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A Few New Items To Add To Your List

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I haven’t written quite as much lately because I’ve been a tad busier and my mind hasn’t had beauty quite on the brain as much either, but that never seems to mean I don’t have time to try something new or browse good ol’ Walgreens. Or Sephora. Or Glossier. I’ve also been super into reading up on beauty these days, so my input has been outpacing my output big time.

I’ve discovered a couple new products that I’m thinking will become new favorites.  The best part of these is that I discovered and chose to try them all of my own, and not because they were in a magazine or on a blog (no irony here) or seen on social media.  That’s the best- when you find something new entirely on your own and then love it.

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1.  BareMinerals Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick

One of my favorite beauty brands of all time has totally upped their lip game within the past month with four new lip products.  In the world of Kylie Lip Kits, ColourPop cosmetics, and Kat Von D, it’s not to a company’s advantage if they ignore lips these days.  But BareMinerals, being the naturally-focused name that they are, chose to revamp their lip products in total BM fashion- by focusing on making all products “nude”.  That is, by creating a range of products called Gen Nude that covers every shade of “nude” there could possibly be, in four different finishes.

When I came across all this new awesomeness while wandering through Sephora, I was so impressed that a company finally seemed to grasp the fact that “nude” is a very relative term in makeup, and what counts as a shade of nude lipstick for one woman does not at all count as one for another.  So what this amounts to are a line of products that are a whole bunch of delicious “my lips but better” tones, and I had a really hard time choosing just one (and yes, I allowed myself just one).  I ended up choosing the Radiant Lipstick because the texture was like butter and it felt more like a smooth balm than a lipstick.  I use something like this far more than gloss, and I prefer it far more than matte finish.  I’d wanted something with more brown in it than my typically grey-pink that I go for in lips, so I picked Honey Bun after trying on maybe six or seven.  I really, reeeeeeeally like this stuff.

The other products include the Buttercream Lip Gloss, the Matte Liquid Lipcolor (there’s your Kylie competition), and the Under Over Lipliner.

2.  Maybelline Brow Drama Pomade Crayon

What a cinch this stuff is.  I’d wanted something to add more pigment to my brows when my Glossier BoyBrow just wasn’t enough, but I didn’t want to mess with anything too expensive like Anastasia’s Dip Brow that I knew I wouldn’t use so much, or anything that required any other tool besides my hand.

This chubby crayon is the perfect solution.  It goes on really smoothly (it is like a pomade) and very concentrated, so I use a light hand.  I bought it in its darkest shade, Deep Brown, because my brows can handle a decent amount of pigment.  It’s just so easy to use, and then I add some BoyBrow or brow gel and the whole thing is done.

3.  LivingProof Prime Style Extender

As you may know, I can be extremely lazy when it comes to styling my hair.  I’m always looking for that product that will somehow do everything and nothing.  I want my hair left with texture, but not with any crunch.  I want to cut down on frizz (especially out here in the MidWest), but I don’t want things too smooth or flat or without wave.  I tried Bumble and Bumble’s Don’t Blow It but frankly, it did nothing for me (and not in the way that I want, apparently).  If I air-dried my hair without it, it basically made no difference.  But I still can hardly ever get myself to blow dry my hair!  I’m always wanting to air dry, and so the quest for the elusive leave-in styling product continues.  Oils have usually fared well (like Davines Oi or MoroccanOil), but even they can weigh me down a bit and take away from the matte finish I prefer.

Enter LivingProof Prime Style Extender.  It gives my hair just enough tack without stick, holds a style well for 24 hours (and I can’t ask for much more in this weather- hairstyles don’t last more than a day out here), brings out my wave, and doesn’t have any weight to it.  I started using a travel size I received to blow out my bangs, and then started wondering how it would fare on my entire head.  So far, so good!  It’s the best product I’ve used yet when it’s come to air drying (and it’s also supposed to be really great for blow drying, too!).

