Drugstore Cowgirl Part 3

McKennaRishmawybest body wash, best drugstore hair products, best drugstore hairspray, best drugstore lipstick, best drugstore makeup, best drugstore skincare, best red lipstick, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar, Emma Stone SAG awards makeup, Garnier Fructis Full and Plush Ends Plumper, L'Oreal Paris Boost It High Lift Creation Spray, NARS velvet matte lip pencil, Rachel Goodwin, Revlon Gladiolus, Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick Leave a comment

I recently realized that I’ve lost my NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella. I have no idea where it is. It doesn’t help that I’ve moved across the country within the past month by car. That lip crayon could be anywhere. For all I know some lucky corn farmer in Nebraska discovered the greatest shade of red lying in his field just off the highway a couple weeks ago, and is now wearing it proudly as he drives his John Deere. Bless him.

The real bummer is that normally, I would take a jaunt down to my nearest Sephora this weekend and pick up a brand new lip crayon to replace my lost one. However, I am currently searching for jobs and waiting for many application responses. And while our bank account isn’t in dangerous territory by most standards, something about purchasing a … *gulps with guilt* … thirty dollar lipstick these days feels slightly out of responsible boundaries right now.

And now that I think about it, maybe the real, REAL bummer is the fact that I thought I needed a NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella when I also have a NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl, MAC’s matte lipstick in Ruby Woo, and MAC’s lipstick in Russian Red. Just silly. Maybe one shade of red can be good enough for now. After all, where did fifty shades of grey get us? It got us nowhere. In relationships, in literature, in filmmaking, as women- nowhere. And I don’t want to be ignorant of history and repeat humankind’s same mortal mistakes.

Anyways, now that you’re done being angry with me, we can move on to the main subject- drugstore finds! And I’m talking drugstore finds that I have purchased and then used multiple times, much more than once. With a renewed mindfulness toward money, I’m seeing that finding value in a great drugstore find is something to be relished. Finding something that really works well for under ten dollars is just the best. Sure, you’re lacking the “name”, or the pretty compact, or the lovely fragrance emitting from your mascara (I’m looking at you, DiorShow), but seriously- who cares?

Speaking of shades of red, Revlon’s Ultra HD Lipstick in Gladiolus is an amazing drugstore choice. I purchased it when I got the run-down of Emma Stone’s makeup at this year’s SAG awards, which I was obsessed with. Her makeup artist, Rachel Goodwin, has done a brilliant job at incorporating new Revlon products into Emma’s looks. What I really like about this formula is that it’s very comfortable. This is not a matte shade at all, which is what I typically go for, but after wearing so many matte shades you tend to forget that lipstick actually can be creamy and comfortable (and as much as I love Ruby Woo, it makes my lips dry as a desert). Such is the case with the Ultra HD; it’s very easy to wear. I find that this shade is not brick or orange-y, and not too blue-based either. It’s really beautiful on Emma with fair skin, but I also found it to be flattering on my skin tone which is more of an olive at times. If you’re looking for a cheap red to try, I recommend this to you.

I sometimes feel bad advocating for drugstore hair products because I know that salons rely heavily on their retail sales and I’m very much about supporting local salons. However, hairspray is one product that I have never purchased from a salon because I don’t use it very often, and I honestly haven’t seen much of a difference in quality between salon hairspray or drugstore brands. Moreover, some drugstore hairspray fragrances are so nostalgic to me. Aussie, anyone? And I will always associate Tresseme’s hairspray scent with my mom, who uses it every morning.

There was one occasion though when I needed a heavy duty hairspray that would hold an updo and help with teasing (which I hate to do). I was going to a Halloween party as Holly Golightly, and I needed to recreate her French twist with all the volume at the crown. L’Oreal’s Boost It High Lift Creation Spray is like the monster glue of hairspray, in my opinion. You know when a hairspray isn’t so much a mist as it is a web? That’s this stuff. It has a backcombing, mattifying effect that was perfect for my updo on Halloween. You can spray it and then tease a section of hair into Dolly Parton oblivion, or just mist it all over your hair and then watch it not move for the next 24 hours. And the scent is very addicting but very strong, so, it’s basically smack as hairspray. Proceed with caution.

I used CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser Bar for the first time one month ago when I was staying at my mom-in-law’s house after we’d moved out of our apartment. The scent is very clinical and soapy to me, but the soft texture it left behind on my skin was unmistakable. I couldn’t wait for showers when using this bar, and I’ve continued to purchase it out here in Illinois. I’ve always used body washes dispensed from bottles, and I have a tendency to probably use too much as a time and a lot more than is needed. You have that advantage with a soap bar in that you’re not squeezing too much out, but the disadvantage is that the bar gets wet over time and can dissolve when you’re not using it, causing you to lose soap that way. Regardless, I’ve been keeping CeraVe in rotation in our shower and will probably continue to do so when things get really windy in the winter.

