maintaining my mane

At 29 my hair is the longest it has ever been in my life.  I’m not sure what took me so long to figure out longer hair is actually easier for me to maintain than any of the shorter cuts I’ve had which required more elbow grease, time and products.  As someone who doesn’t really enjoy going to the salon, I tend to put it off for as long as possible but when I do go I take comfort in knowing my stylist Jessie always delivers exactly what I want and offer’s great advice on keeping my hair from turning into straw between appointments.  I also try to help my stylist as much as possible by showing her pictures of long hair styles I like and learning how certain styles are cut so I know exactly what to ask for.  As for upkeep, now that my hair has achieved a new length I’ve started noticing more frizz and dryness than ever before at the ends.  While the ends are especially dry since they are the oldest, I’m wary about weighing my hair down with too much product so it was important to find the right fix that provides lightweight conditioning while keeping my daily routine as low maintenance as possible.

Bumble & Bumble is a brand I haven’t had much experience with but I decided to pick up a few of their specialty sprays to keep my long hair from looking lackluster.  I also picked up Moroccan Oil which I’ve always wanted to use because it makes your hair smell incredible but my shorter hair didn’t need the extra conditioning treatment.  I’m really enjoying all of these so far.

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1. BB Tonic is perfect for dry/course/colored hair as a detangler and moisturizer.
2. BB Shine On was recommended to be as a great finishing spray that offers tons of shine without the weight of a ton of product.
3.  Moroccan Oil is a great conditioning treatment for damp or wet hair to de-frizz and add moisture and it smells amazing.

At my most recent haircut, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and go for a little feathery flare.  Here are some before & after pics of my beachy-inspired locks as they go from feeling sun bleached and tattered to sleek and more manageable.

        

 xo,

Lauren

lovesit: summer edition

It’s been a few month’s since I’ve been able to contribute to artlovefashion.  Somewhere between apartment hunting, moving, interior decorating, countless weddings, summer holidays, local weekend getaways (like our trip to Block Island, above) and spending as much time outside as humanly possible, I’ve fallen behind…but my next few posts will be filled with items and ideas I’ve been working on for a few weeks now.  To start the ball rolling again I wanted to share with all of you my mid-summer obsessions.  Here are a few of my favorite things right now 🙂  Happy August everyone xoxo

1. It doesn’t get any easier than this- for perfect daytime, day-night or straight night-time glam this little compact has it all.  Just mix, blend and play until you arrive at your desired level of impact.

Sand Tortoise Shell Eye Palette

2. The prettiest, punchiest vibrant matte lip color I’ve ever encountered.  Instantly dresses up any outfit and it’s the perfect pop of color for my mostly neutral wardrobe.

 

3.  There’s no such thing as a streak-free self-tanner no matter how much you spend or what it promises- but with this little accessory you’re getting the closest natural glow possible without the streaks.

St. Tropez Applicator Mitt

4.  A wardrobe staple I can’t get enough of right now is my uber chic riding jacket in grey.  Personally I love this version of a grey blazer by Rag & Bone.  It’s the perfect throw-on for a cooler summer night and it looks so great with distressed jeans, jeggings, shorts or a dress.

 

5.  I love the beachy, tropical, sea-glass colored hues of this Ombre Wooden Bead Necklace by Danielle Stevens I recently purchased on sale.  It’s the perfect colorful accessory for your summer whites or favorite black maxi.

     

xoxo,

Lauren

Best of Oscar’s Hair: get Reese’s retro pony

 
I really think Reese can do no wrong when it comes to playing dress up.  Not only did I love the dress she wore to this year’s Oscars, shown here, but I was loving her uber-chic and retro 60’s inspired hair.  This mod look is totally a style that works for her and p.s. that is all her own hair- no extensions!   This super high, va-va voom ponytail is the epitome of red carpet glam and I’d love to try to recreate this look for my next dressed up night out (if I can get the front to achieve and maintain a level of volume without channeling Snookie.)  Here’s a step by step guide for getting this look, courtesy of Renato Campora of Fredric Fekkai.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 1:  Create the foundation for the style by applying Fekkai Coiff Bouffant Lifting & Texturizing Spray Gel and the Fekkai Silky Straight Ironless Smooth Finish Serum.

  

Step 2: Blow dry hair with a large, round brush to enhance fullness and volume.

Step 3: Divide the hair into two sections.

Step 4: Using a 1 1/2-inch curling iron, create movement and volume on the bottom layer.

