[bye 2011] New Year's Glow

The New Year is right around the corner and tonight is a time to celebrate!  Remember the good of 2011, laugh at the bad, all that good stuff.  I think there's nothing better to ring the New Year in with than some sparkle and shine.  You may have noticed my tweets about these products before, but I have found a lipstick and a nail polish that I absolutely love.  Even though these may be my current favorites, any metallic or glittery nail polish will do the trick and help you bring in the New Year with a smile.  And always, don't forget to be responsible :)

What's your New Year's resolution?  If you comment about it here, you can win a pair of owl earrings!  But, the contest closes at midnight tonight, so enter soon!

Featured:

Fireside Glow Nail Polish by China Glaze: I've had it on for a few days now and have been very happy with the quality.  No polish has flaked or rubbed off, and the glitter has stayed on my nails and off of everything else.

24 Karet Gold Lipstick by NYX: I absolutely love NYX!  They offer some amazing products, including their Diamond Sparkle Lipstick and colorful glitter eye shadow palettes.  

slevinstyle Etsy Store

I'm excited to announce that I'll be opening my own Etsy store within the next few days!  The store will feature jewelry and housewares that I've created; I'm also hoping to include handmade clothing in the near future.  I'll make an announcement once it's up and running, but if you're interested in checking out my Etsy page then visit me at  http://www.etsy.com/people/slevinstyle :)

Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions for items I can make.  If I decide to make your idea, you can receive a discount from my store!

Also, look forward to a sewing tutorial from me soon on how to take those oversized promotional or college t-shirts and turn them into something fab!

[deal maker] ULTA Make-Up Steals #2

While watching Extreme Couponing on TLC, I felt inspired to do another makeup deal post like my initial ULTA one.  The difference now is that I'll utilize weekly deals to make each week's basket.

At ULTA, I like to combine their weekly coupons with their special savings.  Along with the usual coupon for $3.50 off a purchase of $10.00 or more, this week's best deal is the buy 2 get 2 free offer for ULTA brand makeup.  I'm sure many of you prefer not to buy store-brand makeup, but ULTA has some great products.  Personally I've found the nail polishes, liquid eyeshadows, and eye crayons to be great.  So if you're not opposed to purchasing ULTA products, here's the shopping basket I'd suggest.

ULTA Beauty Deals Week of 12/27/11 by slevinstyle on polyvore.com

Featured Products:

ULTA Nail Polish: I've found ULTA's own brand of nail polish to be easy to apply and long-lasting.  I'm a fan of metallic colors for the winter, so keep an eye out for High Roller, Scene Steel-er, and Pinata-Yada (I think I'll get this shade soon!)

ULTA Extreme Wear Cream Eyeshadow: ULTA's cream eyeshadow is easy to apply with its included cap applicator brush and doesn't come off during the day.  I think Exclusive is great for a natural look and Premiere looks like a nice darker shade for an evening out.

ULTA Eye Crayon: I purchased ULTA's eye crayon in Confetti and haven't been happier.  I'm always on the lookout for a purple shade to compliment my green eyes and I've found this color to be great.  What do you think of Dark Denim, a navy blue, as the next "it" eyeliner color?  If not, we can go for that amazing mint green Paradise.

[giveaway] New Year's Giveaway

Here it is, the info for my first New Year's giveaway!  A lucky winner will receive this hand-made pair of white owl stud earrings.  To enter, follow me on twitter @slevinstyle and leave a comment on this post with your New Year's resolution and email address!  Also, put your twitter name so I can see that you followed.  I will announce the winner after New Year's on January 2nd.  Good luck and enjoy the holiday season!

We're getting a facelift!

Within the next week you may see some changes made to slevinstyle.  I'm updating the blog layout and re-formatting some previous posts.  You may be pleasantly surprised by how the new-and-improved (yet still recognizable!) slevinstyle blog will look.  One of the biggest changes is that I'll be focusing more on helpful product reviews.  Keep checking in to see when changes are complete!  A pleasant surprise in the form of a giveaway may be waiting for you :)

[review] Essie's Matte About You

Essie's Matte About You by slevinstyle on polyvore.com

Images via Essie, myself, thetrendygirl.net

My sister recently flew in to spend a week at home, so I took advantage of the time to take her to ULTA so we could both get some new makeup. (she has her own blog, take a look) She was looking for a black matte nail polish, which we couldn't find anywhere. When we asked a saleswoman for help she led us to a shiny black nail polish.....BUT my sister found this great matte top coat from essie that turns any nail polish into a matte color. It costs $8-10.

