Author Archives: McKennaRishmawy

the Fashion stuff., the Hair stuff., the Makeup stuff.

Best of the Awards Season 2015

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So, awards season.  It’s here.  Wait, I mean, it’s been here and I’m just very late.  Very, very late.  How about I not waste any time and just get down to the point, which in this case would be my favorite looks of the 2015 Awards Season.  This mostly revolves around hair and makeup, but there were two irresistible dresses that I’ll get to.

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Keira Knightley, once again, proves to be my number one makeup inspiration (alongside Kristen Stewart).  I am always impressed and delighted by however subtle or dramatic, feminine or cutting edge, new or same-ole’ her makeup is.  I am never disappointed.  The look above from this season’s Golden Globes is almost exactly what I go for when I do bridal makeup, and then work forward if the bride is looking for something more specific.  It’s just a classic, beautiful look.  I spoke to KK’s makeup artist Kate Lee on Instagram (!!!), and while she credited Chanel’s Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra in Tisse Gabrielle for Keira’s eye makeup, she let me know that you’ll want to mix in their Lumieres’ Facettes Quadra in Quadrille as well to create a more violet tone.  Luckily, I own the Tisse Gabrielle, so I’ve been playing around with mixing in some of my purplish MAC shades like Sketch for a similar look.  I’ve always said that if I were ever to have the opportunity to have a celebrity makeup artist play with my face, Kate would be my very first choice.  Every little thing she does is magic!

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Not much eye makeup.  A matte-ish, more-tangerine-than-red lip.  Shineless waves, and an asymmetrical cut.  When dissected, so much about Rosamund Pike’s look at this year’s SAG Awards was unconventional and off-ish for the red carpet, and that’s why I loved it.  No giant false eyelashes (maybe none at all?), no obvious slick of lip gloss reflecting so much light it could blind you, and a disheveled hair texture that felt different as opposed to all the perfect, 1940s Hollywood waves we typically see at these events.  Seriously, who wants Pantene commercial hair any more?!  Not me!  Pair it all with that Dior Couture gown and you’ve got a look that I would literally wear myself, from the haircut down to the shoes.

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One of the fun things about social media is you see a certain celebrity you love on the red carpet, and then they tag all of the people responsible for their look that night and you follow the tags down this rabbit hole of amazingness that enables you to discover exactly who is cutting whose hair, who is always doing whose makeup, and who is styling whose dresses.  George Northwood cuts Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s hair, Nick Barose is always Lupita’s makeup artist, and Tracy Cunningham is the hair colorist of all Hollywood everyone ever.

There are certain dream teams, however, that seem to come together for one special celebrity for every important appearance of theirs.  In this case, it’s the team of hairstylist Mara Roszak, makeup artist Rachel Goodwin, and stylist Petra Flannery that have managed to create moments of pure yes for the beautiful Emma Stone on a regular basis.  This year’s SAG Awards were no exception.  I’m apparently have a moment of affinity for Dior Couture (which is not usually the case), so it’s good to finally feel that I can relate to the fashion house which I’ve had a hard time with in the past.  I tend to leave all the Dior for Marion Cotillard, and I’ve trusted it with no one else.  However, Emma’s turn in black, sheer tuxedo-inspired Dior Couture gave me a case of the Honey Boo Boos,  and I’m giving major virtual high-fives to Emma’s dream team here.

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And let me just mention that I have never wanted to be a redhead so badly in my life.  The funny thing about this kind of “red” hair is that it’s not actually an authentic red; it’s more of a brown-bronze that’s richer, more sophisticated, and more flattering than a fiery red (which Byrdie.com has so eagerly dubbed “ronze”).  But beyond the hair color (pulled artfully back into a sleek, modern ponytail), it’s also the glossy lids, the perfect shade of red on the lips, the amazing lashes, the #flawless brows, and the unique ear cuff that make for those special details that turn a great dress on a pretty person into A) an entire look that I’d wear from head to toe and B) something that will be talked about in the fashion world for months and months to come.  Congrats guys, it’s perfect!

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And finally, we come to the one singular dress from the Golden Globes that really stole my heart and haters can SHOVE IT.  A couple things here:  A) If you wear Mary Katrantzou on the red carpet I automatically love you forever.  B) This dress reminds me of Princess Aurora’s classic silhouette, which might be one of the reasons why I love it so much.  C) That shade of mauve-ish purply pink is gorgeous.  D) Again, I’m all about the weird little details with that box clutch, the dark nails, the matching pink lips, and the shoes that don’t really match at all or make any sense.  Some have said that Kerry’s looking like “a very bold Easter basket” here, but I am almost always impressed and excited by Kerry’s uncanny red carpet choices as opposed to the same body-con piles of blah that we see all the time.  Take a risk, people!  It may not always pay off, but I will at least have a lot more fun looking at you on Instagram.

Questions?  Comments?  Bricks to throw?  Bring it!  But I’m tired now.  That’s all.  xo, MR

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Drugstore Cowgirl: Part Dos

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My choices in products for skincare, haircare, and beauty in general have probably increased in price over the years, but if there’s one thing that I’m unable to resist it’s a well-stocked beauty section at a drugstore.  January is the best time for this (I know, I’ve been raving about this month for so many reasons!) because this is when every company rolls out all of their new products!  You’ll find a trickle of new items throughout the rest of the year, but it’s nothing compared to what you’ll find at the turn of the new year.

So if you’re feeling like your beauty routine needs a few new goodies for 2015, head over to Target or Walgreen’s next time you’re out for groceries or prescriptions, and make that trip a little more fun.

