September 5, 2013

Recover from the Sun with Bamboo Beach

Bamboo Beach

Bamboo Beach

A friend of mine introduced me to this new product from Alterna which is an addition to some of their other amazing hair care products. Bamboo Beach Summer Sun Recovery Spray is a leave-in conditioner that instantly revitalizes sun-parched hair without weighting down your hair and making your hair feel greasy or stiff.This spray nourishes, moisturizes, detangles and enhances shine back into your  hair. Bamboo Beach Summer Sun Recovery Spray protects against color fade with a Color Hold Technology. Of course, it’s free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates and synthetic color which is very important to me!  Shake the bottle first then just spray 2 to 3 spritzes onto wet hair to refresh and add the moisture  back in!

I have a problem with the beach air, well my hair  does…… it just frizzes up, getting bigger and bigger….. Bamboo Beach Summer Sun Recovery Spray leaves my hair frizz free and tangle free. Being out in the sun all day, Bamboo Beach Summer Sun Recovery  Spray protects and revives my sun damaged hair. I love the scent, it
is a sweet tropical mix of mango and coconut (my favorite summer smell).

I was so satisfied with this product that I branched out and purchased Bamboo Beach Summer Ocean Waves and Bamboo Beach Mango Coconut Refreshing Dry Shampoo. The Bamboo Beach Summer Ocean Waves is a lightweight spray that brings the beach texture back into your hair without being at the beach!  You can actually control the waves  — on your hair I mean!  Spraying 2 to 3 spritzes onto damp hair creates weightless volume and a wavy texture to all hair types, bring
a natural look of luscious locks to your hair even when the beach season is gone.  Again formulated with Color Hold Technology to  protect against color faded hair. I love this product. My hair looks and feel fascinate

Dry Shampoo

Bamboo Beach Mango Coconut Refreshing Dry Shampoo was the first dry shampoo product that I ever tried and boy was I missing out!  If you are like me and don’t wash your hair everyday, which dries out your hair, then this product is for you. Shake lightly onto dry hair at the roots then massage in then brush or style your hair. The silky powder provides a clean summer fresh scent and makes your hair more controllable. You basically can go another day or two without washing your hair and it adds a bit of volume to your crown. The convenient container can easy store in your beach, pocketbook or pool bag. This line of Alterna’s products helps to recover sun damaged hair and keeps that sexy, beach wavy look with amazing shine and softness!

You can find Bamboo Beach at http://shop.alternahaircare.com

179902_2273854583663_993585435_nLaurie Carcieri is a Wife, Mom of two,

and a Fashion and Fitness Enthusiast

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September 3, 2013

Epsom Salt, It’s not just for Soaking

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Epsom Salt

Even though you wouldn’t think Epsom salt is popular among teens, it’s in fact very useful for us! It’s very affordable for just a few dollars and you can find it at the market or pharmacy. I recently received a complimentary box of Epsom salt and I actually used it for an exfoliating treatment. It was very easy because all I had to do was mix 2 cups of Epsom salt with 1/4 cup of petroleum jelly. I even added a few drops of lavender essential oil to give it a refreshing scent. I felt like the mixture scrubbed away my dry skin and left it really smooth.

Another recipe I used was an at home pedicure. I never get my nails done, I always do them myself, so I found this helpful. You dissolve a half cup of Epsom salt into 2 quarts of warm water. You pour the water into a container and soak your bare feet for 15 to 20 minutes. After that you just massage your entire foot with the Epsom salt making sure to get your heels and ankles to remove any dry or rough  spots. Lastly rinse your feet with water and dry them. My feet were ready for a great pedicure!!

 

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There is so many more useful things to do with Epsom salt. You can use it for houseplants, Mosquito bites, and even a hair volumizer! I would definitely recommend having some Epsom salt at home for your every need! Check out facebook.com/epsomsalt for more great ideas and saltworks.us/salt_info/epsom-uses-benefits.asp Epsom Salt can be found in most drugstores and retail stores nationwide.

My favorite Epsom Salt Beauty Recipes:

Exfoliating Treatment Scrub: Combine 2 Cups of Epsom Salt, 1/4 Cup Petroleum Jelly, a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil and scrub and gently scrub away dry skin.

