Favorite Products of the Summer.

Here are some of my favorite products that I've been using this Summer:

Viva Glam Nicki by MAC. This lipstick is a really bright warm toned pink. It's a matte formula, which I think is really unique for such a bright color. It can be a little bit drying, but if you apply it over lip balm it's great.  I've been wearing it almost daily, so I'm thinking I need to invest in a few backups since it is limited edition. Aka you guys need to go out and get it right now!

Albatross by NARS. This is most perfect shimmery golden/champagne highlighter. I love it on my cheeks and as an inner corner highlight on my eyes. It's also gorgeous as an eyeshadow. It's very finely milled, and doesn't have any glitter in it. It's just amazing!

 Hair:

Surf Spray by Bumble and bumble: This is the best sea salt spray I've ever used. And I've used like a million of them (OK, 5). It gives your hair that perfect messy and undone texture without making it feel too heavy like creme product can. It's especially great for curls! I spray it in after each time I wash my hair and then diffuse it.

Texture by Bumble and bumble: This is the most unique hair creme that I've ever used. It's definitely on the heavier side, but it gives you amazing volume and separation, and a good amount of hold. It's matte, so it is great for a more natural look. Warning: This will make your hair big. Like, really big.

Skincare:

Coconut & Hibiscus shea butter lotion by Shea Moisture- I just discovered this lotion a few weeks ago, and I am in LOVE. Not only does it smell like heaven, but it's very moisturizing and doesn't feel tacky on your skin. It's organic and free of harsh chemicals, which is something I really look for with skincare products. I found this at Target, you guys definitely need to check it out!

 Nails:

Flip flop Fantasy by China Glaze- This Summer I was on the hunt for the perfect neon pink nail polish. If any of you love nail polish as much as I do, you know that this can be quite the task. I kept finding colors that were too cool toned, and didn't enough brightness to them. Then I discovered this color. It's seriously awesome. It's a bright coral matte pink. I get SO many compliments on this color, which is always a bonus. 

What products are you loving right now? I'd love it if you shared them!

Happy Wednesday!

xoxoKelsey.

Lip love.

Hello, friends!

So today I decided to share a video that is all about one of my favorite things:
lipstick.

I'm a huge lipstick fan, and I decided to share my little obsession with you guys. You know, just in case there are other lipstick obsessed ladies out there.

I apologize for the lighting, I know it's hard to see the colors. But hey, I'm still learning how to do this whole video deal. So please bear with me until I work out the kinks :).

Anyways, hope you enjoy! If you have any favorite lipsticks that you think I'd like, then please don't hesitate to share! Because yes, I do need to add more lipstick to my already obscene amount. It's a sick addiction. 

                                            

Happy Tuesday!

xoxoKelsey.

The easy peasy up-do!

Hello, lovelies! 

Today I'm sharing with you one of my favorite looks to wear right now. It's a bit of a retro inspired up-do that is very easy to do and looks amazing! I love hairstyles that are quick to do, but look polished and put together. This is great for a special event, but also works as an everyday look.


Here's what you'll need (I mention these things in the video as well):
-Bobbypins
-Hairspray
-Curling Iron or Flat Iron
-Hair serum/oil (optional)

Hope you guys enjoyed that. Let me know if you try out the look!

Happy Wednesday!

xoxoKelsey.

Hair: Current favorites

Today I wanted to share some of my favorite hair products! Some of these have been long time favorites of mine, and others are either new or recently rediscovered. Since I work as a stylist, I'm constantly trying what's out there so that I am able to recommend things to other people. I can't recommend anything unless I've tried it myself! Actually, I just tell myself to justify my product hoarding.

