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Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Monday, January 13, 2014
Break ALL the Rules
Have you ever Facebook
stalked yourself? I have, and the one (maybe not so) surprising thing I noticed
that evolved over the years was my makeup.
Reason why? Constant research on
the best products, brushes, application techniques and any other tips I could
find for my sensitive skin. Now, I have
turned my daily regimen into second nature…I literally can do it without even
looking in the mirror!
While I appreciate natural
beauty, there is a time and place for makeup.
After all, it’s all about being creative and self-expression. All of the different products can add up and
the do’s and don’ts can be very exhausting, so I have started looking into ways
to simplify my bathroom counter. You’ll never guess what I found out! I have
compiled all of the rules you thought
were helping you, and I’m telling you to BREAK them (and why)! Rules are made
to be broken, right?
A clean face is a happy face!
1. Cleanse
your face once a day: If
you’re like me, you thought the best way to start the new day is with a fresh,
clean face. Well, it’s time to break
that rule and vow only to cleanse your face at night. Falling into bed without washing off the day
will only invite bacteria, oil, dirt and leftover makeup to clog your pores
while you sleep. You’ll wake up with
unwanted acne, more defined fine lines and wrinkles, and after a few nights
that leftover makeup will actually start to dehydrate your skin! If you’re thinking, “Eww, Groove Girl, what
about my face in the morning?!” don’t worry, just try this. Cleanse your face and exfoliate (I love sonic
brushes!), then in the a.m. simply rinse your face with water. Prep your refreshed face for your makeup with
a gentle toner and cotton ball.
2. Getting routine
facials: Facials are awesome! You walk away feeling clean and unclogged,
but you may be causing more harm than help to your face. Extractions, DIY or done by a pro, can lead
to scaring, or even cause a permanent mole.
The best remedy for clogged pores is a nightly routine with a sprinkling
of facial masks and exfoliation. Love
that feeling when she turns up the heat to steam your face and open your
pores? While steam will help open your
pores for a deeper cleaning, the heat can actually burst capillaries in your
face! You don’t have to give up the
steam, just take your nightly routine in the shower. The gentle steam will help open pores for
when you cleanse and exfoliate.
3. Feeling too young to anti-age: It’s all about prevention and preparation when it comes to your skin. You might not think that you need to worry about anti-aging in your 20’s, but these vitamin packed fountain of youth products will be the reason you look 20 something when you’re in your upper 30’s (and stay lookin’ fab in your 40’s). I’m not saying you need to buy the entire anti-aging line, just simply try using 20% glycolic pads three times a week. Using a retinol-based product on the nights you haven’t swiped will help lock in and preserve your young skin. P.S. don’t forget your neck and hands…they’re right behind on the list of parts of your body that are most visibly affected by aging.
Start with a blank canvas
1. Foundation first, then powder:
We have been
told, even on packaging, to apply foundation prior to powder. What if I told you that you can achieve that
flawless, airbrushed look if you powder first! This is one of the rules I am most excited to
break! If you give your face a light
dusting of a fine powder before your liquid foundation/moisturizer it will help
fill in and prep problem areas for better coverage. When you apply your liquid, the powder will
help it stick to your face better and avoid that caked on dilemma. Don’t worry, you can still put powder on
after foundation for those shiny problem areas or cover acne scars.
2. If you know foundation goes all over:
Hate to
break it to you, but you don’t need
foundation from ear-to-ear! It might
seem easier to just cover your whole face, but you could be suffocating your
pores. The best makeup technique is to
perfect your skin’s complexion and highlight your best features, not mask your
natural beauty completely. Try a light
dusting of powder all over followed by foundation only where you need it. Use it where you have scars or uneven
pigmentation, like your chin and around your nose. Avoiding your entire face, like forehead, can
help keep your shininess at bay throughout the day, but still achieve that
fresh and natural look.
3.