Exfoliating Foot Scrub: Dissolve 1/2 up of Epsom Salt into 2 quarts of warm water, Soak you feet for 15 to 20 minutes. Massage entire foot with Epson Salt to remove rough and dry skin, your feet will thank you.

525754_274527535983625_1337562757_n  Rachel

 

 

 

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September 3, 2013

Activate your destiny with a beautiful Destiny Candle!

This was one of those “timing is everything” opportunities that turned out to be a synchronistic moment for me! I must say, as a result, it ended up providing me with one of the most unique and interesting products to feature for your enjoyment.

As long as I can remember, I’ve always loved crystals and their soothing reflection of light & energy, and aromatherapy for its ability ,via candles and essential oils, to offer a positive impact on the senses.

When I received information about the Destiny Candle created by Karen Michelle, I was instantly intrigued. This candle had all of the components that I mentioned above and was a 100% natural candle that could assist us in creating positive intentions for addressing a number of situations we deal with in our lives.

The intentions:
Weight Loss
Stress Relief
Beauty
Wealth
Energy/Uplift
Good Luck

But there’s more…..As your candle starts to melt you’ll find a crystal within the candle with a small hole on the top, and a beautiful purple string that is included so you can wear your crystal as a bracelet or necklace to keep affirming your intention!

You may also use the candle as a massage oil!

I gravitated immediately toward the lavender, frankincense, and vanilla scented candle. Those are some of my favorite essential oils! This candle was geared toward Stress Relief. That’s one of my issues! I have a tendency to bring on my own stress with worry and over reaction to things, so I decided to try the Stress Relief Candle.

I honestly couldn’t wait for my Destiny Candle to arrive! When it did, I lit the candle and enjoyed the relaxing lavender, frankincense, and vanilla scent .

When I later blew out the candle, my crystal was visible so I removed it and started to wipe it off. Near the point of the crystal there was a diamond shaped “window” like marking. Here is where my synchronistic moment took place.

For some time I’d been looking for a “window crystal” to wear. They are one of my favorite crystals. I took a closer look and sure enough, by chance, it happened to be a little “window crystal” that had “found me”! I was so happy as I put the crystal on the purple string that came with the candle and have been wearing it as a necklace every day!

After that surprise, I tried some of the warm melted liquid from the candle as a massage oil on my dry hands and arms. It was unbelievable! My skin felt so soft, and the warm oil was very soothing with the gentle scent of lavender, frankincense, and vanilla.

Here is my Destiny Candle & my special crystal that was in the candle!

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To me the Destiny Candle would be a perfect pampering and inspiring gift to give to yourself, and a unique present for special occasions when you’re not quite sure what to get for someone.

View this video to find out more about the Destiny Candle.

Here is the website you may also visit to purchase your Destiny Candle:
http://www.destinycandle.com

This truly is the gift that keeps on giving! Thanks to Karen Michelle for creating the Destiny Candles!
Destiny Candles get a 5-Star review...

(Any quoted or paraphrased information in this article was obtained from provided PR information about the product. My commentary was from my own personal use and personal experience with the provided product.)

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September 3, 2013

Fall Finds from A-Z on Carolina Now

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Happy Labor Day!

I got to do another great It’s A Glam Thing segment today on Carolina Now with new host Jennifer. Today’s topic: Fall Finds from “A-Z”!

The air is crisp. Fall is just around the corner and with kids back in school,
fall brings a flurry of new activities for everyone. Kids find themselves back in the swing of school work, homework, part time jobs, sports activities and more. Adults find themselves caught back up in the hustle and excitement of back to school too. But adults shouldn’t put their grooming and skin care routines on the back burner. There is no skipping of days for good skin care health especially for adult acne sufferers.
Today A is for?
Apothederm Acne Clarifying Treatment – It’s a two-in-one problem solver to help eliminate breakouts and minimize pore size. This formula is packed with a beta hydroxyl acid and peptide to help reduce the appearance of blemishes and future breakouts. It is oil-free, fragrance free and dermatologist tested.

