Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts

Friday, 1 March 2013

blonde-y

blonde-care


I recently made the switch from ombre to full-on blonde. It is quite the process for me since my hair pulls a LOT of orange tones. My friend started by alternating foils of bleach and a brown that's slightly more golden than my own dark hair (L'Oreal True Brunettes UL61, which is meant for dark hair). 


hair colour




Since my hair was still slightly brassy, the next step was using Clairol Natural Instincts Brass Free Brunettes all over. I just shampoo it all over, like a toner, leaving it on for about 5 minutes max. I find it improves the tone of my hair and seals the cuticle, making it shinier. This one is semi-permanent, so it will fade out and I tend to redo it from time to time. I dont use the entire bottle each time, maybe 1/3, by mixing equal parts colour and developer in a hair colour mixing bowl I bought at the dollar store. 


The next steps are in the care of the blonde hair, which can look extremely dry and wiry. I have been alternating between "Mane & Tail" and AG Sterling Silver shampoos and have found them to be the best. The AG is a purple tone, which helps with the brassiness. For conditioner, I'm loving the Goldwell Kerasilk line! I have both a regular (for colour treated hair) and a deep conditioning treatment. I'm also still a fan of any of the Pantene Pro-V conditioners as well.

Once washed, I towel dry and use a few pumps of Josie Maran Argan oil, which smells so nice! I blow dry my hair with a round brush, always holding the blow-dryer in a downwards angle to smooth the cuticle. To finish, I find that curling my hair helps make it look shinier as well. I use a Hot Tools iron in 1.5", which gives a slight wave but not curly look (since it's such a large barrel).
   

Saturday, 29 December 2012

warm-bronze makeup look

warm-bronze

Lately I've been into bronzey eyes, but in very rich, almost reddish browns instead of the usual taupes. If you have blue or green eyes, this colour will really make your peepers stand out. It's also so pretty for brown eyes, since it's so neutral (which means you can wear it with pretty much any outfit too).

- Start with my fave look, which is super-fresh skin. Exfolliate, moisturize and apply a tinted moisturizer like this one from Josie Maran. Conceal where needed and powder slightly on forhead, under eyes, around the nose and chin only.
- Use a bronzer on all the high points of your face (forehead, nose, cheeks, chin and sides of neck). Try this mosaic bronzer from Physician's formula.
- For eyes, start with a bronze-toned base or paint on the eyelid and blend into your crease until the edges are soft. Try Maybelline Colour Tattoo (or a Paint Pot from MAC).
- Then tap an extra shimmery, bronze across your lid. Try the Shimmer Cubes from The Body Shop (I love the top-right colour) or the Autumn Leaves Quad from Loreal (#3 colour). Add a lighter shimmer tone to the tear duct areas of your eyes and under your eyebrows.
- My favourite eyeliner for this look is Teddy from MAC, applied along the waterline and into the lashline. Blend slightly with a brush or q-tip. For something slightly darker, I would use Coffee from MAC or a similar very dark brown.
- I recently tried the MAC Studiofix Boldblack Lash, and I have to say that I LOVE IT! It lengthens and separates so well, so I highly recommend it (or my other faves, Haute & Naughty from MAC or try Voluminous in Black-Brown).
- For NYE, I would add a few individual or an outer corner lashes for a little drama.
- The great thing about this eye look is that it's also neutral enough to go with any lip colour you want to try. Keep it soft with a nude pinkish-beige, a light shimmery gold tone gloss, or go glam with a red or deep plum lip.

bronze
Mac cosmetic
nordstrom.com


Face powder
drugstore.com


Maybelline makeup
drugstore.com


Matte lipstick
15 CAD - topshop.com


Mac cosmetic
15 CAD - nordstrom.com

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

current staples

current staples

I've recently switched up some of my previously mentioned diet staples. I'm saying no to many of my faves, under the advice of a trusted health practitioner, who did a series of tests on me since I seem to have the symptoms of IBS...

Bye, bye: Coffee, wheat, cows milk, red meat, soy, oats, corn, barley, rye, spelt, citrus fruit (except lemon), kamut, yams, flax seeds, garlic, onions, kidney beans and last, but certainly not least... ALCOHOL.

Hello: brown rice, greens (spring mix, spinach, etc), cocoa, tea, avocado, almonds (blanched only), almond milk, berries, fish, chicken, sprouted beans, eggs and goat cheese (which I am struggling to get into).

I've been sticking to this (with the exception of a couple tiny doses) for a month and a half, and I've never felt better! My stomach feels like it has healed a great deal, and is no longer irritated and in pain. Hopefully it will heal enough to be able to handle some of those foods (and drinks!) again. I am going for a follow up early December... so my fingers are crossed!

For info on the lady I go to (Cheryn Donaldson, aka- miracle worker), go to www.bodymindconnection.net. I don't know that I should be telling you about her, since it already takes a couple months to get an appointment LOL ;). I can't even begin to describe what she does (muscle testing, acupressure, kinesiology, holistic medicine and nutrition etc). She's helped me, and people I know, with food sensitivities, skin disorders, emotional issues, goal setting, decision-making and stress management. 

Basically, she can get to the root problem instead of pills and quick fixes. That's what it's all about in my books.

PS- I'll post some new recipes soon!

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