I don't think I have the words to describe how excited the weather in the city has been making me recently. For the past few days, it's been relatively sunny and pretty damn warm (50s and 60s is basically tropical weather for us eastcoasters who've been living under a layer of ice for months). I've shed my snuggly winter coat in favor of a light jacket and I couldn't be more thankful.

Another thing it's about time to shed now that spring is here? Your skin. Gross. That sounded a lot better in my head. But it's true - that winter skin has got to go! About two months ago, Deb and I shared our tips for protecting your winter skin. Now, we're sharing a few of our favorite products to cleanse and exfoliate said skin.

(1) Philosophy Purity One Step Cleanser
It was a March favorite for a reason! No doubt about it - Purity is a 'Holy Grail' product for me. I'll buy it over and over again without fail. It's smooth and cleans without being sudsy and drying, and it's a makeup remover, cleanser and toner all in one. One step and a little moisturizer and I'm done! In fact, the cleanser is so hydrating I can get away with skipping moisturizer. I kid you not! Plus, I get 8 fl. oz. for $24 and it works perfectly with my Clarisonic Mia.

(2) Nude Perfect Cleansing Oil
Nearly six years ago, someone at I knew at Sephora gave me a sample of this and I've been hooked ever since. Not only do I love the scent (I believe there's rosewater in it!) and the feel of the oil on my face, but this oil can be used to remove makeup and cleanse at the same time. It's only the price tag at nearly $40 for 3.4 fl. oz. that keeps me from repurchasing constantly, but I spring for the set (it comes with a pretty good wash and cleanser) every 18 months or so, just to have it at the ready.  

(3) Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub
Considered an "acne wash", this product is sort of a crossover between a face cleanser and an exfoliator. Personally, as it is a bit to harsh for me for everyday, I use it as an exfoliator. Every couple of days, I apply it between gently cleansing and toning. This scrub smells amazing and really seems to brighten my complexion.

(4) Shea Moisture Lavender & Wild Orchid Scrub
It's not only the skin on your face that needs exfoliating. Your body's also been put through the ringer due to the cold weather. Like a python (do python's shed? Or it is another kind of snake? Or all snakes in general? Clearly, this girl wasn't about that science life), it's time to reveal that bright, new skin! This Shea Moisture scrub is a newer favorite. I picked it up sometime last fall after I ran out of Lush's Ocean Salt, and realized that it was almost as good as Ocean Salt, and umm a fraction of the price :)

(5) St. Ives Pink Lemon and Mandarin Orange Body Wash
People seriously sleep on St. Ives products! St. Ives is always a hit for me, and the price range of their products makes it a steal every time. The citrus scent of this body wash wakes me right up in the morning and evens out my skin tone over time. Of course, there are different scents if you're not into smelling like an orange tree, two of which I've tried and liked, apricot and shea butter.

(6) Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash
Now that spring is here, I've brought this baby back out. It's a favorite for sure! It smells like sweet lime and its silky texture feels so luxurious on the skin. Its scent doesn't really fit in the colder months, but once it gets warm, it's one of the very few washes in rotation. More expensive than drugstore for sure, but less than many of the other high-end brands, and completely worth it.

What are your favorite cleansers and exfoliators? I could use a recommendation for a good drugstore face cleanser. Oh & make sure you check out Deb's post - no doubt she's got a few for the wishlist!

Marsala Only, Hold the Chicken {& Giving Things Away}

Before I begin! I'm really excited about the new year because I'm taking on a few new projects, projects I was inspired to begin and am willing to share completely off the strength of this wonderful, supportive blogging community. Please check back here ON THE BLOG ON MONDAY FOR A SPECIAL SHORT STORY WRITTEN BY YOURS TRULY! I'm excited and nervous all at once, but I can't wait to share it with you all <33

_______________________

The mauve-y, nude Kylie Jenner lip has taken on a mind of it's own! Enter Pantone's Color of the Year for 2015, Marsala, darker in color with with a similar feel. Considering I love anything rose-colored, -smelling, or -tasting, I'm ecstatic about this announcement.

Pantone describes it as an "earthy wine red" ('Marsala' is actually a type of wine) but the earthy-tones seem to give it a pink hue at times. It seems an estranged sister to the lighter Terra Cotta, another favorite shade of mine. This deep, almost dusty, rose wine color is just so soft, feminine, sophisticated, natural and luxurious. I can guarantee I would've rocked it this year anyway (I was obsessed with it for most of last year too!). But now I can say I'm right on trend.