You hide behind your foundation:
If you are
washing your face, trying the creams and nothing seems to be helping those
clogged pores and unwanted acne, it could be your makeup! If you’re using a foundation that’s too heavy
you could be suffocating your pores. You
might have problem areas that are easier to hide under a full coverage
foundation, but that is not a solution to clear it up. Try finding a foundation that lets your skin
breath underneath it. A breathable
foundation will help conceal any skin issues you’re frustrated with, but its
lightweight consistency will help it breath and recover!
Bat those lovely lashes
1. You
only curl your lashes before mascara:
While this is a highly
debated topic in the makeup world, it might actually be better to you’re your
lashes after mascara. Makeup artists and beauty enthusiasts argue
that if you curl them while the mascara is still wet, you’ll be at risk of
breakage or pulling out your lashes with the curler. However, if you use a light coat of mascara
and allow it to dry completely, you
can curl those lovely lashes and enjoy a better curl that will actually stay
long!
2. You
have to focus on only one feature:
Typically, this rule stands
true. However, we are seeing more and
more smokey eyes with bold lips…and they look fabulous! Sometimes when you only focus on your smokey
eye, you can make it seem like you didn’t really finish the rest of your makeup
(especially in pictures with a flash).
I’m not sayin’ go out with an intense cat eye and bright red lips, but
use your judgment and you can look impeccably polished.
So there you have
it! Some of the best beauty rules to break! Be sure to use makeup to enhance
your features, but don’t hide behind it.
Not only can you create skin problems, but you’re natural beauty is one
kind that no one can steal or replicate!
Monday, December 30, 2013
It's a New Year's Eve Soiree
SPOTTED: The clock is ticking down, but does anyone
notice yet? Between the yummy champagne,
adorable party hats, and finger foods that are almost too cute to eat, everyone is busy taking selfies and dancing,
not watching the clock. What sparkly
winter wonderland brought everyone together?
You’ll have to read on because I’ll never
tell!
XoXo,
Groove Girl
Groove Girl
A Formal Affair
We’re ringing in the New Year in style! Whether you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party, attending, or helping a friend get ready for one, you’re gonna want to make sure these ideas are part of the party!
First things first, for any party your
decorations have to be on point. You don’t have to go all out to have a great
looking party; there are some simple and easy decorating tips that are a must
for your NYE soiree. One of the easiest
decorations that you can use in so many ways are balloons. This is New Year’s Eve…I’m not talking about
your average Happy Birthday balloon. I’m
talking about these adorable champagne inspired ones you can get from Etsy.com
for $5!
Along with
these sleek black balloons with gold lettering, you can also make your own
confetti balloons with this simple trick!
Before you blow up clear balloons use a funnel and put a handful of
confetti from the dollar store into the balloon. Whether you pop them at midnight or keep them
around the house for decoration, everyone will wonder where you got such
awesome balloons!If you don’t want to mess with balloons try this instead! No need to put away those tree ornaments just yet! Even better, after Christmas all the decorations go super on sale!
There are so many cool ways to display balloons for any party, but these are my favorite that would be super fun for your NYE party.
Sky High Balloons:
Get a balloon drop bag to put on
your ceiling, and once the New Year’s here, release them all over your guests! You can get them online, or at a party store
for around $5, or just tape clear plastic (like for painters from Home Depot) to the
ceiling and put the balloons in there! Another way to have balloons above you is just to let them
hang. Take an edge of your scissor and
run it along the strings to make them curly!
A Balloon Wall:
A great way to block off areas where you do
not want guests to wander is a balloon wall!
It’s super simple and easy…all you need to do is tape the strings of the
balloons at different heights until you have a solid wall! If you’re limited on space, but still want
the look, just tape the balloons to the wall with some painters tape! Keep it interesting with different sized and
colored balloons!
Year in Review Chandelier:
Print out pictures from 2013 and tape them
onto the bottoms of the balloon strings.
I have actually done this before, except I had more pictures on mine…the
max for your balloon to still float is 3 pics!
