How to Pull a Lauren Conrad

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Jensy

do we think LC gave herself this blue-crushworthy ombre mani? maybe!!

I read somewhere that Lauren Conrad (AKA, L.C., to the MTV crowd) paints her nails every single night. What? I scoffed. What kind of a spoiled princess has that kind of time? But as my nails started to experience an unfortunate amount of damage from repeated gel manicures (Hi, my name is Jenny and I am addicted to shellac.), I realized that maybe the girl was on to something.

I’ve always loved doing my own nails. I find it both cathartic and fun. If it’s a busy night and I have to slap some polish on quickly, I go for nudes or creams that won’t show mistakes too easily. If it’s game day and we’re camped out in front of the TV, like last weekend, I’ll go full-on with a five-step mani including a glitter fade comprised of crafting supplies. That one was a hit!

hint: try glitter. it makes things look so much cleaner.

Now, I still don’t do them every night, but I’m at the point of about every-other. My polish collection is honestly disgusting. It started with a bottle of Chanel my mom gave me when I went off to college and it’s amassed into an entire (large) shelf in our bathroom armoire. And onto the kitchen counter. And a scattering on the side table by the couch. And then there’s the red and the pink I keep in my gym bag just in case.

i ADORE this essie from last spring, bikini so teeny. looks great every time!

Experimenting with your nails is fun and easy. It’s just like accessorizing in any other way, but it’s pretty damn cheap. So, how do you make them look amazing at home, a la L.C.? Practice is important. The more frequently you do your own nails, the better you’ll become. But here are some of my personal tips for achieving a salon-quality mani on your couch. Or, if you’re like me, in the middle of your living room floor:

1. Moisturize. Just like your skin, your nails crave moisture. Before applying any polish, wash your hands and then dab some eye cream onto each nail. I know it sounds nuts, but I use eye cream for everything. It’s rich and full of nutrients that your nails will soak right up.

2. Invest in a proper base and top coat. The base coat keeps your actual nails protected from the pigment and dyes in the colors you apply. It also evens out the surface of your nail, preventing a bumpy look. A top coat is important for preventing chips and creating a uniformed aesthetic. I like Essie’s Good to Go; it’s super-shiny and dries in a flash, leaving your nails shiny as glass in a few minutes flat.

3. Make like a nail girl–shape, buff and shine! It takes a little extra time, but when you do your own nails, you can’t skip these steps. Filing is great, but get yourself a 6-in-1 or at least a 4-in-1 so you can also shape, smooth, buff and get those nails to a shine! These are easy to find for under five bucks at any drug store.

this took a while (and some craft glue, not pictured) but was worth it.

4. Take your time. Paint slowly, and allow a full five minutes to pass between applying each coat. The more time you give yourself to apply the polish, the better it will look. And the longer each coat dries, the less likely you’ll be to smudge it later.

5. Have fun! Nail trends run the gamut these days from flair nails and glitter to ombre, rainbow brites and nudes. Whatever you fancy in a magazine, give it a whirl at home. You might just be surprised by your own chic talons… and I guarantee, your friends will be thinking, “What kind of spoiled princess has that kind of time?”

Well, you do, now. Because you decided to make it for yourself.

A Better Cream

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Jensy

I have a troubling wrinkle developing in the middle of my forehead. It is neither ever-present nor completely deniable. Depending on stress, fatigue, headaches, and my beauty routine, it can be anywhere from the fainted recess not visible to any eye but mine–to a full-on crater (I’m exaggerating a little, but still) right in the middle of my forehead.

My brother was experiencing a similar situation with his own forehead, though he was pleased to unveil his incredibly tight new skin this past Christmas. Ever since then, it has continued to firm up, the lines melting away. Granted, the kid is 25, and he didn’t need much help. But this one line was bugging him, so he jumped on the Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica train and hasn’t leapt off since.

When I saw how amazingly taut his skin looked, I immediately ran to Neiman Marcus and got myself a pot. I opted for the lighter version due to my combination skin, that’s prone to breakouts. I’ve definitely noticed a difference in the month since I’ve started using this product. The unique blend of ingredients in this powerful potion are recommended for beauties of all ages; just start using it (applying in an upward motion, as Noah taught me) and watch the magic unfold.