4.  NARS Audacious Mascara

And this one’s getting thrown in just for fun, because who doesn’t love a fresh, new mascara?  I got a smaller size of this mascara for free with a mini NARS makeover and a purchase, and I’ve liked using it for my “second layer” of mascara like how I use BeneFit’s They’re Real!  After using a slightly tackier, cheaper formula with a very dense brush (usually a CoverGirl Lask Blast formula), I like to use a more wet formula with a very spiky brush like Audacious to separate and “hug” the bottom lashes to really build the base and lash line- I wiggle it around on my lash line a couple times, being careful not to touch my eye.  Such formulas usually help to darken the lashes overall, too.  The formula alone isn’t my absolute favorite, but then again I virtually never use one mascara on its own.  I always use at least two.

Anything new you’re trying lately?  It seems that I’m stumbling upon new launches left and right, but I’m being very selective about what I give a chance to because I feel like I’ve got so much more than I could ever need in the first place.  Let me know if you pick up one of these, or if you’ve been using something new that’s too good not to share!  xo, MR

the Hair stuff., the Makeup stuff., the Me stuff., the Nails stuff., the Skin stuff., Uncategorized

What I Brought Home From My Vacation

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My Christmas vacation this year consisted of a trip back to southern California, where the sun shined unbelievably for the full nine days that we were there.  What a beautiful time it was.  I had flapjacks with Dad, went on a traditional shopping excursion with Mom, laughed my butt off with my family as we celebrated Christmas, stood basking in the warmth of Laguna Beach, saw so many friends that I love, managed to squeeze in quality time with a few of them, and just had an all-around great time being around people and places that I’ve missed.

But of course, me being me, I couldn’t resist listing what I got out of this trip that pertains to the nature of this blog.  Namely, what beauty experiences did I walk away with during my time in the Golden state?

A new appreciation for flying

This trip involved my first flying experience in over four years.  While the flight into California was ridiculously turbulent (as in the-captain-issued-a-preemptive-apology kind of tubulent), the flight back was actually quite pleasant.  I enjoyed a couple issues of Elle and InStyle, a Korean serum mask, and a very small glass of Bailey’s just for fun.

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Adding the tiniest bit of luxury to my flight almost made it feel like a borderline chic experience.  Hey, when you’re flying second class and your knees are touching the awkward, hungover twenty-one-year-old’s knees next to you, you kinda have to make it work, even if it means that twenty-one-year-old almost jumping out of his chair at the sight of you wearing a creepy Hannibal mask next to him.

A serious Sephora haul

Now that you’ve heard me complain a couple times about how dry my skin is over here, you’ll be glad to know that my mom-in-law came through with two products that I’m so excited for, and a couple that I picked up myself thanks to a generous gift card from my mom.

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I’d wanted to try an oil cleanser since my skin starting drying out over here, and my mom-in-law came through for me with this one.  I received Erborian’s Solid Oil Cleanser as one of my gifts.  Out of curiosity, I took home a sample of this from Sephora and it is some dreamy stuff, let me tell you.  It smells so fresh and relaxing, with a spa-like green tea fragrance.  The unique consistency is that of a thick, stiff goop, but take a minute or two to really massage it into your dry skin.  It is delicious.

According to the Korean double-cleanse method, you’re then supposed to follow an oil cleanser with a foaming cleanser (though I’m sure the oil cleanser is probably enough for most people).  I’ll be using Ole Henriksen’s Empower Foaming Milk Cleanser (once I finish what I currently have), which also smells relaxing and calming.  I’ve been so into finding scents that lift my spirits lately.  Doing little things like enjoying a smell, or listening to soothing sounds, treating yourself to a coffee, or doing a relaxing yoga session in your apartment are things I used to right off as sad, temporary attempts at trying to avoid reality and ignore life’s troubles.  Now I realize they’re just ways of enjoying your freaking life.  And another small way of enjoying life- dry shampoo.  The highly reputable Living Proof formula was also a Christmas gift, and it’s especially helpful for managing the new hairy addition to my forehead I came home with (see below).