Step 5: Tease the roots of the top section to create the volume.

Step 6: Finish the look with hairspray to secure the silhouette and shape of the style

xo,

Lauren

Lovesit Nails: colors and trends from around the globe

I used to blame the state of my expired, chipping manicure on the lack of time or energy I didn’t have to keep up with them.  I rarely have time to get them done during the week and after work the last thing I’d want to do was spend the time removing the chipped polish, buffing, filing and repainting them myself.  But maybe my lack of enthusiasm for keeping my nails freshly polished each week wasn’t so much my lack of enthusiasm for the task itself, but due to the lack of polish options in my own collection.  Recently, I was so inspired by a friend who has gone on a full-blown nail polish splurge, I’ve come across colors, shades and finishes (creme, jelly, sheer, opaque) that make me want to paint my nails every chance I get just to be able to use these gorgeous colors as a daily accessory.  Here’s a compilation of my favorite new nail polish shades from companies around the globe- they’re all accessible through their online shops linked below.  (I love being a girl!)

London’s Barry M Nail Paint is avaiable here

Deborah Lippmann’s luxury line is available here

   

London’s Butter lacquers are available here

Zoya nail polish is available here

Just a little insider tip, to get your nails super smooth and polish ready- and the reason salon manicures always look and last longer is because of this little guy:

Happy Painting!
xo,

Lauren

Hairstyle of the Day: Gwyneth’s Wavy Layers

I love the not-so polished, gentle wavy look of Gwyneth Paltrow’s hair from the Grammys.  It’s so shiny, healthy and fun, I think this style would look great on almost any length as long as you’ve got a few layers to work with.

Here’s how to replicate this quick and easy look:

Starting with clean, damp hair, dose strands with an oil treatment before rough-drying it for texture and shine. Wrap random sections around a one-inch curling iron, taking care to only clip the center of the strands, leaving the roots and ends free – to create that uneven wave pattern. To finish, run fingers through the waves to loosen up too-tight spirals.

Some product and tool suggestions for this hair style:

xo,

Lauren

lovesit hair: messy updo for day & night

If only I had known what an easier time I’d have with long hair I wouldn’t have been so keen on maintaining my ‘Lob’ a la Gwyneth all those years.  Though my hair is fine, I have a lot of it and it’s pretty straight but I’d have to straighten it in the morning when it was shorter (shoulder-length) to smooth it out.  Now that it’s long, my morning hair routine takes all of 3 minutes- I wash it at night or in the afternoon at the gym.  To give it a bit of a wave, I’ll usually go to bed with a braid and just brush it out when I wake up so its wavy and a bit messy.  If the roots need a lift, I’ll use a little dry shampoo and then I always slather Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum (previously mentioned here) to make the ends really shiny.  And I’m done. 

What I love about this messy up-do worn by Kim Kardashian, is that its pretty much the same style I go for but it’s a bit more glamorous since her hair is worn up.  This look is great for day, but I think it would also look really sexy and effortless for a chic nighttime look. 

To get the look:

Flip hair over and quickly flip it back to give it volume.  Gather into a high ponytail without smoothing the top of your hair so it’s a bit messy and uneven.  Wrap the ponytail loosely around the elastic to make a not-so-perfect bun and secure with bobby-pins.  Spritz with a shine spray, I love Sebastian Halo Mist.  Add a skinny, nude elastic headband for the finishing touch.

Try one of the elastic headbands from LoveBerman on Etsy:

      

Sebastian Halo Mist Weightless Shine Spray:

xo,

Lauren

lovesit makeup: Chantecaille; An alliance of nature & beauty

Though fairly new on the makeup scene, luxury brand Chantecaille is the brand of skin care and cosmetics as of late, attracting new devotees both on and off the red carpet.  Chantecaille quickly became a new favorite for makeup artists, celebs and makeup junkies with their pure and potent formulated offerings (Angelina Jolie was seen applying their Brilliant Gloss lip gloss in Love at the Golden Globes.)  They offer both makeup and skin care that focuses not only on hiding the imperfections but also healing and reversing the causes of aging (without testing on animals.)  Their makeup is very natural and natural looking, especially the foundation formulas which go on almost translucently but offer the right amount of coverage.  Chantecaille is named after its creators, a New York-based family that started the brand because of their desire to create a product that reflected their own spiritual and holistic focus on life and beauty.   Chantecaille has always sought to raise awareness of environmental concerns by giving back to the bountiful nature that serves as its muse.  Makeup palates inspired by nature, such as the Butterfly/ Les Papillons collection eye shadows were created in 2005 to fund the protection of the Monarch butterfly’s winter habitats.  Since then, many ‘Cause-metics’ collections have been launched as their “continued passion and commitment to the oceans and to endangered species grows stronger and stronger.”