By now you've got to be wondering why I'm blogging about a color. For one, to highlight a shade that I really love. But mostly, to segway into a list of Marsala-colored things I'm coveting, beginning with some of the items in the Sephora collection. Sephora always has a collection in combination with the Pantone Color of the Year, and while I passed on 2014's Radiant Orchid as it was too, well, radiant for my tastes, certain items are just too good to pass up this year. The collection is sold out in stores but I'd love to get my hands on the lipstick and highlight/contour palette. Despite how downright gorgeous the packaging of everything is in all its rose gold splendor, I plan to limited myself (thankfully).

Sephora's made it easier for us to spend our money on Marsala-colored things we probably don't need :) There are, however, a lot of other products in the shade of Marsala that aren't Pantone or Sephora affiliated. I'm sure you'll find you have plenty to go with this trend just lying around. So if you're digging the earthy color trend but not trying to spend too much, here are 3 gems that you either already had or will only pay very little for:

• Wet N' Wild 'Undercover' nail polish - I just love this shade! It runs a bit deeper/browner on me but it's still at the lighter end of the Marsala spectrum if you ask me. It's so natural and chic. I predict I'll be sporting this shade and it's darker sister, Under Your Spell, for most of the year. 

• Maybelline 'Touchable Taupe' lipstick and 'Untainted Spice" - I had to order both of these Maybelline lipsticks online because I couldn't find them in any store near me :( However, I do have a different shade in the line, and let me tell you, I love it. The formulation is silky without being slick and lasts for a decent amount of time (it's a nude don't expect all day!). The pigmentation is great and the price is more than reasonable. 'Touchable Taupe' is lighter but I think 'Untainted Spice is dead on!

A month later but still, I hope you all welcomed in the New Year with the highest of spirits, the widest of eyes and the fullest of hearts! It feels like a special year, and not just because of it's perfect color choice. By the way... would it be too much if I added Marsala to my blog design? *Takes a seat*

________________________

And now, a giveaway, because Pam over at A Little Glitter is the best & because it's the loving season. Enter to win $150 from Victoria's Secret!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by: The Sequin Notebook, Jessi's Design, Martinis and Bikinis, A Little Glitter, Martin Manifesto, The Kari Diaries, Pink and Fabulous, Make Me Up Mia, Green Fashionista and Meet @ the Barre

May the odds, be ever... :)

 

Saving Your Winter Skin

It's cold. Really cold. Every time I step outside I feel like the cool air is dragging every ounce of moisture out of my skin. By the time, I get to my destination, my lips feel freezer burned. I'm gonna need at least a few more degrees of warmth, Big Man.

Considering that good ol' Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, it looks like winter and the colder temperatures will be around for a while longer. And I can boo-hoo all I want, it won't change anything. All I can do for now is try to prevent scaling up like an alligator. I'm teaming up with my boo Deb to talk about skincare today, specifically tips for combatting winter temperatures, because good skincare is so frequently overlooked for it's prettier cousin, makeup. The truth is no amount of makeup can remedy unhealthy skin. And although maintaining is so hard during these months, here are a few of my tips for healthy, glowing winter skin.

Water, water everywhere. And all the drops to drink. So drink them! Water intake is almost directly correlated to skin health and hydration, at least in my experience. I find that when I'm drinking an adequate amount of water my skin gets clearer and more plush and vibrant. It's like a glow.

Change pillowcases frequently. A tip so frequently overlooked but so necessary for any time of the year. Think about it. We sleep on our pillowcases every night. We sweat, shed skin cells (gross) and some of us even drool (eep!). Pillowcases can get cruddy pretty easily and spread bacteria to our faces and vice versa.

Exfoliate with scrubs. It's strange. I feel like most people exfoliate in the summer because it's when they show the most skin, but really, it's in the winter when you need it most. Exfoliating your entire body once a week will do away with those dry cells and reveal soft, beautiful, new skin.

Use body oils instead of basic moisturizers. In high school, I also regularly used Vitamin E oil as a moisturizer. And as much as I loved the Bath & Body Works and Victoria's Secret body butters (still do!), I have to admit: my skin has never felt softer or more hydrated than back then. You can check out body oils like L'Occitane's Skin Oil and Philosphy's Living Grace Body Oil. But for the past couple of years, I like combining a natural oil, like almond oil, with a little bit of an essential oils for fragrance and using that as a moisturizer. It absorbs easily into the skin (a lot easier than Vitamin E) and hydrates brilliantly, and I've taken to making my own little concoctions :)

Love lip balms especially those with menthol in them. That tingly feeling on your lips after apply certain products is the menthol, and it can be really soothing on dry or chapped lips. You can go for drugstore brands like Blistex or Carmex or you can spring for my Sephora fav, Jack Black's Intensive Therapy Lip Balm or C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine. I even apply some under any other gloss or lipstick I wear just for extra moisture.

