my goal for fall is crazy-long lashes

During my recent quest to have the longest lashes possible by fall, I attempted to use Latisse for about, oh, 3 days. On the third day I woke up with itchy, red, watery eyes. This condition lasted for another 3 days, and when it finally got better I thought to myself "Should I try it again? It really seems to work for my friends...". Luckily the less vain side of me reminded me that I had barely been able to get my eyes open on that first morning of angst several days before. I (sadly) threw the Latisse away and started looking into other options.

I have many of the lash enhancers that have come out over the last several years (RevitaLash, LASHEM, Lashes to Die For) and had the most luck with LASHEM's lash gel. It has stopped my lashes from falling out and they seem to be far less brittle. I have been on the look out for products to add to my long-lash regimen, so I was excited to find a few new items at Sephora the other day that I think will be a perfect fit for my routine.

The first is Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For The Liner:

This is formulated with a PTR trademarked blend of peptides said to enhance the appearance of lash length and density by up to 73% in six weeks. I figure that if I am going to wear eyeliner anyway it may as well be improving my lashes, right?

The other new product I purchased was Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer:

This product is very exciting. I try new mascara on a monthly basis; some are good, some are bad, but most are average.  I am convinced that this product will take even those mascaras that are disappointing and make them better. It is basically a glossy, black gel that you apply over a lengthening or defining mascara (reviews on sephora.com pretty much all stated that using it with a volumizing mascara was disastrous) for added drama. I am guessing that this product over Maybelline Falsies is going to be one of the greatest things that has happened to me in a long time.

If you order either of these products right now from Sephora, shipping is free through September 3rd with code VOLUME7.

OPI i love DKMS

While reading the August issue of Vogue I came across this article on a new limited edition OPI nail color duo called I Love DKMS that benefits DKMS's efforts to register new bone marrow donors. DKMS is the German Marrow Donor Center, which is the largest donor center in the world. Katharina Harf, the center's co-founder and executive vice president, lost her mother to leukemia at a young age and since then has continued on the effort to match donors with those in need.

This duo includes both the perfect true-red pedi color (above) and an opaque, shimmery white perfect for a mani. The polish duo can be found at Ulta and you can learn more about Katharina's work through DKMS and how to become a bone marrow donor at Vogue.com.

my new readers make everything smarter

I have been looking for the perfect pair of readers for a while now. I was looking for a pair that made me look smarter and were under $20 (these were to be for fun - no prescription necessary). After stalking Urban Outfitters for what seemed like months, or since June, I came across the perfect pair last week called Clarkeye Readers for a mere $14.

I am convinced that these make me look smarter instantly.

They even manage to make my shoes and makeup appear intelligent..

If you wear glasses you already know that eye makeup can be tricky; heavy makeup can look, well, heavy, while not enough makeup may not give your eyes the attention they deserve. Check out this great article from Allure.com on the best way to wear eye makeup with your glasses!

I very much recommend these to anyone looking for a fun pair of faux glasses. Also, through August 25th you can get free shipping on all orders with promo code FREEFALL. So lucky - I think I paid $5.95 for shipping.

It was worth it though.

Maybelline Great Lash Gets Fancy for Forty

This cult-favorite turns forty this year and has teamed up with Tracy Reece, Max Azria and Vivienne Tam to bring us the same fabulous very black formula in designer packaging. This is available online at Target now for $5.49 or in stores August 21st.

I think that I am partial to the Max Azria design (I love lace!) - what about you?

missoni + target = joy

I can honestly say I have not been this excited about something in a long while. What does that say about me? Not concerned - anyway, Target's newest designer collab is a line of hard and soft goods from Missoni. Dresses, pillows, cups, bikes, bags, blankets, plates..

I'm a bit faint. And I think I need a new bike.

September 13th my friends. I'm stoked.

 

Urban Environment UV Protection Cream From Shiseido - AKA, the Greatest Sunscreen Ever

I do not like sunscreen. It is greasy, it makes makeup change colors, it makes me breakout. But then I found Shiseido's Urban Environment UV Protection Cream and all of my anger towards sunscreen faded..along with my nasty sunspots. This is quite possibly the lightest sunscreen I have ever used, and I have used a lot of sunscreen.

Wearing an SPF is a must, so I am honestly grateful to have found one that actually makes my skin look and feel better. This is non-greasy, light and contains ingredients to hydrate and protect your skin from the pollutants we encounter outdoors. It's fabulous, and at $30 for almost 2oz it is affordable as well. I have been wearing it under L'Oréal's True Match foundation for the last month and it does not make the foundation pill or change color (pilling is explained here).

What's in it:

• Hydro-Restoring Complex: Contains nourishing amino acids that naturally exist in the skin to provide intense moisture.

• Thiotaurine: Protects against oxidative stressors found in daily life.

• Rose Apple Leaf Extract: Prevents DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer and weakening of immune system.

• Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract: Protects against damage to fibroblasts.

DIY statement ring

Recently when I have been lurking around the web for things that I think that I need, I have noticed a lot of really beautiful jewelry for the fall. Inevitably though, the things I fall in love with also happen to be things that cost $300 - not free. I enjoy making my own jewelry, so one day I was searching for a how-to video for feather earrings and came across a great video on DIY wrapped rings. Wrapping stones is a fabulous way to create something unique for relatively cheap.

The material/tools used: a piece of colored stone with holes already in it (holes are not necessary unless you choose to make a gi-normous ring like I did), needle nose pliers, gold or silver wire, a ring mandrel. The ring mandrel is important because you will start wrapping on the mandrel one ring size larger than the size that you need. You can find them on eBay for under $10.

1. Cut about 1/2 yard of  your wire and thread it through the stone so that both sides are even. If your stone doesn't have a hole (only recommended if it is small) just wrap wire around it and secure on the underside by twisting a few times. 
2. Place the stone on the mandrel at a size larger than your ring size. This is because the width of the wire will make the ring smaller once you start wrapping.
3. Wrap away! You will want to wrap wire around the mandrel a few times to establish the actual "ring". Then you can use the wire to create something interesting around the stone. 
4. When both sides of the wire that you started out with have been wrapped and you have a design you like, wrap the leftover wire around the base (underneath) of the stone where it meets the ring. 

Huh? I know, sounds confusing. It is really very easy once you get the hang of it. Don't be afraid to start over - I had to several times. Keep in mind as well that I used a very large piece of stone that needed a wire ring on both ends. You only need to wrap through or around the middle of your stone if you are not trying to create a ring that covers most of your finger. 

If you are a visual learner, this is the video that I watched to get acquainted with the idea of wrapping. Not to be confused with rapping, which I know nothing about.