My own Sephora picks include Alterna’s Caviar Replenishing Moisture Shampoo, Shiseido Ultimate Power Infusing Concentrate, and Origins A Perfect World SPF25 Age-Defense moisturizer.  I’ve used all three of these items before and I enjoy each of them.  After running out of my fourth bottle of Rahua shampoo, I’m choosing to give it a break and focus on intense moisture throughout the winter with my hair, especially as I grow it out.  The Alterna is great for that.  Concerning the Shiseido, I have said that I like Caudalie’s Vinosource serum better and I believe I still do.  However, Caudalie is good for intense moisture but it doesn’t necessarily help with other areas of concern like spots, etc.  The Shiseido is a little more geared toward all areas, so I’m going to see how well it multitasks.  And the Origins moisturizer is a nice one that I’ve been using for a while now.  I’ll stick with it.

My only bummer was having my new bottle of Fresh Seaberry Restorative Body Cream, a gift from my sis-in-law, detained by TSA because the bottle was too big.  Poop.  Once again Mom saves the day by sticking around just long enough at the airport for my husband to run it back to her so she can ship it out.

A super-dark manicure

Ever since growing my nails back, man, I am addicted to painting them.  I do darks, nudes, or a true red.  For my manicure that I got with my mama (thanks, Mom!!), I chose OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark, a cult fave, for New Year’s and to go with my mostly basic wardrobe that I’d packed for the trip.  It’s a really deep purple that is barely distinguishable from black, but that’s why I like it.  Once you catch the color in the right light, you see the eggplant hue shining through.  It can work as an interesting accessory (and yes, I consider painted nails an accessory).

So, here’s the best shot I got of them, which also happens to be the best shot I got of an extremely fancy-pants bathroom at the Montage in Laguna.  Two for one.

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BANGS

Because I knew I’d be able to book an appointment with Justin at Salon 9, I had to take the opportunity.  I’ve been rocking a mid-length, rather grown out ombre’d lob since summer, and I figured I could go for a couple small-ish changes.  We darkened things a bit and went for a richer brunette while still leaving some shimmering highlights within the length.  The real addition here though, is the new arrival of bangs.  Whew.  I had forgotten what a commitment they are, but I really want to make them work this time.  I mean, really.  I want long hair down to my chest like I had before, but now with long bangs.  I want bangs to be part of my integral look for a while, so I’m in it for the long haul.  And don’t make fun of my robe or slight-smeared eyeliner here.  I’m wearing MAC’s kohl liner in Smolder, which I consider my Jack Sparrow liner because it always smears and you just have to roll with it.  A pirate’s life for me.

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What this has meant so far is styling them every day, somehow.  I can’t get away with just throwing everything up in a bun and leaving the bangs scraggly and bent out of shape after getting out of bed; they have to be styled.  I mean, there’s looking French, and then there’s looking hungover-French.  Bangs cowlicked up past your forehead can put you in hungover-French territory, so styling them is a necessity.  Sometimes this means just tweaking with a flat-iron, sometimes it means wetting and washing them and starting all over.  It’s very difficult not to fuss with them throughout the day, but you have to remember that their shape doesn’t need to be perfect.  Gone are the days when bangs needed to be precisely uniform and round brushed, so the look still isn’t as high-maintenance as it might’ve been, say, seven years ago.  You can get away with a much more laissez-faire feel now, but you still need to make sure things look cohesive.