Here you can see the difference this matte top coat makes over a black shade by BCBG Max Azria. You only need to apply one layer of the matte polish for it to have its effect. I'm kind of in love with the matte black.

I was stumbling around online (stumbleupon is amazing) and came across this manicure idea, maybe I'll try it in the future when my nails are a bit longer.
I'm excited to use the matte top coat on top of...oh...every color. So what do you think, is matte nail polish a new trend or an unfinished look?

Beauty Deals - Ulta Makeup

I apologize for my lack of posts recently, I started an internship at a law firm and have been pretty busy with that and my diy-ing (pics to come soon).

To start off getting back with posting, I thought what's a better way than to let my readers in on some beauty deals?

Starting last week, Ulta has been clearing out their own brand of makeup with prices dropping from $14.00 to $5.00 in some cases. No makeup product is over $5.00! I feel confident saying this clearance stems from Ulta's desire to market their items in new packaging. 

I took advantage of the deal and got myself the following items (I'll be going back for more soon).  The pink blush is an AMAZING color and the cream eyeshadow is so easy to use. I just swipe a little bit on my lid and blend it in with my finger.

Featured:

ULTA Extreme Wear Mousse Blush in Pink Glow - $2.00 from $7.00 (almost 72% off!)

ULTA Extreme Wear Mousse Blush in Nude Glow - $2.00 from $7.00 (almost 72% off!)

ULTA Extreme Wear Cream Eyeshadow in Exclusive - $3.00 from $8.00 (almost 63% off!)

BUT there's another secret: Ulta's coupons! Every week Ulta has a coupon for either 20% off one item or $3.50 off a purchase over $10.00. I love going each week and getting myself around $10.00 worth of goodies for only around $6.50. By combining this coupon with the Ulta brand blowout, you can get a lot of items for a small bit of cash!

Here are some cute makeup items for the summer and how much you can save by purchasing them at Ulta!

Ulta Makeup Deals by peace[♥]kappa on Polyvore.com

BUT that's not all! Remember those $3.50 off coupons? If your salesperson is nice and lets you split up your purchase into 2 purchases of over $10, that's an additional savings of $7! (see how watching Extreme Couponing can help?)

So...your total cost for all this makeup? $19! That's a savings of $41 or 68%!

Grabbed any great makeup deals recently? Let us know in the comments!

Alfred Angelo for Disney Wedding Gowns

When I was younger I loved to watch Disney movies; seeing Mufasa die in The Lion King still makes me cry. It was fun to dream of when I'd find my own Prince Charming, but then of course I'm not a singing mermaid or nose-in-a-book merchant's daughter. You could only imagine my surprise when I saw that designer Alfred Angelo has created Disney-inspired wedding gowns for purchase by the general public. They're all so amazing and appropriate for the princess they represent (Ariel's dress is mermaid cut, of course). I don't know about you, but I love the bodice detail on Cinderella's dress. Check out the gallery: which wedding dress is your favorite?

Cinderella

Sleeping Beauty

Ariel

Images courtesy of Alfred Angelo

Use Celebs for Beauty Inspiration

There are so many quizzes and applications on the internet now that it's easy to spend (waste...) a whole lot of time taking them all. But if there's one application I would suggest, it's the MyHeritage.com Celebrity Face Recognition software. Besides being super fun to use, this site can be used to your advantage. See which celebrities resemble you most, and steal their makeup secrets. That's right, use them as inspiration! Here I am with some of my friends and our beauty suggestions.

Mary

Mary's best match is Shiri Appleby, an actress most known for her small-screen roles on ER and Life Unexpected. Shiri looks great in this photo via moejackson.com from the 2007 Tony Awards. Shiri has a more toned-down look with light pink lips, coral/pink blush, and a slight brush of a brown-ish eyeshadow. Her eyes are played up with mascara and what look like bronze eyeshadow accents. This is a great way for Mary look great while staying close to natural. Here are some products that may help Mary achieve this look:

Featured:

Naked Lipstick by Urban Decay
Smooth on Blush in Soft Spoken Pink by Revlon
Single Eyeshadow in Nude, Champagne by Smashbox

Sarah

Jessica's hair looks amazing, but we'll stick to the makeup for now. In this image via Jessica Simpson Pictures, Jessica stuns with pink lips and dark outlined eyes. Her skin is glowing and even, with perhaps a bit of blush accenting her cheekbones. To achieve this look, Sarah should make sure to outline her eyes in a dark brown or black mascara and enhance her eyelashes with a bold mascara. Here are some products that may help Sarah achieve this look:

Featured:CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Sweetheart
Cashmere Wear Ultra-Smoothing Bronzer in Light Bronzer by Physician's Formula
Define-A-Lash Eyeliner in Brownish Black by Maybelline

Mina

Mina's #1 look-alike is Alizee, a French singer. In this image via fanpix.net, Alizee uses muted colors for an almost floral look. The most notable makeup products are a lilac eyeshadow, pink lip gloss, and a peach blush. This fresh combination is great for Mina for the spring or summer. Here are some products that may help Mina achieve this look:

Featured:

Smooth On Blush in Blushed by Revlon
NYX Single Eye Shadow in Frosted Lilac
Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Polish in Tonya

Me

I've often been told I look like Jessica Lowndes from 90210 (in fact I'm sure one of my friends would yell at me if I didn't mention it!) but the according to the software I'm a close match to Camilla Belle. I do absolutely love this photo of Camilla via funalso.com, so I'll use it! Camilla has filled in her eyebrows to create a more intense look. Mascara and a slight cat eye enhance her eyes, and a deep red lipstick pulls together the look. Fortunately Camilla played her balance right with dramatic lips and more natural eyes. Here are some products that can help me achieve this look:

Featured:

Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eyeliner in Midnight Black
Eyebrow Pencil in Brunette by Anastasia
Lipstick in Russian Red by MAC via maccosmetics.com

Now it's your turn! Try out the My Heritage program and see which celebrity resembles you the most. Then, search for images of that celebrity and recreate makeup styles you like.  Want your own personalized celebrity beauty look? Sent me a tweet @slevinstyle and you can be featured in an upcoming blog!

All makeup images courtesy of Ulta.com.

I do not directly endorse any featured products unless specifically stated.

New! Be featured on slevinstyle

image courtesy dreamstime.com

If you take a look at the left panel, you'll see a new tab labeled "Be Featured". Here you can find information to get yourself on my blog! I would love to feature more friends and "real people" on the site. Take a look at the page for more information!

Stain them Red

Image courtesy of sxc.hu

I've recently become a huge fan of lip stain. It's so easy to use and lasts for a while, no need for reapplication Also the color doesn't bleed or leave marks on cups, etc. I've been using the Maybelline Color Sensation Lip Stain ($6.99). It's oddly similar to a marker, like most lip stains are now. The marker is much easier to use than the older squeeze-type packages! My favorite is #25 Feelin' Rosy.

Image courtesy of drugstore.com

My boyfriend could even tell it was a new product! He liked how it looked natural, unlike the pastiness of lipstick. I'll need to find a good red for when we go out, maybe CoverGirl's Outlast Lipstain in Scarlet Pucker ($8.29).

Image courtesy of drugstore.com

Lip stains are a great way to get that fresh summer look for a low price. But, stains can sometimes dry out your lips (I've had no big problem with the Maybelline one) so apply a lip balm over it for added protection. Stains come in a spectrum of roses, peaches, and plums, so have fun with your look!

All price estimates are taken from Ulta.com.

Smart Sun Safety

Photo courtesy of sxc.hu

With the warm summer sun beating down on us, we often feel the need to go outside and get that tan glow. But, it is important to remember to stay safe while pursuing that perfect tan. Although we know what a tan looks like, what exactly is it?

A tan is your skin’s reaction to ultraviolet (UV) rays. When skin cells are exposed to UV rays, they produce a brown pigment called melanin, which darkens the color of the skin cells. This is your skin’s defense against further UV damage. UV rays actually damage the DNA of your skin cells! Even though your cells quickly react to UV damage, their defense is not perfect and your DNA is not always successfully repaired. This DNA damage is what can lead to wrinkles, sagging skin, spots, and skin cancer.

Sunscreen

Every day use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. I go with at least SPF 30 unless I’m using a special product for my face, which usually comes in SPF 15. I always use a moisturizer with SPF; my favorite is CoverGirl’s Aqua Smoother Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15.

CoverGirl's CG Smoothers SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer ($6.99)

Apply your sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 to 3 hours. You may have to reapply your sunscreen more often if you’ve been swimming or sweating a lot. Make sure your sunscreen covers all areas of the body including your nose, earns, neck, and lips. That’s right, lips! Rather than goop body sunscreen onto your lips, you can get a lip balm with SPF built right in. The EOS lip balms are fun with great flavors and a unique shape; they’ve just come out with a lemon flavor with SPF 15 that can protect your lips from the sun’s rays.

EOS Lemon Drop Lip Balm

Tanning Beds

Many young women prefer the ease of the tanning bed to waiting outside for hours, but are tanning beds safer than tanning outside? Tanning salon owners comment on how their beds use UVA rays rather than UVB rays, which are more dangerous. But, UVA rays can also cause cancer! Sunbed tanning can still increase the risk of skin cancer.

So what’s a girl to do to safely get that tanned summer look? I’m a big fan of tanning sprays and lotions. It takes some practice to use them without streaks or unevenness, but once you get the hang of it you can get you tan in a quick and safe way. You can also use them to even out any existing tan lines. Here are some of my favorite sunless tanning products.

Neutrogena Micromist Sunless Tanning Spray ($11.49)

Jergens Natural Glow Tanning Moisturizer ($8.99)

With these sun tips you can have a fun and fearless summer. Remember, have fun and stay safe!

Sources

http://www.skincancer.org/the-dangers-of-tanning.html

http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/tc/protecting-your-skin-from-the-sun-topic-overview

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/cancer/risk/159.html

All price estimates are taken from Ulta.com.

Betsey's an Animal!

Betsey's an Animal! by peace[♥]kappa

I first came across this collection by Betsey Johnson while walking through a Macy*s to enter the main part of the mall. I couldn't take my eyes off of these adorable little animal pieces; I absolutely love the bulldogs! Each animal comes in a necklace, ring, and earring design. You can also find ocean-inspired pieces including starfish, mermaids, and fish. Check out Betsey Johnson's whimsical jewelry here.

P.S. I found these strikingly Betsey-inspired earrings at Forever21. I bought a silver pair with a black and white zebra print in the middle. They're only $2.80 a pair! Take a look at Forever21.

Listen to Your Lips

We've all heard about reading palms to learn about yourself or to foresee the future, but what about your lip prints? According to lip print interpretation expert Jilly Eddy (and founder of lipsology.com), the shape your lips make when you kiss a surface says much about your personality. Read more here.

Rompers!

Fun and Bright Rompers by peace[♥]kappa

Dress Up Rompers by peace[♥]kappa

I don't know about all of you, but I absolutely LOVE rompers! This is a fashion staple I need to get more of. I'm really liking the bright retro print style (number 4 in the first set) from Forever21, it's just $21! I'm also thinking of getting at least one of the dressier styles to wear out. Rompers are just so easy to put on and accessorize, why not take advantage of it? Here are some pictures of fabulous celebrities rocking the romper trend.

photos courtesy of OK! Magazine; Positively Celebrity; New York Magazine; haveuheard.net

Cutout Heel

Jeffrey Campbell Skate Cutout Wedge

I came across these incredible shoes online at Urban Outfitters. The first thing that came to mind, of course, was Lady Gaga. They reminded me of her style and some of her past looks (examples below). Price tag of $199 ignored, these would be pretty fun to wear.

Photos courtesy of thesun.co.uk; thehollywoodgossip.com; weheartit.com

Seeing Mint

My Mint Obsession by peace[♥]kappa

I've been in love with everything mint, this collage shows some great mint items I've come across. The nail polish is fantastic (I'm wearing it now!), the color is spot-on and it's great quality. I also have the heels, they don't fit perfectly but I'm hoping to make it work! Hopefully this week I can hit up H&M to grab the cardigan and one of the other pieces. I haven't decided which one yet!

Lace Dresses

Keep it classy with a dress accented by lace. Some of my friends have been wearing dresses similar to these, I think it's time I get one of my own.

Lace Dresses by peace[♥]kappa

Splash of Color

add a touch of bright by peace[♥]kappa

neon gadgets by peace[♥]kappa

neon trend by peace[♥]kappa

Dress up your outfit with...fun and flirty heels

Fun and Flirty Heels by peace[♥]kappa

Great Gift Ideas for V-Day 2011

(girls, show this to your boyfriends!)

Valentine's Day 2011 Red Spread by peace[♥]kappa featuring daisy earrings

Give her a personalized gift by peace[♥]kappa featuring flower brooches

Usher her into spring with flowers by peace[♥]kappa featuring short sleeve t shirts

Give her the key to your heart by peace[♥]kappa featuring stainless steel jewelry

Remind each other of time spent together by peace[♥]kappa featuring movado jewelry