A new school year and the coming of Fall also means a fresh start, and a fresh start means leaving the Summer behind. What can we keep around this Fall as a reminder of the exotic summer adventures?
Today C is for?
Color Your Smile Lip Gloss comes with a light and a mirror and the names of the shades make for great warm memories. The shades include: Bermuda Exotic Gloss, Bahama Exotic Gloss , Fiji Exotic Gloss, Phuket Exotic Gloss and Boreno Exotic Gloss. The colors are unique and long lasting.

Fall inspirational quotes are plentiful. There are quotes about New York in Autumn, Fallen leaves, the sounds of Fall , Autumn fruits and more. What about inspirational Fall fashion.
Today L is for?
Lotus Life Apparel is designed by Shannon Caldwell Roche. She believes in the power of words. The Lotus Life line includes Short and Long sleeved T-Shirts displaying inspirational messages like: “Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful”, “Create Yourself”, and my personal favorite, “She Believed She Could So She Did”!

Getting your kids to school by carpooling is a great way to save on time, money, and stress. Wanna score cool points as a carpool Mom or Dad?
Today N is for?
Natural Life Car Magnets are cool for cars with messages and designes like “I Love My Dog”, “I Love My Cat”. “Enjoy The Ride”, “Kindness Matters”, “Drive Safe Chat later”, “Live Lucky”, “Pay It Forward” and more.

But it can’t always be about fun. Fall back-to-school season is a great time to teach and practice safety habits as students walk or cycle back and forth from school, play at school playgrounds, wait at the bus stops, first time drivers are on the road to school and back, and moms and dads are traveling with car loads of kids. What is a “must have” for all kids and parents to have for safety?
Today S is for?
The SpareOne Plus Emergency Phone is the only cell phone that runs on a single AA battery. It can keep a charge if unused for up to 15 years. It has a one touch large SOS button, an SOS light and panic button plus other unique and life saving features. Location and alert services are available. This is a life saver for every family member.

Finally, time management for busy Moms during the Back to School season and leading up to the holiday rush is difficult. But even the busiest moms can successfully take a time-out without the guilt with this product:
Today Z is for?
Zensation Deep Cleansing Mud Mask. It gently draws out impurities from your skin to promote a clear complexion. Kaolin clay absorbs excess oil while zinc and rosemary extracts neutralize acne-causing bacteria. Brown algae and tea tree oil detoxify and wild cherry extract tones and refines your pores, as well as reduces sebum production to prevent shine.

Here’s where you can purchase these great products:

Apothederm – www.apothederm.com
Color Your Smile – www.whiteninglightning.com
Lotus Life – www.lotuslifedesigns.com
Natural Life – www.naturallife.com

Spare One Plus – www.spareone.com
Zensation – www.zensationbeaute.com/

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August 31, 2013

“Back to School” with beautiful hair from Rusk®!

I just had an opportunity to try some wonderful hair care products from Rusk.

First let me say that everyone will benefit from the Rusk products I look forward to sharing with you !

I’m not going back to school, but the Rusk products that I used conditioned and left my hair so healthy looking, manageable, and full of body and shine that I started thinking about all the new clothes, shoes, school supplies, and gear that’s purchased for, and by students when they start a new school year! What about your hair?

This feature allows me the perfect chance to remind students who are heading back to school, or may have already started their new school year that their summer hair needs a reset for the fall season and the following Rusk products will certainly “do the trick!”!

Class is now in session!
Let’s start with:

Rusk Being Sexy Shampoo

Rusk Being Sexy Shampoo


With a very subtle scent, Being Sexy Shampoo cleans your hair with a smooth feeling and silky texture. I lightly worked it into my hair and scalp thoroughly. It rinses with ease leaving a soft yet refreshing clean sensation.

Your hair is now clean, and ready for:

Rusk Being Sexy Conditioner

Rusk Being Sexy Conditioner


Again, there is a very subdued aroma and velvety feel when you apply the Rusk Being Sexy Conditioner to your freshly cleaned wet hair. I massaged the conditioner throughout my hair and especially on the ends of my hair where it sometimes is a bit dry. Make sure you rinse thoroughly. I found that the Being Sexy Conditioner only takes a moment to rinse, and leaves your hair feeling so nice.