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For me personally, I think bangs are a good exercise in self-maintenance and forming a consistent routine of trying.  I very much look forward to the care and keeping of them.  Cheers to caring more in 2016!  xo, MR

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InstaShame: In Defense Of That Cliche Latte Art Picture You Posted

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A couple months ago, my husband and I were standing in line at a very popular restaurant in Los Angeles waiting for a table.  It was a Saturday, and we were there for brunch.  The occasion was our anniversary and I, being an avid TripAdvisor-er, had chosen this place based on its stellar ratings and attractive Instagram feed (and I do consider that a veritable source these days).  We couldn’t have picked a better time to be “part of the crowd”.  Everyone was looking at everyone, and everyone seemed to have had the foreknowledge that they were going to be looked at, and all dressed accordingly.  There were felt fedoras, handle-bar mustaches, Chelsea boots, plenty of Rag and Bone, plenty of Madewell, and beautiful hair all around.  Each young man and woman had worn their brunch-day best.  I would be lying if I didn’t say that I participated to the best of my own capabilities.

Another defining mark of each crowd member was the presence of a phone, likely with Instagram open and snapping away at the restaurant’s gorgeous interior (and I arrived at this conclusion based on the amount of phones in the air, camera apps visible).  When plates of beautifully presented #brunchporn made their way to each table, the phones were out again.  I tracked the restaurant’s hashtag continuously and watched it update consistently throughout the couple hours surrounding our visit.  New photos, new dishes, new perspectives by the minute.  The same thing tends to happen to me when I enter coffee shops.  It doesn’t even matter if the latte I’ve ordered comes with foam art (though all the better if it does); I manage to take a picture, play around with filters or frames for a minute, and perhaps upload it to Instagram with some small expression of how I am enjoying this or that.

I sometimes wonder how I’ve picked up these habits.  Would I have thought coffee to be such a wonderful amateur photography subject were it on not for the countless other pictures of coffee that I’ve encountered on Instagram?  Would I ever think to photograph my eggs on toast again if I hadn’t received a record amount of likes on that brunch picture?  Or is food really that beautiful and worth my time?  Is coffee truly that lovely that it deserves an artistic interpretation for hundreds of others to see when the point is to just drink it?  I guess what I am asking at the end of all things is this- Am I a cliche?  A “basic” white girl completely consumed by the culture of the world she lives in, minding no attention to the moment?  Am I typical?  Am I just doing what everyone is doing because we’re all doing it and we all seem to like it?  Am I a slave to trends?  Am I sacrificing all originality and all creativity for the sake of giving my “followers” what I think they might like?  After all, one of the most common pieces of advice given in articles these days discussing the do’s and don’ts of Instagram is to “be original”.  Don’t do what everybody else is doing!  People want to see something different!  You need to be different!

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The answer to all of the aforementioned questions might be … Yes.  But that “yes” may also need to be followed by … and don’t worry about it.

You see, for myself, Instagram has brought with it a large sense of shame.  Shame for the fact that I, like so many other people, want to take a picture of myself when I love how my makeup looks.  Or when I love my hair.  I mean, how narcissistic must one be to want to take a picture of themselves and share it with others?!  I feel shame for the fact that when I am now served my latte, I attempt to find an attractive surface to place it on so that I might take a picture of it, just like everyone else.  I feel shame for the fact that I have no excuses for posting that picture of myself; only the excuse that I wanted to.  I feel shame for the fact that I am not always entirely “present” now as I go through life in the sense that I’m no longer just “going through it”; I’m also looking for little Instagram opportunities, just as others around me are.  I feel shame for being like everyone else.  I feel shame for being me.

And it is here, my friends, that I believe I am met with grace.

It’s strange that in the world of Instagram, of all places, I find the shame of my false self crystallized and yet I am also presented with the gift of being myself.  I take a picture of something I am enjoying, but then feel shame for “being like everyone else”.  I attempt to create and share beauty with a photo I’ve taken, but feel shame for flagrantly expressing that this is what I truly perceive as beautiful, especially if it’s one of the millions of lattes under a coffee hashtag.  Or my baby for the millionth time.  I want to be perceived as different, as unique, and yet here I am again, uploading a moody picture of a frothy beverage in a ceramic mug handed to me by some mildly pretentious 24-year-old with a fade and some vague resemblance of a beard.  Just like everyone else.