Chantecaille is available at fine stores such as Bergdorf’s, Saks and Bloomingdales, as well as their online store.  I really loved browsing their website because not only was I totally intrigued by their color palates and products, but they also offer very comprehensive Application Instructions next to each makeup look.  Though a bit pricey compared to most other beauty products on the market, a good portion of the sale goes to help nature and wildlife foundations, making this a product that delivers beautiful results while doing good.        

         

xo,

Lauren

lovesit haircare: get glossy

Maybe its this dry winter weather (I would love to blame all of life’s problems on the wintery mix destroying my city), the over-styling, washing and blow-drying I subject my hair to, or maybe my hair just needs a little TLC.  Regardless of why my hair is looking and feeling lackluster, I’ve found a lovely little product by John Frieda that puts the happy back into my locks.  And by happy, I mean silky-smooth, healthy, color-boosting shine that looks and feels like I’ve spent a day in the salon.  I came across John Frieda’s Sheer Blonde Luminous Color Glaze when I was looking for a little hair-repair therapy/do it yourself treatment.  It’s idiot-proof to apply (just add enough to cover your hair roots to tips after you wash & condition, let it sit in for at least 3 minutes and rinse) and costs less than most drugstore shampoos.  There are several variations of the Luminous Color Glaze that including a boost of color with mild dye for different shades of blondes, red heads and brunettes.  The dye in the Glaze is not permanent and it will not lighten your hair color but it will subtly blend away grays and revive your color-treated or highlighted hair.  There is also a Clear Shine version with no color boosting side effect.  I found most drugstores only carry the brunette and clear versions of the Glaze so I ordered my Sheer Blonde Luminous Color Glaze in Platinum to Champagne on Amazon.com for under $10 (sites like drugstore.com and Target.com also sell this product.)  I’ve only used it a few times, but the results are really wonderful.  This product is safe enough to use daily or you can use it only a couple of times a week to give your hair a little pick-me-up.  Enjoy!

        

xo,

Lauren

lolalovesit fashion: Charlize in Dior

I LOVE this outfit, hair and makeup worn by Charlize Theron (in Dior.) 
It’s the perfect fall-into-winter-into-spring look.

 here’s some picks to help recreate this chic little ensemble:

   

and of course the finishing touches:

xo,

Lauren

best beauty product breakthroughs of 2010

I love going to allure.com to see their best-of lists.  Every year, the Allure editors test thousands of products to provide their readers with a list of the best of the best in beauty products.   Whenever I’m getting sick of the items in my makeup bag or medicine cabinet and want to try something new, I consult this list to see what they suggest.  Some of the products I’ve tried based on their recommendations have become my all-time favorite products I now can’t live without.  To check out the Allure Beauty Reporter Best of Beauty Products, visit here

In addition to their Best of Beauty, Allure also comes out with a list of The Year’s Most Innovative Beauty Products.  I thought it would be worth sharing a few of these items since I was really interested in several of the products listed.  Enjoy! 

Living Proof Full Thickening Mousse, $19.50

There’s a whole new approach to adding oomph to your hair. Most volumizing products try to hold hair off the scalp with a gluelike ingredient…that falls apart in wind or when you so much as touch it with a brush. This mousse instead contains a flexible polymer (the company worked with MIT researchers to create it) that adds volume through the length of the hair and stays effective—through mussing and fussing—until the next time you shampoo.

 

 

 

  Advanced Home Actives Brazilian Peel Professional Strength Facial Treatment, $78

 

Glycolic acid peels fight wrinkles and leave skin glowing. But the struggle has always been to find an at-home version that’s superstrong—but not so intense that you could risk burning your face off. This peel has a neutralizer—inspired by stomach antacids—that can switch off the acid in its 30 percent glycolic peel (this is high enough that, typically, only professionals use it) within ten minutes of it hitting your skin. In other words, there’s basically no way it can irritate. (The key is a double-barreled dispenser that keeps the glycolic solution away from the neutralizer until you hit the plunger.) “The strength of the peel brings a high percentage of glycolic acid to the home market safely,” says Amy B. Lewis, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. “That means a better and faster improvement in skin texture and tone than can be achieved using at-home peels that aren’t this strong.” sephora.com. 

