Looks I am Loving: Barbra Streisand in Hello Dolly

Dolly is Fab

Ok so I have been experiencing technical difficulties. I have started my first semester of grad school and life in crazy. Also if you hadn't noticed, all the pictures on the blog disappeared for no apparent reason. So, as tedious as it is, I have been slowly working to restore all the blogs back to their former glory. I said I wasn't going to write any more until all of the old ones are fixed, but its boring! Thank God I put everything in a Pintrest folder so it isnt a total pain. Any tips fellow Blogger users? So I am working towards total blog restoration, in the meantime, here is a blog....

So on to Dolly! Not exactly a cult classic, but still awesome, Hello Dolly is a musical with Barbra Streisand as the lead character Dolly Levi directed by Gene Kelly (Gene Kelly! 'nuff said). Anyway, it is suppose to be set in 1890, but clearly the makeup is all 1969. I am pretty sure eyeliner wasn't even invented yet let alone having a full on swoop of cat eye. Not exactly period appropriate, but I am sure they make concessions for Barbra.

Looks I am Loving: Serena van der Woodsen from Gossip Girl

Spotted: Serena getting off the train at Grand Central

I decided to do this Gossip Girl post because I have been re-watching the entire series as prep for New York. Yes, I admit it is totally unrealistic, soap opera-ish, and ultra glam prep but sue me. This post is a little late in the game but I still really want to look like Blake Lively, aka Serena van der Woodsen circa 2008. This being not nearly as cool as doing a re-creation of a look from some obscure cult classic from the 80's or a classic hollywood film I realize, but it is my blog and I will blog about what I want! I still want to live out my Gossip Girl fantasies in New York, unrealistic as they may be, gallivanting on the Upper East side (which turns out is kind of boring really, who'da thunk).

How to: Survive Summer in New York (or any hot, humid place for that matter)

I want to look this hot in NYC... mostly I am trying to avoid sweating to death

So I have been on hiatus again... for good reason! I have been in NYC for the past five weeks attending a pre-course for grad school. And I am going to be moving there! which is incredibly exciting, Of course I go during a heat wave, at a time of year known for being unpleasant in New York and no Hamptons or whatever to escape to. And I wasn't just gallivanting around, I had to actually, like impress people and stuff. Attempting to make a good impression while drowning in your own sweat is not an easy feat. Keeping my skin nice, and not sunburnt was top priority because pretty much everything got sweated off. So here are the few things that actually worked (which were not many) in the extreme heat and humidity of the New York summer.

Looks I am Loving: Orange Lips!

J Crew Sprig 2013
Double colour! but pretty no?

When summer comes.... I am lazy. Hot weather to me equals less makeup and more time spent outside walking, bike riding, sitting on patios... mostly sitting on patios; enjoying what little summer we get in Canada. And I want to look cute but not wear a ton of makeup that is going to slide off my face. Or affect my sunscreen reapplication. So giant smoky eye is out of the question. But deep red lips? in the middle of summer? no I want cheer, bright happy, sunny! That's where orange come is. I love orange, its like pink's older, punker, neglected sister. I don't want to look like a Barbie all the time, I want to look cool and fashion-y. What's more fashion-y I ask you then a funky lip colour, a bareface and some big "sunnies"? Nothing. Nothing I say! So here is three levels of orange intensity from dip your toe, to full on.

How to: Apply Foundation

Foundation, faking flawless skin (plus some photoshop I am sure)

So as a continuation from yesterday’s How to: Choose a Foundation post, I thought it would be important to explain how to apply it. You can customize the coverage of the foundation depending on the tool, from ultra glam perfection to naturally perfect. It also depends on your laziness level. So let me explain.

How to: Choose a Foundation

Swatch foundation more towards the jaw line, obviously neither colour is close

Foundation is one of the most difficult things to get right and one of the products we use the most and are the most loyal to. It is difficult to get right because not only does it have to perfectly match the skin (yes I said perfectly) it also has to work with the individuals skin type and lifestyle. And when the three pieces fall together? Perfection.

Looks I am Loving: Coloured Eye Shadow SS 2013

Peter Som Spring 2013

So I feel like I have been talking about a lot of heavy stuff lately, and I still am getting a feel of what you guys do and don’t like so I thought I would talk about something fun and leave all the talk of moisturising  and exfoliating behind for a minute and talk about stuff that give us instant satisfaction- Pretty, sparkly eye shadow. I somewhat talked about spring being about natural face + bold something with my last looks I am loving post about the Jessa look. Looking at more pictures from SS 2013 I have discovered another thing I love; the amazing natural face + coloured shadow. Again super simple and you could actually walk down the street without feeling super weird. It has surpassed its junior high school roots and in this other picture from Peter Som, looks down right edgy:

How to: Tight-line your Eyeliner

Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2013 show makeup look

So Tight-lining is magic. I kind of forgot how awesome it was, but a good friend of mine at Bobby Brown reminded me of its power to produce awesome natural looking makeup. I give natural looking makeup some flack some times for being boring, but done well it makes a woman look so good! Tight-lining is the process of lining the inner rims of the eyes to get rid of the gaps and make the lash line look thicker.

All About Eye Primer: the Eye Makeup Saviour

Dior Spring/Summer 2013- Totally everyday makeup right? 

So yesterday’s eye post has gone pretty viral so today I thought I would continue on the topic a bit and write a quick blog about eye primers. I saw some of the spring/summer looks on beauty editor and most of them seem to involve copious amounts of eye makeup. Eye primer keeps complex eye looks lasting for more than ten seconds. I foresee that if you are going to be rocking eye makeup into the spring and the summer, you are going to need to use an eye primer.

How to: Dewy Makeup (Even in the Dead of Winter)

Louis Vuitton Spring 2012

So it’s January still. I hate January. Just saying. It is dark, cold, you are back to “healthy eating” and to top it off it wreaks havoc on your skin. So here are my tips for looking glowy and dewy in January, like Christmas actually refreshed you (not!).