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The Simple Micellar Cleansing Water is likely the brand’s answer to the ever-popular European staple of beauty bloggers everywhere, Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micelle Solution.  I’ve been reading acclaimed beauty blog IntoTheGloss for four or five years now, and probably their most popular and unique feature is the “Top Shelf”, which takes the reader inside the bathrooms, wash chambers, and medicine cabinets of the fashionably elite (as well as Lindsay Lohan, who’s reached a new kind of ironic cult status in all her broken glory).  I would say that at least every other Top Shelf article showcases a bottle of Bioderma’s Sensibio on some cool-girl’s bathroom vanity.  It’s of similar status to Elizabeth Arden’s 8-Hour Cream and Homeoplasmine.  I’ve never been able to find the stuff (and I hate buying online because that’s just too easy), but this holy grail of French pharmacies has apparently come stateside thanks to Simple.  All you need is a cotton pad, and it both cleanses and removes makeup so you don’t need to wash or rinse afterward.  The Simple Micellar, out of all the new products I saw lining the shelves at Target today, will probably be the one product that I will go back to purchase for its unique qualities.

Two rich, luxurious face creams have made their way to drugstores in the form of Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Water Gel and Garnier’s Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream.  I love the idea of a thick and sumptuous face cream in a beautiful jar, but I don’t have much of a need for either of these as I already have a night cream that I LOVE (Acure Organics Night Cream) and I prefer my day creams to A) contain some degree of SPF and B) be more purse-friendly than a large, heavy jar in case I need to take it with me to work in a dash.  It’s not that I wouldn’t ever consider one of these products; it’s just that I have little use for them in my routine at the moment.  I’ve also been more into serums these days, substituting a daycream for Shiseido’s Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate.  But please- if you do try either of the aforementioned, share your review with me!

And now for the one hair product I’m mentioning.  Like I’ve said before, most drugstore products are an answer to luxury ones that have been previously released.  It’s not typical for a drugstore beauty product to be the first of its kind, especially since most drugstore brands are owned by luxury brands, or vice versa.  So know that L’Oreal’s Advanced Hairstyle Blow Dry It Blowout Longwear Spray is simply a riff on many predecessors.  This is a dry shampoo/texturizer that will both extend time between shampoos and provide an artfully disheveled consistency, along the same vein as Oribe’s Dry Texturizing Spray, Garnier Fructis’ Style De-Constructed Texture Tease Dry Touch Finish Spray (seriously, who came up with that mouth full?), and probably Bumble and Bumble’s Dryspun Thickening Finish.  I have a hard time resisting anything that claims it will give my hair that just-ran-around-a-windy-city, Blake Lively-ish, zero-shine-but-somehow-irresistibly-touchable feel.  I am so jazzed that for about the past two to three years, it has been all about messy hair (unless you’re Princess Kate, which is fine.  You do you, Kate).  I have really poor appreciation for perfect curls, and any time I see a few perfectly-set tendrils on some sweet, type-A girl’s head, I just want to bury my hands in them and rat them up and make the hair move.  And maybe dump a bucket of salt water on them for a tiny bit of texture.  So anyways, while the new L’Oreal spray is right up my ally (oh and it smells amazing, BTW), I really should get through the bottle of Oribe first.  And the Bumble Dryspun.  And the Klorane dry shampoo that I use regularly, too.  Sheesh.

And then lastly, there’s the Burt’s Bees Renewal Refining Cleanser.  Haven’t tried it, but it features apple and hibiscus which means it probably smells pretty amazing.  I’ve loved Burt’s Bees’ other cream cleansers (and their sensitive one is my favorite for winter when my Desert Essence oil cleanser just leave me too dry), so I’d trust this.  Oh, and the word ‘refining’ tends to be universal for ‘anti-aging’, so if you’re looking for a gentle way to improve your skin’s texture and smoothness naturally, this may be a good find.  One of those fun products that makes your shower more of an escape, you know?  So is someone else up for trying it out and getting back to me?  Okay thanks.

So, I know I already said “lastly”, but there was one other little surprise I found three days ago while wandering through Rite-Aid.

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Does anyone remember this stuff?  Oh man, the John Frieda Blonde lines.  Behold the Beach Blonde line in all its returned-from-the-archives glory.  I mean, this was thee stuff back in the day, and now it’s back.  And an awkward twelve-year-old brunette never forgets feeling harshly marginalized by the beauty industry in a world that was already teeming with copycat blonde Britneys, Jessicas, and Christinas at the time.  Seriously, I think having yellow hair in middle school gave you some weird fast pass to “hot” that has been forever inexplicable.  Racism, maybe?  Mankind’s ancient fascination with gold?  Just for fun, we’ll go with racism.  But anyways, the John Frieda Beach Blonde line came out after the John Frieda Sheer Blonde line had already taken over drugstores and distressed brunettes and redheads everywhere (and yes, JF quickly rolled out the Brilliant Brunette and Radiant Red lines, but you still felt second-rate).  I remember buying Sheer Blonde and using it.  I mean, seriously, that’s desperation for you.  Here I was, a never-color-treated brunette kid with her own share of zits, using Sheer Blonde shampoo.  I think the fact that it was really meant for blonde color-treated hair sort of escaped me at the time (that and the fact that it doesn’t actually turn non-blonde hair into blonde) but somehow I felt that using the Blonde line would give me that … certain something?  I really don’t know now.

But the Beach Blonde line now would have a great deal of use in my hands, especially during the days when I put a little light back into my hair.  You know me and texture, so the salt spray would sure come in as handy, and the whole line could be used in the stead of Bumble and Bumble’s rather … ahem … drying Surf line.  The Beach Blonde products are also big on the menthol, so they make your scalp feel tingly and they smell fantastic and unique compared the fruity explosions of Garnier and Herbal Essences.  I was tempted to purchase all three products, but again, I’ve got shampoos and conditioners that I love and need to use up, and I’ve got a salt spray I need to use up as well (again with the Oribe).  So, someone else, buy these please.  And make your inner twelve-year-old feel happy and included.  xo, MR

the Magazine stuff., the Me stuff.

