Fall 2012 Makeup Trends

New seasons always bring new colors and trends, and this fall is no exception. You’ve heard us talk about fall color trends for nails and clothes, but what about makeup? Try out some of these makeup colors and looks to help welcome fall:

Black Cherry Lips

As we transition to fall, the bright pink lips go away and the berry tones are very in. Try out a black cherry lipstick or stain like this one:

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Smoky Brown Eyes

This sophisticated look using several shades of brown embodies fall -- and it's perfect for day or night.

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Cobalt Blue Eyeshadow and/or Liner

This might be an extreme example of cobalt blue liner, but how pretty is this color? If you're wearing more muted tones for fall, try this liner or shadow for an unexpected punch of color.

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Black Eyeshadow

You can never go wrong with black, right? This fall, try out a very muted and soft black.

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Green and Gold Eyeshadow Combo

Green is always in for fall, but pairing it with gold this season will take your look to the next level. Gold shadow will brighten up your entire makeup look.

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Pink Cheeks

As temperatures drop and cooler weather blows in, mimic the lovely pink hue cheeks get by using a soft pink blush on your cheeks. It will give you a natural-looking, healthy glow.

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What do you think of these makeup trends for fall?

Amanda's August Birchbox

I got my August Birchbox later than normal and I was freaking out that it would never arrive (no, I'm not dramatic at all ...) and when it finally did, you better believe I did a happy dance at the mailbox in front of all of my neighbors.

This month it was a back to school edition themed box. I think I was spoiled the last few months because this month wasn't as exciting as I was hoping it would be. Le sigh. Perhaps I will be luckier next month. It is always fun not knowing what I will receive though and after I tried some of these products my poor attitude about this month turned around.

1. Juice Beauty Oil-free Moisturizer

2. C.O. BIGELOW Mentha Lip Shine

3. Schick Hydro Silk Razor

4. Eye Rock Designer Liner

5. Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy La Fleur

1. According to the Birchbox Breakdown: Nine times out of ten, moisturizers list water as one of their main ingredients. Juice Beauty’s oil-free hydrator is a standout exception to the rule. Their active-packed formula is made with a powerful base of organic juices so that every single drop feeds your skin. Full of antioxidants, it’s great for those with oily or blemish-prone skin since the lightweight formula won’t clog pores.

My review: I really liked this moisturizer. It was light but really hydrated my skin. I was shocked at how small the sample was though and would have liked to try more of the product. I LOVE that it's organic and filled with antioxidants. Most of the products we use tend to be the opposite and can have some pretty damaging effects on our skin.

2. According to the Birchbox Breakdown: Dry lips and sour breath rank pretty high on our no no list. C.O. BIGELOW's Mentha Lip Shine not only prevents and relieves dryness, but it sweetens breath, thanks to an infusion of natural peppermint oil. Throw in the shine factor and you’ve got our new best friend.

My review: I've actually purchased this lip shine prior to receiving it in my Birchbox and did really like the product. I was very happy to see it was the full size and not just a sample. The mint really is powerful which is great if you're a fan of that scent. I thought it was great to throw on in-between brushings to mask any breath issues.

3. According to the Birchbox Breakdown: The Schick Hydro Silk Razor is our latest Birchbox Find. Thanks to this innovative new razor, we’ll be showing off our legs all season long. It has a water-activated moisturizing serum that moisturizes for up to two hours after shaving. Plus, the five blades have skin guards that follow the natural contours of your body to smooth skin and help prevent irritation. The result: silky legs, every time.

My review: To me, as long as a razor does what it's supposed to do -- I'm sold. I usually don't use shaving cream (crazy, I know) so I really loved the moisturizing serum on this razor. I'm taking this one on vacation with me!

4. According to the Birchbox Breakdown: As much as we love winged liner, we’re not so crazy about how much effort it usually requires. Shaky wrists and runny liquid formulas conspire to drain our time and energy, which is why we’re glad we discovered these handy stick-on appliques. Each pack comes with four different designs, ranging from classic cat eyes to bold runway-inspired styles.

My review: Adrianne actually gave me some of these to try from one of her previous boxes. Although they feel a little funny, it was awesome not to have to worry about if my eyeliner was smudged or fading throughout the day. I've gotten better at applying winged liner but this makes it so much easier. Some of the samples were too wild to wear to work but would be fun for a night out.

5. According to the Birchbox Breakdown: Give your fragrance wardrobe an update with this new scent from Juicy Couture. A fresh update on the brand’s best-selling Viva La Juicy, the sheer perfume has the original’s fruity top notes combined with heady honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine. Trust us, once you start wearing it you’ll have it in heavy rotation. It has plenty of eye candy appeal too: the keepsake glass bottle comes bedecked with a pink ribbon.

