Winter White Woes

Miss Coco Chanel didn’t obsess over being bronzed for nothing. I’m all for being sun safe and smart, but let’s be real for a second- I look much better with a tan, and you probably do too. Although she was typically spot on and fabulous in her trends, she probably didn’t realize her risky behavior was slowly transforming her skin into the leather she used for her handbags. Don’t subject yourself to the sun’s harmful rays, but get the glow you’re desperately seeking. Sunless tanners are one of my personal favorites when it comes to beauty products. They provide me with a quick fix to get me looking and feeling my best without putting myself at risk of wrinkles, and worse, skin cancer. If you don’t have the time for a spray tan (i’m not sure that’s possible), give some of my at-home, personal favorites a try. They are not completely perfect (for different reasons), but should get you right where you want to be. Save some cash, and bronze yourself. After all, bikini season is coming up.... too soon? ;) What are your personal favorites? Please share the wealth, and have a Happy and Safe New Year! 

xo, 

Annabelle

Fake Bake Xtreme Darkest Self-Tannng Gel ($29.00, Dermstore.com) 

Fake Bake's formula provides a dark, flawless tan that lasts for up to a week. Word to the wise- do this at home on an evening you don't have to leave the house and can sleep in the formulation. Shower in the AM, and voila! I would do very small areas of the body at a time, and use the gloves that come with the product. It's brown formula is convenient while applying because you can see exactly where its going and is virtually fool-proof. That being said, you will be shocked at how dark you are after immediately applying, and it will look differently after showering. I promise, it will rinse off evenly, and give you a dark and fabulous tan after just one use. It's price point is a little higher than drugstore brands, but you should get at least 5 tans out of this tube. 

L'OREAL Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Salon Airbrush ($9.00, Target.com) 

I enjoy the convenience and color that this product provides. I actually keep it in my shower, and use it on a daily basis if I have time to develop a tan over the course of a few days. The price point is unbeatable, and is quick for maintaining a tan, especially when you don't have a lot of time to apply. It also feels light weight, and you can apply/wear it all day. 

St. Tropez ($18-$44, Nordstrom.com) 

ANY of the St. Tropez Self-Tanning products are gold in my book. The price point is a little higher than the drugstore brands, but it gives you a great shade of bronze, and is wearable on a daily basis. The smell is also almost undetectable, which is very uncommon with self-tanners. 

Ulta Tinted Self- Tanning Gel ($4.49, Ulta.com )

Last, but not least, Ulta Tinted Self-Tanning Gel is a steal. At only $4.49 (Yeah, $4.49), you'll whip up a tan in no time. This tinted formula is fool proof during the application process, because you can see exactly where its going. It isn't entirely perfect in that it is sticky, and is accompanied by the self-tanner "stench", but it gets the job done, and quickly. I am noticeably tanner after using this product only one time. 

Photo Credit: Pinterest, Nordstrom.com , Target.com, Dermstore.com, and Ulta.com 

It's Medicated, Baby.

With the winter months in full swing, my need for the perfect lip moisturizer seems to be in high demand. This past weekend, I tried a new (shocker!) product that I have fallen absolutely in love with! Although I had previously tried Maybelline’s “Baby Lips” lip balm before, the particular formulation I reached for was brand-spankin-new! A medicated version (Dr. Rescue) is now available, and it provides your pout with shine, a pop of color, and an unmatchable level of hydration. It was love at first sight, and for only $3.00, this bargain is one you shouldn’t skip. Pictured below is my new prized possession, along with some other favorite lip balms. Have a great day, skinnies!

Maybelline- "Baby Lips Dr. Rescue" : $3.49, Target.com 

Jane Iredale- "Lip Drink" : $12.00, Dermstore.com 

Fresh- "Sugar" lip balm : $22.50, Sephora.com 

Jane Iredale- "Sugar & Butter Lip Exfoliator" : $25.00, Dermstore.com

XX,

Annabelle

Happy Birthday to....ME!

 

 

Today marks the day I turn....wait for it.....29! As I enter into the last year of my 20's I feel grateful, hopeful, and excited for my future endeavors. This year has been a learning experience for me in many ways, and I can see growth in myself daily. So, without getting too sappy, here's the list of items I'd like to see wrapped in a pretty pink bow this year (hint,hint)! Cheers to eating cake for breakfast, drinking champagne, & dancing on the tables!