As I continue to grow out my hair in my endless quest for whatever it is I think I’m looking for, I’m starting to refocus my efforts on maintaining healthy and full ends. This task used to be my number one priority when it came hair, but my recent chop has granted me some freedom in not having to think of split or broken ends so much. Though my hair hasn’t reached my collar bone yet, I’m trying to become conscious again about heat protectants, being careful with aggressive hair ties, and using products that help to at least give the illusion of fuller ends. I don’t think Garnier Fructis’ Full and Plush Ends Plumper Amplifying Leave-In Serum does a ton in the way of split end prevention, but it does at least temporarily seal ends to give them a healthier look. This is also a good thing for volume as my hair starts to grow out and loses its natural volume that came from such a short cut. I sampled Bumble and bumble’s new Full Potential line the other day and rubbed some of the Garner into my ends before hitting my hair with a blow-dryer for about three minutes, and wowie- my hair got huge, and not just from the scalp but all over.

Maybe one of these days I’ll suddenly find my lost Cruella in a box or jean pocket, but for now, I’m sticking with what I already have or learning to love the cheap stuff. I want to grow out my hair anyhow (so no frequent cuts), and sometimes I think all you need for good skin is water and sleep anyhow. I know I can afford that. xo, MR

August 22, 2015the Hair stuff.

Short and Back Again: A Hair Addict’s Tale

McKennaRishmawya-line haircut, balayage, beach waves, Bumble and bumble Don't Blow It, bumble and Bumble Dryspun Finish, chin-length bob, Davines, Justin Kamm, lob, midlength hair, Olaplex, Orange County salon, R&Co Jackpot Styling Creme, Salon 9 Leave a comment

And if you don’t get the Tolkien reference in the title, I can’t help you with life.

If you have known me personally, you have known that I have been on nothing short of a hair quest, a hair saga, a hair journey to the Misty Mountains and back again, since about 2010. It has been bizarre, to say the least. I have reached the heights of beach waved, ombre’d glory, only to somehow look in the mirror on some depressed afternoon a month later and not like what I see. For no good reason.

That’s what’s been bizarre about it. I’ve been chasing down something with my hair for years, and yet when I look back at pictures from just two months prior I think Good God, Lemon! Why did you ever complain?! And yet, there’s still that hair moment that I haven’t landed on. And it’s strange because I truly feel that I’ve had so many great hair moments! I don’t know what I’m waiting for. Maybe the cause is ungratefulness. Maybe it’s comparison. Maybe the dissatisfaction comes from an itch for change that doesn’t actually need to be scratched. I think if I could sum up my hair chronicles in a song it would probably be U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. It’s been DRAMA, guys. I have run, I have crawled, I have scaled these city walls …

But anyhow, Bono and I digress.

So let me just recount my hair journey from the past six months. That’s it. And that’s probably all you can handle; you would hate me otherwise. I can go on and on about my own hair chronicles. Trust me- my friends know it. It’s one of my more narcissistic habits that I’m ashamed of until I get started (and then I can’t stop). But then again, I could go on and on about your hair too, probably. Man, I reeeeally wanna braid someone’s hair right now.

In January of 2015, I had long, brown hair. I would put it in ponytails. I would curl it. I would put it up in topknots. I will never again complain about long hair simply for the fact that you can do so much with it. I miss sleek, long ponytails that feel very fashion forward. I miss pretending to be a Victoria’s Secret model (a nice little game to play with yourself). But as is common, I had an itch for change. Pinterest, friends’ haircuts, and trends will do that to you. And sure enough, in either late January, Justin Kamm cut my hair into a lob and lightened it up as well. I keep trying to make a permanent mental note that I ultimately don’t feel like myself with completely dark hair, but about every 16 months or so, I forget and then return to my senses a few months later. It’s not that I hate it or think it’s a bad look; I just think the lighter bits are more flattering.

But then, on Friday, April 3rd, I decided to go for the most drastic haircut I’ve ever had. By that point I’d known for about one month that we would be moving to Chicagoland, and something in me just needed to go for it. I had always wished that I could see what my hair would look like short, but fear always kept me from making the chop. I’d been comfortable and at ease with my long-ish hair that I’d had all my life, but I sort of came to the realization that it’s just hair (and not my identity), and it can grow back. Moreover, I felt that if I can make the push out to the Midwest, I can also make the push to cut my hair. It was time to face the unknown.

