weekly, bi-weekly, tri-weekly... something like that! I'm blushing in my absence!

So, in my transition to summer I have been neglecting my baby ( this blog). But back to being in a routine I am here once more!

In regard to the wonderful weather we have been having ( at least in jersey ) I must pay respect to my all-time favorite beauty product.

BLUSH!

Blush is one of my all-time, must have, can't live without, beauty products. A touch of color on the cheeks is the one thing that I feel makes a face complete without anything else. Some may argue mascara but blush really does it for me, it adds contour to your face and either creates a youthful glow or sultry sexy cheek.

 Now we can't talk about blush without mentioning the illustrious Nars Orgasm, my number one fave. 

Nars Orgasm is  their signature blush, and for good reason everyone looks great in this color you really can't go wrong. Day or night Orgasm works. And even more convenient for the well traveled lady Nars makes a duo with their Orgasm blush and a choice of their bronzers.

2. I have been really falling in love with Lorac cosmetics lately, a refreshing love affair. What I love about Lorac Peach blush is the ability to pair it with a variety of lipsticks. It is a great peachy color that you can use a little of or go a little heavier for a more dramatic look. I am a paler skin tone and it goes great with my freckles. That youthful sun-kissed look is easily achieved with this blush.

3. I am not typically a huge shimmery blush fan, but the gold flecks in the Balm's Hot Mama blush hits the mark! Great for a night out on the town a simply swiping it on for a day by the pool or beach. It's a peachy pink with gold undertones. The best part of this blush is it's like an all inclusive resort. The Balm says you can use this as a shimmery eyeshadow and a highlighter as well. And with the red bikini clad pin-up on the cover you can't go wrong!

4. Chanel Joues Contraste Tempting Beige was my first tango with brown hued blush and I was not disappointed. It is a great buildable color with a sweet rose scent. Feels great on the skin and lasts all day long. You cannot go wrong with this blush. At $42 it is a steep buy but lasts months and definitely worth it for the great color.

This final blush was not love at first sight, no M.A.C. powder blush Sincere, a muted beige coral sheer color, needed to court me. It started with an accidental use and then slowly we began to spend more and more time together until Sincere became my go to blush for my going out nights. This blush really is great evening look. Using a brown based blush is universally intimidating for first timers but this blush will assuage all of your fears and turn you into a believer!

What are your favorite colors/brands of blush?

Humidity from hell!

Now, I am not going to sit here and complain about the weather systems that occur in New Jersey ( o.k. maybe just a little whining), but this humidity is killing me! I know, I know, we do not have to endure any crazy/dangerous weather but this is a rather precarious situation for my hair!

So that got me to thinking, what is your best defense against a day full of frizz?

I have naturally wavy hair so this is legitimately doomsday for me and even though the day may start out smooth and sleek it quickly erupts into a full fledged flash of frizz.

Here's a few tricks I've tried, although I have yet to discover a panacea.

Moroccan Oil Curl Control Cream is one of my fav's. Its thick serum consistency tames my waves and provides definition for an all day look. My only drawback is that you must be very careful with the amount you apply, can be a bit heavy and make your hair look a little greasy. And for the quantity, it is reasonably priced at 24.99!

Now before you start thinking either A. I am shamelessly promoting Moroccan Oil products or B. I have a mild obsession with the products, neither is true! I have just found them to really cater to  the frizzy-haired sector of the world!

Moroccan Oil Curl Controlling Mousse is targeted more for  curly to tight-coiled hair but I've  found it is just as effective for wavy hair as well. The mousse consistency travels through your hair with ease, and as with all  the Moroccan Oil products, leaves our hair smelling amaze-balls. The mousse can mat your curls down a little ( at least for me, since I'm cheating and using it on waves) but overall I really enjoy the look it creates. I like to touch my hair with the blow dryer for a smidgen after using  the product to lift my hair and give it a little body. 

So for those days that simply call for straight hair I have a few tips as well!

Blow, ready set blow, express blow dry lotion, brought to you by the hair experts at Blow the NYC blow dry bar! Sounds super fancy, but is extremely affordable and works exceptionally well! So, basically any day you use this you can tout it's heritage, don a fancy accent, and say you're "city stylist" recommended it for you :) 

But back to the nuts and bolts of things, with hydrolyzed silk in this product how can it not ensure smooth hair? I apply this to my towel dried hair, careful not to put too much near the crown of my head (avoiding the greasy look) and then proceed to section my hair and blow dry it. My hair has withstood the onslaught of  humidity and rain in the hair all the while staying straight! Typically I am forced  to straight iron my hair for approximately 15 minutes each morning but when I used blow not only was my drying time decreased but I merely used my flat iron for touch ups around my bangs and to straighten out some ends! 

