Made By Girl: alicia

BEAUTY: THE 60'S EYE TREND

Hi MBG readers it’s Allie from ALLIE NYC and today we are going to talk about a daring and bold trend—the sixties eye. First it was all about a strong brow and now that strong brow is accompanied by a prominent and structured smoky eye, otherwise known as the sixties eye. There is nothing subtle about this look, it turned heads in the 1960’s and it will turn heads today. We first saw this at the shows last spring where Mac Jacobs featured the look with side swept bangs. This trend continued during Paris Fashion week for fall 2014 with the overtly sixties eye at Saint Laurent—complete with drawn on lower lashes.

This may not be the easiest of looks to pull off, and it may be best to leave the drawn on lashes to the professionals, but if you are feeling adventurous then I say go for it. You will need lots of dark smoky shadow, you can do grays or browns or even a deep purple. Traditionally a very dark almost black shadow is used like this one from Marc Jacobs, but if this a bit to goth for you then this kit by Clinique has everything you need. From lightest beige to a deep brown and everything in-between it has got you covered. And black liquid liner is a must. This liner by EYEKO is super black and also features WIDELASH lash enhancer, which will make your eye lashes appear longer and stronger in three weeks, so no need for falsies! And it should be a no brainer that a good brow pencil should be in the makeup bag of any self respecting fashionista. This Benefit brow pencil has a blending spoolie, drys to a powder finish, and even comes with step by step instructions.

Now if you have very dark brows like me it can be hard to find a pencil that is dark enough. I generally use a matte black powder and an angled brush. I also get them tinted. I love this, because my brows look done all the time and requires no skill on my part. Cool, huh? And finally a pale lip is key in pulling off this look. So look for light pink based lipsticks and lip stains. I love this shade from Givenchy with it’s subtle light reflecting color—just enough to look dewy with out looking frosted, plus it contains antioxidants so it nourishes while adding color—a great feature for someone like me who suffers from chronic chapped lips. I didn’t get to the shows in Paris this year, ok any year, who I am kidding, but I can feel like I attended the YVL shows by spritzing myself with their fragrance aptly named “Parisienne”. Well there is always next year!

So, would you do the sixties eye? Is this too dramatic for you, or do love the drama?

-Image of Twiggy via Imgur, second image via ALLURE
-post by alicia mackin

BEAUTY: Frizz Busters

Everyone has something that they do not like about their hair, for me—it is frizz. And in my case, my “frizzy” hair is the byproduct of damaged, porous hair that has stretched and then broken off.

Unfortunately, there is no reversing this damage, but it can be made less noticeable by using the right product. The right product will temporarily seal the ends and will use ingredients that smooth the hair shaft by coating it and making the hair lay flat.

I am currently using the Monoi Repairing Anti Breakage Spray from the Carol’s Daughter haircare line, which I was introduced to at the Lucky FABB conference. It is a wonderful product and really helps with the detangling which is one of the first steps in preventing further breakage. I also included the Monoi Repairing Split End Sealer. I have not used this product yet, but based on the one I am currently using, I do plan on purchasing it.

I am also considering the Caviar Perfect Iron Spray, it is supposed to protect hair up to 450 degrees and if you are like me and have to blow dry and flat iron your hair on a daily basis, a product that protects it from heat is a must have. The Hot Toddy Heat Protecter by Drybar has also piqued my interest. I like that this product helps to reduce friction, because friction will also make damaged hair look more frizzy. I discovered this when I use to curl my hair by wrapping it around the barrel and not using the clamp. Curling your hair using this method causes it to slide up and down the the barrel, which is more or less like rubbing it against the barrel — and we all know what happens when you rub your hair on a balloon—not pretty! But a product that helps cut down on friction will certainly help with the appearance of frizz.

And the Climate Control Gel by Ouidad, this I must try. A gel that combats heat and humidity? Bring it on! I live in New York which is famous for it’s hot, sweltering, and humid summers. So come next June I will be adding this to my shopping list for sure. Finally, The Full Thickening Cream by Living Proof is a product I have used in the past, it is very light and has a wonderful scent—not too sweet. It helps by adding volume and coating the hair shaft. Damaged hair is generally thinner then healthy hair due to breakage, so a thickening cream can definitely be a big help. Well I hope this helps you bust your frizzies!

- post by alicia