The Problem With January Issues

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And by issues, I mean magazines.  Or do I?

As you may know, I’m an avid reader of, like, ten gazillion magazines.  Well, maybe not quite that many, but I do subscribe to and purchase quite a good amount of glossies.  I like to talk about them, too, and I’ve often said that if I could go through my college education a second time I’d probably major in journalism with the goal of writing for some publication, whether online or in print.  I would write for magazines, and hopefully one day, a fashion publication.

I love fashion publications so much because they add flavor and color to the seasons.  There’s always something new to see or try, and there’s always something ahead to be excited about.  You see Amy Adams in a sparkly, sequined dress on a December cover and you just think CHRISTMAS- the gift guides (all under $500!), the “how to party without gaining a pound or losing a wink of sleep” nonsense, and all the articles on glittery makeup for grown-ups.  Or you see a tan, boho-waved Kate Hudson on a July cover and you feel like summer is finally here, with all its reviews of the latest sunblock innovations and tutorials on creative ways to braid your hair when it’s oily and disgusting.  I’ve mentioned it before, but the September and March issues tend to overwhelm me because they’re so large, and it feels like such a non-negotiable forecast on my style choices that I get panicky.  Isn’t that weird?  I feel such feelings of urgency and inadequacy when I read those issues that I need to go out and get those lug-soled heels right now before fall has past and I’m completely off trend and the season is over and I missed Fall Fashion Week and now it’s time for bathing suits and YOU’RE LATE BYE FELICIA.

No one else feel that way?  No one?  Whatever.

Now, January issues are different.  January issues I love.  Why?  Because the insanity and emotional roller coaster that is the holidays (or at least, that’s how it’s felt for the past few years in my case for a variety of reasons) is finally over, and it shows in the January issues, let me tell ya.  Celebrations, parties, and family get-togethers, while generally enjoyable, tend to come at a price.  There’s planning, there’s gift-buying, there’s people-pleasing, there’s Christmas-card-writing, there’s family-seeing, there’s dressing up, there’s anxiety, there’s so much shopping that you’re practically suffocating from all the perfume samples, and then there are just the general emotions of nostalgia, longing, and reflection that come with the season.  You feel weak.  You feel tired.  Maybe you even feel sad.  You feel desperate to finally get the holidays “right”.  You again need to be reminded for the billionth time of what Christmas really is and means, whether through a tearful viewing of “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!” with your husband or the hymns you sing or the sermon you hear.  You’ve arrived at another year’s end and realized … again … that you’re barely hanging on to your humanity, and you’re weak.  And you’re tired.

But January issues.  January issues wipe all that away and seem to want the world for you.  The cover lines would have you believe that the world is your freaking oyster!

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Your Happiest Year!  Let’s Motivate!  The 2015 Change Your Life Guide!  31 Days To the Best You Ever!  Love Your Body!  

And no January issue ever seems to be longer than 100 pages … totally doable!

Every January issue is nothing short of devoted to empowerment, to starting over, to self-renewal.  And I do love it!  Whether at home, at work, in beauty, in health, or in love, January issues are all about pressing the reset button and creating entirely new goals with eardrum-bursting enthusiasm.  And this can’t be anything but good, right?  I mean, we should call this all great, right?!  Every page dedicated to mantras like “Do What You Love”, “Jump Start Your Career”, “Make Your Mark”, “New Year, New Do”.  After all the madness that was December, you just cannot wait to take those cover stories seriously and make this new year your happiest year.  Whether it’s that new haircut, that new workout plan, or that new travel goal, this new year should be your happiest year.

But a funny thing happened to me as I perused through all those January issues this past week, through all that encouragement, through all that self-motivation and those ceaseless chants of YES YOU CAN!

I felt even more anxiety than I had before.  I thought, as I read through those endless suggestions of how to be better, how I should do more of what I love, how I should go after what I deserve … I need to change.  I need to change right now.  This needs to be my happiest year!  It’s time to take charge.  It’s time to transform.  This has got to be MY YEAR.  It’s time to turn into a workout machine, or a simplified, organization boss who’s rid herself of all unnecessary possessions, or a mentally tough person who isn’t afraid, or the girl who at least does her hair really, really well all the time (and with the Instagram followers to prove it!).  I will finish writing that novel, I will travel more, I will stand up for myself, I will work for that butt I want, I will sprinkle chia on everything, I will treat myself more, and I will conquer my deepest fears!  It’s time to be happy, it’s time to love myself!  I need … to love … my self … NOW!

And suddenly, those feelings of urgency and inadequacy … there they are again.  And the September issues are still a whole seven months away.

I can’t help but believe that maybe an avalanche of “self-help” isn’t the whole answer to our stress and weaknesses, and that wiping the slate entirely won’t fix the problems that, well, can’t just be wiped away.  Don’t get me wrong- January issues really might be my favorite issues of the year.  I’m serious, I bought ALL the magazines.  However, I think I just want to speak to the people who see cover lines like “Your Happiest Year!”, and quietly worry to themselves “What if it’s not my happiest?”, or even “What if this one’s worse than the last?”; or those who know that a juice cleanse and new membership at the yoga studio can’t make the pain you felt in 2014 magically go away.  There are those that cannot even see the written expression “2015” on a magazine cover without perhaps being filled with a sense of dread and fear of the future, and I mean to speak to you.

