Monthly Archives: July 2011

5 Ways to Beat that “2:30 Feeling”

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You know that lull you get in the middle of your workday? Reboost and refresh yourself in 5 minutes with these quick tips:

  1. Energy Boost – grab an apple or a bottle of water – apples are proven to give you more energy than caffeine and water will hydrate your skin and awaken your mind.
  2. Root Boost – head to the bathroom and let your hair down, literally. Flip upside down and give your tresses a tousle to amp up your natural volume and shake it up a little.
  3. Pinch those cheeks! If you don’t have blush handy, give your cheeks a couple of light pinches and pats to bring color back to your skin. (See: Sandra Bullock in The Proposal for a live demo)
  4. Take a lap – If you’ve been sitting all day, now is a good time to get up, walk around, even head outside for a little natural rejuvenation. 
  5. Gloss up – add a dab of your favorite gloss for that “just got ready” look you walk in with every morning!

Beauty Commandments

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I found this on http://cottoncandymag.com/the-10-beauty-commandments/ and thought it was worth sharing! I don’t necessarily exercise or agree with all 10, but it’s definite food for thought!

10 BEAUTY COMMANDMENTS

I. Thou shall keep it fresh: If only from a social viewpoint, it’s important to smell and look fresh.  If all you have on hand are a few cleansing wipes and deodorant, use them.  Keep a pack of no-rinse mouth freshening brushes in your bag, if you’re always on the run.  However, don’t overdo it with fragrance – just keep it simple.

II. Thou shall keep clean: Makeup should never touch your pillowcase at night.  A well-cleansed and exfoliated face is the best palette for self-tanner, sunscreen and makeup.

III. Thou shall not bake – your skin, that is: Sunscreen is the key to youthful skin, but some people experience reactions to the broad-spectrum ingredients.  In case of sensitivity, choose one with titanium dioxide and zinc only.

IV. Thou shall be kind to your tresses: Skip shampooing daily and give your dryer and irons a break. When used sparingly on roots and before hair gets oily, dry shampoo will extend a hot set or blow-out by up to three days. Try Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible for all hair shades, at Ulta® and Sephora®stores.

V. Thou shall not ignore dark or gray roots: Clairol Nice N’Easy Root Touch up blends them away until your salon appointment, within ten minutes.

VI. Thou shall not wear bronzer in place of foundation: Use bronzer to contour along the cheek and jaw bone, even one touch on the eye lids. Then apply a bold blush, like Becca Cosmetics’ Flowerchild to the apples of the cheeks to achieve a vibrant glow.

VII. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s mascara: It’s unsanitary to share mascara as it’s one of the fastest expiring cosmetics. Sharing may cause pink-eye and other infections.

VIII. Thou shall define: Black eyeliner on the inner rim of the upper lid fills space between lashes.  Add mascara and admire the noticeable difference.

IX. Thou shall have soft, pouty lips: No lip color will ever look good on peeling, chapped lips, especially not stains, frosts or dark shades. Exfoliate them gently with a soft toothbrush or a lip scrub. Add turbinado sugar to balm to make your own.

X. Thou shall honor thy health over appearance: Don’t ignore product warnings or recalls. Also, beware of the deal that’s too good to be true. There’s usually a good reason.  Do your research, create your routine and be your own beauty guru.

When It Rains, It Pours

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It’s REALLY coming down out there! So, what better way to pay tribute than showcasing a few of my favorite rain boots on the market right now? Here are my top 3 picks:

These Burberry rain boots are my saving grace – especially with Michigan’s unpredictable weather. Slip on a par of cozy socks with leggings and these waterproof wonders will keep you dry and let you enjoy sloshing through a few puddles!

Hunter rain boots have skyrocketed in popularity over the last year(ish). Although I have yet to try them, I think they’re super fabulous – especially with the comfy inserts that come in various patterns and colors to suit your mood. The inserts also make these rainy day saviors a great alternative to Ugg boots in the wintertime!

Can’t splurge on designer boots? Fear not. There are TONS of great options like this one at your local Target or DSW that put the “fun” in functionality. You can snag a pair like this for under $50 – easily! 