And yet, in those moments, I am enjoying.  I am delighting in and capturing beauty.  Though I may be acting as thousands of others do, I am being myself.  I would never have thought of coffee as a thing of beauty were it not for Instagram.  I would never have thought to stop and look at the appealing presentation of my eggs on toast were it not for the camera in my hand.  I would never have thought to look up and observe the space around me from an artistic point of view were it not for the possibility of snapping a great photo of it.  Instagram has given me a radar for beauty in places that I might otherwise have ignored it, and I love that.

There’s a vulnerability to social media.  We take pictures of what we see as beautiful-including ourselves!-and dare to share it with the world as a declaration of beauty.  We say, Look!  This baby!  This city!  This face!  This pair of shoes!  This plate of salad!  It is a beautiful thing, is it not?!  This can be a very delicate dance between earnest self-expression and vain, outright self-promotion; of genuine enjoyment and mindless impulse.  It is a good and righteous thing to be aware of why we take and upload the pictures we take.  However, I believe that when we are conscious of the subjects of our photos, mindful of why we are sharing what we are sharing, taking true joy in what we are doing as we put our finger to that camera app, and delighting in beauty for goodness’ sake, we are actually being our true selves.  And there is no shame in that.

Our fear of looking like everyone else, of being perceived as just another face in the crowd, of being a nobody, is overcome when we delight in what is good.  My fear of being seen as “basic” and “typical” is washed away when I just enjoy; my shame is overcome when I freely admit this sense of enjoyment.  Am I once again opening my VSCOcam app to snap a still shot of my iced coffee?  Yes.  Am I freely enjoying my iced coffee as a thing of beauty in doing so?  Yes!

Yes, I am participating in social media trends that millions of others are participating in as well.  And no, I needn’t worry about the millions of others.  Why?  Because I am being myself.  I am taking joy, I am delighting in beauty.

I write all of this because I’ve struggled for some time over the subject matter of this blog and it’s “reboot”.  I knew this blog would inevitably involve selfies posted to Instagram.  I knew this blog would involve lengthy discussions over topics that many deem superficial and nothing of substance.  I knew this blog would require me to be vulnerable in expressing how much I love things like mascara and Emma Stone’s hair, knowing full well that many may scoff and find such expressions “a waste of breath”.  And I write this because it’s time for all that to stop mattering.  I believe I have been called to be myself.

I hope you can receive and accept the same grace that I have found in being one’s self.  To enjoy beauty, to delight in goodness, and to share it whether in speech or on social media- you are called to be yourself.  And if that means another picture of a latte on your Instagram feed, that is perfectly all right.  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

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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

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BEST OF 2012. ‘Nuff said.

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This one’s a little more straight forward, but probably not nearly as exciting.    Most of what I love in the beauty arena during a year’s time is what I see on celebrities, whether it’s a transformation, amazing styling at an event, or whatever.  I can’t say there will be mention of many trends in beauty as “bests”, because trends are usually either weird and unappealing and too flash-in-the-pan like pink ombre’, or I’ve liked them all along like this year’s braided pleats.  So anyhow, here goes!

#1  Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looking like something other than just a hot model.

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With someone as good-looking as Rosie (I mean, she is dating Jason Statham), it would be easy to go for long mermaid waves, alluring smokey eyes, and a plunging neckline for every appearance.  But her eyes are almost bare here, her cheeks just lightly bronzed, and those berry-stained lips take center-stage thanks to a demure neckline (courtesy of Jason Wu) and sleek, side-parted hair.  It’s a refreshing look to see on a Victoria’s Secret model.  And on a nit-picky note, I love that the lip color is matte, not glossy.  It’s such good editing, such good use of stylistic discretion.  I’ve loved this “wet look” this year in hair, too, and I’ve tried the shiny side-parted style a few times this year on myself.  It’s great use of wet, just-washed hair, limited time, and a case of the lazies.