Got any tips for preserving your skin during the winter months? Have you checked out Deb's post? You should!


1.

Winter Reds

This would be my second time doing swatches now. And my lips are just as sore (that sounds wrong), but they're stained a solid shade of red this time, so that's progress. I'm broadcasting my favorite red lip shades today because, hello, red is classic and winter-y and Snow White-like. And gawwgeouus!

Colors are shown left-to-right

Note that, in my opinion, colors are a bit brighter than they appear here (lighting washed them out a bit). Also, forgive my application - I took two sets of photos trying to get closer to accurate colors.

Wet N' Wild Spotlight Red - Really, Wet N' Wild should sponsor me because I can't list my favorite lip colors without at least one lipstick from the Megalast collection. Spotlight is that classic, bright red that anyone can wear - and everyone should!

MAC Anthurium - When Maleficent came out last year and I saw this picture of Angelina rocking a seriously bold and sexy red lip, I just had to have a lippie from the MAC Maleficent collection. They were sold out of the lipstick I really wanted, True Love's Kiss (such a cute name!), so I picked up this gloss. I'm not a gloss girl, but the color payoff on this one is insane.

Dior Rouge Favori #752 - If you're feeling a little deja vu, that's because it was one of my favorite fall colors too. A warm-toned red with a beautiful satin finish, this little gem has been with me through some great memories. It's my perfect red and I swipe it on all the time.

MAC Russian Red - This MAC classic is probably my least favorite just because it pulls quite orange on me and so it can come off a little loud. But I still like it; it's just not an everyday red for me. I have to wear it with intention!

NYX Monte Carlo - It goes on smooth but it dries into a satiny matte. And it's beautiful! Last year, this was my go-to, which is why I had to scrape the sides of the tube for this swatch (to see it's full potential, click here!). It's part of the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream collection. It applies smooth and dries matte but doesn't give you that "matte lipstick feeling" when you rub your lips together. You know the feeling I'm talking about! Also, it doesn't transfer. Nice!

L'Oreal Matte for Me #409 - It's not exactly a red, but it's the perfect bridge between pink and red for anyone who is fearful of a full on red. If I'm wearing it and someone asks about it, they always refer to it as a red, so I included it in this list. It dries matte but it's not drying on the lips.

Are you in the market for a good red? Do you have a favorite of your own? Let me know in the comments!

Fall Lip Colors

Ouch! I have a new found respect for beauty gurus. Lip swatches are tough business! My favorite season for makeup and fashion is fall, so it's no surprise that I have tons of favorite fall lipsticks. And I've narrowed the list down to 9 ultimate favs this year.  

Before I jump into the reason my lips are technicolor, a mini-announcement: I'm a Lucky Contributor! Which really isn't a huge deal, but is pretty big to me :)I'd seen this little badge all over the blogging community for so long, so I'm excited to finally be a part of the club. I have 3 post (including, this one!) published over there, and I need your help. If you have a moment, please click over there and "heart" my posts! It would mean so much! I've also popped the badge into my sidebar so you can check out my published posts whenever you can :)

Okay, on to the fall lip colors!

Colors are shown left-to-right.

Go Nude

MAC Hug Me - It's like being wrapped in the warmest hug of liiiffee! Hug Me is my perfect nude. MAC says it's a flesh pink, but in my opinion, it's much more neutral. I line my lips with MAC's lipliner in Chesnut, and baaam! Love.

YSL Rouge Volupte in #09 Caress Pink - Lipstick gods have spoken. The obsession with YSL lipsticks is real, y'all. And this color, described as a muted raspberry pink, is a great pink for my skin tone during the colder months (or any month really) <33

Jordana Lipliners in Coco Loco and Rock n' Rose - Everybody's looking for the perfect "Kylie Jenner lip" and while I'm not sure that this combo is dead on, it's pretty close. Thanks to Vicky Logan on YouTube!

Be Bold

L.A. Colors Glazed Lip Paint in Coy - This is puuurple. This bold lavender shade was released as part of a spring collection, but I like it as a brave choice for fall as well. It's not an everyday color, but on a certain girl's night out with a brown liner, it's a great pop.

MAC Rebel - Rebel is my fall JAM. Every fall, I put "wear dark lipstick" on my fall bucket list with this color in mind. It's probably my most worn lipstick during the fall, followed closely by Hug Me and the Dior one below. I'm on my second tube because it's cannon.