 

xo,

Annabelle

 
 

 

Kate Spade Coffee Cup: $20.00

katespade.com

 

 

Bobbi Brown "Old Hollywood" Eye Pallette: $75.00

Nordstrom.com

 

 

Lilly Lashes in "Istanbul": $8.99

lillylashes.com

 

 

Nars 'Guy Bourdin - Crime of Passion' Eye, Cheek & Lip Palette (Limited Edition): $59.00

nordstrom.com

 

 

Yves Saint Laurent 'Rouge Pur Couture - Vernis a Levres' Glossy Stain in "Fuchsia Dore: $34.00

nordstrom.com

 

Photo compliments of Nordstrom.com, and katespade.com

 

Skinny Eats features "sofreshNsogreen"

It’s Wrinkle-Free Wednesday, and I am featuring the first amazing dish from the lovely and talented Miss Lauren Kron from sofreshnsogreen.com . Lauren is a Seattle-based, vegan blogger with lots of crafty and delicious ideas. Her first featured plate includes very in-season sweet potatoes, avocados, and black beans. Sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene, which converts to Vitamin A in your body. This process helps the skin to shed old cells, and to produce new ones. Avocados, known as mother nature’s moisturizer, are full of Vitamin E. Vitamin E aids in replenishing the skin’s natural barrier, while also giving you a healthy glow. So munch on, Skinnies! This power house will pack-a-punch to your taste buds! Not to mention, you’ll scream “Skinny” from the inside out, and that’s just down-right sexy. 

So without further ado, meet Lauren! 

xo, 

Annabelle

recipe: http://sofreshnsogreen.com/2013/05/17/sweet-potato-and-black-bean-tacos/

Hello beauties!

I am the vegan, gluten-free blogger of sofreshNsogreen, a site dedicated to providing you sexy veg-heads with delicious recipes along with tips n' tricks to help you look and feel your very best.

After years of experiencing various health and digestive issues I decided to cut the crap out of my diet (gluten, dairy, meat and processed foods) and focus on a whole, plant-based diet rich in vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients. I immediately began to feel and look better, with my body returning back to it's natural, healthy state. I developed a fierce passion for veganism and cooking seasonal, organic and seriously tasty eats .

This passion led me to create sofreshNsofreen as a way to share my story, ideas and inspiration on how to live life healthily, happily and deliciously (no dieting or deprivation allowed).

So please read on, veg out and have some fun with it!

-Lauren

sofreshnsogreen.com

Skinny Eats!- Take 1.

I’m so excited to introduce a new feature that we will be adding to the blog- Skinny Eats! As important as topical ingredients are for your skin, just as important are the foods that you put into your body. I’ll be teaming up with a phenomenal blogger < intro coming soon> that will be crafting all types of recipes to benefit you and your bangin’ bod- did I mention she’s also a vegan? To start of this segment, and my day I enjoyed a delicious breakfast of greek yogurt, fresh blueberries, and chia seeds. Although this concoction was not vegan, it was delicious! Greek yogurt is packed with protein (almost double the amount of regular yogurt), and helps to keep the skin firm which in turn prevents wrinkles. I added a side of blueberries to provide some antioxidant protection which help with premature aging. Lastly, I sprinkled this little delight of a dish with chia seeds. Chia seeds have a long list of benefits, one of which is it’s omega-3 fatty acid content. Omega-3 acids help to strengthen your skin cell membranes’ barriers, which will allow water to enter, while keeping the toxins out. Quick, nutritious, and delicious! Happy Hump Day.

xo, 

Annabelle

Chemical Peels for Skin Health

If you’ve never had a chemical peel, the first thought of one can seem very scary, and even overwhelming. The truth is, like most products, not all are created equal. After working for and with PCA Skin for many years, I have complete faith and trust in this amazing line. PCA Skin’s philosophy on peels is that “healthy skin is beautiful skin” and that is starting at the cellular level. These modified jessner and tca peels provide minimal flaking and peeling (if any) that deliver fantastic results. The most wonderful thing about these peels is that there are treatments for virtually any skin type, and condition- including hyperpigmentation, aging, acne, and even rosacea. One of my favorite myths about receiving a chemical peel is that you’re going to end up looking like Samantha from our favorite show “Sex and The City”. Although hilarious, this image is not at all accurate for all types of chemical peels. The skin has many layers, and depending how deep into the skin you go the more aggressive and “raw” your skin will become. PCA Skin chemical peels are all going to effect just the top, superficial layer of the skin (the epidermis), which again, will leave your skin with minimal flaking and peeling. I highly recommend peels to individuals with aggravating skin conditions, and healthy skin alike. Our skin naturally exfoliates its cells, but needs assistance with this- especially as we age and are presented with challenging skin conditions.

