. I love it!

I'm not a person who likes to spend money on my hair - I generally get it cut twice a year, rarely colored it, and mostly left it on its own to do its thing. (I rarely even blow dry it, unless I'm about to go to bed, or go out in the winter and it isn't dried yet.) That said, I do believe that the cut and color makes a huge difference, and there are currently only two people in the world that I trust with my mane!

For cuts:

 One beauty trend I've been noticing (and loving) lately is blue eyeliner and orange lips - the color combination is so fresh and gorgeous, perfect for spring!

Also, a great eyeshadow I'd recommend for both of these looks is BareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 in The Elements:

 This palette has a blue to go over your eyeliner in the Dramatic Eyes look, plus the orangey color is great for a sheer wash of color over the lid in that same look (go lightly with that one though!). And, the lightest color, Air (top left corner), is perfect for your lids in the Hot Lips look, while the gray is perfect for right under the brow bone in the same look. (BTW, I have a couple of the BareMinerals eyeshadow palettes and the color payoff and quality are great!)

I actually recreated the Dramatic Eyes look this past weekend - it was fun! These looks are just so fresh, which is why I love them. Would you try these?

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream $55 | Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub $6.39 on sale | MAC Mineralize Tinted Lip Balm $19.50 | Smashbox BB Cream $39 | Archie's Girls Pearlmatte Face Powder in Flatter Me $35 (sold out online, but check your local stores!) | Benefit World Famous Neutrals $30 | Anastasia Brow Wiz $20

What are some of your current beauty faves?

Image via

Happy Friday, everyone! 

Who read Archie Comics as a kid? I loved them - and still do - I found a giant edition in the bargain section of Barnes and Noble about six months ago and devoured it! My friend and I even dressed up as Betty and Veronica for Halloween about 5 years ago - I was Veronica, of course. Anyway, the reason I bring this is up is because MAC is coming out with an "Archie's Girls" line (available online Jan 30th, in NYC MAC stores Jan 31st, and everywhere else Feb 7th-Apr 4th), and I'm psyched! I haven't used MAC makeup in years, but I definitely want to check out the collection! I think I'm liking the lip products the most in the collection (check them out in the link below).

Tell me - are you a Betty, or a Veronica?

(For an "interview" with B&V on their upcoming line and beauty routines, click here. For more details on the products to come, click here.)

Which ones do you love or will you be sporting this fall?

PS. I'm guest blogging today over on my sister's blog, Lauren Loves to Eat. It's my review of Smith & Wollensky's restaurant week menu! Check it out here.

Horoscopes by Tali and Ophira Edut, Photos by Elizabeth Griffin

Click here for the full slideshow/article.

What's your sign? 

1. Clarins Double Fix // 2. Tarte Amazonian Clay in Tipsy // 3. Stila Smudge Stick Eye Liner // 4. Lancome Undereye Concealer // 5. Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow (28E) // 6. mark. Gloss Gorgeous

You may recall that I use my Clarins Double Fix every day, and it's perfect for using the summer too since it won't allow the mascara you're already devoted to to smudge under your eyes whether you're just hot, or swimming, or frolicking in the sea. 

I haven't personally tried out Tarte's Amazonian Clay, but I love this color, and I've read awesome reviews on the staying power this blush has! 

I probably own about 4 of the Stila Smudge Sticks, and this one (in Moray) is a favorite color of mine - goldish green and different from regular eyeliner colors! Plus, contrary to its name, this eyeliner does NOT smudge.

If you've read my beauty essentials post, you know I use a Make Up For Ever concealer every day, but when I was researching melt-proof summer makeup, this Lancome concealer was recommended by both Self and Cosmo, and who am I to say it isn't good? Cosmo even claims that you can swim with this! I may have to try this one out myself...

While wandering around Sephora passing time last week, I nearly bought this Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow - I love how shimmery the colors are and how it's supposed to budge-proof. Pair it with a primer, and you've got a can't-lose eyecolor! (In case you're wondering, the only reason I didn't buy it is because I decided I simply have way too many eyeshadows to justify another one. Sadly!)

My absolute favorite mark. beauty product is Gloss Gorgeous - and it's one of Ashley Greene's favorites! This lip gloss is minty and goes on glossy, and eventually wears off to a stain - genius! My favorite color is Pop.

Do you have any summer makeup must-haves? 

(Sorry for the bad photos - had to take them myself with my iPhone since my sister wasn't around to help! LoL)

I followed the tutorial pretty closely, but used lighter colors for the crease and for the top shadow from my Naked2 palette ("Tease" for the crease and "Suspect" for the "gold shadow" step) for an even subtler daytime look, and went lighter on the eyeliner - I used pencil rather than liquid, and skipped doing the waterline entirely. I did purchase the Jemma Kidd Stardust Cream Shadow in Cosmos that was recommended, and I LOVE it! This is a super easy, gorgeous eye, so I highly recommend you trying it out too! Plus it can take you from day (the way I did it) to night (if you follow the tutorial to a T), and who doesn't love a day-to-night look?

Click here for the full original tutorial

Image

Apparently, this is a new "mirrored chrome" forumla, where "The secret is an innovative mica-pearl technology that imparts an ultra-shiny, mirrored effect. Swagga Like Us is an oxidized copper teal that actually flips or changes color when seen from different angles. It's a cool, completely unique look that almost appears as though you dipped your fingertips in liquid metal." Sounds good to me!!

Once I bought it I wore it for 3 straight weeks, and have gotten tons of compliments on it and people asking where it's from! Plus the gold is such a neutral color in that your nails won't clash with anything you're wearing if you're wearing this! Obsessed, I tell you.

Get yours here!

Other colors in this collection are Private Dancer (a really pretty purple which I'm considering also picking up!) and Sugar Daddy, a champagne color.

Top Image via Glitter Guide

1. Foundation // 2. Concealer // 3. Clinique Mascara // 4. Clarins Mascara // 5. Bronzer & Blush Duo

I looooove makeup. (Partly why I work for a cosmetics company!) However, on a daily basis, I can never be bothered to put on eyeshadow or eyeliner anymore, especially since I'd rather sleep in for an extra 10 minutes than put eye makeup on. What I can't live without, however, is my mascara, foundation, concealer, and blush - the essentials!

The Routine: 

I am totally loving the Clarins Double Fix Mascara! What it does is layer on a clear, waterproofing layer on top of whatever mascara you normally wear. The main reason I use it is because I've found that after a few hours of mascara-wearing, I get tiny little black smudges under the corner of my eyes, and I'm always tugging on the skin there as I wipe it away, which I hear is a wrinkle-causing activity...(Mom). I'd really prefer to not have to pull on already-delicate skin in that area, and this solves that problem!

I've used it for about a week now and on Tuesday wore it through my most intense Zumba session ever and there was absolutely zero smudging underneath - now THAT was a good test...!

Get it here

Image 1 // Image 2