And so, once again, Justin worked his magic.

The cut was a bit of a shock for me. I was in foreign territory. I know it’s not the shortest cut you’ve ever seen (obvi), but it’s a funny thing when you suddenly become conscious of just how much you’ve been hiding behind your hair your whole life. When you feel that breeze on your bare neck and reach back only to find nothing to sweep over your shoulder, you feel vulnerable and exposed. It’s just your face sticking out there! No long princess curls or beachy waves to toss around and taut as your pride and joy; no feeling of safety that Oh, I don’t feel confident about my face today, but at least I’ve got my long hair. Nope. And even while the cut may be a lovely expression in itself, when people look at you, they’re really not seeing all your hair like before (or at least that’s how we tend to perceive these things on ourselves). There’s some hair, but what the eye now sees from the clavicle and up is pretty much just your face.

And with that, I found that when you cut your hair short, you really have to own it. Like, you have to own the crap out of short hair. You have to own it like it’s your job and like it’s the best haircut people have ever seen, even on days when you’re feeling unsure and you actually have no idea what other people are thinking. You have to be intentional about it and go with it when it’s messy and when it’s styled. In the weeks following the cut, there were moments when I felt so cool and so French in a way I’d never felt with long hair. And then there were days when I sensed people were trying to backhandedly tell me that my hair was the most unprofessional, unkempt mess they’d ever seen. And you know what happens when you own it both days, either way? You love it. You really, really love it.

Once the cut started growing out a bit, it really hit the sweet spot. It gained a little more bounce and I started finding my own way around it. With short hair you discover that just the smallest changes make a big impact- tucking it behind the ear on one side, a change in part, flipping it all the way over the opposite side a’ la Riawna Capri and all the bajillions of LA-based platinum blonde mid-lengthers that she inspired with Julianne Hough (and yes, if you’re from LA and you’ve gone white-platinum mid-length and flipped your hair to one side, you can thank Riawna Capri for that – not kidding).

But sure as the sun rises, I came to find that the longer my hair grew, the more excited I would get about styling it. I think I just love the process of growing it out and playing with it. Even in writing this, I’m coming to find that when it comes to hair I sort of live for the journey. In most things, I actually do try to live for the destination as I believe that a journey doesn’t amount to much without a meaningful endpoint, but with hair, I’m different. With hair, it’s all about the cliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimb.

However, with the impending move, I knew that I’d need to stop by Salon 9 one final time for updated color. I wanted to add more blonde, and in preparation for growing it out long I also wanted to even out the a-line so the back wasn’t too much shorter than the front. And with that …

Blonder, a little more even, and ready to grow through autumn. I loved the texture of this cut and I can only hope that it isn’t lost in the growth or by some poor hair stylist who gives me a trim out here and hacks it into oblivion. That being said, I do have a couple helpers that have been upping my texture and styling game lately.

I’ve been using Bumble and bumble’s Thickening DrySpun Finish for a long time now. It does basically the same thing as Oribe’s Dry Texture but costs half the price. The scent is amazing (and I know, Oribe’s is amazing too) and it works as a hybrid of dry shampoo, hair spray, and volumizer. I love it. Their Don’t Blow It creme is pretty good for me these days, too. It apparently doesn’t work well on hair that’s already curly or frizzy, but it’s pretty good for my natural texture. A little scrunching helps, and my natural wave is enhanced without the frizz (or ANY effort). And the R&Co Jackpot styling creme is what I use for smooth looks right now. I bought this half-used bottle from a hairstylist at Salon 9 for five bucks. I use it on blowouts or when I’m sleeking back my hair, but it’s also good for men’s styles. Just be careful- the scent is nice but powerful, and too much can be a bit overwhelming. I also continue to use Living Proof’s Instant Texture Mist, but you’ve heard me blab about that on here before.

I’m excited to continue my growth process and see where the road leads me, but for now, I’m trying to enjoy my just-above-shoulder length. Cheers to enjoying what you have! xo, MR

August 10, 2015the Hair stuff.

Two Steps For Successfully Finding A New Hairstylist In A New Place

McKennaRishmawybest chicago hair salon, best orange county hair salon, hair color, hair cut, hair salon, hair stylist, how to find a hair stylist Leave a comment

This isn’t something I’ve done yet by the way, so consider this my own way of preparing myself for the transition.

