Short Hair, Don't Care

I'm pretty sure the lob/bob has taken over the beauty world. Every girl is chopping her hair off into this chic, little blunt bob or lob (long bobs), and I have never been as in love with a haircut as I am with this one. If you follow me on instagram, then you know I jumped on this hair trend bandwagon a few weeks ago, and I never looked back.

I've had medium to long hair forever. The shortest I was ever really willing to go was shoulder length, and to me that was on the short side. Crazy, I know. And then I discovered the blunt bob and my life changed. 

Just kidding. I'm not that dramatic.

But I was borderline obsessive over this hair cut. #noshame

When I went to my stylist, I showed her two pictures--the picture above and this one. I asked for the length of the picture above and the bluntness of the cut from the second picture, and it turned out exactly how I wanted! I wouldn't be me if I didn't do my research on the cut before I took the plunge. After all, I had several questions that I needed an answer to before I got all of my blonde locks chopped off.

Does this work with wavy hair? Is this a high maintenance cut? Will it make me look like a boy?

I found all of these answers and more from The Beauty Department (hence how I was able to find the perfect pictures to show my stylist). I absolutely adore this website, especially the hair tutorials since most things hair are NOT my forte. I would definitely consider consulting this website if you are thinking of joining the bob/lob club.

And it turns out, a blunt bob does work with wavy hair. No, it's not a high maintenance cut. And no, I don't look like a boy. I definitely think I'll be keeping this haircut for a long while. 

Stocking Stuffers for the Beauty Junkie

LUNA Mini//Beauty Blender//Laura Mercier Lip Glace//Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat//Too Faced Teddy Bear Hair Brush Set//Urban Decay Naked3 Palette//Tory Burch Eau de Parfum

I'm all about anything beauty related, and beauty gifts are by far my favorite to receive! They're just the greatest little pick me ups. I thought I would share with you my favorites, and a few that are definitely on my wish list this holiday season. 

For years, I've been loyal to my Clarisonic Mia, but lately I've been intrigued by the Luna Mini facial brush by Foreo. I really love the small size and the fact that you don't have to keep replacing a brush head. Who knows, maybe I'll be cutting ties with the Clarisonic pretty soon. 

Another beauty tool favorite of mine has been the Beauty Blender. I've loved it since the moment it was introduced, and I've recently bought the Beauty Blender minis, and the pro one as well. Sephora has an awesome gift set out right now including all three different beauty blenders and the cleanser! I would definitely check that out, if I were you. I just love how flawless and airbrushed my face makeup looks after using this little baby. I prefer this over a brush any day. 

I just love a high shine gloss for the holidays, and Laura Mercier Lip Glaces are some of my favorites. There are so many beautiful colors to choose from, and they aren't sticky like so many other glosses. The pigmentation is also amazing. Definitely my go to gloss!

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat is definitely a cult favorite for a reason. I recently picked this little gold pen up, and I'm already obsessed with it. This highlight offers a subtle glow while making your skin look radiant. Just remember, it's a highlight NOT a concealer! 

Every girl needs a good set of brushes, and could these Too Faced ones get any cuter?

Makeup palettes are great gifts for any makeup lover. If you haven't tried any of the Naked eye shadow palettes, then you are definitely missing out. The Naked3 might be my favorite. All of the rose toned hues are absolutely gorgeous, and I love how many different looks can be created with just one palette! 

If you're looking to get a classy lady in your life an equally classy scent, then the Tory Burch perfume is the way to go. It's a lovely scent with both floral and citrus notes, and I just love how chic the bottle looks sitting on my vanity! 

Happy Shopping! 

Disclosure: This Blonde Story is part of an affiliate program. I may receive compensation for items that are clicked and/or purchased via certain links on this site. All opinions are my own, and gifted items are marked c/o.

Hair Care Routine (Requested Post!)

Hey there, lovelies! It's been a very long time since I've done a beauty post, and I've definitely missed making them. Since I started blogging, the most asked question I've gotten is about my hair care routine, so here you go! 

1. My go to shampoo and conditioner lately that I've been loving is dry bar Sake Bomb Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner. It's a great duo for hair that needs a little extra moisture and hydration, and it's safe for color treated hair so that's a plus! Not to mention, the smell is amazing. 

2. I don't like to weigh my hair down with lots of products like mouse, gel, or hairspray, but one product I do use after washing and conditioning my hair is this Aquage Silkening Oil Treatment. I towel dry my hair a little, and then apply one and a half pumps of the oil from the roots to the end of my hair. I focus mostly on the ends, and only use the oil on my roots sparingly.

