Popular Today
Horse Shampoo – Does Mane ‘N Tail make your hair grow faster? posted on August 19, 2009
“Low Maintenance Blonde”: Is Fall’s Ombre Hair Trend Here to Stay? posted on November 11, 2011
I Searched for a ‘Signature Scent’ and Her Name was Lola posted on February 22, 2012
5 easy hairstyles for medium, long, wavy, curly or straight hair posted on April 12, 2011
I Searched for a ‘Signature Scent’ and Her Name was Lola
5 comments
Like many other things in my life, I have severe A.D.D. when it comes to perfume. My mind is all over the place and I can never decide on just one. So usually, I’ll assess my outfit and choose a perfume from my collection that looks and smells like it would be an appropriate accessory to whatever I’m wearing.
For example, if I’m wearing something colorful, polka dotted, or sparkly, I’ll usually go with Kate Spade ‘Twirl’. If I’m wearing something extremely feminine, I lean toward Nanette Lepore. And if I’m wearing neutral, classic colors, I’ll generally wear Miss Dior Cherie L’eau. These are the perfumes that currently reside next to my sink in our bathroom.
In the past, I’ve worn Juicy Couture, Chanel Chance (both of these remind me of high school – but maybe that’s just me), Givenchy ‘Absolutely Irresistible’ (which I LOVED but it’s so hard to find in stores!), and many more…
My point is that although I’ve tried a lot of perfumes over the years, I’ve never really had a ‘signature scent’… Until now! I think I’ve finally found it!
Boyfriend and I went shopping the other day because he was out of “Smell Good” (that’s what he calls cologne) and I was in the mood for something new as well. We’ve never shopped for Smell Good together so it was really interesting for both of us to see what the other person preferred on ourselves and each other. In fact, it was really helpful. I highly recommend dragging the man in your life (or guy friend) along on your next perfume shopping trip.
I swear we were at Nordstrom for over an hour. You really have to put some perfume on and walk around and then come back to it in order to really tell if you like a certain scent on yourself (or another person).
Buuuuuuuuut, after what seemed like endless conversations with the fragrance experts about the notes in each scent (blah, blah, blah), we finally made our purchases. I bought Marc Jacobs ‘Lola’ and so far I (and Boyfriend) absolutely love it. And Boyfriend bought Burberry ‘Touch’ for Men. It’s yummy.
I was looking for something a little different – something not everyone else had. But I also wanted something age-appropriate, sweet, and floral (but not TOO floral).
What’s your signature scent of the moment? Do you have a favorite perfume for women or cologne for men? Do certain perfumes remind you of people from your past? Or a specific time in your life?
Got my hair done again!
3 comments
One of the (many) things I love about being a beauty and style blogger is getting the opportunity to meet so many amazing people that I wouldn’t necessarily have met otherwise. Meeting Taylor Lucas of Lucas Salon last Saturday is a great example.
Fewer than 10 hours after arriving home from Israel, I decided to do the daunting task of starting to get caught up on email. I receive a lot of emails about my blog – most of them crap (random, unrelated, asking for favors, etc.). So it’s always nice when sifting though to see something that catches my eye.
I was excited to see an email from Taylor Lucas of Lucas Salon, offering to do my hair. The salon is new to Portland but she has another salon by the same name that resides in Los Angeles. Eager to check out a new local business, I was intrigued. Plus, I’ve been super broke and lazy lately so I hadn’t gotten my hair done since my complimentary cut and color from Estillo Salon, so of course I said yes.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the salon was located in Downtown Portland, less than a five minute drive from my apartment. Plus, it’s super gorgeous. It reminds me of the perfect studio apartment you WISH you had. High ceilings, huge windows, brick walls, wood floors, natural light, spacious floor plan. Simply beautiful.
About the cut and color…
I had a fairly specific vision in my head of what I wanted my hair to look like. I pictured a honey blonde color with long, cascading layers, a la Blake Lively. Taylor NAILED it with total grace and ease. It was obvious she had tons of experience, so this was easy for her. I absolutely LOVE the way my hair turned out!
You can see the cut pretty well in this photo where we didn’t use a flash…
And the color is more accurate in this photo…
But what really made the experience was talking to Taylor herself! Seriously, she is SUCH a doll. And not only that, but she has tons of experience doing hair in Los Angeles and New York on photo shoots and movie sets. But even after all that, she’s the least pretentious person I’ve ever met. Seriously, a genuine doll and someone I would totally hang out with outside of the salon. I literally didn’t want to leave, I just wanted to stay and hang out and talk to her. (Sorry if that sounds creepy!)