Quoting Rusk,“All formulas contain a unique blend of ingredients to deliver voluptuous volume, tousled texture and seductive shine for “uninhibited” hair!”

If you do not have color treated hair you may go ahead and style your hair, as always. I know you’ll like the way it feels, looks, and how workable it is!

Do you have color treated hair? I just had some blonde highlights with a toner applied in my naturally dark brown hair. The way color sometimes fades, I was eager to try this:

Rusk Deep Shine Color Care Lock-In Treatment

Rusk
Deep Shine Color Care
Lock-In Treatment


You may either spray Deep Shine Color Care on damp or dry hair. “ChromeAvail™ “is the patented technology that offers a UV protection for maintaining the color in your hair longer. It can be used every day. My blonde highlights have kept that pretty “toned” color, and the shine looks so healthy. The sun is out year round, and this gives you one less thing to worry about with color treated hair.

Last but not least, here is a product we “ALL” need to have in our arsenal of hair care “must haves”:

Rusk Deep Shine Color Care Invisible Dry Shampoo

Rusk
Deep Shine Color Care
Invisible Dry Shampoo

If you haven’t used a dry shampoo, once you do, you’ll never be without one! Running late in the morning? Have a last minute event with no time to spare? Just want to get out the door and start your day without taking time for your whole “Get Ready” routine? Late for a class?

Rusk’s invisible dry shampoo is an exceptional “Dry Shampoo”!! Within moments you’ll be “good to go” with a fresh looking, oil & odor free head of hair!

All you need to do is shake the container. Start by lightly spraying the roots of your hair, and then mist all over your hair. Just wait a moment, work through you hair, style and be on your way!

Here’s a fun assignment!
Visit: http://www.rusk1.com
and learn about all of the fine Rusk Hair Care products!

Then go to:http://www.rusk1.com/locate.php
to find a Rusk location near you!

Class Dismissed
Rusk gets an A+ for their amazing selection of hair care products!

(Any quoted or paraphrased information in this article was obtained from a PR-Fact sheet, and www.rusk1.com. Any personal commentary was from my personal experience using the Rusk products provided to me.)

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August 31, 2013

Define and Moisturize Your Curls with Amika

amika

Curly hair can be a downright pain to deal with at times. Sometimes it curls just the way you want it to and other times you end up flat ironing your hair because it gets to the point where you can’t stand the hassle anymore.

With the Amika: Curl Defining Cream you can have the fabulous curls you always dreamed of. Before I tried the Amika: Curl Defining Cream I hated my curls. They were always frizzy and crunchy. But the minute I tried the Curl Defining Cream, my hair was transformed. My curls were smooth, frizz free, and manageable. It also separated them making the curl more defined and refreshed looking.

Now I have always been the kind of person who enjoys experimenting and trying out new things with hair care products. With Amika I put my hair to the test. Is it possible to get a second day style without washing my hair? Answer- YES!!!! The day of my TEANJ Beauty Group interview, I didn’t feel like washing my hair, so I took a little tiny dab in the palms of my hands and scrunched it into my hair. Even though my hair was dry and I didn’t diffuse the product in, my curls still were smooth, tamed, frizz free and had some shine.

Amika, being true to it’s name, means Girlfriend. Let’s face it hair is a girls best friend right? If you hair looks bad you don’t feel good about yourself at all. With Amika you can. Be sure to check out their website at  http://www.amika.com.hk/ and start loving your hair again.

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August 29, 2013

You Won’t Find any Harsh Chemicals with Keeki, its Pure & Simple

Keeki Pure and Simple Nail Polish

Keeki Pure and Simple Nail Polish

Keeki Pure and Simple Non Toxic Nail Polish Remover & polish

Keeki Pure and Simple Non Toxic Nail Polish Remover & Polish

Thanks to Keeki nail polish I already have my favorite fall nail polish color picked out. The name of it is Hot Cocoa and it will go great with my autumn fashion. Keeki was very easy to apply, and I started with cleaning my nails with Keeki nail polish remover. It does not have that strong acetone smell like most nail polish removers do, which is another reason why it’s one of my favorites. I then applied a thin layer of the base coat and when that dried I applied 2 thin coats of the Hot Cocoa nail polish. I finished it up by putting a thin layer of the top coat. It was very easy and dried within a few minutes. Another great thing is that Keeki doesn’t use harsh chemicals that dissolve the natural oils on the nail bed. It’s gluten-free, 100% biodegradable, vegan, and acetone free. Go to keekipureandsimple.com for more colors and products!