3. While I'm in the shower, after I've conditioned, I like to finger comb my hair to get the majority of the tangles out. Once I've towel dried my hair and applied the oil treatment, I comb out the remaining tangles with a wide tooth comb. Do not tug or yank your hair! Being rough with your hair causes breakage, and nobody wants that. 

4. I've talked about my love for coconut oil in the past. It really is a little miracle in a jar. I do not use coconut oil everyday on my hair. I probably only use it about once a month, or whenever my hair begins feeling extra dry or brittle. I heat up a little bit in a bowl (it's solid at room temperature) and apply it from about my ears down to the ends of my hair. I leave it on for about an hour and then do my normal shampoo and conditioner routine. 

I should probably mention that I do not wash my hair everyday. I only wash it about twice a week. I naturally have dry, wavy hair and so my hair does not get oily as quickly as some people's hair does. Whenever I notice my hair looking a little flat or limp, I spray in some dry shampoo and that takes care of that!

I hope that answered any questions you guys had about my hair care! As always, thank you for stopping by, and I hope you all have a great week :)

Jamberry Nails Review

Jamberry Nail Wraps c/o via Anya Magestro

Nail Polish//wHet//Facetious

I am not one of those girls that always has her nails done. I rarely get manicures because I'm not a huge fan of other people touching me, and I don't often paint my own nails because I get annoyed by how easily the polish always chips. I'm extremely rough on my nails. I had heard of Nail Wraps before from YouTube beauty gurus, so I was really excited when Anya contacted me about testing them out. 

I chose to wrap my pinky nails as my accent nails, and I love the way it turned out! The colors are so vibrant, and they don't have a gross chemical smell at all! The only issue I've had so far was the application. Apparently, I'm not that great at reading directions, and I didn't thoroughly clean my nails with nail polish remover so my nail beds were a little oily from the lotion I had applied the hour prior. Your nails must be completely clean and your cuticles pushed back before applying the wraps, otherwise the adhesive will not stick properly. Since I fudged a bit with the application, my nail wraps are peeling a bit on the edges, but I'm confident that if you actually apply them the right way then  they will last the full two weeks without budging! Jamberry Nail Wraps may just be the solution for an anti nail polish girl like me! 

Jamberry Nail Wraps come in a variety of colors and patterns, including seasonal and sorority styles! I could browse the website for hours looking at all of the different options! Each sheet of Jamberry Nail Wraps includes 18 nail wraps, and one regular sheet can be used for two to three applications depending on the size and length of your nails. If you are interested in ordering some Jamberry Nail Wraps, then definitely contact Anya. She is so great to work with! I'll include all of the places you can find her below! 

Website: http://anyamagestro.jamberrynails.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jamminwithanyam 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jammin_amm 

Instagram: http://instagram.com/Jammarie_xox

July Favorites

July Favorites by marshyy featuring flat shoes

Happy August everyone! I cannot believe July is over, and we're already a week into August. This summer has flown by! I just realized I haven't done a monthly favorites post in forever and a day, and I really like these types of posts, so I figured today was as good a day as any! 

1. Lorac Pro Palette 2: I purchased this palette from Ulta towards the middle of the month, and I have been obsessed with it since I took it out of the package. I'm a die hard Naked Palettes fan, but this palette may become my new favorite. I didn't buy the original, but the awesome quality of this one may just change that. I love how the top row is all mattes and the bottom row is all shimmers and sheens. The colors are absolutely beautiful and they have quite the variety. I'm loving creating all these different looks within just one palette.

2. Repairwear Laser Focus by Clinique: You guys might have already guessed this, but I'm crazy obsessive about my skin. So when I noticed my first ever wrinkle on my forehead this spring, I about had a cow. I immediately started searching for products I could use that would get rid of that horrid line in the center of my forehead. Lo and behold, I found this little miracle in a bottle. Now this stuff won't get rid of deep wrinkles or anything like that. It's formulated to help with fine lines. I absolutely love it. After all of the failed products I've used, I didn't go in with high hopes, but it totally proved me wrong. Not only has it almost completely gotten rid of my fine line, but it also has totally improved the texture of my skin. I'm not nearly as red, and I now have a healthy glow instead of the dull skin I was so used to. I've even gotten my mom hooked on this stuff. It's great!