So if you live in the Portland area and are looking for a new hair dresser, I highly, highly, highly recommend Taylor from Lucas Salon. If you visit this salon you’ll get more than just a great new hair ‘do. (Do people still say ‘do?) You’ll experience something different and totally refreshing: character and warmth that most salons these days are truly lacking.
You can find prices and an address for Lucas Salon on the Lucas Salon website.
———-
Disclosure: I was given complimentary services by Lucas Salon, but the review and opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own. And I plan to return to the salon and PAY for my services next time, because Taylor is that good!
Low-Maintenance Travel Makeup
5 comments
As most of you know, I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Israel. I say whirlwind not because the trip was short, but mostly because it was a crazy 10 days of back-to-back activities, no sleep, site seeing and soul searching. I’m not going to go into detail about the trip in this post because I have another post going out this week (or next) complete with enough photos and details to keep you bored for quite some time. So stay tuned.
But in this post, I’d like to tell you about the aspect of my trip that is most related to one of the usual topics of this blog – beauty products. As you know, I was stressing out like a mad woman about what to pack, clothing wise. But I didn’t really talk about the makeup I brought, which was, ironically, probably the thing I packed the most smartly. (Is that even a word? Told you I was sleep deprived…)
Keep in mind that we did some hiking, swimming, and weren’t always near a “clean” bathroom on this trip. So the beauty products I brought had to be low-maintenance and last through the day and into the evening with minimal touchups. So, with that said…
I relied on the following low-maintenance beauty products:
1. bareMinerals MATTE SPF 15 Foundation ($28): I’ve blogged about this stuff time and time again, because it really is the best. So I’ll say it again – perfect for somewhat oily skin, sun protection, and overall coverage – Bare Minerals Matte foundation can’t be beat.
2. NARS blush in ‘Orgasm’ ($28): Despite the racy name (or maybe because of it), ‘Oragam’ blush really is the perfect shade of pink to give all skin tones a natural looking flush.
3. bareMinerals Faux Tan Self Tanner ($22): You probably think I’m a little ridiculous for bringing sunless tanner to the dessert, but Faux Tan really is a lifesaver for a pale girl like myself (who has given up tanning in leu of a cancer-less life). This kind, I’ve found, to be the most natural-looking.
4. Covergirl LashBlast Waterproof Mascara ($8.99): Smudge-proof and totally saved my life through naps on the bus and the plane. Bonus: It makes your lashes look way longer than fuller than they actually are.
5. NARS Bronzer in ‘Laguna’ ($34): Because girl needs a great bronzer. ‘Laguana’ is great for lighter-skinned ladies, like myself.
6. Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20, Healthy Blush 20 ($8.99): It moisturizes and adds a slight pop of color. Pretty much the perfect combination.
7. Bobby Brown Blotting Papers ($20): When you’re on the go, it’s easy to get shiny skin. I keep these in my handbag at all times, just in case.
8. Bare Minerals Mineral Viel ($20): Also great for absorbing oil and creating a matte finish, Mineral Viel is the best way to set your makeup.
And I know this isn’t accessible to all travelers, but covering myself in genuine mud from the Dead Sea is one of the best gifts I gave my skin while I was away! (You can buy some here.) No joke. My skin was soft as a baby’s bum after this stuff. Plus, how bomb do we look here?
So tell me… Which are your favorite beauty products to travel with?
Estilo Salon Giveaway Winner!
leave a comment
I wish I had time for a more substantial post today, but unfortunately life has been a little chaotic since my return from Hawaii last night. But I do have time to announce the lucky winner of my Estilo Salon $375 giveaway! As you can see from the random number generator above, lucky commenter number 17 is the winner (drum roll please…)
The lovely Nicole of Running in Heels!!
Congratulations, Nicole! I’ll shoot you an email this week with the information you need to go claim your prize!
Don’t be too distraught if you didn’t win. I’ll have more fun giveaways (both local and not) coming in the next few months so there will be more chances to win fun prizes!
Stay tuned for photos from my trip coming up tomorrow or the next day!
Giveaway! $375 worth of services from Estilo Salon!
24 comments
Aloha from Hawaii, Friends!