This past weekend, I was in New York and opted to use his instead of packing mine (even though the jar is not over 3.4 oz., I’ve had my precious stuff dumped so many times before at airport security, I’m very leery of traveling with it now).

Surprisingly, the emerging pimples I had at the beginning of the weekend are completely at bay, even less threatening than they were on Saturday morning. And my skin looks markedly tighter and dewier–just from four days with the thicker formula. I’m amazed! In my several years of testing and trying every product on the market, I can honestly say I’ve never seen this dramatic a difference in such a short time. I’ll definitely finish up my bottle of the lighter formula, but will be moving to the more potent stuff for my next one.

I strongly suggest that you and your forehead wrinkle, or whatever else plagues you, head over to your nearest department store or the Kiehl’s online shop and stock up. Trust me, your skin will be very happy with this decision.

Whisper’s the Word

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Jensy

your lips are NOT going to look like this when you use this product. trust.

Has anyone seen those incredibly enticing commercials for the new Color Whisper lipsticks from Maybelline? As a beauty writer, I’m always ready to try the latest things and I have to admit I was pretty impressed by the glass-like sheen and subtle color that I saw in these print and TV ads. I picked up a tube at a local drug store and raced to the car to apply it. The first layer provided me with nothing more than doubt, so I went ahead and swept on another, and then another.

What can I say? The product is definitely true to its name. It’s an absolute whisper of color. I purchased “Coral Ambition,” which is a really pretty hue. But it takes about six coats to get it to my desired level of opacity. The good news? This lipstick is super-moisturizing, so it feels great when you put it on, and it smooths and conceals dryness unlike chalkier varieties. Oh, and at about $6 a tube, you’re not making any major investment here.

here it is in action… thoughts?

I guess what I’ve learned from this experiment is that I’m not a middle-of-the-road girl. I either want a hint of gloss, or a full-on lipstick. Sheer lipstick is probably just not my thing. If you seek a similar product with a heftier dose of color, try Maybelline’s other recent lip launch, Baby Lips (I favor “Pink Punch,” natch).

That said, I definitely recommend Color Whisper for an under-$10 tube of lipstick for all girls searching for a hint of color and a good hour and a half of staying power. Just make sure you’re someone who likes to actually whisper, at least, color-wise.

Try Something New: Neon Makeup

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Jensy

I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t neon sort-of, or almost- over? Isn’t neon a thing of the past two summers that we occasionally, inappropriately, spot on a scarf or rain boot in the dead of winter and cringe? Well, kind of. Neon has had major bursts of popularity over the past few seasons and while you may want to store your over-the-top neon orange or pink, gold hardware-detailed satchels for a June beach day, there are still threads of the trend that work. And they work right now. My favorite, of course, related to makeup.

If you are tired of the sorry old smoky eye that everyone has been talking about and trying to achieve since I was in high school (which was, ahem, a while ago), it’s time to open your pretty peepers to something new and bold. A thin (or thick!) line of neon on the eyes or a pop of neon shadow can bring your look to the next level, even if your outfit is head-to-toe black, a simple white dress, or an otherwise blank canvas.

Neon nails also do the trick but I prefer a neon flair nail against white, cream, navy, or pastel on the other fingers to keep things classy. And then, there is my new favorite… the neon lip!

Yes, girls, you are hearing (reading) my lips correctly. One of my personal favorite funky makeup brands, Lime Crime, has just come out with their officially brightest lip color to date. It’s called Geradium and it’s a neon coral that really pops. I swear, you need nothing else on your face if you rock this color. Plus, it’s just your lips, so your style statement won’t be so bold as to offend, even in an office environment.

What makeup trends are you most looking forward to — and mostly planning to avoid — this spring?

Day-Old Mascara: The newest lazy girl YES?