3. Ben & Jerry's S'mores Ice Cream: It's amazing. Nuff said.

4. The Cooper Ring by Reece & Blaire: I adore this ring! It's so comfortable and chic. I wear it on my middle finger, and it looks amazing alone or stacked. I want to get one in every color!

5. Jack Rogers Georgica Sandal: My old Navajo Jacks were looking downright nasty, and it was well past time for a new pair. I've never purchased the Georgica style before, but as soon as I tried them on, I fell in love. I like how this style looks on my foot way more than the Navajo style. I also think this style is way more comfortable and didn't take as long to break in.

6. Dry Bar Sake Bomb Shampoo & Conditioner: If you have been following my blog for awhile, then you would know I used to use the Living Proof Frizz Free shampoo and conditioner, and I loved it. It was perfect for my dry, wavy, color treated hair, and I didn't fall out of love with it, I just got bored. So I decided to try something new. I'm in love with this duo. It keeps my hair clean and soft for longer than the Living Proof. Seriously, I wash my hair once a week. Hello?! How awesome is that? I hate to wash my hair, if you couldn't tell. This stuff smells amazing, and keeps my hair so hydrated. I've also noticed I don't have to use as many products anymore either. So that's a win in my book.

7. It by Alexa Chung: I think I read half of this book just standing in Barnes & Noble. I think with this book you either like it or you hate it. It's not a literary masterpiece, but I never expected it to be. It's an entertaining book, almost written like a journal, and it's about Alexa Chung's journey through life and into the world of fashion. She shares her inspirations, muses, and snap shots of her evolving style. I found it to be very refreshing and witty, and now I'm even more obsessed with Alexa Chung than I was before. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

“Boys say they don't mind how you get your hair done. But then they leave you for someone with really great standard girl hair and the next thing you know you're alone with a masculine crop crying into your granola.” 


“Nobody goes through life without having their heart broken and one day you'll wake up and it will be okay.” 


"Looking effortless takes a lot of effort."

My Summer Makeup Must Haves

Summer Makeup Must Haves by marshyy featuring a glitter eyeshadow

Disclaimer: I do not wear ALL of these products everyday in the summer. Some days I wear more, some days I wear less. It just depends on what I'm going to be doing that day.

In the summer, I don't like to wear very much makeup so I definitely keep it simple even if I'm heading off to a lunch date or to the office. I love this MAC concealer because it can be doubled as a foundation. I dab a very small amount under my eyes and on some problem areas, then I blend it out with the beauty blender to achieve that dewy finish. I set the concealer with my MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Natural and sweep a small amount all over my face to keep any shininess at bay. Next I go in with my new favorite matte bronzer, Chocolate Soleil by Too Faced, and buff it under my cheekbones, along my nose, and a bit along my temples. I'm not going for the whole contoured look. More so, just a sun-kissed glow. To finish up the face, I sweep some coral blush on the apples of my cheeks. 

For the summer, I like to keep my eye look simple. I prefer eye palettes, like the Naked 3, and usually use a total of three shadows--two for a blended eye shadow look, and one for a liner. My go to combo with the Naked 3 is a sweep of the bronze color, Trick, along my lid and then I buff in the matte taupe color Limit into the crease. Lastly, I go in with the light brown shimmer color, Factory, and line my upper lid and blend whatever is left on the liner brush into my lower lash line. Next I curl my stick straight lashes with my all time favorite Sephora lash curler and apply my favorite mascara (I'm most fond of those that give a doll-like look). Lastly, I apply a lip product that doesn't dry out my lips, like the Sugar Lip Tints by fresh. I've always just used the original Rose color, but they now have a variety of colors to choose from. And that's it!

What are some of your summer makeup must haves?

Prepping for Summer

The other day as I was getting ready for work, pulling on my new Banana Republic dress and slipping into my new Vince Camuto sandals, I caught a glimpse of myself in my floor length mirror. And I was blinded. How had I not realized how ghastly pale I was? And not in a flattering porcelain skin way, but in an ashy, sickly way! All winter, I've hidden under layers of wool and leggings and neglected my skin. I've forgotten to hydrate, exfoliate, and God forbid shave on a regular basis. The sudden realization came crashing down on me: I'm not ready for summer. I'm not ready for bare legs, or bare feet (hello, have I ever even heard of a pedicure?), and I'm sure as hell not ready for bikini season. I shudder just thinking about it. I blame it all on my post grad status. If I was still in school, I wouldn't be having this problem. I'd be surrounded by girls working out, detoxing, waxing, tanning, and primping getting ready for countless formals, spring break, and beach week. Instead, I'm surrounded by my middle age coworkers and my lazy dog on a daily basis. It's time for me to care again. So after that epiphany, I hightailed it to where else? The mall. I picked up a few goodies to help me transition from lazy couch bum to summer goddess. Haha, or something like that...