#2  These products changing my life.

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Prior to 2012, I did not possess any of the items pictured here, either because they weren’t yet available or I just hadn’t gotten around to trying them yet.  What a fool I was (and yes, even if it wasn’t yet available, what a fool I was for not inventing it myself or something).  Kerastase’ Fibre Architecte has extended the life of my hair-ends by weeks, or even months, before needing a trim.  NARS‘s powder blushes in Orgasm and Exhibit A have each been applied to brides, fiance’s, friends, and myself countless times this past year.  CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara totally beat out any higher-priced mascara I tried in the past few months.  Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner will probably be the only gel liner I’ll ever use for creating cat-eyes, ever again.  And Almay Makeup-Eraser Sticks have been nothing short of life-saving during wedding makeup application.  I’m sticking with all these babies for life!

#3   Drew Barrymore looking like one hot mama.

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Drew had her first little baby bundle just a couple months ago, and my sister-in-law did the same.  Caring for a newborn is NO JOKE, and your hair and skin don’t exactly remain high on the priority list when you’re literally trying to teach a new human how to eat.  You’re loving and savoring life with your new baby regardless of your hair’s condition anyhow from what I’ve come to see, but I’ve gotta figure that having your own hair taken care of can’t hurt.  Drew was probably given this hair makeover for free, or at least she likely had just a little help getting to the hair salon in a caravan of Escalades and leaving her baby with one of a million well-paid nannies, but despite all the advantages her celebrity has brought her and my complaining thereof … that hair looks bomb.  No question.  If that’s post-baby hair right there, sign me up for a Jolie-sized litter.

#4   Severine dominating my world in Skyfall.

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I love Bond movies because I loooooooove Bond girls.  They’re like the anti-Disney princesses.  Mysterious, seductive, and just dripping with luxury- you can practically smell the Tom Ford Violet Blonde from this screen.  But what I loved most about Severine from Skyfall, played by the overwhelmingly beautiful Berenice’ Marlohe, was how very over-the-top her styling was for her character.  I know I’m more of a minimalist in taste, but this was a case in which more was fantastically and unarguably more.  Her long, blood-red talon nails!  Her ridiculously dramatic eye makeup paired with no-less-dramatic wine-colored lips!  Her long, wild hair teased and sculpted into all kinds of exotic styles!  I have to also give props to Berenice for the fact that she shamelessly rocks the same over-the-top Severine aesthetic on the red carpet, too.  Seriously, this woman’s fearless.

#4  Achieving victory status.

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I’ll admit that it was a big deal for me to accomplish some kind of different hairstyle on myself other than the most basic ponytail.  I’m not the most skilled when it comes to up-do’s, so the achievement of the victory roll was exciting for me.  However, the submission of some shots of my victory rolls landed my face on page 20 on InStyle magazine’s January issue!  I believe I’ve already discussed this just a teensy bit here.  Did someone stop me on the street and ask me to model for these pictures?  Nope.  Did I take those pictures and submit them myself?  Yep.  Do I even care?  Nope.  I’m in a magazine, fools!

#5  Olivia’s Wilde’s chop.

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I know you’ve heard me go on and on about this before, but for reals, this was THEE hairstyle for me in 2012.  The color, the textured cut, the length, everything.  Olivia debuted this new look at the 2012 Palm Springs International Film Festival, and I don’t think anyone has ever fixated on the phrase “textured long bob” so much as I have since seeing it.  It’s so funny how revolutionary some simple changes can be.  I think I just love that she didn’t have to wear a meat dress … or dye her hair a new primary color every other week … or be accompanied by a pretend Pope on the red carpet while wearing a red hoodie-cape that makes you look like the Don’t Look Now gremlin-surprise at the end of the movie … to gain some decent press.  She cut her hair and got some new highlights.  You know, stuff that we all do.

#6  WhoWhatWear.com’s beauty page.