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Jensy

Wow! I found this post in my old draft this morning and had to share it with y’all. A lot has changed since I wrote it… except for my appreciation for Pop Beauty’s mascara and my tendency to leave it on for two days running. Since I wrote this, I have: moved back to Brooklyn, gone on vacation, gotten engaged (!), started a second blog, moved to Dallas, reconfigured my freelance lifestyle and gone through two rounds of false lashes. And no matter what, I go back to this mascara and this method, so I thought I would share it with you even though the post is outdated. A sort of time capsule from just shy of a year ago — so much has changed, but my favorite beauty tips remain the same. Here it is:

Even sexier the next day. Trust me.

Okay, okay. Before you judge, HEAR ME OUT. It’s been a crazed month, reaching its pinnacle last Monday. Quit day job to pursue dreams. Book enough freelance work to convince family that this is a sound decision. Receive amazing opportunity from former employer and mentor to work on exceptionally cool project (more details on that later!) Learn that big brother needs help running his new wine store. Relocate to Connecticut with cat for one month. Move one third of belongings to mother’s home, one third to brother’s home, and one third to boyfriend’s home. Take a deep breath. Go to sleep. Wake up. Get to work (at liquor store, where you can do your other work downstairs in the basement). Remember that you forgot to put mascara on.

Yikes.

I recently stumbled upon an incredible mascara by Pop Beauty that I highly, highly recommend. I am absolutely meticulous about my lashes and even dabbled in faux’s for a while. I’ve always had an obsession with mascara and am literally unable to leave the home without it. In my former life as a Diorshow user, I had several tricks for creating the appearance of longer lashes. Pulling upward with the wand, casting eyes downward, building layer upon layer, adding extra coats, and so on. In my new life as a Pop Beauty user, I pay $10 less per tube for a mascara that naturally builds and expands on my lashes, creating a longer and fuller look with brilliant little fibers that blend flawlessly with the lashes I naturally have.

In the latest chapter of life, where I find myself working from home or from the basement at the Wise Old Dog, my inner lazy girl has discovered that, if not removed at night, this kick-ass mascara can last a full forty-eight hours. Should you go to bed every night without washing your face? Of course not. But if you didn’t wear anything on your skin one day and you do a quick once-over with a cleansing cloth followed by moisturizer, I am hereby giving you permission to lazily rock day-old mascara one day each week. Bonus: day-old liner is smudgy, sexy and tres 70′s glam. Your boy will love it… I know mine did!

Dreaming of beautiful second-day lashes…

Makeup Looks: Rock Red Lips Right

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Jensy

Thank you, ELLE, for the photo.

Ah, red lipstick. How I love thee. How I question your ability to stay put, and flatter my pout, without being too much…

Red lips are classic, bold, feisty, and fun, but they can be a hassle. To pull them off well, you must remember the rest of your face; red lips with crazy eye makeup is just too much. That said, if you have blemishes or undereye circles, you need to wear some makeup aside from your lips or the red will just bring out the imperfections. Sigh!

I have a Revlon hue that I really love, so I set to work building a makeup look around it that would make my eyes pop and conceal any skin problem areas while still letting the lips do the talking. We were headed to a Fashion’s Night Out in Dallas, a somewhat glam but not over-the-top event. I wanted the lips to look good, but not to overpower the dress, of course.

I was having a particularly bad skin day, so I prepped my face by applying a light oil-free moisturizer first and letting it dry. Then I applied Clinique Acne Solutions liquid foundation to my entire face, a bit heavier on the trouble spots. For maximum coverage of the blemishes, I used Diorskin powder foundation in place of concealer. I finished off with this great MAC blush to warm up the cheeks. I personally find that bronzer + red lips is a bit much.

Then I used a mix of brown, gold and cream eye shadows to brighten up my eyes without a seriously smoky effect. To make them pop, I added a narrow line of black liquid liner to the tops and a surprising punch of blue liner to the lower lids for something extra. I finished off with two coats on top and bottom lashes of this high-gloss mascara from Maybelline.

The finishing touch, of course, was the lipstick. Apply red lipstick from the center of the top lip out, making sure not to go outside of your natural lip area. If you create an uneven line or go outside your lips, clean up with a Q-tip dipped in makeup remover. Easy! I like a creamy lipstick like this one with plenty of pigment; it is not drying like a matte stick, but it has serious staying power for kissable red lips that last all night.