So you’ve moved. Perhaps just to a new county, perhaps across the country. But regardless, your new location has made it unlikely that you’ll be able to easily see your favorite hair stylist again for quite some time. You tend to know your own hair’s schedule (when you need touch-ups, when you crave new color, when your ends need a trim or full-on chop), so you’ve got a basic idea of when you’ll be needing your next appointment. But are you going to book yourself for just any salon? The first one you see in your new hometown? Hopefully not. You could try that, but one of the last things I’m willing to take a shot in the dark for is my hair. I mean, really.

So are there any steps to be made that can make the search for a new stylist as successful as possible? I would say yes. Ultimately, you can’t really tell what a hairdresser will do to your hair until that last mist of hairspray has been applied so there is inevitably some risk involved, but hey, that’s life. In short, this is about minimizing risk, but I would say to not look at it that way. This could be the start of a new and beautiful relationship!

Step 1- Define your expectations.

Before you go hunting for a great stylist, you have to know exactly what you would like during that first appointment.

You know those times when you’ve found yourself really disappointed in someone, but it turns out it was your un-communicated expectations that let you down more than the person? In my opinion, this can happen easily with hair. You came into the salon with this vague idea of what you wanted, presented some very vague ideas to the stylist, and boom- a haircut that you hate, for whatever vague reason that you can’t articulate (because articulation appears to be a problem for you).

Now let me ask you- Did you even really know what you wanted in the first place? Were you perfectly clear to the stylist about your desires? As it is in most relationships, it never works out really well when we leave it to the other party to guess what we want. So be clear! If you’re asking for bangs, be sure to specify if you hate angled bangs. If you’re going for an ice blonde shade like Michelle Williams in those Louis Vuitton ads, how about bringing in one of those ads to show the stylist?!

Additionally, be clear about any expectations regarding the appointment itself. Need to be done in 2 hours? Say so before the appointment begins or is even booked. Refuse to have your hair cut by a razor? Specify before the booking. And while I’ve never done one of these myself, it may be worth having a consultation appointment first if the stylist offers.

Bottom line- Your clearest expectations can and should be determined before you sit your fanny in any stylist’s chair. You don’t know this person, but they don’t know you either. Unless you really don’t care what happens to hair and you’re ready for anything from Kylie Jenner’s cousin It extensions to Sinead O’Connor, it’s on you to determine exactly what it is you want and it’s on you to communicate it using every tactic in the book from verbals to visuals, from “Don’t do this” to “I’d love this”. If you find that you’d made every effort to communicate “Jennifer Lawrence circa 2013” and you still wound up looking like “Alec Baldwin circa Now”, well, let them know how you feel, point out the discrepancies, pay the bill perhaps without a tip, and yippee ki yay your way outta there with no plans to return.

Once you’ve established your own expectations before booking a salon, it’s time to do a little digging.

2. Take to social media!

The way I found a couple salons in my new area that looked promising was through rabbit hole searches on Instagram combined with some basic Google work. I searched a couple hashtags like #chicagohairsalon, #chicagohairstylist, and others that were similar. I scrolled and scrolled until I found shots that I liked. If a salon or stylist knows what’s up these days, he or she should have an Instagram account that showcases recent work and you can see what they’re doing. Anything look good to you? Follow the stylist or the salon! Comment on their photos and interact with them; I had a salon in the Chicago area ultimately reach out to me because of the interactions on Instagram that we had shared.

Additionally, it will help a lot to do some basic online searching. Search online for salons in your area and check out their Google ratings. Take a peek at the websites of the salons you come across in your searches. Looking for some place upscale? Trendy? A little more on the edge? Not in a neighborhood with trashcan fires? All of this will probably show through on the salon’s site, along with basic pricing and samples of work. Moreover, a good salon tends to have a good website these days anyhow. If the site is lacking or seemingly out of date, the salon may be too.

You can always work backwards and search for salons in your area via Google first, and then try to look them up on Instagram. That may be easier. It’s also an option to search for salons in your area on Yelp, but I’m pretty wary of the site for it’s inability to weed out unprofessional and even dishonest reviews, so I say to approach Yelp with caution. If, however, a particular stylist is receiving multiple (and I mean 7-10, mentioned specifically by name and description of service) stellar reviews on Yelp, I’d say that’s a decent indicator of something positive.

Ultimately, you should be looking for a stylist or salon on social media that seems to match the expectations that you’ve clearly defined for yourself. If a salon’s Instagram account displays absolutely nothing like what you’re looking for, then the place probably isn’t for you. If their Instagram is consistently turning out shots of hair that mimic Chrissy Teigen’s and you want hair like Chrissy Teigen’s, well, then you might have a winner. Oh! Have an affinity for a certain product line such as Aveda? Search for Aveda salons in your area, or those that feature L’Oreal/Kerastase, etc. Point is, do some stalking first. We no longer have to go in blind to a salon without seeing a consistent amount of sample work beforehand, and there’s no longer an excuse for booking a granny beauty parlor that you somehow hoped might be a hip salon that serves wine and hosts a deejay at noon. Search it, follow it, make a phone call, do the Google.

