Expensive holiday outfit

I made this outfit using Polyvore because I was inspired by my dear friend Angelica's blog (www.closetsandcocktails.com)!!!!

This is an adorable and extremely expensive dream outfit that I've put together for the holiday season. It's just an example of the ways I like to play with shapes and patterns that are in the same thematic narrative. For me, the guidelines when I put this together became clear when I chose the dress. This was my first pick because I absolutely adore this Jessica Simpson collection dress. It lends itself to the usage of many other old-world patterns and geometric as well as organic-feeling jewelry (the ring reminds me of a laurel wreath and ancient Greek gods) while the earrings and clutch bring the outfit into modern day. The scarf feels very antique and soft, it is in contrast to the hard-edged geometrical clutch, giving the outfit nice variety. You could pair this outfit with a slightly more masculine leather jacket, but for my hourglass body-shape, I prefer an A-line, mid-length coat. The booties are something I am in love with, the whole concept of lace-up boots during the winter makes me smile. I will attempt to make an inexpensive version of this outfit in the next post! Stay tuned!

Holiday outfit by lethalglam featuring

Jessica Simpson dress
$148 - jessicasimpsoncollection.com

Ryu a line coat
$120 - modcloth.com

Giambattista Valli suede lace up booties
$535 - net-a-porter.com

Kate Spade gold bag
$325 - katespade.com

Asha by ADM 14k jewelry
$495 - calypsostbarth.com

Alex Monroe feather jewelry
$225 - cultstatus.com.au

Bottega Veneta printed silk scarve
$595 - net-a-porter.com

Trimming your own bangs

Do your bangs grow too fast? I know mine are grown out 3 weeks after I get them cut at a salon. I really don't have the patience or willingness to go to a salon every 3 weeks just to get my bangs trimmed. So I've researched and devised this simple way to cut your own bangs.I suggest investing in a pair of Barber Shears before you do absolutely anything, because regular craft scissors are going to leave you with an uneven cut, and you won't be satisfied with the results.

Starting off, your hair will have to be dry and already styled the way you normally wear it; this means your bangs will have to be placed the way you like them. When doing this, you do not want to pull on your hair, you want to just gently hold it, because if you pull the sections hard in between your fingers, you won't get an even cut. Adjust the angle that you place your fingers at with the angle that you're cutting, if you're cutting your bangs straight across and horizontally, then you will want to hold your fingers horizontally. If you're scared of cutting off too much incorrectly, use straight edged cuticle scissors because they are small and will give you the most control. 

In order to shear the hair nicely, you will want to use the scissors vertically and cut into your bangs, not straight across because that would give you the appearance of a permanent helmet on your head. If you cut into your bangs vertically, you will thin out your bangs, giving them a softer appearance, and making them look wispy. Remember that when you're doing this less is more. Trim small portion of hair off at once, going at most a quarter of an inch at a time. I definitely recommend starting in the middle of your bangs and then working your way out until you reach above the middle of each eyebrow. Then continue on to the end of your bangs at whichever angle you like.

Urban Decay NAKED 2 Palette Review

If you know me, you may know that I am a huge fan of the original Urban Decay Naked palette. Such a huge fan, I've been using it since it first came out and love it so much that I try to use a bare minimum of the colors so I don't run out (I realize it's now back in stock, but it wasn't for a really long time at one point!). So imagine my excitement when there was an announcement on Urban Decay's website about something new arriving to do with the Naked line. I instantly rushed to the conclusion that they were going to have another palette, as did many of my fellow makeup junkies. However, many called up the company and were repeatedly told that it would not be another Naked eyeshadow palette. They were lied to. Behold, the new Naked 2 palette by Urban Decay:

Extras that come with the Naked 2 palette

Let's start with the main differences: The Naked 2 palette comes with a dual-sided brush, one side is a shader and contour brush, while the other side is a regular (but very well made) eyeshadow brush. These brushes are of the highest quality and they are from the Urban Decay Good Karma brush line, consisting of the Crease brush and Eyeshadow brush, I have provided links if you are interested in purchasing them separately. This is a nice touch over the dual-sided liner that you got with the original Naked palette, just because people are likely to purchase both and you don't really want to double-up on liners, especially since almost all of their palettes come with the 24/7 pencil eye liner. You also receive a travel-sized lipgloss from their Lip Junkie line in the color 'Naked', this is a really cute added bonus and fits perfectly in your purse for on-the-go touchups. Online, I received a free sample with the order and it was a mini 24/7 glide-on eye pencil in ElDorado. I'm happy about this eye liner because it's a shade I've never tried and am excited to experiment with! However, you won't be getting this necessarily, you may get other samples or colors if you order the Naked 2 online (Sephora won't be giving out free samples with purchase when it hits stores).