Dior Rouge Favori #752 - One of my favorite reds if not my favorite. It's a warm-toned red which is perfect for my skin tone and it's kind of a talisman for me. I wore it to my first ever law school Barrister's Ball, and it seems to be present for so many other memorable moments. Plus, I'll rock a red lip every damn day of the year.

Do Dark

NARS Valparaiso - Described by NARS as a rich raspberry, this pure matte lipstick is perfect for fall. I've had this little baby in my makeup collection for a few years now, and I'm always excited to rediscover it every season, like "oooh, I forgot all about you!".

Wet N' Wild Cherry Bomb - Both this shade and the next were featured in my "Vampy Lips" post. Cherry Bomb is a black cherry colored, semi-matte, super long-wearing lipstick. I pop it on my lips whenever I want to feel done up with very little makeup.

Wet N' Wild Vamp It Up - This deep purple, almost black isn't for everyone, but I've been rocking it like crazy this fall so far. I pair this lippie with basic liner and lots of lashes for an insta-glam look.

Really like any of the lipsticks mentioned above? Well, not only are three of them sold at Sephora (NARS Valparaiso, Dior Rouge Favori and YSL Caress Pink), but the beauty megastore has a gazillion to choose from. All the more reason to enter the Sephora giveaway! It ends November 9th. I truly wish I could enter, but alas, you must enter and win so I can live vicariously through your purchases :)




a Rafflecopter giveaway

What are your favorite fall lip colors?

Cash Money For You! [$100 Sephora Gift Card Giveaway]

How was your Halloween-y?! This Halloweekend was of course filled with so many happies. Unfortunately, it was also filled with all of the sadness as my phone died right as Friday's festivities began. No matter, I had a wonderful Halloween, checking out the Village Halloween parade and then spending the night on my sofa binge watching scary movies and eating tons of treats. My only surviving photograph is only of 1/2 a costume, but hey, it's me as a cat. Meow!
_____________________

The ladies over at The Sequin Notebook are making this blogging gig super easy for me today. I ain't mad at it. Because I'm on the third day of a little thing called NaNoWriMo and I've found out that the extent of my creativity is about 3,000 words, or rather 2 days. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, head over to this sneaky post from Saturday.

Right. Super easy blogging... Word is that Sephora is having a VIB sale from November 6th to November 10th where shoppers get a 20% discount off all items. A fact I'd wish I'd known before I spent an unthinkable amount of cash within those pearly gates a few weeks ago. But B & M from The Sequin Notebook, together with a few other beauty-obsessed bloggers, including me!, thought to tempt you even further by giving away a $100 gift card to the blush, bronzer beauty heaven that is Sephora.

Hosted by: The Sequin Notebook, Join the Gossip, B Loved Boston, A Little Glitter, Twin Living, The Kari Diaries, Recent Somethings, Make Me Up Mia, Your Beauty Fix, and La Dolce Vita

That's right. Giving it away. To you. (Perhaps.) The giveaway will run from today November 3rd until November 9th at noon (EST), just in time for you to spend it all at the VIB sale.

Enter here!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Looks like the gift giving of Fall-O-Ween isn't quite over :) What will you finally purchase if you win? Indulge me!

Cozy & Chic Fall Accessories

Fall-O-Ween is still in full effect even though I was absent there for a few days (check out the beginning of yesterday's post to find out why). I still have plenty to share regarding my favorite season, so expect to see me popping up on your blog feed quite a lot in the next couple of weeks. You may even see me during the weekend. Oooooh.

We've already talked about how much I love Fall-O-Ween because of the decor, books, beauty, music and nails. But I also just love accessorizing for fall. I get a majority of my fall accessories from store like Forever 21, H&M, and, sometimes, ASOS Online because they always stock really cute pieces at very affordable prices. When colder weather hits, I can hardly wait to cuddle up in a warm, chunky scarves and rock those suede booties I love. Getting dressed for a crisp fall day is so fun and easy, which is why fall fashion is my favorite.