I hope within a couple months I’m able to put this basic plan into practice, and come out with some successful results for you. If not, you’ll probably see pictures of me walking around with a bag on my head and developing a full 3-part interview process for the next person that touches my hair with scissors. However, I do have a bit of faith in humanity. Just know what you want, be able to articulate it, and do some research. That should land you somewhere within the realm of Jennifer Aniston (but whether that’s Jennifer Aniston now or in 1990 is up to your ability to communicate). xo, MR

April 6, 2015the Hair stuff., the Makeup stuff., the Me stuff., the Review stuff., the Skin stuff.

An Autobiographical Top Shelf

McKennaRishmawy#ITGTopShelfie, aveda, Bare Minerals Original SPF 15 Foundation, beauty, best balm stain, best black eyeliner, best curling iron, best drugstore makeup, best drugstore skincare, best gloss balm, best mascara, best moisturizer with SPF, best natural moisturizer, best natural shampoo, best nude lip color, best powder blush, best powder foundation, best texture spray for hair, bob haircut, Bumbleandbumble Cityswept Finish, Bumbleandbumble Dryspun Finish, Caudalie SOS Thirst Quenching Serum, Christian Siriano for Victoria's Secret, Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, davines cutting team, davines momo, davinesus, Desert Essence Daily Defense SPF 15 moisturizer, Dior Addict lipstick Tulle, Emily Weiss, graduated bob, hair trends 2015, Hot Tools, Justin Kamm, kerastase conditioner, Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation, Living Proof Instant Texture mist, loreal colour riche balm, MAC Eye Kohl Feline, MAC eyeshadow Embark, MAC eyeshadow Sketch, NARS blush, NARS velvet matte lip pencil, oil cleanser, Old Town Orange, Orange County salon, oribeapresbeach, Origins A Perfect World, Origins Clear Improvement, r&co, r&cojackpotstylingcreme, Rahua shampoo, Salon 9, uniteeurotherapy, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil Vice, www.intothegloss.com, Yes to Cucumbers facial wipes, yves saint laurent rouge pur couture rebel nudes 1 Comment

This post is done in the style of Into The Gloss’s Top Shelf feature, which I’ve been obsessed with for about five years now. So basically, I’m pretending I’m being interviewed by Emily Weiss on all the products I love, in my own home, complete with “professional” photos/selfies. Fake it ’till you make it, right?

My routine is hard to explain briefly. I’ll say this, though- I am not low maintenance when I don’t have to be. There’s no shame in that. I’m addicted to haircare, skincare, makeup, all that, but I really don’t afford myself much time to enjoy it on a daily basis. I either want to spend an hour getting ready just the way I like, or I want to be out the door in five minutes. All or nothing. It’s part of how I appreciate beauty- I hate doing any of it halfheartedly. One of my least favorite things is when I try to quickly wiggle on some mascara in the morning on the way to work and then it turns out all sloppy and incomplete by my standards. It’s not worth it. I’d rather bite the bullet and go bare.

SKINCARE

So, what I do depends on the day. If I have time, I start from the bottom layer and work up, though I try to make the skincare thing happen every day. I typically begin with a serum, and I’ve decided Caudalie’s S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum is the best. I tried Shiseido’s Ultimune, but I like Caudalie’s better for the money. It feels so fresh on my skin, sometimes I forget to put on moisturizer afterwards. It’s been hard to pin down a great moisturizer for me because I’m always looking for something natural, but effective and with SPF that doesn’t leave a weird residue. I’ve been using Origins A Perfect World Moisturizer these past couple months. It smells amazing and has SPF 25. I’ve also like Desert Essence’s Daily Essential Defense Moisturizer from Sprout’s or Whole Foods, but it wouldn’t absorb well when it was hot out so I continued my hunt. When I checked out Origins, the lady helping me gave me a quick facial and she talked me into the toner from the same line. I haven’t used toner in forever because I feel it’s unnecessary and drying, but this stuff felt tingly and actually left my skin moisturized. There’s a lot of white tea in it. We’ll see if I keep it up.

