Fall into Autumn

Fall is definitely my favorite season. From pumpkin spice latte's to a crisp in the air on a sunny day, I love everything about it.

One of the things I am most excited for this Fall, in addition to pumpkin ice cream and pulling out my riding boots, is the exceptional range of beauty looks.

The three beauty looks I'm lovin' for fall are:
1. Rosy cheeks and full brows: this look is perfect for lounging around in leggings and a chunky sweater on the weekend. Get the look by using a cream blush or gel cheek stain that is easy to blend and will give you a natural look. You want the color to be similar to the color your cheeks naturally turn when you're flushed after a good workout. If you don't have full brows, fill them in lightly with an eyebrow pencil one shade lighter than your eyebrows.

Perfectly rosy.

2. Plum lips: I just love this look because I think almost anyone can pull it off-- it is so strikingly gorgeous. If you're a lipstick-phobe like me, try a stain (my fave) or tinted gloss/balm with a dark plum color. Make sure to go easy on your eye make up so there isn't too much going on at once. Wear this to a fun event, such as a cocktail or even just dinner with your friends.

Kate Bosworth always gets it right. Photo from http://magazine.amiclubwear.com/rock-those-plum-lips-this-fall/

3. Black winged liner- I'm so glad the classic cat-eye is making a comeback, but it always has been and always will be a "go-to" for me regardless of the trends. Draw a thin black line as close to your lash line as possible; slightly wing out the end by angling it towards an invisible line that connects the outer corner of your eye to your eyebrow then fill in the line to make it one smooth line. Go neutral on the rest of your make up. To make it more dramatic for night, make the line thicker-- otherwise you could do a thin line and totally rock this during the day!

A little more dramatic than what I'm going for, but still super-cool.  Photo from http://www.qcmakeupacademy.com/news/article.php?article_id=22

What are your favorite beauty looks for Fall?

stress no more

Stress sucks. Not only does it make you feel bad, it can make you look bad too. Pimples, under-eye bags, you name it.

I've been SO stressed lately and realized that my beauty routine had an effect on how stressed I feel. On days where I tried to cover-up the way stress had effected my face, I looked even worse.

Lesson learned-- instead of wearing dark colors and piling on the makeup to mask my stress only made it more obvious. It can draw attention to the things you're trying to hide, and can make you feel more frazzled when you're not happy about how you look on top of everything else you're worried about.

This girl knows how to do it right

During stressful periods, wear simpler makeup. Go for neutral colors and soft lines to look more relaxed, and feel more relaxed when you look in the mirror. I would do a tinted moisturizer, a small dose of blush, bone-colored eye shadow, a thin line of eyeliner, and a single coat of mascara. This is not the time to try out the new false lashes you got or bright teal eyeliner!

Does your makeup affect how you feel when you're stressed?

be easy

Flat, frizzy, sweaty, stringy, faded, dull and parched.

Wearing your hair down in the Summer can be anything but pretty. For those days you spend outside, or even normal days when you just don't feel like doing anything with your hair, it is possible to have a low-maintenance and pretty look. I have 3 go-to Summer hairstyles that I wear when I don't feel like blow-drying and straightening my hair (too hot), which ends up being every day. You can wear it to the beach, to work, on a date, pretty much wherever your heart desires.

1. The braid: my favorite.

If you have long hair, go for a single braid, whether it be regular, french or fishtail. Do a side braid if you're going out for a more dressed-up look. For girls with shorter hair like me-- do a single, 1-inch thick french braid on your hairline, pin, and wear it down or pull it into a ponytail/bun 

My braid/low bun combo: on left

2. The topknot

My version of the topknot + 15 bobby pins

Whether it takes you 20 bobby pins or 0 bobby pins, this is a look pretty much anyone can do. I love the topknot because it actually works better if your hair isn't clean (or brushed or dried, for that matter), and once it's up, it's up. I'll do my bun in the morning then wear it all day and out that night and it'll still be in tact the next morning on the way to Bojangles. Awesome.

3. Waves

barely wave-y, so low-maintenance

Only Victoria's Secret models can truly claim to have perfect "beachy waves," but for the rest of us there's help. Depending on your hair texture just towel-dry your hair out of the shower, pool, ocean, etc., add your product of choice (scrunching gel for straight-maned girls, de-frizzer for curly-haired girls) and leave it. My hair is straight so I usually touch up my waves with a straightener and a little hairspray but it takes 5 seconds and the best part: the messier, the better.

What are your favorite warm-weather hair styles?

orange crush

Photo courtesy of Allure.com

This summer I am dying to hop on the bright lip bandwagon.

I usually avoid putting any color on my lips. For some reason, lip stick and lip gloss aren't big players in my make-up routine so the only product I remember to put on my lips on a regular basis is chapstick.

I want to try a bright mouth this summer to change my look up a bit. I have seen countless pictures of the colorful trend with stunning lipstick shades of fuchsia, orange and fiery red.

Orange is one of my favorite colors to wear, especially with tan skin, so tangerine-tinted lips are the perfect compliment to a care-free summer mood.

I'm going to try an orange-tinted gloss or balm before diving into a more highly pigmented lipstick, and pair it with tinted moisturizer, coral blush, a touch of bronze liner and black mascara so the focus stays on the mouth.

Clinique's Chubby Stick in Two Ton Tomato is more of an orange-y red, more flattering on warm skin tones, or Milani's Color Perfect Lipstick in Mandarina will be perfect layered under regular chap stick.

I can't wait to try it out this weekend paired with jean shorts and a casual white top!

Have you ever tried a bold lip?