I wish I could bring back a souvenir from my trip to each and every one of you, but luckily Estilo has a much more appealing offer. Instead of my showering you all with random trinkets from Hawaii, one lucky local Oregon or Washington reader will win $375 worth of services of his or her choice from Estilo, the super awesome Vacouver-based salon I got pampered at last month (if you missed it – check out my review of Estilo Salon)!
To see a complete list of services this super upscale salon has to offer (so you can decide how you’re going to spend your $375!!!), check out Estilo’s website.
To enter to win this day of pampering, all you have to do is:
1) “Like” Estilo on Facebook.
2) Come back here to this blog post and leave me a comment letting me know that you “Liked” Estilo!
Easy, right?
Make sure that when you leave a comment, you use a valid email address so that I can get ahold of you if you’re the winner!
You have until Sunday, December 18th at 5 p.m. pacific time to enter and the winner will be drawn by a random number generator when I’m back from Hawaii on the morning of Monday, December 19th. I’ll post an article that day announcing the winner. Good luck!
Ps. In case you have forgotten, here is my “Before” and “After” from Estilo Salon:
Best Salon in Vancouver, Washington: Estilo (And my transformation!)
7 comments
I was fortunate enough to score a blogger invite to one of Estilo’s grand opening events a few weeks ago. Eager to see more of what one of Portland’s neighboring cities had to offer beauty-wise, I gladly attended. And I’m so glad I made it because my experience at Estilo was truly unforgettable.
Vancouver isn’t exactly known for its up-scale salons or spa services. However, Estilo can compete with the big leagues and gives the top Portland salons a serious run for their money. (Trust me – I’ve been to A LOT of local salons by now.) Estilo is, without a doubt, one of the best salons in Vancouver.
This glorious new salon offers an array of different services for hair, nails, facials, waxing, and more (check out their website for prices and a complete list of services). The salon is quite high end, so it’s not cheap. But I can assure you that you get what you pay for.
Although Estilo is technically a new salon, its owners and employees are veterans in the hair and beauty industry. Every stylist there boasts an impressive resume of over 15 years experience doing hair (or nails, or facials, whatever service that particular individual was offering.) The team at Estilo was brought together by long-term friendships and a genuine appreciation for the art of styling – which makes this salon really special.
Upon my entrance into the salon, I was greeted by an entourage of friendly staff, upbeat music, and a glass of wine. After a quick tour, I decided on a service to partake in (I got a full head of highlights with contrasting lowlights) and was seated in a cozy salon chair.
My stylist, Wendy, discussed the vision I had for my hair in depth before touching even an ounce of color.
Because winter is upon us, I told Wendy I wanted to tone done my bright blonde highlights with some dark underneath and some contrasting low and high lights on top. We talked about the tone I wanted my hair to be, and then she explained, in depth, what she planned to do to it. We spent quite a few minutes talking about my hair, which reassured me that I was in good hands.
So, now for some Before and After…
I’m quite literally obsessed with the way that Wendy colored my hair. I absolutely LOVE how she seamlessly integrated the dark color with the light. It’s a perfect compliment to my eyebrow color, and I couldn’t be happier!
I don’t want to bore you with every little detail of the event (although I will say – there was wine, fine dining, and great conversation). Had I gotten to the salon earlier in the evening, I would have had the opportunity to get my nails done, a facial, and/or a makeover. Unfortunately, I had to work late that night and didn’t arrive until about 7 p.m. so I didn’t give them enough time to further pamper me.
But I will tell you that if you’re anywhere near the Portland/ Vancouver/ Janzen Beach area and are interested in being “wowed” by a salon, I HIGHLY recommend Estilo. And without a doubt, I will be back to see Wendy and the rest of the Estilo staff as soon as possible.
2520 Columbia House Blvd #102
Vancouver, WA 98661
Estilo’s phone number:
360-719-2571
Estilo’s website:
stylebyestilo.com
Check back on my site next Monday December 12th for a chance to win a “day of pampering” at Estilo ($375 worth of services!)
—————-
Disclosure: I was given complimentary food, services and products at Estilo the evening described in this post. However, to maintain the integrity of this blog the reviews and opinions expressed in this post are my own. I genuinely loved the salon, and with no promise of future complimentary services I will be back.