For face wash, I alternate between Origins and Desert Essence, which is entirely made of oils and some castile soap. It sounds basic, but there’s a ton of random stuff in it like bladderwrack extract and goldenseal root extract that I hadn’t even heard of before using it. For a night cream, I’ve been using Acure’s for a couple years and it’s really rich with lavender and chamomile. It’s very calming. I think they sell it at Target now, but it’s been at Whole Foods forever. For zits, I’m pretty faithful to Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion. My husband loves it too. I try to just leave zits alone for the most part these days; I find that doing anything to try and “heal” them just aggravates them or doesn’t quicken their disappearance. Sometimes I’ll do a mask if I’m just watching Netflix late at night. I’ll use Lancome’s Hydra Intense Masque. It’s super cooling and smells amazing; I love putting on some I Love Lucy and having a late-night snack when I do a mask. Best ritual ever! I’ll also use Origins’ Clear Improvement charcoal mask for porous areas; the lady who gave me the facial at Origins gave it to me for free! I like face wipes too, and my favorite are the Yes To Cucumbers kind. I can’t tell you how many packs of those my mom has jammed into my Christmas stocking over the years. I buy them in bulk at Target.

The one thing that’s still sort of a mystery to me is eye cream. I like ones that are cooling and depuffing, and I like rollerball kinds best because they’re more sanitary than dabbing your finger into a jar of cream and then putting it on your eye. Simple Skincare makes a good one, as does First Aid Beauty, but I don’t know. I’m just not there yet.

HAIR

My hair stylist knows I’m a major product addict. The funniest thing has been when I’ve asked him about products from lines that he uses before they’re even out yet or before he’s heard about them! I read about hair stuff in magazines and then I want to go out and try it. New hair products are what I get most excited about, so I’ve tried a lot but I can finally say I have favorites. I wash my hair every three or four days, and I alternate between two shampoos. I’ve been using Rahua’s shampoo for over three years now, and it’s pricey but I feel absolutely no guilt using or purchasing it because it’s so natural. There’s really no soap in it. It’s another product made up mostly of oils. I’ll use another shampoo every other wash, typically an Aveda one like their Color Conserve or Dry Remedy. I’ll try anything for conditioner. I’ve been obsessed with conditioners since my late teens because I was always trying to find ones that would make my hair grow or repair it, but I don’t really believe conditioner does that anymore. I’ve used one from Davines for a long time called Momo; I love it. I’ll also ask for Kerastase samples from my friend who works at a L’Oreal salon because I can’t afford Kerastase, but their deep conditioners have the craziest reputations so I’m always desperate to try them. I also like Alterna, mostly their treatments from their Caviar line. They’re good for when I want to grow my hair out. I use Unite’s 7 Seconds Leave-In Conditioner to detangle with a wide-tooth comb after I wash, but I think I like Bumble and Bumble’s Prep spray better for this. I’ll go back to it after I run out of the Unite. The Prep spray has hops and rosemary, the latter of which is good for lice prevention. I work around kids, and lice is one of those things that you can’t really avoid if you’re in that environment. It’s part of life, so you just have to do what you can. Tea tree oil works well for this too, by the way.

For styling, I’m a sucker for anything to do with texture. Living Proof’s Instant Texture Mist is great for giving that pliable “chunk” feel that I love for hair, and I also like Bumble And Bumble’s stylers like their Dryspun Finish and Cityswept Finish. If it mattifies, gives texture, or extends a blowout, I’ll try it. Anything for the second- or third-day hair look. I like Oribe’s Apres Beach Wave And Shine Hairspray too, though my hair does “beachy” really well on it’s own. I love Oribe’s products for their scent. And the best dry shampoo in the world is Klorane’s, hands down. The non-aerosol kind has stretched out so much time between washes for me. It can make your scalp itchy if you put too much on and don’t brush it out, but it’s still the best. The drugstore kinds suck. If I want a smooth or blown-out look I’ll use R&Co’s Jackpot Styling Creme. The scent is intense but it stretches out my hair beautifully, and the effect lasts around three days.

I got into the R&Co stuff because my salon started carrying it. I go to Salon 9 in Orange, and I’ve been going to Justin Kamm for nearly ten years! He’s a genius. He teaches workshops and is part of the cutting team for Davines. We finally, FINALLY cut my hair past my shoulders just this weekend. I’ve always had my hair long or mid-length, because I love long hair and I love playing with it. I miss topknots and ponytails and long waves, but the bob that Justin gave me feels so right. It’s good to do at least once, and I’m surprised at how comfortable I feel with it. I feel reeeeeally French. And the best part is, all those texture products work so well with this cut. I still put a bit of wave in it with my Hot Tools iron, but roughing it up with some kind of product gives it that grit that I’m always after.