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I pin the crap out of WhoWhatWear.com.  I seriously do.  It’s basically an online magazine that features an endless amount of styling tips (on the tough trends, too!) and inspiration from both celebrities and the runway.  I’ve signed up for their email newsletter, but I still check the site everyday.  Stylists Emily and Merritt sure do know what they’re doing when it comes to fashion, and I can only suspect that they’re behind the site’s beauty page too, and it is amazing.  But seriously, look at the stuff they do!  A Hitchcock-based beauty inspiration board?!  My wildest dreams have come true!  The beauty page has also been featuring articles that will break down a celebrity’s entire look, including both hair and makeup, while listing the exact products used.  And if you know me, you know I’m always suspicious that Revlon ain’t all that Julianne Moore’s wearing on her face, even if you tell me so.

#7  Emma Stone’s EVERYTHING.

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This.  This whole thing.  Right here.  The oh-so-thirties faux bob, with the deliciously-hued blackberry lip, and the palest, peachy-pink shade on those gooseberry green peepers, with that slightly glossy finish … mmmmmhm.  Styling a look like this takes skill and thought, from literally the top of her head down to her toenails.  People fret and worry over every detail when attempting to put something like this together, but look at the pay-off you get.  She looks stunning, and yet the whole package is unexpected and creative.  I get more excited about upcoming movies for their red carpet premieres, to be honest.  While the movie is certainly something to look forward to, let’s face it- I live for seeing stuff like this happen more than the movie.

#8  Emily Weiss’s utterly wicked how-to videos on http://www.intothegloss.com.

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This woman is my inspiration.  Emily’s range of beauty knowledge, along with her team at “the Gloffice” as they call it, is incredible.  Emily doesn’t post videos that often, but when she does, they just make you want to bust out your whole kit and color your eyes with crayon until you look like the HOTTEST raccoon on the planet.  I also love that Emily’s videos don’t have her awkwardly staring into a camera, narrating every little step in her routine.  They’re set to music, without dialogue, and professionally shot and edited.  You just get to sit and watch, and it makes the whole getting-ready process look so much more glamorous.  This video posted above is Emily giving you her best smokey eye for a winter’s night out (tonight, perhaps?), and I’ve watched it a bajillion times.  Simply enchanting.

#9  She may not be able to smile, but she sure can look pretty in the eye sockets.

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For as much as she drives me batty, Kristen Stewart had admittedly got a gem of a face for great makeup, especially in the peepers.  She’s been looking all kinds of gorgeous at premieres this year, but I sure just hope she’s been enjoying it (because Lord knows I can’t tell).  I’ve been dying to know what awesome team of stylists have gotten hold of her, just so I can send them a baby.  A baby, you ask? Yes, a baby smiles and giggles and makes you smile and giggle.  Kristen does not.  I’ll just have to hand-deliver that baby myself, though.  I can’t picture a baby being game for making you laugh after being air-shipped in a FedEx package.  On the other hand, Kristen often carries the expression that looks like she’s just been air-shipped in a FedEx package.  Hmmm …

#10 FINALLY STARTING THIS BLOODY BLOG .

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And can you believe this gorgeous face has been responsible for bridal makeup four times in 2012, too?!  I know, I’m not surprised either. My beauty is utterly devastating.

But seriously though.  This has all been a really long time coming.  Thanks for reading, truly.  xo, MR

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I liked this.

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I admit that I have a major crush on Charlize Theron.  She’s an Oscar winner with through-the-roof talent, a worthy face of Dior fragrances with knockout red carpet appearances, and possessing of a glowing, Old Hollywood kind of beauty that exudes class, grace and … well … Grace.  I also must mention that Charlize has the kind of sophisticated, impeccable off-duty style that makes me respect her for knowing how to dress without a Rachel Zoe breathing down her neck.

What I also love about Charlize is her consistently beautiful presentation of hair and makeup.  I know it can’t hurt to be a Dior representative when it comes to this stuff, but I have to applaud Ms. Theron’s hairstylist Enzo Angileri for this gorgeous braided creation for the star’s appearance at the 2012 Critic’s Choice Awards.