525754_274527535983625_1337562757_nRachel

 

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August 29, 2013

Our Fingers and Toes Love butter London

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Our bloggers are loving Butter London Nail Laquers. There are so many beautiful colors to choose from, these are some of our bloggers favorites:

Rachel is loving her Butter London: “Summer nail polish is important, especially for toes, which are constantly being exposed in flip-flops and sandals. My favorite summer 2013 polish has been ‘Macbeth’ from Butter London.  After mastering Honors Shakespeare 2205 last semester I found it ironic that the gorgeous shade of orange-y-coal that has beautified my fingers and toes is named after one of Shakespeare’s most famous play. ‘Macbeth’ is the perfect summer color because it is a mixture of the primary nail colors-red and pink! ‘Macbeth’ Butter London is great because it doesn’t take too long to dry, the color is so rich that you only need one coat, and they don’t have any harmful carcinogens in them! Most of all, I love my summer color ‘Macbeth’ from Butter London because they make my finger and toes look great, particularly when they are covered in sand from the beach!”

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Laurie didn’t go anywhere this summer without butter London, she is feeling like royalty with “HRH” on her toes. (butterlondon.com/Lacquers/HRH.htm) Laurie’s favorite color is purple and butter London has fabulous purple nail lacquers to choose from. Choose your favorite purple shade now at .butterlondon.com/Purple-Nail-Lacquers/.

View butter London’s entire collection of nail Lacquers at butterlondon.com

 

 

 

 

 

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August 27, 2013

Resurgence and Glow – At 50, It’s All About the Glow

Murad Resurgence

Murad Resurgence

Mirror, mirror, on the wall…whose the fairest of them all? Once you hit 50 (or even 40) that can be a really frightening question to ask of a mirror. Of course, we all work hard, work out, dye our hair, but those nasty little wrinkles and crinkly creases under your eyes can get even the best of us and start to make us feel frustrated that we are not staying ahead of the aging process. Of course, at some point, that might be inevitable, but for me I am feeling like that’s not going to hit me until, like, 75 or 80….so in the meantime I am always on the quest for anything that will make me look – and hence feel – younger.

They say that 50 is the new 40 anyway, so why not try to look the part, right?

Late one night I saw the infomercial on television for Dr. Murad’s new Resurgence product line. I have to say, the ad was compelling and Joan Lunden, the spokesperson for the product, looked pretty amazing at 61 and I thought – well, I would love to try that product. I had always been a big believer of Dr. Murad in the past, and the products were cutting edge and way ahead of the curve back in those days.

So – yes – I got bitten by the late night infomercial and thought – I’ve got to have it!

The package came in no time and was a tidy little kit with more than enough for a one month’s supply (which is what you sign up for) of four products – the Renewing Cleansing Cream, Age-diffusing Serum, the Age-Balancing Night Cream and then the Renewing Eye Cream. This kit is for rebalancing aging skin over night, so be aware that you still have to purchase a daytime moisturizer, and I would recommend saying with the same line (Dr. Murad) for that. So, when I received the kit it took me a few days to realize that I didn’t have that step 3 moisturizer, so I did end up using one of my own for the daily.

However, it’s only been a week and I can already start to see that my face seems to have brightened up a bit. The Renewing Cleansing Cream contains Apricot Kernel Oil, Yeast Amino Acids, Carrageenan Extract, Camomille Flower Extract, and many more herbs and ingredients. I believe that the cleanser is the key to this whole package. When you use it on your face, you can actually feel it’s ‘action’ going on and there is tingling for quite a while after you use it. According to Dr. Murad, it’s important to use products that help to remove the outer layer of the skin, and to help you rebuild your skin so that you have that healthy glow. I do recommend this product. I feel better and my skin is brighter. The eye cream, age diffusing cream and the age-balancing night cream feel to me a lot like Dr. Murad’s other wonderful products – and they contain many other flower, root and natural ingredients to actively renew your skin.