MAKEUP

Makeup is tricky. I’ve tried a ton, but over the years I’ve come to find that I’m actually really picky and haven’t tried quite as much as other people (which is encouraging). Makeup is expensive, and I take forever to run out of anything so buying too much is a really wasteful choice for me. I don’t use primer much, but I like BeneFit’s The Porefessional when I do makeup for brides. It feels silky. I like to use Clarins’ Beauty Flash Balm on myself and then immediately put on powder or foundation once it absorbs. I prefer this to primer. It sort of gives skin a brightening effect. For foundation, I love Bare Minerals’ Original SPF Foundation because it still leaves a glow. I don’t like a matte skin finish; I’m all about dewy skin and mattified hair. The opposite feels too Vegas or Miss America for me. If I want a liquid foundation, Lancome’s Teint Miracle is nice but I still haven’t landed on a favorite. I just don’t think I like liquid foundation. I even have a BB Cream that I like but I just don’t use it too often. You can’t escape the feeling of liquid makeup on your face, which I hate. I immediately want to take it off. Concealer is nearly always Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat in Luminous Vanilla. I used to hate it, and I’m not sure why. It’s the most lightweight formula I can find that still gives coverage. However, I’m not too concerned anymore with getting rid of dark circles anymore because for some reason, I like them now. They seem to give a touch of character. A heavy concealer under the eyes looks too finished for me. You need that bit of wear in your face.

NARS Bronzer in Laguna is pretty standard, and I’ll try almost any blush. NARS has the best ones. I’ve liked their creme formula in Lokoum for a long time but I think it’s discontinued. Their other powder shades are bonkers; I love Exhibit A and Liberte. MAC has a gorgeous one from their Mineralize line called Warm Soul. It super pretty for everyday, but mineral blush on top of mineral powder it can make your skin look funny. I like it on bare skin. MAC’s Plum Foolery is also good; I wore it for my wedding day and my mom wears it, too. I have a couple Chanel blushes too, but I hate to admit that I bought them because they were honestly just too expensive and frankly, MAC and NARS make better ones. The Chanel ones have perfume in them. You feel glamorous putting them on, but they’re a murderous, stupid splurge. Spend that kind of money on groceries or not at all, for God’s sake.

Eye makeup is a journey for me. I take forever to decide what I’m going to do with my eyes. Eyeshadow feels like such a commitment, which is probably why I wear it the least out of anything. It’s takes me a lot of time and concentration, and I always need to put shadow primer on if I’m going to do it because it makes such an undeniable difference. I think I like purple shadows on myself best. It’s just enough of an interesting color to feel special, and it does wonders for brown eyes. MAC’s Sketch and Embark are good. I bought the Embark because it’s the closest thing I could find that matches this special edition Victoria’s Secret eyeshadow I have. Christian Siriano from Project Runway did a collection for them a long time ago and it included this eyeshadow that is literally perfect. It’s matte, smooth, has amazing concentration, and is this deep purple-brown shade called Royalty that, of course, ended with the collection. I’m going through it really slowly, but I love using it for smokey eyes. A lot of that stuff with a ton of MAC’s kohl liner in Feline, and boosh- I feel like Catwoman. If I’m really going for it I’ll use Urban Decay’s eye pencil in Vice, too, and smudge it out. The best is when a smokey eye looks sweaty and sparkly, like a hazy night at Studio 54 in 1978. This pencil does that. Oh and my mascara is pretty much exclusively CoverGirl. I swear, theirs are the best.

Lips are simple. I do very little, unless it’s something like a red lip. I like lip colors that look like just a bit of something, because I usually like to focus on my eyes. A lot of times it’s just a few swipes of Burt’s Bees. Everything I like tends to be pinky-nude. I’ve liked Dior’s Addict lipstick in Tulle, L’Oreal’s Colour Riche Balm in Nourishing Nude, and Yves Saint Laurent’s Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in Nude Provocateur. I guess I gravitate toward balm stains, or gloss balms, or all those hybrid formulas we see these days. Nothing too lipstick-y. An exception would be NARS’ lip pencils. Those are brilliant.

Oh! I almost forgot about brows. I use one thing- CK One’s Brow Pencil and Gel Duo in Crafty Raven. I like thick, groomed eyebrows, but I hate how many rules and standards there are with them these days. They have to be perfectly shaped, tapered, filled in, not too thin, all that. I’m not into it, and same goes for the contouring craze. It’s just too much, too Kim with all the banana powder and shading and all that. I’m not into tricks that transform your face into another face, though it’s cool that it can be done. I like to look like myself, but with a bit of a wink I guess. That’s the best for me, at least. xo, MR

February 4, 2015the Fashion stuff., the Hair stuff., the Makeup stuff.