Essie Nail Polish in Off the Shoulder

Self Tan by Victoria's Secret

Hot pink nails look so good against tanned skin, at least in my opinion, and it's my go to color for spring and summer. As you can see, I go the faux tan route. Since getting a scary rash from a tanning bed and discovering my first wrinkle, (yes, it happened. no, I don't want to talk about it.) I'm so over any type of tanning that doesn't come in a cream/mouse/spray form. This is the first time I've ever used VS gradual self tanner, but I have to say I'm really impressed so far. After just one application, I have a natural looking tan besides the one spot I kind of missed...I'm thinking application #2 may be the real streak free winner. 

MAC Mineralize Lipglass in Cheerful

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20

Originally, I wanted to purchase the MAC Mineralize Lipstick in Style Surge, which is a gorgeous coral, but sadly they were sold out so instead I purchased this Lipglass instead. I love this gloss! It's not sticky, and it's not nearly as tangerine orange as it looks in the tube. It's more of a sheer orange gloss that looks great on top of coral lipsticks or by itself.

Let me just take a second and praise this concealer. I really don't know what I've been doing with my life before I bought this. This stuff is amazing. I use MAC Pro Longwear Foundation and absolutely love it, so it shouldn't be such a shock that I feel the same way about the concealer, but for some reason it is. This concealer is great! It takes very little product to conceal my dark circles under my eyes, my red cheeks, and any blemishes I may have. This will be great for summer since I really don't like to wear much face makeup in the hotter months. Did I mention this stuff stays put and doesn't move until you want it to? Yeah, it's pretty much a little miracle in a bottle. Buy it. 

Morning Beauty Routine

My morning skin care routine is super short and super easy for two reasons:
a.) Finding products that are effective but don't break my uber sensitive skin out is practically a miracle.
b.) I'm not a morning person, and I like my sleep. I hit the snooze button at least 6 times every morning, so 9 times out of 10 I'm running late.

I love trying new skincare products and researching what works for my skin type, but more often than not the products I try are a miss. So I'm beyond overjoyed when I find something that works for my skin. Overall, I have clear skin, thanks to my dermatologist I've gone to since I was 16 and genetics, but my skin is very dry, and if you haven't caught on by now, super sensitive. At the moment, these products are working wonders on my skin after this harsh winter we had. I'm sure my bipolar skin will freak out come summer time, and I'll have to switch up my routine again but as of now this is what's working for me.

Step 1: I wash my face in the morning with raw organic honey. I just wet my face, squirt out a little honey, and massage it into my face like I would any cleanser. I then rinse with cool water and voila! Soft and clean skin. If you want to read up on the benefits of using honey as a cleanser, then check out this post.

Step 2: I apply Tarte Maracuja C-Brightener Eye Treatment. I've only been using this eye cream for about a week. I used to use this. So far, I really like it. It's very moisturizing and does a good job of making me look alive and bright eyed in the mornings.

Step 3: Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester 15. I then apply this cream all over my face, focusing mainly on my forehead and around my mouth area. Vitamin C is great for anti-aging. It's supposed to brighten, get rid of dark spots, help with fine lines, diminish redness...the list goes on and on. If you don't know about the powers of Vitamin C, then I highly suggest you do a little research because it's great.

Step 4: I've been using Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer since I was a teenager and my dermatologist told me to buy it. I love it because it's very gentle, and it contains an SPF of 15. It absorbs into my skin really quickly and doesn't make my face red. I have a problem with moisturizers breaking me out and burning my skin. Every time I try a new one, I always end up going back to this one. It's definitely my holy grail moisturizer.

So there it is. Like I said, super quick and easy. I'm always looking for suggestions for skincare. So if you have any favorite products, send them over this way!

Lust List

Lilly Pulitzer

I've already tried this dress on, and to say I'm in love would be an understatement. When I get my next paycheck, this dress is mine!

Broke Rich Girls

This is perfect. 

Maaji Swimwear

This whole line is amazing. 

Eyeko Skinny Brush Mascara

Holy cow! I first saw this mascara in Shaaanxo's video. With just one coat, her lashes looked like falsies! I. Have. To. Have. It.