Please contact me directly to schedule a peel as I am happy to provide you with one of these customizable, safe, and amazing treatments that will leave you glowing- and just in time for the holidays! Peel parties are also available for groups of friends/family. Questions, and inquires can also be sent to me directly at TheSkinny1122@gmail.com . 

xo, Annabelle

Retin-All You Need

Retinols, retin-as, retinoids- what does it all mean? When it comes to your skin, and keeping it as healthy, glowing, and ageless as possible- one of these vitamin a derivatives is crucial. Our skin cells naturally turn over to allow new skin cells to rise to the surface giving us a youthful appearance. As we age, this process slows down, and our skin needs a little bit of help with this. On average, your skin cells turn over at the same rate as your age. For example, when we are 8, our skin cells turn over about every 8 days, when we are 30, the average is about every 30 days, and continues to increase (lovely!). Mechanical and chemical exfoliants (vitamin A products, and scrubs) will aid the skin in doing this safely, while giving them the boost that they need. Applying a Vitamin-A product at least 2-3 times weekly can also greatly improve the skin’s elasticity, hyperpigmentation, collagen levels, in addition to treating blackheads and acne. Something to note about retinols is that they are to be used at night only. Exposing skin to sunlight/UV rays while wearing this ingredient can cause damage by subjecting it to free radicals and in turn causing additional hyperpigmentation, and even skin cancer. Vitamin-A derivitives are also known to be irritating and cause redness, flaking, and itching. This is a side effect that is only experienced by some, and can be worked through after a tolerance is built. My advice would be to start using this product 2-3 times per week, and eventually work your way up to using it every night (some people are never able to use a Vitamin-A product every night because it is too stimulating). My retinol of choice is made by PCA Skin and is called the Intensive Age Refining Pure Retinol .5% (Featured in Vogue Magazine, and Redbook’s 2012 MVP winner). Its gentle, yet effective ingredients are both hydrating and soothing, while diminishing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. For more information on this amazing product visit pcaskin.com , or contact me directly @ TheSkinny1122@gmail.com . 

xo,

A

Photo Credit: Pinterest, and pcaskin.com 

Turtle Power

 You are officially out of time on picking a Halloween costume... so let me pick for you. You can nail this look even if you’re coming home from work, and without time to re-do an entire face of makeup. I dug into the archives of an old halloween costume that my girlfriends and I did about 5 years ago, and re-created it. I became a ninja turtle in 15 minutes flat! First, pick out your eye shadow of choice (you’ve got to have at least one of these four...red, blue, orange, or purple.) I chose purple (MAC’s “Whim”), and quickly applied a straight line across my forehead (starting around my eyebrows). To dramatize the look I also added falsh eyelashes.I gently applied the color across the brow, in between the brows, on the eyelids, and voila! You have a colorful eyemask. I finished the look with bronzer, blush, lipstick, and of course a green tank top and am now ready to go! It’s party time! Happy Halloween, skinnies! 

-XO Annabelle

All Dolled Up- DIY Halloween Costumes

As a part of this week’s DIY last minute Halloween ideas, I decided to do something that all girls love- get dolled up! And I’m not just talking dressing up, I actually turned myself into a 28-year old doll. 

You too can pull together this easy, yet dramatic look in minutes! I put on my usual face make up, and then went over my foundation with some drugstore white halloween paint to give myself a more “porcelain” appearance. I then applied MAC’s “Deep Truth” blue eyeshadow for a pop of color and to draw attention to my eyes. To line the eyes, I applied MAC’s eye liner in “Feline”. I then applied not one, but two sets of false eye lashes to my top and bottom lashes to make a very wide/large-appearing set of peepers. I drew circle shapes on the apples of my cheeks (very dark pink) with Make Up Forever’s HD Blush in “Walk of Shame”, and drew little freckles near my cheek bones. For my lips, I used MAC’s hot pink “Chatterbox”. Lastly, I tied a pink ribbon in my hair, put on a skirt and top, and was ready to go! Check out pics below, and Happy Halloween! 