The look:

The toolkit:

From top: Eyes by Design shadow palette in Bronze, it Cosmetics powder brush, Revlon Super Lustrous Creme lipstick in Fire & Ice, Christian Dior’s Diorskin powder foundation (used as concealer), CVS brand shadow brush, Essence metallic eye liner #5, MegaEyes liquid liner in black, Maybelline Turbo Volum’ Express in black, Chanel soft touch eye shadow in Blazing Gold, MAC Office Hours blush in Rosy Outlook, Clinique Acne Solutions liquid makeup.

The on-the-go kit:

Who has room in her purse for a million products? Streamline a look by bringing just the essentials– in this case, the same blak liner, red lipstick, and mascara I’d used prior in case anything rubs off. Also, the Clinique foundation to use on spots as they emerge throughout the night, and I toted an Estee Lauder cream shadow for easy application on-the-go.

The late-night shot:

I was pleased that the look held up for a good three hours with no need to touch up. Even after a few of those delightful complimentary champagnes

Wonder Woman Manicure

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Jensy

Not a super hero? Learn how to fake it.

I went into my local nail salon for a straight-up manicure and selected Essie’s “To Buy or Not to Buy.” For some reason I was expecting it to be a little more sparkly than it turned out. I was bummed. My manicurist totally got it — like me, she is a sucker for anything glitzy and over the top. We thought about applying a glittery topcoat to all of the nails, but she wanted to do something different and special.

She pulled from her arsenal an opaque slate glitter polish that I immediately deemed way too dark. She told me to shh and trust the expert. My goodness! When a beautiful Russian salon owner who loves glitter tells you to shh and trust her, you shut up and do it. Right?

The result was this ridiculously fly mani with one little diagonal swipe of girl power silver across each ring finger. I might be missing a certain sparkly something on this finger, but for the time being, a swipe of Wonder Woman-esque polish will do. What do you think?

Try Something New: Coral lips

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jensy

Pinks and reds and nudes are lovely, but donning a coral lip is sure to turn heads and up your swagger factor instantly. I love playing with all different lipstick colors; this season I’m finding that coral is a fun, trendy color that works on all skintones and with a multitude of outfits.

Daytime darling:

Try a matte coral lipstick by day with basically bare eyes–just a coat or two of mascara will do! This look is daytime casual but super-pretty and can easily work with jeans and a T or a sweet sundress.

Dressy date night:

Wanna wow on your first (or hundredth) date with Mr. Right? Keep his eyes glued to your face (and his mind on kissing you) with a glossy neon-coral pout like Leona Lewis’s.

Full-on glamour:

Attending a wedding or other glammed-up summer soiree? Make like January Jones with an eye-catching, vintage-esque creamy coral lipstick and winged black eyeliner. Gorgeous!

Try Something New: Lovely Lavender Lips

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Jensy

Lipstick is such an interesting thing. You can step out of your comfort zone, switching from your everyday color to something new and get tons of attention from people at work and home. You can also keep it moving day to day and play with all the spring colors. Doing this creates a fluid relationship with the project of lip adornment. I like to experiment and I own probably around 80 lipsticks and glosses, but there’s no need for you to become as lip-happy as I am; my poor boyfriend had to build a bookshelf in our laundry room to house the overflow that doesn’t fit in my cosmetics cabinet. You can keep it a little more streamlined by picking one or two fun and fresh new colors to try each season.

Shocking lavender lips are sexy for nighttime glam.

Which brings me to lavender. It’s such a beautiful color and one that many people might not dream of putting on their lips. I fondly remember an old makeup friend; for the longest time my ultimate favorite lipstick was Chanel’s “Violette.” This luxe, creamy stick was an ever-so-slightly pearlescent lavender with just enough pink in it to remain ladylike and enchanting. It was so beautiful. I was fifteen years old and I wore it every day of sophomore year until it was a sad little flattened shell of its former glory. Then I begged Mom for another stick and after that one died, we discovered that it had been discontinued. We were both horrified and saddened and have been wandering around the beauty counters ever since looking for something that matches Violette’s charms. To no avail.

Make like a Rihanna and try a glossy, pink-toned purple for day.