The Truth About Beauty: Transform Your Looks and Your Life From the Inside Out

This is definitely on my list of books to read in the near future. 

Favorite Hair Care Products

Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner// here and here

Alterna Caviar Repair RX Instant Recovery Shampoo & Conditioner// here and here

Aquage Silkening Oil Treatment// sold at salons or here

 

Batiste Hint of Color Dry Shampoo// here

I've always wished I had the type of hair that $5.99 shampoo and conditioner from the drug store could handle, but sadly that is not the case. I have dry, wavy/curly color treated hair that has a tendency to frizz or fall flat at the hint of moisture. Bottom line: it can be a major pain. It's taken me years, and I do mean years to find products that leave my hair soft, shiny, HEALTHY, and frizz free. I've tried drug store, salon products, beauty guru favorites, the no shampoo method...I feel like I've tried everything. So when my mom stole my Living Proof sample that I received from Sephora and raved about it, I knew it couldn't hurt to give it a try. Needless to say, it was a keeper.

My stroke of good luck with hair products kind of had a domino effect after that. Around that time, I started going to a new stylist at a new salon. After my blowout, she used the Aquage Silkening Oil Treatment on my hair. It made my hair silky without feeling gummy. I was sold. When I first started going to my stylist, she mentioned that my hair felt dry and had a lot of dead ends, but now after using Living Proof products, and switching them out with my Alterna products, she now comments on how healthy my hair is. No split ends and no brittleness! 

I'm not going to lie, Alterna and Living Proof are pricey products, and overwashing your hair is actually damaging (go figure). So I try to only wash my hair twice a week, and yes I still bathe everyday haha. In order to skip out on washing my hair everyday, I used my Batiste dry shampoo when I need it. It soaks up oil, gives me volume, and makes my hair smell fresh. 

So these are the products that work for me, and I am so glad I finally found them! What are your favorite hair care products?

xoxo

Favorite Youtubers

I'm kind of a nerd when it comes to fashion and beauty. Pretty much the only type of nerd I've ever really been. I study it, I practice it, I just love it. I can't help it :) Every day, or at least almost everyday, I watch my favorite YouTube beauty gurus, and seriously they have taught me so much about makeup, hair care, and skincare! So I thought I would give a shout out to some of my favorite girls.

ilikeweylie// She was the first beauty guru I ever watched on YouTube back in the day. First and foremost, I love her personality. She's hilarious and such a sweetheart! She's grown from just doing tutorials, to vlogs, diy, and advice videos. She's great!

fashionablyjamie & reviewsbyjamie// I've also been watching Jamie for awhile as well. Recently, her reviews channel has exploded, and I think she's been focusing more on that one. She's so honest in her reviews but never cruel. She also does a "fitting room review" which is unique to her channel. 

JaclynHill// I'm very new to her videos, but she has quickly become one of my favorites! Jaclyn is a fabulous makeup artist! I love all her tutorials and her skincare videos. She seriously makes me want to go out and buy everything she mentions. Her videos are so informative, and she's so easy to watch. I can't say enough good things about her channel. 

MakeupbyAlli// I love watching this girl the most for her eye makeup tutorials and favorites videos. My coloring is very similar to her's, so I find that almost all of her tutorials work perfectly for me. Alli uses a lot of neutrals, but her looks are never boring and are usually coupled with a pop of color on the lip. She's so pretty and has tons of flawless looks on her channel! Oh, and I'm totally in love with her fashion sense...so stylish!

SMLx0// I love Steph! I love watching her for full face looks, hair tutorials, and monthly favorites. Her tutorials are so easy to follow, and she works with a lot of neutrals so she's a girl after my own heart. Her hair tutorials are some of my favorites. If you are into big, bouncy, sexy hair, then she's your girl. Also, her bloopers at the end of her videos never fail to give me a good laugh.

ThatGirlShaeXo// And last but certainly not least is Shae. I've been watching her for a very long time, and I love her so much. She's so crazy and fun, not to mention a phenomonal makeup artist. She's not afraid of color, and I love that so much about her. Anytime I'm feeling adventurous or bold I use one of her eye makeup tutorials. I watch her the most for tutorials, reviews, and her empties videos. Her reviews are so honest, and she's not afraid to tell it like it is. Shae is so talented yet so down to earth...the perfect combination!

So if you ever have the time or desire to watch any beauty videos on YouTube, I would definitely check out these lovely ladies!