And honestly, I want you to know that this is okay.  When you see Reese Witherspoon looking confident as all get-out with her words “I don’t do regret” on the cover of Glamour, it’s okay if you do feel the pang of regret and failure in your own life.  When you see Jennifer Lopez on the cover of Self, claiming “I’m facing my fears and working on myself”, don’t sink into despair if your fears still cripple you at times and you barely even know who your “self” is.

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“I want to prove I’m a superwoman” … you don’t have to be, and you are free from ever trying to prove such a thing.  “You have to live with an open heart all the time” … but if you struggle with vulnerability, don’t be discouraged.

What I also want you to know, however, is that you can still take heart and have joy.  Don’t be so discouraged as to not even look through a January issue.  Don’t be so discouraged as to not light that candle of hope, to not believe that with all the darkness 2015 may bring, that it won’t come without its own promises and healing.  And I mean this in the smaller sense, as well.  Buy those new yoga pants.  Sit down and start planning that trip you’ve always wanted to take, even if it’s just a drive to the next big city.  Come up with that new plan for tackling your “to do” list in the mornings at the office.  Stock up on blueberries, or find a new lipstick shade you love.  Try baking the cookies with the coconut flour.  And maybe even chop off your hair.  But give yourself grace, and don’t be afraid to feel the pain that so unavoidably comes with life, even if the world around you is telling you that this should be “your happiest year”.  2015 will not be a loss.

The kitchen “mini makeover” (that never feels so “mini” in the end) can wait if it has to, and it will come when it should.  So can the barre class, the social media account, and that amazing entrepreneurial idea of yours that’s going to change the world.  After all, the happiest years are yet to come.  You are enough for 2015.  xo, MR

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The Realist’s Guide To Hair Growth

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It seems that every time I go on Pinterest these days, I run into a new pin that has however many tips for growing out your hair.  Lauren Conrad’s blog has ’em, BeautyBets has them, I’m pretty sure Maskcara has hers, and seemingly hundreds of other bloggers have their own ideas about supplements, treatments, and products that will magically cause your hair to grown by a foot within less than a year.  So why not unnecessarily add to the pile?!  Well, here’s a difference for you- Consider this the realist’s guide to growing out your hair, because over the years I’ve found that there really isn’t that much truly aides in hair growth other than a whole … lot … of patience.

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Because this is what you had in mind, right?

1.  You need to consider your decision to commit.  Now, this may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s a biggie.  Let me tell you from experience that it’s very, very easy to decide that you are going to grow out your hair and then quickly recant that decision after observing a few broken ends one afternoon or a picture of Taylor Swift’s latest chop.  How many times have you decided that you’re going to grow out your hair, only to become frustrated by a lack of results or made anxious by split ends, only to find yourself having a couple inches cut?  Or you cave and go for the trendy, shorter cut in a moment of whimsical impulse?  If you’re like me and your hair does not grow back quickly, you need to commit to growing out you hair and you must refuse to compromise that decision.  Don’t worry about the cut of the moment on Instagram.  Ignore the comments from those who make you feel ‘boring’.  Insist on only the slightest of trims, and have a stylist by your side that will help you stick to your goal.  Keep pictures of inspiration on a bulletin or Pinterest board to keep you motivated.  Katie Holmes’ hair growth journey has probably been my most inspiring personally, as she’s gone all the way from near-pixie to princess length.  Deciding that you’re actually going to do it will help boost your confidence that you’ll eventually get there.

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My mane inspo.

On another note, give yourself an “enjoy by …” timeline.  Once you’ve grown out your hair to your desired length (and be clear to yourself about what this length is, whether down to your collarbone, breasts, mid-back etc), set a specific amount of time aside to just enjoy it so you can really feel and know that you’ve done what you set out to accomplish.  Lately I’ve gotten so caught up in the growing process that I haven’t taken time to acknowledge that my hair is finally, actually where I’ve wanted it to be for the past year or so!  I’m now allowing myself four-to-six months to just keep the length as it is and enjoy it.  After that, I’ll decide if I want to go for something else.

2.  You need to consider your genetics.  Be realistic about how long it has taken you to grow out a cut in the past.  Your hair just may not grow very quickly, and accepting that fact will help you to not be so discouraged.  Allow yourself plenty of time to let your hair do its thing, and if you see your friends’ hair growing faster than your own, stop comparing and don’t worry.  We all come with a different set of genetics, and it isn’t fair to assume that your hair will grow at the same rapid pace as your friends’ (unless, of course, you’re burning yours every day with a flat iron and she isn’t, which we’ll get to next).  I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that my hair does not grow like a weed (or rather, it splits more quickly than it grows), but I have to keep on keeping on.  If you’re just past the collarbone and the splits have you feeling discouraged, have a half-inch trimmed off and then keep going.  So, while you must consider your genetics in order to give yourself a reasonable amount of time for hair growth, persistence is still key.

3.  You need to consider what you do on a daily basis.  Hair growth, as you know, takes place at the scalp.  Hair, skin and nails all benefit in many ways from a nutritious diet that’s full of omega-3s, vitamin C, iron, folic acid, biotin, and protein (oh and WATER).  If you’re sticking to a diet of mostly sugars, fats, and empty carbs, chances are you’re not going to yield the lustrous locks of your dreams, even with all the fancy Kerastase treatments in the world.  Smoking also introduces a plethora of problems to hair growth (for starters), and steaming hot showers sap moisture from your hair and scalp too.  However, don’t expect a few servings of salmon to suddenly turn your mane into that of a Victoria’s Secret model.  Keeping a consistently healthy diet will mean healthier hair, but keep in mind that “healthier” doesn’t necessarily mean faster growth or increased thickness.  What it will probably mean is that what you already have growing out of your head will be in its very best shape with each strand growing strong and shiney, allowing your hair to grow with less breakage.