 Here are my current favorites:

(In order from left to right)

1. Aquage Sea Salt Texturizing Spray- This stuff is a holy grail product of mine. I started using it about four years ago, and haven't been without it since. This spray gives you that awesome "dirty" feel to your hair, almost like you skipped a day of washing it, and then went swimming in the ocean. I don't know about you, but I hate when my hair is too clean. It needs a bit of dirt for it to actually style how I want it to. I love using this product especially when I wear my hair naturally wavy. It gives my hair separation and definition without a heavy residue or stickiness. It has a beautiful matte finish, and works great with all hair types. I tend to use it when my hair is wet, but it works on wet and dry hair.

2. Bumble and Bumble Tonic Lotion- This is what you'd consider a "prep" product. It has tea tree oil in it so it soothes your scalp, and also is a great detangler. I suffer from a really dry scalp in the winter, and this makes it feel wonderful and protects it from the cold and impact of the environment. It also can be used as a light styling spray. It can gently tame  ]and protect your hair while blow drying and styling, but will not have much hold or memory to it. I've found that it also works as a great as a refresher for slept on hair!

3. Bumble and Bumble Does it All Styling Spray- I am SO in love with this stuff. It really stands true to its name. You can apply it before using a flat iron or curling iron to help control and hold a style without a lot of stickiness. It also is amazing for teasing your hair, but is not too strong so you can easily brush it out. It has almost no feel to it, and can be used to build up structure and hold in your hair. You can layer it on itself to increase it's hold, but your hair will remain soft and pliable. It's not a hairspray in that it's not meant to have a stiff feel or aquanet-type hold to it. Think of it as an extra boost to whatever style you're trying to achieve. I use it before any heat is used on my hair, even when it's still wet!

4+5: KMS Touch-up spray and Makeover Spray. In laymen's terms, this is a dry shampoo and conditioner. The makeover spray is what you would use on the roots of your hair to absorb oil, and build volume. If shaken well, it doesn't give your hair too much of a strong white cast to it. It will tint darker hair if it's not brushed thoroughly, but nothing long lasting. It has a pleasant smell, and cleans without a heavy residue. The touch-up spray is basically the same idea, but for the ends of your hair. Since my hair is curly, the ends tend to be a bit on the dry side. This refreshes the ends with a light damp spray, and allows you to restyle and tame your hair. This works especially well on hair that was slept on and looks a bit wild.  These products pair very well together, and allow me to skip a few extra days of washing my hair!

I hope you guys love discovering new hair products as much as I love talking about them! I really feel like things this good need to be shared with the masses, and it's nice to share my obsessions with other beauty fanatics.

Happy Friday!

xoxoKelsey.

Hot Mess.

This is the first post of a new monthly series I'm starting called "Hairspiration." 
I am constantly finding myself browsing and saving pictures of hairstyles that inspire me as a stylist, and that give me ideas for my own hair as well. I thought it would be fun to share what is inspiring me in the world of hair each month so that you guys may appreciate them too!

This month I'm completely loving messy and imperfect looks. It's essentially a really laid back hairstyle, but has enough polish to wear out for a night or to work. I find it very modern to pair a messy hairstyle with a fancier outfit. It's the perfect juxtaposition. This look is especially great for girls with lots of fine hair that has a lot of natural texture to it.

Here are some of my favorite looks that I found via Pinterest!

Source: skinnyashellbutitsnotenough.tumblr.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Source: picship.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Source: thebeautydepartment.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Source: wishbonesandwanderlust.tumblr.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

                              Now if only my hair would obey and actually start to grow so I could 

                                wear some of these awesome hairdos. :)

                         Happy Friday!

                      xoxoKelsey.

Lippies

If you guys have been reading my blog for a little while, you know that I love makeup. I mean LOVE makeup. I especially love makeup that works well and is fairly inexpensive. Enter Revlon's new lip butters. The beauty gurus that I watch on YouTube have been raving about these for awhile now, and I finally got around to trying them out about a month ago. 

These are seriously wonderful. They are like a lip balm and a lipstick combined into one. So not only do you get the moisture and shine from the balm, but you get the color of a lipstick. The colors are much more pigmented than any other lip butter I have tried. They are not as long lasting as a lipstick, but they definitely stay on for a good amount of time for how soft and creamy they are. They also look great paired with a lip liner, but are gorgeous all on their own. I have three colors so far, and I love each one!