Enzo allegedly took inspiration from the Latin flamenco feel of Charlize’s Azzedine Alaia dress for this hairstyle.  Paired with light makeup and a simply designed black frock, I love that the hair is able to steal the show.  Now, I’m really not sure if this is all her hair or if there’s some kind of extension stuck in there, but it looks elegant and understated nevertheless (which frequently is not the case with extensions).  This is the kind of style that’s perfect to use for bridal inspiration or as a bridesmaid, or equally perfect for any of your upcoming fancy-schmancy Christmas parties (weee!).  I found a great how-to article (if you dare) and have placed it here for your convenience.  And now if you’ll excuse me, I have to keep practicing a basic French braid on myself because I still … can’t … do it.  xo, MR

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All up in my face.

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So, by now you know I love hair. I’m crazy about the stuff, and I’m finally at a place where I really enjoy my own. But even prior to honing my affections for my locks, I had developed a very special relationship with my face.

Throughout high school I’d gone through the typical battles against the occasional breakout, but my consistent involvement in sports with all the sweating, washing, and protein consumption probably helped to keep a real acne problem at bay. Anyhow, I began reading books and articles about natural body care during my late college years. The facts regarding most of the ingredients in what we wash and cover our skin and hair with scared me. I figured that it’s bad enough that I enjoy makeup so much, with its frequent use of animal testing and weird preservatives and mineral oil-based emollients. So, I decided to try and at least make changes in what I use on my skin and hair and the results have been nothing short of awesome. I’m at the point where I read the ingredients on the bottle, and I know that words like “natural” or “organic” pretty much mean nothing unless they’re backed up by a clean list of ingredients.

I love Desert Essence products so much that I now recommend that brand first when asked about switching to natural products by anyone. They’re almost 100% clean and they’re also really reasonably priced. I use their Daily Defense SPF 15 moisturizer and their Thoroughly Clean Face wash. I buy the giant bulk-sized bottles of the wash and pour it into a dispenser bottle for the shower. For the past four years or so my face has been consistent trouble-free since doing this routine. It’s never dry, never oily, and any breakouts clear up quickly. And when I do encounter a little flare-up, the pink sediment of Mario Badescu Drying Lotion works a small miracle in clearing it up pretty much within 48 hours.

For a night moisturizer I’ve been using Korres Yoghurt moisturizer, but I’m not sure about how sanitary the jar it’s packaged in is (you have to dab your fingers into the moisturizer instead of using a pump, which is more sanitary). I’m going to try Acure‘s night cream next, and it’s about seven bucks cheaper anyhow. And I usually don’t “wash” my face at night so to speak, but I use a Yes to Cucumbers face wipe instead. I like that kind better than the blueberry or tomato ones the brand has.

Eye creams have been tough because a good, natural one is usually concentrated with expensive ingredients, but because the amount of product is rather small they don’t seem to be worth the price. I love Weleda Intensive Wild Rose eye cream, but I’ve gotten lucky and found it on clearance each time I’ve had to repurchase it. I’m on the look-out for a new one that doesn’t cost thirty dollars, but the high-quality natural ones aren’t cheap.

For a face mask, I like Aubrey Organics Sea Buckthorn and Cucumber Moisturizing Mask. It doesn’t smell as delicious as others you may find, but it’s completely trustworthy on your skin. And when I exfoliate I use Origins Never a Dull Moment, which smells like a big, juicy apricot.

Most all of my stuff can be found at Sprout’s, Whole Foods, or even Target. I’ve loved taking care of my skin so much more since going natural because I know I don’t have to worry about shady chemicals with names I can’t pronounce being in charge of how my skin looks. I submit that your skin will experience similarly awesome results if you give your routine a green spin. Now if I can just stop eating Takis and ruining my insides with mercury and lead … seriously …