Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, $19.50 and $39

I always love stumbling across great little beauty finds and this Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray has to be the best hair product I’ve tried in months. It came as a result of my work with Birchbox (love them) for this little project, and I’ve been rather addicted since then. The spray delivers on just what it says it will: building texture and what girl doesn’t need that every now and then?

For those mornings you need to work your hair into a little updo or don’t feel like fully styling, this spray is perfect. I have the travel size and have been brining it on most of my trips this year to build bulk into my hair for easier styling while obtaining great volume and a better texture. I highly recommend this spray (it’s worth the heftier price tag). It’s also great when used in conjunction with my favorite dry shampoo.

Sharing some of my beauty favorites this week! These are 3 real winners.

// 1. Tocca Giulietta body wash, $18: My love affair with this scent started with their lotion and now I can’t get enough of the body wash. It’s subtle and feminine and just perfect.

// 2. Tresemme Split Remedy Leave-In treatment, $4: Two words: miracle worker.

// 3. Clinique Exfoliating Scrub, $18.50: I had been on the hunt for a good scrub for ages. It had to be just the right texture, but effective. This one fit the bill to a T.

Oftentimes when it comes to be Winter, I change up my beauty routine. I seek more moisture, festive colors and skin savers. Therefore I thought I’d round up some of my current (and most beloved) beauty products for this time of year. Especially if, like me, you’re hitting the stores this week for some post-Christmas shopping

1. Bliss fabulips lip balm, $16*

This new lip balm from a favorite of mine, Bliss, saturates in moisture and is just what I need to escape chapped lips. (Another Bliss favorite here.)

2. Benefit Hervana Blush, $28*

I have a major obsession with Benefit (examples here and here among many others) so was uber excited to get to try out their new blush Hervana. It is the perfect subtle glow that gives you the “I’ve just been outside and my cheeks got all rosy” look without having to actually bear the elements. (Also, very excited to try these when I get back to New York.)

3. butter LONDON ‘Chancer,’ $14*
butter LONDON nail lacquers are awesome and this is the perfect red for this season.

4. Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Garnet Desire, $20*
With my lips being a bit more dry during the winter, I tend to reach for glosses over lipsticks and the Pure Color ones by Estee Lauder not only smell fantastic, they give a sweep of instant color to punch up your look.

5. DDF Salicylic Wash, $38

Even though it’s cold out, my skin tends to flare up year round and I recently bought this wash to fight the oh so lovely acne popping up here and there. It’s mild yet powerful, hardly has any scent and is in a huge bottle that will last me months.

6. Estee Lauder Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher 1oz, $46*
My morning routine has consisted of using this pore minimizer as a little secret weapon. Combine it with your primer in your palm and you’ve got a perfect palette off of which to apply makeup.

7. TRESemme Dry Shampoo, $5

One word: lifesaver. My hair tends to get brittle at this time of year so I aim to wash it every other day. To get me by the in-between days, I rely on this super cheap dry shampoo.

What products or tricks get you through this time of year?

*samples provided for editorial consideration

It’s Friday! And I can’t remember a time I’ve been so ready for the weekend to be here. I moved into my new place last night so I have lots and lots to accomplish before I head home for the holidays, but till then I’m dreaming of delicate & feminine bows. I love the ladylike and girly feel bows give along with the whimsical appeal in  both hair & clothing. How pretty are these images? Especially the first one? So gorgeous?

all photos via Pinterest

Confession: until this past Sunday I had never had a blowout just for the hell of it. After a cut or color? Yes, sure, but never had I really considered the concept of having after-the-salon-hair for a special occasion or indulgence. But when given the opportunity to give it a whirl at Drybar, a blow-out only salon I’d heard good things about from the West Coast, I wasn’t about to turn down the opportunity for someone else to style my locks.

The Drybar concept is simple- a menu of options to get the blowout of your choice in a chic and calm atmosphere. No cuts, no color. And you can chose everything from loose curls and sleek and straight to my option of choice, The Mai Tai: beach inspired curls. Oh and did I mention it’s only $40?