Here they are:

Gorgeous, right?

Peach Parfait is a gorgeous nude/light pink with a bit of gold shimmer to it. This is great for an everyday color that you don't need a mirror to put on because of how light it is. 

Lollipop reminds me of Girl About Town by MAC, which is one of my favorite lipsticks. It's  a really bright pink, but sheer enough to make it easy to wear.

Sugar Plum is an awesome "your lips but better" color. It gives a nice rosy tint to your lips, and looks great paired with a darker smokey eye. 

If you are a lipstick junkie like myself, I think you should try these out. I found mine at Target, and I think they are also sold in most drugstores. They have a ton of colors, so I'm sure there is a shade fore everyone.

What makeup products are you loving right now? I'm always looking for new ones to try.

Have a happy Wednesday!

xoxoKelsey.

Bright and shiny.

Hello, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Today I have a super simple yet incredibly effective skincare tip to share with you guys!

About a month ago I discovered a few websites that were talking about how good baking soda is when it comes to  exfoliating your skin.  Sounds odd, right? I thought so too! The only thing I usually use it for is for cooking. So, despite the fact that I thought it was pretty weird, I decided to try it out. Let me tell you, it is AMAZING. I'm a big supporter of using natural things on your skin, and you can't get much more natural than plain old baking soda. I really hate using those exfoliating products that feel like they are scratching your skin. This gets all the dead skin off without the abrasive scrubs .

Here is what you need:

 -Teaspoon

- Baking Soda

 - Water

All you have to do is mix about 2 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of water. You want to make a thick paste, but make sure it is thin enough to easily spread over your face. After you wash your face with cleanser, apply the mixture to your skin, and rub it gently in circles for 2-3 minutes. Then just rinse your face off thoroughly, and you're done! 

You're skin will look bright, fresh, and feel insanely soft. I've been doing this about once a week for a month or so, and it's been great. The baking soda does sting a little bit when you apply it to your face, but it's not bad at all. This is probably most likely because of my very sensitive skin.

So if you like using natural products on your skin that are cheap and effective, I'd give this a shot. 

I hope you enjoyed this super short post. Please let me know if you guys try this out!

Happy Monday!

xoxoKelsey.

Crafting love.

There is something about this time of the year that makes my desire to make things go crazy. And the past few weeks I have been busting out crocheted items left and right. Blankets, hats, headbands, etc. I've been spending time on Pinterest (no surprise there),  and I actually found a few crafts that are beauty related. I'm pretty much in love. Pinterest is seriously the best source of craft ideas for the craft obsessed, like myself. 

Crafts + Beauty = Perfection.

Here are the ones I really am wanting to make:

A magnetic makeup board. Such a perfect idea for storing the makeup you use daily.

                                                        Source: None via Kelsey on Pinterest

                         An old spice rack turned nail polish holder! Genius!

    

                                                            Source: None via Kelsey on Pinterest

Magnetic strip turned bobby pin holder. I about died when I saw this. I am a bit of a bobby pin hoarder, and I lose them in about five minutes after getting them. This would also be awesome to have at my salon. 

                                                               Source: sprwmn.blogspot.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Aren't those projects neat? If any of you guys decide to try one out, take a picture and let me know! I'm curious to see how others would make these!

Happy Thursday Everyone!

xoxoKelsey.

P.S. Hello to my new followers, glad you are a part of my little blog now. Thanks for the support :).

Fall beauty.

 

via

 via

One of my favorite beauty trends for Fall is the metallic smokey eye. Take your classic smokey eye and give it a twist by adding jewel tones and metallic colored eye shadows. Think gold, copper, and gunmetal. Isn't it gorgeous? I absolutely love this look. I usually wear very simple eye makeup, but I am dying to try this look for a night out or day at work. While looking for pictures of this trend, I found this awesome tutorial by Lisa Elderidge, who is one of my favorite makeup artists. She explains in detail on how to get the look and what products to use. Every gal who's a makeup lover should try this out. I think it would look beautiful on just about anyone.

