October Favorites!

Hello!  I hope everyone had a fantastic October!  This month I discovered (and re-discovered) some beauty and non-beauty favorites and thought I would share!

My first pick is Clarins Beauty Flash Balm.  I have heard about this product for ages, but only recently decided to test the waters so to speak!  And I wish I would have dove in earlier.  This one product can be used in three different ways:
1. as a primer: press onto skin and immediately apply makeup.
2. as a leave on mask: press on to skin and leave on for 20 minutes.
3. as a mid afternoon pick me up for your face: press onto skin OVER makeup to refresh skin.

Personally, I just use it as a primer and a mask.  I tried using it over my makeup one afternoon and it did not do anything for my face, and in fact it made my makeup look worse.  BUT like I said, for a primer or as a mask, this stuff works great!  You can buy it here for $45.00.

My next pick is Jimmy Choo's latest fragrance, "Flash."  This smells amazing!  I actually bought it when it first came out a couple of months ago and wore it off and on, but throughout October it seemed as if I reached for it everyday.  It is a heavier scent than most, which makes it perfect for the change in weather as we approach the colder months.  Because I am absolutely horrible at describing scents, this is how Jimmy Choo describes it on their site: "Pink pepper, tangerine, and strawberry open the fragrance with a fresh, sparkling introduction. Heart notes of strong, exotic white flowers reveal a sexy character. A base of white powdery woods leaves a lasting impression, both seductive and modern."  You can buy it here for $55.00 for 1.3 oz or $98.00 for 3.3 oz.

My next beauty pick is Josie Marans Argan Illuminator.  I only recently picked this up from Sephora, but I have since incorporated it into my everyday beauty routine.  You can pat this on top of your foundation to highlight specific areas of the face or you can mix it in with your foundation for an all over radiance.  You can even use it on the rest of your body as well, such as collar bone, legs, etc!  It has a very natural finish and the bronze color is just right!  You can purchase it here for $28.00.


My last beauty pick is Laura Merciers Silk Creme Foundation.  I go back and fourth between foundations pretty often, BUT when I want a full coverage foundation that does not dry out my skin, this is my number one pick.  The finish is beautiful, especially when mixed with the Josie Maran Argan Illuminator.  It covers up any blemishes beautifully and looks very natural.  The finish of the foundation by itself is more on the matte side, however, when paired with the illuminator, it gives the perfect dewy look.  Definitely a staple in my makeup collection.  You can purchase it here for $43.00.

My next pick is a fashion favorite this month!  It is my spikey ear cuff that I picked up from Forever 21.  Isn't is great?!  I haven't really seen anything like it and am totally obsessed!  It looks like it is no longer available online at Forever 21, but some may still have it in stores.  You can also find similar styles here.

My final pick are these round sunnies from target!  I love the shape of them, and they definitely fit the oval glasses trend, am I right?!  You can find them here for only $16.99!  I like spending less money on trendier items, because, well trends come and go.  I would rather splurge on classic pieces!

Hope you enjoyed!  Let me know what you loved this October!

xoxo
linds&bells

Jewelry Display

I don't know about you, but I have been seriously lacking on the jewelry train.  I have jewelry, that's definitely not the problem, but rather remembering or taking the time to put it on is.  Normally, I store my baubles in my closet in pull out jewelry drawers, but this type of storage makes it easy to forget what I have because it isn't right in front of me.  So, I decided to change things up!

Hopefully you all saw my previous post on my hedgehog cups that I keep on my dresser to store little trinkets in.  I took some white plates from Crate & Barrel and added them with my hedgehogs on top of my dresser for a sort of "jewelry shop" look.  I am really happy with the way it came out!  It's my last stop before I leave my room and now I have no excuse not to add some arm candy :)

 This jewelry setup allows you to color coordinate jewelry really easily, or organize your pieces by type!  Most of my pieces are gold, so I simply displayed them randomly!  For each season, or as you see fit, you can switch up which jewelry you display as well!  I tend to keep my more fun and bright pieces out for display, while my more expensive jewelry stays tucked away safe and not out in the open!

Keeping my jewelry out has not only made me remember to use it, but it also adds a nice "boutiquey" feel to my room.  Every morning I can shop my collection!  And who doesn't love shopping?!