If you're looking for a giant change in this palette, you won't find it. The colors are not astonishingly different, they are in the same line of products for a reason. There is an overall neutral theme, but Urban Decay claims that there are more taupe and greige shades in the new palette. I wouldn't say that this is true, however, because the most prominent color is probably bronze (as 5 of the colors learn more towards bronze). There is most definitely a movement away from the overwhelming bronze overtone of the original Naked palette. I will go over every new color and tell you what the comparison is between the new and old one. Foxy is a new and unique shade and is not duplicated whatsoever. Half Baked, unfortunately, is exactly the same in both palettes (this was kind of a cop-out in my opinion, they could have attempted to make a new color here). Booty Call is very similar to Virgin from Naked 1 but it might be a tad more on the peach side. Chopper is orangey and does not appear to be similar to anything other than a lighter cross between Half Baked and Suspect. Tease is a brand new taupe and is matte, but it would be very similar to Sin (Naked 1) if it was shimmery. Snakebite appears to be a shade in between Half Baked (Naked 1) and Smog (Naked 1). Suspect appears unique like a slightly less glittery version of Sidecar (Naked 1). Verve and Pistol appear to be unique colors, they are lighter and are more along the greige spectrum Urban Decay was looking for. YDK is like a mixture between Sidecar (Naked 1) and Toasted (Naked 1). Busted is really just very similar to Hustle (Naked 1) but slightly more maroon. Blackout is unique because it is a matte black eyeshadow and Creep (Naked 1) was sparkly.

Naked Palette (Original)

Naked Palette 2

 I hope you found this review helpful when considering if you would like to purchase this palette or not. It retails for $50 and it really is a great deal because you're getting 12 full-sized eyeshadows (which normally retail for $17/each from Urban Decay), two eyeshadow brushes (which each retails around $26), a free lip gloss, and a free sample from their website. The deal on this is phenomenal and it would make a great Christmas or Hanukkah present for that special girl in your life. I promise you nobody would be disappointed if they received this as a gift. I am ecstatic, my husband purchased this for me as a birthday gift and I couldn't be any more over the moon. I'm a long-time fan of their original and I love this one too. These shades are really practical and you will use this palette every day because it is so versatile.

Side by side comparison of Naked 2 palette (top) vs. original Naked palette (bottom)

E.L.F. review

I purchased a bunch of things when E.L.F (eyes, lips, face) had a sale awhile ago and I got basically everything you see here for about $31.00, shipping included. I've heard great things about some of their products and seen them in video reviews, so I figured I would give them a shot, after all they are so inexpensive it's hard to stay away (most of their products are sold for $1/product). I don't know how they sell everything so inexpensively, but it goes to show you that a lot of makeup products are so overpriced and are probably filled with the same kinds of chemicals. Obviously there will be *some* quality difference, I wouldn't purchase face creams and health-related items from an inexpensive website because you don't necessarily know what you're getting, but in terms of the things I got, I'm perfectly fine with the quality. This is my haul:

I decided to experiment with bronzers but I wasn't willing to pay too much for them because I don't know how often I'll be using them or which shade I like best, I figured it was best to first try my hand with these big products from E.L.F. that I knew would last me awhile. It also helps the packaging is basically a mimic of NARS packaging, which gives it a higher quality feel. I also purchased an eyebrow kit, brushes, brush shampoo, sponges, shimmering facial whip, cover sticks, all-over face powder, blushes, and an eyelash curler (something I've always wanted to try out but never wanted to splurge on as a purchase).