Now, as true as it is that your hair comes from your scalp, what you’re doing to the ends of your hair on a daily basis will also have a major impact on length maintenance (not to mention the dreaded extensions or frequent dye jobs [and the platinum trend is doing nothing for anyone in this category]).  If you’re eating right but you’re curling, blow-drying, or straightening your hair multiple times a week, your ends are going to break, and that breakage will travel up the hair shaft causing what will seem like entire strands to snap off, making all that good scalp growth useless.  Rough hair brushing, tight elastics for buns and ponytails, and coarse cotton pillowcases will also work against length maintenance.

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Pretty sure no one did the butter yellow, white girl weave like Britbrit.

So my advice?  Well, it’s nothing you haven’t heard before.  Lay off the heat.  Try air-drying, and don’t wash or style your hair so often.  Be intentional about what you consume.  Try using fabric scrunchies and a satin pillowcase.  Changing your daily habits could yield some surprising results when it comes to general hair health.  It’s our every day habits that have nothing to do directly with hair that tend to go most overlooked when it comes to growth.

4.  Having considered the aforementioned, you may also need to consider that that bottle of Moroccanoil may not be helping in the way you think it should be.  I am somewhat convinced by this point that there is no true “miracle product” when it comes to hair growth.  There are products that smooth better than others, give volume better than others, or perhaps protect against heat better than others, but I really don’t believe anymore that there are products that jump-start your scalp and cause your hair to grow at light speed.  No, I don’t even believe that consistent use of Viviscal will do more than keep your hair in the shape that it’s already in.  I feel that the most you can look for in products in terms of helping hair growth is heat protection and split-end prevention (and maybe temporary repair, or the look of repair).  I deep condition to protect and bring extra moisture, and I use treatment products for the same reasons. I think I’ve finally been able to admit over the past year that no protein-rich conditioner will be able to undo what my curling iron has already done, that a trim is sometimes the only answer, and that the word “repair” is to be taken with a grain of salt when seen on product packaging.

5.  You need to consider enjoying what you have.  Growing out your hair can be incredibly trying because it tends to involve constant comparison and thoughts about what you wish you had, rather than what you do have.  I haven’t met hardly anyone who was openly satisfied with his or her hair.  We (and I’m included in this) have a tendency to always see a whole lot of “yuck” in the mirror when we look at ourselves, and it has deeper implications than we may realize.  Refusing to take joy in the hair (or face, or body, etc.) we have prohibits us from ever being content, and it brought me personally to the point where I couldn’t even see how long it had grown or how pretty it actually could be.  We often think “If only it looked like this; then I would be happy with it”, but we know this is never truly the case.  We kind of have to go all the way back to the fact that it’s just hair, and practicing the virtue of gratefulness will help us love what we have and see it for what it is- a gift!

Let me know what has or hasn’t helped you in your hair growth journey, and if I’m a complete lunatic when it comes to superfoods or helpful hair growth products.  Call me crazy, but there are few things I enjoy talking about more than hair health so bring me all the questions and bring me ALL the answers!  xo, MR

the Friends stuff., the Hair stuff., the Makeup stuff.

An Afternoon With Lover.ly: Three Gowns, Three Makeup Looks

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I first have to say that I am so, so happy to be blogging in this weather.  It just feels … right.  Autumn isn’t always a thing in California, and so this cloud cover today actually feels like a warm blanket, perfectly paired with my soy chai latte with one yummy pump of gingerbread. File that under “things white girls love”.

Now, on to the good stuff!

We’re coming up on December, and something we always seem to encounter during the holiday season is a slew of engagements.  Whether it’s on Christmas morning in front of the whole family or just the two of you on New Year’s Eve, December seems to bring with it the anticipation of wedding fever.  And we all tend to know that planning for one’s wedding basically begins the moment you write the date on the calendar (and for many I’ve known, it starts even earlier than that!).

Planning for weddings can be one of the most daunting tasks simply because there are so many details we feel obligated to cover.  Sharing sites like Pinterest create even more anxiety because of the comparison that ensues between friends and acquaintances, and the constant revelation of newer, more innovative ideas that we’ve never seen before.  That super creative photo op that your photographer didn’t think of!  The rare tropical flower from the heart of Congo that suddenly everyone has to have in their bouquets!  The ten billion invitation fonts!  The handmade EVERYTHING (and OF COURSE you have to DIY because this means your guests will look at your wedding details 2.5 seconds longer than non-DIY wedding details before they just want their food, like at every other wedding)!  I didn’t even have a Pinterest account when I was engaged and I have to confess, this reality probably saved me a lot of frustration (but not all of it, apparently)!

However, the convenience of sharing and planning sites are pretty undeniable, and I’ve had the privilege of being contacted by a newer wedding planning site called Lover.ly, the wedding planning binder that lives in the Cloud.  The site is pretty incredible for it’s one-stop quality for weddings- you can “save your favorite wedding ideas and inspiration to bundles to stay organized”, you can “shop over 200,000 big day must-haves from invitations to your wedding dress”, and you can “plan your wedding with [their] expert advice, trend reports, DIYs, and celebrity scoop”.  If you wanted to, you could honestly knock out all of your wedding planning just through this one site, especially with use of their amazing wedding planning page.  Oh, and Lover.ly also features an app and you can follow them on Instagram and Twitter!