  

 

 Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Blow Dry Perfector, $11.99

 

 Salon hair-straightening treatments have their fans—but the services involve long appointments with repeated applications of noxious straightening chemicals and a price tag that could make your hair curl. This kit gives a similar straightening effect, but at home—and the results last for up to seven shampoos. The first product in the kit goes on damp, clean hair and breaks down the physical bonds within the strands. After 20 minutes and a rinse, the second product, a leave-in smoothing balm, goes on. It contains rice oil that’s activated by the heat of a blow-dryer, allowing it to soak into hair to set a new, smooth structure in place. Flatironing is an optional next step, but recommended. ulta.com. 

 

     

 

 

Aveeno Ageless Vitality Elasticity Recharging System, Neutrogena Clinical, and RoC Brilliance Lines, $35.99-$49.99

These product lines have technology that helps skin cells stay young. Skin cells communicate using various processes, including one called bioelectricity, in which small electrical pulses tell the cells when to repair themselves, store energy, and make internal changes necessary to stay healthy. The currents can slow down as we age, and this can make it harder for skin to recover from sun damage and environmental stress. The scientists behind these products found that copper-plated zinc helps boost the skin’s bioelectricity.   They developed a serum with the ingredient and a moisturizing “conductor” that activates the process—and found that this combination stimulated collagen and elastin production, helped reduce inflammation, and may fight hyperpigmentation. target.com, walgreens.com.

 

  Lancôme Ôscillation PowerFoundation, $48

Some people love mineral foundation (it’s natural; it’s long-lasting) and some don’t (it’s heavy, cakey, messy). This version has a battery-powered sponge applicator that solves the problems by producing a smooth, uniform finish. You just dip the sponge into the mineral powder and press the handle’s “on” button, and the tip vibrates 7,000 times per minute—massaging the powder into skin evenly. “This oscillating applicator breaks down the fine particles in the makeup, eliminating the need to blend,” says Ni’Kita Wilson, a cosmetic chemist. “It also massages them into skin and fills fine lines.” nordstrom.com.

 

 

 

 L’Oréal Professionnel INOA Color

 

Coloring your hair has always involved a bit of suffering. The chemicals can sting the scalp and stink up the hair, and the color starts fading with the first shampoo. INOA professional hair dye replaces traditional ammonia with an odorless ingredient that only opens the cuticle a smidge (instead of lifting the whole thing like a flap). And to ensure that the color goes into the hair shaft, it is combined with oil right before application. The result is gentler to both the hair and the scalp, and the color is completely odorless and more resistant to fading. “What makes this hair color revolutionary is that it is not water-based—a significant departure from traditional coloring systems,” says Hammer. “The oil-based system provides excellent color penetration into the hair, which should reduce fading, and the process is far more mild, odorless, and nondamaging.” lorealprofessionnel.com.

 

 

 

 

for more information on any of these products, please visit here

 

xo,
Lauren

red carpet review: best dressed

When I think of Hollywood’s best dressed at award’s shows, the starlets’ that tend to stand out for me are those who wear the elaborate, haute couture gowns (think almost anything Penelope Cruz has worn, gowns by Elie Saab, Atelier Versace, Oscar de le Renta and Jenny Packham.)  This year, at the Golden Globes, the best dressed were all about minimal, clean lines and low, open-backed gowns in retro, juicy, pinks and peaches.  My two favorite dresses were both by Calvin Klein and they transformed the actresses wearing them; Claire Danes and Emma Stone looked unbelievable and neither women had ever looked better. 

 

 

I think Emma Stone especially stood out with her flawless hair and makeup (she looks unreal as a blonde- remember her in Easy A as a brunette? Yeah, me either…)  She looked amazing with her platinum blonde up-do and her makeup was natural, glowy perfection.  Here’s a run-through of what her make-up artist, Mai Quynh used to create her Golden Globe makeup look.

Face
Mai started by applying mark Calm & Composed Moisturizer all over the skin. Next, Mai applied mark Face Xpert in Honey with a foundation brush and put mark Good Riddance Concealer in Light/Medium around Emma’s nose and under her eyes and blended it with a concealer brush. The foundation was set with mark Powder Buff in Natural using a powder brush and mark Bronze Pro Powder in Pro Glow was dusted onto Emma’s cheeks, forehead and chin using a angled contour face brush. Mai then added mark Good Glowing Blush in After Glo on Emma’s cheeks with the angled contour face brush.