Summertime Sunshine Essentials

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I’ve been a delinquent little blogger because I have been basking in the sunshine since 3:00 Monday afternoon. So, I found it appropriate to share some of my favorite poolside (or beachside or backyard!) accessories to help you maintain that healthy summer glow, without looking overheated and crispy!

Banana Boat Deep Tanning Oil - I never go anywhere without it! I’m trying something new for tomorrow – keeping it in the fridge to make it not only effective, but refreshing. I’ll have to let you know how it goes. Regardless of the temperature, this oil gives you the perfect deep tan and you can purchase it in various levels of SPF – depending on how easily you burn. I’m lucky enough to be blessed with olive mediterranean skin that doesn’t burn very easily :) ($5-$8; grocery or drug stores)

Starbucks Cold Cup- even though this isn’t technically a “beauty product,” this is one of the most important accessories to have with you while basking in the sun. Staying hydrated is super-important and it will help you withstand the heat without getting dizzy when you get up to go inside! (I believe they run $12 – $17)

Too Faced Poolside Primping Kit - ($42; Ulta or Sephora or TooFaced.com) OK – last, but certainly not least, this refreshing kit is all you need to transform from a “glistening” beauty into dinner-ready (or happy hour ready!). Use the SPF face primer for under eyes and eyelids, dust on a little bronzer to enhance your day’s progress, freshen up your lips and lashes and you’re good to go. It’s a 2 minute get-ready that will revive your makeup in a hurry! Substitute your favorite cosmetic products for the ones above, but if you’re in need – I HIGHLY recommend Too Faced products. They’re the absolute best!

Sunday Skin Care Secrets

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We’re all guilty of not giving our skin the attention it needs. After a long day at work or a long night on the town, it’s hard to muster up the energy to wash away all of the day’s stress – even though it only takes 30 seconds. Sunday is the perfect day to give your face a break from piling on the product and rejuvenate yourself for the hard week ahead. Here are some of my favorite skin care products: (forgive me for looking like a Neutrogena rep, I swear I’m not)

  • Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Stress Control Scrub - it also comes in a cream, but the acne-fighting beads in this formula make you feel like you have a whole new face after you use it. Tip: Keep this in your shower for a quick refresher in the morning before you hit the road. The warm water and cooling effects of the scrub will give you a much-needed wakeup call.
  • I used to use this Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish formula. It’s a much smoother and creamier blend than the scrub above, with the same prevention effects. Not sure how effective the “anti-wrinkle” agents are, but it can’t hurt.
  • If you’ve really lost track of time and find yourself breaking out, run to the nearest drugstore and grab one of these. These cleansing pads will dramatically reduce the size of a blemish overnight- just in time for the big presentation or dinner date you have planned the next day!
  • This is a great alternative to the scrub or other face washes that require the use of water and a wash cloth. If you must cheat, use these. They will hold you over until the next time you can properly wipe away the day’s stressors.
And, let’s not forget the #1 thing we love to neglect: Removing Eye Makeup between applications. It makes such a difference in your appearance day-to-day whether or not you realize it! If you don’t want to spend the $$ on the “official” eye makeup removers, baby oil or an unscented lotion on a tissue or cotton ball will do the trick.
All of the products mentioned in this post are available at your local drug or grocery store. For an alternative to Neutrogena products, try Dove Facial Cleansing Cloths – a 2-in-1 soap and washcloth combination that will remove eye makeup without the sting!

The Long-Lasting At Home Mani/Pedi

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Need a quick fix? Not in the mood to make awkward conversation at the nail salon? Don’t have $40 to spend? Fear not. After 21 years of careful observation, I’ve got the salon quality manicure we know and love at home for less!