So anyhow, I was contacted by Lover.ly with a fun challenge for a blog post- Choose three favorite wedding gowns from their huge selection and create a makeup look inspired by each gown.  Um, nooooo prob.  And I figured why leave the whole task to myself just to create three makeup looks only for me?  And so, I enlisted the help of two good friends to lend a hand, and here’s what we ended up with:

Valerie – Sophisticated and Trendy

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Surprise!  The first one isn’t even a dress!  I absolutely love that Valerie chose a jumpsuit for her wedding look.  Valerie selected this halter crepe and lace jumpsuit from DB Studio.  It’s a piece that I could really picture her in, and I personally am all about jumpsuits these days.  For those who aren’t too attached to the idea of a dress and who are more interested in making a statement rather than sticking to tradition, this is for you.  I decided to keep the makeup modern and minimal for Val, focusing on bringing out the brown in her eyes with deep purple and some lining of the waterline with brown pencil.  I didn’t want too much beyond this though, because it is still a bridal look and anything too much makeup-wise would read more club than wedding.  Some nude gloss and loose waves keep in step with the playfulness of the jumpsuit.  And in my opinion, I wouldn’t go for any stuffy updos here.  Clearly this would be a look for a bride that wants to just have a good time!

Stephanie – Feminine and Romantic

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I love that this second look is the antithesis of the first.  Stephanie selected the Faye gown from Anthropologie’s BHLDN line, with beautiful raw-edge layers of tulle and a lace-paneled deep v-neck.  The frothy, lighter-than-air feel of the dress was a perfect match for Stephanie’s curled red hair, and the dress’s bohemian princess vibe had me thinking pink.  I focused on glowy cheeks and rosy lips, while enhancing Stephanie’s blue eyes with sparkly brown shadow, black tightliner, and loads of mascara.  Unlike the last look, I would suggest keeping the hair up in a romantic, loose updo for this gown to show off the gorgeous neckline and to keep the whole aesthetic from going too far in the Disney princess direction (and a little bit is fine, but be careful).  A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is to not go with the first instinct for either hair or makeup, one of the two.  If the dress screams formal or very structured, I like to counter it with casual hair, and vice versa.  This keeps things interesting and sort of takes a look to the next level.  But really, this is just me blabbing.  If you want to get married in jeans with purple hippie braids, you do you.

McKenna – Elegant and Fashion-Forward

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Lastly, we have the look of my choice!  I selected what is listed as “Look 26” on Lover.ly brought to us by the late, great Oscar de la Renta.  This stunner features a corded chantilly lace sweetheart bodice with an off white silk faille cascading draped skirt.  With such an ornate and architectural silhouette, I wanted to keep the makeup very simple and yet still add some kind of punch.  I opted for an even, slightly bronzed complexion with deep, merlot lips by layering two shades.  I capped off the look with bold brows.  My eyelids are bare save for a bit of undereye concealer and a wash of champagne shadow. In contrast to what I’d normally choose for myself, I’d go with a very sleek and simple knot for a hairstyle to accompany this gown.  The dress has such a variety of shapes going on that I felt inclined to stick with clean, modern lines when it came to styling.  I often feel that with ornate garments, you should dial back your makeup- it puts the garment on full display and yet also creates a statement that says you are wearing this, not the other way around.

Wedding planning can be stressful, but the stress should never get in the way of the fun parts like choosing your makeup.  Contact me if you ever need a sounding board, and for any and every other bit of inspiration, get started on Lover.ly!  You’ll find all three of these looks, along with basically every other detail you could possibly imagine.  xo, MR

the Hair stuff., the Makeup stuff.

Four Easy Change-Ups. Or, How Not To Be Bored With Your Look.

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When I know I’ve got a night out coming up (which in my case, is more like just going to a movie), I try to plan for at least two hours of time to get ready.  Why such an unreasonably long amount of time, you ask?  Well, I want to the time to go through the slow, slooooow process.  I want to turn on some I Love Lucy, I want to perhaps have some coffee in front of me, I want to think about my hair (which will probably end up in waves, but hey, it still takes time), I want to think about my makeup, and I ultimately want to think about it all in conjunction with my outfit, which is the hardest part.  Pulling an outfit together that I’m truly satisfied with is tough as getting a two-year-old completely happy with the toy in front of him.  So combine all of these factors together, and you can see why I want a maximum amount of time.  I want to be able to take as long as I need making decisions about whether I’m wearing my leather leggings or jeans, heavy eyeliner or an eyeshadow-based look, if I’m going straight or wavy with my hair.  The decision-making is the longest part of the process.

So, when it comes down to that decision-making, what are some options that I can have up my sleeve that won’t involve the same stuff I always do?  Or at least, just some quick ways to spice things up?  Here, four of my favorite quick strategies for putting a twist on your typical look:

faves improved

1)  Instead of using brown or black, use a colored eye pencil to create a new version of a smokey eye.  Start by mattifying your eyelid with a primer like BareMinerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow.  Then use a colored eye pencil to draw a thick, thick line across your upper lid, and do the same on your lower lid though not quite as thick.  Fill in your whole upper lid using the pencil.  Next, use either a swab or a rubber tip (many eyeliners come with them attached) to smudge out the liner.  Smudge it up into the crease and out toward the end of your eyebrow.  Smudge the bottom lid as well, and finish with tons of mascara.  I personally love Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Vice; a sparkly, bright purple from this incredible range of colors.

2)  Pick a new shade of blush.  Find yourself gravitating toward the same blushes all time time?  Maybe you always do pinks, or you stick with corals, or perhaps you only ever wear bronzer.  I challenge you to try something completely different.  It’s surprising how much it can change the character of your makeup.  Go for a shade of plum, or something bright and shocking like NARS’ Exhibit A.  I’ve been loving MAC’s Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul as a different take on something both coral and bronzey.