 For $3 each I purchased the 'Golden Bronzer' and 'Contouring Blush and Bronzing powder' from left to right on top of the photo, respectively. These colors are true to the way they look, the color payoff is great, and they have a beautiful shimmer to them, which isn't too sparkly but appears as a dewy finish on your skin. In terms of single-shade bronzer, I chose the $1 each 'Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder' in 'Sun Kissed' and 'Matte Bronze'. The latter of these is too dark for my fair skin tone, but they also have a little bit of sparkle (matte bronze has considerably less and will not give you a dewy finish). Finally, as an all-over face powder, I chose 'Clarifying Pressed Powder' in 'Rosy Beige' because I was running low on my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish. Obviously, this product's quality is nowhere near that of a MAC powder, however I was pleasantly surprised that it is just as good as any drugstore brand (L'Oreal, Revlon, etc.) which usually retail upwards of $8. I found that the powder colors appear darker in reality than they do on their website photos, had I known this, I probably would have gone with a lighter shade.

I was intrigued with their $3 each blushes being package duplicates of NARS blushes, so I purchased one as a highlighter in 'Gotta Glow' and one in 'Mellow Mauve' because I normally purchase colors that are lighter, so I wanted to try a darker blush for a change. I have used the highlighter a whole lot, it's useful for the inner corner of your eyes to give you that refreshingly awake look and for on top of your cheekbones so they appear larger and more beautiful. I was glad I went with a darker blush because the color payoff doesn't appear to be too great with these blushes, you have to put quite a lot on your brush to get any color at all out of it. Finally, I purchased the 'Natural Radiance Blusher' in 'Blushing', this one had larger glitter specks inside of it and is much more pigmented than the other ones, but the packaging is just awful. I wouldn't purchase this again even though it was only $1 because it's really a small amount of blush, in a very annoying package that you have to slide to get open every time (it even took me awhile to figure out how to open it!).

 I got extremely excited when I saw that they had a 'Waterproof Eyeliner Pen' because I thought that for $1 I could get the equivalent of Stila's waterproof eyeliner pen (which this appears to be a packaging duplicate of). Right off the bat I purchased three of them in plum, coffee and black. when they arrived, I was excited that they tip is easy to use and went on waterproof on my hand. Unfortunately when I tried it out on my eyes, I found that the formula was too dry and the pen has to be pressed too hard onto your eye and you never quite can achieve that perfect line that I go for. If you're fine with just a smudged line, these are ideal. But if you're looking to do that perfect cat eye, stay away from these pens because you'll just be disappointed. I also purchased a $1 eyelash curler which is just as good as any other eyelash curler I've ever seen and even comes with a replacement pad. Then, I went for the $3 'Eyebrow Kit' in 'medium' which happened to be the perfect color for my eyebrows. This comes with an eyebrow pigmented wax (the darker color) to fill in your eyebrows and keep them in place, as well as the lighter brown color as another aid to filling the color in and setting the wax. I'm very happy with this product and I use it every day now, it also came with a handy little brush if you don't have one to begin with.

The difference between the 'All Over Cover Stick' and the 'All Over Color Stick' is that the former is very matte and can cover your pimples (it's a thick formula) and the latter is sheer and slides onto your skin like cream (it has a shimmery finish and is not matte at all). At $1 each, they are both worth the price for their respective uses (one to cover pimples, the other to add highlights to your face). The 8-pack of sponges is also $1 and is just as good as any sponges you will get at the drugstore, while the brushes I purchased were also the same price. I'm a big fan of the 'Defining Eye Brush' for contouring my eyes with nude colors because the color doesn't go on too harsh as with other brushes, the bristles are more spaced out and give a fluffier appearance to the brush. However, I have nothing positive to say about the 'Foundation Brush' and the 'Eye Shadow Brush'. The foundation brush is far too small to do anything with, it would take you much too long to apply your foundation with this poor excuse for a brush (it's way too thin and small overall). The eye shadow brush is also really flimsy and very short, you can't pack a whole lot of product onto it, so unless you like a very faint wash of color on your eyes, this is not a good brush.

 A video review convinced me to purchase the 'Shimmering Facial Whip' which is a product of creamy consistency which a very potent color. These colors also have a ton of staying power, they won't come off or wear off as the day goes on at all. They're a great value at only $1 each, I purchased the colors 'Lilac Petal' and 'Toasted'. I use these as a base for eyeshadow looks by placing them on my eyelid instead of primer or concealer, they give a very sheer finish. You can use these in any way you want on your face, they are very versatile, I have read of people using them as lipgloss and blush. This is definitely a product I recommend.