What are your favorite Fall beauty trends?

Happy Sunday!
xoxoKelsey.

A new shade.

Hello, lovelies. 

 I have been a bad blogger this week. I wish I had an amazing excuse as to why, but there really isn't one. Anyways, just wanted to drop in and say hello, and to post a picture of my new hair color. Now, most of you are probably thinking that it doesn't look too different, as it's still red. But it is indeed a new hue. And it's also a bit brighter. Go big or go home, right?

There's something very refreshing about a new shade of hair. Change is good.

I hope you are all well, and I promise to be back to regular posting tomorrow.

Happy Wednesday!

xoxoKelsey.

Tights.

 Blazer-H&M

Dress- Forever 21

Tights-Target

Boots- No idea. But they're a few years old

I think I have an obsession with tights. While most Washington residents will wear their shorts and tank tops when it's 60 degrees, I wear tights. I love summer, but any chance to wear tights will be taken. Also, these boots are some of my favorites. When I was in high school, I played Peter Pan in a musical. I wore amazing ankle boots that were emerald green. Every time I wear these, they remind me of being Peter Pan. It brings back some wonderful memories. I even got to fly. That is if you consider being pulled up and down by a rope flying :).

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Tomorrow we get to celebrate Father's Day by going to the Washington Brewers Festival. I can't wait!

xoxoKelsey.

Six feet tall.

                                                   

  After my first week of posting outfits, I have learned the following:

 -Being a model is sometimes awkward.

-It takes practice to get the right poses/pictures.

- I need to figure out how to use Lightroom.

- I'm insanely pale.

-My husband is very patient with me.

- Sometimes the outfit posts are going to be silly.

Today is one of those "my outfit pictures did not turn out so hot" days. Ever have them?  I couldn't let the somewhat decent pictures go to waste, right? Anyways, these shoes are some of my favorites. I got them at Urban Outfitters a few months ago, and they make me feel six feet tall. I can actually work all day in them without too much pain, or without slipping on some hair and doing a face plant. Which for someone who is as clumsy as I, that is quite impressive.

Happy Tuesday, everyone! 

xoxoKelsey.

Glow

Hello, my friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful Monday. Today was a bit bittersweet day for me because I had to send my little brother back home to California. But it was a great day, either way! Onto the good stuff....

Here is this weeks beauty product:

 Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion

I first heard about this lotion from a beauty guru on YouTube (though I forget who).  This lotion is made to give your skin a beautiful glow, and it does. It has natural mica in it, which creates a beautiful shine when on your skin. It's not chunky glitter or anything too extreme, but it definitely has some noticeable shimmer. According to Burt's Bees website, it has 17 amino acids in it, along with sunflower oil, vitamins, and royal jelly. When I first bought this, I was really nervous that I was going to be rocking the "middle school body glitter" look. But alas, it is SO nice. This is my favorite thing to put on my legs when wearing a skirt or dress. It makes your skin glow, and gives it a hydrated look and feel. It makes my pale skin have a bit of life to it. I can imagine that it would make darker skin looking amazing as well. 

I can't really describe the scent, but it smells great. It's a light scent that is definitely not overwhelming. Maybe the scent is the royal jelly in it? I'm not sure. It absorbs quickly into your skin, so no greasy residue is left behind. It's my absolute favorite summer moisturizer. With all the extra skin exposed in the summer, it's great to know it's glowing! Oh, and on a side note, this also is a great moisturizer to use with sunscreen. I usually mix the two together, or layer it over my sunscreen.

You guys should give this a shot. It's under $10, and can be found pretty much anywhere!

Until tomorrow,

xoxoKelsey.

Bangs of the day.