Eyes
Mai applied I-mark eyehadow in Biscotti to Emma’s inner eyelid and I-mark eyeshadow in Gioia to her middle and outer eyelid, from the lashline to her crease. An angled contour eyeshadow brush was used to blend Gioia into the crease of the eyelid. Mai then applied I-mark eyeshadow in Java along the upper lashline using the hookup eyeliner brush and smudged Gioia along the bottom lashline. To finish the eyes, two coats of mark Lash Splash Mascara in Black was used.

Lips
Mai applied mark Lipclick Full Color Lipstick in Bare Hug on Emma’s lips- available here

All products mentioned above are available here

xo,
Lauren

backstage beauty: hair & makeup looks for spring

Here’s a peek at some of the looks spotted on the runways, setting the trend for spring hair and makeup  Most of the ‘natural’ looks contained a full, filled-in brow, nude lips and dewy finished faces with a slightly dramatic swipe of black liner on the upper lids (this is so perfect for daytime or night).  Prada and Lanvin chose to add a bit more drama to their makeup looks- they kept their faces clean while adding a brave wash of shimmery color to the lids in hues of purple, pinks, blues and green.  Jill Sander left her mark with a nude face and matte hot pink pout (I Love it).  Hair was generally slicked back, regardless of length.  But if kept long, it was styled into low ponies or intricate braids at Lanvin, Herrera, Christopher Kane, Proenza Schouler and McQueen.  Marc Jacobs broke the mold and went with smokey eyes, big & wild hair and medusa-like braids.  I really love the look of minimal makeup and hair that’s less highlighted and more one-dimensional.

product suggestions for these looks:

xo,
Lauren

Hall of Fame

I once read an article highlighting the satisfaction purchasing a new lipstick brings into a woman’s life- and the correlation between the surge in sales of high end lipstick during an economic downturn.  Instead of a fancy pair of designer shoes, woman turn to designer lipsticks and lipgloss to gain the same sense of pampering- both items are considered  ‘high end,’ require a trip to the department store and come in fancy, expensive packaging.  All this without breaking the bank. 

Interesting but not so much relevant to my daily life.  No matter how the economy is doing I love seeking out a new lipgloss, eyeshadow, mascara, pressed powder ANY day.  I confess I am a fullblown product junkie and I always feel a satisfactory thrill everytime a new product is purchased- whether its from the drug store, department store or online.  Despite my love of trying new products and constantly carrying about 12 lip products on my person at all times, there are several products that have really stood the test of time with me – these are products I rave to my friends about, force them to try knowing they’ll become addicted too because they’re just better than the rest.  Here’s my list of products I can’t and will never live without:

Under concealer corrector:

For Darkest undereye circles (welcome to my world) this amazing product goes on UNDER your concealer- its so opaque I swear it could cover a tattoo but so creamy it melts right into your skin without a second thought. Minimal creasing also.

For Brows:

Such a natural filler- I never considered doing anything to my brows until I started noticing in pictures they looked patchy at times bc my hair is blonde.

 Hair:

I have slightly oily hair so I'm hesitant to put product in when it's dry but my ends don't always want to cooperate- this stuff makes them shiny, not greasy and never weighs my hair down.

Cheeks:

Mac Powder Blush in Well Dressed - the perfect baby pink to compliment any skin tone.

Nails:

OPI: BubbleBath Neutral, pale pink perfection

 Face: BB Skin Foundation SPF15

Face:This stuff makes your skin look like skin, just better. SO light but the coverage is better than even the most expensive foundations out there (I've tried them all)

 Eye Liner: Mac Small Angle Brush

Line your eyes with this error proof brush- and use any eyeshadow as a liner

xxo,

Lauren

JCrew- minimalist makeup perfection with red lips for day.

I browse the JCrew catalogs routinely- not just for inspiration on how to pair a new belt, sparklybangles or textured tights- but because I’ve noticed they’ve got some Fierce makeup for daytime looks.  I rip out the faces of my fav fresh-faced models and toss them in a makeup bag for when I’m needing a little idea pick me up from my routine make up look.  Here are some current fav’s which feature a dewy finish, highlighted cheeks, and gorge matte red lip: