obsession

i have been so obsessed with glitter nail polish lately!


this was my NYE color!

 

all photos courtesy of the wonderful scrangie. seriously, do not look at her website if you aren't interested in developing an unhealthy obsession with nail polish.

baby it's hot outside

it. is. hot.

for those of you who have been to new york in the summer, it's not pleasant. there's humidity, the city is closed in so there's hardly any breeze, and when there is, it smells like baby puke and dog poo..

for those of you who are women, you know it's that much more difficult to keep up an appearance when your face is melting off. here are some tips for looking great despite the hellish heat a la hello giggles:

blotting papers - remove the shine without slopping off your makeup.

tinted moisturizer - it's much lighter than liquid foundation and is absorbed into the skin much better. you can also use it as a kind of 'fake bake' for a sunkissed look. plus: get one with spf, you'll thank me!

waterproof - sweat is water, water and makeup are not friends. waterproof mascara and eyeliner will keep your eyes looking sleek and sultry all day.

lip stain - stains hold up much better in heat than glosses.

updo's - braids, buns, pony tails.. having your hair off of your neck will not only keep you from looking like a sweaty, sticky mess, but it will help keep you cooler.

spritz - a nice mist of water on your face can cool you down instantly. evian makes a face spray you can get from sephora, and mac has its infamous fix +. tip: keep it in the fridge so the spritz is cool.

primer - in my opinion, foundation primer is an essential step in putting your face on, regardless of the weather or season. primer will help your foundation apply smoother and more flawlessly and will also help your makeup stay on longer.

less is more - apply the least amount of makeup as possible. it will help your skin breathe more and you won't have as many touch-ups.

oil - using oil instead of lotion will give more of a golden sheen to your limbs.

spf - it's summertime, after all! make sure there's spf in your makeup as well as being sure to apply regular sunscreen. skin cancer es no bueno.

body image

like most women, i have struggled with my body my whole life. there has not really been a time that i can remember being happy with the body i had when i had it.

also like most women, my body has been a point of contention most of my life. i exist in a family of extremely physical people - my dad is a cyclist and before that used to run and hike like a madman. my stepmom kite boards and did yoga for years. both of my parents are extremely physically fit - skinny, tiny, slim, everything. and i, unfortunately, am not.

and i'm the first to admit it - my body ain't what she used to be, unfortunately. i was in dance class for 3 years in high school, loved it. but that was my only outlet for physical activity. yes, i do envy the body i had at 18 years old, and i wish i could go back in time to tell my 18-year-old-self to appreciate it. but even then, i hated my body because for some reason, i wasn't as skinny as the 'popular' girls.

here is what's happened in the last 4 years:

yes i was skinnier then than i am now, but a different kind of change has occurred in me. it isn't as much about what is on the outside - i feel great things happening for me on the inside.

believe me, i do not pitty myself or spend time being jealous of the old me. in fact, i don't think i would go back to being 18 if you paid me. yeah, being young and reckless (and skinnier, apparently) is fun, but my life is so much richer now than it was my senior year..

• i have someone in my life who loves me as much, if not more, than he did 4 years ago
• i am not as apologetic for the way i am - love me or leave me!
• i have learned to accept my physical limitations - my hips will never allow me to be a size 0
• after being virtually sedentary for at least a couple of years, i now go to the gym at least 4 times a week
• even though i still have bad days, there are many ways in which i am beautiful, both on and beneath the surface

the best part about growing is learning - and i still have far more of both to do. i need to learn not to let my family's comments about their concern for my health & self-confidence bother me; i know they mean it from a good place, which i appreciate, but i need to reassure myself that they love me not matter what size or shape i am, because i know i do.

there was a really great 2-part series on gala darling's blog recently about body image in the blogosphere. click here for part 1 and part 2 - you really should give it a read. one reassuring thing is that everyone has body image baggage - even the people you think are 'perfect' or 'have it all.'

i don't think any woman should ever look at herself and hate what she sees in the mirror. it shouldn't be about if you can fit into a designer's sample sizes or having the same body type as heidi klum. i am a believer in if you don't like something about yourself - change it. but: do it because you want it. lose weight if you feel that's what you need to love yourself. if you don't need to hit the gym 7 days a week to love yourself, then don't.

yes, there are things i want to change about my body, and i love myself for working on them. other than that, here's what i have to say:

: )

 until next time..

<3 alaina

10 secrets to anti-aging

yes, i am only 22, but they say the younger you start protecting your skin against aging, the better!

here are the 10 commandments of anti-aging:

 1. sunscreen!

this is so important!even if you don't think you need sunscreen,

you should still apply one that protects against both UVA & UVB's.

these days, most skincare & beauty products come with sunscreen

in them. so use it!

2. quit smoking!

a-la dermatologist Frederic Brandt:

cigarettes "destroy collagen and elastin and decreases

levels of estrogen, which is necessary to keep skin firm."

3. retinoid!

retinoids help to minimize the appearance of existing age spots

and fine lines, while also preventing new ones. try philosophy's miracle worker

retinoid pads + solution. after 1 week, studies shower users saw reduced

discoloration and their skin was smoother and more clear.

4. stay hydrated!

maintaining hydrated skin help with the appearance of wrinkles.

5. get some sleep!

you skin needs downtime to repair itself and generate new

cells. plus, no sleep leads to puffy eyes and dark circles, which

will not do anything for your looks..

6. maintain a healthy weight!

crazy weight fluctuation is terrible for your skin! yo-yo dieting will cause the skin

to lose elasticity over time, and it becomes harder for it to snap back into shape. 

7. eat right!

just like anything in or on your body, you skin receives nutrients through

the foods you eat. the more balanced your diet = the younger your skin

will look. multivitamins are a great way to help your body get the nutrients

it needs.

8. work out!

exercising = increased blood flow = healthy complexion.

the experts recommend 30 minutes work outs 4-5 days a week.

9. relax!

the less you stress, the slower your cells will age. take time for yourself

at the end of each day! 

10. don't pop your zits!

as tempting as it might be, don't pick at your face! the older you get, the harder

it is for the skin to heal itself, so you could be doing some serious damage!

practice your will power and let your face heal itself!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**for more beauty tips, head over to my friend carmella's blog, blushing beauty on a budget. carmella is a licenced esthetician and has all the good secrets when it comes to maintaining a healthy beauty regimen on a budget**

until next time..

<3 alaina