Let me know in the comments below how you organize or display your jewelry!  Thanks for reading!

xoxo
linds&bells
 

Skin Laundry

I recently had my second visit at West Hollywoods Skin Laundry, and let me just say, it was fabulous! The idea of Skin Laundry is a quick "lunch time facial" where no down time is needed.  In fact, the whole process from start to finish literally takes just TEN minutes!  So lets break this down on how it works:

Skin Laundry is a rather new skin care concept in which they offer only one thing on the menu: IPL facials, or "Intense Pulse Light" facials.  Their goal is results oriented treatment.  You will not find tranquil spa music, saunas, or neck massages here, but rather quick laser treatments that get the job done and allow you to go on about your day.  This particular type of treatment is extremely effective at targeting fine lines, wrinkles, acne, hyper-pigmentation, rosacea or redness, and pore size.  It is a non-invasive process that works by using high intensity pulses of light that target specific areas of concern on your face.

In particular, for hyper-pigmentation or redness, IPL light waves target and are absorbed by hemoglobin (the red blood cells in blood vessels that cause the redness) or melanin (the brown pigment in spots such as freckles, sun spots, and age spots that cause the spot to be visible).  The absorbed light then causes "damage" to the blood vessel or melanin pigment, making these spots less noticeable on the face.  The more treatments you get, the more they will fade over time.

The broad use of IPL facials makes them a great alternative to invasive, harsh lasers.  And with Skin Laundry's complimentary first visit, anyone can try this out!  You really won't be disappointed.  Oh, and did I mention the salon itself is adorable?!

Upon entering, I was greeted by friendly staff and offered water and a fresh wipe to remove any traces of makeup before my IPL treatment.  After I was situated in a private room, a nurses assistant prepped my skin and gave me goggles to ensure my eyes were kept safe from the light waves.  I was also told exactly what was happening by the nurse every step of the way, which I thought was really nice, especially if it is someones first time doing this sort of treatment.  Once the IPL was finished, the nurses assistant applied sunscreen to my skin and I was done! One thing to note: I was told that it is not recommended to wear makeup immediately after getting the IPL facial, so if this is a concern, plan accordingly.  They do have evening appointments, allowing you to go after work or school!

After my first visit, I immediately noticed a healthy glow to my skin.  I experienced no side effects and my skin seemed to really love the IPL facial.  They recommend you come in every 4-6 days for a treatment until you get the results you are looking for.  Once your desired skin is achieved, you can decrease your visits to once every 3-4 weeks for maintenance.

Now lets talk price!  Each facial is normally $75.00, but you can buy packages or sign up for monthly memberships and receive a special discount.  While this is pricey, go on in and at least try it out! Why not?  The first one is free!  If you are interested in learning more about Skin Laundry, or to make an appointment, you can visit their website by clicking here.  You can easily make an appointment online (which is such a convenience!!!) for any of their three locations in West Hollywood, Newport Beach, or Santa Monica.

If anyone has been to Skin Laundry, please let me know your experiences in the comments below!
Thanks for reading!

xoxo
linds&bells
 

Face Mask Friday Week 2!

Welcome back to week two of Face Mask Friday!  This week I want to talk about two more of my favorite face masks.  Now in the packaging, they may look a little frightening or intimidating, but trust me when I say you need these in your life.

These two particular products by MAC and Origins are great for deep pore cleansing, especially if you are fighting some unwanted pimples.  They really work at unclogging your pores, removing dirt, oil, and makeup that can buildup and cause breakouts.  

Above is a close up of the Origins Clear Improvements Charcoal Mask.  This mask is very creamy and goes on really smooth, but does not have any exfoliating properties, so it is good use it in conjunction with the MAC Volcanic exfoliator.  HOW TO USE: Once a week, open pores with a warm, damp towel and layer mask on. Allow to dry, and rinse well.  The mask can be purchased for $24.00 from here.

Equally as amazing is MAC's Volcanic Ash Exfoliator.  This product works well with the Origins Face Mask because it has the exfoliating beads that the Origins face mask lacks.  And we all know how important it is to exfoliate our skin, right??  The texture of this is grittier than the Origins formula since it is more of a scrub.  HOW TO USE: Apply a dime size amount to clean face once a week, gently scrubbing in circular motions.  Take a warm towel and steam face 2-3 times while the exfoliator is still on.  Lastly, rinse face thoroughly.  It can be purchased here for $28.00. 