What you’ll need:

  • Nail File (I like the metal ones because they double as a cuticle pusher-backer haha) 
  • Acetone – don’t mess with “nail polish remover” – this is the good stuff that takes off even the deepest red polish in a flash! You can get a huge long-lasting bottle of this at Sally’s for under $5
  • OPI Natural Nail Base Coat – $8.50
  • Color of choice – Try Sinful Colors ($1.99 at the drugstore), they go on more smoothly than most polish and there are TONS of fun colors.
  • OPI Top Coat – $8.50
  • If you’re doing a pedi : Pumice Stone
Step by Step Guide:
  1. Remove old polish. Even if its clear or pretty much gone, this is a good idea so that you’re starting with a blank slate.
  2. Refine the outer edges of your nails with the file. This works best if you file all in the same direction.
  3. If you’re using a metal file, use the rounded edge to clean underneath your nails and push back your cuticles. For a pedicure: This is the most important step. Go over each nail at least twice.
  4. Use a nail brush with warm water and soap to brush away the dust away from filing and to catch anything you may have missed.
  5. Dry hands/feet thoroughly
  6. Apply the Natural Nail Base Coat – this will strengthen and smooth out your nails. I like to wear it even when I don’t have polish on!
  7. Apply two coats of polish. It looks best if you let the first one dry completely.
  8.  Apply top coat!
Now you have gorgeous, salon quality nails at home! It’s always nice to go in, but this technique can definitely save some money and keep you looking fab in between visits.
If you’re feeling talented: French Mani at Home
  • Use OPI Chip Skip on the tips (the “white part”) of your nails instead of the Natural Nail Base Coat
  • Apply two coats of white polish to the tips. Don’t worry about the underside being smooth, you’ll take care of this in a minute.
  • Dip a rounded eyeshadow brush (that you won’t use for your eyes again…) in acetone and smooth out the under edges by starting in the middle and moving outward. It is imperative that you do this when the white polish is DRY or else it gets messy! 
  • Apply top coat and VOILA! You’ve got the perfect at-home french manicure.
Try it & let me know what you think!

Summer Style Trend: Color-Blocking

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Just a quick irrelevant note… I’m hoping for a new, more creative name for this blog, so as I post feel free to make suggestions :)

Onto business! I stumbled upon a post by Teen Vogue on twitter about some of their favorite fashion bloggers and the first photo was this color-blocking look:

Now, I would love to rock this look during the daytime, but Kalamazoo (where I currently am) couldn’t handle it. However, I have a few pieces that took this same idea from daytime chic into a fabulous outfit out on the town. I usually wear black on black on black (not even kidding) so this was a bold move for me! See how it turned out:

I have similar black pumps (Target $30) to the ones in the Teen Vogue photo, but the summer shoes I chose are one of my fave pairs. Kim Kardashian hooked a sista up! I did carry a simple black Kate Spade bag (my first-ever designer bag… it created a monster) to tone down the look a bit. Like I said, small-town can’t hang with bold moves! I had so much fun with this outfit and it was a great way to stand out among the crowd – I definitely have a few things in mind for next time I break out this style technique.

Follow me on Instagram or Twitter (@mandyresh)

I am wearing:

- Express Sequin Pocket Tee (Clearance for $9.99 or less… I also have it in black)

- H&M Orange Skirt (Clearance for $5 two weeks ago on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago)

- ShoeDazzle snakeskin heels ($39.95 at www.shoedazzle.com)

I’m also rocking some ultra fab extensions… more on those later.

Welcome to “Beauty on a Budget” :)

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As you may (or may not…) know, I used to blog on Blogspot about boring stuff like my life that no one really wanted or cared to read. (Except you, Kayla). I’ve been inspired by one of my good friends, Sarah, who has the cutest little blog: https://saraharg.wordpress.com/ that makes me cry and laugh and get green with envy all in one post! She’s the coolest.

Anyway, I’ve been waiting for my big “a-ha!” moment about what to blog about and it hit me while driving today: Beauty on a Budget! And not just beauty as in makeup, I’m talking about great shoes, accessories, clothes, hair products, shopping destinations AND makeup. The whole shebang. Of course, there is inner beauty, too, which we can touch on from time-to-time!

Bottom line – I’m a new graduate and although my family did a fantastic job training me to have kick-ass taste, I’m not making kick-ass money, so I’ve learned how to find the best deals on the best brands in even the most unusual of places. Stay tuned for all of the tips, tricks and secrets I’ve learned in my 21 years of fabulousness!