Nail Inspiration
5 comments
Lately, there have been some really, REALLY cool manicures floating around Pinterest and the blogosphere. Inspired by everyone’s nail creativity, I decided to do my own creative DIY manicure (see above). This is a combination of OPI and Zoya and it was super easy to do! First, I painted a base coat of the Zoya purple and then did a few coats of the OPI on my tips. And ta da! It’s a jewel-toned, sparkly french manicure.
This wasn’t my first attempt at a creative manicure and it certainly won’t be my last. For Halloween, I tried Sally Hansen’s press on manicure in “lace”. See below.
And last year, I did a variation of the first manicure I showed you but with a navy blue from American Apparel’s line of nail polish (as opposed to the purple), and the same gold glitter polish. See below. (You can read more about this manicure in my blog post “Polished Perfection.”)
Although I’m proud of my DIY manicures and think they turned out pretty well – these manicures below put mine to shame. Oh well – there’s always room for improvement!
And my personal favorite…
What has been inspiring your beauty routine lately?
“Low Maintenance Blonde”: Is Fall’s Ombre Hair Trend Here to Stay?
3 comments
As a blonde, I’m encouraged to go get my hair colored about every six weeks. Two full months is pushing it. And anything more than two and a half is well, unacceptable. Sound high maintenance? It is. But that’s just a part of being a blonde.
In response to this – Some blondes are lashing out! They want to be low maintenance, damn it. The solution? Visible roots. (Yes, you heard me right. Showing your roots is no longer taboo.) And I don’t mean a measly month of growout – I mean serious roots.
What is the Ombre Hair Trend?
Showing “roots” in this way is called the “ombre” hair trend. It’s supposed to look like you’ve been out surfing all summer when suddenly summer changed to fall and BAM – your hair hasn’t seen the light of day in months. It’s a, um, “seamless graduation of color.” But in layman’s terms: Roots are dark, ends are light, and it’s worn with pride.
Often, the ombre trend isn’t actually about letting your highlights grow out at all. Women are dying their hair to look like this – on purpose. First, the whole head of hair is colored dark. Then a stylist paints some highlights into the lower part of the hair to make it look like it grew out that way. Seems crazy, but when done right, it can actually look quite natural and pretty.
Celebrities sporting ombre hair
Some famous faces who have been sporting the ombre trend include Bar Refaelis (above), Drew Barrymore, Rachel Bilson, Giuliana Rancic and Lauren Conrad… To name just a few.
Not all of these women were blonde to start with, so for them going “ombre” was a step in the lighter direction. But for those of us blondes, embracing this trend more or less means dying our hair dark. This may or may not be something you’re prepared to do…
How to make this trend work for you (as a blonde)
If you’re blonde already, unless you really are trying to become a brunette (and there’s nothing wrong with that!) the key is to make sure that there are still some light pieces around your face.
As you see from the photos above, Hilary Duff, Giuliana Rancic, and Bar Refaelis all have a blonde streak or two framing their faces – which keeps them from crossing over into the realm of brunette. Drew Barrymore, Rachel Bilson and Lauren Conrad choose not to do this. (But they were brunettes to begin with.)
So if you decide to dive in and go for the ombre look, and you’re not ready to go brunette just yet, ask for light, face framing highlights like some of these lovely ladies did.
What do you think? Has ombre overstayed its welcome? Or is it a legitimate alternative for low maintenance blonde hair?
HOW TO: Get the look of a blowout with a curling iron
5 comments
Who doesn’t love the look of a salon-style, round-brush blowout? Unfortunately, giving yourself a blowout without the help of a stylist can be quite challenging and time-consuming. Luckily, my friend Emily has discovered an easy, time-effecient way to achieve the same look with a curling iron instead of a round brush (she did it on my hair – above!) The best part? It’s easy to do on yourself! No professional stylist needed! In today’s video tutorial, Emily shows you, using my hair, how to get the look of a round brush blowout using a curling iron.
The finished product:
Fall 2011 makeup tutorial: How to get retro spider lashes
7 comments
Every season there are some new, funky makeup styles that hit the runways. This Fall, one of my favorites is spider lashes. Spider lashes are a retro, feminine style, reminiscent of 60′s and 70′s models like Twiggy. Long, clumpy, spider-like lashes will make your eyes pop. Since this is a style I have been wearing a lot lately, I decided to create a video tutorial for how to get this look. Sorry for the silly face that YouTube decided to create a freeze frame of. I never said the camera loved me.