One final look is coming, stay tuned! XO-Annabelle

Geisha Glam

I had the pleasure of working with my gorgeous little sister this past weekend on her Halloween costume. She found an authentic kimono at her local Good Will Store, and it fit like a glove. To dramatize the look, we styled her hair into a high bun, and finished the look with chop sticks from Cost Plus World Market ($4.99 for a set of 4). For her makeup, I did a very smokey eye, with thick black liner. I used MAC’s Pro Longwear Paint Pot in “Groundwork” all over the lid, “Carbon” eye shadow in the corners, and blended with “Dazzelight” to soften, and highlight under the brow. For Renee’s Liner, I used MAC’s LiquidLast in “Point Black”. I also applied a lighter shade of powder over Renee’s foundation to give her a pale complexion. On her lips, I used MAC’s lip liner in “Cherry”, and painted on her MAC “MAC Red” lipstick with a brush (this makes applying much easier, and leaves less room for error. Red lipstick can be very unforgiving if smudged). To complete the look, we applied Ardell’s False Eyelashes (Special Edition-Disney Villains, Ursula set).

 As you can see, her makeup turned out beautiful, and she looked absolutely stunning! Stay tuned to the blog for two additional DIY Halloween looks Wednesday, and Thursday. Happy Halloween week to you- it is my favorite!

XO,

Annabelle

For supplies, visit maccosmetics.com , and worldmarket.com , and walgreens.com

 

Ardell Special Edition Lashes (Walgreens) 

 

 

 

[The Finished Product]

 

Balayage Highlight

Scared of commitment? Desperately seeking a change for your hair, but aren’t quite courageous enough to try an ombre highlight, or chop that chin-length bob? Cue the Balayage highlight! This past weekend I spent some time on myself, and paid a visit to my favorite magician; I mean, beautician, Brittany. I was seeking a slight pop of color, and highlight to bring some brightness and dimension to my sometimes dull brunette locks. I absolutely love this simple, yet noticeable transformation.

 

Balayage is different than an ombre highlight in that it is less-drastic (in the combination of colors) and is mostly concentrated towards the front of the face. Your hairdresser will lightly paint on your bleach/dye and can then tone it to the hue of your choice with a glaze. Check out my favorite balayage looks below compliments of pinterest (& my iphone). <3 Happy Monday, skinnies!

Check out Madison Avenue Salon & Day Spa
http://spamadison.com/
  

My look was inspired by superbabe, and Victoria's Secret Model Lily Aldridge (Pictured indoors above, and outdoors below)

 Brunette and Blonde looks pictured above and below

The Porcupine Nose

Blackheads can be one of the most frustrating skin conditions to deal with. Dry, impacted, and written all over your face. And what the hell are they, anyways? A blackhead is a plug of sebum stuck inside of a hair follicle. The sebum has been exposed to the air (oxidized), and therefore turns black. This common condition, although annoying, can be easily treated. My personal recommendations include:

1. Applying a topical salicylic acid product on the areas you experience the blackheads (most commonly this is the T-Zone) up to two times daily.
2. Exfoliate regularly (at least once a week). Using a gentle scrub, or chemical exfoliant can help to break down the keratin build up, therefore releasing the dirt, rather than keeping it trapped within the pores.
3. If you can afford adding it into your budget, getting a monthly facial with a professional is highly beneficial. Skin therapists are trained on safely, and effectively extracting the skin, without causing trauma or inflammation.
4. Mask. Using a clay based mask at home can draw out impurities, and attract the oils in the sebum. (Like attract like theory: oil attracts oil). 
5. Make sure you are effectively hydrating. It is often misconstrued that adding more oil will cause additional breakouts and blackheads-wrong. If the skin is dehydrated, it will actually become confused, and try to overcompensate by creating even more oil as a means of protection. 
6. If you have a stubborn blackhead that needs extracting, heat a damp washcloth in the microwave and place it on the area until the cloth has cooled. Once the impaction has loosened, you can place two fingers around the sides of the blackhead and gently move the fingers in, and then up until the impaction purges from the pore. 

Share your favorites with me and have a great weekend, skinnies! Go get your glow on. 

Products that I like:

Topical Salicylic Acid Treatments:

PCA Skin Acne Gel 

Dermalogica’s Clearing Mattifier 

Exfoliants:

PCA Skin Gentle ExfoliantDermalogica Daily Microfoliant

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant

Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer

 

Masks:

PCA Skin Purifying Mask (This badboy doubles as an exfoliant, and will polish the skin as you remove it)
Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Mask

 

 

Photocredit: Dermalogica, PCA Skin, and Pinterest

For more info on these products visit pcaskin.com , dermalogica.com , or contact me directly at TheSkinny1122@gmail.com