3)  Up your brow game.  Thanks to Cara Delevigne and a slew of models following in her wake, bold brows have become the crowning glory of a full makeup look.  Heck, I would even say that nowadays you can get away with just filling in your brows and leaving the rest of the canvas blank.  Do the tiniest bit of necessary plucking, and use either a pencil or gel to fill in and even out the whole brow.  Use a wax or a gel to set them as well, and brushing the brows upward these days is a super fashion-forward look.  Full, well-groomed brows do so much to frame your face; I would challenge you to even try just taking care of your brows and leaving the rest to speak for itself.  It’s very French (and very easy).  I love using CK One’s Brow Pencil and Gel Duo in Crafty Raven on my own set.

4)  Instead of focusing on shine, try a mattified texture with your hair.  It’s easy to fall into the same routine of slathering on a frizz-fighting serum and using a paddle brush to try and create pristine shine with your hair.  However, there’s an arsenal of products out there these days that will lend a volumized, second-day, beachy texture to your hair that has its own kind of modern, rebel appeal as opposed to polished, ladylike shine.  IThey also make better use of your own texture! love Bumble and Bumble’s Thickening Dryspun Finish and Living Proof’s Instant Texture Mist.  You can rub a bit of the latter in while your hair air-dries, or you can scrunch it into your hair afterward.  The Bumble product does best on second-day hair or after you’ve blown it out to add rough dimension and volume.

Let me know what you’ve tried for a quick and easy change-up when you’re ready to step out.  Getting ready for a night out (or what usually looks more like a barbecue and some It’s Always Sunny’s in a friend’s backyard) has already become a rarity for me; using my creativity to the best of my abilities shouldn’t be.

Oh!  And I realized that I haven’t followed up on my last post!  I present, what I decided to do with my hair-

New hair

You guys!  I look just like her!  Oh just kidding.  But this was one of my favorite covers in a long time, and I submit this as my tribute to one of my favorite actresses, Jennifer Connelly.  My color genius, Justin Kamm, helped me choose a warm, rich brown shade while weaving in a few lighter, almost auburn-flecked highlights (which I confidently declared as “toffee”) to add some dimension.  It will probably lighten up a bit over time, but I’m loving the change.  I feel like I need a bit more makeup with darker hair, but I can’t say I have a huge problem with that.  xo, MR

the Hair stuff., the Me stuff.

What to do, what to do.

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I’m in a real pickle.

I just don’t know what to do with my hair.  Yes, this is what’s consuming me for the most part these days when it comes to beauty.  That and a beautiful bottle of the new My Burberry fragrance, calling my name.  Or my nose.

Some are telling me to just keep my hair as it is.  I’ll admit that I think I’ve finally grown it out to what I’ve dreamed it could be for a while.  It’s versatile, the color’s good, and it’s the longest it’s been in a while.  However, the changing of the seasons always seems to put an itch for change on my brain.  So here, observe exhibit A.

 

september 14 hair

This is my hair as it is, right now.  It’s my usual formula of letting it air-dry (and probably sleeping on it that night twisted up in a soft scrunchie), and then wrapping a few sections around a 1.25′ curling iron the next day.  I love what it’s doing these days (especially when I actually do it), but you know how it goes.  The grass is always greener, the hair is always prettier.  I wish someone could’ve shown me this shot one year ago; I probably would’ve been drooling.  Now, of course, I’m half over it.  I really should learn to remember how hard I worked to grow this out.

But oh, the possibilities!  The idea of change for autumn!  It just makes me want to twirl in menswear-inspired Zara coat and chop it all off into a blunt bob.  But change in hair for me doesn’t even demand something drastic.  However, I’m still having trouble weighing my options.  Observe exhibit B.

 

This would mean going lighter all over.  Now, I’ve gone lighter, but I’ve never gone lighter all over.  Could mean more maintenance, could mean more damage.  But the idea is exciting!  And I’d take perhaps an inch off to bring it to Olivia’s length.

Now, exhibit C.

 

BANGS!  I’ve done bangs before, and I complained more than your two-year-old at Target around 1:00pm without a nap.  However, I always think that I’ll do better with them this time around.  Will I?  There’s no way to really find out without just going for it.  I will point out though that growing out bangs just seems to be a lot worse than growing out a shorter cut.  The bangs just get more annoying and in-your-face over time, and styling cheek-length bangs is murrr-derrrr.

Aside from the cut, I also love the bronze-y color of Jolie’s hair, here.  It’s so warm and beautiful.  I’m thinking I’m leaning toward the warmer side as far as color goes.  I used to think the fall season meant it’s time to go darker; now I’m thinking fall means more golden, more auburn, more colors of the leaves!

And then, there’s the thought of going in a different direction completely.  Enter exhibit D.

 

The last time I had dark hair, I was going through a difficult season.  I now unfortunately equate darker hair with negative emotions and circumstances, and so I’m reticent to go here simply because I’m scared my mind will, in a self-fulfilling prophecy kind of way, cause that sad season to repeat.  I’m also convinced that darker just isn’t as flattering on my features.  But again, I haven’t done this in a while and I haven’t had long, dark hair in years.  Mila’s still carries a warmth to it, too, that feels rich and chocolaty.

So in conclusion, I need HELP.  I don’t know what to do!  And I need your input.  Any other suggestions?  Comments? OR SHOULD I JUST SHUT UP AND LEAVE IT?!  Help a sister out!  xo, MR

the Friends stuff., the Makeup stuff., the Review stuff.

In need of new makeup brushes? I got you covered.

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So, I currently live in a town that I really love.  And I love that I feel comfortable calling it a “town”.  There’s even a part of this town that’s actually referred to as “Old Towne Orange”.  Yes.  With the “e” at the end of “towne” and everything.  It’s cute and trendy and beautiful and all Leslie Knope-y, small business-y, Main Street U.S.A-ish.  And that part about the small business- I’m really not kidding.