My review: I've always been a fan of Juicy Couture fragrances. They are light, fruity and super girly. I feel so pretty when I throw one of their scents on. Every time I wear this sample Jay says he loves the way I smell. SOLD! :)

As always if you’re interested in trying out Birchbox for yourself simply click here to sign up! Have any questions about the monthly service or any of the products I’ve reviewed? Just ask :)

Makeup Haul

Recently I got my hands on a few beauty products I'm really excited to test and review for you guys.

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

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This follow-up to the original Naked Palette (which I absolutely love) is AWESOME. The palette contains 12 shades, and they're quite different from the original palette. The Naked 2 contains a few more matte shades, but maintains the combination of both sparkly and matte shades. It also comes with a mini lip gloss and a double-ended eyeshadow brush. There really are a lot of possibilities with this palette.

Jouer Lip Enhancer

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Jouer is a brand I had heard of, but only really discovered via my monthly Birchbox. I'd never tried the lip enhancer before, but I decided to give it a shot when I read the description. The product is creamy and has a subtle hint of pink. The lip enhancer claims to make your lips look fuller and reduce fine lines. It's supposed to hydrate and protect lips. The directions say to apply several times a day for one month to see results.

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint

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Thank you to Birchbox for introducing me to this product! It's like a tinted moisturizer on steroids. The product is lightweight and provides a nice-looking summer glow to the skin. It has SPF 20 and comes in seven different shades to match all skin tones. The color I purchased was pearl -- made for fair complexions. As you can tell, I already love this product.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara

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This product is one of the more recent additions to the Benefit line. The mascara claims to lengthen, curl and volumize lashes. That's quite a tall order. Having tested this product before, I was pretty happy with the results. One of the first things I noticed about the product is the brush. It's fairly standard, but the tip comes with tiny little bristles to help you coat the harder to reach lashes. I'm looking forward to adding this one to my daily makeup routine.

I'm really excited to use all of these new products. I'll post full reviews and pictures for everything soon. Have you tried out any of these products? Let us know in the comments!

Beauty: M.A.C. Paint Pots Review

I used to just throw on some eye shadow in the morning and run out the door without even thinking about using a primer beforehand. I would notice that my makeup would quickly disappear and fade well before I came home at night.

I did some research and tested a few primers out but didn’t like some of the formulas. I was getting a thick, cakey eye makeup that didn’t look so hot. I figured it was better to have my makeup fade than look like I didn’t know how to blend correctly or put a ton of extra makeup in my crease.

I went to M.A.C to get some other products and noticed their Paint Pots and asked if they could be used as primer or if they needed to be worn alone. The makeup artist informed me that they could be used for both and it is a creamy formula that didn’t dry cakey. I knew I needed to give it a try!

Paint Pot description according to M.A.C: A highly pigmented eye color that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colorfast, creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with M.A.C shadows and liners.

I purchased the Painterly color because I wanted something neutral to wear alone or dress up if I wanted to. It was the perfect choice. Not only can I wear it alone if I’m going for a more natural look, but can be used as an amazing base for all my other eye shadows without being too much. It has lasted me a long time and when it eventually wears out, I won’t hesitate to purchase it again.

At $18.50 this price point is perfect for the amount of quality product you get. I would recommend it to all of you! There are a ton of other shades to choose from if you want to be more daring than me.

Do you use any makeup primers? Are there any brands you swear by?

Adrianne's August Birchbox

The August Birchbox theme was “back to school” essentials for your makeup kit. Though it’s been quite a while since I’ve had a first day of school, I really enjoyed this month’s samples that were focused on the basics.

Schick Hydro Silk Razor

Comodynes Self-Tanning Intensive

Comodynes Hydra-Tanning Face Moisturizing Summer Glow

Beauty Fixation Make Up Remover

Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy La Fleur

DDF® Brightening Cleanser

Schick Hydro Silk Razor: I used to think the commercials touting the fact that more blades on a razor equal a better shave. This razor has convinced me. It gives a nice shave without irritating the skin. Birchbox was nice enough to include a coupon with this razor, so I’ll definitely be purchasing again.

Comodynes Self-Tanning Intensive: These tanning towels are very handy and a non-messy way to apply self-tanner. Unfortunately, one towel is not enough to cover the whole body and once you’ve done a few swipes against your skin, the towel loses its firmness and balls up, which makes it really difficult to keep applying and leads to some streakiness and missed areas. With that being said, the color doesn’t look too orange and it gives a nice glow. 

Comodynes Hydra-Tanning Face Moisturizing Summer Glow: This lotion went on very easily and blended in well. I didn’t see much color on my face, but the lotion seemed gentle enough for everyday use on my sensitive skin.

Beauty Fixation Make Up Remover: Makeup remover inside a cotton bud? What a great idea! When you’re ready to use one of these, all you have to do is crack one end and the makeup remover fills the other side of the cotton bud. I recommend using this during your makeup application process to wipe away any small smudges or mistakes. There’s really not enough remover to wipe away makeup when you want to remove everything.

Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy La Fleur: Having purchased JC Viva la Juicy perfume, I was really happy to receive this Viva la Juicy La Fleur sample. I know I’ve said before that I’m not a huge fan of floral scents, but this fragrance was perfectly balanced. You can smell a subtle hint of flower and a lot more of the fruity scent the original is known for. Love it and would absolutely purchase.

DDF® Brightening Cleanser: I couldn’t have received this sample at a better time. The weather here has been a little crazy – cool, then warm, then hot, then rainy. When the seasons change, my skin definitely notices and doesn’t respond so well. My skin broke out bad and this cleanser helped clear it up. It’s got a fresh scent and is slightly foamy during washing. 

Hope you guys had a lovely Labor Day weekend!

Health & Fitness: Circuit Workout to Make you Sweat

Time is one main issue I have with working out. There is never enough time in the day to get everything we need to done. An easy thing to skip? Your workout. Guess again. With this short circuit workout all you’ll need is about 25 minutes. That’s right – no gym equipment necessary.

Do each following moves for a minute with 30 seconds break in-between. If you are not familiar with any of these exercises please Google Image or look on YouTube for some proper demonstration.

Jumping jacks
Squat Jumps
Pushups (straight-legged or knees bent)
Frog crunches
Jump rope
Plié squats
Tricep dips
Bicycle crunches
Ski jumps
Front lunges
Side planks
Ab twists
Burpees
Side lunges with leg raise
Triangle pushups
Planks with knee twists

Afterwards be prepared to be a sweaty mess! Be sure to check with a doctor before changing your fitness routine. Listen to your body – if it doesn’t feel right, DON’T DO IT!

What did you think of this 25 minute circuit workout? Are there other quick workouts you enjoy?

Labor Day Party Food Ideas

Happy Labor Day! Today marks the winding down of outdoor parties, beach days and driving with the windows down. I adore summer and am always sad to see it go, but this unofficial end of summer does bring plenty of opportunities to get outside and really enjoy the gorgeous weather before winter rolls in.

If you’re planning to attend a Labor Day barbeque, check out these great ideas for appetizers and dessert. I’m not going to pretend to know anything about grilling, but dessert and appetizers I do know! Here are some of my favorites that are pretty quick to whip up:

Homemade Chips and Fruit Salsa

This takes a bit of prep time, but it’s delicious, totally worth and really easy to do.

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Start by picking four or five different fruits. My favorite combination for this recipe is pineapple, blueberries, strawberries, mango and kiwi. Dice the fruits into small pieces and combine them in a bowl. Before adding the really juicy fruits, like pineapple, you may want to press a paper towel on them before mixing otherwise the juice from that one fruit can dominate. Squeeze either some lemon or orange over the top, add a bit of sugar and fold everything together. Cover and refrigerate.

In a small mixing bowl, combine ½ cup white sugar and a tablespoon of cinnamon. You’ll have to eyeball this a bit – if you are a fan of cinnamon, you can add more. Set this aside. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Open a package of 7-inch flour tortillas. Lay one on a cutting board. In a small mixing bowl, melt a few tablespoons of butter so that it is a completely liquid consistency. As soon as you’ve heated the butter, dip a basting brush into the butter and brush it over one side of the tortilla. Immediately take a few pinches of the sugar/cinnamon and sprinkle it over the butter. Make sure you spread it evenly over the tortilla. Using a pizza cutter, cut the tortilla so that you’ve made eight triangular pieces. Immediately transfer these to a baking sheet. Repeat this process until you’ve made enough triangles to fill one baking sheet. When you’ve done that, bake the tortillas for about seven minutes. You’ll need to watch – you are looking for the chips to be light golden brown. Try to do this process quickly and make all the chips you need – the chips are much better when they are a few minutes out of the oven.

Bruschetta

Bruschetta couldn’t be simpler to put together and it’s something that usually impresses. 

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Dice several Roma tomatoes and make sure to remove the seeds. Mince some garlic and basil and mix it in with the tomatoes. Add a little salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar to taste. Refrigerate the mixture for at least one hour. When you are ready to serve, slice some store-bought French bread diagonally so each piece is approximately ¾ inch thick. Lay the slices on a baking sheet and scoop some of the tomato mixture on top of each slice. You could go one step further and add some Parmesan cheese or shredded mozzarella on top. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees until the bread crisps and/or the cheese on top melts. Another option is just to crisp up the bread in the oven and scoop the tomato mixture on afterward.

Cupcakes 

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There are plenty of recipes out there for cupcakes and lots of store-bought mix options, so I’ll just share one quick tip on making the cupcakes for your party a little healthier. If you go with a store-bought mix, instead of adding the oil, eggs, water and any other wet ingredients the mix calls for, just add one can of pumpkin. I know how strange this sounds, but trust me. Once you mix that in, bake as directed. The cupcakes won’t come out as smooth on top, but they’ll be a little better for you! 

Have a happy and fun-filled Labor Day!