:: frizz halo ::

It's getting worse. WAY WORSE. I know, I know, total first world problem, but still.

 I haven't found my frizz zapper by way of a Moroccan oil or a serum because I just don't like the idea of adding anything greasy near my roots. And that's exactly where I need the help. So I've tried to kick the problem in another way--leave-in conditioners! And I am making some progress. I tend to wash my hair at night because my mornings are a disaster. So, I wash and condition, towel dry and then spray in (or rub in) a leave-in. I let my hair air dry for about 15-20 minutes and then I top-knot it while I sleep. Frizzies aren't gone completely, but it definitely lessens their ranks. Below are a few of my recently discovered favorites.

Any others you'd suggest? Or techniques to pass along? My frizz doesn't head south for the winter so I'm thinking going to bed with wet hair in January isn't going to make me happy...

:: frizz halo :: 

:: beachy manicures for summer ::

I have super pale skin that only barely tans in the summer (it doesn't burn, thank goodness). But I've always felt like I've had to do the pinky, Essie Bubble Bath, bubble gum pink colors in the summer time and that was as light as I could go.

Otherwise, it looks like I don't actually have any nails. But I'm trying to embrace the nude nail. One, because it looks so summery and effortless. And two, because if I get a chip, it's barely noticeable. Try saying that about Lincoln Park After Dark.

 Anyone have any taupe-y favorites for me to try?

nude nails by mascaraordie 

:: supermodel cuticles ::

Rarely are there ways to make yourself look more polished on the cheap. Botox, keratin, an Equinox membership. These are all gonna cost you bank. But here's one good little habit for 2014 that will cost you under $15 and make your digits feel like a million bucks.

I pick at my fingers whenever. A childhood nail biter, I finally stopped that bad habit, but if I'm thinking hard or stressed or basically whenever I'm awake, I'm picking at my (now) raggedy cuticles. Here's a shortcut through my journey to find the best ever cuticle oils and creams.

1. Julep essential cuticle oil ($18). I got this as an add-on to one of my Julep boxes and I think it's my favorite of the bunch. It smells herbal and is light enough to absorb into my skin pretty quickly. A rollerball applicator is also my preference to a brush.

2. Aveda cuticle control ($10.50). This is more of a remover/minimizer, but whatever keeps those ragged edges smooth.

3. C. O. Bigelow Rosebud Salve ($6). If this stuff could cook me dinner and dig out my car after a snow storm, I'd marry it. In addition to being a lip balm, and a scratch soother and a burn reliever, it's great on the cuticles. And it's so cheap.

4. O.P.I Avoplex ($9). Made of avocado oil, it includes a brush applicator and is meant to be rubbed in overnight.

5. Butter Cuticle Oil ($19). This stuff actually looks (and feels like nail polish). Brush one coat over entire nail (including cuticle area) and let dry.

6. Philosophy's Hands of Hope ($10). Do you remember Philosophy's Save the Nails? It was discontinued a long time ago, which kinda broke my little product-loving heart. But they've finally replaced it and Hands of Hope is almost as good. And it doubles as a heavy hand cream for those of you with chappy winter hands.

7. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream ($6). A really tart lemon scent and a convenient little tin make this a great choice to toss in your purse. It takes a while to sink in (at least for me), but it gets the job done.

Any favorites I've forgotten? Happy weekend!

:: get your boston bronze on ::

And by "bronze", I do not mean that lovely pink hue on my cheeks. That's windburn. Escalating slowly into frostbite. On days weeks like this when ice and snow remind me who's boss, I need some extra help to not look like death.

Here are my tips for a good winter bronzing:

1. Go a shade lighter than your summer bronzer. In my case, this is only one shade lighter than my skin tone instead of two.

2. Use a powder, always. Not a liquid (too fake-y and too hard to apply and blend).

3. Use a kabuki brush instead of regular blush brush. It distributes the color better and helps to avoid streaking.

imitation summer.

And if you're looking for a tutorial, here's a great one from Birchbox:

:: beneFit spree ::

I've loved BeneFit Cosmetics for a while now and recently with their boutiques popping up, not to mention the darling little airport kiosks I keep seeing, there's even more to love. We had a fabulous Junior League event there on Monday night. In addition to eyebrow waxing, makeup applications and a goodie bag that were available to all participants, I made the following purchases. All worth their weight in gold. Okay, maybe not quite that amazing. But close.

benefit haul

Clockwise from top left: Stay Don't Stray (stay put primer for concealers and eyeshadow) $26; Hydra-smooth Lip Color $19; Dr. Feelgood (mattifying complexion balm) $30; Creaseless Cream eyeshadow $20.

I'm a sucker for their Benetint and Bad Gal mascara, too. Any other BeneFit goodies I should know about?

Linking up with All Things Thursday!

:: polish for the pale ::

I always feel just a little undone without a good manicure. I love the way a French manicure looks, but because even the smallest of chips destroys disappoints me, I hardly ever go that route.

And as I've mentioned before, my skin is very fair. In the fall and winter, I'm STILL a fan of all the OPI Black Onyx/Lincoln Park polishes that complement my tone without looking too goth. But in the summer, it's more of a challenge. I can't wear all the corals and oranges and taupes, and often the opaques make me look like I have no fingernails at all. Instead, I've compiled a few shades here that work really well for those of us who are pigment-challenged and still scream SUMMER.

source

**Zoya polish isn't pictured here, but it's my new favorite. Maybe a full post on this line soon!

 

:: big hair (in a bad, bad way) ::

I am not going to complain about the weather in this post. I swear. This past winter's snowfall totals triggered more than one inappropriate crying jag, and the spring made me feel like I was living somewhere near the Amazon during monsoon season. So the 90 degree weather and sunshine we're getting right now is a total dream.

But I can't fit my hair through the doorway, people. Like, we're talking Bride of Frankenstein crossed with Medusa crossed with Marge Simpson-kind of hair. I fix it in the morning and then I step outside my front door and it does whatever it pleases. I should just save that extra 30 minutes and actually start making myself breakfast.

But since I like to pretend that my hair is my showpiece, I blowdry and Bombshell it everyday, even when the humidity laughs in my face. And here are a few products that help me on my quest:

Moroccan Oil ($20 for 25ml): Is anyone else obsessed with the way this stuff smells? I'm waiting for them to make a spritzer.

Pureology Super Smooth ($24 for 150ml): Saw this in a recent issue of Allure and so far so good. Not crazy in love (yet), but it is made for color treated hair which makes me feel like it's pulling double duty for me.

Frizz-Ease ($7.99 for 1.69 fl oz): This stuff has been around for SO long! I rotated it out of my hair regimen a while ago because it felt too heavy and I couldn't bring it anywhere near the frizzies on my hairline because it just made them look greasy. But the line has been reformulated and is so much more lightweight. I'm still wary of how much I use, but it's back in the rotation.

Living Proof No Frizz Styling Cream ($36 for 8 oz): I have a lot of hair, but the individual strands are very fine, making me that much more prone to flyaways. This cream gives me that added weight to make my hair (sorta) resemble the neat and sleek and smooth styles I lust after.

Anything else out there I should try? I'm desperate, and summer's only just starting...

:: file under: there are worse things to OD on ::

Cheap and pretty, and one can argue a ~true necessity~ especially during schizophrenic varied Boston weather, lip gloss is in it with me forever. I'm a fan of sheer and shiny, but not too much of either. I'm also weening myself off the sparkle, as I've been told that as one ages, bling on our butts and bling on our lips needs to decrease significantly. The latter rule has always been followed. The former? Notsomuch.

The treasures below are my current favorites. Yes, I have them all and yes I use them all. Don't pretend you're not right there with me.

1. Smashbox O-Gloss ($23) :: Avocado oil and antioxidants could almost convince you that you're just putting vitamins on your lips. The color is supposed to customize to the shade of pink that's right for you. This is always just a touch too bright for me, but I love it paired with evening makeup.

2. Smith's Rosebud Salve ($6) :: Smith's, how I love you so. I adore this product, and it's great for cuticles and curling iron burns (yes, ugh). It also comes in mint and strawberry. The only drawback for me is that I have to stick my finger in the tin to apply it and when you're riding the subway twice a day...I don't even want to think about it.

3. Lancome Juicy Tubes ($18) :: So many colors, so thick and glossy. An addict's dream. If I wasn't constantly getting all my hair stuck on my lips when the wind blows, I would have a JT surgically implanted between my fingers.

4. EOS ($3) :: I'm new to these cute little balls, but I'm liking what I'm feeling. I'm trying to forget that I saw Kim Kardashian with one in a recent US Weekly and instead am focusing on the fact that they're organic and all natural and really cheap.

5. Philosophy Lip Shine ($10) :: I've already confessed my love for all things Philosophy. And this gloss is no different. I'm walking the sparkle-line here, but not officially crossing it. Yet.

6. Fresh Sugar ($22.50) :: Technically a lip treatment, this one is more like a balm and also contains SPF 15. And tastes delish.

How about you? Any must-try or stand-by glosses I've forgotten?

:: marry me, philosophy? ::

 I first discovered Philosophy when I bought their Real Purity skin cleanser about 15 years ago. I used it ~obsessively~. The smell of it (herbal-y/lemony is probably the best way to describe it) still reminds me of living in Santa Barbara when I was just a fresh, young thing. Unfortunately, at present I suppose their Hope in a Jar is a better description of my current needs.

Now, I love Sephora as much as the next girl, but that is not the place for a Philosophy addict to get her fix. The Philosophy website is out. of. control, and their email list offers are insane, too. I got everything below (all full-sized except the vanilla cake shower gel, which was 2 oz) for a total of $38.95, including shipping. The 8 oz Real Purity (now called Purity Made Simple) alone is $22 on the Sephora website.

I always check RetailMeNot before I place any order online and that's how I scooped up the free raspberry gloss and the bath gel. And I've decided that Amazing Grace is my new signature scent, so this bargain hunter to going to need all the discounts she can get.