You can purchase a bunch of their items online at Amazon as well, they make great stocking stuffers or Christmas gifts and really are very inexpensive for a large quantity of good products:

PSA: Giving during the Holiday Season

Regardless of your spiritual or religious affiliation or lack thereof, we can all agree on one thing this holiday season: giving is of the utmost importance. We take for granted that we have a roof over our head, clothes on our backs, a job to call our own, and food to eat. We don't even think about the fact that people in our own country are starving, can't shower, and will not be able to read blogs like this because they don't have the internet, not even a computer or any technology to speak of. We should all take a moment and think about the reality of this situation and contemplate how it is we could go about at least putting a smile on someone's face this holiday season, if we can't help them in a more significant way.

More often than not, when we donate, we end up helping the rich become richer through supposed donation organizations where the majority of the funds (roughly 85% of the donations in general) go to the administrative staff that is supposedly 'distributing' the donations. Yeah, mostly distributing it to their own pockets. Let's stop this vicious cycle of feeding the ones who were never lacking in the first place, and donate items of consequence. Go to your local homeless shelter and donate some food, or do the same in your neighborhood grocery store. Maybe even walk up to someone who you see on the street and hand them some food. We constantly focus on severe situations in various other continents, but lest we forget that those close to home are very much in need.

According to Columbia University, nearly 15 million children in the US are living below the poverty level. You may be asking yourself how much that means, it equates to less than $22,050.00 a year for a family of four. That's right, you read that correctly. I can't even fathom how one person could live off of that amount, let alone four. This means that 21% of all children in the United States (a first world country since last I checked) are below the poverty line, when it is estimated that you would need at least double that amount, $45,000.00 a year or more to cover basic expenses (this means shelter, food, water). 42% of all children live in low-income families, this is classified as families of four which make less than what I just told you would be required for basic needs. What is going on with our society? Why aren't we donating our time, efforts, and expendable money to the people who need them.

You may be reserved to give to adults, thinking that they can do better for themselves or they wasted their opportunities, but you can't hold a grudge at children as they are not underprivileged through any fault of their own. Even so, I implore you to reserve your judgments on others. Until you know the truth about each person and their history, you have no right to make any judgments (and even then, it's probably better that you don't). I will tell you all honestly that I am unemployed. I say this not because I want your pity, because I'm not in dire straights, but because it is important to realize the gravity of the situation. I am not unemployable, I have a degree from a prestigious university in Neuroscience, and as you can probably tell already, I am very adept at communication. However, this doesn't change the reality of the situation I'm in. I suppose many people are nowhere near as lucky as I am to have been able to achieve an education and to be surrounded by people who accept me regardless of my personal financial acquisitions. In this economy, it is hard to get a job, even doing something you think is far beneath your skill set, let alone trying to get a job you're not qualified for.

Please give to those who are less fortunate than yourself, especially the children. Rather than splurging on your next trip to the mall or giving ridiculously over-the-top gifts to your friends and family, keep your presents realistic (does anyone really *need* $40 soap from Lush?) and donate to someone who is in need. You will really be making a difference in someone's life and although you may not get personal recognition because donations tend to be anonymous, you will feel fulfilled and warm inside knowing that you have done the greatest service to someone that you ever could: given them the basics for survival.

Let's all work on our inner beauty this holiday season.

Different concealer colors: What are they for?

Do you find yourself shopping for concealer and looking at a rainbow of colors, wondering what the difference is if you buy a pink, yellow, or green? I had this problem and never knew what they were used for so I limited myself to purchasing the nude shades which literally were the same as my skin tone for fear that I would start to appear clownish with the rest. Fear not, however, because I'm going to tell you exactly what they're all for so don't be afraid to add them to your arsenal of blemish and imperfection coverage.