                                                 Shirt- H&M
                                                 Skirt- H&M
                                                 Cardigan- H&M
                                                 Boots-Nordstrom
                                                 Earrings-handmade (see pic below)
    Today was spent roaming around downtown with my brother. It was fun being out and about during tourist season. There seems to be a lot more going on, and that makes any trip more exciting. We shopped, ate some lunch, visited the market, and enjoyed people watching. Jake (my brother) was kind enough to take these pictures for me. He even edited them and all that jazz. Having him around is proving to be pretty useful. Plus he cracks me up :).

     Ok, so my bangs are making my eyes look almost nonexistent  in these pictures. I swear my eyes are normal, but sometimes we have to sacrifice no eyes for awesome bangs, right? Lately I have been really having a hard time getting dressed in the mornings. It's a combo between most of my clothes being too big, and the weather being a bit crazy. Do I wear summer clothes? No. Too cold. Do I wear winter clothes? Definitely too hot. I long for the day when the weather makes up its mind.

Here is a close up of the earrings I'm wearing today. I've been slightly obsessed with feather earrings lately. (I wear them pretty much everyday). My dear friend Katrina makes them, and is opening up an online store soon!. Until then, you can contact her on her facebook here.

Happy Friday everyone!


xoxoKelsey.

What I wore on a Tuesday.

                                                        Jeans- H&M
                                                        Tank- Target
                                                        Cardigan- Stem (Nordstrom)
                                                        Scarf- Turkish pashmina (gift from my best friend)
                                                        Shoes- H&M  
So I am going to be trying my hardest to post outfit pictures more regularly. I somehow convinced Ian that I need him to start brushing up on his photographer skills. He was excited to use all of his photo editing software. I was excited to not have to somehow figure out how to use a tripod. These jeans are my favorite. They are super soft, and almost feel like leggings. Plus, I love that they are cropped, since I tend to roll up the bottoms of all my jeans. Also, this scarf is one of my most worn clothing items. My best friend brought back a few pashminas from her past trips to Turkey. I love them, They are great in the winter to keep you warm, but can also be worn in the summer because they are lightweight. I think they add a lot of interest to an otherwise simple outfit.


I have been so excited all day for Wednesday! Why, you ask? Wednesday is the day that my little brother Jake is here to visit. He is a pretty awesome kid, and I get to take a few days off to hang out with him. I'm hoping to get him to take some pictures while he is up here. He's pretty talented for only being 17. Check out his flicker....here.


Hope you guys like these outfit posts, they are a blast to make!


xoxoKelsey.

Just another manic Monday...

Hello, lovelies! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend, and that your Monday was easy and relaxed. I am here with another one of my favorite beauty products of the moment! This time it's a nail polish. I have a small obsession with nail polish, and I am constantly changing my favorite one to wear all the time!

Currently, it's Turquoise and Caicos by Essie. It's an amazing bright shade of tiffany blue, and is a great way to add a pop of color to an outfit. I'm pretty sure I wore this color everyday for two weeks on my fingers and toes. I love it SO much. It's bright without being overbearing, and I think it's a color that would be flattering on almost any skin tone. The pictures below are after applying three coats with a clear coat on top.

And what's even better, is Essie's nail polishes are DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde free! Hooray for no yucky chemicals. The polish also does not chip very easily, and that is coming from someone who's nail polish chips all the time from all the shampooing I do.

So go out and try this color, or any other bright spring nail polish. It definitely lifts your spirits :).

xoxoKelsey.

Monday

My name is Kelsey.


This is my very first blog, and I am excited to share my thoughts with the world. I am a new wife, a hairstylist, a student, and a self-diagnosed beauty addict. This is going to be a place where I share things about my life, and what makes it a great one to live. I want to share my passion for all things beautiful, and all the pretty little things that inspire me. I hope to be regularly updating at least 4-5 times a week (fingers-crossed). I hope to meet new people through this blog, and can't wait to get started! More soon...


Kelsey.