BEAUTY: The NO MAKEUP LOOK

Hi MBG readers, Allie here of ALLIE NYC. Hope you are enjoying this glorious summer. It certainly is in full swing, and I do not know about you, but when the three H’s are raging the last thing I want to do is put on makeup. But let’s face it, who really wants to face the world sans makeup? So if you want to look like you are naturally sun-kissed and gorgeous read on…

The key is to start with self tanner. Self tanner, like this one from Bare Minerals will give you that healthy glow (in a healthy way) and will allow you to skip the foundation, reserve that for the winter months. Instead of a heavy foundation considered a tinted moisturizer or a bronzer. You can blend a liquid bronzer across your face and then follow it up with a quick dusting of powder bronzer like this one from Maybelline.

If this is not enough coverage for you, mix a bit of bronzer with a tinted moisturizer. I also like to scale back on eye shadow as well, I will use whatever light colored semi-shimmer shadow I have and sweep it over my entire lid. Then I use a matte brown shadow like this one from Sephora in the crease and blend it into the lighter shimmer powder for just a hint of a shadowy eye.  Of course a bit of eye liner and mascara is must, as is a splash of color on the lip. I generally steer clear of very bright colors or heavy pigments.

I like Buxom’s Full-On Lip Tarnish, it has more pigment then a gloss but less then a lipstick. It also has a slight plumping effect. Sexy! Finally, I use Benefit’s Sun Beam highlighter above and below the brow, across the tops of my cheeks and down the bridge of my nose. A perfect way to look all natural with out baring it all!

So, how does your makeup routine change for summer? 

1 :: 2 :: 3 :: 4 :: 5 

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BEAUTY: How-To have Smooth Legs All Summer

Hi MBG readers Allie here from ALLIE NYC. Summer is finally here and we all know what that means: hitting the beach. And of course we all want to look our best, right? Some of you may be blessed with naturally smooth legs, with a barely there down of unwanted hair, but for the rest of us, read on… I was blessed with a condition that my grandmother would lovingly refer to as “chicken skin”, the correct medical term for it is Keratosis Pilaris.

Keratosis Pilaris is described as a genetic follicular condition, lovely huh. The body produces too much of a protein called keratin which then builds up around the hair follicle and clogs it, resulting in the bumps that characterize “chicken skin”.

It is surprisingly common and effects 40-50% of the adult population and is even higher in teens and effects women more then men. I suffered with this for years until I finally found a solution that works.  If you suffer from Keratosis Pilaris or just want super smooth legs, this routine will give you touchable legs you will want to show off for sure. The first step is physical exfoliation, before you shower use a body scrub and make sure to keep up with this everyday. Look for one with a pumice like consistency—the lighter scrubs will not be effective.

This scrub from LUSH smells amazing and it does the job. If you are on a budget Trader Joe makes a great lavender body scrub for $6.00. The next step is shaving. Make sure you are shaving with a gel that is made for sensitive skin, or at least one with a more creamy texture like this one from Shave Works. Traditional shaving creams are too resistant and do not provide enough glide. If your skin is sensitive and has bumps this is important—the more glide a shaving gel has the less likely it will be to cause nicks from an uneven surface. Then once you are out of the shower you will hit Keratosis Pilaris with a double whammy of exfoliation and use a body lotion formulated with alpha hydroxy acids. The acids in the lotion help to break down the bumps and keep the excess keratin from accumulating.

 Look for a lotion that is thinner in consistency, the heavier greasier lotions do not work for this particular problem. I like this one from St Ives, but I have also used Suave’s smoothing lotion.   And now that your legs are primed they are ready for that self tanner you have probably been avoiding. Bare Minerals makes a wonderful self tanner which does not streak. And I just love the bronzy-gold packaging, so cool right?  And make sure to get your bronze on as well, finish off with a swipe of a bronzing shimmer lotion like Victoria’s Secret Instant Bronzing Shimmer Lotion, and your legs will be all sorts of sexy!


- Image from Beach Bunny, be sure to check out their site for more sexy swimwear. So are you ready for the beach? What is your routine? 


-ppost by alicia mackin

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BEAUTY: Tokyo Milk

Hi lovelies, Allie of ALLIENYC here. I am so glad spring has finally arrived! This was one cold winter and I can’t wait for summer. One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to spend the day at one of the many beach front towns that this area is known for. Last summer a couple of friends and I headed to one of these beach front towns called Green Port and we had such a wonderful day.

We strolled along the boardwalk, road the carousel, had lunch in a cute store front coffee shop and of course—we shopped. Green Port is full of charming gift shops and boutiques and it is pretty easy to part with one’s money. So when I saw a beautifully packaged bar of soap in the window I just had to have it.

Well fast forward almost a year later, and I still have that bar of soap because it is packaged so beautifully I just can not bring myself to open it. Though I must say it smells divine and I have been tempted many times. I had not heard of the Tokyo Milk company before, but I was over joyed when I found their website. I so want to try that Bon Bon Shea Butter Lotion, and the best part? I won’t ruin the packaging if I open it. Roses and skulls? OK I think that is right up a certain blogger’s ally yes? So if you want your bathroom to look and smell good and do not want to beak the bank doing a complete overhaul, head on over to the Tokyo Milk site. They also have lovely gift sets that to me, seem ready made for a bathroom vanity.

-post by alicia mackin

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BEAUTY: Tory Burch

Hi MBG readers Allie here of ALLIE NYC, and I am super excited to talk about Tory Burch’s latest endeavor. If being a fashion icon is not enough, the designer now has her own signature fragrance. The fragrance simply named “Tory Burch” is like a warm garden breeze. Think sun dappled picnics and lazy lunches on the terrace. Spicy and fruity with hints of Grapefruit, Neroli, Rose, Peony, Vetiver, Cedar, Bergamot, and Sandalwood, it is a light, refreshing scent that is never too sweet. My favorite kind. And can we talk about the packaging!

 I just love the beautiful, understated elegance. From the fretwork, to the beveled glass, to the gold and coral palette, to the now icon logo—this bottle would be at home on the chicest of vanities. Am I right? Such a lust worthy purchase, I just may break the bank if I bought the entire line. Thankfully there is a Rollerball!

So what are your favorite types of scents? Floral and sweet? Spicy and fruity? Or more sensual and musky?

All images via Sephora

- post by alicia 

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