Best of the Awards Season 2015

McKennaRishmawybest dressed Golden Globes 2015, best dressed SAG Awards 2015, celebrity makeup artist, Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Tisse Gabrielle, Chanel Lumiere Facette Quadra Quadrille, Chanel makeup, Chanel red carpet, Dior Couture, Emma Stone, Golden Globes 2015, Kate Lee, Keira Knightley, Kerry Washington, Mara Roszak, Mary Katrantzou, Petra Flannery, Rachel Goodwin, red carpet 2015, Rosamund Pike, SAG Awards 2015 Leave a comment

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

November 30, 2014the Friends stuff., the Hair stuff., the Makeup stuff.

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

McKennaRishmawyAnthropologie wedding dresses, best wedding apps, best wedding planning websites, BHLDN, bridal jumpsuits, bridal red lip, bridal smokey eye, David's Bridal, Lover.ly, Oscar de la Renta, romantic gowns, wedding gowns, wedding makeup, wedding theme ideas Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

October 27, 2014the Hair stuff., the Makeup stuff.

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

McKennaRishmawyAllure magazine Jennifer Connelly, BareMinerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow, best hair color for fall, best hair volumizer, best products for hair texture, best ways to change your look, Bumble and Bumble, bumble and Bumble Dryspun Finish, CK One Brown Pencil and Gel Duo Crafty Raven, Fall 2014 hair trends, Jennifer Connelly, Living Proof Instant Texture mist, Mac Mineralize Blush, MAC Warm Soul, matte hair texture, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, Urban Decay Vice Leave a comment

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:

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-

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

September 29, 2014the Hair stuff., the Me stuff.

What to do, what to do.

McKennaRishmawyangelina jolie hair, best haircuts, celebrity bangs, celebrity hair color, fall 2014 hair cut, mila kunis hair, Olivia Palermo hair Leave a comment

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.

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

August 12, 2014the Fashion stuff., the Hair stuff., the Magazine stuff., the Makeup stuff.

Fall 2014- The One Beauty Trend I’ll Be Trying

McKennaRishmawybest fall beauty trends, easiest beauty trends, easy hairstyles, Fall 2014 beauty trends, Fall 2014 fashion trends, tucking hair in Leave a comment

Any day now, I’ll be receiving four giant September issues in my tiny little mailbox. Well, a couple of them will be much larger than the others (because Lucky is still working its way back up the ladder, after all), but you all know how I feel about September. It’s the biggest month of the year for fashion, and if you’re doing things right as a fashion publication, your September issue each new year is your biggest issue ever with all kinds of designers and other folks in the industry paying to have their advertisements in your magazine.

However, I have to admit that when I finally open my mailbox and see that behemoth set of pages clogging up space and squashing the rest of my mail, with my eyes practically dilating and the small rush of excitement flowing through my nerves, I get a bit anxious. There’s just so much to look at, so much to take in, and knowing how I am, I tend to fall prey to whatever trends the editors dictate. Sometimes I take on a trend just for fun, sometimes I do it because I really, genuinely like the look of it, and other times I do them, well, because I’ve been told I should. Lame.

When it comes to beauty though, I’ve tried everything at this point. I’ve done the bright eyeliners for spring, the sleek middle parts, the burgundy lips for fall, the rumpled texture, the metallic eyeshadow, the “natural” look, everything. Well, everything but braids really, because I still can’t braid.

So I’m making it easy on myself this next season. I’m trying one beauty trend from the Fall 2014 runways. And it literally costs nothing, and takes no effort.

Nope, it’s not putting your hands in your pockets! And it isn’t leaving your mouth gracefully gaped open! Nope, it’s quite simply just leaving your hair whimsically and artfully tucked in.

Now I don’t know about you, but I can’t even say that this is a trend I’m going to try because this is something that I’ve actually been doing for years. I love leaving my hair tucked in! Leave it in leather jackets, turtlenecks, trench coats, anything. There’s something so chic and, I don’t know, Scandinavian about tucking in your hair. It feel mysterious and luxurious, haphazard and I-have-so-many-places-to-go-but-I-have-an-amazing-coat-and-sense-of-fashion-and-I-can’t-compromise-either kind of feel. It sort of makes you want to ride a horse and race off to a castle and yet have a cup of coffee in a small, trendy cafe at the same time.

I don’t know why tucking in my hair makes me feel so many things, but I haven’t been this excited for a beauty trend since red lips made an official comeback in 2006 (and they really haven’t left ever since). And like I said before, it costs nothing and takes zero effort. Boom.

xo, MR

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Category Archives: the Hair stuff.