Voila…!

With locations in California, Arizona, Georgia, Texas and now New York, hopefully you can try out Drybar for yourself soon. It’s pretty amazing.

{p.s more photos of my “after” hair to come later this week}

Hope you had a fantastic weekend…happy Monday!

I’m a self-confessed beauty junkie. I love trying new eyeliners, mascaras, face washes, lip colors, nail polishes, you name it….really, it’s no secret. Which is why I think the idea of Birchbox is so genius. Yes, I know I’m a tad late to the game in trying this great idea, but when they offered to send me a curated box, I figured it was high time I gave it a go. (I was quite sure I’d like it though after Capitol Hill Style declared her love- that girl has the opinions you can trust).

So, if you’re unfamiliar, each month, Birchbox puts together  four to five handpicked deluxe beauty samples and delivers them to you for just $10. It’s an easy way to try out brands you may be unfamilar with, products that come with a higher price tag than you’re ok risking an impulse buy on at Sephora (whoops…guilty of doing that one too many times…) or just a little something you were unsure you’d love until you tried it.  Plus, with free shipping and brands like Smashbox, Kiehl’s, Jouer, Stila, Benefit, NARS and Oscar Blandi all on board, how can you not help but get excited about this monthly little treat?

Have you tried Birchbox? Thoughts?

p.s. you can also gift Birchbox to someone…I absolutely LOVE this idea for the upcoming holidays.

This summer my hair spent the better part atop my head (like so) or to the side of it (like so) and now that fall is here, you’d think I’d want nothing more than to leave it down. Alas, I’ve been seeing wayyyyyyy too much inspiration of recent that has me wanting to try all sorts of different up dos.

What’s your favorite way to wear your hair?

photos via pinterest

You may remember when I shared a sneak peek from my evening spent hanging with the great team over at Arrojo. They gave me a great hair cut, introduced me to some of their fabulous products and then concluded the experience with a photo shoot to populate a gallery in the salon with photos of myself and fellow bloggers to celebrate the salon’s 10th anniversary. I wanted to share some more shots from the day here.

It was such a fun time and a huge thanks to the team at Arrojo for having me!

And the final photo…that’s currently hanging in the Arrojo salon!

J.Crew blouse, Citizens of Humanity skirt, Gap jacket, Anthropologie necklace & braclets, La Mer watch

all photos by the very talented David Ducane

Here’s a little sneak peek at my rendez-vous and photo shoot experience with the awesome team over at ARROJO this past Tuesday. The lovely Julia Reinhard gave me the most perfect cut (I was in desperate need of cleaning up my ends) and a soft, tousled style (using Arrojo’s killer Set & Style Spray that I would totally recommend to anyone) and Liz Marz lent her hand for makeup duty.

All will be revealed soon, but many thanks to everyone at Arrojo for such a fun and wonderful experience!

all photos by David Ducane

1. Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask, $22.50 (see full review here). First, pop this face mask (which comes in cute individual packets) into your fridge for 20 minutes prior to use. Second, come back to this post and thank me for the refreshing treat your face just experienced.
2. Moraccanoil Treatment, $30. Frizz tamer for both curly and straight hair.
3. Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens, $10. These have been my SAVIORS in this heat. Pop the cute and slim little package into your purse and pull out after subway rides, walks to lunch, you name it…
4. Dior Addict, $28. Make lipstick your bff in this weather for long lasting color that’s more saturated on your lips and won’t sweat off or dab off like lip gloss. Dior Addict is a current fave.

And last but not least, let me introduce you to the latest tool in my beauty kit that is saving me blow dry time like I never would have believed…the HANAir Premiere Hair Dryer. At $194.99 I had reservations about this little guy when Misikko offered to send me one, but man does it deliver. My hair dries so much faster because this dryer is so powerful without being damaging. (p.s. for you flat iron addicts, they also have high performing options in that arena).

What are your beauty tricks for all these high temps? Do tell as I’m always looking for more!