December 01, 2015

DRUGSTORE BEAUTY BUYS

December 01, 2015/ Alexandra Evjen

Something about winter always makes me want to change up my look. Sometimes it's dramatic: dying my hair dark, chopping a blunt bob, or getting harsh bangs (never again, not for me!) but sometimes it's as simple as just adding a new product to my makeup routine. This route is sooo much easier and doesn't require quite the unwavering commitment. That said, this year I decided to add a red lip into my beauty rotation.

I typically go for nudes and pinks when it comes to my lip color, so darker hues are a little more out of my comfort range. Personally I've never been a huge fan of a red lip on myself, but I absolutely love the instant glamour it can add to any look when executed well. This set me on a mission to find the perfect red lip color for the upcoming holiday season. Oh, and there's one more condition: The lip color must be under $10! That's right, I'm stepping away from Sephora and heading to the drugstore to find it.

The first lipstick that caught my eye was Loreal Paris' Colour Riche Lipstick in Zoe's Red. I wear a lot of burgundy in the winter, so I love this deep wine shade. I was especially delighted by this lipstick's silky smooth matte finish which helped to mellow out the dramatic color. Surprisingly enough, it also kept its rich color and crisp lines much longer than my favorite MAC lipstick. Way to go, L'Oreal! I'm sold.

Next, I decided to try out Revlon's Colorstay Moisture Stain in Stockholm Chic. I usually steer clear of lip glosses of any sort because I hate when they feel goopy and sticky, but I've heard great things about lip stains and their lasting qualities so I decided to give this product a go. This lip color goes on with a glossy finish but doesn't feel sticky. In fact, this gloss is made with Vitamin E and Aloe so it's quite moisturizing. The color is a very orange-y red, but it plays nicely with the subtle gold sparkles in this lip gloss.

The reddest of all reds is Boots' No.7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Glam. We're talking BRIGHT. A little too bright for me, but it would look super chic with an all black ensemble. Despite the color, the lipstick went on smoothly and has SPF 15 which is an added plus!

Standing in the aisle of Walgreens, I couldn't say no to the beautiful cranberry color that is Maybelline's Color Sensational Matte Lipstick in Rich Ruby. This lipstick goes on creamy but dries matte leaving you with sophisticated and clean color. I think I'll end up wearing this color for the holidays and painting my nails a matching shade of red to complete the look.

Lastly, I put Maybelline's 24 Color in All Day Cherry to the test. This lip color intrigued me since it was dual sided and included not just a gloss but a moisturizing lip balm, too. My lips always get dry during the chilly winter months so lip balm is my best friend. How convenient to have it built into the gloss! I love the dual-sided idea but was quite unimpressed with the lipgloss itself. It went on quite messy and I had trouble distributing the color evenly. This gloss might be nice in a lighter shade of pink, but I wasn't feeling it in red.

This fun little experiment reminded me that I don't have to drop tons of money on prestige beauty products. The drugstore really does have some great options! If I had to choose, my favorites would be both of the matte lipsticks. With such a bold color I really do prefer the matte finish, just to tone down the color and give it an edge. I will definitely be wearing these all winter long.

What are some of your favorite drugstore beauty buys?? We want to know!

October 22, 2015

FINDING YOUR SCENT

October 22, 2015/ Alexandra Evjen

Smells have a way of jogging your memory. They transport you back into different times in your life or help you remember different people. I can still smell my Nana when I think about her - Chanel No. 5, powder and ponds facial lotion - that's what she smelled like.

If someone were to remember me by a smell right now they would probably describe it as baby vomit, Lucky Charms and Gain. It's very telling of my life right now, but I want to smell beautiful, comforting, light and easy. Well, if you make your way down to the Jo Malone store at the Biltmore Fashion Park you can create exactly that. You can create a scent just for you that no one else hands, and you really can't go wrong.

I discovered that I could pick a scent by describing my desire to feel assertive, strong, sexy, clean, happy rather than guessing if I like citrus, florals or woody notes. It turns out I'm more of a warm, woody fan than I am a crisp, citrus fan. Who knew?! In fact, the very two scents that make up my signature smell are Vanilla Cardamom and Wood Sage & Sea Salt. I layered body creme of the Wood Sage & Sea Salt and spritzed the Vanilla Cardamom over the top and it was devine.

A couple things I learned from the amazing store experience:
1. Don't rub your perfume in. Press it in. Rubbing destroys the scent.
2. There are under 150 ingredients in the Jo Malone scents, and the average perfume on the market has over 300. You are really getting a quality product that will last much longer.
3. Only 16 people in the world make their candles, and about two people on average will handle the candle you purchase. It is quite special.
4. Princess Kate and Prince William had their wedding scented with Jo Malone's Orange Blossom. So, if you want to smell like their wedding day you know where to go!
5. You can schedule a hand and arm massage for a quick pampering at the Jo Malone store.

Go visit their beautiful brand new store for an incredible experience. If you're stumped as to what to get people for their wedding, birthday or for the holidays I highly recommend getting candles, perfume or body creme from Jo Malone. Any man or woman would feel so special to receive such a luxurious and beautiful gift.

This post is sponsored by Jo Malone.

July 21, 2015

What's In My Bag

July 21, 2015/ Alexandra Evjen

As you may have read in my last post, I'm traveling this week with my family. We spent this past weekend celebrating the wedding of one of my cousins, and the remainder of our vacation is going to be lakeside soaking in some sun and rest. Woohoo! With the wedding came a rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, bridesmaid duties the day of the wedding, and, of course the ceremony and reception. There even was a brunch Sunday morning, so our weekend was definitely busy. It helps to be able to pack all of your go-to makeup with you in a very chic bag like this one by XO Monica Lee. It's high quality leather with a detachable strap so you can use it as a clutch or a purse.

I put it in my oversized tote bag for the day, and just used this clutch for the rest of the night. So, what's inside my bag that I would use for bridesmaids makeup? Here you go:

1. Benefit's boi-ing concealer. It easily blends and I have been using it for about three years. 2. Benefit's Erase Paste. It's an under eye brightener that I swear by. It always helps me look more awake than plain concealer. 3. Lorac's natural eye shadow palette. It has every color you could want for a natural glowing look. 4. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. It actually has enough pigment to be full coverage without the weight of a foundation formula. 5. MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot. I have gone back and forth with eye shadow primers and I still find MAC's paint pots to be the best. 6. Bare Minerals Touch Up Veil. It's great setting powder to keep everything in place for a long day. 7. Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner. I've spent money on expensive eyeliners and they aren't half as good as this one.