Amazing local fare in restaurants with two hour waits (lookin’ at you, Gabbi’s!), antique malls that you can get lost in (I see you, It’s About Time Antiques!), and sweet, delicate apparel shops (hey-yo, Laurenly!) are just some of the places I love to wander in on a Saturday morning in Old Towne.  I know that I will look back on these years and think so affectionately of all the time I spent at Provisions, or LinX, or Haven Gastropub, or even the Starbucks that I spent hours developing my Master’s thesis at.  And you should know- my salon is here, too!  Yes, the ever-famous (well, in my head at least) Salon 9 is in Old Towne Orange, along with the ever-famous Justin Kamm who’s been doing my hair fooorrrr-ehhhh-verrrrr.  It should be clear that this is just a good place.

Another sweet and wonderful addition to this area is The Dizzy Daisy floral shop, located at 262 S. Tustin Street.  I’ve been lucky enough to have been contacted by the folks at Dizzy Daisy to share about a line of new, beautiful makeup brushes that they are carrying exclusively- BreLuxe Beauty Fluffs.  Now, as we all know by this point, makeup brushes are tantamount to quality makeup application, and I won’t vouch for just any cheap brush!  Watch the brief video below for a run-down on what brushes are offered in this line that’s only sold locally at The Dizzy Daisy, and if you’re in the area, be sure to stop by to pick up a new set of brushes and some flowers for your mama because you love her!  Cheers!

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xo, MR

the Makeup stuff., the Review stuff.

On nude lipstick, and why I’m not sure it actually exists.

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One of my greatest weaknesses is my poor ability to cope when reality does not match up to my expectations.  I mean, I am bad at this, in the most acute sense.  For instance, if plans change (and I mean like just weekend plans), I’m shattered.  Or if you’ve given me long enough to get excited about something and build up a picture in my head of how it will turn out, and then it looks completely different … shattered.   Just a couple weeks ago some friends and I had plans to go to LA.  We had reservations at an amazing place, with plans to get dressed up and all that good stuff.  But then on that morning, as nothing more than a sad result of being awesome and taking care of her body, my friend threw out her back after spin class.  She could barely stand straight, but all I could think of for a good hour was BUT LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! 

Yes, that’s how horrible a friend I am.  But we ended up dancing our butts off for the locals that evening anyhow, and if you happened to look right inside the Tuscany Club in downtown Fullerton that night you might’ve seen a sight for the ages in the form of me doing my “I’m going to make you feel very uncool for being here” dance, but that’s beside the point.

All you need to take from this is that I don’t react well when what I expect does not match reality.

So then, because you know me so well, you can imagine my never-ending frustration with the vague world of so-called “nude” lip colors.  OF COURSE YOU CAN, IT’S THE FIRST THING YOU THOUGHT OF!  But really, when someone mentions a “nude lip”, the first thing I think of is this.  Or this.  I have expectations of hues that tend to range from light beige to tan, and they’re always brown-based and lean more warm than cool.  But actually finding this so-called nude color that works on my own lips has to have been one of my most challenging feats in beauty.  I’ve found almost nothing that matches what I’ve seen in various pictures over the years.  Sometimes I believe that my lips, being very pinkish-grey, tend to off-set the tone of “nude” lip colors that I try.  Other times, however, I am fully mislead by what magazines or makeup companies will identify as “nude” and I give in to trying something that is nowhere near what I’m looking for.

nudes

The four lipsticks seen above have all been identified as belonging in the “nude” category, whether by name, by recommendation of another party, or simply by the naked eye.  The top shade is by Lancome and is called Natural Beauty.  It’s creamy and comfortable, with the greatest likeness to Ashely Olsen’s shade featured in the hyperlink.  I think I like this one best.  The second is Marc Jacobs and is called Moody Margot.  It’s described as a “brownish nude” by Sephora.  The third is from Yves Saint Laurent and is called Lush Coconut.  It’s shimmery, sheer, and smells like mango.  Finally, the last one is a “Glossy Balm” by L’Oreal and is called Lovely Mocha.  The latter was my most recent purchase, from two days ago.  I bought it on recommendation of People StyleWatch’s latest issue and its “Best Fall Beauty Trends” feature, which depicted the product as a “nude lip” color to try “for fair and medium skin”.

Oh.  And did I also mention that it’s bright pink?

real nudes

Aside from my wrist looking like a blotchy red mess, check out that shade at about 11 o’clock at the top there.  Yep, that’s our “lovely mocha”, recommended as a nude lip shade for fair to medium skin.  Talk about reality not matching up to my expectations- I literally gasped as I watched this color glide across my lips.  It’s the perfect shade of, um, rose, and nothing near what I’d hoped it would be.  That’s the Lancome on the far right, the sparkly YSL in the middle, and the Marc Jacobs at the bottom.  You be the judge of what’s the most classically “nude”; I can tell you that I’ve stopped taking the category seriously almost entirely by now.

It’s funny how when you think about it, it’s hard to define what a “nude” shade of lipstick should look like anyhow.  Nude according to who?  Nude in reference to what skin tone?  Because an Alek Wek shade of nude is entirely different from a Lindsey Wixson shade of nude.  Or a Joan Smalls shade of nude is probably not entirely the same as a Liu Wen shade of nude.  Yep, you get it.  Fifty shades of nude coming soon to a theater near you, complete with seventeen-year-old girls and all their moms on the weirdest mother-daughter dates you’ve ever seen.  I guess that’s why we try to say things like “nude for fair to medium skin”, but then you somehow end up with bright rose.  Maybe if you’re going for a nude lip, you just leave your lips … nude.  xo, MR