Cozy & Chic Fall Accessories by ❤︎Kari featuring a Pumpkin Caramel Latte Candles

Tortoise Sunglasses - I adore these quirky patterned sunglasses all year 'round, and I don't put them away for fall simply because the sun's play hide-and-seek. Throwing on a pair of cute sunnies, to me, is so chic all the time.
Faux Readers - Another fashion trend for the entire year, but I've recently been liking the idea of adding these specs to complete a look. Not only do they instantly make you look smart, but they remind me of libraries and books, and I mean, helloooo, I love books. Win!
Cozy Scarves - I don't doubt this is on everyone's "fall list". Simple a must-have, especially in a basic color to go with everything in your closet.
Rings, Rings & More Rings! - I tend to load up on rings in the summer and fall. Don't ask me why, I just do.
Berry Nail Polish - I reserve my berry-colored polish for fall. It just feels special that way. I also really love the way deep-purples look against my skin tone.
Booties - About two years ago, I bought a pair of suede, black booties from Urban Outfitters for $80. Best eighty dollars I've ever spent! I've worn them so much yet they are still in amazing condition. Because they're suede, I don't like pulling them out until it gets cooler, but when it does... those babies are a fall staple for sure.
Animal Accents - Hello, leopard print everything :)
Wide-brimmed Hat - Who says a big, floppy hat is only appropriate for the beach? I laugh in the face of fashion faux-pas. I'm loving this wide-brimmed fedora for fall.
Bold Lipstick - We've talked about this :)
Studded Items - I'm in lurrvvvee with this Alexander Wang Rocco bag. It's gorg. It's also very expensive, but let's not talk about that. Any studded accessory is perfect in my book.
Bow-shaped Things - Bows are acceptable anytime, but these berry ones are great for the season.
Colorful Stockings & Socks - How fun are the 2 socks above?
Florals - For some strange reason, I've been really into florals for the past year. Floral bedding, floral skirts, florals in general. And this floral watch is no exception. I think the brown band makes it less spring-like and more fall wearable.
Candles - Because candles are accessories too. Kinda? :\ The Pumpkin Caramel Latte one is heavenly.

Those are my chic and cozy accessories for fall. What are your favorites?



Speaking of cozy things, you may want to check out this week's giveaway! I went a little crazy online shopping the week and picked up a few extras, including a candle and scarf, by accident :) Enter below, if you'd like to win this quick little prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget! The Fall-O-Ween Giveaway #2 is ending tonight! 

If you like fall beauty, be sure to enter before midnight!

Spooky Nail Ideas For The Artistically-Challenged

One thing I've always been jealous of? People who can do their nails really well. Cause homegirl is pretty terrible at it; and by homegirl I, of course, mean me. Really though, how do you people create these amazing designs? Teach me your wayyys!

Now I may be nail decal illiterate and unable to polish my right hand without smearing everything (lord, help me!), but I want themed nails too, especially with Halloween approaching. I'm not going for anything too elaborate (that would be a big fail), but I'm already feeling so festive, my nails should be too! So if you're challenged like me or can't go completely all out because of work or whatever, try your hand at these 4 designs I was able to successfully pull off (so basically a kindergartner can do it).

Shout out to my ratchet lil DIY dotting tool at the bottom! You da best :)

Spooky nails are great, but so's a deep purple or berry shade for fall! My dear Deb mentioned that she love Bahama Mama by Essie, and well, now I'm polishing my nails that color. What Deb says I do #basic :)

If you've written about fall beauty or any Fall-O-Ween themed posts recently, link up below. I'd love to read all about it!

Giveaway Time!!!

Interested in rocking a dark lip this fall? Thinking about trying a spooky nail on for size, or just in love with berry-toned polish? Enter to win this neat little bundle of goodies! Fall-O-Ween giveaway #2 features: Wet n Wild lipsticks in "Cherry Bomb" and "Vamp It Up", Ardell "Demi 105 lashes (all from the previous post), and the black and white nail polishes used above. You seriously want this beauty stash!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, don't forget to enter the Gone Girl Giveaway! It ends Sunday night!

Tell me about your favorite fall beauty products in the comments below!

Vamp Life: How To Rock A Bold Lip

Now, while red lipstick is like my uniform and I'll don a dark lip any day, I find that I gravitate to deep reds and purples when the weather gets colder. Although every YouTube beauty guru pumps out tutorial after tutorial incorporating a dark fall lip, I prefer pairing my vampy lip with lots of lashes, and minimal eye makeup. In fact, I usually slap on a dark lipstick and mascara when I have very little time or will to do my makeup but want to look presentable.

This fall I'm mostly excited to keep two shades, Wet N' Wild Cherry Bomb & Vamp It Up, in rotation (as well as MAC's Rebel because, hello, fall staple right there!). So in honor of vamp season (Vamp season = the premieres of both Vampire Diaries and Originals this week), I present my favorite dark/bold lip look!

PS. This was posted from the corner of my local Starbucks because my internet is out. That's how much I love you <3

Giveaway/link-up post coming, oh so, soon!

Are you into vampy lips for fall? What's your favorite shade?