My other favorite trick at the end of my hair styling regimen is to use the tiniest amount of CHI silk infusion and pat down some of my frizz, once again this has a GREAT scent, but heed the saying too much of a good thing because this most certainly can ruin your look with over application. It can be a bit pricey so I recommend checking out Wal-Mart or Target since they tend to have it more reasonably priced, but for the small amount needed to lock in your look it is well worth the cost!

Now, this is one of those products that comes out and I slap myself 

and think "HOW COULD YOU NOT THINK OF THIS?!?!". 

John Frieda full repair Touch-Up Fly Away Tamer is Inca Inchi Oil that is applied with a mascara wand! How ingenious! Now I know everyone suffers from over-exposing their hair to heat damage but we have our savior! Each and every one of those hairs that you curse every morning and contemplate pulling out can now be tamed with a simply whisk of a mascara wand! Although it is an "oil" it has more of a gel base. Easy to apply and re-application is not often necessary. 

Do you have an unusual tricks for taming frizz?

What's you're favorite product to use?

the warm weather is upon us!

Now that the warm weather is upon us we can tuck away our boots for the season (at least I hope so!), and break out those bikinis. I don't drop my makeup products with the change in season but I do have some key favorites that I go back to each year.

For those summer bike rides and anytime you're going to be in the sun doing any sort of activity I recommend forgetting the bronzer and applying either a tinted moisturizer with a high SPF or even going with a tint-free UV essential. Why you might ask? Natural skin is sexy skin and gasp, dare I say it, sometimes a makeup-less face is the most attractive, especially in the summer. Ever see anyone strut down the beach with a full face of color on? It just looks silly! So if you can go without then do it! But do not forget that SPF ever!

Here are a few of my favorites:

Laura Mercier's Flawless Skin Daily Face Shield SPF 40 is a summertime necessity. There is no overpowering suncreen smell and it lasts all day long without making your skin oily!



Chanel's UV Essentiel is ESSENTIAL! You can wear this under makeup or all alone, it's weightless silky application makes it perfect for everyday wear.

And for those not ready  yet to give up makeup entirely:



Lancome Bienfait Multi-Vital Teinté SPF 30 Sunscreen. Don't even bother trying to pronounce the title of this product all that matter is what is in it! And that is SPF 30 with a great complementary tint in a variety of shades. Fear not, wear this alone or under mineral powder!

Clinique moisture surge tinted moisturizer SPF 15 is one of my absolute favorites! Goes on light and doesn't weigh down your skin, a great base before your makeup or to wear alone.

All of the above products have SPF in them, but of course the higher the SPF the better! keep that in mind! Don't forget to moisturize, there is nothing worse than flakey skin under the summer sun.

Do you have a favorite summer essential moisturizer with SPF? What is your daily beauty routine in the warmer months?

xo Jac

Weird Connection Of The Day!

Somehow while sauntering down the aisles of the local liquor store I came across what I have deemed to be  the absolute cutest beers. Tell me you don't agree!

ADORABLE, I know.

although not too fond of the flavor, (I'm more of a lager girl myself) I couldn't help but be reminded of a few lime shades that I have been coming across in the beauty closet these past few weeks and thought I would share.

M.A.C. swimming

YSL "Sari Green"

Shisheido "Green Exotique H7"

Lancome "Fashion Forward"

       Now, as a hazel-eyed girl myself, I love green eyeshadow but I have always struggled with "over-applying" shall we say, and often ended up looking like a ninja turtle. Unlike our blue-eyed sisters us hazels have dreams of the green shadow making our eyes POP (as promised by any makeup counter attendant) so I thought to help myself, as well as everyone else, out I would post a few photos of some finely applied green eyeshadow. 

Do

don't

Don't

Do!

Don't get me wrong, the two photos in the middle are absolutely FAB, but unfortunately those won't work for those of us not strutting the catwalk or starring in an editorial photo. The top and bottom shots highlight how to use green eyeshadow in an effective way without over doing it. The top photo is more of a night look with the bottom photo more of a day/office look.

Have you ever over-done your eyeshadow?

Life of A Beauty Intern

What's better than being in Times Square all day?

Testing out lipsticks, nail polishs, and eyeshadows in Times Square all day!

I can't help but wonder, when I am sitting on the train back to Metropark everyday what the other riders must think of me? did she get attacked by a clown? somehow I usually end up sitting by myself. Curious indeed. But if you ever wanted an inside look at what Allure is all about, as if you didn't know, it is BEAUTY products! 

P.S. please ignore the fact that my fingers look like tiny sausage links, camera adds ten pounds ya know!

first of many ...

My name is Jacquelyn Alvarez, I am a recent graduate from Rutgers University with a degree in Journalism and Media Studies. I am currently interning at Allure Magazine in the Beauty/Editorial Department and I will soon be starting my summer internship at More Magazine in the same department. I have grown a deep affection for all things beauty and fashion related and thought no better way to express this then in a daily sometimes weekly blog. As for the title, Daly happens to be my middle name :) Hope you enjoy my mindless meanderings and comments or feeback is always appreciated!