This product – according to the ads and write-ups – as well as the 384 plus five star reviews on their website — reduces the appearance of medium to deep wrinkles. Increases skin firmness 42% in 10 minutes. Now, I do feel that you need a few weeks to see the full benefits. But for only $39.95 for a month’s supply (a $107.00 value) it’s worth it! Try the other Dr. Murad’s products as well – because you will get more benefit by staying with one product line!

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Guest Post by Julia Tanen

Julia is a writer, blogger, book author

and mom from Boston, Massachusetts

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August 26, 2013

Target Partnered with Celebrity Makeup Artists, Jo Baker and Gloria Noto, to Create Naya Rivera and Shailene Woodley’s Looks for VMAs

MTV VMA Awards

MTV VMA Awards

 

How-to Tips:

1. Emphasized Naya’s intense eyes with a show stopping molten metal reflection by layering dark shades of NP Set Day to Night Palette ($24) over her eye lid, blending the edges.

2. I then went over the top with NP Set All That Glitters Gel Duo in Sao Paulo ($10) to add depth and shimmer to the eye.

3. Around Naya’s lash line, I smudged Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Black Noir ($15) and then curled her lashes.

4. Next, I applied several coats of NP Set Glamorista Mascara ($16) which created a great base before adding some fluttery lashes.

5. I applied NP Set It Takes Two Concealer & Foundation Pot ($35) to create a flawless base to keep the look velvety smooth for hours.

6. Then, I applied NP Set Contour & Highlight Palette ($19) to provide beige through to warm bronzy tones on her cheek bones.

7. For shinier spots, I applied NP Set Pasarella Powder Foundation ($30) with a soft small fluffy brush to set her look.

8. I finished off her look with Pixi Succulent Lip Twin in Opal Orchid ($18) to create a neutral soft pinky lip.

 

MTV VMA Awards

MTV VMA Awards

 

Inspiration:

· I wanted to create a statement makeup look, focusing on the eyes. I chose to create modern, smoky, elongated cat eyes with a wet, edgy, gunmetal look.

· I used a gray color palette for a monochromatic look. My inspiration behind the look was the beautiful blue and silver beading in her skirt.

 

How-to Tips:

1. Using the Pixi Lid Last Shadow Pen in Mocha Mauve ($18), I applied the shadow to the entire eyelids and blended.

2. Next, I rimmed the entire eye with Pixi Lid Last Shadow Pen in Graphite Glint ($18) and then blended both shades together.

3. I applied the matte taupe shade in the Pixi Shade Quartette in Shades of Taupe ($22), blending out the edges of the eye and up the shade to the brow.

4. I then used the two darker metallic shades on the eyelids for an edgy, wet look. Used the light shade in the palette to add definition to the cheek bones.

5. Using the darkest shade in the NP Set Eye Palette in Atlanta (20), I patted around the outer eyelid.

6. Next, I used the Pixi Lid and Line in Smoky Black ($18) to line the inner water line and upper lash line. This creates a definitive break from the brown and gray shades used in the eye shadows, further defining the eyes.

7. I chose to use the white and peach shades within the Pixi Eye Bright Kit ($25) to highlight the cheekbones and around the mouth. This works to pull the mouth forward, making the lips appear larger.

8. Then, I layered NP Set Pasarella Mascara in Black ($15) on the top and bottom lashes for volume.

9. I then applied the matte gray shade in the Pixi Shade Quartette in Shades of Taupe ($22) on her temples pencil to further contour her face and bring out her eyes.

10. To round out the look, I applied Pixi Beauty Bronzer + Kabuki Brush in Summertime ($21) along the forehead and jaw line giving a bit of warmth to the face.

11. Around the inner rim of the eyelids, I used the Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Oyster Glow ($15) for added sparkle.

12. Lastly, I applied the Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Oyster Glow ($15) on the back of my hand and then used a small makeup brush to gently buff some on the upper above her upper lip.

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