In general, concealers hide dark circles, scars, pimples, and really any skin flaw you can think of. It's always important to consider whether or not your concealer is of adequate quality and won't cake on your face, as this will make you flaws stand out even more (not exactly your intended result, is it?). Concealer colors are all about neutralization, since most of our skin's imperfections have a color hue to them. For example, your under-eye circles tend to be blueish in hue, many people have redness on their faces, and pimples can be plenty of colors. As for imperfections that aren't affected by color, such as wrinkles and fine lines, we would stick to using the neutral concealer that just matches your skin tone and foundation.

Let's take a look at the color wheel because it holds the key to the mystery that explains what all the various colors of concealers can do for your skin. The theory is that colors on the opposite end of the spectrum (so right across from each other, the way violet is to yellow) cancel out or neutralize each other. Therefore, if you had a yellowish blemish on your face, you would want to use the lavender concealer to neutralize the color before you put on your foundation (foundations generally will not cover up blemishes unless you use a ton, and rather than making your face look like a kabuki mask, you should use concealer). Mint green concealer is used to combat redness such as inflamed pimples and rosacea (redness due to capillaries being too close to the skin). Yellow shades are used to hide nasty veins that may be seen, and the same goes for orange shades which are usually for purple and blue bruises as well. Baby blue or lavender concealers are used to even out your skin, for example if you have bruises or birthmarks that you want to get rid of. The three general concealer colors are yellow, lavender and green. Yellow or apricot warms the skin color and counteracts discoloration on top of its already mentioned uses. Lavender concealer brightens dull skin and can even be used to conceal very dark under eye circles (but not in fair skinned people generally because the dark circles won't be dark enough and can be handled with yellow). Green concealer minimizes redness is general so this color is the most useful for people with red blotches or port wine stains around their mouth as well.

If you have tattoos and you want to cover them up without spending a pretty penny for your tattoo concealers, use the regular drugstore concealers but consider the color of your tattoo. If you have a blue tattoo, use a concealer that is yellowish and make sure that you have a waterproof formula as well as applying a translucent powder on top to set the product for the longest staying power possible.

Below is a collection of concealers that I am familiar with and that have worked well for me at a reasonable cost.

Changing your beauty routine with age

As time goes on, we realize we no longer look the same as we used to as teenagers and our makeup techniques have vastly improved and changed. The reason for this is to keep your look trendy and fresh but also age appropriate. Any products you use should naturally enhance your beauty rather than try to cover it up and change it to make you look like something you're not.

Under eye care
Aging skin requires that we use products with firming nutrients, but it doesn't mean that you have to be old to use them, I believe that if you use firming products from your twenties, you will look younger in your fifties and sixties. Under your eyes you can see the wrinkles and crows feet that really bother you when you look in the mirror. Packing concealer into here will not do you any good, as the concealer will set inside your wrinkles and make them pit even more. You will want to start by applying moisturizer and anti-aging firming cream under your eye by patting it on with your ring finger (never pushing it in as the skin is thin and will easily be damaged). Then put aloe vera gel or primer in the area where you have bags and wrinkles to seal your wrinkles before applying your concealer.

Color change
As we age, contrasting colors may look too stark and draw attention to our little wrinkles and imperfections. This is why it is a good idea to change your eyeshadow shades from dark/light contrasts to more muted neutrals  and browns, steering clear of blacks and saturated colors. Mature women tend to look best in dark brown mascara as the stark black tends to be too dramatic. Stick to lighter colors of blush, rather than going darker, over time. You want your cheeks to look rosy and young rather than old and gloomy. To avoid getting that smeared look that you can get with cream blush, stick to powder blushes. If you are already adept at using cream blushes, then get a lighter rosy color because at least this formula will hydrate your skin. Rose-toned blush works on all skin types and colors. You may want to consider using mineral makeup because the colors have more of a sheen that will bring light to your face and it has a dewy finish.

Lip-care
We all get small wrinkles all over our lips and that line around our lips, creating an unappealing sad-clown look. Use lip moisturizers/balms constantly to hydrate your lips, especially before you put your lipstick on. Exfoliate to get rid of excess flakes of skin. Line your lips with a lip liner, but do not go a shade that is darker than your lipstick because this is a dated look that is not suited for our modern lives. The purpose of lip liner is so that your lipstick will not run out of the lip line and into your wrinkles, this is a great trick to use.

Here are some inexpensive items you can order online that I recommend if you want to follow the tips in this post!