Tip* Try using the Volcanic Ash Exfoliator by itself the first night, followed with the Origins mask the following night.  This combination is a great way to really clean and brighten up your skin! 

Thanks for reading!

xoxo

linds&bells

Sephora Beauty Classes!!

Hey Everyone! I wanted to do a post about the new beauty classes Sephora is now offering within their stores!  Isn't that great news?! I thought so too!  Not only are they FREE, but these classes are also the perfect opportunity to learn more about makeup and skin care in a relaxed setting.  I know we have all experienced a time or two where we buy something so fantastic in the store only to get it home and have no clue what do with it.  These classes are great to really learn how to use what you already have, as well as how to incorporate new products and trends into your routine!

I recently had the pleasure of attending the "skincare basics" class at my local Sephora and it was so much fun!  The class was held before the store even opened (8-10 a.m.), so we had Sephora completely to ourselves!  With only 6 "students," it really did feel like the class was one on one.  There was a skincare specialist who taught it and filled us in on everything we needed to know for our particular skincare concerns.  In between the teaching, we, the students, were able to actually use products in the store and try them out.  The Sephora team really made sure we all knew how to use the products and in what order, so that if we chose to buy them, we would feel confident using them on our own at home.

Sephora was kind enough to set up "work stations" to try out the products, with clarisonics and opals to test out as well!  I ended up picking the Ren cleansing balm, an oxygen mask by Bliss, and an Ole Henrikson moisturizer (all of which were best for my skin type).  This class was such a great opportunity to really learn about your skin and what works for it.

To sign up for the classes, click here and choose your closest Sephora location!  I know I will be attending the "smokey eye" class, as well as the "false lashes" class coming up in December! Let me know if any of you try out the classes!

Thanks for reading
xoxo
linds&bells

Adorable Decor Idea

When I saw these hedgehog measuring cups from Anthropolgie, it truly was love at first sight.  I mean, aren't they just the cutest little things you have ever seen?

But heres my problem, I didn't want to just store them in a cupboard in my kitchen, only taking the little hedgies out to play when I needed to measure a cup of sugar....  So instead, I opted to use them as decor in my room to house little knick knacks such as rings, hair ties, and bobbi pins.

I keep my little hedgehog family on my makeup table for easy access to everyday accessories that tend to get lost!

I think this hedgehog family would make a fabulous gift as well, and for only $36.00 for all four, they wont break the bank!  You can purchase them from Anthropolgie by clicking here.  More decor posts to come soon!  Thanks for reading!

xoxo
linds&bells

 

Bright Eyes, Vampy Lips

Hey Everyone! I thought I would post another great (and easy) fall makeup look that looks polished and put together.  I used the same eye from yesterdays post, and simply changed up the lip to a vampy color to make the look really stand out.  I opted for "Talk that Talk" lipstick and liner from MAC, which were both special edition from the "Rhianna Loves MAC" collection.  I love this lip combo so much! What do you think?!

I love the look of the simple bright eye with lots of lashes, paired with a darker lip.  This look is one I will be rocking all season long! Pictures of products below!

Thanks for reading!
xoxo
linds&bells
 

Fresh Faced Makeup Look

Lately I have been really loving the "no makeup" makeup look as we transition into fall.  For this look, I concentrate on making my skin as flawless as possible, really creating that fresh, dewy look.

This season is all about radiant skin, and with the right products, anyone can achieve this look.  I started  by mixing my Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation with Joise Maran's Argan Oil Illuminator.  This creates a really glowly mixture that makes the skin look so radiant.  I skipped my normal setting powder and opted for a MAC skinfinish in the color "soft and gentle."  This provided even more luminosity to the areas I really wanted to pop, like cheekbones, temples, and along the bridge of my nose.

For my eyes, I used a combination of MACS pressed pigment in a color close to my own skin color and Chanel's Lumionous eyeshadow in the color "Emerveille."  These two products together create a gorgeous sparkly eye look that isn't too overwhelming, but makes the eye look awake.  I finished off my eyes by lining my waterline in a white eye pencil by MAC (which makes the eye look bigger) and coating my lashes with my holy grail mascara: Benefits "They're Real.".  Just for some extra glamour, I also popped on some Demi lashes by Ardell.  I lined my lips in a nude lip liner and finished it off with a light purple lipgloss from NARS.

Let me know if you try out this look in the comments below! Thanks for reading!

xoxo
linds&bells