However, if you tape the top of the balloons to the ceiling you’ll have
no problems!
Glitter, Glitter Everywhere:
Another fun way to incorporate confetti into the celebration is with these awesome Push-Pop Confetti poppers! Stick with the black, silver, and gold theme and order these for your guests to pop at midnight, or if you're a colorful crowd they have a fun multicolor one too (they even have a biodegradable one for those outdoor celebrations)....get them here at Etsy.com! (You can also make your own by buying the push-pop containers and confetti at Michaels craft stores)
Don't Forget Your Party Hat:
Perfect if you’re having a Gatsby themed party (one of the
biggest trends this NYE btw), or any party!
The tiaras are really cute on and come in various colors to match any theme. Don’t forget about the fellas and order some
of these snazzy New Year’s hats!
If you wanna be more original, DIY! Get some of your average gold and silver paper party hats and add a little flair! Get rhinestones and glitter from the dollar store/Michaels and get gluing! While you're at the dollar store, pick up some barrettes so your guests don't have to wear the dorky string under their chins!
Bars and Bubbly:
A party's not a party without sips and nibbles! There are so many different finger foods you can serve at your party, it all really depends on your crowd. However, there are a few snacks I've seen that would just be perfect for a New Year's soiree.
Make sure everyone gets a kiss when the ball drops with a bowl of Midnight Kisses! Not only are these delicious, but the idea is super cute! (I am definitely doing this at my party!)
If you don't have any go-to party appetizers on hand, check out this blog! There are links to 50 recipes for yummy and mostly easy finger foods!
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| Get all 50 recipes here! |
Now for the fun part! How much fun is sipping on champagne...New Year's or not! Well, who wants to be caught in a pic holding a plain old paper cup, or worse, a generic red one on NYE!? No one. Here are some of the cutest ways to dress up your bubbly!
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| 10 Easy Cocktails for the New Year! |
Got extra tinsel from Christmas? Wrap your glass in glittery stars by cutting about a foot long piece of wire tinsel. Wrap the stem of the glass a few times before you start making your way up! These are also great for glass or plastic champagne flutes.
A really popular drink topper I have been seeing a lot of lately are the cute pompom ones. It's super easy and cute, you'll want to do it for every party! You can pretty much use anything you want for the stirrer and then glue a pom on the top! The cute flags with 2014, or other text, are super fun as well and are made the same way!
If you don't want to go the traditional route, try these gold dipped mason jars! While they're not disposable, you'll find yourself using them again and again. The best way to get an even covering is to use gold spray paint. I have seen the same idea, but with blackboard paint so your guests can use chalk to write their name, or other silly things. If you are planning on entertaining little ones, try this fun mocktini for them to enjoy....or it would also look super cute on your desert table!
There is nothing better than a crisp, chilled, fizzy glass of champs! If you do want to dress it up a little bit, there are some very tasty recipes to try when toasting the New Year.
Have you ever had a champagne jiggler?! These are not only adorable, but they sound really tasty too! Just like a normal jello shooter recipe, you follow the Jello directions on the box. Instead of adding in cold water, you add cold champagne! DO NOT procrastinate on these if you're thinking of trying them out. You need them to be fully set and solid (as solid as Jello gets hehehe) before you attempt to serve them. You can use an ice cube tray for a simple and easy shape, but you can also play around with the silicone trays for fun shapes. Lastly, add some Pop Rocks candy and fun sprinkles like these stars, and you're ready to go!
All That Glitters:
Your party is almost complete! The only thing left to do is focus on you! Be sure to check out my Monday's on Main Street post for some NYE outfit inspiration if you still haven't decided. As for the little extras that just complete your look, I just had to share these perfect pieces with you! |
| Don't forget your lashes! NYE...one of the best excuses for fake lashes! |
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| Kate Spade champagne coin purse! HOW adorable! |
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|
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| Don't forget your party favor! |
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