This season, a shocking ten years after the disappearance of Violette, pastel is major again and violet lips are showing up all over the place. I felt determined to find my old flame in new packaging, and I think I got pretty damn close. The new Duane Reade is a remodeled wonder filled with beauty goods for giddy girls, and I unearthed a $7 lipstick there last week and have received rave reviews. This creamy, long-last lipstick delivers plenty of shine and manages a purple pout without bluish tones. I’m obsessed and I think you might be too. And, since it’s super cheap, you won’t have to cry if this is one of those makeup trend moments that just isn’t your fave.

Revlon's Colorburst Lip Butter in Gumdrop will make you feel like a model.

Terracotta: The New YES! Color

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Jensy

It’s natural that a beauty-obsessed girl is going to spend a fair amunt of time on the blogs and around the web sniffing out cosmetics trends and innovative products. And while there always seems to be a new idea out there to grab my fancy and make me want to write, it’s rare that I have an “a-ha!” makeup moment as profound as I did today while scoping the latest on HuffPo’s beauty site.

They have this fab section that features a new fresh face each post, walking readers through the cosmetics breakdown of every look. I like that the blog tends to feature natural beauties unfettered by crazy drama makeup, but rather facing the city as they do on an average day. Today I discovered a particular favorite that sparked a thought. This girl is wearing DIY blush made from natural terracotta she dug out of the earth on some eccentric trip. Good for her.

Okay, now let’s face facts. It’s clear I won’t be venturing outside of Manhattan to dig out my own blush from the bottom of a rock anytime soon. But suddenly it hit me. Terracotta! Of course! A burnt pinky orange that will flatter fair girls and dark girls and all the pretty colors in between. A color that will enhance cheekbones and brighten brown, blue, and green eyes. A color that would be delicious in a gloss swept across any girl’s pout. Duh. Terracotta!

So, how to make it work? Pick a spot and stick with it. Too much orange on the face is a definite no, so if you already have a great tan and you try to work this look into both your shadow and lipstick, you could be entering OompahLoompahVille (just North of Planet Snooki!). Instead, keep your makeup neautral throughout and compliment one feature at a time with terracotta accents.

EYES: Eyes are amplified with a shot of orange. No need to go seasonally neon on this particular trend wagon, instead you can keep things warm and sexy with a proper pot of terracotta shadow and a great brown liner. And while this look is especially sexy on blue eyes, it’s one of those equal opportunity stunners that will sex-up your brown, gray, green, or hazel eyes too. Yay!

Remember this ad campaign? Now, go make it happen for yourself. Guerlain still offers their sexy terracotta bronzer collection, but you should also consider their eye shadow in L'Instant Fauve. Beyond gorg.

LIPS: You may have noticed, I’ve been all about lipstick of late. You can go either way with this color–if you’re set on being a glossy girl, I recommend going for a pencil and gloss, and wearing your eyes in neutral browns or with just a slick of black liner to keep things balanced. But if you want to have just a little more fun, you can try the terracotta trend with a great, matte lipstick and then plenty of drama on the eyes. A smoky eye is balanced with a sexy, burnt-orange lip.

If you're gonna go for it, REALLY go for it. Physicians Formula Plumping lipstick in Sunkissed Potion, under $10, drugstore.com.

CHEEKS: Keep your face even-toned with a creamy foundation or just by using concealer on those trouble spots. Then, work in a powder blush with orange undertones, starting at the apples of the cheeks and spreading out with your fingertips. To keep from entering Clownville, tap your brush twice before applying. You can always add more, but it’s difficult to remove effectively once you’ve overblushed.

I like the pink base of this blush from Dr Hauschka, with just the right hint of terracotta undertone. Bonus: this one is designed to suck excess oil out of your skin, keeping unwanted greasiness and general afternoon ick-factor at bay. $30, beauty.com.

Nails: You might have to do some digging, but this deep burnt orange from Essie (a few seasons ago) is a great fit. Called Chubby Cheeks (random!), it’s a summer-happy hue with just enough darkness and depth to keep you grounded for the coming months. Here is a photo–now, if you find it online, you must email me at once and tell me where!

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